Damn, nice surprise here. I've never heard of her but Little Simz (and her team?) is talented. Really good lyrics/wordplay on a bunch of tracks (Offence, Venom...despite copious use of the p word, Pressure, Sherbet Sunset) and she can rap (Missy Elliott fast). Great bass lines and beats on the first two tracks (I could listen to Boss over and over) and some of the later ones (101 FM, Therapy). Tight album. Gonna have to listen to more of her music.

And this is exactly why I wanted to join this group. Why have I never heard of these guys? And I'm from Canada where we love everything from the UK (apparently). UK music gets plenty of airtime. I've been going through 90's rock recently discovering some of the pioneering UK bands from that era (that are excellent) and I'd put these guys in that mix for 70's-80's punk. Just as good as any Ramones album. Loved it all - and now I've got a band to go listen to more of.

This is not the best selling debut album of all time (well, for a time) for no reason. If you love classic rock this is an essential. But what would I tell someone who hasn't listened to it 1000 times? Equally pounding vs. deft guitar playing, great harmonies, impressive guitar solos. And yes, some cheesy lyrics or hitting of high notes and added studio effects that likely aren't needed but that defined this era (Queen) or foreshadowed the next (Van Halen). The transition from Foreplay to Long Time is a classic music suspense moment. The last minute of Let me Take you Home Tonight is classic rock excess at its best. Essentially every song has an infectious musical intro (Peace of Mind) or verse (More Than a Feeling) or both (Smokin) that you can't help but rock out to. And if you just want to rock out, you'd be hard pressed to find a better, more fun album.

And once again I got an education on some music (post hardcore) I thought I knew but really didn't. Doing some reading, I saw how some people label the sound as screamo...I got a kick out of that. Like thrash or metalcore, I love the manic musical energy but don't love the scream singing. I also love the intricacy to their playing (much more than thrash) but don't love when it gets all smashed together in a ball of noise. On this album, the vocals and scratch/grating effects on guitar get to be a little too much after awhile. Or right from the start - I didn't love the opening track, too much chaos. Still, these guys are very good at what they do and I can see why other bands in the genre cite their influence. I think their creativity and skill are really on display on Do you Compute, Luau, and Hand over Fist. At times I really loved this album, other times meh. Maybe my rating would go higher if I listened to it 10+ times. For now, certainly respect but not adoration.

Love Bawitdaba, that used to be a big pump up song for sports. That's it. Not sure I've ever liked anything else by Kid Rock. Granted I've never listened to this album. So ok, the first 6 songs are solid (most notably Cowboy and I am the Bullgod) but the whole thing is repetitive. Similar beats and lyrics. For example, I liked Roving Gangster but it also referenced topless dancers (Bawitdaba) and had a similar progression and sound as Cowboy. Second half of the album is barely tolerable. If it's decent it's because it sounds like the first half (Somebody's Gotta Feel This). Welcome 2 the Party is just terrible - as if he was trying to write worse lyrics than Vanilla Ice. I've always hated Only God Knows Why - pretentious, and auto tuned to hell. All in all, the album is not awful but it's also not good. Can't believe it sold over 10 million copies.

Eclectic. I really only knew about a couple of their 80's songs, which after reading up on I discovered was after one of the key founders/members left. The opening track got me hooked a bit, but I wouldn't say the rest of the album kept me there. There is a lot of stuff going on the arrangements, I'll give them that even if I didn't always love the sound.

This one took me back. I listened to it a bunch on a road trip to Florida 20 years ago. I'm not huge on rap but I've always said Eminem is a brilliant lyricist. Here is living proof. The Steve Berman interlude is one I still paraphrase when talking about differences in rap styles. I'd rate the album a 5 if the back half didn't drag a bit. Still, it's a wonder to me how someone like lil Nas X ever came out as gay in the rap world with so much homophobia and false male bravado. Some of the lyrics are instant cringe material. I appreciate how he puts his words and thoughts together even if I disagree with the message.

It almost seems unfair or obvious to give this album 5 stars. How would you not rate one of the top 3 rock bands of all time as a 5? But some bands grow into their best stuff. Led Zeppelin was amazing from the get go. Some straight ahead pounding and feet-stomping tunes (Good times bad times and Communication breakdown), some soaring ballads (Babe I'm gonna leave you), some trippy complex arrangements (is there any better example than Dazed and Confused?), and everything in between. Probably not even my favorite Led Zeppelin album and I'm not a super fan or anything. But you've got to respect their talent.

The album moved quickly - it was over before I even realized I had been listening. I had to listen again because I couldn't remember what had gone on. Overall, I'd say it's an uneven album. Silver was a nice leadoff and had me thinking I knew that track or other ones - but couldn't quite place it. The Killing Moon is their signature track but I found it a bit boring. Ultimately, it was all a little too similar and without enough buzz. Decent 80's rock and you can see how it fits in with the Cure and the Smiths, just not quite as good.

And this is exactly why I wanted to join this group. Why have I never heard of these guys? And I'm from Canada where we love everything from the UK (apparently). UK music gets plenty of airtime. I've been going through 90's rock recently discovering some of the pioneering UK bands from that era (that are excellent) and I'd put these guys in that mix for 70's-80's punk. Just as good as any Ramones album. Loved it all - and now I've got a band to go listen to more of.

Kind of surprised their 1997 album is on here. To me, if there is an absolute must Blur album to listen to it's 1994's Parklife or 1995's The Great Escape. Still, it's Blur's last great album. Beetlebum is a good opener despite being a little unusual in its sound and mixes. Song 2 obviously brings down the house every time but it's pretty unique for Blur. I guess they have some other pounding rock songs like MOR and Chinese Bombs, but more typical of their style are tracks 3, 5, 6, 11. And no Blur album would be complete without something like Essex Dogs (featuring more Damon Albarn speak than singing) - although I could do without it. You're so Great (track 7) feels more like one the Gallagher brothers would've recorded - but still a good tune.

This seems like a perfect album for the transition from gloomy 80's Brit rock to more upbeat Brit pop. Feels like a direct gateway to Oasis, but even Ned's Atomic Dustbin or Teenage Fanclub before them. There She Goes has been so overplayed that I can't stand listening to it, but the other tracks are quite solid. I Can't Sleep and Timeless Melody are catchy but with enough musical and vocal edge to it. Doledrum reminds me of another British band & song that I can't quite put my finger on, though the guitar work is a bit too poppy for me. But maybe it was intended to be more rockabilly like Feelin' sounds like. Overall, I'd say that even when one song might let me down a bit, the very next song picked me right back up. A very solid album.

Somber. Honestly, I was expecting more soaring vocals but it feels like he was trying to be restrained so as not to be one-dimensional. That's not to say his incredible vocals aren't on display but it's not like a Celine Dion album where every song is rising to a climax. Sometimes it's just even, intense vocals throughout a song. You've got to respect his decision to put his vocals and lyrics front and center. I guess with vocals like his that's an easy choice. I think his lyrics got better over time - he hadn't quite found it yet. But you can see the potential in Mother's Pride, Cowboys and Angels, and Praying for Time. Soul Free was a disappointment - like the record producers got their way with a track. Too cheesy. Fortunately Waiting takes it out on a big high note. From a pure enjoyment perspective I probably give the album a 4. But from a concept perspective and what he was trying to accomplish and the raw emotion, it's a 5.

Well I got an education. Janis Joplin always seemed to get mentioned on her own but she had just as many album with these guys as solo. Man, that voice. One of a kind. Huge plus and makes the song something special on I Need a Man to Love and Turtle Blues. But at times the album was too self-indulgent, like the opener Combination of the Two - aimless guitar work and warbling. Ditto for Oh Sweet Mary. But I didn't mind any of it on the longest track Ball and Chain - 9 minutes wasn't enough and Joplin was electric. I'd put it right up there with Piece of My Heart, which is an all-time great, gives me chills everytime.

You know, the synthesizer is such cheesy 80's fare but the greats did it well. Jump is no exception (though a little much on I'll Wait) - you can't help but get sucked in. Of course there's still room for some vintage Eddie (RIP) on the track. And more amazing guitar work on pretty much every track (listen to House of Pain). And then DLR is at his decadent best on this album. Those two just make the album what it is - Panama and Hot for Teacher are classics but they are really ridiculous songs with nothing to them except for the combo of EVH and DLR (to be fair Alex Van Halen's drum work on Hot for Teacher is awesome too). Drop Dead Legs is the best showcase of all the musicians - AVH does good work and Michael Anthony gets time to shine too. Stellar album for anyone who likes rock and even those who don't.

Slick and cool. Not normally my thing (I know little about jazz) but this was an easy and smooth listen. I quite enjoyed Ingoo-Pow-Pow with some vocals. The album had some touching pieces and some uplifting ones. Grab a scotch and let this album play.

I have not listened to these guys in ages. Great combo of simple beats and electric vocals. The lyrics are simple and unspectacular, but the solos and harmonies are infectious. Well, at least when the women (Caron, Rose, Do'Reen) are the focal point (less enamored when the men are front and center). Both the band and album are so appropriately named - funky soul and you could fill up a night at a club playing these tracks. Everybody knows Keep on Movin and Back to Life (a definite classic) but spend some time with Feel Free, Fairplay, Happiness or African Dance.

Tough one to rate. First off, if you've never or barely heard of them, they're better than you think. This album is quintessential MSP - a more adult alternative rock with lyrics a mix of observational perspective of everyday life (e.g., A Design for Life, Kevin Carter) or political (e.g., Elvis Impersonator, Everything Must Go). If you put together their best songs from the 90s you'd have a great album. This one is just good. I hate the term Britpop because I feel most of those bands were rock, like these guys. Softer vocals and more instrumental mixes then you get with American rock (and its angst or edge) but their guitar/bass/drum work is still good (check out Enola/Alone or Australia, or Sleepflower on the album Gold against the Soul). It couldn't stay grunge forever and they can rock. But they mix it up, not unlike some of the new American alternative at the time like Third Eye Blind. In the end, the album is a bit uneven.

I tried but just couldn't get into it. I love lyrics, it's part of my listening experience and my french is so out of practice. But unlike opera (or a good Rammstein tune), vocals didn't just fade into the background or blend in with the music. And I think that's because the music was also very cheesy; like Super Mario meets all inclusive Caribbean resort.

Outside of a few songs I could never stand Bowie's music. Not to say I don't respect him as a musician, just not my cup of tea. Golden Years still holds up. Word on a Wing is a pretty beautiful piece (even if I don't feel compelled to listen to it again). TVC15 is funky. Stay gets better the more you listen to it. Didn't change my view on Bowie but I give it a 4.

Wow. Infectious. Twenty seconds in and I was blown away by the beauty of his playing. I know in another post I said I enjoy lyrics too but not necessary here. I went down the rabbit hole to find out about him and this concert - pretty much just him "jamming" and figuring it out as he went. Wow. Part 1 is incredible.

I remember when I was about 10 I couldn't get enough of Fast Car, always waiting for it to be on the radio. In my late teens my dad was in a folk phase and listening to Tracy Chapman, Elliot Smith, etc. and I listened to this album over and over. Her lyrics are so deep and personal (and political) and so is the way she sings, like you can feel her pain (and sometimes happiness) through the song. Fast Car - \"see my old man's got a problem / he lives with the bottle that's the way it is / says his body's too old for working / his body's too young to look like his\". Across the Lines (a little too on point these days?) - \"Across the lines / who would dare to go / under the bridge, across the tracks / that separates whites from blacks?\" On repeat all day. Back half not quite as good as front half (musically, lyrics still top notch) but still a real solid album. Maybe 4.5 but I'm gonna round up here.

Gotta say I liked their second album better. This one is still fun and energetic, and they know how to hook you to start an album (Family Entertainment is a great/catchy opening track and Girls Don't Like it is similar at #2). But it was a bit more uneven and didn't always keep ahold of me. I know their style and this whole genre is often juvenile, but some songs I thought "really, you wrote about that?" (case in point, Mars Bars...and I love Mars bars). The main guitar riff in Teenage Kicks sounds oh so familiar - like they ripped off Anarchy in the UK or God Save the Queen. Or maybe some song after them that I know ripped them off? Still a good tune, but left me wondering. Might be rating them a bit high because of how much I liked their sophomore release.

Was intrigued with this one as I know how much Waits is revered by true music lovers. Underground was not a good start - not sure what the allure is of angry Slipknot-like growling with Big Top circus musical accompaniment. I'd say one or the other but tracks 3 and 8 were the latter and I hated it. So need the right music with his voice - I quite liked 16 Shells from a 30.6 and Gin Soaked Boy so its doable. Shore Leave wasn't bad - still eclectic music but vocals not so off-putting (even the end of song warbling). In the Neighbourhood had some cool lyrics, Rainbirds was pretty, and the title track was alright. But his voice is just awful (it's like listening to the Cookie Monster) and there's way too much weird stuff and not enough good stuff that I'd want to listen to more than once (if that) or listen hard for the lyrics.

Funktastic voyage for sure. I now get why George Clinton is an oft-cited musical influence. I can hear everything from the Commodores to Bruno Mars in this album. A little too decadent at times but some cool stuff. I found myself laughing at the storyline and personas within P-Funk (like listening to the Ladies Man narrate a song). Sometimes that got annoying later in the album. The underlying beats on both Mothership Connection and Unfunky UFO were super cool. Sometimes it felt like the album blended together too much, but I wonder if he/they were going for seamless.

Slick. Did some background reading (like everyone else I think) and discovered these guys were the backup on Simon's Graceland. Cool. You could easily put this music on in the background and have it run all day - not disturbing, occasionally noticing something really special. And I think that's both good and bad in that it kind of all blends together. But if you had to have something that does that, it would be this sound. Beautiful, positive energy.

My god the 60's in America were F'd up. The Gift epitomizes everything I've seen in movies and recordings about that era - the drugs, the sex, the grungy and wheezy guitar riffs. Listening to that track was like watching Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (a truly F'd up movie). It might've been okay if it wasn't so completely overdone (8min). But kudos to the effort and the creativity. And if I thought the Gift had edgy lyrics, Lady Godiva's Operation took me to new depths. Didn't mind the music layered in. The whole album kind of reminds me of Kanye West in that they try so hard to show how intelligent and cool they are through their lyrics and beats. Arrogant is the right word. Still, it's a solid album (minus the production value, which is nil). The title track, Here She Comes Now, and I Heard Her call My Name are all fun little tracks albeit with some excessive guitar work in all of them. Cut out the self-indulgence and depravity (see Exhibit Z, Sister Ray) and you'd have a real winner. 3.5 at least but I'll round up to 4 just to have an even more different take than others. Seems fitting given the extremes of the album.

And see? That's why you can't just have American Music. Yes Violent Femmes, I like American Music but if I only liked it my 60's perspective would be warped by the Velvet Underground. Just need a little Zeppelin to bring it all back. Don't get me wrong, both VU and LZ were inspired by drugs but LZ brings a different ferocity. Would this album be anything but a 5? Of course not. You know all the big tracks and everything in between. I'll just say that the little pause between Heartbreaker and Living Loving Maid is one of my favorite musical moments, just knowing what is coming next. I rock out every time.

I admit that death and thrash metal is a bit of a guilty pleasure. I don't love the screaming but I love the frenetic guitar playing and booming bass lines. So Roots Bloody Roots hooked me in, and the singing made me wonder if I should stay hooked. Another issue with this genre is that it all kind of sounds the same. And I don't just mean this album - yes, some songs sound similar to each other but also to so many other Slipknot, Disturbed, etc. albums. Mixing in some Brazilian / Latin music (and bongos!) gives some songs a different feel, but absent those features it can get monotonous. Ratamahatta was pretty unique actually with its use of Brazilian sounds; didn't always love it, but kudos to the band for doing something different. Conversely, I really liked the mix of thrash and Brazil in Breed Apart, but the final moments with distortion was truly irritating. Loved the music in Straighthate, needed some melody somewhere though. Got kind of monotonous from there for about 5 songs. Jasco and Itsari changed it up with some nice acoustic, almost classical Spanish guitar playing. Showed a bit of chops there. Good album as far as death metal goes, need less screaming though.

Ah, this is your brain not on drugs (or on less hard drugs). A completely different album than their sophomore attempt. Very Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Frankie & Annette etc. in terms of its upbeat tempos and bubblegum rock feel. The lyrics are a bit edgier of course but it still feels like safe/G-rated 60s rock more than half the time. Even when it goes dark it doesn't really feel that way given the musical arrangements. A bit of a Bob Dylan feel. Sunday Morning is a very inviting opener - I'm sure the old folks and middle agers thought "oh now this is a nice band" hearing it. Femme Fatale has some awful distortion in it and is one of a few darker tracks with some unusual musical accompaniment (3,4,7,10). A bit schizophrenic in terms of whether they are happy rock (I'll be Your Mirror) or edgy rock (Heroin). A fine album but nothing truly remarkable about it.

I know a few of the songs off the album but never listened to it in full. It's solid. You can also see their influence in taking Brit-Pop from Blur and Oasis to a slightly more frenetic pace that defines (not just in the UK) the post-punk alternative sounds of the late 90s and early 2000s (Kaiser Chiefs, the Strokes, the Vines, etc.). Loved the first half of the album, got a little boring, monotonous, or just not as good in the second half.

Would I dare rate this less than a 5? Nah, but I can understand if others think a 4 is enough. His guitar work is pretty amazing sometimes, and other times it gets lost in the equally as impressive percussion and bass work (e.g., Fire). Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding are damn good too. I think you need to listen to the lesser known tracks (e.g., Third Stone from the Sun) to truly appreciate the greatness of his guitar playing ability. If you paid more attention to the popular tracks, you might be fooled into thinking "yeah, he's pretty good" and not more than that. Then again, that's probably if you came in knowing how good he was and said "prove it". With a more clean slate, you should be blown away by the whole "experience" - lyrics, singing, guitar, bass, drums.

Strange and wonderful. Of course Brian Eno was a producer - I didn't know much about him, Roxy Music or the Penguins but I'm learning...and that means eccentric. This album is like someone said "why don't you try to make classical instruments sound cool and modern?" It's all original stuff but for the all-instrumental pieces I find myself saying "this must be like an elevator cover of some song I know." Somewhere I read this group described as avant-garde. I still don't know what that means, but what a fun trip.

Listened to it twice. Some stuff cool, some stuff annoying. Respect for her being so different from anything else. Pretty good vocals and lyrics (not afraid to be raw and just out there). Could probably listen to it in the background all day without noticing it much, music kind of melodic. But I'm not going to ask anyone to put it on for me.

Meh. A bunch of covers is not my idea of a must-listen album no matter how much wailing or energy they bring. Loved the first song The Witch (an original) and it made me think how that sound has come around again in the last 10 years with some of the heavy folk rock piano bands (Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats). Didn't love their other originals (they were okay) and couldn't give a rat's ass about their covers.

I think If I was more knowledgeable about the progression of rap, this album would be even more impressive. Still, when you consider how cheesy or juvenile rap was in the 80's (Sugarhill Gang, Young MC, Beastie Boys-at times), you can appreciate the rawness of the lyrics and songs on this album. I'd say one knock is how some of the songs are just being angry at or trying to be superior to other "gangstas" or women. Some, like "The Day the N Took Over" and "L'il Ghetto Boy" has more political commentary like his work in NWA (or work by Public Enemy) and that's the stuff I really appreciate. I probably also don't appreciate how much his sampling and beats changed the industry. But looking at just how much he sampled and layered in, it's pretty impressive.

You know, the whole time I was thinking "this sounds like every time Batman and Robin got into a fight" in the Adam West series of the 60's. Then I saw another post - same guy produced both. I thought the first few used a few too many "whams" via horns (or whatever, I don't know jazz well). But the back half slowed it down or changed the tempo nicely. Midnite Blue made me think of Grandpa Simpson after he lost out on Marge's mom to Burns. Splanky made me think about the intro to the Naked Gun. Jazz is not my thing but it can still be a good thing. Cool album from a group and bandleader I knew nothing about.

First 35s of Music is Love is just beautiful. The vocals kind of ruin it. I was surprised I didn't love this album more than I did. Overall the musical arrangements were pretty stellar but not as seamless as I thought they'd be - again, either some so-so vocal accompaniment or some weird instruments added to the mix. Orleans was a beautiful track - both the music and the vocals (CSN-like harmonies). The album would be a 5 if it was all like this.

I know there's some big fans of this group or genre in the Rabbit Hole. I didn't mind the album, didn't totally love it either. I did have it playing all day so that says something positive. I didn't really like the buzzy distortion sound in Earthquake (and at times Don't Cry). The dreamy rock in Sailing, Helicopter, or Desire Lines was more up my alley; really loved that last song. Memory Boy and Basement Scene sounded like 60's rock taken to new heights. Fountain Stairs and Coronado got a little heavier (didn't mind it) and then the start to He Would Have Laughed (and the riff that goes throughout) was just super cool. Great way to take an album home.

I know he's the King and all, but I was a bit underwhelmed. Thought the album would knock my socks off. Still solid. I listened to it a whole bunch, looking for variety or seamlessness or something. Lots of reasons to like it and his unworldly talent is on display, but missing a truly unique X factor on this album. His backup singers doing that annoying low guy/alto voice was also pure drivel - stand up to your producers man. I'll give it a 4 cuz he's the King and cuz I just gave that Deerhunter album a 4 (prob should've been a 3) so can't go lower.

This is not the best selling debut album of all time (well, for a time) for no reason. If you love classic rock this is an essential. But what would I tell someone who hasn't listened to it 1000 times? Equally pounding vs. deft guitar playing, great harmonies, impressive guitar solos. And yes, some cheesy lyrics or hitting of high notes and added studio effects that likely aren't needed but that defined this era (Queen) or foreshadowed the next (Van Halen). The transition from Foreplay to Long Time is a classic music suspense moment. The last minute of Let me Take you Home Tonight is classic rock excess at its best. Essentially every song has an infectious musical intro (Peace of Mind) or verse (More Than a Feeling) or both (Smokin) that you can't help but rock out to. And if you just want to rock out, you'd be hard pressed to find a better, more fun album.

F$*&. This is what I hate about modern rap and R&B (thanks Dre). The opening track's lyrics are super deep to start and the music accompaniment is great. Her voice is also very good. Raw energy. And then it devolves into f$*&ing your man and how big his dick is. Track 3 doesn't even bother with the pretense - let's just sing about pussy. Again, thanks Dre and other trailblazers. One day I'll really delve into this because I love rock, which is often about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Perhaps its the bluntness of R&B that gets me, and perhaps rock has more poetic innuendo. Or maybe I'm being unfair to R&B and biased toward rock. BS lyrics and typical tropes aside, there's a lot to like about the album. Drew Barrymore is awesome; real powerful. Prom is a little poppy, but I quite liked it. I kinda knew where The Weekend was going from the opening sleazy/porn beat. Kind of stayed that way for a few tracks - a little more poetry and innuendo than earlier tracks though. All in all, she is a good lyricist, just wish she'd write about deeper stuff more often (like 20 Something). Music, beats, tracks well polished.

Interesting sound. I had no idea who these guys were but apparently they're set to join the rock and roll hall of fame. I'm not sure I'd go that far but they have some catchy beats. I think I could probably play this as background music for a party or get-together and it wouldn't seem out of place. Not sure I could wear out a cd listening to it though. Europe Endless sort of epitomized the whole album - cool underlying beat but annoying high-pitched or distorted synth layered in. Interesting that Trans-Europe Express mentions David Bowie because I was thinking this wasn't far off from some of his "artistic expression". Not sure who inspired who. Definitely grateful I got exposed to this album and these guys, but not going to be my go to.

You know, electronica back to back is not a good thing. Any genre back to back likely isn't good for this list. Need to cleanse the palate. The problem with Orbital is that they repeat everything so quickly (e.g., some phrase or beat on loop). It's mind numbing. Kraftwerk at least paused for a bit before coming back to the same phrases. And their beats didn't feel so incessant or monotonous. Planet of the Shapes had some really cool beats but it lacked variation or it didn't layer in its beats well. It's like they have one dominant beat and that drowns out everything else - it's all you can hear and it just repeats. More variation in pacing, timing, and beats is needed - in almost all songs. I think if I was in solitary confinement and you played this album I would go crazy after about two revolutions. I don't think I could play this album as background music to a party unless that party was a rave. Its inferiority is glaringly obvious when placed next to Kraftwerk.

I always thought Steely Dan had a style all their own. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't. Ditto for this album. Kudos to them for bringing their own brand of funk or jazz (or whatever) to rock. Surprised Rikki Don't Lose That Number (a good one) was the only one I recognized. Some songs grew on me (Night by Night, Pretzel Logic) and some didn't (Barrytown, East St Louis). Respectable, but there's plenty of other albums I'll turn to from this era when I need it.

It's amazing how these guys can take that simple beat from Jamming and use it / transform it across a bunch of different songs (Natural Mystic, So Much Things to Say) and have it sound new / not tired every time. Whatever the beat or the sound, there's so much energy every time. Marley's lyrics (on the politically charged first half) are second-to-none. And when the lyrics are lighter in tone on the second half, the whole experience of the songs ramps up (and there are still some great lyrics). Of the lesser knowns, I really enjoyed The Heathen (some edgy guitar work). Just an incredible album. As an aside, I hate when they remaster albums and add stuff to it (e.g., tracks 11 and 12). There was a certain feel and seamlessness to the original album, and although Punky Reggae Party is fun, it doesn't fit with the rest.

And once again I got an education on some music (post hardcore) I thought I knew but really didn't. Doing some reading, I saw how some people label the sound as screamo...I got a kick out of that. Like thrash or metalcore, I love the manic musical energy but don't love the scream singing. I also love the intricacy to their playing (much more than thrash) but don't love when it gets all smashed together in a ball of noise. On this album, the vocals and scratch/grating effects on guitar get to be a little too much after awhile. Or right from the start - I didn't love the opening track, too much chaos. Still, these guys are very good at what they do and I can see why other bands in the genre cite their influence. I think their creativity and skill are really on display on Do you Compute, Luau, and Hand over Fist. At times I really loved this album, other times meh. Maybe my rating would go higher if I listened to it 10+ times. For now, certainly respect but not adoration.

Blondie is way better than I thought; I've told myself this a few times over the last year as I listened to more of their songs (going down different rabbit holes). Case in point, the lyrics to Heart of Glass are really good but I always thought it was just a fun disco-fused tune. Check out the Toadies version of it (acoustic and all the disco stripped out) and the words really resonate. And while I may dislike a lot of pop and new wave that was inspired by Blondie, this album is great. Nothing remarkable about their musical chops but the arrangements are fun and catchy and well put together. And Debbie Harris is a commanding presence on vocals of course (cliche maybe but she is just amazing on One Way or Another). They kind of ran out of gas on the last track (Just Go Away). All in all the album still holds up.

Ironically, I spent some time on the weekend listening to some modern dj mashups (thanks to my brother in law) and they were just awful. So I appreciate Fatboy Slim and what he does even more (and it's definitely more than mashups). Rockafeller Skank and Praise You were always well-orchestrated and catchy tunes but it's his lesser knowns (Gangster Trippin, Kalifornia, Soul Surfing, Love Island) where I find myself tapping along to the beat and nodding with respect. I'm still not going to play this album on repeat (partly because the looping he likes to do can get excessive and annoying), but it's solid.

I knew that Genesis had changed their style throughout the years but I didn't realize how much they were prog rock early on. Gabriel's lyrics are strange (they always are) but refreshing - they force you to listen and think. The musical arrangements are at times sweet and serene and then other times heavy and pulsating (maybe too electro piano/synth heavy). I enjoyed Dancing with the Moonlit Knight but I didn't get the popularity of Firth of Fifth - it's a fine song and I enjoyed the piano and flute work, beyond that I wasn't all that fired up. Of the long songs, I liked the Battle of Epping Forest a lot more (weird and wonderful). And I loved the Cinema Show - just a unique, magical 10+ minute musical journey. More Fool Me isn't bad but feels like it belongs on a different album (start of it blends nicely into Firth of Fifth then lyrics and music go a slightly different direction). It doesn't have the same seamless fit as After the Ordeal and Aisle of Plenty, and I realize the former wasn't wanted on the album at first. I think that says something about the former (it is beautiful). Prog rock isn't my scene but this album is quite good. I wonder what it was like listening to it on a good acid trip.

I struggled with this one. Mark Knopfler is an amazing guitarist, which can be heard right from the start on Down to the Waterline all the way through Sultans of Swing - two classics. And the rest of the instruments and musical arrangements are good on the good tracks. But I don't love Knopfler's vocals or lyrics (they're fine) and some songs are just meh (especially the last 3 tracks). I liked the funky blues sound on Setting Me Up and Southbound Again, but they sounded a bit too similar. As much as I love rock, this album is just okay, despite the amazing guitar work. Probably a 3.5 but I'm going to round down just to show not everything rock can be a 4+.

Like other new wave bands, I'm not sure any of the members of The Cars are going to win awards for their outstanding playing ability. But they are plenty capable. And their song-writing ability is very high. I am not ashamed to profess my love for the catchy Good Times Roll and My Best Friend's Girl. And I think they do well to show their multidimensionality with the edgier sounding Just What I Needed or Moving in Stereo. I know the former is one of their most popular, but it has a lot of depth and is less poppy than others. It's almost one of those albums that is good from front all the way to back. Tracks 4 and 9 are ho-hum and Track 5 is fun but not as good as the others. Still, I'll let that slide. Their later albums never matched the same high, but this album is one of the best new wave / pop rock albums of all time.

I think I went through a range of emotions listening to this album. At first I said shoegaze just doesn't work for me. Distorted guitars and heavy pedal use combined with almost inaudible vocals. Case in point Butcher's vocals - not bad but often drowned out by the noise. I know that is the sound they're going for, but I don't see the appeal. That was emotion one. Yet, even before the first track Soft as Snow was over I had to admit the guitar sound Shields creates (like a distorted siren) is pretty impressive. Still, it's also annoying as F. After two songs I thought good for them for pioneering a genre (e.g., I like Catherine Wheel and Silversun Pickups that came later), but it's a struggle to listen to. The album got better as I listened to more tracks. I think the distortion wasn't so intense and/or they better blended other elements (both vocals and other instruments) with the effects pedals. Cupid Come and You're Still in a Dream were more on par with Sonic Youth (still noise rock but less annoying). Tracks 5-7 regressed (my blood started to boil) but then tracks 8-12 redeemed. I still think it's a 2 for me, but I got close to a 3 on second listen.

Not bad. Not quite for me either but they have a cool sound. I liked the combination of pulsing guitar and other instruments on OLV 26 and Anonymous Collective. I guess that's kind of their thing but I thought it worked really well on those tracks. That overlay motif was okay on Metronomic Underground but what I liked more about that track was its funk sound (which they get back to in a so-so way on Spark Plug). They mix up their styles quite a bit (first 3 tracks differ widely), which shows some chops but also makes the album less seamless. Sadier has a voice that is sometimes sweet and fits their style and is sometimes grating. I found it off-putting on the Noise of Carpet and Tomorrow is Already Here. It worked well on Les Yper Sound. The title track and Motoroller Scalatron are fun. I'd say a cool, uneven album. It did get better with each listen.

9 heads is better than 1. The lyrics on this album are phenomenal, probably because of the different contributors and perspectives and that it's a few guys being "on" for a few songs not all of them. Still, that's 9 talented lyricists. And in my opinion it's really not much more than them rapping about how good they are (or better than others). But it's good bragging and it's not just the same thing recycled on every song. The other motif is telling how they got to where they are, mixing in some shaolin bits to make it half real, half fairytale. Whatever the topic, there's lots of raw energy and great wordplay. And even when they're putting down others it's not the homophobia or misogyny that other albums of the time were pumping out. The interludes to open songs (7th Chamber and Method Man) are still BS but the ones that close songs (Can it Be All So Simple) are worthy listening to. Besides the lyrics, they've got slick, simple beats. Pump it. Shame On A... is a great example of how all of it comes together. Love that track. Ditto on Da Mystery of Chessboxin and Protect Ya Neck.

I don't own this album and never realized that so many good songs were on it. Back when I was a teenager and didn't really know who was who in rock I thought Do it Again was a Santana song. And I loved Dirty Work, though I'm not sure I knew it was Steely Dan either. Reelin' in the Years I had straight - great, great lyrics on that track (and the guitar solo halfway in). I always thought it was dumb that they earned a Grammy in 2001 when if they were going to be recognized it really should've been in the 70's (no matter how good the album in 2001, they were out of place). When you consider this was their debut, wow. For sure a 4, not quite sure it's a 5 - back half of album is not quite as stellar as earlier (though I really like Change of the Guard).

Cool beats but it sounds a bit similar to a lot of the rap music from the time - like Bust a Move is ready to break out at any time. The lyrics are better than others at that time...sometimes. U Make me Sweat is one of the songs where the lyrics are of the same fun but cheesy and basic variety of other songs from that era. Acknowledge Your History and Beyond this World have more substance. The album is easy to listen to in the background, but like background it fades away quickly. I definitely enjoyed it, just nothing terribly unique or memorable about the album.

Definitely one of my favorite bands from the grunge & post-grunge era, but not their best work (I'm waiting for The Colour and the Shape or In Your Honor). Still, this was pretty much just Dave Grohl playing all instruments with one buddy helping produce it. The band formed after this album. So pretty damn impressive for a solo project, even if it has some Nirvana feel. Like Nirvana did, Grohl fills your ears with a lot of noise from only a few instruments - not overly complex but well arranged and with ferocity. Makes up for some of the unevenness of the album. Most people know the first 3 tracks (all great) but I also really like the lesser knowns Alone + Easy Target, Floaty, and Wattershed. Probably a 3.5 but I'll round up.

I never really understood the appeal of Neil Young (that grating voice) so I didn't pay him much attention, but holy hell has this guy had his twists and turns. So many different styles; he is truly a virtuoso...and a mystery. But that got me thinking, why is it a must that I listen to this album? Had to listen a few times. Maybe it's how he is able to capture despair and just have it ooze out his songs (particularly side two). You can almost feel his pain and disdain for the world. His guitarwork is of course masterful. But I don't know, what do you give an I want to kill myself album? I read he wanted the two sides to be in reverse order and I think that would've given it a much different feel - rather than spiraling into despair, it'd be like the Phoenix giving a big middle finger (Walk On has a more upbeat, F it just be you attitude and Revolution Blues and For the Turnstiles are so angry). After a few listens I came to appreciate how much emotion he was able to stir up in his raw, stripped down style and powerful lyrics. Ambulance Blues in particular made me want to put it on again, and see what other hidden gems were in there. I know understand how he is an acquired taste; you gotta give him multiple listens.

I was excited for this album but it underwhelmed. I had no idea who he was but read he was a hugely talented guitar player and could play multiple instruments. I can't really hear the guitar for all the other instruments. He also plays all the instruments (like I mentioned Grohl does for the Foo's first album) which is pretty cool. But the tempo is kinda dull, especially for the latter half of the album that is all instrumental (tracks 6-9). It sounds like a ho-hum lounge piece. The funk on the first 5 tracks is fine (and it comes back decently on track 9) but didn't blow me away. It feels like this album didn't age well. In the end, it wasn't awful just not what I expected.

Huge fan of this period of rock but not sure what is so amazing about this album. For sure there were a lot of bands with the Lemonheads sound after this album came out (especially in Canada) but I don't know if that was due to their inspiration or because these guys were what record companies were looking for then. I actually went back to this album over the summer thinking there's gotta be more to the band & album than their Mrs. Robinson remake. And there is but it's not earth shattering. It's melodic and catchy, with liberal arts grad school lyrics, and takes folk rock to alternative heights. But nothing overly memorable.

Another artist that I know is well-respected but that I knew little about. What a great album. And the Elvis moniker is very befitting - he's got his own sense of rockabilly for the modern era. Very cool. Some perfect examples were Mystery Dance (sounds like Elvis Presley reimagined) and No Dancing (sounds like a modern cross between the King and the Beach Boys). Welcome to the Working Week might be the coolest 90 second song ever made; it doesn't feel that short with all he packs into it. I still don't love Alison, other than to jokingly sing the title like Costello does. Still, side one is brilliant. Great energy and great arrangements, with neat wordplay. Side two isn't far behind. The singles Red Shoes and Less than Zero are solid, but I really like the tempo and beats in Pay it Back.

Hearing the first few notes and vocals of Roadrunner I thought is this a wannabe Velvet Underground? After doing some reading, apparently the answer is yes. Never heard of these guys (or really the lead guy). It wasn't awful. Well, the lyrics were kinda terrible - cheap Velvet Underground knockoff. But the arrangements were intriguing. Not my thing and zero production value, but I can appreciate it and what they were going for. Sometimes trying a bit too hard to be the Doors, but like a kid brother who is even more strung out. Tough one to rate. Not worse than a 2, not better than a 3. Which one is it? F the lyrics are awful (Girlfriend? Pablo Picasso? ugh). Sorry that's the clincher.

I mean, it's fine. Vocals are soft and sweet, fits well with the high-tuned or low-fret guitar playing plus keyboard and other electronica. I did recognize Two Weeks, also fine. There's a trend here. Maybe it's me and I don't appreciate enough new folk or indie rock. But it's no Simon and Garfunkel or CSNY. Perfect to play in the background of a shop in the mall. Or a hipster cafe.

Hate the cheesy opening to Let it Rock...standard 80's fare and studio exec belief in what was cool. But you can't deny the sheer awesomeness of the hits. Somewhere Nickelback is probably thanking Bon Jovi and the producers for creating the formula for making a slick album. I dare you to not sing along to Livin on a Prayer or You Give Love a Bad Name if it comes on in a crowd (or resist the urge to at least bop along). Wanted Dead or Alive is one of my favorite rock songs of the 80's and proof that Sambora isn't a total hack. Raise Your Hands is also a solid, rocking song but otherwise the lesser known or non-hits hold the album back. If I must listen to this album before I die it has to be due to its ability to rock and move me - because it can't be the lyrics (bubblegum) or the musical skill (average). It has no substance. It is quintessential 80's hair/glam rock and that's fun and all, but 3 massive tunes do not an album make. The rest of the songs are kind of forgettable.

Jay-Z is a lyrical genius (U Don't Know has some great lines), and his knowledge of pop culture is ridiculously extensive (check out The Ruler's Back). It makes it a lot of fun listening to his lyrics and what reference he'll slip in for a rhyme. His beats and mixes are cool too, easy to get into and move your head (or more) to. It's also surprisingly soulful (Never Change and Song Cry have their tender moments). I was surprised this was his 6th album - then saw he put out 6 albums in 6 years. Damn. One of the greatest rappers of all time and a damn good album (especially considering no massive hits on it).

The opening track had some annoying elements (giggling to start, organ bops in the background) but it was still kind of catchy and the lyrics were cheeky/funny. Definitely made me curious about the album and I'd say this observation persisted. The songs were catchy, the lyrics were offbeat but really intricate (cool stuff), starts of tracks had annoying talking bits, and almost every song had some annoying instrument (often from the brass section). It felt like an even more satirical Interpol or Franz Ferdinand. So wacky, but surprisingly infectious. And kudos to creating a theme for the album and sticking to it.

Smooth. You don't get to be a legend unless you're really good. Sinatra's voice just carries. And it's so free and easy. His backing band is pretty good too. The album holds up pretty well, I'll bet even my kids wouldn't totally hate it (and they hate anything not made in the last 10 years). I'm pretty indifferent when it comes to jazz but much respect here.

Pretty darn good, could've been better. Maybe I wanted it to be longer? Imagine if they released all three 1969 albums together? CCR brought a cool, unique sound and Fogerty(s) could really play. Graveyard Train and Keep on Chooglin' show their interpretation of blues and their wide array of skills. Love the harmonica on both. I wish they had played Proud Mary in the same frenetic tempo as Good Golly Miss Molly. Still good.

Whoa, what a lead in on Holy Wars. If you don't like guitars, you do now. Incredible work and at such a pace! Sorry, hard to type with a melted face. The album doesn't always keep up with the opener but it's still pretty impressive. The first 4 tracks are awesome from a music standpoint (Mustaine's voice is annoying). The next 3 are still good but each is up and down (awesome sequences surrounded by so-so ones). Tornado of Souls is a good example; it really cranks up around the 3min mark then settles back down to decent around the 4min mark. Of the final 3, I didn't care much for Dawn Patrol (My Creation was ok but brief) but the title track is almost as good as the first half of the album.

I've always liked Bodhisattva and the start of My Old School is great (perfect Steely Dan funk). There are some great funk pieces in other songs and some nice musicianship, but I don't like this album as much as some of their others. Most of the songs felt at least a minute too long. I could've done without some of the decadence for a tighter package.

It's different and unique and chic. Their take on Iron Man is cool. And of course many folks recognize and enjoy Lovefool (a solid song). But the album is just okay in my opinion. Worth a listen or two, for sure. Didn't blow me away.

A classic album. Sympathy for the Devil is incredible - the lyrics, the intricate and uncommon musical arrangements, Jagger's delivery. It's a great kickoff to an album full of different styles that show the depth of ability of this band. The Stones aren't one of the greatest bands of all time for no reason. Hugely talented and man do they play on this album. Love the blues sound on Parachute Woman - simple, stripped down, and forceful. Prodigal Son is also has a cool bluesy sound. If you like Street Fighting Man (which I do), check out Rage's version of it on their cover album Renegades (also very good). Salt of the Earth is a beautiful song to end the album; great lyrics too.

What a cool f'n album. Had no idea who this guy was, but what a story, especially how this album was beloved by the public but incensed the Nigerian government. Now those are powerful lyrics. And his delivery (and his backing band's) is electric. I love Zombie by the Cranberries but I think I have to Kuti's Zombie right up there with it. The album is really just two songs. Zombie kicks serious ass. Mr. Follow Follow isn't quite as good but it still deserves respect.

Now that's how you start an album - the bass line and guitar picking to open Bombtrack are awesome (created by Commerford). The raw and politically charged lyrics, de la Rocha's rap rocking, and pulsing instruments set the stage for the rest of the album. You get to hear a bit of Morello's unique scratch playing at the end too (he is a guitar god). I believe it is from him using the end of the guitar's amp cord on his strings. Creative genius; he makes so many sounds that you think are synthesizer but it's all his guitar. I also love Killing in the Name (their signature tune), Take the Power Back (Morello's solo at the 3min mark - wow), Bullet in the Head, Know Your Enemy (more epic Morello), Wake Up (de la Rocha is ferocious on this track), and Fistful of Steel (Morello's creativity on display again in first few riffs and high-pitched scratching - not turn tables kids!) but I admit I always found Settle for Nothing a little boring. Still, the totality of the album makes up for one so-so song. It fueled my teenage years; I want to give it to my 12 year old son right now to listen to, but might be a bit too soon. One of the greatest bands of the grunge/alternative years and one hell of a debut.

I know lots of Elton John singles but not by albums. This album reminded me how much I adore Elton's piano playing. Funeral for a Friend almost reminded me a bit of the earlier Genesis album (quasi-prog rock feel), including when put together with Love Lies Bleeding (now you have a sweeping rock song with twists, piano and synth, and guitars). The former is touching, the latter about as good as his other high-tempo hits. The first few notes of Yellow Brick Road give me chills - again, just something about his piano playing. I find it amazing how Bernie Taupin can write the lyrics to these songs and then Elton dreams up the music to go with it. Elton is an incredible composer and as a pair they are pretty amazing. I still have something against Bennie and the Jets (never liked it as much as others) but if that's his worst, that's pretty darn good. To be honest, the back half of the first album took a bit of a dip for me but it closed well with I've Seen that Movie Too. The second album really picked up steam about halfway through the Ballad of Danny Bailey - lots of higher tempo rock that sucks you in. From Dirty Little Girl through to Saturday Night's Alright is a great sequence. I also liked the different pacing in Roy Rogers and Harmony. Either album on its own is good but as a package it's gold.

Very solid, but it sounds like late 60's psychedelic rock. Which I still enjoy, but this album doesn't age the same way the real greats from that era did (like Jimi Hendrix's stuff). I really enjoyed the vocals, from pretty much all of the band. Come in the Morning, Lazy Me, and Indifference were highlights for me. Definitely worth a listen, not sure how many times I'd go back.

Damn, nice surprise here. I've never heard of her but Little Simz (and her team?) is talented. Really good lyrics/wordplay on a bunch of tracks (Offence, Venom...despite copious use of the p word, Pressure, Sherbet Sunset) and she can rap (Missy Elliott fast). Great bass lines and beats on the first two tracks (I could listen to Boss over and over) and some of the later ones (101 FM, Therapy). Tight album. Gonna have to listen to more of her music.

What did I say about Grizzly Bear a few weeks back? Same applies here. It's fine. Vocals are nice, some good instrumentation in there. You can hear the progression from 90's shoegaze to this new, up-in-the-clouds rock/pop. There's enough guitar work and experimentation with that sound to be intriguing. I don't mind indie rock and this is an easy listen; you can easily get lost in it and wonder where the time went. But then nothing really seems to stick out. Enjoyable. Not sure how much more than that.

Maybe if I gave it more time, my rating would rise higher. Clearly Tito and his band are talented and there's some good stuff in here. But it sounds a bit dated. Would I still expect to hear it in any sunny vacation getaway resort? Of course, all day every day. But will I turn to this when I'm not sipping mai tai's on the beach? I doubt it.

I know what I said about the last two indie rock albums and I know this one is a similar genre, but Illinois struck a chord early. Maybe it was Stevens' more diverse use of instruments or his more varied sound and tempos across the album, but I really liked it. It won't take me 5 or more listens to really appreciate it. Some highlights for me were Come On Feel the Illinoise (Part II), Jacksonville, Chicago, The Man of Metropolis... (my favorite song on the album), The Predatory Wasp..., and The Tallest Man...(Part I). I think it could've been packaged a bit tighter (some unnecessary reprises, long run-time) but as a concept album, it's pretty cool.

Interesting at first, but ultimately just annoying. The lyrics are quite complex (and sometimes haunting) so kudos to that. But Vega's screams or sighs (e.g., on Frankie Teardrop or Girl) are a bit much. Rev's synth beats were cool at times but felt a little monotonous. Still, I enjoyed Ghost Rider and Johnny...quite a bit. This album feels like one of those things you're proud to say you've done once but would never do again. Could just as easily be a 2 or a 3 but I'll go higher for it's uniqueness (and trailblazing...of something I don't care much for).

I listened to this album a few times because I wasn't sure what was so special about it. Fats was a big deal and he had some massive hits (Blueberry Hill is a classic). His voice is excellent (it gets stuck in your head) and his backing band is great too (his piano work is also very good). Take a song like La La, it's mostly those words plus his band (and his piano solo, which rocks) and it's great. Is that enough for this to be 4+ stars? The album is full of solid but perhaps unspectacular songs. Easy to like, but are you going to gush over it? Tough call; I started at a 3 but after a few listens it kept creeping up.

What? I'm supposed to listen to an album from the Chemical Brothers and it doesn't include Block Rockin' Beats? And that wasn't their stuff in the first Matrix? That shows what I know of them coming in. Didn't know they were from Manchester (though much happier my cousin in-law from there and I bond over Oasis). It was surprisingly good...at least to start. Leave Home and in Dust We Trust had me bopping along. From there it went from meh song to good song and back again for the rest of the album. But it didn't grow on me with more listens.

Oh yeah. Now that's an album. I'm not really a metal fan but I love guitars and bass. It's probably the simpler (yet still intricate) sound that I love so much about Sabbath. I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere that Iommi invented or popularized power chords. It just brings so much sound. And yet there is plenty of complex tapping, plucking, hammering on and off (solos & sequences in Paranoid, Iron Man, Rat Salad, I could go on and on). War Pigs really epitomizes their sound - goes wherever it wants and it works. The intro crawls in, then the first verse has an up-tempo power chord repetition, then a 1min bridge with a different pace and chord progression, then back to the verses sound for 30s, then a new 1min bridge/solos, back to another verse, back to the style of the first bridge for 30-45s, then a long outro complete with some final distortion just because. Some stuff is simple, some is complex, but altogether it's a masterpiece.

Completely epitomizes 80's weird Brit rock (The Smiths, The Cure, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, etc.). That's not an insult, there's some good stuff in there. This album captures it perfectly. Despite the heavy synth in many songs, there's still some good musicianship (guitar better than you think on first listen). The songwriting is also sharp, from lyrics to arrangements. Love Vigilantes is my favorite and Sunrise is another song that nicely blends real and fake instruments. The Perfect Kiss (decent lyrics) and Sub-culture are decent but a bit synth-heavy (sounds hokey). Elegia (instrumental) is quite beautiful. Face Up was a fun end to the album (probably my second favorite track). I spent the day listening to New Order and this is definitely their best album. Not lower than 3.5 and I'll round up for their pioneering work.

Just a bit too intense. I do enjoy some Slipknot songs but a whole album is a lot. Too much screaming and anger. So despite some nuanced instrumental work, the whole sound comes off as a bit one-dimensional - needs more depth, variety, and complexity. Still, the speed at which they play is impressive. Good - Wait and Bleed (sounds more like Taylor's Stone Sour work), Spit it Out, Me Inside. Excessive - (sic), Tattered & Torn, Liberate, Diluted, Scissors. Toeing the line - Eyeless, Prosthetics, Only One. Overall, I can't listen to the album more than once...well maybe if I'm trying to get amped up to kill someone.

I knew a couple of their songs - Start and That's Entertainment from this album and a Town Called Malice (different album, my favorite of theirs) - which I thought were pretty good. The album is more of the same. The sequence from Set the House Ablaze to Boy About Town (7 songs) was great. I also really liked Pretty Green. The whole backstory of the band is fascinating - they were icons of a niche (and sometimes violent) culture in the UK. This album feels like the perfect fit between 70's punk and 80's indie rock (like the Smiths). Not quite punk, not quite post-punk. Bass was a prominent feature in a lot of the songs and I enjoyed it. Guitar work wasn't overly complex but fit well. Catchy songs. Definitely going to listen to more of their stuff.

My sister hates the 80's for all of it's cheesy synth and fake instruments. I'm sure she hates 1999 because Prince has hokey 80's sounds in spades. It's a shame because while it's a fun album, you don't get to understand how talented he is. He is an incredible guitar player (watch his playing of While My Guitar Gently Weeps during George Harrison's R&R HOF induction) but I'm not sure I even heard a guitar on the album. I was bored halfway through Delirious, which wasn't good because it was followed by 3 songs averaging 8min of same old same old. I almost turned it off. Maybe fun if I want to hold an 80's dance party but if I didn't respect his body of work this might be a 2.

I love live music. I hate recordings of live music. Still, this was pretty good. The sound quality is junky but BB and his band's energy is great. His storytelling to go from one song to the next was cool. The transition from the two sides was weird, with BB King being introduced again (to much less fanfare) on the first song of side two - they took a break and came back? It lost some of the energy from the first set. Still he ain't the King of the blues for nothing. Great voice, great guitar playing (his band is good too), great stage presence.

I never liked the Band. Still don't. So I can't give this album 5 stars. But I appreciate the artwork and musicianship here. Wide range of instruments and sounds, decent two or three part harmonies. Some real solid songwriting. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Up on Cripple Creek are deserved popular songs. Whispering Pines, Rockin Chair, and King Servant were nice songs I didn't know about. Rag Mama Rag reminded me why I don't like the Band.

Nah. I remember when Massive Attack was all the rage and I didn't get it. Still don't. I don't need music to have sex to. Not interested in it so I can have a trippy experience or to hypnotize myself. What else is it good for? Decent beats but the music is better paired with female singers (too bad Tracey Thorn had her own stuff to keep her busy) than male ones (or the male ones chosen). Mezzanine was a better album. Next!

I don't own this album but I've listened to it (on Spotify) several times over the last few years. Caught a podcast on the top male rock voices (in terms of vocal range) since the 80's and he was number one - so I had to find out more. Too bad we never got more from him while he was alive. His vocals are superb (check out Corpus Christi Carol) and the musical arrangements are pretty good. His version of Hallelujah is haunting. Last Goodbye is pretty awesome too. Some so-so songs mixed in. I definitely enjoy the album but it didn't completely blow me away.

I still remember first hearing Jeremy and then being surprised to find out Eddie Vedder wasn't 40+ years old. There are very few albums like this that not only have no weak songs but also changed music. I put together best of rock lists for each year of the 90's over the summer and it is amazing how different rock music was in 1990 versus 1992-93 a year after Ten and a few other pivotal albums from late 1991 (e.g., Nevermind, Badmotorfinger). Maybe short-lived, but it stomped out cheesy 80's hair rock / forced rock to be better. No doubt bands like the Pixies, Melvins, and Replacements paved the way for bands like Pearl Jam, but the sound was perfected on Ten. Hard edged, pulsing sounds and lyrics that make you think. Everyone likely knows the first 6 tracks (Why Go and Once are just as good as the mega-hits) but the last 5 tracks are also impressive - if you like the frenetic Even Flow, try Porch; if you like the brooding Black, try Release; if you like the multi-layered Alive, try Garden. An all-time classic.

My first thought was "slick" but I just don't understand jazz enough to truly appreciate this album. I was surprised at how many listens Take Five had and so I read up on the album. It's basically a national treasure. I guess I don't know music like I thought. It sounds like what any live jazz performance aspires to be (from what I've seen)...really, I wonder if this sound is what jazz musicians are aiming for when they play.

I think I was spoiled after the last jazz album. This one is fine, but I found the brass section squeaky. I'm sure that was what they were going for on Track A and B but it was a bit much for me. Track C was marginally better. Track D was solid; I could've done with just that.

Saw the album and artist and thought "I don't recognize the name Dusty Springfield". Heard the second track You Don't Own Me and thought "I know this song." Turns out the song is featured in a cheeky Kraft Dinner (Mac & Cheese) commercial with former Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page. Also turns out it's her version of Mockingbird Harry & Lloyd sing in Dumb and Dumber (I laughed as soon as I heard it). And it turns out she is the original artist for the songs I Only Want to be With You (not sure I knew her version) and Son of a Preacher Man (definitely know her version...respect). Weird how your world orbits around artists and songs without really making a connection. Anyway, back to the album, it's got a nice Motown feel from someone born far away from Motown. She's got some good pipes. She does some nice renditions of other artists' songs (...Lovelight..., 24 Hours from Tulsa, Will You Love Me Tomorrow) and Wishin' and Hopin' is a nice original. A fun album. Lacks a bit of depth maybe? Feels like a 3.5.

I have listened to this album a few times before. Babylon was a massive hit (deservedly) when I was in university and my brother's roommate had a copy of the album that we would borrow. I love his voice; this is the kind of album I'll put on when I'm looking for a little nostalgia and maybe a little longing for something gone by (single tear). It certainly has that mood. This Year's Love in particular gets me every time - I can rarely listen to it just once. An all time fave. Lyrics are good too, as long as you're up for sadness. What I don't love is the drum tracks and computer synth that became all the rage then and/or continued for singer-songwriters (e.g., Daniel Bedingfield, eventually Gotye). Tracks 3-7 are a little monotonous (or uneven) but I am a fan of the other 5 tracks. So probably a 3.5 in the end, and I fully admit I'm rounding up because of nostalgia.

Amazing how certain places can spawn so much in a certain genre - another electronica group from Bristol. I didn't hate it. Well, at least the first 4 tracks, which had cool bass lines and beats (I really enjoyed Railing). But they did get a little too repetitive and monotonous for my liking (don't need 7min of the same bass line and drum beat). I couldn't stand Digital (9min of repetition and not even good beats) and that started a steady decline of electronic junk. So I guess I liked a third of the album. Maybe.

Ah disco. Hard to take serious, hard to not secretly enjoy. There were a bunch of songs that felt like they have been sampled or redone but Chic Cheer was the only one I could put my finger on (Faith Evans' Love Like This). Decent sign of respect. Le Freak is a classic and part of the fun of the album. Still, there's some real instrumentation mixed in. Savoir faire showed some music ability and Happy Man felt more funk than disco and was solid. But from there it felt like more predictable, run of the mill disco. Respectable but no staying power.

I appreciated this list's kick in the butt to finally give a thorough listen to Wilco. I can hear a lot of new indie rock following their style (e.g., Band of Horses). Great opener to disc 1 in Misunderstood. Lots of sharp arrangements on disc 1 - good blend of drums as a base with mix of guitar, bass and piano. Other highlights were Monday, Outtasite, I Got You. Though I'm not a big country fan and the heavier country sounding songs weren't exactly my thing, the various string work (banjo, slide and plucking guitars, etc.) showed some nice talent (e.g., Forget the Flowers). Disc 2 was a little subdued or boring in comparison. But I'm going to judge it on Disc 1 alone and consider anything from Disc 2 a bonus. And disc 1 was very solid.

You know, I've listened to this album a few times in the recent past because I like the Pixies and I love Where is My Mind. But prior to now I think what I really liked was the Pixies greatest hits. I don't think I really gave any one album a focused listen. And after the first few tracks I thought that's where I'd stay. But I found myself really getting hooked by Broken Face and that continued right through to at least Tony's Theme. On second and third listen, I really enjoyed it all. Maybe it's because I was an alternative era kid, but I love the slow-fast revolutions (Gigantic is a great Pixies signature for that). I also like their simple arrangements that combined a bit of distortion or gruff edge to the guitar riffs and bass lines (with nice pounding drums as backing). River Euphrates and Cactus are other songs I didn't fully appreciate until now. One knock against the album is some of the unnecessary interludes, dialogues, and gibberish within the last 4 tracks. The Pixies are trailblazers in alternative rock (as was this album), too bad we only got 4 albums in 4 successive years (I don't count the stuff released decades later). Not sure I can put it on the same pedestal as Zeppelin, Jimi, or Rage, but almost.

He is one strange dude, but Marilyn Manson is a great lyricist. He's pretty good at the music part of songwriting too (with help from his band). He really mastered that angry pounding guitar sound (with a little electronica help). The Beautiful People was always one of my favorite angry pump up songs. Some other highlights for me are The Reflecting God, 1996, Mister Superstar, and Angel with the Scabbed Wings. Could do with a little less screaming. Can't deny the energy they bring.

Missy is hands down the best female rapper of all-time. One of the best rappers period. And this album has her talent on display - smart meaningful lyrics, cool beats, lightning quick raps, and a pretty darn good voice. Her interludes are actually worth listening to (not just BS) and shows her depth of thought. Although her claim in the Intro that you don't hear Gates and Trump arguing because they got "paper" and "better shit to do" shows how much times have changed in 20 years. Her wordplay or own version of pig latin that she does in Gossip Folks and Work It is so unique and innovative. The former is one of my favorite rap songs of all time - beats and lyrics are just awesome. I'm not sure there was a weak song on the whole album. Slide and Go to the Floor were particularly good tracks I didn't know of before.

Tons of energy on the piano - you can really hear him pounding and skimming the ivory. The rest of the energy was alright - vocals sounded almost indifferent at times. Sound quality was meh. Maybe that's the issue, the recording quality. BB King's live performance was better.

Not bad. But it's a bit too frenetic with all the songs that are 1min or less (21 songs in 35min). Hard to get into anything or appreciate where their skills lie. Ex Lion Tamer and Reuters had a good sound. Mannequin was alright (seems to be their most notable song). Sounds like Elastica ripped off the main riff from Three Girl Rhumba for their song Connection (I like that riff). Champs and 12 x U had some good energy. Pink Flag sounded about a decade ahead of its time with its rough edge, yet needs more work. So again, not bad, but uneven.

Love the beats. Don't love the lyrics. Some songs are just brutal in terms of their shock value (4 Better or Worse where some dude keeps calling to harass some girl) or use of the N word (clearly I'm that Type of N). Some are kind of funny/cheeky (Ya Mama) but I feel they rely on that bag of tricks a bit too often. The beats are awesome though. Totally 90's rap sound - I wonder how dated it sounds to someone who didn't grow up then. Probably a 3.5 but I think I'm rounding down. But it was a tough call.

From the opening sound I thought "was this from Halloween?" Clearly too early for that, but apparently it was used in the Exorcist. So right genre, wrong film. Cool stuff, I definitely wouldn't have turned to it on my own. Amazing that Oldfield played pretty much every instrument himself (and there were a ton of instruments). The first song started off strong but got weird in the latter half. The "singing" didn't seem to fit; ditto for some of the instrument mixes. Second song was more of the same - some really cool stuff mixed in with some weird.

This is similar in a lot of ways to the Pharcyde album. Love the beats, although they sound a bit dated, and the lyrics are at times tragic. But the big difference is their lyrics are so plain vanilla. I mean, even songs called She's Fresh or It's Nasty are incredibly tame. Dreamin was too cheesy of an ode to Stevie Wonder although You Are got it right. But I guess all of it is better than inappropriate stuff. I just wish the album had more edge and made you think. The title track does - and that's why it is a classic - and It's a Shame too, but other tracks could do more. Scorpio was a bit too electronic at times but it might have been my favorite. All in all, I enjoyed it but it could have been 5-star if it consistently had more depth.

Almost forgot how Metallica was part of the 1991 music revolution. Whereas Soundgarden turned their metal into grunge, Metallica turned metal into something new - less frantic, more dense (the sound just fills your head). Like Sabbath set the standard for the 70's going forward, these guys set the standard for the 90's and beyond. This is a true masterclass. Still a ton of great guitarwork and pounding drums, but the melody attached to the intensity is amazing. After all these years I still say wow listening to it.

I enjoyed it but not sure if I'd ever really go back to it. I worry there's a bias creeping in because it's in Portuguese and I can't connect with the lyrics. It's clearly not a 5 and worth at least a 3. First track was great. Not sure any others struck the same nerve even though it was a good listen. With more patience maybe this would be a 4.

In Canada, the release of this album was almost like Beatlemania 2. I don't think many folks had been paying attention to the Britpop evolution that had already started (including Oasis' release of Definitely Maybe the year before) but they definitely wanted to anoint Oasis as the new Beatles. That's a bit much but this is a damn good album. Far less brooding than the rest of rock at the time, the upbeat tempos and sound are great. What I like about early Oasis is that you can hear a full band - lots of guitar and bass layers, along with drums and the occasional piano. That was hugely influential for how rock (re)evolved. Some Might Say has a great throw back rock sound (to the 70's) while Morning Glory is an excellent piece of rock reimagined for the 90's (grating guitar work is awesome). Noel Gallagher may be an asshole but he is a good songwriter. Don't Look Back in Anger (I think it's their best song) has some deep intelligent lyrics whereas the lyrics in She's Electric are cheeky yet still smart. The different styles show just how talented he is. Wonderwall may be overplayed but it is a great track. I'll always dislike Champagne Supernova but hey I don't like Strawberry Fields either - I guess I'm not much for psychedelia. Still, I can acknowledge its great musicianship even if it is not my kind of sound.

Ska meets punk? Skunk? It was alright but not my cup of tea. Some cheeky lyrics and actually some really good lyrics (Stereotypes) if you can get past how repetitive they sound in certain songs (Enjoy Yourself, Sock it to 'Em JB...goofy). Probably not going to listen again.

Damn. Randy Newman is a great lyricist and composer. I always thought of him as the piano playing Kenny Loggins for all his movie scores but it's good stuff. I really enjoyed the wit and bite in his lyrics. Rednecks could never be written now but what a commentary on both the North and the South. I also really liked A Wedding in Cherokee County and Guilty. Not sure exactly what it is about his voice and piano that works, but it mixes well.

I was surprised a Christmas album was on here (though not surprised at the timing of its appearance). I guess it's got good energy, vocals, and musical arrangements. I've just never been much for Christmas music, even if tis the season. Bah humbug.

Another album and artist I am glad I got to listen to more closely thanks to this list. Solid album. And it's clear why they are pioneers of punk. A little frenetic with their short songs but still enough time (and enough going on in each song) to appreciate their playing. They do often repeat the same formula, which is a shame, although it is a good formula. Love the sound they produce (and inspired), just wish there was a bit more variety to it.

Loved it. I was impressed when after 4 or 5 songs he had shifted from Spanish to English to French. Apparently Minha Galeria (track 14) is in Portuguese. But aside from his mastery of different languages, the style is upbeat, the beats are catchy, and his lyrics are interesting (at least from what I could understand from English and French...minimally Spanish). Regardless the language, there's lots of neat wordplay. One knock is some cheesy studio effects added in periodically (e.g., the 80's video game missle sound in Desaparecido and other songs). My favorite tracks were Malegria (crazy cool pace), Dia Lunadia Pena (his best vocals and elegant melody), Welcome To Tijuana (weird and wonderful), Je Ne T'Aime Plus (great beats, which were the same as Bongo Bong but lyrics not as cheesy), Clandestino (nice intro to the album), La Vie a 2 (simple guitar arrangement combined with intense vocals).

I feel like I always think these guys are better than they really are. Like, when I saw this album I thought \"oh yeah, it's really good\" and then I listened to it and thought \"is it?\" And I know I've done that on this album and other Arcade Fire albums on previous listens. So, I tried to put the music critics' constant fawning out of my mind and evaluate for myself. Tunnels holds up - simple baseline instruments (piano, xylophone?) that mix well with the guitars and drums, thoughtful lyrics, and Win Butler's desperation-style vocals. And it's that combination that works well on multiple tracks (Une Annee sans Lumiere, Kettles - really beautiful). It also sometimes fails (Laika - Butler and strings too whiny, In the Backseat - Regine Chassagne's vocals are hit or miss). But there are also a series of songs that take those previous good things and then go further by adding in an edgy, high energy, more rock feel. Power Out and Wake Up are good examples. The best example is Rebellion - it will probably always stay in my top 20 alternative rock songs (the opening bass line, then the piano, then the rest of the instruments - love it). I don't know where to put Arcade Fire in terms of influencing the indie rock revival/explosion of the 2000's (that is still going strong today) but this album is certainly in the middle of all of it. And so after some focused listens, yeah it's really, really good.

Yawn. It felt like the Velvet Underground (and imitators) all over again. Stripped down but trying to do something artsy and unique. Siouxsie had a long career and some decent songs, and they're part of the punk revolution and all, but I don't think they had the stuff to put together an entire album worth of songs worth listening to. Jigsaw Feeling and Switch were alright (each had neat style changes), Mirage was ok, and Carcass and Nicotine Stain had some life to them. The rest were forgettable. Even Hong Kong Garden, their big hit from this album, I don't see what the appeal is.

Great sound for a live album - you can hear everything you need to musically. Simple start with I Got my Brand on You (classic blues style). You get to hear a bit more instrument skill on Baby Please Don't Go (listen 1min in). Soon Forgotten shows even more of Muddy Water's guitar skill in particular. But for me, it's I've Got My Mojo Working (both parts) that really lights it up.

I've always liked ELO but don't own any of their albums or know which songs come from which albums. It's hard for me to put a finger on what this album is - it's slightly more synthy than what I remember them for (I only recognized Turn to Stone and Sweet Talkin Woman). They always had synth, but a little more rock edge in other tunes. Night in the City still has more of that edge. It also has some spacey, dream pop motifs - which after reading up was apparently where they were going with their whole style? I guess them and Badfinger both, in trying to be a new age Beatles sound (which I kind of hear, but not always). I think bonus points for the double album and the running theme throughout which gave it an almost prog rock feel, but with progressions combined across not within songs - e.g., Side 3 from Standin in the Rain to Big Wheels to Summer and Lightning to the big finish in Mr. Blue Sky. I liked it, but it also made me question what it is that I call classic rock. It also made me realize that these guys (well, Jeff Lynne mainly) probably opened the door for crappy pop rock - they did it well but the imitators not so much.

Willie Nelson's voice isn't what you typically think of when you think good vocals. I mean, it's probably a 7 at best. But what he does with it and how his warbles can tug at your soul is pretty amazing. I normally don't like remakes (of classics or otherwise) but his (and Booker T's) interpretation and arrangement of them is great. I'm pretty sure this is one of Willie's records that my dad used to regularly play and while I didn't get it then, I get it now. A solid listen.

Why? Must I listen to this before I die? It is not terrible. But is it good? The album cover art is cool and shows some satire and wit - which the lyrics back up to some extent. I probably don't understand the development of synth or dance to appreciate where this album fits in its evolution. Maybe if I did, the rating would be higher. As it stands, it's just a funky sounding album that is neither overly annoying nor overly redeeming.

Too weird. I did some reading and this was part of the psychedelia movement? Yeah, but took an acid trip and landed in the Middle Ages. I have to give them credit for the sheer variety of instruments they bring to bear. One or two songs I can handle, but the whole thing got old fast. Unless of course I was at Medieval Times for the day.

Great energy on this album. And nice to discover that some of the songs were first recorded (or first gained traction) with Louis Prima (Jump, Jive, and Wail; Buona Sera). A fun, rocking blues/jazz/swing album. Great rendition of Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody (far better than DLR and always a fun medley).

I'm not sure where I place Duran Duran in the whole New Wave genre. They are not the same caliber as The Cars, Blondie, The Police (to name a few). But then maybe I'm just more partial to the rock side vs. synth side of New Wave. I loved Hungry Like the Wolf from the first time I heard it as a kid. Rio is alright (not as good as its popularity) but I like Hold Back the Rain more. The rest of the album kind of blends together or is forgettable. Even their other big hit, Save a Prayer - meh. It's fine and a nice trip down memory lane but I'm not going back for more.

I discovered PJ Harvey over the summer and have listened to several of her albums multiple times. She's a critic's darling. And I think if I had been just a bit older in the 90's I'd have had a massive rock crush on her. She just has such an exotic vibe. Still, I don't know how to rate this album. Tons of grit and ferocity, all done in a minimal, tortured, lo-fi style. So it's kind of repetitive. Like her strumming that sounds cut-off and unusual tempos/timing - it starts with Rid of Me (including soft to hard) and it's in many songs. And I really do like that song and many others (Missed, Rub Til it Bleeds, 50ft Queenie, Yuri-G, Man-Size, Me-Jane) but I wonder if the rest are too similar or if I'm not appreciating their nuances enough. It's for sure a 3 and not a 5 for me. After a few listens I found myself adding more to my "really like" list, with differences in what I liked about them (some muted sound, some wall of sound). So I talked myself into a 4.

I had a rough night and I hate the Eagles man. I can't hear an Eagles tune anymore without thinking of the Big Lebowski. I admit the genius of the title track but I also admit I'm so sick of it. Still, 30+ million people who bought this album can't be wrong, right? Kudos for the different stylings from song to song - e.g., Hotel California (complex, operatic), New Kid in Town (Country & Mexican), Life in the Fast Lane (LA Rock - with a Joe Walsh twist?), Wasted Time (minimal, piano-driven plus an instrumental reprise), Victim of Love (more rock, but more chords and less plucking), The Last Resort (sweeping, piano-driven). Also, the lyrics are really smart, full of analogy and innuendo - it makes it fun trying to figure out the meaning (or double meaning). I thought I was tired of the album after the first few tracks but Wasted Time and Victim of Love reminded me how good these guys are at both soft and hard rock. The latter in particular made me re-appreciate all the guitar and bass work on this album. And though there's a lot of good Hendley lead singing, Try and Love Again reminded me there's also good lead singing from Meisner (and Frey...Walsh kinda sucked on Pretty Maids All in a Row). The Last Resort is probably equal to Desperado in terms of my favorite Eagles track ever (the lyrical commentary, the beautiful arrangements). Yeah, 30+ million people ain't wrong.

How is that we've got an album by a Beatle without getting any by the Beatles yet? Luckily Paul is my favorite Beatle (in band or post-band). I was kind of surprised I didn't like this album more. I mean, I love the title track, Jet, and Nineteen Hundred & Eighty Five. But Bluebird and No Words were kind of meh. Even Let Me Roll It - it was good but got kind of boring (could've been 1min shorter). Mrs Vandebilt and Mamunia were both a bit wacky but very cool. Picasso's Last Words also wacky but not nearly as cool. So, a good album but not amazing.

Love the whole rock opera motif and the mix of instruments and soaring numbers is impressive (kudos Jim Steinman). And Meatloaf has a great voice. Paradise has always been good (super witty/cheeky) and Two out of Three Ain't Bad is a personal fave. Bat out of Hell is a little long but it is high energy rock, as is You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (which has an intro that is both entertaining and creepy). I was a little surprised at how boring I found Heaven Can Wait and All Revved Up. For Crying Out Loud was somewhere in between. A 3.5 for sure, and I'll round up for the uniqueness.

I know the first track, wasn't all that interested in the rest of the album when I got pointed in this band's direction. Still not. It almost seems to have a UK sound; like the whistles in Don't Fight it. Feel it - has a soccer stadium kind of feel (chant to the beat). I'm sure these guys inspired or helped move forward bands like the Chemical Brothers or Prodigy (also British) but I'm not sure I care. I prefer the slower stuff toward the end of the album, starting with Damaged (though it sounds a bit like a slower version of Movin on Up). In the end, I guess it's not terrible.

I love the pioneering work Jane's Addiction did for alternative rock; amazing that they came and went before things really caught on. While I always knew about and enjoyed Dave Navarro's guitar work, it's Eric Avery's bass work that I discovered and love when listening to this album (Up the Beach, Pigs in Zen). Mountain Song is really awesome for bass (it's also got nice complexity). So while Jane Says is the song I gravitate toward for these guys (great lyrics and a good beat), Mountain Song is the real winner. This album seems to epitomize grunge - so much sludge to the sound (like half-buried, fighting to get out). But I just don't know - beyond the songs I highlighted is it anything to write home about? I don't know if it was too much of the same (except Idiots Rule, at least that was different) or too much hard to hear singing from too much abrasive distortion in the instruments. It's solid and I liked it, but that might be it.

I still say Kanye is a pretentious prick but there was less of his "my lyrics prove I'm smarter than you" attitude with this debut effort. I laughed hard at his first two interludes and the school spirit skits (made me wonder if I wasted time with all my schooling) - really well done. Kudos to his wit and smarts on this album. Jesus Walks is brilliant; fiery and beats that make you snap to attention (slipped in a Billy Madison line too). Spills over to Never Let You Down (great lyrics and good beats) and Get Em High (great beats and good lyrics). The New Workout Plan and Breathe In Breathe Out were fun & funny. Nothing on this album that I disliked (except Last Call...not really counting it), not much that I didn't really enjoy. Damn good album.

I admit this is the first time I ever listened to Miles Davis. I learned two things. One, he is damn good. Two, I still don't know jazz. It's like giving me a sample of wine and asking me to swirl and smell and judge. I don't really know. I knows what I like and I likes this. But it's hard for me to judge on a scale. I did particularly enjoy the different segments in In a Silent Way (segments a bit too subtle for me in Shhh/Peaceful). It's also pretty cool how much a trumpet can stand out, especially contrasted against a low pulsing backdrop.

This was difficult to judge. The Talking Heads are just so eclectic - is that a good word or a bad word? I found I most enjoyed Tina Weymouth's bass lines (especially on the first track and Psycho Killer). David Byrne is a gifted (but overly complicated?) lyricist even if his singing is a bit off-key. After multiple listens I found myself really digging their funk sound (really notable on Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town, Who Is it?, The Book I Read, First Week/Last Week). I feel like behind the funk there was folk or country or rock or something else I couldn't place. Whatever it is, it earned my respect. I'm still not sure I'll ever be able to spend days on end listening to them, but this album is solid. And their talent is undeniable.

I love the movie The Rock. Funny, great action sequences, a plot that is not completely ridiculous (??), good acting for the material. It is a fun movie. As far as action movies go it's a classic but that doesn't make it a classic piece of art. Ditto for this album. Lots of fun, music mixes well with the vocals, and lyrics are not completely drivel (??). I just can't find in the music or the vocals what makes it particularly impressive or what shows great skill. A classic disco or pop album but not a classic piece of art.

Another difficult one. I feel like Sonic Youth is good for one real killer song on an album...and then the rest? Teen Age Riot is a bit of a bore for the first 80 seconds but it's quite good after that and has everything there is to like about the band - pace changes, off tempos, picking and strumming, distortion and wall of sound all in one. Add in blunt lyrics and the album should be really good. I wanted to like it more, but ultimately it felt too uneven. I'd say I really enjoyed about every third song (The Sprawl, Total Trash, Candle, and The Wonder/Hyperstation - they blended together) but the rest was sort of meh. Maybe the songs were too long (i.e., self-indulgent). I listened to it a bunch of times too, over a week. Super talented but I just couldn't get there. Makes me feel bad as an alternative rock fan but that's my conclusion.

Really surprised here. I have always loved the Black Crowes on the radio but I also always asked myself whether they were just a band with a bunch of good singles. I have never listened to any of their albums cover to cover. Even before I started listening to this album I looked at the track listing and thought whoa. That was the surprise - this album looked stacked. It did not disappoint. Big sound, lethal guitar work, heavy southern and blues rock (honkytonk piano to boot), great vocals. Turns out most of the songs I love from these guys (Twice as Hard, Jealous Again, Hard to Handle) are on this album. And if I ever get good enough to play guitar in front of people I will play She Talks to Angels - my singing also sucks but if I can pick & pluck my way through that song it won't matter. A true classic (can't believe Rich Robinson wrote that at 15). The non-hits were just as good (Sister Luck, Think N Thin, and Struttin Blues were particularly good). So I have my answer - they were amazing on one album. I still say they were largely average the rest of their career (second album was alright). But THIS album! A beauty.

Decent, and sometimes annoying. These guys got better on later albums when they didn't try to have so much feedback. Check out their 1987 album Darklands (fairly solid, April Skies and Happy When it Rains are highlights) or the song Head On on their 1989 album Automatic. Just Like Honey is cool and more on par with their later, more "subdued" stuff. The next 4 tracks are similar, not quite as good but decent. Things take a turn at In a Hole until Inside Me, way too much distortion and pedal use (Some Candy Talking wasn't so bad). That's where they go over the top like other cringey shoegaze pioneers like My Bloody Valentine. The last five tracks toned it down again (except You Trip Me Up and It's So Hard...nails on a chalkboard). So, one-third of the album was tough to listen to, the rest was alright and sometimes quite good (first track, The Hardest Walk, Sowing Seeds).

Chris Cornell is probably my favorite rock singer after Freddie Mercury, so talented and so much range. I just happened to listen to his collection this weekend, not knowing this album was upcoming (I was behind and stuck trying to decide on Sonic Youth so turned to Cornell). I know most call this album their magnum opus but I always wondered if it was really that good...despite the fact that Spoonman, My Wave, and The Day I Tried to Live are some of my all-time favorite alternative songs (the chords & guitar progressions & drumwork on all three...brilliant). I really got into music in college, mostly listened to radio and didn't own many albums in high school so I didn't own this. Even now I don't own it, even though I profess to be a late Soundgarden fan. I saw Jeremy's review and I feel the exact same way about Black Hole Sun. Maybe that's why I have these hesitations, like some of it is overplayed and overhyped. Nah. I have listened to it a fair number of times since college, but finally listening to it really intently here, it's awesome. Like my favorites, the other songs have awesome guitar work, humming basslines, solid percussion, Cornell's vocals (of course), and profound lyrics. Even the non-hits are great (e.g., Let Me Drown, Mailman, Fresh Tendrils, 4th of July). Shame on me for ever thinking this was less than amazing.

So we had a Bowie album earlier and I gave it an analytical 4. And even though, no, I have never listened to any of his albums, I was super excited to listen to this one when I saw it and the track listing. Suffragette City, Moonage Daydream, Starman, and my favorite Ziggy they're all here (channeling my inner Principal Skinner). Really getting spoiled with this list recently. Incredible album. Bowie shows some deft acoustic guitar playing (Starman, Rock N Roll Suicide) and Ronson is amazing on the electric guitar (the main riff on the title track is one of the greatest of all time). Bowie's great songwriting skills are on full display especially his lyrics (Soul Love, It Ain't Easy were some highlights for me). I will say that for a concept rock opera album, the pieces don't always connect in a linear or coherent way, but the themes are all there. And the whole effort is masterful. Every listen the album gets better and better.

Solid. Beck has always had good songs but I wasn't sure whether he had good albums from front to back. This one was pretty good. I feel like Kid Rock stole his country rock meets rap alternative approach from this album. Kudos Beck, for shame Kid Rock. The hits are well-known and well-respected (Devils Haircut, New Pollution, Where It's At) but I also thought Hotwax, Minus, High 5, and Ramshackle were particularly good lesser knowns. Overall, the album is full of songs with strange but interesting lyrics and wordplay (like most of his work), unique beats and mixes (including cool guitarwork and basslines), and plenty to keep you guessing about what it's all about. Like I said, solid.

Great harmonies and sweet vocals, a few songs over-produced (e.g., opening track). I hope there are other Temptations albums on this list because I'm not sure why this one is included other than having their biggest single Papa Was a Rollin Stone (and yes, it's a classic). Run Charlie Run is also politically charged and I guess its content is a significant new direction for these guys. But these aren't the first guys to sing about such stuff are they? I mean, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On came out a year earlier. I feel like it's a 3.5 but I'm struggling to find its legacy.

I listened to the album several times. Across multiple days. Maybe I'm too busy right now to full appreciate it, but I found it boring. Maybe I just don't appreciate the bossa nova style. Whatever the case, it was average for me.

Tupac was always a solid lyricist, definitely shines through on this album. If I Die 2Nite was pretty powerful, as was Lord Knows. The latter showed some different perspective too, which he really took to new heights on Dear Mama. That was a hell of a song. Breadth and depth of ability right there. Death Around the Corner was prophetic (though not as much as Changes a few years later). I thought some of his samples were tired, that was maybe one thing holding this album back. The mixes and beats were just alright.

The title track is just incredible, one of my favorite of all time. And legitimizes Art Garfunkel's contribution to the album. I didn't remember that it was also the first track, which seems like strange timing/organization. Feels like it should be the closer on either side one or two. The Boxer would be a great lead in to it. That is also an incredible song. Paul Simon is just a super talented writer and composer. The poetry in these soaring songs is great, but so is his biting observation in some of the more upbeat pieces - I forgot how much fun and witty Keep the Customer Satisfied Was. Baby Driver also super fun (a little less witty) and Cecilia was fun at one point in its life. But really, why not an upbeat side (3, 4, 7, 9, 10) and a subdued side (8, 2, 5, 6, 11, 1) to the album? Or slowly build up the pace before walking it back down again? Probably being too critical here, it's a pretty great work of art.

Wow, this was a bit of a letdown. I was expecting more. It sounds dated and like typical 90's R&B cheese (where they took all the 80's synth and fake instruments and tried to make it sound cooler). These ladies were definitely better than cheese but this album is average at best.

So I saw this was late 90's dance and thought ugh. Pleasantly surprised. I really dug the first two tracks - funky beats and I didn't mind him repeating the same lyrics over and over. However, it got kind of weak around his first "big" song (Hey You what's that sound?). Sounded a bit like the Ghostbusters theme - it was still good, but just, and things went downhill over the next few tracks. Way too robotic sounding. Some redemption in tracks 9-11 (bringing in a guest singer on Sometimes was a good move). Ultimately I say great start, but it faded and ended up just a little too uneven.

So until about 2 years ago I thought Queens of the Stone Age started with No One Knows off of Songs for the Deaf. But it turns out they had two albums prior to that and this one (their debut) is really good. It's a shame no singles were ever released - the first three tracks alone are smashes in my opinion. Regular John and If Only are what got me into finding out more about the Queens. I guess these guys (or them in their former bands) were too off the beaten path (too nu metal?) prior to this. But the pounding melodies are great - i.e., buzz from backing guitar & bass plus intermittent lead guitar intricacy and high fret change of pace. To me, this was one of the best examples of post-grunge alternative creativity, even though few went in its direction. I wish it had more staying power or influence. Very cool album, though it dragged a bit at the end.

Very conflicted with my judgment here. I listened to the album close to 10 times because I couldn't make up my mind. I admit it got better with each listen. The biggest issue for me is there are two incredible tracks (Monday, Monday and California Dreamin) - with great lyrics and harmonies and decent musical accompaniment - and then a bunch of other tracks. I was trying to figure out whether the rest were anywhere near as good. I really came to appreciate Straight Shooter. Go Where You Wanna Go was solid. The harmonies and vocals were quite good, and the lyrics provided some complexity; I Call Your Name was ok but I didn't love the vocals as much (lyrics are a credit to the Beatles). So, pretty good side one and great opener to side two...then? I found their version of Spanish Harlem annoying but Somebody Groovy was solid. Hey Girl and You Baby had some good harmonies too but felt bland compared to side one. Feels like a 3.5, and I'm rounding down to go with my initial reaction that still lingers.

So much of this list is about pioneering a genre. If you don't know the history and are only going on sound, sometimes you just won't get it. That being said, I enjoyed the sound from the get go. Mambo Sun was super cool, and I immediately noticed how it took some of the 60's pop rock I know (Strawberry Alarm Clock, Donovan, etc.) and brought it into a new harder rock light. Now knowing this is the first true glam rock album, I can also see why so many of the sounds seem to be echoed in later releases. Mambo Sun feels like it has been reimagined in modern rock by bands like the Black Keys (the Brothers album). Cosmic Dancer and Planet Queen sound like they would be inspiration to Bowie - both in the sound (pseudo acoustic with complicated electric and multi-instrumental layers) and in the spacey fictional lyrics. Ditto for Monolith, except it has less of the acoustic sound. Jeepster and Get it On (really the whole album) sounds like it fueled bands & songs like Sweet & Ballroom Blitz. Given that I only knew Get it On coming in (a stone cold classic; loved it since I first heard it around 8 years old), this was a great new listening experience.

Another great surprise in the punk/post-punk genre. Once again an English band I'd never heard of that put out some really solid stuff. The lyrics are awesome (I'm going to have to listen 10 more times just to fully grasp them) and the sound pulls you in. That sound isn't overly complex (pulsing bass as the backdrop, tortured guitar chords, enough drums mixed in) and is similar to other trail blazers from this era, but it rocks. I immediately thought of Fugazi when I heard Ether - I wonder if Gang of Four had any influence on their sound. I got to Glass before I hit a track that I found a bit dull but it bounced back quickly, especially with At Home He's a Tourist two tracks later. Natural's Not In It, I Found That Essence Rare, and Damaged Goods were also particularly good. I'll be going back for more listens of this album and this group.

And I thought Neil Young was eclectic. This is what, rock meets jazz? I've listened to a couple Zappa albums before, but more straight ahead rock (from the 80's maybe?). The first track is pretty short so I didn't really notice the heavy jazz motif until I got past track 2; clear as I go back to it. Most of the album felt like jazz fusion with electric guitar and a rock feel. I was thinking that it sounded like some of the jazz albums on this list and then read that Shuggie Otis is featured on the album, so yep. The second track felt like quintessential prog rock and it was pretty damn cool. I would've liked even more of that but tracks 3 and 4 were still pretty cool. Track 5 was up there with track 2 - slick. On top of Zappa, Ian Underwood was pretty impressive on the sax (and other woodwinds).

I never really listened to Skynyrd though I liked songs here and there. A few of those songs are on here. This album was an education. As I listened to the opener I Ain't the One, I thought "Yep, there's the good guitarwork they're known for. Oh, and a second harmonized guitar. Very nice. Wait what? A third lead guitar. Holy shit." I did not know about the Three Guitar Army, until I read up on who all the musicians were. So that was already changing my opinion in a good way. Gimme Three Steps is probably my favorite track of theirs - no, it's not overly complicated but the combination of thumping beats and cheeky lyrics/vocals ("I said Excuuuse me") always hooked me. As much as Freebird and Simple Man get played a lot, they are very good. I'm not going to go ga-ga over either like some, but the lyrics and the sad melody tug at you just enough (and of course there are good guitar licks). Still, I prefer the sweeping beauty of Tuesday's Gone. This album is at least a 4 but if I gave the Black Crowes' southern rock debut a 5 I gotta give Skynyrd's southern rock debut the same.

I remember having a conversation with some work colleagues about 20 years ago, talking about albums that had no holes cover to cover. I'm sure I said something like Weezer's Blue album but someone said Moondance to which I kind of scoffed at. Well, it's taken me 20 years to finally put his claim to the test. I think side two dipped a bit compared to side one but it's still a beautiful album. The songs are poetry put to music. A really deft fusion of rock and jazz - impossible to separate one from the other - with his voice that carries the whole way.

Little Richard just pounds the ivory doesn't he? Love the energy in his playing and his vocals. His band brings it too. I find it interesting that he had a bunch of singles with no album and finally decided to put them together. Almost sounds like a modern day artist. Definitely a 4 here, but something is keeping me from saying a 5. I don't know what. Maybe some so-so songs? Maybe not a lot of variety? Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about?

Dang. They don't make 'em like Stevie Wonder anymore do they? I've always been a "radio" fan of his - love his music and profess to be a fan but I don't own any albums and mostly listen to him when he's on the radio. And really that was when I was a kid/teen. I do have a group of friends where we'll put on some Stevie when we get together but really, I think this was the first time I listened to an entire album of his on my own. And what an album! 2 discs, 4 sides, and a bonus side - it almost doesn't even matter what the second disc sounds like after the first one. The legacy of this album is clear in how many of these songs have been sampled. He brings so much variety - soft, subtle arrangements on some songs (Knocks Me off My Feet, Summer Soft, Joy Inside My Tears), funk or upbeat tempos on others (Sir Duke, I Wish, Ordinary Pain), and still something in the middle on others via funky/upbeat tempo but softer content (Have a Talk With God, Isn't She Lovely, As). Some songs that I didn't remember but thought were awesome were Love's In Need of Love Today (beautiful), Contusion (a funk odyssey), Black Man (powerful), If It's Magic (also beautiful). He pours his heart and soul into every minute; while he sometimes reminds us of our shortcomings he also often reminds us of what is good in this world. Could use some more of that these days. A nearly 2hr masterpiece.

WTF? Sometimes I just don't understand this list. This album pales in comparison to many of the recent gems. It was a perfectly average, bland piece of music. Fine to listen to, but nothing remarkable. Lyrics were ok, musical arrangements not bad (a bit of synth though?). More violin and harmonica than normally heard in a pop rock band perhaps. So what? I just don't hear anything that shows unique ability or style.

There are not many hits on this album so I'd guess most listeners (me included) don't recognize most of the songs. But wow, can these guys play. Probably more than other Zeppelin albums you can really hear all the intricacies and range of their abilities, Page and Jones in particular, due to the heavy acoustic motif. I mean, I always knew they were good and super talented but I did not realize how good until now. The string work (and there are a lot of stringed instruments and playing styles) is just ridiculous. Friends and Celebration Day made me stand up and pay attention - from Page's acoustics and Jones' string arrangements on the former to Page's slide guitar on the latter and Jones' organ synth segue between the two. Their ability to play the blues is on full display on Since I've Been Loving You. That's where I started to notice Bonham's range of ability. And then he crushes it on Out on the Tiles (his playing and his composition of the other instruments). Gallows Pole then seems to show everyone's range - love the arrangements and different stylings. At one point I asked myself \"so what's Plant doing on this album?\" Sure, with all the acoustics his vocals take center stage and really fill your ears - which most cannot do. But then I listened to Hats off to Roy Harper - what he does with his voice at the 1:50 mark to turn it into an instrument itself is incredible. As I went back for more listens I realized he was doing other unique effects with his voice on other songs (like the Immigrant Song and That's the Way). These extras were even more impressive than his sheer energy. Overall, this album goes to show these guys could play any style you wanted.

What a haunting album. Kudos Mr. Springsteen, kudos. Incredible lyrics and his stripped down (mostly) acoustic approach adds a perfect sombre tone. I was totally blown away by how good a story-teller he is. After listening to the album a couple times I decided to read up on it and was glad he decided to keep it in demo version, rather than rocked-up with the E-street band. I might not have minded if Open All Night got moved to another album - I like it, but it's a bit too rockabilly for the rest of the album's tone. It sounded a lot like Pink Cadillac to me, and apparently that was another track he recorded along with these ones but kept for a later album. The other songs he recorded with these ones but kept for Born in the USA are also some of his best - I'm on Fire would easily fit right in on this album and I'd love to hear the stripped down version of Glory Days. I patted myself on the back for thinking that State Trooper sounded a bit like that weird Suicide album with his shrieks near the end - yep, one of the songs influenced the Boss on this one. I don't know if I knew too many of these songs, but I instantly loved Highway Patrolman and My Father's House. Something about the emotion-tugging lyrics and his raw sound - just beautiful. The title track was close behind these two; a great opener. I also really liked how he layered in self-harmonies and backing vocals to Atlantic City.

This sounded like a weird 90's dance album - like De La Soul or Snap with just a bit more electronica. That's not a compliment. It felt like they hadn't figured out what they were yet and were pulling in different directions. Pick one, in my opinion. Maybe this was the first ever trip hop album but the sound hadn't been perfected yet so I don't think it deserves to be on this list. Sometimes the first of something isn't all that good. I mean, it's not garbage. It's just unremarkable.

I struggled to rate this one, and listened to it repeatedly, so at least the album was short. One problem is I don't know many of the originals so it's hard for me to gauge how good her re-interpretations are. And then the backing music is standard fare in my opinion (barely noticeable), so I'm really evaluating her vocals. She can warble, that's for sure. But I don't know if it's enough for me to round up a 3.5 to a 4.

Another album with a female singer who can really belt it out. But is that enough to hit a 4 or 5? At least this album had some variety going on in the music accompanying the vocals. Some cool synth and then some weird stuff. I do love Annie Lennox's vocals and Sweet Dreams is a classic, but the rest of the synth/new wave stuff just wasn't good enough to be more than average. I enjoyed the album, but not enough to go back for more listens.

I liked it, particularly the opener Revelator. But it didn't quite pull on the heart strings or activate the brain in the same way as other stripped down albums (like the Boss' Nebraska or Willie Nelson's Stardust). Writing good music is hard and blending vocals and instruments to generate a captivating sound is no small feat. The greats somehow figure out that fit. This is good but not great. There's some nice guitar or banjo work at times, but Welch's voice doesn't pour out of it or quite harmonize with it. Rawlings' harmony attempts added very little. At times, it's like the vocals don't belong with the music or the music doesn't belong with the vocals. Dear Someone was an exception (vocals and music felt made for each other) as was I Dream a Highway. Again, I enjoyed the album but it didn't have that seamless connection to be any more than just good.

A friend recommended this to me back in 2010 or 2011. I had no idea who they were but was completely blown away by this album. Nothing before or since by the National resonated the same but I listened to this one endlessly for months. I still sometimes put it on when I just need an album I can let repeat. Dark and brooding maybe, but I don't mind that. In fact I think I'm starting to see I'm quite drawn to that because the lyrics are raw and honest and really make you think. The music plays right into it - key piano and strings to punctuate the message, with some distortion (guitars or engineered?) here and there to offset it and give it a foggy feel. Highlights - Terrible Love (sets the tone for the rest), Little Faith (lyrics match a little Catholic revolt inside me?), Afraid of Everyone (love the beat and the lyrics are profound), Bloodbuzz Ohio (the vocals just carry and fit so well with the music), England (love the piano and the orchestral-like backing, as well as the crescendo in the last 100s), Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks (lyrics and music so sad but so beautiful).

Their playing is a bit simplistic so I can't include this with the great works of musical art, even if those in the biz believe the album helped saved alternative rock. It's really not clear to me how good they are as musicians (though some deft guitar work and solos on The Modern Age). I'm amazed every time I think they have two guitarists; it sounds much simpler than that although yeah I can hear the two distinct styles when I listen closely. Still it's a fun album (loved the free-styling at the start of New York City Cops), an easy enjoyable listen, and includes some well-arranged stylings (bass lines kick ass in most songs) despite the simplicity. Easy to put on repeat and not get annoyed.

I love a good concept album, especially a rock opera. Too bad I found this one boring and disjointed. I enjoyed the opening track so I thought the album had promise. But the transition between tracks didn't seem to provide a good rhythm. I sort of expected a building rise and fall or maybe a couple of sequences but it felt like the mood was constantly changing. Why not get rid of track 2 and go straight from track 1 to 3 (both upbeat)? Why have a somewhat upbeat track 4 (Private Sorrow) that cuts bleak at the end and then go back to a frantic track 5 (Balloon Burning), only to plummet again for track 6 (Death)? I know they're trying to follow a story but tracks 4-6 are all bleak so why not harmonize across them better? I actually liked Balloon Burning, it just felt misplaced. Track 7 (Baron Saturday) wasn't bad but again it took an abrupt turn from the mood of track 6. I wouldn't care so much if this wasn't a concept album but it is. No flow. I sort of stopped paying attention after track 8 but track 12 (Old Man Going) was pretty good. Still, it was a bit weirdly sandwiched between the tempos of track 11 (Trust) and 13 (Loneliest Person). I more enjoyed learning about the album and the story they tried to portray than the listening itself. Poor execution saved by ambitious intentions.

I listened to this album a bunch a few weeks ago but wanted to find the time to listen to it while reading the lyrics because I thought they were the epitome of biting sarcasm and criticism. They give a big middle finger to everyone - the iron curtain and western society (Holidays in the Sun), orphans (No Feelings), the music industry and record companies (Liar and EMI), monarchy and British government (God Save the Queen and Anarchy in the UK), working stiffs and couch potatoes and sheeples and themselves (Problems and Pretty Vacant), middle class (and above) society (Seventeen), silver spoon or flaky musicians (New York). They even call out abortion. Ok, that one is a bit jarring and a little offside. But if you really listen to it, they're not taking a position on the issue and the lyrics are powerful. It certainly cannot have endeared them to too many folks to even discuss the issue back then, so you gotta respect their guts. There is no better example of screw the man and screw everything than this band and this album. And for all the flack they have taken for average musicianship, I liked their sound and thought it was solid. Combine the music and the lyrics and their energy/fire and you've got a classic album.

This is what that Eurythmics album was missing. Super cool synth beats. They basically took what had been their style and tried to fuse it with something a little more rock. It works well. And sure, David Gahan is no Annie Lennox, but he's still got a silky voice. It's man sexy. And the lyrics are typical Depeche Mode - really f'n good. They make you think...a lot. I mean, the 3 big singles from this album (Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth, Personal Jesus) are just so biting and memorable. They're everyday life quotable - my wife was telling me a story the other day about someone screwing up (again) and I said "never again is what you swore the time before". And she doesn't know Depeche Mode but gave me an affirmative "right?" Their lyrics are sharp. "Reach out and touch faith", "pick up the receiver I'll make you a believer", "feelings are intense, words are trivial", "the delivery of proof in the policy of truth". Even just the titles are sublime! I'm not going to give it 5 stars because a few songs were just ok. But of songs I didn't really know before I quite liked World in My Eyes, Halo, and Blue Dress (it's Every Breath You Take creepy/addictive).

A pretty solid album but I'm not going to completely gush over it. Nice gift for Bowie to leave the world but I've heard better albums. I found the drum track and electronica elements annoying at times - like the start of Blackstar (still a good song) and most of Sue. That being said, his lyrics are excellent and he has some real beautiful songs - Lazarus, Dollar Days particularly stand out. Girl Loves Me was my favorite track - funky and great tempo.

Another one of those bands that was changing the rock scene behind the scenes in the late 80's and early 90's. You can hear their metal upbringing on songs like Surprise! You're Dead (sounds like Megadeth). But especially on their 3 singles you hear more melodic rock and a fusion of rock, metal, rap, and funk. Just listen for the bass on Falling to Pieces. Or anything on Epic - did you hear the opening minute? That track is a classic because of how unique it was and remains to this day. From out of Nowhere feels like it's 10 years ahead of it's time; just a different melody and song structure than most songs of that era. Zombie Eaters is a lesser known with a style all Faith No More's own - a combination of sombre, soaring, funky rock-rap. The Real Thing is a bit heavier - a more noticeable thrash undertone - but still with plenty of nuance to give it that soaring ballad feel. Woodpecker from Mars was a cool instrumental song. I like their cover of War Pigs, although it's not all that much different from the original - likely a good thing since the original is so good. So, great imitation but not much innovation. I will say this album really grows on you; the album as a whole is better than the sum of its parts. I still thought most tracks were solid but they really complement each other well. I was torn about whether it deserved 4 or 5 stars, but rock is definitely in a better place because this album came along.

I've heard a bunch of The Stooges songs over the last little while with all the early punk bands on the 1,001 list. They are a band that I have come to realize are better than I originally thought. Yeah, the album is a little raw and has a bit of a Velvet Underground feel (too much imitation?) and it has some annoying screaming (from Iggy) that gets emulated in other acts (Suicide). But the energy is awesome. I really like the first three tracks - Down on the Street, Loose, and TV Eye. After that it starts to lose focus - Dirt is a bit too psychedelic (and long) for me. 1970 is also too drawn out, though the sax starts to get some more prominence and it's not bad/adds a nice twist. LA Blues is just a mess (borderline terrible). First three tracks are a definite 4 but the rest is at best a 3 (unnecessary decadence).

I love listening to music performed live. I hate listening to recordings of it. So it's going to take a lot for a live album to knock my socks off. Mixing rock and symphony has potential. The first song with both the orchestra and Metallica (the Call of Ktulu) was pretty f'n cool. Really well fused pops and rock. But after that, most songs felt like rock with a symphonic backdrop. Still cool but left me wanting more. A couple of exceptions were Hero of the Day (symphony was a great add during the slow buildup) and Devil's Dance (the string section was so prominent and awesome...should've done a violin solo). The symphony was kinda cool on One and Enter Sandman. All in all, pretty cool but missed an opportunity to be epic.

Struggled with whether this album is a 4 or a 5. I feel like if I didn't know it was the Stones it might just be a 4. The two very well-known tracks (Gimme Shelter and You Can't Always Get What You Want) book end the album in masterpieces. So what about the stuff in between? More country than bluesy. Not all that relevant - the key question is how good is it? Love in Vain is a nice reimagination of the original. Country Honk is an inferior version of the earlier recorded Honky Tonk Women (perhaps in part due to poor recording quality?). Live with Me, Let it Bleed, and Monkey Man are sneaky good - after a few listens I feel like I've known them forever; they just grow on you so quickly. And I'm sure others have taken elements of these songs to inspire new ones, I just can't put my finger on when or where. Midnight Rambler might be my favorite track - great blues track (and harmonica). You got the Silver is alright. I guess I'm saying two-thirds of the album is really really good. So I'll give them the star band round up.

I only knew Ace of Spades coming in (who doesn't? a classic) but this was a really solid album. Feels like the segue between Sabbath's heavy metal and metal of the 80's like Metallica. I read that they saw themselves as a rock and roll band and I totally get that. If you listen, they're not that much different than a rock band like ZZ Top. A little heavier, a little faster, but similar elements like a rock melody underneath. Oh, and ZZ Top's cringeworthy lyrics. Case in point the song Jailbait - "I don't dare to even ask your age, it's enough to know your here backstage." Yikes. File that alongside Pearl Necklace. It was a different era back then. I'm just going to enjoy the pounding guitars and drums and pretend I don't hear the lyrics.

I am embarrassed at how much I profess to be a Queen fan and yet I don't own a single album that isn't greatest hits. Oh well, making up for lost time. So many different styles on this album. They don't all fit seamlessly but like Led Zeppelin III it shows a band who can play whatever the hell you want. Brighton Rock - classic hard rock and damn does Brian May heat up around the 2:40 mark. What. A. Solo. It just keeps going. Killer Queen - quintessential glam rock. Tenement Funster - a mix between the Who and LA Rock (nice acoustic work from John Deacon and wow can Roger Taylor sing), which turns a bit progy when considered alongside Flick of the Wrist and Lily of the Valley. I love how these three fit together and Freddie Mercury's vocals on the latter two are as entrancing as any of his most notable performances. In the Lap of the Gods - not my favorite but it does have a rock opera feel (and it's Taylor hitting the high notes). Stone Cold Crazy - frenetic pace (almost Sabbath-esque). Dear Friends - soft and sweet, piano and vocal harmony only. Bring Back that Leroy Brown - almost ragtime. In the Lap of the Gods Revisited - a soaring rock opus (that's how you close out an album). Other notes - I've always loved Now I'm Here, especially the effect that makes the acoustics sound like its jumping from one side of you to the other (also used at the end of Misfire). So much to like, so little to dislike.

I tried to shake off the thought that the opening of the title track sounded like muzak, or Kenny G. It's jazz, that's what it should be. I've actually listened to the album (and similar music in the genre) for over a week now. It's great easy listening in the background. And I really liked the Street Life the song (vocals were awesome and the sound was groovy), though I don't understand why it wasn't about 4 minutes long (5 max). It just repeated. The fact there wasn't vocals the rest of the way through really didn't help me shake that muzak feeling. But again, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Still, after a week of listening I'm not sure I could identify their songs (other than Street Life) in a lineup - what's theirs vs. someone else's. I'd say at least a 3.5 but I just can't round up given how nothing in particular sticks out. I may regret that decision in the coming weeks but average is what it is.

Another tough one. For sure a 4 given its singles. Just the Way You Are and She's Always a Woman are two beautifully written and sounding classics (as beautiful as Let it Be or Hey Jude). Only the Good Die Young is one of my favorite Joel tunes - super fun and great lyrics. Movin' Out is almost as foot-tappingly fun and good, but there's always been something about it that didn't quite compute (is it all the ack's?). Of his apparently beloved other songs, I really enjoyed Scenes from a Restaurant (especially the more sombre start) but was a bit ho-hum on Vienna. The latter definitely got better and better the more I listened (10 times?). But I found title track and the last two tracks a bit meh. So, what do you give an album with 5.5 great songs and 3 so-so's? I'm at 4.5 so which way to tip? I'm going to round up for the start of both Get it Right the First time and Everybody has a Dream - the former reminded me of Paul Simon's work (a good thing) and the latter opened soft and sweet even if the last 2 minutes was unnecessary.

Alright, let's just disclose the bias from the get-go. This album came out when I was just getting into music around the age of 13. So it has nostalgic value. I do not own it but all my classmates who were more knowledgeable of music did. I still remember one classmate (who was a big Beatles fan at 13, so he can't be all wrong) telling me Nightswimming was hands down the best song on the album. Probably 10 years later I was rediscovering the album and I had to agree. I ran into him at a bar once and told him that. It's just a beautiful composition (love Mike Mills' piano) and one I could play on repeat for weeks on end. And I just learned John Paul Jones provided the string arrangements on it and two other of my favorites. I mean, how can you not love that? To me, this album was the pinnacle of their greatest songwriting period (1987-1995ish). I still don't really love Drive or Man on the Moon - both are waaay overplayed - but they don't suck. And there are some great lesser knowns - Try Not to Breathe (a superior brooding song to those two well-knowns), the Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite (super fun), Find the River (a nice closer with a John Denver feel that grows on you). Even songs like New Orleans Instrumental Vol. 1 through to Ignoreland, which are not as good as the others, have a certain edge to them. Some if it is Peter Buck's scratchy guitar work, some of it is the excellent lyrics, some of it is other backing instruments. Funny enough, I have never got tired of Everybody Hurts - something about it affects me every time, especially the crescendo that starts around the 4 minute mark. Listening again, I realize the album's sad and darker tones also likely play a big role in why I'm drawn to it. Still I guess it's like 6 great songs, 4 good songs, and a couple so-so songs. It feels like at least 4.5 and giving it a 4 would counteract my bias but I'm just going to embrace it.

Sorry, but if you have to create a compilation album to generate a good album, it's not a good album. If the Hives were so groundbreaking, then put Veni Vidi Vicious (their 2000 full length debut) on this list. The problem with the Hives was/is they are so indistinguishable from the rest of the bands of the time. When a single would be on the radio I could never tell if it was the Hives or the Vines or some other "the" band (they don't sound like the Strokes but their sound was a punkier version of it). Sum41 have a great video by the way from back then where at the start their record producer tell them they're now the Sums because that's what everyone else is doing. For sure I like some of their stuff, it's just not overly unique or memorable.

Too easy. A cover to cover beauty. It must have been both satisfying and frustrating for Led Zeppelin to release this album after getting panned for III to say "ya happy now?" I'm not sure Four Sticks gets enough credit for being every bit as good and rocking as Black Dog or Rock and Roll. When the Levee Breaks is also just as good a sweeping epic as Stairway to Heaven. I was explaining to my kids yesterday how Whole Lotta Love is actually a reinterpretation of an old blues song and that LZ has done that a few times to great effect. When the Levee Breaks was their best of that. This album just has so much in your face rock yet also has some incredible softer or acoustic pieces. Again, too easy.

Ah yes, Kate Bush - that annoying voice singing Don't Give Up in the Peter Gabriel duet. Feels like such an 80's thing to promote or adore females artists with unique high-pitched voices - Bush, Bjork, even Cyndi Lauper. I actually enjoyed the album more than I thought I would. She's a pretty good lyricist. The musical accompaniment was sometimes good sometimes not. Love and Anger, Reaching Out, Deeper Understanding, Never Be Mine, and This Woman's Work (my favorite) were particularly memorable or captivating. So all the even-numbered songs. I guess the first song (title track) was memorable but I didn't like it as much as the other five. I feel like I was creeping up to 3.5 but couldn't get over the hump.

Fun album (at times) but lacks substance. Too much filler too - intro to Detroit Rock City, Rock N Roll Party (what was that and why was it needed?). It's hits are great to rock along to (DRC, Shout it Out Loud) or to sing along to (Beth) but the rest is hit or miss. King of the Night Time World is further evidence these guys can write songs you want to bob your head to (even if the lyrics are pure cheese). But God of Thunder was annoying - way too much layered-in studio effects. Plus Gene Simmons isn't a great singer - so I didn't enjoy Great Expectations or Sweet Pain either (though the instrumentation on the latter was fun). Flaming Youth was okay. Like other albums on this list, a few nice hits do not make for an incredible album. Fun, but average.

Boring. It's like they have a punk sound but on one-quarter speed. On a second listen I found there was a bit more to their sound than I originally thought. But it was still boring. It also felt like they were trying too hard to be clever (looking at you No Xmas for John Quays). Eventually it just felt pretentious. I gave it the second listen to make sure I wasn't being overly critical. It felt like hard work.

I don't know. I struggle with this whole era, where everyone is doing the same songs in their own style. Where's the originality? And how do you rate an artist who basically just sings and plays an instrument? I would roast a pop star from today's era who did that. I guess I'm rating the album but I didn't find it that interesting on first listen. Part of the problem is, from what I understand, the best music was released as singles back then. So albums contained weaker tracks. I'd agree here. This was the birth of rock and roll and the energy or passion on the album comes and goes. Blue Suede Shoes was great and in fact the first half of the album was pretty solid. I'm Counting on You was not as good (sound quality also weak); I Love You Because is a better soft ballad. Elvis' version of Tutti Frutti is inferior to Little Richard's. But he brings it back with Trying to Get to You. The last 4 tracks were a bit meh (including this version of Blue Moon - terrible arrangement). The album got noticeably better on second listen though. So, redeemed but not amazing.

Enlightening. I did not realize just how bluesy they were in their early days. They've got a pretty cool sound on Waitin for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago. Respect. Hot, Blue and Righteous almost had a Skynyrd Tuesday's Gone feel to it - some blues, some southern rock. The rest of the album has a more fast-paced or pulsing rock sound, which was pretty solid. They create some good rhythms. Master of Sparks as well as Precious and Grace stand out. And of course La Grange stands out but everyone knows that is an incredible tune - great pace and intricacy in the drums and guitar/bass. Really enjoyed this album. Almost gave it a 5 but that seemed a bit much.

Wow. Unique. I thought a two-piece band but bass and drums not guitar and drums? How's that going to sound? Pretty cool actually. It's a lot of noise, which is a bit of a knock. But the bass is absolutely pumping; wouldn't have minded a bit more variety from the drums instead of just bash them as hard and as fast as possible. And just cut out the vocals, if you can call them that. It wouldn't be all the time, but I can see some situations where I'd go back and put this on. I found myself rocking out to 2 Towers on my second listen. I love the bass work on this album; not a lot else. Good offsets the bad, enough for an average rating.

Yeah, I still don't get these guys. Theirs was one of the first albums I listened to when starting this list and now close to 200 albums later I thought I might have a more enlightened perspective. Not really. I've found I like punk and post-punk more than I thought. I originally likened them to The Smiths or The Cure but now I see them more as a go-between of punk (The Stooges or Undertones) and Shoegaze (Jesus & Mary Chain). I don't dislike them. I just don't see myself going back for much. Do it Clean was the only track that really resonated with me.

I think I like this better than Massive Attack. Easy listening, nothing annoying. It really is arranged quite well. But it's all sort of the same to me. Thought about a 4 for a moment but not sure that's what you give an album that is mostly great background music.

Maybe I'm being too generous, but this feels like a surprising 4 stars. I've never thought Alice Cooper was anything special - like No More Mr. Nice Guy, well-known but to me just ok. But there's some stylish arrangements here (for example, Hello Hooray and Billion Dollar Babies). And Alice Cooper (the man) writes some pretty witty lyrics - sometimes the material is dark but the music to go with it is not. It's like glam rock with a totally distorted sense of humour. I really enjoyed Raped and Freezin, Elected (was there some brass in there?), Unfinished Sweet, and Generation Landslide for these unusual lyrical and musical combinations. I Love the Dead starts to dip its toe into the macabre a bit too much but the latter half of the song has some redeeming musical arrangements. Sick Things (definitely too much macabre) and Mary Ann (awful sound) were the only real disappointments.

I wish I would've given the self-titled Blur album a 3 because this album is definitely better but doesn't feel good enough to be a 5. They do some different stylings really well - synthpop/rock (see Depeche Mode) on Girls & Boys, Brit-style spoken word/rap/rock mix (see the Transplants) on the title track, punk on Bank Holiday, classic Britpop (see, um, Blur) on End of a Century. It's an eclectic mix. But there's also some excess / filler / unnecessary stuff - it doesn't need 16 songs, 10 might have been about right. I thought songs 6-9 were kind of boring and meandering but the album regained some steam with London Loves and Trouble in the Message Centre (felt a bit like the Cars here). Jubilee was also a lot of fun on the back end.

Another solid rock opera. But I don't know, I think I might like Bat out of Hell more. There's some good stuff and then there's some throwaways. Sometimes the songs don't seem to flow into each other as well as they should or could (e.g., Christmas to Cousin Kevin). Maybe that's also because some songs weren't initially conceived of for the album (e.g., Sally Simpson) and were trying to be fit in somewhere. And I'm not sure if there are any absolute show stoppers besides Pinball Wizard (what a great tune). Still, I really enjoyed both the Overture and Underture (orchestral feel without the orchestra), and the also-instrumental Sparks. Christmas was solid but felt like a Beatles knock-off. Fiddle About is just disturbing but I appreciate it.

I enjoyed it more than I thought I might. He's definitely got a distinct voice but it's also familiar, and more than because I know a couple of his later hits. A bit of Sam the Sham, Van Morrison, or War? Feels like 60's psychedelia with a cajun twist. Some cool beats and some nice vocal work (from Dr. John and his backup singers). First and last tracks were my favorites. Again, enjoyed the album but not sure how many times I'd go back for another listen.

Still no Beatles and a second Supergrass album? Are these guys good enough to have two albums on this list? I don't know but I really started to dig this album after a couple listens. I definitely liked their second album more from the get-go but I was rocking along with this one soon enough. Like their second album, the first half of this debut is quite good and then fades a bit. Still, lots of rock attitude to enjoy and some variety to boot. My favorite track right away was Lenny - pounding sound. Alright is, well, alright - enjoyable (and more poppy) but a bit overplayed. At first I thought Strange Ones had sort of a confused punk sound but it also grew on me. I'd Like to Know is better (more consistent melody and sound), and it is also about what the strange ones get up to. Caught by the Fuzz and Mansize Rooster are solid; the latter is better while the former has a little something that annoys me. Both have the Britpop rock/pop sound with some keyboard jangle (think the Fratellis). Lose It has some nice edge to the sound, one of the best songs on the album I think. Sitting Up Straight has a fun frenetic pace (after a boring intro). I was less interested in the songs after that, except for Time. It had the best rhythms on the whole album - maybe my second favorite track. Maybe they don't deserve two albums on the 1,001 list but it was still quite good and I'm glad I got exposed to it because I only knew the song Alright before today.

I have spent my entire music-aware life (so say from about age 11) claiming I do not like Pink Floyd. I have never listened to them except for singles on the radio, if I didn't change the station. I know most of their popular songs, but Another Brick Pt 2 was about the only one I would ever listen to. My cousin was a huge fan and after his untimely death and the playing of Wish You Were Here at his funeral I softened a bit on Floyd. But I still never listened to them. That was a mistake. Still, it made for a wonderful surprise with this list. What a phenomenal album - beautiful composition. I'd give it a 6 (turn it up to 11) if I could. Side one alone was a masterpiece. I think I like Another Brick Pt 1 better than Pt 2 - more raw, edgier, no added synth or disco beats, you really notice the bass line and the guitar. I also really enjoyed the transition to Side two from Mother (Bowie-esque) to Goodbye Blue Sky and Empty Spaces, although Side two dipped a little after Young Lust. Side three was mostly excellent - the instrumentation across all the songs is really impressive. 20 years ago I probably would have begrudgingly admitted I didn't mind Hey You or Comfortably Numb but now that I have a broader music perspective they are two incredible songs, especially the latter. Side four might be the weakest if you listen to it on its own, but listening to it after listening to the rest, it is a fantastic close to the album. It also has some of the best lyrics - In the Flesh, Run Like Hell, and Waiting for the Worms are frightening when you consider that some people aren't laying it on thick for fictional purposes like Floyd but actually think that way. All in all, this is what a rock opera should sound like. It is THE rock opera. I guess I should go listen to the rest of their catalog...or wait for more pleasant surprises when their next album shows up on this list.

Strange but cool album. Total 70's throwback look and feel except with modern lyrical twists. Dude can slap the bass - case in point, Uh Uh (such pace). His cheeky lyrics really grew on me after multiple listens. Captain Stupido and A Fan's Mail were a little too silly but Tokyo (my favorite on the whole album), Jameel's Space Ride, Friend Zone, and Drunk were just the right amount of funny and observation. Great beats too. Favorites from a musical standpoint were Lava Lamp, Jethro, Blackkk, and Where I'm Going. His collaborations with other artists (Show You the Way), Walk on By, Drink Dat, The Turn Down) were also pretty good. Definitely need to give it a few listens to appreciate it, but it's worth multiple listens.

Love Bawitdaba, that used to be a big pump up song for sports. That's it. Not sure I've ever liked anything else by Kid Rock. Granted I've never listened to this album. So ok, the first 6 songs are solid (most notably Cowboy and I am the Bullgod) but the whole thing is repetitive. Similar beats and lyrics. For example, I liked Roving Gangster but it also referenced topless dancers (Bawitdaba) and had a similar progression and sound as Cowboy. Second half of the album is barely tolerable. If it's decent it's because it sounds like the first half (Somebody's Gotta Feel This). Welcome 2 the Party is just terrible - as if he was trying to write worse lyrics than Vanilla Ice. I've always hated Only God Knows Why - pretentious, and auto tuned to hell. All in all, the album is not awful but it's also not good. Can't believe it sold over 10 million copies.

It's a very good album but I don't know if it's great. I do not dispute that the Beatles are the greatest rock band of all time, but they got even better over time. This album doesn't have the same lyrical or musical depth as later releases. A lot of bubblegum and maybe a few too many remakes. I didn't love Til There Was You and sorry George but Chuck's original guitar intro and solo on Roll Over Beethoven kick your ass. They're all good homages but none really dominate the original. Although I do love John's wailing on Money - ups Barrett Strong's vocal energy just a bit. I also enjoyed their harmonies, especially on some of the originals - Little Child was too one-sided but It Won't Be Long, All My Loving, and Hold Me Tight were great. There's nothing to dislike about this album but it is not monumental (other than their timing and popularity) like other albums.

Really enjoyed this album. A different era of country music - the golden years in my opinion. A lot of the songs have the same qualities - smooth lead vocals that fill your ears, sweet backing vocal harmony, straight ahead musical arrangements that they play and pluck the heck out of, and some nostalgic or heart-tugging lyrics. Robbins and his band don't disrespect the songs recorded by others and the originals fit right in. Wish there were a few more originals. Listening to the album was like watching an old Western. Real easy listening.

God, Bob Dylan is just a terrible singer isn't he? I mean he can write and he can play but his Captain Kirk meets Lou Reed voice/stilted cadence is cringe-worthy at times. Mr. Tambourine Man is a perfect example of his super odd singing rhythm. Just Like a Woman isn't much better. The other problem is the recording quality doesn't allow me at all to feel the atmosphere of the concert. So disc one is stripped down and all Bob/all acoustic, but that's not all that much different then his studio recordings. On Springsteen's Nebraska I could feel all the emotion of a solitary songbird but not here. And then apparently the crowd was fired up and firing Dylan up (not in a good way) when the Band joined him for disc two but I don't hear that either. Another case of a recording of a live performance not living up to being there live. At least you can feel some energy from Dylan's voice/guitar and the Band's playing on disc two. And I know that's sacrilege because they were plugged in and he is Mr. sans electric. But the point is there's not enough feel to his acoustic performance; that's probably what you get with a shite bootleg copy.

Forgot how clever a lyricist Biggie was, even if vulgar. Case in point, Me and My B - "You looked so good I'd suck on your daddy's d..." Priceless. That song is a perfect example of Biggie's work - great beats, some real deep lyrics but also some real depraved lyrics. Also a bit of the rap opera here with Intro and Suicidal Thoughts opening and closing the album, although it's not a straight line in between. Like many of the 90s rappers I wish he wasn't such a misogynist, but he is damn good when he's not being so sleazy (and even when he is). Things Done Changed and Gimme the Loot are awesome; really the first 6 tracks are, before he goes to the cheap sex stuff for a few tracks. Juicy brings it back and like his other big single Big Poppa, it is rightfully beloved. Respect might be my favorite track though - great funky beat and the vocal assist from Diana King is electric. Not sure how much respect I have for him as a human being, but this is a great album.

Really nice melodies and arrangements. With a few more listens my rating might go higher. I liked the concept for the album, though it was a little too sex-focused. I thought it would have a bit more complexity or depth. Still, some good connections between the lead-in tales and the songs to follow. I really liked Lost One and its tale. Girl Like Me was also quite good and had more complexity to it. Put it Down has a great groove even though I don't have much respect for anyone the story applies to.

I'm a bit torn. I liked the album quite a bit, but I'm not sure why of all their albums this one was picked. I don't know their stuff well but this was quite the departure from their earlier trailblazing and fast temp days. So I almost feel like a sellout for liking this more subdued version of Husker Du. For me, what I noticed was a bit of a mix of REM mature rock and post punk/early alternative (Social Distortion, Bad Religion, The Replacements). Almost had a Wilco feel at times. It probably didn't need to be 20 songs but I guess that's what happens when two main songwriters can't agree. Even though I probably wouldn't have said this was an album that deserves to be heard before you die - if I was making a list - I enjoyed the sound so much that I'm giving it 4 stars.

I don't know. I'm just not sure an artist like Tom Waits should get more than one entry on this list (if he gets any). But maybe this is it. I could not stand the opening track (The Earth Died Screaming) and it reinforced my belief that his work is just strange and his voice is awful. But I quickly found myself enjoying other songs - nice musical arrangements, lyrics I could actually hear (which I admit are fantastic), and vocal styling I could tolerate. Dirt in the Ground has a soft sad jazz feel made even more despairing by his lyrics. All Stripped Down feels like a Dr. John kind of song - cool funky sound, although In the Colosseum felt like a far inferior version of this. Who Are You This Time might be his most beautiful song on the album - plays like a sad country song. A Little Rain and Whistle Down the Wind are close seconds - similar feel but each with more piano and guitar secondary. Jesus Gonna Be Here is a strange blues song but it might be his best vocals. Goin Out West felt so familiar - it is his coolest, funkiest, and rockiest musical arrangement. Knowing the Ramones version of I Don't Wanna Grow Up, I was eager to respect the original - not bad. With how bad a start this album got off to, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I almost gave it a 4.

Great opener - I really like the pace and the harmonized musical stylings on Thank You for Sending Me an Angel. It shows some real talent. With Our Love tried to do the same, with not quite as good effect. And I guess the whole album has that feel - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I found myself a bit bored from tracks 3-5, whereas Found a Job better captured that energy from the first (and second, sort of) tracks. And then it sort of went back and forth between cool sound and boring. I liked I'm Not In Love, Stay Hungry, and Take Me to the River is a really solid remake (the only track I knew coming in). The other two tracks on side two I found boring. I waffled between a 3 and a 4; probably a 3.5 and I'm rounding down. Just didn't captivate me like their first album.

Super slick. Great lyrics and beats. Mayfield carries the story as he moves from one song to the next. I really enjoyed the first three tracks - Little Child Runnin Wild, Pusherman, and Freddie's Dead - and the final, title track. I'm stopping just short of a 5 though. I don't know why. Maybe the songs in between those others didn't quite do it for me as much. Maybe I still don't know what I'm talking about.

Meh. I liked her earlier work, this just doesn't captivate me the same way. Probably shows my rock bias. I liked her as a rocker, less as a pure songstress. I admit she's got more range than I thought given her earliest work. Like Kate Bush but less annoying (mostly - England was hard to listen to). Let England Shake, The Last Living Rose, and Bitter Branches were pretty good, but I don't think I'd go back and listen to this album even for those three.

I didn't expect this to be anything more than average. But I was really surprised. I felt kind of sheepish because I only gave Loretta Lynn a 3, but this album was more than just good singing. And Lang can really sing (better than Lynn, probably better than many). I kind of viewed it more like the Marty Robbins album. Vocals that fill the ears and some real simple but precise musical accompaniment - perfectly on point for her vocals. Throwback to country of a different time. Really solid.

This album spawned so many singles and hits, but I think I liked them better before I became aware of the album Nebraska. I liked the latter's rawer sound and sometimes all the synth and E-Street band accompaniment on this album makes it sound a bit cheesy. Like Cover Me; now as I listen, the lyrics are a bit cheesy and the accompanying music feels almost too dance or synth sounding. Darlington County, Working on the Highway, and Bobby Jean (a bit less so) also felt that way - feels overproduced or like everyone is trying too hard to sound catchy. That being said, the album still has many great songs. Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark are still great tunes despite all their pomp - you can't not rock along to those songs. And though I didn't know No Surrender until now, I also liked it a lot despite its pomp. Other songs are a bit more reserved - not necessarily stripped down like on Nebraska, but not forced. Of its singles, I'm Goin Down and My Hometown feel that way. Ditto for Downbound Train, which I didn't know before. And then the title track and I'm on Fire (the best on this album) are still absolute classics. Both have fantastic lyrics - complicated, disenchanted, fiery. Born in the USA is delivered with such ferocity and yet mixed emotion, while I'm on Fire is haunting. Both give you the chills, for different reasons. It is not a perfect album, but it's still damn good.

Love the deep and complex lyrics. I honestly have no idea what he means half the time, but that's what makes it so great. Like classic poetry. His voice is still awful - I mean he sounds like Pavarotti next to Tom Waits but it just goes to show you don't have to be able to sing to be a great musician. The musicianship on this album was pretty good. I like his harmonica but sometimes he hits it just a bit too hard (too tinny) - see the end of Queen Jane. His backing band adds some nice harmony so I don't care what the Dylan purists say about this not being acoustic only. Favorites are Like A Rolling Stone (undeniably brilliant), Tombstone Blues (funky country style), Ballad of a Thin Man (earthy blues sound and lyrics are a mindf%@*), Highway 61 revisited (first verse hooked me, great beat), and Desolation Row (depressing with fitting stripped down sound). I was this close to a 5. But that voice...and a couple meh songs.

It's been awhile since I listened to the Beastie Boys but when I re-reviewed the track listing I thought, this is going to be good but juvenile. It is better than that. Sure, She's Crafty, Girls, and Brass Monkey are more fun than they are profound but there are some incredible tracks too. Rhymin & Stealin and No Sleep Til Brooklyn just have to be turned up to 11. The beats and energy are awesome and the lyrics have just enough depth to them. Fight for Your Right is similar - sometimes I'm torn on this one (overplayed) but it is just as big a stick it to the man 80's anthem as We're Not Gonna Take It. Did not realize they used to be a punk band before this. Definitely appreciate the extra bit of rock to their rap - love that tracks 1 and 3 sample the last tracks on Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy (and awesome real guitar work from Slayer on tracks 7 and 8). Pioneers, and a very good debut album.

I did not immediately like this album as much as I like their first three; I'm a sucker for harder rock. Don't get me wrong, Death on Two Legs and I'm In Love With My Car are great hard rocking songs, the former a brilliant opener. It was the middle of the album where I was a bit uncertain. But I found when I was already in an amped up mood, this album took it to the next level. And it's far too complex to appreciate in one or two listens. After a few listens, I loved it, especially the more jazzy songs. What was particularly impressive was when I learned that a lot of the cool jazz sounds I learned to like were created through Mercury's and Taylor's vocals (Seaside Rendezvous) or regular instruments (Good Company). May's and Deacon's instrument innovations throughout the album are impressive. You're My Best Friend and Love of My Life are two very different but equally lovely odes. '39 was probably the place where I first started to wonder about the album (maybe May's just ok vocals?), but after a closer listen it's a pretty cool ballad - a cross between Led Zeppelin and John Denver. And I love how Sweet Lady cleanses the palette after. I don't always want to listen to Bohemian Rhapsody I've heard it so many times, but it is a rock opera masterpiece. Still, I think I might like The Prophet's Song just as much for its sweeping, grandiose style; it might be my new favorite on the album. In the end, I think I'm at a 4.5 but I'm rounding up for all the intricacy they put into the album and because they're freakin' legends (and deservedly so).

I quite liked it. But given the albums I just rated a 4 recently, I didn't know if I could go there with this one. Cool Celtic folk rock sound; at times it sounded like a precursor to bands like Dave Matthews (e.g., on We Will Not Be Lovers) or an homage to Van Morrison (no, not Sweet Thing but Strange Boat). I really enjoyed the first 5 songs and its mix of harder fuller sound (e.g., World Party) or a softer feel (e.g., Sweet Thing). After that it was more forgettable except for And a Bang on the Ear and When Will we be Married? I think I really enjoy violin rock. For sure a 3.5, I feel a bit bad for rounding down.

Great opener in Mr. Soul, then just fine from that point on. Bluebird was an exception; some great guitarwork in there across a few different tempos. Good Time Boy had a different feel (like something bluesy you'd hear by Traffic). The album is a solid but unspectacular listen.

I feel like every AC/DC song I like (quite a few) is not overly complex but still rocks. Gotta give some credit to simple, smart arrangements. But can't be a 5 unless every song is a classic. Not this album. A few songs are great fun - Highway to Hell (still weird it's timing before Scott's death), Girls Got Rhythm, If You Want Blood. The rest are are pretty good (last song a bit meh). The start of Beating Around the Bush shows they do have some musical chops (at least Angus on guitar). If you like rock, you'll like it if not love it. But if you don't, I can understand if you wonder what the appeal is.

Honestly, I can't remember hearing any other songs by Sade between this album's Smooth Operator and their 1992 album's No Ordinary Love. But reading up on them, each album in that time (4 of them) plus their next one in 2000 were at least triple platinum. Wow. Maybe their sound was too steamy hot for radio? I still do not know jazz, or soul, so this album was just okay. I listened to it over and over, but I couldn't shake that it sounded like muzak with a very talented singer to boot. Admittedly, the lyrics are pretty good - it's not sex-based drivel but really complicated musings (listen closely to Smooth Operator, Frankie's First Affair, When Am I Going to Make a Living, and Sally). Put this on my list of potential future regrets but I couldn't get past 3.5.

Now that I've listened to three of their albums, this is probably their best. A little more subdued and a little more melodic. But I already gave them a 4 for their sophomore album (mostly to be extreme) so I can't give them another one. And this one feels like a sellout anyway - rather than stay true to themselves they (or Lou) went with a record to pander to the masses. Sounds like such a Nickelback thing to do. Fine album, nothing overly memorable other than maybe the songs with Yule on vocals (quite enjoyed Candy Says and Jesus). And I'd like to forget the last two songs (The Murder Mystery and After Hours - keep Tucker off vocals).

I think this is one of those albums that deserves to be on this 1,001 list for its originality even if it's not overly impressive. Like, "you gotta hear this album, it's got a ton of bongo in it." Glad I got the chance to hear it and could pass it on in the future. But it's just okay. After Bongolia (great intro), I thought Apache might have had the best bongo work. The drum solo from In A Gadda Da Vida was kind of cool with bongo as the primary. Last Bongo in Belgium was a letdown (other than the name, great tongue-in-cheek song title) - not enough percussion, other instruments got in the way and weren't great. Bongo Rock was pretty good but at times unbalanced and too heavy on other instruments. Dueling Bongos was also a bit of a letdown in the other direction - too much percussion. It was missing something; great idea, just not quite there in execution.

His political lyrics are awesome, but sad we're still talking about the same things with almost zero change. And a lot of his interludes provide a lot of complex discussion to complex issues. So kudos. But his misogynistic lyrics are just awful. And I don't know how I feel about his gangster songs (Now I Gotta Wet Cha, The Predator); a little too unapologetic about gangland murder. So a bit of a tale of two sides. First four tracks powerful and/or thought provoking. Next two tracks a bit depraved. Even his big single It Was a Good Day I'm torn on; catchy tune and some good lyrics, but then a bit of BS about running women too. Mostly a good tune though. He nails it on We Had to Tear this MoFo Up - the best track on this album, with great lyrics (see his non-apology on lyrics that were criticized as anti-Semitic). But F off with Dirty Mack and Don't Trust Em; goes over the line in my opinion (and the beats are cheesy). Check Yo Self has a great beat but the lyrics aren't nearly as good as other tracks. Last few tracks are provocative in a better way. Feels like a 3.5 with a dice toss for rounding up or down.

I love the first half of the album; I think they deserve all the accolades they got for its combination of acoustic vs. electric guitar, piano, somber lyrics, and soft vocals. The Scientist is probably in my top 3 favorite songs of the 21st century. But the back half of the album felt a bit repetitive. I know it's the same style but it's like I ran out of gas with my desire for that sound. It's just missing something. I think with a bit more range or musical depth this album would be a 5.

I can just picture misunderstood teens everywhere playing this album while dyeing their hair, putting on mascara, changing their name, thinking if anyone cares if they live or die, dreaming about being somewhere far away, longing for a different time, etc. I mean, I know I like dark stuff but this is the epitome of depressing. And I'm not saying it's bad. But wow. It's actually quite grandiose, from the synth and gong-like and triangle-like orchestral sounds that open Plainsong all the way to the repeated haunting synth and percussions in Untitled. They poured everything they had into it. I was surprised to read it was their 8th album and thought how did it take that long for them to get there? And then I read Robert Smith was asking himself the same thing - almost like what am I doing with my life? So the intensity and intentionality of the whole production makes sense and the tone fits his/their own doom and gloom. Pictures of You and Lovesong are really beautiful pieces. And to be honest the lyrics throughout are really quite poetic and brilliant. So raw and emotional. I played the album repeatedly and I always seemed to get to The Same Deep Water as You and wonder "have I been listening that long? Have 9 songs gone past? I would've sworn I was only around Last Dance." And though I liked both songs I just mentioned, the album felt like one long cry of anguish. They perfected slit my wrists rock but at the end of the 80's feels less trail blazing than I would've thought. I do like the album and give it much respect but wonder if it's too one dimensional.

It's a good album but could've been way tighter. Other albums provide some cool insights in the interludes or riffing, but I found those sequences in this album to be just a step above nonsense. So the Intro and Outro and other snippets at the ends of songs (e.g., the Beast) were mainly a waste of time. When they actually sing and rap, they're pretty incredible. Lauryn Hill is powerful every time she opens her mouth (singing or rapping). Wyclef is a really soulful singer and a quick rapper. Pras is guttural with a voice you can't ignore. And their messaging in the actual songs can't be ignored. But the best thing about the Fugees is how they combine rapping vocals, singing melodies, and smart beats in their songs. That's why all their big tunes are so great (Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly, No Woman No Cry). Except for the filler, really easy to listen to over and over.

There are definitely some lowlights on this album; how could you not have any with 30 songs? But give credit to the sheer vastness of the production - a double album with many good songs. Is it great? TBD. I call BS on those who criticized the lyrics for being too simple. There are a lot of double meanings and songs that you only truly understand if you think through it a lot. Side One is pretty solid though I've never really liked Ob La Di Ob La Da and the next two tracks dip (though I love the underlying meaning of lyrics in Bungalow Bill). Back in the USSR is still fun and Dear Prudence is beautiful. While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Happiness is a Warm Gun are songs that show the musicianship the Beatles lacked when they were younger. Side Two is a bit more of the same - so good to start, including I'm So Tired and Blackbird. And then it gets a little weird with Piggies through to Why Don't We Do it In the Road, though the first has some thought-provoking lyrics and when you know the back story behind the others they're more interesting. But the last two tracks pick it up again with two sweet pieces by Paul and John in I Will and Julia. Side Three is probably my favorite for its energy. Birthday is a joke but kudos to it being mostly improvised. And it is fun! Yer Blues is a solid blues attempt. Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey is a hidden gem for rock lovers or lovers of early Beatles. Helter Skelter, like Yer Blues, shows the Beatles virtuosity in being able to do something heavy, pretty damn well. If they ended after Side Three I'd say it's 5-star. Side Four makes things iffy. Revolution is a great song with the musical arrangement on the eventual single, not with the one on this album (still good because it's lyrics are awesome). Honey Pie and Savoy Truffle grow on you but both are a bit juvenile. Cry Baby Cry is pretty good, but not as good as stuff on the other sides. Revolution 9 is terrible. Good Night sounds like the end to some cute kids movie; it's actually kind of endearing. Maybe I'm overweighting Side Four or some of the other so-so tracks but after an internal struggle I landed on 4-star.

Solid album. I could (and did) easily play this in the background over and over. Sinead O'Connor's vocals on Visions of You and Sweet Divinity were great adds. Wobble's regular vocals are just okay. The variety of musical styles from around the world were also pretty cool - Indian-style on Visions of You, African-style on Ungodly Kingdom, Latin-style on Bomba, Middle Eastern-style on Everyman's an Island, combo of the last two on Soledad. Although reggae/Spanish combo on Relight the Flame wasn't as good; wailing in latter half was cool. Love the guitarwork on Ungodly Kingdom - picking at the beginning and the electric stuff at around the 2:45 mark. Erzulie felt like something almost out of Bladerunner at the start; neat vocals and pace/change of pace throughout. Title track was a bit boring though the lyrics were intriguing. Only other song I didn't really enjoy was Wonderful World - sounded cheesy compared to the rest of the album. After looking back at what I liked and didn't, I realize I liked most of it, quite a bit.

I'll say it again. I just don't get jazz. It is good, they play well. But I can't tell if this is an exceptional collection or the guys I hear at a high-end corporate dinner party. What is the difference between the two collection of songs? Nothing really stood out to me.

I was really unaware of this album, or the history of it or Nas. Maybe he is too cerebral for mass consumption or radio play? His lyrics and rap rhythm are masterclass. But I found the album boring; it all ran together. No doubt he has different beats and samples but moving from song to song there wasn't one thing I could really point to in one that made it stand out from another one. The album works but once I walk away from it, there's nothing particularly memorable to bring me back.

Spastic. I'm not sure I've ever heard jazz played with such ferocity. It's an interesting experiment - like someone thought "what if we tried to play jazz not like jazz at all"? I know of free jazz thanks to some earlier albums on this list and this album is like free jazz on speed; tempo cranked up a bunch of notches and like they're trying to hit the drums as hard as they can or play the sax as loud or whiny as they can. It is different, I'll give it that. Nice to know it exists but not sure I need to listen to it again - Good Old Days and Feet Music being two cool exceptions. I can see how the album is on this list for its uniqueness but it's not for me.

Now this is how Tom Waits is supposed to sound, I think. Up close and personal, but as a smoky blues half-singer half-spoken word performer. And his improvised stand-up comedy (if you want to call it that) is impressive - not easy to do for professionals and he makes it sound natural. Intro to Better off Without a Wife was hilarious. His backing band is super cool and the whole atmosphere is captured well (slick). A key knock against the album is that it's all over the place. Like we're getting whatever comes to Waits' mind, regardless whether it fits with the last or next song or whether it is nonsensical. All sort of diner-related, but a little frenetic. Still, very cool concept.

One of those rare albums that is good cover to cover. Not a single throwaway song on here. And there are 15 songs. Sure, not every one is the pinnacle of musical ability and complexity but so what? Sometimes you got to give credit to musicians who can combine a reasonable level of instrumental, lyrical, musical, and harmonial ability plus energy to write catchy songs that flat out rock. I don't care for the criticism that they sullied punk. They are pioneers of new punk. Good for them. A classic, trailblazing album.

I don't think I put Cypress Hill on the same plane as the great rap artists, but this is a solid effort. Tons of samples, some good (Good Times on Light Another, More Peas on The Phuncky Feel One), some a bit annoying (Duke of Earl on Hand on the Pump). Super funky album and decent lyrics - they just don't have the same bite as a Chuck D, Tupac, or Jay-Z (among other great lyricists) and are a bit too juvenile at times. First half of the album (up to Real Estate) was great (especially How I Could Just Kill a Man - Rage also does an awesome rendition on their panned, but beloved by me, album Renegades), got bored at times after that. Still, real solid.

Chuck D is a legend. Flavor Flav is a fool. Most of the time, hearing Flavor Flav was like hearing that annoying sidekick in a movie or Newton saying "Herc Herc" in the old, terrible Hercules cartoon. You just want to punch him in the mouth because he has nothing important to say - he's just squeaking. As a sidekick, he's useful on Don't Believe the Hype (and maybe a bit on She Watch Channel Zero) but wasteful on Bring the Noise, Caught Can We Get a Witness, and Rebel Without a Pause. I can barely listen to his lead efforts (e.g., Cold Lampin'). Still, there's plenty of Chuck D and when he's on lead, it's gold. You better listen and get an education. Louder than a Bomb, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, and Party for Your Right to Fight are brilliant. There's also a lot of cool beats from Terminator X, though some get a bit repetitive across the whole album.

Ugh. The music / electronica on this album is such 80's garbage. It really is terribly cheesy. Which is a shame because the lyrics are pretty solid most of the time. It's not just these guys, all classic hip hop had this problem of really insightful, political lyrics and just tragic recordings to go with it. I love Rage's version of Renegades of Funk and I had no idea this was the original. But it is almost unlistenable. Planet Rock is tolerable, at times, but again over the top in all the sound effects. Frantic Situation is the only song worth listening to more than once - great lyrics and a cool beat that fits. Go Go Pop and They Made a Mistake had decent beats but lyrics were sort of meaningless. I'm giving it a mercy 3, for its lyrics (most of the time) and pioneering of hip hop. But I will never listen to it again.

Interesting and enjoyable to listen to. I think I knew of Tortoise back in the 90's (friends may have mentioned them) but never listened to any of their stuff. Feels like easy background listening. But not sure I'm going to run out and listen to more of their stuff or go discover the post rock genre. I can see how a non-rock person would find this completely boring.

Really dug this. He brings a new age sound to old style folk/blues/rock. It was like I was listening to CSNY, Bill Withers, Lynyrd Sknyrd, Hendrix, even the Temptations altogether and reimagined. Highlights were Rolling and I've Been Dazed (the former is incredible and how it rolls right into the latter is seamless), Piano Joint (his voice contrasted against the soft instruments is powerful), Hero (funky and near the top of his always good lyrics), . Soulful, well-arranged, great blend of instruments. Restoring my faith in modern eclectic rock. Not quite 5-star as I found a few tracks boring (e.g., the intros, Another Human Being which also felt like an interlude); could've tightened it up a bit.

I don't think I've ever listened to this album, just the hit singles (The One I Love is still a classic). Not as good as when they hit their peak in the early 90's but still a solid album. Great energy, great guitar work, great lyrics. It's worth digging into the non-singles. If you like edgy plus Neil Young-like political & contemporary commentary, check out Welcome to the Opposition, King of Birds, or Oddfellows Local 151. If you want more up-tempo rock, check out Disturbance at the Heron House. If you want a bit of both, check out Exhuming McCarthy. I also really like their up-tempo version of Wire's Strange. And for a cool up-tempo version of ...End of the World... check out Canadian band Great Big Sea. This album is definitely the beginning of their upswing.

I tell my kids all the time that I don't care too much for pop but that there are a few incredibly talented female pop artists who have emerged in the last decade or so. I place Lorde in this category with the likes of Taylor Swift or Adele - say what you want, but these ladies can write incredible lyrics and arrange very catchy, melodic songs. They can also belt them out. This album from Lorde is a great example - her lyrics are fiercely emotional (Green Light, Writer in the Dark), edgy(ish) commentaries (Homemade Dynamite, Loveless), or smart wordplay and double meaning (Liability - Lorde is the girl that she loves). And her vocals are great; really mesh nicely with the various musical arrangements. In the end, this is mostly a breakup album but it feels like much more than that. Partly because she didn't just make them all sad sounding; I liked her mixing in of uptempo beats. Couldn't quite give it a 5 (tracks 7-11 not quite as good as the first 6), but it was close.

I really enjoyed this album - it feels like a perfect segue between rock from the previous two decades and the two to come. You can hear rockabilly sounds like Elvis (who they likely were inspired by) and post-punk / alternative sounds like Sonic Youth too (who they likely inspired) plus some of their contemporaries like the Sex Pistols. Lots of different sounds really; this is not one-dimensional punk. Highlights were the Once over Twice (more brooding Ramones), We're Desperate (like frenetic Talking Heads), Adult Books (my favorite - Elvis meets the Velvet Underground meets Marty Robbins), Universal Corner (can't put my finger on it, but feels ahead of it's time), It's Who You Know (Motorhead with more depth), White Girl (Sonic Youth meets the Velvet Underground), and Beyond and Back (Dead Kennedys meet Elvis Costello).

The recording quality is great, it's like you're sitting right inside those walls (thank god not though). Some of the splices are garbage so that's a bit disappointing. But you can can't deny Cash's connection with the audience - it gives the album a real feel - even though I don't understand why he feels so kindred. The songs themselves are fine, the two new ones and a couple others (Wreck of the Old 97) are electric while some others come off a bit boring (Wanted Man, Starkville City Jail has a great lead-in but the song itself sounds meh, Peace in the Valley, even I Walk the Line could've been better). Still, the first time he plays San Quentin it is goosebump-worthy. Great lyrics, his playing is heartfelt, and the audience reaction is something else. A Boy Named Sue also plays so well as a live track. I'd say it's a 3 until you add in the "ambience" of the crowd.

These guys came up as a recommended similar artist after listening to Kiwanuka. Not as good, but still decent. Bow (with Kiwanuka) had a great beat. A couple others started with strong beats and then fizzled. I might've taken Don't Shoot Guns Down more seriously if it didn't have a weird quasi-robotic voice. Wildfires is waaay better - I'd recommend it to anyone. Undeniable messages here but too many throwaway or half-baked tracks. Felt like a chore to get through and it shouldn't have.

Yeah his voice still grates but he's almost a blend of Joe Cocker and Randy Newman on this album and that's not bad. Case in point Mr. Siegal. And his instrumental arrangements & playing are at least as good as those other guys. On the Nickel is beautiful. Ditto Ruby's Arms and Jersey Girl. Reminds you his greatest quality is songwriting and not many can match it. Heartattack and Vine and Downtown are more gritty but still really well-written. Saving all My Love for You is a cross between these two - gritty lyrics but heartbreaking arrangement. Did it just happen? Did I just become a Waits convert? I don't know but this is a good album.

A real solid album. I'm starting to learn more about CCR as they continue to show up on this list. Their music was always on in my house growing up but I didn't pay as close attention as now. I couldn't argue if all 5 albums from their 1969 and 1970 stretch made this list (well maybe not the last one). I love the more sombre tunes - Lodi, Wrote a Song for Everyone (might be my favorite). But you also gotta love the more up-tempo tunes - Green River, Commotion (nice bit of angry), Bad Moon Rising, Cross-Tie Walker. And I think they always do a good job of reverence on their remakes - The Night Time is the Right Time. Not quite over the top amazing, but few holes and a solid listen front to back.

I liked this album quite a bit. Stripped down and simple, solid display of Willie and his backing band's skills on guitar and piano (and drums). Really nice work on guitar and his voice fits the environment perfectly. Good storytelling too, interesting how he weaved other artists' songs into his own theme, including I Couldn't Believe it Was True, the title track and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain. Those are key parts to the initial story and you wouldn't even know they weren't conceived by Willie.

Um, interesting choice for this list. I have never heard of Hanoi Rocks but they aren't terrible. This album feels like one on your guilty pleasure list - don't really want to tell anyone you like it but deep down there's something about it that you're drawn to. For that reason, it gets an average rating. But nothing more. I just can't justify a higher rating for a fun sounding album by, from what I can tell, just another 80's glam rock band with some tragedy. Really don't know why they're on this list.

I feel like I've heard a song or two by Laura Nyro and never knew who it was. Or maybe I'm confusing some of her songs with Carole King's. Great voice and even though it sounds like it's from a different era it doesn't sound dated. More than listening to the album I appreciated the prompt to learn about her and her massive influence on the industry (lot of songwriting credits and remakes of her work). For sure a 3, feels like a coin flip after that. Not quite my thing but I think I'm going up because I compared her to Carole King.

Great album. Eleanor Rigby is one of my favorite Beatles songs of all time - the musical arrangement and the lyrics. Which brings me to two points. One, people (particularly those in the US at the time) need to get over themselves - can't believe how little airtime this song got because of people's religious views. And two, related to one, it is astounding that this is not a diamond album yet Kid Rock's Devil Without a Cause is. I guess at least people stopped being so uppity on that one. Back to Revolver. I love the different instruments and techniques on this album - especially the Indian-inspired work on Love You To and Tomorrow Never Knows. Also a big fan of the softer songs - Here, There and Everywhere, For No One - sweet and beautiful. Which takes nothing away from the more up tempo songs - Taxman, Good Day Sunshine, Got to Get You into My Life - also fantastic for their fun and energy. No matter the style, they really nail it on this album.

Another one of those albums I appreciate being on the 1,001 list because I'd otherwise never run across it. Similar to the recent Nyro album where it's mainly about the strong vocals of the female artist. Miriam Makeba's voice is not quite as captivating as Laura Nyro's, but it was still an enjoyable listen (except for One More Dance - WTF was the point of the laughing?). Not sure if I'm going back for more though.

So I sampled a bit of the Mekons first two albums and, yeah, they couldn't have gone on that way. To paraphrase from the cinematic masterpiece Van Wilder, their previous work was decorated in post-punk f#ck. I'm not sure I'd call this country as much as Gaelic folk - of course mixed with post-punk or new wave(ish) alternative. The Dropkick Murphys probably owe the Mekons some credit. This album is admirable and far more palatable than their initial work, but I still don't think I want to make it my scene. I'll give a shout out to what I thought were the best songs - Trouble Down South, Abernant 1984/5, and Last Dance.

This is post-punk? I guess I always view that as a little edgier or darker. This album is some blend of that, new wave, and new pop. I can totally hear where later UK artists like Teenage Fanclub, the Mock Turtles, Primal Scream, Northside, The Alarm, or Dramarama (from the US actually) came from. If you don't know what I mean, go look at the transition from 80's varied rock to 90's alternative rock - particularly what was going on in the UK before the summer/fall of 1991 and Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, etc. changed everything. I don't mind their sound, but do I love it? Like most of this genre, it feels like it's trying too hard (to steal a line from track two). Some good lyrics but the musical backing feels a bit over the top (piano too loud, backing instruments or synth too prominent) or the vocals straining when it's not needed (as if to say listen to me!). Both their biggest singles (Infected, Heartland) are good examples of that. Like all the other bands from this genre, one song or two feels a bit refreshing but a whole slew of them (like an album's worth) gets to be a bit much.

I know Girl from Mars and that's about it (maybe heard Kung Fu once or twice before). These guys are better than I thought. Lose Control was a great song to kick off the album - guitars really jam on this one. As far as its other singles, Angel Interceptor had similar energy to their two best known songs above (good tune) while Goldfinger and Oh Yeah not so much - still, pretty good (Oh Yeah has some nice Oasis-esque guitarwork in the last half of the song). I also liked I'd Give You Anything and Darkside Lightside (more cool guitarwork on both) and Lost in You (has that chill mid-90's alternative ballad sound). Not sure what makes them so unique to be on this list, but if you're a rocker there's a lot to like here. I definitely wanted to (and did) play the album multiple times. Checked out a few songs from other albums too - definitely a band I'll need to look more into.

Yawn. Clapton is one of the greatest guitar players of all time and make no mistake he is good on this album. The harmonica is lively on Parchman Farm and It Ain't Right. But the rest of it didn't really grab me. It mostly just blended into the background. Hideaway was kind of cool. Notable drum solo on What'd I Say but more long (and capable) than knock your socks off. Found myself waiting for the album to end on a second listen.

On my first listen I thought the live performance was missing a lot of energy. I didn't really notice anything that stood out until the album hit Massacre at track 6. That song was pumpin' - give me an album full of that! Alas, it went right back to a snoozefest with the softy Still in Love With You. Even The Boys are Back in Town had just average energy. It didn't really crank back up until Warriors, but I'll admit those last six tracks were busting with energy and swagger, especially the last two to close it out (way more fan engagement and oozing stage presence). So, side 4 epic but side 1 pedantic, with only a few highlights in between. Granted, when I went back for a second listen after finishing side 4, I was more amped up and felt more connected to side 1. Still, a little too uneven to be great.

I'm probably best classified as a fan of Chicago's greatest hits, though mostly for their soft rock stuff with Cetera on lead vocals. I knew and respected some of their early hits (mostly Lamm-led vocals) but was less interested in those. Not until now did I appreciate how good of musicians they were. Cetera is a pretty darn good bassist (check out Listen or I'm a Man), not just a high-pitched wonder. And yeah, Free Form Guitar probably could've been about half the time but damn, Kath can play (also listen to Poem 58 or South California Purples). Then layer in the jazz section on top of the typical instruments and it's really quite impressive. Introduction is just that - a great starter if you want to know what these guys can do. And then keep going with the hits (tracks 2-4) but also don't skip the finisher Liberation. Lamm also pens some great lyrics (besides sides one and two, check out Someday on side four).

Damn. How have I never heard of this album? It totally fits with all the political rap of the 90's but clearly these guys didn't get the play of Public Enemy, NWA, etc. Which is a shame because Michael Franti's lyrics are incredible. Satanic Reverses, Famous and Dandy, Television the Drug of the Nation - what a start to the album. I love how he calls out all of our stupid sheepism and idiot boxing (just substitute tv for social media to get today) in the latter two. I also respect him for not calling out certain issues and then being an asshole on other issues. Case in point, how many other hip hop artists back then did you hear rallying against anti-gay stuff? Language of Violence was refreshing for that reason. Could've used a bit more variety in the beats and delivery (the title track and Dead Kennedy's cover had some of that - more of that please) but really solid album.

Really solid. So much funk, great blend of guitar and other instruments. I really gotta go out and listen to more of George Clinton's work. If anything, the tracks didn't all need to be so long because they didn't vary that much as the songs went along. Still, the title track is a beauty. Groovallegiance has a cool reggae sound and these guys are absolutely right on Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock (they just kill it). The 4th track is annoying with the echo singing and scat motif so it's hard to enjoy the really good guitar work. Into You and Cholly bring it back though not quite as good as side one. I'm not sure I really count the bonus tracks but Maggot Brain has quickly become one of my favorite guitar solo songs of all time. The recorded version on the album of the same name is amazing (so much emotion in Edward Hazel's guitar). And then the guitar work in Lunchmeataphobia is soooo heavy - love it. Waffled between a 4 and 5 (song length and hard to listen to track 4 vs. giving serious weight to the awesome bonus tracks).

Love this album - a lot of pump up songs on this one including Bad Habit and Come Out and Play. Gotta Get Away is so good and Self Esteem is an all-time classic (I will never get sick of hearing it). Not quite as good as the other big punk revivalist album of 1994 (Dookie) but the non-hits are still solid. Best are Genocide, Something to Believe In, and What Happened to You? (probably could have been hits). Great energy, grungy punk sound, and satirical lyrics.

First ever listen to the legend John Coltrane. I still don't get jazz. Definitely good, but those who understand and truly appreciate jazz probably think it's great. I really enjoyed the ominous vibe on Psalm though.

Huh. Never heard of these guys but from the opening note it was like 10,000 Maniacs but well before that group ever existed. Cool sound, really dig Sandy Denny's vocals. Definitely a 3.5. Tough call whether to bump it to a 4 given the albums I recently gave that rating to. I quite enjoyed Genesis Hall, A Sailor's Life, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, and Percy's Song but I was a bit indifferent to the other 4 songs.

I'm not into The Smiths, but have always been a bit curious (an innuendo befitting of Mr. Morrisey). They are good and this album is good. Johnny Marr does some good work arranging the music and Morrissey's lyrics are at his cryptic and/or tongue-in-cheek best. This shines through on the hits - Bigmouth Strikes Again (my personal fave), The Boy With the Thorn in his Side, and There is a Light that Never Goes Out (one of the cheeriest ugly death songs you'll ever hear). Of the lesser knowns, Frankly Mr. Shankly is a fun tune that takes a wicked dig at someone, and I Know It's Over is a musical and vocal triumph of emotion - it is just so captivating, it might even be better than Bigmouth. A few songs don't quite hit the heights of the others, but this album will definitely make me keep exploring my Smithuality.

There was a lot of Beach Boys on in my house growing up so I'm probably a little partial here. Though never any solo Brian Wilson. I really enjoyed the opening from Our Prayer / Gee to Heroes and Villains and I think that kind of hooked me. It's a little strange of an album, but in a good way. If you listen to it a few times, you really appreciate how it all blends together. Pull out a song here or there and yeah, it's going to be meh, especially because the lyrics can get pretty childish. But stay in any one of the three movements and it's pretty cool (and really try to ignore the lyrics in movement three - downright silly except for In Blue Hawaii and Good Vibrations). Not a classic, but neat concept and all the moving parts are executed pretty well.

It's weird because I feel like I never heard anything about Q-Tip after his debut album. Maybe I wasn't paying attention to hip-hop or maybe he wasn't showing up much in the mainstream. But this is a solid album. It has an old school feel - soul, funk? Like there's some Stevie Wonder or George Clinton in there (especially noticeable at WeFight/WLove and ManWomanBoogie). I had it on repeat for awhile. I'm not sure it has anything that absolutely grabbed me as out of this world, but as a collective it was great. Some that stood out though were Johnny is Dead, Getting Up, and Move for their beat and sound, Dance on Glass for its lyrics.

I was never a fan of the Arctic Monkeys - felt like knock offs of earlier 2000's artists or like everyone was jumping on the bandwagon of a so-so band. Kinda like Jet - feels a bit all too familiar, or their lyrics are too simple. I might forever detest I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. But maybe my view would've been different if their debut single was the first track - The View From the Afternoon. Great sound (albeit a bit like Supergrass) - pumping. I also really liked the final track - A Certain Romance. In between I still felt a bit divided. Sometimes cheeky lyrics and good beats, but also sometimes so little depth to lyrics (about party life or who is/isn't a wanker) and recycled beats - Fake Tales of San Francisco being a great example of this. I give it a 3.5 because I still can't shake that this just feels like a slight tweak to the sounds of Franz Ferdinand, The Fratellis, or even Interpol (with worse lyrics).

This was an album I didn’t appreciate if listening it to with other things going on. Really cool when it had my undivided attention. True hip hop - meaningful lyrics that make you think and slick beats. Really enjoyed the variety of sounds from track to track. One knock is that these guys aren’t the best vocalists. When they harmonize it sounds a bit cheesy. Still, great album. Highlights were Freedom, If You Only Knew, A Day at the Races, Remember His Name (cool intro using everyday sounds and loved the lyrics), High Fidelity, One of Them (much angrier lyrics than the rest but with a point to make).

I really love some stuff by The Band. Other stuff is just meh. This album epitomizes that. The Weight has to be one of the greatest songs ever written (so much emotional depth in the lyrics and the instruments). Chest Fever rivals In a Gadda Da Vida for coolest organ solo. The rest? If you’re in the right (somber) mood, pretty cool. If not, it can grow tired. In that mood, i think it’s Tears of Rage, Lonesome Suzie, and I Shall be Released that do it for me.

Felt a bit like a Gordon Lightfoot album, good storytelling and easy folksy sounds. Still not a Joni Mitchell fan (or the big hit Help Me) but respect for this album. Free Man in Paris is a good tune and Raised on Robbery is so different from the rest of the album’s sound but it is a fun tune. Down to You is my favorite track - lovely piano composition.

I really took a liking to Surfer Rosa and thought I might rate this one even higher given its well known songs. But after Debaser (so grungy), Where is My Mind (a great, great song), Here Comes Your Man (a fun one to learn on guitar), and Monkey Gone to Heaven (never really my fave) the album is a bit uneven. Up to that point in the album it has a real edgy, grungy sound (Tame and I Bleed fit well in the first half but not sure how well they stand alone). From there I find some of the songs a little weird (Crackity Jones, La La Love You, Hey, Silver). Still even in those songs you hear some great guitar riffs and rock beats. And in others on the back half they do it almost as well as the first half (No 13 Baby, There Goes My Gun, Gouge Away), reminding you why they were so important to the transition from 80s to 90s rock.

Damn. Great album. The first time I listened I didn't even pay attention to the lyrics, just the music - which was awesome. Great beats. But it's a concept album so I had to listen again to see what I thought about the themes throughout. He's so smooth you really have to pay attention or you'll miss the wordplay in his lyrics. Best tracks - I mean, absolutely loved them - were Shakey Dog (so smooth), Kilo (great beats and female vocals), Be Easy (inclusion of Ice Cube is awesome), and Dogs of War (intense beats and rapping). The skits were okay and some songs weren't as good as the rest, but still a great listen overall.

Meh. Not a big fan of country or of country rock (and hard to see the difference here). Nothing terrible but nothing all that memorable either. I'll give it a 3 knowing that this was a major pioneering album for the country rock sound and a fairly big departure from The Byrds earlier sound.

Never did get around to checking out more Fela Kuti since his last awesome album showed up on this last. More of the same - really dug the opening track and enjoyed the second track but not quite as much. Then comes the addition of Ginger Baker - was not aware how good he really was. Damn. Plus the Africa '70 is still killing it. Was feeling like a 4, maybe 4.5 for me but I'm going to round up because this is a live album that doesn't sound live and tired at times.

I feel like my rating is being swayed by what I read of this album and its eventual critical acclaim for its importance in moving forward 60's hippie rock. This album is for sure a 3 - Alone Again Or is a classic with underrated musical complexity, A House is Not a Motel has great guitarwork (soft opener and hard closer). Probably because of those two I paid attention to the rest of the album for its musical chops. These guys can definitely play and arrange cool extras like horns & strings. I took note of The Daily Planet (lively), The Red Telephone (Jefferson-esque psychedelic weird), Maybe the People... (lots of instruments), Live and Let Live (again, something just lively and good guitarwork), The Good Humor Man... (they do a lot with the sound), Bummer in the Summer (neat tempo and you can hear the guitar playing dexterity) and You Set the Scene (great closer and again so much going on with the sound). Beyond all that the whole album is full of wickedly dark and clever lyrics - I think more than anything those glum undertones separate this album from its contemporaries. In the end, it's a pretty cool album but you'd miss a lot of it if you only listened to it a couple times.

Unimpressed. Yes, Sinatra can croon but this is just a bunch of sad love songs. So kudos to his great voice but sorry if I'm not impressed by this "concept" in his concept album. There's no connection between the songs other than they're lovelorn and they have a similar sound. I wondered if I was missing something so I listened to the next album on the list - a George Jones tear jerker. It only hardened my resolve - Jones and Sinatra's albums are same shit different day. Sinatra has a better voice but Jones is a better musician. Kudos to both for a well-coordinated set of sad songs. But that's it.

Somewhat impressed. I don't like country. But after listening to Sinatra's sad songs I realized George Jones is just doing the same thing, country style. If I'm indifferent but not dissatisfied with Sinatra then I can't be any different with Jones just because he drawls when Sinatra croons. I'm only impressed because I found myself able to put Jones on the same plane as Sinatra for putting together an album full of emotion-tugging sad songs (even if country). Simple plucking and country sound with simple lyrics and a soft voice. Didn't love it but you can't hate it either.

Here's what I love about Seven Nation Army, the first track - it is so simple (one guitar and drums) but sounds like so much more. The opening chords sound like bass but it's just Jack White playing the top couple strings. And then he switches into chords and his signature high-pitched guitar sounds for the choruses. I just love his creativity and high-tempo energy, and Meg White pounds the skins pretty good too. The album might be 5-star if they could keep it up the whole way through. There are some snoozers (tracks 5 and 14 when Meg White sings and tracks 6 & 7 although I started to dig their softness on multiple listens). But pretty much the rest of the songs are rockers. That includes the well knowns like There's No Room for You Here, I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself, Ball and Biscuit, The Hardest Button to Button and the lesser knowns like Black Math, Little Acorns (after the intro), Hypnotize, The Air Near My Fingers, and Girl You Have No Faith in Medicine (the first and last of which are freakin' awesome). It's a definite 4.5 star album since I named 10 out of 14 songs as rocking. I think I'll ignore the so-so songs and round up for the fun and awesomeness that the rest of the album provides.

I find the whole motif similar to Curtis Mayfield's Superfly - Shaft is a movie soundtrack after all. I dig it, just not as much Superfly. The opening and closing themes are incredible - the funk, the bass lines and guitar, the brass, the everything. Do Your Thing is epic, with the funk and sound and everything just as good if not better than the main theme (guitar work is ridiculous). But in between was a bit pedestrian or unexciting - except for Be Yourself (great grooves), Soulsville (vocals added some character and emotion), and No Name Bar (had some interesting variety). Superfly wasn't quite a 5 for me and Shaft isn't quite a 4 for me.

Damn Stevie. Only 22 years old and this is his 15th album? What a talent. You are the Sunshine of My Life is a great softy - never feels sappy after all this time. Ditto for You and I (love it's soaring feel at the end). Maybe Your Baby is a great funky song - hidden treasure on this album. But it shows the two sides of this album - he goes back and forth from soft and beautiful to upbeat and funky with ease. I can't believe how much sound there is on the funky songs that is pretty much just Stevie. A master in a class all his own. Do I even need to say anything about Superstition? What a beauty. If you don't adore that song you are not human. I Believe When I Fall in Love... doesn't get as much fanfare as some other Stevie Wonder tunes but it is superb and nicely bookends side two (strangely, because my dad is a Garfunkel fan I know his version more). Blame it on the Sun is an even lesser known track that should not go unnoticed (beautiful). Love this album.

Pretty cool album. The start was a bit uninspiring - it was just a bunch of screaming girls. But as the album progressed you really started to feel the energy from his awesome band and Mr. James Brown himself. The two long tracks at the end of the album (Lost Someone and the three song medley) were dynamite; that's where I was sold.

Electronica/house just sounds so unimportant. If a DJ dropped a beat in a forest would anyone give a shit? Mylo has some skill in making his mash-ups not sound like complete garbage, and as a music & trivia fan I like trying to figure out what songs are being sampled when he does a good job of rethinking them. But mostly I'm bored. Finally found a beat worth paying attention to in song 3 (Musclecars, sounded like Situation by Yaz) and the next one (Drop the Pressure) was probably the best on the album (I was bopping along). In My Arms was an okay mash-up and Guilty of Love was worse. Paris Four Hundred had a decent beat. And then it got bad again. The title track was just stupid and Rikki was super annoying with its skipping sound. Otto's Journey wasn't bad (just repetitive) but I was mostly bored again for the final five tracks. I was thinking maybe a 3 but the second half of the album was almost entirely forgettable.

I guess they recorded this album at two different times and it definitely has two distinct sounds. I liked the more guitar-oriented songs (Atrocity Exhibition, Passover, Colony, A Mean's to an End, Twenty Four Hours) - heavy and scratchy sound, the skill is there, though you can see how shoe-gaze picked up that ball and ran with it in an even weirder way. And on second listen I really, really liked them. The synth-heavy songs (Isolation, Decades) are a bit too over the top for me. I was surprised that Heart and Soul and The Eternal were considered part of the latter songs (maybe the drum tracks?) because they felt real heavy and edgy like the former songs. I quite liked both. Rest his soul but I'm not a big fan of Ian Curtis' vocals. Even more rest his soul, but this album epitomizes the 80's "kill myself" music. The lyrics are quite sharp but man they are dark and gloomy. It's a real solid album despite the things I don't love; found myself unable to focus on anything else while listening. I was at around a 3 after the first couple tracks but moved to a 4 by the time I was two-thirds through the album; real strong from tracks 4 through 8. Almost went to 5 given how much its sound can be heard in various rock styles that came after it.

Some decent drum or bongo beats - including an African-style sound on Stars and Gambia via Vagator Beach. A couple other songs had some interesting musical blends that I think were synth but created a jangly guitar/piano feel (Pipes Honour), or a bass-heavy melody (Groove Street), or just something different (Mission Venice). So definitely some variety but I still felt uninspired.

What a dynamite f'n album. Almost has a bit of that unique rock, funk, and rap feel of Faith No More but even better. Tracks 1-5 are just so full, hard, loud and awesome with such intricate instrument work (and a bit of soaring ballad to boot on Open Letter). I did not realize how incredible a guitar player Vernon Reid is. Yeah, he kills it on Cult of Personality but what he does on I Want to Know, Middle Man, and Desperate People is just as electric. I mean, Muzz Skllings and Will Calhoun are no slouches on bass or drums, but damn the guitar sounds. I also think Corey Glover's vocals are fantastic. Tracks 10 and 11 had a similar pulsing rock vibe (loved Which Way to America) while they seemed to experiment with different sounds a bit more on tracks 6-9. Funny Vibe almost felt like a Rush song with its different time signatures and long bridge to outro. Broken Hearts sounded a bit country. Glamour Boys sounds like a more rocked-up combo of Jimmy Buffet and Gloria Estefan. Whatever the case, I loved this album. It may have just rocketed into my top 25 all-time favorite albums I loved it that much.

Torn on this one. It's a 4 for sure, couldn't decide whether to give it a 5. It's missing a bit of Elvis' energetic vocals and I can't tell if that's because he was older and/or going for a more mature sound or because of his cold while recording the album. But the mature instrumental sound is pretty appealing - the Memphis Boys provide great backing (I especially love the bass work on this album). It's a real smooth and easy listen but another knock might be a lack of undeniable big tunes, with the exception of the closer In the Ghetto (a true classic). Maybe if the non-album singles like Suspicious Minds (my absolute favorite Elvis tune, hands-down), Don't Cry Daddy, or Kentucky Rain had actually been on this album I'd go even higher. Still a very good album.

Pretty good, but why did Mandela sound like King of the Road? The title track was also really cool but sounded a little familiar - like Blueberry Hill? Song for Sathima had a very beautiful opening 35s and was okay after that (but had some fuzzy sounds, like a radio out of range, when the sax would come in?). Manenberg Revisited has a cool, energetic sound - wish I knew more about its inspiration or message. The Wedding is probably my favorite on the album; sweet and soulful. The Mountain is a nice follow-up to it. Overall, a very cool and smooth sounding jazz album with various musicians who complement each other well.

This album is just a little uneven. I really enjoyed the title track - it's a great opener that shows off Stewart's energetic (despite flawed) vocals and the eclectic yet rocking musical style he and his various backing musicians bring. Best track on the album. Then it's a little hit and miss for the next two songs until we get to the slide guitar (by Sam Mitchell) version of Amazing Grace - phenomenal. Tomorrow is a Long Time isn't great but I like the Celtic sound intermixed into it. Maggie May has never been my favorite (except for that awesome bridge and mandolin solo) but like the title track it's a very good blend of the best Stewart's vocals give and the ability and creativity of his backing musicians. Unfortunately, the next track Mandolin Wind was also hit and miss. But the album closes well with Reason to Believe. It's got some real nice highs, but also some lows.

Seems like more of that sound 80's UK bands (The The, Primal Scream, etc.) were going after. I don't know so much about the psychedelic angle (except for the final track Lazy Itis), or what separates the sound of these guys from the other UK bands. I did not like it at all initially but by the end of the album I wasn't sure if I'd call it terrible. Still, I'm not going back for more, and I don't really know why it belongs on this list. Might be worth a 3 but I went the other way.

Yes, it may be one of the finest albums of all time but it's not perfect. And not my favorite album ever. A Day in the Life is a brilliant song and one of the best album closers ever, but I always found it weird it comes after the Sgt. Pepper reprise, which also would've made sense to end the album from a pure concept perspective. Maybe they could've made Day in the Life feel more like an encore? And I will forever be thankful that the Beatles inspired albums and not just singles because of this album, though I wish that didn't have to mean so much studio tinkering. Ah well. I'm nit picking. The first three tracks are fantastic - Lucy in the Sky is psychadelia, not that Happy Mondays stuff that was the previous selection on the 1,001 list. Imagine if Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane had been included on this album rather than left off to be singles. I also quite enjoy Getting Better and how it blends into Fixing a Hole (both conceptually and musically). Within You Without You is such an exceptional display of musicianship. Such a great start to side two. When I'm 64 to Lovely Rita to Good Morning Good Morning (even to the reprise) is such a fun section I can overlook how it is such a departure from the two beautiful tracks that open and close side two. So yeah, I've got other albums that are at the top of my list but this one is still an absolute classic.

Feels like a tale of two albums here. I did not like the over-produced first half with all the guest appearances. Too much hokey extra "flare" added in, like on the title track (sounded like a Sade song) and the tracks with Canned Heat and Los Lobos. I didn't mind his duet with Bonnie Raitt since they were just playing and singing; ditto for Baby Lee, Sally Mae, and That's Alright where the guests were just playing guitar or harmonica. Still, I much preferred the stripped down last three tracks especially Rockin' Chair and No Substitute. Feels like a 3.5, but I'm rounding up because the legend was 73 and still holding it down when he put out this album.

Huh. I remember asking where all the Beatles albums were a few months back but didn't ask about the King of Pop. Maybe I was trying to forget him? Of all the famous artists whose legacies have been soured by accusations or revelations of terrible behavior, I struggle the most with Michael Jackson. Because he was that good; truly one of a kind. So forget the human being, I'm just rating the album. And it is a beauty. I wore out the record of Thriller, but this was almost as good a follow-up. It is nearly impossible not to rock out to Bad, The Way You Make me Feel, Dirty Diana, or Smooth Criminal. I was also a big fan of Leave Me Alone (I rock out to it). And Man in the Mirror is such a beautiful song - he was really such an inspiration and symbol of hope and goodness. That is why his molestation \"issues\" are so difficult to reconcile. I'd like to think he was crying out for help and that there really was a lot of good in him even though he was (and knew he was) tortured and twisted inside. As a musician, he was still at the top of his game. There are just so many big tunes on this album, which far outweigh a few so-so ones (Speed Demon, Liberian Girl). If it makes me Bad to overlook his personal badness and give this album a 5, fine, I accept that judgment.

You can definitely feel the energy on this one - at every song conclusion I'm just waiting to hear someone smash their instrument. Which is good because as musicians they're average at best. There's some heady social commentary on Motor City is Burning and between some songs, but otherwise it's pretty sex-fueled drivel (except for the weird but intriguing Starship). I mean sex, drugs, and rock & roll but maybe a little more variety? Thanks to Rage I love Kick Out the Jams and the original is solid (enough melody and lots of energy in their flawed playing). I think my ultimate rating is more based on knowing what they pioneered than their own ability.

Oh come on, really? Durst and his limp bandmates? Pass the Kid Rock please. I mean I guess these guys were big in the nu metal movement and in 20 yr old white boys' yearning for something hip-hop(ish) that was still white (again, Kid Rock) - I know because I saw how crazy all the other white guys went at the clubs every time the rock set came on (often with a Limp Bizkit tune in there). I always felt embarrassed and usually left the floor. Just because you say f$ck 100 times a song does not make for a good album. The band is actually pretty solid. And admittedly Rollin' is a good pump up song; really, if you're looking to amp up the anger or aggression, this album is pretty good. So despite his vocals and style being annoying as hell, there's something redeeming about Durst's lyrics and energy. And there are times when I might be in the mood for this album. Still, if you're looking for nu metal, Linkin Park was far better.

Oh, there you are again Steely Dan. Had a flurry of 3 albums in about a month and now it's been almost a year (and over 220 albums) since the last entry. I continue to put them in my list of classic rock artists I respect (more than I did when I was younger) but still don't completely get. Probably not surprising since this album is jazz-infused rock and I also don't get jazz. I find it funny because I always loved soft rock Chicago but never got into soft rock Steely Dan. The multitude of jazz players on this album are quite impressive and I really came to appreciate the complexity and grandness of the sound and the whole production on multiple listens. Lyrics too - they seem strange at first but when you listen and start to figure out the meaning (e.g., Aja, Deacon Blues, Josie) it's pretty sly and interesting. Definitely an album that grows on you (Black Cow and Peg being good song examples of that) but I may still be underappreciating it.

I used to say that Cheap Trick's I Want You to Want Me is the only song whose live recorded version is better than the studio version. Still love that live version (the crowd chants ebb and flow with the music), don't know if the rest of this live album always captures the same essence. It's not just about screaming fans, it's about fans being in rhythm with a band that is in full control of its delivery. The back half of the album approaches that - Clock Strikes Ten is a great encore performance (fully on fire by then) and the whole sequence from I Want You to Want Me to Surrender to Goodnight is humming. But you can hear the difference between that closer and its opener companion Hello There, where the latter is just a bit fuzzy and off (the recorded version of Hello There really rocks). I think it improves with each song but even by the time they hit Big Eyes it's still a bit labored. They nail it at Need Your Love - the fans are barely noticeable until two-thirds through but their quality of play for almost 9 minutes is awesome. They hit the pinnacle there and hold it for the rest of the concert/album. Impressive. So all in all a pretty darn good (live) album, and cool that its energy launched their career worldwide.

Another band that, like Boston, had a ton of potential with their first (self-titled) album but had their career trajectory stifled over squabbles with the record companies over future albums. However, Boston managed to sneak in a second album before their big squabble/lag and did pretty well with their "comeback" album. The Stone Roses were mostly forgettable on their second album, and by the time they got around to it Oasis had elbowed their way in as everyone's UK and Manchester darlings. Also, Boston's debut album is a 4 if not a 5; the Stone Roses debut album is a 3, maybe a 4. Funny because I was reading some of the Wikipedia write-up and saw one UK critic's comments that pretty much match how I feel - first three songs good and then a "right barrel-load of shite afterwards". That's a bit harsh because Made of Stone (track 8), This is the One (track 10), and Fools Gold (final track 12) aren't bad. But they aren't as good as the first three (I Wanna be Adored, She Bangs the Drums, and Waterfall are pretty kick ass) and the other tracks, including the middle third of the album, are kind of garbage. Some folks need to give their heads a shake because these guys are not as good or even as trail blazing as they were made out to be. I'd say they took their sound from bands like New Order and the Jesus and Mary Chain and they were similar to a lot of other artists from that scene in the late 80's and early 90's (I'm not mentioning it again, see earlier posts). Whatever that UK sound, it died out pretty quick though it was reimagined in the 90's brit pop/rock, which was better than this sound. Still, it's a pretty cool album. Just cool your jets talking about it like it was the second coming of the Beatles.

You will not appreciate this if you only listen a couple times. It can just blend into the background otherwise. For that reason I was initially at a 3. But as I kept listening I really picked up on the different instruments and moods being set in the music. It was like listening to an opera or ballet - I could picture characters moving and expressing emotions with the music. Very cool. Some favorites - Little Italy (loved the emotion from the strings), Laura's Dream (sweeping, and again the strings; sounded like sirens at times), and Operation Tango (cool pacing with slow and frenetic bits).

One thing I didn't know about Crowded House before this album showed up on this list is that some members used to be in Split Enz (a bit of a one hit wonder outside of Oceania but I Got You is a fun 80s tune). Massive singles from their debut album (Don't Dream It's Over and Something so Strong) still get regular radio airplay in Canada; surprised this isn't the one album of theirs on this list. I also know Better Be Home Soon off their second album and Distant Sun off their fourth album. Off this album, I know Fall at Your Feet and Weather With You (both fun or nostalgic). But I don't think I was missing much not knowing the other songs (although Tall Trees was as good as those other two). Perfectly average and unmemorable.

Like probably everyone, I own Nevermind. And probably like most, that's the only Nirvana album I own. Maybe that makes me like the guy they sing about in In Bloom. But I honestly never got into this follow-up; just didn't think it was as good. Re-listening to it, from the first two songs you notice how much harder (or as others say, abrasive) the sound is (I love the sound of Scentless Apprentice, though not the screeching vocals). That makes it more of a challenge to grasp the lyrics, which admittedly are just as good and thought-provoking as on their previous album. Cobain really was a masterful lyricist. And they show more depth in their musicianship. I totally hear Cobain's love of the Pixies in this album - in how it takes on a different sound than Nevermind, in how the songs differ vastly from each other, in some of the edginess. In retrospect, I really dug lesser knowns Frances Farmer, Very Ape, and Milk It just as much as well knowns Heart Shaped Box, Rape Me, Dumb, and All Apologies (all incredible songs). Even Pennyroyal Tea grew on me (until now I didn't understand why it was so beloved). I still think Nevermind is better, but In Utero is pretty damn good and a real close second.

Sorry, still can't do it. She has such an elegant voice but her unique style is just not for me. Probably the electronica - also not my favorite style. I didn't hate it, but I found myself wondering when it might be over. I am still not interested in exploring more of her work after this album.

I did not mind this; I might even have liked it. Every time I listened to it I was amazed at how quickly the album was over. Good news I think that there's no filler and no pained, overdone material. I liked Jennings vocals - a style somewhere between Cash and Presley. And he had some good beats to tap along to, as well as a nice mixture of old fashioned country and almost southern rock. Favorites - Honky Tonk Heroes, Willy the Wandering Gypsy, Omaha, You Ask Me To, Black Rose, and even that softy We Had It All. Yep, outlaw country is alright - far better than that country pop of today.

I've said it before - Adele is one of (if not) the best pop artists that has come along this century. She is also one of the best of all time. Great vocals, incredible lyrics - their combo brings out such emotion. Enough to give you goosebumps. Not sure if I love all the compositions - maybe she needs to choose her producers and collaborators better? Sometimes it just felt a little too over-produced (I Miss You, River Lea) when what I think would have been better was something more stripped down (emphasizing her talent). I think Hello is a bit overplayed but you can't deny its raw power - and it is a very minimal track as far as instruments go. Ditto When We Were Young. Send My Love and Water Under the Bridge have a bit more going on musically than others but I still love them - enchanting. The second half of the album wasn't quite as good as the first, though I appreciate it did feel more stripped down. I think her previous album was just a bit better. Not quite a 5 for me, but probably 4.5.

Joni Mitchell's style is just so strange. Her lyrics are of course not throwaway but they are also real head-scratchers. Too smart for the rest of us? I got about halfway through the album and was wondering why this album was on the list. Then I restarted it and The Jungle Line really caught my attention - first for the African beat intro and then all the jazz sounds. In retrospect it is an awesome song. And it made me realize she really took some risks, with the jazz arrangements rivalling some of the free jazz or jazz fusion that I've been learning about from this list. Still, In France They Kiss on the Main Street was the only other song that really stuck with me. The album still felt a bit too strange to me.

This is one of the first rock albums I remember as a kid, or other kids talking about - the full album, not just a song or two. I think I was 9 years old. For the next few years all air band skits included at least one group of kids doing Pour Some Sugar on Me or Rocket or Armageddon It, with everyone wanting to be the one armed drummer. Weird how music gets around and grows into something big. I will always prefer the more complicated style of 90's grunge and alternative to the try to please everybody style of 80's hair metal, but this was one of the finest versions of 80's drugs, sex, and rock and roll (and bubblegum). Only now do I know how much studio production was used to generate the sound; otherwise, I know it as an album full of massive hits. Sell outs or not, it is 7 songs before reaching a song that is just so-so. The first half is an awesome ride. Too bad they didn't just throw in Hysteria and call it a day as a 7-track album, because the second half is a bit soft. I mean, it rolls right along with the vibe, so fits nicely if you're listening cover to cover. But even I have to admit it's a lot of cheese and I don't know if you'd really care about most of the second half songs if you heard them one-off. I wanna give it a 5 because it's such a fun, rocking album but it gets downgraded to just under 4.5 for the cheese.

Really, CHIC gets another album on this list? Meh. Second verse, same as the first. It is probably one of the finest disco albums you'll hear, but it's still disco. Great funk, great bass lines, upbeat tempo and lyrics but it's still just the same beat and simple message over and over. Did Good Times (a classic) really need to be 8 minutes? Thankfully the lesser songs on the back half of the album were shorter. Admirable but not really anything more than average in my opinion.

Eventually I will run into a Led Zeppelin album that I can't give a 5 to. Is this it? This would've been another masterpiece if they just stuck with the 8 original tracks. Conventions and run time be damned. The first two sides kick serious ass, even with a couple tracks not from the original 8 - Houses of the Holy (really should've put it on that album, it is great and that album needs more greatness) and The Rover (my least favorite on the first two sides). Trampled Under Foot has so much boogie (Custard Pie too), it's one of my faves. And then In My Time of Dying and Kashmir are epics; never have I ever wondered when those two tracks would end despite their almost 20 minutes of playing time. But I sort of shrug from time time listening to the last two sides, especially for the tracks not from the original 8 - Down by the Seaside, Night Flight, and Black Country Woman. Bron-Yr-Aur has some deft musicianship though and Boogie with Stu is also a nice jam but the recording quality is a bit weak. They just don't have the same energy and fit as the songs originally intended for this album, like The Wanton Song (similar boogie as Trampled Under Foot) or Sick Again. Granted, In the Light falls a bit flat for me, though I like the somber musical stylings in Ten Years Gone. This just feels like one of those times where a single album would've been better (super tight) than a double one (stretched a bit thin). I hate to do it, but can't give it a 5 - very close though.

Tough one. You totally hear the influence and mastery of psychedelic rock in this album right away in Strange Brew and Sunshine of Your Love, but also in those two's b-sides - Tales of Brave Ulysses and SWLABR. Those are 4 incredible tracks, the latter two just as good as the former big hits. Heavy is a good word to describe them - full of sound, especially a bluesy overlay. Outside Woman Blues and Take it Back also have a great blues sound. After that I'm a bit split on the rest. We're Going Wrong feels like a slow trudge, but I guess still psychedelic. World of Pain and Dance the Night Away aren't bad but I think they're better when following the first two hits than listening to them on their own. Ginger Baker should not be allowed to sing - Blue Condition is tough to listen to (almost downright awful) and Mother's Lament is just so weird. The latter I'm actually intrigued by and don't totally mind because it sounds like they're taking the piss out of someone or thing - I just wish I knew more about the context.

This is a good album but its charms are also its weaknesses. Neil Young is one of the finest lyricists we've seen in the last 100 years and it shows in songs like Out on the Weekend, Heart of Gold, Old Man, and especially The Needle and the Damage Done. But I don't know what he was going after in A Man Needs a Maid (cringeworthy way to express his adoration for a woman) and Alabama (heavy-handed, which even he admits now). His stripped down but deft musical arrangements are hallmarks of his as well - and that is here in spades on 8 of 10 songs. On top of that he nicely brings in the London symphony on A Man Needs a Maid (sound is cool even if lyrics are junky), but then the symphony feels overdone and disruptive on There's a World (the harp in particular makes it sound like a bad Disney theme song). Still, if you step back there is maybe one bad song, a couple so-so songs (weak lyrics but good sound), and the rest is really Neil Young at his lyrical and musical best. And his best is quite a high bar. And I say that as someone who is not a fan.

Before modern day R&B and hip-hop, you just know this was the kids' preferred baby-making music in the 80's. It's hypnotic, it's rhythmic, and then combine those beats with Gahan's sultry vocals (and Gore's lyrics). These guys were the masters of synth pop. I think the 3-song sequence from Never Let Me Down Again to The Things You Said to Strangelove is up there with some of their best work. Awesome tracks. And the sequence from Sacred to Little 15 to Behind the Wheel isn't too shabby either (though lyrics are a bit creepier). There are some bigger holes in the last four tracks. Pimpf is a little too weird and I Want You Now is a little too creepy, but Nothing is pretty good. The album definitely gets better on multiple listens; feels like a solid 3.5. So, round up or down? I went down to clearly distinguish it from Violator, which I feel is a superior album.

Tight album. Best electronica on this list since Kraftwerk (these two groups might be the only ones I actually care to listen to more of). It had me toe tapping right from the opening few beats in Genesis. And so much seamless transition from track to track; kudos to the duo for successfully creating their opera concept. Other big toe tappers for me were Phantom (except the last 45s or so, see below), DVNO, Stress, and Waters of Nazareth. The album has its times where the beats are a little too abrasive or stuttered (the glitchy effect in Newjack and the final 45s of Phantom is a bit tough to take) or the vocals are annoying (sounds like bad Kids Pop on DANCE or bad Keisha on The Party). But overall, this album is waaaay better than most electronica I have heard.

Still not my cup of tea. Found myself waiting for it to be over. Maybe I would change my tune if I listened to the album a few more times but I don't want to. I didn't hate it but I don't care about it either.

This was ok - some good, some bad. I liked the droning, haunting sound of the opening track If I Had a Heart (later on Concrete Walls too). And then I realized that Fever Ray has an annoying voice by the second track When I Grow Up. When her vocals are more front and center (on about half the songs), the songs aren't as good and I struggled to enjoy the beats. Because of her voice and occasional strange beats, sometimes I wondered whether the album was meant to be a spoof - like a Will Ferrell EuroVision thing. The lyrics are also a bit too simple or everyday, not really making you think. All in all, another electronica album that is just meh.

I guess in retrospect we were still figuring out Britpop at the time, so this was a landmark album. I remember my buddy's younger sister was a huge fan of Suede, Blur, and all things Britpop or Britrock in the mid-90's. Blur I got, Suede I did not. I think I still don't. The album feels a bit aged, and foggy. I really only knew Animal Nitrate before this, and I thought So Young (the follow-up single) sounded very much like it. I had no idea that The Drowners and Metal Mickey were the two singles before it that was creating all the positive Suede momentum. They're pretty good and better than Animal Nitrate. My favorite track though was Moving; still that foggy sound but a bit more energy that I enjoyed. Of the softer or trippier songs, Sleeping Pills was my favorite. Good lyrics and an otherworldly sound - Bowie-esque almost. I guess I never totally understood Bowie either so if they're paying him reverence (nd not at the same level) then maybe that's why this album doesn't quite move the needle high for me.

Interesting - I had never heard of these guys or this album. But man, the 90's were such a great time for socially aware and/or politically charged rap & lyrics. One problem though is that it all sounds similar to me - like there's a crisp voice overtop of a variety of different, more in-the-background beats but the cadence and rhythm seems to come off the same. As I was listening to this album it ended and some random suggested tracks came on and I didn't even know it wasn't the same group. So yes, I love the lyrics but find the whole package didn't really stand out. If I had to pick a couple favorites though, it'd definitely be Who's Gonna Take the Weight?, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (great groove), and As I Read My S-A.

Easy 5. I wore this record out as a kid. Probably the cassette too. Truly one of the greatest albums of all time. The beats, the blend of rock and pop and R&B, the lyrics, the varied vocals, the everything. There is such a range of song styles and yet every single one of them is a hit (well maybe not The Lady in My Life). But there are great artists whose greatest hits aren't as good as this album. What else needs to be said?

So, is it fair to call this a rap opera? It is dense, but Kendrick Lamar is telling a deep, inter-connected story and deserves a lot of credit for that. He really includes a lot of detail, almost like what would be in a novel with character description. I listened to the album a bunch of times and I really came to respect his lyrics - I knew he was good but he is real good. My problem with his opera, as compared to a rock opera like The Wall, is it is so complex. And in a rock opera, when the lyrics go over my head, I can fall back into the music and the flow from song to song. I felt like my head was spinning more often than it would for a rock opera (what did he just say? Is that a real audio recording or a skit? Are we returning to a previous part of the story? Where are we in the story?) and the musical stylings don't line up as well. Some tracks had great beats and others were hard to get into. Still, the man is a lyrical genius. Favorite tracks were The Art of Peer Pressure (super deep and introspective), Money Trees (great groove), MAAD city (awesome beats and pretty deep), Swimming Pools/Drank (catchy and real personal), and Sing About Me/I'm Dying of Thirst (some annoying stylings but wow, deep). I also really enjoyed recordings of his parents (e.g., on Sherane) - can't believe those are real phone messages. I have a ton of respect now for Lamar as a writer and lyricist, but still didn't totally love all the musical stylings.

What I read about this album, I thought it was going to be even stranger than it was. It had its moments, but it mostly just sounded like Brazilian the Mama's and the Papa's (of course on Tempo no Tempo but other songs too) or Donovan (Trem Fantasma sounded like Sunshine Superman - was that intentional?). I'm not sure that I hated it but I certainly didn't get it. I think it was hurt more by the fact it was in Portuguese and I couldn't grasp the context then it was hurt by its weird arrangements. It made it hard for me to get into it.

Ah yes, I remember D'Angelo - that's what everyone talked about "macking" to in high school. I was surprised I didn't really recognize any of his songs. I think that might be telling - great voice, some sexy beats, but otherwise a little forgettable. It's a solid album but I wasn't fired up by it. For what it's worth, my favorites were Brown Sugar (nice beats and innuendo), Sh%t, Damn, MoFo (I think I just liked hearing someone sing MoFo so many times in a sultry voice), and Cruisin (this version fit him well). I admit my rating might be a level too low.

Alright, I better put this right out in the open. I do not like the Doors. Never been a fan of Jim Morrison. His voice doesn't do it for me and if his charisma isn't really there in studio performances. Listening to this album, I just find them boring. I've always liked Roadhouse Blues so that's a plus. And they do put together a decent blues sound. But otherwise the album felt like it plodded along. Not terrible but I still don't get the hype behind the Doors.

I was not a fan of Garbage when they came out in the 90's. Not rock enough and too dance for me maybe. But all these years later I have a much better appreciation for their sound and I can hear so much of it in bands (who I like or don't mind) that came after them (e.g., Metric, AWOL Nation, even the Killers). It's kind of amazing how long it took for computer-aided rock to really take off. It seems like half the bands considered rock these days are just layering and looping computer and synth rock sounds. I think what I realized listening to the album for the last week is how catchy the real instrument sounds are and how well they're mixed with the "fake" instruments. I prefer the non-singles like Supervixen, Not My Idea, Dog New Tricks, or Fix Me Now (my favorite on the whole album) to the singles. I quite like Only Happy When it Rains now but I didn't in the 90's and I like Vow (a lesser known single) more than the bigger ones (Queer or Stupid Girl). All in all, a pretty solid album even though I tend not to like produced rock and prefer authentic rock and instruments.

Didn't hate it. Particularly enjoyed the first two tracks (Are You Happy?, Only Dreaming Now). After that I drifted in and out; hard to pick a song I really enjoyed but a decent trip the rest of the way through the album. Still not sure I'm going back for more though.

Wow. You really have to listen to this album more than once to appreciate it. I'm not saying it's a stunner, but it's a real solid album. At some points it's almost as heavy as a Sabbath album, particularly the Black side which I like more than the White side. Father to Son (white) is a little softer (still good) in the first and last third but the middle third is almost as pulsing & heavy & awesome as Ogre Battle (black). The song transitions are almost seamless, which gives it a really cool, proggy feel despite the shorter song runtimes. It's a bit mystical at times, which is sometimes weird (less accessible) and yet sometimes wonderful. Funny how Seven Seas of Rhye was the lead single and is the only song anyone remembers from this album. It's good but lacks depth and is bested by others. This is an album whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Yeah, these guys were good. The beats knock you on your butt immediately. Smack My Bitch Up, Breathe, and Firestarter are massively popular tracks, and with good reason. Like a lot of this album they are infectious. Funky Sh&t and Mindfields were other tracks that I couldn't shake, in a good way. What struck me about the album is it's electronic but doesn't always feel that way - it feels bass or drum heavy at times, it feels like there are guitars and instruments (which there are, but even when there aren't). It has its moments where a song runs on too long or has too extreme/annoying of loops or beats (looking at you Serial Thrilla). But it is a fun listen that I'm willing to repeat or makes we want to explore more Prodigy.

I was waiting for this album. Dang Johnny, thanks for this last one. Simple, beautiful arrangements. His originals, reworked or not (The Man Comes Around, Give My Love to Rose, Tear Stained Letter) have just as good lyrics and draw you in just as well as any of his other previous songs or versions. His version of Hurt just epitomizes this whole album - stripped down, vulnerable, sad (mostly). I Hung My Head and Personal Jesus are other great examples of how his reworked versions really put a new spin on the original. You have to be in a certain mood for it, but as a concept this album is brilliant, as is his execution.

So I read the background on this album and I guess he was trying to do something as big or great as Michael Jackson or Prince. His hits definitely reach that level - Faith has great musical elements (love the rockabilly), Father Figure is deep and beautiful (lyrics and instrumentation), One More Try is even deeper and more beautiful (maybe my favorite of all the songs he ever created). But other songs just sound like terrible 80's cheese (e.g., Hard Day, Look at Your Hands). Even Monkey and I Want Your Sex, both big hits, are cheesy - I get why the latter was a big hit (needed some frank talk on the subject in the 80s) but the former is a bit of a head scratcher. Still, he brings it back with his softer and more introspective ballads - Hand to Mouth and Kissing a Fool are also really beautiful pieces. In the end I guess he got pretty close to his idols with this album but not quite all the way.

Not bad but too frenetic. Like his work in the Pixies, it's got Frank Black's signature weird but interesting lyrics and some cool musical arrangements (including some guitar work from his former bandmate) but it's just too all over the place. And it's too long - 22 songs constantly changing in pace and content and style. As much as I liked some songs quite a bit (Abstract Plain, Headache, Freedom Rock, The Hostess with the Mostest, White Noise Maker), the whole album is just a bit too much to wrap my head around. Tighten it up and I might like it even more. But as it stands it feels average at best.

So cool how he decided to change up his style & sound and produced this super funky album. Loved the opening track Chameleon - so much funk and great grooves. I'm pretty sure that French band Stereolab sampled the clicking bass or guitar sound from Watermelon Man on their first track of Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Nothing like homage to show greatness. I didn't like Watermelon Man as much as Chameleon - some weird stuff in the former while the latter was like listening to the best funk rock George Clinton could deliver. Sly and Vein Melter were also good but not as good as Chameleon; felt a little more reserved. Still, quite a good album that I would not have otherwise listened to. I love when that happens.

Solid album. Metal can be a little over the top sometimes (especially the vocals) but the musicality on this album is great and the vocals are decent. Di'Anno almost has a punk-sounding voice. Great guitar and drum tempos, especially on Prowler, Running Free, Phantom of the Opera (really deft guitar work here), and Transylvania. And then of course there are the obligatory (and well done) soaring but heavy ballads - Remember Tomorrow, Strange World. Tight album, not a lot of waste.

The 3-song opening sequence is about as big as you'll find on any album. Where the Streets Have no Name might still be my favorite U2 song, given the Edge's opening (and further) guitarwork and how the rest of the instruments just fit it so well. Bono's lyrics and vocals are great too. But after that I felt it was a bit uneven. The next 4 songs from Bullet the Blue Sky to In God's Country were pretty solid; retained a similar rock feel to the first 3 songs albeit not quite the same highs. The last 4 songs felt more like The Waterboys celtic sound (except for Exit, still heavy); more folksy and decent for sure but definitely not the same level as the first 3 big hits.

Meh. Another one of those albums that is not awful, kind of pleasant really, but not memorable. Found myself more interested in listening to the next album on the list once this was over than listening to more Gene Clark. Still I don't understand why it was so panned when it came out. It's just kind of doing it's own thing, not hurting anyone. Ignored, sure. Completely & perfectly bland and average.

My wife's uncle, who is from Glasgow and now lives in Manchester, seems to love all Scottish bands including Travis. I can see the appeal - all their singles (Writing to Reach You, Driftwood, Turn, Why Does it Always Rain on Me?) came flooding back to memory and got me toe-tapping. It's not a masterpiece or anything and like the rest of the bands and sound that was brewing overseas at the time (e.g., Keane, Snow Patrol, Coldplay) it's a bit watery. But they did a good job with sad rock/pop on this one. A solid 3.5 but after just listening to the Joshua Tree and rating it a 4, I can't rate this album as highly.

What, where's Wikipedia to give me an easily accessible read about this album? I can't be bothered to do my own research. :) I dug this a fair bit. The first track So Many Sides of You had a Stevie Wonder kind of opening (sounds like Master Blaster), which I love because I love Stevie. Hope it wasn't a ripoff. There is some definite early 80's cheese here - Lay Your Lovin' On Me is a bit over-produced and the lyrics in Secrets are just atrocious at times (KFC? Really?). I get why If You Think You're Lonely Now was the big single - so much deeper and more soulful than the others. But the album is mostly a good funky ride, and that's worth something. Stand Up is another great example. I know, it's got some cheese too but damn that beat. I loved it (reminded me of another great funky cheese You Dropped a Bomb on Me by the Gap Band). A nice surprise and more to add to my list of soft 80's r&b favorites.

Sorry, but I always found the singles off this album a bit boring and/or I didn't get what the big deal was with Frampton (other than his squawk box). I found side one and two of the album lacked energy, except maybe the last song on side two (I Wanna Go to the Sun). Side three really picked up the pace, from the instrumental Penny for Your Thoughts and then followed by Money (though the editing/transition between the two is terrible). Shine on and Jumpin Jack Flash were solid too. Side four was alright; doesn't hold the same pace as side three though I guess Do You Feel Like We Do is the best of the singles. So maybe half an album that is humming and another half that is meh. Feels pretty average to me.

Well, I'm sure everyone loves the title track (except maybe Lennon himself) - it really is a beautiful piece. I've always been a big fan of Jealous Guy but I don't think I knew any other songs from the album. I liked some a fair bit - Crippled Inside (cool country rock sound), It's So Hard (solid rock & roll sound), I Don't Want to be a Soldier and Gimme Some Truth (both edgy lyrics and sound). But I didn't care much for Oh My Love, How Do You Sleep, or Oh Yoko. It gets better and better with each listen but it's not quite a masterpiece.

I really love Paul Simon, but I was expecting more. He's such a clever and cheeky lyricist and a deft musician and composer. And yes, that is here in his hits like Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (one of my alltime faves) and Mother and Child Reunion (wonderful blending of different sounds and vocals); even in lesser knowns like Duncan ("couple in the next room bound to win a prize, they've been going at it all night long") or Peace Like a River (his folksy plucking combined with other instruments is great) or Paranoia Blues (quintessential up-tempo Paul Simon). But I felt like there were a bunch of ho-hum songs (Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Congratulations) or others with clever lyrics but that sound like regurgitation of his work with Garfunkel (Papa Hobo). I'm torn on others with simple strumming and easy vocals (Run that Body Down, Armistice Day); sometimes I find them a bit boring, other times just right. He has some absolutely killer albums but this one felt average to be honest.

Hmmm, in some ways like a Swiss-French/Swiss-German but weaker version of Rammstein...if Rammstein and Tom Waits had a lovechild. I did not like the real avantgarde stuff that sounded like Waits' circus music (La Fille de la Mort, Charlotte, Les Enfants) but the heavier, almost thrash Rammstein-sounding (or NIN-sounding) stuff was kind of cool (Rue des Tempetes, L'eau Rouge, Longue Route, Crier les Chiens, Ville Notre, L'amourir, Pas Mal). Yeah, the vocals are pretty brutal, but the beats really are captivating. I thought for sure I'd give it a 2 after the first song but the album really grew on me.

Funny, the only songs I know by Suzanne Vega are Tom's Diner and Luka, and neither are on this album (and I didn't know until listening to it today that the latter is about physical abuse). She has a good voice and is a very insightful lyricist. I'm sure she was part of the strong 80's female songwriters that led record companies to try and copy it for the rest of the 80's and into the 90's. Still, like Kate Bush, I wasn't all that inspired to go out and listen to more of her stuff. Tori Amos (who is a suggestion after listening to Vega), yes, I want to hear more of her stuff. But Vega's voice and compositions just don't have the same attraction for me.

Another solid Elvis Costello album; I'm starting to figure out how good he is. Still, I wasn't completely blown away like I was with his debut album. I even went back to the other one to see why I liked it so much. Maybe they're pretty equal and both are worth a 4; I'm not sure this is a 5. I really liked side one, especially the 4-song sequence from No Action to Pump it Up. Side two wasn't as good, but still plenty of energetic fun and great lyrics. I know Chelsea is a big favorite (it's solid) but the track I liked best on side two was Living in Paradise (or maybe Lip Service). I still don't know how to characterize his sound (rockabilly punk?) but I think that's a good thing. It's one-of-a-kind and good.

So this is where it really took off for Springsteen. What makes this album so infectious? I do think it's the whole thing put together; some songs as one offs might not grab you, but together they consistently pound his quintessential sound (with the E-Street Band), massive energy, and top-notch lyrics. It feels like a very up-tempo Bob Dylan; that's partly because his lyrics are that deep and partly because the E-Street Band adds a style not unlike the Band when they were backing Dylan. The piano in particular is just awesome on pretty much every track (but especially on Thunder Road, Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, Backstreets, Born to Run, and Jungleland). The sax is also clutch on many songs. Springsteen truly was/is a master songwriter and musician. Fantastic album.

Wow, I did not realize how many singles came off this album...or how 80's it all sounds. Almost every track has that cheap synth sound, like Rick James on overdrive. Is there any decade we'd more prefer to sweep under the rug for its cringeworthy sounds? Ugh. I guess that's what everyone wanted back then but ugh. I wonder how good this album could've been with a different and more authentic sound...and more than 2 weeks to produce it. Because Tina's vocals are awesome. And there's some catchy bits once you get through the cheese (her biggest singles were big for a reason). You know the expression don't hate the player, hate the game? I think an apt variation is don't hate the musician, hate the producer.

Just a glorious album; one of the first I ever owned although I didn't truly appreciate it until I was older. I was recently listening to Hum and a friend chastised me for not thinking they were shoegaze given their wall of sound motif. He then reminded me that the Pumpkins were also an offshoot of that shoe gaze wall of sound, and it's very noticeable re-listening to this album. Grunge meets shoegaze, but amazing. I love how they moved away from pure distortion into more melodic pulsing (not just fuzzy) guitar sounds. The opening 6 song sequence is awesome; their 4 singles show that energetic, up-tempo and melodic wall of alternative rock sound (Cherub Rock and Rocket) as well as depth in muscianship and lyrics (Today and Disarm). Quiet and Hummer are right up there with those 4. Things start to detour when you hit Soma, though it and others (Spaceboy, Luna, Silverfuck) continue to show their depth of sound and lyrical emotion and/or some prog rock complexity and skill. Still, Geek USA and Mayonaise (Silverfuck too) provide more pulsing and energetic rock if you want more of that (and why wouldn't you? It rocks). Again, just a glorious, classic album.

Another beauty from the 90's. Admittedly I'm a slightly bigger fan of Radiohead's more straight ahead rock album The Bends, but OK Computer is really one of those great albums that must be listened to as a whole. If you just got dropped into it randomly, you may not get it. But starting from Airbag and finishing at The Tourist, it's a seamless and connected journey. For a guy like me there's plenty of great guitar and percussion work to fall back on in songs like Paranoid Android, Electioneering, and Lucky. But even when they experiment (a lot), it's with such cool sounds in songs like Subterranean Homesick Alien, Let Down, Climbing Up the Walls, and No Surprises. And then Thom Yorke is such a brilliant lyricist, even when he's trying to be abstract, with such emotion-grabbing vocals. Karma Police is a great example; beautiful and one of my all-time favorite rock songs. And if you love Radiohead's work in the 90's (perhaps their best period) check out the re-release OK Computer OKNOTOK, with a whole second album of b-sides and unreleased tracks. I Promise off that album maybe surpasses Karma Police in my mind; rawer like Fake Plastic Trees off the Bends, but just beautiful and dripping with desperation and emotion. At any rate, it just goes to show that Radiohead was at their masterful peak around the recording of OK Computer.

I didn't mind it; sort of an eclectic or unique brand of blues. I don't know how much more I can say than that. It was good background music, it had some cool bluesy guitar sometimes, some cool subtle percussions other times, and overall felt more like blues meets traditional Brazilian, Spanish, Middle Eastern, South Asian, or African sounds. I know it was probably supposed to be more of the last one, but it felt more worldly.

Is it the lack of background vocals that make it feel like great background music but not much else? There's some really good musicianship going on but if you don't really pay attention it just passes you by. Glad I can now put an artist and song title to Green Onions, or Rinky Dink (though they're not the originals), and I heard some other beats that likely got adopted or adapted elsewhere (Comin Home Baby in I'm a Man by the Spencer Davis Group). Enjoyable but didn't really blow me away.

I definitely remember when this album came out and my friends owning it and playing it. But listening to it, I only recall Sabotage (a stone cold classic and all the more impressive now that I know they played their own instruments on it) and Sure Shot (a great tune in it's own right). But I realize now this album is not really about Sabotage, which feels like rap rock. It's more about Sure Shot, which feels like jazz fusion overlaid with hip-hop and rap. There are others like the latter with more of a hip-hop edge, like B-Boys (and now I know why a friend stuck his Prince Albert in our potato salad at a party 20 years ago). But this is not a hip-hop album. And if you get that then you can really appreciate it for what it is; an eclectic jazz album. Bobo on the Corner and Root Down feel like jazz percussion. Get it Together and Sabrosa feel like funk and jazz and they both kick serious ass. Q-tip is a great add to the former and the musical stylings in the latter are like vintage Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield (just awesome). The Update and Futterman's Rule are some sort of combination of these four, though a little bit boring. And that's my one gripe with this album. It's a bit uneven. For all the musical chops, innovation, and ambition they display (mad respect) there are a few too many snoozers. On the second half, especially. It starts off great - Alright Hear This and Do It have a cool hip-hop sound while Eugene's Lament (that violin!) and Flute Loop (that flute!) are incredible. But after that it's kind of meh, except maybe for Shambala with it's very interesting and eclectic jazz sounds. Honestly, on first listen I thought it was average. But as I listened to it a few more times I really understood how unique and complex it was, and how talented these guys are. A few of those holes in the album still tugged at me, though I was getting close to a 5.

Decadent is how I would describe this album. Do we need the 15 minute Voodoo Chile or 13 minute 1983, or all the guitar solos, leadups (And the Gods Made Love), or jam sessions in these songs? No, that is for Jimi and his band. And the tighter Voodoo Child is still epic. But is it awful? No, and Hendrix is one of the most revered guitarists in history for a reason. So for all the self-indulgence you're usually listening to genius at work. But yes, it could be tighter.

Torn here. There's a solid jazz foundation on every track, but the lyrical themes don't always elevate it to the next level. I want more H2O Gate (or The Revolution Will not Be Televised from his prior album) and less Your Daddy Loves You. The latter is sweet and all, but there's not much to it. Jackson's soft piano adds a biting contrast when placed together with Scott-Heron's incredible lyrics in the former. And that's who Scott-Heron is, a brilliant lyricist with much to say and much for us to pay attention to. The Bottle was also fantastic; edgier sound and brilliant lyrics. The opening and closing Peace Go With You, Brother tracks didn't have quite the same bite (though the opener shows potential for where the album could go). Ditto for Rivers of My Fathers (it wanders a bit). I couldn't figure out whether he was trying to do something more profound with A Very Precious Time than singing about first love. Feels like a 3.5, but I think I shrugged more than I perked up.

I think right before Elliott Smith's death in the 2000's my dad was discovering and listening to him, which is weird because it feels like that is when I (in my 20's) should've been discovering Elliott Smith. I did get introduced to Brendan Benson and Pete Yorn then (similar in certain ways), both of whom I liked, so not sure why I didn't get into Elliott Smith. I wonder if his Either/Or album is better, but I liked the stripped down acoustic (or piano) sound in this one. Good lyrics and good songwriting; almost like a modern Paul Simon. Highlights were Somebody that I Used to Know, Junk Bond Trader, LA, Easy Way Out, Wouldn't Mama Be Proud, Can't Make a Sound.

The Isley Brothers are better than I remember, though I probably never remembered which songs were theirs. Better comes from their musical abilities; I remembered them as crooners but there's a lot of electric funk to this album. They can still sing, lots of good vocals and harmony. All in all, it's a weak 4 because despite their highs (the first 4 tracks including That Lady and You Walk Your Way) I didn't really love their remakes of Listen to the Music or Summer Breeze (too forced).

This one was surprisingly good. It felt like a modern Bob Dylan meets Bruce Springsteen. Yes, at times I felt like the lead singer was trying too hard to emulate Dylan's voice (or Springsteen's shrieks) but there was a really cool blend of soft guitar and percussions, synth and piano/keys, raspy vocals, and solid lyrics. I really nice twist on (or evolution of) Americana rock. The album had me paying attention right from get go with Under the Pressure and Red Eyes; other notables included An Ocean in Between the Waves, Disappearing, The Haunting Idle, and Burning.

To be honest, the first time through I wasn't sure what to think other than it was decent at least. But as I kept listening I got more and more hooked. There's a lot of good, fun tunes. I mean, if you like anything from this era, they capture that pop rock and pseudo-psychedelic sound. You can hear bands like the Byrds, Beatles, Buffalo Springfield, Donovan, etc. (even Motown) in their sound and it's pretty admirable. So then I'm not surprised that 8 of these tracks hit the radio as singles. Side one is great - A Girl Like You is poppy and Motown-y, Find Somebody is more psychedelic and edgier rock, I'm So Happy Now is pure California pop, Sueno has great guitar chops, and How Can I Be Sure has great vocals (a different sound than the rest, more soaring). It was almost like listening to 5 different artists. And I haven't even mentioned Groovin (side two), their biggest hit, which I actually find okay compared to these others. Another one that sounds more Motown-y, but I guess that is due to who sang lead vocals. You Better Run (edgier) and A Place in the Sun (softer, though aa Stevie Wonder remake) are also cool tracks on side two. If you only give this a quick listen I can see how you'd shrug and say not bad. But it is real solid if you take time to listen carefully.

Jarvis Cocker's vocals are so polarizing. So often he sounds like a condescending twat (to use a British word) with his half whisper and part speaking style. But other times it sounds energetic and perfectly cheeky, like on Common People (a quintessential Brit Pop tune and a classic with its combo of rock/pop/synth and witty lyrics). Other songs that bring that nicely blend Pulp's sound with Cocker's vocals and lyrics are Disco 2000 and Mis-Shapes, maybe Monday Morning too. But I do find it a bit creepy how much an early 30's guy is singing about sex where the protagonists are seemingly teenagers. Ultimately, while this album has its highs, it also feels boring or repetitive. A little too uneven for me.

There's dark and melodic and then there's dark and demonic. Sometimes this album is the former (cool) and other times it feels more like the latter (not good). All in the Family was truly F'd up. I was never a big fan of Freak on a Leash though it's ok (not F'd up, but a little too heavy or too much distortion for me). I prefer their other big single Got the Life. Ice Cube adds a nice contrast to the regular vocals on Children of the Korn; I dig the sound overall. In the end, it's a lot to take on listening to this album (heavy? intense? abrasive?) but I did not hate it, which is more than I can say for other nu metal bands like Limp Bizkit.

I know who Badu is but I really don't know any of her music. Great sound on this album. I'm not sure I can single out too many tracks that really grabbed me, but as a whole they really fit nicely together. The album really flowed, and her vocals and the soft beats carried from one song to the next. Easy listening.

Not my favorite band or album but it's solid. Their different sounds (blues, jazz, rock, psychedelia) come through well. Jim Morrison is appropriately unhinged. Honestly, I wasn't exactly blown away by any songs I didn't already know, but I found myself re-appreciating the songs I did know - Break on Through, Soul Kitchen, 20th Century Fox, Light My Fire, and The End (ok, the full version is a little much).

There are some real beauties on this album, just oozing old time blues rock. Brown Sugar, Can't You Hear Me Knocking (awesome guitar work), Bitch. So good. So classic Stones. And there's some good ballads too with some real deep lyrics. Wild Horses, Sister Morphine. Though not quite as good, respect for some of the more straight ahead blues efforts like You Gotta Move and I Got the Blues. Don't forget where the Stones came from, and blues is it. I was close to a 5 but I feel like I gave them a bump on another album that was maybe just a 4, and not all Stones albums should be a 5.

Basement Jaxx you say? Interesting! Oh, no Where's Your Head At on this album? It's just not the same. I enjoyed some stuff (Rendez-Vu, U Can't Stop Me, Red Alert). Other stuff was ok at times but got annoying (Yo Yo, Always Be There). After Sneakalude I found it a bit monotonous and boring. I didn't hate it, so I guess a 3? A weak one.

I've been waiting for more of those fierce female artists of the 90's. I have always loved Fiona Apple's Criminal - her vocals, lyrics, and plunking piano kick serious ass, and they're nicely combined with other instruments. I think I've always wanted the rest of her songs to be just like it, which is unfair. Because on songs like Sleep to Dream and Shadowboxer, her lyrics, vocals, and piano work are still great, she just doesn't let the rest of the arrangement take it to a rock place. And I now appreciate her measured, haunting intensity on other subtler pieces - Sullen Girl, Slow Like Honey, Never is a Promise, Pale September. The album is not quite a masterpiece but shows how talented she really is.

I am a fan of Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers. But I have always wondered why they are so beloved because there's nothing particularly skillful about how they compose or play songs (Free Fallin might be the easiest rock song ever to play, though it's still a beauty). Same goes for this album. I definitely enjoyed it. But why? What about it is so memorable, groundbreaking, unique, or masterful? I could give it a 4 for being a fun rock album with classics like Breakdown and American Girl (and hidden gems like Strangered in the Night or The Wild One, Forever). But that doesn't seem fair and they have better albums than this.

This album is magikal. Can't decide if it's a 4 or a 5. It feels like 17 songs is too much, perhaps a bit bloated. But the 9 song sequence from Breaking the Girl to Under the Bridge is phenomenal. Suck My Kiss and Give it Away are kick ass rock songs (funk rock), and if you like that you need to listen closely to the Righteous & the Wicked because it might be even better (my new favorite; what a hidden gem). Funky Monks, Mellowship Slinky in B Major, and the title track are a bit odd, juvenile, or over-sexed but they are funktastic; the musicianship on them is incredible, particularly Flea's bass and Frusciante's guitar. And then Breaking the Girl, Under the Bridge, and I Could Have Lied are absolutely beautiful pieces - it shows you these guys were serious (Kiedis too) not just a novelty act. Such depth in lyrics and again the musicianship - Smith's percussion on the first one is great (with help from the rest of the group) and Frusciante is a guitar god on the latter two. Even throw in the first 2 tracks (not bad, just not the same level as the next 9) and that's a 5-star 11 track album. So what about the other 6 tracks? Aimless at times, some Kiedis drivel at times but also just pumping rock. Case in point, if you can shut out the lyrics in Sir Psycho Sexy (they'd make a prostitute blush), Flea absolutely puts it down on bass. I mean, out of this world bass lines. In the end, these guys took what they were (strung out funk rock wannabes with flawed style and ability) and what was going on in rock (depth and edgier themes) and completely reinvented themselves and rock music. What they did always occupied its own little corner of rock music - they built on acts like Faith No More or In Living Colour but not a ton of acts followed them exactly. Still, they blazed a new trail. And that tips the scales for me.

It's just too much sound and distortion to handle. I feel it's always the same for me with bands like Pavement (e.g., Fugazi, At the Drive-In). I hear one song on its own and think oh that's cool. And then I go to listen to more of their work and it just piles on, very much the same, and feels a little bland. They do some unique experimentation and respect for that. But it felt like a slog to get through the album. And unlike when I hear one song of theirs out of the blue, after listening to the whole album I don't want to go searching for more.

Damn. I never really liked Rehab (or thought it was over-hyped) so I didn't pay much attention to Amy Winehouse. But having now gone through one-third of a musical odyssey via this list, I understand how good this album is. It is new age soul and Motown. The musical stylings have all the feel of something from the Supremes, Aretha, Stevie, or the Temptations but with a modern twist. And her vocals are massive; they just fill the room and were made to be set alongside a jazz arrangement. Again, a vintage style but something 21st century about it. She can croon. And her lyrics are pretty damn good too. This one totally surprised me, in a good way.

Meh. I mean, it's fine and all and Goldfrapp has a good voice with some nice sleepy musical accompaniment, but nothing overly memorable. They've got a couple catchy singles, neither of which are on this album, so if this is their best collection then call me bored. Electronica fails to excite once again.

While I don't own any White Stripes albums, my initial reaction was this could be good because I know this was the album when the White Stripes took off. But then I looked at the track listing and I didn't recognize too many titles. That made me have second thoughts. Still once I started listening I was surprised at how many songs I recognized beyond the big singles (I'm Finding it Harder to be a Gentleman, Offend in Every Way, I Can't Wait), which says something about its popularity or broader ability to catch on at least. Ultimately though, there's a lot more I didn't recognize. It's a long album at 16 songs and worse, there's some clunkers or odd ducks. The White's were still figuring it out on this album and it shows; Jack always has some weird lyrics (and Meg should never be allowed to sing) but it's the musical compositions that are not quite polished on a bunch of tracks. Still a big fan of Jack White's sound and garage rock overall (these guys paved the way for a lot of 2-piece outfits that can really jam) but it's probably around a 3.5, and I rounded up on the last album I rated of theirs so I'm rounding down on this one.

The first time I heard Maps I dug this band. I love Karen O's unique shrieky vocals and the big fuzzy sound that comes from the guitars and percussion of her bandmates. Again, garage rock - some people don't like it but I'm always impressed at how much bigger the sound is given it's usually only a couple instruments. These guys and this album just ooze energy. They're like 80's post-punk and new wave reinvented (and better). Now, this isn't a perfect album. The lyrics are sometimes a little too juvenile or simple (barely even there on Pin, what'd you say on Cold Light?) and Karen O can get a little annoying (the last few ticks on Tick, uh-huhs on Black Tongue). But even those songs, like most on this album, are pumping. Rich, Date With the Night, Y Control kick ass. No, No, No was a bit underwhelming (especially the last 2 minutes; unnecessary), as were Modern Romance and Poor Song; so a bit of a dip to end the album. But overall, a solid album and one that will have me (re)seeking out more Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

It took me awhile to get into this album but I admit it grew on me. I don't think the Pixies ever do anything bad but this one is a bit of the whole is worth more then the sum of its parts. There's a few songs that rock right away (Velouria, Dig for Fire) and a few others that only take a couple listens to realize they rock (Rock Music, Hang Wire, Stormy Weather). It's the Pixies doing Pixie things - guitar distortion, unique time signatures, varied vocal approaches, lyrics that range from witty to weird - but I can't shake that I don't find it is as good or appealing as their first two albums.

I thought this was an album by Teenage Head (in following up, I learned that band's name was inspired by this album's title). I really dug the opening track High Flyin Baby - great pace and bluesy rock sound. While I also enjoyed tracks like Have You Seen my Baby? and the title track, most of the rest of the album didn't measure up as well and/or was less able to hide their flawed vocals. Tracks like City Lights, Yesterday's Numbers, and 32-20 were too plodding for me and Evil Hearted Ava sounded like a weird combination of Elvis and Suicide. I'm undecided on the final (maybe most well-known?) track Whiskey Woman. The album has promise but comes up a bit short.

As I said when his debut album made the list, Paul Simon has many other better albums. This may be his best. A masterpiece. The composition and musical arrangements are incredible (and his lyrics are some of his most clever/witty). So much sound right from the get go in Boy in the Bubble. And a lot of the album's sound is unusual for the typical listener (native African instruments & vocals, other worldly sounds, accordion, woodwind and brass for days) and yet he makes it all sound so familiar or normal. Graceland, Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes, and You Can Call me Al are all stone cold classics; the last one perhaps the most typical pop rock on this album but the other two more of the worldly sound he sought on this album. His many collaborators deserve a lot of the credit too for making the songs so magical. Don't know what I mean? Listen to Homeless - beautiful. Or I Know What I Know - super fun. I could listen to this album on loop over and over and over.

I've now listened to this album several times. I know it's good, couldn't decide if it was great. She can rap and she can sing - great vocals. Some good lyrics and songwriting too. She tries to reinforce a theme through the interludes, which I'm not sure are necessary but they are cute I guess. Real solid beats too, with a bunch of cool songs to bop to and not just the big singles (Lost Ones, Doo Wop (That Thing), Everything is Everything). But lesser knowns too (Superstar, I Used to Love Him, Every Ghetto Every City). And some good softer songs (Ex-Factor, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, Tell Him). But there were times when I got lost or disinterested - probably a few too many songs and definitely way too long at nearly 80 minutes. Trim the fat and maybe it would be great.

Before listening I thought "ugh, not another electronica album". I still haven't figured out what makes one so interesting, innovative, or ground-breaking from the next. Like others before it, it's good background music. But except for the first track, which I kind of dug, the rest truly is just background noise to me - nothing stood out from the rest.

Very cool, fun album. Love the tempo on this kind of jazz - Latin? Salsa? Whatever, it has that classic jazz feel without sounding dated. Felt like a party was going to break out any second.

A little bit weird, but it grew on me quite a bit. I was busy and didn't have the time to carefully listen or comment, so I just kept restarting the album and it was pleasant in the background. Nice soft picking and plucking and vocals. I can see how it's not for everyone (lyrics or themes especially) and even I'm not yet scrambling to go listen to more of his stuff. So not a stand out album but it's definitely something different worth listening to if you wouldn't normally. Good inclusion on this list. Favorite songs were This is the Way, The Body Breaks, Poughkeepsie (almost a Days of the New flavor to it), Will is My Friend, and Todo Los Dolores.

This is a good album but too uneven. If everything was like Pretty Hurts, I'd be all over it - that song is Beyonce fierce, passionate with a great lyrical message. Partition is also fierce, in a "I run this" and "yes ma'am whatever you say" way. She just commands respect on it. Haunted is different, but still cool - sultry. Then there's all the songs where she's trying to be explicit and/or sexy. Drunk in Love doesn't work for me - they lyrics are honest but she actually doesn't say a lot (just repeats stuff). Unlike Partition, it feels like she's submitting to a man because Jay-Z seems to have more lines in his 1 minute feature (it's like a 14 year old talking about how much she loves her 22 year old boyfriend). Blow, however, is what that song should've been. Damn - sexy as hell and funktastic. Jealous is also powerful - great lyrics, anyone in a relationship can relate (and the backup singers really make the sound). Heaven and Blue have very different themes than most of the album but they're touching. A few too many bland or forgettable songs (No Angel, Rocket, Mine, Superpower). But yet just when you're ready to write her off, she brings it back with songs like XO and Flawless. They're just big tunes that grab you. So all in all, much respect for what she did here. But what rubs me the wrong way is, is there no shame in having 50 different people be part of an album? Where is the pride in having something be yours? As Michael Jackson was seeking his opus he eventually got rid of Quincy Jones. This is supposedly Beyonce's opus and while she had a lot to do with the lyrics, she gave up so much artistic creation to collaborators. It just feels a bit like cheating.

Cyndi Lauper is certainly deserving of accolades; she was a trail blazer. I don't know if I totally love this album because it's a bit pop heavy. She Bop is just eye roll worthy; unapologetic pop (lyrics and sound). Maybe I would've been happier if she fully embraced new wave? Witness sounds like Elvis Costello and I'll Kiss You sounds like Rick James - would more of that styling have been better? Not sure. I actually respect He's So Unusual and Yeah Yeah because the Betty Boop impersonation (with a NY accent!) shows just how much she could do with her voice. On multiple listens I realize there's more variety here than I first thought, with a bit more nuance than most pop. And except for She Bop I really dig all six of her singles - Money Changes Everything (a little more rock edge than the rest), Girls Just Want to Have Fun (a little tired and too poppy but still fun), When You Were Mine (good new wave feel), Time After Time (just a beautiful song, imagine if it was stripped down to just guitar or piano), and All Through The Night (again, her vocals). Feels like at least a 3.5 and I'm going to round up.

And this is where goth and kill myself rock really got its start. Some nice simplicity to the whole album, but that's also a knock against it. Too minimalist at times, like give me more than a drum track, some simple chords and keyboard synth. The opener A Reflection sums it up nice - interesting instrument-only track, but too bland? It's not as good as some of their later albums but nice to see where the pioneering work started. I don't mind it, I might even like it, but I can't give it a 4. Maybe I would if there were a few more songs that really grabbed my attention like Play for Today or A Forest.

Damn. Patti Smith is the male version of Bob Dylan. Forget all this first punk stuff. Yeah, I hear a bit of that, or a bit of precursor to Elvis Costello's sound, but even more I hear the indie sound of Velvet Underground (thanks John Cale?) and wicked lyrics combined with solid but subtle instrumental harmony (i.e., Bob Dylan). I hear PJ Harvey and Courtney Love and countless others that probably owe part of their style and success to Smith's trailblazing. The instrumentation could use some more depth or quality, but her lyrics are second to none. And her delivery is so raw and electric. The album has holes, but Patti Smith is badass.

Yep, Canadian but nope, not a Rush fan growing up. I really only came to appreciate them during my second musical odyssey in the late 2000's (first one late 90's, latest one over the last few years including traversing this list). And this is the album I started with because of side one and how accessible it is. I can still get tired of Tom Sawyer (overplayed) but their musical mastery on it is undeniable. Red Barchetta is probably my favorite (maybe of all Rush songs) because of its mix of early Rush hard rock stylings (great Lifeson guitar riffs) and later Rush prog rock stylings (several subtle twists and turns though not as distinct as a 10min epic). And if you pay close attention, you hear all the Peart percussion layers and Lee multi-instruments. I'm not usually a fan of instrumentals but YYZ is crazy good - so much musical dexterity and mastery packed into a 4min song. Limelight was a big reason I started with this album; always a fan when it was on the radio even when I turned my nose up at other Rush songs. So Side One is perfect but what about Side Two? Less so, but The Camera Eye grew on me quite a bit (true prog and great musicianship again). Witch Hunt is a bit plodding; good but doesn't hit the same heights as side one songs. Vital Signs is sneaky good; a little unusual in its ska sound but Lee's synth kept me around for the other instrument layers (including Lifeson riffs) and Peart's lyrics make you think (as they often do). It is not a 5-star album in my opinion, but 4 stars might not do it justice either. Rounding up.

Ugh. No thank you. Like Pavement or Fugazi or even Sonic Youth or Drive Like Jehu, but worse. Barely go through one listen (even the bonus track of white noise, Utica Quarry - WTF was that?). There may be some revered songs in here by others that I didn't pay enough attention to but I am not going back for another listen. Next.

Cool, fun album although it's a bit uneven. I really enjoyed the start of it with their version of The Magic Number (great beats and sampling) followed by Change in Speak (love the lyrical stylings and rhyming). Some ups and downs from there until Eye Know (great tune and cool sampling, felt like an Arrested Development or A Tribe Called Quest tune). For example Can U Keep a Secret was funny; not essential, but still worth a listen. Too many short tracks or interludes? I did enjoy some of them like A Little Bit of Soap (again, great sampling). Others like De La Orgee felt out of place on this album (save it for other trashy albums). Other cool tracks were Potholes in my Lawn, Buddy (great collaborations), Me Myself and I (funky - thanks George Clinton!), and DAISY Age.

These guys definitely have their amazing, love-those-beats moments (The Robots, The Model, The Man-Machine which is my favorite) and then they have some so-so, been-there-done-that (Metropolis) or irritating (clicking in Spacelab) moments. I couldn't do Kratfwerk all day, but some of the quasi-electronic or mixes they inspired (I'm thinking 80's new wave) is really cool. This album is better more often than it's not.

I discovered Black Skinhead about 6 months ago and that track is f'n amazing. Great beats, massive energy, great lyrics. Of course, what has just happened in the last couple months for Kanye makes me wonder about this song. Still, without recent hindsight, that song kicks serious ass. And a lot of the beats on this album are similarly abrasive; like NIN meats rap. Lyrics abrasive in a different way, but for the most part I respect his intellect and wit in them. Big knock is he's too self-absorbed and pompous on this album - i.e., I am a God (feat. God). GFY Kanye. I always have and will forever hate the man, but I'm changing my tune on his music.

Metallica is one of the best at what they do and this album was pretty good, but not their best. A little too decadent - too many so 6min+ songs that could've been cut down. I got lost in the title track and To Live is to Die (as in, is this a new song or is it still going?), even though I like the former (latter was meh). One is still a brilliant song and one that I don't mind goes on a bit long. Blackened is one I'm not sure I knew well but quite enjoyed. Overall lots of anger, thrash, energy, and frenetic play - Metallica hallmarks.

I'm not a prog guy, so maybe that's why I wasn't over the moon with this album. I mean, it's still very good but not a masterpiece to me. And my favorite, standout song is only 3min long - The Clap. Holy crap, I did not realize how good a guitarist Steve Howe is. Maybe I should've. Otherwise, yeah, the longer songs are all solid and it shouldn't just be I've Seen all Good People that gets the accolades - Yours is no Disgrace and Starship Trooper are also ambitious and artful.

Young consistently brings incredible lyrics; his journey of pain and suffering is chronicled very well here. But it feels a bit like he ran out of steam at the end of this ditch trilogy. Because while the lyrics are good (if not great), the musical accompaniment doesn't totally synch with it, leaving his brutal voice front and center too often. For example, Speakin' Out or Borrowed Tune is like nails on a chalkboard. What I loved about some of his other albums (including the predecessor On the Beach) is that you could hear and feel his emotions. I'm just not feeling it in the same way; again, something in how it's all put together doesn't grab me like other albums. So the sad, soft songs are a bit of a chore and I find I'm most interested in his more up-tempo tracks (like Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown, aided by Danny Whitten's vocals), of which there are few. Overall this album doesn't really do it for me.

I don't know why, but this album really grabbed me. Maybe electronica but with better vocals? First three songs (H>A>K, Did You See the Butterflies, title track) and The Architect were good examples of this and great overall. Then sometimes it was like a bit of 60's throwback folk but with a modern twist (Loops in the Secret Society, Valley). All in all, the album was funky and cool; I dug the varying sounds and her voice.

Bubblegum pop at its finest. Great harmonies and pretty good (or catchy) guitar playing. Not sure which playing is the Everlys' and which is session musicians. Maybe I would rate this higher if I understood where the Everly Brothers stood in the whole pop and folk rock progression. I guess they came before the 60's explosion so maybe this is here because they were major influencers. But tight harmonies aside, I don't see what's so special about this album or why it and not, say their debut, is on this list.

David Bowie has got to be one of the most interesting musicians to have ever graced this earth. This is such a departure from his earlier sounds - basically his third reinvention. Few others have the ability, vision, or ambition to do that. Mad respect for forging a new path that clearly influenced a lot of 80's new wave, post punk, goth, whatever. And that's really just side one. Because side two is completely different with his homage to Berlin. Honestly, the album itself is a 4 and that's what I thought I would give it - Breaking Glass, What in the World, and Sound & Vision are awesome, whereas the rest of side one is solid but not great, as is side two. But what the album represents as far as creativity and pioneering, that's a 5. And as I wrote my review I realized how much I had gushed over the context. So 4.5 and I'm rounding up for the multidimensionality of Bowie that this album captures.

Odd or ironic to get Eno one album after getting Bowie's Low. I don't view it as trailblazing as Bowie, but it is certainly as eclectic, which is par for the course for Brian Eno. So I don't totally understand why it was selected of all the things he's done, or weird but cool stuff people did in the 70's. But I liked it. Side one was a lot of fun (my favorite might be Backwater), as was Here He Comes on side two - perfect follow-up to the catchy King's Lead Hat that ended side one. The rest of side two sounded like the background music in Minecraft during daytime sequences (played a lot of it with my kids) - especially By This River. Is that why it has so many listens on Spotify? But sure, I can get behind that ambient approach. It reminds me of some more recent stuff done by artists like The Neverending White Lights - eclectic but cool, maybe Eno was their inspiration. I'm sure this album is not for the average person but I kind of dug it.

Alright, I am officially a fan of The Jam. I fully admit they are not the greatest or most talented band of all time, but I feel like they deliver a consistent, solid performance every time. A perfect sort of A-/B+ kind of band. Maybe it's the mix of approaches that appeals to me - a lot like Canadian rock I grew up with (check out the Northern Pikes, Tragically Hip, The Trews) that has some varied roots to it and a sound you can't quite place (and wouldn't find at the top of the American charts), but it has depth. Very solid lyrics and social commentary too. First third was better than the middle third - the album really drew me in with the title track, To Be Someone (my favorite), and Mr. Clean. Solid remake of David Watts too. Definitely took a dip with English Rose but I felt it started to bounce back nicely with Billy Hunt and It's Too Bad, and then finished with a bang - "A" Bomb in Wardour Street is a real cracker (to steal some British lingo).

This album made me realize how much I dislike Lamar's voice - too nasally and pitchy. Not that that's the only thing that matters, but it stood out. Really interesting musical stylings, especially early on. Wesley's Theory was unique and then followed up by a slam poetry interlude For Free? (weird but I liked it) King Kunta is one of my favorites on this album - great beats and less annoying vocals, plus real clever lyrics. Institutionalized and These Walls also have unique stylings (the latter almost a 70's funk feel, credit Thundercat for that I'm sure). u and i are pretty raw and powerful, so kudos to his ability to lay it all out there (the former's pained narrator in the back half reminded me of Eminem's Stan). Still, I found the album dragged, especially from Alright to Complexion. There's some decent lyrics in there but the vocals are too stilted and the beats are underwhelming. The Blacker the Berry is pretty awesome, but I wanted more of that. Probably a 3.5 at minimum but I can't shake how "meh" I felt on the first listen. Maybe it'd grow to a 4 with more listens but I ain't got time for that.

F me what a blast it was listening to this album. How have I never heard of this band before? So much energy off the hop; loved it from the very first beats of Deceptacon. Simple but wicked beats and a wicked tongue. Very clever lyrics packed into a bunch of catchy 3 minute songs. They combine the melody of Throwing Muses/the Breeders and the anger of L7 (listen to Phanta). No one is spared their glare (eh Cassavetes?) and ahead of their time in calling out Giuliani (on My My Metrocard). Maybe I'm overreacting to how much this album caught me by surprise but it's at least a 4. Going back for a hell of a lot more of these grrrls.

They can't all be winners. Apparently this album rates high with critics but I don't think it's quite as good as the others on this list. Good lyrics as always, but some boring compositions. Badlands is a great opener but I was a disinterested afterwards until Racing in the Street (an awesome number, reminiscent of some of his other more popular sad ballads). So the bookends of Side One are great but I could do without the rest. Side Two is better, with the energy picking back up with the first track The Promised Land (power sax); and Factory ain't too shabby either, at least paired with the former. Really that energy, despite a little rough around the edges storylines in the lyrics, carries through until the final track. And that title track is another one of Springsteen's despairing beauties. He still knows how to open and close an album (or each side). So really for me it's a so-so middle to Side One, but that's enough to make this not quite a 5-star effort.

I've definitely heard of Billy Bragg but I'm not sure I've ever heard Billy Bragg. I couldn't identify a single song of his if you put it in a lineup. That's why I love this list - forces me to actually listen. Look at me and Tom Waits now - we're tight. Bragg is another artist who is acclaimed for a reason - a lot like Elvis Costello I feel. Not necessarily the same style, though they both have a certain unique part rockabilly, part country, part folk, part rock thing. But that je ne sais quoi is cool. Bragg almost has that Celtic feel. Whatever it is, he's got a solid voice that tugs at you, intelligent enough lyrics, and good compositions. Solid album and worth exploring more of his stuff.

I thought this was going to be better. In reviewing their debut album I noted how later albums like this one were less abrasive. But listening to it in full, it's missing an edge or uniqueness. I don't need all the feedback and experimentation from their debut album but this album feels a bit average. I know it's a link between shoegaze and grunge alternative but I think there are better or more ambitious versions of that to put on this list (Catherine Wheel maybe?). I don't dislike the album and its three singles / more popular songs (title track, Happy When it Rains, April Skies) are still solid, but nothing really to write home about.

These guys are just so...eclectic? I don't own any of their albums and probably never will but I always find myself strangely drawn to their songs when I hear them. Something about Gano's unique vocals, the unique musical arrangements (e.g., xylophone on Gone Daddy Gone...love it), or the off-kilter lyrics. I know American Music isn't on this album but that sums up their stuff - you hear it once and you think that's a stupid song. But you hear it twice and you can't stop singing along. I guess that's why this is a cult classic. If you quickly listen, you move on angrily. But if you give it a couple listens, you crave it any time you need something good but different than the rest. Or when you want to have some sing along fun. First 4 tracks are a great sequence, even if Blister in the Sun is way overplayed. Prove My Love is also a lot of fun, but also sounds a bit like Kiss Off and Add it Up smashed together. I know these guys and this album aren't for everyone. But they're/it's one of a kind (and good). And that's worth something.

The 80's really ruined a lot of things didn't they? Raitt is a renowned singer and guitarist and I don't hear it most of the time. Instead I hear 80's schlock draped overtop country and blues (Love Letter, Cry on My Shoulder, Real Man - ugh). Nobody's Girl and I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again weren't bad - stripped down like this album was supposed to be. Thing Called Love (and maybe I Will Not be Denied) also not bad - at least trying to be country rock and not pretending to be something else. Have a Heart gets a pass because at least her vocals shone through. But it's also pandering adult contemporary. I mean, it could've been Milli Vanilli, it's that much of a sell out. Had my finger over the 2 but decided to pay respect to the artist and blame the record producer.

Once again The Stooges produce an album with so much promise in the first couple tracks...and then F it up with their self-indulgent crap after that. 1969 is a great tune - it's as if they took psychedelia and twisted it into something new. I Wanna Be Your Dog is my favorite of all Stooges songs - almost has a Velvet Underground feel (which isn't my scene) but more melodic and punchier. And then the heroin kicks in and we get the terribly strung out We Will Fall. 10 minutes of it to boot. Ugh. Side two starts off ok with No Fun, but it too is longer than it needs to be. Real Cool Time, Not Right, and Little Doll are decent but Ann is another tragedy - they are better when they try to reinvent psychedelia not embrace it. So really we're talking two brutal tracks and two killer ones, with some good tracks in between. I think I'll mostly pass on any Stooges album and just take their greatest hits (not sure it can fill a whole album).

I was waiting for a time to come back to this album because I felt like it really needed my undivided attention to give it a fair evaluation. After listening to the prog rock masters Pink Floyd, this seemed like the right time to come back to this. I've always politely enjoyed the title track but never knew its context or link to a whole concept album. It's got some good proggy instrumentation, though a lot more keyboard and synth then the rest, I think. Some good guitar work that is at times great. Some songs that caught my attention were the sequence from Broadway Melody of 1974 (all the real people callouts? heavy guitar riffs?) to Cuckoo Cocoon to In the Cage (the latter two meshed nicely together and had some great energy and deft instrumentation). And then I pricked up my ears on every listen for Counting Out Time - erogenous zones, what can I say? Some nice rocking guitar and interesting lyrics - reminded me this was all about a young man finding himself in NYC. Peter Gabriel really has a perfect voice for prog rock and he was great on disc one. Another song that really caught my attention was Lilywhite Lilith - great energetic start to side three. But then the transition into The Waiting Room was painful and the rest of side three is mostly a snoozefest. Things finally started to pick up again on the second act of Slipperman (A Visit from the Doktor) but that was fleeting too. As a closer, It wasn't too shabby. So where does that leave me? Very good disc one, though not perfect, and a largely forgettable & average disc two. Feels like 3.5 at best, if I see disc one as a 5, which I don't (not quite). So gotta round down.

I keep changing my opinion on Neil, and upping my admiration. This is a damn good album. The opener and closer (My My, Hey Hey or vice versa) are some of the best lyrics he's ever written and that's saying a lot because he's an incredible lyricist. Hearing both acoustic and electric versions was very cool. I quite enjoyed that dichotomy on this album. The lyrics on the rest of the album were sometimes very poignant or clever entendre-y (Thrashers, Powderfinger) and then sometimes super strange (Pocahontas, Welfare Mothers). He's trying to tell deep stories but wrapped up in simple contexts. I guess it works sometimes and at other times it sounds a bit weird. Still, I can give that a pass because of the musical depth on display. The acoustic side captures his sad, sullen style so well - real heart-tugging. The electric side shows he and Crazy Horse could play and bring the energy - the boogie in Welfare Mothers is awesome (my favorite track musically) even if the lyrics are head scratching and Sedan Delivery sounds like it could've inspired Soundgarden (think Rusty Cage). Real impressed with this album.

So much musical energy. Unlike their name, the lyrics aren't all that deep (pretty juvenile). But as far as pumping rock goes, they have it in spades. Their big tunes all have it - Highway Star (frenetic drums and guitar pace and never has an organ been so bitchin), Smoke on the Water (it is so much more than its simple opening chords), Space Truckin (its hooks are so infectious). But the rest of the album holds up just as well - lots of heavy riffs and hooks to bring you in and the combination and integration of their instruments creates a sound that just fills your ears. Loved it.

I've been thinking recently how I've never given an album a 1. What would it take to give one? There's so much variety to music and so much to possibly find endearing in any style that it should be pretty rare. I'm not sure this album is that low. Probably a 2. But I felt like handing a 1 out. And I was looking to skip through to the end or just turn it off from the second song and all of its annoying cut-out and skipping effects, and loops. Tired Games was a fitting name. So I think I have a new criteria. If I can't stand to even finish the album, that's a bad sign. I let the whole thing play but Crazy Love and Free My Mind were about the only things passable to my ears.

This album makes me realize how little I know of the Rolling Stones. I know their big hits, but I've never listened to anything of theirs on its own. So an album full of revered songs but non-hits? It was all pretty new to me, although a few songs sounded familiar (Shake Your Hips (La Grange anyone?), Tumbling Dice, Loving Cup, Happy, Shine a Light). Maybe I just liked them and that made them sound familiar. The thing is, you don't get to be one of the top 3 rock bands of all time without being good at what you do. And this album is good. Hard for me to put my finger on what it is exactly. But there's a lot of energy and synergy among the band. The songs just kind of fit. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece but there's a lot of good stuff in here - solid and/or cheeky lyrics, bluesy boogie beats, an IT factor. Some high energy favorites were Rocks Off, Rip this Joint, Turd on the Run, All Down the Line. And I quite enjoyed the more subdued sequence from Sweet Virginia to Torn and Frayed to Sweet Black Angel. As I started to list all the good songs, I realized how many there were and how few clunkers there were on an 18-song album. So call it at least a 4.5 and I'm tipping the scales up for the IT factor.

Wow. This was so weird. But for all its weirdness I didn't find myself reaching for the next button. I was a bit intrigued. Kind of felt like a 2 though after first listen - just a lot to deal with, with all its deliberate mayhem and disconnectedness. And then I read about the album and decided I should give it at least one more listen. Especially because I hated the first Tom Waits album I heard but he has grown on me (and Beefheart surely gave birth to Waits' weird music and tortured vocal stylings). I listened to it a second time and I didn't hate it. But I didn't like it either. If it's David Lynch's favorite album, you know it is out of this world strange. Kudos to the creativity but not for me, and probably not for most. Deserved to be on this list for it's eccentricity but not sure what else after that.

Cool idea and all - Irish folk mixed with punk. I have friends who love bands like the Dropkick Murphy's and would love this. I just don't see what is so exceptional about how it all comes together. A fine listen, but nothing to really hook me or make me go looking for more of their collection. Bottle of Smoke and Streets of Sorrow stood out. Fairytale of New York was an interesting anti-Christmas songs song. Fiesta was a nice bait and switch from soft to punk. The rest just kind of mixed together.

I remember when Mirror Ball came out a few years later (1995) and Pearl Jam and everyone else was drooling over Neil Young and his virtuosity. I never listened to that album but I loved the big single Downtown. Still, I didn't get all the hype about Neil Young being this grunge godfather - he was just an all time rock great who continued to make some relevant music. I was not aware at all about the album Ragged Glory, though I would've had to be under a rock not to know the one year earlier (1989) classic Rockin in the Free World. I don't think I realized how long Neil had been in the game and how irrelevant he could've been at this stage in his career. But he really still lit it up in the 90's, maybe better than most modern bands (I mean, Harvest Moon was 1992). This is a really good album. I still wouldn't call it grunge, although the track F'n Up comes close (great tune). But it's solid rock with some great electric guitar work. At times it sounds a bit too much like his other work (pieces of Love to Burn and F'n Up during the verses sound like Rockin in the Free World). And a lot of the songs go on a lot longer than they have to (album is an hour long for 10 songs - I really like Over and Over but it didn't need to be 8 minutes). So not perfect but still solid.

Cool sound, at times, but a little uneven. Opening track was a bit meh but the second track Sidewalk Serfer Girl and the third title track were the kind of thing I wanted more of - gritty guitars combined with a bit of keyboard and/or synth/electronica. It kind of reminded me of a recent artist Dinosaur Pile-Up, which has grown on me. But then it waffled a bit between a little pop sappy or synth-heavy (It's Not the End of the World? A Touch Sensitive, Shoot Doris Day - all had cool strings at times, but a bit too much sap) and maybe cool, maybe annoying death metal/synth (Receptacle for the Respectable). No Sympathy finally brought it back to something I liked - simple guitar accentuated by gritty synth (a reverse of the first couple tracks I liked). But a little too sappy after that - and I like yacht rock. Maybe it was too much of different sounds that held me back - the lack of cohesion didn't feel like a good thing.

Geez, did they let a few pill-popping British teens get ahold of the 1,001 list for an afternoon? Another trip hop, Massive Attack-like dreamy band and album. It wasn't awful, but it didn't excite me either. Decent background music, but a little monotonous. Perfectly average to me.

Some really awesome pieces in here, and then some real head scratchers. The opening of Aâlach Tloumouni is kick ass, such a cool sound. El Harba Wine is pretty good too - great tempo and good vocal combination. And then C'est la nuit is a beautiful slower piece - found myself singing along to the chorus (at least the title). From there though, a lot of shoulder shrugs, or worse. His cover of Imagine is not good. From Trigue Lycee to Ya Aâchkou was okay, but those songs sounded like 70's or 80's funk ripoffs - a bit too much imitation and not enough innovation. The sequence from Melha to El Bab was better - not as good as the opening 3-song sequence but still admirable. And then another strange turn with El Aâdyene and Gouloulha-Dji that sounded like cheap 80's fare or bad mambo - overproduced, throwing in horns or brass or other instruments to sound hip but really sounding a bit campy. Mele H'bibti had some cool bongo and percussion but I swear I also heard a drum track in there, which was disappointing. Derwiche Tourneur also had some promise but just felt a bit flat. In the end, I was pretty fired up about half the album, but the other half was a bit of a letdown. Probably a 3.5.

Not sure this one deserved to be on the 1,001 list. It's a decent listen, but it's just not as good as his first two albums. Side One highlights were the two singles Accidents Will Happen and Oliver's Army (Senior Service and Big Boys also solid). Side Two was a bit rough around the edges. Goon Squad (as an opener) tries too hard and the vocal / musical combination was a little off, despite some good lyrics. Sunday's Best and Moods for Moderns were not good, although Busy Bodies and Chemistry Class were not bad. Two Little Hitlers is a nice piece of Costello lyrical creativity. So, solid side one, middling side two. Peace, Love, and Understanding (a great song) doesn't count because it's a single that someone decided to throw on the American album release (surely to drive up sales). If this was the only Elvis Costello album I ever heard, I probably wouldn't go looking for more.

I did like this album a lot more than other straight ahead trip hop or electronica. Probably because of the prominence of Martina Topley-Bird and her vocals. But Tricky's beats are more varied and less monotonous than other music in this genre. Still, it had its ups and downs. His lyrics are not great, juvenile at times ("F you in the ass, just for a laugh"). Favorite tracks were Overcome, Black Steel (great beats to open), Hell is Round the Corner (familiar beat - his or sampled?). Least favorite tracks (mostly because they were too repetitive) were Pumpkin (despite Goldfrapp appearance), Abbaon Fat Tracks, Suffocated Love. Pushing 3.5 but not quite there.

What a great voice. I feel a bit embarrassed I don't recognize his name but I do recognize a few songs. His softer songs (Out of Reach, You're Good to Me, Beautiful Brown Eyes) aren't as good as the rest, maybe because that voice should always be set to soar or because his backup singers can't match his quality (they sound bland in comparison). But he is on fire on Cry to Me, Goodbye Baby, If You Need Me, You Can't Love Em All, He'll Have to Go (one softy where his voice still carries). And he's still pretty good on the rest. I read he prefers to be called soul and not R&B, but whatever it is, if he was a pioneer of this sound, god bless.

Tough one. Mad respect for the concept and the lyrics. I didn't realize they were going with a concept on my first listen until I hit Alma Mater and realized what the narrator was all about. Alice's different voices on this album intrigued me and I found I quite liked Alma Mater for that reason. Others like School's Out (the only one I knew) and Gutter Cat vs. The Jets I liked for the musical stylings. Grande Finale was also a cool instrumental. Blue Turk was up and down for me - liked the bass, liked the back half, didn't like some other parts. And I guess that was the whole album, just when I thought I was digging it, something came along and annoyed me. And just when I thought I was done with it, something came along and redeemed the album. So it lands in the middle then.

Dark, gloomy, and grungy. Just the way I like PJ Harvey's music (and a lot of other music too). It's got that same raw guitar and bass that early Nirvana was going for, as they chased after a Pixies kind of thing. I liked her two singles Dress and Sheela-Na-Gig when I first discovered this album a couple years ago. Re-listening (a few times over) I also found I really dug Oh My Lover, O Stella, Victory, Hair, Joe - again, loving the raw guitar and bass. Big fan of Harvey's first three albums. Solid debut here.

I had to jump ahead when I saw this album upcoming. I discovered Nick Drake just over a year ago. I had been listening to a Dylan album and when it finished playing, Nick Drake's songs kept showing up in the random suggestions that followed (e.g., Pink Moon and Place to Be from his final album but One of These Things First and Northern Sky from this one). I got increasingly curious and eventually decided to listen to his full collection, which is sadly only 3 albums. But what a set of 3 albums. I remember asking a few friends who know a lot about music including folk whether they knew of Nick Drake. One of them said something like "tortured soul who died super young and unknown, right?" Yep. If you liked Jeff Buckley's soft instrumentals and beautiful voice, you'll love Nick Drake. Different vocals but still beautiful and perfectly matched with the instrumentals that accompany it. Crazy how both died so young with so much untapped talent. I can't understand how his music wasn't more popular during his lifetime, even if he was a recluse. It's just so amazing - touches your soul. Hauntingly beautiful. I did not realize that part of Fairport Convention was his backing band - had no idea who those guys were either until they showed up on this list but I was pleasantly surprised by their album and sound. I guess I know why now. Can't stop gushing about this guy or his work; I love recommending him to anyone who asks me for an off-the-beaten path music suggestion. Incredible album.

A massively rockin' album. The big hits are huge but the lesser knowns still rock big time. The lyrics can be pretty juvenile sometimes, but what do you want for 80's rock? It was all sex, drugs and rock & roll, and these guys nailed it on this album. It's kind of crazy to think how big they were thanks to this album, and they only did two more albums (only the double one is good) in the next 4 years before breaking up. So they were relevant for about 5 years, but super relevant. This album made them legends. They can thank Slash and his guitar playing for a lot of that (he crushes it on every track), but Axl Rose deserves a lot of credit for his showmanship, as much of a degenerate as he was/is. A true classic album.

Meh. This album didn't really move the needle for me. It reminded me a bit of Pavement (vocals) or Beck (tempo). I found myself bored at times (like the opening track, not for me) and then I'd hear something that was kind of cool and it soon it was gone - back to being bland or forgettable. I went back to see what I rated their other album and was surprised to see a 4. Maybe this one caught me on the wrong day.

Tough listen from the get go - the sound is so abrasive. But this IS industrial music - metal clanging and power saws. The sound in Tanz Debil reminded me of Starfuckers Inc., which is a NiN track I love. So it's not all bad, and what they inspired can reach great heights. It is one of a kind, so I completely understand why it is included on this list. But it was torture at times to listen to. Mostly I wanted to turn it off, but I did find myself strangely intrigued by what they might do next.

I think The Wall was better; slightly more accessible? I can see how some people might not get this album; hell, I don't fully get this album or Pink Floyd. But if you really pay attention to the music and if you truly enjoy picking out different sounds and/or musical complexity, this album will eventually get to you. I'm no prog guy, so the two sweeping pieces of Shine on You Crazy Diamond were sometimes lost on me. But after listening to the songs in between, I really noticed the mastery of the instrumentation in the last 4-part piece. Part VI has wicked bass lines (two apparently - Gilmour too, not just Waters) and Part VIII has some cool guitar playing to start before Wright's keyboards take over (in a good way) and persist into Part IX. I think the shorter, but focused musical mastery in Welcome to the Machine (now that's how you do electronica), Have a Cigar (heavier rock and funk sound, with some signature guitar solo to boot), and Wish You Were Here (one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and the intro guitar work is spine-tingling) helped me to pick out all the artful pieces. Whereas in the first 5-part piece of Shine On I really only resonated with Part II and the amazing lyrics in Part IV on first listen. Which is the other thing about Floyd - if you like lyrics that make you think or that are simply beautiful prose, they are the masters. Shine On and Wish You Were Here are touching tributes to Syd Barrett. The whole album (lyrics and music) is haunted by this theme of alienation and mental struggle. Well except when they want to criticize the music industry in Welcome to the Machine and Have a Cigar (though also driven by this theme), of which their barbs are poignant. I have learned you can't listen to Pink Floyd in one or two song segments. You must experience the full album. They are also the masters of making a complete album. The whole industry, and listeners who demand music, could take a lesson from them these days. Even though I might like The Wall better, this is still a beauty.

I thought the album was pretty average on my first listen. But I know how much people like the Dead so I gave it another listen. I appreciated it more the second time around, but I'm still not sure if it's that good. It's folksy and there's a lot of attempts at harmony among the bandmates but their achieved harmony isn't as good as contemporaries like the Mamas and the Papas or CSNY and all their related acts (the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, etc.). It's a light, easy-going sound and there's nothing wrong with that. It's a good pick-me-up when in a bad mood. But I think it needs more. I'm not sure I fault this list for having one Grateful Dead album on it, because these guys are musical icons - a phenomenon all their own. It's just that I don't get what the big deal is about. A fine group and album, nothing more.

I feel like until a year ago I didn't know anything about Elastica except Connection (a solid tune). I think Waking Up came on randomly after listening to something else and I dug it so I went back to their debut album to see what else was worth adding to a best of 1995 rock list I had made. I also added Stutter (another solid tune), but I focused on singles and most listened to on Spotify and didn't really listen to the album. I missed out because this is a solid, rocking album. Pulled me in from the first two tracks before Connection - Line Up and Annie. Other highlights were Smile, Hold Me Now, SOFT, and Never Here. They pack a lot into 16 songs and only 40 minutes. Their whole trajectory and performance reminds me of the Breeders - a real solid mid-90's album from three female musicians on guitar and bass (and a male on drums), yet they kind of disappeared after that, probably in part because they got mislabeled by some (me included) as a one-hit wonder.

The title track/side two is epic (drum solo and organ solo). So epic, in fact, that this album sold over 30 million copies. I say that because no one could have been buying it for side one, unless they were looking for a little Doors knock off (Most Anything You Want) or imitation of the overall psychedelic sound. Side one is alright, but not as good as the one song on side two, which admittedly is probably longer than it needs to be.

I guess it shows my age but I did not realize Otis Redding was a big soul guy - like a James Brown-like soul guy. And I guess that's because I really only knew The Dock of the Bay and I didn't see that as soul. The man has got chops, though Booker T and the MGs also provide great backing. I hate covers so that holds this album back a bit for me. I enjoyed his originals Ole Man Trouble and I've Been Loving You Too Long the most (the latter is a beauty). Even though Respect is a Redding original, Aretha has outdone him so it paled. I did like his Sam Cooke redo's though, Change Gonna Come (real soulful) and Shake (good upbeat twist), and his redo of the Stones' Satisfaction (cool beat). But in my opinion he's bested on most of the other covers (Down in the Valley, My Girl, Wonderful World - another Cooke cover, Rock Me Baby). I don't know about You Don't Miss Your Water because I don't know the original - but I do like his version. Still, ballsy taking on those other big tunes, especially so soon after they were recorded. But it's hard to do them better when you try to not mess with the original (My Girl) or try to change it up a bit (Rock Me Baby). Real catch-22. Still a very solid album but could've been more I think with more originals.

Nope, I disagree. I didn't need to hear that before I died. It's not at all clear to me what is so unique about it - just another "uh tiss" album. Apparently it was supposed to be a fusion of psychedelic rock and rave but I rarely heard the former. Maybe because I listened to the US reissue, with even more remixing. It was like wandering through an electronica wasteland from about track 4 to track 12 (opening track Move Any Mountain not bad, next two ok, and then...ugh except maybe for track 8 Make it Mine). I went out and found the original UK version on youtube. Not better.

I was really impressed by this album when it came out. Still am. To me, it's Greed Day's last great album. At the time, I would say that Green Day didn't really make bad albums. But the previous one (Warning) wasn't that well-received by audiences. To me this was proof that Green Day was good at what they did and wouldn't disappoint (later albums changed my view). They took a very different approach to what they had done previously and it worked really well. This is a very cool, unique rock opera. I thought their two multi-part songs (Jesus of Suburbia and Homecoming) were excellent and those are the two that really took them outside their comfort zone. Their singles (American Idiot, Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, were also great fun, rocking tunes - good lyrics and good pop punk beats and tempos. They deserved to be big hits. Wake Me Up When September Ends is the one single that I grew tired of (even before it became a single). Non-singles that I was always fond of are St. Jimmy, She's a Rebel, Letterbomb, and Whatsername. Big fan of this album, a mid-2000's classic.

Ah, there's the Block Rockin' Beats. Great song. But after that, a lot of the beats were overwhelming and/or not mixed well enough with vocals (if any). The muffled vocals on Elektrobank were grating and Noel Gallagher's vocals sounded awful on Setting Sun. The loops on Piku and It Doesn't Matter were awful. Only mildly better on Don't Stop the Rock and Get Up On It Like This (looped beats ok, looped vocals brutal). The title track was okay and I did like the more measured Lost in the K-Hole and Where Do I Begin - the repeated male vocals on the former were strangely appealing and Beth Orton's vocals on the latter accented the beats perfectly (though I could've done without the last 2-3 minutes). The Private Psychedelic Reel was also a decent final track, again, because I feel like they didn't try to overdo the big beats (for the most part). A lot of ups and downs on this album and too many downs.

I knew I recognized the name Stereo MC's - then the title track opened the album. Riiiight - Connected. Good tune, cool beats and combination of vocals was solid. Step It Up is another one I knew but didn't remember was by Stereo MC's - also solid. But otherwise it's kind of boring - the whole sound gets old fast. I'd be good with 3-5 songs, but not a whole album.

This is a pretty amazing album. I wouldn't call myself a folk fan, but when done right it's pretty damn good. And Carole King did it probably as good as anyone could on this album. Great songwriting - deep, personal, intimate lyrics coupled with the right tone on piano and backing instruments. So many classics on this album - I Feel the Earth Move, So Far Away, It's Too Late, You've Got a Friend, Will You Love Me Tomorrow?, A Natural Woman. I realize she let other artists record the last three too, but her versions are just as good as the other versions, in part because she brings her unique style to it. My one gripe is her inclusion of Smackwater Jack on the album. It's a fun tune, but it totally misses the personal vibe on this album. She should've saved it for another album. I'm not going to let that drag down my rating though.

I'm going to have to spend more time understanding the transition from 70's hard rock and heavy metal to 80's hair and arena rock. Because as much as I'm blown away by the sound of this album, I don't think I understand the full gravity of how it changed rock. Still, this is the birth of Eddie Van Halen (album-wise) and he is ridiculous on every song. And it's not always the tapping that is incredible (Eruption anyone?), even his chords are so powerful (it makes You Really Got Me their own song). And really he combines both into pretty much every song (Ice Cream Man if you need an example). Then there's his unique experimentation and sounds on songs like Atomic Punk. But you also have to give credit to David Lee Roth - his frontman performance is just dripping with cool and machismo. His screechy oohs and aahs (good examples - Runnin with the Devil, You Really Got Me, Jamie's Cryin) just fit; they give James Brown a run for his money. And that's not saying anything for his tongue-in-cheek lyrics and performance on Ice Cream Man (complete with some nice acoustic guitar work). An underrated part of this album is the vocal harmonies between the band - I'm the One and Feel Your Love Tonight are great examples. These guys just bring it on every song and because of it there are so many classics. And I just can't say enough about Eddie - his guitar playing is off the charts. He must've inspired thousands to pick up a guitar - and just as many to throw in the towel.

I'm torn - the two biggest singles (He's the Greatest Dancer, We Are Family) are massive. Wonderful vocals and sublime funky instrumental backing. The other two singles (Lost in Music, Thinking of You) are not as good but pretty good. The funky beats are still there, but the vocals aren't as outstanding. Maybe Kathy Sledge was the real jewel because vocals are best on her tracks (3 out of the 4 singles plus one other) and the one single where she's not lead (Lost in Music) aren't as good. And then when the sisters sing together, the harmony has a dated ho-hum sound. Kathy's vocals sound timeless. And the non-singles just don't have the same cool instrumental work in my opinion. The album is a definite 3 for me and close to a 3.5 but not a 4..

Challenging album to rate. I don't think I knew any of the songs except Boogie On Reggae Woman (a great funky tune but different from much of the album). A lot of soft pieces that don't immediately grab you. But a lot of beautiful pieces if you really listen (like Smile Please, Too Shy to Say). Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away and They Won't Go When I Go are exceptions - powerful pieces that hit you on first listen. He really pours his emotions into these songs. You Haven't Done Nothin is another powerful song, but not in a soul-piercing lyrical way, more in a fiery and up-tempo way. Not my favorite of his efforts just because there are some throwaways (Creepin, Bird of Beauty). Feels like a 3.5 with a bump for the artist not the album.

I didn't realize that Taylor Swift collaborated so much (with a couple key people) on her songwriting and plays so little on her recent albums like this one. A bit disappointing but she still writes all the lyrics, which are always thoughtful and are at worst cheeky but at best profound. And her collaborators composed some solid soft songs. Some of it sounds too poppy or pandering to the masses (Gold Rush) or has too much drum track/fakeness (Tolerate It), or both (Long Story Short), but I really enjoyed Willow, Champagne Problems, Tis the Damn Season and its companion Dorothea, Ivy, and Marjorie (ode to her grandmother). No Body, No Crime has an interesting country sound (as opposed to Cowboy Like Me, which I didn't really care for). The two collaborations with the National (Coney Island) and Bon Iver (Evermore) are decent but could use more integration (don't feel truly collaborative but a bit pieced together). Taylor Swift is super talented and this is a good, albeit imperfect, effort.

Felt very intense and thrash-heavy on first listen. Felt less overwhelming on second listen - Wake Up Dead a decent opener and I appreciated the heavy grooves in other tracks more. Still, it was a little too much, or not melodic enough for me. Vocals are inaudible half the time (maybe not a bad thing given Mustaine's voice). Peace Sells is a fantastic track, I'll give them that - deep lyrics, rocking beats, face melting guitars, wicked bass grooves, and nice vocal harmony toward the end. But I needed more of that and less of tracks like The Conjuring. Good Mourning was a cool instrumental but then Black Friday got a little excessive. Ditto Bad Omen - intricate and impressive start to the song but once the vocals hit it goes a little too thrash heavy for my tastes. Ultimately, I wasn't really sol on this album at first but it did get better with more listens. Feels like a 3.5 but not as good as Rust in Peace - except for the title track which is an absolute classic.

Easy 5. One of the greatest albums ever made, not only for its own merits (lyrics, songwriting, simple complexity in instrumentals, energy & emotion) but for how it shifted the entire rock paradigm. One of the few albums on this list I own (I don't own a lot of albums) and one of the first albums I ever owned...on cassette no less. I don't need to say anymore or glow about certain tracks. Great album cover to cover. No holes.

So side one was apparently more progressive than side two. And yes, I hear some of that funky soul that Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes would focus on a few years later. The title track and Runaway Child, Running Wild were quite good. Their rendition of I Heard it Through the Grapevine was not - didn't hear the progression, didn't hear any noteworthy updates (an inferior remake). Side two didn't sound progressive. It also didn't sound like their softer ballads of old. But all in all, side two wasn't bad. Solid really, especially the last two tracks. But then I don't see what all the fuss about to be on this list. A good or average album, but not much more.

In comparison to Cheap Thrills, this album is more consistent; I guess a little production value goes a long way. The backing band provides some good boogie too, without going over the top (Move Over is a solid example). But Joplin's vocals are still centre stage and ferocious. Cry Baby is a great, great wailer; it feels like a 10-minute song with all her energy and changes in delivery. Me and Bobby McGee is one of those rare great remakes. It shows you a more restrained Joplin is still a dynamo. Wouldn't have minded an amped up recording of Mercedez Benz (feels like it should be recorded live) but I appreciate the tongue in cheek lyrics. Get it While You Can was a nice closer; a little more variety to the vocals but still great energy from her and the band. Half Moon and My Baby are pretty solid too, just not quite as good as the others. But they remind you of Joplin's female blues inspirations - she does them justice. Too bad Buried Alive in the Blues is just instrumental - feels a bit naked on this album, despite some cool (if not overly The Band-esque) sounds. Very solid album.

It's a fine album, but such waste. An intro track that doesn't really lead anywhere, a closing track that fails to close, a bunch of interludes that aren't necessary (profound exceptions: Dad was Mad and Tina Taught Me). Just tighten the whole thing up into a 40 minute album. I mean, I get it. The album is aptly titled and the interludes try to get at that but the songs generally do a better job. Most interludes are too loose; like they got a soundbite that was good, just not totally on point. But even the songs drifted at times; lost focus on key messages. Like Scales, what was she trying to say? Just like her sister, Solange can sing, so let her at it. Less featured artists (Lil Wayne had a decent message in Mad but as a vocalist, he sucks) and more songs like Don't Wish Me Well (a lot of Solange with a cool spacey backup beat). Some beats were better than others - Cranes in the Sky is her big grammy winning song but Weary sounds better. Don't You Wait sounded like it sampled In the Air Tonight - whatever it was, great beat. Overall, the album was good, but it could've been a lot better.

Ah, 90's punk. I wonder why no one ever coined the term brass punk for bands like RFTC or Less Than Jake, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fishbone, etc. who prominently featured horns and sax in their ensemble. I gotta admit that this isn't my scene - but it's not terrible. The brass brings a soothing effect to the otherwise pounding sound. Sort of like adding cucumber to gin to cut the bitterness. I felt like the opening couple of tracks, including their apparent big single Born in 69, were lacking that melody. But I started to change my tune (as they changed theirs) at On a Rope and Young Livers. Definitely a lot more vocal harmony and more well-blended brass and strings through the middle of the album. The sequence of Ball Lightning, Fat Lip, and Suit City was a great listening experience. My interest started to wane from there, with the exception of Come See, Come Saw - bass and brass nicely partnered in the opening of this track and deft pairing of brass and guitar as it progressed. Burnt Alive was a decent closer to the album I guess. I feel like if there was a list of 1,001 musical acts you need to see live before you die, these guys would be high on the list. As for the album, it feels like a solid 3.5 but no more. Too bad there isn't a button for that.

Yep, I get the appeal of putting this album on the list for its pioneering psychedelic sound - Eight Miles High is a great example. But a lot of other songs sounded like others' work - and I don't mean the remakes (Hey Joe - just doesn't hold up to Jimi). 5D felt like a mix of Dylan songs (yes, I know Dylan wrote songs for them before this album). And their arrangement of Wild Mountain Thyme kept making me think Mr. Tambourine Man was about to break out - so sounding like their own earlier stuff (that also owes credit to Dylan). It was fine, but doesn't really make me pine for more of The Byrds. And the Byrds are solid - I should want to look for more. This album doesn't do it.

The hit singles are great - Rolling in the Deep, Rumour Has It, Set Fire to the Rain, and Someone Like You in particular are such powerful and emotional songs. And different emotions - shows depth. I was a bit surprised I didn't like some of the non-hits as much. Still that's like saying a t-bone steak isn't quite as good as filet mignon. If anything, the second half of the album after Set Fire to the Rain might have dragged a bit - until her remake of Lovesong. That was a cool rendition. Once I listened a few more times the non-hits really grew on me (especially Don't You Remember, One and Only). Might be another 4.5 but I'm rounding up because I rounded down on her third album.

I just can't do it. I can't give this album more than a 3. Part of me really wishes I gave Disintegration a higher score because it's definitely the best of the 3 Cure albums on this list so far. I'm not sure what is that different from Seventeen Seconds. It's gloomy and it's brooding, which is cool and all. But not groundbreaking or extraordinary as far as I can tell.