Journey Complete!
Finisher #485 to complete the list
1089
Albums Rated
3.54
Average Rating
100%
Complete
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
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Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
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Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Shoegaze
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Cheerleader
Rater Style ?
273
5-Star Albums
94
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter | 5 | 2.15 | +2.85 |
| Wonderful Rainbow | 5 | 2.28 | +2.72 |
| Haunted Dancehall | 5 | 2.37 | +2.63 |
| Third | 5 | 2.43 | +2.57 |
| Suicide | 5 | 2.46 | +2.54 |
| Penance Soiree | 5 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| New Forms | 5 | 2.53 | +2.47 |
| GI | 5 | 2.54 | +2.46 |
| Scott 2 | 5 | 2.64 | +2.36 |
| ...Baby One More Time | 5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| American IV: The Man Comes Around | 1 | 3.9 | -2.9 |
| Back In Black | 1 | 3.86 | -2.86 |
| Let It Bleed | 1 | 3.83 | -2.83 |
| Appetite For Destruction | 1 | 3.74 | -2.74 |
| Born In The U.S.A. | 1 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
| The Joshua Tree | 1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
| The Queen Is Dead | 1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
| Highway to Hell | 1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
| Born To Run | 1 | 3.64 | -2.64 |
| Beggars Banquet | 1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 9 | 4.89 |
| Beatles | 7 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 6 | 4.67 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 4.75 |
| PJ Harvey | 4 | 4.75 |
| Queen | 3 | 5 |
| Yes | 3 | 5 |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 5 |
| My Bloody Valentine | 3 | 5 |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 5 |
| Brian Eno | 5 | 4.4 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.5 |
| Neil Young | 4 | 4.5 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.5 |
| The Velvet Underground | 3 | 4.67 |
| Public Enemy | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Cure | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.67 |
| Bob Dylan | 7 | 4.14 |
| Dinosaur Jr. | 2 | 5 |
| Iron Maiden | 2 | 5 |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 |
| A Tribe Called Quest | 2 | 5 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| Cocteau Twins | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Orbital | 2 | 5 |
| The Chemical Brothers | 2 | 5 |
| Run-D.M.C. | 2 | 5 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs | 2 | 5 |
| Depeche Mode | 2 | 5 |
| Portishead | 2 | 5 |
| King Crimson | 2 | 5 |
| Dolly Parton | 2 | 5 |
| Pavement | 2 | 5 |
| The Flaming Lips | 2 | 5 |
| Leonard Cohen | 5 | 4.2 |
| Frank Sinatra | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nick Drake | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Prince | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Who | 5 | 4 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 5 | 4 |
| Tom Waits | 5 | 4 |
| Sonic Youth | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Morrissey | 4 | 1 |
| U2 | 4 | 1 |
| The Rolling Stones | 6 | 1.5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 5 | 1.4 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 1 |
| Kanye West | 3 | 1 |
| Kings of Leon | 3 | 1.33 |
| Taylor Swift | 2 | 1 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 1 |
| Ryan Adams | 2 | 1 |
| Van Halen | 2 | 1 |
| Madonna | 3 | 1.67 |
| Baaba Maal | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Pogues | 2 | 1.5 |
| Def Leppard | 2 | 1.5 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 2 |
| Aerosmith | 3 | 2 |
| Dexys Midnight Runners | 3 | 2 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Everything But The Girl | 5, 1 |
| Green Day | 2, 5 |
| Metallica | 5, 4, 5, 2 |
| The Kinks | 3, 5, 2, 4 |
5-Star Albums (273)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Marty Robbins
5/5
Can't believe how much I love this for a country album. Amazing lyricism, great voice, solid understated guitar work. I'm going to need to pick this up on wax
27 likes
Saint Etienne
5/5
I absolutely adore this album. Such a cool mix of 60s pop with trip hop and dub influences. The Neil Young cover is next level too.
12 likes
Lightning Bolt
5/5
Love this album. Lightning Bolt are one of the best live bands I've ever seen. Complete chaos. This is probably their best album too.
12 likes
Dinosaur Jr.
5/5
Amazing album. You can hear the influence on so many diverse genres from shoegaze to grunge. All bangers too and Poledo is such a wild closer.
12 likes
1-Star Albums (94)
All Ratings
Kraftwerk
4/5
Can definitely see the influence on a lot of modern music. Crazy it came out in 78. Not always a huge fan of the vocals though.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Yeah still not a fan. Cheesy cringey vocals and lyrics. Boring instrumentation. I just can't see the appeal.
TV On The Radio
3/5
Pretty good album. Weird choice over Return to Cookie Mountain though. I think the increased prevalence of synths on this one is the weakest aspect. Still got some great funk to it though.
Dinosaur Jr.
5/5
Amazing album. You can hear the influence on so many diverse genres from shoegaze to grunge. All bangers too and Poledo is such a wild closer.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Liked it more than I expected but still not a big fan of southern rock. I wish the vocals would steer away from the over the top southern drawl a bit more. When they did, I found myself enjoying it much more.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Interesting and pleasant enough but I really lack context for this to fully appreciate it. I dig the MS Paint cover though.
OutKast
5/5
Stone cold classic. Amazing beats, poignant varied lyrics, absolute bops.
Marty Robbins
5/5
Can't believe how much I love this for a country album. Amazing lyricism, great voice, solid understated guitar work. I'm going to need to pick this up on wax
Muddy Waters
5/5
Can't believe how much I love this for a country album. Amazing lyricism, great voice, solid understated guitar work. I'm going to need to pick this up on wax.
Korn
1/5
Lots of nostalgia tied up with this one for me. I still wouldn't say it's an essential listen at all though. Especially coming right off of Muddy Waters. Putting those two in the same list is borderline offensive.
Arrested Development
3/5
Pretty fun album. I can see the influence on future southern hip hop. There's always money in the banana stand.
Tito Puente
3/5
Never listened to mambo before but this is nice and upbeat and very catchy. Definitely makes you want to dance.
Motörhead
4/5
This album rocks. Amazing guitar work and drumming. Nuff said. Pedo song brings it down a bit though.
Parliament
4/5
I have a disappointing lack of funk in my life and this album cured that. My kiddo loved dancing to it too.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Nice chill folk with great lyrics and occasional instrumental flourishes that really bring it together. Another one I should probably pick up on wax.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Another really great album from Kraftwerk. I think I like this one a bit better than The Man Machine actually, especially in the vocal department.
Bob Dylan
5/5
An absolute classic in every sense. Incredible lyricism, banging instrumentation.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Fun album if nothing really spectacular to me. I dig the vocalist's style. Reminds me of some modern post-rock.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Absolute classic. Is 1969 the greatest year in music history?
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Not a style I typically listen to but I really dig it. Chill but still makes you want to move a bit. She has a great voice.
John Lennon
4/5
What can even be said about the title track here. One of the greatest songs ever written. The rest of the album is no slouch either though. Certainly one of the best Beatles solo albums.
The Replacements
4/5
Banging post-punk with funny but still meaningful lyrics. Definitely can see the influence down the line.
Pink Floyd
5/5
One of the greatest prog albums of all time.
Big Star
3/5
Fun if somewhat slight power pop. Really elevated by the lyrics though.
George Michael
2/5
Not really my thing. Lyrics are kinda cringey and the instrumentation is very flat.
Spiritualized
3/5
Chill, lush album. I definitely think Spiritualized got better after this but it's a really solid debut nonetheless.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Really digging the vibes on this album. Romantic and a bit cheesy but relatable and catchy af. Lots of great synth work.
Paul Simon
3/5
Interesting, varied production. Pretty fun pop album even if it's not the type of thing I'd normally listen to.
Earth, Wind & Fire
2/5
Enjoyed the funkier aspects when it got there but the more soul parts lost me. Solid mixing though.
Slayer
5/5
This album fucking slays (pun intended). One of my favorite thrash albums of all time. Great way to wake up in the morning on a day when you've been up since 4am.
Talk Talk
3/5
Interesting intermediary sounding album between new wave and more experimental post rock sound of their later stuff. Some cool instrumental flourishes throughout.
Hole
4/5
Great grunge album with lots of swagger. Good music to maybe murder your spouse to
The Roots
5/5
Really varied both instrumentally and vocally. I love the focus on live instrumentation. The lyrics are great too.
Beck
4/5
Chill vibes and really nice acoustic instrumentation. I never really got into Beck for whatever reason in spite of liking a lot of similar music but I dig this album.
Mike Ladd
3/5
Interesting chill hip hop. Kind of gives me Radiohead or Dan the Automator vibes. Not really sure what makes this 'essential' though honestly as much as I enjoy it.
Lambchop
2/5
Relaxing but still upbeat alt-country. I think Lambchop got more interesting later on but there's no denying that that started here.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
4/5
Love me some psych rock and extended jams are my jam so this was right up my alley. The side B tracks are great too.
ABBA
2/5
This album is just way too 80s pop for my tastes. Which makes sense, as an 80s pop album.
Moby
5/5
Chill but danceable at the same time. I just love the vibe of this album so much.
Public Enemy
4/5
Fantastic sampling and classic 90s rapping. Plus that cover just rules.
The Stooges
3/5
Fuzzy distorted proto-punk with some surf elements. I can see the influence it had on later punk.
Morrissey
1/5
I Cannot Fucking Wait Til Morrissey Dies
Steve Earle
1/5
This is the kind of country I just can't jive with at all sadly.
The Clash
5/5
Exactly the kind of album that should be in 1001 albums in my opinion. Beyond being incredibly influential this album just plain rocks. Plus it covers a wide variety of genres around punk and post-punk.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Everyone knows that song but honestly this album is great all around. FF are super underappreciated in the indie rock canon. This album rocks.
Tracy Chapman
2/5
She has a phenomenal voice. The production is really crisp too. I just have a hard time connecting to political folk music unfortunately especially as a white man listening to this.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
It's interesting hearing this compared to Songs of Leonard Cohen. His voice is like whiskey over gravel here in the best of ways. The production is so much more elaborate and fantastic too. Love the lyrical themes of struggling with religion and aging.
The Rolling Stones
1/5
Never understood the appeal of The Rolling Stones. This album is just boring to me.
Randy Newman
3/5
Makes me want to watch Toy Story honestly. He has a great voice though and this album is some pleasant baroque pop. Also there's a song about Cleveland for some reason?
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Not as good as his debut or You Want It Darker which we've already listened to but still a very solid album.
The Cure
5/5
Absolute classic gothic rock. Influenced many of my favorite bands.
Beatles
5/5
It’s The Beatles
Iron Maiden
5/5
Classic metal album. Really does everything I want an 80s metal album to do.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Such fantastic sampling on this album. The cover is iconic too. Not my favorite album of theirs but I love it still.
The Kinks
3/5
Fun and upbeat 60s pop. Doesn't really do much for me that other albums don't do better but I enjoy it well enough.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
These guys are really underappreciated in my opinion. Super consistent and tight band. The Killing Moon is a CLASSIC song.
Daft Punk
5/5
Daft Punk are one of the GOATs. This album is straight bangers.
Jane Weaver
5/5
I've never heard of her before but this is a really incredible piece of psychedelic pop! Very interesting inclusion here but I'm happy to have discovered it.
Donovan
5/5
Fantastic mix of psych and folk with great lyricism. I need to cop this album.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Satisfying fun indie rock but doesn't really do much notable or special for me.
Wild Beasts
4/5
2009 best year for indie rock. I've listened to some Wild beasts but never a full album I don't believe. I really enjoyed this. Dude has a killer falsetto and there's a nice variety of instrumentals.
Faith No More
2/5
I liked this album when I was younger but it's definitely aged a bit poorly.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Classic chamber pop album. Love the vocals and pretty instrumentals.
Wire
5/5
Definitely needed to be in 1001 Albums with the amount of influence this album has had on punk rock. Also it slays.
Hugh Masekela
5/5
This is a kick ass jazz album. His connection to Fela Kuti is fascinating as well. Weirdly it reminds me of SimCity 3000 music a bit!
Morrissey
1/5
Ugh again?
The Gun Club
3/5
I’m not super well-versed in rockabilly but I liked this one quite a bit. I dig the cover too.
Solange
4/5
Definitely a deserved classic of the 2010s. Powerful and catchy album with an absolutely STACKED set of collaborators.
Genesis
3/5
I love me some 70s prog. This album has some high highs and some low lows. Not my favorite Genesis album but when it hits it hits hard
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
The bongos are a fun gimmick for a song or two but get tiring. I could see myself throwing a song from this into a playlist easily but I'm not sure how much I would want to listen to the entire album.
Joy Division
4/5
Classic in the post-punk goth genre. Tough to listen to given the circumstances around its release but it's so powerful at the same time.
Beatles
5/5
Interesting to see another of their early albums here. I don't give these enough listens honestly. This album is just full of classic songs.
Tears For Fears
3/5
I love new wave. It definitely feels dated but I can’t help but still dig it. This album is one of the better ones
Public Enemy
5/5
Still just as hype as the first time I heard it. Amazing beats and amazing raps. Definitely a classic.
Elvis Costello
4/5
An interesting mix of genres and styles here. I really haven't given Elvis Costello as much of a chance as I should've. This album is fun and consistently upbeat even when it gets a bit more edge on some songs.
a-ha
3/5
Very 80s. I'd heard Take on Me of course but nothing else to my knowledge. Definitely sounds like the Take on Me band.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
Not the strongest album of theirs in my opinion. Definitely miss the edge of their earlier stuff
Fiona Apple
4/5
I’m often not a huge fan of typical singer-songwriter albums like this but Fiona just has such a powerful voice and creative and lush instrumentation that I can’t help but love it. Absolute classic album totally worthy of being here.
David Bowie
5/5
S tier Bowie album. One of the GOATs
Björk
4/5
More subdued than most of her work in a way that complements it well. I tend to overlook this album compared to her more bombastic ones but I'm really appreciating her work crafting the beats and melodies here.
Megadeth
3/5
Classic thrash album. Thrash is one of if not my favorite metal genre. I don't like Megadeth as much as the other 3 of the big 4 but this album still slays.
5/5
An absolute classic rock album in the vein of The Beatles. Dig the lyricism and the instrumentation. '69 was such a great year for music.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Love me some Neil Young. It's fun to hear more electric performances like this even if I prefer the more chill typical versions.
Willie Nelson
4/5
I haven't given Willie enough listens. I really dug the sparse instrumentation and lyricism here. The closing track in particular was simply gorgeous sounding.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
Sounds a lot like discount Depeche Mode. Not bad but I don't know why I'd listen to this when I could just listen to Depeche Mode.
Talking Heads
5/5
Classic album. I need some Talking Heads vinyl stat. I love the guitar work in particular.
Foo Fighters
1/5
Generic boring butt rock. Dave should've stuck to drumming, he was good at that.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Solid production and guitarwork. Alison is a fantastic song. Could use a bit more to help it stand out though.
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
I never knew how much I'd love funk until 1001 albums so I'm grateful for that. I really dig how comparatively dark and contemplative this album is to the other funk I've heard too. Adding it to the "need on vinyl" list.
David Bowie
5/5
Insanely powerful and dense album. I get chills at the line in Girl Loves Me when he says "Where the fuck did Monday go?" I know he couldn't have known when he wrote that lyric but he died on a Sunday so he literally didn't experience that Monday.
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
I'm confused how a 2021 album is even on this list? I think if I'd heard it elsewhere I may have even liked this, but seeing it here puts higher expectations on it that this just doesn't deliver. To be canonized that quickly, an album would have to be something truly groundbreaking. This is not that. It isn't bad either though.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Tom Petty is one of the greatest. I think some of the later heartbreakers stuff beats this album but it still rocks.
Garbage
5/5
Such a classic, hard hitting 90s sound. Feels very emblematic of its era without feeling dated. The vocals are just sex.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I can't really say anything new about Hendrix's guitar playing and how important and influential it was. This album is an inarguable inclusion in this book.
That said, it's clearly a 60s album from the aggressive abuse of stereo panning throughout.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Fun poppy psych music but only barely hints at the potential of what was to come. As far as PF releases go this one isn't nearly as essential in my opinion.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Definitely the most important hip-hop album of the 21st century so far in my opinion. Musically, it's incredible with gorgeous, jazzy, varied production. Lyrically it's Kendrick's peak which is saying something considering how consistent he is. The recurring poem to Tupac ties it together perfectly.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
4/5
First of all, that name is incredible.
This is really great though. I dig the mix of country and rock. The vocal harmonies are incredible especially on headphones and the mix is really well done.
DJ Shadow
5/5
Absolute classic of hip-hop. I have so many nostalgic memories tied to this album. The sampling game here is just unparalleled.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Another really cool funk album I hadn't heard before this project. I love the folksier sound mixed in here and the use of drum machines.
Nas
5/5
Straight classic in the rap genre. Biting, intense lyricism and amazing crisp production and beats.
Maxwell
3/5
Definitely feels very 90s R&B but it's a bit less hokey than most of that so I can enjoy it some more. The funk elements also add to it.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
ATCQ never miss. I dig their later stuff a bit more but this album still rules.
Alice Cooper
1/5
Kind of boring hard rock. Doesn’t do much for me unfortunately.
Little Simz
4/5
Pretty sick rap album. Great, gritty beats and intense stylistic rapping. I dig it.
Fats Domino
2/5
One of those albums where I can 100% see why it's on here for historical significance. It's not a bad album by any stretch but it's also not terribly interesting in a "Seinfeld is unfunny" kind of way.
Scott Walker
5/5
Definitely a classic musician I haven't given enough attention. Scott has a killer voice and the string accompaniments here are absolutely stunning.
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
Pretty decent punk album if nothing particularly spectacular. I dig the trumpet flourishes. The book makes it sound like removing the "soothing woodwind and strings replacing the silence between tracks" was an improvement but to me that sounds like it would've been a much cooler album.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Killer funky afrobeat album with a powerful antimilitaristic message on top. Definitely a classic worthy of this project.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
There's a reason why Sinatra is synonymous with having a gorgeous voice. Dude can sing. Swing isn't my normal style but I have to say this album is really amazing.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Not quite as strong as some of Smith's other work but still Elliot Smith so it's good shit. Eases a bit away from the sadness.
David Bowie
5/5
Love this album. While Bowie's weirder and less accessible work will always be my favorite, this album just has such a great fun funky sound. Can't help but jam out to it. Bowie is a musical chameleon.
Brian Eno
5/5
One of the defining releases in ambient music (one of my favorite genres). This album is beautiful and interesting, while also being able to fade completely into the background - exactly as Eno intended.
Thin Lizzy
2/5
Hard rock isn't really my thing at all so this doesn't do a ton for me but I will say that I found it less unpleasant than I expected. The joke about asking if girls want a little Irish in them was gross though.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Absolute classic 90s alt album. Lyrically deep and musically dense. I love how layered it is. You can really hear the MBV influence.
Baaba Maal
2/5
I can see how this led to Afro Beat Sound System. I think the fusion there was more successfully realized but this is still entertaining.
Iggy Pop
4/5
The Bowie influence here is immediately apparent and gives this album such a cool feel. Also I love hearing the drum beat I know from Closer on Nightclubbing.
Sister Sledge
5/5
I'm not very well-versed in disco but I'm digging this album. Amazing vocal performances and the instrumentals are incredibly layered and catchy.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
Stone cold classic album. You can hear the influence in so many other albums. I'm a huge sucker for dream pop and this is just one of the titans of the genre.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Gorgeous and uplifting album. Every piece of it really fits so well together.
Al Green
4/5
His vocal range and ability to jump around is seriously impressive. The instrumentation does a lot to compliment it too. Soul isn't my area of expertise but I dig this.
The La's
4/5
Like most people, I mostly know The La's from soundtracks. I will say though that this album is pretty catchy in general and the production is on point. Very full and crisp.
Pere Ubu
2/5
I love post-punk and appreciate the influence this album/band had but as a listening experience it's a bit grating.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I’m generally anti-classic rock but this album slays.
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Very pleasant. She definitely has a fantastic voice. The instrumentation plays a suitable compliment without taking away the focus from her voice.
The Band
3/5
I’m not a big Americana guy but this album is fun enough. I can understand the significance even if it isn’t 100% for me.
Beastie Boys
4/5
While I prefer their earlier, more sample-focused work, this album still absolutely slaps. Beastie Boys are remarkably consistent.
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Never been a huge Kravitz fan but giving this album a solid listen I can definitely appreciate it. It doesn't do anything crazy groundbreaking or anything but it's a solid set of funk rock.
The Black Keys
4/5
One of The Black Keys' best albums for sure. This album is just wall to wall killer rock. I love it.
Jamiroquai
3/5
I've heard singles from Jamiroquai but never an entire album. The vibe is definitely similar throughout though. The unique instrumental flourishes like the didgeridoo really add to it.
Eels
4/5
Eels are a classic 90s alt band but also do just enough to push beyond the genre to set them apart. Big fan.
Afrika Bambaataa
4/5
Cool to see the proto-Chicago house AND proto-hip hop here all mixed together. This album rules. Definitely a bit dated feeling but in a "Seinfeld is unfunny" way to a degree.
Manu Chao
4/5
Not really my general area of expertise but I really dug this. It was catchy and upbeat and didn't edge too far into the more obnoxious elements of a lot of Latin music I've heard.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Elvis is another one I haven't given a focused listen to beyond what you get via general cultural osmosis but you know, I really dig this actually. Beyond the massive impact he had on rock music, these songs are just great to listen to.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
She has a nice voice and the instrumentation is fine but I feel like there are better albums in the same vein that I would generally rather listen to.
Solomon Burke
4/5
He has a great voice. It's interesting hearing this early bridge between R&B and Soul. Definitely a foundational record worthy of being included here.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Doesn't really do much for me. 70s singer-songwriter pop just is never going to be my thing I think sadly.
Aimee Mann
4/5
I'm a sucker for a good '90s alt/pop album and this one hits all the right notes for sure. Really fun. I'm surprised I haven't listened to her more.
Various Artists
3/5
Spector really killed it with the production here (har har). I'm not really a Christmas music person but as far as that goes these are good renditions in my opinion.
The Cardigans
4/5
Killer 90s alt with gorgeous lilting vocals. Love it.
The Sugarcubes
3/5
Bjork's solo stuff would definitely go on to exceed this band but there's still a lot to enjoy here. It's a bit dated feeling but very fun and energetic.
Alice In Chains
4/5
Not my favorite 90s grunge band but this album has some great guitarwork and powerful vocals.
Rod Stewart
2/5
It's fine. Just doesn't really evoke any reactions in me. Meat and potatoes classic rock.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Really fun and catchy 80s synthpop. I need to get more Pet Shop Boys on wax.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I'm a bigger fan of Dylan's earlier works but this one is still really great. The production is stellar and it has some fantastic storytelling.
Aphex Twin
5/5
The GOAT
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
Killer mix of noise and pop music. It's wild hearing the influence of this album on such a diverse range of later music too.
Faust
4/5
Such a cool mix of poppy and experimental. I've always meant to give Faust a proper listen and I'm happy I have. Definitely need to seek out more of their stuff.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Absolute titan of the genre. Stone cold classic.
John Grant
5/5
I've never heard of him before but this album really spoke to me. He has a gorgeous voice and the instrumentation here is lush and beautiful. The lyrics are the kind of wry, witty observational humor that I love too.
The Smiths
1/5
I'm already in a bad mood today and the idea of listening to this fascist wax on about his moronic ideals or listen to the dumbest fucking rhyme I've ever heard in my life (Frankly, Mr. Shankly) fills me with the white hot anger of a thousand suns.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Thriller's all killer no filler
The Pogues
1/5
Objectively there's nothing wrong with this album but Irish folk punk is just entirely something I don't have interest in. I feel like it would work well in a very specific scene in a movie or something and that's about it.
Rush
5/5
Killer prog rock with sci-fi lyrics? That’s my shit.
Eagles
2/5
Country + classic rock is just a recipe for me to hate an album. I've never enjoyed them at all unfortunately.
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
I love Gil Scott-Heron but haven't listened to this one. It's fantastic though. The piano playing is incredibly beautiful and really complements his voice. Another for the vinyl list!
Frank Ocean
2/5
I've tried so hard to appreciate Frank's music since he's so beloved but I just don't get the appeal. It's... fine. Just doesn't really do much for me.
Brian Eno
3/5
This is fine. Not really sure what I think of it. I don't love or hate much in particular. It's tough to separate it from my general expectations of what I want from Eno, which is more his later ambient work. The second half edges closer to this territory and therefore becomes a bit more exciting to me.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
I love LCD Soundsystem but this is an odd choice to include in 1001 albums. I'd place any of their other albums above it. It's still a good album but nowhere near their peak. I'd argue it's the only one NOT justified in being here.
1/5
I want to punch Bono in his stupid little face
Travis
3/5
I'm not convinced that Travis really does anything noteworthy enough to elevate them above their peers to the point of being included in this list, but I will say that I enjoyed this more than I expected based on my prior experience with them. The songs here are very pleasant if somewhat meat and potatoes alt-rock.
Orbital
5/5
Killer dancey electronic album. Love the intro and Impact in particular. This list desperately needs more electronic music but I'm happy that this is included at least.
Steely Dan
3/5
Some of the best songs in Steely Dan's catalogue, but also some pretty weak ones. This album is frustratingly inconsistent. Still overall enjoyable though.
The Specials
3/5
I'm a casual ska fan. Definitely like this album and appreciate its history in the genre. Not my favorite but we wouldn't have ska as we know it without it.
Nick Drake
5/5
Incredible folk. This album gets slept on unfairly compared to Pink Moon. 1969 is really one of the best years in music history to me.
John Lee Hooker
2/5
I dig his voice and guitar work but the 80s production really detracts from hit in my opinion. It does make me want to check out some of his earlier work though.
Laibach
4/5
Never heard of this before or really heard anything like it. It's really fascinating. An odd mix of industrial and marching music or something. I'm digging it though.
The Jam
4/5
I've never listened to The Jam before but I really dig this! I can see the influence it had on other albums I enjoy. The songs here hit a great mix of catchy and punk.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
It’s tough to get into 50s era rock for me just because of how upbeat and simple it is but obviously that doesn’t take away from the influence it had, viewing at in context of when it released. This album is fun even if it’s not something I’d listen to a lot.
Supergrass
3/5
Fun if inconsequential sounding album. Britpop is a pretty middling genre in general in my opinion and this isn't doing much to change my mind but it's entertaining enough.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Such an experimental, awesome album that really provided a groundwork for so much music that I love. I think it might be my favorite VU album.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
Fucking love Chemical Brothers. One of the first bands I ever really fell in love with and they still have a special place in my heart. While I think they got even better than this debut, it's still absolutely killer.
The B-52's
3/5
Fun and kitschy album. Definitely very front-heavy. Rock Lobster is obviously just an absolute classic.
4/5
As far as britpop goes, Blur is probably the peak for me. Generally speaking it's a genre I don't connect with but these Blur albums are definitely catchy and well-produced.
Brian Wilson
4/5
Such a fantastic album. It's funny that this is our 1001 albums of the day, on the same day when Godspeed You! Black Emperor's famous lost album officially released. Love both of them.
Sheryl Crow
1/5
Music my mom would listen to. There's nothing objectively wrong with it really it's just so decidedly not my thing.
Lightning Bolt
5/5
Love this album. Lightning Bolt are one of the best live bands I've ever seen. Complete chaos. This is probably their best album too.
The Who
3/5
Their later stuff is so much more inventive and exciting that it's tough to objectively listen to this album for me. It's fun though and showcases their strong songwriting fundamentals that would continue on their career.
Taylor Swift
1/5
It's genuinely offensive that this is included on this list.
Love
5/5
I've never heard of them before but I really dug this! It's a fascinating mix of folk and psych. I can really see the influence. Definitely going to keep an eye out for the vinyl.
The Undertones
3/5
Decent enough punk album but it doesn't really do anything particularly notable or exciting for me.
Lou Reed
4/5
Beyoncé
1/5
This album is incredibly pretentious without the chops to back it up. I just think about how she acted like she invented the idea of a surprise drop... the same year that Bowie and MBV did it.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
I love this album. So dancey and infectious. New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down is truly an all-time classic track.
Cream
4/5
Classic psych rock that feels timeless. Sunshine of Your Love is just an all-time great song. Clapton is a major POS but his guitarwork here is legendary.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I enjoy The Beach Boys but don't think I've ever listened to this one. I dug it a lot though. The cover art is fantastic and quite different for them. The psych pop elements are really great.
Deee-Lite
3/5
Fun if dated sounding house album. Not sure how much I would listen to it but I enjoyed it.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
The studio experimentation here rivals Sgt. Pepper for how inventive and game-changing it was. While I don't think the songs themselves are quite on the level of Are You Experienced, it's still an incredible album worth listening to.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
She had a fantastic voice and I can definitely appreciate this album even if it isn't really my thing. She was definitely talented as hell and gone too soon.
Sex Pistols
4/5
These guys really manufactured some of the best punk in history, and their influence on the genre can't be overstated.
Os Mutantes
3/5
Never listened to them before. This is really weird and fun. I dig it! No idea what's going on half the time but in an entertaining way.
The Crusaders
3/5
Really great jazz-funk. That title track in particular is a real journey.
Mariah Carey
1/5
90s pop r&b just really isn’t good
Pretenders
4/5
Such a nostalgic album for me. My dad played them a ton as I was growing up. Still rips to this day.
Blur
3/5
Blur really benefited from moving away from britpop a bit in my opinion. This album takes that aspect and mixes it with more indie rock and alternative stylings to create something much better.
Soundgarden
4/5
Classic grunge album. Definitely super nostalgic to me. Black Hole Sun is just an absolute classic. The album maybe could've done with a bit of trimming down though if I'm being honest.
Johnny Cash
2/5
I can respect Cash's work and this album but it isn't really my thing at all. His voice is overdone and his guitarwork isn't terribly memorable. The prison gimmick definitely adds to this live album though I will say.
Paul Weller
3/5
I really like his voice, and the instrumentation here is honestly really great too. Fantastic, clear production. It's maybe not the most unique or original sound but it's executed incredibly well.
Bobby Womack
2/5
Enjoyable soul album. Maybe not something I'd come back to a ton but I'd never complain if it was on. Feels kinda dated.
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
KILLER album. Insanely influential on hip-hop as a genre and it's just full of jams. I love the minimalist beats.
Norah Jones
2/5
Pleasant music that doesn't do a lot for me personally. Just not my thing really but that's ok!
Slint
5/5
Half the albums I love probably wouldn't exist without this album. Even setting that aside, it just rocks.
The Blue Nile
4/5
Really gorgeous, sparse production and vocals. I can see why this was commissioned to showcase sound systems. I definitely dig it.
The Beach Boys
4/5
More gold from The Beach Boys. I like the two halves approach of the album.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
You can't listen to this without bobbing (pun intended) your head along. Gorgeous, catchy production and infectious lyrics.
Raekwon
3/5
Definitely one of the best solo Wu-Tang albums. I'm not huge on gangsta rap but this album is one of the ones I like more than most. Some amazing beats and raps that flow perfectly with them.
John Martyn
3/5
Cool guitar effects and very dub influenced style. Feels kind of like world music-influenced pop.
The Stranglers
3/5
Love punk and adding keys is great. This album is a lot of fun. Lyrically though it's definitely a bit uncomfortable at times, not in a cool punk way sadly.
Michael Jackson
4/5
It's almost impossible to follow up an album like Thriller but I think Jackson did an admirable job at it. I don't like Bad quite as much but it's still a great album.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
Not a huge Zeppelin fan and if I'm going to listen to them it will generally be the earlier ones. This... sure is more Zeppelin.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
I dig it. Great performances all around. Listening to Clapton feels kind of gross at this point but if I set that aside this is a great blues rock album.
Dizzee Rascal
4/5
Classic grime album. I haven't listened to this in a hot minute but it's so nostalgic for me.
Slipknot
4/5
Listen... I know that they're Slipknot but I can't help but think that this shit fucking rocks. It makes me want to punch boulders and chug mountain dew.
Steely Dan
3/5
Not as into this as their more experimental stuff like Aja but it's still catchy and pleasant.
Nirvana
5/5
A completely deserved classic. I know it’s trendy to say you like their other stuff better but in my eyes this is Nirvana’s peak.
Steely Dan
3/5
I just like later Streely Dan better than their early stuff. It’s fun enough though.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Great lyricism and playing as usual for Bob Dylan. Fantastic album.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Southern rock isn't my main interest by any stretch but CCR are one of the greats and a go to if I'm feeling the genre. This album is a fantastic example.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Great album as always by Fiona. I think the hype over it is slightly overblown and partially just a reevaluation of her legacy in general. This isn’t my favorite album of hers but a middling Fiona Apple album is still better than 99% of the music out there.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Killer gothic rock. This album is just wall to wall filled with jams and killer songwriting.
Adele
3/5
Not really my thing personally if I'm being honest but I can still definitely respect her vocal talents and the songwriting quality of this album. I don't know if I'd seek it out but I wouldn't complain if it was on.
Bad Company
1/5
Bland, meat and potatoes classic rock. Uninteresting if inoffensive.
Tortoise
4/5
Classic post-rock album. The amount of electronic elements really sets them apart too.
Boston
3/5
Better than most classic rock for me. More Than a Feeling is a certified bop.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Another killer album from Cohen. He's remarkably consistent.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
Love her voice. I've been a fan for a long time and this aughts-era indie will always have a soft spot in my heart.
Stereo MC's
3/5
Digging the triphop beats here. Very funky. Lyrically it can be a bit on the nose sometimes but overall a really cool release.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Certainly more unique and interesting than most of her work that I'm familiar with but this kind of poppy singer-songwriter stuff still just mostly isn't for me.
Dire Straits
3/5
Dire Straits are a band I’ve somehow escaped listening to really but this album is pretty enjoyable and very well-produced.
Massive Attack
4/5
Love Massive Attack and their massive influence on music. This album basically created trip hop. On top of that, it just plain slaps.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Fela is a god. This album is killer. Another I'll need to pick up on vinyl.
Ray Charles
3/5
The two sides of this album are very distinct but I dig both. His piano playing really shines on the back half. The mix is somewhat subpar but otherwise this is really enjoyable.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Holy panning, Batman. It's so strong on a lot of these 60s albums that it hurts my head. That aside, I dig the music a lot. I swapped to a mono version and it let me appreciate it much more.
Eurythmics
3/5
Love 80s new wave but somehow I've never really given Eurythmics albums a dedicated listen. This album is pretty fun. The title track is obviously a total classic.
R.E.M.
3/5
You can hear the seeds of what's to come on this album but it definitely feels like a band still searching for their sound to me. Enjoyable but a bit more forgettable than their later stuff.
The Monkees
2/5
It's fine. Upbeat and pleasant. Manufactured or not, the songs are just very simplistic when viewed from a 21st century perspective. I can appreciate them contextually but I'm not sure how much I'd listen to them on my own.
ZZ Top
3/5
Southern rock generally isn't my vibe but even I've gotta admit that this album is chock full of great riffs.
The War On Drugs
4/5
I love this album. I think it feels very much like classic rock in the vein of Springsteen, but mixes in enough modern indie rock influences to keep it interesting for me.
Johnny Cash
3/5
I like this one more than Folsom at least. He's dialed down his over the top voice a bit and the instrumentation is a bit more energetic and exciting. Still isn't my thing terribly but I won't complain about it being on.
Burning Spear
4/5
Reggae is definitely a genre I need to explore more. I really dig this album though. The instrumentation is catchy and the lyrics are poignant and deep.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
I haven't heard a ton of big band stuff but among the stuff I've heard this is one of the cooler ones. Makes me want to explore more for sure. The cover is striking too and very different than what I'd expect from a big band album, or any 50s album really.
Circle Jerks
4/5
Classic punk. Short, fast, and angry. What more could you want?
The Police
2/5
I find The Police enjoyable if somewhat unremarkable. I enjoyed this album but I don't think I would ever really deliberately seek it out either. I can appreciate that it takes some risks though for such a mainstream group.
John Coltrane
5/5
Definitely a must-own record for any collection and a seminal record in the jazz genre.
3/5
Memes aside, Wonderwall only got so overplayed because of how damn good it is. The rest of the album is no slouch either. Truly THE britpop album.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Springsteen is basically the antithesis to what I want out of music. "Heartland rock" sums up the sound perfectly and why I'm not a fan. I can't stand the heartland of this country.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Moog-filled classical/prog what's not to love?
Eminem
2/5
Eminem's beats and rapping ability are impeccable here. It really holds up. Lyrically though damn this has NOT aged well. Truly from a different time.
Teenage Fanclub
1/5
Fairly safe and stuck in its influences. This album is pretty and pleasant but doesn't really jump out to me much.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Pretty consistently filled with hits. I'm rarely in the mood for Zeppelin but if I am this is one I'll go for often.
Miriam Makeba
2/5
Interesting and certainly something I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. It's just tough for me to engage without a lot of added context that I don't have. It's enjoyable though.
Ice T
2/5
Some decently entertaining stuff here but overall this album feels very dated and doesn't bring nearly enough to the table to justify its long runtime. Not to mention the heaps of casual misogyny.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
Such a cool mix of influences. I love the Indian elements combined with the chill downtempo vibes.
Deep Purple
2/5
Bit too hair metal for me. Needs to be a bit heavier. I can appreciate the musicianship though.
Nina Simone
5/5
Gorgeous vocals and piano as usual from Nina. She’s just fantastic.
The Clash
3/5
While I appreciate their later, more experimental work more, this album still absolutely slaps. It's more straight to the point punk which has its own place. Lyrically it's on point.
Talking Heads
5/5
One of my favorite Takling Heads releases. I definitely think this is the album where they truly came into their own. It's darker and more experimental than their earlier stuff, while retaining the pop sensibilities. Eno's production is fabulous as well.
Incubus
3/5
Such a nostalgic album for me. I think it's aged a lot better than many of their nu metal peers. I love how they integrated funk in a really fresh way.
2Pac
4/5
Classic rap and probably 2Pac's peak. Mixing his style with G-funk works so well.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
2009 best year in indie don't @ me! This is my favorite YYY album and an absolute classic of indie rock. It makes me really happy to see it included here.
Tricky
3/5
Great trip-hop. This album does enough to separate itself from Massive Attack while still clearly building off of Tricky's work with them.
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Lovely off-kilter indie rock from the pre-Funeral era. Brings me back to a time alongside Elephant 6 that I have a lot of nostalgia for.
Tom Waits
3/5
While I generally prefer the work that came after this, so many of those seeds were sown with this album. Tom's unique voice really shows here.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Really great stripped down folk with powerful lyricism and vocals. I like this a lot more than her more heavily produced stuff.
Thundercat
3/5
Thundercat is a master bassist and this album definitely showcases that. I think Drunk is a little more scattered and less focused than his first two albums but it's still really good.
Pearl Jam
4/5
You know I've never really sought out Pearl Jam or considered myself a fan at all but listening to this album I realize how much of it I've absorbed via cultural osmosis and just how much nostalgia I have for it. These are some absolutely killer grunge songs that still hold up today.
Napalm Death
1/5
I'm down for heavy/experimental music but grindcore just isn't my brand I guess. The gutteral vocals don't work for me and the instrumentation feels a bit too focused on sheer technicality without consideration for how it actually sounds. I realize the irony of saying that as a big math rock fan too!
k.d. lang
2/5
Cabaret country? It's certainly interesting but a combination of two things I'm not terribly favorable on is a tough sell.
Massive Attack
3/5
Weaker than their debut or their classic followup Mezzanine but still a solid album. Massive Attack are always a good vibe.
Beatles
5/5
Revolver? I barely know her!
5 stars for both this album and that joke. Both classics.
The Young Rascals
2/5
Kinda boring 60s pop that very occasionally pushes its boundaries towards something interesting for a brief moment.
Destiny's Child
1/5
Even as I come over to country a tiny bit, I think pop r&b will remain a genre I just have zero interest in unfortunately. This just does nothing for me.
Metallica
5/5
Metallica was my first favorite band as a kid and will always hold a special place in my heart because of it. I'd personally put Ride the Lightning above this album but both are unimpeachable classics.
Pixies
4/5
Some of my favorite bands consider Pixies a massive influence so I really don't listen to them as much as I should. This album absolutely rips. Where Is My Mind? is obviously a bonafide classic in particular.
Rod Stewart
3/5
It's fine. Roots rock isn't really my thing so it doesn't do a lot for me but it's not unpleasant either. Some nice guitar playing on it.
Neil Young
5/5
Absolute classic. Love Neil Young and this album has some of his biggest hits, including my favorite NY song (Old Man).
Pink Floyd
5/5
Tough to even find new things to say about Pink Floyd. This album is a classic and definitely one of the best concept albums of all time.
Finley Quaye
2/5
I'm a very casual reggae fan but this is fine if somewhat middling. Hits a variety of styles but nice and upbeat and chill throughout.
Wilco
4/5
Love Wilco and this album is considered their magnum opus for good reason. It's truly iconic. One of the first country-ish albums I ever connected with so it'll always have a special place in my heart.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Really awesome African blues. I'm digging it a lot. I'm surprised this is the first I've heard of it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
2/5
It's fine. Doesn't really do a ton for me but it's pleasant and has some good musicianship. I like the less southern-influenced parts the best honestly.
LL Cool J
3/5
90s hip-hop is just such a vibe. I've gotta be in the mood but when I am nothing else scratches the itch. Lyrically I'm kind of lukewarm on this album by and large but his flow and the beats are on point.
Duran Duran
4/5
Duran Duran is one of those bands I always enjoy when they're on but haven't really sat down and listened to much. This album is really great though. Catchy, and 80s feeling but in a way that doesn't feel overly dated.
The Hives
3/5
Killer garage rock. The Hives are really slept on.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
While I tend to prefer the older folkier Neil Young, this album is pretty rad. I love how much room to breathe they give the songs. Very jammy.
Depeche Mode
5/5
Depeche Mode are one of the first bands I ever truly loved so I’ll always tell them. Personally I think Black Celebration edges this out (and it’s CRIMINALLY not on this list) but Violator is a close runner-up.
Sebadoh
3/5
Fun simple lo-fi indie rock. You can definitely hear the Dinosaur Jr. influence but it does enough to separate itself as its own thing.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Love the atmospheric sound here and Dylan's aged voice has such a powerful gruffness that I really enjoy. Lyrically it's some of his finer work as well.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
I haven't seen the movie but I really ought to. This soundtrack really works on its own though. Fantastic, experimental soul.
Pixies
3/5
Not as strong as their first two albums in my eyes but still solid. Definitely the beginning of their downhill trajectory though unfortunately.
The Dictators
4/5
Not as strong as their first two albums in my eyes but still solid. Definitely the beginning of their downhill trajectory though unfortunately.
Gorillaz
4/5
I think that Demon Days and Plastic Beach took what this album did and perfected it so a part of me thinks they should be included instead, but I also understand that maybe the s/t was included because it was first and therefore had the impact of being the album that introduced Gorillaz. It's still a killer album and Clint Eastwood is undoubtedly a classic track.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
I'm not sure about how "essential" this album is but it is quite fun. Very jammy and grooving and catchy. Definitely something I'd listen to again.
AC/DC
1/5
AC/DC are basically the epitome of the style of boring classic rock that I just can't get behind no matter how much people hype it up. The lyrics are trite and the songwriting is too straightforward. Some of the guitar tones and soloing are nice though I will admit.
Roxy Music
3/5
Never really listened to them but I've seen this infamous cover. It's pretty enjoyable. Catchy with nice riffs and some great arrangements.
Mudhoney
4/5
Grunge always goes down well
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Never really listened to them but I've seen this infamous cover. It's pretty enjoyable. Catchy with nice riffs and some great arrangements.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Love this album. The lyrics are really powerful and her arrangements are absolutely gorgeous. One of PJ Harvey's best works in my eyes.
Sonic Youth
5/5
Classic album that still sounds fresh today. You can hear their influence on so much of my favorite music.
The Rolling Stones
1/5
The Stones just do nothing for me. It's fine. Not offensive or anything. I wouldn't outright complain if it came on. Just doesn't evoke any reaction in me at all really.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Love her voice and the stuff I've heard from her in movies, on the radio, etc but I don't think I've ever sat down and listened to an Aretha album straight through. This is some fantastic soul. She deserves her status 100%.
Crowded House
3/5
Pretty fun pop rock with some gorgeous production. I dig it! Doesn't do anything super groundbreaking but it's catchy af.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Really dig the combination of their sounds here. Bossa Nova fits well with Sinatra's voice.
Megadeth
4/5
Probably the best Megadeth album. I'd still put on Slayer or Metallica and probably Anthrax over it but it hits hard.
Pulp
2/5
Pleasant but unremarkable to me. Honestly that's how I feel about almost all britpop. It's so... inoffensive. Wish it had some more bite. The lyricism has some solid highlights though.
Minutemen
4/5
I've heard of them but I'm not sure if I've ever actually listened before. I'm enjoying it. Very DIY feeling and loose but with some cool lyrics. Reminds me of a more palatable Captain Beefheart.
Funkadelic
4/5
Pretty much what I think of when I think of funk. This album somehow feels retro and futuristic at the same time in the best way. Love it.
Supertramp
3/5
A little on the poppier side than I generally like my prog but still really fantastic stuff. Great melodies and production.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Love Cohen and mixing his style with this VERY 80s vibe is honestly a match made in heaven. Great stuff that somehow doesn't feel dated while still feeling very of its time.
Queen
5/5
Stone cold classic. I don't know what to even say about this album. One of the greats.
Blue Cheer
4/5
Pretty wild that this came out in '68. I can hear a lot of sounds that wouldn't be prevalent for years afterwards. This is a really cool mix of psych rock, proto-metal and blues. Dig it!
50 Cent
2/5
I've just never really been able to get into 50 Cent, in spite of digging a lot of his peers. Some of Dre's production on here is pretty good though I will say. I'm happy I gave it another go.
Nirvana
4/5
It's tough to follow up an album as popular as Nevermind, but in my opinion Nirvana really did it with this album. It's a different, punkier direction but it hits hard.
The Offspring
3/5
Not 100% convinced that this album is noteworthy enough to deserve a spot on this list, but I won't lie it's very nostalgic for me and has some absolute rippers. Can't help but move around to it.
Peter Frampton
1/5
Kinda boring classic rock. Just doesn't really do much for me at all. It's inoffensive though.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Love QOTSA. Although I think they got even better later on, this is still a really great collection of desert rock.
Common
4/5
The beats on this album are so chill and funky and smooth. I love it. Common's vocals complement them amazingly with conscientious lyrics. I need to listen to him more.
Sonic Youth
5/5
Textbook definition of 'cool'. An absolute classic.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
Such an incredible debut. Love her voice and the instrumentation complements it perfectly. Soulful and still bombastic.
The Verve
3/5
Not much of a britpop guy but I enjoyed this album. Nice guitar tone and melodies and solid lyricism. I'd listen again.
5/5
Killer album. I love Bruford's work here and in King Crimson. Progggggg
Simply Red
3/5
I don't think I've heard of them before this but it's enjoyable. Very 80s pop. Gives me Steely Dan vibes.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Interesting early post-punk. Vocals are a bit grating if I'm being honest but I enjoy the themes of the album.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Love Sly. Great funk. This one is a bit more pop-oriented than There's a Riot Goin' On but still really solid.
Radiohead
5/5
Truly iconic album. Probably the "prettiest" Radiohead album and my second favorite behind Kid A. The PWYW structure was also groundbreaking and influential.
Q-Tip
3/5
Upbeat, jazzy hip hop with some great instrumentation and production. I like it.
The Mars Volta
5/5
Classic prog weirdness. Love this album.
4/5
What a wild mix of bossa nova, electronic and jazz. His life story seems really interesting too, although tragic. I'm happy I learned about this.
Aerosmith
2/5
Fine just kinda boring classic rock. Instrumentally it's enjoyable. The lyrics are pretty trite though.
Adele
2/5
Her music isn't really my thing but DAMN does she have pipes. What a gorgeous voice.
Lana Del Rey
2/5
I casually enjoy LDR but hadn't listened to this one yet. It's pretty solid. I still think that adding an album to this list a year after release is ridiculous though. It's simply too soon to call it an album you MUST hear before you die. Viewing it through that lens is less favorable unfortunately.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Really pretty chamber pop arrangements. Lyrically it's a bit trite but it's bearable.
Coldplay
3/5
Coldplay are underrated honestly. This album is really great. Beats britpop for sure.
Missy Elliott
3/5
I've heard a lot of her songs through the radio and whatnot but don't think I've ever sat down and listened to an entire project. I really dig it. Great beats from Timbaland and her flow and lyrics are mostly on point. Minus some gross casual racism on the first track at least.
The Band
4/5
I like this a bit more than their self-titled I think. It has a bit more of the psychedelic edge to it that offsets the Americana aspect which I'm not quite as into. Fun album.
Metallica
4/5
Middle school me's favorite album and still one I return to all the time. I have a lot of issues with Metallica as people but the music still slaps (at least until the later stuff).
Buzzcocks
4/5
Classic punk rock but with a bit more sheen and production to it which I love.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Straight fire and more relevant than ever. Fuck any nazis that think they have a right to listen to this. Learn to read.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
I wish I knew more about salsa so I could appreciate what makes this album in particular special in the genre. I do really like it though!
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Gorgeous and haunting at the same time. I need to get some of their stuff on wax for sure.
Ramones
3/5
Simple catchy melodic punk. Not reinventing the wheel but it's still a fun listen.
N.W.A.
5/5
One of those albums that 100% deserves every bit of praise it's gotten. Catchy, bombastic beats. Socially conscious and powerful lyrics. Incredibly flow and lyricism. Fuck tha police.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
This is the type of album I love discovering through 1001 Albums. I don't think I ever would've listened to it otherwise, but I'm really enjoying it. It's fun, catchy and upbeat with more varied and interesting instrumentation than a lot of early '60s music I've heard.
Coldplay
4/5
The better of the two Coldplay albums in this list imo. Funny to get them two weeks in a row. Viva La Vida is their best to me but this one is really solid too.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Not quite as into this as A Girl Called Dusty but still pretty solid. Edges a bit closer to rock and loses some of that upbeat pop fun.
The Jam
3/5
Good fun punk. Not mind blowing for me but it does what it does well. Plus I like the punny title!
Fleet Foxes
5/5
The mid-late aughts are the absolute peak of the indie rock genre in my eyes, and this album is a perfect example. Gorgeous harmonies and guitar playing. White Winter Hymnal is one of my favorite songs of all time.
Van Morrison
4/5
Folk rock with jazz influence? Sign me up for that! Love the mix of styles here and his lyricism seems fantastic. I should dig in more.
Prince
4/5
Love Prince and this album is one of his best. It's all over the place while still sounding cohesive. Somehow simultaneously minimalist and lush. And above all else, funky as fuck.
Queen
5/5
My favorite Queen album and I fucking love Queen.
Motörhead
2/5
Well at least this one doesn't have the pedophile song? Musically it's decent, albeit not my thing. I just dislike them as people too much and don't have the attachment to it musically to get over that. The lyrics are also really uninteresting to me.
Primal Scream
3/5
Definitely varied and interesting. I dig the dub influence across it.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Definitely varied and interesting. I dig the dub influence across it.
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
The mid-late aughts were the absolute peak of indie rock and this album is a perfect example. A TITAN of the genre. So much instrumental variety but all so beautiful with witty, deep lyrics throughout.
The Sonics
4/5
Never listened to them before but I really enjoy this! Pretty wild that this came out in 1965. I can hear early elements of metal, punk and psych rock already seeping into this. Especially impressive coming from the dorks on the cover!
Ryan Adams
1/5
Abuser, pass.
Paul Simon
3/5
I'm a casual fan but this is really good. Very beautiful and upbeat but still with some melancholy to it.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
Somehow I never got into Badly Drawn Boy in spite of being into a lot of similar bands but I'm listening now and really enjoying it. I just love aughts era indie.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Love this. Soulful jazz with a focus on organ is something I didn't know I needed so much.
CHIC
3/5
Disco is another genre I am very unfamiliar with outside of what you just get from cultural osmosis. I'm quite enjoying this though. It's upbeat and danceable (the best parts about disco music) without being overly corny like a lot of it is.
Arcade Fire
5/5
Arcade Fire are titans of the indie rock genre and this album really showcases that. Probably the last time I came close to giving a shit about the Grammys too.
David Bowie
5/5
One of Bowie's most famous albums and for good reason. Just killler from front to back.
Jerry Lee Lewis
1/5
This kind of early 60s rock and roll just doesn't do anything for me really. I appreciate the cultural significance but I wouldn't ever seek out listening to it.
R.E.M.
4/5
This kind of early 60s rock and roll just doesn't do anything for me really. I appreciate the cultural significance but I wouldn't ever seek out listening to it.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Really pretty harmonies and great songwriting. I hate that cover though!
The Style Council
3/5
Really interesting eclectic mix of styles. I didn't realize that this was Paul Weller of The Jam before. I definitely like some tracks more than others but overall a cool listen.
Turbonegro
3/5
Fun dumb rock. Not really worth being a \"must hear\" album to me but it's enjoyable. Kinda cringey sometimes though.
Big Black
4/5
Politically-charged proto-noise? Sign me up. This fucks.
Judas Priest
3/5
Honestly more fun than I really give them credit for. Some goofy moments but overall it's very enjoyable metal. Their drummer is basic af though.
Gang Of Four
5/5
This album fucks. Super tight, funky drums and bass and still-relevant leftist subject matter.
New York Dolls
3/5
Very much feels true to the punk ethos - disruptive and forward thinking with strong simple riffs. A bit more theatrical than most though.
Saint Etienne
5/5
I absolutely adore this album. Such a cool mix of 60s pop with trip hop and dub influences. The Neil Young cover is next level too.
The Temptations
4/5
Another band I've listened to just incidentally but never really sat down and focused on an album from but it's really great. Breaks out of the traditional soul formula and does a lot of cool progressive stuff with it.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
The GOAT
The Velvet Underground
5/5
All the makings of a classic. Fresh, subversive and catchy while still having some edge. Love this album.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Not their best but certainly a solid entry in their catalogue. I think they were still finding their footing here but you can already see the makings of a classic band.
Deep Purple
4/5
You know I've honestly never really listened to them outside of Smoke on the Water but this rocks. Super jammy and creative.
Orange Juice
4/5
I don't think I've ever listened to them before but this really checks the boxes on 80s post-punk for me. Cool angular guitars, laconic vocals and tight rhythm. It's a bit funky too!
Frank Sinatra
5/5
Love his voice and the gorgeous, melancholy instrumentation here. It's cool to hear a vaguely conceptual album from the 50s, which seems incredibly uncommon. Love it.
Bob Dylan
3/5
A solid album from Dylan but not one of my favorites. I think he's still learning what to do with electric instrumentation here in a way that's better executed later on. Some solid songwriting still though.
Television
4/5
Love this album. So catchy and melodic while still being weird and interesting. You can hear their influence on so many other albums I love too.
Linkin Park
5/5
This is the album that got me into music. Still one of my favorites of all time.
Pentangle
5/5
Wow this is super cool. Psychedelic, almost medieval sounding folk full of funky time signatures. '69 really was possibly the best year in music history.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Not quite as interesting as some of their earlier releases to me personally. It's a little safer and happier sounding without that haunting edge that I adore. Still some solid guitarwork and vocal melodies though.
The Temptations
3/5
Not doing it for me as much as the other one honestly. Just a bit safer and less exciting. Still got a few solid tracks on it.
Ministry
1/5
Saw these guys opening for Death Grips and it was the cringiest shit, and that was at a Death Grips concert. Just seems like something I would've loved in elementary school if I was a bit older (not a compliment).
Ray Charles
3/5
Learning about the historical influence of this was interesting, and I can imagine how shocking it was in 1962 to hear this mix. Obviously it sounds much more passe in 2022 in a "Seinfeld is unfunny" kind of way but I can appreciate it.
Merle Haggard
3/5
Country just isn't a genre I have much familiarity or interest in, but this one is alright. It overemphasizes the accent a bit which always grates me (whether that's fair or not). I enjoy the lyrics and guitar playing though.
Elton John
2/5
Not sure why but Elton John has just never clicked for me like other similar artists have. I really tried again with this one but for some reason I'm just not into it. The reggae song is truly atrocious though I will say.
Air
3/5
Another band I haven't really given the focus to that I think I should have so this was a really cool listen. I haven't seen the movie but even just as an album it works pretty well. Very melancholy and ambient. The pitch-shifted spoken word bits don't really fit when listening to it as an album though.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2/5
Certainly interesting but I'm not sure it's something I'd really listen to much. I feel like the Paul Simon influence is noticeable. Seems a bit like Americanized African music which seems almost vaguely exploitative at this point?
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
10/10 genre defining classic. I can’t say much that hasn’t already been said but this album still floors me today like it did when I first heard it. This is THE shoegaze album.
Fairport Convention
2/5
Solid folk rock with some great guitar playing. Doesn't really do anything mindblowing to me though honestly. A Sailor's Life is cool just because of how long it is.
Charles Mingus
5/5
Amazing album. I love how dark and psychologically brooding it is. Definitely need to get the vinyl. Never mind I actually just bought it ope.
The Cure
4/5
While I love how The Cure mixed darkness and brightness on their later albums, this album is a great look at their unadulterated dark side. Pounding drums and base and screeching guitars abound.
Serge Gainsbourg
4/5
So cool and unique. I can definitely see how a lot of artists I dig would have taken inspiration from this. I'm a sucker for spoken word pieces so this is right up my alley on that front. I also like the mix of rock and orchestral elements.
The Undertones
3/5
Two albums for this band seems excessive to me. They're fun and upbeat but nothing to really write home about to me.
Cee Lo Green
1/5
Nah I'm good. Dude's a creep.
T. Rex
4/5
T.Rex knows how to make an infectious tune. Love the guitar tone here too. They had a big impact on a lot of music I love and for good reason.
Don McLean
4/5
American Pie (the song) slaps but I don't think I've heard anything else from him. While that song is obviously tough to beat with how epic, insightful and gorgeous it is, the rest of the album is really great too. He has a fantastic voice and his lyrics are really poignant.
Suede
4/5
I've definitely heard of them and probably even heard some songs, but somehow Suede is a band I haven't really paid much attention to, possibly due to the britpop tag which is a genre I typically dislike. This is really great though. Theatrical and brooding, killer guitar and vocals. Good shit
GZA
5/5
All of the Wu-Tang releases around the 36 Chambers era are just straight fire but this one might be my favorite solo release from that period. All killer no filler. Great beats, fantastic samples and biting lyricism.
Le Tigre
5/5
Best riot grrrl album of all time in my opinion. Every song on this album absolutely rips, and it has a ton of variety and weirdness that keeps it fresh like dog bark samples, pitch shifting, explosions, etc. It has it all.
Tina Turner
3/5
I won't lie - I went into this fully expecting to be disinterested at best but I actually enjoyed it. Not something I will necessarily revisit often but it was a fun listen. She has a really great voice. Some of the production has that 80s dated feel but some of it is also really fun and creative.
Blondie
4/5
Such a great mix of punk and new wave that keeps some of the rawness and edge of punk but mixes it with a poppy sheen. Just makes me wanna jam.
Blur
3/5
Bit all over the place honestly. It has some catchy tracks though. Overall not as huge on it as a lot of people seem to be.
Venom
2/5
It's neat that black metal the genre is named after this album. I never knew that. I dig this more than I expected after seeing the cover. I'm hit or miss on metal but this one is a pretty decentmix of proto-black metal and thrash. I know it's intentional but the lyrics are a bit on the nose and basic though.
Barry Adamson
3/5
This album is weird as hell. Just a total mishmash of random styles and crazy guest features. I can definitely see what David Lynch was saying about how cinematic it is. Lots of trip hop and jazz influence. I think I need more listens to really decide my feelings but as of now I think I'm a fan.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
5/5
What can I say, I love post-punk. The guitars here are next level, and Siouxsie's vocals are simply mindblowing. Well deserved to be on this list.
The Killers
4/5
At the time I think I thought I was too cool for The Killers but in retrospect this is an absolutely FIRE album. Just bangers from start to end and I have a ton of nostalgia for it.
Madonna
2/5
The trip hop influenced instrumentation here is really cool actually. I'm just not a huge fan of the very poppy vocals and her lyrics. Also this album did NOT need to be over an hour long.
Digital Underground
3/5
I'd heard The Humpty Dance but I don't think anything else. That song is still an absolute classic. The rest of the album is pretty great too. Very fun rap in that classic 90s style.
Leftfield
4/5
Love me some house music. This album has a really great flow from beginning to end and some great guest features. Pretty sick.
The Go-Go's
4/5
This is really great. I love the group vocals and the slick mix of bubblegum pop with new wave/punk.
Taylor Swift
1/5
Shit commodification of the indie rock and folk I really love, turning it into bland soulless corporate schlock. I hope she gets the masters for this taken away too.
The Damned
3/5
Enjoyable late 70s punk with a slight experimental edge. I like it. Not blowing me away but I think it might be a "Seinfeld is unfunny" situation.
MC Solaar
4/5
I think this might be the first french rap album I've ever heard? I need to explore more now most definitely. Love the jazzy beats and his flow is impeccable even if I can't understand the lyrics.
Nick Drake
3/5
More great guitar playing and lovely vocals from Nick Drake. I think I prefer his sadder stuff than this though but even still it's enjoyable.
Kacey Musgraves
1/5
Pop country is one of the things I hate most in the world. This album at least incorporates some interesting other elements like synths and vocoders but it's not enough to make it palatable to me.
Grateful Dead
3/5
The dead are hella nostalgic for me because my dad played them a ton while I was growing up. For whatever reason I never really pursued them as an adult but I've always wanted to change that. Maybe this is a sign that I should? This album is great but I’d rather listen to their live stuff.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
The cliche bedroom music album for a reason. This album is just so damn sexy. Funky and soulful to the max.
Neneh Cherry
1/5
Very dated sounding. It's fun and upbeat and she has a good voice but not really my thing.
The Stone Roses
4/5
I've heard of them a lot but never really given them a shot before. This is really cool. You can definitely hear the 60s influence but it does enough to stand out as its own thing and give a modernized (for the time) sound.
Neil Young
4/5
Simultaneously energetic and sad. Great guitar work here as well. One of the better NY albums in my opinion.
Traffic
3/5
Haven't really listened to much Traffic but I enjoy the mix of folk and prog. Some nice flutes throughout as well. It feels a bit slight for a prog album to me though.
Miles Davis
5/5
Where to even start. This album is just pure jazz insanity. I'm a sucker for stuff that plays with atonality and this has that in spades. It's so bold and aggressive, right down to the cover and title. One of those albums that just feels like a STATEMENT.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
I'm an easy sell for 60s psychedelia, what can I say. I dig the folk elements here but mixing them with the psych rock really elevates it for me. Grace Slick's vocals are gorgeous here as well.
Elton John
2/5
Not really an Elton John fan but as far as his stuff goes this one is decent. Not really my style at all but I wouldn't complain about it being on.
Depeche Mode
5/5
Black Celebration is better and I absolutely resent the shade the book throws at it, but this album still absolutely rules. Depeche Mode was one of the first bands I ever loved and I still can't get enough.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
I'm completely unfamiliar with Brazillian pop music but this is really fantastic. Just super fun to listen to, great melodies and instrumentation, and a pleasant voice. Really glad to have discovered this here.
Brian Eno
4/5
Love Eno. This album is so fun and weird. You can really tell it's him just letting loose and seeing what happens. That playfulness translates into some absolute bops.
OutKast
4/5
Love Outkast but as an actual Outkast album I think this falls through. I appreciate the attempt to keep the group together in spite of their diverging musical interests, but I don't think it works a cohesive project. Treating it as 2 independent albums though, they both rule. I particularly enjoy The Love Below but both are great and super experimental. Hey Ya is obviously just a stone cold classic.
The Fall
3/5
The Fall are another band I've meant to dig into further so I'm happy it's here. These are some fun, lo-fi post-punk jams. Very much in my wheelhouse. I can see how much a lot of bands I love were probably influenced by them.
Doves
4/5
Aughts-era indie rock is my kryptonite. Can't get enough. This is really cool, it takes the best elements of britpop but mixes them with some indie rock stylings to downplay the obnoxious elements. I'm shocked I've never listened to them before. THE CRIMSON INTERPOLATION THOUGH. Hell yes!
Michael Jackson
3/5
This album is a bit less over the top than Thriller while still being creative and catchy.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Incredible album. The beats are bombastic and catchy, the samples are expertly used, and Biggie has absolutely impeccable flow. I love how narrative his lyrics are too. RIP king.
Boards of Canada
5/5
Classic of the IDM genre. Personally I'd put Geogaddi above it but they're both fantastic. This album is such a vibe.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
I'm a bit hit or miss on older British punk but Dead Kennedys are one of the good ones. Instrumentally complex enough to remain interesting and catchy, witty, politically savage lyrics.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Really fun and playful hip-hop. The beats are jazzy and funky too. Just an enjoyable listen all around.
Björk
3/5
Instrumentally, this sounds like Pretty Hate Machine-era Nine Inch Nails mixed with the Myst soundtrack. I love that. I think I've finally determined that the reason I can't get into her music is the vocals though. I just don't like her singing at ALL.
Tom Waits
4/5
Instrumentally, this sounds like Pretty Hate Machine-era Nine Inch Nails mixed with the Myst soundtrack. I love that. I think I've finally determined that the reason I can't get into her music is the vocals though. I just don't like her singing at ALL.
Chicago
4/5
Jazzy upbeat prog from one of my favorite years in music? Sign me up. This just makes me want to get up and boogie.
Culture Club
1/5
This album sounds exactly like the cover looks - corny and cringey. So 80s in the worst way. Not my thing at ALL. Even the book seems so mid about it!
The Who
5/5
One of my favorite albums. I'm a sucker for a good rock opera, and 1969 just contained some of the most killer music ever.
The Prodigy
5/5
This album just bangs man. It's impossible to not get hyped up while listening to it. I practically wore the CD of this OUT in high school.
1/5
Definitely a little too country for me, but I really appreciate the powerful lyrics and she has a gorgeous voice.
Grizzly Bear
5/5
What can I say, aughts-era indie rock and ESPECIALLY 2009 is my trap card. This album is a stone cold classic in my books. Two Weeks is a top track of all time.
Wilco
3/5
I'm a casual fan but I dig Wilco from what I've heard. This isn't the strongest album of theirs that I've listened to but I enjoyed it. It covers quite a bit of range over the course of the 2 discs with some nice varied instrumentation.
SAULT
5/5
SAULT have quickly become one of the most exciting bands around to me. This one has some of their best tracks too. Straight fire.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
I've always had a soft spot for the Chili Peppers in spite of being something I'd usually have disdain for. This album is just really gorgeous melodically, especially Kiedes's vocals.
Guns N' Roses
1/5
So boring. This is the exact kind of "classic" rock that I just don't get the appeal of at ALL.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Classic album. SOOO many of my favorite bands owe so much to this band. I can't help but love it.
Louis Prima
3/5
It's tough to get into 50s stuff for me just because it's SO dated from a modern ear. As far as that goes though this is really entertaining. The hilarious cover art really captures the vibe of the album - playful, humorous and upbeat.
ZZ Top
1/5
Honestly haven't given ZZ Top much though but this is better than I gave them credit for. Still not really my thing but I appreciate the experimentation with synth and the tight drumming and great guitarwork.
AC/DC
1/5
Trash.
Justice
5/5
One of my favorite albums from the 2000s. This record is funky, danceable, and consistently interesting. The use of glitches is just impeccable. It's a shame they could never quite recapture the magic but this (and the live album) will always be there.
3/5
This is really wild. Not something I can see myself listening to regularly but I dig it. Super chaotic and punky which is an interesting take on jazz that I haven't really delved into much. I love the drumming in particular.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Love what I've heard from Zappa (admittedly not enough). This album is wild and weird and eclectic but all across it you can hear the creativity and social commentary.
Screaming Trees
2/5
90s grunge/hard rock stuff generally bores me and this isn't really doing much to change that. It's fine and occasionally even goes as far as interesting but doesn't really wow me at all.
ABBA
2/5
Dancing Queen is a bop. I can handle a song or two of ABBA but a whole album is a bit like the musical equivalent of eating a pound of cotton candy. It's too much. Definitely a singles band for me, and even that I can mostly take or leave.
James Taylor
3/5
I went in expecting to dislike this but found it shockingly pleasant. He has a good voice and there's enough variety in style and instrumentation here to keep it interesting. I'm not sure how often I'd seek this out but I wouldn't complain about it being on for sure.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Amazing album and honestly it has shockingly little filler considering it's 100+ minutes long but still... 100 minutes is too long too long to hold my attention. That's my only real complaint though. Otherwise it's such a fantastic listen. Maybe just best in 2 sittings.
Dr. John
4/5
Really cool mix of New Orleans R&B and psych rock. I'm surprised I've never listened to this, it's definitely the type of thing I enjoy.
Beck
3/5
I've always been weirdly mid on Beck considering how much he checks the boxes for something I'd like. This definitely feels in line with the better stuff like Odelay but still just not exceptionally exciting to me.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Absolute titan of 90s alt rock. This album has so many bangers, it would be almost any other band's greatest hits album.
Morrissey
1/5
No.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Pretty solid as far as the 1230656 Costello albums on this list go. I'd honestly probably dig him if it weren't for the fact that the authors of this book clearly have a hard on for him to a ridiculous degree.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Another really cool Stevie Wonder album. I love the striking cover and this album hits a lot of sounds while still feeling very cohesive.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I've heard the name but honestly somehow I don't think I've ever listened. I don't know what I expected them to sound like but it wasn't this. Pretty cool, sounds almost emo. I should explore more.
Billy Bragg
2/5
A little too country for me, especially in the vocals department. It's fun and lighthearted though. The track with Natalie Merchant singing is gorgeous.
Moby Grape
3/5
I'm always down for more 60s psych rock. Never listened to these guys before but they do that style really well. Cool album. Their story is also very interesting.
Emmylou Harris
1/5
Way too country for me and I really hate how a lot of these older country albums are just credited to the performer but most of the songs were written by other people. That should auto-disqualify an album from here in my opinion.
Dirty Projectors
5/5
One of my favorite indie rock albums of all time. 2009 the GOAT year. The guitar and vocal harmonies on this one are chef’s kiss.
The Darkness
1/5
Lmao I thought glam metal died in the 80s. Why is this unoriginal parody crap on this list? It was awful then and it's even more awful now.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I'm hit or miss on some of his albums with Crazy Horse but this one is great. Just solid rock and roll with Neil Young's trademark vocals. Can't argue with that.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
You can sense the tension between the competing directions of each band member here, and yet somehow it all coalesces into a killer, cohesive album nonetheless. Really gorgeous and psychedelic in a way that only late 60s albums are.
The The
5/5
I've heard the cheeky name before, but I don't think I've ever actually listened to them. I'm kind of kicking myself now though because this is fantastic. I love post-punk and this is just a fantastic example of it. I'll definitely have to explore more.
Radiohead
5/5
10/10 groundbreaking classic album.
Femi Kuti
4/5
I'm a bigger fan of the more longform, experimental stuff his father does, but Femi does a great job here in channeling his energy while doing his own thing and creating more catchy, digestible songs.
Paul Simon
3/5
I dig a lot of Simon & Garfunkel stuff but his solo stuff is a bit weaker to me. Just a bit all over the place and often too saccharine for me. Still lots of great moments and songwriting in this though.
Kate Bush
5/5
A classic in every sense of the word. Moving, haunting, beautiful. Running Up That Hill is also one of the most coverable songs in my opinion. Her rendition is incredible but there's also so many other killer ones out there.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I'm just coming to accept that singer-songwriters aren't really my thing. This is decent enough. I dig her voice and there are some solid lyrics but it doesn't really evoke much strong feeling in me unfortunately.
Cheap Trick
4/5
I'm a very casual fan of Cheap Trick but this live album really showcases what made them special. Super high energy and equal parts catchy and noisy. So many bops.
Elastica
3/5
I'm a very casual fan of Cheap Trick but this live album really showcases what made them special. Super high energy and equal parts catchy and noisy. So many bops.
Meat Puppets
4/5
I'm a very casual fan of Cheap Trick but this live album really showcases what made them special. Super high energy and equal parts catchy and noisy. So many bops.
The National
5/5
Such a killer album. This is probably my second favorite from them after Boxer, which shockingly isn't on this list. It's worth it for Bloodbuzz Ohio alone though, but I'm biased.
Brian Eno
5/5
Classic. This album really hits the high notes of Eno's earlier more rock-based stuff, while still integrating plenty of the more ambitious electronic/ambient material that I'm particularly fond of.
Bee Gees
4/5
Why is everything form 1969 so good? Even pop like this which wouldn't typically be in my wheelhouse just hits differently. Some gorgeous harmonies here.
The Byrds
1/5
Just too country for me. I wish I could get more into it. Plus I blame them for helping birth country rock which has now turned into the worst music around today.
Meat Loaf
2/5
A little too theatrical for the metal I prefer but it's still pretty fun. Lots of quirky instrumentation and catchy lyrics.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Snoooooooore. I will never get the appeal of Springsteen. Jerking off about heartland America. Boring and lame.
Janis Joplin
3/5
She's another name I've always heard, and I've heard some songs on the radio and whatnot, but I've never really sat down and actively listened to. This album's pretty good though. She's got some pipes.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Ok as far as Springsteen goes this one is pretty decent. The more stripped down sound works a lot better and comes off a lot less fake-sounding. His voice is more subdued and there's some great guitar work here.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
Never heard of this but I really dig it. Definitely reminds me of a lot of the europop/electronic stuff I listen to and I dig it. Very upbeat and dancey and catchy.
Machito
4/5
I love seeing something more unique like this coming out of the 50s here, since most of them are somewhat what you'd expect from that time period. This is a really cool mix of Cuban sounds with big beat. The cover is striking too.
Bert Jansch
4/5
This is great. His voice is really interesting and emotive, and his guitarwork is phenomenal and super forward-thinking for having come out in 65. I can hear influence from him on a lot of modern stuff I listen to.
Kraftwerk
4/5
I'm a sucker for albums that integrate the music into the theme of the album, so the title track here is right in my wheelhouse. You really get the vibe of driving down the highway out of it. The rest of the album feels less essential but still cool with lots of interesting synth work.
Nirvana
5/5
An absolute masterpiece performance. Honestly might be Nirvana's seminal work.
The Who
4/5
Love The Who and though I think Tommy vastly eclipses this album due to the overarching concept, the songs here are super solid and stand up on their own.
Gene Clark
3/5
70s soft rock isn't really my wheelhouse so I'm not sure how much I will return to this, but it is cool as far as that goes. I like the psychedelic elements.
The Auteurs
4/5
Wow this is really rad. The lyrics are witty and referential, and instrumentally it's catchy as heck. If britpop was more like this I would've definitely been a fan.
The Doors
5/5
A classic album for sure. Riders on the Storm is just an S tier song but the rest holds up amazingly too.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
What a voice. I never got into her while she was alive, but after her death I started exploring her discography and wow I really wish I'd appreciated her more. Such a fun, eclectic mix of styles.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Love female-fronted alt rock with some bite. It's not nearly common enough for my tastes. This is a super solid example of it. She has a great voice.
Nico
3/5
Her album with The Velvet Underground is iconic but I haven't listened to much outside of that. I should fix that because this is really great. Her voice is gorgeous and the orchestral instrumentation is epic and hauntingly beautiful.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
The GOAT.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
I don't believe I've ever listened to this outside of Hallelujah (which is amazing) but wow the whole album is really great. He had such a powerful voice and presence. It's a shame thinking of what could've been.
Sparks
3/5
Kinda feels like knockoff Queen tbh. It's fun though. The falsetto thing is a bit much for me personally but I can see the appeal.
Radiohead
3/5
I think I would look at this album more favorably if it hadn't come directly between Kid A/Amnesiac and In Rainbows. It just feels like a step backwards from either direction. The political themes don't help either, because they feel very dated by now. Myxomatosis is incredible though.
The Pretty Things
5/5
Produced by a guy who worked on Sgt Pepper and cited as the main influence for Tommy? That alone would interest me, but this album is just fantastic on its own. Psychedelic and catchy AND a rock opera. I love it. The stereo panning is a bit much at many points so I definitely prefer mono but that's my only real complaint.
5/5
Very 80s in both good and bad ways. The subject matter is sappy but not in a way that gets too grating. The instrumentation is super snappy and tight though. Lots of amazing studio flourishes that really pop and some KILLER bass.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
I'm generally not into southern rock but I can't deny that these guys rock in the classical sense of the word. Love the extended jams here and the slide guitar.
Mekons
3/5
I can mess with this. Alt-country is about the only country I generally dig and this is a good early example of it. You can tell that they're coming at it from a punk side which I really like. Thematically it's interesting too.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Moving in the direction of Sailor's Life (the best song on their previous album) was a good call, because overall I like this a lot more. The vocals are really gorgeous and the instrumentation is much more interesting and varied.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
Interesting mix of world styles. Very chill. Definitely something I would've smoked hookah to in college. It feels VERY 90s though, for better or worse.
Roni Size
5/5
Love D&B. I'm happy to see some representation of non-rock music in this list for once. This album rules, there's a reason it's one of the seminal albums of the genre.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
This is the kind of country I can fuck with. Her vocals are GORGEOUS and the minimal, chill instrumentation fits them perfectly, allowing them to breathe but still maintaining interest.
Frank Zappa
4/5
Zappa is one of the GOATs. This album is much more palatable than a lot of his stuff which is nice for when you just want to vibe, compared to his headier material. I'm also always into albums that push recording technology and techniques forward, like this one did with its use of 16 track recording.
The Byrds
3/5
Some really cool songs here but I definitely see where the consensus of it being uneven come from. It's a bit all over the place. The guitar work is really solid though.
Rush
5/5
Tom Sawyer is just an absolute classic song. The rest of the album is no slouch either though. I love the expanded instrumental palate of this album vs their earlier stuff.
Holger Czukay
3/5
Very interesting and playful. I enjoy the backstory of the album and can really see it reflected in the sound. I'm not sure it's something I'd seek out often but it's a really unique vibe that I can definitely see myself returning to someday.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Cool experimental folk stuff. Doesn't blow my mind or anything but I enjoy it.
3/5
I prefer Los Angeles but these first 2 albums are both really good even if nothing else afterwards lived up to them. Such a fun mix of punk, rockabilly and more.
Duke Ellington
2/5
I can appreciate the talent involved and the place in music history, but I just have a really hard time enjoying '50s music because it sounds so dated at this point. There's some really great musicianship here though and the story of the '99 reissue is quite interesting.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
I'm generally not into southern rock but this album I can fw. They mix in a lot of influences that really diversify it, with lyrics that sometimes touch of the typical southern rock cliches, but often transcend them. And Free Bird... memes aside it's just an insanely epic song. Loved it in Guitar Hero too lol
The Cramps
2/5
Some cool early noise elements here which I dig. The rockabilly aspects aren't my thing as much. Not my go to brand of punk but I can respect it.
David Bowie
5/5
Bowie just rules. This is another absolute classic from him. More intense and rock focused than a lot of his material which I dig.
White Denim
4/5
In spite of listening to tons of stuff in this realm, I've somehow escaped ever listening to White Denim. I really dig it though. Indie rock with a lot of psychedelic influences with some gorgeous production. I'd honestly say that the instrumental parts are my favorite, but the vocals aren't bad either.
Beth Orton
3/5
I've heard her collaborations with The Chemical Brothers but never listened to her own music. Some really great production and instrumentation here, and she has a great voice. It gets a bit hokey for me at times but overall I enjoyed it.
The Black Crowes
1/5
Bit too generic "rock" for me but it's not offensive or anything. Just very vanilla. I bet they would put on a good show though.
Miles Davis
5/5
GOATED. Next question.
Can
5/5
Very ambient and chill but still super jammy. I can definitely see how much this influenced post-rock down the line. I need to listen to more Can.
Van Halen
1/5
Maybe you just had to be there but I just can't stand hair metal. So lame and cheesy.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Honestly really fantastic. I've always written them off a bit as too boomer-y, mostly because of their fanbase I think but there's a ton of cool stuff on here. Really varied while still feeling cohesive.
Bad Brains
5/5
Slaps so hard. Hardcore is my favorite subgenre of punk, and this album is an iconic example of it. Mixing in the reggae/funk elements adds so much to it.
Traffic
4/5
Cool mix of 60's blues and British rock. I miss the psychedelic aspects but this is still really cool. Has a nice variety of sounds.
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Very unfamiliar territory for me but I dig it. The drums and rhythm in particular are fantastic.
CHIC
3/5
I'm not really crazy about disco in general, but as far as disco goes this is pretty good. It leans less on the cheese which really helps it.
Fugees
5/5
An alternative hip hop classic. The beats are consistently spectacular and lend a really cohesive vibe to the whole album. The vocals are gorgeous and thematic throughout. Just straight fire.
Johnny Cash
1/5
He absolutely butchered Hurt.
The Zombies
5/5
One of the most gorgeous slices of psychedelic pop ever put to wax. The vocals and harmonies in particular are just beautiful. Brief Candles is an S tier track
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Hugely influential and for good reason. This album really set the stage for music of the 70s. On its own it's a really great release too. Lovely harmonies and guitar playing. My biggest complaint is the absolutely abysmal stereo panning.
Oh and fuck David Crosby.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Iconic. Definitely an album that everyone interested in hip-hop should know just for its place in the genre's history if nothing else. It's just a fun listen even setting that aside though. A bit dated sounding but way less than you'd think for something over 40 years old.
KISS
1/5
Hair metal is so lame and cringe. Just don't see the appeal at all.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I like the more varied instrumentation on this release. It's definitely a bit headier than a lot of their stuff. I find just including songs from a soundtrack on your separate album a bit weird though.
Lorde
1/5
Including this album but not Pure Heroine is pure insanity. That album was amazing, and beyond that it was SUPER influential. By comparison, Melodrama is just a generic pop album. It's fine, but not anything noteworthy.
CHVRCHES
4/5
Synthpop classic. This album came out right before I graduated college and is one of the albums I most strongly associate with that transitional period of my life. It’s a shame they just couldn’t ever live up to it again though.
Mj Cole
3/5
Thankfully this wasn't J Cole like I first thought. Love me some good house music. This one is a bit funkier than most that I've listened to which is a cool different vibe.
4/5
A lot of early proto-punk stuff is a bit rough for my liking, but MC5 were able to mix it with enough other elements and really make some awesome stuff. They sound unhinged here, and it's definitely loose but somehow it feels like controlled chaos.
The Who
4/5
While I may prefer the more conceptual, heady Who of Tommy, I can't deny that this song is just bop after bop. It's still loosely conceptual while making the focus on catchy pop songs.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Very interesting, especially when comparing it to Happy Sad. I like this one more for sure. The funk/r&b elements add a lot and there's a good amount of variety here.
George Michael
2/5
A bit corny and 80s as expected but the songwriting here is strong. I enjoyed it more than I expected.
N.E.R.D
2/5
The fact that the band all learned how to play their instruments for this album is truly impressive. It does show in the sense that some of it is fairly basic but I can't fault them for that. It's a pleasant listen as well, although somewhat unremarkable in my eyes.
Portishead
5/5
Legit classic, and super important too for its impact on music history. Trip-hop wouldn’t be trip-hop without Portishead.
Eric Clapton
1/5
Bigot.
Ice Cube
4/5
Classic 90s hip-hop. The beats are killer and while Ice Cube's lyrics have aged a bit poorly on some occasions, the flow is impeccable. It Was a Good Day is just flawless.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
Definitely one of if not THE weirdest album in this list. It's intentionally difficult, and I totally get why someone would absolutely hate it. However, the songwriting is truly next level and this album has definitely gone on to massively influence music. I real iconic album.
Robbie Williams
1/5
Oh boy britpop but poppier. That'll fix it.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
2/5
I'm not really a big supergroup guy for the most part. There's some really solid songs here but it just feels a bit too disjointed for me and lacks that clear artistic vision of a single voice. Still an enjoyable listen though.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Solid stuff. There's a bit more variety here than I typically associate with him. Not exactly my thing but I can get behind it.
Dr. Octagon
5/5
Such a great album. I love Dan the Automator's production and Kool Keith's weird off-kilter lyrics. It gets a bit juvenile at points though I will say. I've always felt like this was a sister album to Deltron 3030.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
Fun college rock. It's nothing really insanely notable so it's a bit confusing to me why it's on this list but I do enjoy it quite a bit.
David Bowie
5/5
Bowie just rules. This album is fantastic. I love the dark instrumentals. Very brooding. You can really feel Eno's influence here.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
Very interesting album. Instrumentally it's a mix of jazz and lounge rock but then throwing rap on top of it really makes for a weird combination that works way better than it should. Sounds very New York for sure.
Beatles
5/5
Can’t say much about this that hasn’t already been said 1000 times. A true classic in every sense.
The Louvin Brothers
1/5
50's country... not really my bag. It seems good for what it is though. The harmonies are nice. I just can't really connect with it.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I prefer their stuff that came right after this but you can really hear the template for it here, and the transition from their earlier material. Definitely a solid album.
Madness
4/5
So happy to see some ska representation on this list. This album is super cool. It definitely has a lot of ska, but also ventures far into a lot of other territory. I dig how dark it is too. Definitely something I need to pick up on wax eventually.
Guided By Voices
5/5
I've heard so much about GBV but haven't listened much at all. I can really see the appeal after hearing this though. The songs are stripped to the absolute bare minimum - no studio embellishments, not one second of padding or note that isn't strictly necessary. Just catchy, lofi hooks. I dig it.
Elbow
1/5
I've never been able to get into these guys in spite of trying many times. Too britpop-y for my tastes. It's nothing unbearable but also nothing really gripping to me. It's way too long too.
Mylo
4/5
Love house music so much. I remember hearing some of these back when it dropped but I just wasn't ready for it at the time. Really enjoyed revisiting it though .What an upbeat, catchy album.
Kanye West
1/5
Ugh. I looooooved this album. Musically I still think it's absolutely on point. I just can't with Kanye any more though. Fascist pig. Sucks.
Dire Straits
4/5
Honestly I dig this a lot more than I anticipated. Some really fantastic guitar playing and the vocals are catchy and bluesy. I'd definitely listen again.
Boring classic rock without even the classic aspect? I've never even heard of them. I am ready for the boomers to go away so music like this is forgotten.
Orbital
5/5
IDM with deep themes? That's like catnip to me. Love this so much.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Once again a thoroughly decent album that somehow ended up on a list of the best albums ever. Also he drops a hard R which uhhhhh I get the context but Iunno about that one still...
Yes
5/5
There's a reason they're called Yes - because YES I love this band. They do prog like no one else really does it. Super unique with more classic rock influence. The harmonies are amazing as well.
Jean-Michel Jarre
5/5
Holy shit this is freaking gorgeous. The synths are so freaking lush. I needed this in my life.
Green Day
2/5
I've always thought that this album was overrated. I think I can appreciate it more now than I have in the past, but my qualms are still there. It's mostly the mixing. The drums just sound so tiny and everything bleeds together. It really kills the impact of the album. Attempting to ignore that, the songwriting is really solid though. Catchy, clever and tight pop rock. I get the appeal, I just wish it was that tiny bit better.
Underworld
5/5
Always happy to see some electronic stuff here. Underworld are fantastic. Intelligent proggy stuff that knows how to use ambient sections to make the heavy parts hit harder.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
This album is just gorgeous. I’m not an expert on soul by any stretch but this one just makes you feel things. Always into a good concept album as well.
Kings of Leon
1/5
I've always thought these guys were comically overrated, even before the whole Sex on Fire thing. They just do nothing interesting, and the dude's over the top accent is so grating.
Public Enemy
5/5
Love Public Enemy. This album is so raw and heavy. More intense and immediate feeling than some of their stuff which I love.
The Fall
4/5
I've listened to some of The Fall's music but not enough. This album is really great. I love the off kilter guitars and organs, and Mark E Smith's rambling, interesting vocals are so good. You can hear their influence in so much of the post-punk I listen to.
Terence Trent D'Arby
1/5
Very 80s. I can see how people would've dug it at the time but it's just aged really poorly, and without the nostalgia connection it isn't really my thing. Dude has a good voice though.
Dwight Yoakam
1/5
Ugh nope too cliche country for me. Less than a minute in and he was already talking about his truck.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
Funny to have another country album right in a row, but with such a stark difference in quality. THIS is the country I can fw. Her voice is fantastic and the lyrics touch on some familiar country cliches, but in a way that isn't cheesy and grating.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
One of the titans of dream pop. This album is simply gorgeous, psychedelic and warm while also evoking a sense of mystery and melancholy.
Peter Gabriel
2/5
Some really great tracks on here, alongside some confusingly odd missteps. It's a bit scattershot but there is a lot to enjoy.
M.I.A.
4/5
This album is wild. Few albums described as "world" music really feel like they incorporate a lot of the world, but this one really does. Plus it's just catchy as heck. Underappreciated album for sure. Paper Planes is obviously just a banger and a half in particular.
Shack
1/5
Doesn't really do much for me to be honest. It's a solid but unremarkable bit of rock. I just don't click with britpop I think.
Eagles
4/5
Memes aside, the title track honestly slaps. The rest of the album is honestly similarly great. Hits a good balance between dark and brooding, but still upbeat and catchy.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
I like their more experimental stuff like Trout Mask more, but this is still really fun 60s music. Beefheart's voice is fantastic.
John Martyn
4/5
Never listened to him before but the name sounds familiar. This is really sick though. The description says folk but this is really almost proggy. Lots of jazz, psych, and rock influence too. I'm a big fan of the mix of influences here.
Stereolab
5/5
Another one of those bands that have gone on to influence a large portion of the music I now listen to. I love how upbeat and playful this album is. The electronica elements are also really great.
Slipknot
2/5
Including this but not Iowa is criminal. This album is still solid though. Slipknot gets a bad wrap honestly. They rock.
Prefab Sprout
4/5
Never listened to them before but the name sounds vaguely familiar. I really enjoyed this. It touches on a lot of genres I like, like indie rock, electropop, etc. It's a bit wordy and intellectual but without sacrificing pop catchiness. Definitely going to listen to them more.
The Who
4/5
Such a fantastic complement to Tommy, which is one of my favorite albums ever. They're absolutely shredding on this album. I love all the jamming.
Goldie
4/5
Classic release of the jungle genre, so this 100% deserves to be here. It does occasionally feel a bit dated but most of it still hits as hard now as ever.
FKA twigs
2/5
I've always felt like I should like her stuff more than I do. On paper it has a lot that I like, and some of the producers connected with it I really love. Somehow though, I just don't connect too much with it. It is technically super impressive and I do enjoy listening to it, I just don't find myself wanting to go back much.
Grateful Dead
4/5
I grew up with a deadhead for a dad (not a euphemism to be clear) so I've always had them around but rarely actively explored myself. I've been meaning to though so this was a great album to pop up here. I really dug it too. The jams are just awesome.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
I lack the context to really fully appreciate this I think, but as a complete novice it was fun to listen to. Maybe I'll give the movie a watch sometime!
George Harrison
5/5
SO GOOD. Honestly might be my favorite post-Beatles solo album. There's just an insane amount of amazing, creative songs here. It's super long but never feels overstuffed.
Eminem
4/5
Definitely some nostalgia involved but the first few Eminem albums just hit so hard. From a technical perspective, he's one of the best rappers in the game in my opinion. I also really appreciate how he helped normalize white rappers. Some parts of this are definitely 90s edgy and have aged really poorly but I can still appreciate it as a product of its time.
Elvis Presley
3/5
I like that it inspired the cover for London Calling! It's not bad at all. Not my thing but it's enjoyable.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
I've heard a bit of his stuff but not really explored too much. This is really great though. It's pleasant and relaxing but without being too laconic or boring. Super comforting somehow. I absolutely adore the cover as well.
Oasis
1/5
Please no more britpop, I can only take so much. Morning Glory is really all I need as far as Oasis goes, and even that I could take or leave.
Genesis
4/5
Great album. I'm a sucker for a good concept album and this one definitely nails it. The instrumentals provide a nice contrast to the main vocal-centric tracks. Lots of super interesting music going on and I love the imagery in the lyrics.
The White Stripes
5/5
YES this album just kills from front to back. So many of their most iconic songs and zero filler. Love it.
Simple Minds
5/5
I love New Wave so I was bound to enjoy this. The use of actual drums really helps this album, and the bass and guitar parts both jump out as particularly fantastic as well. I can definitely see the influence this album had.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Actually really enjoyable. I won't lie, when I saw the title I assumed I'd 100% hate it but I found this really pleasant. I think my issue with most country comes down to the vocals/lyrics. He approaches the edge for me at some points, but mostly sticks to vocals that I don't mind.
Marilyn Manson
1/5
Rapist
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Not my usual vibe at all but honestly I can dig it. The production is super clean for an album from 1960 (even considering the fact that I listened to a remastered version). Love Hurts is a classic song.
JAY Z
5/5
100% classic. This album is the exact kind that should be on here. It's both amazing to listen to, and hugely influential. It's a shame how far downhill Jay has gone but this album is proof of how great he could be.
Gene Clark
3/5
Really great folk rock. The cover is absolutely striking. It hits a nice mix of melancholy and beauty. It didn't blow me away or anything but I enjoyed it.
Derek & The Dominos
1/5
Blech Clapton. Trite and boring and an awful person on top of it all.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Another great album from Pet Shop Boys. I've really appreciated diving into them over the course of this book. This one seems a bit more lyrically focused which I dig.
Primal Scream
5/5
Classic album that's both amazing to listen to and hugely influential, aka the exact thing that should be on this list. The way they integrated house and rock was revolutionary and works so well.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
Possibly the greatest album to come out of the aughts era NYC scene. This album absolutely rips!
Radiohead
5/5
Another S tier album from Radiohead. Kid A is my favorite album from them but this one is such a great compliment to it.
Kate Bush
4/5
I love how freaking weird this album is. It doesn't always work but I appreciate how daring it is even when it doesn't. Some real hits here too though that somehow are still very catchy and poppy while maintaining that offbeat insanity.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Always exciting to see something that I know is going to be very new to me here. I really like his guitar playing. It's very intricate but simultaneously pleasant. It's neat to hear the mix of blues with African music.
808 State
3/5
Always down for some more house music. This one is fun, although it definitely feels a bit dated and 80s.
Kelela
2/5
Enjoyable modern RnB album. It suffers from the same issue that a lot of the recent additions to this list do - I just don't think there's been enough time to really codify this into the music canon. Time will tell.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Maybe my favorite Gabriel solo album. It hits the exact right mix of his ear for poppy catchiness with his experimentation. So many fantastic sounds on this album.
Can
3/5
Really great example of krautrock, which is a genre I really dig. I can hear their influence all over the place. Love the guitar here especially, it's so angular and funky.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Love this album and Nick Cave. I still think albums this recent shouldn't be included here though. Setting that aside, this album is so gorgeous and haunting. One of his better albums for sure.
LTJ Bukem
4/5
This is the kind of drum & bass I love. Thoughtful, emotive and melancholy almost but still driving and upbeat. So many bangers across this mix.
Madonna
2/5
It's just never going to be my thing honestly, but I don't hate it either. The production is cool honestly.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Killer album. It simply rocks, but they also hit a pretty wide variety of influences and styles within the framework of alternative. The production elevates it as well.
The Bees
4/5
Wow I'm not sure how I've never heard of these guys. Reminds me heavily of stuff like The Unicorns and of Montreal which is my JAM. This is super funky and fun. I want the vinyl.
k.d. lang
3/5
Not sure what I was expecting from the cover and title but it definitely wasn't country. It's interesting though. On the best tracks, it mixes in enough pop sensibilities to keep me interested.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Hmm not sure about this one. It's weird but I'm not sure in a good way? It just seems like a smorgasbord of random influences without its own voice. It's not bad or anything, I'm just not really getting the point of it.
Beach House
3/5
Absolutely gorgeous album. This is the one that got me into Beach House. Unfortunately, they were the absolute worst live band I have ever seen. That's definitely colored my perception of them unfortunately. In spite of that, I still really appreciate this album.
Metallica
5/5
This album goes so freaking hard. The strings add so much to their songs and make them even more epic. One of my favorite live albums ever.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Well it's certainly interesting. Definitely out of my comfort zone. Her voice is really powerful. The instrumentation feels a bit empty and flat but works for accentuating her vocals.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Like the other 500 Elvis Costello albums on this list, it's plenty enjoyable. Just not something you "must hear" at all to me. It's fairly standard, if well-made, pop rock.
The Smiths
1/5
No.
Shivkumar Sharma
5/5
I'm a newbie with Indian classical music, but I love what I've heard so far. This album is absolutely gorgeous.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
I love me a good 2000s era chamber pop album. I somehow never got into him like I did several of his contemporaries, but this album is really great. Lots of lush arrangements and beautiful songwriting.
Fatboy Slim
5/5
Iconic album. I love big beat and Fatboy Slim is one of the greats of the genre. Few people have so perfectly mastered the art of riding the line between humorous and heartfelt as well as he has. On top of that, the songs are just bops.
Kings of Leon
2/5
It’s fine honestly. Overhated at this point just because it got so undeservedly popular. Nothing spectacular but also nothing terrible.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Thelonious Monk is fantastic. This album feels so ahead of it's time for coming out in the 1950s. Love the sax work on it in particular.
Cornershop
3/5
Really interesting. I like the mixing in of Indian influences into a pop rock album. Very funky and dancey. I love the eclectic mix of sounds.
The xx
3/5
Love this album and band in general. They really expanded their sound a lot with this album. You can hear the influence of Jamie xx’s solo project quite a bit. Definitely won me back after their lackluster second album. That said, I still think albums this recent should be excluded. I don’t think this album has really had the influence or cultural impact to justify its inclusion here.
Marianne Faithfull
4/5
I've somehow never really listened to her before but this album is fantastic. It's got such an edge to it. You can really feel how hungry she is to earn back her acclaim, and apparently it worked. Why'd Ya Do It is insane.
Steve Winwood
3/5
Very "80s solo album". It's not bad. A lot of enjoyable melodies and catchy lyrics. Doesn't really blow me away or anything.
Funkadelic
5/5
Goated. This album just slays from front to back. Funky, visceral jams.
Small Faces
4/5
I'll never complain about some more late 60's psychedelia. I like the dichotomy of the two sides - the first half is lots of rocking psych songs, but then it gets super weird and trippy on the back half with the spoken word bits and wild imagery. Really neat.
Stan Getz
3/5
Bossa Nova just isn't really my thing I think, but I can respect this album regardless. The guitar playing is impeccable and the vocals are lush and calming.
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
The shoegaze GOATs. Honestly this album may even beat out Loveless for me. I can’t believe it really happened still.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
4/5
Interesting and playful pop music. This definitely feels like something that would be on Eno's label, and that's a compliment. I like how tough to describe or pin down this music is. It really feels otherworldly.
Suede
3/5
I can't blame them for britpop even if I should. This album is legitimately great. It's not whiny and painfully whitebread like the britpop that followed. There's an edge to it that keeps it interesting.
New Order
4/5
It'll always be tough to beat Joy Division for me, but damn if this album doesn't absolutely slay. The beats here are simply infectious. You can really hear how creatively revitalized they were.
John Prine
2/5
Really solid country-tinged folk. I can definitely see the Dylan comparisons. Ultimately I think I'd rather be listening to him instead though to be honest.
David Bowie
4/5
Always happy for more Bowie. This album is another great one from him, especially as a comeback album. I love the art rock vibes.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Not something I'd seek out probably but I found it more enjoyable than I anticipated. Lots of great guitar licks in particular.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Too long for a pop album in my opinion. The amount of variety is impressive though. Many of the tracks are very catchy and feature some cool eclectic production.
Erykah Badu
5/5
A masterpiece of modern soul music. The instrumentals are gorgeous and funky, and her vocals evoke so much emotion..
The Vines
5/5
One of my favorite albums of all time. Every song on here is just an absolute banger, and there’s an exceptional amount of variety too. Such an underrated band.
The Smiths
1/5
Boo.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
One of the genres I've discovered the most interest in through this project is soul music. This album is another fantastic example. I love his falsetto voice and the incredibly funky guitar here. Killer album.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
I think this Brazilian bossa nova/funk style just isn't for me. I can respect it though. There's some fun funky guitar and rhythm here. I could see it being a fun background for a party.
Soft Machine
5/5
Jazzy prog? Wow I have been sleeping on these guys. I know some of Robert Wyatt's solo stuff but somehow haven't ever explored Soft Machine. I clearly have work to do!
Steely Dan
5/5
Not a huge Steely Dan guy but this album slays. So chill and yet funky at the same time, and just insanely gorgeous production.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
I like this more than the other bossa nova stuff I've heard here. Her vocals are definitely the part that sets it apart for me. They're so laid back but pretty. Instrumentally it still doesn't blow me away, but the increased focus on vocals makes that less of an issue for me.
Hawkwind
3/5
Very iconic space rock. I love how it's designed to be one continuous piece. Some parts work better than others for me but overall it's a really fun listen.
Slade
2/5
As far as glam rock goes it's alright but it's just a genre I will never respect or appreciate I think.
Scritti Politti
2/5
Some fun funky instrumentals, but sometimes they get a bit too 80s cheese for me. The vocals I just dislike unfortunately. They're whispery and whiny at once somehow.
The Police
4/5
You know, I've somehow never thought of The Police as new wave, but they really are aren't they? It makes me see them in a bit of a new light. I really ought to listen to them more, I never remember how much I enjoy them until I do. This album is quite fun and has some of their great songs.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Pretty solid. It's more consistent in tone than many of his releases, and doesn't suffer from the 80s cheesiness quite as bad. It never really blew me away but I found it consistently enjoyable.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
You know, I've somehow never thought of The Police as new wave, but they really are aren't they? It makes me see them in a bit of a new light. I really ought to listen to them more, I never remember how much I enjoy them until I do. This album is quite fun and has some of their great songs.
Method Man
4/5
These early Wu-Tang solo projects are so fire. You can really tell that the entire collective had a fire lit in them. I think this is still one of the best showcases of Method Man's skill. The beats by RZA are also fantastic. Super dark and cavernous. I love the drum sound in particular.
Radiohead
5/5
GOATED album. Revolutionary and aesthetically gorgeous.
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Interesting early moog stuff. I definitely think that later bands did it much better, but obviously the influence from here was probably tangible in a lot of them. Still a cool chill ambient release.
The xx
5/5
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - 2009 was the best year for indie rock ever. This album is a perfect example. Such a unique, fully realized sound. This album is so chill and sexy. I still spin it regularly to this day.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Very backround-y. It was enjoyable but never really stuck out to me. Worked well as a backing soundtrack to work though.
Big Star
3/5
Power pop is a really fun genre that definitely owes a lot to this album. I do think that it has since been largely surpassed by others in the genre, but you can't deny its influence there and it still contains a lot of catchy as hell bangers.
American Music Club
2/5
A little too country for how I like my indie. I'm more a fan of the stuff that came out the next decade. It's pleasant enough but feels like 100 other indie rock albums I've heard.
UB40
4/5
I'm a newbie with dub but I love everything I've heard. This is very cool. It has a bit more structure and traditional musicality than most dub I've heard. Plus I love the themes of worker rights and government corruption.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
The overdriven acoustic guitars on this are such a great sound. This hits the right amount of country for me where it doesn't turn me off at all but still has that vibe. The recording is fantastic and really elevates it.
Sepultura
3/5
Thrash is one of my favorite metal subgenres, and this is a killer example of it. They introduce just enough experimentation and genre crossover to keep it interesting throughout. Plus the cover is metal as hell.
George Jones
2/5
I've tried so hard but I just can't with this kind of country/honky tonk. Just grates me. He has a good voice if you stripped away the overly affected accent.
5/5
GOAT album from one of the all-time GOATs. Flawless.
Janelle Monáe
5/5
What a wild album. I love how hard to define it is - elements of pop, R&B, electronic music, and rock all blurred together. Somehow it all works though and blends into a really phenomenal album.
Ryan Adams
1/5
Hard pass. Creep.
Van Morrison
2/5
This style of bluesy classic rock is just not relatable to me as a millennial I think. Musically it's fine but doesn't grip me and the lyrics don't connect with me at all. I wouldn't mind it being on at a bar or something but I would never seek it out.
Ash
3/5
Everything about this album is so 90s haha. The cover art, the guitar, the lyrics. Also it's 50 minutes long so clearly from the CD era. It's fun though and captures a lot of what I enjoy about that era, but doesn't really seem push it in any new or original directions either.
William Orbit
3/5
Some absolutely gorgeous synth sounds here. Very vibey.
The Doors
4/5
It's not as good as LA Woman obviously, but this one is also really great. Morrison's vocals are just so compelling, and the songwriting here is really great.
Supergrass
2/5
At least this album has a bit more edge than most Britpop. I'm still not sure why the authors of the book are so obsessed with that insipid movement though. It's definitely one of the strongest biases of this list. Could be worse though, at least it's not more Blur.
Fever Ray
5/5
I love both their solo stuff and their work with The Knife. The solo stuff definitely has a more haunting, primal energy. I love how stark and dark the beats are, and how androgynous the vocals are made through effects. I've said it before and I'll say it again, 2009 was the best year for indie music.
Scott Walker
4/5
Gorgeous. His baritone voice is so powerful, and the stripped back instrumentation here really lets it shine. The guitar and strings are also top notch, perfectly emphasizing the vocals.
Van Halen
1/5
I admit it, I just loathe classic rock like this. So much of this is so cringe
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Another fantastic Wu-Tang solo album. The soul samples and upbeat style here really set it apart from the majority of their stuff which I really dig, but Ghostface still has absolute bars on top.
The Icarus Line
5/5
Hell yeah, this is sick! It sucks so bad about the label issues because I never heard of this (presumably due to that) and I love it. I would've 100% been a huge fan of this album when it dropped. Regardless, I'm glad to have found it now at least. Noisy garage rock is my jam.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Classic album. I'll admit I have a personal bias for Stadium Arcadium but this album is also absolutely fantastic. I love how seamlessly they can mix genres into one thing. Under the Bridge is an all-timer.
Spacemen 3
4/5
Love Spacemen 3/Spiritualized. This album is almost ambient at a lot of points which I really dig. They have such a distinctive sound that really creates a great vibe.
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits rules. Super unique voice and style. I love the conceptual nature of this album. It's goofy and weird in his very distinct way.
Klaxons
3/5
I somehow don't think I've ever listened to them, in spite of my love for aughts era dance punk. This is pretty fun. A bit more full sounding than many of the others that are more stripped and angular.
The Isley Brothers
2/5
Too saccharine for my tastes by and large. There's some moments that hit, especially when it approaches more rock territory. Summer Breeze is a classic song.
Richard Hawley
3/5
Pleasant indie chamber pop. He has a fantastic voice and the arrangements here are really solid. Ultimately I have the same issue as I do with a lot of post-2000 albums on here - I'm not sure that this has the long-term cultural relevance or influence to justify its inclusion here. It is fun though.
Little Richard
4/5
Honestly this holds up so much better than the vast majority of the 50s music I've heard. His voice is so intense and the lower quality of the recording actually amplifies that in a way that makes it sound very timeless. You can also really see how much influence this had on early rock and roll. So many bangers too.
Stan Getz
3/5
I like this more than some of the other samba stuff I've heard. I think the jazzier elements of it put it a bit more in my wheelhouse. Love the sax in particular.
Sepultura
3/5
Very interesting to hear this compared to their album Arise not that long ago. Where that one was very thrash, this is almost nu metal. The Brazilian influence is even stronger too. I do really enjoy the unique percussion elements.
R.E.M.
4/5
One of the better R.E.M. albums. I like how dark and brooding this one is, and the cover really matches that vibe. Interesting mix of acoustic and electric sounds.
The Thrills
4/5
I will continue to profess my love of aughts-era indie rock! This is fantastic. I can't believe I've never listened to them before. The vocalist really reminds me of Jason Lytle who I love. These songs are just super upbeat and infectiously catchy.
Drive Like Jehu
5/5
Iconic post-punk band. These guys definitely majorly influenced a TON of music I adore so I have so much respect for them. They don't suffer from the "Seinfeld is unfunny" syndrome either, this album absolutely rips.
Alice Cooper
3/5
School's Out is an iconic track. I don't know a single person who didn't blast that song the day school let out. The rest of this album is solid too, although generally speaking 70s/80s hard rock isn't really my thing.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Very similar to Want Two which I've already heard through this list. They definitely feel like two parts of a single album to me.
The Beach Boys
5/5
One of the all-time greats. What can I even say that hasn't been said.
Billie Holiday
3/5
Really chill and sensual. You can tell her voice has been affected by alcohol/drugs, but somehow it only elevates it here. The backing arrangements do a good job of complementing her voice while still always allowing it to be the focus.
Dion
1/5
Meh it's fine it just doesn't really do much for me. Solid but unremarkable soft rock arrangements and pleasant but generic vocals. Unoriginal platitudes.
The Soft Boys
4/5
Pretty great stuff here. Psychedelic but also punky and kinda poppy? Such an eclectic mix, I can see why audiences weren't ready for it at the time but it really does hold up. I can very much see the influence this would've had on a lot of bands I dig.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
This is the GOOD early 60s stuff. Love how stripped back it is, just organ, guitar, and drums. Super funky. The cover is so perfect too.
The The
3/5
More stereotypically "80s" than their debut which I think dates it a bit more, but it's still really enjoyable.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Another heater from Cave. This one is a bit less intense but still so dark and brooding. I think it's a good complement to some of his other more aggressive material. His vocals are on top game here as well.
Nanci Griffith
2/5
It's not my thing but I don't think it's objectively bad like most country is. She has a good voice and when it pushes more into folk territory I start to enjoy myself more. I just wish the lyrics were less cliche.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
This is fantastic. I love his voice, the instrumentation is gorgeous, the themes are super relevant and deep. The thing is, I still really hate including albums this recent here. It just hasn't had time to prove it's long-term relevance and influence at all yet.
James Brown
4/5
Honestly killer. He really shines with the energy of a live performance. The instrumentation is super tight and intense as well and his voice is so intense and powerful, especially for the early 60s.
The Monks
5/5
Cool to see the origins of garage rock so clearly here. As that's one of my favorite genres, I really appreciate this album. So much of that sound is already so clear here. Plus the songs are just catchy bops.
King Crimson
5/5
King Crimson is one of my favorite bands of all time and in my opinion the best prog rock band ever. This album, like almost all of theirs, is simply incredible. A textbook example of what prog should be.
Kanye West
1/5
I used to think this was a 10/10 album but I just can’t listen to it anymore. Why are Nazis still a thing…
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Really fun and goofy. I love the very clear DIY aesthetic here. I recognize several of these songs from samples which is really cool, but the originals are super fun too. Definitely influential.
Miles Davis
3/5
Solid for sure, as you'd expect from him. It definitely feels like an earlier album than his true greats though. Still very enjoyable, but if I'm going to listen to Miles Davis it probably isn't the one I would immediately reach for.
Calexico
5/5
Ugh I love aughts indie so much! I somehow never listened to these guys but they're fantastic. I really enjoy when indie bands infuse a bit of alt-country into their sound like this. I will definitely have to listen to them more.
Röyksopp
3/5
I know this is Röyksopp's most famous album but personally I like a lot of their later stuff more. Still killer stuff here though. They blend together a lot of styles really well. Very chill and downtempo while still making you want to move.
Beck
4/5
Classic album. It’s definitely Beck’s peak cultural relevance so very worth having here. Surprisingly out there for such a popular album too.
Jethro Tull
5/5
Killer folky prog? Sign me up. I honestly haven't listened to them as much as I should cus they're very much in my wheelhouse. This album is just ripper after ripper.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
4/5
I love the spoken word intros to each track. Really gives the album a cohesive, narrative structure. His guitar playing is really emotive and great too. One of the better '50s albums I've heard.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
I feel like I should like this a lot more than I do. For whatever reason, they've just never clicked for me in spite of me liking all of their component parts. I think maybe it's just a bit too 70s-y for me?
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I bit too cloying and poppy compared to some of their other stuff which I enjoy more. Still solidly enjoyable though.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
Love them and this album is probably their best. All killer no filler punk with a clean pop edge.
The Libertines
2/5
In spite of my much professed love of aughts indie rock, somehow The Libertines never did much for me. They just feel like a lesser imitation of bands like The White Stripes and Arctic Monkeys. This album isn't bad by any stretch but I would rather listen to others most of the time.
Pulp
3/5
Honestly WAY better than their earlier britpop stuff. I really like this as an epitaph to that era. The darker sound here is much more interesting to me and more varied as well. Their lyrics are a lot less trite and obnoxious too, with deeper subject matter reflecting the darker sound.
Germs
5/5
The quintessential snotty punk album. It never lets up. Killer riffs throughout too.
3/5
Pretty cool combination of soul, prog jazz and Latin influences. Given the title, I wish it had a bit more of an edge to it but it's pretty upbeat throughout. This may not be something typically in my wheelhouse that I'll listen to often, but it's a nice different style.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Come on, you know it's a perfect score.
The Coral
4/5
Really cool mix of styles and influences. It's definitely tough to pin down. I enjoy the singer's voice, it definitely feels passionate. The instrumental arrangements are intricate but super tight.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Scott LaFaro's death shortly after this recording is really tragic because his bass really steals the show on this album. The piano compliments it perfectly, making for a super catchy album. This really showcases how powerful a jazz trio can be.
I strongly dislike U2.
Coldcut
4/5
Coldcut rule. They're masters of patchwork sampling, and this album is no different. Every song is packed to the gills but still manages to feel cohesive.
Arcade Fire
5/5
Win Butler skeeze aside, this is a phenomenal album that holds an insane amount of nostalgia for me. I waffle between the first 3 but overall I’d say this is probably my favorite Arcade Fire album.
The Specials
3/5
A bit too scattered for me. I like several of the songs here, but it's all over the place stylistically which makes it not the best listen as an album. The ska elements are improved from their debut when they do appear.
Khaled
4/5
Very interesting mix of styles. It mostly sounds like pop music, but occasionally approaches almost jazz, or samba or something? I really enjoy it honestly. It's unique and feels different than most western stuff, but still very palatable.
Björk
4/5
Probably her best late-career album. I don't think it reaches quite the highs of some of her earlier stuff, but it's certainly close. The arrangements here are just gorgeous as always and it's cool to see her singing about some more grounded topics.
The Young Gods
3/5
Very interesting stuff! The fact that all the instrumentation besides drums is sampled really lends a unique air to it. It sounds like metal, but somehow off in a really neat way. I'm not as huge on the vocals but they aren't unlistenable either.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Super 80s sounding but in a nostalgic way. Girls Just Want to Have Fun is a bonafide classic track for obvious reasons, but the whole thing is just fun and entrancing in the same way.
Super Furry Animals
4/5
I love this kind of goofy, irreverent indie rock. Throw in some psych and I'm extra sold. SFA are just impossible to not bang your head along to.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
The Ravi Shankar material I've heard is all consistently great. I get the reasoning for putting in the introduction stuff here, especially considering that this released in 1957, but I do think that it detracts from this album as a listening experience so I doubt I'll listen to it again due to that.
Gang Starr
4/5
Straight to the point, no frills hip-hop executed flawlessly. Sometimes that's all you need. I love the prevalence of jazz samples here, and Guru's rapping is so effortless and smooth.
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Everyone (rightfully) hypes up Loveless, but this album also deserves heaps and heaps of praise. Less shoegaze than what came after, it's really fun to see MBV in more of a traditional indie rock sphere. The AA cut of this vinyl is simply incredible as well.
The Cars
4/5
Everyone (rightfully) hypes up Loveless, but this album also deserves heaps and heaps of praise. Less shoegaze than what came after, it's really fun to see MBV in more of a traditional indie rock sphere. The AA cut of this vinyl is simply incredible as well.
The White Stripes
5/5
One of the few arguably flawless discographies in music. They're all classics.
The United States Of America
4/5
60's psych rock is my poison. The singer adds a lot here. Her voice is kind of whimsical but also grounds the more experimental aspects with a pleasant and poppy sheen. Really interesting story behind them too. I dig it!
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
I appreciate the barebones nature of it and how it reflects his dark mental state at the time. Ultimately it doesn't do a lot to grip me because of that though. I enjoyed it but not something I will likely come back to a ton.
Joy Division
5/5
I listen to a lot of post-punk and new wave, and it's impossible to do so without respecting the king. This album is just so hugely influential, but also incredible just as an album. Plus the cover is simply iconic.
Lupe Fiasco
1/5
Never really clicked with Lupe Fiasco for some reason. It just feels very... hollow? Not much deeper substance beneath it. It's inoffensive but so safe as to really not have much of depth to say.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Solid 80s rap. Sounds like a lot of the other albums I love from that era. I'm surprised I haven't heard of it before. I enjoyed how many big recognizable samples there are in it too.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Her voice is so powerful. I 100% see why she's still revered as one of the all-time greats because it's clear from one note why that is. Her piano playing on here really adds a lot too. It's cool to hear how central it is to the entire songs.
Caetano Veloso
4/5
I love the wild mix of styles here. Some bossa nova stuff is tough to get into for me, but mixing that with elements of psych rock and pop really makes for a cool experience. I'm really glad to learn about this album. I just hope he doesn't come through the screen out of that picture and murder me...
Laura Nyro
4/5
What a great voice. Really solid arrangements too. This album sounds very modern and forward thinking for something that came out in the 60s honestly
Def Leppard
1/5
I wish I was "def" after listening to them. So boring and dated. I just can't do this classic rock kinda stuff. Never could.
X-Ray Spex
5/5
Fire! I know the name but I'm not sure I've ever listened to them before and I definitely regret it. Female-fronted punk is always amazing. This is super fun. I love the sax too.
4/5
It's really cool hearing this time capsule of such an insanely huge turning point in music history. I can't imagine what it would've been like to be there in person. Dylan really had to have an insane amount of confidence to trust his gut that this move was the right one, and history has clearly proven him right. Both halves of the set are killer but you can tell that the second electric set was really the future.
Iggy Pop
5/5
Another killer album from Iggy Pop. I like how rowdy and upbeat this one is. The title is accurate. The drumming in particular here is a highlight, with rollicking beats that really propel the songs.
De La Soul
5/5
A hip-hop classic. Fun, funny, and danceable with just a hint of psychedelia. It’s impossible to put this on without smiling.
Baaba Maal
1/5
Interesting but hard to connect to. The sparse instrumentals don't really give me a ton to latch onto especially when I can't understand the lyrics.
Happy Mondays
5/5
This Madchester scene is new to me but if they're all like this I'm going to have to check more out. This is really great stuff. Very dancey and psychedelic while still being clearly rock. I can hear a lot of influence on later dance punk and psych music I listen to.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Definitely one of McCartney's best post-Beatles releases. The title track and Jet are both insanely good singles. The album is just solid and catchy throughout with no filter. Maybe not as mind blowing as you know he can be, but that's only because of the insanely high standards.
Dexys Midnight Runners
1/5
Meh it's inoffensive but just kinda standard fair pop songs? Just doesn't really do much for me. The production is very clean.
Elis Regina
4/5
Wow, what a powerful voice. I don't need to understand what she's saying to appreciate the emotion behind it. She has some insane precision with her vocals too. The sparse instrumentation really lets her voice shine.
The Kinks
2/5
It's a little basic as you'd expect from a pop rock album from '66 but it's still fun and has some neat proto-psych production at many points.
Minor Threat
4/5
Classic hardcore punk. It goes hard af, what more do you need to say?
Dr. Dre
5/5
GOATED. So much of this album is just iconic. The beats especially, you can hear the influence so clearly even to this day!
M.I.A.
4/5
Kala is definitely more iconic but this album has most of the same positives. It's fun and eclectic throughout with influences from everywhere.
Billy Joel
4/5
I've never given Billy Joel much consideration beyond just what you get through cultural osmosis, but I actually really enjoyed this! It's catchy throughout with clean and upbeat production.
5/5
Love this album. Honestly I think it’s Muse’s best. Lots of variety but almost all bangers. Knights of Cydonia in particular is an all-timer. Also the best music video ever in my opinion.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
The wild industrial percussion is definitely the highlight here for me. I love when bands use found objects for percussion. I can see the influence on other later industrial that I love like Nine Inch Nails. The vocals are a bit grating though.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
I love the jazz aspects mixed in here. The parts that push that forward are the most interesting to me. The vocals don't do a lot for me but thankfully it's instrumental for a large portion. Not sure I'd listen to it super frequently but it's fun and different especially for a 60s album.
Hanoi Rocks
1/5
This kinda glam hair metal classic rock stuff just does nothing for me.
Death In Vegas
3/5
I love electronic rock so I do really dig this. I'm not sure it really has the relevance or influence to justify being on this list though in spite of that.
Otis Redding
5/5
Otis's voice is just so iconic. Such a shame we didn't get much more of it. This album is one of the rare albums from this era that still 100% stands up today and doesn't feel dated at all. It's just all bangers.
Cat Stevens
5/5
Gorgeous album. The melodies are simple but so effective, and his vocals are simply heavenly. The lyrics are powerful as well.
fIREHOSE
2/5
Enjoyable 90s (well 89 technically) indie rock. As a big indie rock fan I definitely enjoy it. I don't think it's particularly notable in the context of this list though which dings it for me. Also, the cover art is awful.
The Youngbloods
4/5
Really chill but so lush. I love the variety of instrumentation. The vocals are super upbeat and pleasant as well. Good relaxation music!
Skunk Anansie
5/5
I think I would've been absolutely obsessed with this if I heard it when it came out. This is exactly up my alley. I love the trip-hop and nu-metal influences, and the vocals are gorgeous and intense in equal measure. I love the heavy lyrical themes on racism and feminism too.
XTC
4/5
Really chill but so lush. I love the variety of instrumentation. The vocals are super upbeat and pleasant as well. Good relaxation music!
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
I love soul and funk, and Curtis is obviously one of the greats. In addition to being incredibly funky musically, the lyrics on this album are so powerful. The cover is incredible too. Definitely a classic worthy of this list.
G. Love & Special Sauce
5/5
So 90s but in the best way. This album does "sloppy" better than nearly anyone. It doesn't feel lazy, it feels incredibly intentional. So many slacker anthems here.
Donald Fagen
5/5
Just like Steely Dan, the production here is just next level. It's so clean and perfect. I enjoy how much jazzier this is than some other Steely Dan stuff as well. The lyrics are also a nice change of pace.
The Incredible String Band
5/5
This is so fun and goofy! I love how they just randomly throw every single instrument they can in at random intervals just to be silly. Doing that in a way that still manages to keep a cohesive album is insanely impressive. The core folk backing here has to be very strong to hold it all together and it does.
The Doors
5/5
This album is in basically every "best debut albums" list and for good reason. It's catchy, lyrically deep, and hugely influential and creative. Fully deserves its spot here.
10cc
5/5
Poppy and yet still creative and unabashedly weird. I love how eclectic and catchy it is. It's almost prog pop at some points. Killer!
Basement Jaxx
5/5
Absolutely classic house. I typically prefer more deep house stuff but as far as the more upbeat, dancey side goes this is impeccable. I love the Latin flavor throughout it.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
I just can't do glam rock. This one is admittedly better than most. I don't outright hate it but it also isn't something I'd really ever listen to.
Dolly Parton
5/5
Exactly the kind of classic country I fw. I love the vocal harmonies and all three of their voices are so powerful.
The KLF
5/5
More electronica in this list yes! This album is banger after banger. Love the synth sounds and the vocals are consistently great.
The Strokes
5/5
Are The Strokes kinda overrated? Sure. Is this still a near flawless piece of aughts indie rock? Also yes. You’ve gotta respect it.
Mike Oldfield
5/5
Even though it's only two long tracks, this album has so much variety and touches on so many styles. It's insane that he was only 19 when he recorded this. A true prog rock classic.
Madonna
1/5
I just can't sorry. So cheesy and cringey.
Spiritualized
5/5
A borderline flawless album. It perfectly mixes elements of psychedelia, shoegaze, space rock, and even soul. Lyrically dense and powerful with gorgeous and varied instrumentation.
Buck Owens
4/5
60s country generally seems to avoid most of the things that I hate about country, and this is no different. It's very pretty and relaxing. I always love harmonies like this too.
Bob Dylan
5/5
My favorite Dylan album. Highway 61 Revisited might be his first electric album, but I think this one is the one that truly showed that it was the future. Lyrically, instrumentally, and emotionally it’s still in a tier of its own.
Elliott Smith
5/5
As a certified sadboi, I am mandated to pay tribute to one of the kings. This album is flawless and beautiful.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
A bit corny and on the nose if I'm being honest. Instrumentally it's darker than some of his other work, which matches the subject matter well but comes off as somewhat drab unfortunately. Definitely not his strongest in my opinion but still solid.
Queen
5/5
Queen don't miss. While this isn't my favorite Queen album it's still pure bangers.
Love
3/5
Solid mid-60s psychedelia. It's nothing mindblowing today but even attempting an 18 minute long track in 1966 is pretty impressive.
Haircut 100
2/5
Fairly generic 80s new wave. It's fun and inoffensive but isn't doing anything really novel or interesting to me. Good upbeat background music though.
Joe Ely
3/5
Love the instrumentation blending a lot of classic country with some contemporary (for the release) rock stylings. The vocals approach that style of country twang that grates for me at times but overall they aren't bad.
Aerosmith
3/5
Classic rock still remains firmly not my thing, but as far as it goes these guys aren't too bad. Lots of catchy melodies and the lyrics are humorous enough to actually be interesting.
Dennis Wilson
2/5
Certainly is a 70s rock album. It's fine. Inoffensive. It certainly doesn't approach anywhere near The Beach Boy's brilliance.
Janet Jackson
2/5
80s pop. Kind of a snore. I didn't outright hate it though.
Roxy Music
4/5
Definitely the peak of Roxy Music. I love Eno and this album is one of the best examples of his rock side. Bryan Ferry's vocals are also on top form here. So much emotion behind them, but also a ton of humor.
The Byrds
4/5
I'm a sucker for 60s psych rock, what can I say. This album is very spacey and chill, while still having enough energy to keep it open. I love the ethereal vocals and guitar.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Killer as always from Nick Cave. This is one of my favorites from him. The PJ Harvey collabs add some nice variety to the album. Instrumentally I think this is one of his most gorgeous releases.
David Crosby
3/5
Cool mix of loose folk and some psychedelia. I enjoy how casual it feels, without sounding sloppy or lazy. That cover art is atrocious though.
Nick Drake
5/5
One of the greatest folk albums of all time. His vocals are so intimate and emotive, and the guitar playing is immaculate.
Bauhaus
4/5
Stark and dark post-punk but still makes some attempts to be palatable and catchy which balances it out well. It has just enough sense of humor to lighten it up a bit without feeling too cheesy for the most part.
Dolly Parton
5/5
Great ACTUAL country with relatable lyrics that don't just read like parody. This is the real deal. Dolly's voice here is incredible too, alternating between gorgeous and deeply heartfelt.
5/5
Killer album. The production here is so lush but still never overshadows her amazing voice. I love the Thom Yorke features too as a Radiohead fan.
Santana
5/5
Absolute fire. All the instruments here are firing on all cylinders and feel so tight. The pronounced Latin influence mixes so effectively with the psych rock elements.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
I hadn't heard of this before but it's pretty fun. Not sure it's really an album you MUST hear before you die, but it's enjoyable hip-hop. She's got good flow. The beats and lyrics are solid but not remarkable either really in my opinion.
The Only Ones
4/5
I can see how this fits in alongside other 70s punk like Sex Pistols, but the more elaborate instrumentation and lyrics focused more on love than anger are very interesting and set it apart. Really cool stuff.
Paul McCartney
3/5
Obviously I love The Beatles and his work there, but so much of this just feels undercooked and undeveloped. There are some gems such as Junk and Maybe I'm Amazed, but a lot of basic, forgettable songs as well.
The Verve
1/5
No more britpop, please. It's so boring. This one at least has some psychedelia influences that provide a BIT of interest, but not enough to make me excited about it. It's also far too long and plodding.
The Zutons
2/5
Entertaining aughts indie that occasionally touches on a few unique genres for flavor. It's neat but doesn't really feel essential enough to justify its inclusion here, especially with its clear heavy influence from The Coral.
Stephen Stills
4/5
I like how each side has its own theme. Side 1 is probably my favorite just because it's so rocking. Side 2 being country is less my thing but still enjoyable. I dig how eclectic side 3 is. Side 4 is a strong return to side 1's style. The Treasure is epic.
Black Sabbath
5/5
LOVE Sabbath and this might be my favorite album of theirs. It goes as hard as their earlier stuff at points, but also has a lot more range.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
5/5
One of the best prog albums of all time. No notes.
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Gave it an honest shot but it just didn't do much for me. Kinda boring. I'm sure there's a degree of lack of exposure but I think it's mostly just not my thing.
David Holmes
5/5
Amazing variety of 90s electronic sounds here. In spite of how different each song is it still manages to feel very cohesive. Part of this is probably the effective use of field recordings throughout.
The Stooges
4/5
Love how weird this gets. There's plenty of garage rock and proto-punk, but also some borderline noise aspects and the 10 minute wildness of We Will Fall with John Cale on viola. Cool stuff.
The Slits
5/5
This is the kind of thing I want to see here. Super unique and inventive, but also has a unique place in music history. I love how forward thinking the feminism of this album is. The mix of reggae and punk is also super cool.
The Sabres Of Paradise
5/5
I love the spooky, dark vibe throughout this album. It really feels conceptual in spite of being entirely instrumental. One of those albums you can just get lost in. I'm always happy to see more electronic inclusion here as well.
Sade
4/5
Definitely a classic for a reason. Her voice is so smooth, and the instrumentals here are slinky and varied. They keep it interesting enough to stay exciting throughout, but also leave lots of room for her vocals to breathe.
Prince
4/5
I'm not the biggest Prince fan but this album is probably the one I return to the most. Lots of really fun funky stuff here that is super impressively forward-thinking.
Common
3/5
Too much Kanye in 2024 but setting that aside this album is really solid. Common's lyrics are personal but still really interesting and creative. The beats are fantastic because whatever else you can say about Kanye (a lot), the dude could make a beat.
Animal Collective
5/5
GOATED. One of the greatest indie rock albums ever and a pure 10/10.
Julian Cope
3/5
I like the themes this album touches on like environmentalism and antitheism. Instrumentally it's a bit monotonous over it's hour+ runtime but it's pleasant enough.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Too 80s, too poppy, too country for me. Just not my vibe at all. I can respect it though. As far as this kind of music goes it's much more tolerable to me than most, and I can tell that it had artistic thought and creativity put into it.
TV On The Radio
4/5
These guys are one of the big bands from that aughts era indie that really shaped my music tastes. I'll usually go with Cookie Mountain over this one but they're both bangers. This one definitely feels a bit more raw and dark.
Billy Bragg
3/5
Very strong lyrically. Instrumentally it's a bit samey and basic but I do enjoy the guitar tones he uses.
Ride
5/5
Deservedly one of the big classic albums of shoegaze. I enjoy how Ride's vocals are a bit more clear in the mix than a lot of shoegaze. They do a good job of balancing that wall of sound with more concrete sound.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
90s era rock is such a nostalgic sound for me. I've listened to Afghan Whigs casually but I don't think I've ever sat down and played an album straight through. I really dug it. The soulful elements really add a unique dimension.
Randy Newman
3/5
Wow those lyrics on the first track... I know that it's supposed to be lampooning those views but it's still rough to hear. Aside from that, the album is really enjoyable if somewhat slight. His voice just transports me to being a kid watching Toy Story though which makes it hard to not be happy while listening.
Ice Cube
4/5
Sure like a lot of 90s rap it feels a bit dated at this point, and there's definitely a lot of stuff here that would be considered problematic today, but there's also a ton of social and political commentary that is absolutely ON POINT. Ice Cube's raps are intense and passionate, and the beats compliment them perfectly. Really killer debut for him.
Britney Spears
5/5
Probably THE pop album I think about from my childhood. I find it impossible to separate from nostalgia but I'll say it, it's iconic.
5/5
Very deserving album to be on this list. It's hugely influential and also just plain fun to listen to.
The Byrds
3/5
Another album from them that's a bit too scattered for me. I do like a lot of the individual songs though. The sci-fi studio goofiness of C.T.A.-102 is very forward thinking.
The Cult
3/5
I'm definitely not the biggest fan of 80s hard rock, but this was actually fairly enjoyable. The riffs are great throughout and the vocals have that 80s hair metal style but a bit subdued instead of sounding like parody like usual.
The Shamen
3/5
Definitely a bit dated sounding at points. It's VERY 90s. However, I really love the beats here and the synth sounds they achieve. Really fun stuff.
The Beta Band
4/5
I've never listened to them intentionally before but I recognized several songs from this. I really like the vocalist's voice, and the minimalist electronic backing really compliments it well leading to a cool sultry and dark vibe.
The Fall
4/5
Another cool album from The Fall. I love the more electronic influence here. I think it adds a lot to their sound. Lyrically it's very witty like usual as well.
The Rolling Stones
1/5
I'm not a big fan of The Rolling Stones in general if I'm being honest, and I also usually dislike albums that are predominately not written by the artists themselves. Needless to say, this one didn't really land for me. It's not unlistenable or anything but it just doesn't do anything for me.
The Rolling Stones
1/5
Oh joy, more Rolling Stones. Once again I am left feeling absolutely nothing from it. I've tried so hard to appreciate them but no dice. This album ranges from uninteresting to actively obnoxious.
Cypress Hill
3/5
Very 90s rap but very good 90s rap. Sometimes it's the vibe. For some reason Cypress Hill never stood out to me as much as some of their contemporaries but listening now I appreciate it more than I expected. The Latin vibes give it a bit of a unique spin.
Brian Eno
5/5
Two GOATS. This album is so cool. The sampling is just insane, and the end result is just such a satisfying jammy psychedelic feast. Love it!
Neil Young
4/5
I hadn't ever listened to this album in spite of listening to a fair bit of Neil Young, but I definitely plan to again. I love how raw and dark it is. You can feel the anger not only in his voice, but the way he plays the guitar. The cover is really striking too.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Formative album for me. It still holds up nearly 20 years later too. Just bangers from start to finish.
Silver Jews
4/5
Another band that I've always meant to get more into. This was really good. Just country enough to give that vibe but without treading into the insufferable aspects for me. His lyrics are really solid as well.
Todd Rundgren
4/5
Yet another artist I've listened to songs from but never a complete album. Really glad I'm finally doing it because this is quite good. It's very varied but still feels relatively cohesive. I love the mix of poppy catchy songs with more experimental and psychedelic material.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Honestly I feel like I should've given this more of a chance than I have. Their later stuff is still the peak to me but the roughness of this album really works with their sound.
King Crimson
5/5
10/10 no notes. I love prog and this is the quintessential prog album in my eyes.
Morrissey
1/5
Still no.
The Birthday Party
2/5
It's decent but I definitely prefer Cave's later solo stuff. I appreciate the "rough" sound they were going for but mostly it just makes it kind of a chore to listen to at points.
Soft Cell
4/5
Tainted Love is obviously a total classic but honestly the rest of the album really holds up too. I love the icy synths and the vocals perfectly compliment them.
Tim Buckley
4/5
I like this one more than the earlier albums. The psychedelia elements are really cool and his vocals really shine here.
PJ Harvey
5/5
Such a killer debut. It's raw, intense, and passionate. I love how she portrays female sexuality in such a positive way, but without shying away from it or its power. The instrumentation complements the lyrics perfectly.
Doves
4/5
Wow I'd forgotten about this band but I remember listening to it at the time and really enjoying it. I think it's aged very well and holds up as a great example of early aughts indie rock.
Mott The Hoople
1/5
Goofy and glam in an unappealing way. As far as glam rock goes it's slightly more tolerable than average, but it has that super dated 70s sound I just don't dig. I don't see myself revisiting it.
The Kinks
4/5
Solid fun 60s pop. I like this one more than some of their others. It has a bit of that psychedelic edge to it that adds a lot.
Liz Phair
4/5
Somehow I find this album to be simultaneously underrated and overrated. It's really good 90s alternative/grunge but it's also not the second coming like a lot of people act. It's so entwined with the sexism of the time (both to its benefit and detriment) that it's tough to get a truly accurate read on it. Regardless, it's definitely a good album at the very least.
Justin Timberlake
1/5
JT is a gross person and his music is mediocre.
Kate Bush
3/5
Not quite as into this as the previous couple but it's still decent. Some cool experimentation with sounds and styles but it feels a bit scattered too as a result.
Red Snapper
3/5
Love the instrumentals. Acid jazz is so rad, and they blend together acoustic and electric instruments so smoothly. Most of the vocals are forgettable at best and obnoxious at worst though and I kinda of wish the whole thing was just instrumental.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
Awesome gothic rock. They used a drum machine super effectively and it really lends itself to the vibe here.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Sioux's vocals are so raw and intense. This is a wild debut album that really shows where they would go. The Beatles cover is an interesting inclusion, but I really like their take on it.
T. Rex
5/5
Clean, perfectly executed rock and roll. Every note feels completely deliberate. This album is just exactly right. It also hugely influenced many of my favorite bands.
Hole
4/5
Another really great 90s alt album from Hole. The Smashing Pumpkins influence is apparent, but I think it really works with their style.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Absolutely gorgeous piano playing. I love the little bits of life you can hear from both him and the audience, clearly showing how moved they were by the insane improvisation here. Great stuff.
Portishead
5/5
Another classic from Portishead. I love the darker vibe on this album. It's a great spooky season listen.
Talvin Singh
4/5
What a wild mix of styles from across the globe. The general combination of electronic music with Indian classical is just a perfect compliment, and then he adds influences from a ton of other places to really put it over the top.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
I enjoy the vibes. It has quite a lot of variety even with me being very unfamiliar with the style.
Ute Lemper
4/5
Very theatrical. Her voice is really great and the guests compliment it well.
Giant Sand
4/5
I really like his voice, and how low and crackly it is. The sparse instrumentation compliments it well and knows exactly when to jump in and out. I'll have to explore them more.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
It's nearly impossible to follow up an album like Are You Experienced, but this album does an admirable job. I enjoy the expanded sonic palate and some of the songs here are absolute rippers.
Django Django
2/5
Really bizarre inclusion consider the fact that even at the time this released they were considered a one hit wonder, and that fact hasn't changed at all in the intervening years. Default is a bop and a half though I won't lie.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Iconic classic of the g-funk era. It still sounds so fresh to this day. Some parts have aged poorly admittedly but I can accept that for what it is.
Japan
4/5
Can't go wrong with some solid new wave. It's interesting that they started out as a glam rock band. They sound very self-assured here even though they were trying out an entirely new genre.
Hot Chip
4/5
Hot Chip are such a slept on band. They’re consistently weird and fun but also catchy and accessible. Personally, I’d put One Life Stand or Made in the Dark well ahead of this one but it’s still great and I’m happy to see them recognized at all.
Butthole Surfers
2/5
Definitely notable for being this weird and intense in 1987, but I think looking at it with a modern lens it definitely feels a bit juvenile at points. I'm all for weird experimental music, but so much of this feels weird just to be weird without trying to also be good.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Another solid album. Didn't blow me away but I also didn't want to turn it off. I think I preferred Ocean Rain though.
Richard Thompson
4/5
Their harmonies are really great, and the lyrics are powerful. I enjoy that the instrumentation has a bit more oomph to it than a lot of folk rock too.
Happy Mondays
4/5
“Rock band does ecstasy and makes a psychedelic record” is such a trope but it almost always hits. This is a great example. I love how rough it is. It feels like constrained chaos.
Suzanne Vega
5/5
I find a lot of singer-songwriter stuff somewhat self-indulgent and boring but I really enjoyed this. Her voice is gorgeous, and the guitar is so well-produced here. It's crystal clear, and the other instruments stick to the background mostly allowing it to shine. Great album.
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
It's very distinctly 80s hip-hop, which of course is going to sound a bit dated. As far as 80s hip-hop goes though, it's killer. It's impossible to not get hyped up to something like It's Tricky.
5/5
The GOAT. Honestly if I had to pick the greatest album of all time it would be this.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Never really fully got the hype around these guys. It's solid enough power pop but doesn't blow me away or anything. I don't think it's terribly notable.
The Cure
5/5
The Cure are consistently great. I enjoy how stripped back this one is, and how much of it is instrumental. It really elevates the creepy atmosphere they were going for here.
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
I'm not usually crazy about supergroups but this one really works for me. I'm a big Arctic Monkeys fan and TLSP really sounds like Arctic Monkeys but more epic and cinematic. Great album.
Talking Heads
4/5
Talking Heads are so consistent. While I think the surrounding albums (77 and Fear of Music) edge this one out, it's still really great. Love the cover too.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
If I'm going to listen to The Rolling Stones, this is the album I'd listen to. That said, I don't particularly ever want to listen to it.
Carole King
4/5
Not my typical thing but I dig it. Her voice is great and the instrumentation compliments it perfectly. Very wholesome and welcoming.
B.B. King
5/5
A quintessential blues album. His vocals just cut right through you. The tight backing instrumentation lets it shine.
Prince
5/5
Prince is one of the GOATs and this album is definitely his defining statement. Simply iconic.
Metallica
2/5
I'll always think of this album as so much wasted potential unfortunately. The way James and Lars nuked the bass just to fufill their massive egos really sours it for me. If I'm able to set that aside though there are some fantastic songs here.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
I admire how weird and varied this is but ultimately for me it doesn't coalesce into an album that I find particularly enjoyable to listen through. It definitely feels its age, and I think the good stuff is surrounded by a bit too much fluff and meandering.
Kanye West
1/5
It’s ok to punch nazis.
Neu!
4/5
The dichotomy between the two sides is really interesting. As a fan of both ambient and krautrock, I'm a fan of both. I can definitely feel the influence of this album on a lot of music I love.
Queen Latifah
2/5
She's alright. I think there were better female rappers at the time but I can appreciate her impact in promoting women in rap. Musically it's got that old school hip hop vibe with pretty typical themes.
Christina Aguilera
1/5
Generic corpo-pop. It's too all over the place to really have its own identity.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
This album has a very interesting backstory which I appreciate. Musically I won't pretend to be knowledgeable on the style but it's really fun to listen to and you can definitely hear the emotion behind it even without understanding the lyrics.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I like this album a bit more than the other two I've heard here. Being their debut, it's a bit more raw and intense. It feels very gothic and dark.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Killer 90s rap with great beats from DJ Premier. Of course it has the requisite misogyny sadly but that's unsurprising. I don't think this album really has the influence and prevalence to qualify for a place here, but it's fun to listen to regardless.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I'm learning to appreciate soul more as I get older. I'm still not huge on the overly sappy lyrics, but the instrumentals are gorgeous and lush, and the vocals themselves are really pleasant to listen to.
Magazine
4/5
I'll never complain about another foundational post-punk album. I can definitely see the influence this has had on later bands in the genre. They can be a bit goofier than a lot of post-punk which is somewhat dour which I enjoy.
The Avalanches
5/5
100% deserves to be considered the quintessential plunderphonics album. The amount of samples packed into it is genuinely insane and it forms such an amazing cohesive experience you honestly would have no idea any of it it was sampled whatsoever. The Frontier Psychiatrist music video is still one of the best ever as well in my eyes.
The Beta Band
3/5
Never got into these guys for some reason. It’s solid 2000s indie rock. I think there’s better options but I can’t complain either.
Deep Purple
4/5
I prefer Sabbath as far as 70s hard rock/metal goes but these guys are really solid too. Definitely influential.
System Of A Down
4/5
Including this over Toxicity is wild to me, since that one is definitely the band's magnum opus and most well-known album, but this album still absolutely rocks so I'm not that upset.
Björk
5/5
Vocal-centric albums are such a rare treat and this one is truly one of the all-time best. I also appreciate how the vocal focus perfectly compliments the album's themes of focusing on humanity and naturalism.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
4/5
Ripping punk with a blues bent. It's a wild combination but it really works. The first 5 seconds let you know exactly what to expect with such an amazing scream.
The Waterboys
2/5
Not really my bag. The Irish elements feel very surface level and the album overall is just kinda saccharine.
Joanna Newsom
5/5
Newsom earned her place as one of the tentpoles of the aughts folky indie movement. This album is everything you'd want out of something like this. It's epic, but also intimate and personal. Emotive, but also intricate and technical.
Talking Heads
5/5
One of the GOATs for sure. One of those albums that is so influential and yet still stands up as simply an incredible record that is inimitable.
Ozomatli
4/5
What an interesting mix of Latin, rock, and rap. Lots of super catchy choruses that had me head bopping. It was cool seeing Chali 2na pop up too. I wasn't sure what to expect here but ended up really enjoying it.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
Mostly stays in a chill , low-key mood which admittedly isn't my go to with jazz but they do a good job of filling out very lush textures.
The Associates
3/5
Super weird and fun mix of post-punk and pop. I appreciate how much they committed to just making it as extra as possible. It definitely feels VERY 80s but in a self-aware way.
4/5
Been a huge fan of Liars for years now. This isn't my favorite but it definitely laid the groundwork for the rest of their career. The tribal vibes and minimalist, dark beats are so effective at conveying a sinister vibe while still being groovy enough to make you bob your head.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
I find him a bit overrated compared to some of his contemporaries who I like more, but this album is solid. I like the interesting and unique chords he uses on many of the songs here.
Bee Gees
4/5
Love the harmonies here, and the unexpectedly dark subject matter is really interesting. The production is really gorgeous as well.
Ian Dury
4/5
Very funny and obscene. I really like the funky bass lines, which add a lot of variety and interest to the more pub rock side of it.
Everything But The Girl
5/5
Gorgeous. The downtempo beats and her sultry voice perfectly capture a vibe. I'm honestly kicking myself for not listening to them more already.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
More obnoxious and less interesting than the rest of his stuff, which never really wowed me either. It feels like it's simultaneously lazy but also way too tryhard.
Peter Tosh
3/5
It took almost 50 years after the release of this album before it was legalized where I live which is absolutely idiotic. I'm not much of an expert on reggae to say how deserved this placement here is, but I certainly enjoy it.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Inarguably essential inclusion here as the essential birth of heavy metal as a genre. Sure, it suffers a little bit from the "Seinfeld is unfunny" effect considering how much it set the tone for metal as a whole, and some of it feels a bit corny considering how much darker and more intense metal has gotten in the intervening half-century, but all of that is simply because it was the FIRST. The songs honestly still rip to this day too.
Tom Waits
5/5
I'm a casual Tom Waits enjoyer but this one is maybe my favorite. It's consistently weird and cool and embodies his vibe perfectly.
D'Angelo
4/5
Hugely influential as one of the main albums that brought neo-soul into the limelight, and it's just catchy and well-written throughout. I do prefer his newer stuff a bit but this album is amazing too.
David Gray
2/5
It's certainly pleasant enough to listen to but it rarely goes above "inoffensive" for me. The parts that introduce more electronic elements stand out a bit.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
5/5
So many band I love directly owe much of their sound to this band and album. The mix of fuzz and noise with pop sensibilities is such a perfect combination and evokes such a warmth.
Stephen Stills
3/5
I like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and I've checked out some of the solo stuff from several of them but not much from Stills really. It's in a similar vein to a lot of the group's stuff so it's enjoyable. Doesn't have quite the same wow factor but it's no slouch either.
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
I wasn't sure what to expect based on the title but this is really dope. Very experimental and weird for 1967. I like how it mixes country sounds with almost prog-like style at points.
Van Morrison
3/5
I liked this one a bit more than Astral Weeks. It's not really my style still but the jazzier and more involved production adds some interest for me.
The Saints
4/5
Really dope punk. I like how the sound is much more filled here and less stripped down than most punk from that era. Lots of delicious fuzz. The brass sections on some songs are amazing too.
Fishbone
4/5
Funky rock with some really nice production. I enjoyed the social commentary of it as well.
Jack White
4/5
Not the Jack White solo album I would've picked for this list but it's still very good. The man just knows how to write a damn good rock song.
Aerosmith
1/5
Awful. Just everything I hate about classic rock and glam. Even down to the trashy cover. It occasionally tries to venture out into a more interesting mix of sounds, but then immediately turns back to the same crap.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Joplin's vocals are really powerful here. Instrumentally it has some solid moments that do capture a live intensity, but also some weaker ones that feel a bit tired. Overall a really enjoyable listen though.
Fred Neil
5/5
This is pretty forward-thinking for an album from 66. I love the varied instrumentation, and he has a great voice. The 8 minute raga track at the end really surprised me too.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Even at the time all the circlejerking about 9/11 made me wary and in the intervening decades I feel like I've only been proven more and more right about how manipulative our government was and how much it utilized it to abuse us. Not interested in media glorifying that.
Neil Young
5/5
Some of his greatest songs here. This album still holds up among his absolute best.
Air
4/5
Really chill. Amazing vibes. I'm always into analogue electronic sounds and this one delivers.
Iron Butterfly
4/5
Everyone talks about the title track for obvious reasons, but honestly the rest of the album is really solid 60's psych as well. That absolute behemoth of a title track though, it's really an iconic song.
Gotan Project
2/5
The mix of electronica and tango is definitely novel and interesting. I think it doesn't really do enough to justify it's runtime though and I got a bit bored by the end.
TLC
3/5
Not really my thing but I can respect it. The beats are very well produced and chill. Waterfalls is a fun song. I think they should've trimmed a couple tracks, especially the interludes and made it a bit tighter.
New Order
3/5
Definitely very 80s feeling but I'm a fan regardless. They did a good job integrating synths while still feeling like a rock band here.
The Stooges
4/5
Another really consistent proto-punk album from The Stooges. Very tight with almost no filler. I always like when punk throws in a saxophone too.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
More unique than the other album from them I heard here which is nice. Still a bit too "classic rock" for my tastes but I didn't feel the need to turn it off. I liked the brass section.
Mercury Rev
5/5
Feels like an amalgamation of a lot of stuff I really dig - Neil Young-esque vocals, Flaming Lips influenced instrumentals, and even a bit of Chemical Brothers influence. Very cool. I will have to check them out more.
The Electric Prunes
1/5
Generic 60s garage. It's fine but it doesn't do anything notable enough to justify its inclusion here in my eyes.
Pavement
5/5
A landmark album for indie rock and just banger after banger.
Ray Price
2/5
Not my vibe really but it's not unpleasant either. The intro is a bit goofy and feels VERY dated but you can't really blame them when it's 60+ years old.
The Residents
1/5
Entertainingly weird but I'm not sure how much I'd actually listen to it as it's genuinely unpleasantly out of key a lot. I'm interested but in a purely intellectual way.
Dinosaur Jr.
5/5
Dinosaur Jr. are so freaking good and this is one of their best. I love their mix of noise and melody. No one else really does it as well as them.
Public Image Ltd.
4/5
I love post-punk and this is a great foundational album. Love how much they let the grooves just go here, and the funky bass. That packaging is iconic too.
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
Mix of post-punk and new wave in such a fun way. The cover is really striking too. It definitely feels 80s but that doesn't detract from it.
Fugazi
5/5
Fugazi are just badass as hell. 'Nuff said.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Really solid 90s alt rock, but I wouldn't really say it does anything super out of the box either. I dug it though.
Tori Amos
4/5
I'm often not the biggest singer-songwriter fan but this album is very good. Her voice is fantastic and the lyrics hit a lot of very powerful topics. Instrumentation is varied and complements her voice well.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
I'm a newbie when it comes to bluegrass but this seems like a great starting place. I thought it was really fun.
Gary Numan
5/5
One of my favorite new wave albums. It’s just so dancey and fun. My son is obsessed with Cars too (for obvious reasons).
Pantera
4/5
Classic thrash album. Dude's will hear this and say "hell yeah". I saw many shows at the venue where Dimebag Darrel was killed and it definitely looked like a venue where someone would get shot at.
Bon Jovi
1/5
I just can't do glam. The cringey lyrics certainly don't help. You've gotta have a lot of skill to pull off sex noises in a song and in my eyes they just don't.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
I think his second album hits even harder but this is still an incredible debut. The beats here just make you want to bang your head.
John Cale
2/5
The phrase "hanky panky nohow" is so goofy I can't handle it. Otherwise this album is enjoyable 70s pop rock. Not mind blowing for me but I liked it.
2/5
I have a lot of nostalgia for this album and I love it, but it does NOT deserve to be on this list in any capacity haha. Probably the most conflicted I've felt about how to rate something so far.
The Magnetic Fields
5/5
This was my first time ever listening to it straight through in its entirety. What a great album. It shockingly lives up to its bold premise. There's so much variety here too that it never feels stale.
Anthrax
4/5
I've listened to less Anthrax than the other 3 of the Thrash greats, but this album is still an absolute ripper. It's a bit catchier and poppier than most, but without losing its edge at all.
Gram Parsons
3/5
Pretty solid for country rock which admittedly isn't my favorite. The lyrics approach cliche at points but do enough to stick out that it isn't a deal breaker for me.
Living Colour
2/5
Definitely a little dated as 80s metal but the playing is really solid and thematically it touches on some interesting topics.
Goldfrapp
4/5
I've listened to them a bit but mostly their more dancey stuff. This is a really cool change of pace. I love the use of acoustic instruments. Folktronica is a tough genre to avoid cliche and I think they nailed it.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Such powerful lyrics. It's not the type of thing I'd go back and listen to much but I really respect it.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Wow I actually like this one a lot more than the others on here. The brass really adds a lot. Still has a couple I'm not as into but overall this is much more entertaining.
Bill Callahan
4/5
I've only casually listened to Bill Callahan, and this is probably my first full album listen, but I really dig it. 2009 really was a banner year for music and this is no different. Great lyrics and vocals and lush instrumentation.
The Byrds
4/5
Poppier than the later stuff but in a good way. It definitely reminds me of early Beatles, in that it's just very fun.
Weather Report
4/5
Jazz Fusion is always a good choice. This feels a tiny bit dated and you can tell it's from the 70s but it's still really good.
The Boo Radleys
4/5
Love the mix of influences here, including one of my favorites, shoegaze. It doesn't get lost in the wall of sound though, but explores a lot of other areas including indie rock, jazz, and even reggae.
Carpenters
4/5
Gorgeous vocals and beautiful instrumentation. This album is a perfect mix of upbeat and melancholy.
Green Day
5/5
Formative album for me and still holds up 20 years later. This is Green Day's magnum opus in my eyes. Lots of great commentary but also amazing songwriting. I love the suites in particular.
Sam Cooke
4/5
It's wild that this was held back at release for being "too gritty". From a modern perspective it's so tame. You can definitely hear his passion in his voice though so calling it "raw" I get.
Joan Armatrading
2/5
Decent folk rock. She has a good voice. Doesn't really grip me heavily though.
5/5
Psychedelic prog is my weak spot. This is really amazing. Love the vocal harmonies and the eclectic mix of styles.
Jurassic 5
5/5
Killer beats and the MCs have such chemistry. The constant switching between them lends the songs great forward motion which really works.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Another really solid album from Marley. I like the slightly darker edge to a lot of it. Some of my favorite songs of his are on here.
The Pogues
2/5
Still just not something I have much interest in at all. This one is a bit less actively grating to me though for most of it at least.
Harry Nilsson
5/5
This is an album I'd been meaning to dive into for a while and it did not disappoint. His vocals are powerful and the instrumentation is so full and beautiful.
Adam & The Ants
4/5
Love when people push punk into new weird directions. The drums are a particular highlight on this album
David Bowie
5/5
Very stripped back, lots of acoustic guitar. This album is a nice change of pace for Bowie with lots of folk influence. Dude never missed.
The Human League
4/5
Catchy 80s synth pop. I was jamming hard. Sure, it feels a bit dated like a lot of 80s stuff, but it's just fun.
SZA
4/5
Fantastic R&B album. She has a great voice and the instrumentals are smooth as butter. Love Kendrick's feature as well. I'm not really sure it's notable enough to fit on this list but I do really like it.
Miles Davis
5/5
Another classic from the king of jazz. I love how introspective and brooding this one is.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
Simultaneously catchy and experimental. It might be fairly tame by today's standards but for the 50s this is so unique. The sax is a major highlight throughout.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
I love the nearly spoken word vocals. They feel effortless but still have so much bite. The instrumentals are raw and stripped back. Very industrial. I'm surprised I've never listened to this before.
Heaven 17
4/5
Very funky. I love a band with a good concept and the whole fake brand thing is great. The cover really reinforces that.
Yes
5/5
One of the prog greats. I prefer Close to the Edge but Fragile is a solid second place. I like how the sides are split between group and solo contributions. The solo ones are stripped down but not lacking in spite of that.
Soul II Soul
3/5
Interesting to hear a mix of R&B, dance, and reggae. It shouldn't work as well as it does. I could see this doing really well at a club. It's not quite my thing for home listening but it was still pleasant to listen to.
MGMT
5/5
I know that I basically love all aughts-era indie but this album really is something special. Just banger after banger. Such a great coming-of-age album.
R.E.M.
4/5
Good stuff as always from R.E.M. I dig the environmentalist themes. Tragically as relevant today as ever.
Tom Waits
4/5
I love Tom Waits' stuff when it's unhinged and rough and this album is really the start of that. It still holds up as well. I love the vocals and the instrumentation compliments them amazingly.
Pavement
5/5
Another classic of indie rock. Pavement really have a remarkably consistent discography.
Black Flag
5/5
I love hardcore punk so I love this album. One of the GOATs of the genre.
Sabu
2/5
Wasn't expecting this to be so early when I first started listening. It was enjoyable if kind of generic sounding to me. I liked the focus on drums.
PJ Harvey
5/5
Another banger from Harvey. I love Albini's production on this one. It's super clean and tight and allows the intensity of her performance to shine.
Roxy Music
5/5
A really cool mishmash of sounds. I love Eno and his work here is fantastic and mixes with the rest of the band flawlessly to make an album that feels very futuristic even today.
The Mothers Of Invention
5/5
Wild and weird, especially for 66. This album is insane, but somehow still relatively accessible which is very impressive. Plus adding in its place as one of the first concept albums AND one of the first double albums, it's definitely earned its place here.
Skepta
3/5
I really enjoyed this as a casual fan of Grime. I still have the same issue I do with most recent albums on here though, that I think it's far too early to
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
This is the kind of "world" music I really dig. I love how it feels familiar and yet different. The blues mixed with folk elements really work.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
The authors' obsession with britpop strikes again. Adding in an orchestra makes it sound even more pretentious wow.
Jacques Brel
3/5
Not something I'd typically listen to but I appreciated it. His voice is super powerful and the instrumentation really emphasizes it.
Missy Elliott
5/5
Super justified in being here due to how much it pushed forward the concept of women in rap. Plus, it’s just chock full of bangers.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Only half serious when I say it, but definitely not NOT serious - this is back when there was *real* country. Not this "beer in my truck" crap. The lyrics are good and the instrumentation is actually interesting and varied.
Goldfrapp
4/5
Cabaret and trip-hop is a wild combo that works better than it should. Super interesting. The album is just gorgeous from front to back.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
SO good. Love how minimalist and dark it is. The jazz samples just work so well and you can hear the influence on a ton of later stuff.
Isaac Hayes
5/5
One of the best soul albums of all time in my eyes. Every song is given so much room to breathe. The bass in particular is so badass.
Black Sabbath
5/5
One of the greats of the genre for a reason. Truly pioneering and endlessly imitated to this day. Plus the songs just rip.
3/5
It's pleasant and upbeat. Chamber pop has always felt a bit cloying to me though. As far as that goes though it's relatively inoffensive.
Mudhoney
4/5
Riffy grunge with plenty of fuzz. What more can you want?
Beastie Boys
4/5
Another great one from Beastie Boys. So many bangers. It's intense compared to some of their work in a cool way.
Deerhunter
5/5
Wow this is a blast from the past for me. I was really into these guys back then and for some reason I haven't listened to them in many years. It still 100% holds up as some gorgeous indie rock. Bradford Cox is such an interesting person.
Ananda Shankar
4/5
The covers here are super interesting. They sound familiar and yet very different. I'm a big fan of sitar so I greatly enjoyed this. Adding in the Moog at points was a very interesting choice as well.
Patti Smith
4/5
Raw and personal. Her voice is just hypnotic. Lyrically it's super strong too.
The Lemonheads
2/5
Pretty standard fair 90s alt rock to be honest. I enjoy it as a fan of the genre but it doesn't blow me away in any capacity. Your biggest song being a cover isn't a great look either.
Todd Rundgren
4/5
This album leans even further into the psychedelic aspects of the previous album which were my favorite part, so I'm a big fan. It's chaotic almost to a fault.
Anita Baker
3/5
A bit too dated and 80s sounding for my tastes but I can't deny she's got an incredible voice.
The Adverts
3/5
I dig the more melodic, emotional edge it brings to punk. Lyrically it's pretty solid too. I found it pretty enjoyable.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Obviously one of the biggest classics in this list and for good reason. While it's not my typical fair, it's super enjoyable and layered. Lyrically it's got a lot of great songs too.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
Really beautiful and sad, but mixed with a sense of whimsy. It's cool how it's so experimental but in a very subtle and unobtrusive way.
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
Another fantastic example of chamber pop from Belle and Sebastian. These really are classics.
U2
1/5
U2 bad
Arcade Fire
5/5
When I think of “indie rock”, this album is the one I think of. I’d say it’s the quintessential indie rock album. It’s so freaking good.
Syd Barrett
3/5
Decently entertaining psych folk. I think I would enjoy it more if I wasn't comparing it to Pink Floyd but it's still a fun listen, if a bit basic at times.
The Beau Brummels
4/5
Really solid 60s folk/country. I am surprised this didn't do better at the time, the songwriting is really strong and it's enjoyable throughout.
Everything But The Girl
1/5
I love their later electronic stuff but this easy listening stuff does nothing for me. It's largely inoffensive but I don't connect at all.
Suicide
5/5
Killer synth punk. This album was pivotal in popularizing the drum machine and its sound is still so timeless to this day. The cover is iconic too.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
Somehow I've never listened to him but this was great! I love folk but adding some dark gothic elements really makes it extra exciting for me.
John Lennon
4/5
Lots of really powerful stuff here as expected. It's raw and rough but so emotional in a great way.
Hookworms
1/5
I actually really dig this style of music and could see myself reslistening to this for sure. I unfortunately have the same issue I have with most recent albums here though - I simply don't think this album is remotely relevant enough to justify its inclusion in this list. I don't think it's proven influential or culturally relevant at all. I hadn't even heard of it until now.
Barry Adamson
3/5
I legitimately thought it was a movie score before looking it up, so it definitely gets points for achieving what it was going for. It's got some really great strings and bass work in it.
Def Leppard
2/5
Classic rock and hair metal just aren't my thing at all. It's very corny but not in a fun way. As far as those genres go this isn't the worst though I will say. The guitar tone is pretty solid. It's mostly the vocals I dislike.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
My first electronic band and this is arguably their best album. GOATed.
Sugar
4/5
Mould really doesn't miss. I love how thick and loud the guitars are, while still being infectiously melodic. This album just makes me incredibly hyped up.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
The darker tones here are more my vibe than the more saccharine vocals of some of his other material. It's still very funky, but a lot more introspective.
Violent Femmes
5/5
Another one I've needed to give more listens to, and this confirms it because I really dug it. The acoustic bass is super interesting. The lyrics are also really sharp and witty.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I'm not really big on the Stones but Paint It Black is an absolute banger. This album is actually pretty solid overall. I should give it more credit.
Scissor Sisters
2/5
Pretty fun and funky. Not sure how relevant or "must hear" it is but I did enjoy it.
Iron Maiden
5/5
A metal classic that 100% deserves its place on this list for the amount of influence it's had. Banger after banger.
Joan Baez
5/5
Amazing folk. Her voice is so hauntingly beautiful. and the guitar work perfectly complements it.
The Charlatans
1/5
The Britpop bias in this list strikes again. This just doesn't do anything for me, and it doesn't even have the critical relevance of bands like Blur to make up for it.
The Streets
3/5
I enjoy the narrative and the beats are pleasant if a bit unexciting. His very strong British accent makes it a bit hard to take the darker elements seriously a bit though not gonna lie.
The 13th Floor Elevators
5/5
Psych rock is one of my favorite genres and it wouldn't exist without this album, so I absolutely adore it. It's incredibly weird and dark for something from this early on.
Beatles
5/5
I want to ding it points for how not cohesive it is, but honestly that lack of cohesion almost IS the cohesion for this album. Plus, it just has so many insanely classic songs. I can't help but love it.
Christine and the Queens
1/5
It's... fine. Pretty generic synth pop. Not deserving of being on this list in my opinion.
Jeff Beck
2/5
Not a fan of Rod Stewart's vocals. The guitarwork is pretty solid though. It would be cooler as all instrumental.
Kid Rock
1/5
Fuck this magat.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
Has everything I want from a mid-60s rock album. It feels a tiny bit dated but considering its age it's remarkably fresh still. Lots of variety.
The Prodigy
4/5
While I definitely prefer Fat of the Land, I can't deny that there's a ton of bangers here. I think this one works better as a club album but FotL works better as a home listening experience.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
She has such a haunting voice. Very strong lyricism too. The music isn't exactly my thing but it isn't disruptive either. It suits her voice well.
Beatles
5/5
This album is a great mix of their earlier, simpler pop songs and the weirder, more mature songwriting of their later era. So many incredibly catchy bops.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Love Muddy Waters. It's funny, he was one of the first on my list and now one of the last. Feels fitting. His voice is fantastic on this release, and the backing band does an amazing job.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
I dig this album, it's fun and catchy. Danger Mouse's production is really great. It just still doesn't feel essential enough for this list though. I don't really see much long-term influence from it.
Throbbing Gristle
4/5
Classic industrial. Love how weird and non-musical it's willing to get. Hugely influential on the genre too.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Another really solid album from them. Immigrant Song in particular is one of my favorites. Lots of just straight rock bangers.
Killing Joke
5/5
I really love the mix of industrial and post-punk here, two genres I really love. The album perfectly straddles the line between aggressive and infectious. It's harsh as hell but still danceable.
Frank Black
3/5
Solid work that occasionally reaches near the highs of The Pixies but overall is mostly rather be listening to them. It’s a bit overstuffed as well at over an hour.
The White Stripes
5/5
It’s tough to argue against this being Jack White’s magnum opus. It’s got everything you want out of him. Every song is an absolute ripper and it’s just so damn raw and powerful.
Pere Ubu
4/5
I liked this one more than the other I listened to here. There's a good mix of more "normal" songs with some cool experimental noise stuff.
Manic Street Preachers
5/5
Honestly kicking myself for not listening to this before. This absolutely rips. Lyrically it's super intense and dark and instrumentally every song is really rocking. I think maybe the name scared me off previously but I'm glad I finally listened.
The Triffids
3/5
Definitely has those 80s-isms but I do enjoy how passionate and intense the vocals are. The epic instrumentals and strings work really well with his voice.
Pixies
5/5
100% essential. Obviously it's hugely influential towards all of modern rock, but it also just rocks in and of itself.
Jane's Addiction
5/5
Classic 90s alt rock. Definitely one of the most important and influential albums of the genre and probably their best album.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Kings of Leon getting not one but TWO albums on this list is wild. I could kind of get the other one just due to how big Sex on Fire is, but there's no excuse for this. It's not good.
U2
1/5
Two stinkers in a row. Hard pass.
Lou Reed
4/5
Love this. His voice takes center stage which is perfect because lyrically it's super strong. Bowie's production shines too.
Gillian Welch
4/5
This is my kind of country. Dark and solitary. It avoids the over the top accent issues and the cliche lyricism that a lot of country falls to as well. She has a great voice.
Radiohead
5/5
My second favorite Radiohead album after Kid A. While it may be less groundbreaking than a couple of their albums, it has some of their best songwriting in my eyes.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
One of the best psych albums of all time, period. Insanely lush, gorgeous, and full of beauty.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
Another amazing album from The Flaming Lips. I prefer Yoshimi but only slightly. This one is a bit less focused on electronics which is a nice compliment to that album.
David Ackles
3/5
Not a fan of the more theatrical aspects, but the parts that lean more towards folk/Americana are pretty nice. It's pleasant but I'm not sure how much I'll revisit it.
Alanis Morissette
5/5
So angsty in the best way. I really felt this album as a teen as many did I'm sure, and it still holds up to this day. Her voice is so infectious.