1001 Albums Summary

Lilting, pre-psychedelia with some all-time classics. It's the Beatles - of course I was already familiar with several songs on this album but had never listened to it in it's entirety. The eastern-inspired instrumental arrangements on Love You To were a highlight. Tomorrow Never Knows is a fantastic closer and sounds well ahead of its time - no wonder really given the Chemical Brothers sampling of it in Setting Sun which didn't seem out of place in the 1990s.

Enjoyable folky fare.

Dreamy trip-hop, a 1990s classic.

Some great drum beats on this one, would listen again.

Majestic. From Nile Rodgers' signature guitar riffs glittering all over the show, to the funky driving basslines, this is one of THE disco classic albums.

Some cool afrobeat rhythms, with a feelgood, erm, feel.

Some great tunes on here, can certainly hear how they have influenced later artists

Lively jazz with plummy piano and some fun double bass, but not really for me.

Dreamy 70s psychedelia

Some great disco classics on this album, although some of the slower tracks are a bit saccharine.

Folky rock, not really my bag but a pleasant enough listen. Didn't realise this was the original recording of "Everybody's Talkin'"

Interesting latin music with a funky edge.

Dreamy 60/70s rock, didn't really go anywhere

I knew very little about The The prior to listening, but this was a very pleasant surprise. Shades of Nu-romantics, very much in keeping with my impression of the early 80s, and some interesting lyrical themes.

It's great folk rock, not really my bag but I can appreciate the musicianship and lyric writing

The opening of Roots Bloody Roots promised so much, yet as soon as the vocals started it was a big fat no for me. A shame as potentially some bangers with the guitar riffs but I couldn't persevere with vocals that sound like a cat being dragged bum first over a sandpaper covered rasp.

Great record, Psycho Killer is an all-time fave

Great album, Running Up that Hill, Hounds of Love and Cloudbusting personal highlights. Kate's voice works really well with the music

Hmmm, an interesting listen, one that I will come back to definitely. Particularly enjoyed Bitter Branches

70s folk rock, some interesting tunes but at times drifted into inoffensive background noise almost to the point of elevator music. Two stars on the strength of some of the more interesting songs.

Lively samba, but not really my bag

Had a few listens and definitely a grower. Will certainly revisit, some good folky rock and Neil Young's vocal range sets him apart. Heart of Gold a standout track.

Decent album, Every Breathe You Take is the standout track. Some slightly more... out-there tracks as well.

Standard fare from Arcade Fire, a decent listen.

Lively jazz, and some expert level trumpet playing, but nothing really stood out

I loved this album when it came out, and still a classic. I remember being entirely sceptical of Robbie, being as he was a former Take That member and initially feeling validated in that by his awful cover of Faith (thankfully not on this album). But his brash take on Britpop was infectious and I always felt his arrogance was somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

What a find. I was aware of David Holmes as I loved his soundtrack to the film Out of Sight, starring a certain J-Lo. This pastiche of urban ramblings against a backdrop of urgent beats works really well.

Cultured hiphop. I was aware of Guru but had never listened to Gang Starr, worth revisiting.

Healthy slice of 80s power rock.

Inoffensive stuff from the Pet Shop Boys, but nothing really catchy.

Dreary and a bit self indulgent.

A decent record, 80s rock with a country twist

Soulful, melodic rock - an enjoyable listen

Decent protopunk fare from Iggy and the lads, spanning 60s influences with more forward-thinking elements

Classic rock, Whole Lotta Love opens with its infectious riff. Good stuff

This was a pleasant find, angsty, impassioned rock.

Beige, inoffensive 60/70s rock. An easy listen, but didn't really inspire

Pleasant, easy listening

Brash, frantic, funky... this album will slap you round the face and command you to party!

Soporific and gentle, good background music, worth another listen

Hmmm, not really my thing

Good stuff, proto-grunge. I enjoyed it!

Brash, punky and lively. Enjoyable rock with a strident vocal performance

As ivory-tinklers go, Elton is of course up there with the very best. Just a shame this album is quite dreary, perfect for BBC Radio 2, which I don't consider a good thing

Pleasant surprise, bright catchy 60s rock.

Not much substance

Lively, jazzy swing a pleasant listen

Wild, brash punk rock. Good stuff

Beige... saccharine... meh

Well, it's a classic obviously, and there are tracks I was already very familiar with - like Lucy in the Sky, Help from My Friends - that are great, but I'm not bowled over by the album as a whole. I'm sure in the 60s it was groundbreaking but now, it's ok.

Iiiiiiiiit's Christmaaaaaaaaaas! Chapeau for the 24th December suggestion. Having had Heart Xmas pumped into my ears solidly by more festively minded members of my household for the psst month, I must say this was a nice collection - not as whiny or as showy as newer Christmas numbers and striking a nice balance between secular and religious references. Go on then, I'll admit it. 4 stars!

Hard to find but worth it, some catchy numbers and great crooning

Lively afrobeat, fascinating back story (thanks Wikipedia)

Ok... I respect Dylan's musicianship, but he's a bit whiny for my taste

Fantastic. Favourite ever live album

A masterpiece, maybe less raucous and brash than its predecessor Nevermind, but nonetheless heartfelt and passionate

Pretty enjoyable listen, somewhat hazy psychedelic 60s rock. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit standout tracks

This album was great, I particularly liked Hospital. Will definitely be returning.

Sunny, pleasant rock. Particularly liked Fooled Again

Any album that opens with the line "Someday I'm gonna smack you in the face" is always going to stand up and demand attention. This is brash angry punk at its finest, I enjoyed it.

Patti Smith's distinctive voice works perfectly with some pretty haunting lyrical themes. I found the album an ok listen.

This album was pretty forgettable... very 70s sounding rock

Dreamy rock with some catchy tunes

Hmmm, John Lennon eh? I like the titular track but the rest I could take or leave

Pulsating alternative rock. Even without Thom Yorke's cameos there are shades of Radiohead there. PJ Harvey certainly does concept albums well, these songs are indicative of New York

Dreary whiny folk rock... the electric bits were ok but overall not my thing

Ok but a bit forgettable

Awesome album, Timbaland's crisp beats make this an absolute banger. Hip-hop at its finest

Ok grunge, not quite as angsty or infectious as some of its contemporaries *cough* Nirvana *cough*

Classic 70s rock

Standard fare from the Stones with blues and country infused, a couple of standouts

Catchy folky rock

A beguiling slice of proto-punk. Lyrically very interesting - probably more so than musically

Great stuff from The Cure, one of their darker, bleaker records

Sunny slice of 90s indie... nice

Lively. Interesting backstory

A classic breakup album. Ironically, probably my least favourite track is the most well-known one. Some really good driving basslines underpinning solid 90s rock

Good stuff, notwithstanding any personal impressions of Morrissey

Smooth soul

Classic rock, iconic voice. Born to Run is of course a belter, but the album as a whole? Not really my bag

Beards at the ready! Thrusting power chords evoke visions of American road trips. Decent enough

Wasn't expecting much from this album, but was pleasantly surprised. Smooth jazz, a likeable backdrop sound

Fresh and funky pop, politically powered. Bit too earnest for my liking but of the age and danceable

Pour out your whiskey, gather round and lets have a good ol'sing song. Lively and evocative, not really my cup of tea but it wasn't unenjoyable

Great stuff, Sultans of Swing is an all-time classic but I enjoyed the whole album.

Some absolute belters on this album, but not quite a 5-star as there's also a lot of dud filler. Prefer Andre 3000's leads to Big Boi's, some of it does veer a bit too much towards the bragadocious. Miss Jackson, So Fresh, So Clean and Bombs over Baghdad stand out

Bluesy rock, very much of the age

Excellent. Some all time classics on here

Great ambient tracks, smooth chillout background. Four stars!

Full of angst and tension: Lorde sets out a missive of sass and retribution.

Some fresh beats on here, important themes and the like. I would put it somewhere between 3-4 stars, may listen again

Superb. The Cure explore a range of angsty emotions in a lengthy masterpiece

Ok, Rod's vocals are unique over the top of folky rock

Bluesy rock, surprised it was recorded as long ago as 1969 - sounds more modern.

Gentle, dreamy, folk. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would!

Not just an album, but a journey through an aural landscape. Majestic

As a slice of 2010s pop, this is pretty much the blue riband. Some very catchy, dancy numbers, but it didn't really excite all that much

Funky! Some great basslines and beats on this feelgood album

Dreamy and heartfelt, Sinead's voice is so smooth

I imagine this album would have been groundbreaking at the time with its use if synthesisers and drum machines. The music itself is pretty good too, you can hear the influences on the likes of Daft Punk

Good stuff from the Foos, before they became rock behemoths as today. There's a freedom and release compared with the last throes of Nirvana here, as Dave Grohl breaks free of the grunge mould

Nice voice and some nice piano parts, but overall a bit too saccharine easy listening for my taste

I like Today Was a Good Day, but on the whole I was a bit disappointed, the levels of aggression I found uncomfortable even though it does broach heavy subjects

I knew nothing of X before this came up, and what a pleasant surprise. Lively, brash punk - will be returning for more listens

Listenable enough, started well with a cool 70s rock sound but ended up a bit dreary

Punchy 80s pop, including some absolute bangers

It seems quaint that this album is titled 'Modern' when the music would not seem out of place in a 1950s motion picture soundtrack, or a Hanna Barbara original animation. But top musicianship shines through nonetheless

Feisty 80s pop-rock with a definite punk flavour. Some classic dancy hits here to grace any indie disco

Bouncy, inoffensive pop, just not quick got the hook to be catchy

Compelling rock, evoking themes reminiscent of an HG Wells novel

Wow, the title of this album was truly apt- bleak, mournful, reflective. A perfect epitaph to a musical legend

My heart sank when I saw this come up... heavy metal?! I'm not going to lime heavy metal!! But... the music is actually pretty compelling, thrusting bass riffs a guitar solos a plenty. A revelation!

Dreamy, melancholic. Great stuff from the French duo

Interesting album from Billy Bragg and Wilco, feels like pub sing-along folky type music

Standard stuff here from the Stones

Fun folky guitar music

Lilting folky rock with slightly darker lyrical themes

A seminal album for the Chilis, marking a level of maturity to their sound. Flea's funky bass line decorate chugging rock riffs whilst Antony Kiedis' sometimes abstract lyrical stylings meander across the top. Top stuff.

Fresh, funky and just plain cool. Brilliant album

As something of a 90s Indie kid I have always been aware of the Manics without listening to their full albums. All the hits are here and it definitely transported me back to my teenage years

Punky rock. London Calling is an absolute belter, but some other good stuff here too

Damon Albarn's first forays into something a little more experimental than Blur's usual stuff. An interesting mix of dance, electronica, hip-hop and indie (hard to detach Damon's... sorry 2-D's vocals from Blur)

Funky soul, slightly too much on the sickly sweet romantic side for me.

William Orbit's electronica influence is all over this as Madonna sought to re-invent herself. Spiritual and dancey, there are some good tracks on here

Brash hip hop, musically very good but some fairly misogynistic lyrical stylings make this a tough listen

Inspired. Trip hop at its smoothest, freshest and funkiest, full of brooding emotion.

A very funky album, with some brilliant tracks. Wonder's punchy clavichord keeps this disc moving and grooving as it ambles between dancey numbers to more crooning ones

Interesting take on some western covers, almost a reverse-Beatles effect. An interesting fusion of traditional Indian instruments and rock

A decent album

I'm not a fan of Country but Dolly's storytelling abilities are fine, painting vivid pictures of tales of woe and betrayal

Lively rock, with Costello's distinctive voice decorating the music nicely

Immense. Eddie Vedder's vocals are full of feeling as they explore several deep subjects, soundtracked by some pulsating rock riffs.

Decent album, no idea about The Triffids before it popped up, but a heavily 80s-pop rock sounding album

A bit repetitive, didn't inspire me.

I enjoyed some of the funky slap bass on this album, which is a decent listen

Funky jazz, some nice trumpet, bass and piano playing

Pleasant electronica, evoking images of a transcontinental journey

Wistful, melancholic, full of feeling. Great album

Rowdy and spiky, and decidedly American. A decent listen

Raw and punky, some really catchy grooves on this record

Hmmm. The beats are awesome (Dr Dre's influence surely), the rapping skills are top notch and even the humour is welcome. But the misogyny and homophobia is toxic and impossible to overlook, maybe more so with the passing of 20 years or so. I still can't work out whether it is all front or not, but that probably isn't the point.

This is the third Rolling Stones album that I've had so far and was the one I enjoyed the most (vs Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed)

Decent listen, elements of blues and country

Bit dull really, you can tell they've not really found their own sound and it just comes across like a load of covers.

More sultry and seductive than Blue Lines, but a steaming, chilled album

Great album, full of swagger and bluesy tinged rock riffs

Smashing. The beats are immense and whilst I'm not hugely into rap the lyrical dexterity of Little Simz is something to be admired. Cutting content, a great British talent

Lively, fun, afro-latin romp!

Great album, full of bouncing brooding electronic beats and melodies

Wistful and melancholic

Decent 80s pop, but other than the hits I found it a bit boring

At university I happened to make acquaintance with a guy called Nick, who was a friend's housemate. Nick was an odd fellow. Infamously, one drink and drug fuelled evening, he declared to another two housemates, both named Tom (who incidentally adored him) that he was so heartbroken that he would stab himself. Which he duly did, with a penknife. Fortunately the injuries were only minor but afterwards he delighted in recanting this story, chuckling all the way. The other odd thing about Nick was that he was obsessed with Tom Waits, and would listen to him endlessly. So when I saw this come up on my feed, I wasn't overjoyed, but being open minded and some 20 years on from my experience of Nick, I put this album one. My goodness, what a load of shit - it's so bad almost to the point of parody, in fact I spent most of the time listening to it trying to figure out if it was a parody. Just awful.

Rikki Don't Lose That Number is a great tune. The album was ok, a fairly lively listen, but nothing to gripping

Some banging tunes on this electro-dance-rock disc

I only vaguely knew of Nick Cave before listening, I had a hazy recollection of the duet he did with Kylie (on this cut). I wasn't looking forward to listening too much given the rather grisly concept of the album, and certainly this collection of songs channel a macabre, dark, grim essence. And yet, as much as it is quite a hard listen in places, I found this album oddly compelling; there are some really catchy tunes and Cave's growling vocals suit the subject matter perfectly. After listening, I found myself confused... had I enjoyed it? It certainly evoked feelings of disgust and yet also allure, and maybe that is the whole point of the album.

Some very catchy tunes; Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus are standouts.

An absolute classic album, probably THE break-up record. Go Your Own Way is superb, but among a very strong field

I mean, it's Elvis, I guess you either like his voice or you don't. I could take it or leave it, not an unpleasant listen but equally probably won't be revisiting.

One smooth, laid-back album, full of groove and soul. Nice

Mournful and melodic, recognise the talent but all too beige for my taste

Interesting collaboration between Miles Kane and Alex Turner, like an orchestral, less indie rock version of Turner's mother band. I remember buying it at the time, it was on repeat for a few weeks but not an all-time classic

Wow, what a fun album, blending elements of R&B, swing and pop. Definitely will be back for more!

I felt the first half of this album was stronger, some well-known classic tracks, but it petered out a bit towards the end.

Plenty of fun, bouncy, uplifting Celt-folk rock, but I did feel every track apart from the last suffered a bit by 'Not Being Come On Eileen'. Still, a decent listen, and now my jeans are rolled up

Ok, but a bit forgettable.

I'll start with the positives. Some of the beats are epic, and there's no denying Biggie's vocal dexterity is impressive. However, I just can't get overly excited about and admittedly disadvantaged guy venomously spitting about gratuitous violence, avarice, misogyny and supposed sexual prowess. Glad I've listened to it as it probably is worthy of it's place on the list in terms of it's significance to the development of Rap and Hip-hop, but I won't be listening again. Honourable mention to the reference of pagers making this album somewhat of a time capsule, Biggie's demise coming many years before much more advanced communication technology, his deference to being paged is somewhat sweet if you can overlook all of that other stuff I mentioned.

I like Talking Heads, but none of these tracks really gripped me in a way that some of their other stuff does. Still, a decent listen.

Some decent classic rock stuff on here. Smoke On The Water definitely stood out

Ok stuff, but I probably wouldn't listen again.

There's a fine line between romantic and soppy... I'm not sure where this album falls. It was ok

Cool beats and lo-fi rhymes

Decent punky album

More of a soundscape, pretty experimental stuff - didn't really land for me

If anyone were to ask me to name songs written in unusual time signatures, Take Five would be one of the first songs I would think of (thanks, GCSE Music). As a keen teenage trumpeter and bass guitarist, it was one of my favourite songs to learn. Of course, there are six other tracks on this album, a concoction of pleasing jazz, perfect for a fine restaurant or some such.

There were some tracks that I really liked, but also a fair amount of filler

Sultry blues, a good listen

Wow, this album picked me up by the ears and knocked me around on a fun, wild, whimsical adventure. Hadn't heard much of Jane Weaver, but what a find!

Had no idea that I already knew the song 'Green Onions'. The most striking thing about this album is that is recorded in the 60s, it sounds much more contemporary than that. Pure groove, so funky

I didn't hate this album, but it got a bit tedious as it wore on - a bit whiny power rock. Don't need to re-listen.

I love Prince, but I'm actually wavering on 4 or 5 stars for this album, which seems crazy. It's got some of his most recognisable hits and the titular epic closer, it's just that some of the lesser known tracks don't really have the same pizazz. 4.5/5... fuck it, it's Prince. Have the 5 stars!!

Hmm, Elvis doesn't really do it for me. This is his early stuff as well and that rawness comes across. Great voice, but it didn't land for me.

This album is probably in my top 10 of all time, let alone top 1001. In 1997 I had just entered my teenage years, full of angst and dealing with a bereavement. The summer holidays were spent with a heavy emphasis on watching music TV and you couldn't go more than about 30 mins without The Box (channel 17) VH1 (23) or MTV (30) playing Bittersweet Symphony. A family friend bought me Urban Hymns on CD and wow, it was so much more than BSS. Full of feeling and resonating as much with my teenage psyche as it does now I played all 74 min of it over and over. The culmination of the album with the 'big fuck you' in Come On also features one of my favourite lyrics - I must be feeling low / I talked to god in a phonebox on my way home / I told you my answer / I left you my dreams on your answering machine

Early stuff from The Cure, and a distinct rawness to the dark and brooding sound on this album.

I remember this album from the time, The Fugees were massive in '96 what with Killing Me Softly and Ready or Not smashing up the charts. I liked Wyclef's stylings and Lauren's vocals are smooth but it's a middling 3/5 for me.

Considering it's age, this was quite an enjoyable listen. Definitely can hear Lou Reed's folk-tinged rock sound that developed in later recordings

I bought this album in the mid-2000s on the strength of The Seed which is a cracking tune. There are some fresh beats on this album and it's somewhat more cultured hip-hop than most.

Hazy 60s rock, I enjoyed this album - it's stood the test of time.

I wasn't relishing listening to this album much, but it was more pleasant than I anticipated. That said, it did conform to my preconceptions: silky smooth R&B underlying Mariah's unique voice. Wouldn't listen again, but don't feel that my ears have been violated.

A pleasant enough listen, beautiful vocals and fun upbeat samba/bossa nova backdrop

Darker and less poppy than earlier releases, this was a very enjoyable listen with some witty lyrics

Didn't really find this album from Bowie particularly inspiring... it's one of those I wanted to like more than I actually did. Still, Heroes itself is a great song even if a little overplayed and for that this album gets a solid 3/5 from me

Like with my previous album suggestion (Heroes by David Bowie), this is another album that I wanted to like a lot more than I actually did. Bob Dylan's craft is clearly immense but it just doesn't tick the boxes for me. Sorry Bob

Relax, Two Tribes, The Power of Love - these were all tracks I was well aware of and liked, but I had never ventured further into the Frankie Goes To Hollywood oeuvre. Well, I'm very pleased that I now have! I would have originally said Frankie... was decidely 80s pop rock but there are tonnes of different elements going on here, I hear tones of jazz, funk, dance and R&B. Fantastic record!

BOOM! I put off listening to this until my kids were out of earshot which was a sensible move. But moving beyond the explicit lyrics, this album is absolutely banging! The beats are raw and gripping and Ice-T's raps are on point. I can overlook my unease as a non-black person listening to an album laden with references to a certain word beginning with n, have a 5/5

Psychedelic rock, probably would sound great while tripping, but I don't dabble in that so it was a bit boring.

This is a cool album, darker, more urgent and more electronic than earlier Radiohead material. A good listen!

Lively jazz, pleasant background listening with enough going on to keep interest!

Raw, feisty and angry, plenty of distorted open guitar chords and drum fills. Great album!

Surely pressing social commentary, but it was a bit too schmoozy R&B for my tastes.

I wasn't all that familiar with Randy Newman beyond "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story. That's a great track and perfect for the movie, although completely irrelevant for a review of Sail Away. I couldn't help but feel like the aforementioned song would be next, such is the idiosyncratic style of the music, maybe mainly driven by Newman's distinctive drawl. You Can Keep Your Hat On was ok but the rest of the album faded a bit into insignificance. Not an unpleasant listen but don't feel like I need to come back to this one.

It seems a pretty divisive genre, but I quite like jazz. This album is pretty out-there, freeform and experimental, basically a genre-defining artist at the top of their game. I quite enjoyed it, but it's a pretty long haul listen

Hmmm, another Bob Dylan album. This one's a live one, so a bit of different take on things. But still, as with the previous 3 Bob Dylan albums suggested, I'm left feeling like I should have enjoyed them more. Not unpleasant but equally not much lasting interest.

Boom! Spiky riff rock full of power chords and energy. Really enjoyed this one, particularly Simple Man (which I hadn't heard before) and Free Bird (which I had), the latter one of those rock epics that go on an on through seemingly so many phases. So close to giving this the full five stars, but some of the early tracks weren't quite as interesting. But still, definitely worth further listens.

Hmmm. Bit forgettable really, aged power rock from Aerosmith

Pretty dreamy sounding album; I didn't pay close enough attention to the lyrics (nor is my French that good) to pick up on the themes which appear to be somewhat controversial

A writhing, pulsating mass of 90s Britpop indie energy. The girl power on this album is far more raw, kick-ass and, dare I say, Spicy than other iconic female (led) groups from the decade. Nice touches of grunge influence and I'm getting shades of the Pretenders. All in all a solid record

Cracking album, it's a shame Morrissey is such a bell end - I was tempted to dock a star - but Johnny Marr is a wizard, so 5/5 it is.

I remember when this came out in 2007, and the innovational pay what you want concept, and yet at the time the album passed me by. Shame, because it is a banger - Radiohead at their most polished, a much more mature angst than that of their 90s offerings, almost cinematic in its delivery. Outstanding.

Knew nothing about this album, at all. Had quite low expectations but was pleasantly surprised, a dark, almost gothic sounding album with chilling vocals

Lilting melancholic guitar based folk. Inoffensive

This is one of those albums that makes this project so ace - I had only a vague notion of The War on Drugs (the band) prior to this recommendation. Pulsating, haunting indie rock, right up my street. Boom!

Brilliant, classic slice of 80s new wave

Lively latin fare, but it wasn't really exciting enough for me to get into

Jump is one of those songs that I always think of synonymously with 80s music... it's a great track, but I couldn't get into the rest of this album really, felt quite aged.

I didn't think I liked Bjork before I listened to this album. The music is actually pretty good, quite chill and ambient. Indeed, after the album finished some of Amazon Music's related tracks playlist included the likes of Massive Attack who I love. However, I can't really get beyond Bjork's voice, it's just a bit too nasally and whiny. So, after listening, I still don't like Bjork.

As with a lot of hip-hop albums, this is interspersed with numerous skits, broadly themed on shogun culture and mostly tedious. The music is actually pretty good, as is the vocals.

Superb. Dark, brooding, melancholy, this is one of the all-time greatest indie records ever made. Ian Curtis' haunting vocals forbode a terrible demise, but the genius is timeless.

Love it! So quirky, joyful and upbeat, such intelligent use of the most obscure samples.

Well that was odd. Album started quite jauntily, cockney story-telling almost in the vogue of Chas and Dave, then developing into something a little more darker and unhinged.

I know this is a seminal album, but beyond the perfection of Stairway to Heaven, it didn't fully hit the mark for me.

Simply wonderful. So evocative of late teenage years... I remember first hearing Trouble on the radio and thinking it was Oasis. Given what Coldplay have become I think it is easy to forget that they were once a straightforward indie band, and a bloody good one at that. Trouble, Don't Panic, High Speed, Everything's Not Lost, Yellow... there's so much good stuff on here. Screw the haters

Gentle, lilting Latin music, evocative of a dusky night drinking mojitos in the barrios

I thought I would enjoy this album a bit more than I did, Happy Mondays are obviously a significant band in the scope of 90s indie, but I didn't really get into this album

Lovely bit of reggae-dub to chill out to.

I quite like Elvis Costello, it turns out, although this wasn't as infectious as some of his other albums

Decent, grungy rock album. Switching from male/female vocals track by track kept interest

Dreamy electronic indie, quite calming

Pretty solid hip hop album, decent lyrics and cool beats

Dark and brooding, a good listen

Pretty cool album, as jazz goes, this is pretty avant-garde. You need to listen with a different mindset to most albums on this list, since the interest comes through the instrumentation rather than vocals (which are completely absent)

Decent nu-wave/electropop album, Annie Lennox's distinctive vocals complimenting the squelchy synth sounds

I remember buying this album of the back of We Used to Wait which is a quality tune. The album is pretty decent as well, taking a journey through suburbia and the 'thrills' of city life. I listened to it loads at the time and it's still worth a spin now and then, but can't quite warrant the full five stars as it loses a bit of energy towards the end.

The music actually isn't so bad, but I can't get on board with the screaming vocals, it's all just a bit tedious.

Hmmm, setting aside the fact Morrissey is an utter bellend, this album consists of his light, whimsical vocals but without the masterful backdrop of Johnny Marr's guitars. As such, it feels like it's missing something. I won't be back for another listen.

I was expecting to hate this, but actually, it wasn't too bad. And at only 15 mins it didn't really grate much. A lot of - for want of a better word - spunk, and tellingly songs that are over somewhat prematurely. I couldn't really hear the lyrics in their entirety due to the frenetic pace

Ah the 1001 Albums Generator again at it's finest, nominating this album the day after Lizzie has popped off this mortal coil. I feel any review of The Smiths/Morrissey need mention that Morrissey himself is an utter bell-end, but now that's out the way we find a solid album, containing some of the band's best material - Bigmouth.., There is a Light..., The Boy with the Thorn. Some of the other tracks don't hit such high notes, hence it's a 4/5 from me.

Ok, so there are two thorny issues to contend with here. (1) The dubious behaviours of Michael Jackson throughout his life, from the bizarre to the (definitely not smooth) criminal, (2) the quite frankly absurd appearance of Paul McCartney on The Girl is Mine (instantly rendering it the weakest song on the album). Without those factors, this album would be an undeniable 5/5, certified gold-standard, all-time superlative superlative superlative superlative. Can we detach the artist from the art? In my view, whether one can or not, this is some of the finest music ever written, such catchy bass lines and crisp beats. For me, the music stands alone, and it's a solid 5/5.

Pretty catchy riff rock, double album which maybe worked against it in my mind although probably would have done for the concept if it had been one disc. Wavering between 3 and 4 stars - would be a 3.5/5 for me

Strange album, it was ok, but felt like it was building to something that never came

I wasn't expecting too much from this album, but it's pretty catchy, will listen again

I hadn't listened to thus album previously, despite knowing the tragic story of Jeff Buckley and the poignant Hallelujah. Album is a lot more electric than I thought it would be, and is a healthy slice of 90s rock

I always thought I didn't like Elbow, they were too far to along the way to soppy soft rock for my tastes. Despite being familiar with the single releases on this album, I hadn't listened to it in entirety. Something obviously moved me because I went back for a second listen. The more electric, heavy tracks are pretty good but maybe there's something about Guy Garvey's voice that holds me back from really enjoying it.

I was a bit disappointed with this album, not the polished ska sound I was expecting. It's very evocative of singalongs in a pub in the early 80s (at least I would imagine so, I was only in my infant years at the time) - see "it's all a load of bollocks!" for example.

Decent album featuring music from the motion picture, pretty dated but a cool 70s sound.

A storming opening to the album with 1999 (the track) and Little Red Corvette. Prince is a master of both songwriting and instrumental proficiency. The album tailed off a bit towards the end but on the whole, it felt like a joyous party.

When I was in my early 20s, I lived in Camden, just around the corner from one Amy Winehouse. She was a notorious botherer of the Hawley Arms nearby, although I only actually saw her once or twice. However, several times I was awoken at 3 am as she stumbled past our house, a baying mob of paparazzi in tow. At the time I was pretty pissed off but looking back it's pretty tragic, given what became of her life and then untimely passing. Anyway this album; nocturnal disturbances notwithstanding I was never that keen on Amy Winehouse, although her voice is amazing. This album was a fairly enjoyable listen but not one I'd put on repeat.

I didn't really enjoy this album, which is a shame given how iconic the Who are.

This is a pretty iconic album in 90s music, I can certainly place Common People, Disco 2000 and Something Changed to particular points in my teenage life. Probably Pulp's most solid offering.

Hmmm. Usually I would give an album two stars if I don't like it but the music is inoffensive enough that I can sit through it. Although I did sit through this, and not want to rip my ears off, it was pretty bland and there are some other features that have really annoyed me about it. Firstly, how very fucking unoriginal to name your album after your first name, and not only that, this is Scott 2, the sequel to Scott as I later discovered, and furthermore the precursor to Scott 3 and Scott 4. The lyrics verge from the soppy to the downright misogynistic. I also later found out Walker was English, so even more unforgivable is his use of 'ass' rather than 'arse' (get it right if you must). On a more charitable day this would be a 2, but fuck you Scott, here's another 1 star review

I liked this album, definite 60s sound - reminiscent of the Kinks for me.

Cracking album, dark brooding trip-hop, full of 90s swagger.

Nice... dark psychedelia

I've always loved a bit of Karma Chameleon since it was number one the day I was born. This album itself has quite a fun easy-going sound to it.

Pretty raucous affair - rock with a distinctive 80s sound, plenty of power guitar solos and fevered drum fills. Some of the lyrics were a little twee for my ears...

Prior to listening, I only knew the Boo Radleys for the Wake Up! era; I purchased that album on a holiday in the US and loved it. I hadn't ever delved further into their catalogue, but this is a brilliant album. Proper 90s indie sound

I wasn't sure what to expect from this, when I realised it was a live album, but whoa! It's awesome! Some fantastic guitarmanship

Country is not really my bag. This album was inoffensive, interesting in places - if a little bizarre e.g. the murder of a woman for an attempted theft of a pony.

Having no prconceptions of this album, its epic opener, Agnus Dei left me stunned and feeling like the album could go one of two ways, either an absolute better or a confused abstract mess. Though it was neither, it veered far closer to the former with poignant lyrics and fresh instrumentation. At its conclusion, I felt I had experienced something, though I wasn't sure whether it was a good thing or not. Moving.

A bit drivelly

I wasn't aware of this album but it was pretty good, a very 90s sound but that's no bad thing.

My recollection of the 90s is the Tupac was one of the biggest names in hip-hop. There is the aggression typically associated with the genre evident on this album, but it's paired with so slick tunes and a real rhythmic quality to the deliver of the rapped lyrics. I enjoyed it more than I was expecting, and much more than other contemporaries - notably notorious rival Biggie.

Ok album, sounds quite dated now but wasn't unpleasant

Dark, brooding electronica... felt like it was bubbling and simmering but then never quite came fully to the boil.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this much, but it was ok - there are so many tracks that are either well-known hits or have been covered/sampled. Turner's voice is pretty special, but the soundscape is distinctly of the era - slap bass, early synths, sax solos... all very 80s

Just supremely chilled and groovy. I was surprised to find this was as late as Bob Marley's fifth album - other than Stir it Up, I didn't recognise any of the tracks. But Bob Marley does what Bob Marley is best at, making awesome reggae

Live Blues, pretty good live performance but I wasn't bowled over by the music.

Super chilled latin rock. Santana's guitarmanship is God level, and the groovy beats are entrancing. Outstanding

Fresh and funky hip-hop, with slick rhymes and some super groovy basslines. Slight deficit of bombast which for me makes it 4/5 rather than a solid 5/5.

Classic 90s indie. I had never listened to any Suede albums although I knew them from singles. A solid effort.

Dark, thumping, raging rock. Some absolutely belting riffs decorate this epic. 5/5

Everyone knows Let's Get It On. The rest of the album could be more aptly be named "Marvin Gaye is Horny" as the topic matter is pretty single focussed. Nothing wrong in that, mind, just a bit boring over and over.

An absolute belter. This is one of the best albums of the 2000s, if not of all time. It's interesting to see what The Killers have become since, but this is them in their rawest, most indie incarnation. From the banging bassline in the opener, Jenny was a Friend of Mine, through the spectra of emotions of Mr. Brightside, Smile Like You Mean It and Somebody Told Me and beyond, this album soundtracked my early 20s and brings back memories of drunken house parties; the first throes of independence.

As a teen I was obsessed with Jamiroquai in the 1990s. I was probably too young to understand the charges of cultural appropriation many have levelled against them, and of accusations of Jay Kay being a white rip-off of Stevie Wonder. I listened again and preferred to listen with my innocent ears of the 90s. There is a sniff of hypocrisy when Kay passionately sings about environmental catastrophe, yet is a massive petrolhead. Yet beyond all of that, there is some fantastic musicianship on this album. Stuart Zender is an absolute bass wizard, some of these riffs are just too funky - it's a great shame he later fell out with Kay only 2 albums on. The late Toby Smith's keyboards are exquisite and there's even Wallis' digeridoo for something a bit different. For all the funk, it's a solid 5/5.

A distinctly dark sound, with Cohen's gravelly voice offering lamentful tales

I really enjoyed this album, I looked it up and 'folk-punk' seems a perfect description. Bragg is unashamedly left-wing and his songs are full of meaning and purpose. I particularly like the line "How can you lie there and think of England // When you don't even know who's in the team" in Shirley, which I now note features the legend Johnny Marr.

Wow. Drunk is a pretty decent title, this collection of many short songs which are a blend of jubilant and lamenting, somewhat disjointed but in a very fun way. I enjoyed it!

Hmmmm, Bowie... I just don't really get the hype, which I'm aware is a borderline sacrilegious thing to say in some circles. This album obviously has a great significance beyond the music, given the timing of its release days before Bowie's passing. On the music's merit, there is a modern sound to it, most of the songs feel quite dark (as would befit an album titled Blackstar). I like the cover art, the text styling is very clever.

Two Bowie albums in two days, after Blackstar yesterday. I'm really not a fan, but whilst this album was a lot less modern sounding than the aforementioned, it was better than some of the other Bowie albums I've already had.

Surprisingly dreamy and bleak in equal measure. I hadn't ever really appreciated Phil Collins drumming ability, seeing as most of my thoughts on him are based on his solo stuff, which I really am not a fan of.

I found this album quite dreary, just wasn't into it.

Wow, ok so I knew Taylor Swift, yes - the ultimate pop kitten. But this album... she's clearly off the back of some massive break-up which is not unusual for a pop record, but this is so heartfelt, and has a much softer, folkier feel to it. Amazing!

Delightfully folky and quintessentially 60s sounding.

Pretty dark affair, although not unexpected from Nick Cave. Missing some of the swagger and verve of some of his other stuff, this felt all too introspective and didn't really get going.

A glorious slab of riff rock, I was convinced this was an 80s record but turns out it was 1976. Nonetheless More Than a Feeling is a classic and the rest of the album continues in a bold and fun vein

Pretty niche electronica, but plenty of interest, I really enjoyed it

This is a great album by one of music's true legends, featuring some really funky grooves.

Gentle and folky, a decent background soundtrack but not much more interesting than that

Neither annoying or interesting, just a bit boring

I felt sure I knew The Shamen by name, but couldn't place their music. Sure enough the album opener "Move Any Mountain" was the song I was thinking of. Decent 90s electro-indie-rave type stuff, but much like an extended trip it went on a bit too long and didn't really progress to great heights that were hinted at earlier.

I wasn't expecting to like this album, and by and large even trying to listen with an open mind, I was right. The good bits: some of the guitar riffs are pretty catchy, and the drumming is fairly epic. The main bad bit that renders the whole thing somewhat unpleasant is the vocals. I guess I just don't get the appeal but I don't find screamed gravelly vocals particularly fun

A delightfully fun romp, impossible not to be in a good mood while listening. On the flip side, also not too memorable other than the hits

I was quite disappointed by this album, I quite like Dr. Dre but maybe this one was just a bit too fresh for me.

Dreamy electronic album, I found myself thinking of Hot Chip, but not really America.

Didn't think I was all that keen on country, but this album was pretty rocking. Full of feeling but with enough power to feel a bit feisty. Lovely stuff

That was a pretty fun listen, the opening track was impressive by just how 'big' the sound was. For an album recorded in 1968 it had a feel of something more (relatively) modern but with a good dose of swinging 60s spirit

A refreshing journey with funky hip-hop beats pushing forward positive vibes.

Lilting, pre-psychedelia with some all-time classics. It's the Beatles - of course I was already familiar with several songs on this album but had never listened to it in it's entirety. The eastern-inspired instrumental arrangements on Love You To were a highlight. Tomorrow Never Knows is a fantastic closer and sounds well ahead of its time - no wonder really given the Chemical Brothers sampling of it in Setting Sun which didn't seem out of place in the 1990s.

Angsty rock with some cracking tracks.

Boom! Yes! As a child of 90s Britain, time was that you couldn't adjust your stereo without landing on a pirate drum n bass station. I'm sure the purists will hate this album but in the genre they don't come bigger than Roni Size. Iconic

Meh, bland dirge. None of the fun that make disco-era Bee Gees listenable in a somewhat cheesy way, and little of the feeling of ballads such as How Deep is Your Love.

I really enjoyed this album, some really fresh 90s indie rock

I'm not sure where I first heard it but I remember listening to Anyone's Ghost on repeat back in 2010, I loved (still do) that song, but never really ventured further into The National's oeuvre. This is a decent album, I was tempted to go 5 stars but there's a certain lightness to the sound which maybe loses something for me. Still a cracking album and well worth another few listens.

Fun Anglo-Punjabi fusion, brilliantly bouncy and quirky. Everyone needs a bosom for a pillow!

Pretty fresh and funky hip-hop, quite accessible and easier on the ears than most.

In my teenage years, I had a Casio keyboard. One of the features was that it had 128 backing drumbeats for you to jam along to. I was minded of one of them in the World Music section 'Rai' which stuck in my mind as also being the name of a member of the 1994 Brazil World Cup squad. Anyway, pleased with myself that I could identify this album as Rai, it was also quite enjoyable even if I had no idea what was going on. The Imagine cover was perhaps unnecessary but there were some good basslines and brass work to be enjoyed.

Not usually my kind of thing, but Adele's voice is somewhat beguiling and this collection of songs is deeply infused with feelings of hurt and heartbreak. The hits that have had heavy rotation stand out - Rolling in The Deep, Set Fire..., Someone Like You

There's some awesome tracks on here, that are well-known. Some of it is slightly over-egged testosterone tinged but it's a solid album. Slash rocks.

This feels like a seminal album in Stevie Wonder's opus, not that I am overly familiar with all his work. There are so many tracks that I recognise from having been sampled latterly, and it rings pretty true that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Wonder's musicianship is without question, his voice is unique and the sound is wholesome, if a little of the era.

Plinky plonky country, not really my thing

Fantastic album. I got into Gang of Four about 3 decades late, but their jagged guitars and infectious licks are beguiling.

This was a really fun listen, flavours of celtic folk but with rock sensibilities; a really nice blend.

A classic ska album, this has the quintessential hits like A Message to You Rudy and Much Too Young. Good listen.

I can see this album has received a lot of shade. I went into listening to it with an open mind, and it's not terrible. But equally it begins to get a bit nauseating and is not really my thing.

My second Kate Bush album on this list, after Hounds of Love. This album veers far more towards the experimental than pop, and I didn't enjoy it as much.

Bombastic spiky rock, a good listen

I really enjoyed this album, something about the brash and uncompromising sound

Generally inoffensive, if not a little dull plinky-plonky folky rock, very 60s sound

Pretty listenable psychedelic indie

Fresh and funky beats, plenty of attitude. Great album, maybe lacking slightly in some all out bangers that stops this being a 5/5 for me

Paul Weller is an all-time legend. This is a great album, the one thing I did feel was that maybe it dragged on a little but that's the only blemish stopping this being a solid 5/5

Brash and angsty, this was a refreshing surprise

Interesting to have a soundtrack on this list - most of the tracks are instrumental and it's very easy to imagine them as background pieces. I've not seen Shaft the movie, but am aware of it's cult. As for the music, it's insanely groovy - itchy guitar hooks aplenty; deliciously mellow at times. I've always felt Isaac Hayes was like a much cooler Barry White. Such a shame that he fell in with the Scientologists; for South Park to offer a tender tribute rather than an all-out character assassination speaks volumes. A fantastic composition.

I'd never heard of Slint before, but this is an awesome album. Veers seamlessly from gloomy introspection to all-out brash rock with some epic riffs. 5 stars!

I'm not really one for schmoozy 80s fare, but this album was fairly listenable and reasonably uplifting to boot!

Meh, found it a bit repetitive and annoying. A few catchy riffs, but... not for me

Another artist I did not previously know, this is a great album - cultured indie rock.

Classic, fun, bouncy rock. Get it on!

This has aged pretty well for something recorded in 1970, decent rock album.

Folks rock, I enjoyed some of the shifts from song to song but it was a bit too dreamy for my liking. Still, not unpleasant

I had to check because the cover looks distinctly 60s/70s but I could have been convinced this was a throwback 90s/00s band, certainly the opener sounds like it's been recorded in a modern studio. As for the music itself, there were some nice moments but probably won't be revisiting.

I wasn't much taken in by the cover art but this album was pretty good. Classic rock but interesting enough to set it apart.

Wow! This is an album out of nowhere for me, but it rocks! I could have predicted a lot of the shade being thrown its way in the reviews but it's really cool and quirky. An experience as much as anything, the opening 21 min track bending and winding its way through the soundscape.

Mercilessly bright and upbeat. Not really for me but I didn't hate it!

I think this is my third or fourth Nick Cave album that's cropped up on the 1001 albums generator. I wouldn't have expected to like his music much but there's something quite beguiling about his darkness, with a twist of humour thrown in. This album is slightly more upbeat than previous offerings, possibly even some pop elements, but it is decidedly not mainstream! On the whole, I enjoyed it

The album title is slightly lacking in humility, but it's fairly listenable. I imagine if 50s jazz is your bag, this is a fine album, as it is I'm not a huge aficionado but it was, on the whole, tolerable

I remember this album from when it came out, I wanted to say 2001 but Wikipedia confirms 1999. Moby seemed to get a lot of heat at the time, I recall it mainly centred around his veganism, pacifism and general hippie NY existence. 24 years on and it seems bizarre that these now comparatively mainstream interests should be marginalised but it seems the 90s was quite happy to consider Moby a bald prick for having such radical views as compassion, what a wierdo. Much like Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP which was an earlier album on this list, that hasn't aged well (I use Eminem as an example since Moby was lampooned in one of his tracks). Anyway, the music. This is a pretty solid album, and since most of the tracks are largely instrumental or at most scant lyrics, you can imagine a lot of them being used as background music to film or TV (maybe that's the Jason Bourne effect).

Meh, I found this album pretty boring, maybe you had to experience it at the time.

Pretty boring album, just too lightweight and MOR for my taste.

Gentle funky stuff from the legend Stevie Wonder. There weren't any tracks that stood out, mind.

Hotel California the song is God-level, but the album peaks with it as it's opener. The rest was probably awesome in the 70s but feels a bit tired now.

Lively rock 'n' roll, a fun listen!

Interesting one this, quite dark dancy-electronic vibes. The Bjork-esque vocals did get on my nerves a bit though.