Journey Complete!
Finisher # to complete the list
732
Albums Rated
3.17
Average Rating
67%
Complete
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2020s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
31
5-Star Albums
7
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cut
The Slits
|
5 | 2.71 | +2.29 |
|
Whatever
Aimee Mann
|
5 | 2.82 | +2.18 |
|
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
|
4 | 2.16 | +1.84 |
|
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
|
Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
|
5 | 3.23 | +1.77 |
|
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Feast of Wire
Calexico
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Undertones
The Undertones
|
1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
|
Yeezus
Kanye West
|
1 | 2.77 | -1.77 |
|
All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
|
1 | 2.7 | -1.7 |
|
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
|
2 | 3.64 | -1.64 |
|
Van Halen
Van Halen
|
2 | 3.63 | -1.63 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
2 | 3.49 | -1.49 |
|
The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
|
1 | 2.48 | -1.48 |
|
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
|
1 | 2.47 | -1.47 |
|
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
|
3 | 4.46 | -1.46 |
|
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
|
2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 6 | 4.5 |
| A Tribe Called Quest | 2 | 5 |
| Fiona Apple | 2 | 5 |
| Blur | 3 | 4.33 |
| PJ Harvey | 3 | 4.33 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.33 |
| David Bowie | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pere Ubu | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band | 4, 1 |
5-Star Albums (31)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Pink Floyd
3/5
A pretty boring listen for such a hyped album. Other Floyd is better
8 likes
Kanye West
1/5
Holy Holy, what a pretentious fuckwit.
I don't care what colour your dick is, stop trying to degrade women with it, regardless of their colour.
Flying crucifixes, how did this uninventive hack get such airplay and somehow convince people to buy his crappy shoes.
Some good bass lines - but Jesus weeping - what kind of world do we live in when this misogynistic, self-worshiping tool gets critical acclaim and a bankroll.
By Zeus's beard this made me angry. Really, really, sad angry.
6 likes
The Sugarcubes
5/5
I sing a lot when listening to music. I have a particular love for singing along with Bjork. It think it is the S and T sounds. I've loved this album for about 30 years and it still hits all the right markers. It marks the beginning of Bjork's best decade of music making. Life's too good.
6 likes
Tori Amos
5/5
I know I know you well well better than I used to.
I've enjoyed a 30 year relationship with this record. Despite having critics and sceptics along the way for the love I have for Tori, I still try to celebrate and share her brilliance as often as I can.
My life is better for knowing her work so well. I'm glad I picked up that cd single at the rock pit record store in 1992 because I liked the cover art.
Castles are burning in my heart.
Thank you, Tori. Thank you.
3 likes
1-Star Albums (7)
All Ratings
Liz Phair
3/5
My 90s crush on flat singers is still running strong. Juliana Hatfield all the way. Sorry Liz. I'm a Lemonhead.
Beatles
3/5
Not my fav era of the Beatles but still holds some gems.
The Avalanches
4/5
This album takes me back to a happy time. Youth is a beautiful thing
Elvis Costello
3/5
Great live. Great to live. Elvis!
Bee Gees
3/5
Green Day
3/5
BJA you've never been to my taste.some good moments to reminisce to, but the whole album....
Weather Report
2/5
This floor men's haberdashery...
Deerhunter
3/5
Soaked in reverb, lost in time. Why does the name Deerhunter pique my interest so quickly? Let the mystery unfold slowly. Remove the mask Scooby doo, who is haunting this fair ground ride...
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Lauded as the second best album by Led Zep, I was keen to listen to this one again.
Strapped on my Senn HD600 and warmed up some tubes... Play... Urgh....
Switched out to some Beyer DT880s and the whole world changed. These are some quality tunes.
If you ever want to talk headphones, wind me up and watch me go. If you ever want to talk riffs, I'm there just as hard. These tunes are built for lap slide. DADGAD FTW!
Kashmir, oh my
Blondie
4/5
Good song writing is good song writing. Post Punk, pre pop, whatever. Like the real thing, not a pain in the ass.
Black Flag
2/5
Oh Hank, calm TF down. Playing live in bands was fun but having a punk band on the card was always rubbish. Bass players always on the down stroke is fun though.
I can live without this thanks
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
Mmm mmm mmm mmm. I'll crash test this one. Some quality deep vocals. 3 discs. 3 hours...
Sounds like Beck in parts. And like a high school drama production in others.
Interesting to say the least. The Book of Love has tender moments.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Oh Bob, you bore me a bit.
The Cure
4/5
What a cracking rekid
Isaac Hayes
3/5
So much better than inches of snow
Miles Davis
3/5
Oh man, that bass clarinet!
I still hold the belief that you need to be a vegan, lycra wearing cyclist, jazz drummer to fully appreciate this gear.
But that bass clarinet!
Sex Pistols
3/5
Always mind the bollocks.
It took me a few songs before I realised what I was listening to. The stones with Rod and a slice of who, I didn't know this was a thing.
Big Black
2/5
Found this one a bit hard to listen to
Kraftwerk
3/5
Interesting and old school.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Brit pop goes good and bad in my life. This ain't the right side of good.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
Great production. Detailed songwriting
N.W.A.
4/5
That crazy MF named Ice Cube...
Meat Loaf
4/5
Cracker
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Easy listening.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Very Elvis.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
As far as an outro to 2021 goes, it couldn't get better than this.
I read the back story to the recording of this iconic album and doubled down on the gear. Plugged some hard to drive AKG702 headphones into my phone. This showed the flaws and fancy of the recording process like some kind of magic. The 4 track, the tape dubbing, the carry me in your pocket sound was just something special.
My fave Bruce experience without a doubt.
Love
3/5
Hectic then mellow, then hectic, then cool, but always mono.
The Who
3/5
I never really get into the who
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
What an opening track! Some pretty great storytelling too. Will listen to more stuff.
Eagles
4/5
Elaine Benes would approve.
Shhhhh this is my song.
Some fantastic production on this one.
The Kinks
3/5
New album for me.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Genesis
3/5
No really for me
The Clash
3/5
Classic.
John Martyn
3/5
All the different styles. Santana, sting, the list could go on.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Latin hip swinging rhythm, calm horn section and some great congas.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
The country vibe makes this a little less accessible to me. I pushed through to the more pop ending which was nice.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
More Zep before some Zappa! K.
Top rated album named three gets three.
Nirvana
4/5
I love you
I'm not gonna crack!
David Gray
3/5
What an interesting album. Almost too easy listening in parts. Quite a voice though. Now, next track - synth or acoustic?
Pulp
4/5
So very British
Tom Waits
4/5
I was a bit sceptical about more Tom Waits but this was great
Leftfield
4/5
House isn't my favourite genre of EDM, but Leftism has sat amongst my other CDs since the early 2000s. A real yardstick for others to be measured. At 2 hours it is an epic to boot.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
The BIG.
Word.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
More Bruce.., Shit..
How about something different!
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
One of my favourite. This album really introduced me to the wonders of jazz.
Cypress Hill
3/5
I saw Cypress Hill at the Hordon...
That was B-Real.
Steely Dan
3/5
This is one band I always miss the bus on...
Jurassic 5
4/5
This is a feel good collection of tunes
Spiritualized
3/5
I listened to some of this a few weeks ago... Crazy, I know.
Motörhead
3/5
I'm amazed that Lemmy managed 40 years of fame from one song.
Madonna
3/5
I was excited by this album showing up in our selections. I never listen to Madonna, so this was a great prompt to do so. The title track and other 2 singles are amazing. Cherish is a favourite.
Aerosmith
3/5
Pump
Todd Rundgren
3/5
I'm a day behind with listening...
Incubus
4/5
Incubus is the culmination of all the 90s scenes and sounds. These musos sure knew their sound and how to make them all. The attack distortion guitar mellowed by the beefy octaved bass, the flawless mic position on the little splash symbols, the way the nasal and palate driven voice never sounds strained or as loud as it could be.
Music by numbers really.
5/5
I want to find this one on vinyl in mono.
So analogue.
Paul is dead.
Fela Kuti
3/5
That was cool. Some horn action was welcomed.
Mudhoney
3/5
Fuzzy
The Stone Roses
2/5
Oh my ears. Back off the treble guvna. I kept turning this very bright mix of sounds down.
#headphonelife
Digital Underground
3/5
It's like the big payback all over again.
Booya!
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Great way to start the day.
Fever Ray
3/5
It wasn't an EDM weekend
Ian Dury
3/5
Thanks 1001 albums, I never would have listened to this and my son never would have been introduced to the f-bomb c-bomb combo without you.
Blur
4/5
He gets intimidated by the dirty pigeons
They love a bit of him
Crowded House
4/5
It is one of those intimate secrets that you hold close to your heart, not saying it out loud because you don't fully realise it until it overwhelms you. Neil Finn is one of my favourite songwriters. What a way with words, what a master of melody, what an ability to capture life and time in a bottle.
Eminem
2/5
Here is a confession, I have never before listened to Eminem by choice.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Stevie Wonder is always fun.
Donovan
3/5
Donovan! I've heard the hype, I've heard the rumours, now I've heard the music.
DJ Shadow
4/5
In 1996 I was not hip enough, or whatever, to be on the same page as this.
What a cracking assemblage of sonic wisdom. Mucho enjoyo.
Mj Cole
3/5
Very Dimitri from Paris.
Ghostface Killah
2/5
Dude was 15 years late to the party without a fresh idea.
I bought a hip-hop t-shirt yesterday. It was not this..
We haven't had any Carpenters, Zappa, Farnham, Fu Manchu, Thelonious Monk, Queen, Something for Kate, Russian Circles, Tori, Bjork, Beastie Boys, RHCP, Ben Harper, Doors, Avalanches, America, Hendrix, RATM, Skrillex, Low, Sunn, Soundgarden, Leadbelly, Cat Stevens, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Metallica, A Tribe Called Quest, 10000 Maniacs, Lauren Hill...,. But this - m Kay.
Hole
3/5
I saw Hole, and Courtney Love's tits, twice on this tour. I didn't really want to see either.....
The bass player was good.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Some sweet drums and vocals
The Doors
3/5
What? No riders on the storm?
Solid first album. It has sure made waves through time.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
This album has a great Cuban cookbook in the liner notes...
Good times come with black beans.
The Smiths
3/5
Oh Morrissey, you can complain with the best of them.
Simply Red
3/5
I thought this was peak 85, then a sax solo started.....
Very enjoyable tunes
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I and I enjoyed this one.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Classic
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Less fuzzy than stoner rock. More buffalo than fried chicken.
SZA
4/5
NSFW but I did anyway. I liked it more and more as it progresses.
Aerosmith
3/5
Wasn't that excited.
Anthrax
3/5
Wasn't an Anthrax kind of day.
Bert Jansch
3/5
That's some guitar twiddling.
AC/DC
3/5
Amy Winehouse sounds a bit different
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Not the Flaming lips I know best, but very flaming lips.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Elvis. Yeah
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
There is just something about Creedence that feels special and pure and unique
Talking Heads
3/5
I've never much liked this band, but it was OKAY.
The Stooges
4/5
Iggy, what a guy
Cheap Trick
3/5
I was introduced to cheap trick via the flame. This is cooler
Stan Getz
3/5
Samba, not just a time signature on a Casio keyboard.
Scott Walker
3/5
Will try second album be called Scott 8?
The Cars
3/5
This sounds like the year it was released. Perhaps a Holden Gemini
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I like Amy. This sounds drunker than the other one.
Brian Eno
3/5
Oh Brian. You are larger than life.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
This was a lot of fun.
George Michael
3/5
One song I know and a lot of other stuff. Pretty chill. GM has a good voice.
The Cure
4/5
Siamese twins and the caterpillar were highlights.
Paul Simon
4/5
Paul Simon is amazing
Roni Size
2/5
I wasn't feeling it.
SAULT
5/5
A 2020 album... Wow.
Super enjoyable, a quieter new funk style that I really click with. Put it on next time you have a backyard BBQ party, people will love it.
Elton John
4/5
A fair dinkum classic.
Brian Eno
3/5
Eno ugh of the Eno.
Moby
4/5
I'm not entirely sure which time of day this album is best played at. It's got some well trodden tracks though.
Tom Waits
2/5
More TW... Sandwich it with Frank and Eno for a predictable trio..
Bob Dylan
3/5
I have a dog named Bob. Not after Dylan, but worth noting.
Solid song writing on this one.
George Michael
3/5
That's a healthy 3 o'clock shadow.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Melodic and enjoyable. The Wally cover for the second track sure took some artistic licence.
The Beatles references kept building like a figure 8.
Deep Purple
3/5
I kept waiting for smoke on the water. Some pretty screamy singing and beefy guitar.
The Kinks
3/5
Rockin
Happy Mondays
3/5
I like the Happy Mondays. This was a little moody Tuesdays though
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Firstly, I've never seen this angle of the album cover before.
RATM was the craziest mosh I've even experienced, my feet were rarely under my body. Very fun.
This album was one of the few guitar bands in rotation during high school for me. Tom Morello is a genius. A fun revisit, even if a bit cranky.
It's election time people. Fists in the air!
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Dancing with Mr Brownstone... Probs their best release.
Air
4/5
Superb album for the morning of the night that went before it! Chill and thrill.
Joy Division
4/5
I used to think of Joy Division as a subclass of a wider organisation responsible for joy, thus increasing joy. Now I see that they are about dividing joy into smaller parts until far less joy remains.
This album is heavy and sad and has a tale to tell. The live tracks at the end of the deluxe edition were a highlight.
Ramones
3/5
Hey ho. This band's shirts are everywhere.
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
This was TU2 electric boogaloo.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Well that was some crystal-gripping gear.
My kids felt like they were in space.
I enjoyed the review "when I saw every track was call oxygen I knew it would be shit"
Steely Dan
3/5
So smooth listening I'm surprised I even remember listening to it.
The Byrds
3/5
Jangling, twangling, churchy music. I don't listen to this kinda music much so it was nice to hear some lap steel guitar.
The Replacements
3/5
The replacements are a bit like that TV show with the young snotty boys looking for relationships in all the wrong ways, I think it was The Inbetweeners. Interesting at first
Dead Kennedys
3/5
DKs were massive when I was at school. I was only ever a casual listener. This was sure no holiday in Vietnam.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
I want to like it more than I do
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
The slippery down slope of a great band. At least it made them some greenbacks
Goldfrapp
3/5
I enjoy Goldfrapp. Was this album #2 this month?
T. Rex
3/5
I feel like I have become out of step with the daily album. I didn't even see this one...
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Poor Keith, he was a firestarter. This was lesser known version of that band...
Willie Nelson
3/5
We want chilli Willi. There is something about the nasal twang that makes me feel like a kid.
Ravi Shankar
4/5
They'll probably be in the Zen room....
The tabla is one of my favourite instruments. This was very enjoyable. Stop! Raga time!
Q-Tip
3/5
I'm a huge ATCQ fan. Q-tip is a fave of mine. This was very midnight marauders in parts, so I kept waiting for Phife to bust a verse. I miss Phife dawg.
When the album was done a Phife some came on. 🥴
Long story short, the sum of the parts is greater than the bits alone. I really like the Tribe, but this fell shy of the mark.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Earth Wing & Fire are a pretty classic band. This was alright
David Holmes
3/5
I wasn't expecting an instrumental album. A few more field recordings and found sounds and this would have been right up my alley. Still a good listen though.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Some of these songs sounded like some of Bob's other songs. If you like it you like it I guess. It made for a low key drive to work.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
No the best Zep, but hey.
Haircut 100
3/5
Wow, so 80s. These baselines would be at home on a cruise ship.
T. Rex
2/5
I lost interest in this one pretty quickly.
808 State
3/5
Interesting embryonic techno. A bit too banging in parts for me, but it had some good moments.
Beastie Boys
4/5
I imagined this album to be the transition from Licence to I'll to Check Your Head. Truth is, it is way more Ill than I remembered.
Fun, but not quite the brilliance of the next release.
Rush
3/5
Rush. Bubbles favourite...
The Byrds
4/5
This takes me to another time where things were more simple.
Norah Jones
3/5
This album was released when Norah was some old music dude's daughter. She is her own attraction now. Pretty easy on the ear. Never been a fave though
Joan Baez
2/5
Not my favourite use of the female voice
Lana Del Rey
3/5
It's amazing what a carefully constructed persona and a daddy with a record label can do. I liked the original version of Stoned at the nail salon.
New Order
3/5
Not as dark and gloomy as other New Order
Fatboy Slim
3/5
P R A I S E, natural mayonnaise. This one has some classics.
Tito Puente
3/5
Vibramaphone!
Timbales!
Reg Mombassa level Mambo!
James Taylor
3/5
I've never listened to JT before, talk about effortlessly smooth.
R.E.M.
4/5
I was alone in my year at school as a casual REM fan. This one surprised me in the re-listen, it fit like a glove. I like it.
Jamiroquai
3/5
I have never before heard JK sound so much like Stevie Wonder. Sometimes it is how you listen that counts.
Now, let's storm the White house!
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Just OK, which was sad as I really wanted it to be special.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Piano, upright bass and drums, classic combo. This was a good easy listen. Now hand me my smoking jacket and slippers.
The Police
3/5
When I got to the songs that made the greatest hits, it was obvious they were actually their best songs.
Aimee Mann
5/5
I've loved this album since it came out. The slightly flat, pitchy vocals matched the 90s vibe for me. I'm just hoping that the 1001 trend of similar albums two days in a row brings some Juliana Hatfield. Swoon
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Well that was some full blown wankery. Glad I didn't listen to Tarkus.
Now let me pluck a harmonic on my way to Canterbury Fair...
The Gun Club
3/5
That was pretty cool. A few genres mashed into one with some heavily Dylan influenced lyrics.
The Clash
3/5
This was OK, but not something I'll revisit.
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
I found this all a bit same samey.
The Saints
2/5
Two separate listening sessions confirmed I can only handle 3 songs before the vocals become grating.
Steely Dan
3/5
Never been into Steely Dan, but this is their best work.
Solange
3/5
I had no idea what to expect with this. Turns out it was a low key Lauren Hill stylie R&B number sprouting from a bygone time in the 90s.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I was happy to see this pop up.
I was sad to listen to it.
This kind of amorphous storytelling doesn't do it for me.
Enough about the wisteria...
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
This is different Midnight Runners. I wasn't expecting horns and bleated vocals. I enjoyed the last one much more.
Nirvana
4/5
I listened to this a lot during the early days of my first proper adult relationship. It took me back to some really lovely memories. Thank you MTV unplugged, this is a great recording.
Beach House
3/5
Having just come down with COVID this was exactly the languid experience I was after.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This finished way stronger than it started. Barely holding my interest at first with some weird high frequency feedback thing going on. Settled into good rolling rhythms and finally some Sarah Neufeld fiddle, which I was searching for the whole time.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Saw this and thought, I'm not in the mood for this album. How wrong was I. Loved the drumming. Hearing the emergence of the trademark Zep sound mingled with some blues was great.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The stones just aren't my cup of tea. Some great moments here to try and convince me otherwise, but meh. I enjoyed reading about the making of this record though.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Sorry Pere, I couldn't tolerate this today.
Ride
3/5
Still a bit too much treble for this Rona ravaged headache zone of a brain I'm currently sporting.
TV On The Radio
3/5
Pretty enjoyable, good song writing with a few different styles. I grew a little tired of the vocals though.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Despite the Do I Wanna Know cover by Chvrches being one of my favourite songs ever, I've never really listened to much Artic Monkeys. I can see why this album was a breakthrough. Mucho awesome O.
Travis
4/5
Travis are like that band you see on Rage on a lazy Sunday morning and think, that's nice. A hybrid of the Innocence Mission and Radiohead, or something like that. Moments of Damon Albarn drift through the vocals. There is really a lot to like here
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
A novel flashback by the grandmaster. Who puts the hit so deep in a record?
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
This was a wonderful soundtrack to today.
The Smiths
3/5
Ergh my gawd, Morrissey actually writes some interesting lyrics. Fighting through the gladwrap of pretentiousness is hard, but a shadow of Everest or at least Mt Ainslie awaits.
Can
4/5
A very fun, quite different album. It made for a great family car trip
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Thanks Devendra, I'd only ever really heard the 'come out a crab cake' song before this.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Ozzy has a pretty far out voice. Proper metal here for sure. Sure knew how to write a riff.
Green Day
3/5
There was a big late 90s nouveau punk scene in Wollongong when I was in a band. They represent the antithesis if what my band did. Fast, treble, whining lyrics and that silly fast snare drum tonk.
Anyhoo, this was good at what it tries to do. I feel BJ Armstrong was a real driving force behind the scene.
Elbow
5/5
I loved this. I told a few people about it. By my metric, that's a 5. Will listen again.
Beastie Boys
3/5
I am most I'll and I'm rhyming and stealing.
Nostalgia at its finest
Daft Punk
3/5
Some high points. Some harsh moments. A ground breaking band for sure.
Grateful Dead
3/5
Never listened to Jerry and the band much, if ever, before. I was excited to hit the grateful dead train.
This left me a little underwhelmed.
Maybe I needed a tie-dyed shirt ..
Iggy Pop
3/5
Pretty low key for Iggy. It was alright but I'm not running back.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
I did not get what I expected after looking at the cover. I was ready for funk and got weird roots rock. Anyway, it was OK
Silver Jews
2/5
This 35 minute album achieved something I thought impossible, feeling what entering the event horizon of a black hole was like without leaving earth. Time slowed down, a lot. It felt like over an hour of boredom. So many things to dislike. Lyrics that I'm sure were meant to be profound missed the mark. Cliched twang of a country guitar, and that droning voice. No thanks.
5/5
That crooked mouth
Speaks to me
Bad Company
3/5
Bad company, Hey, they weren't so bad.
Kanye West
1/5
Holy Holy, what a pretentious fuckwit.
I don't care what colour your dick is, stop trying to degrade women with it, regardless of their colour.
Flying crucifixes, how did this uninventive hack get such airplay and somehow convince people to buy his crappy shoes.
Some good bass lines - but Jesus weeping - what kind of world do we live in when this misogynistic, self-worshiping tool gets critical acclaim and a bankroll.
By Zeus's beard this made me angry. Really, really, sad angry.
Anita Baker
3/5
Throwback to the sax solo.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
I like this series of records. An interesting artist
Tina Turner
3/5
I've always struggled with Tina
Eurythmics
4/5
Lip syncing battles in the childhood bedroom of my mind are made of this. Solid gold.
Ice Cube
4/5
One if my not so secret pleasures. I gotta be careful not to listen to this on the way to work or I'll be cussing all day.
The Stranglers
3/5
I was introduced to the stranglers in a bizarre way. This was just as strange on a tropical coast setting.
Bobby Womack
3/5
An 80s and 70s sandwich. Wasn't as poetic as I'd hoped.
Animal Collective
3/5
This had a bit of Beatles about it in parts. Better with headphones that in the car for sure.
The Specials
3/5
Some tracks lean reggae, some lean towards punk, while many are pure ska. A nice little distraction from what I was doing.
The Cramps
2/5
I have tight feeling in my stomach. Tighter than the band..
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
This was like listening to a woke Sega master system. So much 8-bit, so much awareness. I felt it couldn't connect any more with the gay community and then Go West came on. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Radiohead
4/5
This is a really hard review for me to write. I might do it in three.
Short
Fuck
5
Honest
Turned me off Radiohead for ages
3
Current
I'm a gear guy. Headphones, amps etc are my thing. This album doesn't show you what your gear can do, it shows you what your gear is doing. It has as many layers as a vanilla slice. The contrabass wind, the epic mids and oh my that voice. I did drop and run from this for a decade or more, but I now hold it close. It matters not what I think, for Kid A is a eruption that will continue for longer than I will think about it. Thoroughly epic.
4
Barry Adamson
2/5
I love field recordings and ambient weird shit, but this was not my cuppa.
Frank Black
3/5
This didn't capture me at all. Maybe my head/mood just wasn't in it.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
I'm still not sure what to think of this.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I started out thinking this wasn't the Stevie Wonder I know and then Living for the City came on. I think it is my favourite Wonder number. Higher Ground is also legendary.
A truly wonderful listen.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
I had no idea what to expect. The first track was pretty cool and the next few were interesting. I didn't get through the whole thing because of life. I may revisit to figure it all out.
Portishead
5/5
I did a list of my top 10 albums of all time. This was not on it. What an oversight.
Dummy has always taken me somewhere special. I think it always will.
Garbage
3/5
I've always thought of Garbage as a band formed to write commercial hits rather than a band who write artistically. Well they managed their objective. Loads of hits on this.
I appreciate their craft rather than their art or insight.
Mike Oldfield
3/5
This was my first real listen to this record. I feel like it commanded more discussion than it warranted.
It was music from the future, like the year 2000 or something. I bet it wrestled with the robots from the Flight of the Conchords song...
Beatles
4/5
Perfect harmonies for a thoroughly rainy day.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
I really enjoyed this.
Will listen again.
😁
Taylor Swift
4/5
As you become older the world becomes more beautiful.
I really enjoyed this album today.
Beatles
5/5
One
and
One
and
One
Make Three
Alanis Morissette
3/5
I remember Alanis being a more proficient singer. This and being quite shouty, which was the accurate part.
Janis Joplin
3/5
This was a really exciting inclusion. I spent half my time blown away, half my time lamenting JJs early exit and half my time wanting more than was there. Now that is a lot of halves.
The Smiths
3/5
Another album I would not have considered listening to if it weren't for this list.
Foo Fighters
3/5
I really enjoyed the first half of this album. My attention wavered after this. Pretty good for one dude with a 4 track!
R.E.M.
3/5
This was R.E.M. that I wasn't too familiar with, other than the two in the middle which are part of the fabric of time. The rest kinda spanned the life of the band.
Morrissey
2/5
Enough already with the Morrissey
The Kinks
3/5
Saw the Kinks and I was expecting fuzzy rock. The psychedelic harmonies that followed were pretty fun.
Morrissey
3/5
I actually liked the fatty song as a teen.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
This was a nice change. A bit long, but fine nonetheless.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
PIL have always fascinated me, but I've never really been hooked.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Such a slice of 80s magic. I've belted out these tunes many times before.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
A really enjoyable Sunday morning soundtrack. This has a few well known hits and a bunch of well put together songs.
Elastica
3/5
Way more Brit pop than I expected. Woo
Adele
4/5
I avoided this quite religiously when Adele was at the height of her powers. I now accept 21 as part of the musical landscape. With some crackers and a nice display of voice, it's pretty good. Set fire to the rain is a great song.
Now, I wonder who would win the hypothetical karaoke battle between Adele and Amy Winehouse if they were only allowed to sing each other's tunes.
Arrested Development
4/5
I am still thirsty
Lightning Bolt
3/5
I love some noise rock. Low's Hey What way one of my favourite albums of 2021. If this is Lightning Bolt's most accessible album, I feel their fan base would be quite small. The tracks with some good bottom end fuzz and driving distortion laden bass lines were great. The grating high frequency barrage was a bit much at times. I wish I could give it a 2 1/2...
The xx
3/5
Maybe if they went for a third X it would have tipped the scales. Not a bad listen, but not headlining festival worthy.
Nas
3/5
This was just post my hip hop phase. I've never really liked the Nas era releases.
a-ha
3/5
All the Morrissey lately has tainted this version of New Romantic songsmithery. The accent didn't help me overcome the apprehension.
Some pretty nice falsetto and triceps in the cover art though...
The The
3/5
Mild and understated. I was expecting big rock, wall of sound style for some reason. This was more shoulder pads and oversized suits than that. Totally focussed on the vocals, with a healthy side of electro drums and synth sauce.
Very 1983.
Moby Grape
3/5
Pretty generic music from the era. Not hard to listen to, but not that special.
Eminem
3/5
I never really got the M&M thing
Adele
3/5
For an international powerhouse, who's third album stirred up so much hype, this has a lot of skipable tracks. Great voice but rudimentary song writing.
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
This wasn't on Spotify. I listened to a few other Gil Scott-Heron tracks instead.
Beck
3/5
Sea Change reminded me a lot of Nick Drake. Kinda love key for Beck.
John Lennon
4/5
Some iconic moments. Some lighter bits too.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Sounds a bit like what the Doors would have been if Lou Reed was their front man. I enjoy most of this.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Like a lightly flavoured mineral water or some vanilla ice cream with a slight sprinkle of Milo, this had a slight promise of something satisfying but ended up being rather generic.
Pulp
3/5
I think a lot of Bowie was listened to before making this album.
Songhoy Blues
5/5
This was rad. Tribal blues rock, yes please. I thoroughly enjoyed this when it came out and glad I was reminded of its awesomeness.
John Prine
3/5
OK I guess
4/5
You know when you look at old fashion and think 'that is so 80s!' and then realise it is actually from the 90s? Well that doesn't happen here. You know it is 80s to the core.
Poison Arrow holds a special place in my memories. I remember the film clip and a lot about my life at the time.
The bass sound is really special in this recording.
Viva ABC
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Ya man, that's Hendrix.
Can
3/5
There is so much music from the 70s I've never explored. This was pretty far out in parts
Kate Bush
3/5
I think Kate Bush is OK. This was some of her less successful work though. I try not to get defensive when people compare her to Tori Amos, but it is just so hard not to. KB did some stuff first, but TA works on so many more levels.
Pavement
3/5
Sounded like the seed to 90s Indy.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Neil Young writes great songs.
Van Halen
3/5
This is one of my favourite album covers ever. The VH tunes aren't really up to that standard
Frank Ocean
4/5
2012 Hottest 100, I thought Lost would be number one. It was beaten out by Thrift Shop (and 6 other songs). What a year?!? Dear Science by Seth Sentry was robbed too. That hoverboard line...
If we could just edit out all the interludes this would be a cracking album.
Eric Clapton
4/5
This is JJ Cale Troubadour mixed with Jimi Hendrix Are you experienced, with a sprinkle of Sting at his most Police pinnacle summiting moments. Eric, what a muso.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
In honour of Adidas, 3 stripes, 3 stars.
Tears For Fears
3/5
I remember these songs being cooler when I was younger.
Sabu
3/5
I couldn't figure out if this was South American or African?? It was pretty raw
3/5
Love it, hate it, I don't mind at all. The messy nature of punk in this form always erks me.
Supergrass
3/5
I didn't much like the first third of this album. It became more enjoyable towards the back end of it though.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I don't mind a bit of Elvis Costello. This was just a background today though
The Strokes
4/5
What an iconic album.
Living Colour
3/5
The onset had me thinking metal, then I started to imagine these dudes as a hair band full of crew cut bankers. It was pretty Noiseworks with occasional screaming guitar squealing.
Megadeth
3/5
I was surprised that I enjoyed the first half of this. It then got a bit Mega and a bit deathy...
Depeche Mode
3/5
Standard Depeche mode
The Dictators
3/5
This was quite incoherent, I wasn't sure what they were going for. Some guitar and drum sections reminded me of the Supergrass album from last week though...
The Doors
3/5
A few great songs. Otherwise an OK listen at best.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I enjoyed that Bob listening session more than I've ever liked his music before. This is a quality record. The harmonica at the end got a bit high pitched and grating, but the rest made up for it.
The Birthday Party
4/5
I'm glad Nick Cave made this music so he could chill later in his career. Music described as challenging is always a bit hit and miss. I think I'd need a few more listens to fully decide on this one.
It does make me think my high school science teacher was a punk as fuck though.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
I have quite a history with Thelonious Monk. Tickle them ivories and ebonies. 😁
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Ive never been a stone's guy
Pentangle
3/5
Baroque folk 60s? Not generally in my wheelhouse.
Neu!
3/5
Music in the form of Getty stock images. You could paste a lot of this into an advert or presentation without anyone noticing.
Primal Scream
4/5
Firmly planted in the 90s. Quite enjoyable. I grew tired of the modulated space sound bleeps, but hey, they were hip at the time. This was a favourite album of a previous student, so I enjoyed remembering the music chats we had. Thanks 1001 albums.
Hawkwind
3/5
Hawkins, what a name for a band.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
This was a very quiet riot. I was expecting way more funk and bluster. Still an easy listen though.
Sam Cooke
3/5
Proto-James Brown meets fictional character Shy Baldwin. Huh, A Huh Huh, A Step Back!
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Distil what makes music good and capture the essence of pop and rock in a bottle, this would be on the same shelf. Music of a bygone simpler time, but hugely influential on what came after.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
This was a challenging 1001 listen for me.
Treasure is without a doubt the pinnacle of my 1001 albums experience so far. It is something I will hold close for all time. It may have even wiggled its way into my top ten albums. So to park another Cocteau Twins review alongside it isn't really fair.
Soaked in reverb, with a few more audible lyrics that I was expecting, Heaven or Las Vegas is a nice foray into the landscape that bridges the 80s and 90s. I can hear sections that influenced bands like Belly and other charming Indy acts. Is this the birth of shoegaze?
It is lovely and easy, but not my favourite child.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Expecting bold tango, got quiet tinkle.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Yeah Nah Yeah. OK. OK.
Donald Fagen
3/5
Hints of Stevie Wonder, The Police, Sheena Easton and some surprising funky bass made this an unexpected listen.
Ozomatli
3/5
Spotify only had 2 songs from this album. I liked the Latin funk. I didn't much like the rap though.
Supergrass
3/5
Better than the previous album. Some nice tunes
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I'm not having much luck with Spotify recently. This wasn't there so I listened to some Joni live.
The National
2/5
I wasn't much into this one. Perhaps another day..
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I really like Elvis Costello more and more as time goes on.
The B-52's
4/5
I've never listened to an album by The B-52's. It was way less gimmick driven than I thought it would be. Some vocals verged on 90s grunge punk/grrrl power. I liked this one a lot.
Goldfrapp
4/5
I like goldfrapp. This is a good one too.
David Bowie
4/5
I think this is the album when Bowie said - Fuck, I can do anything, I can be anything.
What an artist
M.I.A.
3/5
I enjoyed this one today.
The Auteurs
3/5
I dunno man, that was pretty nondescript and a tad on the dull side.
ZZ Top
3/5
You can sure tell this is American from the get go. I've never been a ZZ listener, so was disappointed that they didn't live up to my mind's eye of the legend.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
Felt quite Pink Floyd in parts. Certainly not what I was expecting.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Curtis! You got it going on!
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Frank. More Frank. Very well - this means we must be closer to no more Frank in the 1001.
Neil Young
3/5
Thanks Neil. Some more solid work.
Orbital
2/5
Yeah Nah Thanks.
Cookie cutter electro isn't for me.
Van Halen
2/5
Eddie! I knew he was a no good kid.
The Pharcyde
3/5
I like the sound, the phrasing, the quirky bars, but the content could be updated a bit. I guess that's the price of listening to early 90s hip-hop. Yo mamma et.al. was a thing.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Old school MJ is always fun. He was quite an artist. This one was more filler than Thriller though.
Stereolab
5/5
What a Sunday Lego session soundtrack. Couldn't have picked anything more suitable. A real find and I will listen to this again.
Thanks 1001! A little gem for the time invested.
R.E.M.
3/5
This was unfamiliar REM for me. I like their later stuff more.
Otis Redding
4/5
I was a bit disappointed by the cover and thought this would be boring. Never judge a rekid by its cover!
Britney Spears
3/5
Britney's low register and then 'Britney' noises she makes in transition.... Oh baby baby, I love them.
The sugar coated with saccharine, honey sandwich of this album is a bit much much though.
Email my heart some soda pop 🥺
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
In a dream we are connected.
If reincarnation was possible and time was all wobbly, I'd live my life in such a way that I could come back as the guitar sound on this album.
Seeing Billy, wearing a Superman t-shirt, asking for hands in the air at an early 90s Big Day Out and seeing a magnificent wave of love is one of the highlights of my music life.
That Corgan Big Muff overdriven rhythm, that Iha twiddling, does it get any beefier or any better? I'm not sure that is actually possible.
I come back to this album often, sometimes after many moons, and it always gets better.
This is 5 stars at its finest. Even without mentioning any songs actually on this brilliant record.
The Blue Nile
4/5
Very enjoyable listen. The vocals reminded me of Thom Yorke and David Bowie blended together. Great bass lines and a wide variety of tunes. Overall a pretty sweet album. I'm surprised such a low key album was produced at the height of the new romantic era.
Well there you go. I actually just listened to this twice in a row.... Not many of the 1001 have this on the stats list!
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Not no Parkay
Not no margarin
Strictly butter
Strictly butter
Patti Smith
3/5
This was a strange listen. I couldn't tell if this was derivative or ground breakingly original.
New York Dolls
3/5
Interesting but I'm unlikely to return to it.
Brian Eno
3/5
This was what I imagined Brian Eno music was like before actually hearing it. A bit left of centre to say the least. Kooky.
Pretenders
3/5
Some great vocals. Simple yet effective song writing. It kind of faded into background music at times though.
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Kinda like an old school movie soundtrack. I'm a fan of vintage things, this was nice.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
I need more time to take this in.
Lorde
3/5
This is the Lorde album that passed me by. It isn't Pure Heroine that's for sure.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The Rolling stones are USAs answer to the British band the Beatles and the Canadian band Queen.
I'm no music expert, but this is good roll and rock.
Beatles
5/5
Tori Amos was on Take 5 and I was delighted to see her first selection was Eleanor Rigby. It is pretty much my favourite Beatles track.
I switched between a few different 'remastered' editions while listening to this. There is a big difference between some of them. Hit up the 2022 version if you want bass forward mixing.
I've got to play more Beatles to my kids, STAT!
Here, There And Everywhere and I Want To Tell You are totally underrated songs.
Some real magic moments in this one.
4/5
Muse were the first band I saw pull off the stadium rock show with complete authority. Such a massive sound from a 3 piece and as a non-fan at the time, they really impressed.
This album was pretty cool, but I'm still not a Muse guy.
Tricky
3/5
It's tricky to rock a rhyme. Well a beat and baseline at least. Kinda nostalgic.
Pixies
3/5
I love Kim Deal. Pixies have some great stuff and we're real genre creating artists. The guitar sound often leaves me feeling quite prickly and fatigued though.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
This started super strong. I liked the first few tracks a lot. Then it went a bit off the rails. Fewer songs, all with with more oomph would have been better.
Little Simz
2/5
I like grime. I like hip hop. This was neither and a bit shit though.
PJ Harvey
4/5
That crooked mouth, speak to me.
Polly Jean, you are a wonder of this world.
"PJ Harvey is a music icon because she is a truly original artist who has made a lasting impact on the world of music" (trying a little AI in the comments)
Stereo MC's
3/5
Bam! 1992 in your face!
Pantera
2/5
Pantera have always made me cringe. Don't get me wrong, I like some metal, but this is just a bit shit.
Black Sabbath
4/5
This is peak Black Sabbath.
Suzanne Vega
4/5
This was a nice change. Today was a great day for me and I enjoyed listening to this in a few parts throughout the day.
I need to listen to more Suzanne Vega, she has a pretty rad voice.
The Beach Boys
3/5
That was classic cool
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
This was a bit wishy-washy, cool, but wishy-washy.
U2
3/5
I can see how U2 were the biggest band in the world for a bit. This is some impressive song writing and polished sound engineering.
If they didn't push their tripe onto every IPhone in the world that one time, and Bono was a bit less Bono, I'm sure I'd like them a bit more.
I might just go and quietly listen to The Joshua Tree.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Being a Stoner Rock and Desert Blues fan, QOTSA should have featured more strongly in my music rotation. They are a neat band, with some great tracks, but never really hold my attention.
Laura Nyro
2/5
I'm sure there are 1001 albums better than this. It was all strained and whining.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Tom Petty hit a bit like an electric Dylan. I can see why he is a Wilbury
Skunk Anansie
2/5
I was looking forward to this as I had a vague recollection of the band, but it came across as quite contrived and annoying.
I hope the next skunk band is better.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
This was very chilled compared to recent albums. Totally standard
Def Leppard
2/5
These rockers made some 3 minute songs go for 5 or 6 minutes.
Pour some corn syrup on them. Baby!
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Meandering but listenable. I liked a review that likened this album to a list penguin.
Nick Drake
3/5
I like Nick Drake, but it isn't party music
Hugh Masekela
3/5
This is the type of music I like to listen to, but my kids ask 'is this jazz!', followed by 'can we listen to anything else'.
Johnny Cash
4/5
This was great. Will listen again.
Television
3/5
This was OK but I only made it half way through.
Spiritualized
3/5
I've listened to a lot of ambient and chill music today. This was alright.
Pink Floyd
3/5
I have spent some time with other Pink Floyd albums, this one not so much. Syd Barrett was a tortured soul but I don't really see the brilliance. Listening with IEMs today and the weird stereo flip-flops were terrible in parts.
Psychedelic - yes, enjoyable - I'm not convinced.
The Young Rascals
3/5
Them youngsters go alright. Nice driving tunes
Metallica
3/5
This was an amusing listen. I've generally stayed away from Metallica due to prejudices developed in early high school. I've moved on from this mindset though.
I listened to this with an open mind and honest interest. I found myself loving some riffs and large parts of songs; then the guitar twiddling and shallow lyrics would hit my funny bone and I'd laugh out loud.
Thanks 1001. I'm glad I've ticked this off the list.
The Triffids
3/5
Woah! This album just kept going and going and going.
Black Sabbath
3/5
A great album cover. Simple and to the point, just like the rekid!
Fairport Convention
3/5
Super folky. Quite fun. Fiddle me sideways
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I thought I'd know more tracks on this one. It was alright but nothing to keep me coming back.
Gang Starr
3/5
I like 90s hip-hop that isn't all gangsta. Funnily this was all Gang Star.
Some scratching got a bit extra, but a nice trip down memory lane.
Randy Newman
4/5
My first real listen to Randy Newman. I kept waiting for Buzz and Woody to pop out...
He has one of the easiest voices ever and I'll likely check out some other works.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
There was a whole lot of loving going on (and on). Add this to the 'you couldn't find 1001 albums better than this?' list.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
This is Led Zep at their mightiest.
Cracking album.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
The boom bip, a boom bip.
This is where it all began.
It is part of my fabric.
Five
Solid
Stars
Now sit back, relax, listen to some hip-hop.
The United States Of America
3/5
Only one song on Spotify. Interesting song thought.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Blues of this variety isn't really my thing. Happy to have listened to this one though. Super glad that it picked up a bit after the first song, which was quite mumbled.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
As camp as a Year 7 getting to know you bonding retreat. I just wonder why it needed to be rereleased as a 99 minute monster. I couldn't get through the whole thing.
Miles Davis
3/5
I blinked and it was over. Rather low key for Miles.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Couldn't quite pin this one down. Is it rock, is it Blues, is it full of covers? It all amounted to a forgettable experience.
Ray Charles
3/5
I don't listen to big band offerings generally, so this was a nice foray away from the norm. I did enjoy the quiet numbers a bit more than the swinging big ones though.
Thanks Ray, that was a bit new.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Chill as it gets.
Saint Etienne
3/5
The subtle pop songs were was rescued this French dance number from the brink of a two. Slightly better than the other faux french electro we had recently.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
My favourite review of this was 'if you have a headache and would like to worsen it, this album is perfect for you'
Venom
3/5
Two noisy albums in a row. I sometimes wonder if these albums are picked without a real listen and like ...
Queen
3/5
I'm not a big Queen fan, so this was new to me. They were all pretty solid from the get-go.
The Zombies
3/5
This was really cool.
Burning Spear
3/5
Marcus Garvey hey. Thanks 1001 for another introduction. It was a nice foil to the hottest 100, which way pretty modern vanilla.
Wild Beasts
3/5
This was OK background music but it didn't hold my attention
David Bowie
5/5
This is one of my favourite Bowie albums. So many great songs. Quicksand may even be my favourite Bowie track.
Now, let's remember the awesome Flight of the Conchords song.
This is Bowie back to Bowie.
I read you loud and clear man.
Public Enemy
4/5
I once had a dishwasher that sounded like the first track on this album. Lost at Birth - like so many oppressed people. This album hit me during my early teens and opened up a world of empathy and compassion for people who had been subjugated for generations. So with fond memories and painful realisations ebbing and flowing I relive real world experiences when I listen to this album. It was a decade before I realised the implications of these themes on my own shores.
Terminator X on the cross fader and Chuck D on the inhale is a thing to behold. Time for some cold lamping.
Lou Reed
3/5
Oh Lordy Lou, you were a powerful influence over the music scene and I'm thankful for that. I just don't dine enthusiastically on your offerings.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
This has a large chunk of Jimi's best tracks on it. Pretty special record. I just wish the master recordings were better quality, I reckon we miss a lot of the finer detail around the Hendrix revolutionary guitar style due to ham fisted recording.
Steely Dan
3/5
I don't get steely dan
Roxy Music
4/5
I remember hiding this album in my bedroom when I was a kid if about 5. Perhaps I enjoyed the baps as much as my dad... Parents though this was hilarious.
Discovering Bryan Ferry was the lead in this band was news to me. I've never really investigated the art rock of Roxy Music before. Refreshing and new for the first listen through. When the mood strikes me, I will return.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I was underwhelmed with this.
50 Cent
2/5
Carn fidy, do you even buy what you're pedaling?
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
One cracking song and a bit of filler.
Common
3/5
I was hopeful after the first track of lounge beasts. It took a turn for cranky wordsmithing after that and I wasn't as keen.
Dire Straits
3/5
This album was the pinnacle of popular when I was a kid. It has a few classics, but some of the rest is a bit ho-hum if I'm honest. Not the track after track of radio playlist gold I was expecting.
2Pac
2/5
I am amazed that people still glorify this buffoon. Wonder if he was so hard because he was like Araldite?
Dr. Octagon
3/5
I read a Rolling Stone magazine interview with Sean Lennon and almost every answer was Dr Octagon. It weirded me out. I avoided the work of the Dr because of this.
For starters, the DJ work on the album is off-tap. Q-Bert is a legend, but this is insane.
Scatology and rectum references aside, this is some well crafted stuff. I enjoyed the Ultramagnetic MC's back in the day, I enjoyed this today.
Billy Joel
4/5
An album that allowed millions to fall in love with Billy Joel.
I've never noticed how much Billy's voice sounds like Rufus Wainwright before. Well I guess Rufus sounds like Billy.
David Crosby
3/5
I just listened to this and can't really remember any of it. Perhaps it was as memorable as David's name....
Tim Buckley
3/5
The longer this went on, the less I liked it.
Slade
3/5
A bit less shouting and a bit less lacking in the hair metal promise would have been nice.
Michael Jackson
5/5
I'm parking everything and just rating the songs.
One of the greatest albums of all time. It has sold more copies than anything else. It was a massive part of my childhood.
Outstanding.
3/5
This had a lot of cool bits. Many McCartney like bits along the way.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Started out as a rad folk Blues album and then went on to be a rad North African Blues album.
Loves it
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
I found the bassy distortion tracks enjoyable but the overpowering treble really killed some tracks
The Divine Comedy
3/5
This is a self indulgent production.
Korn
3/5
I never did much like Korn. This affirmed that notion.
Joy Division
3/5
I listened to this one twice, and I'm glad I did.
Probably the most recognised and celebrated album cover for a group of seldom celebrated songs.
I appreciated this the second time through. Some great production and some heartfelt content. On the cusp of post punk and ready to shape something new, Joy Division we're finding a place and have etched a spot in music history.
I'll never really love this, but others who lived it the first time were there for something special.
The tapestry of music-time is wonderful.
Wilco
3/5
Middle of the road
Mylo
3/5
Mylo is a low GI snack. The title wasn't really indicative of the content.
Queen
3/5
Way more hard rock riffs than I was expecting. Some interesting images presented in some songs.
The Waterboys
4/5
This was a great listen, Loads of good stuff going on. I imagine The Waterboys would have been a hoot live.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
This was familiar and lovely
Ice T
2/5
Crazy to think that my Mum gave me this album on tape as part of a Christmas gift when I was in middle high school. I guess she didn't listen to it first.
Pretty offensive and what I believe to be a low point in the evolution of hip-hop, the early nineties gangster rap.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
First track had me ready for an electro album. Then the classic rock kicked in.
The Temptations
4/5
Rad, funky Motown. I like it.
Milton Nascimento
3/5
I was hoping to drink from the Latin fountain, but this barely filled my cup
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Almost equal amounts of songs I liked and songs I didn't. Not FM's finest work.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Quite a breathy delivery. I liked the idea of the album. I mostly liked the Nick Drake song that came after it, which really caught my attention. 🫠
Radiohead
5/5
Sitting in an old car in a university carpark I truly discovered something beautiful. I remember it vividly.
Sitting in the Sydney entertainment centre I experienced this beautiful thing live. What a light show. What a live performance.
Sitting in my study I listen again. And I still truly listen deeply. After over 25 years .
OK Computer is one of the best.
Ever.
3/5
This was less Devo than I was imagining. Except the vocals. They were very Devo.
Napalm Death
2/5
Me: this ain't so inaccessible. I'm not hating this
Also me: we must also be done. What! Only half way through a 30 something minute album?! Feels like it has been way longer!
Grindcore takes some outa ya.
3/5
A real woman's woman. Power to her country slinging self.
The White Stripes
3/5
Meh. I never really caught on to the white stripes hype.
Miles Davis
3/5
This is pretty standard Miles. Almost like as if it his 5th best album. Still smooth and cool listening.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Thanks the Blues and give it something of your own, that is a tried and true, surefire path to success.
I like hearing the embryonic phases of bands like this. Nice one Stones.
John Grant
2/5
There were a few songs on this that I thought were great. Like really really great
The rest was a steaming pile of horse don't-don't.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Bowie sending strong vibes. Iggy bringing the energy. Glad I've had a listen to this one.
Cat Stevens
4/5
This voice has very strong pathways to childhood memories for me. An epic songwriter and a wonderful album.
I'll say thank you to Cat Stevens for this one, just because that's what you went by at the time.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
I just don't like JJ's voice. An unpopular opinion, I know, but it is what it is.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
I recently quipped that Dua Lipa was the Marvin Gaye of our times. So much in each track is devoted to getting in on in one way or another.
This itty bitty album oozes and drips, yearns and burns, and has me closing my eyes and leaning in to it the whole way.
Eagles
3/5
Sometimes it is immediately obvious why the hits are the hits. This is one of those sometimes.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
My sister, and many others, love love this album. I think it is alright.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
The current track listing on Spotify is 92 songs. Almost infinite!
Billy can dial in some of my favourite guitar sounds. I love the big muff overdrive so much. This album just doesn't use that enough though.
The Slits
5/5
Fantastic listen for the whole album. A ska soaked masterpiece. I had no idea that The Slits had influenced so many outfits that followed. Grrrl power in proto form. I'll be suggesting this record to some folks.
The Jam
3/5
Sound does affect. This was a great listen.
Paul Simon
3/5
Dude can songwrite and sing.
Screaming Trees
3/5
Less screaming than advertised. A sideline player in the 90s grungey bluesy scene. I'd just call it rock these days. Pretty easy listen.
The Who
3/5
An album in the style of an episode of The Goodies.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Nice live set. Another album I'd never have listened to if it weren't for the 1001 journey.
Baaba Maal
3/5
A few more world music inclusions would be good. This album was a nice change and well received. It got a bit samey towards the end, but I liked the tunes.
Sister Sledge
3/5
These guys pumped out some magic in the 70s. A solid album for sure.
Gary Numan
4/5
This was a rocking little record. I didn't say 'Newman!' once.
The Verve
3/5
Started strong and faded.
Kraftwerk
3/5
These guys were pretty groundbreaking. I enjoyed some bits more than others.
David Bowie
3/5
We are lucky to have Bowie's last two albums. Very different to his seminal works, but a crowning moment in time nonetheless.
The Police
3/5
Starts with a classic. It was hard to keep up after that. Not a bad driving album.
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
I was excited to see something like this pop up. I was hoping for some tabla and hearty eastern rhythms. This did not eventuate. Poorly recorded and a bit grating.
The La's
3/5
The one hit on this was not like the rest of the tunes.
The Sugarcubes
5/5
I sing a lot when listening to music. I have a particular love for singing along with Bjork. It think it is the S and T sounds. I've loved this album for about 30 years and it still hits all the right markers. It marks the beginning of Bjork's best decade of music making. Life's too good.
Massive Attack
4/5
I listened to this one with the family. My wife grooved away and said she really enjoyed it, even though she thought she was only familiar with Mezzanine. A solid round of thumbs up from our household.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Dark Side Of The Moon doesn't really have hit songs, it doesn't even really have a genuine hit. They wrote Money as a double V to the record label and publicity pressures. I respect that.
Let's talk what make this rekid one for the ages. The organ and piano. The vocals of Clare Torry. The interplay of guitars. The vocals of Clare Torry. The way each song flows from one to the next. The vocals of Roger Waters and David Gilmour. The vocals of Clare Torry.
This was a groundbreaking album written as a whole experience. And people got it. Especially the reverb and guitars, and the vocals of Clare Torry.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
This was OK.
Barry Adamson
3/5
That was a trippy eclectic experience. As long as he loves his mother...
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
I know Rattlesnakes from Tori Amos's Strange Little Girl album. Other than that it was quite a forgettable experience. Some vocals were a bit annoying and reminded me of Morrissey.
Mudhoney
3/5
Mudhoney were the most disappointing band of this era. Not my bag at all, and this was my kinda band at the time.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
What came first, the chicken or the egg. Some things have definite answers, others only have the vibe.
The vibe I get from this album is that is the chicken, I mean egg, I mean it sounds a bit derivative.
David Bowie
4/5
The Berlin session continues. I enjoyed the Iggy album a bit less than this one. The ambient tunes were a fresh change
Elvis Presley
3/5
Probably the best Elvis album experience I've had.
Supertramp
2/5
I struggled with this one. Got 4 songs in and turned it off. I just don't like Supertramp.
Maxwell
3/5
I was so pumped for the first track, it was a great way to start the Monday drive to work. The later stages deteriorated into cheesy soft rock.
Morrissey
4/5
I wasn't happy about another Morrissey album being thrust upon me. Like how many is this now? Maybe 5 or 6 including The Smiths albums? We've only had 2 Beatles albums for heaven's sake.
I still listened and I'm really glad I did. This was by far my favourite Morrissey experience. I enjoyed his understated vocals and the overall pace and tone of the record. Still, I'm finding it hard to believe that I'll give this one a 4.... What have I become?
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Standard Stones
Lambchop
3/5
Kinda cool. Lo key and less punchy than I'd anticipated.
David Ackles
3/5
A different style of album. It's nice to have variety
The Cure
4/5
I was so blind to The Cure for so long. Something went click about a year ago and I totally get it now.
This is an epic album. Robert Smith has a voice that captivates. Totally worth repeat listens.
Pink Floyd
5/5
This is the kind of 1001 I expect every time.
Although it is hard for me to write about.
My first true love shared this album with me. She was amazing. We had that kind of relationship that was imperfectly complicated, and perfectly pure.
Carrie died of cancer in 2018, long after our time together had been and gone.
I posted on her Facebook page just a few weeks ago with the title track of this album. Fuck, how I wish you were here. Not for me. Not for us. Just because the world was better with you in it.
How I wish you were here.
The Adverts
3/5
This was all a bit same samey.
Linkin Park
2/5
I tried, I really did, but yeah, nah.
CHIC
4/5
Toe tappin funky good tunes.
The Monkees
3/5
Childhood memories flooding back. Couldn't possibly get through the 1000 songs on this though.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
Solid blues and guitar. Glad I've given this a spin.
The Specials
2/5
Not that special after all. Some generic ska with some questionable lyrics and vocals
Jeff Beck
3/5
Strange listen. Jeff's voice sounded like Janice Joplin at times. The piano was left field but the guitar was as expected.
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Dizzy is fun for a bit.
Paul Simon
4/5
Paul Simon writes poetry and then contorts it in such a way to fit the tune. Quite a talent.
You can call me Al. Such a highlight of my childhood.
Metallica
3/5
This was a weird listen. I've listened to more than a normal amount of Metallica in the past few weeks, with a new album and a deep cut song challenge that had me playing Bleeding Me on repeat. This was different though.
John Coltrane
4/5
If you like jazz, you like this. I like jazz and I like this.
Cornershop
3/5
I had no idea who these peeps were and then track two came on. I love that song. The rest was some eclectic eccentric pot puri of interesting jams. Enjoyed
Deee-Lite
3/5
Another example of why hits are hits.
Björk
5/5
Such a deep love for this album. Aeroplane is top 5 favourite songs for me. This is an artist at the height of their powers. Big love.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
So very 80s. Cyndi sure had a few songs on high rotation during this era, I knew almost half of the tunes on this record.
The White Stripes
3/5
I find white stripes a bit tedious and repetitive.
Massive Attack
3/5
This started super strong, the first two tracks are classics. It was a bit ho hum after that.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
This album goes alright. Not as super special as some make it out to be though.
Public Enemy
4/5
Probably Public Enemy's best album.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Great album. I didn't know Everyday People wasn't an Arrested Development original. Sex machine was a sweet instrumental.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Arcade Fire fans are sure dedicated to telling everyone how good they are. I more fall into telling everyone how good the solo stuff of their violin player is
1/5
Hmmmm, couldn't much get into anything in this. Even the title is offensive or juvenile, I'm not quite sure.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Had no idea that this even existed. Thanks for another eye opener 1001
Tori Amos
5/5
I know I know you well well better than I used to.
I've enjoyed a 30 year relationship with this record. Despite having critics and sceptics along the way for the love I have for Tori, I still try to celebrate and share her brilliance as often as I can.
My life is better for knowing her work so well. I'm glad I picked up that cd single at the rock pit record store in 1992 because I liked the cover art.
Castles are burning in my heart.
Thank you, Tori. Thank you.
Grateful Dead
3/5
Interesting live album. The Grateful Dead are one of those iconic bands that people almost make a pilgrimage to see. A bit before my time and I've never really jumped onboard though.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
That was a lot of fun. From cover art to closing track. Quack! (Do penguins quack? I'd say no)
Joe Ely
2/5
Country and I don't resonate at all.
Ash
3/5
Some kinda familiar songs by a kinda familiar band. Summary must be almost memorable.
White Denim
3/5
This was a surprise. Nice phrasing of the rhythm guitar, cool simple leads, jazz flute to boot!
Steve Winwood
3/5
Was this a Genesis album in disguise?
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
Not as out there as the title had me prepared for. Rocky country with a twist. The reviews were pretty funny in parts..
4/5
A good album. I only know the hits.
Erykah Badu
3/5
Calling Lauren Hill. Your but has been hijacked
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
Plus one for the variety. Beef heart, you do have a magic band.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Good background tunes.
Gotan Project
3/5
Lounge, lounge, lounge.
All a bit samey after the intrigue of a squeezebox wore off.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Starts exceptionally strongly. Fades a bit. Still pretty cool.
Soft Cell
3/5
Sometimes it is totally apparent why the hits are hits. They smashed that one track out of the park
The Undertones
1/5
This was bloody awful. Only managed three songs.
Queen Latifah
4/5
From the era of spinning records to sample music. Rump shaking tunes for sure.
k.d. lang
3/5
Charming and relaxing. Maybe a little too relaxing, I began feeling sleepy.
The Band
3/5
Straight forward easy listening rock.
Taylor Swift
4/5
I love the cadence in this album. The brilliant song writing and subtle renditions allowed me to discover Taylor Swift. I'm now a fan and wonder why it took so long.
Fats Domino
3/5
A splendid era of music. This was alright
3/5
Some great tunes, but an album is a big serving and my appetite dropped off pretty quickly.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I romanticise the notion of Nick Cave. I get really excited to begin with. Then I'm done for a while.
Beatles
5/5
Err mer gurd! What a banger! The track list is something to marvel at, even without listening. It has a bunch of my favourites.
PJ Harvey
4/5
A real breakout album for PJ. Not my favourite, but it has some great songs and some brutal guitar and bass moments.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
This was both familiar and new at the same time. Pure songwriting and great musicians.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I'm not a big Bruce fan. This is a pretty iconic album, with a few OK songs..
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Some really nice moments.
Eels
3/5
I knew bits of this quite well. An easy listen while cooking on a Sunday morning. Lots of the drumming was rather good.
Scott Walker
3/5
This was akin to a strange, semi dystopian, drug fuelled trip on the Love Boat during an all you can eat banquet dinner...
The Icarus Line
2/5
A little bit over top for a Monday evening.
Fiona Apple
5/5
An album like no other. This really helped me through a tough part of my life. I'm thankful for that. I totally called it as the album of the year in 2020. Super happy to revisit this after a fairly long stint since my last time.
Shack
3/5
A bit more on the rock side of Britpop. Not many highs or lows, just fair to middling.
Bee Gees
3/5
Very different Gees. I even went gee this is different.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Watching my son trying to read the title of the music song was well enjoyable. Not as Isaac Hayes as I thought it would be.
Minutemen
3/5
Wasn't really looking forward to this one after reading a bit about it. Turned out much better than predicted.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Another iconic album by Bruce. Never been much of a fan. I actually think I like the cover art more than the album itself as it conjures the free lifestyle of the 80s. Bless them simple times.
Faust
3/5
Krautrock should be more spicy. This kinda just kept going in Ernest.
Neil Young
4/5
What a great and respected album. This was an easy listen today, but I'm sure it would stir some fires at a different time. Nice one Neil.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Some amazing moments on this record. Some bits were so seventies stereo. Other bits were a bit watered down and lengthy. I enjoyed Stevie exploring his lower vocal register throughout, it isn't something you would hear in his best of albums, but it is pretty cool.
Madness
3/5
Good for a madness album.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I found this one a little grating. The vocals were linear as well. Sad, as the title had me hopeful.
Roxy Music
3/5
I just want more from Eno and Petty together.
Billy Bragg
3/5
Quite palatable for a Billy Bragg album. The Waco influence, how do I say this, brought a nice country vibe . Who am I?
The Offspring
2/5
Pressed skip a number of times on this. That cookie cutter punk drums and constipated Kurt Cobain vocals just aren't right.
King Crimson
3/5
There was a lot of quiet bits. Some of the loud bits were really good.
Brian Eno
3/5
Brian, oh Brian. Not your best work. Diversity plus, but some dross amongst it.
Tom Waits
3/5
Another Tom Waits collection of songs. This album is a good one of his for someone looking to investigate his legendary tone.
Neil Young
4/5
Only love can break your heart is a truly great song. I like this Neil Young a lot. Not the biggest fan of his voice, but it hits a groove after a while.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
More Nick Cave..
Stephen Stills
3/5
Sounds familiar, I guess I've been listening to a lot of this era music on the 1001.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I prefer other Sonic Youth albums. Was OK
Prince
3/5
I was really surprised that this was released in 1987. I thought it was a post love symbol album. It had passed me by until recently, I was a mid- eighties and a mid-nineties Prince listener. A few good tracks.
Missy Elliott
2/5
Not a Missy Elliott fan
Beck
3/5
I thought, cool, a Beck album I haven't heard before, this should be cool and stuff. Turns out I had heard this before, just when listen to a different album. As Beck as you can get.
N.E.R.D
3/5
Not as rockstar as I thought it would be. A window into the early naughties.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Always impressed by Elvis Costello. I don't know why I've not delved deeper in the past.
Talking Heads
2/5
I just don't like Talking Heads
Nanci Griffith
3/5
I enjoyed that album about as much as I ever have enjoyed country music. Didn't catch much of the content and themes as I was cooking, but the overall vibe was quite palatable.
Dolly Parton
3/5
What a trio. The Linda Ronstadt bits were my favourite. Still a bit country for mine but I appreciate this for what it is.
Brian Eno
3/5
Love me some ambient. This is a little to airport at times though.
Blur
5/5
Absolutely timeless classic. I had a girlfriend who's brother was Blur crazy before this record was released. I didn't really get it. This album changed that for sure. I saw them live on this tour in Sydney, apparently Tom was at the show too. Graeme using a theremin on stage blew my mind. I'm going to listen to this again now. See ya.
D'Angelo
2/5
No diggity! No really. No diggity!
What a bunch of RnB.
Kraftwerk
3/5
The first track is quite epic. Not my favourite genre so I'll be very generous and give it a three.
Back to the urban streets for me
Hüsker Dü
3/5
Wasn't feeling this one today.
TLC
3/5
So much adolescence
MC Solaar
3/5
Was this a Gangstar rip off? Very hectic for a Monday morning.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Music that a friend of a friend is in to. Perry Farrell has grating vocals after a time.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Gangster rap had a short time in the sun. That's good. A bit too strongly worded for current times.
Pere Ubu
1/5
Got half way through. That was fucking awful.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Pretty good for a Johnny Cash record.
The Byrds
3/5
I think we've had an album by the Byrds before. Maybe it was the Yardbirds, I'm not sure. Anyway, I had a slightly negative mindset going in, but this was pretty cool. Shows that preconceptions can be wrong.
Parliament
4/5
Make my funk the P Funk. I've blasted this through an outdoor stedson at a bbq before.
Mike Ladd
4/5
I think I need a second listen to this. Waves of loving it, and then moments of thinking it was a bit of a gimmick. Still liked it more than not.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Chillest start to a Monday ever.
Madonna
3/5
The first track was outstanding, I thought I may be in for a treat. Let's just say things went downhill from there.
The Libertines
3/5
Kinda like a supergrass meets Morrissey band.
The Monks
3/5
Another one not on Spotify. I listened to a best of and I'm not that disappointed I couldn't listen to the suggested album. Some proto rock with Hammond organ.
Hot Chip
3/5
Not my favourite genre. Hot Chip are alright at it though. Hmmm
Kings of Leon
3/5
This was way more Roadhouse rock than I thought it would be. The few songs I'd heard before were way more mainstream than the rest. A bit of a surprise really.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Seeing this brought positive vibes, I was hopeful for a bit of nostalgia. The first song squashed that. Totally not my jam today.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Great listen. I enjoyed the drum and bass line sounds. I didn't give this enough time when it was new.
Gram Parsons
3/5
People love Gram. Me only an ounce.
ABBA
3/5
I don't believe I've ever listened to an album by ABBA before. This sure had some hits.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
This was similar to the new Depeche Mode album. A bit dark, but kinda fun.
M.I.A.
3/5
First 3/4 was super enjoyable. Got a bit samey in the back end though.
Motörhead
3/5
Lemme tell ya, the first time I heard Motorhead was on The Young Ones. Didn't become a fan. This was OK.
American Music Club
3/5
Another 1001 I'd never heard of and probably wouldn't have otherwise.
Stan Getz
3/5
Great way to start the day. I was like, who is Stan Getz, and then the first song kicked off a mood. Easy, breezy and full of chill vibes all day.
Miles Davis
3/5
The opening track helped me get over the 'Miles is overrated' thinking. I know it better than I'd have predicted. Amazing musicians.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Hopefully we won't double up on the country tunes... Tomorrow is another day
Calexico
5/5
First track had me thinking, another dang country album, which really didn't fit the cover art. As the tracks progressed I was hooked. What is this album? I had no idea Indy rock Mariachi was a thing.
I listened thrice and told a few people about the discovery. By my well defined scoring system, that's a five.
Great find.
Sonic Youth
2/5
Rubbish mostly.
Jack White
3/5
Jack is all right.
Julian Cope
3/5
Never quite got a handle on this one. I kept thinking it reminded me of other things. Now I'm not sure at all.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Loads better than I anticipated. Some solid songwriting and musicianship
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Some simple, similar from track to track, rock from the heart
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
A few solid classics in this one. I just don't Stan on FM like many do.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Not seminal Hendrix, but it does have Castles Made of Sand, which is a banger.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
A lot of love and a lot of hate for this one. Judge the art, not the artist? Mayhaps.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Never judge a book by its cover, well I challenge anyone to try with this album. I was completely at a loss predicting what would happen when I hit play. Turns out it is a bit folky and not too much of anything in particular. Press play if you have some time to pass thoughtlessly.
The Soft Boys
3/5
What a moment in time frozen on a record. Well different to most other things
Le Tigre
3/5
This is the best Kathleen Hannah mode. I struggle with Bikini Kill.
Pink Floyd
3/5
A pretty boring listen for such a hyped album. Other Floyd is better
Rod Stewart
3/5
Not bad for rocket rod.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Great album. Peter Gabriel is an artist that I don't think about much, but enjoy the music when it is presented to me. Don't give up is one of my favourites.
George Jones
3/5
Probably wouldn't listen to that again.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
4/5
What an amazing array of vocal styling and song writing diversity. Totally left field and enjoyable.
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
A bit on the rough side of vocals for mine. Not adding this to my library.
Iron Butterfly
3/5
From simpler times.
Sugar
3/5
Sounds like it would have been played on the radio in the 90s.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Plenty of great memories on this one. I just don't listen to Fatboy Slim casually though
Tom Tom Club
3/5
You know what Tom? Tom Tom Club by Tom Tom Club is a truckload of Toms Tom.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
At first I thought this was kinda like listening to the mammas and the Pappas. Later on I thought it was kinda like listening to the same song on repeat.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Twas OK in its time and place
Genesis
2/5
Genesis have always baffled me.
Beth Orton
3/5
Stolen Car is thrust into my Spotify listening quite frequently. Beth Orton is good for a few awesome songs per album. This is her second or third best album for me. Trailer Park FTW.
This did prompt me to listen to her latest album, so that is a bonus of some sort.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
The eastern rhythms in this were really enjoyable. There was a lot of hate in the reviews. Oppenheimer's quote at the end ties the theme together nicely. A great album for mine.
Radiohead
3/5
OK for Radiohead.
R.E.M.
4/5
I listened to this during high school. I don't think many my age did. A few classic memories on this one for me.
Big Star
4/5
A great record. I enjoyed the well written songs and easy going nature of it all. The one famous song caught me by surprise, as I thought I'd never heard a Big Star song before.
Hookworms
3/5
I was worried about the journey ahead when this album started, like what the goodness was the first few minutes? Settled into generica.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Pet Shop Boys have always teetered on the edge for me. How do I feel about this? 3 stars
Madonna
3/5
Next album please
Beyoncé
3/5
The booming bass in this was a little off-putting
Carole King
5/5
Wow, what a jam packed album. I was thinking it could well be a greatest hits, or an album of selected covers, but no, it is just awash with iconic songwriting and hits galore. I think I'll be back to this again.
Radiohead
3/5
Somewhat sleepy for a no sleep title. I like their old stuff better than the newer stuff.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Much more subtle and melodic than I had anticipated. I can dig it
Megadeth
3/5
I thought this was going to be shit, but you know what? The not so shit bits weren't as shit as I thought they'd be. But holy Moses, how shit was the live guitar sound....
Suicide
2/5
Kinda lost me at the cover art. Southbound from there
4/5
A simple sound profile, but they really hit their stride from the midpoint of this record. Love the Coxon guitar twiddling and Damon's straightforward delivery.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
JBs should have been squarely in my zone in the 90s. I've always found them to just miss the mark and can't pick why.
Fiona Apple
5/5
Full is not heavy as empty
Not nearly
I've had three big bites of the Fiona Apple. This was the first and longest chew. I discovered Tidal early on and marveled at the vocals. I love a deep female vocal and oh my days can Fiona run deep. The story about writing Criminal in 30 minutes or whatever it was just to show the record company she was the business is a rockstar gem.
I appreciate this fledgling release for what it is. Brilliant. I came back to this fine artist when discovering Extraordinary Machine and fell in love with the tongue flipping lyrics. It is an equally amazing album. Our most recent interlude was for Fetch the Bolt Cutters, which was a ball tearing emotional tirade that gave me armour against the world when I needed it the most.
Fiona Apple, I love you for what you've shared with me, for what you've given the world.
Manu Chao
3/5
A nice blend of languages and tunes.
Def Leppard
2/5
Can this be the last Def Leppard album please
The Residents
1/5
Worst album of the month. I hit skip half way through most tracks.
Prince
3/5
What began as a solid 4 to 5 slowly devolved into a straight 3 for me. Some highlights, but also some filler. Nothing to see here, keep humping along...
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
A cruisey new discovery.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
The queen fo rizzle
The Human League
3/5
This was a lot
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
I've heard the name a squillion times, never really engaged though.
Not my bag at all.
The Temptations
3/5
Funky old school R&B with a side of shaker salt or something. A pretty good mix going on here.
The Cardigans
3/5
An easy enough listen. I enjoyed the first half more than the second, as the vocals became a bit samey.
Gorillaz
4/5
You know what? I realised during this listen that I have never listened to a Gorillaz album before. I know loads of songs and sing along quite easily, but an album, nah, never.
I also remembered that Del was in this group. Hell's yeah. Loving it.
This is a moment in time. E
Enjoyable to say the least.
CHIC
3/5
What a trip
The Fall
3/5
A mid-eighties release by a 70s band hanging on for dear life trying to remain relevant.
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
I listened to this at work between parent teacher interviews. It felt a bit sleazy having a Frenchman talk provocatively into my ears during this time. The second last track, En Melody, was a highlight.
The Mars Volta
3/5
The blazing guitars and unique vocals of The Mars Volta really do it for me at times.
The last Big Day Out I went to had them on the bill. I entered the main stadium against a strong flow of people leaving and we were left with ample space to Grove away. It was a great show, but only 5% of the total people attending were there to see it.
This album has great moments, but I don't think it is the prog masterpiece that some do. A bit long in parts and I struggle to listen to all of it in one sitting.
fIREHOSE
3/5
Not my style of music today.
The Streets
3/5
Beyond original pirate material, the streets aren't that notable.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
This is a seminal album. As a teen, the idea of social and political commentary as part of music was there, but not to this palpable level.
Radiohead
4/5
I really like this album. Plenty of highlights without being a blockbuster. Will listen again.
Love
3/5
The folk side of trippy rock from the 60s is pretty easy listening. Nothing outstanding but it was alright.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
The Austin Powers of sitar albums, a little too shagadellic for mine. I love Indian rhythms and would have preferred to hear a more authentic set of tunes.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
2/5
Another hard to listen to album. Not on Spotify, Bandcamp only had 2 songs. What I heard was ok. Gentle ballad type gear. Minus one for making listening difficult.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Easy going indie. The name Belle and Sebastian made me think of a boiler room banger for some reason.
The Yardbirds
2/5
The Yardbirds general sit outside my area of interest.
Björk
4/5
I generally think of this album as the beginning of the also ran Bjork releases. That is both harsh and incorrect. Vespertine has wonderful and coherent stylistic choices and some pretty handy songwriting. It's no Debut, Post or Homogenic, but it is sure worth a listen.
Thundercat
3/5
A concept album, a stylistic choice, a slow moving train wreck.
In the beginning I enjoyed the bass sound and airy vocals. In the middle I became distracted. In the end I just have up.
The Prodigy
3/5
I saw the Prodigy at the big day out. Their best songs came from this album. Not totally my bag, but a classic nonetheless
The Killers
3/5
Don't know what all the hot fuss is about.
Oasis
3/5
I was a bit dismissive of Oasis at their peak, possible teen prejudice against the mainstream. Since then I have really appreciated some of their work. The opening of this album is full of the dross that turned me off as a kid, droning jangly treble soaked guitar and monotonous lyrics that I'm mostly disinterested in. I guess the magic happened on their second release. Blur FTW!
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
A couple of nice songs. A couple of confusing gangster songs. A couple tweeners and a bunch that sounded the same. What a Lupe Fiasco.
Van Morrison
3/5
Van Morrison would have been something to see live!
Pixies
3/5
Pixies are a bit hit and miss. I liked but and pieces but not the whole thing. Totally understand why they've stood the test of time though. Innovative
Buzzcocks
3/5
Never mind the Buzzcocks, wasn't that a questionable tv show?
Arcade Fire
3/5
I always want to like Arcade Fire. I really love Sarah Neufeld and her solo stuff. Aren't they meant to be better than this? Guess I will keep trying.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I've had banging beats from Spilt Milk echoing through my house today. I long for a retrograde in music. This is honest and worth revisiting on many levels.
Slipknot
1/5
I don't want to listen to this kinda stuff
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Elvis sounds a lot like Bob on a few of these songs. Some super songs amongst this lot, but not my favourite Elvis Costello album in the 1001.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
Sometimes I think albums make the cut on perceived significance, without actually being listened to. The first Capt Beefheart was insufferable and this was almost the same.
Fugees
4/5
Some real highlights on this one. Unique rhythm stylings and interesting themed content.
Jethro Tull
3/5
I never am quite sure if Jethro Tull is a band or a dude who blows flutes. Perplexed
Boards of Canada
4/5
Some magical high points on this record. I missed this first time around, but can see how BOC influenced many artists that followed. Metric Systems probably ate this record for breakfast everyday when they were cutting their teeth.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
I'm pretty sure I saw Teenage Fanclub a few times live. One of those 90s acts that were just there, without being on the top of the pile. A nice listen with a few memories.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
I'm all for unique vocal stylings. Joanna Newsom can tip me over the edge sometimes though. She is often mentioned as influential by artists I love, which makes her work more significant I guess.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Not as fun as their other album in the 1001.
Meat Puppets
4/5
I most definitely knew some of these songs, two for obvious reasons. Kurt sure drank heavily from the Meat Puppets fountain when developing his signature vocal sounds. A very worthy inclusion in the list.
John Lennon
3/5
Makes me think there were other outstanding songwriters in the Beatles.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
Boot scooting nah thanks
New Order
3/5
Overall, this struggled to hold my attention.
Beastie Boys
4/5
This is my second favourite Beastie Boys album. A real staple of the early to mid 90s way of life. I met them in the Boiler Room of a Big Day Out shortly after this album, I can assure you that I wasn't as cool as them...
Mercury Rev
4/5
I love Mercury Rev. They've always been a band I forget about and then hear a song and dive back in deep. Smile emoji.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
A house mate hammered this album for a while. It brings back memories of the funky share house lifestyle.
CHVRCHES
4/5
I love Chvrches in small doses. Lauren Mayberry is a rockstar crush of mine. Swoon
Michael Jackson
4/5
I know this is an 80s album, but it soooo much more 80s than I remember. MJ was big on the pops when I was young and this was one of my first albums in tape. A few absolute classics. Just eating the music today.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I'm not a big stones fan. This was good though.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Quite a few of these songs were a single phrase repeated over and over. A lot of innovation as far as the music goes, but the lyrics were mostly a let down.
Destiny's Child
4/5
So much more enjoyable than a Queen B album. Don't be jelly Beyonce!
Red Snapper
3/5
I think I needed to listen to this louder. Some fine drums, I kinda missed a lot of the rest (noisy kids on car trip...)
JAY Z
3/5
Helluva producer, like the production was amazing and I can totally see how Jay Z made his squillions.
The content was; however, a little bit shit. I mean, can you imagine Jay Z bangin' in the Bronx?
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
Not weird enough to be interesting, too left of centre to tickle my fancy.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
As eighties as ashtrays at Maccas! Very different from the image I had conjured up after reading the title.
Metallica
3/5
Yeah, Metallica.
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Very interesting listen.
Coldplay
3/5
You know what, I think this is the first time I've ever listened to a Coldplay album. I knew some, enjoyed others, but don't think I'll be rushing back.
FKA twigs
4/5
FKA twigs fan boy here: this album is a sign of things to come. Not a breakthrough album by any stretch, but a seed sewn that will later yield exotic fruit. If you liked this a little, dig far deeper. There is treasure in them there hills!
Raekwon
2/5
Not really my brand
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Didn't get all the way through due to time constraints. I'm sure the rest would have been similar. 4:4 rock and some 70s sentiment
Nina Simone
4/5
What a classic. Liked this one a lot.
Orange Juice
2/5
Started standard eighties, flew down a slippery slope towards cruise ship cover band territory.
Billie Holiday
3/5
Totally worth a listen but not very memorable.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Less country and quite unique. I can see how people love this album. Emmylou has a bunch of charm and some great songwriting skills. Just a bit too much of the same for me.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Lovely
John Cale
3/5
Folkalicious. My son asked if this was in a language other than English after the first song...
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Couldn't finish as it was a bit too adult for my listening children's ears.
The Bees
3/5
This was a real mixed bag. Some of the first tracks were worth coming back to but later tracks were a little more in the take or leave it basket.
3/5
They really hit the first few songs out of the park into the hit parades and easy listening radio station high rotation playlists. Still quite of a yawn fest for me though.
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Not much interest here.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Leonard Cohen will never be cooler than when Happy Harry Hard-on blasted Everybody Knows on pirate radio. Pump up the volume!
Metallica
3/5
Grrrrrr rughhhh.
The Psychedelic Furs
2/5
Not for me
Röyksopp
3/5
This must be Royksopp's beige album. Not a lot of highlights.
Gillian Welch
3/5
The whole aesthetic of this had me hooked. The cover art, the title, the year of production, so many possibilities.
Then the banjo kicked in.
The KLF
3/5
This was a big deal in the early 90s.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Only listened to the first few songs. Interesting to say the least.
Queen
4/5
Classic
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
A 5 just for the pure singability of this fine album.
I actually feel a bit dirty because I gave A Night at the Opera a 4 yesterday...
Rod Stewart
3/5
A sighed when I saw this album, I'm not much of a fan. Rocket Rod was alright on this one.
Soundgarden
4/5
One of the reasons 94 was one of the best years for music in my lifetime.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Hmmmmm.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Mostly simple background music.
The xx
3/5
Different from what I'd imagined. Rather chilled
Bill Callahan
3/5
Mucho interesting, thanks 1001.
George Harrison
4/5
This was really good. I was surprised how Beatles this sounded in parts and how George it sounded in others.
The Pogues
4/5
One for the Pogues fans. Absolute classic. I got the surprise of my life when my 8 year old son started singing dirty old town a year or so ago when I put this on. I asked how he knew it and it turns out it was a song he was playing during guitar lessons. The circle continues. Now I must be on my way, so buy me a whisky.
Santana
3/5
I was expecting blazing guitar but got roots, world, blues drives tunes. Way better than I thought it would be.
Björk
3/5
Less out there experimental than I remember. OK for Ms Gudmundsdottir.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
A well defined sound and schtick. Some people love this fo shiz-rizzle. I think it has minor appeal, but gets old very quickly.
Nick Drake
3/5
Nick Drake hit hard on the drive to work. Very different and smooth on the way home. Some lovely guitar work with some standard vocals from Nick. I found this more appealing than Pink Moon 🩷 🌙
Peter Tosh
3/5
Life lived on the upstroke and inhale
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Some familiar and some I'm not so hot on.
LL Cool J
3/5
This album (song) busted LL into pop culture. He had a reasonably prolific silver screen presence after that. My love for LL is in his earlier hip hop career though. You're my heart.
Magazine
3/5
Standard post punk type gear. Unlikely to be played again by choice.
The Fall
2/5
Not my favourite discovery of the 1001. Kinda like getting tinea from the public showers, probably better without it.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Certainly soulful and a great set of pipes.
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
The hits were familiar. The rest was different.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Listened by the beach today. It was raining on and off, so kinda suited this albums meander.
Holger Czukay
3/5
Well there you go. From hippie undertones, to cosmic cowboys, was there even some reverb washed hammered dulcimer? Pretty far out man.
The Beta Band
3/5
Great cover art. Great reviews amongst the list. Most say something like "forgettable boring British bullshit". I didn't find it that boring...
Deep Purple
3/5
Super simple stuff. I was surprised when smoke on the water came on, it wasn't a teenager learning acoustic guitar playing to a wonky metronome..
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
This wasn't as bad as Linkin Park. Some songs even began resembling music.
Sonic Youth
3/5
My preferred sonic youth era and sound. Sugar Kane is a great song. The guitar sound on this isn't all attack treble metal zone distortion and had bit more beef and fuzz. Still not putting it into rotation though.
4/5
Very refreshing. Solid, honest music. Mucho enjoyo.
David Bowie
4/5
The cover art is a solid 5. One of the most reproduced and recognised bits of face painting ever. The tunes are not Bowie's best work. They kinda just flow on from previous works with more generica than he is know for. Still better than a 3 though.q
Skepta
3/5
I really like Grime. My Spotify superpower last year was The Hypnotist, which meant I listen to albums from start to finish. You'd think these two things would combine to mean I would have had a great experience with this. Not so much. Loved bits, got a bit saturated towards the end and hit skip a few times. It was alright, I guess.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Really loved the first few tunes. Kinda wanted to know what the lyrics were about after that. A nice break from the majority of mainstream albums on this list.
The Doors
3/5
Yeah, good thanks
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Quite a bit of what the golly gosh is going on here filler on this album.
Kate Bush
3/5
Rather tame for Kate Bush.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
I didn't know about the Graceland link until I read some reviews. It is really clear after it is pointed out.
Soothing and smoking at the same time.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Another solid record with an amazing array of reviews. I liked the history, the title and the tunes.
Pearl Jam
4/5
There was a student singing Even Flow in Science last week. They immediately gained a bit of cred because if it. I wasn't a massive Pearl Jam fan first time around, but you have to give credit where it is due, and Ten is a work of art.
3/5
Not as challenging as people make out. Track 7 was great.
Ice Cube
4/5
A lot of anger and violence on this one. I guess it was a snapshot of life at the time for a portion of Americans. This said, Ice Cube is one of my favourite rappers. His voice and delivery is outstanding.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Pretty middle of the road for the style. Except for a few out there tracks at the end.
Pavement
3/5
Another Pavement album. As expected.
Prince
4/5
Classic. Not a 5 though.