View Album
Kid A
Radiohead
Very much a departure from their previous work. Need to listen again
4
View Album
Tidal
Fiona Apple
Will listen again. Nothing special.
3
View Album
Back In Black
AC/DC
Powerful driving rhythms, Johnson voice unique. Not usually my genre, but I have a soft spot for this album. Saw them alongside the Who, Stranglers, Nils Lofgren at old Wembley Stadium in 1980
4
View Album
OK Computer
Radiohead
Absolutely seminal 90s album. Important piece of art
5
View Album
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
Pistols started the UK punk movement. A seminal album, though probably not the finest (imo) debut album in the genre. Given the chaos that surrounded the band, the recording and the record company shambles it is an excellent effort.
4
View Album
The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Disgraceful that I have never listened to this album before. Sounds very '80s. No doubt that this was and is a significant album, but it is too late for me to truly enjoy it.
3
View Album
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Not my thang
3
View Album
Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
4
View Album
Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
OK. Nothing out of the ordinary
3
View Album
The Specials
The Specials
Absolutely magnificent album. Had the pleasure of seeing the Specials live in 1979 at Loughborough uni on the Two Tone tour with The Selecter and Dexy's. One of the best gigs of my life.
5
View Album
Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
Takes me back. Really great album. Kevin Rowland remains sadly unappreciated. Prefer the Young Soul Rebel era version of Dexy's. No matter.
4
View Album
The Clash
The Clash
The first really great Punk album. Urgent and thrilling.
5
View Album
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
Nice album. Showcases the voice of Ella
4
View Album
Definitely Maybe
Oasis
Classic album of the Britpop era. Vacillating on how many stars to give it. Although iconic, there were better bands and albums of that era imo. Saw them at Knebworth 1996, although The Prodigy blew them off the stage.
4
View Album
Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
Great Voice. Drives the album completely. Not really my thing. though
3
View Album
Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
influential this may be, but can not listen for pleasure
2
View Album
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Urgent, Thrilling, so of its time, esp. some of the misogynistic lyrics
4
View Album
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
Quite powerful, but prob won't listen again
3
View Album
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Seminal album.
4
View Album
Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Extra special Scots band featuring a very young Bobby G.
4
View Album
Let It Be
The Replacements
First ever listening. I like it a lot. There's a bit of the Clash there, and other inflluences too, but they do their own thing.
4
View Album
Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
Welsh wonders. Sadly missed.
5
View Album
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Steve Winwood. Great voice. Will give this another go sometime.
3
View Album
Band On The Run
Paul McCartney
I have got a slightly irrational love for this album. Takes me back to my teens. Trite lyrics and iresistably poppy tunes not usual my bag at all, but this is a great mood uplifter. Love it still though not played for years.
4
View Album
Me Against The World
2Pac
First ever listen. Surprised at how lyrical it is. Not as hard and dark as I thought it would be.
3
View Album
L.A. Woman
The Doors
Pretty Damn fine album, but eclipsed by their first. 'The End' is one of my all time favourite tracks. Visited my old school friends at Keele Uni in I think 1979 and they had that track playing on repeat all night. Imprinted...
4
View Album
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Sublime. Sadly under-appreciated during his life.
5
View Album
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Always loved Peaches En Regalia but not familiar with the rest of the album
3
View Album
Woodface
Crowded House
Not bad, not great.
3
View Album
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Delicate, twee maybe, but some great songwriting, and unique delivery
4
View Album
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
Classic wandering Van album. In a lot of people's top ever albums. I like, but don't love and prefer other albums from '70s/'80s
4
View Album
16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
Contains one of my favourite songs of all time - 'Streets of Your Town'. Unfortunately the rest of the album doesn't quite match up.
4
View Album
Play
Moby
Over played this at the time, and with that and the number of commercials it supported have got over-tired of it.
3
View Album
Blue
Joni Mitchell
Beautiful voice and tone.
4
View Album
The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Absolutely classic debut album from the Banshees. What punk was all about.
4
View Album
Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
First ever listen. Definitely back for more.
4
View Album
evermore
Taylor Swift
Never listed to a TS album before. Will give another go. Some decent collaborators
3
View Album
Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
Will pobably not be be back for further listens
3
View Album
The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
The scope and range are very impressive. Special album. I love this app. Has shown me some excellent music I would never have gone near otherwise.
4
View Album
The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
Great album, but not their finest hour. Very good precursor but Yoshimi is their finest.
4
View Album
The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
Have never understood the great fuss about the Beach Boys, and there is certainly no comparison with 'The Beatles'
2
View Album
Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Out there kinda shit. Too much for me. Probably great live, but not a comfortable listen sitting in your armchair.
2
View Album
Abraxas
Santana
Unique sound. What a talent, the fusion of styles outstanding.
4
View Album
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
A unique voice.
3
View Album
Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
3
View Album
Darkdancer
Les Rythmes Digitales
Some cracking tunes on this album. Also some meh, reflecting my final rating...
3
View Album
Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Doesn't hit the heights of Psychocandy for me.
3
View Album
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
Magnificent! Bowie in his '70s pomp.
5
View Album
In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
Some classic songs on here, delivered in Sinatra's classic voice and mode.
4
View Album
NEU! 75
Neu!
Needs more listens before rating properly
3
View Album
Live At Leeds
The Who
Classic live album from The 'Oo. Thrilling stuff
4
View Album
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Never listened before. Lovely voice.
3
View Album
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
Not for me.
2
View Album
British Steel
Judas Priest
Not a fan. Breaking the Law is OK.
2
View Album
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Grew up on this album.
4
View Album
Dance Mania
Tito Puente
Very upbeat. Mambo.
3
View Album
Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
Never heard all of the tracks on this album before. It's excellent.
4
View Album
The Wildest!
Louis Prima
My Dad's era and musical style. Can't remember him mentioning him though.
3
View Album
Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Much more MOR than I expected.
3
View Album
Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
Not the best album from EBTG. I have fond memories of their early albums, especially Eden. Bedsit music from the time when I was living in one.
3
View Album
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
Not such a fan of most Country Music, but the lyrics to this album are great. Dolly has always been a great human being as well.
3
View Album
Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
Not bad at all.
3
View Album
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Some great Dylan classics on this LP
4
View Album
Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
Great voice, great attitude. Pretty much kick started rock and roll into life
3
View Album
The Visitors
ABBA
No killer tunes on this one.
3
View Album
Rapture
Anita Baker
Smoky and lovely voice
3
View Album
The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja
Lots of misogyny in their despite what he claims. Like the minimal backing music,
1
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
Absolute pile of pony
1
View Album
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
One of Richard D James's more melodic affairs. Like it a lot...
3
View Album
Disraeli Gears
Cream
Really enjoyed that.
3
View Album
Highway to Hell
AC/DC
Maybe not as good as Back in Black, but it's a good 'un.
3
View Album
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Classy album.
3
View Album
Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
Never liked Country when it sounded like this.
1
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The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Dirgey
2
View Album
The Boatman's Call
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4
View Album
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
The start of something very special.
4
View Album
Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Inimitable.
4
View Album
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
3
View Album
Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
Not herd before. Not too shabby
3
View Album
Dare!
The Human League
Songs for my wife to be. Fabulous album full of memory.
4
View Album
All Directions
The Temptations
Some surprising tracks in there - e,g, Run Charlie Run.
2
View Album
Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
4
View Album
Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3
View Album
The White Album
Beatles
A few duds on this one, but there are obviously some absolute stand outs.
4
View Album
Under Construction
Missy Elliott
Not my thing.
2
View Album
Signing Off
UB40
Perfectly acceptable light reggae
2
View Album
Orbital 2
Orbital
Not heard this album before - very familiar with the later stuff. Will definitely be listening again.
3
View Album
In Rainbows
Radiohead
First listen. Needs more analysis...
3
View Album
Diamond Life
Sade
Cool lounge album from the 80s.
3
View Album
Funeral
Arcade Fire
Decent music, very irritating singing style
3
View Album
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
Cannot find on Spotify
2
View Album
More Specials
The Specials
Much more down beat than the first album, and not a patch, partly because of this.
3
View Album
Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
Great album. Really like the arrangements and instrumentation used on the songs
4
View Album
2112
Rush
I did really like this album, especially the 'A' side. The re-mastering seems to have diminished it a lot.
3
View Album
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens - under-rated. Retired far too soon.
3
View Album
Close To The Edge
Yes
Very good Yes album, 3rd only in my eyes to 'The Yes Album' and 'Relayer'
4
View Album
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Such an amazing voice. Cruel waste of talent.
4
View Album
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Some good stuff, some not so good
3
View Album
Suede
Suede
Some great music, more than slightly ruined by Anderson's whining.
3
View Album
Ten
Pearl Jam
Pedestrian stuff. How this mob get compared to Nirvana in any meaningful way is beyond me
2
View Album
I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Needs more listening...
3
View Album
A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
Featuring the great voice of Dusty, and the songwriting skills of Bacharach/David
3
View Album
Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
Totally unfamiliar with the Mekons. Hard to get an accurate impression after one listen
3
View Album
Atomizer
Big Black
Heavy, driving, hard, too much for these old ears
2
View Album
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Peerless. From the album cover design and artwork onwards, a masterpiece showing Zep at their best.
5
View Album
Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3
View Album
Moondance
Van Morrison
Not the absolute best Van effort, but high quality nonetheless from the old curmudgeon
4
View Album
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
3
View Album
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3
View Album
Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
Such an exciting album. Charismatic, great lyrics, absolutely brilliant take on their times.
4
View Album
Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
Unfortunately for me, these songs all seemed to merge into one.
3
View Album
Hysteria
Def Leppard
Not my thing at all. Rubbish
1
View Album
Roots
Sepultura
I recognise the power and the uniqueness of this band, but it really is a godawful racket.
2
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Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
Inimitable raspy voice, powerful songs.
3
View Album
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
Different from erlier Smiths album. No worse for that though!
4
View Album
461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Smooth. How can a guy who takes so much from Black music have such despicable views.
3
View Album
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
3
View Album
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
2
View Album
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Joyous. I love it.
4
View Album
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
3
View Album
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
Pretty revolutionary at the time. Saw them at Knebworth supporting Genesis of all bands. They certainly stood out with their white boiler suits and orange hats.
3
View Album
School's Out
Alice Cooper
Better, and with more variety than expected. I had onlt heard School's Out before and remember it from it being released when I was a young teen
3
View Album
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Brilliant concept, well helmed...
4
View Album
Document
R.E.M.
Not heard this REM album apart from the singles. Not their best, by their high standards, but still good
3
View Album
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
3
View Album
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
Pedestrian, unfortunately
2
View Album
Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
Sound very muchof its era, but nevertheless still stands up well.
3
View Album
Illmatic
Nas
Not a rap aficionado, but I recognise the excellence of the lyrical content.
3
View Album
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
Some excellent tracks on this. Faded away towards the end.
4
View Album
Parachutes
Coldplay
Not a bad opener.
3
View Album
The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
Forever classy. One of the best albums of the '80s
5
View Album
MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
Simply sublime. Probably my favourite Nirvana set.
5
View Album
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
Not a jazzer, but I can dig this man.
3
View Album
The Doors
The Doors
The End - one of the best tracks of all time. Brillint album all told.
5
View Album
The Cars
The Cars
Lightweight, poppy, not stood the test of time. Was very enamoured of this record as an 18 year old mind.
3
View Album
Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
Plainly, this is way outside of my normal quite eclectic musical boundary. Life's too short unfortunately.
2
View Album
Live!
Fela Kuti
Was gong to be 3, until the interminable Ginger Baker drum solo kicked in.
2
View Album
Sea Change
Beck
A lot more downbeat to the Beck stuff I am used to and it suffers for me because of that. Can see why he named the album so.
3
View Album
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
Just sublime. Such a great album. Music excellent and Liz Fraser's voice and part-nonsense lyrics just so evocative of the best of the 80s.
4
View Album
Joan Baez
Joan Baez
...and she was only 19!
4
View Album
Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
Old gravel voice. Not the usual poor selection of material from Rod.
3
View Album
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
Not heard this before, and really like the reggae flute element!
3
View Album
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
What can you say! It's Aretha.
4
View Album
It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Not bad, not electrifying
3
View Album
The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
Yep, he surely laughed. Psychedelic beyond all other psychedelic
3
View Album
The College Dropout
Kanye West
Makes a more than pleasant change for Gangsta Rap lyrics. Nice.
4
View Album
A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
3
View Album
Suicide
Suicide
Never have liked Suicide. Not changed my opinion
2
View Album
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
I prefer the San Quentin album. Still a good 'un
3
View Album
New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
Classic album from the '80s. Loved this at the time, still do. Has some f the 80s dated feel, but fares a lot better than most.
4
View Album
Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
3
View Album
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Some beautiful songs. Truly a classic
4
View Album
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
boring, dull, uninteresting. Need I go on.
2
View Album
Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
Not heard before. Excellent. Brazilian to its core, but with influences from the US and UK.
4
View Album
Graceland
Paul Simon
Brought South African Rhythms to my ears. Classic album.
4
View Album
Quiet Life
Japan
Terrible version of All Tomorrow's parties. Never have liked Kahn's fretless bass playing. Sylvian's voice is very wearing over the course of a whole album. Not really stood the test of time
2
View Album
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Classic!
4
View Album
The Stooges
The Stooges
Raw and heavy. Obviously its influences down the years have been massive.
3
View Album
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
Beautiful and angry voice of her times
3
View Album
Ramones
Ramones
Great melodies, driving beat, juvenile lyrics. What's not to love
4
View Album
Disintegration
The Cure
Return to miserabilist form after a few years from 'Faith'
4
View Album
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Still my favourite live album of all time. Saw them at 'Empire Pool' Wembley on this tour.
5
View Album
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
The Man could no wrong in the Sixties. Sensational stuff.
5
View Album
Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Some absolute and nostalgic classics on this seminal album
4
View Album
The Grand Tour
George Jones
This style of Country has never been, and never will be for me.
2
View Album
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Beautiful, almost formless, but somehow less than the sum of its parts
3
View Album
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
80s tribute act to the 70s. Yawn...
2
View Album
Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Just sublime piece of West Coast Rock - and the lyrics...
5
View Album
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Was looking forward to this, having not heard much Beastie Boys stuff down the years. I loved Intergalactic, but nothing on this album matched up to that at all.
2
View Album
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Underwhelming. Maybe would have enjoyed it at the time but never heard their stuff until now. Gone Daddy Gone is the exception.. Brilliant track and use of glock
2
View Album
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
I like this, and will definitely listen again
3
View Album
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
Not at all pleasant...
1
View Album
Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
Not as good as his earlier albums imo
3
View Album
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Entirely OK.
3
View Album
Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
To my shame I have never come across Milton N. before. Infectious in parts, haunting in others.
3
View Album
Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
Showing it age.
3
View Album
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
So influential, masters of the '70s
4
View Album
Treasure
Cocteau Twins
Unique voice and phrasing, nonsense lyyrics, (but who cares). Beautiful and lush.
4
View Album
Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
Like the futuristic sound. Another artist I have never come across before.
3
View Album
american dream
LCD Soundsystem
Curious mix of 80s style synths with a modern sensibility. I like it, a lot even on first listen.
4
View Album
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
3
View Album
Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
Not heard this before and impressed by it.
3
View Album
Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Never really heard why Bruce got so much adulation, but everyone to his own. His heart is in the right place though
3
View Album
All Mod Cons
The Jam
Some cracking tunes on this album, thought it is not up there with their best (Setting Sons onwards) due to a couple of duds. Top tunes - A-Bomb, and Down in the Tube Station. Great cover of David Watts too.
4
View Album
Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Haunting...
3
View Album
Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
Such an influential album. Guitars are spectacular
4
View Album
Nevermind
Nirvana
Stone cold classic.
5
View Album
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Easy going, great samples, a pure pleasure
4
View Album
Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
I just love Todd Rundgren. Why has he not been in my life before this year..
4
View Album
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
Better than I expected. I mostly avoid US punk.
3
View Album
The Healer
John Lee Hooker
Some great collaborations with Uncle John. What a man, singer and guitarist he was. Particularly love the Santana collab.
4
View Album
Low-Life
New Order
Not my favourite NO album. Vocals are thin. Missing Curtis more than ever.
3
View Album
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
I am sure that if you are a jazzer, this is fantastic, but it is too dense for my shallow tastes..
3
View Album
Reign In Blood
Slayer
Each to his own, but this is shockingly awful to me.
1
View Album
Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
Good effort Bill and Wilco and Natalie.
3
View Album
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
Such a special record. Cash's world weary voice is ideal for this selection. What an epitaph for the master
4
View Album
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Not convinced
2
View Album
White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
Some tracks way overblown. Disappointing
3
View Album
Pink Moon
Nick Drake
Neglected and ignored in his life time, rightly lauded since. Masterpiece of yearning and melancholy.
4
View Album
GI
Germs
Feels totally unnecessary. Just aping UK punk. Rubbish
1
View Album
Casanova
The Divine Comedy
Almost Out Scott Walker's Scott Walker. Droll voice, lyrics and tunes. Classsic 90s album
4
View Album
Hejira
Joni Mitchell
Good album, but not really floating the old ketch at the minute. Must listen with more intensity.
3
View Album
Fever Ray
Fever Ray
Odd, but great. Nice one Karin.
4
View Album
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
Simply thrilling. So much better than most other Heavy Rock.
4
View Album
Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
Enjoyed this far more than I expected. Quite varied. My fave - 'Of Course'
3
View Album
Technique
New Order
I am old, so I always prefer earlier New Order albums.
3
View Album
The Rise & Fall
Madness
Have never though of Madness as an album band. Rightly so it turns out. Bit samey, but the homespun Landun lyrics are a treat.
3
View Album
Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
Like Winwood's vice. Sounds very much of its time.
3
View Album
The Score
Fugees
Generally a very good album, but occasionally loses its way with some songs that should have been omitted or pruned in length.
4
View Album
Eliminator
ZZ Top
Driving beat, classic tunes, plenty of samey fillers
3
View Album
Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
Great, but slightly mad.
4
View Album
Soul Mining
The The
I came to this album late - let's say 30 years... Classic of the UK '80s.
4
View Album
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Absolutely brilliant album. For me, the album of the decade. So innovative, so painstaking in its approach. So many imitators (Avalanches etc.)
5
View Album
Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
Some great songs on this album. Would have loved to have seen them in their pomp.
4
View Album
Amnesiac
Radiohead
Need to listen more to get the full benefit. Can tell it is going to be a good 'un.
4
View Album
Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
Sounds like a mix of the Cocteau Twins and Kate Bush. No worse for that.
4