How was this not on the actual 1001? I mean, that's about all I have to say on this. You could bin Kid Rock, The Waterboys or one of the ever present Elvis Costello albums and have some dubby perfection instead!

So, I woke up with a stinking hangover and a long journey ahead of me this morning. Seeing this as my selection for the day, my heart sank. What in the easy listening is this? But then I put it on, and the soothing sounds of Tijuana Brass were like a salve to my aching head and soul. A lovely mix of jaunty and relaxed brass is sometimes exactly what you need, and this was very much the right album at the right time.

Yeah, this is great fun. I only knew the obvious track, but it turns out it was surrounded by a very solid soul album!

One of the most underrated bands ever. This is a solid, rather than life changing entry in their canon, but still has all of the wit, fun and heartbreak you'd expect. A little too obsessed with a particular acoustic guitar sound, but still zips by and makes you smile with it's unexpected lines... "You don't name a boat Titanic 2"

Well, it's not even the best Eels album but it's so laden with nostalgia and great songs that it was a joy to go back to!

I'd always been put off by his guest appearances, where he's always gentle, maybe a bit mopey. But left to do his own thing, it's way more jittery and weird than I thought it'd be and really interesting.

It was nice. Felt like a more modern twist on old chanson stuff. Not an all timer, but very pleasant. Wish I could understand more of the lyrics to hear of it has the wit of a Brel or a Gainsbourg.

Oooh I'd been meaning to do Freddie Gibbs for a while, so cheers to whoever put this in. Great beats, stacked with guests, I really enjoyed it end to end.

Honestly, I thought this was probably getting three stars and I'd move on... But it actually slaps. I've got nostalgia for a couple of tracks, but the whole thing is great. I'm almost thinking grime moved backwards the second time round, cos this has so much more FUN.

Lovely, atmospheric and bleak. I mean it's also got East Hastings, which thanks to 28 Days Later we know is up there with Goblin as the perfect soundtrack to a zombie apocalypse!

I really enjoyed this. Kraftwerk and Neu but something bouncier. I reckon I’ll end up buying it.

I've always avoided this band because their name is so cloyingly annoying. I wasn't right to. But I wasn't necessarily wrong either. It's a sort of scuzzed out psych-garage rock, but performed by incredibly accomplished musicians. On a record it sounds... Very technically proficient but a little dry. But I can absolutely imagine that these would come alive if you saw them live. So I can't rate it highly, but I think I now see their appeal.

One of the most underrated bands ever. This is a solid, rather than life changing entry in their canon, but still has all of the wit, fun and heartbreak you'd expect. A little too obsessed with a particular acoustic guitar sound, but still zips by and makes you smile with it's unexpected lines... "You don't name a boat Titanic 2"

Dan Auberbach is the master of spending a small fortune to make something sound like it was authentically recorded badly in 1964, isn't he? Beautiful voice, lovely melodies, but the production left me very cold. I'll definitely listen to more from the artist, but I want to hear how she sounds when not forced to perform through pretentiously vintage kit!

So, I woke up with a stinking hangover and a long journey ahead of me this morning. Seeing this as my selection for the day, my heart sank. What in the easy listening is this? But then I put it on, and the soothing sounds of Tijuana Brass were like a salve to my aching head and soul. A lovely mix of jaunty and relaxed brass is sometimes exactly what you need, and this was very much the right album at the right time.

Well, it's not even the best Eels album but it's so laden with nostalgia and great songs that it was a joy to go back to!

It sounds like a great local 'scene' band, rather than a life changer. Solid stuff though.

Look, you can't argue with the genius/pretentiousness of an album of songs based on the stories of Edgar Allan Poe. Sadly, 2023 Eurovision geniuses Salena and TEYA outdid Alan Parsons with their absolute banger, "Who the Hell is Edgar?" Distractions aside, this is probably the best Alan Parsons album. Gleefully camp while incredibly performed.

I enjoyed this far more than I expected to. It goes from rocking hard, to incredibly horrible and bleak, to completely stupid at a whiplash pace. Their bassist is hugely underrated - that filthy funk underneath everything makes the songs more than a 7 string dirge. In short, it's ace.

It's a bit edgelordy, which leaves it feeling more than a little dated. But the clear Sabbath influence and a weird Isley Brothers cover means I didn't go away from this completely cold.

This was really quite enjoyable. A template for a less irritating RHCP, with more metal bite and more Rakim/Chuck D style rapping. Great fun!

How was this not on the actual 1001? I mean, that's about all I have to say on this. You could bin Kid Rock, The Waterboys or one of the ever present Elvis Costello albums and have some dubby perfection instead!

Yeah, this is great fun. I only knew the obvious track, but it turns out it was surrounded by a very solid soul album!

Not for me. This sort of bluesy rock always sounds the same to me and I've heard it enough for one lifetime already.

Of the 'imperial' phase of Vampire Weekend's first three albums, this is the least brilliant. That's about the worst you can say about it. You don't have the shock of the new (with apologies to Paul Simon) of the debut, or the Rostam led electronic swirl of Modern Vampires, this is a transition between the two. That said, it's still getting all the stars. A fantastic album by a fantastic band - I still love them now they're in their goofy dad era!

I really enjoyed this! It sounds like nothing else I've heard doing this and felt really interesting. Loads of variety and while my Norwegian is non existent it sounded interesting, and a Wikipedia search shows it was!!!

It's a bit derivative - old psych repackaged. It's done well though, and one track sounded like if Nine Inch Nails had formed in San Francisco in 1967, which was a fun experiment. A mixed bag.

This is actually a masterpiece. It's made me respect some artists who came out afterwards less, because this may actually be the best version of the thing. And I'd never heard it before. I'm gutted that this is the end of this band... I'd have devoured more of this.

It's really nice but also kind of so nice it just washes over you. I liked it but didn't love it.

Better than I expected, but I have an instinctive aversion to 80s production!

Not for me. I like some ambient/EDM type stuff, but in it's attempts at beauty it strived for, it ended up closer to budget videogame music, or classy hold music for a firm swinging and missing at youth.

It was quirky, but the good sort of quirks, not the oh god jam knitting needles in my ears quirky. Left field, folky but without being annoying, heartfelt. This was a lovely new one on me.

Do I save myself time and just give this five stars straight away? I didn't. It's half an hour and six songs long. And three of them are all time greats. The rest are merely good songs, but you can't argue with an album this charming.

It contains two all time great songs. And while it's not my culture, it feels so culturally important I'm shocked realising this wasn't on the original list.

I feel like this is one of those musicians where I'd love the person, but the music comes out a bit plain despite the interesting ideas and great influences. Similar to Shack or (British) Sea Power. I didn't dislike anything, but didn't get beyond "Hmm, that was quite good".

It's absolutely not a genre I go for (music that sounds like it was made in a small hut miles away from the nearest town) but this album is so much wonkier and more abrasive than records of this type that it held my attention far better than I'd have expected.

I'm here for more B-52s. Glad someone corrected the fact we didn't have both great albums on the list.

I'm not a fan of a live album at the best of times... And here it sounds like the soundman actively hates them. The vocal and drum mixes are an actual hatecrime, and the guitar is more overbearing than some of the parents on my school run. A crying shame, as it sounds like some of the songs will be atmospheric and cool, done properly. I'm giving a low score, but will listen to more of their stuff!

It's another transitory album. While a dead man couldn't argue with the 1-2 of Sweatpants and 3005, for some of the rest the album tries bold swings which don't always connect - Chance and Donald on the same track should've soared! This sounds critical, but honestly, this is why it's merely great and not all time.

It's absolutely not a genre for me. Very technically competent, well produced, tuneful Americana.

Love albums remain meh for me... But Bruce Springsteen is one of the greatest live artists of all time. It's still not the studio albums, but I can appreciate that it would've been great to be at. Just, I wasn't, so it's never going to be a thing I come back to (I saw him a year ago. It is as amazing as you'd hope.)

Like the other one. If Bruce Springsteen got deeply into Prozac and numbness it'd sound like this. So a deflated Boss, in short. I see the appeal, in today's awful world, but it's not for me.

It's very chilled and atmospheric. A bit too ambient for me, but definitely beautiful.

Good enough weirdo psych rock. Not my thing, but well executed.

This was a wonderful surprise of an album. Gentle, atmospheric and really beautiful. Will be listening again!

Yep, another "how was this not on the main list?" type of album. Punchy, political punk that because of my age, immediately makes me think of playing Tony Hawk on Playstation...

I knew this album already. Gorgeously off kilter oddness, nobody else sounds like this, and some of the best bass playing ever.

It's so far outside what I personally like, but I do remember a lot of people loving them in my youth. With an objective eye, I totally get it now. Not for me, but clearly great.

Wow! This is way more varied than I expected, and really good fun. Punky at points, ballady chill at others. Another lovely surprise I'll definitely come back to.

It's not without merit, as 'edgy' hard rock goes, but it feels a bit like Laibach bought from Temu? The none more 80s production doesn't help ..

Okay, it starts disappointingly. I thought it was going to be one of those very dry "quiet, nice" albums from the early nights, to be filed with Turin Brakes, Starsailor and other such bland and forgettable pap. But as it goes on, it gradually gets more and more interesting, deep and experimental and becomes really quite brilliant!

It's got all the elements I should like. It's spiky, difficult, female fronted and raw. But I feel like it just happened to me rather than giving me anything to hold on to.

I really enjoyed this one! Very late 20th, just as everyone was working out which genres hadn't met others, but done well, and electroteutonicfolk was a good blend.

If this albums thing has taught me anything, it's that Americana does nothing for.me, I'm afraid.

Anyone who had to live through the noughties can still have their PTSD triggered by this sort of bland landfill indie. There's a road in China paved with the remaindered CDs of this dreck, and even then, the road feels bland and predictable.

It's about the fourth best Mogwai album. But it'd get five stars for Like Herod alone. Can't believe this is the first time Mogwai has come up. Feel like spending the next few years redoing all 1001 plus albums to add a few more!

Nice. Not a life changer for me, but a very pleasant listen.

So many of these songs start hard, like these songs rule... But then run two minutes too long. Can't be too mad, it's got three classics on there.

I tried the crane wife years ago and just didn't get it. I think this is successfully my 'in'. I found it more muscular and compelling and I really enjoyed it's slightly OTT pleasures. Sprawling concept album yes please!

Coming in with an open mind. I only know Jimmy Buffett as a punchline in Yank comedy... I can see why. But it has a degree of charm and invention that elevates it... He's a good lyricist.

I mean five for the nostalgia alone. But I can't believe it was missing from the list anyway?

They have one song and they do it a lot. Thankfully they have the charm to carry it off, within limits.

On the one hand, the 80s synths combined with the outre subject matter is quite fun. On the other, after 40 minutes it feels like 6th form post modern edgelord silliness.

Hmm. There were bits I loved, especially when it went full 70s overblown fun. It was wildly varied as well. For ambition I'd give it five stars. However, none of the songs stuck in my brain or hit me emotionally, so it doesn't quite hit it. It's still glorious, but for me it's just got those final few inches to be five stars.

Very nice. Like the first Bon Iver a bit.

It's not my favourite CG album, but it's a great experiment in making a whole wonky soul album. And some of them are tunes.

An interesting choice. It's from the start of completely artificial pop, and the scene hadn't become completely formulaic at this point, which means this album makes some odd, but delicious choices.

Short, sweet, incredibly 1990s, and good fun.

Nothing that hasn't been said but wildly varied, so much more interesting than a lot of the list and an introduction to some really cool music. Thanks!

Yep. This is mint and skill. Any band that wrote Boogie Wonderland can rest easy knowing they are ALL TIME.

Wow. I was excited for this album at the time, but the electronics and production left me cold and confused by the direction. My ears and heart have now caught up. I listened through nearly three times. The harmonies, the pain, the sheer ambition. Genius.

I couldn't find the appeal myself. Sounds a lot like any other alt-country Americana type thing.

The bot in Barbie where Ken says "I want to play guitar at you". This is what this whole album felt like. Not the joke. The actual experience of an incredibly earnest dude bro doing that while making uncomfortable eye contact the whole time. I can absolutely see why it would be popular, but for me it's my worst nightmare.

After the bland rockism yesterday, this album of breaks that celebrated the rich history of the scene (they probably use every famous breakbeat over the course of this album) while pushing things forward was exactly the shot in the arm and dancing shoes I needed. Absolutely slaps.

I mean I nominated this album so it's only going one way. SUPER! The best MC to ever do it, some of the most ridiculous sample flips (old Fantastic 4 cartoons and Anita Baker... Go on...) and a sense of fun that belies the razor sharp mind operating beneath it.

I wasn't into this, but it just got more and more enjoyable lyrically, and that made me warm to the slightly OTT dramatics of the music till I really started to enjoy the whole thing a lot. I will be coming back to this one. Intriguing

Nothing blew me away, though there were nice moments, like the duet with Anohni. Solid.

I remember hearing this was an insane, left field turn by the Arctic Monkeys, but it really isn't. It's Alex Turner indulging his love of Scott Walker again and it is good enough, but not any more than that.

An interesting album. But not one that made me feel all that much. The mumbled vocals and distantly mixed instruments almost push you away from emotionally engaging with it. Probably deliberate, but meet me halfway, you know? Like the Velvet Underground at their most stubborn.

I mean, nothing on it is as brilliant as Mm Mmm Mmm Mmm but it is a brilliantly weird and wonderful album. Incredibly mid 90s. I miss it.

I was listening to this and thinking this is very Super Furry Animals meets Phoenix. I was almost disappointed when I found out they were Welsh! There are worse influences to have, this is a fun album!

I love the title. The album itself was tight enough, but didn't find a way in with me, which is a shame

This wasn't on the 1001? I'm shocked! It's an amazing album! Such Great Heights is a perfect song

Oh it was great fun. I was disappointed when it wasn't Tale of the Tape, as that has the Big Beat on it, but this still goes balls out fun and mostly hits!

I like the sound of it, but it didn't sustain a whole album. Could have done with more variety.

Well this was fun. There wasn't enough ska punk and now there's some more. A bit of me is hoping that someone from my era had put some Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish or MU330 on here!!!

Passable emo fun. Loved it lyrically more than musically.

Yeah, it turns out brat summer was six years ago and actually Oil of Every Pearls un-Insides summer and you missed it. Bot this, and Brat are incredible works of complex feminine genius. RIP Sophie

A good replacement for Nick Cave as he drifts to becoming a mediocre talking head for hire.

Someone likes Jonathan Richman! And so I enjoyed this. A lot!

The Blower's Daughter has soundtracked a lot of boring couples' first dances at beige weddings, I reckon. It does kinda blow, so you can't accuse him of false advertising? Cannonball was done better by Little Mix, and still wasn't great. Ultimately, I feel like Ed Sheeran sanded the rawness of this sound and ruined the 2010s.

Well it's 3c here today and I have a brilliant summer album on.

It opens with one of the greatest songs ever written! The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out Of Denton. I like the Mountain Goats, but I've never really checked this album out. Essentially more of the same. Lo fi storytelling loveliness

I get that the plod of the thing gets across the heavy emotions and such, but this album tired me more than anything else.

Wow. I thought this was going to be crap, but now I'm regretting writing it off 20+ years ago. Surprisingly moving, but also capable of being fun, snot nosed pop punk. This was a cut above a lot of the bands that broke in the early oughts.

Didn't know what to make of it at first. Not entirely my thing, but surprisingly stirring in places, if a little overlong

Nice, but nothing that has stuck with me, sadly.

I didn't rate them at the time, and I was wrong. Great drummer. Bags of charm. The singles are good, the more maudlin album tracks are better. While the idiots were distracted by sh!t like the Libertines and Razorlight, these guys were making quietly brilliant music in spite of the scene...

Well that was just very good fun. I always liked Yellow Snow, but it carries on in a fun, surreal, joyous way. One of the better Zappa albums.

Perfectly pleasant. Not a whole lot more than that, a bit too coffee table for me.

An interesting album. Poppy italohousey fun that's at its best when it gets weird and dark.