My User Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Fly Yoko Ono	4	1.78	+2.22
Mad Dogs & Englishmen Joe Cocker	5	3.06	+1.94
Hammersmith Odeon, London '75 Bruce Springsteen	5	3.12	+1.88
F♯ A♯ ∞ Godspeed You! Black Emperor	5	3.29	+1.71
Nightbirds LaBelle	5	3.47	+1.53
Eye Robyn Hitchcock	4	2.68	+1.32
Stop Making Sense Talking Heads	5	3.8	+1.2
Hall of the Mountain King Savatage	4	2.84	+1.16
Squeezing Out Sparks Graham Parker	4	2.87	+1.13
Zuckerzeit Cluster	4	2.88	+1.12

Album	You	Global	Diff
10,000 gecs 100 gecs	1	2.9	-1.9
Toxicity System Of A Down	2	3.62	-1.62
METAL FORTH BABYMETAL	1	2.6	-1.6
Gemstones Adam Green	1	2.57	-1.57
Mouth Sounds Neil Cicierega	1	2.56	-1.56
TEKKNO Electric Callboy	1	2.47	-1.47
Highway Prayers Billy Strings	2	3.12	-1.12
Moffou Salif Keita	2	3.06	-1.06
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum Tally Hall	2	3.03	-1.03
Emotion Carly Rae Jepsen	2	3	-1

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

5/5

Wow. What a fine choice, and a perfect album to get as my first "extra" album after finishing the project. If this is any indication of the albums I'm going to hear from this point on, I am so ready. Minimalist, unsettling and hauntingly beautiful with a cinematic feel. This is a movie I would love to see.

Racine carrée

Stromae

3/5

Catchy and often foot stompingly fun, with a level of nuance and substance I don't typically expect in this type of music. I fully expected to tire of this quickly, but it gets more interesting as the album progresses. I feel like this album fills a couple of the many gaps on the original 1001 list, both for post-millennial dance pop and music from non-English speaking artists. I like how Stromae takes musical ideas that feel very traditionally "French" and flips them around, incorporating world music sounds to make them current and add depth. Fave Songs: Tous les mêmes, Ave Cesaria, Papaoutai, Carmen, Humain à l'eau, Quand c'est ?

I Am

Earth, Wind & Fire

4/5

Vibrant, funky and unabashedly earnest in a way few artists can get away with. If you're in need of a little positivity in your life, you really can't go wrong with a little Earth Wind & Fire. Slightly uneven in quality from song to song, but when the band gets it right this absolutely cooks. "After the Love Has Gone" is a soft soul ballad for the ages. Fave Songs: Boogie Wonderland, After the Love Has Gone, Let Your Feelings Show, You and I, Star

Dogrel

Fontaines D.C.

3/5

Interesting enough album, sounds like something that might have come out 25 years earlier. Make what you will of that. Vocals frequently fall flat. Fave Songs: Too Real, Television Screens, Sha Sha Sha, Hurricane Laughter

Zuckerzeit

Cluster

4/5

This is so cool. Thanks for sharing it. Whimsical and strange with an occasional undercurrent of menace. Minimalist, but rich with nuance. This is an underheard album in the Krautrock-verse, but it's a really excellent listen and highly influential. You can hear echoes of this music in pretty much every electronic band that followed it. Fave Songs: Fotschi Tong, Caramel, Marzipan, Hollywood, James

Bloody Kisses

Type O Negative

2/5

Musically this is fine, if a bit silly. Stylistically scattershot with dumb lyrics and comically bad vocals. "Kill All the White People" kind of rocks though. Fave Song: Set Me on Fire

Nail

Scraping Foetus off the Wheel

3/5

Melodramatic and outrageous in a fun way, but a little goes a long way. The band's name was kind of extreme back in the day and suggests a different kind of listening experience, but the album itself is mostly a haphazard industrial sound with psychobilly leanings. The instrumental bits are very good, but they don't really fit in with the rest of it. Fave Songs: The Overture from Pigdom Come, Anything (Viva!), The Throne of Agony, Descent into the Inferno

Rêver mieux

Daniel Bélanger

3/5

Overall a very pleasant listen, but a bit slow moving. I was ready for it to be done well before it was over, but I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: Fugue en sol inconnu, Dis tout sans rien dire, Fous n'importe où, Te quitter, Dans un spoutnik, Chante encore

Continuum

John Mayer

3/5

Not quite my thing, but I agree that this should have made the original list just based on how ubiquitous and popular John Mayer was at that point in time. Affable, easygoing and well-produced, with some highly listenable singles. The Hendrix cover was a valiant but bloodless effort, which would have been best left as an outtake. Fave Songs: Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, Belief, Waiting on the World to Change, Gravity, Stop This Train

The Best of The Hot 5 & Hot 7 Recordings

Louis Armstrong

3/5

Are we really doing box sets here now? I feel like if you can't single out a full album by an artist, they probably don't need to be a part of this discussion. To be clear, this was top notch as a collection of songs, but a great album needs to be more than just a collection of songs. I do appreciate your desire to fill a gap in the albums from the original list, which I think a lot of us have done with our personal choices. Musically this is pretty excellent, but after 4 hours I can't remember most of what I've heard. Fave Songs: Potato Head Blues, Chicago Breakdown, Wild Man Blues, Melancholy Blues, The King of the Zulus (A Chit'lin' Rag), St. James Infirmary, Weather Bird, Muskrat Ramble, Cornet Chop Suey

Don't Say No

Billy Squier

4/5

Great choice! I was excited to see this one, not because I think it's the greatest album ever, but because it belongs here. Don't Say No was wildly popular when it came out and its songs have become a staple of classic rock radio over the years. Whether you like him or not, Billy Squier is a huge part of the rock sound of the early 80s, a sound that the editors of the 1001 list have made a point of ignoring completely. Tight hook-laden production, with a strong pop sensibility that also rocks surprisingly hard at times. Billy Squier is a compelling, swaggering frontman who also knows his way around a guitar. Sort of a polished take on Led Zeppelin, but in the best ways. Fave Songs: The Stroke, My Kinda Lover, In the Dark, Lonely Is the Night, Whadda You Want from Me, Nobody Knows

Version 2.0

Garbage

3/5

Energetic, catchy and mildly trippy. Enjoyed this quite a bit. Fave Songs: Special, You Look So Fine, I Think I'm Paranoid, The Trick Is to Keep Breathing, Sleep Together, Temptation Waits

1, 2, Kung Fu!

Boy Azooga

3/5

This was fun. Clever, briskly paced and stylistically diverse in a way that feels really effortless. A lot of moving parts that shouldn't necessarily work together, but they do. Thanks for introducing me to this. Fave Songs: Waitin', Jerry, Face Behind Her Cigarette, Losers in the Tomb, Hangover Square, Loner Boogie

Don't Throw Stones

THE SPORTS

3/5

I love a good pub rock/power pop deep cut, so I really enjoyed this. Also a good example of an Aussie band, something the original list mostly ignores. Crisp and mildly punchy, with a strong pop sensibility. Solid choice. Fave Songs: Don't Throw Stones, Thru the Window, Who Listens to the Radio, Worst Kind, Step By Step, Suspicious Minds

Daisies Of The Galaxy

Eels

3/5

This was really good. Swings deftly from quirky to contemplative, with a rich musical palette. Much better than the Eels album that made the list. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: Estate Sale, Daisies of the Galaxy, Flyswatter, Wooden Nickels, It's a Motherfucker, Mr. E's Beautiful Blues

Piledriver

Status Quo

3/5

This was a fun listen. Riffy and bluesy with occasional moments of loveliness. The unexpected diversions into other musical styles are what make this album work. Fave Songs: All the Reasons, Unspoken Words, Paper Plane, Big Fat Mama, A Year

Nurture

Porter Robinson

3/5

Fizzy, blippy and charming in its best moments. But I find the manipulated vocals to be really annoying. Fave Songs: Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do, Lifelike, Wind Tempos, Dullscythe

Blink-182

blink-182

3/5

In spite of my disinclination to like it, this album won me over like a crooked smile. It's well made and a genuinely fun listen, if not mind blowing. Great energy, strong hooks, and some surprisingly lovely sounds here. There's also way more musical depth than I might expect on this type of album. But I will never enjoy those vocals. Fave Songs: Stockholm Syndrome, Asthenia, Down, I Miss You, Always, The I'm Lost Without You, All of This

Re

Café Tacvba

3/5

This was a pretty fun listen and a welcome addition of a Mexican artist. Thanks for recommending. Interesting, diverse collection of songs. A little stylistically scattershot for my taste, and the vocals don't always land. But when they get it right, this is pretty great. Fave Songs: Madrugal, Esa Noche, Las Flores, El Baile y el Salón, El Puñal y el Corazón, 24 Horas

A City Dressed In Dynamite

That Handsome Devil

3/5

I liked the darkly idiosyncratic vibe of this album. But while this has all the pieces of something that I would enjoy, they don't quite fit. Fave Songs: Treefood, Wintergreen, Squares, Damn Door, Cry

El Circo

Maldita Vecindad Y Los Hijos Del 5to. Patio

4/5

Happy to see another cool Mexican artist that completely got ignored on the original list. This was so much fun. Ha, I like how they start out with the classic Ranchera sound before going full ska on us. Engaging sound, with strong energy and drawing on a rich musical palette. Really enjoyable. Fave Songs: Kumbala, Querida, Un poco de sangre, Pachuco, Un gran circo, Mare

Night Drive

Chromatics

3/5

I love the slick, moody, atmospheric vibe of this album. There's something not quite right about Ruth Radelet's vocals though, which are overly soft and lacking in depth. This style of music is still right up my alley though, and I would listen again. Fave Songs: Let's Make This a Moment to Remember, Tomorrow Is So Far Away, Healer, Running Up That Hill, Tick of the Clock

Funeral Dress

Wussy

4/5

This is so great. Rough-hewn but frequently gorgeous, with jangly arrangements and a hint of a burn. I'm really not a fan of Chuck Cleaver's vocals, but combined with Lisa Walker, the pair has an off kilter charm that's really engaging. Thanks so much for sharing. Fave Songs: Crooked, Funeral Dress, Humanbrained Horse, Don't Leave Just Now, Motorcycle, Soak It Up

McDonald and Giles

Ian McDonald

4/5

Creative, stylistically far ranging and full of surprises. Also a little meandering and self-indulgent. Frequently brilliant. Fave Songs: Flight of the Ibis, Birdman, Is She Waiting?

Stranger In Town

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

4/5

So, I'm from Michigan (aka Segerland). I grew up during Bob Seger's peak years, when these songs were all over the place. He's probably still playing on one of my hometown radio stations as I write this. I also was a teenager during Seger's uncool years, when I wouldn't touch his music with a 10 foot pole. And, based on the sheer number of postpunk albums that landed on the official list, I get why Bob Seger and most his contemporaries were pretty much ignored. I grew up though, and it turns out I was wrong about him. Leaving this album off the official list was a dumb oversight. Not only is this a genre and era-defining album, but it's also exceptionally good. I agree that one of the live albums would also been more representative of Seger's work, but this one is a pleasure to hear. It's a tight, endlessly entertaining 39 minutes of music, packed with classics. This is windows down in the summertime music of the best kind, full of earnest emotion, spot-on musicianship, and hooks for days. There are a couple of soft spots on the back half, but when he gets it right, it's brilliant. Fave Songs: Still the Same, Feel Like a Number, Old Time Rock and Roll, Hollywood Nights, We've Got Tonite, The Famous Final Scene, Till It Shines

Peasant

Richard Dawson

3/5

Musically this is fine, but the contrived tunelessness is heavy-handed and a chore to listen to. But Richard Dawson's vision is well-executed and the album is not without its charms. Thanks for suggesting something different, which I always appreciate. Fave Songs: Scientist, Shapeshifter, Herald, Weaver, Soldier

Control

Pedro The Lion

3/5

Great grungy-indie sound with a perfectly executed concept, if frequently dragging in pace. The lyrics read like bad poetry to me. A really good listen though; I would not have minded seeing this on the official list. Thanks for suggesting it. Fave Songs: Options, Magazine, Rehearsal, Second Best

Frosting On The Beater

The Posies

3/5

Great choice. I listen to a lot of power pop, so I've long been peripherally aware of the Posies. But this is the first time I've really sat with this album. It's another one of those genres that was mostly left off the official list, and Frosting on the Beater is a good example of power pop from the 90s that should have been included. This album is full of many of the attributes of the best power pop - pleasant melodies, engaging vocal harmonies, and a bit of an edge to offset the prettiness. The weak spot is that it's lacking any truly memorable hooks, either musically or lyrically. Still a great album, and there are a few tracks here that I'd like to continue listening to. Thanks for sharing this. Fave Songs: Flavor of the Month, Burn & Shine, Coming Right Along, Love Letter Boxes, Earlier than Expected, Dream All Day

Before These Crowded Streets

Dave Matthews Band

3/5

I've never particularly been a DMB fan, but they are one of those artists I absolutely expected to see on the original list because they deserve to be there. Thanks for sharing. I can't compare this to other albums in Dave Matthews' discography, but it was a really solid listen. Creative and well crafted, with rich instrumentation and thoughtful lyrics. Still not a fan of Matthews' vocal style, which is weirdly overwrought at times. Arrangements feel multilayered, loose and improvisational, sometimes to the point where it really just gets too busy. Enjoyed "Crush." Loved "Spoon" and "The Stone." Fave Songs: Spoon, The Stone, Crush, Stay (Wasting Time), Pig, The Dreaming Tree, Don't Drink the Water

Wild Planet

The B-52's

4/5

So much fun. I've been a big B-52's fan since forever and this album got massive amounts of play in my house when I was a teenager. I agree that it will always play second fiddle to the band's debut, which was nothing short of lightning in a bottle. While the original feels vibrant and effortless, Wild Planet comes off as a little try-hard by comparison. They're better musicians at this point in time, but a bit of the spark is missing. That said, there is still so much to enjoy here. The album has the band's trademark oddball sensibility that draws from a lot of styles while at the same time sounding absolutely like nothing else. It's danceable and gleefully weird party music that's hard not to like. Sassy vocal performances by Fred, Kate and Cindy. Lyrics are unabashedly silly in the best way. Fave Songs: Private Idaho, Give Me Back My Man, Dirty Back Road, 53 Miles West of Venus, Runnin' Around, Strobe Light

The Hazards of Love

The Decemberists

3/5

I wasn't particularly inclined to like this, but it was really good. This a well crafted, thematically compelling concept album/rock opera, with several songs that are strong enough to stand on their own. Manages to fit in neatly with the sound of the time in which it was made, while drawing as well on prog and folk rock influences that give it a hint of a vintage vibe. Yes, this could have been 2-3 songs shorter, but I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid, The Hazards of Love 4, Won't Want for Love, The Hazards of Love 2, The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing

Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera

3/5

This was very good, if a bit lacking in stylistic cohesion. But there's enough of a fairly straightforward rock and blues sensibility underneath that keeps it from wandering completely into the weeds. Fave Songs: Talk of the Devil, Mary Jane, I Was Cool, What's the Point of Leaving, Flames

Englabörn

Jóhann Jóhannsson

3/5

Really beautiful. Rich, yet minimalist sound. Thanks so much for sharing. Fave Songs: Sálfræðingur, Ég Sleppi Þér Aldrei, Jói & Karen, Englabörn, Odi Et Amo

Maestro

Kaizers Orchestra

3/5

Oh, very nice. Great sound, great energy. Language barrier notwithstanding, this was a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing! Fave Songs: Blitzregn baby, Jævel av en tango, Delikatessen, Dieter Meyers Inst., Señor Flamingos Adieu, KGB

Piñata

Freddie Gibbs

3/5

Well-crafted and engaging, with an assertive but easygoing flow. Lyrics are vivid and grim, and a bit much for my taste.

A1A

Jimmy Buffett

3/5

Great summer listening. 70s country rock with an easygoing, likeable vibe that grows on you as the album progresses. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: Tin Cup Chalice, Stories We Could Tell, A Pirate Looks at Forty, Presents to Send You, Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season, Nautical Wheelers

Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides

SOPHIE

3/5

This is such a striking work, one of the more interesting things I've heard from the past 20 years. Lovely and melodic one moment, aggressively unsettling the next. I find some of the vocal manipulation to be grating, but this album has a level of creativity you don't get to hear much nowadays. Thank you for sharing. Fave Songs: Is It Cold in the Water?, Faceshopping, Ponyboy, Infatuation

Because the Internet

Childish Gambino

3/5

Wow, there's a lot going on here, but this is fun, creative stuff. Fave Songs: Flight of the Navigator, V. 3005, Earth: The Oldest Computer (The Last Night), Pink Toes, Telegraph Ave.

Ænima

TOOL

3/5

Yeeeah, this should have made the original list. Nuanced, adventurous and deeply dark. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: Stinkfist, Forty Six & 2, Eulogy, H.

Blue Is The Colour

The Beautiful South

3/5

Beautiful South is one of those bands I've always liked well enough when I heard them, but have never taken the time to explore. So this was a nice album to get. This is really charming, smartly made pop, that has aged quite well. I tend to prefer Paul Heaton's vocals to Jacqui Abbott's, but it's all good. Fave Songs: Blackbird on the Wire, Have Fun, Alone, Rotterdam (or Anywhere), Mirror, Artificial Flowers

Dimanche à Bamako

Amadou & Mariam

3/5

So lovely. Rich, diverse sound that's pleasing on the ears. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: Camions Sauvages, Artistiya, M'Bifé Balafon, Djanfa, La Fête au Village, M'Bifé, M'Bifé Blues

Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum

Tally Hall

2/5

Frequently quirky, occasionally catchy and pleasant. Attempts to be lyrically clever fall flat more often than not. This feels like a band who took all the wrong lessons from a bunch of artists who are more talented than they are. I struggled a bit between the 2 and 3 on this one. It has its moments, and I generally appreciate Tally Hall's oddball sensibility. But, more often than not, I also find these guys to be pretty insufferable. Fave Songs: Greener, The Bidding, Spring and a Storm, Be Born

Boys And Girls in America

The Hold Steady

3/5

I mean, this was great, musically on point, very enjoyable. I'm guessing THS kills it live. More than a little derivative, but it was a fun summer listen. Fave Songs: Stuck Between Stations, Hot Soft Light, Party Pit, Chips Ahoy!, Massive Nights

Kick

INXS

4/5

Oh, thank you for suggesting this one. Australia was done dirty on the official list with very little representation, and INXS was one of those bands I was just waiting for that never showed up. Although I find that the band's best songs are scattered over several albums, Kick is certainly the one that best belongs on the list because it was so hugely successful. It was everywhere in 1987 and many of these songs have deservedly become classic rock staples. These are great songs, catchy and confident and beat forward. The album also skillfully toes the line between straight rock and post punk in a way that made it massively appealing in its time. Michael Hutchence is a compelling front man who balances bravado and smoldering moodiness in a way that's rare this side of Jim Morrison. If you have the benefit of having experienced this album during its MTV heyday, you know of which I speak. Some of that is lost without the visuals, but Hutchence still has a way of reaching through your speakers with a charisma that few front men have. That little whisper at the beginning of "Need You Tonight" still gets me [*blushes*]. For all the heat of Kick's best songs, beyond the singles the album is filled out with bouncy rockers that were more than serviceable in 1987, but maybe aren't particularly notable all these years later. But where the band gets it right, they're pretty fantastic. Even in its least exciting moments, this is incredibly fun and one of the great guitar pop/rock albums of the late 80s. Fave Songs: Never Tear Us Apart, Need You Tonight/Mediate, Mystify, New Sensation, Devil Inside

Fuzz

Chucklehead

3/5

Oh this was fun, groovy and energetic. The vocals are not quite strong enough to hold up against what's going on musically though. On the whole, this was an interesting listen. But if I'm going for funk at all, it's going to be old school, not these guys. Fave Songs: Bozack, Retrosexy, Day Job, Tug Boat

The Lion's Roar

First Aid Kit

4/5

My goodness this is lovely, one of my favorite user submitted albums so far. Earthy and dreamy, with gorgeous harmonies and abundant charm. I didn't spend nearly enough time with this today, but I am definitely coming back to it. Thanks for recommending this. Fave Songs: Emmylou, In the Hearts of Men, The Lion's Roar, I Found a Way, King of the World, Dance to Another Tune

Transatlanticism

Death Cab for Cutie

3/5

Great concept, and musically spot on, with thoughtful lyrics. The vocals land flat with me though. Fave Songs: Transatlanticism, Lightness, Title and Registration, The New Year, The Sound of Settling

Discosis

Bran Van 3000

2/5

Stylistically a bit scattershot and confusing. Vocals are pretty flat and the use of sampled/guest parts don't always feel organic to the music. Fave Songs: Astounded, Loop Me, Discosis, Predictable

Come And Get It

Rachel Stevens

3/5

Post-millennial dance pop that delivers, more than you might reasonably expect it to. Catchy, well-produced, easy on the ears. Rachel Stevens lacks a certain amount charisma compared to other singers in the genre, which makes all of this less than memorable, but it's still perfectly likeable stuff that I didn't mind hearing at all. Fave Songs: Crazy Boys, I Will Be There, Secret Garden, Funny How, All About Me

St. Jude

Courteeners

3/5

Well-made British Indie that is catchy, energetic, entertaining. Would listen again. Fave Songs: Bide Your Time, Cavorting, What Took You So Long?, Aftershow

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Arctic Monkeys

3/5

Well-crafted and richly arranged. I would not have guessed Arctic Monkeys had this kind of album in them, so this is a pleasant surprise. The shtick wears a bit thin by the time all is said and done, but I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: Four Out of Five, Star Treatment, One Point Perspective, American Sports, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Goat

The Jesus Lizard

3/5

No frills, hard rocking, strategically noisy. I'm not a huge fan of the whole "low in the mix" approach to the vocals, and it's probably for the best if you don't try to decipher the lyrics. But I still enjoyed this quite a bit, and would listen again. Thanks for recommending it. Fave Songs: Rodeo in Joliet, Mouth Breather, Nub, Then Comes Dudley, Seasick

"Awaken, My Love!"

Childish Gambino

3/5

Excellent. Funky, spacey, creative and deeply nuanced. A little soft on the back half, but I really enjoyed it. Fave Songs: Baby Boy, Me and Your Mama, Have Some Love, Stand Tall, Redbone, The Night Me and Your Mama Met

Carolina Confessions

The Marcus King Band

3/5

Soulful, well-made blues rock. Rich with influences, to the point where it almost sounds like something out of another time. Runs out of steam a bit before all is said and done, but I still enjoyed this a lot. Thanks for recommending it. Fave Songs: Where I'm Heading, Goodbye Carolina, How Long, Homesick

Nightbirds

LaBelle

5/5

Ohhhh, Nightbirds. You know, I'm sure everyone here had a similar experience while working our way through the official 1001+ albums list. You probably had a mental list of albums you just expected to be there, and as the days ticked away on the project, many if not most of those albums eventually showed up. Then there were the ones that didn't make it… that's why we're still here, right? Nightbirds is one of those albums for me. It was kind of an affront to my heart that it was excluded. It's not a perfect album, no. But it's a rare album that can move me emotionally and also make me want to move my body. I love it more each time I hear it. 70s albums in the soul-funk-disco realm are a real mixed bag, especially those made by women artists, to the point where there aren't many great ones that you want to hear all the way through. There's a reason why so much of this music is experienced by way of compilations. This album is different. It comes in like gangbusters with one of the most unique and memorable songs of its era and doesn't let go until the last note. "Lady Marmalade" is a blazing comet of a song that stands out from the rest of the album, but the deep tracks offer their own kind of musical journey, leading into some fascinating places. The intertwining vocals of Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash alone are insanely powerful, a kind of a whirlwind of sound that takes my breath a bit every time I hear them. Nightbirds defied genre somewhat in the time that it was made, drawing from gospel, pop and R&B, with a foundation of New Orleans funk and a glam rock shimmer. Cited as a foundational album for disco in particular, the album still has far more substance than much of what came after it, combining fierce, female-centered joy with sizzling sensuality and gorgeous moments of emotional vulnerability, laced with a social conscience. The charisma and rich vocal prowess of LaBelle, Hendryx and Dash is elevated further by the serious musical talent backing them up, including Allen Toussaint, Art Neville, and other members of the Meters. That kind of lightning in a bottle is hard to replicate, something LaBelle themselves were never quite able to achieve. But this is a total package of an album that delivers on every level. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Lady Marmalade, You Turn Me On, Are You Lonely?, It Took a Long Time, Somebody Somewhere, What Can I Do for You?, Space Children, Don't Bring Me Down, Nightbird, All Girl Band

Go Farther In Lightness

Gang of Youths

3/5

Musically this was quite nice, with an emotional earnestness to the lyrics that's appealing if sometimes heavy. I find the pace to be somewhat plodding, but this improves by the back half of the album. "Achilles Come Down" was really lovely, reminding me of something you might hear by Rufus Wainwright. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: Achilles Come Down, Atlas Drowned, Let Me Down Easy, What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out?, Le réel, Le symbolique

Tomb

Angelo De Augustine

3/5

A little goes a long way with those vocals, but this was really lovely. A dreamy, melancholy, fall day kind of a listen. Thank you for sharing. Fave Songs: You Needed Love, I Needed You; Time; Bird Has Flown; A Good Man's Light; All Your Life

Live in San Francisco

Thee Oh Sees

3/5

The choice of a live album was the correct one here. Pure, incandescent punk energy of the best kind. I would not have minded if it were shorter, but that's a minor critique. Thanks for sharing this. Fave Songs: The Dream, I Come from the Mountain, Tidal Wave, Toe Cutter Thumb Buster, Web

Relatives in Descent

Protomartyr

3/5

Musically, this captures many of the proper notes of old school post-punk, but the vocals don't really do it for me. I don't know if it bring anything new to the table, but it was pretty good. Fave Songs: A Private Understanding, Here Is the Thing, The Chuckler, Don't Go to Anacita, Half Sister

Nonagon Infinity

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

3/5

Raucous contemporary psychedelic-prog that is musically on point and never loses an ounce of energy from start to finish. But I lost interest somewhere in the middle. Fave Songs: Robot Stop, Big Fig Wasp, Gamma Knife

Apostrophe(')

Frank Zappa

3/5

Playfully irreverent, frequently inappropriate, musically brilliant. It gets a little silly for my taste at some points, but when this is good, it sizzles. Not Zappa's best, but still a lot of fun. Fave Songs: Uncle Remus, Apostrophe', Cosmik Debris, Don't Eat the Yellow Snow

Loss

Mull Historical Society

3/5

Perfectly pleasant, melodic, quirky, well-made Indie pop that's easy on the ears. I don't know how much of this I'll remember, but this was a solid listen. Fave Songs: Instead, This Is Not Who We Were, Watching Xanadu, Barcode Bypass

Oncle Jazz

Men I Trust

3/5

This was a great album to get on a late August day. It's like the music is melting. Lovely sound, with strategically placed moments of distortion that keep it from getting too sweet. This is also way too long for what it is. I lost interest well before it was over, but there's a lot to like here. Fave Songs: Found Me, Pines, You Deserve This, Norton Commander, All Night

Weezer

5/5

This is actually the first album I tried to submit, but you beat me to it and I had to pick another album. I guess great minds think alike! I was a junior in college when this album came out. It fit in perfectly with the time in which it was made, yet also stood out starkly against the mood of everything else that was going on. It's melodic, but noisy; casually cool, but deeply nerdy; ironic, but big-hearted; seemingly straightforward, but slyly complex. This is music that's catchy and charming and incredibly relatable on a basic level, but with an approach to songcraft that's so much smarter than it pretends to be. It's a nearly perfect album, one that still sounds as crisp and compelling as it did the day it was made. Its omission from the official list has me side-eyeing this whole project. I mean, how? Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Buddy Holly, Only in Dreams, Say It Ain't So, Undone - The Sweater Song, The World Has Turned and Left Me Here, My Name Is Jonas, Holiday, In the Garage, Surf Wax America, No One Else

Super Ape

The Upsetters

3/5

This was fantastic, thanks for sharing it. Deep, sonorous, chill to the point of being almost trancelike. Fave Songs: Dread Lion, Zion's Blood, Three in One, Patience, Black Vest

Watch Out!

Alexisonfire

2/5

Musically this is pretty tight, but I can do without the "unclean vocals." IMO, that style of vocal would work better if they went harder musically. Fave Songs: Side Walk When She Walks, Accidents, Control, No Transitory

People

The Burning Hell

3/5

Musically this was fine, and lyrically too clever by half. Vocals didn't do a thing for me. Fave Songs: Sentimentalists, Grown Ups, Wallflowers, Travel Writers

Forced Witness

Alex Cameron

3/5

Alex Cameron is one of those artists that Spotify is always trying to make me listen to. I've never felt much either way for his music that I've heard, but this album was pretty good. Musically, it's highly listenable and Cameron's vocals are fine, if unremarkable. I get what he's doing with the scuzziness of the lyrics in contrast to the general pleasant sound of the album; I just don't particularly care for it. Fave Songs: Runnin' Outta Luck, Candy May

I And Love And You

The Avett Brothers

3/5

Lovely and melodic with a vaguely rootsy sound, but this could have used a stronger vocal. Starts off well but meanders stylistically, and ultimately just hangs around for too long. Fave Songs: January Wedding, I and Love and You, Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise, Tin Man

Carrie & Lowell

Sufjan Stevens

4/5

Musically spare but elegant, with a contemplation of memory, mortality and grief that's almost too hard to take as a listener. This is really beautiful, thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Death with Dignity, Should Have Known Better, Eugene, No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross, The Only Thing, Fourth of July

Sailing The Seas Of Cheese

Primus

4/5

I have always enjoyed this album. It's a standout in an era full of standout music, and there's nothing else like it on the planet. Funky and metallic, mildly crass and gleefully weird, with true technical mastery and off the rails creativity. I also think it's an incredibly well balanced album. The songs are perfectly placed so that the hard rocking parts complement the more virtuosic parts, punctuated just enough with the silly bits, each element flowing effortlessly into the next. It's been a good 30 years since the last time I listened to this all the way through, but I'm happy to report it has aged really well. Thanks for sharing it! Fave Songs : Jerry Was a Race Car Driver, Tommy the Cat, Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers, American Life, Fish On (Fisherman Chronicles, Chapter II), Here Come the Bastards, Sgt. Baker, Is It Luck?

A Live One

Phish

3/5

Okay, then. So, this was fine, not a bad album per se. It's well executed as live albums go and the musicianship is solid. It's one of the better live albums I have heard, production-wise. And I get it that Phish is one of those bands that's better experienced through their live music. But you know what, for all the apparent talent the band has, only a true believer would want to sit through 2+ hours of them. If you're not already a fan, this album will absolutely not win you over. Much of it ended up being a blur in the end. Fave Songs: Bouncing Around the Room, Gumbo, Montana

Korn

2/5

One positive thing about doing the 1001+ project is that I got to a point of real clarity about my own tastes in music. I decided that certain artists just aren't for me. Korn is one of those artists. To each their own, right? I'm not going to rip on this album though, like I did with Follow the Leader. I actually think this is the much better album of the two and it probably should have been the one to make the original list. While FTL struck me as gimmicky and excessive in all the wrong ways, this album shows some thoughtfulness that is missing from the band's other work. Musically the band is tight and as a cohesive group of songs, this album is a pretty listenable. Jonathan Davis' vocals are on point, and far less annoying than I expected. I'm not coming back to this, but I'm glad I had a chance to consider the band in a different light. Thanks for recommending this.

The Beautiful Letdown

Switchfoot

3/5

This album was fine, if maybe a bit dated for when it came out. The lyrics are more thoughtful than you might expect in this type of music, but frequently more repetitive than I generally like to hear. Fave Songs: Meant to Live, This Is Your Life, More Than Fine, Dare You to Move

Sublime

3/5

Sublime was never really my thing, but I will hand it to them. They had a particular gift for building various influences into a sound and vibe that is very much their own. Add to that Bradley Nowell's (RIP) natural charisma, and you have something really interesting. That stylistic diversity can be a double edged sword though, which sometimes can come off as being a bit scattershot and unfocused. But overall, this was a really well made album that absolutely should have made the original list. Fave Songs: Santeria, What I Got, Garden Grove, Wrong Way, April 29, 1992 (Miami), Pawn Shop

King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown

King Tubby

3/5

A really rich, resonant sound that I enjoyed quite a bit. I think the album needed more vocal effects though just to break things up a bit. For a relatively short album, it sometimes feels like long stretches of sameness. Fave songs: King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown, Stop Them Jah, Skanking Dub, Keep On Dubbing, Each One Dub

Silence Yourself

Savages

3/5

This was really solid latter day post-punk that is well executed and highly listenable, especially if you're not getting enough Siouxsie Sioux in your life. Maybe a little too on the nose in their embrace of the genre, but it's nice to see an all-woman band working in this vein. Fave Songs: Husbands, Shut Up, I Am Here, City's Full, No Face

Cleopatra

The Lumineers

3/5

On paper this reads like something I might like, but this album didn't do much for me. A pleasing listen for a fall day, but ultimately not very memorable. But you know what, I somehow managed to make it to 2024 without ever listening to the Lumineers, so I appreciate the chance to check them out. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: In the Light, Cleopatra, Ophelia, Sleep on the Floor

Poesía Básica

Extrechinato y Tu

3/5

This was really lovely. Well played, stylistically diverse, mildly proggy, pleasing on the ears. Thanks for recommending! Fave Songs: Abrazado a la tristeza, A la sombra de mi sombra, Viento (déjame ir contigo), Eterno viajero, Juguete de amor

We Like It Here

Snarky Puppy

3/5

Funky, musically diverse, great energy. Thanks for sharing! Fave Songs: Sleeper, Shofukan, Lingus, Jambone

A Salty Dog

Procol Harum

3/5

This was a nice, entire deep cut of an album. A lot of musical ideas floating around here, but most of them landed well. Really engaging stuff that never wanders too far afield. Thanks for sharing this. Fave Songs: A Salty Dog, The Milk of Human Kindness, Juicy John Pink, Pilgrim's Progress, Wreck of the Hesperus

Out of the Blue

Debbie Gibson

3/5

Perfectly pleasant, hooky bubblegum that doesn't really do much for me. I was about a year younger than Gibson when this album came out and I didn't care for it then either. I will say this for her: She has a nice singing voice and her best songs show a real talent for songcraft. I don't hate it, but now I need to go listen to something else. Fave Song: Only in My Dreams

The Animal Years

Josh Ritter

3/5

This was really nice. Lovely arrangements, with elegant but plain-spoken lyrics. A little slow moving on the back half, but overall a really well done album. Fave Songs: Wolves, Monster Ballads, Thin Blue Flame, In the Dark, Girl in the War

Afraid Of Sunlight

Marillion

3/5

This album was fine for the most part, well-played with some pleasant moments to be found. But it mostly doesn't do too much for me. Its best songs are quite lovely; its worst moments are just silly. Honestly, I think the bonus disc has a couple of songs on it that are better than anything on the original album. Fave Songs: Out of This World, Afraid of Sunlight, King

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Neutral Milk Hotel

4/5

Musically this is pretty great, a high watermark of the indie folk genre, which was embryonic at best in 1998. For what was going on musically at the time, this album sounded like something that fell down straight from Mars, but it ended up being one of the most influential albums of the last 30 years. It could easily replace any number of lesser Indie albums that made the original list. If it has a weakness, I would point to the lyrics, which can be willfully obscure to the point of being a distraction. Ultimately this is a more rewarding listening experience if you don't try to spend a lot of time trying to unpack the lyrics. Fave Songs: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea; Two-Headed Boy; Holland, 1945; Communist Daughter

La cagaste... Burt Lancaster

Hombres G

3/5

A perfectly pleasant album that fits in with a lot of what was going on musically with pop-rock in the mid-80s. I would have enjoyed this better with another vocalist. Fave Songs: Te quiero, El ataque de las chicas cocodrilo, Un par de palabras, En la playa, Visite nuestro bar

Silent Alarm

Bloc Party

3/5

A solid listen, if a fairly forgettable one. I really dig the energy of this band and the drum-forward sound, but I wasn't a fan of the vocals. Fave Songs: So Here We Are, This Modern Love, Helicopter, Luno, Blue Light

Give Up

The Postal Service

3/5

Really lovely. I'm not fond of the vocals, but this definitely should have made the original list. Fave Songs: Such Great Heights, We Will Become Silhouettes, The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

Misplaced Childhood

Marillion

3/5

Marillion never got a ton of airplay in the states, but I do remember "Kayleigh," probably from MTV. That said, this was a pleasant surprise. Expertly played and highly listenable. Definitely has the vibe of Gabriel-era Genesis. This fits in better with what was going on in 1985 than I would have expected, although the spoken word bit from "Bitter Suite" would have been better left in the 70s. I appreciate how well the songs seamlessly flow into each other and how for the most part none of them overstays its welcome. Thanks for recommending this. Fave Songs: Lavender, Kayleigh, Blind Curve, Pseudo Silk Kimono, Lords of the Backstage

Savage Sinusoid

Igorrr

3/5

Okay, this was kind of great. If I had to explain this to someone outside of this group, I would not even know where to begin, but it was riveting to listen to. Starts out like a heart attack and then becomes this freewheeling exercise in batshittery which is just so much fun. Just shy of a 4 as it becomes a bit of a blur on the back half. But I enjoyed it. Incredibly creative and weird with a rogue sense of humor. There's also clear musicality in this, which Igorrr takes great pleasure in thrashing to bits every time you relax for a second. It's like the avant garde electronic metal album Zappa never got to make. Fave Songs: Problème d'émotion, Opus Brain, Spaghetti Forever, Robert, Au Revoir

The Black Parade

My Chemical Romance

3/5

Surprisingly catchy and expressive with a compelling concept. This has a big sound that I don't hate, but the vocals are hard to like, running the gambit from soaring and theatrical to snotty and annoying. But even if it's not my thing, I can see that it's really a high water mark for its genre and a significant work for its time. Totally should have made the original list. Fave Songs: This Is How I Disappear, Cancer, Famous Last Words

After Hours

The Weeknd

3/5

Slick production and a shimmery vibe that I enjoyed. This album certainly has its moments and is a strong touchstone for what's been going on music recently. Still, I have limited patience for this style of vocal and The Weeknd definitely could have edited this down by a few songs. Fave Songs: Blinding Lights, After Hours, In Your Eyes, Save Your Tears

Phantom Power

The Tragically Hip

3/5

A well written, well played album of the college rock variety. Leans a little too much into REM's well-worn musical territory. Still some decent songs to be found here, worth revisiting later. Fave Songs: Bobcaygeon, Fireworks, Thompson Girl, Something On, Vapour Trails

Lahai

Sampha

3/5

I don't know that I needed to hear this album before I shuffle off, and it's probably way too soon to really consider it in that light. That said, this a soulful and smart album, and I enjoyed it. Thanks for recommending it. My main critique is that I wish sometimes that Sampha had been more restrained with the use of the vocals. There are moments when something really cool and nuanced is going on musically, and his vocals get in the way. Fave Songs: Dancing Circles, Jonathan L. Seagull, Spirit 2.0

I Need to Start a Garden

Haley Heynderickx

4/5

This was really lovely. This album starts with a fairly minimalist sound, with well placed upbeat moments on the back half that keep it from dragging or feeling too precious. The lyrics you could read on their own as poetry. Thanks for sharing this. High 3, bumped to a 4. Fave Songs: The Bug Collector, No Face, Untitled God Song, Drinking Song, Oom Sha La La

Vedergällningen

Garmarna

3/5

This was an interesting album, with a darkly elegant sound. A little bit of a Sinead O'Connor vibe in there, particularly on the back half. Thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Herr Holkin, Bläck, Polska, Nio år, Brun

22, A Million

Bon Iver

2/5

Okay, I'm "an old," but I'm not getting much out of this at all.

No.1 In Heaven

Sparks

4/5

Oh my heart, it's Sparks. This was such a delight after Bon Iver's lifeless attempt at an electronic album from yesterday. Now *this* is how you do electronic music, thank you very much. Of course Giorgio Moroder's fingerprints are all over this collaboration, with some truly gorgeous arrangements. This album is a seminal work for electronic music, deftly straddling the line between disco and new wave/electro-pop in all the best ways. It's fresh and fizzy and built for the dance floor. But it's also charmingly quirky and artful as all Mael brothers albums are. The lyrics are clever and campy, both embracing and slyly satirizing the shallowness and silliness of dance music. I mean, who else could get away with a dance anthem devoted to the life cycle of sperm? Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): The Number One Song in Heaven, Beat the Clock, La Dolce Vita, Tryouts for the Human Race, My Other Voice, Academy Award Performance

Yeti

Amon Düül II

3/5

I had a little dread going in, but this was pretty cool. Thanks for recommending it. Proggy, adventurous, occasionally silly. Starts out surprisingly cohesive, considering the wide musical ground covered. But then it kind wanders off into the weeds somewhere near the end of disc 1 and never comes back. Still a great listen. Fave Songs: Cerberus, Halluzination Guillotine, The Return of Rübezahl, Burning Sister, She Came Through the Chimney, Flesh-Coloured Anti-Aircraft Alarm

Game of Fools

Koritni

3/5

This was a perfectly serviceable, well-played hard rock album, although it seems late to the game without adding anything new to the genre.

Enema Of The State

blink-182

3/5

Catchy, energetic and fun, with a strong pop sensibility. A bit lyrically juvenile for my tastes and I'm not a fan of the vocals, but "All the Small Things" is a classic.

10,000 gecs

100 gecs

1/5

Come on. No.

Whipped Cream & Other Delights

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

3/5

This is a lighter flavor of jazz that is very much of its time, but still was incredibly popular and deserves a spot on the list. Not too deep, but well played and a pretty fun listen. Fave Songs: Ladyfingers, A Taste of Honey, Lemon Tree, Bittersweet Samba, Green Peppers

Spilt Milk

Jellyfish

3/5

Hmm, I have mixed feelings about this one, but it's quite good overall. Jellyfish has a genuine pop sensibility that I like a lot, and there's a level of creativity here that I miss hearing in music. But the band's attempts to be more ambitious or artful don't always work. It gets a little show tuney at times and there's sometimes too much going on at any given moment to the point of distraction. But the vocals are frequently lovely and there are some nice hooks to be found. Thanks for recommending it. Fave Songs: New Mistake; Too Much, Too Little, Too Late; Glutton of Sympathy; The Ghost at Number One

Currents

Tame Impala

3/5

I really liked this. Sweet, shimmery, easy on the ears. They needed to drop 2 or 3 songs, but overall this was pretty great. Fave Songs: Yes I'm Changing, Eventually, Cause I'm a Man, The Less I Know the Better, Past Life

Home Sweet Home

Kano

2/5

This album had its moments, but I mostly wasn't feeling it. Fave Songs: P's and Q's, Home Sweet Home

Music For People In Trouble

Susanne Sundfør

4/5

This was so lovely, thanks for sharing it. Slyly minimalist at the outset, with surprising depth that develops as the album progresses. Susanne Sundfør's vocal isn't the best, but it suits the mood perfectly. Fave Songs: Undercover, Reincarnation, The Golden Age, The Sound of War, No One Believes in Love Anymore, Mountaineers

A Deeper Understanding

The War On Drugs

3/5

Great sound that is sometimes unnecessarily drawn out in places. I would not have minded this on the original list. Fave Songs: Pain, Holding On, Strangest Thing, Thinking of a Place

Madvillainy

Madvillain

3/5

Musically, this was pretty fantastic. Quirky and twisted in the best way, with some really creative uses of sampling. Fave Songs: Meat Grinder, Accordion, Eye, Raid, America's Most Blunted, Supervillain Theme, Shadows of Tomorrow

The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking

Roger Waters

3/5

Excellent concept, with solid musicianship. I've crossed paths with this album here and there over the years, but never bothered to engage with it until today, which was my mistake because it's quite well done. The album was probably a little too smart for the time it came out, and it obviously feels very much like a lesser Pink Floyd album. I can't fault it for too much except that it drags needlessly on the back half. Also, for all of Roger Waters' attempts at expressing emotion, the album lacks much in the way of real emotional depth to make me want to return to it. Fave Songs: 4:41AM (Sexual Revolution), 4:39AM (For the First Time Today, Part 2), 5:06AM (Every Stranger's Eyes)

We Rock Hard

Freestylers

3/5

This was pretty fun, if of a very specific era in time. Enjoyed this more than I expected to, although it really could have been shorter. Runs a bit far afield stylistically, but the beats pull it all together nicely. Fave Songs: Don't Stop, Drop the Boom, We Rock Hard, The Darkside, Breaker Beats

Ultra Blue

Hikaru Utada

3/5

Nice to see another non-English album suggestion, particularly by an Asian artist. A really pleasant sound, with lovely vocals and elegant electronic arrangements. On the surface, this doesn't feel substantially different from Western pop (Madonna comes to mind, but gentler). But the vocal delivery does feel distinct in a good way. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Fave Songs: Blue, Colors, Keep Tryin', This Is Love, One Night Magic, Kairo

Djarimirri

Gurrumul

3/5

Gorgeously arranged, with expressive vocals. This was really lovely, thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Waak (Crow), Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow), Ngarrpiya (Octopus)

Emotional Mugger

Ty Segall

4/5

Oh, this was excellent. Good old fashioned oddball garage rock that splits the difference between grit and glam with ease. The comparison to Bolan is on point, but Ty Segall manages to embody Bolan's sensibility without getting lost in it. That's a hard thing to do, and I'm liking it. Fave Songs: Emotional Mugger/Leopard Priestess, Squealer, Californian Hills, Baby Big Man, Mandy Cream

Eye

Robyn Hitchcock

4/5

Robyn Hitchcock is definitely an artist who deserved a spot on the original list. Yeah I know, Soft Boys, but his solo stuff is something distinct and special. There's really nothing else out there quite like him, and I enjoyed spending time with this album today. Eye is interesting because without a supporting band it's simply Hitchcock distilled to his finest qualities. Musically, he has a minimalist pop sensibility. But Hitchcock's eccentric approach to songwriting is straight out of the 60s. The lyrics are the star here - whimsical, sardonic, surreal, encircling the occasional nugget of pathos or truth. The overall effect is highly listenable but thought provoking and strange in the best ways. Fave Songs: Queen Elvis, Raining Twilight Coast, Chinese Water Python, Glass Hotel, Aquarium, Beautiful Girl

Recipe for Hate

Bad Religion

3/5

I started off thinking that the vocals here were not strong enough to hold up to the lyrics or to what's going on musically. But as the album progressed, I found that it all works well together. There's a melodicism here that I didn't expect but really liked. This was a solid listen, thanks for recommending it. Fave Songs: American Jesus, Man with a Mission, Lookin' In, Recipe for Hate, All Good Soldiers

Hammersmith Odeon, London '75

Bruce Springsteen

5/5

I had a lot of fun with this one. I was delighted but surprised when I saw it come up, probably because I really didn't expect that anyone would think to submit it. But for all of Bruce Springsteen's studio albums that you rightfully could have submitted, this was the better choice. It's a window into the passion and the joy of Bruce's live shows, which are central to who he is as an artist. The album is an excellent representation of the early "classic" E Street lineup, featuring songs from Bruce's first three albums. It's a must-listen for fans, and is probably also regarded as one of the better live albums ever made. Production is clean and crisp with every nuance on full display. You can practically feel the warmth of the crowd in the room. For those of you who struggle with the length of the album, I recommend taking a break before starting disk 2. Several of the best songs on the album happen to reside on disk 2, so it's worth hanging in there. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Born to Run; Jungleland; She's the One; Rosalita (Come Out Tonight); Backstreets; Lost in the Flood; Thunder Road; Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out; Quarter to Three; 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy); It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City; Spirit in the Night; For You; The E Street Shuffle/Havin' a Party; Kitty's Back; Detroit Medley

Squeezing Out Sparks

Graham Parker

4/5

Ah, this was a nice addition. Graham Parker is one of those artists I was waiting to see on the original list who didn't make it, so I'm glad to see him here. This album has a smart, mildly cantankerous vibe with a strong pop sensibility, and more than a bit of a bite. Love it. Fave Songs: Saturday Nite Is Dead, Love Gets You Twisted, Protection, You Can't Be Too Strong, Local Girls, Passion Is No Ordinary Word

Human Racing

Nik Kershaw

2/5

I think maybe my brother had this album when it came out, but that I didn't particularly connect with it. That hasn't really changed as I come back to it today. It's an odd little album, a bit of a hodgepodge of quirky synth-forward songs that are very much of their time. The singles are solid enough, but it's nothing I care to revisit. Fave Songs: Wouldn't It Be Good, Bogart, I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Human Racing

Contra

Vampire Weekend

3/5

This album certainly has some nice, melodic moments, but I found it to be overly cutesy for my taste. The modification/tuning of the vocal was straight up irritating. It's very much a defining album of its time though, and it absolutely belongs on the list. Fave Songs: White Sky, Giving Up the Gun, Run, Taxi Cab

Gemstones

Adam Green

1/5

There's a guy like this playing in a coffee shop in a college town near you. He's not as clever as he thinks he is either.

Moffou

Salif Keita

2/5

I'll echo what others have said, that I was unable to find the full original album and that it seems much of what I could find was in remixes. What I did hear of Keita sounded very nice, but this is a 2 for lack of an album.

Pushin' Against a Stone

Valerie June

3/5

This was an enjoyable surprise. It has an almost timeless quality due to all of the genres Valerie June plays in. Her vocal style grated on me a little bit, both too much and not enough for what she was trying to do with it. Fave Songs: Pushin' Against a Stone; Trials, Troubles, Tribulations; Workin' Woman Blues; Tennessee Time

Chet

Chet Baker

3/5

What a great listen for an autumn afternoon. Fave Songs: Alone Together, September Song, Time on My Hands (You in My Arms), It Never Entered My Mind, Tis Autumn

World Of Echo

Arthur Russell

3/5

I enjoyed this. Really creative stuff and, apparently, Arthur Russell was quite ahead of his time. This has a certain fragmented and unfinished quality, and it's really longer than it needs to be, but it somehow still works. Thanks for recommending this. Fave Songs: Being It, See-Through, Tree House, Tone Bone Kone, Place I Know / Kid Like You, Lucky Cloud

When Smoke Rises

Mustafa

3/5

This was quite good, with a stripped down sound and surprisingly contemplative lyrics. The vocals seem a little off to me though. Fave Songs: Stay Alive, Air Forces, Separate

Dead Man's Party

Oingo Boingo

4/5

Ah, a solid choice. And fittingly, I happened to get this album the day before Halloween. I think Oingo Boingo absolutely should have made the original list. I always enjoyed them, and this is an album that got a lot of play in my house when it came out. It has Danny Elfman's trademark oddball sensibility, while at the same time being really accessible and fun to listen to. This is about as 80s as you can get in an album, but in the best ways. Vibrant, brassy and funky, but not at all overbearing. The underlying themes that run through some of the songs of death, ghosts and embracing life were really clever and unusual for the time, without ever getting overly creepy or dour. The most famous song on the album ("Weird Science") kind of doesn't fit with the other stuff, but is still pretty catchy, nearly 40 years later. Fave Songs: Dead Man's Party, Just Another Day, Stay, Weird Science, No One Lives Forever, Heard Somebody Cry

Pop

GAS

2/5

This was pleasant enough to listen to, solid as background listening. Everything kind of blurs together here, so there really weren't any standout tracks. I didn't dislike this and I appreciate a submission in this genre, but this one was fairly unmemorable for me.

Mm..Food

MF DOOM

3/5

Quirky, creative and fun. I liked this, thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: Beef Rapp, Deep Fried Frenz, One Beer, Guinnessez, Fillet-O-Rapper

You'd Prefer an Astronaut

Hum

3/5

Somehow I managed to miss this when it came out, but I enjoyed it a lot today. Great sound. Seemingly murky on the surface, but with some nice nuanced guitar work and strategic uses of noise. Will definitely be spending more time with this one. Fave Songs: Stars, Songs of Farewell and Departure, Why I Like the Robins, I Hate It Too, Suicide Machine, Little Dipper

Dilate

Ani DiFranco

3/5

Musically, I found this to be fairly unremarkable, but for its genre and the time in which it was released, this is a well-made, well-written album. It's the little, intimate lyrical touches that give this album its spark. Fave Songs: Done Wrong, Untouchable Face, Superhero, Adam and Eve, Going Down

Gotcha! Gotcha! Gotcha!

Gotcha!

3/5

I appreciated hearing an example of Dutch rock/funk music, so thank you for sharing this. Although Gotcha! has some strong musical chops, I didn’t connect with much of this. An interesting listen though. Fave Song: Stronger Than Ajax/Save Da Day

All Hail West Texas

The Mountain Goats

3/5

I appreciate the thought behind this concept. The lyricism is pretty terrific. I'm really not a fan of the Lo-fi sound of this album though. It could have been so much better. Fave Songs: Fault Lines, The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton, Balance, Color in Your Cheeks

Join Us

They Might Be Giants

3/5

This should be Flood. I will say, I'm pleased to see that TMGB has maintained the quality of their work as long as they have. I will even go so far as to say that in some ways the Johns have improved as musicians since the days of those early, classic albums. That said, this feels like a rudderless assortment of songs, not an album. A few great songs, and a lot I probably won't remember. Fave Songs: Can't Keep Johnny Down, You Probably Get That a Lot, Old Pine Box, Canajoharie

Tales Of Mystery And Imagination

The Alan Parsons Project

3/5

So I love the idea of a whole Poe-inspired album, but I can't help but think that the Alan Parsons Project was the wrong band to attempt it. While the band has excellent musical chops, the album itself really could have been about anything. Knowing what I know of some of the Poe works, I found the corresponding songs to be tonally off for the most part, as well as lacking in a certain tension and darkness. The instrumental "The Fall of the House of Usher" is probably the one piece where the mood fits the story. A+ concept with a B in execution. Fave Songs: The Fall of the House of Usher: Arrival, The Fall of the House of Usher: Pavane, The Cask of Amontillado, A Dream Within a Dream

Young Team

Mogwai

3/5

Enjoyed this. Strategic uses of tension, noise and quiet, all to brilliant effect. I did find myself wishing for a good vocal on some of the songs, but that's a minor critique. Fave Songs: Summer (Priority Version), Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home, Tracy, Like Herod, A Cheery Wave from Stranded Youngsters

O

Damien Rice

3/5

Really lovely, melancholy music with expressive vocals. It loses me a little on the back half, and that extended final track was wholly unnecessary. Still, I enjoyed this quite a bit. Fave Songs: Cannonball, Volcano, The Blower's Daughter, Delicate, Older Chests

Hand. Cannot. Erase.

Steven Wilson

3/5

This was well written and very well played, but I didn't connect much with the proggier songs. And yeah, it was overly long. Pleased to see music of this quality being produced so recently. Fave Songs: Perfect Life, Hand Cannot Erase, Routine

Nuyorican Soul

4/5

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but it's pretty great. This has a really rich sound that grooves, which makes sense given the deep bench of talent working together here. Some of the stylistic wanderings were a little off the wall, but in the end it all works. Fave Songs: It's Alright, I Feel It!; Runaway; You Can Do It (Baby); I Am the Black Gold of the Sun; Shoshana; Habriendo el Dominante

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

Big Thief

3/5

When this album works, it's golden - Earthy, quietly elegant, mildly quirky. Where it doesn't work, it drags or wanders off into the weeds stylistically. On the whole a very nice listen, but also entirely too long. Fave Songs: Certainty, Blue Lightning, Spud Infinity, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, Dried Roses, Red Moon, Wake Me Up to Drive

Ruin

The Amazing Devil

3/5

Yeah, this was a bit overwrought in places. I didn't particularly connect with it, but I appreciate the creativity. Fave Songs: The Calling, Ruin, Chords

Diary

Sunny Day Real Estate

3/5

I thought this was fine. It's very listenable as post-hardcore or Emo goes, if not super memorable. The vocals don't do a thing for me. Fave Songs: In Circles, Seven, Song About an Angel, Round

Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)

Jai Paul

3/5

Bubbly and quirky and pretty fun to listen to in its best moments. The fragmented aspect of these songs wore thin with me though, as did the start/stop effects and fluctuating volume. At times I felt like I was listening to an old chewed up cassette. Fave Songs: Genevieve, Str8 Outta Mumbai, Jasmine, Crush, Zion Wolf Theme

Alive Or Just Breathing

Killswitch Engage

2/5

Musically this is quite good, but I can't deal with that style of vocal. It's actually distracting from the rest of the music. Thanks for submitting it though. Many of these user submitted albums are just so one note, and this really stands out by comparison.

Come On Come On

Mary Chapin Carpenter

3/5

This album occasionally drags in pace, although there are some really lovely songs to be found here. Some of the upbeat country rock tunes sound a bit dated now, although Carpenter's cover of "Passionate Kisses" is easily the best song of the bunch. Thanks for sharing. I don't think I've ever spent time with much of Carpenter's music. Fave Songs: Passionate Kisses, Not Too Much to Ask, I Take My Chances, He Thinks He'll Keep Her, Come On Come On

The Universe Smiles Upon You

Khruangbin

3/5

Very nice, highly listenable stuff. I would definitely like to spend more time with this. It has a bit of a diffuse vintage vibe, while still sounding quite fresh. The lyrics and vocals, such as they are, are shallow and don't add much value to the music. But the quality of this is strong enough that I'm willing to overlook it. Fave Songs: The Man Who Took My Sunglasses, Balls and Pins, August Twelve, Zionsville, People Everywhere (Still Alive), White Gloves

Set Yourself On Fire

Stars

3/5

This was an interesting listen, if a bit of a stylistic hodgepodge. I am not a fan of the dual vocals, but I also think the vocals in general are the weakest part of the album. Fave Songs: Reunion, Your Ex-Lover Is Dead, Set Yourself on Fire, Ageless Beauty

Boys And Girls In America

The Hold Steady

3/5

Something's up with this one, as I already reviewed it about 3 months ago. Gave it a 3. As I said back then... musically on point, highly listenable, a bit derivative. Fave Songs: Stuck Between Stations, Hot Soft Light, Party Pit, Chips Ahoy!, Massive Nights

Real Life

Joan As Police Woman

3/5

This was charming in its way, and it's plenty listenable as background music. I don't know that it's memorable enough for me to want to return to it though. Fave Songs: Feed the Light, The Ride, Real Life

Bleed American

Jimmy Eat World

3/5

It's hard not to like this. Catchy, melodic and full of energy, musically smarter than I expected it to be. A little weak on the back half, but overall a fun listen. Fave Songs: The Middle, A Praise Chorus, Bleed American, Sweetness, My Sundown

Somewhere In The Between

Streetlight Manifesto

3/5

Brassy, energetic and well-played ska punk. The quality of the vocals is a bit irritating to me, but the lyrics are surprisingly thoughtful. Fave Songs: We Will Fall Together, Forty Days, Watch It Crash

God Shuffled His Feet

Crash Test Dummies

3/5

Musically, I thought this was pretty solid, but Brad Roberts' vocal style wore thin with me pretty quickly. Fave Song: Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm, When I Go Out with Artists

Stage Four

Touché Amoré

3/5

Oh boy, this was visceral and so hard to listen to at times, but such a lovely, honest expression of pain and grief. Musically, it was nuanced and creative in ways that both complemented and struggled against the lyrics in interesting ways. Thanks for sharing this. Fave Songs: Flowers and You, Displacement, Rapture, Benediction, New Halloween

Hadestown

Anaïs Mitchell

3/5

One thing I will say for this album is that it's thematically ambitious in a way I wish I heard more in music. Musically it was fine, if with a rather strained, oddball vintage sensibility. I imagine this plays better if you are familiar with the musical it inspired, or even with Greek mythology. I struggled with Anaïs Mitchell's voice and mostly preferred the tracks that featured other vocalists. "Flowers (Eurydice's Song)" was a notable exception. Fave Songs: Hey, Little Songbird; Flowers (Eurydice's Song); If It's True; Wait for Me

Come On Over

Shania Twain

3/5

I'm struck by the sheer number of singles that came off this album. This album was a massive hit in its day and a really catchy, well-crafted collection of songs. Definitely an oversight leaving it off the original list. I was never particularly into Shania in her heyday, but it's hard not to respect her talent. She has a killer pop sensibility and a natural charisma as a performer that is incredibly engaging. The songs are assertive but big-hearted and highly listenable, with little in the way of filler. Fave Songs: You're Still the One; Man! I Feel Like a Woman!; Whatever You Do! Don't!; When; That Don't Impress Me Much; I Won't Leave You Lonely; You've Got a Way

Things We Lost In The Fire

Low

3/5

This was really excellent. Haunting and elegant, if a bit slow moving at times. Fave Songs: Like a Forest, In Metal, Sunflower, Dinosaur Act, Whitetail, Laser Beam

Animals

Pink Floyd

4/5

Excellent choice. Not one that immediately comes to mind when I think of Pink Floyd, but highly listenable and with a well-executed concept. A somewhat self-indulgent use of spacey keyboards and studio effects wears thin at points, but there's a lot to enjoy here. Uneasy and cynical, but fascinating stuff. Fave Songs: Pigs (Three Different Ones), Dogs

Sing To God

Cardiacs

2/5

Okay, this was some wacky stuff. I would not have pegged this as coming out anywhere near 1996, so I guess kudos on these guys for being different. Has tinges of Krautrock and Zappa's weirder stuff. At its worst it's assertively annoying, lyrically inane, and way too long. I can hear there's some musical skill in there, but Cardiacs seem more focused on being off the wall than on being coherent or listenable. Mentally tapped out several songs before it was all over. Fave Songs: Odd Even, Flap Off You Beak, Fiery Gun Hand, Wireless

Act IV: Rebirth In Reprise

The Dear Hunter

3/5

This was really interesting, although the concept was a bit lost on me and not particularly discernible from the lyrics. Nevertheless, it was a well played, frequently lovely collection of songs. Instrumentation was rich and nuanced and the vocals were incredibly expressive, although it did get a bit musical theater-y for my taste. Fave Songs: Waves, Is There Anybody Here?, The Line, The Old Haunt, Remembered

The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess

Chappell Roan

3/5

I never would have sought this out on my own, so thanks for recommending it. I'm unconvinced that this is an album I needed to hear before shuffling off, but it was pretty fun. Catchy, well-produced pop with a fun mix of torchy and danceable. The lyrics are strikingly honest and Chappell Roan has a strong vocal, but she loses steam somewhere on the back half. Fave Songs: Femininomenon, My Kink Is Karma, Coffee, Picture You

Angel Dust

Faith No More

3/5

I've never been a fan of Faith No More, but this one was interesting. Musically, the band is pretty spot on, and more nuanced than I recall hearing on their earlier works. Say what you will either way, but the album was quite creative for its time, and never boring. I really didn't care for the heavier/more bombastic songs, which probably fit well within the general musical atmosphere in 1992, but just weren't my thing. The album does need a serious edit. It's overly long for sure, as well as stylistically unfocused. I'll be puzzling over the inclusion of the Midnight Cowboy theme for a while, but the bonus track cover of "Easy" on the 1993 re-issue was an inspired addition and definitely my favorite. Fave Songs: Midlife Crisis, Land of Sunshine, Smaller and Smaller

MOMENTUM

Calibro 35

3/5

I love the mood of this album. I do tend to favor the instrumentals over the tracks with vocals, which kind of break the vibe for me. Fave Songs: Death of Storytelling, Thunderstorms and Data, Fail It Till You Make It

Boxer

The National

3/5

This was lovely, should have made the original list. Elegant, evocative and highly listenable. Fave Songs: Apartment Story, Slow Show, Guest Room, Mistaken for Strangers, Fake Empire

Puzzle

Biffy Clyro

3/5

This album was fine, well-played but fairly unmemorable. Feels a bit dated for what was going on musically in 2007. Fave Songs: Machines, As Dust Dances, Folding Stars, Saturday Superhouse, Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies

Under The Pink

Tori Amos

4/5

I say this as someone who never particularly connected with Tori Amos, but I really liked this one. It's so much better than the Tori album we got on the original list, possibly her best. Musically elegant, creative and idiosyncratic without ever feeling overwrought. Flashes of brilliance throughout. Apropos of nothing, I think my new motto is "I believe in peace, bitch." Amazing. Fave Songs: God, Cornflake Girl, The Waitress, Bells for Her, Past the Mission, Icicle

Rose Mountain

Screaming Females

3/5

This was great, full of energetic rockers that don't stick around past their welcome. I wasn't sure about that vocal at first, but it grew on me. Fave Songs: Wishing Well, Rip, Rose Mountain, Empty Head, Burning Car

Pop Art

Transvision Vamp

3/5

This album certainly has its charms and works pretty well when the band leans more into their pop sensibility, but it's fairly unremarkable. I didn't dislike it, but it's basically the mall food court pizza chain of 80s music. It'll fill you up, but it's ultimately unsatisfying. Fave Songs: Sister Moon, I Want Your Love, Wild Star, Andy Warhol's Dead

Pony Express Record

Shudder To Think

3/5

Musically this was pretty great, but I actively dislike the vocals. I also have a limited tolerance for the nonsensical lyrics. Fave Songs: So Into You, Hit Liquor, Own Me

L'Heptade

Harmonium

3/5

Elegantly arranged with a rich sound and intriguing concept. I enjoyed Serge Fiori's vocals, which remind me a bit of John Martyn. Some of the stylistic shifts struck me as odd and the pace occasionally drags, but overall this was a really enjoyable listen. Thank you for sharing it. Fave Songs: Chanson noire, Le corridor, Le premier ciel, Comme un fou, L'exil

From The Lions Mouth

The Sound

3/5

Every time I see something written about The Sound, there's an incredulity as to why the band wasn't as successful as some of their peers. Well, I'll tell you why. They simply got overshadowed by showier, more talented bands working in the same vein of a crowded genre. Long term, international success was fleeting for all but the best of these bands. Musically, this is perfectly serviceable early 80s post-punk that I would have happily consumed in my teens. But this is also the band I would have probably forgotten about until they started turning up in my Spotify recommends 40 years later. So what's the weak spot? There are several. Chiefly, this album really lacks darkness, a certain edge. Adrian Borland's vocals are mostly flat and lacking in charisma. That, combined with lackluster lyrics and fairly restrained instrumentation, results in a listenable but unmemorable collection of songs. That said, I don't have a problem with The Sound per se. I love listening to this genre of music and I enjoyed getting a chance to hear this today. I would have loved to review the band's earlier album, Jeopardy, which has a more intense and angular sound. The difference between the two albums is almost shocking. Fave Songs: Fatal Flaw, New Dark Age, Winning, The Fire, Skeletons

Stories

Avicii

3/5

Okay, fair enough. This wasn't really my thing, but this is a solidly representative album for recent EDM/dance-pop, with an interesting roster of vocalists. A catchy and pleasant crowd pleaser, if not super groundbreaking or memorable. Fave Songs: Waiting for Love, Touch Me, Ten More Days, Talk to Myself

Live At Madison Square Garden

Vulfpeck

3/5

Ever walk into a conversation mid-joke and you have no idea what's going on? This is how I felt going into this album. I mean, it seems like the crowd was having a great time? This was way too long to hold my attention all the way through, and I am clearly not the target audience of this goofball vibe. But I do think this is some really vibrant, well-played music from a bunch of musicians who clearly sound like they are having a blast. Can't hate on that, no sir. Instrumentals > songs with vocals. Fave Songs: Cory Wong, Smile Meditation, My First Car

Get Fucked

The Chats

3/5

I love a short and (not at all) sweet punk album, all muscle and no fat. This one delivers in that regard, full tilt. My one personal thing is that I find Eamon Sandwith's voice to be a bit grating, but that's a minor complaint. And this doesn't particularly tread new ground, but eh who cares? Great to see some legit punks keeping the faith in the 2020s. Fave Songs: The Price of Smokes, Boggo Breakout, Getting Better, Struck by Lightning, 6L GTR, Out on the Street

Grace And Danger

John Martyn

3/5

Smooth, jazzy and pleasant to listen too, if a bit mopey. Fave Songs: Some People Are Crazy, Sweet Little Mystery, Baby Please Come Home, Hurt In Your Heart, Save Some (For Me)

Choirs Of The Eye

Kayo Dot

3/5

This was really interesting. Far more more musically diverse than I expected it to be, with well-placed uses of atonality and quiet. Intense at times, but nothing too overbearing. Fave Songs: Marathon, A Pitcher of Summer, The Manifold Curiosity

The Great Outdoors Jam

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

3/5

This was well-played, but far too jammy for my taste. The attempts at whimsy were also a bit heavy-handed. The instrumentals were far better than the songs with vocals. Fave Songs: Poseidon, Offshoot

WORRY

Jeff Rosenstock

3/5

This was fun. Catchy and concise with great energy. Fave Songs: Pash Rash, We Begged 2 Explode, Festival Song

The Evil One

Roky Erickson

4/5

Ah, a solid choice by a truly unique artist. High energy tunes with dark imagery and spot-on rock musicianship. Bluesy, gritty and even grungy, a full decade before it was cool to be. Fave Songs: I Walked With a Zombie, I Think of Demons, White Faces, Night of the Vampire, Two-Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer), The Wind and More

Symbolic

Death

3/5

Musically, this is pretty excellent. Muscular and fierce, with an unrelenting pace and surprise flashes of melodicism. The vocals aren't particularly to my taste, but that's just me. Fave Songs: Crystal Mountain, Symbolic, Without Judgement, Zero Tolerance, Misanthrope

Songs Of A Lost World

The Cure

3/5

This was really lovely. Lushly arranged, and Robert Smith is in excellent voice. Honestly we are years off from seeing if this album has any staying power at all, but it sure was nice to see that Cure are still doing quality work. Fave Songs: Alone, A Fragile Thing, All I Ever Am, And Nothing is Forever

Mad Dogs & Englishmen

Joe Cocker

5/5

Oh, I was so glad to see this one. I was kicking myself a little for not submitting it. Truly amazing this didn't make the original list. Besides being one of the all time best live rock albums, this is just such an engaging, satisfying listen. What a great, collaborative vibe from a group of artists who are clearly having the time of their lives playing music they love. If you have a friend who hates listening to live albums, give them this one. The songs here are soulful, expressive, and packed with earnest emotion you just don't hear much in music anymore. It's a testament to Joe Cocker's charisma as a performer that he breathes such life into familiar songs and truly makes them his own. No other artist has that kind of skill, and Cocker does it with ease. Cocker is supported by a top notch band, including a powerful horn section and the brilliant Leon Russell on piano. Even the backing vocalists match Cocker's energy and serve it back twofold. What a delight, every note of it. Fave Songs: Cry Me a River, The Letter, Bird on the Wire, She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Delta Lady, Feelin' Alright, Let's Go Get Stoned, Superstar, Space Captain

Brat

Charli xcx

3/5

Catchy and danceable, but overtuned, overprocessed and generally unmemorable. The lyrics are probably the best part, revealing some surprising moments of depth. Glad to have had a chance to hear this, but I don't see myself listening to it again. Fave Songs: Apple, I Might Say Something Stupid, Sympathy Is a Knife, So I

Grand Prix

Teenage Fanclub

4/5

Melodic, dreamy and bittersweet. This is such a satisfying listen, almost as good as a power pop album can get. It's smarter and more nuanced than a lot of people probably have patience for, but it's an album I can just sit with endlessly and hear new things. "I'd steal a car to drive you home" has got to be one of the great crush lyrics of all time. Fave Songs: Don't Look Back, Sparky's Dream, Tears, Mellow Doubt, Neil Jung, I'll Make It Clear, About You

Operation Ivy

3/5

This was not bad, rowdy and energetic. I have a pretty limited tolerance for this style of music and sure didn't need to hear nearly an hour of it, but it has its moments. Fave Songs: Jaded, The Crowd, Bank Shot, Bad Town

Les deux doigts dans la prise

Les sheriff

3/5

This was a fun listen, if overly long for what is supposed to be a punk album. The sound is interesting, fusing the attitude and melodicism of pop punk with a level of guitar technique that would not be entirely out of place in 80s metal. The pace is crisp and energetic, and the band mixes it up enough that you never really get bored with it. They did lose me a bit somewhere in the middle of the second disc, because it's just a lot to listen to. My limited proficiency in French prevented me from fully engaging with the album, but I really liked it. Thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Jusqu'au bout, Je veux savoir pourquoi, Pas de doutes, Ca fait mal, Tout le temps pareil

Sound Awake

Karnivool

3/5

This was really good. Musically nuanced, with a weighty sound. Rock solid instrumentation and an excellent vocalist in Ian Kenny. Fave Songs: Umbra, Goliath, Simple Boy, New Day, The Caudal Lure, Set Fire to the Hive

Homogenic

Björk

4/5

I said this more than once when reviewing Bjork's other albums that made the list - she's never made a bad album. I might say that we didn't really need to hear another. But I would gladly trade Homogenic for one of others that made the list. It feels a bit more grounded and less challenging than some of her later works. But musically, it's still incredibly rich and creative. Happy to hear it today. Fave Songs: Jóga, Bachelorette, Hunter, Pluto, All Neon Like

Bob Mould

3/5

This was a solid listen, but I tend to prefer Bob Mould's Workbook-era albums. One thing about this album that intrigues me though is how it breaks creatively from the work Mould was doing while in Sugar. You can almost read the very palpable anger and emotional exhaustion of these songs in the context of a broken relationship or that of a broken band. He wouldn't be the first artist who explored that territory, but it's pretty clever. Fave Songs: Next Time That You Leave, Art Crisis, Deep Karma Canyon, Anymore Time Between, Roll Over and Die

Metallic K.O.

The Stooges

2/5

This is bad bootleg territory, just rough all the way around. There is something to be said for that raw, visceral, frequently combative energy the Stooges have. It's just dripping from this album. It's a bit of a window into what their live shows might have been like. I love the Stooges, but as an album, this just isn't there. It begins pretty well, but much of this is a muddy, angry mess.

Lateralus

TOOL

3/5

I don't typically gravitate to this type of stuff, but this was quite good. Intense, smartly crafted music. This does run long though, and would have benefited from dropping a couple of songs off the back half. Still, the quality is top notch overall. Definitely worth a listen. Fave Songs: Parabola, Schism, The Patient, The Grudge, Ticks & Leeches

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

3/5

You know, this isn't something I (or probably anyone) would throw on for fun. But this was really interesting, creative stuff. Deeply nuanced, occasionally unsettling, frequently beautiful. Thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Storm, Sleep

The Monitor

Titus Andronicus

3/5

Pissy + melodic is one of my favorite combos in music. So I enjoyed the energy of this album lot. Kind of an American take on the Pogues with a dash of the Replacements for good measure. A little repetitive in spots, but overall a great listen. Fave Songs: A More Perfect Union, A Pot in Which to Piss, To Old Friends and New, Richard II..., Four Score and Seven

Weighing Souls With Sand

The Angelic Process

3/5

Intense, nuanced, dirgeful sound. Not for every day, but I thought this was quite good. It's a bit challenging on the ears, but contrasting quieter moments with the heavier walls of sound keeps the whole thing from getting too overwhelming. Fave Songs: Dying in A-minor, Mouvement - World Deafening Eclipse, The Promise of Snakes

Once

Nightwish

3/5

Still trying to wrap my head around this one. Musically this is pretty listenable, but the vocals kind of kill it for me. This would play well as musical theater, but I only halfway mean that as a compliment. Fave Songs: The Siren, Creek Mary's Blood

Look Sharp!

Joe Jackson

4/5

Oh yes, this is great stuff. This is an album I was waiting for on the original list and it just never showed up. Glad to see it here. This is my favorite kind of pop music - smart, catchy, and more than a little prickly. A little uneven in quality, but still so much fun to listen to. Fave Songs: One More Time, Baby Stick Around, Sunday Papers, Is She Really Going Out with Him?, Got the Time, Look Sharp!

Not Animal

Margot & The Nuclear So And So's

3/5

Evocative and fairly pleasing on the ears, with lyrics that are intriguing without being overwrought. I liked this for the most part, but somehow it feels like goes on longer than it actually does. Fave Songs: German Motor Car, Broadripple Is Burning, Holy Cow!, A Children's Crusade on Acid

All Hour Cymbals

Yeasayer

3/5

I didn't find this to be especially "experimental." But it was pleasingly eclectic without feeling unfocused or like a bad pastiche of styles. I liked it. Fave Songs: 2080, Sunrise, Wait for the Summer, Germs

HELLYEAH

2/5

Musically this was fine, but there's not much here to keep me engaged.

The Lonesome Crowded West

Modest Mouse

3/5

My immediate reaction to this was mild irritation, but it grew on me. Rough-edged and a bit chaotic on the surface, but smarter than it seems. There's a lot to like here, but yeah, this would have been a better album if it were shorter. Fave Songs: Polar Opposites, Trailer Trash, Lounge (Closing Time), Convenient Parking, Out of Gas, Bankrupt on Selling

Cor-Crane Secret

Polvo

3/5

Oh, I really liked this. For a mere 38 minutes of music, this album has a lot of depth. Noisy in all the right ways with surprise moments that are genuinely pretty. The vocals don't always land, but there is still much to enjoy here. Thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Sense of It, Vibracobra, Kalgon, Can I Ride, Channel Changer, Well Is Deep

Souvlaki

Slowdive

4/5

Oh this was so lovely. Dark, dreamy and evocative. The use of distortion is properly restrained, making this much more pleasing on the ear than some shoegaze I've heard. Musically, the band also takes their time working through each idea, while resisting the urge to drag us through any extended stretches of sameness. I appreciate that immensely. Fave Songs: Alison, When the Sun Hits, Here She Comes, Sing, Machine Gun, Souvlaki Space Station

Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit

Courtney Barnett

3/5

This was pretty fun with great energy. Some of the lyrics get a bit too granular for my taste, but overall I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: Small Poppies, Depreston, An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York), Pedestrian at Best, Elevator Operator, Debbie Downer

City Of Evil

Avenged Sevenfold

3/5

Musically I thought this was fine, with some genuinely excellent guitar work, but I really don't like the vocals. There are plenty of interesting things going on here, but some of these 7-9 minute songs could have been improved if they were just made shorter. It's just so self indulgent. I thought "Seize the Day" was fun in a Guns N' Roses-y kind of way. Fave Songs: Seize the Day, The Wicked End, Sidewinder

Clarity

Jimmy Eat World

3/5

This was really good. Great hooks, subtly creative arrangements, dreamy harmonies. Such a fun listen. My main critique would be that this really could have been edited down to be a much tighter/better album. Fave Songs: Lucky Denver Mint, Table for Glasses, Just Watch the Fireworks, Crush, Ten, Believe in What You Want

L'autre...

Mylène Farmer

3/5

I've never heard Mylène Farmer before, but this was pretty good for what it is. Torchy, well-produced pop. It gets a little overwrought in tone to the point where it gets silly in places, but I enjoyed it well enough. The reviewer who described this as a blend of Madonna and Enya is so on point. Fave Songs: Je t'aime mélancolie, Beyond My Control, L'autre..., Regrets, Pas de doute

An Empty Bliss Beyond This World

The Caretaker

4/5

Loved this. Fragments of sweetness made all the more hauntingly sad and beautiful by the ways in which Leyland Kirby obscures, distorts and repeats them. It's a brilliant concept, one of the more creative and powerful uses of music that I have ever heard. Thank you for sharing it. Fave Songs: All you are going to want to do is get back there, Libet's delay, Camaraderie at arms length, I feel as if I might be vanishing

In Between Dreams

Jack Johnson

3/5

Good natured and easy on the ears. Shades of Paul Simon. I appreciate how concise this album is, short and sweet. A lot of artists would have dragged this over an hour and ruined it. Fave Songs: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing; Do You Remember; No Other Way; Crying Shame; Better Together; Banana Pancakes

Ungodly Hour

Chloe x Halle

3/5

I appreciate getting a chance to hear some contemporary R&B, and this album has a few truly lovely moments that definitely made it worth a listen. Ultimately though, it doesn't really add anything to the genre that would make me want to come back to it. The album works best particularly on the mid-back half, where Chloe x Halle lean into more of a throwback, 90s kind of sound. The "newer" feeling songs that rely more on vocal tuning (although generally done with a lighter touch), will not age as well. Fave Songs: Don't Make It Harder on Me, Overwhelmed, Do It, Lonely

Emotion

Carly Rae Jepsen

2/5

There's something about this music that feels so overproduced and hollow. As pop music from the last decade goes, it's not bad. It's probably on a higher end of the spectrum in that regard. But they've polished away every bit of emotion or humanity that would have made it interesting. It's not even particularly danceable. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I really really really really really really can't get into this. Fave Song: Emotion

Fashion Nugget

CAKE

3/5

This is a lot of fun. Creative and irreverent without feeling overly ironic. The mix of styles is just crazy and shouldn't work at all, but it does. Fave Songs: The Distance; Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps; Frank Sinatra, Stickshifts and Safetybelts; She'll Come Back to Me; Italian Leather Sofa

Up

Great Big Sea

3/5

Good natured, affable stuff, although not super memorable. A stronger vocalist would have made this so much better. Fave Songs: Run Runaway, Lukey, Something To It, Billy Peddle

Geogaddi

Boards of Canada

3/5

This was pretty good. Mildly unsettling and trippy. Some of it gets repetitive as you might expect it to get, but the brevity of most of the tracks and use of shorter interludes keeps this from wandering into the weeds. Fave Songs: Julie and Candy, Alpha and Omega, Music Is Math, The Smallest Weird Number

The Shape Of Jazz To Come

Ornette Coleman

4/5

Huh, I guess Ornette Coleman didn't make the original list, did he? That feels wrong to me, and I've never connected much with Coleman myself. It's been a good 10 years since I last heard this album, and it's sitting better with me today than it has in the past. I guess listening to 1001+ disparate albums will do that to a person. This is cool as hell. Strident, energetic and madly creative. Structurally unmoored to the point where I might not feel like engaging with it all the time. Still, there's enough control to the chaos that it's never really tiring or hard on the ears. Just straight up in his groove, front to back. I would happily trade this with any number of albums from the original list. Fave Songs: Peace, Lonely Woman, Eventually, Focus on Sanity

Millennium

Backstreet Boys

2/5

I’ve never been a fan of this music and I’m quite sure I didn’t need to hear this one before I die. But, to be fair, this is a pretty definitive pop album for its time. This music was everywhere in 1999-2000. My specific issue with this album is just how one-note (okay, two-note, actually) it sounds. The majority of the album consists of syrupy, soft focus ballads, with just a couple of bouncy party songs to mix it up. The first track is kind of bait and switch in that regard, offering a fairly strong energy that the rest of the album is unable to match. On the whole, the ballads have probably aged better than the upbeat tracks, but it’s hard to tease out differences in the songs as the album progresses. I will always defend “I Want It That Way” though as one of the great pop songs of its era. The rest of the album really pales by comparison. Fave Songs: I Want It That Way, Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely, It's Gotta Be You

Spanish Train And Other Stories

Chris de Burgh

3/5

Although I have limited tolerance for overly melodramatic or theatrical pop music, there's something to be said for the sheer earnestness of a 70s pop vocal. Chris de Burgh's expressive, almost old timey vocal style and knack for storytelling make this an interesting listen. Quality varies from song to song, but this was a refreshing break from the usual fare on here. Fave Songs: Lonely Sky, A Spaceman Came Travelling, I'm Going Home, Spanish Train, Old Friend

Argus

Wishbone Ash

3/5

I thought this was quite good. In the landscape of early 70s rock, Wishbone Ash more or less holds its own, although perhaps is lacking the charisma of other, higher profile bands of the era. The musical talent is no joke though, with some particularly artful uses of dual lead guitars. Fave Songs: The King Will Come, Leaf and Stream, Time Was, Sometime World, Blowin' Free

Comfort To Me

Amyl and The Sniffers

3/5

Good stuff. Musically this treads no new ground, but it's lean, energetic and fun to listen to. Fave Songs: Choices, Don't Fence Me in, Guided by Angels, Freaks to the Front

Fully Completely

The Tragically Hip

3/5

Well-played, expressive grunge era rock that has aged well. I don't have much to critique other than that stylistically some of the songs kind of blur together for me, to the point of being unmemorable. Fave Songs: Wheat Kings, Pigeon Camera, Courage (for Hugh MacLennan), Locked in the Trunk of a Car, Looking for a Place to Happen

10,000 Days

TOOL

3/5

So, I'd have to be in a specific kind of mood to want to hear Tool, and 3 user submitted albums are more than I probably will ever need. But... they do make really good albums. Smart, nuanced, intense stuff. Fave Songs: Vicarious, Jambi, The Pot

Discovery

Daft Punk

4/5

So I was a little disinclined to like this one at first, as it kicks off with "One More Time," a song I have never particularly liked. But as I got into this, I found it to be an incredibly creative and engaging album. It's really the quintessential post-Millennial party album and a high water mark in its genre. It's less clubby and more accessible than Homework, drawing on a more diverse range of musical styles. Full of quirks and stylistic flourishes that give it so much texture and depth, without ever seeming overwrought. Just a pleasure to listen to. Fave Songs: Veridis Quo; Voyager; Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger; Short Circuit; Crescendolls

Romance

Fontaines D.C.

3/5

I enjoyed this. I will add that I'm happy to see Fontaines D.C. carrying the torch for moody modern rock into the 2020s. That said, this is just a solid 3, nothing more. Fave Songs: Favourite, Sundowner, Bug, Motorcycle Boy, Here's the Thing

Please Don't Take Me Back

Martha

3/5

I enjoyed the punchy, power pop vibe of this album, although the quality of the vocals was really hit or miss for me. Doesn't really bring anything new to the table, but it's a fun listen. Fave Songs: Beat, Perpetual; Please Don't Take Me Back; Hope Gets Harder; Baby, Does Your Heart Sink?

For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver

3/5

This was the longest album I have ever heard, which is quite a feat considering it's only 37 minutes long. It was fine, if a bit one note and glum. Fave Songs: For Emma, Creature Fear, Flume, Lump Sum

Stretch 2

Arca

2/5

This album has some interesting moments here and there. It's little stylistically chaotic though, like it's the beginning of a good idea that doesn't quite get there. Fave Songs: Manners, Self Defense, Fortune

Being Funny In A Foreign Language

The 1975

3/5

Although I'm inclined to like the retro sensibility of this, I found much of it to be hollow and overproduced. Fave Songs: Happiness, All I Need to Hear, Looking for Somebody (To Love)

Alive 2007

Daft Punk

3/5

This was a really well produced live album that gives about as close a sense of what a Daft Punk live show is about as you can get in a recording. I don't really know their music all that well though, so I don't have the enthusiasm for this that other reviewers have. For that reason as well, any interesting nuances or change-ups in these songs would completely have gone over my head as a listener. Still, a pretty fun listen, if an overly long one. Fave Songs: Around the World / Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger; Da Funk / Daftendirekt; Television Rules the Nation / Crescendolls

What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?

The Vaccines

3/5

This was fun, with a nice crisp pace and some solid hooks. Treads no new musical ground, but I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: A Lack of Understanding, Blow It Up, Family Friend, If You Wanna, Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)

Alexisonfire

2/5

You know what, musically this was not bad at all really. The vocals just kill it for me though. The whole clean/unclean thing is beyond me. It's like taking a piss on a well manicured lawn. Some people might think I mean that in a good way, but I don't.

Frengers: Not Quite Friends But Not Quite Strangers

Mew

3/5

Enjoyable. Subtle but strong musicianship. The vocals didn't quite land for me about half the time. Fave Songs: Behind the Drapes; Her Voice Is Beyond Her Years; She Came Home for Christmas; Comforting Sounds; Symmetry; Am I Wry? No

The Lioness

Songs: Ohia

3/5

I enjoyed this. Earthy, gloomy stuff that gets a little weighty on the back half, but still really well made. Jason Molina's vocals don't always land well for me, but they suit the general mood of the album. Fave Songs: Nervous Bride, The Black Crow, Lioness, Tigress

GUTS

Olivia Rodrigo

3/5

This was fun, although for a relatively short album, a lot of this feels like filler. Frequently catchy and energetic, but Rodrigo's vocals fall flat for me about half the time. Fave Songs: Vampire, All-American Bitch, Making the Bed

Triage

David Baerwald

2/5

This is an odd album. Didn't hate it, but I'm sure I won't remember it either. Musically this is fine, but stylistically unfocused and frequently bland. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you're going to make an album with such a striking cover image, you really need to go bigger than whatever is going on here. Fave Songs: The Postman, A Secret Silken World

Stop Making Sense

Talking Heads

5/5

Oh bless you, it's my favorite live album, from one of the best concert films ever made. Now, this is an album that listens beautifully on its own without your ever needing to see the film. There isn't a song on here for the most part that doesn't at least match the quality of the studio version, if not outshine it. This is all gold here. The sound is vibrant, funky, highly energetic, and effortlessly cool. If I could do without one song, it would be Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth's "Genius of Love," which is fun to watch in the film, but musically just sticks out like a sore thumb against the rest of the album. An aspect of this album I'd like to mention that is subtle if you're listening for the first time without seeing the film is how the band gradually comes to the stage over the first several songs - first David Byrne alone with a beatbox, then Tina Weymouth, then Chris Frantz, then Jerry Harrison, and so on. It's such a lovely metaphor for how each individual brings their own contributions to the totality of the sound, which the band assembles brick by brick with the addition of each performer. Although I love every song, I find my favorites are the ones where the whole band is together. If you haven't seen the film yet, you really need to. It's on YouTube, I mean it, go. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite, Film/Special New Edition): Girlfriend Is Better, Slippery People, Once in a Lifetime, Life During Wartime, Burning Down the House, Making Flippy Floppy, This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody), Take Me to the River, Crosseyed and Painless, What a Day That Was, Swamp, Thank You for Sending Me an Angel, Found a Job, Psycho Killer, Heaven

Rip It Off

Times New Viking

3/5

This doesn't particularly cover any new musical ground, but it's ragged and noisy in all the right ways. I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: (My Head), Teen Drama, Relevant: Now, Another Day, Come Together

A Beginner's Mind

Sufjan Stevens

3/5

Well, isn't this lovely. Breezy but melancholy chamber pop that is highly listenable, with an intriguing concept. The slow moving pace wore thin with me somewhere on the back half and I had to roll my eyes at some of those lyrics, but overall this was still a really nice listen. Thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Back to Oz, Reach Out, The Pillar of Souls, Murder and Crime, Cimmerian Shade, Fictional California

My Brain Hurts

Screeching Weasel

3/5

This was a pretty fun listen, energetic and properly snotty. There are much better, more memorable bands in this vein, but it's perfectly likeable stuff. Fave Songs: My Brain Hurts, Making You Cry, Veronica Hates Me, Guest List

Deep Down Happy

Sports Team

3/5

I have mixed feelings about the quality of the vocals here, but this has a nice punchy, energetic style. I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: Long Hot Summer, Feels like Fun, Lander, Fishing, Here It Comes Again

Toxicity

System Of A Down

2/5

Musically this was pretty solid, but Serj Tankian's vocals are just plain bad.

Crystal Castles

3/5

Blippy, quirky, fun. This really should have been shorter though. Fave Songs: Vanished, 1991, Crimewave, Knights, Reckless, Magic Spells, Untrust Us

Telefone

Noname

3/5

This was really good. Clever lyrics, chill vibe. Fave Songs: Sunny Duet, Yesterday, Bye Bye Baby

Fear Inoculum

TOOL

3/5

This album had its moments, particularly on the front half, but I just wasn't feeling it. You either click with these guys or you don't. Fave Songs: Pneuma, Fear Inoculum, Descending

John Dawson Winter III

Johnny Winter

3/5

I don't think I have ever listened to a full album by Johnny Winter, so thanks for this. This is an easygoing, enjoyable collection of bluesy rock and roll, suitable for rocking out and riding around on a summer afternoon with the wind in your hair. The album loses a bit of focus/steam somewhere in the middle, but recovers nicely in the final three tracks for a solid finish. In addition to his own considerable musical chops, Winter has an exceptional band backing him up, including brother Edgar and Rick Derringer. Great stuff. Fave Songs: Lay Down Your Sorrows, Rock & Roll People, Pick Up on My Mojo, Stranger, Sweet Papa John, Self-Destructive Blues

Year of the Cat

Al Stewart

4/5

This was a really enjoyable listen. There's so much to like here, and that title track is a pure delight. I just want to play that song on a loop all day. Melodic, richly produced arrangements that are mildly proggy, but still have an easygoing vibe. That's actually a hard balance to pull off, which Al Stewart/Alan Parsons manage beautifully. I can point to several artists Stewart reminds me of (Elton John obviously, also George Harrison and even some early Steely Dan), but Stewart also brings a lot of his personality to these songs as well. My main critique would be that Stewart lacks much in the way of lyrical nuance, but he really makes the most of the material here. Fave Songs: Year of the Cat, One Stage Before, Lord Grenville, On the Border, Broadway Hotel, Midas Shadow

How to Operate With a Blown Mind

Lo Fidelity Allstars

3/5

Fun stuff, great energy. The contrast of the slow and the more upbeat tracks can make the overall sense of flow drag a bit, but I still enjoyed this. Fave Songs: Lazer Sheep Dip Funk, Blisters on My Brain, Kool Roc Bass, How to Operate with a Blown Mind, Vision Incision, Warming Up the Brain Farm, Kasparov's Revenge

Get Rich Or Die Ryan

Spose

2/5

There are flashes of something interesting here, but man, do I find Spose's vocal annoying. Also, yes, it's way too long.

A Black Mile To The Surface

Manchester Orchestra

3/5

Musically I thought this was pretty good, but it would work so much better with a different vocalist. Fave Songs: The Moth; The Alien; The Gold; The Maze; Lead, SD

Bon Iver

3/5

This was nice. Earthy and melancholy. A bit slow moving for my mood today, but well done. Fave Songs: Holocene, Towers, Perth, Wash., Michicant

Repetition

Unwound

3/5

Great choice. Starts off a little rough, but there's a lot of depth here. Strategic use of noise gives great texture to the sound without ever becoming grating. This is one I'd like to spend more time with. Fave Songs: Unauthorized Autobiography, Lowest Common Denominator, Sensible, Lady Elect, Corpse Pose

People Watching

Sam Fender

3/5

This was pleasant to listen too, didn't hate it. Fave Songs: Nostalgia's Lie, Arm's Length, People Watching, Chin Up

Old No. 1

Guy Clark

4/5

Oh, Guy Clark, very nice. Classic country of the outlaw variety. Earthy, easygoing, excellent songwriting. So much to enjoy here. Heck of a backing band there, by the way. When you've got Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earl and Sammi Smith singing backup for you, you're doing something right. Fave Songs: L.A. Freeway, Rita Ballou, Desperados Waiting for a Train, A Nickel for the Fiddler, Like a Coat from the Cold, Let Him Roll

Chocolate & Cheese

Ween

4/5

Great choice. Quirky, soulful, creative, absurd in all the right ways. What you really get a sense of here is the love Ween have for music. They embrace various genres with an ease that's rare in music. There's also an inherent humor in these songs that mostly lands pretty well without sounding overly smug or ironic, another skill few artists possess. My only real critique would be that there's such a thing as being a little too eclectic, to the point where there isn't a natural sense of flow, particularly on a good chunk of the back half. Fave Songs: What Deaner Was Talkin' About, A Tear for Eddie, Freedom of '76, Baby Bitch, Voodoo Lady, Don't Shit Where You Eat

Lemonade

Beyoncé

3/5

A complaint I had with Beyoncé's self-titled album that made the original list was that although it was polished and well produced, it also felt a bit emotionally inauthentic to me. But the growth Beyoncé has undergone in three years between the two albums is actually pretty impressive. The emotions expressed on Lemonade are sometimes startlingly genuine, the songwriting pointed and frequently seething with anger. Musically, the songs are as carefully crafted as I would expect from an artist of Beyoncé's caliber, and her vocals are excellent. A few weaker tracks on the mid/back half, but overall really well done. Fave Songs: Freedom, Don't Hurt Yourself, Pray You Catch Me, Sorry

Last Splash

The Breeders

4/5

Oh boy, really great choice. I haven't listened to this album in full in probably 30 years, but it is such a fun listen and it has held up so well. The Breeders are one of a number of great women-led alt/grunge era bands that were neglected on the original list. I can think of any number of albums I'd happily swap out for this one. This album highlights how much Kim Deal was underutilized in the Pixies, giving her the creative space to be expressive in ways really that wouldn’t quite have fit on a Pixies album. Musically the band is spot on, effortlessly drawing on a diverse musical palette that's appropriately twisted and edgy, but also with a surprisingly dreamy pop sensibility. It fits in perfectly with the great albums its genre and era, but has a brightness that's really missing from a lot of those works. If I had to ding this for anything, I would say that the lyrics are lacking in substance, but it's a minor quibble. Fave Songs: Cannonball, Divine Hammer, Drivin' on 9 , New Year, Do You Love Me Now?, Invisible Man

AmarElo

Emicida

3/5

I really enjoyed this. Fun and accessible vibe that is underpinned with real musical depth. Thanks for recommending this. Fave Songs: Pequenas Alegrias da Vida Adulta, Principia, A Ordem Natural das Coisas, Quem Tem Un Amigo, Paisagem

Out Of Time

R.E.M.

4/5

Loved this album when it came out. I had a cassette I carried everywhere my sophomore year in college. As an R.E.M. album, it's a bit of a mixed bag, with the band taking some creative risks with more varied arrangements and experiments in genre. Although it mostly works well, the opening collaboration with KRS-One is a memorable dud in the band's discography. Still lots of little gems to be found here, as well as arguably the best/most beloved song R.E.M. ever made. Fave Songs: Losing My Religion, Near Wild Heaven, Me in Honey, Country Feedback, Half a World Away, Shiny Happy People, Texarkana

Take to the Skies

Enter Shikari

2/5

So, I've concluded that I really can't deal with the screaming. But when you set that aside and just listen to the music, there's not really much substance to found here at all.

Foxes in the Snow

Jason Isbell

3/5

As far as these things go, I generally enjoy Jason Isbell. He's among the better singer songwriters working these days. I don't know how much this particular album stands out even among Isbell's other work, but I liked it fine. It's beautifully written and well played, but a little slow moving for my mood today. Fave Songs: Foxes in the Snow, Gravelweed, Open and Close, Bury Me, Ride to Robert's

Norther

Ex-Easter Island Head

3/5

Intellectually, I found this to be an interesting enough listen. But I think it lacks a certain warmth that it really needs to be effective. I don't really feel a thing when I listen to this. Fave Songs: Weather, Easter, Norther

A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships

The 1975

2/5

It's funny how after all the innovative, challenging albums I've gotten to hear during this whole project, it's this album that was like eating glass for me. Grating on the ears and lacking in any real substance. We've all heard worse, but this was not fun at all.

The Shape Of Punk To Come

Refused

3/5

Musically this was pretty great, but I have a really limited tolerance for the screaming. Fave Songs: Summerholidays vs. Punkroutine, The Deadly Rhythm, New Noise, Liberation Frequency, Bruitist Pome #5

Thunder And Consolation

New Model Army

3/5

Great energy, thoughtful lyrics. Stylistically this is kind in the same neighborhood as early U2 or The Alarm, solid rock with folk and post punk underpinnings, but a bit heavier. There isn't a ton of musical variety here for such a long album, which made this a bit of a slog in places. It would have benefited from a serious edit, but overall I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: Family Life, Vagabonds, Ballad of Bodmin Pill, Archway Towers

Latin Mass

Os Mundi

3/5

There's a fine line between being wildly creative and being straight up annoying. Os Mundi gleefully hopscotches over that line repeatedly on this album. I always appreciate hearing bold, unusual sounds, but this one grated on me. 3 stars for being really unique and busting up the monotony of these user submitted albums, but just barely. Fave Song: Kyrie

Suzuki

Tosca

3/5

I'm on the fence about the quality of the vocal bits in a lot of this, but overall this album has a great groove. Fave Songs: Busenfreund, Suzuki, Orozco, Ocean Beat

Shack-man

Medeski, Martin & Wood

3/5

This has a great retro-funky vibe, but much of this is too organ-forward for my taste. Fave Songs: Bubblehouse, Think, Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus, Night Marchers

The Fame

Lady Gaga

3/5

This was a lot of fun. One of the stronger debut albums to come out of the last 20 years. Fave Songs: Paparazzi, Poker Face, Just Dance,

Young, Loud And Snotty

Dead Boys

3/5

Great album. Lean, mean and properly pissy. Also, possibly the most aptly titled album ever made. Fave Songs: Sonic Reducer, Not Anymore, What Love Is, Hey Little Girl, Ain't Nothin' to Do, All This and More

Has A Good Home

Final Fantasy

3/5

Musically quite pretty, but sorely in need of a better vocalist. A bit soft on the back half. Fave Songs: Your Light is Spent, The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead, This is the Dream of Win & Regine

Script Of The Bridge

The Chameleons

3/5

This is fantastic. Rich, moody sound that never gets overwrought or dirgeful. The album loses steam a bit on the back half, but recovers nicely on the final track for a lovely finish. Fave Songs: Second Skin, View from a Hill, Don't Fall, Less Than Human, Up the Down Escalator, Here Today

Spirit of Eden

Talk Talk

3/5

Intelligent, thoughtfully crafted music. A bit slow moving in places, but really lovely. Fave Songs: Eden, The Rainbow, Desire

Is Ellipsis

Psyche Origami

3/5

I enjoyed the throwback vibe of this album. I don't think there were any real standout tracks that I would come back to, but it was a fun listen.

I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One

Yo La Tengo

4/5

There's so much to enjoy on this album. Thoughtfully crafted and musically creative in really surprising ways. Melodic, dreamy and strategically noisy, with a bit of whimsy. Fave Songs: Green Arrow, One PM Again, The Lie and How We Told It, Stockholm Syndrome, Autumn Sweater, Spec Bebop

The Midnight Organ Fight

Frightened Rabbit

3/5

Great Indie album, pleasant on the ears but lyrically dark. Fave Songs: I Feel Better, Good Arms vs. Bad Arms, The Modern Leper, Fast Blood

Autobiografia

Duncan Dhu

3/5

This is entirely too long, but I enjoyed it, so I'm not too mad about it. Highly listenable music with a strong pop sensibility, a nice mix of musical styles and some really lovely melodies. A lot of filler here though, especially on sides C-D. Fave Songs: El nuevo calor, Cayendo el cielo, Tras la cortina, Un punto más, Dulce aroma, Palabras sin nombre

John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman

John Coltrane

4/5

Musically this was pretty terrific. Languid, elegant arrangements, with rich, smooth vocals from Johnny Hartman. John Coltrane's performance is flawless and thoughtfully applied, functioning almost as a second vocal. A couple of songs on the back half didn't really hit for me, but overall this was a really enjoyable listen. Fave Songs: They Say It's Wonderful, Dedicated to You,My One and Only Love

Mouth Sounds

Neil Cicierega

1/5

This was terrible.

Portishead

3/5

Although I generally enjoy this moody, trip hop kind of vibe and I'm always glad to listen to Portishead, I found this album lacking in any really standout tracks. I don't dislike this, but they have better albums. Fave Songs: All Mine, Cowboys, Mourning Air, Undenied, Over, Humming

Deltron 3030

3/5

This has a great sound and a creative concept. The lyrics get a little nonsensical and interludes are mostly a waste of time, but overall this was a really fun listen. I would not have minded seeing it on the original list. Fave Songs: Positive Contact, 3030, Mastermind, Time Keeps On Slipping, Things You Can Do, Madness

Imaginal Disk

Magdalena Bay

3/5

As contemporary pop goes, this isn't half bad, but doesn't bring anything new or intriguing to the table.

You & I

Rita Ora

2/5

WE ARE

Jon Batiste

3/5

A little recent for serious consideration, but this was soulful and well made. Liked it.

TEKKNO

Electric Callboy

1/5

Some of you all need to go and listen to another 1001 albums, because this sure ain't cutting it.

Blade Runner

Vangelis

4/5

This was really cool. Film scores and soundtracks are a whole universe that was ignored for the most part on the original list for probably practical reasons, but the fact is that some of the most compelling music of the last 100 years happens to be music made for use in film. This album is a gorgeous example of it. Vangelis paints with a fascinating musical palette here. He utilizes elements of 80s electronic music, smooth jazz, classical piano, echoes of tin pan alley and middle eastern styles, as well as more futuristic, ambient soundscapes. The result is an artfully crafted and evocative score that is truly unique. The included bits of dialogue from the film are used economically and to great effect. A splendid choice, thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Blade Runner; Memories of Green; Tears in Rain; One More Kiss, Dear; Blade Runner Blues; Wait for Me

Vs.

Pearl Jam

3/5

This is a really good album, one that really doesn't immediately come to mind when I think of this era, but is absolutely worth consideration. Starts out heavy as a hammer and maintains a pretty consistent energy throughout. Most of the best songs are loaded on the front half, which does make the middle part feel a bit dull by comparison. The lyrics are a bit simplistic and repetitive for my taste, but musically the band is on point, sometimes viscerally so. Eddie Vedder is in his prime as a vocalist here as well. I gave a 4 to Ten, so I'm going to have to go high 3 with this one. Fave Songs: Daughter, Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town, Go, Animal, Dissident, Rearviewmirror, Indifference

Oceanic

ISIS

3/5

Musically this was really pretty excellent, but I have limited tolerance for this type of vocal. Fave Songs: Weight, Maritime, Carry, False Light

News at 11

Cat System Corp.

3/5

I missed out on the whole Vaporwave/Mallsoft etc. thing when it first happened, but I've been dabbling a bit in it recently. There are probably much better examples of this sort of music, but I found this enjoyable enough.

No Balance Palace

Kashmir

3/5

I enjoyed this. It doesn't really bring anything new to the table musically, but it was well made and well produced. I appreciated the surprise appearances of Bowie and Lou Reed, but they both were underutilized in my opinion. Thanks so much for sharing. Fave Songs: Ophelia, Kalifornia, The Cynic, Black Building, Jewel Drop

Quadrophenia

The Who

4/5

This was excellent. I've listened to a number of these songs here and there over the years, but this may actually be the first time I've sat with the full album and I loved it. Full of nuanced rockers that are fun to listen to but also full of emotional depth and musically quite elegant. I agree with those who say the album was overly long and in need of an editor. But even the songs I personally might have omitted were worth hearing. Fave Songs: Love, Reign o'er Me; 5:15; The Real Me; Cut My Hair; Is It in My Head?; I've Had Enough; Sea and Sand; The Punk and the Godfather

"Weird Al" Yankovic

3/5

Haha, good choice. This definitely has more of a homemade/Dr. Demento kind of feel compared to Al's later stuff, and it's a little silly for me to just want to listen to it all the way through again. But it was a fun listen, and who doesn't enjoy a little Weird Al? Fave Songs: My Bologna, Stop Draggin' My Car Around, I Love Rocky Road, Buckingham Blues

The Impossible Kid

Aesop Rock

3/5

This was fun. Musically creative, lyrically clever. I can take or leave Aesop Rock's voice. Fave Songs: Rings, Kirby, Mystery Fish

Ocean Avenue

Yellowcard

3/5

This was fine. Musically it was pretty solid, if samey-sounding stuff. But I have some sort of generational dislike of this style of vocal that keeps me from enjoying it more. Fave Songs: Breathing, Empty Apartment, Only One, Way Away, Ocean Avenue

Fine Line

Harry Styles

3/5

This was pretty fun. Bubbly, well-balanced, well-produced pop. Harry Styles isn't a particularly strong vocalist IMO, but he's likeable and this was overall a pleasant listen. Glad I got a chance to check this out, thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Golden; Watermelon Sugar; Sunflower, Vol. 6; Cherry; Lights Up

Thank Christ for the Bomb

The Groundhogs

4/5

I like the user who compared the Groundhogs to the Velvet Underground. I mean, that's so incorrect, and yet it helped me approach this album from a different angle and appreciate it more. On the surface this was an enjoyable, well-played psychedelic-blues rock album that was maybe a little late to the game musically. But scattered in the mix are some surprisingly gnarly creative choices I really enjoyed, particularly in the jammier bits. Had the Groundhogs turned up the dial a little in one direction or another - just a little heavier, or just a little proggier, or just a little more avant garde - we would be having a completely different conversation about them in 2025. Nevertheless, the music was excellent and I enjoyed this quite a bit. It's the sort of under-heard work that I wish more people would submit to the group, so thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Strange Town, Thank Christ for the Bomb, Garden, Soldier, Darkness Is No Friend

The Mantle

Agalloch

3/5

Musically I thought this was a well done album. Moody, but not overly dark or heavy. Not a fan of the grittier vocal style, but it was just restrained enough to not really get irritating. Fave Songs: The Hawthorne Passage, The Lodge, ...And the Great Cold Death of the Earth, Odal, I Am the Wooden Doors

Y Ahora Qué?

Reincidentes

3/5

I would have gotten more out of this album without the language barrier, but it has great energy. They could have dropped a couple of songs to make it tighter though. Fave Songs: No normal, Ya está bien, ¡Ay Dolores!, En una patera

Images and Words

Dream Theater

3/5

Creative and well-played progressive metal with some excellent guitar work. Leans a little theatrical for my taste but honestly, I kind of miss the days when bands went this big musically without a hint of irony. Good stuff. Fave Songs: Pull Me Under, Take the Time, Under a Glass Moon

Blizzard Of Ozz

Ozzy Osbourne

4/5

I'm trying not to overthink this too much. I mean this is, after all, Ozzy Osbourne's best solo album. It's the album that really defined Ozzy as a force in music outside of Black Sabbath. I was a little surprised not to see it on the original list and was pleased to see someone submit it. What works for Ozzy is what worked for him when he was in Sabbath. He has a unique, charismatic vocal style, full of both power and pathos. The presence of Randy Rhoads here also cannot be overstated. Randy has this wonderful mix of classical precision and playfulness that works uniquely well with Ozzy's style. This really is a couple of musical soulmates who sadly only got to work together for a very brief time. When they get it right, it's stunningly good and holds up beautifully all these years later. But there are also several skippable/forgettable tracks, particularly on the back half, and a lot of the lyrics are underwhelming. On balance, it's a terrific album, a must listen work for this genre and this era. And it just simply rocks. Put it in the tape deck and take it for a spin, volume up, windows down. Fave Songs: Crazy Train, Mr. Crowley, Suicide Solution, I Don't Know

Promises

Floating Points

3/5

This was quite relaxing and lovely. I was hoping for a bit more variation musically, but it was a pleasant listen.

Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

of Montreal

3/5

I enjoyed this. Interesting concept. Clever, quirky, and glammy. Reminds me a little of Sparks (especially on the front half), but with edgier lyrics. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger, Suffer for Fashion, Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse, We Were Born the Mutants Again with Leafling, Gronlandic Edit

Gordon

Barenaked Ladies

3/5

This is pretty straightforward, pleasant pop with a bit of a smirk. Some of the songs are bit corny, but it has a brightness and earnestness that's hard not to like. Fave Songs: Brian Wilson, Blame It on Me, Box Set, If I Had $1000000, Be My Yoko Ono, What a Good Boy

Yellow & Green

Baroness

3/5

There's some interesting stuff here, but it's a bit of a hodgepodge stylistically. Should have been a single disc. Fave Songs: Little Things, Take My Bones Away, March to the Sea

The art of Amalia Rodrigues

Amália Rodrigues

3/5

I don't really see the point of submitting compilations here. You're basically making the point that your favorite artist didn't actually make an album worth submitting. It also unmoors the music from any context in which it was made. No argument though, this is some really lovely music. Fave Songs: Maldicao, Nem as paredes confesso, Gaivota, Maria Lisboa, Fado Portugues, Primavera

Polygondwanaland

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

3/5

Pretty damn good. Smartly played, energetic, highly listenable prog. Fave Songs: Horology, Crumbling Castle, Polygondwanaland, Loyalty, The Castle in the Air

Fly

Yoko Ono

4/5

Went in with a bit of trepidation as one might with this sort of thing. I get why folks are repelled by this, I really do. But I have to say, I enjoyed a lot of this! Hats off to the user who submitted this album. This was a bold choice and definitely is the type of album I like to see submitted. If you love music, which I think most us here would like to think we do, this is an album you should hear. It's prickly and playful and boundary pushing in ways that aren't always pleasant, but on the whole are pretty thrilling. Flashes of weirdo brilliance nestled in a thorny thicket. I wouldn't have sought it out on my own and there are a few songs I have zero plans to revisit. But I'm so glad I took the time to listen to it. Fave Songs: Mind Train, Mrs. Lennon, Don't Count the Waves, Hirake, Airmale, Midsummer New York, Mind Holes

Fantasies

Metric

3/5

This was pretty good. Doesn't really bring anything new to the table, but this is catchy, well-made Indie rock. Fave Songs: Sick Muse, Help I'm Alive, Satellite Mind

Harbor Lights

Bruce Hornsby

3/5

This is really tight musically, if a bit dated for 1993. Also, is it just me, or did Bruce Hornsby's voice age a heck of lot between '86 when he was with the Range to '93? Still, this was a perfectly pleasant listen and a nice break from some of these other user submitted albums. Thanks for recommending it. Fave Songs: Harbor Lights, Fields of Gray, Long Tall Cool One, China Doll

METAL FORTH

BABYMETAL

1/5

This isn't the worst user-submitted album I've encountered here. But I'm not even going to pretend this isn't straight up dreck.

People Who Eat People Are The Luckiest People In The World

AJJ

3/5

I enjoyed this. Clever, offbeat and briskly-paced. Mildly unsettling lyrics at times, but highly listenable. Fave Songs: Brave as a Noun, Rejoice, A Song Dedicated to the Memory of Stormy the Rabbit, Randy's House

Brand New Eyes

Paramore

3/5

This was pretty good. Not to take anything away from Hayley Williams, who gives a perfectly listenable performance, but I think I'd enjoy this with a less polished vocal. Fave Songs: Ignorance, Brick by Boring Brick, Turn It Off, Careful

Nia

Blackalicious

4/5

This was a pleasure to hear. Funky and lyrically clever, with old school Afrocentric hip hop vibes. Starts to feel a bit overstuffed on the back half, but still a great listen. Thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Deception, A to G, The Fabulous Ones, If I May, Shallow Days, You Didn't Know That Though, Do This My Way, As the World Turns

I Had a Dream That You Were Mine

Hamilton Leithauser

4/5

Musically rich with emotionally earnest vocals. These songs are just brimming with a personality and feeling that I miss hearing in music. Brilliant choice, thanks for sharing it. Fave Songs: Peaceful Morning, A 1000 Times, Sick as a Dog, The Bride's Dad, Rough Going (I Won't Let Up), You Ain't That Young Kid

Katamari Damacy

Various Artists

3/5

I mean, if we're being honest, game soundtracks have kind of been the next wave in music for a while now, and a major source of music for a lot of people. So I'm approaching this with an open mind. I'm not familiar with these games at all, but the music is bubbly and engaging. A total mood lifter. I'm not quite ready to call this an "album" in the traditional sense, and it really was too long. But this was a fun listen. Fave Songs: You are Smart, Moon & Prince, Walking on a Star!, Lonely Rolling Star, Gin & Tonic & Red Red Roses, WANDA WANDA

Que c'est triste Venise

Charles Aznavour

3/5

This is really lovely. I'm a sucker for a jazz pop crooner anyway, so this was a great choice. I mostly prefer the ballads, which have a more classic sound than the upbeat tunes, which are very much of their time. Fave Songs: Avec, Toi et tes yeux d'enfant, Que c'est triste Venise, A ma fille, Quand j'en aurai assez

Ida Con Snock

Michael Hurley

3/5

I enjoyed this well enough, although it's a stretch to say I needed to hear it before I die. Earthy, affable and low-key. For a fairly short album though, it wore thin with me somewhere around the mid-point. Fave Songs: I Stole the Right to Live, Valley of Tears, It Must Be Gelatine, The Time is Right, Hog of the Forsaken

Penguin Eggs

Nic Jones

3/5

This was really lovely, perfect fall day listening. Thank you for sharing it. Fave Songs: Canadee-I-O, Planxty Davis, The Drowned Lovers, Courting Is a Pleasure

Milo Goes to College

Descendents

3/5

A lean, high energy hardcore classic. Mildly crass and properly snotty. Blink and you'll miss it pacing. Lyrically a bit hard to take, but still a fun listen. Fave Songs: I'm Not a Punk, Myage, Tonyage, Suburban Home, Parents, Statue of Liberty

Singles

Future Islands

3/5

I thought this was perfectly enjoyable to listen to and actually wouldn't mind if we had more music in this vein in the current pop landscape. But the thing is, as someone who lived through synth-pop the first time around, it's hard not to be reminded of a ton of artists who were far better than this. Fave Songs: Spirit, Sun in the Morning, Seasons (Waiting on You), Light House

Pulse

Pink Floyd

3/5

I've been putting off listening to this for a while. It was, you know... the length, coupled with the fact that it's a double live album. It's a hard sell, and I happen to love Pink Floyd. I will say though that musically this was pretty solid and the production is about as flawless as I've heard on a live album. I guess I should have expected no less from this band. But there's something about the quality of the performances that just falls flat. It's lots of little things - David Gilmour's somewhat tired delivery, the background singers that are slightly off the mark, the rather large Roger Waters-shaped hole at the center of the whole thing. It's hard to put my finger on it, except to say that I was unmoved. Fave Songs: Money, Us and Them, Breathe (In the Air), Coming Back to Life, Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Diamonds & Gasoline

Turnpike Troubadours

3/5

Catchy, affable, well-played country music that is better than much of the genre nowadays. Maybe a few more skippable tracks than I like to see, but I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: 7&7, Down on Washington, Leaving & Lonely, The Funeral

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Various Artists

4/5

Dammit, what a fun choice. Strutting, spirited and gleefully naughty with genuine moments of pathos. There really isn't anything else like this in music. Fave Songs: I'm Going Home, Sweet Transvestite, Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul, Time Warp, I Can Make You a Man, Rose Tint My World, Super Heroes

Black Devil Disco Club

4/5

Fantastic choice. Musically, this is a shockingly forward thinking album. Spacey and funky and weird in the best ways. Loved it. Fave Songs: "H" Friend; We Never Fly Away Again; One to Choose; Timing, Forget the Timing

Highway Prayers

Billy Strings

2/5

This wasn't too bad, despite my two stars. Well-played, rootsy music. I didn't need 74 minutes of this though and I doubt I'll remember much of it. Fave Songs: Leaning on a Travelin' Song, In the Clear, Gone a Long Time

Afrociberdelia

Chico Science

3/5

It took me a couple of tracks to settle into the groove of this, but this was a pretty fun listen. Funky and musically diverse. Thanks for the submission. Fave Songs: Manguetown, Maco, Um Passeio No Mundo Livre, Quilombo Groove, O Cidadao Do Mundo

Hall of the Mountain King

Savatage

4/5

I feel really dumb for having slept on this when it came out in '87, because it's fantastic. Richly played and highly entertaining. I also love the economy of the whole production. It's a scant 39 minutes long, but every second feels substantial. Fave Songs: 24 Hrs. Ago, Beyond the Doors of the Dark, Hall of the Mountain King, Legions

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