1001 Albums Summary

Overall pretty enjoyable, never really listened to old-school legends of rap and hip-hop like this. First song was kind of weak but it picked up with the second. Standout song was definitely Butter. I thought the jazz samples were awesome. Lyrically interesting but the constant AABBCC rhyme scheme was grating at times. I know this was kind of earlier work but I hoped for more variation. Overall glad I listened.

I will start with an unnecessarily reductive comment about this album: it's the same song 14 times. 14 songs in under 30 minutes, using largely 3-4 power chords in a constant eigth note pace, two drum patterns (one for verse and one for chorus), and a few lines repeated over and over. Anyone who doesn't know their stuff would think this is boring and repetitive but, baby, you got a stew going. This is the birth of all my favorite genres. I'm familiar with many of the Ramones' hits and like them, but definitely had never heard this album. It was immediately clear to me that my Kia Forte's factory sound system was not the way it was meant to be experienced. The songs absolutely exuded energy that made me sad I never saw them at a club in the 70s, with the music blasting from amplifiers while a frenetic crowd bounces around and the band absolutely blasts through songs. What's simple on the album would have been groundbreaking in person. All-in-all, I was torn on whether I wanted to give it a 3 or a 4. There weren't really any standout songs, no real technical work, no inspiring lyrics. Just pure energy for 30 minutes. What really tipped it to a 4 for me was the fact that I constantly found myself bobbing my head and singing along (to songs I was hearing for the first time, thanks to the repetitive and simple lyrics). It wasn't mentally stimulating but it was still fun music that kept me pumped up for 30 minutes of my workday.

I don't have much to say but it was a really good album. I throughly enjoyed it from front to back. I had never heard of Suede before and I have no clue why.

I went into this album thinking I've never heard of this band, I've never heard a song by them, and I probably wouldn't enjoy it. It took literally 4 notes before I realized how wrong I was. Despite being unfamiliar with them by name, I've been hearing the songs on these albums for years. They've appeared in movies, they've been sampled, and artists have "stolen from" them. I can tell this band is truly legendary just by how familiar I am with their music. Even though it's not my usual style, I found the music interesting and enjoyable. It is all upbeat and just sounded like the musical version of sunshine. The musicianship was also incredible. Overall, despite my reservations, I thoroughly enjoyed my listens and feel like my musical mind has been expanded.

So I've actually never really cared for Led Zeppelin. I feel like they're in my wheelhouse but it originates from being an edgy teenager that didn't want to like popular bands. So when I was assigned this one I was excited to finally have an excuse to experience them for myself. I went in with an open mind and... I just don't get it. The album was really boring. I can hear the technical guitar playing if I really listen. The subject matter is interesting I guess. But I was just bored the whole time. It leads me to think there's there's something wrong with me.