Journey Complete!
Finisher #531 to complete the list
1089
Albums Rated
3.21
Avg Rating
136
5-Star Albums
100%
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Yes
Rating Speed
5.3
Per Week
1436
Days Active
Reviews
1043
Written
96%
Review Rate
vs Global
0.02
Avg Diff
3.21
Avg Rating
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How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Psychedelic-rock
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Balanced
Rater Style
80
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dub Housing | 5 | 2.36 | +2.64 |
| Rock Bottom | 5 | 2.39 | +2.61 |
| Third | 5 | 2.43 | +2.57 |
| Space Ritual | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Yank Crime | 5 | 2.69 | +2.31 |
| Phaedra | 5 | 2.73 | +2.27 |
| Tago Mago | 5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
| Ys | 5 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
| Caetano Veloso | 5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
| The New Tango | 5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exodus | 1 | 3.94 | -2.94 |
| 1999 | 1 | 3.6 | -2.6 |
| Ramones | 1 | 3.58 | -2.58 |
| Brothers | 1 | 3.58 | -2.58 |
| Licensed To Ill | 1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
| Definitely Maybe | 1 | 3.52 | -2.52 |
| It's Blitz! | 1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
| War | 1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
| Play | 1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
| Diamond Life | 1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.8 | 4.13 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.75 | 4 |
| Steely Dan | 4 | 4.75 | 4 |
| Nick Drake | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Yes | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Deep Purple | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Queen | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Beatles | 7 | 4.29 | 3.9 |
| The Kinks | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| David Bowie | 9 | 4.11 | 3.83 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| King Crimson | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Genesis | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Cocteau Twins | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Can | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Radiohead | 6 | 4.17 | 3.78 |
| The Who | 5 | 4.2 | 3.75 |
| Brian Eno | 5 | 4.2 | 3.75 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Bob Dylan | 7 | 4 | 3.7 |
| Frank Sinatra | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Kate Bush | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Sonic Youth | 5 | 4 | 3.63 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and low weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Enemy | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| The Jesus And Mary Chain | 2 | 1 | 2.2 |
| Missy Elliott | 2 | 1 | 2.2 |
| Def Leppard | 2 | 1 | 2.2 |
| The xx | 2 | 1 | 2.2 |
| Ice Cube | 2 | 1 | 2.2 |
| U2 | 4 | 1.75 | 2.29 |
| Prince | 3 | 1.67 | 2.33 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 1.67 | 2.33 |
| Kings of Leon | 3 | 1.67 | 2.33 |
| Taylor Swift | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Run-D.M.C. | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Christina Aguilera | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| The Beta Band | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Madonna | 3 | 2 | 2.5 |
5-Star Albums (136)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Björk
5/5
Holy mother of god this album is astounding. This could be the best-sounding album on this entire list. Amazing, lush, ethereal textures make this album fabulously enchanting and captivating.
This album was definitely outside of my comfort zone but I was quick to warm up to it. I haven’t heard anything else of Byork’s solo stuff, what a good introduction to an artist
I keep being disappointed by reviewers on this website, they tend to have awful biases against anything even slightly unorthodox. This album is monumental but has a fairly mediocre rating here. The only criticism people can think up is very lame and unjust: “I don’t like her voice” or “the song structures are unorthodox” or “she’s trying too hard to be weird”. It is so stupid to say an artist is trying too hard when they actually achieve something unique and amazing. Were the Beatles trying too hard to be weird when they recorded Sgt Pepper’s? Were the Beach Boys trying too hard to be artsy on Pet Sounds?
I think that the aesthetic this album achieves is basically unparalleled. What an experience this is. I just relish the experience of being IMPRESSED by an album, which is a rare experience
43 likes
SAULT
2/5
I gotta be honest, I’m pretty tired of the incessant racial propaganda in America in 2022. Our culture worships black people. It doesn't take a genius to notice that blackness is ONLY praised, and whiteness, we're told, either doesn't exist, or is inherently evil. Every media outlet portrays blacks as empowered and every movie/show portrays whites as dumb, weak or evil. Every corporation glorifies blackness. BLM protestors unironically think they’re fighting the system when every news source and company and TV show and advertisement and CEO “coincidentally” say the exact same things they do. This racial tension only benefits the ruling class, and distracts from real issues of economic inequality or climate change. All over the internet it’s normal to hate white people for their color. Hell, even the week I’m writing this, a black man who had talked about killing white people online went and shot up the NYC subway.
15 years ago few people even THOUGHT about race, and we were on track to a world where race didn’t affect how you were seen. But today, everyone is rabidly fixated on race, and people’s entire personalities are centered on the color of their skin or their sexuality. People aren't proud of their accomplishments, no, somehow they are proud of their skin color. Years ago MLK promoted peace and harmony, but today, blacks are told to be perpetually angry and bitter. It reminds me of the constant war machine in Orwell’s 1984; if the people are consistently angry, their anger can be harnessed. Today there is a “forever war”, a constant stream of manufactured outrage. SJWs scour the internet to find ANY tiny example of oppression, usually in the form of 10 year-old tweets, so that their sad worldview remains intact. But the demand for racism is higher than the supply, so isolated events are blown out of proportion and used to justify dismantling everything about society. There is no aspect of life that isn’t viewed through the distorted lens of oppression.
Our culture’s fatal obsession with identity has caused rifts that will take a century to heal. Identity politics only divides us all; it’s thinly veiled tribalism. Identity politics has destroyed honest political discourse among groups: every person is viewed mainly as a member of a group and not an individual, and it’s not the truth of what you say that matters, but whether you belong to the right group.
Anyway, I didn't vibe with this album. “Black lives matter” is completely true as a STATEMENT, obviously, but as a MOVEMENT, it is destructive and counterproductive. Identity politics is a complete disaster. A post-racial world was within our grasp, but instead we are more divided today than we have been in decades, and it makes me sad.
The music was 3/5. -1 point for the fact that a third of the tracks are just cringey racial affirmation ASMR. 2/5
35 likes
Def Leppard
1/5
I have a weird relationship with rock music. The majority of my favorite albums EVER belong to rock and its subgenres. I love rock!! However, a lot of the biggest rock bands ever are bands I don't enjoy in the slightest. When you say you like rock, a lot of people think of these arena bands from the 80s, like Def Leppard or Bon Jovi. But this is EXACTLY what I DON'T mean when I say I love rock.
These 80s pop hair-metal bands do not sound good. The way they overproduce their music is sickening; it's really too much. It's irritatingly poppy. The music is engineered to be sickeningly cheesy and sweet. These bands are obsessed with their cool image more than anything, and it shows. Every single song is a painfully cliché and cringeworthy "anthem", and they're all indistinguishable from the others. The lyrics are uninspired. The formula is so overdone here.
It's exactly like Halloween candy: a piece of candy is fine once in a while, but once you grow out of adolescence, the thought of eating a bucket full of candy in one night makes you want to vomit. This album is a bucket full of cheap, over-processed junk candy, and it was really hard to enjoy more than a minute of it, let alone a whole hour of it.
32 likes
Joanna Newsom
5/5
This album is quite astounding. Very ambitious but she achieves what she aims for. I may even go so far as to call this album "visionary," which is a rare thing indeed.
I am consistently disappointed by how the users on this 1001 generator website rate great, unorthodox albums; people here have an enormous bias against anything unconventional. I much prefer RYM users in this regard: even if they are more snobby, they are better able to appreciate the weird albums too.
26 likes
1-Star Albums (80)
All Ratings
Radiohead
4/5
Fiona Apple
4/5
I liked it a lot more than I thought I would! I enjoy this much more than most pop out there, especially pop from the last few years. It's much more than just autotuned 4-chord bs. Lots of nice soulful jazz and alt influences here. It had lots of chord progressions that interested me, and many songs had a lot going on in the background i appreciated. Her voice expresses real emotion very effortlessly. Would recommend, I will definitely return to this one
Jungle Brothers
2/5
cool and fun, but not really my cup of tea. I found it hard to tell songs apart at times. Many of the songs were much too repetitive for my taste; just a simple backing track looped over and over. cool cover art. Lyrically it was fun but musically it didn't do much for me. Favorite lyric was about columbus thinking the world was a square.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
groovy, i like the organ
nothing mind-blowing, just some classic funky jam music. good for its genre.
I give a 2.5 but round up to 3
Judas Priest
5/5
Great metal album; has some songs I love, and no songs I dislike. Definitely not my FAVORITE album by Judas Priest, but still great. I've been a fan of them for a little while and prefer some of their other work. I love their unique, sleek metal sound; they were pioneers of the genre for sure, and this album definitely deserves a listen imo.
This album has great vocal performances and catchy riffs, and the percussion is quite fantastic. I definitely like them better than the other the pop hard rock/metal bands of their era, like ACDC.
I loved "The Rage."
This one could grow on me a bit more perhaps, but for now I think I'll give it a 4. Almost a 5. Its a 5!
Nina Simone
3/5
There were some moments I actually really loved, and some I didn't care as much for. Very classy and soulful. A lot of excellent piano that impressed me. Worth a re-listen. Lilac wine is a classic
Sisters Of Mercy
2/5
Thought it was fine. Some good moments I liked. I can see why some might enjoy it, but it's not really for me.
Miles Davis
4/5
A fascinating listen. Innovative. I don't think it really stuck with me but I definitely respect jazz/fusion. Might take some time before I truly appreciate this stuff.
Primal Scream
3/5
I thought it was a cool genre blend; I appreciate artist that have albums with lots of variety. A few songs I thought were quite great, but some I didn't like, including as the club dance-sounding music or some of the slower trance songs. The songs that were good, were really good. Bit too much electronica for my taste. Singer sounds like a mix between Mick Jagger and Thom Yorke. i think my favorite was Come Together. Not a fan of the 80s/90s-sounding drum machines, but that's just a personal preference.
The Temptations
3/5
Classy, great vocals throughout. Feels like good music for lovin.
Kraftwerk
2/5
I liked it for the first 2 songs! Each song was repetitive and didn't change enough to warrant their length sometimes. I thought the vibe was cool.
Lenny Kravitz
4/5
Really, really great! So much variety; I was impressed! A bit too much religious imagery for my taste lol
Tito Puente
2/5
Fun music. Some interesting musical complexity with the brass instruments that I enjoyed. It was not very compelling as an album to me, but it was a nice classy collection of songs.
3/5
I thought it was great and artistic, i can respect her vocals a lot too. I like the different themes of the songs. I'm not the biggest fan of this brand of alternative rock, but this was cool and worth a listen
Pink Floyd
5/5
Easiest 5 I'll ever give. A truly stellar album. The last four tracks on it are pure ecstasy for me. Definitely more than the sum of its parts, this album must be appreciated as a whole. Flawless production, the instruments and vocals blend tremendously throughout. Thought-provoking existential lyrics, from before it was popular to do so. Stunning dynamics, with loud and quiet sections perfectly juxtaposed. The explosion of sound in the chorus of Us and Them gives me chills. Amazing solo guitar tone.
I didn't know about this album until i found it on my own 2 years ago as a 20 yr old. Went into it blind, had never even heard of the band. I never had a parent or friend who raved about it beforehand; i experienced it without any preconceptions of its greatness. And yet, it made quite an impression on me. Anyone who dismisses it as "dad rock" is tragically misguided. It is a soaring masterpiece.
This album holds a special place in my heart: it was my gateway into progressive rock, a genre that has captured my heart and my imagination. This album helped show me the artistic heights music can reach when it is in the right hands.
The Who
5/5
I really enjoy this style of 60s rock. Reminds me of Odyssey and Oracle by the Zombies. Superb vocal harmonies throughout, each of the songs has complexity to its composition, hard to find a song that doesn't have a key modulation of some sort. Great playing by the band, especially the drums.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Really cool guitar, very interesting chord progressions. Songs were engaging and interesting. Pop -punky but a bit edgier
Merle Haggard
2/5
Charming and quaint. Leagues better than modern country music imo. I enjoy the old twangy smooth slide guitar sound. I personally wouldn't choose to listen to this but i appreciate its charm.
Elvis Presley
4/5
fun and classic
Don McLean
5/5
Fantastic voice!! Vincent makes me cry. American pie kicks ass. I also liked the last two songs a lot. He's good at the slow tender acoustic songs. A couple of the slow songs sounded a bit too similar imo (especially empty chairs and vincent, for example); wish he cut out a slow song or two and added a more upbeat one, perhaps. that's just me. but still deserving of a five i think.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Really good!!
Bon Jovi
2/5
Even though there is a LOT of hard rock and heavy metal I love, I really don't love much pop metal or glam metal like this. I vastly prefer British rock to American rock, I must say, even though I'm American born and raised. The cheesiness is slightly sickening to me at parts. I do love the solo guitar work and tone, I hear some Van Halen influence there I think. The vocalist is talented but the voice does get on my nerves a bit. Didn't hate the album, didn't love it. When I tell people I like rock and metal this isn't what I mean. I don't knock other people for liking it though.
The Verve
4/5
Good. This one could grow on me, I’ll have to go back and listen more some time
Frank Sinatra
5/5
The definition of classy music. Sublime instrumentation throughout. There's old-fashioned magic here.
Van Morrison
3/5
I liked a lot of it musically and instrumentally, pleasant sounding strings and flute and harpsichord-sounding thing. I really had a hard time enjoying his voice on this album; sometimes I liked it, but often it pierces my ears and was too loud in the mix. He sings with much passion though, I must give credit for that. Some of the songs were a bit too long without enough change imo (I love a good long song, but not as much if it doesn't change much the whole time). Fav song was "The Way Young Lovers Do". I appreciate it aesthetically, there is tenderness and sweetness.
Germs
3/5
Punk can't hold a candle to the hard rock and prog rock that came before it, but I found this album alright. Drums were very tight and technical, engaging to listen to. Good bass guitar. There were a lot of interesting chord progressions i enjoyed, but the guitar is mostly power chords the whole time, so not all that impressive to me. I appreciate the anger and vitriol, though I never knew what the singer was saying the entire time. I def prefer thrash metal over punk when it comes to "angry" music. Favorite song was Manimal, probably.
Simply Red
3/5
Easily a good album in its own right, but not my style, so I probably won't return to this one. Some fun groovy motown 80s-ness, but also a bit of excess cheesiness that described many 80s songs. Love the singer's voice a lot; sorta a mix between Phil Collins and George Michael and Elton John?
Rush
5/5
Very easy 5. All 3 of these guys are masters of their craft. Neil Peart is one of the greatest drummers of all time, AND Geddy is one of the very greatest bassists of all time. All the instruments are endlessly interesting to listen to. I really like the songwriting on the album. I think the synthesizers mix quite well with their brand of rock. Geddy's voice is quite interesting; there are songs where I love it, and moments where it kinda irks me lol. YYZ is one of the most badass instrumental tracks I've ever heard. I like Witch Hunt and Limelight a lot.
Many of the prog bands I adore from the 70s diminished in the 80s; there are a select few that didn't just fade away, but their popularity even increased in the new decade: most notably Genesis and Rush (and perhaps Yes to a smaller extent). My very favorite Rush albums are from the 70s, but this is an 80s staple.
David Bowie
5/5
It's like rock but more theatrical. Cool
The Cure
4/5
I didn't like it a ton during the first few songs: I found the songs' composition to be very simplistic and not that interesting. But as the album progressed, I became hypnotized by some of the darker songs. I REALLY enjoyed the mood of a lot of the songs here. Though I didn't find the music as complex as I tend to like; it was very slow at times and not very technically impressive. But the album flows very well. Some really enjoyable soundscapes. One of the best 80s albums I've heard that doesn't fall under rock/metal. I really struggled with whether to give a 4 or 5, it was close.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I like psychedelia. I think weird and unorthodox music like psych/prog rock is vastly more interesting than anything that's been on the pop charts for ages. I like nontraditional song structures, with strange chord progressions and time signatures. I really enjoy the 1967-1975ish era when rock musicians were really pushing the boundaries of music, creating cohesive mind-expanding albums instead of cheap radio pop singles. Modern popular music bores me to DEATH; it loses my interest quickly. Maybe that's an ADHD thing, who knows.
Even though this album is aged it still comes off as much more inventive than anything I knew growing up in the 21st century. I find it fascinating that music like this ever sold, back in the day. It's the opposite of radio-friendly.
I will say that this album is not a great intro to Pink Floyd, imo. Their 70s output is definitely the reason they are beloved far and wide. So I hope this album isn't the FIRST Pink Floyd album anyone hears, otherwise they may get frightened by its quirkiness and immediately dismiss the whole band.
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
they're jammin. bluesy with a country twang. nice lead guitar work. a bit psychedelic at times. i liked the keyboard sound. I liked the track Bass Strings a lot. Section 43 was a cool instrumental.
At first it was a little too country for me but i liked it as it progressed and got more psychedelic
Mudhoney
2/5
I love metal but somehow I just can’t get into most grunge. Grunge is like metal but with less talent and more whining. I was pretty bored with this one. I can see how it would be a classic for diehard grunge fans though. My favorite part was the drums, they were great throughout
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
Elegantly composed music, sung by an exquisite singer
Wilco
2/5
I found a lot of the songs on here dull and unimpressive. Some moments were alright, but those were the minority in my opinion. I liked some of the lyrics.
I don't love the vocals. They're not bad, just so very average, and the singer often sounds bored. I feel like this is the kind of music people make when they want to express themselves, but aren't actually talented in any way.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
It’s refreshing to hear such pure talent and skill. Sublime
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Extremely pleasant throughout. I liked the jazzier parts a lot.
Bee Gees
4/5
Lots of interesting stuff here! Parts were very charmingly folksy, some parts felt a touch country, some parts sounded like the Beatles. There were songs made me feel warm inside, like Lamplight and First of May. I loved the opening track, full of drama. Really liked the tracks without words too, especially the album closer. Lots of magic here; sometimes I even got Christmas vibes somehow.
A lot of the tracks blended together for me. I think I'd need more time with this album to properly appreciate it, but there's a lot here to love.
Jane Weaver
2/5
Weren’t any parts I actively disliked, but a lot of it just didn’t musically do it for me. Cool vibes, but the music itself is quite simple and uninteresting to me, and repetitive.
The Stooges
3/5
Thought it was decent, I liked some moments.
Beatles
5/5
Great. Timeless. Slightly overrated, but stil fantastic.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
2/5
I actually enjoy the aesthetic and lyrical appeal, but musically it's just not interesting or impressive whatsoever. 2nd and 7th song were my favorites here, probably? I like what the artist is going for but it leaves me wanting so much musically. The lyrics are never the reason I LOVE music; the music must be good first.
R.E.M.
4/5
Good throughout!
Various Artists
4/5
I love this. Adding orchestra makes most music better, this is just super classy and happy.
I got this album on Christmas Eve; did that happen to other people or is this a divine coincidence?
Also, fuck anybody who says this album should be canceled because of phil spector. This album was the work of all these great singers and instrumentalists, not just mr. spector; their wonderful work shouldn't be thrown away for the sins of one guy.
Billie Holiday
3/5
Pleasant but slow imo
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
1/5
I don’t think I liked a single song on this album. Some I didn’t mind, and some got on my nerves extremely. Songs were simplistic. So was the guitar playing: very boring. In fact no one in the band could play very well on their instrument except maybe the drummer. A lot of annoying moments. This is what music sounds like when untalented people want to be cool.
Liked the last two songs’ vibes, but the underlying music was just soooo boring.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
This is exactly the kind of album where I can 100% appreciate its greatness without it being my style of music, really. A lot of inspirational-sounding songs that are cheesy but not in a bad way. Great backup instrumentalists, there’s some technical proficiency that I appreciate.
Also this guy enjoys the saxophone a lot haha.
Supergrass
5/5
Really great. This album helps to salvage my opinion of 90s rock music.
Kinda like punk/pop punk at times, except they are actually good at their instruments and can write songs that involve more than just four basic-ass barre chords.
Side question: why is UK rock music astronomically better than US rock music? I grew up in the wrong country
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Musically i thought it was very innovative and fascinating to listen to. I can appreciate that Trent Reznor is a master of his craft. I didn't necessarily enjoy all of it, but it was never boring. Each song feels meticulously crafted. Each song has so much going on in the background that I like. I like how a lot of the songs build really well too.
A lot of the lyrics were atrocious though lmao. i didnt mind a lot of the edginess but there were so many mindless references to dicks and fucking and so on; i just thought the cool music couldve used cooler lyrics. A few of the songs did have more interesting lyrics, thankfully. I don't mind somewhat sexual lyrics as long as they are actually interesting, like in "Reptile".
I feel like it could grow on me, so i should return eventually.
Nick Drake
5/5
Authentic tenderness accompanied with varied and interesting fingerpicking guitar
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Enjoyable throughout. Great vocals and guitar work. Fun energy. Laid the foundation for much rock music to come, i bet.
A lot of the songs use the simple 1-4-5 blues chord progression
Fred Neil
3/5
Pleasant throughout. Bluesy at time, folksy at others. Some sweetness here too. Very nice album. Cute cover art.
Last track was actually my favorite, felt psychedelic and full of ominous energy. If I were escaping the country while hiding on a train, this song is what I'd play.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Quite lovely throughout. Not my favorite Sinatra work, but that's alright. Jobim is a great songwriter.
A few songs a really liked, and some I could be fine without.
I'll always admire how the stuff Sinatra sings has so much more complexity than the average sappy song today. It legitimately baffles me how difficult it is to find a modern popular slow song or love song that uses more than 4, MAYBE 5, chords. Like yes we get it you copied the same 4 I-IV-V-VI-chords that have been in every song for eons. It's maddening. I don't even love this album, but at least from an artistic, technical standpoint, it's quite great. There are chord progressions here that you'd never DREAM of hearing on the radio anymore.
Mike Oldfield
5/5
Fantastic. Musicians today truly don't strive as high as they used to, huh. So much truly magical music from the 60s/70s that makes me feel a way no music from this century ever has.
Prog music has such an effect on me. This one genre contains a large chunk of the most spiritual and magical music I have ever found.
Side note: I love this album, I really do. But after listening to his 2003 re-recording I can never go back to this version. I wish everyone who rated this album low would've gotten to listen to that version instead. Mike Oldfield himself felt the original version had a lot of flaws that bothered him.
Mike Oldfield is fantastic. If you liked or even kind of liked this album, you HAVE to listen to Ommadawn. I like it more than Tubular Bells; it feels more ethereal and magical.
People who dismiss this album as "tedious musical wankery" lack imagination and heart. This album is grand.
Pavement
3/5
Nice energy and vibes throughout. I enjoyed it more than i expected; i dont listen to lo-fi indie rock very much.
I liked Gold Soundz.
The Monkees
4/5
Great throughout! Never a dull moment.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
A good listen
Circle Jerks
2/5
I don't mind aggressive songs in general, but this album just was a miss for me. Most of it was not very interesting to me. Some of the lyrics were decent, but a lot of the lyrics here were just lame. I think that punk is one of the worst subgenres of rock, and that's coming from someone who listens to a lot of rock.
The guitarist barely plays anything besides power chords. At least some songs have interesting chord progressions, i will admit. The drums were definitely on point and constantly interesting, though; that was the main reason i didn't give a 1.
I've reviewed nearly 60 albums and still haven't given a 1. I'm really not sure what it will take; most albums have at least some saving grace that prevents them from being a 1. Am I being too easy on them?
The Rolling Stones
5/5
1971 sure was a good year for music. So much really, really good early hard rock and prog rock. This isn't anywhere close to my favorite record of the year, but it's still great.
The more I listen to, the more I'm convinced that the Brits are astronomically better at making rock music than Americans. Seriously, most of the greatest rock bands, I had assumed were American, only to find out they were British. The Rolling Stones especially have a lot of music that feels like homegrown American rock but ain't.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Not really my genre, but nonetheless I was VERY impressed. Lots of really interesting, funky, groovy moments. Lots of talent.
I’ve heard tons of stuff like this from the 80s, but from what I’ve listened to none were able to rival this. Many imitators and wannabes that wished they could have made this album.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
1/5
I wasn't interested. Not my cup of tea. A lot of bland and simplistic songs. There were too many songs just lazily shuffled between 2 chords the majority of the time, such as "Something's Wrong".
and WHY ON EARTH is there so much ear rape on this album? A large fraction of this album was too painful to enjoy. The music wasn't nearly good enough to warrant the ear-ache. Best experienced at a low, low volume.
I was hoping it would be like the Cure or Depeche Mode or something but I enjoyed it much less. I kinda liked the vibe of the singer's voice, but the music was just boring and/or painful and got in the way. If ur into 80s alt or goth rock there are definitely better albums than this.
Only decent song imo: "Sowing Seeds"
Eels
3/5
Enjoyed it throughout! A pleasant listen. The Eels have a very dependable chill vibe.
Soundgarden
4/5
Singer has great variety: he sounds smooth and pleasant in his middle range, but he's also got a ton of power and grit when he sings high. I mostly like it; there are a few times where he has an American twang that gets on my nerves a bit. I also like the way the album is produced/mixed. The bass is powerful but not overbearing.
Definitely feels very 90s. A bit heavier than I expected from a band that's not really classified as metal. Sometimes I'm surprised that music with such heavy distorted guitars could have ever been top of the charts; these days you NEVER see heavy music on the top of the charts.
I was gonna give a 3 since I probably won’t return much to this, but I was impressed enough to give a 4.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
Cool
Sam Cooke
2/5
Sensational voice. It's a fun album, but the songwriting isn't all that interesting to me, so I'm torn. A lot of the songs are the the band jamming between 2-4 chords in the same order for the entire song. The medley was a bit more interesting, with dominant 2nd and 3rd chords.
All the tracks are good on their own I'd say, but they're all so similar to one another that as an album it doesn't have much impact on me. My verdict: fun, enjoyable music to dance to, but not impactful to me as an album.
I really liked the sax solo in Twistin'
Even though I didn't love this album I'll always love his song "A Change is Gonna Come"
Shack
4/5
Wasn't expecting to like it, but this is a gem of its genre! It sounds a lot like R.E.M. The strings were a wonderful touch throughout. I loved the songs that felt a little shanty-ish/adventurous/folksy, like Streets of Kenny or Daniella. At times a bit too cheesy, but it never was unenjoyable. The best songs I loved, and the worst songs were still very nice.
Missy Elliott
1/5
YAASSS SLAYYY QUEEN. a girlboss ICON. she rlly ATE. sheeeeit y'all. PLS the way this album is literally sooo fierce and stunning and brave and empowering byeeeee i-
U2
2/5
Enjoyed it, wasn't bad per se; not really my thing though. I don’t super love the semi-upbeat, feel-good pop-rock aspect of the album. A lot of it kinda felt like generic filler, but I kinda liked a couple tracks, like Acrobat.
Wish they spent less time making boring cheesy songs. U2 has some rockin tracks in their catalog, but this album didn't have much of that. People say the Edge is a great guitarist, but i don't really hear much technical skill from him, at least on this album.
My dad likes this band so I feel like it’s rude of me if I don’t love it lol.
Beck
3/5
Cool and creative
The Damned
3/5
I don’t usually like punk all that much, but I liked this album more than other punk I’ve heard. A couple songs I really liked a lot, such as Plan 9 Channel 7. The majority of the songs I thought were pretty enjoyable. Great drums and lead guitar.
I’m torn between 3 and 4.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Pleasant. Great lyrics. I liked it more as it went on.
Harmonica I like in theory, but it practice it usually really hurt my ears.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Wasn't expecting to really like this, but this album cast a spell on me; it has a certain magic to it. Made me a bit emotional
I really liked all the songs in minor keys, especially The Partisan. That song is pure enchantment to me
Ute Lemper
2/5
The way she sang kinda irked me at times; there was this kitschy, overly dramatic quality to her voice. She sounds the way I imagine a melancholy Cruella de Vil would sing while reclining on a long leather sofa in a dingy Paris nightclub smoking from a classy cigarette holder. If Cruella ever wrote a musical it would sound like this.
Still, some of the music was pleasant and well-written, I can respect the work and creativity that went into the album. It sounds like a 1980s popstar decided to write a 1940s cabaret album. I didn't dislike it too much, but I probably won't return to this one.
Def Leppard
1/5
I have a weird relationship with rock music. The majority of my favorite albums EVER belong to rock and its subgenres. I love rock!! However, a lot of the biggest rock bands ever are bands I don't enjoy in the slightest. When you say you like rock, a lot of people think of these arena bands from the 80s, like Def Leppard or Bon Jovi. But this is EXACTLY what I DON'T mean when I say I love rock.
These 80s pop hair-metal bands do not sound good. The way they overproduce their music is sickening; it's really too much. It's irritatingly poppy. The music is engineered to be sickeningly cheesy and sweet. These bands are obsessed with their cool image more than anything, and it shows. Every single song is a painfully cliché and cringeworthy "anthem", and they're all indistinguishable from the others. The lyrics are uninspired. The formula is so overdone here.
It's exactly like Halloween candy: a piece of candy is fine once in a while, but once you grow out of adolescence, the thought of eating a bucket full of candy in one night makes you want to vomit. This album is a bucket full of cheap, over-processed junk candy, and it was really hard to enjoy more than a minute of it, let alone a whole hour of it.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
Country rock usually doesn't resonate with me as much, but this album is super great! There are a lot of varied influences. The album flows well but each song manages to sound distinct. It has aged well.
Favorites: Expecting to Fly, Bluebird, Sad Memory, Broken Arrow
Fugees
2/5
Hip-hop is a genre that requires very minimal musical talent; all it takes to "write" a typical song is to make a 2-second beat and loop it for 3 to 5 minutes. And more often than not, the beat isn't even made by a person; it's just made by a drum machine or a computer. Like wow nice job guys, you have invented the most repetitive genre in history.
Lyrically the album is cool; there are many talented poets of hiphop. But musically, it's uninteresting and unimpressive.
I think that if hip-hop weren't a predominantly black genre, nobody would care about it. But the sad thing is that hiphop is sooo boring compared to other cooler genres of music black people pioneered, such as jazz or soul or reggae or disco or funk or blues. The list goes on.
I liked some of the bits where they were singing instead of rapping, like "Killing Me Softly." "No Woman, No Cry" was pretty good.
Joy Division
4/5
I like the dark atmosphere of this album. Definitely worth a listen.
Good bass.
I liked Interzone.
Cypress Hill
2/5
Reminds me of living in California as a kid
Pretty fun but not my style, as is most hip-hop.
Madonna
3/5
Fun nostalgia. Good variety.
Surprise epic guitar on the last track lol
Sonic Youth
5/5
Really great. Their fuzzed guitars create some immersive soundscapes. I felt hypnotized at times, which is something I quite like out of music. Sort of a punky mix between Joy Division and the Velvet Underground, perhaps? This is the kind of album one could have a nice dissociative episode to.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I liked the other sonic youth album more; just had it yesterday. Maybe I was just in a different mood then lol.
This one had much more screechy noise, too much, but was still good at parts.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
I like some alt rock, but a lot of this album either bored me or made me cringe. The album felt bland to me, especially considering its runtime. It seems like the singer is trying to win a contest called "How many songs can I worsen with my awkward ugly voice."
It wasn't all bad, but I don't want to sift through this album again to find the few moments I didn't mind. I thought it got a bit better towards the end.
I seriously doubt a real human has ever said "Wow I really feel like listening to some Husker Du today"
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
A super fun listen
Green Day
3/5
It’s fun and quite nostalgic. Wake me up when september ends is one of the first songs I remember learning on guitar.
I don’t really love pop punk as much, largely because the guitar playing is uninteresting to me. It has great energy though.
T. Rex
5/5
This album oozes style. Sounds WAY ahead of its time; parts of this sound just like a lot of 21st century indie rock. Other parts felt very glam of course.
I was charmed
Jimmy Smith
3/5
I actually like that I had to listen to this. I can see how stuff like this inspired the early blues rock and early hard rock I like. It's like tracing a lineage. Some stuff on Led Zeppelin's first album for example, like the keyboard solo in You Shook Me, are reminiscent of this style. Keys are an underrated component of rock.
There’s not really anything I dislike about this album, but based on my personal rating system this probably one falls into the 2 category. The songs are long and each song isn't varied enough to merit their length. Not bashing it, just is how I feel. There are some nice guitar/brass bits sprinkled throughout. And he's a good keyboardist. As an album it didn't inspire me, but I can understand why this list has a few albums of this genre.
XTC
5/5
This is one of the best pop albums I've ever heard. This kinda thing is why I do this 1001 album challenge; to find albums I'd never find otherwise. I don't ever listen to music like this, so I never would have found this alone.
It's fascinating how so many songs are so catchy and yet so unpredictable; the melody often wanders to places you don't expect. It's quite refreshing to hear pop music that's actually interesting.
reminds me of The Seeds Of Love by Tears for Fears
Deerhunter
3/5
It was pleasant and relaxing enough. I understand the appeal, it feels very lo-fi dreamy. I was into indie rock and indie folk my freshman year of college, but I've never heard of this. I had a couple friends that would've liked this a lot, I bet. First song was cool.
I really don't see how this album got onto this list though. I feel like there's a ton of this style of music out there that's more well known/influential. I do wonder what people will remember of this genre in 50 years; for some reason this music doesn't seem like it will stand the test of time.
I usually have given 3's to albums I enjoyed just fine, but don't need to hear again, which describes this album perfectly.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Nice and serene music. I love the dreamy guitar sound, and the nice bass playing. A lot of the songs were a bit slow and long for me. I'm having trouble remembering any of the songs specifically, but the vibe was nice.
Wish she hadn't joined the censorship bandwagon and taken her music off Spotify.
Eagles
3/5
Title track is awesome, of course. Anyone who disagrees has just been overexposed to it.
The rest of the album is nice, their harmonies are very good. It's pleasant easy-going rock, which is nice at times but isn't exactly my style.
Lightning Bolt
1/5
What were his criteria when it came to choosing the 21st century albums to make the list?
Big Star
2/5
I found it a bit underwhelming.
The singer does not sound very confident in himself
I probably could enjoy a couple of these songs on their own, but as a collection it's just a bit too much
Also what a lame cover of Femme Fatale lol
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Very nice voice. Very chill. Smooth jams. It was really well done. I respect it,. A few moments I liked, but it's not my style and resonate with me personally.
songs: join the boys, people, like fire
Todd Rundgren
5/5
Oh wow this is awesome. I enjoyed it thoroughly! Infectiously catchy and feel-good without being simplistic and trite.
It's so solid throughout. A bit bloated in size but there are so many highlights.
The voice sounds just like Don McLean, but this music is way better than most Don Mclean stuff
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Definitely worth a listen. High-quality blues. Blues is a respectable genre
The song with Santana had epic guitar, as one would expect
Talking Heads
4/5
I'm very intrigued. This is a kooky album
JAY Z
2/5
Hiphop obviously isn't for me. I try, but idk how I’m supposed to like this without completely shutting my brain off.
Hiphop comes off as so pretentious and egotistical; the majority of lyrics are like "yeah wassup, im da coolest guy my n*ggas, i fuck bitches and make da big bucks". So lame. And the lyrics are the only thing going for it since the music is basic too. I’ve already gone over it in my other album reviews so no need to re-hash it ig
I didn’t hate every second of it, but still, blegh
Talk Talk
3/5
It was alright, don’t need to hear it again though
I bet my parents would like some of this
PJ Harvey
3/5
Not bad, enjoyed it. Cool.
I like PJ more than most alternative rock I know of.
Some songs/chord progressions felt very Nirvana-esque (a term that doesn't mean much during the age of grunge, because everything sounded like that).
Plants and rags was nice, a more unique track on the album
I think I liked this more than the other PJ Harvey album I had a few months ago.
Megadeth
5/5
Probably the greatest metal album of all time. Not MY favorite personally, but objectively the greatest. This album makes Metallica's best work look like child's play.
Prince
1/5
This sounds like Zumba music for sexually repressed homosexuals of color. It would be perfect background music for a 1980s porno.
David Bowie
5/5
Delightfully idiosyncratic
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
When I think of quality, classic 70s music, ELO is one of the very first groups to come to mind. They take the fun vibe of 70s soft rock and elevate it with wonderful orchestration and tasteful synths and keyboards. So many of these songs are just so fun and catchy and make you wanna dance. Fun listen
I hadn’t paid attention to Sweet is the Night before, but I think it’s one of my very favorites of the album
The Smiths
4/5
LOVE Johnny's dreamy guitar sound. "Barbarism" is such a cool song. The guitars on the title track are downright spooky. Solid rhythm section too. Morrissey's voice is quite nice (although there were a couple moments it irked me a tiny bit on this album)
The Smiths >>> The Cure
I like the album, but it doesn't feel QUITE on the same level as the "Queen is Dead" for me. A few of the songs feel a bit too long for what they're worth, but they're all pleasant.
The more that internet warriors call Morrissey a terrible person, the more I like him. I'm so fatigued by ppl calling artists pRoBLeMaTic that I think the controversial ones are the coolest ones after all. I'm bored of all the tame basic celebs who tailor every single thing they say to fit the current zeitgeist of socially acceptable opinion. The internet is full of self-flagellating losers who spend their time searching for outrage instead of contributing to society
if you look up "i love morrissey" all the top search results are explaining why so many Latin Americans love Morrissey?? What lmfaooo
5/5
What do you get when you combine the most creative and deft drummer in rock, the most phenomenal bass player in rock, the most nimble and unique guitarist in rock, the most masterful keyboardist in rock, and the most pure and beautiful tenor to ever front a band?
You get Close to the Edge! What a soaring triumph of an album! :)
Seriously though, these guys are all complete MASTERS of their craft individually. It's ASTONISHING! The fact that they all managed to be in the SAME BAND is practically a miracle. Yes' bassist was more integral to the band's sound than any other bassist of the 70s; the sound he got out of his bass is unreal; so visceral and punchy. Steve Howe's guitar work is insanely original; he plays so swiftly in a way I have never heard any other guitarist play, and I listen to a lot of guitar! Bill Bruford could play ANYTHING on the drums. Sure, he wasn't as loud as other famous 70s drummers, but he could play more intricate, complex rhythms than all of them by FAR. The keyboardist has literally written symphonies, so that should tell you something lol. And who in rock could belt out high tenor notes so beautifully and sweetly as Jon Anderson??
No other band of the 70s of the world could've written this album. None! The sheer creativity and technical skill it must've taken to write this album boggles my mind. As someone who plays several instruments and knows a good amount of music theory, this album dazzles me. This album is rich in complexity, and each new listen unearths new secrets. Even if you don't like it personally, if you are not exceedingly impressed by this composition then you aren't paying attention...
While Yes, for some, symbolizes the excesses of progressive rock, I truly think the highs of Yes' music are among the very highest in ALL OF MUSIC. Period. I never knew how magical music could be until I found this group.
Yes
5/5
I LOVE YES!!!!!!!
Thin Lizzy
4/5
I knew virtually nothing about this band, but this was an impressive introduction. The quality here is better than many rock studio albums.
None of the songs blew my mind at all, but it was solid and fun
Portishead
2/5
I didn't hate it at all, but since I gotta compare it to all the other albums on this list, it falls into the 2 category for me
Had some cool vibes at times, I liked the darkness of it
Parts to remember: the 2nd half of The Rip, the guitar hook in We Carry On
Machine Gun was very reminiscent of NIN
The Youngbloods
3/5
Extremely pleasant throughout. In the grand scheme of things though it feels like a 3
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Fantastic. Magical.
Huge shame they broke up so soon
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
i can see how someone would like it but it's not quite my thing
Screaming Trees
2/5
I didn’t really care for it, torn between 2 and 3
Fav was Sworn and Broken
It got a bit better towards the end
Steve Winwood
3/5
Nice, not bad
On the Peter Gabriel to Phil Collins vocal spectrum, his voice is dead center between the two.
There's some very tasteful keyboard work here. But sometimes the keys made it sound like Mario Kart online lobby waiting music
Alanis Morissette
2/5
I don't think 90s music is my thing. So many people say the 90s were the best decade for music, but I'm really not seeing it. Maybe the 4th best decade.
A lot of it sounds like music you're supposed to listen to with your head out the window of a car, feeling your youthful angst being washed away.
Tom Waits
2/5
Sounds like Pete from Mickey Mouse wandered into the studio after going a whole week without a glass of water.
It's a shame because the songwriting is there. But based on my enjoyment it's a 2. Each song feels like it would be the obligatory slow, plodding villain song in a kids' movie. He'd probably give a mean rendition of the "Oogie Boogie Man" song
Some of the songs felt sweet and tender, which I did appreciate. I liked the last song at least
Lucinda Williams
1/5
Thoroughly boring and forgettable. Sounds like royalty free music composed for the SUV commercials that run after an episode of Pioneer Woman.
The fact that this is Rolling Stone Magazine's 98th best album of all time shows what a complete disgrace that magazine is. Some albums get onto these sorts of lists not because the MUSIC is good or impressive, but because of their cultural context. Like wow a country woman lazily singing about “Broken down shacks, engine parts”, this album must be so heckin culturally significant!!! As if that's what makes a good album
I like old folksy country music quite a bit, from the 1970s and earlier. But modern country utterly disgusts me. The way she pronounces "Pierce the skin and the blood runs through" in the first song makes me vomit.
Prince
2/5
Some parts were kinda cool; some parts I hated.
Prince is phenomenal at guitar but WOW does he underutilize his guitar playing. His songs are totally not for me, I wish he spent more time shredding and less time rabidly obsessing about sex
The ratio of "how much I enjoyed this album" to " how acclaimed it is" is extremely low
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Nice, definitely worth a listen. I like the mood of a lot of the songs. Stylish. I liked it a bit more than I thought I might.
Perhaps the most easily recognizable voice of the 21st century so far? She was a talent
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Ok wow this might be the best indie music ive heard. i didnt fully digest it on first listen so i definitely need to return to this one, it has serious potential to grow on me
Roxy Music
5/5
Weird, in a cool way
Beatles
5/5
I think this is my favorite Beatles album. There's just so much good content on it.
John's voice sometimes gets on my nerves. I love Dear Prudence but John's voice really irritates me on that one; the Beatles discography would be improved if John was only allowed to sing one or two songs on each album.
I don't see how people can hate the Beatles. The Beatles aren't even in my top 30 favorite bands but they're so quality. They've got a good balance of accessible and weird.
Lou Reed
3/5
Nice, would listen again
I liked it a lot; extremely torn between a 3 and a 4
Didn't enjoy the vocals though; they felt much too lazy and dispassionate for the really good music. I have a hard time remembering any specific songs after listening, but I remember it being pleasant. I'll come back one day
Oasis
1/5
Pretty droning and repetitive for a band that claimed to be bigger than the Beatles lmao
I was just underwhelmed. How do all the tracks sound like the exact same song? All the instruments sound uninspired. The guitar work is lazy and lame; the lyrics don't help either. The vocalist can't seem to stop doing his teenage John Lennon impression for a single second. The way it's mixed doesn't appeal to me either; all the sounds muddle together in a bad way.
Listening to the whole thing just felt like a chore. I can at least stand their best songs, but none of them were on this album anyway. One of the most monotonous albums I've had in a while.
Again and again 90s music underwhelms me lmao. SO many people say it's such a great decade for music, and I've yet to see why
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Instrumentals are great throughout, the guitar is present in a good way. The vocals weird me out a bit at times but not too badly.
I think it's among the better 90s music I've heard so far
Solomon Burke
2/5
It's charming
I don't dislike it but it doesn't compel me much either
It’s not bad but compared to other albums I’m going to give a high 2 for now
T. Rex
4/5
Fun and cool. I did like the other T-rex album better I think, but there are some tracks on here I will return to
Animal Collective
3/5
Mesmerizing. This album sounds like I'm trapped inside a kaleidoscope. I listened when I was really tired and was hypnotized the whole time.
Cool listen. It feels more innovative and interesting than other indie artists have dared to attempt.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
shoe gays
Didn't mind, didn't care for
Johnny Cash
3/5
A nice listen
Johnny Cash is unfathomably cool and based
Is there a single celebrity from this century that is as cool as Johnny Cash was? The answer is emphatically no
Pentangle
4/5
It reminds me of the band Renaissance, except not quite as good. Nevertheless it is very pleasant and enjoyable throughout.
This music ignites my deep desire to live in an isolated pagan Nordic mountain village hundreds of years in the past. I wish the industrial revolution never happened. Globalism has destroyed everything that made the world beautiful and awe-inspiring
Will definitely return
Taylor Swift
1/5
Well it definitely sounds like it was made in 2020.
I'm not just trying to be contrary to everything popular, but it is really obvious to me that pop music in our era is not very original or inventive. They're not daring with their song structures or chord progressions. I've heard way too many songs that sound just like this album, and the most the songs on this album are indistinguishable. Props to "closure" for being in 5/4 though.
Yeah sure it's produced well (usually TOO well). But it's bland. The actual music behind her voice is usually so simple; it sounds like a default backing track on Garage Band or something. Once in a while there's a guitar part in the background that's more than just strumming, but it's mixed so quietly. Actual musical talent is NOT what gets you popular in today's world, but that's what I admire.
The themes are just as basic too; how many "love going wrong/being hard" songs or "girl coming-of-age type" songs can one person write before it's too much of the same? All the songs sound like they're made for crying or listening to while looking out a rainy window. But they just do not resonate with me at all.
I never hated it at any point but it's just soooo meh. It's a reminder of why I don't like today's pop music. And there weren't any bangers here like on her early albums; it's all just "sadgirl hours" songs. Even though her early hits weren't interesting, at least they were fun.
P.S. I'm curious who the first sadgirl was to make all her song titles lowercase. Why does everybody do it now?
Rod Stewart
2/5
Roger Taylor sounds JUST like this guy; see "Fight From The Inside" by Queen
The album was fine; nothing wrong with it. But I didn't find it very interesting or memorable to be honest. By my personal rating system this one is a 2: where I put the ones I didn't enjoy much but didn't dislike much either.
Favorite song was "Mandolin Wind". The last 2 songs weren't too shabby either
Miles Davis
4/5
very quality!!
Jazz is very impressive, both in the skill needed to play it, and in the imagination required to compose it
Mariah Carey
3/5
I actually liked the majority of it. Not every song, but a lot of them
I can see why it was a hit, it's quality. Phenomenal vocal control she's got
It makes me nostalgic, they don't make music like this anymore.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Super quality! The strings and backing choir add so much magic to it
Ramones
1/5
Way too much of the same. I think the guitarist didn't bother to learn ANYTHING besides the one basic power chord shape. Plus that voice really grates after a couple songs.
Punk is soooo lame compared to the hard rock that came before it and the heavy metal that came after it. The music is boring and you can tell the guys are all about the "cool" image instead. This album has the lowest amount of talent and songwriting ability I've heard in a while.
I don't mind the hits, really, but as it album it sucks
Caetano Veloso
5/5
I was really into this today
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
Sounds a bit corny for an album made by inner city black dudes. I can get behind this oldie hip hop better than a lot of stuff I hear now, I guess
Eric Clapton
3/5
A few really great songs, and a few too many languid bluesy type songs imo. Even though the album has a lethargic chill feel, it's extremely solid, and produced perfectly. I enjoyed it throughout. Not a bad moment.
Favorite song was easily "Let it Grow". Also liked the last song, the first song and I Shot The Sheriff. And the vocals in "Please Be With Me" had that perfect 70s harmony feel
Clapton's guitar mastery is indisputable, but I feel like there's only so much original songwriting you can do within the framework of slow blues rock.
I'll be sure to return to this album my next lazy beach day.
The Dictators
3/5
This album cover is sooo empowering <3 trans visibility is soooo important <3 <3
These guys did punk before it was cool, and it seems they were better than the punk rock bands that followed, too. This album is better than anything the Ramones put out. I don't like punk as a genre but this could be the best punk record I've heard.
A funny and energetic listen. There are some good guitar solo bits in here too
Ministry
3/5
Unique blend of thrash metal and industrial music. I think anyone who liked NIN would love this album. I liked the heaviness a lot actually, but most the songs felt little bit too repetitive for me. An enjoyable listen, but I probably won't return; I've got plenty of heavy music that is a little more interesting to me. But the musical chops were there; the rhythm section is awesome.
I thought the second half was better.
I think my favorite song was Scarecrow, that song felt apocalyptic.
Also Psalm 69 was worth remembering, those "Oh Fortuna" style vocals at the beginning with the metal guitar was fantastic; didn't like the sexual lyrics at all though, just the music. I can get behind devilish lyrics but I've never liked sexual lyrics. This song would horrify my parents.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Wacky but fun story-driven album
Very unique
808 State
2/5
Good for what it is: ambient/background dance music. I definitely wouldn't mind having it on while I studied or worked or something. Relative to the albums on this list it's a 2/5.
It reminds me of the music that played when I worked a laser tag arena at a in 2018
I've learned to appreciate that the 1001 list isn't necessarily the same as the 1001 best albums of all time. (Most "best albums of all time" lists are lousy anyway). This 1001 list is meant to be a survey of important/influential music, as well as include some greatest albums of all time. That's why I like it. I can appreciate that this is probably an album that inspired a lot of modern electronica music.
SAULT
2/5
I gotta be honest, I’m pretty tired of the incessant racial propaganda in America in 2022. Our culture worships black people. It doesn't take a genius to notice that blackness is ONLY praised, and whiteness, we're told, either doesn't exist, or is inherently evil. Every media outlet portrays blacks as empowered and every movie/show portrays whites as dumb, weak or evil. Every corporation glorifies blackness. BLM protestors unironically think they’re fighting the system when every news source and company and TV show and advertisement and CEO “coincidentally” say the exact same things they do. This racial tension only benefits the ruling class, and distracts from real issues of economic inequality or climate change. All over the internet it’s normal to hate white people for their color. Hell, even the week I’m writing this, a black man who had talked about killing white people online went and shot up the NYC subway.
15 years ago few people even THOUGHT about race, and we were on track to a world where race didn’t affect how you were seen. But today, everyone is rabidly fixated on race, and people’s entire personalities are centered on the color of their skin or their sexuality. People aren't proud of their accomplishments, no, somehow they are proud of their skin color. Years ago MLK promoted peace and harmony, but today, blacks are told to be perpetually angry and bitter. It reminds me of the constant war machine in Orwell’s 1984; if the people are consistently angry, their anger can be harnessed. Today there is a “forever war”, a constant stream of manufactured outrage. SJWs scour the internet to find ANY tiny example of oppression, usually in the form of 10 year-old tweets, so that their sad worldview remains intact. But the demand for racism is higher than the supply, so isolated events are blown out of proportion and used to justify dismantling everything about society. There is no aspect of life that isn’t viewed through the distorted lens of oppression.
Our culture’s fatal obsession with identity has caused rifts that will take a century to heal. Identity politics only divides us all; it’s thinly veiled tribalism. Identity politics has destroyed honest political discourse among groups: every person is viewed mainly as a member of a group and not an individual, and it’s not the truth of what you say that matters, but whether you belong to the right group.
Anyway, I didn't vibe with this album. “Black lives matter” is completely true as a STATEMENT, obviously, but as a MOVEMENT, it is destructive and counterproductive. Identity politics is a complete disaster. A post-racial world was within our grasp, but instead we are more divided today than we have been in decades, and it makes me sad.
The music was 3/5. -1 point for the fact that a third of the tracks are just cringey racial affirmation ASMR. 2/5
Gang Starr
2/5
Didn't mind it, a few songs had me bobbin my head.
I liked Lovesick and Execution of a Chump
Although, as is the case with most hip hop, the song structures are extremely repetitive, so it bored me sometimes. I felt the album was too long for what it was worth, with a lot of fluff.
5/5
The songwriting is more basic than on Hunky Dory, but it is still great
The Pharcyde
3/5
The music behind the vocals was pretty interesting at times
I still don't love hip hop though, but this is my favorite i've heard
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
As good as the The Cure!
Sex Pistols
4/5
Okay I usually think punk is really boring and lame, but this one was great
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
Yeah I can get behind this. I liked that there were a few spooky moments. Some sparkly magical moments too. Favorite song was probably the first or the last one
My parents LOVE this group; my mom has said it's her favorite group of all time. So it has some nostalgia bias for me
Astor Piazzolla
5/5
Simply brilliant! Magical and mesmerizing
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
quite dreamlike and peaceful. good music to dissociate to. perfectly produced but by halfway through it had reeeally started to drag on.
This album might be better if you classify it as "poetry" rather than "music"
I was feeling 3 about halfway through, by the end it was a 2.
Metallica
3/5
I like the songwriting on this album.
...but the mix is unforgivably terrible. Lars disgracefully turned the bass down to zero to get a specific drum sound. But it was a lose-lose, because the drums sound extremely terrible too; they sound so flat and lack oomph. It's such a shame. It perhaps could've been their best album otherwise.
There's just so much good metal out there besides Metallica that I don't bother with this album much.
Also it's hilarious how much fans seethe that Jethro Tull beat this album for a Grammy in '89
The Kinks
4/5
Part psychedelic, part baroque pop, part classic 60s soft rock: really nice!
Would definitely listen again
Alice In Chains
3/5
Quality heavy grunge album
Metallica
3/5
It's very solid, but I don't like it as much as their first few albums. I enjoyed it but was a bit fatigued by the end.
I was surprised how similar it sounded like the heavy grunge of the decade, like Alice in Chains.
The Cure
3/5
Some really, really great vibes on this one
PJ Harvey
2/5
It's good and I can totally see why someone would like it. She's got cool raw energy
but it's not really for me
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
It’s quality for a modern indie rock album. Had good vibes. I definitely would recommend it to someone who likes low energy indie rock. Last song was great.
But I was pretty bored for a lot of it. The first song really made me cringe when he started singing.
New Order
3/5
Cool 80s party , a worthwhile listen
Neil Young
3/5
Great vibes
Very enjoyable if you're in a chill mood
Stan Getz
3/5
Can't complain at all! Extremely pleasant and lots of creative melodies and progressions
Led Zeppelin
5/5
How can any other band compete?
Television
4/5
Enjoyable listen. Reminds me of the Talking Heads
It's crazy how much post-70s rock music rips off sounds that were already explored in the 70s. So much 2000s rock that sounds like this
fIREHOSE
3/5
GREAT drums
And some great riffs sprinkled throughout
Worthwhile listen
Spotify inexplicably flagged every song here as explicit..? Even the drum solo?
Michael Jackson
4/5
It's great, everyone knows that.
Although I didn't enjoy the last few songs as much.
I really dislike when people judge music based on the artist's character. Some just love to spend their time being outraged. Can't relate.
Not that I specifically care about MJ though
Arrested Development
2/5
Look it's pretty good for a hiphop album, but man, i just do not enjoy hiphop
Madonna
2/5
This is not a bad record, some fine moments! But compared to the rest of this list I feel I have to give a 2.
Weather Report
4/5
My favorite jazz album thus far. Very cool
Black Sabbath
5/5
Definitely not as concise as their subsequent albums, but I love it anyway. Not a 5/5 compared to their own discography, but I say it's a 5/5 on this 1001 list
Full of killer, catchy riffs
The B-52's
2/5
I don't really enjoy the talk-singing throughout this album
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
Plodding, dull and dreary
Megadeth
4/5
Metallica WISHES they could've made this album. Better guitar work, better bass work (and the bass is actually audible), and WAY better drums (Lars is so overrated)
I really like everything about this album except the vocals, but I'm getting used to them
The 2nd half of the album is a lot better imo
Stevie Wonder
5/5
There's just too much to love on this album to give it a lower rating
Amy Winehouse
2/5
Amy is such a smooth soul sistah that she deserves an honorary N-word pass
She's one of those musicians I respect plenty, but somehow don't find myself enjoying all that much.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Cool
Bob Marley & The Wailers
1/5
Wow this was boring
Every song consisted of a simplistic 6 second rhythm that looped the entire track without changing at all, while he sang over it.
You hear one of his songs, you've heard em all
Gene Clark
1/5
bleghhhhhh
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
I liked Pitche Mi a LOT
The rest I didn't mind
Baaba Maal
3/5
Music for wandering
John Grant
3/5
I liked the first song a lot, and a few others. I also disliked several songs and thought a bunch of the lyrics were dumb. But overall it was good enough for a 3
Gotta give props to a white dude who’s brave enough to say the n-word in this century lmfao
Depeche Mode
3/5
Cool dark vibes
Favorite was Pimpf
Richard Hawley
2/5
I enjoyed a few songs, but a lot of songs I didn't care for, especially the "shoe" song. Sounds like a knockoff of classy 50s/60s music with an old timey country touch at times. He doesn't have as remarkable of a voice as the great crooners he's LARPing as.
Maybe I'm too harsh. I can see why others could like it. Favorite song was Born Under a Bad Sign. Last track was very pleasant too
The Band
4/5
I sAid wAiT a MiNUtE ChEsTer
The xx
1/5
Endless quantities of horrible lo-fi indie bedroom music have come out since the mid 2010s that sound just like this. Yuck.
It comes across as so devoid of soul and talent. The entire album could've been written by selecting default backing tracks in GarageBand.
The girl's voice is basic and bland, but it's nothing compared to the cringe-inducing terror that is the guy's voice.
Plus the guitar is so simplistic it hurts, literally the most basic guitar playing I've heard on this entire 1001 list.
Gillian Welch
4/5
SO pleasant to listen to, it soothes me. I don't usually listen to music like this, but I felt like this album cast a spell on me that makes me want to return.
Good American folk music makes me yearn for earlier American days. America used to have this whole mythos and majesty surrounding it. There was a unifying American spirit. Now, everything that once was sacred and beautiful has been destroyed in the name of progress. I'm not patriotic at all but the loss of such a sense of awe and majesty makes me mourn, in the same way Nietzsche mourned the "death of God". There's nothing inspiring to believe in anymore. All that's left to find meaning in is phony social justice and vapid consumer culture
Faust
4/5
First track wasn't interesting enough but I liked the rest. I like psychedelic music
The Byrds
4/5
Overall quite nice, a couple songs I didn’t care fo
John Cale
3/5
Very pleasant, worth a listen
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
The first minute of the album really fakes you out, you think it's gonna be a funky disco thing
It's still nice though, although it's hard to tell the songs apart, they all sound the same, so the album felt a little repetitive
I enjoyed it because of its relative novelty. The motifs and themes of this album aren't present in many other genres. Classy musicianship throughout, too.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
It was nice. Interesting.
It was slow and sometimes repetitive, but for some reason I didn’t mind.
I don’t get why these guys are so acclaimed but I did like it
The Monks
3/5
Sometimes influential music doesn't equal good music
But hey I enjoyed the frenzy that was this album enough to give a 3. Don't plan to ever come back to this one though
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Some really nice heaviness at times
There were quite a few moments that made me heavily cringe, especially towards the beginning, but overall it was decent. So I guess a low 3/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
Great!
There were enough songs I wanted to return to to make this album a 4/5 for me
Deep Purple
5/5
This album has the power to change boys into men
Julian Cope
2/5
A few 3/5 moments, a couple 1/5 moments. Overall I didn’t care for it. It is very reminiscent of Nick Cave
James Brown
3/5
Nice, enjoyable. Great vocal chops.
Bob Dylan
3/5
It’s very pleasant and definitely worth a listen. Good for relaxing to. Great lyrics as always. I could never complain if someone out this album on in the background.
Although, it does feel somewhat bare compared to his later albums, as it’s just acoustic guitar and harmonica on this one. There’s a lot of Bob Dylan I like, especially Bringing it all Home and Highway 61. This album doesn’t compare all well to those ones imo. Definitely a few gems worth returning to though
Otis Redding
2/5
Idk why but I wasn't feeling this one much. Also it's almost all covers, which aren't quite as good as their originals.
I can see why people would like it though
The Undertones
4/5
If this is punk, it's definitely one of the best I've heard. I had fun listening to it
Jeru The Damaja
1/5
I found it repetitive and uninteresting, sorry not sorry. It's not the worst thing I've ever heard by ANY means, but compared to the other albums on the 1001 list it's pretty low
I don't think anybody would care about hip hop if it didn't come primarily from black people.
Dire Straits
3/5
Reminds me of Eric clapton’s ocean boulevard album a bit.
This album obviously has great guitar, and a couple definite 5/5 moments. I listen to Sultans regularly. But I wasn’t really entranced by a lot of the songs.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Ya know I thought it was pretty interesting, for a hip hop album anyway.
Of course the lyrics are lame most the time, but it was cool enough. If I ever see gonna relisten to a hip hop album it might as well be this one
John Coltrane
4/5
Nice, would listen again
Fleet Foxes
5/5
It’s so nice. The sound is fantastic, love the quality of the background vocals. Hearing the production on this album makes me wish my favorite albums from the 60s and 70s could’ve been recorded with today’s better sound equipment. Feels so fresh
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
ELP were crazy and fantastically original. They got famous as a folk rock band; slow acoustic songs like Lucky Man and From the Beginning are their most well known tunes. But anyone who ACTUALLY knows ELP knows they epitomized keyboard-driven prog rock.
Keith Emerson was the most skilled keyboardist of the 20th century. Easily. It's easy to arrive at this opinion after listening to ELP's first 4 studio albums, which showcase much better keyboard/piano work than this even this album does. I don't even listen to Pictures at an Exhibition all that much. What an insane mind he must have had to compose ELP's discography.
And Carl Palmer was a MONSTER of a drummer. Crazy dexterity. I find that prog drummers (Bill Bruford, Phil Collins, Neil Peart) tend to be way more impressive than the traditionally chosen greatest rock drummers of all time.
Plus ELP almost singlehandedly inspired the majority of 90s videogame music. Listen to Tarkus or the Karn Evil 9 suite if you don't believe me. If I had a nickel for every turn-based RPG battle theme that sounded like ELP...
I can definitely understand why not everyone would enjoy this album. It's weird. But I dig it.
Not nearly as good as Brain Salad Surgery though. I REALLY wish Pictures at an Exhibition WASN'T on this list, and that Brain Salad Surgery was instead. I don't love this one as much, so I was unsure whether to put 4 or 5. And because I was unsure I decided to put it as a 4/5 for now.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Everly Brothers but country. Don't need to hear it again but it's a nice listen.
It makes me a little sad that the culture that produced this music has long since been destroyed. The world in which you were raised no longer exists.
X-Ray Spex
1/5
Wow my ears were already super fatigued of listening to that voice after 2 songs. And then I had to listen to the rest of the album. Actual pain, not just dislike. Had to listen at lowest possible volume. Even HER voice sounds fatigued the whole time.
It sounds like the b52s tried to make a punk album.
Best lyric was “I’ve dreamt that I was hitler, ruler of the sea, ruler of the universe.”
The Jesus And Mary Chain
1/5
This might be the most tedious album I've ever heard.
Most of these songs are indistinguishable because they're mainly comprised of two chords: a root chord and then its major 4th chord, which they switch between ad nauseam. Once in a while there's a major 5th chord. Those are the 3 most basic chords in all of history. And they're played so lazily too. This album just oozes mediocrity.
The singing is lackluster and the guitar playing is so dull; a below average 9 year old guitar student could've have written this music for all I know. I think I'd rather have no guitar at all than have to listen to this unimaginative, unimpressive trash.
These guys have MORE THAN ONE album on this list, which is unfathomable. There is better alternative music from the 80s than this.
David Bowie
4/5
I didn't find it QUITE as memorable as the other Bowie albums I've heard. But perhaps it's not fair to compare to compare this to his other works. I've just heard too much Bowie that I like more than this, maybe if I had heard this album before his others it would've had a bigger impression on me.
I'll spend some more time with this one in the future
Whoever played piano on this album killed it, btw
I liked Time and really liked the last track
Machito
3/5
I enjoyed it
Roxy Music
3/5
I didn't like it as much as their other music I've heard
Arcade Fire
3/5
This is definitely one of those indie albums that makes alt kids feel soul-searchy or appreciate life more or something. I enjoyed it well enough, but it doesn’t really affect me in that way. The always-wavering vulnerable vocals that are omnipresent in indie music aren’t my favorite thing ever. But there were good moments. I think I liked the last two songs the most.
Fela Kuti
2/5
Not bad, but I didn't care for it
Great drum work from Ginger
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
Better than the other Bob Marley album I’ve heard but still I found it a bit boring
Public Enemy
1/5
Is it wrong to say that I find the usual big, loud "black attitude" just so tiresome? Today, arrogance and sassy loudness is celebrated, so long as it comes from a black person; people seem to think being "empowered" means being self-obsessed and obnoxious. Every song has this overblown, forced, pompous swagger that just gets irritating. Much hip hop suffers from this. It doesn't feel genuine, it really feels like the whole purpose of the music is to seem cool.
I really think hip hop has to be the most pretentious genre out there. The definition of pretentious is: "attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed." Hip hop is all about style and attitude, not about substance or talent. By that I mean that it is usually not musically complex/deep to compose, nor does it take any technical skill with a musical instrument to perform. Sure, the lyrics take effort to write, but that's the only thing it has going for it. Since when was good music about lyrics? You might as well stick to poetry.
After all, the music itself is often so simplistic; a 3 second beat is looped over and over for a whole 4 minute song. Wow, so impressive, guys. The music isn't even played by people, it's played by a machine. It doesn't take a musical genius to push buttons on a drum machine. Today a lot of hip hop is performed by computers; the only piece left for a person to do is rap. I'm sure someday soon computers will be able to convincingly rap, and all popular hip hop will be procedurally generated by AI.
I love to listen to music that is written by skilled composers and/or performed by talented instrumentalists. Hip hop is the antithesis of this; simple repetitive music, no impressive instrumental work. Usually, anyway. I’m sure it’s enjoyable to many but I just don’t like it at all
Nick Drake
5/5
Couldn’t get tired of it
Aerosmith
4/5
Doesn't get much more American than this. Today America is a shattered land of sissy babies but back in the day Americans were strong and unafraid, and this music captures that cool 70s American energy well, I'd say.
The Cars
4/5
Nice, definitely worth the listen. Will return. This could grow on me.
I really liked the synths on this album when they appeared.
Really liked the last two tracks
There were a lot of artists in this era with that dramatic talk-singy vocal style (like the talking heads and the cure)
Kanye West
1/5
Hip hop was a mistake, and is likely the cause of most of society's ills
Janelle Monáe
5/5
Okay this isn't my usual style, but wow this album was fantastic! It's so rare for me to be so impressed by an album that isn't my style, that I knew nothing about. I was dazzled by the diversity of styles here. A+ for creativity. This could be the greatest pop album of the 21st century.
This album is better than anything I've heard from other female mega popstars. Better than Mariah Carey, better than Madonna, better than Whitney Houston, better than Taylor Swift, better than Olivia Rodrigo.
I didn't like the second track, so I was doubtful for a sec. But basically every other track was great, and some were just plain fantastic. I really thought it got better as it went on.
Aimee Mann
2/5
It was good for what it aims to be, but I just was not into much of it
A couple songs I liked I think
Massive Attack
2/5
Not for me but I could see its appeal to some
Beatles
5/5
Superb
The The
3/5
Kinda liked some bits, other bits made me cringe. Overall it was worth a listen but I won't return
OutKast
2/5
It was good for a hip hop album but I just cannot get into hip hop. There were a few good choruses sprinkled throughout but there was so much annoying rap you had to get through.
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
Fun throughout
Best song was Whiskey Woman. The chorus sounded a lot like knocking on heavens door but I think this song is older than that one
Peter Tosh
3/5
I liked it better than Bob Marley. Nearly half of the songs I thought were too boring/repetitive but there were some that I did in fact enjoy. So a 3/5 fits nicely I think
The La's
4/5
Really great alt rock
Living Colour
3/5
A cool, unique brand of soulful funky glam metal. Props for creativity.
I did think it was too cheesy for my personal taste. It’s one of those albums I admire but don’t super enjoy
Bob Dylan
3/5
There’s some Bob Dylan I like a lot, and some I think is fine. Highway 61 is by far my favorite album of his
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
Folk country > pop country. There were a lot of moments I liked, especially the instrumentals. There are some quite talented musicians here.
A loooot of the songs sounded almost the same. They tend to use very, very similar chord progressions and song structures. I was disappointed by how repetitive the album was. I did find it pretty charming but I never want to hear it again, except for a few tracks. Except it's hard to know WHICH tracks I'd want to hear again, since they're so similar. I think I'm just barely gonna give it a 3 because I enjoyed the vibes and fun banjo/fiddle parts. I liked the instrumental tracks
I did find it fascinating how old some of the collaborators on this album were. This album is like a historical artifact
Eminem
3/5
I don’t like hip hop. The only reason I’m giving a 3 is because some of the lyrics were pretty hilarious.
Ghostface Killah
2/5
Man I get so bored of hip hop. I did sorta like the few more soulful R+B tracks. No disrespect but it ain’t for me
Heaven 17
2/5
There was some cool funk moments underneath, but overshadowing it a bit was that cheesy 80s synth pop that does sound quite dated. I think I’ve enjoyed some synth pop, but this one didn’t quite do it for me.
I can see the appeal though
Michael Jackson
3/5
The King of Pop's most 80s-infused album yet.
Objectively, it's an impeccable, world-class pop album. Subjectively, I enjoyed the listen plenty but I have no desire to listen to the album again, which is how I classify my 3/5's.
I liked Dirty Diana and the last track
The Pogues
3/5
I do admire the happy, free sound of Irish folk music. There is no modern music that feels as liberatingly joyful as good irish folk.
As far as the album goes, I think I enjoyed it but so many of the songs sounded quite similar.
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
Every single song is a 3-4 second loop that repeats for 3-4 minutes
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Thought it was great!
Favorites were Deja Vu, Our House, Country Girl
Elbow
4/5
A really nice, flawlessly produced indie album. Uplifting but not TOO cheesy
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Cool
Violent Femmes
3/5
Quirky
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
A bit underwhelming/uninteresting, but still enjoyable. Never need to hear it again though
The Who
4/5
I liked it, it was great.
They sure sound like the year this album came out. Some parts reminiscent of The Beach Boys. Some old-school soul influence.
Amazing drums.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Not a great album, but perhaps a hint of greater things to come.
Favorites were Under my Thumb and Out of Time.
The first 15 seconds of Out of Time sound like Banjo Kazooie music
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I definitely enjoyed this one a lot more than the previous Neil Young albums I’ve heard (the one where he’s against the tree and the beach one)
First side was like perfect; reminded me of John denver at times for some reason
Eminem
3/5
250 albums in and I think this is the most entertaining hip hop album I've had so far. Hip hop isn't my style but Eminem may be my favorite
Little Richard
3/5
Fantastic voice. Pretty fun
Every song uses the same 3-chord progression, it seems. So musically and compositionally I didn't find it interesting at all.
A Tribe Called Quest
2/5
Fine, for an old school hip hop album. I was pretty bored to most of it, but there were a few alright moments. I liked the occasional jazzy instrument.
Venom
3/5
This album feels just as much like punk as it does like metal.
There is some metal I really love (e.g. Opeth)
This album I thought was just fine but I don't desire to hear it again. Not a particularly bad album.
I can understand why some would think the lyrics are dumb, but for me lyrics usually only play a small role in the quality of music.
Favorite track: Countess Bathory
3/5
Ya know, this probably is the perfect pop/alt rock album. It's not very intricate or impressive but it has fantastic energy and is very catchy. It’s not really my cup of tea, but it’s perfect for what it strives to be.
Several of the songs were pretty uninteresting to me; I think that once you’ve heard a few of their songs, you’ve heard em all. But their formula works.
Wonderwall is a better song than I remember.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Pleasant. Sounds quaint now.
Some songs have very interesting chord progressions, like She Knows Me Too Well.
Favorites included kiss me baby, when I grow up, help me Rhonda, in the back of my mind
The White Stripes
4/5
Jack White is no guitar virtuoso, and Meg White may be the most unimpressive drummer to ever have been in a famous rock band. BUT, I really enjoy this album. The songwriting is great and it oozes style.
Favorite tracks: Ball and Biscuit, Hypnotise (which probably had the best drums of the album), I just don’t know what to do with myself
TV On The Radio
3/5
Good indie pop album, but what the cringe kinda title is "Dear Science"?
A lot of great lyrics
A couple songs that made me cringe a bit, but many moments I appreciated
A bit too modern poppy for me, but it was pretty unique and creative
Ian Dury
3/5
At times high energy punky, at others funky groovy. Despite his extremely British voice, I found myself a bit charmed by the quirky grooviness of it.
Death In Vegas
2/5
I think my main problem is that is just feels like background music. Feels like trance music, so by nature it’s repetitive. There were some cool moments sprinkled throughout, but I didn’t like the majority of the album.
Really don’t like any of the tracks with vocals
Sebadoh
1/5
I was just kinda bored and/or annoyed the whole time. I'm having a hard time thinking about the few moments I may have enjoyed because all I can remember are the parts I cringed at.
If I had to choose a track to re-listen to, I might choose Homemade
The Cure
3/5
Some pretty cool songs, some pretty boring ones.
The dark goth aesthetic is pretty cool, it’s probably their darkest album
Favorite songs were The Figurehead and Cold
Slipknot
2/5
I don’t think it’s fair to completely write off this album as just stupid edginess, but I definitely don’t enjoy this angsty industrial late 90s brand of metal as much as darker, bleaker metal or NWOBHM or prog metal. It felt a bit repetitive and I personally would have liked some more dynamic changes. Obviously I respect the technical skill these guys have. I didn’t hate the album but I didn’t care for it.
But now that I’m thinking so much about metal I just wanna go listen to Judas Priest or Opeth.
Boston
5/5
Maybe it’s cheesy boomer rock, but it’s just flawless.
I’m constantly amazed at how FANTASTIC male singers were in the 70s and early 80s. NOBODY sings like this in popular music these days. I love guys who can sing crazy high and still sound like guys.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Listen, I totally get that this album has poetic value, and that he was trying a new style. But WOW, this was one of the dullest albums I’ve had in months, musically speaking. The songs are SO simplistic, the majority of them use the three most basic chords (1,4,5) and are just plain indistinguishable. There is no talent displayed here, his voice is a bit annoying, and the harmonica pierces my ears. Compared to the rest of the 1001 list, this one is surely a 1/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This album is godly, probably my 2nd favorite Led Zep album. Music literally does not get more based than Led Zeppelin.
Immigrant Song: One of the coolest songs of all time. No question. There was this really cool ascending bass line during the “on we sweep” bit that I hadn’t noticed before.
Friends: SO cool. Love the weird main riff that has both the sharp fourth and the flat third. The strings add this fantastically foreboding, ominous energy.
Celebration Day: Weirdly funky, great underrated tune. There’s a cool nimble bassline during the chorus here too.
Since I’ve Been Loving You: Dear God this is the SEXIEST song of all time. It is dripping with tension and passion. I LOVE this song. I wish the electric organ was louder in the mix.
Out on the Tiles: AMAZING drum groove. I like the parts during the verses when he throws in these awesome polyrhythms. I love drummers who don’t just keep time, but change up what they’re doing constantly and add intricacy. Some dull people think that less is more, but they are so so wrong. Love Bonzo’s interesting grooves.
Gallows Pole: Amazing. I love, love the folksy sound on this one, and when the drums come in it is impossible not to get excited. Led Zeppelin wasn’t even a folk band, but they do folk better and more fun than virtually every folk band of their time.
Tangerine: I like the guitar tone on this one. This song feels nostalgic to me.
That’s The Way: Again, Led Zep’s acoustic songs are top tier. I adore when a heavy rock band can write a good acoustic song.
Bronyaur Stomp: So fun! The guitar-playing is very interesting on this one.
Hats off to Roy Harper: cool sliding bluesy guitar. Nice lyrics lol
Dirty Projectors
4/5
If there's a such thing as progressive indie, it's this.
I was pleasantly surprised! Every song interested me because they were constantly surprising me by changing in ways I didn't expect. It was very impressive and felt very creative and fresh.
This one could definitely grow on me more, I will return
Primal Scream
2/5
90s alt rock, some hip hop influence perhaps?
psychedelic at times, but in a more modern, urban-sounding way than early psychedelic rock
Didn’t mind it but I didn’t care for it
I can imagine why someone might think this was cool
Iggy Pop
5/5
This might be the most "ahead of its time" album on this list.
During at least half the albums, I couldn't help but think there were Strokes and White Stripes songs that sound JUST like these. Is 2000s alt rock just a ripoff of 70s post punk?
I was very pleasantly surprised with this album. Catchy and cool throughout.
The Beach Boys
5/5
*deletes student demonstration time*
Ahhh a perfect album
The Kinks
5/5
I feel pure joy when I listen to the kinks. They are really great at making catchy songs that are also deceptively intricate. Almost none of their songs are simple 4 chord songs like every pop song today. Their songs often change keys or have interesting chord progressions; it’s pop perfection but it’s substantial enough to keep me interested.
I love their vocal harmony sound
(Their following album is better than this one)
Donovan
4/5
Really great. Encapsulates so much of what was so great about the 60s :) Will return
Madness
3/5
Awesome cover art.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Quirky british new wave 80s music; reminds me of XTC.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Imagine naming your whole album after a song you're just covering.
The few songs I recognized, I think I prefer the original versions (especially Stardust and Unchained). In principle, I don't respect albums that are just covers AS much as original songs.
But the album was still very enjoyable to me, and I could see myself peacefully and pleasantly listening to this album again. It does have a magic to it. Adding an old-timey country touch to these classic adult standards works well.
The Temptations
4/5
Woah what an opener
One of the best Motown soul records I’ve heard, definitely worth returning to
Way better than their other album I’ve heard
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
A pleasant indie album. Lots of tender, catchy songs that have that cozy energy that good indie albums have.
I wouldn't mind listening to a song or two here, but an entire album of this stuff was just a bit too much of the same for me. Nothing wrong with it, but just not mind blowing. If I need some nice sentimental indie songs I’ll be sure to return to this one.
Tom Waits
1/5
I don’t have anything witty to say about how horrible his voice is, like all the other reviewers try to do. I just didn’t derive any enjoyment from this album, except for the times I laughed at how goofy and clunky it was. Even if his voice were good I don't think I'd care about the music.
There were some good lyrics but I don't factor that in much when I think about whether I liked the music
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Some nice, sorta goth, post punk alt rock with female vocals. There was cool dark energy on some of the songs.
I liked it more than I expected to. I thought it was just as good or even better than similar contemporary albums, like The Cure’s Pornography.
New York Dolls
2/5
I thought i was gonna like it but I didn’t really care for it. I found it fairly forgettable and not very unique. It’s not as energetic as punk but it’s not as interesting as glam rock.
The Wikipedia says “New York Dolls was an influential precursor to the 1970s punk rock movement as the group's crude musicianship and youthful attitude on the album challenged the prevailing trend of musical sophistication in popular music, particularly progressive rock.” I will never understand this. yeah I get that the point of punk rock was to make oversimple, unimaginative music just to stick it to the old rock gods. Just because that was the point doesn't somehow make the music worthwhile. Punk rockers wanted to be cool but they didn't have any musical ability or understanding, so they tried to convince everyone that having talent and songwriting ability was pompous and arrogant. Sophistication is super cool, if you can also write good music. I know this is somewhat tangential to my thoughts about this specific album, but why should I care
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Definitely worth a listen. This music inspired much of the music that followed for decades.
Listening to music from this era makes me feel a bit strange; the culture and values that produced this music has long since been destroyed and supplanted. It’s a artifact of a bygone time. That makes me a bit sad somehow.
RIP Buddy
The Sugarcubes
4/5
I really disliked when the guy sang/talked but wow I was really into bjork’s voice, never listened to her before. I can see how she was influenced by that early 80s new wave alt rock female vocal style, but she totally builds on and surpasses it.
I don’t usually like this genre but bjonk makes it cool
k.d. lang
4/5
Unexpected but a welcome surprise. Classy old fashioned country with a unique twist
Great vocals
The Modern Lovers
1/5
Uninspired, insipid, and derivative. I know it’s easy to be a critic, but I really think all these words apply. Nothing about this album feels new for its time; every aspect of it is a worse version of a previous band’s work.
Pretty boring. I might have given it a 2, but the lead vocals were the most lackluster I’ve ever heard, so I feel justified giving it a 1.
The Jam
3/5
Pretty good post punk album, but ultimately a bit forgettable
MC Solaar
1/5
You guys ever experience hip hop fatigue?
Cool beats but I wasn’t interested or engaged. Hip hop be the most repetitive genre fr fr
Best song was La Musique
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Two words: rhythm section
Aphex Twin
2/5
I listened to the first half while studying, and it was just great. But I listened to the rest while driving and actively listening, and I gotta say I got pretty bored. It's hard to compare music I like as background to music I like for purposeful listening.
Here's the thing; I do actually respect this genre; I know its purpose is not the same as traditional music. But I just don't value it as much as music that I can listen to actively and enjoy it still.
The Streets
1/5
HAHA this is the most hilarious sounding opening track I've heard out of the last 200 albums. The beat sounds like its tripping over itself and his rapping is so strange and funny. The chorus is so bad. the "it was s'posed to be so easyyyyy" was another epic highlight. And that's just the first song.
Y'know, at least 85% of my favorite music is from the UK. But UK plus rap just doesn't seem like a great combo...
Definitely worth a listen if you want to laugh. He's about as good of a rapper as Ed Sheeran
There were a few tracks I didn't hate, but the overall effect of the album for me gives a 1/5
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2/5
Nothing wrong with it; it was pleasant and had chill energy.
But the songwriting was just pretty simplistic and didn’t surprise or excite me. Didn’t like nor dislike
The Stranglers
3/5
Reminds me of The Jam, and a bit of The Cars. Vocalist somehow sounded like Thin Lizzy’s occasionally
I liked the keyboard work
Some songs bored me but some songs I liked quite a bit. Oat first I thought I wasn’t gonna care for it but I liked it more as it went on. Stuck between 3 and 4.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
Greatest voice of the 90s (if not the greatest album of the 90s)
David Bowie
4/5
Lots of interesting sounds here. Got more experimental and ambient as it went on.
Really great; stuck between 4 and 5. Will return
Funkadelic
3/5
Very fun and funky. Worth a listen for sure
Radiohead
3/5
Radiohead is always a treat to listen to.
This album was quite experimental (as always) and trippy and cool.
I’m definitely glad I listened to it but I don’t think I care to return to this specific album
The Smiths
5/5
I've always liked this album. Songwriting is great and catchy, the guitar work is cool too. Their upbeat songs are fantastic and so are their melancholy songs which they do so well.
I like Morrissey. I could not relate LESS to people who hate him because he's a nationalist. American social media normalizes anti-white hatred and tries to censor all attempts to resist it. Victim mentality and bitterness are lauded as virtues. After growing up in perhaps the most left-wing US state, where so many white people I know have been guilt-brainwashed into hating their culture and ancestors, it's refreshing to know there are still a FEW people out there who like white people and the West.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
I REALLY liked the guitar work/solos
The singer’s got a great unique voice.
This album does grunge better than a ton of grunge bands. And BEFORE all those grunge bands. The album does feel a bit juvenile at times but I still liked it
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
A couple decent songs, some mediocre songs, and the worst cover of Just Like Heaven possible
Aretha Franklin
3/5
One of the greatest voices ever. This is objectively a good album, but by my own rating system i think it’s a 3
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
Enjoyable throughout. I liked it more than I expected to. Lots of catchiness. Could listen to again.
My mom would like this album. It sounds like it influenced a lot of big 80s music.
Kinda sounds like New Order.
Parliament
3/5
Very silly and fun. Great, great bass tone
But I think a lot of the songs were pretty repetitive compared to how long the songs were. Like there’s a really killer riff, but then that 6-second riff repeats for like 7 minutes.
I’m definitely glad to have listened though
Favorite was Handcuffs and the Thumpasorus one
Radiohead
4/5
Way more straightforward and poppy than other Radiohead stuff I've heard.
It's funny that there are several Radiohead albums that are definitely better than this one, but this album still does 90s pop alt rock way better than all their contemporaries anyway. Oasis WISH they could've made a record half as good as this one
Emmylou Harris
1/5
Listening to this one felt like a chore. It’s just very bland, very unexciting, very plain; it sounds like royalty-free music for low budget commercials.
Ice Cube
1/5
I suffer from terminal hip hop fatigue.
Every track is mind-numbingly repetitive and indistinguishable from all the others. Music for edgy delinquents who think being black is a personality trait.
Crowded House
3/5
I’m a bit torn, the first majority of the album I was definitely feeling a 3, but I liked the later parts more on average
It’s quality for what it is, but it’s not so much for me
Favorites: fall at your feet, fame is, all I ask
Prince
2/5
It's a diverse, funky, soulful album. Prince's best album for sure. Deserving of being on this list. I can appreciate the genius behind it.
I just don't enjoy it much at all. Not for me
Run-D.M.C.
1/5
Hip hop was a mistake. I can’t believe it got MORE popular after this boring album came out
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Better than I was expecting. A diverse album with funk and soul
King Crimson
5/5
Majestic genius. Opened the door for the most magical and fantastical genre of all time: prog rock. A fusion of high art with rock music, taking inspiration from classical, jazz, psychedilia, and rock n roll. I love so much about prog: its themes, its complexity, the unorthodox musical forms, the high degree of technical skill involved, the long tracks that each feel like self-contained journeys, and so on. Prog musicians in the early 70s reached incredible artistic heights; when was the last time a genre even AIMED that high, let alone reached it? Nobody strived for majesty like these guys did. Modern music feels empty and cheap in comparison to this.
First track is just insanity. Robert Fripp is a twisted mad genius; anyone who knows anything about King Crimson knows that much. The drums are just outstanding for 1969. Everyone is playing at a high level on this track.
Second track is serene and gorgeous, reminds me of halcyon days long since past. I feel like I'm in an enchanted forest meadow.
The third track is apocalyptic and tragic: "The fate of all mankind, I see, is in the hands of fools." The Mellotron adds so much richness to the sound
The first few minutes of the fourth track are hauntingly beautiful. Obviously there's too much noodling, but I at least like part of the ambient section, specifically the guitar-driven parts. In defense of the noodling, I would at least say that it perfectly primes you for the impact of that final track.
The final track mesmerizes me. Its sounds are lush and overwhelming. The lyrics confuse and entrance me. It is almost too majestic to describe with words. It is otherworldly. It sounds like heaven and hell colliding.
Van Morrison
3/5
Quality mellow feel-good oldies
Linkin Park
3/5
I ended up kinda liking it. Reminds me of prog metal at times, like Dream Theater. But more edgy, like Slipknot or Rage Against the Machine. Also had some strong pop punk elements? Like MCR?
I don’t like rap at all, but it’s at least cooler when paired with heavy metal guitar
Pink Floyd
5/5
Utterly magnificent. Shine On You Crazy Diamond takes me into the astral plane.
For my funeral I just want everybody to listen to all 9 parts of this song.
Ozomatli
3/5
If you your favorite song is “Livin La Vida Loca” you are gonna love this album
Favorite part was the transition between Dona Isabelle and the following song
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
A big long psychedelic jam session. Felt like Wild West music at times. I liked the lead guitar tone a lot; and the bass guitar when it appears for a sec on “Which”
Favorite moment was probably midway through “Cavalry”
I enjoyed it enough; don’t need to hear it again though
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Quirky cool soft rock
Fats Domino
3/5
Classy and fun and wholesome.
Obviously this guy was hugely influential.
The songs kinda become indistinguishable by the end of listening, but it's still thoroughly enjoyable. Great listen.
Pretenders
3/5
Pretty good.
Post punk but still punk at times
I liked Lovers of Today and Mystery Achievement; I don't remember which others I liked
Robbie Williams
3/5
Oasis but much better. Has a touch of pop punk.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
Okay I liked this one. But I thought the first 5 songs were better than what followed.
I especially liked it because of the quality of the background vocals, whenever those appeared; just magical. See "Holilili"
At times it reminded me of the Tiki Room show at Disneyland lol
Also "Mbube" was definitely on that Classical Baby show I used to watch as a kid
Queen
5/5
Queen's best album. It's got the band's best guitar work, and probably their best drum work too. There are still a few silly Queen songs, but there's so many hard rock moments throughout. I love diverse albums like this one.
Their vocals sound so tight, as always.
Brighton Rock is awesome, my favorite Queen guitar solo for sure. In the Lap of the Gods is just crazy and magnificent. Flick of the Wrist is a favorite of mine too.
Queen was basically my gateway into both hard rock and prog rock, so I'll always have a soft spot for this album and for Queen II.
I'm convinced the only people who hate Queen have just been severely overexposed to their music, or hate Queen's annoying fanbase.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Best story behind an album I’ve heard in ages.
Cool music. Reminded me of the band Magma a couple of times
Sade
1/5
Sounds like perfect music for a somber episode of Miami Vice, or maybe for a cheesy 80s porno.
Meant for the background, not really the kind of music I want to actively listen to.
I appreciate the nostalgic slick retro vibe this album gives off, but I'm not into the music
The Specials
3/5
I don’t like reggae but I enjoyed most of the post punky stuff. Reminded me of the B52s sometimes. Props for being a fairly diverse album
I don’t understand the difference between ska and reggae
Adele
2/5
Fine in its own right, but I got kinda tired of a whole album of melancholy, sickly-(bitter)sweet piano ballads.
I don’t care for this genre. She should make a rock album, her voice has the power.
I think I recognized 4 songs. Maybe 5.
Korn
2/5
I appreciate the heaviness. There is some metal I like a lot, but for some reason I don’t like Nu Metal that much. I liked this album more than slipknot, but a little less than the linkin park album.
Ray Charles
5/5
Now this is real music
The Smiths
3/5
Not bad, but definitely not as good as Meat is Murder or The Queen is Dead.
“Last Night I Dreamt” is a totally awesome song though
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Quality. Diverse and interesting songwriting.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
I enjoyed it as peaceful background music
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
I feel cozy now
Sister Sledge
3/5
Thoroughly enjoyable. First two songs were really cool
David Bowie
4/5
Sounds like Brian eno took over on the second half of this album
Dolly Parton
2/5
A very pleasant listen, but the songwriting didn't really interest or impress me at all
Eurythmics
2/5
I appreciate the originality
Jurassic 5
3/5
Pretty good, for a hip hop album anyway
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I think the songwriting is good but those 80s effects make it hard for this album to feel timeless. I enjoyed it just fine anyways
Meat Loaf
4/5
Now this is what I call feel good music.
Probably the most "rock opera" sounding album I've ever heard.
The Stone Roses
5/5
Really nice. Captures so much of what is good about 80s/90s alt/indie rock, without any of the bits that I don't like so much. Reminded me of The La's
The Black Crowes
2/5
Off brand, basic blues rock
It's pleasant and fun but it’s not very original or interesting in any way; I don't think this deserves to be on the list
Jethro Tull
5/5
This album is so great. Greatest blend of hard rock and folk ever realized (besides their even more folky albums like TAAB and Songs from the Wood). These old rockers have such a clever, witty take on rock music. They are very down to earth, self-aware, silly, and unpretentious compared to other prog rock bands, while still having the talent and complexity that prog is known for.
Anyone who thinks there is too much flute here should give this album another listen after they've pulled the flute out of their anal cavity
George Harrison
5/5
Timeless
Queen
5/5
Just awesome. Even if you removed Bohemian Rhapsody and You're My Best Friend I still would love it.
Queen got me into prog and hard rock, so I'll always have a place in my heart for their 70s albums
Favorites are Death on Two Legs, '39, Seaside Rendezvous, The Prophet's Song, and Love of My Life. Their deep cuts are better than their hits.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
The quintessential indie album.
It has that uplifting, life-affirming feeling that good indie albums are known for
Favorite was probably The Tallest Man, which was in 11/8 incidentally.
I actually thought it was a great and interesting listen, but I don’t know if I desire to hear it again, so I’m not sure what to rate it.
Anthrax
3/5
Pretty good, but it’s not the best metal can offer.
Sounds like a mix of the other Big 4 bands
Sonic Youth
3/5
I can see how this would've been really influential
Crunchy guitars. Cool angsty sinister vibes
John Martyn
3/5
It’s not bad by any means but it didn’t really compel me
At times sounds like the Doors, at times sounds like Jack Johnson. It does sound fairly ahead of its time.
Nas
3/5
Really good, as far as hip hop goes, which isn't say much I suppose
It got better towards the end
Everything But The Girl
1/5
It's just too much
Hookworms
5/5
Great. It hit me in the right mood.
Good mix of modern indie electronics and psychedelia
AC/DC
2/5
About as straightforward as hard rock can get. AC/DC is fun enough but they’ve just got the least interesting/diverse catalogue in all of rock music. I enjoyed it for a while but eventually every song sounded exactly like the previous one.
To be fair, AC/DC is leagues better than the punk rock that was also popular in the late 70s.
Manu Chao
3/5
Nice Latin music
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Funky and chill.
For the first half of the album, I thought that there were a lot of sections that felt passive and weren’t as engaging, like background music.
But as it went on I started liking it more. I thought the second half was great.
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
To be fair, you do need an incredibly high IQ to understand the nuance and depth to this album
The Charlatans
2/5
Blegh I was just so done by the time this album ended
Neil Young
5/5
C'mon Neil, it's time to put your music back on Spotify.
Joe Rogan ended up being kinda justified in his skepticism anyways, so you just look like a huge pussy for throwing such a huge fit. Why is everyone so authoritarian these days?
The Velvet Underground
4/5
I’ve always liked this record. One of the most influential albums ever.
The Nico songs are definitely my favorite of the bunch.
I think the only thing I don’t like about it is how sloppy the guitar solos often are. But I know that’s part of its uniqueness, so I can get past it
Radiohead
5/5
Greatest alt rock album ever
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Partway between glam rock and glam metal. Pretty fun
Black Flag
3/5
Each song is an explosion of angst and dissatisfaction. I can see how music like this led right to crazy screamy metal like Slayer.
Favorites were TV Party and Life of Pain
Elliott Smith
4/5
He definitely sounds like a Portland, Oregon dude lol.
I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. His songwriting is very interesting, lots of cool chords progressions.
Although I sometimes found his voice a bit annoying
Torn between 3 and 4
Hole
3/5
Mmmm milk…….
Actually very quality, it’s right up there with the other big heavy grungy albums of the 90s
Funkadelic
5/5
Awesome
Lambchop
2/5
Indie rock with symphonic elements. It sounds like Nick Cave joined Arcade Fire.
I didn’t super enjoy it. The vocals are a bit of a let down, ESPECIALLY the awful falsetto songs, and they were sometimes too quiet or indecipherable.
George Michael
4/5
Actually pretty fantastic. Not only is he the greatest male pop singer of all time, but this album actually has some interesting and varied songwriting.
Favorites were They Won’t Go When I Go and Cowboys and Angels
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
New wave / post punk rock. Sounds a lot like The Jam. Pretty good
Johnny Cash
4/5
Timeless and cool
Lou Reed
3/5
Lou Reed just epitomizes art rock. Definitely worth a listen. Could grow on me with further listens
Favorites: perfect day, satellite of love, I’m so free
Bob Dylan
5/5
Bob Dylan is unlike anything else
Elliott Smith
2/5
It’s fine, but I didn’t think the songwriting was as interesting as the other album I’ve heard from him. Also his voice annoyed me on quite a few tracks.
I did like how some of the songs that started quiet picked up partway through and the drums came in
Favorites were Pictures of Me and Say Yes
Rod Stewart
2/5
A few songs I kinda enjoyed. But I really think rod stewart is just the most average rock star out there
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Cozy album. Sparkling keyboard and piano work. The vocals were soulful (but occasionally were a bit imperfect)
Very enjoyable on the whole.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Actually pretty cool. Hypnotic psychedelic hip hop. I definitely appreciated that there was hardly any rapping
Jazmine Sullivan
1/5
Music for vapid self-centered "bad bitches" who derive all their life's meaning from sex (see Amanda's Tale lmfao that one was funny). The music was usually irritating and the words were worse. The album is only here because it's empowering n sheeit
Sure, she's got a good voice. But often it's the people with the "best" voices that make the most cringey music of all
Portishead
3/5
Cool slick nighttime music
Iron Butterfly
4/5
I actually liked this one! Sounds like a mix of the Doors and the Moody Blues.
Late 60s heavy psychedelia with cool proggy keyboards
Blur
4/5
Diverse and interesting punky Brit pop album.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Guns N Roses came late to the party. They didn’t bring much that was NEW to the table; the ground they trod had already been explored by previous bands like AC/DC, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Judas Priest, and maybe some of the hair metal bands.
But the album is very quality rock, and does basically everything right. It’s good fun
Mekons
3/5
Kooky diverse unusual post punk with some fiddle
Beth Orton
2/5
I liked a few of the more folky songs, but I didn't care for the songs that sounded like basic somber female singer-songwriter stuff.
Favorite was Blood Red River or Devil Song
Tracy Chapman
2/5
Soothing 80s soft pop
ABBA
3/5
Perfectly enjoyable but not very memorable on this first listen. I liked “Slipping Through”
Hole
2/5
Not bad, but definitely wasn't as interesting to me as their previous album; it was poppier and less heavy, iirc.
I can see why Kurt Cobain liked her
I liked Dying and Petals
Stephen Stills
4/5
Quality American blues/folk/country rock
Steely Dan
5/5
Never listened to these guys before but this was awesome
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Nice
Tina Turner
1/5
So annoying. She’s got a powerful voice but I don’t enjoy this music in the slightest.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I've had 3 nick cave albums previously, and disliked them all. But I actually thought this album was pretty great. Powerful music. The sonic quality of the album was very good
Billy Bragg
2/5
The songwriting or the performance isn’t that interesting. kinda bland. It’s mainly 40 minutes of a Bri’ish chap trying to inspire an uprising with his anti-establishment poetry
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Soothing and pleasurable to listen to
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2/5
Serene and happy.
It would be nice as background Sunday music, but this is just about the last album I would choose to actively listen to
3/5
One of the best 90s alt rock groups
The Police
3/5
Very interesting blend of influences on this album. Post punk, new wave, punk, reggae, world music.
Worthwhile listen
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
1/5
It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever heard, but I just think it doesn’t deserve to be on the list
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Pleasant soft country rock, but it’s not all that special to me
Hippie boy was funny
Elton John
3/5
A lot of 5/5 songs and it’s all quality. But by the end of the album i was kinda fatigued of all the piano ballads that were starting to sound the same.
If I listened in smaller chunks maybe that would’ve been better
Willie Nelson
2/5
Pleasant and calm
ZZ Top
3/5
Crunchy Southern bluesy rock. Enjoyable listen. I definitely wouldn’t mind listening again.
Although I don’t know if I’ll return to this one because there are just so many rock bands I like better. This album wasn't THAT good. Listening to this made me want to go listen to the first Blue Oyster Cult album.
The Blue Nile
1/5
It’s not unpleasant but man I was just so bored
Guided By Voices
2/5
Pretty good alt/indie rock
Noisy at times and catchy at others
Got kinda annoying by the end
Dr. John
4/5
This album would be perfect to listen to if you ever found yourself lost in the swamps of Louisiana
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Cool feel-good funky soul music
Favorite was Summer Breeze
Giving it a 3/5 because I probably don’t care to hear it again
Herbie Hancock
4/5
Funky jazz fusion-y. Pretty cool
I think I liked vein melter the best
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Actually very nice! Will definitely have to return; this one could become a 5/5 for me with a bit more time.
Great drum sound. Lush album.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I can't respect her anymore since she hopped on the Spotify censorship bandwagon with Neil Young. It baffles me, it truly does. Today liberals dominate all forms of media. Skepticism and dissenting opinions are not tolerated in mainstream discourse. In 2021, if you questioned the vaccine you were met with social outcry, bans from the internet, and you could even be doxxed or fired from your job. Today, it's obvious that the vaccine actually does hurt some people, and that it doesn't even prevent COVID in many cases. Joe Rogan is literally the most chill, moderate, open-minded celebrity out there; he has had people from all walks of life and with all sorts of political views on his show. The fact that the entire internet tried to have him silenced is really telling of how stupidly insane the modern world is. I still hold many liberal beliefs, but it's terrifying how authoritarian and vengeful leftists are in these times.
Anyways, I'm not rating this album based on her as a person. It's a very pleasant and soothing album. She has great vocal control. Although I didn't find the album extremely interesting a lot of the time; I wish there were more dynamics in her music, more variation.
Silver Jews
2/5
It kinda sucks at times but I didn’t hate it enough to give a 1/5. Sounds like what Leonard Cohen would have written if he were born in Ohio in the late 70s.
Favorite was Transylvania blues, because it sounded cool and also because there was no singing
Talking Heads
5/5
Lots of weird textures and flavors, interesting throughout
Frenetic and nervous
Makes me want to go listen to Discipline by King Crimson
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Fun catchy poppy post-punky.
Arcade Fire
4/5
This kind of indie can get cheesy and nauseatingly sentimental, but I did like this album a good amount. I enjoyed it on first listen better than their more popular album. I used to like this kinda stuff my freshman year of college.
When it comes to indie rock my favorite is probably the Shins; their first album deserves to be on this list.
Femi Kuti
3/5
A lot of cool moments. Funky and brassy with plenty of Kuti's African influence. The rhythm section is fantastic, steals the show. Hard to choose a favorite track. This would be fun party music. One of my favorite "world" albums I've heard on this list, if this falls into that category
Ice T
1/5
This album is vapid and tedious. Every "song" is indistinguishable from the rest.
Hip hop is just so bad. Music for posers by posers
3/5
A lot like early talking heads, perhaps with some B-52s energy in there too.
This album was a bit polarizing for me; there were a few songs a liked a lot, and a few tracks I didn't like much at all. "A" for creativity
I think I liked Space Junk, Mongoloid, Gut Feeling, and I also kinda liked Shrivel Up
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Neil has become an authoritarian sissy bitch in recent years. The censorship culture we live in these days is absurd. I can't respect anyone who agrees with silencing honest skepticism and dissenting opinion. Freedom of thought is vital to a healthy society.
I liked "Harvest" a lot but this album was pretty flavorless and uninspired. It wasn't unpleasant though. The guitar playing was pretty lackluster; I kept wishing a talented guitarist was playing instead. I don't think Neil Young deserves as many spots on this list as he has
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Tony hawk game type music
Pretty cool at times. Awesome beats. Hypnotic at times
Led Zeppelin
5/5
There's so much to love about this album. The nimble basslines, the monstrous drums, and man do I love young Robert Plant's voice. Plus, y'know, the crunchy awesome guitar work. This album is so heavily seeped in the blues that it's probably the most American sounding album to ever come out of England. I'm so glad that England appropriated American musical forms, because the majority of the best rock bands came out of England (Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Floyd, Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Judas Priest, Jethro Tull, Yes, Queen, etc). Musicians have been borrowing from each other since the dawn of time, so anyone whose enjoyment of the album is hindered by Zeppelin's alleged plagiarism is an uneducated stuck-up fool.
This album is better than virtually all the hard rock albums that came after it. And this isn’t even Zeppelin’s best album. For all the decades to come, no one could top what Zeppelin had done; no greater hard rock band has emerged since.
I love rock bands whose members are all ACTUALLY GOOD at their instruments. There are far too many boring poser rock bands that lack any talent or songwriting skill whatsoever (like basically all of the punk bands of the late 70s)
The only thing I don't care for are all the sexually charged lyrics. But it never gets in the way of the enjoyment -- lyrics are mostly irrelevant to the greatness of music (otherwise, why not just read poetry?).
Favorite track -- Bring it on Home
Sigur Rós
5/5
Scientists: Behold! we found baby alien life on another planet!
Abortionists: Uhm ackshually it is just a alien fetus therefore it is not alive or significant and we should kill it for convenience. You are racist and phobic.
Scientists: NOOOO oh my science this is too woke! *dies of cancel culture*
Abortionists: *dies because they are really just grown up fetus*
----------------------------------------------
Moral of the story: Fetus life matters<3
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Nice, catchy and engaging
Favorite song was the first one or the last one
Miles Davis
5/5
Probably my favorite jazz album on the list, so I'm just gonna go ahead and give it a 5
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I have the same feelings towards this album as I did about Tom Waits and most of Nick Cave's work: I appreciate the artistry but I am not into the music very much. I can see why someone else might like it
I like Cohen's early work
10cc
5/5
Okay wow this was one of the greatest surprises I’ve had yet! This was awesome and wacky in all the right ways. It’s just genius progressive pop rock. So many clever and interesting hooks. I can’t believe I’d never heard it before. The production is so good I can’t believe it came out in 1974. Awesome album. I am surprised it is ranked as low as it is
Air
2/5
I thought a few of the tracks were pretty cool, but I also thought several of the tracks weren't my cuppa tea
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Bobby Womack
3/5
Pretty alright
2.5
Mudhoney
3/5
Noisy and energetic. I only listened to the original 22 minutes version, but I enjoyed more than I thought I would. I liked it much better than their later album I've listened to. I usually find this kind of rock too simplistic but in small 22 minute doses I can dig it.
This dude can totally scream better than Kurt Cobain
The Auteurs
2/5
Nothing bad about it, but not particularly special-sounding to my ears. I bet my mom would like it though.
It's like Pet Shop Boys plus Oasis but sadder
Django Django
2/5
I appreciate the attempt they made but I just feel the album wasn't as cool as they wanted it to be
Bad Company
2/5
Very straightforward classic rock. Enjoyable enough I suppose. I do prefer my rock to be less simple than this. When I say I love hard rock I do not mean this.
I bet my dad would like this; he likes a lot of the arena pop hard rock acts of the 80s, like Scorpions, Foreigner, or Bryan Adams. So in that respect, I'd say Bad Company were ahead of their time, just cause they remind me of that music in a lot of ways
2
Blondie
3/5
Nice, better than I was expecting
Torn between 3 and 4
5/5
Holy **** I just love this album to death. Definitely my most listened to album of the 60s (and I really like the 60s). It's just so perfect, each track makes me feel happy or pumped up (except the one or two sad ones). Each track is just perfect, criminally underrated on this website. Glad it’s rated way higher on RYM
Brian Eno
3/5
This album is, sonically, very interesting. You can definitely hear the combination of the Talking Heads' strange Afro rhythmic textures, and Eno's lush ambient soundscapes. Worth a listen
Anita Baker
1/5
If I had to rank the genres of music, this 80s smooth neo-soul would be pretty low of the list
Sure, she’s got a great voice. But I often find that people with the best voices write some of the most boring music
The Clash
3/5
I really like the first song a lot. I have listened to the first song several times and was excited to listen to this album, hoping there would be more of that dark punk sound. Instead the majority of the album is happy and almost silly at times
The rest of the album was still good, even though I didn’t like the ska (is that what it is?) type songs as much.
Still easily one of the best punk records, if not the best. Probably better than the Sex Pistols, and definitely way better than the Ramones
This album could grow on me still, so I should listen to it again sometime
Metallica
3/5
I don’t listen to these guys much anymore, but this is a solid album. Their first four albums are all pretty great.
But when I compare these guys to other metal bands, I usually am left unsatisfied. When I DO want to listen to metal, I want to listen to more technical/complex or dark stuff. My favorites rn are Death and Opeth. I also like Megadeth and Judas Priest plenty.
My least favorite thing about Metallica is Lars’ drum sound (especially on 'And Justice For All': great songwriting but dear god what a horrible mix). The drum sound is really harsh and piercing in a bad way, but at the same time it sounds so flat. And it's much too loud in the mix in my opinion. I want to be able to hear the guitar and bass without my ears being destroyed by the annoying drum sound.
Favorite track: Orion
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
I’m cataloguing this under “great music tarnished by annoying vocals”
I will return to this one someday to give it another chance. I thought the music was great, good performance by the band, plenty of well written stuff, but the vocals bugged me often
Lorde
3/5
Yeah I can definitely see the appeal. If I were an 18 year old girl leaving home for the first time, I bet this album would have such a life-affirming, eye-opening effect on me. Euphoric
The songwriting is within pop music boundaries, but the album sounds REALLY good, as far as production and quality goes
Favorite track: The Louvre, Liability, Perfect Places
Garbage
3/5
Pretty good for its genre
Favorite: Vow, Milk
The Darkness
2/5
Total mom-rock
A bit of spicy guitar work here and there coupled with some outrageous male vocals. You can tell the songwriting is from the 2000s but the style sounds like an old glam pop rock kinda band
2
Holger Czukay
3/5
This album must have JUST been added because as I'm writing this there is only one other person who has left a review here. How lucky for me <3
I liked Future Days a ton, and most of Tago Mago. I can see some slight similarity between Can and this guy's solo work, but of course it's not on the same level, as is usual with solo albums from members of awesome bands.
I liked the two long tracks well enough. I didn't care for the two shorter ones much. Probably won't return to this one. I'm gonna go listen to some more classic krautrock now
Fairport Convention
4/5
Folk music is free and beautiful.
Listening to traditional folk music makes me a bit sad. The culture which created this sort of music doesn't exist anymore.
The Undertones
3/5
Enjoyable throughout!
Great fun energy. Singer has a cool voice that wouldn't work well in just any genre but it really works here perfectly
Mj Cole
1/5
Every song has the exact same beat bro
Doesn't quite feel like a finished product, but a bunch of demos
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Melodic and noisy
Kinda like Sonic Youth, but more poppy upbeat and more pleasing vocals. Has a nice sentimental feel at times
I wonder if my mom would like some of these songs
Pink Floyd
4/5
This album is definitely more than the sum of its parts. Not as good musically as "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", but still one of the greatest concept albums.
I think in rough times of my life I have related to the themes of this album a lot, actually. Some people dismiss the concept, but I think the themes of isolation speak to a lot of men out there, especially in today's world.
The guitar solo at the end of side 3 is just sensational, I'm sure everyone can agree. Also I really enjoy "The Trial" lmao
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Nice
Cat Stevens
3/5
Feel-good music
Beatles
3/5
Nice but not that great
Beatles
4/5
The Crusaders
3/5
Started off sounding like 80s neo-soul but then it turned into some funky, relaxed, almost jazz fusion type of music. Sounded a bit like elevator music at times, but still enjoyable
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Way more awesome than I was expecting
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
Enjoyable at moments, but overall I didn't care too much for
The Byrds
4/5
Nice. I can see the psychedelic roots on this album
The Who
4/5
Great, but somehow I feel it's lacking just a little something
ABBA
3/5
The lyrics to that first song had me cracking up
Common
2/5
Man this was just soooo boring to get through
Dolly Parton
3/5
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
5/5
Really great
Peaceful and pensive, a bit avant-garde
Duke Ellington
5/5
This album is a great reminder that jazz was a living, breathing genre of music. It was born in an age when live music was king, long before a musical album was a concept. It’s music for improvising, music for dancing, and music for living in the moment.
This is also one of those albums where the context greatly enhances the music: the fact that this revitalized his flagging career, and the amazing marathon saxophone solo
3/5
Sounds like a poppy Radiohead with hints of prog metal.
It's fine enough but I never need to hear it again
The Who
4/5
Really great. Powerful in a meaningful way (as opposed to cheesy or cringeworthy "empowering" music). Torn between 4 and 5
The Residents
3/5
“You don’t get it the music is supposed to sound like shit”
I’d much rather listen to a purposefully outrageous album like this than an album that tried to be cool but just sucks, like the ones from Ute Lemper or MJ Cole. An album that is challenging/difficult/weird on purpose is often better than one that was supposed to be good but is bad anyways.
Carole King
4/5
Beastie Boys
1/5
God rap music suuuuuucks
Why do hip hop beats always have to sound so terrible? Whether it’s mordant hip hop or old school they almost always sound so annoying
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Yeah it's great, but I'm surprised that it's the second highest-rated album on this whole site. It’s not THAT good
Solange
4/5
Very quality. One of the best R&B albums I’ve heard
Although I don’t care for all the “ayo being black is sooo beautiful and amazing” shit
Elis Regina
5/5
Wow this was fantastic😍
Emmylou Harris
4/5
I liked it more than I expected. I remember rating her 2000 album quite low, but I don’t recall why
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
Some blues-pysch rock jam sessions with occasional symphonic elements, and a lot of spoken word vocals. Some tracks that sound a bit inspired by traditional or classical music, such as the short third track. I liked most of the music, but I often disliked the spoken word stuff.
It seems likely that the album sounds creepy and predatory on purpose, and isn't just an outright celebration of pedophilia.
Who knows though. Personally the themes and lyrics of an album matter very little to me compared to the music itself.
The only part I didn't like were her noises on "En Melody" lol that was weird
Snoop Dogg
3/5
One of the cooler-sounding hip hop albums I’ve heard on this list. I liked the alien sounding synths
The humor reminds me of Eminem
OutKast
2/5
The second album was a lot better.
I appreciated the variety, but wow this was too much for me. Some good moments, but I don’t really like hip hop so it was hard to get through
The Soft Boys
4/5
Kinda punky, kidna post-punky. Some hints of the Beatles, perhaps
I liked it
Big Black
4/5
Noisy and hardcore
I probably would’ve liked this album less if I’d gotten it back when I started the 1001 list. I think the worst part of eating music for years is that my tastes have changed somewhat and will keep changing; albums I rated a certain way two years ago might not be comparable to an album I just listened to
The walls of harsh sound reminded me sometimes of Loveless
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Cool electronic indie
Chill and enjoyable. Aphex twin with vocals.
Kinda repetitive at times but the repetitive bits were still fairly interesting
Fleetwood Mac
2/5
Some good songs, and plenty of songs I didn’t care about
Small Faces
4/5
really nice. I like this 60s English sound so much
The Incredible String Band
4/5
Why the shit is this rated so low???
I really enjoyed this listen a lot, a magical pastoral folksy trip back in time
The only criticism I could think of are the “rough” vocals, but they’re no worse than Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen, and they fit perfectly with the music
Mylo
3/5
Mf really thought THIS album could destroy rock and roll? 😂
It’s probably one of the better examples of its genre. Enjoyable at parts. I don’t like the vocal samples common to this genre.
The Roots
1/5
God this one was tiresome. Too boring and repetitive. “Rock You” was just the same 1-second beat repeated for 3 minutes.
A couple songs had good hooks, but they got old before the song was over.
Sometimes I can tolerate hip hop but man was this one a chore for me
1.5
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Quality American-style blues rock
Not a bad moment
Altough sometimes I feel like there's only so much you can do within the framework of blues rock
The Icarus Line
3/5
Quality alternative rock. A little like the Strokes or White Stripes, but definitely heavier, so it reminds me of 90s rock more than 00s rock. Good energy throughout
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
Keith Emerson was the most genius keyboard player popular music ever saw.
He could play anything ever written, and at the same time could write stuff no one else could play. The title track is so rich and complex; if you don’t think it’s genius from a compositional standpoint, you’re not paying attention or are willfully ignoring it. If you look “Tarkus played by a symphony” or something like that you’ll hear how genius it is.
Carl Palmer is also an absolute madman on the drum kit.
The second side is obviously weaker than the first side, which is why the album is actually currently my least favorite of their big four studio albums.
It’s definitely quite inaccessible, as you can see from its average rating score. But you simply cannot deny the genius behind Tarkus. Literally no other group before or since ELP could ever have written anything remotely resembling this piece of music. They were unabashedly original. Some people think they’re too pretentious, and maybe they were, but damn do I love when talented musicians show off their talents. Virtuosos shouldn’t dumb down their music to appeal to common tastes
I love the section at 14:25
Also I’m pretty sure ELP inspired so much 90s video game music, it’s crazy
Doves
3/5
Some songs sounded like Coldplay, some songs sounded a bit more unique
Unexpected “Moondchild” cover
Solid indie alt 2000s rock
3.5
Air
4/5
A lot of awesome instrumental tracks
Everything But The Girl
3/5
I usually haven’t liked music like this before, but I thought this one was quality trance music. I bet my dad would like this one actually
Gang Of Four
3/5
I liked how the bass was in the mix, and the drums were interesting a lot of the time.
Quality post-punk
A bit less variety then other post punk albums I’ve heard, perhaps
Dr. Octagon
1/5
Music for losers
The Stooges
3/5
Cool garage rock
Worth a listen but I’m not crazy about it, some songs were quite repetitive and overstayed their welcome a little
New Order
4/5
The first three songs were good enough, but I really liked Sunrise and Elegia.
My mom loves this group
3.5
Ray Price
3/5
Nice old country music, with some of that melancholy energy that good old country albums so often have. Enjoyable listen.
Aerosmith
4/5
Quality and very fun. Great production: this album SOUNDS great
3.5
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
One of the best
Kings of Leon
2/5
Pretty average, but fun enough
Peter Gabriel
4/5
My favorites were the first and last tracks. The album had a lot of slow moments, but even at slow times the music was intricate and lush. I have a bias towards Peter Gabriel because I just adore the early 70s Genesis albums.
I think I need to return to this one to think about it some more. I was listening to it in the car and the wind made it very hard to hear a lot of what was going on, so I'll have to listen without so much distracting noise.
Radiohead
4/5
Not as memorable as their other albums, but it still has much of their signature magic. Great listen.
Travis
3/5
I liked the first song, and I liked “Why Does it Always Rain” in high school
But the rest of it was a little less exciting than I hoped it would be. Enjoyable enough though
AC/DC
3/5
Out of all the hard rock giants, ACDC has the the least variety in their music, and I don't love them in the way I love more substantial rock bands like Led Zeppelin.
Even so this album was a fun listen.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
The music here is fantastic
My main problem with the album is that I adore the sound of Plant's voice on their first 4 albums, and it just sounds so much more worn and coarse. Some songs are better than others.
Everyone else in the band is in absolute top form, of course. There are some brilliant tracks on this one. In the past I'd have given a 5, but at this moment I'm feeling a 4. Could swing back though
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Quirky and catchy
A bit of psychedelic mixed with 90s alt/pop rock
Grateful Dead
4/5
Yeah it's easy listening but it's still quite nice
The Gun Club
3/5
Great punk energy. Very cool
Dennis Wilson
3/5
I think I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. I appreciate the artistic sentimental feeling that he is going for, and it has some hints of the Beach Boys' style throughout. I probably should relisten someday
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Wacky
The Flaming Lips
5/5
Really fantastic. Great listen
4.5
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Just sublime. Very nice.
I was annoyed that the Spotify version has the bonus tracks interspersed throughout the album instead of putting them all at the end like a sane person would do.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
It's so crazy and weird that I can't dislike it for being weird
Milton Nascimento
5/5
Awesome
The Saints
3/5
Catchy at times but not very memorable. A bit more melodic than other punk albums.
By the end of the album I ended up liking it more than when it started. Went from 2 to 3 for me
You hear a few punk albums and you’ve heard em all. It’s hard for me to enjoy punk this far into the 1001 generator
John Lennon
3/5
Not nearly as good as the George Harrison album
I can appreciate the raw emotion on this album but it doesn't impact me very much
Pretty good songwriting
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
4/5
Even though this isn't my style, I appreciated the lushness and intricacy of the music. Sounds very well-produced.
Favorite song was probably the long one.
Some cool songs, and a few songs that were a bit too cheesy and annoying.
Klaxons
2/5
I mean there were a few parts that were kinda cool, but for some reason the album came off as just mediocre and boring most of the time.
A bit reminiscent of King Gizzard at times
Also that second track was so stupid the way it starts with those dumb old Yahama keyboard preset noises lmao
Blur
4/5
I liked the majority of the tracks, a few less interesting ones.
Cool
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Uretha Frankin 👍
David Holmes
4/5
Actually really solid and enjoyable throughout.
It's hard to compare music like this to other genres, it's like apples and oranges.
Soft Cell
3/5
Dark, almost gothic, and very sensual synthpop
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Sugar
2/5
Fun enough and catchy alt rock
I didn't care all that much for it
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
I can sometimes enjoy a little hip hop in moderation, but I just get tired after a whole album of it.
I know this one's a certified classic but it's not for me. The best part of hip hop is the lyrics, and the music often takes a backseat to the words
The Human League
4/5
Happy Mondays
4/5
Kinda post punk, kinda funky, kinda psychedelic
Pretty enjoyable for a lot of it
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Very interesting
Foo Fighters
3/5
A nice medium between grunge and alt rock.
Manages to be both heavy and upbeat
Solid but not groundbreaking
Kelela
3/5
Very lush R&B
Pretty substantial considering how "girlboss-pop" it is
I liked the song Enough
Could warrant another listen, considering the bad listening environment I listened to this one in. This kind of well-produced album deserves the aural space to let it shine
The National
3/5
Nice sentimental life-affirming type of indie rock
Reminded me of Lord Huron at times
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Classic
De La Soul
3/5
Fun goofy (in a good way) hip hop
Great, great vibes
More hip hop should take after this record
Mike Ladd
2/5
Cool concepts but I didn't care for the music that much
Fishbone
3/5
Quirky and fun and diverse
Good vocalist
(Is this what ska is?)
ZZ Top
3/5
Solid fun slick rock n roll
I enjoyed the first few songs but by the end I realized they all mostly sounded the same
Cheap Trick
4/5
Very fun
Elvis Presley
3/5
Solid, revolutionary probably
His voice had a lot of range here
The Who
4/5
Rockin and jammin
My favorite was probably the medley
Laura Nyro
4/5
Great 60s soul happy pop
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Very solid playful pop album. Fun and worth a listen.
Supertramp
5/5
Just fantastic, I love this one
Paul Weller
3/5
Pleasant 90s soft rock. Kinda husky male vocals.
Solid
Brian Eno
3/5
Healing
Joanna Newsom
5/5
This album is quite astounding. Very ambitious but she achieves what she aims for. I may even go so far as to call this album "visionary," which is a rare thing indeed.
I am consistently disappointed by how the users on this 1001 generator website rate great, unorthodox albums; people here have an enormous bias against anything unconventional. I much prefer RYM users in this regard: even if they are more snobby, they are better able to appreciate the weird albums too.
The White Stripes
3/5
Solid crunchy garage alt rock with some good variety.
Although I do get tired of the drumming at times, they definitely have one of the worst drummers in a famous rock band. And sometimes the music isn't interesting enough
The Go-Betweens
4/5
Catchy and lush and happy
Kinda poppy but I didn’t dislike it this time
3.5/4
The Byrds
4/5
Nice 👍
The Associates
4/5
Actually really awesome, I am astonished at the low rating here
Dark and very dramatic post punk
Dynamic and interesting
4/4.5
The Cult
3/5
Quality 80s rock that thankfully doesn’t sound too 80s. I don’t think I need to return to this one but it was fun
Great album cover. Great guitar work
3
Common
3/5
Definitely one of the best hip hop albums I've heard on this list yet
Frank Ocean
3/5
Okay I really don’t like his vocal stylings or the lyrics or the modern R&B/hip hop sound in general.
But this is an extremely solid album for its genre, one of the best of this style I’ve heard. I can tell a lot of care went into the music
Laibach
3/5
Man this album makes me wish I could smoke a blunt with Hitler and show him this album I bet he would love it lol
Interesting combination of industrial metal and Wagnerian-style synth music with very gravelly vocals
I actually liked the feeling of the music at times, especially on FIAT, Opus Dei, and the Great Seal, those tracks sounded triumphant and heroic. I kinda liked some of the industrial parts
I like albums that are interesting experiences so I enjoyed the listen
3
Taylor Swift
2/5
I don’t dislike this as much as I would have back when I started the challenge, but I still didn’t like it that much
A lot of the songs are objectively similar
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Cool dark post punk
Hard to tell my absolute feelings, I'll need to return
Björk
5/5
Holy mother of god this album is astounding. This could be the best-sounding album on this entire list. Amazing, lush, ethereal textures make this album fabulously enchanting and captivating.
This album was definitely outside of my comfort zone but I was quick to warm up to it. I haven’t heard anything else of Byork’s solo stuff, what a good introduction to an artist
I keep being disappointed by reviewers on this website, they tend to have awful biases against anything even slightly unorthodox. This album is monumental but has a fairly mediocre rating here. The only criticism people can think up is very lame and unjust: “I don’t like her voice” or “the song structures are unorthodox” or “she’s trying too hard to be weird”. It is so stupid to say an artist is trying too hard when they actually achieve something unique and amazing. Were the Beatles trying too hard to be weird when they recorded Sgt Pepper’s? Were the Beach Boys trying too hard to be artsy on Pet Sounds?
I think that the aesthetic this album achieves is basically unparalleled. What an experience this is. I just relish the experience of being IMPRESSED by an album, which is a rare experience
Love
3/5
Upbeat 60s psych
A few songs I liked more than others. Some songs were more Baroque pop and some were more heavy 60s psych
I may need to return for another listen sometime
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Among the better 90s rock I’ve heard on this list.
Occasionally reminds me of early Sabbath’s doom metal sound, but often it sounds like a toned-down grunge
Madonna
1/5
This album cover really sets you up for a whole different experience than what it gives you lol
Janet Jackson
3/5
It sounds outrageously 80s, but it holds up well in my eyes because of all the lush and incricate rhythms and textures throughout
Kate Bush
4/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
One of the most innovative and unique pop songwriters of all time 💪
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Very fun quality new wave
Lots of brass instruments
John Prine
3/5
A few songs I liked more than the rest
It has a lot of that warm sweet feeling that classic country music is known for
A lot of the album ended up feeling a bit too simple and same-y and uninteresting for me. Perhaps it could grow on me though.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
I think this album has some of the most intelligent and thoughtful lyrics of any hip hop album I’ve heard, so I appreciate that.
Musically, this album sounded pretty cool but I got fairly fatigued of it by the end.
Roni Size
1/5
I’m no stranger to weird and experimental music, and I’m definitely more open-minded to music that I would’ve written off as bad in the past. Nonetheless I found this album dull and soulless.
Obviously it’s very repetitive. That’s not always a bad thing inherently (for example there are a few ambient/drone albums I can dig), but here it just feels lifeless and sterile. I do love interesting percussive textures, but something about how sampled EDM/electronica beats sound usually turns me off: they don’t scratch the same itch as a talented drummer on a real drum set.
Overall I struggled to find much artistic value in it. And that’s saying a lot, since I found value even in the Einsturzende Neubauten album and the Residents album, both of which everyone here seems to hate. Those albums are considered bad because they’re so unorthodox. This album isn’t like that; it’s just bad because it’s bland and uninspired. It’s not notable in a good OR a bad way, it just lives in the gray in-between zone of mediocrity
Peter Gabriel
4/5
I liked it but didn’t love it; I want to return to get a better opinion
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Punky alt/grungy blues from the 90s
Raw, distorted, abrasive vocals and guitars; reminded me a little of the Stooges at times
It’s pretty solid and has great energy, but ultimately a bit forgettable
The Birthday Party
3/5
I liked it more than I would’ve liked it back when I started this challenge.
Dark and abrasive post punk. It’s a very unusual, outrageous musical statement; it’s in a similar category in my mind to Trout Mask Replica. I was interested the whole album, it definitely wasn’t boring, it just kinda hurt my ears a little bit
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Might be the most American-sounding album to ever come out of England. Extremely soulful.
Yknow, even though the songwriting is quite simple, it’s basically a perfect album in its own right. Quality
Tears For Fears
4/5
Amazing production sound. Torn between 4 and 5.
Pixies
4/5
Really good heavy alt rock with its catchy moments too
No problems with it as far as I can see
Joan Baez
4/5
Several songs made me feel sentimental. Simple but warm and emotional
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
His style is very, very unique, and that fact alone give him a lot of credibility. After the hundreds of albums I’ve heard, it is quite impressive when an artist can sound so unlike any other to me. The only other artist I know of with somewhat similar music is Tom Waits.
I feel very unsure what to think about this album. Part of me likes the energy and thinks it is very artistic and powerful and well put together, while another part of me thinks it is not that interesting or impressive or enjoyable. Actually that’s how I’ve felt about most of Nick Cave’s discography, he may be my most controversial artist. He’s been one of the harder artists for me to rate
2.5/5 for now, but someday I want to return to some of his albums
Ryan Adams
2/5
It’s definitely not the most unpleasant thing I’ve heard, but this album commits the cardinal sin of music: it’s pretty boring and lame.
Some songs sound like they were written by Ed Sheeran, some sound like they were written by the kids from the School of Rock movie, and the rest sound like typical 2000s pop rock.
Torn between a 1 and a 2 rating
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Fun and accessible but also interesting. Obviously they’re trying to be cool but they do have talent to back it up
Great, great drum work, especially considering the genre
The Fall
3/5
Good, solid, but not the most memorable thing ever
A little post punky and 80s
System Of A Down
4/5
Heavy, angry alt metal. Even though I’m getting a little old to like music this angry, I did kinda enjoy it lol.
Had some very nice guitar riffs
3.5/5
I don’t know the difference between nu metal and alternative metal
Method Man
1/5
Pretty lackluster and boring, even compared to other hip hop albums I’ve heard on the list.
Gary Numan
3/5
Cool retro spacey feeling
Worth a listen, seems a perfect precursor to the 80s
A little repetitive at times but I didn’t mind
Erykah Badu
3/5
I don’t personally vibe with the style much but I can see that it is very quality for its genre. It’s a very well done female R&B/neo soul album.
Highlight was definitely the last song. I felt somewhat fatigued in the latter half, but the album ended strong
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Psychedelic soul
The highs were really high, some great bits. Pretty strings and flutes with soulful emotional singing. Cool jam bits too.
But most of the songs did overstay their welcome for me. I do love many songs with long instrumental sections, but those first 2 tracks just went on a bit too long for comfort for me; they were very jammy but not as interesting over a long period of time as I might prefer. And on that last track there was 9 minutes of talking before the song picked up.
The short track was very pretty and soulful, definitely one to remember
Meat Puppets
4/5
I actually liked it a great deal
I didn’t care AS much for the country-rock type songs, but I really liked a lot of the chill tracks and the hazy noisier distorted guitar songs. In the past I really disliked most songs with any “noise” but now I can oftentimes enjoy it
I recognized “Lake of Fire” from that Nirvana cover on their live album
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Not too bad, not too good
I will admit there were definitely some nice moments
Bob Dylan
3/5
Bob Dylan can get me into a thoughtful mood that is hard for any other artist to get me into; I really like a lot of his classic albums.
I went back and forth between 3 and 4 a couple times while listening to this one
I really got into the vibe halfway through, despite disliking the way his voice sounded at the beginning. I especially liked Not Dark Yet, and liked the two following songs.
I was somewhat leaning towards 4, but then I hit the last song, which was just too long for me, given how little it changed or grew
3.5/5
Best track: Not Dark Yet
Ice Cube
1/5
Insufferable and monotonous.
Ice Cube thinks he such a punk and a rebel, which is hilarious because today there is nothing less rebellious than being black and loud about it. American culture undeniably adores blackness today, and almost every corporation, media outlet, and university pushes black identity politics.
American Music Club
2/5
One of the most forgettable albums I've listened to on this entire list.
But I didn't actively hate it, so a 2 it is
Miles Davis
4/5
It is great; however, there are definitely jazz albums I prefer to this one. Kind of Blue has that languid relaxed mood the whole time, and it doesn't excite or interest me the way several other jazz albums do. A Love Supreme, Time Out, Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, are all more interesting and dynamic albums to me.
I also think I prefer Miles' albums Birth of the Cool and In A Silent Way (and maybe even Bitches Brew, but I haven't heard that one in a while).
Nonetheless I don't think I can give less than a 4
Massive Attack
3/5
Doesn’t speak to me much but it was solid and cool enough
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Pretty quality but also kinda too much of the same at times
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Good but not great, in my opinion
I prefer Exile on Main St and whatever their album with the crotch shot is called.
Definitely better than Aftermath though
I’ll return to this one at some point, it could grow on me
Scott Walker
4/5
Wonderful
Torn between 4 and 5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Fun and solid in his usual quirky way. Several great tracks.
Napalm Death
2/5
It wasn’t too unpleasant for me or anything, but I thought by the end it was just too much of the same kinda stuff. I don’t hate the idea of screamy distorted music, but I feel like there’s only so much you can do with this particular subgenre.
It probably was quite influential in that subgenre though
The Yardbirds
3/5
Good 60s rock
Plenty of 12 bar blues, a few more psychedelic tracks
Jeff’s guitar work on Jeff’s Boogie was very nice
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Frank Zappa is a brilliant guitarist and composer, and it’s hilarious that he so often uses his talents making silly dum dum music
This album was thoroughly entertaining actually
Charles Mingus
5/5
Fabulous
Despite having no lyrics, this album tells a more meaningful story than almost any, a true musical journey.
Several times better than Kind of Blue, if you ask me
N.E.R.D
2/5
Fun and fairly solid funky soulful pop rock, but I don’t care for it
Public Enemy
1/5
This album is just tedious. Each song is very repetitive and there’s not much that’s interesting happening in the music besides the lyrics. Obviously this group was culturally important. But there’s little that’s impressive to me about looping a 2-second beat for 4 minutes and rapping about race in America, and then doing that for 14 songs in a row
Pantera
4/5
It’s a great metal album, the band sounds so tight and the instrumental bits are fantastic
Marty Robbins
5/5
This is definitely a comfort album of mine
Muddy Waters
3/5
Great energy, I can see how this helped lay the groundwork for rock music to come
Ash
3/5
Pop punky, alt/indie 90s rock
Good vibes. It wasn’t super remarkable but I liked it.
Sounds like music my mom would like. Some of these songs remind of a little of music she played when I was young
3 or 3.5
Basement Jaxx
1/5
Yuck
The Strokes
4/5
Great. Almost a 5 for me
Lupe Fiasco
2/5
One of the better hip hop albums I’ve had on this list, I gotta admit.
But man, hip hip gets tiring so goddamn quickly. This had some cool moments but the songs just drag on and on because of the repetitive nature of the music.
Duran Duran
4/5
Dynamic and fun
Tim Buckley
4/5
Psychedelic bluesy music to float away to
Torn between 3 and 4. I feel like I’d like to return to this one eventually so I’ll go with a 4
He got pretty crazy on Gypsy Woman
Elvis Costello
2/5
Not too bad, but it started to get on my nerves after a while, and a lot of it felt too similar to me
Patti Smith
4/5
Amazing emotion
Pretty cool the majority of the time
Tori Amos
4/5
Really high-quality pop album
Quite reminiscent of Kate Bush
Big Star
4/5
I liked it a lot
The first half was much better than the second half though
Beck
4/5
I enjoyed the mood on this one today. It kinda stays the same mood the whole time.
This one is pretty good to put you in a trance
Chill indie with some nice flourishes
Orange Juice
3/5
Solid post punk
A couple parts we’re a bit too cheesy-80s
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Okay I liked this a lot lol
Except the last two tracks
CHIC
2/5
Among the most repetitive albums I’ve heard on this list, especially the first few songs
Fun at times but it didn’t feel very substantial; but I suppose I feel that way about most disco anyhow.
Favorite was when Will You Cry
Sonic Youth
5/5
This album came at a good time, because lately I have been dark dissonant alternative rock.
This band is an acquired taste. I probably wouldn't have like this a couple years ago, and there's some of the stuff in this genre I still don't like (I still don't think I like Jesus and the Mary Chain). Sometimes bands in this genre go overboard with the fuzzy screechy noise, but this album wasn't like that.
Torn between 4 and 5.
Genesis
5/5
This album is marvelous. It’s just permeated with this wonderful whimsy. The songwriting is jaw-droppingly good, and the instrumental performances are stunning as well. It’s pretty reasonable to say that this album has the best drumming out of all of the 1001 albums, for anyone who paid attention to this album. And there are vanishingly few guitar solos that have more soul than the one on Firth of Fifth; how can a guitar solo sound so beautifully mournful?
Even though several of the songs are long, they never cease to be satisfying. Even in the long instrumental passages there is so much movement and change: the music always feels like it’s going somewhere interesting. The long songs each take you on a journey. Amazing dynamics, great variety. It's doubly impressive that such brilliant songwriting is also just so engaging and fun.
There are always the misguided fools who think they can dismiss any monumental work by calling it "wankery" or "pretentious self-indulgence." People who say things like this are really just admitting that they are allergic to talent and creativity. Some people can't wrap their closed minds around any music that isn't a 3-minute, 4-chord, verse-chorus-verse-chorus song. And besides, why shouldn't actually talented musicians want to indulge a little in more complicated music? Do you really expect gifted musicians and songwriters to dumb down their genius just so they don't look like they're showing off?
And the absurd thing is, this album is so far from pretentiousness anyways. Genesis always had a healthy dose of wit and self-awareness, unlike some of their peers. I can kind of understand someone calling ELP pretentious snobs and show-offs; but calling Genesis pretentious is just so far off the mark. "Pretentious" means one is pretending to have some degree of importance or intelligence that one doesn't have. How can a piece of music be pretentious? And what exactly is Genesis pretending to be that it isn't? Every piece of this album serves a musical purpose.
Haters of prog love to talk about how punk rock killed prog; maybe they're right, who knows? But the amazing irony is that the punk rockers were far more pretentious than the old bands they supplanted. Punk rockers were maladjusted, talentless youths who resented that rock music was dominated by skilled, heroic rock gods. They put on a false facade of anger and wrote music about how disaffected they were. They put on leather jackets and proclaimed themselves the heroes of the common man. Punk rock was all about the cool anti-establishment image, and not about the music, the majority of which is basic, unimaginative, and boring (not all of it though!). Prog rockers, on the other hand, shunned image. Their focus WAS their music; they honed their craft and strove to create something remarkable, almost always without widespread fame and glory. They actually tried at what they did.
Punk rockers pretended to be cool without an ounce of musical ability to show for it; prog rockers are the antithesis of this.
The spirit of prog rock is striving for the highest of musical heights and exploring exotic, unorthodox musical landscapes. What's not to love about that?
This album is vastly, shamefully underrated by the mainstream music establishment. This album is brilliant and such a joy to listen to. :)
Janis Joplin
4/5
Soul
Roxy Music
4/5
Very cool
a-ha
3/5
Morten 👍🫡
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Enjoyable
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
More cool dark post punk from the bunny men 💪
The Coral
3/5
Decent alt indie rock with some slight Ween-like pysch tendencies
The Band
4/5
Why are they Canadian?
3/5
Cool energetic new wave
Torn between 3 and 4, could enjoy again
The Lemonheads
3/5
Enjoyable but not very interesting
4/5
Man that electric half was actually really great. My favorite were the last two tracks.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Great voice and emotion
Kraftwerk
4/5
I remember not liking their other album when I had it two years ago, but I was probably more close-minded back then.
I liked this one a lot. It sounds like a shimmering diamond.
Torn between 4 and 5.
U2 is too cheesy and over-sentimental
This album especially was kinda bland.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I like his dark brooding music a lot
Ray Charles
3/5
Nice album
I liked the contrast between the two sides
The Waterboys
2/5
I do love some Irish fiddle, but I felt like most of the actual songwriting here was not interesting, and there were several songs that were longer than their worth. But it was enjoyable at times so I’m a bit torn between 2 and 3
Favorite was probably stolen child, I actually liked the mood on that one
The Prodigy
2/5
Gets tiresome
Cocteau Twins
5/5
Pretty much perfect all the way through. I’d never heard this before. It has an unreal dreamlike quality
I gotta relisten to Loveless now
The Velvet Underground
4/5
I have grown to love their other two albums. This one isn’t on the same level but I liked it enough. Between 3 and 4
Moby Grape
4/5
60s bluesy rock with a pinch of country and psych influence
Very enjoyable all throughout!
Brian Wilson
5/5
Godlike, beautiful songwriting. Wonderfully pleasing
My only problem is that you can tell it was recorded in the 2000s and not the 1960s, it sometimes sounds too modernly polished in a bad way. Guess I need to check out that Smile Sessions album.
Aerosmith
3/5
Very solid, especially for an album this late into a band’s career
But I don’t relate much to listen again, so a 3 it is
Marilyn Manson
2/5
Angry industrial metal
I don’t think it’s a poor album, but I personally didn’t get much enjoyment out of it. Between 2 and 3
I can appreciate the idea of industrial metal; I do like plenty of heavy music. But something about the angry edgy delivery turns me off somewhat. I did like some moments and thought it was overall interesting. Some good instrumental performances.
Could relisten someday with fresh ears
“Man that you fear” was one of my favorite tracks
Spiritualized
2/5
I love a lot of trippy music, mainly from the 60s and 70s. When Wikipedia called them a space rock band I was excited to hear something like Hawkwind or early Pink Floyd.
Instead this album was far more boring than that. There were some cool sounds, but they usually dragged on too long without enough meaningful change throughout. It was often more of an ambient album than a rock album.
Very disappointing
Maybe I should try listening with a good set of speakers for the full effect
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
Chillest instrumental hip hop music ever
Maybe a bit too chill to stay interesting
I enjoyed it well enough while I played video games though lol, maybe that influenced my opinion
Donald Fagen
4/5
Slick, smooth jazz-influenced rock
I like his interesting chord changes
Not really as good as the best Steely Dan albums but still nice
I can see that many would see this as too 80s/cheesy but I think it’s some of the most quality of that type I’ve heard
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Really good, I’ll have to return
The Killers
3/5
The album is quite front-loaded
I do like some of their songs a lot, a bit of a guilty pleasure. Some of the songs were a bit uninteresting
The drums were pretty good for a pop rock album
Scritti Politti
3/5
Really wacky.
It strange because this album was so un-memorable: I can’t remember a single melody from this album at all. But I remember thinking that the arrangements were quite nice and I actually kinda enjoyed the album.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Very solid and fun. Some post punk influence. Torn between three and four.
Soul II Soul
1/5
Good music for when you’re barfing or being killed by someone who’s barfing
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Lovely little old-fashioned country album
Morrissey
4/5
I'm tired of all the sanctimonious clowns who hate on Morrissey. Most celebrities spout the exact same impotent, sterilized, socially-approved opinions time and time again. It's nice to see an occasional celebrity diverge from the mainstream zeitgeist.
As for the music, it's a pretty solid album.
Deee-Lite
3/5
Not bad. I enjoyed it more than most of the “dance albums” I’ve heard on the list
D'Angelo
2/5
It’s quite good for its genre, and I appreciate the jazz influence
But man this type of music is just hard to listen to for more than a song or two. The vocal style just is a huge turn—off, the weird sensual falsetto
Frank Zappa
5/5
Pure unbridled creativity and a healthy dose of virtuosity. Not a single dull moment. This album might be the most constantly fun and boppin one on the list
The White Stripes
2/5
I’ve liked some of their music but this one was super lackluster; the songwriting and drumming and guitar riffs are all bland and basic. It is funny how much this one sounds like a poor parody of their better work
Definitely doesn’t need to be on the list since this group has two other albums that do everything this one does better
Public Enemy
1/5
Annoying and tiresome music
I roll my eyes any time I see a review praising the “message” of this album lmao
Culture Club
1/5
I dig the first track well enough but by the end you realize it’s pretty formulaic and bland.
I didn’t mind his voice at first but I grew to almost hate it.
Raekwon
1/5
Music for idiots, by idiots 👍
Boring and mundane, mind-numbingly monotonous and dull. Each song is nauseatingly repetitive.
The “songwriting” for each song consists of a generic 4-second beat that is looped for 4 minutes while he raps about boring cliche rap shit
I lost 10 IQ points listening to this. This album takes a heavy psychic toll on the listener
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Very pleasant
Van Halen
4/5
Amazing guitar that is just a delicious treat for the ears. I love a musician who isn’t afraid to show off their skill on their instrument.
Eddie is revered by many as the greatest guitarist of all time. He achieved this by not only having amazing guitar skills, but by fitting his complex guitar parts into traditional rock song structures and styles that appealed to wide, mainstream audiences.
Although I love the guitar on this album, I don't quite love every track on this album. Some tracks are really awesome, but some songs like Feel Your Love Tonight feel just a little cheesy and poppy, and not what I love about rock music.
Van Halen feels like a unique transition point between the awesome hard rock of the 70s and the glitzy overblown arena glam metal/rock of the 80s. I think Van Halen was in some ways a gateway to more cringey rock bands like Def Leppard and Bon Jovi that I don't care for.
Quite torn between 4 and 5
Goldie
3/5
Maybe i was just in the right frame of mind but I kinda got it this time. In the past I haven’t liked music like this but I enjoyed it well enough today
Calexico
3/5
Definitely a solid indie rock album. I enjoyed pretty well. I didn’t find it memorable but then again part of me feels like this one could grow on me just a tiny bit, perhaps. Lately I’ve been having a harder time being sure of my ratings lol
I thought they did a nice job of incorporating several styles.
Barry Adamson
3/5
Cool concept. Some tracks were better than others, but there were a few that were quite great
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
Each piece is a masterful composition. Great listen at every moment
Steely Dan
4/5
Quite torn between 4 and 5
Christina Aguilera
1/5
God her voice gets so annoying after a while. The problem with artists like her is that they think that vocal talent is all music is about. No amount of showy vomit-inducing vocal runs makes up for the lack of interesting songwriting.
You might as well replace this album with a compilation of American Idol’s greatest hits: the overall effect would be exactly the same. Talent, but no deep artistry besides the vocal performance. This album is a perfect example of the fact that there’s so much more to music than good singing.
I’m becoming convinced that there is an inverse correlation between the attractiveness of a musician and the quality of their music. I think that for many musicians, their music is really a vehicle for their ego, whether consciously or not.
“Thank you” is the most masturbatory song I’ve ever heard lmao. Following that up with stupid circus music was one of the funniest musical segways I’ve ever heard
The KLF
2/5
Leonard Cohen
4/5
So torn between 4 and 5
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
It’s very pleasant and she demonstrates really great vocal control
But it does get a little stale by the end…
Last track might be the best
Torn between 2 and 3
Louis Prima
4/5
Among the best of its genre that I've heard
Great energy and fun
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
So pleasing
Love how their voices sound
Turbonegro
3/5
Good, straightforward punk rock with a bit of 90s indie/alt feel to it
Fun energy, but I don’t feel the need to ever return to this one
Doves
2/5
Not really that great or interesting by any means. Nice but kind of a bore.
Röyksopp
2/5
Torn between 2 and 3
Goldfrapp
3/5
Torn between 3 and 3.5
Pretty cool ambient pop
It doesn't really sound like other electronica despite the description
Didn't like the oompa song
Steely Dan
5/5
Steely Dan’s music is just so slick and smooth at all times, I don’t know how they do it
Right on the edge between 4 and 5
I feel like the last song was not as great as most the rest, but I liked the rest a lot
Pulp
4/5
3.5/4
Frank Sinatra
5/5
Immaculate mood, old time magic
The Beta Band
2/5
There was nothing actually bad about it but the longer I listened the more I found it hard to care about
Some of the British albums on this list from the 90s and 00s seem like they don’t need to be on the list.
But I definitely dig most of the 60s and 70s British albums
Nico
4/5
Listening to this convinced me that Nico is one of the more authentic singers on this list. She not a diva or a star, nor does she have any pretensions to be. She doesn’t have anything close to the voice of an angel. But when she sings I really feel like she is a real person with real emotions.
Nice style of bittersweet melancholy that I enjoy in the right mood.
I especially adore the first two songs
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Billy Joel
4/5
Great. Feeling 4 right now, maybe later could be a 5
Minutemen
5/5
Wow this album is tight
Among the very, very best drumming I’ve heard on this challenge
Some punk is way too simplistic, boring, and tries too hard to be angry at everything. I don’t care for much original punk like the Sex Pistols (and don’t even get me started on how lame the Ramones are). The Clash are pretty cool though.
But I’ve grown to REALLY like a certain type of discordant post punk. Like that one Gang of Four album. Strange interesting clashing riffs and an ultra-tight punchy rhythm section. Super satisfying
The Pogues
3/5
Enjoyable and fun.
Probably don't care to relisten for a while but it's great at what it does.
Could go up in rating a little maybe
The Young Rascals
4/5
Enjoyable 60s pop rock
Tom Tom Club
3/5
A few songs I liked, a few were meh
Quirky
Chicago
4/5
Nice
Supergrass
3/5
It wasn't bad but honestly I can't remember a single moment from when I listened to this one.
I liked their first album but this one wasn't as engaging to me today
Maybe someday I'll give it another chance
Talking Heads
4/5
Excitingly weird
Hot Chip
2/5
At times I sorta enjoyed the chill indietronic sound, but probably more of the time I was bored
Favorite track?: “Now there is Nothing”
I know I would’ve rated this lower 2 years ago
Torn between 2 and 2.5
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Do you think there’s someone out there who listened to the 2nd song and then decided to stop saying the n-word once and for all?
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Yknow I do enjoy this band, but only in moderation I think
I liked a few songs, especially liberation
David Bowie
4/5
Torn between 4 and 5, very close
The Avalanches
4/5
Torn between 3 and 4
Solid electronic ambient hip hop music, some of the best of its kind I’ve heard. I don’t think I’d ever just sit down and listen to this album the way I can with some other music I love, but it’s especially great background. It feels too harsh to call it ONLY background music though
I can appreciate there’s a thoughtful craftsmanship that goes into plunderphonics, even if it doesn’t involve many real musicians playing real instruments, which I usually prefer
Beach House
4/5
I liked this more than I should have. I know it's not the most complex, intricate music, but the dreamy feel was really quite perfect at times. Even though plenty of music of this genre makes me cringe I enjoyed this
The Rolling Stones
2/5
It's fine, but quite amateur compared to what they did later
The xx
1/5
About as much substance as the royalty-free music that accompanies pre-teen contemporary dance recitals.
The singers sound like they’ve never had a single emotion in their lives and are pretending they know what it’s like to feel but they’re don’t actually get it.
I’m genuinely astonished this album’s not rated lower on this website. Sure, it’s more radio-friendly than most the stuff at the bottom of the global stats, but it commits a far worse crime than being “unlistenable”: being boring as hell
Butthole Surfers
2/5
I don’t dislike it all that much but it does nothing for me. I’m glad it was at least interesting and not boring
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Quality soft alt rock, slight country style
I think I ought to return to this one someday, could grow on me a bit so I feel a bit hesitant with my rating
I liked it more at the beginning
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
4/5
Very pleasantly surprised, great theatrical energy
The Shamen
1/5
Just not worth my time
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Very solid funk rock, I quite enjoyed it
Although I’m not necessarily feeling a strong desire to return this one.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Some of the songs I liked a lot, some of them didn’t seem as substantial
Torn between 3 and 4
Barry Adamson
3/5
Interesting and varied enough for one listen, but I don’t need to return to this one.
A few of the tracks got on my nerves but most were chill, a few cool bits
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Nice album, kind of a more powerful Britpop
Cool vocalist, sounds like he’d fit right in with a symphonic epic prog metal type of band
Slipknot
2/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
Yeah the harmonica is mixed so loud and often hurts my ears but I like basically everything else about it
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
Bob Marley is the absolute epitome of “if you’ve heard one of his/her songs you’ve heard them all”. This album was quite pleasant and chill and sounds nice and everything, but honestly each song is so simplistic and repetitive that they get old before they’re done. One of the least interesting songwriters I’ve listened to in a long time. His songs are so compositionally limited and most use the same basic tropes and progressions. I start to laugh whenever I hear that one cliche reggae drum fill that starts so many of his songs in the exact same way.
The appeal of Bob Marley is the unique atmosphere of his music, but really he is a one-trick pony. If I ever get into marijuana I’ll think about giving this one another listen, but until then, I’m good
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Alice Cooper
4/5
Fun, somewhat eccentric rock
LTJ Bukem
2/5
Finally listened to this one; it sat in my "Unrated" list for about 15 months before I got around to it.
The album wasn't worth the wait lol
Pavement
4/5
God I’m questioning a bunch of my old ratings again. I liked this album a lot, but I remember not loving their other album when I had it forever ago. But I probably WOULD like that one if I listened to it now. My taste has changed in several directions so now I’m second guessing everything. There are many albums I had on this challenge two years ago that I need to go reevaluate
Motörhead
4/5
Motörhead definitely don’t have the most variety in their songwriting, but their sound here is so good.
R.E.M.
4/5
Hard to recall any specific moments but I enjoyed it. Hard to know my feelings about it. Need to return to better decide how I feel about it
Eagles
3/5
Overrated by some people perhaps, but probably a bit more over-hated by others
Between 3 and 3.5
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
A bit too juvenile for me, in terms of the themes of the album, and sometimes his lisp makes me cringe, but actually it was really nice sounding and well-produced. Could reevaluate later, hard to decide my feelings about it. Also should relisten to their other album
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
Isn’t it crazy that by the time the 1970s were over, electronic music had already reached its peak?
Nirvana
3/5
Very solid, but overhyped
SZA
1/5
This album is diametrically opposed to everything that is worth striving for in this world. The antithesis of beauty, wisdom, humility, sophistication, virtue. Emblematic of the decay, decadence, and depravity of a modern Western culture that rots the mind, deadens the heart, and defiles the soul. Our ancestors look down on us disappointedly from a heaven that none of us will ever reach.
Tricky
3/5
Chill coolness. I actually do appreciate the atmosphere, but at times it wasn’t doing much for me. Maybe I’d enjoy more in a different mood. 3/2.5
I liked the woman’s voice but the guy’s was sometimes annoying, especially when he was doing his tryhard-sexy vocal fry voice
Robert Wyatt
4/5
Doesn’t have that exquisite unnerving enchantment of “Rock Bottom”, but there were songs during which I got into the weird magic of the sound. A few songs were too poppy but overall I like it
Faith No More
3/5
This one has me very conflicted. Part of me thought “2” but a slightly larger part of me thought “4”. The band was very tight; the songs were cool but mostly not too memorable on my first listen. Definitely engaging enough for one listen
I can tell the singer has actual talent but he usually chooses to sing with his crazy nasally voice so that’s curious. Once in a while he’ll sing higher and sound normal and it makes me wonder why he doesn’t sing like that all the time.
The War Pigs cover was very faithful to the original
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
Wasn't unenjoyable at all. I even thought it was pleasant background music. But I didn't really feel like it deseved higher than a 2
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Dead Kennedys
4/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
MGMT
3/5
Fun even though it’s kinda amateurish sometimes.
I’m quite surprised how highly it’s rated on this site(well above the average album) when its merits are weaker than many of the albums rated below it.
3/5
New wave-y punk, I liked it, torn between 3 and 4.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Nice. Not my favorite but I think I’d like to return
Tom Waits
4/5
I wouldn't have liked this back when I started the challenge but today I thought it was engaging and entertaining throughout, worth a listen
Lana Del Rey
3/5
Pleasant throughout, I enjoyed enough for a 3 I think.
Boards of Canada
4/5
I don't always like this kind of music but this one was nice
Suede
4/5
Not as good as some other 4s but still very nice
Dion
3/5
Not too spectacular but pleasant throughout
Very hard for me to believe this is the Runaround Sue guy
Elvis Costello
2/5
Elvis Costello has definitely perfected his unique brand of songwriting. Nobody writes songs like he does, that’s for sure. I enjoyed some songs quite a bit, but more often than not I was kinda bored or even annoyed.
Nick Drake
5/5
Sublime
Girls Against Boys
3/5
I think their sound was cool & solid. But I thought the songwriting was weak, and at times I found it hard to care about the music.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Just overall bland. I guess it was “fun” at times but much more often I was annoyed or uninterested. Devoid of talent, creativity, soul. The guitar work was fairly amateur and lackluster and the vocals were irritating and contrived. All the guitar solos were so disappointing and boring.
There’s so much amazing, engaging rock music from the 20th century that I’m so baffled how lame music like this gets popular.
The vocals bring it down from a 2 to a 1.5
Suicide
2/5
While trying to decide between 1 and 2 I thought that, y'know, at least it was relatively unique. This is the first album I've laughed out loud to all year (thanks to Frankie Teardrop). So I'll give it a 2
Randy Newman
3/5
A nice listen
Pere Ubu
5/5
I would not have liked this when I started this challenge but today I really liked it. I was thoroughly entertained at every moment. Delightful strangeness
Torn between 4 and 5 but I’m just gonna give a 5 since I was entertained the whole time
Throwing Muses
4/5
I liked the style of this one a lot. It wasn't the best thing I've ever heard but I dig this genre.
I think I need to listen to it again to better evaluate because I didn't listen in the best listening environment
James Taylor
2/5
Somewhere between 2 and 3.
It was perfectly pleasant and all, but I also had a hard time caring about it the majority of the time. A few nice tracks.
Cream
4/5
Cool. interesting songwriting and progressions on some tracks
R.E.M.
3/5
Syd Barrett
3/5
One of the best examples on the 1001 site of a album cover that fits the music. Syd spent too much time in the backrooms and lost his mind.
A few songs on this album I rather liked. I enjoy his style at its better moments. I think I'm predisposed to appreciate it becaues I love Pink Floyd's first two albums.
But the majority of the album is just Syd and his acoustic strumming so it's not one the same level for me. I liked this album well enough but don't need to hear it again for a while.
I'm gonna go watch the music video for Jugband Blues now because that always one puts me in a weird mood. Maybe listen to Interstellar Overdrive after that
Burning Spear
1/5
I'm gradually coming to believe that reggae is, compared to most genres I've heard from this list, not super worthwhile. It's shocking how little variety there is within and among the reggae albums I've heard. Sure, one track might sound chill and pleasant enough. But then you get 12 more indistinguishable tracks that are all chill and "pleasant enough" in the exact same way. In that way, these reggae artists are one-trick ponies. Listening to this album makes me feel like I have been on an remote island vacation for far too long and am starting to go crazy.
Most tracks are repetitive with little dynamics. The musicians have few tricks up their sleeves. The guitarist will listlessly strum the same one or two chords for an entire track. Simplistic drum beat, with an occasional stereotypical reggae drum fill which just serves as a reminder of how cliche the album is. The brass sections can be a nice touch when they occur but they don't change the fact that the songwriting is flat. Very little emotional impact, since they all sound like they're just smoking pot around a bonfire on the beach. I feel like I've been sitting in a peace pipe circle for hours and somehow nobody around me is getting tired of the fact that it's just going on and on and on.
Saint Etienne
3/5
Halfway between thinking it was pleasantly enjoyable and thinking it was not very interesting
Elastica
4/5
Enjoyed this one today. I think eventually it could slide down to a 3.5 in my view but today I felt a 4. I like this style
Elton John
3/5
The Jam
4/5
Wu-Tang Clan
2/5
Solid flow but not too interesting of music
Billy Bragg
3/5
I enjoyed more than I would’ve expected. The songwriting is simple but I found several of the songs touching.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Solid, if a little bland
Queen Latifah
2/5
Self-aggrandizing yet also preachy
3/5
Sensational energy
The Mars Volta
4/5
Fatiguing at times, but very dynamic and exciting. It seems like there’s intricacy to the instrumentation but something about the volume or the production makes it hard for me to appreciate it all the way.
Hard to know my final opinion on this one, I’m somewhere between 3 and 4
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Some of the best blues rock I ever did hear. Will return to this one
Joy Division
5/5
Good music to watch the end of the world to
Robert Wyatt
5/5
Hard to express my feelings on this album, but I truly adore it. So mysterious, otherworldly, unnerving, disturbing, enchanting, transcendental. It treads ground that no mortal man was meant to explore.
Somehow I feel that what's great about this album is similar to what makes Moby Dick so great. A fascination with and reverence for the unknowable depths of both the sea and of the soul. I'm not very eloquent so I'll just leave this quote from the novel that is just one of the most fantastic passages I've ever read: "The sea had leeringly kept his finite body up, but drowned the infinite of his soul. Not drowned entirely, though. Rather carried down alive to wondrous depths, where strange shapes of the unwarped primal world glided to and fro before his passive eyes; and the miser-merman, Wisdom, revealed his hoarded heaps; and among the joyous, heartless, ever-juvenile eternities, Pip saw the multitudinous, God-omnipresent, coral insects, that out of the firmament of waters heaved the colossal orbs. He saw God’s foot upon the treadle of the loom, and spoke it; and therefore his shipmates called him mad. So man’s insanity is heaven’s sense; and wandering from all mortal reason, man comes at last to that celestial thought, which, to reason, is absurd and frantic; and weal or woe, feels then uncompromised, indifferent as his God."
Brian Eno
5/5
Quirky and experimental in all the right ways
The Replacements
3/5
Struck me on my first listen as enjoyable but not too remarkable. The members of the band were all great at what they did but some of the songwriting fell a little flat. Some songs were very fun and enjoyable. Could be worth revisiting and reevaluating
The Byrds
3/5
This sounds like what would happen if the Byrds made a country album 🤔
It was perfectly pleasant all throughout, well-executed. I wouldn’t mind hearing again. It loses just a little bit of love from me because of how little variety there seems to be though.
I could see the Byrds growing on me more, I did like several of their albums
The Fall
3/5
Tight drums/bass & harsh guitar with sloppy vocals. I enjoyed it somewhat. Can’t decide how I really feel about it
3/5
Enjoyable and a comforting sound, but also after the first two songs I felt like the songwriting was not interesting
Björk
4/5
Besides the two songs that sounded more like club music I liked every song; worth returning to
4/5
Quite cool
The Stooges
4/5
Very enjoyable.
Can't decide which mix I like better
Jacques Brel
3/5
Classy and charming
Jack White
3/5
Good for him, he finally got someone in his band who actually knows how to play the drums.
I did find the album enjoyable, but somehow there’s also just something about his music that ever so slightly makes me cringe. But that makes it sound like I enjoyed it less than I did
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
This would be perfect background music for driving around downtown Toronto
There were several moments I enjoyed, but overall I just don’t feel like it deserves higher than a 2
Marianne Faithfull
1/5
Ultra lame
Steely Dan
5/5
Pretty much flawless.
I didn’t expect myself to be a fan of Steely Dan but they are just so good at what they do
Sepultura
2/5
I didn’t derive any enjoyment from listening to this one today, it became tiresome rather quickly. I do enjoy some varieties of metal a lot, but this groove/nu metal doesn’t really do much for me
This definitely would’ve sounded better if I didn’t listen while driving: the roads are so loud that music like this turns even more into just a wall of aggressive noise
Magazine
4/5
Cool post punk
KISS
3/5
This one falls into that category of fun but cheesy, less substantial rock. A progenitor of 80s hair metal.
Didn’t mind listening today but I don’t feel I need to return to this
Radiohead
5/5
It's hard to find fault with this album. The atmosphere is very good, each song really just sucks you in. My only complaint is that his voice sounds a bit weak when he sings high on this album, but besides that I think it's just swell.
Although Radiohead is one of the most "Reddit" bands of all time they still have plenty of stuff I enjoy.
I listened to "All I Need" a lot this weekend, very nice
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Hard to get through. Didn't hate it QUITE as much as I expected though
TV On The Radio
3/5
Solid indie rock, but I wasn't super into it. Quite torn between 2 and 3
Cornershop
1/5
One of the least worthwhile albums I’ve listened to all year. Compositionally very weak, very lazily and thoughtlessly put together. I was already tired after the first two songs, which were such drawn-out, repetitive trifles
The Electric Prunes
4/5
Not the most polished album but I quite enjoy the 60s psychedelic sound
Coldplay
2/5
I was hoping to like this more than I did, but I just felt it really lacking most of the time, and so bland. And the longer I listened to his voice the more insufferable and weak it seemed (especially his falsetto). The lyrics also sucked a lot of the time.
I do think Yellow is a nice song, but even that song could've been a lot better if it were written by another, more capable band.
Queen
5/5
Queen was the first band I seriously got into. I'd describe Queen II as one of my \"gateway albums,\" as it helped pave the way for the development of my music taste. Queen was a stepping stone that got me into hard rock and (Queen II especially) opened the door for me to get into more artsy and complex rock. Eventually I discovered the classics of progressive rock, which after over 4 years is still my most cherished genre.
I do think this album is tragically let down somewhat by its less-than-ideal production quality and mixing. But I think the majority of the songwriting is really great. The guitar work on this album is super. And I've always had a fondness for the more gentle quality of Freddie's early vocals (see \"Nevermore,\" he never sounded like that on later records).
I don't listen to Queen very often these days, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this album. I feel obliged to give it a 5.
Paul Simon
3/5
Simple Minds
4/5
Sparks
4/5
Relentlessly entertaining and uncompromisingly fun. You will have fun whether you want to or not
Torn between 4 and 5
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Solid jazz fusion
The Verve
3/5
Solid
David Bowie
3/5
Fugazi
4/5
Heavy in a good way
Gram Parsons
3/5
Quality and wholesome classic country album. Feels comforting to listen to.
The Police
3/5
First of all, it’s incredible how perfectly his voice fits the reggae style
My feelings on this album are torn. I feel like the playing from the band on this album is so good, but a lot of the music doesn't really grip me for some reason. I've never really loved reggae, but their take on it is interesting
4/5
A little rough around the edges, but I like their style and a lot of songs were just swell
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Haircut 100
2/5
I thought a few songs were pretty fun but the majority of the songs were just too much
Nirvana
4/5
I don't enjoy this as much as its reputation would make you think, but it's very solid. I appreciate his ability to write catchy tunes over unusual chord progressions.
I think I like In Utero more
Super Furry Animals
2/5
I didn’t really enjoy any of this. It felt amateur, artificial and often quite annoying.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
This sexy, lovin' soul music isn't my favorite genre by any means, but this album does it really well. Very quality. Occasionally makes me cringe but more often I found it quite nice
Nirvana
4/5
I appreciate it lots, much better than the naked baby album
My only problem with the album is how fatiguing it gets before it’s over, but I don’t mean that as negative as it sounds. I like their sound, it’s just quite an assault on the ears
The Zutons
3/5
These guys like their flat 5ths
Good, nothing too crazy
Coldplay
2/5
I can appreciate Coldplay a little bit, but something about their music is just so underwhelming. I feel like a few of their best songs each have a good idea behind them, but their execution feels extremely lacking. The playing by the band comes off as amateurish; the guitars, drums, and piano are rarely interesting to me. I liked this album more than their previous one, though. I found the singer's vocals much more tolerable on this album than on their other one.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I typically like his music but I never love his music. I’d say he’s a solid songwriter
Muddy Waters
4/5
There’s only so much you can do with the standard blues formula, but Muddy Waters pushes that formula to the limit
Sheryl Crow
2/5
Not bad for a pop record, but I didn’t care for it
The Byrds
3/5
Lovely warm sound but not the most interesting album I've heard from them
Underworld
3/5
Nice chill electronic music. I wish there were fewer vocal parts on the album though.
Favorite track was probably the last one
Pixies
5/5
Just fantastic. Better than anything grunge did
Dire Straits
3/5
Pretty nice. The guitar work is definitely the highlight
Genesis
5/5
I love this album. So many fantastic tracks. Superb composition and instrumentation. A lot of the sounds on this album are just magical.
Title track is fanatastic, the intro piano sets the mood for the album so well. In the Cage's keyboard solo a few minutes in is so good. Back in NYC is an absolute killer track and I love the high gritty vocals. Carpet Crawlers is delightful and often gets stuck in my head. Anyway has such an amazingly sinister heaviness. The Lamia is one of the most enchantingly beautiful songs I have ever heard, amazing composition and chord progression (and the subsequent track sounds like heaven). "It" is simply one of the most perfect final tracks I know of, it wraps the album up so well with such an amazing energy.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
I enjoyed this pretty much the entire time, nice listen. Torn between 3 and 4
Cee Lo Green
1/5
Too many of the post-2000 album choices on this list are trash
Fatboy Slim
3/5
I enjoyed it for a while but by the end I was a bit fatigued
Beatles
3/5
Not bad
Sepultura
4/5
I remember having another album by them that I thought was so lame, I gave it a 2. Somehow though, I enjoyed this one a fair amount!
Peter Frampton
3/5
Enjoyable throughout, quality classic rock
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
Decent little album
Fatboy Slim
1/5
Ich will diese Musik nie wieder hören
Metallica
2/5
The blend of their music with the orchestra is alright, but what really ruins the album for me is the heavy use of pitch correction on the vocals. Hard to overlook. It’s especially glaring when he holds a high note or runs thru a few notes with his voice quickly. I’m firmly of the opinion that imperfections in a vocal part sound better than a vocal that’s fixed in post production. And it’s not really about the fact that it’s “cheating” or whatever, it just adds such an annoying fake quality to the voice. The vocals on their first few studio albums are much nicer to listen than those on here
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
Good for its genre perhaps but not for me
Jeff Beck
4/5
Quality late 60s blues rock. As with many blues albums, the songwriting isn't incredibly diverse in structure, but I still enjoy the sweet sounds of electric blues.
I like this more than the solo work I've heard from Rod Stewart
Koffi Olomide
2/5
Haha
Christina Aguilera
2/5
Lots of vocal talent, but the music doesn't resonate with me
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Pleasant piano-driven pop with nice vocals. 3 or possibly 3.5
Pere Ubu
4/5
Entertaining in a very strange way. I’d never listen to this with other people around but I kinda enjoy it
Last song is maybe the best
Soft Machine
5/5
Surely this is one of the most eclectic and eccentric albums on the list! This album has a strange but wondrous magic to it. The playing by the band is all great; excellent bass, drum and keyboard parts throughout. My favorite part of the album is the second half of Moon in June, there's something so enchanting about it to me. I also like the vocal bits, and Slightly All the Time is awesome all the way through. Such a journey of an album.
Scissor Sisters
2/5
A couple alright songs, the majority of it I wasn’t interested by
The third song made me lol
The Doors
5/5
I sure love CIA-funded circus music
The United States Of America
4/5
I was skeptical at first, but it ended up being pretty cool
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Solid, quite enjoyable.
The songwriting may not be very diverse or complex but I still liked it well enough
Björk
3/5
Enjoyable
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
2 or maybe 2.5
I will say that this album is not badly made and it has fun energy, but I also don't get much out of it.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
I found it a pleasant listen. Solid indie rock, but it did come across as a bit amateur-ish
CHIC
2/5
Very smooth production and sound. Each song seemed to drag on a while
Neil Young
3/5
Some of Neil's stuff has been growing on me lately; I've been listening to On the Beach a lot.
This one doesn't seem to be on the same level as his best work, but it's still good. Although I can often put up with his voice, on this record it's a bit more irritating than on others I've heard.
Wilco
3/5
Each song was solid and enjoyable
Kate Bush
4/5
Bushy
Justice
2/5
A bit enjoyable at times. The tracks with vocals really brought it down for me.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
4/5
Really, really solid. High 4
I actually have this one on vinyl but never listened to it before, so that was fun
Minor Threat
4/5
Kinda harsh on the ears but the playing by the band is so tight and the energy is great
Björk
4/5
Bjork always has such lush and intricate electronic instrumentation. The songs on this album were fairly disorienting and often didn't feel like they had an easily discernible direction, but it was still often quite interesting. Would need another listen to better decide my feelings
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Enjoyed decently well
The Fall
4/5
Post punk has grown on me a lot
Ride
4/5
Enjoyable throughout, solid hazy noisiness and good energy
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Enjoyable, very solid soul funk. But by the end I was a bit tired of it
The Cramps
3/5
Raw sound and weird energy. Enjoyed well enough
Wire
4/5
Simple but cool
The Beta Band
1/5
There’s something particularly annoying about how thoroughly mediocre this album was
Public Image Ltd.
4/5
Liked this one a lot.
Grateful Dead
3/5
Very jammy. Enjoyable throughout.
Makes me want to go re-listen to the live Allman Brothers album, which I thought was a much greater blues jammy album.
Torn between 3 and 4. I’ve given 3’s to albums I like more than this but also given 4’s to albums I like less than this
Kraftwerk
3/5
Sehr cool
King Crimson
5/5
I just had the most wonderful time listening to this on vinyl with my new headphones. The album sounded better than I've ever heard it before, what a sublime experience :)
This album is a monumental achievement, towering amongst the great creative works of the 20th century. Truly a work of artistic genius and technical mastery.
One of the best aspects of the album is its masterful use of dynamics. The instrumental sections are thrilling and diverse, and the musical build-ups are electrifying. The band starts with a "basic" framework, but slowly and seamlessly raises the intensity to a frenzy. The way the musicians vary their playing to increase the impact of the music is just incredible. The Talking Drum is one of the greatest examples of musical build-up I've ever heard: it starts with a soft beginning, but reaches a state of exhiliration before the end. The guitar solo on Easy Money is similar, as are parts of the title tracks.
Every track on this album is so well-crafted, and I just love the work by all the instrumentalists. If I had to pick a favorite track it might have to be Larks Tongues' Pt 2; it sums up everything that is great about this era of the band.
King Crimson operated in a higher realm of musical possibility than most artists could even fathom. They paved a path into unknown dimensions, going where few musicans could ever dare.
Robert Fripp is unequivocally the mad genius and occultist wizard of rock music. If any band could be said to deserve being revered in the style of a cult, it is King Crimson.
David Bowie
3/5
Quality throughout, enjoyable listen.
I don’t feel a strong urge to re-listen to this anytime soon since there are a dozen better Bowie albums though lol
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2/5
I enjoyed it at times, the droning nature of it. The man’s voice is great for what he does. Got tired at other times, and although there’s real spirit behind it I didn’t find the “songwriting” very compelling.
When I judge world music by the same criteria I judge other albums, it often gets low scores. It’s a bit hard to meaningfully compare this to other music.
I would say I actually appreciated it but I feel I have to rate this one a 2 for now
Frank Black
3/5
A bit underwhelming and forgettable, but fairly solid
Solid and pleasant early 70s soft rock. I can appreciate this style of music, I sometimes wish I'd lived back when this genre was dominant.
Good but not great. Relatively forgettable, like Rod Stewart's solo work.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Fun pop
Kanye West
4/5
The star of the show is the production. Impressively immersive, huge sound.
I've sometimes been a hip-hop hater, but I can appreciate why this album is talked about highly.
Mercury Rev
2/5
I liked the atmosphere, but the music was often was boring and a bit tedious. No real genius on display here. Even though the vocals were poor I wouldn't have minded if the music was more worthwhile.
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
Introducing the Hairline
Torn between 2 and 3.
Obviously impressive vocals. Nice production. Very 80s R&B
Le Tigre
2/5
Fun and somewhat enjoyable, but not musically interesting whatsoever
2.5
Thundercat
4/5
Cringey lyrics but amazing sound quality
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
They have a great sound
Britney Spears
1/5
Listening to this album makes me feel like the Joker (2019).
Kacey Musgraves
1/5
Man this one was a chore to get through, I didn’t enjoy a single moment. Songwriting is as almost as basic as can be, with no interesting musical or instrumental work. The pitch correction on the vocals is especially irritating; it makes the singing sound so lifeless.
Music for people who like “chill vibes” but who don’t actually like music. Actually the most basic album I’ve heard all year
Japan
3/5
Sounds like a perfect cross between Roxy Music and Duran Duran, which are two bands I do enjoy. But this album isn't on the same level as the albums I've heard from those bands.
I like the album's sound and would enjoy another listen. I'd say this is definitely a good album, but there's not much about it that would qualify as great.
George Jones
3/5
Pleasant all around.
Baaba Maal
2/5
Y'know I did enjoy it at some moments, but overall I just don't feel like I can give it higher than a 2.
It's really hard to compare "world music" to the rest of the modern popular music on this list. Music like this is pleasant and nice but doesn't have a lot of the attributes present in the kind of music I like
50 Cent
1/5
Wow ur like so cool mr gangsta
Neneh Cherry
2/5
I think it's kinda cute that music like this was once so popular
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Enjoyable and interesting at times, but it often didn't seem much better than other R&B stuff I've heard from the era.
I can often appreciate the greatness of an album even when I don't enjoy it, but it's harder for me to see why this album is so acclaimed by some. The production is great and the vocals are good, but the songwriting didn't really wow me (apart from a few tracks)
Carpenters
3/5
A bit corny perhaps but I enjoy it, reminds me of days gone by
White Denim
4/5
Indie rock but with a greater emphasis on guitar and drums. Not sure it is objectively "great" but I enjoyed listening to it
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Really great. She backs up her intelligent yet raw emotion with intricate, well-crafted music.
I need to revisit her other great albums. I think I wasn’t ready for them back when I first heard them
Blue Cheer
3/5
Historically interesting. The songwriting and playing is fairly basic but I still enjoyed enough
Al Green
4/5
His jacket is very stylish
Thoroughly nice, between 3.5 and 4
Ravi Shankar
3/5
Enjoyable in the right frame of mind
Buck Owens
3/5
Pleasant but not crazy interesting
Ananda Shankar
3/5
I actually enjoyed it, even though maybe I shouldn't have lol. Cooler than Ravi's stuff.
Buzzcocks
4/5
Good work boyos
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Cool brand of African blues, very chill and nice
The Pretty Things
4/5
Kinda Beatles, kinda Moody Blues. Cool hard psychedelic rock
M.I.A.
1/5
Really, truly bad. The one hit song is nostalgic for me but the rest is quite dull and laborious to get through
Fairport Convention
4/5
Lovely sound.
Somewhere between 3 and 4 for now. I enjoyed it a good deal but don't quite think it is officially "great"
Todd Rundgren
4/5
Delightfully wacky
Sonic Youth
4/5
The aesthetic of disillusionment and cynicism that is so popular in alternative music & counterculture is very tiresome and annoying.
However I actually do really love this band's music lol. Somewhere between 4 and 5 for me
Traffic
3/5
Nice
Spiritualized
2/5
A couple cool tracks, but more often than not I felt kinda underwhelmed.
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
I mean, you have to admit it sounds exactly like the kind of music you would expect by taking a look at the artist.
I enjoyed it well enough but don't care to hear it again. I became more accustomed to the vocals than I thought I would. Some tender emotion and some escapist fantasy
Pearl Jam
4/5
Nice
The Only Ones
3/5
Imperfect but often fun
FKA twigs
3/5
My first impression was a feeling of being impressed by the production quality. However by the end I felt like the songwriting was not very memorable or dynamic. But it was certainly at least pleasant throughout, so I guess it’s closer to 3 than 2 for me
Led Zeppelin
5/5
One of the great albums that I think actually deserves its reputation
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I do appreciate the sentimental themes he writes about, and some of the lyrics can make me a bit emotional. But a lot of the songwriting itself wasn't very interesting to me.
Killing Joke
4/5
I’ve grown to like this sort of punk/post-punk darkness and heaviness over the course of this challenge.
But there are definitely better albums of the genre. 3.5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Really great atmospheric synth/instrumental work.
The vocals sometimes take away from the music but I enjoyed a lot of it
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
Chill melancholic country atmosphere. Slow throughout but it’s pleasant
Sabu
3/5
I'm often at a complete loss when it comes to judging these kinds of albums. They're in a quite different category than the majority of the albums on the list. They have very different musical aims.
I enjoyed it, but I really don't know how to compare it with other albums. I'll leave a 3 for now
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
Fairly enjoyable but not very substantial
Love
5/5
Just lovely
Adele
3/5
The 4 hits are better than I remember. Set Fire to the Rain is pretty great as far as pop songs go.
Most of the other songs didn’t interest me at all, but she has a powerful voice
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Lovely instrumentation. Sentimental vocals.
I need to return to this one later to reevaluate
The Prodigy
2/5
This album was simultaneously too much and not enough
Paul Simon
4/5
High quality listen. 3.5
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
Cooler than I was expecting. Great punky energy. Enjoyed it a good deal.
Could grow on me more with another listen.
M.I.A.
3/5
A lot more interesting than her other album. Pretty good, as far as party music goes.
LL Cool J
2/5
It was hard to stay engaged with this one. Fun and silly at times but not super interesting to me
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Rough around the edges, but has a very cool, dark sound
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
I enjoyed this one a lot, more than I liked Loveless on my first listen. But that was a long time ago, and my taste has grown; I've developed a liking for this period of alt/indie rock
I need to re-listen to Loveless
R.E.M.
4/5
I never ever think to listen to this band, but when I do I usually end up thinking they’re pretty high quality
The Sonics
3/5
Quite ferocious for its time.
I think some individual of the album are enjoyable, but when you listen to it as a whole, a lot of it is pretty similar to one another. Lots of covers of old 12 bar blues songs. First song was the most interesting.
But it was good enough for a 3.
Drive Like Jehu
5/5
I wish it didn’t hurt my ears so much, because I actually think it sounds fantastic
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I expected to dislike this one, since I remember hating their other album way back when I got it. But I actually somewhat enjoyed this. Very energetic.
I think I give fewer 1s and 5s and more ratings in the middle, compared to when I started this challenge. Maybe I would've disliked this one more if I'd gotten it a couple years ago.
Bauhaus
4/5
Really cool and dark. I need to give this one a re-listen for sure. Could maybe move up to a 5
The Vines
3/5
A fun, solid indie rock album. Nothing strikes me as very special about it, though. 3?
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
I don't think the lyrical content is very special as far as "conscious" hip hop goes; it follows the standard race-mythology and worldview that hip hop has long been known for. Feels a bit stale now in that regard.
The music is undeniably ambitious and interesting, though. I can appreciate the progressive nature of the music itself
Neil Young
4/5
Neil's voice is famously thin and whiny, his guitar ability is overrated and second-rate, plus he's fairly self-obsessed and self-righteous (based on what I've read). But I'll easily grant that he's got a strong songwriting ability, and I've grown to like his music quite a bit. This album is a high 4 for me. Could grow to be a 5 for me someday, maybe.
Suede
4/5
Quite a nice listen
2Pac
2/5
CHVRCHES
3/5
Sounds like happy memories and the dreams of adolescence
Bill Callahan
2/5
Pleasant the majority of the time. he sounds like an indie folksy Leonard Cohen. Has some of the elements that I can enjoy about indie folk, and also some of the aspects that make me cringe a little at it.
The last song was downright insufferable , though, a complete drag of a song. Kinda ruined the experience.
Fav song: “All Thoughts…”
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
The band’s sounds is great and the playing is really tight. A lot of the songs kinda end up blending together though.
Also, I just cannot take the band‘s attitude seriously at all. There is an overabundance of cynical, “anti-establishment“ bands and musicians. I can enjoy some of them, but this band’s attitude is a bit overwrought for me
The Black Keys
1/5
Rock muzak for people who don’t actually like rock music at all (or haven’t listened to any rock music before). About as lackluster, uninspired, and formulaic as rock can be. The guitarist’s range is extremely limited not only by the complete lack of skill or style in his playing, but also by the fact that he doesn’t know how to play any notes outside a simple pentatonic scale. I also find the singing style really cringeworthy, and the little bit of distortion they put on his vocals makes it even more irritating.
The last two songs on the album (original tracklist) were probably the most interesting
The The
4/5
I enjoyed it
The Doors
4/5
Not nearly as special as their first album, and some songs feels like filler. but still probably good enough for a 4
Gotan Project
2/5
Pleasant throughout but also not very captivating
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
I enjoyed it. He has a great voice
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Fairly unexciting
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Pleasant and groovy
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
Makes me nostalgic for simpler times
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Good, quite emotional
I didn’t love the modern production as much though
2/5
RIP to this guy, who died in São Paulo the same year this came out
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Good pop
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Polish French toast
Missy Elliott
1/5
Worst of the worst. In my bottom five albums I've ever heard
Arcade Fire
4/5
A lot of music in this genre can make me cringe. Maybe I was just in the right mood, but this one did have a bit of nostalgic sentimental magic for me. Made me miss growing up
“Suburban War” was the best one
Kate Bush
5/5
Incredibly creative; a thoroughly engaging listen. People who can’t at least appreciate this album are boring
Yes
5/5
While this may not be the band's most thematically consistent album, I think it is really the peak of the band's playing as a whole: every member is so completely locked in here, the band sounds so tight and in sync. They rock much harder and get way funkier on this album than any of their later, more whimsical ones. Just unbelievably good playing from all the members, they're all playing at peak level, and on a far higher level than most of the rock bands of their time. It's impressive to hear an album that goes so hard, while also maintaining this high of a level of sophistication.
Say what you will about Yes' artsy, fairy, spacey tendencies, but the band could TRULY rock as well or better than the best of the best bands, as showcased here.
I adore Close to the Edge, but I think the mixing and sound quality is far better on this album. The instruments all sound so clear and present.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Enjoyable
Paul Simon
3/5
Paul Simon‘s Solo music always sounds well-made. It’s not necessarily music I need to hear, perhaps
Liz Phair
4/5
Some songs were really good. Didn’t think all of them were great, but overall very solid album. 3.5
k.d. lang
3/5
Very pleasant
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Great feel.
Giant Sand
2/5
It's usually not difficult to predict what the album will be like when its entire Legacy section on Wikipedia is simply the fact that it's in the 1001 Albums book. There are many of these 90s or 00s indie/alt rock albums that fall into this category. While I don't mind listening to some of these albums, I do think that they tend to be the least worthwhile albums in the book. The 1001 list has an impressively varied selection, but I do think the albums like this (where the only notable thing about it is its inclusion in the list) are its biggest weak spot.
I've got nothing against obscure album choices in theory, however. I definitely wouldn't say that just because an album is less influential and doesn't have as important of a legacy, it shouldn't be included. But I do think that makes them harder to justify.
Not an unpleasant listen, but among the most forgettable.
William Orbit
3/5
N.W.A.
2/5
I have nothing positive to say about this one.
This album declines in quality throughout, ending on the very weakest track.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I haven’t listened to her in a long while, but this is way less rockin’ than her earlier music that I’ve heard. It’s a lot closer to the circa-2010 soft indie music that it is contemporary with.
I enjoyed it pretty well, although I thought it was rather far from being perfect. I might like to return to it someday.
I didn’t pay much attention to the lyrics, but it seems the majority of the songs related to war, with an occasional expression of jaded bittersweet love of England. It does make me terribly sad that in today’s Western world it is so hard for an sensitive, thoughtful soul to feel a deep, unfettered love of one’s fatherland without hindrance from constant barrages of reminders of the sins of your country’s past. I think I would have loved to be raised during the heyday of 19th-century European Romanticism. Today, it is too hard to feel such beautiful, beautiful feelings. There is no replacement for such feeling today; the postmodern age weighs too heavily upon our souls
Dagmar Krause
4/5
Call me crazy, but I actually enjoyed this one. Quite different from almost all the albums on this list. I was entertained the entire time.
(Aber vielleicht mag ich diese Musik nur wegen meiner Liebe zur deutschen Sprache und Kultur)
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
2/5
Disco-Rap that sounds like the most 80s music ever
I didn’t have a bad time listening, in fact I thought it was kinda funny.
Title track was pretty decent at least
Brian Eno
5/5
Really great.
I think I prefer his previous and subsequent albums, but I like this one a lot too.
Brian Eno
5/5
Eno‘s music always has a fantastic texture/quality to it. Quirky pop mixed with fantastic production
Digital Underground
3/5
I wanted to dislike it more than I did, but it was so ridiculous that I ended up sort of enjoying it.
I don't foresee myself returning to this one
Maxwell
3/5
Not my type of music, but it’s great for what it is
Tortoise
4/5
Nice post rock
Fever Ray
2/5
Nice but rather bland
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Just fantastic rock n roll energy
The Slits
4/5
Really cool and dynamic
Prefab Sprout
3/5
80s sophisticated pop rock. Good but not exactly my cup of tea.
David Crosby
4/5
Warm
Pixies
4/5
B.B. King
5/5
Classic blues
Paul McCartney
3/5
Nice, but most the songwriting is nothing compared to his previous work.
Les Rythmes Digitales
1/5
This one was a chore to get through
Last track was cooler than the others
John Martyn
4/5
The Offspring
2/5
Loud without being very good or interesting at all
Talvin Singh
3/5
It was kinda cool.
I have a hard time appraising music like this
Adam & The Ants
4/5
Pretty good new wave
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Not bad, pretty cool as far as indie rock goes
The Doors
4/5
Very enjoyable
Joe Ely
3/5
Quality honky tonk country
The Beach Boys
5/5
Kings of Leon
1/5
It’s not rock music; the songwriting is 21st century pop through and through.
Worse than Coldplay, but maybe a little better than Imagine Dragons and OneRepublic.
Decent drums, lackluster and absolutely mediocre guitar, and pretentious irritating vocals.
I don’t actually hate it, but it epitomizes much of what 21st century “rock” music lacks for me
Bert Jansch
4/5
Delightful old folk
Iron Maiden
4/5
They quite nail their first album.
Some of their music is too cheesy for me, but this one is quite great.
My favorite is Powerslave though
Happy Mondays
4/5
Pretty good British pop rock
Iggy Pop
3/5
I find it cool, but I also think it falls a bit short of being great. Seems like Bowie kept all his best songs for his own contemporaneous albums
John Lennon
3/5
The sound of the record is cool but a lot of the songwriting here doesn't impress me very much. I didn't care for the bluesy numbers at all. I did enjoy some of the slower ones
Gene Clark
5/5
Honestly one of the best 60s/70s soft rock albums I've ever heard. Lovely throughout, amazing production quality.
The Triffids
3/5
Catchy and pleasant 80s pop/alt rock.
Nice, but not especially interesting to me
Favorite track: Blinder by the Hour?
The Young Gods
4/5
Let’s be honest, this would be twice as cool if it was in German instead. „Das rote Wasser“
I kinda liked it though. Maybe it was the novelty of it, and if I listened again I wouldn’t like it as much the second time
Jamiroquai
3/5
Not my style exactly, but their funk is real and undeniable, and they have some cool fusion-y influence in there as well
Red Snapper
3/5
I found some of the tracks fairly enjoyable, especially the last two.
It’s hard for me to compare electronic Trip hop type music to other genres
Tom Waits
4/5
I really appreciate the fascinating sounds and instrumentals that he and his backing band employ
I think it seems like a great album; I’m trying to decide how much I care about returning to it
Tim Buckley
4/5
Nice psychedelic folk
Goldfrapp
3/5
I enjoyed the first couple songs the most. Pleasant sound and good production.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Bad Brains
3/5
I did not expect this album to be the genre it was
Interesting blend of new wave and 80s metal. I enjoyed several tracks
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
Leftfield
3/5
The first minute of the album is some of the coolest music I've ever heard, but the rest of the album doesn't nearly compare to that first bit. Some cool bits sprinkled throughout, but most the tracks seem to overstay their welcome
David Gray
3/5
Stereolab
4/5
Cute and cool at the same time
The Cardigans
3/5
I enjoyed it, as silly as it is
George Michael
1/5
I’ll happily grant that he’s got a great voice, but man the songwriting and 80s production style didn’t please me at all
Deep Purple
5/5
If your band can't play extended and Improvised instrumental sections, then you're just a pop group, not a genuine band.
Deep Purple is one the realest bands to ever exist
The Specials
4/5
Strange, inventive pop. Interesting enough to stay engaging throughout.
Traffic
4/5
Pulp
2/5
Underneath the lyrics and the attitude of the singer, I just found this one musically uninteresting. The songwriting didn't impress me at all.
Maybe I'll have to re-evaluate some day
TLC
2/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
The Bees
2/5
I had a hard time caring about this album at all, or taking it very seriously
Christine and the Queens
2/5
I don't see why this should be on the list
Van Morrison
1/5
He's got a good band behind him, but the music and the vocals left me very disappointed. The songs are indistinguishable and his vocal style grew ever more insufferable as the album wore on. (I remember Bring it on Home and whatever song was about a Lion being especially unbearable -- just awful vocals). None of the songs struck me as different enough or memorable in any way; I think you could put the songs together in a blender and what you get out would be the same result. His songwriting palette is small.
At best dull, at worst ear-piercing.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Pleasant and spiritual
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
Don’t hate it at all, but don’t care much for it.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Joni Mitchell has really grown on me. Her music is so intricate
Def Leppard
1/5
Unbearable, overblown, pretentious, corny party-rock. Bands like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and almost all the hair metal bands are devoid of the authentic coolness and style that the hard rock bands of the late 60s and early 70s had. The MTV era saw rock and pop turn into a gross, garish, glitzy, and overindulgent spectacle.
Also: few things in music are more cringeworthy than a song in which a “rock” band sings about how hard they’re “gonna rock you” lol.
Hawkwind
5/5
Far out.
Awesome cover art
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
5/5
Love their swampy psychedelic bluesy sound
Beastie Boys
3/5
About as enjoyable as hip hop can get for me
2/5
A few good pop rock songs at the beginning, but overall I find it disappointing.
U2 is not worthy of being called a rock band
The guitar work is so amateur and embarrassingly lackluster. Bono has a great voice but often sings in such a pretentious and insufferable style.
The only thing that impresses me about U2 is that they seemed to pioneer this brand of modern saccharine pop rock long before it was ever-present in the 90s and 00s
Orbital
3/5
Pretty cool
I didn’t like most of the vocal samples but a lot of the tracks were pretty cool. A higher-than-average 3
Can
5/5
Rhythmic, psychedelic masterwork.
Can's best music completely oozes with effortless, mysterious coolness. If there's any rock band that deserves the title of "Coolest Band of all Time", it's Can.
Little Simz
2/5
Not super enjoyable to me. I’ve heard so many “emotionally raw” hip hop albums that the lyrics seem like I’ve heard it all before; nothing for me to connect to in them at all. But I can tell it’s well-produced hip hop, and some of the beats and music were cool.
1/5
Sensational
GZA
4/5
Liked it more than I expected. Pretty cool vibe on some songs, although I did find some songs just too repetitive
Coldcut
3/5
Morrissey
3/5
Some enjoyable tracks. Better than most the 90s and 00s British alternative soft rock on the list, but definitely a step down from the Smiths’ music. The songwriting isn’t as good, and the guitar definitely isn’t either.
Probably an above average 3. My mom loves Morrissey so I can’t dislike it lol
Daft Punk
1/5
They have such a large reputation, and yet this album sucked. So boring to listen to; almost all of it is repetitive filler.
Hope their subsequent album is better
The Libertines
3/5
Pretty enjoyable indie rock, with better playing from the band than many indie albums have.
Tim Buckley
4/5
Iron Maiden
5/5
Van Halen
4/5
Some things I don’t like about this album, but the guitar is amazing.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
The songwriting on this album isn’t anything special (basic blues progressions) and the playing by the band is second rate compared to many of their contemporaries, but they’ve got a classic charming sound
The Beau Brummels
4/5
Quite enjoyable 60s folk/psych rock
Os Mutantes
5/5
Love the 60s psychedelia mixed with Brazilian pop
Spacemen 3
1/5
Thoroughly dull and uninspired. No talent was involved in the making of this album.
Beck
3/5
This type of hipster chill sound, displayed here and by many other 2000s/2010s indie rock bands, doesn't come off as very cool to me. But Beck does it better than most, and I enjoyed this album well enough to give a 3. But there's nothing memorable enough to make me feel a desire to return to this album.
The Clash
3/5
Green Day
3/5
The drummer‘s got chops, but all the guitar player plays is power chords.
The songs can be catchy but a whole album of this style does get a bit fatiguing
Deep Purple
5/5
Deep Purple is just the best.
They have an enormous amount of funk and groove blended with a rollicking heaviness that no other band can match. They can do psychedelic, they can do funk, they can play heavy metal that will knock your socks off.
I'd go as far as to say Ritchie Blackmore is THE best guitarist of the early 1970s (except maybe John McLaughlin). Definitively better than Jimmy Page in terms of raw power, speed and feeling, let alone all the other multitudes of lesser guitarists. The guitar solo on Child in Time just astounds and thrills me every time I hear it.
Great album. Fun, exciting, groovy, heavy, impressive.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Kinda annoying and dumb, but also kinda good at the same time
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Bruce‘s songwriting usually strikes me as unimpressive and formulaic, but he has a pleasing sound. I got a little enjoyment from this album, but a lot more of the time I felt tired of it
Norah Jones
3/5
Cozy and charming, probably among the best of its genre of easy listening pop
Bee Gees
3/5
Sentimental soft early 70s pop with some symphonic elements
Halfway decent. The vocals seem like the weakest point to me. A few songs pleased me somewhat.
Probably an objectively weak album, but I enjoyed enough to give a 3 I suppose
4/5
Well-produced, intricate pop
Morrissey
3/5
The more people on the internet cry about how much they hate Morrissey, the more I like him
Ryan Adams
3/5
Tender-hearted Americana singer/songwriter pop, mostly acoustic but a few soft rock tracks. Nothing too remarkable to my ears but it’s pleasant. My biggest complaint is the vocals often really overpower the instrumentals
Gorillaz
3/5
Cool but not too cool
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Nice lush sensitive pop.
Doesn’t quite achieve greatness for me, but I can appreciate the ambition
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits had really grown on me. I need to return to his other albums that I disliked on first hearing
David Ackles
4/5
I enjoyed this one, particularly the first and last songs.
Pleasant folksy songs, often with a Broadway style. Not necessarily a “great” album, but I liked it
Destiny's Child
2/5
This might have been the worst era of pop music ever
Tangerine Dream
5/5
This album sounds like an ancient, frozen, alien hell. Fantastic.
The War On Drugs
3/5
Chill. Maybe a bit too chill. The vibe was nice but there wasn't much that stuck in my mind or impressed me about this one. Enjoyed a bit, though.
Kinda reminiscent of Arcade Fire
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Cool, chill rap-rock with twangy bluesy guitar. Nothing too special about it, but it was solid and fairly well-executed, so I'll give a 3
The Adverts
3/5
Pretty good punk. A lot of the songs sound very similar but they have a good sound
Q-Tip
3/5
Pretty solid, creative hip hop album. Enjoyed it well enough.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
They’ve got a great, classic sound.
Their songwriting and playing doesn’t excite me as much as that of other rock bands from the same era, though. I think they are overrated as a band, but still nice listening. I could change my mind though, I’ll come back to this one eventually probably
The Kinks
4/5
Fun, but definitely not on the same level as their following three albums (which I absolutely love)
Black Sabbath
5/5
RIP Ozzy
Rush
4/5
If I had gotten this album back when I started the list, I probably would have given it a 5, but after a few more years of broadening my musical horizons, I don't think it's on the same level as some of my other favorites. But Rush is an extremely proficient band, and they give an excellent performance on this album! They're all very talented musicians. The production quality sounds great too, and I overall still like this album (but not as much as their subsequent four albums).
I found this album back when I was first getting into progressive rock, and the title track definitely left an impression on me. Listening back to this now, though, I have to acknowledge that the album is not actually as "prog" as I had once thought. The track '2112', while a side-long epic, is not actually very prog-like in its construction. It doesn't seem like a through-composed work like Close to the Edge, but rather a bunch of disparate, short hard rock tracks stitched together. The music within these sections themselves is not super proggy either; the chord progressions and rhythms, for example, are not very out of the ordinary for many classic rock or metal bands. And then the second half of the album is just a collection of fairly regular classic rock songs. Overall I think the album is probably about as proggy as (or even less proggy than) any album from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, or Deep Purple; all of these bands were extremely creative and progressed music in a sense, but aren't lumped under the label of prog-rock like Genesis or King Crimson. The most progressive thing about the album is definitely the sci-fi story-telling; I will say that the concept of 2112 is very fun and cool.
Anyways, I think that Rush's next several albums are more intricate and complex, and deserve to be called true progressive rock albums. 2112 doesn't quite fit in that category.
...but, as everyone knows, it's a waste of time to fuss too much about how to label the genre of an album!
Santana
3/5
I think many people are overestimating Santana's guitar skill. Based on this album, he is by no means a guitar virtuoso; I think the rhythm section behind him is often more impressive than anything he's doing. Also half the songs on here are covers, it should be noted.
But it's definitely enjoyable music, has a great mood. Wouldn't mind hearing again, but there are at least two dozen bands from this era of rock music that I'd rather listen to
Beastie Boys
4/5
I often have a hard time liking hip hop, but this one was quite cool and varied. Great flow and energy
Steve Earle
3/5
Decent but not special at all, in my opinion. Somewhere between 2 and 3 for me
Kid Rock
2/5
I obviously didn’t enjoy anything about this album, but it wasn’t actually as bad as I expected based on its reputation.
The Hives
2/5
A bit fun at times, but mostly just loud and mediocre all around.
3/5
Relaxing
Stan Getz
4/5
Lovely
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
I love the hit song but I was quite bored by most of the songs besides that
Slade
3/5
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
4/5
Not a perfect album, but I did enjoy a lot of the mood and emotion
Stereo MC's
3/5
Kinda cool, kinda drags on
Somewhere between 2 and 3
Afrika Bambaataa
1/5
Comically bad
Talking Heads
4/5
Talking Heads are always a treat. Byrne and Eno make for such a good combo
Khaled
2/5
Didn't quite dislike enough to give a 1.
It's better than some other eastern-style pop music I've heard playing at restaurants before, but overall it's still just glitzy sugarcoated pop. I appreciate the blend of influences on the album, and the nice voice of the singer, but it just kinda sucks to have to listen to this whole long album.
Morrissey
3/5
Alright as far as pop rock goes. Not as well-crafted or interesting as the music of the Smiths, obviously. The songwriting isn't very varied or strong here.
His personality is sometimes entertaining. (I did involuntarily chuckle at the "Fatty" song)
U2
1/5
The more I listen to U2, the more annoyed I get by how pretentious yet untalented they are. Obviously the band's biggest strength and selling point is Bono's powerful voice; however, his vocal delivery comes across in this very self-important and over-dramatic way (makes sense, knowing his personality) that often makes it hard to enjoy.
Even worse than that is the guitar. There is no good reason why The Edge should be a household name, considering that he is the one of the most amateur guitarists to ever be so famous. His playing sounds mechanical and lacks any human feeling, and his guitar "solos" are either strumming a chord or two kinda quickly, or climbing a basic scale at the "breakneck" speed of one note per second. The guitar solo on "Sunday Bloody Sunday", for example, is just so thoroughly lame and disappointing.
The drummer is alright, but doesn't have a lot of variety in his playing.
I also didn't like the songwriting on most of the tracks here. Lots of fluff.
I don't even think they should considered a rock band. They're just a little bit more rockin' than Coldplay, which isn't saying much.
(I feel a bit guilty writing this review, considering that my dad likes this band lol. At least I like some of the other music he likes)
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Really middle of the road, no songs were really that special too me. Pleasant enough, don’t need to return though
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
He's got a sense of humor, and the band playing behind him is competent enough. However, it's hard to find anything in this album I remotely care about listening to again. He's one of those artists who I'm open to listening to once in a while, but also one where I can't understand why anyone would be a big fan of his whatsoever.
Also, it's absolutely hilarious how many of his albums are on this list.
3/5
Pretty amateur but I still sorta enjoyed it
Neu!
4/5
Moby
1/5
Here's some words that pop into my head as I listen to this: repetitive, formulaic, predictable, soulless, artificial, unexciting.
I have heard some electronic albums I can respect, but this probably isn't one of them
Randy Newman
3/5
Depressing, sardonic, and occasionally sentimental.
As far as songwriting goes, it's not bad. Wouldn't mind hearing again
Motörhead
4/5
They’ve got a great sound, but their musical palette is very limited, to be honest. Probably a bit closer to a 4 than a 3 though
Depeche Mode
5/5
UB40
3/5
Started off thinking it kinda sucked, but it grew on me. Interesting listen
Wild Beasts
3/5
Pretty decent, I was fairly interested most of the time
Black Sabbath
5/5
Orbital
3/5
I thought some tracks were quite engaging and interesting, and found others more monotonous. Cool atmosphere overall.
3.5
Slayer
4/5
There is plenty of metal that is too grotesquely, stupidly violent and aggressive for my tastes (Slipknot, Cannibal Corpse, etc.)
But I find bands like Slayer and Death quite enjoyable. Love the rhythmic, technical drumming and the quality of the guitar playing. Only flaw for me is that some of the tracks here are a bit too similar. But the first track and the last two are perfect
Throbbing Gristle
4/5
As much as some say it's "just noise", it does seem intentionally designed to evoke a specific mood. Each album is a unique sensory experience, and I am interested in albums that bring about emotions and sensations that few others do. Over the last few years I have developed a high tolerance for unorthodox or "unlistenable" music, as long as it's innovative, intelligent, or noteworthy in some way.
Can
5/5
Absolutely astonishing. One of the most sonically immersive albums I have EVER heard, and it's over 50 years old! They were true innovators. A stunning delight to listen to.
The Style Council
3/5
Unusual blend of musak-y jazzy ballads, poppy instrumental jazz pieces, and then suddenly appear a couple hip hop/very 80s pop tracks.
Kinda amateurish-sounding to my ears, but also fairly enjoyable.
Richard Thompson
5/5
Can’t get enough of that first track, just so moving and incredible.
Also loved the beggar girl one, and the last song.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Not much musical talent or skill on display here; I always pay attention to guitar playing, and most of the guitar work here is just strumming power chords (with the obvious distorted fuzz effects added in). But they've got a pretty fun, relaxed, slightly psychedelic sound. I noticed the album came out in the 90s; it may be ahead of its time, then, since I know a lot of music like this got big in the 2000s.
Enjoyable, but didn't strike me as too remarkable
Kanye West
3/5
The amount of pointless, self-righteous virtue-signaling in these reviews is just embarrassing.
"I won't give Kanye a single cent of streaming revenue!!" Well, luckily for you, he would only earn about a thousandth of a cent from your listen, lol.
Some fun tracks, and definitely some annoying tracks. Also the Lil Jimmy skit made me lol.
Slint
5/5
The sub-3.0 average rating on this album reveals yet again the bias of the average user of this site.
This album has an atmosphere like no other. At times heavy and menacing at times, and at others unnervingly quiet. I love the playing on here; the dissonant, jarring guitar riffs and the textured and provocative drumming. Many people think heaviness in rock or metal comes simply from volume or speed, but this album displays a powerful heaviness that is also very intricate.
"Nosferatu Man" is excitingly aggressive,
while "Washer" is among the most immersively depressing songs I have ever heard. "Good Morning, Captain" perfectly realizes its thoroughly unsettling, forbidding mood.
Fantastic album. Wish the band had made more albums after this one.
Skepta
1/5
A painful chore. Somewhat interesting beats & production going on in the background, but lyrically, it's mainly just 44 minutes of mind-numbing self-aggrandizement. I've heard it all so many times before. Does this guy know that there is nothing original about anything he's saying? I guess he just doesn't have any other thoughts inside his brain, apart from how cool he finds himself. Pretentious, ugly attitude.
And I will say there is indeed some hip hop on this list I have enjoyed. Luckily not all hip hop is as annoying as this (although we all know how inflated the egos of many hip hop artists are).
The Zombies
5/5
This album is a miracle, a brilliant shimmering diamond. It captures the spirit of that romantic, pure, youthful, idealized world of the 1960s better than any other album.
The songwriting is pop perfection. Catchy hook after catchy hook, while also maintaining a high degree of intricacy. None of the songs are simple 4-chord pop fluff; many of them weave between keys or employ strange and complex chords, without compromising the allure of the music. I love the vocals, both the lead and those in the background. And I love the lush sound quality of the album as well; many songs have that magical mellotron-sound popular in the late 60s.
A thoroughly charming, delightful listen.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Enjoyable, I thought the playing was a step up from other albums of the genre. Nothing especially remarkable to me though
5/5
Grateful to this album for how much good progressive rock it inspired
The Magnetic Fields
3/5
Definitely some tracks I enjoyed. Definitely some that felt more low effort. But as a sum of its parts I think it's a good album
Beyoncé
1/5
This music is fake slop
Cocteau Twins
5/5
A truly bewitching, spellbinding experience
Finley Quaye
3/5
Decently enjoyable neo-reggae, I suppose.
3
Scott Walker
4/5
I don't always like this style of theatrical orchestrated music, but I am fond of Scott Walker due to Scott 4, and his voice is just perfect for this genre. This music would probably come off as rather cheesy or overwrought coming from most singers, but his machismo comes across quite authentically.
Interesting to hear this evolution of his sound from this album to Scott 4.
Incubus
2/5
The band’s playing is pretty tight, but I found none of the songwriting impactful or memorable…
Dr. Dre
3/5
Thematically and lyrically, the album is detestable and barbaric. I wouldn't trust these guys within a mile of my family, but the music and the beats are infectious and engaging.
I have enjoyed some of the hip hop on this list. But it's plain to see that hip-hop culture has had disastrous effects on society. It's a crime that so many young men have looked to people like this for role models.
The Thrills
3/5
Sweet, sentimental indie rock
3.5
Johnny Cash
4/5
A touching, emotional end to my 1001 journey ❤️