When I first heard Bossanova when it was released in 1990, I deemed it a disappointment. This album followed the Pixies "best" records, Surfer Rosa and Doolittle, so it was a tough act to follow and though the opening track instrumental sucked me in, I lost interest in the rest of the album. Fast forward to now and listening with fresher (older) ears, I listened To Bossanova, the whole way through, back to back and have to now reconsider my original opinion. The records good, it engaged me and is much better than I remember and it's better than anything else the Pixies released after. If you don't compare it to the previous albums, on it's own it's a solid album. Thanks album generator for letting me re-discover this underrated near-classic!

I never really understood the hype surrounding Beyonce, sure she has a good voice, but I tend to think her massive appeal and commercial success is more attributed to Beyonce the "product", rather than just the music. I'm always suspicious when you hear about an artist's personal life just as much as their music. I hadn't listened to her music more than what I've been force-fed on the radio and music videos and she is what she is. A above-average singer, with an above average hype machine behind her = the greatest singer of her generation...yeah, right.

I really don't care about what the Christian right or what homeland security thinks about Marilyn Manson's "music", the bottom line is it sucks! You can pile on as much anti-Christ bullshit, vile and hateful devil crap you want, but it doesn't make it more listenable. In fact, I found it at times unlistenable, stupid and annoying. If this is so-called "shock" rock, give me Alice Cooper, at least he had a sense of humor. Don't support this sick, creepy loser!

So much energy! This record speeds by quickly and it's such a shame the band only released one album during their heyday. Every song reminds me of other songs that came later, which shows how important and influential this record was when it was released. An Essential listen for fans of female-fronted bands of all genres!

This is the album that elevated S & G from just a folk singing duo to something more special. Apart form the timeless classics, Homeward Bound and Scarborough Fair, the songs on rest of the album, though sometimes dated, are interesting and more engaging than I anticipated. Their follow-up albums would become masterpieces, but this is a good place to start.

Seems appropriate that my first album would be by a performer from my hometown. I know he wasn't born in Winnipeg, but he spent his important early formative there. In many ways, Rust Never Sleeps is the quintessential NY record, with one side an acoustic solo set and side two an electric set with his band Crazy Horse, a classic live album. Though not my favourite Neil Young album, this is always a very satisfying listen. I personally like live albums (he's released several) so this ranks high, especially in the Neil Young catalog.

My first listen to Badly Drawn Boy and I must admit I was impressed! The Hour of Bewilderbeast is an interesting listen, with a varied range of influences and styles with a lush, full sound that will lead me to seek out more from BDB in the near future.

Beautifully crafted pop album that is hard to categorize or describe. I listened a third time to fully appreciate the exquisite depth of the record. Excellent album!

I wasn't familiar with the artist or the album, but I have been casually listening to some Brazilian music recently. Nice grooves and an infectious rhythm that is very easy to listen to. Thanks for the suggestion!

I haven't been a fan of the Black Keys, but of what I've heard they sound fine. With the absence of authentic rock' n 'roll in much of today's popular music, the Black Keys are a breath of fresh air. Though their music isn't exactly original, they play with a passion and a spirit that is a throwback to when rock dominated radio. Brothers is a solid record that grows on you with repeated listening. 3.5/5

When I first heard Beck, I thought this acoustic guitar-playing skinny white "loser" wouldn't amount to much. He had a hit and I didn't care for his music at the time. Boy, was I wrong! He has created an incredible catalog of critically acclaimed albums, it's music in a wide range of genres and his influence on popular music can't be denied. He has released some flat-out great records and Odelay might be his best! I reserve my judgement until I listen to all his albums.

First of all, I can't believe I listened to a whole Metallica album! Though there are some fine songs on this album and I can understand the appeal of the band to their fans, I wished it would ended sooner as it became quite monotonous and repetitious. They take themselves far too seriously and for a band (more specifically, Lars) that tried to shut down Napster and file sharing, lighten up! Blah!

I admit, I had never heard of Jane Weaver until now. I've never really been into electronica or ambient dream-pop, so for my first listen I didn't care for it. I took a second (more focused) listen (late in the evening) and it paid off. The use of synths and other sounds has a trance-like quality that envelopes you with music full of depth and atmosphere. I didn't think I'd like it, but I'm pleased this album was suggested. I recommend it!

I have gone over 40 years without hearing an Adam & The Ants or Adam Ant album. They didn't receive as much of a following on this side of the pond and I never had to desire to listen to band that dressed as pirates or wore warpaint like American Indians. Admittedly, I've probably seen some Adam Ant videos which didn't help. This was the second album from Adam & the Ants and when I actually listened I didn't dislike it. It was infectious and it had some of that punk, new wave edge the band's sound had before Adam went solo. Much better than I expected, but still not a fan.

An essential proto-punk classic from The Dictators, Go Girl Crazy, has all the hallmarks of great album. Loud, fast and funny as hell, the Dictators definitely don't take themselves too seriously. Often overlooked, this album was very influential and provided a blueprint for many punk bands that followed. Highly recommended, but not for everyone's tastes.

Haven't listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen despite the fact the man is a national treasure in my country. The sound is sparse and has shades of early Dylan, but his vocal delivery is unique and his songs express more emotion. The album isn't essential, but the previous record, Songs of Leonard Cohen, his debut is. By comparison, Room is a letdown, but still a solid album. 3.5/5

An excellent debut album from the Stooges, who burn out of the gate with two rocking classics in 1969 and I Wanna Be Your Dog! The momentum and energy slows right down with We Will Fall, which times out for a third of the album, but fortunately the rest of the record redeems itself. Otherwise, this would be 5 stars, plus the next two albums are even better!

Often, based on the band name I have avoided listening to them because I have a preconceived idea what the music will sound like. Depeche Mode, a perfect example! They sound just as I imagined, end of review...actually, I understand why they are popular. The music is infectious and quite dance-able and I don't hate the music, but I will probably avoid it in the future.

I haven't really been much of a fan of U2 since they broke through to the mainstream and became THE biggest deal worldwide. The band is fine, but I don't care much for Bono, much like Sting, who I feel they believe they are much bigger than their bands, though I know this is true. Despite what my opinion about Bono is, the album, All That You Can't Leave Behind is a surprisingly "back to basics" type of record. Though this album is over 20 years old, I've never listened to it from start to finish and I admit it's very listenable and solid throughout. I'll contribute that to a total band effort! Hope that doesn't hurt your ego too much Bono.

Remember pre-recorded cassettes? I thought they were the greatest thing, you can play them in the car, stroll around with your walkman and it could jam a whole double album on one tape! The problem with these tapes is they were the cheapest of cheap quality. The tape was thin and the longer the time on the tape, the more stretched out and worn the tape got. It eventually will tighten, cease and stop....end! A better option is to buy the vinyl, dub it to a good quality cassette (Maxell, TDK), then you have a home copy and a portable copy. Regrets that I bought the pre-recorded cassette of Double Nickels On the Dime instead of the vinyl in the mid-80's at a record store in the states. An excellent record, probably one of the best double LP's from the 80's that made people realize, punk or post-punk or college rock really was better than the shit that was on the radio! It really was one of those "game changing" records, at least to me. Labels like SST put out some great albums! A classic, highly recommended!!

The cool thing about this 1001 album generator is that it challenges me to listen to music I would otherwise avoid. Funk's not really my thing, so I haven't been exposed to much funk, but I heard that Funkadelic is a great place to start. I'm glad I listened, it was a head-bobbing, FUNky listen alright and this will lead me to sample more from Funkadelic. Really...Thanks generator!

Didn't think I would like this band and I'm not sure if I do, but this album was better than I expected. I'm not one to enjoy electric drums or dreamy synth pop, the songs were easy to listen to and kept me engaged, but are they memorable? Time will tell.

Never understood the appeal to Def Leppard. Sure, their music was popular during it's first wave when I was a youth, but I never got into them because I couldn't stand this brand of mainstream, radio-friendly, light-weight wannabee hair metal. There are guys around my age that still listen to DF because it reminds them of their youth and they can't "relate" to newer music. This is almost 35 years ago! Move on, there's lots of way better music in the three and a half decades that followed.

British folk mixed with a medieval, Renaissance sound that is both interesting and beautiful, at times. Not my type of music, but I can see it would be appropriate for certain situations or if in the proper mood. Not unpleasant.

I would die happy if I never had to listen to this album again! For many (definitely NOT me!), this is a defining album from the 80's. If you had to buy one Bon Jovi record, this is the one with the hits that are on constant rotation on "classic rock" radio stations that still play the crap out of this record. Besides the middle-age woman that still believe Jon Bon's hair is magical and karaoke singers that think they're cool drunkenly shouting, Living On A Prayer, who else still listens to this schlock? What's wrong with people? Expand your tastes, there are so many, many, many better albums and bands from the 80's!

I'm not a big fan of the Beach Boys, so before listening to this I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised of the depth and the high level of songwriting for this low-key, non-Beach Boys sounding album. Proof that Brian Wilson wasn't the only musical talent in the family and I would prefer to listen to this over most Beach Boys records!

I've been getting into "older person" music more recently (because I am becoming an old person) and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Maybe a little much in the horns and strings department, but this seems to be the norm in the day, and I'm actually getting use to it and enjoy it. Anyways, a classic record from old Ray!

Back in high school, I attended a concert that featured the smashing of disco records during the height of the disco's popularity in the late 70's. The local rock radio station sponsored the event, which in turn was giving advertising hype for one of their DJ's band that had a "hit" on the station called, Disco's In the Garbage. Us, impressionable teenagers cheered on the spectacle believing our Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Boston, Foreigner tastes were far superior to any disco music because...disco sucks! Embarrassingly looking back and listening with fresh ears now, disco still does suck, but not as much. I understand the appeal and it is very danceable, not doubt, but I can't dance and the music on it's own is just a slicker soul/funk. I'll give this album a couple of stars mainly because this is a more authentic experience than say...the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb or anyone on the Saturday Night Fever album.

I can't say I know a lot about Prog rock, but a quick scan through my record collection reveals I have more than I remember. I only own two Yes albums and both of them I would consider essential, but this is my first listen to Closer To The Edge start to finish. The first thing I noticed is that there are only 3 songs on the original record and the opener, the title track spans over the full side one. Their follow-up album, Tales From Topographic Oceans was a double album with 4 songs, one per side (yikes!). The songs are actually songs within the songs and there is lots going on and in the hands of other less competent musicians this could have been challenging, instead my tastes have evolved and it was not boring and was an enjoyable listen. I will say, yes to exploring other Yes albums in the future.

So much energy! This record speeds by quickly and it's such a shame the band only released one album during their heyday. Every song reminds me of other songs that came later, which shows how important and influential this record was when it was released. An Essential listen for fans of female-fronted bands of all genres!

This is the album that elevated S & G from just a folk singing duo to something more special. Apart form the timeless classics, Homeward Bound and Scarborough Fair, the songs on rest of the album, though sometimes dated, are interesting and more engaging than I anticipated. Their follow-up albums would become masterpieces, but this is a good place to start.

Some white British blues performing blues standards. Some quality playing from Mayall, Clapton, McVie and Flint, but I don't think it lives up to the hype about how influential and important this album is. It's a fine recording, but I wouldn't deem it essential, though that is debatable.

PJ Harvey is one those artists that has been on my radar, as I know a lot of people that think she's great and a very talented artist, but I've actually never have listened to her. My first impression is that I like the songs and enjoy their sound, but it didn't give me that feeling that it was anything beyond a solid album. I was expecting maybe something more edgy or unique that would stand out above other similar artists from the 90's. This record is critically acclaimed and according to many critics it's her best album, so I'll give it more listens and while I'm at it explore her earlier catalogue which to me looks more interesting.

Finally, an album I own! Steely Dan released some pretty fantastic albums in the 70's and all of them are worth seeking out! At least two of their records, Can't Buy A Thrill and Pretzel Logic I would consider "must hear" and the greatest hits album will fill in the rest. When I was in school when they were at the height of their career, I didn't understand the appeal, but I'm older and wiser now and to me their music exemplifies the best of the mid-70's. Highly recommended!

If you enjoy rapid machine gun drums, throbbing baselines, roaring vocals and endless repetition on every song, then you would love this album! I'll give it +4 because this might be as good as it gets for this genre of music. Then I'll subtract -3 because I don't like this genre, but add +1 because it has balls and it's not the worst thing I've heard here. (I'm talking to you Def Leopard!)

When I was growing up, hearing these songs on the radio are my first memory of Stevie Wonder. I didn't pay much attention at the time and in the mid-80's in his, "I just Called To Say I Loved You" popularity phase, it was hard to ignore (but I did!) because his music was everywhere! Looking back now, the music from the seventies, his "classic" period, really wasn't that bad. Songs In The Key Of Life is critically acclaimed and award winning, the songs are fine and there was some joy to be had listening to this album. Which I guess means I kinda liked it...

I would regard this as one of the best albums from the Rolling Stones, probably in my top 3, at least. A sprawling double-album, Exile allows the Stones to explore different music different styles and it highlights the band at it's career height, both creatively and musically. This has to be considered one of the greatest double albums of all time, leading off with the highly underrated, Rocks Off and continues to amaze until the end of side 4. Must hear!

When I first heard Bossanova when it was released in 1990, I deemed it a disappointment. This album followed the Pixies "best" records, Surfer Rosa and Doolittle, so it was a tough act to follow and though the opening track instrumental sucked me in, I lost interest in the rest of the album. Fast forward to now and listening with fresher (older) ears, I listened To Bossanova, the whole way through, back to back and have to now reconsider my original opinion. The records good, it engaged me and is much better than I remember and it's better than anything else the Pixies released after. If you don't compare it to the previous albums, on it's own it's a solid album. Thanks album generator for letting me re-discover this underrated near-classic!

I would consider this David Bowie's career-defining masterpiece. When I think of the different phases and musical styles of Bowie's career, I keep coming back to the trio of albums, Hunky Dory, Ziggy and Aladdin Sane recorded with his outstanding band, The Spiders From Mars. All these records are essential and Ziggy is up there with the classic albums of the 70's.

After the previous classic rock posts, this one came as a surprise. I had not heard the Penguin Cafe Orchestra so this was a first time listen. At times, the music was fresh and uplifting and this sometimes came across as a experimental orchestral soundtrack score. I can't say I disliked it and actually it's very pleasant background music, but as a "must hear", I'm not so sure.

I really don't care about what the Christian right or what homeland security thinks about Marilyn Manson's "music", the bottom line is it sucks! You can pile on as much anti-Christ bullshit, vile and hateful devil crap you want, but it doesn't make it more listenable. In fact, I found it at times unlistenable, stupid and annoying. If this is so-called "shock" rock, give me Alice Cooper, at least he had a sense of humor. Don't support this sick, creepy loser!

A live album with Metallica and a symphony orchestra? Is this a joke? Heavy metal with symphonic orchestration sounds crazy, but actually it's not bad and even with my distaste in Metallica I listened to the whole (a bit too long) concert. The music from the San Francisco Symphony sounds like a James Bond soundtrack, which isn't a bad thing.

Neil Young recorded some great, good, decent, weird and horrible records during his career and On The Beach stands among his best. I never fully appreciated this album until more recently because I previously didn't gave it a full listen. There's no doubt his finest decade was the 70's, when he recorded and released his most classic records. This album is a low-key release from this era, without much commercial fanfare, but the depth and strength of the songwriting is undeniable.

A refreshingly raw sounding album for The Fall's debut. I didn't know what to expect as I haven't listened to much from The Fall, and it was a pleasant surprise. A good punk record. I quite liked it, not loved, but I'll listen to more from the band!

Glad I took the time to listen to this album. Had no idea what Doves would sound like and I was impressed. Solid indie-Brit pop with some fine songs and not really any bad ones, which is a good thing!

Say what you want about Rod Stewart's career, but he in fact was a great blues and rock vocalist with the Jeff Beck Group and when he and Ron Wood left to join some ex-Small Faces to form the Faces. This was Stewart and Wood at their best (I prefer Wood's guitar work with the Faces than with the Stones) and A Nod Is As Good...was a high point for the band. The band was drunken and sloppy live, but their studio albums were classic records. Wood's guitar work is exceptional on Nod and Stewart never sounded better. The same band would also record on Stewart's early albums, so in reality the Faces produced a lot of great, memorable albums.

Not really a fan of musicians interpreting music genres that are not their usual forte and in this case Ray Charles' modern take of country and western. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't put on a cowboy hat and strum an acoustic guitar, instead it gets the grandiose treatment with horns and strings. At times, it's a bit overdone and hard to listen to after a while, but overall his treatment of the songs and his performance makes it a worthwhile listen.

I've been slowly gaining an appreciation for jazz and I'm very happy this album was on the list of 1001 albums because I hadn't heard it before. Live improvised piano piece isn't something my younger self would have tolerated, so I listened with a open mind and open ears. A wonderful way to spend an hour or so, though it was background music while I was painting (art, not walls). It was a perfect mood for creating. Enjoyable listen!

If I judged this record by the album cover photo alone, I would had given this a hard pass! It was produced by a couple ex-Mott the Hooples (NOT Ian Hunter or Mick Ronson), so it slightly has their sound, as well as maybe the NY Dolls and some riffs from the Dictators, though not done nearly as good as those bands. Parody at best, I expected worse, but they can still go back to mystery city, please.

Never really cared for Simple Minds back in the day and listening to this now doesn't change my opinion. Nothing for me here as their music has always been meh. Let's move on...

Personally, I consider this album to be the Bob Dylan's, magnum opus. Blonde On Blonde is one of the greatest double albums of all time, right up there with Exile On Main St., The White Album and The Wall. Essential!

I'm not usually a fan of Christmas records, though the Ventures and Los Straitjackets do a smash-up job with their instro-versions. That being said, I was skeptical and though some of the songs are a little too sappy for my taste, there are some great songs on here. A bonus star for the spoken-work message to end the record from producer/convicted murderer, Phil "the kill" Spector. Boy, have times changed!

Not a fan, but it wasn't as bad as I expected. The instrumentals were fine, so the less vocals the better. The sound was rawer than I expected, more of a punk feel, which is a good thing.

Never heard of this before, so i didn't know what to expect. Enjoyed it!

An epic album, at least in length, but really highlights Cave's strengths as a songwriter and performer. Bowie-esque in parts, but still a distinct and unique sound.

Though Mudhoney has never lived up to the hype of their first Sub Pop singles, they have carved out a rather successful career. Their early grunge work is what I remember best of Mudhoney and EGBDF might be their best album. A solid record in any era!

Despite bands such as Nirvana and Green Day, Pavement was one of the most important bands from the 90's. Crooked Rain is my favourite Pavement album and it confirms that Stephen Malkmus is one of the best songwriters of his generation. A classic record, definitely a must hear!

I'm a novice for jazz, but this one is a no-brainer as far as classic jazz records. Haven't listened to a lot of Miles, but with the help of music streaming services, this will change. A nice way to spend an hour in the afternoon!

Another band that's been under my radar and they sound kinda like what I expected. Nothing special, but an enjoyable listen and I should listen to more of their stuff.

I divide up R.E.M.'s career in 3 eras, the I.R.S indie-ish albums, the mainstream (MTV) fame years and the after-fame albums. Automatic is smack dab in the middle of the peak fame years. I started to lose interest in the band after Document, but you can't deny the band produced some great records. This one has some well known hits, but I still prefer the days of Reckoning and Life's Rich Pageant.

I'm generally not a fan of country music, but I don't mind some older country from the 50's and 60's. On this Buck Owens record, you can hear how influential this music was to aspiring musicians at the time. The tunes are fun and even I can listen to some hillbilly music sometimes.

When the album first came out, radio was inundated with so much airplay for Tears For Fears I hated this record. Overexposure on radio and music video does translate to huge record sales, but it also pisses off music fans that know there is lots of other music that should be heard. Listening now, the music does have a nostalgic effect, but I am quick to wake up and put on my turntable much better music from the period that gives me a good feeling instead of a feeling of being stuck in an era and decade that produced a lot of crap!

Don't listen to a lot of electronic music, so it's hard for me to judge. Sounds fine to me!

XTC released a lot of memorable records in the 80's and Skylarking might be their masterpiece. It's a lush sounding album that highlights the band at their height of creativity. Not a record full of hits, it's a consistent, solid album that flows beautifully and Dear God is one the most interesting (and greatest) songs the band has ever produced!

Another performer and album I'm not familiar with. That being said, it was an enjoyable listen, though I didn't love it. I really should expand my musical range and listen to more of this genre, then I might appreciate it more.

Some of my most annoying earworms from the 80's were courtesy of George Michael. Faith, I Want Your Sex and anything from his former band, Wham! and the accompanying videos, I couldn't stand! I must admit when I listened to Listen Without Prejudice in 2022, it was a more sympathetic listen as the songs and vibe are a little more sombre and toned down than his previous hit record. The song Freedom! 90 may evoke a different emotion for me now than when it released over 30 years ago. The record isn't awful and listening without prejudice to the whole thing gives me perhaps a slightly different perspective on the man instead of just a "pop star".

The Slider features the icon cover photo taken by (supposedly?) Ringo Starr, is the follow-up album to T-Rex's classic, Electric Warrior. Musically, this feels like a sequel, with a similar sound to Warrior. The songs are accessible and enjoyable, but a feel it's a slight step back quality-wise. Still a great album, well worth seeking out! It's funny, I had this on the turntable last week, so it was fresh on my mind.

As a big fan of live concert recording, you can't deny the importance and significance of this live concert from Dylan. Musically, the first disc is Bob, solo acoustic and the second disc features Dylan electric with the band with songs from his previous releases. What a performance! In my opinion, this is Dylan at his best and I'm sure glad this show was recorded! Thank you bootleggers!

There were basically two stages to Queen's career. The early British hard rocking band of their first three albums, then after Night At the Opera, the mainstream radio friendly hit machine. I must admit, I love Opera, it's an all-time classic and what precedes it gave us hints of what was to come. The band was always a strong vocal band, but they also rocked hard, especially on Queen II with a touches of prog and art rock. They were starting to develop their sound and though there were no "hits", most of the songs were solid. Fans of their later work will not like this.

I don't have many regrets as far as choices I've made for my music collection (LPs, CDs, tapes etc.). One regret I do have is trading my Beastie Boys cassette of Paul's Boutique for a Mick Jagger (?) CD. What was I thinking?! At the time, I wasn't a fan of rap (still not really a fan), but what I was missing out was an important piece of music from the still relevant BB's that many consider an essential listen. This is the first time I listened all the way through and it was very enjoyable. Some of my music tastes have changed, (or evolved?) and I'm more open now to more styles of music. Thankfully with music streaming sites I don't have to re-buy the tape for another listen.

I never really understood the hype surrounding Beyonce, sure she has a good voice, but I tend to think her massive appeal and commercial success is more attributed to Beyonce the "product", rather than just the music. I'm always suspicious when you hear about an artist's personal life just as much as their music. I hadn't listened to her music more than what I've been force-fed on the radio and music videos and she is what she is. A above-average singer, with an above average hype machine behind her = the greatest singer of her generation...yeah, right.

A very important album released when punk and New Wave were on it's verge, contrasted by the threat of disco taking over the airwaves. The Talking Heads, lead by David Byrne emerged from the New York city punk scene playing the dingy clubs such as, CBGB's and Max's that formed a music community of talented and previously unheard artists. The beauty of the first Talking Heads album is it's simplicity, the sound and songs were straight forward, they were unique though, especially Byrne's jittery vocal style and angular guitar sound and Byrne's guitar playing is highly underrated! Though the Heads gained more commercial success as the band's sound expanded into other genre's, Talking Heads 77 will always be considered a landmark record!

Can't decide if this album is Eminem's justification of being a douche bag or more proof that he is. It's so over the top offensive on so many levels it borders on an attempt at comedy or parody and clearly, Eminem is trying way too hard to be taken seriously. I feel justified for dismissing him for all these years because it is as horrible as I thought it would be.

For many years before the Bee Gees hit it big with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and became huge disco stars, the Bee Gees had a full career already in the 60's and early 70's. I admit I own a couple pre-SNF albums and they're pretty good. Keep the image of the Gibbs in tight pants out of your mind when you listen to Trafalgar and you'll be fine. The album has it's moments, but some of the songs are rather dull. All and all, a decent album which is typical for their "early works".

The first Beatles album I bought was the "Blue" record (1967-1970), this along with it's companion ("Red" 1962-1966) are the perfect entry level compilation records to introduce new Beatles fans to most of their hits. To really give you an idea of the range of the band's music, you must seek out most of their studio albums which are very good to brilliant, as sometimes it's the deeper cuts that deserve some attention. I've owned a copy of Abbey Road since the late-70's and it still gets plays on my turntable. Since I've heard the popular tracks so much (Come Together, Something, Here Comes The Sun), I have been known to skip those tracks for the rest of the record. It's these "secondary" tracks that give Abbey Road so much depth in quality. In fact, this has probably the best side 2 of any record I've heard highlighted by the medley that concludes the album. So good! Undoubtedly, this is the Beatles masterpiece!

Not really a James Brown fan, but you can't deny the legacy of the man and the energy of this album. Some performers thrive with live performances and clearly with this and other Apollo live recordings, he is at the top of his game in front of a live audience. He truly is the hardest working man in show biz!

Good solid album. I had never heard of Kiwanuka before and his sound is a refreshing change from the usual. Curious to hear more.

When this album originally hit the airwaves I was so narrowly focused on rock, some mainstream, some not, but especially trying to avoid anything that wasn't rock on the radio. I have since expanded my musical palate and can appreciate this genre of smooth jazz that has a time and place. I always think of smooth jazz as a "pop"-gateway towards "real" jazz that introduces the masses to how potentially commercial this music can be. For me Sade was my introduction to smooth jazz and listening now I can't say I don't like it. Again, it has a time and place and if you want to create a mood of romance and serenity, Diamond Life is definitely your record. Oh, and Valentines is coming up so cue up your Sade albums. Smooth operator, indeed.

Buffalo Springfield was most notable for helping launch Neil Young's career. Buffalo Springfield Again is without doubt a very good album, though Young's contributions were kind of minimal with two of his tracks recorded solo, but it does contain one of Young's great tracks, Mr. Soul. To not take away the contribution of the other members of the band, the record suffers from inconsistency and wasn't quite as great as I remember. That being said, this is an important piece of 60's rock history that is the beginnings of something greater (CSN&Y and Neil solo), that can't be denied.

Dear Bjork, When this album was released I tried to listen and embrace it, but it just didn't click with me and couldn't get past the sound of your voice. I also tried listening to your previous band, the Sugarcubes and as much as I wanted to like it, I couldn't. I realize your music has put Iceland on the global radar as a hotbed for cultural talent, so I feel I should give your music another try and thanks to this 1001 albums challenge I'm having another listen. Sorry, this still doesn't do anything for me, I'm trying to be open-minded, but I just don't care for it. You deserve the accolades you have received because you are clearly talented and unique and you have a dedicated and passionate fan-base so you are truly doing something special. I promise i will try again in maybe...30 years (or sooner), so thank you for your music. Sincerely yours, TDIT

I was never really been a fan of ELO's synthesized sound and some of the production Jeff Lynne did for other artists, but they produced enough good songs to make me feel nostalgic every time I hear them. Each of their early albums had a few songs worth listening to and definitely Out Of The Blue is the most fulfilling. They had quite a bit of radio play during this time and they were popular enough I felt I didn't need to buy the record (if that makes sense?). The best songs are super catchy and I've heard Mr. Blue Sky more in the past couple of years than ever before. It must have appeared on some movie soundtracks or TV shows or something, anyways it's a great song!

Sometimes when an artist is super popular whether it's a hype job or they genuinely are a talent that everyone should listen to, I tend to avoid it. Too much boy band and too much fabricated "American Idol-like singers out there competing for everyone's attention. After finally listening to the full album of Adele's, 21, I really think she is genuinely a talent worth listening to. Personally, her music doesn't interest me much, but I recognize she deserves the accolades she receives. This isn't something I'd toss on the turntable at random, but if it's on the radio I won't switch stations.

This is one of those albums that evokes a feeling of nostalgia and a time capsule-ness of late 60's hippy/folk-era. The quality of the harmonies are unmistakably perfect and though this contains some classic songs (Monday, Monday, California Dreaming), there could have been more consistency, especially with it's selection of covers. That being said, If You Believe Your Eyes & Ears is the essential release from the Mamas & The Papas and California Dreaming is the perfect song to help warm me up with because the place where I live drops to -30 or colder..."on such a winters day"

Interesting listen, not usually the type of music I listen to, but it kept my attention all the way through. I especially like the instrumentals and the Afro-beats are so infectious and energetic, it brought warmth to my otherwise chilly day! Nice!

Note to self: listen to more Brazilian music! I had not heard this before and I was pleasantly surprised. A relaxing and soothing listen, though a little long, had me longing to listen to other Brazilian artists as well.

This recording has all the attributes of a good solid live album. The recording is clear and upfront, the crowd is engaged, loud and present (not too screamy loud, like a Beatles concert), the vocals are raw and emotional, the songs don't sound exactly like the studio versions, a great setlist and it actually sounds like a live concert. This surprised me because I had only heard the studio versions of Cooke's songs and live they are transported to another level. The raw, raspiness of Cooke's vocals is reminiscent to Rod Stewart's vocal delivery and obviously Stewart was heavily influenced by Cooke. Stewart's cover of Twisting The Night Away is clearly a tribute to Sam Cooke. I love this record, one of the better live concert albums out there, it's crazy it took so long to get a proper release!

Along with Abbey Road and maybe Rubber Soul, I consider Revolver one of my favourite Beatles's albums. There's so much going on with a wide range of styles and an increased contribution from all the members. The Beatle's sound was rapidly evolving and after this album, the band settled into the studio and continued to expand and innovate their sound. This has a few hits (Taxman, Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Sub), but really it's a collection of lower key classics that makes this a very solid listen.

First of all, I dislike Kayne West, the person, his politics, his ego and his whole arrogant persona. Secondly, I dislike his music and I absolutely can't stand any "music" that overuses auto-tune, and for that matter, ANY music that uses auto-tune! Thirdly, I don't hate it as much as I could have, because there are some redeeming qualities to it as his full blown ego hasn't taken over yet. I haven't fully listened to any of his followup records, but they must be worst. Fourthly, anyone married (past or present) to a Kardashian gets minus (-) stars. Fifthly, the guy in the bear suit gets a star for looking how I feel after listening to this album.

On Lang's second solo record, her transformation from a goofy country and western singer with her band, The Reclines to a cabaret-style, crooner pop singer was complete. Gone are the wire glasses and long skirts and colourful dresses to be replaced with a androgynous look with a boyish hair cut and tailored suit jackets. In some ways I preferred her cowpunk phase, but I was never a fan of Lang in either persona. She does have a great voice and she puts it to maximum use on this album which probably contains some of her best known songs. Not really my taste, but it's listenable and she deserves the accolades and awards from this album.

Really enjoyed it! Super catchy and melodic, this is the kind of music that brings a smile to my face. I guess I should listen to more Supergrass!

I'm not usually a fan of country and western, but the Gram Parsons and the Burrito Brothers had a different approach to the genre. While the music has styling of folk and country, they also fused in elements of gospel, soul and rock. The results are heard on this album and were influential to the country-rock genre and alt-country rock bands from the late 80's and 90's. They owe a lot of their influence from this record. Gram Parson proved in his short tragic career that quality over quantity was more important and Gilded Palace is a good starting point when examining Parson's career.

Yo, I can't pretend I understand or can relate to this music, but I don't hate it and I can listen to it. I probably won't again, it's just that it's not my kind of music. Ya know what I'm saying...

Though I thought I would prefer the band's earlier stripped down sound, Remain In Light is a turning point for the band musically. The additional musicians and a wider range of sound gives the band a full sound that shows how the band has grown both creatively and production-wise. Not my favourite Talking Heads record, but perhaps the most interesting.

This is some pretty chill mood music, though one step up from background music. Very listenable.

This has a very lavish sound and feel to it, with nods to the 60's and 70's. I quite like it and it grabs your attention and sucks you in because it's consistent and enjoyable throughout. Well done!

Low-key and was better than I expected. Actually, I didn't know what to expect, I was always curious how the Youngbloods sounded and they are mellowed than I thought they'd be, but it has a nice groove to it. An interesting listen, for sure.

Not a big fan of U2, but if I had to listen to a U2 album this would be the one. Critically acclaimed and loved by fans, it contains many of their best known hits, I didn't feel a need to turn it off.

I feel this is the Who's most enjoyable albums to listen to. The first of many concept records from Townsend and the band and this one particularly works...well almost. Side one is great, mixing in the fake commercials with some top notch songs, this is my favourite side one from the Who. Unfortunately, it loses a bit a stream on side two and never quite flows as well, otherwise this would be 5 stars. The later riff during Rael is heard on the next album (Tommy) and the band's sound is evolving from garage to pop psych. This is the beginning of a great run of Who albums.

Not really my genre of music, but it has an infectious energy that keeps it interesting. There's some good songs on here and is worth exploring more.

Music doesn't do much for me. It was playing, but it didn't capture my attention so I wasn't listening very carefully. I'll give an extra star for the cover artwork which I like, much better than the music on the album.

Electric Warrior has to be considered the quintessential Glam Rock album that was hugely influential to many musicians, especially David Bowie. The band's sound evolved from folk-rock to a more electric rock sound. Get It On (Bang A Gong) is one of those songs you seem to hear everywhere, but the rest of the album is solid with just as many memorable songs on it. Definitely essential to any fan of 70's rock, a classic!

Some good old fashioned rock 'n' roll, the way it was meant to be heard. Raw, charged and full of energy, this was Little Richard at his best!

I actually haven't listened to a lot of Grateful Dead albums, so I didn't know what to expect. This one has several songs I'm familiar with and it has a nice mellow country-rock vibe throughout. I'll probably listen to more albums around this time period because I quite like it, but I'm not interested in becoming a Deadhead anytime soon.

Seems like standard old school rap/hip hop to my untrained rap ear. Nothing really stands out for me, but it doesn't turn me off like some rap does. It's okay...

The summer of 1979 was my first full summer of going to arena-sized rock concerts seeing bands like, Cheap Trick, Supertramp and Van Halen. This was an eye-opening and ear splitting experience that forever secured my love for live concerts. The sheer energy and captive stage presence of Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth was mind-melting, at the time and it set my standards pretty high of what a great rock concert should be. Though I can't say I'm still a band of Van Halen, I must admit their first album was very influential on so many levels and it is must be considered one of the great debut records of the 70's. The instrumental, Eruption introduced the world to the guitar wizardry of Eddie Van Halen and if you love guitar, this is essential. Listening to it now (loud), brings back a lot of happy memories, but I'm glad I expanded my music tastes after the first couple Van Halen albums because they became a shell of their former self and self-parody later in their long career. Still, this a must-hear!

Some good songs on this one, but as a whole it didn't grab me and pull me in like I thought it would. A fine document of some late 60's psych-pop-rock and it gets kind of jammy to conclude the record. Nice touch.

Though I don't think this is Springsteen's best record, it was definitely his most popular, best selling and most commercially successful album. The Boss had broken through into the mainstream (if he hadn't already), not just Springsteen fans, but a whole new younger audience that were swayed by the popular music videos they're were for this record. The dance-worthy, Dancing in the Dark, was his biggest hit (there were 7 top ten singles on the album) despite being one of the least-Springsteen-ish sounding songs of his career. A huge tour followed and the American (and world-wide) public couldn't get enough! Apparently, Bruce did because he never released an album afterwards that was anything as accessible and hit-worthy as Born In The U.S.A.

Truly a classic record that introduced the world to Jonathan Richman. This version of the Modern Lovers was much different than Richman's later incarnations of the Modern Lovers, almost a one-off that rocked harder than anything Richman would ever release. Much more of a band-format, this debut album featured future members of the Talking Heads (Jerry Harrison) and the Cars (David Robinson). It's a very influential record and proto-punk classic, it has to be considered one of the great art rock albums!

Though I'm a fan of some New Wave, this veers more towards Techno-pop and feels a bit too pretentious to me. There are some good songs that have a bit of a Roxy Music/Bowie and maybe even Duran Duran vibe to it, so it did grow on me. The cover photo would probably stop me from listening, but I'm glad I took a listen.

She's got an excellent voice and puts it to good use on this album. I'm just not a fan of this style of music, but I'll still listen. Some okay songs, but I have no need to buy this. Thank you streaming sites.

A refreshing listen from music that should be heard. I never got around to listening to this when it was released and it's the type of music I appreciate more now. A very pleasant afternoon spent transcended to Buena Vista. Nice!

This is one of those albums that are so career defining and important, it should be heard by everyone. When I bought this album back in the early 80's or so, I have to admit I didn't take to it right away. It's an intense listen and it's not for everyone, but again it should be heard. It's a "game-changer" in so many ways and changed the way feminism and woman's issues were viewed by mainstream culture and music. Another defining moment in the 70's. Enough babble, have a listen!

Personally, Murmur was one of those life-changing records that shifted the direction of my music tastes. R.E.M.'s sound was refreshing and much needed. Around this time I discovered other like-minded bands, the Replacements, Husker Du, Violent Femmes, etc. ,bands outside mainstream radio (college rock) and this music was the reason the 80's actually had some great music. I'll always have a special place for the first four R.E.M. records (especially the first two) in my collection and all of them are essential listens!

Never been a fan of the Pet Shop Boys and probably never will be. Listening to most of the album is the most I've listened to them in one sitting and though it was fine, couldn't really keep my attention. Some songs had a nice beat to it and could get into it, but most of the music had a sameness and blah appeal for me. Blah...

An enjoyable listen. Nothing really jumps out and the songs are fine, but his vocals are rich and strong and overall a solid record.

A solid sounding record, I enjoy their sound, but nothing really stands out for me. I'm not a big fan, but this has me curious enough to re-visit their earlier albums and re-listen to this one again.

An amazing debut album that introduced us to the incredible PJ Harvey. Her longevity in music has proven this record was no fluke. A raw, rocking album! I haven't heard the demo version of the album yet, but I will for sure now!

I really didn't understand the appeal of Leonard Cohen until i listened to some of his earlier records, which I thought were quite good. Later in his career, he had a bit of an revival and attracted new fans and treated his old fans with new material. This music i have less interest in, unless you're old and/or female, it's not for me. Listenable, but I prefer his back catalog.

When you think of great live albums, Live At Leeds is always in the conversation. Not only did the Who release excellent studio records, they were an amazing live band. I had this on cassette back in the early 80's and it got to many listens, I wore out the tape. I thought at the time, I wish the album was longer and there must have been other songs during the set. After listening to the deluxe edition that contained the whole concert, I take back my earlier concerns. The whole show which was during the "Tommy" era, contained lots of songs from that record, which is fine, but it loses some of it's energy. I can now see why the original Live At Leeds album was edited down, it's so much more powerful and dynamic with the shorter track list and it remains (to me anyways), a landmark live album. (I would give the deluxe edition 4****)

This was the first Dinosaur Jr record I heard so it set the standard high for their subsequent releases and this remains my favourite album of theirs. It's loud, noisy and it hits hard. It's not a perfect record by any stretch, but it came at a time when alternative music was starting to get attention, pre-grunge, pre-Nirvana and it gave me hope that music was more than pretty faces, pretty songs and pretty boring music. I still listen to this album, a lot and if you do, play it loud, loud LOUD!

A really interesting album. Waits does a jazzy, spoken word/talking "live" performance complete with a nightclub atmosphere. Waits is brilliant, funny and very engaging spoken with his trademark gravelly voice. The music is low key and quite good. I really enjoyed it, but it might not hold up to repeated plays and he has better records.

Generally, I'm not a big fan of reggae, sometimes there's too much repetition for my liking, but this album is so old school and straight up reggae, I like it a lot. Easy to groove to, a very pleasurable laid-back listen.

Considering this is the follow-up album to Pink Floyd's masterpiece, Dark Side Of the Moon the expectations were huge with this record. I always felt, Wish You Were Here was the low-key classic, that in many ways is just as good or even better than Dark Side. I heard a lot of this music in my late teens and of course, it still holds up today. I feel I should explore their earlier works to fairly compare all their albums. One of their best regardless and one of the better albums of the 70's, for sure!

Sounds okay, but never would consider this to be "must hear". Easy to listen to and has some fine moments, but really there are other more worthy Brit-Pop band that could make the list. I did enjoy it though.

Definitely in that category of great albums from the 70's, even of all-time on some people's lists. When it was released and dominated the radio waves with it's many hits, I tried to avoid getting caught up in the hype of Fleetwood Mac and didn't buy the album. Listening now, the record brings me waves of nostalgia and some weird fuzzy feeling when you think back to your youth...That being said, it is a classic record, but there are other amazing albums that should receive at least half the attention this one did then and now, during it's recent revived interest.

Nothing wrong with this record, it's listenable, though it doesn't do much for me specifically. There are some good songs on it and I didn't feel the need to turn it off, but there's only so much you can take hearing voice mail messages from someone else's mother.

This has to be considered one of Neil Young's best known and top-selling records. Lots of great songs on here and though I don't regard this his best or my favourite album of Young's, this is a classic. I still prefer his "rocker" albums.

A beautiful sounding record. I've been meaning to discover his music and this was the perfect excuse to listen. I need to hear more from Drake (no, not that Drake!), highly recommended!

A fast-paced, epic record from music icon, Brian Wilson. This concept record's tracks seem to blend into one another, there are some great songs on here, though it's a bit of a jumble at times. Not really a big fan of the Beach Boys, but enjoyed it and glad this finally got a real release!

Didn't know exactly what I was expecting, but it was better than I expected, I actually didn't mind it. Stark, ambient at times, it's not exactly "hit-worthy" music, but there is some substance to it. Okay, but not essential by any means.

Though I don't consider this the Byrd's best album, it's still very significant and has a lot of good songs it. There is however more filler than on previous records and at the time is was overlooked, but it ages well today. The Byrd's are exploring more musical styles, for better or worse, so overall it's a solid record.

Not really my genre, but I didn't mind it. Very pleasant background music, but never engaged me beyond that. Enjoyable!

Don't have much Johnny Cash records, but, At Folsom Prison is my absolute favorite! What can be better than Johnny performing in front of prisoners at a prison with a set of "appeasing the audience" appropriate songs ! Wow, still a classic!

I realize the historical significance of the release of this album and the lasting influence Joan Baez has been since the 60's, but I can't honestly say I enjoy it that much. Her music and her singing is fine, I just need to hear her in small doses.

I didn't realize Bonnie Raitt had released so many records previously, as this is her tenth album, but I knew this her comeback album. Easy to listen to and so many familiar songs I had forgotten about, though kind of generic at the same time. Enjoyable enough, I'll probably listen to more from Bonnie in the near future.

Not a fan of techno or electronica or funk or whatever this genre is, but I can't say I hate it. Okay as background music, but the chances of me digging this up for another listen are slim to none.

Nice to see some indie-rock bands here instead of just older classic rock albums. This record has it moments and there are some good songs here, but overall it didn't capture my attention as much I had hoped. Good effort, so I will listen to more from the band.

The debut and only album recorded when Buddy was alive (which is quite surprising!) is a rock' n ' roll classic! This record pretty much has the essential songs that made Holly a legend, but if you want a wider look at his career (to be), greatest hits packages will cover that. Short and sweet!

When I bought this album when it was first released, I was so anxious to hear it I zoomed home to play it! Unfortunately disappointment, the opening track, So Far Away skipped on the turntable and without listening to the rest, I immediately exchanged it for another...then it happened again...anyways, third time was a charm! The opening three songs were amazing and most of the album as a whole was good, but it started to lose me towards the end. Dire Straits most commercially successful album and their last great record, but in my opinion, not their best. It still brings back memories of happier times of playing records, reading the liner notes, listening with headphones in your parents house and avoiding music videos. :)

A really good record that was easy to listen to and digest. I especially enjoy Hill's contributions and it's always nice to hear a female voice in hip-hop. Though they only released two albums, their influence is undeniable. I'm still not much of a hip-hop, R & B fan, but this was enjoyable.

Couldn't get into it, I tried... The songs are okay, but nothing that stands out as essential or memorable and really I had the urge to switch to something else as I lost interest about halfway through.

I use to like the Chili Peppers, Mother's Milk was pretty good, they were funky, edgy and different than most of the stuff on the radio or MTV and they put on amazing live shows. But something happens when you sell a gazillion copies of a record, chart high on the charts and attract the attention of celebrities and a mainstream following of teenage girls and loser hipsters. They're live shows are probably still a spectacle with the help of a much bigger budget and same with their music, big budget, accessible radio-friendly music so another bazillion people can stream it on Spotify or whatever. Kind of makes me sad...

Up until the release of Face To Face in 1966, the Kinks were primarily known as a hit singles band, but this album would be a turning point. Face To Face was the first of a string of soon-to-be classics the Kink's albums recorded in the late 60's. This too, is the first of Ray Davies vision of concept records that he explores further in the late 60's and 70's. This might be considered one of their "under the radar" masterpieces and ironically this is the only Kinks record I don't have on vinyl in my collection, though I've listened to it many, many times and I would consider this a must-hear! I really need to buy this album!

Pink Floyd closed out the 70's with the epic rock opera, The Wall. This was an extraordinary project that would become their opus magnum, a concept album that would be their last great work. The record has many highlights and is fairly consistent, but like most double albums has some filler. That being said, despite Dark Side Of The Moon being their best selling album, The Wall is their most important.

This is the third PJ Harvey I have rated and I must admit, this one kept my interest the least. The earlier albums were more raw and hungry, while this one never connected with me maybe because it wasn't very interesting or unique. A bit too bland for my taste.

This is considered the quintessential Led Zeppelin album. Not only does it contain one of the best known songs of the 70's, but it's also their most consistent record. It's been a while since I listened to IV in it's entirety and I almost forgot how many classic songs are on here. This should be the starting place to discover Zep, then work your way back (I, II, III) to the beginning, they're all essential!

Clearly, Michael Jackson and his album, Thriller are iconic, it can't be denied, as this album is the best selling album of all-time. 70 million copies have been sold worldwide, so 70 million can't be wrong, can they? I am NOT one of those 70 million, but it seems over my lifetime, I've been forced to listen to songs from this record at least that many times. Just because a record gets endless airplay, music videos have been viewed billions of times, millions of people have seen him live and all those copies of the album were sold doesn't mean it's any good. Not to forget, that glove, that dance, his zoo, the kids...!! I had seen this album in bargain bins more than any other album, so you know people's parents bought this record because it was popular. The next generation that has followed have also been tricked into thinking this is a great piece of music...spoiler alert, it isn't!

On this rainy, cold gloomy day, this a much needed ray of sunshine and warmth! Now, I gotta get up and dance, well maybe. Enjoyable!

This record immediately caught my attention and kept it throughout. An excellent debut with original guitarist, Ward Dotson that's catchy and interesting. Ward went on to a fine career with the Pontiac Brothers and Liquor Giants and he really shines on this album.

I usually have a high tolerance for most hardcore, as some of it has some substance and marginal musicianship to it, but this "grindcore" or extremely metal or whatever Napalm Death's genre is, really tests my patience. I guess this is what nightmares sound like with it's comical dog barks that pass for vocals and the speed and ridiculousness of the songs makes me wonder why I must hear this before I die? If I cranked this up, I'm sure the neighbors would call the cops and I might be induced to go on a killing spree.

After listening to the last post for, Napalm Death, this is a breath of fresh air. Easy to listen to and skilled musicianship made this listen enjoyable.

I had not heard this previously and I haven't listened to much Lizzy besides the "hits", so this was a nice wide range of tracks spread throughout this double LP. They sounded like a great band to see live and this live record brings life and a freshness to the studio tracks. Will listen repeatedly!

A good solid album from those Young Rascals with one of their biggest hits along with some other decent songs. An easy listen, nothing too challenging, just a chill record that was enjoyable.

Not a fan of the band, especially when this album was first released. I didn't listen to any synth-based pop music on the radio, but reflecting back it does bring back a bit of nostalgia. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing their big hit, Don't You Want Me and it still remains an earwig in my mind once in a while. It's not always a bad thing.

I should first mention, I do NOT like Guns N' Roses! I think they are one of the most overrated bands of our generation and I just can't see the appeal of this parody of a "heavy metal" band, if you even call them that. I don't have any issue with most of the band members, except Axl Rose, who is the definition of a douche, I can't stand him! As for the music, it's nothing special, Aerosmith pretty much covered this territory a lot better decades ago. If you are a fan or want to hear what the big deal is, Appetite For Destruction is their so-called best album and has their familiar tunes. I did listen to the whole record and though it didn't rock my world, it was at least listenable. If you haven't heard, Welcome to the Jungle, already a million times at sporting events or the radio, you are a very fortunate person. If you wear a Guns N' Roses t-shirt, do not talk to me and stay away, I've judged you already.

Not familiar with the artist, so I had no idea what I'd be listening to. After a listen, I still don't know what I was listening to. So much going on, some good, some...not so easy to listen to. An interesting mix, but not enough to hold my interest throughout the whole album, but overall, could be worse, I suppose.

When this album was released, I dismissed it because I was "Policed-out" and lost interest in the band and wasn't interested too much in the songs or the music videos that accompanied the record. I saw the band during this tour and was impressed how well the songs translated live and they were still at the top of their game as a live band. Reflecting back and listening now, I realize Synchronicity is a solid record (I still prefer their first two albums the most) and it was an appropriate "swansong" for their final album. Sting went on to...yeah, you know what happens...

This takes me back, I remember listening to this in the late 80's and it helped expand my musical interests beyond pop, rock and punk. Musically interesting, with tracks that were accessible to (younger) listeners outside the folk, Celtic, Irish genre. Today, it still holds up okay, but it's a little more traditional than I remember.

Haven't actually listened to a complete Fiona Apple record and she sounded like I expected. Fiona's lyrics are interesting and provocative and the music is fine and though I can't say I love it, it was enjoyable and sometimes challenging. She's been around for a while and she's achieved much critical acclaim and I'm glad her music didn't get super mainstream. She seems to be doing what she wants to be doing, so extra points for integrity.

I can't pretend to say I understand or enjoy the music, but I can't say I dislike it. To me, it's experimental, avant-garde noise sounds and it's no wonder Eno composes soundtracks. Collaborating with David Byrne helps and they work well together, so I might have another listen in a different state of mind.

Generally, this is a genre I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to, but I enjoyed it! Solid beats and very musically varied, I found myself grooving and moving. I would even consider listening to more.

First time listener for Pulp and was always interested how this album would sound. There's nothing hardcore about it, but it's a dynamic record and for the most part, enjoyed it. I've been starting to re-discover more Brit-pop as I ignored it first time around, so I'm sure I'll slowly appreciate it more. The cover is more disappointing than the music, which is a good thing.

Steely Dan released a run of great albums during the 70's and I regard a couple of them as essential (Can't Buy A Thrill, Pretzel Logic), that are a good starting point to discover Steely Dan. Aja, the band's 6th album was moving towards more of a rock-jazz oriented sound, a bit smoother, but just as interesting. The previous records leading up to Aja (Katie Lied, Royal Scam), were a bit of a letdown and less consistent, but Aja was improved and produced an accessible sound that led to it being probably their most commercially successful record. I would place Aja in my top three favourite Dan albums and it brings back much nostalgia from my teenage years when I listen to it. A solid record, but not their best.

A friend of mine recommended this album back when it was released and at the time I hadn't listened to a lot of female artists I enjoyed, since most of the bands I followed were your typical white male-lead groups/singers. I have to admit, I half gave it a listen because Suzanne looked so cute on the album cover (yes, I do sometimes judge the record by the cover). It was low-key folk and her voice and the music caught my attention immediately. The songs were interesting and this was something that was missing from my musical palate up to this point. I can't say I'm a big Suzanne Vega fan, though her second album was commercially successful with her two best known songs (Tom's Diner and Luka), but I really didn't care for her music as much as her debut. Luka is a great song, though I prefer the Lemonheads cover version, but maybe that's what makes the first album so good, there are no hits, no pretension or expectation. I still spin this record occasionally and I'm glad my buddy, Ben recommended I buy it.

The first two tracks hit you hard and fast and overall this is a very solid album. I had never listened to the Saints before and was pleasantly surprised by their sound and I'm instantly a fan. Since this is their second album, I'm curious about their debut and the rest of their discography, as well.

For me, I have to be in the proper mood to listen to a lot of Prog, that being said, ELP are one of the best in the genre, so I was optimistic to listen this record. The playing is top notch and you're not gonna hear any chart topping singles, but it's a little self-indigent at times and I sometimes don't have patience for really long songs. Overall, it was enjoyable, though they have better albums. The cover art is cool!

During Nirvana's short career, they produced only 3 studio albums. Bleach, the indie album (if you can call Sub Pop indie?), the major label, mainstream breakthrough record, Nevermind and their last album, the follow-up, In Utero. Nevermind was a tough act to follow, it went on to sell a gazillion records, got tons of airplay and was widely praised as one of the great albums of the 90's. In Utero was in fact a commercial and critical success, it was at the top of the charts and it also sold way too many records, but was it any good? Personally, when it was released I didn't care for it or I didn't really want to listen to it. At the time, I had an issue with bands that "sold out", signed with major labels and attracted a whole different audience (you didn't have before you became popular), once you became "too mainstream". Reflecting back and listening now, they didn't really compromise their sound too much, some of the songs on In Utero were more abrasive and didn't have the sound of a typical chart-topper. Music was shifting, grunge became mainstream, punk became popular and it became fashionable to listen to music that wasn't just force-fed through popular radio stations, so maybe it was a good thing. In Utero, did reflect the time period, it was a very good album, but if it came out 5 years earlier would it have been noticed?

I previously, haven't listened to much African music and I actually had never listened to anything from Miriam Makeba. First impressions, her voice is amazing and beautiful and I was pleasantly surprised by her talent. The more I've read about her, the more I want to listen to more of her music. Thank you for putting her into my musical stratosphere. Very enjoyable!

Bruce Springsteen followed up his highly successful (both commercially and critically) albums, Born To Run and Darkness On The Edge Of Town, with a solo acoustic album, Nebraska. Sparse and raw, Nebraska could have been career suicide for a less talented artist, as his band was at the height of their creativity, both live and on record and Nebraska seemed like a step back. The demo quality of the songs may have put off fans that wanted another rock album, but the depth and honesty of the lyrics and music displayed the incredible talent of Springsteen and I give him credit for having the guts to release this record despite record label pressure for another chart-topping, best selling album. I like this record, more so now than when it was released, but it will be a piece of art that will stand on it's own as a triumph, in his vast discography.

Clearly, Lamar is a talent and has amassed a huge following, considering this is at least the second time he's appeared on the list. I still don't consider him essential, but obviously I'm not the demographic he's counting on to buy his records or stream his music. Nothing wrong with it and for the most part listenable, so let's move on.

I actually hadn't heard of Ali Farka Toure before this album came up and was fascinated what "African desert blues" sounded like. It's a pretty accurate description of the music and my first impression is that I love the guitar sound and the grooves. The songs are interesting and I will revisit this and some of his other recordings in the near future. Another cool find!

Bowie and the Spiders From Mars had a run of great records in the early 70's, Hunky Dory, Ziggy, Aladdin Sane (along with the covers album, Pinups). Aladdin was the last of original material and it sometimes doesn't get the attention and accolades of the previous two albums. It's because Aladdin Sane isn't as essential and important, but it's still an outstanding record with fine contributions from the Spiders. This was the first Bowie record I owned on vinyl, so I have a soft spot for it and I still consider it one of his better albums from the 70's.

When I first heard this album in the 70's, as sad as it was, this was probably the first time I heard any Latin rock. I know, I wasn't exposed to a lot of diverse music in my youth, but with the help of film footage and music from Woodstock (etc), I knew who Santana was. This record has some absolute classic essential tracks on it that everyone has heard and hearing it today, it's still timeless music! The rest of record isn't bad either!

I bought this album in the mid-80's when my local university radio station was clearing their collection when it went off the air. I got this and their second album, Adventure and really didn't get much play on my turntable at the time, but rediscovered these albums in the past 10 years and was blown away by what I've been missing. A post-punk classic, Marquee Moon has been influential to many bands in the 80's, 90's...up until now! The guitar interplay between Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd is incredible and the songs resonate with you every listen. What a great record!

This is perfect timing because Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush sits at or near the top of the charts 37 years after it's original release. Thanks to the TV series, Stranger Things, which takes place in the 80's, the song, "Running Up That Hill"'s appearance on the show has somehow revived the interest in the song, album and Kate Bush. Remember Kate Bush? I do, she was very popular in the 80's, maybe more so in the UK, but I know a lot of people that are big fans of her music. Me, not so much. I never got into her music then and after re-listening to Hounds Of Love, it still doesn't do much for me. Maybe it's her vocal delivery or maybe it's just the songs are not interesting to me. I found myself wanting to listen to something else about halfway through this album, but I stuck it out. The power of nostalgia in soundtracks and songs in TV/movies is real, as the Clash's, Should I Stay...played a prominent role in the first couple seasons of Stranger Things and I'm hoping Jonathan introduces more cool music to Will...The Replacements, Husker Du, R.E.M...perhaps?

Oasis is one of those band I hadn't bothered to listen to beyond a couple of their best known songs and I've probably heard more about their personal squabbles and gossipy news stories than their actual music. This is my first full listen to this album, Oasis's debut, Definitely Maybe. It definitely makes an impression, as the music is catchy and rocks out pretty good and it definitely has it's moments. I don't know if the band deserves all the hype they received when it was first released, but the music stands up as above average and I must admit I enjoyed it. The band might be overrated, but on this album, they "put their money where their mouth is", an excellent record.

I had never listened to Portishead, so I wasn't sure what to expect and it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Termed as "trip-hop", I thought it would be more electronic and heavier and I wasn't expecting female vocals (Beth Gibbons). The music was nice and her vocals were beautiful, and at some point I thought I was listening to Sade. Not a bad listen, I'll have to listen again to fully appreciate it.

I never really was much of a Radiohead fan, though I've heard some of their music, I hadn't sat down and listened to a whole album. The Bends definitely has some great songs on it and overall it's a solid record. I think they do live up to the hype and I'll see who this album holds up to their more recent releases.

It was better than I expected and I have to admit, I enjoyed it. Sounded more like background music, but that's okay. Hard to believe this was released in 1973, even today it has a "futuristic" sound to it, at least what we think the future should sound like... I guess the future is a lot closer than we think, right?

I've been listening to a lot of French music from the 60's and early 70's lately, so I was happy to see this on the list. Serge Gainsbourg always seemed to have that creepy, older( French)man-vibe happening, similarly to Canada's Leonard Cohen, but you can't deny the talent and importance this music has to offer. I bought the old 45 of "Je t'aime… moi non plus", a couple years ago and have been intrigued with Serge and Jane Birkin ever since. The music is cool and if you can get past Gainsbourg's talking/singing style, it's an essential listen.

It had it's moments, but it didn't capture my attention. With the little that I know about electronic music, this seemed a tad boring and generic sounding. Really not much for me to enjoy, move on...

I always wondered if anyone that loved the song, Cars, had actually listened to the rest of the album? To be honest, I hadn't and I was kind of surprised how low-key and less commercial sounding the rest of the record was. Very synth-new wave-ish with a full synthetic sound (no guitars!) definitely a robotic feel, not really too surprising considering "Cars" robotic sound...the sound of the future? "Cars", came out at a time when me and friends were getting our drivers licenses and spent many a night car cruising to that song blaring out the open windows, so this song has a real nostalgic connection.

When I first heard L.A. Woman in the late 70's, I wasn't fully impressed. Their earliest records had a psychedelic, rock sound I preferred and I thought the "mature" sounds of L.A. Woman wasn't for me. Looking back and re-listening to the album throughout the years, it truly is the Doors', career-defining record released before Jim Morrison's untimely death. I often compare it to the Who's, "Who's Next", their classic masterpiece that was anchored by two long epic classic tracks (Baba O'Riley, Won't Get Fooled Again), similarity to the Doors songs, Riders On The Storm and the title track on L.A. Woman. They aren't my favourite albums by those artists, but they are the records that were the high-points (arguably) of their career's.

Would I like this with headphones on, maybe if I smoked a bong. Would I like this in my living room, only if I was high on shrooms. Do I care about these songs, to pretend I like them would be wrong. Are these songs considered really essential, there's not much chance of that potential. I do not like this in a car. I do not like this in a bar. I do not like this in a house. I do not like this with my spouse. I do not like this here or there. I do not like this anywhere. I do not like Boy In Da Corner. I do not like this performer! Nope

Not a fan of rap, but as far as rap goes, I thought it was a fine listen. It does get monotonous at times, it's a long album, so I think I'd be better suited to shorter doses at a time.

Always been a big fan of Mr. Waits! Love his earlier works, but he has released some great albums throughout his career. Heartattack and Vine is a solid and transitional record that is a very interesting and sometimes challenging listen. Not one of my favourite Tom Waits's albums, but still one of his better efforts.

Album started with a bang and kept my attention through most of it. Kind of a contemporary Prog rock sound, that I'm sure would grow on me more with repeated listening. I don't love it, but I certainly would listen again. We'll see...

First time listening to a Stranglers album and I was a bit surprised by their sound. I was expecting maybe a faster, harder punk sound, but instead it was quite tame, which is a good thing. I can hear why this debut was a success, nice sound and good songs. I don't think this will convince me to be a fan, but I will make an effort to listen to more Stranglers' albums.

Dear Bjork, First of all, congratulations for having another record on the list of 1001 albums. For me, this is the second record I've reviewed, as previously your debut album was presented here. Clearly, your talent and your critically acclaimed works have taken your career through several decades and I expect many more releases in the future. That being said, my opinion of your work hasn't changed. After listening to the first couple songs on this album, it was apparent to me (again) I'm not a fan and was hoping the album would end soon. I don't know if it's because your music is getting weirder or more complex, which is unlikely, because your music has always been weird and strange. It was a difficult listen, but I listened to the whole thing! Sorry, it's not for me. I still have several hundred more albums to go and I have a feeling we'll meet again. Sincerely, TDIT

First time listener for Stereo MC and Connected was better than I expected. It's kind of cool and funky and it has a catchy rhythm throughout. Probably won't convert me to a fan, but there could be a lot lot worse things to listen to. Enjoyable.

Despite the fact, the Sex Pistols released only one studio album during their all-too short existence, the impact both culturally and musically can't be denied. This is a case where the story/personalities are bigger than the music, as numerous films, books and even a recent TV series about the band have perhaps over-shadowed the music. There were other bands from the same era that left a longer resume of great music (The Clash, The Buzzcocks, The Damned etc.), but the impact of the Pistol's, debut, Never Mind The Bollocks might just be one of the most important and influential albums from the 70's. Sure, it's overrated and their musical talent was questionable at best, but when the word "punk rock" is mentioned, it all begins with the Sex Pistols.

When you think back to all the great music that was produced over 50 years ago, it's amazing how well the music has held up over that period of time. Prog bands produced a sound that sounded technologically advanced, well beyond it's years and YES was no exception. I own only two Yes albums (The Yes Album & Fragile) and in recent years I've listened to them more than when I bought them. There are many phases of Yes's career I'm not too interested in (especially their 80's work), but the Yes Album (their 3rd) through to 1973 are spectacular. The Yes Album has a pair of classic Yes songs and the rest of the record is solid.

Still not a fan of rap, but I can't say I didn't like it. It was okay, it has it's moments and though I wouldn't take the time to listen to it again exclusively, it makes for good background music.

A stark, beautiful record from an artist we lost way too soon. A true, singer-songwriter format that focuses on his brilliant songwriting with minimal instruments and his fragile, yet emotional vocal style. Essential listen, especially if you're a fan of Elliot Smith.

Enjoyable enough, though this isn't something I'll listen to often. Not a fan of rap, but could do a lot, lot worse than M.I.A!

Second Nick Drake album this week (Pink Moon), which is refreshing with the amount of rap that has come up. This Drake's music is the opposite of rap, thought provoking and a calm, chill listen. Nick Drake's debut, Five Leaves Left is even a more enjoyable listen than Pink Moon, less depressing and a much more optimist emotion to it. Well performed and well written, glad to see Drake finally receive much deserved attention and critical acclaim for his music , well after his death. I said Pink Moon was essential, start here first and you'll be rewarded by a great record.

The popularity of the song, Sultans Of Swing from Dire Straits debut album, helped launch the very successful career of Dire Straits. The song remains a mainstay on radio (and my streaming algorithms) and sometimes the album gets overshadowed by the massive success of the single. The album charted high and sold crazily well, but how many people (at the time) listened to the whole record? I admit, I didn't it much love when it first came out, but over the years I've come to appreciate the whole album. Sure it has some filler, (what Dire Straits album doesn't have filler?) but over all it might be their most consistent record. The hugely popular, Brothers In Arms album may be the most accessible and commercially lauded album, but the debut highlighted the guitar wizardry and unique sound of Mark Knolfler and the band.

I had never heard of this and the fact it's so recent, I'm surprised this made the list. I'm not sure what i think of this? It has a good beat, the lyrics are okay and I don't hate it, so it was fine. Not a fan of this style of music, so I can't say I'll listen again, but I can appreciate the effort.

Full disclosure, I am NOT a fan of Courtney Love! She's a horrible actress, but can act within her range and her singing range is very limited. She doesn't seem like a very nice person and it was unfortunate that she met Kurt (for Kurt's sake). With that being said, Live Through This is a great album! I don't care much for other Hole records, but this one hits the spot. It downright rocks, the songs are crunchy, the music is grungy-melodic, the guitars are loud and I can even tolerate Courtney's screams. I will listen to this often and play this loud!

Not usually what I listen to, but it's exciting, heart pounding and terrific beats. Lots of energy!

Infectious, fun and easy to listen to. Otherwise, not really my kind of music, but a change once in a while is fine.

A classic record that was an excellent debut for Zep. Underneath, the songs that got commercial attention and radio play, most of the record is a collection of blues songs performed by a dynamic white British hard rock-blues band. Sure, there are some slow moments and some filler, but for the most part this rocks hard and upholds the reputation of Zeppelin! One of their best!

Through the years, I have tried to listen to Kraftwerk, but struggled to get into electronica. I feel now, I'm more patient and open to other musical styles and genres, so I can understand and appreciate the music more than before. Good background music, but my patience is tested after prolonged listening. Solid record.

Kinda cheezy and goofy, but at the same time, quite enjoyable. Never dared to listen to Marty Robbins before, but heard this album mentioned as being a classic record. More like a guilty pleasure for me. Thanks for the suggestion!

So this is what Chamber Pop is? I have to admit, i don't dislike it and the more I listened the more I was interested and drawn in. Didn't know this existed and glad I had a listen. ***1/2

The song, Imagine, is probably John Lennon's most well known (post-Beatles) song he recorded and it might just be one of the most recognizable songs in the world. Imagine, the album, with the help of the popularity of the song is considered by many essential, but listening to the album as a whole, it isn't his best work. Apart from a couple of songs, the album is inconsistent and a little over-rated. There's nothing wrong with it, but he has other albums that deserve to be on this list more.

Blues is the type of music you must experience live to fully appreciate the emotion and the "blood and guts" that is weaved into the music. A studio recording is great for listening at home, but if you want to groove to the beat and "feel" the music, a live concert is the ultimate. The next best thing would be a live recording of B.B. king and Live At the Regal is a stellar sounding recording. The performance of B.B. and his band is top notch as well, so this might be as good as it gets.

Haven't actually listened to much from The Cure, but I had an idea how they would sound. Better than I was expecting and found it was a fine listen. Pretty much the standard for "goth rock" and they have a very dated 80's sound.

Though I have listened to most of Elvis's albums, I hadn't actually completely listened to Brutal Youth. I rank his first four albums high in my "must-hear" list and his output of quality music has been extraordinary. Brutal Youth isn't among his best, but it's still a constantly good record, with a few standout songs. Overall, he has a lot better albums (which will probably show up here soon) and I consider this among his mid-range material that shouldn't be overlooked.

I made the mistake of watching the Shaft re-make film a couple of years ago and probably the only highlight of the film was the Shaft theme by Isaac Hayes. I didn't see the original Shaft film from the 70's, but judging by the film's soundtrack, the music was pretty groovy. The Shaft theme is one of the best movie theme songs ever and the rest of the album manages to generally keep the vibe alive. It's a soundtrack, so there is a lot of atmospheric stuff happening and some of it wears thin after a wile, but overall a decent listen and a real time warp.

For whatever reason, the lead-off track, Take On Me, has entered the lexicon of earworm songs that have become ingrained in our society. Yes, the song is 37 years old, but I've heard it more in the past 10 years than when it was released and it's popularity has taken on a whole new level. Apart from that song, a-ha delivers a predictable blend of mid-80's mediocrity most people didn't listen to if you bought the album. Actually, the songs aren't bad and it wasn't difficult to listen to the whole thing through, but really nothing essential here.

It's hard for me to take a group like Abba seriously. Since I was a teen, Abba has been on the airways causing me to cringe, whine, complain and quickly turn the radio station. They have been a part of pop culture and life (in so many ways) since the 70's and believe it or not, they're following and dedicated fans are stronger than ever. For me, I have to admit, they have a certain guilty pleasure aspect to them. I don't cringe anymore, instead I secretly smile and smudgy say, "Oh no, not again! I can't stand Abba!", but really it's a harsh reminder of my fading youth and reminds me why there was so much to hate and love from the 70's. No more Abba!

Another band, I hadn't gotten around to listen to thoroughly and I'm happy I finally listened to Siamese Dream, a very fine record. There are elements of arena rock, classic rock, alternative and it's a bit grungy in parts, this album holds up pretty well, released almost 30 years ago. There was lots to like and most of it held my attention. I hear that this is The Smashing Pumpkins best record and it's good, so I should explore more of their discography soon. Hope the rest are at least half as good as this!

I can immediately see the influence and inspiration of Loretta's music had on Lurleen Lumpkin from the Simpsons. Seriously though, this album and music has been the influence of many aspiring female country music singers, including contemporary artist's such as, Neko Case. Most of the classic country music subject matter is covered, with a checklist of the essentials; drinking, lovin', cheating and don't need no man to run my life. Not my kind of music, but it was amusing and interesting.

I think sometimes Shoegaze music gets a bad rap, sure some of it is intolerant and in cohesive, but there are some great bands and albums from this genre. I hadn't listened to much My Bloody Valentine until recently and though I'm not a fan, their debut full-length, Isn't Anything is a strong record. Underneath the distorted guitars (and noises!), is some nice layered guitar sounds and some melodic songs. I wasn't expecting I'd like this, but my eyes (and ears!) were opened up to some much needed album.

Live albums are often hit or miss, but this live set from the amazing Sarah Vaughan is near perfection. An intimate live recording with Vaughan connecting with the audience right from the start and her magical performance makes this a worthwhile listen. I'm been graduating towards this genre of music for it's old-timey charm and it's classic performances and this album is a good place to start.

No doubt this is a classic album with more depth and consistency than just The Weight. The best record by The Band and much better than most Dylan albums.

This album is special to me, as it was a "game-changer" musically for me and exposed me and opened my eyes and ears to music other than radio-friendly pop/rock rut I was stuck in. This has to be considered one of the finest debut albums of the 70's and introduced me to New Wave and keyboard sounds I has previously avoided. Every track is fantastic and The Cars never quite captured the magic of this record on their other releases. Seems ironic that radio play and music videos kept the band popular following the first album. The only essential album you need to hear from The Cars is The Cars!

Much better than I was expecting. Most of it was enjoyable, good voice and a nice guitar sound. Solid.

I never was a fan of synth-pop, not then and still now. Most of it was listenable, but it reminded me that there was a lot of music in the early-80's that I disliked and this would have been one of those albums that confirmed that. Not the least bit essential, at least for me.

Sometimes I've struggled to appreciate Electronica, often there aren't traditional "songs", more of a stream of background music. This sounds like this could be a soundtrack to a futuristic sci-fi film, that kind of goes on and on and ...For the most part, I enjoyed it, it's sort of cool in a weird way, but after a while I was waiting for it to end or at least for the imaginary movie in my mind to be over.

Ack, another Bjork album on the list! As much as I'm exposed to Bjork's music here, I still can't get into her music. It's partly her voice, but the music feels like it's weird just to be weird and it feels somewhat forced, if that makes any sense. As far as what I've heard so far (her 3rd record on the list), this one isn't bad and I did make it through the whole album, so it didn't bug me as much as her others. Yes, that's a compliment.

What can you say? She's one of the great vocalists of our time, well 70 years ago time, but you can't deny the quality of her talent. Don't know if this is considered the best of her work (I own a couple best of, greatest hits collections), most of it is fine, but it helps if you are in the mood or the right state of mind to fully appreciate the music.

This was much better than I expected! I was expecting something darker and gothy, but it was hard hitting, punky and fun! Kind of a 70's hard rock Norwegian "Dictators" sound/vibe with a touch of glam. I quite enjoyed it!

As far as his more modern recordings go, this one is pretty good. I know this was one of his last albums released during his lifetime, but he still has the energy, spirit and that "voice", the quintessential performer until the end. This is what sets Cash apart from everyone else in the genre. Respect!

Cool, laid-back, smooth, sometimes it got intense, but a very enjoyable album start to finish. The type of music you can play in the background all day. Never heard of this before, so I'll be sure to listen to more from Ibrahim.

The first time I heard this album, I thought it was a grim, sad depressing record. I had this on 8-track and the only player was in our windowless, cargo van and when the song, The Kid played, I swear to god I thought there was an actually baby crying inside the van. A haunting song, this didn't help my option of the album at the time. Fast forward 40 years or so, I would put this in the category of Lou Reed's better album, as he's released a handful of duds, sprinkled in with some classics. I wouldn't say it's a classic, but my option of the record has softened and it's definitely more listenable than it was then. It's actually quite good! The 8-track is long gone, all the 8-tracks were stolen when the van was broken into, but I did buy it on vinyl, so I'm not too heartbroken.

I'm kind of mixed with my opinion. It has it's moments with cool vibes and an upbeat jam, with several good head-bobbing songs. Too inconsistent to really appreciate and really there's a lot more satisfying music out there. It's okay...but

An enjoyable listen, for the most part with some good songs here. Their "psychedelic soul" sound is interesting, it works at times, it's different and it funks it up a bit more. I haven't listened to much of The Temptations, maybe I should listen to more... :)

If you only listen to mainstream, commercial music then this album would be easily dismissed. The sound is lo-fi, the instruments sound out of tune at times and the singing isn't strong. Lou Barlow (formerly of Dino Jr), isn't seeking commercial success or accolades for his music, instead he delivers some raw, heartfelt music that could be considered indie, alternative, or just plain weird, but it's the kind of music I've come to appreciate and I'm glad this list acknowledges musicians and bands from outside the "norm". Bubble And Scrape was actually recorded in a professional studio instead of "home-recorded", so this would be considered a more polished work compared to previous albums. I like it, we need more bands like Sebadoh and musicians like Lou Barlow that push the boundaries of quality music instead of the bland radio-friendly schlock we have to endure most of the time.

Some good stuff on this record, lots of energy, variety and for the most part enjoyed it. Nothing too memorable, but a worthwhile listen.

It seemed appropriate (and a bit obvious), that this album came up for review the day after Queen Elizabeth II died! I even played this album in it's entirety as a tribute the day of, but to be fair, I listened to it again within 24 hours. I must admit, I haven't listened to this album since the late 80's and I can't say I'm a fan of The Smiths. Maybe, it's because Morrissey is such a shitty person or it could be their music never interested me. Listening to it now, it's fine, some of it is really good and I especially like the title track which opens the album. Similarly to other Smith records, it began to bore me after a while and my mind started to wander. Again, I don't hate it, I just don't love it.

I was a fan of Green Day from their early releases on the Lookout label, but had lost interest in the band once they went to a major label and became a hugely popular band. I couldn't avoid hearing their music in the mainstream and when I heard American Idiot in it's entirety, it caught my attention. This is an album best heard as a complete work, as many of the songs segue into each. the songs are catchy, melodic and have an energy and intensity that highlight all of Green Day's best attributes. While listening to it, I can understand why someone thought, "this could work as a musical (play)" and yes, it happened. I would be an idiot to actual go see the production, as I'm content and happy to just listen to the album again.

Nico's contribution to the Velvet Underground's debut album was brief, yet effective with her haunting vocals and mysterious presence. Chelsea Girl allows her to expand her range somewhat more, though she is very limited vocally, but offers up some good songs. The sound is sparse and raw and at times the pace becomes boring, but if you take into consideration the time period and mood it's trying to create, she does a commendable job. It helps that she gets contribution from some of the VU members.

A smooth soothing, dreamy quality to the music, that had it's moments, but mainly unspectacular and unmemorable. Not hard to listen to, so I guess that's a positive, but I can't say I would purposely listen to this again. Reminds me of why I avoided a chunk of the 80's, synth pop with drum machines, no thanks!

If you put aside the fact that Donovan was suppose to be the "new" Dylan when he began his career as a acoustic folk singer, Sunshine Superman, as well as his other albums from the late 60's, really reflected the time period. He shifted his style to a psychedelic, folk rock sound and wore long flowery shirts, which of course, wasn't anything new as the Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, Byrds etc, experimented with the sound and concept. I must admit, I like Donovan's attempt, most of it was listenable and it sure beats his folky troubadour sound. It gets overindulgent at times and it wears thin after a while, but this album is a good positive time-capsule of his career.

This Talking Heads album was a turning point for the band going from a clean pop-rock-new wave-punk sound to an expanded, rhythm-based experimental sound. Eno's influence is all over the record it widened the scope of sound of the band with mixed results. There are a couple of classic TH songs on here and you can't deny they are a "better" band, but I tend to have more songs from their first two albums on my playlists.

The Eagles were playing in town the other night at the local hockey arena supporting their old album, "Hotel California" played in it's entirety. This is probably the only Eagles record I could actually listen to start to finish and the show featured only one original member of the band that played on the debut, Eagles. Pre- H.C., they were a laid-back, easy-going California band, that played something along the lines of Americana country folk rock. It was MOR and really nothing special and it took the recruitment of guitarist, Joe Walsh on H.C. to take the band to the next level. As far as their first album, there are a couple classic songs, I assume they play every show (Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling), apart from that, the rest is underwhelming, it's OK...but there are a lot better albums in the genre for sure.

Though this record is considered a "hallmark" for pop music reviving the teen pop genre, I would say it's more of a pop culture time-stamp of the end of rock music and the start to a horrible decade of music, the 2000's. Britney has been as much in the public eye recently, as the original hype for this record. I shutter when I hear her perform songs from this 23 years later, as the songs are dated sounding and the lyrics sound ridiculous coming from a woman in her 40's mouth. Since the songs were written by middle-aged men maybe it makes sense? This is the first time I've listened to the whole album (at least what I want to admit too) and clearly the songs, videos and the hoopla that goes along with the the Britney circus is targeted to a specific target audience....and I'm not it!

Tried listening to this album a few years ago and I didn't care for it. Listening again, the whole way through, something clicked with me. The beats are choppy, yet infectious, the songs are interesting and the guitar sound is amazing! I don't know what I was expecting previously, but this is music I should have been listening to. Really really enjoy this record and glad I gave it another go! Entertainment, yes!

I have to admit, this wasn't as bad as I was expecting. The hit song from this album, Relax appears everywhere and even to this day it's one of those annoying ear-worms still ringing in my head. It ruined the film, Body Double, which wasn't a great movie to begin with, but why did it take so much screen time? That being said, I didn't hate this album, but it reminds me too much (yet again) why synth-pop is near the bottom of my list for music genres in the 80's!

A decent listen, I enjoy her voice, I like her and for the most part the songs are good. I'm not a fan of the Country genre, though this is more of a "hybrid-modern" country sound with electronic beats and at times a bit Shania Twain-esque. Personally, I would prefer to listen to Kacey, on her own, solo acoustic to just hear the songs without the distraction. Overall, this is above average.

If I had to describe what I thought Rap would've sounded like in the early 90's, this is pretty much how it would sound. Immature, crude and jazzy, that doesn't take itself too seriously, it could get a whole lot worse than this album. Enjoyable enough, in a weird half-satisfied type of way.

David Bowie's fingerprints are over this record. He wrote most of it, played on it and produced it and the album probably wouldn't have been made without Bowie's presence. If you are expecting "Stooges" Iggy, you'll be disappointed, but if you take this record at face value, it's a decent record. Some good songs on here, but it's inconsistent and it's bit too artsy for it's own good somtimes. I expected more.