Oct 27 2021
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Kid A
Radiohead
4
Oct 28 2021
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
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
4
Oct 29 2021
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Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
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.
2
Nov 01 2021
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
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
3
Nov 02 2021
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British Steel
Judas Priest
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!
5
Nov 03 2021
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Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
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
3
Nov 04 2021
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Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
Thought it was fine. Some good moments I liked. I can see why some might enjoy it, but it's not really for me.
2
Nov 05 2021
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
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.
4
Nov 08 2021
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Screamadelica
Primal Scream
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.
3
Nov 09 2021
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
Classy, great vocals throughout. Feels like good music for lovin.
3
Nov 10 2021
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Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
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.
2
Nov 11 2021
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
Really, really great! So much variety; I was impressed! A bit too much religious imagery for my taste lol
4
Nov 12 2021
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Dance Mania
Tito Puente
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.
2
Nov 15 2021
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
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
3
Nov 16 2021
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
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.
5
Nov 17 2021
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
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.
5
Nov 18 2021
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Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
Really cool guitar, very interesting chord progressions. Songs were engaging and interesting. Pop -punky but a bit edgier
4
Nov 19 2021
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I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
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.
2
Nov 22 2021
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
fun and classic
4
Nov 23 2021
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American Pie
Don McLean
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.
5
Nov 24 2021
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
Really good!!
4
Nov 25 2021
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Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
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.
2
Nov 26 2021
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Urban Hymns
The Verve
Good. This one could grow on me, I’ll have to go back and listen more some time
4
Nov 29 2021
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
The definition of classy music. Sublime instrumentation throughout. There's old-fashioned magic here.
5
Nov 30 2021
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
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.
3
Dec 01 2021
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GI
Germs
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.
3
Dec 02 2021
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Picture Book
Simply Red
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?
3
Dec 03 2021
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Moving Pictures
Rush
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.
5
Dec 06 2021
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Station To Station
David Bowie
It's like rock but more theatrical. Cool
5
Dec 07 2021
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Disintegration
The Cure
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.
4
Dec 08 2021
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The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
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.
5
Dec 09 2021
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Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
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
4
Dec 10 2021
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Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
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
2
Dec 13 2021
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
Elegantly composed music, sung by an exquisite singer
5
Dec 14 2021
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
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.
2
Dec 15 2021
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
It’s refreshing to hear such pure talent and skill. Sublime
5
Dec 16 2021
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Extremely pleasant throughout. I liked the jazzier parts a lot.
4
Dec 17 2021
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Odessa
Bee Gees
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.
4
Dec 20 2021
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Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
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.
2
Dec 21 2021
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The Stooges
The Stooges
Thought it was decent, I liked some moments.
3
Dec 22 2021
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Abbey Road
Beatles
Great. Timeless. Slightly overrated, but stil fantastic.
5
Dec 23 2021
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I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
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.
2
Dec 24 2021
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
Good throughout!
4
Dec 27 2021
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
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.
4
Dec 28 2021
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Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
Pleasant but slow imo
3
Dec 29 2021
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
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.
1
Dec 30 2021
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
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.
3
Dec 31 2021
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
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
5
Jan 03 2022
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
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.
4
Jan 04 2022
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Pink Moon
Nick Drake
Authentic tenderness accompanied with varied and interesting fingerpicking guitar
5
Jan 05 2022
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Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
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
4
Jan 06 2022
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Fred Neil
Fred Neil
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.
3
Jan 07 2022
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Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
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.
3
Jan 10 2022
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
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.
5
Jan 11 2022
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Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
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.
3
Jan 12 2022
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Headquarters
The Monkees
Great throughout! Never a dull moment.
4
Jan 13 2022
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Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
A good listen
4
Jan 14 2022
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Group Sex
Circle Jerks
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?
2
Jan 17 2022
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
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.
5
Jan 18 2022
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
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.
4
Jan 19 2022
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Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
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"
1
Jan 20 2022
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Beautiful Freak
Eels
Enjoyed it throughout! A pleasant listen. The Eels have a very dependable chill vibe.
3
Jan 21 2022
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
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.
4
Jan 24 2022
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
Cool
5
Jan 25 2022
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
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"
2
Jan 26 2022
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Hms Fable
Shack
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.
4
Jan 27 2022
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Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
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-
1
Jan 28 2022
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Achtung Baby
U2
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.
2
Jan 29 2022
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Odelay
Beck
Cool and creative
3
Jan 30 2022
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Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
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.
3
Jan 31 2022
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
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.
5
Feb 01 2022
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Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
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
4
Feb 02 2022
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Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
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.
2
Feb 03 2022
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Hysteria
Def Leppard
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.
1
Feb 04 2022
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
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
4
Feb 05 2022
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The Score
Fugees
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.
2
Feb 06 2022
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
I like the dark atmosphere of this album. Definitely worth a listen.
Good bass.
I liked Interzone.
4
Feb 07 2022
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Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Reminds me of living in California as a kid
Pretty fun but not my style, as is most hip-hop.
2
Feb 08 2022
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Like A Prayer
Madonna
Fun nostalgia. Good variety.
Surprise epic guitar on the last track lol
3
Feb 09 2022
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Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
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.
5
Feb 10 2022
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Sister
Sonic Youth
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.
3
Feb 11 2022
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Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
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"
2
Feb 12 2022
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Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
A super fun listen
4
Feb 13 2022
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American Idiot
Green Day
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.
3
Feb 14 2022
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The Slider
T. Rex
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
5
Feb 15 2022
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
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.
3
Feb 16 2022
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Skylarking
XTC
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
5
Feb 17 2022
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Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
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.
3
Feb 18 2022
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
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.
3
Feb 19 2022
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Hotel California
Eagles
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.
3
Feb 20 2022
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
What were his criteria when it came to choosing the 21st century albums to make the list?
1
Feb 21 2022
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Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
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
2
Feb 22 2022
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
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
3
Feb 23 2022
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
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
5
Feb 24 2022
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
Definitely worth a listen. High-quality blues. Blues is a respectable genre
The song with Santana had epic guitar, as one would expect
3
Feb 25 2022
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
I'm very intrigued. This is a kooky album
4
Feb 26 2022
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
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
2
Feb 27 2022
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The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
It was alright, don’t need to hear it again though
I bet my parents would like some of this
3
Feb 28 2022
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Dry
PJ Harvey
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.
3
Mar 01 2022
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Rust In Peace
Megadeth
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.
5
Mar 02 2022
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1999
Prince
This sounds like Zumba music for sexually repressed homosexuals of color. It would be perfect background music for a 1980s porno.
1
Mar 03 2022
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Hunky Dory
David Bowie
Delightfully idiosyncratic
5
Mar 04 2022
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
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
5
Mar 05 2022
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
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
4
Mar 06 2022
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Close To The Edge
Yes
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.
5
Mar 07 2022
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The Yes Album
Yes
I LOVE YES!!!!!!!
5
Mar 08 2022
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Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
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
4
Mar 09 2022
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Third
Portishead
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
2
Mar 10 2022
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
Extremely pleasant throughout. In the grand scheme of things though it feels like a 3
3
Mar 11 2022
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
Fantastic. Magical.
Huge shame they broke up so soon
5
Mar 12 2022
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
i can see how someone would like it but it's not quite my thing
2
Mar 13 2022
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Dust
Screaming Trees
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
2
Mar 14 2022
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Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
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
3
Mar 15 2022
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
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.
2
Mar 16 2022
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Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
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
2
Mar 17 2022
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Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
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.
1
Mar 18 2022
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Purple Rain
Prince
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
2
Mar 19 2022
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Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
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
3
Mar 20 2022
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
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
4
Mar 21 2022
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Country Life
Roxy Music
Weird, in a cool way
5
Mar 22 2022
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The White Album
Beatles
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.
5
Mar 23 2022
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Berlin
Lou Reed
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
3
Mar 24 2022
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Definitely Maybe
Oasis
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
1
Mar 25 2022
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
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
3
Mar 26 2022
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Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
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
2
Mar 27 2022
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
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
4
Mar 28 2022
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Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
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.
3
Mar 29 2022
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
shoe gays
Didn't mind, didn't care for
2
Mar 30 2022
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
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
3
Mar 31 2022
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Basket of Light
Pentangle
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
4
Apr 01 2022
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evermore
Taylor Swift
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?
1
Apr 02 2022
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Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
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
2
Apr 03 2022
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
very quality!!
Jazz is very impressive, both in the skill needed to play it, and in the imagination required to compose it
4
Apr 04 2022
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Butterfly
Mariah Carey
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.
3
Apr 05 2022
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From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Super quality! The strings and backing choir add so much magic to it
4
Apr 06 2022
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Ramones
Ramones
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
1
Apr 07 2022
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
I was really into this today
5
Apr 08 2022
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
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
2
Apr 09 2022
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
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.
3
Apr 10 2022
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Go Girl Crazy
The Dictators
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
3
Apr 11 2022
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KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
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.
3
Apr 12 2022
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Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Wacky but fun story-driven album
Very unique
3
Apr 13 2022
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90
808 State
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.
2
Apr 14 2022
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Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
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
2
Apr 15 2022
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Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
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.
2
Apr 16 2022
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
The songwriting is more basic than on Hunky Dory, but it is still great
5
Apr 17 2022
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Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
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
3
Apr 18 2022
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
As good as the The Cure!
4
Apr 19 2022
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
Okay I usually think punk is really boring and lame, but this one was great
4
Apr 20 2022
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Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
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
4
Apr 21 2022
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The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
Simply brilliant! Magical and mesmerizing
5
Apr 22 2022
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Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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.
2
Apr 23 2022
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
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
3
Apr 24 2022
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
Part psychedelic, part baroque pop, part classic 60s soft rock: really nice!
Would definitely listen again
4
Apr 25 2022
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
Quality heavy grunge album
3
Apr 26 2022
View Album
Metallica
Metallica
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.
3
Apr 27 2022
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Some really, really great vibes on this one
3
Apr 28 2022
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
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
2
Apr 29 2022
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
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.
3
Apr 30 2022
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Technique
New Order
Cool 80s party , a worthwhile listen
3
May 01 2022
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On The Beach
Neil Young
Great vibes
Very enjoyable if you're in a chill mood
3
May 02 2022
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
Can't complain at all! Extremely pleasant and lots of creative melodies and progressions
3
May 03 2022
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
How can any other band compete?
5
May 04 2022
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Marquee Moon
Television
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
4
May 05 2022
View Album
Fromohio
fIREHOSE
GREAT drums
And some great riffs sprinkled throughout
Worthwhile listen
Spotify inexplicably flagged every song here as explicit..? Even the drum solo?
3
May 06 2022
View Album
Thriller
Michael Jackson
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
4
May 07 2022
View Album
3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
Look it's pretty good for a hiphop album, but man, i just do not enjoy hiphop
2
May 08 2022
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Ray Of Light
Madonna
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.
2
May 09 2022
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Heavy Weather
Weather Report
My favorite jazz album thus far. Very cool
4
May 10 2022
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
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
5
May 11 2022
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B-52's
The B-52's
I don't really enjoy the talk-singing throughout this album
2
May 12 2022
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The Boatman's Call
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Plodding, dull and dreary
1
May 13 2022
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Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
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
4
May 14 2022
View Album
Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
There's just too much to love on this album to give it a lower rating
5
May 15 2022
View Album
Frank
Amy Winehouse
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.
2
May 16 2022
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Cool
3
May 17 2022
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
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
1
May 18 2022
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White Light
Gene Clark
bleghhhhhh
1
May 19 2022
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Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
I liked Pitche Mi a LOT
The rest I didn't mind
3
May 20 2022
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Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Music for wandering
3
May 21 2022
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Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
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
3
May 22 2022
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
Cool dark vibes
Favorite was Pimpf
3
May 23 2022
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
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
2
May 24 2022
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Music From Big Pink
The Band
I sAid wAiT a MiNUtE ChEsTer
4
May 25 2022
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xx
The xx
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.
1
May 26 2022
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Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
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
4
May 27 2022
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Faust IV
Faust
First track wasn't interesting enough but I liked the rest. I like psychedelic music
4
May 28 2022
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Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
Overall quite nice, a couple songs I didn’t care fo
4
May 29 2022
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Paris 1919
John Cale
Very pleasant, worth a listen
3
May 30 2022
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
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.
3
May 31 2022
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
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
4
Jun 01 2022
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Black Monk Time
The Monks
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
3
Jun 02 2022
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Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
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
3
Jun 03 2022
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Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Great!
There were enough songs I wanted to return to to make this album a 4/5 for me
4
Jun 04 2022
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
This album has the power to change boys into men
5
Jun 05 2022
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Peggy Suicide
Julian Cope
A few 3/5 moments, a couple 1/5 moments. Overall I didn’t care for it. It is very reminiscent of Nick Cave
2
Jun 06 2022
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James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
Nice, enjoyable. Great vocal chops.
3
Jun 07 2022
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
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
3
Jun 08 2022
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
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
2
Jun 09 2022
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Hypnotised
The Undertones
If this is punk, it's definitely one of the best I've heard. I had fun listening to it
4
Jun 10 2022
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The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja
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.
1
Jun 11 2022
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
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.
3
Jun 12 2022
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good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
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
3
Jun 13 2022
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
Nice, would listen again
4
Jun 14 2022
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
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
5
Jun 15 2022
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Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
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.
4
Jun 16 2022
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Tragic Songs of Life
The Louvin Brothers
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.
3
Jun 17 2022
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Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
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.”
1
Jun 18 2022
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Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
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.
1
Jun 19 2022
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
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
4
Jun 20 2022
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Kenya
Machito
I enjoyed it
3
Jun 21 2022
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Roxy Music
Roxy Music
I didn't like it as much as their other music I've heard
3
Jun 22 2022
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
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.
3
Jun 23 2022
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Live!
Fela Kuti
Not bad, but I didn't care for it
Great drum work from Ginger
2
Jun 24 2022
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Better than the other Bob Marley album I’ve heard but still I found it a bit boring
2
Jun 25 2022
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
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
1
Jun 26 2022
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
Couldn’t get tired of it
5
Jun 27 2022
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Rocks
Aerosmith
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.
4
Jun 28 2022
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The Cars
The Cars
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)
4
Jun 29 2022
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Yeezus
Kanye West
Hip hop was a mistake, and is likely the cause of most of society's ills
1
Jun 30 2022
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
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.
5
Jul 01 2022
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Whatever
Aimee Mann
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
2
Jul 02 2022
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Blue Lines
Massive Attack
Not for me but I could see its appeal to some
2
Jul 03 2022
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Revolver
Beatles
Superb
5
Jul 04 2022
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Infected
The The
Kinda liked some bits, other bits made me cringe. Overall it was worth a listen but I won't return
3
Jul 05 2022
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Stankonia
OutKast
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.
2
Jul 06 2022
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Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
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
4
Jul 07 2022
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Legalize It
Peter Tosh
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
3
Jul 08 2022
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The La's
The La's
Really great alt rock
4
Jul 09 2022
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Vivid
Living Colour
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
3
Jul 10 2022
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Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
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
3
Jul 11 2022
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Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
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
3
Jul 12 2022
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
I don’t like hip hop. The only reason I’m giving a 3 is because some of the lyrics were pretty hilarious.
3
Jul 13 2022
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Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
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
2
Jul 14 2022
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Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
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
2
Jul 15 2022
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Bad
Michael Jackson
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
3
Jul 16 2022
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
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.
3
Jul 17 2022
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Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
Every single song is a 3-4 second loop that repeats for 3-4 minutes
1
Jul 18 2022
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Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Thought it was great!
Favorites were Deja Vu, Our House, Country Girl
5
Jul 19 2022
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
A really nice, flawlessly produced indie album. Uplifting but not TOO cheesy
4
Jul 20 2022
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
Cool
3
Jul 21 2022
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Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Quirky
3
Jul 22 2022
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
A bit underwhelming/uninteresting, but still enjoyable. Never need to hear it again though
3
Jul 23 2022
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My Generation
The Who
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.
4
Jul 24 2022
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Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
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
3
Jul 25 2022
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
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
4
Jul 26 2022
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
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
3
Jul 27 2022
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
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.
3
Jul 28 2022
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
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.
2
Jul 29 2022
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Black Metal
Venom
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
Jul 30 2022
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
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.
3
Jul 31 2022
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The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
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
3
Aug 01 2022
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Elephant
The White Stripes
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
4
Aug 02 2022
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
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
3
Aug 03 2022
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New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
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.
3
Aug 04 2022
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
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
2
Aug 05 2022
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Bubble And Scrape
Sebadoh
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
1
Aug 06 2022
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Pornography
The Cure
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
3
Aug 07 2022
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Slipknot
Slipknot
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.
2
Aug 08 2022
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Boston
Boston
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.
5
Aug 09 2022
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
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
1
Aug 10 2022
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
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
5
Aug 11 2022
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
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
4
Aug 12 2022
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
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
2
Aug 13 2022
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
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.
5
Aug 14 2022
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
*deletes student demonstration time*
Ahhh a perfect album
5
Aug 15 2022
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
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)
5
Aug 16 2022
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Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Really great. Encapsulates so much of what was so great about the 60s :) Will return
4
Aug 17 2022
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The Rise & Fall
Madness
Awesome cover art.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Quirky british new wave 80s music; reminds me of XTC.
3
Aug 18 2022
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
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.
4
Aug 19 2022
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All Directions
The Temptations
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
4
Aug 20 2022
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If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
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.
3
Aug 21 2022
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Bone Machine
Tom Waits
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
1
Aug 22 2022
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
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.
4
Aug 23 2022
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New York Dolls
New York Dolls
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
2
Aug 24 2022
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
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
3
Aug 25 2022
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Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
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
4
Aug 26 2022
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Shadowland
k.d. lang
Unexpected but a welcome surprise. Classy old fashioned country with a unique twist
Great vocals
4
Aug 27 2022
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The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
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.
1
Aug 28 2022
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
Pretty good post punk album, but ultimately a bit forgettable
3
Aug 29 2022
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Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
MC Solaar
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
1
Aug 30 2022
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Two words: rhythm section
4
Aug 31 2022
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Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
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.
2
Sep 01 2022
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A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
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
1
Sep 02 2022
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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
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
2
Sep 05 2022
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Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
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.
3
Sep 06 2022
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
Greatest voice of the 90s (if not the greatest album of the 90s)
5
Sep 07 2022
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Low
David Bowie
Lots of interesting sounds here. Got more experimental and ambient as it went on.
Really great; stuck between 4 and 5. Will return
4
Sep 08 2022
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Very fun and funky. Worth a listen for sure
3
Sep 09 2022
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
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
3
Sep 12 2022
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
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.
5
Sep 13 2022
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Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
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
3
Sep 14 2022
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You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
A couple decent songs, some mediocre songs, and the worst cover of Just Like Heaven possible
2
Sep 15 2022
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
One of the greatest voices ever. This is objectively a good album, but by my own rating system i think it’s a 3
3
Sep 16 2022
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Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
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.
3
Sep 19 2022
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
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
3
Sep 20 2022
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The Bends
Radiohead
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
4
Sep 21 2022
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Red Dirt Girl
Emmylou Harris
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.
1
Sep 22 2022
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AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
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.
1
Sep 23 2022
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Woodface
Crowded House
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
3
Sep 26 2022
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
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
2
Sep 27 2022
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Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Hip hop was a mistake. I can’t believe it got MORE popular after this boring album came out
1
Sep 28 2022
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That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Better than I was expecting. A diverse album with funk and soul
4
Sep 29 2022
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
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.
5
Sep 30 2022
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Moondance
Van Morrison
Quality mellow feel-good oldies
3
Oct 03 2022
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
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
3
Oct 04 2022
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
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.
5
Oct 05 2022
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Street Signs
Ozomatli
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
3
Oct 06 2022
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
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
3
Oct 07 2022
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
Quirky cool soft rock
3
Oct 10 2022
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
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.
3
Oct 11 2022
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Pretenders
Pretenders
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
3
Oct 12 2022
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Oasis but much better. Has a touch of pop punk.
3
Oct 13 2022
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Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
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
3
Oct 14 2022
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
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.
5
Oct 17 2022
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
Best story behind an album I’ve heard in ages.
Cool music. Reminded me of the band Magma a couple of times
4
Oct 18 2022
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Diamond Life
Sade
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
1
Oct 19 2022
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The Specials
The Specials
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
3
Oct 20 2022
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25
Adele
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.
2
Oct 21 2022
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Follow The Leader
Korn
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.
2
Oct 24 2022
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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
Now this is real music
5
Oct 25 2022
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
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
3
Oct 26 2022
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Quality. Diverse and interesting songwriting.
5
Oct 27 2022
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Savane
Ali Farka Touré
I enjoyed it as peaceful background music
3
Oct 28 2022
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Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
I feel cozy now
4
Oct 31 2022
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
Thoroughly enjoyable. First two songs were really cool
3
Nov 01 2022
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Heroes
David Bowie
Sounds like Brian eno took over on the second half of this album
4
Nov 02 2022
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Trio
Dolly Parton
A very pleasant listen, but the songwriting didn't really interest or impress me at all
2
Nov 03 2022
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
I appreciate the originality
2
Nov 04 2022
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Pretty good, for a hip hop album anyway
3
Nov 07 2022
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Actually
Pet Shop Boys
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
3
Nov 08 2022
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Now this is what I call feel good music.
Probably the most "rock opera" sounding album I've ever heard.
4
Nov 09 2022
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
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
5
Nov 10 2022
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
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
2
Nov 11 2022
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Aqualung
Jethro Tull
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
5
Nov 14 2022
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Timeless
5
Nov 15 2022
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
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.
5
Nov 16 2022
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
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.
3
Nov 17 2022
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Among The Living
Anthrax
Pretty good, but it’s not the best metal can offer.
Sounds like a mix of the other Big 4 bands
3
Nov 18 2022
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Goo
Sonic Youth
I can see how this would've been really influential
Crunchy guitars. Cool angsty sinister vibes
3
Nov 21 2022
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Solid Air
John Martyn
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.
3
Nov 22 2022
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Illmatic
Nas
Really good, as far as hip hop goes, which isn't say much I suppose
It got better towards the end
3
Nov 23 2022
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
It's just too much
1
Nov 24 2022
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Microshift
Hookworms
Great. It hit me in the right mood.
Good mix of modern indie electronics and psychedelia
5
Nov 25 2022
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
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.
2
Nov 28 2022
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Clandestino
Manu Chao
Nice Latin music
3
Nov 29 2022
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
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.
4
Nov 30 2022
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Kollaps
Einstürzende Neubauten
To be fair, you do need an incredibly high IQ to understand the nuance and depth to this album
3
Dec 01 2022
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Tellin’ Stories
The Charlatans
Blegh I was just so done by the time this album ended
2
Dec 02 2022
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Harvest
Neil Young
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?
5
Dec 05 2022
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
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
4
Dec 06 2022
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OK Computer
Radiohead
Greatest alt rock album ever
5
Dec 07 2022
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Partway between glam rock and glam metal. Pretty fun
3
Dec 08 2022
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Damaged
Black Flag
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
3
Dec 09 2022
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
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
4
Dec 12 2022
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Live Through This
Hole
Mmmm milk…….
Actually very quality, it’s right up there with the other big heavy grungy albums of the 90s
3
Dec 13 2022
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Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Awesome
5
Dec 14 2022
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Nixon
Lambchop
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.
2
Dec 15 2022
View Album
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
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
4
Dec 16 2022
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Kilimanjaro
The Teardrop Explodes
New wave / post punk rock. Sounds a lot like The Jam. Pretty good
3
Dec 19 2022
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Timeless and cool
4
Dec 20 2022
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Transformer
Lou Reed
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
3
Dec 21 2022
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is unlike anything else
5
Dec 22 2022
View Album
Either Or
Elliott Smith
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
2
Dec 23 2022
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Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
A few songs I kinda enjoyed. But I really think rod stewart is just the most average rock star out there
2
Dec 26 2022
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Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
Cozy album. Sparkling keyboard and piano work. The vocals were soulful (but occasionally were a bit imperfect)
Very enjoyable on the whole.
4
Dec 27 2022
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Actually pretty cool. Hypnotic psychedelic hip hop. I definitely appreciated that there was hardly any rapping
3
Dec 28 2022
View Album
Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
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
1
Dec 29 2022
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Dummy
Portishead
Cool slick nighttime music
3
Dec 30 2022
View Album
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
I actually liked this one! Sounds like a mix of the Doors and the Moody Blues.
Late 60s heavy psychedelia with cool proggy keyboards
4
Jan 02 2023
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Parklife
Blur
Diverse and interesting punky Brit pop album.
4
Jan 03 2023
View Album
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
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
3
Jan 04 2023
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Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
Kooky diverse unusual post punk with some fiddle
3
Jan 05 2023
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Central Reservation
Beth Orton
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
2
Jan 06 2023
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Soothing 80s soft pop
2
Jan 09 2023
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The Visitors
ABBA
Perfectly enjoyable but not very memorable on this first listen. I liked “Slipping Through”
3
Jan 10 2023
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
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
2
Jan 11 2023
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Manassas
Stephen Stills
Quality American blues/folk/country rock
4
Jan 12 2023
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Never listened to these guys before but this was awesome
5
Jan 13 2023
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Nice
3
Jan 16 2023
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Private Dancer
Tina Turner
So annoying. She’s got a powerful voice but I don’t enjoy this music in the slightest.
1
Jan 17 2023
View Album
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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
4
Jan 18 2023
View Album
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
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
2
Jan 19 2023
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A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
Soothing and pleasurable to listen to
4
Jan 20 2023
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Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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
2
Jan 23 2023
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Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
One of the best 90s alt rock groups
3
Jan 24 2023
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Synchronicity
The Police
Very interesting blend of influences on this album. Post punk, new wave, punk, reggae, world music.
Worthwhile listen
3
Jan 25 2023
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Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever heard, but I just think it doesn’t deserve to be on the list
1
Jan 26 2023
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The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Pleasant soft country rock, but it’s not all that special to me
Hippie boy was funny
2
Jan 27 2023
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
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
3
Jan 30 2023
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Pleasant and calm
2
Jan 31 2023
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
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.
3
Feb 01 2023
View Album
A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
It’s not unpleasant but man I was just so bored
1
Feb 02 2023
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Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
Pretty good alt/indie rock
Noisy at times and catchy at others
Got kinda annoying by the end
2
Feb 03 2023
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Gris Gris
Dr. John
This album would be perfect to listen to if you ever found yourself lost in the swamps of Louisiana
4
Feb 06 2023
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3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
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
3
Feb 07 2023
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Funky jazz fusion-y. Pretty cool
I think I liked vein melter the best
4
Feb 08 2023
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
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.
4
Feb 09 2023
View Album
Blue
Joni Mitchell
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.
3
Feb 10 2023
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
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
2
Feb 13 2023
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
Lots of weird textures and flavors, interesting throughout
Frenetic and nervous
Makes me want to go listen to Discipline by King Crimson
5
Feb 14 2023
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This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Fun catchy poppy post-punky.
3
Feb 15 2023
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
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.
4
Feb 16 2023
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Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
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
3
Feb 17 2023
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O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
This album is vapid and tedious. Every "song" is indistinguishable from the rest.
Hip hop is just so bad. Music for posers by posers
1
Feb 20 2023
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
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
3
Feb 21 2023
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Ragged Glory
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
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
2
Feb 22 2023
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Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
Tony hawk game type music
Pretty cool at times. Awesome beats. Hypnotic at times
3
Feb 23 2023
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
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
5
Feb 24 2023
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Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
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
5
Feb 27 2023
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
Nice, catchy and engaging
Favorite song was the first one or the last one
4
Feb 28 2023
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In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
Probably my favorite jazz album on the list, so I'm just gonna go ahead and give it a 5
5
Mar 01 2023
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
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
2
Mar 02 2023
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Sheet Music
10cc
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
5
Mar 03 2023
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Moon Safari
Air
I thought a few of the tracks were pretty cool, but I also thought several of the tracks weren't my cuppa tea
2
Mar 06 2023
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
4
Mar 07 2023
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The Poet
Bobby Womack
Pretty alright
2.5
3
Mar 08 2023
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
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
3
Mar 09 2023
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New Wave
The Auteurs
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
2
Mar 10 2023
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Django Django
Django Django
I appreciate the attempt they made but I just feel the album wasn't as cool as they wanted it to be
2
Mar 13 2023
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Bad Company
Bad Company
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
2
Mar 14 2023
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
Nice, better than I was expecting
Torn between 3 and 4
3
Mar 15 2023
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
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
5
Mar 16 2023
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My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
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
3
Mar 17 2023
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Rapture
Anita Baker
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
1
Mar 20 2023
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London Calling
The Clash
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
3
Mar 21 2023
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
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
3
Mar 22 2023
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
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
3
Mar 23 2023
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Melodrama
Lorde
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
3
Mar 24 2023
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Garbage
Garbage
Pretty good for its genre
Favorite: Vow, Milk
3
Mar 27 2023
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
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
2
Mar 28 2023
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Movies
Holger Czukay
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
3
Mar 29 2023
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Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
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.
4
Mar 30 2023
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The Undertones
The Undertones
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
3
Mar 31 2023
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Sincere
Mj Cole
Every song has the exact same beat bro
Doesn't quite feel like a finished product, but a bunch of demos
1
Apr 03 2023
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Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
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
3
Apr 04 2023
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
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
4
Apr 05 2023
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Nice
4
Apr 06 2023
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
Feel-good music
3
Apr 07 2023
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A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
Nice but not that great
3
Apr 10 2023
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
4
Apr 11 2023
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Street Life
The Crusaders
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
3
Apr 12 2023
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Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Way more awesome than I was expecting
4
Apr 13 2023
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
Enjoyable at moments, but overall I didn't care too much for
2
Apr 14 2023
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
Nice. I can see the psychedelic roots on this album
4
Apr 17 2023
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Tommy
The Who
Great, but somehow I feel it's lacking just a little something
4
Apr 18 2023
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Arrival
ABBA
The lyrics to that first song had me cracking up
3
Apr 19 2023
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Like Water For Chocolate
Common
Man this was just soooo boring to get through
2
Apr 20 2023
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
3
Apr 21 2023
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Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Really great
Peaceful and pensive, a bit avant-garde
5
Apr 24 2023
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
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
5
Apr 25 2023
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
Sounds like a poppy Radiohead with hints of prog metal.
It's fine enough but I never need to hear it again
3
Apr 26 2023
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Who's Next
The Who
Really great. Powerful in a meaningful way (as opposed to cheesy or cringeworthy "empowering" music). Torn between 4 and 5
4
Apr 27 2023
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Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
“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.
3
Apr 28 2023
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Tapestry
Carole King
4
May 01 2023
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
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
1
May 02 2023
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
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
4
May 03 2023
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A Seat at the Table
Solange
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
4
May 04 2023
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Vento De Maio
Elis Regina
Wow this was fantastic😍
5
May 05 2023
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Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
I liked it more than I expected. I remember rating her 2000 album quite low, but I don’t recall why
4
May 08 2023
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Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
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
3
May 09 2023
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
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
3
May 10 2023
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
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
2
May 11 2023
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
Kinda punky, kidna post-punky. Some hints of the Beatles, perhaps
I liked it
4
May 12 2023
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Atomizer
Big Black
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
4
May 15 2023
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Cool electronic indie
Chill and enjoyable. Aphex twin with vocals.
Kinda repetitive at times but the repetitive bits were still fairly interesting
3
May 16 2023
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
Some good songs, and plenty of songs I didn’t care about
2
May 17 2023
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Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
really nice. I like this 60s English sound so much
4
May 18 2023
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The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
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
4
May 19 2023
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Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
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.
3
May 22 2023
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Phrenology
The Roots
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
1
May 23 2023
View Album
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
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
4
May 24 2023
View Album
Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
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
3
May 25 2023
View Album
Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
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
4
May 26 2023
View Album
The Last Broadcast
Doves
Some songs sounded like Coldplay, some songs sounded a bit more unique
Unexpected “Moondchild” cover
Solid indie alt 2000s rock
3.5
3
May 29 2023
View Album
Virgin Suicides
Air
A lot of awesome instrumental tracks
4
May 30 2023
View Album
Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
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
3
May 31 2023
View Album
Entertainment
Gang Of Four
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
3
Jun 01 2023
View Album
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
Music for losers
1
Jun 02 2023
View Album
Fun House
The Stooges
Cool garage rock
Worth a listen but I’m not crazy about it, some songs were quite repetitive and overstayed their welcome a little
3
Jun 05 2023
View Album
Low-Life
New Order
The first three songs were good enough, but I really liked Sunrise and Elegia.
My mom loves this group
3.5
4
Jun 06 2023
View Album
Night Life
Ray Price
Nice old country music, with some of that melancholy energy that good old country albums so often have. Enjoyable listen.
3
Jun 07 2023
View Album
Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
Quality and very fun. Great production: this album SOUNDS great
3.5
4
Jun 08 2023
View Album
Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
One of the best
5
Jun 09 2023
View Album
Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Pretty average, but fun enough
2
Jun 12 2023
View Album
So
Peter Gabriel
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.
4
Jun 13 2023
View Album
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
Not as memorable as their other albums, but it still has much of their signature magic. Great listen.
4
Jun 14 2023
View Album
The Man Who
Travis
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
3
Jun 15 2023
View Album
Back In Black
AC/DC
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.
3
Jun 16 2023
View Album
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
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
4
Jun 19 2023
View Album
Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
Quirky and catchy
A bit of psychedelic mixed with 90s alt/pop rock
3
Jun 20 2023
View Album
American Beauty
Grateful Dead
Yeah it's easy listening but it's still quite nice
4
Jun 21 2023
View Album
Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
Great punk energy. Very cool
3
Jun 22 2023
View Album
Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
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
3
Jun 23 2023
View Album
Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
Wacky
2
Jun 26 2023
View Album
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
Really fantastic. Great listen
4.5
5
Jun 27 2023
View Album
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
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.
5
Jun 28 2023
View Album
Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
It's so crazy and weird that I can't dislike it for being weird
3
Jun 29 2023
View Album
Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
Awesome
5
Jun 30 2023
View Album
Eternally Yours
The Saints
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
3
Jul 03 2023
View Album
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
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
3
Jul 04 2023
View Album
Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
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.
4
Jul 05 2023
View Album
Myths Of The Near Future
Klaxons
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
2
Jul 06 2023
View Album
Blur
Blur
I liked the majority of the tracks, a few less interesting ones.
Cool
4
Jul 07 2023
View Album
The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
4
Jul 10 2023
View Album
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
4
Jul 11 2023
View Album
Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Uretha Frankin 👍
5
Jul 12 2023
View Album
Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
Actually really solid and enjoyable throughout.
It's hard to compare music like this to other genres, it's like apples and oranges.
4
Jul 13 2023
View Album
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
Dark, almost gothic, and very sensual synthpop
3
Jul 14 2023
View Album
Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
5
Jul 17 2023
View Album
Copper Blue
Sugar
Fun enough and catchy alt rock
I didn't care all that much for it
2
Jul 18 2023
View Album
Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
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
2
Jul 19 2023
View Album
Dare!
The Human League
4
Jul 20 2023
View Album
Bummed
Happy Mondays
Kinda post punk, kinda funky, kinda psychedelic
Pretty enjoyable for a lot of it
4
Jul 21 2023
View Album
Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
Very interesting
3
Jul 24 2023
View Album
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
A nice medium between grunge and alt rock.
Manages to be both heavy and upbeat
Solid but not groundbreaking
3
Jul 25 2023
View Album
Take Me Apart
Kelela
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
3
Jul 26 2023
View Album
High Violet
The National
Nice sentimental life-affirming type of indie rock
Reminded me of Lord Huron at times
3
Jul 27 2023
View Album
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Classic
3
Jul 28 2023
View Album
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
Fun goofy (in a good way) hip hop
Great, great vibes
More hip hop should take after this record
3
Jul 31 2023
View Album
Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
Cool concepts but I didn't care for the music that much
2
Aug 01 2023
View Album
Truth And Soul
Fishbone
Quirky and fun and diverse
Good vocalist
(Is this what ska is?)
3
Aug 02 2023
View Album
Eliminator
ZZ Top
Solid fun slick rock n roll
I enjoyed the first few songs but by the end I realized they all mostly sounded the same
3
Aug 03 2023
View Album
At Budokan
Cheap Trick
Very fun
4
Aug 04 2023
View Album
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Solid, revolutionary probably
His voice had a lot of range here
3
Aug 07 2023
View Album
Live At Leeds
The Who
Rockin and jammin
My favorite was probably the medley
4
Aug 08 2023
View Album
Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
Great 60s soul happy pop
4
Aug 09 2023
View Album
She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
Very solid playful pop album. Fun and worth a listen.
3
Aug 10 2023
View Album
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
Just fantastic, I love this one
5
Aug 11 2023
View Album
Wild Wood
Paul Weller
Pleasant 90s soft rock. Kinda husky male vocals.
Solid
3
Aug 14 2023
View Album
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
Healing
3
Aug 15 2023
View Album
Ys
Joanna Newsom
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.
5
Aug 16 2023
View Album
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
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
3
Aug 17 2023
View Album
16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
Catchy and lush and happy
Kinda poppy but I didn’t dislike it this time
3.5/4
4
Aug 18 2023
View Album
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
Nice 👍
4
Aug 21 2023
View Album
Sulk
The Associates
Actually really awesome, I am astonished at the low rating here
Dark and very dramatic post punk
Dynamic and interesting
4/4.5
4
Aug 22 2023
View Album
Electric
The Cult
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
3
Aug 23 2023
View Album
Be
Common
Definitely one of the best hip hop albums I've heard on this list yet
3
Aug 24 2023
View Album
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
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
3
Aug 25 2023
View Album
Opus Dei
Laibach
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
3
Aug 28 2023
View Album
1989
Taylor Swift
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
2
Aug 29 2023
View Album
Porcupine
Echo And The Bunnymen
Cool dark post punk
Hard to tell my absolute feelings, I'll need to return
3
Aug 30 2023
View Album
Vespertine
Björk
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
5
Aug 31 2023
View Album
Da Capo
Love
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
3
Sep 01 2023
View Album
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
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
3
Sep 04 2023
View Album
Music
Madonna
This album cover really sets you up for a whole different experience than what it gives you lol
1
Sep 05 2023
View Album
Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
It sounds outrageously 80s, but it holds up well in my eyes because of all the lush and incricate rhythms and textures throughout
3
Sep 06 2023
View Album
Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
4
Sep 07 2023
View Album
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
One of the most innovative and unique pop songwriters of all time 💪
4
Sep 08 2023
View Album
Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
5
Sep 11 2023
View Album
Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
3
Sep 12 2023
View Album
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
Very fun quality new wave
Lots of brass instruments
3
Sep 13 2023
View Album
John Prine
John Prine
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.
3
Sep 14 2023
View Album
Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
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.
3
Sep 15 2023
View Album
New Forms
Roni Size
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
1
Sep 18 2023
View Album
Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
I liked it but didn’t love it; I want to return to get a better opinion
4
Sep 19 2023
View Album
Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
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
3
Sep 20 2023
View Album
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
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
3
Sep 21 2023
View Album
Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
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
5
Sep 22 2023
View Album
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
Amazing production sound. Torn between 4 and 5.
4
Sep 25 2023
View Album
Bossanova
Pixies
Really good heavy alt rock with its catchy moments too
No problems with it as far as I can see
4
Sep 26 2023
View Album
Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Several songs made me feel sentimental. Simple but warm and emotional
4
Sep 27 2023
View Album
Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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
2
Sep 28 2023
View Album
Gold
Ryan Adams
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
2
Sep 29 2023
View Album
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
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
4
Oct 02 2023
View Album
The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Good, solid, but not the most memorable thing ever
A little post punky and 80s
3
Oct 03 2023
View Album
System Of A Down
System Of A Down
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
4
Oct 04 2023
View Album
Tical
Method Man
Pretty lackluster and boring, even compared to other hip hop albums I’ve heard on the list.
1
Oct 05 2023
View Album
The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
Cool retro spacey feeling
Worth a listen, seems a perfect precursor to the 80s
A little repetitive at times but I didn’t mind
3
Oct 06 2023
View Album
Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
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
3
Oct 09 2023
View Album
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
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
3
Oct 10 2023
View Album
Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
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
4
Oct 11 2023
View Album
Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
Not too bad, not too good
I will admit there were definitely some nice moments
2
Oct 12 2023
View Album
Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
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
3
Oct 13 2023
View Album
The Predator
Ice Cube
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.
1
Oct 16 2023
View Album
California
American Music Club
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
2
Oct 17 2023
View Album
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
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
4
Oct 18 2023
View Album
Protection
Massive Attack
Doesn’t speak to me much but it was solid and cool enough
3
Oct 19 2023
View Album
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Pretty quality but also kinda too much of the same at times
3
Oct 20 2023
View Album
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
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
3
Oct 23 2023
View Album
Scott 4
Scott Walker
Wonderful
Torn between 4 and 5
4
Oct 24 2023
View Album
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Fun and solid in his usual quirky way. Several great tracks.
3
Oct 25 2023
View Album
Scum
Napalm Death
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
2
Oct 26 2023
View Album
Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
Good 60s rock
Plenty of 12 bar blues, a few more psychedelic tracks
Jeff’s guitar work on Jeff’s Boogie was very nice
3
Oct 27 2023
View Album
We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
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
4
Oct 30 2023
View Album
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
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
5
Oct 31 2023
View Album
Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
Fun and fairly solid funky soulful pop rock, but I don’t care for it
2
Nov 01 2023
View Album
Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
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
1
Nov 02 2023
View Album
Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
It’s a great metal album, the band sounds so tight and the instrumental bits are fantastic
4
Nov 03 2023
View Album
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
This is definitely a comfort album of mine
5
Nov 06 2023
View Album
At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
Great energy, I can see how this helped lay the groundwork for rock music to come
3
Nov 07 2023
View Album
1977
Ash
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
3
Nov 08 2023
View Album
Remedy
Basement Jaxx
Yuck
1
Nov 09 2023
View Album
Is This It
The Strokes
Great. Almost a 5 for me
4
Nov 10 2023
View Album
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
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.
2
Nov 13 2023
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Rio
Duran Duran
Dynamic and fun
4
Nov 14 2023
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Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
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
4
Nov 15 2023
View Album
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Not too bad, but it started to get on my nerves after a while, and a lot of it felt too similar to me
2
Nov 16 2023
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Horses
Patti Smith
Amazing emotion
Pretty cool the majority of the time
4
Nov 17 2023
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Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
Really high-quality pop album
Quite reminiscent of Kate Bush
4
Nov 20 2023
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#1 Record
Big Star
I liked it a lot
The first half was much better than the second half though
4
Nov 21 2023
View Album
Sea Change
Beck
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
4
Nov 22 2023
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Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Solid post punk
A couple parts we’re a bit too cheesy-80s
3
Nov 23 2023
View Album
Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
Okay I liked this a lot lol
Except the last two tracks
4
Nov 24 2023
View Album
Risque
CHIC
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
2
Nov 27 2023
View Album
E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
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.
5
Nov 28 2023
View Album
Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
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. :)
5
Nov 29 2023
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
Soul
4
Nov 30 2023
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Very cool
4
Dec 01 2023
View Album
Hunting High And Low
a-ha
Morten 👍🫡
3
Dec 04 2023
View Album
Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
Enjoyable
3
Dec 05 2023
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Crocodiles
Echo And The Bunnymen
More cool dark post punk from the bunny men 💪
3
Dec 06 2023
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The Coral
The Coral
Decent alt indie rock with some slight Ween-like pysch tendencies
3
Dec 07 2023
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The Band
The Band
Why are they Canadian?
4
Dec 08 2023
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The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
Cool energetic new wave
Torn between 3 and 4, could enjoy again
3
Dec 11 2023
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It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
Enjoyable but not very interesting
3
Dec 12 2023
View Album
Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
Man that electric half was actually really great. My favorite were the last two tracks.
4
Dec 13 2023
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I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
Great voice and emotion
3
Dec 14 2023
View Album
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
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.
4
Dec 15 2023
View Album
All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
U2 is too cheesy and over-sentimental
This album especially was kinda bland.
2
Dec 18 2023
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Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
I like his dark brooding music a lot
4
Dec 19 2023
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Nice album
I liked the contrast between the two sides
3
Dec 20 2023
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Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
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
2
Dec 21 2023
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Gets tiresome
2
Dec 22 2023
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Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
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
5
Dec 25 2023
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
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
4
Dec 26 2023
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Moby Grape
Moby Grape
60s bluesy rock with a pinch of country and psych influence
Very enjoyable all throughout!
4
Dec 27 2023
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Smile
Brian Wilson
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.
5
Dec 28 2023
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Pump
Aerosmith
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
3
Dec 29 2023
View Album
Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
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
2
Jan 01 2024
View Album
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
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
2
Jan 02 2024
View Album
Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
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
3
Jan 03 2024
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The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
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
4
Jan 04 2024
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Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
Really good, I’ll have to return
4
Jan 05 2024
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
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
3
Jan 08 2024
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Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
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.
3
Jan 09 2024
View Album
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Very solid and fun. Some post punk influence. Torn between three and four.
3
Jan 10 2024
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
Good music for when you’re barfing or being killed by someone who’s barfing
1
Jan 11 2024
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The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
Lovely little old-fashioned country album
3
Jan 12 2024
View Album
Viva Hate
Morrissey
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.
4
Jan 15 2024
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World Clique
Deee-Lite
Not bad. I enjoyed it more than most of the “dance albums” I’ve heard on the list
3
Jan 16 2024
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Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
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
2
Jan 17 2024
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
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
5
Jan 18 2024
View Album
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
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
2
Jan 19 2024
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Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
Annoying and tiresome music
I roll my eyes any time I see a review praising the “message” of this album lmao
1
Jan 22 2024
View Album
Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
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.
1
Jan 23 2024
View Album
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
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
1
Jan 24 2024
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Very pleasant
3
Jan 25 2024
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Van Halen
Van Halen
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
4
Jan 26 2024
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Timeless
Goldie
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
3
Jan 29 2024
View Album
Feast of Wire
Calexico
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.
3
Jan 30 2024
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Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
Cool concept. Some tracks were better than others, but there were a few that were quite great
3
Jan 31 2024
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Each piece is a masterful composition. Great listen at every moment
5
Feb 01 2024
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Aja
Steely Dan
Quite torn between 4 and 5
4
Feb 02 2024
View Album
Back to Basics
Christina Aguilera
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
1
Feb 05 2024
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The White Room
The KLF
2
Feb 06 2024
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
So torn between 4 and 5
4
Feb 07 2024
View Album
At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
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
3
Feb 08 2024
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Among the best of its genre that I've heard
Great energy and fun
4
Feb 09 2024
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Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
So pleasing
Love how their voices sound
4
Feb 12 2024
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Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
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
3
Feb 13 2024
View Album
Lost Souls
Doves
Not really that great or interesting by any means. Nice but kind of a bore.
2
Feb 14 2024
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Melody A.M.
Röyksopp
Torn between 2 and 3
2
Feb 15 2024
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
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
3
Feb 16 2024
View Album
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
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
5
Feb 19 2024
View Album
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
3.5/4
4
Feb 20 2024
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
Immaculate mood, old time magic
5
Feb 21 2024
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Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
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
2
Feb 22 2024
View Album
Chelsea Girl
Nico
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
4
Feb 23 2024
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
4
Feb 26 2024
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
Great. Feeling 4 right now, maybe later could be a 5
4
Feb 27 2024
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Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
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
5
Feb 28 2024
View Album
Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
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
3
Feb 29 2024
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Groovin'
The Young Rascals
Enjoyable 60s pop rock
4
Mar 01 2024
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Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
A few songs I liked, a few were meh
Quirky
3
Mar 04 2024
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Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
Nice
4
Mar 05 2024
View Album
In It For The Money
Supergrass
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
3
Mar 06 2024
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
Excitingly weird
4
Mar 07 2024
View Album
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
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
2
Mar 08 2024
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Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
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?
3
Mar 11 2024
View Album
Very
Pet Shop Boys
Yknow I do enjoy this band, but only in moderation I think
I liked a few songs, especially liberation
3
Mar 12 2024
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Blackstar
David Bowie
Torn between 4 and 5, very close
4
Mar 13 2024
View Album
Since I Left You
The Avalanches
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
4
Mar 14 2024
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Teen Dream
Beach House
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
4
Mar 15 2024
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The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
It's fine, but quite amateur compared to what they did later
2
Mar 18 2024
View Album
I See You
The xx
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
1
Mar 19 2024
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Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
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
2
Mar 20 2024
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Fuzzy
Grant Lee Buffalo
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
3
Mar 21 2024
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Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Very pleasantly surprised, great theatrical energy
4
Mar 22 2024
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En-Tact
The Shamen
Just not worth my time
1
Mar 25 2024
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Very solid funk rock, I quite enjoyed it
Although I’m not necessarily feeling a strong desire to return this one.
3
Mar 26 2024
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Some of the songs I liked a lot, some of them didn’t seem as substantial
Torn between 3 and 4
4
Mar 27 2024
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Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
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
3
Mar 28 2024
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
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
4
Mar 29 2024
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All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
2
Apr 01 2024
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Yeah the harmonica is mixed so loud and often hurts my ears but I like basically everything else about it
5
Apr 02 2024
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
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
2
Apr 03 2024
View Album
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4
Apr 04 2024
View Album
Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
Fun, somewhat eccentric rock
4
Apr 08 2024
View Album
Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
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
4
Apr 09 2024
View Album
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
Motörhead definitely don’t have the most variety in their songwriting, but their sound here is so good.
4
Apr 10 2024
View Album
Murmur
R.E.M.
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
4
Apr 11 2024
View Album
Eagles
Eagles
Overrated by some people perhaps, but probably a bit more over-hated by others
Between 3 and 3.5
3
Apr 12 2024
View Album
Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
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
4
Apr 15 2024
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Oxygène
Jean-Michel Jarre
Isn’t it crazy that by the time the 1970s were over, electronic music had already reached its peak?
4
Apr 16 2024
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MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
Very solid, but overhyped
3
Apr 17 2024
View Album
Ctrl
SZA
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.
1
Apr 18 2024
View Album
Maxinquaye
Tricky
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
3
Apr 19 2024
View Album
Shleep
Robert Wyatt
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
4
Apr 22 2024
View Album
The Real Thing
Faith No More
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
3
Apr 23 2024
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Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
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
2
Apr 24 2024
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
4
Apr 25 2024
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Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
4
Apr 26 2024
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m b v
My Bloody Valentine
3
Apr 29 2024
View Album
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
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
Apr 30 2024
View Album
Wild Gift
X
New wave-y punk, I liked it, torn between 3 and 4.
3
May 01 2024
View Album
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
Nice. Not my favorite but I think I’d like to return
4
May 02 2024
View Album
Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
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
4
May 03 2024
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Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
Pleasant throughout, I enjoyed enough for a 3 I think.
3
May 06 2024
View Album
Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
I don't always like this kind of music but this one was nice
4
May 07 2024
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Suede
Suede
Not as good as some other 4s but still very nice
4
May 08 2024
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Born To Be With You
Dion
Not too spectacular but pleasant throughout
Very hard for me to believe this is the Runaround Sue guy
3
May 09 2024
View Album
Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
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.
2
May 10 2024
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Sublime
5
May 13 2024
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Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby
Girls Against Boys
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.
3
May 14 2024
View Album
Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
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
2
May 15 2024
View Album
Suicide
Suicide
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
2
May 16 2024
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Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
A nice listen
3
May 17 2024
View Album
Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
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
5
May 20 2024
View Album
Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
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
4
May 21 2024
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
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.
2
May 22 2024
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Disraeli Gears
Cream
Cool. interesting songwriting and progressions on some tracks
4
May 23 2024
View Album
Green
R.E.M.
3
May 24 2024
View Album
The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
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
3
May 27 2024
View Album
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
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.
1
May 28 2024
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Halfway between thinking it was pleasantly enjoyable and thinking it was not very interesting
3
May 29 2024
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Elastica
Elastica
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
4
May 30 2024
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Madman Across The Water
Elton John
3
May 31 2024
View Album
Sound Affects
The Jam
4
Jun 03 2024
View Album
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
Solid flow but not too interesting of music
2
Jun 04 2024
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Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
I enjoyed more than I would’ve expected. The songwriting is simple but I found several of the songs touching.
3
Jun 05 2024
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Solid, if a little bland
3
Jun 06 2024
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All Hail the Queen
Queen Latifah
Self-aggrandizing yet also preachy
2
Jun 07 2024
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Kick Out The Jams (Live)
MC5
Sensational energy
3
Jun 10 2024
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Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
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
4
Jun 11 2024
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Some of the best blues rock I ever did hear. Will return to this one
4
Jun 12 2024
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Closer
Joy Division
Good music to watch the end of the world to
5
Jun 13 2024
View Album
Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
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."
5
Jun 14 2024
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
Quirky and experimental in all the right ways
5
Jun 17 2024
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Let It Be
The Replacements
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
3
Jun 18 2024
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
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
3
Jun 19 2024
View Album
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
Tight drums/bass & harsh guitar with sloppy vocals. I enjoyed it somewhat. Can’t decide how I really feel about it
3
Jun 20 2024
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Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
Enjoyable and a comforting sound, but also after the first two songs I felt like the songwriting was not interesting
3
Jun 21 2024
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Debut
Björk
Besides the two songs that sounded more like club music I liked every song; worth returning to
4
Jun 24 2024
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The World is a Ghetto
War
Quite cool
4
Jun 25 2024
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Raw Power
The Stooges
Very enjoyable.
Can't decide which mix I like better
4
Jun 26 2024
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Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
Classy and charming
3
Jun 27 2024
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Blunderbuss
Jack White
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
3
Jun 28 2024
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Shalimar
Rahul Dev Burman
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
2
Jul 01 2024
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Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
Ultra lame
1
Jul 02 2024
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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
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
5
Jul 03 2024
View Album
Roots
Sepultura
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
2
Jul 04 2024
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Real Life
Magazine
Cool post punk
4
Jul 05 2024
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Destroyer
KISS
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
3
Jul 08 2024
View Album
In Rainbows
Radiohead
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
5
Jul 09 2024
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Justified
Justin Timberlake
Hard to get through. Didn't hate it QUITE as much as I expected though
2
Jul 10 2024
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Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
Solid indie rock, but I wasn't super into it. Quite torn between 2 and 3
3
Jul 11 2024
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When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
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
1
Jul 12 2024
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Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
Not the most polished album but I quite enjoy the 60s psychedelic sound
4
Jul 15 2024
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Parachutes
Coldplay
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.
2
Jul 16 2024
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Queen II
Queen
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.
5
Jul 17 2024
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
3
Jul 18 2024
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New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
4
Jul 19 2024
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Kimono My House
Sparks
Relentlessly entertaining and uncompromisingly fun. You will have fun whether you want to or not
Torn between 4 and 5
4
Jul 22 2024
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Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
Solid jazz fusion
4
Jul 23 2024
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A Northern Soul
The Verve
Solid
3
Jul 24 2024
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Young Americans
David Bowie
3
Jul 25 2024
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Repeater
Fugazi
Heavy in a good way
4
Jul 26 2024
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Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
Quality and wholesome classic country album. Feels comforting to listen to.
3
Jul 29 2024
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
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
3
Jul 30 2024
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Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit
A little rough around the edges, but I like their style and a lot of songs were just swell
4
Jul 31 2024
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
4
Aug 01 2024
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Pelican West
Haircut 100
I thought a few songs were pretty fun but the majority of the songs were just too much
2
Aug 02 2024
View Album
Nevermind
Nirvana
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
4
Aug 05 2024
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Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
I didn’t really enjoy any of this. It felt amateur, artificial and often quite annoying.
2
Aug 06 2024
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
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
4
Aug 07 2024
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In Utero
Nirvana
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
4
Aug 08 2024
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Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
These guys like their flat 5ths
Good, nothing too crazy
3
Aug 09 2024
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
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.
2
Aug 12 2024
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Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I typically like his music but I never love his music. I’d say he’s a solid songwriter
3
Aug 13 2024
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
There’s only so much you can do with the standard blues formula, but Muddy Waters pushes that formula to the limit
4
Aug 14 2024
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Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
Not bad for a pop record, but I didn’t care for it
2
Aug 15 2024
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
Lovely warm sound but not the most interesting album I've heard from them
3
Aug 16 2024
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
Nice chill electronic music. I wish there were fewer vocal parts on the album though.
Favorite track was probably the last one
3
Aug 19 2024
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Doolittle
Pixies
Just fantastic. Better than anything grunge did
5
Aug 20 2024
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Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
Pretty nice. The guitar work is definitely the highlight
3
Aug 21 2024
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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
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.
5
Aug 22 2024
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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
I enjoyed this pretty much the entire time, nice listen. Torn between 3 and 4
3
Aug 23 2024
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Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green
Too many of the post-2000 album choices on this list are trash
1
Aug 26 2024
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
I enjoyed it for a while but by the end I was a bit fatigued
3
Aug 27 2024
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With The Beatles
Beatles
Not bad
3
Aug 28 2024
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Arise
Sepultura
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!
4
Aug 29 2024
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Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
Enjoyable throughout, quality classic rock
3
Aug 30 2024
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The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Decent little album
3
Sep 02 2024
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Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
Ich will diese Musik nie wieder hören
1
Sep 03 2024
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S&M
Metallica
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
2
Sep 04 2024
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A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
Good for its genre perhaps but not for me
2
Sep 05 2024
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Truth
Jeff Beck
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
4
Sep 09 2024
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Stripped
Christina Aguilera
Lots of vocal talent, but the music doesn't resonate with me
2
Sep 10 2024
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
Pleasant piano-driven pop with nice vocals. 3 or possibly 3.5
3
Sep 11 2024
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The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
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
4
Sep 12 2024
View Album
Third
Soft Machine
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.
5
Sep 13 2024
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Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
A couple alright songs, the majority of it I wasn’t interested by
The third song made me lol
2
Sep 16 2024
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The Doors
The Doors
I sure love CIA-funded circus music
5
Sep 17 2024
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
I was skeptical at first, but it ended up being pretty cool
4
Sep 18 2024
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Solid, quite enjoyable.
The songwriting may not be very diverse or complex but I still liked it well enough
3
Sep 20 2024
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Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
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.
2
Sep 23 2024
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The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
I found it a pleasant listen. Solid indie rock, but it did come across as a bit amateur-ish
3
Sep 24 2024
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Very smooth production and sound. Each song seemed to drag on a while
2
Sep 25 2024
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Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
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.
3
Sep 26 2024
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Being There
Wilco
Each song was solid and enjoyable
3
Sep 27 2024
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The Sensual World
Kate Bush
Bushy
4
Sep 30 2024
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Cross
Justice
A bit enjoyable at times. The tracks with vocals really brought it down for me.
2
Oct 01 2024
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Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Really, really solid. High 4
I actually have this one on vinyl but never listened to it before, so that was fun
4
Oct 02 2024
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Out of Step
Minor Threat
Kinda harsh on the ears but the playing by the band is so tight and the energy is great
4
Oct 03 2024
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Vulnicura
Björk
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
4
Oct 04 2024
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Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
Enjoyed decently well
3
Oct 07 2024
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This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
Post punk has grown on me a lot
4
Oct 08 2024
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Nowhere
Ride
Enjoyable throughout, solid hazy noisiness and good energy
4
Oct 09 2024
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
Enjoyable, very solid soul funk. But by the end I was a bit tired of it
3
Oct 10 2024
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Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
Raw sound and weird energy. Enjoyed well enough
3
Oct 11 2024
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Pink Flag
Wire
Simple but cool
4
Oct 14 2024
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Hot Shots II
The Beta Band
There’s something particularly annoying about how thoroughly mediocre this album was
1
Oct 16 2024
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Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
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
3
Oct 17 2024
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
Sehr cool
3
Oct 18 2024
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Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
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.
5
Oct 21 2024
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The Next Day
David Bowie
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
3
Oct 22 2024
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Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
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
2
Oct 23 2024
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Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
A bit underwhelming and forgettable, but fairly solid
3
Oct 24 2024
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A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
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.
3
Oct 25 2024
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Fun pop
3
Oct 28 2024
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
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.
4
Oct 29 2024
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
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.
2
Oct 30 2024
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Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
Introducing the Hairline
Torn between 2 and 3.
Obviously impressive vocals. Nice production. Very 80s R&B
2
Oct 31 2024
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Le Tigre
Le Tigre
Fun and somewhat enjoyable, but not musically interesting whatsoever
2.5
2
Nov 01 2024
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Drunk
Thundercat
Cringey lyrics but amazing sound quality
4
Nov 04 2024
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Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
They have a great sound
4
Nov 05 2024
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...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
Listening to this album makes me feel like the Joker (2019).
1
Nov 06 2024
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
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
1
Nov 07 2024
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Quiet Life
Japan
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.
3
Nov 08 2024
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The Grand Tour
George Jones
Pleasant all around.
3
Nov 11 2024
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Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
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
2
Nov 12 2024
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Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
Wow ur like so cool mr gangsta
1
Nov 13 2024
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Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
I think it's kinda cute that music like this was once so popular
2
Nov 14 2024
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
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)
3
Nov 15 2024
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Close To You
Carpenters
A bit corny perhaps but I enjoy it, reminds me of days gone by
3
Nov 18 2024
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D
White Denim
Indie rock but with a greater emphasis on guitar and drums. Not sure it is objectively "great" but I enjoyed listening to it
4
Nov 19 2024
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The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
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
4
Nov 20 2024
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Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
Historically interesting. The songwriting and playing is fairly basic but I still enjoyed enough
3
Nov 21 2024
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
His jacket is very stylish
Thoroughly nice, between 3.5 and 4
4
Nov 22 2024
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The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
Enjoyable in the right frame of mind
3
Nov 25 2024
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
Pleasant but not crazy interesting
3
Nov 26 2024
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Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
I actually enjoyed it, even though maybe I shouldn't have lol. Cooler than Ravi's stuff.
3
Nov 27 2024
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Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
Good work boyos
4
Nov 29 2024
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S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
Kinda Beatles, kinda Moody Blues. Cool hard psychedelic rock
4
Dec 03 2024
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Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Lovely sound.
Somewhere between 3 and 4 for now. I enjoyed it a good deal but don't quite think it is officially "great"
4
Dec 05 2024
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
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
4
Dec 06 2024
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Nice
3
Dec 13 2024
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LP1
FKA twigs
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
3
Dec 16 2024
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
One of the great albums that I think actually deserves its reputation
5
Dec 17 2024
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
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.
3
Dec 18 2024
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Killing Joke
Killing Joke
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
4