1001 Albums Summary

Stereo separation is strange! Come Together, Something and Here Comes the Sun all winners.

Couldn't get into this. Sounded slick but uninspiring

Never listened to this in full. Mostly familiar with the hits, sounded very clean and would be good to play along with. Filler tracks very meh

Loved ambient section

Hit songs are great, but not much to recommend for the filler.

poodle rock

Surprised how good willie sounded.

Nope. Too country.

Apart from The Belle and Sebastian link, didn't enjoy this. She couldn't hold a key

Still held up well. Sounded a bit more sequenced than I remember

couldn't do it. Don't see the attraction.

Sounds fantastic, complex rhythms and cool grooves.

Sounds like a fun concert, crowd engaged.

Raw, fun, good guitar sounds

Chilled

great album, still sounds fresh.

Superb. just fantastic all round

Great voice, but just more hard rock than grunge for me

Music made by committee for hairdressing salons.

Surprisingly good, liked the variety and Somebody to Love is a banger

Hits are hits, filler is bleh

Some good songs - but hard to get through all of them.

Chillaxing. Still sounds good now.

great basslines, some catchy tunes

Thought I would like this. But I didn't, I think I'd need to a lot of eccys to appreciate it. So repetitive.

Yeah I can see why people like them, but I'm not one of those sorts of people.

Crankin first song. Does get a bit the same as the album goes on but can't fault the enthusiasm.

Message still sounds crisp. Love hearing the classic machine sounds but mixed in with great bass playing.

Yeah - listened to this a bit when it came out and was all over the UK radio. Sounds like a good pub singer who had the right sounds for the right time. good for a road trip.

not aging well.

Easy to see why so popular. Songs are well crafted but not my Thang.

Like the same song over and over and ov ...... Why am I so hungry?

Well crafted, unique sounds.

Ooh. Bad.

What a change from the previous album, a horrid piece of country and western. This oozes smooth sounds, but it's a soundtrack not a proper album and suffers from it. Still got some lovely songs.

Sonically brilliant, sounds great loud on a big system. Yes, it could be seen as pretentious but there is a story underneath that ties it together. Guitar solo on Comfortablely Numb is staggering, that tone and melody is so distinctive.

Harsh but interesting

I may be middle aged but I'm still not ancient enough to enjoy this

Really well crafted album, can tell a lot of work was put into the string section (and a real string section not a synth). Comes across as possibly too polished. Big songs, especially One Day Like This.

Surprisingly good - and Lovefool is excellent.

Groundbreaking punk, still has some good songs. Raw sounds but made with feeling

Sounds very dated now.

thought I'd like it more

Gold sounds

I don't want this anyday

You know how a harmonica sounds really annoying and whiney? Well, on this album Bob emulates a harmonica with his voice and sometimes doubles it with a harmonica too. Just can't get past the worst voice in music. Autotune wouldn't save this either. I'm sure the lyrics are cutting but can't get past the voice.

Smooth sounds, bass seem strained in the mix. Would sound better recorded today I'd think. But not my sort of thing.

Wow - this was a pleasant surprise. I only knew one of the songs before hand (run run run). Really interesting soundscapes, one of the few albums I've played more than once.

Dragged a bit

Interesting but inconsistent. Feels like two different bands mashed together at times

Wow. This did not age well. I remember when this first came out and everyone had fancy new cd players and this was the go to album. Money for Nothing still sounds great and Brothers in Arms closes out the album well, but the rest - just sounds flat and boring. They have far better albums.

Proto cock rock, but played well.

Good enough to create Spinal Tap, for which we are truly grateful.

pretty tight for a debut album. Only knew a couple of songs but the rest was good too.

Dirge is a great song. Enjoyed this album - some chill and some noise.

Never been a fan, and this didn't convince me either. I know he's a very talented musician, and I liked the way he constructed the title track. But couldn't enjoy it.

couldn't wait for it to finish. just not a country fan.

That was fun. Lots of variety, it's not grunge or Britpop but has a mix of a lot of styles. Good tunes.

Sabotage is a standout. Eclectic mix of styles, not my thing but can see why it's in the book

Interesting through headphones with the stereo mix. Rich sounding guitars, bass dancing around and some airy-fairy vocals. Didn't hate it, but didn't notice when the album ended.

Well, historic album. Great piano playing but I wouldn't listen to it by choice

bleh

What a pleasant surprise. Hadn't heard of this. Soulful but modern. Will play again.

Did not age well. I think in the right timeline and with enough drugs people would enjoy this, but I don't hear much to like in this.

Much better than I expected. Harmonies were lovely, interesting the way they weaved in and out. Honky tonk piano was terrible though.

started off on fire - great bass, guitar screaming out. Faded half way through.

Some great tracks on this. Instrumentation is fantastic. Basslines pop out and synth is everyewhere. Rhythmically complex and interesting, and probably only let down by David Byrne's voice. Heaven is a killer tune.

Classic album that everyone loved except for me. Juvenile (not surprising though given the age of the bad) and a bit fun

Slick - can see how this set the platform for the next decade of rock

This is not the album to convince me that hiphop is worth my listening time.

Interesting musically, but vocals draining

far better than I was expecting.

Groovy baby! Le freak is a kicker, Nile Rodgers elevates this.

Sometimes hard to listen to the vocals, but there is some beautiful music here.

Classic sounds. Scratching sounds dated now but everything else flows together.

I'm sure it's very popular for 13year old boys.

Couldn't get into them when they were around, and still can't. Just seems like lazy music.

Like low fat vanilla icecream with vanilla topping. Production quality is good, but that only makes hearing the boringness even easier.

Good punk sounds.

Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Had heard the hits, but never really sat down to listen and couldn't get the Princess Diana association out of my brain. But a good listen - Benny and the Jets a standout.

Clean grunge sound, some killer songs. 90s leader.

Heavy 80's synths, sort of nostalgic to hear that but the songs do nothing for me.

I don't know how this made the list. It wasn't bad as such, just - meh. lots of meh.

Mediocre. Sounds like a competent pub band.

Wow - so sad and so beautiful to listen to. Sonically fantastic, worth sitting down with a decent set of headphones. And a nice bottle of red. Turn it up and relive your most recent heartbreak, and cry just a little.

Beginning of the end for U2 imo. The transition from alternative to stadium rockers is apparent here, and whilst they got bigger from here this was the last i3 album I enjoyed.

Paul Weller is an interesting geezer. This stuff is good, he's on the front row to new and exciting music. But it's hard to listen to this knowing he's going to form the Style Council and ruin all the street cred he'd built up over years. But he did redeem himself again with his later solo work. Putting that aside, this is a good album. Bass guitar is as tight as tight can be, even if it does totally rip off Taxman by the Beatles.

Ooh - this was good. Really sounds like a one-man job, lots of well constructed tunes with nice bass and synth lines. Piano on Uncertain Smile is just fantastic.

Well, somewhat cheesey, but of it's time. Signs of things to come but not something I'll willingly play.

Classic album. Great rhythms, loved the mix of instruments. Bass is fantastic, really drives the band along. So many things to listen to at once, there's a lot going on.

Gosh - another one for 13 year old boys to giggle over. Lots of rude words and saucy in your endo. Doesn't seem to deserve a place in the list .

Well. I'm well into the right demographic for this band, but I don't like them. At all. This was better than I was expecting, there's emotion aplenty, but still sound like a bunch of whiney boys.

New Order are great. Their use of synth combined with great bass playing defined an era. Sadly, they aren't great songwriters or singers. This album has some real highlights, but let down by some drab songwriting

DIdn't age well, and wasn't that great to start of with.

Quite different sounding - 1976, but seems timeless. Really different, but in a good way.

Well. It's classic album. But I can't see why, it's.... niceish, in a cheeey way. Harmony is pleasant, if sometimes a bit over the top. Perhaps you had to be there. I really was expecting something more compelling.

90's grunge, but still sounds engaging. Guitar sounds great, and some good tunes.

not one I'd ever listened to, but did know Paranoid and Iron Man. Didn't love it but didn't mind it either. Sounded good with the vocals and guitar going toe to toe for bits. Can see the influence on metal and hard rock. Not my thing.

Not a hip hop fan at all - but didn't hate this. Lots of musicality underneath, but a bit repetitive for me.

Well, better than I thought. Like Nick Cave's Murder Ballads, but country style. Yee Ha!

It's Radiohead. You need to listen and listen again. There is lots going on - this is a band who had already done it all and had nothing to prove - so they did things differently.

Hmm. It's not the Beatles. Solo Paul - songs are still good but I feel this goes into cheesey 70s a tad. Didn't love it.

First, let's start with the cover. It's horrible. Doesn't suit the album. Great album - debut three piece noise rock - of it's time certainly, but has enough hits to lift itself. And Maps - wonderful, especially the video.

pure cock rock. even the album cover is cock.

Nothing wrong with this. Can see why it is included, influence felt everywhere. Didn't love it though.

Horrible singing. Great bass.

<Themeland Amusement Park, Stockton, California> Jeanine: Oh, no! I told them once, I told them a hundred times: put "Spinal Tap" first and "Puppet show" last. Derek: It's a morale builder, isn't it? Jeanine: We've got a big dressing room, though. David: What? Jeanine: Got a big dressing room here... David: Oh, we've got a bigger dressing room than the puppets? Oh, that's refreshing.. Viv: I've got some of this Mendocino Rocket Fuel, that's supposed to be really...... David: Can you play...excuse me, Viv, can you play a bassline, uh, like Nigel used to do on "Big Bottom", can you double that? You recall the lines in fifths? Viv: Oh, yeah. I've got two hands here, yeah I can do it. David: So, that's good, you can play that one. Derek: "Hole" is out, "Heavy" is out.... David: "Heavy-Hole" .... Derek: Right, right, right, right...."America" is out..... David: "America" we can't do, that's Nigel's tune, not my tune. Derek: We know, we know, we know, we know...That's a nice little set, isn't it, that's a cozy ten minutes. David: What are we going to do, we've got nothing to play here... Derek: I'll tell you what we're gonna have to do... David: What? Derek: Jazz odyssey! David: We're not going about to do a free-form jazz, uh, exploration in front of a festival crowd! --- Spinal Tap Mark II performs Jazz Odyssey --- ( in front of a festival "crowd" ) ... with bongos

Funky.

Not my cup of herbal tea. Pleasant though.

Atrocious. Bloated. Overblown. Overproduced. Overplayed. Pompous. If I could do zero stars I would do zero stars.

Second live 60's Johnny Cash. I can't do this anymore. Please, let this be the last Johnny Cash.

Smooth jazz done well. If you like that kind of thing.

I don't need to like Missy, she likes herself enough for both of us.

Yeah - good work here. Some classic soul.

Love this. At times passionate, always experimental. Unique voice, Bjork does things that no other singer can. Can understand why people wouldn't embrace this - but I'm all for it. Adore the mix of electronica.

Bluesy and a bit country, classic classic rock.

Better than I was expecting, but I was expecting little. I just don't like sound of a needle scratch. Interesting to hear the ways songs are constructed but didn't float my boat.

punk with spunk

Lush sounds, well arranged and musically interesting. Should have been a star.

I don't get the hype. Had Nick Drake earlier this week and enjoyed that a whole lot more. This album rambles, the flautist seems like he's playing in a different band entirely. And Van, could do without his voice warbling all over the place. Horns sounded good though.

the jazzy bits saved it from 1 stars.

She's one of a kind Kate. This is a masterpiece, not without faults, but made with passion and purpose. Got to admire someone who can sing, write, produce and play the instruments, including one the Fairlight. Unique.

lots to listen to on this with interest.

Cool organ tones. Didn't think I'd like this but I was wrong. It grooved along nicely.

Drumming is next level. Screams 90's, but screams it so well. That baroque style terraced dynamics marks this as an early-ish grunge winner. Disarm is such a great tune and Today with that cool riff makes this album a classic.

Searing guitar, but a bit of a ramble. Deserves it's place in the 1001.

Jangly and sometimes jarring. Feels very low budget but has some quirk good tunes.

So sad and so lovely.

Not my thing, still belongs to the 70s

Meanders - not unexpectedly. Dense sounds, I think I'll need to give it a few more tries.

Cool bass on John, I'm only dancing. Fame is an absolute belter. Across the Universe is just sad though, and there wasn't enough gold in the rest of the album.

Hmmmmm. Cold. Groundbreaking, but ultimately not a great listen.

OK. Ish.

Folky but in a strange way.

Grating. Real 70s stink with the vocal harmonies and slide guitar.

Ooh. Hasn't aged well. Oozes 90s angst but in a nicely packaged form.

Liked the jazzy bits more that the hippity hoppity bits. Sounds like 18 bass players on a late night out and too much cocaine.

CockRock. Big Guitars, Big Drums, Big Cocks. Could happy live the rest of my life never having to listen to Led Zep again.

Yeah. Having this after led Zeppelin makes me keen to hear something more complex than old blues rock. Janis can sing though.

70's Blues, but some is good to rock out to. La Grange elavates it.

World Music? Is that condescending? Proto blues, some cool call and response vocals. Guitar noodling all around, it was sometimes captivating.

Hit and miss. have had two Johnny Cash country albums and hated them. This had some memorable songs reinterpreted and properly produced. Hurt a standout.

Honky Tock Glam Rock. No Thank You Mott.

Big gulf between the hits and the filler. Hits are gold though.

Can't listen to this. Her vocal inflection kills EVERYTHING!

I don't know what this was, but it wasn't something I'd ever want to listen to.

Classic for a reason. I don't - at all - like this era of music. However Bowie is a class above, inventing so others can follow.

Nice, drums sound very dated now. But not special.

Background music

Such a distinctive voice. Good mood to this album, bass playing is top notch

Once again, jazz which I have no ability to work out whether it's good or bad. Nice groove.

Jazzy bits were good, liked the bass, didn't like anything else. I'm not made for hip hop.

Music for dinosaurs. In faded denim and straggly hair.

Possibly the worst thing I've had to listen to on the list.

Lame dance electronica.

horrible hippy shit.

Superstition is such a great song. Much of the album is saccharin sweet or bland though.

Nice proto punk guitar.

Sounds very dated, not much magic hidden here.

Pure cock rock teamed up with over the top production.

Still not feeling it.

Loved this - will need to listen again. Lush sounds, but still so much space in the music.

Afro jazz, great buzz going on

80s but somehow sounds modern as well. Songs and lyrics both well crafted. Great bass playing, really interesting musically.

Loud and proud guitar, early grunge.

Just perfect.

Electronica, manages to avoid dance music cliches, good background music.

Effen horrible. Sounds like a bad lounge singer with a bad case of the safe.

Dated and boring.

Simple recipe well executed.

Polished, listenable, but mostly bland.

Deserves to be forgotten.

Just can't get the love for Neil Young. Whiney voice.

Bland, dated, inoffensive pap

countryblues. I'm sure it's a sad story behind the record, but I just couldn't get into it.

Putting aside the personality issues this is a good listen

Mostly sad.

I'm middle aged, white, non-American. I'm not the target market for 2Pac. I listened to this with my 13 year old son. He liked the rude words. I liked it only when there were no words.

Wow. Pleasantly surprised, there was so much gold on this. Great vibe, excellent musicianship and powerful voice.

Immigrant song is a standout. Mostly derivative blues, shines when they pull out their cock and balls and rock out.

one star all the way. eehh

I'm supposed to love it. I've tried, it's technically brilliant but.... I don't put it on by choice.

Wailing harmonica and Bob Dylan's voice. If only you could add some bagpipes and an accordion to round out the horror. What a horrid combination of sounds. If perhaps he just read out his lyrics I could appreciate this. Instead I have to sit through this sonic assault.

Some great songs. Perfect day.

Wow. This was a surprise, actually kind of over the top fun. Great drumming, lots of tempo changes to keep things interesting. Not really my style of music but I could find a lot to like.

Interesting choice for this list. It's good, sounds like StereoLab, but nothing stands out on first listen.

Consistent, she's got a great voice - but it's country. Can country music EVER get 5 stars?

Loud and punky. Can hear influence in Jesus & Mary Chain etc. Would have been great to see live in it's day.

Raw, recorded in only a week. Hints of what was to come. A Forest is such a standout, it's simple but so well layered.

Black Steel sounds great. Some nice beats going on.

Full of 90s angst. Songs are good, Tori is a talented artist with lots to say

She's got some talent, but feels like the producer tried to fill every moment with tricks.

90's gold, Evan Dando is effortlessly cool.

This had a good feel - not sure if it's going to remain a '1001' worthy album, but perhaps too early to tell. Worth another session.

Kids. Don't do drugs.

Sir Duke has such a perfect groove, and that lead horn is divine. This is a great album. There's a bit of cheese leftover but glad I gave this another listen.

Enjoyed this far more than I had expected. Didn't fall in love but the vocals were smooth and some nice basslines going on

The Doo Wop is annoying, but the songs underneath are quality, better than I'd expected. Wouldn't put it on again but can see why it's on the list.

The sound of a fine dinner party.

1978, sandwiched between disco and punk, and Bruce is staying firm on his working man doing his darn best to keep it real in this tough old world. Can't fault the mans' heart, but this is just a bit ....tame? I've put this an about 3 times and completely forgot it was playing - at least until that horrible guitar in Streets of Fire jolts me out of my trance.

Better than expected, mellow and harmonic. But not all of it.

Loud and cranky.

Completely forgettable.

Smooth cheese. Nice bass but I couldn't wait for it to finish.

Production sounds dated but still some really catchy tunes and some fine storytelling..

Some fantastic hits on this album elevate it.

All class.

Cool album this one, enjoyed the laid back groove.

Bowie is a master craftsman. There isn't a bad track here, but also -- there isn't a standout. I really wanted to like this more but did find it just a bit bland.

Just couldn't feel the love, but perhaps I was just frustrated jumping between YouTube and Amazon Music to find the songs.

Well, it does ramble.

This was a great album, lots of hits but also lots of gold in the album tracks. Sounds like a band that has been playing for 20 years, tight and talented.

Pure piss.

Wow, haven't really taken the time to appreciate this. Superb

Rockin out with this one. Just a great sound, Jack White's guitar playing is excellent, one monster hit to open the album but lots of bluesy but not tired tunes.

Twang. Would have been better as a comedy album

Smooth and funky in parts, but I don't think it warrants a place in the 1001. He has better albums and they are in the list.

70s rock. Needs to stay there, this is just loud and somehow also bland.

I have this on a surround sound SACD hi fidelity system. Do you realise is such a joyful song, the whole album holds up well.

Well, it sounds just like I remember, all big guitars and egos. Still holds up well, but I'm still on the Blur side of this fight.

If you ignore the bonus tracks this is an amazing album for it's time. Mid 60s isn't a place I want to visit musically but got a kick out of this. Great attitude on display.

If you fed Stevie Wonder into a low grade AI algorithm and plugged in 90s level synths you wouldn't get something as bland as this.

Still some fresh sounds in here, Peaches is a kicker.

Well. If I liked Metallica I would probably like this too. But I don't, so that's a waste of 2 hours. None of this inspired me to grab the black Iron Maiden t-shirt and stop washing my hair.

Well. Kashmir is great. But the rest - musically fine but boring as Eric Olthwaite's shovel collection.

Very dated 60's garage rock. No my thing but could see why this stands above similar bands - some good hooks and deviations in the songwriting.

Relax!!!!! (I feel like it needs lots of exclamation marks) was such a big hit at the time. Album feels like it was chucked together quickly, a few hits and lots of low value covers and synth funk Trevor Horn found under a cushion on his couch

Beautiful stuff, stands out from the crowded 60's American folkpop

Painful. The hits I knew from millions of plays on radio, parties, boganfests and anywhere kids like to act tough. The filler tracks were lame . Lyrics are peurile, delivery over the top.

Hippy rubbish.

Very dated, classic 'Orchestral Hit' midi sample littered throughout. Interludes are just plain annoying.

Maudlin. Not horrible but never going to choose this.

Just plain fun. Would have loved to be in the crowd for this.

Was hoping for more like Another Girl.

Signs of better things to come, lovely strong voice but material is bland.

Lots of fun here. Excellent musicians, if I could dance I would dance to this.

Some nice jangly tones, but mostly hippy wailing. Very dated.

As smooth as can be, but also just a bit bland. Could cope with it as background music in a busy cafe.

Angular. Great guitar work.

I thought I'd be in for a standard 70s rock album - but pleasantly surprised by this. Lots of variety, didn't love it but appreciate the range.

Inoffensive and uninspired.

Great tunes, I think Lost Souls is probably a better album but this is a great listen, more polished sound

Unexpected! Enjoyed this far more than expected, not a jazz fan but could listen to this. Expressive and interesting.

I have no idea what is good about this. Sounds like a random number generator plugged into a sampler. Lyrically horrible. I took the time to read the lyrics to find out if there is some hidden glory, but it's all Kayne bragging. "I'd rather be a dick than a swallower". This is made for 13 year old boys.

Does Bowie have bad albums? This still sounds fresh. Short, probably without a standout hit compared to others in his catalogue but all quality.

Marr is a legend, Morrisey a legendary dick. Great songs, jangly guitar and biting lyrics. Filler though just doesn't kick enough.

90s nostalgia trip, loved it then, still got it now. Fuzzy is a great groove.

Little Wing is gold, rest is just about meh. Great musicianship but songwriting is flat.

Cat Power is a singer with an astonishing voice. At times husky, belligerent, soaring, goading and insistent, and always beautiful. I could listen to her sing the phone book. She doesn't get a mention in the 1001 list, though Bob gets about a hundred entries. This is not fair. This year (2022) she performed a concert at the Royal Albert Hall recreating this entire album. It's about the only way I think I could enjoy Bob.

Historical important, but .... just like indian sweets, there some parts of Indian culture that doesn't settle with me.

It's the Beatles, and it's the Beatles when they knew how to use a studio. There's so much going on musically (and then there is Yellow Submarine).

Was such a prominent album when it came out - listening back now I find it bland and repetitive. Enough good songs to lift to a 3 but only just.

Wow, much more enjoyable than expected.

Early punk. Much more coherent than the Sex Pistols and it just sounds like they had a lot of fun making this record. No standout songs for me.

Pretty chill, didn't fall in love but some good tracks

Tango is a new one for me. Lots of this sounds like 20th century classical, with that Stravinsky shrieking violin doing it's fingernail down the chalkboard work. That aside there is some real interest here, clearly musicians at the top of their game.

Cliche after cliche, power ballads and all that. Sticks like superglue to the poodle rock formula.

Kudos to Lenny for playing just about everything on the album. It's good in bits, derivative but in a fine way - healthy respect for some classic funk in there. But it just lacks spark - never really stands out. Road trip music.

This opens soooo well, lovely layers of melody. Album is probably a bit too long - plenty of aimless noodling, quite possible fueled by a bucket load of illicit substances.

Is there a more distinctive voice in music? I don't think so. Tom Waits grows through a pretty solid list of blues numbers, like a less poetic version of Nick Cave at times. Solid offering if you've already started on the bourbon and the sun is still up.

Hmm. Well, I don't really listen to Indian music, and I don't get this album. Catchy at times but not enough substance.

Well, there's a whole lot going on here, and it goes on for a whole long time. Can't fault the musicianship, but golly gee it rambles, and not in a way that holds my interest.

Interesting electronica, breathy voice just gets overdone. Not going to stay on my playlist.

Historically important if you are in the USA, but I'm not and this album doesn't speak to me culturally at all. And it sounds like crass juvenile noise. Express yourself is the only thing slightly decent.

Well, a bit hard to track done the songs. What I could find (or remember) had a nice groove in parts, but I'd just rather listen to the source than the mashup.

Opens with a glorious punk rock sounds. There is influences from 60s Motown, hip hop, electronica as well. Sharp lyrics, a few less than stellar fillers but overall inventive and uplifting.

Never listened to more than the singles from Siouxsie, I've missed out! Much better than I was expecting, unique sounds, esp the guitar work.

Groundbreaking music that your can't dance to, can't sing along with, can't rock out with? Love it. Eno uses his toys to make music that is texturally fascinating, layering fragments of melody to build a place of comfort.

Quite like some of his work, but this one missed the mark. Bass player sounded like he was working on a different album to the rest of the band.

Shock rock, not a genre that has legs.

I'm not a true believer in country music. I find it generally ultra basic harmonically, plodding basslines vamping to simple drums and twangy guitars. And songs about missing dogs. Occasionally some annoying fiddler's fiddling too. I didn't pick up any missing dog references in this album, but ticked all the other boxes.

I love Nick Cave. I've seen him over a dozen times in various stages of his career, but not this early port-punk phase. And listening to this - is proof that progress is possible, change is good, and that Nick was a very angry young man. It's sort of punk, but not really. Abrasive. I think I would have loved it when I was younger, but now I'm crusty it's just too too much.

What a surprise this one was. Expected dated dark metal, received symphonic and innovative collection of songs by that mixed genres. Not all winners but really quite a revelation.

I've never listened to Fiona Apple, she seems to be just a USA thing. Just confirmed - according to setlistfm she's toured a lot but barely left North America. So keen to find out more. ... [one album later] ... Less keen now, I couldn't really cope with the stream of consciousness put to music. Lots going on instrumentally but just so random, and just a bit smartypants too. Echoes of Laurie Anderson I support.

U2 was the first band I ever saw live - back in 1984 on the Unforgettable Fire tour. They were fantastic - great songs to sing along with, crowd getting into it and Edge sounding great. I never saw them again and didn't listen to much past Rattle and Hum, it just seemed like they chased the US market and blanded out. This album is so flaccid and bland. Insipid. I have no idea how they went from almost alternative music in 84 to this - but what a mistake.

This one grew on me with repeated listenings. Good songs and complex arrangements, all underpinned by the distinctive voice.

I like some of their work, saw them live once and have got a few later albums by Mark Lanegan. Dust... though, feels like they were aiming for a Led Zep version of grunge and just falls flat.

Oh, that's just random hippy gibberish. Just rubbish. I was hoping for the Presidents of the United States of America. This one wasted my time, and I had to hit YouTube to even find it.

Some 'bangers', to use the terminology of the time, and a lot of drug addled filler. Pleasant mix of gospel, guitar rock and trippy sampling. Drags on a bit.

60's music doesn't generally do much for me. This country tinged twang fest didn't sway me. Neil Young may be a godfather but his voice is grating. There is some nice guitar twiddling going on in parts. I'd much prefer Buffalo Tom. Or Grant Lee Buffalo. Or New Buffalo. There are better Buffalos out there!

Imagine is fantastic, good to play on piano. Loved jealous guy as well. But the rest was sub-beatles.

Wow - what a ride! Perhaps one of those albums I did need to listen to before I die. Now ready to meet my maker. Can only imagine how exhausted the drummer would be after a live gig. Lot of technical brilliance, but - no surprise - can't stand the vocals. You Suffer was a treat though.

Well - this was a new thing. Never listened to the T Schwizzle. Pop music is made differently. Vocals are right on top of the mix - it's Taylor and her backing band - though in this case the backing band includes some indie superstars rather than a hit factory. She's telling a story with all her heart, but it all sounds very contrived. Like a Big Mac but on a nicer plate, it's an album for easy consumption and mass market. I could happily put it on whilst cleaning the house just to drown out the sound of the vacuum cleaner.

Solid 2 star album. Jim Morrison was an insufferable man and a crap poet, but at least the organ sounds are cool. This album channels 60's blues, but holy F it seems to make a 44 minute album sound like 3 hours of pain. The End is such a self indulgent stroppy teenager whinefest. Urrgh. Whatever.

Seminal album, it's influence is everywhere. Blueprint for the alternative rock scene. Anger, angst and sheer guitar brilliance - not in a showoff Yngie J style but in here's what else you can do with 6 strings and a distortion pedal. Some might find that it rambles but I love the way the guitars move in and out of a theme. Opens with Teenage Riot, as close to as an anthem as they will get - and the best song they ever did. Album does taper off at the end.

Well, I thought I would enjoy this. But just 70s crooning, played it twice and forgot it was on both times. No hits and nothing stood out for me.

Loud and proud, a metric tonne of energy here. Influential and a great change from the proggy/hippy tunes popular in the late 60s

I once went on a sporting road, 10 hours driving in a minivan during the golden age of tape decks. Team mates insisted on Queen's Greatest Hits on repeat for the journey rather than my collection of well crafted indie and alternative hits. Fuck you Queen, and fuck you Clive.

Enjoyed the groove here, pleasant discovery.

Yacht rock! Smooth, sounds real clear though good cans. Musically complex and beautifully played... But just soft. Soft. Soft and bland. Like Tofu. Yes, this is musical tofu.

Samba - didn't really know what to expect or how to rate. I didn't get it, but didn't hate it.

This is a very strange selection for the 1001. Barry has done lots of interesting things in his career, and this is the least of them.

Just not feeling this one. Voice sounds out of tune at points.

I imagine there is a truck stop bar somewhere in rural Ohio with a house band in the corner noodling through a bunch of songs they have been perfecting on weekends when they aren't too tired from their day jobs repairing fencing on the ranch. This would be those songs. And no-one apart from the truckers passing through rural Ohio would hear them. How this band has such a following is a mystery. It's home brand diet vanilla icecream put to music.

STOP SHOUTING AT ME!

Fast Car is the standout song, great bit of story telling and an instantly recognisable guitar hook. Bit too far down the complaint rock road for me but can't help admire her commitment.

Prog all the way here. Impressive musicianship combined with musical tripe doesn't win me over. It just sounds contrived to show off how well they can play. And yes - they really do nail the jazz work but it seems to go nowhere.

I wanted to like this. Opened well, but 'For the Turnstiles' broke me, awful voice. I really don't know what I would have listened to in the late 60's/early 70's. All this country tinged folk with horrible singers.

If you asked me to listen to this 1001 more times or die... well, I've had a good life, no regrets. Can someone please feed the fish?

Found myself humming "Love is a stranger" all day, it's the best song on the album I think. Sweet Dreams has the best synth parts though, the layering is excellent. Filler material is a bit thin but it's a good album.

This is really really really well done blues-rock. But I'm really really really bored with blues-rock. I think to properly enjoy this I'd need a beer belly and a red MAGA hat and be wedged into the back booth of a bar in Tennessee downing Buds and contemplating calling my ex wife to discuss again who gets the dog.

I'm not black, not American and not cranky. This album does zero for me. Kindergarten level music and a angry man shouting and swearing. Get off my lawn!

I moved from Australia to London in 1997. Back then we had a huge alternative music scene in Oz, fueled in part by a national youth radio station dedicated to Indie and Alternative music. I'd never heard of Take That and no-one I knew talked about pop music at all. I'm sure some people knew who Robbie Williams was but for me he was in a world I could happily ignore. UK was a different beast - no real alternative radio (apart from bits of pieces on BBC and the ill-fated XFM) - the Xmas number one was a huge thing, boy bands and girl bands dominated the radio and press. Robbie was part of that machine, and that machine helped make this plastic piece of piss popular. This is muzak, a pop star searching for cred.

I knew going into this project that albums like this would come up. Songs that were all over the radio, at shops, at parties, songs that I hated and couldn't avoid. CCR, Queen, Eagles, Led Zep. Classic Rock. Urrghh. Skilled guitar playing - points for that. Nice solos. But it's the ultimate cocaine fueled cliche overblown dad rock. This is why we have punk music.

I've just had a few terrible albums in a row, so I'm pleased to get this on the list, even though it's just Coldplay. It's not going to hurt at all, but like a lukewarm bath cold day, it's not going to make the world a much better place. Musically there's a lot going on, it's all polished and ... nice. I quite liked the first two Coldplay albums when they came out, but I would have rather see their contemporaries such as Elbow or Doves make it big. Coldplay have taken the U2 path and best of luck to 'em, I'm just not on the journey with them. I don't hate them, but I'll stick to the Parachutes and this and leave the rest to stadium rock.

This is way out of my wheelhouse, but I did get a kick out of it. Voice is just so expressive - it really is Billie + backing musicians, she shines. Very dated sounding though - it's a bit of an outlier in the 1001 list.

1969 - this seems way ahead of it's time. Rough and raw, I can't imagine how that would have sounded up against the country folk coming out of Neil Young etc. Not one I'm going to listen to again, but can hear influences on a lot of music I do love.

First album I've put on and then hit play again as soon as it finished. This is deep. I've listened to Kind of Blue quite a few times and never really been moved, but Bitches Brew is a far more interesting beast. Jazz is not my thing at all, but this thing somehow floats my boat. At times it sounds like 5 songs at once but then all comes back into a single stream of brilliance. Unexpected 4 stars for me.

I don't know what to think about Paul Weller. Clearly he has runs on the board for The Jam, but negative points for the Style Council. There's something just too earnest about his bolshie yearnings. There's some quality music here, but lyrically lame.

I expected more out of this. London Calling is incendiary, Guns of Brixton has that iconic intro, and of course the album cover is one of the greatest pieces of rock art out there. But I felt nothing for the rockabilly influence and - perhaps this is another case where you had to be there at the time - I didn't feel inspired by much else. I'm sure it's me not you.

Painful listening. It's like listening to an hour of Ron Burgundy playing jazz flute in Anchorman, but without any humour. Actually, scratch that, it feels like 3 hours not one.

Oh. EDM. Not my thing. They don't sing. Just go bling.

Oh god, that warbling voice! Soft ballads - who listens to this and is under 80 years old? It sounds like I'm stuck in a church service and they have got a house band. And not the James Brown sort, the blue rinse hair and pearls sort. This was a painful listening experience. Bring on the disco Bee Gees cos this is so middle of the road. Lion in Winter just about broke me.

Making 1990 sound like 1970. This is southern blues rock done very well - competent vocals, talented guitar, stable rhythm section, but southern blues rock is about as bland and safe as music can get and there's nothing to distinguish this from a million other bar bands. The hit song was a cover of an Otis Redding hit that doesn't really extend it at all (and lacks the vocal nuances that Otis adds). She Talks to Angels is the only song that varies from the pattern. This album lacks imagination. Black Crowes played at a festival I was at last year. I didn't see much of them, Kurt Vile was on a different stage and was far more my style.

I like drums. I love bass. The drums here are electronic of course, and not programmed at all to sound like anything a human drummer would produce. Can appreciate the artistry, and didn't hate the music, but I think this makes more sense in a London club at 3am with a bloodstream that has more than just a strong dose of caffeine keeping things moving. Here and now it's just too long and too glitchy.

17 songs recorded in 12 days. You'd think it might be a bit rough or unfinished, but this is a supremely polished effort. The album opens with pure fire and finishes with a singalong. Rhythm section is tight, there's some lovely bass playing that just ties everything down. The first side is blues based but not at all by-the-book standard blues, there's gospel and grunge and everything else mixed in. Side 2 is a far more mellow and beautiful set of songs. Masterpiece. I have this in my collection but had forgotten how good it is.

There's enough material here for 3 and a half good songs, not a full album let along a whole Tuesday night. Sherly can sing, there's no lack there, but the material is a middle of the road as you can get, mixed in with some iconic 90's spoken country rap (aka crap).

This is NOT Brit Pop. Repeat - this is not Brit Pop. It's Brit Bolton. Yes, Michael Bolton invaded 90's music via the Manics. How else do you explain the vocals here - especially on Further Away. I lived in London in the 90s and couldn't ever understand the love the UK music press had for the Manic Street Preachers ( and Menswear). This is a band who would have thrived as a power ballad poodle rock band but were born in the wrong decade. Design for Life is the only thing raising this from 1 star.

This could be a difficult one for some - the detuned synths and slightly weak vocals could be off-putting, but if you can get past that it's a rewarding album. I was lucky enough to see them live in the 90s and they put on a joyous and inspirational show. This album doesn't quite capture the vibe of the live show, but that only points out how good they are live. This album is full of great songs, full of experiments and a showcase for a band finding a new sound.

Well. Country music - can it ever get more than 3 stars? Is there a genre with less musical complexity than Country, with it's simple chord patterns, vamp bass, straight-lace drums and songs about dogs? Some nice guitar work though. Cancelled out by the banjo. Emmylou has an expressive voice, she really does a great interpretation of the songs (I enjoyed 'For No One', and again sweet guitar noodling in this). But it's a cover album of country music, I'm not sure why it makes the 1001.

Never listened to Joni Mitchell before. Liked the album, bass was superb, Jacob P sliding all over the place.

Pretty vanilla album, I'm sure if this was the only thing Tom Petty released then this wouldn't make the 1001. Not any real great songs, a lot of filler and songs that just fade out because they seemingly ran out of ideas.

"You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… "Lynyrd Skynrd. I'm getting tired of southern blues rock. The songs get longer and longer, the guitar solos wail and wail and wail all the way home. And I know somewhere in my 1001 album future is CCR, and that just might break me. Freebird goes fine, but I prefer the bagpipe version.

Well, is this a contender for the worst album cover of all time? Even the font is dumb. Or worst album title. Or perhaps just worst album. Lets see. Track 1 - sounds like a drunk guy singing around a campfire. Track 2 - oh god is that the most piercing guitar sound ever on the lead? Horrible tone. Track 3 - OK, this album only goes for 37 minutes, phew. I can survive this. Track 4. - Maybe I can survive this. I may have lost the will to live at this point. Some generally OK guitar noodling and some horrible scat jazz styled do wop rubbish. (Song with no words in particular). This one can go straight to the bargain bin.

This is a great, great album. It's not Britpop, that came about 4 years later, but it certainly set the scene for what was to come. I remember when I first heard Fool's Gold, it sounded like nothing else around at the time, and I rushed out to buy the CD. I was both surprised and disappointed to find Fool's Gold wasn't on the CD so I bought the vinyl 12" of Fools Gold as well, bases all covered. Turns out Fools Gold wasn't a whole lot like the album, and was recorded afterwards. Rhythm section is super solid, some fantastic bass playing (love it on I Want to be Adored), but what carries this album is the sublime guitar playing of John Squires. It's not the flashy poodle/glam rock guitar popular at the time (think Motley Crue, Skid Rock, Warrant). This is melodic, arpeggios and wah-pedal heavy trills, some reverse trickery and overdubs as well but it's all pure gold.

Was a fan of the Pumpkins back in the day, and played the first two albums a lot, and saw them live a couple of times (including touring this album, where they didn't play anything from Gish). Wasn't so much into this one at the time, perhaps I was a bit worn out by sad angry Billy. His voice never bothered me but I know it does for others. 2 hours long, it's going to be a challenge for some but I found this worth going through again. There really is a lot of great stuff here, the singles are rightly famous but there is a wide range of music on show, they can do soft and mellow as well as hard and cranky. Drumming is top notch. And oh yes, the 90's angst here is out and proud. I'm no longer a rat in cage but still got a nostalgia kick from this.

yeah nah. Not seeing the value in this.

Hasn't aged well for me, muddy 90s still.

Better than expected. Would not have picked this as 1979, it's got a far more modern sound about it to me. I only knew of her as Mick Jagger's ex (ok, that could be lot of people), and knew the first song. Working Class Here cover was great. Emotive voice, she's not hitting highs but sings with passion.

I don't really like jazz. But I really like this.

Not sure about this. I listened to it 3 times in a row try and see what everyone else is seeing. It's good, and clearly the social context makes it important for 1970s America, but not finding reasons to elevate this. Save the Children drops this to 3 stars.

A lot of blipping and blopping and synthesized wankery. This was a very long and not very inspiring album. Apparently groundbreaking for techno, which is like being groundbreaking for greasy hamburgers - perhaps only good if you are young, intoxicated and don't value your health.

Fantastic record. PJ Harvey is a great storyteller and here is a superb collection of songs. Musically lots of variation - PJ likes to shake up time signatures, and the input from Mick Harvey and Thom Yorke is great, especially the latter's vocals on "This Mess We're In".

I've got the album with 'The revolution will not be televised' and I reckon it's a better one that this, and probably also more 'meaningful' from a 1001 albums to hear before you die pov. Still, this was a good listen, especially on the faster tracks with the bass dancing all over the place.

Well. It's good in spots, but very shouty. I've seen them live and enjoyed it more when they were thrashing guitars. This one - I'm just not liking it. Had to listen to it in two shifts cos I was done after a few songs. Good to pick up the samples but it just feels a bit smartarse.

Pretty left field choice here. Sine waves and early synth sounds were interesting. I would have enjoyed it far more without the singing.

The sound of cheese.

Second Beastie Boys album this week. Found it tiring - and just too juvenile for me. I'd rather go shout at a cloud.

Well, fun fact for me reading the Wiki, I used to live a block away from where this was recorded, just about 20 years too late. Elvis has a great singing voice, comes out clearly in the mix. As a debut this is great. Working Week kicks off with some fun, a bit 'doo wop' for me but doable in small doses. Miracle man suffers from some bad bass work (or perhaps bad mixing) and there is a lot of filler on the album. Alison though is just one of the great songs in the world, and the guitar (and bass) work really well here. Watching the Detectives is also a 5 star song. Not enough quality for on this one but some real good tracks

Wild guitar work on the title track, well worth the price of admission. And the fun continues, there's an infectious groove here. Played this about 6 times in a row. Even the cow noises didn't annoy me (neither moo or bell), and I don't usually have patience for this sort of shenanigans.

Look, it's ABBA, there's not going to be a surprise here. Super polished vocals, some really terrible lyrics and some excellent pop songwriting. But not my cup of cheese.

Woah nelly, this is a doozy. Struggled until Pachuco Cadaver, and struggled afterwards. Clearly some talent and and inventiveness, but just don't like the whole package. I think there must have been a lot of drugs sacrificed to make this album.

Yuck. It's like everything I hate all at once.

Love Radiohead. Always playing with the formula and trying new toys.

Well. Not what I was expecting, which is lazy MOR rawk. Instead got a mix of jazz and my 12 year old son playing with my guitar and amp.

I have a friend called David Watts. He likes this album. I enjoyed this more than expected, lots of variety and fine songwriting.

Hmm. Hated it when it came out. And haven't changed my opinion since. Perhaps even worse now that the sounds are so dated.

Listened to it three times without ever really listening to it. Enjoyable without being captivating.

Neil Young has an annoying whiny voice, plays harmonica and guitar, and writes deep and meaningful songs. Like a rockier Bob Dylan. With a better voice. And I think - probably - better songs. Old Man is iconic; Needle and the Damage Done is perfectly suited for Neil's voice. Not feeling the love for the rest of it, some good music dragged down by the singing.

I listened to this, and listened again, and listened again, and every time I like it more. So 4 stars for those lovely synth sounds, I'm sure this would have been tricky to put together with the equipment of the day. Gary Numan doesn't have the greatest voice but suits this fine.

Loud and shouty. But not all the time, mixes it up. Didn't like it but didn't hate it either.

Novelty value only. Unenjoyable. The sitar is unpleasant.

Wow. This is possibly the most vanilla album on the list. Paul Simon is a talented and successful artist, but this - this is just bleh.

I know Steve Winwood is a bloody musical genius, but this sounds so dated and bland.

Clean sounding blues. Lots to like.

5 stars for the bass playing and guitar noodling. 1star for the rest.

Tusk - the song - is great. Innovative, catchy, musically simple but fascinating. The rest of the album is just sort of nicely bland . It's 1979, there's lots going on in punk, funk, disco and garage rock, but Fleetwood Mac aim squarely at middle of the road adult rock.

Whole lotta wank. Good musicians, entirely derivative music, and not enjoying it at all. I do like some of their songs, but none on this album.

I like The Charlatans, but hadn't given this a listen. Probably would have liked it more at the time, now it sounds quite dated. Enough good songs there to try again.

Four or five stars? There's a bit of fluff on this, but so much gold too.

Hmm. Lots of classic 90's tropes here, including spoken work audio from the BBC news. Indian music mixed with the emerging trip hop movement, but it just sounds dated.

Peurile AND putrid.

Better than expected. Nice organ solos, didn't stray into horrible hippy territory.

Classic

Sonically wonderful and some big big songs. The opening three songs -Red Rain, Sledgehammer and Don't Give Up is just about as good a start as any album I can think of. Bass playing (Tony Levin) is of course fantastic, sitting so nicely in the groove, but also leading the show (eg Don't Give Up). Great roster of singers assisting. Not a bad song on this.

Supergrass should have been bigger than Oasis - they had better songs and more talent, perhaps just lacked the swagger. This is a blindingly good debut. There are echoes of The Kinks, Beatles, Wire, The Ramones and The Jam in here, even a bit of Status Quo on 'Time'. Nothing describes youthful hijinks better than 'Caught by the Fuzz'. 'Alright' carries on the theme with it's honky tonk piano. 40 minutes of pure fun.

Third background cd for a polite dinner party.

Great debut. Loud and fast.

Gets nicely into a groove.

When the bassline kicked in on You Want it Darker I though that The Bad Seeds had taken over, had that effortless but menacing groove that Nick Cave thrives on. Some good and some OK, but really distinctive and far more enjoyable - in a dark way - that I had expected.

Obviously important from a historic perspective, but nothing I want to listen to again.

Well - I didn't hate it. Expect when they had vocals. Then I hated it.

That bass sound is something else - I think would have been good to see live, lots of energy. But feels a bit contrived.

This is Spinal Tap...but without the funny bits.

Well - I thought I'd like this - given the era and the producer. But what a lame effort this was, completely forgettable. Derivative but not done well.

Guitars, poor life choices and a good supply of drugs is a heady mix. And this is what you get - some real sparkle with the opening track, lots of Clash smells throughout the album and a mellow acoustic closer. It's not a great album though - loose and lazy in the middle. Guitar interplay is fun and there is still a lot to like, but it's no classic.

Opens so well with Novocaine for the Soul and then Susan's House. Pretty impressive for a debut album as well. Songs like 'Guest List' and 'Mental' let the album down. More to come from the Eels (though perhaps not for the 1001 list) - this is a good start.

Incoherent mess over a drum machine.

Unremarkable elevator music, with a voice familiar from anyone with kids in the Toy Story era.

I know it's been overplayed now, but when this came out EVERYTHING changed - for the better. The opening 34 seconds of this album define the 90s. They opened up a world of interesting music and us indie kids had a bigger place in the world. Was lucky enough to see them live touring this album. Credit should go to Butch Vig for how good this album sounds. It would have been easy for this just to be another loud angry underground release, but he gave it some polish. Fine material to work with too in the songwriting too - this isn't just some 3 chord punkrock screaming. Drums pound and the bass just locks in, and that guitar tone is the sound of flannelette and unwashed hair. Nothing technically difficult compared to the hair metal contemporaries, but perfect none the less. Hadn't played this start to finish for years, but glad I did. Could live without 'Endless, Nameless' but every other track is a winner.

Sad and lovely album. I've listened more to his later stuff, was good to get into this one instead. He really set the scene for the earnest singer-songwriter wearing his heart on his sleeve. Tragic end of course, and he never seemed a settled soul. At least we have these albums to remember him by.

ROYGBIV is a standout. This not their best work, but it is a challenging and at times charming bit of electronic noodling. Love the experimentation going on - they are do this for themselves, no record company is backing this.

The only hip-hop band I've seen live (on a bill with Nick Cave, Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth), and they were great on stage. 3 stars for me, I like that this is a band playing live instruments - everything flows. Cover of California Uber Alles is great. Very preachy, but Michael Franti has things he wants to say.

I just have no idea what people see in this. I'd rather just listen to the source the samples are from without some loudmouth shouting at me. 13 year old me would like the edgy swearing, but I'm way past that.

Not an east listen - had to put it on a few times to 'get it' - rewarding though. Lots of interesting tricks in the music, didn't love the vocals though and my French isn't good enough to understand it anyway.

I've clearly been sleeping on the Damned - didn't realise at all that they had such range. Musically far ahead of the Sex Pistols who come off as a cartoon band compared to The Damned. Finishing off with Smash it up is glorious. This is electric stuff.

This sounds like half a glass of low fat milk left out on the counter too long.

Well, as an Australian I feel like I should get behind this, but this just doesn't stir my national pride. It's formulaic, not musically interesting and overrated.

One of those albums let down by the vocals. Kevin is an emotional fellow, I got pretty tired of his overwrought swooning. Can see the influence in Jarvis Cocker who does it so much better. Northern Soul - not my bag baby.

Gave this a few listens - it's not a simple album. Quite different to their earlier work - clear they wanted to move away from the triphop thang and start fresh. It doesn't hit home the same way Dummy did. It's still unique but not as strong. 3 stars, could perhaps revise to 4 with a few more spins.

Motherfuckin terrible from motherfuckin start to motherfuckin finish, Motherfuckers.

Blur had a battle with everyone in the 90's. Whilst Oasis did their thing without care, Blur wanted to win over the critics and the fans. No doubt for me that they were the better band with a greater range, as evidenced by this banger. Beetlebum sets the scene for some classic 90s alternative music, Song II is throw away hit but there is depth in the rest of the album. Can't believe Gorrillaz are the better regarded band for some - Blur is where it's at.

Backing music is fine - good even. Quite enjoyed the less vocally aggressive tracks (eg 'Selfish') but the rest left me empty.

It was ... nice.

Some good musicians, but bad material to work with, and Elvis should have just retired in the 50s

Some weak tracks (Run Charlie Run) and some rippers (Papa was a rolling stone). Loved the guitar work with that wah pedal, the horn section adds some real sizzle and production is great.

This is like the fine china figurines kept in glass cabinets in your Grandma's house - can admire the artistry but just don't want to touch and don't understand the attraction.

Gimme shelter is a 5 star effort, but the rest is just blech. Drop the choir from the closer.

Good 80s indie. Great little funk bass lines and Wire-like guitar. Totally new to me, but a good find.

The album AFTER the big one. Clear growing pains, but not a surprise given the explosion in popularity. And can't help feeling let down by this effort. Still a fine record though.

This was a rough ride - as if they had turned going to the dentist into musical form. Some parts of it though were great. They have thrown a whole lot of paint on this canvas, some looks great and some is painfully bad. Kudos for the innovation, but I'm not playing this at my next dinner party.

Would sound better in Dobly.

If I liked HipHop then this would probably be where I'd start. Lovely bass playing, but for me that's where the good stuff ends. Like Intro, hated GO!. They Say was interesting with the interplay of the keys and vocals. Overall though, I'm still not a hiphop fan, don't every want to hear this one again.

I had this when it came out and fell in love with the sound - one of the gateway albums into the indie/alternative scene for me. Discovered their back catalog, saw them on the Green tour (30+ songs on the set, support from Hoodoo Gurus and Go Betweens), and then saw them transform from an Indie darling to stadium filler. As for this actual album - it certainly sounds 90s not 80s, and I suppose that indicates how much influence REM had on the shape of 90s alternative rock. Michael Stipe is a big part in this - vocal stylings as well as his public persona were like nothing else at the time. But it's not just about him - as a band they had changed their sound from simplistic guitar noodlings to a garage band that knew their chops. Mandolin was a strange addition but it works here. The way the bass and the guitar work together on all-time banger Orange Crush is fantastic, and the drums just drive everything along. Great to listen to this one again.

50's rock'n'roll is like finger painting. Super simple, important for for development of skills but just a stepping stone to bigger and better art. This at least is short (8 songs in 22 minutes, punk!) and surprisingly high energy, took me by surprise. Can imagine the crowd buzzing from this. 3 stars, but only 2 if I had to listen to 23 minutes or more.

Well - here's a bleep from the past. The Human League did things their own way, throwing away the guitars for some cutting edge 80s synths. New toys however can't hide bad songwriting, and this seems like the scrawlings of a schoolkid in detention. The sounds are thin and bare.

I just listened to Dare by The Human League, which was synth laden but weak. This is just a few years later, synth laden but backed by some proper talent (and proper guitars). And far better song writing. Hit songs are just fantastic and the production is top notch.

Hard really to judge this one - seems a random bit of 'world' music in a list that is seemingly just western music. I didn't hate it but didn't enjoy it either.

Wow. Sound design on this album is perfect - something going on in every track. Dark and melodic.

Music for shopping malls, this is just well produced muzak.

This was a great ride. Played it and played it again and played it again. Loved the driving beat on ISI. Seeland a slow burn, and E-Musik just a blast. Doesn't sound like 70s.

I can see this one being divisive. Lots of humour - (not humor), so will not appeal to those less enamoured with the UK. Ian Dury has a distinctive voice and a way with words, but it's the bass playing that stands out here.

All my Friends is such as great song, love the way it builds and the rhythm catches me every time. Worth an extra star. Dance music isn't my thing, but this was a great showcase of sound super synth work.

Well, he's a fine guitarist, great tone, lousy singer and all round shit bloke. Tired covers of some classics.

Well - very loud and angry. But just not very good.

Just had Germs, now this - I'm on a roll with the early hardcore punk life. Whilst the Germs was loud and trashy and just a bit rubbish, this is loud and thrashy with better material. Great punk guitar work. Charismatic singer. Good songs underneath.

Very polished cheese, drum machines sound horribly dated now. Never understood the attraction, this music has no heart.

Wow - those cheese eating surrender monkeys sure know how to use a synth! Jean-Michel Jarre, Air and now Stereolab throwing out some great electronic music. This was at times hypnotic - wild rhythms and fascinating keyboard lines. Musicianship is top notch - I have no idea what the songs are about even when sung in English but I don't really care. This is a whole lot of fun. C'est fantastique!!

Pretentious tripe. Well played though, but still tripe.

Oh Bruce, what happened? Clearly fell down a hole here, this album is a country twanged cliched mess. Just sounds lazy.

If this was 1001 albums to listen to drinking champagne on a yacht and checking your stock portfolio then this would be 5 stars all the way. It's slick, well played, tightly produced but I'm left cold by it. Chilled even.

Adam was certainly out there with this one. Solidly 80s sound but not an 80s record really, there's some nice world music touches here. Inventive, but some dross as well.

It's like Bob Dylan but with an adequate singer. I'm not much of a lyric man, so singer-songwriters don't draw me in unless the music is compelling. Apart from 'So Long Marianne' there wasn't much that made me want to sing along, and I prefer the version by The Straitjacket Fits anyway. It's mostly just Leonard strumming a guitar and crooning and I forgot it was playing most of the time. But bugger me, the last 20 seconds of this album would scare sleeping babies.

I jumped on the Sugarcubes as soon as I heard Bjork's vocals, luckily got to see them live in 1990 on their only Australian tour. Fun gig and a great band. Bjork of course would go onto greater things but even here it was evident what a talent she is, doing things with her voice I'd never heard before. Sugarcubes were a proper band though, not just a vehicle for her brand of weird, and the songs here are great.

Ultimate elevator muzak.

Well. It was ok, but nothing remarkable. Not sure I why it makes the list.

Solsbury Hill is the standout from this album, that catchy 7/8 time sig works beautifully. But the rest of the album is prog rock noodling. Clearly he'd go onto greater things but this is mostly forgettable.

Surprised by the comparisons to The Talking Heads on this one. Quirky singer but the content isn't as good.

This would be a hell of a lot of fun to see live. I'd expect a lot of chaos and a lot of beer and a fair few unhinged punters. Produced by Elvis Costello too, that's probably going to make some people here unhappy. Dirty Old Town is a banger.

Pretty polished effort here, nothing to dislike, but nothing made me jump with joy either. Would listen again

Wire hold a peculiar place in rock history - they were always on the outer but still put out some great stuff. This has strands you can here in lots of music to follow (including of course Elastica)

Stupid name. Stupid songs.

Unexpected and in a good way. When Love Breaks Down is a great pop song - even with the dated synths it was wonderful. I'm sure I'd heard it before but hadn't ever given it the attention it deserves. Well produced too - nice bass playing, passionate vocals and good tunes.

Sounds fresh even after so many years. Simple songs performed with sincerity, and such a contrast to much the bloated country rock of the same era.

Real good groove going on - timeless sound. Dragged on a bit for me with the spoken word, but when Isaac sings tis fantastic.

Well - no surprises here, there's nothing but solid fast loud bass drums guitars, with the addition of crowd noises. It's a bit of a cheat code allowing live albums which let you add hits from lots of albums into one. Fortunately here the formula is all the same. Generous three stars, I was listening whilst exercising and it helped.

Bonus star for the guitar work, Songs are rather drab though, and the vocal drawl is annoying.

Incredibly repetitive.

I'm just not the target market here. Can't fault it technically, has the emotional range of my 15 year old son.

Crisp, brisk, catchy.

Had hoped for more - he's a super talented artist but seemed here he just wanted to play with some new synths and do some yacht rock.

Saw Jack White headline a festival a few years ago - was a surprisingly good show, much better than I was expecting. Debut album is a blast - superb guitar work (and sonically fantastic, love that tone he gets). Not all the songs hit the mark but a winner overall.

One of those albums that doesn't sound like it was recorded when it was recorded. As they say, does what it says on the tin. Raw, loud, angry rock. Not all winners here but some crackers too.

Probably a bit less interesting that I was expecting - third album in and sounds like they had traded experimentation for polish. Still some great songs, sounded good in the cans.

OK - I can see what all the fuss is about - some great solos in here, it created the formula for a lot of music to come. Hard though to take this seriously in a post Spinal Tap world. I'd rather listen to Tap and get some laughs too.

I found this one so interesting, and I think I probably played it every day for 2 weeks before deciding how to rate it. So much going on - bass harmonics - well all the bass playing, drummer going wild, melody just wandering around aimlessly and then coming together. Loved it, will check out their other work.

Not their best work - still a good ride though.

Very dated sound -OK for it's time but now nothing to recommend apart from the cover of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Hadn't heard this one. Genesis has never been a band I've cared for - but I only really know their lame radio friendly 80s stuff - Invisible Touch etc. This was better than I was expecting - a bit AmDram but the music is always changing , I didn't bother with the lyrics.

Great use of a drum machine - drives the whole thing along. This was abrasive but - perhaps it caught me in the right mood - just what I needed.

Started ok, and then not ok.

Double album of Hip Hop is not my dream day. I knew a few tracks - Hey Ya is unavoidable - and excellent. My Favourite Things was fun, like the jazzy take. But the rest of the album - did not enjoy. Don't ever need to hear the skits. Can get why you'd like this if you were into HipHop - there's a lot of variety. Not me though, 2 hours was a slog.

Well. Tight sounds, crunchy guitar, juvenile songs. Sonically it's great, can appreciate the quality, but it just sounds formulaic. Perhaps they invented the formula - I don't know and I don't care, it's just tedious.

Intro. Shit. Graduation Day - shitter. I'll fly away - a bit less shitter. But pointless. Spaceship - longer but still shit. Workout plan - what is the effing point of this? Kanye is a horrible person who makes horrible art. I don't know what his talent is supposed to be, cos I don't see anything here worth listening to.

OK - I don't know why this in particular made the list, it just seems like low effort hip hop. Some hip hop drives me mad with the lyrical delivery. At least on this one he was was trying to sing and I couldn't happily ignore it.

Ah, well this was interesting. I didn't know who Kid Rock was, assumed he was a clone of Axel Rose and expected some low grade southern rock sort of thing. Instead I got this lame whiteboy rapper. Couldn't finish - I always listen to every song even if I'm not enjoying it. But this time - I had this down as 1 star from the first song, and that is supposed to be the highlight of the album.

Missy again. I think better than her last one, this was a bit more soulful. But still not my bag baby.

Borderline 22/3 stars, giving it 3 cos I've had a week of hip hop and the bass playing on this is next level. Interesting inclusion on the 1001 - not a fantastic album but can hear similarities to Duran Duran - there's good music underneath but still pretty lightweight.

Good fun. 1 minute 40 in I thought I was listening to Moon Safari by Air. Awesome rhythmic work - did run a bit proggy and would work better as an instrumental album. In 1974 this would be a great contrast to the trite Americana coming out in that era.

Wowsers, this was a blast. Can't imagine how hard this would have been to make with such cutting edge technology. I played this every day I for a week working out how to rate it. There isn't a 'killer track' on there but it but there is so much to explore. I'll keep it on rotation.

Felt like something I could here at any of a thousand jazz clubs in a thousand cities. Blech.

Funky bass lifts this and the soulful singing was good. Wouldn't put this on myself but enjoyed it nonetheless.

I'm in the crowd that didn't hate Coldplay from the start. This album is fine - I remember lumping it along with Travis, Doves, and Elbow in that smart Brit indie vein. I thought Doves would be the bigger success and Elbow the most interesting. Didn't expect to see Coldplay rule the world. A Rush of Blood to the Head is better but after that ... break out the pitchforks.

Somewhere in a parallel universe there is a waiting room for a small town dentist. The middle aged receptionist, new to Spotify and quite excited by it all puts on one of her nice records - Picture Book - for the waiting clients. Perhaps just a little bit loud but she is hard of hearing lately. In this universe is a version of me who didn't floss his teeth and gets stuck in that waiting room preparing to have his teeth extracted. The sound of the dentist's drill can't quite drown out the horrible crime of Mick Hucknall murdering the Talking Heads classic 'Heaven'. As my teeth crumble under the clumsy ministrations of this small town dentist I hope for death. But then I realise that I really don't want to die with Simply Red being the last thing I hear. I'm glad I floss my teeth.

Smart pop music. Dear God is the best song by far but as others have pointed out doesn't fit the album.

Some big songs and tight sounds. Enjoyable but not epic.

Mostly bland, and when it wasn't bland it was annoying. Did not need to hear this aimless guitar noodling.

With a name like 'The Young Rascals' I was expecting something a bit more adventurous. This is safe twee music. Groovin' is catchy but the rest is trite. They certainly weren't looking left to see what The Beatles or the Rolling Stones were doing.

It's a heady mix of sounds from all around the world. Ultimately it falls flat though - the songwriting isn't great and it just tries to fit too many disparate parts into an electronica format.

Glad I listened to it once. Can tick that off the list. Perhaps if I listened to it when I was cranky and 13 it might have meant something more to me. Good drumming of course. But no thank you sir.

Just quality work here, guitar is sounding great and some cool songs on display.

Drones on at times - like much music of this era it can go off on a drug induced aimless wander and leave us sober folks wondering what the hell just happened. Enjoyed sections of this when it was a bit more tightly focused. Nice vocals, good musicianship. Glad it was only 40 minutes, I could at least bear listening once through. No more please.

This was a gem - had heard of the band but never given them a try. Seriously good - bass playing dominates, guitar is stabbing everywhere. Love like Anthrax is a great closer. Nothing lazy about this - always something to listen out for.

Started mediocre and got worse. Side 2 was among the worst things I've put myself through recently. Far too much twang, some offkey singing, endless guitar noodlings and fiddler's fiddling. Only think of interest for me was the moog on 'Move Around' but by that time I was almost dead of boredom.

Just another bit of hippy dribbling.

I bought this album on a whim after reading a review in the London press, and what a great purchase it was. This masterpiece came on the end of grunge and britpop, but takes music in places so far from that world. The potent mix of ambient soundscapes, strings, distorted guitars + violin bows and a magical voice was like nothing before it and not much since. A fantastic album to turn off the lights and turn it up loud, and just surround yourself in another Icelandic present. I don't know how anyone could give this less than 5 stars.

Possibly too long, but a good listen. Opens well with New York, New York.

Well - a lot better than I was expecting - gave this a few listens and there is a lot to like. Plenty of variety and very polished. A bit too safe but she's clearly a talent.

Amazed to read he died of a drug overdose. Listening to this borefest I would think he'd ever left his home town, let alone tried anything stronger than bourbon. Thankfully it was short, and it had Emmylou Harris who does have quite a lovely lilt.

Classic for a reason. Radiohead spent 8-9 years practicing with a stupid name ('On a Friday') before sorting themselves out and releasing 'Pablo Honey', containing what would eventually become an annoying hit with 'Creep'. Not a great song but funded them. And then they got good. The Bends is a great album, much better than Pablo Honey. OK Computer - better again, and a lot more experimental than The Bends. The could have just churned out some grunge tinged indie and made bank, but instead they put their heads down, got the fancy computers out and produced this masterpiece.

How many songs are actually improved by the addition of a harmonica? Not many I'd think. Dumb Things by Paul Kelly? Anyway, this album would sink if it was by Bruce Everyman, it's so one-paced and turgid.

1965. Still hangover from the doo wop era and some of that leaks through unpleasantly. Well, I suppose pleasantly if you are into that saccharine sweetness, but music was changing and The Who snuck in a few more innovative songs here. Keith Moon is a machine, and without his driving beat this would be mostly a collection of forgettable 3 chord pop songs. The Ox and My Generation are both fantastic, but the rest is just filler.

This is what I came here for. I don't listen to 60s music much, generally too simple and safe for my tastes, but gems like this make it worth trying (old) new things. Captivating voice, so expressive, fantastic backing band and well written songs.

If it wasn't for EVH this would be complete garbage. Horrible hair metal cock rock. Mostly bog standard blues turned up to 11. Great guitar work, but horrible bass tone and juvenile lyrics.

The man can't sing and isn't much chop on the guitar either. I don't know what he's singing about and I'm not inspired to find out either. There are at least some decent songs here - when he strays from the folksie blues formula it gets better, but it's still got that harmonica cutting through everything like a machine gun of shit.

Shoegaze is just about the lowest rated genre on the 1001 and albums like this are probably part of that - for a casual listener this is just a wall of noise. I'm not a casual listener though, and this is my bag baby. Kevin Shields is doing things here on the guitar that no-one had done before. It's a captivating sound with the reverse reverb especially when played (as they did) at colon curdling volume.

Way out of my lane but still a blast to listen to. There's some cheesieness with the synth sounds but to me it sounds a bit charming rather than cloying. Jaco is the star of course, he's doing some amazing work on the fretless bass. Jazz is great because you can only succeed if you are fantastically talented on your instrument, but it also means that it can favour musicality over melody. There's enough variety here to keep me happy though.

I have this album lying in a drawer somewhere. I thought they were really good at the time, and listening again now it still stands up. Articulate songwriting and good musicianship, it's a pity it didn't take them further.

This is a tricky one to rate. Leonard Cohen is one of those legendary songwriters that peaked long before my time. Cynical and cutting lyrics, and great songcraft. Tunes are catchy. Arrangement and production on this album is terrible and has aged like milk. There are cover versions of these songs that work far better than what we have on show here. The roster of artists (Nick Cave, REM, SRV) that have covered his songs is a testament to the songwriting strength.

This isn't their best work, but it's pretty damn fine. Would prefer The Suburbs

Well, a cheat code unlocked by including a compilation album, albeit one early in their career. Fast paced, entirely derivative but still a lot of fun. Opens with the best song (Hate to say I told you so), and gradually diminishes in quality. Good driving songs, no-could hate this* but also can't see how anyone makes the Hives their favourite band. Mostly harmless. *OK, it's the internet, of course some will hate this.

I think bonus stars apply for debut albums. Some really polished work here, set the scene for Britpop. Just a set of well written songs, with top notch guitar work Bernard.

Never heard of these guys. Quite liked the sound, but the vocals were off-putting - felt like forced teen angst. Take that out and it's pretty good, twin bass fuzz attack!

File under 'hasn't aged well'. Hard to listen to, stock early synth sounds ("Orchestral Hit" preset), tons of reverb, and I just didn't enjoy the vocal styling.

Paul Weller does come across as an insufferable prick, but he can write a tune. He can also steal from the Beatles and the Kinks in almost equal measures. Just not enough in this for me. Down in the Tube Station is good.

This is such a difficult one. Some gold in there, but buried in some unlistenable pap. I don't the time or patience for another listen.

Classic opening track. This is a band who know what they are doing.

I knew a few songs by Fugazi but none were on this album. All good stuff here but nothing stood out.

One of those albums I knew back to front before starting this project, easy 5 star selection. I spent hours playing along on bass guitar to this album, Sting is a pretty fine muso and it was great teaching myself how to play these songs. Copeland is just fantastic on the drums, so much going on, and Andy Sumner can be showy and also understated in the same song. It's a three piece and they have jazz chops, so there is space in the music for them all to shine. Magical. Interesting reading the reviews here - lots of people upset about appropriation of Jamaican music. The evolution of music - both modern and classical - is a story of appropriation - everything borrows from previous work, genres mutate and new music is born.

Probably a strange choice for the list, but still quite a good listen. I must have this buried in my CD collection somewhere because I knew the songs. It's music for grown ups to listen to on the couch - nothing too challenging dynamically but some intricate melodies.

"Leonard Bernstein!" Is there a better 1-2 punch than "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" into "The One I Love". 1987 is when REM were still just an indie band making their own jangly way in the world. 5 albums in but still a shadow of what they would become. It's still a standard rock band here, no synths, and no mandolins yet. Just good jangly guitars. Bass tone on "Exhuming McCarthy" makes me smile every time, it's so crunchy.

Love the vibe here, superb debut and sad that this band wasn't bigger than Coldplay. Really melodic guitar work.

I did know 'What's Golden'. As far as hiphop goes this is more my style - positive and catchy, though still didn't love the rapping.

Pleasantly surprised - enjoyed the opening track and the ones with Hendrix and Clapton. Was a lot more blues based rather than country and that is good in my book. Cherokee was a letdown, and I can't listen to a flute without seeing Anchorman jazz flute in my mind. 3 stars, only just though.

Way out of my wheelhouse but a pleasant listen nonetheless. Could put it on when the parents come to visit.

I didn't love this - a bit too honky tonk, a bit too by the numbers rock'n'roll. Feels like Bowie lost his way in the USA. Still quality though, but I'd leave this out of the 1001.

Music is indeed the victim, in particular Pink Floyd. Did not enjoy. There was some nice bass playing to groove to, but not much else floated my boat.

Never been a great fan of Led Zep, but can't help but admire this effort. Musicianship is excellent and Plant has a classic rocknroll voice. This seemed a bit less bluesy and a bit more interesting than their previous work. Stairway to heaven - cliched for a reason, overplayed from radio stations to guitar shops, but that's cos it really is a well written story. Can't believe they brought in a Ian Stewart as guest pianist for RockNRoll, he pretty much just bashed the same one note for most of the song. Filler songs don't do it for me, but can see why they are adored. Drumming is just so great.

Pretty painful to sit through - there's not too much going on musically so I'm forced to listen to the lyrics, and then I just despair for society.

Knew the hits but hadn't heard the album. Jigsaw puzzle music, fascinating approach but seems like a lot of tedious work.

Elevator muzak.

Easy going, smooth and soulful. A lot to like, Al Green has a superb emotive voice, horns sound good though perhaps not mixed too well.

Classic album - merges techno (which I don't like) with ambient (which I love) , end up with some sort of unique shogazie/indie electronica. Not everything hits the mark but really enjoyed this.

Way ahead of it's time. I've got some of their later work, as well as solo work by Donelly and Hersh, as well as Belly and The Breeders. This is still raw but you can see how much influence this had on later projects. Never going to be famous with this sort of genre but I don't think that mattered to them, just running in their own world.

I feel like I've heard this a lot in taxis when I was in the middle east in the early noughties. I didn't enjoy it then and I didn't enjoy it now - I think it also feels a bit tokenistic to just include a few random 'world music' albums in the 1001.

Not the worst hop hop I've had, but this just bored me.

Wow - big sound for a two-piece band. Got a real kick out this - not going to put it on for the mother in law, but loved hearing what a bass guitar armed with banjo strings and a bunch of pedals could do. Would get a buzz of seeing this live.

I feel my IQ lowering with every rock cliché on show here.

Never explored Frank Zappa. This is the debut album - at times it sounds like a standard 60s guitar band, and at other times it's a psychedelic mess. Neither of these things are my cup of tea but I somehow still got a buzz out of this. It does fall apart at the end.

Few catchy snippets but just bleh overall

Technically good but this music has no soul.

French electronica, count me in. At least if it something thoughtful like this. Can't imagine how difficult this would have been to put together in the 70s. No2 clear winner.

Hadn't heard this at all. Great find, fast honest punk. Bass playing on point. Agitated guitar, pointy lyrics.

I've got this on CD (and her earlier album). It's not one I play often, as it's a challenging album and I need to be in the right mood. But when I'm in the right mood it's a great album full of complexity. Amazing musicians behind it too - Steve Albini on production a real suprise given the style of music. Voice is a bit offputting and she does take the music to some very strange places, but magical when it works.

Not sure what I was in for, but this was actually quite OK. I did know the second song.

Pretty jarring. I love early synth sounds, but this wasn't a great example. Would rather have Visage or Ultravox or Thomas Dolby.

Loose and loud, not really a classic album but a lot of fun.

This was just a rambling mess of guitar wankery. I don't mind a bit of guitar wankery, but this was just pedestrian.

Cracking debut - not their best, there is some rough stuff here but also some solid gold. The sloppy guitar sound is pure heroin in my veins.

If any band knows how to re-invent themselves then this is it. They were already kings of indie rock and could have ploughed the same fields forever, but chose to jump into sounds design, loops, samples, strange instrumentation and introspective music. The sonic exploration here is wonderful, and it sounds fantastic turned up loud.

Couldn't feel the love for this. Recorded in a day, impressive , but Smith is just too abrasive for me today.

This is quite a good effort by the unloved Elvis. No standout songs, but still quality all round.

Stunning debut, this is a rich and somehow still raw album. Sheela-na-gig is a great singalong. Some complex instrumentation here as well. Hope there is more PJ on the 1001, I have some of her later work and it's great.

Well, I just didn't get a kick out of this. Feels like a token world music inclusion.

Not much of a jazz fan, but didn't mind this. Didn't fall in love either, I find jazz does tend towards self indulgent. Loved the sound of the clavinet, that was the highlight for me.

Hadn't heard of this band. Good old school punk, lots to like.

The Who always sound like 3 blokes who all want to be the star. John Entwhistle is a cool bass player, but often sounds like he's competing with everyone to see who can play the most notes. Hits are good, covers are bog average. minus 1 for a live album, that shouldn't be allowed.

Apart from the glam bits it was pretty good. Clearly influential on future punk, and that's enough to grab 3 stars

Yeehaw. Couldn't wait to finish this so I could clean my ears out.

One more to tick off the list. Nothing too interesting but still a good listen.

Inventive as anything in 1985. Guitar tone is golden, low volume bit highly distorted, lashings of reverb and fuzz. A joy to behold, and interesting pairing with such catchy simple melodies. Jack this into my veins and give me all you've got.

Unusual inclusion but not unwanted. Some quality work but still a bit contrived.

Bob Dylan still approaches singing in key like a drunk man pissing from a height into a beer bottle. Occasionally he is on target and we all get to feel good about that. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, he increases volume for a second and sprays everywhere. At least there are some decent and recognisable songs here, the guitar playing is interesting, but I still think this is emperor's new clothes territory.

Some of this was catchy, and lyrically interesting, but it's still not my thing.

Good album, much unloved on this site. Polished, witty but still punky. Oliver's Army, Accidents will happen, Green Shirt, and(What's so funny) about Peace, Love and Understanding are all great tracks, and there isn't a bad song here. Attractions are tight. Good band. 3.5, rounding up today.

Gosh, liked the bass tone but didn't love the songs.

Oh, this was just terrible. Horrible. Awful. Sickening. Juvenile. Loathsome. Childish. It's like the worst bits of hip hop mixed in a blender with shitty prog metal, a serving of dog poo and some too long in the back of the fridge yoghurt.

Quirky, but good quirky.

Ohh, soft rock, this is pretty beige. I did enjoy some of the musicianship, bass playing in particular but the content was bland.

I read the reviews here, and one of them describes this as "mainstream radio formula rock" and I just about broke down in tears. This came out in 1983, into a musical landscape laden with synths (Toto - Africa) and heavy production - Duran Duran, Michael Jackson etc. REM offered a stripped down and truly 'Indie' sound, jangly guitar, wandering and dancing bass, and earnest lyrics. It would be years before they could fill a stadium. This was them finding their feet and doing it their own way. Great debut - a few weak songs preventing a 5 but just about there.

Like an old cheeseburger left out in the sun.

Rolls out all the country clichés. Maybe he even invented them - either way this offers nothing for me. Twangy guitar, brain dead bass lines and dead simple drums, and then just that classic affected country vocals style. Urghhh.

Life's What You Make It. Killer piano riff and fantastic drum lines, standout track indeed. Really a top song. This album starts with a cold and clinical sound, but opens up into a lush and interesting record. Great that they could get Steve Winwood to contribute, it's complex but without getting proggy. No-one wants proggy.

Hadn't heard this before. Some solid work going on, loved some of the bass playing but didn't really get into the songs. Not bad, just not me.

Never been a fan. Did enjoy the first couple of tracks, this is really polished and well produced work. Disco isn't my thing, and I ran out of patience pretty quickly. Some of the schmaltzy electric piano was especially annoying.

Killing moon, what a classic song. Still sounds new. Rest of the album not quite up to that standard but plenty to like.

Seminal album that came out fully formed, doesn't sound like a debut effort at all. Psycho Killer the clear hit though. The rest of the album is good but I know there is much better to come in future.

Points off for a live album. It's great - if you like long drum solos. And long guitar solos. I'm sure it would have been great to experience this, and the energy shines through on this release. But it's just too much wankery for my tastes. Can see it an easy 5 stars if you like this sort of music - can't fault the musicianship at all, but I'm just praying for it to finish.

Seminal

Ja

This is, indeed a crock of shit.

Clive - I still hate you for playing Queen's Greatest Hits on repeat when we did the road trip to Melbourne in 1990. I had a great REM mixed tape all ready to go. It's pompous and the car song sucks, but Queen are a level above the 70s glam rockers. I never want to hear it again though.

The guitar work elevates this from a 1 star rating. Horrible cliched karaoke fodder.

Pleasant enough, don't love the country twang but found the vocals compelling.

Another album I never would have found without the 1001. Like the indie/country vibe here - good songs, witty lyrics.

I knew a couple of tracks but didn't enjoy this apart from a few of the hits. The interludes adding nothing apart from some low key porn. A bit of funky bass going on but little else musically inspiring.

Not their best album at all - Songs for the Def would be a far better choice. It's good though, not groundbreaking but perfectly captures the stoner rock vibe. Guitar sounds great here.