1032
Albums Rated
3.64
Average Rating
95%
Complete
57 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Cheerleader
Rater Style ?
145
5-Star Albums
1
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
|
5 | 2.28 | +2.72 |
|
Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
|
5 | 2.28 | +2.72 |
|
Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
|
5 | 2.53 | +2.47 |
|
Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely
|
5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
|
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
|
5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
|
Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
|
5 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
|
I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
|
5 | 2.81 | +2.19 |
|
Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
|
5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
|
The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
In Rainbows
Radiohead
|
2 | 3.84 | -1.84 |
|
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
|
2 | 3.62 | -1.62 |
|
The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
|
1 | 2.62 | -1.62 |
|
Low-Life
New Order
|
2 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
|
Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
|
2 | 3.21 | -1.21 |
|
Screamadelica
Primal Scream
|
2 | 3.17 | -1.17 |
|
Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
2 | 3.11 | -1.11 |
|
Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
|
2 | 3.08 | -1.08 |
|
Treasure
Cocteau Twins
|
2 | 3.07 | -1.07 |
|
White Ladder
David Gray
|
2 | 3.07 | -1.07 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 7 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.8 |
| The Who | 5 | 4.8 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.75 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.5 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.5 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.5 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.67 |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| Funkadelic | 2 | 5 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| The Band | 2 | 5 |
| Steely Dan | 4 | 4.25 |
| Björk | 4 | 4.25 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.33 |
| Queen | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nick Drake | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.33 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band | 2, 5 |
| The Velvet Underground | 2, 5, 4 |
5-Star Albums (145)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Lightning Bolt
5/5
Incredible. It's like the rhythm is hanging on by a thread and they keep trying to cut it with a saw. Definitely best played loud, but it isn't just noise. There is real music in there. This is what I listen to this list for. Something completely new.
29 likes
Skunk Anansie
4/5
Unique, technically proficient, interesting message. A big surprise for me.
4 likes
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
This is the Springsteen version of the shitty country that came out after 9/11. Obvious hard rhymes, predictable tropes in lyrics and instrumentation, corny turns of phrase. Further On even has him faking a country twang. _(´ཀ`」 ∠)_. A name for this genre could be "Boomer Chants" or "Boomer Feel Good".
3 likes
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
4/5
This is the kind of music I'm doing this for. Completely unexpected and very interesting.
3 likes
1-Star Albums (1)
All Ratings
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
I Ain't The One has a surprising intro and sound. The rest of the album is classic. Amazing debut.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
Great blues and amazing collaborations.
The Clash
3/5
Interesting dive into the evolution of 70s/80s punk. A little repetitive.
Louis Prima
4/5
Great to hear where all those songs everyone knows came from. I had no idea.
Erykah Badu
4/5
Interesting. Not my favorite genre though.
The Prodigy
3/5
Not my style, but I can see why it was so influential.
James Taylor
4/5
Decent.
Elvis Presley
3/5
A nice dip into nostalgia. Not his best though.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Definitely McCartney. Pretty good.
Shack
2/5
Nothing special 90's music.
The Adverts
4/5
Much better punk album than the clash.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Prototypical RHCP album. A few amazing classics and lots of ok filler.
The Police
4/5
WTF is Mother? Good overall.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Not bad listening in the background.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Clearly talented, but not my type of music.
Hole
3/5
Meh.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Nice message, basic music.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Surprisingly good and a talented artist.
Primal Scream
2/5
Not my cup of tea.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Pretty good.
TLC
4/5
Classic bit of 90s.
Nico
2/5
Strange
Michael Jackson
5/5
Amazing start to finish.
Gary Numan
3/5
Interesting, and I can see how it was seminal.
The Shamen
2/5
eh.
Anthrax
4/5
Better than expected.
Ananda Shankar
5/5
Amazing. It's a shame sitar didn't catch on better, but this album shows what could have been.
Travis
4/5
New addition to my library. Somehow missed them on their original release.
Supergrass
3/5
Interesting listen. Not incredibly special.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Now I know who the Pet Shop Boys are.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
5/5
Never knew this existed. Great music.
The Pogues
4/5
Good stuff.
Various Artists
5/5
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Starts strong, falls off toward the end.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Amazing start to finish.
2Pac
3/5
Nothing special. He relies on the quality of his voice more than the quality of his lyrics and music.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Enjoyed more than I thought I would. Solid album.
Julian Cope
2/5
Starts off ok and just goes downhill.
Willie Nelson
5/5
Simple and great.
Big Star
3/5
OK
Janelle Monáe
5/5
Amazing, interesting, experimental but still enjoyable to listen to.
Femi Kuti
3/5
Nice enjoyable music.
Minor Threat
3/5
Classic punk. Holds up well. Definitely have to be in the right mood though.
The Boo Radleys
4/5
Interesting mix of sounds and styles. I feel like it needs more than a single listen to catch up with it.
Radiohead
4/5
I never cared for radiohead, but I have a much better appreciation now. The music really holds up. I listened to more Radiohead and Thom gets a little whiney.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Amazing songwriting, but I can't handle the voice.
Rush
4/5
Good. Still not a big Rush fan though.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Interesting and easy listen. Not mind blowing, but good.
The Undertones
3/5
Raw youthful punk. Doesn't really stand out though.
The Icarus Line
4/5
Fun dark alternative rock.
Moby
4/5
Nice variety of chill music.
Ice Cube
4/5
A cultural touchstone. So many lines that stuck in the cultural zeitgeist and that are still relevant today. It is indeed on like Donkey Kong.
George Jones
4/5
Classic country and a great voice.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Nothing to say that hasn't been said.
Funkadelic
5/5
Unique amazing energy. A ton of fun and great vibes. Go read about the intro guitar solo.
Elton John
4/5
Two iconic songs, the rest are good but fall off a bit.
Yes
4/5
Cool stuff, I could only imagine how mind blowing it was 50 years ago.
Hawkwind
3/5
A little out there for my tastes but great musicianship.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Motown throwback. Some great songs.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
4/5
This is the kind of music I'm doing this for. Completely unexpected and very interesting.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Solid.
The The
5/5
Very cool and ahead of it's time. Less kitschy than Gary Newman.
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
Experimental and a less cliche side of this time and place that isn't often heard in pop culture. Good listening.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Interesting, but not really my thing.
Richard Hawley
4/5
Good stuff. Great listening even if it isn't spectacular.
David Bowie
3/5
Never cared much for Bowie, but this was pretty good.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Ok.
The Damned
3/5
More punk. ok.
Fishbone
5/5
Awesome, eclectic, fun.
10cc
4/5
Very cool band. Good mix of pop and experimental.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Good.
Deep Purple
3/5
Classic but not outstanding.
Napalm Death
2/5
Good thing I listened to the full dynamic range version or I wouldn't have been able to understand a word he said.
Beth Orton
3/5
Like a knock-off Nora Jones. With a crappy beat box. Very much a product of the era it was released in.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Nice background music.
The Byrds
4/5
Unfortunate that they are forgotten as compared to the Beatles. Great stuff.
Foo Fighters
5/5
Amazing that a single musician could make the sound of a generation.
New York Dolls
4/5
Surprisingly enjoyable and is a much better precursor to punk than some other bands.
Ravi Shankar
5/5
Amazing and timeless.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Classic timeless rock.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Amazing representation of an underrated genre.
Jamiroquai
4/5
Certainly enjoyable and iconic of the era.
Madonna
3/5
Interesting and better than expected.
PJ Harvey
3/5
OK
Lorde
3/5
Unique sound. Not in love with the vocals.
The Sonics
5/5
Amazing sound for the time period. Can't believe I hadn't heard of them before.
Grateful Dead
4/5
Interesting, seminal country-rock. Very easy listening.
Jorge Ben Jor
5/5
Makes me wish I understood what he was singing about, but even that isn't necessary to enjoy the funk.
The Beau Brummels
2/5
Didn't love it.
Billy Bragg
5/5
Great stuff. Reminds me a bit of Frank Turner. Love the songs and messages.
Jimmy Smith
5/5
Awesome stuff. Very enjoyable.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Nice.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Peak of the decade, and maybe the century. Incredible music through both albums.
4/5
Surprisingly good. Highly enjoyable. He gets a little whiney sounding.
4/5
So anyway, here's Wonderwall. Not sure they were ever going to be the next Beatles, but pretty good.
Living Colour
5/5
I had no idea. Amazing.
Charles Mingus
5/5
I've never really enjoyed Jazz, but this kept drawing me back with interesting rhythms and sounds and phrases.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
I knew the hits of course, but the rest of this album is just as if not more amazing.
Queen
4/5
The fact that this isn't their "good" stuff is amazing. Incredible sounds of course.
Wild Beasts
4/5
Good indie music. Fairly unique for a genre that can become monotonous.
Arrested Development
5/5
Extremely good and refreshing. Interesting beats, bass lines, lyrics, rhythms.
Q-Tip
4/5
Smooth. I appreciate the live band.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Good jams, good messages.
The Streets
3/5
Interesting flow and just "normal day" subject matter. Not sure I'm a huge fan though.
Pere Ubu
2/5
I wasn't high enough for this.
The Waterboys
4/5
Love the folksy feel and Irish sounds. Like a Bob Dylan that can sing.
Solange
3/5
Pretty good, doesn't stand out.
Portishead
4/5
I had heard of them but never heard them. Cool sound, very unique. Fun listen.
Lucinda Williams
2/5
I know it's not true, but she sounds like a discount Sheryl Crow. Generic.
Brian Eno
4/5
Easy to listen to while also kind of out there. This is a good space to explore.
Nick Drake
4/5
Thumbs up.
Little Richard
4/5
You can hear so many modern styles in this music it's amazing.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Janis was definitely the highlight.
Ride
3/5
Mostly blah, but a few outstanding tracks.
Radiohead
3/5
Ok, gets whiney.
The Jam
3/5
I appreciate the punk-lightness of this. Sort of like a 70's/80's Blink 182.
Paul Simon
4/5
Good stuff. Love the blues songs in there.
Coldplay
4/5
Man I wish I was their drummer.
The Verve
4/5
Very good. Exceptional guitars.
Billy Joel
4/5
Fun wide range of songs with great lyrics.
Miles Davis
5/5
Not normally a jazz person, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Amazingly smooth and great listening.
OutKast
4/5
I expected the back half to fall off in quality due to the number of tracks, but it was solid all the way through.
Common
3/5
Doesn't quite click with me. Has some high points, but lots of middles.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Enjoyable, but a bit generic. Not sure why it's on the list.
Brian Eno
4/5
Exactly as advertised. Great background music.
MGMT
4/5
Thought it would drag in the second half, but that's where the interesting stuff is.
Cream
4/5
Some amazing stuff and some that isn't as great, but fun all the way through.
Aphex Twin
3/5
Interesting and the name definitely fits. I can see how this is experimental and could inspire other ideas.
T. Rex
3/5
Interesting to see the flow from the Beatles to glam. Some good tunes but kinda wanders around.
Prince
5/5
That was an experience. All over the place lyrically and musically. Feels experimental in some spots and highly polished in others. I'd never been exposed to anything beyond his radio stuff, so this was extremely cool.
Prince
4/5
I got this right after 1999. This isn't as much fun as 1999 but there's still some amazing music in here.
David Bowie
3/5
Still not a huge Bowie fan. Entertaining enough.
Beatles
5/5
Classic. Amazing harmonies and really fun songs.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Hurt and a few others are amazing, but in some places it just sounds like an old guy talking.
The Strokes
5/5
Great slice of rock. Really enjoyed it.
Bad Company
4/5
Good classic rock
Common
4/5
Much better than the other Common album that was on here. The Corner is amazing.
Röyksopp
3/5
ok
Janet Jackson
3/5
Some great songs, too much sampling.
Cool, but not standout.
Supergrass
3/5
OK
Alice In Chains
4/5
A cool slice of grunge that I missed the first time around. Great vocals and guitars.
Def Leppard
4/5
Great tunes and guitars.
Boards of Canada
5/5
My favorite electronic music so far.
U2
3/5
Not my favorite U2, but obviously has some great songs.
Sex Pistols
5/5
Definitely pure punk and good listening at that.
Television
4/5
Never heard of this at all, but it's good.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I wish country had gone more this direction. Pretty good, drags a little at the end.
Donovan
4/5
Nice. Another artist I'd only heard of, but really dig his music.
Fiona Apple
5/5
Very good. Jazz like in some sections, experimental in others. Fun listen.
Peter Frampton
3/5
Good.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
Smooth, good listening. Feels futuristic for the 50's.
Elastica
3/5
Good, but not stand out.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Fun.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Cool to hear something I had no idea existed. There's also no way the movie wasn't inspired by his pseudonym on this album.
Pulp
4/5
Quality music. New sound I hadn't heard.
The Cure
3/5
Interesting, and I'd never listened to The Cure beyond the radio, but not. something I'll listen to every day.
Radiohead
3/5
I think I'm just tired of his whiny voice.
The Verve
3/5
Gets kinda noisy in the middle.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Paint it Black is one of the best ever. The rest is a good blend of styles and songs. I'm more of a stones fan now.
Muddy Waters
4/5
I can see why he is so influential. As an album not sure I like having the songs repeated a few times, but they are all different.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Classic, but a little dated and repetitive. Amazing harmonies of course.
Primal Scream
3/5
Meh
Janis Joplin
4/5
The best I've heard from her. Her voice still grates after a while, but some great songs.
Goldfrapp
4/5
Entertaining and smooth. I'll try out more of their stuff.
Missy Elliott
5/5
Great sound, and great non-violent message. Excellent features.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Not sure how Ozzy became the most famous one from the band, but the guitar is killer on this.
King Crimson
4/5
Some really cool sounds in here. I can tell why it's so influential.
The Monks
4/5
Definitely early punk rock. Super cool slice of history.
The Byrds
3/5
Not a huge fan, but distinct sound.
Talking Heads
4/5
Interesting, but I think their other work is better. Great to hear where the later sounds started.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
It's legendary for a reason.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Made me realize that Radiohead is the modern Pink Floyd. Really accessible experimental music.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Interesting, and I had never heard of them. Some cool ideas in here.
Nirvana
5/5
This is how legends are made. Not a Nirvana fan, but this concert is amazing.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Great.
ZZ Top
4/5
So many hits and great rhythms.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Sounds like a bizarro world Bowie, but I can hear how this has influenced a bunch of artists that followed.
LL Cool J
3/5
Album is pretty good, but it was good to learn about LL Cool J's early career.
Cocteau Twins
2/5
Not my favorite, and I think it shows the tendency of this list to focus on the UK too much.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Great voice, but this album doesn't even seem to be her best. It gets a little repetitive after a while too.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Good all around rock.
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
Very interesting fusion on some of the songs, and some just generally fun ones.
Kate Bush
4/5
Better than expected and a coincidence that it came up right after we finished Stranger Things.
Oasis
3/5
Like most things to do with Oasis, this is over rated. I can see why it stood out in the early 90's though.
The Stooges
3/5
Good rock.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Perfect encapsulation of what it advertises to be with no apologies, and some great songs to go with it.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Not sure it's important from a music point of view, but it's interesting experimental music.
New Order
2/5
I'm becoming a fan of more 80's music, but this is the crappy side.
David Bowie
3/5
Still not a Bowie music fan, but this is my favorite so far.
The B-52's
4/5
Fun music, very different. Not sure if it's an every day listen, but enjoyable.
Paul Weller
4/5
Reflective of this list's bias toward Britain, but this is actually a very good album.
Queen
4/5
May be my favorite Queen album. Brighton Rock is amazing. Killer Queen too of course. Great and widely varied tunes all the way through.
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Can definitely hear the roots of the early Beatles and many other groups in this. Great listening too.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Not sure about best rock debut ever, but pretty rockin' stuff.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Great music.
Joy Division
3/5
Interesting, but not stand out.
The The
3/5
I like it.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
Great classic rock and tons of energy.
Richard Thompson
4/5
Enjoyable and surprisingly close to country music given it's origin in Britain.
Van Morrison
4/5
All I knew was brown eyed girl previously. This was a great listen.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
A bit repetitive and not really my type of music, but that album cover is everything.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
Unique, technically proficient, interesting message. A big surprise for me.
Tom Waits
4/5
I didn't know the music from Nightmare before Christmas was a genre, but this is it. Very good.
Spacemen 3
4/5
Not sure how I'd classify this, but surprisingly good. Kind of like an analog EDM. ADM?
Steely Dan
5/5
Never really knew what Steely Dan did. This is a great introduction and has some amazing songs.
The Doors
5/5
Incredible rock songs mixed with some psychedelic songs and all good. The electric organ is my favorite.
Frank Zappa
5/5
Didn't realize that this is Zappa. Intricate and widely varied.
System Of A Down
4/5
Amazing as expected. Very approachable hard rock. Great message. Interesting music.
Big Black
4/5
Like a proto nine inch nails mixed with 80s punk sensibilities. So much energy and angst, but still listenable.
The Smiths
3/5
A little whiney, but some of the songs were better than I thought they would be, and the queen is indeed dead.
Supertramp
3/5
Good, but nothing really stands out.
Nirvana
5/5
I only disdained Nirvana from the radio play and the fans. I had never heard the harder songs, and the entire album is great unfortunately. Ugh.
Joy Division
3/5
Good, but not outstanding.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Finnish glam rock, and it was actually decent. Will wonders never cease?
Talking Heads
5/5
Very good. Love the driving rhythms. Will be listening to more of Talking Heads.
Pearl Jam
5/5
One of the best ever. Amazing album all the way through. Mookie Blaylock though?
The Kinks
3/5
Ok, I like the touches on folk stuff.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Good, some stand out tracks.
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
Excellent and a breath of fresh air compared to standard rock from then or now.
Wilco
3/5
Wasn't aware of what genre Wilco fell into, but enjoyable music.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Impressive that this is all improvisational, and some amazing lines in there. Not my thing, but belongs on this list for sure.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Definitely would have been killer to be there live. Great album.
Simple Minds
2/5
Not really my thing.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Incredible music. On a full Stevie binge now.
Lou Reed
4/5
Fun, clever, good music. A unique slice.
Suede
3/5
Well they ain't no Oasis.
Spiritualized
4/5
Very good zoning in and getting work done music. I love the depth and layers of sounds going on. Should use my headphones next time.
The Young Rascals
3/5
Groovin just doesn't fit with the rest. So much better, but some of the other songs are pretty good too.
Adele
4/5
Amazing voice, the deeper cuts start to border on cheesey/whiney.
Eric Clapton
4/5
Excellen
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Very interesting and fun. Great background music.
William Orbit
2/5
Meh
Dion
2/5
The last song is pretty good. The rest just kind of blends into each other.
Lightning Bolt
5/5
Incredible. It's like the rhythm is hanging on by a thread and they keep trying to cut it with a saw. Definitely best played loud, but it isn't just noise. There is real music in there. This is what I listen to this list for. Something completely new.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Just kinda is.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
A unique mix of sounds. Didn't really click with me.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
4/5
An amazing slice of history. Hard to tell if they are joking most of the time, but legit good music.
Killing Joke
4/5
Very good and can definitely hear the influences they had on future artists in many of the songs. Way ahead of their time.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Entertaining if a bit cynical. It's interesting to hear the musical parodies. They're good enough to easily identify what genre/song/etc they're going after.
The Jam
3/5
Good but didn't stick with me too long.
The War On Drugs
3/5
Starts strong but kind of fades in interest. I almost really liked the album.
4/5
Some old time country punk.
The Crusaders
4/5
Very smooth, great jazz.
Pixies
5/5
I can hear the roots of all of my favorite music in this and the other Pixies releases. This is an amazing missing link to find in my music appreciation history.
Nick Drake
4/5
Better than Bryter Layter I think. Great music.
Gorillaz
4/5
Incredible and fun concept. Great tunes, but the second half slows down a bit.
Tears For Fears
3/5
Mostly great songs that still hold up. Hearing them in high quality vs. on the radio really helps them shine.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I get it, you like Elvis Costello, but choose one album. They all sound the same.
Bee Gees
3/5
An interesting listen in contrast to later Bee Gees. Definitely some hints of Beatles in here.
CHIC
4/5
Can definitely hear how this influenced future music. Also just super fun and high energy by itself.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Good, but didn't stand out too much.
Steely Dan
4/5
Some great Steely Dan. Falls off a bit in the second half.
Anita Baker
4/5
Amazing voice, under-remembered.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Cool sound, I'm digging deeper into them.
Don McLean
5/5
Best song ever and the rest of the songs are great too.
Doves
3/5
Ok, but feels like another result of the bias towards England/UK artists.
The Cure
3/5
Enjoyable if not standout.
Massive Attack
3/5
Some interesting points, but meh.
Beck
5/5
Better than Mellow Gold. The whole album holds up and Where It's At is the lynch pin to the whole thing. Also, check out The Frogs, where the "that was a good drum break" comes from.
Blondie
3/5
Interesting mix of music, and her voice is much better than I though coming from mainly Heart of Glass.
CHIC
3/5
Lots of fun and great rhythms.
Minutemen
5/5
This is where the Jackass riff comes from! The lyrics remind me a bit of e e cummings at some points. The instrumentals vary from creative and flowing to punk repetition.
The La's
3/5
OK, not super amazing.
Jeff Beck
3/5
Some cool stuff, and not many people have led zeppelin as a backing band, but just didn't click with me.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Incredible really. The natural progression of where punk/grunge/garage should grow up to. Cool history of being on the edge of internet stardom, but not part of the corporate machine.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Another classic from CCR. Not all of it is as strong as Cosmo's Factory, but Born on the Bayou is amazing of course.
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
An excellent slice of some great country music. Dwight has a classic voice and some great songs.
Gang Starr
4/5
Really enjoyable and I don't tend to like sample loops. Guru is just super chill and smooth.
Tori Amos
3/5
Good music, just didn't click with me.
N.W.A.
4/5
Despite the subject matter, this feels playful like some pre-teens making up rhymes in front of their mirror. It's gangsta rap that isn't taking itself too seriously yet and hasn't been sold out yet. I can also hear the beginnings of the funk part of g-funk. Ren has the best flow. Something 2 Dance 2 is ridiculous with a Mighty Mouse sample and teasing bad words.
Aerosmith
3/5
Good pure rock. Nothing stands out as amazing, but a collection of good songs.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Great all around, with some peak CCR songs. Still like Cosmos better, but amazing what they put out in such a short amount of time.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Hard to find. Incredible slice of history, and unfortunately still applicable. Great messages and great music.
Death In Vegas
3/5
Strange mix of NiN, Gorillaz, and Bowie. Feels a bit over-wrought. Not terrible though.
Bob Dylan
2/5
How does anyone take his voice seriously? A couple of the songs are bearable, but Make You Feel My Love sounds like he's playing a terrible joke on me.
Pavement
3/5
No one falls in love to Pavement.
Mudhoney
3/5
I know they're seminal to grunge and all, but not my favorite.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Interesting and very sonic youthy.
Madness
3/5
An interesting piece of music history. 2tone, early ska, and their roots. The music is good for the most part. There is a definite British bias in this list, but this album deserves to be on here due to it's unique place in British music and culture.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
I assume this sounds so classic because it is the standard. Very enjoyable and a nice change of pace from so much brit-pop.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Some cool tunes and got me listening to more of his stuff. Supremely talented.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Stolen or not, it's elevated rock music and each instrument/voice is incredible.
Van Halen
4/5
Deserves 5 stars for the album art alone. Great guitar rock if a little immature in the lyrics. All fun.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Not really my style, but well made music.
Beach House
3/5
Kinda blah, but in a good way.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Fun, but just doesn't quite click. Some good songs and unique covers though.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Doesn't really stand out. Almost a 2.
Silver Jews
3/5
Sounds kinda generic.
Aerosmith
3/5
The lyrics to Walk this Way didn't age well, but classic hard rock. Hard to beat Sweet Emotion.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Not too shocking.
Kanye West
3/5
Sounds the same way a teenager flexing in the mirror looks.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Some neat twists and unexpected shifts in genres.
k.d. lang
4/5
I had heard of k d lang, and knew what she looked like, but never realized she was a country singer. She has a great voice, and this album was some good classic country.
4/5
So much energy. This sounds, tastes, and smells like the counter culture 60s. Makes me want to be at the concert. Rama lama fa fa fa and kick out the jams mother fuckers.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I can hear the boomer in these songs. Sounds like my father in law (who loves dylan). His voice isn't as annoying, but the harmonica gets grating. The lyrics feel more nonsensical than deep.
Traffic
3/5
Steve Winwood and rock flute. There's nothing better. Good fold album all around.
Germs
4/5
Yep, that's punk alright.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Important music and a good listen.
Venom
4/5
The root of modern metal and it shows. Lots of the tropes found in metal can be found right here.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Each song is amazing. More than just Jimi's singing and guitar, the rest of the band is great. It's a perfect blend. I used to be a fan of Electric Ladyland, but I think this is better.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Pure fun all the way through. Left skidmarks on my heart.
Ministry
2/5
Maybe it's just not my thing, but nothing stood out about this album. Seemed a bit childish at points as well.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Before even knowing the history I heard the Beatles. Very talented musician, and now I know where a few more of those famous songs come from.
Green Day
5/5
A requirement when learning the history of punk.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie is amazing. Every song is him and they are all pretty much perfect.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
EDM and such just doesn't usually do it for me. Would be fine playing in the background at Old Navy.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Good, but the noise gets a bit tiresome.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
He likes to have dissonant sounds in his samples. He has a nice flow that pairs well with it though.
Destiny's Child
4/5
Pretty great harmonies and rhythms. Gets a little repetitive, but enjoyable overall.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Great metal. Raw feel, not over produced.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Not their best, but pretty close. Kashmir is worth it by itself. Also fun hearing the extra "b-sides" they threw in to flesh out the album.
Weather Report
4/5
Not a jazz person normally, but this was very enjoyable and had some really cool moments.
John Prine
5/5
Way better than Dylan. Clever songs, great simple melodies. Super fun album.
Bob Dylan
3/5
He learned how to hold long notes on the harmonica!
But really, this is a better Dylan album with less of the vocal annoyance, and more of the blues.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Amazing album, but I had never really heard Here Today. You can hear how it influenced so much after it in that one song.
Stan Getz
4/5
Fun and recognizable.
Syd Barrett
1/5
Mostly random strumming. Some songs sounded like a dog giving birth. Just feels like someone real high threw shit at the wall to see what stuck.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Can't beat that opening bass line. So much funk on this album, and just plain fun. A little slow in the ending, but solid overall.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
An eclectic collection of beats. Kinda sounds like generic resort music. Fun is a word invented by executives? Just a bit stereotypical for this time period and the album cover.
Dire Straits
4/5
Great guitar parts, but the drums stand out on this one too. I think this is my favorite Dire Straits album.
The Who
4/5
Never realized this was the first rock opera. Love the format and the album.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
A unique slice of jazz. I could actually hear how this influenced DMB during one of the songs.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Definitely some angst on this one. Doesn't click with me as enjoyable listening.
Tom Waits
4/5
Very unique. Feels like actually being in a Jazz club. The combination of Waits' way of being and the amazing band creates a great experience.
John Lennon
4/5
Not prime Beatles, but some solid songs including Imagine. Sounds like someone trying to change and regretting their past.
Prince
3/5
An eclectic mix with some good songs. Overall didn't strike a chord with me like his previous albums.
The Cars
4/5
Some great rock tunes and a unique blend of rock plus synths. Really still holds up.
Dirty Projectors
4/5
Some very interesting rhythms and harmonies throughout. I'll probably need to give it another listen to see if it sticks more the second time. Definitely a good listen.
Deee-Lite
3/5
A little slice of history. A bit dated, but still some good songs. There are definitely a few low points, but not so low as to overshadow the highs.
Madonna
3/5
Classic pop. Some strange songs on here, but all enjoyable.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
I can hear the Beatles influence in some tracks despite the language barrier. I like the idea of a music collective putting out an album.
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie is generally overrated as a musician, but this album shines with it's R&B sound. Young Americans, Fame, and Across the Universe are enjoyable. The Blues/Rock feel on a few others is fun as well. And Luther is apparently on this album too!
John Coltrane
4/5
As someone not very experienced with jazz, this is a bit unapproachable for me. Though there were moments where I could definitely feel the music.
Beastie Boys
5/5
A revelation of hip hop and sampling. So much going on in this album. Great lyrics, great samples, great music. Really a Beastie + Dust Bros. mashup.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Incredible and was mind blowing when it came out. Had never heard any of the deep cuts, but they are great too.
Radiohead
4/5
Good, but by no means as good as some people claim.
XTC
4/5
A unique and enjoyable album. Some Beatles-esque tracks, and lots of unique uses of "found sounds".
Finley Quaye
3/5
Good, but not standout.
Elbow
4/5
A smooth album with great imagery. Reminds me a bit of Harvey Danger's Little by Little.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
It has its moments, but just didn't stand out.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Some interesting points, but definitely not the greatest album ever.
The Who
5/5
Iconic intro and hard rocking all the way through. Some of the best singing, drumming, and writing in classic rock.
Incubus
4/5
Underrated band due to not quite fitting into a single mold. Great vocals and guitars. Some extremely catchy songs. The record scratching is usually tasteful, but goes off the rails a little on one track.
Roxy Music
4/5
Great album cover, pretty good album. Could definitely feel Bowie and the Beatles in here.
Steely Dan
3/5
Definitely Steely Dan. Not as good as Aja.
Queen
5/5
A great collection of harmony and instrument heavy tracks. Feels like a lost Beatles album at some points. The rest of the songs build up perfectly to Bohemian Rhapsody.
Baaba Maal
4/5
A nice slice of Senegalese music. Enjoyable even if I didn't understand anything words.
Björk
5/5
Bjork is an amazing artist beyond just the music. There was a lot of care and thought put into making this album, and you can really hear it. Lots of subtle sounds, and evocative music. Not my normal jam, but definitely worth a few listens.
David Crosby
4/5
Feels more like jazz than anything. The reviews of the time called it pretentious, but I don't get that feeling at all. It's not flashy, but the whole thing is enjoyable.
Aerosmith
4/5
I really don't want to like Aerosmith, but they make some really catchy rock songs.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Great album. Never really thought about movie soundtracks being concept albums, but that's exactly what they are. The circle from Pusherman to Superfly is epic.
808 State
2/5
I'm afraid I just don't get why this stands out enough to be on this list.
Kid Rock
2/5
I feel dirtier for having listened to this. I tried to keep an open mind, but too much braggadocio and too many cliches. Kid Rock is definitely a carefully created and maintained image and a success of modern marketing, but the music is trash even if there are a few catchy riffs.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Great instrumentals, but her voice gets a little repetitive/grating.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
The first emo album? It's Frank, so quality, but doesn't stand out for any particular reason.
The Who
5/5
I think the six track version would have been perfect, I could only find the 14 track 1995 remaster. The Who are definitely at their best live, but with this many tracks Moon's drums get a little repetitive and there isn't much variety in the fundamental guitar tone.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Good overall, not as good as her later stuff.
Genesis
3/5
There's an enjoyable ebb and flow of emotions throughout. A lot of the lyrics feel a bit forced in to complete the story though. Some really cool sounds and effects created.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Again, I can appreciate the lyricism, creativity, and expression, but the subject matter and lifestyle don't resonate.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Definitely can hear the Beatles and Dylan influences. Not much dynamics in the vocals (like Dylan), but the lyrics are good.
Ray Charles
4/5
It feels like the recording is limiting the dynamics of his voice. Tons of range and emotion. Definitely hits its stride in the second half.
Spiritualized
3/5
Some great tunes, but tends to just noise in the end.
Eminem
4/5
Of course incredibly juvenile and violent, but amazing at the same time. Not an every day listener for me, but I can appreciate the effort put into the rhymes/lyrics/stories. Pissing off puritans is fun too.
The Mars Volta
4/5
Super enjoyable and creative. Started to drone on a bit toward the end of the album, but hung on as a great one.
Elvis Presley
4/5
I can see why he was so popular. Lots of good tunes here.
Joan Armatrading
5/5
Incredible that I've never heard of her. Great album with real depth to the music. Listened to some of her new stuff and it is also still extremely good.
Donald Fagen
4/5
Good. It has a slight taste of Steely Dan, but is definitely it's own thing. Very enjoyable.
John Grant
4/5
An incredible mix of anger, humor, love, and rage. Not an every day listen for me, but great to hear.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
More like Captain Tryhard. Sure there are some interesting things in here, but that's just because he threw everything at the wall he could find. meh
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
This is one of those "oh, that's who made that song" moments. Overall I love the simplicity and enjoy the cynical lyrics. May not be great in large doses, but the album is great.
Santana
4/5
I was familiar with the singles before listening to the album, but all of the songs have a great energy. Not a lot of variety, but it's great at what it does.
Kelela
3/5
Doesn't sound all that special to me. Sure there are some nice bits, but kinda meh.
The Modern Lovers
4/5
This is like an over achieving high school garage band, but you can tell there is tons of potential here. Fun lyrics, fun music. Great Boston references too. Never thought I'd hear "Massachusetts" used in a song.
Hookworms
3/5
Interesting sounds I guess. Cool band name.
a-ha
3/5
The opener is amazing of course. The rest is good, but kinda trails off.
Linkin Park
4/5
Compact and effective. Nothing gets tiresome, and the pace just keeps going.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5/5
Hits you in the face with blues, then some more, and even a little jazz. Some of my favorite Clapton.
The Black Crowes
3/5
Ok, mostly generic with a few standouts.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Almost my favorite RHCP album. Great blend of their signature funk with darker and slower influences. The lyrics even make sense sometimes.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Amazing voice of course, and some of the top classics of all time.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Some high points, but not really stand out for me.
2/5
Not sure what to make of this one.
Yes
3/5
A couple of killer songs and some that fall pretty flat. Would be a great single.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Kinda dig it, then kinda don't.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Very listenable, but nothing really caught my ear either.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
Starts out strong and has a couple of amazing songs. Ends a bit weak, but good overall.
Gene Clark
5/5
Very good. Just very solid all around. Some taste of the Beatles in there, some Dylan (with a better voice). A nice variety of songs.
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
Definitely has the ambiance of space. Not a daily listener for me, but good for what it is. Feels like Disney world Space Mountain music or something.
Big Star
3/5
Pretty good, and of course the That 70's Show theme is in there.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Amazing voice and a few legendary songs, but having a song called "Keep Getting it On" on this album is a step too far.
Nas
3/5
Good though seems a bit overhyped. Gets a bit repetitive by the end.
Happy Mondays
3/5
Meh
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Great album. Can hear hints of lots of great bands and musical styles.
Deerhunter
3/5
Some good tunes. Love the sax. A little too much fuzz on the vocals and throughout.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
They had me in the first half, I'm not gonna lie. But the second half wasn't nearly as exciting. I do like this better than other Nick Cave stuff I've listened to.
R.E.M.
5/5
Just amazing to listen to. The non-singles are as good as the singles.
Yep, Stuck in a Moment is as cheesy as I remember. Tons of other good songs on here though. I want to hate it, but it's actually good.
Red Snapper
3/5
Ok.
Mylo
4/5
Pretty good for electronic. Not sure it accomplishes its goal though.
Meat Puppets
4/5
Surprisingly surprising. Much deeper than I was expecting, and great tunes.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Some clever sounds, and is definitely experimental. I can tell why it didn't catch on in the US.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
I had no idea what was going on, but I could feel the intent of the songs and power of his singing.
Liz Phair
2/5
I don't get why this is on this list. Very blah and superficial.
Bad Brains
3/5
Starts strong, ends a little weak.
Lenny Kravitz
4/5
A great album, made amazing by the fact it was almost entirely solo. Definitely some Beatles influences in there. I had no idea how old it was because the music holds up so well.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Stronger all the way through than some of his other ones. Good continuous theme as well.
Elton John
5/5
Great writing and great performing throughout. So many classic songs in one place.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Not what I was expecting from Black Sabbath at all. The styles are kind of all over the place. Good individual songs, but doesn't hold any sort of theme together.
The Stooges
4/5
Energy and ability. Definitely the spirit of punk.
Tito Puente
4/5
Lives up to its name.
Neil Young
4/5
Now I get Neil Young. Great songwriting.
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Reading how this was made is extraordinary. The sounds are ok.
M.I.A.
2/5
Some interesting fusion music, but she's just an idiot trying to sound deeper than she is.
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
It's definitely French.
Johnny Cash
5/5
You can hear him having fun and ramping up into the energy. Great mix of comedy and heartfelt songs. A really interesting slice of history.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Fun in places, but just feels messy in others.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Good stuff.
Scritti Politti
2/5
A punk band turned into the worst of the 80s. Back to the British bent of this list.
Missy Elliott
4/5
This is one of those times where the original sounds a little dated because everything after it copied it. Missy is uniquely fun. Not her best, but very good.
Lambchop
4/5
With the strings, falsetto, and smoothness, this sounds like a modern soul album. Sparse but biting lyrics and unique melodies and instrumentation.
5/5
Peak U2 for me I think. Great mix of pop-ish hits and fold/country. Heartfelt messages.
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
Love ODB. This is a fun album that is more of the direction early 90's rap should have gone. Pokemon was even inspired by the line "Your whole damn posse be catchin' 'em all, cause you vic'd.
Eminem
4/5
Got a little taste of a Sandler comedy CD. He obviously acknowledges it as childish with the beats used and the font on the cover. Even coming in prepared it elicits a response on several tracks, so I guess that makes it art.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Fairly generic. Maybe it's the mixing or the simplistic drums. Young's voice sounds thin and not in the same room. Some decent guitars sprinkled throughout.
Genesis
4/5
I'd never really heard this part of the Genesis catalog. Very enjoyable and some amazing skill went into this.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Didn't stand out.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Yoko Ono meets the Pixies meets something entirely unique.
Skepta
3/5
Meh
Joe Ely
5/5
Really catches the heart of Texas country. A great listen with clever lyrics and good dance songs.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
An interesting insight into the man behind the hits. I enjoy the uniqueness of a lot of the songs.
Neil Young
4/5
Some good songs, quintessential Young. Still doesn't quite jive with me.
The Human League
3/5
Some interesting ideas, can hear the stereotypical 80's sound for sure.
The Charlatans
3/5
I'll blame this on the British focus of this list. Nothing spectacular, though it's ok.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
A good opening side, followed by an amazing collection of "discarded" songs. The crown princes of melancholy.
Korn
4/5
Putting aside my prejudice against Korn from back then, a lot of these songs just rock. The Ice Cube feature is actually an interesting addition. Could have done without Fred Durst though. Gets a little repetitive by the end.
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
Mostly didn't really stand out, but Why d'Ya Do It? was good and unique even if it drug on for a while.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
This is the Springsteen version of the shitty country that came out after 9/11. Obvious hard rhymes, predictable tropes in lyrics and instrumentation, corny turns of phrase. Further On even has him faking a country twang. _(´ཀ`」 ∠)_. A name for this genre could be "Boomer Chants" or "Boomer Feel Good".
Kings of Leon
4/5
I like it. I'm so tired of Sex on Fire that I just tuned out these guys, but they make some good music.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
She should get together with Tom Waits (just based on the first song). Maybe she inspired Lisa Loeb a bit? They do share Duncan Sheik as a common thread...
Barry Adamson
5/5
I caught glimpses of the Matrix and NiN. It's interesting how the Noire type aesthetic ties into the sounds of Industrial music. Replace the instruments with more synths and you're basically there. Alfred Hitchcock Presents is pretty trippy. Great example of an album that belongs on this list.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Starts off promising, but fizzles a bit. An interesting band and story. Great name!
The Pogues
5/5
Folk Punk may be my favorite genre.
Björk
4/5
I wish I'd heard this one first. It eases you into future Bjork music.
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
There's definitely style, but it gets a bit repetitive.
The Avalanches
5/5
Big fan of Frontier Psychiatrist. I was a bit slow getting into this, but it's growing on me. Very creative. The best I've heard of the genre.
Megadeth
4/5
Great guitars, ok vocals. Good overall.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Great folk, and great voice.
Gotan Project
3/5
Interesting and unique. Not an every day listener for me.
Gene Clark
3/5
Gets a little repetitive, but enjoyable all the way through.
The Cult
2/5
Wow, was decent until Born to Be Wild. Oof.
Randy Newman
4/5
Perfect level of snark, but with his voice I had a hard time getting Toy Story out of my mind at first.
The Darkness
4/5
This is now as old as the music it is paying tribute to was when it was released. The fact that it still holds up is testament to it being it's own amazing creation. Tons of fun.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Very creative. I had no idea O'Malley's Bar was so long because it is engrossing.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Touches on innovative but slips into boring sometimes for me. Overall good.
4/5
Very Beatles-esque which was the style at the time. Unique in it's own way for sure though. Probably requires a second listen through to fully vet.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Still not my favorite genre, but you can hear the talent in the flow, lyrics, and story.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Unique and very listenable despite the lack of understanding of the words.
Django Django
3/5
A unique blend of sounds. Not sure what to do with it though.
Public Enemy
4/5
Simple and straight forward delivery of complex thoughts on complex social issues. Chuck D plus Flav is a classic recipe for cold medina. This album is the root of much of the hip hop to follow.
ABBA
3/5
It's ABBA. Insanely catchy, but not my thing.
Fela Kuti
3/5
You can feel the anger in this music, and the desire for improvement.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Ok album. Nothing really stood out beyond the story of the band and the name.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Snoop has good flow, but Dre's beats really make this album. Not my favorite subject matter, but hard to deny the music.
Maxwell
3/5
It may have stood out for its time, but just blends into the background with 30 years past.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
Definitely a unique sound. A little monotonous, but good throughout.
Pere Ubu
4/5
There's a lot to digest here. Not the most listenable album, but definitely worth listening to for the ideas and imagery it spontaneously generates.
Beck
4/5
Good. Not standout.
3/5
His voice is in between extremes for me on this one. The acoustic set was mostly pretty good.
I get that it was a big change, but the electric set is pretty good.
I wish they'd left more audience interaction in. The cuts are somewhat sudden.
Air
3/5
Comes off as trying to be edgy for edgy sake. Very 2000 of them. The theremin, synth sounds, pseudo heartbeat, ending monologue are all a bit cliche of the time.
Wire
4/5
Another hidden (from me) influence on much of the music I enjoy. Great punk listen.
John Martyn
3/5
Interesting effects and sounds. Even while being experimental, it's very listenable. Not sure if it's on the list, but Solid Air is a superior album.
Magazine
3/5
Didn't really stick with me.
Beatles
5/5
Amazing album top to bottom. Run for Your Life is a little creepy, but still a great tune. The intro riff to Drive My Car is as iconic as any riff in history. The album has all of what made the Beatles unique and is definitely a turning point.
Method Man
3/5
I love Method's voice and flow. The album is solid.
The Lemonheads
3/5
I don't rate these based on expanded editions and such, but the anniversary/expanded editions of this one have some great songs as well (including Mrs. Robinson). Overall a bit generic, even with a unique sound, but quality music.
Gram Parsons
4/5
Some good songs, Emmylou Harris deserves as much credit as Gram though.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Good for what it is, but their life story is more interesting.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
Amazing voice, and suits folk so well. Behind the Wall is a moving song. Raw emotion and honesty throughout. Great debut.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
Honestly incredible. I probably feel the way Dave did when he first heard the music in Turkey.
Moby Grape
3/5
Frustratingly hard to rate this as an album as Apple Music only has a smattering of songs, and youtube is full of ads. Some very good musicianship in these songs. The tempo feels repetitive across songs, but they're all interesting.
Girls Against Boys
4/5
That opening bass hit is great. Unique sound focused in the bass end. A good mix between punk/alternative/almost metal.
Air
3/5
Some interesting concepts and sounds. Doesn't stand out for me though.
The Stranglers
4/5
Everything says these guys are punk, but the songs are way too long for that. The bass and organ really give this the uniqueness it deserves. The organ is the most genius thing in Sometimes.
Tom Waits
5/5
Tom Waits is always good for something new. Soldier's Things is surprisingly heartfelt and straight down the middle. The instruments/sounds used throughout are interesting. Somehow the songs all hang together despite having the initial feeling of being tattered and threadbare.
Mekons
4/5
Alternative country is an apt name. A little like the "country" songs the Beatles made. Fun.
Arcade Fire
4/5
A bit over-wrought, but still enjoyable. A bit country in some spots which is fun.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Definitely experimental, but still has some very catchy riffs and rhythms.
Roxy Music
4/5
Experimental, a little rocky horror feeling in there, definitely can hear Eno.
Jacques Brel
3/5
Well you can feel the emotion he puts into the songs. Check the lyrics to Amsterdam if you'd like to expand your mind a bit.
Taylor Swift
4/5
I listened to Taylor's Version of course because she deserves the royalties. Undeniably catchy songs. There may be some filler with all the extra songs vs. the original.
Ryan Adams
2/5
Based on the cover with the messy black hair and the upside down flag I was expecting more American Idiot than Country for Idiots. Cheesy lyrics and bad solos make up most of this album. I think this guy got lucky with timing and having a vaguely familiar name. Things improve a little toward the end with Tina Toledo, still a bit generic though.
Basement Jaxx
3/5
Wonderful, another British electronic group. They have a unique sound, but still house music. Fine for playing in the background. The tone changes quite a bit toward the end.
Machito
4/5
Definitely enjoyable and non-stop. Great all the way through.
The Associates
2/5
A coke fueled product of its time. If you like synths and whining, you'll love this.
Paul Simon
3/5
Melancholy and smooth. A little on the nose in spots, but enjoyable.
Funkadelic
5/5
"Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)" is more prescient now than it has ever been. Funkadelic can always be relied on to open your mind just a little more. Music to get your shit together by. The prune juice of the mind.
Astor Piazzolla
5/5
From calm to frantic there is incredible playing throughout this recording. Watch the video on youtube for an idea of how much work it is.
David Bowie
3/5
Still not a huge fan of Bowie's music. Good enough stuff on here, and the story of the album is entertaining.
2/5
There are some good guitar riffs in there, but the whiny self referential lyrics just suck. It also gets repetitive the longer you listen to it. Could have done with 5 fewer songs on the album. At least the outro is kind of self aware.
Britney Spears
3/5
It's bubblegum pop, but she shows much more range than I realized she had at the time. Quintessential Y2K pop album. Could have been ~5 songs shorter though.
Cornershop
4/5
The quality isn't consistent throughout, but the high points are very high. Bonus points for uniqueness. I love the mix of cultures and musical styles throughout.
Massive Attack
4/5
Not my type of music, but I can hear the difference between this and what came before. I can see it being revolutionary for the right groups.
Suede
3/5
I was into it for the first half, then it kinda goes off the rails. I can see where the reviewers came up with "pretentious" to describe it. Not terrible, just very uneven.
Boston
5/5
Has to be one of the best first five songs on a debut album, or even any album. The combination of distortion, acoustic guitars, electric organ, harmonies, and lead vocals is incredible. The album art is amazing as well. The baroque elements, especially on Smokin' are very interesting and fit right in somehow.
50 Cent
2/5
Nothing stands out, feels derivative. Poor Lil Rich is just obnoxious.
Public Image Ltd.
4/5
Experimental but still enjoyable. The emotions are palpable in several songs. The drums are plain but driving. The guitars are searching for the tune, and kind of oscillating around it.
Guided By Voices
4/5
Just how I like it, 28 tracks on a single album and still only 41 minutes long. No song is long enough to get bored of. Most of the songs are like a tease, and I want more, but I know more wouldn't be better.
Stereolab
2/5
Not a fan of everything including the title and album art are "borrowed". They seem to take the uniqueness that other people have made, and put a small twist to take credit due to their bigger audience.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
I've always almost liked QotSA, but I'd never heard this album. This album I really enjoyed. Great variety and some unique sounds. Not too produced.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
Great album cover. Songs are decent.
Laura Nyro
4/5
Amazing voice. Not overly produced, just piano and great singing.
Songhoy Blues
5/5
It seems to excel in the blues, you need to have actually felt the blues. These guys have had that, and despite the language barrier you can feel it in this music. The mixture of instruments and rhythms create an amazingly distinct genre of music.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Decent, not my favorite.
The Monkees
4/5
The Monkees are a great facsimile of the Beatles on this album. Some of the songs even sound like yet to be released songs at the time. Great harmonies and a unique twist on the sound.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Fun pop music. Wouldn't really call it stand out, but I'm sure at the time and with the visual elements (music videos, live shows, etc) it would be mind blowing.
The Only Ones
3/5
Decent rock, not stand out.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Meh. Just ok.
R.E.M.
5/5
Amazing start to finish. REM has an incredible ability to go from poppy-happy songs to these dark brooding songs and fit perfectly.
The Kinks
3/5
Sounds of the age it was made, but doesn't stand apart from the other music of the time.
Judas Priest
4/5
Classic metal and very enjoyable.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Another amazing chapter in the Zeppelin catalog. A nice departure to more acoustic sounds.
Marty Robbins
4/5
Although maybe not a daily listener, it is the peak of what it is. Need western/cowboy music? This is it. Great imagery and stories as well.
Talking Heads
3/5
Definitely Talking Heads. Maybe simpler than their later stuff?
Dennis Wilson
3/5
A unique sound, adjacent to the Beach Boys maybe.
Orbital
2/5
Really not my thing. I don't really even notice when the songs change.
Orange Juice
2/5
Really didn't enjoy it.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
4/5
Unique approach and enjoyable listen. I found this amazing for background music while working, but also interesting as a focused listen.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
A unique approach. Nothing stood out for me, but good for background.
The Incredible String Band
4/5
Now this is what I call psychedelic music! All that other stuff is just watered down imitation psychedelia.
The xx
3/5
Smooth, a bit somber. Feels somewhat over-wrought. The vocals don't have the strength to carry the so-so lyrics. Some songs like Test Me have a knock-off Taylor Swift feel.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
I generally enjoy Jane's Addiction, but it is one of those bands where you have to get past the voice. The instrumentals in this one are great though. On second listen through, I got past the voice and upped my rating.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Super chill music, unless you listen closely to the lyrics. Unfortunately still applicable today.
Drive Like Jehu
5/5
This seems like a legit hidden gem. The guitars are amazing and unique. The lyrics and vocals fit perfectly. The band just kind of disappeared after this album so it didn't gain a huge following. Great find on this list.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The Stones aren't my favorite band, but I think they out rank the Beatles for maybe not shining quite as bright at their peak, but shining almost that bright over 60 years while maintaining their identity. Hearing the very beginning of that journey is amazing, even if most of the songs are covers at this early point in their career.
M.I.A.
3/5
Ok, but seems a bit shallow.
White Denim
3/5
Eh, a few standout spots but nothing that sticks with me.
Faith No More
4/5
I kind of hate "Epic" due to excessive radio play and obnoxious vocals, but this album has surprising range. Overall the "hit" single brings this album down in my opinion. Even the cover of War Pigs was surprisingly good.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Certainly unique. A fun blend of different influences.
Gang Of Four
3/5
Pretty straight forward early punk.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Some standout guitars, and provoking lyrics for sure.
Morrissey
3/5
Morrissey is definitely not my cup of tea. Some decent lyrics, but the music kills me.
Einstürzende Neubauten
4/5
This is to NiN what Chuck Berry was to the Beatles. Industrial isn't always my thing, but I can appreciate this for what it is.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Some very high highs, some very generic lows, but great album overall.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I received this album as a reward for returning a wallet as a child. I had no idea who Jimi was, and this album blew my mind. From the moment ...And the Gods Made Love started playing, the insane sounds coming from my speakers were a totally new experience.
Now as an adult I appreciate even more the skill and craftsmanship that went into creating this album. Every song innovates in ways to create new sounds from a guitar, but they are always in service to the song.
Tina Turner
4/5
Some great songs, her cover of Let's Stay Together really adds something. However, 1984 should be dropped I think...
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Awful 80's sound effects and cheesy raps. Not good.
The White Stripes
4/5
Blue Orchid opens exactly as you'd predict for a White Stripes album, and from there it explores a bunch of new places. PIano, marimba, bluegrass etc. Great all the way through.
Small Faces
3/5
Entertaining and a fun mix of music and story.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Distinctive, but not exciting. Interesting themes, but his vocals get repetitive.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Immediately reminds me of Flaming Lips, but better in general I think. Wide variety of music, and a shocking breadth of lyrics.
Fugazi
3/5
I can appreciate the punkness and the musicianship, but it just doesn't jive with me for some reason.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
This is a refreshing one. Unique, amazing, entertaining. I loved it by track 2.
Hot Chip
3/5
Eh, doesn't stand out.
Neil Young
4/5
Some bangers in here.
Tom Waits
3/5
It's definitely Tom Waits. Not my favorite of his, but interesting at least.
Kanye West
3/5
The industrial sound of the album is interesting. Some of the samples are a bit cliche. The lyrics are occasionally poignant, but I think this is around the time he lost his mind. So some of the "genius" attributed to this album is closer to "madness".
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Smooth and surprisingly well produced for 2000's era pop.
Kate Bush
4/5
Deeper Understanding is surprisingly applicable today given when this was released. Great vocals and imagery throughout.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
Sound like off-brand Bloodhound Gang, who are themselves off-brand quality. Not sure why this is on the list. Falls off pretty hard in the second half.
The Fall
4/5
Pretty decent punk.
Soundgarden
5/5
Each song is unique and amazing. Definitely the best of the Seattle grunge genre, maybe the best of the 90's.
Steely Dan
5/5
Great hits and great tunes throughout.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Poetry set to music. Tones of American IV by Johnny Cash.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Kind of drone-y, ok ish. Their inspiration, Galaxie 500, is better.
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Definitely early days of hip-hop. They really liked their electronic beats.
The Doors
4/5
Much more straight forward rock than I expected. Drifts back to more Doors style in the second half.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Not even sure how to categorize this, but each song is amazing in its own way.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Amazing songs as usual. They all have their own intricacies, but Little Wing, Bold as Love, and Castles Made of Sand stand out for me.
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Great beats and messages. Classic hip-hop.
Circle Jerks
4/5
Now that's fucking punk
Love
4/5
Folk-like, but more complex compositions. Great creativity of guitar and drum interactions.
Goldfrapp
4/5
A wide variety of sounds and textures. Unique and familiar at the same time.
Beatles
5/5
A perfect album. I can listen to it and enjoy it all the way through at any time. The musical themes repeated throughout are just icing on the cake.
3/5
Yes
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Treads the line of being "indie" to be "indie" fairly well. Sometimes a bit abstract or weird just to be that way, but overall enjoyable.
Ash
4/5
Probably would have loved this in Jr. High or Highschool. Interesting mix of soft vocals and hard guitars. Feels like a smattering of different styles of early 90's rock-pop.
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Unique with a nice flow. Not as obnoxious as a lot of US rap gets.
The Blue Nile
3/5
Simple and without the overly synth-y sound of the 80's.
The Kinks
4/5
Feels Sgt. Pepper-esque, but its own thing. Each song is interesting in its own way. The message throughout is great. There's even the Ringo song in "All of My Friends Were There".
The Stooges
3/5
We will Fall kinda puts a cramp on the flow of the album.
Neu!
3/5
Ok, but not standout.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Frenetic and controlled at the same time.
Waylon Jennings
5/5
Great country. Not overdone or hokey, just quality.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
She has a good voice, but doesn't show a whole lot of range on this. It gets a bit repetitive.
UB40
4/5
Great stuff. You can really hear the care they put into their music.
Violent Femmes
5/5
Xylophone Solo
The Who
5/5
Great album and stands up to all but the best of the Beatles. The band is just great all around, vocals, drums, guitar, bass.
Brian Wilson
4/5
A blast out of time. Feels modern and vintage at the same time. Almost
saccharin sweet. I feel like the harmonies aren't quite as perfect as Beach Boys, but very close.
3/5
An assault on the ears with lulls just long enough to prepare you for the next assault. There is plenty of quality and enjoyability here for this to not be on the lowest ranked albums though.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Good stuff
Meat Loaf
4/5
Ridiculous, incredible, ludicrous, amazing, insane, brilliant.
Paul McCartney
4/5
Experimental and from the heart.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Skillfully made, but nothing really clicked with me. I wonder how Piss Aaron turned out.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Ok, folksy. Didn't really stand out.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
I prefer Tigermilk.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Interesting if not my style.
The National
3/5
There's a consistent sound or feel throughout that becomes a bit repetitive. It may be a feeling of being over produced. Either way I kind of enjoyed some of the songs, but not quite.
The Doors
5/5
May be my favorite of the Doors. The music holds up, and even sounds experimental despite being largely straight blues.
The Byrds
3/5
Good if not great. Some interesting concepts like C.T.A.-102.
Beatles
5/5
Cemented the Beatles turning the corner from pop to amazing music. No bad songs on the album. Standouts include Eleanor Rigby, Love You To, Yellow Submarine, She Said She Said, For No One, Got to Get You Into My Life, and Tomorrow Never Knows.
I do recommend the mono version though. Stereo is interesting, but overall distracting.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
A unique sound and not overly kitschy.
The Birthday Party
4/5
Surprisingly listenable. Can't go wrong with Rat Fink.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
Great music, and an interesting bridge between old and new. The fact it isn't touched up or really produced at all makes it that much more amazing.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Opens with a nice Bob Dylan rap which elicits thoughts of Beck. I feel like Dylan was trying to figure out why he was popular and just started throwing random stuff at the wall. Then it all stuck...
New Order
3/5
Quite a departure from their other work.
Haircut 100
4/5
Actually pretty great new wave.
Les Rythmes Digitales
4/5
Touches of Daft Punk and Troy soundtrack. Chill but interesting.
Adele
3/5
Like a lot of great singers, a few amazing songs and then a bunch of fluff.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
Surprisingly diverse and fun. Some very catchy tunes.
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Great R&B
The Style Council
3/5
Decent, not great.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
River is Jingle Bells. Otherwise some great songwriting.
The Smiths
3/5
It’s the Smiths. Not my favorite.
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
Not sure "Just Playin" still plays given its reference to Raven Simone (in 94) and the stuff with Puffy.
The Clash
3/5
The Clash
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
A unique modern take on R&B. Solid all the way through.
Slade
3/5
Straight rock.
The Smiths
4/5
I've really had enough of The Smiths, but this may be their best.
Sebadoh
3/5
Can definitely hear the Meat Puppets in this. Not much unique here though.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Extremely creative story arcs and imagery. Great flow and beats.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
A bit over wrought in places. Some ok tracks, but it also gets a bit repetitive.
GZA
4/5
Clever and enjoyable.
The Replacements
3/5
Good, not great.
Thundercat
4/5
Amazingly all over the place.
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Surprisingly pop-ish. Great vocals.
Megadeth
4/5
At the top of 80's metal for sure. Great tunes.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
A unique take on Blues/Rock.
Pentangle
3/5
Definitely more jazz than rock, and definitely folk. Great vocals and instrumentals.
Nanci Griffith
4/5
A unique sound, amazing voice.
TV On The Radio
4/5
Very unique. There's a mix of acapella groups, beat boxing, Boyz II Men, jazz, and more traditional rock.
4/5
Alternating dark and bright, energetic and tired. Most enjoyable PJ Harvey album I've heard so far.
Depeche Mode
3/5
A mix of "pop" and experimental. Overall just good.
Merle Haggard
3/5
Pretty good storytelling and voice. Not my all time favorite country though.
Slayer
4/5
The instrumentals are incredible. The vocals leave something to be desired.
Sugar
3/5
Gets a little jangly and stereotypical 90's alternative in some spots, but has some great unique guitar riffs and musical ideas in there too.
George Harrison
4/5
Great depth and songwriting. Show what Harrison was really capable of.
Roni Size
2/5
Repetitive beats, nothing noteworthy.
R.E.M.
4/5
Great intro to REM. More raw than later albums, it gives context to what would follow.
Bonnie Raitt
4/5
Great blues/rock album. An amazingly expressive voice.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Timeless songs. Some I knew well and didn't realize they were from their debut album. Crazy samples, hilarious lyrics.
Blur
3/5
Other than Song 2, nothing of note.
Morrissey
3/5
Meh
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Interesting, but doesn't stand out as much as some. Hard to find, but there's a vinyl rip on youtube.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Enjoyable
Raekwon
3/5
Didn't stand out compared to Liquid Swords and others.
Al Green
4/5
Amazing voice and unique style.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
More Brit bias from this list. Nothing special.
4/5
Childish in a fun and experimental way. Enjoyable and unique songs. Still too much Brit bias on the list.
Giant Sand
4/5
Definitely unique. Nothing stuck with me long term, but it's something different for sure.
Miles Davis
3/5
Interesting and experimental.
Black Flag
4/5
It’s fucking punk.
Eels
3/5
Some interesting ideas. Didn’t ultimately stick with me.
Eagles
5/5
Jokes aside, there isn’t a miss in this album and there are a couple of songs in the top 100 of all time.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Unique, and probably mind blowing when it came out. Still holds up.
Klaxons
3/5
A little unrelenting on the drum lines, but some technically good music with variety.
Can
4/5
Starts very strong, gets strange around Aumgn though.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Weird mixture of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
Sabu
4/5
Very enjoyable and a great recording. A jazzy congo style.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Amazing voices and timeless songs. Great all around.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Can definitely hear how it influenced so many artists that came after.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
Sounds a bit like NiN Part 2: Electric Bugaloo. I remember being scarred by The Beautiful People when it came out, and never really listened to anything else by MM. This listen through shows there is some music worth hearing though. Still a bit "edgy" in the lyrical department.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Some fun tunes, can definitely feel the Arctic Monkeys in it. Also sounds a bit like Jake Bugg sometimes for whatever reason. Drops off a bit toward the end.
Pixies
3/5
Pretty good punk/grunge whatever. Not as good as Surfer Rosa.
Bauhaus
3/5
Dark and unique. Not my favorite, but good.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Unique sound and messages. The love letter to Stevie Wonder is interesting.
Turbonegro
4/5
Had no idea what to expect by the name, but great 80's rock revival.
Khaled
3/5
I don't understand a word, and I don't know much about the man himself, but his music feels uplifting and has a great fusion of influences. Even some electric organ on El Aadyene!
Van Morrison
4/5
Hard to believe he's Irish. Great voice and soul.
Steve Earle
3/5
Decent music, the accent feels a bit forced.
Pixies
5/5
The sweet spot of Pixies. Great songs like Gigantic, Bone Machine, and Where's My Mind.
The Youngbloods
3/5
A bit heavy on the distorted guitar in Darkness, Darkness. Straight into a Rubber Soul era song in Smug. Can hear influences from the Doors as well.
Cat Stevens
3/5
Solid folk, but doesn't stand out for me.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
It's old Bruce, which is more authentic and believable than newer Bruce. I like the more stripped down sound vs. his previous album.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Pretty good for Dylan, still not my thing.
Justin Timberlake
4/5
Undeniably catchy for the most part. Not my style of music, but well done.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Exceptionally unique. Themes woven throughout, and a meaningful journey.
The Zutons
4/5
Feels like taking 2000's indie and putting it into a blender. An indie smoothie. White Stripes, Modest Mouse, Flaming Lips, and more are mixed up in here. Even some country mixed in there.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Doesn't really stand out. Amazing how many amazing guitarists went through this band though.
The Libertines
3/5
Example of this list being overly obsessed with the UK. It's fine.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Meh
Gillian Welch
4/5
Great stripped down style of Americana. Lovely guitar and vocal harmonies.
Roxy Music
4/5
Strange enough I get Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen vibes. Throw in some synthesizer weirdness and this album earns its spot on this list.
Beatles
5/5
An underrated entry in the Beatles catalog. Amazing vocals, catchy guitar riffs, and a clean sound. Maybe not as "deep" as Sgt. Pepper or the White Album, but just as enjoyable.
The Auteurs
2/5
A little like Belle and Sebastian, but not as good.
David Gray
2/5
Starts off a bit like Death Cab/Postal Service. Gets kind of boring towards the end.
Cee Lo Green
2/5
Some fun ideas, but not great. Feels like he's just trying to be cool. I just don't enjoy his flow.
5/5
Amazing start to finish, and maintains a distinct character despite the wide variety of musical styles.
CHVRCHES
3/5
Just not my thing. A bit repetitive.
George Michael
3/5
Decent, but not great.
3/5
Yup, that's Devo. Mostly just kind of weird.
Hole
4/5
Great raw punk-ish music. Hole/Courtney Love definitely got some undue criticism.
Elvis Presley
3/5
A bit dated, but still fun.
Traffic
4/5
Some legit guitar work on this album. Nothing stands out as exceptional, but all very good.
Orbital
3/5
meh
Le Tigre
3/5
Playful and not over thought. Not my favorite, but good for what it is.
The Beta Band
3/5
Definitely a Beta test.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Thankfully it is short. I'm definitely not in the mood for this today.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Way too much for me. Nothing super special about it. Like Paul's Boutique with less effort.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
One or two decent songs, the rest were very dated.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
A very talented rapper who I'd never heard of. I caught similarities to JayZ, Kanye, and others.
Public Enemy
3/5
Good stuff, but not as good as their other stuff. I don't have the same way with words that Chuck D does...
Mercury Rev
3/5
Definitely Flaming Lips-esque, but with it's own feel.
Kate Bush
3/5
Experimental Kate Bush. Interesting if not super entertaining.
MC Solaar
3/5
Obviously talented but just doesn't click with me.
Talk Talk
4/5
Relaxing and unique. An example of what 80's music could have been without all they synthesizers.
The White Stripes
5/5
Hard to beat for straight up rock, including a top five all time guitar riff.
The Cramps
4/5
A perfect dark side match to the B52s.
Bee Gees
3/5
Bee Gees do Sgt. Pepper, not as well.
The Byrds
3/5
Decent country, nothing special though.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Why is there so much NIck Cave on this list? Totally different in style and vocals.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Better the second time through.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
5/5
Gets a 5 star just so that I can have the artwork on my wall. The music is pretty good too.
FKA twigs
4/5
Definitely unique.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Ok
Sonic Youth
4/5
Best I've heard of Sonic Youth. Treads between experimental and enjoyable very well.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
Best debut riff ever? Probably. On par with Lynyrd Skynyrd for best debut album.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Not amazing.
Jane Weaver
2/5
Not sure why this is on the list. It's ok.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Interesting songs and ideas. Not cool about Simon taking credit for borrowed songs and such.
Laibach
4/5
Very interesting, and a great history lesson to boot.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Ok for what it is. I guess it was cutting edge at the time.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Great stripped down sound. Enjoyable throughout.
Holger Czukay
4/5
Unique combination of traditional "rhythmic" music mixed with experimental and found sounds. Enjoyable while still being "out there" a bit.
ABBA
4/5
The title track is a bop. Lets off the gas a little at the end, but all the songs are good.
Morrissey
2/5
Am I through all the Morrissey albums yet?
Beatles
5/5
I abhor Bungalow Bill, but love everything else about this album.
The Temptations
3/5
Solid, but not amazing.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Some funky lines, especially in Sparkle City. Gets a little experimental which may explain why it wasn't a bigger hit.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
An indication of things to come when the Boomer generation took these songs at face value and ignored the actual messages. Not really my favorite style, but good music.
Sheryl Crow
3/5
The Na-Na Song is a strange rip from REM and the Beatles. The rest is kind of generic. Almost like she was throwing stuff against the wall just to see what stuck.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
4/5
Great slice of history. Enough charisma to keep it interesting.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
Iconic hook in one song, but the rest feels like they're just goofing off.
The Triffids
2/5
Oof. Couldn't finish it all.
The Magnetic Fields
4/5
Super unique, and some interesting takes for sure. Not an every day listen though.
Scott Walker
3/5
Better than I thought it would be, not as good as I'd have liked.
Björk
4/5
It's Bjork, so it's different of course, but it has a very distinct aesthetic of loss. The mix of strings and synths is pretty amazing throughout.
The Police
3/5
Some good songs, distinct Police sound.
The Slits
3/5
Unique for sure, not my favorite.
Public Enemy
3/5
Pretty good up front, slows down a bit on the back side.
Dusty Springfield
5/5
So many classics that I had no idea were from her. Great voice that she puts to use in multiple ways.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
A bit like Dylan, but with better instrumentation and lyrics.
4/5
I shouldn't like this, but it's very catchy. Pop at its best.
Heaven 17
4/5
Starts off as fairly straight pop, but quickly moves to experimental pop.
Worth it just for the intro to Geisha Boys and Temple Girls.
The Beta Band
3/5
Interesting.
Burning Spear
3/5
An interesting slice of history, both Rasta and Marcus Garvey. Enjoyable music accompanies the social commentary.
Green Day
5/5
Iconic riffs and lyrics. Topical when it came out, but unfortunately remains culturally relevant 20 years later. Extremely ambitious, but is everything it should be. I'm a sucker for a good concept album anyway. Not to mention six songs over 5min is pretty amazing for a "punk" band.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
4/5
No need for innuendo here. Surprisingly straight forward, but enjoyable.
Aimee Mann
3/5
Pretty straight 90's pop. Decent.
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
If someone asked for the prototype of blues rock, this is what I would reach for.
Mariah Carey
3/5
The voice is timeless, but some of the songs and sound effects are a bit dated. The Bone Thugs feature is a great change up.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Kind of generic pop.
Metallica
4/5
One is just amazing. The rest is good and a prototype of what came next.
Brian Eno
2/5
Experimental at best. I'm sure it was mind blowing back in the day, but not super enjoyable now.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
The voice and the instrumentation borders on caricature, but comes together perfectly for Come On Eileen.
David Bowie
4/5
Interesting ideas and the emotion is really palpable.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Smooth, enjoyable, classic. Proper application of the new toolset of instruments coming available.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Fun tunes, unfortunately he sounds like a generally bad person.
The Specials
4/5
A lot of fun and filled in the gap on a cover by Goldfinger I loved.
The Coral
3/5
Entertaining and occasionally unique.
The KLF
2/5
Meh.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Enjoyable, but not memorable.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Some of the songs are dated sounding, but others hold up surprisingly well for 60 years later. Some interesting lyrics for a professed Christian...
Johnny Cash
4/5
Before listening - I hope this is good because having two Johnny Cash prison albums is a bit much.
After listening - Good but not sure it's distinct enough to include on the list.
Ray Price
4/5
A great singer. Songs are a bit dated. Good overall.
Metallica
4/5
Some amazing songs here that really differentiated Metallica from just "metal". Gets a little repetitive toward the end unfortunately.
SAULT
3/5
Chill sounding, but non-chill lyrically.
Lou Reed
4/5
There's a good progression from slow and "empty" to faster and "full" songs. Somehow the emotion is relayed well.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Sparse but filled with emotion. Zero filler songs. This album says what it needs to say and that's it.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Pretty fun and chill till "One of Them", but a great throwback to earlier days of hiphop.
Buzzcocks
4/5
A bit clean and musical for pure punk, haha. Very enjoyable.
John Cale
3/5
Nothing too standout.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Amazingly stripped down. Just a guitar and emotion. Far better than Dylan.
The Roots
4/5
Extremely unique, and lots of skill on display at all levels of production.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
Just straight up catchy pop. Extra points for electric organ! Even a fun Beach Boys "cover".
Duran Duran
4/5
Great start with the title track. So much energy.
Fred Neil
4/5
An interesting background character that probably never got as much due as he should have. Great voice and songwriting.
Brian Eno
3/5
Some interesting and surprising songs and sounds. Not what I was expecting.
Beyoncé
3/5
Some unique sounds, but generally generic songs.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Lush but somehow simple and a bit repetitive.
4/5
Some great tunes and interesting ideas. I can see how they influenced so many others.
Love
4/5
Worth it just for Seven and Seven Is, but the other songs are great too. They don't like the jam, but I like that do.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Obvious why it's foundational to metal. Some great riffs and fun subject matter.
The Prodigy
3/5
Firestarter is a banger, I'm not too into most of it though.
Alice Cooper
3/5
I swear that some part of almost every song sounds like it was lifted from somewhere, James Bond, Beatles, etc.
Doves
4/5
Some good songs. Sea Song particularly. Catch the Sun feels like a Foo Fighters song somehow.
Portishead
4/5
Way different than the first one I heard. I like it though.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
A high point for the stones. Good all through.
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Classic and stands the test of time.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Great voice. Good music.
Stan Getz
3/5
Not a fan of the sax style.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Ok, not amazing.
Buck Owens
5/5
Super fun and quality music. Unfortunately largely forgotten.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Nothing too creative, but good rock music.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Interesting but not my favorite. His voice reminded me of Ben Gabbard at some points strangely enough.
Happy Mondays
3/5
I'm not really into house and such, but this is enjoyable if not standout.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
This is a proper "losing your mind" album. The Syd Barrett one is just rambling, but this is musical while still maintaining the dark undertones of insanity.
U2
4/5
Amazing highs, and pretty good lows. No stinkers. Interesting how an album so specifically about a point in time turns out timeless, unfortunately.
Kanye West
4/5
Authentic, smart, and listenable.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
This one wanders all over the place. Some Death Cab vibes here and there, but much more varied than them.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Amazing, especially considering how early it was. Some great ideas and fun raps.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
5/5
Like a Dave Matthews Band predecessor, but more focus on brass and electric organ. A mix of almost pure jazz with great pop/rock tunes. Unique.
The Who
5/5
Feels more Sgt. Pepper Beatles than the Who. Interesting peek at their early success times. On the Super Deluxe version, Pictures Of Lily feels like a Weezer song.
Dr. Dre
4/5
Took me a second to register that I was listening to a flute solo on The Chronic, but there it was. The instrumentation and beats on this album are amazing. The overall quality falls off a bit toward the end.
Elis Regina
3/5
Fun if dated music. A good singer, but not sure why she's regarded as Brazil's best.
X-Ray Spex
5/5
Punk with sax! Still holds up, great energy. Incredible voice. The messages still hold up as well. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs seem very inspired by X-Ray Spex.
Norah Jones
3/5
Her voice is amazing, but the music on this album isn't great. Good overall.
Carole King
4/5
Great songs, ok voice.
Slipknot
3/5
Different than expected in a few spots. A bit repetitive on some of the elements, but interesting.
4/5
Definitely unique. A few great songs and a lot of good ones.
The Offspring
5/5
Great punk album. No skip songs and no rest throughout.
Pretenders
3/5
Quite eclectic with a great song or two and some mehs.
Deep Purple
3/5
Good, but probably the lower tier of the unholy trinity.
Madonna
3/5
Some classics, but doesn't stand out to me.
Eagles
3/5
Some obvious standouts, but obviously a freshman effort in other places.
Deep Purple
4/5
Great album.
Faust
3/5
Interesting, but not that unique.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Amazing throughout. One of the great debuts.
Van Halen
5/5
Had this immediately after Led Zeppelin I. Not sure which is a better debut, both are amazing.
Tom Waits
3/5
Definitely Tom Waits. A little more musical than some of his stuff, but not as interesting.
Sepultura
4/5
Still can't get past the screaming, but it's very interesting musically and conceptually otherwise.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Some great grooves as evidenced by the constant sampling, and good voices as well.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
There's some subtle power in the songs even though I dislike his over singing.
Pantera
4/5
Pretty good overall. Excellent instruments, acceptable vocals.
Calexico
5/5
A fun mix of a variety of styles, but with a consistent theme and feeling throughout. It is an album that gets deeper and better with more listens.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Way more voice than I realized. Some great tunes, and her own personal brand of punk.
David Bowie
3/5
Getting a little tired of Bowie on the list, but there are some good songs on here for sure.
Paul Simon
4/5
I was skeptical of more Paul Simon, but this album is a lot of fun and the broad influences are unique and interesting.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
It's something.
Ozomatli
4/5
Great mix of sounds, all enjoyable.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Ok. Nothing standout.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
Unique and enjoyable. Some great depth throughout.
Metallica
5/5
It's a best-of combined with the orchestral depth. Was an amazing concept and perfectly executed.
Randy Newman
5/5
He doesn't hold back when creating a caricature of those he targets. He also doesn't hold back when dealing with the wrongs against them. Great depth to this one.
ZZ Top
4/5
Solid and La Grange is an all time classic.
Ice Cube
4/5
Surprisingly enjoyed the more old school style and the cleverness in the lyrics.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Some great songs. I enjoy the raw nature of the recordings much more than most of his stuff.
Soft Machine
3/5
Started rough, but found itself after a bit. A unique sound and a unique album organization but it works.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Unique and fun, but not amazing.
Radiohead
3/5
Less whiny but more mumbly. Still over rated.
Sparks
4/5
So much energy and fun.
Simply Red
3/5
Solid example of this soft rock/disco pop music.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I enjoyed it more than other sonic youth stuff, but still ok.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Obviously talented enough to make whatever they want, this is an interesting eclectic mix. I can see how it influenced Sgt. Pepper.
JAY Z
4/5
The anger is palpable. Some great flow and beats.
R.E.M.
4/5
Overall good. Some great tunes and a transitional sound for REM.
Garbage
4/5
Something of a bridge between pop and grunge. Amazing sound, great songs.
Stephen Stills
4/5
Good solid music.
Mudhoney
4/5
You can smell the grunge on this one.
Culture Club
3/5
Fun pop.
Ramones
4/5
Punk but not too harsh.
Eurythmics
3/5
Title song is of course amazing. The others sometimes feel dated but are still enjoyable.
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
A new experience. I liked it.
Bill Callahan
3/5
Calming
Scott Walker
2/5
Just kind of weird.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Despite the creepy cover, decent music.
Patti Smith
3/5
A strange mix of poetry and rock. Punk in spirit, but not sound.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Honestly didn’t stick with me well enough to give a detailed review.
Leftfield
3/5
Wrong day to listen to this. Way too much going on. Still not a huge fan of house/dance/electronic, but there are some ok songs on here.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Amazing the impact it had on videos, but overall a solid album.
George Michael
4/5
Some catchy songs, some didn't stand up to time. Undeniable talent though.
Talvin Singh
4/5
A really interesting blend of Indian sounds and electronic. Adding the tabla to the mix really expands the possibilities.
Animal Collective
4/5
Something like Flaming Lips, but still unique. Some Beach Boys style harmonies in there as well.
The Cardigans
3/5
Nina's vocals carry the band, and Lovefool carries the album. The rest is ok, but not great. Though the Iron Man cover is interesting.
David Holmes
3/5
I'm pretty sick of electronic on here. Maybe I don't take enough party drugs to get it.
Ryan Adams
3/5
Not what I was expecting. Soothing in a way. Not stand out though.
k.d. lang
3/5
Great singer. Nothing stood out for me though.
Barry Adamson
4/5
Eclectic, dark, chill, unique.
Pavement
3/5
Some primordial grunge sounds. Interesting but not fully baked.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Mostly weird and not up to their future stuff.
The Vines
4/5
Good, a bit of throwback sound vs. when it was released.
Def Leppard
4/5
A little too consistent throughout, but at least it's consistently good.
Wilco
3/5
Some interesting sounds and ideas. DIdn't really stay with me though.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Has a similar feel to early Pumpkins, but even more dreamy and extreme on the guitar sounds. After some research, MBV inspired some SP sounds.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Meh
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
Got a lightweight Weezer feel from them, but this album just never gets over the hump. A little too homogenous.
Dr. John
3/5
Unique and has a great groove to most of the songs.
Miles Davis
3/5
If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.
The Hives
4/5
Great fun collection of rock songs.
Billy Bragg
4/5
A surprisingly good album. Seems like it could easily slip into a mess of different styles. The Natalie Merchant song is great.
Cypress Hill
4/5
A unique style in flow and groove. Some fun rhymes.
Todd Rundgren
4/5
This album is all over the place, but in a good way. Surprisingly enjoyable.
The Cure
4/5
The best Cure album I've heard. Still a little monotonous with the vocals, but good overall.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Amazing breadth of styles while maintaining an impossible quality. Amazingly talented.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
A generational voice, and a few good songs. Definitely worth a listen.
Dr. Octagon
3/5
Three tracks in and it's already amazingly unique. The flow on Dr. Octagon sounds like Eminem before Eminem. Is Halfsharkalligatorhalfman the first manbearpig? Half man, half bear, half pig?
AC/DC
5/5
Just solid rock. Perfectly is what it's supposed to be.
Fever Ray
3/5
Definitely unique. Still undecided whether it's good or not. Definitely belongs on this list.
Blue Cheer
5/5
Pretty amazing given the time period. Could be right at home in many ages of music. Definitely a progenitor of some of my favorite stuff.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
It's exactly what it is. Pop music from 1990. Nothing more, nothing less.
Tortoise
4/5
Not what I was expecting, but enjoyable.
Little Simz
3/5
It has an unrelenting pace. Sometimes it feels likes she's posing or trying too hard though.
B.B. King
4/5
Great emotion and musical skill. Some great joking in there. Just a good time all around.
Talking Heads
4/5
Unique and super fun.
Crowded House
3/5
A bit generic. Folksy pop.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Not sure what this is, but doesn't sound like The Beach Boys. Seems like a forced transition and some clumsy attempts to copy the Beatles.
Frank Ocean
3/5
There's a consistent chill feel to the whole album. Great background music.
Sade
3/5
It's fine. Doesn't stand out.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
The Rattitude of Fleetwood Mac.
Joan Baez
5/5
Surprisingly good. Amazing renditions of classic songs.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
Interesting.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Not just a British preference, but even a British rapper preference now. Definitely over-represented.
Saint Etienne
3/5
Some nice grooves but kinda meh otherwise.
Dire Straits
5/5
Great tracks and money for nothing is an all time classic (not to mention the video).
Nick Drake
5/5
Perfect just being him and his guitar (and piano). Maintains a complete and focused ambiance throughout.
The Band
5/5
Another one of those "had no idea this is where those songs come from" albums. Great stuff.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I actually enjoyed this despite my general distaste for Dylan's style of music. There are some great instrumentals and his voice isn't as grating as it can be.
fIREHOSE
4/5
Despite being punk-ish, there's a distinct lightness or sparseness to the songs.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Something different, definitely not a brit-pop band.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Gimme Shelter is a top five song of all time, the rest is great with a consistent feel throughout. You Can't Always Get What you Want is a perfect closer. I don't really like the Stones, but this one is undeniable.
Pulp
4/5
Surprised I enjoyed it. There a strong consistent theme that helps reign in the experimental music.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Simple in some ways compared to modern hip-hop, but you can hear the ground breaking bits even today. A bit heavy on the drum-track clicking sometimes.
Coldplay
4/5
It has that Coldplay sound, but it's still good.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
A bit over hyped. Almost falls in the British favoritism in this list.
Motörhead
4/5
It's great Motorhead, but Motorhead is just a bit single-noted.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
Quite a journey on this album. Holds together well despite the wide variety of styles and even languages.
King Crimson
3/5
Sonic texture is what springs to mind. All sorts of textures. Rough, smooth, squishy, solid.
Nirvana
3/5
Not even the best Nirvana, so very over rated.
James Brown
4/5
All the energy.
D'Angelo
4/5
Wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. Great consistency of mood and feel throughout.
The Soft Boys
3/5
Can definitely hear the music it inspired. Easy to listen to.
Soft Cell
3/5
Like a synth version of Violent Femmes.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Interesting and dark. Solid.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Somewhat unique while still definitely sounding of the time.
Os Mutantes
4/5
Sgt. Pepper Beatles distilled with a few drops of Yoko and a lot of drops of LSD.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
5/5
A definite experience. I can't tell if the reviews and claims of influence are part of the joke or not. Is Andy Kaufman really Captain Beefheart? I feel like I've joined a cult by finishing this album. I don't think I have the strength left to rate it anything other than 5.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Not their best, but ok.
The United States Of America
4/5
A lot of interesting concepts, and they definitely had a particular point of view. Great addition to this list.
Grateful Dead
4/5
I think it'll take more than one listen to really get into the Dead, but obviously skilled musicians making great music.
Morrissey
3/5
Maybe my least disliked of Morrissey. Easy listening, but this list is way over populated with his music. One album would be sufficient.
Fats Domino
4/5
Though the recording technology has aged, the music is timeless and fun.
Tim Buckley
2/5
So so music by a true dickwad.
Bobby Womack
3/5
A bit generic until Stand Up. That one has a groove.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
A refreshing sound, especially for the early 2000's.
Justice
3/5
It does have a unique sound.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Definitely feel the 70's and Bowie creeping through. Drags a bit in the second half.
The Residents
3/5
The definition of experimental. Not sure if valuable.
Suicide
3/5
Kind of fumbles along with some ok ideas and mediocre execution until Frankie Teardrop. Somehow that one works.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Spaced Cowboy just comes out of nowhere. A fun album despite what was going on with the band and the world at the time.
The Band
5/5
Not sure it's better than Abbey Road as Christgau said, but this is a great album all the way through.
Kraftwerk
5/5
Metropolis immediately bring Daft Punk and Tron Legacy to mind. It had to be an inspiration. It's nice to hear the original, it's even better than the Daft Punk version.
Beck
3/5
Chill and enjoyable, not sure if it stands out though. Maybe a bit generic.
The Gun Club
4/5
Can definitely hear the influence on the White Stripes. Not sure if there's influence one way or the other, but I hear some Violent Femmes in here as well.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Fun but also soulful and emotional. Great sound and message.
The Fall
3/5
It feels like it comes from the 70s and 90s at the same time. Techno mixed with punk-lite.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
4/5
Another great live(ish) jam. Some interesting ideas woven into it.
Rod Stewart
4/5
Solid stuff.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
Not my style but undeniable voice.
Cheap Trick
4/5
Great live set. Some obvious classics, but some more run of the mill songs too.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Nothing too special.
Ray Charles
4/5
Great takes though it may sound dated to modern ears, the music is amazing.
The xx
3/5
Pretty enjoyable, just didn't stick with me.
The Pretty Things
3/5
A bit of a Sgt. Pepper/Beatles knock-off without the charm. Not bad music though. A bit over-wrought, especially towards the end.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
I was curious to hear pre-Bjork Bjork. Her vocals are pretty insane. The overall music is different, but not so different as to be a challenge to listen to.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Good overall, Layla of course is amazing. Great one-off band.
Miles Davis
4/5
Definitely cool. Much more approachable than some jazz can be.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Meh
Queen Latifah
4/5
Dated in some spots but ahead of its time in other. The Pros is a particularly forward feeling track.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Dexys does not belong on this list three times. Heavy on the horns, at least this one is a little different.
Elliott Smith
4/5
A little single-noted, but good for what it is. Something like Death Cab.
Mj Cole
2/5
Blech
Michael Jackson
5/5
Smooth Criminal is so good it made Alien Ant Farm sound good!
Man in the Mirror has no right to be that good. I Just Can't Stop Loving You's intro is my low point. Overall a spectacular album.
4/5
Has its moments but drags on sometimes.
The White Stripes
5/5
Great raw hard rock.
Sepultura
4/5
A rare example of metal I can enjoy. Solid.
Fugees
4/5
Smooth and fun. Great overall.
Rush
4/5
Excellent from the album artwork through the last song.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
Great 90's punk. A ton of fun.
Ute Lemper
3/5
Feels like it's trying too hard. I guess it's in the style of a musical.
Taylor Swift
3/5
Doesn't sound that special, just a bit more stripped down. Similar vocals and subject matter. It's fine.
John Martyn
5/5
Great album all the way through. As solid as air.
Japan
3/5
Not my favorite.
Ian Dury
4/5
A cockney meatloaf? Funk punk? A lot of fun either way.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Enjoyable harmonies and a few great songs. Lags a bit in the middle.
David Bowie
3/5
It's fine, but Bowie is way over represented on this list.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Unique for the time, but you can hear where it influenced things later. Not sure I'm a fan of Siouxsie's singing, but not bad.
Steve Winwood
3/5
Technically proficient, just didn't groove with it.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Quality Canadian indie.
The Killers
5/5
Great standard bearer for 2000's US rock.
Nina Simone
4/5
A unique voice and moving songwriting.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
She has an amazing delicate yet powerful voice. Mbube has some interesting history, and the take on this album is great.
Jack White
4/5
A nice departure from the White Stripes, but keeping a spirit of simplicity. Great all the way through.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Nice ambiance. Not sure anything really stuck with me.
Dolly Parton
5/5
Heartfelt and a great example of what country used to be. Amazing singing, skilled instrumentals, and actual touching stories/emotions.
Can
3/5
Interesting ambiance music.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Exactly as advertised.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Enjoyable.
Otis Redding
4/5
A uniquely intense but emotional voice. Great songs/covers.
The Temptations
4/5
Can hear the Sly influence. Quality of course.
Kings of Leon
4/5
His voice is a little single dimensional but the music is great at least for one album.
T. Rex
4/5
An iconic song and some interesting surrounding tracks.
The Fall
4/5
Classic and more musical than most.
AC/DC
5/5
What's not to love?
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Can honestly say this is the first time I've heard an electric jug, and unfortunately it is underwhelming.
Metallica
5/5
Amazing throughout. Timeless.
The Black Keys
3/5
Falls into the same category as Gary Clark for me. I should like it more than I do. Not sure what doesn't click, but still some great songs. I think maybe the drumming is just mid.
Björk
4/5
I'd much prefer a dozen Bjork albums than a dozen Bowie albums on this list. Bjork is always pushing the edge, but always in an enjoyable way.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
I don't really like other Siouxsie stuff, but this one is interesting and even good in a lot of points.
3/5
Not sure why this is on the list. :-/
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
It's like a chill Rage. Decent enough.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
It's obviously Joni Mitchell, but the music has a lot of variation. Some interesting sounds and rhythms explored.
Daft Punk
4/5
I can see why it was groundbreaking at the time. Great tunes, unique beats.
Carpenters
4/5
Very chill and calming. Classic songs.
PJ Harvey
5/5
Great raw sound and lots of angst.
The Byrds
4/5
Leans into the psychedelia a bit much sometimes, but great harmonies and songs overall.
Bert Jansch
4/5
Solid, better than most Dylan.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
It's interesting to hear the similarities and differences in this and "US" blues. Can hear the influence on Songhoy Blues as well.
Brian Eno
3/5
It's Eno for sure.
KISS
2/5
Simplistic and cringe worthy. I can see why the kids liked it though.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Can hear the genesis of a lot of music to follow.
The Zombies
4/5
Solid overall with one great song. Could have been a bigger band if they'd stuck together I think. Lots of creativity.
Mike Oldfield
4/5
Definitely unique, and interesting that the opening riff became so famous when there is so much more deeper into the tracks.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Unique, but not sure that translates to listenable.
The Bees
3/5
Almost feels like a joke, but slightly too good for that.
Digital Underground
3/5
Unique approach and lyrics, but not so much on the samples.
Jethro Tull
4/5
I mean what's not to like about rock flute solos? Overall maybe a touch too consistent in sound, but pretty good.
The Dictators
3/5
Definitely an early version of "joke" punk bands like Minutemen, NoFX, etc. In spirit if not musically. Nothing too amazing though, as expected.
David Ackles
3/5
Sounds like the soundtrack to a musical. Meh.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Belongs on this list due to the uniqueness of the whole thing, but not my cup of tea for normal listening.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Fine ambiance music, but not as good as other Kraftwerk.
Hüsker Dü
4/5
Great punk rock sound without getting bland.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Killer all the way through.
TV On The Radio
3/5
A little unique, but nothing stood out.
Goldie
2/5
Another meh British electronica album.
Dead Kennedys
5/5
I don't think this could be a daily listener for me, but it is legit as punk comes. Harsh and sarcastic.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Probably my favorite Iggy Pop. Some great tunes, but a little inconsistent.
Radiohead
2/5
I dread when Radiohead shows up on the list. This was no exception.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
A bit of the transition from new wave to alternative. Nothing sticks with me, but the songs are ok.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Her voice almost sounds forced or fake. The instrumentation is great. I'm going with store brand Bjork.
De La Soul
4/5
A bit all over the place, but non-stop up tempo beats and fun.
Dagmar Krause
4/5
Unexpectedly enjoyable despite being a style I've never really explored. Impeccable vocals and instrumentation. Interesting historical perspective as well.