The initial opening of Ghost Rider had me thinking this could be good, but fast went downhill from there. I did wonder if this could be one of those "so bad it's good" albums, guess that depends if your an experimental synth-punk sadist or not.
I was only aware of Screaming Trees because of Mark Lanegan's collaborations with QotSA. This could be an underrated gem, a grower, I'll be re-listening to in future.
It's so bad that even Nico herself refuses to listen to it. Wondering if this album was included in the 1001 as an example of good intentions gone horribly wrong?
Overhyped, overproduced, self-indulgent pretentious tosh!
More like... The Incredible Shit Band!
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson ooooo! Enjoyed B.O.B. - Bombs Over Baghdad. I remember years ago there was a The Clash mash-up; London Booted, Spanish Bombs Over Baghdad, https://youtu.be/ZgLTO_LqOQA
I've only heard of Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up before, never listened to any of his albums. Enjoyed the slow steady funky beats and bass.
I used to enjoy this album, but re-listening now it felt a bit too striped back. On a tangent, I recall some guy adding his own bass tracks to this, releasing it as "Redd Blood Cells", jeez that was nearly 20 years ago! http://www.reddkross.com/features/RBC/
Get It On! Enjoyed it.
I hadn't listened to the album before. The title track is great. As an album as a whole, it felt all over the place, and dated. I couldn't tell if the mid-tracks like "Dreamin'" and "You Are" were taking the piss or not?
I enjoyed re-listening to this album, more than previously. Felt that it works as a whole album, rather than any standout tracks. Good guitars, good lyrics.
I like Bowie. Hadn't listened before. Odd album. Opening instrumental, very short 2nd track, I like "Sound and Vision", although fade out endings generally bug me. The last few (mostly) instrumental tracks felt otherworldly. Most likely an album I'd need to listen to many times to get the appreciation that bigger Bowie fans have.
I didn't like it. Aside from Heroes - which I still like, despite it being overplayed by the media over the past 18 months - the rest of the album felt too self-indulgent. Maybe it's a better album when listening late at night, after a few glasses of wine.
Cult of Personality. What an opener! I wasn't too familiar with the rest of the album. Enjoyed it, but nothing else really stood out.
It was alright.
Some albums need more than a day to appreciate them. Hadn't heard of Hugh Masekela or this album before. Without a doubt he's highly talented. Good vibes. From my one-time listening, it felt like good background music, to work or walk to, or sitting in a coffee shop. "Where's my frappuccino damnit?!"
Partly of my hope with doing the 1001 albums was to find a hidden gem that I hadn't heard of before... I think this is one of them. From my first listen, I enjoyed it, no idea of the lyrics meaning, but felt really good. Musically it's a great mix: vibrant, pleasant, upbeat, dreamy and (in places) hauntingly beautiful.
As much as I try to like PJ Harvey, I always end up getting annoyed with her music.
It's alright, good for passive listening (background music).
I wasn't overly familiar with The Flaming Lips. I enjoyed this album. The opener Fight Test threw me slightly, I initially thought it was a Cat Stevens cover, (then I read the back story on Wikipedia, interesting!)
I wonder if it's a little dated? Still, a classic pop/rock album!
Oh FFS, not Coldplay!! To be fair, I listened to the whole album, it was alright, but not sure it's a "must hear before you die" though.
Bring Tha Noize!
Some days everyone needs a bit of Rock Lobster in their lives. For me, yesterday was one of those days. Great upbeat tunes, I was bopping along all day!
I like Paul Simon, but found this album quite boring.
The more I hear this album (over the years), the fonder I get of it. Interesting part for me is with the tracks, midway the general tone changes, and I think about how vinyl LPs were the main distribution medium back then, the A-sides/B-sides. I wonder how much the distribution medium influences the end product... and how well that translates to 21st century music streaming.
Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, wondering if that means glorious musical masturbation for the soul?
I found it boring. Felt experimental just for the sake of it. Maybe on a different day, in a different setting?
I try to consider the albums as a body of work, so while Otis Redding is an incredible artist and I enjoyed the individual songs, the album as a whole didn't work for me.
Heard of Donovan, but never listened to him. I liked "Sunshine Superman" and "Season of the Witch".
Didn't expect this as a must-listen. It took me back! 3 for the album, extra 1 for 90s nostalgia.
Musically felt repetitive throughout the album, enjoyed the lyrics.
"Everything's gonna be alright"
Never judge an album by its artwork. I was pleasantly surprised by this. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Still humming Wild World..
I can't remember when Michael Stipe's persona started to annoy me. I tried to put that aside and enjoy the album. Good songwriting, good tunes, good bass, solid tracks. Close to giving it a 4, but Stipe still annoys me.
🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
I'm more familiar with 80s/90s Aerosmith, less familiar with this album. It was alright, digging the guitars!
I hadn't heard of this. No immediate standout tracks, but overall I enjoyed it on in the background. Pleasant album.
I like the Beach Boys, but found this album odd. I ended up putting Pet Sounds on afterwards to recalibrate myself.
I do like LCD Soundsystem, but on the day we had it, I wasn't in the mood - I was probably hungover - so didn't rate it. Listening again today, it's super repetitive, but still digging the jam.
Tired and overplayed. When this album was released, I was working at Blockbuster Video, it was played constantly for a couple of weeks, drove me to boredom. Aside from standout tracks; Writing To Reach You, Driftwood and Why Does It Always Rain On Me? the rest of the album is dull and dated.
I was too sober to fully appreciate this album.
For nostalgia reasons, it's a classic album. Youth, talent and determination. The original CD had a hidden track at the end - Sick Party - of them all puking up. https://open.spotify.com/track/6m5JPMEeIDUzU6ifOYn9Yr
This is the second OutKast album we've had since starting the 1001 group... and it's a double album, 40 tracks, 2hr 15mins runtime, blimey! Not my usual taste of music, but listening along (with headphones) I kinda lost myself in it, good beats. Some of the skits and interludes were funny. I preferred Speakerboxxx over The Love Below.
Enjoyed this, the arrangements, the harmonies, some of the lyrics are a bit suspect, but still classic album.
Feeling groovy feeling herbal! I'm fond of Homeward Bound, it always popped in my head when passing Widnes train station, not that I ever stopped off in Widnes, perish the thought! *shudder*
Digging the beats, sampling and groove. But I'm kinda disappointed that the album wasn't called Lee's Sportswear.
It's so bad that even Nico herself refuses to listen to it. Wondering if this album was included in the 1001 as an example of good intentions gone horribly wrong?
Whenever the topic of cultural appropriation comes up, this album gets a mention. Maybe I'm naive, or probably just nostalgic, I saw this in a positive way - would I ever have been exposed to South African music styles? I still enjoy this album, upbeat, bass, love it! (again, nostalgia!)
For reasons unknown, Maxwell's Silver Hammer regularly plays in my nightmares. 🤷 Aside from that, it's an excellent album.
I was only aware of Screaming Trees because of Mark Lanegan's collaborations with QotSA. This could be an underrated gem, a grower, I'll be re-listening to in future.
My initial thought when I saw the album cover was, uh oh Cannibal Holocaust! 😬 Hadn't heard of The Slits before, read a bit about them, post-punk feminism. Reckon they'd be great live (in a late night club). But this album did not resonate with me at all, doubt I'll ever listen again.
Surprised to see this album come up, I'd have thought "At Folsom Prison" would have covered the "prison concert" entry for the 1001 list. As a live album, it's raw, real, and Cash doesn't pull his punches. Like Folsom album, the prison setting gives a new perspective to having a captive audience. The Legacy Edition is too long for me, the original release would have more impact. Still a good album.
The replacement of Mother's Little Helper with Paint It Black (and removal of a few other tracks) for the US edition raises questions for me about "what is an album?" A bunch of songs thrown together, or a creative work? Do the track listing amendments make it a different album? Anyway, enjoyed listening to the UK edition, but missed Paint It Black.
🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
More experimental than Rumours, which was to be expected. I quite liked Lindsey Buckingham's tracks. Good listen, but not my go-to Fleetwood Mac album.
I wasn't too familiar with Faces, but knew Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood had some sort of connection, so this makes sense now. The album was alright, bit dated and lacked consistency (of the band's "identity"), it was either "this is a Rod Stewart song" or not. Stay With Me is a good old sing-along.
I enjoyed the album, thought it was refreshing, atmospheric, classy and contemporary. Great songs, voice and quality production. While I'm encouraged by more recent additions to the 1001 list, I do wonder if they can stand the test of time? I'd like to come back to this album in a few years time to see if it has the same impact.
Spent most of this album thinking "what the heck is he going on about?!". Lovely sounding guitar playing, but felt like some weird passive aggressive overtones going on here.
"Now, let's hear that song sung properly!" (Vic & Bob gag) I don't know what to make of this album. Musically sound, vocally less so.
It wasn't bad, but nothing stood out for me.
This came up for Christmas Eve 2021, a random selection? Hmmm. 🤔 Merry Christmas! 🎅
Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
This has to be what parody metal bands use as inspiration. Extra points for giving me a good laugh!
Great voice. Can't decide whether the performance mistakes from the live recording make it charming or not.
Turkey gravy. It was okay, but feels forgettable. Brimful of Asha on the album isn't the Fatboy Slim remix, which makes me think about the potential of what a remix of the full album could be?
Easy listening, especially when you've probably had too much cocodamol. The Weight is a classic.
A couple of years ago, a few of us started an Album Club, (spun out of our lazy Book Club). One of us would pick an album for the month, we'd listen to it at least 3 times, then meet up at the pub to discuss (and get drunk). Our first album was Maxinquaye. When the evening of our pub meet came around, the suggestion came up that we should listen to the album in the pub, but how could we do that? Luckily, one of us had some kind of industrial-sized multi-headphone-splitter (and I mean industrial - with no degrading in audio quality), this worked a treat... but you should have seen the look on the landlord's face when he saw several blokes sat around with headphones on, bopping away to Tricky. It was a great album to kick off our Album Club with, (which has now kind of merged with this daily 1001 group).
Similar thoughts as the other Stooges albums we've listened to... probably much better to have seen them perform live, and being less sober. 2.5
I didn't listen on the day we had it, as it wasn't on Spotify, but I've now listened on YouTube. It's decent enough, enjoyable chillaxed vibes.
At the height of Beatlemania, anything would have sold over a million copies! Content-wise, as much as I love The Beatles and know of this album, the covers are good (they'd be awesome live), and All My Loving is still a great foot-tapper! Their best was yet to come...
Hadn't listened to this one before. Pretty good.
I wanted to like this, but I didn't. The band were great, James Brown was alright, the audience screams were grating. Odd way to end a live album with a dead close, no applause, just ends.
Setting has a lot to do with the listening experience. 20-something me would have loved this at a thrash metal night club, but 40-something me, listening whilst doing the dishes, it's a bit much. Though I did give those dirty saucepans a bloody hard scrub! 🤘
Another one that I wanted to like more than I did. I liked some of the heavier bass riffs and instrumentals, but overall didn't quite click with me.
Albums like this make me question "what makes an album?". Technically, this is a bunch of cover songs (including their own), acoustic, recorded live. I keep coming back to the conclusion of, do I think this is something that music fans should be aware of, and listen to at least once. Yes, absolutely. Or could that be my Gen X nostalgia? Probably, time will tell. "The Man Who Sold The World" - arguably better than Bowie's version?
That opening chord gets me every time! Some parts of the album start to drag, but overall great! I'll always love The Beatles.
Quintessential late 90s electro-rock dance music!
Great music to have on in the background. Mellow. Enjoyed it. Read up on the production of the album, Touré had cancer and knew it'd be his last album. Puts perspective on the enjoyment and spirit of musicianship, over commercial incentive.
First time listening. I think my expectations were too high for this album. The tracks felt transient - subtly emotive whilst listening, then immediately forgettable.
Bah, this is an ex-1001 album. See http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex What ever happened to Franz Ferdinand? I used to listen to this album when it came out, then forgot about it. Still has some great punchy pop tunes.
I like many of the tracks, but it's the nostalgia thing again - my parents frequently played this album. Good tunes, but overall felt dated, 80s bossa nova lounge kinda dated.
Another ex-1001 album. If they aren't being removed, then we have an extra 77 albums to get through! 😆 http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex As expected, great vocals. Arrangements on the first half felt too stripped back, much better in the second half. Enjoyed the nightlife lounge bar vibes.
I wasn't too familiar with Simple Minds, for some odd reason I keep confusing them with Tears for Fears. The album wasn't bad, I recognised the singles, rest of album didn't grab me on first listen. I did read the Wikipedia page about The Breakfast Club song, I didn't know it wasn't their song. They initially said no, kept getting asked so agreed, recorded it within half a day then forgot about it - until the movie came out and it got big radio airplay in the USA.
The initial opening of Ghost Rider had me thinking this could be good, but fast went downhill from there. I did wonder if this could be one of those "so bad it's good" albums, guess that depends if your an experimental synth-punk sadist or not.
First time listening. Had it on in the background, it was alright. Couldn't tell you much about the individual tracks though.
It was alright, I was probably too sober to appreciate it. Very raw, almost like a jamming session. Guess it was cutting-edge in 1970. Would have been great to see them perform live.
Aside from the overused funk/groove wordplay, and being about 20 mins too long - I enjoyed the album.
Yehawn! 🥱 It's alright if you like this sort of thing, for me it was a one-way ticket to Yawnville. Slept great last night, thanks for asking.
Le Freak is still very much enjoyable, everything else seems to get lost in itself. Nile Rodgers is still a legend though.
Nostalgia crept back in for me, the single releases are still great sing-alongs. The rest of the songs, despite Tina's powerful vocals, feel dated and largely forgettable. (I'm ignoring that Beatles' cover.)
Much darker than I thought it would be - the album felt more of an overall mood than any specific standout tracks, I enjoyed it.
Wow, l'œuvre d'art dit tout! J'ai d'abord aimé les rythmes pop, puis je me suis ennuyé.
I've been digging the Stevie Wonder albums on the 1001. This one isn't my favourite, but still enjoyed it.
Mellow, in a Sunday morning in Spring, while making pancakes and supping on a fresh coffee kind of mellow. That is before you get to the last couple of tracks that are a bit heavier, like the sediment in your French coffee press, gritty. Could be a grower, an acquired taste.
I was quite pessimistic when this came up, Having little knowledge of Lorde - I'd kind of written her off as yet-another-2010s-20-something-singer-songwriter - and with an album called Melodrama, I expected to be bombarded with low-key perpetual teenage angst. I kept telling myself to stop being such an old man and give it a chance... so I did, and it was alright, something my teenage daughter would enjoy more. I was glad when it ended. On the upside, I think the artwork is great.
I wonder if they ever found what they were looking for?
As much as I love Ace of Spades, the rest of the album felt like hard work to get through.
Hadn't heard of X. Enjoyed it, pretty good.
Nostalgia hits again, still feels as emotionally powerful as it did back then, difficult for me not give it an instant 5.
I hadn't listened to the whole album before, thoroughly enjoyed it! In a small way I felt that Fairytale of New York distracted from the rest of the album, it's become too popular and overplayed.
No doubt that at the time it was produced, this was an ambitious and epic undertaking, considered a milestone album in the history of rock music. Feels that it hasn't dated particularly well, certain points felt like an endurance test. Was it worth listening? Yes. Did I enjoy it? No, not really.
Why do I have such a problem listening to PJ Harvey?!
I'd heard of Tortoise before, but hadn't listened to their albums. I had this one on in the background, and didn't pay much attention to it. Good interesting sounds, nothing that niggled me. Pleasant enough, but no idea when one track ended and the next started.
Ctrl+Alt+Del
Nostalgia strikes again! I was a bit too young when it was first released, it wasn't until the mid/late-90s when the rock nightclub in Liverpool, the Krazy House, used to always play I Am The Resurrection for their penultimate song. I picked up a copy of the album and it became a regular listen.
I'd only heard of John Martyn before because Anthony down the open mic night paid tribute to him. I liked the variety of styles, bit folky, bit jazzy, better than I'd expected it to be... and I liked the cover artwork too!
I'm taken back to the Krazy House rock nightclub in Liverpool, moshing away to nu-metal. I wasn't much of a fan of Korn at the time, they were alright, but this album past me by. Listening now it's full of hard hitting beats, but I'm feeling too old to mosh, and feels a bit too long. Interesting that Ice Cube and Fred Durst cameo on tracks, and hadn't known that Todd McFarlane did the artwork.
Another hidden gem, this was great.
Some days you need to be in the right mood for the 1001 albums, it can be a challenge. On this particular day and this particular album, there was too much content to stomach. I managed to get about halfway through before needing a break, and didn't feel like coming back to it, maybe another day.
Nostalgia overload! Pop-punk at its finest. Helped me through many adolescent misadventures.
Difficult to reflect on the album (as a whole) as legendary as it is, Bohemian Rhapsody takes most of the limelight. It's a fun album, but other than You're My Best Friend the rest of the songs are forgetful.
Never heard this before, pretty good.
Late-night chill out background music, enjoyed the grooves.
Listening as a kid, I seem to remember that (on vinyl) side one was better than side two. Still a nostalgia trip. Was initially going to give it a 4, but re-listening to the whole album, it's worth a 5.
With the exception of Pump It Up, (which is great), I've can't say that I've ever knowingly heard anything else by Elvis Costello, which is strange as surely someone would have recommended his music to me at some point in time - especially given his connections to Liverpool - but no. It makes me wonder who is Elvis Costello's audience? I quite enjoyed this album. Lots of interesting lyrics and compositions, more up-tempo than I expected, good fun.
I'd heard of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion because they were on the Baby Driver soundtrack. This album is a bit too long, messy and experi-mental. I'm still laughing at the "Like your drunk neighbors are having open mic night" review. ☝😆
Considered to be the album that established grunge as a genre.
There's the album, then there's the backstory of its production, which I think adds to its overall appeal.
It's funny, I knew some of the songs, but had no idea they were by Bad Company.
Hadn't listened to this album before, Sympathy for the Devil is a classic - great opener - then it went down hill from there, next few songs were so lackluster, derailed the rest of the album. Beggars Belief would have been a better title.
Apart from the hits, I never really picked up on Black Sabbath - I think the whole 'Keeping Up With The Osmonds' MTV nonsense kinda put me off Ozzy as a musician - "they're all fookin' mad!" Turns out is a decent album, quite enjoyed it. Dark, heavy, moody and introspective - will revisit.
Mind blown! First time listening. I'm not sure how the opening track got me, it almost became transcendent. The rest of the tracks flowed rockingly, until that oddly annoying metallic pronging noise throughout the penultimate track. I was close to giving it a 5, but the metallic annoyance down-starred it. An otherwise sublime album!
Generic middle of the road Americana country music, not terrible, just uninteresting.
Mixed feelings on this album. The first 3 and last 3 tracks are brilliant! The middle tracks seemed to drag the album down. I was close giving it a 3, but the bookends are so good it deserves more.
I listened to it blindfolded.
"What are you doing here, honey? You're not even old enough to know how bad life gets." "Obviously, Doctor, you've never been a 13 year-old girl". Beautiful haunting romantic solemn curious tragic.
Context. It's all about context. Give this album to a teenager and she'll think it's someone's granddad doing karaoke. Whereas 40something me, getting older, the album has more grounding, reflecting on a life of love, loss, regret and wisdom - albeit through the medium of selected cover songs. Hurt and Personal Jesus are the stand-out tracks for me. I appreciate the rest, but they aren't as powerful.
Bah, another ex-1001 album. See http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex It niggles me that this is a compilation album for UK marketing purposes - wouldn't Veni Vedi Vicious have been a better choice? I was already on the backfoot before re-listening yesterday. That said, "Hate to Say I Told You So" and "Main Offender" are still firm favourites.
Its an important album, in that it shows the transition of replacement after the death of a band member, in this case the singer Bon Scott. I had to re-listen to Highway to Hell to see how different the vocals are, interestingly they aren't that different. Black in Black and Hell's Bells are great tracks, classic hard rock. Love the energy and riffs, but some lyrics haven't dated that well.
Is this album flawless? No. But yet again it's another example of my subjective bias of 90s nostalgia! Enjoyed re-listening.
Sure, okay, but is it Britpop?
On initial listen I was immediately comparing it to Transformer, which on a second listen is unfair - as you can tell Lou Reed wanted to do something different, a concept album, the tragedy tale of a couple's misadventures. Did I enjoy it? Some good songs on there, but overall, not really.
I was hungover, couldn't stomach Leonard Cohen that day.
I hadn't really listened to much of Gabriel-led Genesis, (which is odd as a I have a soft spot for 80's Peter Gabriel). First time listening to the whole album, quite enjoyed the prog-rock, best experienced inside a wardrobe.
P-Funk, come on, who wants to get funked up?! awww yeeeah!
I know a bunch of Led Zeppelin popular songs, but hadn't listened to the albums. Enjoyed this one, really dig the classic rock vibe.
I can't help but think of the Family Guy skit -- "Randy Neman, sits there all night and days singing about what he sees". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARP6dXMlWQ8
My 90s rock nostalgia bias strikes again! Come to think of it, I enjoyed it more now than I did back then.
Enjoyed this album, classic hard rock! There were a couple of tracks that dragged a bit, but then pulled right back up with another hit. Gotta love Gibbons' guitar work.
Brenda from Bristol says "you're joking - not another one?!" How many Iggy Pop albums are in this list? It's significant, in that, after Iggy's rehab, only with Bowie's backing, the record company would give this album a chance. In that context, the album becomes more interesting - without it, although well produced, it's fairly average.
I can see why this album was included, Liz Phair was considered a breakout female star on the 90s alternative rock scene, and for supporting Smashing Pumpkins. For an angsty, sexual empowered, vocal-led singer/songwriter - it's alright. Feels like it paved the way for the likes of Alanis Morissette, Tracey Bonham, et al. Could have been half the length and still had the same impact.
I like the Eagles and I love The Big Lebowski, such inner conflict! 😎 I like the hits, Take It Easy is a favourite, but as an overall album, it often lags in places.
I never really listened to Judas Priest, other than Breaking The Law, I didn't know much about them. Enjoyed this album, headbanging most of the way through.
I'm not sure what happened, I totally lost myself in the music. Fantastic!
Another ex-1001 album. http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex I didn't like it at all. Felt like I'd heard this kind of thing in plenty of other more well know late-2000s alt/indie/faux-folk/hipster bands. I like the artwork, if that's any consolation.
Operatic pop, often cinematic. I was half expecting to dislike this album, but ended up thinking it was alright. 2.5
Enjoyed listening to a bit of Elvis. There are some slow crooner tracks littered throughout the album, which always seemed to be followed by an upbeat track, redeeming itself. Overall, a good variety.
Cock rock at its finest!
It's not terrible, I can see why people like it. Some interesting bits in the title track, Monkey In Your Soul and East St. Louis Toodle-Oo cover, but overall I wasn't that into it. 2.5
I knew of Steve Winwood (and various bands), but hadn't heard of Traffic. Some parts felt too long, like a carried away jam session, but it's a short album so not too overbearing. The folklore of John Barleycorn was interesting to read up on. #TIL (Funnily enough, it was referenced in last week's Inside No. 9 episode "Mr. King") I enjoyed it. "Glad" could be a cinematic track, I'd half expect to see it popping up in a future Edgar Wright movie.
Classic album artwork! As for the album itself, I can't make my mind up. The guitar riffs are ace, but feels dated now, maybe "you just had to be there, man!"?
Yet another 90s nostalgia kickback! Funk rock, love it. But the album length felt a bit too long now.
Meh.
Much better than I expected it to be. Obviously the tracks featured on Reservoir Dogs and Russian Doll soundtracks were culturally very familiar... and, of course... Ken Lee! Really enjoyed Jump Into The Fire too. I think several more listens and this could be a cherished album. 4.5
Overhyped, overproduced, self-indulgent pretentious tosh!
I hadn't heard of Husker Du until recently, my initial thought was, oh this is what REM should have been like! After a few listens, it's a bit long, but I'm enjoying it. I can see where other bands got their inspiration, hearing a lot of Green Day in there. 3.5
This version of the album (on Spotify) was far too long. I couldn't figure out what the original track listing was; the book says 12, Wikipedia says 13 - which would be fine, but still felt longer than it needed to be. This album sounded like it belonged more in the late 70s rather than a decade later. Maybe it's a response for The Waterboys wanting to escape the city and get back to simpler times, a rural retreat - still at times you can hear the urban chaos trying to resurface.
Do you know where you are? You're in 90s rock nostalgia baby! Okay okay, it was late 80s, but who's counting?! Still rocks! 🤘
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is one hella-long track, so awesome though.
I wasn't so familiar with this album, more so with Black Sunday. Enjoy the album, I kinda phased out and got into the beats. No idea what the lyrics were about, getting stoned and police harassment I guess. Good album, shame about the artwork though.
Listened to this album several times and keep wanting to resonate with it, but overall it doesn't happen. That said, I've had Moonage Daydream stuck in my head for days! 3.5
No More, Please, Thank You.
It was alright, it was bloody well alright! 2.5
My mate Jeff had a new sound system in his car, wanting to show it off, he picked me up to drive around town, when the opening the bassline kicks in - whoah - what is this awesomeness?! This was my introduction Massive Attack. Safe From Harm is a killer opener; Unfinished Sympathy - an anthem for a generation. We drove around for the rest of the album, we felt so cool - good times, great tunes. Last I heard, Jeff had his drivers license revoked for careless driving.
I like the opening/title track, but I didn't find the rest of the album that interesting.
Aside from the 90s nostalgia kicking in, I didn't quite realise at the time how much accuracy Hole were holding a mirror up to LA media culture at the time. Courtney Love's vocals aren't the best, but she kicks ass and it's great rock and roll!
Great voice! Cry To Me is great, but then after that opener, the rest of the album is alright, just felt a little lacklustre, (with the exception of Can't Nobody Love You, that's a good 'un).
🤷♂️
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Time After Time are 80s classics, the rest of the songs don't come close. 2.5
I'm not that familiar with the band, I can see why some would like them. I kinda like the soft vocals, but overall the album feels like a noisy mess.
Although I knew of "Let's Stay Together" before, I can't ignore the influence that the Pulp Fiction soundtrack added to my late teens. Yup 90s nostalgia of a 70s tune! No other standout tracks on the rest of the album, but still enjoyable contemplative easy listening.
It should have been credited as the Jeff Beck Group. The guitar work is outstanding, and loving the blues riffs, but got tired of Rod Stewart swooning.
Great album, enjoyed it!
Highlights are the covers... Ready or Not and Killing Me Softly. No Woman, No Cry is alright. I'm less keen on the rap tracks, felt they drag the rest of the album down. I do like Lauryn Hill's vocals, but find Wyclef Jean tiresome. 2.5
I appreciate the skill and talent in the sampling - discovering old parts and making something new - somewhat genius. That said, while the album was good and interesting, glad I listened to it, and I'm sure it'll come up in pub conversations, but doubt it's something I'll revisit. 3.5
I remember hearing Body Count for the first time in my teens, blew my mind! Digging the Black Sabbath and Halloween samples, brings in elements of psychological horror. OG is a great album, but it's way longer than it should be. Maybe if it focused more on the hard hitting themes and less on appeasing the pimps, it could be a classic.
Woody Guthrie connection is interesting, but this album didn't capture me (on the day I listened). Maybe one for when I'm in a more mellow mood. 2.5
Iconic artwork! As I find with most of Bowie's albums, there are a couple of outstanding songs, and the rest are, well, aren't. 2.5
Understated, charming, grounded, enjoyed it a lot. 4.5
Interesting album, felt "all filler, no killer" - Changes and Snowblind came close - but strangely still found it overall very listenable.
Not much to say. Love this album.
What the actual fuck?
Bloody hell, enough of the harmonica already! The gentle guitar playing is quite soothing, but far far too much harmonica, man! 1.5
It wasn't available on Spotify, found on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B002DPHOF4 Neil Young was one of those that I kept meaning to listen to, but never did. I thought he'd be too folky for me. With this album, I was genuinely surprised, I thought it was really good - great musicianship. I'll need to re-listen in future, I suspect it's a constant grower. An optimistic 4 from me.
Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' in the Years were good, the rest is okay. I liked the piano parts on Fire In The Hole. 2.5
An album of two halves, the first to entice the Western audience - something familiar, with a mix of Indian culture... with the second half delving deeper in the raga psyche. Sagar (The Ocean) is magnificent - albeit only if you're in the right mind-space for it.
Spent the whole album in a state of confusion... The Byrds did a country album?
I wasn't familiar with this specific album, good noise-music, enjoyed it.
2.5
When this came up, not being familiar with the album, I wasn't really in the mood for any hard attitudes and aggressiveness. What I didn't expect is that while it's full of that, it's accompanied by many great beats! Ended up enjoying it. Though suffers from a bugbear of mine, I can't understand why most tracks end on a fade out. 3.5
I think that culturally, we're all a bit tired of U2 - well, mostly Bono, and probably because of that iPod thing, ramming some album down everyone's throats. That aside, with Achtung Baby, it's a mix of killer and filler. The standout tracks are great: "Even Better Than the Real Thing", "One", "The Fly", and "Mysterious Ways" - they're all very well produced. The rest of tracks feel boring in comparison.
It's alright, some good songs, but nothing stands out as a 'must listen'. 2.5
Another band with a prominent frontman that I think we're culturally tired of, (I said the same of U2 with Bono). Michael Stipe's persona still grates me. That said, re-listening to this album, I'd say it is a classic. Many great songs, very much part of the 90s zeitgeist.
Ah, the selection from our 2nd Album Club.
Lots to unpack with this album. It was absolutely not what I was expecting. I enjoyed it, although got a bit lost in the music that I missed many lyrics, will revisit.
Does Ian Duty have to shout so much? Yes, yes he bloody well does! Packed with grit, wit and authenticity, focus is more lyrical than melodic. Great album.
Eh up, yer gonna join the trade union, lad? Sure, but do I have to listen to Billy Bragg?
I couldn't help but read the album title in a Scouse accent. Yeh, is right la! I quite enjoyed this album. I appreciate that Anohni's vocals can be an acquired taste, still I find them hauntingly beautiful, somewhat anguished and honest.
Good album, enjoyable.
It was alright, nice and mellow, it gets boring though as most of the songs sound the same. 2.5
I think that Supermassive Black Hole being used so prominently in the first Twilight movie has tainted that song for me... and Knights of Cydonia was mega hard on Guitar Hero 3! Overall, I'd prefer to listen to one of Muse's other albums. 2.5
I like Lenny Kravitz, he's a cool dude. With this album, musically, I liked it, most tracks start off well but then seem to peter off without much direction.
It's not my favourite Manics album, but still filled with plenty of hard hitting tracks! 3.5
Great guitar riffs, but not sure why this particular live album is on the 1001 list.
I do like a good old big band swing tune. Majority of the tracks sound the same, with a few classics woven in. 2.5
I was nominated for Teenager of the Year back in '92, but lost out to some baby face called George Dawes from the Upper Floors. Baked potato! 2.5
The guitar work is incredible, but found it got uninteresting during the course of these overlong tracks on an overlong album.
I think I like this one better than the other Byrds' albums, part experimental and more progressive.
I do like a bit of Frontier Psychiatrist, always gets stuck in my head for the next few days.
Yet another ex-1001 album! http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex I like Slipknot, their earlier albums are better.
Taylor Swift is one of those singers that I seem to know by osmosis. I'd never listened to this album, yet knew most of the songs. It's a fine contemporary pop album. 3.5
My initial thought was, bah, country & western, and that the title was amusing. Then midway through the opening track and realised the subject matter was more serious than the initial lightheartedness. I think Loretta Lynn brings the honesty and grit of a woman who is frustrated with the status quo (in the mid/late-60s) and wants to be treated better. Doubt I'd choose to listen again, but I respect it and suspect she gave a voice to many a frustrated housewife.
It was alright. Cover art kept distracting me. 😐 2.5
I knew a few of their songs, but hadn't listened to the album before, pretty cool, classic dad rock! 3.5
I very much doubt that I'm the target audience for this album. Initially I enjoyed the beats and there's some really nice progressions in there. What I disliked is the politicking, sure it's contemporary, but damn does it pull its punches. Listening back to Public Enemy, NWA, RATM - they went for the jugular, they meant it with a passion. This album had the potential, but somehow got watered-down with lightweight easy-to-swallow commercial chants for an ASMR generation.
Poorly produced, noisy mess. Tripe!
Whenever Moby comes in a conversation, there's always a groan, followed by "but Play was really good". I suspect that we're culturally tired of Moby himself, (in a similar way to the likes of Bono and Michael Stipe), but what a corker of an album Play is, bravo!
Definitely an album of two halves for me. First half, the Synchronicity bookends were good, but Mother seemed to derail it for me, WTF?! Second half, much more familiar - when I was starting out playing bass, I'd learn a bunch of Sting's riffs, they were always simplistic but effective.
I was living in Spain when this album came out, thought it was pretty cool. A few months later I was back in north-west UK, in the car with a few mates - they put this on and they knew EVERY SINGLE WORD. Never underestimate the local cultural impact of a local band doing songs that were so relatable. 4.5
Witty lyrics from a disgruntled wise man.
Whilst she does have an authentic soulful voice - and Sweet Love is an excellent song, (that I had forgotten about) - the rest of the album feels like it should be relegated to 80s telephone waiting music. I suspect if she was around a decade (or two) earlier, then would have been much more appreciated. 2.5
Dance. Music. Sex. Romance. Starts of with much passion, then lags a bit, losing interest, then thrusts up the rhythm and pace again, we're back in the game, then reaching an elephant sounding climax, we're left feeling a little deflated towards the end... Yes, we've definitely just had sex with Prince!
There are a fair amount of reviews on this album that are ragging on the Foo Fighters, but this is not really a Foo Fighters album, it's a Dave Grohl solo project. He gave the appearance of it being by a band, mostly for anonymity and throw people's preconceptions. When you think about the production process, it's all Grohl. He had the drive, energy, skills and something to prove! The Foo Fighters (as a band) were later "retcon'd" into existence upon its success. While this isn't my favourite Foo Fighters album, I much prefer the following up, The Color and The Shape (or should we be calling that Foo Fighter's first album?), do I think it's a significant rock album, yes totally. It's more about the journey than the destination, and without the backstory, it would have less impact.
Did Frances Farmer ever have her revenge on Seattle?
Iconic artwork. Really enjoyed the popular tracks - Voodoo People, Poison, No Good, et al. Some of the tracks were quite long, which get a bit wary if you're sober. 3.5
For some reason on Spotify (in the UK at least), the 1981 release has some unavailable tracks, but the are available on the 2021 re-release: https://open.spotify.com/album/3b4FRQBIqULkm6vudUXkcS
Quite literally it was Something 4 the Weekend!
Great album, great talent! Couple of bugbears, few of the tracks are far too long! and few tracks fade out, bit of a lazy way to end a song. I'm still confused about the "Voodoo Chile/Child" spellings and versions? I tried to research it, but none the wiser. 4
Oh sod off! I tried, I did, but it's like listening to Limp Bizkit's hillbilly cousin - it's embarrassing! nul points, 0.
I vaguely recall Talk Talk from various Now! albums, but I guess these days they are more known for their broadband internet services. "Life's What You Make It" is the one I recall, boring, repetitive, but in a good way. I like the album artwork, reminds me of that Twitter account, Faces In Things.
Is this an good album? Yes, really good. Is this a classic? I'm less sure. Enjoyed listening (and re-listening), proper chilled out, (and love Tracey Thorn's vocals on Protection), but later on feels forgettable when compared to Blue Lines or Mezzanine.
Immigrant Song, what an opener!
Conceptuellement, cela ne ressemble à rien d'autre que j'ai entendu. Je ne peux pas tolérer le traitement de la jeune Melody Nelson, la pauvre fille. Soniquement, c'est immersif et mystérieux.
I wasn't familiar with Siouxsie and the Banshees at all. This album took me by surprise, enjoyed it very much. Despite not being familiar with it, I couldn't shake that feeling of early 80s nostalgia, the guitars are so otherworldly, feels like you're taking a peak behind the dark curtain, and disliking how the shadowy machinery of that neoliberal Cold War world really worked.
Bah, another ex-1001 album! http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex Still, it's an alright album. I have a soft spot for Rolling in the Deep, I blame the bass line.
There's quite a few I like on this. 3.5
I always dig the Joy Division basslines, and the artwork is iconic! As much as I know some of my mates adore this album, I tend to get bored halfway through each track.
Hardcore! A younger angry me would have enjoyed this very much, the older mellow me less so. I get it, and appreciate it being on the 1001 list. Hot heavy, messy, shouty hardcore punk!
Great album, love all the hits, the rest are good but a tad forgettable.
More like... The Incredible Shit Band!
I didn't enjoy it as much as I did back in the day. The hits are still great, but the in-between tracks feel a tad tenuous.
Enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Giving it a 3.5, but reckon further listens would bump it to a 4/4.5.
Took me a few tracks to get into it, then enjoyed the eeriness of it all. 3.5
It's a bit "out there" - but full of good old funky psychedelic vibes.
I wasn't too familiar with Rush, I guess I was in need of some prog rock today, as was digging on the guitar work. Enjoyed it, but doubt it's something I'd frequent.
I liked the old school hip-hop basslines and beats. Overall the album didn't grab me.
This was played to death by mates during my Uni days. As far as 90s pop albums go, this is fine, consistent and well produced. Although the real talent of the album was co-writer/producer Guy Chambers.
Initially I wasn't going to listen to this as it wasn't available on Spotify, and I couldn't be fussed with YouTube ads, but was persuaded to I'd give it a try... and wow! On the surface it's audacious, annoying, violent, batshit bonkers, some kind of avant-garde post-punk jazz! But within that utter chaos there's something beautiful, a raw talent. The more I thought about it, the more affection I felt towards it. 3.5
At San Quentin came up first on our group, so we'd already had "a Johnny Cash prison album", even though At Folsom Prison was released first. It's good, the live interaction bits give it more character.
Controversies aside, his music performance could certainly bring a room alive. Wild, energetic and audacious. Still, controversies, eh!
I didn't completely hate it. More pop than hip-hop, okay beats, cringy rhyming lyrics though, overall I found it boring.
Always love The Kinks social commentary on 60s/70s Britain. It's a solid album, good tunes, great production. Sunny Afternoon is a fav. Not my go-to album for The Kinks, probably go for "Something Else".
I didn't know Dennis Wilson had done a solo album. I initially liked the artwork, felt bold. Started the album, and reading his Wikipedia page, he had quite an interesting life - had no idea about the Charles Manson association - wild! The album almost became a soundtrack to his Wikipedia page, ha! It was enjoyable enough.
First look at the "artwork" - Emperor's New Clothes init?! Yeezus Christ, when will these zealots tell him that Ye's not the Messiah, Ye's a very naughty boy!
Sure it's cliché, corny and dated... but goddamn it still rocks! 🤘
Quite unusual. I'd expect in the right setting this would be quite cool. Just felt a bit odd listening in my office on a Monday morning.
First half of the album was like a Beatles and Monkees tribute act, with the second half taking a turn with a mature soulful set of tracks. As another reviewer on here said, "probably the blackest sounding white men I've heard".
I respect the musicianship, but was not in the mood for 40 minutes of bongos and Santeria chants.
Hey, Kool Thing, are you gonna liberate us girls from male white corporate oppression? Yeah, tell it like it is! Don't call it a comeback, I been here for years! Good grief.
No doubt Cohen is a masterful poet, full of wordplay, accompanied by those bittersweet melancholic chords. Not something I'd listen to regularly, but the appreciation is there. ...on a sidenote, who signed off on the typography on the artwork, it's dreadful. Would have been a stronger design without it, just have the photo of Cohen.
The Spotify link was to an odd version, I used this one: https://open.spotify.com/album/2WT1pbYjLJciAR26yMebkH Whenever I listen to it, I try to find its faults, but always end up getting carried away on its journey. I keep meaning to experience The Dark Side Of The Rainbow, one day... 5
I'd heard of, but never listened to Jeff Buckley before. I liked it.
During the first 6 tracks I was thinking why is this a noteworthy album, then the closing track is 18 minutes long... and that sounded like a overindulgent jamming session. It's not terrible, just not that interesting.
Yet another ex-1001 album! http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex It was alright. I can see why it was originally added to the 1001, noteworthy due to it being by a contemporary "supergroup", alas, in this case, time has proved that the sum isn't greater than its parts.
I liked it much better than I'd expected.
I like the hits of the Pet Shop Boys, What Have I Done to Deserve This? and It's a Sin are great, the rest was alright, but didn't stick out enough to make this a solid album for me. 2.5
Yet another ex-1001 album! http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex The popular tracks are catchy enough, feels that the whole album exists to showcase their vocal range and harmonies, which I'm sure is a great talent, but feels all over the place to me.
Maybe it's dated, but thought Move Any Mountain was more punchier than it was. None of the other tracks piqued my interest. 1.5
Yeah, yeah, I'm a fan of The Big Lebowski AND I like the Eagles. For me, this album is all about nostalgia, it got played a lot when I was a kid. The production, musicianship and guitar work are top notch. The opening of Hotel California gets me every time! The second half (in terms of side B on the LP), starts to feel a bit dreary. I like the anecdote about "The Last Resort" taking days to record, because they kept messing up because Black Sabbath were making too much noise in the studio next door!
Take On Me will always be great, the rest felt bland.
Having never heard of Justice before, I quite enjoyed this. Some tracks felt a bit too long, but in the right setting that'd be fine. Some parts felt Daft Punk-ish, maybe more like Daft Grunge, anyway still enjoyable. Iconic album artwork too!
It was alright, bit indifferent towards this, hadn't heard of Gang Starr before, guess I'm not the target audience, nothing really stood out for me.
Great, hadn't listened before, enjoyed this! Damaged Goods was a stand out for me.
I knew of the opening title track, it's got a catchy chorus, but no one needs 11 minutes of it! The rest is like background music at a casino.
Undeniably, a unique voice. I wasn't particularly in the mood for this style of music yesterday, songs felt quite dull. Still appreciate the musical arrangements. 2.5
Hadn't listened to this album in a long time, enjoyed re-listening. Solsbury Hill is a classic.
This feels like a Jeopardy answer... "Which album is considered to be the epitome of UK 80s pop music?" Still, I found myself bopping along.
My only prior knowledge of Elliott Smith was his Figure 8 album which came out a couple of years before his death. Either Or is good, but not something I'd actively listen to.
I'm always thinking that I'm going to dislike an Elvis Costello album, then end up liking it.
I'm still laughing at the Little Richard orgy anecdote. I like the few songs that were the big hits, overall the album is okay, but it's so short that it's inoffensive and you'd end up forgetting the rest of the tracks anyway.
I hadn't heard of Laura Nyro before, she sounds way more contemporary than the late 60s, great voice. The album was alright, could have been shorter; enjoyed the up-tempo tracks; the crooning ones less so - half of them sounded the same; there were moments when I could see how the likes of Tori Amos could take inspiration.
Great opener with Buffalo Stance, then Manchild is okay, but it's all downhill from there on out.
Did you know that Rhythm Nation used to crash Windows on old laptops? https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20220816-00/?p=106994
I'd listened to this album when it first came out, but it didn't really gel with me, recalled it being depressing, but re-listening now, while probably still a bit depressing, was much better than I recalled.
The deluxe edition is 2 hours long! (At least that's what the link for Spotify goes to). I found one of the shorter versions, (still over 90 mins), https://open.spotify.com/album/3tZ7O5gGQmkg8FEfqE5wGw Artwork looks like a family photo album book cover. For a live album, it's alright, all the hits are there - Smoke on the Water and what not. Whilst I love a bit of dad rock, this all got a bit too self-indulgent for me.
Talented? Yes! Backstory? Yes! The reality of listening to an hour of live improv piano solos? Maybe in the right setting, late at night with a whiskey in hand, sure, less so on this particular Thursday morning.
Yet another ex-1001 album! http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex I'd listen to this album when it came out, but now you realise it's like boiling a frog, you enjoy it, think it's fine, by the end it's too late, you've become a cultural zombie, what am I doing with my life?! With the bigger hits, though lyrically devoid, I'd still enjoy a good karaoke night with them. 2.5
Ah, it is Rubén Blades from Fear The Walking Dead! Erm, that's probably not the acclamation he'd want to be remembered for. The album is quite refreshing, great beats and grooves. Felt that most tracks could have been shorter, but overall enjoyed the vibe.
Oi! Oi! Oi! 🤘 🤘 🤘
It was fine, I quite liked Lucretia My Reflection. Apart from reading about the melodrama of the band during the recording, I'm unsure what else is noteworthy for this to be on 1001. 2.5
I'd never heard of Solange, turns out she's Beyoncé's sister... pretty much sums it up.
!!!Waaahhhhaaaa!!! Reckon they would of been awesome to watch in a pub on a Saturday night, but nearly 60 years later, listening to a poorly mixed lo-fi album with over half the songs being covers, you have to ask why! Of their originals, The Witch and Strychnine were alright.
I'd found out about this album earlier this year and enjoyed it... and enjoyed it again today! Couple of stand out tracks, but overall it was just a good vibe. 3.5
Los Angeles Through The Looking Glass
Seems that I typically listen to The Fall when I'm drunk, sat in the kitchen of an after-party. Good times, but hangovers get worse with age.
I enjoyed the music, less so the vocals.
I liked this album better than the last Love one we had (Da Capo). Artwork is pretty cool.
In hindsight, seems somewhat inappropriate that Love in an Elevator was played at school discos - this was probably my first exposure to Aerosmith. What I hadn't realised was how long they'd been around before this (and that they're still around now!) The nostalgia around this album (and more so for Get a Grip) was MTV, they (well their record company) knew how to play the game, sexy videos, get people talking, great marketing, etc. Does this album hold up? I'm not so sure, all feels a bit dated now.
I do like the journey of the album's concept. If you catch it in the right mood, it can be quite immersive. It's a good one to zone out to, given it was released in 1977, it's a ground-breaking album. Otherworldly. I was going to give it a 4, but feeling optimistic today, 5.
I can't tell if I liked this or not. There were points where I thought I did, but then got annoyed with the repetition and track length, and other parts where it felt pretty cool. 2.5
Probably due to emotional associations back when I listened to it more regularly, still a great album.
I was already familiar with this album, not saying it's a masterpiece, but still enjoyed re-listening. 3.5
Despite the opening track being far too long, there were quite a few bits I liked on the album. Overall it's all over the place, didn't quite work for me on first listen, but reckon it's worth a second chance at some point. 2.5
"Gettin' jiggy wit it!" (Gah, curses Will Smith!) Definitely feel all of Nile Rodgers' contributions on this album. Some of the tracks were a bit drab, but overall I had a good old boogie to the popular disco tracks. 3.5
Not sure why I'd avoided Elbow, putting them down as pretentious wank, some kind of a cross between Coldplay and Radiohead. Turns out I was surprised, still a bit wanky, but in a pleasant way. "Grounds for Divorce" is the standout track for me.
Family Affair is great. The rest of the album is good, could be shorter, not quite a 5 star album for me.
It was alright. Musically, it didn't grab me, but enjoyed the whimsical lyrics. 2.5
My trouble with Taylor Swift is that she's got a few very catchy good pop songs, but her albums are gushingly overrated by the media, which is a turn off. The lyrics on this one feel that they came straight from the inside of Hallmark cards. I don't hate it, but nothing excited me here.
I do like Bowie, but, apart from Fame, I found the rest of the album quite boring, felt somewhat restrained.
I didn't dislike it, but throughout I kept thinking I wondering is this what The Saw Doctors would sound like if they came from Ohio? 🤔
What do you get if you cross Roxy Music with Queen? Yeah, it'd probably be The Cars. Still enjoyable enough. I like the artwork too, happy vibes.
Hadn't heard of Todd Rundgren before. Initially thought it was bonkers (in a bad way), then I strangely got into it. Still very bonkers, but in a good way. 3.5
Apart from the title track, the rest sound quite dated now. 2.5
Krautrock always sounds better when you're travelling. Having missed listening to this album the other day, I decided to listen on my train journey into Bristol. It was getting dark, the evening felt brooding. The first track accompanied the walk down to the station; second track the train was delayed; third still waiting; fourth and fifth were the train journey itself; and the sixth was the walk from the station to the pub. Overall, turns out it was quite a fitting album for my journey. Enjoyed it. All that said, I'd expect listening in a different environment I would have scored it less.
Yet another ex-1001 album! http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex I didn't care much for this album.
Hadn't heard this before. Mixed feelings, there were parts I enjoyed, other parts less so. What was with the vocals on Wardance? Sounded like a Dalek!
Oh wow, the artwork screams of 80s clichés! Curious what'll happen when she pushes the button on her belly. I don't recall hearing Bonnie Raitt before, she seems a good Country singer, with a fine head of hair, but this album wasn't for me.
Stereotypically, as a white mid-40s male who enjoys rock music, I may have indulged on this a little too much. Bit like the Terry's chocolate orange you didn't share at Christmas. Sorry, not sorry. 4.5
To me, Bob Dylan is a poet. Every time one of his albums comes up, I'm never in the mood for it. I blame my secondary school for making poetry boring. Also, the harmonica didn't help matters.
Who's generation? Brexit baby boomers? 🤪 Still enjoy the hits, the rest didn't click with me as much.
I have a big old soft spot for this album. Appreciate that a couple of tracks are a bit lackluster, but still love the hits. 4.5
😬
I may have not been paying attention to the whole album as got distracted by Nina Persson's seductively sweet vocals, yes please, don't stop.
My dad played this a lot, I recall liking it until I became a teenager, then strongly disliking it. Re-listening now, great guitar work and production, but still invoked a strangely sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach. Mixed emotions. Is there such a thing as anti-nostalgia? 2.5
Iceman: "You can surf my butthole any time." Maverick: "Bullshit! You can surf mine."
Pleasant enough, mostly middle of the road songs. Strong Enough and All I Wanna Do are good. I liked the backstory of the album and title, sounded fun.
Fun times! I was dancing around the house all day.
I tried listening to this several times in the past few days, each time I just can't be arsed with it. Rest of our group seems to like it, I must be missing that hook in. 2.5
Half man, half machine, what does it mean? I'd heard this album a couple of times, thought it was alright, but I must have been in a contemplative mood yesterday and I thought it was great. I'm giving it an optimistic 5, knowing full well that if I was in a less contemplative mood, it'd be more like a 3.
Enjoyed it enough, good to get that post-teenage angst out there!
I like most of Pulp's hits, wasn't too familiar with the albums. I enjoyed this one, in an unsettling kind of way. Felt that a few of the tracks were trying to channel Bowie or The Beatles.
Throughout the 1001, I've been trying to figure out "what is an album?". There's no doubt she's a great singer, but I do doubt this album constitutes a body of work.
I liked the upbeat tracks, the ballad tracks dragged, and Superstition is on a different level.
Good vibes, good times!
Not that it's terrible, I either wasn't in the mood for this, or, just didn't like it. 1.5
A friend asked me recently, what song would play at your funeral? Without a beat, I replied, Free Bird!
Sunday brunch vibes... in a good way.
Some of the synth beats were quite good, but on a whole I didn't like it, highly doubt I'm the target audience.
Upbeat blues is funny, opening track "nobody loves me, nobody cares" (oh yeah, woo!) Good live album.
Given it's a triple album, probably best enjoyed in three sittings, (far too much to take in a single sitting). ...and given all the material, I felt it could have been condensed and refined down to a stellar single album. "My Sweet Lord" is still the standout track for me. 3.5
I can't help but think of that scene in Spinal Tap, as a skiffle band, The Thamesmen. Those slightly embarrassing early years. 2.5
I'd kinda heard of Violent Femmes, but wasn't overly familiar, then I'd listened to this album a few times last year and really enjoyed it. 4.5
Yet another ex-1001 album!™ http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex That said, it's still a favourite of mine. I'd listen to this all the time back then... and still often do now!
Enjoyed the dark and moody bass lines. I expect if I grew up with this album, I'd have more affection towards it, but it passed me by, only for me to discover it later on without the context of it's creation and subsequent loss.
The opening title track is great. It's appeared in so many movies, (maybe too many movies), it's overly familiar. The whole album feels a bit lounge background music, whilst still good, it's samey, not quite the main attraction.
I was not emotionally prepared for this album. As always, context is everything, with having teenage kids myself, I can't imagine the desperation of loss and tragedy. Yet, love transcends. 5 heartbroken stars from me.
I may have had a slight crush on Tori Amos back in the mid-90s.
"We are currently experiencing a higher-than-normal volume of calls. Please stay on the line. Your call is important to us. We will connect you when one of our operators becomes available."
While I can see their influences and who they influenced, there's probably a reason I hadn't listened to New York Dolls before. It's fine, feels very much if it's time.
I'd appreciate it more in the right setting, say maybe in a late night cocktail bar. Tuesday morning getting ready for work was not my right setting for a first listen.
Enjoyed it. Summer Breeze, makes me feel fine... 3.5
I was only familiar with Velvet Underground & Nico 🍌 album, hadn't listened to this one before. I went with the non-deluxe edition, 6 tracks, conciser-ish. https://open.spotify.com/album/0HHmJpwOXXRJu9HI9iQiEO Funny with the opening track, immediately knew where LCD Soundsystem's Drunk Girls got its influence. For the rest of the album, I didn't care for it much, it's all over the place. Some call it art, most call it noise.
Shouty, shouty, a tour de force of punk rock!
It's a bit like having toast without any butter, it's acceptable but meh. At least I now know where Deacon Blue got their name from.
Persona on persona, Marshall Mathers as Eminem as Slim Shady. The artist, the mask and the cartoon. Much more satirical than I recall it was at the time.
A couple of my mates were really really into Dinosaur Jr., to the point it put me off them. I've tried to get into them a few times over the years, but nah, I don't hate it, just never quite gels with me. 2.5
It's all quite long winded and wanky. As well as the Simon & Garfunkel cover.
This was an unexpected joy.
I hadn't heard of Sugar, I'd only heard of Hüsker Dü last year because their album on 1001 (which I enjoyed a lot) ... and I quite enjoyed this album too! Clichéd as it may be, can't shake the thought I'd heard these songs on those 90s teen shows, 90210, Melrose Place, et al.
Introspective melancholic pop. It was fine, but I wasn't too fussed with it.
Jazzzzzzzz...
Totally musical theatre. It's outrageous! Love it.
There's a lots of detail to like in this album, great use of samples and loops. But I lost interest about halfway through, well pretty much after Sabotage, it was far too long and got far too experimental. 2.5
Hadn't listened to this before, enjoyed it, but the frequent underlying distortion got too unsettling. 3.5
More like descending into Bedlam! Opening track was alright, then I kinda lost interest about halfway through.
Admittedly, I did (mildly) headbang throughout this, lots of good riffs, but doubt I'd listen to the whole album again.
I've listened to this before, it's alright, good pleasant listen, but somewhat forgettable.
Hadn't listened to any Tom Waits before. It was alright, like. 3.5
Seven Nation Army is modern classic. The whole album is good and very listenable, but I'd struggle to give it a 5.
I like the artwork, all faded and washed out, much like the album.
Yet another band I'd never heard of. Yet another album I didn't really need to listen to before I die. It's alright, just didn't engage me in any meaningful way.
I'd have thought the opening tribute to Fela Kuti would have been much more vibrant, felt far to subtle to celebrate a legend. I'm 50/50 on this album, bits I liked, other bits not so much. 2.5 I wasn't familiar with Common, but checked his filmography, turns out I've seen him in a bunch of movies.
It's Like That... and that's the way it is.
Iconic artwork. Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day are great. Two Hearts Beat as One is pretty good. The rest is alright, bit dated now. I'm trying not get too bogged down with Bono's ego.
I'd listened to this again recently. I remember thinking that the opening few tracks are great, gets me in a rock mood. Then it gradually goes downhill after that. Even War Pigs couldn't recover it for me.
Iconic, in every sense.
Didn't know about this album, first glance at the artwork, I was already impressed. Enjoyed this way more than I'd expected to.
More like Fela Awesome-Kuti! 4.5
I tried to listen objectively, but about halfway through I couldn't stomach any more. Far too self-referential, far too self-indulgent, far too much profanity - I'm not against profanity, but only if it holds value and if it's gonna be overused to the verge of losing all value, then what is the fucking point?
Whilst I still really enjoyed the hits, as an overall album, it doesn't quite jam. 2.5
Enjoyable album.
It was alright. With the various Bowie albums in the 1001 list, I haven't found any of them to be overall brilliant, mostly a couple of stand out tracks on each. Golden Years was good on this one.
I was going to say that I'd never heard of this, but I then vaguely recall hearing many of these tunes at late night cafes and clubs. I'd might feel more nostalgic if this was playing whilst copping off at said night club, otherwise it's good low-fi vibes.
From the tongue in cheek opening, felt like Spinal Tap-esque homage to The Beatles and Britpop, I was ready for some non-serious euro-punk-rock fun... and it sure did deliver! 3.5
I hadn't listened to John Grant nor this album until a month or so ago. I've enjoyed listening a few times, it's good, but I don't seem to have the same affection that many of my friends have for it.
Enjoyed this more than I'd expected to.
I quite like the first half (well, maybe third) of the album. Feels dated, but in a strangely nostalgic way. 2.5
I like a couple of the tracks, (Bring The Pain, All I Need), but wasn't really into the rest of it.
Music for ducklipped teenagers to put their makeup on to.
Welcome to 12-bar blues central, the zeitgeist of the late 50s white collar America, where the women are loose and fade-outs are cheap.
Strangely, after yesterday's Everly Brothers, I thought I'd be disliking old Frank here, but I seemed to be in a more receptive mood for this crooning album. On a tangent. It's the first album listed in the 1001 book. Interesting tidbit, it was first issued on a double 10", then later reissued on 12". Which gets me thinking (again) about how much the medium of distribution influences the album arrangement. e.g. This album has 16 tracks, original double 10" release would be 4 tracks on each side, then for the 12" reissue, 8 tracks per side. Would the track listing flow be different if the original distribution was on 12"? Bringing that to modern day, are artists thinking in terms of streaming playlists or maybe still in CD's max 74 mins? No breaks, no flipping over interludes, just straight through. Or maybe they just whack them on in any order, why do I care? Ha!
I wasn't familiar with this album, apart from Once in a Lifetime - which is now culturally engrained. It's a good album, feels quite experimental, overall I enjoyed it, probably need several more listens to appreciated it more.
Apart from the hits, I'd never listen to anything else by The Style Council. I was half expected it to be more of the same from Weller as The Jam, but no, it's in a totally different direction. Interestingly, (this where I bang on about distribution formats), it's another album of 2 halves. Side A is quite chilled, soulful, like café jazz... with a welcome appearance from Tracey Thorn. Side B, pop ballads, and urgh The Gospel - what was going on with white pop rap in the early 80s? Wham, Blondie - glad that fad ended. I preferred Side A, despite You're The Best Thing is still stuck in my head a day later.
I've heard the whole of this album before... that time I was on hold waiting to get a refund from BT. I like the artwork though.
Jesus wept, this was hard work!
The tracks are fine, though they quickly faded into café jazz background music for me. Is it a "must listen" album, nah not really.
Yet another ex-1001 album!™ http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex I do like Arcade Fire; Funeral and Neon Bible were on regular repeat, but then their subsequent albums somehow passed me by. The Suburbs is good, though quite long, defo worth a few listens, but their earlier albums still hold closer for me.
Quite surprised how much I enjoyed this, the underlying story drew me in.
"20 years of all-time classics"... distilled down to 4 tracks, eh? It's all fine, decent enough African/World music, but nothing particularly grabbed out at me.
I had a good old sing song to 4 or 5 tracks, of which are scattered across the album, to the point that these tracks are the only thing holding it all together, the rest feels like filler, albeit very well produced filler.
Apart from the cover of Steppin' Stone I had heard of anything else by the band. My initial impression of the album artwork was the text "Featuring Kicks", with that being the opening track. Just marketing? or was that album purely a vehicle for pushing a single? Kicks turned out to be okay opener, but had a sucky fade out, and didn't flow nicely with the following track. The rest of the album is a mixed bag of 60s contemporary sounding songs, some are good, others less so. What I did find interesting was this feeling of restraint rebellion, a punky underbelly that couldn't quite punch through. Classic album, nah. Glad I listened to it before I die, yeah.
There were a few moments that I thought this was quite good, but overall it felt quite pretentious. 2.5