My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Playing With Fire	5	2.54	+2.46
Shalimar	5	2.66	+2.34
Sex Packets	5	2.67	+2.33
Yank Crime	5	2.7	+2.3
Movies	5	2.7	+2.3
m b v	5	2.71	+2.29
Phaedra	5	2.73	+2.27
Oedipus Schmoedipus	5	2.79	+2.21
Happy Trails	5	2.8	+2.2
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge	5	2.84	+2.16

Album	You	Global	Diff
Who's Next	1	3.91	-2.91
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not	1	3.73	-2.73
Deja Vu	1	3.7	-2.7
Band On The Run	1	3.67	-2.67
Catch A Fire	1	3.64	-2.64
Paul Simon	1	3.51	-2.51
Crosby, Stills & Nash	1	3.49	-2.49
Sign 'O' The Times	1	3.45	-2.45
Strangeways, Here We Come	1	3.44	-2.44
My Generation	1	3.43	-2.43

Artist	Albums	Average
Radiohead	6	4.83
Beatles	5	4.6
Led Zeppelin	4	4.75
Johnny Cash	3	5
Jimi Hendrix	3	5
Black Sabbath	3	5
The Rolling Stones	6	4.33
Nick Drake	3	4.67
The Stooges	3	4.67
The Velvet Underground	3	4.67
Jane's Addiction	2	5
Stan Getz	2	5
Elliott Smith	2	5
Van Morrison	2	5
A Tribe Called Quest	2	5
AC/DC	2	5
Air	2	5
Beck	2	5
Portishead	2	5
Doves	2	5
U2	4	4.25
The White Stripes	3	4.33
Pixies	3	4.33
The Cure	3	4.33
My Bloody Valentine	3	4.33
Beastie Boys	3	4.33

Artist	Albums	Average
The Who	4	1
Dexys Midnight Runners	3	1.33
Bee Gees	2	1
The Mothers Of Invention	2	1
Fatboy Slim	2	1
Pet Shop Boys	2	1
Hole	2	1
Pulp	2	1.5
Kanye West	2	1.5
Depeche Mode	2	1.5
Genesis	2	1.5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer	2	1.5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions	4	2
Elvis Presley	3	2
Creedence Clearwater Revival	3	2
Blur	3	2
Yes	3	2
The Beach Boys	3	2
Tim Buckley	3	2

Artist	Albums	Variance
Paul Simon	3	1.7
Cocteau Twins	2	1.5
ZZ Top	2	1.5
Muddy Waters	2	1.5
Funkadelic	2	1.5

Eminem

2/5

Role Reversal! https://youtu.be/PniJM5IwXfE?si=ZWF-yG9Z8L8FDEHm&t=1317 This album makes me feel like I'm being interviewed by Stephen Colbert on public access TV.

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Eurythmics

4/5

Annie Lennox's haircut and 80's synth are inseparable. Though dated, I enjoyed listening to this woman sing. Not sure who that other guy is. They could call themself The Eurythmic and it would be just the same.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

1/5

Vincent Van Gogh's life (and physical appearance) was changed after being forced to listen to this album. Banjos, harmonicas and violins have no place in my ears. Two hours of this is crazy-making.

At San Quentin

Johnny Cash

5/5

Wow! I can't imagine being in the room for this. Such an insight into JC and his performances. Nothing says fuck you louder than going to a prison and telling a building full of convicts "I'm here to do ... what I want to do..." Can you imagine what would've happened if he sang all the lyrics to Fulsome Prison Blues? Phenomenal album they must've rioted when they figured out he was only playing for 34 mins.

1989

Taylor Swift

3/5

I only listen to this all the time whenever my daughter is in the room. I can tell you that I hate this album because it's on all the time when my daughter is in the room. If there isn't a speaker nearby I still listen to this when my daughter is in the room, BECAUSE SHE'S SINGING it! Even still with all of these catchy ear worms, prancing and dancing and being silly like teenage girls can sometimes be, I'd still hang out with my daughter even if it meant listening to 1989.

Darklands

The Jesus And Mary Chain

5/5

You know that scene in Killing Zoe where Eric Stoltz arrives in Paris the night before the heist and has a long night partying, eating pills and getting f'd up only to open his eyes and see his buddy being inappropriate with some other dude's rear end...? That's what this album sounds like.

A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Coldplay

4/5

The last great album from this band. 'Chutes taught me that I should start opening my mail, looking at nutrition labels at the grocery and tucking my t-shirt into my jeans. But Rush of Blood taught me the only thing constant is change and nothing is perfect forever. Cracks started forming with The Scientist, Green Eyes and A Whisper and it became evident to me that tucking t-shirts into jeans is not comfortable and food tastes better when you don't look at nutrition labels. So I had to say goodbye...

Moving Pictures

Rush

4/5

"Slappin' the bass" - Oh Rush, you crazy Canadians. First off, I thought it was kinda lazy (or crazy) that a 'full length album' only contained 7 songs. Regardless, I was happy to begin with the album, Moving Pictures. I was lucky enough to see Rush at The Forum in '97 during the Test for Echo tour and I remember it being packed and enduring an incredibly long drum solo... like 20 mins., while maintaining a strong contact high. Anyway, the album. There are some great songs on this. Limelight, Red Barchetta and of course Tom Sawyer are timeless, but even the ones that didn't get a lot of radio play are still an easy listen... that is except for XYZ. This song, XYZ isn't fun, doesn't cook and is difficult to get in to. Rush needed it on this album, though. It's the only song that can absolutely labeled as 'prog rock' and allow the album as a whole to maintain some unique classification. XYZ, the last three letters of the alphabet almost seems like a well-calculated afterthought. Without XYZ, this album was intended for everyone. Including it seems like a ploy to gain new fans but keep a home with the old ones. Ironically, that's the only track that I couldn't listen to.

Ambient 1/Music For Airports

Brian Eno

5/5

I'm only two days in and this 1001 Album exercise has served its purpose. First though, the real job of a douchey music critic is to write reviews and say everything except how you really feel about something. But I'm going to shatter that and just say one word three times: "LOVE, LOVE, LOVE." I feel like we all have been listening to this album in our hearts since we were born, or at least since we hit puberty and experienced a wealth of emotion for the first time. I was two years old when this was released and this album plays as if it could've been released today. It's evocative, emotional, raw and unspoiled by the inter-workings of what a traditional album should be. I've heard this a million times since 1976, but this is the first time I've listened to Ambient 1/Music for Airports. This one pays dividends, I truly enjoyed it and is inspiration for me to find / listen / experience more Eno. Five stars for this album. Five stars for this exercise.

Band On The Run

Paul McCartney and Wings

1/5

Q: How do you diminish the illustrious reputation of former Beatle Paul McCartney? A: Put an album like Band on the Run on a top 1,001 ablumns list. "Yeah, I used to smoke grass and play this while living on the nudist commune. Everything was honkey-dory in those days.” This is the album you create when you’re three years out of high-school and still can’t figure out what to do with your life so you smoke weed and drink beer hoping that a future will materialize. I found this album without purpose or inspiration, just shitty jam-band garbage with a chorus. Thankfully, Ringo Starr went on to be the lowlight of post-Beatles success and we could instead remember Paul as an incredible songwriter and performer.

Black Metal

Venom

2/5

In the early ’80’s, I was riding with the Hell’s Angels and selling PCP in Bakersfield. I listened to this record ALL. THE. TIME. Nowadays, I need a pint of virgin blood and a nap halfway thru to make it through the album once. There’s lots of noise here on this album and the devil lyrics are on high. As a matter of fact, the lyrics are where this Black Metal shines. Who can dismiss “do you believe in God, he’s chained up like a dog and every hour he screams 'SATAN RULES SUPREME!" ?? [whoa!] And, though there's nothing fancy about the drumming, the guitar is show-y, fast and intricate at times. As a matter of fact, this band makes me think a lot of TSO. Yep, TSO - The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I’m quite certain these Venom guys could’ve been real competition to the TSO if the devil-worshiping thing ever caught on. There are plenty of similarities between the two. Both are rock’n’roll crusaders for a higher power and tolerable in small doses, played ONLY during special occasions. For example, TSO, is often heard during Christmas season, while Venom's Black Metal, I'm assuming, gets a lot of play during sacrificing your first-born or throwing a surprise birthday party for Lucifer. Two stars.

Private Dancer

Tina Turner

2/5

"WHO RUNS BARTERTOWN!?" TINA FUCKIN' TURNER, that's who! –– | –– I was dreading this album when I saw it come in last night. The '80s have a special place in my trashcan. I was relieved, however that the saxophone didn't make an entrance until track five—'Private Dancer' which I immediately hated. However, I think that if you can remove that wretched instrument from this song, you can find the beauty in the juxtaposition of Tina's strong, survive-at-all-costs voice singing those lyrics. A quick note on the saxophone. Byrd, Coletrane and James Bond– theyr're all great ... In the late '90's and early 2000's there was this belief that any crappy movie could be made better if only Sean Connery was in it. Studios figured this out and it worked for a bit until audiences eventually realized that Sean Connery equals suckfest, making him redundant and leaving us with movies like LXG. In the '80's the same thing happened with the saxophone. Anyway, Tina - an empirical 'YES!' The music backing up Tina... that's a harder sell. The flat drum machines, the stiff-lo-tech-robot percussion and errant guitar strum sprinkled through tracks is pure Connery. Is it possible to remix this without all that 80's baggage? If so, I'm on board. Just do me one favor and keep 'I Can't Stand the Rain.' Somehow, in ways I can't explain, this song just works as-is.

Rio

Duran Duran

4/5

As far as I remember sexy boy / Simon Le Bon WAS Duran Duran. There were others in the band but somehow he was the only one that mattered. But that was 40 years ago and my mind has turned to mush since then. These days, I spend time trying to mentally separate Tom LaBonge, from Tom Delonge and Simon Le Bon from Cinnabon. Mmmmm.... Cinnabon — yummy, indulgent, sweet and warm. Cinnabon's brother, Simon is everything Cinnabon is but likely a complete and total dick. He seems like the kind of guy that'll park in a handicapped spot, try to screw your girlfriend and your sister at the same time and probably begins sentences with the phrase "Do you know who I am...?' But that voice of his... OMG. Is it possible to extricate that voice from the music and put it in my trousers? On tracks like Save a Prayer and Hold Back the Rain, Lonely in your Nightmare, Le Bon's voice gently blends into the music underneath in absolute perfection. Whomever produced this earned their money. The Wolf song is sexy fun and the others, except for the title track, are good too. All said, Rio is a great album, a composition of strong, sharp baselines, synth-y etherials, some disco drums and that oh so sexy-boy voice. YUM! Be forewarned before listening. Try to control yourself and bring some napkins. Similar to Cinnabon, Simon and his voice could easily leave you feeling weightless with a mess of sugary goo on your hands after you've finished. Four stars.

Elephant

The White Stripes

5/5

If there's one thing that I learned by listening to this album it's that half-assing it works well for Jack and Meg. Highlights include Ball and a Biscuit, No Home for you Here, Black Math and Little Acorns. I feel like at a show when I listen to this. So good. So much more to say, but taking a page from their book and half-assing this review.

Southern Rock Opera

Drive-By Truckers

3/5

Are you getting ready for a lengthy stay at a nearby state or federal penitentiary and not sure how to prep? Southern Rock Opera has you covered. So, close your eyes, turn it up and get baptized. This is a straight-up southern-culture record and these are some of my takeaways in no particular order: Skynyrd | Grit | Racist Governors | Cheap Cocaine | Stale Beer | Ronnie Van Zant | Sweat-Stained Trucker Hats | Southern Pride | Shady Shit | Tanktops (No Bras) | Roscoe P. Coltrane | Rock and Roll | Humidity | Skynyrd | Whiskey | Bushy Beards | Skynyrd | Good Ole [fill-in-the-blank] | Skynyrd | Airplane Crash The more I listened to this, the less I liked it, but the more I appreciated it. Individually, each song is forgettable but as a package it forms a picture of southern life and rock and roll. The album is a collection of anecdotes, explanations and accounts centering around Lynyrd Skynyrd. Two songs stand out to connect the disparate parts: Three Great Alabama Icons and Angels and Fuselage. Through loose narratives, bass-y guitar riffs and southern drawl crooning, DBT has created a window into the soul of the unapologetic south. Southern Rock Opera is like required reading, Sunday school, cafeteria food or Cracker Barrel... if you have your way, and you've done it once, you'll never do it again. So, a big 'thank you' to Drive-By Truckers for making this. It's not for everyone. But, if you’re southern-culture-curious, love Skynyrd, Alabama or have family in prison, you're gonna love Southern Rock Opera.

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Aretha Franklin

3/5

Aretha and Urethra are very similar words, but there are vas deferens. — | — Listen to 'I’ve Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You' and agree with me — a standard UTI doesn't evoke as much pain as Aretha does on this album. There’s this incredible feeling of a heartbroken innocence that runs from beginning to end. The first track worth mentioning, “Drown in My Own Tears” wraps you in the warmth of a dark, desolate dive bar where Aretha’s voice is the only thing you can feel after hours of drinking alone. And that holds true for most of the songs. This album could’ve been the soundtrack to every B movie made in the 80’s. The title track, 'I Never Loved a Man…’ could easily be set to the scene of a lonely bride hiding her face at the altar in an empty church. Queue up the song, close your eyes and imagine the scene. The camera, focused on the bride, slowly backs away up the aisle, gently pulling out of a small Baptist church, out the doors, down the steps and then, just as slowly, points to the blue sky as a single black bird crosses the frame. The credits start to roll. Through all of this, the undercurrent of an organ and backup singers evoke possible redemption through faith. However, everyone knows only time will heal a broken heart, and antibiotics ease pain caused by gonorrhea and even the worst UTIs.

Treasure

Cocteau Twins

1/5

Remember that time you were huffing nitrous while being chased through the house of mirrors by those clowns playing the bagpipes and you couldn't find a way out? THIS IS THAT ALBUM!!! I bought my first and only CT album in 1993 because of Jeremy Klein's part in "Ravers." I liked that Iceblink Luck song, yet it wore on me after only a few plays and I never listened to it again. But that was 30 years ago ... on a different album, and we've all changed ...so why not start fresh, eh? No such luck, and if I changed, it's only to be less forgiving. Yes, this album is terribly-unique in that it's uniquely terrible. I had a visceral reaction to Treasure and though technically, it is music, I hated everything about it. The bajillion fasletto voice overlays, high-pitched keyboard overlays and more overlays of echo-y feedback overlays gave me the sickly-anxieties so bad that were tough to shake even after it ended. Somehow, I managed to find my way though without barfing and lose the clowns in the process. So, that's one good thing about this one. Truth be told, I'd rather be in this room, with these two guys just before being murdered than giving Treasure another listen. (https://youtu.be/7E_U1xyK7Gw?t=91).

Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen

3/5

Not sure if you know this about me, but I'm a massive procrastinator. It's pervasive, it's terrible and I hate it. I never listened to Springsteen but remember the Butt Album being promoted in stores when it came out. You know the one with the butt and the American flag on it? Anyway, I never listened to it and then people were oooh'ing and ahh'ing over him and started referring to the singer as 'The Boss' which only turned me off even more. FF to a couple of years ago when I started paying attention to the world and agreed with some of Mr. Butt Boss' politics. So, I picked some of his music and tried to listen and got bored. A friend, who I admired and had similar music tastes, pushed Nebraska as being the quintessential Springsteen album that would change my life. I procrastinated for years. I queued it up and half-assed a listen to the first song and turned it off. I wasn't in the right mindset, I couldn't do it. "What if I hated this album and it means nothing to me?" Butt Boss has been hailed as an important voice of a generation, of America even. Today, Nebraska sat in a browser tab until almost 3:00 p.m. until I finally turned it on and listened a couple times. I still don't know what to make of it. It's thematic, I understand the 'voice of generation' thing. Though it's not my generation and kinda hard to relate to. The album plays kinda like a book of short stories. Each one equally boring as it is interesting. I'm still kinda undecided about this one. The best thing about this review 1001 albums exercise is that I would've continued to put off listening to Nebraska if given the opportunity. In reality, I could listen to this a couple more times, however, I know myself and I have no plans to.

Eternally Yours

The Saints

4/5

"That's not a knife, THAT's A KNOIFE" Never heard of these Australians but they've got great sounds and I totally dig them. Eternally Yours is dirty, lo-fi 70's punk rock plus. The album kicks off with 'Know Your Product' featuring a full horns section and a singer full of blast before slinking into the sounds you'd expect to find at venues like Al's Bar or CBGB's. However, the band doesn't stay within the confines of a late '70s four-piece punk band. The horns make another appearance on 'Ourstralia' and there's strong harmonica on 'Run Down'. There are subtle changes in their sound throughout the record. The 'Untitled' track and "Memories are Made of This, / The Ballad' are slower paced. 'A Minor Aversion' has a country western twang to it and 'No Your Product' would've made a perfect contribution to the Repo Man soundtrack. It's hard not to smile to the fun had while recording 'Do the Robot'. This track is complete with giggles, sloppy clapping and a chorus chanting 'dum-do-de-dum-dum' in the background. So good... This album is a great listen and these guys must've had some good times touring back in the day.

Songs The Lord Taught Us

The Cramps

4/5

Pushead. The common denominator uniting, among others, Thrasher, Metalica, Zorlac and The Cramps in the 80's. In those days, Thrasher magazine had a full on music section featuring interviews with bands like The Cramps, TSOL, JFA, D.R.I. along with black and white photos of shows and general punk rock mayhem. Before I even heard them, I knew I'd like them because of Pushead's contribution to their album art.(https://tinyurl.com/4xedxr63). However, I really didn't listen. It was just music that everyone listened to while skating backyard ramps. I hadn't really thought much about their music until this album popped up. After spending the better part of the past day listening to The Cramps with a different ear several things emerged. First, my parents had no idea the shit I was exposed to. Second, this is great stuff, I hear Jack White, Makeup, Horton Heat and John Spencer in this. Visually though, I think of this as an alternate version of Sally Field's Gidget character, from the 60's TV program 'Gidget.' In this version Gidget is dead, roams the Malibu beaches as a powdery white zombie vampire, preys on goody-two-shoes surfers, worships satan and drinks blood around campfires. The Cramps provide the tracks for the opening / closing credits and a maybe a zombie dance montage on the beach. Songs The Lord Taught Us plays like a ghoulish take on Dick Dale, rockabilly punk with some Charles Manson thrown in. It's easy to get lost in the beach drums, surf guitar and acid tripping of this, but be careful. Every episode ends when Zombie Gidget sexxy dances toward you, bludgeons you to death and sinks her teeth into your neck for a midnight snack.

Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)

Loretta Lynn

3/5

This album is downright SCANDALOUS! If I have to guess, she's gotta live someplace in Texas 'cause she sounds miserable and all the dudes she sings about are cheatin' drunk assholes. I think Loretta needs to get out of whatever this situation is that she's got happening. Perhaps there's a small mountain town of coal miners she might be happier in...? I love the brevity of these songs and there are some really great verses dripping with animosity. Here are two of my favorites: "You better wash that sneaky smile right off of your face For I just might to knock it off and put you in your place Just like the wild wild wind all you do is blow You say I'm holdin' you back but baby I'll help you pack So get what'cha got and go." And the second, from The Devil Gets His Dues, which may have served as inspiration for a girl named Left Eye Lopes, in 1994: "Well, your little play house is sittin' on sticks of dynamite And I get mad tonight and light the fuze If you come in and find out that my dog bites You'll know the devil's here collectin' dues." I think the point of this is that Loretta is a strong woman, has put up with a lot of shit, and she's realizing that Texans are assholes so she's gonna pack up her things and go. All I can say is 'Amen.'

From Elvis In Memphis

Elvis Presley

3/5

"Elvis, was a hero to most, Elvis was a hero to most, Elvis was a hero to most, But he never meant shit to me straight up racist, the sucker was simple and plain —Fuck him AND John Wayne!" The above taken from Public Enemy's Fight the Power from Fear of a Black Planet's 1990 release. Recently, I read an interview with Quincy Jones and he alluded to Elvis as a racist and even stumbled on an unsubstantiated quote from Elvis that he remarked "The only thing a Black woman can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes." [whaaa...?] My first instinct is to say that haven't had any exposure to Elvis... except that I have. Elvis is pop culture Americana and there are references to him everywhere. I've heard the song, Suspicious Minds countless times, never attributed it to Elvis and (surprise) It's a great song, wonderful even, the horns, choir and the evocative feeling of it. Also, when people used to watch TV together, this Southpark episode (https://youtu.be/5SYwLZ-riqg) elicited laughs from others, but I didn’t fully get the reference until (surprise) I listened to this album. This is a decent album and I liked it just fine. But reviewing an Elvis album and knowing the things that have been said about him compounded by it being the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, which I NEVER learned about, and is NOT in any pop culture, gives me hesitation. Is it okay to like something and separate it from the artist? Is the artist the art? And if so, is it okay to enjoy something that it prevents you from enjoying the art? It’s an important question to consider and perhaps there is no correct answer. I'll finish with this... I often think about a scene from a Curb Your Enthusiasm that illustrates this perfectly. Larry, who has, over the course of the previous 11 episodes, enjoyed the company and fallen for a woman he’s been working with. Then this happens...(https://youtu.be/5SYwLZ-riqg). Did you catch Jeff's (NSFW) reaction at the end? –––– Yes. ^This may be a BS review, but since you’ve made it this far. You should know the song 'Suspicious Minds' now has another home on one of my ‘favorites’ playlist.

Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine

Cee Lo Green

1/5

Though Cee-Lo might also wish to be a little bit taller and perhaps a baller, it’s important to note that Skee-Lo and Cee-Lo are two different people. I should know that. Their voices are completely different. Cee-Lo’s voice is very unique, though I would not consider it a soulful voice, as the title of this album would suggest. It’s more of a Sarah Silverman, Megan Mullaly cute voice that is best enjoyed in SMALL increments. Unfortunately, "Cee-Lo Green … Is the Soul Machine” has SIXTEEN songs on it and none of them are soul. After listening to this album, it is apparent the only link between Cee-Lo and soul is that he shares a last name with Al. A lot of the arrangements here seem dated and don’t hold up well over time. But it’s his voice that is really difficult to endure, especially on Scrap Metal. In this song, CL takes on a hard persona and sings about being strapped with a MAC-10 and threatening to box cutter your face while telling people he doesn’t give a f**k. Sorry, but that stuff coming out of your mouth in that cute voice is straight comedy, CL. Buuuuuut..., that got me thinking about Sarah Vowell from early episodes of This American Life. If you didn’t know, Sarah Vowell was born to play the voice of Violet Parr, the American teenager forced into a life of secret superpowers in The Incredibles. Vowell, however didn’t just begin here career there. She used her fun, thought-provoking essays and contributions to This American Life as a springboard. Voicing Violet probably wasn’t a career highlight for her personally, but it was appreciated and she was spot-on perfect. I imagine she’d rather be writing for the New Yorker just like CL would rather be singing. And so, I would like to present this album as a launchpad for Mr. Green and address him directly. Mr. Lo: Don’t worry, bud, your voice is fun and you’ve got a talent for singing, but that voice is best used elsewhere. I’m thinking Spongebob Squarepants or similar cartoons, maybe one of those greeting cards that makes funny noises when you open it up or even stand up comedy where it can truly be valued, admired and even imitated. Rest assured there are big things waiting for you. This isn't the end, it's only the beginning. Oh wait, this is the guy that does the 'Fuck You' song?! I Love that song. It's hilarious! _________________________________________________________ *Correction from the Elvis review (https://tinyurl.com/yhbfbm68). The reference to Curb can be found here: https://youtu.be/1-7W1sftcXw

A Walk Across The Rooftops

The Blue Nile

2/5

There's something about this album that makes me think of one of the best, if not THE best 80's movie, Brazil. s. I imagine that this must be one of those albums that was right for it's time, but out of place in any other. Released in 1984, Communism was on high, the Berlin wall was still a thing, Gordon Gekko / Michael Milken was selling junk bonds on Wall Street and we were in the middle of the Reagan years. Perhaps it's the Reagan connection, but the word 'bureaucracy' is a good descriptor word for A Walk Across the Rooftops. There's a lot of busy work here, but you never get anywhere with this album. It's like you keep jumping through hoops because you're programed to think 'if I just listen a little more I'm sure I'll find something interesting.' This album I'm sure was considered intellectual and avant garde when it was released. It's just oozing with the 'you're not smart enough to understand this music' vibe, but I don't think there's much here to consider. The underlying music is incredibly repetitive, I found myself wondering if maybe some of this was repurposed for use in Roblox games, and the singing doesn't contribute much. Sometimes his voice sounds like he's either yawning while singing or taking their last breath before dying and neither are dramatic. I haven't seen Brazil in probably 30+ years, but I suddenly want to rewatch in hopes that it hasn't aged as much as this album.

Crazysexycool

TLC

3/5

Soooo... which one is favorite? You like Chili, don't you? I'm a Left Eye fan. Why doesn't T-Boz get any love... I think I'm the only one that didn't buy this album when it came out. And, why would I? All the ladies I knew were playing this nonstop and the Waterfalls video (great video BTW) was played ever 15 mins. on MTV. Though this is the first time I've listened to it all the way thru, it's apparent that the album was intended to be a hit in itself and not just an album that had some hit songs. I enjoyed the 'interludes' and respites between tracks. Maybe I overlooked it in the '90s but it seems like a different approach to making music, perhaps novel for the times. In the 90's you threw in a CD and were basically a captive audience. No Spotify to immediately toggle between bands/albums and because it plays so well, it's easy enough to play it again. I enjoyed it today. It's very well put together, but too much a throwback to the 90's to get more love from me...

The Notorious Byrd Brothers

The Byrds

4/5

Peace, love and group sex! Expectations were low and I considered it’d be variations of Turn, Turn, etc. and Tamborine guy songs. This is the music my mom would’ve listened to in college. I was generally underwhelmed until Space Odyssey played and I began seeing trails, but then Moog Raga kicked in and I was tripping balls. Moving forward to the threesome sex song Triad, was unexpected but oddly enjoyable. Take another hit, there’s a great riff on Bound to Fail. Finally, Universal Mind Decoder was another trippy song to get lost in and the banter on the alternate version in the studio provided some interesting insight into the recording process. I was pleasantly surprised at how dynamic and full this album is. In the end, how much do we really know about our parents anyway? Maybe mom was a freak who liked dropping acid and frolicking naked in the mud at Woodstock with everyone else. (yuck).

Suede

2/5

Ears hurt and Hershey squirts. Britpop ruined my Saturday. I'm going to throw this back in a closet and hope it doesn't come out again. I know there's more Britpop-y bands on this list and eventually, I'll lose. Some day, I'll have to unpack all the reasons why bands like Travis, Verve, Lush and yes- even The Smiths, Morrissey and The Clash make me unwell. It's going to be messy and today isn't the day.

A Northern Soul

The Verve

3/5

Ugh. Do I really have to review this. Richard Linkletter / Richard Marx / Richard whatever his name is ruins songs with his oh- so-dramatic voice. Honestly, it's not that terrible. But it is very much on the tortured artist side. Somehow it works for Tom ... oops, sorry, I meant "Thom" You're trying too hard, def doesn't rise to the level of imaginative, creative and head-bopping. But I can't hate this too much, it's 90s. "You get an 'E' for Effort, T for nice Try"

Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction

5/5

Five. I'm done. Honestly, this is the gold standard. I wish everything could be so perfect. Dave Navarro, Perry Ferrell and heroin*. This played constantly when I was a sophomore in high school and have great memories listening to this cassette and being a teenager. Top to bottom each song kills, but "Ted, Just Admit It" kills hardest ;) I still listen to this album in 2021 and there's not a bad song on it. Ocean Size, Summertime Rolls, etc., they're all great. Even the little interlude Thank You Boys is awesome. Up the Beach is an album intro with no words! The intro to Summertime Rolls is so remedial and relaxing and then moves right into Mountain Song. It's is a shot of adrenaline. I appreciate the way the songs open up. Each one begins differently but kind of eases you in and then clobbers you with bass guitar and Navarro with PF and his illustrious screechy wails in the background. It's just and amazing mess of sound that consumes you. Love all of it. Five Stars. ___ *Actually, that's not true. From what I understand the heroin didn't start until the early 90's.

Pink Moon

Nick Drake

5/5

Pink Moon made me and a bunch of other people want a Volkswagen. Nick Drake made me want to explore folk music. His soft spoken voice and the fret buzz of his acoustic guitar conveys an understated sense of being and its perfect. This album taps into something beneath the surface and it all comes out. If Gustavo Sataolalla, Alexi Murdoch are are able paint pictures with their music, Nick Drake is able to make you feel it. I hear Gustavo in Horn and Alexi in Which Will and so many other songs. There can't be any musicians who've heard Pink Moon and been unaffected. This album and the whole Nick Drake story gets me emotional. An artist that kills himself after releasing two albums to lackluster reviews and thirty years its discovered by the world because of advertising. Unattainable desire. To become famous, to own and possess things you don't need. It’s difficult to point to anything good that’s come out of marketing since it’s inception. Pink Moon and Nick Drake may be the one thing.

Dig Me Out

Sleater-Kinney

4/5

Remember that episode of Portlandia where they're at a 'cool' wedding and... No? Well all my friends tell me that I should watch and it's sooo funny... Sleater-Kinney was one of those bands that I should've spent time listening to but I never made time for them until now. Some of the tracks are familiar but most of it I'd never heard. I dig the repetition and the syncopated rhythms and raw energy. I bet they put together a great show. (They're at Merriweather in August). Some of the stand out tracks are 'Buy Her Candy', 'Heart Factory' and 'Jenny' but I really like 'One More Hour.' Such an interesting riff and the layered guitar produces a song to experience. I'm not tied to Carrie's voice, but it plays really well on this track. Perhaps in another 20 years I'll get around to watching some Portlandia. I understand it's something that I'd dig.

Sign 'O' The Times

Prince

1/5

Yes! This album is a sign o' the times and it needs to stay there. I was sorely disappointed by this album. This is like that movie Cleopatra, big star, big budget has some fans, but really not worth spending hours of your life in the hopes of enjoying something that isn't relevant. Also, sign of the times is the pushy- rape-y- coercion one-sided dialogue in 'If I Was Your Girlfriend'. Maybe I've been married too long, but I can't imagine that would be okay in 2021. With all this sexxy talk, this album just sounds impotent. Treble is not the friend you think it is. I wanted to get into some of the funk, but it seemed lame and tame by today's standards. Didn't they have a bass dial in the studio? I want to feel the thump of those bass lines and the excitement of the crowd. Unfortunately, time has moved on and left this album behind.

To Pimp A Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar

5/5

"Shit don't change until you get up and wash your ass..." I've taken the past few days off and listened to this album during most of it however I could still listen to this for the next week before I was really ready to write a review of this. I think this is an important album and not one I would've found on my own. There is so much going on here with KL. It should be noted that KL is the real hero of this album, not the production or the instrumentation or guest appearances. This is all KL and he is a powerful force. His lyrical style is fast and his words are incredibly deep, insightful and full of meaning. Standout tracks, probably my favorite is the 'i' track. Toward the end of it, KL engages with the audience just prior to doing some a capella and starts off amongst audience chitter chatter and during the course, the audience calms and begins to listen. It's difficult to tell if this is produced or this is live, but the effect is moving. Other notables are "For Free? interlude", 'King Kunte', and worth mentioning is the sister track to 'i', 'u'. There is so much to unpack here, and I could stand another week to really feel comfortable enough to write a proper review. Really a great album on its own that everyone, yes everyone, should listen to at least twice if not more.

Dry

PJ Harvey

3/5

Sound peg in the rquare hole. This album was lost on me. I tried to make this work. I wanted to like this but was never successful.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

The Smashing Pumpkins

3/5

Instead of releasing an amazing album and a completely shitty album, The Smashing Pumpkins decided to release both of them together. There are some truly great tracks on this album like Muzzle, Porcelina, Thirty-Three and yes, 1979. But there are also some meh tracks like Cupid and Galapagos that would've been just fine to be B-sides. Then, there's the terrible, awful no good tracks like Butterfly Wings and Zero, Come Out @ Night, etc. Siamese Dream and Gish were so good, amazing even. But, this album seems to have targeted the LCD in music trends at the time and went for broke and it worked. They sold 11 million copies. But they also lost a fan with the release of Mellon Collie. Then, nearly 30 years later that feeling was solidified when I saw them tour with Janes Addiction (who were amazing) in '23. Corgan was pretty lame in his snuggie cape thing he was wearing. I really didn't think he was a freak until he tried to be one.

Bayou Country

Creedence Clearwater Revival

2/5

Dirty fuckin' hippies. CCR, will always occupy that space on the other side of the peace, happiness and 'love -will-save-us-all' flower power movement for me. Just over that line resides the stinky, up-all-night, bloated excesses with a dirty harmonica in a shirt pocket, otherwise known as Creedence Clearwater Revival. Though listening to this album did not change my, albeit narrow view of the band, it was nice to listen to some of the underplayed songs from this album. I appreciated the late night, drunken Graveyard Train blues-y tune and to a lesser extent, the harmonica-laden Keep on Chooglin' song at the end. However, there are three things going on here that prevents me from ranking this album higher: 1. FOGERTY SINGING - (not sure which one 'cause I don't care) and his fake-ass southern drawl. These guys are from Cali. 2. That twang-y, shit-guitar sound. 3. The dirty fuckin' hippies.

Ingenue

k.d. lang

2/5

Which cruise line is right for you? Princess Cruises is supposed to be nice. I've gone on Norwegian when my rich grandmother paid for all of us to take a cruise for Christmas, and it is top-notch - that I can say that from personal experience. Carnival? - meh, I don't do keg stands or have little kids anymore but there was a time in my life that would've fit. I think your best chances of running in to K.D. Lang would be on Norwegian cruise lines. It's the cruise line for old people with lotsa money and a taste for vanilla. I bet she's the house music on all Norwegian cruises and probably performs for the young gray hairs at least once a week. I wonder how they get her from ship to ship. Or if she has to disembark, embark the way that normal passengers do. I would expect that from Wilson-Phillips, but not sure about the KDL. I found Ingenue perfect for the early '90s., KDL had some serious fashion style back then, yes she did. Her music right on par with a Norwegian cruise, very adequate on Gram's dime, but nothing you'd pay extra for. Regardless, after a long year quarrantining things are looking up and I'm sure there are a lot of excited people ready to be confined to a boat in hopes of running into the KDL. For me though, it's more likely you'd find me on a Carnival cruise binge drinking, avoiding my kids and constantly craving for solid ground than listening to this album again.

Talking Book

Stevie Wonder

4/5

I'm a sucker for old Stevie Wonder albums. Talking Book is like a key to an era that I wasn't able to experience but would've loved it. This album just makes me smile. The key characteristic of this album is the Wah guitar, on and it's just a really cool sound like a 'brown-chicken-brown-cow' without the porn. It's a wonder this sound didn't dominate more albums back in the day. I think if it had, it'd be one of those minor annoyances like saxophones are. Anyway, the album... You are the Sunshine of My life opens the album and it's one of those perfect sappy guilty pleasure songs that I just can't get enough of (and makes me want to drink orange juice). The keyboard and congas on this are just lovely. Superstition is the break out hit, but there are some really good ones that are overlooked. Big Brother has got some understated grit with political undertones. Evidently SW played all the instruments on the recording. The song 'I Believe' is a great outro striking a hopeful reflective note that leads me back to the beginning of the album and hoping for an excellent follow up ... 'Songs in the Key of Life', I'm talking to you...

Cheap Thrills

Big Brother & The Holding Company

4/5

An album is only as strong as its weakest link. If that held true, this would be a TWO STARS package. Alternatively, if this album was to be judged as 'best ball' it'd receive a solid FIVE STARS based solely on 'Summertime' because Summertime cooks. The sound of the guitar on this album is absolutely incredible, deep, bossy, full of lazy rough distortion that you can sink your teeth into. The opening to Ball and Chain is soooo gooood. Oh Sweet Mary has a great start, but then syrup-voice starts the singing and just ruins it... I want Janis. Ohhh, Janis, you are the wings to my angel. Your voice and that guitar are such a sweet combination ...or so I'd think. The songs that are good, are REALLY good. The guitarless Turtle Blues, old time piano and Janis... beautiful. Piece of My Heart ... classic power, and, have I mentioned 'Summertime...?' But then there are these mediocre and less than adequate songs like the opening track, Combination of the Two, Flower in the Sun and Roadblock that don't belong and drag the rest of the album down. But the ones that cook... Summertime, (have I mentioned Summertime) I could listen to on repeat for hours...

The Score

Fugees

3/5

Just going to say this one time (one time). This album is very adequate.

Beyond Skin

Nitin Sawhney

4/5

Beyond Skin emerged at the tail end of the 90's to audiences that were looking for something outside of the dwindling grunge and rave scenes. Though not popular here in the states, there were some faint echos of this scene. Infused with drum and bass and an electronic Middle Eastern slant, this was playing in smart coffee houses and chic retail stores in LA. It created a relaxing yet inspired environment for shoppers and coffee drinkers. I was one of those people and really enjoyed walking through the air-conditioned stores off of the Santa Monica Promenade on a hot summer day with this playing in the background. What this does is creates the feeling that you're smarter than you are and only after buying overpriced Espadrilles while slinking back into your Honda CRX does reality set back in... "what the fuck did I just buy...?" Eventually, people caught on to this magic melody's power and nipped it in the bud... Fuckin' Espadrilles.

The Pleasure Principle

Gary Numan

3/5

Most of this sounds the same. Though M.E. is incredible, I could listen to that time and time again. I know people swear by this album and I'm well aware of GNs contributions to this space, but I wouldn't be able to listen to this much more than I have.

Live!

Fela Kuti

3/5

Is it coincidence that two great communication artists named Fela / Fella were born in 1938 and only one is still living? Ed Fella, the designer of 'Fella Parts' and Fela Kuti, the musician, both pretty amazing guys, but only one is still living. Graphic designers live forever, they are notoriously boring people that think they know everything. Generally, they sit high atop a velvet throne and pass judgement from a distance without getting their hands dirty. Real musicians, like Fela are in the mix, they ARE the dirt that makes the world spin, that evoke and create change from within. I enjoyed this album and felt like I was in the room, at the rally in the protest. I got lost in Fela with Ginger Baker Live! while toiling away on the PeTA poster I've been working on, meat is murder by the way. The jamming of this album had me bobbin' my head back-and-forth for hours and when Adobe crashed I started lookin' for a joint and a dashiki while my machine restarted. Fela, also an activist against corruption and inequality in Nigeria was a force for change. Through his music he brought people together and was arrested, jailed and beaten. Speaking of eaten, please don't eat my friends, by the way. Ed Fella will celebrate his 83rd birthday while Fela Kuti didn't live to see 60. Musicians cause real change and die young. Beets not meats, by the way.

xx

The xx

3/5

This album is pornographic! Though not as obscene as the woeful TRIPLE X, this album is twice as profane as X. X started in Los Angeles in 1977, then 28 years later in 2005, XX was formed. By the same progression XXX will make its debut in 2033. Chalk it up to decaying moral standards, but the reality is that XX wasn't as lewd as you might think. As a reviewer it is my job to tell you that most, if not all songs are super-mellow and there's no fucking. The album is relatively short, weighing in at 38 mins. and an easy listen. I suppose this album represents somewhat of a turning point in music in the late 2000's. It's a delicate fuse of real and electronic instrumentation that exists effortlessly. Intro is the simple, dark beauty used to sell AT&T and Hugo Boss that you've heard many times before. It's the recognizable instrumental and an easy listen that subtly builds amongst single-note plucking. The balance of the album includes more complex songs but maintain the overall feel of the first. There's an effortless fun vibe about this album as such if it had existed before 2009, it would be might be called The Moldy Peaches. Also, it's worth noting that the dude singing sometimes sounds like Kurt Vile, it's subtle and distant, but once you hear it you can't unhear him. So, if you don't care for Kurt, I probably just killed this album for you. Finally, for the freaks out there looking for music to get the joyknob turning, this album isn't for you. I would suggest checking into Big Black's famous album from 1987.

Cut

The Slits

3/5

I got this album from Ed, a guy at work, and pulled one song off after listening once - Typical Girls. The Slits. Perfect name for a punk girl band and that cover art is perfectly outrageous. Ed and I worked in an open space, most of us were pretty artsy but I still felt funny about having six boobs covered in mud on my desk for everyone to see. After listening to this again, I've fallen pretty much just about where I was in 2002 on this album. Despite the reggae guitar, there's some interesting repetitive patterns that deserve another listen... but then only one more. To quote Billy Waldman "I hate reggae music. I hate it." Two tracks that stood out on this recent listen. The first, Instant Hit makes me feel like I'm passing time with a smile. The second was absolutely wretched, the cover of Heard it Through the Grapevine, made me feel like I need to clean my ears with a wire brush. Musically, this is probably a dos-star album, but these three girls made their mark on the punk scene in the late 70's and I'm pretty sure they didn't get a group hug welcoming them. It must've been a difficult go even with the help of Johnny Rotten. So, they score massive punk points for pushing thru and releasing more music after this.

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

The Kinks

3/5

The British Empire is still clinging on to what little power it has by way of this 1001 list. There's not much else in this world which would compel me to listen to a litany of crappy British albums. Fortunately, The Kinks have mostly escaped the 'crappy British' moniker, as The Kinks are one of the greatest and most influential groups in history. Certainly one of the best to come out of the UK. However, the fact that Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) has made this list is proof the British Empire is still influential and wields considerable weight making me listen to albums that we'd certainly do fine without.

Jazz Samba

Stan Getz

5/5

YES! YES! YES! Va, va, va, va.. FIVE! You know when your husband is gonna try and put the moves on you when he throws this on the record player. I think this is Pepe Le Pew's go to. I'm sure Stan Getz a lotta action with that love horn of his.... mmhmmm. I dig this album and will listen to it before and after sex.

Doolittle

Pixies

5/5

Best Pixies album. Timeless... Required listening. That is all.

Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Billy Bragg

2/5

Hmmm... Don't know what to say about this one except it seemed like the background noise when you go to a pub for a pint. I'm sure there's some cultural significance to this and may be stronger if I were aware of British politics of the '80s (I couldn't listen to Morrissey cover this stuff either). This isn't terrible and I did enjoy some of the rich Gibson, but I'm not gonna brag about Billy's album on my weekend readout.

Rapture

Anita Baker

2/5

What'd the overworked pastry chef say to the restaurant owner? Anita Baker! In the late 80's this was the best album to play when hoping to seduce your young Wall Street assistant while doing lines of coke on your mirrored coffee table. Fortunately, unfortunately Spotify only provided access to five of the songs, probably due to licensing issues. So, my rating may have been higher if somehow the rest of the album sounded nothing like those first few...

The Coral

3/5

"Weel set sail ageeen" WTF is that...? Musically, I dig The Coral but the accents kill the rest of it for me. British bands that embellish or feign American accents are like putting on deodorant when you should just take a shower... we can still smell you and it's not good. Chances are that even if you're 100% authentic I still won't dig you. Case in point, Arctic Monkeys, great music, but then Alex Turner and his syrupy British voice ruins it. Anyhow, The Coral is a band I totally missed, there's some decent stuff on this album and after that first track, it sails. Sure there are some errant tambourines but some great hooks. Dreaming of You sounds familiar and judging by the number of plays on Spotify it's included in some soundtrack, rightfully so. The song cooks with a great bass line intro and organ. Other successful experimentation can be found on Wildfire with the xylophone and maracas. After two solid listens, I'm interested to check out some of their other work, but this album's gotta find a home somewhere else.

Synchronicity

The Police

5/5

Is it true that in 1983 Sting was busted for smuggling the Kentucky Waterfall into London? [shake magic 8-ball] ... Syncronicity has got to be their weakest album, but still ranks high as a solid album without any duds. Tea in the Sahara song is probably the only one that's a waste of time, it makes me think of the Ten Summoner's Tales release after the Police broke up. Listenable, but not something worth searching for. Sure, "Mother" is a strange song, but there's an odd pleasure to it. And it probably served Sting better to answer the phone and write "Mother" than reject the calls and listen to his brother and sister ask "why don't you answer the phone when mom calls...?" every time he sees them. The Police was a super-accessible band. There's a ton of radio on this album, Every Breath, Synchronicity II, Murder by Numbers, I think this whole album was played on the FM growing up. Even Miss. Gradenko, which is probably the best track, got airplay. Finally, some 80's without Saxophone and suckage. The pace of some of these like King of Pain and Wrapped Around Your Finger are sleepy, but this whole album makes me think of growing up on Top 40. So perhaps I'm the wrong person to review this but Synchronicity is like a gateway drug to the good stuff. Earlier Police stuff is less refined, less acceptable and a whole lot more fun.

Repeater

Fugazi

5/5

There are very few bands that I have allegiance to, but the five dollar shows, DIY ethos, messages of equality, politically minded rage against capitalism, an outlet for anger and angst are all things that resonated when I was 14. Fugazi (and Ian MacKaye in particular) helped shape my view of the world during high school and beyond. I’ve got nothing but love for this one.

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones

5/5

Is that a banana in your pocket or is that Keith Richard's guitar? This album stands erect over many flaccid albums of the day. Super-bluesy and tons of great guitar riffs. Everyone talks about Jagger, but KR is the real engine behind this band. There's no doubt it's his schlong on the cover.

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Soft Cell

3/5

Entertainingly terrible yet tolerable. Hated this album and was ready to give it a 1 and then Sex Dwarf came on and it came alive. In all seriousness, there are a lot of musical building blocks which are still used in music today. The singer, however makes this awful and yet I still come back to see how bad it can really get.

Wild Gift

X

5/5

Great band. Great album. Fringe, outspoken leadership may soon change band name to Twitter.

Among The Living

Anthrax

3/5

I used to listen to this album before my parents moved me from the armpit of Ohio, aka Toledo. I think I left the cassette in our old house and never missed it and hadn't listened to it until today. uhhhh.... One time, a long time ago... this spoke to me, but I guess I'm old because it was really hard to enjoy again. My younger self would've hated me.

Melody A.M.

Röyksopp

4/5

Mellow gold.

Rumours

Fleetwood Mac

4/5

Thankfully, Lucas already f'd this up from having a full straight of fives so I don't have to. Never listened to this in its entirety and never followed FM, but this album is truly great. Gold Dust Woman, The Chain, and Never Going Back are superb. Some of the others are just overplayed like Don't Stop and Dreams and then there are a couple that drag it down like Songbird and Oh Daddy. But on the whole, I'm super happy to have listened to this one.

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

3/5

QUESTION: How do you create a joke that falls flatter than Phill Spector's Christmas album on Christmas Day? ANSWER: Put 6+ Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave albums on this list and force us to review them. Six fucking albums by this guy... and I call shenanigans! The prank is a slow burn, but I'm finally beginning to get it. These all run together ... this is the cool guy that hangs out in the basement bar in either Boston or New York, dresses well, has some demons, smokes cigarettes, loves his band and wants to die alone. But seriously, guys ... this Cohen / Cave joke isn't funny anymore. They all sound the same...

L'Eau Rouge

The Young Gods

2/5

Constipated Frenchman trying to beat his best time.

Mermaid Avenue

Billy Bragg

2/5

It's cold and I'm outside all alone on this one. But if coming inside means I'll have to listen to this, I'd gladly die of the shivers.

Exit Planet Dust

The Chemical Brothers

2/5

These brothers seem too eager to show off their instruments... A lot of this is just cacophony layered upon itself. I get it, this is old school and doesn't employ the endlessssss servers and production equipment in studios so by that scale, this is really umm, "nice"(?), but I wouldn't voluntarily play this to listen to it.

The Specials

3/5

Take warning... "I hate reggae music, I hate it" Amen to that Billy Waldman. Though this isn't reggae, it's a derivative. Ska or you might be able to think about this as 'punk reggae', maybe? I can deal with the punk and I can handle a little bit of reggae so, for the most part this was fine. In the 70s when this was released, I can plainly see how groundbreaking this was. Fast forward to the late 80's / early 90's when we were all listening to OpIvy and discovering The Pietasters and The Toasters, we were completely in love with this stuff and now we're going back to the source of truth. The Specials who started a lot of what was so amazing is really unique and I like things that are unique... errr, a conformity of uniqueness.

The Wall

Pink Floyd

3/5

FIRST LISTEN: "Based on this meat, I don't think I want any pudding." SECOND LISTEN: (At the behest of 'Hell Yeah' I decided I should listen to this album again... and again... ) I was able to dodge the music of PF for most of my life until today. And then, I found myself lost in a rabbit hole and along the way came to an epiphany. Did you know that Randal's character in Dazed and Confused is called 'Randal' by his coach, but his 'buds' call him 'PINK' because his last name is FLOYD!!! [OMG!] and there's more... PINK FLOYD is a person, NOT A COLOR!!! WHOA!! [takes another bong hit] Also, there's a movie called 'The Wall' which is a film adaptation of the album which is based on PINK FLOYD (aka Roger Waters), where Pink Floyd is played by Bob Geldof!! Well, the second+ listen of this made me realize that I really need to see this movie, if for nothing else, to have an excuse to get baked after the kids go to bed. Unfortunately, the Himalayan Blackberry sent me right to zonksville before the movie even started. Anyway, the album must be taken as a whole, you can't listen to one or two tracks, you've got to EXPERIENCE this album, man. Evidently, this guy Roger Waters, is a genius and had a big falling out with the band and sued to retain rights to several PF albums, including The Wall, and won. But he's the character in the album and the movie. So, to break it down for you, The Wall is Communism and the album is based on the struggle for democracy between east and west, and Pink is a Communist (Pink Floyd=Pink=Pinko=Commie).... all makes total sense, right...? Well, RW isn't as concerned as much with freedom as much as he is with himself. The Wall is really about him and the fascism he's encountered through much of his life. Pink's wall is what he constructs and it evolves as he grows older until he's old, lonely and depressed. Musically, this album didn't do much for me, but as I listened to it, I began to care more about the story and Pink's survival. All of those years I spent hearing 'Comfortably Numb' on the radio began to make sense once I had the background and context of the album. After spending some time with this I came to this conclusion: appreciation for this is going to take time, but a foundation for it is there. Big thanks to Hell Yeah for urging me to take another listen and dig a little deeper. Perhaps one day I can finish the movie and enjoy some pudding too.

Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches

Happy Mondays

4/5

At Hawkins elementary I ate lunch in the cafeteria. We all had assigned seats and once you sat down, you weren't allowed to move until the lunch bell rang 35 mins. later. Kids, myself included, would eat the Little Debbie's first and then make our way through the PB&J's only to leave the less desirable food untouched. Others bought lunch which was stuff like pizza or mac'n cheese with fries, and limp veggies. Like limp and discolored, rubbery carrots and lima beans-type veggies. What kid eats lima beans ... like ever? Eating took roughly 20 mins. to complete. The remaining time was often spent pulverizing the leftovers and adding some ketchup and milk to create some disgusting concoction and then daring each other to drink it until the bell rang. Michael Gunter was the only kid I remember who actually followed through on the dare. I'd never heard of The Happy Monday's until today and after hearing it, I would've thought this would've been placed a little further into the '90s based on their sound. There's a lot of layers within the music, people talking, bong-ripps, white people rap, makeshift instrumentation, sampled loops and other superfluous noise that, when combined makes me think of Michael Gunter and cafeteria-time at Hawkins elementary. The result of this mish-mash is a deep, full-bodied experience that's messy and convoluted but not as terrible as you'd think. It almost makes me wonder if Michael Gunter actually enjoyed drinking that sludge. After all, he was awarded with a legendary status for that. But then I remembered he earned that for spewing chewed-up ketchup, lima-bean disaster milk all over Paul Pyle who was lucky enough to be in direct line of fire from Michael's pie hole. Paul Pyle, for his part, had to stay seated until the bell rang, was forced wear his stinky sweater for the remainder of the day and earned the nickname 'puke pile' for the rest of fifth grade.

Modern Kosmology

Jane Weaver

4/5

I've never heard of Jane Weaver and frankly, sounds like she'd be a dental hygienist. Though a little slow in places, this album brings us into the 20th century. It's nice to listen to something more contemporary than discovering old classics that I missed. The album starts off strong. Jane sounds like Stereolab or School of Seven Bells with a hint of Daft Punk, Postal Service and even some Cocteau Twins thrown in. But tapers off toward the end with songs like Valley, which is a slow and whiny or Ravenspoint which includes traditional instrumentation and dabbles in Psychedelia. The first listen was good, but the second grew on me. Despite the tail end of the album, there's enough of a foundation to expect good things from this hygienist in the future. I even found myself meandering off the reservation and exploring her new release 'Flock' which I immediately enjoyed.

Buena Vista Social Club

3/5

Wow, sometimes I hate this platform. YOU, however, should smile in relief that you don't have to read my 10,000+ word review. After spending too much time I care to admit, I navigated away and closed my the page. But here's the condensed version: --- | --- WOULD PRETENTIOUS-ASS LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM? Yes, this album would be played in the background for the swanky dinner parties I host as a way to prove I'm multidimensional, culturally astute, worldly and very, very deep. Otherwise, no.

Blood And Chocolate

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

2/5

Climate change is real. This album does nothing for me, but I did find it interesting that Elvis Costello used a time machine to go 18 years in the future to watch Jon Heder’s breakout movie and include Napoleon Dynamite on this 1986 album cover. I did however deduct a star for failing to warn the world about global warming.

Blue

Joni Mitchell

3/5

I really liked A Mighty Wind but never listened to JM. Much to my disappointment there wasn't a single strong character she reminded me of. Perhaps Mitch and Micky, the duo played by Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. Anyhow, this album was fine, and the dulcimer skills are strong, but this album isn't very silly or even funny. :(

Orbital 2

Orbital

4/5

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was one of my favorite shows. The original one. I've been writing reviews so I don't have much time to watch the new one, but I hear it's good. Though I never listed to Orbital in the 90's this is a huge throwback for me. My pacifier and glowsticks, oversized pants, pigtails, pumas and DANCING! Oh, how I loved Special K and dancing. Anyway, this is a huge throwback and I did enjoy listening to this. There's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music and There's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music andThere's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music andThere's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music andThere's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music andThere's a lot of repetition and beats as you'd expect from 90's rave music and I liked this but probably won't listen to it again unless I get nostalgic or eat more Special K.

Night Life

Ray Price

3/5

This was a welcomed listen and I was into it until about the third song when I realized that they all sound roughly the same and rely heavily on his voice. However, this album opened up a door that I didn't know existed. RP is prolific and has recorded a TON and even had Willie Nelson in his band. Anyway, this may not have been the best album to start with, but he's been added to my list of musicians to explore a little further.

Parachutes

Coldplay

5/5

The best thing about Chris Martin is that he named his kid Apple and apples are the natural toothbrush. British people are famous for their teeth. I’ve heard many times, but don’t know if it’s true or not that the toothbrush was invented in West Virginia because if it was invented anywhere else it would’ve been called the TEETHbrush. (I bet the same myth persists in the EU too but they replace West VA with Britain when they tell it.) Anyhow, the only thing I like more than Parachutes is a Rush of Blood to the Head which probably happens when you ‘chute doesn’t open or when you forget to pay rent, bounce a check or get your car towed for having too many parking tickets, which was my life until I listened to ‘chutes. I’m a huge fan of this album, classified as "adult contemporary" music. After the first listen I was hooked and discovered I was now an ‘adult'. :( Big bummer. This meant that I’d have to stop eating fast food and sleeping late and start opening the mail and start paying bills on time. But there was a huge upside… all this new music that I could explore and immerse myself in. I’m talking Matchbox 20, Dildo, Rob Thomas and Josh Groban to name a few. Soon after the first listen I became one of those people that drives to work singing in their cars, tucking t-shirts into my jeans and checking food nutrition labels at the grocery. It was a long road, but now, 20 years later, I still like the subtle distortion and that sexxy voice of Chris Martin. After Rush of Blood, my affinity for the band waned, and I found myself relapsing occasionally to listen to Fugazi. However, this album made an impact and I’m proud to say that I haven’t gotten a parking ticket since. Thank you Coldplay.

Murder Ballads

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

3/5

I didn't try to listen to this too hard. Maybe there's something there, but I couldn't find it on one pass... and frankly spent a lot of time listening to my favorite dental hygienist, Jane Weaver this weekend.

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Arctic Monkeys

1/5

Really good, except I have a visceral reaction to Alex Turner, aka British Fred Durst.

American Pie

Don McLean

1/5

Tricia Restivo gave me a ride to school every day and she always blared this from her Suzuki Samurai. It was better than taking the bus, but I swore I'd never listen to this again. I prefer pie over cake, but always abstain from Don McLean.

Horses

Patti Smith

5/5

The polish, I hate the polish. Gimme the real stuff. Patti Smith is a total badass and her passion and intense desire to create something regardless of natural talent and poise is infectious. There's a gravitational pull toward her I don't quite understand, it's certainly not her voice which I can understand puts some people off. I think it stems more from just doing whatever the fuck she wants to do and be completely unapologetic about it. I've seen this emulated for years in music, but it appears I've found the source of truth in this album. I love the builds in her songs, the way she slowly dips into song and by the end of it has erupted and is totally killing it with chaos like in Free Money and especially Birdland. I enjoyed her cover of Gloria and the Horses song is hella fun. To boil it down to the bare minimum, it's Patti Smith, and the quality of this music that I really love. It's refreshing not to sense an overt drive toward fame, generating sales and digging in to create a brand or perfect album. This just seems real, like it was MADE, not focus-tested, manufactured and built.

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

The Flaming Lips

4/5

Listen, I think Wayne Coyne is a unique, super-fun and interesting brain. There's plenty of music that has no brains and sticks just fine. "The smaller the brain, the bigger the stain" I always say. But smart-people music doesn't play to the masses. I like the thought, theme and execution of this record, but there's something about it that doesn't quite stick. And tho I want to embrace this with unrelenting excitement and open arms, hold it up high and tell everyone 'this is what we need more of in music,' It would not be genuine. Maybe I'm not smart enough, haven't eaten enough acid or know anything about being an oddball from Oklahoma. But I do know there's something here to explore. You've got my attention. Let's dig into Flaming Lips and Wayne Coyne.

Bongo Rock

Incredible Bongo Band

5/5

Wow. I so enjoyed listening to this album from the time that I turned it on. Love the horns, bongos, guitar riffs and the feeling that I'm either hanging out with The Sugarhill Gang making music or reviewing the Rockford Files with Starsky, Hutch, TJ Hooker, Barney Miller, Thomas Magnum, The Six Million Dollar Man / Bionic woman and planning my next vacation on the Love Boat. ... Incredible. https://www.whosampled.com/Incredible-Bongo-Band

Apocalypse Dudes

Turbonegro

4/5

Turbonegro... Am I allowed to say that...? According to the band, it's not at all racially based and instead meant to be like their music; FAST and DARK. Still, with that interpretation, it is not the Norsk death-music that I was expecting, though still less Cardigan and more Hives. Some of it was good... err MOST of it was good... a bit poppy with some surface-deep grit and grime. However, there are some tracks that seem as if they were written for performances on Eurovision. The vocals and mixing was just overproduced enough to ponder the identity they were carrying at the time of recording (... Gothy NSYNC anyone?) Eurovision, may not've been much a stretch, perhaps "Eurovision After Dark" as Turbonegro had stage performances outshined their music and evidently include antics like shooting roman candles out of their asses and playing in blackface in the early 90's. "Get It On" was great as is "Age of Pamparius", but tracks like "Are You Ready" which I suppose is meant to be frightening just plays like the Halloween lawn section at Home Depot. Maybe a little too refined for repeated listening, but there's definitely some stuff here worth saving and even looking forward to in the future.

Arise

Sepultura

1/5

The perfect album for a fancy dinner party with your boss or coworkers. Highly recommended if you want to make a lasting impression.

Kilimanjaro

The Teardrop Explodes

2/5

Sounds like Oingo Boingo. Struggled to get through the first few songs and wasn't excited about listening to Clash-y brit ska from the 80s. Overall, this was a big 'meh' who cares. Not sure this belongs on the list anymore...

Vincebus Eruptum

Blue Cheer

2/5

Vincebus Eruptum is a slacker of an album in the lead up to Led Zeppelin's debut one year later. Zeppelin of course was a super group that was assembled with a plan in mind while these guys seemed to be smoking out of the same bong at a party and decided to make some music. The majority of this is loud repetitive trash guitar noise but finding the second track, "Rock Me Baby" was worth listening to the balance of the album.

The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths

3/5

I didn't think I had the mental fortitude to push past a voice that sounds like British Homer Simpson huffing helium, but alas here we are. First of all, I fucking hate the racist assclown whois Steven Patrick Morrissey. His outright criticism of conservative Margaret Thatcher was epic in the 80's, but now his support for anti-Islamic politicians and rhetoric concerning minorities is disappointing to say the least. Before all this came about, I merely hated his self-righteous overly dramatic buffoonery. But the hypocrisy and asinine behavior is some next level shit. The fact that Morrissey still somehow buoyed by ardent supporters and fans is pretty gross. As for The Smiths, truly, the only saving grace and engine behind the band is guitarist, Johnny Marr. U2's guitarist, The Edge is often referred to as 'the rich man's Johnny Marr' and that's fitting seeing how U2 has sold a combined 175 million records over time while The Smiths has sold less than 10% of that number. However Marr's jangly Rickenbacker / Telecaster sound is unmistakable and immediately identifiable as the sound of independent 80's music from Britain. It's hard to enjoy The Smiths because of the asshat who is inextricably linked to this band. However, I did get a chuckle when I read today that The Smiths, after being offered Oasis-style money for a reunion tour in 2025, was gladfully accepted by Morrissey while simultaneously ignored by Johnny Marr. Or, so Morrissey claimed. Marr responded to Morrissey on social media "As for the offer to tour, I didn't ignore the offer - I said no." In context of 2024, the title of this album. The Queen is Dead is obviously referring to Steven Patrick Morrissey and good riddance. In another parallel universe, this album plays better, it's not contaminated by British Homer Simpson huffing whippits with David Duke, and inevitably scores higher than a three.

Siamese Dream

The Smashing Pumpkins

5/5

Gish was about to takeoff and was eclipsed by Nevermind and then Siamese Dream was released. The Pumpkins really took off with Infinite Sadness which was their most polished and seemed to give everything to everyone. The relevance of the Pumpkins lies in Gish and Siamese Dream, even Pisces Iscariot to an extent (Landslide cover rivals the original). Soft and suspenseful song opens turn to raucous distortion and loose chaos. Similar to Infinite Sadness, there is range and it's not all gnarled mayhem and anarchy on SD. While Billy Corgan seems like a monster, Sweet Sweet is beautiful; the intro to Mayonaise; beautiful, Soma; lovely even Rocket's song open calms with a wonderful distorted repeater riff. Musically, every song is evocative despite the lyrics. From the first track... the slow peppy build to furious excitement is incredible. However, if there's one thing that I dislike about this album it's the song Disarm. What a blugh downer song. It sounds like Eeyore wrote it. And then there's the lyric... I always thought the lyric was "cut that little child, SODOMY is such a part of you" uhhhh BUZZKILL - you can't put that word and 'child' in a song!! WTF? (... though today the lyrics read "...cut that little child, INSIDE OF ME and such a part of you"). I dunno, Billy Corgan has always seemed to be a tortured artist with a bullhorn that's never big enough. Regardless, I've got a lot of great memories tied to this album. It was on repeat for months when I moved out and was living downtown Richmond. I may have evolved some (not much) but to me, this album will always be relevant.

Mama's Gun

Erykah Badu

3/5

This album is very adequate.

Songs For Swingin' Lovers!

Frank Sinatra

4/5

Mmmmhmmmm. Franks velvet-y pipes always put people at ease and help set the mood. I'd imagine this is the preferred soundtrack when attending those suburban beef and pole hopping swinger parties.

Younger Than Yesterday

The Byrds

3/5

The Notorious Byrd Brothers album was a real surprise. When I listened to that I was shocked at how progressive and different it was for 1968. I enjoyed the NBB album as a whole, however Moog Raga, Triad, Space Oddessy and Universal Mind Decoder stood out. The album continues to get airtime here. Younger Than Yesterday is closer the Byrds album I was expecting, the signature chiming soft guitar, tambourines and voice harmonies that evoke the 60's is sticky syrup and it's all over this. I did find interest in a few tracks. C.T.A.-102 evades the norm somewhat and introduces some errant electronic whizzing which is interesting. The opening guitar to Have You Seen her Face is badass, but then the steady tambourine kinda ruins it. Why includes some backwards, (I'm assuming devil worshiping) talk, But the most surprising track is the opening "So You Want to Be a Rock N Roll Star" is original. I'm used to Tom Petty's version and I discovered Patty Smith also covers it. In the time before 1001 albums I'd been dismissing The Byrds as Byrd shit and neglected to realize the cool guitar chord progressions, riffs and bluesy breaks that really are unique. However I wasn't too far off. I just found out that most of the great songs on NBB were not commercially released in 1968, and only made an appearance in the remasters and rereleased versions in the 90s.

No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)

Motörhead

4/5

Ace of Spades is a classic. Musically, this is straight thrash, get up and go, but it's Lemmy's gravelly voice that really catapults this into badass territory. The live album is absolutely amazing and brings all the feelings of being in a dirty, sweat filled stinky crowd totally engulfed in the moment and it's what really makes this album an exhilarating, rowdy bender. Lemmy, famous for his love of amphetamines is making a good show of it here.

The Chronic

Dr. Dre

1/5

Woke up, didn't choke up Saw my AK, it was broke up Put it together like a jigsaw Got my nine and my Rambo knife off the floor Went to the bathroom, and beat the rush Yo, who the fuck used my toothbrush? Went to my sister's room, yo bitch, wake up You stupid ass, dirty ass, nasty ass slut Shot her in the leg, shot her in the thigh Kicked her in the pussy and punched her in the eye Slapped her in the head, stepped on her corns Don't fuck with mine bitch, word is bond Went downstairs to eat wit' my folks Ma, you broke my fuckin' egg yolk! Punched her in the chest, cut on her cheek Then I did a sweep, knocked the bitch off her feet Knee to the pussy, kick to the skull AK y'all, shot that bitch in the temple Pop got mad 'cause mom got licked I didn't give a fuck so I shot him in the dick Hungry as fuck, said my grace Pop kept screamin' so I shot him in the face Ate my food, found my coat Mailman came so I cut his motherfuckin' throat Waitin' for the motherfuckin' school bus!! - Black Sheep / A Wolf in Sheeps Clothing (Intro) --------------------------- Within a week of The Chronic being released every kid I knew turned into a weed-smoking gangster. This, from the streets of Salisbury, a white-collar neighborhood in afflutent Virginia. The Chronic played well for plenty of awkward suburban teens looking to find confidence in themselves. There was an effortless gravitation toward an identity that used strong words and threats of conflict by rapping about AKs, UZIs, hollow-tips, dicks too big for your mouth etc. It all provided a great act to hide behind. Now, nearly 20 years removed from this, I assumed I would listen to it with new ears and find something that I enjoyed. And, I did --- the beats --- those dope beats behind tracks like Let Me Ride, Fuck Wit Dre Day, "G" Thang, etc. are amazing. I'm gettin' into it, bobbin' and weavin', thumpin' my chest and consuming those yummy hardcore lyrics signing "...I'm callin' 1-8-7 with my dick in ya mouth..." [record skips] Wait. What?! In addition to the beats, and possibly moreso, the popularity of this album is predicated on the attitude and strong persona it conveyed to those kids in Salisbury. And it's not such a far cry from recent tactics used by a former U.S. president. Both employ chest-thumping, direct FU conflict attitudes to up the ante. They both change the game, and normalize violence and confrontation to instill confidence in a people unsecure in the world around them. This album, for all of its regurgitated funk beats, deep bass and good grooves, does not outweigh its detriment on society and the mainstream acceptance of gangster rap. The Chronic killed hip-hop. Tribe / De La / Eric B. and Rakim / BDP / PE etc. groups with real messages and a good time dried up overnight for this shit. The Black Sheep track "Intro," cited at the top ends by waking up ... it was all a dream... he dreamed he was 'hard.' In reality, the popularity of this style rap lasted for years. So yeah, twenty years on, this album is worse than I remember. It has new meaning based on the times we live in and for that, I'm allocating a BIG FAT zero stars. Sorry, Dre and Co., the content of this shit sucks. You are better than this. But it's not all bad news, I'm doling out a bonus star for those dope funktastic beats that got me movin' and shakin'.

American Idiot

Green Day

4/5

It is so nice to see these nice young boys cracking the glass ceiling and assimilating with the rest of us. Have you ever been to the opera, or the theatre? Well, this record is so nice, I'd like to extend an invitation. What's that, you say? Oh, yes! We DO like money but the idea of a broadway show based on this album is absolutely preposterous. Oh, that's a hoot! Well, sure. Go ahead and try. Sure, it IS a good album, you're right, but ... Oh! Oh, YES! We hate George W. Bush too. Oh I see, yeah. Yeah, theatre audiences hate him as well. Ok, YES! You've sold me. Let's do it. Good on you, sir. This will be jolly fun...

Timeless

Goldie

4/5

Yes. I enjoyed very much. A little stale THIRTY years after it was released, but a great respite from the traditional sounds on this list. What happened to this guy?

Vanishing Point

Primal Scream

4/5

I did not listen to this album for fear that I may like them too much and post a glowing review of a band that on the outset seems to mimic the presentation of the worst band ever, Oasis, which I also secretly like. ...but that was in 2021. And now, 3 years later I've finally listened to this and ...wow, I was kinda surprised... Perhaps this album got me yearning for a little less digital technology in my life and longing for a time when Guy Ritchie made fun and exciting movies. Vanishing Point is a throwback for sure, but it embodied some of the things from the 90's I wish we had more of today. The whirring of analog production, less-than-perfect experimentation and musical white space. And yes, these tracks could easily have been integrated into some British gangster flick with Michael Gambon and Vinnie Jones.

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

5/5

Five stars. Mic drop.

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

1/5

Caster Oil, four raw eggs and a blueberry pie eating contest. Listening to this, I feel like the blueberry pie after being scooped up by Lardass and dropped into his mouth. All I want to do is GTFO. The harmonization grates on after the chorus of Our House and it doesn't stop. This is only a 36 minute album but the urge to vomit came on quick. A few mins. later, after Neil Young starts singing in his ladyvoice, Lardass becomes a vomit machine and just starts spewing egg yolks, castor oil and blueberry pie. The end is near, and when it comes, I'm going to take a shower, rinse my mouth and brush my teeth. I feel awful. Raw eggs, castor oil and blueberry pie produce the same results as the bluesy guitar, Neil Young's voice and harmonizations. Be careful, it could get messy. https://youtu.be/zK0JaEde4VI?t=55

The Bends

Radiohead

5/5

I've been friends with lots of people with lazy eyes in my life. For example Steph and I spent a whole summer together being Floyds and watching MTV. The summer of '95 was right before I moved to LA. The 'Just' music video played at least twice every hour, but it seemed like more. That was a clever video, it was great. Fake Plastic Trees, notsomuch. In the FPT video, Thom (pronounced 'Tom') turns the drama up to 11 while imitating a baby in a shopping cart. It was disastrous and didn't do the band any favors. Anyone that watched that immediately hated them, him, Thom (Tom). The album Pablo Honey, was good and an easy listen. The Bends, followed PH and was a logical extension of the first with more angsty, artsy-fartsy undertones thrown in. I liked it. Revisiting this album, it's not groundbreaking, but it's held up okay. This is more like a warm wool sweater that smells like home and you put it on when the leaves turn brown at the end of summer. The Bends is one of the quintessential albums of the 90's, and by those terms it's relatively traditional. There's heavy guitar reverb, song builds, and self-consumed lyrics with a tinge of despair. It is also the last album before the band becomes Radiohead. Before Ok Computer. Perhaps all of that self-introspection is authentic, Thom (Tom) isn't as insufferable as we thought. Maybe he was somehow able to see a future with machine learning, crappy politics, overconsumption, etc. and identify change is coming. Ok Computer, the album after The Bends was truly groundbreaking and set the band off in a new direction with intricate arrangements, new instruments, computers, electronica, etc. It's incredible that this is the same band. All good things come to an end. This album The Bends, marks the closing of an era, the end of summer, the end of Floyd and for me at least, the end of the 90's. It is the closing door that goes unnoticed and time moves on. REFERENCES Floyds = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIA-5l4tRyY Just = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIFLtNYI3Ls Fake Plastic Trees = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5h0qHwNrHk

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying

Megadeth

4/5

There's only one 'a' in 'Megadeth' because there is A LOT of death. (That makes almost no sense... I'm also trying to make sense on why now, 40 years after listening to this once and hating it, that it's now listenable and borderline enjoyable.) At the time, Vic Rattlehead, the Megadeth mascot, seemed like a poor execution and ripoff of Iron Maiden's Eddie. Somehow Maiden was more respectable and Megadeth was inferior. Today, this conjures memories of getting baked while watching Beavis and Butthead which inevitably brings a smile to my face. A relic for sure, but happy to have had an excuse to revisit this.

Let's Stay Together

Al Green

4/5

You can call me Al. If Cee-Lo Green is the Soul Machine then who is Al? Compared to Al, Cee-Lo Green is the Tim Meadow's character from The Lady's Man. Oh-- not familiar with The Lady's Man? Search up Netflix if you want, but the real deal is on this album right here. I'm not sure of their connection, but if they are related it must be distant. Cee-Lo isn't even in the same ballpark as Al Green. Even so, Cee-Lo Green would be the guy cooking Oscar Mayer weiners at the concession stand while Al is putting the moves on his girl. Why don't they make music like Let's Stay Together anymore? This album exists in a different era. Turn it on and be transported to a different place in time. Go ahead, dim the lights, this is the stuff of late Saturday nights. Lo-fi recordings on the slow pace are great for indulgent relaxation. Simple songs, basic riffs, some backup singers, Al's high notes and songs that fade out. Oh yeah.. let's get deep, balls deep... Cee-Lo and the ladies man can Netflix and Chill. I'll keep it simple and stick with Al. ----------- REFERENCES ----------- Cee-Lo Green as the Ladies Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4fTcRViu_Y Cee-Lo Green ... Is the Soul Machine: https://1001albumsgenerator.com/albums/0wdleLMeNmGUHChsmx9svt/cee-lo-green-is-the-soul-machine

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

3/5

Nothing says Allman Brothers like crunchy nuts. This played much dirtier than I thought it might, but then I realized I was thinking of the Smother's Brothers. Turns out there's a few 'brothers' bands and they don't at all resemble each other. Dust Brothers Avett Brothers Brothers McMullen Righteous Brothers Wright Brothers Isley Brothers Boner Brothers Flying Burrito Brothers Jungle Brothes Big Brother

Caetano Veloso

4/5

I have no idea what Mr. Veloso is saying but I dig this vibe.

White Light

Gene Clark

2/5

Very low-key 70's AM / dentist office waiting room vibe. I'm pretty sure my mom used to listen to this. As I listen to this, I think "...wow, I should listen to stuff like this a little more often and expand my horizons" and then halfway through I think 'damn, this shit is boring..."

Five Leaves Left

Nick Drake

4/5

Q: Is it ironic that someone uses a 'pipe' on thoughts about Mary Jane? A: No. f/u Q: How about the fact that Im sharing my thoughts about on the track 'thoughts on Mary Jane'? ---- Here are some more of my thoughts... "Way to Blue" should've been retitled to 'Way Too Blue." "'Cello Song" is makes me think of cool, misty morning walking through dew right before the sun comes up along a river. "River Man" and "Man in A Shed" Makes me think of Matt Foley ... yeah. Matt Foley. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8

Rocks

Aerosmith

4/5

The same guy that named the Tesla’s S, 3, X and Y must’ve named this album. I get it, Aerosmith Rocks, you are so clever. Unlike the Tesla models, the album name is accurate. Say what you want about Stephen Tyler’s lips, but they breath some great sound into this album that’s otherwise filled to the rim with smash-it-all, balls-to-the-wall rock and roll guitar. It’s hard to identify another mid 70’s alblum filled with so much losely tied cacophony in one spot. In fact, I think this was the last great rock album before the music industry fell in love with glam rock, poodle-heads and power ballads. Though this isn’t a daily listen album, I truly enjoyed the truth in advertising.

Dust

Screaming Trees

3/5

Hair farmers singing opera.

Marquee Moon

Television

4/5

Does not compute ... This is one of those bridge albums where it's unclassifiable and connects two different eras in music. I would not label this punk or new wave but combines elements of each. I didn't think I was a purist until I came upon this album and didn't know what to do with it. I liked what they're doing with the guitar on Marquee Moon and the vocals (and backup vocals) on See No Evil. There's some tamped down chaos and it's rough around the edges but including backup vocals without any screaming disqualifies this from being at all punk. Overall, I liked this album. It's something a suburban kid could listen to without pissing off his parents but still get some pleasure out of being a renegade.

Suzanne Vega

2/5

Really sorry about your brother, Suzanne. Honestly, I love pop-tarts and everyone knows that they're only good if you heat them up. I'm pretty sure that Vincent chose the cinnamon and brown sugar Pop-Tarts. Not all Pop-Tarts are created equal. It would've sucked to die waiting for a strawberry Pop-Tart to exit the toaster before being shot by Butch. Anyhow, I really like your voice, but the music is pretty boring.

Faith

George Michael

4/5

Ahhh, George Michael.... I've heard that there's no such thing as bad publicity, however with songs titled 'Look at Your Hands', 'Hand to Mouth' and 'Hard Day', it's difficult to listen to this album without thinking about GM getting arrested for jerking off in that Beverly Hills park. Regardless, this is a great album and I think it's one of those that has only gotten better with time... and a little exposure. ;)

Bone Machine

Tom Waits

2/5

I feel like my favorite team just got bageled at the Superbowl. Tom Waits is better experienced in person in a small venue preferably a dark dive bar in east Los Angeles in the 90s... It's really hard to translate the persona of Tom Waits anywhere else. Hopefully things will come full circle, but the digital age has no use for a lounge-y spoken word performer.

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Aphex Twin

4/5

Is it true that Richard, the Aphex Twin guy is the spawn of productivity lovers David Allen and Stephen Covey? ----- The main goal of ambient music is to fade into the background and be forgotten. This album does a fine job of that. The only memorable things about Aphex Twin are the album covers which give me NIGHTMARES. The thought of being stoned out of my mind and floating through some warehouse rave with this guy spinning is really attractive (is that still a thing?), though these days, crossing things off my to-do list is just as fulfilling. Richard Marx -er Richard James, the freaky guy in the blue bikini, was ahead of his time, there are literally loads of playlists and channels on Spotify, XM, Soundcloud, etc. with titles like "deep meditation" to get shit done. Go ahead, turn this on and start powering through all the albums you still have yet to rate.

First Band On The Moon

The Cardigans

4/5

I love Volvos! Volvos, aka the 'Socialist Containers' have always held my attention in a way that I cannot fully articulate. They're weird, but cool looking, especially the wagons. I bought one and it's kind of crap, it's got issues that nobody can figure out, once you solve one issue something else fails, kind of like this band. Nina Persson's voice is so soft, sexxy and warming, like my 50's pinup posters started singing to me ... mmmm Nina. However, the Playboy mansion submissive-bimbo-act got kinda gross after a couple of listens. The voice, ultimately becomes a liability and eventually a detractor. I really liked a song until I saw the title... "Happy Meal II" ummm, Nina not sure what happens in Sweden, but you can't sing about kinky thoughts and title it after a meal geared toward toddlers. Also, Iron Man is complete disaster bordering on blasphemy. Love Fool was overplayed and grated when this was released (though coming back, it is a really good song). Musically, there's a some uniquely good stuff. The percussion on Losers is wonderful, refrains on Great Divide, great and all songs really, have some secret sauce I can't quite figure out but really enjoy. There is enough to keep this album going. However, each time it's on, the liklihood of encountering irritation and disgust is high and trading it in for something that works is a real possiblity. Kind of like my Volvo. ---------------- Liner Note: Gran Turismo, the follow up to First Band on the Moon, shows a band that has evolved and is redeeming, that would be a five.

I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

Sinead O'Connor

5/5

I love black cherry iice cream but it’s pretty easy to hate Sinéad if you're a fan of the Pope / Catholic church or were watching SNL in 1992. There are also some difficult-to-unsee dancing in her MTV videos that also may give you pause. But if you were lucky enough to listen to her before the aforementioned, you’ll probably agree 'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got' is the best album of 1990. In an age of maximalism, this album shows that maximum impact is achievable with basic tools and simple beats. There are no gimmicky production tricks, flimsy bass or wild synth-y sounds to date this album by. It holds up well, unlike ice cream on the beach or Prince’s Sign of the Times. From an a capella title track to the steady power chords of Jump in the River, the beauty in the album is its simplicity. Wikipedia says that this album was almost entirely devoted to the family of Colin Roach and presumably he is the subject of Black Boys on Mopeds. That song itself resonates stronger today than it did when it was released. This fact catapults it into the another realm. Nothing Compares 2 the use of James Brown's Funky Drummer backup on Stretched Out On Your Grave, or the gentle strum and steady build of Last Day of Our Acquaintance. I love how the tenor of that song creates liberation from a stifled existence. The entire album is great, but The Emperor's New Clothes keeps me coming back to listen to the rest. Emotionally, this album rides the line of somber relaxation and unrealized power on the brink of erruption. Without being too heavy, I could listen to this on my way to a protest rally or any Sunday morning. This is a Five for sure, but to put the five into context, I’ll offer this. If I was stranded on a desert island forever and had one album to take, this might be it, this and an everlasting supply of black cherry ice cream with a cooler.

The Blueprint

JAY Z

4/5

Glorious and victorious. Every track on side A plays like the intro to a title fight. Insightful and rightful. Every track on side B plays like a kid walking to school by himself.

Power In Numbers

Jurassic 5

5/5

Is it me or are sample-heavy albums like this difficult to produce and release? Perhaps I'm out of touch but they do seem unique. 3 Feet High and Rising, the '89 De La Soul album, is virtually unattainable today due to all the rules and hight costs of licensing the samples it contained. Power In Numbers likely wasn't cheap, but they really make the album special. Great licks, snappy beats and great sample grabs from artists like Minnie Ripperton and David Axelrod. This album really wouldn't exist without them. Regardless, this albums roots are in the old skool and there's plenty of range in the ummm six(?) voices. Each is unique and brings a special flavor to the album, which leads me to this... I've always wondered what the Verbal Herman Munster looks like. I get the Munsters and The Adams Family mixed up, is he the dad that resembles Frankenstein or the kid with the super tall widows peak? The dad, right? Doesn't matter, I didn't listen to this album much when it was released, and was happy to have been able to spend some good time with it here.

Abraxas

Santana

5/5

Whoa! I never knew that Black Magic Woman was written about a car that Carlos fell in love with. Talking about how he's going to leave his family because his black magic woman (BMW) put a curse on him and now all he wants to do is drive this black German car. Absolutelly WILD! The balance of this album is equally as surprising in that it is impeccable. Good work, team!

Bandwagonesque

Teenage Fanclub

4/5

Beach Boys of the early 90's. Let's get innocuous.

Either Or

Elliott Smith

5/5

Heatmiser's 'Half Right' was on a mix CD a friend made for me titled "Music to Slit Your Wrists To". It was track number three. I was fortunate enough to see ES at the Henry Fonda theatre just before he died. It wasn't a great show, even sad watching him stand up on stage and forget the lyrics to his own songs. A couple of months later, on the way to work, driving up Topanga Canyon, KCRW played continuous ES one-after-another and another for most of the drive until there was a break. Nic Hartcourt came on and said Elliott Smith was found dead in his Silverlake apartment, just on the other side of town a few hours earlier. I pulled over. Until receiving "Music to Slit Your Wrists To" I hadn't considered how truly sad Elliot Smith and his music was. That stuff is kinda just glossed over, or was... Everyone was sad in the 90's early 2000's but just accepted as normal life where depression hid in plain sight and nobody recognized it as something to pay attention to. For a lot of people, myself included, the music of ES provided a place to go and hide and be enveloped by unobjectionable solitude. Kind of like a place of rest, stagnation and complacency. Either / Or got a huge boost from Good Will Hunting and rightfully so, Elliott Smith's music complemented Will Hunting's loneliness perfectly. I listened constantly and bought most anything he released without hesitation, my favorite song, No Name No. 5 is on this album. I still love it though I hadn't listened all the way though in probably 15 years. I have a reluctance for change which may be why I liked ES so much. Three years after the new millennium closed the death of Elliot Smith ended the 90's for me. No Name No. 5, the heavy drop-d tuned song still sparkles dimly in my imagination as an artifact of a life with an errant existence and no place to be.

Rum Sodomy & The Lash

The Pogues

4/5

Great stuff! I was way into this yesterday when I was listening, but this morning woke up and couldn't remember what it sounded like ... except there was a melodeon... and it was festive...(?) But to put this in perspective, the morning after a great night with the mates and some pints is often accompanied by memory loss and an underlying feeling that a good time was had. This is that kind of album.

Pelican West

Haircut 100

1/5

Prehistoric eurotrash from the 80s. Saxaphone, funk, reggae and preppy white kids in sweaters. There's a reason this never made it stateside.

The Renaissance

Q-Tip

5/5

Great album. Huge fan of old TCQ and most Native Tongues stuff from back in the day and I didn't think an album like this was possible anymore. Love the samples, scratch, beats and old skool vibe of The Renaissance. Below are some great highlights that have occupied my ears for the past couple days: Gettin Up WeFight/WeLove ManWomanBoogie Move If this was a solo album it makes me wonder what the other four members of Tribe Called Quest were doing in the studio.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John

3/5

This album spins just fine, most of the songs I've heard on the radio, the others I have not. Very adequate.

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones

4/5

There are two sets of songs on this album. The songs that you've heard before because they're good songs and played on the radio (or used in Martin Scorsese films), and the foundational songs that give those others meaning. The foundational songs are innate, born from dark empty dive bars with makeshift stages and played differently each time. They are barely commercial and exist as authentic extensions of some guys that just like to play music. Sure, Jagger's buxom lips are alluring, drool-worthy even, and his androgynous stage prancing has unmatched sexx appeal, but it's really Keith Richards and his schlong that keep the band honest.

Odessa

Bee Gees

1/5

This evening I found a cold wet washcloth behind the toilet in my kids' bathroom and found it more interesting than this album. I was actually looking forward to this, but the Bee Gees Odessa is terrible, has zero personality and was a huge disappointment.

La Revancha Del Tango

Gotan Project

1/5

It's hard to describe what it is that makes me love and hate this music in equal parts. I loved two songs on this... but it really doesn't matter which ones they were because they all sound roughly the same. Dramatic. Spain. Paris. Cafés. Theatre. That accordion-thing and some strings. The music is interesting, there's a lot going on here but this album fills me with anxiety after about 10 mins. of listening. I'm not sure what it is, but the first two mins. were very enjoyable. The balance of the album had me looking for a bridge to jump off of. In summary, I would rather listen to "Closing Time" by Semisonic on a loop than turn on this album one more time.

Strangeways, Here We Come

The Smiths

1/5

Shoot me now.

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock

3/5

I just finished watching White Lotus and I'm pretty sure that they used parts of Watermelon Man to build eerie tension and impending doom in some of the episodes. I'm glad that I was introduced to this, Chameleon went on forever, and it was good, but could've ended about 12 minutes sooner. All of this was good to experience and provides a basic foundation of electrofunk. I'd be open to hearing more and exploring this genre a little further.

Miriam Makeba

4/5

Absolutely beautiful, I loved this voice, though I don't know what she's saying most of the time. Must be in the right mood to listen to this, I chose late in the evening and it was perfect. Highlight of this album is Lakutshon' Ilanga, so relaxing. The album artwork and lo-fi production only added to the listening experience. She seems to have been an important figure in fighting apartheid and had an exceptional career from Johannesburg to New York to Italy. Super happy to have been turned on to this album and Miriam Makeba.

Supa Dupa Fly

Missy Elliott

3/5

Never listened to this until today. It wasn't as fun as I thought it might be, the title track was fun but there were some bummers. I'd like to think that I could listen to anything by ME, but not all of this was intended for my ears... womp, womp.

Maverick A Strike

Finley Quaye

2/5

Generally anything reggae related gets a big fat ZERO stars for me. But I found myself kinda getting into this a little bit, bobbing my head, and taking giant bong hits in between songs and was able to chill out. Finley Quaye is an artist I'd never heard of and despite the British slant to this I was able to tolerate it much better than I thought.

Blur

2/5

This album was heavily promoted and toured so it's no wonder why they chose to place this Blur album on the list. However, there are other, read BETTER, albums by this band and I'm not even a big fan. Song 2 is most notoriously used pretty much whenever your favorite team scores a goal or cuts to a commercial break, but even then it's only about a three second blip. Some may not know that this was originally used in the blockbuster (I use that term loosely) epic Starship Troopers. Listening to this more than twenty years later, the album is a chore to get through, even Look Inside America, the song that IMO was underutilized on the airwaves lacks luster today. To make matters worse, the 'special edition' which is hard to avoid on Spotify includes more than two hours of material. It burns a little to say, but even with some background on the band, it's difficult to get into this album. The long drawn out repetitions and the lyrics delivered with phone-it-in laziness is a huge turn off. The success of this album relies too heavily on the fans of previous work. I can't imagine what it's like listening to this for the first time. Hugely disappointing.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme

Simon & Garfunkel

3/5

Someone needs to start a band and call it The Simon & Garfunkels of Death Metal. Speaking of Death Metal, I really hated the Silent Night track. Alternatively, I loved (LOVED) the Poem on the Underground Wall... it made me realize what a huge influence S&G were on Elliot Smith.

Fear Of A Black Planet

Public Enemy

5/5

Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me, that straight up racist sucker was simple and plain Mother f- him and John Wayne ... I'm ready, I'm hyped and I'm amped, most of my heroes don't appear on no stamp..." Absolutely love Fear of a Black Planet. Say what you want about Flavor, but Chuck D can do no wrong. This album occupied my TEAC walkman for months during my sophomore year of high school and still get back and listen to some of it even now. Welcome to the Terrordome is unmatched. Fight the Power and it's placement in Do the Right Thing helped shape my teen years. The instrumentals are great, I love the samples and scratches beats that go on forever. A lot of the samples were the first time I'd heard artists like The Temptations, James Brown, Sly & Family Stone... Terrordome lists 21 different sampled albums. You just can't do this anymore. Truly a different era. You just can do this anymore.

Honky Tonk Heroes

Waylon Jennings

4/5

Beep! Beep! There's a band named Cracker that was big in the 90's. Also, in the 90's I was once called honky - "What's up honky?!" ... and again, in the 90's... Archers of Loaf had an album called "White Trash Heroes," (the last song on that album by the same name is great). This album, "Honky Tonk Heroes" came out in the 70s. Evidently things had changed in the 20 years since Waylon Jennings had released this so I had to get to the bottom of what Honky Tonk was and I did a Wikipedia search. Evidently, there's a difference between country music and another similar style of music called Honky Tonk, whereas Country music was mostly from the rural south and had a religious slant to it whereas Honky Tonk was the style of music played by rural southerners who've moved to the city and discovered all of it's ills, which makes sense since WJ and Johnny Cash were known to do some pretty awesome drugs together. Oh! The album. As soon as I found out that this eschews any religious slant, it freed me up to listen to this with an open mind and guess what... ? I liked this way more than I thought I would. I especially liked that it was only 32 mins. I liked the pace of it. I liked the slide guitar and I liked his voice.

At Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash

5/5

I think it's safe to say that anyone on 1001 has a passion for music and a shared disgust for the marketing machine. The industry that controls access, dictates what we should listen to and often steals from artists is abhorrent and easy to hate. Truth be told tho, I wouldn't have given Johnny Cash any attention without the marketing machine in the 90's. When Rick Rubin started working with Cash, a movie was developed and suddenly Cash, a relic of the past, was cool, relevant and wow, a badass. "Mistakes are beautiful," my daughter often reminds me. Cash's direct address to the crowd, the hooting and hollering, the cheers, the missteps and imperfections are refreshing. Cash's live prison recordings are remarkable because of how personal, simple and real they are. This music seems as far from the machine as you can get.

Slippery When Wet

Bon Jovi

3/5

There are a few bands that I race to turn off when I hear them, this is one of those bands. Who else is in this list, you ask? Well, The Who, Journey, Boston and The Smiths. Yes, I know. Yeah, uh yep... I'm in the minority. But seriously, these guys were all over the place when I was growing up and had a huge following. If you were cool, or even cool-curious, you were listening to this album with your head full of Aqua Net, acid washed jeans and big hi-top reeboks. And yeah, I know. You've TRIED smoking cigarettes, but you're still learning and can't decide between Winstons or Marlboro Reds. I'm jaded. I can't write an honest review. It's music, and in another dimension it rocks, I'm sure. But here on Earth it's tainted and will always be THAT album.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart

3/5

Golf is a slow sport, filled with muted excitement and plaid pants from Rod Stewart's wardrobe. Someone must be listening to this album tho. The play-count on Spotify is through the roof. ...It's gotta be those golfers. The first song out of the gate is great, and by song number three, I'm searching for something that could give me the motivation to keep listening. This isn't a new phenomenon, all of his music seems to be like this. Similarly with Faces, another RS group, I thought "man, I should listen to this stuff more often" until I do and realize my time would be better spent screaming at my kids or watching golf. I'd like to think that RS is a rocker at heart, on par with Mick Jagger and Keith Moon but the energy he has just isn't sustainable and it slows down. Some people may refer to this as 'range'. I say, if you want range, go hit a bucket of balls with your plaid pants. This album barely registers as par.

Country Life

Roxy Music

3/5

That cover is scandalous! The music is pretty bland. This is another one of those bands that everyone seems to like except me. I have neither positive or negative feelings about this band, it is straight vanilla. Roxy Music always gets lumped into music that I somehow missed and should spend some decent time getting to know. But, even after two listens, it is entirely forgettable. I hear some Beck in there, and some Talking Heads and some Rocky Horror Picture Show. It's kind of all over the place... The music backing up the sing-song-y delivery of the lyrics is decent, specifically Out of The Blue has some great sounds grounding it, but the style of singing is filled with fiber and makes me want to poop. Another album that leaves me asking "Why is this on the list?"

The Only Ones

4/5

Oh wow! Who turned up the drama to eleven?! That first track is terrible with those operetta voice and lovesick lyrics. Fortunately the balance of the album doesn't follow that first one "The Whole of the Law". I love the diversity of instruments used on the record, and the raw guitar with short breakouts like the one that opens City of Fun. However, please save us the 'my voice is awesome lemme show you my vibrao skills' crap. I don't care about any of that and I can't imagine any of your fans do either. I'm kind of a sucker for this era of intelligent lo-fi polished punk from the late 70s. I'd never heard of The Only Ones and happy to have been turned on to them.

Crooked Rain Crooked Rain

Pavement

4/5

Alternative college rock from the 90's fronted by Stephen Mushmouth, yeah, I know what you're thinking. Not him. It was his brother that was on the Fat Albert show. Anyway, I missed this in college because I was listening to REAL music, without all those SMRT BRAIN lyrics without hidden meanings. Also, I couldn't afford a radio. But, being formally introduced to this in 2024, It played roughly the way I had assumed. Collegiate music from the 90's. A time capsule without all that overhyped and overplayed grunge shit. Mushmouth was fighting the good fight, though a losing battle. His smart brain indie stuff up against the dark heaviness of the Seattle scene. Silliness vs. Sadness. And any band willing to take that on in the 90's deserves some respect.

Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

Frank Sinatra

2/5

I bet Sinatra was a total prick asshole and a shitty driver, but I love those sweet pipes of his... mmmm.... Sinatra is no replacement for Astrud Gilberto, however. Sinatra is a classic in himself and I wish he wouldn't have tried rewriting some of these Bossa Nova classics. Stay in your own damn lane, Frank! This is borderline offensive, is what it is.

Live And Dangerous

Thin Lizzy

3/5

I always wanted a pair of leather pants. Did they steal those from Jim Morrison? I would've thought I'd have a harder time getting into those pants than I would getting into this album. But alas, it'll be easier to squeeze my 240 pounds of self into those sausage tubes than listen to this again. Great guitar work, leather pants (and balls-out presentation) isn't enough for me to enjoy this album. It's a shame, Thin Lizzy is one of those bands that I think I should like but never quite do.

The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

Charles Mingus

4/5

It's hard to say 'Mingus' without thinking of that thing that women like. Maybe he earned that name from the ladies. His real name is Bart, but that's not very sexy. Girls at the club would see him from a distance and whisper with their lips "hey 'Mingus...'" Then wink slyly before taking a sip of a Martini and looking down at their skirts. Oh yeah, go ahead Bart. Tickle those ivories.

A Date With The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers

3/5

Historically important, check. Listenable, check. Enjoyable, check. Sought after, nil. Commercially viable in the late 50s / early 60s does not translate sixty years into the future. This is much more about recreating a time period similar to the HS dance scene in Back to the Future.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Iron Butterfly

3/5

Is this a bad trip or is that an organ in your pants?

Different Class

Pulp

2/5

I tend to believe that the late 1980s phase was a transition period of music and most of the music that comes out of it is a slog. But by the time you get to the 90s there's a rebirth of exceptional music similar to the late 60s and 70's with layers of emotion and sounds. Whereas most of the artists emerging in the mid and late 80's were aware the just needed to embrace the suck, there were artists that were influenced by this 80's suck, stacked with nylon synth and syrup-y self-indulgent love ballads. Every Pulp album I've listened to leads me to believe that they were one of those bands and this album 'Different Class' indicates they are trying to revive the dregs of the 80's. Clearly, everyone has moved on except for Pulp, clearly, they are a different class.

Axis: Bold As Love

Jimi Hendrix

5/5

This is the album I'd bring if I was stranded on a desert island with an everlasting supply of reefer and Choco Tacos.

Heaux Tales

Jazmine Sullivan

3/5

Lot's of nuanced sex in this album. I doubt that I'm the ideal demographic of this album, but I appreciated Jazmine Sullivan's attempt at pulling back the curtain to expose realities and thoughts of her audience. That was enough for me to engage with this album. Different self-reflection interstitials connect themes of sexuality and feminism and provide short glimpses into the headspace of the artist. These are the highlights of this album. The 'tales' are short (each one less than two mins.) and convey candid, and I assume genuine, thoughts from different women about the pussy, the money and the self-worth. The tales are relatable (even for those without vaginas) and the effect on the listener is a stronger connection to her music. In an age where artists are defined more by their carefully choreographed social media splashes than their music, it's a welcome change that JS has opted for. The inclusion of some authenticity seems to be counterintuitive for aspiring singer / songwriters but that's what I love about this one.

Raw Power

The Stooges

5/5

I often think of GG Allin as the poor man's Iggy Pop (and the musician's Stefan Sagmeister). Search and Destroy is soooo good, and track two 'Gimme Danger' has too much cowbell at the beginning (thankfully it subsides halfway through). The dirty blues of I Need Somebody is great and the general sound of Raw Power is unique. Tho GG is dead, Iggy lives on. Would be great to see him perform.

90

808 State

2/5

Been looking for my pacifier and glow necklaces all day and now that this is on, I need them IMMEDIATELY!

Disintegration

The Cure

4/5

This is the music that sits in a corner by itself at a party waiting to be discovered. This album makes me relive, uhhh revile, high school and this album was played perpetually from the sidelines amongst my group of friends. Robert Smith, the personality, overshadowed the music within. When Disintegration came out it was difficult to enjoy this album without dressing up like Robert Smith or Edward Scissorhands. But today, separating the Robert Smith-goth fans from this music is pretty easy. Time has moved on. There are some great takeaways from this that even today I'll listen to. That intro to Fascination Street is incredible, Pictures of You, Lullaby and Last Dance all are on some playlist of mine somewhere. Disintegration is a late-80's early 90's piece of nostalgia that, no matter how terrible high school was, I'll always want to remember.

Time Out

The Dave Brubeck Quartet

5/5

I've heard people refer to this as the jazz album for people that hate jazz. My dad bought me this "white guys play jazz" album when I was in high school and I wore this thing out. For the record, I'm white, and I'd like to think I like jazz, but in reality... notsomuch. Anyway, Time Out has been a guilty pleasure of mine in the past. Though, I feel less guilty about it as time has moved on. (To put this in perspective, It's not like Counting Crows-guilty pleasure which is now just an embarrassment). Evidently, this is a quintessential 'Cool Jazz' album. [side note] One of my favorite t-shirts I had when I was a kid had an illustration of a Saxophone with music notes flying out of it and a headline that read "Smooth Jazz Blows" DB is pretty amazing, when I hear this album, I imagine the guys at Doyle Dane Bernbach and George Nelson sitting around smoking and drinking Martinis joking around laughing and getting ready to watch Playboy's Penthouse, which at that time was pretty cool, but by today's standards, almost cringeworthy. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel did a great job of recreating a similar scene in an episode, "Comedy vs. Cabbage," I think. Regardless of the associations, the music is still great.

Solid Air

John Martyn

2/5

If the word vanilla is used to connote absolutely plain, basic and uninteresting, what would be one notch under that? I'm trying to rectify how something can be totally unlistenable but not terrible. This is music, yes. And, I imagine that there are some people that enjoy this, but I couldn't find any music worthy of discussing here. I suppose, since I have to pick something, Easy Blues is a positive that I'll extract from this. It is the one song that doesn't belong here. I'm going to take a stab at how the term 'vanilla' would fit into the 5-star breakdown. 1 - Shit / offensive 2 - ? 3 - Vanilla / meh 4 - Doughnuts and Cronuts 5 - ? Well, that didn't work... to be continued...

Strange Cargo III

William Orbit

3/5

If you google 'Strange Cargo' it takes you pages of results for a movie staring Clark Gable from 1940. This alone may give you some insight into how awesome this album is. Despite that, this was far better than I thought it would be, and much better than the album art is. It's important to note that there are at least three Strange Cargo albums, the second I started listening to by mistake and it was a mistake. I should've eaten a sprig of Parsley after listening to SC2, or at least dusted my ears with it. I honestly didn't mind spending time with this. Though since 1993, the robots have taken over the world and today, this music is ubiquitous. It's absolutely something my daughter would splice into her YouTube videos. I blame the machines. At one point SC3 was avant garde and exciting, but time moves on...

When I Was Born For The 7th Time

Cornershop

1/5

In the early 2000s, you'd hear the term 'Eurotrash' a lot. I kinda liked that term, kind of like a badge of honor because most of the people using it had bad taste. It was similar to being called a Texan. Which, depending on your social circles was either an extreme insult, or badge of honor. [Though, Texans are the only people that would consider this a badge of honor]. Anyhow, after listening to this album, I'd like to introduce another term. 'Brit shit'. I don't use this term like, 'Yeah! That's the shit!,' but more of a 'Oh man, you stepped in shit ... and it's got bad teeth.' The music coming out of Cornershop is what happens when you create by committee. This music has no backbone, it's absolutely flaccid and that tambourine isn't helping. There's no coherence here. There are seven members in this band and the music presents like everyone is leading it. The abundance of samples and inclusion of unique noises gives me anxiety. Candyman, for example has some guy rapping against a sampled ukele, some gospel chorus and a muffled man talking gibberish in the background with some errant clapping. This cluttered instrumentation is all over this album. To come full circle I would categorize this album as Brit shit, and for reference here's what that means: Texans Cornershop Eurotrash

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

5/5

There are some great sounds coming out of this one. There are timeless hooks and builds that have influenced countless bands. Not to mention consumers. Some songs, or portions of them are ubiquitous in film scores (Darjeeling Limited) and commercials. 'Picture Book' was played in an HP Commercial that played incessantly in the early 2000's. Also the intro from 'Steam-Powered Trains' is used in either some Dick Pills, or Valtrex / STD-type commercials. And why not? With lines like "I'm the last of the good old renegades, all my friends are middle-class and gray" and "last of the good choo-choo trains" big pharma was obviously looking to connect with old dudes looking to plow twenty year-olds. The selection only makes sense. Anyhow, I really love the sound of this album. It's ragged, garage-y and crusty, yet loosely unified in all the right spots... perfect for old dudes. This is The Kinks that I know and love.

Pretenders

4/5

I'm a sucker for vintage punk rock girls and Debbie Harry and Chrissy Hynde are on the top of that list. The Pretenders somehow are able to thread the needle between raw and refined perfectly. Good enough for the airwaves, but grimy enough to want to go see them live. This is a great reminder that 80's radio wasn't all saxophones and blow suck. Really enjoyed listening to this album in its entirety.

Untitled (Black Is)

SAULT

4/5

I was expecting something, but it wasn't this. Pleasantly surprised by this album.

Astral Weeks

Van Morrison

5/5

I've heard that seeing Van Morrisson live is extremely disappointing. I don't let that affect my judgement because Van Morrisson is the godfather of emo. This album, and frankly any album of his that I've heard is just amazing. Due mostly to his ability to build from a soft to a powerful and unrelenting climax that seems to go on forever. I am so easily exhausted listening to him but somehow he continues unabated and inevitably I break. There's something about these songs that transports you back to your early 20s. When life is still fun but quickly becomming complicated. These songs emulate the elation and struggles of young adulthood. The struggles that seem insurmountable in the moment but are somehow overcome. The struggles that, when overcome, fill you with a sense of pride as you marvel at your fresh battle wounds. Those memories of early adulthood are indelible, yet hidden only to be mysteriously unlocked by listening to a Van Morrisson album like Astral Weeks.

Purple Rain

Prince

4/5

Kim Basinger has aged and so has Purple Rain. But the classic album endures partly because of the personality and all the stories tied to it. The Charlie Murphy skits on Chapelle's Show were the best. My favorite is when Prince challenges the Murphy crew to a game of hoops, destroys them and then serves pancakes afterward. Sure, Let's Go Crazy has got to be one of the best 'pick me up' songs there is known to man and despite the inclusion of Computer Blue, this album still scores high. But it's the basketball and pancakes story, the fancy roller skates and afterhours rollerskating with Questlove story, the personal ads story (where in 1993 to spend the holidays someone) give PR longevity that Kim Basinger will never have... even after being immortalized by releasing recordings of the two having sex. https://www.vulture.com/2014/09/24-outrageous-prince-stories.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff8LEx9Mw54

Being There

Wilco

2/5

Mainlining and mainstreaming are two different things. I prefer the musicians that do more mainlining than mainstreaming.

Modern Life Is Rubbish

Blur

2/5

It's been almost three years since this album showed up on my 1001 list and I've actively avoided this. My intent was to figure out if modern life is really rubbish, or if this album would get worse as the time rolls on. Though I can't say that I hate this album more than I did 3 years ago, it is in fact ... (wait for it...) STILL rubbish. The music is relatively limp and benign, I think what makes it most irritating and hard to listen to is that awful singer and that terrible accent. For chrissakes eat some blue pills and be a man. This album just folk music with an electric guitar. Brit pop was difficult to get into in 1993, but it's only gotten more difficult to swallow thirty years later.

Penance Soiree

The Icarus Line

3/5

I reviewed music for Buddyhead just before they signed The Icarus Line. (None of my online write-ups survived over the past 20 years, I looked). Travis was an intense dude and poured everything he had into Buddyhead. He rejected substantial offers to maintain legitimacy and be able to write whatever the hell he wanted to. He carved out and occupied a special space in the LA / Hollywood music scene. I listened to this Penance Soiree back when it was new. On a fleeting superficial level, I thought there was something to like contained in the album. For example, the way that the first song starts (Up Against the Wall Motherfuckers) is great, the distortion and long pauses open to heavy bass-y basics against a subdued tempo and decent vocals. Spike Island retains a little bit of this but as the album progresses, it sounds kind of like a self-absorbed Soundgarden / Chris Cornell revival. I hated Soundgarden and the album was forgettable. Reading up on TIL, I found out that Mark Trombino, of Drive Live Jehu (and a bunch of other productions) was set to produce an album, but dropped out for some reason. DLJs Yank Crime still stands as one of my favorite albums of all time and I listened to it again with new ears. And today, some of makes me think of The Dirty Nil, who I really like. They've got great energy and power, but even still, there's just not enough that is interesting to continue listening. Great memories, meh music.

The Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest

5/5

Do you know the importance of a Skypa-jah? Love, love, love. Saw TCQ tour this album at the Flood Zone with Busta Rhymes. They went out with Scenario and the whole place was going wild! The Low End Theory is contaminated with all the good post-high school memories, there's no way that I could provide an unbiased review today. ----- Equally as good is the TCQ doc. Highly recommend. https://www.amazon.com/Beats-Rhymes-Life-Travels-Called/dp/B005LM7KP0

Eliminator

ZZ Top

2/5

I'm not sure why these guys have such a devoted following. I was trying to figure out what 'Legs' would've sounded like if it was written by women. "She's got legs, and she knows how to use them" ...would be changed to... "He's got money, and he knows how to save it?" And what would they look like? A trio of hairy women in trench coats and sunglasses, perhaps? And it was with that exercise that made me realize that it was more fun than listening to this music.

Live At The Star Club, Hamburg

Jerry Lee Lewis

2/5

This guy really loves his piano, but this is incredibly distracting music. How am I supposed to get work done with this racket in the background. Really good music to annoy your friends with.

Sheet Music

10cc

2/5

Help! Identity crisis! This album has ZERO focus. What is this band? Wall Street was decent and Worst Band started strong then began to sound like M&M rapping. Moving forward, they launch into Bohemian Rhapsody-ish singing. Maybe throw in some show tunes, cobbled with some state-of-the-art 1974 digital instrumentation and Steely Dan and, how 'bout some Santana and Queen? Oh! and then top it off with some Flight of the Concords and Jimmy Buffet for good measure. It's a mess and difficult to make sense of. Some of it is good, but the arrangements are high on coke and PCP. It's erratic and all too disjointed. F this!

1999

Prince

3/5

I feel like I'm watching all of the Godfather movies in one sitting. Not super excited about listening to more Prince since we just reviewed Purple Rain, which was decent. This too is decent but I'm just so tired of looking at Don Corleone. Some decent radio music from my childhood but nothing I'd ever buy or listen to willfully especially after being served so much in such a short span.

Soul Mining

The The

4/5

Comfortably awkward and sufficiently weird, kinda like a Dr. Seuss book. Most of these tracks take time to appreciate, a high bar for most 1001 reviewers (myself included), but if you've got the stamina for a second listen, you might find some treasure at the end of the rainbow. This is the Day, however is an instant classic. I could easily Green Eggs and Ham that one. I could enjoy it in a boat, with a goat, on a train or in the rain. I would listen to it here or there, I'd listen to it anywhere.

Whatever

Aimee Mann

4/5

I am biased. Aimee Mann went to my high school. I wasn't aware of this fact until I was 24 and working on the film Magnolia. One of the sound guys brought his nephew to the set who was visiting from out of town. He was wearing a brown and orange Monican t-shirt. Aimee Mann happened to be on set that day and noticed the shirt. She said something along the lines to him, "Midlothian and Monican are high school rivals, and I attended Midlothian." A couple hours later she was gone and I approached him to comment on his shirt, saying basically the same thing. "You're the second person to tell me that today," he said. Crazy. What are the chances? I kept hoping she'd come back to the set before the end of filming, but she never did. A couple months later I worked on a Fiona Apple video with PTA and he was signing Magnolia soundtracks and giving them out to the crew. For the foreseeable future, I bought all of Aimee Mann's music and saw her perform a few times at Café Largo on Fairfax. She was great. All of this happened AFTER Whatever was released and until now, I wasn't super-familiar with this album. Jon Brion was heavily involved in the Magnolia soundtrack and he's here too. Though not as fully formed as her later work, the album has all the hallmarks of the work I know. Reaching vocals against basic distortion, slower acoustic songs with a smattering of samples with a heavy emphasis on her soothing voice. This album was best played in the 1990s in middle-suburbia. Ideally listened to on CD, but definitely in the bedrooms of late-teen-anxty girls who yearn for a life far from Midlothian and closer to Melrose Place.

In Utero

Nirvana

4/5

I would listen to Bleach on my walkman riding the bus home from high school. Those preppy fuckers I went to school with thought I was a devil worshiper. Then, a year later those same kids were so far up Nirvanas butt it made me sick and it totally ruined Nirvana for me. Years later, probably after Cobain died I bought Unplugged from a used CD bin and rediscovered them. I grew to love that CD but hadn't heard In Utero fully until now. Sure the tracks that you hear on the radio are great, especially Pennyroyal Tea and All Apologies. But I really liked, Frances Farmer and even Serve the Servants. I'm not a huge grunge fun but was happy to be reacquainted with this band.

Stankonia

OutKast

2/5

"So fresh and so clean, clean!" If I lived in a show like the Truman Show, I'd make sure this song played every time I brushed my teeth or got out of the shower. However, I didn't find much to love about remainder of the song... or the album for that matter.

Post Orgasmic Chill

Skunk Anansie

4/5

It seems Skunk Anansie is REALLY big across the pond but I'd never heard of them. Though not terrible, the album is largely forgettable today. The doom-laden sound juxtaposed with Skin's undeniably strong voice surely worked well in the mid-to-late '90s. And though I appreciate the unique tempos, thick bass and boundless energy, this isn't something that I'd willfully turn on today. If I had discovered this at the turn of the century, I probably would have listened and enjoyed this on more than one occasion. And, if I were to do the 90's all over again, Post Orgasmic Chill would be right next to Ednaswap's Wonderland Park in my Sony 6-disc CD changer.

Killing Joke

4/5

The sound coming out of this album is before its time. I really liked this album more than I thought I would. Instead of being some relic of the late London punk scene, Killing Joke provided some good sounds to last and inspire the next generation of musicians. Of the bands that have cited them as profound influences, Metallica and Soundgarden are not my favorite, thought I did find it interesting to know both LCD Soundsystem and Jane's Addition cited them as inspiration. Never listened to them before, but will definitely listen to them in the future.

Exodus

Bob Marley & The Wailers

3/5

Ahh, another BM. I feel a kinship to this guy simply because of his unfortunate name used to indicate Bowel Movement. On my way to work I was listening to 'Jamming' on the radio. The station cut to a commercial break for Charmin toilet tissue. Did you know that Chamin's slogan happens to be 'Enjoy the Go'? I giggled a little when I heard that. Not sure about you, but I always enjoy a good BM. But reggae music is a different story. I hate reggae music, but this is somehow redeemable simply because of the unique mood it sets up. Like, let's all get high and relaxate, and who doesn't want to do that? All things can be facilitated with a little relaxation. Next time I go BM, I'm gonna take some BM with me.

Tidal

Fiona Apple

4/5

Though this isn't the first time listening to Tidal, I missed this when it was first released. Though I did become a fan of her later work. I was assuming that Jon Brion had something to do with this album. I find his influence here and know they'd collaborated before, but he's nowhere to be found on the credits. Highlights on this album are the ones that you'd expect because they were played on MTV / radio endlessly. But the one that stands out for me is the opening track, Sleep to Dream. It's just so badass, and unique. I love the sound of the strength coming through in her voice.

Sheer Heart Attack

Queen

4/5

Without Brian May, this would just be a barbershop quartet at the opera. Wait, barbershop TRIO, and what sense does that make?! People talk about Freddie, but Brian May is the real reason this band is more than tolerable.

16 Lovers Lane

The Go-Betweens

2/5

UGH. Nope. Not for me. This music is for douchy faux rugby players and /or unemployed recent college grads who hang out at coffee bars and recite Noam Chomsky.

The Idiot

Iggy Pop

4/5

Remedial, late night droning... sounds good to me.

Channel Orange

Frank Ocean

4/5

Not as annoying as traditional R&B. Nice work Frank!

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

1/5

Fuck this shit.

System Of A Down

2/5

Christopher Cross with some Patti LaBelle should've done an album together. A duet of sorts. I imagine that if Patti and Christopher's album had materialized, it would sound a lot like this SoaD album. The deep soft vocals of are soothing and relaxing especially when they hit those low thud-y notes. And the chorus' rwwrawwhhh, rwawrahhhh is incredibly inspiring. This is something you'd put on for an enjoyable Sunday morning with the family or right before you marched into Taliban territory outside of Kabul.

The Band

3/5

This album is unoffensive and fine. A relic of the past. When I listen to this album, I can't help but feel like I should be driving an old Studebaker toward the west coast with a green frog in the front seat singing "Moving Right Along" https://youtu.be/Q6NQcO9KTBY

Faust IV

Faust

4/5

Welp, it's no Neu!, but i'll do! Listening to this Faust was more like allowing your ears to make an unsupervised visit to the Museum of American History, only in German.

Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane

4/5

The Doors, Are You Experienced, Velvet Underground, Magical Mystery Tour, Disraeli Gears. Though it doesn't rise quite to the level of those albums, Surrealistic Pillow is solidly the core of all the modern psychedelic rock that I love and one more reminder why 1967 was one of the best years for music.

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

4/5

Hot Buttered is right ... "Say everybody have you seen my balls They're big and salty and brown..." https://youtu.be/sjrdanK4LSY?si=SxIw_sZJc_ntMfrK

The Visitors

ABBA

3/5

I feel like a dancing queen whenever I put on some ABBA. ... for the first few mins. The enjoyment from the theatrics of ABBA isn't sustainable (for me at least). The title track at the front of the album is phenomenal, the balance of the album is a slow roll down hill. As this listen wore on I felt like I was trapped at my niece's ballet performance, tired of smiling and sneaking peaks at my watch. "This is nice, this is very nice. Can we take a picture so we've got proof that I was here...?"

Drunk

Thundercat

4/5

I always thought Lion-O was kinda douchey, but this really made me laugh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHml_J1PN9Y). For the record, Panthro was my favorite Thundercat, though this guy might be my second favorite. Anyone that can work with Pharrell, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Kendrick Lamar deserves respect. The album was on the longer side clocking in at 53 mins., but Drunk kept moving. I'm not much of an R&B fan, but this is far less traditional than what I had expected. Unique repetitions, loops, beats, sounds it was wholly refreshing and was glad to have been turned on to this. Will listen more... Thundercat, hooooooo!

Innervisions

Stevie Wonder

3/5

I really like the brown-chicken-brown-cow thing he does on that electric organ but some of the sing-song-y tracks seem like they'd be better used in an episode of Sesame Street. Definitely not SW's best album.

Be

Common

3/5

Wasn't what I thought it would be.

OK Computer

Radiohead

5/5

Does it get any better than this ... ? What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said...? Well, I met my future wife picking up Ok Computer at Plan 9 records in RVA, that's what. Though I feel like I am not alone in this experience, it is a special album for me. Since meeting her I've been fitter, happier, more productive, not drinking too much. Like a cat tied to a stick, a pig in a cage on antibiotics. Coincidence? I think not. No alarms, and no surprises.

There's A Riot Goin' On

Sly & The Family Stone

3/5

It was kinda nuts to grow up in the late 80's / early 90's listening to rap before all of the restrictions around sampling began. But I listened to CDs all the time in the 90's before I did what most young adults did with their CD collections... That is to buy an external hard drive, spend a week dropping all the music into it and going back to Second Spin, Amoeba or Plan 9 or wherever to sell them back. For a VERY long time, De La Sou's first two albums (3 Feet High and Rising / De La is Dead) were unavailable to stream. You could find a 3-Feet CD on ebay going for like $100 or more. Clearing music samples was arduous, time consuming and expensive for music labels after a court decision in 1991. After that, licensing music to use as samples slowed to a trickle. But during that time where artists recorded with no regard was incredible. Our exposure to obscure artists by way of sampling was amazing because it was everywhere. Unbeknownst to most of us De La Soul, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, 3rd Bass, etc. heavily, HEAVILY used samples in their recordings. Samples of songs we'd never heard or been exposed to. And even today, 40 years later, a song that I just assumed was completely created by an artist I realize wasn't. Like today, when I'm listening to this album for the first time, I get a whiff of "oh! I've heard that beat before" I get super excited and follow it down a rabbit hole. And sure enough, five mins. of racking my brain I come across it. "Three Minute Rule" By the Beasties sampled Brave & Strong and another one... "Poet" sampled by De La Soul on "Description" just makes my day. So, today when I'm listening to There's a Riot Goin' and I think, 'this is old, outdated, has little importance, etc." I'm able to stop and consider its impact on the artists that I grew up with which prompts me to do more. Like ACTUALLY click the Wikipedia link for an album for once. The terms 'apathy' and 'pessimism' leaped out at me and yeah. I get that from this album. There are some good grooves but also a lot of apathy here. https://www.whosampled.com/Sly-%26-the-Family-Stone/Poet/

Heaven Or Las Vegas

Cocteau Twins

4/5

Again... back to Jeremy Klein's Raver's part (or maybe that was Feasters...?) The song Iceblink Luck is impeccable and I'm shocked to report the balance is equally as good. The two duds came at the end Road River and Frou Frou both sucked. Regardless, this is a HUGE step up from the original record we listened to (Treasure) which came in at an abysmal one star. https://youtu.be/AsamVuzsN0A?si=qsTP2i_tLRbbC5Kh

Entertainment

Gang Of Four

5/5

Lo-fi. Distorted. Sparse. Muted. Brief. Wonderful.

The Man Who

Travis

2/5

I could 'sing, sing, sing' about how much I don't like this Travis, but the truth is that I've never listened to much of them until now. That being said, this album met my expectations. The singer is flagrantly dramatic and can't help but feel like he's the male version Gweneth Paltrow. Vagina candle, anyone?

American Beauty

Grateful Dead

1/5

Nope, can't do this... nope. nope. nope...

Me Against The World

2Pac

1/5

Blurg, blah, burm, burp! More garbage from the crew that killed rap. I hate this shit.

Germfree Adolescents

X-Ray Spex

4/5

Tho I'm not a saxophone fan, I did find the femme vocals on this thrashy trash appealing. It's always nice to discover foundational bands and figures that built some of my favorite sounds in music.

Fred Neil

4/5

Despite the unsettling cover art, this is one of those surprising finds because it isn't something that I would generally gravitate toward. Though I can't entirely describe what I like about this album, it does remind me of a folksy Johnny Cash, Lou Reed album from another dimension.

It's A Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads

4/5

It's a shame about Evan Dando.. pretty boy Evan was the rage and the scorn of 90's music. Unfortunately, I was a consumer of the later feelings and didn't really appreciate him until after the Lemmonheads heyday. My girlfriend "Beefdog" had this CD and I remember listening to it a lot when we first moved in together. It grew on me and so did the Lemonheads. I know Paul Simon HATED the Mrs. Robinson cover but I think it's the best and most fun track on this album. Great album. It is quintessential early 90's granola rock when Evan Dando was a smoldering Adonis and the ire of Seattle grunge.

Cypress Hill

1/5

Ugh. I hate this shit. I considered giving this another star since it was a huge part of my late "high" school years, but giving it another go thirty years later reveals it's total disappointing garbage with little substance. Also, B-Real's whiny girl-voice makes this even less tolerable. Cypress Hill, along with Chronic set the stage for all the shitty gangster spliff crap to come for years afterward. I hate it.

Wild Wood

Paul Weller

3/5

It says that Paul Weller was part of a punk / new wave band called The Jam. I am a bit mystified by the term 'Punk'. If I hadn't looked him up I would've thought he was part of the New Orleans / Nashville tourist scene. And I've tried listening to The Jam but couldn't get in to it. The Jam fits into the 80's Yuppie Thrash category. I do like PWs voice. As far as Wildwood goes, this is the perfect album to listen to while you go 37mph in a 35 zone.

Toys In The Attic

Aerosmith

3/5

It's only as good as its weakest link. I could've listened to this a couple times more but then I heard ST talking about his "big" 10-inch... I'm no penis expert but I think Long Dong Silver and John Holmes were bigger than ten inches. I had enjoyed it up to that point, but if I'm going to listen to a dick song, it'd be this stellar piece of art: https://youtu.be/bbJDjNLzv8U Thankfully, Sweet Emotion followed that which has got to be one of the best tracks in classic rock. All in all, I liked most of this album, but had to deduct a star for the cockiness.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

4/5

DJ Shadow In El Condor Pasa! Love little discoveries like this. https://youtu.be/x9lthDyKFb4?si=EAovIHg-FRqZNS-8 First listen reveals Cecilia, Living Boy and Baby Drive are top-notch. The others are a either too soft or features too much or basic harmonizing for my taste. Maybe I'm just confusing that with Paul Simon's ego. Good enough. My parents had this in their collection. A staple of the late 60's I suppose.

Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Bill Evans Trio

5/5

Don't know much about this genre / style of music. I'd hold my snarky criticism if I had any, but this is super-good stuff. Lovely, coffee-and-pajamas Sunday morning listening. Hi-fives.

Hard Again

Muddy Waters

5/5

This would be perfect for a viagra commercial.

Tracy Chapman

2/5

This is important work, but it's also incredibly boring. I had to break this up into three 'shifts' of listening to this album because it kept putting me in a funk. TC has some important tales to tell, but they only matter if someone is listening.

Yank Crime

Drive Like Jehu

5/5

Sometimes an album just clicks, it defies time and preferences. Though I was not an immediate fan of Yank Crime, it did grow on me over the course of a few weeks in the summer of 1994. I fell in love with the way the songs built from a strange whirring feedback like in Super Unison to punching you in the face when you're least expecting it like a full blast of cold air. But then there's melodic single-notes over a foreboding bass line that builds and fizzles like in the instrumental New Intro. The range of emotion contained in this album is undeniable. There are a ton of surprises buried within these tracks. Luau is absolutely incredible as is Super Union. These long songs (7+ mins.) encapsulate a wealth of ups-and-downs and create tension, release, and melancholic beauty by using powerfully scripted chaos along the way. A lot has changed since '94. Back then the music scene was completely different, CD's reigned, music diversity was hard to come by and the digital revolution had barely begun. Cell phones weren't a thing and even pagers were a novelty. Today, nearly 30 years later, I still find myself searching out this album to listen to. I was fortunate enough to see DLJ reunited for a few shows in 2016. Part of me wishes they'd get back together and release new music, but the other part of me knows this album was perfect for the time it was released, and that time will never be replicated.

Can't Buy A Thrill

Steely Dan

3/5

Just so you know, Donald Faison and Donald Fagen are two different people. This is a silly album and I can't help but think that these guys were always smirking about inside jokes when performing. 'Steely Dan,' the name of a dildo in Naked Lunch is even a joke. Steely Dan, the band, not the plastic penis, fit into that 70's, Dirk Diggler, Boogie Nights category along with ELO, Jackson Browne Supertramp and others. Each of those bands have some excellent stuff, but most is not immediately apparent and substantial time needs to be spent wading through some serious garbage to get to it. Dirty Work perfect example... the silly falsetto singing is overshadowed by the tender organ and soft horns but the product is pure-gold kitsch. That track was worth the work, I cold listen to that 10 times a day. The rest of the album is good and I'm sure with a few additional listens, I'd grow to like it more, but right now, my time is being consumed with reruns of SCRUBS. and... well... I'm no Superman.

Stand!

Sly & The Family Stone

4/5

Don't call me N***er, Whitey made me think of Alphonzo Rawls H-Street part way back in '89. https://youtu.be/LyOeNcN_xwA?si=vIUlk7UPoWjM4r7c&t=2372 The familiar nature brings back some good memories. I spent money on this CD (new) when I was in college... that's right, I wanted to listen to this music more than I wanted to drink beers and get laid. Today, my life objectives have changed. "It's beer-thirty somewhere." P.S. Not sure why Weezer samples the beginning of Stand! in it's Beverly Hills song.

Shake Your Money Maker

The Black Crowes

3/5

Does this album come with BBQ and Budweiser? Back in the 90's I wasn't a big fan of this band, now thirty years later I'm still not a fan. Sure there's some good rock n' roll and I appreciated the first track, but the dude's voice is out-of-this-world annoying. And, after the third track, I was tired of listening... and suffered through the remainder. These guys are polished rockers. The style is in the same vein as Aerosmith but (this album at least) lacks the charisma and diversity of Aerosmith albums on this list. Instead, the strategy seemed to be to focus on this guys voice, which isn't for everyone.

Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago

1/5

Something about this music makes me think of San Francisco. I'm not sure why because I love(d) SF and I hate this album. The horns were a novelty and I really liked them for the first track and-a-half. As the album progressed and we go to the Poem 58 and Free Form Guitar, this album had burned all my excitement for it. I'm all for experimentation, but these two tracks were terrible and proved nothing. The Byrds did some experimentation with Moog Raga that was far superior to this garbage. I was kind of excited to listen to pre-Cetera Chicago because I knew they had changed a lot and really weren't the same band that I knew in the 80's. However, by the end of this album my disappointment had turned to anger coming to the realization this was just shitty jam band music with horns.

(What's The Story) Morning Glory

Oasis

4/5

I've been doing these reviews for the past few months and it's been a decent experience. I've gotten to listen to albums that I haven't heard or learn about artists that I don't know much about. But the review process takes a lot. I always think about how I need more time. But, I've got my mind made up now. Funny in these reviews that nobody ever mentions the weather, but you gotta roll with it and when writing these, you gotta say what you say, don't let anybody get in your way. Like I said, writing reviews is arduous and often need more time. I think by now, I should've somehow realized they take a significant chunk of my day. Sure, the word is on the street that the fire in my heart is out. Enough said, I mean it's hard trying to start a revolution from my bed, but I really shouldn't put my life in the hands of a rock and roll band, and I feel no shame. Because there are people standing at the station in need of an education. Though it's hard, I can't help but feel that these reviews are taking my soul and stealing my pride. I just need a little time to wake up, need a little time to rest my mind. You know, the people who write these reviews, you and I, we live and die, I don't exactly know why. Regardless, not many special people change, especially in the rain... but I do remember where I was when I was getting high. ... I was in college and I was listening to this album.

Teenager Of The Year

Frank Black

3/5

As a kid of the early 90's, I grew up listening to The Pixies and I liked them, but didn't love them. What I did love about them was Kim Deal, I could listen to her voice all day and it wouldn't matter what she said. Alternatively, Frank Black / Black Frank put a lot of meanings into what he said and what he sang about and for me it was easy to gravitate to KD's work and neglect FB/BF's solo career. And that's the difference, music vs. lyrics. I do remember listening to this in the store when they were promoting it on one of those 'CD listening stations' - where you could try before you buy... and I remember it not being exciting by it ... because again, I wasn't listening to the poetry, only the music. Nothing much has changed since then, I was still hearing the music, not the lyrics. I wasn't impressed. However, after hearing this album, Spotify launched me into his self-titled album which was more enjoyable than Teenager of the Year. For me, TOTY isn't musically balanced. Yes, there is something here, but just seems like too much work for me to fully appreciate.

Kenya

Machito

3/5

Great album to break up the monotony. Had some good times listening to this even though I have no idea what they're saying and tracks at first listen are nearly indistinguishable. This has potential and I could listen to this over and over in a setting that doesn't require me to pay attention to it.

Step In The Arena

Gang Starr

3/5

Gifted. Unlimited. Rhymes. Universal. I listened to this a little in the 90's after getting into the Hard to Earn album (which was released after this) and GURU's Jazzmatazz which was great. Though it was good to go back in time and listen, I didn't think much about the album. Though I have respect for GURU, this album is forgettable and sounds dated, so does HTE.

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground

5/5

Great album. Lou Reed / Velvets, classic. Basically every band worth mentioning has shamelessly ripped this style and sound since they were in high school diapers practicing in the garage. Nico is super-strange, but I dig her, there's some movie about her imploding after her time at the Factory. Love her pronunciation of 'clown' aka "KLON" in Femme Fatale. Sunday Morning is beautiful, Heroin brings back memories, Lou Reed, RIP.

Rip It Up

Orange Juice

3/5

I'm not claustrophobic and don't mind confined spaces, but if I was stuck on an elevator for 42 minutes and 31 seconds with Rick Astley, Gloria Estefan, David Byrne and smooth jazz, I wouldn't be happy. If that elevator sounds like you're kind of party, you're going to love this. You can begin with the song "Flesh of My Flesh." I'll take the steps.

Truth And Soul

Fishbone

3/5

Lot's going on here. There's a fusion of a bunch of different styles on this like funk, soul, maybe some rock and reggae. Generally, these are styles that encourage loose, free form playing. However, this is a tight album with boatloads of discipline and measurement in this music. Boatloads of discipline is good, but boatloads of weed is better. And that's what it'll take to get these guys to relax a little. Actually, listening to this makes me need a boatload of weed to relax a little. In any case, it's evident these guys like playing music together and have put in a lot of time. The sound, even if it were less constrained, isn't my jam, but some people (like government employees and tax collectors) might enjoy this album's strict recipe for creating music.

Take Me Apart

Kelela

3/5

Gaiter Burger in the House! Great voice, but didn't stick with me. Was completely forgettable. Maybe this grows after a couple listens, but I could barely make it though one without the desire to go mow my lawn.

Crime Of The Century

Supertramp

3/5

If you're right you'll agree. This was a disappointing listen. I'm right, I'm bloody well right. Dreamer was nice but I was hoping this was going to sound more like Breakfast in America. BTW, have you checked out that album cover? That lady looks like Swarzenegger in drag right before her head explodes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_in_America#/media/File:Supertramp_-_Breakfast_in_America.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AdheJWE930

Music From Big Pink

The Band

2/5

The film Easy Rider is 1 hour 35 mins and it's great. It captures the late 60's and the Dirty Fuckin' Hippies in a way no other film could. Easy Rider is about two DFH's on motorcycles 'out to find America' after a big score. The tales about Hopper and Fonda gettin' all fucked-up, just rolling film to capture time are legend. A majority of the film was improv and edited together. It's a must-see, even for today. 'The Weight', a song from this album, was used in the film. The album, 'Music from Big Pink' fails to convey the same feeling of relaxed freedom. It does seem improved, but the result seems haphazard, directionless and foggy. If Easy Rider is like the acid trip, then this album is like the following morning. Listening to this, I'm filled with feelings of constraint, dread, sadness and fear... Fear that it'll stay with me longer than 1hr 35mins.

Shaft

Isaac Hayes

4/5

Ya damn right... I wanna make a bunch of Chef jokes about Scientology here. ... But I'll 'refrain' Right on, right on.

I'm Your Man

Leonard Cohen

2/5

Leonard Cohen is a poet, not a musician. This really needs to be a spoken word album and strip out all that shitty 80's broken synthesizer crap. Love his voice, and 'hate' is not strong enough a word to describe how I fell about the music that's underneath.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West

2/5

"George Bush hates Kanye," and frankly so do I. But this album is better than I'd like to admit. To quote Obama, "he's a jackass..." https://www.politico.com/video/2012/04/obama-calls-kanye-a-jack-ass-012679

Music in Exile

Songhoy Blues

3/5

Though it was largely unexpected, this one took some time and dedication. It was not an easy listen but the sound was mildly intriguing, enough to get through the album. When I was finished tho, I felt like I had spent the majority of my Saturday in school working on a project that constituted only 5% of my final grade.

No Other

Gene Clark

2/5

I was all set to disregard this as just another album that I just didn't understand why it was on the list. It was old and folky and lame. I dug into the Wiki article and liked that this album upset David Geffen so I kept reading while it played in the background. I discovered that this album had gotten new attention due to some artists playing it in its entirety (some artists that I appreciated like Beach House, Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear) to promote the genius of this album. So I kept listening... It's evident that most of the world has differing opinions than I do. Even after listening to this and then embarking on one of the concerts, I still found very little to get excited about in this album. In my opinion the cover art outshines the music on this one....

Grace

Jeff Buckley

3/5

Today I learned that the song Teardrop by Massive Attack is about Jeff Buckley. Those lyrics and vocals were Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins who was involved with him before he died. As for the album, I really love the bassline on Last Goodbye and Hallelujah is a perfect 10. I could listen to Massive Attack ad nauseaum, but this album took some effort.

Broken English

Marianne Faithfull

3/5

You ever feed your dog meatloaf and afterwards wonder if perhaps that wasn't your best idea? My dog ate two pounds of Manwich and spent the next two days shitting. Her stomach could be heard across the room churning and gurgling. The first song on this album reminds me of those two days. The album isn't terrible, some of it reminds me of a remedial Cindi Lauper or some polished Slits. The 80's vibe, though it's outdated, brings some enviable and unique nostalgia. What's the Hurry? and The Ballad of Lucy Jordan along with Why'd Ya Do It are good. The Working Class Heroes cover is terribly awful. I'm convinced the person who made the decision to include it is the same one that suggested the flatulating synthesizer be used on the title track. RIP Juno

Like Water For Chocolate

Common

3/5

This is a lengthy album clocking in at 1 hour and 17 mins. Regardless, there's enough variation in the tracks to keep listening. Some resonated stronger than others and some, (like Funky For You at 5:50) completely change direction for the worse. This album is mostly relaxed vibes, simple beats and easy listening. Never spent any time with Common but enjoyed this more than I thought.

Homework

Daft Punk

1/5

Has the excitement of listening to your drippy faucet go "doink, doink, doink" gotten old over time? Why not switch it up with an album by Daft Punk? Daft Punk's 'Homework' has that incessant drone-on IRRITATING BEAT MAGIC you crave. This album provides nearly TWO FULL HOURS of DULL-DOINKING paired with CRINGEWORTHY ANNOYINGNESS guaranteed to drive you nuts.

Lady In Satin

Billie Holiday

1/5

Ugh. I really want to like this, but all I hear is David Sedaris singing the bologna song ... https://dai.ly/x2r8gyi

High Violet

The National

4/5

Four stars! When you're striving to be just 'meh' and have done a pretty darn good job. This album exists because we have ears and they have instruments. There's nothing amazing about this and that's the point. The singing sounds like a Calvin Johnson who maybe had a half cup of coffee. It's not inspiring or even particularly enjoyable, it is just meh and for me, this was just right for today. Thank you.

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black

Public Enemy

2/5

Fear of a Black Planet was peak for PE. A91 lacks the excitement of the previous album the loops and beats are hard loops that grate on you, they're stale and the album lacks a musical focus. I believe this was recorded after Professor Griff was kicked out of PE for his stand on Jews and gays. And could've been hastily put together to capitalize on their successes of FoaBP. I bought this when it came out and really tried liking it, but the two standout songs (Bring tha Noise, Shut 'em Down) didn't hold a candle to the magic that FoaBP provided.

Vespertine

Björk

3/5

First off, I love Bjórk. I always said that if I never made it as a day-trader on Wall Street, I was going to move to Iceland and become a truck driver just so could share the island with her. Don't you just want to put her in your pocket? Her and her little raspy voice and funny accent...? She's so cute. Anyway, something I'm not so fond of is her heavy use of wind chimes, harps, harpsichords and music boxes on this album. I feel I'm being lured into an eerily warm land of ferries and gnomes, 25-hour days of golden sunlight and wizards. If Debut, Post and Homogenic never worked out, this may have just been another international artist that nobody knows how to rate. But put against some of her other work, this just doesn't have the same energy. Bottom line, I think Bjórk is an amazing artist and has a clear vision of what music can be. However, that doesn't always translate to music for wide-public consumption.

Blue Lines

Massive Attack

3/5

I don't think this album is poo, but I do think Massive Attack was right to simplify their approach to Mezzanine and remove some of the overreaching vocals that plagued this album. For example, the music beneath the voice on One Love is simple with some unique artifacts to keep it interesting, but it's the operatic voice on top that kills the vibe. Some of the beats are outdated and but for the most part I enjoy them, don't particularly care for most of the singing.

Illmatic

Nas

3/5

My roommate played this (and the Siamese Dream-LOL) nonstop for a year straight. Lotta nostalgia tied up in this... that was a trying year.

Diamond Life

Sade

5/5

Love. Love. Love.

Maxinquaye

Tricky

4/5

You remember the last time you pulled an all-nighter for a project you had six months to do, hadn't done any prep or written anything down because it was all in your head, but were also convinced you could create something incredible with a looming deadline and a few cups of strong coffee? We've all been there, but most of us create something on par with an album by The Mother's of Invention. But this is proof, there are talented people who can translate all the static in their heads into amazing work. Tricky is one of those people. Though this was ambitious production and relic of the independent 90's, it was a nice surprise. Maxinquaye is filled with intertwined beats, miscellaneous samples played forwards and backwards and disparate vocals. Basically everything that when combined should be crap. But for the mid 90's, this was impressive, listenable and good.

Rising Above Bedlam

Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart

2/5

Middle eastern jam band electronica with a 90's vibe. Nothing bleeds faster than the cutting edge. Listen at your own risk.

Low-Life

New Order

3/5

Love Vigilantes sounds like a cover that I'm more familiar with. Maybe they did a harder version of this(?) I listened to the remastered version, so I suppose there's some alt versions out there. I'm not a fan of the electric piano and synthesizer doinks on songs like The Perfect Kiss and Face Up, but I really love the low flung guitar that eases in on Sunrise. Elegia is really Cure-ish instrumental, it's ethereal yet impending that builds over time. New Order fits into the category of Pet Shop Boys (not a fan), Depeche Mode (really not a fan) and the Cure (sometimes a fan). To describe the genre in 90's terms, this would be indy college rock. Definitely not mainstream but really cool and new music if you appreciated an alternative scene. In today's standards, it's decent, not Depeche Mode and not The Cure.

Garbage

2/5

I've always considered Shirley Manson garbage. Love the 90's brand she personifies, her look but and her voice. But aside from her larynx, she was merely the right person at the right time. A paper doll without much substance. Everyone was certain this band would be big with Vig assembling it for studio time. Once the album was released, the PR / Marketing machine pushed Queer with disappointing results. Happy When it Rains came out afterward and started to build an audience. Though some of these songs are catchy, and the style of the band is perfect for the time it existed, it's important to note that this was all carefully crafted and built to be a Nirvana / Smashing Pumpkins replacement for the mid/late '90's. All Shirley Manson needed to do is walk the walk. It's the manufactured band brand that makes me hate music while simultaneously enjoying it. At the end of the day it's hollow and makes me feel used and incomplete. Additional albums followed with much the same recipe with declining success and the band finally cashing out in 2005. I love the sound of some of these songs and the production value is magnificent ... but I can't help feeling like I've sold my soul. It's a sickening feeling and a harsh reality, but never a guilty pleasure.

Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen

3/5

Leonard Cohen is a poet, not a musician. It's interesting to pair this against his later work. This album is like the naive, dough-eyed kid who's finally set foot outside his boyhood home alone for the first time. Whereas, The Future (1992), sounds closer to a Bukowski book, reflecting a jaded folk singer with crushed dreams and regret. This album, SoLC is a wholesome coming-of-age listen on par with a Simon / Garfunkel album. I especially enjoyed So Long, Marrianne, which carries the S&G feel all the way through.

Here Come The Warm Jets

Brian Eno

4/5

Brian Eno is absolutely incredible. The music he creates is just so unique and memorable. Even more unbelievable is that he was creating this stuff almost 50 years ago. BE is an underlying influence in a lot of contemporary music. I was obsessed with Lotus Plaza's Spooky Action album for a good year or so and he's all over that. Of Montreal also takes a lot from Eno. Every time I listen to BE, I realize that I've barely even scratched the surface of his work. It's not all sunshine and unicorn rainbows tho. While listening to Negro Blowtorch, I kept thinking Tim Curry was going to pop out of Spotify and start singing to me in drag. That would've been scary. The more I listened to this the more I liked it. Top tracks are Needles in the Camel's Eyes, Baby's On Fire, Here Come the Warm Jets.

Freak Out!

The Mothers Of Invention

1/5

I feel like I'm listening to the soundtrack for a poorly-produced high school (or middle school) musical where the cast is just middle-aged, alcoholics.

Catch A Fire

Bob Marley & The Wailers

1/5

This is music, so I have to allot one star for that but ... really, "I hate reggae music, I hate it..."

Wish You Were Here

Pink Floyd

4/5

Forced to listen to this, I really liked it more than I thought I would. Been an ardent opponent of any Pink Floyd, but really connected with that album artwork. Would listen to this again for sure. Wish you were here...

One Nation Under A Groove

Funkadelic

2/5

This was really hard to find and that burned up a lot of my patience. By the time I listened to this I was already grumpy ... There's a lot going on here with the jamming and zoning out. Though I did recognize some of these tracks from 90's De La samples this was not for me.

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears

The Mamas & The Papas

4/5

Some good stuff here. I'd imagine this album was big with the college-bound suburban white girls. There's enough diversity in this music that it doesn't all suck. I really like the intro to Straight Shooter, reminds me of the Last Train to Clarksville track by the Monkees (both albums were released the same year). California Dreaming is a classic, but was surprised to learn it wasn't the Beach Boys. Do You Wanna Dance seems like a relic from the '50s. I would listen to this more but worry that it'd reveal my true identity...

Kala

M.I.A.

2/5

M.I.A. is like the poor man's Razzlekhan.

Autobahn

Kraftwerk

3/5

First listen out of the gate, it was fine. Though "automahban" kinda fizzled after awhile. Would listen to this again while I'm vacuuming my rugs or de-bearding my face. Would also consider listening while eating Carls Jr. After another go, it sounds like the raw to the Knight Rider theme song before Americans got to it. Which leads me to ponder any obvious links between Kraftwork, Knight Rider and Germany...? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhNv4fc0knw

In A Silent Way

Miles Davis

3/5

Great background music to drink a scotch to on a lazy Sunday afternoon. But, I"m not gonna play this on my way to work.

Heartbreaker

Ryan Adams

2/5

Swoon. ... then vomit. Ugh, not in the mood for this drippy whiny-achiness. I suppose there's a time and a place, but not on my watch!

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Was super-excited to get a Zep album on this because... they were a really good band ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1t7sV7Ol1E

Lust For Life

Iggy Pop

4/5

Well, Sixteen is a little disturbing... LFL is decent, I feel like this album was IPs shot at going pseudo-mainstream and facilitated by Bowie who saw some good stuff in IP. The Turn Blue track, written by Bowie, is terrible and doesn't fit with the album. Also, the lyric "Shot myself down" comes out as 'Shat myself down'... hehehe "Shat" ... Anyhow, there are a couple good tracks on this that everyone has heard before in their favorite coming-of-age drama (The Passenger, I'm talking to you), this doesn't perform as well as I thought it might, but still deserves high marks. ... where are the Stooges albums on this list... ?

Exile On Main Street

The Rolling Stones

4/5

Love the Stones and am always impressed by the breadth of their catalog. I hadn't heard most of this. There's some stuff that I really wasn't expecting. The 'Shake Your Hips' track sounds a lot like La Grange (?) by ZZTop. Rocks Off is great. Rip this joint sounds like a loud throwback to some 50's dance music. Mostly this is great. Put it on in the background and got busy (doing work). Great tempo and rhythm, also that jagger...what is it about that jagger...?

Truth

Jeff Beck

4/5

My dad played this album when I was growing up. Never knew what it was until today. Lotsa good memories with this one. Shag living room carpet and a big reel-to-reel in the living room. That thing was bigger than our television. hahah. Aside from the personal memories associated with this, it is truly good stuff, highly recommend.

Suicide

2/5

"I'm old enough to know when someone's acting like a total A-hole. And You know what? I bought another [Suicide] album and it SUCKS, it's just noise..." I credit Diablo Cody for this review.

Clube Da Esquina

Milton Nascimento

2/5

How do I even rate this...? It's music and he's definitely a talented musician, but there's nothing here that's enjoying for me. I can imagine I'd listen to this at some bomb-ass Brazillian joint and I'd love it for the experience, but listening to it between writing and completing my TPS reports, it does nothing except agitate me. Sorry Milton.

At Budokan

Cheap Trick

4/5

I want you to want to listen to this album because it kicks ass. Love the live vibe of At Budokan, screaming fans and loud music. This album seems to bridge the gap between classic rock and 80's hair bands. Some great stuff on this that often gets overlooked. For everyone that doesn't think there's anything worth listening to between Zeppelin and Halen, please check out this album.

Arrival

ABBA

5/5

Ohhh, Fernando... where art thou, Fernando...? I know I don't possess you, so go away, God bless you. You are still my love and my life, still my one and only, Fernando... Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle. To be so near you and not just hear you... Fernando has stolen my heart and my taste because I'm in love with this album. I know it's crazy but please don't hate me ... for my love of Fernando (and Arrival).

Achtung Baby

U2

4/5

ACHTUNG BABY! Alles Lookenspeepers Das Albummaschine ist nicht fuer gefingerpoken und mittengrabben, its feur gute listenphonen. Bono croonerferken, das easy lovenmaking mit offensbergers. Nine! Carefulen, das accidenten schnappen der springewerk, blowenfusen, und poppencorcken mit spitzensparken. Ist night fuer gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren keepen hands in das pockets--relaxen und hearingphonen whilen watch das blinkenlights. Vergessen Sie nicht, Schutz zu verwenden.

For Your Pleasure

Roxy Music

2/5

Who would Marsha be without Greg? Or better question, who would Alice work for if Mike and Carol never met? Some may consider that Alice would be busy processing Sam's meat. (Sam, of course was the Brady's favorite butcher and had a thing for Alice). And finally, consider that we'll never know the great architect that Mike Brady would've been because he's a schmaltzy, average excuse for a man. And, because of him we are left with Brady Bunch, a campy, mediocre show from the 70's. Another Bunch we need to consider here is The Funky Bunch. What happened to the Funky Bunch? Well, Marky Mark quit, and now there's no more good vibrations. Now, we only have bad vibrations. Now, consider this album, For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music and how terrible it is. After leaving Roxy Music Brian Eno became the great architect that the world was missing. Eno created Ambient 1: Music for Airports and Here Come the Warm Jets, two incredible albums that are off-the-charts influential and groundbreaking. Absolute 5's! Can you imagine how dreadful For Your Pleasure would've been without BE's influence? It would've been like trying to enjoy vibrations by The Funky Bunch. It is apparent that this album is B-A-D, bad. However, it's difficult to fathom how awful it would've been without Eno's involvement, I'm thinking wretched. So, a big thank you to Brian Eno for making something salvageable for us to hate and for that, I've dedicated the second star to you.

Kings Of The Wild Frontier

Adam & The Ants

3/5

Adam Ant seems to be taking the New Wave 'Revolution' theme a little too seriously with that dumb jacket, but there some authentic new in this album. The trick of starting a song with percussion and drums works the first time, but gets stale and is over used. The drums intro to 'Ant Music,' sounds almost identical to 'Goody Two Shoes' (which reminds me of Jump, Jive & Wail for some reason). Even Kings of the Wild Frontier has the same percussion intro if you get thru the first five seconds of voice. This album is a product of its time and an embodiment of all that was popular. It's a new world that will only exist as a moment in time. The strangeness of the early 80's, synth-y crap, distorted guitars with vocal overlay harmonizing. This is hardcore New Wave, but if I'm gonna listen to the genre, I'd much rather it be the wacky stuff by the guys in yellow suits from Ohio. https://youtu.be/XTNGg0Tj5Aw

The Genius Of Ray Charles

Ray Charles

3/5

One of my all time favorite albums is Ella and Basie which was released about four years after this album. The 'Deed I Do' track on E&B is far superior to the Ray Charles original on this album. The tempo is slow but enjoy the southern draw and soft rasp of Charles' voice. However, my advice is to listen to the Ella and Basie album first before you embark on this one.

Deloused in the Comatorium

The Mars Volta

1/5

Is it a bad thing to have too much polish and poise? The thing that I like about Daft Punk is it's two white French guys pretending to be robots, with the Mars Volta, it's six robots pretending to be aggressive music artists. This music is devoid of heart and feeling and any humanistic quality except for maybe ambition. Even the cold blast of air to the face on Inertiatic Esp, the opening track, goes directly into a quick drum wrap and operatic vocals. Which, I might add, the operatic-infused vocals throughout this album were likely pulled directly from American Idol. The Mars Vota and this album in particular embodies everything wrong with early 2000s major label music. It's this overproduced, spot-on perfection of prescripted anger and carefully placed melodies. Just because it's loud and quick doesn't mean it's real. I'm calling bullshit on the band's artistry and 'passion' for creating music. You can't be an artist if you're a robot.

good kid, m.A.A.d city

Kendrick Lamar

3/5

LCD Kendrick Lamar. This album gains inspiration from being stereotypical and ordinary. Go listen to Pimp instead.

1984

Van Halen

4/5

Great album that I never fully appreciated until I got old.

Violent Femmes

5/5

I hope you know this will go down on your permanent record... Predating the slacker movement, this album laid ground for the fuck-you complacency that kicked into high gear 10 years later. I don't think there's an album like this that's ever followed. Monumental, important and oh-sooo good... --- A personal cringy note here. When I was 12, I'd often belt out the lyrics while listening to this on my knockoff Walkman screaming "... there's nothing I can say when I'm in your thighs..." I'm pretty sure my parents loved this album too.

Station To Station

David Bowie

2/5

Disappointing.

Songs Of Love And Hate

Leonard Cohen

3/5

"Oh, not this asshole's voice again..." This one hit me better than most of his albums. I actually could listen to this again. Must be the mindset that I've been in lately. LC played really well in the '90's when everyone was depressed and phama didn't have the market share it does today. This is good for a moody gray spring showers when you've forgotten to take your meds. I love Spotify for the play count. It's always great to check out what song on the album has been played the most. For this album, it's Blue Raincoat which must've been used in a movie, or a tide commercial. It doesn't compare to the first track Avalanche IMO and is actually really boring. Just noticing the sun poking through the clouds and now I"m consumed with finding something more fun to listen to. Okay find...I'll tuck this away for another gloomy day.

Phrenology

The Roots

4/5

I could lower my house on this album. Great energy most all the way through.

Second Toughest In The Infants

Underworld

3/5

This reminds me of hanging out at truck stops and buying a bunch of ephedrine in the 90's then going to raves in Austin. Also, about that same time I thought Trainspotting was just about the best movie ever made. Though the music is dated and the tempo slides to the elevated mondo-ephedra side of the scale, there is still some good stuff in this. Though I'm sad to say that too much raving in the 90's has taken a toll and my heart only take this in 20 min. increments.

The Sensual World

Kate Bush

4/5

Don't know if I'm starting to grow a vagina or what. But, I found this album enjoyable.

Who's Next

The Who

1/5

Not sure exactly what it is that makes me hate Pete Townsend so much. Maybe it's because his stage antics are so deliberate and scripted and ripped off from the Stones or the Kinks, maybe it's because he's an insufferable schmuck who' stated he's happy his deceased bandmates are dead or, maybe its because he has a thing for kids. Oh, and Roger Daltrey's voice is awful. Regardless, there really isn't redeeming in the music on this album, or anywhere for that matter, that stands out, is unique except for maybe Keith Moon's facial expressions while drumming ... hrmmm, or maybe the use of synth repeaters. Buuuut, for the most part this band is Townsend and Daltrey, both of whom I have zero love for.

All Directions

The Temptations

2/5

Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On, but Motown isn't all platinum and diamonds. This album illustrates that pretty clearly. Not sure if it's just me being fickle or this is really a subpar listen, but I wasn't entertained until I read the credits. It showed that Chef 'I'm gonna make love to you, woman" from Southpark (Isaac Hayes) has writing credits on this album. Freaky!

Made In Japan

Deep Purple

3/5

Dirty fuckin' hippies on the cusp of some great shit. The 10 minute drum solo that felt like two hours really sucked, but there is some great riffs here that is true hardcore shit. I really liked this album as a historical artifact, but could taste the PCP through my earbuds and was hungover before the album ended.

Juju

Siouxsie And The Banshees

4/5

Fun fact that S&TB included Sid Vicious, Robert Smith and Slits drummer Budgie in their lineup over the years. Never listened to Siouxsie and the Banshees and now I know why. I didn't have the patience for Siouxsie's voice. The self-aggrandizing dramatic crooning always bugs me... Today however, I was able to push through it, mainly because I couldn't reach the 'skip' button on my phone. I'm glad I did. The first listen was okay, but over the course of the second I was able to appreciate and even enjoy her voice. Let me be clear, the music underneath is wiry, uniquely drone-y and catchy at the same time. Love the less-than-perfect and dirty production of this album. Will def. listen to this more.

Legalize It

Peter Tosh

1/5

You smoke weed. I get it.

Felt Mountain

Goldfrapp

3/5

This sounded like the peaceful still of snow quietly falling on compost. Outside, it was beautiful, pure and serene, while beneath the surface was decaying leaves and discarded egg shells. Together it provided an interesting mix, one that I was happy to listen to.

Low

David Bowie

4/5

People used to give David Bowie crap about being thin all the time, but he just broke through their false barriers. Then he was hounded by the 'false music paparazzi.' The media monkeys and the junky junkies all invited Bowie to play at the plastic pantomime. But, he just threw their invites away and reinvented himself. Two words: eye patch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc4efBM_9JM

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

4/5

Flea was the headliner at a local bookshop called Skylight Books in Los Feliz circa 1997. He was part of a reading by several local writers and poets. Flea, being the badass muscle-bound bass player for the CPs also played expendable tough guys in movies. The audience at Skylight was under strict instructions that they would not be able to leave the bookstore once in and they locked the doors right before it started. Flea, for some reason entered from the back of the store and arrived with a bodyguard who stood just offstage, crossed his arms and stared at the audience while Flea read. There couldn't have been more than 40 people there. It was the most ridiculous (and pretentious) thing I'd ever witnessed from a celeb. Especially being that Flea was a resident of Los Feliz, a small relatively friendly community just east of Hollywood where you'd bump into neighbors and familiar faces on Vermont ave or at House of Pies. I could give / take Anthony Kiedis. I always thought he and his hairless nipples were ridiculous. And, that end shot of him running at the end of Under the Bridge was even more reason to hate him. Anyhow, I think this album came after the band had already been replaced by other crappy bands like Incubus, Dashboard Confessional and others. In many ways RHCP had jumped the shark and then they put out this album, which was .... as much as I hate to say, catchy and enjoyable. Even now, more than 10 years later this album is still fun. There's nothing new here, it's the same RHCP, this album doesn't break any boundaries or explore the far reaches of late 90's rock and maybe that's what I like about it. It's less pretentious, almost like an admission by the band ... "Yep, we're old and your parents probably listened to us when they were young, but we can still put together a song with some melodies and entertain you." Since then, Anthony Kiedis put on a shirt, and grew a little caterpillar on his top lip. And, tho I don't know for sure, I'm hoping that Flea ditched the bodyguard and decided to either get his ass beat or fight his own battles when reading poetry. https://youtu.be/GLvohMXgcBo?t=202 but with a little less fanfare and was ridiculous wThis album is similar in that it believes it's very deserving of all kinds of airplay and praise, to be held in high regard it's much better than it is and deserves airplay and praise

Aladdin Sane

David Bowie

3/5

The cult of Bowie says I should learn to love this album, but I've listened to this more than I care to admit and came away from this with less than I imagined. A Lad Insane... Alladin Sane / The Jean Jeanie... My understanding of this album is that it's about the wish, hope and struggle for fame and what comes afterward. Panic in Detroit is the pinnacle of fame. If you find it, you flex like a whore and fall wanking to the floor. Cracked actor says Suck, baby, suck, give me your head, Before you start professing that you're knocking me dead as if to say Fame is all elusive, unbearable and boring. Truth be told, this album isn't unbearable and boring. Aladdin Sane is super campy and on par with the soundtrack to the Rocky Horror Picture show. The saxophone truly blows. The songs, aside from Panic in Detroit and The Jean Genie are mostly forgettable. This is one of those albums that is on this list because it fits well within a certain timeframe but that period is far gone and all but forgotten. I'd go as far to say that if this album art hadn't been so iconic Aladdin Sane most likely would've slipped away with the rest of history.

New Forms

Roni Size

2/5

Outdated raver stuff from the 90's. This was hard to get into, the tempo was too fast and the samples outlived their usefulness and were way more repetitive than necessary. Was bothersome to listen to, I felt like I was on the It's a Small World ride at Disneyland or inside a microwave on a carousel that wouldn't stop.

Unhalfbricking

Fairport Convention

2/5

Cumbaya, falsetto vocals and acoustic guitars. This is British folk music from the 60's and sounds about the way you'd expect.

Halcyon Digest

Deerhunter

5/5

Super refreshing and unique. A great listen.

Dig Your Own Hole

The Chemical Brothers

2/5

I'm embarrassed to say that I owned this CD back in the day because of the album artwork. I maybe listened to it a couple times before reselling it. Listening to it now is no wonder I discarded this CD. The loud and abrasive repetition is annoying. I get this was maybe the bleeding edge of mainstream dance / rave music when it came out but it is terrible garbage now. I do however like the loop on Where Do I Begin, and might even consider putting this album on my wall, but the music is pretty terrible.

Back In Black

AC/DC

5/5

FUCK YEAH! (more like this, please)

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Dead Kennedys

3/5

Context is everything. Holiday in Cambodia and California, Kill the Poor and Über Alles are classic. But, if listening to this album for the first time and knowing nothing about Jello Biafra or the time of this album, I'd hate it. Eric Speichert had acquired the infamous Frankenchrist 12" (the album after FFfRV) with original fold-out insert and brought it to school. He was avid vinyl collector and super proud of that album. For me, my fourteen-year-old self was super-excited (pun intended) to see the penis / vagina insert (pun intended). But super-let-down when he showed it to everyone... LAAAME... "This is why everyone was pissed off...? There's no context... you can't even see anything..." Looking back on this, Biafra was the perfect loudmouth, antagonizer punk rock advocate for free speech. He (and ICE-T) helped build resistance against Tipper Gore's drive to censor musicians and scale back first amendment rights. But today, that's all forgotten, glossed over. We all understand and expect those rights. The 'free speech vs. censorship' fight no longer exists. That fight has evolved into who can out free speech each other? Who can be the most nasty, vile, personal, incendiary and provocative. Oh, and bonus points are scored if it inflicts in anxiety, mental anguish, or suicide. The genie is out of the box and looking back at some of Biafra's sarcasm, double-talk and weasely antics in today's world, It's hard not to discard him for being a troll who likes to hear himself instigate and watch shit burn. It's even harder to look back at your once punk rock icons like Biafra (and even Excene Cervenka) and think to yourself, "I know they weren't perfect, but is it possible they could've been terrible people all along...?" As for the music on this album, it's loud, obtrusive, maniacal and chaotic. Great for what it was and in the context for which it existed... but time moves on, and and this album hasn't time traveled well.

Golden Hour

Kacey Musgraves

4/5

I was all set to hate on Kacey Musgraves, but here I am... I am the asshole. This was super enjoyable listening to in the still of a pre-dawn morning. I struggle to think of a better time and place to turn this on. Very nice.

Brothers In Arms

Dire Straits

2/5

I was much more of a Golden Grahams kind of kid. But my little brother, Steve loved Chex, Wheat Chex, Rice Chex, Raisin and Wheat Chex. Steve ate Chex cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My parents must've spent a fortune on Chex cereal in those days. One time I was invited to go roller skating at the local roller rink and but my parents didn't have enough money for me to go ... because mom spent it all on groceries ... including 12 boxes of Chex cereal!! Then I heard this Money for Nothing song and decided I'd play my guitar on MTV, because if I did that, I'd get money for nothing and get my Chex for free. The rest of the album sucked.

Graceland

Paul Simon

5/5

Sure, people think that Pauls voice could benefit from being less douchie, but I think it works. Though there's a dip in the tenor that carries through the album, it's mostly fun, carefree and mellow. The Zydeco and international flavors keep this lively. Overall, this is a very different album than I've heard on 1001. The Graceland track plays almost as if he's exposing a darker past and a brighter future. I love it, and Graceland is a clear winner, but truth be told, all of the tracks here are inspired and worthy. Great listen.

GI

Germs

3/5

Never listened to Germs and only one song on Spotify due to licensing. Found some more on YouTube and the rest of the album was fine. Reminded me of the NYC Hardcore compilations of the late 80s. Was surprised that Pat Smear was part of this band and also Belinda Carlisle.

Inspiration Information

Shuggie Otis

5/5

Superb album. Totally dig this vibe, definitely something that I'll spend more time listening to. Just really enjoy how loose and mellow this is all the way through. Also, if I have another kid, I'm naming it Shuggie.

Boy In Da Corner

Dizzee Rascal

3/5

Remember all of those Guy Ritchie movies of the early 2000's that you thought were awesome...? Snatch, Lock, Stock and Layer Cake (not GR)? Those were super good... And then you try and go back today and rewatch those movies, and they're STILL good! Totally watchable. Then there's this album, from the same era and ... well ... huh... Not really that great. But maybe it once was great, listenable, interesting, tolerable. Things have changed over the past 20 years, right? You might imagine that Boy in Da Corner would've resonated in a different era. But notsomuch today. Weird how that happens... It did make me want to go watch old Guy Ritchie British gangster movies tho... so that's a win...(?)

Your New Favourite Band

The Hives

4/5

I am a huge fan of simplicity, and that's what I love about this band. Just the basics... three chords and high energy. However, despite the high energy and stylish uniforms, this band is flimsy and ephemeral. The Hives could be summed up in three words: Punk Rock Metronome. Sure, there's the contagious power of Hate to Say I Told You So and less-so some other tracks, but there's also a lot of filler. For example, 'The Hives are Law, and You are Crime' is suitable to burn time between bands or setups at shows. Also, it seems that some songs were released on other albums and then placed on this one maybe as a domestic release(?). Whatevvs. These songs are not expertly crafted and that's fine. My biggest gripe with this album is the lack of deviation. They've studied their influences. They dress like Kraftwerk and sing like The Ramones but what do they contribute to the sound? Roboticism? What happened to irrationality, incoherence of punk rock? And most importantly, the artistry in self-expression? Can you be a punk rock if you're a metronome? I don't think so. The Hives are a tribute band, and this albume is the music of 'enthusiasts'. But that is okay.

Lost In The Dream

The War On Drugs

4/5

Surprisingly good. I'd heard some of this stuff before, but this is the first time I've gotten thru it all in one go. Though the album was a bit soft in places, I wholly appreciated it all the way through. Will put this into my rotation.

Groovin'

The Young Rascals

3/5

On a whole this album is pretty tame, but there are some flares of excitement. The intro to Find Somebody is great, maybe a little reminiscent of The Byrds, but I can see how this would be influential to some of the 80's hardcore bands similar to Minor Threat. Minor Threat covered another seeming innocuous band called Standells. The 1966 track, Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White was turned into a rougher track with teeth. Similarly, Danzig (Misfits) covered the Find Somebody (also 1966) Young Rascals track. First looks can be deceiving... Young Rascals has influenced notable musicians of yesterday. I even recognize the intro to Sueno from Tribe Called Quest track Left my wallet in el segundo. Good and fine in its current form but lays foundation for great stuff to come. As I write this, I've transitioned completely off of Rascals and rocking out to some Lucifuge... so good.

Snivilisation

Orbital

3/5

Not to be confused with O.R.B., or The Orb, Orbital was one of those elusive bands for me in the 90's. I disassociated myself from much of the glowstick, pacifier music of this era, so I was eager to find out what I was missing. Firstly, I wish I had duck feet, it's sad but true, that way I wouldn't have to crash and carry science friction philosophy by numbers. Some people think Kein Trink Wasser was quality seconds, but I keep asking myself are we here? By the way the PDF is attached. Turns out I was missing a lot of nonsense that was fun to explore consider the meanings but quickly deduce there's really no meaning only mind altering hallucinogens, pigtails, shelltoes and nights that seem to go on forever. Sometimes its nice to step back in time and go for a ride.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Ray Charles

4/5

Hard not to love Ray's voice and a big band backing him up. From a different era that I'm happy to revisit from time to time, so classy...

Young Americans

David Bowie

3/5

Not sure there's a musician who's had more lives than Bowie ... Track 10 "Who Can I Be Now?" signifies that he puts a lot of thought into identity progression. This album is pretty tame and got me wondering if the 1975 iteration of Bowie was this the birth of the Adult Contemporary genre? The cover of the Beatles Across the Universe was very unexpected but I really enjoyed it. Young Americans will always be timeless and Win made me think of the Midnight Vultures album by Beck. (Bowie and Beck would've been a great collab). At the end of the day, this album is mediocre by today's standards. Still love this guy but albums like this make me wonder exactly why...

Home Is Where The Music Is

Hugh Masekela

4/5

For all you horny folks, this album here has some great horn action. Really enjoyed listening to this album. Though I was a little horned out by the time I got to that 10 minute track. Felt like I needed some Gatorade and Cialis to complete the rest of it. Regardless, this was probably the best horn I've received in quite some time. Four stars!

John Barleycorn Must Die

Traffic

3/5

Who names their band Traffic? Everyone hates Traffic. Maybe Traffic in 1970 existed in some existential academic journal as something that might happen if too many people got cars and tried to go someplace all at once, but today Traffic is real and it's miserable. Green Day, now there's a band who has a name that is nearly future proof. In another 10 years, people will think to themselves, "remember photosynthesis?" Or, "remember when there were these green things called trees and plants that grew food on them?" Ten years may be too far into the future, but you get my point, someday soon, we'll all be wishing there was more Green Day. My parents used to listen to Traffic while smoking a joint after dinner. But whatever, that's beside the point. These guys smell like a bunch of dirty hippies and the name of this album is weird. Isn't Barleycorn a euphemism for alcohol? Anyhow, I guess it's a good thing that they broke up, because the world can only handle one band that sound like Chicago. Though I do have a secret crush on Steve Winwood, and more specifically j his song 'Valerie,' this album didn't didn't make much of an impression on me and I was thankful it was only 34 mins.

Done By The Forces Of Nature

Jungle Brothers

4/5

Native Tongues was like a brand back in the day. If you like TCQ, then you'll like Black Sheep and Chi-Ali, both of whom I loved. Didn't get too far into the JayBees tho. Listening to it today it makes me feel a little bit of warm comfort in the simplicity.... but that wears off pretty quickly as it becomes simple and borderline boring. Good to go back in time with this one, but not something I'm going to dig out except for that Doin' Our Own Dang track. That's def going on a forgotten favorites playlist.

Aftermath

The Rolling Stones

4/5

Mick Jagger may be a shitty human being with some questionable lyrics aimed at his girlfriend, Chrissie Shrimpton, but this album is still great.

Elvis Is Back

Elvis Presley

1/5

PE said it best... Elvis was a hero to most, but he Never meant shit to me, you see, straight out Racist—that sucker was simple and plain Motherfuck him and John Wayne! But I listened to this from start to finish and this seems like the soundtrack for Making America Great Again.

Blood On The Tracks

Bob Dylan

2/5

It's hard to separate Dylan from all the douchebags I went to high school with. All those dudes would throw down if you insulted their godhero Bob Dylan. Which, if I might say, was a lot of fun watching them get animated after slinging the three words 'Bob Dylan sucks' their way. Oh! And...! And! ...and they used to pull all the ladies too! Evidently, my pickup lines such as 'let's go find a dark room and listen to The Cure' didn't hold a candle to Dylan aficionado poetry and Birkenstocks. Who's still living in high school ... ? Me? Whaaah? Nah. Sure, there's some good stuff on this and perhaps I would've uncovered with multiple listens. Shelter from the Storm and Tangled are familiar and great, but not enough to catapult this into three territory for me.

Technique

New Order

2/5

How does Joy Division morph into this sweaty 80's mancore stuff? There were some redeeming tracks on this album, All The Way and ... welp, nope I misspoke. That was the only redeeming song on this album. Mostly terrible.

Nevermind

Nirvana

4/5

Total sellouts. Blame Courtney Love.

Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Fiona Apple

4/5

Love her or hate her, it's impossible not to admire the stunning talent of Fiona Apple. She's an incredible songwriter and musically, there's no one quite like her, but the fact that she recorded Fetch the Bolt Cutters by herself at her home pushes her into another realm. How do you even classify Fiona Apple... ? I just think she is so unique, so strong and also delicate, raw and also innovative. I've been a big fan of hers since the rage of Tidal subsided. Even so, this album seems to be somewhat of a departure of the Fiona Apple that I've loved. Like this is the culmination of all of her previous albums and she has finally broken. Almost as if her previous albums were pleas for awareness. Up until FTBC she's danced around mental issues, made allusions, suggested troubles but now she's screaming, fuming with anger and lifting the thin veil that's covered it for so long. From For Her: "Good mornin' good mornin' You raped me in the same bed your daughter was born in" The beauty of Cosmonauts, only to shift into screaming the chorus at the end. And From the title track: "Fetch the Bold Cutters I've been in here too long ... I grew up in the shoes they told me I could fill and I need to run up that hill, I need to run up that hill" This is not a pleasant album to listen to. It's unhappy with broken frustration, learned helplessness and internal voices. Regardless, it's open and raw. It's hard not to imagine her pain while listening to this and it's hard to deny this a position on the 1001 albums list. Great album, hard to listen to.

Something Else By The Kinks

The Kinks

3/5

I used to think that I LOVED The Kinks. I guess I do, but this is not the album I would reference if anyone asked. That album would be one of their 'Greatest HIts' albums.

The Velvet Underground

5/5

Our minds are programed to either like something immediately or move along. Listening to this album, I've realized how much our consumption of music has changed. Everything is free! Just listen to a commercial or two, and all the music is available ... everywhere. Which ironically, cuts exposure and listening to new music. :( This album, for example has a handful of tracks that are outstanding (Candy Says, After Hours), while others are meh. But in 'the olden days' you'd have to listen to the WHOLE album and over time the meh either ruined the good ones, or grew on you. That is you were FORCED to listen to the entire album, not just the good ones. This is one of the few that benefits from my 'olden days' listening and I can definitively say 'there's not a bad track on it.'

Rubber Soul

Beatles

5/5

I can imagine there are a lot of people that might hate the Beatles. The list probably includes bug exterminators and anyone willingly serving in the military in the '60s ... or (this is important) anyone living during their golden years. I get it, being alive in the late 60's and having to endure Beatles exposure on a daily basis might rival living in the age of Taylor Swift. Great music, overplayed and inescapable. For me, however Beatles are gold. Hands down, the best track on Rubber Soul is In My Life (of course). Especially for a dude in his 50's.

Frampton Comes Alive

Peter Frampton

3/5

Is "Peter Frampton Comes Alive" the music equivalent of "Disney on Ice?" I can honestly say that Disney on Ice is not as good as most Disney experiences, perhaps is rivals the Disney Store experiences. Frampton Alive, like DoI, seems to be capitalizing on adding another extension to the brand. However, I don't know the Frampton Brand, so I don't have anything to really compare it to. But I get it, this is a LIVE performance album. This album is LIVE mellow gold softies. I bet Stanley Roper, Jack, Janet and Crissy are in the front row. Great voice and show and strong guitar talent, but unlike Three's Company, this performance is soon forgettable.

Forever Changes

Love

2/5

All of this music sounds the same. I wonder how many bands around this time were like "oh! I've got a great name for a band" only to be disappointed that someone else had the EXACT SAME NAME for the EXACT SAME MUSIC. Boring, uninteresting and one-dimensional. I'm borderline angry that I had to listen to another crappy album. "Damn hippies!"

Roxy Music

3/5

Today I learned ... My love for Brian Eno does not extend to Roxy Music. 'Virginia Plain' was pretty good and I used to listen to a band called 'Ladytron' but the song wasn't anything special... speaking of Tron, did you know they're making a THIRD Tron movie... ? That Daft Punk Tron soundtrack was waayy good. I hope they do another one like that for Tron 3, "One Day, I Got In.." or whatever they decide to name it. The Daft Punk album we had on this list really bites or, ahem, 'bytes' it's not the soundtrack, but has the song that Spike Jonze did the music video for. You know, the one that has the dog going into a liquor store and buying milk but won't get on the bus ...? Ugh, I hate that song, and that album really. This Roxy Music album is much better. Maybe a three.... tho it could be enhanced by a meaningless Spike Jonze music video... yep, it's a three. Three!

A Love Supreme

John Coltrane

5/5

Acknowledgement. Resolution. Pursuance. Psalm. Pt. I Yeah. I f'd up, but it felt good! Pt. II Yes. I will pay my debt. Pt. III Ok. But I want to feel good again / mental struggles. Pt. IV This was a hard lesson, I'm regretful and I'm tired of the fight. Psalm is so, so, so sad.

Straight Outta Compton

N.W.A.

3/5

I hate this shit, but somehow I could listen to Straight Outta Compton and Fuck Tha Police any day of the week. But then, Gangsta Gangsta slips and by the time Parental Discretion comes around and I have to listen to EZ-E say "...slip the C-note, and you can choke, on the wing-ding-ding-a-ling down your throat," I'm done. Though Express Yourself is somewhat redeeming. I appreciate all the Dre's unearthed for this album (I actually wish we'd see more of that today) and in the end, this album is a classic and important(?) for the time it existed. However, I'm not excited for most anything this album spawned or any gangsta-rap song / album that came after it.

Music For The Jilted Generation

The Prodigy

3/5

This was way better than I expected, at least I couldn't find anything about this album to outwardly hate. I think most all British music should be instrumentals. Though there wasn't anything I could hate, there wasnt' a whole lot that I could love either... the exact definition of a three..

Skylarking

XTC

2/5

Is it possible that I would have such a strong reaction to Queen if I hadn't heard it a million times growing up on the radio? Because actively choosing to push play on this album for the first time was not one of my best decisions. There are plenty of similarities between Queen and XTC ... like they're both British. One thing I thought interesting is that Todd Rungren produced this album... I bet that wasn't his best decision either ... or was it(?) Todd Rungren 'working' with XTC may've been the catalyst for this brilliant earworm... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Tcggo45TQ

The Yes Album

Yes

2/5

I've been trying to figure out why I like Rush and and feel completely opposite about the band Yes. Yes! There are always little tidbits that I can pull out of songs that are great, like that long build on Starship Troopers. I could listen to Starship Troopers begining at minute 5:45 many times over and over agin. That repetitious build is awesome. But the big detractors of Yes are that awful dated electric organ and the over-the-top vocals. They just kill their music for me.

Seventeen Seconds

The Cure

5/5

Sparse, lonely, repetitive droning. Lo-fi and beautiful.

Rock Bottom

Robert Wyatt

2/5

If you didn't already know Pitchfork sold out in 2015 and will 'fold in' later this year. Yes, they sold to Condé Nast which will fold the once independent music blog into GQ magazine. It seems crazy to think that this independent real-voice establishment would end up like this, but the bottom line makes the world go round, and nothing is free... This morning, I logged on to Pitchfork to see why they had given this album a 4+ star rating according to Wikipedia. No dice. Either the page is missing, unpublished or search on Pitchfork.com has been impacted by the merge. I did find an article (not review) of the 2-disc set "Different Every Time." Wyatt, seems to be the godfather of British experimental music in the early / mid 70's. The most interesting thing I found there was his connections. Pitchfork writes "...he's an astoundingly versatile and prolific collaborator: the six-degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon figure who directly links Jimi Hendrix, Hot Chip, Swell Maps, Pink Floyd, and Björk." So, as I don't care much for this album, it does suggest Robert Wyatt may have more influence as a collaborator on the music I do care about. Swell Maps has got to be one of my favorite discoveries in recent years... and Björk ... well, hits and misses, but there's no one else just like her. This album is just a piece of a larger machine, an entry in a resumé. Similarly, Pitchfork.com had plenty of influence and there was no other music resource like it either and now is an piece of something larger but less unique. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19920-different-every-time/ https://www.semafor.com/article/02/04/2024/inside-conde-nasts-breakup-with-pitchfork

Fever To Tell

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

4/5

The thing I like about jazz is that it changes every time you listen to it. No two performances are alike. Each one is a moment in time never to be duplicated but is it possible that jazz doesn't exist outside of live performances? Obviously this isn't jazz but I think FTT best exists as an experience. It's a stream of consciousness and difficult to anticipate what's going to happen next. No track illustrates this better than Tick Tick where KO's breath ends in a frenzied display of self-dysregulation. I'd like to be swept up in the mayhem of the moment if I was watching this live, but this is a hard transition thru Spotify.

Elvis Presley

2/5

Not only did Elvis steal his music and rip off black artists, he also ripped off his album artwork from the Clash. What a jerk.

The Hour Of Bewilderbeast

Badly Drawn Boy

3/5

Badly Drawn on Sloppily Drawn? It's kinda funny how older artists dance around modesty in comparison to today. "Are you a great artist...?" "Who? Me? Oh, no not me? I'm 'BADLY DRAWN'" Now we listen to people who call themselves "Perfume Genius." Anyhow, Nic Harcourt used to spend tons of KCRW airtime on this album. At the time I wasn't too excited about it, after all he introduced me to the Gotan Project and Cornershop, two total shit albums that diminished my trust in his music pics. Happily enough, listening to it now with fresh ears is relatively pleasant. I enjoyed the first song, The Shining. I enjoyed the second track, Everybody's Talking and ready to give this a respectable review... But then, as we proceed down an excessively long track listing we hit some bumps, some errors and by the time we get to track 14, Pissing in the Wind we fall apart. The rest of the album is in freefall. Editing is a valuable skill, Mr. Sloppy Pants. Track 16, Disillusion, sounds like a Barry Manilow song performed on Loveboat. Sorry, but you can't be respectable if you're trying to imitate Barry Manilow. Top few tracks are strong, but have to deduct some serious points for not knowing when to stop.

Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park

1/5

I realized I was old when Linkin Park became a band that everyone loved. Spare me another venture of white suburban rap over heavy bass-y guitar metal riffs. I realize that Chester Copperpot was a big influence over a generation that followed mine and it seems he had a terrible childhood and wrote some amazing poetry. Sure there are some neat effects, and unique sounds in the production of this album. But I witnessed, and even enjoyed RUN DMC / Aerosmith, Public Enemy / Anthrax and the Beasties, but when the popularity of 311 hit, I knew I wasn't the intended audience of the garbage that would follow. Chalk that up to age I suppose, but aside from reggae, this has to be my least favorite genre.

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators

4/5

Must've been a huge influence on The Brian Jonestown Massacre, they sound just like the 13FEs. This preformed really well as a break from the other stuff I've been listening to. Though I wouldn't be able to sit through this again without dropping acid and frolicking naked in a wheat field at sunrise.

Buffalo Springfield Again

Buffalo Springfield

3/5

Fred Flintstone used to eat Brontosaurus Burgers and I often wondered if the taste resembled the Buffalo Burgers one might eat at a county fair. County fairs are an oddity themselves. Maybe 'Buffalo Burgers' is code for porcupine / raccoon / roadkill burgers and thus as mythological as Brontosaurs Burgers. Not sure about that tho since I've never eaten one. Not many buffalos left in wild America today. At one time there were an estimated 30-50 million of those things roaming... 'where the buffalo roam,' ya know? Us Europeans took all of that dusty buffalo-roaming area and turned them into Springfields. That's right, today 34 states have communities called 'Springfield'. Hmmm... that brings me to a thought. I've never researched it, but I'm thinking Dusty and Buffalo must be related , right? Anyhow, I'm betting that this band was assembled to commemorate the death of the Buffalo and Neil Young's voice was brought in to play the part of a poor buffalo breathing its last breath. Nice job, Neil. Like a dying buffalo, I was a little disappointed by this album, but maybe that's the point. Unlike Buffalos, the musicians in the band went on to make more music. This may have just been a launching point. I enjoyed the beginning and ending on Expecting to Fly. Mr. Soul wasn't bad, Hung Upside Down wasn't too bad either but there's too much jamming and the harmonizing on Rock & Roll Women was a turn off. Individually, there are some great elements to this album, but when added together it comes up short.

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs

Derek & The Dominos

3/5

Who's Derek? "Dominos, motherf**ker! See about that!" ––––––– I really liked the bluesy songs on this album. Like REALLY liked those. "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" are the real winners on this album. The Little Wing cover was an absolute travesty. That should've never happened! Jimi would've hated this (just guessing, he probably wouldn't have been able to hear it, so that's a good thing). The others were straight up 'meh'. Even the title track 'Layla' should've started about 3+ minutes into it and existed without lyrics. Clapton's guitar is great, voice and singing seems to be more of an acquired taste. Derek must've been stuck in the bathroom, this is all about the backup ...

Countdown To Ecstasy

Steely Dan

3/5

Do you think Donald Fagan has a sexxy throat...? Not sure about his throat but whatever that thing is that makes his voice sound so sublime certainly is. I think Steely Dan is the Cinemax of Adult contemporary music. Just one step away from the 'brown chicken, brown cow' sounds of 70's, John Holmes and hairy soft porn. Stay classy, Steely.

Closer

Joy Division

2/5

Unknown Pleasures was unique and strange enough to be great, but a year later they released Closer and its safe to say that they fell off a cliff with this one. I'm assuming Ian's declining state had a huge effect on the album and his suicide during its release probably contributed to the way this was received. Aside from Twenty Four Hours, it's hard for me to see the magic here.

British Steel

Judas Priest

5/5

Righteous metal. Wasn't sure what was gonna happen to the JP legacy after RH walked out of the closet. So good to listen to this.

Loveless

My Bloody Valentine

5/5

Staple of college art in the early '90s. Best listened to on your back, in a pitch black room staring at the ceiling with a favorite teenage crush.

Survivor

Destiny's Child

3/5

"Yes! I'm George, George McFly. You're my density..." Did you know this group's name came from the Lorraine and George (Leah Thompson and Crispin Glover) characters from in Back to the Future? The group, and Beyonce in particular, were big fans of the original Back to the Future film. The three original members (Beyoncé, Gina and Kelly) had intended to call themselves "Density's Child" but management decided against it. Infighting and disagreements with management eventually led to the group's breakup to get out of their contract. Efforts for the three to reform under the name 'The Flux Capacitors' faltered when it was discovered the name was already taken by a band in Sheboygan. This album was fine, best song by far is Beyonce's 'My Heard Still Beats' the thinly veiled ode the brief, but passionate love affair she had with Thomas F. Wilson, better known to some as Biff Tannen in the BTF trilogy.

Rage Against The Machine

2/5

Ahh, RATM. I know this is Paul Ryan's favorite band. I think all he does these days is write reviews on 1001. How do I know all of this...? Because he submitted a review of this album on August, 1 2022. https://1001albumsgenerator.com/albums/4Io5vWtmV1rFj4yirKb4y4/rage-against-the-machine I completely dismissed this album when it was released, attributing it to another dumb doofus rap group like 311. But, somehow they stuck around and eventually these tunes eventually got through. The bass-y funk, rap, punk fusion from the 90's is irritating, but I think this band had some decent messaging behind the music. The political messaging of Tom Morello is the reason this band has endured over time. It's certainly not because of Zack de la Rocha, who seems to struggle pulling off the badass stage persona in the longterm. For the record, I'm not a big Paul Ryan fan either but his reviews kick ass.

Figure 8

Elliott Smith

5/5

Great album. Either/Or is his best, then maybe XO but they're all fives to me.

Violator

Depeche Mode

2/5

One of my least favorite bands ever, but I've got to give credit where credit is due. That credit goes to David Gahan who's the owner of the most bloated, pompous drivel-y sounding person I've ever heard and the real reason that Depeche Mode sucks. I might as well just listen to Sebastian Gorka on Fox News for 47 mins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glK4D7-533I https://www.foxnews.com/video/5984411495001 It's terrible because the music behind this blowhard is actually decent.

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

Dexys Midnight Runners

1/5

The only thing special about these guys is that in 1982 they were somehow able to chart the most vile and disgusting song in pop music (Cum on Eileen). This album was absolutely wretched. The album title indicates there'd be soul on this one. I didn't hear any soul, but I did hear calamitous horns. Lot's of brass, actually. Saxophones(?), trombones(?), trumpets(?)... I'm not sure, all I know is that horns blow and so did this album.

Here Are the Sonics

The Sonics

4/5

Obviously, this band influenced the creating of the Seattle basketball. Only a year after this album was released, the Seattle Sonics were created. Coincidence? I think no. Regardless, it's hard to imagine the impact these guys had more than 50 years ago with clean cut looks and song titles like Witch, Psycho and Strychnine they probably wouldn't have appealed to the masses without some cover songs. It took me a little bit to realize the significance (basketball and whatnot) but I did enjoy this album and feeling the energy of them beating on their instruments. Will probably listen to these guys again.

Bryter Layter

Nick Drake

5/5

There's a little Nick Drake in all of us...

Disraeli Gears

Cream

5/5

My dad had this record in his collection and I spent some serious time working this cream into a foamy lather when I was growing up. From the album art to the primitive distorted riffs that go on and on, to the trippy lyrics (bearded rainbow, anyone?) this transitional album embodies what I had always thought the late 60's to be. Iron Butterfly's album sputtered after In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, but Disraeli Gears continues to crank out great tracks SWLBR, Strange Brew, Sunshine etc., (I can do without Mother's Lament and Dance the Night Away). It's hard to discount this album as it marks the beginning of the most important period of rock ... the early 70's.

Your Arsenal

Morrissey

3/5

Morrissey... the insufferable white Kanye.

Document

R.E.M.

4/5

I spent most of my high school years trying to avoid R.E.M. because that's what all the yuppie kids listened to. However, there's really no hiding from their jingles. It wasn't until college that I actually started appreciating Stipe's vocals and the music of R.E.M. Though less refined and poppy than their later releases like Green, OoT, and AFTP, it's good and perhaps underappreciated. You can't deny the Finest Work Song and certainly End of the World which is really the album of the 20th century. Document seems like one of those transitionary albums that introduces college rock into the mainstream leading the way for more artsy bands of the late 80's and early 90's.

This Is Hardcore

Pulp

1/5

Great album art, but the music inside is rather flaccid and weak. This is Not Hardcore is more LIMPcore if 'core at all. I'd rather liken this to eating dinner on the couch in a dark flat while watching reruns of Benny Hill - whereas 'dinner' consists of McVitie's Chocolate Digestives, Jaffa Cakes and Kool-Aid. That is, I would rather listen to much anything Morrissey has to say about animal rights and gender identity than replay this drivel again. Hmm, actually that's too harsh, I'm sorry, Pulp, I take that back. But my point is that this album is really sad, and despite the cover art, disappointingly uninspired.

Foo Fighters

5/5

Foo Fighters are like the Aerosmith of our generation. They just keep coming back when they're no longer needed. The band literally contradicts the era we live in but somehow still has a place. I suppose it doesn't hurt to be an all around nice guy that everyone seems to love. Looking back on this release, it was barely a year after Cobain's death when this album was all over the airwaves. I remember thinking that it would be crap capitalizing on Nirvana successes. KROQ played the shit outta this album. I tried hard not to like it, but then I saw the Mentos video. It was so strangely absurd and fun and basically the antithesis of what Nirvana's sad and angst-y music was. Still on, nearly 30 years later, there are some great tracks on this album that still rock. Highlights include Good Grief, Alone ... and Exhausted. All Looking forward to seeing these guys someday ... RIP TH.

Pyromania

Def Leppard

3/5

British hair farmers, let me ask you a question... "Do your amps go up to eleven...?" Listening to this album is like watching the Hallmark Channel in surroundsound for 24-straight hours. There's so much drama and you really don't care about any of it.

The Suburbs

Arcade Fire

2/5

Funeral was a great album, that is a five for sure. This album... well let's just say that Win Butler didn't really 'win' me over with his voice. I just could not unhear it even after it ended. Going back and listening to Funeral, I was shocked at how much his voice didn't bother me. I think that the choruses on some of the songs overshadowed his vocals. Also of note, Funeral had some great raw power and great riffs. Neighborhood #3, for example or on Wake Me Up.. on and the bass line from Rebellion gave all of those tracks more depth. The Suburbs attempts to capitalize on the singer and it was just a complete turn off. I was lucky enough to see AF at the Hollywood Bowl in 2005 when they opened up for David Byrne. Though David Byrne had teenage boys dancing around in tiny silver lamé shorts which was kinda weird, the show was great. There were probably like 30 people in the band and they all did their part. You know what the best song of this album was... ? Sprawl II because I didn't have to listen to Win whine. The Suburbs relies too much on one person perched on top of flimsy music. No thank you.

BEYONCÉ

Beyoncé

4/5

I don't think it's fair to refer to Beyoncé as Janet Jackson 2.0. First of all, the sequel is rarely better than the original and secondly Beyoncé is way more talented than Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty). As a straight noob in his 60's who's only known the singer as Foxxy Cleopatra, my Beyoncé experience was nothing short of surprising. This girl has got some pipes and the beats, song ... errr music(?) backing her up is intelligent, creative and full of life.

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin

5/5

I've been to more than a couple of weddings that have played Bron-Yr-Aur in advance of the ceremony which translates to 'Breasts of Gold.' I always wonder if the groom that chose that song becuase he thought it'd be cool to play a Led Zep his wedding or if the bride did because she thinks her boobs are seriously golden...? On a similiar subject 'Whole Lotta Love' is the worst song that LZ ever recorded. "Shake for me girl, I wanna be your backdoor man... way down inside you need ... gonna give you every inch of my love...' Sure, not as bad as 'Come on Eileen' but still icky. But whatevvs, Led Zeppelin is pretty fuckin' rad and this Physical Graffiti is proof. With the exception of three consecutive songs (In the Light, Bron-Yr-Aur and Down by the Seaside) this album kicks ass all the way thru. Some fans might describe this album with two words: 'Pidyn Aur' while others might say it's 'quite lovely' with a wink and a smile. What I wanna know is why don't they make music like this anymore?

On The Beach

Neil Young

3/5

Womp, womp. Joe Rogan ruined my Neil Young experience on Spotify. ... and, now two years later, I'm cleaning up these forgotten reviews and Neil Young and Joe Rogan are all hunky dory. Which sucks. I was hoping I wouldn't have to endure Neil Young's falsettos for 39 mins. Neil Young is this champion of the small person. His Bridge School concerts are legendary. He supports farmers and was willing to put his streaming royalties on hold after Spotify signed an exclusive deal with Joe Rogan who was spreading misinformation about COVID. He was an original member of CSN(Y) and there are plenty of respectable musicians that hold him in high regard. Neil Young did the soundtrack to one of my favorite Jim Jarmusch movies, Dead Man. It was eerie and sparse and fit perfectly within the black and white film. It is impeccable. Though Vampire Blues and Motion Pictures has grown on me, this album is slow, borderline depressing and is barely tolerable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn2nQMfLqwg

More Songs About Buildings And Food

Talking Heads

3/5

I generally have no love for Texas, but have enjoyed listening to Toadies in the past. ...and 'Toadie' I learned.. that the song "I am not in love" was a Talking Heads original. Mind blown. Similar to Texas, I generally have no love for Talking Heads. The band inhabits a space my brain will not allow me to travel. That is for smart, nerdy people who talk to instruments and embrace an inner oddball to be different. The issue that I'm having isn't with the music of Talking Heads, most of that is dron-y, repetitive and semi-interesting. No, the issue I have with the Talking Heads is the constant yelping of lead singer David Byrne belting out the lyrics to his smart songs. I'm not a smart man, my head barely talks, and the world is smaller than Texas, so let's try and get along. Here are my takeaways better than Roxy Music, not as good as Devo, but just like Texas, there's something 'weird' in the middle to spark anyone's imagination.

Bubble And Scrape

Sebadoh

3/5

One day my wife asked me if I knew who Lou Barlow was. She said she works with a woman who's his sister. Of course I knew who he was. I grew up a huge fan of Dinosaur Jr. and J. Mascis. But, it was a long time after Sebadoh formed before I started listening to them. And when I did this album had already come and gone. Harmacy was the first Sebadoh album I ever purchased, but it never grew on me and I'm pretty sure I sold it to Amoeba. Listening to this now, it still doesn't grow on me but it's way better than Harmacy. This is quintessential 90's alt-art-crap, hard to listen to today but cutting edge in the world it existed. This and other albums like it, proved anyone with something to say could be a musician, grow a following and build an album in their basement. "Corporate Rock Sucks!" was the rally cry This is the stuff at the other end. I suppose Indy Art Rock showed Corporate rock, but what it really did is prove that there's a market for lo-fi songs expressive songs like 'Fantastic Disaster' because what else are people going to do? Surf Insta and create Tik Toks? I'll never completely understand whatever happened between J. Mascis and Lou Barlow. Someone said JM threw a cymball at LBs head during a performance and walked out. I couldn't find any of that online, but I didn't search much 'cause I'm consumed with infinite Tik Tok scrolling.

Psychocandy

The Jesus And Mary Chain

4/5

The Jesus and Mary and Alice in Chains.... All of the Jesus bands run together. Am I the only one that has this problem? I think there was an article in an old Interview Magazine that tried capturing all of the bands that used the word 'Jesus' in their band name. The Jesus Lizard MC 900 Foot Jesus Jesus Jones Jesus and Mary Chain which I sometimes get mixed up with Alice in Chains. I can tolerate their music only in small doses, but I'm not a fan of Alice in Chains and have somehow always equated the two. Alice in Chains is super dated and doesn't translate to any era except for the Soundgarden-Seattle-garbage of the '90s. Though Jesus and Mary Chain blossomed during that same time they transcend different eras of music and time. Though this album is dated, it's still interesting to listen to. I'm a big fan of BRMC and I hear that a lot in this album and specifically on The Living End. The drone-y shoegaze-y vibes bleed from this album and the fuzzy reverb / feedback effects create an interesting feeling. It's almost as if they've figured out how to get time to just stand still. Just Like Honey is great, Some Candy Talking is too. There's a lot of distortion and feedback over some mellow singing / talking that creates an interesting juxtaposition. I can understand how some people would absolutely hate this and complain that all songs sound alike, but if you've got something good the last thing you'd do is change to something different.

Cosmo's Factory

Creedence Clearwater Revival

2/5

Dirty fuckin' hippies. CCR, will always occupy that space on the other side of the peace, happiness and 'love -will-save-us-all' flower power movement for me. Just over that line resides the stinky, up-all-night, bloated excesses with a dirty harmonica in a shirt pocket, otherwise known as Creedence Clearwater Revival. Though listening to this album did not change my, albeit narrow view of the band, I did find enjoyment in that Up Around the Bend intro and the the guitar picking in Ramble Tamble and Run Through the Jungle. However, as with any CCR album there are three things going on here that prevents me from ranking this album higher: 1. FOGERTY SINGING - (not sure which one 'cause I don't care) and his fake-ass southern drawl. These guys are from Cali. 2. That boxcar-harmonica paired acoustic twang-y guitar sound. 3. The dirty fuckin' hippies.

Beauty And The Beat

The Go-Go's

5/5

Though the song 'skidmarks on my heart' conjures juvenile giggling, there's not a bad thing I can say about this one. This album is 40+ years old and still spanks. I love the sound, the vocals and that they're an all female group with some talent. Sure, you say 'The Slits! The Slits!' and I say yeah, but there's that talent thing... While the Slits succeeded by playing with fervor and passion to limited scene audiences, the Go-Go's played with talent, structure with an appeal to a mainstream audience. These ladies inspired a ton of girls (Kathleen Hanna to name one) to be confident players and participants. The Go-Go's played their own instruments, wrote their own songs and, with *Belinda Carlisle's carefree tone, elevated post-punk from the gritty to the sunny. The Go-Go's, and this album, helped bridge a changing punk scene to include the brightness of 1980's Southern California. In a time when the emerging skate scene was a lower extension of the surf scene, the Go-Go's were an upward extension of a gritty anger associated with punk, a new scene was beginning. This album charted new territory eventually becoming the soundtrack for a new generation that included suburbia, girls, fashion and trips to the mall. --- *The original 'B Carlisle' once was a member of the Germs before the Go-Go's, which also means that Pat Smear is a super duper old.

Sound of Silver

LCD Soundsystem

5/5

Two wrongs don't make a right, but two negatives equal a positive ... (?) This is one of those albums that I should absolutely hate and for some reason I cannot explain, I absolutely love. The repetition, the fake-ass drum machines the doink! doink! doinks... should drive me crazy but I keep coming back to this album and all of LCDS work. The only thing I have to explain this is the underlying bitter tone and sarcasm of James Murphy. That paired along the mostly no frills pseudo-80's electronica acts a double negative. Best tracks, North American Scum, New York, I Love You, Get Innocuous!, Someone Great. Actually this whole album is great and should be required for anyone doing multiplication with two negatives.

Safe As Milk

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

4/5

I was there when Captain Beefheart started up his first band I told him, "Don't do it that way. You'll never make a dime."

Blonde On Blonde

Bob Dylan

4/5

Rainy day women is about my mom and her intrusive sister when they used to raid my room looking for my stash... Ha! I laugh at you... trying to rain on my parade. You two are clowns, every kid knows that the best place to keep your doobage is in the locker at school and guarded by a guillotine. Very convenient for those early morning detention sessions with Claire and the other fools. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUIAlHjdFGE

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

Richard Thompson

3/5

This is a little folky for me but the title track is killer. Great, great, great tune. Love Linda's voice on it. Her voice is slow, light and tangy while Richard's is reminiscent of Gordon Fitzgerald (yawn). Linda's voice grew on me over the course of listening to this album, but wasn't enough to elevate this into a four star rating. However, I'll add the Bright Lights track to a favorites playlist.

Born To Run

Bruce Springsteen

2/5

I think I've come to realize that I'm not a Springsteen fan. I think what he's come to embody, the working class hero, the common blue-collar guy has preceded his music. At least for my generation. I enjoyed Nebraska only to say that I listened with an open ear and an open heart, but this was kinda more of the same. I don't hate it, but I really don't like it and it's not something that I'd gravitate toward.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Beatles

5/5

I love Revolver, but Sgt. Pepper's is flawless. The album is so rich with content. I love the lore behind it, the album art, the music ... absolutely everything. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band is probably my favorite album of all time.

Walking Wounded

Everything But The Girl

3/5

This album makes me think I'm shopping at The Gap. I've missed that feeling ... like the desert's missed the rain.

Infected

The The

4/5

Man, Debbie Szyskowski was the coolest. She was the older sister of a friend. Debbie turned us on to so many different things in the 80's. Only a few years older than us she had the inside scoop on underground style and music. Sadly, she died of cancer in 2003 but she left an indelible mark on us younger kids by turning us on to bands like The The, Men Without Hats, Til Tuesday, Depeche Mode, and Yazoo. She was such a positive person and role model. She eventually left our small town for the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and we / I lost touch with her. I've got love for this album because of Debbie. Out of the Blue is great. This album capitalizes on white space, the lack of 'singing' the stripped down songs are a welcome change from tons of in-your-face lyrics and sounds. Less is more on this. . It's important to note the album Soul Mining, which emerged a few years before Infected. That has 'This is the Day, which for me, is timeless 80's nostalgia and possibly a better album.

Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen

5/5

Mid-80's skateboarding turned me on to a lot of music and of course, SST records. You could reliably point to any band signed to SST and know they were pretty embedded in punk scene of 80s SoCal. The omnipresence of the music we enjoy is deafening. It's hard to look back and imagine life without the music that we love. Music back then was not the solitary experience that is has become today. Music was hanging out at record stores, or was passed on through mix tapes. I missed the Minutemen but was a big fan of fIREHOSE which had a similar sound to Minutemen thanks to Mike Watt's bass. Fortunately, in the time of Spotify and most notably the theme song to Jackass, I've been able to spend some time with Minutemen and learn a little about D. Boone. But not like I have with Double Nickels on the Dime. Double Nickels on the Dime is great. I hear so much of the music that I like today. Most notably Parquet Courts, but also the dive bar scene with Johnny Rad in The Search for Animal Chin. fIREHOSE was great, but after listening to this album, they pale in comparison to the diversity and depth of Minutemen which, you'd have to admit was D. Boone, RIP. Great listen and happy to have discovered. I'll be listening to this album much more in the future.

Bitches Brew

Miles Davis

3/5

uhhhh... yeah. I want to like this and appreciate it like people sometimes do. But the truth is that I really like the album art more than the music. Maybe this is an 'experience' and since I 'say no to drugs' I assume I'll never truly appreciate this. I've heard samples of this in the wild ... Chi-Ali's Roadrunner song (yes, I listened to the Fabulous Chi-Ali, so what?) and I'm sure there are others out there. Full disclosure, I've tried getting through this many different times and even took a couple jazz theory classes and discussed this one. But, the only thing that is memorable is the bass line to roadrunner and the artwork. Sorry, Mr. Miles...

Winter In America

Gil Scott-Heron

3/5

Spotify couldn't find this album. I blame Joe Rogan and Neil Young. In light of this, I've listed to Johannesburg which is a live album by GSH featuring the song "Winter In America". This reminded me of some live poetry performance on stage in some bowery bar and getting stoned in the alley before going in for a beer. Super lounge-y, relaxing and all around mellow. The rest of the album he comes off like a true a performer, working the room with lots of positivity and good energy. I really liked his interaction with the audience and introductions between tracks.

I Against I

Bad Brains

4/5

Ugh. Growing up two hours south of DC I heard about BB all the time and specifically the antics of the lead singer H.R. But I could never listen to them all the way through. Maybe I didn't try hard enough, or maybe this just isn't as hard as it once was because I made it all the way through and to my surprise, it's listenable. I suppose Bad Brains broke the stereotype of black musicians being permanently tied to soul, jazz, reggae or rap and probably influenced one of my favorite bands of the late 80's / early 90's Living Colour and Ice-T's Body Count among others. Happy to have rediscovered this with fresh ears. https://www.presspop.toys/products/4560247870461

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive

Merle Haggard

4/5

Man, I really hate Country Music, But this album is just great. You know how fast food chains use bright oranges and yellows in their dining areas to subconsciously push you out of the restaurant when you're done eating? I think the two words 'Merle' and 'Haggard' do something to my subconscious and make me rank this album higher than I normally would. Here is how my brain interprets those two words: MERLE = super old, wrinkly, rural, complacent and full of hard-earned life lessons. HAGGARD = downtrodden and full of despair. I think the description of those two words fit this album. I mean, if his name was '(The)Getup Kids' I would hate this album. Well, anything named 'Get Up Kids' I would hate. I think it's just the simplicity, tempo and sweet pipes of ole Merle that gets to me and makes it work. Lonesome Fugitive makes me feel like I lifted a rock and found something interesting that I'll forget about in an hour.

Machine Gun Etiquette

The Damned

2/5

For a band named The Damned, this band sounds more like a bunch of wussie angels flying high above in some celestial rainbow cloud where it never rains. I was really disappointed in this album. I'd heard a few of the Damned songs, over the years but wasn't really impressed with listening to an entire album. The Damned(?), more like a bait and switch. I call shenanigans!

The ArchAndroid

Janelle Monáe

5/5

Wow. I was not expecting that. After so many ho-humdrum listening experiences, it's albums like this that reestablish my belief in this project. What a refreshing change from most everything else that I've listened to here. Highly recommend.

Heartattack And Vine

Tom Waits

2/5

Yeah for as much as I like Tom Waits, I really don't. The persona often times outshines the music, but what kind of music do you expect that persona to create? Welp, the kind of music I just listened to. My first exposure to Tom Waits was Down by Law, the Jim Jarmusch movie about three jailbirds, but I really didn't notice him until I watched Short Cuts. It took me a bit to realize that TW (or more likely Robert Altman) built that character on an existing real-life career and not vice-versa. After Short-Cuts, from that point on, I 'liked' Tom Waits. The drunk nightclub piano player / limo driver was a liar, and freeloader who leaned a little to heavily on his girlfriend played by Lily Tomlin. Tom Waits was just the character / hero that my Slacker generation wanted. But now, listening to his music and embellished raspy voice, and also the fact that we're 30 years removed from slacker-times, he doesn't appeal to me much anymore. An though the song 'In Shades' is nice, I can no longer condone the music or conduct of the persona, this man, Tom Waits. Sorry bud, dry out and start practicing some mindfullness... it'll change your life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GtfxvnnrbQ

New York Dolls

3/5

I don't want to work, I want to bang on the drum all day! Waking up early enough to catch the bus in high school was terrible, thankfully, the 'Q Morning Zoo' used to play the 'drum song' to get me outta bed. Hilariously, I learned that Mr. Drum Banger himself, Todd Rungren, was the first to sign the New York Dolls in '73. Everyone talks about this band being the ones to start off the whole scene in NYC. Perhaps their live shows were amazeballs, but the music I just listened to was just, kind of, meh. Placing all the Dolls in order it would go as follows: • Dresden Dolls (tie) • New York Dolls (tie) • Goo Goo Dolls

Here's Little Richard

Little Richard

3/5

Wow, Little Richard is WILD! Tons of energy coming from this. Jenny Jenny is perfect example. I'm guessing this broke down some barriers at the time. Tutti Frutti ... what is that euphemism again?

Make Yourself

Incubus

1/5

I hate this band.

Sound Affects

The Jam

4/5

I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would've. This album already had two strikes against it for being British and 80s. So I wasn't expecting much. But there's enough here to enjoy. Good baselines like on Start! and layers on Pretty Green. That's Entertainment, is a song I've heard before, I always thought it was Paul McCartney singing because all British people sound the same, but I really liked that one. I think I'd listen to this again for fun.

School's Out

Alice Cooper

3/5

AC's music is on par with my album reviews. Kinda like the promises from a roadside attraction that only leaves you empty, alone and directionless. Also similar to my reviews, I found this experience to be weak, uninspired and more akin to tying shoelaces than creating a masterpiece. We can't all be perfect, but we should at least be average.

Moondance

Van Morrison

5/5

Ahh yes. the original Ray LaMontagne. A guilty pleasure for sure, but those sweet VM pipes are like a gentle caress in the twilight of a fall meadow that I just cannot deny.

Virgin Suicides

Air

5/5

Super chill, with a slant toward the depressive side. This album is as depressing as the movie, but I'm a child of the '90s and pathetic grunge kid at heart.

evermore

Taylor Swift

2/5

As a pretty big Taylor Swift fan, “evermore” isn’t one of my favorite albums. “Evermore” was released during quarantine with “folklore” which is considered to be its “sister album.” Something about these two albums are very different from the rest of those written by Taylor Swift, and I think part of this is because she was bored while locked up during COVID; and what better time is there to try something new? While most of Taylor Swift’s previous album genres slowly and smoothly phased from country to pop country to pop rock to straight up pop music, “evermore” takes a complete turn into very soft, folk-like music. I find it to be very poetic and it is clear that metaphors are well thought out throughout her tracks on the album and while this may be appealing to some, it is not to me. When I think of “evermore” I think of music which resembles that of a lullaby. There is an elaborate use of acoustic guitar and piano and it gives me a very delicate feel and although the songs have deeper meanings, the melody often bores me. Her other albums such as “reputation”, “Speak Now”, and even “Fearless” where there is a large incorporation of acoustic guitars (similarly to “evermore”) all exhibit a common trait of power; it is as if I can feel the music throughout my body. In contrast, “evermore” is very subtle, and I often associate it as background music and really the only time I listen to it is whilst I study, or if I need music to cry to. It is too soothing, if that is possible. I don’t think I am the only one who feels this way about “evermore,” considering the only popular songs from the album tend to be more pop-like such as “willow,” “no body, no crime,” and “tolerate it.” These are all tracks that are still soft, but convey more emotion like most music in the pop genre. Taylor Swift is still my number one favorite artist, but I would definitely recommend almost any of her other albums over this one if I were trying to persuade a friend into listening to her music. - Guest Review supplied by 14yo swiftie

The Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails

5/5

Crazy that so much good music can come from so much noise. Closer was the hands down MTV favorite, and I think it won best video award of the year- and rightfully so, but the real winner on this album is the original emo classic, March of the Pigs. Oh yeah, I said it... March of the Pigs is emo... deal with that, people. Regardless, the range of emotion on this album is incredible. NIN is often thought of as a goth industrial band, but this album illustrates some of the far reaching talents of Trent Reznor. This album is so different from the music then or even now. Absolutely brilliant.

(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)

Lynyrd Skynyrd

4/5

In the early '90s I worked at a pool hall with a jukebox in the corner. That machine must've made a million dollars off of Sweet Home Alabama. I hate that song. At the beginning of week 2 I resorted to placing a piece of masking tape with a sign on the glass that read "Selection J2 is unavailable, DO NOT USE," That lasted two days and then I resorted to unplugging the entire machine. Pool halls without music are super boring tho. Eventually I quit and haven't listened to Lynyrd Skynyrd ... until today. I'm pleasantly surprised. Maybe it's the nostalgia. Maybe it's all the barbecue and cheap beers I've been consuming this morning. Or, maybe it's these dang overalls I can't seem to fit myself into while wearing a t-shirt. Whatever it is, these guys rock.

C'est Chic

CHIC

4/5

"Dead as Disco" I think is a line that came from Reservoir Dogs. But I still enjoy me some good disco music from time-to-time. I really don't think it needed to die such an abrupt death. C'est Chic has some great tracks on it that I recognize, but also some complete duds like At Last I Am Free and Savior Faire. Bth pretty lame. But this album evokes some of the glamour of the early glamour of the cocaine era and high pile carpeting. I appreciated reading the Wikipedia entry on them really filled in some dead space on this era and this band which noted that CHIC was one of the true bands of the era not relying on producers to create a sound. Would I listen to this again...? Yes, absolutely. I'd put this on while hanging out nude on my tiger skin rug with my concubines or on the way to a costume party.

Time (The Revelator)

Gillian Welch

3/5

Rev Ya Later! I wasn't ready for this album on the first go. GW's voice is great, I feel like she's carrying the weight of everyone on her shoulders. This is the new generation of folk music, I can't think of another way to describe it. Revelator hits those feelies that you bury away. It's raw, slow, plain, reflective and heartfelt. It's like a doorway to and old-time-y musical dimension that I've never experienced. I can't think of a time that I'd pick this up to listen to, but I'm happy to have the pleasure of turning this on.

At Newport 1960

Muddy Waters

2/5

I lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade and it may shock you that nobody went to the beach. The beach was for tourists. Santa Monica beach, and especially Venice Beach was dirty and gross. If you wanted to go swimming you went south. Manhattan, Beach .. Redondo Beach ... still pretty gross. Newport Beach, now that's where you went if you really wanted to go swimming, But now I hear there's Muddy Waters at Newport Beach and it's not very good and in fact kinda sad, boring and not really worth the drive. By the time you get there, you may be thinking to yourself ... that's a lotta hype, was it even worth it...?

Protection

Massive Attack

2/5

This was mediocre, but I liked it more than Blue Lines, still not as much as Mezzanine. Perhaps because I listened to that constantly for awile. Title track was the best but even still I wasn't a huge fan of Tracey Thorn's voice. This album was a mediocre late 70's album that was brought into the 90's with an updated synthesizer, some industrial percussion and looping samples. Why isn't Mezzanine on this list?

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths

3/5

The music is fine, but can we please replace Morrissey's vocals with with William Hung's. "She bang!"

If You're Feeling Sinister

Belle & Sebastian

3/5

This album is very adequate. Folk music for people who like cats. The vocal intonations make me think of Stereolab, but in less a good way. I expect there is a big audience for this, but I'm not part of it.

69 Love Songs

The Magnetic Fields

3/5

F this album. My max attention span for music on this platform peters out at 45 mins. and I begin deducting stars after an hour. Similar to Elon Musk creating companies for the sole purpose of making people talk about 'sex' (SpaceX), this band seems to have made up an painful number of 'love' songs so it could use '69' in the title. And the last time I checked, 69's are not supposed to be painful. That said, this was a unique album with some memorable songs. Like two ... of SIXTY-NINE.

Run-D.M.C.

2/5

Though I couldn't find any hood ornaments to wear around my neck, I still I put on my Shells and dug up my Kangol to listen to this album. ... and wow. I mean, uhhhh wow... Yeah, I was super excited to listen to this but then I realized that this is the one BEFORE the good one. Regardless, it provided a good reference point from how far they evolved from this album to Raising Hell in the span of 2 years. Hard Times and It's Like That are familiar jams, but this is almost comical to listen to now. One important observation to note about this... that It's rare to find someone in your life who'll finish your sentences for you. So glad these three found each other.

21

Adele

3/5

Every couple of years a singer like Adele comes through with a breakout album that's been promoted, marketed and consequently adored by all the early/mid-30's, recently married (mostly) women. There were the Celines, the Didos, the McLachlans, the Tunstalls and countless others. Now, it may not be fair for me to lop them all in together, because they're not all the same, but they all serve the I Heart Radio enthusiasts that gobble up this homogenized stuff. There's nothing wrong with 21, but there's nothing amazing about it either. It's plain vanilla. I can say that. I'm a dabbler in the I Heart Radio world and I've even got a special place for the tunes that I find there. That place is called my 'guilty pleasures' playlist. You'll find artists like Vanessa Carlton, Counting Crows, Jane Weaver and Cracker there. If you're an artist tho, there's no clear path to gaining acceptance to this coveted and enviable playlist. Yes, Adele has a great voice, amazing even. All of the women above do. But unfortunately, this is just like so many others and doesn't resonate as anything special.

Emergency On Planet Earth

Jamiroquai

2/5

Never was a fan of the Q-Annon Shaman. But I do like your shoes.

Group Sex

Circle Jerks

3/5

"I just want some skank!" Hell yeah, who can say no to that? "I don't want to live 'til I'm 34, I don't want to die in a nuclear war..." True-dat! "I've got the world up my ass!..." umm yeah, sad story. "Beverly Hills, Century City, all the people look the same, don't they know they're so damn lame...?" - I couldn't agree more. At nearly 50, I'm definitely not the target audience for this. But there's some great unfocused anarchist energy on this. Love the song lengths and that I could hear the lyrics. But I think it falls short of being substantial or consequential. Would've loved to be at one of these shows tho.

The Boatman's Call

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

4/5

I've been looking for a Halloween costume. Do you think I can go as Nick Cave? Three-piece suit with tie. Unbuttoned collared shirt and slicked back long-dark hair. Heh, it would never work, 'm not that cool. NC seems like such a badass cool-guy that I WANT to like him. However, my listening experience similar to a 'bleak and fish-less sea'. So I listened again. Manly vocals, piano and gentle drumming. This is stripped down music. No frills. Nick Cave seems like he lives in a dirty dive bar and chain smokes Winstons with his band. He is stressed and oppressed by the world above him. Down here, he owns his domain. He's thoughtful and means every word he breathes. The first listen was joyless and settled me down in a chair of disappointment. The second time I listened was right after the first and it became the only bright spot of my day ... BECAUSE I HAD SPENT THE MORNING LISTENING TO IT. What a depressing and honest mess. Nick, go outside and spend some time in the sun, buddy, that bar is killing you.

Bad

Michael Jackson

3/5

Dirty Diana! Can I get a high-pitched 'He! He!'? Wondering if Librarian Girl and Dirty Diana are the same person. You know, librarian by day, moonlighting as dirty Diana when the lights are turned out? Dirty Diana is Bad, and is probably also the Smooth Criminal. Oh, wait. Hold on, That's Liberian Girl, so I guess she's a staunch devotee of Rand Paul, then? Not sure what politics has to do with this album, but whatevvs. This album Bad, is uhh, badly showing its age. Thankfully there's some songs on this that have been immortalized by youth and still makes for an interesting drive down memory lane. "He! He!"

Pornography

The Cure

4/5

Dark repetition, droning on and on ... Dark repetition, droning on and on ... Dark repetition, droning on and on ... Dark repetition, droning on and on ... Dark repetition, droning on and on ... Dark repetition, droning on and on ... Dark repetition, droning on and on ... Dark repetition, droning on and on ... "That's what I like!"

Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Lana Del Rey

3/5

Shocked to see a relatively contemporary musician in my feed. I'd heard a lot about LDR, but never got a chance to listen to her. I wouldn't call this album extraordinary, but more like extra ordinary or perhaps extra normal. I suppose if I were to delve into the lyrics there might be something there, but after one listen this wasn't the album for me.

Funeral

Arcade Fire

5/5

Who knew I needed this? One of the only albums that I can remember being embraced by everyone that listened to it. Amazing and awesome.

Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Immigrant song is so overplayed. It's good, but really, the best song on this album is "Since I've Been Loving You." Led Zeppelin III has a lot of the lesser played songs, but it still cooks. Fifty years later, Plant and Page just cannot be paralleled. Not their best, but still an amazing album. Tons of energy and great guitar riffs.

E.V.O.L.

Sonic Youth

3/5

Love Sonic Youth, don't love this album. Experimentation isn't what it used to be.

Mr. Tambourine Man

The Byrds

1/5

This is the quintessential Byrds album thad generates terrible BMs. Such sickly sweet cumbaya bullshit. Thank goodness all Byrds albums don't sound like this. In spite of this album, the Byrds have been one of the most surprising and interesting artists on the list. But I never would've known it because of this Tambourine Man garbage. Do yourself a favor and listen to Notorious Byrd Brothers before making a decision on this band. This album is just plain awful.

That's The Way Of The World

Earth, Wind & Fire

3/5

Is Justin Timberlake on this ... ? Maybe in the background of Way of the World ... Go ahead, listen for it, you'll hear him... This album makes me think of one of those late '70s Lincoln Town Cars that'll hold all your friends but won't fit into your garage. How big is EW&F, anyhow? Too big for my Prius, that's for sure. Lots of sounds coming off of this album, the falsetto voices from every direction are maddening but the horns and Love Boat keyboards somehow make up for it. I like the bass lines in some of the duds, but all tallied, this was about what I expected from this album, that is to say outdated and a relic of the past that won't get much more play from me.

Punishing Kiss

Ute Lemper

4/5

This album is fucking hilarious. Ute Lempter is the female German version of John Mulaney. I feel like this is a in a 57 minute SNL skit of cabaret absurdity. For example... "your head is a big red balloon" "my pretty breasts are piled high with stones ... and tiny little fishes enter me" "if sex were an Olympic sport, we would've won the gold..." and from the whorehouse song... "I got the brain, and she supplied the breast ... " It's all so terrible. If this is supposed to be serious, then it's really sad and ... terrible. But if this is a huge joke (which it seems to be), then it's great. It did get tiresome after the first 30+ mins., but this album was a welcome bit of levity on 1001.

Steve McQueen

Prefab Sprout

3/5

For British 80's music, this was almost tolerable. I didn't mind the vocals as much as the extreme 80's synth. Regardless, if you miss the 80's and enjoy randomly buying vintage / quirky things from the thrift store, this album is for you.

Nowhere

Ride

2/5

Though exited to listen to this album again, it fell flat on these aging 2024 ears. Nowhere felt limp and flaccid after the the first few tracks of whirring tin-y reverb and earnest, yet failing, vocals. When this was released, this may have been hailed as a groundbreaking shoegaze or back step in rock (much needed at the time), but it's hard to hear this in 2024 and not think of a couple of unsophisticated young teens playing on a parent's vintage guitar amps while the router is being reset. I can see the appeal of Nowhere to a younger generation in this age of abundance and hype over 'what's old is new again' and the desire to find something that doesn't sound like everything. But this is not the album that lingers as a memento and is more like a forgotten relic to be casually discarded when cleaning out your parents house after they've moved on. "Yep, I remember that. More importantly, the internet is back..."

Rock 'N Soul

Solomon Burke

2/5

Throwback to an era that didn't have color TVs, electricity, or the modern wheel. I felt like I was in the high school gymnasium from Back To The Future just before Marty McFly plugs in his guitar. Though it's fun to listen for a chuckle, this sound belongs in a museum not in my library.

The Cars

5/5

Phoebe Cates boobies. That is all.

Fishscale

Ghostface Killah

2/5

Uhh. Yeah, hate the topics and personality of most all of these songs, but totally dig the beats behind a couple of them. 9 Milli Bros, for one, is great. Also, dig the 1970s vibes that run behind a lot of these songs. However, the underworld thug-y garbage themes rest above the beats is super-disappointing and difficult to listen to.

Sincere

Mj Cole

2/5

Great voice. Could barely get thru the first hour so I’m assuming the second hour was like the first.

Music From The Penguin Cafe

Penguin Cafe Orchestra

5/5

Johnny Greenwood came to mind while listening to this. I love it when I'm surprised. I really enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Great discovery.

Siembra

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades

4/5

This makes me think of Three's Company for some reason. I was super excited about watching Chrissy, Janet and Jack trade sexual innuendos in front of Stanley. Similar to this album, I didn't understand really what was going on, what was transpiring, but it seemed fun and sexy and made me happy nonetheless. This too, puts a smile on my face and would happily listen to this again.

Are You Experienced

Jimi Hendrix

5/5

Most people agree, the 1001 ratings scale should top out at 11. This survey says it all. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/92Y86QN

All Hail the Queen

Queen Latifah

2/5

"Give it to 'em, Queen!" Brings back memories of cross colors, guess jeans and wearing solid red Reeboks. Coincidentally those are the same memories I try to keep buried.

Ritual De Lo Habitual

Jane's Addiction

5/5

If God exists they probably sound like Perry Farrell. Best album of the early 90's.

Neon Bible

Arcade Fire

4/5

Was this before or after Edwin started the rape? I'm too lazy to jump in to the minutiae of the headlines. I mean, if someone yells 'rapist', then they are cancelled. Easy-peasy. I like things simple. I'm a headline guy and just can't be bothered. But, I'm also an optimist so I'm going to assume this was before the assaults, because it's the music that matters, right...?

Odelay

Beck

5/5

Listening to this I feel like Beck took $100 to the thrift and bought a bunch of 'junk' including vintage hi-fi reel-to-reels, a broken 80's camcorder, some garden tools, a bed frame, and a didgeridoo, then paired them with a guitar, two-turntables and a microphone and turned it into something great. This album is super catch-y, it's fun and I always find something that I'd never heard before. Love this album. It is perhaps the last great analog album prior to the absolute dominance of today's digital production techniques.

Dire Straits

3/5

Evidently Men at Work and Dire Straits are two different bands. Somehow I put this album on and ended up listening to Colin Hay thinking "this is a really good album." Then, I realized that I had to listen to a different one. One that was less enjoyable called Dire Straits. Dire Straits is like a ham sandwich. Yes, this is music. This has vocals, this has a beat. But, nobody ever says to themselves at 9:00 a.m. "mmmm, I cant' wait to eat that ham sandwich I brought for lunch today." However, if it's 7:00 p.m and you haven't eaten since Thanksgiving, that ham sandwich sounds really good. I just finished scrambled eggs, oatmeal and a sky-high stack of pancakes for breakfast. I'm good.

Fuzzy

Grant Lee Buffalo

3/5

This album sounds a lot like the 90's soft rock drivel that rides the line between real music and Bruce Hornsby. It's very similar to the band Live who appealed to a broad range of college kids studying to be lawyers and also to those who dropped out because it was too hard. Grant Lee Buffalo takes it's music too seriously and Fuzzy laces in angsty-dramatic vocals with inconsequential lyrics of banal stories. Fuzzy is in love with itself and plays too smart while simultaneously being ordinary. Regardless of all that, you may easily find yourself bobbing your head to the song Grace, and forced to declare it a guilty pleasure.

Abbey Road

Beatles

5/5

I've never realized it until listening to this album just now that four individual tracks, starting with Sun King are not all just one. Until now I thought all four were one continuous track. [Sun King / Mean Mr. Mustard / Polythene Pam / She Came in Through the Bathroom Window] Not the best Beatles album in my opinion, side one and side two have different vibes. Regardless, this good enough to make this list. Hard to imagine ever scoring the Beats at a less than five. But this rides just above the cusp of a four.

Future Days

Can

4/5

Great stoner rock stuff. Can just disappear in the repetition and get lost until you get to the other side, man. Ya dig?

If I Should Fall From Grace With God

The Pogues

4/5

This makes me want to go fast, drink beer and hangout at the pub with the wee ones who guard pots of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones

5/5

I feel a little guilty giving the RS another 5, but damn, I really like love this one too...

Songs From A Room

Leonard Cohen

2/5

blah, blah, blah, poetry, poetry, poetry... This is just more suck from the voice of LC. Is it true that Leonard Cohen has risen from beyond the grave to create 1001 as a way of promoting ALL of his albums? In other words, 'why do these albums keep showing up?'

I Should Coco

Supergrass

3/5

Lively, good fun from the 90's. Nothing wrong with this one.

Connected

Stereo MC's

3/5

Gotta get yourself connected, writing's on the wall, blah, blah, blah bedected, stumble you might fall (stumble you might fall). Never heard anything except that song and there's a reason for it. Though, the rest of the album is decent, it's nothing to worry yourself over. Being disconnected from this album doesn't matter much in 2022.

We Are Family

Sister Sledge

4/5

Is Sister Sledge the long lost sister to Zero 7? Okay, but maybe great grandmother. Regardless, I loved this way more than I thought I would. Specifically, the track You're a Friend to Me... sooo good.

You've Come a Long Way Baby

Fatboy Slim

1/5

I used to think that Fatboy Slim was a joke. Like a prank on orchestrated by Spike Jonze. It wasn't hard to imagine him moonlighting as a half-assed DJ / Producer. The Director has broad endeavors. He was behind Jackass, is silent partner for Girl skateboards, had a major part in the Three Kings film, and was plugged in in to the 90's music scene while making super-creative, award winning music videos. Yeah, I was under the impression that FBS was Spike Jonze who was made terrible music to pair with creative visions for MTV. It seemed totally plausible. I don't think I was the only person to believe this or consider the possibility that our celebrities have alter egos. Andy Kaufman and Tony Clifton comes to mind, and later, Andrew WK who was accused of doing something similar. Anyhow, I really dismissed that this was real music created with earnest effort. I think SJ had some great videos, was super talented and very creative. Somehow, it never occurred to me that if SJ had created music, it would've sounded a lot better than this.

Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche

Koffi Olomide

1/5

From the time this album starts, I think I'm gonna watch some 90's sitcom. Then the vocals begins and it's apparent that I"m about to watch a Pixar short about a raspberry that fell off the vine and is about to get eaten by a worm, but manages to escape. Then I read his Wikipedia page and noticed that he was accused and found guilty of statutory rape. And I thought ... you know the music I've heard so far is enough to make a judgement on this album...

Like A Prayer

Madonna

3/5

Wow! Was really looking forward to this album and then I listened to it. Ugh, I'm not sure why. Still, Cherish and Express Yourself are straight up guilty pleasures.

Tigermilk

Belle & Sebastian

3/5

Listening to this album is like raking leaves and doing yard work I don't mind doing.

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

George Michael

2/5

Went down a rabbit hole exploring James Brown's Funky Drummer while listening to this album (it was sampled on Waiting for That Day). That's never a good sign, but I enjoyed some great James Brown, (Thank you George Michael). The album was fine. I do have some respect for the great George Michael (RIP), but after this album, couldn't exactly remember why.

Dummy

Portishead

5/5

The title and cover art on this is just haunting, isn't it? I get a perfect illustration of what the music will sound like visually. Dummy is tied to the times. If I had heard this for the first time today, I don't think I'd understand it as well. However, I spent the better part of six months listening to this CD on repeat in the early 90's and it is amazing.

All Mod Cons

The Jam

4/5

I gave it some time, it's growing on me.

Fuzzy Logic

Super Furry Animals

4/5

This is a hard listen on a morning with a hangover. If I'd known about this last night, I'd be worse off today. I spent yesterday drinking alone, stalking Facebook for old girlfriends, thinking of all the tail I slayed and all the acid I ate. This would've been the perfect soundtrack.

Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts

The Adverts

3/5

I like the simplicity of this album, also hate the simplicity of the album. Also, I'm tiring of the guitar. Good quality effort and appreciate the Gary Gilmore track which pokes fun at whomever got the infamous murderer's corneas after he was executed. This music elicits a yes, but it also elicits a 'no' because there really aren't many bands that I like with British singers. I like my bands to speak American.

Van Halen

5/5

Hell yeah! Halen is and has always been DLR, not Hagar. This album kicked ass and was way more fun than I remember. I should be listening to this way more often.

Femi Kuti

3/5

I used to think that Femi Kuti was Kid's dad. But then I realized that there was no relation. I think I should get my ears checked. Speaking of getting my ears checked, I don't think listening to this album helped much. Lotsa cacophonous calamities on this album. It's upbeat, fun and rides the line between something that I might listen to and that I won't ever listen to again.

Tapestry

Carole King

4/5

You learn something new every day. Today I learned that the person singing on this album does not play Latka's wife, Simka Dahblitz-Gravas on Taxi. The album is decent and brought back a lot of memories. Most of them included listening to the AM radio while standing up in the front seat of my parents' Caprice Classic as it cruised down the freeway to pickup my dad from work. Child safety, meh. Great trip down memory lane. I feel like James Taylor is somehow tied to this album too. I don't care for JT, but I did like Taxi, Latka & Simka and that behemoth of a car, the Caprice Classic.

Planet Rock: The Album

Afrika Bambaataa

2/5

Remember when you thought that Breakin' was the best movie ever until Electric Boogaloo came out and then you couldn't decide? Well, this album takes you baaack in time and proves that you are better off where you are now. Though I did enjoy doing a deep dive into the rabbit hole of Renegades of Funk, I didn't feel like this was something that I'd listen to again. I get it, Afrikka Bambaataa was an innovator, a godfather of early hip-hop and a super important figure we should have some knowledge of and respect for ... (Poppin', sockin', rockin' puttin' a side of hip-hop ... 'Cause where we're goin', there ain't no stoppin') If I listen to this album again, it'd probably be on my way to an 80's-themed breakdance party.

Tonight's The Night

Neil Young

3/5

Joe Rogan ruined my Neil Young experience. No Soup For You!

Aja

Steely Dan

4/5

My sister named her Doberman Pinscher bitch Asia, but she spells it Aja. They're American. She, my sister, not the dog, has a full mouth of fillings. Aja, the album, not the dog, is her favorite music to play when getting her teeth drilled. Dr. Goldman agrees.

Green River

Creedence Clearwater Revival

2/5

I love the sound of the guitar. So old and gritty, just gettin' it done, but I really hate the dude's voice and all I can picture in my head is a crazed Dennis Hopper full of stink and LSD from Easy Rider. ...and that's what ruins pretty much any CCR album.

Africa Brasil

Jorge Ben Jor

4/5

This is way better than I thought it would be. Lotsa fun, super dynamic and full of energy. No idea what they're saying but would've loved to've been part of this party.

Teen Dream

Beach House

3/5

This was great ... for the first little while, but I grew tired of them. The 'instant five!' I was feeling after the first two songs dwindled considerably over the course of the album. Though I appreciated all of the repetitive electronica, I felt like I was watching the soundtrack to a murky coming-of-age teen drama that only goes in circles. Granted, there would've been a time in my life that I may have thought this was a great use of 49 minutes on repeat, but eventually you get kicked out of your apartment, have your cell phone shutoff and get your car towed because you've refused to grow up or change. This is the album that fills in time before all of that happens.

KIWANUKA

Michael Kiwanuka

5/5

Kinda blown away on this... The album has a lot of characteristics of the early 70s soul albums but combines contemporary instruments and recording techniques making this a must-listen. The tone is soft, somber and enlightening. Like nothing I've heard before. A true find all the way through.

The Age Of The Understatement

The Last Shadow Puppets

1/5

Classic bait and switch here.... You show me some hot model babe from the '60s on the cover and you present me with rotgut Arctic Monkey bullshit. Why does this singer have to ruin everything good in life...? Decent 60 psych vibe but Alex the Monkey pisses all over it. Distasteful and disappointing.

Frank

Amy Winehouse

2/5

Sucks when you're really looking forward to an album and it falls flat. But it really sucks when you're looking forward to an album and you desperately need it to stop after the third song. The indiscriminate use of ups-and-downs, ins-and-outs of her voice (contralto?) drove me bonkers. I assume this was involuntary or she hadn't ever heard a recording of her work. Love AW's voice and singing in VERY SMALL DOSES. My max is really about 3 consecutive songs. I muscled through, but was ready to quit after track 3.

A Seat at the Table

Solange

2/5

Snoozefest... Amazing voices are a everywhere and this is just one more of them. She even sounds half asleep when she's singing. I hear nothing on this album except zzzzzz's...

Out of Step

Minor Threat

5/5

"The 'core is gettin' soft..." Wish there was more like this ... So good.

Fragile

Yes

2/5

Great riff on that South Side of the Sky track, but the electric organ signature sound of Yes has always been a turnoff. Five Percent Nothing sounds like it was written by Mike Watt. Not sure if that's a lute but some of these tracks make me think I'm at some overpriced dinner theatre watching yawnable Shakespeare plays. Though there are some familiar tracks here and also some likeable characteristics of the album like those riffs and unexpected pauses, Yes's Fragile is a big no.

The Köln Concert

Keith Jarrett

4/5

I thought Keith Jarrett was a country star. I know I've spent some time living under rocks in my life but this is not what I expected country music to sound like. Great stuff. Maybe I need to go check out Bocephus next.

Odessey And Oracle

The Zombies

4/5

It's hard to listen to this and not imagine you're in some Wes Anderson film. I love Wes Anderson films, they seem to defy time and have a wholesome, yet irregular feel to them. I get the same feeling when listen to Odessey and Oracle. Also, Time of the Season is terribly overplayed... I've deducted a star for that one.

L.A. Woman

The Doors

4/5

My dad saw The Doors when he was younger. Said JM was totally drunk and fucked up. It was a terrible show and evidently near the end of his life. Nothing did more to form my opinion of The Doors than the Oliver Stone film. JM was a god when that came out. The film ignited an huge interest in poetry, booze, dope, leather pants and kinky sex in my babyfaced 10th grade circle. "Hippy drug culture lovers unite!" Spending some deeper time with this album proved there was more to The Doors thank Jim Morrison and Peace Frog, but not much more. I really enjoyed the bluesy Cars Hiss by my Window and, the trippy L'America. It is apparent that JM really was the power behind the band. I can't imagine the Doors being successful with any other frontman or enjoying the Riders on the Storm without a cool buzz.

Roger the Engineer

The Yardbirds

3/5

Had tried listening to this years ago and just couldn't get through it. When someone tells you about the Yardbirds when you're going thru your Zeppelin phase, you assume Yardbirds are at least similar. There's a vast ocean between Zeppelin and Yards, it's hard to believe they're even related. I mean there are some good tracks here (Nazz are Blue, Lost Woman), but there's crap on this for sure, WTF is the Farewell, and Make Your Way...(?). The guitar licks are distorted sweet the bass lines too (He's always there, I'm lookin' at you). Definitely hear some great stuff to build with and happy to have the excuse to revisit this.

Foxbase Alpha

Saint Etienne

2/5

Granted, it's been about fifteen years since this came out, but it's still seems to emulate music that was being produced 10 years prior to its release. At one point in my life, say like 25 years ago, I would've listened to a few times. Today, this is lackluster and obsolete, kinda like cable TV ... it still works, but why waste your time.

This Year's Model

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

2/5

Lotsa music coming out of this one, but it all sounds roughly the same. Elvis Costello is like the Tony Danza of music. Execs keep him around because people don't hate him and he can economically produce entertainment to make some coin. Brits have no use for Tony Danza and I've got nothing for this album.

At Mister Kelly's

Sarah Vaughan

2/5

This is the most demur live show I've ever heard. It's a little unsettling. A black woman at a club in 1957 standing in front of an audience singing and in between songs addressing the audience with politeness and niceties. You can hear the whiteness in the golf claps from the audience. Sarah Vaughan has a great voice very similar to Ella Fitzgerald. The piano softly keying in the background and a measured delivery by Sarah V creates a really eerie experience... Beware of your surroundings when listening to this. For example if there's an older woman slowly stirring her tea with a metal spoon near you ... GET OUT!

Let It Be

The Replacements

5/5

Lotta memories associated with this this album and this sound. I was fortunate to have lived a great childhood with some absent parents who in the summer would dump me at the sailing club as race crew for regattas. Those boats were often skippered by older kids, who probably weren't more than 15 or 16 at the time. Greg, nicknamed me 'Tober' because I was quiet. He and Bobby turned me onto girls, shitty beer and music like this album and the Femmes in the late summer evening sun while putting the Thistle's away for the night. The Replacements made even more appearances while I was in high school. Let it Be was viewed as a rebellious slant in my middle-class, conservative suburban Va neighborhood, but more importantly a favorite of my preferred 'ladyfriends' of the days. Wow... those were good days... we didn't know how amazing those times were... and this album gets me right back there. I could get lost in this one ... So good.

Red Headed Stranger

Willie Nelson

4/5

Is Willie Nelson a country musician? ... I hate country with a passion, especially this newer stuff labeled 'country' Maybe the better question is what is country music? Because, this Willie Nelson album would've been considered 'country' in its day, but maybe that's just because of where it originated and recorded... Texas. But to me this doesn't fit the container of what I'd refer to as 'country' maybe 'classic country' is a better term for this. I liked it, it's hard not to like him, or at least not appreciate him in small doses which is exactly what this is. RHS is relaxing. It's low-key. It's true and sung from the heart and the best part is it's only 33 mins. long. That's probably the most 'country' I've ever consumed in one sitting. :)

The Number Of The Beast

Iron Maiden

3/5

Better than turd soup.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

2/5

Don't you mean "Ms. Lauryn HIll" ... ? Though I didn't try to listen to it until today, this never resonated with me... and unfortunately, still doesn't. I think for its time, this was considered phenomenal. Today it just sounds kinda old.

Hysteria

Def Leppard

3/5

There was really no way to escape this album when I was a kid and like it or not, it was part of my childhood. Hysteria was part of the 1980's straight cheese. I'm talking big hair, highlights, perms, collars up on my jean jacket and high top reeboks on my feet. Casey Kasem on radio, Hulk Hogan on my wall and Winstons. This was the mainstream version of Metallica and just popped just before the rise of GnR. Lamestream, mainstream. This seems to have aged appropriately, unlike the rest of us. Still a good listen today.

Gorillaz

3/5

I feel like an underaged teen with an intense desire to buy cigarettes ... "you had me at 'cartoons'" Cigarettes taste like shit, make your teeth yellow and breath stink. But Joe Camel was a super cool dude. What I'm getting at here is this album isn't as good as its branding and I'm disappointed. But I have a question... If I buy all the albums and turn in Gorillaz Cash, can I get a cheap tote with an oversized logo?

Black Monk Time

The Monks

5/5

Off-the-beaten-path and hokey and spastic in places, but these guys took a risk. Though they fizzled, easy to find the influences in other music that I enjoy.

Happy Trails

Quicksilver Messenger Service

5/5

Three takeaways: - Kevin Bacon was a terrible day trader, but didn't know he made music - "happy trails" -heh - Where You Love is terrible - otherwise this is one of the greatest stoner rock albums ever -

Veckatimest

Grizzly Bear

5/5

This is sufficiently quirky and also mainstream. I've heard a few of these and had assumed they were part of the Animal Collective (that's Panda Bear, not Grizzly Bear), but what do I know? uhh everything (duh). Such as... DYK Grizzly Bears make great pets? And, they can also be trained to balance balls on their noses and drive carnival cars. This Gizzly Bear Veckatimest is very enjoyable and I've decided it'll be standard listening while teaching my own Grizzly that eating people is not okay.

Parklife

Blur

2/5

Is it possible that all the music we loved when we were young really, in reality sucked? Were our parents right when they said you're music is awful? Do the new experiences and experimentations that happen when we're younger cloud our judgement? Case in point, this was an album that I casually listened to thirty years ago and can barely tolerate it today. Music is so tied to personal experiences, and I did have a good time growing up, especially during my college years, but I suppose we all do things we'd rather forget, listening and spending money on this album may well be one of them. Again, my younger self would hate me #tooyoungtobeold #realityhurts

The Rise & Fall

Madness

3/5

Spotify gave me four songs worth about 15 mins., that was plenty. By no fault of their own, this gets high marks. By fault of their own, this album sucks.

Parallel Lines

Blondie

4/5

It's easier to fall in love with Debbie Harry than the Blondie, but they're a package deal, so...

2112

Rush

4/5

Ahh, another one from the Holy Triumvirate. This is a good one to slap the bass to, especially the A side, because it's the same track for 20+ mins.

Metallica

3/5

Up until this one, the only people that listened to Metallica were the sport-os, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads, they all thought these guys were righteous dudes. But then this album was released and the radio stations around the country wore this out and everyone listens to them. Now the original fans see Lars Ulrich as a total ass and James Hetfield, a lil bitch.

Face to Face

The Kinks

4/5

I feel out-of-sorts, like I"m part of an offbeat British family living in an abstract era straddling the 60's and 80s. Listening to Kinks albums are like experiencing Wes Anderson films. I like Wes Anderson films.

Follow The Leader

Korn

1/5

I feel like my ears have been scrolling through awkwardfamilyphotos.com for the past 67 mins. After the entertainment subsides and the WTF settles in, you begin wondering why you're even listening to this. Once that happens, the embarrassment takes hold. Especially after finding out that Ice Cube decided to be a part of this album. I would note the Fred Durst appearance, but that's like kicking this album when it's already down. Terrible, but there's worse stuff on this list... Linkin Park, I'm lookin' at you.

Fleet Foxes

4/5

Damn, this is some depressing shit. Bon Iver's For Emma coincided with My FIL's death, it also coincided with the release of this album. Both played continuously on my ipod for about six months. This FF album was what I put on when I was tired of feeling miserable. Anyhow, it's hard to extricate that from this listen. RIP Dick.

The Stooges

5/5

Dirty garage rock and psychodelia of the 70's. Somehow the Stooges evade all of the dirty hippie shit that I associate with 1969. Michigan is a long way from NorCal and the west coast, I guess. While everyone was busy being anti-war the Stooges were just enjoying getting fucked up and smearing hamburger meat on their chests. I appreciate the wry unrefined sound and loose play. We Will Fall goes a little too deep for me, but the 'don't care / fuck all, ethos is exciting and fun.

My Generation

The Who

1/5

General Zod, aka Pete Townsend will never do anything that surprises me. The talentless ass continues to ignite frustration whenever I'm forced to listed to his band The Who. I'd gladly put Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli in the ring with Pete Townsend and root for Pharma Bro to win provided it means kicking the shit outta PT. Is it ironic that PT sings about the kids being alright when we all know this is not the case when he's around them. One star fucktard.

Meat Puppets II

Meat Puppets

5/5

We're all just a bunch of Meat Puppets controlled by the evil corporate government and secret societies. They all tell me that I should give this five stars... "Thank you, sir. May I have another...

Amnesiac

Radiohead

5/5

I'm a reasonable man, but you've gotta admit this isn't as good as their other stuff, either before or after. Still a five, tho.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie

5/5

This album makes me feel like William Miller, the Cameron Crowe character in Almost Famous, the kid that's out of his element, exposed to a world that's captured his interest but keenly aware he has no place in. This the hole into that black box of 70's emerging glam rock. A world that I'll never fully understand or know. But I like it. I've heard Bowie referred to as the most overrated artist on this list... Now, I'm no professional rater, but there are plenty others more overrated than Bowie on this list (Nick Cave, The Who, Leonard Cohen, etc.). But I get the point. Out of six albums, this is the first that has not let me down. I love the guitar, punky lo-fi influences associated costumes, personas and strange otherworldly themes. If I was only a kid traveling with Bowie trying to get an interview for Rolling Stone magazine in the 70's...

Music Has The Right To Children

Boards of Canada

5/5

I was listening to a lot of Blonde Redhead when this was released. This album opened up a new era in music for me, expanded my mind toward more electronic-laden chill music. I discovered Arovane around this time and started listening to other stuff that I had previously shied away from. Super chill, get shit done - or get nothing done music.

Dookie

Green Day

4/5

Good stuff, replicated relentlessly throughout the album.

Tres Hombres

ZZ Top

5/5

Great guitar licks. I feel like I need to be in the middle of a Texas field party drinking Miller High Life with a 100 of my closest friends around a big bonfire to appreciate this properly. I hate Texas, but we all need to get out our comfort zones from time-to-time. This is a great album.

Deserter's Songs

Mercury Rev

4/5

Is that a saw... oh, I see. Listening to this was like being forced into one of those Christmas stores that are open year round. It sounds like the soundtrack to a fake animated German Disney movie that was translated back into English. I imagine they play Deserter's Songs at those Christmas stores right before the animatronic Mrs. Clause and elves attack you and smother you with fake cotton snow in some far corner of the store. Opus 40, tho.... That sounded really familiar and listened to it a few different times swearing that Flaming Lips or someone must've covered it somewhere. Maybe I'm hallucinating, maybe I've been spending too much time in those Christmas stores. Maybe I've developed Stockholm syndrome 'cause I kinda liked it.

Superfly

Curtis Mayfield

4/5

This album is Superfly. Do I really need to see the movie to understand this album? With songs like "Give me your love (Love Song)" and "No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song)" what could I be missing? A whole helluva lotta good action, that's what. There are a lotta duds but Pusherman and Superfly carry some of the weight.

The Contino Sessions

Death In Vegas

4/5

"Vegas, baby. Vegas." I hate Las Vegas, also I don't remember this album being interesting. Perhaps, it was ahead of its time, now we need to schedule a trip to Vegas. For research.

Songs From The Big Chair

Tears For Fears

4/5

Shout, shout. Let a fart out. Though this album doesn't smell like grandma's bathroom, it does sound like she's saying gentle goodbye to brown after her Metamucil supplement. The power of the saxophone is wide ranging, and it affects people differently. Generally when I hear it, I have the urge to punch it in the face, but hey, this is the music of the 80's and people did things differently back then. We have to accept it and learn from mistakes of the past. Aside from the tender ooze of that wretched instrument, I found the album to be out of place, not fitting in any singular world. I hated the bulk of it, but I really loved the smaller bits which more than made up for the forgettable stuff. You just can't throw the baby out with the bathwater anymore... ask grandma.

A Night At The Opera

Queen

2/5

Who doesn't like a good Queen album... ? I swear I was going to answer 'Me!' to this question a few months ago when I first listened to this album. Brian May, Freddie Mercury, what's there not to like...? Well, the track '39 for starters... Seaside Rendezvous, Love of My Life and Good Company also not my favorites... but Bohemian Rhapsody brings this home. Also, I really enjoyed Sweet Lady. Yeah, a majority of this album sounds like a Victorian circus. It's a little campy and straight-laced, right up to the chin. Even Bohemian Rhapsody is hammy. This evidenced by the famous '76 AMC Pacer scene in Waynes World. It's fun, I've heard it a million time and doesn't get old (Thanks Wayne and Garth) but it carries a lot of baggage with it. That is the balance of this album weighs down the goodness and it's just not for me.

Let's Get Killed

David Holmes

4/5

Sounds like early / unrefined DJ Shadow. DH went way overboard on the dialog samples. A little goes a long way, man.

Brothers

The Black Keys

5/5

Great album, but the best thing to come outta the Black Keys is this... "Jack White. A 40-year-old bully tried to fight the 35-year-old nerd. It might get loud, but it might also get really really sad and pathetic. Jack white is basically billy corgan’s dumb ass zero t-shirt in human form.”

Selling England By The Pound

Genesis

2/5

Ugh. Genesis, you disappoint me.

Chirping Crickets

Buddy Holly & The Crickets

3/5

From a different era. Not sure if this would be as memorable if he hadn't died on the same flight as Lou Diamond Phillips.

Rattus Norvegicus

The Stranglers

2/5

Never heard of these guys, but with a name like The Strangles, I was extied to listen to this one. However, the combination of the Clash-iness, loose snare, electric organ, repetition and general Britishness killed the vibe. Finishing this album was a chore.

Midnight Ride

Paul Revere & The Raiders

4/5

Always liked Minor Threat's Stepping Stone cover. The original isn't bad either, but this album is all over the place. Too many cooks in the kitchen here, but it does give a view into how trippy crazy the 60's were. These guys were kinda nuts, doing their best to break the molds they were forced into and I can respect that.

A Short Album About Love

The Divine Comedy

2/5

Haters rejoice, something everyone can agree is terrible and out of place. If this guy and Ute Lemper got together and had a baby the world would explode.

Revolver

Beatles

5/5

I maintain that Sgt. Pepper's is the best Beatles album, but I enjoy Revolver the most. Best track... Tomorrow Never Knows...

The Gershwin Songbook

Ella Fitzgerald

4/5

Is it me, or is it nearly impossible not to be happy when you listen to this woman sing...? Except then if you think about how she's dead now and all of that.. that's kinda a buzz kill.

Dirt

Alice In Chains

2/5

blugh. This album is fraught with all of the things I hate about the 90's. Long hair, long underwear under shorts, heroin, combat boots, depression, dramatic depression, tortured artist syndrome, broke-assness, 1-800-Collect and Carrot Top. Yeah, this one brings back memories, but not good ones.

Another Music In A Different Kitchen

Buzzcocks

5/5

Great energy, simple songs. "All you need is a mouthful..." -well said.

Getz/Gilberto

Stan Getz

5/5

Vie, vie, vie vie ... VIE!!

Clandestino

Manu Chao

3/5

Not something I thought I would enjoy. I didn't enjoy it but it was tolerable simply because it was different.

Billion Dollar Babies

Alice Cooper

2/5

Alice Cooper's story is so bizarre. Since the age of 6, Alice Cooper dreamt of working the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. Though he forged his age on the application he did end up fulfilling his dream of ride operator at Disney's Haunted Mansion ride in 1968. Cooper took the job seriously. So seriously in fact that they let him go after only a month on the job. Evidently, he was too involved with participating IN the attraction, dressing up, appearing from behind the dinner table, marching around with his little top hat and cane while and making ghoulish noises with his voice over the pa. So, Disney let him go. Depression set in, but after a month he reinvented himself as a musician and applied the silliness he learned at Haunted Mansion to his musical act. And it's obvious, you can still hear the schmaltzy Micky Mouse fluff of Disneyland in his voice and presentation. Fortunately, the supporting music here is decent enough to earn it two stars.

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde

4/5

Ya Mama got a peg leg with a kickstand! So good, so fun, so enjoyable. Music from a bygone era, so long, long, long ago. Damn, we old.

Yeezus

Kanye West

1/5

Yeezus Christ this is guy is terrible!

Oedipus Schmoedipus

Barry Adamson

5/5

This album is terrifying. It's been a long while since we had an album so shocking, disturbing and well... surprising. This album was a mystery, I'd never heard of it before, and after it was finished, I wasn't sure what I had listened to. Some of it I really liked, no questions asked. But, other tracks sounded as if they were hanging on the precipice of madness and horror... and were inviting me in. Taken as a whole, it gave me goosebumps, it was a moving and a wholly unsettling experience. Highly recommend.

Trafalgar

Bee Gees

1/5

So much promise... so much disappointment. GDMF, when will this band deliver? Will it ever deliver?

Live At The Harlem Square Club

Sam Cooke

5/5

I challenge anyone else to cram this much excitement into less than 37 minutes. Not a huge fan of the songs, but the performance more than makes up for it. What a blast! I would've loved to be there when this was recorded, but listening to this is a very close second.

3 + 3

The Isley Brothers

3/5

Best song, That Lady Parts (1&2) .... speaking of lady parts, isn't Summer's Breeze a popular douche? Never been much of a doucher, but I'm pretty sure that's a douche.

Idlewild

Everything But The Girl

2/5

Smooth jazzzzzzz blows and so does this album. Homegirl has a great voice, but I feel like it's 1987, I'm stuck at a yacht club dinner and the most exiting thing are the clams.

Fear and Whiskey

Mekons

3/5

Did not meet expectations. So, afterward I turned on Two Gallants, Old 97s and Calexico for a corrective listening experience.

Peter Gabriel

3/5

I wanted to name my first kid Peter Gabriel, but my wife said she'd divorce me and file for custody if that happened so, I named them Phil Collins. It's the same kid, really, and my first was the Genesis of having more kids. Now they're in middle school and are relentlessly teased. Sure, they changed their name to Colin, but most kids know their real name and it's not uncommon to hear "Feel Collin!, Feel Collin's (nuts)" in the school hallways before class. Kids are so mean. I named my second kid Peter Gabriel, and even they get teased. Kids refer to him as "Petter..."

Close To The Edge

Yes

2/5

You say "YES" and I say, "meh" This is a transitional album. It's like a bridge from one era to the next. Once you cross that bridge there's no reason to keep it because you're on the other side and nobody cares to look back except some weird mix of people that frequent 1001 albums ... and the bridge falls into disrepair, or an earthquake comes and demolishes it, or maybe not demolishes it, but badly damages it so you can't use it even if you wanted to. And then, maybe there's a flood and it gets washed away and all that remain are some steps to the bridge but nobody cares about the dumb bridge unless those weird 1001 people come over to it and take pictures and occasionally ask each other "Hey, where do you suppose those steps used to lead to..." And someone says... uh, I dunno I guess they lead ... "Close to the Edge"

Endtroducing.....

DJ Shadow

5/5

Required listening.

The Modern Lovers

3/5

Jonathan Richman always makes me smile with his odd, eccentric voice and lyrics. My attention for this album waned after a few tracks and my interest for this played like a midwest state fair... "Oh, look! It's the state's largest watermelon" or "Hey, let's go pet the goats, chickens and rabbits and afterward eat some meat on a stick." Mmm, that was good. You were hungry! ..It takes a little while, but eventually you realize you devoured half-cooked meat on a stick after petting farm animals and didn't wash you hands between activities Now, you feel an urgent need to leave.

Chris

Christine and the Queens

4/5

Strong 80's vibe. I hate the 80's, but really enjoyed this album. A little plastic, but was happy to listen to it.

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens

3/5

Unless yours is hollowed out and use it as a place to keep your sex toys, Bibles are a big turnoff. However, once I was able to get beyond that, I was good with this one.

The Healer

John Lee Hooker

3/5

There's a lot here to admire, but found it difficult to connect with.

Rust Never Sleeps

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

3/5

F you Neil Young. You think that taking your music from Spotify is gonna change anything ... you sexxy mutton-chopped beast... YEAH it will ... YEAH you are... I'd ride your llama any day... "My, my, hey, hey, I had to go to YT to listen today ..."

Colour By Numbers

Culture Club

1/5

This album reminds me why I hate 80's music.

Goo

Sonic Youth

5/5

This album is Goo(d).

Since I Left You

The Avalanches

5/5

Warning! This is not for everyone, but if you like doing cocaine ... like Avalanches of cocaine, they you're' in luck!

Little Earthquakes

Tori Amos

1/5

I know Tori Amos is beloved by many, so I won't be too brutal. Basically, Tori Amos makes music that I don't like. I came to this conclusion after being surrounded by this album ad nauseam beginning 1993 and stretching through 1995 and again today. To each, their own. This is not for me.

Master Of Puppets

Metallica

3/5

OG, next-level shit when this came out. I love how tight Master is ... so good. This album made me realize there is a lot more to music than Top-40, However, I couldn't get into metal and still can't. It all seems too repetitive and I'm not a fan of the Flying V sound.

Palo Congo

Sabu

2/5

This guy is from Spanish Harlem and was / is still a pretty big deal just not in the U.S. Spotify says that he's got a ton of fans in Colombia, Chile and Mexico City and nearly 300k monthly listeners. Lots of banging percussion and repetition. "Look Kids! Big Ben!" This was a difficult listen but fortunately only 40 mins. long.

One World

John Martyn

3/5

I'd like to go on record being a giant fan of Big Muff. Well, maybe not 'giant' but it was one of the better songs. Based on the first track I thought this was relatively new, not from 1977. After it plays it shows its age and the rest of the album kinda drifts off into the sounds of trippy yesterworld. Ray LaMontagne must love this guy, as he's tried hard to emulate John Martyn's voice. Didn't love this the first listen, but a couple of tracks have grown on me, those being Dealer and Big Muff.

Paris 1919

John Cale

2/5

I know I'm supposed to revel in all the brilliance that is John Cale, but I don't. This album is like attending church so you can avoid going to hell.

What's Going On

Marvin Gaye

4/5

I think this exists as less of an album and more a shot in time that weaves together the malaise of the black community in the early 70's. I'll never be able to fully appreciate this album for that. Looking back at this from 2023 and listening to it with my limited knowledge of MG, I do find it eerie and haunting. Like something is gently tugging at me to wake up to something I don't want.

Imperial Bedroom

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

2/5

Josh Weinstein of MST3K is a big fan of this album. He and I worked together for a bit and decided to swap our favorite music. Josh gave me this album and I gave him Operation Ivy. That's it, our relationship ended there. It's no wonder MST3K didn't speak to me either.

Superfuzz Bigmuff

Mudhoney

4/5

It took me awhile to get through this album, not because I didn't like it, but because I could never find a full 2+ hours to listen to this until I realized the second disc is the same as the first, just live. I was aware of their contribution to the foundations of the Seattle scene, but never dove into them until this. I was surprised and impressed. Far less polished than the bands that rose to fame a few years later which I appreciated. I think this album provides a little insight into what the Seattle scene was before everyone sold out, got rich, and killed themselves.

O.G. Original Gangster

Ice T

4/5

Wow, was surprised that this showed up in the list and all I can think about is the blending of the OG Ice-T and his band Body Count had a lot to do with its placement here. Sure, there's a long history of rap artists collaborating with mainstream music to broaden their appeal -- Run DMC and Aerosmith (Walk This Way), Public Enemy and Anthrax (Bring Tha Noise, though I'm not sure Anthrax was ever considered mainstream), or The Fat Boys collaborating with The Beach Boys (Wipeout) all fall into this category. The difference here is that Ice-T was fronting Body Count. Body Count, for a minute, even eclipsed Ice-T's career as a rapper especially when the track Cop Killer was removed from future pressings of the self-titled release. Beyond that, It doesn't hurt that the hottest track on this album was the theme song from the much-hyped Mario Van Peebles film New Jack City. New Jack Hustler is the go-to track on the album and IMHO overshadows the real star of the album, Fly By. Nat the Cat drops some tongue-twisted lines in rapid succession that should not go unnoticed. Also worth mentioning is that somehow, the fact that Ice-T is / was a rapper has eluded contemporary culture as he's now known more for his SVU work (and also this great bit by John Mulaney) than as a rapper and musician ... https://youtu.be/F1sd4CRcaE0?t=75

Nighthawks At The Diner

Tom Waits

5/5

Makin' a scene with a magazine ... filled with pics of Tom Waits. ... When I say 'I Love this album,' it takes on a new meaning. I saw Short Cuts before I knew who Tom Waits even was and then I discovered him and realized Altman wrote that role based on TW, the musician. They are one-in-the same, (tho I do feel the need to throw in a little Ron Pearlman and Bukowski for good measure). There's something poetic about the loneliness that drips out of this album as he performs in front of a live audience. Tom Waits is an average musician, subpar comedian and slightly above average lyricist which is why it's so easy to appreciate and relate to him. Great album to listen to while riding a bike on the dark, dimly lit streets at the edge of town in the middle of the night.

Sweet Baby James

James Taylor

2/5

JT's voice is angelic, yet he's got this super-phony smarmy feel to his music ... and listening to him try and sing blues is super-cringy. Despite my hatred for it, I was incredibly bored by this album. All I could think of were Sesame Street episodes where some famous singer comes on and teaches kids how to count by twos while playing guitar on the front steps ...

Chelsea Girl

Nico

2/5

Wow, just off a Jame Taylor album and the pendulum of authenticity has swung to the other extreme. Chelsea Girl is like slow-driving by a gory accident on the freeway until you see how real it is and quickly look away. This album is incredibly depressing, filled with contented loneliness and despair.

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

3/5

Meh. This is better than normal. I appreciate his dark unamused tone and darker voice on this one. Still better writer than musician.

Here, My Dear

Marvin Gaye

3/5

Oh heavenly... I love Mr. Gaye's voice. This album makes me feel like I'm watching the boring, (aka the formative) scenes in the beginning of Boyz n the Hood before everything gets wild. This has a unique vibe and sound, great for scene setting and nostalgia but not something that I'd actively listen to.

Iron Maiden

4/5

Eddie makes everything Iron Maiden... better Iron Maiden. Not a metal guy, but this is really good. What would you call this... "Classic Metal" ..? Regardless, really good. stuff made me want to listen to more Maiden. Aces High is also good.

Penthouse And Pavement

Heaven 17

3/5

Weird 80's synth sounds and imitation robot singing. Reminds me of The The, maybe some Devo and . Wasn't able to listen to everything on Spotify, but was intrigued enough to navigate to YT for the Geisha Boys, Make a Bomb and We're Going to Live tracks. Best track is Let's All Make a Bomb which i'd listen to again, but the rest of the album is barely salvageable.

Casanova

The Divine Comedy

3/5

Unpretentious silly shit and very much over-the-top. I've said it once, but I'll say it again... "If this guy and Ute Lemper got together and had a baby the world would explode."

Ramones

5/5

Nothing fancy here... and you don't need much to kill it. Great energy, good vocals and more of the same over-and-over for 30 mins.

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

Mudhoney

5/5

A little dark and gloomy, but good bit of energy and chaos in this. It's dirty, gritty, drone-y and perfect. Listened to this nonstop for about two hours before settling on a five. Would def. listen to this againif I didn't have such a mountain of unfinished reviews to write.

Live At The Witch Trials

The Fall

4/5

This album is like a progression from a cool buzz to shitfaced. This is really good, raw stuff from the 70's and tracked really well until the album fell off a cliff after the fourth track and devolved into nonsensical blabbering drivel by the end. I left this really disappointed because it started so strong.

Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth

4/5

I don't think I'll ever get tired of listening to Teen Age Riot, but this album isn't my favorite SY. I know, I know .. "super influential ... masterfully crafted, respected by your heroes, blah, blah, blah" but there are some tracks on this that kill the vibe and it's hard to listen all the way thru without skipping a couple tracks.

Cloud Nine

The Temptations

2/5

Hey, Girl. Hey. Did you know this album is underwhelming and bored? I think of 1969 as being an exciting time to be alive. Perhaps this boringness brought some stability to the chaos of the world and thus was rated higher. Regardless, it's really lost on me in 2023.

Eagles

3/5

Ugh. This album ... Yes, it's good. Yes, it's overplayed. No, I don't enjoy listening to it.

Signing Off

UB40

2/5

Not sure why this is on the list. I just about fell asleep with this on. This isn't offensive and it's not that this intensely sucked, it's that this is intensely boring.

The Last Of The True Believers

Nanci Griffith

4/5

Never one for the twang-y music, this one really surprised me. No fluff, truly great voice and songwriting. Was a nice change and a good discovery. But get too excited, I'm still not a fan of Indigo Girls.

Boston

3/5

Lotsa overplayed classic rock radio on this one. Was hoping to discover something new on this, but the hair guitar and keyboards give me agita. I was read to move on shortly after Foreplay.

Permission to Land

The Darkness

1/5

¡Error! Cover band adjacents don't belong on this list.

The Beach Boys Today!

The Beach Boys

1/5

The soundtrack of young white privilege.

Aqualung

Jethro Tull

2/5

Make it stop! These dudes take themselves too seriously. The only thing that helps is the thought of Ron Burgundy playing jazz flute at Tino's.

Teenage Head

Flamin' Groovies

5/5

This is a great listen. On par with some of the Stone's stuff from the same era. Putting this into my rotation.

All Things Must Pass

George Harrison

3/5

What is Life is sooo good. Never knew that was a GH song. Wah Wah, also good but maybe a little too long...? Lotsa slide guitar and slow songs on this. All in all, GH may remain my fave Beetle, but after listening to this I can't exactly remember why. Process of elimination I suppose.

Fifth Dimension

The Byrds

4/5

I think The Byrds is the best shitty band I've ever heard and I mean that with a passion. I don't think I'd spend any time listening to these guys except that they're such an outlier and everything they make is unique. I've never been one to make love to dirty hippy bands, but every Byrds album on 1001 is oddly deserved. This one included. I think their oddities lay in the fact that there seems to be a different lineup on each album. David Crosby, the GOAT original dirty hippy seems to always be involved in The Byrds albums I like the best. The blow-y harmonizing I could do without John Riley, I'm talking to you, and also the rest of the album. The Hey Joe cover is odd, but not bad. Mr. Spaceman is a classic as is Eight Miles High. This is not quite a train wreck, more like an artfully deconstructed locomotive piled high on the railroad tracks.

Our Aim Is To Satisfy

Red Snapper

3/5

Generally, I like repetition but these beats are stale with little depth and mildly irritating. Though I like the concept of this album, lots of white space, minimal vocals and repetitive beats, I was disappointed by the execution ... and most likely the age of this. It's dated ... tho perhaps if I'd been exposed previously it would've been better received.

Playing With Fire

Spacemen 3

5/5

Another 2-hour epic, but wow. This is phenomenal! It hits my yes button in all the right places. Not sure what's happening here, maybe I was just in the right headspace to hear this today? Regardless, I will definitely listen more often.

Oxygène

Jean-Michel Jarre

5/5

"Ya see, they're MAC-Donalds, WE are McDowell's ... They have the Big Mac, we have the Big Mick" France has Jean-Michel Jarre, and we have ... McDonalds(?). This guy is like the Poor Man's Brian Eno ... and he's not even from the U.S. Why do American's not know Jean-Michel Jarre.? Spotify says that the top five consumers of this music are in Paris / London / Stantiago / Warsaw and Madrid... and he and records for the biggest concerts on earth.... 3.5 MILLION in Russia at one point. I really enjoyed this album, and was WAAAY better than the album art led me to believe it would be. Super chill and WAAY before it's time .. 1976!!. I would listen to this over and over.... Great find!

The New Tango

Astor Piazzolla

2/5

My excitement turned to despair by the end of the third track. It all sounded very similar to me and I became worried that my nights would never turn back to day. Worried that the chill I began to feel would leave me colder and ill. By the fifth track, I was convinced I would never love again, that the food I'd eat would be tasteless and soft. And, by the end of the album, I was no longer albe to get out of bed or feel my legs. And when I opened my eyes it was true... Somehow I have been transported into a stop action Tim Burton movie and am unable to escape. This is my letter in a bottle... send help..... SOS. SOS. SOS.

Ray Of Light

Madonna

4/5

Ahh yes, the Von Dutch trucker hat of Madonna's career. Super fun and enjoyable, filled with fluffy ease and fake beauty. Life is short, ignore that feeling of guilt and enjoy yourself.

Lazer Guided Melodies

Spiritualized

5/5

The industry monster was pushing Let It Come Down heavily in 2001 and it seemed like for a couple months or so that was the only music that existed. I remember the album packaging included a 3d embossment of a pigtailed girl with her eyes closed. Until now, I had no idea this album preceded it by about 10 years and now I understand. This album is amazing, nearly impeccable. Shine a Light IS impeccable. The balance of the album is just amazing. It's drone-y and easy to get lost in the reverb and feedback. What a great find.

Tellin’ Stories

The Charlatans

4/5

What's the difference between Charlatans and Charlatans UK? ... I dunno, that's a serious question. Listened to this with a loose idea of these guys, was much more contemporary than I thought it would've been... I was thinking these were late '80s / early 90's but they sound a lot like Oasis only less polished, plastic and perfect. Damn, I hate Oasis. Didn't mind this listen, was very Britty-gritty 90's and got into the music. They sound a lot like one of my guilty pleasures, a band called Oasis.

Kick Out The Jams (Live)

MC5

3/5

Now I don't know much about anything but I think some of America's best young men served in 'Nam. There was Dallas, from Phoenix; Cleveland, he was from Detroit, and Tex... mmm I don't remember where Tex come from... but the point I'm trying to make is the world is a confusing place and Detroit bears some responsibility. Soul is from MoTown and Hippie rock is from MoCity and the Piston's are from Detroit. MC5, as I learned is not the name of five talented MCs, they're hiippie rockers from Detroit, or Motor Town, or Motor City, err the place they make all the pistons and there are five of them. Anyhow, screw war, make love and Forest Gump was a damn fine American.

Tical

Method Man

3/5

This makes me think of the 90's and I never listened to this until today. I can identify with the early lo-fi rap / Wu-Tang stuff and was happy to have this playing in the background. Brought back some good memories of playing Street Fighter and doing bong hits.

Picture Book

Simply Red

3/5

Forgotten '80s. Did this guy guest star on The Love Boat...? I'm pretty sure that this album lives there. Funny enough, this wasn't as irritating as I thought it may be. I genuinely didn't mind it.

Superunknown

Soundgarden

3/5

Ugh. I know people already look forward to dissecting my opinions on crumby grunge bands, so here it goes ... ("this album sucks" - that's for you @jared) Chris Cornell (RIP), has / had such a distinct voice. I don't mind listening to it sprinkled here and there, but it harkens back to 80's poodle-farmer, hair rock. Honestly, 'Spoonman' (?) WTF is this song even about... the guy that plays the spoons or cooks his drugs in bent spoons, who gives a shit? This song rivals 'Closing Time' for dumbest song ever recorded. Let Me Down - Crack is whack and so are Whammy bars. Fell On Black Days - See Black Hole Sun Black Hole Sun - it's a great track ... MTV didn't think I could ever get tired of that mind melting video, but guess what ...? The Day I Tried to Live ... this is a really great song, big dicks straight up for this one. And on this topic, it's not cool for me to shit all over this album when I know that CC suffered from depression for most of his life and died by suicide. He was super talented and what I've read about him made it sound like he was kind of a reluctant celebrity just doing his thing. HIs thing / this thing Superunknown just didn't resonate with me when it was released.

Underwater Moonlight

The Soft Boys

5/5

The Soft Boys sounds like a gay porn collective. Despite the name and the needlessly long album on par with a Scorsese film, it kept my attention all the way through. There were a lot of things that I liked about it. Simple basslines, screech-y guitar with lots of feedback and no frills vocals. I was happy to be turned on by The Soft Boys, pun intended.

Bluesbreakers

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

3/5

Feel like anything with Clapton involved in it is tainted. Regardless, I liked this enough to give it a three and that's because of Clapton's guitar and also Mose Allison's Parchman Farm song .. which, btw I'm pretty sure the Spotify version of it is sung by Mose Allison, not John Mayall. Big Hearts for Mose Allison. The album seemed a little disjointed from track-to-track, but I definitely enjoyed the second side more than the first (I'm assuming that the second side was all tracks 8-14.

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

5/5

So easy... so mellow... so good. I used to watch LA Law all the time growing up, but Victor Sifuentes was never my favorite attorney. It's so rare that actors are good musicians too. Regardless, I wasn't expecting this album to be so awesome.

Bert Jansch

2/5

Did this guy have a supporting role in A Mighty Wind? For the past 38 mins. I've been feeling like I'm living in that movie and it isn't as funny as I remember it being.

Now I Got Worry

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

3/5

My roommate in Culver City used to play this all the time. I know, I know.... "This album is just noise..." but put against the other album he used to play Clikatat Ikatowi, Now I Got Worry was far better preferred. Also, JSBE turned me on to Boss Hogg, which captured my interest for a little bit. All reality aside, I can appreciate this album for what it is and in the time that it existed, but after 30 mins. of listening again, that was enough to score this appropriately.

Heavy Weather

Weather Report

3/5

Playboy Jazz Festival - Hollywood Bowl 1984! Best show I've ever been to... what a blast! I remember Birdland... but that's about it, the quaaludes that I was eating with the cheese & crackers and BYOW knocked me on my ass. But hell yeah, smooth jazz blows!

Butterfly

Mariah Carey

3/5

I once worked on a show that featured MC and a host of other performers. Dick Clark, who I like to refer to as Cock Clark (because he really was a dick), owned the rights to produce the American Music Awards in 1998(?) Anyhow, the AMAs had booked MC and I remember when she showed up for rehearsal the day before the show, she threw a big shitfit because she didn't have a honeybear. Yep, a honey bear, you know the little plastic bears that squirt honey? The entire crew had their panties in a bunch about working with MC and the people that would interface with her... I think those were the days that she was dating or married to Tommy Mattola who was rumored to be mafia or at least connected(?) Anyhow, she had a long list of demands that her dressing room be stocked with. Honey and tea, because you know, her voice, was one. Evidently someone didn't get the memo about the honey dispenser being the bear kind and MC went on a tear yelling at everyone and threatening not to perform the following day. Anyway, this album doesn't speak to me, but I really did enjoy that first track 'Honey.'

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode

1/5

Does Depeche Mode mean stinky band with bloated self-important vocals? I'm no self-important linguist, but I'm pretty sure it does. The industrial sound isn't something I enjoy, but it's that dude Gahan's pompous sounding voice that really makes me want to barf. Honestly it would be more enjoyable if Gilbert Gottfried fronted this band. Instead, we've got Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lamb singing and dancing with himself in front of the mirror. In case.you can't tell, I'm not much of a DM fan. Even listening to the Johnny Cash version of Personal Jesus makes me wince ...and I love Johnny Cash. In fact, if I never listened to Depeche Mode again, it would be too soon.

Grievous Angel

Gram Parsons

1/5

Blurgh. I had a friend in high school we called him Dime Bag because he always had weed. He followed to the Grateful Dead. If he wasn't in class, he was probably getting high in some VW bus in his Birkenstocks in between shows. Anyhow, Dime Bag was really chill and flew under the radar. He had an older sister named Nicki and she was amazing. Their parents were alcoholics. Dime Bag's real name was Graham. This Gram Parsons album sucked. I was really disappointed in it.I'd heard a lot about this Gram Parsons guy and was excited about listening to him, but the boring twang and slow roll had me looking at the clock after the first two tracks.

American IV: The Man Comes Around

Johnny Cash

5/5

It's amazing how we as humans turn off entire sections of the world based on single decisions. Never a country fan, but somehow became a Cash fan and this album only exacerbated appreciation and love for this guy. Who would've thought jumping to the American label would work to create a whole new audience for a guy that'd been making music for almost 50 years? An album of covers... should this be on this list? Should we make exceptions for the Man in Black .. ? Evidently, yes and I'm glad to have an excuse to listen to this again. Wow.

Fever Ray

4/5

Ghoulishly strange. Sparse, empty and yet intriguing. "Pardon me, do you happen to have any Grey Poupon?"

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

Lupe Fiasco

4/5

Wow. Knew absolutely nothing about LF before I began listening. This isn't what I was expecting and was pleasantly surprised. First of all, LF is not a femme. Currently working on a second listen to pickup some of the hidden gems. Has plenty of energy, it's musically diverse and captured my attention all the way through.

Devotional Songs

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

4/5

My only exposure to NFAK was on the Natural Born Killers Soundtrack which I loved. I thought his inclusion in the film was instrumental in raising the creep factor of that film. If not for that exposure I think I would've just skipped over this and chalked it up to weird fanatical music not worthy of my time... That is to say that I liked this album, I had it playing for about 45 mins., before I had to get up and turn it off. NFAK is gifted, I love his voice and the energy he exudes. The music is strange, repetitive and intriguing and will definitely listen again. However, an hour-and-a-half is really too much NFAK in one sitting.

Raw Like Sushi

Neneh Cherry

2/5

I was intent on hating this and eventually succeeded, but not without uncovering some interesting factoids about this person ... like, you know that dude Buck? Buck Cherry, that's her brother, and the dude Eagle Cherry, that's her other brother, and did you know she was an original member of the Sex Pistols!? Ok, that's not true, but she does evidently have some limited street cred across the pond which is why I have to expect more from this album. This entire sounds like some ripoff 1980's commercial that runs on Saturday morning cartoons and advertises Kool-Aid with some dork on a skateboard... pretty lame.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Raekwon

3/5

Ugh. The content is vomitus and gross and stresses me out. But this is an artifact of its time and going back to it strikes me how seamlessly easy it was. Musically, I can get into some of the simple beats and samples. But alas, I won't ever listen to this again. Like I said, it's an artefact of its time and I see no reason to dig up the past.

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Public Enemy

5/5

One of those albums that defined youth and created important moments in time. This album opened eyeballs, forged relationships and built bridges to places that would've been difficult to discover on our own. Was good to rediscover this, but considering all that has and hasn't changed in the past 35 years, left me feeling disappointed by the future that materialized.

The Dark Side Of The Moon

Pink Floyd

4/5

Okay... I've let this one sink in and listened to it over and over again and I really like how the songs kinda blend into each other, but on the whole I don't get what all the fuss is about. I really liked and could identify with the lyrics of Time and this album is much more trippy than I expected. Maybe because drugs are for lowlifes (thank you, no. I'm straight) I'll never fully comprehend what this album really is. I guess that's something I'm going to have to come to terms with and endure the hatred and ridicule for people f'ing up this perfect five. Sorry peeps...

Dusty In Memphis

Dusty Springfield

5/5

Waking up and getting busy was hard this morning. This is just what I needed, the dynamic duo. Is there anything better than eating Betty White's Dusty Muffins while listening to Dusty in Memphis? I think not.

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

1/5

I was super-bummed there wasn't something, anything.. that I could pull out of this album and like. It was boring and uninspired. I get that this is before Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel hit their stride and you've gotta produce some failures before you can succeed, but there's no rule about putting the failures on 1001. You gotta rip in your couch. Go wash your butt.

Slayed?

Slade

5/5

Wow. Never heard of these guys, but super into their energy and sound. Raucous and dirty. Listen loud!

Brutal Youth

Elvis Costello

2/5

I've tried, and tried ... I know that some people ... a LOT of people LOVE EC, but I am not one of them. This album, like many of his, do absolutely nothing for me. His voice is nice and songwriting is on par with any adequate singer songwriter, but there is nothing that stands out about this album or EC that moves me.

The La's

3/5

Boring folky Brit-pop for the masses. I appreciate the short tracks. It would be a hard choice if forced to decide between watching Friends or listening to this album for an hour.

Club Classics Vol. One

Soul II Soul

1/5

This was dreadful garbage. Generally, the U.S. does a pretty good job exporting its crap to other countries, not sure who was working the customs office when they allowed this one in.

Birth Of The Cool

Miles Davis

4/5

Rating this fresh off from Kind of Blue. This is much less focused and free. There's a lot going on here, while Kind of Blue was more subdued and structured. While I liked Kind of Blue, I enjoy this album for the energy and dynamics. Though it's not the daily driver that KOB was, it is more upbeat. I think I'd have a rough time listening to this on a relaxed Sunday afternoon. I could maybe put this on for the a.m. routine for a little pep in my step. Neither are better and both very adequate.

S&M

Metallica

2/5

Metallica's S&M is perfect for Trans Siberian Orchestra fans who don't enjoy Christmas music.

Urban Hymns

The Verve

3/5

Was this group formed to sell Oasis B sides? I think so. It is a bit of a guilty pleasure, please don't tell anyone.

Arular

M.I.A.

3/5

This is a shame, I could really like this album if M.I.A. wasn't so fake and plastic. Vibes count for a lot. She just doesn't exude the confidence that I need in my music. She seems like she's struggling with self identity wavering between cutesy pop artist and hard, confident artist pushing the boundaries of music. Musically, this is really wonderful. The quirky combinations of early 80's rap, electronica with repetitive flat bass using improvised instruments infused with some Jamaican spices makes this something to appreciate. But I just can't get beyond M.I.A. the singer. She reminds me of a more spastic immature version of Santigold lacking focus and self-awareness.

Two Dancers

Wild Beasts

1/5

Sufficiently weird enough for me to like and everything about this album I like except one thing... that terrible sound coming out of someone's throat. Some people may call it a voice or it could be a hoarse tea kettle stuffed with helium and working a Swedish penis massager. Whatever it is, it totally kills anything this album had going for it. Supremely disappointed.

If I Could Only Remember My Name

David Crosby

2/5

When I think of all the love that the 60's produced and all the good vibes, I ultimately come to think of all the egregious filth, overindulgence and excess and there passed on the ground, in the gutter amongst all the trash and human stench is David Crosby. That's not to say that I hated this album because Cowboy Movie was great. It sounds like early stoner rock. But, the rest of the album was mediocre at best and now I feel like I need a shower.

Destroyer

KISS

2/5

Detroit Rock City is the most redeeming track on this album. The balance of it is pretty terrible (Great Expectations and Beth ... WTF?). Growing up in the midwest in the late 70's / early 80's these guys were a staple of all older neighborhood badasses. The concept is stronger than the music.... but I gotta say those platform heels are fantastic!

Pearl

Janis Joplin

5/5

Beautiful.

Medúlla

Björk

1/5

Right before my parents would beat the shit out of my ass with a switch, they used to say ...."This is going to hurt me more than it's gonna hurt you..." I never knew what that meant until now. I'm super disappointed in this album. Though I really love Björk, this wasn't something that I could get into or would ever even consider listening to again. I love her voice and her quirkiness, but there's just too much echoes of white space here not enough quirk.

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa

3/5

An outlier for sure, Zappa is the antithesis of anti. Zappa is somehow able to flip-off counter culture who's flipping off 'tha man', while simultaneously flipping off the man. Zappa's ability to thread the needle between the two establishments without losing integrity is a feat in itself, but the downside of that is he remains an inaccessible island to himself. Counter culture doesn't like him because he's abrasive and he instantly repels anything mainstream. So who's left...? Unfortunately, your weird uncle is the only audience and nobody seems to understand or want to understand. But the album ... what about that? ... Welp, there's a ton coming out of this album and the performance is wrote. Not sure how many musicians are playing on this, but the orchestration is amazing. I'm not one for jam bands and this isn't too far from that, but it's so well coordinated that it's impressive its hard not to give it a nod of appreciation.

Surfer Rosa

Pixies

4/5

Anybody who says there's "nothin' good" on this album hasn't seen the cover art.

Live At Leeds

The Who

1/5

The only thing bad about this album is that it's music created and performed by The Who.

Larks' Tongues In Aspic

King Crimson

3/5

Geoffrey Chaucer and Canterbury Tales for your ears. If you like medieval literature you'll probably like this. I imagine this is what was playin in the living rooms of all those Monk houses. Right in between bouts of silence, making Belgian beer and manuscripting, Larks' Tongues was turned up to 11. That said, there's definitely some groundwork laid buried in these tracks that I can get behind. I like the fuzzy feedback toward the end of easy money, the segments played in reverse on Book of Saturday, the Primus bassline in Talking Drum and the abstract opening in Exiles. But the vocals are done in earnest, the screeching strings(?) and the errant and silly sound effects (was that a vuvuzela?) sets this back a notch or two.

Seventh Tree

Goldfrapp

4/5

Understated drama and a frictionless glide.

Real Life

Magazine

4/5

Yeah, I get it Buzzcocks wise up and try and make something a little more cerebral and buttoned up. Change is hard because nobody is ever ready for it. There's some stuff on here, like My Tulpa that is terrible, but some really interesting stuff in Burst and Recoil. (I dig Recoil., makes me think of Beastie Boys Some Old Bullshit tracks). This is respectably solid album... though the tracks that I like the best is from the sound that has changed the least...

Wonderful Rainbow

Lightning Bolt

4/5

Whoa! Wow, wowowowow-wa-weeeh-wah! Holy crap! You know when you kidnap someone and they say 'no, no, please let me go,' and then after a week or so you open the door and tell them they're free and they end up staying with you...? What's that called, Chicken Stock Syndrome... ? Well, that's kinda like my involvement with this album. Definitely grew on me after the first listen and I stayed for another. Also, I feel like I worked out after listening to this, my heartbeat was fast and borderline irregular. Speaking of cardiac arrest, I can't imagine what Lightning Bolt shows are like or how much coke that drummer is snorting to get through a set. WOW!

In The Court Of The Crimson King

King Crimson

4/5

How many times must I try to listen to this album without getting lost in the nostrils of the cover art? I'd like to call this a slow burn, but slow smolder is more appropriate. The whole medieval theme carried through is a blatant signal telling me to move on... but pushing through that reveals things that come to those who wait. And wait, and wait... Love, the first song (after multiple listens), the second is fine, but drags on waaaay too long as do most of them. I suppose this is a decent album to be stoned and eat mushrooms to. The ebbs and flow of the insanely long tracks keep me holding on and provides a sense of accomplishment once this one has ended. Regardless, I'd listen to this again ... preferably with a cool buzz.

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter

The Incredible String Band

1/5

I think I saw these guys performing at the Renaissance Festival. They were groveling for some mutton and goulash. Attendees threw rotten tomatoes.

Want Two

Rufus Wainwright

4/5

My name in Latin Club was Rufus. I always hated that name, but it seems to fit here. Not that I hated this album, or any RW album for that matter. Just a fact. I spent a summer, most of it at least, listening to Poses. I listened to that too much and got really tired of him. When this came out I steered clear. Now, 20+ years later, this is really nice to listen to. I've missed this guy. Angus Dei is really nice, and the balance of the album fit just perfectly into my day. Rufus, the name is unique, vomitus and ugly. But pairing it with such a beautiful voice used so delicately makes me reconsider understandings and definitions.

Street Signs

Ozomatli

4/5

Ozomatli was everywhere in LA in the early 2000s and somehow I never listened to them until now and guess what... I wish I had seen them. I must've been afraid of anything that would need thought and was looking for less chore in my music at the time. Now, all these years later when I want nothing more than to smoke a bowl, put in some earbuds and drown out the family and the kids... this hits the spot.

Madman Across The Water

Elton John

3/5

Tiny Dancer.. YES! Levon ... WTF? This song, Levon, that I've loved for years got fresh ears for a listen here. These are my takeaways: - Levon is a good man. - He's got a kid named Jesus. - Levon has a flourishing family balloon business. - Levon's kid, Jesus blows up balloons all day. - Jesus also wants to go to Venus on an inflated balloon and watch his dad die. - Also, someone Alvin Tustig dot, dot, dot. ...and just in case you forgot, Levon is a good man. This is the most interesting thing on the album, the rest of the album was forgettable meh.

The Joshua Tree

U2

5/5

Guilty pleasure...? I think not. This is U2 before everything else came along, the soundtrack to my transition between middle and high school. Never was a huge fan of the band the way I am of this album.

Sail Away

Randy Newman

4/5

Is Randy Newman's playing it cool after his parents just walked in on him taking bong rips with his buddies or does he always sound like he's singing in slow motion and on the verge of laughter? I liked this album, that first song is f'd up. Randy may be a blazer, but what's with the first song "C'mon, little wog, jump on my boat and come to America where we just sing about Jesus, eat watermelon and buckwheat cakes...? Despite the questionable lyrics to some of these, I did like this album. I think RN is a genius... this album is trying to say something, but I'm not patient enough to unravel this... but Malcolm Gladwell did a good job dissecting the following album... Check out that podcast here. https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/good-old-boys

The Rolling Stones

4/5

Dirty, lo-fi Stones are great. Love the track Honest I Do. KR stands out on most of their future albums as the powerhouse behind the band, but MJ really shines with his limitless energy and full-tilt range on this. The bud of a future rockstar... and backed up with some down and dirty guitar ... great album.

Blunderbuss

Jack White

3/5

"Jack White. A 40-year-old bully tried to fight the 35-year-old nerd. It might get loud, but it might also get really really sad and pathetic. Jack white is basically Billy Corgan’s dumb ass zero t-shirt in human form.” The I'm Shakin' track sounds too much like a Black Keys ripoff to be Jack White ... C'mon now... Regardless, this is a respectable twang-induced follow up to all the White Stripes work. Blunderbus, Sixteen Saltines and Love Interruption are the big winners on this. The balance is forgettable.

Fun House

The Stooges

4/5

Never knew there were so many Stooges on 1001. This is like the rest of them... Though, LA Blues definitely belongs on a stage while destroying shit, and not on an album.

Ctrl

SZA

4/5

Listening to this only makes me realize how narrow my music tastes are. Happy to have found this one.

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Lucinda Williams

4/5

Life says that everyone, at one time or another, will have to do something they don't want to do. For me it was growing up and getting in line. Figure out how to pay bills. No more of this 'build it as you go' flibbertigibbet crap. I had moved out, 3,000 miles from my family after high school to do something I loved, only I learned that I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. It was a hard pill to swallow, but people were nice, still it was hard for me to find my path. This album played constantly in the background in places that I didn't want to be. Looking back on those days and listening to this again, I realize I'd give anything to be back there. Reflection and this album with Lucinda's steady voice that makes me understand how simple, easygoing and enjoyable life was in the 90s. Glad to have had to listen to this again.

Heroes

David Bowie

3/5

David Bowie is a chameleon and this album is all over the place. I liked the Eno-esque ambient stuff at the end of this album and Heroes is timeless, but the majority of this was kinda, meh. Maybe the point of DB, is that he's never a one-size-fits-all... everyone likes some of him, nobody likes all of him.

Let England Shake

PJ Harvey

4/5

"Let England Shake" AKA, the first PJ Harvey album that doesn't suck. Maybe I've matured maybe she's gotten better but whatever the case, I'm considering going back to listen to her old stuff. I would've never listened to this without 1001.

Black Sabbath

5/5

"Pure scrumtrulessence."

Bug

Dinosaur Jr.

3/5

Freak Scene was the anthem of my high school career and also is, by far, the best song on Bug. Budge is good too, but the rest of this album is trashy garbage. Why is this album even on here? Whatever's Cool with Me, Green Mind and even Where You Been are great. But DJr., is famous for releasing albums where most of it is garbage but there's a diamond or two hanging out on the top of the track list. Stop this album now and go listen to some Ear Bleeding Country.

Water From An Ancient Well

Abdullah Ibrahim

5/5

Ancient Well scratched an itch I didn't know I had. Surprising and delightful. Not at all what I was expecting, but exactly what I needed.

Green Onions

Booker T. & The MG's

5/5

Hellafuckingood 90's beer commercial music...

Destroy Rock & Roll

Mylo

3/5

Hmmm... It's kinda amazing how paper thin old electronic music is. This really doesn't hold up in 2024. Perhaps it's the straight repetition without variation. I think his transitions rely too heavily on fades in and out. Or perhaps it's the evolution of sound that sets this stuff apart when it's first introduced. Something gains earworm quality when there's a little snippet of something that you've never heard before, maybe it's a new instrument, maybe it's a series of quirky chirps but that unique morsel sets the artistry alive and makes an impression. This is the first time I've heard Mylo and 2004 was 20 years ago. There's nothing here that's eluded me. So, it's quite possible that this was revolutionary when it was released, but it is less so today.

Movies

Holger Czukay

5/5

Wow! I really liked this. It's refreshingly strange and vintage-y. This dude Holger was kinda ahead of his time. This stuff evolved further in the 80's but built up that indelible 80's stank that you can't get rid of.

Electric

The Cult

4/5

Would love to hate this band for their inflated egos and late 80's bullshit and pullin 'all the fine honeys', but the fact is that this album is an underappreciated highlight in an gluttonous rock-saturated decade. Billy Duffy is an incredibly underrated guitarist and the blast from Ian Astbury's 'yeahh-aha-ahs' put them in a league of their own. Back in the day, these guys presented a cool factor that was super-douchey yet regrettably, enviable. Time has not been kind to these guys, victims of their own success, they're still touring but withered, fat and flat... truly in the form that you'd expect them to be.

We're Only In It For The Money

The Mothers Of Invention

1/5

This is what happens when (-surprise!) your commune wants to start a band and you're force to sing or move out. I had this happen to me once in 'Frisco. We had this head honcho, we'll call him "Dave" he was in charge of growing all the food in the backyard, but he really wanted to play music and thought himself quite the comedian. Truth is, everyone hated "Dave", but he grew the best eggplant. Anyhow, Dave and his jokes, that only he laughed at, and his overinflated eggplant decided the commune should start a band. And, this band would be dedicated to making silly songs and being as 'far out' as possible. That's about the time that I decided to head to another commune across the street where they just ate mushrooms, smoked a ton of weed and had group sex all day. But, that's a different eggplant story.

Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys

4/5

Pretty good album, but let's be honest, the Beach Boys were irrelevant to my generation before the Fat Boys covered them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-kAnNgqN9o

Scissor Sisters

4/5

This has got to be the silliest album I've reviewed. Big kudos for the comedy coming out of these guys. I felt like I was in a continuous SNL Justin Timberlake music video skit wrapped in ANOTHER skit making fun of that. Totally meta, I know. This is one step above a great cover band at a party and scores big points for entertainment value, but loses points for originality. Just like at any party, this album is really fun until you've had too much to drink and start vomiting.

The United States Of America

3/5

Judging by all of the commotion, you'd think this was another Limp Bizkit album. Though it doesn't rise to the Level of Stereolab or some Sonic Youth albums, it is far and away from a Fred Durst release. There are some good roots here and that Stereolab reference was not a mistake. I can here them coming through loud and clear on some tracks. But others are complete nonsense. And the only place for weird forgotten nostalgia in the background is on an album like this (though I still hate it). Kudos for making something weird and trying to tie it to politics ...? No, that's nonsense. Regardless, better than anticipated but still difficult to listen to.

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

4/5

Limber and light. Also, if I'm 'listening' to this, it does nothing... except borderline irritate me, but if I'm working and it's on in the background, I've found myself tapping my foot subconsciously. Not sure what that does to an album rating but I'll err on the side of caution.

Lam Toro

Baaba Maal

4/5

One thing that I did not anticipate by participating in 1001 was that I'd get tired and bored of traditional music and along the way develop an openness and tolerance for international music. In addition, I've also come to understand that the music and not the words are what I enjoy the most. Tho, it would be nice to know what he's saying. Lam Toro is a great album that was casually playing in the background while I worked today. And, when it was over I played it again. I think that's the most basic definition of a good album. Well done. Again, I have no idea what he's saying

Joan Armatrading

3/5

Not sure if it's "Jo Ann" or "Joan" Armatrading. I've heard it pronounced Jo Ann, but it makes no difference if her name is Rose, she would still smell as sweet and carry that crazy powerful voice. First listen was pretty banal and I drifted off. But here I am listening to it again and its definitely grown on me. Sure, I'd listen to this again but I wouldn't search for it.

Ys

Joanna Newsom

2/5

Similar to an itch on the bottom of your foot that tickles when you scratch it. This album is unique and strong at the beginning. And, over time JNs voice and my love for it waned before it became bothersome and irritating. On the outside, a folksy singer with a high-pitched raspy and some whimsical voice singing extra long ballads with a harp sounds intriguing, yet in reality this album was an exercise in tolerance. I did make it through, but I am not going to listen to this again.

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

Maxwell

2/5

Brown-chicken, brown-cow for old people, and/or for comedic effect. As a matter of fact, this album plays in Young Sheldon. The scene when Sheldon figures out his dad's a 'breast man' after discovering his collection of JUGGS magazine.

Gold

Ryan Adams

2/5

I missed the boat on this one when it came out and I'm not disappointed. Gold and Ryan Adams in general is often used for the montages in shows like Parenthood or This Is Us to illustrate "This is a hard time for character A" or "Character B just learned a hard lesson and now they're a better person" ...and the viewer nods their head in agreement. This is like bubblegum music went to college and began 'experimenting' for 90 minutes. No shame in that, but we know who you are.

Metal Box

Public Image Ltd.

1/5

WTF? Why is this on the list... ? I don't mind the music but the vocals are asinine. This is what happens when you're so bloated and full of yourself. You think you're some kind of brilliant artist due to some previous success. The original reviewers of this album should have their pens taken away. On the whole, this is completely devoid of anything real or personal and I found it completely uninspired.

D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle

Throbbing Gristle

1/5

This could either be a soundtrack to a robot snuff film or the rise of living dead. Also, this is quite possibly the worst album I've been exposed to here. I'm all for noise rock, but this noise doesn't rock.

Swordfishtrombones

Tom Waits

2/5

Fake Charles Bukowski put to sounds masquerading as music.

Off The Wall

Michael Jackson

2/5

Look, I hate pedophiles and llamas as much as anyone else does, but Don't Stop and Rock with You are great tunes. Unfortunately, neither of those songs redeems MJ or this album.

Quiet Life

Japan

2/5

Musically, the sound of Quiet Life is intriguing, theres's some good stuff to pull out of it, but the vocals are off putting if not boring.

The Doors

3/5

Blue shag carpet and hippie wallpaper. This is the perfect album while getting baked at your parents house before they get home from work. There was a time that this would've been a straight five, but time marches on and seems stuck in that shag carpeting. Not to fret, there's some gold hidden in there along with some stray roach clips. Soul Kitchen is great and The End has gotta be the Doors best song ever recorded. The rest has outlived itself.

Hot Shots II

The Beta Band

3/5

Songs on this kinda blended together, they all sounded roughly the same, but I didn't mind it. Granted, I was double-tasking, clipping my toenails and reading Grapes of Wrath as this played in the background. Needless to say, I got through the whole album with a newfound empathy for drought, Oakies and the dust bowl, and feet 1.5 sizes smaller without feeling the need to turn this off.

The Trinity Session

Cowboy Junkies

4/5

College music, I was so young and unexposed. I thought the Velvet Underground and Elvis had covered the Cowboy Junkies. Never my jam, but this one still lives on in my heart.

Paul's Boutique

Beastie Boys

5/5

It's incredibly rare to find someone who'll finish your sentences for you. So glad these three found each other.

Jack Takes the Floor

Ramblin' Jack Elliott

3/5

This Poser born in Brooklyn, but he fooled me. I appreciated San Francisco Baby Blues track and the Boll Weevil song. I also appreciated that this was really short. The Grey Goose song was terrible.

Kind Of Blue

Miles Davis

4/5

Lotta good stuff coming out of that horn... I've listened to this album many times, but has never hit me as something that I should or could listen to whenever I had the opportunity. Today, I just let it play on repeat and probably got through about 2.5 listens before I sat down to write this. The musicians are all stars in their own right. I think I even rated Bill Evans a 5 somewhere on this list. Also, is Giant Steps even on this list... ? What I've come to is that Kind of Blue is a daily driver. It's something that works in a myriad of circumstances and for pretty much all occasions. Making food in the kitchen, working, driving to pickup the kids, even a low-key Sunday afternoon. This is perfect for all of that. I'm not a jazz guy or even a musician, I've taken college level jazz classes and even played the trumpet for a few years, but I have no idea how jazz is built. From what I understand, MD just gave the musicians a range of chords and let them do their thing. All in all, I liked this, but I didn't love it and ponder that maybe the magic of this album dissipated as people shifted their focus to other means of entertainment. Sure, kids are still playing instruments in school, but the kids that get excited about creating music with traditional woodwind instruments are few. Kids are excited about coding and collaborate more about tech than music these days... everything has become consumed by tech and music is just another one of those things. Kind of Blue is a beautiful album with plenty of heart and a hellofalotta soul, and yet regrettably, I don't feel the magic here that so many music critics have found.

The Wildest!

Louis Prima

5/5

I recently slipped and fell down the steps, and I've had a hard time hearing when we're out in public, -- and also when my wife talks to me, but people tell me that's called 'selective listening. Addiotionally, I've begun preferring to eat dinner at 4:30, be asleep by 8:00 p.m. and developed an intense love for Cribbage and Scrabble. Despite my spritely 44 years on earth, this album makes me think that somehow I'm quite a bit older wishing I was much younger. What fun.

Paul Simon

1/5

No I don't hate Paul Simon for being a wife beater. I just hate this album. I found it boring, yet distracting Oh, and Paul's voice could benefit from not being so douchey.

Savane

Ali Farka Touré

2/5

Feeling ill-equipped to offer highly-intelligent feedback on this album. It's definitely a curiosity that I enjoyed listening to for the first 20 mins. However, the album became long soonafter the 20 min. mark. Really thankful for the exposure, but seems out of place on this list.

Happy Sad

Tim Buckley

2/5

Too many Buckley's for this world. I blame William for turning me off to the name. Like everyone else, I love Jeff's Hallelujah cover but had no idea he had a famous father. Happy Sad makes me more sad than happy. He's got a nice voice and 'he's not afraid to use it' But when this was over all I could think of was a flat dimensional Gordon Lightfoot. Maybe there's more depth to TB, I think there's another album on this list, but for now I gotta say that I wasn't much impressed.

En-Tact

The Shamen

2/5

Are the ShaMEN a response to the Spice GIRLS? It's hard for me to relate to this since I have good teeth and didn't grow up in England in the 90's. I feel like C+C Music Factory, Marky Mark and a pair Calvin Klein undies might jump outta my Spotify. Word up. Word to your moms.

Floodland

Sisters Of Mercy

4/5

Well, I don't know what's come over me. I've escaped my comfort zone for something dark and slimy, too serious and overly dramatic ... and guess what...? It's pretty okay. Yup, I'm really surprised this played as well as it did. I'm no skinny puppy, kmfdm fan and generally avoid the black hole of that heavy industrial goth genre, but Floodland seems like a prequel or maybe just one dimension to the left of those bands. I may have even listened to TWICE... #whoami?

461 Ocean Boulevard

Eric Clapton

2/5

Was really digging the first song and a half but boredom set in soonafter and literally forgot everything about this album in the span of about 18 hours.

Out Of The Blue

Electric Light Orchestra

4/5

I feel like I should be watching some happy pseudo-80's porn montage while listening to this album. But, maybe that's just my inner Dirk Diggler talking.

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

1/5

I feel like it's parent day at my kid's kindergarten and I'm listening to children's nursery rhymes. Any moment and someone in a Big Bird costume is going to pop out of a garbage can with a ukulele. "Isn't this fun?! C'mon parents! Sing along!" That's all fine and interesting the first two times, but I've got four kids and I need to go back to work. What a bitter waste of time...

The White Room

The KLF

1/5

Nothing dies faster than the cutting edge. Case in point... This is incredibly weak 30 years later, but somehow people are still listening to this... ? The rave is over people. I feel like Ferris Bueller telling you go go home after the movie is over. I can think of very little redeeming qualities of this... maybe the story which made me curious because... well "People's Pyramid ... completed in 3023 followed by a world tour? A fully deleted catalog only to be released on steaming in 2021 except for this album and when I finally find it ... it's THIS?! Supremely disappointed. Granted there's plenty of shitty undiscovered shitty music on 1001 and we can add this to the pile...

Justified

Justin Timberlake

3/5

Was excited for this, but then learned it doesn't include 'Dick In a Box' and also it's not very funny. JT sounds like a '00s reincarnation of Color Me Badd.

The Clash

3/5

I was all ready to hate this album because, well... "I hate The Clash..." or have assumed that for years. In reality, I vehemently despise The Clash's reggae tendencies like "The Guns of Brixton," “Police & Thieves" boring yawn-a-thon junk. Surprisingly, most of the songs on this are tolerable and maybe even a little enjoyable... though if I'm listening to 70's Britshit, I'd far prefer Stiff Little Fingers.

Fromohio

fIREHOSE

3/5

SST and fIREHOUSE were staples of mid-late 80's skateboarding culture. Also, there's a lotta cool things that originate Fromohio... I remember getting excited whenever I saw a fIREHOSE cd in the used bin at Tower, but most of the time, my excitement would turn to disappointment because there were a shit-ton of used CDs by a band called "FIRE HOUSE" ... some lame hair band from the 90's (sorry Firehouse fans). If'n and Ragin' Full On are better albums, but it's nice to see these guys on the list.

Scum

Napalm Death

1/5

Bass Drum of (Napalm) Death

Tank Battles

Dagmar Krause

1/5

Sunday Funday this is not. Listening to this album is on par with being forced to spend a long weekend with white people grandparents and their butler on the upper west side, with a 'special outing' to see Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg opera. Get me outta here...

Who Killed...... The Zutons?

The Zutons

4/5

Ahhh, she saxophone... The Sean Connery of musical instrumentation. In the late '90's and early 2000's there was this belief that any crappy movie could be made better if only Sean Connery was in it. Studios figured this out and it worked for a bit until audiences eventually realized that Sean Connery equals suckfest, making him redundant and leaving us with movies like LXG. In the '80's the same thing happened with the saxophone and well, nothing blows like the saxophone. I can think of one band that successfully used the sax / alto sax (whatever...) during this time and the name of that band that was Morphine (rip Mark Sandman). I hate to admit this, but the sax and the way it's used on this album is a nice add. There aren't any overpowering sax solos, and instead employs some lax toots to carry the rhythm thru. The Zutons are unconventional (and not overtly British) and that's what I like about them. David McCabe's vocals are strong enough to carry a tune without support but isn't above throwing some gutteral ahahhyahh's here and there. This album plays like a bridge from the dirty 60's hippie rancor to thoughtful backroom western saloon and all the way back to Williamsburg. Overall it's a decent find that I was happy to explore.

São Paulo Confessions

Suba

4/5

Sounds dated. Sounds like the nineties and they ain't talkin' English... but I could listen to this album while shopping at Banana Republic and The Gap all day long. But wait. As soon as Antropofagos starts in, I'm leaving on principle.

Crosby, Stills & Nash

1/5

This is precisely the horseshit I think of when I think of when someone says '60s music. The fake harmonizing drives me fuckin' nuts. Kumbaya motherfuckers!

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

5/5

Hell yeah!

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wilco

3/5

I know people swear by Wilco and this album like it was the Fleetwood Mac album ... but I found this really boring almost as if I had ducked out of work early and found myself in a college level statistics class. There's definitely something here, but I'm not smart enough to be on Jeff Tweedy's level and don't have the patience to figure it out. Let's drink beer!

NEU! 75

Neu!

5/5

Is this really 'Krautrock'? Not sure this is romper stomper music it's more like Stereolab and Brian Eno discovered their long lost father. Regardless of whatever it's been labeled, it's really nice. Theres's some variety there with some hard stuff thrown in closer to the end, but the droning ambience of Neu! is really enjoyable. Evidently, both Dinger and Rother were early members of Kraftwerk which I never thought I'd appreciate, however the fondness I've got for NEU! 75 has inspired me to give them another listen.

Live / Dead

Grateful Dead

3/5

I can see the appeal of The Dead Show, where you're just hanging out with friends in a cow pasture, drinking beer and getting high with these guys playing in the background. That doesn't sound too bad. But to recapture that experience and drop it into a 12" plastic disc and call it a 'live' album just doesn't work.

The Libertines

3/5

The Libertines is just boy band without chaperones dedicated to getting high and slaying ass. The music is sloppy, dirty, intricately normal and fulfills creativity on a basic level. The music is better than most on this list, but extrication of personality from music ruins most all of that.

Back to Mystery City

Hanoi Rocks

4/5

You can't talk about Hanoi Rocks without mentioning Vince Neil. Ok. Done. Moving on... Back to Mystery City isn't isn't glam rock-y enough and that's the surprise here. There's no soup-y overproduced love ballads or high-pitched crooning. It's dirty, lo-fi and relatively basic. Put this against the other glam rock bands of the day, I'd choose this.

m b v

My Bloody Valentine

5/5

This album is like a long weekend with nothing to do but by Saturday morning, you've gotten lost in something completely gluttonous and consuming and just give in. This is yours, you keep it all to yourself and quietly decide this is how you're going to spend the next three days ... getting lost in the drone-y feedback and static abyss.

California

American Music Club

3/5

Music for stepdads trying to appeal to newly acquired teenage kids in the '80s. The singer sounds like Evan Dando and Bruce Springsteen with a little of that guy from Morphine, the band with the saxophone thrown in. This is the stuff that your stepdad throws on after setting up his new hi-fi stereo equipment in the living room late on a Sunday afternoon while the rest of the family ignores him. When Bad Liquor comes on, he turns up the volume just so people know he's there and he's cool. In reality, his mind is wandering and wondering why he decided to marry into this existing family and how it's much more difficult than he thought.. but at least he's got a new stereo system. Tomorrow, he'll go to Peaches store and pickup the new Go-Betweens album and a copy of Juggs.

Sulk

The Associates

1/5

One hour and forty minutes of absolute dogshit.

Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

50 Cent

4/5

ishyabirfday. Somewhere there's a planet where this album exists and I love it; and as much as I don't want to like this here on Earth, regrettably I do. But then I listen to the lyrics and roll my eyes... and keep listening and partying like, well you know...

Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division

5/5

Nothing I write about this album is going to be cohesive so here goes: Ian Curtis and dancing - darkly interesting. A favorite album of a close and deceased friend I feared listening to this and hating it. This album grew on me over time. This album seems like a dark veil that I want to remove but I'm afraid of what hides behind it. This album is like walking in quicksand and the deeper you sink, the less you panic and accept what lies beneath JD and New order are like night and day where New Order is a terrible sound (except for Ceremony and Age of Consent) and JD is darkly original. Artwork on this is a classic I'd much prefer this to punk or any New Wave Highlights: Shadowplay, Day of the Lords, Disorder Lowlights: Nothing. Unless you count the depression that comes along with it.

Shalimar

Rahul Dev Burman

5/5

This is offensive and this album should NOT be on the list!!! We're music critics goddamnit! You think this is a game...?! It is NOT a game! Ok. Now that we've gotten that out of the way this is a straight five. It's way too much fun for this list and that's what I like about it. Way cool, and way fun in a retro old-world sense. It invokes otherworldly nostalgia that give me curiosity wiggles. It's just awesome. And yes, I'd totally listen to this again. Oh! Let's get this Shalimar thing on the big screen!

The Dreaming

Kate Bush

1/5

Ugh, this was nearly unlistenable. I enjoyed the last KB album, but this album was just irritating. The falsetto's the vocal bouncing paired against the boring music set this up for a giant fail. I might as well listen to Tori Amos.

Nixon

Lambchop

4/5

I really was impressed by how non conformist this album was. Each track had it's own lane but remained a realm of thoughtful and subtly inspiring music. Tho I'm not super in love with the dude's voice, I enjoyed the multitude of instrumentation and seemingly unlimited number of artists that performed on this. Very happy to have been introduced to Lambchop.

Ready To Die

The Notorious B.I.G.

3/5

The rock I've lived under has been comfortable, but this is is a really good album. I hear this rapper is dead and everyone is really broken up about it.

...And Justice For All

Metallica

2/5

Metallica is the Elvis Stojko of metal. This album in particular is straight ice dancing. Yes, like Olympics ice dancing. Everything is excessively choreographed, rehearsed to oblivion with the goal to be as robotic as possible and all the audience is waiting for is for you to fail. No failures here, congratulations, you're all robots.

Raising Hell

Run-D.M.C.

5/5

If there's one album that 1001 is in need of, it's the one that's straight beat boxing. Reluctantly, Son of Byford will have to sufice until a replacement appears and that's okay by me. The only album to supplant this in 7th grade was License to Ill. And y'all'd think I be illin if I said this but it's true, Raising Hell still holds a sweet spot inside me.

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Marty Robbins

1/5

Wow, I was so into this for the first couple of songs and then I had to jump out of a window. Even still, it follows me!! There should be a warning label on this that reads: WARNING: use as directed. Avoid high places. Not intended for continuous consumption. For best results, and to maintain sanity, use fewer than three songs per hour. If extended listening occurs, pray for an early death.

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

2/5

Somehow I was present at the Hollywood Bowl to see David Byrne preform. The only thing that I can remember from the performance is his ensemblé that included a bunch of teenage boys wearing tight silver lemme shorts dancing in formation. It was at that point when I realized that I really wasn't interested in digging into David Byrne beyond what I knew from the Talking Heads. And what I knew about the Talking Heads is that they're on a whole 'nother level that just isn't appealing to me. Regardless, I did listen to this album and came to the same conclusion. Nope. Not for me.

Highly Evolved

The Vines

4/5

This is the night that you went out with your buddies to celebrate something but you can't remember what. You rallied the troops, hit some dive bar, did shots with random people, wound up at a strip club and woke up in an unfamiliar house feeling like shit the next morning. Fun and forgettable, you're not sure what happened, but you know you had a blast.

World Clique

Deee-Lite

2/5

Well, dogamn, this album sucks. Back in the day, all the dudes had a boner for Lady Keir and checking out some of her zany photos from the the 90s you can still see the allure. Unfortunately all those crappy rave chemicals she was eating, snorting and shoving up her tooter haven't been kind to her. Or, any of us for that matter. Do you expect that eating handfuls of truck-stop ephedrine and snorting 'herbal ecstacy' isn't gonna affect you long-term? Yep, time moves on, and mock beehive hairdos that were a stretch then, are straight-up ridiculously sad now. Just. Like. This. Album. :( But Groove Is in the Heart is, and will always be in my heart. Whenever I hear that track, I fall right back into those times. Full Cheshire. Cheek-to-cheek, ear-to-ear, full-toothy smiles...

Don't Stand Me Down

Dexys Midnight Runners

2/5

For years, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have been in pursuit of "Dexy's Midnight Runners". Dexy, the famous amphetemine smuggler from London diversified his operations in 1980, moved to the sanctuary city of Los Angeles and started Dexy's Midnight Runners, LLC. Dexy was great at smuggling things, but in his heart he wanted to be a musician, except he wasn't so great at musician-ing. But, he had an idea... Dexy knew that he only needed a captive audience to listen to his songs about boring stuff. And, the best way to get an audience was to offer smuggling services to immigrants. See, they'd have no choice to listen to him sing as he led them through the night across the border and into California. However, it didn't work. This album, Don't Stand Me Down is based on the revolt that his caravan led against his music. Most of the caravan turned around and headed back down south rather than listening to his music. Dejected, Dexy moved back to the UK and became involved in peddling smut with a song about Eileen. The Brits loved that one and it took to the UK charts but never did much in the U.S. Excited about a potential tool to lower illegal immigration in the U.S., the Customs and Border Patrol have been trying to locate DMR to license their music. The thought being that if Dexy's music was piped through border speakers it'd make those who've travelled thousands of miles to escape poverty, political persecution, gangs and violence for a better life in the U.S. would be compelled to stop, turn around and rethink their choices. So far, Dexy has been mum on his intent to cooperate with the government. However, sources say that one of the sticking points in the recent budget proposal on Speaker Mike Johnson's desk includes a line item under Homeland Security for "DMRs auditory repulsion" and it's understood that "DMR" is in fact Dexy's Midnight Runners... Only time will tell if the U.S. will ever pass a budget and if that budget will include services by the elusive Dexy's Midnight Runners, LLC.

Red Dirt Girl

Emmylou Harris

3/5

True, there's beauty in sadness, but damn, this album is hella depressing. Feel bad hating on an artist from HoCo, so I won't. This is great music for staring out water-soaked paned glass on a dismal gray day, or soaking in the sadness of a recent loved one that's passed. It was a difficult listen for me because it's sunny here and I've shoved all my sad feelings into the dark places of my soul.

Tusk

Fleetwood Mac

4/5

Hater's gonna hate, but it's impossible not to like album. Defeated and overcome with nostalgia. Nice work McMac'ers.

Traffic

3/5

Dirty hippie, jam band music with a white soul. Great boomer music that the lazier generations won't be able to appreciate. Truly music from another time. They don't make it like this anymore for a reason.

Third/Sister Lovers

Big Star

3/5

How many points does a star need to have to be considered a 'star' ...? And does a 'big star' have more points than a standard star, or is it just larger? Truth: These guys are kinda squarish. Thought I could get into some of their stuff, but then the Femme Fatale cover came on and it was terrible. Holocaust was really weird, but with a title like that it... well, you know... It wasn't bound for greatness. Then, when you don't think it'd get weirder, they do a song on about Santa drinking all the wine and stroking it. I can hear a lot of seeds of greatness in here... but it's from a different era and hard to relate to today. Regardless, I wouldn't mind exploring more Big Star, but Spotify has grayed out six tracks and it's doubtful they'd elevate the album above a three.

Bossanova

Pixies

4/5

This noise won't kill you... I should just stop there because that's all you need to know. It's not the most enjoyable album, but it's holds my attention. It's like the teacher's calming hand on your shoulder when you're working through some statistics problem in middle school. Furthermore, It doesn't rush you or even bother you at first, it's barely noticeable and has the potential to fade into the background... but there's always the possibility that it could get interesting. To cut to the chase ... There's nothing amazing about this album, but as far as 90's alt noise rock goes, it is delicately enjoyable.

Kollaps

Einstürzende Neubauten

3/5

I can't tell if German makes this album better or worse. Part of me wants to know what they're saying but the other part of me knows it's probably like 'the recycling bin is full again" or "grape jelly and sledge hammers go boom". Now that I think about it, the German (and muffled screams) adds authenticity to the experience. What was I thinking? Everyone knows true noise rock has to be in German (duh). Also, sorry Sonic Youth. German is the key here. Throbbing Gristle was truly terrible but that's only because it was in English. I gotta say that I like the shift and having this album here. It's not something I'd listen to, but it was more interesting than some of the others. Bee Gees, I'm talking to you.

Lost Souls

Doves

5/5

A hidden gem, such a good album.

Come Away With Me

Norah Jones

4/5

There's nothing wrong with guilty pleasures. This'll do just fine.

Gasoline Alley

Rod Stewart

3/5

It's hard to imagine another artist who's spent their entire career being washed up. At lest for us American's Rod Stewart has has always had to fight to become relevant. By the time Faces had gained attention in the states, they had already given way to Stewart's solo career. Gasoline Alley doesn't pique my interest as anything special. Instead, it's the background music at some sandy beach tourist bar where all the ladies are attractive and styled for Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues. The music plays, but does it doesn't do anything to keep you entertained.

Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

2/5

"I'm the Governor Pete Wilson, you know, the baddest governor to ever grab a mic and go boom, give me a budget and watch me hack it..." That was the line ... I was totally clueless to political rock until this came out and it wasn't until I listed to this album, that I understood better what Jello Biafra had been attempting to do with his music. I didn't love this album. In fact, the regurgitated edit of California Uber Alles was really the only song that I enjoyed. I love that musicians use tools as a way to scream at authority and make a statement or start a rallying cry for something... but at some point the music has got to be intriguing, interesting and at least hold the interest of an audience. If you're going to sculpt values and instill passion, at least let me enjoy the music. Michael Franti, has long been an outspoken critic on social justice issues, war and plenty of other things. He's got plenty to say about community, culture, homelessness and democracy. But most of it is too difficult (for me at least) to comprehend when he's put it to music.

Get Behind Me Satan

The White Stripes

3/5

Thank goodness for Richie Cunningham's expert speedboat driving skills. Anything less than 'expert-level skills' would've spelled imminent disaster and a quick demise. If you didn't know, Get Behind Me Satan is the album where Arthur Fonzarelli decides to show a little leg, put on a bright-yellow floatation belt and do the impossible... leap over that sharp-toothed caged mammal in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Thankfully Fonzie survived and released Icky Thump aka the nail in the coffin in 2007. Thank you Richie Cunningham, the world is meh for your contribution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs9M1m-dpgM

New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

Simple Minds

2/5

Don't You (forget about Simple Minds) ...Don't, don't don't you... Unless you're a Ferris Bueller fan, it's pretty easy to forget about Simple Minds. To me they were always a one-hit-wonder that just existed behind the antlers above Ferris' dresser. Ferris Bueller's Day Off was unforgettable. I saw it in the theatre when it was released and had a copy on VHS. There are plenty of memorable scenes like at The Art Institute of Chicago and lines like "you killed the car...", and my favorite "the 'Sausage King of Chicago?'" Sadly, this album isn't as memorable. From the cover art and outset, New Gold Dream looks like it would play from an hymnal at a random new age church. The song titles read like religious brainwashing. "King is White and In the Crowd", "Somebody Up There Likes You", "Promised You a Miracle," etc. All of this religious garbage mixed in with pop music is a huge turn off in the states... but maybe I should turn this album off, get out of my bubble and explore the world because this album was largely a waste of time. ...as everyone knows. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” https://www.chicagomag.com/arts-culture/february-2016/ferris-bueller-bedroom/

Pacific Ocean Blue

Dennis Wilson

5/5

Rough vocals from rough living, a Beach Boy with real substance (abuse issues). Wow, what a story Dennis had. The middle child and focus of his father's wrath, living in the shadows of his brothers as the 'untalented' Wilson he was reduced to play basic beats on the drums, but then he makes this incredible album. Pacific Ocean Blue embodies everything that the Beach Boys weren't raw, open, experimental and real. It would be nice to believe that the creation and release of Pacific Ocean Blue gave Dennis redemption and freedom, but then maybe it wouldn't play the same or be as poignant.

Rhythm Nation 1814

Janet Jackson

2/5

"I thought it would be great if we could create our own nation" hmmm. That sounds like marketing BS to me but it didn't seem to hurt sales. Rhythm Nation was the best selling album of 1989. It was also released the same year Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing hit theaters, and also the same year that Public Enemy released It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. PE and Spike Lee, not the most mainstream at that time. But Janet, had released Control three years earlier and was a 'Jackson' was definitely mainstream. A year later, Marlon Wayans launched In Living Colour, an edgy sketch comedy show with a majority black cast on the new FOX network. I think anything with a 'Jackson' name on it during that time would've been a hit regardless of the marketing speak. But I also think her sloppy attempt to tie this album to 'social issues' may have increased its timespan of relevancy, and possibly even staved off some critics growing weary of more Jacksons hogging the limelight. This is a straight 80's album with weird synth-y percussions and dancing. There's no shame in it unless you try and label it something its not.

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

4/5

This was a sad follow up to Check Your Head, which in my opinion is their best album followed by Paul’s Boutique. There are a few standout tracks here but most of them are instrumentals which can also be found on other releases. For example, Heart Attack Man is on Some Old Bullshit, Eugene’s Lament, Shambala and Ricky's Theme is on The In Sound From Way Out, tho that was released after Ill Communication. (The repackaging here is bold and annoying). Futterman's Rule, to some extent is the combination of both the old punk bits and Bossa Nova inspired stuff like Ricky's. But the ‘rapping’ if you call it that is pretty terrible. The best things that the BBoys do are instrumentals and make fun of themselves. Spike Jonze's video for Sabotage was the mainstream saving grace for this Ill Communication. Before theatrical releases of Starsky & Hutch, Anchor Man, Charlie's Angels, and all the other spoof-y movies, it was novel to parody vintage TV and the video was a hit on MTV. But that video represented a flash in time. What’s truly novel about Ill Communication are the lines by MCA on the first track of this album, Sureshot. "I want to say a little something that's long overdue The disrespect to women has got to be through To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends I want to offer my love and respect to the end" This attitude, flew in direct contrast to the lyrics contained on License To Ill and unlike fun music videos like Sabotage. The shift provided the band staying power and longevity regardless of what they sounded like. So, Ill Communication was the turning point, they released Hello Nasty, 5 Boroughs and others, made more funny music videos (Intergalactic, anyone?) and called out bad behavior aimed at Woodstock 99 on the MTV VMA’s. I don’t think they truly redeemed themselves for License to Ill, but they did represent self-awareness and positive change. I like the BB, I’m not a super fan of this album, but I respect what they started with it. https://katefustich.medium.com/the-beastie-boys-feminist-evolution-34d371071663

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Bruce Springsteen

3/5

I've got to stop and admit that I really just don't get Springsteen. Every album that I've heard from him is just forgettable. However, I will say that I was mesmerized at a Springsteen live show. The first hour I spent getting a beer and trying to find my seat. The rest of the show I was in awe. Not by the music, tho. It was more of a "how can this guy play for so long ...?" Four hours, it was a four hour show. He's 70+ years old, how can he do this...? I'm pretty sure I left early.

Roots

Sepultura

3/5

Jarring at first, but soon settles in to what feels like a deep-tissue massage.

Let's Get It On

Marvin Gaye

4/5

Great heavy romance album from the early 70's but what does that title really mean "You Sure Love To Ball" ... mmmh?

All Hope Is Gone

Slipknot

3/5

Not my jam. But I can respect this more than other bands that exist in this space. Metallica, System of a Down, Linkin Park, Korn etc. Basically any bass-heavy alt-metal stuff. It's also worth looking at how incredibly popular Slipknot is outside of the U.S. Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico even Indonesia has more Spotify listeners than here in the states.

Nick Of Time

Bonnie Raitt

2/5

Ugh. This is the 80's going ALL-IN on itself just before the clock struck midnight.

Heroes to Zeros

The Beta Band

2/5

Flaccid and disappointing. Sure, you guys are betas, you're losers and zeroes... but we would've never known if you hadn't told us. Oh, and that cover art is lame too. It makes me think of the dumbest live show I've ever experienced, Weezer, what a waste of money. --- Aw F, I'm sorry. I'm just in a shitty mood and this music is just super sucky for my mental state right now.

Another Green World

Brian Eno

5/5

Pure scrumtrulescence. I had no idea how much I'd like Brian Eno before 1001.

Tubular Bells

Mike Oldfield

1/5

So here's what happened. Mike Oldfield was a music supervisor for indy films and never got paid. In retaliation, he pulled some of the scores for the low-budge, B movies up off the floor, put them on a record and evidently got the album to the right people, because somehow it ended up on this list. Sure, Titular Bells has that one song from the horror movie, but the balance of the album is pure mish-mash ... Track two is from the untitled Rocky Horror Picture Show spinoff movie. That film had a monster in the dungeon and a fair maiden who fell in love with it but of course that film was never released. Track 3 is also a salvaged score, evidently from an Irish immigrant period-film set somewhere on a wooden- hulled boat in the Atlantic Ocean. And finally, there's the track from the knockoff Monty Python film that is somehow connected to the aforementioned Irish migrant film (?). I didn't see any of these films, I'm just surmising. Evidently, his plan worked and eventually got paid. But, I'm not sure how Mike pulled it off. It's a mystery to me how this album wound up on this list. I'm pretty sure he's shifted careers from the days of being a music supervisor and gone into marketing. He's probably responsible for all the Mother's of Invention albums on the list too.

Tea for the Tillerman

Cat Stevens

4/5

Lots of memorable AM gold here. I get Jim Croce and Cat Stevens mixed up to me they're the same person. This is the one that changed his name, went into hiding and refused royalties tho, right? Cool. That's punk rock.

Armed Forces

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

2/5

J. Elvis Weinstein

Back To Black

Amy Winehouse

5/5

What an amazing turnaround from Frank. I think all of us can agree that the Frank movie was better than Frank the album. If you haven't seen it, stop reading this review right now and go watch Frank. It'll change your life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEJu9WJaMLo Back to Black is no Frank. And 'frankly' I'm glad that we had to listen to that album before attacking this one. Sure, I wasn't impressed, but Back to Black was so, so good. It's only now after listening to this that I can begin to understand what all the Amy Winehouse fuss was about. This was great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A7iVIg_ry8

Bad Company

2/5

Southern-fried meatoes. This album sounded like stale beer and sweat-stained trucker hats on a Wednesday-morning binger in Tuscaloosa.

Henry's Dream

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

2/5

I'm sorry, I can't do anymore Nick Cave. Please 1001, make these albums stop. Nick Cave plays like a humorless Jonathan Richman.

New Wave

The Auteurs

3/5

Clean distortion and soft voices. Benign and without teeth. Musically, it was much better than I assumed it would be. The singer's voice sounds like Tal Bachman with a British accent. That is not appealing.

Manassas

Stephen Stills

2/5

I met David in college, he was from Manassas. Like you, I had no idea where 'Manassas' was. So he offered reference for me. "It's where the penis was thrown..." That's all I can think about. Lorena, cut John Wayne Bobbit's dong off while he was sleeping and threw it in a field in Manassas. It was a big story in the 90's and that reference was suitable. Ahhh, Manassas...

Fisherman's Blues

The Waterboys

2/5

Non offensive, traditional music you'd find at a folk festival while trying to find the nearest bathroom. This grew tired quickly but then Sweet Thing came on and I was somewhat satisfied. Because Sweet Thing was different and I then I realized why ... because it wasn't a Waterboys song. It was a cover of Van Morrison (duh).

Eli And The Thirteenth Confession

Laura Nyro

3/5

I've never heard of Laura Nyro, but her last name makes me think of those weird meat sandwiches you find at the state fair. I think it's lamb, but you never know what you're eating at those gatherings. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised with this album, the gospel-innfused jazz vocals and the up tempo of the first few tracks really won me over. Though once it settled down into a more Carpenters-esque songs it kinda fell off.

Myths Of The Near Future

Klaxons

2/5

Epic battle here between the Zutons and th Klaxons. Just like you're at that Scientology convention you never wanted to go to. Who will win the battle for your soul... In the left corner, we have the Klaxons, hailing from stuffy London and well versed in vanilla flavored new rock with a spritz of harmonium. And, in the right from the dirty and hard-hammered city of Liverpool are the Zutons, ...and thy have a SAXOPHONE! John Travolta will be officiating the match.... [hits play on Klaxons ... falls asleep, wakes up, decides time is better spent making french toast with extra egg and a boatload of syrup. Four Horsemen is still playing and turns off... ]

Liege And Lief

Fairport Convention

2/5

Is 'Fairport Convention' code for renaissance fair? I think it is. I feel like I should be hot, smelly and dirtry while eating a turkey leg and yelling "wench, go fetch me my lute."

Greetings From L.A.

Tim Buckley

2/5

I'm so glad I missed this generation. This is awful. It sounded good out of the gate, but then this dude starts singing and the funky white jazz saxophone starts in. This is the stuff you wanna see when your half shitfaced in Nashville after midnight in Printers Alley.

All That You Can't Leave Behind

U2

4/5

My girlfriend was 26 when she bought her first new car. It was a big deal and she was so happy when she drove the teal, manual transmissioned Honda Civic off the lot. It had a 6-disc CD changer that she paid extra for and this album was the only thing that played in it. After a bit of this, and figuring out that she had no intention of changing the music, I decided that I'd drive from now on. I felt like this album, was drivel, poppy bubblegum once removed from college or "adult contemporary' music. And I had no intention of being an adult. Here I am. Here WE are, 25 years later that car long gone, a mortgage, two kids, soccer, therapy, sciatica and everything that goes along with middle age... Here we are, and I'd give most anything to sit in that little civic and listen to this CD again just for an hour.

The Seldom Seen Kid

Elbow

4/5

This was one of the first albums I bought through Apple / iTunes. after the fall of Limewire and Napster. I think I fell in love with David Gray's White Ladder and Elbow's Cast of Thousands about the same time. It seemed like a safe bet. Tho good, this is not as polished or as consistent as Cast of Thousands. Definitely not a waste of $9.99 but that money could've been better used elsewhere. Like on a sixer of High Life and a couple of 7-Layer burritos.

The Last Broadcast

Doves

5/5

Participating in 1001 has made me realize that every album on this list is has been Beautiful Minded onto this list. It's just human nature. Our brains are just one giant vacuum sucking up references and then using those references to validate an album. If you like 'A' and 'B' and 'C' is similar to 'A', then you'll also like 'C.' So the assumption is, if you hate Coldplay and Doves sound like Coldplay, then you'll hate Doves isn't always correct. First of all most of us who like Coldplay won't readily admit they like Coldplay. But if you say you like the Doves, does that mean you like Coldplay? I just don't see Coldplay on this album. Nothing about this album screams "I'm Chris Martin, I have bad teeth and I'm going to seduce your girlfriend..." I read lot's of complaining about Coldplay rip offs ("and that's why this band sucks"), but to me, The Doves stand far outside of the mainstream, at least here in the states. But I can see how a band like The Doves might strike ire of true British music fans. This album was released and went straight to number 1 on the British charts. The band became a cash cow, selling a full-length compilation DVD, included a documentary, had music that played at the start of all Manchester City F.C. games, more music on sports networks. Then there's the little tidbit that before becoming a band on 1001, the three members were a dance-club music trio called Sub Sub. That's enough ammo for me to hate the band too. Those Coldplay references weren't about how the band sounded but how the band 'sold out,' what the band did with their music by making it available everywhere and to everyone; which sounds a lot like Coldplay. But the truth is that I got lost in the drony full-winded long notes of the singers nasal-y, yet muffled voice and the errant out of place guitar notes sprinkled atop the many layers of basic riffs. I enjoyed the music and the realities of what most Brits experience was not mine, but if those were my realities, I'd score this band a lot lower.

Opus Dei

Laibach

4/5

Nazi constipation music induces laughter and ridicule. Somehow this was unique and entertaining enough to keep me listening all the way through tho.

Jagged Little Pill

Alanis Morissette

4/5

Alanis Morissette is a rock legend to the max, she can really whip a horses ass! Don't forget, the best thing about this album is Wesley Willis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_fg_D1noOY

Imagine

John Lennon

3/5

Have you ever thought about how weird the name 'Elvis' is? I mean, that's a really weird name if you've never heard of the singer. 'Madonna,' is also a weird name. How many friends do you know named Madonna, Yoko or Jesus (Jee-zuhs, not Hay Zeus)? Welp, John isn't very unique, but John is versatile! John can be the name of a place you can go pee and drop a deuce, and can also be a man who seeks services from a prostitute. And if you listen to this album, he doesn't believe in Jesus or Elvis (no word on Madonna), but he does believe in 'me,' Yoko and John (the person who wrote the song, not the other Johns) ... Anyway, I've heard some of these on a best of Lennon and they're all kinda boring and unremarkable. On a ranking scale, I'd score the following in most to least remarkable: Elivis - such a weird name! Yoko - the devil herself! Jesus - two pronunciations! John - Such a versitle word! Imagine (this album)

Leftism

Leftfield

3/5

Kind of forgettable over the past 30 years, but still completely listenable if you turn off your brain.

After The Gold Rush

Neil Young

2/5

I maintain the best Neil Young album is the soundtrack he did for Dead Man, the Jim Jarmusch movie from 1995. This is the album that is 100% instrumental. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR6mXTWbSEM #neilsvoiceruinsneilsalbums

KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)

Ministry

3/5

"You bang too much..." Energetic, repetitive, dark and entertaining. Then it abruptly stopped entertaining me and started irritating me.

Kid A

Radiohead

5/5

Kid A is about lonliness. To a 90's kid... This is where Radiohead started being 'weird' ... The evolution of Radiohead is what people love about them, and it's also what people hate about them, but this is the first album after Ok Computer, or the dividing line. It's no wonder Everything in it's Right Place is the opening track. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG-jg1jizVE

Is This It

The Strokes

5/5

Undeniable. We pirated this music, burned MP3s, traded music on MegaUpload and distributed it widely. All of us music nerds know rock and roll and indy music was on life support and the wider music world was stuck listening to bands like Korn, Linkin Park, System of a Down and Green Day before this broke. This was exciting. Some of us hated it immediately because it was successful, it wasn't indy enough, but the wider world appreciated the change and that sparked more unique NYC bands to be recognized. This music created a world that us 90's kids dreamed of, but weren't ready for and instead tried to look the other way. (Buddyhead, I'm talking to you) But it's undeniable. Like time, it ages, you age and the world keeps spinning and hindsight is 20/20. Today, this is easily available on Spotify and everything else is discoverable (even AI generated tracks ;). But I think the era that Is This It bloomed, was last physical movement in music, or indy music if you can call it that. Hopefully, you are able to be a paying member of your favorite music streaming service. Hopefully you still go out to see bands and hopefully are still part of the community. Hopefully you visit the merch bar, buy a t-shirt or vinyl and support the music you listen to. And, hopefully, you've discovered that if you pay for Spotify, you're entitled to 14 hours of audiobooks and have discovered Meet Me In the Bathroom, the book by Lizzie Goodman which can provide a much better interpretation of this era than I can... but if you haven't you can always stream the movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgHN-YE7IPI

Rattlesnakes

Lloyd Cole And The Commotions

1/5

Lloyd didn't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything. He didn't want to sell anything bought or processed or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought or processed. Lloyd had big plans of being a kickboxer but instead somehow fell into making a synth-y Brit-pop band from the 80's more mediocre than it would've been on its own. You can blame Ione Skye, but synth-y Brit-pop from the 80s, was always destined to be wretched. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuc_BqAPxRo ...hold on to your dreams, folks.

Life Thru A Lens

Robbie Williams

2/5

This is awful. Robbie Williams is the British Meatloaf.

Smile

Brian Wilson

1/5

"Let's get braces!" Based on the album art I would've thought Brian Wilson was an orthodontist rather than a Beach Boy. It seems to offer the promise of happiness and elation. In reality, I think the marketing machine got ahold of this one. Smile is an overhyped comeback from a 'band' whose drama, at times overshadowed the music it preformed. The history of this album is only mildly interesting but was the main driver for why Smile got the praise it did. The original performance, album and documentary behind the album ignited sales and found an audience who was energized by little more than sweet nostalgia surrounding the Beach Boys. it may have been a passion project to someone, but more obviously was a money grab. According to Brian Wilson, himself he refers to the audience as a 'market.' When asked what completing Smile had meant to him he says "it means reaching people in a market that's so dead, so out of it. Breathing some new life into an old market is what this music is about." Smile sounds like it's halfway between a Broadway musical, and a barbershop quartet resting on an outsized narrative created by a record label.

Risque

CHIC

2/5

AM Gold ... This was the disco that everyone revolted against in the 70's. The only remarkable track is My Feet Keep Dancing. That track is a mechanical loop of "My Feet Keep Dancing." Beyond that I can't decide which is more pathetic, people coming out of the woodwork to blow up disco records or this CHIC being on this list twice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqbPSKCwdnw

4/5

I don't much care for the Family Feud or Steve Harvey's comedy. More importantly, superlatives are red flags. Anyone calling themselves "Specials" or "Thrills" rarely live up to their names so I wasn't expecting anything 'sensational' from this band that I'd never heard of. But I gotta say, this one surprised me. It was distinct in ways many albums have not bee lately. It sounded like an AC/DC inspired precursor to Louis XIV. It's dirty and terribly oversexualized lyrics intended to impress or disgust audiences, and easily split listeners down the middle. "Sensational," no. Provocative, yes.

Dare!

The Human League

2/5

I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, true. But even then I knew I'd find a much better listen that doesn't sound like poo. I kept thinking about Kraftwerk, which it seems this album attempts to be like. But then, it ruins it with emotion and vocals. Dude, the whole point of Kraftwerk is progression. By doing this, you've effectively put a stake in the ground and declared, "We're not moving on. We'll be right here." While your chorus is saying "Don't you want me?" The rest of the world is saying a resounding 'No."

Throwing Muses

5/5

Who says compilation albums don't belong on 1001? "Throwing" it out there, that the Spotify button doesn't work on this album. Well, it works but sends you to a compilation album called Doghouse and not the album above. What's more is that the album the button sends you to an album that's. been REMOVED from Spotify. Moving on you search and find it on YouTube and listen to the full hour and 41 mins. and come back to submit your review ... OF THE WRONG ALBUM!!! Honestly, that was okay by me, I did find Throwing Muses by Throwing Muses on Spotify and got to listen to more of this amazing band. Great stuff that took me back to my east coast college days. ... BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE... ! Throwing Muses is touring again and I'm going to see them... Well, maybe if I can find the $$ and time to drive 2 hours south...

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan

3/5

II'm told this is a classic, this kind of was the end of the end for me. I was at a fork in the road just before this was released and I chose another path. Chambers came about the time I scooted off to university, started listening to local music and a bunch of lesser-known bands like Bitch Magnet, Unwound, Jawbox, a tiny band named Radiohead (ever heard of them?). If I was listening to any rap it was Gang Star / Guru's Jazzmatazz or NorCal Heirogliphics crew stuff. Del, Souls of Mischief, Casual and really anything else that was inspired by skateboarding videos. About this time, it became clear I was on the outer fringe of the Wu-Tang phenomenon. And though all of this is recognizable, it wasn't something that I was seeking out, more like phasing out. Reflecting on the music today it has some of the cache of west coast gangsta rap (which I'm not a fan of), but with a communal and even playful vibe missing from the west coast scene. Being an east coast kid, and growing up surrounded in diversity, I'm more easily able to relate to this than the streets of segregated Los Angeles. The characters that came out of Wu-Tang, Method Man, ODB the other *ZA's became kinda like a replacement or an alternative to the Native Tongues in the mid-90's. Each moving on to be successful in their own rite. Considerable talent all wrapped up into one package.

Deep Purple In Rock

Deep Purple

4/5

Undeniably badd ass, but then the singer starts vocaling and it becomes just plain ass. This just needed refinement. Was super-happy to find this for the riffs and bass-y guitar, but wish they'd found another singer.

Under Construction

Missy Elliott

5/5

Wow! This is the ME album that I was looking for. Great all around wonderful.

Want One

Rufus Wainwright

4/5

Tolerable in small does ... Rufus has one of the most unique voices, it's simultaneously dreamy and annoying ... it's beautiful, but the droning holds "mwaaaahh, mwaa, mwa mwaaaaaa" can get sleepy and tiresome after a few songs. Regardlesss, this album made me get through some of the work I'd been procrastinating on for a long time and since it was so successful the first time thru, I listened to it again.

Rid Of Me

PJ Harvey

4/5

One of the most iconic album covers ever. A staple in any 90's 'alternative' scene.

Pictures At An Exhibition

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

2/5

This was a different kind of bad. I really thought this was like country jam band music from the south, but surprisigly it's not! Instead, it's whisper quiet prog rock stuff from England. Which it's now apparent that I enjoy even less than country jam band music from the south.

The Colour Of Spring

Talk Talk

2/5

I love the thrift store. You know what they say, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." Somehow there's a disconnect between a day at the thrift stores and a day spent wandering through grandma's closets. For those millennials listening to this today, The Colour Of Spring is undoubtedly like a strange trip to the thrift store. Almost as if they're browsing for vintage halloween costume garb with wonder. Trying to put together something that resembles Rodney Dangerfield's character in Caddyshack, or a Wisconsinite's vintage bowler getup complete with an AMF bowling ball handbag and a Schlitz Beer nylon windbreaker. Unfortunately for me, listening to The Colour Of Spring is more like being forced to spend the day in grandma's closets. It's dank, musty and smells like 80' year old BO, (life really hasn't been the same since grandad died). So, when you're asked the question, "Have you ever wondered what Adult Contemporary sounded like in the '80's?" and your reaction is an emphatic "YES!" Well millennial, this is the album for you. For the rest of us, close your eyes and get to your happy place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5qTg5RYK_4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QEzNMQWbho

Hunting High And Low

a-ha

2/5

"But it's got that song...!" It was surprising that that track had more than 1 Billion listens on Spotify and that video on MTV is still memorable. Sadly, the balance of this album is doo-doo. https://youtu.be/djV11Xbc914

Electric Music For The Mind And Body

Country Joe & The Fish

3/5

With a name like Country Joe & The Fish, I was expecting this to smell like camping and body odor. Thankfully, this was marginally better than that with. the track 'Love' already being added to my liked songs.

Sister

Sonic Youth

3/5

I think I caught the Sonic Youth train a little too late in that I'd never heard the entirety of this album. And though it's from way back in the late '80s I'm assuming it sounded like shit back then too. Definitely not what I was expecting and really didn't quite get this one. But taken time into account, I suppose this was cutting edge garage-y noise rock / new wave punk or whatever when it was released. Though I really liked Sister, the opening track, it was a lot of downhill from there. Not super stoked on this one and need to rate it as so.

Beautiful Freak

Eels

1/5

Some of these tracks were played incessantly when this came out. I think Nick Harcourt was the pusher of this album, but then a track appeared on the Shrek soundtrack and it seemed like it was everywhere. Admittedly, I bought this and listened to it until I couldn't stand it any longer, which was maybe a couple of days. That cover, with the girl and the bulging eyes was a big fad around that time. The Black Hole Sun video using the same effect. But the songs like Going over to Susan's House was utter cheese and written in a style that even Andy Samberg would pick up on and parody the style in SNL videos with Justin Timberlake. It was all such crap. So, listening to this again yesterday was more of the same. However I did do some digging on the voice behind The Eels' Mark Oliver Everett or 'E' as he goes by and discovered he's one of my favorite characters, albeit a small one in one of the best shows on Netflix "Love" where he plays a newly married hipster with a nagging wife and the struggles of transitioning from an indy musician to family life. This album gets an extra star for that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJheqb6zlHU

Dr. Octagonecologyst

Dr. Octagon

2/5

Generally like most anything that Dan the Automator is associated with and this is no different. Very strange, doesn't make a whole shitton of sense, but a welcomed listen amongst a sea of shitty 'gangsta rap' garbage.

Fulfillingness' First Finale

Stevie Wonder

4/5

If you profess to 'love Stevie Wonder' but aren't familiar with this album, do you realll 'love Stevie Wonder' ... I wonder? Welp, I thought I loved SW, but then I'd never listened to this or even heard of this album. Obv my Stevie Wonder cred is bogus. Totally bogus. But I do like his music and the previous albums that I'd listened to were spot on great and in retrospect I think I'd rated them too low. This one, not as good as the others, but in an effort to counter balance the previous, I'm going to rate this high.

Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby

Terence Trent D'Arby

2/5

It's got those songs! Sure, Wishing Well and Sign Your Name were big when Top 40 was big, but it's so bad today. This guy isn't even Terence Trent D'Arby anymore, he's changed his name, probably in hopes to distance himself from his 80's music.

OK

Talvin Singh

2/5

Well, this is different... The blending of Indian music with jungle and drum and bass from the 90's. While this isn't immediate 'hatable' music, I can understand how it may rub some some ears to 'skip, skip, skip' to the end. Though it's new and different, it's simultaneously weary, old and tired. I attribute that feeling to its age and near obsolete genre and also to its uniqueness.

So

Peter Gabriel

5/5

Five. Yeah. What? So, what? It's mine, so what? No shame in some guilty pleasure Peter Gabriel 80's music. I grew up with this one.

Hail To the Thief

Radiohead

5/5

"Radiohead is washed up" You know how I know....? Because it's 2025 and shit is happening and the most you hear from Radiohead and Thom Yorke is some wishy-washy bullshit on Palestine. Take a motherfucking stand, man. You had the world cheering you on with this album. And, I lived through those Bush years and guess what, they were terrible. "United we stand. On the rest of the world." Bush, Cheney, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Alberto Gonzales, destroying American's rights with the Patriot Act... hah! Invading nations on crappy intel. Killing, torturing, humiliating human beings for little reason. Laughing at the world with that shit-eating smug grimace. That shit is laughable by today's standards. I WISH for those days again. So, where the fuck are you @Radiohead?! Thom Yorke? Are you swimming in your money, being artsy-fartsy and conceptualizing videos with Paul Thomas Anderson? Where is that punk rock angst that you had when you were younger? Where's that overwhelming need to scream at all that is unjust? ...ahh, yeah. I know. Those were the days. If only you had something to shout at today. Get off your fuckin' ass and make us proud again!

The World is a Ghetto

War

3/5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3SdUX_D-m4

Brilliant Corners

Thelonious Monk

2/5

Inspiring on such a subterranean level. I just couldn't sit and listen to this. I felt like I should be in some hepcat Bowery bar or coffee house in the mid-60's wearing dark shades and talking to others about communism and why it is or isn't going to overtake our world while this plays in the background. Oh! and smoking lots of filterless cigarettes.

The Sounds Of India

Ravi Shankar

4/5

I once had the most amazing meal at an Indian restaurant next to a gas station in Reseda. My gf and I went in the middle of a hot summer day, the restaurant was dark and we were the only customers in there. We at a lot of curry and this played overhead and we were lured into this othermindspace, in an almost out of body expereince. We were completely relaxed and enlightened. We left entranced and may have even stumbled out of the eatery then jolted back to reality when we encountered the bright 3:00 p.m. sun and LA street chaos. Traffic, people, signs, etc. It was memorable. I don't think I've ever been in that state since. I attribute it to the curry and this album. Truly transformative.

Fire Of Love

The Gun Club

4/5

When I lived in LA, I attended an exhibition on the LA punk scene in from the early 80's at Bergamont Station. It was lost on me. Aside from the few bands that I knew of that era, it was apparent the scene was much bigger than The Germs or X and Circle Jerks. Recently, I received the Criterion Collection's Repo Man on Blue Ray which ignited an interest in LA punk bands. It's said that the secret to the success of Repo Man was the inclusion of the underground music at the time. Gun Club isn't a band I've listened to, but I do like the style. I guess this is Rockabilly, kinda sounds like Minutemen with a definitive connection to The Cramps, who I also like. But listening to this for 40 mins. a lot of the songs blend together and it's hard to enjoy. This is great for a bit, but wears on me after a bit. Still, would've been great to see these guys in their heyday and maybe run into them at Oki-Dog on Farifax afterward.

The Fat Of The Land

The Prodigy

2/5

I remember when this came out and realizing that I was not the target demographic, and also feeling old. I think this was the British answer to Nine Inch Nails, but just much more spastic and gimmicky. If you remember, this is the guy that had the green mohawk flanked by two smaller green mohawks. That's right. Three Mohawks on one head. Nah. This isn't for me.

Very

Pet Shop Boys

1/5

I remember being in college and this girl that I really was digging said "Have you heard the new Pet Shop Boys album? It's really good." The next time I was at Plan 9, I found it, listened to it and immediately knew we had no future together. That's t

The Predator

Ice Cube

2/5

This is kinda when Ice Cube ... can I say it ...? Sold out. Up until this, IC had a bit of an edge to him, but this was the album that proved to the rock conglomeration that Ice Cube was bankable and could be required listening for all the fraternities and sororities. Maybe it softened him, people obviously loved his character in Boyz n tha Hood, but just beyond this album was Friday, Anaconda, XXX, etc. But alternatively this could be labeled as the time people started to take him seriously, like he could be part of the machine, make people a lot of money and be a real actor, director and musician. To me, this is kinda where he jumped the shark and moved into a different stratosphere.

Vol. 4

Black Sabbath

5/5

Never listened to this whole album until today. Sweet Leaf is a classic, but I thought the balance of the album was better than that. Except for maybe FX. I think Sabbath may have been trying to channel Brian Eno on that track. Ozzy really kinda brings it to Sabbath. I dug into the bands extensive catalog and I was shocked to see how many albums they made with Ozzy and then post-Ozzy. What was more astonishing was the number of people that can claim to have been in Black Sabbath. There's a whole Wikipedia page dedicated to it. I spent most of yesterday and again today listening to this album. There's really only one choice for me here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Black_Sabbath_and_Heaven_%26_Hell_members

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Pink Floyd

4/5

This wasn't what I was expecting. It was much further off the beaten path and more 'experimental' than I would've thought and also maybe a little more subdued. That said, I can't think of anything that would prevent me from finding joy in bicycling except the song 'Bike." That was truly horrible. But Interstellar Overdrive was great. All in all, I think I'd listen to this again but I'd probably be really high. Depending on the number of bong rips, I may / may not skip through a few tracks.

Celebrity Skin

Hole

1/5

Courtney Love has scabies and makes my skin crawl. Regardless, this is a guilty pleasure that I'll never own up to.

Welcome to the Afterfuture

Mike Ladd

4/5

Heh, "cutting-edge hip-hop" from 10 years ago. I thought I'd like this a lot less than I did. I don't think I'd really even call this 'hip hop' since the artist relies a lot more on the music than the words.

Olympia 64

Jacques Brel

2/5

I truly wish I could speak French or at least understand it. I hear a lot of commitment and passion in his voice, but have no idea what he's saying. "ough, baguette!"

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

John Lennon

4/5

"I don't believe in Beatles..."

Screamadelica

Primal Scream

4/5

The title of this needs to be reworked. "Primal Scream...?" C'mon. I fell asleep to this album. But it was a nice rest. So extra star for allowing me to take a Saturday afternoon snoozer.

Logical Progression

LTJ Bukem

4/5

Is this “jungle” … I turned off my ears the late 90’s and early 2000’s. I hated this shit. I’ve since dried up, but somehow, this hits most of my juicy spots today. Well, the ones that are left. I think there’s an underlying rhythm current in these tracks, that if you can identify those, at least subconsciously, it’s enjoyable. If you can’t, it’s just a lot of random clatter. I liked this a lot and was able to put it on, let it play in the background and pound through some tasks that I’ve been procrastinating on. That in itself deserves at least one extra star.

Sex Packets

Digital Underground

5/5

"Sex packets, a dollar for two, just tell me how many for you..." When everyone else was consumed with smoking crack and avoiding AIDS, these guys were pushing ecstasy pills, masturbation and doing the 'hump' in the Burger King bathrooms. Great album for the time it existed.

You're Living All Over Me

Dinosaur Jr.

5/5

Though often intertwined in the foundations and underpinnings of successful movements, slacker laziness is never appreciated. I struggle to think of musicians less ambitious than J. Mascis. Music from Dinosaur Jr. only got better from here and in 2025, was the highlight of a recent show despite being the opening act.

Music

Madonna

2/5

Sad and pathetic. Not sure what is worse, fading into the background while music moves forward, or publicly flailing in an effort to emulate a world you used to own but has now surpassed you.

Warehouse: Songs And Stories

Hüsker Dü

3/5

I feel like if I'd discovered this 35 years ago when most everyone else was listening, it would've spent some good time in my walkman. I'm aware that a good bit of musicians have pointed to HD as an influence, Curt Cobain being among them. Unfortunately, I'm more familiar with Bob Mould more than Hüsker Dü. Today, the most surprising thing about this band is they're from Minneapolis.

Back to Basics

Christina Aguilera

2/5

When I listen to this, I feel like someone is trying to hard sell me on something that I have absolutely no interest in... It's almost like that scene in Severance whereas Christina Aguilera is Mr. Milchick and I'm Dylan trying by best to keep it together, like SINCERELY trying until ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VngE9BiEe7Q

Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush

2/5

Did you know that Hounds of Love is Kate Bush's mating call to Ozzy Osborn!? It's true, look it up. Kate Bush, a longtime fan of Ozzy (and also Sabbath) heard 'Bark at the Moon' in '83 and responded by writing 'Hounds of Love' in '85. (Sure, Ozzy only may have responded because he thought Kate Bush was a line of cocaine). Rumor has it every October 31st at midnight they would rendezvous in the Paris 'moonlight' to consummate their secret love. Without that tidbit of information hiding in the nether regions of the internet, this album would be quite boring ... don't you agree?

Cafe Bleu

The Style Council

1/5

Dreadful. Is that a word the cool kids still use, 'dreadful?' This is obviously a British album because it sounds like a white karaoke version of pretty much any legit soul album we have here in the states. I'm pretty sure this was an strong influence for all of Color Me Badd's work.

Peggy Suicide

Julian Cope

3/5

Benign. With a title like "Peggy Suicide" I assumed this would be far darker than it was... It performed like an opening band for the opening band for a band your friend dragged you out to on a Wednesday night. All I could think about was 'why does this have to be so long... and also who can I blame except myself...?' That's fine. I'll just stand agains the wall and look at my phone...

Smokers Delight

Nightmares On Wax

3/5

I was really nervous this was just gonna be some reggae regurgitation and people saying "I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, and then I smoke two more ..." Though super-dated, I was pleasantly surprised how mellow and chill most of the album sounded. I was successful in my ability to put this on, smoke two joints before I smoked two joints and then pass out.

Aha Shake Heartbreak

Kings of Leon

1/5

Can an atheist refer to this album as 'God Awful' ...? These Rockers for Christ seem to have an identity crisis and that singer seems to think he's the second coming of Eddie Vedder. PUH-LEEZE...

Da Capo

Love

4/5

Coming from the amazing S.F. Sorrow, by The Pretty Things two days ago, I started listening to this one and I'm amazed at how much I enjoyed this dirty hippie album. Love's 'Forever Changes' was without interest, it was boring, stagnant and every song sounded the same. FF to this and it's surprising how diverse it is. Some songs sound like the Cardigans "Life" album, with that organ thing and aloof silly lyrics like 'my head's not made of gravel' and then on to the locomotive-esque track 'Seven and Seven'. The Castle sounds like it could be an Elliott Smith track and the jazz flute on She Comes in Colors is surprisingly delightful. No Ron Burgundy here... Yeah, I don't know what to attribute it to, but I'm surprised that I found so much to like in this album.

More Specials

The Specials

2/5

More Specials sounds like a Wal-Mart commercial.

Melodrama

Lorde

4/5

What IS happening to me...!? I quite like this album, please don't tell my younger, angst-y, gen-x self.

S.F. Sorrow

The Pretty Things

5/5

heh... "In Rolling Stone, Lester Bangs termed it "an ultra-pretentious concept album, complete with a strained 'story'" I'm all for ultra-pretentious ;) The 'rock opera' concept was not at all apparent to me. I have no idea what he's singing about, but I really dig this album. A lot of this sounds like the band White Rabbits (love, love, love), especially the track Baron Saturday. Also worth mentioning Defecting Grey ... Whoa! Great stuff here and very surprised this cacophonous mess amongst falsettos and British harmonizing is something that resonated.

The Lexicon Of Love

ABC

1/5

I thought I heard a saxophone and white-privilege arrangements coming from my garbage can, but realized it was just this album. I can't believe they killed disco for this garbage.

Born In The U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen

2/5

Historically, this is the Reagan years, communism and the economic rise of Japan. Working class hero with a guitar from Jersey is all I hear. Beyond the title track being a wolf in sheep's clothing, I never really understood what the big deal was about this album or Springsteen in general. Does this album still have a place in 2024?

Sea Change

Beck

5/5

Jeremy Blake https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/01/suicides200801

A Girl Called Dusty

Dusty Springfield

3/5

Not sure why everybody is hating on this album… this is completely different for me and I quite like it.

Songs In The Key Of Life

Stevie Wonder

4/5

"Oh! I'm invited to your wedding... AWESOME! Before I RSVP, please tell me if you plan on playing "Isn't She Lovely" at any point during the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception or afterparty... Oh, it is .. ? uhhh, I know we've been friends since we were in kindergarten and you helped me through my eating disorder and the death of my cats, all six of them, but perhaps consider changing the music lineup...? " Tho 'Isn't She' is on this album, both Talking Book and Songs in the Key of Life are the only Stevie Wonder my cats and I can listen to. It wasn't until I hit the wedding portion of my life that I discovered Stevie Wonder is surprisingly tolerable, even great.. That's because I grew up with Stevie Wonder singing "I Just Called To Say I Love You..." over and over on the radio relentlessly. This is a great album, maybe a little too long, but always a great listen, especially Sir Duke and I Wish.

The Modern Dance

Pere Ubu

3/5

Q: You know what the best part of Cleveland is... A: It's not Detroit. I don't think that's necessarily true. I'd much rather visit Detroit, home of Motown, Jack White and easy access to Canada. No. Despite Cleveland being the capital of the infamous 'Steamer' there aren't (m)any claims the city has to offer outside of perhaps the invention of "flammable river". And, while Pere Ubu isn't on fire, and they don't sound like shit, they are bit of a 'hot mess' and (coincidentally) hail from the city of Cleveland. Pere Ubu is one of those bands you hear your punk-nerd musician friends name-drop while talking about Kurt Cobain's 'inspiration' and why Nirvana is still the best band in the world. The truth is, that unless you're into irritating and obtuse noise art, or exploring the history of rock, finding beauty and inspiration in this is as elusive as finding a reason to visit Cleveland n the winter. But some people still do it.

Darkdancer

Les Rythmes Digitales

1/5

"Well, Daft Punk started at the bottom and is still at the bottom, then I listened to this album and turned out it wasn't the bottom." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My_FCRu8mnM

Moss Side Story

Barry Adamson

2/5

Moss Side Story is the soundtrack to an imaginary, yet unwatchable crime thriller even Quentin Tarantino wouldn't enjoy. Oedipus Schmoedipus, Barry Adamson's 1996 album set out to create a soundtrack to a nonexistent film. That album was successful because he was able to visualize a terrifying, yet entertaining and suspenseful movie. I'm talking films like David Lynch's Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive or even Lost Highway. Moss Side Story, released a few years prior to Oedipus Schmoedipus, is another soundtrack to an imaginary movie. But this movie is more of a confusing ramble and a directionless gallop similar to David Lynch's 1984 film, Dune.

Maggot Brain

Funkadelic

5/5

The last 15 mins. of this album is psych-jam band stuff that I'd rather just ignore, but the first half of the album is on point. Sure, all the internet sleuths identified Rill, Rill's shameless sample of Can You Get to That which really diminishes Sleigh Bells artistry if you think about how much of that song is really just this song with different lyrics. The truth is that Funkadelic is sampled everywhere from De La Soul to EPMD to Kelis, The Ramones and Celine Dion. I grew up listening to Living Colour after Cult of Personality hit the radio. I think I bought pretty much every album of theirs and most of it was because of Vernon Reid's guitar who was inspired by this album and specifically Eddie Hazel. So, I'm making an excuse for that last 10 mins., and quite frankly ranking this so I get to look at that album artwork every time I see my page. Pretentious. Yep, I know! I can get to that!

Atomizer

Big Black

3/5

This is some dumb-fucking meathead perverted shit here. The amazing and opinionated Steve Albini (RIP) produced more than anyone's share of music. I appreciated some of the records he oversaw but I never got into any of his own bands. Except maybe Shellac. Listening to Atomizer all the way thru for the first time was difficult. The second time it was easier, and the third time it was fine. I'm no Albini sympathizer but I believe that as you grow older, you develop self-awareness, understanding and take responsibility for your past. I also believe that if everyone was an angel, there would be no forward momentum in the world. And, with nothing to provoke thought or action, we would stagnate. The world simultaneously needs a hero and an enemy. Somehow Steve Albini was both of that. I lifted the following passage from NPR: "...in The Guardian, he reflected on the ugliness of past sins: "I can't defend any of it," he said. "It was all coming from a privileged position of someone who would never have to suffer any of the hatred that's embodied in any of that language." Albini didn't want to be excused from any role he played; he wanted to own up to his faults, and to tell anyone who respected him — or used to — why he was wrong." As far as Big Black and Atomizer go, it was just the right amount of abrasive filth to keep me from wanting more.

Black Holes and Revelations

Muse

5/5

"You will eat it, and you will like it!" This is one of those bands that came along during a time in my life that everything was going really well. I have a lot of memories associated with Muse. Origins of Symmetry, Absolution and Black Holes came out in quick succession and as such, seems like one continuous album. This was the era where everyone began taking their 100gb external drives to the office and plugging them into the company network ... we were all a bunch of artists working on home entertainment (DVD) packaging. Coworkers were quirky, had left of center tastes and every day was a new adventure in music. I'd spend the entire day in Photoshop with headphones on listening to old, different, and new music. ... It was the original Spotify. On the Friday nights, I'd drive up to Mammoth Mountain while sharing the finds with friends on the 5+ hour drive. Then, continue to spend the entire weekend snowboarding with an iPod in my ears. Interpol, Strokes, Clap Your Hands, BRMC, Secret Machines, Silversun, Bravery, etc... It was a good time and because of these memories, I will always gladly consume some bands without complaining. Muse is one of them.

Liquid Swords

GZA

4/5

Vintage rap goodness! Man, I like this my only question is how do you pronounce the name of the artist? Is it Jee-Zee-Aye? Is it GeeZah? Is it Jizzah?

My Aim Is True

Elvis Costello

2/5

Not sure who's got a boner for Elvis Costello, but it sure isn't me. This is the fifth album by him and I really wish someone would explain to me why this, which all sounds roughly the same, is great.

So Much For The City

The Thrills

2/5

This is flagrant deceptive advertising. Calling your band 'The Thrills' and playing music like this is mean-spirited and hateful. I'm sure you're sitting in a corner laughing at all of us who were expecting something exciting and raucous. Shame on you!

Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby

Girls Against Boys

4/5

DC in the house, woot! But, in light of the political events that just took place, I think there's less tolerance for Girls v Boys themes. Though I love that drummer, Brendan Canti was part of this outfit, the bass gets a little too close for the sinister for me to go all in without some kind of softer redemption track. Rockets are Red, harkens a little too close to Machinery Rage, and I feel like this album was produced just a little before that bass trend took off. This is my music for sure, but if this bass were any thudd-ier it'd be a complete turnoff.

Vulgar Display Of Power

Pantera

2/5

Yesterday, Slipknot and today, Pantera. If asked to choose between the two, it would be an overwhelming Pantera. But if I was asked to choose between Pantera and everything else (excluding Slipknot) I'd choose anything else. Well, that is except for Morrissey, The Who and basically any BeeGees or Kanye album, I'd choose anything else.

Slipknot

1/5

I'm pretty sure this one of those albums used to torture prisoners in Abu Ghraib.

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

A Tribe Called Quest

5/5

Do I really need to explain this to you... ?

Phaedra

Tangerine Dream

5/5

I simultaneously love and hate the term 'Krautrock' Mostly because it has very little meaning and it's a fun word to say. This is an album you'd listen to while standing in line for a vintage space-themed rollercoaster that runs in the dark. Or, also the soundtrack you'd hear while lying face-up in a salt-bath surrounded by expansive darkness.

Bright Flight

Silver Jews

1/5

I put more effort into blowing my nose than Silver Jews put into its album. Slacker music used to seem so much cooler. I shouldn't be surprised, this is exactly the garbage you'd expect Stephen Malkmus to be involved with.

The Sun Rises In The East

Jeru The Damaja

3/5

I was mildly looking forward to this nostalgia but that ended soon after I clicked play. To be fair, Guru's Jazzmatazz and virtually every Gang Star album (except Hard to Earn) took a few listens before I fully enjoyed it. But damn! It's 2024 ain't nobody got time for multiple listens! I didn't mind the beats as much as some of the lyrics. The subtle horns, electronica was a nice touch. Ain't the Devil Happy was good blending in some old skool skratching, old world strings and electronic drum machines and lyrics were decent. It was probably a highlight. But a majority of the lyrics are super juvie and lack perspective. The track Da Bichez was terrible. Never herd this before, but good for an education for early 90s NYC rap.

Green

R.E.M.

4/5

High school goodness before I discovered the darkness. Orange Crush still slaps, but listening to Stand today sounded asinine.

AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Ice Cube

3/5

Most of these tracks are on "Kill At Will" or if you bought it from Sam Goody, "At Will" and they're mixed much better. Jackin' For Beats sounds much better for example. I wasn't a wannabe teenage gangster when this came out but I did find some chest thumping goodness in reciting these terrible lyrics while cruising suburban streets in my '84 Nissan Stanza. Yeah, it had rims. What an idiot.

Life's Too Good

The Sugarcubes

3/5

Great launching pad for Björk. And sadly, I think we all owe some gratitude to the Sugarcubes demise.

Apple Venus Volume 1

XTC

2/5

I think you have to be British to appreciate XTC.

Tarkus

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

1/5

If there's anything that I've learned from 1001 it's that I'm not a fan of ProgRock.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo

Devo

5/5

I think it's really great that my generation progressed musically. Sonic Youth was created as a direct response to music to Devo (Devolve / De-Evololution). When I was coming up, Devo was barely more than a punchline, they were weirdos, wore weird hats, dressed in identical full-body uniforms. But, that may have been the point when they first started as an thematic art project. The concept being that the future of the world was all going to be run by machines & computers and something as personal and humanistic like music would all be made by robots. (uhhh, hello AI). But if you take the time to listen to this a few times, you begin to realize how amazing this band was. It wasn't until much after I had grown tired of noise rock / Sonic Youth-y stuff that I found this album and was surprised to find is so fun, weird, interesting and good. Gut Feeling has got to be one of my favorite tracks ever. Simple guitar looping that builds and builds until it explodes. Weird cover of Satisfaction and of course Uncontrollable Urge make this album memorable.

Trio

Dolly Parton

2/5

I get that Dolly Parton is famous for having the biggest beasts Hugh Hefner was unable to print and that she is also (deservingly) famous for her philanthropy, including more than $1,000,000 donation to help Moderna fight COVID but she's also famous for her music...? I love DP for what I know about her, but I was unable to put this album in the same column as the others. I found this upbeat and positive, yet really tiring and uneventful. She sure is an amazing person, but I'd like more proof that she's an amazing recording artist.

Slanted And Enchanted

Pavement

4/5

Whirry, distortion ladden lo-fi 90's indy stuff from NorCal. Straight up college nostalgia for me but I get it; this sound is not for everyone. For better or worse, this is my generation.

Os Mutantes

2/5

People taking too many bong hits. I'm all for weird shit, but this is all over the place.

Duck Stab/Buster & Glen

The Residents

1/5

Welp, I found my tolerance line. This Ducking Terrible.

Gris Gris

Dr. John

3/5

I think Dr. John ate the wrong mushroom and inadvertently cast a spell on himself. This album is a cacophony of wet noise from Alabama's bayou. There are a lot of trippy sounds here, bongos, birds chirping in the distance, echoes of singing, chanting and incoherent lyrics.

I Am a Bird Now

Antony and the Johnsons

3/5

This was a poetic expression of metamorphosis and a, painfully sad farewell... I won't listen to this again, but it's one of the few albums on this list that'll stick with me.

Shleep

Robert Wyatt

3/5

Wyatt, seems to be the godfather of British experimental music in the early / mid 70's. The most interesting thing I found about him were his connections. Pitchfork writes "...he's an astoundingly versatile and prolific collaborator: the six-degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon figure who directly links Jimi Hendrix, Hot Chip, Swell Maps, Pink Floyd, and Björk." I don't care much for this album, but does suggest Robert Wyatt may have more influence as a collaborator on the music I do care about. Swell Maps has got to be one of my favorite discoveries in recent years... and Björk ... well, hits and misses, but there's no one else just like her. This album is just a piece of a larger machine; an entry in a resumé...

Kenza

Khaled

2/5

I'm not one for lyrics, but at times I would've liked to know what he's saying. I feel like I should be at some swanky hookah bar wearing a lot of gold chains in a very dry, arid climate while listening to this. Also, I'm pretty sure I heard a track from Disney's Aladdin movie on it.

Scott 2

Scott Walker

2/5

Schmaltzy schtick from a British-American teen heartthrob(?) in the 60's. "Oh, and another thing, from now on we're going to alternate our dinner music, because, frankly--and I don't think I'm alone here--I'm really tired of this Lawrence Welk shit!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRfZQN9cMfo

Hunky Dory

David Bowie

5/5

Finally, a David Bowie album that we can all agree is worthy of a 5.

Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman

John Zorn

4/5

The saxophone is often referred to as 'the devil's third horn.' Let's all pray for the soul of John Zorn as he has crossed over into Satan-land. *Bonus stars for using brass to thrash.

Guitar Town

Steve Earle

2/5

Depending on your location, the inbreeding of Country and 80's music made for either the best or worst of times.

War

U2

4/5

Wow. I never would've remembered this. Either I'm forgetful or War is forgettable but this is a good album!

Mask

Bauhaus

5/5

LCD Soundsystem for old people. Blatant biting makes 'Losing My Edge' even more enjoyable. Bauhaus 'Hair of the Dog' intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqXycgODO5Y LCDS 'Losing' intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xG4oFny2Pk Bauhaus 'The Man with X-Ray Eyes': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPGkSP2wnyo LCDS 'X-Ray Eyes': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PK1OcXp1t8 LCDS 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' live (2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iix7JmtArJw Extra star for revisionist history (TY LCDS).

Morrison Hotel

The Doors

4/5

Unhappy about Brittany Spearification of music, about 20 years ago I went thru a phase that included all the popular late 60's / early 70's bands all while watching the Door's Oliver Stone pic. on repeat. The Beatles, Cream, Zepp, Doors etc., I stopped short of wearing tie-dies, following The Dead and wearing patchouli, but I did like this sound and felt like I had a wider perspective on music and maybe life in general. I loved the guitar sounds on Roadhouse Blues, Peace Frog but skipped past the slower songs on this album. As I'm older now, I've found some love for a few of those slower 'boring' songs. And as I'm writing this, I can't help but find it somewhat poetic that when we're young, some of us reach to the past to feel older, but when we're old, we reach to the past and feel younger.

Pump

Aerosmith

2/5

It's hard to believe that Aerosmith has released fifteen albums over the course of fifty years. Sweet Emotion and Joe Perry's into to that song will forever live in our hearts, but that was waaay back in '75 on Toys in the Attic, their best-selling album. This is no 'Toy's in the Attic' which, evidently I rated as a 3 because of Steven Tyler's penis promotion. (That seems a little unfair after reviewing my writeup on it) "...I had enjoyed it up to that point, but if I'm going to listen to a dick song, it'd be this stellar piece of art: https://youtu.be/bbJDjNLzv8U." Anyway, we went from that monumental album to this twenty-five years later. And though musically, it is mostly a straight line, I think we can all agree Pump curves to the left and is a great deal softer than their other work. Aerosmith is capable of greater things and though Pump was commercially more successful it is far from their best work ... Check out Reefer Head Woman if you don't believe me ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7cTBqQtAT8

Close To You

Carpenters

2/5

Had never been exposed to The C people when I was growing up. But, I have watched plenty of spoof-y movies that incorporated the sounds of The C people into goofy montages to accentuate the silliness. I'm thinking Ron Burgundy-esque type films, so it's kind of neat to listen to the original. I think there are three things that people normally gravitate to when they hear The C people. Number one is Karen and her anorexia, number two is Richard marrying his cousin, and number three is the soft, candlelit, cheesy-goodness of this duo's sound.

The Holy Bible

Manic Street Preachers

5/5

I’ve never been compelled to read every word in every song on an album until today. This is not how I saw my day materializing… As a kid growing up in the late 80s / early 90s, MSP was in the ears of mostly by smart collegiate minded people who wore rugby shirts and drove Volvos and came from wealthy families, so I just assumed from their fan base I wouldn't like them. And maybe back then, I truly wouldn't've. Then there’s the whole religion biblical references to the band and the album… a complete turnoff… However, the whole back story about Richard Edwards provided a hook and intrigue, so I read on and dove into the album. It's dark, really dark. This dude Richard was into self-harm, starving himself and his disappearance is widely considered a result of death by suicide. The lyrics are self-torturous, self-loathing and full of pessimistic disgust. Traditionally, this isn’t something I’m drawn toward, but the songs and arrangements are spot on for emerging 90’s grunge from abroad. It seems wrong to say that I ‘enjoyed’ this album, but I really, really liked it. It’s got a great sound and the song meanings are so out of the ordinary. https://genius.com/albums/Manic-street-preachers/The-holy-bible

Djam Leelii

Baaba Maal

2/5

I'm not sure what it was about this, despite not understanding anything, but it gave me the anxieties. I just don't have it in me to allow this to sink in.

Vauxhall And I

Morrissey

1/5

Fun Fact: If you type "insufferable twat" into the 1001 Albums Explorer, three of the top five album results are fronted by Morrissey. https://1001albumsgenerator.com/stats/album-explorer

Sunshine Hit Me

The Bees

4/5

WTF is this...? This is a refreshing breath of respite on 1001, that's what this is.. Actually, most of it is Lo-fi chill with a ton of different influences combined into one album. Tho good artists are able to take inspiration from other artists and blend that into their own, this album struggles to do all of that because of the two outlier tracks. Angryman and No Trophy killed the originality vibe on the album. Neither of those reggae-y tracks belong here and really drag it down. I'd heard the A Minha Minina track somewhere before, that is absolutely original and a highlight on this album. I also really enjoyed Zia. So chill and relaxed. Overall a find I'll listen to in the future, but selectively omit the two duds.

Cross

Justice

1/5

"GOD ONLY KNOWS..." I really liked this, but I have zero tolerance for combining religious symbolism and music without explanation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpgP7xI7i7Y&t=57s

1977

Ash

4/5

If I had to classify this album with one word it'd be upper-mediocre. Who knew a British band could do poppy grunge better than most Seattle bands...? It's a low bar, sure, but this album surprised me. Darkside Lightside sounded like a demure Stone Temple Pilots. Innocent Smile's build and increasing pace was unexpected and Lost in You was sickly sweet and altogether so terrible, that it was good. Overall, this band was pretty much exactly what you'd expect from this generation, but somehow a bit better.

Talking Heads 77

Talking Heads

2/5

Everything that David Byrne produces somehow misses me. I know he's like some brilliant thought leader and 1001 keeps trying to get me to like his music, but I just don't and can't.

Live Through This

Hole

1/5

Courtney Love is a cold, warmed over hot mess and I just won't support her in any way. For the longest time, I assumed this was released in Kurt's aftermath as a marketing gimmick and shameless self-promotion pushed by Courtney Love. "Live Through This" ... ? C'mon. Of course it was. As much as I wanted to, it was really difficult to ignore this album. It was as if Kurt unalived himself, the king of grunge, and handed it to his wife to take the reins. Her exposure in Ppl vs. Larry Flynt, the awards and accolades for her performance that followed and all the hobnobbing that went along, getting away from CL was really difficult in the 90s. But she grew on me, I mean, I've heard this album many times and it's a great album. Recently, I finished Rebel Girl by Kathleen Hannah of Bikini Kill. The book spends a lot of time in Olympia during the 90s. It goes into some of her interactions with CL and even touched on Mary Lou Lord's. I also read Dave Grohl's Storyteller which also centers around the same time period and neither of these books paint a flattering portrait of CL. So, here it is. I'm not Jewish, but I am a kid of the 90's and Hole, Live Through This is my Kanye. So, reluctantly yes, this a great album. But enthusiastically, no. I will not support this.

Calenture

The Triffids

3/5

Aren't the Triffids the outer space rival gang to Captain Krik and Spock's Enterprise? Sources say the Triffids crash landed their space ship in New Zealand and are trying to get enough money to repair it and get back home. I imagine that if aliens had been listening to UK music in the 80s, crash landed on Earth, decided to start a band, this is the music they'd create. I only wish they would've taken a clue and at least made the album shorter.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

OutKast

3/5

On its surface and from a musical perspective, I found each track to be uniquely disjointed and not always in a good way. Some tracks switch tempos at awkward intervals while others play straight through swapping vocals. I found Speakerboxxx to be be much too long. Each song plays like a novel within itself and true appreciations of the deeper meanings within the album require multiple listens. I'm talking days, not hours. (Also, Rosario Dawson?) Based on the length of this album and the time it was released, I think this was perfect for the time it existed. These days, we're overwhelmed with information and choices, we're spread thin more individualized and opinionated and have short attention spans. Though there's some good stuff but there's nothing that makes me want to pay attention to it. For this album to exist today, it would need to slap me in the face and irritate me or someone I decided I don't like. It would have to take sides, make some egregious declaration and alienate someone. But mostly it would need to be much (much) shorter.

Kimono My House

Sparks

4/5

Ok. Now I know where Chappell Roan came from.

Electric Warrior

T. Rex

5/5

British garage-glam from the '70s. I went thru a T.Rex phase in the 90's, probably after I saw the opening scene of Billy Elliott. Even more intriguing was seeing Billy Bob Thornton playing blackjack in Vegas Vegas wearing a much-too-small for him vintage yellow T.Rex shirt. He's a sufficiently weird guy. I remember thinking, 'if he's here, then Angelina Jolie must be here too...' (I looked for the vile of blood around his neck, but didn't see it). It's really nice to see T.Rex here especially with the resurgence of the dirty 70's guitar skrit we're seeing so much of lately. Sheer Mag, Slow Fiction, Ty Segall, Sunflower Bean, etc. Great sound.

White Ladder

David Gray

5/5

I discovered this album in 2003 when I got into Elbow's Cast of Thousands. About this same time I was overly exposed to Damien Rice's 'O' around that same time which I quickly grew tired of, but White Ladder and Cast of Thousands were on repeat for a few weeks... That was 20+ years ago. Listening to White Ladder again today was really nice. I can picture myself in my apartment in Santa Monica, drinking coffee in the morning with a warm ocean breeze and very little adulting, no worries, and very little cares. Ahhhh... Based on the reviews, it seems my love for this album is something I should keep secret. Guilty pleasure... perhaps. But such an easy, effortless and calming album to listen to...

Cupid & Psyche 85

Scritti Politti

1/5

I had deep hatred for '80s music prior to starting 1001. That's because I assumed the all 80's music sounded like this band. Fortunately, I found out I was wrong. I discovered a load of decent 80's music such as, The Go-Go's / The Police / The The / Violent Femmes / Minor Threat / Halen / AC/DC / The Cult / Jesus & Mary Chain / Pixies / The Cure and a couple others. It's not all bad, just most of it.

The Madcap Laughs

Syd Barrett

2/5

Sometimes it's hard to grasp reality when you're tripping everyday. Tho, I'm not much of a Pink Floyd historian, I do understand that this is the album that Syd Barrett made after Floyd gave him the boot. And, based on this album, I think we can all agree the band made the right decision.

The Real Thing

Faith No More

4/5

This is a strange mix of metal paired with keyboards, long-hair, harmonization and spoken word. The Real Thing fused together a lot of disparate trends emerging in pop music. I'm dating myself here, but this is one of the first albums I ever purchased. To me, War Pigs was the best song on the album and likely my first exposure to Sabbath. Great album and some of the best money I ever spent at Peaches.

Duck Rock

Malcolm McLaren

3/5

Much better than 'Duck Stab' and not as difficult to sit thru as 'Howard the Duck' Duck Rock challenged my assumptions on anything duck-related and won me over. Well, as much as you can win someone over with dated synth, hi-trebble and strange radio samples paired with Paul Simon-esque Graceland tracks. Perhaps I'm in a more forgiving headspace today, but I didn't completely hate this ducking album. Similarly there is another movie almost equally as bad, released about the same time called Teen Wolf. Both of these movies included someone in a duck and wolf suit.

Third

Portishead

5/5

It's hard to catch lightning in a bottle and so I don't expect this to be the same band that released the stellar 'Dummy' album, fourteen years prior to this. However, 'Third' is an album entirely unexpected. Expectedly, Third is cautious to retain the band's original sound, but also intent to show their evolution over elapsed time. Something most bands struggle with. Third is able to effortlessly integrate real instrumentation with the drum machines and sampled bits they're famous for. And the arrangements on Third have become more diverse, complex and sharper than anything on Dummy. Beth Gibbons' voice has become less the haunting echos and more overt Stockholm Syndrome while retaining a feeling of soft-immediacy. Third's expanse of darker themes has grown wider, weirder and unapologetic. Some of these tracks play most of the way through like beautiful performance art pieces only to be awkwardly interrupted without notice, just like you'd expect performance art to be. The album plays closer to a Blonde Redhead album of the same era than a Basement Jaxx or UNKLE album of yesteryear. Third is an album that defies category and shows Portishead is not afraid to change on their own terms and challenge the idea of confined maturity. Though awkward at times and seemingly disjointed on the surface, Third is worth exploring deeper and is an excellent evolution for the band that may overshadow their original release, Dummy.

Everything Must Go

Manic Street Preachers

3/5

The love I have for the Holy Bible exists because of what it was, an extremely dark broken album for dark painful days... The follow up to that album was this, only one year later and without a key member of the band. This is much more poppy, upbeat and fits perfectly into the alterna-pop echelon of the mid 90's, but it is no Holy Bible... Perhaps, it should be noted that creating anything upbeat after the wild disappearance of a bandmate is an achievement in itself, but it's hard to find the relevancy of this album in 2024.

Sunshine Superman

Donovan

4/5

I'm just mad about Saffron .... Donovan is the Ralph Steadman of music. His LSD infused madness created epic celebrated songs like Hurdy Gurdy and Season of the Witch, but lays down uninspired drivel [like] most of this album, without psychedelics. Still the few electrified bangers on this album are redeeming... https://www.ralphsteadman.com/collections/

In The Wee Small Hours

Frank Sinatra

2/5

Love those pipes, but a snoozer for sure.

I See You

The xx

4/5

Not at all pornographic and easy listening for the most part. The Hall and Oates loop is mildly annoying on the 'On Hold' track.

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

TV On The Radio

5/5

When you begin an album with two verses like these, you're in for a ride ... Wake up in a magic nigga movie With the bright lights pointed at me As a metaphor Teachin' folks the score About patience, understanding, agape babe And sweet sweet amour When I realized where I was Did I stend up and testify Oh, fist up signify Or did I show off my soft shoe Maybe teach 'em a boogaloo Busy playing the whore I was not aware of their first album, 'Ok Calculator' until I saw this great overview of the band. Check it out if you get a chance ... https://youtu.be/lhlRHOxMNys Also, the Tiny Desk Concert will put you in a great mood ... https://www.npr.org/2024/11/26/g-s1-35036/tv-on-the-radio-tiny-desk-concert

The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem

3/5

Whoa. I never listened to this. I avoided all the hype and now I see what it was all about... and all the bad stuff too. I can't say that I enjoyed this, especially the first track. Damn!

Oracular Spectacular

MGMT

3/5

Overrated, overhyped and an outsized ‘impact’ on today’s music.

The Scream

Siouxsie And The Banshees

4/5

I was under the impression this was all Goth-y sadness and never thought there'd be anything I would like with this band. Super happy to have listened to this. Siouxsie reminds me of Grace Slick... But the music backing her up is incredible. Mostly heavy, but the melodic stretches in some tracks are unexpected.

Bookends

Simon & Garfunkel

4/5

Products that never existed: Introducing the "Telefunkle" It's your grandmother's Telefunken that only plays your unlcle Artie's Garfunkle tunes. Let's all be in agreement, that Art is the real showman of the duo. And, also that the Lemmonheads did Mrs. Robinson harder and faster than the original two boys. Finally, let's all be in agreement that the album art is even more iconic than the songs within it.

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

4/5

There's some kind of chemistry in our brain that's wired to Bob Dylan saying the two words "It's alright." This was a super sad and depressing album. Trying to listen to this on New Year's Day was such a bummer. Most every song sank me deeper into my armchair with the mantra ... 'the world sucks...' The only positive to get me out of my funk was to listen to Bob sing "don't think twice, it's alright.' but even this, I pretty sure he's lying.

Hearts And Bones

Paul Simon

2/5

It's kind of amazing that Paul Simon had a career outside of Graceland and Simon and Garfunkel and Eddie Brickell. But here it is, somehow this album is proof.

Microshift

Hookworms

5/5

Strong Stereolab vibe wearing dirty white gloves, scarlet tunics and missing bearskin caps.

Histoire De Melody Nelson

Serge Gainsbourg

1/5

Am I allowed to say that I liked this album ... ? Pepe Le Pew / Jeffrey Epstein meets Beck and Stereolab...? One so vile and evil that should be relegated to the outskirts of music, while the others bring creativity, beauty and unique artistry that should be celebrated. I could claim ignorance ... I mean, this is all in French and besides, this was way back in the 1970s ... and, and things were different back then right? I mean it's so, so good but all so terribly wrong ...

This Nation’s Saving Grace

The Fall

3/5

L.A. and Damo Suzuki were moderately interesting. Most of this is all just casual repetitive riffs while beating on instruments and occasional talking in the background.

Shaka Zulu

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

4/5

Not sure what it is about this music, but it's eerily reminiscent of some horror movie that I saw... I wish I could remember what it was. I'm trying to place it but can't remember ... Something about school kids singing before a school shooter opens fire and someone running for his / her life scared through a ghetto. Passersby stop and shoot video with their phones and there's burning rubbish amid rundown Toyotas while black people dance. Ugggghhhh.. it's driving me crazy. I know I've heard this before. It's a horror movie, I think ... Found it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY

I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail

Buck Owens

2/5

YEEE-HAAW!

Good Old Boys

Randy Newman

4/5

"If you disagree with someone — if you find what they think appalling — is there any value in talking to them? In the early 1970s, the talk show host Dick Cavett, the governor of Georgia Lester Maddox, and the singer Randy Newman tried to answer this question." Not a fan of Malcolm Gladwell but I did really did enjoy this episode of Revisionist History ... https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/good-old-boys But damn, that song is hard to hear in 2025 ...

Mothership Connection

Parliament

3/5

Wild! "Ain't nuthin' but a party y'all! The Mothership Connection gettin' down in 3-D! That's right, Put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip And come on up to the Mothership ... " Also, TIL Dre's 'Let Me Ride," was mostly another ripoff. Chalk that up to another another reason to hate the Chronic.

The Nightfly

Donald Fagen

1/5

Nope. The dentist ruined this one for sure. In the early 80's, Donald Fagan got played in all the dentist offices and his voice conjures memories... I'm probably 9 and anxiously sitting in the Dr. Spencer's waiting room to for my name to be called so I could get my teeth drilled. No thank you.

american dream

LCD Soundsystem

4/5

I think James Murphy should become a verb. Is it possible to take yourself too seriously when not taking yourself seriously? My heart says yes, and this phenomenon is called James Murphying it. I've got deep love, respect and admiration for most anything LCDS, but this isn't their best work. The four tracks, Oh Baby, Emotional Haircut, Call The Police and Black Screen are stellar, but there's some filler here that drags the album down. Add the above tracks to your playlist and then check out Sound of Silver.

Marcus Garvey

Burning Spear

2/5

Borrrrring ... I was hopeful that I could make it through such a short album. I think my interest faded by the time I hit Live Good. I've got such a low tolerance for reggae ... it makes me feel like I'm getting stoned and skipping class. Dude, wake up, life is for living!

Dog Man Star

Suede

2/5

Music for people that love that insufferable twat, Morrissey.

Le Tigre

5/5

Got it. You hate Bikini Kill. Le Tigre is completely different ... Also, say what you want about Kathleen Hannah... it's all been said before. Just watch this first... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRTAEtc_nwA

Hms Fable

Shack

2/5

Seeing how I'm not much a fan of Blur, I don't know how I could manage to like this album. Maybe there's a little more acoustic and harmonizing stuff there, but otherwise I don't see how this is any different.

Licensed To Ill

Beastie Boys

4/5

I'm seriously conflicted on this one. Beasties put a lot of distance between this album and who they are today. It's always "uhh, we didn't even write that song, Paul Revere..." or "I'm sorry, Don't Be a Faggot" was my idea for album title. But you gotta give them some credit for changing and that MCA quote ... "I'd rather be a hypocrite than the same person forever." The thing is this album is really fun, it's really good, the lyrics are something you'd expect some douchey high school kids who were on top of the world to say andn laugh about it. I HATE that attitude. I HATE that shit, but this album is so fun... except that Party song. https://katefustich.medium.com/the-beastie-boys-feminist-evolution-34d371071663

In Rainbows

Radiohead

4/5

Not my favorite Radiohead album, but it'll do...

This Is Fats Domino

Fats Domino

4/5

"Thrill Yeah!" Evidently, Thrill was the preferred euphemism for Fuck back in the day. Also, do you think he'd been flagged by censors if he'd sung about a 'cherry hill' the same way he sings about blueberry hill? Spotify wouldn't let me listen to the entire album, but what I heard, I thoroughly enjoyed.

Brown Sugar

D'Angelo

2/5

It's business time! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZcYPEszN8

Doggystyle

Snoop Dogg

1/5

Awful. How did Snoop escape this album and be the amazing celebrity he's is today ... ? Wait. What? He did what ... ? https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-snoop-dogg-inauguration-crypto-ball-2024024 https://www.newsweek.com/snoop-dogg-video-badbadnotgood-donald-trump-567522

Thriller

Michael Jackson

4/5

Q: What's Pee Wee Herman's favorite song ... ? A: Beat It

Go Girl Crazy

The Dictators

1/5

You know how 10 years ago, when your parents would watch Jackass with you they'd roll their eyes and something like "Well, now I know why they call this show 'Jackass'?" Meanwhile, they'd be thinking to themselves, "I remember the Dictators and that was some funny shit." This is not funny. It's fucking stupid. The thing that makes it even less funny is 'Manitoba' or whatever the fuck he calls himself THINKS it's funny. It's like when a 6 year old puts on a wig and sunglasses because it makes their parents laugh. This is terrible. "Go Back to Africa...?" and "Master Race Rock...?" At least Johnny Knoxville and Bam Margera know they're idiots but continue to snap their nuts in mousetraps even if cameras WEREN'T rolling. I found this album stupid, disingenuous and lacking relevant personality.

Actually

Pet Shop Boys

1/5

This is some lazy-ass shit. Besides being British, this album would sound far less douchey if the vocals weren't sung through each other's nose. I got no patience for this.

The Soft Bulletin

The Flaming Lips

2/5

I made the mistake of staying for The Flaming Lips after a Dinosaur Jr. show. Until then, I really didn't mind FL and viewed Wayne Coyne as a curiosity of sorts and was familiar with Pink Robots. Over the next 120 minutes, he brought out all kinds of balloons, mugged for the camera and fell all over himself to prove just how wild and interesting he is. But the truth is neither he or the FL were more than elaborate carnival barkers. I'd never heard this album before but needless to say I went in with a low bar and lot of bias. Surprisingly, it wasn't as irritating as I expected and I found myself really digging the Waiting for a Superman track. Other than that, the Flaming Lips cann kiss off in the air.

John Prine

4/5

Well, this is very twangy and nasaly - I was all ready to set fire to this album, but then I listened to it a little closer. "There's a hole in daddy's arm, where all the money goes." Sometimes it's good to go outside of your bubble.

Honky Tonk Masquerade

Joe Ely

1/5

Context is everything... This album sounds like virtually any bar on Broadway in Nashville, which if the beer is cold and endless, it's a good time. But I'm not spending my Sunday morning listening to this crap.

Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix

5/5

The first gift I ever remember giving my dad in which he actually enjoyed it was this album. Crayola drawings, elementary school art ... all that is bullshit, but give the guy a remastered CD of Electric Ladyland for Christmas and wow, did I see him light up. A short time later, this was in my CD player playing like I owned it. Happy Birthday, Dad.

Tommy

The Who

1/5

'Who' gives a shit? See what I did there... Now stop reading this review and go listen to something enjoyable.

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols

5/5

Sadly, this is a 5. I know it, and so do you. Now, breathe .... Breathe... in through your nose, and out through your mouth.... I'm going to count backwards from five. At then end we'll click that star on the right and hit blue 'yes' button to confirm. five ... four ... three ... two ... one ... Here we go.... [submit]

Peter Gabriel 3

Peter Gabriel

2/5

Peter Gabriel, Genesis and Phil Collins ... their good stuff is impeccable, brilliant, classic and everlasting ... and their bad stuff is ... incredibly disappointing just. like. this. album. But I really do like the cover art.

The Atomic Mr Basie

Count Basie & His Orchestra

5/5

YES! I could listen to this on a train, in the rain, in the air or on a dare. I could listen to Atomic Basie anywhere.

Court And Spark

Joni Mitchell

2/5

Not a fan of Joni's voice. I understand she's a big deal in some circles, but I'm unable to appreciate the appeal. This album takes me back to being left home alone in a cabin in the woods with nothing but yellow tinged books, shag carpeting an an old record player with a few records. I'm pretty sure this was in there. Basically, aside from the dozens of photo albums of black and white photos of people I didn't know and the antlers above the fireplace, it was pretty boring. If I had to choose one standout song, it'd be the last track Twisted, because its different than the rest and it's also the last track on the album.

Led Zeppelin IV

Led Zeppelin

4/5

Some flawless bangers on this album, but probably one of Zep's weakest albums. Rock and Roll has been overplayed and used in too many macho truck commercials for me to care. Stairway to Heaven, pretty lame and boring until the last 90 seconds of the 8+-minute track ...and that's a long time to wait for the good parts! Evermore, lame, cry me a river in middle-earth, Robert. Four Sticks, ugh that dumb repetitive bassline. California, snoozer and Levee, meh. The real gems here are Black Dog and Misty Mountain. I mean, DAMN! Misty, Mountain... ? You are a golden goddesss.

Damaged

Black Flag

3/5

Just read that Mike Valooloo is fronting this band now ... ? Wha, wha, whaaa?! I don't know about you, but that sounds more like a business move than a good fit. And who knows about business..? Even shady business ... Greg Ginn. Greg Ginn of SST records was kind of a kingmaker in the 80's. Bands like Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Minutemen and yes Black Flag among others all went thru SST who made musicians famous and collected a lot of money for themselves. With bands leaving over unpaid royalties and shady deals SST folded. Greg Ginnn, (fun fact, is also Raymond Pettibon's brother) and with Henry Rollins were founding members of Black Flag. Rollins left the band and as far as I knew BF was defunct which leads me to Mike V. I've always been a fan of Mike's talent on the board going way back to Search for Animal Chin (look for him during Johnny Rad's set doing hell Mary's and street plants), but that was a long time ago. He's evolved, grown up and aged. Mike, tired of being bullied (and scared shitless after a demo in Toledo Ohio) adopted a badass persona and had the skills to back it up. There's the time he tried to fight Rocco and the board that teases this right before he left World and of course there's the famous ass-kicking he serviced three or four dudes with, and if you haven't seen that, you need to. And there is also the poetry he began writing and performing. I once saw him reading in RVA. It wasn't great. I've read Rollins, books, seen Rollins perform, granted after the BF days, and enjoyed his spoken word, quirky late night talk-show type entertainment. Mike V has other skills, skateboarding, yes, hockey, yes. Poetry and stage performances.... hmmm I gotta say no. But how was the album... ? Good / meh. I think BF's popularity came from the scene that it existed in. SoCal, aggro fuck shit up, SST records and the environment it built. But, 40 years on, I'm not sure it has a place in today, but I do appreciate Ginn's efforts to include a frontman who carries his own stardom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cT0aajmFZs

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea

PJ Harvey

3/5

I really didn't like PJH until I heard Let England Shake, which I thought was amazing, dynamic, loud and interesting, this album takes me back to the Rid of Me and My Love albums where there just wasn't anythingn that I could grasp ahold of. Listening to Thom Yorke on a track was a nice surprise, but on the whole, I wasn't impressed or dissapointed. I was just meh with this one.

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Animal Collective

2/5

I feel like I should like this more than I do. But it kinda sounds like suburban white privilege took a gap year before law school to eat acid, sing Beach Boys and mess around with the expensive repeater devices they got for Christmas.

Goodbye And Hello

Tim Buckley

2/5

You know how two negatives multiplied produce a positive, but a positive multiplied by a negative equals a negative…? Welp, that’s what’s happening here. Some have called this folk psychedelic music. I’ve found that I enjoy psychedelic music but generally dislike like folk. A positive and a negative. But if this was county folk… (negative * negative) it would still suck. But gangster rap + folk… that might be the winning combination. Mostly, I found this old-timey and boring and a borderline waste of my time.

A Grand Don't Come For Free

The Streets

3/5

The whoopee cushion of rap music. If you find any of the hapless criminals in Guy Ritchie films endearing, you might like this album. It is just about an hour of listening to simple beats overlaid with some schmuck 'rapping' about his day-to-day life about money, and lady problems in a British accent. The term 'rap opera' is as ridiculous as this album is. But I think that's the point.

Wild Is The Wind

Nina Simone

4/5

"Goddamn!" ...the power and strength in her voice is amazing. Nina Simone was one of those artists that for whatever reason, was fully skipped while growing up. I had heard the name and only become familiar with her when my kid's learned about her in 6th grade. It seems so very much overdue, but nice to finally have an excuse to listen to Nina Simone.

McCartney

Paul McCartney

2/5

Shocking, and not for the right reasons. I'm beginning to rethink my assessment that Ringo Star being is lowlight of post-Beatles success...

Trans Europe Express

Kraftwerk

4/5

This makes far more sense being played in a room with thousands of people in front of an giant multimedia presentation shrooms than it does on Spotify. Mushrooms, makes is superfantastik. ... well, I'm assuminng.

Tanto Tempo

Bebel Gilberto

5/5

Vie, vie, vie vie.... FIVE! Maybe a little boring now, but I can't diminish the fact that this played on a continuous loop for about 3 months while in Maui and also finishing late night undergrad art projects... so good.

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

Otis Redding

2/5

I was not impressed. I think I enjoyed the last Otis album, but maybe I'm in a headspace that is less forgiving today. This was really kinda was a chore to get thru.

Devil Without A Cause

Kid Rock

2/5

Sexy cunt. Isn't this the guy that was caught blowing the Creed dude on a tour bus? In any case, I never would've suspected that a poser from Detroit could've done southern rock better than most any band in the south.

New Boots And Panties

Ian Dury

1/5

I listened to seven (SEVEN) albums today and this one was by far the least exciting (BORING). Even the Kid Rock album scored better than this one. Why? Because this has ZERO (ZERO) personality and I am just through (THROUGH!) listening to bullshit albums. C'mon, 1001, why do I keep coming back here ... ?!

Isn't Anything

My Bloody Valentine

3/5

This album makes me think of that time I was at the Foxfire Room on Magnolia Blvd. with Mr. Wombat. There were only about 10-12 people there, it was dark and quiet. If you've seen the film Magnolia it's the bar that Adult Quiz Kid Donny Smith falls in love with the bartender. Anyway, in the corner booth was Greg Edwards with some girl. Mr. Wombat went over to say hello. "The guy from Autolux ... " he said. So, my point is that in general terms I like MBV, but I'd rather be listening to any Autolux album than this one.

Transformer

Lou Reed

5/5

Judging by the cover, this is Tim Curry's debut album coming hot off of Rocky Horror Picture Show success. I don't see Sweet Transvestite on this, but that's okay, I'd take a Walk on the Wild Side any day of the week. ;) I'm not going to do this album the justice it deserves, because Lou Reed is one of America's overlooked treasures from the early 70s. Every time I listen to this album it gets better, it get's stickier, and has slowly made its way to one of my favorites with me barely knowing.

Vivid

Living Colour

5/5

With the exception of Body Glove shorts, I was all-in on Living Color's Vivid and even moreso Time's Up. This was released just before height of my adolescence, still living at home, but working two jobs and staying out all night. There are two things that make this album special, Vernon Reid's guitar and Corey Glover's voice. I saw they were playing a casino about 90 mins. from my house on a school night and I seriously making the trip.

Triangle

The Beau Brummels

2/5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_rock I had to jump in to the definitions of "psychedelic rock" for this one. Basically, any musician that uses LSD and a guitar can be labeled psychedelic rock. This is really shitty psychedelic rock made much worse by applying a 'folk' label to it. Not sure how much LSD the music reviewers were eating back then, but it was definitely more than the musicians. I much prefer the modern psychedelic rock to this.

Chore of Enchantment

Giant Sand

4/5

In my older age, I've grown impatient with most, if not all that surrounds me, music included. The music that used to bring me joy, is boring. It tries too hard, is too show-y or attempts to rebuild and improve the past. Sure, my mental state may sound like 'depression,' but I'm calling it old age. Giant Sand, includes a mild bit of reminiscence from the days I used to listen to Calexico, and I don't think anyone would accuse this band of trying too hard to impress. The slow tempo, and muted vocals and gimickless production make Chore of Enchantment make for an enjoyable album. This is the introverted, standing along the sidelines, house in the woods, music that I've been needing but unwilling to look for. Great find.

Ragged Glory

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

3/5

"It's okay, everyone has a bad day." https://youtu.be/AgPhyCq-y8E?si=tauooFBJqlLuvs5I There's nothing I can say about this album, so I'll let Kim Gordon tell you about Neil Young for me. Click the link above, you won't regret it.

Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

Bill Callahan

3/5

I'm a big fan of anything that comes outta Silver Spring, Maryland and my first thought was, isn't this just Smog? Bill Callahan is the voice of Cold Blooded Old Times, that song that inevitably follows the music I play on a regular basis. Bill Callahan, aka Smog, the one man band or the 'indie pioneer of lo-fi music' per Wikipedia. If Smog is a one man band and that one man band is Bill Callahan, then what's the difference between Smog and Bill Callahan? It turns out a lot. Smog music is pretty boring, and I mean that in the best way possible, it's simple, and very apparent that it's produced by one person. Bill Callahan, is not. There are complexities, intricacies, builds and fades, waxing and waning, multi-multi instrumentation, etc. Still pretty boring, but more boring, and I mean that in the most negative way possible. The appeal of smog is that it's a pig, a fat round beautiful pink pig imperfect in every way, stinky, muddy, hairy and immovable. And then there's Bill Callahan, the evolution of Smog, who is still the pig, just in a cage, on antibiotics.

Rings Around The World

Super Furry Animals

3/5

Oh yeah! I recognize this Rings Around the World song. It's like a British version of whatever band that is that plays the theme song from Friends. After that track, it devolves into thrift store smash and grab. People call it eclectic, but it's just a lack of self-awareness and vision. One good thing that came out of this is that Spotify started playing Elbow's Cast of Thousands after this album ended. Extra star for that!

The Stone Roses

3/5

Preppy Brit Pop from the late 80's / early 90's. This album influenced one of my favorites, BRMC. Coincidentally (or not) the best song on this 1989 album is "Don't Stop," whereas in 2003, BRMC's single from Take Them On was "Stop." What BRMC did was take the psychedelia and add some America grit and attitude. The Stone Roses is an acquired taste for people born in the early '70s.

Queen Of Denmark

John Grant

3/5

The Colbert Report in album form. Mildly entertaining. This is confusion and absurdity. Queen of Denmark makes me think of a serious Dagmar Krause. Tho some of this may be hyperbole and sarcasm leading me to believe this serious...? Is this just absurdity to be absurd or is he trying to make a statement? I dunno, but it was mildly entertaining, especially the Jesus Hates Faggots track.

Bat Out Of Hell

Meat Loaf

2/5

My unplanned typo refers to this guy as 'Meat Load,' which I think works much better than his stage name, tho not as good a 'Bitch Tits.' I assume this is what people mean by 'Rock Opera' since nobody I know would willingly spend time subjecting themselves to it.

Welcome To The Pleasuredome

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

2/5

Original source material for Andy Samberg's SNL videos.

Konnichiwa

Skepta

3/5

It's hard to take British Rap seriously, but Konnichiwa is as close as I think you can come.

Antichrist Superstar

Marilyn Manson

3/5

I hated this shit when it came out. From time-to-time, I find myself reaching for music similar to Downward Spiral and this comes up, but it's worn, dirty and dripping with filth. And, as Kim Deal might say, "I don't like dirt." Regrettably, this is decent stuff performed by a rapey turd who is content with maintaining an image that's outlived itself. It's too difficult for me to separate the artist from the music. Their inability to grow and evolve is a big turn off. Somehow Trent Reznor emerged from this phase to be respectable and celebrated, but this guys is absolute dog shit, sinking even lower than Fred Durst. [gasp!] Oh, and the album artwork is wretched and terrible. Musically, this is a 4-star album but there are too many reasons preventing me from scoring it as such.

Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Stereolab

5/5

Some OG shit. In a class of their own before being a 'French' band was cool.

Stephen Stills

2/5

This is from a generation that I was happy not to be a part of. I couldn't imagine having to listen to this all the time.

Appetite For Destruction

Guns N' Roses

3/5

This album defined a movement in music, but I never got into this and still can't. Despite continuous airplay and Axel's voice, Jungle, Paradise and Sweet Child don't bother me.

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down

The Dandy Warhols

4/5

Why is this on here....? There is better DW material that could've been included like Distortland or Monkey House or even Urban Bohemia. Still pretty good. Don't forget to check out the Dig Documenatary!

Something/Anything?

Todd Rundgren

3/5

Borrring.... Is this really the same guy as Bang on the Drum All Day? Speaking of banging on the drum, these reviews are a ton of Work, and "I don't wanna work...."

Bummed

Happy Mondays

3/5

Bummed I had to listen to this. Happy Mondays, never seem to do it for me.

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Limp Bizkit

1/5

People should give me five stars for listening to this.

Before And After Science

Brian Eno

2/5

Not my favorite Brian Eno album. Some of this stuff, actually most of this stuff sounds like it could've been used on any early episode of Columbo, Simon & Simon, pretty much any Aaron Spelling series, Dynasty, Love Boat or even Murder She Wrote. Kinda disappointing...

Blood, Sweat & Tears

3/5

Solid golden hour. So many samples from this album... 3rd Bass, sampled basically all of Spinning Wheel.

Dirty

Sonic Youth

4/5

You know that book the Tipping Point? The connectors and mavens and salesmen.... This is a connector album. I love that Sonic Youth uses the work of famous artists on their album covers. Tho, was Raymond Pettibon famous before Goo, or did Goo make him famous...? Mike Kelley was on a healthy trajectory to achieving fame if he hadn't already been so when Dirty came out. But it made me pay attention to the art world in a way that I hadn't before. So many connections with this album, 100% features Guy Mariano and Spike Jonze in the same video before Girl started, what about Kathleen Hanna being completely annoying in that Bull in the Heather video? X-Large / X-Girl stores on Vermont in Los Feliz .... B-Boys! B-Girls! Art! Skateboarding! Noise Rock! Riot Grrrls! Sonic Youth's mainstream apex is right here in Dirty. But I don't think it's the music that makes this as relevant as the connections it provides.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake

Small Faces

2/5

Okay, boomer. Ain't nobody got time for this!

White Light / White Heat

The Velvet Underground

4/5

This was pretty far out there for the time that it was released and a record that must've been hard for a label to get behind and promote. Tho not the easiest of listens, this is the underbelly of Velvet Underground. The stuff that isn't mainstream cool featuring model singers and promoted by famous pop artists. This is heavy psychedelia, disjointed and incongruous, like an acid trip that's not always a good. Still looking back on this (but more a trip to Wikipedia) shows that this 'noise rock / art rock / proto-punk' album was ahead of its time before heavy metal.

Immigrés

Youssou N'Dour

2/5

Some of the instrumentation was really cool, but when that voice starts singing, this album dies a quick death.

Harvest

Neil Young

2/5

Oh Neil ... Why do you keep showing up on this list...? Tho, maybe this is the album to show up on the list, it's hard for me to find the enjoyment of Neil Young in present day music. Johnny Cash, with the assistance of Rick Rubin and American Records was able to reinvent himself and introduce his music to a new audience. Johny Cash has this man's man brand attached to him. He goes to prisons to play music, sings about cocaine disappointment personal struggles small towns and God. Neil Young, has a whiny voice and loves to complain and protest. He's pulled his music off of Spotify because of their support for Joe Rogan. He points fingers at backwoods souther states, music and bands, holds benefit concerts for handicapped children. And tho he made attempts to introduce himself to newer audiences by touring with Sonic Youth, his appeal has fallen flat and remained in the hearts and minds of generations before our own.

Woodface

Crowded House

2/5

I'm no Crowded House aficionado, but this isn't one of the albums that stands out to me. I grew up in the 80s listening to top 40 and songs like Better Be Home soon, Don't Dream its Over and Something So Strong. There are the wholesome voices, the harmonizing, the simple slow guitar rhythms, but lacks personality outside of 'this is 80's college rock.' Nothing to see here ... move along now.

Pink Flag

Wire

5/5

Wow, really liked Elastica before I realized Three Girl Rhumbah preceded Connection. Sure, they didn't rip it off, but they plainly expanded on the foundations setup by Wire. Great album, this is a plenty dirty and crusty garage rock. Songs are short, simple and plenty of energy.

Hotel California

Eagles

2/5

And who doesn't like THIS album? This is like Springsteen, if you don't love it you're a red commie who enjoys killing puppies, right? I'm paying attention, and tracking reviews...

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns

Joni Mitchell

2/5

Wow. The Jungle Line track does not belong on an otherwise humdrum, boring rainy-day album. The Jungle Line is thought provoking,, has a unique sound and reminds me of TV on the Radio's Wolf Like Me or even the entire Return to Cookie Mountain album. Wonderful track. Subpar album. Go listen to TOTR.

Mott

Mott The Hoople

4/5

What is this glam rock? Neve heard of Mott, thought it would sound more like applesauce than David Bowie.

I See A Darkness

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

4/5

TIL that Bonnie "Prince" Billy is not this guy's real name. And that he also doesn't have any music on Spotify now. (I'm assuming Joe Rogan is somehow responsible). But most importantly, today I learned that he wrote songs for Johnny Cash and he's much younger than you! I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. He's a guy that transcends music genres and boundaries and just seems like a quirky-weird music nerd that I'm glad I found. Also, he's got a "What's in my bag" video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCKtH-2z9X4

Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan

3/5

"The beatings will continue until morale improves..." "Thank you, sir! May I have another?" Just like the heavens of hell have listened to my pleas after being beaten with Bob Dylan albums... Yes! There are too many Dylan records on 1001. But they have slowly turned me into a person that 'enjoys'(?) his music. At least I feel like I can appreciate it more. Honestly had no idea how prolific he was. I'm not going to say that I enjoyed this, but I wasn't compelled to turn it off... Also, please, listen to Mary Lou Lord's Some Jingle Jangle Morning... you wont regret it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1bzM50Pq7g

Joan Baez

2/5

How can I give this a 1 without people thinking I'm a complete jerk.... ?

Elastica

4/5

I remember finding this in the $1 bin at a record store back in the 90's and became really proud of my purchase after listening. Connection vs. Three Girl Rhumbah, by Wire. Both great. Hard to believe that this came from Suede, a band that I have such little tolerance for. Also, very happy to support anything that is anti Damon Albarn / Blur.

The Undertones

5/5

Never heard of these guys, but why did everyone waste so much airtime sucking off the Sex Pistols rather than elevating the Undertones to a wider audience? So good.

There's No Place Like America Today

Curtis Mayfield

3/5

That voice is so identifiable. The overall tone I got from this is muted distress, slow and ambling. Placing Mayfield's 'Hard Times' track besides RUN DMC's 'Hard Times" track nine years later was like night and day. Mayfield sings about what's happening in the present tense 'life sucks', while DMC raps about future expectations and a healthy positive vibe ... "hard times are coming, to your town, don't let them get you down..." Though it's slow and melancholic, I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would.

Pieces Of The Sky

Emmylou Harris

2/5

twangy

Dub Housing

Pere Ubu

2/5

Is there a reason beyond Kurt Cobain name dropping these guys that would warrant them being on this list? I didn't mind the first one, but this is awful.

The Message

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

4/5

Wow. This is amazing for the time that it was created. I could give a shit about the Stevie Wonder track, but I was mildly elated to connect that white mackle more rapper guy's Downtown with the albums first track. Also, sifting through 'whosampled.com' after hearing some De La Soul (pass the plugs / peas) on the album was mildly entertaining. https://www.whosampled.com/Grandmaster-Flash/The-Message/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGhoLcsr8GA

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles

3/5

The Beatles sound a lot better once they discovered drugs.

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

5/5

Duh.

Feast of Wire

Calexico

5/5

I was broke. Like 'broke.' Tho I had no money in 1998, these guys had a date at The Troubadour in West Hollywood and somehow, I went to see them. It was right after Black Light was released. I'd been in LA for a few years, but still hadn't found my groove, or my place. That night is memorable because I find a lot of loneliness in Calexico. The twang-y, western-y, voice heavy songs are slow, melodic and relaxing. It's not music that I naturally gravitate to. Instead, I think of Calexico as a suitable alternative to the world I inhabited. It's no worse than this one and might even be better... like, what if everything we know is wrong? This album has the same southwestern vibe, dripping with thoughts of independent film in a close but foreign world. One that I'll visit again.

Too Rye Ay

Dexys Midnight Runners

1/5

Poor Eileen...

Shadowland

k.d. lang

2/5

Not sure why this album makes me think of Sophie B. Hawkins. Maybe because they shared the cover of an issue of Interview magazine ...? This isn't quite as terrible as I though it would be, but it does sound kind of like an act you'd find at a fancy talent show aboard a cruise ship.

B-52's

The B-52's

5/5

Raise your hand if you think the world is a better place with the B-52's (and Kate Pierson) in it... If hating on Bruce Springsteen makes you a Commie, then hating on Kate Pierson makes you inhuman. Enough said. P.S. / Side note... one of my favorite B-52's songs, Dirty Back Road is covered by Marvelle Oaks and it kicks ass ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyznFhVXRhA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toCDRDB_nZg

Coat Of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

2/5

Dolly Parton has her own theme park. It's true, it's called Dollywood and I hear it's a lot of fun and not at all like this album.

Tragic Songs of Life

The Louvin Brothers

4/5

This sounds like the backdrop to a Cohen brothers movie, one of them with George Clooney, or Billy Bob Thornton. Earnest and unassuming. In a world of its own. It exists here only for others to laugh at.

Ten

Pearl Jam

4/5

Peer pressure is a hell of a drug... After avoiding this for years, I was inspired to listen after reading some of the fanatical reviews extolling the virtues of Vedder and the band. And I'll admit the whole Ticketmaster thing was noble. The music behind the voice is tolerable, even good. I love the intro to Black and Release, but at the end of the day, all Pearl Jam is Eddie Vedder. Either you like his presence and voice or you tolerate it. Regardless, I enjoyed listening to this more than I thought I could. And though I certainly don't hate it, it's not music that I find myself searching for.

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

4/5

Another band that I refused to listen to in the 90's but somehow has wormed it's way into my ears over time. Being bored cycling through Netflix one night led me to the Supersonic documentary. Maybe that gave me some appreciation for the band, but honestly, some of these tunes are hard to deny. That guitar sound is so crisp, and that whiny bitch Liam's voice gets under your skin and somehow is infectious. Though not as polished as Morning Glory, I like this one just as well. It's all so. very. 90's.

Trout Mask Replica

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

2/5

The low-point of a bad acid trip. This album redefines the term 'cacophony' Tho there are some good explanations on Wikipedia if you read the production notes. • Recorded partly in a commune-like house where the 'magic band' lived. • Atmosphere was similar to the Manson cult. • Mandated worship of Captain Beefheart, (Don Glen Vliet) who had been diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia. • Ate nothing for 8-months. • Each member was berated for days until they cried and submitted to the Beefheart. • Beefheart composed 70% of the album on piano, an instrument that he didn't know how to play. ... and the kicker of all of that is the band was forced to 'practice' for 14 hours a day. WTF? You practice for 14 hours a day and produce this? But perhaps the most telling is that this album was produced by Frank Zappa. So, if you find the Mothers of Invention and Zappa entertaining, you're gonna love this. Extra star for experimentation.

Elephant Mountain

The Youngbloods

3/5

This is pretty hum-drum and boring. Not sure what's so special about this in 2025, except that it's a window to the past. If so, this belongs in a museum and not on this list.

It's Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

5/5

There are a few albums that I've willfully consumed to death, this is one of them. I wore Blitz! out over the course of several years when it was released. Now, when I see this in my library I actively avoid it, fearing another listen would degrade the experience, the album and the band even further. This was a nice excuse to bring it into the light, blow off the dust and get into it again. That was nice. Now, let's wave goodbye. Put Blitz! back under the floor with the other albums and bands like BRMC, Built to Spill, Parquet Courts, Air, and so many others...

Street Life

The Crusaders

2/5

Too much saxophone!!! The Saxophone, aka the Sean Connery of musical instrumentats. In the late '90's and early 2000's there was this belief that any crappy movie could be made better if only Sean Connery was in it. Studios figured this out and it worked for a bit until audiences eventually realized that Sean Connery equals suckfest, making him redundant and leaving us with movies like LXG. In the '80's the same thing happened with the saxophone and well, nothing blows like the saxophone.

Moon Safari

Air

5/5

Ahhh, "The French band, Air," not to be confused with the other band 'Air.' These guys are bunch of dicks. But, I like their music. And, maybe even the album art...

Oar

Alexander 'Skip' Spence

4/5

I'm a sucker for a hard luck story like Skip Spence and Dennis Wilson. For some reason, those with internal struggles that become dramatic external struggles lend some credibility to the artist, make them real, human and ignite a desire to learn more. Joplin / Cobain / Spence, etc. My dad was a big Moby Grape fan. He saw them at the Fillmore, even got one of the posters at the show. The only reason that I'm familiar with SS is due to my dad and I remember when SS died. He was written up in so many papers, it was kinda big news in pop culture. And then came the tributes to him, one of which was Beck, who my dad knew I was a fan of. Tho I don't think I had heard this album in its entirety until now, Skip Spence and this album became common ground for us to connect. And listening to the album it's almost as if you can hear the voices in his head, and the noise of the silence. This is one of those albums that I'll listen to long after 1001 has ended, of which I mostly credit my dad.

Stripped

Christina Aguilera

3/5

Damn, this woman's voice is incredible. The music beneath is is pure 90's pop garbage tho. Stripped occupies a unique time in America that includes The Simple Life, Von Dutch trucker hats, The Roxbury, Girls Gone Wild, KFed and Brittany Spears' bald head ... and more things I'd rather forget. But Beautiful... well, that is somewhat redeeming.

Porcupine

Echo And The Bunnymen

4/5

Evidently we've had 3, (THREE!) E&tB albums and I've managed to avoid all of them until now. haha For me, E&tB makes me think of the real Bunnyman himself, Donnie Darko. And, of course, its theme song (also by the Bunnymen). From there, my mind goes to the lore of rural Virginia's Bunny Man before wrapping around to the album... Sonically, this sounds like a blend between The Cure, Midnight Oil and The Church. There's some good nuggets in this. I get why it's on the list. Definitely a keeper. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_Man

Berlin

Lou Reed

2/5

Ugh. Rock opera shit. "Et tu, Louté?"

Better Living Through Chemistry

Fatboy Slim

1/5

You know how REM wrote Shiny Happy People to prove that they could sell even the shittiest, most meaningless of songs? Similarly, I never understood the draw of Fatboy Slim and for a long time was convinced it was a joke band. Not quite as bad as the other one, but still pretty terrible, and even worse by today's standards.

Let Love Rule

Lenny Kravitz

4/5

Mamma Said was a great album before I understood it was enthusiast music. The reason it worked was Lenny. Let Love Rule is more authentic, not everything was produced to be airwave ready and that's what sets this apart from most all of his other music.

Beach Samba

Astrud Gilberto

3/5

What was that parade song ... ? Everything else was hunky-dory, but the parade ... WTF?

Giant Steps

The Boo Radleys

3/5

I can't believe Interpol cited the Boo Radleys as an influence.

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

4/5

Most of this album is semi-predictable Michael Stipe, innocuous shit. While most of the album got plenty of airplay, the best song got none. The most underutilized and under-appreciated track on this album is Ignoreland. Some things never change. Listen to this song. turn it up... LOUD "These bastards stole their power from the victims of the Us v Them years, wrecking all things virtuous and true. The undermining social democratic downhill slide into abysmal. Lost lamb off the precipice into the trickle down runoff pool... ...marched into the capital brooding duplicitous wicked and able, media-ready heartless, and labeled Super US citizen, super achiever. Mega ultra power dosing, relax (Defense, defense, defense, defense ... )" Does this sound familiar... ? There's more. "I know that this is vitriol, no solution, spleen-venting But I feel better having screamed, don't you...?" Listen to this song. turn it up... LOUD and think about what's changed in 30 years. Now consider what needs to change...

Rain Dogs

Tom Waits

5/5

Someone has a hard on for Tom Waits. There's too many of his albums on this list. Same thing with David Bowie, same thing with Dylan, same thing with Pearl Jam, etc. Not everyone has a stiffie for Tom Waits, and when there are too many albums on the list for being good, then none of them are good. The thought is 'uhh, not another Leonard Cohen album...' After the third shitty Tom Waits album, nobody has any patience for Tom Waits (pun intended). But this is the outlier, this is the album that everyone should listen to. Look, 1001, you can afford to retool, to be a little selective. There's plenty of other worthy music that should be on this list and five Tom Waits album is too many. Just, please keep this one.

Rejoicing In The Hands

Devendra Banhart

2/5

Like being locked in a library full of hipsters and an overabundance of facial hair.

Born To Be With You

Dion

2/5

Before its time and by that I mean this belongs in the 80's, the most snoozeworthy decade for music.

Talk Talk Talk

The Psychedelic Furs

4/5

Great stuff. Massive deduction for singers voice tho.

Smash

The Offspring

1/5

sellouts

Rust In Peace

Megadeth

3/5

I always think, Dave Mustaine’s mustache must stink.

In Our Heads

Hot Chip

3/5

A long time ago, I was into The Faint. A friend of mine tried to introduce me to Hot Chip a bit later, but I couldn't get into it. He also tried turning me on to Orange 9mm when they were a big deal, so his credibility was somewhat lacking. Instead of listening to Hot Chip around this time, I got into a similar band called Of Montreal which is similar soft industrial dance like this just further out there. For kicks, I listened to The Faint and Of Montreal after In Our Heads. It's evident there was this remote corner of music that made its way into the light and then was shoved back into the corner darkness. I think these three bands (O9mm excluded) are good discoveries for the youngers but none have any life left for me.

Ágætis Byrjun

Sigur Rós

1/5

I got this when it was released. The CD packaging was unique. It was one of those paper jewel cases with a single color silver ink. This was heavily promoted on KCRW and a friend of mine LOVED this so much that when he was a camp advisor / counselor at some swanky summer camp for kids he built a breakout session around listening and enjoying Sigur Rós and similar Icelandic music. But as the summer camp filled up he was forced to cancel the offering for lack of interest. This is one of those albums that you either love or hate. For me, it tics all the boxes. It’s unique, has lost of white space, soft and relaxing, otherworldly, even (and had cool packaging). But for whatever reason I am repulsed by this. It makes me wanna crawl outta my skin. Nothing ever seems to happen and the repetitiveness gives this feeling of boundless purgatory. I had a visceral reaction to this on par with Gotan Project, Limp Bizkit, Gunfighter X and Duck Stab.

Bitte Orca

Dirty Projectors

3/5

Nice album art. This is cute artsy music. Lotsa falsettos and acoustic plucking with some rando-sparse electonica sprinkled in. It makes me think of that band from the mid-00's, The Dodos. Dude sounds like Ted Leo without the PR cred.

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

4/5

Never thought I'd enjoy a Bob Dylan album but this was pretty good.

The Grand Tour

George Jones

2/5

I like his clothes more than his music. Those encrusted rhinestones twankle bright (and partially make up for how boring his music is).

Tago Mago

Can

4/5

Super trippy. This album looks like a little volcano boy getting high and breathing smoke. While the majority of this album is borderline unlistenable, the balance really shines. Oh Yeah, Halleluhwah, Bring me Coffee or Tea are great, but Paperhouse is absolutely incredible. This track alone is evidence enough for me to check out some of their other shit.

Hot Fuss

The Killers

4/5

Wholesome rock for unsuspecting converts. "Smile like a peanut"

Talking Timbuktu

Ali Farka Touré

4/5

If you remember the '90's, you remember Barnes & Noble and the endless amount of time you spent in the bookstore sifting through their magazines, art books, and slowly working your way through all the CDs in their music section. You also, no doubt remember this album playing nonstop every time you went in to Barnes & Noble. If you don't, you didn't spend as much time in that store as I did. Innocuously entertaining on a subconscious level. This album can either put you in the mood to buy another copy of Howl, The Raven or just sit and read the most recent issue of Quilting Monthly.

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