755
Albums Rated
3.31
Average Rating
69%
Complete
334 albums remaining
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1970s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
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Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
99
5-Star Albums
15
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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Ratings by genre
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Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scream, Dracula, Scream | 5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
| The Grand Tour | 5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
| Brown Sugar | 5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
| In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida | 5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
| Will The Circle Be Unbroken | 5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
| Steve McQueen | 5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
| Rhythm Nation 1814 | 5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
| Treasure | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| Manassas | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| Ambient 1/Music For Airports | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Chronic | 1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
| Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde | 1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
| Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde | 1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
| Here Come The Warm Jets | 1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
| Halcyon Digest | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| Halcyon Digest | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| Dare! | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| Tom Tom Club | 1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
| A Walk Across The Rooftops | 1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
| Station To Station | 2 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Joni Mitchell | 5 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 5 |
| Fiona Apple | 3 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 3 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 5 | 4.4 |
| Green Day | 4 | 4.5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.5 |
| The Clash | 3 | 4.67 |
| Metallica | 3 | 4.67 |
| Amy Winehouse | 3 | 4.67 |
| Van Halen | 2 | 5 |
| Eric Clapton | 2 | 5 |
| Alice In Chains | 2 | 5 |
| A Tribe Called Quest | 2 | 5 |
| Lou Reed | 2 | 5 |
| Pearl Jam | 2 | 5 |
| Elliott Smith | 2 | 5 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| Frank Zappa | 2 | 5 |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 5 | 4.2 |
| Fleetwood Mac | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Deerhunter | 2 | 1 |
| The Pharcyde | 2 | 1 |
| The Birthday Party | 2 | 1 |
| The Mothers Of Invention | 3 | 1.67 |
| Suicide | 2 | 1.5 |
| Primal Scream | 3 | 2 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Brian Eno | 2, 1, 5 |
| AC/DC | 5, 2 |
| Van Morrison | 2, 2, 5 |
| The Who | 5, 3, 2, 4, 5, 3 |
5-Star Albums (99)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Fiona Apple
5/5
Practically have this album memorized. 9 fantastic songs on a 10-track album. The composition, lyrics, diction are all off the charts and she was 18/19 when she recorded it. Blows my mind.
28 likes
10cc
2/5
2 means “it wasn’t totally offensive, but I have no idea why it belongs in this list…”
22 likes
Elliott Smith
5/5
Oh yeah. I know this one already.
He was already dead before I discovered him, so I didn't get the "loss" part of this firsthand, but listening to this makes me feel for him, a little sad for what he must have wrestled with.
The production is so intimate and unique. Multitracking vocals, the mic is practically in his mouth. The snare drum feels like a millimeter from your eardrum, the guitar's next to you on the couch, but the cymbals are out in the backyard. You can hear how he's influenced Beck, PortugalThaMan, of course Ásgeir Trausti, even Olivia Rodrigo.
If you dig this guy but hadn't heard of him before... keep listening to XO and self-titled. And don't miss Mic City Sons from his previous band, Heatmiser.
17 likes
Deerhunter
1/5
Oh my god. I don’t know how I’m supposed to get into music that sounds like the musicians are bored out of their minds even while making it. There are two tracks that DON’T do this and they’re nothing special.
13 likes
Kate Bush
5/5
This kind of discovery is exactly why I was excited about the prospect of this project. I would never have given it a chance. Wikipedia says "Art Pop?" Gag. But I listened once and felt a spark. Then again and started digging it. Now a third time in four days and it keeps growing on me.
I love the theme (of most tracks) of yearning for human connection in various types. It's human and earnest and totally disarmed my assumptions about being pretentious. It's a little weird, but just a little, so it seems like it's in a sweet spot for me. So like, Tori Amos and Robyn and Portishead in a stew, not Bjork salad.
10 likes
1-Star Albums (15)
All Ratings
Elvis Presley
4/5
Unexpectedly hip. Gotta listen to more Elvis.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
This is a little hit and miss. "Ted Just Admit It" is awfully self-indulgent and 7 plodding minutes that don't really go anywhere. Maybe I should just listen a few more times. Mountain Song and Jane Says are such perfect songs tho
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
This is an easy one. What's not to love? There's not a single song that couldn't have been a radio hit, not one.
All the bonus tracks are a little useless, but that's not saying much. There's enough for 4 hit albums in the main tracks.
Caetano Veloso
4/5
Peter Frampton
4/5
Coming to realize I get tired of people who belt all their vocals. If everything’s at 11, nothing’s interesting and the brain just gets bored. It’s a shame because the guitar work is amazing
Fats Domino
3/5
The Beach Boys
4/5
The Cure
3/5
Gosh, really surprisingly not my style at all. No momentum, nor enough emotional range. Just ennui. But the production is really pretty. Admirable and easy to appreciate despite not being my style.
Madonna
4/5
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
Megadeth
4/5
Tom Waits
3/5
Raekwon
3/5
Missy Elliott
4/5
The Sugarcubes
4/5
John Martyn
3/5
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
Cocteau Twins
5/5
The Byrds
3/5
Van Halen
5/5
Awesome. Front to back. Not very long either!
Eric Clapton
5/5
N.W.A.
2/5
The B-52's
3/5
George Jones
5/5
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Deep Purple
4/5
The xx
3/5
Fanstastic opener, kinda underwhelming and sleepy after. Pretty though.
Ray Price
4/5
Bert Jansch
4/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Never heard the non-singles. Wow, Contusion is one of the best he's ever written. This deserves its reputation. Although.... most of the vamps go on like 2x too long, and it's a repeated problem so it gets kinda distracting. Ordinary Pain's vamp is great, the rest kinda go nowhere.
Prince
3/5
Moby
4/5
Never listened to this in the 90s, because I heard everyone thought it was vapid. What a bummer. It's perfectly nice, probably even groundbreaking for its time. Not "fascinating" or "challenging" perhaps, but very good for repeated listens, study music, etc and holds up very, very well against what we would now call "ambient." I bet the hate is mostly backlash against saturation.
Elis Regina
4/5
4/5
The Clash
5/5
Wow! I knew the first and last songs, but everything in between is great!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Really beautifully made. A few to keep on rotation for good.
Tim Buckley
2/5
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Alice Cooper
3/5
Some good stuff, but pretty mixed; some tracks are kind of a chore to listen to. The cover art is great. Generation Landslide and Unfinished Sweet were my favorites.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Couplea good tracks. Just okay.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
The Zombies
5/5
Pixies
2/5
I don't understand how this was so influential. I love this style, raw and unpolished, and the drums sound so good. But most songs don't even seem like they have a plan (except for Where Is My Mind). This sounds like a rehearsal/brainstorm, not a finished record.
Big Star
2/5
Now I have heard this often-cited album. And I don't hear what the fuss is about. Perhaps it's because the ground they broke is thoroughly trodden by now, but it's just okay.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Just OK. A lot of it way too indulgent. Must have been a fun live band though.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Ha. As though I'm going to add anything interesting to the history of reviews of this album.
Madness
3/5
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Seems like the kind of thing you’d have to listen to a couple dozen times to “get.” Ain’t got time for that in this game. It’s… more than a little weird.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Metallica
5/5
Like a greatest hits collection from an all-time group, PLUS some songs are much better with orchestra. (Some aren’t helped at all, but that’s hardly a liability.) Ktulu, Fuel, Bleeding Me are FANTASTIC
Don McLean
4/5
The Roots
3/5
Sounds nice. Nothing for me. Reliance on n-bombs makes it hard for me to enjoy all but the most trancendant rap
Billy Bragg
3/5
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
Neat little time capsule of 70s vibe, but a bit much to listen to all at once... This kind of soul sound but with the bongos turned down to a reasonable level was done well on The Olympians' self-titled (2016).
Elton John
4/5
Malcolm McLaren
4/5
Kinda kitschy, but the grooves, tunes and especially bass lines are worth almost every minute. I enjoyed it despite my dim expectations.
Japan
2/5
These guys need a cup of coffee before recording an influential album
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Bad Company
3/5
T. Rex
3/5
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
Kinda Michael Jackson with not as much unique delivery? One or two fun songs but I had a hard time recognizing the genius he claimed, or at least the notability reviewers do.
Alice In Chains
5/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
k.d. lang
2/5
Nothing I could really appreciate. Sleepy pop with no hooks.
Fiona Apple
5/5
Practically have this album memorized. 9 fantastic songs on a 10-track album. The composition, lyrics, diction are all off the charts and she was 18/19 when she recorded it. Blows my mind.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
Thin Lizzy
5/5
Rollicking good time. Surprised how much I like this band! I'm glad to discover so much beyond "The Boys Are Back in Town."
Also, I always thought they were American. That voice sounds like a cross between Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, and lyrics have a similar quality to many of their songs.. But it turns out they're Irish, which just interests me more.
Tears For Fears
4/5
There are some indispensable bangers, but a lot of space fillers too... "Listen" is three times too long
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Air
3/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Meh. Same energy as Velvet Underground & Nico, which could be a good thing, but with the chaotic grating production of the Pixies.
The Waterboys
5/5
This is pretty cool. Really interesting instrumentation, bright clear production, good lyrics & vocals.
The Pogues
3/5
Turbonegro
3/5
The Stooges
3/5
Tangerine Dream
4/5
Crazy to know it’s from 1973. Pretty enjoyable ambient-type sounds from very early in its origins.
Portishead
5/5
Emmylou Harris
4/5
I keep hearing Alison Krauss. But this is way before!
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
I listened to it five times in two days. What a revelation! Undeniably booty-shaking.
The Verve
3/5
The rest of the album doesn’t stand up to the first track
Slint
4/5
So strange… I truly enjoyed it but it also put me to sleep.
Jane Weaver
4/5
What a pleasant surprise! H>A>K and The Architect are awesome. The whole thing is pretty good. Not my style but I still enjoyed it a lot.
The Band
3/5
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
Pretty but nothing engaging. Inoffensive. Acceptable at a cocktail party. Not really for this kind of list.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Stereolab
3/5
Koffi Olomide
4/5
Primal Scream
2/5
Every single track is too long. Not my jam.
Public Enemy
4/5
Morrissey
3/5
Public Enemy
4/5
I got two Public Enemy albums in a week. “Nation of Millions” earned my respect and this is even better.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
Two hours of absolute pinnacles of talent. Kind of a lot all at once, but what a treat.
Lou Reed
5/5
Totally seductive. Somehow he makes living on the wild side feel glamorous. I thought I’d get tired of his delivery which almost sounds bored, but it fits the music and lyrics well
The Crusaders
3/5
Foo Fighters
3/5
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Great humor. Jump into the Fire is a headbanger.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Suicide
2/5
Van Halen
5/5
Tom Waits
3/5
Prefab Sprout
5/5
This could have been recorded by The 1975. Sounds great, really catchy end to end.
David Bowie
3/5
John Prine
3/5
10cc
2/5
2 means “it wasn’t totally offensive, but I have no idea why it belongs in this list…”
4/5
Tunesome, classic. The loudness wars got to this one a little bit. Never listened to the non-singles, but almost every track could have been a single. That’s a rare thing!
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Solid 3. Interesting interpretation, damn they're virtuosos, I'm glad I listened, and I'd put this on a 1001 list... but for this piece, one of the best ever, I'd rather just listen to Mussorgsky by a true symphony orchestra.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Kinda cool, respect the outlaw just kinda doing what he loves, but this was for him not me.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Absolutely belongs for for Nothing Compares 2 U. One of the best vocal takes ever cut to a record. The rest is... honestly interesting, but not highly repeatable for me.
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
Glad I listened. I can appreciate how influential it's all been. But nothing artistically useful to me.
The Triffids
2/5
I listened to this a week or two ago and I can't remember a damn thing to say. Must have been memorable....
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
A little too crunchy for some at times, but so great. They've never come close to this ever since. There are 28 full tracks, 2 hours and maybe 4-5 stinkers, so I'll give them a pass on those and call this the honor roll it is.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Better than the earlier one. Even downright pretty at times. And especially in Gypsy Woman, you can really hear his son's voice too. But I guess not "essential."
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Interesting listen. Probably won't return to it much, but it sounded really good. Goth rock certainly had a big moment...
X-Ray Spex
2/5
The Who
5/5
Got better and better over its brief run. There's nobody who ever played like Keith Moon.
Brian Eno
2/5
Woodshedding music, not interest keeping. Sounds cool I guess
Justice
2/5
Proto dubstep, nice enough but not bucket list material. Might come back to this for woodshedding at work
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
One of the best albums the Stones ever put together was not actually by the Stones. Most excellent blues rock.
Slayer
2/5
Technically difficult, but thrash is paradoxically boring if it has no intensity variation. RAWR RAH ARRHEHR RAH RAH RAH RAH RARARARARAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! for 38 minutes, becomes background noise after three minutes. The last track is ok. Metallica is much more consistent at recognizing this.
3/5
Way cool pop! Not sure I’ll return much, but I enjoyed the listen very much.
Eagles
3/5
Ice Cube
2/5
Roni Size
3/5
Pretty cool, but ran out of steam and interest very quickly. Probably belongs on this list but not one to return to much.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Some great ones, fun to listen to, but pretty inconsistent. Rainy Day Women is the best.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Ooh! Bit of a surprise. Beautifully mixed and nice vocal harmonies. The lead vocal is overproduced tho. Sounds very dated to the 90s, but can't help but enjoy it. Highlights: Lazy Days, South of the Border
New Order
2/5
Bunch of meh. That anemic 80s vocal just doesn't make me feel a damn thing
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Unique vox, unique voice.
Funkadelic
3/5
Sure, must hear. Maggot Brain is great. But the album all-in is a mess. Sounds like a lot of fun live tho.
Method Man
3/5
Like this more than most 90s rap. N-bombs at an efficient minimum and the flow is pretty smooth.
The Blue Nile
1/5
WOW. Can’t believe I actually hated one. This was nearly insufferably boring.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Meat Loaf
4/5
Little Richard
4/5
D'Angelo
4/5
So damn good. S-t Damn Motherf-ker and Higher are the highlights. But several more great ones. The bass sound on Lady is dreamy.
I dismissed this guy as some basic R&B crooner in the 90s. First, the music is better. Second, he wrote it. Third, he plays not just sings. I'm sorry D'Angelo, I did not give you a chance until now.
The Offspring
4/5
Great way to nudge punk a little to the radio. It gets a little samey all at once, but that's the only knock. All trax are pretty good!
Napalm Death
3/5
Ok, so grindcore. Either you hate it, or you're at least a little damaged yourself. But there's a lot to appreciate here. I hate the vocals of this style, but otherwise it's clearly so influential. Musicians very skilled and precise. Anyway, glad I listened but I will not return to anything longer than the track "You Suffer."
The Kinks
2/5
I think to appreciate this one I have to put it in 1966 context. It came out a couple months after Revolver. Nice inoffensive pop rock. But little to grab you, tweak your expectations, or surprise you.
Iron Maiden
5/5
Invaders, title track, Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name. good shit! Another one I've heard of for decades but never put on.
Yes
3/5
Ride
4/5
So… guess I like shoegaze?? I don’t care for the anemic vox (this is becoming a theme…). I hate how it seems like he’d rather be doing anything else. Especially when every other aspect of this is actually brilliant. Driving rhythm section. Good use of dynamics and harmonic tension. Creative macro and micro songwriting. Put Thom Yorke or PJ Harvey or Phoebe Bridgers in charge of vocals and you’ve got an all-timer.
Primal Scream
2/5
I just don’t get it. It didn’t bore me much. That’s the best I can say. Better than Screamadelica.
Rush
5/5
Yeah. I know this one. Red Barchetta is the okayest track, and that’s saying it all.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
I figured I’d never listened to this beyond Beautiful People, but I got flashbacks to a LAN party in 1998 when Jared was playing this and Mechanical Animals on repeat ALL NIGHT. Jared, you’re a weird one. Anyway, there’s a lot of anger and no subtlety in the writing, and lots of interesting things in the engineering. Important arguments made about hegemony, commercialism, celebrity, but Altogether, it’s about as redeeming as a Nuremberg Rally speech, but still “notable” in a similar sort of way. Glad I listened. Influential artifact of a specific time, and good for a bucket list, not a “best” list.
Björk
4/5
Love the jazz and trip hop influences. I find her music incredibly interesting but not always pleasing. Don’t miss Play Dead, a single “from this album,” but not released until the bonus track version. That and Anchor Song are my favorites.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Needed to take a couple listens, which was easy because it's pretty short. The title track is obviously a classic, and it's the slow stuff like Behave Yourself that really shows off creativity and talent. The others are just covers, and a cover has to be really special, or else I'd rather just listen to the original.
Muddy Waters
4/5
So much fun. I'm not cool enough to like this album. Harmonica is too high in the mix if he's going to wail on that one E/G trill for most of the whole album, but otherwise I could listen to this 10x. 100x if in person. Muddy Waters has the best voice for blues.
The Black Crowes
5/5
Amazed. Perhaps not every single track was perfect, but the first one hits so hard and there are lots of good ones scattered throughout the album. Not just the singles. So much so that I went looking for bonus tracks and other albums as soon as this was done and I never have energy for that. This is a keeper for life now.
a-ha
2/5
Kinda disappointing, TBH. Take On Me is obviously a classic, and I always like the rich orchestration, jazz harmonies, and thought that goes into 80s pop; this is no exception. But none of the rest of the album grabs me. On the very last track I thought they had something, then they got weird and boring. "And You Tell Me" is pretty funny, but at 1:51..... that's not enough to carry the album.
Pearl Jam
5/5
I wonder sometimes why they're associated so closely with grunge. They're not nearly so muddy and dark. Their music is emotional and definitely coherent but almost impressionistic, not least because you sometimes have no idea what he's mumbling. Anyway, this is nearly an hour of great riffs and strong writing. The production's a little dated, but there's a remaster from a few years back that just about fixes everything. 4.5 rounded up.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
They could have called this Goosebumps. As wonderful from beginning to end as any album ever. Beautiful, a little weird, evocative, poignant. I have loved it most of my life, to the point that I don't put it on much any more for fear of getting tired of it. But I think I listened to it for the first time on a very good system, and it's even better than I remember. The drums in America. The french horns in Old Friends. The rattle in the voice of the guy who doesn't think it's an ordinary cold in Voices of Old People. The entirety of Hazy Shade of Winter. So beautiful it literally brought me to tears.
Anita Baker
2/5
Lovely jazz bass. I got pretty excited for the first thirty seconds, but the rest of the album was too sleepy and schmaltzy. Wouldn't be on my version of this list = 2.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I mostly don't get Bob Dylan. It seems like he writes a libretto 4x the length of other writers, but the badly un-economic tactics almost never seem to cohere for me. It's like he's just stringing together as many semi-poetic phrases as he can. Definitely belongs on this list, but I don't dig it.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Note to self, try this one again. It was nasty and interesting. A little on the fence about its artistic merit, but it's definitely appropriate for this kind of list.
The Band
4/5
This is bunches better than the self-titled one also on this list. Tears of Rage is very, very good. I looked it up and am reminded of a recurring observation: Bob Dylan should write songs and other people should record them. Recipe for greatness.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Great blues. House-filling presence even on a small system. Graveyard Train and Chooglin are twice as long as they should be, Proud Mary is perfect, and the rest are very good. But you can put this on over and over. That's worth a lot!
Elliott Smith
5/5
Oh yeah. I know this one already.
He was already dead before I discovered him, so I didn't get the "loss" part of this firsthand, but listening to this makes me feel for him, a little sad for what he must have wrestled with.
The production is so intimate and unique. Multitracking vocals, the mic is practically in his mouth. The snare drum feels like a millimeter from your eardrum, the guitar's next to you on the couch, but the cymbals are out in the backyard. You can hear how he's influenced Beck, PortugalThaMan, of course Ásgeir Trausti, even Olivia Rodrigo.
If you dig this guy but hadn't heard of him before... keep listening to XO and self-titled. And don't miss Mic City Sons from his previous band, Heatmiser.
Kate Bush
5/5
This kind of discovery is exactly why I was excited about the prospect of this project. I would never have given it a chance. Wikipedia says "Art Pop?" Gag. But I listened once and felt a spark. Then again and started digging it. Now a third time in four days and it keeps growing on me.
I love the theme (of most tracks) of yearning for human connection in various types. It's human and earnest and totally disarmed my assumptions about being pretentious. It's a little weird, but just a little, so it seems like it's in a sweet spot for me. So like, Tori Amos and Robyn and Portishead in a stew, not Bjork salad.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I got this just a few days after another CCR, so I can't help but compare them. This doesn't have the barnstorming power of Bayou Country. The long jams like Ramble Tamble or Grapevine don't quite amaze, or keep the booty shaking. And while all the parts sound nice and tight, it also sounds like it was recorded in a antiseptic studio, not a dank basement. That's not well-suited to the jams.
But these things which hurt the jams do all kinds of favors for the shorter, disciplined tracks. Great for making dinner and singing along, whereas Bayou Country might be more for a party or a stoner's night in.
Pixies
4/5
I've been hearing that this is almost universally beloved for a long time. Nice to finally make the time to listen.
Considering how totally disappointing was Surfer Rosa, this is WAY better. A decent producer seems to make a big difference, and it sounds like someone made them rehearse everything at least a couple times. The sound of every instrument is vastly better. The subjects are weird and wonderful and make me think. It's still quite rough and grating, it's not love at first sight, but I'll definitely be able to give this a few more tries and I think it'll grow on me.
Fever Ray
3/5
I love love love their arrangements. Living, organic percussion that reminds me of Blue Man Group or Gotye (or the Knife, naturally). Confident and conservative songwriting that isn't trying to blow you away but get you slow like honey. But their whiny vocals tire me out so damn fast. When they're not whiny they're in this weird compressed autotune that's equally annoying. Probably real good just one song at a time.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Very "nice" conventional 80s/90s jazz. Pretty, and not to say boring, but not terribly attention-grabbing. Interchangeable with 101 other very good, but not very unique jazz albums, so... not what I'd hope for from this list.
The Soft Boys
3/5
I listened to it once and was unimpressed. But something made me hold off on reviewing and listen to it another day. It got better, and I can see how it must have been an interesting crossroads between punk and 80s popular music, but I don't think there's really anything to return to after Track 1.
Nirvana
3/5
For the first time, I think, I listened to this while trying to separate it from the contrast with their studio records and take it as itself. The performance itself is just okay, pretty ragged at times (and I'm not just talking about the IDGAF of grunge in general; the guy's in bad shape).
I suspect the knowledge of Cobain's fate shortly after this colors all interpretation and I'm no different. There are some brilliant ones in here. (All Apologies, Lake of Fire, WDYSLN). But I disagree with the "greatest live albums of all time" designation.
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is the third Dylan album in 170 records for me, but it's the best one. Great melodies, much more focus to his lyrics, good arrangements, more structure to his songs and most of them are a poetic adventure. I can't even pick the best, they're all different and all pretty damn effective. Even the long ones (115th Dream; It's Alright Ma) don't feel long when you're interested, which was not the case on the other albums for me.
Frank Black
3/5
Strange ride. The first couple songs were pretty fun. Then it settled into a bunch of songs that made me think he was trying to be Lou Reed -- but not very successfully. Then he was trying to be Lou Reed -- rather successfully! Finally he settled into some more poppy punk from 18-21 that was fun.
Ultimately, I can't shake the impression that this is a too-long album made by a guy who's convinced everything he writes is great stuff. And he's right only part of the time.
Brian Eno
1/5
I have now spent 42 minutes with Brian Eno, and I have learned nothing. I've heard the name a lot over the years, and I always got the sense that his was a name you dropped if you were about to say, "you probably don't GET it." Well, I don't.
Mudhoney
3/5
Another one I've heard of but probably never listened to. The first few tracks and the last one were a lot of fun. I'll return to those for sure. It reminds me of Sponge and Morphine.
The United States Of America
3/5
Who gave these cats a record contract?? That's what I want to know. It is THOROUGHLY weird, but thankfully vibes with my specific brand of attention- and hyperactivity-related deficits. I will be returning to this a few times. I feel like they took Sgt Pepper's a few steps into another dimension.
Also sounds GREAT for being recorded and mixed 50 years ago. The bass, drums and voice are clear and deep.
Could really do without the pipe organ cameos tho. Circus music doesn't belong anywhere.
The Everly Brothers
2/5
Boy oh boy are love songs creepy in the 50s. "Made to Love" got me off on a real bad foot. Interesting to hear, I guess.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
I read that this got Hooker the recognition he deserved his whole life, got him a Grammy, and the royalties allowed him to live his late life in relative comfort. Those are great things, but for the little I know of his other music, this doesn't show why he was great. The Bonnie Raitt song and the tracks near the end after he dropped the collabs were the best, and getting there.
The Incredible String Band
3/5
"I think drugs have done some good things for us, I really do. And if you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight and take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CD's and burn them. Because, you know what? The musicians who made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years... rrrrrrrreal fucking high on drugs. Man, the Beatles were so high, they let Ringo sing a couple of tunes. Tell me they weren't partying. (singing) "We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine." We all live in a-do you know how fucking high they were when they wrote that? They had to pull Ringo off the ceiling with a rake to sing that fucking song. (Beatle voices) John, get Ringo, he's in the corner. Ooh, look at him scoot, grab him! Hook his bellbottom, hook his bellbottom! He's got a song he wants to sing us. Something about living in a yellow tambourine or something. Ringo, Yoko's gone, come down, we can party again! They were real high, they wrote great music, drugs did have a positive effect." -- Bill Hicks
B.B. King
4/5
Megadeth
4/5
Never thought I’d like more thrash metal than Metallica, but this is great. The vocals get a little annoying but so much fun to listen to and even more fun to notice their technical skill.
JAY Z
2/5
People who spend 45 minutes rhyming about how much money they have and how much tail they pull make me roll my eyes. I find it nearly impossible to look past that to any artistic interest or cultural significance.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Just brilliant. Never sat down to listen to his albums, just the ones still in common rotation today. This is brilliant all the way through.
The Who
3/5
This is fun, but the other one is way better cover to cover. Glad I listened but I won’t return to more than a couple tracks.
The Beach Boys
3/5
This is very disorienting. Nothing like what I know of the Beach Boys, and I respect that they just kinda did what they wanted and flipped a bird to their expectations. It's a strange mix of songs: socially conscious (DGNTW and Student Demonstration Time), nostalgic and tropey but lush (Disney Girls), whimsical (TALOYF). Another one of those "glad i listened," but what mood do you need to be in to return to it as a whole? Solid 3.
The White Stripes
3/5
First of all, let it be known that "Fell in Love With a Girl" takes its hook from Fun Lovin' Criminals' "Smoke 'Em" and nobody else noticed. But I did. I see you Jack White.
Anyway, a few tracks in, I realized the sheer simplicity of every instrument and every song. And the drummer's... uh, not good. I realize the story goes that Meg unlocked something in Jack that let to their very fruitful collaboration. I can't argue at all with their success; I know also that Jack has gone on to impress me in many groups and many songs, so I know there's talent there, hiding somewhere. But this album has very little on display. And yet... I kinda dig it.
They undoubtedly got lucky in some ways to make it big with this, but I shouldn't underestimate the musical power and charisma that comes across in putting 150% into your work.
There's one absolute highlight. "I Can Tell That" is one of those songs that's a perfect combination of all elements: form, harmony, instrumentation, production, and the emotional content of the thing. Instant and powerful nostalgia bomb to your best friendships growing up.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
It's very pretty but this kind of music rarely grabs me. The imposition of quotes for the upcoming nuclear apocalypse and the juxtaposition against beauty and slick production are jarring, however, and it certainly had an effect. I found myself morose for most of the day after listening. So four stars for really meaning something, and for getting a rise out of me, and for several songs I get to add to the rotation.
Donovan
3/5
Proto-psychedelic. Precocious!
Beastie Boys
3/5
Dense as heck with cool samples and references. But you can’t listen to BB for long before it all seems so samey. Hey Ladies is basically She’s Crafty down to all the rhymes and phrasing.
David Bowie
3/5
Stones cover is much better than the original. The rest is just ok. There’s so much better in his catalog!
The Specials
3/5
Roots of ska and dub madly evident. But someone in this band thought too much of himself and the rest of the band didn’t push back… or I guess they did, because they quit shortly after. But they are what makes this good.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Miles Davis
4/5
This is sneaky. I spent the first half doing something while listening and thought it was just ok. Unemotional, smoove jaz. But this kind of music rewards attention. Way better if you focus on it.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Probably need to come back to this one. It should be up my alley but it just seemed one-note and on the nose. Maybe that's the point. Teenage me would have loved this.
Beach House
3/5
Dreamy. Pretty... but kinda boring. Reminds me of the XX, but this one's a little more interesting. There's a few tracks I liked more than the rest, when they managed to do something really weird with polymodality like Norway.
The Pogues
4/5
The lovely thing about this list is that while I knew about the Pogues (and I have previously been assigned Rum Sodomy & The Lash), I would never have put this on without this exercise. This is better than the other one and their sound, which seems to me truly unique, is this amazing mishmash of cultural styles that keeps entertaining. And their skills are much better since the other album as well. I even made it through the "extended version" of the album before I realized it was coming over.
Neil Young
4/5
I don’t have the words, other than that it was damn perfect for this tea-on-the-couch Thursday evening.
Deerhunter
1/5
Oh my god. I don’t know how I’m supposed to get into music that sounds like the musicians are bored out of their minds even while making it. There are two tracks that DON’T do this and they’re nothing special.
The Prodigy
4/5
Got a soft spot for this, even though I can't stand the genre in general. Every track is pretty engaging for its variety in sounds, beats and/or tempos. Narayana is the best.
The Cardigans
3/5
This one's got a couple keepers. And the vocals are deceptive, delivering lyrics that are more interesting than they appeared to me at first. And not one but two Black Sabbath references in a Swedish pop package. Ultimately, though, nothing close to a completely invaluable package, end to end.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I'm almost sure he's had better; this is a little formulaic. Quite singable. I feel like this is also especially important for its context as a 9/11 catharsis album.
AC/DC
5/5
About 8 of these 10 songs could have carried an entire career. So much swagger, absolutely unique sound.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
I was excited to see this, as I’ve heard often about it. But I’m pretty underwhelmed. Maybe a victim of expectations. Glad to hear the origins of later talented stuff though, so there’s that.
Butthole Surfers
2/5
Solid “should be on this list.” But so very strange. There’s so much more that’s this weird and borderline offensive, but actually better (e.g. Fantomas)
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
The first five tracks or so were so bland. Kicked up a bit later and I actually saved Seven Seas for permanent rotation. Must be influential or something, because standing alone it’s not terribly worth the time.
T. Rex
4/5
Very impressive. You can hear glam rock finding a voice track by track. Cosmic Dancer is so hypnotizing, I had to listen a couple more times after the album was done.
Pantera
2/5
The music is fantastic. Hard, of course, but surprisingly nuanced for metal. Slow bits and quiet bits make the hard bits harder. But I still can’t stand screamo vocals. I need to tune it out to get through the thing, which is not fair to the musicians present. Too bad.
Green Day
5/5
What is there to write that hasn’t been written? The apex of its style and time and place.
The Pharcyde
1/5
Nope. Few redeeming qualities and track 4 or 5 lost me for good.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Fred Neil
2/5
Liz Phair
4/5
Brave to make this, brave to publish it, and wonderfully strange that such raw unpolished girl power was wildly successful. It’s rather inconsistent, but the good tracks are just phenomenal. 6’1”, Dance of the 7 Veils, Explain it to Me, Divorce Song, Flower, and Gunshy for me.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Endlessly repeatable. Great great afrobeat album.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
Nobody sounds good for an entire album in head voice. Anyway, this music still has this crazy tendency to make me feel nostalgic even though the lyrics are of a life and a memory relatively foreign to mine. Spooky. Extra points for covering Joni, even though no one could ever outdo the original.
Motörhead
2/5
Meh. If your music has only one intensity setting, it may as well be Muzak.
David Bowie
2/5
Weird and lovely but I think it’d take more listens to really sink my teeth in. I think Bowie must have been in an off period for this. He seems a little unsatisfied with it himself.
Ute Lemper
2/5
A little Dresden Dolls-esque, crossed with Kurt Weill. Rich orchestrating and a very strong German vocal. Too theatrical for me, but it was nice to listen to once.
Björk
3/5
Very cool experiment. Can never go wrong collaborating with Rahzel and Patton. But hardly repeatable.
Fugees
3/5
Five absolutely classic tracks in a 90s time capsule. But also, maybe just take those tracks and drop the rest. N bombs still constantly distracting; I wish they weren’t necessary to make the point.
The Cure
2/5
Less interesting than Seventeen Seconds. Kinda a chore to get through, but good to hear once.
Hookworms
3/5
Useful to listen to, if only to see what is hip for modern music. The first 45 seconds or so are catchy as heck. It sounds really good, but nothing really grabbed me except the first bit.
Love
4/5
This got better and better as I got a handle on the style of this record. Sounds extremely well-rehearsed, creatively composed and recorded. Mostly conventionally “pretty,” but there are more weird and brave steps everywhere that pretty much land well. This one will need to get repeats when I come back around to the greatest hits of this list.
The Undertones
3/5
Early punk. Nothing stupendous but still fun throughout.
Stephen Stills
5/5
Wow! This is what CSNY aspires to and sometimes reaches. Guess we know who is the heartbeat of that outfit. Bunch of really good musicians having a great time.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I’ve never gotten into Springsteen. Still haven’t, yet, but I think you probably have to pay attention to the stories in the lyrics to really appreciate what half the USA loves about it. Gonna be tough to do that with the next album coming at me every day, but at least this made me believe in that proposition. Another one to return to at a leisurely pace.
Fairport Convention
4/5
One of those that grows on you as you get used to it. Touching, organic, and full of soul. Sailor’s Life is the best; Cajun Woman’s a bit of a mess but still fun.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Needs no comment. Flawless from composition to lyrics to delivery to production.
Various Artists
3/5
Who knew all these canonical versions came from a single compilation?
David Bowie
3/5
White boy tries funk, mostly gets the gist. Story at 8.
Radiohead
5/5
All tracks great. All tracks have inspired at least one inventive and interesting cover--that I know of. Shows that this all-time band was making excellent music even before they started going really weird. Now they’re making excellent music AND it’s really weird.
Germs
3/5
This singer has a hell of a lot of charisma. I hate screaming vocals but this is just short of that and I liked it despite my prejudices. The guitarist is hella good and the bass/drums are incredibly tight. If not for them I think the music would be a hot mess.
Prince
3/5
At least to a beginner, all the dance tunes sound alike. It’s a good formula, but it gets boring. The slow songs all have character of their own. Not sure I’d return to much here though.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
One or two of these at a time are awesome. Not a surprise that his voice gets grating all at once though. By the middle of My Michelle I had to take a break. 3 stars for good headbangin’ rock straight through, and an extra star for the 45 seconds of Sweet Child alone.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
A couple of gimmicky throwaway tracks… Hats Off should have been an instrumental. But the great Immigrant Song is only like the fifth-best one, and that’s really saying something. I saved several of these for permanent rotation, and I’m so glad I finally heard the drums on Out On The Tiles.
The Young Gods
3/5
As a fan of Nine Inch Nails, this kept my interest well enough. Longue Route is a pretty good one. I can hear the echoes of this influence in NIN, Mike Patton’s various groups, Trans Am, Rammstein, Meat Beat Manifesto. Inventive use of samples, and pads, I think.
ABBA
3/5
Never took ABBA seriously. That was a mistake. All tracks have a lot of inventiveness to entertain the music geek. And a couple to keep for good. Just a couple of throwaways.
Kanye West
4/5
Never took Kanye West seriously either. All I really know about him is he’s a batshit crazy cringe lord. Maybe so, and yet. Still can’t stand boast songs and there are a couple that would be better if there were no vox, but damn if it doesn’t sound really, really good end to end.
Wild Beasts
2/5
The music beneath the vocals sounds amazing. Really cool drum stuff. But the extreme vibrato is not helping anything; it's extremely distracting. All the King's Men sounds like the band "Battles." Kinda makes me want to listen to them instead, since they don't have any singers as such.
The Birthday Party
1/5
God, what a chore to get through. These guys don't give a damn about anything, even their music, and why should I? I'll admit that the end of Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow), which repeats the same line about fifty times, achieved a sort of kaleidoscopic beauty in its repetition... but that's all I got.
Mike Patton does this schtick 20x better.
I was going to write that this sounds uncannily like Nick Cave without any skill whatsoever, and then I looked it up... That's EXACTLY what it is! Good thing he got better with age and practice.
The Lemonheads
3/5
Thoroughly enjoyable, nothing much that's eye-opening or inventive. Early 90s radio. Mrs. Robinson cover is pretty good. If you're wondering what other song sounds like "My Drug Buddy"... took me a while, but I think it's Dirty Work by Steely Dan.
TV On The Radio
4/5
Music media darling. Awfully catchy front to back, and DLZ is now inseparable from the "stay out of my territory" scene in Breaking Bad. But it didn't, like, blow my mind right out, and unfortunately I've been conditioned to expect that from all the times I've seen allusions to this album.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Pretty standard blues/rock. It might have been groundbreaking in its release year, but it hasn't aged too badly and remains a fun listen. "The Nazz are Blue" is a highlight.
Simple Minds
2/5
Awfully dated sound. Expensive production in the 80s that sounds like factory effects for karaoke on a 90s boom box. The low end has lovely punch, but the rest is just meh.
The National
3/5
When I read that they played one song on repeat for several hours--and that the released the whole thing on vinyl--I prejudged that this would be pretentious as heck. Pleasantly surprised to be wrong, or at least it's also pretty darn good. Sounds great, stays interesting and varied. The singer seems effortlessly pretty. I had to work while listening, but this'll be an important candidate to return to.
The Who
2/5
Not up to snuff. Big ok’ meh.
Haircut 100
2/5
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
Kinda like a pop rock opiate dream. Not sure what I was supposed to take from it.
3/5
Never loved this. Too inconsistent, especially knowing what they were capable of.
Orbital
2/5
Crowded House
3/5
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Not my style AT ALL. Charmed anyway.
Sade
3/5
Supertramp
4/5
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Willie Nelson
3/5
Bobby Womack
2/5
Nice soul. But just ok. The bassist is too showy and distracting for most of the album and only they and Bobby have much soul. “Games” is really good.
If this is on this list but I don’t see any Tower of Power anytime soonish, I’m going to send a strongly worded letter to the editor.
Eminem
3/5
4 for impact and nascent talent. Not my style, perhaps, but his talent for rhyming is undeniable. 2 for artistic merit.
Beatles
4/5
Really great, but not their most enduring. This blurb from Apple Music is perfect: "the first glimpse of our modern idea of the Beatles: safe but a little strange; warm but with shades of bleakness; a band that experimented tirelessly without ever leaving the mainstream."
George Michael
2/5
Really polished, but it doesn't make me feel much. It almost sounds too nice? No tension, no conflict, no suspension. He's got so much talent but I think this doesn't show much of it off.
Spiritualized
3/5
Sigh. It's really hard to impress with dreamy weird stuff. Not everyone can be radiohead. Lots of props for the winds--I was just reading someone say it's revolutionary to take winds into rock, that only Ben Folds, Paul Simon, and Bon Iver are that cool. Well the person saying that (Bon Iver's trumpeter) obviously never heard this stuff.
Shine a Light is insufferable. But the rest..... I think I'll try to return to this later. I think it might grow on me.
System Of A Down
4/5
Love this, but I can’t go to 5. It’s a hell of a first record and set a standard for 15 years of metal, but not quite as complete as Toxicity or Mezmerize/Hypnotize.
Massive Attack
4/5
Safe from Harm and Unfinished Sympathy are absolutely perfect. Several more are great. But there’s a lot of throwaway too. All the things this is good at— Mezzanine and Dummy are much better overall.
The Sonics
3/5
Raw and charismatic. I can see the obvious influence on punk. Important to hear but not much I'll come back to.
Tina Turner
3/5
Hawkwind
2/5
Me parece que more jam band than psychedelic or prof. An impressive feat of recording technique and player’s endurance but everything goes on way too long.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
Soul II Soul
2/5
Steely Dan
2/5
I notice the social commentary much more than on albums I’m slightly more familiar with. This was nice and pleasant, but hardly any of the catchiness of other stuff by them.
The Young Rascals
2/5
Maybe this is some of the best of 60s pretty pop, but it’s still something I find hard to find things to latch on to. A Girl like You is a cool arrangement. You Better Run, too. But overall pretty meh. A pop band trying to bite soul.
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Very well done for a debut, and kinda seems like it's ahead of its time? Or at least comfortably independent from what was hot at the time. But also nothing really amazing or eye-opening.
Neil Young
4/5
I keep thinking I can't stand Neil Young's voice, and he keeps making things that transcend that voice and make it so I really don't care. It's some kind of sorcery. This whole thing threatened to break my heart, and that was even before I read up on the background/inspirations for the album. Borrowed Tune is one of the most poignant songs I've ever heard.
Michael Jackson
4/5
A perfect case for this list. I had no idea he was like all disco for this debut album. The man had endless talent for arrangement and melody. Lots of booty shakers and lovely ballads. And those bass lines…
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Holy crap. Although I like her, I never put this one on because I’d never heard of any of its tracks. I figured it was one of those dud albums that even good artists have.
Nope. Maybe my new favorite, might be better than Hejira. The strings, winds and horns in Down to You are jaw-droppingly good. I listened to it three times over.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
A few really great tracks, especially on the first half. Tunic and Kool Thing are keepers. Vibes of Velvet Underground in a 90s setting.
It’s very distracting, however, that they seem to be fascinated and self-impressed by the noise and sound they can make with abused electronics without having any intentions of meaning in it. And “it’s just ennui and nihilism man,” wouldn’t convince me at all. What they’re singing, particularly the lady vocalist, is very important and deeply felt.
The Doors
4/5
Another band I never gave a chance to. This is awesome.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
I listened to this totally sober. For me that means I was not nearly high enough to get it. And already too high to enjoy it.
Talvin Singh
2/5
Can't help but notice it's just common Indian compositions (and not very profound) on common EDM stuff (and not very exceptional structure). It got a lot better for the final few tracks. Still there's a great recipe here, so it gets some credit assuming it led that principle a bit. (I think the Prodigy may have played with this a bit earlier, tho.) It was explored more, and better, by Tabla Beat Science's "Tala Matrix" so check that out if you liked this.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Man that’s a good rhythm section.
Green Day
4/5
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Thing about geniuses like Jimi Hendrix who thrive on improvisation… sometimes it’s lightning in a bottle and sometimes it just sounds like noodling. There’s a lot of this that could have used a better plan, tighter writing, or maybe a few more takes or something. But man, when it works it’s so damn good. Voodoo Child, Voodoo Chile, and 1983 could be an album on their own, almost. And then it would be a really tight, great one!
Beatles
4/5
Not my favorite but there’s an intimacy and a confidence that are really nice. Feels like this is making music especially for themselves, what they had inside wanting out. And it took until this listen to realize I’ve been playing Blackbird wrong.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Perfect to me.
Frank Zappa
5/5
Considering I hated the Mothers of Invention, this was a huge surprise. Virtuistic, clever, groovy, complex.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Constantly groovy and totally forgettable. I’m just waiting patiently every four bars for the next entrance or drum break. Times 50 minutes.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Undeniable confidence and charisma. I have no idea why it's so good, when other similarly unpolished things strike me as pretentious and annoying. Denied a perfect rating by that *actually* pretentious and annoying closer...
The Cure
3/5
Ok, I'm still kinda wondering why two other Cure albums are taking up spots on this list (17 Seconds and Porn) but at least they can contrast with this, several years later and much better. The songs are sometimes still a little meandering and overlong, but the whole thing is certainly a vibe. There's now a point and it's *resonant* with ennui in the listener, not just *inspiring* some like those others. The production is much better, or at least less dated. Especially on the drums and vox.
Lot of respect when a song makes me go get an instrument and pick it out to figure out what's going on, like the bass on Fascination Street.
Kanye West
3/5
All I really know about him is that he’s a celebrity-enabled psych case study. It seems to me that before he was so huge he really had some interesting things to say. I didn’t expect to save anything, but Spaceship did it for me. All Falls Down was excellent too.
Even so, I guess even in this debut album he ran out of complexity a few tracks in. “Always said if I rapped, I’d say something significant. But now I’m rapping about money, hoes, and rims again.” Ok bud, very self aware but are you going to do anything about it?
Jay-Z almost never has anything to say except how spiffy we ought to think he is, and that track seems to start the downturn. Workout, Slow Jamz, Breathe etc. sound nice but amount to nothing interesting. Through the Wire is a classic. Very mixed bag.
The Byrds
2/5
Pretty meh. Nothing that caught my attention or made me want to return to it.
Judas Priest
2/5
How many times have I seen this album cover and wondered if I'd like the music? I love that the project gave me cause to do so.
Unfortunately the cover, while great, is way more enduring than the contents. Some of it, like United, and Wise, is so damn corny. It's a fun time but hardly fills the heart or head. The Rage was the song I enjoyed most.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Meh. Guess I just don't like shoegaze.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
This is a little hit and miss. "Ted Just Admit It" is awfully self-indulgent and 7 plodding minutes that don't really go anywhere. Maybe I should just listen a few more times. Mountain Song and Jane Says are such perfect songs tho {prior rated}
Hole
4/5
more than the front lady! A lot more. I had to go through twice to try to appreciate more things than I could at the first.
Van Morrison
2/5
I was really intrigued by the bits I read ahead. Maybe a victim of my expectations, but this was a bit disappointing. I get the poetic elements, but the vamps (lyrical and musical) just peter out all the momentum of the art, several times. The two tracks with a bit more structure, instrumentation, and a hell of a lot better economy, are Sweet Thing and Young Lovers. And an album more like that would have been four stars. Can an artsy, jazzy, indulgent and pensive rock album ever be amazing? (YES! and speaking of which, Joni Mitchell’s Hejira had better be on this list somewhere…)
George Michael
2/5
Really polished, but it doesn't make me feel much. It almost sounds too nice? No tension, no conflict, no suspension. He's got so much talent but I think this doesn't show much of it off. {Prior rated}
Talking Heads
3/5
A great example of how making good music makes no sense. Besides his... unique... vocal delivery, there's so many nonconventional choices. Why is there a choir in the Good Thing?! Why is the chorus just the same melodic line repeated like 6x? It seems amateurish, if bold. But there's obviously a plan. And usually it doesn't work (The Mothers of Invention, IMO) and sometimes it works.
The bassist is so tasteful. Never a star, and she could show off a bit more, but not at all boring.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I got this just a few days after another CCR, so I can't help but compare them. This doesn't have the barnstorming power of Bayou Country. The long jams like Ramble Tamble or Grapevine don't quite amaze, or keep the booty shaking. And while all the parts sound nice and tight, it also sounds like it was recorded in a antiseptic studio, not a dank basement. That's not well-suited to the jams.
But these things which hurt the jams do all kinds of favors for the shorter, disciplined tracks. Great for making dinner and singing along, whereas Bayou Country might be more for a party or a stoner's night in. {Prior rated}
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
Really can’t figure out why this is supposed to be any good. Most songs are two chords with no direction, followed by two semi-related chords with no direction. Nearly zero variety in sound, instrumentation, or drumming approach.
“Reward” is actually pretty good, if you can make it that far. Honestly enjoyed it and added it to my rotation. But it’s not enough to save the album a spot here.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I know this well. I put it on trying to Hear it with new ears, and first- well, that’s impossible. But to the extent I succeeded at all, it’s still brilliant, unique, gloomy, sorrowful, and beautiful. IMHO. Worst I can say about it is that the transition from Have a Cigar to the title track is really awkward. Second-worst thing I can say is that it’s not even one of this band’s top three…
Black Sabbath
4/5
Surprisingly entertaining from end to end. I'm not usually one for doom and gloom; I didn't expect to like it so much. I guess I can see why Ozzy is famous now! (at least at first)
Pixies
2/5
Not as disappointing as Surfer Rosa. Still a chore to allow to proceed through all 14 tracks and 44 minutes. Best track: the Happening
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I expected to LOVE it, but I can't say that end to end. Two songs in particular are all-time favorites for me (Natural Mystic and 3 Little Birds). And it's great for listening while working. But turn the microscope on it and it gets a pretty long.
God, I bet they'd have been fun live tho.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I’ve never gotten into Springsteen. Still haven’t, yet, but I think you probably have to pay attention to the stories in the lyrics to really appreciate what half the USA loves about it. Gonna be tough to do that with the next album coming at me every day, but at least this made me believe in that proposition. Another one to return to at a leisurely pace. {Prior rated}
The Stranglers
3/5
This band recorded "Golden Brown"???
I kinda dig the marriage of punk and keyboards. Aggro and New Wave. Decent chops, especially for the bassist. And chord progressions longer than 3. Whimsical modulations and lyrics in Peaches. It's giving me a Cheap Trick feeling. And one of the vocalists sounds a lot like Nick Cave.
Ugly should have been kicked off this island. The rest were a pleasant surprise.
But seriously... six years later, "Golden Brown"??????
The Pharcyde
1/5
NOPE. Few redeeming qualities and the lyrics of track 4 or 5 lost me for good.
David Bowie
5/5
Sounds like Bowie-Patton-radiohead to me. Five stars.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
The absolute swagger. Nine minutes of storytime followed by 11 minutes of groove for "Phoenix."
At this point in the timeline we have better makeout music than Isaac Hayes, but only by hair's widths.
Also I love 2Wicky by Hooverphonic and the whole reason is that it's basically a dub remix of Walk On. That's all on Hayes, not Hooverphonic.
Kanye West
3/5
All I really know about him is that he’s a celebrity-enabled psych case study. It seems to me that before he was so huge he really had some interesting things to say. I didn’t expect to save anything, but Spaceship did it for me. All Falls Down was excellent too.
Even so, I guess even in this debut album he ran out of complexity a few tracks in. “Always said if I rapped, I’d say something significant. But now I’m rapping about money, hoes, and rims again.” Ok bud, very self aware but are you going to do anything about it?
Jay-Z almost never has anything to say except how spiffy we ought to think he is, and that track seems to start the downturn. Workout, Slow Jamz, Breathe etc. sound nice but amount to nothing interesting. Through the Wire is a classic. Very mixed bag.
Slint
4/5
So strange… I truly enjoyed it but it also put me to sleep.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Holy crap. Although I like her, I never put this one on because I’d never heard of any of its tracks. I figured it was one of those dud albums that even good artists have.
Nope. Maybe my new favorite, might be better than Hejira. The strings, winds and horns in Down to You are jaw-droppingly good. I listened to it three times over.
David Bowie
3/5
White boy tries funk, ...mostly gets the gist. Story at 8.
The Smiths
3/5
I liked the production and grooves. The really unique delivery of the singer often sounds like singsong narration rather than melody. Sometimes that's cool, but it's a little much for a long listen, even on this short-ish album. The lyrics are also really literal and expository rather than esoteric and poetical. It's strange feeling: to be surprised, by the thought, that this is unusual!
Jurassic 5
3/5
Lots of excellent grooves and rhymes. A Day at the Races is AWESOME. The rest is nice but not terribly challenging.
Once you start to notice the consistent monotonous swing that characterizes most of their lyrics in the other songs, it's hard to hear anything else including the semantic meanings!
Eels
3/5
One of those things (like more famously, Semi-Charmed Life) where the whole color of the room changes depending whether you're paying attention to the lyrics. I listened once about halfway through before I realized this and decided to try it again once I had time to focus a little more on it. I appreciated it a lot more then, it's deceptively dark. Though I can't imagine when I'd want to return to it. One song is enough, and Novocaine for the Soul plays that role just fine!
Massive Attack
4/5
Safe from Harm and Unfinished Sympathy are absolutely perfect. Several more are great. But there’s a lot of throwaway too. All the things this is good at— Mezzanine and Dummy are much better overall. {prior rated}
Neneh Cherry
2/5
So dated. Nothing that sounds great these years later besides her nice voice. Not a total waste, still interesting to peruse through it, so it's saved from the dreaded 1...
Suede
2/5
Nothing I could really get into. It had a sort of David Bowie vibe to it, but not as catchy as most of what he's done. Not offensive, though.
Bad Company
3/5
Fun enough. You basically get the whole point of the songs by reading the titles :)
Doesn't seem to break new ground or do anything unique, but it's very solid blues rock I'd be proud to have on any party playlist. Definitely deserves a spot on this list for the supergroup aspect. The fun they have doing this stuff with other vets definitely comes through.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I don't often care for this style, and it has to be something really special to catch my notice. This did that, at least. Playing with expectations a bit in song structure. Their subjects are a little more interesting than "it feels good to dance," or "I got dumped and it's no fun." (There's a place for those too, but I need more from disco I guess.) It's a Sin is a banger, but one great track doesn't make a whole album in this game.
Culture Club
4/5
Ok, I enjoyed this top to bottom. Despite the obvious flaws like thin voice, dated production and cheesyness, it makes up for a lot with lots of hooks, earnest effort, compositional creativity, and some je ne sais quoi I can only call charisma. Sam Smith is awesome, but I hope it’s safe to say it helps to have blue-eyed soul like this to stand on and move ever forward.
CHIC
4/5
I was vaguely familiar with Le Freak, and on that basis (and Wikipedia) I assumed I was in for a disco album. But not a minute into the first track, it occurred me this is more like a jam band. And the next hour was so much fun! It earned a repeat play before the day was over and several tracks are staying on rotation. I Want Your Love is stupendous. Pleasant surprise.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
I had this earlier last summer and I couldn’t muster any commentary, and gave it a “meh, 2”. But I’m wondering if I was in a nasty mood, or listened to the wrong album. Because this is so good. Earnest useful lyrics, creative and skilled instruments, economical writing. This could go on anytime.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Undeniable confidence and charisma. I have no idea why it's so good, when other similarly unpolished things strike me as pretentious and annoying. Denied a perfect rating by that *actually* pretentious and annoying closer...
Pink Floyd
4/5
As a piece of art, the movie & album are just perfect. But as an album, standing alone, I have to admit it gets just a little long after Comfortably Numb without a story to drive it. There's nothing else I could write about this that hasn't been done better!
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Thing about geniuses like Jimi Hendrix who thrive on improvisation… sometimes it’s lightning in a bottle and sometimes it just sounds like noodling. There’s a lot of this that could have used a better plan, tighter writing, or maybe a few more takes or something. But man, when it works it’s so damn good. Voodoo Child, Voodoo Chile, and 1983 could be an album on their own, almost. And then it would be a really tight, great one!
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
Kinda like a pop rock opiate dream. Not sure what I was supposed to take from it. {Prior rating}
Sam Cooke
3/5
I’m sure much is to be made of his voice, but the real takeaway for me is the really great preparation of his band. They keep the party moving like a skilled DJ might! Without the crutch of easy cues and a tempo fader. I don’t think I’d listened to much of him at all before, if any, but it’s cool to take in the raw crowd pleasing power and charisma even if he doesn’t make me, personally, swoon.
Miles Davis
3/5
This is sneaky. I spent the first half doing something while listening and thought it was just ok. Unemotional, smoove jaz. But this kind of music rewards attention. Way better if you focus on it. Also worth noting: this sounds like normal 70s-2010s jazz mostly because this comes before all those biters.
Massive Attack
4/5
I can’t believe I never noticed that the title track is 8 minutes long. Just goes to show how DAMN smooth it is. Passes like a river, and it could go longer and I wouldn’t mind.
This is even better than Blue Lines- better choices, more mature. I love it so. Still not perfect, end to end, though… if Mezzanine doesn’t come up on this list at some point, I’m going to freak out!
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
I’m scoring this an incomplete. It really defies an opinion on first listen. I was just sort of meh at first, but then i started to write this note and flipped through the beginning of So in Love and Love to the People. And then listened to the whole thing again. So I have to just say I have to score it with an asterisk and come back at some point.
I don’t love his constant whiny falsetto, but everything else is so funky, peaceful, pessimistic… all at once? Really brilliant songwriting.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
Who puts this on by choice?!?!?
Can't Stop is ok, if you can make it that far. But I want my 45 minutes back, so you get the dreaded 1.
Kinda makes me want to find some actually good southern swagger. Better Than Ezra's Paper Empire coming up next.
Animal Collective
2/5
Nirvana
3/5
For the first time, I think, I listened to this while trying to separate it from the context, the contrast with their studio records, and take it standing alone. The performance itself is just okay, pretty ragged at times (and I'm not just talking about the IDGAF of grunge in general; the guy's in bad shape).
I suspect the knowledge of Cobain's fate, coming shortly after this show and before it was released, colors all interpretation and I'm no different. There are some brilliant ones in here. (All Apologies, Lake of Fire, WDYSLN). It’s mostly great. But I disagree with the "greatest live albums of all time" designation. {prior rate}
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
So this is their debut? Incredible. Even the ones I’d never heard are awesome.
I have to say I’ve always found Simple Man to be too long, too slow, too repetitive. But that’s faint criticism for an otherwise timeless work.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Bobby Womack
2/5
Nice soul. But just ok. The bassist is too showy and distracting for most of the album and only they and Bobby have much soul. “Games” is really good.
If this is on this list but I don’t see any Tower of Power anytime soonish, I’m going to send a strongly worded letter to the editor. {prior rated}
Nirvana
4/5
Another one I know "of" but never put on end to end. What fire in their bellies. And I'm sure I never really listened to the drums on this record. They hit HARD.
I guess in my own ruleset I can't give this a 5 because I don't think every last track is a keeper or at least serves the whole, but it's damn close.
Surprises: Scentless Apprentice, Frances Farmer
Not surprises: Rape Me, All Apologies, Dumb
Van Morrison
2/5
I was really intrigued by the bits I read ahead. Maybe a victim of my expectations, but this was a bit disappointing. I get the poetic elements, but the vamps (lyrical and musical) just peter out all the momentum of the art, several times. The two tracks with a bit more structure, instrumentation, and a hell of a lot better economy, are Sweet Thing and Young Lovers. And an album more like that would have been four stars. Can an artsy, jazzy, indulgent and pensive rock album ever be amazing? (YES! and speaking of which, Joni Mitchell’s Hejira had better be on this list somewhere…)
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
When I rotated through this before, I gave it a 4 but had nothing to say. Dunno where that came from! There's a lot to love here, and a lot of variety. Tracks 5-6-7-8 are a tour de force.
The Fall
3/5
Let’s suppose this is an important and representative example of “post-punk.” In that case although I liked listening to this once through, I don’t think I will be looking for more. Another case of nearly all songs being 2-3x longer than they should be. Probably they were fun live, tho.
4/5
“She’s Bought a Hat” is like Sgt Peppers remixed for a Monty Python fanfic. I started just humoring this, but by golly, by the end I loved it. Not everyone can reinvent pop music like the Beatles; this takes a lot of inspiration from that group and shines with its own voice and whimsy.
Ray Charles
4/5
String arrangements are boss. I feel old to say this/think this, but pop songs used to be really complicated! I love that. Some still go to the trouble--like I've noticed on Silk Sonic's music-- but most do not. It's such a lovely pleasure to sit down with stuff like this.
I can't say I prefer Charles' versions of anything over others, but they're all lovely and this gets plenty of bonus for breaking barriers.
The Stooges
3/5
Getting this so soon after Velvet Underground and Nico... it's so much like those cats with extra sneer. I really dig it.
People were really into dirges in the 60s. If that track were like 6 minutes, this album is less than a half hour long. That's a little weak... but what remains is really good.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Thoroughly belongs on this list. I love his lyrics and never would have made it through an album without this list. But it's all so morose all at once!
I think it's really only morose at a certain depth. It makes me aspire to sit down and pay attention to something for more than 140 characters at a time so I can appreciate it at that deeper level. Aspire, but not succeed today.
Roxy Music
4/5
First track was boss. I find that i do love glam.
The Doors
3/5
I went for a long drive and listened to the Doors from a cliff overlooking the Bay and San Francisco. It was just the right music. This is pretty tunesome blues throughout and has a great allegory for the title track. I didn't even notice how long it was. Not a perfect album but a great vibe, soup to nuts, and several permanent takeaways.
Nick Drake
4/5
Vocals, beautiful. Delivery, dreamy. ARRANGEMENT, folk and jazz and classical perfectly merged. Haunting melodies and a totally unique "voice." This is a quiet masterpiece of an album and it's not even his best. It's not even his second-best! I'll admit a couple songs could have been cut down or cut. That, and because he needs somewhere higher to go for other albums, are the only reasons this gets a 4.
Air
4/5
My reaction to this is a testament to my own prejudices. I enjoyed this greatly, and it's definitely going into rotation for repeated listens, study music, etc. And yet I have some kind of bias against taking it seriously as art. What's up with that? It is not immediately "challenging" or "riveting," but I don't think it's trying to be and it doesn't have to be. In 1998 it must have been way ahead of its peers and for the trails it's blazed for Royksopp, Tycho, etc I am thoroughly grateful.
Funkadelic
3/5
Sure, must hear. The title track is great. But the album all-in is a mess. Sounds like a lot of fun live tho. [prior rate]
The Triffids
2/5
I listened to this a week or two ago and I can't remember a damn thing to say. Must have been memorable....
The Doors
4/5
Another band I never gave a chance to. This is awesome. {prior rating}
Also rocks a lot better than the later album on this list!
The Icarus Line
3/5
I WANTED to like this a lot. It's some really groovy bottled napalm. But it's just a little too edgy for me. Several times I thought a track was going to be a big highlight, but by the time it reached its full crescendo it just wasn't enjoyable any more. I actually suspect this is a problem exacerbated on the first-impression. If I knew where each song was going I think I wouldn't find it as annoying..... but Oh well! on to the next day!
Madonna
4/5
Lovely little time capsule. Other than her (brilliant) singles on this, the rest shows an unexpected diversity of styles. I really dig it.
Brian Wilson
3/5
I get that this album was mythical for decades, but I dunno if it was worth the wait... I like the really diverse instruments and structures. But I think Brian Wilson's melodies are usually just too smart for me. The through-composed nature of most of these songs gives you nothing to latch on to. Those with at least a little bit of motif (e.g. Vege-Tables, Wind Chimes, and obviously Good Vibrations) are therefore the highlights.
The United States Of America
3/5
Who gave these cats a record contract?? That's what I want to know. It is THOROUGHLY weird, but thankfully vibes with my specific brand of attention- and hyperactivity-related deficits.
I will be returning to this a few times. I feel like they took Sgt Pepper's a few steps into another dimension. Also sounds GREAT for being recorded and mixed 50 years ago. The bass, drums and voice are clear and deep.
Could really do without the pipe organ cameos tho. Circus music doesn't belong anywhere.
Brian Eno
5/5
Imagine a rainy day off work. It’s coming down decently hard but it’s early morning. So the rain is coming from above and the sun is streaming in the windows on your eastern side. Your cup of coffee is just at your elbow and you had a good night’s sleep. You can just kinda space out and watch the old dog dog at your feet breathe. Or you can read poetry from Lenore Kandel that fuddy-duddies were trying to ban for obscenity during the Summer of Love. Or you can try to figure some personal stuff out. Or you can rehearse your next argument with your politically awful relatives. And all the while, you can use the rain and the dog and the sunlight as anchors to the real world, or springboard for more abstract thought.
This is kinda that.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
I bet she played a role in bringing this music to more cultures and countries, and that's lovely. But there wasn't much that really impressed me more than other singers' versions of most of this. Good for history and context.
Bob Dylan
3/5
When he starts rambling and vamping for what seems like minutes at a time he loses all interest for me. (e.g. A Hard Rain). I feel like at LEAST once an album he has a song which is just a list of things and it's great the first time but gets old fast.
But when he's a lot more focused and seems to have more ideas for melody, he's so good. Even a longish song like I Shall Be Free carries none of the boredom of his less-focused songs.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
Pop? New wave? What I hear is ska. And I love it! I saved a bunch of tracks from this and I listened -- really listened -- to Come on Eileen for the first time in forever. There's a lot of filler and overly fussy tweaks evident in the production, but lots of fun front to back.
Erykah Badu
4/5
So much life on this album. She has such a unique voice and delivery, and lyrics. Besides the all-time great Green Eyes, the first track Penitentiary Philosophy never fails to bang the head. And Cleva's lyrics are so heartfelt and convincing. Damn solid album. 4.4444444 repeating.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Good for history. Huge for its time, I'm sure, but it doesn't really engage me in 2022 (for example the way Sam Cooke's live album did)
The Smiths
3/5
I liked the production and grooves. The really unique delivery of the singer often sounds like singsong narration rather than melody. Sometimes that's cool, but it's a little much for a long listen, even on this short-ish album. The lyrics are also really literal and expository rather than esoteric and poetical. It's strange feeling: to be surprised, by the thought, that this is unusual!
Rod Stewart
2/5
I have now listened to a full album by the famous Rod Stewart. And for that cost of admission? I no longer have to report that I don’t know his music at all. Instead, I can now report that I just don’t care for him!
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Pretty disappointing, considering I've been hearing this band's name for years. The recipe is: make a groove with interesting and varied instruments, repeat it for six minutes, yelp over the top, and for god's sake don't change the groove or develop your lyrics.
This was a chore to get through; I kept hoping they would turn a corner. But the last track was a major redemption! That one, at least, is really great and succeeds in many of the ways that the rest of the album fails.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Especially satisfying to bookend this album with two absolute classics. Definitely an album with lots of replay power. There are a couple puzzling tracks here but that's mild criticism.
Wilco
4/5
Even as the first impression, i'm convinced that this will keep interest and keep rewarding over many, many listens. Lovely variety and instrumentation, brave/weird choices, singalong writing and interesting lyrics. Definitely one to return to.
Beatles
4/5
Really great, but not their most enduring. This blurb from Apple Music is perfect: "the first glimpse of our modern idea of the Beatles: safe but a little strange; warm but with shades of bleakness; a band that experimented tirelessly without ever leaving the mainstream." [prior rate]
Radiohead
5/5
Yeah, like I’ll have anything clever to say about this.
OutKast
3/5
Four of these tracks are on constant rotation (BOB, Humble Mumble, So Fresh So Clean, Ms Jackson). I had forgotten why I don't listen to the whole thing anymore, but it all came back. The rest is a VERY mixed bag, sometimes veering into terrible (We Love Deez Hoez). Still a deserving entry for this list.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
This takes itself so damn serious, it's more a lecture than an album. It was sometimes jawdropping how relevant it all is 30 years later. All these fears from 1992 are still a big problem or have come to fruition. Hong Kong troubles (Satanic Reverses), code-switching and black minstrelism (Amos and Andy), TV propaganda (TV the Drug), war as theater (Winter), racial health disparities in San Francisco (Everyday Life), upside-down public spending (Financial Leprosy), smarmy gov wants to be prez (CA Uber Alles).... on one hand, it makes me think it's not so bad now if it was always this bad. On the other hand that's damn depressing.
I can't give it a 5 in my arbitrary rating system because it's not a lot of replay value. But damn this is a good one. I had no idea about Michael Franti's prior incarnation as a worthy peer of Public Enemy.
Minutemen
5/5
Stupendous. I had no idea such a thing existed. And to this big Sublime fan, hearing so much on one album that obviously influenced Sublime is an extra treat. I can honestly say that every track of this very long album was appreciated. (Good thing that a couple "meh" tracks got cut for the digital release. I sought them out too, but I didn't love them). Every track with its own character and unique rhythmic backbone. The drums are stupendous, and the lyrics are especially consistently good too. What a lovely surprise.
Michael Jackson
4/5
A lovely consequence of this project is the reason to listen to even familiar music with renewed attention, especially if I take the trouble to listen with higher volume on a good setup.
For some reason I always heard the synth bassline of "The Way You Make Me Feel" was a pedal tone, but it moves! I hear stuff in the mix for "Bad" that I never realized was there. The chord changes in the bridge of "Speed Demon." And so on.
Liberian Girl and Dirty Diana are a little dud-y. And it's not as good as Thriller. So I guess it's only a 4.
AC/DC
2/5
I expected to like this a lot more. I guess the proto-screamo gets old if it's a whole album at once. Can't deny the hits, but the rest of the album was ... fine.
Travis
2/5
So sleepy. There must be something deep I'm missing-- all I heard was inoffensive soft rock.
Boston
5/5
Bass lines out the wazoo. Every track could be someone else's career-defining single.
The Byrds
2/5
Pretty meh. Nothing that caught my attention or made me want to return to it.
The Jam
3/5
Seemed pretty generic to me, I had a hard time figuring out what's "important" about this album. Last couple tracks are heartfelt and quite serious. And I see what commenters have said about the ode to England being earnest without cringey patriotism.
The Cure
2/5
Less interesting than Seventeen Seconds. Kinda a chore to get through, but good to hear once. (Prior rate)
MGMT
3/5
Nice to hear that the rest of this debut is up to the standard of their singles even though it doesn’t grab me personally. Very singable throughout
Supergrass
4/5
Drummer is superb, and their infectious energy and evident polish, especially for teenagers, brings a lot of charisma
Röyksopp
2/5
Electronic tastes are so finicky. I've heard a bunch of times that this group should be up my alley. And it's not too far off from Thievery or Tycho, who I really like. But this whole thing gets a meh from me. And Eple, the supposed breakout hit, was the most annoying part.
Chicago
4/5
Seems like I really like Chicago, especially their early works with Terry Kath. Lots of great musicians, earnest (slightly cheezy) lyrics, and dense arrangements.
"DARKWTII" is a puzzling track. Apparently it was a radio hit, but the first half is a bit of a chore. After that, though, it's the perfect kind of tunesome sardonicism that is right up my alley.
The whole album is pretty good with the energy of (what was surely) a rollicking live show with the polish of a studio. Some tracks are a little indulgent, but that's ok. It's a good one and deserves to go on the ol' hi-fi end-to-end.
The Verve
2/5
The rest of the album doesn’t stand up at all to the first track. (prior rate)
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
First four are awesome. Lost a little steam in the late middle, but pretty enjoyable and ends strong. One track #10 is real bad.
Clever rhymes, plenty willingness to write about more than “how special I am” in contrast to many of the most successful rappers.
Iron Butterfly
5/5
Pleasant surprise! It sounds great, the musicians are very, very good, every track is a hell of a good time, and despite ending with 17 minutes on a single theme, it doesn't overstay the welcome, amazingly. Everyone knows the title track, but I bet few have listened to it all the way. I know I hadn't. I will be returning to this for sure!
Anthrax
3/5
Tasteful (for thrash, certainly!), inventive, interesting and technically skilled. I respect it even if I don't think I'll seek it again. I did not expect to claim "Efilnikufesin" as my favorite, but here we are!
Frank Black
3/5
Strange ride. The first couple songs were pretty fun. Then it settled into a bunch of songs that made me think he was trying to be Lou Reed -- but not very successfully. Then he was trying to be Lou Reed -- rather successfully! Finally he settled into some more poppy punk from 18-21 that was fun. Ultimately, I can't shake the impression that this is a too-long album made by a guy who's convinced everything he writes is great stuff. And he's right only part of the time.
David Bowie
4/5
Haven't really loved others by him, despite the singles and stellar reputation. this one's great start to finish. Bowie has many personas and personalities--seems like there's something for everyone and someone for all of him.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
I listened to it five times in two days. What a revelation! Undeniably booty-shaking. (Prior rating)
Joy Division
3/5
It sounds really, really good but there's like ZERO contrast so it gets old quickly. Shadowplay is differentiated a little bit. I would put any two songs on a nice long playlist for getting a ton of work done, but no more than two--otherwise I'd be distracted by thinking it's repeating itself.
Carpenters
4/5
Earnest love songs never make a big splash. Unless they do. And these are deserving of the hype. Carefully composed like they used to do, wistfully delivered by a magnetic voice (except for that so-so one when her brother had a go).
Steve Winwood
2/5
Big ol' meh. Night Train was okay tho.
The Offspring
4/5
Great way to nudge punk a little to the radio. It gets a little samey all at once, but that's the only knock. All trax are pretty good!
Yes
4/5
Alice In Chains
5/5
Too much, and not enough to say.
The Who
4/5
75 minutes of very good music! Incredible. Overture and Underture are my favorites (besides Pinball of course)
Common
2/5
I heard he was an antidote to the popular violence and misogyny of the era. I guess homophobia sounds so groovy we don’t mind?
Tina Turner
3/5
Quite dated sound, it seems to me. But there's still some great tracks to keep and return to -- What's Love, Steel Claw, and Can't Stand the Rain
Arcade Fire
4/5
The instruments, production and lyrics were good from track one. The drummer needs to try something besides a hi-hat disco beat. The constantly strained vocals were not my favorite but they grew on me—or at least, the virtues overcame the distraction over time. Haiti Mon Pays and Rebellion(Lies) cemented it for me. This is a great album!
Guns N' Roses
4/5
One or two of these at a time are awesome. Not a surprise that his voice gets grating all at once though. By the middle of My Michelle I had to take a break. 3 stars for good headbangin’ rock straight through, and an extra star for the first 45 perfect seconds of Sweet Child alone.
B.B. King
4/5
Blues is such a perfect form for playing and listening that there’s a whole genre even though it’s fairly limited boundaries of that form (compared with other genres). What makes it so perfect also makes it all same to me. Except for a few like BB King.
The boundaries and predictable nature of the form leave brain and heart space to really express while the band can stay really tight without having to think about it so much. And King never abdicates that territory.
Lou Reed
5/5
Totally seductive. Somehow he makes living on the wild side feel glamorous. I thought I’d get tired of his delivery which almost sounds bored, but it fits the music and lyrics well
Teenage Fanclub
2/5
Perfectly inoffensive. Pretty, even. But not a single track grabbed me or made me want to dig in more. I could never make something so nice myself, but “nice” doesn’t define this list of 1001+
Neil Young
3/5
Sedate, unhurried. Certainly not uplifting. Probably pretty good for tea and a book on the couch, but not so good for a drive down to mom's house.
Adam & The Ants
2/5
I had a wild time with this. I was climbing in the car after visiting my mom and she asked what I was listening to. I said "Adam and the Ants," described the project and went on my way. Halfway home, I had this inescapable waking nightmare where I get into a horrific crash and my mom takes up listening to my last album as a way of mourning. Then at some point she becomes familiar enough to kinda dig it, and thinks of me fondly while nodding her head to "ant music for sex people, sex music for ant people."
In summary, I did not have a great time.
The apparent "Burundi beat," however, did remind me of the excellent Naked Eyes song "Always Something There to Remind Me" and I learned it's actually a cover of a very good 1964 version by Lou Johnson. So there is a silver lining.
Milton Nascimento
2/5
With such a stellar reputation and pedigree, I really wanted to broaden my tastes a little bit. I gave it no less than five tries. But the almost atonal vocals are just a poison pill for this. Maybe if I spoke Portuguese the profundity would come through.
Nina Simone
5/5
Three stars for Lilac Wine alone. The chords, my god, and her yearning voice... Another each for Black is the Color and Four Women. One more for Wild is the Wind and If I Should Lose You. That's six stars... the other tracks could be pigs squealing (but they're not) and we'd still have an absolute juggernaut.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Stupendous. I listened to it three times in a row. Part 1 is especially stupendous. What he can do with two chords is just jaw dropping.
Queen
4/5
Sounds downright Beatlesque at times! I caught a few new tracks to save. Pretty funny that I’ve never troubled to listen to the entire album from which we get Bohemian Freakin Rhapsody.
Simple Minds
2/5
Awfully dated sound. Expensive production in the 80s that sounds like factory effects for karaoke on a 90s boom box. The low end has lovely punch, but the rest is just meh. (Prior listen)
The Byrds
3/5
Nothing that really stuck with me; although I generally like psychedelic rock, I prefer it a little harder. I imagine The Byrds were pretty influential so they get a lot of credit from me for that.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
This is on constant, constant rotation. Still holds up, obviously. The only mild, tedious stinker is Settle For Nothing, but even that has one of the most pretty guitar solos anywhere.
Cream
3/5
The plodding, deliberate pace of Sunshine is married with eyelash-fluttering instrument tones, poetic lyrics, and flashes of tempo change. The rest of the album isn't so much... so I can see why Sunshine is the standout. The rest is just ok, but important historically.
OutKast
4/5
I listen to The Love Below cover to cover, a LOT. As far as I'm concerned it's 100% perfect. Speakerboxxx, mostly meh. So listening to this fresh was a nice reminder. 5+ stars for one, two for the other.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Shucks, another horizon-broadener I wanted to like more than I actually liked. Love the energy though! And the song "Taj Mahal" made me wonder why it's so familiar - which made me find Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" - which made me find that although i can't stand him, that song is BOSS.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Great blues. House-filling presence even on a small system. Graveyard Train and Chooglin are twice as long as they should be, Proud Mary is perfect, and the rest are very good. But you can put this on over and over. That's worth a lot! (prior listen)
Goldfrapp
2/5
Very dreamy. Sounds just nice. But for the expectations of this list it's a "damning with faint praise" type of situation.
This might grow on me with repeated listens, but at first it didn't really grab me. At its best, like during "AE," it sounds remarkably like a Joni Mitchell song.
Green Day
5/5
Great music, great lyrics, influential, still so relevant. Launched an absolutely incandescent band into their mainstream.
The Kinks
2/5
I think to appreciate this one I have to put it in 1966 context. It came out a couple months after Revolver. Nice inoffensive pop rock. But little to grab you, tweak your expectations, or surprise you. (prior listen)
The La's
2/5
Scott Walker
3/5
I don’t hate it. Unexpectedly very dark, holy crap.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
No highlights. Literally can't remember a single tune. But it was a fun time the whole thing through! Charisma and energy and lots of participants (somewhat) well-wrangled. Haven't had that experience since one of my first albums on this, from the Clash.
The Lemonheads
3/5
Thoroughly enjoyable, nothing much that's eye-opening or inventive. Early 90s radio. Mrs. Robinson cover is pretty good. If you're wondering what other song sounds like "My Drug Buddy"... took me a while, but I think it's Dirty Work by Steely Dan.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Obviously stellar and a "must listen before you die." But I gotta say not perfect wall-to-wall. There are at least two tracks that are totally forgettable.
Public Enemy
4/5
I got two Public Enemy albums in a week. “Nation of Millions” earned my respect and this is even better. (prior listen)
Tim Buckley
3/5
Better than the earlier one. Even downright pretty at times. And especially in Gypsy Woman, you can really hear his son's voice too. But I guess not "essential."
Nanci Griffith
2/5
I guess i should return to this one at some point. It was fine, but I didn't pick up on what makes it exceptional or noteworthy.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Beck
5/5
I put this on when I am feeling down and I really want to wallow in it. It's not fun but it's so heart-wrenchingly beautiful. The end of Lonesome Tears goes on and on and on, climbing to the stratosphere, tugging and tugging until you can't bear it any longer, and still keeps going. Past the point of discomfort to a kaleidoscopic mad huge picture of loss and grief.
The National
3/5
When I read that they played one song on repeat for several hours--and that the released the whole thing on vinyl--I prejudged that this would be pretentious as heck. Pleasantly surprised to be wrong, or at least it's also pretty darn good. Sounds great, stays interesting and varied. The singer seems effortlessly pretty. I had to work while listening, but this'll be an important candidate to return to. (prior listen)
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
I do like myself an ADHD trip from time to time. I mean, I listen to Fantomas and They Might Be Giants -- by choice. But the individual fleeting components have to be good. This is maybe 10% good and none of the good bits get to stick around for long before they move on to the next whatever.
Rocket From The Crypt
5/5
This is NOT what I assumed from the name and album art! I love that so many different songs remind me of other bands I like, but never all at once? One song sounds like Morphine, one song sounds like Sponge, one song sounds like Arctic Monkeys, Rancid, etc. On a Rope is an all-time great.
Iggy Pop
3/5
The Yardbirds
3/5
Pretty standard blues/rock. It might have been groundbreaking in its release year, but it hasn't aged too badly and remains a fun listen. "The Nazz are Blue" is a highlight. (prior listen)
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Hmmm. I forgot all about this music 20 minutes after listening. didn't offend me at least.
Elton John
4/5
I like most of this, but I love Grey Seal the very most. Incredible variety for a man with a piano, but yeah.... sometimes he really misses (Jamaica Jerk Off).
Stereo MC's
2/5
Even their massive hit is meh. Fine for background music while working. But there's no emotional or musical tension to the whole thing.
The Beach Boys
5/5
What a contrast to the previous day's flat affect. Incredible that this is considered pop - although I don't know what else I'd call it. I got this album at a thrift shop after wondering what the "Good Vibrations" and "Barbara Ann" group ever did to make an album I'd always heard was transcendent. Well, it is! (and for the record, Good Vibrations started to make more sense too). Incredibly creative instrumentation and arrangements, deep lyrics, beautiful production.
Kanye West
4/5
Never took Kanye West seriously either. All I really know about him is he’s a batshit crazy cringe lord. Maybe so, and yet. Still can’t stand boast songs and there are a couple that would be better if there were no vox, but damn if it doesn’t sound really, really good end to end. (previously listened)
Primal Scream
2/5
Every single track is too long. Not my jam. (previously listened)
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
Neat little time capsule of 70s vibe, but a bit much to listen to all at once... This kind of soul sound but with the bongos turned down to a reasonable level was done well on The Olympians' self-titled (2016). (previously listened)
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Hm... not terribly impressed. It got much better later, but I won't have any cause to return to it. I read a wild story about their disappearing bandmate tho.
Le Tigre
3/5
Lends some nice variety to this list. I am going to give this a "3, belongs, even if maybe not my style" but the more I think about their lyrics the more I like them. This strikes me more as an art/commentary project than a musical album.
3/5
Never loved this. Too inconsistent, especially knowing what they were capable of. (previously listened)
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Reputation precedes this one for sure. I can hear a VERY talented multi-instrumentalist exploring what he can do. Sort of aimless. And then once in a while the clouds part, the low end gets DEEP, I mean *DEEEEEP*, and the clouds part to expose some focused and really interesting music. Definitely deserves a spot, but would I ever return sober? Nah.
Doves
4/5
A little too much forlornness in the vocal for a single sitting, but I really enjoyed this and almost every song got added to rotations.
Steely Dan
4/5
I thought I'd like to focus on just one song, Reelin in the Years. Consider a song that really sounds like it was written on, and for, piano. But it starts with a guitar solo?! and the piano just drops out entirely in sections. The vocals are free and "lyrical," with complex and melsimatic harmony. Totally emblematic of a true group effort, not the product of one single creative force. The drums are a little formulaic, but all the other elements on this album are top notch.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
Perfect.
Metallica
4/5
All that's missing is Jason Newsted. Dyers Eve contrasts tragically with a song ten years later, "Mama Said."
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Not perfect, but for a reason I can't explain I had to listen four times. Vexing that I can't describe why!
I love the instrumentation, vocal lines, and lyrics. Definitely will come back to this and maybe after 10 times I'll have an idea why I must.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Meh. Guess I just don't like shoegaze.
The Band
4/5
This is bunches better than the self-titled one also on this list. Tears of Rage is very, very good. I looked it up and am reminded of a recurring observation: Bob Dylan should write songs and other people should record them. Recipe for greatness. (prior listen)
Enjoyable enough, but it all struck me as too derivative of Bob Dylan’s rock phases, slightly less good.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Sometimes bands that I’m not familiar with get a little old for an entire album all at once. But this was the opposite; the longer I listened the more I wanted to hear more. And that’s really incredible for a double album! As a matter of fact, this is really like two very different albums. The first is rock, and the second is somehow even more moody. They’re both great, but I’m partial to the second one by far.
4/5
Tunesome, classic. The loudness wars got to this one a little bit. Never listened to the non-singles, but almost every track could have been a single. That’s a rare thing! (Prior listen)
Burning Spear
3/5
Older roots reggae like this is really meditative. I forget that a lot since I gravitate to modern reggae.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Surprisingly entertaining from end to end. I'm not usually one for doom and gloom; I didn't expect to like it so much. I guess I can see why Ozzy is famous now! (at least at first)
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
I didn’t listen to every word, but it mostly struck me as way more engaging subjects than what’s usually popular. Lots of extra credit for that. The Message is classic, and She’s Fresh was great too. The rest was just okay.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
I was avoiding trying Amy Winehouse’s first album for years. TF for? I don’t mind it’s not Back to Black; it’s still great!
There’s some gender keeping and homophobia in the first track that’s pretty cringy. Otherwise good stuff.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Couplea good tracks. But just okay.
Orbital
2/5
This inclusion is a reminder that there is a lot of music with no piano, guitar, or voice that has had enormous success and large bases of fans. Ok, point taken. If there’s something in that world for me, this ain’t it.
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
Not my style at all and it didn’t convert me. But I enjoyed it enough, a few passages were pretty clever, and I can respect its enormous influence. I recognized a bunch of phrases, particularly in CREAM, that must have entered pop culture via this record.
Elvis Presley
3/5
The Soft Boys
3/5
I listened to it once and was unimpressed. But something made me hold off on reviewing and listen to it another day. It got better, and I can see how it must have been an interesting crossroads between punk and 80s popular music, but I don't think there's really anything to return to after Track 1. (prior listen)
Tangerine Dream
4/5
Crazy to know it’s from 1973. Pretty enjoyable ambient-type sounds from very early in its origins. (prior listen)
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
The Beach Boys
2/5
Vapid heartthrob pop. Pet Sounds is a five; this shouldn’t even be here.
Patti Smith
4/5
What a voice. So raw, authentic, so undeniably evocative of the person in the era. I’ve never listened to this, even though I’ve heard about it a lot.
Eagles
3/5
Reading up on this album made me realize that the best selling album of all time is a greatest hits, and yet, doesn’t even include the the single greatest hit of this band!
This album, however, it’s just a little bit too sleepy after the title track and life in the fast lane. Although, the latter is almost better than Hotel California!
The Mars Volta
4/5
Well, this was awesome. I don’t recognize a single bit of it, although I should have been exposed when it was new back in 2003. I don’t think I would have been ready to like it then, but I love it now. I’m still never a fan of the screamo voice. But I could look past it, and maybe after repeated lessons I’ll get over it. That’s really the only drawback!
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Weirdos. But I kinda like it.
Queen
4/5
Beatles
4/5
Billy Bragg
3/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Malcolm McLaren
4/5
Kinda kitschy, but the grooves, tunes and especially bass lines are worth almost every minute. I enjoyed it despite my dim expectations. (prior listen)
Björk
3/5
Black Sabbath
4/5
George Michael
3/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
Taylor Swift
4/5
Paul Simon
4/5
Happy Mondays
3/5
Head nodding but forgettable
Bauhaus
2/5
Vocalist makes a big difference. Even though the music is fairly high-energy, the delivery made me bored.
The Prodigy
2/5
Catchy, but too long and repetitive. None of the focus of Fat of the Land.
Radiohead
5/5
No comment needed
Arcade Fire
3/5
Didn't enjoy this as much as the other one, but I still saved a few. I like that it all merges together from track to track.
Kate Bush
3/5
Not nearly as gorgeous as The Sensual World. A little more "try stuff and see what works." That's important! But I think you should leave what doesn't work on the studio archives. This is too hit/miss for me.
Tom Waits
3/5
I noticed and appreciated the songwriting most on this one. Didn't seem to suit his delivery mostly, except "16 Shells" and "Soldier's Things" worked very well.
The Style Council
3/5
Good musicians! Boppy but forgettable. I have a hard time coming up with highlight tracks when I sit down to write this.
Public Enemy
4/5
Chuck D's relentless delivery is really something. Not my style but he commanded attention from the second track to the end.
New York Dolls
2/5
I think I've had a similar reaction as with Motorhead. Lots of sound and fury but doesn't go anywhere or mean anything to me. Good to listen to as a "history lesson," but nothing much to return to.
Soft Cell
2/5
Very cheeky, but this was an awful chore to get through. I can’t see why it belongs on the list as such.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
A little too crunchy for some at times, but so great. They've never come close to this ever since. There are 28 full tracks, 2 hours and maybe 4-5 stinkers, so I'll give them a pass on those and call this the honor roll it is.
Santana
3/5
Oooh, I wanted to love this so much, but it was "just" enjoyable. I really only love Oye Como Va, not even BMW.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Screaming Trees
4/5
How did I miss this at the time??
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
One of the best albums the Stones ever put together was not actually by the Stones. Most excellent blues rock. (prior listen)
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This is a lot of fun, but I've heard better from them! This runthough I noticed the really awesome *recording*. I don't often appreciate that part of the artistry. All the instruments are clear, distinct, warm, lively.
Van Morrison
5/5
This isn't about blowing you away, but it blew me away anyway. A world apart from Astral Weeks. Absolutely perfect for a small night in with friends.
Various Artists
3/5
Who knew all these canonical versions came from a single compilation?
The White Stripes
3/5
I finally understand some sense of why Jack White's chops get so much respect. Little Acorns and Faith in Medicine are particularly impressive. Blues bones under a very creative muscle and skin. I don't think I'd put it on randomly, but it was thoroughly enjoyable to listen.
But I also understand why people ragged on Meg White's chops. I'd like to think I should be charitable but it was really distracting at times. Bummer.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
First time I really listened to Stairway in a lot of years. And I’ll be damned if it’s good, but not like legendary? I can’t believe what I’m saying. Still great end to end though.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
T. Rex
4/5
Very impressive. You can hear glam rock finding a voice track by track. Cosmic Dancer is so hypnotizing, I had to listen a couple more times after the album was done.
Tom Waits
4/5
The Replacements
3/5
I swear this is Nirvana. Six years earlier!
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Constantly groovy and totally forgettable. I’m just waiting patiently every four bars for the next entrance or drum break. Times 50 minutes.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Needed to take a couple listens, which was easy because it's pretty short. The title track is obviously a classic, and it's the slow stuff like Behave Yourself that really shows off creativity and talent. The others are just covers, and a cover has to be really special, or else I'd rather just listen to the original. (prior listen)
Tears For Fears
4/5
There are some indispensable bangers, but a lot of space fillers too... "Listen" is three times too long. (prior listen)
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Respect is one of my top 10 covers so yeah. It takes a fresh listen to remind myself how damn good it is. And also that the iconic spelling refrain is not a chorus but more like the bridge/outro.
The rest is very soulful and good writing, but I have to admit the recording is a little distracting. She’s pitchy sometimes and even overmodulated a bunch on the title track. So not a perfect album but pretty close.
KISS
3/5
Wow, I had no idea how much power of their songs are sapped by the studio. I’m familiar with (and like!) live versions of Detroit Rock City and Beth, and it’s almost criminal how mundane they sound here. I checked out the reimagined “Resurrected” version of this album and it was a huge improvement.
Arrested Development
4/5
Awesome discovery. Like A Tribe Called Quest, this is the sort of hip hop I always hoped would be made. It was! I just wasn’t paying attention. Mama’s Always on Stage and Mr Wendal are my favorites.
CHIC
2/5
Every track is 20%-50% too long. I guess that’s the disco style so you can keep dancing, but it sure didn’t feel like this with their other album. This has some fantastic grooves, but… does not reward focused listening.
Beatles
4/5
Not my favorite but there’s an intimacy and a confidence that are really nice. Feels like this is making music especially for themselves, what they had inside wanting out. And it took until this listen to realize I’ve been playing Blackbird wrong.
3/5
Decent mood music, sad back story.
The Clash
5/5
Wow! I knew the first and last songs, but everything in between is great! This has rocketed up to my favorites list. (prior listen)
2/5
All the things about Dylan that bore me quickly, turned up to 11. The things that pique my interest - obscured or in short supply. Big fat nope.
One little bump up for being a document of the transition from folk to rock for a generation.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
Just OK. A lot of it way too indulgent. Must have been a fun live band though. (prior listen)
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
The compositions are timeless. The arrangements and definitely the tempos are a little disappointing. But we're not kidding anyone. The First Lady owns everything she touches. It's not her best and leaves out her improvisational whiz, but it's way above anyone else...
Beastie Boys
4/5
More than a few cringy dated lyrics, but otherwise influential, interesting, groundbreaking, entertaining.
Pavement
2/5
A little Velvet Underground, a little early Better than Ezra and POTUSA. A little too sneering for me; somehow the attitude doesn’t quite land right.
5/5
U2 can’t get no respect from me, I have no idea where I got that prejudice. I think part of it is that Bono’s delivery is so earnest and also “pretty” that it reminds me negatively of musical theatre style. But to give this a full chance like this list asks me to, their talent and hard work are totally undeniable. Not a single stinker or throwaway track. Bullet The Blue Sky and One Tree Hill are especially great surprise.
The Beach Boys
3/5
This is very disorienting. Nothing like what I know of the Beach Boys, and I respect that they just kinda did what they wanted and flipped a bird to their expectations. It's a strange mix of songs: socially conscious (DGNTW and Student Demonstration Time), nostalgic and tropey but lush (Disney Girls), whimsical (TALOYF). Another one of those "glad i listened," but what mood do you need to be in to return to it as a whole? Solid 3.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
This could have been Girls and Time After Time, the latter of which among my all-time favorites, followed by seven tracks of llamas passing gas, and I would have given it a biased 3. But it’s not, of course. The rest is really good! Heartfelt, catchy, and really unique to her sound.
Elton John
2/5
I appreciated listening to it but it’s pretty dated and samey. The Indian song is especially cringy.
Fugazi
3/5
Most excellent pre-grunge. The rhythm section sounds amazing. Not usually my style but I saved a couple - Sieve-Fisted Find and Joe #1.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Perfect to me.
Yes
4/5
Incredible talent! I could really get into this band some more. Worth sitting down and focusing on.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
A nice contrast to the Chemical Brothers I got a little bit ago. But still constantly groovy and totally forgettable. I do admit that the vocals make it a little bit more interesting from soup to nuts. But I still can’t give it any better a rating than I did that one.
Genesis
5/5
Imagining a time when this kind of music was not only good but commercially successful blows my mind. I love the virtuosity, the tight arrangements and execution, and the pictures painted by the libretto.
King Crimson
2/5
Some prog seems too much like they just got a bunch of very talented musicians in a studio and recorded them trying stuff out. They are talented, no doubt, but this either needs more polishing to be prog I can enjoy, or more of a plan to be jazz I can enjoy.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
I actually really liked the first track, and the last one. The rest was sonic experimentation, “art” but not “music” to me. I enjoyed listening, and put the bookends on my rotation. But the rest is one and done.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Never heard the non-singles. Wow, Contusion is one of the best he's ever written. This deserves its reputation. Although.... most of the vamps go on like 2x too long, and it's a repeated problem so it gets kinda distracting. Ordinary Pain's vamp is great, the rest kinda go nowhere.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Past romantic into maudlin. She’s got a great voice but this style is meant for singles, not a whole album at a time.
Muddy Waters
4/5
So much fun. I'm not cool enough to like this album. Harmonica is too high in the mix if he's going to wail on that one E/G trill for most of the whole album, but otherwise I could listen to this 10x. 100x if in person. Muddy Waters has the best voice for blues.
Digital Underground
3/5
Queen
3/5
Tom Waits
3/5
Sheryl Crow
2/5
Richard Hawley
3/5
This is a nice, pretty, heartfelt set. Probably reveals a lot more depth with repeats and listens. And wouldn’t be bad for an armchair and a book.
Django Django
4/5
I cannot describe why I like it, but I do! A lot reminds me of the Pogo remixes of Disney.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Essential for the singles and the first track. Totally unique sound.
Paul Weller
3/5
A couple of fun tracks, especially "All the Pictures on the Wall" and "the Weaver." I feel like this could become a comforting and familiar voice with a little more exposure.
Sade
3/5
Would be rad playing in a party under conversation, but focusing on it revealed few secrets or rewards.
Grateful Dead
3/5
The vibe is really cool, but several songs just go way too long. Candyman and Attics especially. I think a major part of this is the overuse of harmony. When it’s the whole song there’s no contrast or emphasis, and the lyrics get muddied so I don’t even get an idea what they’re singing about. Trucking uses it more sparingly and is so much more interesting for it.
Moby
4/5
Never listened to this in the 90s, because I heard everyone thought it was vapid. What a bummer. It's perfectly nice, probably even groundbreaking for its time. Not "fascinating" or "challenging" perhaps, but very good for repeated listens, study music, etc and holds up very, very well against what we would now call "ambient." I bet the hate is mostly backlash against saturation. (prior listen)
Taylor Swift
4/5
This long list of overplayed radio songs sounds pretty damn good after being allowed to fallow a few years. Bad Blood is kind of a stinker. But if that’s the worst on a pop album you’re in elevated territory.
Pulp
4/5
Lots of fun in my headphones! The hard pans were really well done, sparingly but noticeable. Stayed just the right side of 80s goofy to be taken seriously (at least by me). I wish I could conjure up what song "F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E." reminds me of.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
The drums sound great. The whole album gets a little too long on one curled-lip so I’ll keep the singles and leave the rest.
Germs
3/5
This singer has a hell of a lot of charisma. I hate screaming vocals but this is just short of that and I liked it despite my prejudices. The guitarist is hella good and the bass/drums are incredibly tight. If not for them I think the music would be a hot mess. (Prior listen)
John Cale
4/5
Great orchestration and composing. I should expect no less from John Cale but I had no idea he did pop.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Just brilliant. Never sat down to listen to his albums, just the ones still in common rotation today. This is brilliant all the way through. (prior listen)
DJ Shadow
3/5
Cool one time for sure. I can see how influential it has been.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Hip-hop, it started out in the parks. Hip-hop, you know how we do it. Get out on the block, start breakdancing. We hanging out with our friends. Shaking hands. We do the dance. Go to the ball and shoot some hoop. Doot doot doot doot doot doot doot.
David Bowie
5/5
Sounds like Bowie-Patton-radiohead to me. Five stars.
Christine and the Queens
2/5
Didn’t do much for me. Maybe I should have tried the English version, but I usually prefer a person’s first language (eg Ásgeir, Shakira)
John Grant
4/5
I found this simultaneously touching and weird a bunch of times. Chicken Bones, Silver Platter Club, God Hates Fs, really unique and keepers. Might need a real special mood for Carmel. Diverse moods, instruments, and topics. Really interesting throughout.
Otis Redding
3/5
I didn’t enjoy this as much as I assumed I would. The recording is a little dated. But it’s still Otis Redding’s awesome voice.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Mylo
4/5
Honestly a lot of fun , more than I expected, and pretty ideal for doing chores. I really like that it is a lot more harmonically rich than most dance/electronic.
Hole
4/5
more than the front lady! A lot more. I had to go through twice to try to appreciate more things than I could at the first.
Eminem
2/5
Unique voice, generational knack for internal rhymes. Devoid of any appeal to me.
Jane Weaver
4/5
What a pleasant surprise! H>A>K and The Architect are awesome. The whole thing is pretty good. Not my style but I still enjoyed it a lot. (Prior listen)
Donovan
2/5
David Bowie
2/5
Weird and lovely but I think it’d take more listens to really sink my teeth in. I think Bowie must have been in an off period for this. He seems a little unsatisfied with it himself. (Prior listen)
David Bowie
3/5
A little deliciously weird, but also a little boring… don’t kill me.
Wallflowers version of Heroes took a very excellently-written song and executed it much better… don’t kill me.
The Crusaders
2/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
I mostly don't get Bob Dylan. It seems like he writes a libretto 4x the length of other writers, but the badly un-economic tactics almost never seem to cohere for me. It's like he's just stringing together as many semi-poetic phrases as he can. Definitely belongs on this list, but I don't dig it. (prior listen)
John Coltrane
5/5
I don't need any notes for this. And you, dear reader, don't need my notes for this. An Album Supreme.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Catchy pop-type stuff. Good to see they weren't a one-trick pony.
The Birthday Party
1/5
God, what a chore to get through. These guys don't give a damn about anything, even their music, and why should I? I'll admit that the end of Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow), which repeats the same line about fifty times, achieved a sort of kaleidoscopic beauty in its repetition... but that's all I got. Mike Patton does this schtick 20x better. I was going to write that this sounds uncannily like Nick Cave without any skill whatsoever, and then I looked it up... That's EXACTLY what it is! Good thing he got better with age and practice.
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
Pretty but nothing engaging. Inoffensive. Acceptable at a cocktail party. Not really for this kind of list.
Q-Tip
4/5
Irregular time signatures and uplifting themes in a rap album. Had my number from the jump!
Television
4/5
Punk with a brain. Not really my style to return to, but I think I might anyway! Reminds me of the best Thin Lizzy.
Fiona Apple
5/5
Practically have this album memorized. 9 fantastic songs on a 10-track album. The composition, lyrics, diction are all off the charts and she was 18/19 when she recorded it. Blows my mind.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Tempting fate to give me this so soon after Tigermilk, a real downer. This is much better! Really lovely mixing - everything is really clear and lively. The compositions are more varied and interesting. And the instruments too.
Beach House
2/5
Dreamy. Pretty... but kinda boring. Reminds me of the XX, but this one's a little more interesting. There's a few tracks I liked more than the rest, when they managed to do something really weird with polymodality like Norway. (prior listen)
Beastie Boys
2/5
Sure Shot, Sabotage, Do It, The Scoop, Bodhisattva Vow… and a shit load of whatever. As an album this is a disappointment - it’s like the bonus tracks you’d find on the 50-track 25th anniversary edition of a much better album.
Kanye West
2/5
“My mind moves like a Tron bike, pop a wheelie on the zeitgeist”
Every track sounds so good, production and construction. And he has flashes of lyrical brilliance and interesting commentary. But his words and personality are inseparable from the music and they’re mostly insufferable.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This guy plays everything but the cuíca. Crazy.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Already know this one. Incredible respect for its influence on small combos from the 60s to the 2020s.
R.E.M.
3/5
Newfound appreciation for the two chart hits, which I haven’t listened to closely, perhaps ever. They deserve their enormous (over?)exposure. But the rest is… just okay.
New Order
2/5
Bunch of meh. That anemic 80s vocal just doesn't make me feel a damn thing.
The Undertones
3/5
Early punk. Nothing stupendous but still fun throughout.
Deerhunter
1/5
Oh my god. I don’t know how I’m supposed to get into music that sounds like the musicians are bored out of their minds even while making it. There are two tracks that DON’T do this and they’re nothing special. (Prior listen)
Sugar
3/5
Hoover Dam is a major keeper. The rest is pretty often but so damn dense. It tires the ear, and the brain, all at once!
Steely Dan
4/5
Not bangers from end to end, but lots of bangers throughout. I only knew track 1 and the rest stacks up!
Blur
2/5
I guess they were onto something with the 2-minute pop single. This got too long pretty quick!
Morrissey
2/5
Meh. Didn't waste my time but nothing grabbed me.
Janet Jackson
5/5
Soft spot for this one. Every song is great, even the moody romantic ones. I used to think it is badly paced with all that slow burn at the end, but I like it now. This can pep up any doldrum day.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Kraftwerk
2/5
I'm sure it was groundbreaking, but it hasn't aged well. Just sounds like a german preteen's attempt to learn a DAW in 2023.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
If this had been a Beatles album there would be books and blogs and DVDs analyzing and overanalyzing every note. This is nowhere near the best Beatles album but at least it's within spitting distance in form, function and quirkiness. But like the lesser Beatles albums, there's about a third of this that only a fanatic could love.
Leftfield
4/5
This is one of those albums that stops my progress on daily albums for a week or so because I keep putting this on. The first 5 tracks are awesome.
Norah Jones
4/5
Frank Zappa
5/5
Considering I hated the Mothers of Invention, this was a huge surprise. Virtuistic, clever, groovy, complex.
R.E.M.
3/5
I think I have to come back to this sometime. I was distracted while listening and realized only when it ended that I kinda dug it, but didn’t register any reasons whatsoever. And I didn’t recognize any songs from previous experience
Dr. Dre
1/5
Subtract the baseless boasting, n-bombs and mf-bombs, and you’ll have a six-minute album of awfully catchy beats and skits about weed. That’s not bad! But you have to get through the rest to get to it.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
This 1973 album sounds like cutting edge weird/groovy from 1990. “You Need Your Head” especially. Reminds me of when Zappa gives just a passing thought to sounding good in addition to being weird/frantic.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Nothing on this list turns me off faster than a majority of tracks talking about how special he is. but I can't help loving the soul, the voice, and the incredibly eclectic/creative rhymes. There's a really touching tribute to friends-grown-apart (When We Were Friends) that I really haven't noticed anyone do so sensitively... but it's so n-word heavy it'll never be for me. So I loved most of this, but ultimately I'm disappointed and won't return, pretty much at all.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
The Pogues
4/5
The lovely thing about this list is that while I knew about the Pogues (and I have previously been assigned Rum Sodomy & The Lash), I would never have put this on without this exercise. This is better than the other one and their sound, which seems to me truly unique, is this amazing mishmash of cultural styles that keeps entertaining. And their skills are much better since the other album as well. I even made it through the "extended version" of the album before I realized it was coming over.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Great vibe for a drive.
Paul McCartney
2/5
This was really frustrating. Many ideas for good Beatles songs. Just one completed one. Everything but Maybe I’m Amazed and Kreen Akrore is fine; just not finished.
The Human League
1/5
Boring. Not until the last track did they show any life, passion, or variety, which made a great single and exposed the rest of the album in even worse light.
The White Stripes
3/5
First of all, let it be known that "Fell in Love With a Girl" takes its hook from Fun Lovin' Criminals' "Smoke 'Em" and nobody else noticed. But I did. I see you Jack White.
Anyway, a few tracks in, I realized the sheer simplicity of every instrument and every song. And the drummer's... uh, not good. I realize the story goes that Meg unlocked something in Jack that let to their very fruitful collaboration. I can't argue at all with their success; I know also that Jack has gone on to impress me in many groups and many songs, so I know there's talent there, hiding somewhere. But this album has very little on display. And yet... I kinda dig it.
They undoubtedly got lucky in some ways to make it big with this, but I shouldn't underestimate the musical power and charisma that comes across in putting 150% into your work.
There's one absolute highlight. "I Can Tell That" is one of those songs that's a perfect combination of all elements: form, harmony, instrumentation, production, and the emotional content of the thing. Instant and powerful nostalgia bomb to your best friendships growing up.
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is the third Dylan album for me, but it's the best one. Great melodies, much more focus to his lyrics, good arrangements, more structure to his songs and most of them are a poetic adventure. I can't even pick the best, they're all different and all pretty damn effective. Even the long ones (115th Dream; It's Alright Ma) don't feel long when you're interested, which was not the case on the other albums for me.
The Cars
3/5
Enjoyable and a really good ambassador for its milieu, not really my style.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
I already know and love much of this, but it's a little too noodley and indulgent to be a whole package.
Tom Tom Club
1/5
Superficial. I couldn’t get anything interesting out of it, not least because every single idea is vamped about 1/5 too long.
808 State
2/5
The Roland Bass Line makes videogame boss music. Not a waste of time at all, but like... why?
Deep Purple
4/5
This is some absolutely serious rock ‘n’ roll. I had never heard of any of the tracks before, but it delivered on all of my expectations. Flight of the rat is an absolute highlight, and I also give a listen to black night, because although it wasn’t on this album, it was released in support of his album.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This could be another band’s best album, but against Fleetwood Mac’s best, this is just a very good album.
Pavement
2/5
Christgau says this is the best band of the decade. Um no.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
A nice listen, sounds great for being 40! But nothing jaw dropping.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Superb vocal performance. Not all the songs are my style but she’s seriously impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of her. Join the Boys has some delicious stank, and I’m pretty sure Vulfpeck copied from it, at least unintentionally, for Dean Town.
Willie Nelson
3/5
I think this pretty much only makes sense in a row—making it a true album, at least. There are a couple nice standalone tracks. His voice is so effortless, not smooth at all but gentle. I still don’t understand the outlaw epithet, but I get the charisma.
The Strokes
4/5
Dead ringer for this list. Literally everyone wanted to copy them for 2-3 years
a-ha
2/5
Kinda disappointing, TBH. Take On Me is obviously a classic, and I always like the rich orchestration, jazz harmonies, and thought that goes into 80s pop; this is no exception. But none of the rest of the album grabs me. On the very last track I thought they had something, then they got weird and boring. "And You Tell Me" is pretty funny, but at 1:51..... that's not enough to carry the album.
Coldplay
4/5
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
Their voice is lovely, and the music is so unique. But it's all too much all at once.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Lovely to get to know the guy who helped give me Jeff. But the pere is not the equal of the fils. Also, he sounds so much like Grace Slick.
Suicide
1/5
This is brutalist architecture in musical form. And just like brutalist architecture in Building form, it might be trying to say something, but it sucks and nobody likes it.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Awesome rhythm and feel. Perhaps not the most technically amazing, but it's got such charisma and even some decent stank at times.
Prince
3/5
Pretty groovy, but it gets quite long in the tooth TBH.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
It's very pretty but this kind of music rarely grabs me. The imposition of quotes for the upcoming nuclear apocalypse and the juxtaposition against beauty and slick production are jarring, however, and it certainly had an effect. I found myself morose for most of the day after listening. So four stars for really meaning something, and for getting a rise out of me, and for several songs I get to add to the rotation.
Fats Domino
2/5
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Maybe Your Baby done made some other plans. And by the time you got done repeating that line, she came back from those plans, got changed for bed, and went to sleep.
This is funky but it is too indulgent and lacks either variety or focus that I really want from him.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
This is brilliant production. It's joyous, weird, eclectic and still seems like everything fits well. Including the
mariachi brass and the vocoder(?) out of nowhere.
some of the tracks around 8-12 get a little long and lose momentum. you could lose a couple there and I wouldn't miss them. But that's faint criticism.
Rhapsody in Blue in the Birmingham Blues, lol.
Elliott Smith
5/5
Oh yeah. I know this one already.
He was already dead before I discovered him, so I didn't get the "loss" part of this firsthand, but listening to this makes me feel for him, a little sad for what he must have wrestled with.
The production is so intimate and unique. Multitracking vocals, the mic is practically in his mouth. The snare drum feels like a millimeter from your eardrum, the guitar's next to you on the couch, but the cymbals are out in the backyard. You can hear how he's influenced Beck, PortugalThaMan, of course Ásgeir Trausti, even Olivia Rodrigo.
If you dig this guy but hadn't heard of him before... keep listening to XO and self-titled. And don't miss Mic City Sons from his previous band, Heatmiser.
Metallica
5/5
Like a greatest hits collection from an all-time group, PLUS some songs are much better with orchestra. (Some aren’t helped at all, but that’s hardly a liability.) Ktulu, Fuel, Bleeding Me are FANTASTIC
Devendra Banhart
2/5
It's certainly an interesting delivery, but it's not for me. I can't tell if he's just weird and singing his truth or putting on airs. Probably the former, but the thought that it might be the latter makes it hard to enjoy.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
ENERGY. This was a firecracker.
David Bowie
3/5
Stones cover is much better than the original. The rest is just ok. There’s so much better in his catalog!
The Jam
3/5
Crazy that halfway through I began to think of them as disco. Must be the bass lines.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
This must be the best Stones album I've tried, end to end. Super polished, confident, showy and groovy all at once. All this despite Brown Sugar makes me wildly uncomfortable...
Sabu
2/5
I wanted to like this a lot more, as a drummer, and I'm sure it must have done a lot for the horde. But this was just not a good "album." I guess it's good to hear once and to know his name.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
This grows on me over the course of the album. Talking Heads 2.0. They have the same effect. The lyrics snuck up on me- I was halfway through before I realized how lovely and sarcastic they were.
Al Green
3/5
Nice to confirm that the single is not a fluke, it's all very good, smooth and very pretty. A very nice complete package.
The Clash
4/5
Raw and yet polished. Very confident. Not quite London Calling but I enjoyed every track.
Haircut 100
2/5
Julian Cope
4/5
A few songs really grabbed my attention for good and bad reasons, including Promised Land, Safesurfer, and Western Front 1992 CE. I am starting to resent having to review new music by comparing it to other music I know, but in this case, the way he reminded me of Velvet Underground, Sugar, Morphine, Bowie, Henry Rollins.... some wide variety and usually a positive comparison. And now learning he's a paleolithic scholar on top of this, I'm really intrigued and will return to this.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Totally captivated by the first track. The rest were really good too, but a little too much all at once. This guy really seems to construct a song deliberately, carefully, with purpose and patience. Really beautiful throughout.
The Police
3/5
A little inconsistent, if I'm honest. Does not compare favorably with e.g. Synchronicity. A few tracks are awesome though: Bed's Too Big, Walking on the Moon, and of course Message.
ZZ Top
3/5
I really want to like this unapologetically shallow rock. It's got great attitude and lovely grooves. Great for background, but what's it all for?
Big Star
2/5
Now I have heard this often-cited album. And I don't hear what the fuss is about. Perhaps it's because the ground they broke is thoroughly trodden by now, but it's just okay.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
Exquisitely crafted country. Considering the publication date, I bet the rock fusion was really something unique.
Wire
4/5
Track one has a pronounced deccelerando; track ten has an accelerando. Both reminded me how rare they are in rock, and how thrilling they can be. Really damn good punk. (Post punk?) Like everyone else, Three Girl Rhumba made me jump out of my chair.
The War On Drugs
3/5
Sounds really good but its sounds develop too slowly for too long to be a complete album listen.
Johnny Cash
4/5
I don't know what it is about his voice, the charisma is undeniable. We give him a lot of slack because he's an old guy with a long track record, so I doubt anyone but him could get away with the languid pace of some of these songs. But as he takes advantage of that slack he makes good use of it.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Started WAY strong! And mostly stayed there. This is the perfect assignment for me, because I had no idea whatsoever what genre, decade, country, etc before listening. I got several songs in before I realized it wasn't from the 70s like I first assumed. Great sound, great voice, great production, great messages.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Some really intense themes, deeper than its genre compatriots, I think. "Next" is especially affecting. The glam and theatrics detracted a bit from the music... or else it was nice groovy rock but not stupendous.
The Adverts
3/5
Lots of energy, but rather dated sound. Really caught my ear a couple times, particularly the guitar solos. I'd never heard of these guys, I wonder what happened to them.
The Black Keys
3/5
This must be a really interesting partnership, being able to create such a rich sound with just two creators. Some tracks, especially when the drummer gets more active, are just lightning. I really like the fuzzy(?) tone the guitar uses often.
Note to self - this is a different band than the Black Crowes...
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Thanks to this project, I have now listened top-to-bottom to three Hendrix, rather than just the "smash hits:" AYE, Axis, and Electric Ladyland. This is the best, tightest, most insane. MAN he was good. I can't believe how ahead he was of everybody.
k.d. lang
2/5
Nothing I could really appreciate. Sleepy pop with no hooks.
Mariah Carey
2/5
The career-defining album of a multi-multi-platinum pop and commercial success... that does very little for me. She has an incredible voice, but I'd rather listen to her speak, or improvise, or sing Christmas songs, than these formulaic constructions.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
Man, this is a mental workout. I have heard about it with reverence for many years and finally got a reason to sit down with it. Chameleon and Watermelon Man are face-melting. Sly is ok. Vein-Melter probably needs a lot more attention to recognize its cool bits.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Kinda cool, respect the outlaw just kinda doing what he loves, but this was for him not me.
Stan Getz
3/5
Two minutes in, I thought this was going to be boring, dated, past its prime. but then I ended up repeating two-thirds of the songs to give them another listen. This guy's tone is smoother than I can remember ever hearing out of a sax. It's like he has no tongue.
The Stooges
4/5
All snarling power, dated production but totally essential for its influence. (I tried the Bowie mix and the Iggy mix and I like the former)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
Traffic
3/5
I wanted to like it more because of their reputation, but this was “just” very acceptable rock, nothing really stuck with me. But now I know what Traffic sounds like!
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
I could listen to this over and over. Sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday. Clear like a bell. It's nice that they keep the bloopers.
How High the Moon is a bit disappointing. Either do it your own way, or do it Ella's way but really go for it (hard mode). But don't do it Ella's way and half-ass it. Then the contrast it just too obvious.
GZA
2/5
I listened to this so long ago... I forget. But I did listen, and don't remember it impressing me much.
Prince
5/5
Michael Jackson
4/5
A perfect case for this list. I had no idea he was like all disco for this debut album. The man had endless talent for arrangement and melody. Lots of booty shakers and lovely ballads. And those bass lines…
Napalm Death
3/5
Ok, so grindcore. Either you hate it, or you're at least a little damaged yourself. But there's a lot to appreciate here. I truly hate the vocals of this style, but otherwise it's clearly so influential. Musicians very skilled and precise. Anyway, glad I listened but I will not return to anything longer than the track "You Suffer."
Eminem
3/5
4 for impact and nascent talent. Not my style, perhaps, but his talent for rhyming is undeniable. 2 for artistic merit.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Pixies
4/5
I've been hearing that this is almost universally beloved for a long time. Nice to finally make the time to listen.
Considering how totally disappointing was Surfer Rosa, this is WAY better. A decent producer seems to make a big difference, and it sounds like someone made them rehearse everything at least a couple times. The sound of every instrument is vastly better. The subjects are weird and wonderful and make me think. It's still quite rough and grating, it's not love at first sight, but I'll definitely be able to give this a few more tries and I think it'll grow on me.
Ice Cube
2/5
Carole King
4/5
Darn good writer. Such "real" lyrics that make you think you could have written them, and maybe wish you thought to... but of course you didn't get there. She did.
Miles Davis
5/5
Five tracks. Five absolute classics. Five stars.
The Slits
2/5
Awfully tedious. Singer sounds like a toddler just learning to carry a tune, making up songs while playing in the sand at the beach. "new town, new, town, newtown, newtown, newtown...." The cover is kinda coo, but the only thing worth returning to.
Korn
1/5
Gosh, this didn’t age well, and I’m coming back to it from a place of considerable nostalgia. Terribly tedious.
I guess I still respect the abandonment of western tonal conventions. But the overall effect is terrible after about 6 minutes.
Got the Life stays in rotation though.
The Everly Brothers
2/5
Boy oh boy are love songs creepy in the 50s. "Made to Love" got me off on a real bad foot. Interesting to hear, I guess.
Elvis Costello
3/5
It's got a lot of great attitude, I'll give it that. Nothing I think I'll want to remember and revisit, save "Watching the Detectives." I understand that was tacked on for US rerelease, so he doesn't get credit for it on the album :)
Sigur Rós
5/5
I can clearly remember the first time I listened to this, walking between classes outside in fall in 2001. This album is imbued with that time in my life, but it brought plenty of its own magic, charisma, and mystery. It was (and is) like nothing else I've ever heard. It's one I put on when I want to clear my head and think about nothing, and that reminds me strongly of a dear departed mother figure, and was also playing for one of the best make-out sessions of my life. It can be all these and more, paradoxically, simultaneously. With its patient development, excellent song structure, absolutely gorgeous sounds, and obscure language, it adapts to your need.
Morrissey
3/5
Megadeth
4/5
Never thought I’d like more thrash metal than Metallica, but this is great. The vocals get a little annoying but so much fun to listen to and even more fun to notice their technical skill.
Circle Jerks
4/5
I really like this early punk. Reminds me of my first listen of Germs. The drummer is fantastic. Although it’s hard to think of a mood to return to this with, I still saved a few like Red Tape.
The Smiths
3/5
I like most individual songs, but the thing about Morrisseys vocals is the mix of pretty tone and monotonous melodies. It sounds like a toddler while they’re first learning to carry a tune. I can’t like it for long at a time.
ZZ Top
3/5
The blues can go miles and miles on some really simple, repetitive stuff if the band is having fun and taking care of its sound. La Grange is a classic. It's also the same blues, but the somewhat unique syncopated riff is distinguishing enough to set it apart.
Eric Clapton
5/5
Superb!
Syd Barrett
2/5
A couple of these sound like late Beatles outtakes. But mostly it sounds like “semi-polished ideas for a record” from a very talented guy. Who’s also kind of out there.
Beth Orton
3/5
I really wanted to like this, so much. for someone I’ve never heard of, it had the perfect pedigree: 90s, trip hop. Lady singer. But although it sounds nice, sometimes very, very nice, most of the songs are a minute to 90 seconds too long, and I don’t really love her voice.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Is it cachet, or charisma? I hung on every word. The literal and storytelling nature of his songs are so compelling. And the unique act of prison shows is something I’m suprised was allowed. I think Metallica has played San Quentin too - but this is still pretty rare. Glad I had an excuse to check this out.
Aimee Mann
4/5
Spent a while trying to figure out why her voice is so familiar, even if her songs aren’t. It’s her guest vocals on Rush - Time Stand Still.
Great tunes. Nothing so totally revolutionary, but I could listen a bunch more, by which time the lyrics would get to me. I appreciate Jon Brion and I think I can hear his influence. eg. the horns / marimba on the last track.
LTJ Bukem
2/5
The album under this name on Apple Music is an entirely different tracklist, so I went and made a playlist of everything I could find from the original compilation. I figure I'd better at least give it a fair shot.
While it is probably significant for its time... I think AI could legitimately produce hours and hours of DnB under the name of an established DJ and no one would know the difference.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
This is an easy one. What's not to love? There's not a single song that couldn't have been a radio hit, not one.
All the bonus tracks are a little useless, but that's not saying much. There's enough for 4 hit albums in the main tracks.
Blue Cheer
3/5
Accidentally spoiled it with some global reviews. I like this phrasing: "stands out more because of when it happened than what it's doing." The drummer was going crazy a lot of the time but keeps a darn good metronome. Respect.
k.d. lang
3/5
She's got a nice voice. I vastly prefer the country incarnation to the comatose pop of Ingenue.
PJ Harvey
5/5
First album I'm going in blind to, that got 5 stars. She's brilliant! Gosh, I wish I'd tried her out long ago. All I knew before is her track on Batman Forever, and her duet with Thom Yorke (both lovely). Dynamics in grungy rock? Sign me up. She's got provocative and brain-testing lyrics, unique delivery, a tight band that sounds like it was recorded live (maybe some overdub voices). Range of tempos, fantastic guitar tone, a great drummer.... this is a keeper. Love it.
Crowded House
3/5
Just fine. Probably huge on college radio back in its days, but just OK.
Lucinda Williams
2/5
Did anyone catch the names of tracks 2, 4, 5...? This is a pet peeve. Listen: there are good reasons to repeat yourself a bunch of times.
A. defiance (Tom Petty - "I won't back down")
B. meditation (Radiohead - "the raindrops")
C. syllables as sound ("I'm blue da ba dee")
This is none of these. A phrase like "car wheels on a gravel road" is evocative once or twice, but beating over your head it just seems like bad writing.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Not my style at all, but I rather enjoyed at least one run through. The occasionally-tasty jazz bass player and Tracey Thorn's lovely delivery really save this for me. I enjoy the lyrics too - unusually direct and literal at times. I especially like these :
"I write these words to make them true: 'I've drowned my torch and so should you'"
Laura Nyro
4/5
Almost a broadway rocker. this band is tight. it's crazy how much the craft of songwriting used to be about arrangement AND rehearsal. now everything's electronic. the human element in these pre-80s songwriter albums is just superb.
Method Man
3/5
Like this more than most 90s rap. N-bombs at an efficient minimum and the flow is pretty smooth.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Dylan and Cohen both never fail to impress me as songwriters. As recording artists... I don't know, I can't love this. It's so sleepy.
Klaxons
3/5
The first track really got my attention. Overall not bad, but dance rock is a little old to me after a few tracks. It blurs into bumptiss noise.
3/5
I have a soft spot for noise that knows it is noise and leans into it. Not good for driving, or sitting down with a cup of tea. Unexpectedly engaging for working out, organizing, folding laundry... and exceptionally good for pissing off my wife. "Can we listen to LITERALLY anything else?"
Morrissey
3/5
The compositions are pretty cool. I understand Stephen Street did a lot of the writing, and this must be why I like it more than most Smiths/Morrissey. Still don't love his delivery.
Pantera
2/5
The music is fantastic. Hard, of course, but surprisingly nuanced for metal. Slow bits and quiet bits make the hard bits harder. But I still can’t stand screamo vocals. I need to tune it out to get through the thing, which is not fair to the musicians present. Too bad.
Don McLean
4/5
Previously rated, but I didn't make any notes.
Tom Waits
4/5
All of this found percussion and natural recording remind me of Fetch the Bolt Cutters. Love this one.
Beyoncé
4/5
Wow, sounded great on a home stereo. Rather dig her brand of feminism. It's more than a little distracting that the object of her un-self-conscious adoration is such a d-bag, but life's complicated. The music on the album is superb if I tune out the context.
Sex Pistols
4/5
This one's reputation precedes it. for having reputation built on endless conflict, controversy, and tragedy, there's actually pretty good punk rock in here. Holidays, No Feelings, God Save, Anarchy, Pretty Vacant... all interesting.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Previously rated, but I didn't make notes.
Green Day
4/5
Dire Straits
4/5
Damn he’s good on guitar. This group has a pretty unique sound ive not seen anyone else imitate, well at least.
The Thrills
2/5
Twee.
Ray Charles
3/5
Love a little grit in my crooners. TBH I don’t love this particular set; Modern Sounds is my favorite. But everyone should give Ray Charles a few listens in several stages of life.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
This is like an MFA thesis. Quite an accomplishment, but that doesn't mean it's any good.
I'll be more charitable than I was initially thinking - there's more than a decent album among these "69 Ideas for Love Songs in Various Stages of Final Draft." Maybe a decent double album. But it's quite a bit too much as 69.
Also, the ABCB rhyme scheme in 50+ of them is a big part of overstaying the welcome.
The Police
5/5
"Mother" is terrible. Trying to imitate the least interesting of King Crimson's creative impulses, and doing even worse.
The rest is wall-to-wall awesome, so they get a bye.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Taking the best crunch and anger from Nirvana and the best sonic attack from my bloody valentine. I didn’t appreciate this at the time, I was too young, but this is really something special.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
I was excited to see this, as I’ve heard often about it. But I’m pretty underwhelmed. Maybe a victim of expectations. Glad to hear the origins of later talented stuff though, so there’s that.
Justice
2/5
Proto dubstep, nice enough but not bucket list material. Might come back to this for woodshedding at work
Christina Aguilera
2/5
I mean, everyone should hear her talented beautiful voice. But I don't know if this double album is really the one to make us get through, unless we like pop.
Disc 2 was much more enjoyable; it was a little less formulaic although still a lot more belting than necessary. Hurt was very good and a keeper for me.
The Right Man is somehow very evocative of Hopelessly Devoted To You from Grease. Must be the chords or the melody outline or something.
David Ackles
3/5
I listened once through on the commute, didn't pay close attention, and thought it was broadway / maudlin. I also fell asleep.
I gave it another fair shot later, and well, it's still maudlin. But the intricacy of the songwriting, the really nice lyrics, and the sometimes very strange variety of subjects seduced me. I can see why more famous songwriters cite him as inspirational. Good one for a "must listen" list.
The Young Gods
3/5
As a fan of Nine Inch Nails, this kept my interest well enough. Longue Route is a pretty good one. I can hear the echoes of this influence in NIN, Mike Patton’s various groups, Trans Am, Rammstein, Meat Beat Manifesto. Inventive use of samples, and pads, I think.
XTC
2/5
I am learning that I don't like New Wave very much, with a few exceptions. Still, it was fortunate to get XTC and Devo in quick succession so I can compare them. I would describe XTC as more earnest and serious, while Devo is absurdist, sarcastic, playful. I think the latter tone suits the genre so much more naturally.
The Specials
3/5
Roots of ska and dub madly evident. But someone in this band thought too much of himself and the rest of the band didn’t push back… or I guess they did, because they quit shortly after. But they are what makes this good.
3/5
I am learning that I don't like New Wave very much, with a few exceptions. Still, it was fortunate to get XTC and Devo in quick succession so I can compare them. I would describe XTC as more earnest and serious, while Devo is absurdist, sarcastic, playful. I think the latter tone suits the genre so much more naturally.
Devo is such an important influence on one of my favorite lyricists that his kid is named Devo. This is more enjoyable than XTC, but wow?
Dr. Octagon
3/5
Sounds like the kind of rapper that Mike Patton would adore. I appreciate the surrealism, "lyrics as an instrument," and pretty cool beats. The puerile album concept is a big bummer though.
Roxy Music
2/5
I was looking forward to another Roxy Music after enjoying my introduction a while ago. But this was just… ok. Not being really memorable to me but the occasional not-as-musical-more-noise sound effects.
The Incredible String Band
3/5
"I think drugs have done some good things for us, I really do. And if you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight and take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CD's and burn them. Because, you know what? The musicians who made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years... rrrrrrrreal fucking high on drugs. Man, the Beatles were so high, they let Ringo sing a couple of tunes. Tell me they weren't partying. (singing) "We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine." We all live in a-do you know how fucking high they were when they wrote that? They had to pull Ringo off the ceiling with a rake to sing that fucking song. (Beatle voices) John, get Ringo, he's in the corner. Ooh, look at him scoot, grab him! Hook his bellbottom, hook his bellbottom! He's got a song he wants to sing us. Something about living in a yellow tambourine or something. Ringo, Yoko's gone, come down, we can party again! They were real high, they wrote great music, drugs did have a positive effect." -- Bill Hicks
Nick Drake
5/5
Three albums and out. 15/15. Can't believe this guy. What a waste of talent... but he gave us some great stuff.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Radiohead
5/5
All tracks great. All tracks have inspired at least one inventive and interesting cover--that I know of. Shows that this all-time band was making excellent music even before they started going really weird. Now they’re making excellent music AND it’s really weird.
D'Angelo
5/5
So damn good. S-t Damn Motherf-ker and Higher are the highlights. But several more great ones. The bass sound on Lady is dreamy.
I dismissed this guy as some basic R&B crooner in the 90s. First, the music is better. Second, he wrote it. Third, he plays not just sings. I'm sorry D'Angelo, I did not give you a chance until now.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
I figured I’d never listened to this beyond Beautiful People, but I got flashbacks to a LAN party in 1998 when Jared was playing this and Mechanical Animals on repeat ALL NIGHT. Jared, you’re a weird one. Anyway, there’s a lot of anger and no subtlety in the writing, and lots of interesting things in the engineering. Important arguments made about hegemony, commercialism, celebrity, but Altogether, it’s about as redeeming as a Nuremberg Rally speech, but still “notable” in a similar sort of way. Glad I listened. Influential artifact of a specific time, and good for a bucket list, not a “best” list.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Absolutely belongs for for Nothing Compares 2 U. One of the best vocal takes ever cut to a record. The rest is... honestly interesting, but not highly repeatable for me.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
I listened to this totally sober. For me that means I was not nearly high enough to get it. And already too high to enjoy it.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
Yeah, I know half the lyrics of this record. And they're not usually that profound - but the rotation it earns is heavy enough that I can't help it!
Missy Elliott
4/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
Kinda Michael Jackson with not as much unique delivery? One or two fun songs but I had a hard time recognizing the genius he claimed, or at least the notability reviewers do.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Some good stuff, but pretty mixed; some tracks are kind of a chore to listen to. The cover art is great. Generation Landslide and Unfinished Sweet were my favorites.
Fiona Apple
5/5
Butthole Surfers
2/5
Solid “should be on this list.” But so very strange. There’s so much more that’s this weird and borderline offensive, but actually better (e.g. Fantomas)
The Who
5/5
Got better and better over its brief run. There's nobody who ever played like Keith Moon.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Endlessly repeatable. Great great afrobeat album.
Caetano Veloso
4/5
Spiritualized
3/5
Sigh. It's really hard to impress with dreamy weird stuff. Not everyone can be radiohead. Lots of props for the winds--I was just reading someone say it's revolutionary to take winds into rock, that only Ben Folds, Paul Simon, and Bon Iver are that cool. Well the person saying that (Bon Iver's trumpeter) obviously never heard this stuff.
Shine a Light is insufferable. But the rest..... I think I'll try to return to this later. I think it might grow on me.
Meat Loaf
4/5
The Who
3/5
This is fun, but the other one is way better cover to cover. Glad I listened but I won’t return to more than a couple tracks.
Pearl Jam
5/5
I wonder sometimes why they're associated so closely with grunge. They're not nearly so muddy and dark. Their music is emotional and definitely coherent but almost impressionistic, not least because you sometimes have no idea what he's mumbling. Anyway, this is nearly an hour of great riffs and strong writing. The production's a little dated, but there's a remaster from a few years back that just about fixes everything. 4.5 rounded up.