640
Albums Rated
3.12
Average Rating
59%
Complete
449 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
60
5-Star Albums
39
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
90
808 State
|
5 | 2.69 | +2.31 |
|
Leftism
Leftfield
|
5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
|
Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
|
5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
|
The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
Autobahn
Kraftwerk
|
5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
|
Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
|
Screamadelica
Primal Scream
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
|
1 | 4.02 | -3.02 |
|
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
|
1 | 3.73 | -2.73 |
|
Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
|
1 | 3.65 | -2.65 |
|
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
|
1 | 3.53 | -2.53 |
|
Blackstar
David Bowie
|
1 | 3.48 | -2.48 |
|
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
25
Adele
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
|
Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.67 |
| Joy Division | 2 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 2 | 5 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 2 | 5 |
| Kraftwerk | 2 | 5 |
| ZZ Top | 2 | 5 |
| Prince | 2 | 5 |
| ABBA | 2 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 4 | 4.25 |
| U2 | 3 | 4.33 |
| Metallica | 3 | 4.33 |
| Public Enemy | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Morrissey | 4 | 1.25 |
| Randy Newman | 2 | 1 |
| David Bowie | 7 | 2.14 |
| The xx | 2 | 1.5 |
| Manic Street Preachers | 2 | 1.5 |
| Kanye West | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Primal Scream | 2, 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 5, 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (60)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
Let's all put on clothing made of foil and zoom around on our hoverboards
24 likes
The White Stripes
2/5
White Stripes. So massive, so popular and.................. I never understood it. Bores the pants off me
16 likes
Barry Adamson
2/5
Didn't really "get" it. Sure, nice enough concept, but one of the best 1001 albums ever?
12 likes
Sheryl Crow
2/5
Meh - middle of the road country / rock cross-over. Why did this make the list?
10 likes
1-Star Albums (39)
All Ratings
Van Halen
4/5
Obviously has the major breakthrough hits, weaker 2nd side for me.
Joy Division
5/5
One of the all-time great albums. So much dark angst.
Beach House
4/5
Very much evokes the era it was released - had forgotten how good tracks like Norway and Lover of Mine are.
R.E.M.
5/5
Why no 6 star option. Clearly one of the all time greatest albums.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Not much genre per se, but entire album shows the amazing craftsmanship they had
MGMT
4/5
It has "Kids" and "Time to Pretend". Not much more to be said really, a luscious slice of indie electro pop
Aimee Mann
3/5
Decent enough singer/songwriter fare whilst not particularly my bag.
Morrissey
2/5
So so album, and then he went mad.
AC/DC
5/5
One of the absolute greatest.
3/5
It's fine. Bowie not my bag though.
Miles Davis
3/5
Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazz
Jurassic 5
4/5
Great production, super laid-back vibe.
The Doors
2/5
The Doors : not my bag
Gotan Project
4/5
Smoooooooth. Lovely Latin vibes and very chilled.
Donovan
4/5
Hey Siri, play me what the 60's sounded like.
Sheryl Crow
2/5
Meh - middle of the road country / rock cross-over. Why did this make the list?
Burning Spear
4/5
Classic "roots" vibes. Crack open a can of Lilt and enjoy.
Tina Turner
4/5
Gravelly voice? Check. Bucket load of synth? Check. One of the biggest albums of the 80s? Check.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Bleep, blip, bloop, but with funk and soul
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Yep, 100% understand why this is on the list. Wave after wave of dreamy sounds. I don't have a magic carpet, but if I did, I imagine this would be the soundtrack to riding on it.
The Lemonheads
4/5
Classic 90's "pop-rock". Obviously Mrs Robinson the most well known / loved track here (and for good reason - a great cover) but the whole album is full of gems.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Didn't really "get" it. Sure, nice enough concept, but one of the best 1001 albums ever?
Led Zeppelin
5/5
One of the greatest greatest. As any fule no.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
A cracking blend of big band swing and jazz. Not a genre I'm normally familiar with but loved this. In modern parlance - "an absolute banger"
The Pogues
5/5
The title pretty much sums it up. A feast of whisky, penny whistle, folk and punk spirit. A classic example of a band at the peak of their powers.
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Really? One of the best ever? Kravitz is an incredible frontman seen live, but this is just generic rock right? Conclusion : it's OK.
B.B. King
3/5
Not my favourite genre, but can appreciate that this guy is one of the legends and it being a live album makes it that little bit more special.
David Bowie
2/5
Still don't "get" Bowie. Sorry.
Pixies
3/5
For some almost biblical in it's awesomeness. For me, decent alt-rock.
David Bowie
2/5
Why? Why are you making me listen to another Bowie album?
PJ Harvey
4/5
Angry, gritty, full of emotion. Hadn't listened in a long time, but this is still a great album.
Aerosmith
5/5
Ah, absolutely classic dirty R&B. Channels peak Stones from a few years earlier and if "Sweet Emotion" doesn't get you grooving round the house / in the car, well, I can't help you.
Blue Cheer
2/5
Slightly puzzled that this one made the cut. It's OK, with a heavy 60s R&B vibe but nothing that made it stand out for me.
Kate Bush
4/5
Slightly too young to appreciate first time around ("Dad, why is that woman screeching on TOTP?") but absolutely deserves all the love and praise heaped on it over the years. The opening 3 tracks alone mean it fully deserves its spot on this list.
Arctic Monkeys
1/5
Didn't like the first time around, don't like them now.
Sparks
4/5
Wonderfully camp, Euro electro. Can only imagine what it must have been like hearing this deep in the middle of the prog and glam rock era.
Funkadelic
3/5
Not as great as I'd hoped. Obviously familiar with the Funkadelic / Parliament combo, but can't say this set the heart pumping.
Frank Ocean
4/5
I remember everyone getting very excited by this at the time of release. I like it, the voice is great the production is great. That said, I still don't quite "get it" - the thing that elevates it from good to great.
Spiritualized
3/5
Nice enough background music (listened whilst cracking on with some work one afternoon). Doesn't do enough for me to lift it into the "elite" category though.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Absolutely one of the greatest albums of all time. The songwriting, the harmonies - a stunning piece of work
The Only Ones
3/5
Haven't listened to this album in an age. "Another Girl, Another Planet" is one of the all time great punk songs. Nothing else hits that high, but still a great album.
The Kinks
3/5
Held in high esteem by some, merely an average late-60's / early-70s band to my tastes.
Nico
3/5
Distinctive voice for sure, but a hard one to love. Certainly evocative and laid-back, but also too avant-garde for me.
Massive Attack
5/5
Fabulous chilled album that makes me wish I'd been old enough to go to Ibiza when it came out.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
A little slice of sunshine on a chilly London day.
Gang Of Four
3/5
Spiky jarring post-punk. Not an easy listen, but the influence on a lot of 2000s bands is clear.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Hmmmm. An attempt to sound like the British blues bands of the 60's but 30 years later. It's not terrible, but it doesn't really improve on the originals.
Janis Joplin
3/5
One of the voices of the 60's - instantly recognisable and some of the best known songs of the era. Not sure how well it's aged, but certainly worthy of inclusion.
Mike Oldfield
4/5
Loved reading the other reviews for this. I can fully see both sides that this is (a) a slice of prog rock genius and (b) the reason why punk needed to come along and shake things up a bit. Wonderful nonsense.
Kraftwerk
5/5
Stunning example of electronica. Completely game changing - who knew that Germans could be so cool ;)
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
4/5
Fantastic prog wibble.
Amy Winehouse
1/5
Yeah, but no thanks.
John Coltrane
3/5
Mmmmmm. Jazz. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Fabulous album - incredibly creative people capturing the sound and zeitgeist of the late-60s
ZZ Top
5/5
If you don't like this, then frankly, there's no help for you. Absolutely rattles along with dirty funky riffs galore.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Soulful, groovy, funky. Soundtrack to a 70s dinner party.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Grooving rockabilly. "Up Around the Bend" the stand-out for me (and the only track I'd really heard before) but the whole album is full of gems.
The Byrds
4/5
The sound of psychedelia. Perhaps not quite as good as their earlier "classic pop" but still beautiful harmonies.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Stripped back, early hip-hop. Despite not being my favourite genre, hard to not appreciate this.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Obviously now on an absolutely massive pedestal, but easy to see why. Powerful vocals, great writing. Perhaps not quite worthy of being held up as high as it is, but a fabulous album nonetheless.
Deep Purple
3/5
Mmmmmm. Gritty.
Mariah Carey
1/5
Nah, you're alright thanks.
Judas Priest
5/5
INJECT THE METAL DIRECTLY INTO MY VEINS GRRRRRRRRRRRR
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Is it hip-hop? Is it jazz? Is it funk? Is it ALL of them in some kind of gritty dinner party album? Excellent work of art.
4/5
"Iiiiiiiiiiiii don't know the answer to that question." Ah, the 80s. Not all tracks hit the heights, but still one of the best examples of that early New Wave sound.
Faith No More
4/5
Epic is clearly the, well, epic track here, but a great example of the beginning of the "nu-metal" / rock & hip-hop cross over genre.
Motörhead
3/5
A legendary band for sure, blazing a trail for others but........ this gets pretty samey no?
Iron Maiden
3/5
It's not Bruce, but it's not terrible.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
The Band
3/5
The Prodigy
4/5
Oh god, my face just MELTED. Only really got into them with Fat of the Land, but obviously this is a belter if you want to gurn yourself silly into the small hours
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
Let's all put on clothing made of foil and zoom around on our hoverboards
Beatles
3/5
Not the Rolling Stones.
Pixies
3/5
Pixies. Fine, no complaints.
The White Stripes
2/5
White Stripes. So massive, so popular and.................. I never understood it. Bores the pants off me
Bonnie Raitt
1/5
Sometimes the 80s were great. Sadly, this was dirge.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Like taking a soak in a warm bath of FUNK
The Everly Brothers
4/5
I was born in 1980 but I have the overwhelming urge to hop into my jalopy and hang out at the milkshake bar.
Keith Jarrett
2/5
Not my bag really. Can appreciate the technical accomplishment for sure, but didn't really connect.
Dirty Projectors
2/5
Meh.
Steely Dan
3/5
The soundtrack to suburban corduroy clad couples politely tucking into salted peanuts and cheap wine before depositing their car keys into a fruit bowl. ("Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is a stone cold classic though)
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
Catchy enough "classic" country music without being stellar.
Culture Club
3/5
Not all of the 80's was amazing was it? There are tribes in the Brazilian rainforest that have heard "Karma Chameleon" and "Church of the Poison Mind" is an absolute banger. The rest? A blur of synth, sax and Boy George.
Raekwon
3/5
Very much not my genre. But can still appreciate the skill and rhymes of ODB etc.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Remember the massive hype / love for this album "back in the day". Didn't really understand it back then so was quite excited when this came up in the album feed as it seemed a good change to reassess.
But, no, whilst still a perfectly nice album, still don't fully understand the love or inclusion on the 1001 list.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Little bit power pop, little bit punk. Can very much get on board with this.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
Hmmm. Whilst some catchy lyrics and cool beats here, feels super repetitive. Remember it being ground-breaking for "crossing over" into mainstream at the time, but not sure it was *that* special
Tangerine Dream
4/5
Wibbily wibble wibble. Can definitely see how it would have been revolutionary it's day - kosmische indeed.
Mott The Hoople
2/5
Top 1001? Really? It's absolutely "fine" generic 70s rock.
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
I wish I "got" rap, I really do.
Tortoise
3/5
You know what you're getting when anything is "post-"*insert name of genre here. As expected, technically very accomplished without ever really getting the emotions pumping.
Butthole Surfers
2/5
That was not an easy listen. Not dreadful, but again questioning quite how some of these made the list.
Joan Baez
4/5
One of the cassettes in my Dad's car in the 80s so fond memories.
ZZ Top
5/5
No arguments here - dorty dorty blues rock.
Eminem
3/5
Maybe hasn't aged as well as some of the 1001, but no denying this guy knows rhythm and rhyme.
I love U2. Absolutely love them.
But really? Why is this on the list? "Elevation" is a stadium-rock banger, but the rest is solid at best. It's not BAD by any means, but compared to their heights, it's overwhelmingly meh.
Syd Barrett
2/5
Was a hard listen. Cautiously optimistic heading into it based on knowledge of the individual and genre, but mostly found it hard going. Some clear sparks of genius in there, but largely lost in the madness
Nirvana
4/5
For some people of course, Nirvana were absolutely *IT*. Perhaps a little too young, but never quite achieved that legendary status personally. Can't deny the power of Kurt's voice and the stripped back choons here though.
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Non-American, so don't quite get the social impact and "importance" of Bruce. Solid enough gritty blue collar rock for sure.
Talking Heads
4/5
I think people either love / hate Talking Heads, not much in between. The good lady can't stand David Byrne - but how can you not love the strange rhythms and vocals. Is "nerd-punk" a genre?
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Do you like folk? If not, then this probably isn't for you.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Great vocals, great tunes. Of course the background of his impending death adds weight to the emotion, but a stunning album regardless.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
No issues with Mr Nick Cave. Distinctive voice and lyrics for sure, but a talented man.
Soundgarden
5/5
Chris Cornell. Such power. Such gravellyness. Such angst.
The Damned
4/5
Aside from the "hits" : Eloise etc, never really listened to The Damned. This is a cracking slice of late 70s punk.
Funkadelic
3/5
Funky. No notes.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Fine, if unexciting piano tinkling
Norah Jones
1/5
Dull in 2002. Dull now.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
I can see how drugs would make this considerably better. Nice to listen to different instruments & rhythms but doesn't inspire passion / heartbreak either.
4/5
Oh, hello 15 year old me. Loses a star for the sheer unstoppable nonsense of the Gallagher brothers (so tedious), and, being brutally honest, there's some filler here, but what a ridiculously fine album this is.
Cat Stevens
4/5
Gentle folk rock. Am sure everyone knows "Wild World" but some other beautiful tracks here in a similar vein.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Feels like it's about to break into Stevie Wonder territory, but never quite gets there.
Traffic
3/5
Hey guys, let's get a Hammond organ and flute. It'll be completely different to anything else around at the moment......
New Order
5/5
Delicious slice of 80s synth rock / pop. All the complaints in the reviews about how Bernard can't sing, well, yeah, but that was always part of their appeal right? "The Perfect Kiss" is an absolutely beautiful track with the build-up / crescendo taking you to another world. Would give 4.5 stars, but worthy of rounding up in this case.
Common
3/5
Smooth beatz - doesn't hit me squarely in the trouser, but was pleasant enough to listen along to in the background
Genesis
3/5
Prefer my prog-rock to have more wizards, capes and tales from Viking mythology tbh.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
Again, another album that is pleasant enough, but doesn't really seem to warrant inclusion on its own merit. Sure, maybe it did influence a lot of other albums that are included in the list - Dylan et al - but in it's own right..........? Hard to see why personally.
U2
5/5
ngl - easily one of my favourite albums ever. As soon as I saw this was the album, it was time to crank up the volume and let Larry's heavy boot reverberate around my skull. Yes, they became bloated pompous stadium rockers, but this album was an absolute masterclass.
"Waves of regret, waves of joy. I reached out for the one I tried to destroy". Indeed.
The xx
2/5
Oh yes, this album was absolutely MASSIVE wasn't it. Couldn't move for people raving about The xx. Kinda dull thought don't you think?
U2
5/5
Ooooooh. 2 U2 albums in 4 days. Am (a little) too young to have been into "early" U2 - am very much the Achtung Baby / Zooropa era, but all the signs are there. Easy to say in hindsight, but this was clearly a band hitting their groove with the key elements falling into place - Larry's heavy beat, Edge jangling away........ top notch album, and they were only getting better from here.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
*BLOCK ROCKING BEATS*
1997, back when the country was full of hope and optimism and life was a non-stop party, this was undoubtedly one of the soundtracks. Not all the tracks are as epic as the opener, but still a fantastic body of work.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Hmmmm. Not as dreadful as some of the reviews indicated but not that special to listen to either. Somewhat bland southern-fried rock I guess.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Memorable primary school joke - Q. "Why did Michael Jackson call his album Bad" A. "Because he couldn't spell terrible"
Clearly, it's not terrible, but for one of the biggest selling albums of all time, it's not amazing either. Smooth Criminal is a banger, but that aside, there's a lot of over-engineered generic 80s pop here.
Björk
4/5
Had forgotten how heavily linked to the early 90s trip-hop sound this album was. Unique vocals, great beats
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
"Somebody to Love" is surely one of the tracks that embodies the 60's vibe but hadn't appreciated how strong the whole album would be. White Rabbit is obviously another classic of the psychedelic vibe, and "Embryonic Journey" a classic from multiple TV shows.
Portishead
4/5
If you're of a certain age, then this album was *everywhere*. Perfect to put on the 3 disc CD changer if you'd invited an attractive lady over "for dinner" on a 3rd date.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Oh, *another* Elvis Costello album. Familiar from the last one tbh - jangly? Check? Punky? Check? Unique vocal styles combined with observational lyrics? Checkity check.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Probably just the nostalgia of teenage years full of promise and hopes and dreams, but the late 90's really were awesome weren't they?
Sonic Youth
3/5
A band that I've always been vaguely familiar with, without ever having really felt the need to listen to. Very much from the early-90s punky / grungey / indie vibe, and that's no bad thing to be honest.
Miles Davis
3/5
Am I a bad person for not getting it? I'm can just feel someone in a velvet jacket with an impeccably waxed 'stashe and a jaunty Gitanes hanging out the of corner of his mouth calling me an "uncouth clod". Yes, they're talented. Yes, it's a pleasant enough sound. But where are the feels?
Bob Dylan
5/5
6 out of 5. No notes.
The Stooges
3/5
Have managed to never listen to The Stooges before now (despite clearly being aware of the Iggy link). And .......... yeah, kinda like it. It's dirty and scuzzy and rumbles along.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
4/5
Screw in the light-bulb............ pat the dog.....................
But no, this is why I love this thing - unlikely I would ever have come across this album in the course of my "normal" listening and it's a lovely lovely thing. Will it be a "go-to" in future? Unlikely. Am I pleased I heard it? 100%
Red Snapper
2/5
Didn't mind a bit of trip-hop / electronica "back in the day", but Red Snapper was not a name I recognised at all. It's definitely of it's time, so not sure it would be included in a 1001 great albums list put together in 2030.
tldr? "It's OK, but no Portishead"
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Ah yes, the Cocteau Twins. Makes you want to lie in a field with a pretty girl on a warm sunny day and watch clouds go by.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Another "impossible to avoid" album from my yoof. And, to be fair, a very solid addition to the genre - perhaps suffers slightly over the years as the hype around how groundbreaking it was has fallen away. Good not great.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I think it makes a BIG difference if you're 'MERICUN or not. I am not, so it's merely good, not great.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Pleasant enough gentle listening without being truly ground-breaking for me.
George Harrison
3/5
Has "My Sweet Lord" so that's automatically a 3 at least but having seen some of the other reviews, it's hard not to agree and conclude that this is a loooooooooooooooooooong album. Probably unnecessarily so.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Hard to imagine what the cultural impact of this must have been. Judging it purely on the musical merits, it's good not great. Extra star for the Las Vegas era jumpsuits though
The Clash
3/5
Haven't listened to the album in full before. The title track is a snarling masterpiece that you *all* know already of course and the rest is........ kinda underwhelming until Train in Vain.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Well glaze my nipples and call me Rita.
Lou Reed
4/5
Not normally a "glam" fan, but this absolutely chunters along doesn't it? Plus very happy memories of a (actually, the ONLY) mixtape in my Dad's car that had "Walk on the Wild Side on it"
Elvis Presley
4/5
2 lots of Elvis in a week eh. Weirdly (maybe), much preferred this to the debut that I listened to previously. Yes, by this stage he's very much the veteran crooner but Suspicious Minds people, SUSPICIOUS MINDS.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Wow - there's a LOT of disco sucks hate here. Come on, what's not to love, Nile absolutely drives this funky train along. (Completely unnecessary remixes included - HARD agree)
Justin Timberlake
4/5
This album came out when? Oh boy, am I OLD :(
Sure, some boyband filler here, but back in the day, who knew the Trousersnake could be so FUNKY. The Neptunes influence here means there's plenty of top-notch pop / R&B crossover vibes.
"I'll have you nekked by the end of this song" - indeed.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
OK, so not EVERYTHING about the 90s was awesome. Very aware of "On a Rope" because it was absolutely everywhere, and yes, it absolutely rattles along - a great track. The rest though.......... vaguely decent 90s punk-rock. C
Fine, but can't believe there aren't other more worthy albums of inclusion.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Love it when it's an album / artist that I have never heard of before in my life. Stuck it on whilst working, and almost didn't notice that it had finished which is ........................ mostly good I guess. Ambient background vibes with absolutely lunatic album artwork (and how much of a lost art is that these days too)
Metallica
4/5
I like Metallica. I only liked Metallica once they "sold-out" and went "mainstream". "Nothing Else Matters" with an orchestral arrangement is a think of absolute staggering beauty but "Enter Sandman" is a mess.
I like it, but can't help feeling it could have been more somehow.
Linkin Park
4/5
I genuinely thought I would love hearing this again more than I actually did. It's the Linkin Park debut right? Saw them tour this album live at Brixton in one of the sweatiest nights ever. Came away thinking Chester would never be able to sustain that level of vocal performance for more than a single album / tour.
It's not aged *brilliantly* thought - yes, the bangers still absolutely bang, but the filler is nu-metal blah blah. Somewhere between a 3 and 4, went for a 4 because of the warm nostalgia vibes.
David Bowie
2/5
If you didn't like "classic" Bowie, then this probably isn't going to change your mind.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
"Scooby Snacks" is a lot of fun, Tarantino quotes and all, but top 1001 of ALL TIME. Behave yourselves.
The Offspring
4/5
I've grown to have quite warm fuzzy feelings for Offspring. At the time, nothing could beat "Dookie" where I pretty much played it so much the cassette failed. But Tony Hawk and Crazy Taxi and the mists of time have made me realise I probably should have played some other cassettes too.
Standout track "Self-Esteem"
The Stooges
3/5
Feels like I listened to a Stooges album recently. Did I need another one? Probably not.
Ice Cube
4/5
Absolutely drips with anger and energy. Fabulous album.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
2/5
This is odd. Not "bad odd", but odd. At times very strong flower-power vibes with harmonies and strumming and other times veers into freewheeling jazz territory.
Conclusion : I didn't hate it.
Megadeth
2/5
I like metal, but the "thrash" flavour always felt a little bit as if it was simply to try and play as fast as possible. Where's the emotion? The occasional soaring vocal?
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Gimme Shelter is just an automatic 5 stars even if the rest of the album had been Mick breaking wind into a set of bagpipes for 30mins. BUT you get Midnight Rambler as well along with a variety of "white men play dirty blues" tracks
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
Maybe it would be different if I drove a beaten up 68 Chevy pickup, but the whole jam band movement really passes me by. Yeah, you guys can play guitar, but I just don't care that you can play guitar.
2Pac
1/5
Don't think I've ever listened to any 2Pac before now. And unlikely to do so again. Based on reputation alone I was expecting so much more from this but it came across as the most generic "hey baby, you're fine" 90s R&B imaginable. I have no doubt plenty of guys got lucky from playing this after a 3rd date, but..................... it's a no for me Clive.
Black Sabbath
4/5
If you'd spent the past 10 years wearing flowers in your hair, dreaming about California on a winters day or picking up good vibrations then............ well, this would have come as a shock right? Testament to the impact and longevity is that (a) plenty of people born post '70 still have this as one of their top albums to this day and (b) the fact that "metal" / "hard rock" was pretty mainstream by the time I was growing up in the late 80's.
4.49 out of 5. Doesn't quite get to the magic 5 because it doesn't give me the "feels" but it gets pretty darn close.
Goldfrapp
3/5
It's fine. All fine. Had it on in the background and it was all very soothing and calming. But isn't this meant to be the greatest EVER? Some recency bias here I suspect.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
Funky. Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry funky.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Reading the other reviews there are a lot of people that "don't like reggae" but "love this album". Whilst not a genre I'm overly familiar with, of course all the hits are here. The blend of "chilling at a beach shack" with the hint of spiritual overtones is clearly very impressive and there's a lot to love here. Stick it on in the background on a cold winter's day, or whilst grilling on the BBQ on a hot day - it still works.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
2 of my favourite songs ever. 5 stars.
Jacques Brel
2/5
Well aware of his legendary status in France. Not bowled over by the "chanson", my lack of French probably not helping with that, but certainly a pleasant enough vocal. Will almost make you want to chain smoke Gitanes if you listen to it for long enough
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Weird. I've had both Banquet and Let it Bleed in recent weeks and this....... well, it's not the same is it. They were clearly an accomplished covers band, but little sign here of the satanic majesty to come.
Fine, but doesn't need to be on the list.
The Who
5/5
Yep - all the monster tracks are present and correct so it's hard to think of this as anything other than a 5. Shame Daltrey is so insufferable.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
2 stars for generic 60s wibbling UK blues. +1 star for Layla (although, even now, that songs drags on after the monster opening doesn't it?) -1 star for being a racist bigoted prick
Fred Neil
3/5
Not an artist I'd ever heard of before which is why this place is GREAT.
Soulful voice, certainly not an unpleasant listen. "Everybody's Talkin" the track that would be most recognisable thanks to Nilsson and tough call which I prefer.
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
Well known from 7 Seconds, but didn't know much of his work outside of that. It's short and beautiful, fantastic vibes that transport you to somewhere hot and dusty.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Ah, early Kings of Leon. How I've missed you. As a review once memory put it "a vocalist who sounds like he's gargling rock". I loved these guys first couple of albums, there was something very raw and gritty about them (plus, bonus fact, possibly the SWEATIEST gig I ever went to on a boiling hot London night at the Astoria). Yes, they went on to become stadium rock superstars, but the bluesy rock of the first couple of albums - magical.
Carole King
4/5
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Legendary riffs naturally, but a rhythm section that really grooves behind Hendrix wibbling.
Fats Domino
3/5
Ye olde timey blues that started all of this *gestures with both arms*
Genesis
3/5
I love a good wibble rock, but this is too much even for me. I need more histrionic female vocals and songs about Viking lore. Or the wearing of purple capes.
Cornershop
3/5
Well hellllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooo 6th form disco. "Brimful of Asha" really was everywhere wasn't it. It's a very decent effort, kinda Britpop, kinda funky.
Queen
1/5
No matter what the album is, Queen is still a bunch of tedious old arse.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
OK, agree that nobody needed to randomly listen to some OAPs. But those harmonies, THE HARMONIES. I'm not even American and "America" is so beautiful it makes me feel like someone is trying to remove my kidneys via my ears. IN A GOOD WAY.
Charles Mingus
3/5
Jazz. Niiiiiiiicccccccccccccceeeee.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Makes me wish I had wider cut trousers, had a Marlboro permanently glued to my lip, sipping bourbon whilst complaining about "dames".
Evocative of an era for sure, but a whole album of crooning is a lot. Like it, not sure I LOOOOOOVVVVVEEEE it
The Coral
1/5
Not even in the best 1001 albums of 2002.
Ray Charles
4/5
Great songs, great voice. Quietly slipped by in the background whilst I was working which is not a bad thing at all.
Duran Duran
5/5
Very much one of the soundtracks of the 80s (even if I only entered the world at the beginning of it). Big hair, big jackets, even bigger glossier shiny hair. I'm sure the 80s is the reason we're in the mess we are today, but when the tunes are this good (that bass, that sax) at least a good time was had whilst fucking us over.
Lorde
3/5
Gentle unconventional vocal and subtle pop songs. Pleasant if not world shattering.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Always been a fan of The Bunnymen - McCulloughs unique vocals lift them above other similar bands at the time. Seven Seas and Killing Moon the standout tracks here.
Arcade Fire
3/5
I like Arcade Fire. Is this their finest hour? Probably not.
Radiohead
2/5
ngl, always found them a little dull.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Soulful and gritty, but makes me think of emotional women having had a couple of glasses of Char too many in the mid-00s. Sorry.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Elvis Costello AGAIN. How many albums does he have on this thing - are all of his albums worthy of consideration? I guess this is the "hits" one with Olivers Army & Accidents Will Happen. I would probably have enjoyed it more if it had been the first one I'd listened to, rather than pondering why he has multiple entries. It's Elvis Costello - you know what you're going to get right.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
Ugh. This was massive wasn't it? Absolutely HUGE.
Snare + slap bass + nonsense "oooby lass too bingy bingy bong boo" lyric
(bonus star for Scar Tissue though)
Deep Purple
3/5
The hits. But with more noodle.
Santana
4/5
Sat on a cold grey day in the UK, this washes over me like taking a bath in molasses with a rum cocktail in hand.
Nina Simone
3/5
Gravelly. Makes me want to drink bourbon.
Lambchop
2/5
Gentle background music whilst working away, some lush strings in there, but very hard to see why this would be placed above countless other similar albums.
Cypress Hill
4/5
Funky and fun rather than "shoot loads of people and slap some hoes around"
Kate Bush
3/5
Nothing more sensual than Kate Bush tbh
The Who
3/5
Hang on. Where's the anger and angst? This is generic 60's white-boy blues rock.
Beastie Boys
5/5
I feel like I missed out on a LOT as a teen as I was definitely in the "it must have a guitar and bass and drums or it's crap" tribe.
This is most definitely NOT crap. Automatic 5 stars purely for Sabotage tbh
Guns N' Roses
5/5
Any better debut Side 1, Track 1 intros.............................. no, I'll wait........................
Dire Straits
2/5
Rock for people who prefer classical music.
Frank Sinatra
1/5
Dangerously close to a William Shatner album
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Interesting. Very interesting *strokes soul patch beard wisely*. Enjoyed it, in an unoffensive background-y way, can't say I loved it.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Shouldn't have listened to whilst having a bad day at work. SO. VERY. ANGRY. NOW.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Perfectly sat at the soul / pop / blues boundary. Makes you wish you were there in the room nursing one whisky too many
Beatles
3/5
Not the Rolling Stones are they.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Pretty but feels very similar to hundreds of other artists.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Played in a LOT of coffee shops circa 2006.
Coldplay
3/5
Tricky band to rate impartially because, well, everyone has an opinion on them right? I don't honestly get the strong emotion they provoke (whether love or hatred). This album undoubtedly had a major impact at the time, and I can totally understand why it makes the list. But, I just can't *love* it - bland vanilla posh UK AOR. It's not bad at all, but "great".......?
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Utterly unstoppable funkiness
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
4/5
Have a soft spot for this. True, it wasn't "ground-breaking" or "revolutionary" but it's a delicious slice of jangly indie pop. 3.5 stars, with an extra half for nostalgia because a mate of mine was absolutely obsessed with this one
Talking Heads
3/5
Arty, jumpy, punky. Obviously if I was an achingly cool hipster then I'd be giving this 6 out of 5 whilst admiring some kind of post-modern art.
As it is, whilst I do like David Byrne's unique vocals, there's almost something too clinical about Talking Heads.
Motörhead
3/5
AND DON'T FORGET THE TOASTER
Gritty, raw, and hasn't aged well. Whilst the opener is of course in "stone-cold classic" territory, the rest of the album does feel a little samey. Not to deny the importance of the album in that "not quite metal, not quite rock" genre.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
SUFFER A JEFF - and I think we've *all* had to suffer a Jeff at some point in our lives. I once had to suffer a Jeff AND a Geoff at the same time.
Aside from that, a perfectly pleasant if unspectacular slice of 70s AOR.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Consider myself to be reasonably musically literate but had never even heard mention of this group before. Got a nice 60s groove thing going on there.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
A time when it didn't matter if you could sing or not. I love Neil Young - whaddyagonnadoboutit
4/5
RAWK CHICK. Never quite probably made it onto my radar, despite being the "correct" genre and timing for her to be a teenage obsession. Great stuff though (even with Thom Yorke wibbling around)
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Hadn't heard before, but really enjoyed. More "chilling on a beach in the sun" trip-hop than I'M VERY ANGRY AND GOING TO KILL EVERYONE MUTHAS
Violent Femmes
2/5
Never really got why "Blister in the Sun" was so popular. A whole album of it did not help my understanding.
Gorillaz
1/5
Gosh, this album was absolutely everywhere wasn't it. You couldn't move without hearing Clint Eastwood and at the time, it felt like something genuinely different and quirky.
On reflection, this is dull dull dull - bring back joyful 1991 Leisure Damon please.
Pretenders
3/5
Punky, spiky, gritty. Never been a major fan of Chrissie Hynde's vocals, but certainly appreciate the sentiment.
Soft Machine
1/5
Wibble
Tim Buckley
4/5
Beautiful folk vibes - hadn't listened to a full album before, and pleased that I did. Not quite enough for 5 from me, but damn close.
The Mamas & The Papas
5/5
Oh my word. The harmonies............... THE HARMONIES. A bunch o' messed up people, sure, but what an album. California Dreamin is obviously an automatic 5 - yes, yes, we've all heard it a million times, but it's still as stunning as Michelle.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Nothing to add. Stone cold five.
Alice In Chains
4/5
One of those bands where I'd always nod sagely whenever they were mentioned, because obviously, I should know them, without ever really listening to them.
HEAVY going, but totally worth it.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Best thing about this site is getting me to listen to artists that I'm "aware of" but have never really "listened to". Funky stuff here.
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
A little bit punk, a little bit Jean-Michel Jarre, a little bit folk. The last track is FILTH no?
Suzanne Vega
3/5
If you didn't know the artist / album, you'd say this was released in the 80s. It absolutely ooooooooozes 80s.
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
I remember this being a massive cross-over hit. You wanted to be a cool hipster before cool hipsters were a thing, then you definitely told people ALL about this album. Listening to it now, kinda hard to see why *this* one in particular was popular. Sure, it's cool and funky, but one of "the greatest" - I don't quite see it.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
It's not Yoshimi, but it's pretty damn cool
The Replacements
3/5
Sometimes jangly, sometimes spiky.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Kinda passed me by to be honest. Logged in to do my review and my first thought was "is this what I listened to yesterday?" Which isn't a great sign is it?
The Blue Nile
2/5
Meh.
Eagles
5/5
Almost too good. Now hated by those who consider it "dad rock" etc, but come on - this is world class choonage.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
So funky my crotch hurts.
Stereolab
3/5
Ah, Stereolab - I *know* them. Having checked Wikipedia, it appears I don't know them at all. Can see why the indie hipsters would absolutely cream themselves over this - Anglo/French? check. Bloopy bleepy? check
Passed by in the background nicely enough. Am I going to rush out to purchase it on vinyl and learn to be a barista? No.
Nirvana
4/5
EVERYONE already knows this and of course it should be on the list.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Just phenomenal. I didn't really understand how good until later (too busy grumbling about how it wasn't "real" music unless it was a drums / bass / guitar / vocals - possibly keys at a push - combo)
John Lennon
2/5
YAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Paint it Black absolutely SLAPS doesn't it. Also, very fond memories of "Lady Jane" and "Under my Thumb" from my Dad's "Greatest Hits" cassette tape that he had in the car. Not quite peak Stones yet, but the road ahead is clear.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Another in the list of "I can kinda see why it's significant without really doing anything for me personally Clive" (plus Nazareth did it better)
David Ackles
2/5
Hmmm. Definitely falls into the "interesting" category - wasn't aware of the artist, let alone the album. Did it grab me by the goolies and DEMAND to be loved for everymore - no. No it did not.
The Stranglers
5/5
Snarling vocals over howling Hammond Organ. The "middle" 3 tracks of Hanging Around, Peaches and (in particular for me) Get A Grip are probably amongst my favourite punk tracks.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Turned 18 in 1998 and this was massive. Beyond massive. Peak lad culture era. On reflection, is it quite as ground-breaking as it seemed at the time? Probably not. But for the sheer joy of house parties where track 3 felt like a huge middle finger to "boring grown-ups" and the nostalgia of the sheer joyous build to "Right Here, Right Now", it's an easy 4.
Nick Drake
3/5
Another artist in the "I've heard of them, but never really listened to" category. Beautifully crafted folk, but the benefit of hindsight always looming in the background
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
A little chortle to myself when this pinged up. "Hanoi Rocks? Really?". Doing a bit more reading, clearly super influential and maybe we wouldn't have the wonderful range of Nordic power-metal, synth-metal etc without them. But, for all that, many many acts have done it WAY better since.
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Probably would have had more luck with "interesting" girls (i.e. alcoholic with loose morals) if I'd claimed to be into MSP as a teen. However, JDB's vocals always irritated me, and could never understand how they ended up so popular. It's just dull unremarkable indie.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
One for the achingly cool kids. Me? I quite liked it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
That is some SWAMPY-ass rock right there boy. (Grew up in suburban UK in the 80's but this is what America should sound like to me)
Willie Nelson
4/5
Another "I know them, but don't really know them artist". The kind of country music that my Dad listened to rather than the modern overblown Nashville flavour. Gently floated out of my speakers in the background, great vocals, great songwriting.
Joy Division
5/5
Look, it's just a 5 isn't it? Fire this up and transport yourself back to your / my tormented teenage angst years. Now, excuse me whilst I go and sit in the dark in my bedroom with some Southern Comfort and New Dawn Fades on repeat.
Beth Orton
3/5
We like a bit o' Beth don't we. Classic indie singer/songwriter territory here, and nowt wrong with that
Dion
4/5
A mix of pop, country, crooner, folk. Not quite on a par with the classic 60s pop / do-wop for me (Runaround Sue is a certified BANGER) but certainly does enough to show why he's regularly listed as one of the best vocalists ever. Lovely stuff.
The Smiths
4/5
Has anyone mentioned yet that Morrisey is a cu....... oh, OK, as you were then. Can't deny the Marr / Rourke combo is superb, and "How Soon Is Now" probably my favourite Smiths track. Really quite hard to view them objectively anymore though. Went for a solid 4 in the end because the jingly jangly is still damn catchy.
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Great voice - would put on to seem sophisticated at a dinner party. Doesn't give me the "feels" though.
Gram Parsons
2/5
Country. It's fine I guess.
Morrissey
1/5
*weary sigh* I only had The Smiths 2 days ago and had to reference what a total helmet Morrissey turned out to be. So more of the same but without Marr, Rourke and Joyce isn't what I needed right now.
Still enjoyed Suedehead, but the rest? Shrug.
The Cars
4/5
So very very good. Spiky, punky, poppy. Can definitely see why they were considered in the vanguard of New-Wave.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Conjures up smoky rooms with troublesome dames and rich bourbon. I still find it hard to LOVE jazz though. It's nice enough, but I can't say I'm excited by it.
David Bowie
3/5
And it's still an overwhelming "OK I guess" for Bowie from me. I don't get it - why don't I get it?
Suede
3/5
Love Brett's soaring vocals. Suede were always the thinking man's Britpop compared to the lager fuelled nonsense of *some* of their peers.
Green Day
4/5
OK you snooty bastards, it's "pop-punk", it was insanely popular, but that's for a reason. And sure, it's not "Dookie" either, but this was a definite return to form and absolutely "fit" the era. It's not big or clever, but it's a hella lotta fun.
Beatles
3/5
Good - Eleanor Rigby, Got to Get You Into My Life
Meh - Yellow Submarine, Good Day Sunshine, Doctor Robert.
Yes, it's in the Top 10 on here, but my word it's bang average.
The Black Crowes
3/5
Generic bar rock but done quite well. Don't think their music ever quite translated to the UK as I've always been aware of them, without ever really hearing them anywhere.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Country - pleasant enough banjo n' harmony action from an artist that I'd never heard of previously. Better than other country? Not so much.
The Fall
1/5
Very good mate of mine absolutely LOVES The Fall. Thinks Mark E. Smith is an absolute genius and saw them live dozens if not hundreds of times.
On the other hand, I can't stand his drone and think he's a tedious old windbag.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Those vocal stylings get a little irritating after a while don't they?
Beatles
3/5
Some good, some trash. A classic example of "if you'd reduced it to a single album and got rid of the shite, it would be a hella lot better lads"
Scissor Sisters
2/5
Sure, it's fun and contains some disco-stompers. And was very much a breath of fresh air on release. But the cover of "Comfortably Numb" remains a travesty and not convinced its inclusion stands the test of time.
The Associates
2/5
Nu-wave, but without the choons.
David Bowie
2/5
Stop giving me Bowie albums. I DON'T GET IT.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Minimum 3 stars just for Lust & Passenger. Not sure I love it quite enough to push it up to 4 though.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Darker than "Move on Up" (the only track of his I could previously name) but still get the sense that I would have had great success in removing the beige slacks of my neighbour's attractive wife if this had been given a spin at my 1975 dinner party
Morrissey
1/5
Stop, enough with the Morrissey albums. I can very much appreciate The Smiths, Moz on his own (2nd album of his I've had now) is just not in the same league. Sure, there's still something about his vocals and intonation that brings joy, but mostly it's dirge. And he's a prick.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
"Troubled" individual wasn't he. Hard to argue with the emotion and energy of this performance, with all the key tracks from the beginning of rock and roll.
So conflicted between "this guy's a wrong'un" and "these tracks changed the way we perceive music".
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
Have not heard of this album / artist previously, but this SLAPS. Over the hour it does get a little "samey" but great lyrics over cracking beats
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
What happens when Lindsay gets a little too into his cocaine. "Tusk" (the track) is an absolutely filthy monster of a song though. *Give me MORE marching band"
David Bowie
1/5
Ugh - how many more Bowie albums am I going to have to work through? I get it, a HUGELY significant artist to many, even more so given the timing of the release of this one, but had to stop halfway though because of the vocal histrionics. Just unlistenable.
Sorry.
Slade
3/5
Very difficult to not think of them entirely in the context of Christmas, but they were of course one of the leaders in glam rock. Now, I don't particularly like glam rock, but there's some fine tracks here - largely where Noddy (no giggling now) really opens the pipes.
Gene Clark
3/5
Nice. It's not the Byrds nice, but nice.
Wasn't familiar with it at all, and, having done some further reading, I'm not entirely convinced that it's some fantastical lost gem. But it is nice.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Meh. I know plenty of people love Goldfrapp but nothing more then acceptable bleepy-bloopy for me.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Hendrix. You know what you're going to get with Hendrix.
Parliament
4/5
Had to put on my special funk trousers for this one. Not sure my regular ones would have coped otherwise.
Coldcut
4/5
Again, another "don't know the album or artist". Very much of the era, and very much not a genre I was listening to at the time, but fabulous breaks, beats and rhythms - enjoyed!
CHVRCHES
4/5
LOVE Lauren Mayberry's vocals. Gorgeous blend of 80s synths, modern pop and a sheen of British 90s electronica. Could I definitely say it's in the greatest 1001 albums? Not sure. Do I love it? Yep.
Boston
4/5
"More Than a Feeling" plus 7 other songs. OK, I get it, this is very "white Dad complaining about the latest generation spending too much on avocados" and there are dozens of these AOR bands on the list. And even if you do end up hating yourself for admitting it, these tunes are damn catchy.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Clean cut 80s electronic synth kids from Essex discover heroin and S&M.
Initially delighted that this appeared, after all, who doesn't love the Mode in their early 90s Flood inspired pomp. BUT, aside from the big hits, I didn't love this as much as I remembered loving it. Personal Jesus / Enjoy the Silence are an automatic 4 star minimum, but struggled to find reasons to lift it to the 5. So didn't.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Janis has a fine set o' pipes. Almost too "counter-culture 60s" generic but nothing that a liberal dungaree wearing blonde chick with a little grass looking for a groovy time couldn't fix.
Ryan Adams
3/5
Can't lie - my heart sank a little bit with this one. I absolutely loved Ryan Adams when he broke onto the scene. Coming from small-town suburban UK, the alt-country-rock vibes were like they came from a different planet, but a planet where I belonged. Saw him live several times and the show was always immense.
On the other hand, what an absolute helmet.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
1/5
Hmmmm. I like PiL - but think it's probably Lydon's raw snarl that lifts it. This is.............. not good.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Too kool for skool.
Eagles
4/5
Much maligned for being the pinnacle of comfy jeans and chunky white sneakers in charge of BBQ, but hard not to love the harmonies and chill vibes. Almost like taking a soak in the hot-tub.
Ray Charles
3/5
Of course, it's Ray Charles, so undoutedly a decent set o'pipes. Didn't give me the feelz though.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Groovy indeed. Not sure I absolutely *had* to hear it though.
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
Sometimes I feel like I'm not "cool" enough to appreciate some of the albums on this list. In this case, it appears to not only be me. Made it all the way through, but only just.
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
I mean, it's just SO good isn't it
Big Black
4/5
Spiky, angry and punky - can hear the sound of post-punk grunge being born here. All the more poignant with Albini's passing.
Adele
1/5
No, just a million times no. No, no, no, no, no.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
This is why this is a great project. Of course I'm "aware" of My Bloody Valentine, hugely influential cult band that help drive the shoegaze / baggy era of the late80s/early90s. However, I'd never really listened to them before.
Is the experimental rock / post-punk my favourite genre? No. Did I still enjoy this? Yes. Will I be able to nod along more intelligently when my more hipster music friends wax lyrical about MBV? 100%.
Otis Redding
3/5
Horny!
Supertramp
4/5
Is it OK to like Supertramp? Are they not-prog enough, too dad rock? Either way - GIVE ME MORE SYNTHS
Simply Red
1/5
Adele AND Simply Red in the same week. Wow 1001 albums algorithm, you are *really* spoiling me.
Queen
3/5
Queen when they were just a bit dull, rather than dull, over-blown and pompous. 2 stars, but "Seven Seas of Rhye" absolutely slaps so they can have a rounded 2.6/5
Bobby Womack
4/5
Like an explosion in a Babybel factory circa 1982, and another reason this project is ace. It's not going on my "goodness gracious, this is the finest thing to ever enter my ears" list, but wasn't at all familiar with the artist or album and now I'm educated. This was a tasty slice of overblown 80s funk / soul and I am here for it.
Dr. Dre
2/5
Hmmm. Snoop is fun right. And some of the rhymes and beats are catchy. But also a lot of misogynistic penis chat
Coldplay
2/5
Part of me thinks the reason I don't like Coldplay, a band that instinctively I should love, is because they were enormously popular before I'd really ever heard of them.
The other part of me thinks it's just because they're fucking dull.
Ride
3/5
Another one for the "was very much aware of, but hadn't really listened to, and that's why this site is great list". Another band that feels like they were absolutely the right place, right time for me to discover, but not all that surprised I didn't on reflection. Some of the "shoe-gaze" era is tremendously joyful, this is warbling background noise. Tempted to remove a star because Andy Bell went on to form Hurricane #1, one of the worst bands I ever saw live, but that would be overly harsh.
Frank Zappa
4/5
Groovier than I'll ever be that's for sure.
Sigur Rós
5/5
My heart soared when this one dropped into the feed. As a teen from smalltown suburban UK, this album absolutely exploded my brain when I first heard it. I tried to remember how I was introduced to it, and was pretty certain it was from Q magazine - research shows the review was thus :
sigur rós' second album proper features this astonishing opener [svefn-g-englar] and 10 others which, while surprisingly diverse, each reflects their penchant desire for apocalyptic serenity, overdriven guitars and teenage singer jónsi birgisson's unique hopelandish language
Adored it then, adore it now
Pixies
3/5
Album almost completely passed me by without realising. Jangly opening not what I was expecting and then suddenly Spotify has queued up something else. Probably not a good thing
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Gravelly, like pouring whisky directly into my ears. Would say I appreciated it, rather than loved it.
Mercury Rev
5/5
I must have been a total asshat to be around in the late-90s. Having had the IMMENSE Ágætis byrjun earlier in the week (9 out of 5 stars), I was delighted to see this pop-up in the feed. Adored Mercury Rev, and, whilst not quite in the same class as the Icelandic chaps, the vocals & lyrics of Jonathan Donahue absolutely take you off into another world.
Loved it (but only 5 stars)
Liz Phair
3/5
Interesting. Definitely some Hole-esque riot-grl vibes combined with some "white guys play R&B in the late 60s" vibes.
Not entirely sure my boat was floated enough to make this one I'll return to, but enjoyed the discovery none-the-less
Leftfield
5/5
All the cool kids listened to this. If you went to a party at someone's house in 95/96 this would be playing. I didn't listen to it, because I was insufferable, and convinced that if there weren't guitars, bass etc, then it wasn't PROPER music.
Naturally I was wrong. Whilst this also led to a load of bang-average UK electronica around the same time, this undoubtedly changed the music scene. And John Lydon snarling his way through "Open Up" as well.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
9 very solid rock and roll tracks before the unleashing of American Girl shows what a career this is going to go on and be.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Some schmaltzy-pap along with the glorious "I Believe" and the absolute FILTH of Superstition. Almost gets 5 for Superstition alone.
Badly Drawn Boy
1/5
Didn't understand the love at the time, don't understand it now.
Pavement
2/5
Another band that I was aware of without really listening to. And now I know why - had high hopes when this appeared, but man is this album dull.
Thundercat
1/5
Not as good as the Thundercats. "Sword of Omens, give me sight, beyond sight". In fact, on reflection, would rather listen to the Thundercats theme on loop for 52mins than this again.
Talking Heads
3/5
`Am sure there will be more Talking Heads / David Byrne to come. Funky, spiky with Byrne's unique delivery - you know what you're going to get here. If it's their second album, then I'm not sure it's truly revolutionary, sounded a lot like the first album to me.
Radiohead
4/5
So. Very. Conflicted............... Radiohead now feel like the band that "superior" music people challenge you with. If you don't like Kid A / OK Computer then you're either stupid or not trying hard enough. So when this popped up, I was fully prepared to go all out snark and dish out 1 or 2 stars.
But. BUT. My word this was a fabulous album. "High and Dry", "Just", "Sulk" all glorious soundtracks to my teenage angst and misery before the ultimate finale to the "staring into a bottle of Bells / Southern Comfort wondering why girls won't talk to me" era with "Street Spirit" and it's howling into the void "fade out again".
4 stars, should probably be 5, whilst hating myself for not rating it a 2. Which is probably exactly how it should be.
Hole
4/5
Hole were only ever very vaguely on my radar (most likely because of the Kurt Cobain link) without ever really listening to anything except Celebrity Skin. But this is perfect grunge era spiky, fuzzy, glorious guitarness.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
"Oooooh. Dinosaur Jr" I thought. I know they're cool, but haven't really ever listened to them.
Meh.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Modern pop. Sounds sexier in French.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Luxurious mullets? Hilariously bad knitwear? Layer upon layer of synth? I'm not sure, but I might have landed back in the early 80s.
Which, in the case of this album, is no bad thing. This was always on heavy rotation in our house thanks to my two older brothers, so one I feel I know well. The big hits are there, but "Head over Heels" was always (and remains) my favourite - glossy, luscious, over the top production with soaring vocals - a thing of beauty.
Stan Getz
4/5
Isn't 1001 albums great? An artist I wasn't aware of in a genre I (very) rarely listen to but this is good stuff. Of course, some of the tracks are familiar from other artists, but this really makes me want to escape the rat-race and open a small beach hut selling crisp beers, fruity cocktails and the freshest seafood you've ever tasted
The Streets
1/5
Didn't even need to enter it into the search box on Spotify. Inexplicably popular with "ladz" that like to "banter" when it came out, and probably still very popular with those self same estate-agent, BMW driving, golf playing, "I could have been a professional footballer but I did my knee at age 15" fucknuts now.
Extra kudos to the "Pam Ayres" reference a few reviews down. Cap. Doffed.
The Specials
4/5
Too young to have a sense of the social impact of this, but impressive on how they managed to harness a spiky bouncy joy whilst commenting on the total pile of dogshit that was the UK in the late 70s
Daft Punk
4/5
Definite warm nostalgia feelz on this one as it was an important part of my transition from "no, only guitars are good music". Not entirely coherent as an album true, but as an example of the "French-house" wave that was coming, it's definitely up there. Plus, shiny helmets *snigger*
Little Richard
3/5
If you'd been listening to a lot of swing and big band, and then this dude came along, it must have been a total mind-melt. Almost suffers from familiarity now, but can only imagine how revolutionary it must have been. And still some solid bangers if you want Granny dancing at the wedding.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Yeah - nothing wrong with a bit o'Cash. Are the prison albums better than other versions, I'm not sure, but the hits are here and they all rattle along with Cash's gravelly tones over the top.
Miles Davis
3/5
This seems VERY popular. Can't say it did it for me. I didn't *hate* it, but nor was it the greatest thing since I filled my ears with sliced bread.
Travis
2/5
This gives me a warm nostalgic glow, because all the very cute girls that were into indie music absolutely ADORED this album. And not just them, it felt like it was absolutely everywhere.
On the other hand, I thought it was pretty dull at the time, and neither age nor heavy rotation on Absolute Radio every single day since, has changed my opinion. Inoffensive - sure? Very popular - naturally? Should be on this list - NO SIR.
The Dictators
4/5
Had never heard of, but quite enjoyed this one. Definite +0.5 for the album cover as well which is excellent. The early punk vibes are strong with this one - enjoyable thrashy nonsense
De La Soul
3/5
If only all hip-hop was this much fun. Magic Number suffers badly from overplay, but the rest bounced along with great lyrics, production and them.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Clearly technically very accomplished, but didn't give me the musical equivalent of an wedgie. Probably of those where you want to nod wisely when someone mentions it "yes, yes, of course I've listened to Endtroducing" but that you will never listen to again.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Heh heh heh. What a stupid album.
Stupid. GLORIOUS. Album.
Why all the Bon Jovi hate on here? Obviously they're not achingly hip, or genre defining or using revolutionary production values. But let's neck some shots, strap on some leather strides, swish our outrageously long hair and punch the air with a group mates enjoying an assault of power chords and songs about girls.
If you can't enjoy that, then you're the problem, not the music
Aerosmith
3/5
What the Stones would have sounded like if they'd produced anything decent after 1973 (don't come at me with "Start Me Up" either). It's gritty white boy rock and it either floats your boat or it doesn't. Mine is floating, but with concerns about a small leak just below the waterline.
Jack White
2/5
Jack White's vocals - annoying in the White Stripes, annoying as a solo artist.
The Stone Roses
5/5
Absolutely superb from start to finish. A joyous mash of jangly guitars with "Summer of Love" vibes. "I Wanna Be Adored", "Waterfall" and "I Am the Resurrection" all absolutely monster tracks, but there are no low point here at all. Burned so bright and, inevitably, fell so fast.
Van Halen
4/5
Of course, for purists, this probably isn't rock, it isn't heavy enough, it's too commercial. Well, tough, music should be joyous and there aren't many better examples of where the truck labelled "rock" (quote marks intentional) crashed through the door marked "pop" with some absolute bangers. Yes, hair metal drove their clown car through shortly afterwards, but this is a fine fine album.
The Strokes
4/5
Totally revolutionary at the time. After a long period where rock had got bloated and pop was top of the world, long hair and leather jackets were BACK. Fond memories certainly, but perhaps not quite as revolutionary as it seemed at the time.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Gives me strong "Pacific Coast Highway" in a barely legal soft-top vibes. Both genius and "ooof - hasn't aged well" in equal measures. Having not listened to a whole heap of hip-hop originally (too many posh white kids pretending to be "street" at my school), am very much enjoying the chance to do so now. Even if it is through the lens of modern acceptability. 5 stars for the vibes, 1 star for the bitches.
Dr. John
3/5
Interesting. Not amazing, but definitely interesting.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This is why this project is genius. Yes, of course it's great to have an excuse to listen to Fleetwood Mac or the Rolling Stones in album format rather than just individual tracks, but the real joy is finding an artist in a genre that you would never have listened to otherwise.
And this absolutely SLAPS
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Did I have a CCR album before? Was it exactly the same as this one? It's so hard to tell.
Despite that, there's no denying the glorious country-rock on the big hits here. Of course, they're almost too familiar now - making a 60's documentary, slap some CCR over the top - but that's hardly their fault. Pull the soft-top down, crank the AM radio up, and blast down a highway into the sunset with Bad Moon Rising as your soundtrack.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I'm sorry, but I don't get Joni. Lovely voice, clearly very important to her generation but it's all pretty underwhelming for me. Pretty enough songs, without really getting the aural juices flowing
Oasis
4/5
On the very day that they released tickets for their reunion as well.
Tricky one to handle impartially - there's no denying the cultural impact they had, although whether unleashing hoards of lads and ladettes on the world was a good thing, who can say. In the cold light of day, a lot of this is pretty pedestrian but, and I hate myself for it, there's no denying that Liam's snarl and Noel's riff on the opening track are a powerful force. Didn't we *all* want to be rock and roll stars with unlimited amounts of cigarettes and alcohol.
Obviously tainted by the past 20 odd years of Gallagher brother helmetry, but the furore for tickets shows they're still a force.
Metallica
4/5
I didn't really like metal growing up. A bit like jazz in a way, the *real* fans seemingly do their bit to put people off by not liking the music in the correct way.
It's fast, it's loud, it's frantic and I love it.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
It's different. There's some heavy funk going on. But doesn't light any fires.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
That's enough Leonard now thanks.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
I feel like I should like Jane's Addiction more than I actually do. The era, the genre, the style - all the boxes are ticked, but somehow I was just never that into them. It's not bad at all, Farrell & Navarro are undeniably a charismatic, talented duo. And yet, I struggle to raise enthusiasm above "that was OK".
tldr : 3 stars - it's OK
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
Mmmmmm, sexy foreign music
The Jam
2/5
Weller's voice is IMMENSELY annoying, in all of its appearances. "Down in the Tube Station....." is undeniably catchy though.
Dwight Yoakam
1/5
*yawns* *stretches*
Plinky plunky fiddley wibbly tales of woe.
Kelela
2/5
*before listening* : oh, interesting. This is from 2017 and I hadn't heard of it or the artist
*after listening* : oh, that's why.
James Brown
4/5
C'MON TAKE ME TO THE BRIDGE
It's James Brown. You know what you're getting with James Brown already don't you?
The Jam
2/5
Already had The Jam this week. Weller is still a supremely annoying vocalist.
Nas
3/5
Enjoyed this. Was smooth rather than feeling like I was about to be violent to women whilst brandishing a "piece".
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Haunting and beautiful. The only downside is that I don't think Cave's vocals quite do it justice vs, say, a Jonsi style. He's more suited to being a dirty dirty man in the vicinity of Kylie Minogue
Janet Jackson
2/5
*Baffling* how grunge, shoegaze, indie etc became so popular when late 80s pop was this over-produced nonsense. Talented, but empty of......... anything
GZA
3/5
Exciting blend of samples and vocals -- very cleverly produced.
Brian Eno
2/5
I know he's "Music Gandalf" but this was average. I can only assume it's included because of the massive influence he has elsewhere, but on "his own" - it's not doing it for me guys.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Surprised me how early the Bunnymen got going - I always thought of them as coming later in the decade. Personally love McCullochs vocals and Sargent's jangly guitar, but feels like they haven't quite hit their stride on this one. It's good, but probably wouldn't include it here.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Loved it - Fela Kuti is one cool cat. No idea if he is the father of Afrobeat, but given how much I love other modern artists in that genre, I doff my cap to him if so. Fully expect another generic 70s white dude album tomorrow though :)
Neil Young
4/5
It's Neil, of course sometimes the vocal is a bit "off". And he appears to be a very grumpy man. But it sounds beautiful, and that's what matters.
John Grant
5/5
I remember first hearing "Marz" via the Midlake connection and instantly LOVING this. Sure, there was a lot of acoustic folk around at the time, but this, along with Midlake themselves and Fleet Foxes was elite. Probably a four, but it gets a bonus star for use of "Jc hates faggots" as a track title
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Middle of the road average late 90s US rock.
The Saints
3/5
Can definitely hear the first buds of punk spring in this. Gritty, spiky, angry but still with heart and meaning. Not spectacular for me, but if they're as influential as they say, then well worthy of inclusion on this list.
Cream
3/5
I can only imagine how good the threesome with some very liberal hippie chicks would have been to this album. On the other hand there's a LOT of "white guys play something influenced by blues" floating around this list and, in my humble, Cream are not the best at it.
Joe Ely
2/5
Makes me want to eat grits and spit tobacco. But as a tofu eating member of the European wokerati, this is not a good thing.
Scott Walker
3/5
That was some tasty, if unexciting, crooning.
Soul II Soul
2/5
Around the time that I would have really started getting into music, showing an interest in the charts, watching TOTP etc. Found "Back to Life" pretty dull then, and it's still pretty dull now. There's nothing fundamentally bad here, laid-back beats and vocals, but doesn't do anything for me.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
4/5
A band I knew of because of the goofy name, but had never listened too. Some stunning harmonies straight off the bat, and, whilst the quality isn't quite there across the entire album, there are definitely some tracks here that will go into regular rotation.
Better than all the other white-guy 60s rock? Hard to say that it's more worthy than, say, K-pop or, oh, I don't know, the biggest selling Japanese artist ever. But very much enjoyed.
3/5
Sure, I can dig this. Abrasive, raw and, yes, in some ways, not very good. But there's something there that helps it rattle along. Probably not going to come back to it so often, but can now nod sagely and make reference to how influential they would prove to be.
Madonna
3/5
Really? Greatest 1001 ever. Yes, on the one hand you have an absolute pop legend combining with one of the greatest producers of the era. Ray of Light itself is an absolute STORMER of a track that means this gets a minimum 3 stars. The other single I remember "Frozen" is pretty special too.
But the rest, the rest........................ I just don't see why you would include this when you could have picked, say, Mezzanine by Massive Attach, Elliot Smith's XO or, presumably, any number of other albums from around the world.
3 stars for "pop legend produces career reinvigorating absolute banger"
Pulp
2/5
2 bang average 1998 albums in a row eh. May as well go and see my comments on Madonna's "Ray of Light" tbh. "It's fine, there are other better albums this year bizarrely excluded"
Gillian Welch
3/5
Not an artist or album I was familiar with. But very gentle and soulful. The opener "Revelator" is this best here.
Morrissey
1/5
I've just checked and there's four (yes FOUR) Morrissey solo albums on this list. I'm not entirely certain there's a justification for 3 The Smiths albums, but without Marr, Morrissey is just a droning arse.
Megadeth
4/5
Assumed this was just going to be very silly, play as fast as you can and grunt a bit, metal.
But so much more than that. Yes, it's still at the thrashier end, but there's proper tuneful songs with vocals here. Surprised and delighted. Didn't do quite enough to get the full 5, but very happy to have listened to it.
The Triffids
2/5
Kinda dull no?
M.I.A.
2/5
Paper Planes is undoubtedly a banger. But there's also a lot of incoherent screeching here. I imagine it's "not for me" in any case, and I have no beef with it being on the list as I remember it being super popular and talked about, but won't be returning to it.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
It's not "Behaviour", but still somehow brilliantly captures the era. Post "second summer of love", grunge is about to go mainstream but Neil & Chris continue with their synth based rueful observations of life.
Paul McCartney
2/5
Late-era Beatles : kinda dull. First solo album from one of The Beatles : kinda dull.
Depeche Mode
4/5
DM approach peak greatness. Take a fresh faced boy from Essex, some leather pants, banks of synths and enough drugs that you could knock out an elephant and see what you get.
Not every track is elite level here, but "Never Let Me Down Again", "Strangelove" and "little 15" show the direction of travel
Spacemen 3
2/5
Wibble. Manages to be both simultaneously enjoyable and completely unremarkable. According to Wiki : "They gained a reputation as a 'drug band' due to the members' drug-taking habits and Kember's candid interviews and outspoken opinions on recreational drug use" which explains A LOT of what is going on here.
Jamiroquai
1/5
The 90s in the UK were a weird time weren't they. How we mocked this idiot with his insane hat and weird white-boi funky rhythms. But he has a supercar collection AND got to boff Denise Van Outen, so guess he has no regrets.
Didn't like it then, don't like it now. Still reminds me way too much of a CD in the Ford Mondeo of a sales rep in the Midlands.
Jazmine Sullivan
1/5
Not meant for me, nor enjoyed by me.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Sometimes I really wish I could properly get into hip-hop. I'm sure there's a whole depth and layer of nuance that I'm missing. However, this also gets filed under "kinda funky I guess"
Jane's Addiction
2/5
I could just put the same comments as for the last Jane's Addiction album. Basically, I don't know why I don't like them more - right era, right genre, right attitude. I *think* there's just something about Farrell's vocal stylings that doesn't work for me.
The Smiths
2/5
I quite like The Smiths. Sometimes even really like them. But it always feels like people *should* either be mildly obsessed with how much they changed their life, or not get them. "There is a Light" and "Some Girls" the clear standout tracks here which gives them a base score of 4. But I'm deducting 1 for the rest not being as good and another because Morrissey.
Steve Earle
1/5
Probably very good if you think it's OK to sleep with your cousin.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Honestly, preferred her "oh so naughty pop pixie" phase, but there's no denying Xtina can sing. Remember from the time that it was very different to what was around at the time and to what she'd previously released. Worthy of inclusion on this list, probably not? Worthy of the hate and scorn seemingly poured it? Also no.
2.5 stars rounded to 3 (loses a half star for not being dooooooorty enough)
Big Star
2/5
Power pop you say? Loved by REM you say? *fires up excitedly"
Oh.
MC Solaar
4/5
Mmmm, ze French heep-hurp is extra sexy no?
Dusty Springfield
3/5
No denying there's a wonderful distinctive voice here - you know it as soon as you here it. "Windmills" is, to me anyway, one of the most distinctive songs of the 60s, "Preacher Man" one of the most overplayed and overrated. Wanted to give it 4 stars, but such is my loathing for Preacher Man, I had to knock off another star. Sorry.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Dinosaur Jr appear again in the list and again I............... don't really understand. I really really really feel like this band should tick all my boxes but, for whatever reason, it doesn't hit the spot for me. It's not *bad* but I'm equally not rushing to listen over and over again.
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
This was WAY less interesting than I thought it might be from the title / album artwork. Never judge a vinyl by it's cover I suppose.
Paul Simon
4/5
Paul Simon is one of the great singer/songwriters. Combining his folk background with the African backing leads to this glorious masterpiece. Is it tricky politically - yes. Is it cultural appropriation? I'm not so sure, it's more of a beautiful fusion. "You Can Call Me Al" is played to death but there aren't many more beautiful openings than : "the Mississippi Delta was shining like a national guitar"
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
I think they got better after this - it's a solid if unspectacular debut.
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
Groovy, but not as groovy as the other one.
The B-52's
3/5
Post-punk quirkiness ahoy. Punk spikiness combined with late 60s surf-rock vibes, I can well imagine that the reaction to this on release was "well, this isn't something I've heard before".
It's not all gold for sure, and Kate Pearson's finest work was obviously "Out of Time", but I have no beef with it being included on the list.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
I am a sucker for a glorious harmony and this has them by the sackload. If they'd kept up the standard of the first couple of tracks, it would undoubtedly be 5 stars, but drops down to a 4 as there's some filler here for sure.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
Oooooh. Now this is an interesting one. 15 when this came out and it was EVERYWHERE. And by everywhere, I mean ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE, I'm pretty certain some radio stations had an Alanis track every 3rd song. And to be fair, it was very different and tapped into that grungey era.
Listening back, hell yeah there's some nostalgia there, but I actually liked it more than I thought I might. That vocal is very distinctive and the writing is excellent. It's a little bit samey, but not hearing it played every. single. day. has certainly helped.
Ghostface Killah
2/5
Could be the greatest rap / hip-hop album of all-time but the whole "skit" thing is just baffling to me. Some cool tracks here, but just can't get my head around this particular structure of album.
The Pogues
4/5
So good. Of course, if you don't like the fiddle, squeezebox or tin whistle, then it won't be for you, but the combination of punk-era aggressiveness and "Irish" folk inspiration is simply magical. Yes, we all get a bit sick of "Fairytale" from time to time but bloody hell this is good stuff.
Pour a big glass of whisky and jig round the house whilst roaring along to Irish Rover. Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on.
Fela Kuti
3/5
Is this "better" than other Afrobeat work? I have literally no idea, I can only take your word for it. No denying the fusion of genres (when done well) is as powerful now as it was back then. I enjoyed this, and now I'm going to listen some Tiniwaren.
The Modern Lovers
2/5
"Roadrunner" was on a compilation album I had as a kid so I had high hopes for this. Sadly, the new wave vibes of that particular track were not evident on the rest of the album which was a unholy mix of The Doors (who I never liked) and Elvis Costello (who I do like, but has been on this list far too often already)
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
2/5
If I was a white man with a goatee born in the 1950s, I would be absolutely ripping my cock off its hinges at this (presuming I could still find it under my belly).
I'm not, so no.
John Martyn
2/5
"I'd Rather be the Devil" is an incredible track, from an artist / album that I'd not heard of before. I can only assume that if the entire album was at this level, then *everyone* would have heard of John Martyn.
But it's not, so they haven't.
Supergrass
3/5
I always feel like there's a lot of "of course I always preferred Supergrass to Suede/Pulp/Blur/Oasis" revisionism around this band. "Alright" couldn't be escaped as a single, but the album was definitely regarded as a poor cousin of the big acts. Personally, always felt like they were better value as a live band.
Eric Clapton
1/5
White man wibbles to show how amazing he is at gheetaar.
2 stars, minus 1 because Clapton
Yes
3/5
Not enough songs about Thor, glittery capes or theramin solos for me to consider this "proper" prog. Which means it's just average rock.
Ian Dury
3/5
Can very much understand all the Marmite comments. Definitely some fantastic funk / post-punk music here, all sung by a plumber who's suddenly found fame on TikTok by saying English things to an American audience. The lyrics might as well be "water bottle, Marmite, crumpets" etc.
I know plenty of people who love Drury for his gritty urban poet lyrics, but it never quite did it for me. 2 stars, but a bonus one for "sex & drugs & rock and roll" because that absolutely works beautifuly as a track.
Heaven 17
2/5
You can see the beginnings of absolute stone-cold smash "Temptation" in here, but there's a lot of "we've got a new synth and are going to use ALL the functions" here too.
Manic Street Preachers
1/5
Generally I'll play what I'm told, but this is a rare "oh god no". Will forever be totally baffling to me that they became as big as they did.
Mike Ladd
3/5
Part of the reason I'm (mostly) enjoying this list so much is because it forces me to listen to other music genres that would otherwise have passed me by entirely.
Will I return to this album frequently? Unlikely. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Do I feel like a more rounded knowledgeable individual for broadening my horizons? Absolutely.
George Jones
2/5
If I had a granny that lived, oh I don't know, somewhere in the woods near the Cumberland Gap, and she liked to bake pie, but had some fairly unacceptable views on race and sexuality, I can imagine this album would be the soundtrack to my visits there.
I grew up in a shitty suburban UK council estate.
Randy Newman
1/5
Nothing randy about this album
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Ooooooh. Tricky one this isn't it? Definitely feels like one of those albums that snooty muso-types throw at you for "you're not trying hard enough" if you say you don't like. As if effort was something to be admired when listening to music.
Almost got 3 stars because of the stunning "Venus in Furs" but I had to take it away again for the total mess that is "European Son"
Kanye West
2/5
Slightly annoying that some of the tracks on this are really quite good (e.g. POWER) because the guy is clearly an absolute bell.
The Fall
3/5
Ah, what might have been. Some triffic post-punk indie vibes here and about the only Fall album I've listened to that might contain, what some people know as, songs. I know Mark E. Smith is a god to some, but wouldn't The Fall have been so much better if he hadn't been such a cantankerous arse.
Dreading the remaining albums that I know are just waiting for me on this list.
The Mars Volta
3/5
Vocals are disturbingly like "Fall Out Boy".
Giant Sand
2/5
Chore indeed. Would be revolutionary if Lou Reed hadn't already done it 25 years earlier.
Common
3/5
Am really quite enjoying the exposure to genres that I simply wouldn't have been aware of or noticed "back-in-day".
Do I love it more than REMs "Out of Time", well, no. But is it a well put together jazzy / funky slice of hip-hop. Very much so.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Neil Young is a grumpy old sort isn't he? Capable of both the most brilliant gorgeous rock and then, at the same time, like he's listened to Jagger's solo career and thought "YES, the world needs more of this"
2 stars, plus 1 because I felt bad only giving Neil 2 stars and he'd probably get the arse with me.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Love The Sugarcubes. An extra star automatically for being from a mysterious land of lava, ice and rocket strength coffee. Take the mid-80s post-punk indie movement, add some remote barren rock vibes and sprinkle with the elfin delight of Bjork's vocals. Only came to them "later", but what a great album. Maybe not quite the full 5, but will happily listen to again
KISS
3/5
Hee hee hee hee = KISS are so silly. Some solid tracks here, but let's be honest, it's the theatre of it all that made them as huge as Simmons tongue. But, that said, music can be incredibly serious at times rather than just FUN and I am here for the fun.
Public Enemy
4/5
Like. As a white kid in suburban small town UK, this did not reach me at the time (I think only the cool big city kids were allowed to "get into" hip-hop). But this is very clearly a fantastic piece of work, even if it's not aimed at me or my experiences.
PJ Harvey
3/5
OK I guess.
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
Acceptably average modern country.
Kraftwerk
5/5
Legendary. Hard to listen to objectively as I know it well and love it and, even though it was released several years before I was born, it somehow still captures an age of believe and possibility and progression. Unlike whatever *this* is right now.
Love
4/5
Though I was familiar with all the possible folk pop combos from the mid-late 60s, so when this popped in my feed, I was underwhelmed.
But where has this been my life to-date? Glorious harmonies and strings in abundance if that's your bag. One of the greatest ever? In a way, it feels like it can't be, because it's not better know. But I am then just guilty of giving in to "if it's popular, it must be good". 4-and-a-half stars, with a very reluctant rounding down because it didn't quite hit in the way that my very favourite albums do.
The xx
1/5
Eh?
AC/DC
5/5
The sound of a very horny man singing pub rock whilst suffering from the worlds most painful bowel movement.
10/10 - no notes.
The White Stripes
2/5
Yes, yes, yes - I know I'm doing music wrong. But this BORES ME TO TEARS. Undoubtedly one of the most significant acts of my 20s but did absolutely nothing for me. Gets a bonus star for the video to "I Just Don't Know....." though.
Anyone else think this list is a little heavy on the "white dudes do R&B / rock". Sadly, other bands (a) did it better and (b) didn't have Rod's voice ruining everything.
The Cure
4/5
Ah, the legend that is Mr Smith. The Cure were never my absolute stone-cold favourites, but I've never had to "reach for the dial" to turn them off immediately either. Heavy on the bass and soaring keys - "Pictures of You" is the absolute stand out here.
Although it does make me want to sit in a basement and drink absinthe and that's not always a good thing.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
It was OK I guess. I bet that there are hundreds of better example of the genre though.
3/5
Enjoyable, if not "Whip It" enjoyable.
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Riot girrrrl punk. Well executed, without being obviously different from their late 70s peers.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Less interesting than when Kylie gets involved.
Supergrass
3/5
Very much the Britpop hipster choice, which I probably unfairly judge them for but certainly no reason for them to be on this list twice. That said, although my heart sank when I saw this one appear, there's some very good tracks here - "Late in the Day", "Going Out"............
Should probably be 4 stars, but unfairly I'm only giving 3 because of my own pre-biased. Sorry.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Can I appreciate that this was a significant album, whilst not really being all that fussed about the music?
I can? Oh good.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Wibble. Simultaneously joyous and also the sound of a hippo sitting on the organ keys at the Royal Albert Hall
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Kept reading it as a "badminton" player. Which may have been more interesting to be honest.
The Byrds
3/5
Does not contain "Turn, Turn, Turn"
The Sonics
3/5
Hmmm. Hard to believe there weren't thousands and thousands of these type of garage rock bands. Some became more polished, some probably did it better and disappeared to only exist as a dull anecdote Grandpa tells at parties.
For whatever reason, The Sonics have been dubbed influential and, if it's good enough for Nicholaus Arson, then that's good enough for me. 2 stars + 1 for The Hives.
The Avalanches
4/5
"Dexter is criminally insane-sane-sane-sane"
Enjoyed this on release, enjoyed it now.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Almost unlistenable. There's not been many on the list that I've just given up on completely before the end, but this one made that particular list.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
If I drove a rusty pickup (beer cooler on the back), chewed tobacco, had an unhealthy obsession with fried chicken and had dubious views on "The Great Replacement Theory" because of something I'd seen on YouTube, it would be 5 stars.
So. 4 stars. It's pretty good isn't it.
Richard Thompson
3/5
Think I preferred them went they went "nu-wave" with the likes of "Hold Me Now".
But if I was looking to entice some strumpet of a farmers daughter into a hay loft by getting her tipsy on cider - this would absolutely be the soundtrack I'd use.
Laura Nyro
3/5
The soundtrack to picturing myself in a smoky bar, contemplating the bottom of my whisky glass because I slept with my secretary but my wife found out and now she's taken the kids and moved back in with her mother who hated me all along.
Iron Maiden
5/5
Exactly what metal should be. A little bit angry, a little bit silly, soaring vocals and bass that feels like it's going to rearrange your intestines.
5 stars for the sheer power of the vocals on "Run to the Hills" followed by the terrific drum breaks
Björk
3/5
More "lush strings" than one would normally associate with Bjork, and if her "pixie spending 6 months of the year without daylight" vocals don't do anything for you, then this isn't going to change your mind.
Can't honestly say it did enough for me to warrant inclusion on this list, but an hour of Bjork is never going to ruin my day either
Jethro Tull
4/5
Needs more 𝚌̶𝚘̶𝚠̶𝚋̶𝚎̶𝚕̶𝚕̶ flute
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Didn't need more Dexys tbh. Weirdly feted by some sections in the UK, but between Kevin's drone and *that* bastard song you hear at ever wedding, it's baffling they made this list once.
Garbage
3/5
Probably one where nostalgia gets the better of me. Generic mid90s rock, but was bought by pretty much everyone as it felt very different. Shirley Manson's powerful vocals and glossy mane definitely stood out in the sea of bang average Britpop era.
Want to give it 4 stars for the happy memories, it's getting a 3 because there's a lot of filler outside the big singles.
Turbonegro
2/5
It's OK. Had higher hopes for "niche Nordic rock band I've never heard of", but seems there's a very good reason I haven't.
Muddy Waters
2/5
Blues always feels a bit like jazz to me where, if for example, you don't know that the only time Hooty McBoob played with Jim "Daddy" Sausage was in Chicago in Nov 1927, then you're an idiot.
I'm sure it's massively significant and influential, but......... *shrug*
Wilco
4/5
Yep, stone-cold classic this one. Exactly the kind of band I wanged on about incessantly during the Britpop era because all the UK bands were "too popular". What an insufferable arsehole I was (and, most likely, still am)
Doesn't take anything away from this delicious slice of indie-rock though. From the opening bars of "Misunderstood" the memories came flooding back. I don't go back to this album as often as some on the list, so it's a 4 from me.
Prince
5/5
Definitely an artist I wish I'd had the opportunity to see live. So funky, so sexy, so, so purple.
Clearly a little bit mad, but mostly a very big bit talented.
Dolly Parton
2/5
No Jolene eh? Meh.
1/5
Oh goody - more late 60s white UK bluesy rock beloved by real ale drinkers with beards.
Air
4/5
Almost as sexy as the Prince album that appeared earlier in the week.
The Specials
2/5
No, no. "One" Specials was enough thanks. Nobody asked for more.
The Prodigy
4/5
."PSYCHOSOMATIC, ALAN IS GAY" merrily sang the 16 year old me.
Like many things, neither that, nor this album have aged particularly well. But my word, what a revelation this was when it appeared. Obviously the overblow tabloid nonsense "they're obviously teaching children that arson is a good thing" made it even more appealing, but personally, this album was one of the first to teach me that "electronic" music could absolutely slap. Probably a 3, but what the heck, 4 stars for the sheer joy of underage drinking and yelling along mindlessly with your mates.
Roni Size
2/5
I didn't like DnB until a bit later, at the time it felt like it was all trying a bit hard to be different. And, on reflection, this album *still* feels like that. The rhythm is there sure, but there's something missing. I don't want to get my white-boy skank shuffle on, and without that vibe, it's just some lo-fi beats and vocals.
This list was definitely put together by someone living in Bristol in 1995-2000 wasn't it?
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
Probably something I'd have put on the CD player when trying to impress a lady and thought she'd not "be cool" with WASPs "Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)"
Pere Ubu
2/5
Hmmmmm. Bit squeaky for me.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
Oh, what a cute title. They obviously don't literally mean 69 lo...................
Made it through the whole thing. Didn't hate anything, will not listen to any of these tracks again. Just about regained consciousness enough on "For We Are The King of the Boudoir" because it sounded like something Henry VIII might have written and contained the, quick frankly MAGNIFICENT lyric :
"One tryst with me and you'll be spinning like a gyroscope, One tryst with me and you'll be Pope"
1 star with a bonus star for the gyroscope / pope rhyming couplet.
Venom
2/5
Even though I love metal, sometimes it's just *too* metal isn't it
Hookworms
2/5
Acceptable but underwhelming indie-rock.
I don't recall 2018 being a stellar year, but genuinely have to question how this made it onto the list. Surely there was another 1970s "white-guys play the blues" album that could have been added instead.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Both hugely influential whilst simultaneously passing me right by. 17yr old me listened to this a lot more than boring current me does.
Public Enemy
5/5
So confusing. "Don't Believe the Hype" they tell us. But what do I do if the hype is entirely justified.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
Quite the contrast from Public Enemy's "It Takes a Nation....." that dropping in the previous day :D
I find this plinky-plunky country hard to get on with. Could happily listen to, say, Kenny Rogers all day, but this is just too twee and annoying.
Merle Haggard
2/5
Did NOT need this the day after Waylon Jennings
Fever Ray
4/5
I like cinnamon buns. I like coffee stronger than tar. I like home distilled spirits that destroy your brain. I like both too much and too little sun.
Basically, I'm spiritually Nordic, and so this is obviously great.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Ticks all the punk boxes.
The Bees
2/5
I bought this. On CD. Probably off the back of a rave review in, oh I don't know, Q?
Why did any of that happen? The very essence of the Isle of Wight in music form.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Obviously one of the greatest of all time ever. Yes, yes, yes - everyone knows the backstory, and it's been in the Top 10 selling albums for a billion weeks and Bill Clinton etc but COME ON.
For me, this is John's album more than anything. As Mick says in one of the (many) documentaries "the man is a whole band on his own there". But remove any one of the parts, and it couldn't possibly be the same.
And kids, if your parents tell you "don't do drugs" (and, you should probably not, but anyway) point at this album for evidence of shovelling as much fine grade Colombian up your hooter as you can.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
SLEDGEHAMMER! And other songs.
Slightly unfair, but based on the popularity of the track above (holy shit that video) it was pretty much my first thought. Throw in Kate Bush doing her Gothic muse vocal thing and the synths of "Big Time" and you have one of the most 80s albums imaginable.
And it's very very good.
Fugees
4/5
"Killing me Softly" was played waaaaaaaay too much, but the album overall is a delight. More Hip-Hop like this and less with the ridiculous low-hanging jeans and abuse of women please.
SZA
2/5
This made me feel old :(
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Angry people. VERY angry about something. Almost pleasingly angry.
The Police
4/5
My much older brother absolutely loved The Police, so heard a lot of this growing up. It's definitely good, with that early-80s post-pink, hint of reggae, smattering of electronica vibe. But somehow it also (still) feels like it's trying to hard. Aside from the title tracks, it's strangely lacking in heart - probably because they hated being anywhere near each other by this point ("can we just get this finished now please")
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Track 1 : mmmm, inject this funk directly into my veins
Other tracks : oh, OK, this doesn't really work as a standalone does it
Robert Wyatt
2/5
OK, OK, OK. I get it. Eno is a genius. However, that does NOT mean that everything he touches is worthy of inclusion on this list. This entry for example, what a load of tedious old bollocks it is. But because Brian worked on it, the music press have to work themselves into a frenzy,
Rod Stewart
2/5
Not as terrible as I feared. Assumed (obviously, because it's "Rod") that it would be a lot of songs about how many tall blondes he'd boffed.
Instead, it's ANOTHER early 70s "white guy does something bluesy" record. Of which this list has far too many examples.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Was familiar with GLB as an "REM adjacent" act (particularly as a college mate of mine was heavily into both) but never really made it past "decent" on my excite-o-meter.
And that appears to still hold true today.
Jane Weaver
3/5
Enjoyed this very much - not sure why it completely passed me by originally. That said, the GREATEST 1001 albums ever?
Primal Scream
2/5
Do Primal Scream albums deserve to be on this list? 100%. Does THIS Primal Scream album deserve to be on the list? Erm.........................
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
Felt somewhat familiar and completely passed me by (but in a pleasant way)
David Crosby
4/5
It's great, because it's Crosby. But again ponder what made ^this^ album make the list over, oh I don't know, some revolutionary Japanese band. Or the band that changed the music scene in Uruguay forever.
Deerhunter
3/5
Deerhunter - one of the most hipster bands of the last decade surely, so no surprise to see them here.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
One of my Dad's favourites, and, therefore certainly one for me in the nostalgia vibes (if a cassette in a Ford Orion can give you the cosies that is).
"Without You" that is a million times better than the Mariah Carey saccharine laced version, "Coconut Song" that probably isn't entirely appropriate anymore and I'd forgotten what an absolute banger "Jump Into the Fire" is. Something like a 4.4 - doesn't quite make the elite category for me, or I would play it more regularly, but it's a fine piece of work, no doubt.
Wire
3/5
All spikey and angst-ridden. Can certainly hear the influence on those that followed, without necessarily loving it all that much myself.
Elvis Presley
2/5
He probably could have stayed where he was tbh. I either want "early raw Elvis" or "can barely move but LOOK AT THAT SEQUIN JUMPSUIT Elvis".
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
Albarn plus others. Loved by hipsters & the music press at the time. Not that good.
Madness
2/5
I don't really understand Madness. Always seemed like more of a novelty band to me (although I appreciate they were much beloved and important as part of the ska / reggae crossover at the beginning of the 80s)
"I Like Driving in my Car", "Baggy Trousers". It's all a bit "Arthur Atkinson" for me.
Black Sabbath
2/5
-1 star for "Changes" which is a sack of shit.
The Cure
3/5
Absolutely zero objections to The Cure appearing here.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Burbles along in the style of an Iggy Pop record. Not the worst, not the greatest.
Kanye West
1/5
Shame the Spotify version doesn't have his cover of Horst-Wessel-Lied. A million times NO
Van Morrison
1/5
Meh. Loses an additional point for being an arsehole.
ABBA
5/5
WHAT an album. Yes, yes, we all know sugary-pop ABBA with the ridiculous stage costumes and overly cheerful demeanour. But those long winter days with no sun and too much post-divorce schnapps will do something to your mind.
The opening 40/45 seconds of "The Vistors" is just stunning. All synth and then Frida's haunting vocal kicks in. Goosebumps territory people.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Ah lovely. I do enjoy not-shit country.
Foo Fighters
2/5
Are you a commercial pop-orientated radio station that wants to occasionally play something "edgy"? Presenting the Foo Fighters.
Whilst admiring Grohl's "fuck it, I'm just going to play everything", it's hard to believe this would have got any traction at all if it hadn't been Grohl. If I'd gone into the only bar in town in Nowheresville USA on a Friday night in 95 (a) I would have been underage and (b) had this been playing, I wouldn't have thought - these guys are gonna make it.
John Cale
2/5
Didn't notice a single thing about it.
The War On Drugs
4/5
I get the point that "it all sounds the same". But that sound is glorious - "Red Eyes" probably one of my favourite tracks from recent years. *checks album release date - it's over 10 years old* Shhhiiiiiiiiiiiiit - me is old.
OutKast
3/5
"Hey Ya" was inescapable, and for good reason. Probably the funkiest track since prime-Prince. But hard to ignore the fact there's a lot of filler here. Would a single album featuring more combined efforts have worked as well - hard to say, but I can't say I'd want to listen to all 2+hours back-to-back again.
2/5
My senses were NOT working overtime listening to this.
Machito
4/5
ABSOLUTE FILTH - do not, repeat do not, let the youth listen to this or there will be fraternising and all sorts.
Destiny's Child
4/5
Sure, it's "of it's time", but streets ahead of other "pop girlbands". Sass, harmonies, style and the singles are all still great to listen to 20+ years later (holy christ, I'm old).
Does it drag a little? Could they have lost a few tracks and kept it tight? Yep, undoubtedly. But there will be groups of bridesmaids dancing with me to these tracks at my grandkids weddings, and I am very grateful for that.
The Doors
3/5
OK, here goes. I never really liked or got The Doors (and was once put in a headlock by a 14 year old classmate to prove just how wrong I was - everybody knows *that* kids right?)
Morrison's voice always just annoyed me and the songs felt so tepid. The tracks you instantly think of are all here, so definitely some kudos for them all coming on debut and Apocalypse Now means I view |"The End" in a different light now. Plus I question how much I was turned-off them, because they were a band you were *supposed* to like?
Frank Black
2/5
Not particularly memorable for me. Had to think for a moment if I'd even actually listened to it, which isn't really the point of this list is it.
Screaming Trees
3/5
Always liked Lanegan's vocals, although was more aware of him post Screaming Trees really. You can definitely hear the grunge roots but the psych-rock influence makes it a more interesting listen. Had I been more aware of them in '96, then '96 me would have *loved* this. Coming back to it 30ish years later, I'm filing it under "pleasant enough"
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Neil Hannon is clearly a lovely talented man. I probably wouldn't have this on the list myself, but I'm never disappointed when The Divine Comedy appears on my rotation. "Everybody Knows" in particular is an absolutely glorious piece of wistful pop
New Order
4/5
Not my absolute favourite of their late-80s efforts, but an absolute masterclass in why drugs are (sometimes) absolutely brilliant
Brian Wilson
4/5
Did..................... did everyone get this today? If not, that is hella coinkydink. RIP Brian you mad bastard.
Everything you'd expect from Brian is here though and the music press went into an absolute FRENZY over it (as did some listeners looking at the reviews). It's a beautiful thing for sure and *probably* deserves it's place on the list. Just.
Pet Shop Boys
5/5
PSB are basically the soundtrack to Thatcher's Britain. Community - bad, money - good, homos - bad.
Neil's distinctive nasal yet soaring vocal layered over Chris' electronic bleepy-bloops. There can't be many finer 3 album sequences than Actually->Introspective->Behaviour. If you're not from here and that time, I'm sure it loses some of it's magic, but I could very happily listen to "It's a Sin" on repeat.
Peter Frampton
3/5
Bwwwang. Bwang bwang bwang bwang bwang. Bwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwang.
Hard to take anything from Frampton seriously after "High Fidelity" really and somewhat rightfully so as this is absolutely up there for "have we taken soft rock a little bit too far now guys"
+1 for excellent usage of talk-box "bwang" sounds though.
The Police
3/5
Very different to anything else around that time, and the big hits are still stand-outs. Disappointingly feels like a lot of filler here though - like they just couldn't be bothered
Caetano Veloso
4/5
See, this is what I wanted the project to give me. I haven't heard of the album, the artist or even the genre before. The psy-rock / samba crossiver album I didn't know my life needed
George Michael
2/5
One of those artists where I find the popularity UTTERLY AND TOTALLY baffling. I mean, if mediocre "white man sings soul" is your thing then great, you go for it, you'll probably not understand my appreciation for Rammstein either.
tldr : there's nothing close to "Young Guns" here
The Birthday Party
2/5
Messy. Very messy. Probably needed to ease off the creme-de-methe just a touch. Simultaneously gives equal parts "trailblazing" and "incoherent nonsense" vibes. I didn't exactly hate it, but will it ever appear on rotation again............ no. No it won't.
Can
3/5
"German experimental rock" - no, wait, come back a second.
Enjoyable background noodling. Didn't exactly get the blood pumping and the juices flowing, but I feel my music knowledge as expanded a little bit further, and that alone is enough.
American Music Club
3/5
"American Music Club? Why do I know that name?" *fires up Wiki*
Oh yes, Eitzel's band pre-solo-Eitzel. Well, we know what we're going to get here and it's very pleasant indeed. Was this radically different from any other AMC / Eitzel albums? Not really, so a slightly odd inclusion on the list, but enjoyed returning to it regardless.
James Taylor
2/5
Ooooof. I feel so conflicted. This is NOT good but by jolly "Fire and Rain" is catchy as hell isn't it.
Primal Scream
5/5
"Just what is it that you want to do?" "We wanna be free. We wanna be free to do what we wanna do. We wanna get loaded and we wanna have a good time"
Kings of Leon
3/5
Much preferred KoL when (I think it was a Q magazine review) described Caleb's vocals as like "gargling" with rocks. Yes, this is of course, super polished, super popular and not a "bad" album. But the long-haired, double-denim clad era of Molly's Chambers was better
Tim Buckley
2/5
*YAAAAAAAAAAAAWNNN* - I know this dude is considered to be god of something or other, but what a snooze fest.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Ayah-ah, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ayah-ah, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
All downhill from there of course, but that's a minimum 4 stars for the opening 18 seconds of the album
Prince
5/5
Had to change my trousers twice during the playthrough
Japan
3/5
The opening track is nu-wave distilled into 4:49 isn't it? Mysterious vocals, echoing synths, relentless beat from the drum machine...............
Of course, if you can't stand nu-wave then this isn't going to do anything for you, but certainly one of the gateway albums to the explosion that happened a few years later.
Meat Puppets
2/5
Do not recommend playing if you're trying to have a relaxing bath.
Public Enemy
4/5
I really should have listened to more Public Enemy in my youth. It's not for me (middle-class, white, male, UK) but I was way too quick to dismiss it as "angry black people just talking over beats".
Shame on me....... shame on me.
Animal Collective
3/5
I bought this on CD - yes, CD kids - because a music magazine (Q if I were to guess) had wanked themselves into an absolute frenzy over it.
I remember feeling slightly underwhelmed at the time, and this remains my feeling having had another chance to give it a spin. Yes, there's some clever indie Beach Boys vibes here but it ends up feeling like a technical exercise. Which, yes, OF COURSE the music press absolutely loved.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Very much a part of my youth - "Something for the Weekend" was absolutely everywhere in 1996. I don't want a whole album of it, but that track in particular will always bring a nostalgic smile to my face
Gang Starr
4/5
If nothing else, this project has considerably widened my appreciation for hip-hop
Doves
2/5
Hmmm. It's fine I guess (fun fact - I was once on the same flight as Doves from UK -> America. They were ......................... perfectly nice and polite)
Bert Jansch
3/5
An artist that I had never heard of until now. Would rate it as simultaneously bloody lovely and, equally, unlikely to feel the need to listen to again.
The Auteurs
2/5
Some of this list is just odd and compiled by someone who worked for the UK music press between 1993 and 2008.
The Cardigans
4/5
Gorgeous Nordic power-pop, powered by Nina Persson's smoky vocals. Somewhat unfairly bundled in with the Tier 2 Britpop bands (largely because they would have played on TFI Friday a lot)
Steely Dan
4/5
Time to slip on some oversized comfy trainers and fire up the grill while waxing lyrical about how cars ain't as good as they used to be.
Damn it's good though isn't it.
Sade
2/5
Ooooh, haven't had many of these. Very firmly in the "deserves to be on the list even though I can't stand it" category. Can fully appreciate how different this was, and how well the album is put together whilst it absolutely bores me to tears.
Black Sabbath
4/5
This cannot possibly be co-inky-dinkal. Brian Wilson departs, "Smile" spins up next in my list. Ozzy departs and THIS is next in my list.
Hugely influential of course, without necessarily being the leading exponent of the art. If you'd spent the 60s listening to the Archies and Roy Orbision then WOW were you in for a shock
The Band
3/5
"The Band" - both very familiar and simultaneously hard to name any of their tracks. Ah yes, the one about dropping my load on Sally, that's right.
Surely only on this list for being Dylan adjacent - nothing radically different from any other folky, daydreamy, harmonies, let's listen to at a campfire as the sun goes down 60s vibe.
Sinead O'Connor
5/5
"NARTING COMPARS. NARTING COMPARS. TO YOOOOOOOOOOOOUSE"
Hard to get beyond the "even bigger than a smash" hit here. *That* video. *Those* vocals. Obviously deeply troubled personally, but a glorious slice of Celtic folky-rocky business. 4 stars for the album, bonus star for calling out the Catholics for their hypocritical bullshit.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiines. Oh no, wait, NOT that one. Oh, OK. Still pretty jazzy and funky. I will trust others judgement on the seismic importance of this one.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
Folky, chilled, but not the right vibe for spreadsheeting on a warm summers day. I shall return to this when it is more dreich
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
OK, just too much hipster UK music press selections now. Much praise when this was released and it just bored me senseless. Why? Why this?
The Libertines
3/5
Whilst never a particularly big fan (always too popular with the "oy oy, nawty ladz" crowd for my liking) it does make me nostalgic and wistful for a time when the UK wasn't totally shit. Bonus point for that.
Eurythmics
4/5
I think Annie Lennox was the *only* female UK vocalist in the 80s right?
That said, this is a delicious slice of synths and powerful vocals. Was never a huge fan of the title track, but the opener (Love is a Stranger) ticks ALL the boxes. Bleeps and bloops, husky vocal, shrieky vocal. Splendid
Happy Mondays
3/5
Sometimes music leads you to conclude "I really should have done more drugs". Happy Mondays are the band that lead you to conclude that you probably shouldn't have.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Oh, was expecting this to be some funky Bedouin tribal rhythms. Just some regular ol' jazz.
System Of A Down
4/5
Hmmm, had possibly always unfairly tainted them with the "nu-metal" brush (and nothing wrong with nu-metal at all, don't @ me) but coming back to SOAD for the first time in ages, this felt like a cut above.
But most of all, it made me feel ANGRY. GOOD ANGRY.
Bob Dylan
5/5
My Dad wasn't the best in the world (nothing physical or anything, don't worry) but he did love Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.
Thanks Dad.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Did not know that I needed a sitar version of Jumpin' Jack Flash in my life - that cover absolutely slaps. The rest, yeah OK, but 3 stars for the opening track alone.
Sabu
3/5
Could be 60 days since release, could be 60 years. A kind of timeless jazzy samba vibe that never dates, but never becomes popular.
Miles Davis
2/5
The album I put on when I'm trying to impress a classy lady. (W.A.S.P. by W.A.S.P. if she's FILTHY)
Suede
4/5
Along with Pulp, easily the best of the Britpop-pack well away from the Blur vs Oasis nonsense. Soaring vocals, sharp suits and pointy shoes, this album feels as fresh as it did to my young ears on release.
Elton John
3/5
"Tiny Dancer" and some other songs. Obviously Reg is a total ledge but beyond the lead track, there's not much here beyond the standard Elton template. Which is fine.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
OK, that's enough Elvis Costello lads. Wait - he has 6 albums on here and The Hives have NONE. What the..................
The Kinks
3/5
*weary sigh* As much as I love this project, sometimes the list feels like hard work. It says it all that the Spotify track count for this album is around 500k-1m for everything and then TWO HUNDRED MILLION for Sunny Afternoon. And Sunny Afternoon is a load of tedious old bollocks
Defaults 3 stars.
King Crimson
5/5
My older brother introduced me to this album when I was, I guess 13 / 14. I didn't really understand it, but I knew that it was different and exciting - from the insane track lengths to the vivid album sleeve.
I guess "Schizoid Man" is probably the most well know but I had to play "Return of the Fire Witch" twice because it's just soooooo good. The flute, the drums.................... *insert heart emoji*
R.E.M.
5/5
What an album. Probably in my Top 5 REM albums who are in my top 5 artists ever. Became aware of them around "Out of Time" and absolutely devoured everything I possibly could. Sure, it's kinda pop (pop-adjacent?) which the purists seem to dislike, but WHAT AN ALBUM
Jungle Brothers
4/5
As funky as it is hip-hoppy. As other reviews have noted, it would be a very different world where this uplifting vibe was the dominant force for that particular genre. But, once again, this project has helped deliver by shining a light on an artist / genre that had completely passed me by and would have been unlikely to appear on my radar.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
A name I "know" without really knowing what they sound like, or being able to name any tracks.
But this firmly sits within the "riot grrrrrl" genre doesn't it. It's all angry and spiky and fast and shows that girls can rock with the best of them. Fantastic energy.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Can only imagine how much better this album would be with plenty of drugs and liberal nubile hippy chicks available.
Sadly I am too much of a square to ever truly appreciate this album
The Yardbirds
3/5
A clear example of the older R&B tradition with the more modern electric rock vibes. Is there any other band where the vocalist is essentially an after-thought to the production line of guitarists?
Anyway, I've already listened to way too much "white blokes play R&B" and this barely registered.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Hmmmm. Odd choice really. Whilst pretty different to anything else around at the time, did it unleash a movement off the back of it? Do bands regularly name-check this as the reason they make music?
Gene Clark
3/5
Never as good as the original stuff from The Byrds is it? Pleasant enough folky-country rock, that - to be clear - I enjoyed but - equally - would not have been sad at missing out on entirely.
The most 3 star album I've given 3 stars to
Death In Vegas
3/5
Oh, it won the Mercury Music Prize, almost certainly shit then. Can honestly say that I "listened" to it yesterday and it barely registered at all. In fact, I have had to go back and listen to the main tracks called out in the reviews to have something to say.
Definitely some Underworld vibes and certainly of a time when Britain hadn't gone to total shit. Dark sweaty basement club DJ throws "Aisha" on, yep, can imagine it went down well.
Not as shit as I thought it might be, largely forgettable.
Manu Chao
5/5
Exactly what I'm here for. An artist I've never heard of with a genre I'm not familiar with. And man, does this put the "groove" into............. erm, "groovy".
An artist with an uncompromising vision and beliefs translating that into musical form. 4 stars - bonus mark for a track called "Bongo Bong". Yes, I have the humour of a 6 year old - and?
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
Kinda bleepy-bloopy no? Possibly the soundtrack to a film starring ......... Wesley Snipes maybe. Yeah, strange inclusion
Aphex Twin
4/5
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. Whilst reading the other reviews, I wondered "is it going to be as good as I remember it being". And yes, I get the "boring lift-music" criticism. But this is a beautiful, beautiful thing to be treasured.
Circle Jerks
1/5
I'd love to be young again and be able to last 15 minutes.
Grateful Dead
3/5
As a child born in the 80s in the UK, I obviously don't get the cultural, historic context of the Dead. It's clearly pleasing enough in that country / rock / "whoops, I've overdone the LSD again" genre - but perhaps this is one of the most "you don't know man, you weren't there" bands ever.
Stereo MC's
2/5
Rated starts at -1 for making me listen to that god awful opener again. No. JUST NO. Beyond that, some vaguely acceptable urban funky beats thrown down (Step it Up probably the best effort here), but the appeal remains elusive to me.
Nick Drake
4/5
Beautiful. Almost too beautiful. I'm not sure I could listen to it everyday, but it's certainly a remarkable collection of simple "man with guitar" songs.
Randy Newman
1/5
NOT happy I've had to listen to Randy Newman twice now.
William Orbit
3/5
Soothing no? Will always have time for William Orbit.
Billie Holiday
2/5
Sad smoky warbling. Can think of precisely zero occasions when I would think "oooooh, I must play this"
Bee Gees
2/5
Hmmm, I know "disco sucks" and all that, but Saturday Night Fever is streets ahead of this. Kudos to the Bee Gees for reinventing themselves throughout their career, but this is some truly mid level ballad / harmonies.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
No 4 star ratings for 8 days now - the algorithm is clearly determined to punish my mental health. Cocteau Twins are one of those bands that I always feel like I should like more - they tick a lot of my personal preference boxes but somehow it never *quite* grabs me. Quite tempted to give 4 stars to break the slump, but sadly the final score 3.499 has to be rounded down.
Haircut 100
4/5
Initial reaction to this appearing was, of course, "oh, those sweater wearing floppy haired funksters of new-wave"
It's actually very good though isn't it. You might not want to admit it, but it's deliciously bouncy. Yes, the funk gets a bit wearing after a while, but the big hits were all big hits for a reason.
I'm not sure it's *quite* enough to warrant inclusion in this list, but I'm pleased the project brought it to my attention.
Hot Chip
4/5
Haunting vocals over relentless beats. Should it be this album included vs any of their others? I don't know, but they absolutely deserve to be here.
The Young Gods
3/5
Bonnet de douche Rodney, bonne de douche...........
The Beach Boys
3/5
Hey, I listened to The Beach Boys today
Oh great, which album?
The Beach Boys Today
Yes I know that, BUT WHICH ALBUM
Fantastic harmonies, glorious production but............ this hasn't evolved much from earlier efforts. It's not a bad thing, but why the inclusion of this album specifically?
Buck Owens
2/5
Me, yesterday morning : "Been a real run of dross the past couple of weeks. Come on algorithm, give me something good."
Oh.
Roxy Music
3/5
As an individual who has never been heavily into the whole Bowie / Eno / glam-rock era, then I largely knew what was coming. The album artwork *chefs kiss*, "Do The Strand" an absolute romper-stomper up-tempo track with Ferry almost howling over the beat.
7 tracks of poncey arty-wibbling with strong "oh, aren't we so fucking clever, you don't even UNDERSTAND" vibes.
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
Oh look, it won the Mercury Prize. I look forward to being underwhelmed by this.
*remains underwhelmed for 61 minutes*
Sure, I get that there's an argument that this was reasonably significant in the UK at the time. Definitely brought that "urban / R&B" sound closer to the majority of mainstream listeners and no argument that some of this is still kinda catchy, Dy-Na-Mi-Tee especially.
But come ON, there is no argument for it being on this list. Unless you think the Mercury Music Prize makes it so. Which is silly.
Talk Talk
5/5
Oh finally. Feels like it's been a long run of meh the past few weeks.
The advantage of being much younger than my siblings (almost certainly an accident) is that instead of being into, MC Hammer or 5 Star or anything from the SAW stable, I had a house full of Pink Floyd, The Police, Fleetwood Mac etc And this.
This is obviously absolutely glorious. Wistful, emotional with Mark Hollis' vocals vulnerable and powerful at the same time. If you haven't picked up Jude Rogers "The Sound of Being Human" then you absolutely must.
Q-Tip
3/5
Even more hip-hop that I don't hate. Remarkable what I've learned from this project.
Traffic
2/5
And we're back to the bog-average white dude R&B.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
A delicious slice of R&B infused soulful pop. Would I have it on my own 1001 list, probably not. Did I enjoy it on a cold, rainy Friday morning, I sure did.
The Youngbloods
2/5
Wait? Did I actually listen to this yesterday or not?
Songhoy Blues
5/5
I had the absolute pleasure of hearing Songhoy Blues on the tour promoting this album and, amazing as it is here in it's recorded format, as a live proposition these guys are a phenomenon.
Biased because I saw them live, perhaps, but what a gorgeous fusion of desert sounds and rock this album is.
Suicide
2/5
There IS something here. I don't know what, but I didn't instantly think "oh no, why is this here". I suppose an equally valid point would be that I didn't find anything to make me think "yes, I understand why this is here".
808 State
5/5
I was marginally too young for this originally. And didn't get it at all anyway. Fully engrossed as I was in "GUITARS", my older brothers mysterious bright red hardhat with happy-face-acid emojis on the side was a total mystery to me.
Now, of course, NOW.....................
Oh to have had the chance to participate in this even slightly. A delicious landscape of bloops, bleeps taking you to another world. Take a pill, and let your troubles slide away because we're all mates aren't we?
The Style Council
2/5
Oh. Weller. Hmmmmm.
David Holmes
2/5
Oh, I remember David Holmes. He was really big and "edgy". I forget why.
Muddy Waters
3/5
OK, with a lot of the "influential" picks on this list, I don't really hear it. With this - you can easily see the thread that becomes the base "the 60s" is built on. It's still not really my genre, but the genres I do love owe it a debt of gratitude.
Doves
3/5
I was on the same flight as Doves to the US once. Their manager said they were super pumped because it was the first time they'd ever flown business. Nice guys.
However, given the other music from that era, I can't really say why this made the list. It's nice, it's well made etc but it doesn't really ignite anything in me. Apart from "There Goes the Fear". Which is an absolutely glorious slice of jangly rock.
Cheap Trick
2/5
Cheap Trick should not be anywhere near this list despite the fact, and I hate myself for admitting it, "I Want You to Want Me" is absolutely incredible track.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
My Dad really loved Rundgren so heard bits and pieces. I still struggle to think of him as anything other than "guy who did the motorbike sound on Bat out of Hell" though.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
Am worried Lana is going to go full "trad-wife" loon, but absolutely love, love, LOVE her voice. Too soon for the list though no?
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Some absolutely fantastic tracks here, most notably "Two Weeks". Adored the album on release, and personally think it holds up very well.
2/5
Do not listen to this album as background music whilst you're trying to do some spreadsheeting.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I assumed this would be one of the earlier "Frank" albums, but somehow was his NINTH already. Distinctive voice that undoubtedly changed what was to come, but hard to love an entire album of it.
The Slits
3/5
I'm too far removed to really know how influential Artist x was compared to Band y and a lot of this album is what I would file under "generic" punk. Spiky, angsty and full of rage at the unbelievable shitness of the UK. I can only imagine how much tougher it was as a female so, despite it being very unlikely I'd feel the need to return to this album, my cap is doffed.
Adam & The Ants
4/5
Heh - so silly. Ridiculous flamboyant costumes, some kind of sunblock across the face but some absolutely brilliant tunes as well.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Another one of the B-team from the Britpop era.
Magazine
4/5
Very much from what I would consider the "smarter" end of the punk spectrum (Buzzcocks obvs, Stranglers etc) with Devoto's unique choppy snarling vocals powering everything along. Gets a little bit samey, but "Shot By Both Sides" is an absolute masterpiece that is worthy of a re-listen any time. The drum build into the chorus that then just keeps going..........*chefs kiss*
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I think Nick Cave is one of those "you either get it or you don't" artists and his fans will consider you a cretin if you don't and if you don't get it, no amount of hectoring will get you to change your mind.
No Kylie? No interest.
ABBA
5/5
I always try not to "gatekeep" music. People who sneering insist that "you don't get it" if you don't like something or "well, because that track is at 102bpm it can't really be considered x genre". Music is for everyone, which means it's something different for everyone.
I am however, DEEPLY suspicious of people who say "I'm not really into music." What? Nothing? Nothing that humankind has ever produced sonically appeals to you. I am also, quietly, slightly judgemental of people who get snooty about ABBA. My good god man - the costumes, the harmonies, the musicality. So what if it's bubble-gum pop - it is absolutely glorious and should be saluted as such.
Side note - go and see ABBA Voyage. It is an absolute masterpiece
Tom Waits
2/5
That was unexpectedly hard work.
Metallica
5/5
I never really enjoyed Metallica early on - I think I was too young and, basically, they were too scary. Angry music, big angular fonts, black - lots and lots of black. I liked my rock to be more jangly, more indie
Clearly, I was an idiot.
Nirvana
2/5
This.................... this.......................... *gets hard-hat ready* really isn't that good is it.
Tom Waits
2/5
I had Tom just 4 days ago, and I didn't like it then either.
Method Man
2/5
Here's a fun thing - instead of singing Human League's "Here comes the Mirror Man", sing "Here comes the METHOD man". More hilarious than this anyway.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
Every single song is the same. "Brap boo baa brap, bingy bangy bingo"
Tedious then, tedious now.
Mudhoney
2/5
Arrested Development
4/5
I wonder how different the world would be if hip-hop had been more about the vibes than the hoes?
I remember the track "Mr Wendell" from a compilation album I had (one of the NOWs maybe - not sure) and always enjoyed it's laid-back nature, but had never thought to listen to the whole album. And now I have, and I enjoyed it very much
Hole
4/5
I guess unfairly maligned as "Mrs Kurt" there's some really excellent stuff here. I'm not sure I like it quite enough to go for the full-5, but the opening to "Celebrity Skin" (the track and indeed, the album) means a minimum 4 alone.
"Oh make me over" bwang, bwang, bwang, bwang, bwang BWANG.
CHIC
4/5
I feel I grew up in a period (late 80s / early 90s) where disco wasn't really a thing. Nobody was bothered enough to declare that it sucked, whilst you didn't really hear it anywhere either.
But, at student club nights, they would always be a few classic from the 70s thrown in. A wedding party wasn't a wedding party without some classic and here we are today with Nile being the boss of everything in the world.
And rightly so to be honest. Whilst there's not quite enough here for me to go for the full 5 because I don't think I could listen on repeat on a desert island, there's still a LOT here to love.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Later-era Dylan eh? He hasn't quite become completely unintelligible yet, but the signs of the "old man grunts tonelessly into microphone for 2 hours" are certainly there.
I'll stick with the early stuff thanks.
Slipknot
1/5
As a teenager, this always seemed excessively silly and angry to me despite (perhaps) being in the core demographic for them as a band.
And it still holds true 25 years later. The very worst of the resurgence of the genre around that time.
Paul Simon
2/5
Paul Simon, but without any of the good songs.
Ray Price
1/5
The couple on the front of this album cover are almost certainly cousins.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Pleasantly surprised that the scores are as high as they are to be honest. Yes, there's a lot of 1-star hate here because of who she is or because it's pop and she's the biggest artist in the world.
If I had one (small) criticism, it's that it's too clean, too produced but this is exactly what pop should be. Great writing, great tunes, great voice.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
That's enough Nick Cave thanks.
Bonus point for Kylie bringing the sexy back on "Where the Wild Roses Grow"
Khaled
4/5
This is what the project is for surely (and don't call me Shirley). Maybe everyone in his home country thinks he pumps out the most bland shit imaginable and the music press there are super snooty about anyone who likes it.
But this is a banger no?
Everything But The Girl
2/5
My cool mates loved this album and I thought it was a load of tedious old balls.
The Beta Band
4/5
Hot Shots! Part Deux - they were really scraping the barrel at this point weren't they with a ridiculous plot involving Saddam Hu.......................... sorry, what's that? I've listened to the wrong thing?