1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

796
Albums Rated
2.55
Average Rating
73%
Complete
293 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

1960
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
29
5-Star Albums
88
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

Top Styles

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
5 2.97 +2.03
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
5 3.07 +1.93
Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
5 3.26 +1.74
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
5 3.43 +1.57
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
5 3.46 +1.54
Aja
Steely Dan
5 3.48 +1.52
Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
5 3.55 +1.45
Moon Safari
Air
5 3.57 +1.43
Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
4 2.61 +1.39
With The Beatles
Beatles
5 3.64 +1.36

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Dookie
Green Day
1 3.79 -2.79
Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
1 3.69 -2.69
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
1 3.59 -2.59
Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
1 3.56 -2.56
Arrival
ABBA
1 3.52 -2.52
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
1 3.5 -2.5
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
1 3.42 -2.42
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
1 3.38 -2.38
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
1 3.34 -2.34
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
1 3.32 -2.32

Artists

Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Beatles 5 5
Radiohead 6 4.33

Least Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Tom Waits 4 1.25
Bruce Springsteen 4 1.25
Leonard Cohen 4 1.5
Brian Eno 4 1.5
ABBA 2 1
Slipknot 2 1
Public Image Ltd. 2 1
Pet Shop Boys 3 1.67
Dexys Midnight Runners 3 1.67
Sonic Youth 5 2
Ali Farka Touré 2 1.5
The Pogues 2 1.5
Public Enemy 2 1.5
Green Day 2 1.5
Baaba Maal 2 1.5
Everything But The Girl 2 1.5
Randy Newman 2 1.5
Barry Adamson 2 1.5
Willie Nelson 2 1.5
Ice Cube 2 1.5
Madonna 3 2
Johnny Cash 3 2
Bob Dylan 6 2.33
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 4 2.25

Controversial

ArtistRatings
Fleetwood Mac 5, 2
Beastie Boys 5, 3, 2

5-Star Albums (29)

View Album Wall

Popular Reviews

Something/Anything? by Todd Rundgren

So opens with an all time classic and then is just indulgent studio wankery with no great melodies? And this guy dissed the Beatles?!

At San Quentin by Johnny Cash

Clearly quite a show, but the music is a bit too 'gee shucks I'm an outlaw' simple country for me

Graceland by Paul Simon

ah, when cultural appropriation was seen as cool and helpful. never liked it

Automatic 1 star for the ultimate wanker band - by wankers for wankers. He's a classical musician playing at being Radiohead, and his acolytes go on about his skills rather than the quality of his song writing

1-Star Albums (88)

All Ratings (796)

Arrival by ABBA
Nov 17 2021

I Just Can't Do It

Moon Safari by Air
Nov 19 2021

An old favourite - nice to revisit and one track made it into the wedding playlist

The Visitors by ABBA
Nov 22 2021

In what world does an avowed Abba hater get 2 albums in the first five on this project? Didn't listen, couldn't do it to myself, even Partridge ironically

Brutal Youth by Elvis Costello
Nov 25 2021

Not a lot of fun. Other Elvis albums are better

From Elvis In Memphis by Elvis Presley
Nov 26 2021

Way better than I thought it might be. A little bit cruise crooner in places, but also really beautiful in others

Dummy by Portishead
Nov 28 2021
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Nov 29 2021
Ten by Pearl Jam
Dec 04 2021
Pump by Aerosmith
Dec 07 2021
Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams
Dec 08 2021

Duller than I thought it might be

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Dec 09 2021

Enjoyed it, groovy

Ctrl by SZA
Dec 10 2021

Meh - whiny stuff about shagging gaidos

Fromohio by fIREHOSE
Dec 12 2021

Interesting, some proper melt solos and stuff, but really quite odd

Rio by Duran Duran
Dec 13 2021

One of the first non-Beatles albums I ever bought. Still quite a lot of fun

Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Dec 16 2021

Familiar in places and fun, but not one I'll go back to

Fun House by The Stooges
Dec 17 2021

Pretty good, pretty generic, nothing outstanding

All Mod Cons by The Jam
Dec 18 2021

Lots of Beatles and Who lifts, actually pretty good, would listen again

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys
Dec 19 2021

OK - little on the baggy and samey side - can't believe I've not listened to this before, I'm sure I had the CD!

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
Dec 20 2021

What a banger - so many excellent samples from before when it was too expensive. Loved it

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
Dec 21 2021

Some clear high points, lots of meh

Junkyard by The Birthday Party
Dec 22 2021

Ugh, not for me - terrible low energy emo garbage

Crazysexycool by TLC
Dec 24 2021

Not my lane at all. Musical muesli or wallpaper, just so bland. Didn't make it past track 3

The Clash by The Clash
Dec 25 2021

Never really got these guys, and this hasn't helped explain how massive or important other people think they are

Made In Japan by Deep Purple
Dec 27 2021

Pretty sure my dad had this on vinyl, not too bad, but quite proggy in parts. Won't listen again

Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Dec 28 2021

Enjoyed it, didn't star any tracks though

Harvest by Neil Young
Dec 29 2021

Couple of excellent tracks, not as good as Harvest Moon though. Might listen again

Shake Your Money Maker by The Black Crowes
Jan 05 2022

An old favourite, not their best, but better than I remembered - starred at least one track I'd forgotten

Very by Pet Shop Boys
Jan 07 2022

They were never my thing, still aren't my thing nearly 30 years later

The Wall by Pink Floyd
Jan 08 2022

As ever with Floyd, you need to be in a certain mindspace, but this was the first time I've listened to all of it - can see how it is so popular. Not quite Wish You Were Here, but pretty good nonetheless

Viva Hate by Morrissey
Jan 09 2022

Had this on tape when I was in sixth form, and listened quite a bit. Wasn't a Smith's fan, and didn't buy another Morrissey album, but there's a couple of serious tunes on here, and listening in 2021 revealed layers of instrumentation and production I'd not heard before. Suedehead is a proper banger

Yeezus by Kanye West
Jan 10 2022

Just not interested anymore. Someone has forgotten about beats and melody and having a sense of humour

461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton
Jan 11 2022

Really enjoyed it - always thought Sheriff was a bit gimmicky - but the rest of the album is good solid drug induced blues. Peak Clapton

The Yes Album by Yes
Jan 12 2022

my dad owned this for years and I never listened, now I don't understand why not - some weird stuff yes, but also some pretty excellent stuff, reminiscent of late beatles, which is never a bad thing

Figure 8 by Elliott Smith
Jan 13 2022

Better than I expected, very tuneful - will listen again. More hints at the Beatles than I expected

The Blueprint by JAY Z
Jan 14 2022

Fun vintage stuff from the world of sampling whatever you want to.

Talking Heads 77 by Talking Heads
Jan 15 2022

OK - nothing amazing, was never that bothered about them and this doesn't change things

London Calling by The Clash
Jan 16 2022

Really can't bring myself to care. They might be seminal, but I think it lacks fundamental melody or sophistication to me - just a lot of stomping and shouting

Solid Air by John Martyn
Jan 17 2022

Oh, now this was really good - smokey jazzy bluesy - right up my street - a couple of tracks added to the favourites list

Hunky Dory by David Bowie
Jan 18 2022

Already has two stone cold classics, the rest of it was not so special. Wasn't that impressed

Paul Simon by Paul Simon
Jan 19 2022

Audio wallpaper - a couple of classic tracks, the rest felt like much of a muchness, won't be going on the rotation

Calenture by The Triffids
Jan 20 2022

How is this on the list? Obscure Aussie Jangle pop from the 90's? I guess the author has a soft spot. I don't

Something/Anything? by Todd Rundgren
Jan 21 2022

So opens with an all time classic and then is just indulgent studio wankery with no great melodies? And this guy dissed the Beatles?!

Dry by PJ Harvey
Jan 22 2022

I think i owned this - good grungey bluesey stuff

Jan 23 2022

Duller than I expected - couple of hits, but the rest of it was a bit slow and with unexpectedly poor production

Winter In America by Gil Scott-Heron
Jan 24 2022

Had to download it - not on Spotify. Proper good stuff this - very funky, very groovy and politically on point all these years later

Thriller by Michael Jackson
Jan 25 2022

All time classic - owned it on vinyl, and I don't care if he's cancelled, there are some serious tunes on here especially if you go past the obvious ones

In It For The Money by Supergrass
Jan 26 2022

Some proper bangers from the old days - better than I remembered and holding up well after 20 years

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
Jan 27 2022

Not bad, not amazing - won't listen again I don't think

Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem
Jan 28 2022

Simply brilliant, as usual. will be listening again and crossing my fingers for a ticket to the return tour - one of the best live bands I've ever seen

Hot Rats by Frank Zappa
Jan 29 2022

Very odd - been in my life for 50 years because my muso dad was on the good drugs. Never listened. Might not listen again.

Beyond Skin by Nitin Sawhney
Jan 30 2022

Really enjoyed it - i guess I'm getting used to Indian music, but the overall vibe was of a chic curry house - one I'd like to eat at!

Master Of Puppets by Metallica
Feb 04 2022

Too heavy for me - even the famous tracks. I can only work with Black Album Metallica, everything else just feels a bit too aggressive

On The Beach by Neil Young
Feb 05 2022

Tricky to listen now he's dropped off Spotify. Always like a bit of grumbling canadian - this is no different, no absolute bangers though, so just 3 stars

Maggot Brain by Funkadelic
Feb 06 2022

Fun - excellent moody atmospheric opener and then some pretty standard funk by numbers jobs

Kilimanjaro by The Teardrop Explodes
Feb 07 2022

80's muso nonsense, with that one banger. The rest of it just doesn't have the funk of ABC or the melody of Tears for Fears. Won't be listening again

The Specials by The Specials
Feb 08 2022

Familiar, never really been my lane, but not terrible by any means

Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey
Feb 09 2022

Familiar, already know and love a couple of the best tracks - rest are a bit meh

Feb 10 2022

Surprisingly good vs what I expected - almost similar to White Denim in the quality of musicianship and how tight the band are. Acceptable punk, but I don't think it really is punk

Penthouse And Pavement by Heaven 17
Feb 11 2022

banger - so much excellent groovy bass happening. quite odd as a concept, but enjoyed the listen

Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós
Feb 12 2022

Nice soundscapes - no idea what they're singing about and unlikely to listen again, but not inoffensive

Among The Living by Anthrax
Feb 13 2022

Not as bad as Metallica's listing I had to listen to, but still well short of the melody I prefer in my music

Tragic Songs of Life by The Louvin Brothers
Feb 14 2022

Oh dear. not for me. at all. and I like country music

3rd Polly album in the list, can't be too many more? Supposed to be her best, I think I prefer the edgier stuff - couple of good tunes on here. Not likely to go into my listening rotation though

Sheet Music by 10cc
Feb 16 2022

Had this on tape as a kid from my dad's collection. Weird and seems deliberately jokey and quirky - some interesting tracks in there but feels a bit tiresome generally

The Sun Rises In The East by Jeru The Damaja
Feb 17 2022

Not terrible, not amazing - some very 90's references and attitudes. Clearly very proud of Brooklyn. Will not be listening again

Yank Crime by Drive Like Jehu
Feb 18 2022

Nope - shouty unsophisticated crap - or at least the first track was. 2nd feels a bit more interesting into the two central massive tunes with more music and less screaming, much better glad I listened to this - I'm relistening already

Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses
Feb 19 2022

An old friend, still sounds as good as it did when I was 18, perhaps a bit juvenile, but does that matter. Side 1 is streets ahead of side 2.

Another Green World by Brian Eno
Feb 20 2022

zzzzzz - what on earth is this? audio wallpaper, and not especially pretty stuff either

Feb 21 2022

Erm - beats that take me back to being obsessed with Acid Jazz, but four tracks in and I've lost interest. Other people did this better, regardless of the language they rapped in

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Feb 22 2022

Does what it says on the tin. Think I owned this on CD, but never really listened because white boy metal rapping is just not good. They can be good when being melodic, but otherwise it isn't my lane. Was happy when Spotify started playing 'similar' music at the end of the album

Jack Takes the Floor by Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Feb 23 2022

Not my thing at all - they all sound remarkably similar

Dust by Screaming Trees
Feb 24 2022

Not bad, not as good as the predecessor which I loved as a younger man

Bummed by Happy Mondays
Feb 25 2022

Not quite what I thought it would be. Some bangers from back in the day, but not as groovy and not quite as much fun as later albums would be

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
Feb 26 2022

Loved it when I was a younger man - saw them play it live - not quite as magical through the lens of time, but still pretty good in places. Mad as lorries, and delightfully so

Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath
Feb 27 2022

Must be good - except for the track with 41 million listens, as I've had it on repeat for a couple of days now and added one or two liked tracks

Smile by Brian Wilson
Feb 28 2022

Odd - a couple of wonderful beach boys elements, but the rest is just fragments. It was never going to beat or be in the same league as Pepper

Mar 01 2022

Knew more tracks than I thought I would. Never been a big Dylan fan, can't get past the lack of melody having been raised on McCartney. Not terrible though

Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper
Mar 02 2022

Some familiar stuff, some batshit crazy stuff, but throughout there is a groove and some insane guitar work. Lots of fun when the songs go for it

Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone
Mar 03 2022

Insane to think this was 1969, it is still more innovative and interesting than most of the stuff from the past 40 years - they clearly had much better drugs

Parachutes by Coldplay
Mar 04 2022

An example of how a legacy can be ruined. I loved their first single and didn't even notice how much of a prat Chris Martin could be - he was just posh with some cracking tunes. On a relisten, some excellent standouts and a happy bit of nostalgia - shame subsequent events mean this album is effectively cancelled for people with good taste

My Generation by The Who
Mar 05 2022

Very good - lots of bangers and markers for the future of rock for 1965

Hard Again by Muddy Waters
Mar 06 2022

Own this on vinyl, from my muso blues fan teenage years. Classic blues - not a lot of variety, I think I only ever really played Mannish Boy

Woodface by Crowded House
Mar 07 2022

Double listen - nearly perfect in places, almost too twee in others. Never listened before, couple of truly electric moments.

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
Mar 08 2022

Ugh - never liked him, don't understand how he's held up as a legend

Tical by Method Man
Mar 09 2022

Meh thod man - fine, but far from exciting or interesting

Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
Mar 10 2022

Owned this, kinda liked it when it came out, but really not that good in retrospect. Pretentious

Screamadelica by Primal Scream
Mar 11 2022

Not bad, bit long winded in places now. Was absolutely massive when it came out - carved out a new genre

Van Halen by Van Halen
Mar 12 2022

Fun in it's own way - nothing ground breaking, but I guess it was 1978. Nothing tagged to be added as a favourite. Don't understand the hype around these guys except for Murica F Yeah

Deloused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta
Mar 13 2022

Weird but superb, a couple of spine tingling moments. Who knew that weird guitar jam with latin beats and a lunatic would be so compelling

Paris 1919 by John Cale
Mar 14 2022

Not interesting at all, why was this on the list?

Risque by CHIC
Mar 15 2022

One banger, lots of meh - not that interesting to hear disco as an album

Nowhere by Ride
Mar 16 2022

An old favourite, but I am not sure I ever listened to it end to end - vinyl was a pain Still good - might prefer later stuff

Mar 17 2022

What a load of nonsense. beats that go nowhere. can't tell the difference between tracks. Not a clue why this is on the list - I'm 100 days in and haven't had anything by the Beatles or Stones

Rip It Up by Orange Juice
Mar 18 2022

Interesting mix of white boy groove and african stuff - must have been very interesting in the early 80s. Nothing to get too excited about though

Mar 19 2022

Some good beats, clearly setting a template for a lot of what we're still hearing now. Big stars too. He's an angry dude though, lost his sense of humour when he got successful

Savane by Ali Farka Touré
Mar 20 2022

Yes, all very good and fine, but really not my kind of thing. All sound very samey

Tigermilk by Belle & Sebastian
Mar 21 2022

More audio wallpaper - washed right over me and nothing annoyed or offended me, but neither did anything grab by attention

Step In The Arena by Gang Starr
Mar 22 2022

Fun samples, vintage beats, but again this is nothing earth or butt shaking. Never heard it before, won't be listening again

Doolittle by Pixies
Mar 23 2022

An old favourite, just as much fun as it used to be

Country Life by Roxy Music
Mar 24 2022

Very good, top guitar work and not as arty or as wanky as I expected it to be!

Phaedra by Tangerine Dream
Mar 25 2022

Ugh - was never interested in these guys. If this is their best work, then good luck to their legions of fans. I need beat and a melody in order to elevate music above being wallpaper

Can't Buy A Thrill by Steely Dan
Mar 26 2022

Good stuff and bad stuff and amazing stuff. Very familiar having a father like mine

Raising Hell by Run-D.M.C.
Mar 27 2022

Fun for what it is. Was revolutionary, feels very vintage now, and quite misogynist. Again, nothing starred into my favourites

Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos
Mar 28 2022

OK, nothing amazing. Much prefer other female singer songwriters

Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple
Mar 29 2022

Yes, OK - apparently seminal, but not a patch on Zeppelin, who must have stolen their better tunes

Want Two by Rufus Wainwright
Mar 30 2022

Not bad, but nothing moved me extraordinarily

The Bends by Radiohead
Mar 31 2022

Absolute classic - with an arc in the middle that is simply peerless

Document by R.E.M.
Apr 03 2022

I owned this as a student - an investment in a CD, I kind of liked it then but it wasn't a favourite. Listening again, 3 good songs, the rest are less interesting

Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Apr 04 2022

Fine for what it is, which is something I don't enjoy

Coles Corner by Richard Hawley
Apr 05 2022

Not my lane, I'm sure it's OK for people who like a crooner, but simply too schmaltzy

Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins
Apr 07 2022

Twee twiddlee twaddlee - too lightweight for me

Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs
Apr 08 2022

Good stuff, liked it originally, still does goes stuff for me

Pretenders by Pretenders
Apr 09 2022

One great track, couple of other interesting ones, sounds like one foot in the 80s and one in a different time. Not bad, won't be listening again though

Aladdin Sane by David Bowie
Apr 10 2022

Not listened before, excellent stuff - some real classics

Apr 12 2022

Not terrible. Quite Juvenile. Not likely to ever roll it with my homies ever again

25 by Adele
Apr 13 2022

Couldn't bring myself to listen, I can do without the diabetic shock. I liked it back in the day, but I'm as far from torch ballads as I can be at the moment

Blue by Joni Mitchell
Apr 14 2022

Not on Spotify - and yes, clearly very pretty, but she does get a bit wearing

Bone Machine by Tom Waits
Apr 15 2022

Mad as a box of frogs, and about as much fun

John Prine by John Prine
Apr 16 2022

Yee haw, not my thing - way too simple

E.V.O.L. by Sonic Youth
Apr 17 2022

Nah, not interested

Urban Hymns by The Verve
Apr 18 2022

Vintage banger, not quite as good as the earlier stuff - and way too popular with mouthbreathers for my elevated sense of musical taste. Cant deny some of the tunes though, however much of a prat he was

Apr 19 2022

I can't do this to myself, the sniggering idiocy of the introduction was enough

Fire Of Love by The Gun Club
Apr 24 2022

Never heard of it, listened to it, realise why I'd never heard of it.

Ill Communication by Beastie Boys
Apr 25 2022

Fun but not as much fun as Paul's Boutique

With The Beatles by Beatles
Apr 26 2022

It's about time. 150 albums in before the GOAT arrive.

Pornography by The Cure
Apr 27 2022

Meh, not bad, not amazing, didn't notice much

Apr 29 2022

Pretty good - clearly enjoy a jam jazz rock folk album or two. One track added to the roster

Suede by Suede
Apr 30 2022

An old friend, good but not great

Ghosteen by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
May 01 2022

I'm sure he is a genius, but not to me. Can't make it through any of this stuff

The Band by The Band
May 02 2022

Not as good as I expected it to be

Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
May 03 2022

I loved this as a teenager - the soundtrack to many a ZX Spectrum gaming session - but listening now, it just feels a bit limp and odd and the opposite of what I find compelling in music

Smash by The Offspring
May 04 2022

Not good

Celebrity Skin by Hole
May 05 2022

OK - not listened before, but it is a bit 'grunge by numbers' for my taste

Astral Weeks by Van Morrison
May 24 2022

Had this since I was 17 - only ever played 2 tracks. Listening back, I understand why. Lovely where it counts, not that interesting anywhere else

Sound Affects by The Jam
May 26 2022

Fun - couple of monsters, but nothing too earth shattering

Boston by Boston
May 27 2022

Enjoyed it for what it was - surprised I'd missed it for all these years

Rum Sodomy & The Lash by The Pogues
May 28 2022

I don't possess the relevant DNA to enjoy this hibernian folksy drunken Captain Pugwash nonsense. Never liked it - music for people who like you to know they get properly drunk

Manassas by Stephen Stills
Jun 07 2022

Excellent stuff - love this vein of southern rock

Electric Prunes by The Electric Prunes
Jun 08 2022

An album from 1967 that I haven't heard of? Impossible, unless it turns out to be this load of old tosh - what on earth am I supposed to take away from this? Derivative and irritating

Mothership Connection by Parliament
Jun 09 2022

Very fun, very funky - but mad as a bag of hammers and feels like I'm a bit too old to get excited about being funked up

Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy
Jun 11 2022

Good, manufactured in places, quite samey throughout, but a couple of tracks made me sit up and take notice

Boy In Da Corner by Dizzee Rascal
Jun 12 2022

Fine for what it is - and a banger is a banger, but not enough bangers here for me

Vivid by Living Colour
Jun 13 2022

Had this on tape as a kid. I suspect Q Magazine is responsible for me picking it up. Doesn't hold up

Abraxas by Santana
Jun 14 2022

Some lovely old grooves, but it is a bit samey and just washes over you

Rapture by Anita Baker
Jun 15 2022

Had this, loved it, but actually, loved just a couple of them. I seem to have gone past this kind of music now

Bad by Michael Jackson
Jun 16 2022

Liked it as a kid, not as much as the predecessors, but feels surprisingly soulful compared to what I remember. Massive nonce or not, he had a rare groove to his music

Electric Warrior by T. Rex
Jun 17 2022

They never really hit for me - always seemed to be style over substance

Songs Of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen
Jun 18 2022

Oh.......my........god - dude, I hope these songs all got you laid. Definitely not my bag

The La's by The La's
Jun 21 2022

You know this - as good as it ever was

Abbey Road by Beatles
Jun 22 2022

Possibly, or probably definitely, the best album of all time

The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra
Jun 23 2022

Old school big bang swing jazz - perfectly fine, but not my lane at all

Tonight's The Night by Neil Young
Jun 24 2022

Love the man - tuneful and angry despite that reedy voice

Too Rye Ay by Dexys Midnight Runners
Jun 25 2022

I just can't. This includes one of the most evil songs ever concieved, and a cursory listen includes more of their jaunty irish fiddle and shout 'soul' music

Remain In Light by Talking Heads
Jun 26 2022

Another band I don't get - their hits are hits for a reason, the rest of the albums add nothing at all, such is the case here. Weird noodly arty stuff, clearly too clever for someone like me

Pelican West by Haircut 100
Jun 27 2022

Fun - couple of old familiars. Nothing amazing though

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
Jun 28 2022

They were never my favourites, too unhappy, but there are some great tunes here if you can look past the wanker out front

Apocalypse Dudes by Turbonegro
Jun 30 2022

More fun than I expected - will listen again, good noisy guitar grooves

Jul 01 2022

Had this as a younger man, didn't really embrace it - not as good as their earlier stuff. Dull music for dull people

Transformer by Lou Reed
Jul 02 2022

Ok - I can see why this is a classic and how radical it was for 1972, but the hits are the standouts and I already knew them

Ananda Shankar by Ananda Shankar
Jul 03 2022

I guess it is interesting. It is also background music for a movie or a restaurant and not something I'd ever listen to again

Eliminator by ZZ Top
Jul 04 2022

Weird - sleazy lazy boogie that is good when it is one of the hits, and terrible otherwise

Heavy Weather by Weather Report
Jul 06 2022

Yeah OK - fine - fun in a vintage movie kind of way, but not something I think I'd listen to out of choice on a sunny day

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
Jul 07 2022

Wonderful stuff - so much better than I expected. How have I gone 50 years without knowing this was there?

Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill
Jul 08 2022

Not my thing at all

Live! by Fela Kuti
Jul 09 2022

Much funkier than I expected, quite a lot of fun. The 20 minute drum battle isn't really what you need

Suzanne Vega by Suzanne Vega
Jul 10 2022

Apart from that one track, way too bedroom nerdy woe is me type stuff

Club Classics Vol. One by Soul II Soul
Jul 11 2022

The epitome of 90's shabby albums underpinning a couple of club bangers. 2 club classics, everything else is dreck - it was better owning the 12 inch, or CD single with the best tunes and a couple of remixes

Lady In Satin by Billie Holiday
Jul 12 2022

Yep, it is amazing, but so covered in sugary instrumentation and sentiment that I nearly got diabetes listening to it

Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter
Jul 14 2022

Fine, dull, won't listen again

Fever Ray by Fever Ray
Jul 15 2022

Weird, not terrible and not what I expected at all

At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band
Jul 16 2022

Fun bluesey jam marathons - some insane guitar chops, especially for a live album. Not sure I'll listen again though

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
Jul 17 2022

Fine, a bit twee for me, and I love a bit of country. The tracks Spotify played after the album are more fun.

Repeater by Fugazi
Jul 18 2022

Not for me

Jul 19 2022

Ugh - it's like a gor blimey guvnor musical. This is why you stick to the hits and not wander around the albums of anyone except the beatles and floyd

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Jul 20 2022

Never liked him. Don't like monotone acoustic miserablists. This is the perfect storm of stuff I don't like

Disintegration by The Cure
Jul 21 2022

Had this as a younger man - never really went into it in detail - preferred the weirdness of A Forest, but this is still pretty good and holds up well

Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy
Jul 22 2022

Have listened before, didn't need to do it again. 2 x meltingly good bangers, the rest is just not in the same league. Do The Right Thing is the best way to listen to this music

Dr. Octagonecologyst by Dr. Octagon
Jul 24 2022

Pretty chilled, seems to be one long groove and some jokes I'm not really listening hard enough to get. Juvenile Funky but not my thing

Jul 25 2022

Not as bad I thought it would be from my memory of their random crap when I was an NME reader, but still - who likes this stuff?

Grace by Jeff Buckley
Jul 26 2022

An old friend - at least 20 years now I've just had the two best (for me) tracks tagged. Listening to the rest of it, there's some good and some really not good. I'll be sticking to the two monsters - not Hallelujah though, that's overplayed massively

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels by Dexys Midnight Runners
Jul 27 2022

I should like this stuff, white boy soul, horns etc. Indeed a couple are quite fun, but his voice isn't great and I can still hear the insidious evil of Come On Eileen and too many ruined nights as a kid

The Man Machine by Kraftwerk
Jul 30 2022

Better than TransEurope Express, but the spotify radio shuffle after was much better

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake
Jul 31 2022

Had this for a while, love the killer track - not really listened to the rest of it. Good without being great

1989 by Taylor Swift
Aug 01 2022

Yes, massive, also a couple of super catchy tunes, but also a bit too obvious and worn out. I don't think I'm the target audience for this kind of music

Frank by Amy Winehouse
Aug 02 2022

Her schtick has been overplayed to the point where it almost sounds like parody. But I did own this when it came out and loved the smokey jazz chanteuse style before the china white, fags and bad boyfriend ruined her talent

One World by John Martyn
Aug 03 2022

More odd inclusions in this list - there have to be 3001 albums better than this. it's fine, it's even got a funny song, but it doesn't feel like my life is better for having listened to it

Aug 04 2022

Barking mad, almost unlistenable in places, but by far the best thing I've been pointed at in ages

Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones
Aug 06 2022

How many five star tracks does it take to get stars? There's 2, possibly 3, on here - and two of the best ever. Still a bit wanky outside those though

Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones
Aug 07 2022

A couple of the best tunes ever, but also quite a lot of filler - still worth it

A Seat at the Table by Solange
Aug 08 2022

Pretty standard and unremarkable R&B from the sister of someone very talented

Aug 09 2022

Don't need to listen to this one - it's been a part of my life all of my life. Some odd choices in there, but mostly just a wonderful nostalgic journey through some of the best melodies, riffs and harmonies we'll ever hear

Electric Music For The Mind And Body by Country Joe & The Fish
Aug 16 2022

Unusually unknown bluesy grooves - really enjoyed it. It is a very much a period piece but there are some tracks here that really groove

Oar by Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Aug 17 2022

Just nonsense - interesting story, but really not worth a listen

Rings Around The World by Super Furry Animals
Aug 18 2022

Generally, and typically excellent, but gets an extra star for Run Christian Run, which is up there as one of my favourite tracks ever

Aug 19 2022

Couldn't make it past the 4th track. Never liked Nu Metal, and these guys are at the apotheosis of that particular trashheap

Kenya by Machito
Aug 20 2022

Lots of fun - not what I expected, but was tapping my foot. Not entirely sure why this is afro Jazz, but whatever it was, I liked it

Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
Aug 21 2022

If anyone gets close to peak McCartney, is it Paul Simon in this period. Such a strange but wonderful album with some of the best songs they ever produced, and some very unusual other elements

Two Dancers by Wild Beasts
Aug 22 2022

OK - similar to their other stuff, but not as funky or immediate. Won't listen again

Pyromania by Def Leppard
Aug 23 2022

More fun than I expected. But then spotify played similar tracks and they were so much better

Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley
Aug 24 2022

Clearly seminal stuff, but also it's Elvis, so it's a bit of cultural appropriation and never going to be as good as the Beatles

Crime Of The Century by Supertramp
Aug 26 2022

Interesting band - feels like they'd have been insufferable art wankers at the time, but there's a few fun songs on here

The Stranger by Billy Joel
Aug 29 2022

Lightning in a bottle - so many familiar tunes from a great songwriter

Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Aug 30 2022

Add Crazy Horse makes everything better - love these tracks on Arc Weld - love them here

Aug 31 2022

Not my thing - I like a song, or a melody, rather than piano twiddling whilst a tramp menaces me

All Hail the Queen by Queen Latifah
Sep 01 2022

OK - not keeping any of it to come back to

Off The Wall by Michael Jackson
Sep 04 2022

I don't care what he did - this was a classic of my youth and still makes me smile thinking about the family just loving all the magic on this

The Next Day by David Bowie
Sep 06 2022

It's Bowie, so it isn't crap, but it's also very much an album produced by a man who's muse left him a long time ago

Crosby, Stills & Nash by Crosby, Stills & Nash
Sep 07 2022

Some wonderful stuff, some noodly stuff - worth an extra star just for those harmonies

Sep 08 2022

Overplayed and over familiar, but that's for a reason - so many good memories of sitting on a bus on the way to work in Leeds and talking to my mates about how great the music was. Never my favourite band, but their Beatles schtick was better than most others

Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Sep 09 2022

My spotify tells me I like 6 of the 9 tracks already, so I think this goes into the echelon. True genius at the peak of his powers.

Murmur by R.E.M.
Sep 10 2022

OK - it's REM, and it's early, so not too douchey, but still it all sounds very much of a type

Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
Sep 11 2022

I couldn't in the past, and I can't now - I just don't get Bruce

Purple Rain by Prince
Sep 12 2022

Stone Cold Classic - introduced me, as an innocent british teen, to all kinds of exotic things. One or two of these songs would make my all time top ten

Tapestry by Carole King
Sep 13 2022

clearly very important, but it all sits in a very familiar lane and tone - two or three wonderful classics, the rest is just a bit indulgent

Peter Gabriel by Peter Gabriel
Sep 14 2022

Um, not sure about this - one massive tune and a lot of random stuff

Floodland by Sisters Of Mercy
Sep 15 2022

Never understood this stuff - despite hailing from the heart of dark gothic stuff. it's joyless miserable posturing

Sep 16 2022

Owned it, loved it back in the day, seen them live a few times - always a party, but the music itself...not so good really - not quite appealing to the lowest common denominator, but close

Rust In Peace by Megadeth
Sep 17 2022

Don't get it - feels like a token entry - but a lot of them do

Our Aim Is To Satisfy by Red Snapper
Sep 18 2022

It was on, didn't really notice it - how is it on the list?

Caetano Veloso by Caetano Veloso
Sep 19 2022

Music for a bad Spanish restaurant

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Sep 20 2022

Seems OK - less challenging for me than the other stuff I've heard. Still not my lane by any distance

In A Silent Way by Miles Davis
Sep 21 2022

Nice moody lane - smooth jazz times

Sister by Sonic Youth
Sep 22 2022

Yeh, meh - nothing stood out here

Kimono My House by Sparks
Sep 23 2022

One absolute banger, and a whole bunch of meh

Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
Sep 24 2022

One or two of my top 20 songs on here, but also a few that are very prone to be skipped

Kid A by Radiohead
Sep 25 2022

An old familiar favourite

American Idiot by Green Day
Sep 26 2022

Fine for what it is, again not my kind of thing

Private Dancer by Tina Turner
Sep 27 2022

Didn't like it when I was a kid. She's immense, yes, but this was poison to my ears back then

In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra
Sep 28 2022

Another example of wallpaper music - washed right over me

Live At The Star Club, Hamburg by Jerry Lee Lewis
Sep 30 2022

Yeah, a legend - and a weird dude. Not terrible - it's a rollicking live set, but most of the tunes were done better by others

Diamond Life by Sade
Oct 01 2022

Household staple from my youth - love all of it, with extra cheese

The Sounds Of India by Ravi Shankar
Oct 02 2022

Fine - not that interesting, and it constantly feels like it's about to kick into a Beatles tune or two

Headquarters by The Monkees
Oct 03 2022

Meh, they weren't really musicians, although I did appreciate finding a tune I used to enjoy on the closing credits of the TV show when I was a kid

School's Out by Alice Cooper
Oct 04 2022

1 massive tune, the rest underwhelming, not like his other album on here

Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Oct 07 2022

Belting - 3 or 4 total bangers here, and not much is better than Warpigs

It's Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Oct 08 2022

Ok - nothing too exciting really, even the bangers are a bit dull by now

Supa Dupa Fly by Missy Elliott
Oct 09 2022

Enjoyed it - much chiller than I expected

The Madcap Laughs by Syd Barrett
Oct 10 2022

Yeah, there's a reason he wasn't in Pink Floyd anymore

Oct 11 2022

Never been my thing - I like a melody too much, or someone who can actually sing

Shaka Zulu by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Oct 12 2022

Can't do this either - bloody lion king graceland nonsense. Yes it is beautiful music, so is throat singing and polka, but I cannot listen to any of it

Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
Oct 13 2022

Just terrible. Been something I've tried to avoid all my life - I simply cannot understand why this is so popular

At Budokan by Cheap Trick
Oct 14 2022

Period piece - weird acoustic quality - a couple of interesting songs but mostly completely forgettable

Djam Leelii by Baaba Maal
Oct 20 2022

Ugh, no. Just absolute no from me. Starting to get a bit sick of the project - too much world music not enough popular music

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
Oct 22 2022

Oh baby - five stars all the way

The Healer by John Lee Hooker
Oct 23 2022

legend returns with...pan pipes...oh dear The rest of the album - nothing got me as excited as his proper blues

Born In The U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
Oct 24 2022

Nope, just can't do it. I am allergic to this bloke

Songs From The Big Chair by Tears For Fears
Oct 25 2022

Probably my favourite album as a teenager - on constant walkman action in the summer it came out

Dig Your Own Hole by The Chemical Brothers
Oct 26 2022

2 good tunes, the rest is noodly wank fodder

Roxy Music by Roxy Music
Oct 27 2022

Held out for a long time - they were just too much in the 80s, but now seeing the genius of the early stuff

Moondance by Van Morrison
Oct 28 2022

Harmless - couple of lovely tunes, lots of filler that I no doubt would love if I'd lived with this for 50 years

Low by David Bowie
Oct 29 2022

It's not Ziggy Stardust, is it?

Ray Of Light by Madonna
Oct 31 2022

Yeah, couple of good singles, lots of moody beats driven crap otherwise

Nov 01 2022

Feels a bit tokenistic - and is it really worthy of an entry? I wonder what wonderful sixties or seventies album in the original book made way for this collection of meh?

Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain
Nov 02 2022

yeah no yeah, it's OK - nothing wonderful in here though

Antichrist Superstar by Marilyn Manson
Nov 03 2022

File under Wankers, epic. Not interested in this copycat Gary Glitter

Signing Off by UB40
Nov 04 2022

Better than I expected - it's early UB40, so quite moody and not popularist white boy reggae Plus, Food for Thought, immense

The Idiot by Iggy Pop
Nov 05 2022

It's OK - nothing extraordinary

Beach Samba by Astrud Gilberto
Nov 06 2022

Ugh. Saccharine Shite

British Steel by Judas Priest
Nov 08 2022

More fun than I expected, proper Bri'ish metal

B-52's by The B-52's
Nov 30 2022

Shite shouty deliberately quirky crap, it was always crap - remains crap 30 years later

Raw Power by The Stooges
Dec 02 2022

Face melting guitars, dripping with rage and energy, still sounds fresh 50 years later

Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
Dec 03 2022

Nothing too exciting here - lots of these now feel like filler rather than seminal

Marcus Garvey by Burning Spear
Dec 04 2022

More reggie - simply not interested

Destroyer by KISS
Dec 05 2022

Juvenile teenage wank rock - but not entirely terrible

Legalize It by Peter Tosh
Dec 07 2022

Better than I expected, but still reggie, and pretty sleazy reggie at that. Louche

Queen Of Denmark by John Grant
Dec 08 2022

Enjoyed it again, like I did before, but still nothing really stands out

Dog Man Star by Suede
Dec 09 2022

Preferred their debut - this is OK, wasn't interesting

It's A Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads
Dec 10 2022

An old friend, comfy without being too memorable or making me heart anything new

Live At The Regal by B.B. King
Dec 11 2022

Was OK - couple of fun tunes, but mostly meh. The blues on the spotify shuffle afterwards were much more fun

GREY Area by Little Simz
Dec 12 2022

Excellent - groovy and modern

Treasure by Cocteau Twins
Dec 14 2022

Hmmmm - not very good, is it? Pretty but pointless

Groovin' by The Young Rascals
Dec 15 2022

Includes one of my favourite ever tunes, so gets an extra star for that - and for generally being funky in a good white boy way

At San Quentin by Johnny Cash
Dec 16 2022

Clearly quite a show, but the music is a bit too 'gee shucks I'm an outlaw' simple country for me

OK Computer by Radiohead
Dec 17 2022

Up there for GOAT

Fear and Whiskey by Mekons
Dec 18 2022

oh no darling, this is just terrible stuff

Idlewild by Everything But The Girl
Dec 19 2022

Ugh - starts bad and gets less interesting. I'm too young to have suffered this crap at dinner parties - what was wrong with just having Sade on all the time?!

Queen II by Queen
Dec 20 2022

A lot of fun, enjoyed the comparative lack of bombast - felt like a working band rocking hard

Killing Joke by Killing Joke
Dec 22 2022

Couldn't get into it or understand why it is so seminal

You're Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr.
Dec 23 2022

Pretty sure i've heard this before, but I was always more of a Ray fan, in fact - I struggle to find much to love in the Dinosaur Jr catalogue these days

Darkdancer by Les Rythmes Digitales
Dec 25 2022

It was OK - not sure how I missed it, I loved Daft Punk, Cassius etc. - I suspect it was because this stuff is just a bit average really

This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Dec 26 2022

OK - nothing special apart from the tracks I knew anyway

Dec 27 2022

Loved it on vinyl when it came out. Lifelong acid jazz fan. Met Jay. He was cool.

Honky Tonk Heroes by Waylon Jennings
Dec 28 2022

Ding dang done, 10 four ol buddy - much as I love a Burt Reynolds smuggler chase movie, I'm not sure I want a full album of this stuff, no matter how much a pedal steel can melt my cold heart

Green Onions by Booker T. & The MG's
Dec 30 2022

Ha, one legend and a load of supermarket music

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
Dec 31 2022

Pomposity to the fore, rather than songwriting or melody. Only the mighty James Murphy made them sound interesting rather than just another dull as ass American Indie band moaning about something. Cannot understand how high a regard this is held in

The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan
Jan 01 2023

His big hits are hits for a reason - the other stuff is dark and odd

Music in Exile by Songhoy Blues
Jan 02 2023

Fine, not offsensive, but didn't make me sit up and listen at any point either

Jan 03 2023

Clearly legendary and seminal, but in actual fact, it is pretty dull and samey and not really in the groove that made him a legend

Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Jan 05 2023

Half of it missing - curse you Joe Rogan - but still enough wonderful harmonies, guitar virtuosity and songwriting to earn 4 stars. I'll even give Our House a pass, but not for long

Emperor Tomato Ketchup by Stereolab
Jan 08 2023

I tried to listen to this, but it just disappeared into the background. Deliberately quirky, or feels like it - no bangers and no beauty, won't listen again

Jan 09 2023

Tried to get through it a couple of times, it just doesn't work for me. The calculating earnestness of their influences and output is very disingenuous, always has been. They're copyists rather than innovators - music for people without ambition or imagination. Some of their music is magical, but even that is lost in the face of the zealotry of their believers. The Manchester United of music

Sail Away by Randy Newman
Jan 11 2023

Holy jesus fuck, how bloody miserable is this stuff? His Toy Story schtick got old despite the magic, this is just miserable and all a bit samey

Remedy by Basement Jaxx
Jan 12 2023

It was pretty ground breaking back in the day, but now just sounds repetitive and lacking imagination. Couple of bangers, but a massive amount of dreck

KIWANUKA by Michael Kiwanuka
Jan 13 2023

As good as it gets in modern music - I had a couple of these pinned already - top 100 lifetime streams. The rest of the album is just as good. Into the rotation

Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu
Jan 14 2023

Better than I expected - the groove is undeniable, if somewhat repetitive. Odd that I missed this first time around.

Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk
Jan 15 2023

Tepid background irrelevance. Clearly whatever particular blend of classic jazz this is, it isn't my lane baby

Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden
Jan 16 2023

Better than I thought - not that much hair metal. The Maiden were prevalent on denim jackets when I was young, and I thought they were for thick people. This wasn't anywhere near as crap as some of the stuff coming up on this project

Ritual De Lo Habitual by Jane's Addiction
Jan 17 2023

I loved this as a 19 year old - tortured my poor dad to listen to it on the drive to university. But listening now, the bulk of the album is pretty crappy raga type shit rock. The final 4 songs more than make up for it, as mad as they are

The Stooges by The Stooges
Jan 18 2023

All a bit samey really - not that I was expecting prog-style landscapes of sonic magic, but I guess, as garage music goes, it's pretty good. Really dirty grooves with some wonderful touches of guitar magic

Goo by Sonic Youth
Jan 19 2023

Fine - had this, or had Kool Thing, when it was released. It's sonic youth, it doesn't veer far from that course

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Jan 20 2023

This was fun, a couple of tunes I knew from elsewhere and popular culture, others I didn't. Ultimately, I will never listen again - but it made a friday afternoons work a little less dull

Jan 21 2023

OK - one Killer tune, and one or two other bangers. The rest of it is pretty standard 70s hard rockin - not bad, not amaze

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive by Merle Haggard
Jan 22 2023

Never listened to Merle Haggard before - heard of him in movies and stuff, but here we are. 30 minutes of what seems to be the same song, or what sounds like the exact same song, just with slightly faster or slower parts. And boy, it is depressing. Maybe I want to do in jail for the wrongs I done, maybe I don't

Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen
Jan 23 2023

Is there a 0 star option? Did not and will not listen to this, just about the opposite of what I consider music to be

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Jan 25 2023

So annoying that the legend isn't on my preferred streaming service, but youtube to the rescue. Proper this one - couple of timeless classics

Bert Jansch by Bert Jansch
Jan 26 2023

Fine for what it is, but it's a no for me.

good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
Jan 27 2023

Interesting, but also not engaging - I was hooked by the Pimp Butterfly one, not by this

Nevermind by Nirvana
Jan 28 2023

Massive - not much more to day. Some filler, but the killer is primo extra good killer

Histoire De Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
Jan 29 2023

Never knew this existed - very pleased to find it, sleazy groovy fun

The Colour Of Spring by Talk Talk
Jan 30 2023

Not as brilliant as their moody magnum opus that followed. When they hit their muso peak, they lost their audience, but this has hints of the magic to come.

Moving Pictures by Rush
Jan 31 2023

I like the pomposity of this - knowingly clever and clearly demonstrating prowess. At the same time, only Tom Sawyer has a hook, and that is a pretty proggy hook. Won't be putting the album in heavy rotation, but that mad jazzy rocker is in the 'liked songs' folder.

Oedipus Schmoedipus by Barry Adamson
Feb 01 2023

It was, OK - is also a shadow the magic of Melody Nelson from earlier this week, and for other similar sleaze lounge stuff that came on the shuffle afterwards

Teen Dream by Beach House
Feb 02 2023

Ugh, so dull. Not sure I'd ever want to meet the Teens who have Dreams as anodyne as this whiny lo-fi crap

Punishing Kiss by Ute Lemper
Feb 03 2023

Oh dear. No thank you "if sex were an olympic sport we'd have won the gold" Yes, I'm sure that's both true and something anyone wants to happen

Sea Change by Beck
Feb 04 2023

Nice, chill, moody. Loved finding Paper Tiger earlier this week, and very much a companion piece to Morning Phase, which I loved already

m b v by My Bloody Valentine
Feb 05 2023

Seems to be missing what made their early stuff reasonably interesting. And that was a stretch

Brothers by The Black Keys
Feb 07 2023

They're not what they were - but they're still OK

Elvis Is Back by Elvis Presley
Feb 08 2023

I was a Beatles kid - Elvis felt irrelevant despite their love for him. This is another collection of good but not great stuff

Feb 09 2023

An Eno album that isn't the aural equivalent of a folding bicycle? (i.e. only for total smug wankers). Seems to be - but Robert Fripp provides the clear highlight - that track was tagged for repeat listening. The rest of it is mad as a lorry, but also quite entertaining

Being There by Wilco
Feb 10 2023

Nice - prefer Wilco going a bit mental with guitars, but this was one of the better recent offerings on this site

Feb 11 2023

Actually and surprisingly really enjoyed this, some cracking tunes

Le Tigre by Le Tigre
Feb 12 2023

Yes, I'd rather not. The riffing is OK, but the caterwauling really isn't helping

Melody A.M. by Röyksopp
Feb 14 2023

Soundtrack to the days in hip cafe's before they discovered charging a tenner for avocado on toast

Throwing Muses by Throwing Muses
Feb 15 2023

Like the Muses, hadn't owned this. It's OK - nothing amazing

Rattus Norvegicus by The Stranglers
Feb 16 2023

Hmm - not what I expected. Punk with musicians and instruments. Still not my lane though

There's A Riot Goin' On by Sly & The Family Stone
Feb 18 2023

my 16 year old self, discovering this on vinyl after reading about it, as a massive Prince and 60s fan - wow, blown away. Going back at 52 after too many years away, that opening groove - man - sensational. Can do without the odd sesame street vocal singalong moments, but otherwise...

Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye
Feb 19 2023

His voice and groove is undeniable, but this is the purest form of divorce core I've ever heard. Not a happy listen

Penance Soiree by The Icarus Line
Feb 20 2023

Not bad, made it past the desire to skip after 4 seconds. Will listen again

Definitely Maybe by Oasis
Feb 22 2023

Amazing in 1994, feels a bit one-note now, the follow up was more interesting

All Directions by The Temptations
Feb 24 2023

Could get 5 just for that amazing centre piece, dropped to 4 because it isn't quite enough

Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies
Feb 25 2023

Very good, if not outstanding 60s keyboard choral stuff, closing with an absolute worldie

Feb 26 2023

Enjoyed it - won't be going back, but it is like REM without the whining overtones

Horses by Patti Smith
Feb 27 2023

Never listened, despite all the accolades. Turns out its ok, just not my lane really

In Rainbows by Radiohead
Feb 28 2023

It's Radiohead. 4 stars

High Violet by The National
Mar 01 2023

Oh. So so dull

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin
Mar 02 2023

Legend, but just a couple of her most legendary tracks on this one, as is usually the case

Mar 03 2023

An old friend - couple of serious hotspots, but also music made for people who look like me by people who look like me

Berlin by Lou Reed
Mar 04 2023

Life is too short and there's too much good happy music out there to put myself through more than 2 tracks of this shit

American Beauty by Grateful Dead
Mar 06 2023

Never listened to this legendary band, but even being in a huge Crosby, Stills and Nash phase, this just sounds dull and second rate. What a boring set of songs with less than stellar harmonies

Mar 10 2023

A couple of serious nostalgic classics, with a load of less impressive euro synth pop schmaltz

Ace of Spades by Motörhead
Mar 11 2023

A voice only a mother could love. One banger, all filler

Mar 12 2023

Yee haw - apparently all about murderin a cheating lady, but it was just a bunch of yodelling and strumming. Not my thing

Fever To Tell by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Mar 13 2023

OK - nothing amazing on here. Nice and short though!

Mar 14 2023

Good solid 70s tunes, couple of serious bangers, but also quite indulgent. Enjoying the spotify post album shuffle more

Juju by Siouxsie And The Banshees
Mar 22 2023

Not bad. Used to think they were the worst thing in the world, and now can see them as being better than most of what was around at the time. However, nothing stood out like Happy House, so moving on. 3 stars

Strange Cargo III by William Orbit
Mar 23 2023

Actually quite peaceful. Not something I'd ever choose to put on and listen to though

Gorillaz by Gorillaz
Mar 25 2023

Never really got this stuff, too popular whilst also being too hipster

Opus Dei by Laibach
Mar 26 2023

Oh hell no

Power In Numbers by Jurassic 5
Mar 27 2023

Nice funky funny groove driven hip hop

Blur by Blur
Mar 29 2023

Opens strong, very strong. And then... leaves you feeling disappointed

Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz
Mar 30 2023

Was a favourite when I was a student. Blatant throwback, even in the late 80s, to the golden age. Still holds some water, but mostly sounds cliche now

Tommy by The Who
Mar 31 2023

Banging, but I think i still prefer Oliver Reed and the tunes from the movie, which introduced me to the material. Thoroughly bizarre as a concept, but with some insanely evocative musical moments

3 + 3 by The Isley Brothers
Apr 01 2023

Couple of serious bangers, lots of filler. Amazing suits

Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear
Apr 02 2023

Not sure what these guys are, super nerdy, but also capable of moments that can move. Had the 1st track on my liked songs forever, but the rest of the album just washed over me

Let It Be by The Replacements
Apr 03 2023

OK - had wondered about these guys, mentioned a few times by different things that were interesting. Nothing leapt from the listen, a nice solo here and there, but not enough to earn a 'like' on Spotify

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens
Apr 05 2023

Always a bit weedy and nerdy for me. And the last bloke you'd want to end up being stuck in the kitchen with at the end of a party, man.

Dub Housing by Pere Ubu
Apr 06 2023

Not my lane, but also not completely horrible

Slipknot by Slipknot
Apr 07 2023

Didn't listen. Wouldn't listen. I'm not 12, I'm not American, this isn't for me.

L.A. Woman by The Doors
Apr 09 2023

2 or 3 good/great tunes. The rest is just dreck

Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan
Apr 10 2023

Note quite as perfect as their later stuff, but still some amazing tracks here

Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone
Apr 11 2023

Good, but oh so slow and moody. Not really my thing, feels completely devoid of any fun

My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello
Apr 13 2023

Not bad, not interesting - 1977 too, quite nasal

Tom Tom Club by Tom Tom Club
Apr 14 2023

Clearly quirky, and I loved Wordy Rappinghood when I was a kid. The rest is just a big pile of wank

Actually by Pet Shop Boys
Apr 15 2023

Hated them - or more precisely his voice - since I was 12. Almost as bad as Erasure. Instant no

Take Me Apart by Kelela
Apr 16 2023

Not bad - but why is this here? There are hundreds of identikit female R&B albums over the years, this is just one more of the same

Dance Mania by Tito Puente
Apr 17 2023

Oh, here's another world music box ticking one. I don't mind a bit of Tito, but these all sound very similar when on an album - and after 5 or 6 I've lost interest

Apr 18 2023

Had this sprawling beast on CD - you only ever listen to the Shake it and Way You Move tracks - the rest is just nurdling tomfoolery

Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz
Apr 20 2023

Pure wallpaper - and nothing more

The Cars by The Cars
Apr 22 2023

Better than I thought it would be, but the hits definitely helped with that

Moss Side Story by Barry Adamson
Apr 24 2023

More token instrumental bollocks. No thanks

Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre
Apr 27 2023

Pretentious tosh really, with one banger. I'm sure it was revelatory, but now just sounds a bit silly. 2 stars

Make Yourself by Incubus
Apr 29 2023

Shite in 99. Still Shite in 23. Utter Shite really

Hotel California by Eagles
Apr 30 2023

I know the Eagles are hated and plastic, but I grew up listening to my dad's band play a lot of this stuff, so it is just burned into my soul

May 01 2023

Nah, and the big track is so overplayed it isn't worth mentioning. I was a massive indie fan when this came out, and I couldn't get on board with it - dull as fuck

Crocodiles by Echo And The Bunnymen
May 02 2023

OK, not amazing. Very on point for that period.

Modern Kosmology by Jane Weaver
May 12 2023

Played it whilst working, didn't notice anything interesting at all

Talking Book by Stevie Wonder
May 13 2023

Brilliance and schmaltz, as ever - not one of my favourites from his period of magic, but still pretty good

Graceland by Paul Simon
May 15 2023

ah, when cultural appropriation was seen as cool and helpful. never liked it

Live / Dead by Grateful Dead
May 16 2023

Yeah, endless nurdly jam band stoner nonsense - struggled to find a song or melody

Spiderland by Slint
Jun 08 2023

Tried but couldn't get on with this one

Vanishing Point by Primal Scream
Jun 09 2023

Weird ambient low energy nothing of an album

Public Image: First Issue by Public Image Ltd.
Jun 12 2023

I can't do it, John Lydon might be a ledge, but he's no singer or musician

Underwater Moonlight by The Soft Boys
Jun 13 2023

Tried it twice - it was OK, but nothing remarkable, and not worth recommending to Spike, who loves the bands they're supposed to have influenced

Sex Packets by Digital Underground
Jun 14 2023

Not bad, couple of fun tunes, nothing warranting a repeat listen

Music by Madonna
Jun 15 2023

Half decent album by the ultimate singles Queen. Won't be adding to the rotation though

Fred Neil by Fred Neil
Jun 19 2023

Ok - not interesting really

New Boots And Panties by Ian Dury
Jun 20 2023

One Blockheads tune, every now and again on the radio, or a playlist, is quite a fun thing. A whole album of the cheery geezer gertcha twaddle is tiresome

Fuzzy by Grant Lee Buffalo
Jun 21 2023

An old CD friend, doesn't hold up as well as I'd have thought it might. Certainly not in my top 500

Tellin’ Stories by The Charlatans
Jun 22 2023

Good, but not seminal, way too much filler

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Jun 24 2023

Excellent, but you have to be in the right mood. which is monged.

The Only Ones by The Only Ones
Jun 25 2023

Not bad, decent tunes, oddly deadpan vocalist

Odelay by Beck
Jun 27 2023

Uniformly excellent work by the weird little dude

Jun 28 2023

Not for me, or for many others judging by the number of streams the tracks have, most of which are likely to be the people doing this online activity

Isn't Anything by My Bloody Valentine
Jun 29 2023

critics darlings, did the decent thing as a loyal NME reader. Still just sounds like shite noise

Exit Planet Dust by The Chemical Brothers
Jun 30 2023

Ah, I remember this - used to be used extensively on the highlights package on UK Channel 4 for the NBA. Bought it on that premise, but turned out just to be a load of deck and sample wankery with no discernable tunes or melody, and therefore really quite pointless as an album

Playing With Fire by Spacemen 3
Jul 01 2023

Oh dear, soporific and not in a good way

Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
Jul 02 2023

Simply beautiful songwriting and singing - not quite country, not quite pop. Immensely more wonderful than poor Taytay

Stardust by Willie Nelson
Jul 03 2023

Standards in full schmaltz mode, sung by a guy who can't really sing

Rage Against The Machine by Rage Against The Machine
Jul 04 2023

felt like true rage when it came out. Is it nostalgic rage now? all a bit too much for me at 52 - 30 years later it seems quite silly

OK by Talvin Singh
Jul 05 2023

Hmmm - complete codswallop

Wild Wood by Paul Weller
Jul 06 2023

nice classy mellow stuff

Young Americans by David Bowie
Jul 07 2023

Not bad, not great. Couple of great tunes, but not stellar tunes with endless listenability

Cafe Bleu by The Style Council
Jul 08 2023

Jazz Club....nice Ultimate wankery

Let's Get Killed by David Holmes
Jul 10 2023

Owned this, wouldn't buy it again. Music of a certain time for certain moods and places

Africa Brasil by Jorge Ben Jor
Jul 11 2023

Fun stuff, very grooovy baby. Unlikely to listen to it again though

Traffic by Traffic
Jul 12 2023

Underwhelming

Back At The Chicken Shack by Jimmy Smith
Jul 13 2023

Love me some Jimmy Smith, but this one is pretty mellow to the point of being not worth listening to

Ramones by Ramones
Jul 14 2023

More fucking punk - and I don't care if this is seminal or bleeding edge, it's still shite

Sincere by Mj Cole
Jul 15 2023

Had this when it came out, had a trendy girlfriend into garage, but I found it repetitive back then - now it is just generally repetitive crap with a generic beat. Even the title track, which felt epic at the time, is just dull

Life Thru A Lens by Robbie Williams
Jul 16 2023

Mandatory presence in every charity shop in the Midlands, alongside Travis - you don't find Beatles and Stones CDs being discarded this frequently Therefore, utter shite, without even listening

Third by Portishead
Jul 17 2023

Not Dummy, nothing is Dummy, but innovative and elegiac enough to stand out

Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt
Jul 18 2023

I like the noodly take that some Radiohead does, apparently inspired by this guy. It's weird, and clearly has a quality, but it isn't an album I'll listen to again

Dookie by Green Day
Jul 19 2023

Yank Wank

The Slim Shady LP by Eminem
Jul 20 2023

I just can't. Best version of this stuff is from Phoenix Nights. Please stand up

Tago Mago by Can
Jul 21 2023

Some groove, some jams way too zonked out for anyone to enjoy straight

Aftermath by The Rolling Stones
Jul 23 2023

It isn't Revolver or Pet Sounds. But it isn't terrible either, Under My Thumb is wonderful and stands out from everything else here

Jul 24 2023

Always a step beyond Metallica and acceptable metal for me, gave it a listen and...still not for me

Come Find Yourself by Fun Lovin' Criminals
Jul 25 2023

Always struck me as music for morons, still seems very basic - designed for meatheads to dance in fist pumping ecstasy after way too much alcohol

Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
Jul 28 2023

This shit has to stop - he's probably worse at singing than Roger Waters, but at least Roger Waters can write a tune...no more Tom Fucking Waits

Raw Like Sushi by Neneh Cherry
Jul 29 2023

I remember her being pretty foxy, and those two hits weren't terrible, but the rest of it...ugh

Scott 4 by Scott Walker
Jul 31 2023

Crroooooonneeerrr

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
Aug 01 2023

Yeah, samey, but ever so smooooooth

Shalimar by Rahul Dev Burman
Aug 02 2023

both mad and crap, and I quite like a bit of bollywood

Parklife by Blur
Aug 04 2023

Hit and Miss, as usual

The Renaissance by Q-Tip
Aug 06 2023

Nuh uh - no Breathe and Stop, not worth it. Did 4 tracks and Stopped

Since I Left You by The Avalanches
Aug 09 2023

I remember buying and then never playing this CD - one trick pony bollocks

Damaged by Black Flag
Aug 10 2023

Nope

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
Aug 11 2023

Dull and pretentious...the James Murphy stuff is clearly much much better

Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
Aug 12 2023

Smooth enough, better than I expected from a band I used to avoid

Aug 13 2023

Automatic 1 star for the ultimate wanker band - by wankers for wankers. He's a classical musician playing at being Radiohead, and his acolytes go on about his skills rather than the quality of his song writing

Happy Sad by Tim Buckley
Aug 14 2023

Tried a few times, but nothing here stood out as being an essential classic relisten

Southern Rock Opera by Drive-By Truckers
Aug 15 2023

Beer boy bar band boogie. It's OK, but there is no nuance or melody

Connected by Stereo MC's
Aug 16 2023

White hot for a moment in the UK in 1992, and then...poof...gone into 90's fun pub obscurity

Tidal by Fiona Apple
Aug 17 2023

Better than I expected - completely missed out on her, mainly because her name is so vanilla. Some fun stuff, but also quite sleepy in places

Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Aug 18 2023

Nice, but apart from one song, just is wallpaper

Clandestino by Manu Chao
Aug 19 2023

How does this have so many listens? Bongo Bong? Christ - its worse than the background music when the fast and furious gang head to Cuba

Suicide by Suicide
Aug 20 2023

Should have spent their sunglasses money on a fucking drum machine. How did this stuff get people to riot at live shows?

Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Aug 21 2023

Not bad, not amazing, but was a decent listen

Street Life by The Crusaders
Aug 30 2023

Opening track is great, the rest sounds like the best lounge bar band in a groovy hotel - but a lounge bar band nonetheless!

Now I Got Worry by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Aug 31 2023

80 minutes of yelling and scuzz, with no swing? No thanks

Walking Wounded by Everything But The Girl
Sep 01 2023

yawn, meh, bloodless drum and bass under warbling wallpaper

Maxinquaye by Tricky
Sep 02 2023

Sub Portishead with a less capable chanteuse, nice beats though

Clube Da Esquina by Milton Nascimento
Sep 03 2023

I'm sure this is very good. It doesn't work for me

The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground
Sep 04 2023

Bought it as a student, because that's the law. Tried it, didn't really get on with it - Reed's voice in particular is too flat. But undeniably influential - classics everywhere and across pop culture

Fragile by Yes
Sep 08 2023

Couple of belting bass heavy tunes, not much else. Odd cover of America - not really that interested even after 4 listens

Real Life by Magazine
Sep 09 2023

Another seemingly important british band from the edges of punk, which just means it is never that good.

Cloud Nine by The Temptations
Sep 10 2023

Very good, very much in a lane and quite samey

Tanto Tempo by Bebel Gilberto
Sep 20 2023

Blissed out brasilian vibes, but I am not sure when I would ever choose to listen to any of this

Liege And Lief by Fairport Convention
Sep 21 2023

Godawful shite, just like the people who like this, in their raggedy jumpers and pints of cider with horse piss covered straw sticking out of it - and that's just the ladies

Electric by The Cult
Sep 22 2023

Fine, but still just as dull and macho as it was when it never interested me the first time around

Sep 23 2023

80 minutes of this stuff? C'mon Common, I don't have the time for that much half decent rap music

Surfer Rosa by Pixies
Sep 24 2023

Yes, excellent. Screamy Also Beeeeeeeewwwwwwwbbbs

Different Class by Pulp
Nov 02 2023

Not riffy enough for me, and Jarvis was too snarky when he wasn't being dirty - the big hits were odious compared to the better bands. Musically this stuff is dreadful

Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons
Nov 03 2023

More moody pedal steel country. not sure I get how influential this dude is - apart from teaching Keith how to get properly stoned. Didn't mind it

Want One by Rufus Wainwright
Nov 04 2023

As bad as I thought it might be

Tres Hombres by ZZ Top
Nov 05 2023

White boi boogie - not great, not terrible

Ingenue by k.d. lang
Nov 06 2023

Smooth, the country chanteuse over some nice pedal steel. Not stellar and all in a very similar lane. Coffee shop stuff

Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits
Nov 07 2023

Avoided this when I was 15, it isn't any better now - Sting is the best thing on the album. Very worrying how this sold so many CD players considering how miserable it is. Good closing track though

Aja by Steely Dan
Nov 08 2023

Love it, have loved it for a long time, despite it being a moustachioed cliche. Peak smooth AOR

Beauty And The Beat by The Go-Go's
Nov 09 2023

OK, nothing especially memorable outside the hits, and they didn't get enough of a reaction to get tagged for a playlist

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
Nov 11 2023

So much filler, and no real killer

The Genius Of Ray Charles by Ray Charles
Nov 12 2023

Yeah, seminal and all that - also music for people who are just old or who have heard this stuff on romcoms

Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
Nov 13 2023

Had this as a teenaged obsessive of the NME and Melody Maker, but never really got it or got on with it. And now I'm over 50, I still don't. Noise doesn't make up for a challenging lack of melody. Extra star for 'Soon'

Bug by Dinosaur Jr.
Nov 14 2023

Grrrr jjjjjggggghhhh grrrrrrnnnnnngggg with a dude mumbling over it

Permission to Land by The Darkness
Nov 15 2023

Still as exhausting and knowingly 'clever' 20 years later - as is Justin. One half decent song reminds you that the proper bands delivered four or five per album - and had more than just ironic fun as their selling point

american dream by LCD Soundsystem
Nov 16 2023

love these guys, but not so much on this album - other stuff is amazing, live in particular this feels like an epilogue

Deserter's Songs by Mercury Rev
Nov 17 2023

Weird nerdy nasal hollow sounding stuff

Chore of Enchantment by Giant Sand
Nov 19 2023

Not bad, moody and evocative, or just one note sad lad crooning

Don't Stand Me Down by Dexys Midnight Runners
Dec 15 2023

Responsible for the worst song in history. Never surrender, never forget This isn't terrible, but still - Come On

Imagine by John Lennon
Dec 16 2023

Lifelong Beatles fan - from the day the guy was shot, and have only just listened to his solo stuff this year - and for this one, today. The best riff is saved for the meanest song - perfect Lennon move, with George twisting the blade. Enough good here to make the less good fade away

Haunted Dancehall by The Sabres Of Paradise
Dec 17 2023

More music that's not for me. Title track much better when remixed for Cafe Del Mar, the rest of it? No gracias mate

Midnight Ride by Paul Revere & The Raiders
Dec 18 2023

Pretty basic 60s stuff, some of it total dross. Most of it really - but no worse than anyone except the very best were producing in 1966

Dec 19 2023

Enjoyed it, didn't 'like' any of it into my playlists, unlike some other 80s stuff - so only 3 stars

Protection by Massive Attack
Dec 20 2023

Owned this CD, because you were supposed to like Massive Attack - but unlike blue lines, this had no massive bangers. And now it is just dull and completely forgettable

Nixon by Lambchop
Dec 21 2023

It wasn't as bad as the reviews suggested, or as good as the critics would have you believe

Teenage Head by Flamin' Groovies
Dec 22 2023

not great, the spotify bio suggests there might be some groove, or blues to this, but there isn't - it's pretty much sub Stones pub rock garbage

Picture Book by Simply Red
Dec 23 2023

Enjoyed it more than I expected - good white boy soul, without his ego getting in the way. The famous tracks are the most annoying, a preview of what was to come. Soundtrack to many a boomers shagathons

Back To Black by Amy Winehouse
Dec 24 2023

Good but not great, and just because she drank herself to death with a smackhead doesn't mean she gets to be better than Dusty Springfield. Plenty of Amy wannabes have stepped into her shoes but left the needle and brandy alone

Run-D.M.C. by Run-D.M.C.
Dec 25 2023

Didn't listen, couldn't do it to myself - it was shite in the 80s, won't be any better now

Medúlla by Björk
Dec 26 2023

No thanks love

Aha Shake Heartbreak by Kings of Leon
Dec 27 2023

Not as strong as I remember it being back when it came out. Still good though

Cupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti
Dec 28 2023

Love a bit of Scitti Politti, but it is all a bit samey and they needed some new disks for their synth, the stabs are a bit repetitive

Leftism by Leftfield
Dec 29 2023

Chill but dull, I owned this cd back in the day because you were supposed to, not enough piano happy house bangers for me. All a bit samey

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
Dec 30 2023

Waited too long to do solo Beatles, particularly this one. Became the soundtrack to an epic and sad trip around India, and convinced me that what John and Paul were really missing in their solo work was the melodic genius who put this together. Ignore the jam disc, you don't need it. Listen to the new remastered version and let the vibe of the most but also least ascerbic genius songwriter sweep over you. So much loveliness, so many great riffs that could have been insanely good Beatles tracks if not for ego

Blood And Chocolate by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Dec 31 2023

I think it was OK - couldn't tell the difference from all the other bloody Elvis Costello I've been made to listen to

Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.
Jan 03 2024

Never listened to them, he's not a good front man or singer - or songwriter it seems. And it seems I was right, this is proper shite

The Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald
Jan 05 2024

Feels like tokenism - great singer and some amazing tunes, but feels out of place alongside Ice Cube and the Shamen - this isn't really on topic

En-Tact by The Shamen
Jan 06 2024

Opens strong and then, what on earth is the rest of it?

Broken English by Marianne Faithfull
Jan 07 2024

Enjoyed this more than I expected - her voice isn't great, but the tunes have an ache to them, and the rage in a couple is very sharp

The Libertines by The Libertines
Jan 08 2024

They were too hip and wanky for me when they were God's Gift - listening now, some decent grooves and guitar work, but they are just as one of the better comments states - Landfill Indie. Plenty of other bands doing this without burning their trackmarks with silk cut

Os Mutantes by Os Mutantes
Jan 09 2024

Feels like quota filling, how is this notable for anything other than being mental brazilian physchedila rather than british or west coast trippy bollocks Fun but also proper fucking mental

Atomizer by Big Black
Jan 10 2024

I guess someone might like it. I certainly didn't

After The Gold Rush by Neil Young
Jan 11 2024

erm, lovely, but also quite samey in the second half

McCartney by Paul McCartney
Jan 12 2024

Inexplicably - despite being a Beatles obsessive for 50 years, apart from the odd McCartney release in the early 80s, and Band on the Run - I didn't go anywhere near any of the solo stuff until last year. This isn't Ram, or up with the other immediate post Beatles stuff, but there are moments that sink in and stay. Maybe I'm Amazed is stunning, what could the best backing band in history have added to it? The alternate takes on the archive version are equally cool

Survivor by Destiny's Child
Jan 13 2024

All feels a bit formulaic and odd now one of them is treated like a deity - the music here was fun, but isn't fun anymore unless you happen to be smashed off your tits in a shit club

New York Dolls by New York Dolls
Jan 15 2024

I'm sure this is another seminal collection of cutting edge stuff that actually is bereft of melody or originality - its just 60s garage rock with leather and eyeliner

Metallica by Metallica
Jan 16 2024

Yeah baby, accessible metal. I had this beast when I was at Uni - loved the edge to a couple of the billion stream bangers, but honestly couldnt remember any of the filler tracks. Still - worth a few stars for some epic riffery

Odessa by Bee Gees
Jan 17 2024

Oh you can't be serious - I had to hear it to believe how crappy this is. A response to Sgt Pepper and Pet Sounds? Yeah, sure - this has nothing comparable to the worst tracks off those albums. My only issue - 1 star or 2?

1977 by Ash
Jan 18 2024

Meh indie meh

The Modern Lovers by The Modern Lovers
Jan 19 2024

This is not good. I don't understand American music sometimes.

Rising Above Bedlam by Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
Jan 20 2024

Guilty by association? Possibly. Was never interested, and after about half the album, won't be listening again. Not terrible, just not my bag

Cut by The Slits
Jan 21 2024

Punk was deliberately shit. So it follows that 45 years later, it is still pretty badly shit - no extra points for boobs

Aqualung by Jethro Tull
Jan 22 2024

Listened thru a few times, enjoyed it - the flute is an unusual tool, but the grooves on some of these tracks are undeniable. Not sure I'll drop into rotation, but interesting stuff

Elephant Mountain by The Youngbloods
Jan 23 2024

Enjoyed this. All over the place, but in a good way rather than 11 songs sounding very similar as they can do in this era. Lots of pointers to stuff that will come later. Ride the Wind sounds like proto Steely Dan/Yacht Rock!

Kenza by Khaled
Jan 24 2024

If I want to listen to this kind of music, and believe me, I really don't, then I just go for a haircut here in the UK - where all of the gents salons have this playing whilst the football highlights are running

Seventh Tree by Goldfrapp
Jan 25 2024

Actually much prefer the mellow and blissed out Goldfrapp albums to the disco bangers. Tales of Us is ethereal and was essential when I was commuting on twice weekly flights to Germany. This is in that vein, and therefore wonderful

Jan 26 2024

Scouse no mark gobshites, more famous for a cover of one of their tunes than anything they ever did. I think I had this and never got to the end of listening to the CD. It's fine, it's just not great in any way

Hms Fable by Shack
Jan 27 2024

Sub-LAs stuff I'd never heard of, and I liked this stuff

Happy Trails by Quicksilver Messenger Service
Jan 28 2024

Nurdle - nowhere near baked enough to enjoy this, and not sure I would want to listen to it even if I was

Trio by Dolly Parton
Jan 29 2024

Amazing harmonies, and some classic tunes, but really? Who'd decide to put this funereal dirge on for any reason?

The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails
Jan 30 2024

There was a time and a place where this was cutting edge, it's now a curio. One track with any kind of groove, the rest is just angry noise that is kind of exhausting. Should be a 2, but Closer gives it an extra star even if it isn't going onto any kind of regular rotation

Devotional Songs by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Jan 31 2024

Not meaning any disrespect, but all I can hear is the backing music to people ordering many many pints of Cobra and some jalfrezi with naan breads

Teenager Of The Year by Frank Black
Feb 01 2024

Listening to the Pixies without the rest of the band doesn't really make it much fun

Call of the Valley by Shivkumar Sharma
Feb 02 2024

Did the Spotify thing, which was OK, then the Youtube version as advised, and it was actually less impressive. Not my thing, but interesting nonetheless

Live At Leeds by The Who
Feb 03 2024

Legendary live show turns out to be less amazing than you'd expect. Despite the band being on sensational form, and the recording quality is impeccable, the song selection seems a bit strange - lots of vintage rock and roll and not enough Who bangers. Magic Bus though

Night Life by Ray Price
Feb 04 2024

Quite liked this - smoky and sleazy country

White Blood Cells by The White Stripes
Feb 05 2024

It's alright, like most White Stripes stuff. Difficult to see past the ego of the guy, but he can produce the odd total banger. Didn't feel like there was one on here to match some of the others. Generally, their stuff can feel two dimensional and slight

Dirty by Sonic Youth
Feb 06 2024

Nowhere near as good or cool as hipsters have made them out to be. Again, owned this, got very little play from me even in the pre-streaming, pre-ipod days

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell
Feb 07 2024

Enjoyed this way more than expected - but I'm a Yacht Rocker, and some of the musicians on here are LA studio legends. It was all going so well until the final track, which is just painful synth nonsense

At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash
Feb 08 2024

One of those 'legendary' things that you hear about. I've never got Johnny Cash - or why he's so important. All his songs are very very very similar, and aren't heavy on melody or musicianship - but I get how he can be fun, and how it must have been amazing in 1968. But still, this is just three quarters of an hour of a guy singing risque songs to some criminals

Dusty In Memphis by Dusty Springfield
Feb 11 2024

Bloody excellent, but not really compelling

Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park
Feb 12 2024

never been my thing, i'm too old to like wank metal, or wigga hip hop

The Wildest! by Louis Prima
Feb 13 2024

Lots of fun, and familiar from all kinds of movies. Not really my bag, baby, but happy I listened at least once

Truth And Soul by Fishbone
Feb 14 2024

Can't remember if I'm blaming Melody Maker, NME or Q for me having owned this on cassette for nearly 40 years and only really remembering 2 songs. Near mint copy for sale? This is, not good

A Girl Called Dusty by Dusty Springfield
Feb 15 2024

Clearly way better than Jane Macdonald, but the choice of songs seems somewhat similar

Rubber Soul by Beatles
Feb 16 2024

I bought a copy of this when I was 11 - which is 42 years ago. I still find it wonderful.

Behaviour by Pet Shop Boys
Feb 17 2024

As was always the case - great beats and mood diluted by synth tropes and ruined by that nasal snark. They should have hired a singer

Microshift by Hookworms
Feb 18 2024

I like LCD, I like HotChip - I like this enough to add it to my 'give it a listen' rotation. Never heard of them

Central Reservation by Beth Orton
Feb 19 2024

OK, but nothing struck me as essential listening

Feb 20 2024

This project has resulted in me ordering a few 'definitive' editions of remastered classic albums so that I can really optimise my enjoyment of the sonic majesty. Not this shite though, sounds like it was recorded through a wall, and whoever was on the noodle wobble jug thingy is sat right next to the only microphone and wouldn't listen to the request to put the fucking thing down

Justified by Justin Timberlake
Feb 21 2024

Surprised myself when I bought this when it came out - teenybopper groove. Mainly for the opening couple of tracks - but this is really Pharell's record, not Justin's

Third/Sister Lovers by Big Star
Feb 22 2024

Nothing remarkable here - I don't get the hype. These guys are held up as one of the greatest power pop bands - whatever that means. I think it is just that Americans are not good at pop music, because this is pretty uniformly underwhelming

G. Love And Special Sauce by G. Love & Special Sauce
Feb 23 2024

What fresh hell is this? White boy rapping over swinging beats? No fucking thanks

Group Sex by Circle Jerks
Feb 24 2024

Thank fuck this is only 15 minutes. Fucking terrible 15 minutes

Feb 25 2024

Painful and magical - the recent 6 cd set shows you, similar to the All Things Must Pass set, how fully formed some demos were on take 1, but also how the music transforms through collaboration. Some amazing moments on this - and great to hear a clean Lennon vocal that isn't double tracked

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Feb 27 2024

So full of classics, but just one that I need to keep on rotation and it isn't the big moody title track

16 Lovers Lane by The Go-Betweens
Feb 28 2024

Bland - one half decent pop song and 9 dull ones

Feb 29 2024

Track A - a lot of fun Track B - somewhat less fun Track C - mental Mode D, E, F - not sure what is going on

Duck Rock by Malcolm McLaren
Mar 01 2024

He was an odious sneering prick back when I was reading smash hits. Never listened to anything he did that wasn't forced on me by the radio. The hip hop here is cool, but it isn't McLaren's doing

Synchronicity by The Police
Mar 02 2024

A favourite for a long time, apart from that one track that's way worser than a ringo one

Mar 03 2024

Weirdly mostly missing from Spotify, but also something I've had on physical media in the past. Boogie wonderland. One album under the same groove.

evermore by Taylor Swift
Mar 05 2024

Never done any Ms Swift listening apart from the Shake It thing. This isn't meant for me - it's fine, but it really will be stuff for my 18 month old daughter to love, not her 50+ dad

Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits
Mar 06 2024

Yeah, not for me dog. The acclamation of genius to an old pisshead growling over piano pisses me off more than the music itself

Phrenology by The Roots
Mar 08 2024

Yeah, groovy and all that - but also feels a bit too influenced by Prince without delivering on this magic

Eagles by Eagles
Mar 09 2024

Better than expected - the classics are overplayed. Some of the other stuff is hit and miss, still found one or two that I liked the sound of

For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music
Mar 12 2024

Not as good as some others, but Dream Home Heartache is alltime excellence

Orbital 2 by Orbital
Mar 13 2024

Legends, but this kind of thing ain't my bag baby. Prefer Underworld, because they occasionally use some melody rather than just beats

Sunshine Superman by Donovan
Mar 14 2024

Couple of massive bangers, for their time, but the rest of it is both a bit mental and quite dull and similar. He doesn't have the best voice.

I Am a Bird Now by Antony and the Johnsons
Mar 15 2024

oh for fucks sake, cheer up lad

The Coral by The Coral
Mar 16 2024

Love the Coral mostly - some amazing tracks drawing lineage back to the best of British pop. This album is really quite patchy though

The Rise & Fall by Madness
Mar 17 2024

Never liked them. Oi. They have a couple of half decent melodies, but this is music created for people who like to shout along to their favourites, just as they would do on the terraces

Pictures At An Exhibition by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Mar 18 2024

Wow, nostalgic. This was in my dad's vinyl collection that I explored after wearing out his Beatles records. Found it odd - found it fun, listening again was quite odd. Blues Variation definitely very fun, but the rest is peak wankerdom by prog monsters

Either Or by Elliott Smith
Mar 20 2024

Either this is lovely late night melancholia or it is indulgent sad boy guitar wankery. Probably both - all a bit samey, I'm generally too positive a person to love this stuff, but nor do I hate it

Vento De Maio by Elis Regina
Mar 21 2024

First song was fun What followed...not so much

Let's Stay Together by Al Green
Mar 22 2024

Loved this longer than I care to remember, on vinyl too. How does it sound so brilliant? What being horny really sounds like... doesn't get better than some of these tracks

Close To You by Carpenters
Mar 23 2024

Exactly as schmaltzy as you think it might be. High quality shmaltz, but despite that voice, it all sounds strangely bloodless Easy listening for stepford wives

Songs For Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra
Mar 24 2024

It all sounds the same, but it is the best of breed sameyness. Not sure I'd ever consciously decide to listen to this kind of thing - and Tony Bennett had more swing.

Forever Changes by Love
Mar 25 2024

Loved this (ha) as a teenager when I discovered it by chance rather than recommendation. However, it's quite flaky in places now I'm 40 years older

Slanted And Enchanted by Pavement
Mar 26 2024

It's alright, quite samey and his vocals can get a bit tiring. Better than most american indie music

Truth by Jeff Beck
Mar 27 2024

Great fun, takes me back to being a blues obsessed teen - can't believe I missed this in my initial discovery of the 60's british masters. Some dodgy stuff takes a star off, but the playing on the belters is peerless

Mar 28 2024

Never used to like them, he wasn't my cup of tea. This was reinforced by seeing Johnny Marr deliver blistering versions of his tunes, sung properly, at a festival. Not sure any of them were off this album though - it's OK, but won't be listening again

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
Mar 29 2024

Ugh more bloody Dylan - and even this, as important as people seem to think it is, isn't universally popular - mainly because this bloke just cannot sing

Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg
Mar 31 2024

It's fine, not my thing at all - subjected to too much BB as a younger music fan, and amount of Wilco magic can take that away

Joan Armatrading by Joan Armatrading
Apr 01 2024

Surprisingly good - funky, when I was expecting sub Joni Mitchell folky stuff. Won't be likely to listen again, but can't fault most of this

Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith
Apr 02 2024

American tosswads trying and failing to emulate the Stones and/or the Zep. Just one half decent hook on the whole album of overproduced questionable cock rock. So many better options, even a couple of them are actually American - Skynyrd or CCR The last track is all you need to listen to - rock as a show tune with strings. Mick and Keef would never have stooped so low

Kala by M.I.A.
Apr 03 2024

Perennial example of an album included because of one massive track. plenty of these from the 80s and 90s too - this is just unlistenable nonsense, but an extra star for that massive song

Apr 04 2024

Yeah, it isn't what it was 10 years ago - feels a bit tepid in places. Influential, but also culpable. And a million miles away from the magic that is proper 80s synth pop

The Modern Dance by Pere Ubu
Apr 05 2024

Musically not terrible, they should have got rid of the "singer" and whoever is fucking about with the noise pedals though Won't be listening again

Buffalo Springfield Again by Buffalo Springfield
Apr 06 2024

Already had the two bangers marked here, but the rest of the album is pretty sweet too. So much talent, so many pointers to the magic that was coming

Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes
Apr 07 2024

Opening tune is from my favourite ever film, but it's not actually that amazing. Rest of the album is similar - sounds weirdly jaunty but also fucking furious, if a glockenspiel solo can sound angry. Better than 95% of us alt rock from the same period - looking at you B52s, you shitwads

Smokers Delight by Nightmares On Wax
Apr 08 2024

Soo boooored Would it hurt to get a singer involved?

Peter Gabriel 3 by Peter Gabriel
Apr 09 2024

Another one trick album - that trick being the track with all the streams, and it's brilliant. The rest feels like standard 1980's filler fare

Olympia 64 by Jacques Brel
Apr 10 2024

Zut Alors 28 minutes of my life gone in a swirl of gitane smoke and badly recorded crooneur nonsense. I'm sure this is fun if you get the words, but if it was an English guy with this level of histrionics and that musical backing it would be absolutely awful and nowhere near this list

Amnesiac by Radiohead
Apr 11 2024

Three or four works of genius, but some knob twiddling too - not quite the peak of their output

The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips
Apr 12 2024

One standout track and then lots of examples of why they needed to be sensational live - that voice just doesn't cut it if the band aren't smashing it

Siembra by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Apr 13 2024

It's fine. I'd never choose to listen to it, wouldn't know it to be different from other similar stuff

Disraeli Gears by Cream
Apr 15 2024

3 absolute melting classics and 7 standard 60s blues rockers, and one 1 comedy closer Listen to Mr Baker, quite extraordinary what was in the water in the UK to create him, Moon, Bonham, Starr and others

Stripped by Christina Aguilera
Apr 16 2024

Better than peak Britney - isn't that all that matters?

1984 by Van Halen
Apr 17 2024

Cheesier than a triple cheese burger with cheese fries and shake. Without the hair, the spandex or the bikini's, it all sounds a bit too formulaic. Best track is Panama, but that's a jock anthem and feels sub ACDC on all levels. Jump is too synthtastic and just overplayed Hot for Teacher is Beavis and Butthead boogie fun though

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
Apr 18 2024

Great album - not written for me, but I can appreciate some of the wizardry of the samples and the musicality of his lyrics.

Germfree Adolescents by X-Ray Spex
Apr 19 2024

Better than most of the punk that was kicking around - the sax helps, as you can't just thrash that instrument. I think her voice is also much more interesting that most punk yellers. Still, won't ever listen to any of it again

...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
Apr 20 2024

Erm, are the people running this list OK? This isn't peerless pop music - one annoying hit doesn't mean this is a classic album

Like A Prayer by Madonna
Apr 21 2024

Overblown production sounds so stilted today - Like a Prayer, Express Yourself etc. were more about the video than the music itself. Extract this music from the hype and scandal of the time and it's just sub-Janet Jackson formulaic tunes with a less than stellar singer

Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson
Apr 22 2024

Jesus Christ Almighty - how has this dude made an epic and legendary career out of delivering this kind of country by numbers bollocks?

Gasoline Alley by Rod Stewart
Apr 23 2024

Half decent. Such a shame he never found a true rocking place for that voice - and became a sad but very rich standards crooner

Apr 24 2024

Don't mind her whole vibe - it's archly gothic and a little stalker/bunny boiler, but every song sounds like the others - and that seems to be the case for her 2024 stuff when compared to this It is all quite soporific too - not really stuffed with party bangers

Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins
Apr 25 2024

An old favourite - absolutely loved this as a younger man. Still holds up, but I can see how it might be a bit repetitive

Next by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Apr 27 2024

Surprisingly nuts - wasn't 100% focused on what was going on, and thought that Spotify was on shuffle. Probably need to listen again, but well behind track on this project...

Damn you - no Zero Star option This is everything that's been wrong with American music for the past 25 years - meatheads making music for other meatheads. Good luck to them and keep them and their fans as far away as possible from my children

Soul Mining by The The
Apr 29 2024

It's OK - nothing really reminded me of the intensity of Infected, which seared into my brain as a teenager, and still moves me. Standard 80's agit-groove fare

Go Girl Crazy by The Dictators
Apr 30 2024

Liked this, it is simple, it is stupid, but also feels more vibrant than all the other Yank garage rock we are supposed to respect. Excellent guitars, great vibe throughout

May 01 2024

How did we have the energy to listen to 80 minutes of this stuff in the 90s? Not top banger stuff, but still pretty fucking banging

New Wave by The Auteurs
May 02 2024

Harmless and toothless - they weren't for me when I was an obsessive indie kid of 23, they definitely haven't aged as well as I have for the past 30 years

Morrison Hotel by The Doors
May 04 2024

Nice, better than I thought it might be

The Sensual World by Kate Bush
May 05 2024

Enigmatic genius makes album full of weird and wonderful stuff

Vincebus Eruptum by Blue Cheer
May 06 2024

I'm sure it was sensational and revolutionary when it came out, but thru a 2024 lens it just sounds a bit overblown and full of cliche - even if it was one of the originals, there's a reason this isn't up there with Zep and Cream

Natty Dread by Bob Marley & The Wailers
May 07 2024

I'm allergic to Reggae, particularly the melodic stuff that uni tossers 'love' as they get baked

Mask by Bauhaus
May 08 2024

Meh, moody, some of it quite tuneful - nothing stood out and it felt quite long. Not for me.

Maverick A Strike by Finley Quaye
May 09 2024

Like the hits, very mellow. Didn't really like the guy himself from what I remember. Music for middle class white women who have had a few too many glasses of rosé at the garden party

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan
May 10 2024

Weird one, could have been a little like the mighty Jill Scott (who probably isn't on this list), but it falls short. The vignettes are not particularly flattering, and the songs aren't terrible, but they aren't amazing either. Time will judge that this isn't a classic of any type.

Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson
May 11 2024

Been on the 'should listen to that' list forever, decades. Now I've been forced to, I'm underwhelmed. The big ballad actually felt better when Badfinger did it, Coconut loses out on the Tarantino context, but Into the Fire is a beast even without the helicopters. The rest of the album feels like indulgent filler in a time when McCartney and Floyd and others were dripping with full coverage of both sides

3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul
May 12 2024

Remember loving the hits, and it was fun to hear the first couple of skits. This was revolutionary - shame rap ended up more on the sexist, gun tilt than this whirligig of old soul and beats

The Gilded Palace Of Sin by The Flying Burrito Brothers
May 13 2024

I love the first few bars of one of these songs, so that's worth a star. The rest of it? Influential but also uninspiring and very samey

Exile In Guyville by Liz Phair
May 14 2024

Felt a bit miserable, and not the best singer - couldn't get into the presumably deep messages she's putting out there. Gave up before the hour was done

Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
May 15 2024

Rocking out with your cocking out. Music for meatheads, and the girls who wanted vanilla hair metal. Except Wanted Dead Or Alive - that is epic. East coast cowboys....

Ocean Rain by Echo And The Bunnymen
May 16 2024

A cassette from my youth. Didn't get much play - Killing Moon and Seven Seas aside. Clearly so, as I didn't recognise any of the other songs.

Youth And Young Manhood by Kings of Leon
May 17 2024

Ah lovely, such a shame they lost their way. Saw them tour this album in a sweaty 3rd room at the Carling Academy in Brum - a few years later there were teenage girls screaming about their Sex being on Fire in the National Indoor Arena and it was time to let the band go

Stankonia by OutKast
May 18 2024

Another album you bought (pre-Ipod days) just for that one track. Because the rest of it is nutso nonsense.

Rocks by Aerosmith
May 19 2024

Yes. It does.

Garbage by Garbage
May 20 2024

Another trip into nostalgia of my cd collection - wasn't that big a fan, but they were very hyped. Opens strong, then a LOT of filler.

The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers
May 21 2024

Po faced misery guts of a band, generally loved by people who would be boring if you ended up sat with them in the pub. And the Welsh. This one hasn't even got any of their "hits" on it

If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian
May 22 2024

Nice enough, nothing too exciting or likely to ever be listened to again - standard 90s bedroom twee

War by U2
May 23 2024

Back when these twats were just about tolerable and hadn't fully manifested their god complex...

The Chronic by Dr. Dre
May 24 2024

Not my thing - but 30 years later, it all sounds a bit ridiculous

Arc Of A Diver by Steve Winwood
May 25 2024

It's OK, clearly 80s music from the birth of the decade. His voice, sometimes, a bit too much

Superfly by Curtis Mayfield
May 26 2024

2 or 3 melting bangers, lots of filler - makes it difficult to score, but Superfly is worth 2 stars on its own

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths
May 27 2024

Could have been a 40 minute song - same beat, same guitar, same mad warbling not for me

Faust IV by Faust
May 29 2024

Different and not obnoxious, but not something I particularly enjoyed. Not going to go look for more Faust, or purchase a CD copy

The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
May 30 2024

One monster, but also pretty high quality in some of the other tracks, given how early and formative this was

May 31 2024

The McNugget Meal of an album - you know you shouldn't, but damn if it isn't good in the moment of consumption, followed by deep guilt and a promise to avoid doing that bad bad thing again Until...

Casanova by The Divine Comedy
Jun 01 2024

Always struck me as belonging to that class of intellectual luvvies like Jarvis and those twats from the Housemartins, so never bothered to listen to any of his music. Gets a point for Father Ted, but the rest of it is inoffensive and forgettable

Lam Toro by Baaba Maal
Jun 02 2024

Not for me - good luck to you if you like it, but I couldn't finish it

Buena Vista Social Club by Buena Vista Social Club
Jun 03 2024

First track is amazing, an all time favourite. And then we're in a cuban restaurant waiting for a song you recognise. Nice enough - nothing wonderful

Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson
Jun 04 2024

Finally took some time to listen to an album that I knew I should try. I love a bit of Jonathan Wilson - Fanfare in particular - and you can see where he gets some of his inspiration, this is beautiful mellow melodic magical stuff. Needs a few listens to soak in, and space to feel it wash over you

Chris by Christine and the Queens
Jun 05 2024

Given my age, and being a Brit, I have a soft spot for funky 80's stuff similar to Janet Jackson. A couple of tracks here tickle that nostalgia bone - Girlfriend in particular is nearly groovy enough to be a song Prince might have given to whoever he was trying to bang that month. Worth a star on its own. Rest of the album is fine, without being amazing. Didn't listen to the french version, why would you?

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
Jun 06 2024

I must have enjoyed this one - 3 straight listens on repeat. Classic Sabbath that I hadn't heard before, not sure why. Proper bostin'

Guero by Beck
Jun 07 2024

Yeah, it was alright. Opens strong and then....it's all a bit too similar and lacking in oomph

Foo Fighters by Foo Fighters
Jun 09 2024

Weird, I generally picked up Foo Fighter CDs as they came out. Yes, it is butt rock, but it is usually fun shouty melodic mindless stuff. Grohl seems like a decent bloke most of the time, which is a rarity. This was, um, OK - no clear bangers

Lust For Life by Iggy Pop
Jun 10 2024

Two big bangers, and even the Passenger is a bit shit really. Not interested in any of the other sub Bowie stuff. He was better with is original mates

The Dreaming by Kate Bush
Jun 11 2024

Madder than Mad John McMad - but also perfectly pitched in its weirdness.

Hearts And Bones by Paul Simon
Jun 12 2024

Yeah, this is sub Randy Newman nonsense, or signposting the objectionable culture theft of Graceland. Someone should really have been harsher when he presented these songs - Cars are Cars all over the world?

Slayed? by Slade
Jun 13 2024

Sure it rocks, but it is rock by numbers for knobheads - it was in 1972 and is in 2024, I can't believe anyone loves this music

Psychocandy by The Jesus And Mary Chain
Jun 14 2024

Bought this on record (not bloody vinyl) rather than tape in 85. Proving to be quite a sensible decision, as it is near mint from never being played. Thanks Q magazine, or NME, or whoever it was who told me this was the new coming. Couple of decent songs, but not what a boy obsessed with Tears for Fears was ready for. Was, and is, music for hipsters wearing black

Good Old Boys by Randy Newman
Jun 15 2024

Starting from a rough spot because this bloke's music is nails on a blackboard for me, even if it sometimes makes you sad in Pixar movies. This is clever stuff, no doubt, but it is still music that feels lacking in the blood, sweat and tears that other stuff gets you engaged with Smart, dry, dull

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis
Jun 16 2024

Had this within 4 days of A Love Supreme, which I'm much more familiar with. It's excellent stuff, but almost too mellow to warrant an immediate replay and 5 stars

The Trinity Session by Cowboy Junkies
Jun 17 2024

Sopor-fucking-ific. I guess it could work for something other than making me sleepy, but I am not sure what that might be

Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective
Jun 18 2024

Another case of a cool sound for a big hit becoming massively tiresome across a whole album. Nerd core

A Love Supreme by John Coltrane
Jun 19 2024

As good as it gets for those of us not quite committed enough to get into Jazz properly. An entry drug that is very very good but doesn't mean you're totally hooked.

Jun 20 2024

How many people with the t-shirt, or the poster, ever listened to this. Not bad for what it is, but it's a mess and a long way from the Stooges or the Experience offered in terms of melting their instruments onstage fuck hipsters - the Zombies should be better known than the MC5

Colour By Numbers by Culture Club
Jun 21 2024

Solid if somewhat maudlin white boy soul - possibly the origin of what followed. Good bass and whilst his voice gets tiring, the Boy can sing Won't be listening again

Identikit stuff - couldn't tell where one song ended and the other started. Pleasant enough, but really not anything I'm interested in hearing again. Maybe her man would have done better if she had a bit of variety in her music?

Homework by Daft Punk
Jun 23 2024

The hits hit good, the rest is terrible filler that no one listens to

Reggatta De Blanc by The Police
Jun 24 2024

Couple of amazing hits, and a lot of indulgent filler. Very well played filler, but filler none the less

Talking Timbuktu by Ali Farka Touré
Jun 25 2024

Glad to get this shit out of the way Sooooooooo boring

Younger Than Yesterday by The Byrds
Jun 26 2024

Nowhere near what I thought it might have been, no wonder they all went off and did better stuff

Zombie by Fela Kuti
Jun 27 2024

Not really my lane Seemed OK - but I didn't tap my foot or stop to listen at any point

Debut by Björk
Jun 28 2024

Enjoyed the nostalgia of this - from a time when you had to listen to your CDs over and again. But by god the girl still sounds a few shillings short of a full bag

Sulk by The Associates
Jun 29 2024

Does one half decent song make an album 'essential'? I don't think so, especially when it isn't as good as Ultravox and Simple Minds of the same era. Most of this album is pure dreck

This Is Fats Domino by Fats Domino
Jun 30 2024

Yep, seminal Also very much can be visualised as part of a Tom and Jerry soundtrack, so much pastiche

Bryter Layter by Nick Drake
Jul 01 2024

By some considerable distance the best Drake in music

Eternally Yours by The Saints
Jul 02 2024

Not really my thing, but had never heard of them or any of their music, so gave it a full spin. Not bad - nothing into my playlists though. Rock in the punk age, rather than pure punk

Post Orgasmic Chill by Skunk Anansie
Jul 03 2024

Should be good. Should be Portishead with real instruments and a kicking beat. Should be able to remember at least one song from a 25 year old album, but I can't (maybe Secretly), and that's because it simply lacks any killer hooks, melodies or other things to make it something worthy of being cherished

Play by Moby
Jul 04 2024

I would instantly be suspicious of anyone who got excited about dancing to this aural wallpaper. It is fine for what it is - a load of other peoples work over a beat, but it is greige in the extreme Fat Boy Bald

The Poet by Bobby Womack
Jul 05 2024

Good but nothing extraordinary or special. First 3 tracks not working on Spotify - but their play counts don't suggest Im missing much

Timeless by Goldie
Jul 07 2024

Ain't got time for this mate. Go make another Bond movie and spare us 20 minute drum and bass operettas

Jul 08 2024

I had this on CD, but wasn't able to remember any of it. Listening again, oh, so, dull. Where are those squealing guitars Wilco?

Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson
Jul 09 2024

I was very much about this lane of music when I was a younger man - a great mix of Michael Jackson without the narcissism and lunacy, and Prince without the lunacy and narcissism. This album isn't control, but Janet doesn't get enough credit for being Beyonce first

Gris Gris by Dr. John
Jul 11 2024

Surprised me - I was expecting a load of creole gumbo piano nonsense, not some weird voodoo tone poem Excellent just for being so fucking different

Butterfly by Mariah Carey
Jul 12 2024

Good to see that whilst God gave her the looks and the talent and gave her the spotlight, it was also very much the case that her choice of songs was dreadful sentimental crap. But I like Honey, and she clearly had a sense of humour making the video

Jul 15 2024

Listened through this a couple of times, watched the video of the title track. The vibe is right in my lane, but I have a visceral reaction to Mr Cocker, he's just not Ferry or Bowie, however hard he seems to try. Makes it difficult to love what could be a stellar album

White Ladder by David Gray
Jul 16 2024

Ah, a charity shop classic - alongside Travis' The Man Who, and any Robbie Williams CD - this is ubiquitous I also suspect this could be ground zero for the hideous state of modern music, or at least responsible for the moody, vulnerable troubador tribe that eventually became Ed Sheeran and his acolytes? Loses a star for that

Axis: Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix
Jul 17 2024

Five songs in my liked list, and I'm fussy. He was simply on a different plane to the rest of music, stolen from life and never ever replaced

Hail To the Thief by Radiohead
Jul 24 2024

Stellar stuff as usual, but not quite as gleaming as some of their other albums

Hot Buttered Soul by Isaac Hayes
Jul 25 2024

Iconic. Love that big bald horny head on my original vinyl, but the second side lacks the power of the first 2 tracks.

Jul 27 2024

I really like an album of theirs that isn't on this list, this was not good - all the worst bits of their other stuff

Highly Evolved by The Vines
Jul 28 2024

Not sure what happened here, I loved their 2nd album, which included some of these songs in better versions - one of my early iPod favourites, but this is all a bit meh apart from Get Free

Elephant by The White Stripes
Jul 31 2024

Bruising opener, and some fun in the rest of the tracks without being stellar - quite a few too many quirky tracks

90 by 808 State
Aug 01 2024

One stone cold classic, 7 other noisy wordless 'tracks'

Bright Flight by Silver Jews
Aug 06 2024

oh dear, that's not a pretty voice - couldn't make it past the first 6 tracks

Pieces Of The Sky by Emmylou Harris
Aug 07 2024

Cool 70s songbird country - some cracking tunes and some less cracking

Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys
Aug 08 2024

I was deeply scarred by Come On Eileen, so any fiddlers on pop music need to be Charlie Daniels or I'm instantly dismissing them as dungaree wearing ejeets. This is fine, and you can see how some people love the arse off of it. Not me though. Too many fucking fiddles.

NEU! 75 by Neu!
Aug 09 2024

Seems very nice, but also quite slow - mostly instrumental krautvibes are not really my lane I've learned today

The Undertones by The Undertones
Aug 10 2024

2 or 3 decent 'songs' but it is pretty relentless pop punk, and not really my bag

Closer by Joy Division
Aug 20 2024

Possibly as low as you can get on the scale of 'party banger' music. And maybe too dark for its own good

The Fat Of The Land by The Prodigy
Aug 21 2024

Far from surprising. I think I had this CD back in the day. Track 1 - heavy rotation, track 2 - decent rotation, track 8 is a banger but it was played out for me in 1997. The rest of the album? Not good

Back to Mystery City by Hanoi Rocks
Aug 22 2024

Big chunks missing from Spotify, but I suspect I'm not missing too much given how similar the stuff that is there sounds. Harmless, but hardly earth shattering

Technique by New Order
Aug 23 2024

An old friend, still sounds just as fresh today - but not really full of killer tracks

Ready To Die by The Notorious B.I.G.
Aug 24 2024

s'Alright. Not quite what a 54 year old pasty rock fan from Yorkshire tends to enjoy - fun beats, lots of juvenile stuff here. He can rap, the samples are beautiful, but this is more fun for my 14 year old son

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos
Aug 30 2024

Clapton was decent with the Yardbirds and Cream, a complete mentalist by this point and on his way to serious MOR bollockery by the 80s. Always lauded by blokes who like their cars just a little bit too much. Even Layla is a bit pants compared to other epic 70s guitar monsters

Blackstar by David Bowie
Aug 31 2024

Odd - clearly there's a context here, but the music doesn't feel too dark. Or too inspiring. Late period Bowie is different from most old man rocker stuff, but it still doesn't grab me

Licensed To Ill by Beastie Boys
Sep 01 2024

1980's equivalent of Gen AI - stealing 95% of your content from actual artists Some decent grooves here and there, but they weren't appealing to me and i was 16 when it came out

Sep 02 2024

Golden Skans is a copper bottomed banger, the rest of it is far from essential - indeed quite generally dreadful. Especially thier mauling of one of the best trance dance tracks in history. Playback was cut short to go find a nice 12 minute Perfecto version of that rather than carry on listening to these hacks

Heroes to Zeros by The Beta Band
Sep 03 2024

Not their best, but still head and shoulders above most other stuff

Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode
Dec 19 2024

This was the album before they got insanely good. Not too many serious bangers or specific moments in here - at least not on a first listen thru

Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder
Dec 20 2024

One of my favourites from my childhood, but only because there's a great single album in there, and another album full of self indulgent nonsense

Blue Lines by Massive Attack
Dec 22 2024

Another classic 2 banger album. Their later stuff was better, when they actually had more songs

A Date With The Everly Brothers by The Everly Brothers
Dec 24 2024

Clearly a very important influence on my favourite band ever, but it is still nascent rock and roll, and quite twee, but there are a couple of hints and then you get a worldie to close the album, worth a star on its own

Murder Ballads by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Dec 26 2024

Almost tolerable, for once. Hardly a fan of toe tapping melodies though, is he And I hate how he's supposed to be some kind of god level musician

Perfectionist

Only 4% of albums received 5 stars. Average rating: 2.55.

Other

Album origins are grouped into three buckets: US, UK, and everything else. “Other” means the artists you rate highest are from outside the US and UK.