My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Duck Stab/Buster & Glen The Residents	5	2.03	+2.97
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned Liars	5	2.12	+2.88
Tank Battles Dagmar Krause	5	2.13	+2.87
Rock Bottom Robert Wyatt	5	2.39	+2.61
Opus Dei Laibach	5	2.39	+2.61
Punishing Kiss Ute Lemper	5	2.4	+2.6
En-Tact The Shamen	5	2.43	+2.57
Suicide Suicide	5	2.46	+2.54
Black Metal Venom	5	2.46	+2.54
Oar Alexander 'Skip' Spence	5	2.46	+2.54

Album	You	Global	Diff
The Chronic Dr. Dre	1	3.33	-2.33
Murder Ballads Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds	1	3.08	-2.08
Vulgar Display Of Power Pantera	1	2.97	-1.97
Bad Michael Jackson	2	3.81	-1.81
Yeezus Kanye West	1	2.77	-1.77
Master Of Puppets Metallica	2	3.73	-1.73
The Number Of The Beast Iron Maiden	2	3.59	-1.59
Natty Dread Bob Marley & The Wailers	2	3.58	-1.58
Licensed To Ill Beastie Boys	2	3.56	-1.56
...And Justice For All Metallica	2	3.43	-1.43

Artist	Albums	Average
Beatles	7	5
David Bowie	9	4.78
The Rolling Stones	6	5
Radiohead	6	5
Led Zeppelin	5	5
The Byrds	5	5
Steely Dan	4	5
Joni Mitchell	4	5
U2	4	5
R.E.M.	4	5
Stevie Wonder	4	5
Bob Dylan	7	4.43
Bruce Springsteen	5	4.6
PJ Harvey	4	4.75
The Kinks	4	4.75
Miles Davis	4	4.75
Pink Floyd	4	4.75
Paul Simon	3	5
Kate Bush	3	5
The White Stripes	3	5
The Beach Boys	3	5
Arcade Fire	3	5
Queen	3	5
Aerosmith	3	5
Beck	3	5
Elvis Presley	3	5
Nick Drake	3	5
Pet Shop Boys	3	5
Madonna	3	5
Creedence Clearwater Revival	3	5
The Doors	3	5
Simon & Garfunkel	3	5
Nirvana	3	5
Prince	3	5
Roxy Music	3	5
Deep Purple	3	5
Johnny Cash	3	5
Peter Gabriel	3	5
Jimi Hendrix	3	5
Public Enemy	3	5
Tom Waits	5	4.4
The Who	5	4.4
Brian Eno	5	4.4
Neil Young	4	4.5
Tim Buckley	3	4.67
Marvin Gaye	3	4.67
The Smiths	3	4.67
Yes	3	4.67
Echo And The Bunnymen	3	4.67
Van Morrison	3	4.67
Dire Straits	2	5
The Undertones	2	5
Air	2	5
Amy Winehouse	2	5
ABBA	2	5
Spiritualized	2	5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	2	5
Willie Nelson	2	5
Depeche Mode	2	5
New Order	2	5
Billy Bragg	2	5
George Michael	2	5
Pavement	2	5
The Chemical Brothers	2	5
Fairport Convention	2	5
Adele	2	5
Elton John	2	5
Fleetwood Mac	2	5
Taylor Swift	2	5
Curtis Mayfield	2	5
Eagles	2	5
Robert Wyatt	2	5
Funkadelic	2	5
Elliott Smith	2	5
Red Hot Chili Peppers	2	5
The The	2	5
Oasis	2	5
Fatboy Slim	2	5
Fela Kuti	2	5
k.d. lang	2	5
Ray Charles	2	5
Hole	2	5
Green Day	2	5
M.I.A.	2	5
Supergrass	2	5
Scott Walker	2	5
Aretha Franklin	2	5
Dusty Springfield	2	5
AC/DC	2	5
Lou Reed	2	5
Def Leppard	2	5
Alice Cooper	2	5
Bee Gees	2	5
LCD Soundsystem	2	5
The Flaming Lips	2	5
Primal Scream	2	5
CHIC	2	5
Stan Getz	2	5
Isaac Hayes	2	5
The Pogues	2	5
Muddy Waters	2	5
Pulp	2	5
Love	2	5
Belle & Sebastian	2	5
Sly & The Family Stone	2	5
Randy Newman	2	5
Manic Street Preachers	2	5
The Clash	2	5
Rush	2	5
Todd Rundgren	2	5
The Divine Comedy	2	5
King Crimson	2	5
Stephen Stills	2	5
Coldplay	2	5
The Police	2	5
Van Halen	2	5
Dolly Parton	2	5
Big Star	2	5
The Beta Band	2	5
Suede	2	5
Leonard Cohen	5	4.2
Björk	4	4.25
Talking Heads	4	4.25
Morrissey	4	4.25
Kraftwerk	3	4.33
Dexys Midnight Runners	3	4.33
Pixies	3	4.33
Frank Sinatra	3	4.33
Neil Young & Crazy Horse	3	4.33
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds	5	4

Artist	Ratings
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds	1, 5, 5, 4, 5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band	5, 2
Michael Jackson	2, 5, 5
The Fall	2, 2, 5
The Velvet Underground	5, 5, 2

DJ Shadow

3/5

This album is a good example of why I wanted to try listening to the 1001 albums. Something I missed back in the day, something I probably wouldn’t listen to a lot, but that I am glad to have listened to now. As someone who used to troll used record stores to make mix tapes filled with unusual things I love knowing that this was the genesis of these songs. Also reminiscent of the music a friend of mine from Montreal creates.

Buena Vista Social Club

4/5

Really enjoying this… another album I likely never would have listened to but really good! Some of my favorite tracks were the piano ones like Pueblo Neuvo and Buena Vista Social Club. I’ve heard some of these songs before - I think maybe in some movies?

Brothers In Arms

Dire Straits

5/5

So excited this was one of my favorite albums in high school. Probably haven’t listened to the album from beginning to end in over 20 years. The opening to “Money For Nothing” still gives me chills. “Walk of Life” makes everything seem better. But it is the rest of the album that I’m glad to hear again. “You’re Latest Trick.“ “The Man’s Too Strong” should be heard in the context of the album. And how the hell have I made it through the last 5 years without listening to “Why Worry?” “Brothers In Arms” - a perfect closing. Just sat in silence for a while after it ended. This reminds me why I have to get back to listening to albums again.

Eliminator

ZZ Top

4/5

Now that I have the ability, I am changing the low 2 star review I gave this album over 3 years ago to better reflect my feelings. In my defense, it was the 4th album I got assigned here and I was still calibrating my rating scale. Still, there is little excuse for giving Eliminator a 2. I am revising this rating, leaving my original review below intact. I regret the snootiness that lead to this erroneous review. My apologies to ZZ Top. Original review follows -------------------------------------------------- A lot of guitar. Never listened to this whole album before. Doubtful I will do so again… Loved hearing all the bigger hits that I have not forgotten. “Gimme All Your Lovin’”, “Got Me Under Pressure,” “Sharp Dressed Man”, “Legs”. “I Need You Tonight”. Nice break from the faster songs. I remember this song but couldn’t have identified it. “TV Dinners” - don’t know that I’ve ever heard this but enjoy the silliness. Why is it called “Dirty Dog” when it appears they only sing about a “Scurvy Dog”? While I don’t regret listening to this album. I enjoy ZZ Top’s guitars more in smaller doses.

Rain Dogs

Tom Waits

5/5

Never listened to this album before. Maybe heard one song on it (Downtown Train) prior to this. Wasn’t sure how I would fare staring at 19 of these tracks ahead… “Singapore” was a great surprise! Had no idea I would like it so much. Then “Clap Hands” proved to be surprisingly enjoyable. Great percussion. “Cemetery Polka” has incredible imagery and music. Really like “Hang Down Your Head” and “Rain Dogs.” “Midtown” feels like an amazing intermission. “Downtown Train” ls so much more meaningful than Rod Stewart’s remake. This album has surprises, twists and turns and is a real journey I’m glad to have made.

The Stone Roses

5/5

How have I never heard any of this before?! Really enjoyed the easygoing sound. The guitars shimmer over the ethereal vocals on (This Is The One is a great example) and their songs seem to unfold delicately to reveal their story. Was Don’t Stop was recorded backwards? I Am The Resurrection is a wild mix of poppy music over some seriously angry lyrics, with a killer guitar ending. Love it so much. My favorite song from this album. Still perplexed how I missed this group entirely but very exciting to realize things like this are out there just waiting to be discovered.

The Undertones

5/5

Never heard of this band before. Catchy… really fun! Favorite track: Get Over You. But I enjoyed the whole album. This sounds more modern to me than 1979. Lots of little musical surprises scattered throughout. Love the lead singer’s vocals. Definitely adding this to my library!

The White Album

Beatles

5/5

Haven’t personally sat and listened to any Beatles album before from beginning to end. I know as a child no one in my family owned any of their albums. Very curious how the next 99 minutes will be… I recall hearing most, but not all, the songs on The White Album before (from the can't recall hearing category is "Honey Pie", one of my favorites during this listen). There were also some songs that I have heard somewhere in the past, but completely forgot about ("The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill", “Rocky Racoon”). I think what surprises me most (but really shouldn’t) is how whimsical this all is. Maybe because I mostly associated this album with Revolution 9 and Helter Skelter/Charles Manson I hadn’t expected that. Glad to have cleared up a terrible overgeneralization. Very much enjoyed The White Album's wild eclecticism. Only took me 53 years to get here but I am very glad I did.

Ramones

5/5

I’m very familiar with The Ramones greatest hits, having started listening to them in college. So I figured I’d like this album if only for the hits I already love. There are many songs on this album that were new to me that I’m very glad to have heard: Judy Is A Punk, Chain Saw, I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement, Havana Affair, 53rd and 3rd Let’s Dance is an enjoyable cover version of the old 50s song. My favorite new song though is “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World.” A surprising and concise look at a Nazi soldier that evokes so much more than you might expect. Listened to this twice today. It’s been fun revisiting the Ramones and exploring their music beyond the bigger hits.

Nick Of Time

Bonnie Raitt

5/5

Oh an album I owned and enjoyed when it came out! I haven’t listened to the album in a very long time. Loving the big hits, but this album also has a lot of depth beyond the hits. Really a great album. Listened to it a couple of times and love it from beginning to end.

Ritual De Lo Habitual

Jane's Addiction

5/5

Didn't think this was my cup of tea at the start… and was ready for the first three songs to be over not long after they started. Then the song “Obvious” came on and I found myself starting to like what I was hearing. "Been Caught Stealing" was great! “Three Days” was a pleasant surprise… Incredible guitars. Wow! “Then She Did” followed that and… am I a Jane’s Addiction fan? A haunting song… Where did “Of Course” come from? This is great stuff… followed by “Classic Girl”… a perfect ending. I started this listen wondering if I could make it to the end, and ended up blown away by Jane’s Addiction. Great album!

When I Was Born For The 7th Time

Cornershop

5/5

Absolutely no clue what I was in for. When the accordion on “Sleep On The Left Side” started I had a pretty good feeling this was going to work out fine. Might this be love at first listen? As “Brimful of Asha” opened I knew this was special. Love this song even though I’m not entirely sure what a Brimful of Asha is. Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow? Hell yeah! The songs get even stranger and more wonderful. “Bitter The Soul” and “Chocolate” are utterly delicious. What colorful, trippy world have I stumbled into? “Funky Days Are Back Again”? I'm ready for a pair of dungaree cords! Turkey gravy? “What Is Happening”?! (Little surprises around every corner but nothing dangerous…don’t be alarmed.) “Good Shit” more than lives up to its name. “Good To Be On the Road Back Home”… how did this country song slide right in so naturally with the rest of the album?! Really love it. They end with an incredible cover of “Norwegian Wood” and totally stuck the landing. From the opening notes to the end this was a transformative listening experience that I will come back to again and again. I feel so much better for having experienced this.

The La's

4/5

I’ve loved “There She Goes” since it came out and listen to it routinely still, but for some reason remained unfamiliar with the rest of this album. The opening song “Son of a Gun” is easy-breezy and drew me in immediately. Really liked “Timeless Melody.” Seems like I’m in for some nice 90’s pop… There were several nautical-themed tracks that I am adding to my boat playlist - “Liberty Ship” and “Doldrums”. “Feelin’” is catchy as hell. As the album progresses the darker tones become increasingly obvious (“Freedom Song”, “Failure”). This culminates in “Looking Glass” where the poppy confection struggles and drowns as you realize just how dark a circus this has been.

Vincebus Eruptum

Blue Cheer

2/5

Who new that I was born in the same year as heavy metal. The least I can do is check out its origins… Good to have listened to this from a historical perspective. I have heard Summertime Blues before. Didn’t hate the listen but not really in my wheelhouse.

Electric Prunes

The Electric Prunes

5/5

Never heard of them before, but really dug the first tune “I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night).” Great song and great lyrics. How have I never heard this before? The second track “Bangles” again drew me in right away. I want to see this lady’s dressing room and vanity. Fantastic fun lyrics. “Onie” took it down a notch into a pleasant, dreamy tune that I liked a lot. Made me wish I was wandering through the streets of a new town gazing into shop windows wearing boots and a mini skirt. After changing my name to ‘Onie’ of course. Clever lyrics abound. “Are You Lovin’ Me More (But Enjoying it Less)”. Great sixties sentiments like “Sold to the Highest Bidder” and “The King Is In His Counting House”. A delightful cover of “About A Quarter to Nine”. Some quality sexy time with “Luvin’” and “Try Me On For Size”. And a couple of transportation songs, “Train for Tomorrow” and “The Toonerville Trolly”. Speaking of… “The Toonerville Trolly” is a generous helping of Cool Whip on this fabulous album! I started literally laughing out loud on a public bus - so much fun! But I found myself wondering if ‘ridin’ the Toonerville Trolly’ might be a euphemism for something else… and imagining all the possibilities. Throw in the artsy album cover featuring the band in the same pose as a modern art rendition of them and it’s pretty much everything I could ask for in a 60s album. So glad to have been introduced to The Electric Prunes!

Bad

Michael Jackson

2/5

Here I am with a bit of a dilemma. Michael Jackson is a problematic artist and I’ve not listened to his music in the last decade aside of what I’ve heard occasionally in the grocery store. But here goes… Somewhat familiar with this album, but never owned it. I have probably heard it all the way through before this, but not often enough that I remembered all of the songs. Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Another Part of Me, Man in the Mirror, Dirty Diana, Smooth Criminal and Leave Me Alone are all understandable hits I remember well. Speed Demon and I Just Can’t Stop Loving You are up there too, but I can’t say the same for Liberian Girl and Just Good Friends which I didn’t think hold up against the rest. All that said, even this impressive assemblage of songs can’t overcome the terrible failings of Michael Jackson for me. At best I just end up feeling depressed listening to this. I doubt I’ll do so again.

Virgin Suicides

Air

5/5

I listened to this album fairly often when it came out. Really loved it then but kind of haven’t listened to it in the last 15 years. Let’s see how it holds up… This is one moody album. I immediately felt taken back to the movie as “Playground Love” opened. I immediately wanted to go back an re-watch the film. The song is really impressive. The lyrics and sound create a powerful combination. “Clouds Up” starts to build the tension, and this is when the album really starts to feel like something you might hear in a church. The choir voices, droning organ… I had never noticed how this whole thing feels almost like attending a very non traditional mass of some kind. “The Word Hurricane” comes in and I am realizing that there are very strong connections between Air and a lot of the instrumentals of The Alan Parsons Project. Funny that I never made that connection before, but there’s a lot of strong similarities. The instructional interlude with the breaths below then lead to a transformed chaotic, trippy ending. “Clouds Up” amps up the tension again - really liking this. “Dirty Trip” brings in the main theme music again, reworking it well. And is that an autoharp I’m hearing? Air knows how to build these instrumentals as the songs progress to keep things very interesting. The piano-based “High School Lover” is another interesting variation on the theme. The strong bass and arrangement again is quite evocative of some of Alan Parson’s arrangements. No wonder I like this so much. “Ghost Song” and “Empty House” heightens the ominous feel of the album no doubt in response to the tension in the movie, whose plot I cannot remember for the life of me. I really loved the piano and drums of “Dead Bodies”. Really stands out while totally fitting in. “Suicide Underground” adds dialogue from the movie over a nearly religious instrumental track. I am starting to remember the movies plot now. I’m not sure if listening to this while traveling on a bus across the stark Icelandic landscape is influencing my rating, but this is a spectacular soundtrack that I am glad to have rediscovered and will no doubt enjoy again soon.

Guitar Town

Steve Earle

5/5

I’ve always liked Steve Earle, although haven’t listened to a lot of his music. Time to remedy that a bit… I’ve always been a big fan of truckin’ songs. “Guitar Town” is a really fine specimen of this genre. Steel belts, truck stops, boots and motels? All to a rockin’ country arrangement? Count me in! We’re off to a great start. Clearly Steve Earle knows his hay around a good hook. “Goodbye’s All We Got Left” is such a great sounding song it makes me wish he was breaking up with me. Spoiler alert: at this point I hit add to add this album to my library. It’ll take a real surprising disaster to derail this. “Hillbilly Highway” is a simple but very compelling seemingly autobiographical song about a musician and the choices we make in life. just a straightforward great song. “Good Ol’ Boy (Gettin’ Tough)” has lyrics as compelling today as in 1986. We are seeing what 35 years of where exacerbating inequality in the land of plenty gets us. Maybe this song should have been a little angrier and more demanding back then... Loved “My Old Friend The Blues.” This song would have come in handy over the last few years. I’m sure it will again soon. “Someday” is another great song about not getting by in America. Again, a perfect sentiment in 1986 that sadly makes me wonder if we will ever progress… “Think It Over” is a sweet little breakup song that you can dance to. “Fearless Heart” is a really sweet love song with very clever lyrics and a great arrangement. Couldn’t ask for more… “Little Rock ‘n’ Roller” is a touching song. Full of those hopes and promises that likely will never quite come true. Sort of a country “Cats in the Cradle”. I’m fine with a little too much sap these days. “Down The Road” is that classic ‘keep on keeping on’ advice to those who can’t find love. A classic ending to a classic country album. What a great debut album! Definitely see why it’s on this list. Listened to it 3 times already and expect it to be in heavy rotation for a while.

Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan

3/5

I grew up hearing Dylan’s Nashville Skyline, but never explored his music beyond that. Didn’t know about this album, pretty sure my ears are Dylan-deficient, so glad to check it out. After the first seconds of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” it is clear this belongs on the list. Should have listened to this a long time ago. “She Belongs To Me” is an example of the smoother Dylan voice and a truly beautiful song. “Maggie’s Farm” swings a bit. I enjoyed it less than the softer song before it. But “Love Minus Zero/No Limit” goes back to that softer sound that I definitely prefer. “On The Road Again” surprised me with its witty lyrics. And the fun continues with “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream”. Crazy dream story with rocking music. Of course I’ve heard Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” before. This sparse version contrasts with the lush cover by The Byrds, and while I’d likely always think of the latter first the original really focuses you on the poetry of the song. “The Gates of Eden” and “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” read like poetry. Nice ending with “It’s All Ober Now, Baby Blue”. Still not sure how big of a Dylan fan I am, but the importance of this album is irrefutable. Glad to have listened to this.

All Mod Cons

The Jam

5/5

I have no idea what this might be… “All Mod Cons” is ok, like a smoothed-out punk song or something. I can’t quite get into the stuttering tempo. But there are promising elements here. “To Be Someone” appeals to me quite a bit more. I’m warming up to this. Love the lyrics about a fallen rock star. Really good! “Mr. Clean” seems to be how the singer is angry at an office coworker. Interesting and catchy! “David Watts” continues the sort of odd tempos. And the song is intriguing… Is this a be careful what you wish for song? I’m not sure but I do like it. “English Rose” is a surprisingly tender song. I love the singer’s voice and the water and what I think is a great love song for England. I wasn’t expecting this but like it a lot. I love the music and lyrics of “In the Crowd” - and what’s this?! A warning about the government and media?! Interesting… and goes all psychedelic guitar at the end. This is a contender for my favorite track of the album. “Billy Hunt” is another catchy song with more cleverly descriptive lyrics. A threatening bionic man reference?! I like this. “It’s Too Bad” is a great little breakup song that’s quite happy sounding. Very enjoyable. “Fly” is a really great love song! The tender parts intersperse with exuberant outbursts. I love this song. There seems to be some hints of The Who or something in here. Wonderful! “The Place I Love” I love! ‘Not within a yard of those trendy do’s.” Is this song about hiding out with your pets? Really good song. “‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street” seems to be protest song with a beat you can dance to. Clapping! I can get into this. “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” is a great song. Terribly disturbing about a poor guy getting attacked in a tube station. Really good, and disturbing… I think I’m on the verge of loving this album. A second listen is in order but I find The Jam’s lyrics so vivid and the disjoints in the music held together with such great talent that I think I may love this album… …………………………………. My second listen really did cement my love of this album. After the third listen, I’m loving every song - even the first track which took me a few listens to warm up to. These lyrics have depth and paint vivid pictures. The Jam takes on class and society… with a sound blending dashes of new wave, The Who and The Kinks into something pretty special. I love this album!

Scream, Dracula, Scream

Rocket From The Crypt

4/5

Hmmm. This cover looks like a warning to listeners like me. Although that font draws me in. Dracula and a scorpion? Never mind that. Into the breach! The first two songs were a bit rough. Although the lyric “you only kick half an ass” interests me… Actually found myself enjoying “On A Rope”. Pretty sure I’ve have heard this song before. Really like “Young Livers”. The opening sounds almost festive! Are those bells? Is this a metal ska album? Those are some nice harmonies. What is happening? “Drop Out” is pretty good too. I’m not sure I can sustain the necessary energy for a whole album of this, but I’m liking some of this quite a bit more than I thought. “Used” is my favorite song yet. Throw in a sax and some orchestration and… bells?! This song is pretty great. “Ball Lightning” - ‘you want some cheese with your whine?’ Really liking this song too! Nice backing vocals! So glad to have pressed on in this journey. Enjoying some good 90s guitar work. Ok now we are on “Fat Lip”. I can barely take the verses. But I am liking the chorus. Rocket From Crypt is not making this easy… then again “fat lip learns slow.“ I started to notice some quality percussion in “Suit City” but it and “Heater Hands” feel like too much work for me to listen to. “Misbeaten” is a little more melodic and adds a horn section… and the backing vocals at the end are a pleasant surprise! Love the ending! “Come See, Come Saw”... Horn forward with a pun title? Guitar solo at the end? Temptations-style backing vocals?! Yes, please! This might be my favorite track. “Salt Future” takes it down a notch. A song about Salt Lake? Well it probably won’t be embraced as the city’s unofficial song but there are those harmonies again. “Burn Alive” ends with a high production value song that I warmed up to as it progressed. Listened to this three times now and, while there’s three or four tracks I’ll likely keep skipping, I’ve added this to my library and will be listening to this again. I did not expect this to be the case at all…There’s variety, cleverness and quality musicianship throughout the album. A genuine surprise to me!

Master Of Puppets

Metallica

2/5

I’ve never listened to a Metallica album before. Certainly aware of this album, but looking at the track listing don’t recognize a single song. ”Battery” surprised me from the git-go. I had not expected soft guitar. Nice of them to ease me into the water a bit. Once in I’m finding the water a tad too hot for me. Excellent playing, although The Poseidon Adventure comes to mind: “I can’t take this. Give me a Strauss waltz.” “Master of Puppets”… maybe going down a little easier. Like the previous song, there’s a break in the middle for the unexpectedly calm and pretty guitar solo. Is this a thing in their music? Give you a little palette cleanser before the second half of the song? I’m enjoying this middle section. I see why these guys are legendary musicians. That middle part almost had me liking the song. “The Thing That Should Not Be” is plenty dark. There’s that grinding guitar. How long is this song? “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” thankfully is taking things down a notch. Still not connecting. Halfway through. Must…press… on… “Disposable Heros” - the music is well-suited to the topic of war. Neither is pleasant. Maybe all war songs should sound like this. And like war, really anxious for this to be over. “Leper Messiah” is my favorite song so far. These songs are long though aren’t they? I wasn’t expecting an instrumental, but here’s “Orion”. It’s better than I expected. The soft interlude is quite nice. This is my favorite song on this album. I’d like to hear a symphonic arrangement of this. “Damage, Inc.” has lyrics that fit the music very well. I made it through a listen from beginning to end… not unhappy for the experience. I appreciate the skill of the performers, but struggled to find any connection to this music. I’m afraid I’m just not dressed for this party.

Foo Fighters

5/5

I like the Foo Fighters and had heard some of these songs before. Hadn’t listened to the album in its entirety though. Some bands of this era/style I have listened to seem very monotonous when listened to as a full album. Didn’t feel like that for this album. “This Is a Call” is a great start to the album. “I’ll Stick Around” has that smooth Grohl vocal performance I like best with the Foo Fighters. “Big Me” softens things up a bit. I’ve always liked this song, and I think hearing it in the context of the album improves it even more. Other standout tracks for me include “Good Grief” which feels like a pretty raw emotional response to turmoil and change. “Floaty” is haunting in the simplicity of its lyrics. I very much enjoyed "For All The Cows" both musically and lyrically. "Wattershed" sort of jumped out at me and made me take notice. Great song and lyrics, some pretty interesting tempo changes. "Exhausted" summed up the last few years for me. One of my favorite songs on this album. I love the line 'What if the day had stayed in bed?' Great ending. This album's pacing and variability required a lot of versatility to make. I enjoyed taking this journey even more after the second listen. I don’t know why I’d never listened to this back in the day but glad to have gotten it in before I die.

John Prine

5/5

John Prime’s lyrics are so beyond what I might have assumed from the young man pictured on the album cover. “Illegal Smile” reminds me of a simple way to escape troubles in life. The clever lyrics can in one moment make you laugh and cry. ‘Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down and won’. By the first chorus of “Spanish Pipedream” I'd added the album to my library. “Hello In There “ is so beautiful… left me in tears. Then “Sam Stone” followed that up with a devastating song about the impact of veteran's addiction. Every song overflows truth with an emotional heft that can change you as a listener. John Prine tackles war, government, jingoism, aging, drugs, depression, relationships, the environment and a host of other topics with perceptive and unflinching observations of humans and humanity. The organ warms itself against the stark lyrics. The guitars wander from folk to country with occasional touches of rock to elevate the stories. Every song on this album is a gem. Experiencing them together as an album is a powerful and emotional experience. This is an album that will connect you more deeply to your humanity if you are willing to listen. An amazing work of art that I will listen to again and again. RIP John Prine

Hearts And Bones

Paul Simon

5/5

I haven’t listened to much Paul Simon in a long time, and was surprised there was an album from 1983 that I had never heard of nor could recall any songs from. I started off a little skeptical about a song called “Allergies” kicking things off, but I quite liked it. Nice guitar solo in the middle and I like the music and lyrics. This song was the most obviously from the 80s on this album. The 80’s elements made me like it more, overlaid as they were on what was unmistakably a Paul Simon song. Also as an allergy-sufferer I appreciated the odd subject matter. Settled in to “Hearts and Bones”, a really nice song, and knew I would be in Paul Simon’s capable hands for the rest of the listen. As the album progressed I found myself pretty much loving every song. Paul Simon has more unconventional subjects (“When Numbers Get Serious” is great, despite some questionable multiplication), all accompanied by interesting arrangements. There are two “Think Too Much” songs. Both are fantastic (although I give the edge to (A) as my favorite, but glad both are there). “Song About the Moon” is one of my favorite songs on the album. “Train in the Distance” seemed vaguely familiar to me, so I may have run across this at some point in the past. “Rene and Georgette Magritte After the War” is beautiful, Paul Simon is a wizard of taking a lyric like that and making it flow so naturally in the song. “Cars are Cars” was the first song that as it started I thought might be a miss for me… but by the end I had warmed up to it. Love the juxtaposition of styles between the chorus and the verses. “The Late Great Johnny Ace” has an unusual ending provided by none other than Philip Glass that I found was a nice ending to the album. I’m glad this album was on this list as I doubt I would ever have encountered this anywhere else. Great album I will listen to again and again!

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

4/5

I wasn’t looking forward to a Black Sabbath album. Not really what I typically think of as music I would listen to. But I’m willing to listen to all of these albums once… and I do know the song “Iron Man”. Not my favorite song, but we’ll see. I started the album and realized I did know the first song “War Pigs”. Looking at the lyrics, I found I kind of liked it. Then “Paranoid” came on and I realized I not only know the song, I really like the song! “Planet Caravan” was new to me, but I the moody description sailing through space under the watchful eyes of the war god Mars was a surprisingly tender song. When “Iron Man” started, I started feeling my fingers moving and suddenly realized where I know all these songs from. Several years ago I played a lot of Guitar Hero with my friends and had played along to these songs often… Raised in the 70s and 80s, “Electric Funeral” resonated with its horrific vision of atomic destruction. As a bonus, I think it ends with some just punishment for the wicked. “Hand of Doom” is a surprisingly sultry depiction of war leading to drug addiction. That was a theme on one of the songs on the John Prine album I just listened to as part of this project. How cool is it that doing this 1001 project I can compare/contrast these two artists?! Black Sabbath presents a much more graphic depiction of the subject well-suited to the hard, ominous music they make. “Rat Salad” was a groovy 70s metal instrumental with a prominent drum solo (not my favorite thing in music), but I liked it well enough since it was pretty concise. A lot of bands indulge a little too much in their solos to stay interesting on a recording. I appreciated Black Sabbath keeping this one tight. “Jack the Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots” had some good 70s metal to wrap things up. The singer is a bit obsessed with the fairy in boots, and I’m not exactly clear on what the singer is observing. Although maybe the doctor’s diagnosis at the end explains things? I’m glad I listened to this album, and I will listen to them again, although maybe not in one sitting like this. Black Sabbath still isn’t squarely my thing, but I’m more than happy to dabble in their music now and again.

Halcyon Digest

Deerhunter

4/5

No clue what this might be… Put this on and the odd “percussion” that opens “Earthquake” mad me wonder what I was in for. Things quickly became quite ethereal and I suddenly wanted to be floating in a pool in the dark. This music has a strange polished shamble to it that appeals. “Don’t Cry” staggers its way to its conclusion then “Revival” gets things back up to speed. It has a very nice musical interlude at its heart. This album has a way of being unconventional while avoiding becoming unpleasant. It’s hard to pin down the hooks - they drift by and slip away before you really lock your ears on them. The saxophone in “Coronado” was very welcome. I have been complaining about how the sax has been instrument-non-grata in popular music this millennia… There’s a kind of Radiohead-crossed-with-The-Shaggs-with-a-dose-of-Badly-Drawn-Boy quality that I find quite compelling. A welcome addition to my library.

Reign In Blood

Slayer

3/5

REIGN IN BLOOD is very far out of my wheelhouse both musically and lyrically. This listen started out rough… then I ended up listening to it several times. “Jesus Saves” and “Reborn” were two of the songs I appreciated most. Slayer plays at almost superhuman speeds. On the negative side I never did get into “Piece by Piece” or “Necrophobic”. “Raining Blood” is a surprise. I was previously familiar with the Tori Amos cover of it. I did not realize they were the same song until I read the Wikipedia page. I had to play them back to back to believe it. One has to wonder what inspired her to do the cover, or how she became aware of the song in the first place… I ended up liking this more than I ever thought possible. REIGN IN BLOOD took me somewhere I didn’t want to go, yet inexplicably I found myself not hating being there. While I don’t see Slayer as part of my daily routine, this gets an extra half star for its expansive effect on my musical Overton Window.

Rock 'N Soul

Solomon Burke

3/5

ROCK ‘N SOUL is a smooth sounding soul album featuring great backup singers. This takes me back to when I was a kid listening to Sam Cooke on my Close ‘n Play record player. I enjoyed Solomon Burke’s music, although I can see why Sam Cooke is more known. Still I’m surprised to have no recollection of Solomon Burke given the quality of this album and his title as the “King of Rock ‘N Soul.” Favorite tracks: Cry To Me; You’re Good For Me; Won’t You Give Him (One More Chance); Hard, Ain’t It Hard; He’ll Have To Go.

Back To Black

Amy Winehouse

5/5

I’ve owned BACK TO BLACK and listened to it regularly since shortly after its release. The album is a masterpiece that propelled the sound of the 60s into the 21st Century. It still feels fresh and modern 15 years after its release. Amy Winehouse’s delivery is spectacular on every song. I could list any song on it as a favorite. "Addicted" may be the best weed song ever. "Rehab" is a revelation. "Tears Dry On Their Own" is a showcase of brilliant phrasing. BACK TO BLACK is perfection.

Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room

Dwight Yoakam

2/5

I hadn’t listened to BUENOS NOCHES FROM A LONELY ROOM before, although I have been partial to some of Dwight Yoakam’s other hits in the past. I expected to enjoy some country. I like the old-school Country sound. Some great guitar picking, fiddling and accordion here. Plenty of clever country lyrics in “I Got You”. This song bodes well for the rest of the album… Then comes a stream of songs reacting to the singer being cheated on and/or left by his lover. Lacking any apparent introspection, the reaction to this is an unpleasant mix of whining and murder. For whining see “One More Name,” “I Hear You Knockin’” and “Send Me The Pillow”. Blah. For murder see “What I Don’t Know” and “Buenos Noches From A Lonely Room”. Yuck. He does manage to handle the breakup better in “Home of the Blues.” Oh… Johnny Cash wrote that one. Dwight needs to check out Alanis Morissette for lessons on how to manage strong emotions around breakups without resorting to homicide. “I Sang Dixie” has the expected undertones of the south’s delusional rewrite of its history I find tough to enjoy, what with its glorification of “rebel pride” as a wholesome love of the south. Let’s not forget what and who the rebels were fighting for and against. Boo. Thankfully Buck Owens jumps in with a great duet of “The Streets of Bakersfield.” I love the accordion and Buck sounds great. “Floyd County” keeps things moving in a better direction as it laments the death of a coal miner. Whew. Things wrap up with some forgettable Christian country. Meh. Not seeing why this made the list of 1001 albums. There are much better country albums and songs (some from Dwight Yoakam) that I would rather listen to. Very little to enjoy here.

Fromohio

fIREHOSE

5/5

I started off listening to fROMOHIO curious about what I was hearing, but not initially sold on the first two songs. It seemed a little unpolished and I wasn’t sure I was ‘getting it’. Where is this coming from?! Where was it going?! Then as the album progressed I started to recognize some real genius happening. Two drum solo tracks?! I thought I hated drum solos? “Let The Drummer Have Some” and “‘Nuf That Shit, George” dispelled that myth. The music is very well played. The lead singer sounds a lot like Tommy Shaw, which is great. Little lyrical and musical surprises pop up everywhere. At times the album has touches of punk, jazz, beat poetry, pop, rock, folk…. Once I stopped trying to figure this all out and just sat back I found myself totally enjoying the ride. Immediately after the album finished I started it over again and had no doubt this album is a 5. A welcome addition to my library that makes me happier with each listen. So glad to have been introduced to fIREHOSE. Fantastic, unique, awesome!

Rust In Peace

Megadeth

5/5

When this came up I was not thrilled about more metal. Oh well, here goes... "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" started and I was liking what I was hearing in the opening guitar. The lyrics were melodious expressing sentiments I could agree with. Is this me liking a Megadeth song? On to "Hangar 18" and I'm really digging it. Somehow I've plugged into this and... can repeated exposure to metal bands in this project turn me into a metal-head? "Take No Prisoners" takes off like a rocket. The guitar streaks through the opening and locks in on the melody as the drum starts kicking its ass. Fantastic stuff! The lyrics come in and… wow! If thrash metal has hooks Megadeth knows how to write them. Blown away by this song. "Five Magics" takes things down a notch and makes me want to get back into Dungeons & Dragons. Typical of their songs there are several killer guitar solos, not what I typically think of as my thing but man these are good... Is it me or is this album a lot of fun? "Poison Was The Cure" opens ominously and then explodes into Megadeth's high-speed thrills. Even if you hate this stuff you're delusional if you can't recognize the talent behind it... I love the witch cackle kicking off “Lucretia” and its lyrics. Yes, this is me loving some Megadeth. “Tornado of Souls” rocks! Incredible song. The music is intricate. Incredible performance. Then the guitar solo… holy crap! Wow wow wow! “Dawn Patrol” switches to a more ominous tone and much slower pace quite suitable to the seriousness of the lyrics. It is more frighteningly applicable today than when it was created. Should have heeded this song in 1990…. Who knew to go to Megadeth for environmental action songs? “Rust in Peace… Polaris” is sung from the perspective of a nuclear missile. Cool! Takes me back to my youth until I realize there are still nuclear missiles pointed at most of us today...may they all rust in peace. Feel like I'm getting a little Halloween treat as "My Creation" treats us to some Dr. Frankenstein serenading his monster. Love the abrupt ending. I'm sitting here with my hair blown back and a huge smile on my face... I went from dreading this listen to listening to RUST IN PEACE four times through already. I did not expect a topical, comprehensible, melodic, technical, downright fun listen... a real surprise!

The Hour Of Bewilderbeast

Badly Drawn Boy

5/5

I’m familiar with a little Badly Drawn Boy, but this is the first time hearing this album. Mostly gentle and pleasant - but never boring - with some darker undercurrents that occasionally bubble up to the surface. The songs have a way of being unique and quirky without crossing over into annoying. There’s a lot of cleverness in the arrangements and the lyrics. Some Highlights: “The Shining” features some great horns in the opening the turns to a really nice guitar song that builds the orchestra back by the finale. Really nice. “Camping Next To Water” seems to be about someone stranded in the woods alone living on fish. Really great song! “Once Around The Block” has a pleasant, quirky vibe - a fun listen. “Magic in the Air” was very a really nice love song that has just the right amount of sweetness. “Cause A Rockslide” is interesting with cool lyrics (“your sweetness would cause a rockslide”) and a trippy second half I enjoyed. “Pissing In The Wind” takes things in a country direction with fun lyrics and a shambly feel. It is probably my second favorite song on the album after… “Disillusion” is a groovy dance track with a great beat and rhythm section Great song - my favorite on the album. “Say It Again” has some more really clever lyrics. Great song that builds and builds as it goes - “dried up thoughts but my nose is runny.” Just when you think you have THE HOUR OF BEWILDERBEAST pinned down the album throws a curve ball into the music and/or lyrics. The surprises really work and never feel out of place (except maybe “This Song” on headphones). With each listen there’s something new to discover. Somehow Badly Drawn Boy weaves all these unique pieces together into a cohesive, enjoyable album.

Jagged Little Pill

Alanis Morissette

5/5

Consider how unlikely it was that this album ever existed: After recording a couple of successful Canadian teen dance/pop records Alanis Morissette gets dropped from her label. Then at age 21 comes back to deliver 12 powerful, unflinching, passionate, honest, deep, dramatic personal songs with a range and depth most people couldn’t express in a lifetime. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime creations that sits at the top of the pile of my favorite albums. I don’t have a favorite song. Instead, how about some favorite moments… “Why are you so petrified of silence? Here, can you handle this?” - All I Really Want. “Every time I scratch my nails down someone else’s back I hope you feel it” - You Oughta Know (toxic males: please note how angry one can be without resorting to firearms). “We’ll love you just the way you are, if you’re perfect” - Perfect. “And what it all comes down to is that everything’s gonna be quite alright” - Hand in My Pocket. “You took me out to wine-dine-sixty-nine me, But didn’t hear a damn word I said” - Right Through You. “My brothers they never went blind for what they did but I may as well have” - Forgiven. “I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone” - You Learn. “You treat me like I’m a Princess, I’m not used to liking that, You ask how my day was” - Head Over Feet. “‘Cause all that matters, Mary Jane, is your freedom, So keep warm my dear, keep dry, Tell me what’s the matter Mary Jane?” - Mary Jane. “Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out” - Ironic. “I don’t want to be the sweeper of the eggshells that you walk upon and I don’t wanna be your other half, I believe that one and one make two” - Not The Doctor. “We’ll there’s an apprehensive naked little trembling boy with his head in his hands, and there’s an underestimated and impatient little girl raising her hand” - Wake Up. “So forgive me, love, If I cry in your shower, So forgive me love, For the salt in your bed” - Your House

Happy Sad

Tim Buckley

4/5

When I went to look up this album, I was startled at how many albums there were from Tim Buckley. Then as I listened to “happy sad” I started to realize what an insignificant speck I was in the world of music for never even having heard of him. As “Strange Feelin’” got going I thought ‘train song.’ As it chugged along Tim Buckley added his mournful, voice like a lonely train whistle. I loved the kind of noodly-jazz feel. “Buzzin’ Fly” is also fantastic. More vibraphones and marimbas?! Oh yes, I think this can work for me. The lyrics are beautiful. Tim Buckley’ vocals are incredible. Really great song! “Love From Room 109 At The Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)” certainly sounds like it was written in a specific moment. This is the kind of song that one wishes someone would write about an event in their life. As I sat with my wine listening to the guitar solo I was suddenly in a dark hotel lounge in 1969… this song is long and meanders quite a lot. By the end I felt I had moved from the lounge into a concert hall. “Dream Letter” features a lot of cello/vibraphone/marimba and more melancholic lyrics. Really would like to be watching this performed live. Preferably with a cocktail in hand… “Gypsy Woman” introduces some interesting percussion and plays a lot with the tempo. I loved the slow build of the guitars from quit to frenetic. As the song comes together it becomes a mesmerizing chant. My favorite song on the album! “Sing A Song For You” and it’s poetic, (bitter?)sweet lyrics is arguably the most “conventional” song on the album. Lovely. “happy sad” pulls you back in time into its shmoozy, warm, dimly lit world. There are some very strong jazz currents that toy with other genres. The cellos, guitars and Tim Buckley’s vocals add heavy doses of pop, rock and the symphony that makes this album something else. It isn’t ‘music for all occasions,’ but the occasions it is for are ones I’d enjoy attending once in a while. Yet another new listening experience that I am glad to have.

Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth

3/5

I enjoyed listening to DAYDREAM NATION for the most part. The album combines punk with some catchy pop melodies and a lot of instrumental experimentation. The experimentation sometimes come off great, but there are a number of places where the songs and experiments go on a little too long. Still I did like a lot of the music. Some of the standouts for me were: "Teen Age Riot" - loved the opening and it is catchy "The Sprawl" - especially the ending "Total Trash" - except the ending (experimenting was a little too long) "Candle" - pretty good with some catchy lyrics "B) Hyperstation" - this one is interesting and I think at times would not be among my favorites (along with the other two in the trilogy at the end) -bordering on too much - but I appreciated the odd tunings, lyrics, and crazy sounds they were getting out of their instruments At times I found myself wishing that the distorted, fuzzy guitars were cleaner and let the melodies shine through a bit more. I found the listening experience better on higher-quality headphones than on speakers. The fuzzy guitars came out better and I was able to distinguish more subtle bits of the music. This seemed equally true playing on quality computer monitors, home stereo or car stereo. This album is definitely ambitious and really feels like it was clearing a path for a lot of 90s music. DAYDREAM NATION likely won't become a regular listen for me. Still I very much appreciated the opportunity to make its acquaintance.

Peggy Suicide

Julian Cope

5/5

Flying blind again going into this one with an artist I have never heard of. “Pristeen” is certainly unique. Halfway through the songs I started wondering if I had taken something a half hour ago that was starting to kick in. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this album at this point, but the opening drums and guitars in “Double Vegetation” grabbed my attention. The verses show off Julian Cope’s vocals which were starting to grow on me. Good song! As the album progressed, I was liking this more and more. There were a number of standout songs. "East Easy Rider" with its cool, groovy sound, the organ in "Promised Land", "Safesurfer" and its mantra-like ending, "If You Loved Me At All" with its really catchy chorus, the also catchy "Drive, She Said" with that old-school guitar vibe (perhaps my favorite song on the album - "Yeah we could crawl but I'd rather drive, she said"). PEGGY SUICIDE has a lot of subtle things happening in the music alongside some very pointed lyrics in songs like "Soldier Blue" and "Leperskin". The former seemed disturbingly relevant today - so much for progress. The youth choir singing "Western Front 1992 C.E." over the strange drips and ominous music was very cool although it may have a decidedly niche appeal. "Hung Up and Hanging Out to Dry" spends more time out in the more experimental sounds. These songs were well-placed later in the album as by now I am fully on-board and ready to appreciate them, although I could see how they might inspire the use of the skip-forward button for some. I pretty much fell in love with this entire album. I had thought there was no way I'd make it through the extra 11 tracks of the DELUXE EDITION, but by the end of the original album's quietly appropriate last song "Las Vegas Basement," I was more than happy to hear more. The additional tracks of the Deluxe Edition (an entire album’s worth) consisted largely of music that seemed suited for the lobby of a boutique Millennial hotel or maybe the Cosmopolitan in Vegas. Nearer the end were some alternate versions and very experimental pieces. The Deluxe Edition I didn’t mind but probably wouldn’t visit that often and wouldn’t recommend to new listeners. Judging from PEGGY SUICIDE, Julian Cope is a very interesting person in a profession that is filled with interesting people. One review referred to him as a madman, and that seems apt. This madman's music is fantastic and inventive, the lyrics at some times pointed and other times cryptic, and this album has a lot to say. Madmen can often end up creating unlistenable music. Fortunately I did not find this to be the case here. This album is a wonderful, trippy, exciting journey. Fantastic!

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

Mudhoney

3/5

I haven't listened to Mudhoney before. They are somewhat similar to some of the grunge bands I have listened to, with stronger punk influences. I liked it well enough, and there was some good playing going on, but it never really grabbed me. I liked the guitar solo in “Thorn”. “Fuzzgun ‘91” would be great for a grunge beach movie. “Pokin’ Around” was my favorite song - the harmonica was a welcome addition. I don't know if I would have liked this album more if I had listened to it when it was released. Today, I didn’t mind listening to EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FUDGE, but I can't say I'm very motivated to do so again.

Spiderland

Slint

5/5

After the first two songs I was unsure how to feel about this. It was interesting and unique, I was surprised these lyrics were coming from these young guys, but I wasn’t totally into it. “Don, Aman” changed that. I really liked it. Then “Washer” absolutely blew me away. Really beautiful surprise. This song is incredible. I liked “For Dinner…” a lot. Then “Good Morning, Captain” closed the album with a stunningly good song. This is dark, moody, introspective with widely varying dynamics. It also helps to focus on the lyrics. On subsequent listens, the first two songs still haven’t really connected with me. But those last four songs are really remarkable and I keep thinking about them. Spiderland leaves me feeling haunted.

Debut

Björk

5/5

I had only a vague recollection of Björk when this came up, so I was excited to check DEBUT out. I loved "Human Behavior" - especially the drumbeats that drive it. Definitely have heard this song before and liked it. "Crying" seemed familiar as well, so now I'm starting to wonder if I have heard this before, but I liked the song. "Venus as a Boy" is great! One of my favorites on the album. Such a lush and interesting song. "There's More to Life Than This" had a great beat and some fun backup vocals. I loved the live thing, then in the middle when a door slams and she sounds like she's off singing in some other room. The harp song "Like Someone in Love" was very interesting and sweet. A lush song that sounds both modern and classic. "Big Time Sensuality" sounds like a dance track, with a very unusual lyrical accompaniment. I particularly noted how cohesive the song is despite the music and the lyrics at times feeling like they are coming from two different worlds. Great song! I liked the rest of the album except “The Anchor Song”. In my worst-case scenario I feared the album might have all been like this, but fortunately this was the only one. Otherwise I really enjoy the mix of electronic and traditional instruments that this album brings together. Björk has created a unique, eclectic, largely listenable album. Amazing, fun, unique!

Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush

5/5

This is one of the most listened to albums of my life. It’s been in heavy rotation since I discovered it in 1987. I cherish every note. I very rarely listen to single songs off this album. I feel incomplete hearing these songs out of context. Throughout my life, artists come and go and return again as my tastes drift. But Kate Bush has been at the core of my listening without pause for over 30 years regardless of what other musical interests I may be pursuing. This album helped me navigate some of the most challenging times in my life. I am hopelessly in debt to Kate Bush. There isn’t no score high enough to reflect that.

Haunted Dancehall

The Sabres Of Paradise

4/5

It was nice to have this album pop up the week before Halloween. True to its title, HAUNTED DANCEHALL would make a great soundtrack to a Halloween cocktail party. Or any shmoozy cocktail party. Or the dim lobby or lounge in a boutique hotel. I enjoyed having this music on. There are some great beats, unique sounds, and interesting melodies. Hard to pick any favorites as all worked well for me. Loved the music and sounds in “Tow Truck” and “Theme” had some cool beats and guitar. The title track “Haunted Dancehall” was well-titled and would make great music for a horror movie. Loved it! The album isn’t something I’d put on as an activity in and of itself, but it makes great background music for doing other things. The music is interesting without being overly distracting. HAUNTED DANCEHALL is long, but that works fine when I’m listening to it in the background. It’s full of tricks and treats, not boring or annoying as it explores some unique musical soundscapes.

(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)

Lynyrd Skynyrd

5/5

This debut album from Lynyrd Skynyrd packs in four songs I was familiar with and already liked - “Tuesday’s Gone,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “Simple Man” and “Free Bird”. I hadn’t listened to these in a while, but they sound as great as ever. As for the rest of the album: The opening track “I Ain’t The One” sees the singer abandoning the mother of his child using a lot of questionable terms of… endearment? Maybe not something one might write today. The incredibly jaunty but lyrically pointed “Things Goin’ On” takes on the subject of poverty and the environment and is very relevant still today. The song is great. Then the singer in “Mississippi Kid” heads to Alabama with his gun to fetch his woman and kill anyone who might cause him trouble. Not the most positive view of Mississippi I guess. And my least favorite song. “Poison Whiskey” is some pretty great 70s music, strong on guitars and organs. Loved this song about the perils of rotgut whiskey. This album version of “Free Bird” has an organ opening that I think is often not heard on the radio cuts. Man this song is incredible. It could earn this album a 5 on its own, but fortunately it doesn’t have to. An incredible debut from an incredible band.

Red Dirt Girl

Emmylou Harris

4/5

I haven’t heard of this album before. The opening song was a real surprise. This is a more updated sound than I expected. It didn't feel purely country to me although there were strong country undertones. "Michelangelo", "I Don't Want To Talk About It Now", "Red Dirt Girl", "J'ai fait tout", "One Big Love", "My Antonia" and "Boy from Tupelo" were some of the highlights on my first listen, but going back I could probably add the rest of the songs to this list. This is a solid album! I read that this was the first time Emmylou Harris wrote her own songs (all but one) for an album. It definitely worked for her. The songs are very well crafted. This is a gentle and very strong album from a true legend. I can't think of anything not to like about it.

Trans Europe Express

Kraftwerk

3/5

I have only heard a song here and there from Kraftwerk, mostly from college friends' mixtapes back in the 80s and 90s. But that and Sprockets on Saturday Night Live were enough to give me an idea of what might be in store here... As anticipated TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS is a musical journey, long on electronic music with limited, repetitive lyrics and melodies. At times this album felt almost like a parody - then I remember that this was released in 1977 and realize that this is the source from whence those parodies sprang. "Europe Endless" takes us out of the station and rapidly zipping across the continent. The first station stop along the way is a meditative one. The reflective "The Hall of Mirrors" juxtaposes our watching ourselves with being watched by others in "Showroom Dummies." Back on the train, "Trans Europe Express" chugs out of the station and continues our journey. "Metal on Metal" continues the song - you can practically hear the train whistles. When "Abzug" starts I realize that we are still on "Trans Europe Express" despite the new song title. These three songs blend together without breaks in the music or the theme. "Franz Shubert" is a welcome change of pace after the previous song trilogy. It's a simple but very meditative song that I found not unpleasant. Like the previous three songs, this blurs seamlessly into "Endless Endless". It seems that our journey will go on... At times this album had me looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being pranked, but the repetitious patterns in the songs became strangely soothing. Once one separates the memes that followed from the original, Kraftwerk's huge contribution to electronic music pull into sharp focus. I enjoyed taking this journey, but like a journey across Europe likely won't be making this a daily commute. Still it might make for great meditation or to lull you away from waking life.

Frampton Comes Alive

Peter Frampton

4/5

I've listened to this album many times, but probably not since the early 80s when my sister moved out of our house and took her album collection with her. Live albums aren't usually my jam as I generally prefer the cleaner sound of a studio recording. The crowd and background sounds are often distracting to me . Was that sound at the 0:55 mark in Wind of Change the sound of - a gunshot? balloon popping...? I quite enjoyed listening to this album though. It is well recorded and I enjoyed the 70s arena rock vibe. Even the 14 minutes of "Do You Feel Like We Do" didn't wear on me. Frampton's songs are solid 70s rock and he knows how to deliver them live. FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! is easy to like as the big hits I am familiar with were actually from this album. There is an intensity Frampton's live performance brings that explains why this is one of the greatest live rock recordings.

The Visitors

ABBA

5/5

I'm so happy this is on the list! Anyone who thinks they know ABBA and haven't heard THE VISITORS have missed a major part of the ABBA story. This was their last album before their long hiatus. It was crafted as their group and their relationships were coming apart. Through it all every song sparkles with incredible craftsmanship, creativity and variety. The cover art shows the group dramatically shadowed entirely separate staring in different directions. It's a dramatic cover and a clear signal that this album will be a bit different... and maybe signaled their breakup to come. From the first notes breaking into pulsing synthesizers and Frida's dramatic delivery there is a clear change in tone over previous ABBA releases. I still get chills hearing it. "The Visitors" is a driving, paranoid opening with a great beat. ABBA can paint detailed, interesting images and tell such vivid stories in their songs, and “Head Over Heels” is one of many examples of this. "When All Is Said And Done" brings the breakups the group were navigating at the time to the surface. It's a great song that captures a level of maturity we should all strive for when our relationships end. "Soldiers" addresses the seriousness of war and is one of my favorite songs on the album. "Soldiers write the songs that soldiers sing the songs that you and I don't sing." This remains a bit too applicable to the 21st century filled with war that went on for decades while most of us paid little attention. "I Let The Music Speak" is a tribute that shows the appreciation of music itself, a subject ABBA visits often. This song clearly foreshadows later work Benny and Bjorn would do writing the musical Chess. "One Of Us" is a heartbreaking song of the ambivalence that accompanies breakups made even more impactful when considering the circumstances of the group performing it. Such a powerful expression of regret. Things get a little lighter with "Two for the Price of One" where ABBA shows off their cheekier side in the story of a lonely man who answers an ad and gets more than he bargained for. Another exceptionally crafted song that tells a fun, delightful story. "Slipping Through My Fingers" beautifully captures the feelings of a parent seeing their daughter grow up. Really amazing song. "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room" is the last song on the original album and is a beautiful, meditative, wistful ending to the album. I love this song so much. The extra tracks released over the years have been a treat, some of them better than others. "Should I Laugh Or Cry", "Cassandra", "Under Attack", and "The Day Before You Came" are among my favorites of the new tracks. They've been some sustenance over the years... I also enjoyed the inclusion of "From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel" on the Deluxe Edition that gives a peek into the evolution of a song. For newcomers, though, the album has more impact with its original ending. I have loved Abba since buying the Super Trouper album back in 1981 and remained a huge fan even as most of the world moved on. Abba has created some of the greatest pop music ever so it is a great relief that they are represented on this list. There are still plenty of music snobs who ignorantly dismiss ABBA without ever considering the intricacy of their arrangements or the emotional depth in these songs. I'm glad to see much of that has faded away. For me personally this is a particularly special opportunity to opine on THE VISITORS as part of this project a week before the release of their next new studio album - 40 years later! I am thrilled to share my deep feelings for this album knowing that this isn't their last and that ABBA will continue to enrich us with new music.

Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)

Bob Dylan

4/5

I wasn’t sure if I would be into this. Hearing this might be a bootleg tape gave me visions of terribly audio quality - and I struggle at times with Dylan's vocals. Fortunately the audio quality seemed good for something with "bootleg" in the title. Although on the first 3 songs I struggled Dylan’s delivery, I started to enjoy the album during “Visions of Johanna”. “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” and “Desolation Row” was very good and where I started to relate more to the album. At the end of the first album I was still not sure how to rank this. I was not yet really enjoying the listen despite the brilliant songs and extremely talented performance. Was I going to have to give this 3 stars since I had no interest in adding it to my music collection? When the second disc in the set started with the band everything changed. The band helped click everything into place and I really started loving the music. They helped smooth over the parts of the vocals that I had found grating. The lyrics took on a new urgency. And everything became much more fun! I was hearing some of that heckling from the audience because Dylan had "sold out." I guess I am one of those unwashed masses that Dylan sold out for, because I really like him when he plugs in. I'm so glad he ignored the haters and expanded how he presented his music. I'm glad to have the opportunity to experience "pure" Dylan in disc one, but I'm not really interested in listening to it again. When Dylan started working with the band my appreciation of him moved from my head to my heart.

Rejoicing In The Hands

Devendra Banhart

4/5

I love the album cover, but have no clue what is in store. And after the first two songs I don’t have my bearings. I’m think I might be enjoying this - but I feel a little lost. Is this music from India? The songs hint of something exotic… or not? I’m not sure. I like the lyrics, and love the cracking and vibrato in the singer’s voice. By the time I get to “Poughkeepsie” I don’t feel any more grounded. When he starts listing Elvis songs I don’t know what to make of this. I feel like I may be in a parallel universe. This music is familiar and yet very alien. “Dogs They Make Up The Dark” happens and I don’t know if I like it or not. With “Will Is My My Friend” I’m sensing something really beautiful. But I still can’t bring it into focus. As I listen to “This Beard Is For Siobhan” I’m still unable to get a lock on this album or how I feel about it. I understand the words but this is really beyond me. Everything about this album feels just out of my reach. There’s something tantalizing and… amazing?… here, but I can’t quite grasp it. Nor can I walk away. The instrumental “Tit Smoking In The Temple Of Artesan Mimicry” happens then “Rejoicing In The Hands”… am I listening to something in the Asian tradition? As I listen to “Fall” I’m starting to think I need a guide. Did I say “Asian tradition” earlier? Here’s “Todo Los Delores”. The false start is enchanting. Who is Devendra Barnhart? What am I listening to? This album has affected me deeply. But it is also defying me. And I don’t know how I feel about it. “Insect Eyes” is really disconcerting. How can I be listening to a song and be so on the verge of love and hate at the same time?! As I listen I return to the cover art and it now feels soothing and sinister. “Autumn’s Child” is a dirge that draws me in while offering no satisfaction. The album ends. Listening to this was confounding, tantalizing, intriguing, maddening, soothing, familiar, alien. I am moved, repulsed, seduced, repelled and adrift. REJOICING IN THE HANDS confounds my effort to assign a score. It’s almost as if it has opened the door to a parallel universe. I have no idea if that is somewhere I want to be. Yet I am compelled to listen again… …on the second listen I really enjoyed this. Still not confident I know what this is all about, but I’m ready to take my little teeth out dancing and show them a real good time.

Dummy

Portishead

4/5

Talk about a moody album! This album could make a great movie soundtrack. “Sour Times” feels like it could be a theme for a James Bond movie. The same holds true for most of the songs on the album to some degree. I love the lead singer and the music. I really enjoyed listening to this twice and will listen again. It is particularly good as background music while I work or as music to relax to at the end of the day. It is filled with unique sounds and samples but is oh so smooth. It’s great that DUMMY has come to my attention, because I should be listening to more Portishead. I definitely understand why this album made the 1001 list.

Snivilisation

Orbital

4/5

I’ve listened to songs by Orbital in the past, but this was my first time hearing a full album. I really enjoyed this album. The music is interesting and has that 90s electronic music sound with a lot of cool samples. Great music to listen to while working! My favorite songs: Forever, Crash and Carry, Kein Trink Wasser, Are We Here?

Teenager Of The Year

Frank Black

5/5

I LOVE this album cover and title. I also read that Frank Black was legitimately named Teenager of the Year. So I really wanted to love this. I didn’t think I had heard Frank Black before, but I did have in my library his cover of “Sugar Daddy” from the Wig In A Box album celebrating the music from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The Pixies are also a band I feel like I should know but don’t. So I’m jazzed to listen to this… I started off wondering if this was a punk album, but while the influences are strong it’s not that... “(I Want To Live On An) Abstract Plain” and “Calistan” are amazing! The guitar solo is awesome in “The Vanishing Spies”. “Speedy Marie” is fantastic and introduced me to the word ‘romaunt’. This is a smart album! Then comes “Headache” - another incredible song. Wow wow wow! A song about the aqueducts built by Mulholland?! Holy shit! This album is officially off the hook incredible. How many times can I keep saying how great a song is? How many songs are on this album…? A song about ‘pong’?! ‘Pachinko’ and ‘Parcheesi’?! Rhyming ‘potlatch’ with ‘Sasquatch’?! ‘Chateaubriand’ in the lyrics?! Photon powered spacecraft?! The 60s sci fi show The Invaders?! Not to mention I now know the word ‘thalassocracy’! Throw in catchy as hell music and… LOVE LOVE LOVE! You know an album is great when you keep saying ‘oh THIS is the best song on the album’ over and over as you listen. TEENAGER OF THE YEAR has that. It is a fantastic album that I can’t wait to listen to again. So much going on and so much still to discover!

Illmatic

Nas

4/5

Haven’t ever listened to Nas before this and this isn't a genre I have much experience with... The rap on this is impressive, albeit with the occasional problematic lyrics. The music has lots of 90s flair, although iI found it was a little stripped down for me as the music and samples could become monotonous. Although I guess maybe that's part of the deal here since the focus is on the rap. I liked listening to this. Although I don't see myself listening to the whole album, there are some songs I will revisit again. Hovering around a 3.5 rating so I guess I'll round it up since the rap is so strong. Favorite songs: “Life’s A Bitch”, "Memory Lane (Sit-in' in da Park)", "Represent", "Ain't Hard To Tell".

Be

Common

5/5

Well this is interesting - reviewed Nas yesterday and today this Common album opens with a reference to "Big Nas." I assume that is the same guy? It's interesting because these two have some pretty different vibes in their music. Not to mention this album is centered around Chicago while Nas' is all New York. I have seen Common perform live a few times at music festivals and really enjoyed it. So I was excited to have a chance to check out one of his albums I've never heard. I loved the album. The music and samples are fantastic, and Common is so good. I particularly love the warm and cozy music that accompanies most of the tracks, with the electric organ enticing you to settle in and listen to the lyrics. "Be (intro)" is a great opening. Other songs that jumped out at me included "The Corner", "Go!", "Love Is...", "Chi-City", and "They Say". But I guess I can say all the songs are quite good. My favorite I think is "Real People". I love the smooth easy-listening vibe with the saxophone. Yet Common's performance still tackles a lot of uncomfortable observations of the world around him. I listened to this three times in a row... just kept letting it repeat and was happy to hear the songs again. A beautiful album!

Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space

Spiritualized

5/5

The album cover had me instantly intrigued. If I had seen this in a record store I would have picked it up. But I had no idea what I was in for. When “Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space” started I immediately started to feel chills. As advertised, seems like the perfect music for floating in space. I found it incredibly beautiful, teasing me with some kind of familiarity. At the close of the song the chills returned as I realized what was happening. An incredible opening that immediately earned the album a place in my library. “Come Together” certainly feels like it belongs with the opening number, but it has a much stronger rock vibe. Ladies and gentlemen, we are now on a musical journey to I know not where… “I Think I’m In Love” stood out with its lyrics. ‘Think I can rock and roll, probably just twisting’ or ‘Think that I’m a winner, Baby, probably Las Vegas’ or ‘Think I’m on fire, probably just smoking.’ I love this song. The spacey orientation of this album might result in a sterile void, but the songs feel intensely personal. The subject of “All Of My Thoughts” sounds lost after losing someone very special. Song of the songs have a strong psychedelic sound. And then there’s a sort of spacey, trippy folk sound in “Home of the Brave” I very much liked. “Broken Heart” is heartbreaking masterpiece of a song. Incredible and beautiful. It was surprising in “Cop Shoot Cop” to hear John Prine quoted in this song. The song is great - a perfect closer to the album, although I imagine its runtime and long solo will be off-putting to some. Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space is an otherworldly album that combines rock with a modern wall of sound, at times bordering on religious music with organs and gospel choirs - even taking the occasional almost-jazz break. The songs are lush and richly woven, complex structures that evoke wonder and grandeur. While occasional parts of this album went on a bit long here and there, the high points on this album left me a bit awestruck. There are so many occasions that I will want to hear this again. Spectacular.

Bitte Orca

Dirty Projectors

2/5

Have never heard of this group before. As I listened to the album the first time I felt like I might be hearing something very modern what with its odd song structures and airy backing vocals. Is this some post-modern new wave or something? I kept thinking that maybe this is a little too modern for me? I did not feel comfortable listening to this album. There was something persistently alien that prevented me from enjoying this. I started listening a second time but abandoned that attempt after I started feeling annoyed. BITTE ORCA is some new kind of music to me, but I don’t see myself wanting to hear any more of this. There is real talent on display but ultimately I feel unable to relate to this… even though I kind of wish I did.

Kenya

Machito

5/5

Holy cow! This is so much fun! At first I thought "Oh good - instrumental music to work by." That went out the window right away as "Wild Jungle" had my feet pulling me out of my chair to dance to the frenetic music. Those TPS Reports were not being well-served by KENYA. "Congo Mulence" took things down a notch, but didn't really get me back to work. Instead I just sat there swaying to the music imagining myself in a 1950s lounge drinking Pink Squirrels and Blue Hawaiians. For the rest of the album there wasn't a moment I wasn't enjoying this. I was transported elsewhere for the duration just listening, dancing and grooving. What's bad for productivity is great for my mental state. I love this album. It is so lively and the big band really swings! My only regret is I didn't get to see this performed live. Really happy this made the list!

Songs Of Love And Hate

Leonard Cohen

3/5

Leonard Cohen is an artist who I have always felt I should know more about than I do. I have a familiarity with the seemingly endless stream of “Hallelujah” covers, which is a wonderful but overexposed song. Beyond that I don’t know much. This album is a bit tough for me. It’s so downbeat - at times almost absurdly so. Reminded me of some of my efforts with Bob Dylan. But I love a lot of the lyrics and music. My favorite songs: Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Diamonds in the Mine (thank god for the backup singers), Famous Blue Raincoat. After trying unsuccessfully to enjoy listening to this on my second listen, I sought out some of the covers listed on the Wikipedia page. Aimee Man’s cover of “Avalanche” is awesome, I watched the TV series that it served as the theme for and loved it but didn’t recognize it as the same song. I also knew and loved Tori Amos’ cover of “Famous Blue Raincoat”. The Jennifer Warnes cover is also fantastic. Both make the song so much better. Allison Crowe’s cover of “Joan of Arc” is great as well. Clearly I like Leonard Cohen as a songwriter more than a singer. I can appreciate the occasional song but this entire album is too much.

Revolver

Beatles

5/5

Had not listened to this before, but had heard about half the songs previously. It has a great album cover! My favorite song on this album, and possibly of the Beatles, is "Eleanor Rigby." I read on the Wikipedia page that the string octet was inspired by the soundtrack to PSYCHO. I love that soundtrack so I guess it isn't such a surprise I love this song. I also already loved the songs "Taxman," "Here, There and Everywhere," "Yellow Submarine," "Good Day Sunshine," "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Got To Get You Into My Life" (which rivals Eleanor Rigby for my favorite Beatles song). The rest of the album was new and I liked them on first listen. Probably my favorite of the new songs were "Doctor Robert." The song seems to imply this doctor might not be completely on the level... "For No One" stood out to me. I also found "Tomorrow Never Knows" to be an amazing end to the album. I love its epic psychedelic structure. It's easy to see why this was such an important and beloved album. It overflows with musical ideas and packs a huge punch for its relatively short runtime.

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

5/5

I'm familiar with later White Stripes, but not this album. This album rocks! It feels a bit like classic 70s rock to me a lot of the time, which is a good thing. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" is one of the harder rocking songs. I wouldn't have been surprised to have heard something like this from Bad Company in the 1970s. Great opening to the album! "Hotel Yorba" has a really great jaunty beat and a fantastic chorus. SO so good. One of my favorites. "I'm Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman" is a slower but still awesome rocker with some great organ. Really great organ. "Fell In Love With A Girl" leans away from 70s hard rock and more towards punk. It's another impressive song and makes me wonder how a single person created such a diversity of songs. There is not a song on this album that I don't like or love. "Expecting" has a very interesting stuttering guitar. "Little Room" brings an intense drumbeat with some incredible vocalizations by Jack White. This guy is amazing. "The Union Forever" is a dark, moody rock song and I love Jack's voice with its incredible intensity especially as it cracks on the choruses. Then suddenly near the end has a vocal solo accompanied by a tapping drumstick before lapsing back into its somber melody. Incredible! "The Same Boy You've Always Known" is one of my absolute favorite songs on this album. Again that strong 70s rock vibe with a beautiful vocal performance. This is a perfect rock song. "We're Going To Be Friends" is a really sweet song that is about a school day in the lives of a couple of kids that perfectly captures that infatuation and joy of a young kid making a new friend. It gave me chills in its ability to take me back to the best times in elementary school. "Offend in Every Way" has really great, interesting guitar work and that strong beat that drives so many of The White Stripes' songs. I can rave about all the rest of the songs. But instead I will just wrap up by noting that this is one hell of an album that offers so much. Rock was alive and well at the turn of the 20th century in this incredible album. There is great variety but the album holds together well. Really liked the piano-driven closing song "This Protector." Meg White joins in to great effect! One of my favorite listens in what has been a journey filled with great listens. This is a great rock album!

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

5/5

I’ve been waiting for some Beach Boys music, as I have only been exposed to their greatest hits and was pretty sure I was missing out on something. I had no idea how true that was... “Don’t Go Near The Water” seemed like a strange opening for an album entitled SURF’S UP by The Beach Boys. But I loved the song. It is heartbreaking how applicable it is 50 years later. I instantly loved “Long Promised Road” with its quiet verses and rocking choruses. The bridge was so beautiful. Couple that with the deep and complex lyrics... such an impressive song. “Take a Load Off Your Feet” is really wild! Strange as it starts off talking about wrinkly feet. “Take good care of your feet, Pete”. Bizarre sound effects abound in this song, including car horns, clanking plates. I loved it! I also loved this version of “Disney Girls (1957)”. Really like the three-syllable treatment of ‘Disney’. I have always loved this song but did a disservice to myself by not seeking out this original. There is so much more dimension in this performance than the covers I've heard. “Student Demonstration Time” has a unique feel but is very well done and catchy - a bit surprising since it is documenting student riots and police shootings. The synthesizer siren is pretty cool - quite a song. "Feel Flows" is so unique and beautiful. "Unfolding enveloping missiles of soul recall senses sadly". The complicated lyrics along with the sort of weird backward overdubbing makes for a really psychedelic while still unmistakably The Beach Boys. I love this song. "Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)" is so applicable today it disturbs me to think of how little progress our world has made despite the technical revolutions of the last 5 decades. Really incredible. "A Day in The Life of a Tree" contrasts dramatically to something like "Feel Flows." This elegiac song starts off an you might not suspect it was The Beach Boys. But as the organ swells those unmistakable harmonies join in and the song begins to soar. Another really incredible song. "'Til I Die" is really a beautiful and haunting song that is such a prime example of the happy/sad currents underlying the Beach Boys music. "Surf's Up" is an epic ending to the album that left me stunned. Haunting. The song craft on SURF'S UP is beyond belief. The songs' deep environmental, personal and sociological themes are still sharp and even more pertinent today. I've already listened to this 5 times and every time I get more out of each song. This is one incredible album that has completely changed how I think about The Beach Boys.

I See A Darkness

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

5/5

I SEE A DARKNESS is the first album I've listened to from Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. It's a pretty downbeat affair, and when I first started listening I worried that it might become tedious. This album was anything but that... "A Minor Place" seemed like a pretty down song on the first listen. Then after hearing the album I realized it was one of the more upbeat tracks, relatively speaking. "Nomadic Revelry (All Around)" is basically a love song, albeit a rather somber one. It would seem death is never far regardless of the nature of the song. I absolutely loved "I See A Darkness". Lyrics about the existential struggle of living that runs as an undercurrent to our friendships - those friends that we seek as a refuge from the darkness. Really moving song that gave me chills. My favorite song on the album. Incredible. The introspection continues with "Another Day Full of Dread" that lives up to the title. It is followed by "Death To Everyone" that contrary to what one might assume is not an angry threat but another existential exploration of death. The fun of living is a real positive part of the lyrics. You'd never know it if you weren't listening carefully. The remainder of the album continues in this vein, with what might be a downbeat sea shanty ("Madeleine-Mary"?), a redemption song (or prayer? - "Today I Was An Evil One"), and more somber, existential explorations. The album closes with "Raining in Darling", a dirge-like - dare I say - love song? A really beautiful dirge of a love song. This is a really bleak album that I would not suggest as the soundtrack to your next party. Many of the songs do have climaxes where the energy increases, but not by doing much with the tempo - instead by the swelling arrangements. Still that shouldn't put anyone off - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is a master of making somber songs about somber subjects very listenable and absolutely beautiful. This is a really impressive album that I will be listening to again.

The Atomic Mr Basie

Count Basie & His Orchestra

4/5

Some big band jazz! I don't have a lot of experience with this genre, but I enjoyed listening to this album. The first thing I noticed was how clean the recording sounds. I guess I halfway expect music from 1958 sound like an old recording, but this sounded crisp and clean to me in my headphones, in the car, and on my home equipment. Some observations and highlights for me: The piano work in "The Kid from Red Bank" The muted trumpets in "Duet" and "Splanky" That warm, cocktail vibe of "After Supper" The saxophone in "Flight of the Foo Birds", "Double-O", "Whirly-Bird", "Splanky", "Fantail" I like the musical arrangements - they showcased various parts of the band well without become tiresome. The album flowed along well. The album cover and title seem a little insensitive especially 13 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That disturbed me a bit. I guess it fit into the 50s fetishization of nuclear power. Still... Aside from that quibble this was a welcome change of pace and a fun album to listen to.

Funeral

Arcade Fire

5/5

I haven't listened to this album in quite a while - so it was good to have this opportunity to revisit it. On this listen the similarities to the Electric Light Orchestra stood out. The way that many of their songs have distinct, contrasting "movements" and their use or orchestral instruments and the string arrangements at times had me thinking Arcade Fire is a sort of alternative music evolution of ELO. I love the song "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)." The music and vocal performance transports me to the snow covered landscape of the song. "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)" with its shouty delivery and accordion tackles dysfunctional family dynamics and sacrificial lambs by referencing Laika, the first creature sent on a one-way trip into space. "So the neighbors can dance in the police disco lights." Incredible imagery and a great song. "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" is one of my favorite songs on the album. The xylophone is a fantastic addition to this song that starts with a power failure and goes to so many places from there… Crown of Love's" heartbreaking exploration of love and its impermanence shows the softer side of Arcade Fire, until it builds to a frenetic ending. So good. "Wake Up" is a masterpiece. 'We're just a million little gods causing rain storms turning every good thing to rust.' Wow. "Rebellion (Lies)" is a close contender for favorite song on the album. The key changes on "Every time you close your eyes" are so great. "In The Backseat" gives the lead vocals to Régine Chassagne and is a cool change to end the album on. I love the feelings evoked of just riding in the backseat... and at times her voice is very reminiscent of Björk to me - so compelling. I love this album. FUNERAL's strong underlying themes of family and community are explored with a desperation that is palpable. A fantastic debut from Arcade Fire that has more than earned its place on this list!

Teenage Head

Flamin' Groovies

5/5

I enjoyed this bluesy early 70s rock way more than I expected to. The recording sounds fantastic and the music is really well done. The performances are so energized and visceral. These guys are really great here! Loved the rockin' tracks like "High Flyin' Baby" and "Have You Seen My Baby." "Yesterday's Numbers" has a fantastic vocal performance... one of my favorite tracks. The title track's rockin' blues vibe and supporting harmonica runs through this album like a freight train. Great stuff! There's a great bluesy vibe really evident in "City Lights" about a country boy headed to NYC to see 'the empire's tallest building where the plane shot that big monkey, and they killed him.' You also get a dose of the 50s in songs like "32-20", "Evil Hearted Ada" (which could be an early Elvis song) and "Doctor Boogie" (with a particularly fun performance by the lead singer). The last song of the original album release "Whiskey Woman" is a great closer to the album. Love this song. I prefer stopping there for the album listening experience and not playing the six additional tracks added in 1999. Not that any of the additional songs are bad - in fact I liked them - but the album really feels most complete in its original incarnation. Maybe I'm just getting tired of great albums feeling a bit compromised when bonus tracks are tacked on willy-nilly in their re-releases. I really dig this album... happy to welcome Flamin' Groovies aboard my musical library!

Tracy Chapman

5/5

Fuck. I have loved this album since I first listened to it shortly after its release in 1988. But I haven't listened to the album in the last decade or two. When I saw it pop up here, I was happy to revisit it. Then I started listening. "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" started broke my heart as the lyrics came flooding back before I heard them again. They stabbed my heart as I realized 33 years have passed and there was no revolution. Poor people didn't rise up. Economic inequality instead accelerated to ridiculous proportions. And we all watched. As the remaining songs unfold I am devastated. All of them as relevant today as they ever were. The songs on this album say so much so well. They are so much more painful today than in 1988. Then I listened through eyes of hope. Thirty-three years later I listen through eyes of despair. I had no idea... The shadows cast from this album's light in 2021 are so much darker than in 1988. I desperately seek refuge in Tracy Chapman's voice. It's so warm and beautiful as it twists a knife in my soul. This is one of the hardest things I've listened to. Still I wouldn't change a note. I'm at a loss of what, if anything, I can or should do about it. "Look at me losing control Thinking I had a hold But with feelings this strong I'm no longer the master of my emotions. No words to say No words to convey..."

Jack Takes the Floor

Ramblin' Jack Elliott

3/5

This isn't exactly my type of music and not the kind of thing I'll play often, but I'm very glad to have listened to it. At times the recording were a bit muddy, but the simplicity of the arrangements - a guitar and a voice - made this less of an issue. The album is under "Compilations" in Apple Music and this certainly feels like a compilation rather than a cohesive album to me. The songs deal with lots of subjects – old dogs, boll weevils, bed bugs, dogs, cocaine, 20 mule team borax, love, prison... My favorite songs: The Boll Weevil, Old Blue (from the reissue) Not adding this to my library but a pleasant listen!

Sheer Heart Attack

Queen

5/5

This Queen album was new to me. The only song I knew was “Killer Queen” (a classic!). I loved it. Really nice early Queen that has a strong rock edge in the guitar solos (“Brighton Rock”) mixed in with some very prog-rock sounds all mixed together with Queen’s pure glam! “Killer Queen” is easy to identify as the big single off the album - it’s arrangements, little sound effect touches, and the way the instruments and the bands voices play together make it a no-brainer hit record. The big surprise was how much great Queen I have yet to discover. I loved the rock sound of “Tenement Funster” - this is a great song that joins with the two songs that follow into an incredible song trilogy. It has a more straight rock sound. Then it blends seamlessly into “Flick of the Wrist” that starts with a great piano interlude and takes things in a darker direction. This feels like more of a prog-rock song that blends seamlessly into “Lily of the Valley” which begins with ‘baby you’ve been had,’ a line from “Flick of the Wrist” that starts the third movement of this trio. This song is piano driven and a beautiful ending to this song trilogy. These three songs need to be listened to as a group to really appreciate, reminding us that there will always be a place for albums even in our digital future as the three songs are so much more when listened to together than they are as separate pieces. “Dear Friends” is a really sweet song of hope (in the best way). “Misfire” and its rhythm is so great! I love this song. Wow Wow Wow. And a love song subtitled “Stormtrooper in Stilettos”? I LOVE QUEEN! This album is spectacular Queen that brings me a lot of much needed joy and hope. Listening to it made me feel like I was listening to Queen for the first time again. So amazing! I will be coming back to this often!!!

3 + 3

The Isley Brothers

4/5

Love the early 70s synths. Knew a lot of the songs, although not in this form. “That Lady” is great. Was fun to hear their spins on “You Walk Your Way,” “Listen to the Music,” “Sunshine (Go Away Today)”, and “Summer Breeze.” Will add several of these songs to the library

Back to Mystery City

Hanoi Rocks

5/5

I loved this album, even though the first time I listened to it tracks 2-8 were not the correct songs. Seems Apple Music has the wrong songs associated with tracks 4-8 were the wrong songs. Whatever songs those were I listened to the first time sounded like Hanoi Rocks and I really liked them... After re-listening with the correct tracks (than you YouTube): I LOVE THIS ALBUM. This band is really amazing. Some pretty strong rock tracks in here ("Malibu Beach Nightmare") with some punk and glam and 50s stuff - all blended together into BACK TO MYSTERY CITY. There are touches of Queen, Meat Loaf, the B-52s, the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack - all have done some similar mixing before… What's great here is Hanoi Rocks has their own spin on these winning combinations. I loved every song on here. The styles varied a bit but still felt like a cohesive album. Some wild fun sound-effect shenanigans in the opening and scattered here and there - like the farm animals in "Tooting Bec Wreck", the spacey echoey effects in "Until I Get You,” the bells in “Ice Cream Summer.” Well done without being overdone. This is some of the best punk/rock/glam/50's style music around. I wish I had discovered them in the 80s as I think it would have enhanced my adolescence. Nevertheless lots of fun now, the lyrics were interesting, and I will listen to this often. And after being exposed to some additional Hanoi Rocks through the misidentified mystery tracks, will follow up with some more of their albums. HANOI ROCKS ROCKS!

Raising Hell

Run-D.M.C.

4/5

This was a fun surprise. Run DMC are definitely entertaining, and I was already very familiar with “It’s Tricky” and “Walk This Way.” Hearing those songs again was a lot of fun. Those two songs alone earn the album a place in my library, and the Aerosmith collaboration is an amazing highlight in the history of rap and rock. Some of the highlights from the rest of the album: “Peter Piper” was a fun opening! I liked all the nursery rhymes references and the clanging bell. It also had an advantage to be the first song, meaning all the bragging wasn’t played out yet… “My Adidas” was fun and I enjoyed it… at times I they used the singular ‘Adida’ but that wasn’t reflected in the printed lyrics I found. I loved the sound of a singular Adida and want to refer to an individual Adidas sneaker as such henceforth. The guitar work in “Hit It Run” made it stand out and was a refreshing addition. When I heard “You Be Illin’” I realized I had heard that one before. It’s pretty good. While the ground this album is built upon is well-trod today, in 1986 this was really exciting and new. There’s a lot of boasting and some misogyny that could be throttled back a bit for my taste. Some of the songs wear a bit thin and likely will not attract me to future listens, but overall this was appealing. The highlights more than make up for the deficiencies of this album.

Smokers Delight

Nightmares On Wax

4/5

This is really nice chill out or background music… something you would expect to hear in a trendy bar or hotel. Very nice to hang out with - I found it quite pleasant for background music while I worked. I can think of many occasions where this is the sort of music I would really want to play. This isn't the kind of album that will reach out and grab you, but instead the music sidles up and puts its arm around you. I didn't spend a lot of time distinguishing between the songs. Instead I just grooved along and let it flow around me. The album coheres very well while still having some clear individuality between the songs. The (Digital Deluxe) edition I listened to adds 4 extra tracks at the end. All four were worth hearing and didn’t detract from the flow of the original in any way I noticed. Good stuff!

I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail

Buck Owens

5/5

I knew Buck Owens from Hee Haw and the Grand Ol' Opry, but have never sat and listened to one of his albums. I'm glad I have remedied that deficiency. This is great classic country performed by great musicians with great country themes. Lots of heartbreak, but nary a hint of gun violence or misogyny that seems to have become more common in later years. I have always loved the song "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail." It sounds as good as ever. "Trouble and Me" seemed familiar too - it's a great song! I liked the juxtaposition on side A of "Let the Sad Times Roll On" and side B "We're Gonna Let the Good Times Roll." Visiting all the emotional stops on this train! "Wham Bam" is a great song about staying single. Very clever chorus and a lot of fun! Other highlights I enjoyed included the deep bass vocal in "The Streets of Laredo." "A Maiden's Prayer" had great fiddling. And they did justice to "Memphis." The two extra live tracks were fine additions to the original album. "This Ol' Heart" and "Act Naturally" are great songs performed so well! I would have loved to have seen Buck perform live. Really fun listening to this - some good old fashioned country from a master who shows us how it's done!

Drunk

Thundercat

5/5

Is this the 21st Century successor to Steely Dan? That’s the thought I had when I started listening to this. Really a fascinating album. I don’t know what I liked more: the interesting music or the lyrics... Songs like “Captain Stupido” (‘beat your meat, go to sleep, I think I left my wallet at the club’) explore the routine of daily life. How about a celebration of cats? Check out “A Fan’s Mail (Tron Song Suite II)” (‘Everybody wants to be a cat, it’s cool to be a cat… meow, meow, meow, meow)’. *swoon* As if the Steely Dan feel wasn’t enough, we get a REAL TREAT in “Show You The Way” (‘Tell ‘em how you feel, Kenny… KENNY LOGGINS’ *clap*clap*clap* ‘Ladies and gentlemen, MICHAEL MCDONALD’ *clap*clap*clap*). “Drink Dat” (‘The night is almost over but we still wanna party, Ain’t no one here sober the weed I’m rollin’s gnarly’) is a great after-party song. Actually the whole album would work well for that setting. There are love songs and topical references for millennials like in “The Turn Down” (‘Oh, ‘cause look at the mess we’ve made, who’s gonna clean it up? Oh my God, where’s Captain Planet?’) and “Tokyo” (‘It was Dragonball Z, a wrist slap bracelet’). The song titles often left me wondering where they came from… I look forward to future listens to unlock more of this album’s secrets! This is a smooth, jazzy, wildly interesting, wonderful album. Loved it SO much. Now that I’m familiar with the music, the submerged album cover has changed from scary to endearing. Man this album spills over with fun! I had no idea anything like this did (or could!) exist in 2017. The lyrics overflow cleverness - I could fill several pages with great quotes. Throw in guest spots from Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell and Wiz Khalifa and this is a super cool five star ride. Utterly brilliant!

Since I Left You

The Avalanches

5/5

DISCO lives forever! Fantastic album. Kept finding myself dancing for pretty much for the full hour. The cats thought I had lost it. The sampling on this album is wonderful. These songs are complex and cohesive sample assemblies that had me constantly lit up with moments of recognition. “Is that The Hustle?” “Fleetwood Mac!” “It’s Debbie Reynolds!” “There’s Holiday!” “The NBC Mystery Movie Theme?!” “You’re crazier than a coconut!” “Isn’t that a Disney short?” I’m not singling out any songs. This album is too fun as a whole journey. Fun fun fun yes indeed!

Dare!

The Human League

5/5

I never owned this album in the 80s, but I wished I had. Given the large number of albums where the non-hit tracks weren’t great, I think I would have liked most of this album then. Still, better late than never. My favorite Human League song (“Don’t You Want Me”)appears on this album. How surprising that the lead singer thought it the weakest track on the album and buried it at the end of side B. It is still my favorite song on the album, but I’m glad to have some new candidates for the position after listening to this album. “The Things That Dreams Are Made Of” is a great song! I’m not sure how I missed it all these years (I think it was released as a single?) but glad to know it now. “Open Your Heart” was a single in the UK (not sure about the US) that I also missed. I quite like this song as well. “The Sound of the Crowd” is really fun and catchy and makes me want to go to all the 80s clubs. So much 80s fun! By the third listen I liked all the songs on this. Amazed to hear a Casio VL-1 as the sole instrument on “Get Carter”. Too cool! Great album!

Fever To Tell

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

5/5

A friend of mine years ago made me a mix tape, and on it was the song “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I loved that song, but never further investigated the group behind it. I’m glad to have the opportunity to rectify that now. FEVER TO TELL is a gritty, passionate carnival of song lead by an incredible snarling, cooing, moaning, screaming vocal performance by Karen O supported mostly by grinding guitars and pounding drums. The opening number “Rich” was exhilarating to me as the album opened, then “Date With The Night” amps things up a few notches with some incredible vocals shouting ‘CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE.’ Then in a 1-2-3 punch Karen O takes it up another notch in “Man.” WOW what a song. She punctuates the song with this sort of falsetto that is incredible. “Tick” follows and seems to just rocket the album forward. The energy is incredible as she ‘tick tick tick tick ticks’ and ‘loo-oo-oo-oo-ooses’ her way through the song. The ‘tick tick ticks’ at the end are incredible. Karen O is constantly surprising to me - witness “Black Tongue’s” ‘uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh-ooooh!’ The lyrics are a lot of fun too, ‘boy you’re just a stupid bitch and girl, you just a no good dick.’ More fun ensues in “Pin” with the crazy ‘bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, dunno, dunno, dunno, dunno’ lyrics. “Cold Light” has such a great opening. A slower song still with all the energy. “No No No” has a great slow-fast thing going on. By the time I get to “Maps” it was so exciting to hear those opening drums again. Funny in the context of the album it is one of the quieter songs thus far. It almost feels like Karen O is holding back on this one. “Y Control” continues along that energy level, then we get “Modern Romance,” a softer almost intimate song, followed by “Poor Song,” a really quiet, almost dirge-like ending to the album that brings the whole thing to a quiet, sudden stop. This was a lot of fun to listen to. I also love looking at the album cover. Absolutely loved it!

Rocks

Aerosmith

5/5

Awesome album. Most of the older Aerosmith stuff I know were the Greatest Hits, so the first two tracks were expectedly great (love the whinnying and clip clops in the opening of “Back in the Saddle”). The rest of the album I wasn’t so familiar with, but I loved it all! The four times I listened to it today had me digging all the songs. It’s Aerosmith. I should have been listening to this album for most of life.

Vento De Maio

Elis Regina

5/5

When I was a kid I loved going through other people’s record collections and playing new albums. I remember discovering Roger Whitaker, Marty Robbins and Dr. Hook at my aunt’s house. My parents collection lead me to Fleetwood Mac, Willie Nelson, Sam Cooke, Mohamed El-Bakker & His Oriental Ensemble, Waylon Jennings, Barbra Streisand, Santana and Bette Midler. My sister’s collection turned me on to the Bee Gees, Peter Frampton, .38 Special, Elton John and Bad Company. Today I realized that I am loving this web site so much because each day feels like pulling a new record out of someone’s unexplored record collection. A new album cover appears and I instantly begin to speculate on what exciting new listening experience is next… Like the wildly random listening experiences of my youth, after listening to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Aerosmith out pops some smooth, jazzy Brazilian music from the 70s. And jazzed I am! Halfway through this album my stress had melted away and the morning was looking great! Elis Regina’s vocal delivery is always spot-on. The arrangements are never boring. The supporting vocals fantastic. I love this album so much. This is another perfect listening experience is a week of perfect listening experiences. I would have replayed VENTO DE MAIO over and over as a kid, and have already started doing so as an adult. From the interesting key of the opening song “Vento de Maio” through the glorious choir in “O Trem Azul” to the groovy guitar and scatting in the closing song “Aprendendo a Jogar” I enjoyed every note. A truly wonderful album!

Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Stereolab

5/5

I love Stereolab, although for some reason I had never gone back and listened to this album before. I’m glad it came up because it is an album worth hearing! This album is chock full of interesting, vivid soundscapes that are perfect for chilling out to. Stereolab has a very distinct sound, but also mix things up enough that their songs are quite distinct and interesting. The lyrics aren’t so much the focus in a Stereolab song as they are another instrument. Some French, some English, but it wasn’t until the middle of some of the English songs that I realized they were singing my language. Even so, if you attend to them the lyrics often have very interesting topics they explore. My French is a bit rusty and the translation of the lyrics don’t always work well, but they provide another level of depth to explore and contemplate as you become more familiar with the songs. Here are a few highlights that stood out: "Cybele's Reverie" was really nice. I felt like I was floating along with the song. "Les Yper-Sound" is a catchy little number that seems appropriate to the political atmosphere in the US nowadays. I love the title track. Nice driving beat you can dance to and lovely French vocals. “Motoroller Scalatron” has a great jaunty tempo as it meditates on the nature of society. “Anonymous Collective” has great jingly bells and a really interesting bassline as it reminds us that we are not aware of all the forces at work in our lives. Great ending to the album. I liked everything on this album. Stereolab are formidable creators of electronic music and this is a fantastic album that more than earns its place on this list. Wonderful wonderful!

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

5/5

I put on this album weeks after struggling to connect with Leonard Cohen’s third album, "Songs of Love and Hate." I expected a similar experience here. "You Want It Darker" grabbed me from the first notes of the choir with its incredible bass line, the lyrics and vocal performance. The song takes us into a holy space as it unfolds as a prayer. A prayer that critically interrogates the very roots of the religious traditions it references. "Treaty" is heartbreaking. Haunting lyrics, incredible arrangements and an emotional delivery perfectly capturing my disillusionment with Christianity and religion. ‘I do not care who takes this bloody hill. I’m angry and I’m tired all the time. I wish there was a treaty, I wish there was a treaty, between your love and mine.’ "On the Level” explores the emotions of letting go. 'They ought to give my heart a medal for lettin' go of you.' The piano… beautiful. The back up singers… angelic. Cohen… perfect. 'I'm old and I've had to settle on a different point of view. I was fighting with temptation but I didn't want to win, A man like me don't like to see temptation caving in.' Cohen has put words to feelings I've begun to have in a way that I could never hope to do. "Leaving the Table" digs deep into a break up: drifting apart ('I don't know the people in your picture frame'), regret/resentment ('If I ever loved you it's a cryin' shame'), resignation ('You don't need to surrender, I'm not taking aim'). Deep within the darkness "If I Didn't Have Your Love" unfolds into a startlingly beautiful love song. This album may be dark but like the rest of the album it is far from cynical. These songs flow with the undercurrents of a mature, deep love. "Traveling Light" pairs incredible mandolins and strings along with the electric piano while the lyrics tell of shedding parts of our lives as we approach its end. Cohen's exploration of religion in "It Seemed the Better Way” hit me in a deeply personal way. After spending a lifetime losing my religion this album has made me reflect on my religious journey more deeply than ever before. ‘Sounded like the truth, but it’s not the truth today. I better hold my tongue. I better take my place. Lift this glass of blood. Try to say the grace.' In "Steer Your Way" Cohen captures other aspects of my own journey as I steer away from so many of my beliefs, foundations, and trust in the world. He offers no replacement but hearing this song gives me strange comfort. 'Steer your heart past the truth that you believed in yesterday, such as fundamental goodness and the wisdom of the way.' Damn. "String Reprise/Treaty" is largely an instrumental string piece with Cohen reprising “Treaty” at the very end. After the last note faded I sat in silence for several minutes grieving Leonard Cohen's passing from this world just a few weeks after this album’s release... and rejoicing that Cohen left this incredible gift. Where last month I struggled to relate to a young Leonard Cohen, I felt an instant deep connection to him here at the end of his life. This album lead me into some very dark personal places - but Cohen's warmth and humanity never left me feeling alone. So rarely have I encountered an artifact of a life that had such a seismic effect on me. Leonard Cohen was right… I do want it darker.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Beatles

5/5

I used to listen to this album as a kid because it was in my sister’s record collection. It is the Beatles album I am most familiar with. Obviously a great album. “A Day In The Life” is perhaps my favorite Beatles song. Was great to revisit the album as I haven’t listened to it all the way through in decades. When I was a kid I recall not enjoying “Within You Without You” very much. But then it took some effort to skip forward to the next song. Not sure if it is just imprinted on me, but I wanted to skip it again (but didn’t). It does seem like a strange outlier on the album.

Truth And Soul

Fishbone

5/5

Fishbone does something new and unexpected on TRUTH AND SOUL (…he notes about this 33 year old album…) mixing metal, ska, soul, funk and punk with reckless abandon creating something fresh, surprising and really fun! I already knew the opening song “Freddie’s Dead,” but definitely not this funk/metal version. A great cover that retains the spirit of the original but is definitely their own. “Ma and Pa” is one of the best songs about divorce I’ve ever heard. I loved the little calliope-like descending note thing suggestive of a carnival. This interesting little embellishment reappears in later songs. The horn-forward, jaunty “Question of Life” is a ska/funk song exploring the relationship between God and man with some great saxophone. A funky fun look at a heavy subject! “Pouring Rain” is one of the albums slower songs that took a couple of listens for me to fully appreciate. “Deep Inside” goes full punk-metal-ska rebellion complete with screams challenging the squares (“plus you’ve got a blender by General Motors and a Tonka toy up your ass”). “Mighty Long Way” could almost be a great 80s TV theme in a good way (some of my favorite songs are 80s TV themes!). Great lead guitar and an upbeat, positive message about friendship. “Bonin’ in the “Boneyard” opens with fantastic funk bass and horns and comes complete with dog bark breaks. This song really smokes - made me really want to see Fishbone perform live! Funk and metal come together in the service of societal inequality in “One Day.” Great little sonic embellishments pepper this song — tick-tock sounds, a pinball-type effect, traffic noises — along with a surprising but really cool metal guitar solo. Looking for a ska/metal/punk/funk/out-of-control-carousel song warning quite directly of what is currently happening in the US? Then have a look at the sublime “Subliminal Fascism.” Incredible! “Slow Bus Movin’” addresses racism in America with a great chorus and some B-52s-esque backups. ‘Round and around and around they go, bus been going mighty slow, Brothers in the back seat come to the front, People gettin' hostile wanna kill someone.” It’s been 33 years. This bus been going mighty slow indeed. Another highly-topical fantastic-sounding song “Ghetto Soundwave” tackles police shootings and poverty in Fishbone’s funk/ska style. Fantastic song. TRUTH AND SOUL sticks the landing on a message of hope with ”Change.” A sharp sonic departure from the rest of the album, this mostly acoustic guitar song would make a perfect campaign theme. Fishbone is inarguably an incredibly talented group effortlessly able to blend a wide range of styles with great hooks and interesting, highly topical lyrics. It is filled with musical surprises that make the album even better. TRUTH AND SOUL is a great time and I will be back for more!

Psychocandy

The Jesus And Mary Chain

2/5

If you took Phil Spector’s wall of sound and replaced the lead instruments with wood shop machines you might get something like this. The opening beats to “Just Like Honey” sounded like a 60s girl group was about to sing, but instead we hear an ethereal male voice and a distorted, jangly guitar. I kind of liked “Just Like Honey,” but my ears started squinting almost immediately. “The Living End” continues on in this vein… I’m guessing the recording session went something like ‘DO YOU HAVE TO RUN THE TABLE SAW WHILE WE’RE TRYING TO RECORD OUR ALBUM?! Yes? Oh well fuck it go ahead and roll the tape.’ I’ve been known to enjoy distortion effects but I was not enjoying this much. I will say that listening on a good pair of headphones actually helped a little on a few of the songs. There are plenty of catchy hooks, beats and bass on this that I enjoyed (“Never Understand” was catchy - if someone would only turn off the grinder in the background). At times the distortion was more tolerable (“The Hardest Walk”, “Cut Dead”, “Sowing Seeds”), but I don’t see more of this in my future.

Odelay

Beck

5/5

Although I had owned Beck's Mellow Gold, for some reason I didn't listen to Odelay back in the day although I was familiar with the big hits ("Devil's Haircut," "The New Pollution," and "Where It's At"). Beck uses distortion, samples and effects quite a bit on Odelay. This was front-of-mind after struggling to cope with The Jesus and Mary Chain's heavy use of distortion. I never struggled with Beck - I enjoyed the gritty distorted parts, the donkeys braying, distortion on the instruments and vocals, the record scratches and the other unique sonic touches scattered throughout. They worked well here and mostly enhanced the listening experience. I love the laid-back nature of Odelay. Lots of eclectic styles to discover: the exotic sounds of "Derelict," the driving "Devil's Haircut," the down-homey "Hotwax," the harder edged "Novacane," the dreamy "Jack-Ass," the punk-like "Minus," the twangy "Sissyneck," the out-there-sample-laden "High 5 (Rock The Catskills)," the quiet "Ramshackle." All the songs feel really unique, interesting and still coherent together as an album. Beck's music is really unique and at times weird and wild while still managing to be cool, unassuming and surprisingly approachable. It didn't immediately demand a 5 from me, but I'm happy to give it a 5 'cause I got nothing but praise for it. Odelay is doing its own thing and doing it really, really well.

The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

Charles Mingus

4/5

This one is tough for me to rate, as I have very little experience with jazz. Going in I knew I was really out of my element here and ill-equipped to understand (let alone rate!) an album like this. The first time through I pretty much tried to get my bearings. It was clear that I was listening to some really talented musicians who were really putting it out there. I loved the low saxes, muted trumpets, tinkly piano even though I was often unsure and at times uncomfortable with what was happening musically. But even on that first listen my novice ears found moments of delight, like when the Spanish guitar would jump in. I listened to this a few more times and on each listen I had moments where I was having flashes of just flowing along with the music. A few times this occurred during the cacophonious passages and suddenly something highly structured surfaced and felt like a revelation. I shouldn't be surprised that listening to my first orchestral jazz album is challenging. This isn't an album I could expect to play in the background or even relax to right now... I still have a lot of work to do first. I've added this to my music library as an aspirational act in the hopes that I will do more work on this album and with jazz in general. Rounding this one up to a 4 although I'm hoping some future version of me will want to change it to a 5.

Remedy

Basement Jaxx

4/5

Great dance music album. I was familiar with a few of the songs on this album already and liked them. My favorite songs: “Rendez-Vu” - great dance track “Jump n’ Shout” - nice variety, with its super fast lyrics “U Can’t Stop Me” - great vocal performance “Red Alert” - I remember this song well, felt like 20 years ago back on the dance floor “Always Be There” - the off-kilter beats and smooth sound give more nice variety to the album “Same Old Show” - fun samples, I’m a sucker for the moan “Bingo Bango” - great Brazilian-feeling dance tune - perhaps my favorite on the album This is a fun listen. Enjoyed it a lot!

Abraxas

Santana

5/5

Wow… what an album! Of course I was super familiar with “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Cómo Va" and went in loving them. But hearing these in the context of the album was almost like hearing them for the first time with “Singing Winds, Crying Beasts” leading in and “Gypsy Queen” in between taking these songs to an entirely new level. I’ve really been missing out only hearing them as singles. Side A is rounded out by “Incident and Neshabur” - another fantastic song. It’s complex with time signature changes flowing along on a wave of incredible percussion - an utter joy to experience. I can only imagine how great this would be live. Side B doesn’t let up and I absolutely loved it at first listen. From the joyous instrumental “Se a Cabo” into the sultry opening of “Mother’s Daughter” there is a lot to love here. The vocal performance in the latter is fantastic. A great song that I’m surprised I haven’t heard before. “Samba Pa Ti” I have heard before somewhere, but not sure it was from Santana. Really beautiful song with some incredible guitar work. “Hope Your Feeling Better” leans more towards a funk/rock vibe supported by that incredible organ and guitar work that runs through the entire album. The album closes with and exciting finish on the percussive chant-heavy “El Nicoya.”

Elvis Presley

5/5

Having listened to Elvis Presley my entire life, I wasn’t expecting any really new insights. Oops - turns out that a lifetime of listening to greatest hits collections denied me some of the excitement of early Elvis. Elvis recorded this between the ages of 19 - 21 and it is remarkable how polished his sound is. While there are a range of song styles Elvis transcends genre and brings it all together. He makes every song his own. A few interesting moments: “One-Sided Love Affair” I really enjoyed! I don’t recall hearing this song before, but his delivery is great. “Just Because” stood out to me. I don’t recall hearing this before. Love the guitar in this one. Elvis’ singing in “Trying to Get to You” is particularly good. “Blue Moon” is so pared back and haunting. A bit unusual and really showcases Elvis’ vocal skills. I did not expect to love this song but it is one of my favorites on the album. I initially thought it might be tough to drop in and rate the first album of an artist so ubiquitous as Elvis, but listening to this album felt surprisingly fresh. For a few moments I could feel the excitement of listening to Elvis for the first time. That cleared up any doubt that this deserves a 5.

Stardust

Willie Nelson

5/5

Outlaw Country and American Pop Standards would seem to be opposite ends of the musical universe. An unlikely musical wormhole, STARDUST masterfully unites these genres resulting in a truly beautiful and transformative album. I have heard all of the songs on this album before. But my experience of them has largely been as musical artifacts. I don’t think I ever felt particular connection to most of them nor would I have sought them out. Yet on STARDUST these songs resonated with me in an emotional way that they never have before. The album opens plaintively with a quiet guitar and Willie’s voice on “Stardust”. A quiet organ and drum instantly made me stop what I was doing and just sit back and enjoy. This is my favorite version of this song. The one song that I did feel previously emotionally connected to was “Georgia On My Mind.” Ray Charles’ version is perfect, definitive and always gives me chills. It’s one of those songs that I would have thought no one else should record. Willie’s incredible vocals over a beautifully subtle arrangement proves that wrong. The country harmonica solo feels like it should always have been there and the finale provides an exciting, perfect conclusion. When was the last time I ever considered “Moonlight In Vermont?” Yet this version is so beautiful that now I cannot get it off my mind. It could be that only an outlaw would have the audacity to record such an album at the height of his career. Willie has created a truly unique American classic. STARDUST is one of the most pleasurable albums I have ever experienced.

It's Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

5/5

Surprise! A scant two weeks after the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ debut album shows up here we get another one recorded six years later. I loved their debut but hadn’t expected a second album on this list from them. I also did not expect to love IT’S BLITZ! even more than the first album. This is a stunning evolution. Karen O’s incredible vocals shimmer over glittering synths and driving dance floor beats. Heavy doses of disco and new wave transform the band as Karen O achieves Blondie-levels of greatness. The opening track “Zero” erupts pure glitter as the dance floor lights up around me and a cascade of lights fill the room. How’d I wind up in the coolest club in town?! “Holy shit!” was my last thought as I lost myself in this incredible song. No chance of leaving the dance floor now as “Heads Will Roll” fires a one-two disco punch. This is the sort of song that gets you dancing by yourself without giving a fuck about who’s around. The drums keep time as Karen O rules the dance floor on a wave of synths and gritty guitars. This is no sterile electronic environment. These songs cozy up like best friends sharing moments of joy, sadness, pain, love and surrender. How the hell does an album get this cool?! Karen O would be right at home in a silver body suit on a series of disco-oriented tracks like “Dragon Queen.” They’re joined by lush ballads like the piano-driven “Runaway” or the guitar-and-organ-powered “Little Shadow,” perfect for coming down with that special someone at the end of a night. Songs like “Faces” and “Hysteric” add a zest of Tegan and Sara quirkiness… so much to discover! IT’S BLITZ! invites you to dance and chill with the coolest trio in town. Get your leather on… ‘cause you’d be crazy to pass up this much fun!

Melodrama

Lorde

5/5

I had bought this album immediately after hearing "Green Light" back when it was released. It’s still my favorite Lorde song and one of the greatest breakup songs ever. I’m also a Jack Antonoff fan so it is no surprise I love this album. I can’t get enough of “Supercut” and “Greenlight” - both awesome dance songs. Other favorites include “Sober,” “The Louvre,” “Liability,” and “Sober II.” But really the whole album is great. Most of the songs are explorations of relationships. Why are we in them? What holds us together? What tears us apart? Whether your relationship is perfect happiness, total misery or somthing in between MELODRAMA has something to offer you. The music is great, the lyrics are insightful. Wonderful from start to finish.

Sex Packets

Digital Underground

2/5

The first several songs were pretty good, albeit with some usual braggy rap that went on a little too long for my taste. “The Way We Swing” was pretty clever musically and I thought they were pretty funny in “Underwater Rimes.” So after song 5 I thought this album might be a surprise. Things went south quickly. “Gutfest ‘89” is definitely an event to avoid. Pretty much everything else seems kind of toxic and awful. I was glad when it was over. I did like two songs. But it left me nauseous and I have no interest in hearing this album again.

Nixon

Lambchop

5/5

I have never heard of Lambchop, but the album cover for NIXON made me very happy, so I was excited to put this record on. Turns out the cover is a great representation for what's inside. Quirky, inscrutable, but so pleasant. I loved the orchestral easy listening sound and the lyrics - even though I often had no idea what they meant. Felt like what Burt Bacharach might compose if he were really, really stoned. Highlights: "The Old Gold Shoe" - who starts an album like this? I appreciate the confidence of making such a laid back track the opener. "Grumpus" is one of my favorites on the album. I really wanted to be drinking a pink squirrel in a dark lounge while this was playing. SOOO nice! "Be square and kind to all your friends Stop staring through the bitter lens." This song has advice I can use. "You Masculine You" made me laugh immediately as the title juxtaposes with the falsetto delivery. But it is oh so lovely. "Up With People" felt like... an Up With People concert? The clapping, the backing choir, the happy music... uplifting! "Nashville Parent" had me floating on a very strange cloud where I observed neighbors fighting, owls decapitating rodents, spit on my chest, and a fiberglass funny face on the wall. I love being made so comfortable and happy while having no idea what is going on. "What Else Could It Be?" could be the easy listening version of a Bee Gees song with its lush violins and falsetto performance. I loved the ending. "The Distance From Her To There" had a real country feel that I loved. The steel guitar, the vibraphone - oh yes! "The Book I Haven't Read" is a lovely love song - the only one I can think of with the word 'disgusting' in it. I wish it were written for me. "The Petrified Florist" with its clever title is one of the darker songs on the album... definitely sensed some tension here. "The Butcher Boy" followed up with a really dark story. Because it seemed to make perfect sense I wondered if my brain had been reprogrammed ... then I had a look at the credits on Wikipedia and realized that this was an old traditional American folk song. The Apple Music credits show the writer as Lambchop since they did take liberties with the traditional song. Really unique take on this. NIXON's inscrutability doesn't bother me because the music is so nice and the singer so approachable - kind of a cross between Cat Stevens and Barry Gibb. The lyrics often felt like another instrument to me - when they didn't make sense I was satisfied with the sounds they made and the feelings they evoked. NIXON is a strange, wonderful place where I feel warm, welcome and comfortable that I will revisit often.

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea

PJ Harvey

5/5

I’ve heard of PJ Harvey but really had no clue what sort of music it was. As I started to listen I got a Pretenders vibe. The first half of the album I was liking well enough, but nothing was grabbing me or making me want to hit that “Add to Library” button. Wasn’t sure this was standing out amidst several weeks of standout albums… When “The Mess We’re In” came on I stopped what I was doing and just listened. I’m a big fan of Thom Yorke and recognized him instantly and really, really loved the song. Now the album has my full attention. “You Said Something” took me back to New York. “Kamikaze” with the vocal delivery and drums. “Horses in my Dreams” with its shambling, dreamy feel. And “We Float” with it’s great, spare verses soaring chorus ended things on a high note. On the second listen I realized how great this album is. Standouts this time included “A Place Called Home,” “One Line” and “The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore” - really fantastic. How had I glossed over these the first time? I guess I needed that Thom Yorke kick in the ass to get me to pay attention. The music is as cool as the album cover. Really great album.

Five Leaves Left

Nick Drake

5/5

This is an album filled with beauty, depth and wisdom. I was doing tasks around the house while listening and by the end of “Three Hours” had to stop and just sit and listen. Nick Drake’s voice is beautiful, the music spare in all the right places without being dull, the lyrics profound. Every song on this is a treasure. The lyrics are impressive from start to finish. Each song brings something unique and special… “Time Has Told Me” with its noodly electric guitar and piano accompaniment is a perfect opening. “River Man” has a great cinematic quality with a real drama added by the orchestration. Love the light percussion in “Three Hours” - really takes you on a journey. “Way To Blue” feels like musings on a lonely, windswept plain. “Day Is Done” is absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous song with beautiful string accompaniment. “‘Cello Song” is so good - it was at this point on the album when I revisited the cover and looked up Nick Drake’s age. A college student wrote this stuff?! He sounds like he has the wisdom of 1000 years behind him… “Thoughts of Mary Jane” is such a sweet song… lightened by the flute. A real contrast in many ways to the other songs, but yet it feels perfect in-place. “Man In A Shed” is a total delight. It tells a perfect little story. I love this song. “Fruit Tree” is such a perfect musing on fame and life… so poignant knowing how Nick Drake died at such a young age. “Saturday Sun” may be my favorite song on the album. Really beautiful song that I can’t stop thinking about. I was deeply moved by FIVE LEAVES LEFT. It’s an amazing gift from a truly incredible artist.

Songs The Lord Taught Us

The Cramps

4/5

This was more fun than I had expected to have at the outset. SONGS THE LORD TAUGHT US is chock full of punk-meets-rock-and-heads-to-the-beach songs. It includes a cover of “Fever” that I had listened to in the past. There’s a lot of silliness in the lyrics - a song about wearing “Sunglasses at Night” to be cool (causing injuries during a knife fight), being a “Teenage Werewolf”, or ones daddy driving a UFO (“Mystery Plane”). But the apparent silliness only slightly obscures some real angst like getting abandoned by your father, being a misfit, or trying to fit in. I ended up liking this album much more than I had expected. My main complaint for the original 13 tracks were the muddiness of the vocals in the mix. Interestingly tracks 14-18 include a few different recordings and a few new songs and all sounded much better to me. My favorite songs: “Garbageman”, “Mystery Plane”, “Fever”, “Mad Daddy”, “Tear It Up” Enjoyed many songs on this. Not exactly something I want to listen to as a whole album necessarily but happy to revisit a lot of these songs. Probably then rates a 3.5 but I’ll round up for the clever lyrics.

Appetite For Destruction

Guns N' Roses

5/5

I pretty much ignored this album when it came out. At the time I didn’t think I liked hard rock. Somewhere became then and now I became a fan of the genre and several songs on this album, but never went back to listen to this. I’m glad to have this come up! I went into this loving “Paradise City” and “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child Of Mine.” So going in to this listen I’m already on board with a quarter of the album. Glad I finally got around to listening to the rest. There are a lot more songs on this for me. “It’s So Easy,” the first new-to-me GNR song I’ve heard in decades, had me at the first chorus. So much talent in this band... The vocal performance in “Mr. Brownstone” shows real versatility. I love the different sound. “My Michelle” was a pretty sweet (for them) love song leading into “Sweet Child of Mine” - a song that I’ve never tired of hearing. APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION is sex, drugs and rock and roll and I like it! This listen was long overdue.

Brothers

The Black Keys

4/5

I was familiar with a few songs from The Black Keys so I knew the general vibe of the band. On my first listen this wasn't a love connection... Fortunately I gave this another listen and the second time around enjoyed it quite a bit more. The soulful bluesy feel is pleasant and while it was a little long to attend to closely I did enjoy having it on. I like the single "Tighten Up" a lot, but I was surprised to prefer the dreamier songs like "Never Gonna Give You Up" and "These Days." "Howlin' For You" is a good song but I think I'm a bit tired of it as I heard it a lot on TV commercials.

I Against I

Bad Brains

2/5

I didn’t love this, although it was interesting for the strange mixing of genres. The musicians are very talented. The band sort of slides around between metal, punk, ska and even a hard-edged 80s-pop-leaning sound (“Secret 77”). That made this more interesting to me than it would have been otherwise. I also liked little touches like the shouts in “Let Me Help.” I can see how some people would be very into this. But I am not those people.

Dear Science

TV On The Radio

4/5

I have had a small bit of exposure to this group, but hadn’t listened to them enough to be able to readily identify any of their songs. I probably have heard some of these before… It took a couple of listens for this to click with me, but after that I enjoyed quite a bit of this. The music is great with varied with a lot of interesting instruments and arrangements. The lyrics are also pretty interesting. “Family Tree” is the first song I really locked in on. I loved the orchestration and found the lyrics very moving. After that I started paying closer attention to the lyrics and was surprised by their intricacy. Other songs that stood out for me included “Halfway Home,” “Dancing Choose” (great rapidfire delivery on the verses!), “Golden Age” (great chorus with those horns!), “Love Dog,” “Shout Me Out” (awesome build and ending) and “DLZ” (another great dog song!). This album is chock full of good stuff…

Violator

Depeche Mode

5/5

I have loved this album since it was originally released. It’s really great to hear it again. I love everything on the album, but here’s a shout out to my favorites: “World In My Eyes” - yummy Depeche Mode moodiness with their epic swells “Sweetest Perfection” - relentless beat that pulls this song along like the drugs it references “Personal Jesus” - absolutely amazing marching beat and guitars really expanded Depeche Mode’s sound while remaining firmly true to their style “Halo” - I love this lush, warm, bizarro love song “Waiting for the Night” - I’ve always been a night owl and have always felt a connection to this moody track “Enjoy The Silence” is an incredible masterpiece. A perfect song. It’s epic, the synths glorious, the vocals compelling… this could be Depeche Mode’s greatest song. What an opening… ‘Words like violence, Break the silence, Come crashing in, Into my little world.’ Incredible. “Policy of Truth” - Another contender for my favorite Depeche Mode song, this has such great lyrics on the virtues of lying. I love this song so much. All six bonus tracks on the “Bonus Tracks Edition” from 2006 were B-sides appearing on the vinyl singles. I enjoyed these a lot! Glad they were here.

Pornography

The Cure

2/5

This album was served up to me on Christmas Eve. So listening to it while wrapping presents may have not been ideal. I gave it a couple of listens to try to remain impartial… The Cure is a band that I always felt like I should like but never did. Friends would play a Cure album and talk about how great they were and I’d wonder what the hell were they thinking playing this at a party?! Even when I was depressed and alone there were plenty of other albums I would much rather wallow to. Until they started lightening up (“Friday I’m In Love”) I couldn’t really stand their music. I listened to it twice this time to try to give it a second chance under less festive surroundings. Nope. Things haven’t changed much for me in almost 40 years. This album annoyed me. Yes, they are talented. Yes, the lyrics are ‘deep’. No, I don’t enjoy it. No, I don’t ever want to hear it again. Guess I’ll never be cool enough for The Cure. Only now I’m completely cool with that.

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

5/5

IT’S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE! I didn’t expect this! Came into this a huge fan so really happy to have this join the 1001 list. This is THE classic Christmas album. Phil Spector at his wall of sound best and Darlene Love getting full credit as a single artist… really defined what modern Christmas music would sound like. Phil Spector talks of bringing “something new” to Christmas in his address at the end of the album. Must have been amazing to hear this when it first came out… I was under the impression that the 1001 Albums list didn’t include “Various Artists” so I wouldn’t have expected this but here it is. Love all the songs on this. Thanks for the Christmas present!

Lazer Guided Melodies

Spiritualized

5/5

I really enjoyed “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space” from Spiritualized. So this time I get to go back to the beginning. 90o0 This album felt more stripped down I guess but still unmistakably Spiritualized. Really enjoyed listening to this - it put me in a real calm, meditative state without feeling boring or repetitive. I think it may have brought my blood pressure down a few notches. Some highlights for me included “If I Were With Her Now” (tells such a dramatic, tight little minimalist story), “I Want You” (bordered on a pop song), “Smiles” (sweet little song), “Take Your Time” (a very slow, taking-their-time build), “Shine A Light” (fits the artist name well!), “Angel Sigh” (a lovely, understated, minimalistic love song), “Sway” (felt almost religious in the choruses - I’d float in space to this one too), then it closes with the amazing “200 Bars” where they actually count out the first 100 bars - as a former junior high French Hornist I felt a special connection to counting out a long series of bars). Fantastic. Lovely. Soothing. Wonderful.

Low-Life

New Order

5/5

I like New Order and own a compilation disc of their music and one of their 90s releases. I hadn’t listened to this album before. I had heard the first two songs before listening to this but was surprised to discover my favorite stuff in the tracks I had never heard before. Highlights: Love the beats and frogs and sheep and cowbells in “The Perfect Kiss”. The guitars were fantastic in “Sunrise.” Really love this song’s echos of punk music melded with 80s dance. Great song, great intensity! The synth and guitar instrumental “Elegia” was fantastic. Moody. Complex. Beautiful. “Sooner Than You Think” has such great lyrics. Love the music too, those guitars near the end are too good. “Sub-Culture” and “Face Up” seems to end the album on a note that sets a course toward New Order’s future albums. Great New Order album! Had my rating floating between 4 and 5, but “Sunrise” made this one easy to round up.

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

5/5

PRETZEL LOGIC is a great Steely Dan album! I hadn’t heard it before but I’m very glad I have now. I love “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” Deservedly the most well-known song on the album. But I actually like “Any Major Dude Will Tell You” better - it’s my favorite song on here. I love the whole tone of this album, with things like a fun, jazzy instrumental (“East St. Louis Toodle-Oo”) that show Steely Dan’s great talent without taking themselves too seriously. Other favorites include the groovy “Parker’s Band” and “With A Gun” and its country sounds. I have it in my head that Steely Dan albums are hard to listen to. I’m not sure why I think that. Perhaps that thought came from listening to some forgotten album of theirs in my past. That certainly isn’t the case with this album. Very enjoyable!

Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Billy Bragg

5/5

I have no idea what to expect from the album title and cover. “Greetings to the New Brunette” was a nice first Billy Bragg song for me to hear. I quite liked this sweet and thoughtful love song, with its lovely guitar and backup vocals. I’m a sucker for a good train song “Train Train” had me sold when I heard the opening fiddle-whistle. I like where this album is heading. “The Marriage” opens with a nice trumpet fanfare and I’d be totally into having this play at my wedding! I love the lyrics. “Ideology” is a quite an indictment of the British Parliament. Some interesting lyrics here. I was surprised to see Bob Dylan as cowriter of this song, so I looked it up and learned Billy Bragg intentionally borrowed the melody from a Bob Dylan song. “Levi Stubbs’ Tears” tells quite a story with some pretty darn clever lyrics. It’s a pretty stripped down song (as are a lot of the songs), but very interesting to listen to. The piano is great in “Honey, I’m a Big Boy Now”. Almost expect to hear this in a saloon. It tells the story of a failed marriage from the perspective of a deserted husband. I liked this song. “There is Power in a Union” is apparently an old union song with new Billy Bragg lyrics. A good old fashioned protest song that I enjoyed. “Help Save the Youth of America” is a catchy cautionary song about the United States. Pretty impressive song that is as relevant today as in 1986. I could relate well to this song. I loved “Wishing the Days Away” as it examines the futility of a man’s life who is always wishing for a new day. Really compelling. Billy Bragg exercises his impressive storytelling skills in “The Passion” that considers the life of a pregnant girl and her trials. I love the more complex musical arrangement of “The Warmest Room.” It tells a great story of a young man in love/lust. One of my favorite songs on the album. “The Home Front” wraps up the original album on a very insightful note with a detailed look at a home life in Britain. Such great visuals and observations and critiques in this song. Another great Billy Bragg tune with the fanfare trumpets returning again. There are ten additional songs on the 2006 re-release. The songs are an interesting addition and I enjoyed them although I think I will not necessarily listen to them every time I revisit this album. Some pretty interesting things there including remakes of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportees” and Smokey Robinson’s “The Tracks of My Tears” (that was a surprise for sure). I really enjoyed this album. It’s got plenty of sharp lyrical observations wrapped in a really interesting package of music.

Too Rye Ay

Dexys Midnight Runners

5/5

I love “Come On Eileen.” One of my all-time favorites. But for reasons unknown I have never listened to this album. I’m glad I did. This is a hell of a lot of fun and I really enjoy this album. Kevin Rolland’s vocals have a Freddie Mercury-like drama to them that I am surprised to have never noticed before. Songs like “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile)” exude joy and make this album is a real pick-me-up. The strings and horns are exciting. The lyrics are often serious and even dark and contrast with the music, as in the peppy song’s “I’ll Show You” exploration of school boys change into ‘alcoholics, child molesters, nervous wrecks and prima donnas, jilted lovers, office clerks, petty thieves, hard drug pursuers’ all to the happy horns. This makes TOO RYE AYE a fun listen that exposes more depth than you might expect as you become more familiar with the songs. “Plan B,” “Liars A to E” and “Until I Believe In My Soul” were other standout tracks to me on the first few listens. Even “Come On Eileen” had a little surprise at the end. I also enjoyed the bonus tracks a lot as well. Great album!

Face to Face

The Kinks

5/5

Really wasn’t sure what 1966 The Kinks would be like. But I loved it! It has got a great vibe and is a very good listen. Most of the songs I really enjoyed, and even the ones that I wasn’t completely in to weren’t bad to listen to. My favorite songs were “Party Line”, “Dandy”, “Session Man”, “House In The Country”, “Holiday in Waikiki” and “Little Miss Queen of Darkness”. I love “Sunny Afternoon” and realized that I actually should have known what to expect from 1966 The Kinks as I know this song really well! I don’t know if I would have named the artist as The Kinks though if I had heard it before this. Really enjoyed this. Fantastic album.

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

George Michael

5/5

I love this album and am very happy to see it recognized on this list. “Praying for Time” is one of my favorite songs of the 90’s. It’s a sober song that is as relevant today as it was then. What surprised me when I first listened to this back in 1990 was how serious most of the songs on this album were. The cover of Stevie Wonder’s “They Won’t Go When I Go” is closer to the overall tone of this album than “Freedom! ‘90”. I remember being surprised at this. And even the really fun, dance-y “Freedom! ‘90” has some pretty cynical lyrics. “Waiting for That Day” is a really nice track with its organ background. I love the groove of this song. Other highlights on this album for me are “Something to Save,” “Cowboys and Angels” (a great waltz!), “Heal the Pain” (great song - one of the more optimistic tracks!), and “Soul Free.” I also love “Waiting (Reprise)” which is a lovely closing to the album. I hadn’t listened to any of the extra discs from the 2017 reissue (Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged). I’m glad I did this time. The MTV Unplugged performance is pretty incredible and made me sad that George Michael left us too soon. The unplugged “Freedom! ‘90” rivals the original as do many of the other tracks, and you hear a lot off the other albums as well as some cool covers like “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” It’s a really nice listen. Still I’ll keep my ranking focused on the original release… George Michael died 5 years 1 week ago and I had not really revisited his music since then. I’m glad this provided me the kick I needed to check out the re-issue and get this back into the rotation because it is a really great album.

Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen

4/5

I started this album with trepidation because I absolutely loved the album YOU WANT IT DARKER from but really didn’t connect with SONGS OF LOVE AND HATE from 1971. I wasn’t sure where I might fall on an album from 1967… “Suzanne” started and I immediately recognized it. I was familiar with the cover version by Judy Collins. I love this song, and the instrumentation and backup vocals were good. I really liked this song. "Master Song" followed up with a really interesting song that I also liked pretty well. Again it had arrangements that kept the interest level up for me. Great lyrics on this too, as on all the songs on this album. As the album continued it was clear this fell somewhere between the two previous Cohen albums I listened to. Parts of it were a little repetitive, but after listening to the album several times I started to pick up more of the lyrics and that made the repetitive parts more interesting. My favorite song was "So Long, Marianne" but other standouts were "Sisters of Mercy," "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye," and "Stories of the Street." Cohen's delivery of these songs appealed to me much more than "Songs of Love and Hate." Still not quite "You Want It Darker," but I enjoyed this album.

A Night At The Opera

Queen

5/5

This is an album I know well, as it was in my sister's record collection in my youth and I played it often. But I don't think I've listened to it since she moved out when I was in junior high. So this is an exciting opportunity. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is nothing short of amazing. "Death on Two Legs" pairs soaring Queen vocals and heavy metal guitars to rip into whoever it was dedicated to. You know you are in for something good. Who else but Queen would then dive right into the tinny vocaled 1920's-ish "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" then with a little guitar solo jump headlong into the hard rock "I'm In Love With My Car" - a wonderful love song to a car. This is really thrilling stuff! I've always loved "You're My Best Friend." That song still makes me incredibly happy as I think of my best friends every time I hear it. I love the electric piano and vocals. Such a wonderful song. "'39" is a total change of pace and I love it. The acoustic guitar driven song is a great listen evoking its sci-fi backstory with great use of vocals and the electric guitar. I don't think I've heard this song in 40 years but as soon as it started I remembered instantly how much I love it. "Sweet Lady" is a straight Queen rocker with some unusual tempo changes that make it quite interesting to listen to. "Seaside Rendezvous" is a 20's sounding piano driven track. I love sailing along over Freddie Mercury's smooth vocalizations imagining the stage show as I sip a Bee's Knees in some illegal club. "The Prophet's Song" is a dire warning accompanied by the heavy guitars and dark vocals as a prophet warns of the flood made famous by Noah's ark. I love the a cappella vocal solo in the middle that give way to a guitar solo. "Love of My Life" is a heart wrenching love song supported mostly by a gorgeous piano arrangement. Beautiful. "Good Company" adds a dixieland style with a ukulele-driven number again providing testament to Queen's incredibly versatility. Remarkable too is that this song precedes the utterly remarkable... "Bohemian Rhapsody" - what can one say about this song? No one would ever have imagined such a song could ever be exist - let alone become a huge hit, becoming one of the most beloved and enduring songs in rock and roll - and probably in all of music history. Listening to it in the context of this album was wonderful. There were a few moments when I could briefly feel what it was like to listen to this for the first time as an eight-year-old kid and being utterly mesmerized. "God Save The Queen" closes A NIGHT AT THE OPERA in a truly epic way. I have chills. I cannot imagine any other group with the audacity and talent to create anything like this album. The songs all come together beautifully to create a transcendent listening experience. While the singles are spectacular on their own, there is nothing like listening to this album as a whole. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is a masterpiece.

Very

Pet Shop Boys

5/5

I am so excited to see this album come up. It has been such a big part of my life. I loved it from the moment I handled that awesome CD case. Lost on me at the time was the backstory… that it followed the downbeat album BEHAVIOR released at the height of the AIDS pandemic. Its release also closely coincided with Neil Tennant’s coming out. All the more special now to know that now. I had no idea then. I love this album through and through… every song. Picking a favorite is very challenging and is highly subject to change. I started listing the best songs but that is basically was copying the track listing for me. So… How about the relentless “Can You Forgive Her?”… the cinematic swells in “Dreaming of the Queen”… the exuberant cover of “Go West”… the dramatic shimmering “The Theatre”… the melancholic “To Speak Is A Sin”… the abandon of “I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing”…? Every song on VERY has had a place for me since its release. I love this album from beginning to end. The Pet Shop Boys create incredible electronic dance music with melancholy just below the surface and melancholic music that dances just below the surface… and VERY has some of the best examples of this. An absolutely fabulous album!

Smile

Brian Wilson

5/5

I still feel like a Beach Boys/Brian Wilson novice - I haven’t even listened to PET SOUNDS yet for crying out loud - so I’m not sure I’m ready for SMiLE, but here goes… Talk about an aptly named album! The choir opening leads into “Heroes and Villains” and I couldn’t help but smile. It’s fun and inventive and I instantly loved it from beginning to end. Old favorites like “Surf’s Up” and “Good Vibrations.” Vegetables. Sea shanties. Barnyard animals. SMiLE is a genuine adventure! Despite the inevitable changes in Brian Wilson and the world in the nearly 40 years it took to complete SMiLE it feels like a vision fully realized. I’m stunned by this mythical creature that has appeared in my headphones. I love listening to this. I love that Brian Wilson created this. I love that this can exist. I love SMiLE.

Vol. 4

Black Sabbath

3/5

I can’t say I was thrilled to have to listen to Black Sabbath today. I liked their last album well enough, but I didn’t recognize any of the songs on here and wasn’t really in the mood… While they still aren’t really my preferred listening choice, they are really good at what they do and I found the album often enjoyable. But then I also often found it tedious. I get tired of Ozzy’s delivery at times and long for more variety, and like a lot of heavy metal some songs just seem to grind along. But the band is really talented and there are things I really like. Turns out I did know the song “Changes” and have heard it many times. It’s a piano-driven ballad that is pretty good. Other highlights for me included the instrumental second half of the first track “The Straightener”. I like “Supernaut” - great guitar riff and drums! “Laguna Sunrise” is an acoustic guitar/orchestra song that seems out of place here, but was a nice change of pace in the middle of side B. It would seem more at home on a movie soundtrack… “FX” was annoying to me… after reading the wikipedia article it was clearly an idea born out of way too many drugs. Can’t imagine not hitting skip if this were to come up again in the future. BLACK SABBATH VOL. 4 is a decent listening experience with moments that I really like, but it isn’t something I want to listen to start to finish.

Africa Brasil

Jorge Ben Jor

4/5

This is some fun and funky Brazilian music. I listened to “Ponta de Lanca Africano” as I was driving and I felt like it should I should be in the ending of some 1970s film. It was smooth, funky, and cool. “Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu” continued that feeling. Great opening songs! “O Plebeu” was really nice. I loved the “Lalalála lalalá lalá”s. And it really sounded like Rod Stewart stole some of the melody from “Taj Majal” for his song “Do Ya’ Think I’m Sexy?” Other highlights included “História de Jorge”, “Cavaleiro do Cavalier Imaculado”, and a really nice ending with “África Brasil (Zumbi)”. I quite enjoyed this album.

Metallica

4/5

I did not enjoy MASTER OF PUPPETS despite my best efforts. But this album - released 5 years later - opens with “Enter Sandman,” a song I have really loved since the early 90s. So as I put this on I am really, really hoping the next hour holds up to that song. But I have my doubts given my experience with MOP… It turns out that the five years between MOP and METALLICA resulted in a much more palatable album. Where most of MOP monotonously ground away at my ears, METALLICA has a whole lot more going on on. The vocals are much more emotionally expressive. The lyrics are a lot more relatable and interesting. The arrangements have way more variety and interest. My favorite song remains “Enter Sandman.” I also really like - and already knew - “Nothing Else Matters” (hooray for the orchestra!). Other highlights included “Sad But True”, “Holier Than Thou”, “Through The Never” and “Of Wolf and Man”. Metallica is still not entirely in my wheelhouse, but where my main reaction to MOP was ‘when will this be over?’, METALLICA had me mostly wondering ‘what might be next?’ That and the presence of “Enter Sandman” and “Nothing Else Matters” made this something I’m glad to have listened to.

Eli And The Thirteenth Confession

Laura Nyro

5/5

I have listened to this album many times before. Several years ago I became a huge fan of The 5th Dimension’s version of “Sweet Blindness.” When I found out it was originally written and performed by Laura Nyro, I landed on this album and was surprised to also find “Eli’s Comin’” (which I knew from Three Dog Night) and “Stoned Soul Picnic” (another 5th Dimension hit). These songs drew me in and I fell in love with the album and Laura Nyro. I wish I was sitting in a cabaret somewhere sipping on a Gin Gimlet and enjoying a live performance of these incredible songs. Laura Nyro’s vocals are exhilarating. She creates elaborate song tapestries with varied and interesting textures, stories and dimensions. You never quite know where her songs might go or end up, but every one of them is peppered with delightful surprises. It’s such an amazing journey… I LOVE this album. If you haven’t heard Laura Nyro perform “Eli’s Comin’” then you haven’t really ever heard it, no matter how much of a Three Dog Night fan you might be. Besides the three songs mentioned previously, I’ll give a special call out to “Luckie”, “Lu”, “Poverty Train”, “Lonely Women”, “Emmie”, “Women’s Blues”, “Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe)”, and “The Confession”. Looking at the previous list I feel a little silly. I could single out any song on this album as it is a phenomenal work (did I really leave out “Timer” and “December’s Boudoir”?!). The whole journey is a thrilling, beautiful adventure and I love every twist and turn. ELI AND THE THIRTEENTH CONFESSION is a masterpiece that up until now I have had to myself. Being able to share the Laura Nyro experience with my friends today makes the world a whole lot brighter!

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Led Zeppelin is one of those bands I have always thought I should be listening to but never have. I could name a few of their songs, but looking at the track listing of this album am not sure if I had heard any of this or not. I am glad their first album came up on this first. Turns out I think I have heard at least some of this, probably played at friends’ houses over the years, as parts of this album seemed familiar. As I suspected, I should have been listening to this. This is a great album and I liked all of the music on it. Among my favorite tracks are “Good Times Bad Times” (I know this one from before) and “How Many More Times” (great rhythm in that one!). “Your Time Is Gonna Come” (love that organ intro and background!), “Black Mountain Side” and “Communication Breakdown” is a perfect trilogy at the start of side two! The songs go perfectly together and it was my favorite part of the album. Glad to finally get a full Led Zeppelin initiation after putting it off for nearly a half-century!

Brilliant Corners

Thelonious Monk

4/5

I’ve never had much exposure to jazz, but it’s something I have long been thinking I need more familiarity with. Reading a little about this album it seems like an excellent place to start. When I listen to this it definitely seems like what I would expect in a jazz record. I put this on and found it very cool and classy, relaxing even. It was nice to sit back and chill out to the smooth music. I’m still a complete novice here, but am happy to hear this album.

Live At The Star Club, Hamburg

Jerry Lee Lewis

4/5

There’s certainly a lot of energy on this album… While I don’t generally love live albums a lot, it is great that a recording of this concert exists to show a tiny sliver of what it sounded like to see Jerry Lee Lewis rock on stage. Just hearing this performance is more electrifying that many live shows I have seen. Jerry Lee Lewis really lights these songs on fire! This is really an important document in the history of rock ‘n’ roll that captures the raw feeling of a live performance from one of the masters of the era.

Quiet Life

Japan

4/5

Japan instantly brought to my mind Duran Duran to me as their sound seemed very similar. But I see that this was released several years before Duran Duran, so I can assume Japan were one of the early creators of this 80s sound. I started out a little ambivalent about this album. It was hard not to compare the infectious hooks present in the best songs from Duran Duran, The Human League, A Flock Of Seagulls, Spandau Ballet, ABC and the like. On my first listen of this nothing stood out like the best of those bands... But every time I listen to this I discover new great moments. It seems I had to listen a little harder to discover these moments, but they are emerging. Maybe it is just a matter of time until Japan becomes one of my staples of the synth-pop sound. I keep adding to the list of favorite songs at the bottom of these notes and it has become nearly a list of all of the tracks… My favorite songs: Quiet Life, Fall In Love With Me, Despair, In Vogue, Halloween, All Tomorrow's Parties

Modern Life Is Rubbish

Blur

4/5

Went into this knowing a few Blur tracks. I didn’t recognize anything on this album though. It’s a good Brit rock album! Blur sounds like they are carrying forward the sort of pop from the British Invasion of the 60s. Its really listenable, catchy music unapologetically British in tone and lyrics. I very much liked listening to this album. The Britpop sound does have shades of the guitar-driven grunge movement of Blur’s contemporaries and some punk influences, but the music is shinier. There’s even a touch of the beer hall vibe in a song like “Sunday Sunday”. I find the songs quite clever in both lyrics and structure. Definitely a keeper here that I’m glad to become acquainted with. Favorite Songs: For Tomorrow, Advert, Chemical World, Sunday Sunday, Coping, Turn It Up

Slanted And Enchanted

Pavement

5/5

I knew Pavement going into this, but had never listened to this album. I’m glad I did I have been missing out! Pavement has that deadpan Steven Malkmus delivery that brilliantly mixes noise with very listenable songs and harmonies - a definitive example of 90s Indie slacker rock. This album has a real joy to it, not feeling over-edited or produced. How great is Stephen’s little chuckle around the two minute mark of Summer Babe? There’s a few tracks that seem a little gratuitous and I could do without, but they don’t bother me enough to even hit skip and the majority of the songs are great! Really glad to have this in my library now to bring back some of those 90s influences. Favorite tracks: Summer Babe (Winter Version), Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite at :17, In The Mouth a Desert, Zurich is Stained, Here, Two States, Perfume-V.

Olympia 64

Jacques Brel

3/5

I’ve heard Jacques Brel songs over the years but this is my first sustained listen to an album. Good French songs. Certainly something I’d enjoy at a bistro or cafe in the background. Not really something I’ll add to my library and listen to again, but if someone played it at my next dinner party I would enjoy it. I know a little French but only enough to get the occasional gist of what he’s singing about. So I imagine a lot of the wit and emotion I hear would be even more compelling if I were more fluent. Passionate and entertaining and I appreciate having listened to this.

Dry

PJ Harvey

5/5

My first listen to PJ Harvey was a month or two ago - the 2000 album Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. So now I get to jump back 8 years to her debut album. I loved that last album, but had to warm up to it. This time I had no such issue. I was immediately into it. The opening track "Oh My Lover" has that early 90s shamble to it and is followed up with the peppier "O Stella" that I really loved. "Dress" really hits hard. It's a great song that turns a dress into a weapon. 'You purdy thang, my man says, but I bought you beautiful dresses' and 'Filthy tight the dress is filthy'. Wow. Spectacular song. This album puts a spotlight on relationships between men and women and has a raw energy that makes the lyrics all the more compelling. The music is great, the observations pointed and complicated. I like this even more that Songs Of The City... and I loved that album! This stands up to the best of what was going on in music in the early 90s. It's almost a crime that PJ Harvey didn't enter my consciousness then (male-dominated radio management anyone?!), but I'm very very glad this oversight has been corrected. Favorite tracks: O Stell, Dress, Happy and Bleeding, Sheela-Na-Gig, Plants and Rags, Fountain

Heaux Tales

Jazmine Sullivan

5/5

I haven't heard of it nor Jazmine Sullivan before but I will remember her now! This take-no-prisoners examination of female sexuality is refreshingly candid as it explores the feelings and desires of women while challenging all the judgmental, hypocritical baggage usually attached to it. More than just an entertaining album, this is a real education and as I listened was embarrassed to realize how much of that baggage I still carry around despite my attempts to shed myself of them. I almost started this review by saying "this album isn't targeted at me" and realized that, yes, it IS targeted at me. It is targeted at a society that carries around these bullshit views of femininity and I have to contend with that every bit as much as anyone else. We are not the enlightened people we think we are and albums like this are spotlights exposing the work to be done. Heaux Tales is a phenomenal album.

Bluesbreakers

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

4/5

Wow this is some really great stuff. Thanks to a college friend who was deeply into the blues and Eric Clapton so I’m pretty certain I have heard this album before. But I haven’t sat down and attentively listened in a non-social setting. There’s no doubt this album earns its place on this list. The band is incredibly talented and throwing in Eric Clapton adds some pretty substantive icing to that cake. Great stuff!

Dub Housing

Pere Ubu

3/5

Well this is certainly interesting. When I first put it on I was not sure what to make if it but a strange zen came over me five minutes in and I stopped reacting and started listening to it. These songs have a lot of bizarre structures, instrumentation and vocals. At times they reminded me a little bit of Talking Heads but more out there. If I wasn’t told I would never have imagined it came out in 1978. It sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday. I guess this music is so unique it really never goes out of date… I listened to this a couple times. The second time went well enough. While I probably won’t add this to my library, I don’t mind hearing it and can easily listen to it again. Favorite songs: Caligari’s Mirror, Drinking Wine Spodyody, (Pa) Ubu Dance Party, Codex I’m glad something like this exists. I’m glad to have listened to this. I’m glad to know there are people who love this.

Bright Flight

Silver Jews

4/5

Some shambly 90s de-tuned country music here. When I read this band had connections to Pavement I wasn’t surprised as the first thing that came to mind as the album started was “country Pavement”. The first time through I wasn’t sure about the vocal delivery… but found the songs are very good musically. Love me some steel guitars! Then on a second pass I started to hear more of the lyrics and I really started to like this. The lyrics are fantastic! While there are times when I would like to hear a polished vocal on these songs, I have to give this props for the great music and lyrics. There’s room for some lo-fi Country in my library… Favorite songs: Room Games and Diamond Rain, I Remember Me, Horseleg Swastikas, Transylvania Blues, Let’s Not and Say We Did, Tennessee

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying

Megadeth

4/5

I was taken by surprise at how much I enjoyed RUST IN PEACE from Megadeth earlier, but even so I wasn’t jazzed to have this come up at first. Guess I’m still not quite completely comfortable with my thrash metal side… take a deep breath and hit play… This is unmistakably Megadeth - it rocks hard and has several songs that frolic in what I was warned about with heavy metal. Just one listen to “The Conjuring” and I’m doing an Yelp search for nearby black conventicles... There are some pretty interesting lyrics that I really enjoyed. The title track “Peace Sells” is pretty great (‘What do you mean I ain’t kind? Just not your kind’). I love that sassy vocal delivery. Of course then there’s “Good Mourning/Black Friday” that seems to revel in gory murder. Not really my favorite subject and it wasn’t for me… although the guitar really is impressive. The demonic imagery seems poured on thicker on this album than on RUST IN PEACE. I didn’t like this album as well, but I’m still surprised at how listenable I find it.

The Healer

John Lee Hooker

5/5

I’m not blues expert but I really enjoyed listening to this album. “The Healer” with that unmistakable Carlos Santana rhythm and guitar over John Lee Hooker’s vocals is a great opener to the album. Bonnie Raitt’s style is very evident even before she sings on “In The Mood.” This collaboration is also fantastic. This pattern repeats on the next five tracks with a different, incredibly talented guest artist imbuing John Lee Hooker’s seasoned blues performances with some of their musical styles. I loved all of the variety. Having little experience with John Lee Hooker, I appreciated having the opportunity to hear him on his own on the last three tracks. They are quite distinct but all share Hooker’s talented, emotional delivery. I don’t know that I’ve heard a more powerful ending to an album than “No Substitute.” The music drops away as Hooker delivers the last line on the album, ‘Just wasn’t there’. Amazing.

Here's Little Richard

Little Richard

5/5

Rock and roll history here so another album that exists on another plane… I always loved Little Richard but had never listened to an album before. Perhaps what is most surprising about this album is that this is his debut album… talk about an introduction! Little Richard is on fire and this album is packed with incredible performances and hits. I also am surprised at the bite this album still has after all these years. The songs are fantastic. I was surprised to hear several tunes that I haven’t heard before but are up there with the monster hits we all know. What a gift Little Richard is to the world!

Walking Wounded

Everything But The Girl

4/5

This is a really nice listen. Played is several times while working today and it seemed ideal for keeping the stress levels down and productivity up. The smooth songs kept making me think of Sade with a dance vibe. Really chilly 90s music that I’ll be happy to hear again.

Brown Sugar

D'Angelo

2/5

This album is very smooth and well-produced, but not really my bag. I didn’t connect much with with the themes of the songs. The music was well done but I got bored well before a song ended and found myself waiting for the next one. Not long into the next song the feeling repeated. The talent on this album is really high, and I wouldn’t mind hearing this played somewhere in the background I guess. It isn’t something that connected with me really at all and I have any desire to put on again.

Exit Planet Dust

The Chemical Brothers

5/5

I LOVE this! What an incredible debut album from the 70s fashion cover design to the songs. I've definitely been missing out for the last 16 or so years! At any rate better late than never. This album is aggressive in all the ways great dance music should be. It starts off with the promise "The brothers gonna work it out" then spends the next 49 minutes doing just that. The first half of the album fires on all cylinders. Ferocious! Then we get to enter "Chico's Groove" where the Brothers take things down a notch leading the beautiful "One Too Many Mornings" and into a perfect wind down. I kept cranking this up as the album progressed. So good that at times it had me wondering if someone dropped an E into my sparkling water... It will be tough to name a favorite song from this album. A fantastic masterpiece of EDM from start to finish!

Crime Of The Century

Supertramp

5/5

Utterly brilliant album! I grew up listening to this as from an early age I had access to my older sister's record collection. Then she and the album moved out of the house in the early 80s and for whatever reason CRIME OF THE CENTURY and I failed to ever reunite again. Hearing "School" again instantly took me back and I realized how much I LOVE this album! I'd spent lots of time over the years with Supertramp's BREAKFAST IN AMERICA album or their greatest hits collections, but for whatever reason forgot about this album. The big hits ("Bloody Well Right", "Dreamer", "Crime of the Century") I heard frequently since the 80s, but the other tracks had disappeared from memory. Oh CRIME OF THE CENTURY will you ever forgive me for neglecting you?! What an incredible album this is! And how much have I missed the deep cuts of this album! As soon as I heard them it was like being reunited with a long-lost friend. I am kicking myself for all the lost years! So so so so good as an album! The hits are 100 times better in context. Today I fell back into an even deeper love with this incredible album. Thank you for reuniting me with this amazing record!

Rising Above Bedlam

Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart

5/5

I had to listen to this album on YouTube as I couldn’t find it elsewhere. That is unfortunate because it will be hard to listen to again and I really loved this album! In has a pretty amazing world music vibe. I pretty much loved the whole album (aside from the annoying ads that interrupted periodically). It is lush, exotic and is really interesting! I don’t think there is a song on here that I didn’t like. Really great!

Lost In The Dream

The War On Drugs

4/5

I haven’t ever heard of this band before, but seconds into the first song I was pretty sure I liked them. “Under the Pressure” instantly drew me in. I was shocked to realize this song is over 9 minutes and I hadn’t checked my watch. Most of the songs on the album take you on a dreamy, uptempo and, at times, soaring journey with the drum tracks pulling a wall of music in their wake. The often ethereal vocals slide in and out without disrupting the flow of the music. It’s a style that really works well for me. There’s a lot to like in the slower songs on this album as well. “Suffering” and “Lost in the Dream” roll in like a fog around you. Both are really beautiful tracks. LOST IN THE DREAM doesn’t jump out and demand attention but lures you in with a cool, unhurried vibe. This will be an easy album to put on an revisit often.

Horses

Patti Smith

2/5

I tried to like this album. I listened to it three times. Every time I felt like there were places where it felt like the song was going to get good and hook me, but it never did. I waited half a day for a third listen thinking maybe it was my mood or what I was doing in the day or something and expecting that I might hear it with new ears… but alas. This just didn’t work for me.

Fuzzy Logic

Super Furry Animals

4/5

The first two songs feature hamsters. The band is called Super Furry Animals. I’m interested… This album has a real 70s vibe that I found quite fun. Some good rock with a lot of interesting bits thrown in. Flute and trombone solo? Check. There are little delights to be found all over this musical funhouse. Really enjoyed it! I love how the ending ends with a “we’ll be together” anthem. A wonderfully corny conclusion that appeals greatly to me! Favorite tracks: God! Show Me Magic, Fuzzy Birds, Something 4 The Weekend, Gathering Moss, For Now and Ever

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

4/5

I’ve always liked The Talking Heads, although I have never heard this album. Glad that has been addressed, because this is a great album. It is really fun to listen to with its interesting rhythms, quirky lyrics and fun musical touches. But underlying all that is a lot of fear in “Fear of Music.” There’s a palpable desperation as the album grapples with the challenges of modern life. I was familiar with the song “Life During Wartime.” The problems it explores have not been addressed. The singer of “Cities” struggles to find a place to in the world that the pandemic has made a top-of-mind issue for many. Our increasingly polarized societal splits makes “Mind” something that could have been written today. Climate change could make “Air” its anthem. “Fear of Music” does not feel like an artifact from 1979. Am I reassured that despite this being true 41 years ago we are still here or frightened that this is so relevant after 41 years? Timeless. Fun. Disconcerting. Great!

Unhalfbricking

Fairport Convention

5/5

I wasn’t sure where this was headed for me. The first three songs were just ok for me the first time around. I was wondering how long I could last before wishing I was listening to something else but once I got to “A Sailor’s Life” it was smooth sailing! I really enjoy “A Sailor’s Life” - all epic 11 minutes of it! “Cajun Woman” is fun… I’m always up for some Cajun accordion! “Who Knows Where The Time Goes?” is really lovely. The noodly guitar and Sandy Denny are wonderful. I have likely heard this version sometime before, and definitely had heard several cover versions. Such a beautiful song. The two bonus tracks from the 2003 CD reissue are great additions! Really enjoyed them both. On the second time around… loved the first three songs too. The couple on the cover is Sandy Denny’s parents? All is well with this album.

KIWANUKA

Michael Kiwanuka

5/5

This is a very interesting album. In many ways it feels very retro - like parts of this came straight out of the 70s. But those parts are fused with some very modern influences. I found it quite remarkable. The introspective lyrics give you a lot to think about. The album is lush, at times exotic. It feels very personal. I loved listening to it in solitude - a private escape. I was going to list some of the highlights for me, but this really was an experience that works so well as an album I don’t think I want to call out any specific tracks. What an amazing journey!

Kings Of The Wild Frontier

Adam & The Ants

3/5

I liked this album, but as an album it was a lot. I think I would enjoy this music broken up into smaller doses. As a whole it seemed a bit monochromatic after several songs. You can hear a lot of the New Wave trends that came from this album. Apparently this lead the way. Not something I expect to listen to as an album again, but good and I wouldn’t mind hearing songs off this again.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Raekwon

3/5

This album is “Only Built for Cuban Linx” - so as an interloper here do not feel like I can comment in much of a meaningful way on this. It has a cinematic approach to rap with dialogue and quotes sprinkled throughout and a guest-starring credit on the cover. The original last song “Heaven and Hell” sounds like the credits should be rolling over the end of it. I was thankful for the variety as this had a pretty long runtime. The production level seemed high to me. As is often the case in this genre, the lyrics often make me cringe and I’m never sure how offended I should be. I’m on the outside looking in at something I don’t, maybe can’t and probably shouldn’t understand.

The Band

4/5

I certainly have some familiarity with this album. I used to hear it in the 1970s at my aunt’s and uncle’s house as my older cousins were very much into music like this. The songs I know fairly well are “Up On Cripple Creek” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” The rest I couldn’t specifically identify but they feel familiar. I am not always predisposed to love the sort of rustic-rock of the late 60s/early 70s but I often do like it once I hear it. Still I liked most of the songs and will be happy to revisit this again. Some of the standouts in addition to the two monster hits mentioned previously include “Rag Mama Rag,” “When You Awake,” “Whispering Pines,” “Rockin’ Chair,” “Look Out Cleveland” and “King Harvest.”

James Brown Live At The Apollo

James Brown

5/5

Wow! It must have been something to see James Brown Live at the Apollo in 1962! I had expected an energetic performance, and that’s what I got. Crazy to think this was happening in a year where the top song of the year was a slow clarinet instrumental. Totally enjoyed this. The interplay with the audience was great. What a recording!

Doolittle

Pixies

5/5

I had a group of friends in college who were really into Pixies. But at the time they never appealed to me. So I had an immediate negative reaction when I first saw this come up. Then I recalled that earlier in this project I fell in love with a Frank Black album. Maybe this won’t be so bad? I’m pleased to discover that I loved this album! The grungy/punky/surfy sound and dark themed surreal lyrics were very interesting to me. I saw it all more as paint brush strokes more than coherent stories I clearly understood. But I really like the songs painted on this album. Sometimes the cool kids are right! I have heard “Here Comes Your Man” before and really like this song. Other standouts: “Wave of Mutilation” and its crazy underwater references, “Monkey Gone To Heaven,” “Crackity Jones,” “La La Love You” (nice wolf whistle!), “No. 13 Baby,” “Hey,” and “Gouge Away.” I really enjoyed listening to this!

Loveless

My Bloody Valentine

3/5

I guess I am realizing that the “shoegaze” genre is something I prefer in smaller doses as opposed to whole albums. I didn’t dislike this but got bored during the first song. It just didn’t hold my interest. I don’t mind listening to this and there are points I found interesting, but they sort of fly by and I feel like I’m always waiting for something else to happen.

Countdown To Ecstasy

Steely Dan

5/5

I REALLY love this album! I probably have heard a few of the songs before, but they all felt new to me and I didn’t immediately recognize any of them. “Bhodhisattva” sets things off on a perfect, quasi-religious tone! Really awesome start to the album. ‘And I'll be there to shine in your Japan To sparkle in your China, yes, I'll be there.’ There’s a great guitar ending to “The Boston Rag” that I loved. “Show Biz Kids” is really good. Could there be a more perfect Steely Dan song than “My Old School”? I REALLY love this song! “Pearl of the Quarter” and “King of the World” are also awesome. These guys have super talent, incredible wit, and a cynicism enveloping smooth, jazzy songs that you only think are going down easy. The world and I are both in a place where this seems to be the perfect tone. How interesting that it comes from a 50 year old album.

Pearl

Janis Joplin

5/5

I probably have heard this album in my youth. My dad was a big fan of Janis Joplin. I was probably a little young for this music, though, and I haven’t really listened to any Janis Joplin other than the occasional song heard on the radio. As I grew older I kept thinking I should change that but never got around to it. I’m very excited to listen to it now. This album is incredible. “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Mercedes Benz” I knew well going in to this, but those incredible songs barely scratch the surface of this album’s contents. From start to finish it is hard to fathom how a person can put so much into these songs. They are powerful. They are emotional, they are incredible, they are fun! I teared up on several occasions. How could you not during “A Woman Left Lonely?” There is incredible exuberance captured on this album and I can’t help but feel happy hearing songs like “Half Moon.” But could there be a sadder moment than “Buried Alive in the Blues?” Such a funky song. Such a sad song. Maybe the bitterest sweet as I listened and never heard her voice as she died before it was completed. I was quite glad that the writer of the song turned down the request to have him perform the vocals on it in tribute. The song sits in the middle of the album in sad tribute to the loss of an incredible performer. How about that album cover?! That smile. That drink. Those feathers. Such great spirit captured by that image. Fortunately we have Janis Joplin’s incredible music to give us a little of that today.

Who's Next

The Who

5/5

I have probably heard this album before, but I only remember the big hits off this. A monster album. So great! I loved every song.

Untitled (Black Is)

SAULT

5/5

The last three albums from Steely Dan, Janis Joplin and The Who were classics that pegged my rating needle at 5, so I can’t help but worry about following those up with something I have had no concept of from 2020. Within the first minute all that was swept away. This is an incredible work that stuns me with its gravitas and unflinching examination of the racial trauma of our time in a moving, emotional piece of art. I was absolutely entranced by this album. It directly expresses outrage, grief, anger and fear imbued with such beauty exuding pride and affirmation that it lifts and inspires. I marvel at the talent that was able to pull off this seemingly impossible feat. This album speaks urgently to our time. If only everyone could listen...

Wild Wood

Paul Weller

4/5

I thought I knew The Style Council. The name is familiar, but when I listened to their hits from the 80s I didn't really recognize any of them. I was glad to have listened to a bit of them before diving into this album, as it was interesting to hear the difference 10 years made on this artist. Wild Wood is a solid, very well-done, consistently good rock album. The lyrics are really good. The music is spot-on. The vocals are very strong. I find it enjoyable. That said, nothing on here really stood out. It wasn't that all the songs sounded the same. They all had a consistent, high quality. None of the songs were unappealing. But I was left wanting a bit more from this as an album. Still, this is really good. I've got no real complaints. I will happily listen to this again. I'm sure that when any of these songs appear in a shuffle playback I'll enjoy them. I'd even dig hearing this in concert and grooving along - this would be perfect for an outdoor festival. If I hear any of these songs randomly in the future I'll note how good it is. I have fallen seriously in like with Paul Weller's Wild Wood album.

21

Adele

5/5

Has it been 10 years already?! This is definitely one of my favorite albums of the last 10 years. I love it from beginning to end. Taking some time for a close listen just reminds me how amazing it was to first listen to Adele. It's cool to remember a time when her star burst out and had us all paying attention.

No Other

Gene Clark

5/5

Oh wow. This is an amazing album. As soon as my first listen ended I dove into a second listen and liked it even more than the first time. The music has a ton of influences and is impeccably produced. Some great lyrics in these songs too. “Said she saw the sword of sorrow sunken in the sand of searching souls” - From A Silver Phial “We all need a fix at a time like this but doesn’t it feel good to stay alive?” - Some Misunderstanding

Tidal

Fiona Apple

4/5

I bought this album back when it came out and listened to it for a year or so, but drifted away and haven’t really revisited it since then. I’m glad it has come back to my attention, because this is a great album. It’s strong, feminist themes pull no punches as the songs explore strength, vulnerability, anger, exploitation, fear and a myriad of other emotions and isn’t afraid to create some discomfort. The feel of the album has a Tori Amos meets Alanis Morissette kind of vibe, two artists I really love. While this album’s more subtle approach doesn’t quite grab me to the level of those two artists, it’s still a very good listen.

The Gershwin Songbook

Ella Fitzgerald

5/5

Ella Fitzgerald. Nelson Riddle. Gershwin tunes. A perfect way to spend the day! Among the best things I every listened to.

The Only Ones

3/5

Some pretty good 70s British shambly punkish poppy rock here. I liked it well enough and there are some good hooks. The deadpan vocal lead could have used a bit more variety for me to listen to a whole album. Maybe this is better enjoyed occasionally than in heaping portions.

Live At The Harlem Square Club

Sam Cooke

5/5

Growing up my parents had several Sam Cooke records that I used to commandeer and play on my record player (I think manufactured by Fisher Price). I was singing along to “Chain Gang,” “Cupid,” “Twistin’ The Night Away” and “Having a Party” from a very early age. I was very excited to have this live album come up, and after listening I’m not disappointed! Sam Cooke is incredible and this is one hell of a One Night Stand. It’s a grittier performance than his studio albums that really surprised me - an amazing performance in front of a really exciting, raucous audience! Besides wishing it was longer (where is “You Send Me” - there’s just that tease at the end of track 7 - and “Another Saturday Night”?) I loved every minute of this.

Technique

New Order

5/5

This New Order album was new to me. I started making a list of my favorite tracks and ended up with Fine Time, Love Less, Round & Round, Run, Mr. Disco, Vanishing Point and Dream Attack. That leaves out only two songs. Listening again I realized it was absurd to leave out All The Way and Guilty Partner. Every song on this album is frickin' great! Attempts to determine my favorite track was an exercise in futility. I ended up playing Love Less, Vanishing Point and Dream Attack over and over as candidates for my favorite, so probably it is one of those. But I really love and could make a case for every song on the album. Technique is a phenomenal album! It is filled with cool synths, guitars, bass and drums. I’m constantly hearing some cool little flourish or twist in the music that makes me want to hear it again. This is dance music on a higher level. Every song is a delight - absolutely brilliant!

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John

5/5

I listened to this a lot as a kid, but after leaving home and losing access to my older sister’s and parents’ record collections I let this slip away. When building my own music collection it seemed more efficient to focus on greatest hits collections and boxed sets for artists with a huge musical history given the limited funds of young adulthood. Today I realized how much I have deprived myself of for the last 35 years. In the last decade the embarrassment of riches provided by digital music has provided the perfect opportunity to correct that musical deprivation. But instead I adapted my musical shorthand: cherry-picking singles, shuffle playing songs and focusing on custom playlists. That too can be great but this project has reminded me that there is something special when you listen to a great album from beginning to end. The journey is often even more lovely than any particular song. No where is this more obvious to me than on GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. The singles I love on this album are all the more spectacular now that I’ve re-experienced them in their original context. I even feel a renewed sense of possibility and inspiration having been reunited with this masterpiece from one of the greatest artists of our time.

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols

3/5

I wasn't looking forward to listening to this, even though I know I should experience this classic album. Punk music is something I tend to enjoy in moderation. I can see how this earns its status as a punk classic. The music is good. One of the catchiest tunes musically, “Bodies” was a bit horrific lyrically. Still not sure what to make of that. I’m still not entirely sold on this album as something I need to personally listen to much. But glad to have had this experience listening to a historic recording like this.

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones

5/5

I know I’ve heard some of this before… maybe all of it… but it wasn’t ever a staple of my musical diet. I have no explanation for why that was the case but correcting that was long overdue. Sticky Fingers is an incredible album that lives up to its formidable reputation. The variety on this surprised me, what with some really amazing ballads, a great country song, and all The Rolling Stones rock and roll bravado I had expected.

Sunshine Superman

Donovan

5/5

I have always loved this album’s title track, “Sunshine Superman.” One of the apex songs of 60’s psychedelia. And I think I have grown to love “Season of the Witch” even more. But that is the extent of my familiarity with this album. Those two songs are so good that the rest of the album would largely have to be seriously disastrous for me to not give this a great rating. Is this album unmistakably of its time? Definitely - a very good thing. I was surprised at how much of this album was psychedelic folk with rambling storytelling lyrics, sitars, harpsichords and bongo drums. I started longing to be grooving along to this music reclined in some 60’s hashish lounge. The fantasy-filled storytelling of damsels and castles and knights and jesters and kings (with a psychedelic commercial interruption from “Trans Love Airways”) took me away from the worry-filled news. I can’t help but wonder it was the events in another time of stress and upheaval that inspired the creation of this. I loved the dreamy “Ferris Wheel” featuring one of my favorite birds (seagull - which also makes another prominent appearance later). Donovan’s stuttery singing on “The Trip” won me over instantly - it’s practically a crime that I have never heard it before. “Bert’s Blues” has some great orchestra arrangements that made it stand out. The final track, “Celeste,” was a perfect finale. I had a ton of fun listening to this psychedelic masterpiece and look forward to taking more trips with Donovan.

Rumours

Fleetwood Mac

5/5

One evening in the summer of 1977 my parents took two of my California cousins and their new husbands out to dinner when they were visiting our home for a week. They came home with Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album, having stopped off at Gibsons’ department store to pick it up the album because the California folks were insisting they had to hear it. My 9 year old self sat in the living room with them listening to Rumours unfold and was the first time I recall ever sharing a true moment of mutual wonder and discovery with my parents. Since that time Rumours has been a constant presence in my life. This may be the first time I realized what a unique and special album this is to me. It’s a perfect album. I know every note, yet listening to it today I still feel a rush of discovery I first experienced 45 years ago. I love every song deeply. Any one of them could be one of the best songs I have ever heard. Rumours defines timeless classic for me and is possibly the greatest album I will ever hear.

1989

Taylor Swift

5/5

Has it been nearly 8 years since this was released? Amazing how time flies. Back then I was worried about Taylor Swift going full-on pop because I really loved her country songs. One listen to 1989 and my reservations were swept aside. Every song on this album won me over with infectious hooks galore! I know people who are dismissive of Taylor Swift - but even if you don’t like her music you can’t deny her incredible talent. Transitioning from country to pop is a very challenging feat that a very small number of artists were ever able to pull off. Taylor did this while continuing to write most of her songs, kept her fans in the process, and dominated the music charts the whole time. My love for this album is already obvious since I have had it in regular rotation for the last 8 years. I know haters gonna hate but there’s a special place in my life for Taylor and I’m very happy to see her on this list.

Welcome to the Afterfuture

Mike Ladd

5/5

Mike Ladd's WELCOME TO THE AFTERFUTURE is a pretty wild trip that I really enjoyed taking. He won me over on the opening track, "I’m 5000 miles west of my future, Where’s my floating car, my utopia? My Mars colonies, like it’s supposed to be? Space 1999." I can relate. I'm not predisposed to relate to rap albums, but I fell in love with the science fiction vibe and all the ethereal music and atmosphere. There are a lot of compelling lyrics. This is one of the more unique and one of the best rap albums I've ever listened to. Some of my favorites: "5,000 Miles West of the Future", "Planet 10," "To The Moon's Contractor," "The Animist," "Wipe Out on the Wave of Armageddon"

Superfly

Curtis Mayfield

5/5

I first listened to SUPER FLY on an LP sometime in the 80s. At the time I was collecting a lot of older records and somewhere had run across a used copy of this. I would go on to listen to play list fairly regularly as I really liked its funky groove. Sometime in the 90s I purged my record collection, and Super Fly was one of the albums that left my collection. It is one of many that I regret having parted with. I did have a few compilation CDs that contained tracks off this album (Freddie’s Dead, Super Fly and Pusherman) and had let those tracks replace the album in my collection, but listening to it now realize that it really is better as a whole. I love hearing this again. It is remarkable how great every song is on this, as movie soundtracks tend to have a lot of weaker spots or dull instrumentals. This soundtrack is a fantastic album apart with or without the film.

Cypress Hill

3/5

The first song was a hard no. I understand problems with policing in America, but this song isn't going to win me over to your cause. Then a series of gun violence songs left me wanting to turn this off. Fortunately at track 5 we get into some other subjects (getting high mostly - although I recommend you not drink 'that funky Cypress Hill shit'). I was actually enjoying some of the songs that didn't seem to focus on killing, abusing or slurring people. The beats are great on this - I enjoyed a lot of the music. But those first 4 songs...

Rage Against The Machine

5/5

I’ve heard Rage Against The Machine here and there but hadn’t ever sat down and listened to an album. I put on the album and at first thought given the genre I’d need to break up this listen into parts. Instead I was enthralled and listened to the whole thing straight through to the end. This rocks hard. A lesson in truth in labeling. What surprised me most was the skill and subtlety in the music and intelligence in the lyrics. “Wake Up” is a masterpiece - an incredible song on an album of incredible songs. The angry lyrics are served perfectly by the angry music. I get it. I dig it. These songs should rock hard and they do. Thirty years later this remains a relevant kick in the ass. The machine is still fucking winning. RAGE!

Teen Dream

Beach House

3/5

Beach House’s dreamy, ethereal sound goes down easy. I put it on last night as I laid down to sleep and was out before the end of the second song. Well-rested today I listened again. This time I made it through all the songs fully conscious. As each song started to lose my attention I started thinking about dreamy albums I like - for example The Virgin Suicides soundtrack by Air or Sigur Rós. That lead me to wonder how much more was left to listen to on this album so I could switch to one of those. Even the album cover is so light and forgettable that every time I went to the 1001 web page I kept thinking there was a problem loading the page. I sat down for a third listen determined to focus more and follow along with the lyrics. Before I made it halfway through I found myself reading the news as Beach House faded into the background. It was more pleasant in that context. This album seems to be best listened to while focused on something else. TEEN DREAM is like plain oatmeal at a breakfast buffet - not terrible or unacceptable but also not something I’ll choose if there are omelets, cinnamon rolls, sausage or French toast.

Bat Out Of Hell

Meat Loaf

5/5

I was immediately enthralled by BAT OUT OF HELL the first time I heard it as a kid in the 70’s. The title track was unlike anything I’d ever heard. I’d listen staring at the album art spellbound as motorcycles tore out of hell and through heaven backed by angelic choirs. Meat Loaf soared effortlessly over the bombast as the lyrics took me on journeys of love, lust, heartbreak, dreams, nightmares, good and evil with as much drama as anything I had ever encountered. The word epic was made for this album. Meat Loaf is the perfect vehicle to transition between its high drama (“Bat Out Of Hell”), soaring hymns (“Heaven Can Wait”), tragic love (“Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad”), love & lust (“You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth”, “Paradise By The Dashboard Lights”) , and youthful angst (“All Revved Up With No Place To Go”). He then manages to bring it all to a perfect conclusion with the glorious “For Crying Out Loud.” Later in life that I realized the enormous role played by the other genius behind this album, Jim Steinman. His mastery of the rock epic was scattered across not only Meat Loaf’s triumphs but also other artists - notably Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Cher, Celine Dion - and from movies like Streets of Fire and Footloose). Since that realization I have been as big a fan of his work as I am of Meat Loaf. BAT OUT OF HELL towers at the apex of both their careers. It is a timeless classic that had a major role in shaping my musical sensibilities. Meat Loaf left us a month and a half ago. This album is the perfect soundtrack for that moment. I picture him roaring into the afterlife on a Harley, angelic voices welcoming him home. RIP Meat Loaf.

Hotel California

Eagles

5/5

HOTEL CALIFORNIA is packed with incredible songs. The title track is one of the most incredible rock songs ever written. After that it’s packed with hits like “New Kid In Town,” “Life In The Fast Lane,” “Victim Of Love,” “Try And Love Again.” The quality of the remaining songs are every bit as compelling despite the tendency to overlook them. My favorite is one of those other songs. Over the years "Last Resort" has continued to expose new facets and has become my anthem of loss as I have come to perceive the world as a much more harsh and less magical place. Humanity is failing to stop - or even alone acknowledge - the wheels of our own destruction. Listening to it at the closing of HOTEL CALIFORNIA is a powerful statement. HOTEL CALIFORNIA is an incredible work whose indictment of American exceptionalism grows more urgent with each year that passes.

Tommy

The Who

5/5

I LOVE the movie Tommy. In college we had a weeklong fundraiser where we showed Tommy for 6 nights in a row. I was the projectionist and watched the movie 13 times that week - never tiring of it. I absolutely love the music but had only heard the soundtrack with The Who, Ann-Margret, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Jack Nicholson, Elton John et. al. I don’t know that I’ve ever listened to the original album in its entirety. Excited to do so now! I must admit to being a little bit underwhelmed by some of the performances on this album. Ann-Margret, Tina Turner and Elton John outdo these performances by leaps and bounds. So there were times I wished I was listening to the movie version. But there were several points where I liked what was going on on the album better. And it would be unfair to knock this for not living up to a star-studded, full-blown theatrical version. I love ths album. A great concept supported by great music.

Your Arsenal

Morrissey

4/5

When I first saw this next listen I wasn’t thrilled. Morrissey conjures images of too-cool college music I never really related to. I’m not in the mood for angsty, miserable music… It was with some surprise that I enjoyed the first track, “You’re Gonna Need Someone On Your Side.” It rocked more than I expected - I enjoyed it. Then “Glamorous Glue” sounded a bit more rock than I expected. The third song, which was closer to what I had initially expected, was still pretty good if not my favorite. So what’s this? I’m enjoying Morrissey? I loved “The National Front Disco.” What? You can dance to Morrissey? “We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful” gave me a chuckle. Not entirely sure what to make of “You’re The One For Me, Fatty”… but it is catchy. “I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday” is downright optimistic… What’s this? A hopeful Morrissey song?! And closing the album with a request for a hug? It looks like I… misjudged. I liked this a whole lot more than expected. I still could use a bit more vocal variety, and I’m not sure I can distinguish a lot of the songs as they kind of blend together, but I enjoyed this. Maybe not something I’ll often play from start to finish often but I wouldn’t object to it, and there are a lot of songs I will happily revisit again.

Bryter Layter

Nick Drake

5/5

I really enjoyed this album. It has lovely instrumentation, soothing lyrics. Nick Drake has a voice which blends but adds a lot of dimension to the musical arrangements. Now that I’ve listened to 2/3 of his albums, I can say that I’m a big fan. Favorite tracks: “Hazy Jane II,” “Poor Boy” and “Northern Sky.”

Court And Spark

Joni Mitchell

5/5

I love this album. It’s like a warm blanket around my soul. Joni Mitchell’s vocals are perfectly beautiful. The songs are so so nice. Put this album on and everything seems like it will be ok. I haven’t listened to this in decades… a terrible oversight. Hearing the opening chirp of “Free Man In Paris” after such a long hiatus is like being home again. I could listen to this all day. And did.

A Grand Don't Come For Free

The Streets

5/5

When I started this I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it… and then it took me on a journey with a protagonist I am completely taken by. It may not seem like an epic journey - filled with mundane details as well as the highs and lows of a relationship of a stoner’s life in Britain - but by the end I was so emotionally involved that by the breakup in “Dry Your Eyes” I actually had to heed the advice myself. This is an absolutely wonderful album. I felt like my life changed a little today.

Black Holes and Revelations

Muse

5/5

Muse’s BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS is an epic space rock album that plays like a soundtrack for encountering of the wonders of the deep space. The songs are unapologetically grandiose - like audio versions of Hubble Space Telescope images. It feels like It was created in some cosmic forge involving Radiohead, Yes, U2, Queen and Nine Inch Nails. The music is wildly and perfectly overblown. The vocals are off the hook soaring effortlessly through the maelstrom. A phenomenal album!

Lady In Satin

Billie Holiday

4/5

I didn’t realize until listening to this that David Sedaris has almost ruined my ability to listen to a Billie Holiday album, as he was really my first exposure to this artist, but after a few songs I managed to get him out of my head and stop expecting a joke… This is the first Billie Holiday album, and it was as I expected: lovely and classy and cool. I quite like her unique voice.

Brutal Youth

Elvis Costello

3/5

I've always reservations about Elvis Costello's music. Something in the way his songs are constructed have always impeded my desire to listen to them. I wonder how I'll get on listening to an entire album? The answer is I liked it ok. I didn't love it. I still don't connect with that rambling structure well. I feel like most songs are run-on sentences. Not something I hate, nor something I will seek out. Guess its a meh from me...

Mask

Bauhaus

2/5

There were certainly some interesting points and a few fleeting, catchy moments - but most of the time I spent wishing it was over. I did not enjoy listening to this the first time through, and grew increasingly irritable as I slogged through a second listen. I have no desire to hazard a third.

Arrival

ABBA

5/5

This is one of my favorite ABBA albums, so I was excited to see it here! The album has a little of everything that ABBA is great at: dance, rock, ballad, folk music, boogie boogie. All the songs are great, and I'm glad the bonus track version includes Fernando! Perfect Swedish vocals, lovely arrangements, excellent production.

Selling England By The Pound

Genesis

4/5

I am not really familiar with early Genesis… and don’t know that I have heard any of these songs before. I enjoyed the prog-rock sound and rambly songs for the most part, although even after reading the lyrics I am often left scratching my head as to what these are about. The music is great in that 70s prog-rock way. As I listened to “The Cinema Show’s” very, very extended instrumental section I was wishing I was listening to this on a record player back in 70s. Enjoyed this strange little journey…

Le Tigre

5/5

I had received the song “Deceptacon” on a mixtape from a friend in the early 2000s and really liked it. I should have taken the cue to investigate Le Tigre further! This album kicks ass and sounds great doing it! References to Cassavetes?! The main single listing feminist icons?! Fuck Giuliani!? Count me in! Every song on this appealed immediately to me. The lo-fi instruments are magic in their hands. The lyrics seem very personal. I love it! On the first listen this seems to have become my favorite punk album.

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock

4/5

I was wavering a bit on this album. I really enjoyed the “Chameleon” although it got a little long there in the middle, and really enjoyed the dreamy Vein Melter. I sort of wavered a bit in the middle of the album. I would up in 3.5 territory, but found the whole thing pleasant enough that I’m rounding up to a 4.

American Beauty

Grateful Dead

4/5

The Grateful Dead was one of the groups that came to mind when I signed on to this site. I had never listened to an album from either and thought I should listen to an album from them. And so here is AMERICAN DREAM. The country-folky sound at first surprised me, but after a few seconds I realized that I shouldn’t be surprised. I sat back and loved this album! Really nice music. Great early 70s sound. No complaints here! I knew the song “Truckin’” and when I heard “Box of Rain” it was very familiar. Really enjoyed “Operator” with what I believe to be a guiro as a great addition to the percussion (we had a guiro as a child that I loved playing… but I had to do a little research today to figure out what that thing was called). The spacey “Candyman” was really nice. I enjoyed it all.

Slippery When Wet

Bon Jovi

5/5

‘86 KIX! This came out a few months after I graduated, but it remains inextricably tied to that time when I graduated from high school. Hair metal at its most refined! I fell in love with “Livin’ On A Prayer” from the first time I heard it. But this album is an embarrassment of hits. “Let It Rock,” “You Give Love A Bad Name,” “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” “Raise Your Hands,” “I’d Die For You” and “Never Say Goodbye” defined the sunset of my teens and remain incredible hits! And hearing the deeper cuts “Without Love” and “Wild In The Streets” I go right back and can sing along even though until a few minutes ago I hadn’t hear them in 30 years. Several of the songs on this album have stayed in the rotation over the last 30 years. But listening to it now I realize that I’ve forgotten more great Bon Jovi than I had been listening to. Now I have to figure out how I’m going to see this group live in concert for a long-overdue in-person Bon Jovi experience. But whether or not that ever happens, SLIPPERY WHEN WET is back and in permanent rotation. I haven’t had this much fun since I got snowed in at the Elks’ convention!

Franz Ferdinand

5/5

It is weird to have a “takes me back” experience from and album that still feels new to me. What happened to the last 18 years?! Anyway… this takes me back. When I first heard this in 2004 it sounded really different, really new, really interesting, and really great! This album is adventurous and daring while being really great to listen to and a hell of a lot of fun to dance to. It’s good to dance like a beautiful dance-whore again! “Take Me Out” is still as exciting as ever. This song still gives me goosebumps. The tempo change is incredible - that tempo slowdown is one of the great moments in modern music. Really amazing song crafting. But there are so many great moments in the rest of the album. Franz Ferdinand has a ton of tricks up their sleeve and each time I listen the draw me in more. The album is consistently great. It’s filled with clever rhymes, observations and lyrics. The music is varied, clever and interesting while still managing to be catchy. Another case where I started listing my favorite songs and it was the track listing. The whole thing overflows incredible. I’m so glad to have this back on centerstage of my stereo. Definitely one of my favorite albums of its decade and one of my favorite albums ever!

Rock Bottom

Robert Wyatt

5/5

I had never heard of Robert Wyatt but as I listened to “Sea Song” I was very intrigued and engaged at this truly unique and very odd love song. I stared at the cover of the album as I listened and felt myself drifting into its world. Do I love this song…? I think I do… “A Last Straw” meandered about and I felt myself drifting like a krill in a giant ocean as the music pushed me this way and that through its currents. It was strangely wonderful. I could live here. Midway through “Little Red Riding Hood Hits the Road” I realized the singing was backwards. I had to reference the lyrics to realize he was unsinging the lyrics from the first half of the song. I would have thought it was some musical joke but I found it strangely satisfying. The horns in this song are wonderful and there is an excitement with really lovely piano and a driving beat. “Alifib” has more of that drifting-along-in-the-sea vibe that I really am loving. The inscrutable lyrics sound almost like a prayer amidst the shifting currents of the song. Wonderful. “Alife” continues in a similar way, but becomes more frenetic as it advances until the kind of wild saxophone bellowing away at the end. The chant at the end is really odd and I am not sure what it all means, but I really liked the drama. “Little Red Robin Hood Hits the Road” then closes the album in a really perfect way. It is dramatic and cacophonous through its first have, then settles down with some quietly droning strings and a strange monotonal chant. A somewhat maniacal laugh closes the album. Wow! This is really surprising to me that it was created in 1974… it sounds more in line with Radiohead or Thom Yorke’s solo stuff. I had no idea that something like this existed 40 years ago to serve as such a unique source of inspiration. I love hitting ROCK BOTTOM with Robert Wyatt. The swirling sounds took me into a watery world in a way that was a true surprise. I connected to the stark and solitary world it creates and will happily return there again soon.

One Nation Under A Groove

Funkadelic

5/5

Bummer that this isn’t available on Apple Music because I really love this album! I listened to it on YouTube though and it is as funky as one would hope. I love the title track (and have for decades), but there were a lot of other great songs on here. I love getting my day funked up like this!

Crosby, Stills & Nash

5/5

This was a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon. The harmonies are beautiful and soothing. I loved rolling along with this album. Of course the two opening songs tower over the proceedings. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes and Marrakesh Express sound as great as ever. An incredible one-two punch that instantly put this band on the map right out of the gate. But I liked the rest really well as well. Really nice.

Cross

Justice

5/5

The album ominous with ominous horns and timpani - like we are entering some dark nether world. And so begins a 49 minute danstravagastic journey! Thoughts as I listened… “Genesis” is an amazing opening. Intensely focused. A dark epic. Awesome. Then it translates to “Let There Be Light” that takes us from intensity to shining. This is going to be a fun ride I think… “D.A.N.C.E.” frolicked in all that new light and is so catchy and fun! And the disco party continues on a bright note with “Newjack.” All those samples! WOW! I can’t figure out what any of them are but this is some remarkable work. “Phantom” has me thinking about the soundtrack to the movie Phantasm… and as it transitions to “Phantom, Pt. II” I’m pretty sure I have a few selections for my next Halloween disco party. More lyrics from “Tthhee Ppaarrttyy” and I love that vocal! Reminds me of Ke$ha. Lots of fun. Then “DVNO” goes hard on the dance floor with a much more serious sounding vocal. What is “DVNO?” According to wikipedia it stands for “Divino.” Which didn’t really clarify anything for me… should it? “Stress” really lives up to its name. Love the music but it does build the stress! I think I hear some “Night on Disco Mountain” in there? Likely since I read that they sampled from 400 albums… crazy! (Note: Shortly after writing this I read the wikipedia page and found out I was right!) “Waters of Nazareth” is another harder dance track. I love that Justice knows how to arrange the album so that these harder tracks are modulated by the rest of the album. I like this one a lot. The finale “One Minute to Midnight” is an epic ending. Really feels like I have take a journey listening to this album. Loved the vocals. The instrumentals are off the hook. Samples run amok in the best way. Synthesizers pound and throb. Incredible production! I love this album. Sign me up to this opera-disco anytime!

Power In Numbers

Jurassic 5

5/5

Sometime around 2002 I saw Jurassic 5 at a music festival or something - maybe Voodoofest in New Orleans? They were really great, but it was one of those bands I saw that I meant to revisit. Today I realize that I never did do that. 20 years later, here we are. Wow what a great album! Felt good listening to this. Love the different voices. Great music and great rapping. So glad to have them brought back to my attention, because they are definitely worth it.

Either Or

Elliott Smith

5/5

I really love this album. Elliott Smith’s ethereal delivery is so soothing. Kind of ironic for that to come from such a tortured artist. A wonderful soundtrack to help ease the daily stress of life with enough wistfulness to not be boring. Favorite Songs: Ballad of Big Nothing, No Name No. 5, Pictures of Me, Rose Parade, Say Yes

Maverick A Strike

Finley Quaye

3/5

My younger sister was into reggae, and despite her best efforts it really never “took” for me. A Scottish singer singing with a Jamaican accent? I’m not sure how I feel about that. The production of the music was good. There was some variety in the songs that was welcome. This hasn’t won me over to reggae music. It was pleasant enough but I’m not motivated to listen to this again.

This Is Fats Domino

Fats Domino

5/5

Another album that defies traditional review, considering that Fats Domino was at, and probably a critical instigator of, the birth of rock and roll. That alone probably justifies a five before I even start listening... Trying to set all that aside, I really enjoyed listening to this. I don't listen to albums from the 50s very often. I'm glad this project is motivating me to do so, because I only recognized "Blueberry Hill" and there are a lot more gems that are every bit as good as that song on this album. I have to say after looking at some of the other reviews on this site I'm a little jealous of the people who were excited after listening to Fats Domino for the first time. I don't think I ever had an experience like that with this artist because he was always there. Still, this album gave me a lot of moments of discovery and delight. THIS IS FATS DOMINO is fantastic!

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

5/5

This is an American classic from a man who is an American classic. What a debut album for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers… What can I say. This is one of the great rock records of the 70s. Fantastic!

Bert Jansch

4/5

Very simple but beautiful folk album. Lovely. Impressive how much a guitar and a voice can do! Enjoyed sitting back and relaxing to this.

The Joshua Tree

U2

5/5

In college this was the default soundtrack for a year or two. I don’t listen to it a lot today, and for some reason haven’t been compelled to, but after listening again this time had a “why don’t I listen to this more?” thought cross my mind. I realized that I may have absorbed the backlash that people have to U2 and this album. Glad to be back. This is an amazing album and it is clear to see why it became one of the best selling albums of all time. It does belong on this list, no matter how played out you think it or U2 is. Incredible album.

OK Computer

Radiohead

5/5

This is likely my all time favorite album from one of my all time favorite groups. What seemed like an apocalyptic glimpse into what might be instead is a disturbingly accurate description of this century. OK COMPUTER is the soundtrack to the disillusionment I have experienced as I witness technology’s total inability to deliver us from our own evils. And yet even as we ignore its dire warning this album is one of a very few that lit my way through some of the darker passages my life has taken. I cannot overstate its importance to me over the last 20 years. The best album to come out of the 90’s still sounds like it is one step ahead of us.

Murder Ballads

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

1/5

Listening to the first three songs of this was a real slog. I struggled with the vocals. I hated the lyrics. As each of these songs ended my desire to continue listening kept plummeting. “Lovely Creature” was the first song where things started looking a little better... and after that I already was familiar with “Where the Wild Roses Grow” which continued along this line. I didn’t hate this song, in no small part to the performance of Kylie Minogue. But it sounded much worse than I recall on this album. From then on it all heads rapidly south again. I’m sure someone might enjoy this as some kind of satirical joke or something, but my only joy was hearing it end.

Wonderful Rainbow

Lightning Bolt

2/5

I was downloading this as I boarded a plane so I could listen on the flight. It barely completed downloading before the door was shut and we were on our way. Without internet I had no inkling of what it was I was about to listen to. Somewhere over Idaho around the third “song” the plane encountered rough turbulence. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was going to be the last album I hear. The thought started making me giggle. And as the cacophony continued in my headphones the plane bounced more intensely and drinks were spilled and I giggled harder and odd uncomfortable looks were coming my way. If only I could be playing this over the plane’s PA... a vision that turned my giggling into open laughter. If you’re reading this then it would seem I survived both the flight and listening to this album. I was on the verge of awarding this my second ever 1 star rating. Then again, it did manage to give my flight a mad tea party vibe. I also really love the album cover. “Wonderful Rainbow” is a great title against the soundscape it presents. No, this will not be joining my lowest rated album even though I likely will never make it through the whole album ever again.

Rapture

Anita Baker

5/5

After Murder Ballads on one day and noise rock the next, the 1001 Album Gods took mercy on my ears with a quiet storm of perfect 80s soul. This was just the musical hug I had no idea I was needing. The production is spot on. This is music for a romantic evening in a swanky blue-lit nightclub sipping on a cocktail as the conversation grows more and more intimate. Sax-forward and butter-smooth, RAPTURE is an unexpectedly wonderful addition to my night.

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Led Zeppelin is probably the group I most wanted to experience when embarking on this listening project. Not ever exploring any of their works beyond the occasional hits was a huge deficit in my musical experience. I love this album, a sprawling collection of eclectic songs that showcase incredible diversity in song construction. I was only familiar with the relentless “Kashmir” that churns like a black hole in this album’s heart. Spiraling around it is a galaxy of songs covering a wide range of styles. How consistently great it all is serves as a testament to Led Zeppelin’s incredible talent. I expected Led Zeppelin to be awesome. On this album they exceeded my expectation.

The Notorious Byrd Brothers

The Byrds

5/5

I just know of The Byrds from their hits and the numerous references to them in Wikipedia articles about other artists they influenced. Their influence is huge, so I have been very interested in hearing more of their work. I love the swingin’ and trippy 60s sound with occasional tinges of country. It was a lot of fun feeling this groovy listening to an album.

Clube Da Esquina

Milton Nascimento

5/5

The cover of this album is remarkable. My interest was piqued immediately. What is it about Brazilian music that is so listenable? Is it the amazing percussion? The sound of Portuguese? Those rhythmic guitars? Maybe it’s all of that and more. This album had a lot of unique twists on the Brazilian sound and seemed to experiment quite a bit with styles and sounds that gave this great variety. It went in directions I didn’t expect. This is something I think I could have only discovered here. I love it!

Here, My Dear

Marvin Gaye

4/5

I haven’t ever listened to a Marvin Gaye album, so to get the one that was “a critical and commercial failure” on its release as my first - and the one that was inspired by and recorded in the midst of a very nasty divorce - would probably not have been my personal choice for my first Marvin Gaye album. As soon as I hit play this promised to be a smooth and lovely ride no matter what the subject matter. But very quickly one couldn’t help but notice the lyrics… The pain of breakup and divorce is front and center in the lyrics. These songs don’t hide behind any allegories or metaphors. Marvin’s working things out front and center. How can such raw emotions sound so smooth?! I can see how one could be put off by six minute song that works through a lot of relationship shit (“When Did You Stop Loving Me?”). I started to feel a little uncomfortable, like Marvin Gaye pulled up a barstool and started confiding in me way too personally about his life. But I’m transfixed and staying put… “barkeep - another round please!” “A Funky Space Reincarnation” was a bit of an odd inclusion - some kind of space fantasy tangent thrown in the midst - but I did like the song. How about the title?! “Here, My Dear.” The PERIOD is in the title. Like he was gonna drop this off on her doorstep and leave without saying a word. A TWO ALBUM set of songs rehashing everything. “Here, My Dear.” I wonder if she ever listened to this? This is one really unique album. Anger, resentment, love, sadness, bitterness, regret, desperation, hope… it’s a wild roller coaster ride of emotions set to great arrangements with great musical performances. It’s definitely a one-sided view of divorce. What a way to work through a breakup!

Skylarking

XTC

3/5

I hadn’t listened to this group before. It’s a happy sounding album, even when the songs deal with misery, breakups and death. The lyrics are rambly and witty, with an interesting 60s-meets-the-80s feel to it all. The song I really liked I learned was left off of the original release and hastily re-added after its success as a B-side in the US, “Dear God.” Ironic because this is the song I see myself revisiting from this album. There were a variety of instruments and arrangements, but struck me with a sameness that felt less interesting to me than it should have. I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed.

Tical

Method Man

2/5

The minor key made this a more challenging listen to me. Rap is a genre that I am not predisposed to love, so when I do there is usually something that stands out or is more melody-oriented. I did get a bit of that on my favorite track off this album, “Release Yo’ Delf,” with its musical reference to “I Will Survive” and horn-sounding backing instrument, which lightened things up a bit. It was the most interesting track to me. I am not the audience for this rap album. Not something I enjoyed listening to or will revisit again.

She's So Unusual

Cyndi Lauper

5/5

So much fun to revisit this album! It is chock-full of great 80s hits. Still, I learned a few new things after spending some time with this today. Like “When You Were Mine” was written by Prince. Over the years the monster hits off this have overshadowed a lot of other great material on this album, so it was a real pleasure to listen to it from beginning to end. Cyndi Lauper is one of the great feminist pop icons. Her songs are lyrically powerful, incredibly well-crafted and highly entertaining. One of the greatest 80s albums around!

Truth

Jeff Beck

4/5

It is interesting that this is a Jeff Beck album when Rod Stewart sings so much on it… you’d think he’d get a ‘(feat. Rod Stewart)’ mention on the relevant song titles. I started off a bit lukewarm, although I really appreciated the talent. Then as the album progressed I started to like it more and more. By the second listen I was pretty on-board with this… I was surprised at how much I loved “Ol’ Man River.” I was surprised to hear it on this album and surprised at how much I enjoyed it and how fresh it felt! The timpani really added a unique dimension to it. “Greensleeves” and “Beck’s Bolero” were also unexpected additions that were very enjoyable. Other standouts to me were “Morning Dew,” “Rock My Plimsoul,” and “I Ain’t Superstitious.” Great album!

Tonight's The Night

Neil Young

4/5

You couldn’t say that I have been much of a Neil Young fan. I’ve liked some of his music, but was never completely into his style. As the first few songs rolled out I was lukewarm. This listen has left me appreciating Neil Young’s delivery a lot more. There’s a lot of compelling emotion in how he delivers a song. The backing bands are fantastic. I really like the country-tinged songs “Roll Another Number (For The Road)” and “Albuquerque.” Other favorites were “Tonight’s the Night,” “World On A String,” “Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown” and “Lookout Joe.” “Tonight’s The Night” has increased my appreciation of Neil Young.

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa

5/5

I've heard Frank Zappa's name for most of my life. When this popped up, I realized that I had no idea what kind of music he made. I must have heard some of his music somewhere along the way but I had not idea what that might be. I put this on and fell instantly in love with "Peaches in Regalia." It's catchy as hell, the arrangements are full of surprises - I love it! Even though I didn't know what to expect this was totally unexpected! "Willie The Pimp" changes the tone quite a bit with gritty vocals and guitars and a very long and groovy jam. Really enjoyed this too. "Son Of Mr. Green Genes" I guess is not about the recurring Captain Kangaroo character... but I love it so much! It's groovy, jazzy, and so cool and unique. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a most groovy dribble to work! A lot of this music is what the nondescript instrumental rock-and-roll the kids on the Brady Bunch played was based upon, only orders of magnitude better. I have no idea why an album like this has existed for my entire life and I haven't run into it before. This is one of my favorite new musical discoveries - I'm definitely going to be checking out more from Frank Zappa!

Tea for the Tillerman

Cat Stevens

5/5

Cat Stevens and this album has been in regular rotation in my life from before I could form memories. Yet I hadn’t listened to the whole album in decades. When the opening notes of the album started, I got goosebumps and all the bad in the world melted away by a voice that has comforted me since I could barely walk. I cannot overstate how much I love this album. Another reminder to forget about all those greatest hits collections and get back to spending some real quality time with great albums. The prodigal son returns and TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN has been waiting to welcome me home.

The Blueprint

JAY Z

2/5

I just can’t get very excited about this. I lost interest quickly both times I listened to this. This isn’t a genre I am predisposed to, and I didn’t hear anything that really stood out to me.

All Directions

The Temptations

4/5

Some nice Motown here… some of the songs surprised me from the Temptations, as I haven’t listened to their “deeper cuts” before. But I liked the album. Nothing beats the full version of “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone.” Epic!

Kid A

Radiohead

5/5

This is one of my favorite albums, a great Earth Day eve listen. KID A is best experienced in a meditative state. On headphones it is glorious. Challenging in both theme and construction, it’s not a good choice for passively listening to while doing errands. What you will find here is an exceptional expression of our 21st century race towards self-destruction. Like the cover art, the music is an icy, cold exploration of existential dread. Even the song “Optimistic” is darkly so, with the refrain “You can try the best you can, The best you can is good enough” and closing with “Dinosaurs roaming the earth.” We can, it is and we are.

Like A Prayer

Madonna

5/5

This album was released at a pivotal time in my own religious journey. LIKE A PRAYER came out at the exact moment I was making a decision to take one last big gamble on my Catholic faith. Over the following year, this album was a major part of my soundtrack I became disillusioned with religion and set my life on a new path. Personal stories aside, this is an incredible album released at the apex of Madonna’s imperial phase. From the upbeat Gospel-infused title track, pop confections like “Cherish”, the dance floor staple “Express Yourself”, to introspective and deeply personal tracks like “Oh Father” and “Promise to Try”, I consider this Madonna’s greatest album. There is not a song on it that I don’t love. Madonna’s exploration of family and religion is an incredible journey from beginning to end.

Private Dancer

Tina Turner

5/5

In late 1984 on a long school trip I forgot to pack any extra cassettes for my Walkman knock-off. At a truck stop I perused the limited selection and saw a single copy of this album. On impulse I bought PRIVATE DANCER despite knowing very little about Tina Turner. This was not something I would have ever imagined adding my my collection. By the end of side one, the universe had assigned me my diva and I had met the musical love of my life. PRIVATE DANCER overflows with fire and passion. Every song on this album is a monster. The cover songs feel like completely new tracks as Tina works them into her style. The polished 80s production serves to highlight Tina’s raw, primal energy that still makes me stop what I’m doing to listen. PRIVATE DANCER is my musical cornerstone and likely the greatest album I will ever hear.

Elvis Is Back

Elvis Presley

5/5

This is some great classic Jordinaires-backed Elvis! His voice sounds really great, the recording sounds really great (in Stereo!), and he recorded this after coming back from a stint in the army (not something I have seen big rock and roll stars do in my lifetime). This didn’t have any of the monster hits I knew of from Elvis, but I enjoyed it a lot. And found a lot of songs I could bop along with. I was leaning towards a 4-star rating, but my mother would be disappointed, and he does do a mean cover of Fever. So five stars it is!

Beautiful Freak

Eels

4/5

Eels can be relied on to provide playful tunes that shimmer and shine instrumentally while delivering dark lyrics struggling to make sense of life and the world. It makes for a very engaging listening experience!

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

A Tribe Called Quest

5/5

This album was a lot of fun to listen to! The lyrics are witty and I didn’t pick up on anything terribly exploitative or offensive. Enjoyed it the first time but really found it great the second time. Great fun!

Swordfishtrombones

Tom Waits

5/5

Tom Waits was one of the big surprises I had so far listening to the 1001 albums… I didn’t think I’d enjoy listening to him for a whole album. But when I listened to RAIN DOGS was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Now listening to this I love it too! My instinctive reaction to Tom Waits is changing… I love the instrumentation on the songs. It compliments perfectly Tom Waits’ distinctive vocals. The stories in the songs held me transfixed… “Frank’s Wild Years” opens with ‘Well Frank settled down out in the valley, and he hung his wild years on a nail he drove through his wife’s forehead.’ Who doesn’t want to hear the rest of that story?! (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well) I think I might have enjoyed SWORDFISHTROMBONES even more than RAIN DOGS. This is a wildly interesting, crazy quilts of songs. Some tell stories, some are inscrutable, and some are fun flights of musical fancy. Yet they cohere as an album - one I will be happy to listen to again! Immediate favorite tracks: 16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six, In the Neighborhood, Frank’s Wild Years, Soldier’s Things, Rainbirds

Blue

Joni Mitchell

5/5

I’ve heard a lot about this album, so was glad it appeared. It is lovely. Joni Mitchell’s distinctive delivery just calmed me down and made the day feel very good. What could be more perfect than that?

The Seldom Seen Kid

Elbow

5/5

The first time I listened to this I felt like I knew some of these songs. Later I realized I’d seen a couple of TV shows that used a few of these songs. Otherwise this was the first time I’ve heard this group. This album really clicked with me on the second listen. Catching more clever lyrics like “So yes, I guess I’m asking you to back a horse that’s good for glue” and picking up more of the stories the songs tell really made me fall for this album. The music is really interesting, the vocals unique, and it all came together for me. “ We made the moon our mirrorball The streets, an empty stage The city sirens violins Everything has changed ” There are touches of epic, wistfulness, sadness, drama, sarcasm and joy throughout the songs. I love it! Standout songs: Mirrorball, Weather to Fly, An Audience With the Pope, One Day Like This, A Friend of Ours, Hotel Istanbul

Entertainment

Gang Of Four

4/5

I wasn’t crazy about the thought of post-punk… why? No good reason. I started this up with a negative attitude. Fortunately Gang of Four is pretty great and melted all that away quite quickly. I very much enjoyed bopping along to this. Clever lyrics, great songs… Glad to have my preconceptions dispelled!

Pump

Aerosmith

5/5

I knew and really liked several songs off this album. “F.I.N.E.” and “The Other Side” came to my attention several years ago on the Aerosmith Rockin’ Roller Coaster at Disney World. I love both - how unexpectedly cool is “The Dulcimer Stomp”?! - but “F.I.N.E” instantly became one of my favorites and is maybe my favorite on the album. “Going Down/Love In An Elevator” was a song you couldn’t miss from my college days. It still sounds as good as ever. And “Water Song/Janie’s Got a Gun” is such a classic! Really love this song. “What it Takes” rounds out the songs that I went in knowing. It’s great as well. As for the tracks that were new to me, “Young Lust” is really great Aerosmith. What an album opener! “Monkey On My Back” features some incredible groaning and screaming from Steven Tyler. I love this song. “My Girl” is a ton of fun. I love that after dulcimers they pulled out the didgeridoos for “Don’t Get Mad, Get Even”. Really appreciate these unique touches. “Hoodoo/Voodoo” keep the quality high on this album. This is such a great Aerosmith album. Filled with double-entendre (or single entendre) shenanigans that Aerosmith can do and still be totally endearing. Even though I’m 30 years late to this party it’s still rockin’ hard!

Cosmo's Factory

Creedence Clearwater Revival

5/5

If you were to ask me to start naming Creedence Clearwater Revival songs at least five off this album likely would have come to mind. Several other songs on this album seemed familiar. So even though I don’t believe I have ever listened to this album, I have hoid most of it somewhere along the way. It’s remarkable that so many hits came from this album. Great, classic CCR.

Golden Hour

Kacey Musgraves

5/5

I’ve loved this album since its release, but for some reason I was very surprised to find Kacey Musgraves on this list. I’m really happy she is. GOLDEN HOUR is such a nice album… it flows along with strong country roots mixed with a lot of other vibes. Who doesn’t want to take their “High Horse” out on the dance floor?! But this album is mostly made up of more contemplative songs that flow gently along like a wonderful stream. I’m sure there are country purists who will judge, but I’m very happy Kacey Musgraves has made this list!

Tarkus

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

4/5

Well this is certainly an interesting thing. I feel like I should have taken a lot more of something when I listened to this and it might have gotten a 5, but I still enjoyed all the surreal madness. How often do I get to listen to an album themed around the transition to aquatic of a manticore-fighting armored armadillo tank? It’s all a bit fascinating. Not sure this will be a regular listen but it is certainly something I’m glad to have become acquainted with.

Machine Gun Etiquette

The Damned

5/5

This album was a fun listen! “Love Song” was full of clever lyrics with a pretty nice, down to earth sentiment of love at the end. I love the retro keyboard sound in songs like “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today.” It contrasted with the lovely piano opening “Melody Lee,” which then erupts into a poppypunk guitar-driven confection that one might mosh to. \“Anti-Pope” takes down religion with some pretty direct criticism delivered in a surprising affable way. The carousel-driven “These Hands” is certainly a dark take on a circus clown. I need this for my halloween playlist… There’s a lot of talent in this group that elevates this music a bit, and they embrace variety which gives most of the songs a distinct sound while still cohering as a whole. Loved it!

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Red Hot Chili Peppers

5/5

It’s been a while since I’ve really listened to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I never listened to a complete album. I definitely appreciate them more now than I did then… they create incredible compositions in a wide variety of styles. The songs are interesting, include complex arrangements and unexpected instruments, and are a lot of fun to listen to! Really enjoyed this and glad to have found a new appreciation of this group that I had not appreciated as much as I feel I should have when this was new. This is an album I will be listening to again!

The Sensual World

Kate Bush

5/5

Kate Bush’s THE SENSUAL WORLD was a staple since my college years. I have routinely listened to it since its release in 1989. I love every song on it. While not her most experimental sounding work, there is plenty of variety on it. I particularly love her use of the Bulgarian ensemble and other world music influences scattered throughout. On of my many favorite Kate Bush albums that I never tire of.

Medúlla

Björk

3/5

This album presents me with a conundrum. I was in awe of what could be done using just the human voice. Once I had admired that, the mostly slow vocal delivery of the main lyrics became tedious. I appreciated this but could not find emotional connection to it. Still, I am marveling at the accomplishment of this album. I understand why it is on this list and it is definitely something to behold which rounds up the rating half a point. But the academic attraction I felt was not enough to say I enjoy this.

Chirping Crickets

Buddy Holly & The Crickets

5/5

What can I say? A third of this album I grew up hearing and have no question as to their greatness. The other two-thirds were great as well. This is a timeless classic that I should have listened to long ago.

The Contino Sessions

Death In Vegas

5/5

This is entirely new to me and I loved it. It’s a very dark album, but there are epic moments like “Flying” where it loosens up and feels lighter. “Aisha” has a great rock groove under those disturbing lyrics. “Aladdin’s Story” is a pretty cool take on the classic ‘Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen…’. I enjoyed the rock-meets-electronica of this. Death In Vegas is a group I will check out further. Not a happy album, but one I am happy to have encountered!

Being There

Wilco

4/5

This was a very listenable double album. It was nice music to play while I went about various activities throughout the day. There were a few songs I really stopped to take note of, but for the most part nothing really grabbed me and made me think I had to have this in my music library. Still, I did add it as I can think of several occasions where some well done alt country might be just the ticket. I didn’t necessarily need a double album, and it doesn’t make me think “oh yeah, this has to be in the top 1001”, but I don’t mind having it here. Notable tracks: Monday, Outtasite (Outta Mind), Hotel Arizona, Someday Soon, Dreamer In My Dreams

Lust For Life

Iggy Pop

5/5

David Bowie vibe is evident on this… so it suddenly made sense reading that he was heavily involved on the Wikipedia page. Besides “Lust for Life” (oh - yes I guess it does sound very Bowie!) and “The Passenger” I knew very little Iggy Pop. This was fun and I enjoyed it! Favorite songs: Lust for Life, The Passenger, Success, Neighborhood Threat

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde

3/5

This album has a really fun sound and The Pharcyde can be pretty impressive in their clowning around. Could that really be a Jetsons Jet Screamer reference in “Soul Flower”?! This has a refreshing brightened up rap style that I very much like. The handling of the subject matter is problematic in many, many places. I had too many cringey moments. I didn’t mind the sex, drugs and humor, except too often the fun comes at the expense of others which really brings down my enjoyment level. I can say the music and rap skills have me leaning towards a 5, but the lyrics send me somewhere around 1 or 2. Averaging those to a 3. I’m not satisfied with this rating as listening to my favorite tracks it is too low but listening to many of the other tracks it seems too high. Favorite Tracks: Soul Flower, Officer, Return of the B-Boy

Blackstar

David Bowie

5/5

I knew and liked this album a lot already, but every time I listen I pick up more. There’s a lot of depth and much to explore on his album. It is extraordinary that one of the most unique and inventive works of a unique and inventive artist’s career was created during his 68th and last year on earth. Bowie left us with a self-created tribute to an incredible career that still feels like it has come from the future. It’s startling and wonderful!

Infected

The The

5/5

I don’t recall ever hearing this group but I really enjoyed this! Sort of an edgier Simple Minds-ish 80s vibe going on that I really like. Homeland is a fantastic song. Others that stood out immediately were Infection, Angels of Deception, Sweet Bird of Truth, and The Mercy Beat. Great stuff!

Channel Orange

Frank Ocean

4/5

I’m not a big R&B aficionado so I wasn’t sure how almost an hour long album might be. I put this on and was really surprised at the variety Frank Ocean incorporates into his grooves. Some really unusual drum parts, interesting orchestral backgrounds, psychedelic sounds and other interesting musical constructions and styles throughout. This kept my interest level high. The lyrics are interesting, often seeming almost conversational, and often dealing with some of the darker topics of life. This was all a lot more appealing than I had expected.

O.G. Original Gangster

Ice T

4/5

“Oh boy,” I thought as I looked at 73 minutes of 1991 rap. It isn’t my preferred genre. When I put this on and didn’t mind the first track. Then “First Impression” - not really a musical track but a monologue - took me by surprise and made me really laugh. Maybe there will be enough here to carry me through to the end… There is a lot of variety on these songs. Yes, there is a lot of guns and drugs. These lyrics aren’t for family listening. Still I was surprised how far between my pearl-clutching moments were. Ice T throws in some moments of humor and empathy and social messaging that made this feel better than a lot of rap I’ve heard. The self-reflection and a willingness to examine and play with the tropes of the genre I find very refreshing. Still not something I will probably listen to while relaxing and chilling, but I like it and respect its place on this list.

Bone Machine

Tom Waits

2/5

The first song I did not enjoy. The second song was rough. The third song… rough. Oh boy… are there really 13 more songs to listen to? Fourth song: Nope. Fifth song: The best so far? But still quite rough…. Is “Jesus Gonna Be Here” an old blues song? Hmmmm… “Little Rain” is a bit better with its country tinge… OK… halfway there. Not enjoying this much. But maybe this is a turning point… “Going Out West” was a little… just a little… more appealing. But I’m still waiting for it to be over. Then six more songs that I did not enjoy… Am I having a bad day? After this completed, I went back to two earlier Tom Waits albums I enjoyed, swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs. I still like them. I did not enjoy this album. I’ll give it extra 1/2 point because there is Tom Waits creativity, but I would only expect to return under duress.

Groovin'

The Young Rascals

5/5

I love this group. When I first saw the cover I didn’t realize what was on this album. “How Can I Be Sure” with its wonderful 3/4 time and accordion. How did I not notice the red “This LP Has The Big Hit ‘How Can I Be Sure’” on the cover?! “Groovin’” with the wonderful birds. “A Girl Like You,” “A Place in the Sun,” “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” “You Better Run,” “A Place In The Sun.” That’s a lot of songs I recognize off this! This has a lot of soul sprinkled with bits of psychedelia that sounds great. Love this great specimen of 60’s pop!

Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane

5/5

An album with “White Rabbit” and “Somebody To Love” should probably get a 5 based on those two songs alone. I thought the rest of the album is great. Other standouts included “She Has Funny Cars”, “My Best Friend”, “3/5 Of a Mile In 10 Seconds”, “Embryonic Journey” and “Plastic Fantastic Lover”.

(What's The Story) Morning Glory

Oasis

5/5

A classic great rock album that I have loved for years! What can I say… it deserves all the praise. Favorite songs: Wonderwall, Cast No Shadow, Don’t Look Back In Anger, She’s Electric, Morning Glory, Champagne Supernova.

Roger the Engineer

The Yardbirds

5/5

For more than 5 years I used to work the sound board at a radio station every week inserting local ads for a 3 hour national oldies radio program. In that time I probably listened to more than 1000 hours of 60s music. What a shame that I recall NOTHING from this album ever making it into those weekly shows! How refreshing would some of this have been to add more dimension to those programs?! I’ve heard talk about how important The Yardbirds were - after all their members included Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page - but all I recall hearing from them before this is “For Your Love” and “Heart Full of Soul”. Maybe I should have been more proactive… Even the Wikipedia article is woefully light on detail about this album. No mention at all of where that great album cover comes from? Or the Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions that I find on Apple Music? It seems as though there is a level of 60s music that is wildly interesting that lies below the usual stuff we hear today in the mainstream. A total gem with an amazing band (Jeff Beck!) doing great, interesting songs. I’m thankful again for this web site and the 1001 book!

Kind Of Blue

Miles Davis

5/5

I afraid most of my exposure to jazz has come from Pink Panther and Charlie Brown cartoons. Listening to this album, I feel like this is what I think of when someone says jazz music. It has made me realize jazz music is quite a nice addition to my life. I feel a bit ill-suited to offer a meaningful review, but this sounded great to me and I loved listening to it. A cool way to chill the night away. I love it!

The Message

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

5/5

This is a ton of fun! Great music. Fun lyrics. Refreshing next to a lot of other hip hop and rap we’ve heard on this project. And how sweet is “Dreamin’”?! This album has me smiling!

The Score

Fugees

5/5

It's really nice to have a female voice after all the male hip-hop/rap groups we've heard. Lots of great rhymes and fun references scattered throughout. Some nice musical sampling. And the really great cover of "Killing Me Softly With His Song." Not all fun and games with a lot of topical subjects. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Live At The Witch Trials

The Fall

2/5

Not really that interesting to me. I was mostly bored, nothing really stood out much to me and several of the songs (I'm looking at you 'Music Scene') went on far too long. Not something I'm terribly interested in listening to again or adding to my collection. But I managed to not completely loathe it.

Beauty And The Beat

The Go-Go's

5/5

How much do I love this album?! I bought the cassette in 1983 and it has been one of my favorites ever since. "Our Lips Are Sealed" is one of my all-time favorite songs of the 80's. Every time I listen to it I fall in love with it all over again. "We Got The Beat" is right up there with it. But no one should miss songs like "Lust to Love", "This Town", "Fading Fast", "You Can't Walk In Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)", "Can't Stop The World." Actually no one should miss listening to this album from beginning to end. It is so satisfying to hear "Lust to Love" after "Tonite" leading into "This Town" and it makes me very happy when I do. The album is great and I never tire of listening to this. I'm so glad to see this album on this list!

Junkyard

The Birthday Party

1/5

For some reason I was under the impression that I liked Nick Cave. I’m starting to wonder where that impression came from… This and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ MURDER SONGS have really turned me off. I hate the album cover, though it is appropriate for the contents. There’s some musicality to the songs but nothing I am interested in hearing. I will admit that the end of “Release the Bats” made me start to laugh, if a bit maniacally. I’m not sure if I was genuinely amused or giddy because there was only 12 seconds left to listen to. JUNK YARD and I did not make a love connection.

The Lexicon Of Love

ABC

5/5

ABC seems like a more sophisticated 80s band… something smooth and the 80s equivalent of big band music about them. Martin Fry’s voice and the lush arrangements create a really great, big sound that still sounds amazing today. I loved the hits they released off this album when they were released, but in the mid 80’s purchased it and really fell in love with the whole album. Big sound, clever lyrics, and hook-filled bass-driven 80s numbers are as compelling now as they ever were to me. Something about this album makes me want to listen to it in some open-air vehicle (a convertible? A biplane? A powerboat?) while sipping on champagne. I’m so excited to see this come up on this list!

You've Come a Long Way Baby

Fatboy Slim

5/5

I’ve heard several of the songs before and liked them very much. This is the first time I have heard the entire album. I liked everything on it from beginning to end. Really fun and catchy! In the Wikipedia page for this album it mentioned that this was created on an Atari ST computer using floppy disks. That’s pretty freaking amazing since this was released well after that computer was discontinued. I love this album even more given it’s classic computer roots!

A Date With The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers

4/5

It’s good to hear a classic like this. I hadn’t realized Love Hurts started with The Everly Brothers. A good listen.

Bad Company

5/5

I was exposed to this in my youth through my sister's record collection, but I wasn't terribly attracted to it then. Back then I would listen to "Can't Get Enough" but generally didn't listen long too much after that. It felt too "grown up" for me. I guess I'm grown up now, because I really love all of this. Very well done 70s rock that makes me feel like the cool kid I always wanted to be. I loved sitting back with the lights low and chilling out to this album. Definitely has earned a place in my permanent rotation.

Wish You Were Here

Pink Floyd

5/5

Pink Floyd is one of the groups I have thought I always needed more exposure to when I started doing this project so I'm glad to listen to this album. I bought A Momentary Lapse of Reason back in college and was familiar with The Wall mostly from the movie, but don't recall ever listening to any other Pink Floyd albums in their entirety. Yes, I know that was bordering on some kind of musical crime... Turns out I already knew three of the songs on this album (the title track, "Have a Cigar" and "Welcome to the Machine"). I like all three songs quite a bit. Listening to the whole album added the epic "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5)" and "...(Parts 6-9)" which are my favorite parts of the album. I love the grandiosity of the synthesizers and guitar work. Really great album and I look forward to more from Pink Floyd.

In A Silent Way

Miles Davis

5/5

This is my second Miles Davis album and I really enjoyed it. Been listening to it off and on all day and it is really wonderful. Turns out a little jazz is a great addition to my life!

Live!

Fela Kuti

5/5

Wow! This album is hot! Great sounding recording. The horns and drums are off the hook! The patter made it a vibrant, live experience - really enjoyed the call-and-response in “Carry Me I Want To Die.” Happy to have this LIVE! album in the rotation.

Mama Said Knock You Out

LL Cool J

4/5

Wasn’t looking forward to more rap, but this was good! Got a little bored here and there but mostly into it. I liked the smoother jams like “Around the Way Girl” and “6 Minutes of Pleasure” a lot!

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears

The Mamas & The Papas

5/5

I knew a lot of these songs, but this isn't a greatest hits collection. Talk about a great debut album! I'm pretty sure I've listened to this album before somewhere along the way, but didn't realize it was the debut. The Mama's and the Papa's music has such a nice effect on my psyche. There's something sweet and yet wistful in those songs that never fail to draw me in. Really special!

Murmur

R.E.M.

5/5

I haven’t listened to this staple from my college years in… years. I feel like I’ve just discovered R.E.M. all over again! I’m stunned to see that this came out in 1983. I tend to think of R.E.M. as a 90s band. It’s startling to think of just how on the vanguard R.E.M. was in the early 80s. Listening to this now I hear the massive influence R.E.M. would have on rock for the next decade or two. Really incredible debut album that is so wonderful to have back in my life after far too long a hiatus.

In The Wee Small Hours

Frank Sinatra

3/5

I’ve never been much for Sinatra, but I do love Nelson Riddle. As expected I love the arrangements and music on this. I’m not into Frank’s voice and I’m not exactly sure why. I just couldn’t stop wanting someone else singing these songs. Strange to have this feeling when I know I should be thinking otherwise… His influence on modern music is undeniable and these songs are great. Still I don’t see a Frank Sinatra fan club in my future. It’s unlikely this will be something I revisit.

Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park

5/5

I bought this album shortly after its release and listened to it for several years, but then it sort of disappeared from my radar. I don’t really have the rage in me that I still managed then. So what’s it like to come back to this almost 20 years later? It’s great! I remembered right away what I love about Linkin Park… they know how to rock but also have great hooks and modulation to hold my interest. I like their lyrics and the personal themes. Great vocals. Really great to hear this again today. “The End” is an awesome song and is kind of the perfection of the Linkin Park formula, but there are lots of other songs I very much like on this album including “Papercut,” “Points of Authority,” “Crawling,” “Runaway,” “Forgotten” and “Pushing Me Away.” Even though the last twenty years have softened my edges, I guess I still have room for some angry, angsty, cathartic hard rock. Linkin Park’s ability to modulate with softer passages is just the right kind of heavy for me.

That's The Way Of The World

Earth, Wind & Fire

5/5

I love Earth, Wind and Fire so I was excited to set this. Never heard this album before but knew the first two tracks and they are excellent. The rest of the album? Loved it! I was surprised to learn that this was a soundtrack for a movie. Think I may have to check that out too.

The Grand Tour

George Jones

5/5

George Jones is a big part of my dad's musical tastes from ever since I could remember. But I hadn't really gotten into his music like I have artists like Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, and many others. I don't recall ever hearing this album. Even so I knew going in this would be good. Really good. This is some really great 70s country that seems like it set the standard for what we think of when we think of country. Heartbreak abounds, but it seems to always be respectful. From the sad opening title track to the candid conversation from a star to his fans as the album closes ("Our Private Life"), this is a deeply moving and personal album that happens to also be a fantastic listen. I loved it and expect that George Jones is now a staple of my musical diet.

The Doors

5/5

This is one of those albums that seem to be a raison d’etre for this list. It’s every bit as good now as it has ever been for me. One of those albums that make me want to join its magical universe. The organ-heavy arrangements enchant me. The dark hooks draw me into its shadowy world. The great harmonies seduce me. Timeless perfection. "Light My Fire" is one of the best songs ever created and would earn this album a 5. But I think "Break on Through" and "The End" could as well. It was also good to hear the whole album again, because it has been a while since I have done that. If anything I think I love it more now than ever.

Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Fiona Apple

5/5

I was surprised to find another Fiona Apple album appear on this list… and a very recent one that I’ve never heard of. I guess I’ve been a bit out of the loop lately as far as the latest acclaimed albums. This was a really interesting and fun album to listen to! It has a rough, arts and crafty feel that is reflected in the cover art, but is built and performed with a very high level of skill even if it is what seems like clanging and banging against a wall or the barking dogs. The lyrics are filled with clever observations and descriptions that I instantly fell in love with. This really seems like the perfect thing to emerge amidst the chaos of the pandemic. The jaunty feel of the album juxtaposes with its serious and at times seriously dark subjects. A genuinely quirky and unique album that I found to be very special!

Grace

Jeff Buckley

5/5

I expected this to be great, but GRACE still surprised me by just how great it is! Jeff Buckley does so much in this album. Achingly heartbreaking at times, yet not afraid to turn up the distortion on the guitar an rock out. Buckley tries a lot of things on this album and it all works incredibly well. I am transfixed. In one moment he is soaring to epic heights then effortlessly dives into deep personal introspection. What an incredible ride! I love this album so very much. Why when I first heard Jeff Buckley’s rendition of “Hallelujah” I didn’t immediate run out and buy this album I’ll never know. This song deserves all the love and praise. The performance is perfection. It is remarkable that the rest of the album more than lives up to the impossibly high standard set by this incredible performance. “Last Goodbye” is an incredibly mature breakup song so great it seems like a clear and present threat to a breakup. “Lilac Wine” is a touching performance of heartbreak as the singer reminisces on a lost love. An incredible performance that gives me chills as it ends. The fantastic accordion opening, beautiful organ and arching lyrics of “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” gives the perspective of a man desperately looking for the return of an absent lover. He passingly acknowledges culpability as he cries out for her return. “Eternal Life” is one of the harder rock songs. Buzzy guitars grind over intense lyrics like ‘I’ve got a message for you and your twisted hell, You better turn around and blow your kiss goodbye to life eternal Angel yeah.” Halfway through the song seems to take off as the guitars soar boosted by a dramatic string section. The original finale of the album is “Dream Brother”. It opens with dissonant plucking that gives way to a moody guitar riff over exotic drums. It was written to a friend in another 1001 band (Fishbone!) trying to encourage him not to abandon his pregnant girlfriend by invoking his own abandonment by his father Tim Buckley (also a 1001 artist!). Beautifully complicated and utterly unforgettable. I was a little sad to learn there’s only one Jeff Buckley album in the world. Then I felt a little silly because we get more from this album than any of us deserve.

Rings Around The World

Super Furry Animals

5/5

It’s a surprise to have a second Super Furry Animals album. I’m curious to see how this varies from Fuzzy Logic. Right away I noticed the difference. Some cool harmonies - “Rings Around the World” is like a 21st successor to The Beach Boys by way of ELO with the noise turned up. I love it! Nice harmonies throughout, some clever lyrics, and a whole lot of great sounds to take in. Horns that could have come from Burt Bacharach, lounge music, grinding guitars, electronica, beach-friendly harmonies, weird sci fi effects and a lot more merge into some catchy, catchy songs. Really unique and really wonderful! Speaking of lyrics: “You expose the film in me” “I got some feelings I can’t get through, I’ll just binge on crack and tiramisu” “You came to me in peace and left me in pieces” “I’m not in love with you, but I won’t hold that against you” “With knives to their throat they’ll depart on the midnight train to Jordan” “But I’m in Deep Space Nine, Hitting wormholes all the time” And how about that ending to “No Sympathy”?! YES! Then dive into the oh so robot lounge-y “Juxtaposed With You.” OH YES! The 1001 gods have been serving up some good, unique albums lately. When I first saw this I worried it wouldn’t hold up. I’m glad to find it’s a great album I’m very happy to have around!

Electric Warrior

T. Rex

5/5

"Bang a Gong" has been a favorite song of mine for around 40 years. I still love it and have never really been bored by it. I'm sure I've heard a couple of other tunes from them in that time but I sure can't think of any names. None of the other tracks on this album ring any bells. So it looks like this will be largely a new listening experience. I've discovered yet another album worthy of the one hit off it that I'm intimately familiar with. There's a good bit of "Bang a Gong" style music that I really loved ("Mambo Sun", "Jeepster", "The Motivator" to name a few), but the surprise was the presence of a softer side of T-Rex. "Cosmic Dancer" is a string-filled, beautiful song that I fell instantly in love with. "Monolith" marches along accompanied by a lovely choir, while "Life's a Gas" is really touching. Great album!

This Year's Model

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

3/5

On the previous Elvis Costello review I mentioned that I have always had trouble appreciating his music. As I put this one on I started reading the wikipedia article and was heartened to read that many consider this his best album. Perhaps this is where I turn the corner on Elvis Costello? This still is a solid “meh” for me. There were a couple of songs I liked better than the last album (“Pump It Up” and “Radio Radio”), but any moments of excitement were far too fleeting to draw me in. I didn’t hate it but it’s starting to look like Elvis Costello isn’t my bag.

Ingenue

k.d. lang

5/5

Ingénue indeed!!! I loved this album in the 90s and still do. It’s filled with lush emotional torch songs, incredible vocals, interesting arrangements and ends with one of the greatest hits from my days as an announcer on adult contemporary radio. I am still having a love affair with this album!

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme

Simon & Garfunkel

5/5

I’ve listened to this long ago, but didn’t remember a lot of the album so it felt a bit new through a lot of it. Really lovely music. Lots of really great songs beyond the monster hits that come from this. I found “A Simple Desultory Philippic…” just a tad odd at first with the Dylan-style delivery, but I enjoyed it and the interesting cultural references throughout. This doesn’t eclipse my favorite Simon & Garfunkel album, but still easily a 5!

The Genius Of Ray Charles

Ray Charles

5/5

Ray Charles is another of those artists my dad really loved so I heard a lot of him growing up. No sure if I’ve ever heard this album in particular, but I knew some of the songs and very much enjoyed it! Smoking in some places, sumptuous in others, this is a really wonderful addition to the day.

New York Dolls

5/5

I imagine I have listened to the New York Dolls before, but I didn’t recognize anything on the first listen. This sounds a bit like The Rolling Stones gussied up with lipstick and a chainsaw. The album cover drew me in immediately and perfectly reflects the rough and raw contents right down to the can of Schlitz next to the high-heel clogs. I love it… and I like to think I could make it with Frankenstein!

Dance Mania

Tito Puente

5/5

This ain’t my first time at the Tito Puente rodeo! I had several of his albums in the past. Not sure if this was one of them as I am always up for some mambo. Turns out this was just the way to get my day started with a big smile… I’m thrilled this is on the list! Anyone who doesn’t find their hips moving when they listen to this should be examined by a professional. I love this era and style of music and Tito Puente is the crème de la crème.

Butterfly

Mariah Carey

3/5

I like my divas a little rougher than this. Mariah Carey is a remarkable singer and I appreciate why this is a popular album. There are some songs that I warmed up to more than I thought I would after several listens. The vocals flit around like… butterflies. There were times I was a bit bored and grew weary of some of the vocals. I think I like Mariah’s pop phase more than this move towards R&B. Still, this is a polished presentation of Mariah Carey’s formidable vocal skills.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart

4/5

My sister had a number of Rod Stewart albums I used to listen to when I was young. This one didn't get as much Close 'n' Play time as "A Night On The Town" or "Blondes Have More Fun", so I don't remember much of it well. This is pretty great! I'm sure I enjoyed it more now than I did then. I like the early 70s rock feel with dashes of folk. Excellent!

The Bends

Radiohead

5/5

Over the years I have become increasingly absorbed by Radiohead's later, more experimental works. It has been a few years since I sat down and listened to this album. The Bends overflows stadium-level grandeur infused with deep melancholy. Powerful guitars charge into deeply intimate moments. This is an incredible album. Today this is my favorite Radiohead album. Whatever song is playing is my favorite Radiohead song. Planet Telex's power guitars... Fake Plastic Trees' desperation... Bullet Proof... I Wish I Was' gentle despondence... High and Dry's plea to a friend... (Nice Dream)'s rolling rhythms... Black Star's relationship struggle... Sulk's gorgeous, swinging guitars... and Street Spirit (Fade Out)'s glorious closing, "iMMerse your soUL in LOVE." I could go on and on. Instead I'll go for another listen.

The Dreaming

Kate Bush

5/5

When I’ve introduced people to Kate Bush, I always start with Hounds of Love, The Sensual World, or The Whole Story. I’m don’t recall ever sharing The Dreaming with anyone. This is despite its status - right there with Radiohead’s OK Computer - as favorite album ever. Yet I have a lot of trepidation about The Dreaming appearing here. The Dreaming is an exceptional work that towers large in Kate Bush's formidable catalog. If her albums were torn from my collection this would be the one you’ll find me clinging to desperately to the end. The Dreaming is packed with incredible drama: The caper that goes wrong in “There Goes A Tenner.” The futility of trying to recapture a moment in "Suspended in Gaffa." The exploration of the Vietnam conflict from two very human perspectives in the devastating “Pull Out The Pin”. Colonial conflict between Aboriginal Australians and the British in the title track. A desperate plea to dissuade a lover from a fateful smuggling trip in “Night of the Swallow.” Houdini’s widow’s intense effort to reconnect with her dead lover. An epic domestic battle in “Get Out of My House.” This list still just scratches the surface… every song is a literal or figurative journey that after hundreds and hundreds of listens continue to move me. Every song has incredible lyrical power and takes big chances musically. Every song is one of my favorite songs. I started to read a few of the critical reactions to this on the wikipedia page and reviews on this site but didn’t get far. Usually I find others’ reactions very interesting and enjoy other perspectives, agree or disagree. I must admit I have little desire to view The Dreaming from any perspective other than my adoring own.

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs

Derek & The Dominos

5/5

Wow! This is one great guitar album! I thought “Layla” was the only song I knew from this. When “Bell Bottom Blues” came on I had a shock of recognition… I loved this song once long, long ago in a forgotten past… Hearing it now was quite startling. “Layla” is a masterpiece and it is not surprising this song is embedded into the vernacular of rock. But the rest is very, very strong and worthy of accompanying such a legendary song. I almost feel embarrassed that I have never listened to this before. Eric Clapton as a person provokes mixed emotions in me today. Still, I find it difficult to imagine how one might dismiss the quality of the playing on this album if listened to with any objectivity at all. This album is packed with incredible guitar work. Phenomenal!

Rid Of Me

PJ Harvey

4/5

Am I a PJ Harvey fan? I’m not sure… but man that opening track ("Rid of Me")!!! And interestingly there is a song with the title of the previous album ("Dry"). It's very interesting to compare the three PJ Harvey albums I've listened to. This is definitely a darker, grittier album than DRY and STORIES FROM THE CITY, STORIES FROM THE SEA. This seems more ambitious to me as well. The jury is out on whether I enjoy listening to it quite as much... maybe it has a more narrow band of listening conditions than the others for me. Still, I very much appreciate its raw nature.

Vauxhall And I

Morrissey

4/5

I was not excited to have a Morrissey album to listen to. While I haven’t a lot of experience with his music, I have found him a bit downbeat and dreary in the past. So I had a little apprehension about the next 40 minutes. I needn't have worried... I found this album really enjoyable! Catchy, upbeat tunes that grew on me even more on subsequent listens. What a lovely surprise!

Giant Steps

The Boo Radleys

5/5

When this first came up I was dreading it. Shoegaze? More than an hour? Noise pop? Wikipedia had me bracing myself for a tough listen... First time through I was quickly engaged by the catchy hooks with many fun and pleasant melodies. Dashes of noise served to really make things interesting. Second time through I fell in love with this album. So much so that I immediately embarked on a third listen. That time even "Spun Around" (probably the noisiest of the songs) appealed to me. Remarkable! I love it when an album proves me so wrong!

In Utero

Nirvana

5/5

Having acquired many grunge CDs through the Columbia House Music Club in the 90s, it is a bit of a mystery to me that I remained so unfamiliar with Nirvana. Perhaps even more perplexing is that I have lived in Seattle for nearly 25 years and still am only familiar with their bigger hits. Listening to Nirvana is something I always felt I though I needed to do. In Utero is the first Nirvana album I have listened to. I knew "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies" - both great songs. The rest of this album is great! Definitely lived up to my expectations. Really glad to finally be addressing a glaring omission in my musical experience.

Disintegration

The Cure

3/5

Seeing the Cure here made me groan. After last Christmas Eve’s “Pornography” album I didn’t really want to hear them again. *sigh* Let’s get this over with… The opening song was a very pleasant, shimmery surprise. That was followed by the also-shimmery and familiar “Pictures of You”. Oh yeah… there is some Cure I like. The first half of the album went by and I think I am liking it… oh yeah, I know “Lovesong” too! By the second half the album had become noticeably doomier. Still much better than the previous album, but I started to get bored with it. I’m still am not a Cure person but there are several songs on this album that seem to have room for me. Favorite songs: Plainsong, Pictures of You, Lovesong, Lullaby

evermore

Taylor Swift

5/5

This is an exquisite album. It's a big career leap few artists can successfully pull off even once. Taylor has deftly done this multiple times as if it were effortless. It's a stunning achievement. I am in love with this album. Deep and reflective lyrics backed by sparse, beautiful arrangements. There were so many striking moments where I stopped and just lost myself in the world of the song. Taylor is on an incredible journey and I'm happy to be able to tag along in this tiny way. Now I can unreservedly name one wonderful thing that came out of 2020.

Born To Run

Bruce Springsteen

5/5

I am not sure if I have ever listened to a Bruce Springsteen album. I’ve met a lot of super fans and haters over the years, but didn’t ever develop my own strong opinions. Knowing that he was sure to be in this project, I have been wondering how I’ll react to when he comes up. Listening to the album I immediately noticed a lot of musical influences at play in the intricate arrangements. The lyrics tell vivid, emotional stories. No greater example of this can be found than in the title track, a stunning masterpiece I have taken for granted. I was surprised at how moved I was by it when I sat down for a focused listen. Born to Run is a thrilling listen that deserves its legendary status. I'm embarrassed it has taken me forty-seven years to appreciate how truly great it is.

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Lucinda Williams

4/5

I haven't listened to Lucinda Williams that I recall. But I have heard the songs she has written. She has an authentic feel that is appealing. I feel like I just walked into a dive bar where someone better than the joint is performing. Not my favorite country album, but still pretty darn good.

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Soft Cell

2/5

This was a surprise! I like the song Tainted Love although I’ve probably heard it enough times in my lifetime. If I had bought this album back in the day I would have been disappointed with the rest of the album. 41 years later, I'm disappointed with the rest of the album. I found it largely tedious and and was ready for it to be over. I expected to like this a lot more than I did. There are some interesting things going on but I really didn’t enjoy it much.

E.V.O.L.

Sonic Youth

3/5

Having one Sonic Youth double album under my belt I wasn’t sure I was ready for another. I had a similar reaction to this as I did Daydream Nation. Some of the songs I kind of enjoyed. But I’m never really sure they’ll be ok to the end. There are interesting moments on this and I don’t mind hearing a bit of this now and then, but that’s about all the Sonic Youth I think I’ll be needing.

B-52's

The B-52's

5/5

I haven’t listened to this in a very long time. I smiled as soon as it came up. It sounds a great now as it ever did. Just perfect!

Goodbye And Hello

Tim Buckley

5/5

Wow I am glad to get another Tim Buckley album. His voice brings such passion to these extraordinary songs. I lost myself in the music. Some particular highlights: “Pleasant Street”, “Once I Was”, “Phantasmagoria In Two”, and “Morning Glory”. And how about that epic title track “Goodbye and Hello”?! Wow!

Opus Dei

Laibach

5/5

Uhhhhh… what am I listening to? More importantly, why am I enjoying it so much? This is utterly wackadoodle and I’m loving it! “Leben heißt Leben” seemed vaguely familiar. I did not expect the guitar solo, but it works well. The discordant ending is incredible! When “Geburt einer Nation” and “Opus Dei” came on I definitely knew the songs. Turns out a friend shared them with me on a mix tape many decades ago. I never followed up on the whole album. Queen’s “One Vision” works incredibly well sung by a Muppets-Animal sound-alike to a martial beat. The vocal delivery is delightful and the song quite danceable! Is this something I’ll listen to often? Who cares?! It’s unique. Crazy. Dramatic. Lumbering. Cinematic. Dark. It was strangely suited for listening to while I work… I really love this album!

Live Through This

Hole

5/5

I’m very familiar with this album cover, having routinely see it on T-shirts, but I have never listened to this. A bit strange since I was into 90’s growl rock back in the day. Somehow I never worked a Hole album into the rotation. What I’ve been missing out on is some awesome 90s feminist rock. The omission is glaring. The songs snarl with enough hooks to keep me interested. And as I dig into the lyrics there is a lot to work through. This is a great album. I have listened to a lot of music that seems to have influenced and been influenced by this. I’ve had a Hole in my 90s music puzzle that is finally filled.

American Idiot

Green Day

5/5

Who thought the first great rock opera of the 21st century would come from Green Day? As I was grappling with the American idiocy of the early 2000s, this album became a soundtrack to disillusionment with a world I was realizing I didn’t understand. I went into my first listen in love with the title track, but one listen to the epic “Jesus of Suburbia” made it clear this album was really special. Green Day was operating on an entirely new level. I love me a great rock opera, and there is comfort knowing that this art form is alive and well. Nearly 20 years later American Idiot remains on my soundtrack to face a fucked up world.

All Hope Is Gone

Slipknot

4/5

*clutches pearls* The music is certainly very appropriate to the lyrical sentiments, and I can relate to the rage on display here. This is probably the right tone to take. The pessimistic sentiments are certainly something I can relate to. The anger. The screaming. It's a lot. But then again so is the world... I wasn't sure I could do any of this, but then "Sulfur" came on and I was able to muster up enough rage to appreciate it. These guys are really good... and really angry... "Psychosocial" starts and... I think I like it! The choruses sound a bit like the Foo Fighters. The musicianship is very high. This is a real surprise to me. As the album progressed, my brain started to dig it. Even the screaming. These guys are great musicians though and seem to know how to modulate the rage and have the musical chops to keep things interesting. What is happening?! Did I really just add this album to my library?! I have the feeling that had I listened to this in my teens or twenties I would have hated it, but now at 54 I'm kind of into it? I didn't think that's how it was supposed to work... ALL HOPE IS GONE is a cathartic and... fun?!... to listen. Like a scary roller coaster, I won't be riding it every day but I'll jump on this ride again. This is one pissed off album I'm apparently pissed off enough to be on board with it. Really a 3.5 in my mind but rounding up since this far exceeded expectations.

Kala

M.I.A.

5/5

I was familiar with a couple of songs off this album from a performance I saw from M.I.A. at a music festival shortly after its release. I love it! Never got bored, really great beats and instruments, and interesting lyrics. The guest artists are great (love the Wilcannia Mob!). Fantastic and fun album!

Hunky Dory

David Bowie

5/5

If I have ever heard this album it was a very, very long time ago. It felt familiar to me. Of course “Changes” and “Life On Mars” are deeply embedded in my psyche, but there is much else on this album to love. How incredible to be able to look back across David Bowie’s entire, incredible career at this seminal album. Really amazing and it sounds as fresh as ever!

This Nation’s Saving Grace

The Fall

2/5

I had another album from The Fall (Live at the Witch Trials) that I didn’t care for much, so I was surprised that there is another The Fall album on the list. This was a little bit better, although just a little. I felt bored. Apparently this is their most accessible album… so I guess The Fall isn’t going to be for me.

Live At The Regal

B.B. King

5/5

This is a lot of fun! The crowd was into it and I was into it! There was some good audience interaction which added to it all. Really great!

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Aphex Twin

4/5

Took me back to my 90s Sunday morning radio days inserting local ads into a new age music show. Really great for chilling out. I’m digging this!

Oracular Spectacular

MGMT

5/5

I’m so glad MGMT is here! I bought this album when it came out and felt like I was listening to the future. It still has that feel to me today. It was the brilliant song "Kids" that brought me to this album initially. But it was "Time To Pretend" made me realize this was something very special. The glitter-grunge feel was so unique, the lyrics so interesting. This remarkable debut album continues with a strongly cohesive sound but each song has its own style and special touches. If I needed an example of "groovy" from the 21st century, Oracular Spectacular would be a perfect choice.

Dirt

Alice In Chains

3/5

Here is yet another band and album from the 90s that I never got into. I like the vocal harmonies. The metal isn’t a dealbreaker for me. But the tempo and feel of these songs is really ponderous. Maybe appropriate for a lot of the lyrics. I’m ready for the next song well before the current one ends. I think I like my metal a little brighter with a bit more cheese. This album felt exhausting. Really made me want to take a nap. Even if I were in depression there are a lot of other things I would much rather wallow in than this. I can appreciate the quality of this music. Unfortunately I didn't appreciate the music itself.

Third

Portishead

5/5

Talk about bleak... this seems like the perfect accompaniment to my increasingly frequent moments of despair. The lead singer ranges from worn to desperate accentuated with occasional banshee moments. Some highlights: “The Rip” has a lovely vocal performance and really wonderful synthesizers. I love this song. Ends in such lushness. “Deep Water” is an odd ukulele piece in the album that still felt strangely in place as the most positive-feeling song here. I like it. “We Carry On” is a fast, relentless song that may be the best option if you wanted to dance to something on this album. I loved it. The out of tune guitar strumming leads into a section where the song feels on the verge of flying apart, but I found it very satisfying when it did not. “Magic Doors” feels like one of the more personal feeling songs on the album. I love its odd beats, the accordion, and the vocal performance. What a brilliant song! “Threads” closes the album with the lyrics “I am one, Damned one, Where do I go?” It’s got quite an ending with a lone bellowing, evil horn. Chilling. Where their debut album “Dummy” was something I could listen to as I worked, “Third” might be a little too ominous for that. It has now been 14 years since this album was released. I don’t know if Portishead will ever release another, but it would be interesting to see where they go from this dark place. I was very unsure initially how I felt about THIRD. On the second time through it came together for me and I fell in love with this album. THIRD is exceptional - and perfect for the world I’m living in.

Miriam Makeba

4/5

This was a nice change of pace… smooth and enjoyable. Interesting that an artist from Apartheid South Africa had an album out in 1960 in the US. It was fun recognizing a few songs like Mbube and The House of the Rising Sun. Nice!

Real Life

Magazine

5/5

Post-punk and I have an uneasy relationship, so I wasn’t terribly excited at this prospect. Boy was I mistaken! By my third listen I was hooked, and by now I’ve listened to this at least 5 times in a 24 hour period. These are fantastically catchy songs with witty lyrics and some incredible musicianship! Magazine is willing to play some lush piano only to transition to carnival-style synth music. I am digging this! Theres sort of a punk-new-wave-beach vibe going on, but then there are little touches of all kinds of other fun sounds. And at times I just stopped to marvel at the drummer. This is one of my favorite musical discoveries this year!

Fleet Foxes

5/5

I was not expecting this... I have heard of Fleet Foxes and vaguely remembered them as an indie band. This was not what I expected. The musicians are exquisite. The music is exquisite. I loved every song. Some of the particular ones that really stood out on this stand out album included "White Winter Hymnal", "He Doesn't Know Why", "Your Protector", "Meadowlarks", and "Blue Ridge Mountains." But every song is worth listening to. This is a really special album that I am so thankful to now know.

The Last Broadcast

Doves

4/5

I fell in love with "There Goes The Fear" in the early 2000s, which lead me to this album. It went into heavy rotation for five or so years. Sometime since then I sort of lost track of the Doves. What a great album! I still get goosebumps as "Intro" transitions into "Words." The Doves have an epic, beautiful, sound and The Last Broadcast brings a welcome boost of optimism. Yet throughout runs an undercurrent of complexity that does not dismiss the weight of the world. I love their technique where guitars that slowly detune underneath the beautiful vocals and harmonies with stadium-level grandeur. The music is complex and layered. If you listen on headphones there are many incredible layers to explore. Really enjoyed coming back to this again.

Ananda Shankar

4/5

I discovered Ananda Shankar sometime in the 80s courtesy of the used record market. I love remakes that really remake a song, and the groovy sitar versions of Jumpin' Jack Flash and Light My Fire more than qualify! I also love Moog music, and there’s plenty of that here. It's great to have this album make the list! Some great sitar jams... and the go-go arrangements are icing on a delicious cake! Definitely worth a listen for its unique style.

S.F. Sorrow

The Pretty Things

4/5

I have never heard of this group or this, the first Rock Opera! A real surprise there… It’s hard to believe that The Who’s Tommy wasn’t influenced by this. But I don't think that takes anything away from Tommy any more than any other artist is influenced by the genre in which they work. As for the album itself, I liked it. The music great 60s stuff. I did listen to this a few times and followed along to the lyrics and started to enjoy this more. This seems like one of those really important records that this project has brought to my attention and I’m very glad for that. I'm a fan of rock operas and this is the daddy of ‘em all!

Led Zeppelin IV

Led Zeppelin

5/5

This is the one Led Zeppelin album I had access to in my childhood, so I am familiar with this album from the mid-seventies. Back then most of this album wasn’t really in a pre-teen’s wheelhouse, but “Rock and Roll” got regular play on my plastic kids record player. In the early 2000s, I revisited this album as an adult and that’s when it clicked. There’s a reason why this album is so esteemed and I got it. I really loved the variety on this album… and fell in love with most of the songs that had not connected with me as a kid. Listening to it today I marvel at the quality and variety of songs on the album. I still got that special place in my heart for “Rock and Roll.” Only now the rest of the album has found room there as well.

British Steel

Judas Priest

5/5

I’ve avoided this album for 42 years. Another one my older sister owned, but when I borrowed this I quickly returned it. I’ve avoided Judas Priest ever since. What the hell was wrong with me?! I LOVE THIS!! I loved every song! These guys know their way around those instruments. The guitars and drums are fantastic. And those vocals - hits the high notes with great harmonies! What a great album! Given my absolute love BRITISH STEEL maybe its time to reassess everything…

Bummed

Happy Mondays

4/5

I wasn't sure an ecstasy-fueled psychedelic album from the 80s would be my cup of tea. But I enjoyed this more than I expected. Witty lyrics and a great 80s dance vibe made me think this might have been just the ticket for an ecstasy-fueled evening at the hottest club in 1989. Interesting and fun!

Come Find Yourself

Fun Lovin' Criminals

5/5

This sure didn’t look like it was gonna be my jam, but it sure is great! I love these guys! Lots of serious themes - some moving songs - but they seem to be having fun (as advertised). Great rhymes. I love the slow jams as much as the fast and fun songs. And remaking “We Have All The Time in the World”?! Very classy. Some great guitar work that really added to it all. Really great album!

The College Dropout

Kanye West

2/5

There’s a lot going on here. The music is well-done. I felt like I should be enjoying the experience because of the quality of the production. I wasn’t. It didn’t help that I’m not a big fan of the chipmunk voice effect (I’m livid about what “School Spirit” did to Aretha’s “Spirit in the Dark”! Please let me unhear that!). It also didn’t help that the last song had me trapped for days listening to him go on and on and on about something… The skits felt gimmicky and annoyed me. The album went on far too long. In the end I felt trapped in a talented artist’s self-indulgent ego-trip.

I Should Coco

Supergrass

5/5

Catchy, punky Britpop that I found enjoyable to listen to. I recognized Alright immediately - great song! The whole album was fun to listen to. Really representative of the mid-90s. Filled with perfect soundtrack options here for your next 90s film. Definitely worth the listen! Favorites: Caught by the Fuzz, Alright, Strange Ones, She’s So Loose, Time, Sofa of my Lethargy

The Cars

5/5

I’ve loved this album since I discovered it as a pre-teen. It has been unusual in that with the move to digital and streaming music I consistently continue to mostly listen to the album in its entirety. I really miss hearing the songs in context when they are played individually. This album is a keyboard/synth masterpiece. As every song ends I anticipate the next one and to not hear it is a real disappointment. Just seeing the cover fills me with happiness. I’m shocked to read that “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” was never released as a single! And shocked that only the first three songs on the album were. There are at least three more that I would have sworn were also singles. I’ve never tired of listening to this album and likely never will. The Cars has been on my personal soundtrack for most of my life. I don’t expect that to ever change.

World Clique

Deee-Lite

5/5

Of course I’m very familiar with “Groove is in the Heart”, but I was surprised to see that this album was already in my music library. So apparently I have listened to this some time ago. It’s hard to believe this is from 1990. The album is a lot of fun with groovy music to match the groovy cover. Great listen!

Red Headed Stranger

Willie Nelson

5/5

I grew up hearing this album in the background, but its spartan production and mature themes went over my head and I didn't appreciate it. I haven't heard it since my pre-teen years. Returning to it now is like discovering an entirely new album. The music is arresting and beautiful, the album filled with suspense, tragedy and heartache, and I loved it. While murder ballad albums tend to turn me off, this had a very different feel and focused on a range of emotions other than anger and revenge. It is surprisingly wistful. How fortunate are we that Willie Nelson had negotiated a contract that allowed him to release this album. It is easy to see how record producers would demand that more production be added to this album. I imagine that would have greatly diminished the power of this album. Red Headed Stranger is an affecting work I will listen to again and again.

Tapestry

Carole King

5/5

This album was a staple around my house from my initial ability to form memories… and rightly so. Perfectly constructed songs performed perfectly. Amazing.

Time Out Of Mind

Bob Dylan

4/5

I wasn’t sure what to expect from 1997 Bob Dylan. Turns out this is a very enjoyable, bluesy album with a lot of that great organ I love which gives it a very nice mood. I was surprised to have liked this as much as the older Dylan albums I’ve heard. Really nice listen!

Solid Air

John Martyn

5/5

I had no idea what I was putting on when I started this. The first song (“Solid Air”) had me thinking jazz album. I wasn’t sure how to feel about the vocal delivery. The second song (“Over The Hill”) had me thinking bluegrass undertones. The third song (“Don’t Want To Know”) was back on the jazzier side. The fourth song (“I’d Rather Be The Devil”) becomes decidedly more funky… Turns out this is a very interesting and diverse British folk album from the 70s. The first time through I was intrigued if a little confused. On the second listen I locked in and fell in love with Solid Air and its very chill vibe. Martyn’s vocals really started to appeal to me. I really love the vibe and the instruments… a super nice experience. Not only a nice addition to better round out my musical tastes, but something I will enjoy hearing again and again. Some of my immediate favorites: Solid Air (so atmospheric!), Over The Hill (so down homey!), Dreams By The Sea (so funky!), May You Never (so uplifting), The Man in the Station (lovely with just a touch of drama)

Scott 4

Scott Walker

5/5

Yet another album I went into totally blind… Instantly love the cinematic opening track! A song based on “The Seventh Seal”?! SOLD! The rest of the album? I LOVE IT! The crooning… the orchestrations… the subject matter… such a great 60s experience. Has there ever been such a jazzy indictment of war as “Hero of the War”? I see a lot of commutes on the Scott Engel/Walker train in my future!

Heroes

David Bowie

5/5

Before this, Let’s Dance and Black Star were the only David Bowie albums I had ever listened to. They are really different albums from each other. They speak to remarkable breadth of his talent. Between those and my knowledge of his career-defining hits, I figured I knew what David Bowie was all about. Side one of Heroes impressed me with the energy of songs. They are wild and a lot of fun. Great Bowie tracks that easily surpassed my high expectations. And then I got to side 2… What a revelation! Most of side two are instrumentals that I had no idea was a part of David Bowie’s history. Wonderful electronic instruments, horns, and the band feels like Bowie in a way I never imagined. I feel like I’ve stumbled on a secret room in my home filled with hidden wonders. I’m invigorated at how Heroes has delivered an entirely unexpected and wonderful experience yet again expanding my already expansive view of what David Bowie is as an artist.

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths

4/5

I heard this sometime back in college at a party, or at least I heard the song "Meat Is Murder." I disliked that experience enough that ever since I was sure I did not like The Smiths. Oops. Although the title track is my least favorite song on this album, I really kind of liked a lot of this. The songs are less whiny and catchier than I thought I remembered. There's a dry wit in a lot of the songs that I enjoyed. A few of the songs surprised me with their tone and quality. The only lingering reservation is I lost interest in some of the songs well before they before they ended. Fortunately the album was peppered with songs I really liked that I was able to ride those out. I'm not a huge fan of The Smiths yet, but I've made some real progress with this listen. Favorites: The Headmaster Ritual, Rusholme Ruffians, Well I Wonder, Barbarism Begins At Home

The Number Of The Beast

Iron Maiden

2/5

I've never been an Iron Maiden fan. Then again, there are a lot of heavy metal groups that have come up in this project that I ended up liking more than expected. I hope that's the case here. I didn't enjoy the music much. The lyrics were at best irrelevant, at worse punching down (like 22 Acacia Avenue - really couldn't find a better target for the negative energy than a woman in the sex trade? Am I supposed to be glad it ends with him forcing her to come with him? What a gentleman...). "Run To The Hills" seems to be an indictment of the treatment of the Native Americans, maybe a tiny bit less offensive to the subject of the song than Acacia Avenue? My favorite song was the closing track, "Hallowed Be Thy Name", about a prisoner on the verge of execution. I like this track. This project has shown me that I'm not averse to heavy metal if they have decent melodies and/or interesting lyrics as I discovered when I found myself enjoying Megadeth and Black Sabbath. Iron Maiden still isn't really for me. I'll give it a 2 because the musicianship is very good as was the last song. Most of the rest of this left me uninterested in ever hearing it again.

Sister

Sonic Youth

2/5

I listened to this three times today, and each time grew more and more irritated with it. I’m not sure why I had more trouble listening to this than the previous two Sonic Youth albums (E.V.O.L. and Daydream Nation), but I fear any further listens to figure it out will only further lower my opinion. Noisy. Irritating. Not for me.

At Mister Kelly's

Sarah Vaughan

4/5

A welcome respite after the last few unpleasant albums… very enjoyable, beautiful voice, lovely standards. Was fun to hear the audience murmuring now and again.

Off The Wall

Michael Jackson

5/5

For my money, the best Michael Jackson album. Smooth, nonstop dance party in front; lush and smooth jams in the back… from a simpler time.

Vulgar Display Of Power

Pantera

1/5

One of the reviews for this album called it “punishing.” Throw in “tedious” and you got my summary.

The Nightfly

Donald Fagen

5/5

Smooth and jazzy - like being on a monorail to the future.

The Man Who

Travis

4/5

I love the song“Why Does It Always Rain On Me” but never listened to the rest of this album. There was a little surprised in “As You Are” as it sounded almost early Radiohead to me. Very good album!

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Aretha Franklin

5/5

Another album that was in regular rotation throughout my entire upbringing as my parents had and listened to this regularly. Easy to see how this cemented Aretha’s place as the Queen of Soul! Love this album.

Blur

3/5

Different than the previous Blur album Modern Life is Rubbish, like a little grit got into the pop confection? “Song 2” has been drilled into my head by a cruise line ad or something, but it is good to hear the whole thing and easy to see why they use that song. Some real variety with a country-ish tune, a cool instrumental, and a lot of other unique tracks. I liked this but not as much as the previous Blur album. I would tend to go back to that one for my Blur fix.

Tuesday Night Music Club

Sheryl Crow

5/5

I think I’ve heard this album before, but it has been a while. There are a lot of great songs on this and I really enjoyed hearing it again. A close listen to this album makes me realize how great a songwriter Sheryl Crow is.

Dusty In Memphis

Dusty Springfield

5/5

I love this album so much and every time I listen to it want to listen to it more. Dusty Springfield is perfect for Memphis. “Son of a Preacher Man” is a powerhouse hit, but there is so much else to love here. There’s a wistful quality Dusty brings to even the upbeat tracks. No one does love, loss and hope like her. I love every song.

Songs For Swingin' Lovers!

Frank Sinatra

5/5

After being slightly disappointed by “In The Wee Small Hours”, Frank’s release from the year before this one, I wasn’t sure how this might go. Everything about this was better. Nelson Riddle and his orchestra really shines. They would make this album a five with any number of crooners at the mic - check out the incredible instrumental break in “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. Still, Frank is particularly on point here and compliments these arrangements perfectly. Forget the wee small hours… I’m cooling it with the swingin’ lovers!

Innervisions

Stevie Wonder

5/5

I’m not sure how I’ve managed to live my entire life never listening to an entire Stevie Wonder album, but that was the sad state of affairs until today. I absolutely love Innervisions. It’s soulful, sometimes jazzy style and fabulous synths were an instant love match. “Living For The City” was already one of my favorite Stevie songs. And I went in to this loving “Higher Ground,” “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing,” and “All In Love Is Fair.” So I already knew half the album. But the context the album provides elevates these great tracks further. So nice spending some quality time with Stevie Wonder. This album easily exceeded my high expectations.

John Barleycorn Must Die

Traffic

5/5

I haven’t listened to Traffic before that I recall, at least nothing off this album. I really loved the organ, flute and sax heavy songs! Felt very groovy like I was driving out of a 70s movie.

Odessey And Oracle

The Zombies

5/5

How would it feel to realize “Odyssey” was misspelled on your new record cover? If your The Zombies, probably just fine because the music on this album is so great! I’ve always loved “Time of the Season”, but hearing the rest of this album released just weeks after I was born was a trippy, fantastic little journey. Two more really standout tracks I fell in instant love with were “Care of Cell 44” and “Brief Candles.”

Scott 2

Scott Walker

5/5

Three weeks ago I head the pleasure of discovering this extraordinary artist thanks to this list and Scott 4. From the first notes of the cinematic “Jackie” to the last notes of the lush “Come Next Spring” - I love this album even more! I have another new favorite artist! Scott knows how to deliver these incredible orchestration-powered songs - as a former French horn player I can’t help but love their prominence on this album. I love this album so much I listened to in three times in a row without stopping… followed by three more listens later in the day. The storytelling on these songs is incredible. The songs deal with real life in sometimes jolting ways. These surprising moments drew me in more. The songs are beautifully poetic sending me to so many different places - absolutely wonderful! I see that Scott Walker’s most recent album is from 2016. I’m so excited to have 50 years of Scott Walker to explore. Just a few notable items: “If I could be for just one little hour, a cute cute, in a stupid-ass way.” - Jackie The incredible strings accentuating “The best of both worlds, make your pick Amanda…” - Best of Both Worlds “If you love me let me live in peace and please understand, that a black sheep can wear a Golden Fleece and hold a winning hand.” - Black Sheep Boy “Oh to die of kisses, Ecstasies and charms, Pavements of poets will write that I died in nine angel’s arms tonight” - The Amorous Humphrey Plugg “I swear on the wet head of my first case of gonhorrhea…” - Next “Plastic palace Alice, She steals her cards tomorrow deals with deafening despair” - Plastic Palace People “The cheerless day may bring us little dreams that seem to miss their mark but, oh, my darling, wait until dark” - Wait Until Dark (*swoon*)

1999

Prince

5/5

PRINCE! As I listened, I wasn't entirely sure I've heard this entire album before... I was definitely familiar with the first half of the album. The second half less so... Great album... what's not to love about the first half? As for the second half, I'll probably need a few more listens to fully connect but no matter, that first half makes this album a solid 5!

Disraeli Gears

Cream

3/5

I get why this is such an esteemed album from the 60s. I love the song “Strange Brew.” I understand why “Sunshine of Your Love” is important, although truth be told it has never been one of my favorites. I am glad to have listened to this album, and it is interesting to hear the blues turn psychedelic, but in the end I don’t see me listening to this too often.

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Limp Bizkit

4/5

The cover of this turned me off. The explanation of the title turned me off. So I hit 'play' fully expecting to hate this. I want genuinely surprised when I didn't. I enjoyed the anger-filled songs. The talented and catchy performances temper those hard edges. It was surprisingly good to listen to while I was working. Maybe Limp Bizkit is addressing some latent rage. This may be just the ticket the next time I want to throw a tantrum in the back seat. I went on to listen to this a second time today, except for the last two songs which the album doesn’t really need.

The Rising

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

I enjoyed this album with its great sound and solid tracks - what I expected. A nice listen with some standouts that made me pause and really take notice. Favorite songs: World’s Apart and Mary’s Place

Foxbase Alpha

Saint Etienne

4/5

This was an enjoyable listen - reminding me of something I’d hear in a cool lounge… nice dance vibe with a retro feeling that I quite liked. Great to have on while I went about my routine!

Come Away With Me

Norah Jones

4/5

I liked this when it came out, but haven’t listened to it in many, many years. It feels like I’ve just come in from the cold to listen to it now. Norah Jones has such a warm voice… takes everything down a few notches and makes me want to drink hot cocoa. Really nice.

Suicide

5/5

I hit play and through the first song felt like someone slipped something into my drink. Then the second song. Then the third song? Every song filled with sinister echo and fuzz forcing me forward with an incessant, demanding beat. So this is what we’re doing?! What to think about this? I didn’t dislike it. The grooves are interesting. The runtime is a manageable 32 minutes. This album is blazing trails today - hard to believe it has been around since 1977! I can see why I should listen to this before I die. But do I like it? I started a second listen and was surprisingly into this. After the first listen I doubted I’d ever want to hear this again. Now after the second I’m tempted to play it again right away and I’m not entirely sure why… I can’t get this off my mind. This is one of the most unique things I’ve heard in a while. Or ever. I think I love it.

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

5/5

I was not an AC/DC fan growing up. It was one of the albums I would think of when I’d tell people I was into most kinds of music except hard rock and heavy metal. I was under the impression that my musical tastes would narrow as I age, but I really like this album now. Some great rock here that’s a lot of fun!

Bookends

Simon & Garfunkel

5/5

Interesting album for sure! Nice conceptual theme on side one, and packed with great songs throughout. Mrs. Robinson is one of my favorite Simon & Garfunkel songs, and I love Hazy Share of Winter. Not to mention America. Save the Life of My Child is a great album opener too! Excellent!

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

5/5

I’m so glad to have grown to appreciate the genius of Talking Heads… great album!

Savane

Ali Farka Touré

4/5

I’m pretty new to the blues, and have never heard this particular style. I had no idea that music could feel so genuinely bluesy and African at the same time. Some of the songs felt very similar to the blues of the American south while others sounded more Arab-influenced. The album sort of flowed over me and partway through my first listen I really started to connect with it. There’s something very inviting and soothing here. I’m not sure how often I will revisit this but I’m very glad to experience this album.

A Girl Called Dusty

Dusty Springfield

5/5

I love Dusty Springfield, and this album is chock-full of great songs done in her fantastic style. What’s not to love?

The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths

5/5

Holy crap! I love this album! Have I become a The Smiths fan?!

Actually

Pet Shop Boys

5/5

The Pet Shop Boys came to my attention in 1986 with the album Please. I loved that album. But their release of 1987 of this album is what made me a huge fan. This is 80s perfection. I love every song on this album. From the absolutely phenomenal “It’s A Sin” to the sad elegy “It Couldn’t Happen Here”, this album mixes politics and personal stories deeply into these incredible electronic dance creations. One of the finest albums from the Pet Shop Boys, and one of the finest albums from the 80s, or any decade for that matter.

Ctrl

SZA

5/5

This isn’t a genre I’m very familiar with, and I hadn’t heard any of this before. Loads of talent packed onto this and I enjoyed the personal feel for the stories. I started off thinking this was in the 4 range, but on the second listen the amazing detail in the music and lyrics really struck me and I fell for this. There’s a dreamy quality to the songs that really elevates the album. Fantastic!

Transformer

Lou Reed

5/5

Have I really never listened to this before?! How is that possible? And how did I not know David Bowie produced this? Anyway, this is a fantastic fantastic album that more than lives up to the hype. I have heard several of the songs on this album before, but the songs I haven’t heard before are really fantastic too! This album feels fresh, if I heard it for the first time I couldn’t tell you when it was created. But I would tell you that I love it!

Surfer Rosa

Pixies

3/5

I had several friends into the Pixies in college, but they never really clicked with me. I appreciated hearing this album and do think I like it more than back then, but it still isn’t quite there for me.

Music For The Jilted Generation

The Prodigy

5/5

I have The Prodigy’s debut album and liked it back in the 90s, but it has been over 20 years since I have listened to them. I’m not sure how hard-edged rave is going to go over with me today. ……………………………….. Thankfully, quite well. Apocalyptic rave music is a perfect soundtrack to the world today. I really loved this album! Rave on!

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

5/5

I keep thinking I’m new to jazz, but then while listening to this realized that growing up on Pink Panther cartoons gave me a pretty extensive introduction to this style of jazz. The organ grooves along and the sax wails away and I’m swept up by it all. I may not be the best connoisseur of jazz, but I really love this!

Play

Moby

5/5

Thought I hadn’t heard any of it, but everything seemed familiar. This music has been a part of a lot of the world I just didn’t know it. Really great album! Really great songs! I love it!

The Scream

Siouxsie And The Banshees

2/5

It is with mild concern that I embark on this listen… I’ve heard some Siouxsie and the Banshees now and again but they have never made a real connection. It’s an interesting album that I really did not enjoy. It felt like work to listen to and isn’t something I see myself seeking out in the future.

Hysteria

Def Leppard

5/5

I’m a big fan of Pyromania. Surprisingly I had never listened to this follow up album before. I didn’t realize how many of these songs I remembered from the radio until I started hearing them, so most of the album was at least somewhat familiar. I love that Def Leppard shimmer! ————————————————————————- Random thoughts: Interesting that “Love Bites” originated as a Country Ballad… listening to it now I can hear how that could work. I’m surprised I couldn’t find a country cover. “God of War” shows that anti-war-hair-metal-protest music works! Effective and interesting mixing of tempos, rhythm and melody on songs like “Don’t Shoot Shotgun.” When they start cranking it up you really feel it! “Armageddon It” is possibly the best metal pun ever. I haven’t listened to Hysteria in a long time and was struck by how lovely it is. A lot more going on in this song than I remembered or gave it credit for. ————————————————————————- With age I’ve gained greater appreciation of 80s hair metal and Hysteria is right up there with the best of them! I see a lot more of this in my future.

School's Out

Alice Cooper

5/5

I went into this extremely familiar with the title track but never heard any of the rest of this album. “Schools Out” is such a classic that it makes me wonder why I’ve never heard of anything else on this album. Stir together guitar rock of the 70s and a generous helping of Broadway. Add bits of jazz and blues. Fold in marching band music and a trombone solo. Add generous helpings West Side Story. Blend. Bake into a deliciously wild and eclectic album. A genuine and wonderful surprise. I love it!

Heavy Weather

Weather Report

4/5

“OHHHH! THAT song!” I exclaimed as the opening notes of Weather Report’s “Birdland” filled my ears. I’ve heard this song a gazillion times on the radio - usually as background music for PSA’s or commercials. I’m VERY excited to hear it again! This is possibly the first time I’ve heard the song in its entirety. As the album progressed my reaction was positive. The songs were varied and interesting. I want to listen to it again. Jazz always scared me or put me off. Heavy Weather and some of the other great jazz albums I’ve heard in this project has made me realize there’s a place for it in my world.

Supa Dupa Fly

Missy Elliott

4/5

Not my usual thing but I figured this had to be good. But I wasn’t so sure I would like it. Turns out I really like this album… great guests, great harmonies, great album!

BEYONCÉ

Beyoncé

5/5

WOW! There’s a reason she’s Queen Bey. Incredible album that tells incredible stories. Absolutely amazing!

The Pleasure Principle

Gary Numan

5/5

The only two songs off this I have heard before was "Cars" and "Engineers." I have always loved both songs, so it was a real pleasure to listen to this whole album. I'm a sucker for a Moog synth, and this Moogtastic!

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

5/5

After enduring The Birthday Party and Murder Songs, Nick Cave is not an artist I wanted to listen to again. A DOUBLE ALBUM to have to listen to this time is not welcome news. Turns out that I do not loathe this, in fact I think I love it! These songs rock with interesting lyrics and great backing vocals. Some of the love songs are surprisingly tender - hadn’t expected that. The two albums are distinct - I love the rock and roll first album and the gospel feel of the second. Really nice combination. I keep wanting to give this a 4 because of the traumas of past albums. But if I disregard the terrible taste left in my ears from the previous two Nick Cave albums this double album is a 5!

16 Lovers Lane

The Go-Betweens

3/5

It didn’t stand out a lot for me and there are many other albums in this style I’d rather be listening to. Still, an enjoyable 80s pop album with interesting storytelling and lyrics. A pleasant diversion I didn’t mind listening to.

Rio

Duran Duran

5/5

Yesterday when reviewing the 80s album from The Go-Betweens I wrote “there are many other albums in this style I’d rather be listening to.” The band I had in mind when I wrote that was Duran Duran. Rio is their masterpiece. I don’t think I’ve listened to this album in its entirety since the 80s. The musical talent on display is incredible. “Rio” is such an absolutely brilliant opening to the album. It leaves no doubt that this is going to be an exciting ride! “Hungry Like the Wolf” is my all-time favorite Duran Duran song. I clearly remember the first time I heard this song. My mom and I were in the car and it played on the radio and I instantly became a huge Duran Duran fan. The song is exhilarating from the incredible opening giggle to the closing moans. It still gives me goosebumps! “Save a Prayer” deserves a place as one of the greatest songs of the 80s. It’s quite unique, haunting and beautiful! On this listen the consistent quality of the rest of the album really struck me: “My Own Way”, “Hold Back The Rain”, “New Religion”, “Last Change on the Staircase” (hooray for a marimba solo!). While we’re at it, I've got no good reason to overlook “Lonely in Your Nightmare” and “The Chauffeur”… every song on this album is worthy of Rio’s perfect, iconic cover art! I love this album!

Apocalypse Dudes

Turbonegro

4/5

Never heard of this before, and didn’t read anything about it before listening. This was a bit of a surprise… the opening song about baking a motherfucking pizza tonight? With catchy music like this oh yeah… I have a motherfucking pizza! The rest of the album did not disappoint. Rodeos, sadism, monkeys, humiliation. Loads of anal references. Talented, highly entertaining and fun!

AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Ice Cube

3/5

Never listened to an Ice Cube album before. Wasn’t really looking forward to changing that. After the opening skit, the second track started, blew my hair back, and Ice Cube had my full attention. I really dug that first song with all its samples. The album did start to wear on me halfway through, though, and I found myself getting a little impatient with all the misogyny. In some ways this was better than I expected. In other ways, a lot like I expected.

Chris

Christine and the Queens

5/5

This is a really nice album. I love the music, love Chris’ voice, love the French and English. Love it all! Wonderful discovery.

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Classic!

Trafalgar

Bee Gees

5/5

I love this album. It is lush, emotional, and the instrumentation is great! More than just “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?”, there are a lot of underrated songs from this album. My favorites: “Israel”, “When Do I”, “Remembering”, “Trafalgar”, “Don’t Want To Live Inside Myself”.

Band On The Run

Paul McCartney and Wings

5/5

I love Paul McCartney and Wings! This is a great album, with the title track and “Jet” alone meriting a 5 rating. Lots of other great stuff on here though. Wonderful!

Pink Moon

Nick Drake

5/5

What a lovely, quiet and wonderful album. Looks like I am a complete Nick Drake fan.

Blood On The Tracks

Bob Dylan

5/5

I wasn’t a Bob Dylan fan going into this project. But Dylan’s career has a huge range, and with every album I feel a stronger connection. This album spoke to me from the moment I put it on. I am surprised how much I instantly connected to it. I knew “Tangled Up In Blue” going into this - I love this song. But I love every song on this album. Really impressive!

In Rainbows

Radiohead

5/5

When In Rainbows was released it surprised me. I had loved its predecessor “Hail To The Thief.” Its overt politics wore anger on its sleeve and was very cathartic when It came out. In Rainbows gave little of that. I liked it, but in the years since had not returned to this much. I was surprised to see In Rainbows appear here. I started the listen knowing this was a great album. I had not expected that what I would hear today would rival my very favorite albums from Radiohead. I’m in a very different place now than I was in 2007. The world is in a very different place. In Rainbows surfaces in my life and takes on a relevance I didn’t see coming. It goes deep within, exploring some personal, dark, fearsome places. When this came out I wasn’t ready for that. I guess today I am. What a wonderful day.

american dream

LCD Soundsystem

5/5

I have heard of and maybe heard bits of LCD Soundsystem, but never listened to any of their albums. I immediately liked the music. But it was a real surprise that they sound like what I imagine the Talking Heads would sound like if they had formed in the 21st century. Maybe even with a little David Bowie mixed in. I had gone into this expecting a dance band for a younger crowd, and instead I got something much more experimental and interesting. Then I realized that this band had been around for 15 years when they made this and the lead singer was born in 1970… so much for my musical knowledge… Ignorant expectations aside, giving this a proper listen was something that I should have done a while ago. LCD Soundsystem is doing some really interesting things here and carrying forward some really important musical legacies. I love this album and need to check out more from them.

The Soft Bulletin

The Flaming Lips

5/5

The Flaming Lips first drew my attention back in ‘93 with their song “She Don’t Use Jelly.” The lead singer’s raspy voice seemed to be just barely catching the notes in an endearing way and I loved the song. But for whatever reason it wasn’t until decades later that I would listen to a full album from them and discover how truly magical they are. That time came at the height-of-the-pandemic when I saw a video of The Flaming Lips performing “Race for the Prize.” Each band member was inside a plastic bubble performing to an audience who were each in plastic bubbles. Self-preservation juxtaposed with the need to connect. The song seemed to be written about the scientists researching the COVID vaccines, but I was surprised to discover it was the opening track of this album from 1999. So 22 years after its release I found this album. What I found was wildly catchy, filled with insightful songs that veer wildly from the epic to the mundane. The insights into the human condition perfectly captured by this album startles me throughout. How about insects? “The Spiderbite Song” captures the fear enormous consequences from daily events. “Buggin’” annoying mosquitos mirror the annoyance of love. Did “Waitin’ for a Superman” just make me tear up a little again? “Suddenly Everything Has Changed” captures our complicated feelings about our transient emotions in a wonderfully simple song. The moment when the lead singer clears his throat before the last verse makes me feel like I’m with someone who cares. It’s a truly special moment on a truly special album. “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate” places death directly front and center. Instead of instilling fear instead it makes me feel less alone. So much love, loss, fear, hope, sadness, joy packed into an hour. Such lush, musical experimentation! More than a great album, The Soft Bulletin is a perfectly timed musical hand on my shoulder. I’ve made a new musical best friend.

A Seat at the Table

Solange

5/5

I have loved some of Solange’s songs - she has some incredible dance remixes that can rip up a dance floor. But I had not idea what lay in store for me on this album. What songs! Deeply personal and moving. Intimate. Honest. Incredible. The music is smooth without being boring. It was engaging and it slowed me down and pulled me deeper into the lyrics. Speaking of lyrics - the thoughts and feelings being expressed take this to an entirely different level. Absolutely amazing accomplishment and a wonderful gift from Solange.

Darklands

The Jesus And Mary Chain

3/5

After PsychoCandy I had no desire to hear another Jesus and Mary Chain album again. I was not happy to see this appear. On the plus side, it seems like they were able to record during the machine shop’s off-hours to avoid most of the horrific grinding and screeching that drowned out the music on the preceding album. Now that I could better hear them, these tunes have a sort of dark beach vibe to them. Some of them were downright catchy. There were a few highlights but it also seemed a bit drab for me. Much improved, but still not enough to make a love connection.

Licensed To Ill

Beastie Boys

2/5

I kind of expected to enjoy this. Instead I was mostly bored. Like watching talented kids I don’t know putting on a play. The album is littered with some amusing rhymes and references (pagoda/Abe Vagoda, Mr. Ed). When I would hear one then replay it I was disappointed to find a throwaway bit of rhyming rather than much cleverness behind it. “Fight for Your Right” is still a fun diversion. “No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn” is ok. The rest was a slog.

Vanishing Point

Primal Scream

5/5

I was bracing for a heavy metal or hard rock assault, but instead this was psychedelic and trippy. The songs are an eclectic brew that really drew me in. Surprises everywhere including some great horns, clarinet, harmonica with that trippy synth throughout. Definitely need to keep Primal Scream on my radar because I loved this.

Country Life

Roxy Music

5/5

While I’ve always heard about them, I have never listened to a Roxy Music album before. I’m impressed! The music is wonderfully complex, with orchestration and complex rhythms and arrangements. Some songs feel almost like show tunes. Really great! I’m impressed!

Pretenders

5/5

I’ve always liked the Pretenders but can’t recall ever listening to any of their albums. I really enjoyed this album. I didn’t realize what song Brass In Pocket was until it started. Not sure how I never knew that was the name of the song which was a surprise since I really love that song! The rest of the album had a lot of great tracks. Other favorites include Previous, Space Invader (yay for the video game samples!), The Wait, Kid, and Mystery Achievement. I really loved the album as a whole. Great stuff!

Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction

4/5

This is my second Jane’s Addiction album. I didn’t take to this quite as much as Ritual De Lo Habitual on the first listen, but it has grown on me more as I listen again. Good stuff!

Born In The U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen

5/5

If you had asked I would have denied ever hearing this entire album, but I’m pretty sure not only have I heard it, I even remembered some of the song order. Fantastic album. Classic Bruce.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

OutKast

5/5

A friend of mine had this album when it came out, and I’d hear a lot of it when hanging around his place, but hadn’t ever listened to it attentively from beginning to end. I don’t know that I was really aware that this was a two album set being each more or less a solo album. I love both “The Way You Move” (such a cool vibe) and “Hey Ya” (so much fun). It was a little surprising that The Way You Move is on the higher-energy disc and Hey Ya is on the smoother one. It is easy to see why this album is on this list. There’s a lot going on here and more to get my head around that I can in the 24 hours I have to check this out. Still, I walked away from the listen feeling like it would be worth the effort to explore this more. My initial impression is very positive. I love the variety. I very much enjoyed this ride!

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan

4/5

The Wu Tang Clan and me are not exactly a perfect match. Even so, I appreciate this album. The skill on display here is formidable. I’m definitely glad to have listened to this and wouldn’t mind listening to some of it again.

Gentlemen

The Afghan Whigs

4/5

Wow this was a ride… I have never heard of the Afghan Whigs even though I listened to my share of 90s grunge. It has a lot of the characteristics of its generation of music, but Gentlemen isn’t exactly the 90s grunge formula. The album is crafted like a movie exploring a very complicated and troubled relationship. The album ends with “Closing Prayer” - an instrumental piece that evokes the rolling of credits. So while the grinding guitars feel very 90s, this album stands out from a lot of that era’s music. The first time through I wasn’t sure I loved this, but after a second pass I really was drawn in to the story and the music. I wish I had discovered this when it was released because there sure is a lot to explore here. I’m not sure I have the energy now for this much drama often, but this album is definitely worthy of this list with a lot of depth to explore.

C'est Chic

CHIC

5/5

This has been a favorite of mine for a very, very long time. Still, it’s illuminating to listen to it with fresh ears today from start to finish. They didn’t have to ask for the favor in Chic Cheer: “If you don’t mind, would ya, please? Get up off of your seat and repeat Chic Chic Chic Chic Chic Chic…” I’m way ahead of you. When I put this on the headphones I floated away on disco clouds powered by groovy guitars, cool bass lines, glittering pianos and gorgeous vocal harmonies. C’est Chic is perfection. I could stay here all week.

90

808 State

4/5

This was a lot of fun to listen to. Enjoyed hearing shades of The Hustle and Do You Know The Way To San Jose? on Cobra Bora and Sunrise. Was a perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of housework.

Ready To Die

The Notorious B.I.G.

2/5

Having heard a lot about The Notorious B.I.G. over the years, I figured I should listen to something from him at some point. Looks like I’m there today. I liked the way he opened the album at birth. Interesting concept. I can appreciate how real and raw this all feels. Uncomfortably so quite often - with some pretty explicit sex and misogyny that turned me off. Not something I expect I’ll ever revisit.

Kick Out The Jams (Live)

MC5

2/5

This had all the issues of being a live album for me. In general, I don’t tend to love being introduced to new songs on a live album recording. this one felt pretty noisy. Probably would have enjoyed it more if the recording was clearer or if I heard a studio track. As it is, I just couldn’t get into this.

Midnight Ride

Paul Revere & The Raiders

3/5

I’ve always liked the song Kicks, and I am familiar with the tune I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone. The rest of this is new to me. I like the generous use of organ. Kicks is definitely the stand out track here. I didn’t love the Little Girl in the 4th Row (in English or Italian), but the bonus car songs (SS396 and Corsair) made up for those. Overall a groovy time.

Jazz Samba

Stan Getz

5/5

One thing I can say is that this project has made me realize that I like jazz. At least as much as any genre. Jazz encompasses a wide range like any other genre. Stan Getz is truly one of my favorites. I adore this album. Those smooth bossa nova beats have me drifting off into some blissful place. I definitely need to spend more time with music like this.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wilco

5/5

Nice early 21st century alt rock that I enjoyed then and enjoy now. There is a lot of interesting arranging and instrumentation that sets this above some of the more generic albums of this era. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot holds up for me. I like hearing it again.

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

5/5

I really loved The Kink’s fourth studio album from a few years before this (Face to Face), so I had high hopes for this. To my great surprise, this far exceeded my high hopes! Every song on this appeals to me. This album is quirky, musically varied, and overflows fun! I wasn’t exposed to a lot of The Kinks growing up, but I’m glad to be making up some of that lost time now. I’m becoming quite a fan of The Kinks.

Rubber Soul

Beatles

5/5

What can I say, it’s a great album packed with great songs! Nice to hear the Beatles having a little fun.

...And Justice For All

Metallica

2/5

I had just read a story from The Guardian entitled “World close to ‘irreversible’ climate breakdown, warn major studies” and then started my first listen of this. Right on cue Blackened put a boot on my soul and ground in the depression. The message was right on cue. Unfortunately the message was delivered in the noodly, rambly, grinding Metallica style that really turns me off. All the talent on display here is lost on me when I can’t connect to any hooks or structure. It all becomes very tedious. This was an exercise in endurance. Some guitar solos that I appreciated here and there, and even a few bits of respite with some pleasant acoustic playing, but by the end my ears were numb and I was just glad it was over.

Sign 'O' The Times

Prince

5/5

One of my favorite Prince albums with some of my favorite Prince songs (Sign O’ The Times, Play in the Sunshine, Housequake, U Got The Look, I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man, The Cross, It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night, Adore - to name a few), Sign O’ The Times is an astonishing accomplishment the shows off all the things I love about Prince.

Talking Heads 77

Talking Heads

5/5

Now on our third Talking Heads album for this project. Other than Psycho Killer, I don’t recall having heard anything on this album before. On the first listen I was less enthusiastic about this, but then on my second and third listens fell in love with this expectedly weird and quirky ride. So much so that I went back and listened to the Deluxe version with 5 extra songs. Those are great additions to a great album! Psycho Killer acoustic is amazing with that cello!

Elephant Mountain

The Youngbloods

5/5

Get Together, the only Youngbloods song I ever heard before this, happens to be one of my very favorite songs of the ‘60s. So I’m pretty excited to see the group appear here. It’s about time I checked out some of the rest of their music. From the moment I hit play I loved this album. Darkness Darkness kicked things off beautifully. It’s got a folky, mountainy vibe that instantly appealed. Then as it goes the psychedelia came in and it all blended into something really impressive! The arrangement is beautiful and I love the lead singer’s voice. The Youngbloods make folksy, bluesy, jazzy, country, psychedelia seem completely natural. Only on reflection do I realize what an accomplishment that is. Nothing really jolted me. It all just seemed perfect. The instrumentals are wonderful. And thank you for Don’t Let The Rain Get You Down as I enter a Seattle winter. This is one of my favorite discoveries in this project so far. There will be a lot more from The Youngbloods in my future.

Repeater

Fugazi

3/5

I liked this ok… listened to it a couple of times today. I still kind of scratch my head about this being “a landmark of rock music.” Maybe it would have felt more that way had I listened to this in 1990. Listening to it today I thought it was fine.

Pieces Of The Sky

Emmylou Harris

5/5

I know several of the songs on this album - but performed by other artists. Emmylou Harris does them justice. I love the variety on this album. Favorite songs include Boulder to Birmingham, For No One, and Queen of the Silver Dollar. But the whole album is really a pleasure.

Fuzzy

Grant Lee Buffalo

2/5

Never heard of this artist before. The first song had some pretty interesting lyrics and I kind of liked the music. Throughout the album I didn’t always get all the myriad of references and wasn’t always sure I knew what the lyrics were about… at other times they seemed way too spot on tied quite specifically to the early 90s. Speaking of the early 90s, I think I might have liked this album better then. Today it sounded muddled and didn’t really compel me to want to listen again.

Mama's Gun

Erykah Badu

4/5

I know I heard one song from this album (“…& On”) from a mix CD someone made for me a long time ago, but I hadn’t listened to much more from Erykah Badu. This album was really a nice listen, with a lot of it just flowing smoothly from one track to the next. Love the jazzy sound and I enjoyed grooving along to it. Favorite Tracks: Didn’t You Know, …& On, Cleva and A.D. 2000.

Space Ritual

Hawkwind

5/5

I’ve found my go-to album for my ‘70s drug montages. Perfect for fast zoom-in/zoom-outs, blurry close-ups of go-go dancing and multicolored double exposure lights circling over fast cuts of smiling and screaming faces. This album overflows with psychedelic energy. Today I was not tripping and feared this might be tedious. I needn’t have worried - it was quite the opposite! The housecleaning I did as I listened became wildly more interesting. I lost track of how long I had been listening or whether the song had ever changed. The 2+ hour run time flew by. Several songs into a second listen of disc one I realized I had repeat turned on and the music had started over. My cats went wild and started running all over like crazy midway through the album. I’m pretty sure this has psychoactive effects. I love how seriously Space Ritual takes itself. I love the weird cats on the cover. I love the use of flute and sax. I love the analog synthesizers. I love the serious spoken word parts (“vermilion deserts of Mars, the jeweled forests of Venus”, and instructions provided in case of Sonic Attack). I love the noodly bass lines. I love gyrating wildly to Lord of the Light. I love the cosmic grandeur. “In the fourth second of forever I could remember nothing that I did not love.” Totally groovy!

The Beach Boys Today!

The Beach Boys

5/5

The Beach Boys were a group that I thought I understood in my youth. Then sometime in my 30s all those songs I started getting an inkling there was a lot more to them than I thought. So I have really loved having their albums come up on this project. The songs I am familiar with are so much more meaningful, and I’m discovering brilliant new songs that often surpass those greatest hits. I enjoyed the fun side one and the much more wistful side two. There’s a lot of everything I love about The Beach Boys here. I’m constantly surprised how the melodies will often go off in an unexpected direction - just one of the many ways this album transcends its genre. I listened to this three times in a row and just floated away on those beautiful harmonies over a glorious wall of sound. What a perfect album!

Stankonia

OutKast

4/5

Mostly enjoyable, although I don’t know that I appreciate the interludes and there were a few duds on there. I’m wondering if I want any skits on my music albums… With these long runtimes I wouldn’t mind starting there to trim the length a bit. I’d probably enjoy an edited version of this… Nonetheless, there are a lot of real moments of brilliance on this album! It is packed with a variety of styles that keeps the interest level up. I really enjoyed hearing surprising instruments and styles pop up throughout. Easy to see why this is a rap classic.

Penthouse And Pavement

Heaven 17

5/5

Despite growing up in the 80s, I haven't listened to a lot of Heaven 17 before. The album cover had me ready to like this album, and like it I did. I love this synth-driven, pop extravaganza. It addresses some pretty interesting topics (I enjoyed "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" as I placed my ballot into the collection box today). Some days the relative simplicity of a lot of the songs might not have appealed as much to me, but it was perfect today!

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

5/5

I knew two of the four Isaac Hayes songs on this album going into this… Walk On By and By The Time I Get To Phoenix. I love both songs as songs, but Isaac really takes them to a special place. The songs on this album are very extended from the versions that played on the radio. These tracks take their time with you - no wham, bam, thank you ma'am for Isaac Hayes. Slow down, go with the flow and slow progression, and savor the orchestral arrangements and backup vocalists. Linger over a lost love and Walk On By. Groove to that extended piano solo in Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic. Vacillate between One Woman and another. Then take the full 18:44 to get to Phoenix. These songs gave me goosebumps then left me completely satisfied. I want to stay with this album all night.

The Real Thing

Faith No More

4/5

I had kind of forgotten everything I might have known about Faith No More, and when this album came up I had a negative reaction. But I started playing the album and loved “From Out of Nowhere.” Then I realized that I knew and liked the song “Epic.” By the third song I was starting to think I misjudged. These guys sound like they’re on the brighter side of hard rock/metal - more in my wheelhouse than your Metallicas and Panteras. Then suddenly “Surprise! You’re Dead!” lurched hard right… uh oh. It was followed by “Zombie Eaters”, a ballad that starts off quietly. Now I’m not sure what to make of this… This album is a bit of a journey through a lot of styles, some more appealing to me than others. While I didn’t necessarily need a remake of War Pigs and some of the harder songs didn’t appeal to me, I respect a band who can serve up a smorgasbord of metal like this.

Nevermind

Nirvana

5/5

It says a lot that this album often exceeds its reputation. It also says a lot that it sounds even better to me today that in years past.

En-Tact

The Shamen

5/5

Somewhere in 1993 I discovered Boss Drum, The Shamen’s follow up album to En-Tact. I fell in love with the sound and enjoyed listening to that album. For whatever reason I never ventured any further into their catalog. I enjoyed this album as well. The opening track Move Any Mountain and the Pro Gen remix at the end are fantastic. The rest of the album was great. My raving days may be largely behind me, but this is a great high-energy choice for doing work around the house!

Rum Sodomy & The Lash

The Pogues

5/5

I thought The Pogues were some kind of indie, maybe punk music when this came up. Why? I have no idea. Turns out I had no idea what The Pogues were all about. I certainly did not expect that Irish folk with a little country thrown in. Nor a disturbing anti-war anthem based on “Waltzing Matilda.” I did not realize that would be the perfect soundtrack for my day. Amazing storytelling. Amazing music. I love it! Rum Sodomy & the Lash was never so great!

Let's Get It On

Marvin Gaye

5/5

Listened to this all day on repeat… work was never so sexy.

At Newport 1960

Muddy Waters

5/5

I started listening to this immediately after watching a terrible documentary about a cult that committed sexual abuse and branding of women. Bad timing. Off to a bad bad start with that first song. I also have not had a lot of interest in the blues in my past, so this isn’t promising… Fortunately I enjoyed the non-branding-related songs on this album very much! Lots of energy, great blues playing, and except for that first track (which then repeated near the end - UGH), which I will excuse but never enjoy. I was surprisingly into this! Really great!

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

The Smashing Pumpkins

4/5

I love the album cover. The runtime of this album was a little intimidating. Fortunately, the first two songs’ cinematic quality with the piano and orchestra disarmed me. Perhaps the two hours would fly by... Turns out I've got two issues with this album. 1 - The 2 hour length B - It is stylistically all over the place There are songs that sound like rage metal, 90s grunge, movie soundtrack, love themes. Songs seemed to challenge the mood that had been set just a few minutes earlier. I would have probably enjoyed a lot of this a lot more had this been broken up into a couple of albums. I heard some good songs, some strange songs, some great songs, some interesting songs, and a few tedious songs. But despite the distinctive vocal delivery didn’t get the feel of this as an album. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is an interesting albeit unwieldy album. A good curator could lift and separate this into a few great albums.

Boston

5/5

This album is 70's guitar rock perfection. It is the foundational work on which my understanding and appreciation of this genre is built. Truly deserving of being on all the “best” lists. I had never read the history of how this album came to be. An incredible story that I'd love to see dramatized. I had not considered how such an artifact no doubt sprung from a perfectionist genius sneaking around in a dingy basement studio against the corporate overlords’ wishes. A real treat to spend today listening to Boston. Remarkable listening to this today knowing every note of every song and still being blown away by how great it is.

Tubular Bells

Mike Oldfield

5/5

Amazing album. Tubular Bells - the part everyone knows - is incredible, but for my money the crazy Pt. II is where it’s at! Love love love this album!

Seventeen Seconds

The Cure

3/5

This list is not going to let me ignore The Cure, this being the third album in a year. It was ok for me. I get the description of “gloomscapes” for this music. A lot of it did have a horror movie soundtrack feel - in particular the very short “The Final Sound” which I liked. I also liked the upbeat but still dark “The Forest”. Being pressed to listen to The Cure hasn’t yet made me a fan, but I do appreciate them more than I did before this project.

Tusk

Fleetwood Mac

5/5

I really love Tusk. We had it in our household when it came out since we had been a big Rumours household. I don’t think it was ever quite as popular on our turntable as Rumours, but it had several really memorable parts that have followed me. The title track is weird and wonderful, and I love Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks’ contributions. Sara is one of my favorite Stevie Nicks songs and it is just wonderful to bask in the full 6:31 album version. I love that Fleetwood Mac gave us the perfect jewel that is Rumours then followed up with something so experimental and wonderful. An incredible one-two punch from an incredible band!

Home Is Where The Music Is

Hugh Masekela

4/5

I’m a big fan of Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” and some of his other pop covers. So there is a familiarity to these songs - definitely feel the connection to the songs I knew. This album is more jazz, a genre I still feel is new to me. While I keep having this nagging feeling like I’m missing out on something, I am enjoying the jazz that has been coming up in this project more than I expected. This is no exception. A lot of it I liked. Some of it I loved. And part of it left me feeling like I should be getting more out of it than I was. Still, I can recognize that this is a great album and will likely grow on me in the future.

The Predator

Ice Cube

3/5

Hmmm... well, I like a lot of the beats and references in the rap lyrics. And some pretty topical things in here - how little progress we've made since 1992. The requisite early-90's references to women and other communities in pretty terrible terms make this harder to focus on those themes of crime and injustice. Seems like every rap album of this era is going to have me struggling... I like the music and the construction of the songs. I like a lot of the themes. But I can't help but think you can be angry and topical without such denigration of others. I could excuse this as "oh, it was the 90s" but it isn't the 90's so I won't.

Roxy Music

5/5

I hadn’t really listened to Roxy Music much prior to this project, but now I’m on album #2 and it seems that I am quite taken by this eccentric band. The instrumentation is wonderfully wild (Castanets! Oboe solos! Wackadoo synths!). The odd, quavering vocals deliver some pretty interesting lyrics. At times I’m not sure what abuse the guitar is being subjected to to make those noises. Every time I listen I hear more and more. I love it! I’m a fan!

3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...

Arrested Development

5/5

Finally some hip-hop/rap that I can enjoy unequivocally! I loved this album when it came out in the 90’s and it has remained one of my favorites ever since. Positive message. Incredible beats. Absolutely great! After enduring other 90s rapper’s terrible treatment of women and the gays (side-eye to Ice Cube), it is refreshing to hear some positivity a pro-people perspective. I love this album!

Emergency On Planet Earth

Jamiroquai

5/5

Snazzy jazzy groovy! A didgeridoo solo? You BET I’m in!

Talking Book

Stevie Wonder

5/5

“You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” was a childhood staple in my sister’s 45 record collection that I listened to a lot. It formed the foundation for my lifetime love of the music of Stevie Wonder. I’m sure I’ve listened to the album several times, but it is a real pleasure to spend some time with this today.

69 Love Songs

The Magnetic Fields

5/5

I have heard The Magnetic Fields in the past, but can’t remember any of the songs. I guess I’m not a romantic because when I saw this was going to be 3 HOURS of love songs I was filled with dread. Seemed like this was an awfully long assignment that was sure to become grating… This morning when I started listening I was most pleasantly surprised. It was quirky and not what I was dreading (the quote attributed to Merritt in the Wikipedia article makes so much sense : “69 Love Songs is not remotely an album about love. It's an album about love songs, which are very far away from anything to do with love.”). Each song is unique and delightful. There are some truly crazy lyrics with wonderfully offbeat analogies and observations. Amazing to find so many creative ways to write a love song. The styles of songs are all over the place. And the music is varied and great! This is an incredible accomplishment and wildly entertaining! I’m very glad that this assignment pressed me to invest time in such a long album. This was a ton of fun and something I will enjoy listening to again and again!

Screamadelica

Primal Scream

5/5

I listened to Vanishing Point from Primal Scream a month or two ago and I mentioned that I needed to look further into this group. Good thing it came up here because I had not been proactive about following through on that… The songs are sometimes psychedelic, sometimes rock, sometimes gospel, sometimes bluesy, sometimes who knows what. This album is a remarkably varied yet coherent collection of diverse songs. So so good! I was into this from beginning to end!

Here Are the Sonics

The Sonics

4/5

Looking at the wholesome fivesome on the album cover made listening to the opening track “The Witch” quite a surprise! Absolutely unexpected - like a punky-grungy Beach Boys sound. I was expecting something much tamer. Then I start reading about this band I have never heard of and discover that they are from the Puget Sound - birthplace of grunge and my stomping ground. Incredible that in 1965 this was going on. The songs are built on a simple set of chord progressions and has a lot of typical characteristics of music of that time, but there’s a dirty energy that makes this stand out. I like this partly as a historical artifact and partly for the way it genuinely surprised me. And after repeated listens the gritty recording quality became part of the sound. I see why this is here!

D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle

Throbbing Gristle

4/5

The song titles pretty much had me ready for something that was way off the beaten path and I wasn’t disappointed. The first time through I thought I might cut myself. The second time through I think I did. The second time through I decided to put it on while I was working. I sort of fell into a zen-like state while I was working and it served perfectly to keep things interested as I focused on my various tasks. It lended a sinister darkness to my workday which proved surprisingly productive. Somehow this horror show wormed its way into my heart. I really like this and at some point may love it.

Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

50 Cent

4/5

Wasn't sure how this was going to go because gangster rap doesn't always like me, but was surprised that this went down pretty good. Several songs I really liked. A few I didn't. In Da Club is an incredible classic, and I found a few new faves including High All The Time, Blood Hound, and 21 Questions.

Bandwagonesque

Teenage Fanclub

4/5

I’ve never listened to Teenage Fanclub before. The harmonies are really nice, the music is great - I enjoyed the album!

Fire Of Love

The Gun Club

3/5

An interesting album I didn’t mind listening to, but not really a great match for me. Glad to have heard this but it was more of a curiosity than something I want to listen to again.

Chelsea Girl

Nico

2/5

I really wanted to love this album. There seems to be so much here that should work for me. It did not. Stopped in the middle of a third attempt when I realized I was miserable.

Close To The Edge

Yes

4/5

I seem to have a soft spot for progressive rock, even though - or maybe because - it’s always on the edge of crazytown. Looking at these lyrics I am lost, so instead I just let the music flow and try not to think about it too much. Maybe someday I'll spend more time figuring out what this is all about... I listened to this first while driving around in a not-so-stellar car audio environment, and this left me quite cold. Then I listened on some high quality headphones and was in love with it. A third time I listened on some studio monitors and again really enjoyed this. I guess all the intricacy demands better equipment to be fully appreciated. Fun!

Little Earthquakes

Tori Amos

5/5

Here’s another album I have loved it since its release. Tori Amos’ piano work is exquisite, the songs perfectly crafted, the arrangements beautiful. I love every song on this which is why it has been and will remain one of my favorite albums of all time. Little Earthquakes is perfection and every bit as compelling 30 years after I first heard it.

Picture Book

Simply Red

4/5

I got into Simply Red with their Stars album in 1991. I loved that album, and later got into their Greatest Hits. So I knew and liked a few of the hits off this album. I'm glad to have had this come up as there are a lot of great new songs from Simply Red that already favorites!

Life Thru A Lens

Robbie Williams

4/5

One of my partner’s favorite songs is “Angel”, so I’m familiar with that song. But somehow I’ve never heard the rest of this album before. I enjoyed all the catchy britpop. Lots of catchy hooks.

Is This It

The Strokes

4/5

I encountered this album a number of years ago, and purchased it before I had access to a music streaming service. I haven't listened to it often enough apparently to recognize all the songs, but I do recognize and like many of them. Glad to have this emerge from the fog of the past as I very much enjoy this album!

Fisherman's Blues

The Waterboys

5/5

Never heard of The Waterboys before but I instantly was very interested in the prominence of the squeezebox and the fiddle. I really loved this! The bonus disk is also really great too!

Born To Be With You

Dion

5/5

I know some Dion from the 60s, but this was the first exposure to his later work. It was not what I would expect from a former teen-idol doo-wop star. Quite good!

Time Out

The Dave Brubeck Quartet

5/5

I put on the Apple Music version of this on the headphones and was startled because the sound quality was so good! I had not expected that from an album released in 1959. I also instantly recognized much of the opening track “Blue Rondo À la Turk” even though I would never have known I knew the song from the name. “Take Five” was also instantly recognizable to me… Time Out had me fully engaged from the opening notes. Jazz is no longer a curiosity that I appreciate at arm’s length different that other genres. This project has made me realize that there is a lot of jazz that needs to be in my regular rotation, and this album is up there with the top of that list.

Scum

Napalm Death

1/5

It’s possible I agree with many of the sentiments expressed on this album, but after one listen lack any desire for more. 33 minutes is already more than enough.

Made In Japan

Deep Purple

5/5

I love being reunited with an old song. I thought I only knew one song, "Smoke on the Water," on this album. But as I started this album two moments from my past came flooding back as “Highway Star” blazed out of the speakers. Once when my parents were out of town I jealously listened to it through the door of my older sister’s room where she was holed up with her rock friends. Or the time it was blaring out of her cool boyfriend’s Plymouth Barracuda as he dropped me off at school one day. One of the few moments in junior high when I felt like a badass arriving at school... Listening to this album brought me back to those fleeting moments of cool confidence. Only now those moments weren’t as fleeting and I really enjoy this album from beginning to end. Extended organ, guitar and drum solos? Twenty minutes of “Space Truckin’”? Sign me up! Really enjoyed Made in Japan. This is fantastic - right up there with my favorite live albums.

Second Toughest In The Infants

Underworld

5/5

I didn’t recall ever hearing of Underworld before, although I’m told I must have heard one of their other songs on the Trainspotting soundtrack. Then I realized I knew their song Cowgirls from the Hackers soundtrack. After listening to this album as well, I’m pretty sure that I probably danced to their music on many occasions. “Juanita : Kiteless : To Dream of Love” is an incredible opening to this album. Instantly grabbed me and I knew this would be a real ride! By 15 minutes in I had decided this is some of the best electronic music I’ve heard on this project, or maybe ever. Nearly an hour more of music was on this album. Great variety! Sometimes up dancing, other times just chilling in ambient cool. This journey had many exciting twists and turns. I was constantly engaged - pulled along on an electronic adventure. Absolutely fantastic!

GREY Area

Little Simz

5/5

A breath of fresh air after some recent ponderous rap album listens. Great musical arrangements, clever and smart rap, and a strong feeling of honesty really elevates this. I appreciated how lean it was compared to some of the sprawling, way too long recent selections in this genre. Exciting to have something I wasn’t looking forward to surprise me. Really great!

Alien Lanes

Guided By Voices

2/5

This was a strange and unsatisfying listen. Lots of short songs in varying musical styles sent through some sort of 90’s grunge distortion filter. There were some good things I would hear then they would abruptly end, like Cliff’s Notes versions of the songs. What’s with the snoring over Ex-Supermodel? Did I accidentally listen to an ad for a KTEL Record?

Odessa

Bee Gees

5/5

I’m a big fan of The Bee Gees, but up until this project had not really looked into their 60s catalog of albums. It’s something I’ve meant to do, so I’m glad this project has finally jump-started this long overdue endeavor. The versatility and craftsmanship of The Bee Gees is quite evident when you consider the many decades and styles of music they have created. Now that I have listened to two of their 60s albums, I’m further impressed at their work. This album is fascinating, beautiful and ambitious and after a few listens I can now say I’m a fan of every decade of The Bee Gees. I loved the orchestral grandeur, the concept and backstory, and the songs. While they may not have the fierce hooks of some of their later hits, the songs on Odessa still have great melodies and complex arrangements and the songs opened up more with every listen. I only wish I was listening to the original flocked album!

Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago

5/5

I’ve never listened to this debut album before, having mostly been familiar with Chicago’s greatest hits compilations until the 80s when I owned a couple of their cassettes. This is definitely Chicago, with a few little surprises. This album is funkier and bluesier in places than I expected. The guitar work gets heavy in the middle. I’m not sure I love the degree to which they take it in Free Form Guitar. It sounds quite skilled if not particularly pleasant or melodic. I can’t imagine I’ll sit through that song in its entirety again. Ready access to the skip track button would have been a good reason to get this on CD as soon as the tech was available… Other than that quibble, I loved the album!

Wild Is The Wind

Nina Simone

5/5

Really fantastic! This album had me from the opening strains of I Love Your Lovin' Ways. Some really haunting songs on this. They are right to feature Four Women on the cover. What a remarkable song. There are so many great songs on this. I’ve already listened to it over and over…

Music in Exile

Songhoy Blues

5/5

This is something I would never have been aware of but for this project. The mix of “desert blues” and rock is remarkable, I absolutely love it! I was drawn to this immediately and each listen opens up more of this to me. The guitars are amazing. Reading the backstory of the group it is amazing how joyful music about dislocation and trauma can be. So glad to have encountered this!

Kimono My House

Sparks

4/5

The cover made me think this could be weird and wacky, and it is. These guys are glam rock set just a little off-kilter. I really liked it!

The Fat Of The Land

The Prodigy

3/5

I didn’t enjoy this nearly as much as Music for a Jilted Generation. Some good beats but I think that filled my The Prodigy quota.

1977

Ash

5/5

I started listening to this and at first for some reason felt like this wasn’t particularly noteworthy. I was thinking this might be a 3 or so when I had to stop listening. When I picked up listening to it again it suddenly caught fire and I loved the second half. Wondering what had changed I immediately started the album over and decided first-time-listen-me was an idiot. These songs rock! Great guitars and drums and fun songwriting. I love this!

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West

4/5

I don’t really want to hear any more about Kanye so I was not happy with this Christmas present. Still, I got through this and must admit that it is an impressive album. The production spares no expense. It’s expertly crafted. The lyrics are often pretty great although there are some dud moments. Like the Chris Rock skit at the end of the Blame Game - yuck. Some of these songs are truly great. If I had never heard of Kanye this would likely be a 5. He definitely complicates my feelings greatly about this album. Going with a 4 but part of me thinks that’s too high and part of me thinks that is too low.

The Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest

4/5

I enjoyed this! Interesting to listen to with some good rhymes.

Behaviour

Pet Shop Boys

5/5

Today was the perfect, gloomy day for a wistful, deeply reflective album that over the years has grown to mean more and more to me. I haven’t listened to this from beginning to end in some time, though, so it was on this rainy day that I revisited this well-worn album. Every note is so familiar and yet I am still discovering new emotions and meaning in these songs. This is arguably the best from a duo that has given me a lot of bests. While I loved every moment of my multiple listens to this today, the quiet parts really stood out to me today. “Being Boring”, “This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave,” “To Face The Truth,” “My October Symphony,” “Nervously,” “The End Of The World” capture so many important moments in my life. All without forgoing the dance floor masterpieces like “So Hard”. What an incredible album.

Station To Station

David Bowie

5/5

This is the first time hearing this and I love it! David Bowie fearlessly delivers lyrics with unusual melodies, while still managing to appeal and create hooks. Really impressive!

Vespertine

Björk

5/5

I’m never quite sure how Björk‘s albums are going to go down. This one proved quite enjoyable. I felt like I was traveling through some enchanted land. The harp and chorale parts were great additions. Lovely!

The Who Sell Out

The Who

5/5

I really love the few of listening to an hour of radio! That was unexpected. Lots of variety and fun!

The Slim Shady LP

Eminem

4/5

A ton of rapping mastery on this album. This is a bit tough because of Eminem’s alter-ego perspective. Is the misogyny part of the character? Or not? There is a lot of horror in this album, but it is essentially a horror album. So is it wrong to have a character express such horror? I cannot deny the storytelling is incredibly compelling - even though the tales are often extraordinarily dark. This often made me very uncomfortable, as intended I think. This is another one where the score I give this is both two low and too high.

Younger Than Yesterday

The Byrds

5/5

I really enjoyed this. Great harmonies with a dash of psychedelia and a sprinkle of country. Plus the great Hugh Masekela on the opening track! What’s not to love?!

Clandestino

Manu Chao

5/5

I have a few songs by Manu Chao from some mix tape I received many years ago, but never listened to an entire album. Really enjoyed this! The French-Spanish angle was interesting too. Great!

Soul Mining

The The

5/5

Wasn’t sure I needed two The The albums on this list, but this one is different from the second release “Infected.” I loved this one as well. Some nice 80s goodness - particularly enjoyed the song I knew (This is the Day), I’ve Been Waiting for Tomorrow, and Giant. Really great to become more familiar with The The.

Deserter's Songs

Mercury Rev

4/5

If I hadn’t known what I was listening to I might have thought this was the Flaming Lips at times. Since I love the Flaming Lips, this was great! In particular loved the opening and closing tracks, but lots of other great stuff along the way.

Dig Your Own Hole

The Chemical Brothers

5/5

I guess I’m a Chemical Brothers person now.

Berlin

Lou Reed

5/5

Amazing! Stopped what I was doing shortly after pressing play and just listened. Then listened to it again. And then again. Incredible. I’m loving every song on this album. Even though it is really heart-wrenching. Lou Reed knows how to explore some pretty dark places without making me question the artists feelings toward his subject. That’s something that I’ve grown weary of with some of the rap and hip hop artists that have been served up lately. This is the best new thing I’ve listened to in a long time. Absolutely perfect!

Nighthawks At The Diner

Tom Waits

5/5

I listened to this without reading the wikipedia article and thought I was listening to a live album at some cool nightclub wishing I was there. It was a real surprise to discover this is a studio album with a small invited audience designed to simulate a jazz club. No wonder it sounds so good. Really fantastic. The band sounds amazing. The recording crystal-clear. Tom sounds perfect. The audience interaction perfect and natural. They really succeeded at setting the mood for this recording. It’s quite a feat. I love listening to this. There are laugh-out-loud moments, arresting moments, and a lot of near-perfect moments. And a jazz remake of Phantom 309? I’m stunned.

Melody A.M.

Röyksopp

5/5

I got this album within a few years of its release and enjoyed the chill vibes. It’s fallen off my radar for the last 15 years or so, but I enjoyed hearing it again. I love it!

Buffalo Springfield Again

Buffalo Springfield

5/5

Buffalo Springfield has not been a group I have pursued but given the member always knew I should. I instantly was impressed. The opening track “Mr. Soul” immediately piqued my interest. “A Child’s Claim to Fame” is a great country sounding track with a cool little guitar part I love. Then it gets a little psychedelic with “Everydays”. Neil Young then takes the helm again in “Expecting to Fly,” which had a dreamy, ethereal quality. Then we plunge into “Bluebird” - Stephen Stills at his best with a really cool banjo ending. In the first five tracks we are already served a smorgasbord of some great sixties sounds prepared by experts. Well worth the ride already. The rest of the album continues as one might expect from musicians of this caliber. It’s almost embarrassing that one group held all this talent. It isn’t a surprise to me that they were barely holding together as a group. You can hear them pulling in different directions. But at this moment they put together something really special.

The Infotainment Scan

The Fall

5/5

I really disliked “Live at the Witch Trials” and disliked “The Nation’s Saving Grace.” I’m wondering why I need another album from The Fall. With great reservations and more than a little resentment this journey begins… “Ladybird”… this is not terrible… maybe even exceeding tolerable. Way better than expected. “Lost In Music”… what?! A remake of a Sister Sledge song?! By Nile Rogers?! Ummmm… this is unexpected… they’ve breached the walls! WTF?! I love this! “Glam-Racket”… nice beat! Great guitar! Fuck… am I having fun?! “I’m Going To Spain”… Love the delivery, love the tune, love the lyrics, love it! The remaining songs have interesting arrangements, a sort of punk-y vibe and constant undertones of madness. Even the odd talking-over-the-music thing is working for me over music this good. A few songs tested my patience a little… but they are surrounded with so much good stuff that any discomfort was quickly forgotten. Where The Fall’s other albums I heard were off-the-rails bad, this one is an odd and wildly fun ride that teeters precariously along without ever losing me as a listener. I willingly continued into the two bonus tracks and loved them both. Well hell… Never in a million years would I have thought The Fall would get a 5 out of me but The Infotainment Scan kicked me square in the musical nuts and here we are.

Different Class

Pulp

5/5

In the late 1990s I discovered the songs “Common People” and “Disco 2000” and loved them. Fantastic songs that I put on many a mix tape. Fast-forward to today, and this album appears and I suddenly realize that somehow I never explored Pulp’s music any further. Absolutely wonderful. So much other goodness here! “I Spy” “Live Bed Show” “Something Changed” “F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.” “Underwear” were some new favorites but I loved the whole album.

Thriller

Michael Jackson

5/5

Thriller is a monster of a pop album, made by a monster of a man. I can’t resolve that here and struggle having both in my head at once. I’m totally comfortable with Quincy Jones’ production perfection. No wonder this remains at the pinnacle of pop.

The Man Machine

Kraftwerk

5/5

Ahead of its time and perfect for our robot future! Loved this. Not sure if it is the day or the subject or what, but I enjoyed this significantly more than Trans Europe Express.

I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

Sinead O'Connor

5/5

I fell in love with this album when it was released and listened to it a lot through the 90s. But somewhere in the last thirty years I sort of lost touch and hadn’t listened to this in a very long time. Listening to it tonight is like reuniting with an old friend. I feel completely at home here. Loved. Warm. Wonderful. I’d call out favorite tracks but I’d end up listing them all. It’s an album that’s great from beginning to end. It couldn’t reappear in my life at a better time.

Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

5/5

I first heard Michael Franti and Spearhead at a music festival a decade or so ago and was struck by his wide range of social justice coverage and insightful lyrics set to some great beats. I started this album not knowing I was listening to Michael Franti, but after the first few lines of “Satanic Reverses” I pulled up the lyrics and saw his name there. I knew there was something familiar about this. Wow. The album is incredible. Entertaining. Enlightening. Reflective. Maybe prophetic? A window into life in 1992 that reflects clearly on us today. I was compelled while listening to just to stop and follow the lyrics. Michael Franti’s voice is just as powerful in his 20s as when I watched him perform in his 40s. His formidable talents serve up justice, education and illumination. Hip hop’s power channeled as a force for good. I wish I had been exposed to this 30 years ago when it was new, and wish more people were aware of it now.

MTV Unplugged In New York

Nirvana

5/5

I wasn’t a big Nirvana fan back in the day for reasons I still cannot explain, but even so by now I was familiar with this album. It’s impressive how effortlessly Nirvana made it seem to change their style to Unplugged and how good the songs sound in this format. Great album!

Maggot Brain

Funkadelic

5/5

I love the dark, funky feel of this strange album. A great journey from the long, crazy guitar solo opening track through groovy funk culminating in the trippy “Wars of Armageddon” with its crazy sounds. Felt like I was on some sort of crazy trip - one I’ll be glad to take again!

Autobahn

Kraftwerk

5/5

I’ve hear the short version of Autobahn before and enjoyed it, but it was nothing compared to driving down the highway today listening to the full 20 minute version! Really incredible how the song is constructed. I loved it so much! As the album progressed my love only grew. They paint amazing sound pictures on this album. The flute is wonderful. It might have even edged out The Man-Machine as my favorite from Kraftwerk.

Calenture

The Triffids

5/5

When I first started this album I was a little disappointed. They are a very good band. They had a nice 80s feel, some good majestic choir, organ, bells, synths... so many elements that appeal to me. But the songs weren't grabbing me. I was ready to give this the lowest score of the week. As I listened further I'm not sure if the songs improved our my ear adjusted, but I started warming up to the band. After the halfway point I was enjoying this significantly more. Immediately after finishing I gave it a second listen and found myself singing along. I needed a couple of listens to this album to really appreciate it. Now I love it as a new addition to my 80s collection!

Young Americans

David Bowie

5/5

Fantastic! This is my first time listening to this album, although I am quite familiar with three of the songs on here. The rest is well worth having in my collection.

Kollaps

Einstürzende Neubauten

1/5

This was another album I listened to on a plane ride. I didn’t enjoy this much. Lots of yelling and clanging. Maybe some other time I’d enjoy this more. But today I was just wanted them to quiet down.

Dirty

Sonic Youth

4/5

Of the four Sonic Youth albums we have listened to in the first 500 albums, this is by far my favorite. I went into this with a negative attitude and was surprised I didn’t hate it. I actually listened to this twice. A real surprise! Favorite songs: Theresa’s Sound-World, Sugar Kane, Chapel Hill

Shake Your Money Maker

The Black Crowes

5/5

Should have listened to this a long time ago. Solid rock! Great album!

Viva Hate

Morrissey

5/5

I head into this with some pretty negative Morrissey prejudices. Instead I found a wonderful, charming, lovely album that drew me in like a friend. Quite unexpected especially since it is called “Viva Hate” and is filled with hard sentiments. Still, it all struck me as a warm and human expression or love, hate and frustration that really resonated. So while I had to contend with some idiotically shortsighted notions dating back to my youth, what I get in return was a really wonderful addition to my music library. I love Viva Hate!

Fever Ray

4/5

I kind of liked this stark kind of electronic music. Would be perfect for trekking across some featureless landscape. Some interesting lyrics. Although its bleak nature made it a little tough to fully love or listen to often. But at certain moments it could be perfect.

Hot Fuss

The Killers

5/5

In 2004 I wandered into a Montréal CD store and bought this album after hearing Somebody Told Me playing in the store. It was love at first listen as The Killers became one of my favorite bands. Hot Fuss is an exceptional album. Great guitar, great synths, and that unique Brandon Flowers delivery of great lyrical stories create a whole lot of fun… so many great songs on this incredible debut!

My Aim Is True

Elvis Costello

2/5

Serviceable but totally uninspiring to me. Elvis Costello is still not my cup of tea. I’m pretty sure I didn’t need a third Elvis Costello album before I die.

The Slider

T. Rex

3/5

This was just ok for me. I liked the previous T Rex selection Electric Warrior quite a bit more. This was okay but not thrilling to me for whatever reason.

LP1

FKA twigs

5/5

This is a crazily enchanting album that had me mesmerized. Really interesting and unique. The soundscapes painted here are a bit stark, a bit startling, utterly beautiful. So many layers, such an incredible use of electronics. I loved it!

Heartattack And Vine

Tom Waits

5/5

Wow. This may be my favorite Tom Waits album yet (and that is saying something!). I loved the variety, the piano, the organ… lots of great moments. This is pretty much what I think about when I think stereotypically about Tom Waits.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

5/5

My parents are big Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fans, so I was happy to see them here. But this is a truly unusual album that I had not listened to. The deep old-school country guests and performances on this are remarkable. Incredible fiddling! Great harmonica! Really stellar performances of a lot of old classics. The candid moments before a lot of the performances were fascinating, charming and really added to the experience. I loved this from beginning to end. Really impressive to think that a young hippy country band in the early 1970s had the wherewithal to embark on such an ambitious project! I’m very glad its importance was highlighted by the 1001 folks.

Yeezus

Kanye West

1/5

This is the third Kanye album that has come up. I really hope this is the last. Probably some interesting music in there somewhere, but the ego and denigration makes me too irritated to care. No more please.

Woodface

Crowded House

4/5

I liked this album. The lyrics were often fun. The music flirted with catchy. I didn’t quite come to love this album, but it was interesting enough and listenable enough. With time I may just like it more and more.

Siamese Dream

The Smashing Pumpkins

5/5

I love the song Disarm, so on that basis alone I could probably justify giving this album an 5. But there is a lot of other great music on this even though I’d only ever listened to the hits before. Why I never delved into their deeper cuts I can’t explain, but I’m glad to have heard this now. Such a great example of 90s alternative.

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

5/5

I jumped on the Oasis bandwagon after the follow-up to this album “What’s the Story, Morning Glory?” But I don’t recall ever listening to this album. Glad I did, because it is excellent.

Bayou Country

Creedence Clearwater Revival

5/5

“Proud Mary” would earn this album a 5 even if the rest of the tracks were recordings of a dentist’s drill. Fortunately the tracks still shine in the shadow of that iconic track.

Rattus Norvegicus

The Stranglers

5/5

This is certainly an interesting specimen of 70’s British punk. As someone who is disinclined to love punk music, I started off apprehensive. But this is really well done! The organ was a particular highlight for me. “Down in the Sewer” was a totally epic track! Incredible organ solo at the end! This would be an ideal soundtrack for a groovy haunted house (something I've dreamed of attending ever since I say episode one of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries in 1977 - someone please recreate this and invite me!). Weird and fun!

Straight Outta Compton

N.W.A.

3/5

I haven’t heard this before I’m thinking I have probably heard a lot of the songs on it at one point or another. The music is iconic but the contemptuous treatment of women and gays makes it hard to get down with. This hasn’t aged well. A fine historical artifact but nothing I would listen to or recommend today.

Me Against The World

2Pac

5/5

90s gangster rap isn’t in my wheelhouse. I was starting to resent having to listen to bombastic denigration over catchy beats. It’s tiresome. I’ve run out of giving passes to horrific lyrics because they are delivered with great talent. Being unfamiliar with 2Pac’s music, I was bracing for another endurance session that couldn’t end soon enough. Instead what I found is an incredible moving, vulnerable, introspective album by a rapper of great talent. Here is a rap album that was illuminating, moving, and real. Totally unexpected, it has made me reconsider a sub-genre I was ready to walk away from. This is an unflinching, hard hitting slice of life that respects its subjects. What an incredible album!

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts

Brian Eno

5/5

Unique. Interesting. A great soundtrack to my day! The first time through I liked it. But I listened to this more and its appear climbed steadily. Really great!

Natty Dread

Bob Marley & The Wailers

2/5

I’ve always felt like I was missing something with reggae music. For whatever reason reggae songs had a tendency to lose my interest. I wondered if this would change in this project. Apparently it hasn’t. I didn’t hate the music, but could not remain interested in it. I feel almost guilty giving it an honest rating though.

Pictures At An Exhibition

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

5/5

What an amazing recording of an amazing live performance! After listening to this the first time I put on Pictures at an Exhibition by the Vienna Philharmonic (itself a re-arrangement of the source piano version by Mussorgsky). I really loved both and it made this work all the more impressive. By the time I had done all this listening and reading about Pictures At An Exhibition I was completely enthralled. It takes a certain kind of hubris to do something like this. It’s impressive when it pays off. This is a wildly ambitious endeavor that created something really interesting and unique. I’m fairly certain I would never have known about this had it not appeared here. Bravo!

The Velvet Underground

5/5

The Velvet Underground seems ubiquitous, yet before this I couldn’t name a single song from them. I wasn’t even sure what they sounded like even though I’m sure I’ve listened to something from them somewhere along the way… This is great! I’m a sucker for good 60s organ, and there was plenty of that. The songs were varied and groovy! Lots to enjoy here.

Devotional Songs

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

5/5

This was a little unexpected. While maybe not my usual fare and not likely to become a part of my daily routine, I’m glad to have something like this appear on the list. Really great!

Da Capo

Love

5/5

Wow this is quite an album… I loved the 60s feel, then at the end “Revelation” goes totally wild… 19 minutes of groovy goodness! I love that this project is serving up some really amazing 60s music that I have never heard of before.

Hejira

Joni Mitchell

5/5

Such a lovely album from such a lovely woman. The songs have long, descriptive narratives that create such vivid images of their subjects. Just what I would want on a road trip with Joni Mitchell.

Cheap Thrills

Big Brother & The Holding Company

5/5

From the jump “Combination of the Two” set fire to my speakers. Is that JANIS JOPLIN I hear?! (AND HOW!) How am I just now discovering this song? I listened to this barnburner over and over… The rest of the album consists of incredible songs performed by an incredible band with an incredible lead vocalist. Incredible!

From Elvis In Memphis

Elvis Presley

5/5

I enjoyed every minute of this album. Elvis shines over incredible arrangements that manage to wrap country and soul sounds together with strings and French horns. Amazing. The backup singers are perfection. It is jam-packed with incredible songs. “Suspicious Minds” (from the CD reissue) and “In The Ghetto” are likely my favorite Elvis songs ever, with “Kentucky Rain” (also from the reissue) right on their heels. But the real surprise were how many great songs there are on this that I hadn't heard or had forgotten. I love his renditions of “Only The Strong Survive”, “Any Day Now”, and “Gentle on my Mind”. And "Power of My Love" is a sexy, swaggering new favorite. "True Love Travels On A Gravel Road" brings the country romance, while “I’ll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)” cranks up the soul. Elvis’ voice is incredible on “Long Black Limousine” with its strong gospel tones (performed with a cold no less!). “It Keeps Right On-A Hurtin’” and “I’m Movin’ On” bring on the country. "Wearin' That Loved On Look" combines both and is such a great opening to the album. If I haven't mentioned any songs on this album it is not because I didn't love them. I loved every second of this album. The production quality, the performances, the arrangements, the songs - it's all perfect. I’ve listened to this over and over for most of the day - I can’t seem to get too much of “From Elvis in Memphis.” This is Elvis at the very top of his game as he testifies, croons, wails and rocks his way through one of the best albums I've had the fortune to experience.

Bug

Dinosaur Jr.

3/5

This album has some catchy tunes with that alt-80s vibe. I liked it ok until the last half or so. Sort of started to feel like a slog.

Steve McQueen

Prefab Sprout

4/5

I really enjoyed this - it was a lot of fun! Some really good playing going on, some pretty catchy lyrics.

The Dark Side Of The Moon

Pink Floyd

5/5

Apple’s notes for this album say, “Dark Side of the Moon is a little like puberty: Feel how you want about it, but you’re gonna have to encounter it one way or another.” I’ve finally reached that moment. I know a couple of these songs. I’ve heard parts of the album playing in the background here and there. I have never listened to this album from beginning to end. It only took me 50 years to get here… Timeless, classic, incredible. A long-overdue addition to my favorite albums.

Tigermilk

Belle & Sebastian

5/5

I was introduced to Belle and Sebastian in the late nineties and was instantly taken by their catchy melodies. The lyrics peer into moments in the lives of interesting characters. These little slices of life are peppered with surprises - sometimes in stark contrast to the jaunty tunes. My imagination takes off filling in details of these fascinating stories. These songs still manage to surprise and delight even though this album has been in heavy rotation for more than 20 years. I never get tired of these lovely vignettes. This is such a perfect album - one of my all-time favorites.

Hypnotised

The Undertones

5/5

I’ve enjoyed poppy-punk since the 90’s… so it is pretty fun to go back to the late 70’s and early 80’s to hear some older takes on that genre. I loved The Undertones’ debut album and I love this album. Fun!

The Renaissance

Q-Tip

4/5

As I listened to “Johnny Is Dead” I was a bit surprised at the choruses. Is Q-Tip the Steely Dan of rap? Not exactly. But the rest of the album was smooth and jazzy. I’ll admit the first time through I had some trouble with this. I was feeling between a 2 and a 3. But I decided it deserved a second listen and my initial dislike warmed substantially. I clicked in to the understated, jazzy style and was feeling 4 vibes. A few more listens and who knows…?

Stand!

Sly & The Family Stone

5/5

I'm a Sly & The Family Stone fan through their Greatest Hits compilations. Unfortunately I was missing great things like the 13+ minute jam Sex Machine. Can someone please get me a cigarette? I enjoyed the more complete taste of their talents provided by this great album chock full of everything I love about this group and more. BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA-LAKA!

Ocean Rain

Echo And The Bunnymen

5/5

I have loved the song The Killing Moon since I first heard it shortly after its release. It’s such an incredibly-crafted song - one of the very best of the 80s. Somehow this never translated into my listening to this album. As a fan or orchestra in pop I really missed out. The lush strings give the album a darker, cinematic tone. Still there are lighter cinematic moments to enjoy. Crystal Days had me happily be-bopping along, but that orchestra lifts the song above being a lightweight 80’s confection. I love it! This is one of my favorite albums of the 80s. I’m glad I found it even if it took nearly 40 years.

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators

4/5

I loved the groovy, psychedelic 60s vibe of this album. It took a little time to adjust to the quality of the recording itself, but I ended up enjoying the atmosphere of it all. Was the strange whomp whomp noises running through most (or all?) of the songs a saw being bent? The electric jug mentioned in the wikipedia article? Some other strange phenomena? After a few songs these questions left me and I just settled in.

High Violet

The National

5/5

This moody creation happened to arrive on a day when I was dealing with a lot of depressing shit. These are dense, moody, reflective songs. The sky was gloomy, my spirits were low, and High Violet was perfect!

Closer

Joy Division

3/5

I liked the first half of this much better than the second half. After a while it seemed to get a bit dark and a little monotonous. But it was ok for me.

Morrison Hotel

The Doors

5/5

I haven’t listened to much from the Doors other than their hits… I think I might have recognized one or two songs on this in some distant memory. I guess I see why these aren’t the usual Doors songs I hear, but they sure are great! I loved this album!

New Boots And Panties

Ian Dury

5/5

It’s about time this project offered up a gift for womankind! This surprised me. I kind of love it. It’s a bizarre album with that 70’s feel across its diverse styles. I enjoyed the music and the deadpan vocal delivery. I’m a fan.

Juju

Siouxsie And The Banshees

3/5

Quite a bit of intensity on this album. The cover seems very appropriate. I’ve heard some Siouxsie & The Banshees over the years and have always had mixed feelings. Some of that sentiment remains. Several songs I really liked (Spellbound, Arabian Knights, Halloween, Monitor). I can see myself going back to these. Glad to be revisiting this group. I feel like I can appreciate them more than back in the day.

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Marty Robbins

5/5

In the early 70’s every now and again I was babysat by an aunt or one of her daughters. Their living room was decked out in western style and classic country & western was always on the stereo. The Hanging Tree and Cool Water were particularly memorable selections. Hearing them again today has me feeling like I’m 6 again in the dim, fascinating room. Aside from the memories, Marty Robbins’ voice is so pure and these songs so iconic I’m very glad to see them recognized here. Definitely an album to hear before you die. Probably in a gunfight.

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Dead Kennedys

4/5

I wasn’t sure how this would go down. These guys know their way around the instruments which raises it to the top of the punk music I’m familiar with. The lyrics are pretty darn clever too. A surprisingly enjoyable listen!

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

Very Bruce Springsteeny.

Out Of The Blue

Electric Light Orchestra

5/5

As I kid I would stare at the glorious foldout album art for Out of the Blue and spend entire afternoons immersed in the Electric Light Orchesta. I have played this album regularly ever since. It is easily the most listened to album I will ever know. The cover still spurs excitement in me! Hearing the driving Turn To Stone beat fade in and Jeff Lynne’s lead vocals call out over the orchestra garnering perfect harmonious responses is still an incredible experience for me. This epic album soars, boogies, laments, reflects and triumphs for more than an hour and has so many moments that still give me goosebumps even though I know every note. It’s hard to call out any single song on an album like this. I love it end to end, although Concerto for a Rainy Day is always a particularly special part of the journey. There is no doubt that if I were asked to take one album with me to a desert island this would be the one. This bombastic, melodramatic and wonderfully ambitious album will forever be the heart to my love of music.

Exodus

Bob Marley & The Wailers

4/5

Maybe it is the mellow pace or something but reggae is not really a genre I’ve ever been able to connect to. My younger sister loved this stuff when we were teenagers, but despite her many efforts I didn’t enjoy it. I put this on expecting to fall into the usual reggae 2-3 ranking range. I sort of listened on autopilot until the title track really piqued my interest. Hmmmm… There’s a lot I liked about this album. The songs and specifically the arrangements were a bit more interesting than I was expecting. I think I’ve found an entry point on which to appreciate more this genre.

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

4/5

I didn’t love License to Ill and wasn’t looking forward to this. I was surprised that I didn’t recognize any of the songs (although maybe Sabotage was vaguely familiar?). This has a much more interesting musical sound than I was expecting. Funky guitar, organ, and other interesting instrumentation made this pretty cool to listen to. The rapping is pretty great too although I didn’t study the lyrics to closely.

Veckatimest

Grizzly Bear

3/5

I was surprised to discover that I had purchased this album not long after its release. I was also surprised that I didn’t recognize anything about this. I’m not sure if I ever loved this, but today I found it sort of nice, but I can see why I maybe listened to this once and then forgot about it. Just really didn’t click much with me. I don’t mind it but don’t really love it either.

Tanto Tempo

Bebel Gilberto

5/5

There’s noticeable Brazil representation on this list, and I’m for it! This is a lovely listen that was just perfect for my evening. There’s a lot of the classic bossa nova/samba sound with some modern twists nestled in there. It all works wonderfully.

Eagles

5/5

I grew up listening the The Eagles: Greatest Hits 1971-1975 and Hotel California. That and their later hits have pretty much been it for me. It was great hearing the first album. Talk about coming out of the gate fast… the first two songs on the first album, Take It Easy and Witchy Woman, remain some of the best of a group with a lot of bests. Really wonderful.

Strangeways, Here We Come

The Smiths

5/5

I loved this and no longer know who I am.

Sail Away

Randy Newman

5/5

I like Randy Newman’s music and knew “You Can Leave Your Hat On” but the rest of this looked unfamiliar - but as I listened I kept have moments of recognition. This was a lot of fun (and a little bit of shock when you realize what some of the lyrics were about) to listen to. Really brilliant! I like this each time I’ve listened to it more and more… glad to have it in my library!

At Budokan

Cheap Trick

5/5

I’m not going to talk about how I don’t care for live albums. This project has finally put that notion to rest for me. I wasn’t familiar with anything on side 1 - but I really enjoyed it and wished I was at Budokan. Or Osaka rather. On side 2 I recognized three in a row. A great rendition of Ain't That a Shame, then the beloved classics I Want You To Want Me and Surrender. I really noticed the drums on this... Cheap Trick knows how to rock. So much energy in this performance! I really loved this album.

The Suburbs

Arcade Fire

5/5

I’ve been a huge fan of this album since it was released. It’s filled with great hooks that are twisted just enough to make this really unique yet still accessible. A not quite despairing but still somewhat futile paean to the suburbs.

All Things Must Pass

George Harrison

5/5

I haven’t listened to much George Harrison. I wasn’t really excited to discover I would be listening to a triple album of his songs. I was pleasantly surprised when listening to this that it was very enjoyable, and despite its long length packed mostly with great music and very little filler. I guess George had a lot of music ready to bust out after the breakup of the Beatles. Loved the easygoing slide guitar driven country-ish feel to the album. The other musicians are great too. No surprise to find out from the Wikipedia article who they were. Great album. Didn’t mind the extended length or the extended Apple Jams - they made great background music while I worked today.

Paul's Boutique

Beastie Boys

5/5

With one hit and one miss from the Beastie Boys so far on this project, I wasn’t sure where this one would land. Turns out, it was a hell of a lot of fun. Great rhymes, great samples, great music!

Freak Out!

The Mothers Of Invention

3/5

I suppose this cover is truth in advertising. This was an interesting listen, but ultimately it was a little too much of a FREAK OUT for me. I got very tired of some of this… the strange mix of doo-wop and psychedelia… the rambly lyrics that felt like they were being made up as they went along… the songs that felt like they might have been fun to make but not really to listen to. A lot of the songs had me wondering if I hadn’t accidentally skipped backward and replayed earlier tracks. The musicianship was good and there were some parts I liked, but this isn’t something I’m excited to revisit any time soon. Kind of a 2.5 for me - but it is weird so I’ll round that up.

American IV: The Man Comes Around

Johnny Cash

5/5

This last recording from Johnny Cash was a real gift. It's pretty amazing to hear someone of such talent embrace their vulnerability as they near the end of their life. Such a variety of song selections! Some of these were obvious choices, but others like Hurt, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, and Personal Jesus are real surprises. They work incredibly well here making it is easy to forget what remarkable choices they are for Johnny Cash. This was incredibly moving to me when it was released and was an even more emotional listen today. This is a tear-filled journey that I am grateful to have made.

Harvest

Neil Young

5/5

Happy to listen to this - I don’t think I’ve ever heard the whole album. It is the definition of a classic with the incredible Heart of Gold. I was very impressed with the guest artist lineup. I was very surprised when I heard A Man Needs A Maid and There’s A World the orchestral backing… quite impressive and beautiful. What a great album!

Queen Of Denmark

John Grant

5/5

I very much enjoyed Midlake’s “Trials of Van Occupanther” album when it was released in 2006, so I was interested when I read they were the band for this John Grant album. Hadn’t hear of The Czars or John Grant, but his story seems pretty interesting. This did not disappoint. They music is lovely. The songs hard-hitting. It’s quite a combination. I’m listening to a gorgeously arranged musical selection and realize the chorus is singing “Baby, you’re where dreams go to die. I regret the day your lovely carcass caught my eye.” This album is filled with incredible lyrics: “I need a mongoose baby and some Calgon to take me up outta here.” “I feel just like Winona Ryder in that movie about vampires and she couldn’t get the accent right; and neither could that other guy.” “I wish I had the brain of a tyrannosaurus rex so I wouldn’t have to deal with all this crap.” This is a unique and beautiful album that gave me laughs, jolts and tears and I’m here for it.

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

Richard Thompson

5/5

I liked the exotic folksy feel of this album and Richard and Linda’s voices. Very nice!

Everything Must Go

Manic Street Preachers

5/5

I’ve heard of this group but couldn’t name any of their songs. I enjoyed this album a lot, especially on the second listen! The songs are often epic with great swells or strings and synths that really appeals to me. I couldn’t catch all the lyrics as I wasn’t listening in a place conducive to that, but the ones I did were intelligent and interesting and makes me want to investigate them further. A great album, one I’m glad to have in my library.

The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem

4/5

Eminem spends much of this album on the controversy that surrounds him. Is the self-reflection on this compelling? I’m not sure. Did Elton John’s famously controversial performance of “Stan” with Eminem give me some breathing room to like this despite the challenging nature of the lyrics? I’m not sure of that either. Some of this is cartoonishly extreme. Some of this was disturbingly extreme. And sometimes the shift between the two was jolting. Other times I wasn’t sure what to be thinking at all. Is this better than rapping about “big screen TV’s, blunts, 40’s and bitches?” It seems to be saying a lot more than that kind of rap. And I certainly walked away with a lot to think about. So how do I feel about this? I think today I’ll go with my gut reaction that this is a remarkable album and accomplishment and lean into this as a work that is designed to provoke and shock.

The New Tango

Astor Piazzolla

5/5

You had me at vibraphone. Then once I figured out what a bandoneon was you had me there too. This sounded much more modern and varied than I expected from a tango album. The songs progressed through different moods and emotions that I found very compelling. Again I am thankful for being introduced to another album that I would likely never have encountered but for this project.

Moondance

Van Morrison

5/5

I grew up listening to this album. It was nice to listen to it with fresh years 52 years after its release. Pretty darn timeless. Of course I enjoyed this. The only real surprise was when I read that Van Morrison was Northern Irish… I had no idea.

Madman Across The Water

Elton John

5/5

Tiny Dancer and Levon, two incredible Elton John tracks, kick off this album. We had this in our household when I was growing up, so I was familiar with it. Even so I have really only strong memories of the two openers and the title track. It's great to hear the rest of this album again. The orchestrations are beautiful and used to great dramatic effect. The lyrics tell vivid stories. The music is interesting - often more experimental than the hit songs might suggest. There is a lot to love on this album and today it has become one of my favorites from Elton John. I can see why it wasn't the instant success of some of Elton John's other efforts as the density and more progressive feel is perhaps less conducive to radio hits, but it is very rewarding. As I kid I didn't appreciate the longer, dense songs. As an adult I found them quite compelling. This album reveals a facet of Elton John that I hadn't properly appreciated. I'm glad to have a real surprise from an artist I thought was done surprising me.

Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby

Terence Trent D'Arby

2/5

I know the songs Wishing Well and Sign Your Name. I don’t completely hate them but I don’t like them either. The opening track wasn’t as I expected and piqued my interest a bit… maybe there will be more variety than I thought. The next song, If You Let Me Stay, underwhelmed and after that I was back to not loving Wishing Well. Not too excited at this point. After the first listen I didn’t hate this album. I tried two more listens to see try to discern why this was on the list. While I ended up feeling that most of this album was serviceable, I can’t say anything really jumped out and made me think I really needed to hear this. It’s alright and I didn’t mind having it on, but as I approach 600 albums on this project I’m expecting more.

My Generation

The Who

4/5

A classic album - with some unexpected good tracks. I enjoyed this.

Neon Bible

Arcade Fire

5/5

This is the album where I first took note of Arcade Fire. I love its bombast. The first time I saw Arcade Fire perform was in support of this album and the songs were great live. Love this album!

Beach Samba

Astrud Gilberto

5/5

This is one of the albums I find completely charming and enjoyable - a 5 with no reservations. I have loved listening to Astrud Gilberto for most of my life and this album did not disappoint me. Misty Roses gives The Girl from Ipanema a run for its money - it instantly became one of my favorite songs. Yeah, her duet with her 6-year-old son on The Lovin’ Spoonful’s You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice tilts heavily to the saccharine side, and Parade (A Banda) was a little jolting to the overall mood… still, I still enjoyed them both. I could listen to this all day. And just might.

Devil Without A Cause

Kid Rock

2/5

When I first started this I thought for a few minutes that this might be better than I feared. But in the 13 songs that followed, I kept wondering if I had accidentally repeated the previous tracks. The songs felt repetitive and most pretty much blurred together. On top of that the lyrics didn’t seem to have much to say. The instrumentation and mixing had talent, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this was all cheesier than intended and ultimately wasted. Halfway through every song that started had me wishing for some variety. *YAWN* Wwith the opening notes of Only God Knows Why I thought maybe the switch to a more traditional country song might improve things - but the autotune really put off and the whole thing felt disingenuous and gross. Why am I listening to this? I went into this expecting to be annoyed, offended or irritated. Instead I ended up wondering how the hell all this commotion could be so boring?

Dookie

Green Day

5/5

When I bought this album not long after its release I fell in love with Green Day. At the time this wasn’t exactly my expected sort of fare and I had plenty of friends react dismissively to my enjoyment of this. But I would feel vindicated over the years as Green Day grew and eventually created the incredible American Idiot. Green Day’s catchy, fun punk-pop songs had me at hello. But there was more to these songs once you become familiar with the lyrics. The performers on this album are a little bratty, a little self obsessed, a little irreverent and way smarter than you’d expect. Dookie is an attractive, youthful album that still charms me to this day. I’m pleased to still be enjoying Dookie after all these years.

Millions Now Living Will Never Die

Tortoise

5/5

The opening track had me instantly excited and intrigued about this group I’ve never heard of. It was an incredible musical journey that was full of little surprises. The rest of the album did not disappoint. I was having some trouble categorizing it in my head (Is this jazz? Lite rock? Progressive rock? ). Whatever it is, I love the use of the vibraphone. I love the occasional squeak of the guitar string. These helped make this album a lot warmer and human than one might expect from something so modern. Excellent!

Black Sabbath

4/5

I was sure that I'd be worshipping Satan after one listen to this album. So much for all the propaganda of my youth. As a Halloween aficionado, I am surprised that it has taken this project to have me listen to any Black Sabbath. Seems tailored to a Halloween party, at least a few songs interspersed here or there. I liked this album more than Vol. 4, a little less than Paranoia.

Among The Living

Anthrax

5/5

I did not have a positive view of Anthrax and have never listened to more than a few snippets here and there. There were a lot of negative assumptions that I had back in the day and I am still dealing with those today. I was surprised by the themes that the band chose to address in this album. The songs deal with real issues - surprising themes for thrash metal. Yet they still manage to make it fun. I did not expect this. This album is a bit harder than I usually rock these days but I like and appreciate it. This first time through I was disabused me of my Anthrax misconceptions, the second time through I became a fan.

Bongo Rock

Incredible Bongo Band

5/5

WHAT IS THIS?! I’ve never heard of Incredible Bongo Band, but I am a big big fan of this sort of thing. The album does not disappoint. Great bongo-centric covers and tunes that were new to me, leaning heavily into the bongos, horns and organ. I loved every minute and spent the day grooving around my house to the crazy beats. A welcome addition to my musical library!

White Ladder

David Gray

4/5

This was a very pleasant album to listen to, maybe so much so that I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted a little more out of it. The songs are really well constructed and my brain told me that this was a very good album but I wasn't grabbed as emotionally as I thought I should have been. After a couple of listens it did start to warm up a bit more. While I'm still not completely bowled over by this, I find it very listenable and enjoyed lazing around to this laid back album.

The Clash

5/5

What a ton of fun this is! I haven’t listened to much of The Clash beyond the hits. Topical themes, fun songs with clever hooks. As much fun as a Ramones album! What more could I ask for?

The Idiot

Iggy Pop

3/5

This was an interesting listen. I was surprised to discover that China Girl was a collaboration with David Bowie first performed by Iggy Pop. Didn’t love the album but glad to have listened to it.

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

Dexys Midnight Runners

5/5

I wasn't sure I needed another album from Dexy's Midnight Runners. Isn't there just "Come On Eileen"? Turns out there is a lot more. I love the horn section and the organ with the punky attitude. It's a surprisingly effective combination that would see revisited later in groups like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. A trombone with attitude is always welcome in my house. Glad to experience this album!

To Pimp A Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar

4/5

I’ve heard a few songs from Kendrick Lamar over the years but this was my first full album listen. This is a dense work, packed with a variety of hip hop styles that really kept my interest. The songs deal with a lot of racial and social issues that had me interested in hearing more. Great!

The Sun Rises In The East

Jeru The Damaja

2/5

This was ok, but I found the music would get kind of tedious by the end of most of the songs. I was looking for a little more happening on that end of things. I listened to this a few times but remained underwhelmed with each listen.

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

5/5

Like millions of others I became a fan of R.E.M. in college. This was the first R.E.M. release after I left college. I haven’t listened to it in a very long time and had sort of never considered how R.E.M.’s evolution in this release synced up so well with my own. Today I realize what a perfect reflection this album is of some of the reckonings I was just about to start wrestling with in my own life. I hadn’t noticed how much maturity and sadness were in this album at the time. I had forgotten - or maybe never realized - how wonderful this album is. I had no idea what emotions listening to it again would inspire in me today. Automatic for the People is a very special album.

Water From An Ancient Well

Abdullah Ibrahim

5/5

I’ve recently made my fondness for trombones known on this site. The trombone is featured throughout this album, giving it an edge in my ratings. This album is an excellent step in further acclimatizing me to jazz. I enjoyed it a lot.

2112

Rush

5/5

One of my best friends in high school loved Rush, but for whatever reason that love never rubbed off on me. Since then I have always intended to listen to more Rush but never have. I was instantly impressed by the musicianship on this album. The performances are pretty awesome - the drums were particularly exhilarating - and the content of the songs unique and interesting. I loved it!

Live And Dangerous

Thin Lizzy

5/5

Missing this is now the great regret of my pre-teen years. Love the cover photo! Love the music! Holy shit these guys tear up the stage! Best live album ever? YES YES YES YES B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BABY RIP IT UP!

OK

Talvin Singh

4/5

This was manically exotic and I definitely am glad to have listened to it. More frenetic a lot of the time than I might want, but still cool.

Planet Rock: The Album

Afrika Bambaataa

4/5

As I expected from the cover, funky groovy and a bit wacky.

The Bones Of What You Believe

CHVRCHES

5/5

I added this album to my collection a few years ago based on the song Science/Visions that played at the end of a podcast episode I had listened to. The rest of the album does not disappoint. Chvrches takes synth-pop to epic stadium levels and I love the lead singer and the construction of the songs. Great!

Catch A Fire

Bob Marley & The Wailers

3/5

This isn’t a genre of music I like listening to in more than small doses. As such I am a bit skeptical going in. Concrete Jungle was a really nice surprise! Musically, it has that unmistakeable reggae beat but there is a lot more layered on that. The tedium I often experience with reggae tracks was nowhere to be found. It was a very interesting track. As the album went on I didn’t find any other songs that appealed to me as much as the first. I was a little disappointed that more of this didn’t stand out like the opening track, but it was a fine listen.

Throwing Muses

5/5

Logistically, this is not an easy album to listen to. Nothing about it on Apple Music. I found a copy of this on YouTube. To keep track I had to listen closely and follow along to the lyrics on the web so I could know what song I was listening to. It was worth the effort! Call Me immediately had me paying attention - what a great song! I liked Green, but it was Hate My Way that gave me chills! That lead singer is INTENSE! Vicky’s Box left me a bit stunned. What a song! Rabbit’s Dying - holy shit who are these people? This is an incredible song. I feel like this band is from some higher dimension… they break a lot of songcrafting rules and their songs hold up. Clip clops throughout America (She Can’t Say No) and really incredible performances grabbed me - that lead singer again! WOW! WTF? Soul Soldier just about knocked me out… like two songs in one - very different in tone and composition but somehow melded together. This from teenagers? Wow! This is a spellbinding album filled with incredible songs in the hands of a great band wielding a singer who seems to have come from some other world. The music is so sophisticated, breaking all kinds of rules about what makes a great song and in the process creating some really amazing songs! Why this was so difficult to find and listen to? This is one of the best things I’ve heard on this project… I cannot stop thinking about how impressive these unorthodox songs are. It borders on a crime that it took nearly 40 years to come to my attention. But thankfully this speaks to me maybe even more loudly than it would have when I was 18. I am in awe…

Music

Madonna

5/5

I liked this album back in the day, but it hadn’t stayed with me like Like A Prayer or Ray of Light. I’m glad to have revisited it, because I enjoyed the cool electronic vibe. Driving around Seattle listening to this today felt a little like I was in some kind of Tron universe. 23 years after its release this still feels like the future.

Let's Stay Together

Al Green

5/5

Love it! The title track is one of my favorite songs. Al's take on the Bee Gee's How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? is a great remake of a great song. Loved the whole buttery smooth perfection of it!

Songs From A Room

Leonard Cohen

4/5

Mouth harp driven backing music with some read Leonard Cohen-y Leonard Cohen songs… I mostly liked this. Doesn’t unseat You Want It Darker as my favorite Cohen album so far, but I dig it!

Arise

Sepultura

3/5

The cover certainly set some negative expectations in my mind about this album. This music is not in my wheelhouse. Still, there were several moments when I really liked what was happening - the solo in “Dead Embryonic Cells”; the introduction and solos (one with an acoustic part!) in “Altered States”; the drums and fast guitar in “Under Seige (Regnum Irae)”. There was definitely more to like here than I expected. The vocal delivery seems like a caricature, but I’m guessing that caricature might have been the product of the 30+ years of albums that followed this. I can imagine more melodious lead vocals might have made this a love connection… Not my thing, but surprisingly I didn’t hate it.

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

5/5

This is packed with the Dylanest Dylan. I’m haven’t always been the biggest fan, but it’s hard to understate the significance of this album. I’m definitely starting to get it. Really loved this.

Histoire De Melody Nelson

Serge Gainsbourg

4/5

Serge Gainsbourg is never dull. He’s also often quite challenging. This story that starts with a bike accident and ends with a plane crash by way of a statutory rape is no exception. Maybe I shouldn’t have listened a second time and followed along with the translations… If I remind myself that Serge is telling a story - creating a character, then squint my eyes, this is a pretty incredible musical piece. It would clearly have been a 5 after my first listen. After the second - when I followed along to the translation - I was quite put off and tempted to go to the other end of the scale. I guess this might be somewhat akin to listening to Don’t Stand So Close To Me or reading that famous book by Nabokov. Yet I still have to knock this a point since I will have to revisit these struggles if I listen to this again and talk myself through the creepy factor.

Parallel Lines

Blondie

5/5

Heart of Glass, One Way or Another, Sunday Girl and Hanging on the Telephone are all big favorites of mine - enough to earn this album a 5. How these great songs never lured me into listening to this album I’ll never know… this album is packed with songs I immediately love just as much! I thought I knew Blondie well enough, but turns out I was just licking the frosting while missing out on an incredibly delicious cake! Such delicious cake!

Ray Of Light

Madonna

5/5

I haven’t listened to this album in some time, so even though listening again today there was complete familiarity I was startled how I had kind of forgotten about a lot of the music on this album. Ray Of Light is a dreamy, beautiful album built on one amazing song after another - not a throwaway track in the bunch. Madonna’s performance is at its peak. She sounds incredible. I sink into this album and get lost in another world… I’ve said for years that Like A Prayer is Madonna’s best, but listening to this today I have to say this one has the edge. Ray Of Light is an absolutely phenomenal album that should be at the top of my regular rotation. So so good!

The Chronic

Dr. Dre

1/5

Even with the vocal rendition of the theme from the $20,000 Pyramid this was the worst musical hour this month. Guns, big dicks, hoes, misogyny, homophobia. Ugly.

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Arctic Monkeys

5/5

I bought this album when it came out based on how taken I was with “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.” The phrasing of the chorus is particularly clever and really catchy. This was one of the bands that felt like 21st Century Rock to me when it came out. It’s hard not to compare them to Franz Ferdinand who formed in the same year. Head to head, I might prefer these guys by a nose… I love how they stick the basics and crank up the energy while feeling new and modern. I’m glad to hear it again because everything I loved about this then came right back. Great album from a group I need to spend more time listening to.

Central Reservation

Beth Orton

5/5

Thank you random number generator for steering away from the hateful gangster rap I'm still trying to forget and providing this welcome change of pace. I was immediately in love with that opening track, and then it was mostly songs to love and a few to like unfolding before me. What a lovely, jazzy way to spend the afternoon.

Heaven Or Las Vegas

Cocteau Twins

5/5

I love the song Heaven or Las Vegas. But that's about all I have heard from the Cocteau Twins until today. The album was a fantastically hazy, lush dreamscape that I enjoyed most of the day. I didn't understand the words, and often wasn't sure what language I was hearing, but I didn't much care.

Darkdancer

Les Rythmes Digitales

5/5

I didn’t think I knew anything about this artist until I learned that it is Jacques Lu Cont (Stuart Price) - the man who created the incredible remix of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” Then I read about a pile of other work he did with The Killers and a bunch of other artists. As I was listening I noticed a Nik Kershaw song! I was a big Nik Kershaw fan in high school so that was another pleasant surprise. I enjoy some good dance-pop... this is bright, fun, energetic... makes you want to move! A nice addition to this list.

Something/Anything?

Todd Rundgren

5/5

This is one of the albums that I always knew about but never listened to. And Todd Rundgren is one of those artists that I knew was more important that the few hits I had heard. I was excited to listen to this double album. I was not disappointed. There was a good deal of variety on this album, and it is even more impressive to think that Todd Rundgren recorded a lot of the songs alone. Really impressive. So much I loved on this.

New Wave

The Auteurs

4/5

The lyrics are interesting and often odd and the music is of the rambly-catchy-british sort. Wasn’t quite what I expected from something called “New Wave” and not everything held my attention but I was left liking it.

We Are Family

Sister Sledge

5/5

The incredible sound of Chic covered in those perfect Sister Sledge voices? No wonder this album towers over the disco era. Three of the songs on this have been among my favorites since the moment I heard them (He’s The Greatest Dancer, Lost In Music, We are Family). I don’t recall hearing any of the other songs on this, but they were love at first listen. So great!

Maxinquaye

Tricky

5/5

I loved the moody, dark, sultry feel of this. Lots of styles blended in here from rock to electronica to jazz - Tricky has put a lot of treats in this! I really dig it!

More Specials

The Specials

4/5

Wow… this is quite a thing… I certainly consider this something to listen to before I die thanks to its crazy sort of loungey-Muzak-ska mishmash. I’m not sure if there is a lack of coherence here or if I haven’t listened to this enough to figure it out, but eclectic and unusual suits me just fine! I’m glad to see some lounge-oriented music on this list. Bravo!

São Paulo Confessions

Suba

5/5

More enjoyable Brazilian fare from the 1001 list… this really is a modern twist on those Brazilian sounds. Really nice and a great soundtrack for the day!

There's A Riot Goin' On

Sly & The Family Stone

5/5

A little bit of a darker turn for Sly & the Family Stone, but I really liked it and it suited the subject matter.

Safe As Milk

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

5/5

I debated whether to listen to the stereo or mono releases of this album and then decided to try both. I was surprised at the difference - the stereo presentation opens up the songs and I the difference was a lot more than I expected. This is one of those bands I kept hearing of over the years but I didn’t have any sense of what their music was like. The blues are strong here and I liked that part, but the more rock guitars and other interesting bits (like a theremin!) really hooked me. I didn’t think this was my style of music but Captain Beefheart may have made that thought obsolete. I guess I like my blues with a hit of acid. I listened to this four times in a row and each time liked this more and more. Fantastic!

Marquee Moon

Television

5/5

When this started I thought I was in for some 70s punk. I wasn’t expecting Television’s theatrical moments, epic swells, and even a lovely balled… this seems rooted in punk but has evolved beyond the genre. Marquee Moon surprised me with its sophisticated structures and storytelling. There is something very special about this album… it is brilliant!

Ace of Spades

Motörhead

3/5

I had only a passing familiarity with Motörhead from playing along with Ace of Spades in Guitar Hero. That was not sufficient to have me excited to check out the rest of the album. Positive observations first: I really liked a lot of the playing on this. Some good guitar and drums, catchy beats. The lead vocals were definitely the weak point for me. They wore on me. The subject matter at times was a little more off-putting than I usually like in my metal. Some of the lyrics (Jailbait?!) were quite atrocious. After this I don’t consider myself a Motörhead, but the umlaut seems less scary.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

5/5

This was part of my family’s cassette tape collection from my earliest memory. It was always on my short list of tapes to play on family road trips whenever I got to pick a cassette. Not long after leaving home I added it to my own personal collection. It’s one of those albums that has always been near at hand. The Boxer is one of my favorite songs ever. So beautiful and emotional. El Condor Pasa is right up there with it, too, opening with a quivering guitar building an opening moment of perfect tension. The title track never wears on me even though I’ve no doubt heard it thousands of times. That the rest of the album holds up next to these masterpieces speaks to how incredible this album is. I enjoyed this album as much today as I ever have.

Copper Blue

Sugar

4/5

This album is on the brighter side of grunge with its catchy hooks and inclusion of synthesizer (see “Hoover Dam”). I think I would have really enjoyed this back in the 90s. Today it doesn’t quite hit me between the musical eyes but still very good.

The Wildest!

Louis Prima

5/5

I was familiar with quite a few songs on this. Wild music from the 50’s. What’s not to love?

Pink Flag

Wire

5/5

This sounds like punk infused with pop sensibilities and I really love it! The music is solid, there are actual hooks, but it still feels strongly punk-oriented. I also love the cover with its stark pink flag!

Tragic Songs of Life

The Louvin Brothers

5/5

I LOVE this album cover… and “Tragic Songs of Life” definitely tipped me off to the contents, and this album delivered. The old-style country was enjoyable to me today. I loved the music and the tight harmonies of the Louvin Brothers. Excellent addition to the list.

Homework

Daft Punk

5/5

I’ve not listened to this album in a long time and had forgotten how much fun it is! Each song has a clear style and theme and had me movin’ and groovin’. I’m still in love with Daft Punk!

Gorillaz

5/5

I haven’t really listened to Gorillaz before. I think I had the idea that this was some kind of joke since it was a virtual cartoon band. I was surprised to see this as something I should hear before I die. Turns out that I enjoyed this album a lot, and nothing about the music would have tipped me off that there was anything virtual about the group had I not already known this. I had grown up hearing “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies and didn’t realize the association to the comic book until I was in my teens. I fell in love with this, more and more with every listen. I’ll be checking out more from Gorillaz.

Let's Get Killed

David Holmes

5/5

Interesting electronic music - especially with all the real-life recordings. The moody music paints vivid pictures that make for a compelling listen.

The Boatman's Call

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

5/5

I got some terrible news today and wasn’t sure I’d be able to listen to a Nick Cave album. Fortunately, this album had just the right tone for an afternoon of tears.

Orbital 2

Orbital

5/5

I loved it - a fantastic sound kaleidoscope! Couldn’t be happier floating away on a river of techno.

Boy In Da Corner

Dizzee Rascal

2/5

The rapping was often incredible and the lyrics interesting and at times compelling. Unfortunately I found the songs very irritating. As I was researching this artist I stumbled on Dizzee’s album Tongue n’ Cheek from 2011. It apparently “breaks the commercial ceiling of grime.” Guess that’s what I needed because I love that album. This album is just to grimy for me.

Phrenology

The Roots

5/5

I have heard the Roots perform often with Jimmy Fallon and their talent was obvious. But this album really surprised me how incredibly good they are! These songs move and groove and have an interesting range of styles. The time flew by listening to this and when it ended I immediately started it over to listen again. One of the best hip hop albums I’ve had the pleasure to listen to. Phrenomenol!

Good Old Boys

Randy Newman

5/5

I keep underestimating Randy Newman. All the charm of the Toy Story soundtrack with some very pointed, biting lyrics that really pull no punches. After nearly 50(!) years these lyrics are often shocking, juxtaposing wildly with those Toy Story expectations I get from the music. But I ended up really impressed. Another great album from Randy Newman.

So

Peter Gabriel

5/5

Here is one of the albums that defined my first few years of college. Between being one of my close friend’s favorite artist and the duet with Kate Bush it was impossible for me not to listen. Five of the songs on this album (Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Don’t Give Up, Big Time and In Your Eyes) have remained well-known to me since their release. Listening today felt more surprising than I expected. The big songs sound bigger, and the quieter songs speak to me now even more deeply. I’m perplexed how I’d forgotten almost entirely four of the songs when they are so good. This was my introduction to Laurie Anderson and the start of another musical crush. I must remember to go back to those albums now too… It’s great to spend quality time with So again.

Queen II

Queen

5/5

A Queen album I have never heard of with not a single familiar song? Hmmmm… what could this be? A dungeon crawl?! This may be my new favorite Queen album. Rock pageantry of the highest order brimming with 70’s fantasy & lore. A grand exotic journey that makes me feel like I’m just discovering Queen again for the first time. Fantastic!

D

White Denim

4/5

Some pretty good music here that I liked pretty well. It did feel jam-bandy but fortunately these recordings didn't go on and on too long. Entertaining!

American Pie

Don McLean

5/5

It has been a very long time since I’ve listened to this lovely album, so long that I had forgotten most of the tracks. I enjoyed it today more than ever. Excellent!

Our Aim Is To Satisfy

Red Snapper

5/5

Never heard of this group made primarily of a bass, drum and guitar player supplemented by keyboards and a trombone(!). I did not expect this sound, especially when it got downright funky. I loved grooving along. Very satisfied!

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

5/5

I went into this project thinking I wasn’t into blues or jam bands. Now 600+ songs later I’m totally into this bluesy jam band album. These songs did go on and on but I loved what was happening. I feel one step closer to going to Phish concerts…

Something Else By The Kinks

The Kinks

4/5

This didn’t jump out at me as much as the other albums from The Kinks I’ve encountered on this project, but after several listens I was warming up to it more and more. I suspect that with additional exposure I just might well add a star…

Feast of Wire

Calexico

5/5

Wow this is fun and unique! I think my lips began to chap halfway through this album from the desert heat. I love the vivid landscapes this album paints in my mind. I love it!

Life's Too Good

The Sugarcubes

5/5

Years ago I spotted this album in the collections of friends cooler than me. I never heard any of it that I was aware of. When I read that Björk was a lead singer in this band I wasn’t reassured even though there are some Björk works I have very much enjoyed… What I didn’t expect was how much this would sound like The B-52’s! Who’d have thought Björk could be bizarro Kate Pierson, or Einar Örn Benediktsson bizarro Fred Schneider?! This was a lot more fun than I expected, with catchy songs often taking somewhat absurd turns. Good stuff!

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Iron Butterfly

5/5

I’m a sucker for rock organs of the 60s and this is one of the best. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is one of the most epic rock organ songs ever created. A masterpiece I’m glad to hear again in its entirety for the first time in decades.

Gasoline Alley

Rod Stewart

3/5

This album was ok but these were not my favorite versions of the cover tunes and the original songs didn’t really grab me. There are Rod Stewart albums that I like a lot more than this.

Birth Of The Cool

Miles Davis

5/5

Definitely cool. This project has opened me to the wonders of jazz.

Axis: Bold As Love

Jimi Hendrix

5/5

I like the hit Jimi Hendrix songs I’ve heard before but wasn’t sure about an album filled with songs I haven’t heard before. The first time through I think I had to acclimatize to some of the creative liberties taken in the construction of many of these songs. The second time through I really loved this.

We're Only In It For The Money

The Mothers Of Invention

5/5

This was a totally wild, crazy psychedelic trip that had me excited and delighted throughout!

Joan Baez

5/5

Nice to hear the first album from such a singer. While I will gravitate to her later more instrumentally complex albums, I very much enjoyed the simplicity of a beautiful voice with a guitar.

Exile In Guyville

Liz Phair

5/5

I was introduced to Liz Phair and this album by a friend about ten years after its release. I spent the early 2000s listening to a lot of Liz Phair. It was great to reconnect to this today. I listened to the remaster and it sounds terrific! Liz Phair has that imperfect delivery that makes these songs really special to me. There's real passion and emotion driving these song that connects with me every time.

Follow The Leader

Korn

3/5

I was pleasantly surprised as I started this album. The first half was pretty good, with even a dance-y track (Got the Life) that had me grooving! The lead singer's gravelly scatting opened my mind to an interesting cookie-monster-heavy-metal-jazz-scatting thing. The album took a turn somewhere in the middle and started to lose me as it turned darker and more unpleasant.

If You're Feeling Sinister

Belle & Sebastian

5/5

Tigermilk made me fall in love with Belle & Sebastian years ago but I hadn’t fully explored the rest of their catalog. After Tigermilk appeared on this list I decided to check out this album and instantly it earned a place in the regular rotation. Needless to say this gets a top ranking. It’s a tough choice to choose a favorite between Tigermilk and this - and I’m not sure this can overtake my first love. Still, this is a terrific album that I look forward to hearing again and again!

Mermaid Avenue

Billy Bragg

5/5

Wow this was a great mixing of the old and the new (at the time, new). I thoroughly enjoyed this.

A Love Supreme

John Coltrane

5/5

This project has opened the door to jazz for me. I loved this the first time through and enjoyed repeated listens. Wonderful!

Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys

5/5

In 2015 I saw the movie “Love and Mercy” about Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys and finally made the effort to listen to Pet Sounds. I liked it a lot! Now, after even more exposure to The Beach Boys I like this even more. Each time I listen I hear more of what is going on in the arrangements and it is pretty jaw-dropping! What an amazing album!

With The Beatles

Beatles

5/5

The covers are great, the original tunes catchy and it sounds like the band is having a lot of fun. I think these kids are going places!

Shaka Zulu

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

5/5

I enjoyed listening to the beautiful a cappella voices. Incredible harmonies covering a lot of themes. Maybe not something I’ll have in my regular rotation, Shaka Zulu creates an almost meditative mood that I found incredibly soothing.

If I Should Fall From Grace With God

The Pogues

5/5

Fairytale of New York is one of my favorite Christmas songs, so I was excited to listen to this album. It did not disappoint!

Aha Shake Heartbreak

Kings of Leon

3/5

I like the Kings of Leon and listened to their more popular later album when it came out. This one had some good spots, although there was something just slightly off about it for me. Not terrible, but not terribly great either.

Rip It Up

Orange Juice

4/5

I liked this quirky and just a little bit strange album. It had some variety and surprising bits that I quite enjoyed.

Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Lana Del Rey

5/5

When this started I was none too sure about the breathy delivery for a whole album… but there was still enough variety and the songs were beautiful and interesting, and I sort of got lost in this. Really nice to listen to and I ended up liking this a lot. It certainly is one of those albums that it will help to be an a certain mood to enjoy, but when in that mood very enjoyable it is!

Inspiration Information

Shuggie Otis

4/5

Strawberry Letter 23 by The Brothers Johnson is a favorite of mine. I was surprised to discover that the song’s author created music in his own right. I liked this 70s groove.

Lam Toro

Baaba Maal

5/5

I was sitting by a waterfall and put this on - and felt instantly transported to some other place. I had never heard of Lam Toro but these songs were fantastic and are definitely worth hearing before you die.

On The Beach

Neil Young

4/5

I have not always loved Neil Young’s voice, so I wondered how this would go down. It was better than expected more often than not… and sometimes really lovely. Parts of it still dragged a little but worth hearing again.

Heartbreaker

Ryan Adams

4/5

I liked this album. Everything was really well done and some of the songs were very catchy. For some reason it doesn’t feel like it will stick with me like some of my more favorite country albums, but no other real complaints.

Ragged Glory

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

5/5

I wasn’t sure I needed another Neil Young album after just listening to On The Beach, but this was pretty different and I enjoyed it more. Lots of good jams!

...Baby One More Time

Britney Spears

5/5

It has been a long time since I’ve listened to this album. Since the early 2000s I have just cherry picked hits off it. It’s a terrific album and I’m glad to see it getting recognized for its cultural significance. Pretty amazing coming from a teenager. This deserves its spot on this list!

Shaft

Isaac Hayes

5/5

I owned this album in vinyl, having purchased it in a used record store sometime in the early 90s. I came for the title track, but stayed for the funky variety of songs on a pretty incredible soundtrack. A masterpiece of 70s movie soundtracks!

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Public Enemy

5/5

Fierce politics Fierce samples Fierce beats Fierce

Antichrist Superstar

Marilyn Manson

4/5

I love the song The Beautiful People so I was not averse to listening to this. As expected, it is an all-out assault on the senses. It’s a disturbing, angry epic that I can’t say was a pleasant listen, but I didn’t hate the experience. I don’t seem to be able muster up as much anger any more as I probably need to properly relate to this, but it is quite an accomplishment nonetheless. Listening to this is like a haunted house. I wouldn’t want to live there, but it’s cool to visit.

Connected

Stereo MC's

3/5

I knew the song Connected and liked it pretty well. I was liking it ok, but after a while I couldn’t tell if the album had completed and restarted or if I was still on the first listen. It seemed a lot the same and that made it seem to go on too long for me. Maybe back in the day this would have held my attention, but today it did not.

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

The Flaming Lips

5/5

I have realized through this project that I really love The Flaming Lips. After listening to The Soft Bulletin months ago for this project, I saw a reference to this album in some of the background material and listened to this and loved it. I was pleased to see it here. Terrific!

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Ray Charles

5/5

WOW! I’ve heard a few of these songs and they are truly classics… but did realize what an incredible experience listening to both volumes of this lovely release would be. Just a total pleasure from beginning to end. Made my day!

Casanova

The Divine Comedy

5/5

I can’t recall ever hearing of this group before, but I LOVE the modern lounge style and vocals. It feels like neo-60s English pop music and I love it! Orchestral, quirky, over-the-top musical shenanigans that I’m here for! It was no surprise to discover that this band was inspired by Scott Walker. I love this!

Songs In The Key Of Life

Stevie Wonder

5/5

How can you be so creative to make 17 albums then create a double album with nearly 2 hours of incredible, beautiful, meaningful songs?! You be Stevie Wonder, that’s how! An extraordinary album!

Can't Buy A Thrill

Steely Dan

5/5

Two amazing songs I knew and a bunch of other jazzy, cool tunes did not disappoint! I loved it.

Music From The Penguin Cafe

Penguin Cafe Orchestra

5/5

The cover and the name of the album and band had me predisposed to loving this. So what a relief to find that the music lived up to the expectations. It took me through a range of emotions, but mostly I just found it terribly interesting to listen to!

Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)

Loretta Lynn

5/5

Ten or so years ago I was working on a playlist for an anniversary party where classic country was the primary fare. That’s when I discovered this album with its 60’s feminist streak I immediately loved. Absolutely fantastic classic country with those classic themes delivered by that incredible Loretta Lynn voice!

There's No Place Like America Today

Curtis Mayfield

5/5

Groovy and funky and topical... was short enough I listened to it 4 times in a row and by then I was totally on board!

Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division

4/5

Did I need another album from the paradoxically-named Joy Division? I’m not sure. Still, I did play this while working on a construction project and it repeated three times and I was starting to feel it a bit more. Still a bit more misery than I might generally gravitate toward in my music but that third listen rounds this up to a 4.

Microshift

Hookworms

5/5

Never heard of Hookworms before so didn’t know what to expect. If I had heard the music and been asked to guess the artist I might have said Stereolab. This is great to just sit back and chill out to or play in the background while I work.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie

5/5

Is this the sixth Bowie album on this project?! I might have questioned such a thing but Bowie’s career is so interesting and varied… and the music on this album so great… I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to hear this. A contender in the “my favorite Bowie album” category!

White Light

Gene Clark

4/5

This has a real 70s country-crossing-over-to-soft-rock vibe that was pleasant to listen to. It didn’t knock my socks off, but was still nice to have on. I’m not sure how memorable this will prove to be for me but I liked it.

The Age Of The Understatement

The Last Shadow Puppets

4/5

The first listen of this really surprised me... the elements all seem to be there but I was surprisingly bored until I got to the last two songs. I kind of liked the music’s soundtrack feel with doses of the 60s, spaghetti westerns and lush orchestration. It seemed to be right up my alley. But it wasn’t coming together at all for me. Because I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t enjoying this more I immediately gave it a second listen. That proved much more engaging. I was ready to give this a 3, but now it’s an easy 4 sometimes flirting with 5 territory.

Fulfillingness' First Finale

Stevie Wonder

5/5

With this album this project has exposed me to all of Stevie Wonder’s album releases from October 1972-1976. The albums definitely feel different but all are great. When I read this was more somber I wondered if I would like it as well, but it turns out I do. Really terrific!

New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

Simple Minds

4/5

Simple Minds’ album Once Upon a Time was one of the albums I listened to most in the 80s. It has continued to be in my regular rotation to this day. I adore that album. It is so spectacularly good that I have found it hard to escape its gravity when I am in the mood for Simple Minds. I’ve heard a couple of songs from this album on various collections but never had listened to the album. While I’m glad to have had the opportunity, listening to this made me feel like I was on a date with the wrong person. New Gold Dream just can’t escape the shadow cast by Once Upon a Time. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go spend some time with my true love…

Destroyer

KISS

5/5

This was one of the coolest album covers of my pre-adolescent years. I used to look at it with wonder and fear. Tremble before the Knights In Satan’s Service spitting blood as they wield their dark powers! Of course, KISS’ television debut was on the Paul Lynde Halloween Special featuring Donny & Marie (also in satanic garb), Florence Henderson and Tim Conway. Really cool growing up in a time where such nexuses could form. When this cover popped up today I felt the excitement of my youth all over again! This is the KISS album where every single song feels like it was released as a single. I’m a little shocked to read that only four of the songs actually were because ALL of the songs on here have carved grooves into my brain. KISS is one of many instances where a strong dose of musical theater drew me out and expanded my musical horizons. Destroyer is a foundation for my appreciation of the heavier side of rock laid in my pre-teen years that still looms large in my imagination today. I can’t muster anything but love for this album.

Greetings From L.A.

Tim Buckley

5/5

I thought I knew what to expect from Tim Buckley. But I didn’t expect a rock album dripping with backup gloriousness. The backup singers on that opening track “Move With Me” sounded right out of the Schoolhouse Rock “Verb” song. I loved this!!!

Stripped

Christina Aguilera

4/5

This was just a bit too long for me… so I’m not sure it’s something I will listen to from beginning to end again. Still, lots of great songs on here and I mostly enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t complain about a shorter version.

Damaged

Black Flag

5/5

I listened to a little Black Flag here and there in college. TV Party is the door I walked through to really appreciate this group. Through a friend I listened to this many times back then. Today I wasn’t looking forward to listening to this. I expected this to sit poorly with me 36 years later. Turns out we sit together great. I appreciate the introspective and socially conscious lyrics. The music is still really catchy. While I no longer have the energy to jump in a mosh pit, I definitely can spend 35 minutes kicking back to this with a glass of wine! A real surprise that I love this as much now as I did back then!

At San Quentin

Johnny Cash

5/5

Grew up with this music around me. Thinking about it now, how cool is it that Johnny Cash made it big with not one but two live albums recorded in prisons. The crowd energy is fantastic! I really love Cash’s delivery. He scares me just a little at times, but stops short of inciting a full-on riot. His performance so perfectly imperfect for a live album. The delivery on here has the patter and impromptu interactions that make a live album worth hearing. Two criticisms: the album is too short and I want an unbleeped version. What an amazing performer we had in Johnny Cash.

Achtung Baby

U2

5/5

I went through a strong U2 phase in college when they released The Joshua Tree. Recently I had the opportunity to revisit that album during a trip to that national park. But today I realize that is the only U2 album I can remember listening to in its entirety. I’m not sure why that was the case. I didn’t realize what a shift Achtung Baby was a scant 4 years after The Joshua Tree. Remarkable how they were able to make such different albums that both sound so great. Listening to this today I was surprised to discover that I actually prefer this album to The Joshua Tree.

Arc Of A Diver

Steve Winwood

5/5

In 1986 I fell in love with Steve Winwood’s Back in the High Life. I played the heck out of that album. After several months I then bought Arc of a Diver. I fell in love with this album too, although it always ran a close second to the later release. One of the unexpected pleasures of this project has been the opportunities to revisit albums I already know with fresh ears. I really can’t remember the last time I listened to this album, but it could have easily been 20 years ago. It’s pretty cool to hear this moment where a seasoned artist re-launched his career… a solid foundation for Winwood becoming 80s musical royalty. Back in the day Steve Winwood was just an 80s star… I had no idea that I was witnessing a really impressive reinvention. I just loved the music. Although I still prefer Back in the High Life, I’m still very enthusiastic that this terrific album made it on this list!

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles

5/5

I’ve seen the movie and remember most of these songs, but can’t recall if I ever listened to this album. Regardless, it was so long ago I didn’t remember a lot of this album. Pretty easy to see why these kids took off.

Kenza

Khaled

5/5

In the 70s when belly dancing became a crazy my mother added numerous 1950s-era albums from Mohammed El Bakkar & His Oriental Ensemble to our family collection. I became an instant fan and still enjoy these albums to this day. I very much enjoyed listening to this much more modern Algerian album. Some of the songs hinted back strongly to those 50s albums, while others were entirely modern and enjoyable. My only complaint was that this was not available on Apple Music in the US so I had to get creative to find the songs. It was a surprise to be listening along then come upon a modern dance track like E’dir E’sseba. That had me grooving on personal dance floor! I guess it speaks to the insular nature of living in the United States to discover that since the 80s Khaled has become a world pop phenomenon and I had no inkling of him before now. I love this!

Machine Head

Deep Purple

5/5

Oh yeah! I LOVE Highway Star, Smoke on the Water, and Space Truckin’. Yet I have never before listened to a Deep Purple album. Well, glad that has been taken care of because this album kicks ass from start to finish! I also learned what Smoke On The Water was all about, a nice bonus. Terrific!

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

5/5

A very trippy journey - not the Genesis I grew up on and the influence of Peter Gabriel is quite apparent. I really enjoyed this album. It is almost more of a cinematic experience than a typical album listen since it was a longer journey that I’m unlikely to listen to regularly, but am likely to remember and listen to again. Fabulous and certainly something I’m glad to have listened to!

Tago Mago

Can

4/5

I started off a little skeptical, then fell into the groove (I really enjoyed the LONG songs and rocky-funky jams). I’m kind of digging the early 70s jams. This gets a 4 today, but I suspect I’m just a funky cigarette away from a 5.

If I Could Only Remember My Name

David Crosby

4/5

With a cover that looks like an early 70’s inspirational poster, I figured the music had to be good. I liked this ok the first time through (although Cowboy Movie put me off a bit. It seemed a little low energy after a previous couple of days of weirdly experimental stuff. I did warm up to this a bit more on the second listen.

It's Too Late to Stop Now

Van Morrison

4/5

This was quite an extended concert… while I am not sure I’m this big a Van Morrison fan, the music is great, the performance energetic, the arrangements great. Way up there as a live album, even if it is a lot more than I needed.

Amnesiac

Radiohead

5/5

I love Kid A so it is little wonder I love this too. It might be a little less broody and dark but still packs a punch. One of the great albums to feed the disillusionment time has bestowed upon me.

Graceland

Paul Simon

5/5

I bought this album not long after it came out after falling in love with You Can Call Me Al. The mixing of pop with South African street music is still pretty unique sounding. A classic from Paul Simon that sounds just as great today.

Ys

Joanna Newsom

5/5

I have never listened to nor recall ever hearing of Joanna Newsom - although later after reading about her harp skills I vaguely recall some past exposure to her - but not enough to have any current recognition. This is fascinating. Hints of late medieval instrumentation, dashes of Blossom Dearie & Björk and a whole lot of interesting song construction, lush arrangements, dense lyrics and harp blended into something I would never have expected. Although this journey is over quite uneven terrain it’s remarkable how smooth and soothing it is to me. enchanting intriguing unique great!

Vivid

Living Colour

5/5

This rang no bells for me when it came up, but right away I remembered the opening track Cult of Personality. When this came out in ‘88 I didn’t pay it much attention since I didn’t see myself as a hard rock type person. 35 years later I'm the Ecumenical Enchantress of Music - 10-8 and on the side! This is a fantastic album that I dug from start to finish. There are a lot of interesting influences at play here that had me hooked! There is a ton of talent on display and it is put to great effect mixing rock conventions together seamlessly in interesting ways. I heard hints of everything from Megadeth to Culture Club. These guys have guts and skill to pull that off! I really loved this!

Djam Leelii

Baaba Maal

4/5

Hypnotic. I lay in bed with this on the headphones and was somewhere else. This is the kind of thing I’d never have encountered but for this project.

Happy Trails

Quicksilver Messenger Service

4/5

Somewhere in the last 30 years I became that guy that can happily listen to something like this because I wouldn't have had the patience years ago. Don’t know how that happened but I don’t mind that it did. Some of my friends today will likely be dismayed by my favorite song pick. I really was surprised how into this I was. Closing with "Happy Trails" was a great touch! The perfect transition back into real life after a groovy listen.

Honky Tonk Heroes

Waylon Jennings

5/5

I first heard this album at age 5 and it’s played with regularity for my entire life. Waylon Jennings' rich, unmistakeable voice is comfort food for my soul. With Billy Joe Shaver's incredible storytelling and country arrangements that stray into rock territory with electric electric guitars this album has been a lifelong education that just keeps the lessons coming. This album is packed with great lyrics. "Piano roll blues danced holes in my shoes there weren't another other way to be for them lovable losers and no account boozers and honky tonk heroes like me." "Low down freedom you done cost me Everything I'll everything I'll ever lose Lord." "The devil made me do it the first time, the second time I done it on my own." "If I hadn't been railroaded well, I guess I'da been a train." "Been a good month of Sundays and a guitar ago had a tall drink of yesterday's wine." Lovable losers and no account boozers have never felt so seen...

Rust Never Sleeps

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

5/5

Every time a Neil Young album appears I think “another one?!” And I sort of have a negative feeling about it all. Then I play it and more often than not love it. True-to-form, this album is really terrific!

Basket of Light

Pentangle

5/5

I was not aware of my need of some rock-tinged-renaissancy-baroque-folk until this fell into my lap. Fantastic! How I wish I could have seen this performed in the Royal Albert Hall.

GI

Germs

3/5

I can appreciate this from a historical point of view, although I had to listen on YouTube to hear the original album and didn’t catch a lot of the lyrical content. I also checked out some the songs I could find on Apple Music, but much of that was live and even harder to follow. A lot of the playing was quite impressive! I do appreciate having been exposed to Germs’ music even though I can’t say I’m a fan.

I Am a Bird Now

Antony and the Johnsons

4/5

This was an interesting listen. I started off a little put off by the vocal delivery and was bracing for a long listen. Somewhere in the middle though it picked up for me and there were several songs I really liked like Fistful of Love. Kind of a 3.5 but rounding up to 4.

Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine

Cee Lo Green

3/5

I was a fan of CeeLo’s third album, The Ladykiller. Turns out that album is a bit different than his first two. This one wasn’t nearly as interesting to me. I didn’t hate it but I can’t say it engaged me for 65 minutes. It was ok….

Hms Fable

Shack

4/5

Some very 90s pop to me… a Rembrandts/Lightning Seeds smooth sort of feel. It took 1/2 the album to warm up to this but warm up I did. I enjoyed the listen.

Doggystyle

Snoop Dogg

3/5

The nasty cover suited the nasty songs. Gotta say I’m not in love with that aspect of this music. The lyrics were often terrible and the album cover a real turn-off. Still, I can say that I liked the sound of the music and Snoop Dogg’s rapping. Maybe I’m just relating to the more mature Snoop Dogg who hangs with Martha Stewart, but even with some pretty problematic lyrics it’s more tolerable and seems less mean-spirited than a lot of other 90s rap.

Deloused in the Comatorium

The Mars Volta

5/5

The opening of this album was electric! From the opening notes I shot up and was transfixed. How about we all sing along now? “Transient jet lag, Ecto-mimed bison, This is the haunt of roulette dares, Ruse of metacarpi, Caveat emptor to all that enter here…” “Track-marked amoeba lands craft, cartwheel of scratches dress the tapeworm as pet tentacles smirk please, flinched the cocooned meat Infra-recon forget…” “A mass of gallon sloth (They're gonna get you) As flies have walls for feet A rapturous verbatim (You better run now) Someone said, but who's to know?“ Ummmmmm… yeah? I could probably spend the rest of my life trying to unravel the lyrics and still be left wondering if this is James Joyce-level brilliance or the unhinged rantings of a lunatic. This is one hell of a freaky ride I can’t wait to go on again!

Shleep

Robert Wyatt

5/5

The first Robert Wyatt album I ever heard was from this project - his 1974 release Rock Bottom. I loved it and was curious to hear what he was up to 23 years later. Shleep seemed to have a bit more polish. Perhaps it makes it an easier onramp to the weird world of Wyatt? There's a variety of songs and styles but all felt unmistakably Wyatt. The album opens with the jaunty Heaps of Sheeps and then heads straight into more experimental jazz territory on The Duchess. I think the exposure to jazz this project has given me has increased my appreciation of Robert Wyatt's incorporation of the form into his glorious mishmashes. And what's that in Alien? Latin rhythms? Blues in Bob Minor has Wyatt delivering some fast-paced lyrics rivalling Billy Joel's delivery in We Didn't Start The Fire. I'm so glad this project introduced me to this extraordinary talent in Rock Bottom and added Shleep to my repertoire! I clearly need to look more into the Robert Wyatt catalog.

War

U2

5/5

U2 War A month or so ago I officially declared that - had displaced The Joshua Tree as my favorite U2 album. It appears its reign was destined to be short. My college roommate listened to U2’s War album a lot so I felt like I knew what to expect. Today when I listened I was blown away at the youthful exuberance, the incredible talent and the strong Irish influences! Bono’s passion! That drummer mesmerizes me! Has Two Hearts always been this fucking perfect?! Could there be a more perfect way to end the album than the gorgeous 40? Yeah I remembered the hits but I guess I had become an apathetic listener. This album brought those songs back to life in a way that i had not expected. War is really special and today’s listen makes me love U2 all over again. My indisputable favorite!

Get Behind Me Satan

The White Stripes

5/5

Some of the artists with repeat albums on this list leave me wondering why we need all of them. The previous album from The White Stripes (White Blood Cells) and Get Behind Me Satan are pretty different, so I can see how they both coexist here. There’s a lot of piano, some always welcome Marimba, and less a 70s rock vibe than that previous album. Both albums, though, are quite great! Glad to have heard them both!

Goo

Sonic Youth

5/5

After listening to the last Sonic Youth album (Dirty), I got a better inkling of the attraction. But I certainly didn’t need the other three albums which I enjoyed to a much lesser degree. Now it seems the musical gods see fit to push the limit and grant me yet another Sonic Youth album to listen to. I can’t say that I felt happy about that… I was relieved to discover Dirty Boots was an excellent song opening the album. Tunic (Song for Karen) was really interesting - I’m digging the talky vocals that would recur throughout this album. I was surprised at themes and really enjoyed both the sound. And - WTF? - songs for Karen Carpenter and Mildred Pierce?! How fun to be dreading the play button and then 50 minutes later immediately press play again to restart the album. I feel fortunate to have this is come up near the end of the Sonic Youth albums. Goo definitely left my opinion of this band on a very high note! Terrific!

Before And After Science

Brian Eno

4/5

I usually find Brian Eno quite interesting - I loved his collaboration with David Byrne on My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts. This earlier album didn’t grab me quite as much but I liked it. This might be one that will warm to me over time…

Fear and Whiskey

Mekons

4/5

A punk country album?! I’m interested… And interesting this was. It sounds like a lot of fun was had making this. The instruments are varied and well–played. I liked the unique songs. Nice!

In The Court Of The Crimson King

King Crimson

5/5

I have heard of King Crimson and they always felt like something I should have listened to at some point. Today is that point! I loved the jazzy-moody-noodly-psychedelic nature of all this. There was a lot of interesting songs - real versatility on display. Prog-rock anthems, lovely sentimental songs… I love the mix of lovely-weird. Terrific!

The World is a Ghetto

War

4/5

A War album with none of the hits I know? A great thing about this project is exposing me to new sides of familiar bands. I very much enjoyed this album. A lot of it is pretty downbeat in a cool, mellow way! I’m kinda getting into these longs songs that take their time to unroll before me. A very pleasant groove that was just the ticket today. And I love looking at that album art!

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down

The Dandy Warhols

5/5

Wow! This album was so great! I think I’ve run across the Dandy Warhols somewhere in my past but was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this. A bit of an emotional rollercoaster with clever lyrics and some very cool songs. Mouth harps, organs, grungy guitars. Minnesoter! A hard on for Jesus! So much fun!

Exile On Main Street

The Rolling Stones

5/5

It’s Exile On Main Street. It’s The Rolling Stones. I listened to this 3 times in a row while working with power tools and felt much cooler than I have any right to be. No wonder these guys are legends.

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Animal Collective

5/5

Lush Beach Boys harmonies and wild electronic experiments? I’M IN! This was fantastic fun! So interesting and engaging. Brother Sport was the perfect finale!

Whatever

Aimee Mann

4/5

This was a nice listen. I’m not sure it would make my personal 1001 list but I enjoyed it well enough.

Blue Lines

Massive Attack

5/5

I had thought I had an idea of what Massive Attack sounded like but I was wrong. This was a fantastic listen! I love the atmosphere and vibe. It sounded a lot more contemporary than 1991 - seems like this was establishing the path for a lot of later music. Super cool!

Leftism

Leftfield

5/5

I’m a fan of electronic music and this is a great electronic music album! It’s chill, interesting, smooth, and a great addition to my music library. I love it!

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake

Small Faces

4/5

Recently a friend added Small Faces’ Itchycoo Park to a shared playlist and I enjoyed hearing that song. I was content to consider the group a one-hit wonder and move on. Again 1001 comes to the rescue to expand my knowledge of this group. I do believe I have heard Lazy Sunday before because it is quite familiar. I’m not sure why I am not more familiar with it because it is quite fun and seemed like it should be better remembered. The variations among the songs on the first side of the album were great. The second side is a series of songs connected by narration and goes full 60s nut-flake. I love it! Experimental, nutty fun! This earned its place on the list.

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black

Public Enemy

5/5

Really great album! Political. Hard hitting. Even an Anthrax track I like! Really great!

They Were Wrong, So We Drowned

Liars

5/5

Well this certainly gave me a WTF moment shortly into the first song… what kind of slog is this?! And then… click… something about sitting alone in the dark in a cabin listening to cleverly titled songs about brooms and witches… I’ve been known to embrace wackadoo music… this is pretty out there… do I really like this? Yes, I think I do. Do I expect to play this in the company of anyone else I know? Perhaps at a Halloween party? Even then I’d expect this musical selection to be quickly vetoed. I’ve listened to this a few times now and I keep thinking about this. I have subsequently discovered from Wikipedia that this was recorded in a cabin in the woods… strange coincidence… Crazy original. Crazy good. Crazy! Favorite songs: They Don’t Want Your Corn, They Want Your Kids and There’s Always Room On The Broom

Fred Neil

4/5

I have never heard of Fred Neil but Everybody’s Talkin’ has always been a favorite! Nice performance here.

Tellin’ Stories

The Charlatans

4/5

Sort of an Oasis-y sounding band that I found quite pleasant to listen to. Plus they make liberal use of the rock organ which is always more than welcome to my ears. Nice!

Architecture And Morality

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

4/5

Was this a vanguard of the 80s music to follow? Perhaps if I had heard this in ‘81 it would make more of an impression. I will admit on the first listen I thought this was just ok. The second listen improved things a bit. The album has a heavy

Fragile

Yes

5/5

Roundabout is an incredible song. Every time I hear it I pick up something new. The bass playing is off the hook, the organ fantastic, and it is filled with incredible guitar work. It's a perfectly constructed masterpiece. Yet this is another instance where my enthusiasm for a song never translated into investigating any further than a Greatest Hits collection. I'm excited to listen to this album. Given Roundabout as the opening track this album is a shoo-in for a 4 or 5 rating. Yes would really have to go off the rails to dissuade me. As expected, I loved the rest of this album! Delightful classical interpretations. Glorious harmonies. Incredible musicianship. Phenomenal!

Penance Soiree

The Icarus Line

5/5

When I saw this genre was "post-hardcore" I was pretty sure this wouldn't be for me. To my surprise I really love it! Edgy and cool in all the right ways, I didn't realize that I had room for a new post-hardcore band in my life. This is great rock and roll! The 1001 list disabuses me of yet another preconceived notion.

Shadowland

k.d. lang

5/5

I’ve heard this album before but it has been a long time. Good lord this is a great album! k.d. lang’s voice is perfection! Back when this came out I was in love with “Black Coffee.” It’s perfect - impressive that it can still stand out on an album filled with stand outs! How k.d. lang slipped out of the rotation I don’t know, but I’m glad to have her back! THAT VOICE! Gliding effortlessly around these melodies so smoothly. Truly the pinnacle of torch-song country!

Billion Dollar Babies

Alice Cooper

5/5

I’m not sure what I expect from an Alice Cooper album, but for some reason I was surprised at how theatrical it all is. Closer to Meat Loaf than Marilyn Manson… and that’s a good thing to me. This was a lot of fun to listen to… had lots of interesting messages and great performances. Really good stuff!

Hail To the Thief

Radiohead

5/5

I was introduced to Radiohead a year or so before the release of this album, so this was the first Radiohead album I anticipated and then purchased on CD the day it came out. I was not disappointed. I had grown increasingly disillusioned by my country, my government, and my fellow man. This album has just the right tone and message to serve as a soundtrack to this challenging phase of my life. It continues to help me cope with my cynicism about my fellow countrymen and our future. Commiserating with this album counterintuitively helps relieve the utter despair I’m often tempted to wallow in. When this came out some of my friends were disappointed. Some thought it was too “conventional”, but listening to it now you’d really have to limit the context to Radiohead albums and its ilk to make such a contention. These are far from conventional songs. I’ve always kind of thought that OK Computer was my favorite from Radiohead. Tonight I realize that I could easily make the argument for this album. Hail to the Thief is a deep emotional journey that I never tire of taking. It’s an album that has helped prevent me from being consumed as I peer over the edge of the abyss.

Aja

Steely Dan

5/5

Black Cow, Deacon Blues and Peg are beloved favorites of mine. Being half the album, Aja is a shoo-in for a high score. Still, I’ve often had some vague feeling that I’m too immature for Steely Dan’s coolness. Even though that feeling lurked in the corners as I listened to the other four songs it wasn’t enough to quell my appreciation of this album. It’s terrific!

Playing With Fire

Spacemen 3

4/5

Whoa this is a trippy affair. Some gospel tunes and organ but done in a totally psychedelic way… then we have songs that I couldn’t really place in time (I was surprised this was from 1989). Then there were some pretty overtly political messages. A lot to digest here…. Very unique and very interesting!

Celebrity Skin

Hole

5/5

When I started this I didn’t realize that “Celebrity Skin” is one of those songs that I recall really loving decades ago but whose name or artist had never stuck with me. So I was thrilled to hear this song again, and I love it still! The rest of this album is up to that standard. Fantastic! Now that I’ve loved the albums Live Through This and Celebrity Skin, I guess I should dispel those lingering feelings of doubt when I think about listening to Hole.

L'Eau Rouge

The Young Gods

4/5

This was interesting. Kind of a French electronics-heavy metal by way of Tom Waits. I’m not in love with it and suspect additional listens wouldn’t change that, but it sure was interesting to listen to.

Back to Basics

Christina Aguilera

5/5

I liked the first disc well enough, although I felt a bit like an outsider… especially through the Thank You song at the end (seems she and her fans are having a personal moment I didn’t feel entirely comfortable listening to). I wasn’t sure I was up for a second disc. To my surprise that second disc really connected with me! The best Christina I’ve listened to. Fantastic!

You're Living All Over Me

Dinosaur Jr.

3/5

Hmmm… another Dinosaur Jr. album. This one I think I liked a little better than Bug (the other one). I would have thought this was made later in time than it was with the grunge sound. There were some interesting moments of sparkly grunge in Kracked that I really enjoyed… in fact like Bug the start of this album was pretty interesting but I kind of felt my enthusiasm wane about half way through - a similar reaction to Bug. Maybe I need to merge the first halves of both albums to make something I really enjoy?

Manassas

Stephen Stills

5/5

Really amazing collection of songs. Plenty of variety, I listened to this all three times today! Terrific!

Duck Rock

Malcolm McLaren

3/5

I like some Malcolm McLaren. But this left my head scratching. The radio DJ interludes grated on my nerves. There were a few good songs, but after three listens (under duress the third time - I had the album on repeat while I was painting and didn’t want to wash my hands to stop it), I don’t want to hear this again.

Killing Joke

5/5

I put this music on today and my cat work up from her nap to paw at the screen until I turned it off. I don’t think she’s a fan. On the other hand, I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed listening to this. This ain’t the first time an album has surprised me on this project. I started off a 4 but I’m listening to it for the third time and I really am enjoying it. Yet another unexpected 5.

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo

The Byrds

5/5

I loved this! Not what I expected from The Byrds. But then again I expected that.

Fear Of A Black Planet

Public Enemy

5/5

Another Public Enemy album… well, the other two established that I like this group. There is a lot of anger expressed here to that great Public Enemy sound. I’m not familiar enough with these three Public Enemy albums to reliably say if I really need all three on the 1001 list. For some reason that tempted me to give this a 4. But it is every bit as good as the others and just because it was presented to me as the third album is no reason to knock it. Plus I might have a more subtle u derstanding of the differences if I had more than a few listens of each. So it is another 5! Because this album is great!

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Pink Floyd

4/5

This is a really 60s album… in a way I didn’t really expect in a Pink Floyd album. It is fascinating to listen to their debut album. A bit wacky, and bit psychedelic, strange and very interesting.

Chore of Enchantment

Giant Sand

5/5

A very interesting listen! Lots of musical twists and turns that were still very enjoyable to the ears. Super creative and unique!

McCartney

Paul McCartney

2/5

I listened to this the first time knowing nothing about its history or background, ready to be placed in Paul McCartney’s talented hands, poised to click on a 4 or a 5 rating. Much to my surprise I hated it from the start. The insipid lyrics made me cringe (“Look like a woman, dress like a lady, talk like a baby, love like a woman”?! BLAH!). I was utterly perplexed at what this dreck was doing on this list and ready to click the 2-stars rating (and seriously wondering if 1 star is more appropriate) until the second-to-the-last song, Maybe I’m Amazed, which I am well familiar with and is one of my favorite Paul McCartney songs. What is happening here? Just in case I was having a bad morning, I decided I needed to try to listen again and see what I was missing. This time, I opened up Wikipedia and learned that this album broke up the Beatles. I had the WTF reaction of critics 53 years ago when I read that. I think I hate this album even more. I was going to give it a 3 based pretty much solely on Maybe I’m Amazed, but I’m more than a little irritated at this - it’s back to 2. It might be best if I forget I ever listened to this stinker as it just might ruin Maybe I’m Amazed for me.

Toys In The Attic

Aerosmith

5/5

Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way have been favorite songs of mine ever since I heard the cool kids at the back of the bus playing them on my daily ride to junior high. They’re joined here by 7 more tracks that I enjoyed hearing. I was sort of surprised when I heard You See Me Crying. I had kind of assumed that the softer, orchestral side of Aerosmith was something they aged into in the 90s, yet here we are in 1975 with this lovely track. Aerosmith at their finest!

Like Water For Chocolate

Common

3/5

I was exposed to this album a few years after it came out. It’s something I liked and a decent rap album with lots of observation and reflection. In some ways more interesting than a lot of rap albums we’ve had on this project, although it isn’t my favorite musically.

Metal Box

Public Image Ltd.

2/5

Here’s one that I’m happy to leave far behind in the rear view mirror. Not my thing. Tedious. It went on far too long.

Moving Pictures

Rush

5/5

One of my best friends in high school was a huge Rush fan and listened to this often. At the time I didn’t really get it. I do now! Moving Pictures is a fantastically ambitious album - a great entry point to the baroque stylings of Rush. Incredible music from incredible musicians at the height of their powers. Terrific!

Risque

CHIC

5/5

Wow this album gives us some iconic disco but also has more storyline that I ever noticed before. Listened to this several times today and it just gets better and better.

Night Life

Ray Price

5/5

Honky-tonkin’ heartbreak, drinking’ and depression… Some real classic country from a real master, this album shines a stark light on the Night Life. Each song is a cautionary tale targeting a variety of potential victims of the night life. As Ray suggests in the introduction to this Columbia album, I enjoyed sittin’ back, kickin’ off my shoes and listenin’ to Night Life. Just the perfect accompaniment to an evening of cocktails. Maybe someday I’ll make it to one of those dances…

Tres Hombres

ZZ Top

5/5

Over 700 albums ago, early in my 1001 listening ZZ Top’s Eliminator album came up. Since I was still calibrating my star scale, I gave that album a two. I have regretted that rating ever since and hoped for the opportunity to rate another ZZ Top album in the hopes of redeeming my injustice. So I was very excited to have the opportunity to pad a later ZZ Top rating and assuage my guilt. Unfortunately, this album is already so awesome that it easily falls between a four and a five. I love the bluesy sound. The guitar playing is gritty and wonderful. So today’s rating unfortunately contains little or no padding to rectify my previous misjudgment. But I’m very happy to have this in my collection now!

Pelican West

Haircut 100

5/5

The only Haircut 100 I can think of is Love Plus One, which I dearly love. So much so that I used to use a variation of this group’s name as a password. I really enjoyed the rest of this album as well. Take Duran Duran, add some heavy cream and sugar, and whip into a light, frothy Haircut 100 treat!

m b v

My Bloody Valentine

3/5

I felt like I had left this album in a hot car and was trying to play it… there is a decidedly warped feel to a lot of this album. I can’t say I loved this, but I can’t say that I hated it. And a few songs (like ‘new you’) I quite liked.

Frank

Amy Winehouse

5/5

This album makes me sad for all the obvious reasons. The wonderful, melodic tunes are tinged with such melancholy… I don’t think Amy’s tragic end is entirely responsible for that. Was nice to sit back and have a toast to such a phenomenal talent with a tear in my eye, even if it was a little more depressing than her later album.

Crocodiles

Echo And The Bunnymen

4/5

Vibes of Simple Minds and other 80s bands in my favorite songs, while a few seemed to drone on more than I might have liked. Still, a very good album!

S&M

Metallica

4/5

I was not thrilled at two hours of Metallica… but the orchestra added so much! Some really great pieces herein… and then some I still would rather not. But the best Metallica yet!

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

5/5

Wow this is a beautiful album. What a quartet!

Modern Kosmology

Jane Weaver

5/5

I’ve never heard of Jane Weaver before but the music gives me a Stereolab vibe, a group I really love. There are vocal journeys at times evocative of Kate Bush. The songs are tightly crafted - quite a feat for such open, ethereal soundscapes. I absolutely love this - what a phenomenal album!

Oxygène

Jean-Michel Jarre

5/5

My high school French teacher introduced me to many, many French albums including Oxygene. I spent a lot of time listening to this and his other albums through high school and college. After college I’d find myself regularly hearing tracks from this when I had a job running the board for a New Age radio show in the early 90s. I was always excited when one of these tracks came up even though the album is best taken in its entirety. Oxygene is my gateway to a lifelong love of electronic music. This is one journey that I never tire of making.

Peter Gabriel

5/5

I had a friend in high school and college who was a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, so even though I couldn’t recall listening to this album as soon as I heard it I recognized every song. I appreciate it more now than I did then. Great album!

Music Has The Right To Children

Boards of Canada

5/5

I have heard of Boards of Canada and thought I knew their genre, but either they changed to something very different or I knew nothing about them. This was way more interesting and engaging than expected. A wonderful journey… trancelike at times… and definitely something I will be revisiting!

Konnichiwa

Skepta

2/5

I started off liking this more than I expected, but it wore me down and by the end was ready for it to be over. About 30 minutes too long.

Yank Crime

Drive Like Jehu

2/5

I listened to this after watching the 2 hour 50 minutes Taylor Swift Eras movie, which was not particularly compatible with this album. So I am pretty sure this was not optimal timing. I didn’t enjoy this much…

Green Onions

Booker T. & The MG's

5/5

I have always loved the song Green Onions. Im very fond of this cool 60’s organ-driven song. I have heard the song Mo’ Green Onions several times, another welcome helping of Green Onions goodness. But I wasn’t sure if those songs were representative of the greater works of Booker T and the MGs. I love listening to this. A groovy soundtrack for the day!

good kid, m.A.A.d city

Kendrick Lamar

5/5

I started off pessimistic about this… and as I started listening I started dreading the hour+ runtime. But as this went on I found myself liking this more and more. Nice variety of music, I liked the laid back tracks. Really good.

Two Dancers

Wild Beasts

5/5

Uniquely bonkers! Wildly inventive musically and lyrically! YES! YES! YES!

Astral Weeks

Van Morrison

5/5

Wow! This album is so dreamy. I sank into it’s flow and let it carry me away. Beautiful.

A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Coldplay

5/5

I didn’t know much about Coldplay when this album was released - having only heard “Yellow” on the radio. This album got my full attention and made me a fan. An emotional album with very tender songs as will as songs that begin reaching for the stadium levels that later releases would embrace. A beautiful album I love from beginning to end.

Imagine

John Lennon

5/5

I have never listened to this album before, but of course know every note of Imagine. Listening with fresh ears I realize how I have taken this amazing song for granted. It’s no wonder it is still ubiquitous today. The rest of this album is also quite impressive. While I still am not a Lennon fanatic, this album is filled with a variety of really great songs and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. I’m glad this project has pushed me to listen to something that I should have listened to years ago.

Rhythm Nation 1814

Janet Jackson

5/5

I emigrated to the Rhythm Nation shortly after its release and have remained a happy citizen ever since. What an impressive accomplishment. Scads of hit songs that sound as great as ever today. Phenomenal!!!

Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches

Happy Mondays

4/5

I’m not sure what I expected… but this exceeded expectations. Fun. Kinda catchy!

Guero

Beck

5/5

I thought Odelay and Mellow Gold covered me for my Beck listening needs, but here Guero comes along and adds another unique yet unmistakably Beck album to the mix. I really enjoy this album! My biggest surprise is that I don’t know if I knew the songs off this before, and that I have never listened to this before. Fantastic!

Sweet Baby James

James Taylor

5/5

I grew up with this in our family compact cassette collection so I know I have heard this many times, but only Sweet Baby James and Fire and Rain stirred any memories. I think it was a little too mellow to stand out to me then. Fortunately, I am able to appreciate this in its entirety today.

Strange Cargo III

William Orbit

5/5

Fabulous electronic music. Loved the groove.

Are You Experienced

Jimi Hendrix

5/5

Never thought of myself as a Jimi Hendrix fan, but this is undeniably a great album. The hits deserve their cultural ubiquity, and the songs I didn’t know are great. Can’t expect more than that!

In It For The Money

Supergrass

5/5

The first Supergrass album was great. This one is great too! A terrific collection of fun poppy-punky confections I could eat all day!

Bossanova

Pixies

5/5

Another album my college friends were into but I couldn’t connect with back then. Interestingly, I did get into The Breeders’ album Last Splash - but I had no idea that there was a connection to Pixies. If I had I might have made more of an effort to explore this group back in the day. Bossanova’s hard beach pop vibe kept drawing me in and by the end has won me over.

Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin

5/5

I have spent my life deficient in knowledge of and exposure to Led Zeppelin. Still, I have known and The Immigrant Song since childhood and it was always my favorite LZ Song. I still love that song and was excited to hear its album of origin. I am surprised a bit. The album surprised me with the great performances of softer songs like The Gallows Pole and That’s the Way. Really lovely. Lots of interesting arrangements make obvious Led Zeppelin’s formidable musicianship.

Garbage

5/5

I started listening to Garbage in 1998 when they released Version 2.0. I loved it so much and soon thereafter added this to the rotation. One of my favorite bands of that time. Listening to Garbage is as badass as I’ll likely ever get.

Black Metal

Venom

5/5

One thing for sure… this cover of this album pretty much had me expecting exactly what was delivered. The real surprise is how listenable this is. The music is catchy! The lyrics made me laugh quite often. Back in 1982 this would seem like a sure sign my soul was in peril. A terrified 14 year old me would have been clutching my pearls and plagued with nightmares. Today an amused 55 year old me hears a quaint parody of evil. Simpler times… *sigh* Maybe if it were any other day I’d give this a lower score… but Black Metal is a perfect romp on a Halloween afternoon!

Superunknown

Soundgarden

5/5

Black Hole Sun is one of my favorite songs from the 90’s. I listened to a good amount of grunge then, so you would I’d have been inspired to listen to the album. It did not. So I’m excited to listen to this… Would have loved this more back in the 90s… but I still very much enjoy it now. Excellent!

Immigrés

Youssou N'Dour

4/5

A very nice change of pace that I quite enjoyed!

All That You Can't Leave Behind

U2

5/5

Beautiful Day is among my favorite U2 songs. I’d completely forgotten about Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of until I heard it again - a welcome reunion. I love that song too. But the other singles - Elevation and Walk On - don’t ring any bells. Surprising because they are terrific songs as well! This is a very positive-feeling, uplifting U2 album that I almost missed entirely. Glad it is here!

Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts

The Adverts

4/5

Some well constructed tunes made this a fun listen.

The Last Of The True Believers

Nanci Griffith

5/5

This was just the change of pace I’ve been needing on this project! Some steel guitar was music to my ears and Nanci’s songs were great! What a terrific listen!

Mr. Tambourine Man

The Byrds

5/5

This is the album I expected from The Byrds. Packed with the songs I know and love along with other tunes that were new to me but very much sounded like they belonged here. It’s amazing how they made the Dylan songs their own. Easy to take this for granted now, so it was good to listen with fresh ears and hear the tsunami of musical influence flowing from this album to this day.

Floodland

Sisters Of Mercy

5/5

HELL YEAH! This album hits the sweet spot of gothic rock for me. The opening track is SO good... I may have heard it back in the day but I don't remember it now. Dominion/Mother Russia is where goth rock and I perfectly align! Give me that driving beat and lyrics of doom! Lucretia My Reflection, This Corrosion and Flood II also were particular favorites. The other songs were enjoyable if not quite as immediately grabby - this album is a special dark treat! I'm not sure if The Sisters of Mercy are new to me or something I've forgotten, but whatever they are they are terrific! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to pop off to touch up my black mascara.

Nilsson Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson

5/5

This was a staple of my childhood and was always there in the family cassette collection. As a kid I loved the bathrobed artist on the cover, the funny Nilsson Schmilsson title, and the quirky music. Coconut was one of my favorite songs. When this came up today I remember Coconut, Without You and Let The Good Times Roll really, really well. But I couldn’t have said much about the rest. As the album played I had instant recognition of each song, sometimes before it started as my brain started recalling the play order. It’s been at least 30 or more years since I listed to this album in its entirety but the songs are carved onto my brain. A great trip down memory lane and a reminder that the gems of my youth are glimmering away waiting for me to unearth and enjoy them yet again! A fantastic album through and through!

Talk Talk Talk

The Psychedelic Furs

5/5

Interesting that I’ve likely never heard any of these songs before, although I am very familiar with the 1986 re-recording of Pretty In Pink from the movie. This version was a bit different. That made this album a completely new listen. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting - there was a lot more going on than the 80s hits I am familiar with would have implied. Really interesting and good, and one of those albums I think I like a lot more now than if I’d heard it back in the day.

A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse

Faces

3/5

I like Rod Stewart, so I liked this album too. Some good early 70s guitar driven rock band music.

Kilimanjaro

The Teardrop Explodes

4/5

This was certainly at the forefront of that 80s sound. Catchy and pretty fun to listen to.

Mothership Connection

Parliament

5/5

This was a funkalicious soundtrack to my walk along the beach. How’d they know I’d need the funk?!

Logical Progression

LTJ Bukem

4/5

I’m not sure if I listened to the correct version of this or not, since the track listing on the Wikipedia page looks nothing like the track listing on what I listened to. But I think I got the gist. This was enjoyable… good music to work to as it had energy without stress. Really excels as background music to keep you going without becoming too distracting. Seems like it would also be quite useful at a fancy gallery opening or some kind of cool reception. At first was sort of not sure what to rate this, but ultimately I really did like this. There are many occasions I can think of where this might be a perfect soundtrack.

Sulk

The Associates

2/5

Hmmmm. I started off thinking this might be ok. Then the scritchy scratchy drums kept scritching and scratching. I’ve liked a lot of chaotic and noisy music on this project, but by the third song (Bap De La Bap) this was causing some degree of irritation. The sulking vocals didn’t boost things either. Moments in a few songs like Party Fears Two seemed promising, but ultimately left me underwhelmed. Too much not enough for me.

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground

5/5

I thought The Velvet Underground was going to be like taking musical history medicine before starting this project - as I knew they were important, knew they'd be on this list, but didn't think there was any way that this was going to be something I really enjoyed. I couldn't have been more wrong. While I loved my first album from The Velvet Underground on this project - the self-titled one from 1969 - and this one is even better! It's varied, interesting, the song craft is impressive, and I love listening to it. Terrific!

xx

The xx

4/5

I had no idea what this was when it popped up but I loved it from the jump. A nice and mellow vibe which suited me perfectly. Moody and kind of mellow without being dull. Good!

The Good, The Bad & The Queen

4/5

This was a trip! I enjoyed the sound, and the album is an interesting musical journey. Interesting and entertaining.

The Köln Concert

Keith Jarrett

5/5

I loved this! Such a great change of pace! I loved the music, and the live performance where I could hear Keith Jarrett reacting while playing was great! I am very happy this is on the list. Really terrific!

What's That Noise?

Coldcut

4/5

This was probably not exactly the right choice for me today to listen to as I am a bit under the weather. But still it was clever and fun and expertly assembled. The cover is also awesome. Some of the songs were definite 5s for me, some not. Very entertaining!

In Our Heads

Hot Chip

5/5

This totally surprised me. It is so unabashedly upbeat and happy that it at first it put me off, then after a song or two I was all in. I’m going to be checking out more from this group, because god knows I could always use some extra smiles. TERRIFIC!

The Colour Of Spring

Talk Talk

5/5

I know a couple of Talk Talk songs and of the two I prefer It’s My Life over Life’s What You Make It. There was a tinge of disappointment when I saw the track list for this album assignment. No matter… this is a great album. It’s a little 80s subdued with harmonica and some great songs! Life’s What You Make It isn’t even in my top two favorite songs on this album either. That was a bit of a surprise. While listening to this I see that Apple Music doesn’t list this as an essential album for Talk Talk, giving that honor to the two albums made after this one. Of the follow up to this, they state “Spirit of Eden is one of the most powerful and singular experiences in modern music.” I’m definitely going to check that out shortly even if it isn’t on this list. I love how not only am I finding new music to listen to but those albums often serve as a jumping off point for new musical adventures. Talk Talk is just another of many musical pathways I would never have thought to explore. I’m excited to have something to investigate! Great stuff!

Duck Stab/Buster & Glen

The Residents

5/5

I knew the song Hello Skinny from a mix tape back in the 80s. So I was certainly expecting a weird album. Duck Stab doesn’t disappoint. It is delightfully weird. Never boring, the songs vary in what makes them weird and I was constantly excited to hear what was next. Constantinople must have been a response to or inspired by the song Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by They Might Be Giants. They make a great pairing. A reference to “Elmer Fudd” and “Auntie Maim” in Sinister Exaggerator? You could hear the homage to Green Onions in the short interlude The Booker Tease (see what they did there?!). This album wants me to have a daughter named Semolina (and maybe raise her on Cream of Wheat). How have I lived through 24 years and not played the wonderful Birthday Boy for someone on their birthday?! Weight lifting Lulu? A song called Krafty Cheese that warns plants to be careful? The brilliant dissonant Hello Dolly ending of Hello Skinny? It all ends with the painfully comprehensible yet utterly wackadoo The Electrocutioner. There is a great deal of musical mastery at play here in creating the off-kilter tunes. The Residents’ crazy songs work for me! Yes, most of those around me seem to hate it and I don’t expect it to be tolerated at my next social gathering, but I think it’s terrific! “A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men.” - W. Wonka

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

5/5

When I heard The Red Hot Chili Peppers hits off this album back when it was released they were ok but for some reason didn’t draw me in. Today I’m left scratching my head because this album is awesome! I loved the whole album and am now a belated RHCP fan!

Vulnicura

Björk

4/5

Björk has been a mixed bag for me. This album follows the way of Medúlla for me in that I can appreciate the artistry despite not enjoying the art. Still, there is a strange beauty in some parts that call out to me. My visit to Iceland actually gave me a little more connection to this cold, stark sound. While ultimately I can’t say I enjoyed this and will return to this often (or maybe ever), some parts were quite striking.

Dr. Octagonecologyst

Dr. Octagon

2/5

Parts of this sounded really good. I liked some of the songs, although I hesitate any enthusiastic endorsements since I didn’t catch all the lyrics and when I did I often regretted what I heard. Clearly this has some tongue in cheek but since I’m not quite fully in on the joke the is is difficult to rate. The music was often good and interesting. Some did stand out from some of the other rap I’ve heard on this project. There was plenty that appealed to me. There was also plenty that didn’t. In hindsight, I am not entirely sure I needed to hear gynecologically-focused-space-rap before I die. And I definitely didn’t need it for more than an hour. But the talent is here and I can’t argue that it is unique and creative.

Superfuzz Bigmuff

Mudhoney

3/5

I liked it fine. Listenable and interesting that it came out earlier than I might have expected. Not terrible (except for The Rose remake), but no great revelations to me here.

Songs From The Big Chair

Tears For Fears

5/5

This is an easy one. I saw Tears for Fears in concert recently inspiring me to listen to this several times in the last few months. Songs From The Big Chair is also something I listened to in its entirety when it first came out. Its endurance in my life is a testament to its greatness. The songs are perfectly crafted. The lyrics are interesting and have something to say. This is definitely one of the best albums of the 80s. On top of all that, Everybody Wants To Rule The World and Head Over Heels are both contenders for my favorite 80s song. Terrific!

La Revancha Del Tango

Gotan Project

4/5

This was a smooth, sophisticated background track for my workday. The music makes its presence known without being overly intrusive. Nice!

Fun House

The Stooges

4/5

The Stooges are legendary, I hear about them all the time. Yet I couldn't tell you until today what they sounded like, but I didn't think I would enjoy it all that much. I was wrong. I loved this album. Raw and energetic, this left me feeling like Wile E. Coyote after a TNT misfire. In a good way, if that's possible. I especially loved when the album was wrapping up to the crazy noise at the end on L.A. Blues another member of the household arrived home and stood there looking perplexed. The music stopped and he exclaimed "What the hell's going on here?!" Made my day.

Os Mutantes

4/5

This was a bit of a crazy trip… I liked it and it was definitely unique. Fun to hear!

Underwater Moonlight

The Soft Boys

4/5

This was a very interesting listen in that at times it felt almost Beatles, at times proto-new wave, at times it hinted at college rock. I didn’t feel a lot of cohesiveness necessarily on the album, but I did like a lot of what I heard and it definitely was interesting.

Go Girl Crazy

The Dictators

5/5

When I read about this before listening I was kind of not excited. Then when I played this I found it to be a total blast! These songs are weird and wild and I enjoyed this completely even if there were a few spots that didn’t age well.

Electric Music For The Mind And Body

Country Joe & The Fish

5/5

One surprise in this project is how much I like psychedelic music. Certainly wasn’t much of a thing for me when I was younger. Through this project, though, the psychedelic-laced albums more often than not appeal. This album is no exception. I listened to it three times today and each time enjoyed it more! I dig it not just as a historic album but also as a groovy listen.

Document

R.E.M.

5/5

R.E.M. defined college radio when I was in college, and I was onboard! This was my first R.E.M. album and it has still got it! A terrific that brings terrific memories that still sounds terrific today!

Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Bill Evans Trio

4/5

This is the noodly sort of thing that I stereotypically associate with jazz in my mind. I enjoyed having it on although I didn’t totally connect with it. Maybe not my favorite of the jazz I’ve heard on this project, but I enjoyed it quite a bit!

Phaedra

Tangerine Dream

4/5

I’m sure I’ve heard some of this before as I had a roommate in college who was into Tangerine Dream. I also held a job where part of my duties were running the board for a New Age radio show in the 90s. Many a Sunday morning I struggled to remain awake to ethereal, New Age music (do we still use that term?). I enjoy this music. I played the album 5 times today, although I must admit that was because I kept dozing off as I listened to it. Even the cover art looks to me like an infant curled up in a blanket sleeping. I intend that as a compliment because it put me in a very relaxed place.

Call of the Valley

Shivkumar Sharma

4/5

I’m always glad when there is some variety on this list and have been generally quite happy with the global music entries on this list. It wasn’t easy to find this actual album to listen to. I finally had to resort to YouTube and listen to a recording of a vinyl record as the linked album on Apple Music was different. I enjoyed this more than I expected and found it very soothing. I can see how this might inspire some meditation. I also love the album art. Beautiful!

Larks' Tongues In Aspic

King Crimson

5/5

I expected this to be unusual and it certainly was. Progressive rock for sure. The journey was fascinating and I was delighted, entranced and excited at where we might be taken next on this epic musical journey. To my surprise when the bonus tracks started I let them play and they were a worthy addition to the listen. Really terrific album that I am very glad to have encountered. I had no idea that I was a progressive rock guy, but I’m starting to come to terms with it. I love the grandiosity and bombast of this album!

Synchronicity

The Police

5/5

OH YEAH! This is THE Police album. Synchronicity is one hell of a way to kick off an album. I’m drawn in immediately by its urgency. Then a parade of spectacular songs follows all the way to the end. Theres are perfect variety of songs in a diverse set of styles that nonetheless cohere perfectly as a whole. Monster hits that deserve every bit of adoration… and then a slew of lesser played tunes that I love just as much. Walking In Your Footsteps… Oh My God…Mother… Miss Gradenko… Tea In The Sahara… Murder By Numbers… This album is teeming with songs you should hear before you die. From the incredible madness of Mother to the quiet beauty of Every Breath You Take this album never fails to be worth my time. What a perfect way to spend the next 45 minutes. TERRIFIC! TERRIFIC! TERRIFIC!

Siembra

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades

5/5

Salsa was just the thing I needed to reinvigorate me today, and this is some kick as salsa music! 💃🏽

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

John Lennon

4/5

With the benefit of hindsight this is what I expected. I liked it most of the time although I could have done without a couple of songs (looking at you Well Well Well).

Liege And Lief

Fairport Convention

5/5

Turns out I am a big fan of 60’s British folk music. Who knew? Just a wonderful salve to my aching soul.

The Sounds Of India

Ravi Shankar

3/5

I’m enjoying learning about Hindustani classical music on this project, and appreciate the tinges of education offered on this album. Still necessary to teach us Westerners even some 66 years later… I enjoyed a lot of this. As a whole it was a tad more than sufficient and was a little educational.

The Next Day

David Bowie

3/5

I think this would have had a bigger impact on me had I experienced it contemporaneously. Not the best Bowie I’ve experienced on this project but props for how this album was born into the world. Glad I listened to it.

I'm Your Man

Leonard Cohen

5/5

Wow! We’ve heard a lot of Leonard Cohen so I wasn’t sure what else might be coming. Fortunately it wasn’t a rehash of any of the other albums we’ve had so far… The synths and backup singers of these 80s-production-tinged songs is love at first listen! I was already familiar with Jennifer Warnes’ cover of First We Take Manhattan - which I loved - and then Joe Cocker’s cover - which I also loved. Such a great song - surely I’ve heard this original before? Perhaps. I think I’ve also heard a cover of Ain’t No Cure For Love before as well… I think it was Jennifer Warnes again. Another fantastic song and I LOVE the 80s sax. Just perfect! I’m starting to get some déja vu. Everybody Knows gave me a lot to think about - and its presentation encouraged that thinking. I love I’m Your Man. Such a wry take on a song of love and devotion with reality peppered in makes it even more romantic to me. Take This Waltz is such a great take on a waltz… always impressed when someone can impress me with a waltz. Jazz Police sounds so great with that 80s bassline and the backup harmonies. I’m loving Leonard Cohen in the 80s! I must’ve heard this before? Right? Let’s see, what’s still missing that I might love? MARIMBA! Is that the engine I hear powering I Can’t Forget? Some prominent steel guitar also puts this right in my aural sweet spot. For reasons my friends may find obvious this could be my new theme song. I forget if I’ve heard this one before, but I do love it. Tower of Song wraps this up nicely. Really wonderful. Right now it is either this or You Want It Darker for my favorite Leonard Cohen album. Fortunately, I don’t have to choose. A terrific addition to this list, and a terrific addition to my music library! I may have heard this album before, in which case it is a crime that I had forgotten it, or just heard a lot of the songs before - but whatever I’m glad to have this as a top album in my collection now.

Warehouse: Songs And Stories

Hüsker Dü

3/5

I have known of but not really listened to Husker Dü. I can’t say that this double album was a slam dunk to change that state of affairs. There are some songs I liked - but there were a lot of songs that blurred together in the muddy guitar sound that seems to exemplify this band. The bells that appeared in a few songs (like in Charity, Chastity, Prudence and She Floated Away) provided some welcome variety. There were some catchy numbers (These Important Years, Visionary, Turn It Around). But I think the lack of a strong editorial hand leaving this a double album does the music a disservice.

Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix

5/5

I haven’t ever listened to a Jimi Hendrix album, but have heard enough of this legend to know what to expect. A lot of the songs on this album (Crosstown Traffic, All Along the Watchtower, Voodoo Child) were expectedly epic works. There were a few surprises (like Little Miss Strange). The one critique might be that this album feels like it sprawls a lot, which isn’t an uncommon impression I get from a lot of double albums. Still, the guitar work is so consistently off the hook how can I not give this a 5?

Green

R.E.M.

5/5

Document was my first R.E.M. love, but this was the album that solidified our relationship. Fantastic album that hit me right in the sweet spot and just the right time of my life. This sort of became the pivotal R.E.M. album for me, but I happily enjoyed their offerings before and after this.

Porcupine

Echo And The Bunnymen

5/5

It just struck me listening to this that there is a happier The Smiths quality to Echo & The Bunnymen. I really enjoyed this album. Some very interesting lyrics - like My White Devil opening with the delightful "John Webster was one of the best there was". I don't recall hearing any of these songs before, but even the somber, draggier tunes managed to pick themselves up midway and shake off the whininess. It's packed with very likable tunes like The Cutter, The Back of Love, Heads Will Roll, and In Bluer Skies which all could have been hits I enjoyed back in the day. This album is a lot of fun!

Moss Side Story

Barry Adamson

3/5

This was a bit of something different. It did sound just like a soundtrack, although a little bit of a loud one to just sit and listen to without an accompanying picture. And I kept wanting to like this more than I did. I suppose it made my workday a bit more dramatic…

Urban Hymns

The Verve

3/5

It was alright if long. I feel like I have heard enough of this style music in my current life though.

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

Otis Redding

5/5

This was a welcome addition to the 1001 playlist. Otis really knows how to make a song his own! It wasn’t until my second listen that I realized that Down In The Valley was the Down In The Valley that I know! Great!

After The Gold Rush

Neil Young

5/5

I enjoyed this album… quite a good selection from Neil Young. I was familiar with After the Gold Rush (I know one other person who may consider Nana Mouskouri’s cover the definitive version) and Southern Man. In a bit of turnabout, I was surprised that one of my favorite songs today was Neil Young covering Oh, Lonesome Me. What a lovely version! This was a concise, enjoyable album that I am happy to see on this list.

Cut

The Slits

5/5

That cover and the description of this album had me feeling like this might not be for me. WRONG! Definitely for me. Perfectly unique! Terrific!

Van Halen

5/5

This is the Van Halen of my youth. I didn’t appreciate it as much then as I do now that I realize that I, too, can rock. Packed with delights, this is just the right amount of David Lee Roth to counterbalance that On Fire Eddie Van Halen guitar. Love this album!

Close To You

Carpenters

5/5

I haven’t listened to this album in its entirety for a very, very long time - and I feel like I’m appreciating it for the first time. The MONSTER hits on this album cast a huge shadow that, until today, had obscured much of what The Carpenters have created from me. Help is the best cover of that song rivaled only by Tina Turner’s version. But no less amazing is the cover of Baby It’s You. It’s so wistfully beautiful - like a totally different song. And can anyone else consistently can stand up next to Dionne Warwick when performing Burt Bacharach/Hal David tunes? Richard Carpenter’s contributes some incredible songs to the album. Crescent Noon is beautiful. Mr. Gruter is early 70s baroque perfection arranged perfectly. Paul Williams’ compositions are in the best possible hands here as well. Who knew that a bank jingle could become a cultural staple (We’ve Only Just Begun)? Sappy & sentimental in the best possible way - only a cold-hearted grinch couldn’t relate to this song at one time or another. It’s easy to take this for granted, but you are the worse for it if you do. But I keep going back to those John Bettis/Richard Carpenter compositions again and again. They are inventive and surprising to me and certainly something I have underappreciated and overlooked until today. I keep finding myself drawn to them. Perhaps Richard Carpenter felt ultimate artistic freedom in crafting those arrangements because they are some of the most creative arrangements around. These ethereal masterpieces wait to be discovered in the shadows cast by Close To You and We’ve Only Just Begun. In some ways today I’m just realizing there is a whole lot more to The Carpenters that I’ve only just begun to hear.

Sound of Silver

LCD Soundsystem

5/5

I must admit that when this popped up I was slightly annoyed… as I get further into this project artists that are new to me who get multiple albums make me assume they are overrepresented. I grudgingly started this album and I’ll be damned if Get Innocuous! didn’t have me up and dancing from the jump - what a fantastic dance track! My preconceptions dissolved in an explosion of audio glitter! I went back to look at my review for the previous LCD Soundsystem offering - American Dream. There I wrote that this was a group I needed to hear more of. Commendations to my previous self for my prescience! The album does not disappoint from there… I found delight in all the crevices! The music is a ton of fun and while it doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously it does have interesting things to say along the way. The songs are all really, really good and did wonders for my temperament. Goodbye ol’ grouch - time to play this again and get back out on that dancefloor!

Colour By Numbers

Culture Club

5/5

I heard this many times back in the day, but haven’t revisited this album since the 80s. Culture Club and Boy George were a huge influence on 80s pop music and while I appreciated their hit songs my young, rural-raised self did not appreciate or even understand the androgynous style of Boy George. But I think I they still played an important, if under appreciated at the time, role in my evolution to become a more understanding and tolerant person. Back to the music - this album is packed with monster 80s hits. But this time I appreciated the entire album more than back in the 80s. There are some tender songs on here and Boy George’s update of the crooner vocal delivery serve these songs well. This trip back to the 80s has made me realize how much my ability to appreciate this music and the band has evolved!

Coat Of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

5/5

I’ve enjoyed a lot of Dolly over the years, but I don’t recall ever listening to this album. This is just a gem from open to close! These songs so clearly demonstrate an optimism-in-hard-times style that has always made me love Dolly Parton so much. Dolly takes us on some pretty rough roads (Traveling Man, My Blue Tears, If I Lose My Mind), but she’s there with us and never leaves us to despair. It’s not all hardship, though, as Dolly can also craft a purely beautiful love song (The Way I See You, Here I Am), or songs of pure optimism (Early Morning Breeze). I’ve wondered how a few special artists like Dolly manage to remain a nearly universally loved icon even in these dark and divided times. This album made me realize that it is that ability to acknowledge but never succumb to the darkness of life. Coat of Many Colors faces some of the worst life has to give and emerges a beacon of hope. Dolly has made my world A Better Place To Live.

Aqualung

Jethro Tull

4/5

Jethro Tull was, and still feels like it might be way outside of the range of my preferences. But I really didn’t know for sure why I have that feeling. This was a very interesting album. I guess it’s a sort of progressive harder rock kind of thing? There were some very interesting songs here and while this still isn’t squarely in my jurisdiction I did appreciate it and the fact that it deals in some serious subject matter. Pretty good stuff!

Oar

Alexander 'Skip' Spence

5/5

I started off very skeptical that this was going to work out. But somewhere around the song Margaret-Tiger Rug I was fully on-board with this strange listen. And now I’m a bit obsessed with this. This is just the sort of thing one hopes to encounter every now and again as one listens to an album every day for more than 3 years. Terrific like a trip into Wonderland. At times wacky, confusing, country, folky, wistful, funny - and entertaining.

461 Ocean Boulevard

Eric Clapton

5/5

I was a big fan of Eric Clapton in college. But he and I have not stayed on the same path as the years have passed, and now I have an instinctively negative reaction to him. This album, though, is really exceptional. It reminds me why I ever went to see him in concert. Also realized that Tears In Heaven and such weren’t just late-in-life softening… hearing “Let It Grow” made me realize he had those softer-side tendencies at the beginning too, I just wasn’t all that aware of them. Excellent album.

Your New Favourite Band

The Hives

4/5

I started off not in the mood for this punky-rocky music from a Swedish band I never heard of. After a couple of songs it seemed that the albums wasn’t going to change my mental state. But as this went on there were several songs (Outsmarted and Here We Go Again, for two) I really enjoyed despite my mood - and I softened to this. Maybe if I wasn’t feeling run down and old this would get a higher rating - but I did end up enjoying these kids.

Reggatta De Blanc

The Police

5/5

I was thinking about how this album screams junior high to me… but then thinking about it more started thinking that all of The Police’s oeuvre seem anchored to that period of my life. I guess that makes sense, because the entirety of The Police’s output was from 1978-1983. This major change to the musical scene served as part of the soundtrack to the major life changes I was experiencing. Then I knew The Police’s hits, but didn’t own any of their albums until the end of their career - Synchronicity - released as it was when I finally started having my own budget to buy music. I wonder if I had had access to unlimited streaming if I would have listened to the rest of this exceptional album? Or would I just be focused of the couple of hits that forced themselves into my consciousness? Oh yeah… what about the album? Reggatta de Blanc is a fantastic album. The Police are firing on all cylinders here, and I am glad to finally hear this. Truly deserving of its place on this list!

#1 Record

Big Star

5/5

This is very much within the realm of what I would think of if you told me to think of early 70s rock. So even though I didn’t recognize anything on this album it felt familiar, although I feel like I have heard Thirteen maybe somewhere before? Big Star has great harmonies, some good rock, some moving ballads, and they feel like something I really should be more familiar with. I really enjoyed this album! Nice song variety, interesting performances, great lyrics. An excellent representative of its era for this list!

California

American Music Club

5/5

I have listened to one song from American Music Club - a cover of The Carpenters’ Goodbye To Love that appeared on a tribute album in 1994. It was a fantastic cover that I have loved ever since. I never looked into the artist. What took me so long?! These guys are fantastic. I love the music. The steel guitar. The rock guitar. The acoustic guitar. The deep lead singer’s voice that cracks at all the right moments. The songcraft. Everything about this album is fantastic. It took a bit of effort to find somewhere to listen to this album. My first listen was to a YouTube playlist a friend found. I loved it so much that after that first listen, preparing to listen again, I decided to go use the Bandcamp link said friend provided and pay £10 + tax to be able to download MP3s to my Music app. A fantastic keeper! So many great songs, picking a favorite is tough. But Western Sky just keeps haunting me…

Southern Rock Opera

Drive-By Truckers

5/5

I’ve heard of but never really paid attention to Drive-By Truckers. On the one hand, having my first exposure be their giant two-album Southern Rock Opera seemed like maybe jumping into the deep end and fraught with peril. On the other, this was referred to as their magnum opus. This was a very good thing. I loved this album. These guys have that southern country rock thing down, write about interesting subjects from the grave to the mundane, and sound fantastic. I love a good road song and this had plenty of that, while also exploring expected subjects like whisky, relationships, death, longing, and lots of personal touches clearly reflecting their lives. A really great collection of music that never did wear out its welcome despite the long runtime.

Paul Simon

5/5

Yet another album that was part of my life ever since I can remember, this album was in the family record collection the entire time I lived at home so I am quite familiar with it. I’m excited to revisit this familiar album as I’m pretty sure it has been over 30 years since my last listen. How will this fall on today’s ears? I was surprised how little I remembered of this album. Yeah I know the hits. But the rest felt mostly new even though I know I’ve heard this album hundreds - maybe even thousands - of times. There were many moments of Deja-vu, so this was rattling around somewhere. As expected, Paul Simon creates really monster hits surrounded by more modest tunes that are no less compelling. I don’t know if I’ll remember all these songs in the future, but I sure enjoyed reconnecting with this album!

Queens of the Stone Age

3/5

Yet another Seattle band this Seattlite hasn’t ever listened to. There was a strong Foo Fighters vibe to this, maybe a touch harder… and I mostly did like the album. The presentation is a real turn off though and I don’t know that I NEEDED to hear this. Still, perfectly good album.

Deep Purple In Rock

Deep Purple

5/5

Hard guitar and lots of organ? I can go for that. The Deep Purplemore cover is appreciated. Loving this!

Let Love Rule

Lenny Kravitz

3/5

I liked this pretty well... I listened to this several times and some of it did grow on me. Didn't make me a rabid fan and I was a little surprised at the strongly religious songs. Nothing as good as "Are You Gonna Go My Way" on here but some good funkiness here and there.

Welcome To The Pleasuredome

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

5/5

I’m sure I was around this album a lot in high school - I saw it in lots of friends’ music collection - but I couldn’t tell you anything about it other than the big hits. This was definitely an enjoyable listen. Frankie Goes To Hollywood is a fun band - and they know how to cover a tune. I loved being able to tell what the lyrics were to Born To Run! Fun!

Blood, Sweat & Tears

5/5

Blood, Sweat & Tears isn’t a group I know outside of the hits, but I always love their groovy intensity. This album is no exception. I dig the horns and organ, and those deeply urgent vocals. And When I Die, Spinning Wheel and You’ve Made Me So Very Happy deserve their hit status and are brilliant! But I also loved songs like Sometimes In Winter, More and More that showed some other sides to this band. Great stuff!

System Of A Down

4/5

If Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem reorganized to cater to an adult heavy metal crowd you might get something like this. There is a lot of good music on this album punctuated with moments of insanity that kept me a little off kilter and left me wondering what might be next. While I don’t always love this genre and have a tendency to be put off by the harder growling of the genre, this album never wore out its welcome and had a lot of crazy vocal moments that seemed to roam somewhere between death metal and opera. Utterly unique and unexpected - I often laughed in amazement. Yeah, I’m digging this scene!

Future Days

Can

5/5

This was a somewhat offbeat, airy, and unique listen. A nice change of pace. I loved it!

Trio

Dolly Parton

5/5

I’m glad that the fates finally allowed this album to be made, because it exceeds my already high expectations! These woman sound incredible together. I enjoyed this from start to finish. A big surprise was how they breathed new life into “To Know Him Is To Love Him.” This is an oldie that I didn’t think I had any need to really hear again, but listening to this trio’s version it sounded like a new, amazing song. What a wonderful album!

Under Construction

Missy Elliott

4/5

Not completely my bag but I enjoyed it. Didn't love everything but really liked a lot of things.

Slipknot

2/5

RANT: A SECOND Slipknot album? Really?! I actually enjoyed the first one a bit and gave it a four (All Hope Is Gone). I appreciate the exposure to the better albums of this genre. But this album wasn’t nearly as good. Why did I need to hear BOTH of these before I die?! END RANT Ok, so I can’t blame Slipknot for getting the two albums on the list. But I really did not appreciate this one, leading me to resent this occupation of space denied other artists and genres that seem to be getting short shrift. Perhaps its charms have been lost on me, but I don’t feel this was productive listening time and will be happy to forget the whole thing. Except Liberate Bananas. That song was almost catchy.

Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

Frank Sinatra

5/5

This made for a pleasant, lovely afternoon. I love Jobim’s music!

Justified

Justin Timberlake

4/5

I listened to this album when it first came out and was surprised at the contents. It’s a lot more funk and R&B influences than one would expect. The production quality is high. Listening again today after quite a long hiatus I found it still reasonably enjoyable if a bit long. “Take It From Here” and its ilk were on the schmaltzy side for me and I could have done with a bit less of that. I’m not sure I needed this to be 50 minutes.

Survivor

Destiny's Child

5/5

Who’d a thought an album with the Charlie’s Angels theme would appear on this list? Sure, it isn’t the original series theme, it’s still a pretty great song and even though I might be reviewing with the benefit of foresight - these women are national treasures. There’s a few songs I don’t exactly love (i.e. “Nasty Girl” seemed a bit shamey), but still a great album.

Armed Forces

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

4/5

“More Elvis Costello? Really?” I’m not looking forward to listening to this. There previous 3 albums were quite enough “meh” for me. I like the elephants though. Put this on and - surprise - I’m liking it! The songs are catchier, the music more interesting, less rambly, and have interesting subjects. Of the four Elvis Costello albums so far (This Year’s Model, My Aim Is True, Brutal Youth and this), Armed Forces is so far the only one I really like. A few of these songs were nudging me towards a 5 rating but felt like a 4 by the end.

Arular

M.I.A.

5/5

I love M.I.A. But that rework of the Sanford and Son theme on U.R.A.Q.T. took my love to the next level. Is there nothing M.I.A. Can’t do?

Crazysexycool

TLC

5/5

I did not think I was going to love this album. Sure I like Waterfalls well enough. But a whole album? Didn’t listen to it back in ‘94 and didn’t feel the need to do so today. It’s homework so here we go… The sound of this wasn’t any big surprise. Pretty much what I would expect (except maybe the yowling cat on Kick Your Game - who’d a thought THAT could work so well?!). What was a surprise was how much I enjoyed this! These ladies are… well… CrazySexyCool… as advertised. The vibe was laid back and hit me oh so right today. I love it when my old judgy self gets a little schooling… and class went down oh so well today.

L.A. Woman

The Doors

5/5

The Doors have always been one of those groups that I liked well enough but never felt the intense allure a lot of my friends had for them over the years. I put this on as my transcontinental flight lifted off ready to be whelmed, and promptly fell asleep. A bit later my dreams were flooded with intense funky piano that would do Jo Ann Castle proud. As I bounced myself awake L.A. Woman was dancing in my head. Where did this come from?! Holy shit this is transcendent stuff! Two more listens on that flight and even the songs I’ve heard a thousand and three times revealed new dimensions. One of my favorite listening experiences on this project. What a difference 31,000 feet makes!

Joan Armatrading

5/5

Wow I feel like I’ve had a lot of great albums to listen to lately and was sure that streak was due to end. NOT TODAY, SATAN. This is an exquisite album. The arrangements are spot on, backing vocals come in just when needed in the most perfect ways, and the songcraft exceptional. A moving, lovely experience that feels so personal how can I be anything but a huge fan?

The Modern Dance

Pere Ubu

4/5

My first opportunity to hear Pere Ubu was months and months ago in this project when I made the acquaintance of their second album, Dub Housing. I was surprised to find this is their first album, also released in 1978. What reasons for offering two albums up on this list when they were created so close together? As expected, this was an off-the-wall, wacky affair that started with an alarm clock beeping then some very weird music that was supposed to include Sentimental Journey but I couldn’t make it out. I kind of enjoyed this in some weird way.

For Your Pleasure

Roxy Music

5/5

This project has made me a Roxy Music fan and this album is one of the best I’ve listened to from them so far! There’s some great quirkiness in the songs and lyrics that really appealed to me from the opening new dance craze “Do The Strand” to that very weird ending “For Your Pleasure” featuring Judy Dench (!!!). The Amanda Lear cover totally seals the deal for me. Fantastic!

Public Image: First Issue

Public Image Ltd.

3/5

Metal Box (the previous Public Image album I rated) got a 2 and I was happy it was over. This one was notably better! A few of the songs I was leaning towards a 4, but mostly this settled right in at a three.

Destroy Rock & Roll

Mylo

5/5

This was a case where I was drawn in to reading the Wikipedia article before listening to any of this. It made me eager to hear it as it was sounding like it might be right up my alley! I started listening to this and realized that I knew some of these songs. “Sunworshipper” and “In My Arms” were songs I had listened to a while ago, probably close to when this was released. Another case where I neglected to pursue an album after finding some songs from a group I like rectified by 1001. This manages to be peppy and yet a little mellow too - very listenable. Really enjoyed this!

Locust Abortion Technician

Butthole Surfers

2/5

I tried listening to the Butthole Surfers back in college but didn’t enjoy them then. It’s pretty much the same story some 35 years later. I felt like I was sitting in some talented young guys’ basement listening to their band screw around and wondering when they were going to finish. I didn’t get a lot out of the songs except maybe a few moments of vague amusement even though they were talented on their instruments. I never got Butthole Surfers’ music. Clearly I’m missing something because a lot of folks disagree.

Hot Shots II

The Beta Band

5/5

The Beta Band is new to me. The first time through I enjoyed a lot of this, but on the second listen its unique properties really started to blossom and I discovered many interesting moments that cohere well into very enjoyable music. Very good!

The Rolling Stones

5/5

Who are these suited lads looking so dapper? I’m glad this very early Rolling Stones album should be on this list. It’s pretty interesting to hear them as they found their way, and I liked all the covers. Not my favorite Rolling Stones album, but that’s a pretty high bar, and I still enjoyed this a lot.

The Trinity Session

Cowboy Junkies

5/5

I must’ve heard this somewhere along the way but when I listened I was surprised at how this sounded. They have a beautiful, ethereal take on country with some really nice covers. Fantastic!

Dust

Screaming Trees

5/5

Here is a band that I wish I had discovered in 1996 - because if I had this would have really spoken to me. The psychedelic grunge land this band inhabits is established in the opening track “Halo of Ashes” with its strong middle-eastern sound, sitar and all. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the album. Other highlights on this album for me include “Dying Days”, “Make My Mind”, “Witness”, “Traveler” and “Dime Western” (love the drumming and touches from the Middle East again!). The other contender for favorite song on the album is “Sworn and Broken.” It’s got a lot packed in there with its melancholic sentiment and that great 60s organ solo at the end. “Gospel Plow” is a fascinating way to close an album. So satisfying! The more I listened to this album today (I’m on my sixth listen at the moment), the more impressed I am. You can’t help but note the interesting choices. A 90s “grunge” band with sitar, 60s organ and flute solos… why didn’t I discover this sooner? If I had a time machine I’d go back and slip this CD into my 1996 self’s stereo and maybe Screaming Trees would be one of my favorite bands today. I guess I’ll have to be content to keep this high in the rotation and start checking out their other albums.

Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen

5/5

I likely made a face when a 2-album 75 minute punk album from 1984 popped up here. While I have dabbled in the genre at various times in my life we still have an uneasy relationship at best. After stalling I finally sat down to listen to this and proceeded to have a ton of fun! There’s a huge variety of songs that I found completely engaging and a whole lot of fun. If all punk were like this it would likely be one of my favorite genres. My interest in this never wavered and I can see myself coming back to this again. The trio here sounds fantastic and really know there way around a lot of musical genres. Loved this from beginning to end, fit in two listens today, and expect to be back for more. Terrific!

Scissor Sisters

5/5

I bought this album when it was released and it has been one of my favorites since. FABULOUS!

The Specials

4/5

I’m not the biggest fan of Ska, but this album was well entertaining! It kept my interest, some of the later songs were actually among my favorites, and I enjoyed this.

Sheet Music

10cc

5/5

Oooh - I love “I’m Not In Love” and “The Things We Do For Love”. Give me some great easy 70s tunes. To my surprise this was nothing like the only two songs I knew from 10cc. This was wild, progressive, funny dealing with some offbeat and unexpected topics like Wall Street and pelvic joints. I really loved it!

Zombie

Fela Kuti

5/5

Another Fela Kuti album - and apparently this one got people killed! Crazy what music can make despots do. This was very enjoyable. Really cool stuff!

A Walk Across The Rooftops

The Blue Nile

4/5

I was starting to get turned off by the title track and opening of this album, but as it progressed I started to enjoy the vibe more and more.

Let It Be

The Replacements

5/5

This is one of the groups that I figured was missing from my listening experience that this project would expose me to, and here we are. I’m still not sure I have a solid handle on post-punk, but when I saw these guys described as such I wasn’t so sure I would like this album. Well it lives up to the hype for me, because I loved it! The titles of a couple of songs gave me pause… “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out”, “Gary’s Got a Boner”… they were great! And they do a nice cover of Kiss’ Black Diamond. These guys are talented and a lot of fun. I especially loved the harder turn it took about halfway through. Terrific!

Lady Soul

Aretha Franklin

5/5

Aretha Franklin was always part of my family’s record collection and Aretha appealed to me through every phase of my life… no less today than when I was a toddler. Such joy as my critical ear took the day off while I grooved around the living room with my cats.

Sincere

Mj Cole

2/5

Oh boy… I did not enjoy most of this album. My feelings strayed from bored to annoyed with the exception of a song or two. It seems to go on forever. Even though I was glad it was over, I gave it a second chance hours later and tried one more go at it. I was put off after a few seconds. I jumped around the tracks a bit - ended up listening to “Rough Out Here” which had a nice groove - and skipped the rest. This felt sterile - like videogame background music that I’d just as soon mute in favor of my own musical selections. I know this type of electronic music appeals to a lot of people but this album was largely lost on me.

Third/Sister Lovers

Big Star

5/5

I loved #1 Record's 70s rock vibe a lot. This album is quite different in feel. The album opened in a not unexpected way with Kizza Me. But then it descends into darkness bottoming out with the haunting "Holocaust." This is a beautiful album whose eclecticism really appealed to me. The songs are stunning. Gorgeous string arrangements had me swooning, especially in songs like "For You." The eclecticism of this album is held together by the an underlying melancholy that makes this an album I expect will be something I return to often. Haunting and beautiful.

Take Me Apart

Kelela

4/5

I kind of liked the airy, laid back feel of this album. Some really nice songs, although by the end they were blurring together a bit - made me realize that longer isn’t always better. This isn’t my usual fare but the production was good and the sound sumptuous - so I’ll round this up to a 4.

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter

The Incredible String Band

4/5

I think I have some music for my next renaissance party! I enjoyed this quite a bit!

The Libertines

4/5

I’m a sucker for a British accent. Good songs too!

Imperial Bedroom

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

3/5

One thing about listening to FIVE albums from Elvis Costello albums on this project (with and without the Attractions) is I have got to thoroughly consider why it is I don’t really get into Elvis Costello’s music. This album started off with the surprise that I instantly thought Beyond Belief, the opening track, might be a great song - but by the end left me feeling is was a good song. Elvis Costello’s song construction is sort of wandering with subtle wordplay. I might have thought this might appeal to me but instead leaves me anywhere from somewhat unsatisfied to annoyed. The songs I like tend to have great setups, but I never really feel they deliver entirely on the promise. This was sort of in between 3 and 4 to me, but in the end it didn’t quite get there.

Wild Gift

X

5/5

This was a fun rock album - really good punk rock that was a lot of fun to listen to. Catchy songs that kept me in it for the duration.

Felt Mountain

Goldfrapp

4/5

I felt like I should be sipping cocktails in a lounge listening to this, perhaps judging a James Bond soundtrack competition. I have heard some of the more dance-y, later Goldfrapp tunes so I was a little surprised at this. Enjoyable!

Paris 1919

John Cale

5/5

What a phenomenal surprise this was! Incredible album filled with interesting and very enjoyable songs. After each song I kept thinking damn, that’s good! Then the next one would be even better. The second half of this was some of the best music I’ve listened to on this project. Super terrific!

Low

David Bowie

5/5

I got into David Bowie in his later years, so I'm only familiar with the bigger hits of his earlier work. I'm sure glad he went to France to kick the drugs because this is a fantastic album! Certainly a contender for my favorite Bowie album!

Sunshine Hit Me

The Bees

3/5

I wanted to like this more than I did… sort of left me with a ho-hum reaction. Nothing I hated but kept feeling like something was missing and hoping for more.

Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

Bill Callahan

4/5

This was completely new to me but I fell in love with the title and cover of this album having no idea what the music might be. I was a bit smitten by the deadpan delivery of the opening track. I have a place for subdued, contemplative music definitely and can appreciate music that’s a bit askew. Bill Callahan ticks those boxes…

Done By The Forces Of Nature

Jungle Brothers

4/5

My relative ignorance of this genre makes it hard to contextualize this but it was certainly catchy and seemed full of positive energy. Unfortunately I was feeling a touch under the weather so I didn’t align with the energy level of this. Still, I was able to sit back and enjoy the beats without cringing over the lyrics constantly. Bonus 1/2 star for the cover art!

Here Come The Warm Jets

Brian Eno

4/5

Since I am still feeling under the weather today this album required several breaks for me to complete the listen. If I had felt better I’d be more into this. Still, I liked the improvisational wacky feel of it. Definitely unique!

Gold

Ryan Adams

5/5

Around the time of this album’s release was when I first encountered Ryan Adams. I was struck by the songwriting on this album and listening again today still am. Some great love songs and breakup tunes. Quite a bit of variety on his vocals here as well. Excellent!

Legalize It

Peter Tosh

3/5

I’m not really able to differentiate this from the three Bob Marley & The Wailers albums, no doubt largely attributable to my ignorance of this genre. I can listen to a few songs without complaint, but a whole album does start to wear on me. Still, I appreciate confronting your government on your title track!

The Poet

Bobby Womack

5/5

Some days this project feels like work. A lot of the albums lately - even the 4s and 5s - seem to have taken some effort to listen to and evaluate. Today the lights went down, a log went into the fireplace and I mentally stretched out on deep shag carpet to The Poet’s dulcet tones mentally massaging my psyche. There is something magical about R&B from the late seventies… and Bobby really knows how to sing it. On the second listen I became Pam Grier coolly driving through rush hour traffic to “Lay Your Lovin’ On Me.” A smooth and easy 5…

Bitches Brew

Miles Davis

4/5

Very groovy jazz! No wonder I had heard of this album even before I realized how I like jazz. Turned my day into a wildly colored wonderland. Parts were a bit challenging for me, but I kind of expected that. I’m glad that this project has put jazz within my reach.

American Gothic

David Ackles

5/5

Boy oh boy... this is a definitive example of an album that should be on this list because I've never heard of David Ackles and I am so glad to hear this before I die! I put this on while trying to work and ended up following along to the lyrics - completely rapt! American Gothic is a searing opening giving us a glimpse into a very dysfunctional marriage. Then Love's Enough follows up with an absolutely beautiful description of falling in love. Pessimistic optimism is a tough wire to walk but Ackles is a master of it. Ballad of the Ship of State is fantastically arranged tragic tale of rescue that leaves you feeling there is no rescue to be had, even if they take you on board. One Night Stand is such a beautiful, perfect song about a beautiful, perfect, fleeting moment that despite everything can never be sustained. There's something truly special about those feelings and this song brought me back to them. Oh, California! doesn't hide it's dark message very well, underpinned as it is with its environmental warning. Add this to my soundtrack for the fall of civilization. Another Friday Night sums up a good portion of my past Friday nights... there were times in my life when this might have made a great signature song... Have I longed for the days when I had religious faith and lived with my family? Simpler times, when things seem so much less complicated? Perhaps less so now that I realized what an illusion that was, but Family Band really captures that wistful feeling. Midnight Carousel is incredibly arranged! And the lyrics! "He left her by the road alone. But that road was going somewhere Worth the price there was to pay." Waiting for the Moving Van captures that crumbling-dream feeling that overtakes us at some of those pivotal moments in life. I'm used to the feeling now but this song poked that wound just a little - and David Ackles reminds me of my humanity yet again. Blues for Billy Whitecloud is perhaps the happiest sounding and most disturbing songs on the album. A rough one... Several months ago I was in Montana and started digging around into some boxes of family photos and heirlooms left to my family from my uncle. Montana Song couldn't have captured that feeling of revisiting my past any better. What a grand way to close this incredible album. After over 900 days of listening to albums on this project a jaded feeling that I've heard it all creeps in... Then something like this appears... So completely unexpected - David Ackles has reconnected me with a lot of feelings today and left me strangely hopeful about life.

Want One

Rufus Wainwright

5/5

I was familiar with this album back in the day. It was good to return to this! The two opening numbers are exquisite, and the rest of the album is pretty darn good as well.

Peter Gabriel 3

Peter Gabriel

5/5

One of my close friends in high school and college was a huge Peter Gabriel fan, so I heard a lot of his works during those years. I remember this album and it wasn’t my favorite back then. I’m curious to revisit it today… As expected, I was missing out back then. This is a terrific album! Memories of these songs came flooding back but they all sounded so much better. Such a very impressive album - I love it!

Lost Souls

Doves

5/5

Well, I see why the previous Doves album was demoted from this list, as I am not sure two albums from this group are needed. But this was every bit as good as the other album. Happy to have one of these still on the official list. I loved it.

25

Adele

5/5

Another great entry in Adele’s oeuvre, this album has those big ballads that make her so famous but then some variety with songs like “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” and “Water Under The Bridge” that were welcome additions. I’m not sure I listened to this whole album back in the day so it is good to fill in those gaps with some of her lesser known tunes.

Beyond Skin

Nitin Sawhney

5/5

A Hindu-tinged album about nuclear war that ends with Oppenheimer quoting the Bhagavad Gita? Go on… I’m listening. Glad to have heard this before I died. Utterly riveting - so much so I’ve listened to it three times.

Aladdin Sane

David Bowie

5/5

This is the NINTH David Bowie album on this project. 9! And amazingly, I don’t begrudge such a presence when the albums keep finding different ways to surprise. While this clearly was continuing along the glam rock Ziggy Stardust line, I was surprised that I had never heard the opening track “Watch That Man” before - it is already one of my favorite Bowie songs. How have I never heard this song? Is that shades of doo-wop on The Prettiest Star? And a cover of Let’s Spend The Night Together? Wasn’t expecting that. The only song I recognized was The Jean Genie. So yeah go ahead - 9 albums suits me fine.

Youth And Young Manhood

Kings of Leon

4/5

I only became aware of Kings of Leon when Sex On Fire alighted on the charts. In the early 2000s this guitar-heavy southern punk-ish style was very much outside the mainstream of what I was listening to, so that might explain why I wasn’t receptive to something like this in 2003. I like this! It’d be just the ticket to watch this performed in a bar somewhere…kickin’ back with a pitcher of beer.

At Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash

5/5

Another Johnny Cash prison album? YES PLEASE! I like this album better than at San Quentin… and that was fantastic.

Electric

The Cult

4/5

This was some solid 80’s hard rock - something I enjoy much more now than back in the 80’s. Listened to this while taking a shower then driving around… perfect for both occasions! Favorites were Wild Flower, Lil’ Devil, Ocean of Love, King Contrary Man, Love Removal Machine, Outlaw.

Who Killed...... The Zutons?

The Zutons

5/5

I started listening to this and even though I enjoyed Zuton Fever I was tempted to be a little negative about this album. But as it progressed it kept making me smile and would throw in these very enjoyable moments that - on the second listen - really won me over. How can I not love Snoopy’s solo near the end of Nightmare Pt. II?

Blunderbuss

Jack White

5/5

I’ve liked all the White Stripes stuff I’ve listened to, so I had high hopes for this album. It did not disappoint. Great!

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

5/5

One of the many changes I have experienced doing this project is in my relationship to the music of Bob Dylan. This album started strong - Like A Rolling Stone is one of the Bob Dylan songs that I loved before I loved Bob Dylan. I was all-in on the arc of this album. The surprise to me is that 11:20 closing track Desolation Road. After an album of electrically-charged songs Dylan delivers an arresting acoustic epic. The guitar work is absolutely beautiful and the song unfolds and slowly swells with Bolero-esque drama that I can’t stop thinking about. Amazing and beautiful.

I See You

The xx

5/5

I liked xx by The xx (the previous album that came up on here) very much. While I’m always a little skeptical when a second album from a group I never heard of appears, this album is really terrific! I See You retains that kind of moodiness of xx but brightens things up without losing the feel. The album opens strong with Dangerous and after the first four songs I thought we were headed for another 4 rating. Then Performance played and the lyrics grabbed my collar and had my full attention. Who knew such a restrained song of heartbreak could be so devastating. After that Replica… “Your mistakes were only chemical. Do I chase the night or does the night chase me?” The moodiness isn’t completely dark on this album though. Brave has such strength and hope powering its sentiments. What can I say about On Hold? It’s phenomenal. As it started I thought we were in for another moody tune, but the beats fade in and Hall & Oats’ loop helps elevate this into a perfect late night dance floor tune. I can’t get enough of this song! I Dare You is so wonderfully joyous - these are the feelings that makes a relationship. And yet The xx’s trademark restraint is still quite present. What a compelling love song. Test Me closes the album leaves us with the quieter, restrained The xx style with those complicated feelings creeping back in. I See You is an incredible exploration of relationships and the complicated feelings one has while in them that had me spellbound. I’ve already listened to the album four times and I can’t get enough. So, so perfect.

Dire Straits

5/5

Dire Straits has some great gritty soothing effect on me that’s a bit unique. This album was no exception. I love going back to the beginning of their career. Terrific!

Suzanne Vega

5/5

“It’s a one time thing it just happens a lot.” The first words I ever heard from Suzanne Vega hold a very special place for me, having first heard them in 1986 sitting alone in a dark room. Those words immediately became a permanent phrase in my library of self talk, still surfacing in my consciousness on a nearly weekly basis. I love this beautiful, understated album and the artist who created it. Every song on this is very special to me. I’m glad it’s here.

Marcus Garvey

Burning Spear

3/5

This started off ok, but after a while I had sort of grown weary of the sound. Not my favorite album from not my favorite genre.

Bubble And Scrape

Sebadoh

3/5

Some of it I liked and some of it I got bored with. It was ok.

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns

Joni Mitchell

5/5

A lovely album that was on the ramblier storytelling side of Joni Mitchell. Everything was new to me and I loved it!

Live / Dead

Grateful Dead

2/5

I was pleasantly surprised at home much I enjoyed American Beauty, the studio album from The Grateful Dead in 1970. This album was actually what I had expected to hear when I first saw I was going to listen to a Grateful Dead album. Long jams that went on (and on and on) - not really my thing. I think I'm content to have listened to this once in my life, but don't really see myself wanting to delve any deeper here.

Tank Battles

Dagmar Krause

5/5

She had me at "Look, there's a new crack started, even the bricks have farted." Actually, I was all in before the first measure of the first song was complete. Fantastically theatrical, so dramatic, so compelling. Why this isn't available streaming anywhere but YouTube is beyond me. Apparently it was never released in the US. I love Dagmar Karuse's vocals. I can't stop thinking about these songs. Wish I was sipping a cocktail in Berlin right now... Beautiful! I loved it!

Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

Spirit

5/5

I was prepped for something offbeat from the title and cover of this album. It felt very 60’s, although the music was not as weird as I imagined. I liked this after the first listen. Since I had some time I gave it a second listen and my like warmed up to love. A good variety of tunes with some interesting lyrics that I really enjoyed. Terrific!

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Eurythmics

5/5

This album made a huge impression on me back in high school. I bought the cassette back in 1983 for Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), but the entire album is etched in my mind. Particularly memorable is the title track, Love Is A Stranger, Wrap It Up, and The Walk. And I really love the ultra moody Jennifer - and how it is follow by the festive This is the House. Such a great pairing! Such a great 80’s classic. It’s good to listen to the album in its entirety again! TERRIFIC!

Punishing Kiss

Ute Lemper

5/5

Really terrific! Ute Lemper’s interpretation of these songs had me entranced. Yet another album I likely would never have encountered but for this project.

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

TV On The Radio

3/5

The first and only TV On The Radio album I’ve listened to up to now was 2008’s Dear Science. I liked that album quite a bit. This one didn’t go quite as well. I listened to it twice and then listened to Dear Science again just to check. This album seemed a lot darker and downbeat. While I liked several songs I failed to connect with many of the others.

A Short Album About Love

The Divine Comedy

5/5

My biggest complain about “a short album about love” is the ‘short’ part. Fortunately, the 2020 Reissue more than doubles the runtime with some additional great tracks, including a Bert Bacharach/Hal David tune (Make It Easy On Yourself) - something I’ve wanted to hear from The Divine Comedy since listening to the previous album. What can I say, this album is a glorious collection of love songs! “Hey, don't be suprised, if millions die in plague and murder, True happiness lies beyond your fries and happy burger.” “I told the passersby, I made a small boy cry And I'll get through to you if it's the last thing that I do.” “I need to be someone’s somebody.” “If you were a horse I'd clean the crap out of your stable And never once complain.” “And if I were you I wouldn’t let the shit you get from me get the better of you.” “When I fall behind in the quest for pleasure I shall treasure this short time with you.” “Don't look a horse in the mouth, Don't let a frog get you down, Dragging you round like a dog on a lead, I'm all you need.” I LOVE this album! TERRIFIC!

Django Django

5/5

Catchy as hell! A futuristic surf-rock sound that is very unique and great to listen to. Nice!

Fly Or Die

N.E.R.D

4/5

Very catchy! Sort of jumps around the genres which I’m in for. Quite enjoyable!

Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo

MC Solaar

5/5

Very fun, catchy, danceable… my French is too rusty to catch much of the lyrics so didn’t get much from that but I loved the sound of it!

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode

5/5

I fell in love with Depeche Mode’s Violator album around the time of its release, and that inspired me to start going backwards through the catalog. This is likely my second favorite album from Depeche Mode. Terrific!

Nowhere

Ride

2/5

I didn't check to see if all these tracks were part of the original album or not, so I listened to a lot of extra Ride today. Things started off ok with Seagull... but by the end of the song the increasing noisiness began to wear on me. Then a lot of other noisy songs followed... and a lot more wear... until midway through what I thought was the album I started to enjoy it a bit more and think about adding a star. Just before writing this I realized my enjoyment came after the end of the original album when I headed into the CD bonus tracks. So no extra stars for this one.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

5/5

While this isn’t squarely in my wheelhouse, it is a really impressive album that definitely belongs on this list. It was a really great listen today.

No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)

Motörhead

2/5

I will say that after listening to the studio album Ace of Spades I was not looking forward to a live album. At least the original release of this did not include “Jailbait”. So that’s something… This was also not a day that I needed this music in my life. I listened to it and am happy to move on from the 44 minutes of muddled guitars and growling.

Faith

George Michael

5/5

This was an album that I became very familiar with back when it was released. I snapped it up the moment it was available from Columbia House Records and Tapes. I found the listen today wonderful, familiar, and welcoming. Beautiful album.

Tom Tom Club

4/5

I didn’t think I knew this album, but the first song was strangely familiar. I believe it was probably something a friend shared with me on a mix tape. I had no idea until after listening to this that the creators of this were members of the Talking Heads. It’s a quirky, strange, and pretty fun listen.

Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones

5/5

This is pretty much what I think of when I hear the words “The Rolling Stones.” Gimme Shelter is perhaps my favorite song of theirs, and You Can’t Always Get What You Want has always felt strangely soothing to me. What can I say… a total classic.

5/5

A blend of blues and hard rock with cabaret elements?! This is one of those times I’ve read about the group on Wikipedia before listening to them - consider my interest piqued… Opening an album with a song called “Swampsnake” is certainly an interesting choice. Promising indeed… After the second song (“Ain’t nothin’ like a gang bang” -which certainly attracted my attention) I wasn’t sure how this was going to go down. Then the interesting repetitiveness of the opening of “The Faith Healer”, building up with bings and bangs and guitar, started to draw me back in. Turns out a song called “Giddy Up a Ding Dong” was missing from my life, cabaret-style key change and all. I think I would have enjoyed seeing what Alex Harvey did with the staging of “Next”. As I listened I suddenly realized that… hey - I know this song. I loved Scott Walker’s cover of it earlier in this project! Am I supposed to understand what “Vambo Marble Eye” is about? I hope not, but I liked the sound. And that closing number (this is a band whose songs have definitely earned the moniker “number”) “The Last of the Teenage Idols Pt. 1-3” was quite an interesting piece of work - I loved the contrasting parts! This album mostly won me over with its exuberance and dramatic flair. It gave off a pretty good Rocky Horror Picture Show vibe. I was drawn back to listen to it a second time, and my appreciation grew. Next… is clearly of an age, but it’s an age I enjoyed revisiting.

Moon Safari

Air

5/5

I discovered this album after seeing the movie The Virgin Suicides and falling in love with Air’s soundtrack. When I saw this in the record store I bought it and loved it even more. This is one of those groups that managed to create a masterpiece of a first album. I was transfixed on the first listen, and tonight after what is probably 100s of listens I still am in love with this. I put this on and am a much cooler person in a much cooler place. It’s smooth, mesmerizing, and manages to be both soothing and energizing at the same time. A marvel of electronic music!

NEU! 75

Neu!

5/5

I love an album title that incorporates the year it was made… This album started off very, very strong for me. I loved the opening track Isi. Such a pleasant and lovely song. Seeland was pretty nice as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed floating around in Leb’ Wohl’s ticking-background world. Side 1 had me all in! Side 2 opens with Hero’s rockin’ guitar that totally changed the mood, but I could still feel the sound of side 1 sneaking in and around the edges. It was different but still felt familiar. The drums really carried the day on E-Musik. It sort of put me in a trance. Powerful human drumming really added to this electronic music. Then it ends on such a desolate and cold note… more ticking… kind of wonderful. The closing number, After Eight, seems like it could have been a cacophonous mess, but instead sort of cleared my mind and left me feeling like I was in a gently pleasant place. I think I love this album. Not something for all occasions, but today it really took me away.

Group Sex

Circle Jerks

5/5

Punk isn’t on my go-to genre list, but there’s something about Circle Jerks that I enjoy. They’re pretty great on their instruments, the songs are interesting, and they don’t overstay their welcome. Much to my surprise I loved it!

Now I Got Worry

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

5/5

Some very bluesy wailing delivered with a lot of force-bordering-on-abuse. I guess I was feeling musically masochistic, because much to my surprise I found myself really enjoying this album.

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive

Merle Haggard

5/5

Today would have been my dad’s 80th birthday and this was an excellent choice for the 1001 site to offer. Classic with a capitol C, this album is a wonderful gift. I got to spend a bit of this day with my headphones playing great country music, just like my dad.

Another Music In A Different Kitchen

Buzzcocks

4/5

I wasn’t sure another punk album was what I needed today, but it turned out pretty good actually. There was a lot of good playing on this. While I’ve heard of the Buzzcocks over the years, this was my first real stop-and-take-a-listen experience, and it was better than expected.

Street Life

The Crusaders

5/5

I fell in love with the song “Street Life” from the soundtrack of the film Jackie Brown. This album started off on a good note. The rest did not disappoint. Love me some smooth, sexy, 70s jazz.

Make Yourself

Incubus

3/5

Hmmmm… well, I knew the song “Drive” going into this. It’s a’ight. Is this an album I needed to hear before I died? I can think of others of this ilk that probably deserve to be here over this. Not terrible. Lead singer has a nice voice. Some of the songs were decent.

Grievous Angel

Gram Parsons

5/5

Really lovely and kind of sad knowing the background of this album. Emmylou Harris complements Gram Parsons beautifully. Special.

Third

Soft Machine

3/5

Within the first minute of playing this I was more than a little concerned about the hour+ runtime and the amount of noise I was hearing. This was not looking promising. A while into that opening track (Facelift), I realized that this noise was perhaps some kind of jazz music. A lot of sax here, although I’m not entirely sure the sax was enjoying itself… By the end of that first track, I was sort of intrigued and decided to read the Wikipedia page - I recognized Robert Wyatt thanks to this project, the lead vocalist who would appear later on the album. Hmmm… I thought I was hating this… then I grew intrigued… and then listened a second time and wondered who was torturing the whale at the start of the album… Still not sure what to feel, but it was interesting.

Treasure

Cocteau Twins

4/5

This was surely a very ethereal experience. As I listened I looked for some lyrics on Apple Music, but there were none to be found. I decided it was some kind of imaginary language. Then I googled and discovered many of the songs had words… but I’m not sure of the meaning… A decent soundtrack for a sunny afternoon, if a little samey by the end.

Sound Affects

The Jam

4/5

Although I listened to this in a suboptimal mental health state today, it was pretty good. I'll round this up to a 4 instead of down to a 3.

The Coral

4/5

This seemed like a good soundtrack for a slightly crazy carnival. I heard songs suitable for an off-kilter carousel, a slightly scary fun house, a spooky dark ride, and sundry spinny rides run by slightly insane clowns. Yet it never went completely off the rails.

Atomizer

Big Black

5/5

I’ve never heard of these guys and fully expected to be annoyed. Instead I was completely charmed. There’s still fun and hope seeping through the anger and desperation in the dark world they live in and scream about. A cathartic listen for me today that completely won me over.

Better Living Through Chemistry

Fatboy Slim

5/5

When I saw this I wondered what new things another Fatboy Slim would bring to the table after having already had the hit-packed “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby” from a few years after this. I’m not sure if there was anything new or not, but the infectious melodies quickly dispersed by desire to judge and I just really enjoyed the music. Terrific!

So Much For The City

The Thrills

5/5

I heard the song “One Horse Town” and fell in love with it while shopping somewhere in New York in the early 2000s. Shortly after I bought this album and loved it. I hadn’t looked much into the band, so I was surprised today to learn that they aren’t from California but instead from Ireland… now I hear that lead singers’ voice differently. The group creates some catchy tunes with interesting hooks and nice banjo. I still love this album!

Post Orgasmic Chill

Skunk Anansie

5/5

Wow I was shocked this was made 25 years ago, because I would have believed it if I had been told it was released yesterday. Really great variety of music that at times made me think of Portishead, at times Muse… Great!

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

Maxwell

5/5

I enjoyed the sultry, sexy vibe of this soulful album. Like a lot of new-to-me artists on this list, its presence highlights some obvious omissions (**paging Barry White**). Still, I very much enjoyed chilling out to this and it lowered my blood pressure several much-needed notches.

Myths Of The Near Future

Klaxons

5/5

Wow this was a catchy load of fun! Really terrific!

Sea Change

Beck

5/5

Having already heard four Beck albums on this project, I couldn't help but wonder as I near the end of the 1001 list how necessary another is. Well, this is one of my favorite Beck albums yet. It is wistful, melancholic, and quiet in a way that really surprised me. I was taken by the beauty of the songs. What a beautiful addition to my library!

Blonde On Blonde

Bob Dylan

5/5

I’ve certainly overcome my reservations about Bob Dylan thanks to this project. Another worthy album that I thought might be too long… but wasn’t. Wonderful!

Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen

5/5

This is one of the albums that I’ve known for decades I should listen to, and now I finally have. Contemplative and beautiful.

Violent Femmes

4/5

Of course I’ve heard Blister in the Sun… a true classic. The rest of the album was better than I expected.

Aftermath

The Rolling Stones

5/5

This album is chock full of great music (both the US and UK editions). I enjoyed both albums. Terrific!

The Madcap Laughs

Syd Barrett

2/5

I had high hopes for something from 1970 called The Madcap Laughs from a former member of Pink Floyd assisted by other members of that band. Instead it felt like I got roped into a house party by a friend. When we arrive just as I am being introduced to the host some guy gets out his guitar and everyone excitedly hurries to seat themselves in the living room. My lack of familiarity leaves me stuck on the floor in the far corner with my knees pulled up to my chest. How did I end up here?! Halfway into the second song my drink is empty but I'm stuck and can't easily get out to the kitchen for a refill. Can I interrupt the concert? God it's hot in here. My leg is completely asleep, it'll take several minutes of stretching before I can hope to even put weight on it now... I need to stretch! Another song, really?! Shit now I have to pee.... is this all one song?! No, he's stopping. Wait, another song?! Didn't we hear this? Is no one going to put a stop to this?! At times there were moments approaching ok but I never reached enjoyment.

Cupid & Psyche 85

Scritti Politti

3/5

I was only familiar with “Perfect Way” going into this… I was a tad surprised this appeared on the list since I kind of thought of Scritti Politti as a one-hit wonder. The first song “The Word Girl” was ok with its reggae beat. Then the second song “Small Talk” sounded an awfully lot like an inferior rip-off of “Perfect Way.” At that point I needed to investigate why this made the list. The Wikipedia article was interesting - how this group emerged from a Marxist collective, then shed most its members and ended up here. Things started picking up midway. “Don’t Work That Hard” was a bit better, then “Perfect Way” stormed in reminding me why it dominates over all the other songs on this album. “Lover To Fall” was quite catchy… my second favorite track. “Wood Beez” is a very strange little tune that I liked well enough. “Hypnotize” ended on a decent note and was probably settling in as my third favorite track. Had I bought this album in the 80s, I suspect I would have felt a bit like there was really one great hit and been a little disappointed with the rest, but since I had bought it would have listened to everything many times to get my money’s worth and would have ended up liking much of this album more than I do now. Today, I admit I’m still a little perplexed as to why this made the list over a lot of 80’s albums I consider better, but after a second listen did enjoy it more. Maybe if I had owned that cassette this could’ve been a 4.

Apple Venus Volume 1

XTC

4/5

This was an interesting listen for sure… I’m still not sure how much I like this as a whole but the orchestral vibe was interesting, the lyrics kept me on my toes, and several songs I liked immediately. Not bad and I’m happy to have this appear on this list.

Figure 8

Elliott Smith

5/5

My boyfriend at the time of this albums release was a huge fan of Elliott Smith so this was a keystone to my turn-of-the-century soundtrack. It’s a masterpiece. The sadness and shock of the Smith’s passing still reverberate through this album which perhaps had prevented me from listening to this but today it was a warm and lovely place to be. RIP Elliott.

Iron Maiden

4/5

This leans towards my kind of heavy metal… there looks to be enough spandex but it’s a little more serious than my very favorite. Still, some good tunes. I really liked Phantom of the Opera and Iron Maiden.

Faust IV

Faust

5/5

This is a very strange listen… but I was fascinated. I enjoyed the wild ride. Bravo!

Parachutes

Coldplay

5/5

When I first heard “Yellow” I ran out and got this album. I loved its strong emotional underpinnings - these songs are quite beautiful. This is an incredible debut and now reading a little background material it’s all the more special. Amazing that so many of these songs are still central to Coldplay’s live performances. A great debut that has lost none of its luster to time.

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones

5/5

I like The Rolling Stones and this is one of the Rolling Stonier selections. Maybe not entirely my favorite, but Sympathy For The Devil gets a round up.

Fishscale

Ghostface Killah

3/5

Rap isn’t my genre and this is harder-core than I usually would listen to, but it was more listenable than I thought it would be. Some interesting stories on here and good performances and samples. Went on a bit too long for me but I can see why this is album is well-regarded.

Another Green World

Brian Eno

4/5

This was a very interesting album that I’m happy to have heard. I liked it more when I put on headphones and on the second listen.

Let England Shake

PJ Harvey

5/5

PJ Harvey is an artist new to me from this project, and I’ve really liked what I’ve heard. This is different from those other albums, but stands with the best of them - a contender for favorite PJ Harvey album for sure! I loved the odd folksy/old-timey military feel of a lot of this. It really felt like it was from another time and yet still strangely modern and new. That’s quite a feat! Terrific!

All Hail the Queen

Queen Latifah

4/5

This seems to be the album where Queen Latifah seized the throne. Rap still isn’t going to be ideal for me, but it’s good to get some different rap like this in the mix!

Want Two

Rufus Wainwright

4/5

This was a worth successor to Want One, and I did like it although not quite as much. As I expected there were some very interesting tales from a variety of perspectives on this LP.

Suede

5/5

I started off pretty lukewarm about this album - as one is tempted to do after year 3 or listening to an album a day. When I got to track 6 "The Drowners" the album emerged from the background and really drew me in. "Sleeping Pills" right after that sealed the deal with its arresting style. I listened to the rest more attentively then started this over and really enjoyed this. Some nice 90's grunge with a healthy dose of glam rock and hints of new wave makes for a terrific combination! Other standout tracks for me: "Metal Mickey" and "Animal Lover."

Seventh Tree

Goldfrapp

5/5

I very much enjoyed Goldfrapp’s Felt Mountain. This had a different feel but if anything I enjoyed it more! Just an really excellent album that was a pleasure to hear.

The White Room

The KLF

5/5

I owned this album back in the early 90s - had to buy it after hearing the Tammy Wynette remake, even though Tammy isn’t on the album as the remake came out after. Still, I remember liking the album and was expecting a lot of deja vu. Wrong. The Director’s Cut was an enormous disappointment - so much so that I was ready to give this a 3. Then a friend texted that he was going to listen to and rate the original CD that he still had a copy of. Turns out I also have the original CD available in ripped form thanks to the cloud. I listened to that and all was right with the world. It is a wonderful as I remember it!!! How terrible that the only version of this available on Apple Music is the far inferior one. Thank god I still have the original because it is terrific!

Caetano Veloso

4/5

While some of this seemed a little ramblier than I might prefer, I did enjoy listening to this while driving across the heartland of America.

Meat Puppets II

Meat Puppets

3/5

This was a real mixed bag. There were moments I kinda liked. I guess I can say I never really hated it or anything, but it didn’t grab me in any notable ways either.

Blood And Chocolate

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

3/5

Did I need a SIXTH Elvis Costello album? No. Because it is the sixth, I am tempted to give this a two because it was tiresome in the way I find a lot of Elvis Costello’s albums. I guess that wouldn’t really be fair maybe, so it’s another three but I really don’t see any need to return to this again. Please tell me we are done now because I believe we passed “overrepresented” an album or two ago. The album cover was interesting though.

Isn't Anything

My Bloody Valentine

2/5

*sigh* Not thrilled with this. Didn’t need three MBV albums. I’m getting too old for this.

Movies

Holger Czukay

4/5

This is a wack-a-doo change of pace that was most welcome after several uninspiring selections. Weird German fun!

Hard Again

Muddy Waters

5/5

Blues hasn’t been the usual thing for me so wasn’t excited about this. But I really enjoyed it. The energy in these performances are really infectious - so much energy! I was stuck on a tarmac for three hours last night and listened to this several times. Each time I enjoyed it more. Terrific!

The Wall

Pink Floyd

5/5

Back in junior high school, a dear friend and I used to get into occasional debates over Pink Floyd (her favorite) and Styx (mine). In the days when acquiring new music involved significant financial investment for a junior higher, I never took the risk of delving into the music of Pink Floyd instead focusing my resources on music I knew and loved. For whatever reason, once I had my resources and easier access to music Pink Floyd never because much of a priority. That was clearly a mistake. This album gave me goosebumps from the opening notes and they are returning now as I write about it. What an incredible, haunting, epic masterpiece this is. My expectations were high and this album leapt way over them. Incredible!

The ArchAndroid

Janelle Monáe

5/5

I saw the video “Tightrope” sometime in 2010 and loved it, so I sought out this album. What a creative, interesting, and wonderful thing it was! That it is packed with banging dance songs was not a big surprise. It’s sweeping, epic nature was. The symphonic pieces throughout, psychedelia, songs that sound like they stepped out of a classic movie… all on a wild journey into the future. I don’t think 2010 got any better than this. Every time I listen to this I’m just in awe. Fantastic!

Roots

Sepultura

3/5

Ok… started this up and was all ready to complain and bitch about it because I’m nearing the end of the project, am losing hope that The Pointer Sisters will get their due, and really don’t enjoy Cookie Monster heavy metal. I was just itching to give this a 2. BUUUUUUT… this album had lots of hints of traditional Brazilian music in the first half, then the second half started making it very apparent. Jasco, Isatari and Canyon Jam really altered the tone and made those touches all the more apparent in the second half of the album. I gave “Arise” (the other Sepultura album) a 3 despite the unpleasant vocals, but this album should eke out a higher rating I think because it is even more interesting and creative. But those vocals keep this squarely out of my permanent rotation.

Back In Black

AC/DC

5/5

This album was so ubiquitous when I was in junior high and high school that I’m sure I heard the whole thing in pieces. At that time this sort of music wasn’t really something I could appreciate so listening to the whole album willingly wasn’t really on the table. Some 40+ years late to the party, I’m in love with this album! “Shoot to Thrill” is exactly the kind of driving rock that somehow makes me want too many women with too many pills. This is one of those albums that makes me want to add “bangers” to my vocabulary. On second thought, maybe its better that I waited until I was in my 50s to get into this… I had a blast today rockin’ out to AC/DC. Terrific!

G. Love And Special Sauce

G. Love & Special Sauce

4/5

I recognized the group name when this appeared and much to my surprise found this album already in my music collection along with three other albums from G. Love and Special Sauce. This came from the early 2000s when I ripped my and my boyfriend’s music collection in the move to digital. Once I was listening to this I did recognize a lot of it. I never really got into this group but I do appreciate the sound.

You Are The Quarry

Morrissey

4/5

While I am questioning whether a third Morrissey album is needed on this list and I was annoyed by several songs on this for their preachy droning, I ended up liking a lot of this. It’s more enjoyable on the upbeat numbers for sure. But I think we got the idea so it is ok to stop with the Morrissey.

Honky Tonk Masquerade

Joe Ely

4/5

I’m glad to get some more country on this list, although I have to say this didn’t quite live up to the expectations I had after reading the wikipedia article. It was good but I think there are a lot of albums I’d put ahead of this that I fear won’t make this list.

The Rise & Fall

Madness

4/5

“Our House” is one of my favorite 80’s tunes… but this album was unknown to me (not surprising, since you can’t get it in the US even today - at least through traditional streaming channels). While I liked the rest of the album well enough, I felt a little disappointed. “Our House” seemed head-and-shoulders above the other tracks. The rest was alright.

The Modern Lovers

5/5

I listen to Sound Opinions sometimes on NPR and hear a snippet of Roadrunner in the opening musical montage… good to finally hear the whole song. It’s great! I also had heard Pablo Picasso performed by some other punk group and didn’t realize it was a cover song. I love this song - it was great to hear the original. The lyrics are interesting, the punk underpinnings are supported with some great songwriting and playing… this definitely qualifies for this list! Terrific!

Coles Corner

Richard Hawley

5/5

I really enjoyed this. It was a nice change of pace.

Time (The Revelator)

Gillian Welch

5/5

I liked this quite a bit, although its downbeat style sort of hit me on a downbeat day and I struggled to enjoy it. This morning I played it while having a lazy morning in bed and found a connection. Beautiful!

Run-D.M.C.

4/5

I can do another old-school rap album… might get a little same-y but the runtime keeps things moving along nicely.

New Forms

Roni Size

3/5

Music for my retro-themed turn-of-the-century boutique hotel lobby. It was ok in the background but I didn’t need 2 hours of it.

Broken English

Marianne Faithfull

5/5

Yeah Marianne Faithfull deserves a spot on the list!

Talking Timbuktu

Ali Farka Touré

3/5

It’s interesting the sort of smattering of world music that appears on the list… two from west Africa… I liked this ok but not sure I fully appreciated it but there were several songs I quite enjoyed, and several that were sort of lost on me. Not sure if it is because it is the second time around for this artist, my current context and disposition, or something else, but I didn’t enjoy this as much as Savane, the other album from this artist.

Live At Leeds

The Who

3/5

I started off feeling a little underwhelmed by this album - the live sound was just not as appealing to me as the studio recordings by The Who. Although I warmed up to this a bit and did enjoy the occasional witty patter, I’ll still go for the studio albums over this.

Parklife

Blur

5/5

I was not happy to see a third Blur album. But I really enjoyed this one! I should have suggested dropping the others because this one is great! Girls and Boys has been a long longtime favorite and the rest of the album is chock full of catchy creative tunes. Terrific!

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens

5/5

Yet another entry in the albums-my-ex-played-a-lot-that-I-should-have-appreciated-more files. I wish my state had such a fantastic album dedicated to it. There is so much to love here. Just the right amount of clever with a range of instruments and songs that never got boring - this is fabulous!

Abbey Road

Beatles

5/5

Another long-overdue listen for me... a masterpiece that I completely enjoyed.

Diamond Life

Sade

5/5

I LOVE this album! I added this to my cassette collection in my first Columbia House membership (10+ albums for $1!) - and it was not the kind of thing I would be expected to buy. It was love at first listen. Just the thing for lounging on a bearskin rug drinking a hot toddy while the snow piles up outside. Smooth Operator is one of the greatest songs of the 80s… and Sade’s album is a perfect way to deliver it.

The Stranger

Billy Joel

5/5

Great, just as I expected! A towering classic.

Protection

Massive Attack

4/5

Well, I like Massive Attack I guess. I wasn’t excited about this but it was quite nice to listen to and defied my increasingly jaded initial reactions. Especially that Rankin & Bass favorite “Heat Miser.” Also an interesting take on “Light My Fire.”

Don't Stand Me Down

Dexys Midnight Runners

3/5

Three albums from Dexys Midnight Runners? That doesn’t seem appropriate considering there is so much music that hasn’t yet gotten a nod. Still, this may be the best one yet so… open mind… It’s not. It’s my least favorite of the three we’ve heard. I’m scratching my head. Not bad but very meh.

Getz/Gilberto

Stan Getz

5/5

More bossa nova? Yes please to Getz/Gilberto. I’ve loved this album for years and years and years and it was pure pleasure to lose myself while lounging to the dulcet tones of this masterpiece.

Step In The Arena

Gang Starr

4/5

Is it a surprise I have never heard of Gang Starr? They seem like the kind of 90s rap that would have somewhere along the way entered my consciousness. Perhaps I’ve forgotten them. Today I enjoyed this little time capsule of rap of another era. It’s quite good and definitely more in line with the style and themes I can enjoy. Pretty good stuff.

Fifth Dimension

The Byrds

5/5

This popped up on my screen and for a brief moment I was ecstatic! I hadn’t imagined that this list would acknowledge The 5th Dimension… Wedding Bell Blues! One Less Bell To Answer! Up Up and Away! I had thought that the closest I’d get to this was the Laura Nyro album “Eli and the Thirteenth Confession” album we had some time ago where we heard the original “Sweet Blindness”. Never mind… This is Fifth (not 5th) Dimension by The Byrds. Oops. This was quite good. Pretty much what I expect from The Byrds by now but I really liked it. The bonus tracks were pretty great too. Still, I can’t help but think one could trim down those five albums from The Byrds to make room for The 5th Dimension.

Heroes to Zeros

The Beta Band

5/5

I remembered that I enjoyed The Beta Band "Hot Shots II" that came up a while ago in this project, but I couldn't really remember what to expect. This is a moody, quirky affair that was a perfect soundtrack for today. “Lion Thief” and “Simple” were particular faves, but I liked the whole album a lot. I seem to really like The Beta Band and should probably investigate them further.

Raw Like Sushi

Neneh Cherry

5/5

“Buffalo Stance” is a terrific song - I really love it. So I’m ready to rate this a 5 from the get-go. I don’t recall ever hearing anything else from Neneh Cherry though. The rest of this album is a BLAST! Really great songcraft - I thought “Oooh that figures” when I read that Neneh is Swedish - and great vocals. Full of attitude but so infectiously delightful. Not to mention another song to add to my “once bitten twice shy” playlist. Really really terrific!

Germfree Adolescents

X-Ray Spex

5/5

Some catchy punk the way I prefer it… just a touch of pop. I started off liking it, and then they endeared me completely and I love it!

The Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails

5/5

In 1990 I became a huge fan of Pretty Hate Machine from Nine Inch Nails. When The Downward Spiral was released in 1994 I loved Closer and Hurt, but an hour of anger seemed less appealing and so I never actually acquired or listened to the entire album. Fast forward to the early 2000s… the Internet opened new avenues of music acquisition so I hoovered up albums much faster than I could consume them. Sometime during that period I added this to my library. I likely listened to this once then moved on to other shiny things. I’m thrilled that this project has put the spotlight on The Downward Spiral. This incredible album did not deserve the short shrift I gave it. I did have an incredulous moment when I saw this that it wasn’t Pretty Hate Machine. A few songs into the listen the feeling faded as I realized there’s a strong case to elevate this above my old favorite. The Downward Spiral packs a surprising amount of nuance here amongst an awful lot of rage. This is incredibly satisfying to listen to. It’s likely that the me of the 90s and early aughts was too optimistic to spend much time with this dark masterpiece. The me of today is very much at home here.

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

The Kinks

5/5

Wow! This is up there with Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Tommy’s The Who. This concept album would make a great movie! Super cool!

Timeless

Goldie

3/5

This was mostly ok for me. Reminds me of my days running the board at a radio station on Sunday mornings when I would insert ads into the breaks of a new age show. While it wasn’t terrible to have on in the background for a lot of it, there were parts that really did start to wear on my nerves. But only when I was paying closer attention.

Headquarters

The Monkees

4/5

I was very surprised to see The Monkees appear on this list. This led to a number of questions. A creation of a corporate television entity… how the hell did this happen? I spent 6 or so years running the board for an oldies radio show every Sunday. I’ve heard a lot of music from The Monkees. Why do I not recognize a thing on this album? How is this the first time I’ve heard a song containing the word “Naugahyde”? Why is today the first time I learned how Naugahyde is made (or spelled!)? Today’s listening assignment left me with more questions than answers. Still, this was a surprisingly good bit of 60s fun. I’m still not entirely sure why this is here over some other potential choices from the era, but I enjoyed it. Gotta applaud four members of a pseudo band who rise up against their corporate overlords and figure out how to be a real band…

Oedipus Schmoedipus

Barry Adamson

5/5

No idea what I was getting into, but Set Controls For the Heart of the Pelvis came out of the gate with such a groove that pegged my ranking needle on a 5. Incredible! Then that familiar Spooky sample opened Something Wicked This Way Comes and I added that to my favorite Halloween songs playlist in the first thirty seconds. Really nice, atmospheric, right up my alley. Barry Adamson was sorely missing from my consciousness. Terrific!!!!

Elastica

4/5

I don’t think I ever heard this band before, but it is a nice contrast to a lot of the other mid-90s rock offerings with a great female lead. Great!

Dog Man Star

Suede

5/5

I liked the previous Suede album… but do I need to hear another from them? Yes! This album is really impressive. Melodramatic in all my favorite ways, this album has terrific songcraft that defied my questioning mind. It seemed to just continually get better and better and leaves me no choice but to give it a 5. Fantastic! Lots of songs I liked at first listen - immediate stand-outs: We are the Pigs, The Wild Ones, The Power, New Generation, The Two Of Us, The Asphalt World, Still Life.

Street Signs

Ozomatli

5/5

Having never heard of this group or album I put this on cold and *BAM!* Out of the gate the opening track Believe was a modern, party take on Arab music that set me twirling in my seat! TERRIFIC! Love And Hope, the second track, had more Arabian delights and I thought I knew what I was listening to. Street Signs took things in a very different direction, world music from an entirely different part of the world. What am I listening to?! Turns out Ozomatli is a Latin Funk Rock band who apparently appreciate Arab and North African music - not unlike a certain boy who was known to listen to his mother's belly dance albums from an early age. This is an Arab-North African-Latin-Hip Hop party that I had no idea I - or the world - needed!

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo

Devo

5/5

As somewhat of an aficionado of strange, quirky music it always seemed like Devo should be squarely in my wheelhouse. But for whatever reason it never really was. Even today, I have enormous appreciation for them but I’m not sure I would put a whole album on the Victorola for a spin. Regardless, I really do appreciate this greatly! Very glad to have spent the time listening to this album!

Raw Power

The Stooges

4/5

I can hear the importance of this album historically and liked the rock and roll! Glad to have listened to this.

Highly Evolved

The Vines

5/5

I haven’t ever heard of The Vines. This is a great album though… really strong debut. I noted that this is one of the “demoted” albums that are no longer on the 1001 list. Has the influence or lasting impact of The Vines not played out over the last 22 years? Then again who knows how this album may be influencing artists and music in ways we will never comprehend. Regardless of these meta-questions, I loved this album’s varied styles and great solid rock performances. It’s a great album demoted or not, and I could certainly come up with a list of albums still on the 1001 list that I think could easily be displaced for Highly Evolved.

First Band On The Moon

The Cardigans

5/5

Being extremely familiar with lovefool I’ve long had a soft spot for The Cardigans. The rest of this lovely, lounge ride was new to me. Who’d have thought this band should cover Iron Man?! Terrific!

Henry's Dream

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

4/5

Ohhh Nick Cave… I have such mixed feelings, but fear the worst. Nope! Weird storytelling does me just fine I guess as long as it isn’t all dreary murder songs!

The Holy Bible

Manic Street Preachers

5/5

A few times during this project I’ve noticed an alignment certain days and the album that appears. The first Christmas for this project the album was the Phil Spector Christmas album… and I think The Smith’s “The Queen is Dead” if I recall correctly… Not having familiarity with The Manic Street Preachers I didn’t notice anything peculiar as I played this in the car on my way to buy supplies for a 4th of July barbecue after the first song I heard an ad for a tribute to Ronald Reagan followed by the song “Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit’sworldwouldfallapart”. I immediately added this bleak and insightful song to my 4th of July playlist. The Holy Bible is an angry, not too subtle diatribe one the ills of the world of the early 1990s. Unfortunately the diatribe seems to have only become more appropriate today. Between the US Supreme Court, dysfunctional Congress and the surreal race to become the President some angry political rock is far too appropriate. It’s tough to be facing existential problems without confidence in those leading the response. I read background on this on Wikipedia and learned this was the last album before lead rhythm guitarist/lyricist Richey Edwards disappeared. This saddened me as I listened to the dark, strongly political and sometimes quite personal lyrics. Sometimes not even having the skills to create great musical compositions can alleviate the darkness and pain of the world. I guess I am fortunate in that I’ve been able to sidestep life-threatening darkness and depression for most my life. Then again I’ve never quite so eloquently expressed my fears, frustrations and anger as Richey Edwards did. I’m very glad to have had the opportunity to really listen to this and reflect on Richey Edwards. RIP.

White Light / White Heat

The Velvet Underground

2/5

*sigh* Not really my thing.

It's A Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads

3/5

Another Columbia House acquisition, I got this album in the mid-90s based on the song “It’s a Shame About Ray.” It’s a pleasant listen but didn’t stick with me then too much and likely won’t now. An easy listen from the 90s that I’m not convinced needs to be listened to before death but I don’t hate it.

Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby

Girls Against Boys

3/5

Well, here’s a dark little collection. I liked the first few songs… but a lot of the album had a sameness that wore on me by the end. Good but not a strong love connection for me.

Idlewild

Everything But The Girl

3/5

The moment I saw this I was hoping “Am I The Same Girl?” Was on this album. Oops… that’s Swing Out Sister. For some reason I confuse the two. Well, what I found instead was a pleasant enough listen although it never really rose to the heights of “listen to before I die” status for me. Maybe I just can’t shake the feeling that Swing Out Sister and many other interesting groups will likely be omitted from this list to allow Everything But The Girl two spots, which doesn’t feel exactly right. Anyhoo… as I said pleasant. Nice. I even listened to this twice. But it doesn’t really catch fire for me…

Green River

Creedence Clearwater Revival

5/5

Apple Music says “…if you had to pick just one CCR album, this should be it” and I believe them. Lodi is possibly my favorite CCR song, but there’s no denying the genius of Green River and Bad Moon Rising. The whole album is pretty great even if I wasn’t familiar with it beyond those hits. I read “formulaic” as a word to describe this album in a negative review. I guess if you want to call the original formula “formulaic” you can, but that would still seem to deserve better than a 2 rating. 50+ years ago the word formulaic probably would not have come to mind…

Triangle

The Beau Brummels

5/5

I had to double check that Bob Dylan wasn't singing when this first started... but once I heard a bit more the I could tell it wasn't quite him. What it is is some pretty great 60s tunes with lots of fun instrumentation. Loved the accordions, horns, tubas, banjos and other band instruments that kept this interesting and hopping. Now that I re-read the title not sure if I heard the triangle or not... nonetheless quite terrific!

This Is Hardcore

Pulp

5/5

I was not expecting a second album from Pulp to blow me away… and I stand here windblown and corrected. Holy smokes this is an incredible album. I’ve listened to it four times today and keep finding new delights in the music and the lyrics. Party Hard is an incredible party anthem! Seductive Barry was the most seductive thing this side of a Barry White album. The comparison of post-breakup life to a TV Movie is sheer genius. “You are the last drink I never should have drunk. You are the body hidden in the trunk.” Wow! An absolutely unexpected slam dunk for me today!

Black Monk Time

The Monks

5/5

I thought we had pretty good 60s coverage, and then came The Monks. The primal rhythms instantly had me bouncing around the house as I collected and took out the trash. Teetering on the edge of novelty, this album never really crosses that line. This was a ton of fun to listen to! It’s a shame the album wasn’t available in its entirety on Apple Music in the US, but by playing the songs I couldn’t find on YouTube I was able to enjoy a fantastic live performance of Complication. This seems like such a no-brainer for this list. Fascinating and wonderful!

Moby Grape

5/5

Wow another 60s band I’ve never heard of that was difficult to listen to (I pieced together the original track listing from Apple Music and YouTube). And like some of the others, this was completely fantastic! The harmonies were REALLY groovy! I listened to this a few times and loved it more and more. Terrific!

The Yes Album

Yes

5/5

I’m happy to see another Yes album, although I will say that my first exposure to Yes, the album 90125, is sorely missed. Back when I fell in love with that album I wasn’t so into the noodly progressive rock thing, so didn’t look back much at their catalog. I’m glad to do so now. This album is fantastic fun. As I’ve gotten older I’ve come to appreciate crazy multi-part opuses that ramble on with liberal organ and flute. While I was familiar with the much shorter radio-play versions of “I’ve Seen All Good People” the full version is pretty cool. While I will be sad to never hear later-period Yes on this list, I am still happy with the two we’ve gotten so far.

Winter In America

Gil Scott-Heron

5/5

This album did not have a clear genre for me, but it not only great to listen to it was also compelling. Really terrific and really sad that it isn’t available on my music service - but thankfully in our digital age I found a way. Too bad that such an important album isn’t readily available. Still it really makes me glad to have embarked on this project to discover finds like this.

Ten

Pearl Jam

5/5

For whatever reason I never listened to this album in the 90s despite liking the music of the era and having great affinity with the songs "Alive", "Even Flow" and "Jeremy". In 1998 I moved to Seattle and within a few years had finally become made this album's acquaintance lest I be banished from the city. Since then my appreciation of this album has only grown with every listen. Eddie Vedder's voice digs deep into every song and sounds at home on hard rock numbers and lovely ballads. The song's subjects are meaningful narratives dealing with a range of social and personal issues. The top-notch performances swoop and dive through a wide emotional range without ever feeling forced or unnatural. Ten is one of the great pinnacles of its era that draws me back again and again to marvel at its towering presence.

Pacific Ocean Blue

Dennis Wilson

4/5

I hadn’t thought about what a Dennis Wilson solo album might be. Intriguing... Any qualms I had about the album were quickly abated by “River Song”. I’m a sucker for a rock song backed by a choir. As I went through the album I mostly liked what was going on although I wasn’t in love with the sound of all the albums. Some of Dennis Wilson’s gruffer, more experimental songs (“Friday Night”, “Dreamer”) were interesting if a little less enjoyable. I listened to the last few songs on headphones, and the additional clarity made me hear the Beach Boys’ influence over this sound coming through pretty clearly. I was sort of wavering in 3/4-rating territory in parts of this album, but I really love “River Song”, “Time”, “You and I”, “Rainbows” enough to round up and songs like “Pacific Ocean Blues” seem to grow on me after repeated listens. This album is certainly an interesting listen when juxtaposed with Brian Wilson’s solo work. The shared origins are apparent but the differences are stark. Neither solo effort rises to the level of the greatest works of The Beach Boys, but they give some very interesting insight into the unique sensibilities the individual artists contributed to the endeavor.

Ambient 1/Music For Airports

Brian Eno

5/5

I pressed play and within 30 seconds realized I have heard the opening track somewhere before… fairly recently… I think it was maybe an art installation - perhaps even at an airport. There’s something strangely interesting about this album. I played it driving in rush hour traffic and I’m sure it lowered my blood pressure as it put me in a space to just sit back and be. I think I love this album and will definitely keep it at hand for the upcoming election season.

Traffic

4/5

I became a big Steve Winwood fan in the 80s and had known he had made a name for himself in Traffic but that was about as far as my knowledge went. This is some fine 60s music - I can hear Steve clearly in the mix - so I liked it.

Femi Kuti

5/5

Always up for something from Africa or Asia on this list since the pickin’s are slim. I loved those awesome rhythms and the presence of the choir of singers backing Femi Kuti. The band instruments were fantastic! While I wasn’t able to listen closely enough to catch everything, I detected a lot of activism in those lyrics. Fun with a purpose! I love this. Would love seeing this performed live. Terrific!

Mott

Mott The Hoople

4/5

Ooh… an album from the “All The Young Dudes” guys without “All The Young Dudes.” I really enjoyed the glam-rock sounds of the early 70s! Good stuff.

Signing Off

UB40

2/5

Boy this got tedious. Went on and on and on.

Cafe Bleu

The Style Council

3/5

The name The Style Council sounded familiar to me, so I thought something on this album would maybe ring a bell. No bells. The first time through was a bit of a see saw - at time I was liking the ride, at other times not so much. This leaned more easy listening than I expected, which is not a negative for me… maybe that was part of the see-saw ride… but as the second half continued I was more on the up side of the see-saw which inspired me to listen a second time. I enjoyed this more the second listen. Nothing I’m going to get crazy excited over but a fine listen.

Dig Me Out

Sleater-Kinney

5/5

Sweater-Kinney is a band that I have long felt negligent for not knowing more about. After all, I am routinely near that exit in Olympia Washington. A cool local girl group should be a no brainer but for whatever reason I’ve never heard more than a snippet of this group. I was a little surprised when I played this about how much of a Go-Go’s vibe I felt from the vocals! I really enjoyed this. I’m glad to have the Go-Go’s and Sleater-Kinney on this list!

Purple Rain

Prince

5/5

An incredible soundtrack to a movie I’ve never seen. Terrific!

Permission to Land

The Darkness

5/5

In December 2003 I went to Manchester England to visit friends and enjoy the holiday atmosphere. While there, I saw the film “Love, Actually”, heard the Cheeky Girls for the first time, and in a minivan en-route to a stately manor heard “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” on the radio. I wondered if this was some 1970s British glam rock band I’d never heard of when one of the locals asked what I thought of the song. I loved it and was absolutely gobsmacked when informed this was a new release vying for the top of the Christmas charts. Returning to downtown Manchester I picked up Permission To Land on CD and it became one of my favorite albums for a year or so. It sounded so different from everything else going on in music at the time. Unapologetically sex, drugs and rock and roll, it is hard to know whether to take this album seriously. Except the seriously great rock and roll performances and that incredible falsetto on the lead singer. Permission To Land provides good sex, drugs, hellhound and rock & roll coverage. And there’s ping pong, needlecraft, badminton, rowing and bridge club (which according to “Friday” are activities the cool kids in his school participated in). Just when you think this is a total joke some surprisingly tender ballads appear… only to dive into a catchy ditty extolling the virtues of heroin. This album is a fun throwback that blew me away in 2003 and transported me back a couple of decades. Today it again transported me back a couple of decades. I wonder where I’ll be when it pops up again in the 2040s?

More Songs About Buildings And Food

Talking Heads

3/5

In this project I’ve greatly grown in my appreciation of Talking Heads. But this album underwhelmed me a bit. I didn’t feel it was as good as some of the others. It was very expected to me. Nothing stood out on it as much and I was just left feeling whelmed. Nothing bad here, but it isn’t going to be a go-to Talking Heads listen for me.

The Gilded Palace Of Sin

The Flying Burrito Brothers

4/5

I have often heard reference to The Flying Burrito Brothers, and I think we had one of their albums in our home record collection, but apparently it didn’t catch my attention as a child because I couldn’t remember what kind of music I’d be listening to when this came up today. I enjoyed the country with rock tinges style of this album. It’s surprisingly low-key to me, but I found it an enjoyable listen on a lazy Sunday morning.

Pyromania

Def Leppard

5/5

Happy to have this on the list. That shimmery Def Leppard sound I love! They are one of the pinnacles of 80s rock so two albums on this list are twice the party. Terrific!

Ellington at Newport

Duke Ellington

5/5

Duke Ellington HAD to be on this list and here he is! I knew a couple of the songs but finally have listened to one of Duke’s albums in its entirety. Terrific!

Only By The Night

Kings of Leon

5/5

I noted that there are three Kings of Leon albums that once were on the 1001 list but none are now. This one and Youth and Young Manhood I found very good… and think maybe one of those could remain. I guess of those two this one was a little bit better. It was the album where I became aware of this band so maybe that’s part of it.

Forever Changes

Love

5/5

Another Love album I love. This was groovy with a bit of a dark edge to it that keeps things interesting. I’m surprised that this list is the first time I’ve heard of them.

Smash

The Offspring

4/5

I owned the later album Americana from the Offspring and enjoyed their poppy-punk confections. I hadn’t listened to this album before but I knew the hits off it. “Come Out and Play” always appealed to me, but this time I followed along the words and had no idea this was about gang culture. That inspired me to pay more attention and I had a greater appreciation for this album. A lot of fun!

KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)

Ministry

5/5

Really thought I would hate this album based on a vague memory of Ministry. Lo and behold, I love this! Some great industrial metal that I never paid attention to in the 90s but is very appealing to me now.

London Calling

The Clash

5/5

Very happy to enjoy The Clash’s London Calling. Heard bits of things off this before, but it was definitely worth a proper listen. Terrific!

Rattlesnakes

Lloyd Cole And The Commotions

3/5

This was alright. Didn’t change my life or anything.

Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman

John Zorn

2/5

This is basically the thrash metal of Jazz. I was surprised that I didn’t hate it. That said, I don’t see myself listening to this again. But not the worst.

1984

Van Halen

5/5

I was, of course, familiar with this since you couldn’t swing a prairie dog without hitting a track off this in high school. How remarkable to hear Eddie Van Halen go 80s synth on some of the songs on this album and somehow stay true to the Van Halen sound. I can’t imagine everyone in his orbit was thrilled when he said “I think I’ll play synth.” Just look at what he wrought!

Club Classics Vol. One

Soul II Soul

4/5

I was familiar with back to life from back in the day. The album is along those lines with a nice groove. Not squarely my thing but a nice listen.

Out of Step

Minor Threat

4/5

I think I might have gotten into this in college. Now not as much, but still catchy and kinda fun!

Palo Congo

Sabu

4/5

I enjoyed listening to some 50s Cuban music. Not for daily consumption but interesting nonetheless.

The United States Of America

5/5

I have never heard of this audaciously-named band with only one album… so this was a real surprise. A completely crazy ride that I enjoyed from beginning to end! I kind of love it when an album becomes a sort of funhouse filled with surprises. And even better when done so well! Terrific!!!

Slayed?

Slade

3/5

It’s possible that this listen suffered from too many other albums like this (many or most perhaps following in this album’s footsteps?). But I was bored mostly by this and wasn’t sad when I finished listening.

Liquid Swords

GZA

2/5

This was never really going to be my thing. This project hasn’t changed things. I like my rap a little brighter and more fun.

Music From Big Pink

The Band

5/5

I think I started listening to this album in the wrong mental state, because I was a bit underwhelmed when I heard the first several songs. I had to take a break and when I came back started listening and really loved this. So I started listening all over again and all was right with the world. This is a really fantastic album. I love the artwork!

A Northern Soul

The Verve

3/5

“A second Verve album on this list? With a runtime exceeding one hour?” My brain grumbled as it considered starting the 1069th listen in a multi-year journey. “Now, now… open mind,” I reminded myself. Listen one: I listened while trying to get through a pile of email and fell asleep sometime in the first 15 minutes. The repeat play was on, so the album was well into a second go-round when I regained consciousness. I listened to the remainder of the album through a groggy haze. I took a break from listening then decided to restart this album from the beginning to give it a proper listen while cleaning the kitchen. The groggy haze returned. This did not add an element of fun to the job that must be done. I felt like I was wading through a bog of syrup. Lying down on the floor instead of finishing the dishes had increasing appeal as the album droned on. At one point I thought this might better than the other Verve album on this list. Should I go back and doing some comparisons? Would this be better if I was just lolling about in a hammock? Then the album went on for another 50 minutes and by then I couldn’t be bothered with any more questions. I suppose this is fine but probably not worth all the energy I’ve put into writing this.

A Wizard, A True Star

Todd Rundgren

5/5

Wow another fun house of music! Crazy… wild… interesting… Some super short almost-jingles and some longer epics. Fantastic experimentation. Love it! Terrific!

Stephen Stills

5/5

What an exceptional album… didn’t realize how Stephen Stills played all those instruments… didn’t realize Rita Coolidge busted up CSNY… didn’t realize that the song “Love The One You’re With” - a fantastically realistic love song - came from such a great album. Just terrific!

Eternally Yours

The Saints

4/5

Australian punk from the 70s was pretty darn catchy! I like this!

Ghosteen

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

5/5

Oh Nick Cave my ear has such a complicated relationship with your works. What to make of this fantastical album cover that would be completely at home on a pre-teens sweatshirt? For me, promise… I admit a not-so-secret love of such work. From the outset I felt very at home in this world. It’s a very dark place we are traveling but there is something hopeful to be found in these ethereal shadows. I can’t stop reflecting on this album, staring at the cover art while I lose myself in the haunting music.

Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche

Koffi Olomide

3/5

There were definitely sounds of the early 90s present here… now I know where those 7-Up commercials got their inspiration. Reading more about this guy on Wikipedia, the catchy fun darkened quite a bit. *sigh*

Ágætis Byrjun

Sigur Rós

5/5

Sometime around the turn of the century a very good friend introduced me to this album. I fell in love with it immediately. How could something so foreign burrow so deep within me? By the time I get halfway through Flugufrelsarinn I’m tingling with goosebumps verging on weeping. I’ve listened to a lot of Sigur Ros in the years since but coming back to this is extra special. Utterly strange yet utterly home. Phenomenal!

One World

John Martyn

4/5

Soothing and enjoyable. Really nice.

The Stooges

4/5

Now that I know The Stooges, this is what I expected. Good stuff!

Gris Gris

Dr. John

4/5

Very interesting, trippy, 60s New Orleans sound that I am glad to have listened to. Cool!

Cloud Nine

The Temptations

5/5

The Temptations are one of those groups that as I grew up kind of perplexed me, because they had so many monster hits in different styles that dominated radio airplay for most of my life. I never really got my head around the career trajectory, having experienced a lot of their hits as one big amalgam of music in no particular order. I could probably entertain myself for months focusing my listening attention on their catalog. Now that I’ve taken a few moments to consider The Temptations and look into that history, I’m amazed to learn that that these guys continue to perform - having consistently released at least one album every few years since 1964! And in the early years, there were several years packed with multiple album releases. Remarkable! This album must sit near the top of that formidable body of work, although I will admit that I have a woeful lack of exposure to all but one other album from The Temptations. Cloud 9 is a favorite of mine, and getting to experience the incredible Runaway Child, Running Wild was enough to put my finger on the five star rating. I love this album and love The Temptations!

Trout Mask Replica

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

2/5

It took some effort to listen to this as the album wasn’t on Apple Music in the United States. After being surprised at Captain Beefheart’s Safe As Milk album that wasn’t nearly as weird as I had anticipated, I had thought that maybe this one would also surprise. Nope. It was weird in a borderline-annoying way that overstayed its welcome. Kind of like some drugged-out coffeehouse performances by some really talented musicians. There were some ok moments here, but I won’t be tempted to return to this.

A Little Deeper

Ms. Dynamite

4/5

Although I feel like this sounds like several other things I’ve already heard before I die, this is a very good album and did make for a nice afternoon of listening. Maybe it would have seemed fresher in 2002. The only note I have is this ran a little longer than I needed it to.

Hunting High And Low

a-ha

5/5

I purchased this album in 1985 and it became a centerpiece of the handful of debate-tournament-travel-cassettes that got a LOT of Walkman play on those long bus rides across Wyoming. There was something perfect about having Hunting High and Low serve as the soundtrack for those long dark rides home from a tournament. Morten Harket’s voice has a unique and perfectly melancholic character that has always resonated with me. Even the catchy pop numbers carry these undertones, as the songs lean heavily into the mood. Each song has the chill of a long, dark Norwegian winter. ‘… the lady at my table doesn’t want me here, I just want to talk to her but will she laugh at my accent and make fun of me?’ - Blue Skies ‘… Watch me tearing myself to pieces hunting high and low” - Hunting High and Low ‘I need some time now on my own leave my loneliness alone to lick my wounds.” - Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale ‘I reached inside myself and found nothing there to relieve the pressure of my ever worrying mind’ - The Sun Always Shines on TV ‘I’ll be what you want me to be, I’d die at the thought of the loss of your heart.” - Love is Reason ‘Here I stand and face the rain I know that nothing’s ever gonna be the same again, I fear for what tomorrow brings.’ - Here I Stand and Face the Rain

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

3/5

* 6 out of 7 Ain’t Bad * This project has made me warm up considerably to the music of Neil Young. Up to today I’ve rated four of his albums with 5s and two with 4s. I was expecting similar today. I recognized the opening track and thought we might be headed back into 4/5 territory. I did start to warm up to Down By The River, that is until the murder-y lyrics kept recurring - murdering my enjoyment of the song. (I read that Neil Young doesn’t interpret this as a murder song… whetever…) This was followed by more so-so songs with increasingly tiresome and overlong solos. All this made this album feel longer than its 41 minutes… Perhaps with some work I might go from “meh” to “yeah” but I’m exhausted.

3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul

5/5

De La Soul hit my radar with The Magic Number - after all I was raised on Schoolhouse Rock. So of course I was all in. I’m sure I listened to this album many times, but I never owned it. It is an infectiously joyous work that keeps me interested. You just never know what, or who, might appear… LIBERACE! I’m not entirely a fan of interludes, but on this album they work better than most - like when my siblings and I used to make cassette music shows back in the day. A lot of musical shenanigans isn’t always fun for the listener. But the shenanigans here I enjoyed from beginning to end!

What's Going On

Marvin Gaye

5/5

I love What’s Going On… but until this project had never listened to a Marvin Gaye album. Glad that has changed, and as soon as I started listening to this album I had no problem with a third album from Gaye on this list. This album hits an awful lot of society’s ills in an unbelievably smooth and cool style that goes down so, so easy. What a lush way to comment on society. Terrific!

Elephant

The White Stripes

5/5

Near the beginning of this project we had the White Stripes’ White Blood Cells from 2001, then midway through the project their very different album Get Behind Me Satan from 2005. Now as this project draws to a close I get the album that originally made me aware of the White Stripes Elephant. I’ve listened to this around the time it debuted, and 7 Nation Army has been a part of my life ever since. Truly a great song. I would never have imagined the White Stripes would cover a Burt Bacharach song, but I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself is an amazing rock rendition that gives the song a whole new dimension. To me this is the White Stripes-iest album of all, at their peak where they appeared on mainstream radar. Then they dive into some experimenting on Get Behind Me Satan - something I really loved but apparently it “divided the critics”. These three albums really are the perfect White Stripes selections and deserve their places on this list.

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

Lupe Fiasco

5/5

Holy crap this is one of the most enjoyable hip hop albums I’ve listened to! From the cinematic opening notes this album is brilliantly entertaining. The lyrics illuminate fascinating scenes and the music kept surprising me over and over again. Pressure sounded like it was backed by the most wonderful 80s television show themes ever created! How could a song bite as hard as American Terrorist and be so incredibly catchy? Left me pretty much breathless - not something that I was expecting from this genre. I’ve listened to and albums for 1086 days in a row and I am still being served up some terrific surprises! Two more albums to go - I don’t know how they’ll outdo this but then again I was thinking that about yesterday’s album…

Crooked Rain Crooked Rain

Pavement

5/5

I really loved the other Pavement album on this list from two years prior, Slanted and Enchanted. But I wasn't sure I was happy having this in the penultimate position on my 1001 journey. My doubts were unfounded. This album is even better than the previous. The songs are musically and lyrically wonderful - shambolically exquisite songs. I don't know how I lived without Range Life, but now that I know it it is one of my favorite songs! Totally terrific!

Shalimar

Rahul Dev Burman

5/5

This project has been 1089 straight days of listening to an album a day. It’s become such a part of my life that it was hard not to dream about what the final album on this incredible journey might be. Reviewing yesterday’s Pavement album, one of my associates listed a bunch of deserving artists who have not appeared on this list which only added to my anticipation. What will it be? Something that will make me scream in agony - more Elvis Costello anyone? Someone underrated I was hoping to see like the Pointer Sisters? Or maybe something in-between - a Britpop band from the early 90s I’ve never heard of for a real “meh” finale? When I saw the cover of this Bollywood soundtrack from the 70s show up it was completely unexpected - beyond my expectations of the unexpected - unexpectedly unexpected! Will this be a satisfying way to conclude this project? The title track sounded like a funky 70s police drama set in India. Groovy, exotic, I’m digging this. Ok… ok… Hmmmm… this is up my alley… A wackadoo sitar-infused cha cha cha song is up next… ONE TWO CHA CHA CHA… and then… “That’s the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it.” A KC and the Sunshine Band callout!? Didn’t see that coming… I transferred listening to my headphones for a visit to the grocery store as Hum Bewafa Harris Na Thay ended with “Whirrrr Whirrrr CH CH CH CH CH”. Don’t know what is happening and don’t much care because I’m grinning from ear to ear! Countess’ Caper came on and suddenly I’m in a 70s spy thriller slinking my way through the produce aisle until spotted - resulting in a mad dash through the store. At least that’s what my soundtrack was telling me. Naag Devta is a fantastic tune... and Baby Let’s Dance Together was pure 70s bliss. The closing track brought it all home as I could see the credits roll to the La la la la la la la la la la las and Hmmm Hmmmm Hmmm Hmmmmm Hmmmmmmms. As I listen to this album a second time I think it is a really fitting and suitable end to this list. It’s a lot of strange and nostalgic fun that managed to surprise and delight me even after so many other albums. Somehow it seems like a perfect end to this project. Terrific!

Journey Complete!

Wonderful Rainbow

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