878
Albums Rated
3.21
Average Rating
81%
Complete
211 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1990s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
37
5-Star Albums
6
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
|
5 | 2.48 | +2.52 |
|
Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
|
5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
|
Damaged
Black Flag
|
5 | 2.87 | +2.13 |
|
Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
|
5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
|
Reign In Blood
Slayer
|
5 | 2.96 | +2.04 |
|
Spiderland
Slint
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Repeater
Fugazi
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
|
4 | 2.16 | +1.84 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Disraeli Gears
Cream
|
1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
|
S&M
Metallica
|
1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
|
1977
Ash
|
1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
|
Slayed?
Slade
|
1 | 2.89 | -1.89 |
|
So Much For The City
The Thrills
|
1 | 2.81 | -1.81 |
|
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
|
2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
|
Hot Fuss
The Killers
|
2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
|
Moondance
Van Morrison
|
2 | 3.71 | -1.71 |
|
Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
|
1 | 2.71 | -1.71 |
|
With The Beatles
Beatles
|
2 | 3.66 | -1.66 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.75 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.67 |
| Radiohead | 6 | 4.17 |
| The Velvet Underground | 3 | 4.33 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 5 | 4 |
| Sonic Youth | 5 | 4 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Metallica | 3, 3, 5, 1 |
5-Star Albums (37)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Genesis
2/5
I guess I'll never get Genesis. It's so goofy sounding, but not in a fun way like Rush or Yes or whatever.
4 likes
The Damned
4/5
Now I'm sad I haven't been listening to The Damned more all these years...
1 likes
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
1/5
Ah yes, the album with such stone classics as "Gang Bang" and "Giddy Up A Ding Dong". Listening to this made me stupider. This is easily the worst album on the list so far (about halfway through now).
1 likes
Serge Gainsbourg
5/5
Air, Slint/For Carnation and many more owe a debt to this. Crazy. Really interesting and low-key groovy.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (6)
All Ratings
N.W.A.
4/5
Nas
5/5
The Go-Go's
4/5
Like a poppier, bouncier X?
The White Stripes
3/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
"Not Fade Away" is the standout track
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Not at all what I was expecting. Kind of a weird album, really. Strangely catchy. That voice!
The Clash
3/5
Not even my 2nd favorite Clash album...
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Isaac Hayes
4/5
TLC
2/5
Much dirtier than I remembered. Too many "interludes". Wasn't my thing as a kid, and still isn't I guess...
Goldie
4/5
I like it! Now I'm wishing I would have been a raver in the mid 90s...
Leonard Cohen
4/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
Maybe I've just heard some of these songs too many times to care anymore?
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Ravi Shankar
3/5
3/5
Röyksopp
4/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Supertramp
2/5
Good recording quality, at least? Not sure I'd ever listen to this again.
Tina Turner
4/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Red Snapper
3/5
A couple-few interesting tracks (Bussing and They're Hanging Me Tonight) but not sure I'd make an effort to re-visit the full album again.
Radiohead
5/5
Kraftwerk
3/5
Interesting to listen to this right after Radiohead. Definitely a through-line between them. This isn't my favorite Kraftwerk album though...
John Grant
2/5
Meh, probably not coming back to this one ever again... Parts of it come off as a parody album somehow. I'm very confused.
Nick Drake
3/5
Some really nice tracks, but a bit meandering at times.
Moby
3/5
It's fine.
Magazine
4/5
Right up my alley. I feel like I probably should have heard "Shot By Both Sides" before, but I don't recognize it.
Bon Jovi
3/5
Wanted Dead or Live is pretty good
Motörhead
4/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Television
5/5
It's got it all
Black Sabbath
5/5
Metallica
3/5
I don't even know anymore. I still listen to their earlier stuff all the time. But black album and later.... I just can't. Does that make me a hipster?
Sigur Rós
4/5
The Police
3/5
3/5
Ray Charles
3/5
The White Stripes
3/5
Underworld
3/5
Lightning Bolt
3/5
Ozomatli
2/5
The Specials
4/5
Great album, fun songs, just always found the production a bit thin :/
Elton John
3/5
Parliament
3/5
Iggy Pop
2/5
meh. I like Iggy and all, but this is more just a bad Bowie album.
Suzanne Vega
4/5
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
The Mars Volta
4/5
Raekwon
3/5
The Doors
3/5
Simple Minds
2/5
I wanted to be more interested...
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
My least favorite S&G...
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Black Flag
5/5
Still raw and impactful after 40 years.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Def Leppard
2/5
I listened to the whole damn thing.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Interesting to put Come on Eileen in context. It fits right in with the album, though.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
2/5
well constructed, but not really my thing
Public Enemy
4/5
Jane Weaver
4/5
Nirvana
5/5
The Cure
3/5
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
ZZ Top
3/5
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Van Halen
4/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
The Clash
4/5
Gang Of Four
4/5
Dance punk!
Queen
4/5
10cc
2/5
Weird. It sounds good, and maybe I'd want to listen to individual songs on occasion, but I can't really imagine wanting to come back to this album. A bit too "all over the place".
Bob Dylan
4/5
"It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" might have converted me to a Dylan fan
FKA twigs
4/5
Nice!
John Prine
3/5
The Beach Boys
4/5
Roxy Music
3/5
I feel like the 2nd half drags a bit. First track is awesome!
James Taylor
3/5
Scott Walker
4/5
love how much the lyrical imagery seems to clash with the style. how is this from 1968?
Supergrass
3/5
Steely Dan
3/5
The Kinks
3/5
R.E.M.
4/5
Boston
3/5
Traffic
3/5
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Frank Black
4/5
The Byrds
3/5
Tortoise
3/5
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Q-Tip
4/5
I'm a fan!
Dr. Dre
3/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
Ray Charles
3/5
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
OutKast
5/5
Roni Size
3/5
Nina Simone
4/5
Carpenters
2/5
I'm sure there's something here, but can't really get past the cheese factor.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I've enjoyed other albums of his more... A double album is a lot to ask.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
The Style Council
2/5
Meh. Feel like I didn't *have* to hear this one before I die.
Sepultura
3/5
The La's
3/5
Arrested Development
3/5
Bad Company
2/5
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
Machito
4/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Kraftwerk
3/5
Shuggie Otis
3/5
I really liked the sound, but it stayed a little too "low key" to engage.
Joy Division
4/5
Wild Beasts
2/5
meh
Frank Zappa
2/5
I appreciate it, but I don't enjoy it.
Beck
4/5
50 Cent
3/5
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Santana
4/5
Arcade Fire
3/5
Dire Straits
2/5
Listening through this whole thing was a slog... I used to love Dire Straits.
Elvis Presley
3/5
This was actually pretty decent
The Black Crowes
3/5
Hard to argue with, I guess. Well put together, lots of hits. But I'd rather listen to Tom Petty...
Michael Jackson
4/5
N.W.A.
4/5
Al Green
4/5
Jamiroquai
3/5
fIREHOSE
4/5
I'm sure my devotion to Minutemen is biasing my rating a bit, but this is a pretty fun listen.
Green Day
4/5
I obsessed over this album back when, eventually wearing out the cassette tape. But it's been a while since I listened to it through. Still a collection of well-crafted, poppy punk songs. It is what it is.
The Who
3/5
Pretty rockin' stuff. This one's hard to rate after just one listen, but my gut says 3. It could very well deserve a 4.
Beatles
2/5
Man, I just can't with early Beatles stuff. It's just a bad Motown impression.
David Bowie
3/5
Andy Warhol and Queen Bitch are my favorites
The Waterboys
3/5
I actually enjoyed this a bit. Had never heard of The Waterboys. A bit uneven, but I liked the longer, more driving tracks the most.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Black Sabbath
3/5
Portishead
5/5
The Young Gods
2/5
I'm not familiar with this group. Not my favorite industrial-ish album, but there are some parts that I enjoyed. No plans to revisit this one...
Dusty Springfield
3/5
3/5
I have to admit the first half is pretty strong. Kinda falls off a bit though towards the end.
Femi Kuti
3/5
The Crusaders
3/5
It's fine. Kinda blended into the background. Not bad music to work to!
Screaming Trees
4/5
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Didn't think I knew the artist, but I knew a lot of these songs. Definitely quirky, but still kinda fun. Can't tell how much of this is a joke!
Morrissey
3/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
meh
Genesis
2/5
I guess I'll never get Genesis. It's so goofy sounding, but not in a fun way like Rush or Yes or whatever.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I guess this is my favorite Springsteen album so far. Not generally a fan, but the stripped back style sounds OK to me.
Funkadelic
3/5
Radiohead
4/5
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
The Who
3/5
A more psychedelic Who. Kinda all over the place, which I guess was the point. But it kinda ruined the flow for me.
Van Halen
4/5
Once again Van Halen woos me with awesome guitar licks despite awful lyrical content.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
Pretty cool
Kanye West
3/5
The Offspring
3/5
Man, I used to love it. I guess it's aged ok...
The War On Drugs
2/5
I don't know why this annoyed me so much. It seemed pleasant enough, but then I realized the songs were just longer versions of Don Henley or Dire Straits or something.
Living Colour
3/5
Gang Starr
4/5
Deerhunter
3/5
Guided By Voices
4/5
Mekons
4/5
3/5
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
it's pretty long. i remember enjoying it the first time i listened, but repeated listens seem to drag a bit
Eurythmics
2/5
the title song is obviously great, but i wouldn't come back to this just because of one song
Primal Scream
3/5
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Weird.
New York Dolls
4/5
Nice! Never listened to the whole thing before. It's heavy!
R.E.M.
3/5
Not my favorite R.E.M. album, but still solid all the way through.
Beatles
3/5
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Awesome!
Jacques Brel
3/5
Alice Cooper
3/5
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Sugar
4/5
Blue Cheer
2/5
I was introduced to this album a while back, and it seemed more impressive then. I get that it's "groundbreaking" or whatever, but does it sound good?
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Really well recorded. Some great tracks, but it blends together a bit.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
I don't know. I started out liking it, but this just isn't my thing for a whole album's worth.
King Crimson
3/5
Joy Division
4/5
The Smiths
3/5
Weird coincidence with the passing of Queen E?
Pink Floyd
3/5
I listened a couple times. It sounds pretty cool...
The Smiths
3/5
Haircut 100
2/5
Meh, probably never coming back to this one
Lana Del Rey
3/5
4/5
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Sebadoh
3/5
Green Day
3/5
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Whatever... it's fine.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Erykah Badu
3/5
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Man, I really don't care about this at all.
Spacemen 3
2/5
This one didn't do it for me. And I liked Perfect Prescription a fair bit...
Johnny Cash
3/5
I really hoped I'd enjoy this more. I just don't think I'll ever "get" Johnny Cash the way I should.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Van Morrison
2/5
Maybe this was original for the time? Sounds boring now.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Pixies
5/5
The Yardbirds
3/5
The Temptations
3/5
Willie Nelson
2/5
Maybe because this style has come back a bit with other artists like Bill Calahan (who does a much more interesting version), I found this quite boring.
Soul II Soul
3/5
Meat Loaf
3/5
Maybe I'll just never get it...
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Sade
3/5
System Of A Down
4/5
PJ Harvey
4/5
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Paul Weller
3/5
Barry Adamson
3/5
OutKast
3/5
Billy Bragg
4/5
Miles Davis
5/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
My 2nd favorite from them (Sister being first)
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Not my thing really, but it definitely has a vibe that I could see folks enjoying and it's well put together.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Wire
3/5
Sure, it's groundbreaking, but none of the songs really stand out.
Portishead
4/5
Nope.
The Auteurs
3/5
The Beau Brummels
3/5
Never heard of 'em. It was interesting at times.
Julian Cope
3/5
Hadn't listed to Julian Cope before. This is decent.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Hadn't listed to Julian Cope before. This is decent.
Tom Waits
3/5
Not sure I'll ever get Tom Waits
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
The Last Shadow Puppets
2/5
I lost interest pretty quickly.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Cool sounding record, but docking a point because I kept thinking of other bands while listening (Cure, Smiths, Gang of Four)
Miles Davis
5/5
Neu!
3/5
Aretha Franklin
3/5
David Gray
2/5
Boring
Pretenders
3/5
Anita Baker
3/5
The Who
4/5
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Got some NIN vibes on "Thoughts of You". Wonder if Trent Reznor listened to this a bunch
Billie Holiday
3/5
Iggy Pop
4/5
Miriam Makeba
4/5
Neil Young
4/5
Randy Newman
3/5
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Ian Dury
3/5
Weird. I guess I could see why this would be mentioned together with the Clash or whatever, but this is way stranger. Some OK tracks, but not sure I'm coming back to listen this one again.
Big Star
4/5
A lot of connective tissue here linking to 80's and 90's stuff. You have to assume Wilco was taking notes here (especially Holocaust), plus a bunch of other folks. Big Black Car is my favorite song.
The Cars
4/5
Dire Straits
3/5
Throbbing Gristle
3/5
Hamburger Lady is a true masterpiece. I appreciate this as an art piece, but not really a regular listening kind of thing.
The Fall
4/5
I don't mind this at all.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
It's good, but not as good as "If You're Feeling Sinister".
The Flaming Lips
2/5
I still don't get it. Theoretically all the parts of a great album, but it just doesn't jive with me. Maybe it's too optimistic for this cynic.
Burning Spear
3/5
Anthrax
2/5
Somehow I never really listened to Anthrax. The vocals are pretty off-putting to me.
Minutemen
5/5
Tom Waits
3/5
I actually like this one OK. It was entertaining. But I feel like the whole "live" conceit might not work as well on subsequent listens?
The Kinks
4/5
Dolly Parton
3/5
Circle Jerks
3/5
Not my favorite hardcore band. But it's short and sweet.
Bee Gees
3/5
Not at all what I was expecting. I may listen to this again. Who knows.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
It's a good one
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
Madness
2/5
I guess I'm a hipster since I much prefer the earlier Madness albums.
Garbage
3/5
I remembered a lot of these songs. Still not my favorite, but it's a cool time capsule.
Fela Kuti
3/5
Missy Elliott
3/5
Judas Priest
3/5
Common
3/5
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
The Birthday Party
4/5
Deranged and awesome
CHIC
3/5
Meh, I'll appreciate it for what it is, but probably not coming back to this one.
The Damned
4/5
Now I'm sad I haven't been listening to The Damned more all these years...
Steely Dan
3/5
I mean, I guess I can respect it for the execution? Maybe I'm still too young to "get" Steely Dan
Ray Price
3/5
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
The Prodigy
3/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Frank Sinatra
2/5
I just can't. Stuff like "Making Whoopee" is so cringey.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
Meh
Hugh Masekela
4/5
MGMT
2/5
Time to Pretend is an awesome time capsule. I just feel like this album doesn't hold up to repeated listens. There's no depth and the back half is so unremarkable.
Fugees
3/5
Morrissey
3/5
I think it's just OK. The "heavier" sound suits his voice on some of the tracks, but on others it just doesn't seem to come together.
David Bowie
3/5
I think I'll need to listen to it a few more times. It could grow on me.
David Bowie
3/5
Cat Stevens
3/5
Otis Redding
4/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
3/5
I guess, fine. It's like a slicker more pop-oriented version of later Radiohead?
Black Sabbath
3/5
Folks still ripping off the first track to this day. It's a cool album but I think Master of Reality is better.
David Ackles
2/5
I don't get it. Like an over the top Neil Diamond?
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
It's possible this was very influential. I bet it's better live.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Maps is a good one. Otherwise pretty standard dancy punk stuff. Kinda reminds me of Elastica.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Violent Femmes
4/5
Classic
Soft Cell
2/5
I mean, it's mostly pretty dumb...
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Janis Joplin
3/5
Hole
3/5
I figured I'd see one of their earlier albums here, not this one. But it's ok in the end...
Björk
3/5
Some interesting parts, but it doesn't seem to have aged particularly well, maybe?
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
k.d. lang
3/5
It's pleasant
Madonna
3/5
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
I remember enjoying this album a lot more when I first heard it. Might just be having a bad day today. I never made the comparison with Elliott Smith, but I hear a lot of similarities. This is pretty good. I'd come back to it again.
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
XTC
2/5
Some good tracks. But it's kinda weird overall. Never really got into a groove for me.
Air
4/5
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
Maxwell
2/5
Maybe just not my thing. The vibe was cool, but went on too long.
The Specials
3/5
Certainly not as catchy as their debut, but interesting still
Elastica
3/5
Taylor Swift
3/5
Paul Simon
4/5
Marianne Faithfull
4/5
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Now I see where Badly Drawn Boy got all his ideas. Also hearing Belle and Sebastian and even Dinosaur, Jr. It's an interesting album in its way, but I think it's too inconsistent and the good ideas come and go too quickly.
Brian Eno
3/5
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Blondie
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Not my favorite Cohen album...
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Talking Heads
4/5
CHIC
2/5
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Now I need to listing to more Keith Jarrett solo stuff. I love the piano sound, and reading the story of how this concert came together made it sound even better.
Fats Domino
3/5
Elis Regina
2/5
I actually really like her more "traditional" stuff. But this collection of songs I didn't really get into.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
T. Rex
4/5
Joan Baez
3/5
Grateful Dead
3/5
The Triffids
2/5
I don't see why this album is on this list... It's just so mediocre
Cream
1/5
Ugh. I hate this.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Beck
4/5
The Roots
4/5
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
Public Enemy
3/5
Stan Getz
4/5
Manu Chao
4/5
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Surprised I enjoyed this so much. I guess it's just a nice, calming album. I can see the through line to someone like Neko Case
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
A bit disappointed honestly. Other Bunnymen albums just stick with me more...
Stephen Stills
3/5
Elbow
3/5
The Fall
3/5
Not my favorite from them
Gorillaz
3/5
It's interesting enough. I never really got into this the first time around, but it's fine.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Beatles
3/5
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Radiohead
4/5
Gotan Project
3/5
it's pleasant enough. sort of background music, for some kind of overpriced beach bar?
Miles Davis
5/5
Yes
4/5
Small Faces
3/5
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
It's kind of a jazz rock thing, but definitely more poppy than, say, Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I think I like ELP more, but this sounds good and the instrumentation is great.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I've listened to this album a bunch over the years, and it's just "just alright" for me. I guess I'd rather listen to Jesus and Mary Chain instead?
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
The Sonics
3/5
Definitely a punchy sound. They got the rocking sound down. The songs are alright...
The Libertines
2/5
Not sure why this is on this list. It's fine, but it's just generic rock.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Slipknot
2/5
From my perspective, this was already a cliche when it came out...
The Pretty Things
3/5
Fugazi
5/5
Stone cold classic. Imitated by others, but never matched. Both grooves and shreds. And the lyrics are just as strong as the music.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
The Shamen
3/5
Actually pretty entertaining!
The Undertones
3/5
It reminds me a lot of the pop-punk/alternative stuff that would come later on, so extra points for being early/influential.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Cocteau Twins
5/5
The Soft Boys
4/5
Brian Wilson
2/5
I feel bad for asking, but is this a joke?
John Coltrane
4/5
Pt. II - Resolution is an absolute masterpiece
The Darkness
2/5
I don't see why I *have* to listen to this.
Slade
1/5
Lame. It just keeps going and going too...
808 State
3/5
Interesting to listen to this in close proximity to The Shamen, which I thought was more entertaining in the end. But this is a pretty solid 3 I guess.
Bob Dylan
3/5
His "singing" just gets so samey after a while. But the songs/lyrics are definitely strong.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
I like this well enough. Somehow I've never heard of them, though it fits right into the mid 90's techno evolution that Warp was a central part of - and I'm generally a fan of. It doesn't hit me the same as other high-profile albums from the same scene though.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Cool vibe. None of the songs really stand out though.
Duran Duran
3/5
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Pleasant enough, but sort of drifts into the background. I'd probably revisit down the road.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Definite Michael Jackson vibes on several of these tracks. It's catchy enough.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Alright... I'm sold. It's a classic.
Brian Eno
3/5
"The Big Ship" is one of my favorites for a long time. The rest of the album is just so weird and intriguing, but overall I think it settles as an average album for me. I come back to it every once in a while, but it doesn't quite click with me like Eno's ambient stuff does.
Megadeth
3/5
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Lou Reed
4/5
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
A bit plodding at times... almost like a doom metal album in a way. That works for some songs more than others.
Carole King
4/5
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Richard Thompson
4/5
Something very captivating about this for me. Definitely coming back to this one... I can see Songs: Ohia/Magnolia Electric Company flowing from this, amongst others.
Massive Attack
3/5
Mezzanine brings everything together just a little bit better in my opinion, but this is a very solid album.
M.I.A.
2/5
I really did think I would like this more... I remember listening to it a bit when it came out, but revisiting it now, I find it irritating. I think it can't decide what it wants to be. Is it it dance music? I think DJ/Uproot does something in the same vein much better.
To be fair, I did enjoy seeing M.I.A. live... but can't give bonus points for that, right?
Radiohead
3/5
Go To Sleep is my favorite track. The rest of it is good, but only just good.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
2/5
It's pleasant. Almost too pleasant, to the point where I don't really care about it. Not sure why this is on the list, since it so easily blends into the background.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Seems like a slightly better produced re-tread of Pyschocandy, which I still enjoy much more.
Blur
3/5
Metallica
3/5
Some stand-out classics on this album, but altogether it's just average for me.
Tom Waits
3/5
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
Maybe one day I'll understand
Baaba Maal
4/5
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
so much potential, but lost interest quickly
MC Solaar
4/5
Eels
2/5
Novocaine for the Soul doesn't save this otherwise unremarkable album. A much worse version of what Sparklehorse was doing around the same time.
White Denim
3/5
Mudhoney
3/5
The The
2/5
Just not into this one.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Culture Club
2/5
It's not really fair for me to evaluated since I'm not much of a fan of this type of thing. The standout track for me was not even on the original release: the Live version of Melting Pot...
Ice T
3/5
Primal Scream
3/5
I liked this better than Screamadelica. Sort of a Massive Attack vibe on some of the tracks (Kowalski). I guess I'll give it a 3, though I don't really understand why this is essential listening for 1997... It definitely sounds like an album FROM 1997, but is that enough?
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Not my favorite S&G but I won't say no to this one
Tim Buckley
3/5
Cypress Hill
3/5
Ash
1/5
Poppy alternative rock. Oasis, Jesus and Mary Chain (90s), etc. I don't see anything essential here, nor would I revisit the album. This was probably dated when it came out.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
The Charlatans
2/5
Another rehash of alternative/britpop/whatever, ala Oasis or Stone Roses. I wouldn't consider this essential.
Method Man
3/5
The Human League
3/5
Willie Nelson
4/5
Holger Czukay
2/5
I love Can, but this one didn't really do it for me. "Persian Love" is the highlight. This seems like it would have been more fun to make than to listen to.
Deep Purple
3/5
Janelle Monáe
3/5
Pentangle
3/5
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
Sex Pistols
3/5
It's held up better than I thought it would. Fun, but maybe a bit one-dimensional.
Fever Ray
4/5
I love the Knife more, but this is good stuff
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
I don't mind this, but I'd rather be listening to Guided By Voices
Lambchop
3/5
I appreciate the unique style, but I'm not sure I'd come back to this.
Klaxons
3/5
The Byrds
3/5
Funkadelic
4/5
Queen
3/5
Fun, high quality stuff. I think I just prefer the earlier, "rawer" version of Queen a bit more.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
It has merit. I liked it more than Sex Pistols which just popped up here a week ago, but I'll need to revisit this album again to be sure.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Still one of the most rockin' albums ever
Os Mutantes
3/5
It's pretty fun.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I love "Jamming". The album's good, but not my favorite Marley.
3/5
Eh. I know I should like it. I just wish it sounded better.
Aphex Twin
5/5
Stone classic. Infinitely re-listenable. Groundbreaking.
Louis Prima
3/5
Some real fun tracks here.
Tori Amos
3/5
Strong debut. Some of the songs are a bit goofy, but overall I didn't mind this one. Hoping to get some later career Tori on this list as I'm sure the sound matures a bit.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
I really enjoyed this.
Doves
3/5
I think I liked the first song the best. Pretty uneven album. The tone is pretty consistent, but some of the songs were pretty generic alt rock (in a bad way).
The Prodigy
3/5
Pearl Jam
4/5
I have more context for this album now than I did when I first starting listening to it in the 90s as a kid. Maybe it's not so groundbreaking after all, but it's still a good album to listen to.
3/5
I dunno man
Super Furry Animals
2/5
A true mishmash of everything on rock/pop radio in 2001. I loathed that stuff at the time, and I don't believe it's aged well.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I'd heard so much about this album. I hoped I'd like it more... It's fine. The singing style doesn't really vibe with me, but I like the music well enough.
Nick Drake
3/5
I love Pink Moon so much that it's hard to be fair to his other albums. This definitely doesn't stack up, but it's pleasant nonetheless.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
I'd definitely heard the Sweet Jane cover, but the whole thing is really nice. Really low key, gentle stuff. Not for every day, but for right now.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
This is fine... Flashes of interesting bits. 3 for effort, but I probably won't revisit it.
The Byrds
3/5
I might revisit this one.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
The Cardigans
4/5
Y'know, it's really not as bad as the single might suggest!
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Never heard of them, but it seems like it's right up my alley. A weird mix of alt-rock and Jesus Lizard and mumbled talk-singing. Nice low-end action. Giving it a 3 because it's not *all* strong, but I'll probably revisit this one.
Ute Lemper
3/5
One of the most aptly titled albums ever?
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Not my favorite Dino Jr. album
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
New Order
3/5
Favorite song was "All The Way", maybe because it sounds like the Cure?
Tom Tom Club
2/5
Man, these songs are LONG
The Pogues
3/5
Bert Jansch
4/5
Beatles
3/5
Beck
3/5
I like "Broken Drum". It's a solid album.
Buck Owens
4/5
I don't know why I like it, but I do. I guess it's just kinda fun.
Pere Ubu
3/5
It's got its highs and lows. Not as much fun as This Modern Dance, but I'd re-listen...
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Van Morrison
4/5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
It's ok... I liked their first album way more though.
Deep Purple
3/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Solid one
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
I liked disc 2, with all the instrumentals, much more
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Slayer
5/5
Hookworms
3/5
The Icarus Line
2/5
It kinda drags on... Cool sound, and I almost like it, but probably won't revisit.
The Adverts
3/5
Beastie Boys
3/5
Solomon Burke
3/5
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Stone classic. Everybody I know has a different favorite song from this album, and they're all right (mine's Gold Dust Woman).
Megadeth
3/5
David Crosby
4/5
Punches above its weight for me. Not quite sure why I like it, but I do. Maybe it's just the organic/imperfect sound.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Everybody raves about this album, which really makes me question if my dislike for this band (and this album in particular) is irrational. I just can't get into this stuff... Something about it being too relentlessly positive sounding?
The United States Of America
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I like this, but the intent and vision is so clear that the whole thing ends up feeling like a single track. Not something that's easy to come back to.
The Jam
3/5
It's fine. Maybe too much a sum of its influences, rather than standing on its own?
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Not one of my favorites...
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Paul Simon
4/5
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Probably great to see live, but I'm not revisiting this one.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Foo Fighters
3/5
It's a good first effort. A bit bland... but catchy enough.
Nirvana
5/5
Neil Young
4/5
Motörhead
4/5
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Hole
3/5
The mixing kinda sucks... The vocals seem isolated from the rest of it. I dunno, I think Pretty on the Inside is far superior.
Elliott Smith
3/5
It's still Elliott Smith under all of the unnecessary sheen, so it's still worth a listen. But not nearly as strong as XO or his earlier albums. Less is more...
Steve Winwood
2/5
ehhhh
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
I really hoped I'd like this more. It's weird, wild, wacky, even unhinged, but also never held my attention. Ideas come and go so quickly. Not off the train with JSBX; I'll try another album before giving up. But this one didn't do it for me.
As an aside, I like his side project Boss Hog way more...
AC/DC
4/5
Alright fine... The fact that every song on this is a massive, catchy hit. There must be something to it.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
1/5
Ah yes, the album with such stone classics as "Gang Bang" and "Giddy Up A Ding Dong". Listening to this made me stupider. This is easily the worst album on the list so far (about halfway through now).
Pixies
3/5
Morrissey
2/5
Not a fan of this one.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
Overall I might enjoy Evol and Sister more, but this is obviously a classic. It's less about the individual tracks. You just have to let the whole thing sprawl out in front of you.
Bill Callahan
3/5
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Laura Nyro
3/5
Paul Simon
3/5
The Cure
3/5
Pulp
3/5
Alice In Chains
4/5
Patti Smith
4/5
Emmylou Harris
3/5
It's fine, but probably not coming back to this one.
Crowded House
3/5
Orbital
3/5
Mike Oldfield
2/5
Much weirder than it needed to be. I had high hopes too.
Deee-Lite
2/5
If only it could all be as good as "Groove is in the Heart"...
Elvis Costello
3/5
sure, why not. this is fine, but could easily be replaced on this list and nobody would miss it.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
The Young Rascals
2/5
The title track is nice. The rest didn't really engage me much.
Blur
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Calexico
4/5
Ice Cube
3/5
Muddy Waters
3/5
The Doors
4/5
"The End" only gets better with age.
Rush
4/5
Marilyn Manson
5/5
Whatever your feelings on the guy himself, this album stands as an achievement.
Liz Phair
4/5
Wilco
3/5
The Cult
2/5
It's not that it's bad, it's that I just don't care... Not sure why it's on this list.
3/5
It's so hard to get past his "singing" style sometimes. I enjoyed the full-band stuff on the 2nd disc a bit more.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Not my favorite Tom Petty output, though American Girl is an obvious classic. Three stars because it's mercifully short.
Eminem
2/5
The first edgelord? He's a good rapper, but I didn't enjoy this.
Stereolab
4/5
The Verve
3/5
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
Kelela
3/5
The Pogues
4/5
Mercury Rev
3/5
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
Slint
5/5
Pulp
4/5
Suicide
2/5
I understand why it's influential and important, I just don't really want to listen to it...
The Avalanches
3/5
Pleasant. Maybe overly so... Barely a 3, but a 3.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Gene Clark
3/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
GZA
4/5
Digital Underground
2/5
A couple of highlights, but overall I was happy when this ended.
Bauhaus
3/5
This used to be my favorite Bauhaus. Maybe it still is, but it seems kinda whatever right now.
The Blue Nile
3/5
I liked "Heatwave". This is fine...
David Bowie
3/5
Air
3/5
I'm hoping Moon Safari and/or 1000 Hz are on this list, otherwise I'm not sure why they included this one... It's fine, but I don't think it's a must-listen.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Prefab Sprout
2/5
Meh
Minor Threat
4/5
Nick Drake
5/5
Thundercat
3/5
This isn't my favorite style of musical mashup, but I appreciate the musicianship and vibe.
Dirty Projectors
3/5
The Byrds
3/5
The Beta Band
4/5
Low key dig it.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Yep, this is definitely another Elvis Costello album.
The Youngbloods
3/5
Kinda whatever. I guess that's a 3?
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Jethro Tull
3/5
Daft Punk
4/5
The Sugarcubes
3/5
"Birthday" is the obvious highlight. A lot of ideas here, but uneven execution nets a 3. Hints of post-punk, Cocteau Twins and the other stuff going on in the early-to-mid 80's. Usually just my kind of thing, but this album just comes off as a bit thin in the end.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Rod Stewart
2/5
"You're My Girl" is a cool song. The only thing that might improve it would be removing Rod Steward from the equation (maybe no vocals at all??).
Not a Rod Stewart fan.
John Martyn
3/5
Prince
4/5
The Stooges
4/5
The songs are bangers, but wow the recording quality is just awful. I tried both mixes and they both seem wrong in different ways. Too bad...
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
2/5
Interesting... But not worth re-visiting.
2/5
Whiney and too long
Meat Puppets
4/5
Morrissey
3/5
I really had higher hopes for this listen through. Something just feels off about it.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Tim Buckley
3/5
Big Star
4/5
Leftfield
3/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
The The
4/5
The Verve
3/5
I liked the slower, less poppy songs much more. Overall it's just fine.
Justice
2/5
Not really connecting with this one. Started blending together after the first track.
R.E.M.
3/5
New Order
3/5
Wilco
5/5
It's the real deal
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
SZA
4/5
Mudhoney
3/5
3/5
Donovan
3/5
The hits are good, but the rest is pretty yawn inducing for me...
Radiohead
4/5
The Zombies
4/5
LTJ Bukem
4/5
I really enjoyed this. Very chill in a way that avoids being boring.
Kate Bush
3/5
The B-52's
3/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
This and Dirty might be the two most consistent Sonic Youth albums. It's a classic.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
2/5
I had to hunt this down on Youtube since it's not on Spotify (though the rest of the XTC albums are...). Pretty disappointing overall. Not sure what elevates this above other generic sounding pop rock.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Pretty and morose. Need to revisit it later for a fuller opinion. Definitely seems like a grower.
Peter Tosh
2/5
Not my favorite reggae album. Ketchy Shuby is fun.
Soundgarden
3/5
Spooooon Mannnnn
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Happy Mondays
3/5
Solange
4/5
Guns N' Roses
3/5
I get it, it's "important" or whatever. I just can't care.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Curious why this particular album of hers was the one included on the list. I've enjoyed her other stuff much more.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Orbital
3/5
Obviously "Halcyon and On and On" is a stone classic. Nothing else here is quite as good though this is still a solid early electronic album.
Faust
3/5
George Jones
3/5
I find it really, really hard to care about classic Country like this. But a bonus point for being well recorded.
The Stooges
4/5
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
I guess they're like a poppier Depeche Mode? This album isn't really doing it for me.
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
John Cale
4/5
The Coral
2/5
Korn
3/5
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Heaven 17
2/5
I think I don't get it.
k.d. lang
3/5
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Ministry
3/5
I assumed I wouldn't like this at all, but Ministry sure had something going in the late 80's/early 90's. Scare Crow was my favorite track.
X-Ray Spex
4/5
It's crazy how "fully formed" punk was from the start. This still sounds fresh. Hard to imagine Bikini Kill or Sleater-Kinney without this album. This might even be a better collection of songs than the best BK or SK albums...
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Highlights were Gin and Juice, Tha Shiznit and Murder was the Case
Robert Wyatt
3/5
I actually liked this well enough. It just doesn't seem "complete", almost like a lo-fi demo. That adds charm, but also means the whole thing kinda blends together.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Genesis
3/5
The Band
4/5
Fishbone
2/5
I think I like the individual parts of this album - ska, punk, metal - but it really hasn't aged well. Not a fan.
The Pharcyde
4/5
Fun Ride!
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
While groundbreaking/important, not really the most enjoyable listen. I do actually enjoy their later, more "musical" output!
Goldfrapp
3/5
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Actually my *least* favorite Cocteau Twins album. I agree with the band in describing it as "the worst album by a mile". I think the recording quality and simplicity of the effects really does the music a disservice.
Animal Collective
3/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
I think I like "All Hands on the Bad One" more, but this is still good.
The Cramps
3/5
Cool vibe, but it wears thin. Yet somehow many, many bands still tried to steal their thing. This is all about individual songs. As an album, it's average at best. "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" is my favorite.
Fiona Apple
4/5
The Fall
4/5
Not my first time listening to this, but I've never noticed before how much of Sonic Youth's poppier side comes straight from The Fall. I do enjoy this one, though most of the songs could be a bit shorter and still maintain their impact and aesthetic. That's to say, I like how the songs start, but once the themes have been established, they tend to drag on instead of maturing further.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Gary Numan
4/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
The Go-Betweens
4/5
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Worth it for the singles. A solid 3.
Radiohead
5/5
De La Soul
3/5
Arcade Fire
3/5
It's fine
Steve Earle
3/5
The xx
4/5
I don't mind that the songs kinda sound the same. Really chill stuff.
Aimee Mann
3/5
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Not really sure what to think here. It's not bad per se. Rounding a 2.5 up to 3 here...
Kings of Leon
2/5
Ugh
Happy Mondays
3/5
Fairport Convention
3/5
Venom
2/5
I know this album is influential (and Don't Burn the Witch is a real banger), but I'd rather be listening to Motorhead.
Pavement
4/5
I think every Pavement album except their last might have been my favorite Pavement album at some point. Right now, this one is my favorite.
Don McLean
3/5
Brian Eno
3/5
This is fine. I could see its influence on bands like Tortoise and such.
Iron Maiden
3/5
The Doors
3/5
Dr. John
3/5
Hard to imagine Tom Waits without this paving the way. Unfortunately I'm not a huge Waits fan either. This is cool, but probably not going for another listen. I enjoyed the Dr. John album from 2012!
Bob Dylan
3/5
I just can't with Dylan sometimes.
Def Leppard
3/5
It's definitely what it is, I'll give it that.
Barry Adamson
2/5
I don't really get it. The last track is nice. But it just seems like fragments of soundtracks to movies I wouldn't really like either.
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Tim Buckley
2/5
My least favorite Tim Buckley album so far
Supergrass
3/5
2Pac
3/5
Roxy Music
3/5
The Gun Club
3/5
I do revisit this album from time to time, but it might still be my least favorite from the Gun Club. All the pieces are here though.
KISS
2/5
Like Journey with makeup. Nobody will make me believe this band is good.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
My least favorite VU album... Sister Ray is really good though.
Faith No More
3/5
Everybody can probably find something they like here. But also something they really don't like... If we're talking pass/fail, this is a pass.
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Hard to be unbiased here, since I've listened to it so many times before. But this is an album I listen to at least twice a year, so it must be a 5.
Talking Heads
3/5
Not my favorite from them
Ryan Adams
3/5
It's nice, but seems so forgettable. I could imagine revisiting this one later on and seeing how much it sticks.
Skepta
2/5
Weather Report
3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Can
4/5
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Bad Brains
3/5
Man, just imagine how good some of these old SST records would sound if they were recorded better.
Jeff Beck
2/5
Great musicianship can't overcome my seemingly innate dislike of Rod Stewart. I also don't understand why this blues-derivative stuff gets so much representation on this list. No interest in revisiting this one.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
I just don't really get Zappa I guess. I like the irony, wit, and philosophy, but the music usually just sucks. Maybe you just had to be there? There are a couple cool tracks here, "Trouble Every Day" being my favorite, but for a double album there's gotta be more for this to be more than a 2.
Mike Ladd
3/5
Iron Maiden
3/5
The instrumental parts were my favorite. You can really hear how other metal bands (especially Metallica, with the instrumentals...) grew out from this. But wow, some of the vocals are pretty awful here. I'm not even a big fan of Bruce Dickinson, but man was he an improvement.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I disagree with the premise that every damn Elvis Costello album needs to be on this list. Y'all are making me feel like a crazy person. This album is boring!
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Simultaneously a homage to the past and ahead of its time. Where would The Cramps be without this? A whole genre was spawned from Evil Hearted Ada. Solid album. I think it earns its place on the list. Even if I might not return to it frequently. The Cramps were never my favorite thing either.
M.I.A.
3/5
The Magnetic Fields
4/5
The Thrills
1/5
This may be only my second 1 star review, 713 albums in... Ugh, I knew I was going to hate this after the first song. Just saying "Santa Cruz" over and over and over is not a song. Everything is just so contrived. They took all the worst lessons from 40 years of pop rock. This absolutely should not be on this list.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Common
3/5
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Tangerine Dream
3/5
I actually enjoyed the extended version. This is definitely "background" music, but it's crazy how fresh it sounds considering its age. This is closer to a classical music suite than a rock album, so it's hard to say what my favorite parts were.
Oasis
3/5
I figured this had to be on here. I guess it's better than a lot of the other britpop stuff on this list.
Suede
2/5
Getting this the day after Oasis's debut album puts things into perspective. This just sounds messy.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
King Crimson
2/5
Parts of it were cool. But parts of it were just... annoying
Killing Joke
4/5
It's crazy how fresh this still sounds, and how low-key influential it must have been
The Dictators
2/5
I'm usually all in on "proto-punk", but this is pretty boring -- and stupid.
Gillian Welch
3/5
Nirvana
4/5
Metallica
5/5
Not much to say here. One of the crowning achievements in the genre. Even if the drumming isn't great.
Sparks
3/5
The Monkees
3/5
Sabu
2/5
I feel like there's gotta be some other album(s) in the same genre that are more "must hear"
Travis
2/5
Can't bring myself to care about this
Depeche Mode
3/5
Violator is superior. This is pretty gothy and morose, though, which I like.
The Residents
3/5
Weird, but also weirdly fun.
R.E.M.
4/5
The Who
4/5
It's at least a 4 for Baba O'Reilly alone. The whole thing still sounds fresh.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
Lowkey
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
The Vines
2/5
Pixies
4/5
SAULT
3/5
TV On The Radio
4/5
The National
3/5
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
I mostly didn't like this, but there were a few songs (especially "Tooting Bec Wreck") that were interesting enough. I guess it's still punk enough that I'm not totally turned off.
Cornershop
3/5
This is fine. Lives in that 90's Beck-like world I guess. I don't think this is must-listen or anything, but I suppose it's a 3.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
I had much higher hopes for this. Listen, I love electronic music. Electronic music can be very repetitive. This is repetitive in a way that just grates, though. I'll give it a 3 just for being one of the bigger electronic groups to open up the gates, but just barely.
Hawkwind
3/5
I like it. I probably would have really enjoyed seeing this live. I don't think there's enough variety here for a double disc, but I think it's earned its place on the list. I'll probably have to revisit.
Ice Cube
3/5
3/5
This is far from my favorite X album. Hopefully this isn't the only X album on the list...
Gene Clark
3/5
3/5
Moby Grape
3/5
Ramones
4/5
The Bees
3/5
Pleasant, but pretty forgettable too
Beastie Boys
4/5
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
An interesting mix of African chill and straight-forward blues. I enjoyed it, but it kind of drifted into the background. I'd probably come back to this.
Sister Sledge
3/5
PJ Harvey
3/5
3/5
the hits are good, but the rest is meh
Paul McCartney
3/5
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
I liked the first track well enough. This doesn't make the grade for me otherwise.
Giant Sand
3/5
I probably need to give this another listen.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Suede
3/5
Certainly an ambitious album, which clearly owes a debt to Bowie. The problem is, I didn't really get into it...
The Police
3/5
The Beach Boys
2/5
Not really digging this one. The lyrics seem so forced, right?
4/5
You'd think an album that leads with an 18 minute song would definitely feel like a slog, but not even a little bit. And it still sounds fresh somehow. Well recorded. Listen to Close to the Edge and imagine where Mars Volta would be without them.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
Rockin'
Germs
3/5
It's not my favorite classic punk album, but it still rips.
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
I actually really like this. It doesn't necessarily seem like something that'd be on this list, but it's got that perfect mix of alt-rock, psych, shoegaze and Yo La Tengo that's right up my personal alley.
Beatles
3/5
I have a hard time caring about the Beatles sometimes. But this one has enough songs I like.
Björk
3/5
Turbonegro
3/5
Interesting to get this album soon after getting the Dandy Warhols. Both are late 90's albums that playfully mingle very established rock styles. But this one seems too formulaic and too reliant on just being "loud" or whatever.
U2
2/5
Isn't this the first bad U2 album? I certainly don't enjoy it.
Throwing Muses
3/5
I wasn't familiar with this even though I'm generally a fan of Throwing Muses. Just hadn't hear their earlier stuff, which isn't nearly as alt-rock as the later output. This is a pretty singular album, hard to describe. You can hear a ridiculous number of influences, to the point where you wonder if this album wasn't just the influence itself.
Pantera
4/5
I think most agree this is the best Pantera album. I suppose I agree.
Pavement
5/5
Sits alongside Bee Thousand as the "definitive" indie album. Hard to follow this one up, but they did it anyway!
Shack
3/5
Basically a perfect "C", which I guess rounds up to a 3?
William Orbit
3/5
It's pleasant, great for background music during work, and honestly, I'll probably listen to this again. But it doesn't really stand out, and the second half of the album just fades into obscurity.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Boards of Canada
5/5
One of my top 5 electronic albums of all time. Probably also a desert island record for me.
Tom Waits
3/5
I struggle with Waits. I don't feel like I'm getting it. Clap Hands is a great song though.
Devendra Banhart
4/5
I definitely hear Michael Gira's influence in the production. If you can tolerate Banhart's vocal affectations (I mostly can) and some hippy-dippy lyrics, this a really solid folk album.
The Temptations
3/5
Scissor Sisters
2/5
Ever wanted to know the Bee Gees' take on Comfortably Numb? No? Well here it is anyway, sorry.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
Not my favorite Wu-Tang-affiliated record, but it's fun enough.
Public Enemy
3/5
The Slits
3/5
Syd Barrett
2/5
Did not enjoy this one.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
It's fine. I'd listen to it again.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Shoot, I was hoping it was the other Elvis.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
The Stooges
4/5
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Finley Quaye
3/5
Alice Cooper
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Slipknot
3/5
Kings of Leon
2/5
Naw dog
Serge Gainsbourg
5/5
Air, Slint/For Carnation and many more owe a debt to this. Crazy. Really interesting and low-key groovy.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
It's OK. Kinda ska but not exactly?
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Björk
2/5
I appreciate the effort and concept, but didn't end up actually enjoying the result. Except "Who Is It", which is the most produced song on the album.
The Kinks
3/5
Billy Bragg
4/5
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Kinda cheesy, but also authentic. I don't mind it.
The Modern Lovers
4/5
Clearly a love letter to Velvet Underground, but this is pretty fun. Not a new album to me, but I think it could be considered a classic.
Prince
3/5
Beatles
4/5
Linkin Park
2/5
Linkin Park took literally everything I disliked about music in the year 2000 and combined into one awful, inauthentic amalgam. And it caught on so well that it appears on this list. God dammit.
Spiritualized
4/5
If you liked Spacemen 3, you'll probably like this. I did, and do.
The Saints
3/5
Grant Lee Buffalo
4/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
Kate Bush
4/5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Beach House
4/5
The Streets
3/5
Is Original Pirate Material on this list too? I enjoyed that one much more.
Neil Young
3/5
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Should I feel bad for enjoying this?
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
I remembered them vaguely. Didn't expect to enjoy the album. There's more to it than would seem.
3/5
I just can't seem to vibe with Blur. It's fine, but I don't really care.
The Band
4/5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
The Beta Band
3/5
This sits right between 3 and 4 stars for me. It's pretty slick. I think re-listen would likely push to 4, but initial impression is 3.
Beastie Boys
4/5
An obvious classic. Music for 13 year old boys, for sure.
Yes
4/5
I didn't realize I was such a Yes fan.
Massive Attack
4/5
Chill and enjoyable.
The Stranglers
3/5
Wasn't familiar with them previously. Sort of 77' punk meets The Cars? Proto-new wave? Not sure! It's solid enough though. Would listen again.
Hot Chip
3/5
It's fine... more duds than winners, but the winners are worth the price of admission. I added the stuff I liked to a "liked songs" playlist, but probably won't revisit the album.
Rush
4/5
Spiritualized
3/5
Spiritualized would go on to make better albums. This is a solid start.
Ride
4/5
The Replacements
4/5
Metallica
1/5
Nope, 3 songs in, won't do it. Pre-black-album Metallica is great, but this is pure wankery. Absolutely does not earn a spot on this list.
Dion
3/5
Probably need to give this one another spin some time. I liked the fuzzed out Phil Specter songs most.
Laibach
4/5
I really didn't expect to like this, but it led me on a deep dive that was quite fun. Fun being a pretty relative term here...
Neil Young
4/5
Depeche Mode
5/5
Was gonna give it 4 stars but my wife said it was 5.
Soft Machine
3/5
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
I liked the soundscapes and the intensity, but the vocals were a bit samey song to song.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Love
3/5
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Even Smiths/Morrisey and Echo and the Bunnymen can make me enjoy this one. Somehow it's a 5 when Belle and Sebastien do it. This just feels boring to me. Not bad, just boring.
Big Black
3/5
I always preferred Shellac. Passing Complexion and Kerosene are great. Fists of Love too I guess.
Beth Orton
3/5
Saint Etienne
3/5
Scritti Politti
3/5
I can appreciate the craft with really vibing with the end result. Even though it's not my favorite, I did a bit of a deep dive on Scritti Politti, and it seems I enjoyed their earlier post-punkish stuff a bit more.
Love
2/5
A couple of good garage rock songs. But the baroque stuff is just really not my thing. I enjoyed the other Love album on the list more.
Brian Eno
4/5
Talking Heads
3/5
I like the more beat-oriented, later versions of Talking Heads. This seems much closer to Television, which makes sense, but Television did this better.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
The Zutons
2/5
Meh.
John Martyn
3/5
I think I like it. Deserves another listen.
Kate Bush
3/5
David Bowie
3/5
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Deserves another listen.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
Definitely the most straightforward Sonic Youth album. One of my favorites too.
Scott Walker
3/5
DJ Shadow
3/5
I'm hot and cold on this album. It's probably between a 3 and 4, but today I'm feeling more negative.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
I didn't want to like this, but it's pretty rockin'.
Sepultura
4/5
The Only Ones
4/5
I read that The Replacements were big fans and even covered one of these songs. And that makes sense. But for me, it seems like the Violent Femmes couldn't possibly exist without this band. Also, 1998 by Rancid seems to have a lot of overlap with Language Problem here. But who knows, probably just a coincidence!
Anyway, this is actually really good.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
This is my least favorite from the Hüskers. They've clearly checked out on the band by the point, and were hardly working together to put together these songs. Does seeing this album on the list this mean New Day Rising, Flip Your Wig and Candy Apple Grey are also on the list? If not, somebody has made a grave error.
The Undertones
3/5
The Killers
2/5
Now I've listened to this
Butthole Surfers
4/5
Probably the least accessible collection of material from the Surfers. It's taken years for this to grow on me. You have to want it. What's helped me is to think of this as a soundtrack rather than a rock album.
Buzzcocks
4/5
Crazy how well-formed this is for a debut.
Talking Heads
3/5
Talk Talk
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Napalm Death
3/5
I guess this makes the list because it's the "first" grindcore album? There are many, many better grindcore albums (from Napalm Death, Assuck, Discordance Axis, Nasum, Brutal Truth and others).
Even as a fan of the genre and extreme music in general, it's hard to ignore how difficult this is to listen to simply because of the poor production. Was this recorded in a garbage disposal?
With so little extreme metal being represented on the list, it's a shame that this is the pick simply because it was first. It can be done so much better.
4 for influence. 2 for enjoyment. I guess that makes a 3.