I'd been holding off listening to this album for a while because I was sure I wouldn't like it. And while it's surely not my style of music, we've listened to so many worse albums in the interim that I don't think I can just damn it with one star. Were this a 10 star system, I'd probably give it a 2 - MAYBE a 3. But in this 5 star system, I've got to go with a 2, because it's not nearly as bad a some of the albums that have been virtually unlistenable. So cheers to Anthrax. You've earned this 2 by not sucking as much as others!!

While Anita Baker has a nice voice and these songs are perfectly fine, I don't find anything revelatory about this album. I can't say I've ever thought "I'd like to hear an Anita Baker song now" or ever heard one of the hits from it and thought "Wow! What a great song!" The chime-y keyboard sounds, along with some of the other production, place it squarely in the 80s soft-pop genre, and it's unfortunately mostly forgetable.

Wow, is this man full of himself. The opening & closing tracks tell me pretty much all I needed to know about him and set me up to dislike the album. But first, I was loathe to listen to this at all, given the sexual harassment/rape charges that removed him from the public eye a decade ago. And it was super hard to stomach the misogyny & violence contained in this album while thinking about the woman who brought those charges against him. It's a little bit (but only a little bit) too bad, because a couple of the songs could have been enjoyable. He employs catchy beats and seems to have a real talent with both his voice and his rhymes. But there was just too much other stuff for me to get beyond to be willing to give the rest a chance.

I love this album. It was among the first batch of cds I ever bought (thank you Columbia House!) and have probably played it over 1000 times and I look forward to hearing it at least 1000 more. k.d. lang has an incredible vocal instrument. First arriving on the scene as a "new" Patsy Cline, she rose to prominence in country circles (despite hailing from Canada). With this album, she (mostly) left her torch and twang behind to prove herself a force in the adult contemporary market. And with the hit "Constant Craving", she did just that and found, in this listener, a lifelong fan. Vocally, her tone is so pure. She bends notes to her will, coaxing emotion out of words and phrases with seeming ease. When she sings of pain, it is palpable. When she sings of joy, it is infectious. When she sings of longing, it is intense. This particular collection of songs shows a range that some of her other albums don't. (I own them all, but this is the one I come back to most.) From the bouncy, coquettish Ms. Chatelaine (a cheeky flip-side to her normally butch persona) to the spare, haunting Tears of Love's Recall, she runs the gamut of a true chanteuse's repertoire. k.d. lang is a true musical artist. 5 stars for me; no hesitation.

Any one of The Police's albums could rate as a favorite. This one hits all of the sweet spots for me. It keeps just enough of the punk/reggae vibe of their earlier works, but expands a slightly more mainstream rock milieu. It spawned quiet a few hits (all of them deserving, IMO) and even the lesser tracks still have a lot going for them. As a whole, the album is rather dark with it's investigations into murder, stalking, oppression, devilry and just the weight of day-to-day existence amongst the uncertainty of the world. The album kicks off with the almost discordant Synchronicity I, full of ambiguous lyrics, soaring vocals, and jamming piano & guitar. Sting gets a little preachy, but cheekily so, in Walking in Your Footsteps, with great tribal percussion lending weight to the musical message. O My God might be the weakest link for me, but still has a pretty good jazzy hook and a sound that Sting will move more toward in his solo work. Ditto the story aspect of Tea in the Sahara, which could easily come off of his Ten Sumner's Tales album. Many people react against Mother (Andy Summer's sole writing/singing credit) and feel it's too far afield from the rest of the album. Personally, I dig it's weirdness and primal angst, and musically, the Middle Eastern sounds of the oboe and the funky time signature. Miss Gradenko (Stewart Copeland's sole writing credit) hints at a corporate/government scenario rife with danger & intrigue. Murder By Numbers is as Dirty Deeds-esque lyric paired with a bouncy, fun melody for an ironic look at hired violence. Then there are the biggies, tracks 6-9: Synchronicity II is probably my fave track with it's cynical look at a day in the life of the working man. I can never be in a traffic jam without feeling like lemming packed in shiny metal box. Every Breath You Take, King of Pain, and Wrapped Around Your Finger all earned their place on the airwaves & the charts, each distinct, and yet also of a piece - much like side two from any number of Beatles albums. This album is a masterwork from a band at the top of their game. That they called it quits right after is in some ways disappointing, but may have been the best call they could make, as they clearly went out on top.

No denying she’s a decent songwriter that knows how to write a catchy hook. She is not a good singer, though, and I find her lyrics to be insipid and catering to the LCD. Not for me.

I find nothing remarkable about this album or this band. Although I knew their name, I'm actually surprised I'd never heard their music before. The music doesn't hit my 80's sweet spot. (Possible exception is the final track - the acoustic approach is much more interesting to me for their sound than the rest of the album.) It actually sounds more like some of the forgettable 90s bands, so maybe they were ahead of their time. But I haven't missed having them in my life and don't think I will.

I think it's easy to forget today how impactful this album was when it came out. It was the first piano-driven contemporary adult rock album to hit the mainstream in a long time. I think it's also easy today to mock Chris Martin for his past ties to kooky Gwyneth and his aging hipster brand. But truth is, he was helping to invent that brand at the time. His soulful, poetic lyrics are worlds ahead of what many other 25 year old pop stars write (yes, I'm looking at you, Tay Tay, but not just you!). The trance-synth sound of the band is just the chill groove a lot of people were looking for after having "survived" the turn of the millenium. Sure, there are a couple of clunkers on this album, but Clocks was an awakening anthem for it's time, and The Scientist and In My Place are prime examples of the genre this album helped to create/cement. I don't own this album (it came out around the time I stopped buying very many albums) but if I did, I certainly wouldn't be upset when/if it (or songs from it) came up in rotation. Were this a 10-star system, I'd likely give this album a 7. Stuck in the 3-star system, I give it a solid (high) 3, bordering on a 4.

A masterpiece. Prog rock finally delivers an album that pure rock fans can "get on board" with. Their musicianship is undeniable - probably the tightest three piece unit outside of jazz. The lyrics are evocative and deep. Tom Sawyer is the perfect lead-off, gently drawing in a more traditional listener with the rock side of things before the album fully reveals its "prog- ness". Limelight perfectly captures the conundrum of what it means to be a rock star, capping it with the vow to never give up their passion for their craft to placate the masses. YYZ is one of the best rock instrumentals ever, showcasing each of the band members individually, but also exemplifying the aforementioned synchronicity. A couple of the songs might be hard listens for someone not as on board with the prog sound - The Camera Eye and Witch Hunt is a tough back-to-back - but I was surprised that the 10 min of Camera Eye was over before it felt long to me. This album definitely has a spot in my rotation, though some of the individual songs might throw off a shuffle of more general music.

Ambient is tough. I like it for relaxation purposes, or background while working, but don't feel like I really "listen" to the music. This album was pleasant enough - nothing jarring or difficult to get through, but also nothing that stands out as particularly moving or sonically amazing.

A strong solo effort by Macca that shows the growth of his style as a solo artist, but still retains plenty of the influence of that earlier group he was with. The hits are undeniable - both the title track and Jet are complex, yet accessible, of their time, yet timeless. A few of the songs could have been deep cuts from Beatles' albums and would therefore have been much better known (Let Me Roll It, Mamunia). The clunkers, for me, are Last Words..., which feels like a White Album reject akin to You Know the Name, Look Up the Number, and those tracks whose sound is too firmly entrenched in the 70s' FM "rock" genre to have much lasting value. I wouldn't mind most of these songs coming up in a random rotation, but there are definitely some I wouldn't ever choose to play. In a 10-pt. system, I have gone with a 7; here, it could be a three or four, but since it's Sir Paul, I rounded up.

I guess this music must have a place for somebody. Not for me.

A few great tunes here - I particularly love her voice on Let's Stay Together. A few really dated-sounding tracks (1984, esp!) that bring the whole effort down a bit. She's an icon, no doubt, but I'd prefer a greatest hits collection to this full album.

Duran Duran is one of my favorite 80s bands. Two undeniable hits (Rio, ...Wolf), a super strong near-hit (Save a Prayer - a personal fave) and the sleeper New Religion make this album a must-have for me. The rest of the album is unremarkable, but only one or two completely miss the mark. Put on your parachute pants and an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt with your favorite day-glo message and dance your butt off to this album!

Meh. Nothing offensive here, with a couple of fun tracks. The overall production is surprisingly good for garage rock. I particularly like "In the Cold, Cold Night". The intro to "Little Acorns" is hilarious - I had to look to see if I had accidentally opened a video that was playing in a different browser window. I mostly don't like Jack's voice and the thrashing guitars and hyper-aggressive drums get old after a few tracks. I wouldn't necessarily skip any tracks that popped up and might even like them better in isolation, but whole album of one after another was too much and I wouldn't buy this album for my collection.

I tried. Made it through 7 1/2 tracks. I just can't.

She's the Queen for a reason. If you ever needed to explain soul for someone, just play them this album.

I've never been a big Bruce fan, but can appreciate his masterful songwriting and storytelling here. Dark & moody, but soulful, this album hits hard.

Not as bad as I thought it might be. Still, a little goes a long way. While I can appreciate it as a groundbreaker, it’s not something I’d listen to again.

So The Saints (from yesterday) put out a Halloween album…

Hard to believe this album, with its female empowerment overtones, was recorded in 1967! About half the songs turn the songs of heartache on their ear, as she takes the reigns of her own story. I might rather listen to Patsy if I’m in a twangy mood (and there might be a little more twang here than I’d normally like) and the overall sound gets a little repetitive. Still, there’s no denying the musicianship of her band - I particularly loved the slide guitar work on the otherwise forgettable “Shoe Goes on the Other Foot”.

NOTE: If you don't *really* know Elvis' music - this is NOT the rock 'n roll that made him the King. This album was a comeback of sorts, but also largely a departure from the hits that established him as an icon. He returned to his country/gospel/soul roots, with an added symphonic element for this sometimes over-produced, arguably overly-sentimental collection that was a huge hit at the time it was released. I find it rather syrupy and much prefer his early stuff, but it has a decided nostalgia for me, too, remembering family trips in the station wagon, listening to him on 8-track. While Suspicious Minds is a personal fave, most of the tracks smack of the Vegas Elvis that has become somewhat of a joke in later years. Still, his voice is powerful, with a style all it's own, and he pours emotion (sometimes too much?) into each and every song. His band, The Memphis Boys, are as solid as can be - tight when they need to be, loose & flowy when it serves the song. They accompany the King expertly, never stealing his thunder but never letting him down.

Wow, is this man full of himself. The opening & closing tracks tell me pretty much all I needed to know about him and set me up to dislike the album. But first, I was loathe to listen to this at all, given the sexual harassment/rape charges that removed him from the public eye a decade ago. And it was super hard to stomach the misogyny & violence contained in this album while thinking about the woman who brought those charges against him. It's a little bit (but only a little bit) too bad, because a couple of the songs could have been enjoyable. He employs catchy beats and seems to have a real talent with both his voice and his rhymes. But there was just too much other stuff for me to get beyond to be willing to give the rest a chance.

I rather like this. Its definitely got some Bowie & Peter Gabriel influence, which could never be a bad thing to me. And I get hits of David Grey’s self-produced White Ladder, which I had on repeat for a while in the 90s. Some of the synth & sequencer sounds are a bit dated. But the sound is complex, the mood is contemplative, and the overall feel is sophisticated w/o being full of itself. I likely would have liked it more had I discovered in in the 80s, but I look forward to giving it some more time to grow on me and analyze it further.

There are maybe 2 1/2 good songs on this album. Waterfalls is a no-brainer - great hook, tight harmonies, cool metaphoric lyrics - it definitely deserved to be a hit. I don't think I'd ever listen to any other song on this album on purpose again.

Some interesting sonic experimentation going on here, but unfortunately, it all sounds so dated. No stand out tracks that, to my mind, stand the test of time. While this album may have (strongly?) influenced music to follow, I don't feel that I've missed out by not hearing it before.

Oof. Hard for me to get beyond his voice. That nasally screech, which is too common in British punk-pop, brings all of the music around it down for me. Some of the music is strong and the overall concept of the albums is interesting, but...that voice...

I rather like this and think it could be something I'd listen to again. The songs are somewhat diverse in their overall sound, yet cohesive enough have a "Verve" sound and make for a strong album. The lyrics are heady w/o being pretentious. I particularly like A Northern Soul.

With a full listen, I liked this album more than I thought it would, though there are still things about it that grate on me. The overall musicianship is solid, the sound is tight, and the production is first rate, but much of it has a sound that just doesn't trip my receptors. Let's start with the obvious track: I think someone played Jane Says on the juke box every single time I was in Atomic Billiards in the 90s (and that was a LOT), and with such repetition, the song lost some of it's impact for me. Hearing it afresh, in context of the album, it is the absolute stand out on the album, the one place where Ferrell's voice absolutely fits with the sonic landscape around him. Unfortunately, none of other tracks quite rise to Jane's level, with the possible exception of Summertime Rolls. Otherwise, I'm not crazy about Perry's wailing - it's ok when it's providing texture, almost like another instrument, but it's tough for me as the lead vocal line. I imagine it's like Geddy Lee's voice for some listeners of Rush. I loved the opening instrumental and the intro to track 2, but then the grunge guitars kicked in - that aggressive, fuzzy sound was so overused in the 90s and wears on me pretty quickly. Ditto the machine gun drum sounds like are used on Mountain Song. But I love the heavy bass lines used throughout the album, and the playfulness of the brass hits in Mountain Song and the steel drums in Jane Says, genre-bending musicality that says they're more than just grunge rockers. I only wished they pushed against that even more.

Listening to the first couple of tracks, I was quickly drawn in by the hauntingly spare sound, honest lyrics and atypical tunings. Surprised that I hadn't heard of Nick Drake before, I looked him up. What a tragic story of a great talent underappreciated in his time and taken far too soon. I can hear influences of Cat Stevens and Van Morrison in his work, and can hear how his sound may have influenced a whole host of singer/songwriters that followed him. Some of the songs are a little bleak (understandably), but others feel hopeful and celebratory of our (pained) existence. The musicianship is mostly very strong, with his reedy voice well-suited for introspection. I will definitely listen to him more and will seek out his other work. How sad that there is so little of it.

I like strong women rockers, but this just isn't my jam. Her voice doesn't do it for me, and reminds me of Belinda Carlisle (whose voice I also don't care for). The aggressive, repetitive guitar is also not a fave of mine. I *almost* like Little Babies, but even that one got tiring for me by the end. So while I appreciate what these strong women are doing/have done, and wish them all the best at it, it's a pass for me.

With Sign O' The Times, Prince capitalized on the success of Purple Rain, bringing us another strong album of creative sounds, catchy hooks and stirring soul/funk. The title track, while of it's time on the surface, is sadly still relevant today. The rhythms in Housequake are divine. I Could Never Take The Place... is a fun pop confection, but also a great jam session. A couple of tracks might be on the racy side (If I Was Your Girlfriend, e.g.) for average listeners and therefore a little off-putting, but there's still no denying his musicality. The Cross brings in so many kitchen-sink elements - pop ballad, raspy rock guitar, the slow-build, Eastern/raga instrumentation, gospel choir - that it shouldn't work, but somehow still does. This is a solid 4 for me, with moments that a clearly higher than that.

While this album is nearly the definition of a seminal 90s album, the contents are decidedly a mixed bag. Some of the songs are tunes that will live forever in the ears of those who first heard them then. Others are forgettable. Perhaps a double album wasn't the best way for the Pumpkins to cement their legacy. Billy Corgan's voice is certainly quirky and I'm sure there are many that don't like it at all. For me, when it works, it works incredibly well; but when it doesn't, it grates. The lush orchestrations are out of this world and fill some of the songs to the max. The more spare entries are perhaps the more powerful for it. As for the lyrics, it is quintessential 90s angst. What could be a more stereotypical pronouncement of the disaffected youth of the day than "emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness, and cleanliness is godliness, and god is empty just like me"? A full re-listen really brought back to me how solid parts of this album were. And yet it also showed me how much of its time it was. It's not really a surprise that the Pumpkins couldn't make a go of it in the new century. But still, we'll always have "tonight, tonight".

I love this album. It was among the first batch of cds I ever bought (thank you Columbia House!) and have probably played it over 1000 times and I look forward to hearing it at least 1000 more. k.d. lang has an incredible vocal instrument. First arriving on the scene as a "new" Patsy Cline, she rose to prominence in country circles (despite hailing from Canada). With this album, she (mostly) left her torch and twang behind to prove herself a force in the adult contemporary market. And with the hit "Constant Craving", she did just that and found, in this listener, a lifelong fan. Vocally, her tone is so pure. She bends notes to her will, coaxing emotion out of words and phrases with seeming ease. When she sings of pain, it is palpable. When she sings of joy, it is infectious. When she sings of longing, it is intense. This particular collection of songs shows a range that some of her other albums don't. (I own them all, but this is the one I come back to most.) From the bouncy, coquettish Ms. Chatelaine (a cheeky flip-side to her normally butch persona) to the spare, haunting Tears of Love's Recall, she runs the gamut of a true chanteuse's repertoire. k.d. lang is a true musical artist. 5 stars for me; no hesitation.

This album, along with his later Songs In The Key of Life, stands as a testament to the talent and vision of Stevie Wonder. After years under the watchful eye of Motown head Berry Gordy, Stevie began navigating his own way in Motown. And his way was a satisfying mix of classic R&B sounds updated with outstanding keyboard/synth playing, a dash of funk, and a couple of chill ballads. His subject matter dabbles in the political, while still appealing to the mainstream (and crossover) listeners of the day. The two hits, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, and Superstition, deserve all of their accolades, though they come from near-opposite ends of the Stevie spectrum. The dreamy keyboard intro and softly crooned opening lines of ...Sunshine might trick one into thinking it is no more than a sappy love song, but when the horns kick in, the drums snap, and Stevie lets loose with his voice, you know his message is deeply felt. Who wouldn't want this song sung to/about them? Superstition, on the other hand, hits hard, both musically and lyrically, but with the same signature passion. His clavinet playing pretty much defines the instrument, and again, the horns add a brassiness (yes, I KNOW!) that elevates the arrangement. Stevie's howling vocals project the pessimism that was growing among the civil rights issues of the day. The musicians are super-tight, with shining additions by guest David Sanborn on Tuesday Heartbreak, Jeff Beck on Lookin' for Another Pure Love, and Ray Parker, Jr. (of Ghostbusters fame!) ripping a great solo on Maybe Your Baby - a song that provides a rather direct-line influence to Stevie's R&B-flavored pop successor in the next decade, Prince. All in all, an enjoyable listen, with some VERY high points.

I think there is great genius in this album. What a labor of love and caring that this prolific artist, operating mostly in the shadows, would use his clout to speak out, beautifully, loudly and passionately, about a cause that concerns him. The production is absolutely stunning, the mixes so complex and yet focused and affecting. The vocals are compelling throughout. The various styles could strike some as too all over the place, but I saw the eclecticism as a way of bringing together many eras and many peoples in a salute to our varied humanity. The concept can be a little heavy-handed at times, but the subject matter is so important that I can let that slide a little. Working backwards in time feels right to me, as it gets us back, at the end of the album, to a time of more innocence and helps us wonder how we might get there again, or where might we be without this threat. This is not an album to put on for easy listening and I wouldn't necessarily dial up songs from it on a whim. But it is an Important album in other ways. I'm glad I've heard it and can see great value in revisiting it in the future.

Largely seen in the U.S. as a one-hit wonder for "Cars", Numan was actually at the leading edge of the synth-pop/new wave movement worldwide. This synth/Moog heavy collection is not an easy listen today, as the sounds are definitely of their time and outside of the 80s mainstream. Likewise, the subject matter isn't particularly relatable, dealing with machines, robots and other things sci-fi. Perhaps that's why "Cars" hit the biggest - it reflects on something most of us can relate to. I dig the bass lines and drum tracks in many places (esp. the instrumental opener), can take or leave his voice (which works best on "Cars"), and admire the strings mixed in on certain tracks ("Complex", ) What can't be ignored, though, is the albums influence on other bands. New wave took off big and much of the sound can be traced to Numan, to the point that some of those sounds & rhythms are common in general pop and even hip-hop these days. And if you want a direct connection, look to NIN's cover of "Metal" (which clearly rocks a lot more than the version here). Still, I wouldn't listen to this album in it's entirety again. But "Cars" has a solid place in my 80s playlist, for nostalgia's sake, if nothing else.

Wow, what a great find! This is a group/album that I didn't know I needed in my life but am glad to add. It's lyrical without being predictive, deep without being pretentious, playful without being cutesy, chill without being boring. I like the voices, unconventional on their own, yet well suited to each other. I like the sparseness of the arrangements, which makes each instrument and the vocals all that much more important. Intro had me very interested from the start, but I warily awaited how their vocals might skew things. When the female voice dropped in on VCR (after that catchy toy piano riff & thumping drum/bass combo kicked in), my wariness waned. The male vocal, somewhat sloppy & slurred) was interesting in itself, but when she joined him, the mixture was just perfect. This feeling continued for me throughout, with particular highlights for me being Heart Skipped A Beat (great, fun percussion tricks), and Infinity (again, great percussion, with reverb-dreamy guitar). Stars is a great lead-out, leaving me wanting more. It's clear to me by this point (almost 50 albums in) that this list skews British, esp. in alt-rock/pop genres. While that's bothered me a bit with the more "name" groups, I love that it's brought my attention to things like Nick Drake and this.

This one is a tough sell for me. I appreciate their musical talents and there are some really great rock songs here. But the content is SO political, and so British, that it becomes inaccessible fairly quickly. I'm all for politics in music, but it's been done much more powerfully and subtly in the decades since by other groups. While I appreciate their bravery and forthrightness, I much prefer their later hit music. I would likely not listen to this album again.

This is a good example for me of how this list can be useful. I've heard the name Stan Getz before, but had no idea what his style of jazz was. After this listen, I know that when I'm looking for some cool, tight sounds to put on for relaxation or background, I can ask Alexa for a Stan Getz album.

It's telling that Here's Comes Your Man is the most popular song from this album. It's catchy, melodic and has a great hook. It's the only song on this album I care for. There are a few others that showed promise in the first few bars, but then the strident guitars, angry vocals and discordant noise kicked in and they lost me. It's just not my kind of music.

An interesting listen. The album sounds a bit like if the clash did 60s protest folk. And I kinda like it! His voice is interesting and I can see how it might turn some off, but it works for me in much the way that Dylan's does. It's not about the the sound of his singing, but about the message he brings in the lyrics. Those lyrics are pretty political, but in more of a poetic, Woody Guthrie/Dylan way than, say, the hit-em-over-the-head messaging of The Kinks' ARTHUR album. Still, I'm not sure I'd put this album in my rotation. Rather, if I heard him playing at a festival or rally, I'd appreciate him being there and sharing his viewpoint with us.

While Anita Baker has a nice voice and these songs are perfectly fine, I don't find anything revelatory about this album. I can't say I've ever thought "I'd like to hear an Anita Baker song now" or ever heard one of the hits from it and thought "Wow! What a great song!" The chime-y keyboard sounds, along with some of the other production, place it squarely in the 80s soft-pop genre, and it's unfortunately mostly forgetable.

Any one of The Police's albums could rate as a favorite. This one hits all of the sweet spots for me. It keeps just enough of the punk/reggae vibe of their earlier works, but expands a slightly more mainstream rock milieu. It spawned quiet a few hits (all of them deserving, IMO) and even the lesser tracks still have a lot going for them. As a whole, the album is rather dark with it's investigations into murder, stalking, oppression, devilry and just the weight of day-to-day existence amongst the uncertainty of the world. The album kicks off with the almost discordant Synchronicity I, full of ambiguous lyrics, soaring vocals, and jamming piano & guitar. Sting gets a little preachy, but cheekily so, in Walking in Your Footsteps, with great tribal percussion lending weight to the musical message. O My God might be the weakest link for me, but still has a pretty good jazzy hook and a sound that Sting will move more toward in his solo work. Ditto the story aspect of Tea in the Sahara, which could easily come off of his Ten Sumner's Tales album. Many people react against Mother (Andy Summer's sole writing/singing credit) and feel it's too far afield from the rest of the album. Personally, I dig it's weirdness and primal angst, and musically, the Middle Eastern sounds of the oboe and the funky time signature. Miss Gradenko (Stewart Copeland's sole writing credit) hints at a corporate/government scenario rife with danger & intrigue. Murder By Numbers is as Dirty Deeds-esque lyric paired with a bouncy, fun melody for an ironic look at hired violence. Then there are the biggies, tracks 6-9: Synchronicity II is probably my fave track with it's cynical look at a day in the life of the working man. I can never be in a traffic jam without feeling like lemming packed in shiny metal box. Every Breath You Take, King of Pain, and Wrapped Around Your Finger all earned their place on the airwaves & the charts, each distinct, and yet also of a piece - much like side two from any number of Beatles albums. This album is a masterwork from a band at the top of their game. That they called it quits right after is in some ways disappointing, but may have been the best call they could make, as they clearly went out on top.

I'd been holding off listening to this album for a while because I was sure I wouldn't like it. And while it's surely not my style of music, we've listened to so many worse albums in the interim that I don't think I can just damn it with one star. Were this a 10 star system, I'd probably give it a 2 - MAYBE a 3. But in this 5 star system, I've got to go with a 2, because it's not nearly as bad a some of the albums that have been virtually unlistenable. So cheers to Anthrax. You've earned this 2 by not sucking as much as others!!

Every song is worthy. A classic, a masterpiece.

Some nice, blues-based rock here. I’ve admired Nick Cave when I’ve come across him before, but never really dig deep. Now that I have with this effort, I find Nothing that jumps out of the speakers, but still appreciate the solid effort. Stylistically, it’s really two different albums, with a personal preference for the softer Lyre of Orpheus second disc, though I really dig Messiah Ward from the Abattoir Blues disc.

Not great, but not offensive. Some great theatrical moments in the early going. Not something I'd return to.

Well, here we are at The Wall. Probably the most successful, both commercially & artistically, rock concept album ever made. Yes, an argument can certainly be made for The Who’s Tommy, but for my money, Pink Floyd's artistry is just better, deeper, more satisfying. It’s hard to separate the original album from all of the other incarnations: the movie, the various concert “stagings”. Those versions surely have a lot going for them, on some instances allowing the story to get more fleshed out & giving some fantastic actors & musicians the chance to interpret PF’s work. Love in Berlin, a personal fave of mine, brings together an amazing cast or actors & musicians (Albert Finney & Tim Curry for The Trial! I mean, come ON!), while constructing their wall right alongside an equally menacing wall in the real world. Talk about meta! But when it comes down to it, a pair of headphones and this original recording just can’t be beat. Get lost in the stupor of Comfortably Numb, shout with rage at the teachers to leave them kids alone, or celebrate in the wall finally coming down, but go on this journey with Floyd, and, musically at the the very least, your soul will be better for it.

I don't have a problem with this music, but I don't find much new, amazing or inspiring about it. There's some good musicianship and some fun hooks. I'd be fine if one of the songs came on, but I probably wouldn't seek it out.

Another example of the Brit lean of this list. I'm surprised I've not heard of Jane Weaver on this side of the pond, esp. as it appears that she's made quite a splash over there. This album is quite listenable, with a chill vibes and an interesting pop/trance crossover feel. I get hits of Dido and Feist, but with Weaver's own unique voice. The sounds are sometimes retro, but don't feel particularly dated (at this time!). I would give this album future listenings, and will likely seek out some of her other works.

This was the first Joni I ever heard, introduced to me by an aging hippie whose musical tastes have shaped my own over the years. It has lived at the top of my list ever since. Joni’s singing voice is unique and not necessarily for everyone, but there is no denying the power and influence of her songwriting voice. I don’t think you will find a female recording artist who doesn’t list Joni as an inspiration in some way. One of the original singer/songwriters, her unique folk tunings and feminine perspectives make this album a cornerstone of folk/pop history. I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite song from Blue, though some resonate more for me than others: All I Want, A Case of You & Carey hit the hardest for me. The bittersweet, almost anti-holiday River evokes a deep & melancholy longing that haunts me. And the title track is a perfect expression of the sadness of a painful loss. This is a no-brained 5 for me.

An accomplished debut and a strong precursor to Rush of Blood... Two great songs in Yellow and Trouble, two pretty good songs in Sparks and Everything’s Not Lost, with some okay filler between.

This album is a hoot! Super theatrical, great storytelling, decent musicianship. I'd keep it around for kitsch value, but probably wouldn't do much "pleasure" listening. The Kylie Minogue duet is clearly an outlier as the most accessible song on the album, but I also dug some of the earthier, more raw tracks too.

Maybe I'm showing/feeling my age, but I just don't have a lot of room for aggressive, loud rock. It generally doesn't give me cathartic release and make me feel better, but tends to come off as noise and make me more tense. I liked couple of tracks on this album that are not so aggressive: Riot Van, Mardy Bum, A Certain Romance. I liked the singer's voice better on these, too, because I could better understand him and follow the story of the songs, stories whose characters fit well with his Scouse voice. Musically, I really liked some of the bass lines (too bad this was the bassists only album with them), and some of the less-aggressive drumming. I don't think I'd listen to this again.

The good songs on this album are SO good that it's sad that the other songs aren't nearly as good. A few even come off as weak re-treads of the same musical territory. American Pie is a classic, probably a bit worn-out by now, it's impact weakened as a result of overplay. But on careful listening, the craft of it is still stunning, esp. the veiled lyrics that are a paean to the loss of innocence in post-war America. Vincent, a song in a quite different vein, is similarly well-crafted, reflecting in it's musicality and it's story/commentary nearly the kind of genius McLean has found in Van Gogh. But among the others songs, The Grave feels too blatantly political, Sister Fatima is limited by it's religious overtones and Everybody Loves Me, Baby feels silly next to the genius of the best tracks. The rest are warmed over versions of either American Pie or Vincent. Babylon does make for an interesting coda, however. I've always been intrigued by the story that McLean was the subject of Killing Me Softly, but aside from the two standouts, I don't see much here that would inspire that kind of emotion. Hearing this album makes me think it best to just stick to his hits.

I dig the sound, the vibe, and the message, particularly after the ‘Yoshimi’ tracks. I especially liked Do You Realize. I’d listen to this again.

Hey, I recognize that riff! And that one! There’s a lot of fun to be had with this album. The rhythms are infectious, the music is brassy & fun. I’d probably rather hear this version of In a Gadda da Vida than the original, and I loved the take on Sing Sing Sing. Some of the other covers (Satisfaction & Wipeout, particularly) were somewhat anemic. I expected the solos in Wipeout to blow me away, but instead they were somewhat pedestrian compared to the more energized tracks. As a whole, the album is a bit of a lark, but I ain’t mad at it one bit.

While there is some decent music here, the vocals are way sub-par. A couple of the tracks work all right for me - Prince of the Rodeo is a highlight - and the camp factor is high. But all in all, it's a pass.

Largely unremarkable. I enjoyed the title track.

Who knew the origins of heavy metal would be so accessible? I mostly liked the sound on this album and could totally see it as the stepping stone to the harder rock to come. Some of the wankery (esp. on the last track) went a bit far for me, but I generally appreciated their musicianship, their lyrics and the power of their songs.

I believe the Smiths are severely overrated. The music is boring to me, the vocals uninspired. Aside from how I feel about Morrisey personally*, I find his voice to be limited in range and full of whiny over-emoting. The music is largely simplistic and the lyrics are a sophomoric retread of teenage angsty introspection. I can't give it 1 star, because there is certainly much worse stuff on this list. But it barely makes a 2 for me. *I think his picture is next to the word "douche" in the dictionary.

As far as 90s alt rock bands go, I like the sound of Smashing Pumpkins better than many others (ie., Nirvana, STP). Still, I can't help wishing that their albums showed more range. Aside from the couple of hits on this album, much of the rest of the songs sound largely the same, and much the same as the weaker songs on MC&TIS. That said, Billy Corgan is in great voice on these tracks and the band is tight behind him. Taking the best of these songs and playing them with the best of MC&TIS makes for a damn fine "album" of 90s angst rock, and I'd more likely take that approach than to listen to either album in their entirety.

Mama's Gun starts off on an aggressive note, and with the first track, I was afraid I wouldn't like this album. But Erykah won me over with the string of tracks 2-5. Her voice is a bit odd at times, some whininess I could do without, but the power in her voice and her lyrics holds firm throughout. In all, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. While I could do without Penitentiary Philosophy, Booty and Kiss Me on My Neck, I dug a lot of the other tunes here.

While Frank is not my go-to crooner (I'm a Mel Torme fan), there's no denying the power of ol' Blue Eyes. This collection of songs of the great American songbook is a master class in performance by one of the best ever. Sometimes Frank's phrasing bugs me, but other times the story he tells in his timbre and range can't be beat. His backing orchestra under the masterful baton of Nelson Riddle does seriously swing, bringing the whole package to the highest level.

With standouts like So You Wanna Be a Rock n Roll Star, Renaissance Fair, Everybody's Been Burned and, especially, My Back Pages, YOUNGER THAN YESTERDAY gives us a great window into the folk rock stylings of the 60s. The album is somewhat uneven, perhaps due to the amount of sonic experimentation, much of which doesn't quite land. But the insightful lyrics and the interplay of the band, gifted musicians riffing off of each other, give listeners plenty to like. The sound is definitely 60s, with some backward sections, raga inspired sonic beds and unmistakable drum rhythms/sounds of the period. Many may find it dated, but instead I look at it as a stepping stone that brought music to it's next level, to be built upon by other groups that would put their own decade's stamp on the genre. I give it a solid 3.

I must be getting a little soft with all of this album listening, because I didn't dislike this as much as I feared I would. The band really does rock and the guitar work is quite sharp. The vocals are a bit "scream-y" for me, but seems to work well with the style. I wouldn't really go for it again, but better than some we've heard here.

While I personally prefer Dookie overall (what a sentence!), American Idiot is a very strong album, with Green Day maturing into a band that matters. Billie Joe has a very unique voice, one that entirely fits the sound of the band and the POV of the song lyrics. In listening to the whole piece, it's clear that the band intended as a concept album and is no surprise that it has done well as a rock opera/musical. The stories & characters in the songs are compelling, and the music (unfortunately) tips over sometimes into musical theatre tropes. There are a few tracks that make me think the band was aiming a little too high, but it's hard to fault their ambition. I'm very interested in listening to this again, closer, to glean more from it.

Yeah, I dig this. Great beats, inventive sounds, clever mixture of instruments. A nice add to my collection.

Interesting sounds that go out there at times, but never way out there. It's very theatrical at times (which I like), meditative at others (which I also like), aggressive occasionally (but never too much so).

If ever there were a case for letting your freak flag fly, this album might be it. CSNY are in peak form here, with their signature tight harmonies, lyrics of protest & empowerment, virtuosic guitar playing, and all around 60s love. Each member has a chance to shine, but it's when they all come together as a cohesive whole that this album transcends. "Carry On", the opener, is a prime example - the harmonies rarely more impressive, the organ & Young's guitar riffing off of each other, the message one of eternal love & peace. Jerry Garcia's pedal steel adds some nice twang to the soulful "Teach Your Children", and Young's "Helpless" aches with raw emotion. "Our House" might be the weakest entry here, for my money, but it does boast a unique vocal from Nash, perhaps the most underrated of the "supergroup". But for me, it's "Woodstock" that puts this album over the edge - an amalgam of music and vocal that encapsulates the 60s. This rockin' reinvention of a rather turgid Joni Mitchell tune puts us on an astral plane with CSNY, where we're all stardust. Perfection. I might normally rank this a high 4 stars, but I'm pushing it up to a 5, just to piss off the whiners.

Yeah, this is a really good album. With the exception of My Iron Lung and Bones, I liked pretty much every thing else on it. I'll listen to this again, and again.

Wow, those guitars and drums are...unrelenting.

Great blues jams here. They strike just the right balance between song & jam, for my tastes. Love the organ on Hot 'Lanta, the gritty passion and inventive noodling on Whipping Post, and the thrumming groove on the album as a whole. While it might not be quite that same as being there, you can feel the energy coming off of them and the interplay amongst themselves and the crowd. I'll listen to this one again.

The best find from this list for me, hands down. I really love his sound, his gentleness, his lyrics. This album gives me hits of Cat Stevens and Jim Croce in places, both songsmiths that I deeply admire. The guitar playing is really fantastic on Three Hours and Day Is Done (don't know why this song wasn't a HUGE hit!). Some of the orchestration might be a bit much in places (lots of strings), but I don't mind when it deepens the track. My only less enthusiastic take is for Thoughts on Mary Jane, whose flute part greatly dates the song for me. But all in all, another album that will stick with me by an artist I'm very glad to have discovered.

I like Aerosmith fine, in a "Greatest Hits" kind of way. None of those on this album (yes, I know "Back in the Saddle" was big for them, but it's certainly not one of their greatest.) I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of funk on Last Child and wish more of the album would have gone there. I don't think that if I didn't know this was Aerosmith, I would have taken any notice or thought the band would have amounted to much.

I rather like this album. While uneven, the best of the tracks are better than a lot of the watered-down, over-hyped songs and bands with more output in the nineties. I'm not sure why they never crossed my radar back then. If they had, I think I would have listened to this album. Now, it's maybe a bit too rooted in it's time to make a regular rotation for me, but I would like to re-experience it occassionally.

80s pop nostalgia - ain’t it grand?

A voice to crush rocks, but a poetic soul to reflect our humanity.

Haunting, melodic, political, spare, heart-rending & heartfelt. Sinead brings it all and more with this album. Both the vocals are the production are stunning in their simplicity. The anger, desperation and plaintiveness of the lyricsm bring an emotional wallop to every track, especially when paired with her yearning vocals. This album is sublime.

From playful to contemplative, Miriam Makeba shows on this album why she is one of the most important artists to come out of South Africa. That she was recording these songs and selling these albums during the oppressive years of apartheid in her home country proves what a force her voice and her music is. I had the good fortune to hear her sing live during Paul Simon's Graceland tour - what a treat, what an inspiriation.

This album is prime Prince for me. He may have gone deeper lyrically on later albums, and certainly broke as much (or more) new ground sonically elsewhere, but PURPLE RAIN is nothing if not pure Pop/R&B genius.

I first heard this album live when she played the Capital Ballroom in Washington, DC. The album had barely been released and Shadowboxer was just starting to get some airplay on the alt-station here. I instantly fell in love with her sound - the growling, alto voice that can soften achingly on a dime, the almost classically-based piano creating the bedrock of the songs, the bass-heavy riffs and lush instrumentations that fill in the gaps. A 19-year-old writing so clearly, so confidently, so movingly about her experiences, some so horrific that might rather forever silence a young woman, elevates the music to another level. Many laud the musical experimentation with which Apple pushed the envelope in her later albums, but this one is stronger to me for being more traditional. There is a counter-point between the sound, reminiscent of adult contemporary artists like k.d. lang, and the poeticized angst of her painful youth - and that brings her message and music home with more feeling, more resonance. This album only gets better with repeated listenings, deeper as more time passes. A masterpiece of a debut.

3 1/2

Is this the group that sings the Friends song? The only halfway decent song here is the “bonus” track remake of the Simon & Garfunkel classic which, aside from its janky, driving beat, has none of the charm or musicality of the original.

Even the non-hits on this album are rich in both their lyrics and their musical stylings. And the hits are monstrous. Both The Boxer and Bridge... are quintessential folk-pop anthems that never get old for me. Only Living Boy... is an emotion-packed lament for one's individuality. If I Could and Cecilia bring the janky rhythms and off-beat instrumentation of world music to the fore, scoring on both points. There's no denying the influence and staying power of this album.

Good, solid, slammin' rock and roll! Kind of a surprise 5 stars for me. I knew I liked their songs that I'd heard before, but didn't realize they all came from the same album! Hard to Handle has been one of my favorite rock songs since their version hit. Jealous Again & Twice as Hard are nearly as good, with great edge, wonderful hooks and tight playing. She Talks to Angels show a bit of a softer side, but still packs a punch. Even the lesser songs on this album show off the strength of the ensemble, with the fantastic organ sounds bringing a feel of the best of The Band or Procol Harum. This album, simply, rocks and will be in my collection in regular rotation, esp. for road trips with the windows down!

So torn here. I really like some of the MUSIC on this album. Did Kanye write it? He had some amazing musicians & producers working on it with him, so how much if the music is due to them and not him? On the other hand, I pretty much hate every word that comes out his mouth, and I’m gonna put that squarely on his egotistic, misogynistic, wacko shoulders. What a shame. What a waste.

“Mom! Listen to what my Casio keyboard can do!!”

This is the definition of a great rock n' roll album. From the growling guitar riff that opens Whole Lotta Love (one of the best rock album openings ever) through the driving beat of What Is and What Should Never Be, the tender, almost-holy poetry of Thank You, the double-blast of Heartbreaker/Livin' Lovin' Maid, and Ramblin' On through a Tolkien landscape that tops any song the Hobbits could ever come up with - this album has it all. Some may find the drum-solo piece (Moby Dick) a bit unnecessary (Bonham is so amazing on the rest of the album, he maybe didn't need this showcase?), or quibble over the couple of less popular tracks here. But really, there are no misses and Zep proved with this release that they were the sound of rock n' roll.

Very conflicted here. I like this - some of it very much - but it just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on...

A meticulously crafted, deeply felt masterwork.

Save me the Ray Conniff singers and give me more of Ray’s bangin’ piano solos and this could be a five star effort. Still, it’s a textbook example of jumping, swinging and heartfelt blues.

<yawn>

A mixed bag. The hits (Paint It Black and Under My Thumb) are clear standouts. And there are some other strong, interesting entries - Lady Gray appeals to me, and Think gives some great classics RS guitar licks. But the weak songs in this album feel sophomoric & are easily dismissed.

This is pleasant enough, but it’s not Elvis at his best and far from what he’s known for. His take on Fever here is pretty phenomenal and there are some other strong cuts, but none of the raw Walt rock energy that he made his mark with.

On repeated listens, I may give this a five. The songs I knew (only a couple) are some of the best Dylan. The songs I didn’t know were poetic, emotion-filled and lovely in many different ways.

Not Fiona Apple at her best (see: Tidal) but still better than 3/5 of the albums on here. Inventive, playful, deeply felt and always sonically interesting.

Ground-breaking. Electrifying. A great party.

-1 star for Clapton aging into an insufferable douche bag.

I’ve never been a huge Springsteen fan, though I have appreciated some of his songs that got air play. I’ve admired his evolution as an urban folk storyteller over the years. But having never really listened to this album all the way through before, I now see that those talents were there from the start. I can see how rough-edged disappointed but dreaming young adults of the 70s would have heard his lyrics and felt his passion and identified with his art. It all fits together so well, I don’t think I’d want to hear the songs separately again, but would rather hear them as this fiercely empassioned whole.

Are they pretentiously obnoxious or obnoxiously pretentious? Don’t suppose it really matters - isn’t that punk of me? It’s too bad, really, because some of the playing on this album, esp. the jazz-inspired riffs, could make for a great instrumental album. But then they open their atonal douchey mouths and let the bull-sh*t roar. “I can make a minute last an hour.” Yes, you can, my dude. And that’s nothing to be proud of.

In between each of the tracks, there was 2-3 seconds of silence. This respite from the noise that preceded or followed it was by far the best part of the album.

Is this the group that has the cute videos with Rube Goldberg machines & such? Makes sense that they developed a new those gimmicks, because nothing about their music is memorable.

At least the samples he uses are from good songs.

In my review of the previous album we had by Arcade Fire, I mistook them for Ok Go. While AF’s videos may be less gimmicky, that album was as forgettable as anything the other group has put out. Thankfully this album has a bit more going for it. There’s much more musicality, deeper lyrics and driving rhythms (although by track 7 or 8 they become detrimentally unrelenting). Oceans of Noise is my fave of the group - hard and shoulders above the rest, and may even convince me to look again at the Fire.

One of the most sonically interesting albums of the 90s.

This could nearly be a 5 star album on the strength of the two George Harrison songs alone. Adding Come Together, Oh Darling!, and Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight seals the deal. The rest is the most delicious gravy possible. The genius that is the bulk of side 2 is as audacious as it is tuneful. it just doesn’t get much better than this.

A couple of monster bookends here - Gimme Shelter and You Can’t Always Get What You Want - elevate this album to a four. But even with the help of the somewhat reimagined Country Honky, there’s still too much here that’s just mediocre. And way too much twang for my money.

Connected was a huge hit in its day, but I couldn’t have told you the artist’s name. It’s a very strong start to this album, but none of the other tracks deliver the same punch. Still, the rhythms, though somewhat dated now, strike a chord in me. I wouldn’t turn this off if it were playing, but doubt I would seek it out.

I’d almost completely written this album off, then Praise You came on and that twang of nostalgia bumped this album up to a 2.

I’d not heard this album; didn’t know this group. I really like their sound, their lyrics, their mood. Will listen to this again and seek out more by them.