227
Albums Rated
2.78
Average Rating
21%
Complete
862 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Soul
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Critic
Rater Style ?
22
5-Star Albums
39
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
|
5 | 2.99 | +2.01 |
|
Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
Drunk
Thundercat
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
The Visitors
ABBA
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
|
In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Cross
Justice
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
|
5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
|
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
|
5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
In Utero
Nirvana
|
1 | 3.82 | -2.82 |
|
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
|
1 | 3.72 | -2.72 |
|
Odelay
Beck
|
1 | 3.45 | -2.45 |
|
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
|
1 | 3.45 | -2.45 |
|
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
|
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
Bossanova
Pixies
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
|
1 | 3.34 | -2.34 |
|
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
Celebrity Skin
Hole
|
1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Talking Heads | 3 | 4.67 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 2 | 1 |
| Sonic Youth | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Prodigy | 2 | 1.5 |
| Public Enemy | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Happy Mondays | 2, 5 |
5-Star Albums (22)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Kid Rock · 22 likes
1/5
Absolute garbage. If you want to listen to edgy, filler lyrics with swearing put over a trash beat then this album is for you. Unfortunately for people with taste, this album is like eating an used sock dipped in mud.
Nico · 19 likes
1/5
It sounds medieval and boring. In addition to being grating, the singer's voice doesn't fit the backing instruments at all, and the audio tracks sound like they were unmixed or at the very least mixed extremely poorly. Nothing in this album meshes, and I don't understand why this would be on this list.
The Byrds · 12 likes
3/5
Every song on this album sounds basically the same. There's muddy words, a 60's sounding guitar, and a tambourine. Although the sound is fine, it doesn't really change that much over the course of the album. Favorite track: It's No Use
Talking Heads · 6 likes
5/5
Call this album sausages because every song is a banger. Favorite track: Artists Only
The Flaming Lips · 5 likes
5/5
It's super vibey, and I love it. The lyrics/voice are engaging and fit extremely well with the backing track. I especially liked the keyboard in the songs it was featured in, but each instrument had it's time in spotlight. In addition, no instrument overpowered another. This is an album that I could put in the background while I'm just thinking as it's pretty relaxing. Favorite track: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
1-Star Albums (39)
All Ratings
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
This album is like Tea; it's not my cup of it, but I understand why people like it. I'm not a personal fan of the nitty gritty guitar noises, but I know some do. Favorite track: Stone Free
The Band
4/5
A bit too soft and country for me personally, but I enjoyed this album overall. Favorite Track: When You Awake
Depeche Mode
1/5
I did not enjoy this album. There's like 5 listenable songs and 2 of them are any good. The singer can only hit like 5 notes and the songs' experiments make for an ear-grating experience. Favorite Track: Little 15
Deerhunter
3/5
I liked listening to this one; it wasn't a bad experience. The high points of the album felt high. However, the low points felt a bit awkward. Favorite track: Helicopter
Talking Heads
5/5
Call this album sausages because every song is a banger. Favorite track: Artists Only
Deep Purple
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I expected to. Generally I'm not a fan of this sound, but I really liked the drums and guitar. Favorite track: Pictures of Home
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
I did not enjoy this album primarily due to the singer's voice. I liked the backing track to most of the songs, but the voice made the songs so off putting that I wanted to skip most of them. Favorite Track: The Beat
The Go-Betweens
3/5
It wasn't awful; I generally like this sound. It's a little bit bland, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I liked each individual instrument and the voices. Favorite Track: Streets of Your Town
Weather Report
3/5
It was a pretty good experience. I went in with lower expectations since their music is experimental, but this album surprised me. I liked the piano and rhythms, even if they were jazz rhythms. Favorite Track: Birdland
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
It wasn't terrible, but I didn't enjoy it that much. Most of the songs sound the same. That said, the sound isn't bad, it just gets redundant and a bit boring when you listen to all of them one after the other. Favorite track: 400 Years
John Prine
3/5
It was an alright album. I enjoy some folk songs, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the country-ness of this particular album. I can appreciate the blunt storytelling of the lyrics and the mellow guitar, but it's not the sound for me. Favorite track: Paradise
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
It wasn't awful. However, after the first disk I got a bit tired of it. I'm not the biggest fan of this sound, and they put their best two songs in the front. However, I really liked the piano in the songs it was in. Favorite track: Tonight, Tonight
Boston
3/5
It was okay. My taste says I should like this more, but I can't really get into for some reason. It might be because each song doesn't change too much throughout the runtime. The chorus sounds extremely close to the rest of the song and it gets bland. Favorite track: More than a Feeling
Magazine
2/5
It was unenjoyable, but not unlistenable. The saxophone is a really weird touch to the songs which have a punk feel to them. In my opinion it does not fit. Favorite track: Definitive Gaze
Tori Amos
2/5
This wasn't the most enjoyable album. I think she's a talented and skillful singer, but I don't like the vocals in the songs. The piano and instrumental is pretty, but the style she sings in reduces my enjoyment. Favorite track: Winter
The Icarus Line
2/5
It was okay. I don't like this sound/style of music, but I can't lie when I say some of the songs tickled my brain in some capacity. Some of the songs had noises that annoyed me, but the others made up for that. Favorite track: White Devil
Nirvana
1/5
If this album's goal was to annoy me then it did its job well. I don't like this genre and this album solidified that fact for me. If I wanted something to make me go deaf with just straight noise, I'd pick this. Favorite track: All Apologies
Ray Charles
5/5
I really liked this album mainly because I'm a sucker for oldie-pop with the piano and orchestra in the background. His voice is soothing in the slow song and great in the louder songs. Overall it was a great album that exemplified that time. Favorite track: Just for a Thrill
Stephen Stills
3/5
It's a country rock album. It doesn't do too much special, but maybe that's all you need. It's got a twangy lead guitar, the singer's voice is nice and country, and the cowbell is definitely present in some songs. Favorite track: Don't Look at My Shadow
John Martyn
3/5
This album could be an album to vibe out to. The synth is mellow and the singer's voice is very airy and quiet, adding to the overall feel of the album. Personally, I thought it was alright, but it's a bit too "quiet" for me. Favorite track: Dancing
Yes
3/5
This album is the epitome of Yes: oddly long songs that are only connected through the key and some sporadic lyrics. The rhythms and sounds make each song feel like a road trip through the mountains, and even though I don't like how lengthy they are, I can appreciate it. Favorite track: The Clap
Iggy Pop
3/5
It was pretty good. Some of the songs sounded similar to the others, but overall it wasn't a bad album by any means. Favorite track: The Passenger
Leonard Cohen
2/5
This sounds like something I'd hear on a radio in a movie directed by Guillermo del Toro. I'll listen to it if it's in the background of something else I'm concentrating on, but as an album it's not very interesting. Favorite track: Leaving the Table
The Avalanches
4/5
The sound of this album was both familiar and different at the same time. Every song is comprised mainly of samples which gives the album a unique (unique for the 2000's at least) "time-traveler" feeling to it, of which I vibe with. Favorite track: Summer Crane
10cc
4/5
Personally, I prefer the albums that come after this. However, this album isn't bad in its own right. It's got an overall loud, bombastic feeling to it, but each song brings something different to the table while keeping that impression. Favorite track: The Wall Street Shuffle
The Byrds
3/5
Every song on this album sounds basically the same. There's muddy words, a 60's sounding guitar, and a tambourine. Although the sound is fine, it doesn't really change that much over the course of the album. Favorite track: It's No Use
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I went in not expecting much and I was right for most of the album. However, the last three songs were really good and unlike the rest of the album. Overall it wasn't the most interesting of albums, but the last three songs saved it for me. Favorite track: A Hazy Shade of Winter
Crowded House
4/5
It was pretty good. I wish they had kept the energy of the first few of songs through the rest of the album, but I'm not going to say I didn't enjoy some of the quieter songs of the second half. Favorite track: Fall At Your Feet
Jethro Tull
5/5
Going in I didn't really know what to expect, but it really surprised me. I thought that the song progression was great and that all of the instruments + voice fit together perfectly. The first song starts the album off really strong and every song after that matches that level of quality. Favorite track: Aqualung
Everything But The Girl
1/5
It is so boring. Even though 1001 albums is a lot, this is literally not worth your time to listen through and more importantly, it should not have a spot on this list. The singer can only sing with a weird yelling voice, and the instrumental sounds like it belongs in an Adam Sandler rom-com. Favorite track: Blue Rose Moon
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
It's very vibey. I think the album is a lot like laying in the middle of the ocean; it's peaceful and serene, but there's a sense of uncertainty and anxiety underneath. As for listening through it, it was alright, but the longer songs tend to drag on a bit. Favorite track: Part 4
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
It started off fine; the first song wasn't that bad. However, as the album progressed, it just got more annoying. The instruments weren't that bad generally, but the singer's voice and the odd effects they use within the songs got grating since they were more artsy than enjoyable. Favorite track: Spellbound
Massive Attack
3/5
It's a very cinematic album. It sounds like it could be in the background of a heist or spy movie. For a soundtrack, it's pretty enjoyable; however as a regular listening album, I think it's not something I can vibe out to or to sing along to. Favorite track: Heat Miser
Merle Haggard
3/5
It's a country album. Not any more, not any less. Pure oldie-country. I'm not the biggest fan, but that's only because I don't like those kinds of songs. Favorite track: Drink Up and Be Somebody
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
I really prefer the doo-wop and chorus sound of the 60s rather than the boogie-woogie music of that era. This album mainly plays into that "boogie" dance sound, but it's not as interesting as other albums of that time. Granted there wasn't much innovation in this genre anyway, but the muddied words, loud crowd, and simple, overused progressions don't help. Favorite track: Your Cheating Heart
Ramones
3/5
It's a punk rock band, and it does it well. Some of the songs sound exactly the same but with different muddled, unclear lyrics since their drums and guitar don't change rhythms/chords through each song, but overall, their sound is good even if it is repetitive. Favorite track: Blitzkrieg Bop
Mott The Hoople
4/5
It sounds a lot like Bowie. They were obviously inspired by him in some way, and I think they've done a fantastic job of recreating his sound and feel. Sure it's not a perfect replica but it's definitely not sub-par. Favorite track: I Wish I Was Your Mother
Kid Rock
1/5
Absolute garbage. If you want to listen to edgy, filler lyrics with swearing put over a trash beat then this album is for you. Unfortunately for people with taste, this album is like eating an used sock dipped in mud.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
A dramatic and cinematic album. It does stay true to Wikipedia's genre of "orchestral pop" in that it sounds like the easy listening albums of the 50s and 60s; however, although it's relaxing, it's not the most interesting or original. Favorite track: In Pursuit of Happiness
Motörhead
3/5
It's fine. Not the most original sound I've ever heard; that being said, the sound does go hard. Overall an okay album. Favorite track: (We Are) The Roadcrew
The Who
4/5
Pretty good album. I really enjoy piano and keyboard mixed with guitars, and this album is chock-full of that. Each song is different and unique from each other and many are bangers. My main gripe is that the two popular songs heavily outshine the other ones. Favorite track: Baba O'Riley
Nico
1/5
It sounds medieval and boring. In addition to being grating, the singer's voice doesn't fit the backing instruments at all, and the audio tracks sound like they were unmixed or at the very least mixed extremely poorly. Nothing in this album meshes, and I don't understand why this would be on this list.
Iggy Pop
2/5
I'm torn on this album. Some of the songs I really liked and enjoyed as they were original and interesting without being scathing. However, the album is plagued with mediocre progressions and bad mixing. In addition, the singer's voice is difficult to understand at times, and due to the emphasis of it in most of the songs, it bogs them down. Favorite track: China Girl
Lambchop
4/5
A great story telling album. Each piece is connected to the next and the ones after. The lyrics in this album are the main aspect to be listening for, but the backing track cannot be ignored either. It portrays the emotion it wants to nearly perfectly. My only gripe is that the falsetto the singer does isn't that great. Favorite track: Nashville Parent
The Magnetic Fields
1/5
This album is the epitome of using 2000 words to express a point easily made in 300 words. Most songs are not worth listening to as they suffer from the problem of little quality. It feels as if both the backing tracks and lyrics were hastily conceived in 2 weeks, and although some songs may be enjoyable or even resonate deeply with you, it's fatiguing to try and find them in the mess.
Paul Simon
2/5
This album is great really only for one thing: its percussion. It was the feature I enjoyed the most in this album as all other parts were annoying. His "say-singing" is not good, and the backing music generally was just odd. It's just "world music" which wasn't that enjoyable to listen to all in all. Favorite track: The Boy in the Bubble
1/5
This has got to be the most repetitive albums of all time. It's like it was designed to make me irritated. They repeat the same 4 words per song and there is no progression in the backing track, only a constant tune played over and over and over again. Thankfully most songs are less than 3 minutes, a testament to how vapid this album is.
Prince
4/5
This album is the embodiment of most of 80s pop. It's got simple drum loops, an infectious "dance feeling", and vocals that more or less fit the theme. There's a bit of a looming feeling in the words throughout the album, but the feel-good backing rarely dwells on it. Favorite track: Delirious
Brian Eno
2/5
It's ambient music. There's really not much to say; it states it right there in the title. Not much to like or dislike about this album. Favorite track: 1/1
The Beach Boys
3/5
I think it's one of the better surf rock albums out there. I'm just not the biggest fan since it all sort of blends together after two songs. This album tends to avoid that by placing alternating between slower songs and faster songs, but some of them are quite alike. Overall though it was alright. Favorite track: Help Me, Rhonda
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
I mean, it's fine. It's a late 60's rock album. The guitar is the best thing about it. There are drums present as well as a bass. This album exists. Favorite track: Cinnamon Girl
Pere Ubu
1/5
This album was good when it wanted to be, but it also wanted to be terrible during the rest of it. It had a good mix, and sometimes each instrument complimented each other perfectly. However, more often than not, the instruments, including the voice, all sounded like they were performing different songs.
Barry Adamson
1/5
I don't really understand what this album is about or for. It is really just free-form art put into a "listenable" state, so most of the songs exist just for the sake of existing.
Wilco
3/5
It wasn't terrible. The first half of the album doesn't really match up with the other half, but personally, I enjoyed the second part anyways. It had some nice rhythms and sounds. It sounds a bit too sad and almost emo at times, but I think that's probably part of the style they were going for. Favorite track: Ashes of American Flags
Orange Juice
4/5
I didn't know what to expect with this album, but I'm glad I listened to it. It has an 80's synth-pop feel to it, but it's also got some acoustics in the songs that still have an "upper" feel to them. Sure it's not the most original sound I've ever heard, but it doesn't insult it in any way or form. Favorite track: Rip It Up
Pulp
1/5
It's pretty repetitive for an art rock album. The singer's voice gets pretty annoying after a while as it's super breathy and screamy. The backing guitar sound like a rip-off of other band's sounds, and the whole ensemble feels unoriginal and uninteresting. The second half of the album is worse than the first, but that's not to say the first is any good.
Sigur Rós
2/5
I really really enjoyed the backing track. The keyboard was superb and the drums were fantastic. Sometimes the guitar was less than good, but other times it was great. This all relaxed me. However, the part that brings this album down for me was the weird effects as well as the singer's voice. It felt like it didn't fit what the album was going for. If I could just take out the voice I would, as that would make the album much better. Favorite track: Avalon
The Flaming Lips
5/5
It's super vibey, and I love it. The lyrics/voice are engaging and fit extremely well with the backing track. I especially liked the keyboard in the songs it was featured in, but each instrument had it's time in spotlight. In addition, no instrument overpowered another. This is an album that I could put in the background while I'm just thinking as it's pretty relaxing. Favorite track: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
John Coltrane
2/5
I'm sure this album would sound or at least interest me a lot more if I had any sort of technical expertise in music theory, but as it stands now, I don't and this album seems less-than good. Many of the instruments seem to clash with each other as well as being pretty repetitive, but I may not be able to truly appreciate it due to my circumstances. Favorite track: Part II: Resolution
Love
2/5
This is an album that I would only listen to the first time. The rhythms and instruments are interesting once, for it doesn't have that intrinsic enjoyability that keeps me coming back to it. The singing is sub par, and I really dislike how some instruments are thrown in the left ear and the rest of the instruments are put in the right ear. Favorite track: A House is Not a Motel
Faith No More
2/5
The album had interesting rhythms and sounds that worked well and held my attention. However, the entire album has a bit of a cohesion problem (as well as the songs) wherein the tone shifts a lot throughout. In addition, the mix in most songs feels flat and stale; these two problems really bring the whole album down. Ironically, the bonus tracks are the best parts about it. Favorite track: War Pigs
ABBA
5/5
It's just more ABBA. Which is a great thing in of itself. There's really not much to complain about in this album as it's a fantastic pop album. It's got a nice, powerful bass and synth chords that'll make you swoon. In addition, classic ABBA chorus is there. Favorite track: The Visitors
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
The first song really doesn't prepare you for what you're going to listen to. Although some of the album is interesting to listen to, it's just world music, but it has a bit of an identity problem in that it's world music with confusing genres mixed in, such as country or rap. It doesn't make too much sense and drags the album down significantly. Favorite track: Obatala
Elliott Smith
3/5
I really enjoyed the music in the background. The piano especially was fantastic, but all the instruments held my attention. However, the lyrics and voice did not do so well. He can only sing 3 notes, and the lyrics had a tendency to be grating. Had there been a different singer, this album would have been near perfect. Favorite track: Son of Sam
Laibach
2/5
This sounds like cult music. More so the end of the album than the rest of it. It's loud, bombastic, has a lot of spoken words (as well as a weird vibe), and repeats a lot of the motifs throughout the album. Oddly enough, the beginning few songs sound great, but the rest of the album sinks after that. Favorite track: Leben Heißt Leben
Metallica
3/5
It was alright. I enjoyed the slower sections in this album, but everything was fine. The main and bass guitars are fantastic; I just wish the drums added a bit more. The vocals do the genre justice, and the songs are oddly long. Favorite track: Harvester of Sorrow
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
For this album, once you've heard one song, you've heard them all. It's the stereotypical rapping with rhymes and alliteration that really don't have any purpose other than the fact that they rhyme or have the same sound. The background music is uninteresting, so you're only listening to the words. Favorite track: Walk This Way
Talking Heads
5/5
This album is great. It gets weirder and weirder the farther in you go, but they play into it and play into it extremely well. The vocals are great, the instruments are interesting to listen to, and no moment of music is wasted. This was worth listening to. Favorite track: I Zimbra
Alanis Morissette
1/5
The lyrics are just so cheesy and predictable, not to mention that the voice singing them is irritating. The random vocal flairs that are added to songs are annoying. The background music isn't that bad but could use some better instrument choice. Overall this album was grating and predictable.
Morrissey
2/5
It's just a collection of subpar love songs. The vocals have a small range of 4 or 5 notes, the lyrics have next to no depth and always talk about someone else, and the background is the best part of every song. If you have to listen to this, just listen to the instruments because that's how you'll get the most out of this album. Favorite track: Everyday Is Like Sunday
Billy Joel
4/5
This was a great experience. The only gripe I have with this album (and most Billy Joel songs) is that they sound good once in a one month period, and this album is no different. It sounds fantastic and held my attention, but I would never put it into a playlist or mix. It's likely the "pop" feel of songs that makes them unrepeatable. Favorite track: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
Hole
1/5
It felt like I was suffocating my ears with nonsense. It's just guitars playing chords with a drum set and sometimes a bass. And there's a singer there too. There's no substance in the album. The only songs I enjoyed were the acoustic ones, and it's because it was only the singer contributing to the mediocrity.
Animal Collective
2/5
Credit where credit is due, there are some vibey songs on this album, and this is one of the rare albums on this list that has better lyrics and vocals than instrumental. That being said, all the good songs are packed into the first half, and the rest of the songs are really just annoying noise with some words over them. Favorite track: Bluish
Os Mutantes
1/5
It's just not pleasant to listen to. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was at first, but after a bit of ear-scratching noise, I figured out that it was mainly the little things in the songs. Random uses of instruments that don't belong, weird effects placed on the guitar and voice that bleed your ears, and an emphasis on loud noises will surely cause you to dislike this album.
The Black Crowes
3/5
It's just a southern rock album. Not much to say about it other than the keyboard is great and the guitars are pretty good. The singer's voice is stereotypical of the genre, so there's no surprises in that department. All in all an okay experience.
Brian Eno
3/5
The first few songs made me want to claw my ears off. However, as the album progressed, it got more relaxing and ambient, which was nice to listen to. The only complaint I have of the later songs are that the voice doesn't contribute much and felt like it went against the style and feel that the backing music was going for. Favorite track: The Big Ship
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
Some of this album is fine. However, that's speaking strictly about the music in the background, which is alright in its own right. The main grievance is that the singer's voice is unbearable all the time, and it's the main focus in the majority of songs on this album. It sounds like he's trying too hard to sing or that he's plugging his nose. It's out of place most of the time.
Scott Walker
3/5
It was alright. Surprisingly, it scratched a certain itch for me. Although it was a bit medieval sounding, that's the noise it was going for, and it did it well. The orchestra was fantastic in delivering that feel, and as much as I don't enjoy that type of music, this album kept my interest. Favorite track: The Seventh Seal
Bob Dylan
2/5
I'm not the biggest fan of these "one-man" albums where it's just the singer with his guitar and occasionally a harmonica as I find it a bit boring. Sure it can be relaxing, but these require the specific mood of "near a campfire." Unfortunately, this requirement is rarely met. Favorite track: Blowin' in the Wind
Marty Robbins
5/5
It starts off extremely strong, and even though it goes in a different direction for the rest of the album, it's filled with soothing and enjoyable songs. No song in this album is wasted, even if they seem to be all the same. Overall, this album is great for just zoning out or feeling relaxed. Favorite track: Big Iron
Beatles
4/5
It was pretty good. It seems a bit different than other Beatles albums, and those differences lead to an interesting experience. Although not specific to this album, the main problems in most songs were that each ear contained one instrument and that the songs were very "60's slow" in that they had that era-specific sluggish feeling to them. All in all, however, these problems don't plague this album like others.
Black Sabbath
4/5
It was great; Sure at times it may be nothing to write home about, but all songs were still interesting in their own right. Their sound was pretty unique at the time, and I feel like this albums captures it well. Although their next album would become their hit, this one is worth a listen as well. Favorite track: Wicked World
Rush
3/5
I was really enjoying with the first song. It threw you into an excited mood with little way to escape; however, it sort of just drags on due to its length and how many times it switches moods. It could've just been split up into 4 or 5 songs. The B-Side of this album doesn't really get too much better, but the last song keeps that excited mood from the beginning. Favorite track: Something for Nothing
Stereolab
4/5
This album feels like a bunch of ideas crammed into a certain style. Although that may sound like an insult, the album tends to pull it together by making sure their own style comes out rather than the random idea placed into the song. It's very relaxing and doesn't make you jump around too much.
Bad Brains
1/5
There's not much to say about this album; it wasn't that great. It's just a mediocre hard rock album that doesn't seem like it should be on this list. Nothing really stands out as everything sort of melds into a blob of sound.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
It's not my genre; I don't listen to hip hop. That being said, I can understand why this album would be on this list. This is one of the few times that the predecessor is just as good as the albums it inspired a year or two later. Sure the mix could use some work as the beat overpowers the words a lot, but other than that it's great. Favorite track: You Can't Stop The Prophet
Cocteau Twins
3/5
I really like the sound, I just wish I could understand the words. The album reminds me of ABBA if they had made less disco songs and more dreamy songs. All the songs have a nice pop feel. The main gripes are that the songs tend to sound like each other in addition to the problem mentioned about the lyrics. Favorite track: Cherry-coloured Funk
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
It was such a slog to get through this album. All the songs sound the same; the vocals are extremely off-putting, not to mention how plainly "dark" the lyrics are. Although most of the time the backing track felt like they were just going for the generic gloomy theme, there were certain times the instruments felt like they came together in harmony. Favorite track: Brother Woodrow
Fiona Apple
3/5
Oddly enough it was very vibey. In addition to the backing music, the singer's voice is quite nice at times, but sometimes it felt like there was a discontinuity between the band and the singer; they felt like their styles had a mismatch as the band was playing orchestra-like music while she was singing in a punk fashion. Favorite track: Carrion
The Fall
1/5
It's just a bunch of loops with some "say-singing" over it. There's not much depth to it. The lyrics have some value, but if you're going to just say all of the words, go do slam poetry instead of throwing mediocre music over it. At least then I'd be able to understand it better.
Digital Underground
2/5
This album isn't that bad. The only problem is that it's a concept album that revolves around being horny. I guess I should've tailored my expectations with a name like Sex Packets but still. The album is mixed great, and it sounds really good; however, I wouldn't ever be able to listen to this casually due to how uncomfortable it makes me. Favorite track: Sex Packets
Dusty Springfield
3/5
She has a good voice and the songs are generally pretty fun to jive to. However, this album is a compilation of cover songs from other bands at the time. Although it's a pretty good album, I can't give it too much credit as the original bands deserve that credit more. Favorite track: Nothing
Randy Newman
4/5
This is a super interesting concept album. The backing tracks sound great and they easily evoke the emotion they're going for. However, the lyrics are what make this album unique as most of them are from the viewpoint of a white guy from the Deep South. The narrator (or narrators) generally don't seem like agreeable people, and this creates a great dichotomy between the political lyrics and soothing music. Although this isn't an album that I would listen to casually, it's still worth a listen. Favorite track: Marie
Q-Tip
3/5
It's a pretty interesting album. Every song sounds like it could be played over a TV show or movie about teens in a big city coming to age. I think where it falls a bit short is the lyrics either sometimes go over your head or don't need to be listened to. All in all though, it's a pretty good modern hip hop album.
The Pharcyde
2/5
As far as beats go, it hits the usual notes of early 90's beats. It's got a hint of the old 80's with something new, and it almost always sounds great. For the lyrics, they flow super well, but the stuff the group raps about sometimes just isn't worth listening to. Half the album is carried by the beats, but the other half has pretty profound lyrics and well-told stories. Favorite track: Passin' Me By
Billy Bragg
2/5
It feels like this album jumps genre a lot, but he doesn't do it very well. All the songs feel like they have something missing in them. His voice isn't suited for most of the songs he sings, and the backing track feels somewhat hollow. Favorite track: Train Train
Deep Purple
3/5
This album kinda makes me want to go out and break something; it has that kind of energy. It's a pretty fun energy when you're feeling it, but I wouldn't really listen to this otherwise. Apart from that, it's one of their earlier works, and although it's a pretty good album, their later works are definitely better. Favorite track: Child in Time
R.E.M.
3/5
It was a pretty good album; however, it lacks the "punchiness" of other albums during this year. I really liked the keyboard in the songs, but the other instruments were generally only okay. The singer's voice fits the music well. This album is something I would listen to in the background and not actively. Favorite track: We Walk
Janet Jackson
1/5
I really don't like this 90's pop stuff; it all felt really samey. All the slow songs were extremely similar. In addition, all the fast songs were the same just with different tempos. The drum beat was exactly the same, and it got really annoying listening to it.
Ray Charles
4/5
60's music is fantastic, and this one really delivers. It makes you feel what it wants you to feel. The orchestra was lively when it felt like it and somber when it wanted to make you feel nostalgic. My only gripe was that the songs could've been taken to more extremes - that is, the highs can be higher and the lows can be lower. Favorite track: I Love You So Much It Hurts
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
It's fine. All the songs sound like oldies pop, but I think where the "magic" lies within this album is the lyrics. Although I don't personally resonate with them, I can see why this would be on the list. Favorite track: No Surrender
Green Day
3/5
I liked it more than I thought I would given its genre. That being said, it doesn't adhere to past albums or the genre of "punk." The lyrics have that spirit, but the music sounds more like pop or pop rock rather than punk. Overall though, it was a decent experience. Favorite track: Jesus of Suburbia
TV On The Radio
2/5
I really enjoyed the instruments in this album. However, I really did not enjoy the vocals in it. The singer mainly just "say-sung" through most of the songs. It didn't match up very well in my opinion. However, on songs he was actually singing on, it sounded great. Favorite track: Shout Me Out
Small Faces
3/5
It felt like two different albums. The first half was rock-ish and very 70's-like, of which I thought was fantastic. However the second half was a bit like a children's story with a narrator and child-like songs, of which I thought was weird and wasn't cohesive with the first half. Favorite track: Afterglow of Your Love
Miles Davis
3/5
I generally am not a fan of jazz albums. I feel like I don't have the necessary expertise to fully enjoy them, and as a result, I don't like the music. However, this one is an exception. I enjoyed it as it was lively when it needed to be and soothing when it wanted to be. My only gripe is that each song is just a bit long. Favorite track: In a Silent Way
Isaac Hayes
3/5
This one is just good ol soul. It has a few touches that are different than what the genre dictates (making it progressive soul I guess), but overall it's just good soul music. It does have a bit where it's a spoken word poem over a beat which didn't fit the album feel, but other than that it was great. Favorite track: Walk On By
Sonic Youth
1/5
It was just pure noise. Like there was literally 30 seconds of static noise at the end of a song. If that's your thing, more power to you, but it was not my cup of tea and probably won't ever be. Honestly the most surprising detail to me about this album was that sometimes there were rhythms and beats that they followed.
808 State
4/5
It was a very vibey album. I enjoyed it a lot, even if it had no real "substance" other than interesting instruments, sounds, and samples. Every song is something that I would put on in the background, but I wouldn't really actively listen to any, save for me favorite. Favorite track: Pacific 202
Travis
2/5
I didn't like this album very much. It mainly came down to how much the lyrics were repeated and how the harmonies or sound wasn't very interesting. It felt very stiff and unchanging throughout each song. Favorite track: Driftwood
The Lemonheads
2/5
Just kinda mediocre music. I'm not sure what this inspired or how it's an important album, so I'm not sure why it's on this list. Favorite track: Mrs. Robinson
The Young Rascals
4/5
I really liked the first side of the album. It was really different from what I expected out of a 60's album, and it pulled "psychedelic" well in my opinion. The second side was way worse as it follows a weird narrative and I don't like spoken word in music. Favorite track: Groovin'
The Prodigy
2/5
These are songs that I would hear in like old skater montages from the 90s and early 00s. You know the ones I'm talking about: low fps, low resolution, black and white or some other weird filter, and really low camera angles. All the songs are unremarkable and blend together, and although the songs are actual songs in this album, I just don't see how this music is important. Favorite track: Speedway
Talking Heads
4/5
The energy is a bit low for me. This is their first album, and it feels like they were still trying to find their sound. That being said, most of the album was banger material even if sometimes I felt as if they could've gone bigger in some areas. Favorite track: The Book I Read
The Jesus And Mary Chain
1/5
If I wanted to listen to metal screeching noises I would go to an old, rusty playground. There are some truly awful sounds I never expected to come out of instruments in this album. Adding in the fact its mixing is horrid and that there's no clear tone the band is going for makes for a less-than-pleasant experience.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
It's fine. It's really just a progressive rock album made into a soundtrack. Looking into the lyrics and "concept" of the concept album more made me feel a bit uncomfortable, but overall it was a decent experience. The music element of the album was mainly pretty good rock with some orchestral dramatics thrown in. The storytelling could've been better, but that's probably just because I can't speak French. Favorite track: Valse de Melody
Tricky
2/5
This album's job is to make you feel uncomfortable and uneasy. At least, that's what it felt like to me while listening to it. I never got into the music. This wasn't an enjoyable experience for me, but I can maybe see the value in some of the songs. I likely won't be listening to this album again, but I wouldn't mind hearing a couple of these songs on the radio. Favorite track: Overcome
Buzzcocks
3/5
It's a pretty good punk album all things considered. Unexpectedly, they didn't have full on noise like some other bands on this list from this genre. The sound is pretty basic, but it's a good sound so credit where credit is due. One thing of note is that I liked the additions to the album at the end a bit more than most of the rest of the songs, but all in all it was fine. Favorite track: Fast Cars
Mudhoney
2/5
It started off fine. It got noisy and unbearable at times in the middle but got better towards the end. I feel like this album lacks a bit of identity. Its genre is listed as grunge, but it doesn't feel like grunge sometimes. I wasn't expecting a harmonica to be featured, but it was and it kinda slapped, all things considered. But again, not really grunge at points. Favorite track: Pokin' Around
Public Enemy
1/5
I'm just not a big fan of 90's rap and hip-hop, and this album doesn't really do it for me. I really dislike the samples and repetitive nature of the songs. The lyrics are great, but I also feel like I'm getting preached at when I listen to this album. It also feels a little bit weird when the songs sound like "That's How I Beat Shaq" but the lyrics are telling me about oppression, but that's probably just a product of time.
The Clash
5/5
I liked it more than I thought I would, but that's probably just because I'm a sucker for the keyboard that's within most songs. It might also be because the songs have that high energy that I crave. My only main complaints were that it ran a bit long and that I wasn't a fan of the vocals, both the singer's and the backing's voices, but that's mainly just a personal thing. Favorite track: Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
The Beau Brummels
3/5
It was a folk album. It was probably one of the early ones or something like that as for why it's on this list. I liked it throughout the album, but it suffers from the main problems of 60's albums in that they're a bit samey, the lyrics sometimes make no sense, and the mixing is pretty bad. However despite these cons, it's still not that bad. Favorite track: Are You Happy?
The Smiths
1/5
I mean it's pretty bad. The singer's voice dominates every song and it's not enjoyable to listen to. He sings in this weird off tone or something that makes every song sound off. The only compliment I can give is that the instruments sound fine sometimes, but suffer the same problem as the voice in most other cases.
Living Colour
2/5
It has a serious tone problem. One second you'll be listening a hard rock song then the other it'll turn into a 80's pop song. The lyrics don't have this issue as they're all just political lyrics or words about societal problems. I generally liked both sides of this album's spectrum; I just wished it picked a sound to stick to. It took away from the lyrics, which is what I thought they wanted the focus to be on in the first place. Favorite track: Open Letter (To a Landlord)
XTC
3/5
I liked the way it started off. I got kinda bored towards the middle of the album as some of the songs felt samery, but it picked up again pretty hard near the end. I just didn't really enjoy the main singer's voice, and I thought it brought it down. I really really liked the instruments and sound that they had. Plus the album had a nice vibey energy to it. Overall though, I thought it was a decent album. Favorite track: The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
Lou Reed
5/5
The songs themselves generally sound slow and nostalgic, but the lyrics are very charged with topics such as sexuality. It's an album that I like and might listen to once or twice but not very many more than that due to the uncomfortable element of the lyrics. I really like the songs, however, and they really hit the spot on a lower energy day. Favorite track: Satellite of Love
Venom
1/5
Sorta just sounds like every other metal album, or at the very least a generic and basic one. Didn't really capture my attention at any point. It may be influential to future metal albums, but why not show those that innovated on the genre further instead?
Johnny Cash
3/5
At the end of the day, it's a live Johnny Cash album, nothing much more to it. It has Johnny Cash, which is great, and it has aspects of live albums, of which I generally dislike. This album doesn't change either of those two things. Favorite track: Dark as the Dungeon
Neil Young
4/5
I actually really enjoyed this album. I went in with pretty low expectations, but I came out pleasantly surprised. Each song tends to have roughly the same feel, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as that energy is the kind where it makes you want to spend some quiet time with friends around a camp fire. Musically, I think the only complaints I have are that his voice is rough around the edges and that the higher-energy songs are not as enjoyable. Favorite track: Borrowed Tune
Arcade Fire
2/5
It was actively putting me to sleep, but in a boring way rather than a relaxing way. The beginning of the album starts off incredibly slow, and I much preferred the latter half. Each song in this section flows better and doesn't feel like the equivalent of quicksand to get through. It elevated the experience, but maybe that's just because the first half was so much worse compared to the second. Favorite track: Haiti
Willie Nelson
3/5
A very relaxing album. I feel like I could lay in the sun for hours on end listening to this. Not really much more to say; it's just more Willie Nelson. Favorite track: Down Yonder
Killing Joke
1/5
It felt like nothing worked: mix was terrible, sound was bland, words were uninspiring. I'm not really sure what the point of this album was, but it was extremely mediocre.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
At its essence, it's simply more Frank Sinatra, which is never a bad thing. This album is a little more relaxed and acoustic, presumably from collaborating with Jobim. However, I prefer Sinatra's more big band albums and songs. That's not to say this is a bad album; it's just not what I would pick to listen to out of his discography. Favorite track: I Concentrate On You
Madonna
2/5
In school, I was told that if you want to know what a Shakespeare sonnet was about, all you need to do is to read the last two lines. The songs in this album are the embodiment of that sentiment. Once you listen to the first couple minutes, you've listened to the entire song. I think that the good in this album is how complex the compositions are and her voice, but they're heavily outweighed by how the songs drag on and on. Favorite track: Nothing Really Matters
The Temptations
4/5
It's smooth listening past the first few songs. It starts off abrasive with a bad mix, but gets way better as the album progresses. Overall it's just a good soul album. Favorite track: Love Woke Me Up This Morning
Sonic Youth
2/5
Compared to the last Sonic Youth album I listened to, this one wasn't nearly as unbearable. There were some parts that I thought sounded pretty good, but the whole of the album was still not enjoyable. I'm glad there was less pure noise in songs and more musical sounding elements, though. Favorite track: Teen Age Riot
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
I liked the background music but hated his vocals. I would listen to the backing band again, but I think I will stay away from more Neil Young if I can help it. Favorite track: Mansion on the Hill
Duran Duran
3/5
Surprisingly I didn't like the album nearly as much as I thought I would have. All in all I still liked it, but I thought I would've rated this much higher. I thought that his voice began to get grating after the first couple songs, and that songs tended to lack punch. Other than that though, I really liked the composition and the sound they were going for, even if it did little for me. Favorite track: Rio
Kraftwerk
2/5
I like the ideas and concept of this album. However, I don't really like the sounds or the way they went about achieving those ideas. The synths/electronic part of it sounded really great for the most part, but the rest of it (the voices, samples, etc.) did not agree with me. Favorite track: Europe Endless
Coldplay
2/5
It's very easy-listening-esque. None of the songs felt very memorable to me, save for the last one. The sound and tone is fine and good; it's just that the overall feel of the album doesn't stand out at any point, good or bad. It is simply average. Favorite track: Everything's Not Lost
2/5
This album is just typical old country songs you'd hear at a fair or inside a restaurant. Not much to note apart from that. I really have no clue what it's doing on this list, but here we are. Favorite track: The Shoe Goes On The Other Foot Tonight
The Prodigy
1/5
This is an album of songs of montage music. Specifically montages about edgy things. Once you've heard the first 30 seconds of each song, you've heard the whole thing. That being said, some of the beats sounded pretty good in their own right, but every song tended to repeat on and on. This wasn't the best experience.
The Sugarcubes
2/5
I really liked how it started out; I thought the energy was near perfect. The vocals could've used work, but I didn't mind it in the grand scheme of things. However, it dropped off horribly near the middle and continued to be bad until the end. The voice is grating, the lyrics make no sense at all, and the music takes a nosedive in quality. Favorite track: Motorcrash
Earth, Wind & Fire
5/5
A groovy experience through and through. It might not be the most complex album in the world, but I loved listening to it. Each song made me want to move my body, which is what I try and look for in songs. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly mine. Favorite track: Reasons
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
I really wasn't sure what I was expecting going into this, but I was surprised when I enjoyed the experience. The guitar just sounds so good. I generally wouldn't like the vocal, but it pairs so well with the rest of the sound. Everything feels like it goes together, like a puzzle set. Favorite track: Summertime
The Gun Club
1/5
I actually kinda liked the backing music but dear god, everything else was so unbearable. The voice, the lyrics, and the rest of the overall feeling was awful. This is music to make you feel weird and disgusting. If that's your thing, more power to you.
U2
1/5
This does not appeal to me. It felt pretentious while listening to it. Most of the songs aren't anything special; they were all bland. They're all about a person or someone else, but it still felt like they were trying to preach something at me. This was not an enjoyable experience.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I liked this one a lot, surprisingly. It felt gritty and powerful. Generally I'm not a fan of this kind of sound, but they pulled it off very well. That being said, there were some songs on here that didn't fit the feel of the rest of the album. Even then though, they still sounded great. Favorite track: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
X-Ray Spex
1/5
The singer's voice is unbearable, and the band takes liberties with the instruments, including a saxophone, which doesn't fit the feel of the songs at all. The singer feels like she can only hit 3 notes and seems to find a frequency which could break eardrums if played too loud.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
5/5
It doesn't make the strongest first impression, but the first song (epic?) gets way better as you listen along. It's the main "song" of the album, and most of the B-Sides feel tacked onto it. All in all, though, it was an enjoyable experience. I really enjoyed the keyboard, but I think the bass lines could be better. Favorite track: Tarkus (last quarter)
Pixies
1/5
They really throw you for a curveball with the first three songs. It just switches genre so fast you can't recover. However, past that, its genre stays constant, but it's not a good genre. It's like more digestible noise, which isn't the worst thing? But I don't know who enjoys this mediocre stuff.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I've got a few gripes with this album. The most egregious one is that the songs feel like they just run really long. The second worst offense is the harmonica. Oh my dear god whenever it's present it is just absolutely ear-splitting. Finally, the one minor gripe I have is that his voice, though it fits the composition really well, isn't the most musical, and it feels like he can only hit a few notes. Other than those things, I really liked this album. The overall music, especially the keys, was fantastic throughout each song. It's got that energy that I love, and each song flows well into the next. Favorite track: Ballad of a Thin Man
John Lee Hooker
1/5
I thought I was going to like this album. Most songs feel like they go nowhere; however it's great to listen to the first minute, but then it just repeats and repeats and repeats. It gets on your nerves pretty darn quickly. The vocals are never good in any song. They're constantly repeating and are just awful all the way through. Throughout the album, the music has its moments, but most of the time it's just like the vocals in that it just repeats constantly. I really expected more out of this album, but nevertheless, it was a disappointing experience.
4/5
This is just an hour and a half of pure Bob Dylan. It’s good if you like Bob Dylan, and probably pretty unbearable if you don’t (fortunately, I do). The first half of the album is slow Bob Dylan songs, and the second half is faster Bob Dylan songs. There isn’t much more to say than that. It’s a long Bob Dylan album. Favorite track: Tell Me, Momma
Wild Beasts
3/5
I actually really liked the overall sound and vibe of this album. However, something just feels pretentious about the whole ordeal. I think it's probably the voice. I enjoyed the instruments and some of the songs' vocals, but overall, I thought it was something that I would probably hear in an art show. Favorite track: The Fun Powder Plot
Korn
2/5
I thought the rhythms in this album were pretty enjoyable to listen to. I really hate metal, but this one didn’t feel as bad in the beginning. I think the drumming was the main aspect keeping my attention throughout this album, but as the album progresses, the rhythms generally become less interesting. Ice Cube is also there which was a bit of a shock listening through. However, this album is also fairly long, and it feels like an eternity going through it. I get the appeal of this album, but I still did not enjoy going through it. Favorite track: Got the Life
Supergrass
5/5
I vibed with it. I really liked the keys (as usual) in addition to the whole feel of the album. A few of the songs felt like misses to me, but the rest of the songs more than made up for those. Every song felt unique, and I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Favorite track: Alright
The Pogues
4/5
I expected to not like this album when I read its description on Wikipedia. However, I was surprised by how catchy and enjoyable it was when I was listening through it. I really liked the Celtic aspect of the album; it’s definitely the most notable and interesting part. It’s different from most, if not all, of the albums that I’ve listened to thus far that actually made my ears happy. The only gripe I have with this album is that the mix is pretty bad. The singer’s voice seems to be drowned out in some songs, and near the end of the album, the songs just drop in volume for some reason. Favorite track: A Pair of Brown Eyes
T. Rex
4/5
I think this album is pretty one-note. It’s a great sound, but the songs seem to follow that formula. Again, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it tends to overstay its welcome after listening through about halfway. If you don’t enjoy glam rock you will probably tire of this album very very quickly. However, overall I think it’s a good formula to stick to, for a while at least. Favorite track: Buick McCane
Leonard Cohen
2/5
This album should be named Songs TO Love and Hate. Some of the songs are quite pretty and have a very “drunk alone next to your fireplace” feel. However, one thing they all have in common is that they all just feel absolutely depressing. It’s a very specific mood that the album places you in. If you didn’t want to be in that mood, you’ll likely hate the songs. If you want to be, or were in that mood in the first place, you might love the songs. However, for me, this is a mood I rarely ever want to be in. Favorite track: Famous Blue Raincoat
Madonna
3/5
These Madonna songs feel so unnecessarily long. They just keep going on and on and on until 5 minutes have passed. If the songs changed at all throughout those eternal minutes, it would be more bearable, but alas, they don’t. That being said, ignoring the feeling of ungodly length, the songs themselves sound pretty good. They have the classic early 90’s pop feel without actually being made in the 90’s, and the best part of this album is the "upbeat-ness" throughout most songs. In addition, every instrumental combined with her voice feels like a perfect fit, with each instrumental providing a different, interesting instrument choice. Favorite track: Dear Jessie
Björk
4/5
I really really like the musical compositions of the songs. The electronic instruments are extremely interesting to listen to, especially the bass lines, and the non-electronic instruments are placed into electronic songs in a groovy way that only adds to the composition. The slow songs, in addition, are also poignant and unique. However, her voice feels like it gets in the way of listening to the instruments, and it really only feels like it fits the composition when she’s singing longer notes. Most of the time though, it’s a bit too emo-ish. It doesn’t match the vibes of the underlying music and ultimately detracts heavily from the songs. Favorite track: Big Time Sensuality
Beyoncé
2/5
I don’t really know what to say about this album. I didn’t really have many feelings about it. The middle part of the album felt like all the songs have been about sex, which is fine, but it’s definitely not for me. I’m more interested in the beats and backing music, but even then, I’m finding myself bored. The emphasis has been placed on the words and the vocals; while the vocals are really pretty and her voice is great, the words don’t resonate with me at all. Favorite track: Blue
Erykah Badu
4/5
I started out not really liking this album, but as I listened through each song, I began to enjoy it more and more. There’s a whole chill vibe to the album, but there’s still a semblance of energy put into each song. Her voice tends to get a little bit grating sometimes, but overall, it fits really well to the music and is rarely ever a problem. Speaking of the backing music, it’s what carries the whole “cool, slick” feeling that’s within this album. I liked the piano parts the most, when it was present, and I think that was a large contributor to the aforementioned feeling. Favorite track: My Life
Frank Sinatra
5/5
There’s just something so magical about Frank Sinatra songs. It’s probably just the orchestral aspects of each song, but both his voice and the band come together to create music that feels as if it could wash all your problems away. This album in particular perpetuates that relaxed feeling, which makes it a joy to listen to. Favorite track: Glad to be Unhappy
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
I just think it’s mediocre. The one electronic song was a super weird, but enjoyable, change of pace compared to the rest of the album. The guitars were generally enjoyable to listen to, but it didn’t really feel as if there was cohesion between each of the parts. They seemed to be playing in the same style, but there just felt like there was something missing between every part that played music, including the voice. This album wasn’t terrible to listen to as it sounds quite nice, but it lacks a kick or punch that propels it to a higher level. Favorite track: Electronic Renaissance
Happy Mondays
2/5
It’s alright. I think it has a vibe of weird radio music in that it has some components that feel easy to listen to, such as the guitars, but the voice and overall feel of each song comes together in a way that makes it memorable but odd. Each song feels like the instruments are distant or ethereal in a sense, while the lyrics seem to be screamed at me. It makes an odd dichotomy that comes together in an album that seems rough around the edges. Favorite track: Mad Cyril
Ice T
2/5
Honestly, I went in not knowing what to expect, and it was better than I expected. It wasn’t that great however, it simply exceeded the low bar set for it. This isn’t really my genre. It follows the formula of its predecessors and albums that were inspired by this album, so there’s not much for me to say about it. Although the songs are relatively formulaic, the samples and sound effects were interesting. In addition, the commentaries interspersed throughout the album gives a bit of a story, which is also interesting. Favorite track: Body Count
Mariah Carey
1/5
I was never really a fan of 90’s R&B, and this album does not change that fact. It’s probably a quintessential album for the genre (at least I can only assume so - why else would it be on this list?). The melodies and harmonies never really interested me as they seemed too breathy and slow. To add onto that, there wasn’t any part of this album (or songs) that made me want to listen to more as it’s mostly just more 90’s R&B sounds. If you like that sound, more power to you, though.
Beck
1/5
This shit is weird, but not like in a fun way. It’s more in a concerning “are you okay?” way. It’s got some captivating rhythms, but some songs definitely gave me the creeps when I listened through the album. Something just sorta felt off throughout it. Overall, it was not an enjoyable experience.
Sabu
1/5
Wikipedia says this genre is called Cuban Rumba. Can’t argue with that; it certainly is.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
This was honestly pretty relaxing to listen through. All of the instruments compliment each other well, and the progressions of each song is nice and easy to listen to. It does tend to feel like you’re transported to some serene valley. Although it feels great to listen to, it’s not my personal kind of music. I enjoy the time spent with this album, but it won’t go on any playlists. Favorite track: Nomads in the Valley
Sex Pistols
3/5
It’s not really my genre. I liked specific parts of it, but when the whole entirety of the song is put together, I don’t like it nearly as much. For instance, the guitar by itself is great, but I don’t like it next to the vocals and lyrics. Still though, it provides a great album to rock out to, and nothing can be said about that feeling. The songs tend to get a bit samey, but it’s a great sound nonetheless. Favorite track: God Save the Queen
John Lennon
4/5
First and foremost, I understand that John Lennon was a blatant not-so-nice dude. That being said, his talent in music can’t be understated. Yes, this album is pretentious, but barring the lyrics, the melodies and music part of each song sound great. Based mostly on this, the album is good. However, adding in the lyrics makes you remember what kind of person John was and the pretentious feeling comes back, ruining the experience. Just imagine you can’t understand the English and this album is excellent. Favorite track: Imagine
Happy Mondays
5/5
I really liked this album. The voice compliments the music very well, and either by itself would simply be doing this album a disfavor. The music is great in that the melodies draw you in and keep you there. Many songs have a sort of pop feeling to them or at the very least an upbeat tone. In addition, there are some funk-inspired songs, which is a plus for me personally. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. Favorite track: God’s Cop
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
The singer’s voice doesn’t really compliment the music. The lyrics and vocals don’t really feel like they fit, or they just feel too simple. In addition, the songs tend to drag on and become repetitive. That being said, the backing tracks are great pop hits. They’re the main highlight of this album, and they help keep it from being too forgettable. Mainly listen to them when you go through this album. Favorite track: It’s a Sin
Röyksopp
1/5
I think that there are a lot of interesting rhythms and instruments used within this album. However, the problem mainly lies with the tone of it. It’s obviously supposed to be a techno album, but it can’t pick what type of feeling it’s going for. Listening through the album will cause jumps in feeling; you’ll go from listening to a chill song to an upbeat one down to eerie without any warning. Normally I can appreciate some electronic music, but most songs on this album were grating to listen to.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
I’m not the biggest fan of his voice, but otherwise this album is pretty good. I would say it’s above average mainly due to the instruments. The lyrics are generally pretty interesting as well. I think the slower songs are relatively better than the upbeat ones, but otherwise, there’s not much more to say about this album other than it’s a nice, good rock and roll album. Favorite track: Breakdown
Todd Rundgren
5/5
This album was an experience to listen to. It seems scatterbrained but with some type of order to it. Every song feels as if it was both handcrafted and also vomited out. Either way, it makes for a great first listen through. His voice fits the music perfectly, and each song has a sort of ulterior feeling that refuses to allow you to be bored. Honestly the only thing that I didn’t enjoy from this album was that the mixing was very sub par. Favorite track: International Feel
Air
3/5
It’s pretty vibey and downbeat. I really liked that aspect of it, but the vocals tended to rub me the wrong way. I didn’t really enjoy how tacked on and upbeat they felt compared to the rest of the songs. Although, barring that, every song is good. I still think they lack some type of oomph like other electronic albums, but otherwise this album was a nice experience. Favorite track: Ce Matin-la
Aretha Franklin
5/5
It’s just good soul. Her voice is perfectly suited to this kind of music, and it’s worthy of the household name of Aretha Franklin. The backing music makes you feel exactly what it wants to, and every aspect ties well into itself. Favorite track: A Change is Gonna Come
Public Enemy
2/5
The songs tend to get samey and don’t really change that much. Although the underlying message of each song is said basically right in the title, the music tends to be forgettable. As you get through the album, the identity is lost due to the nature of how much sampling is in it. The vocals are where the album shines, but it’s sometimes difficult to understand when combined with the backing track. Favorite track: Fight the Power
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
It’s really weird, to be honest. Even for 80s pop, it’s just a little bit out there. However, that’s what makes this album for me. All the weirdness in instrument choice and melodies culminates into a captivating album. The first half is definitely more geared toward pop sounds while the second half is where those oddities are mainly present. Favorite track: Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Ice Cube
3/5
It was alright. I liked the beats, but as with most albums from this genre, the lyrics are where I personally get hung up on. They probably just don’t appeal to me considering I don’t have experiences like that, so I can’t really get into it. Other than that though I thought it was a decent experience. Favorite track: It Was a Good Day
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
There wasn’t much to wow me. It was a nice downbeat album full of instrumentals, but I feel like most songs are forgettable. It’s not terrible, but there feels like little substance present. It’s something I would hear in a royalty free library; it’s good enough to be music but doesn’t really appeal to anyone. Favorite track: Green Onions
Johnny Cash
3/5
The songs are generally really pretty and enjoyable to listen to, but there’s just something about his voice or something that just irks me the wrong way. I got annoyed on a number of songs without any real reason. I still can’t pinpoint it, but it likely has something to do with the lyrics or vocals. Other than that, the guitar (and other instruments) is soothing to listen to, and while my unfounded gripe with the vocals stands, they aren’t bad in any way. Favorite track: Danny Boy
Radiohead
1/5
These songs fall into two categories for me: bearable and unbearable. Most songs are unbearable as they have that pretentious feeling combined with a wall of noise. It makes for an overall aggravating experience. The bearable songs don’t have the wall of noise, and while the instruments tend to sound quite nice, the vocals are off putting and annoying. They tend to match the music, but that’s more indicative of how grating the album is as a whole.
Cream
3/5
Its mixing has the Beatles problem where the sound of any singular instrument is only ever in one ear. This creates a distracting off-balance that takes away from the music. Other than that, the sound is good, albeit a little slow for my tastes. If all the songs were just slightly quicker feeling, this would rate higher. Favorite track: Sunshine of Your Love
The Youngbloods
4/5
I really liked the unique-ish sound that this album had. It was folk-y with lots of 60’s rock elements present, mainly within the first and last areas of the album. I really liked the songs that I liked, but the album as a whole did not appeal fully to me. That’s not to say I didn’t appreciate it but rather that there were some songs that felt lacking. Favorite track: Darkness, Darkness
Boards of Canada
1/5
The album has a weird, ominous vibe that just makes you uncomfortable while you listen. It’s interesting that it’s able to create this feeling, but it doesn’t make for good music when it feels like you’re slipping into a dementia haze. Despite most songs feeling icky and weird, there are a couple tracks that feel like you’re on a cloud, mostly near the end of the album.
Pearl Jam
2/5
It’s just generic rock and roll. It sounds exactly as you’d expect. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it certainly is cut and dried. It’s nothing special and pretty boring, but if you’re into the aforementioned generic rock and roll sound then to each their own. Favorite Track: Even Flow
T. Rex
2/5
The album is fine. It’s a bit boring and uninteresting. It’s got a good sound overall, but it starts to get samey as the tracks tend to all have the exact same feel and sound. For a full album, it doesn’t hold up, but it makes for decent radio music as you’ll only end up hearing one of the songs anyway. Favorite track: Rip Off
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Overall a great album. It’s pretty catchy and has memorable electronic rock songs. I really enjoyed the beats throughout each song, and the unique sound has some strong impressions throughout the listen-through. A few gripes I have about it, however, is that some songs tend to get repetitive without a feeling of progression, and the style feels inconsistent at times, bouncing from song to song. Favorite track: All My Friends
Aerosmith
3/5
Fast paced rock n’ roll, my kinda style. It’s fun, peppy, and a bit generic. There’s not much to say here other than those few words. Only other thing I thought was that it could’ve been a bit longer. Favorite track: Nobody’s Fault
The Beach Boys
5/5
This is a bit of a weird album. It feels like classic Beach Boys, but it has a rock and prog twist. It still has that emphasis on the voice backing track that comes with many Beach Boys songs. The songs in this album all feel fun or dreamy, but they have interesting lyrics that hold your attention. The album has some mixing problems, but it doesn’t impact the feelings at all. Overall it was an interesting listen-through when I expected a normal Beach Boys album. Favorite track: Long Promised Road
Rod Stewart
3/5
This album is good folk and blues. It has rock elements in some of the songs
It’s good folk and blues. It has rock elements in some songs which give it a fast paced feeling in those songs. The instruments are interesting, and I wish there were more rock elements but I get how that was simply not in the cards during this time. One last thing is that the Amazing Grace touch was an odd one. Favorite track: (Find A) Reason to Believe
Emmylou Harris
3/5
This is pretty good country. It’s not really my style, but I can understand the appeal nonetheless. I really liked the instruments, and her voice compliments them pretty perfectly. It’s relaxing due to its folksy vibe, but it’s just not for me. Favorite track: For No One
Taylor Swift
4/5
Some songs off this album have an insane and addictive energy. It's difficult to not bob your head up and down to the hits. However, some songs feel like pop filler that's more generic than memorable or unique. The whole is mixed super well and feels produced in a complete way. This shouldn't be brushed off as many albums on this list tend to get it wrong. Overall it's a great album to stick in the background to set a fun mood with an occasional "volume-max-singalong" song set in there, but the somewhat generic pop feeling may get old after playing some songs.
Favorite: Style
The Pretty Things
1/5
The album primarily suffers from things that are present from the 60’s. For one, the songs feel oddly slow-paced, making them a slog to get through. They just drag on and on. The songs also are plagued by terrible, weird, and confusing mixing. The songs are just so annoying to listen to due to these issues. There is a semblance of a good rock album underneath the problems, but every song feels papery and without substance, mainly due to the horrible mixing. I would’ve rated it higher because it’s on the edge of being good. Alas, here we are.
David Bowie
3/5
This album is kinda weird, but I like it. It feels very dramatic, like I'm in a theatre watching a play about Grease. It's got some pretty defined hits and missed for me, though. Some songs are great and immerse me in a greaser feel, while others feel like I'm watching a play with great actors but poor story. The second half of the album is ambiance and backing music. That's really where it lost me. I thought it was gonna be more rock, but instead I got ambiance. It ends with one final banger rock song, but I can't get over the second half. Favorite track: The Secret Life of Arabia
Elbow
2/5
This album does not begin strong. It gives off "rom-com sad scene" vibes in the beginning. The songs grew on me a bit however; they eventually grew to being more of a "dystopian movie" kinda vibe. It's still not my cup of tea, but it's at least dramatic and large in a cliche kinda way. The mixing is oddly bad to convey this, though. I was looking for huge, immersive soundscapes that made me think of skyscrapers, but the songs felt like they were coming out of a gramophone at times. The singer's voice was good and kept me engaged, but the rest of the album's qualities were lacking. Favorite track: The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
This shit is a straight up fever dream. The backing tracks are sick and great to listen to, but the admittedly obvious underlying tone is sex. Pretty much every song is about sex and will make you feel uncomfortable if you don't want to listen to sex. Also, the lyrics are just way too out there, and listening to them will make you feel like you're on some kinda drug. These factors combined make you feel like you're at a rave sweating your ass off on ecstasy. After about 20 minutes, though, it turns into a samba album, which is such a whiplash because it turns back into a 80s rave album after a few songs. Overall, it's a good album if you listen specifically for what you want and ignore the other weird ass parts. Favorite: Relax
Def Leppard
2/5
This is like a bad rip off of Boston. If I wanted Boston, I would listen to Boston. They have a better sound and feel more cohesive than this. This album feels like really generic rock and roll, so if that’s your thing then you will probably like this. However, there are better bands that do both the original genres and this Boston-esque genre better. That being said, their sound isn’t terrible, it’s just generic. All the songs sound pretty much exactly the same, and it’s difficult to differentiate between them. Favorite track: Too Late for Love
Led Zeppelin
4/5
It’s not bad at all. My only main gripe with this album is that some of the songs feel kinda long even when they aren’t. They have a unique sound that differentiates them from other rock albums, and it’s difficult to not headbang along with the music, though this might just be mainly due to the rock genre. The guitars are just so sick to listen to, and that’s what really makes the whole album excellent. Everything just flows really well and creates a sick mood and vibe. Favorite track: Heartbreaker
Pink Floyd
4/5
I really believe this is a work of art, or at least it sounds that way. Every single factor of the music feels like it was placed with intense care and thought. Maybe that’s not what was happening in the studio during the recording, but that’s what the end product was. However, I personally don’t think I can listen to this casually. I would need to be in a specific mood to listen to any of the songs, and nevertheless, I would need to have a full listen through of the album to satiate that mood. Still, this album is excellent and overall a great time. Favorite track: Wish You Were Here
Tom Waits
1/5
Yeah this is spoken word alright. I’ll pay my respects to the great jazz in the background, but to be honest, it’s the worst mix between a podcast and a song. It’s not music and shouldn’t be classified as such. The “singer” sings at some points in the album, so why can’t he just sing the whole damn thing? If I wanted to listen to a smoker with lung damage spouting nonsense to a bunch of other smokers with lung damage, I would go to a homeless camp.
Beatles
3/5
This is a fine Beatles album. It’s not too special, and it’s not too bad. It’s definitely nowhere near the top of their game, but it’s a good listen through. There’s not much else to say other than if you like the Beatles, listen through this one. If you don’t, you’re not missing out. Favorite track: Tell Me Why
The Kinks
2/5
This is like a classic 60s album: some rock elements but mainly folksy, right and left ear instruments, poor mixing, and singing that's slightly out of tune but only noticeable when it's one guy singing it. The lyrics are basically nonsense, and also the voice changer in one of the songs sounds like crazy frog. Mainly this sounds like worse talking heads. Favorite track: Sitting by the Riverside
Joy Division
3/5
It’s not really my thing. I can see the appeal because I really like the singer’s voice and the guitar, but overall I couldn’t really get into it. It’s probably just a me thing, because I think it sounds pretty sick, I just wouldn’t want to put it into one of my playlists or listen to the album over again. Favorite track: Isolation
Slipknot
1/5
I didn’t enjoy my time here. Same seems to go for the dudes who made this album. They’re screaming about wanting to die and that just kinda sucks. I liked the drums but really hated everything else. Sorta just all sounds the same. I really thought the drumming was super sick and was definitely the highlight of the album.
Nick Drake
3/5
Very relaxing folk album. Has dark and cinematic feeling. Very dramatic. Feels like something to listen around the campfire. Favorite track: Time Has Told Me
ABBA
3/5
The hits hit but the non hits do not. Most are non hits unfortunately but the album is saved by the hits. Just not the biggest fan of chanting in general, even if ABBA is better than the bunch when it comes to that. Their songs sometimes have very grating and repetitive choruses, and this album has more than average number of them. Overall, however, it was a pretty good listen as I still enjoy pretty much all other aspects of ABBA songs. Favorite track: Dancing Queen
Amy Winehouse
3/5
The album kinda just feels like they stuck Amy into the studio and had her record whatever came to mind. It has a bit of a live album, rough kinda feel to it. The songs that were produced sound good, and I generally like the sound of the album. However, there are times that the scatting took away from the song, as well as the rough feeling of the album. Favorite track: You Sent Me Flying/Cherry
Joan Armatrading
3/5
It was a nice listen. I enjoyed the first half of the album more than the second. It’s a bit of folk and rock, two genres that generally appeal to me. It’s nothing special, but it wasn’t a bad listen-through. Favorite track: Help Yourself
Elvis Presley
4/5
This was personally my favorite Elvis time. I really like the big band/doo-wop/folk that Elvis put out, and this album is pretty much just that. Not much more to say other than expect that style of Elvis songs. Favorite track: I Will Be Home Again
Mercury Rev
5/5
I really loved the harmonies in the backing tracks in this album. Although the voice was a bit annoying at times, the music itself was excellent. It felt very theatrical and large, making me feel like I was watching a musical. The songs seem to meld together well, and the album feels like a cohesive thought rather than a jumble of songs. The ending’s a bit odd, but it lends itself to the thought of being a movie or something of the sort. Favorite track: Opus 40
Justice
5/5
This album is sick. It starts off super strong with Genesis and feels like a birth is about to happen. It progresses to a “dance party” with certified bangers and winds down to an “end of the night” feeling. It feels like all stages of entering, dancing, and leaving a nightclub. I enjoyed pretty much every song, except for Stress, but even that song couldn’t bring my rating down. Overall a fantastic experience. Favorite track: D.A.N.C.E.
The Byrds
3/5
It’s fine. It’s certainly a 60’s album: left/right separated audio, crunchy sounding guitars, and folk/country elements. However, it’s better than some other 60s albums I’ve listened to on this list. One nice thing about these 60s albums is that they’re short, so if you’re not into it, you don’t listen for very long.
Thundercat
5/5
I really like the sound/sounds of this album. The bass is excellent in pretty much every song. The voice is nice and fits well with the feel of the songs. The beats are pretty sick, but I generally like faster paced songs. This album doesn’t have many of those at the start but gets some in the second half. Those pulled it through for me to giving it a better rating than I initially gave it. Overall a grooving album that deserves a spot on the list. Favorite track: Them Changes
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Straight up, I listened to this album maybe 3 or 4 times back to back because I couldn’t tell the songs apart. I still can’t; they all sound the same. Luckily for me, I like the big band sound that Sinatra has, but it’s gotta be one of the more unmemorable Frank Sinatra albums. Favorite track: It Happened in Monterey
The Band
3/5
The 60s acoustic/folk elements are The Band’s strong points, and this album has lots of those. This is highlighted in the slower songs which I really liked; the piano/keys are especially excellent throughout the album. It also sounds a bit like a transition from the 60s to 70s. It’s got the aforementioned 60s folk elements with 70s rhythms and voice. Unfortunately, I think the voice is weak and grating at times and detracts from their songs. Favorite track: The Weight
Fishbone
2/5
I got baited. The first song was super sick, and I thought it was going to continue as a pop rock album. Instead, it launches straight into unapologetic ska. I guess the album’s fine? It honestly sounds like any generic ska I’ve listened to. Maybe there’s something wrong with my ears, but the ska genre sort of just overpowers everything else, kind of like adding garlic to a random dish. There are more rock-sounding songs towards the end of the album, but I wished the whole album was like that. Favorite track: Freddie’s Dead
Prince
3/5
The album is a little odd. It was made as a soundtrack, and it certainly feels like it when listening through it. Most songs feel as if they’re experimental or as if they’re meant to be accompaniment to a movie. There’s lots of screaming guitars (and screaming Prince, too). There are some catchy and fun parts of songs, and it feels very 80s for better or for worse. The use of drum loops is probably the main factor in the 80s feeling. Overall, I thought it was fun, but there’s big highs and big lows in terms of song quality in my opinion. Favorite track: I Would Die 4 U
3/5
The voice is pretty terrible. It sounds like he’s trying to sing for a musical, and it comes off as “sing-saying”, which I hate. Also, his chorus hooks tend to come off as annoying, especially when he repeats it a billion times. However, barring his voice, everything sounds good and catchy. The backing tracks are just good pop/disco songs. If there was a different singer, I would probably like this album way more. Favorite track: Valentine’s Day
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
It feels like there’s a ton of meaning in each song and that there’s some type of story progression throughout the album. It doesn’t feel like a bunch of songs vaguely stuck together in an album. I’m generally not a fan of rap or hip-hop, partly because I feel like I can't relate, but I didn’t think this album was too bad. The beats and his flow are sick. Overall, it doesn’t change my fondness for the genre, and I probably won’t listen to it again on my own volition, but I wouldn’t mind if it played on the radio. Favorite track: King Kunta
Beth Orton
3/5
A very relaxing folk album. I personally preferred the upbeat songs of the album, but the rest of the slow songs weren’t so bad. I feel like everything mixes together very well; the instrument compliments her voice, and her voice compliments the instruments. Really the main gripe I have with the album is that I’m not overly fond of this style of singing, but I could see how one would be. Favorite track: Stolen Car
Van Halen
4/5
This album is pretty good. I’m not sure if it’s super deep in meaning, but at least everything flows well together. The guitar and drums were great, but I think the keyboard is really where the songs shine. The voice was decent enough. It kinda felt like it was missing something for me (maybe cohesion of the album?), but still liked it quite a lot. Favorite track: I’ll Wait
The Doors
3/5
Another 60s right ear/left ear separation album. What’s with albums from this time doing this? Was it a quirk of recording? Anyway, I thought this album had all parts that were good when heard in separation. For instance, I thought the keyboard and guitars were great, but it didn’t feel totally cohesive when put together. Maybe it’s due to the right/left audio. Either way, it was a good psychedelic-ish rock album. Maybe not the most memorable out there, but good enough. Favorite track: Break on Through (To the Other Side)