I guess I'll never get Genesis. It's so goofy sounding, but not in a fun way like Rush or Yes or whatever.

Now I'm sad I haven't been listening to The Damned more all these years...

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).

Like a poppier, bouncier X?

"Not Fade Away" is the standout track

Not at all what I was expecting. Kind of a weird album, really. Strangely catchy. That voice!

Not even my 2nd favorite Clash album...

Much dirtier than I remembered. Too many "interludes". Wasn't my thing as a kid, and still isn't I guess...

I like it! Now I'm wishing I would have been a raver in the mid 90s...

Maybe I've just heard some of these songs too many times to care anymore?

Good recording quality, at least? Not sure I'd ever listen to this again.

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.

Interesting to listen to this right after Radiohead. Definitely a through-line between them. This isn't my favorite Kraftwerk album though...

Meh, probably not coming back to this one ever again... Parts of it come off as a parody album somehow. I'm very confused.

Some really nice tracks, but a bit meandering at times.

It's fine.

Right up my alley. I feel like I probably should have heard "Shot By Both Sides" before, but I don't recognize it.

Wanted Dead or Live is pretty good

It's got it all

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?

Great album, fun songs, just always found the production a bit thin :/

meh. I like Iggy and all, but this is more just a bad Bowie album.

I wanted to be more interested...

My least favorite S&G...

Still raw and impactful after 40 years.

I listened to the whole damn thing.

Interesting to put Come on Eileen in context. It fits right in with the album, though.

well constructed, but not really my thing

Dance punk!

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".

"It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" might have converted me to a Dylan fan

Nice!

I feel like the 2nd half drags a bit. First track is awesome!

love how much the lyrical imagery seems to clash with the style. how is this from 1968?

I'm a fan!

I'm sure there's something here, but can't really get past the cheese factor.

I've enjoyed other albums of his more... A double album is a lot to ask.

Meh. Feel like I didn't *have* to hear this one before I die.

I really liked the sound, but it stayed a little too "low key" to engage.

meh

I appreciate it, but I don't enjoy it.

Listening through this whole thing was a slog... I used to love Dire Straits.

This was actually pretty decent

Hard to argue with, I guess. Well put together, lots of hits. But I'd rather listen to Tom Petty...

I'm sure my devotion to Minutemen is biasing my rating a bit, but this is a pretty fun listen.

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.

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.

Man, I just can't with early Beatles stuff. It's just a bad Motown impression.

Andy Warhol and Queen Bitch are my favorites

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.

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...

I have to admit the first half is pretty strong. Kinda falls off a bit though towards the end.

It's fine. Kinda blended into the background. Not bad music to work to!

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!

meh

I guess I'll never get Genesis. It's so goofy sounding, but not in a fun way like Rush or Yes or whatever.

I guess this is my favorite Springsteen album so far. Not generally a fan, but the stripped back style sounds OK to me.

A more psychedelic Who. Kinda all over the place, which I guess was the point. But it kinda ruined the flow for me.

Once again Van Halen woos me with awesome guitar licks despite awful lyrical content.

Pretty cool

Man, I used to love it. I guess it's aged ok...

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.

it's pretty long. i remember enjoying it the first time i listened, but repeated listens seem to drag a bit

the title song is obviously great, but i wouldn't come back to this just because of one song

Weird.

Nice! Never listened to the whole thing before. It's heavy!

Not my favorite R.E.M. album, but still solid all the way through.

Awesome!

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?

Really well recorded. Some great tracks, but it blends together a bit.

I don't know. I started out liking it, but this just isn't my thing for a whole album's worth.

Weird coincidence with the passing of Queen E?

I listened a couple times. It sounds pretty cool...

Meh, probably never coming back to this one

Whatever... it's fine.

Man, I really don't care about this at all.

This one didn't do it for me. And I liked Perfect Prescription a fair bit...

I really hoped I'd enjoy this more. I just don't think I'll ever "get" Johnny Cash the way I should.

Maybe this was original for the time? Sounds boring now.

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.

Maybe I'll just never get it...

My 2nd favorite from them (Sister being first)

Not my thing really, but it definitely has a vibe that I could see folks enjoying and it's well put together.

Sure, it's groundbreaking, but none of the songs really stand out.

Nope.

Never heard of 'em. It was interesting at times.

Hadn't listed to Julian Cope before. This is decent.

Hadn't listed to Julian Cope before. This is decent.

Not sure I'll ever get Tom Waits

I lost interest pretty quickly.

Cool sounding record, but docking a point because I kept thinking of other bands while listening (Cure, Smiths, Gang of Four)

Boring

Got some NIN vibes on "Thoughts of You". Wonder if Trent Reznor listened to this a bunch

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.

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.

Hamburger Lady is a true masterpiece. I appreciate this as an art piece, but not really a regular listening kind of thing.

I don't mind this at all.

It's good, but not as good as "If You're Feeling Sinister".

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.

Somehow I never really listened to Anthrax. The vocals are pretty off-putting to me.

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?

Not my favorite hardcore band. But it's short and sweet.

Not at all what I was expecting. I may listen to this again. Who knows.

It's a good one

I guess I'm a hipster since I much prefer the earlier Madness albums.

I remembered a lot of these songs. Still not my favorite, but it's a cool time capsule.

Deranged and awesome

Meh, I'll appreciate it for what it is, but probably not coming back to this one.

Now I'm sad I haven't been listening to The Damned more all these years...

I mean, I guess I can respect it for the execution? Maybe I'm still too young to "get" Steely Dan

I just can't. Stuff like "Making Whoopee" is so cringey.

Meh

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.

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.

I think I'll need to listen to it a few more times. It could grow on me.

I guess, fine. It's like a slicker more pop-oriented version of later Radiohead?

Folks still ripping off the first track to this day. It's a cool album but I think Master of Reality is better.

I don't get it. Like an over the top Neil Diamond?

It's possible this was very influential. I bet it's better live.

Maps is a good one. Otherwise pretty standard dancy punk stuff. Kinda reminds me of Elastica.

Classic

I mean, it's mostly pretty dumb...

I figured I'd see one of their earlier albums here, not this one. But it's ok in the end...

Some interesting parts, but it doesn't seem to have aged particularly well, maybe?

It's pleasant

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.

Some good tracks. But it's kinda weird overall. Never really got into a groove for me.

Maybe just not my thing. The vibe was cool, but went on too long.

Certainly not as catchy as their debut, but interesting still

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.

Not my favorite Cohen album...

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.

I actually really like her more "traditional" stuff. But this collection of songs I didn't really get into.

I don't see why this album is on this list... It's just so mediocre

Ugh. I hate this.

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

A bit disappointed honestly. Other Bunnymen albums just stick with me more...

Not my favorite from them

It's interesting enough. I never really got into this the first time around, but it's fine.

it's pleasant enough. sort of background music, for some kind of overpriced beach bar?

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.

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?

Definitely a punchy sound. They got the rocking sound down. The songs are alright...

Not sure why this is on this list. It's fine, but it's just generic rock.

From my perspective, this was already a cliche when it came out...

Stone cold classic. Imitated by others, but never matched. Both grooves and shreds. And the lyrics are just as strong as the music.

Actually pretty entertaining!

It reminds me a lot of the pop-punk/alternative stuff that would come later on, so extra points for being early/influential.

I feel bad for asking, but is this a joke?

Pt. II - Resolution is an absolute masterpiece

I don't see why I *have* to listen to this.

Lame. It just keeps going and going too...

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.

His "singing" just gets so samey after a while. But the songs/lyrics are definitely strong.

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.

Cool vibe. None of the songs really stand out though.

Pleasant enough, but sort of drifts into the background. I'd probably revisit down the road.

Definite Michael Jackson vibes on several of these tracks. It's catchy enough.

Alright... I'm sold. It's a classic.

"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.

A bit plodding at times... almost like a doom metal album in a way. That works for some songs more than others.

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.

Mezzanine brings everything together just a little bit better in my opinion, but this is a very solid album.

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?

Go To Sleep is my favorite track. The rest of it is good, but only just good.

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.

Seems like a slightly better produced re-tread of Pyschocandy, which I still enjoy much more.

Some stand-out classics on this album, but altogether it's just average for me.

Maybe one day I'll understand

so much potential, but lost interest quickly

Novocaine for the Soul doesn't save this otherwise unremarkable album. A much worse version of what Sparklehorse was doing around the same time.

Just not into this one.

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...

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?

Not my favorite S&G but I won't say no to this one

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.

Another rehash of alternative/britpop/whatever, ala Oasis or Stone Roses. I wouldn't consider this essential.

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.

It's held up better than I thought it would. Fun, but maybe a bit one-dimensional.

I love the Knife more, but this is good stuff

I don't mind this, but I'd rather be listening to Guided By Voices

I appreciate the unique style, but I'm not sure I'd come back to this.

Fun, high quality stuff. I think I just prefer the earlier, "rawer" version of Queen a bit more.

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.

Still one of the most rockin' albums ever

It's pretty fun.

I love "Jamming". The album's good, but not my favorite Marley.

Eh. I know I should like it. I just wish it sounded better.

Stone classic. Infinitely re-listenable. Groundbreaking.

Some real fun tracks here.

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.

I really enjoyed this.

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).

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.

I dunno man

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.

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.

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.

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.

This is fine... Flashes of interesting bits. 3 for effort, but I probably won't revisit it.

I might revisit this one.

Y'know, it's really not as bad as the single might suggest!

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.

One of the most aptly titled albums ever?

Not my favorite Dino Jr. album

Favorite song was "All The Way", maybe because it sounds like the Cure?

Man, these songs are LONG

I like "Broken Drum". It's a solid album.

I don't know why I like it, but I do. I guess it's just kinda fun.

It's got its highs and lows. Not as much fun as This Modern Dance, but I'd re-listen...

It's ok... I liked their first album way more though.

Solid one

I liked disc 2, with all the instrumentals, much more

It kinda drags on... Cool sound, and I almost like it, but probably won't revisit.

Stone classic. Everybody I know has a different favorite song from this album, and they're all right (mine's Gold Dust Woman).

Punches above its weight for me. Not quite sure why I like it, but I do. Maybe it's just the organic/imperfect sound.

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?

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.

It's fine. Maybe too much a sum of its influences, rather than standing on its own?

Not one of my favorites...

Probably great to see live, but I'm not revisiting this one.

It's a good first effort. A bit bland... but catchy enough.

The mixing kinda sucks... The vocals seem isolated from the rest of it. I dunno, I think Pretty on the Inside is far superior.

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...

ehhhh

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...

Alright fine... The fact that every song on this is a massive, catchy hit. There must be something to it.

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).

Not a fan of this one.

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.

It's fine, but probably not coming back to this one.

Much weirder than it needed to be. I had high hopes too.

If only it could all be as good as "Groove is in the Heart"...

sure, why not. this is fine, but could easily be replaced on this list and nobody would miss it.

The title track is nice. The rest didn't really engage me much.

"The End" only gets better with age.

Whatever your feelings on the guy himself, this album stands as an achievement.

It's not that it's bad, it's that I just don't care... Not sure why it's on this list.

It's so hard to get past his "singing" style sometimes. I enjoyed the full-band stuff on the 2nd disc a bit more.

Not my favorite Tom Petty output, though American Girl is an obvious classic. Three stars because it's mercifully short.

The first edgelord? He's a good rapper, but I didn't enjoy this.

I understand why it's influential and important, I just don't really want to listen to it...

Pleasant. Maybe overly so... Barely a 3, but a 3.

A couple of highlights, but overall I was happy when this ended.

This used to be my favorite Bauhaus. Maybe it still is, but it seems kinda whatever right now.

I liked "Heatwave". This is fine...

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.

Meh

This isn't my favorite style of musical mashup, but I appreciate the musicianship and vibe.

Low key dig it.

Yep, this is definitely another Elvis Costello album.

Kinda whatever. I guess that's a 3?

"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.

"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.

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...

Interesting... But not worth re-visiting.

Whiney and too long

I really had higher hopes for this listen through. Something just feels off about it.

I liked the slower, less poppy songs much more. Overall it's just fine.

Not really connecting with this one. Started blending together after the first track.

It's the real deal

The hits are good, but the rest is pretty yawn inducing for me...

I really enjoyed this. Very chill in a way that avoids being boring.

This and Dirty might be the two most consistent Sonic Youth albums. It's a classic.

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.

Pretty and morose. Need to revisit it later for a fuller opinion. Definitely seems like a grower.

Not my favorite reggae album. Ketchy Shuby is fun.

Spooooon Mannnnn

I get it, it's "important" or whatever. I just can't care.

Curious why this particular album of hers was the one included on the list. I've enjoyed her other stuff much more.

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.

I find it really, really hard to care about classic Country like this. But a bonus point for being well recorded.

I guess they're like a poppier Depeche Mode? This album isn't really doing it for me.

I think I don't get it.

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.

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...

Highlights were Gin and Juice, Tha Shiznit and Murder was the Case

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.

I think I like the individual parts of this album - ska, punk, metal - but it really hasn't aged well. Not a fan.

Fun Ride!

While groundbreaking/important, not really the most enjoyable listen. I do actually enjoy their later, more "musical" output!

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.

I think I like "All Hands on the Bad One" more, but this is still good.

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.

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.