1001 Albums Summary

I mean, it's Miles Davis. This is like hitting a first-pitch home run.

All of the songs have the generic 'late-70s pseudo-punk' sound. Like, all of them. Almost exactly the same.

I dig this. ABBA pretty consistently delivers and this is no exception. It's definite '80s glorious synth-cheese.

This isn't for me, I don't think. It's more atonal and drugged-up than I prefer. Not the worst music ever, but definitely not my thing.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. Melodies and music are solid, but the vocals are all over the place.

I liked this more than I expected I would. It's not quite in my musical wheelhouse, but there are some rightful bangers on this album and I can see why it's considered a classic.

This feels like a transitional album, in a way. It has a solid 70s feel with the twangish guitars, the walking bass, and the like. It feels kind of like sitting on a dock, fishing, on a summer day. Not bad by any means though.

Now this is the stuff I'm talking about. Smooth, sexy, and confident, but with an underlying rhythmic thrust that keeps driving forward. You have classics like Black Magic Woman and Oye Come Va on this and one of the most visually striking covers ever so...come on.

This is definitely unique, but there's always such a weird little disconnect between the wispy, unsupported vocals and the music itself. It's kind of like the mixing is off, but it may be intentional.

This just isn't for me. I like the guitars and the rhythmic drive just fine, but the vocals - which, yes, I know are 'punk' - drive me up the wall. I can't do it and I can't even give an okay rating for historical value. This sucked.

This was 'Just What I Needed' after the crap punk of the last album. I'm sorry for that one. This is so much better though. It has some of that 70s vibe but also some proto-80s feel too. I'm also a fan of the band chiming in to sing sometimes.

This sounds pretty close to a guy singing karaoke at a bar after several drinks. He's not bad, per se, but it's just off enough to be jarring. The music itself is solid and well done, but the vocalist sounding like he's decided on a different key entirely is not a plus.

I don't even have to think about this one. Five stars with a bullet. One of my favorite albums of all time.

I...actually quite like this. I mean, it closes with an iconic song, but the whole album has a nice, chill feeling to it. It's inextricably 60s, but that's not a bad thing. If I smoked pot, this would be a lovely album to turn on and just groove on.

This is not what I expected. It's...okay. I'm sure that if I was into electronic music, this would be a seminal work, but it's just kind of noise to me mostly. Not bad, per se, though.

Here's the thing. I like James Brown typically, but I really don't like live albums. They tend to be worse quality musically than studio, as you'd expect. As a result, this is not the best album, even though it has alright music.

I like the hell out of this. It has a great sense of rhythm and changes up style frequently so that you don't get bored. It's unique and I dig it.

This is as 60s as it gets. The twang-tuning, the 'deep' lyrics...not quite for me.

Nah. More punk-ness and I just am learning I do not care for that style. I love the energy of it, but the vocals and freneticism just don't work for me.

It's not bad. It's unique, which is cool, but I didn't find anything that really hooked me in the way I was hoping.

It started strong, but the weird speech insertions and repetition kind of wore me down after a while.

Just...nothing to it that grabs me. It's inoffensive but it doesn't work with my jam at all.

Okay, I can get on this one. It's upbeat and has legit production chops going. I like it.

I kinda love this. Funky, heavy beat, alternately relaxing and hype-up music...it's like smooth jazz had sex with a keyboard and I am all about it.

Every song is pretty much the same, more or less, though not...bad. It's the 60s semi-country twang feel which, if you're into that, would work. It just feels sapped of energy to me.

Not bad. Kind of an English throwback feel, but the early 90s were all about experimentation so...it's fine.

Generic 70s half-country twang. I nearly fell asleep as soon as I heard a few notes. Pass.

I don't even care about their politics or whatever. This album is straight up 'getting swole' or prepping for an underground fight music. If music makes me want to kick some ass, it gets a good rating. Not a five, though, because the lyrics do get all Edgy College Freshman at times.

This is weirdly chill. Kinda reminds me of Blank and Jones and in a good way. I like it.

Again, it's a live concert, so it's not my favorite. I mean, I like Cheap Trick, but the screaming of fans and the crapshoot audio quality just knock it down.

I actually like this a good deal. It's a bit 'quirky' but varied enough with some neat musicality to it.

This is...weird. There's not a lot more I can say. It doesn't quite click with me.

This is a strange one. 'Avalanche' is stunning and absolutely a song I need to listen to a few times to maybe work up some inspiration. The rest, though...it's kind of dreary and atonal. Maybe that's the point. It averages out, I suppose.

Okay, this is badass. Grimy and heavy and with a distinctive feel. This is great workout or writing music.

Nope. Not a 1 but this is not the right music for me. It's like if punk and grudge had a kid and that kid turned out to be an asshole.

What an album. This isn't THE Eminem yet. Proto-Eminem, really. You can hear some of the pieces that he's putting in place for Marshall Mathers LP. This is...goofier than later stuff and it's clear that he's not entirely sure who he wants to be.

I only had maybe 35% of the songs because of Spotify, but it was...eh. Basic 60s blandness.

You know, I kinda dig it. This is one of the foundational 90s albums with some iconic songs. Vedder has a unique voice but the grungy grime of the guitars and beats are classic.

This is nice. Just chill and light with a great vocalist.

I'm conflicted about this. Songs like Fight for Your Right and Brass Monkey are iconic and entertaining, but all of the rest sounds...the same. Same beats. Same flow. Plus two of the three Boys sound like Rick and Morty characters, which is not a good thing.

ZZTop. Classic. Old men with huge beards singing about cars and women and with loud, tangy guitars. What's not to like?

What a strange, short album. It has the typical 60s chords, but then tosses in random trumpet, static, and alien voices. I don't know what the hell I'm listening to.

I'm just not a huge fan of Smashing Pumpkins. It's a whiny kind of 90s which, admittedly, does have some good stuff to it (Disarm is a nice song). So, this counts as more of a midrange album.

I'll admit it: I am a big metalhead. The music here even overrides the vocals (which are growly but not terrible). I'm all about this. I can't call it perfect but it's absolutely a high level.

I know that this is not a popular opinion, but man, I can't do this. It's just straight 60s with very little anything to it. As much as I've heard a few of the songs over and over, it's not something I like listening to overall.

Come on. It's one of the most recognizable voices in history doing some of the most catchy, melodic, enjoyable music ever written. How can you realistically do better?

I have no idea what the hell I am listening to right now. I don't mind foreign music, but this is just confusing. 'Longue route' is slightly catchy, but the rest is a hard pass.

Just look at some of the SONGS on this. Runnin' with the Devil, Eruption, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, Jamie's Cryin'...come on. Easy, easy 5.

Yeah...I don't love this. The technical aspect of some of the songs are fine enough, but the random chattering of crazy people is not enjoyable. Pass.

Country. Nope. I only got 30 seconds in before punting the album.

Eh. Nothing about it catches my attention. It's inoffensive, though, so not a terrible grade. Just nothing special.

The beats are fine, but it's got a weird talk-y feeling to it that kind of takes away from the electronic coolness. Think your dad doing karaoke in a dance club.

Just...what? There's no defined sound for this album and none of them work particularly well, not to mention half the songs aren't available on Spotify. Gonna say no thanks.

I'm glad the first song wasn't an indicator of quality because it was trash. Star Sign is...fine. The rest just all sounds the same. Not a huge fan.

You know, fine. There's something to be said for this kind of music. If you want to just blast thinking out of your head for a while, it does the trick and, honestly, I kinda dig that.

Ehhhhh. Don't hate it. Can't love it.

I know that I tend to complain about the same-y sound of a lot of 70s music, and this is no different, but there's a different energy to this.

Not...sure what this is, but it's not enjoyable. Atonal and folky, but not the good kind of folk.

Okay, hell yes. Chameleon alone makes this fantastic.

I've made it clear how I feel about live concert recordings. And, to be honest, The Who only has a few songs that I like - none of which are on here.

I cannot place this band at ALL. I don't love it but I certainly don't hate it either.

This is...fine. I like jazz but this is a little more flat than I prefer.

Eh, again, it's fine. Not my jam, but inoffensive.

Megadeth, baby. If you don't headbang to this at least just a little, I don't know what's wrong with you.

While I don't love this, Genesis Hall would be an incredible horror movie track. 3 stars just for that.

Okay, I see what they're dropping. I can dig this for sure. What's Golden is legit.

This...kind of kicks ass. I was not expecting that, but the jazzy, slow, relaxed feel works perfectly with the rasp and growl of Waits' rough voice. I really like this.

Uh, okay. Don't hate. Don't like. It kinda sounds like my computer is skipping and that's not a comfortable sound.

I don't love how nearly half the songs on the album are not available on Spotify. That being said, I unironically love Come On Eileen and the songs I CAN listen to are upbeat, enjoyable, and moderate bangers.

Very few live records really work for me, but this one does admirably. I don't have this huge love for Nirvana, but an Unplugged album can be legit.

I don't use psychedelic drugs. If I did, I would probably be able to appreciate this more.

Nope. Yelling, atonal, and depressing. Pass.

There are some definite bangers on this album. Iconic ones too, so I can't get too down on it.

You know? I kinda like this. It's weird, yeah, but there are some thick beats underneath.

Absolutely not. Live AND psychedelic 70s crap? Nope.

Wilson was into alcohol, drugs, and Manson...and it shows.

This sounds like it was recorded in an alley. Ugh.

Not terrible. I'll need to listen more to it, but it's not awful at least from what I can tell.

I like me some Elvis Costello. It's weird and eclectic in a way that works for me as opposed to weird and off-putting.

Eh. Still not a fan of The Doors, but it's fine for what it is, I guess. That background faux-organ music grates on me though.

Okay, this absolutely rocks. Atmospheric, great voice, great backing music...I'm in.

A few songs missing, but this is still enjoyable. 90s hip-hop/rap has a certain sound that I like.

It's certainly not bad, but it's not something I'd likely listen to on repeat over and over either.

Straight up trash. Short, annoying, and painful, like a rock stuck in your shoe or a bad partner.

Kind of an iconic album, wouldn't you say? I'm all about it.

I think this would be fantastic late-night writing music with a glass of scotch and the lights down low.

Ehhhhh. I'm sure it means something to a different audience, but it's not my jam.

I mean, it's all the same song. It honestly is. It's fine enough but you'd be hard-pressed to find a lot of differences.

It's just Bjork. Full stop. It's Bjork with messed up guitar twangs. Nope.

Inoffensive but nothing spectacular. Just 60s pop. Honest, boring, safe.

I honestly kinda like it. It's so clearly 80s, but I don't consider that a bad thing. This is sitting in your room after school, curtains closed, music up, and trying to work up the urge to kiss the cute goth girl you managed to convince to come over.

Don't even have to re-listen. This is a five-star carved into stone.

Nah. Generic and nothing entertaining about it.

Honestly? Yeah, okay, I'm about it. He's got some chops and the music itself is legit.

It's The Beach Boys. You either like them or you don't, but this isn't their strongest effort.

I know, I know, they're iconic or something but...ehhhhh.

Love me some Alice Cooper. I prefer some darker stuff, but this is still classic, especially the title track and No More Mr. Nice Guy.

Again, typical '60s harmonic folk-ish rock. Nothing exciting about it.

I like the smooth chillness of the music, but the singer has this Bob Dylan-ish 'eaaaaagh' sound that doesn't work for me. Middle of the pack.

Oh, middle school edginess. I can't hate it. It's unironically cheesy fun.

I know it's sacrilege, but I don't really like the Stones. It's old-timey rock-and-roll and just not...something I dig all that much.

There are maybe MAYBE three songs by Talking Heads that I can stand. This album is not those.

I actually like this. It has a unique sound but it's upbeat and exciting. You go, Fishbone.

I didn't love the first record by them and this is more country than that one. Nope.

Straight up 80s sound. That is not a bad thing. It's got the digital-sounding background with some funkiness to it.

Oh yeah. This SLAPS. I am all about this.

This is kind of a haunting record, especially knowing he passed away really close to when it was released.

I'm giving this a 3 simply for Sympathy for the Devil, one of the few Stones tracks I like. The rest is a weird rock-country mix.

You know, I like this. It has a different feel to most '60s music. It's a little darker and more cynical. I like it.

This is balls on toast. Hard pass.

I usually like Bee Gees, but this just doesn't click with me. I'm sad about that.

Oh yeah. Big Band feel? All about this.

I legitimately don't know how I feel about this. One second, I really like it, the next, I hate it. Stop confusing me, music.

This is straight up country. Pass to the damn moon.

I just...can't. It just doesn't work in my brain.

This is basically pure 80s and I kinda love it.

Oh yes. This is sitting in a smoky bar, drinking a whiskey, and watching the band wail onstage. I am about this life.

Too country-adjacent for me to enjoy. It's not absolute hate, but it isn't good for me.

This is a tough one. I actually quite like the background music for this, but Bjork sounds like someone riding in a car on a bumpy road. It'll be a 2, but only for vocals.

It's Johnny Cash with a loud, raucous audience. How can you not like it?

Man, this just gets my blood pumping. Good ol' thrash metal from the early '90s. If it's not your thing, I get it, but this is workout or writing music for sure.

Very meh. Not bad enough to trash, but not good enough to listen to again.

Oh man. Silky-smooth sexy vocals over a funky, chill background? Yes, please. More, thanks.

This is a weird one. I dig the percussion, but everything else just slides too close to punk-y crap for me.

Musically, this is nice and angry. That being said, there are least a few songs on it that I feel weird about having the titles for pop up on my Spotify.

I love Thin Lizzy, but am not a fan of live albums. The music quality just tends to be lesser and it's no different here. I have a few songs that I adore and they just aren't better like this.

I'm not high enough for this. It's just not enjoyable.

Full disclosure: this album was not available on Spotify. However, that being said, I listened to some of their other music and didn't love it. Coupled with the song titles and year of release, I feel pretty safe in my assumption here.

This just sucks. I don't even really need to go into more detail than that. Everything about it is like nails on a chalkboard for me.

I actually don't really mind this. It's not incredible or mind-blowing, but it's serviceable for what it is.

Okay, for the purposes of honesty, I have negative feelings about Bruce due to my ex. That being said, this isn't great. Whiny, gravely, and with a weird backwoods feel. This sounds like how someone who's never been to Nebraska would portray it.

Straight up disco-funk. It's peppy and absolutely resonates with the time in history it's from. I like it.

I don't want to like this as much as I do. She has the occasional weird howler song, but most of the others have a nice late-80s/early-90s feel.

This couldn't be more hipster indie if it were wearing flannel and suspenders, a pork pie hat, and a ridiculous beard while drinking an IPA and planning a cross-country road trip. No, thank you.

I didn't like the first album of this that was suggested. Why would I like this one?

Mmm, Shirley Manson. Hotness notwithstanding, this has a nice grungy feel to it that isn't obnoxious or forced.

It didn't start out as something I liked, but there's a floaty weirdness to it that resonates. It's not incredible but it's not bad either.

The 90s feel, which I like, doesn't counteract the absolute ass vocals which are creaky and sound like they're being sung through a dehydrated hangover.

This has Tiny Dancer and Levon on it, two heavy hitters that I absolutely love. Yeah, five dang stars easily.

I can imagine this being spun in an underground nightclub filled with typical 80s dancing young adults. I like that, though.

This is catchy and has a great 80s feel.

Eh, no. I wish I had more but just no.

Detroit Rock City is fantastic and the rest of the album is playing around with the edge of rock and metal. Big fan.

This album is maybe the purest expression of the Led Zeppelin sound. It's unique and catchy and damn good.

I like music from the 50s but this is just...boring. Not bad. Just inoffensive. And Prima sings one way and one way only. You could change the background music and it'll be the same song.

Typical punk music. Messy, atonal vocals, thrashing guitars with only a semblance of rhythm. Pass. Not one-star, but hard pass.

I...think I actually like this. Like, it's not amazing but it's engrossing enough in its weirdness to warrant further listening.

I know it's not a popular opinion, but I don't like this. She's okay, but not much more than that and this has the twangy 70s sound I dislike more the more often I hear it.

This is super 90s but I don't mind that. It's probably not going to my regular rotation but it's not bad at all.

No. There's nothing about this that I dig. It's not HORRIFIC but it ain't good.

Kind of an iconic album, huh? Still pretty good.

This is the third Sonic Youth album suggested and I didn't like the first two, so this is no different.

This is all very same-y sounding, but it's fine for what it is.

Holy hell. The power in this album, just in the first song, is haunting.

I didn't want to like this, but it's catchy and smooth. This is good chill-out music.

I wish I could do half-stars, but oh well. This is hard to rate effectively because I like and don't like parts in equal measure.

Chill, relaxing, calm...yeah, this is meditation music and that is so nice sometimes.

I like the 80s sound, but I really don't like her voice. It's quavery and oddly childlike.

It's catchy and the rhythms definitely make you move involuntarily.

I've been pretty down on the 70s sound, but this just works for me. He has a good voice without all the twang to it.

This is good jazz with a good voice. It doesn't even sound live. Yeah, this is solid.

I did not know that THAT song was titled that or by this band. I don't love it but I don't hate it either.

Dang it. It started out with a sound I really liked...then the 'singer' came in and basically slapped it in the face. Disappointing.

There's no denying the absolute badassness of this one. Izzo alone rockets it up the list.

There's some of that folksy twang, but the way their voices blend together is just relaxing.

I have my reasons for not liking Bruce, but this is basically a quarter-step away from country and no thanks.

Ehhh. It just doesn't work for me. Not a huge fan of being essentially screamed words at.

It's funky and catchy and I like it more than I expected.

I honestly don't really know how to feel about this. I like some of it and don't like some of it and it just doesn't quite mesh in my mind.

Straight up junk drug music. Hard no for me, dawg.

It's...okay. She has talent, but it's not quite what I'm feeling when it comes to rap.

This combines some funk and the Rolling Stones...and the bad parts of each. Pass.

I just can't. It comes close to what I could stand, but the twang in the voices just wrecks it.

I like this. It's sad and moody and grimy and definitely makes me FEEL something. I appreciate the hell out of that.

I like some Clash stuff, but this is not it.

This is a classic. Not perfect, but there are some absolute bangers in this.

I know this is country, but it's the kind I can deal with. She has a good voice and it doesn't make me think of a man in a flannel shirt banging his Chevy's tailpipe.

Alright, this works. Aggressive but this would be great to work out to, if I did that.

Oh yeah, this is great. You have to either like this style to like this, but it's fun.

See, this is still weird but it's not the weird like the other album. There's something more palatable about this one. I still don't love it, but it's better.

Literally only 6 of 15 songs on the album were available to listen to, but the theme song alone puts this to 3 stars. Come on, it's Shaft!

Gonna pass here. It kind of grates on you. Maybe that's the point, but I'm not going to keep going to figure that out.

I like the instrumentation but that's about it.

This is straight-up bang-time music. Red curtains, candles, glasses of wine...yeah, this is great.

Hard pass. When it sounds like I'm going to get yelled at instead of sung to, I tap out.

It's Irish drinking music. What's not to like?

Straight up 5-star without even having to listen much. Seriously, this is an absolute winner.

It's weird to do three 5-stars in a row but come ON.

Chill, soft, and relaxing. Not incredible, but a nice 'sit on the beach with a beer' sort of sound.

Dinner party, suits and ties, martinis, and a view of New York City. This is the soundtrack.

Such a beautiful voice, such a sad ending. This is Sunday afternoon on the porch and a book.

I...can't. I just can't. I don't even care if it's 'incredible'. I just...nope. I won't give a 1-star because that's mean but 2 for simply existing seems fair.

This sounds exactly the same as every other Oasis song I've heard. Like, you could just change the lyrics and the drums and it's the same song. It's like Volbeat from the 1990s. Pass.

I can practically smell the cheap liquor and bad cigarettes pouring off this album.

This is weird. It's much more punk than I like, but something about it still makes me want to keep listening.

Nah. This is the kind of '60s feel I don't like. Wispy voices, plinky guitars, and a general sense of blah over all of it, even the stuff meant to be cheery.

Faith is a great song and Michael is underrated, in my opinion.

Uh. No. Just no. This is an example of trash current-day music.

I like ska, but this isn't my jam. It's basically reggae modified to be watered-down. Pass.

Not bad. Yes has a neat sound that I like that isn't straight-up trippy. Not an incredible album but not bad.

Dude's a d-bag to the nth degree, but hell if he can't make pretty music with a great voice.

You know, this is kinda catchy. I can definitely see myself listening to this more than a few times.

A little out there, but not terrible. Nothing I have any real attachment too, but it doesn't hurt me.

Stan is haunting and The Real Slim Shady is a classic. The rest don't even matter - those make it lights out.

I want to like this more than I do. It's like a mish-mash of 70s and 80s and it doesn't work quite as well as you remember.

Just a whole lot of nothing. It's not awful but just nothing to it.

This is absolutely awful. Whiny, nasally, faux-deep...she has some much better stuff later on in her career. This is ass.

I know that she's talented, but I have an immediate visceral reaction to the sound of country music and it just isn't good.

More 60s naval-gazing. Pass.

Okay, I like this. It's chill and electronic and perfect music to use as background noise while writing.

This is basically heavier porno music with words. I mean, it's fine, but let's call it what it is.

It's Christmas music. There's not much else to it.

'Okay...okay...not bad...oh, he's singing annnnd it's punk. I'm out.'

Kinda hard to talk about rock legends without Alice Cooper, I think. Solid album too.

He's talented but it all sounds the SAME. Like, same chord patterns and everything. I feel the soul but the creativity isn't there.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

Uniquely his with some nice songs, but the swingy country just grates on me something fierce.

Now this is what I'm talking about. This is soul-funk with the smoothness and sexiness I'm looking for.

I don't even know what to call this music but it's not really for me. I appreciate the griminess to it but...nah.

Oh yeah. Funky, smooth, slick...great rhythm, great piano. This is my jam.

Really? I don't think I need to justify this one.

I know it's almost heresy, but I'm not a fan of Bruce. He does the whole smearing words together thing, an achy raspyness, and it just...nah.

This is a fascinating album in that the length is so heavy. I just don't have three hours to spend on it. I get the point behind it. I just have other things to do.

Iconic, you know? Not much more to say there.

This is straight fire. Hot damn.

Absolute screaming, feedbacky ass. Nope.

Certainly not bad, but nothing that snagged my attention to make me want to keep listening either.

Ehhh. It's not the worst thing but not something that I'm going to come back to ever.

I hate to rate Sinatra this low, but all these songs are basically the same. There's nothing upbeat or peppy but maybe that's the point. It's sweet and smooth and languid and would 100% put me to sleep.

Tainted Love is killer but the rest just kinda fades into nothingness. Not bad, though, but just there.

This is a hard one to pin down but, ultimately, I don't particularly like it. It's like he's trying to be Roy Orbison and that, to me, isn't a winning move.

Eh. Just...eh.