Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
613
Albums Rated
3.16
Avg Rating
20
5-Star Albums
56%
Complete
476 albums remaining
Rating Speed
3.8
Per Week
1142
Days Active
Reviews
472
Written
77%
Review Rate
vs Global
-0.06
Avg Diff
3.16
Avg Rating
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How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1970s
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Balanced
Rater Style
5
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scissor Sisters | 5 | 3.23 | +1.77 |
| There's A Riot Goin' On | 5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
| If I Should Fall From Grace With God | 5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
| American Gothic | 4 | 2.49 | +1.51 |
| Arrival | 5 | 3.49 | +1.51 |
| The Wildest! | 5 | 3.54 | +1.46 |
| Darkdancer | 4 | 2.58 | +1.42 |
| Moon Safari | 5 | 3.58 | +1.42 |
| The Number Of The Beast | 5 | 3.59 | +1.41 |
| Transformer | 5 | 3.67 | +1.33 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Light / White Heat | 1 | 2.88 | -1.88 |
| Suicide | 1 | 2.46 | -1.46 |
| Locust Abortion Technician | 1 | 2.39 | -1.39 |
| Nevermind | 3 | 4.37 | -1.37 |
| Red Headed Stranger | 2 | 3.35 | -1.35 |
| The Downward Spiral | 2 | 3.34 | -1.34 |
| The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady | 2 | 3.32 | -1.32 |
| Queens of the Stone Age | 2 | 3.29 | -1.29 |
| Trout Mask Replica | 1 | 2.28 | -1.28 |
| Fun House | 2 | 3.28 | -1.28 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4 | 3.63 |
5-Star Albums (20)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Incredible String Band
2/5
Mumford and Sons meets Belle & Sebastian, a sitar player, Nico, an 18th century sailor & Bob Dylan. I don't need to listen to again but not unlistenable. Actually went on a bit.
2 likes
Barry Adamson
2/5
Barry's lucky I got past track 1 which made feel like I was in a modern art museum looking at an art installation of a traffic cone. It got better, if you like cop themes, but, sorry Barry, my dinner was ready so I turned you off for Gogglebox.
1 likes
4-Star Albums (119)
1-Star Albums (5)
All Ratings
3/5
Otis Redding
3/5
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
The Who
3/5
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Fiona Apple
2/5
3/5
Incubus
4/5
Brian Eno
3/5
Portishead
2/5
Lorde
3/5
Nirvana
3/5
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
The Beach Boys
3/5
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
Frank Zappa
3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
The Temptations
4/5
3/5
Sepultura
3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
Iron Maiden
5/5
XTC
3/5
3/5
The Fall
3/5
Laura Nyro
4/5
Dolly Parton
4/5
Eminem
3/5
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Eels
4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
The Band
4/5
Moby
3/5
OutKast
3/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Pink Floyd
4/5
a-ha
4/5
The Who
4/5
The Black Crowes
4/5
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
The Waterboys
3/5
Spiritualized
3/5
Mekons
3/5
Michael Jackson
3/5
Cheap Trick
3/5
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
The United States Of America
3/5
Aerosmith
3/5
Scott Walker
3/5
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
Missy Elliott
3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aerosmith
3/5
The Byrds
3/5
Kanye West
4/5
Could listen to again. Not that Google speaker will let me listen to anything other than the instrumental version.
David Crosby
3/5
Donovan
3/5
Joy Division
4/5
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Björk
2/5
The White Stripes
3/5
Suicide
1/5
The Electric Prunes
3/5
TV On The Radio
3/5
Jeff Beck
3/5
Primal Scream
3/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
John Grant
3/5
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Iron Maiden
3/5
Joan Baez
2/5
Grateful Dead
4/5
Lauryn Hill
3/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Unremarkable
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
60s
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Prog
B.B. King
3/5
Bluesy
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Fela Kuti
3/5
Funky jamz. Goes on a bit though.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Ones I didn't know were pretty slow. Still d i s c o. How do so many reviewers not like disco?!
Jungle Brothers
3/5
More de la soul esque hip hop. Should listen to the lyrics it seems. As usual.
The Undertones
4/5
The Young Rascals
4/5
Norah Jones
3/5
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Nick Drake
4/5
I feel like this was always in my Q magazine albums to listen to. Long time getting round to it. Pleasant. Flutey. Where Hazy Jane beer is named from?! Thought I didn't like the end but turns out it was auto playing something else that I didn't like
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Femi Kuti
3/5
Babity fun, but went on a bit. Better than modern 'afrobeat'
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
The Zombies
3/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Pavement
3/5
Rod Stewart
3/5
Orbital
3/5
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Not as good as previous SW offering
Fiona Apple
3/5
About a bajillion times more listenable than FA's bolt cutter one
Love
4/5
Have it, so am biased
The Jam
4/5
Not sure I've actually listened to The Jam before 😮 oh hi Taxman. Can see where Bloc Party got their inspiration from.
Ray Charles
3/5
Metallica
3/5
They take themselves seriously, don't they?
Ash
4/5
90s nostalgia bias
Funkadelic
3/5
Pearl Jam
4/5
Dire Straits
3/5
Thought I was going to have heard all these already when it started. The ones I hadn't weren't memorable. Did not know about the controversial version of MFN!
Fats Domino
3/5
Parp! Toot!
Depeche Mode
3/5
All in a minor key
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
Country music. I have no idea what distinguishes one country album / artist from another
R.E.M.
3/5
Common
3/5
Much more melodic than the music the guy at the back of the bus was playing yesterday.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
I've come back to this to fill in gaps to find a very much recognise that cover and have obviously already 'done' this one. Presumably it made no impact. Therefore don't know if it should be 2 or 3.
Prince
4/5
Still not sure I get the fuss about the song purple rain, but funky album, feel like I knew most of the tracks already. Always meant to listen to more Prince.
The Offspring
3/5
Would be nostalgic if I had listened to it in my youth.
Gang Of Four
3/5
Punky
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Jolly background
Talking Heads
3/5
Considered chaos
AC/DC
3/5
Should probably listen again properly
Happy Mondays
3/5
Unremarkable
Arrested Development
3/5
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
FUNkier than expected
John Coltrane
3/5
Babbidy babbidy
Ray Charles
3/5
The Velvet Underground
1/5
Can confidently say I never need listen to this again
Suede
3/5
Didn't like Suede in the 90s, still don't like them in the 20s
Talking Heads
3/5
Less chaotic than the other Talking Heads album. I didn't know they were from the 70s.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Violin pop
Motörhead
3/5
The xx
3/5
Minimalistic
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Reading the other reviews suggests I should get something out of listening to the lyrics but I'm not capable. Also not capable on commenting on the apparently superior production. The tunes are fine.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Good apart from the slow ones & the one with the Casio voice affect
Jane's Addiction
3/5
The Youngbloods
4/5
Quite nice. Inoccuous.
Butthole Surfers
1/5
A pleasant surprise in that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but still pretty bloody awful.
fIREHOSE
3/5
Yeah fine
Les Rythmes Digitales
4/5
Electro pop goodness, what's not to like? Would have perhaps been super into it when came out, if I had been aware of it. That said, wouldn't say it's stand out above other electro of the era like Daft Punk or Timo Maas
Lou Reed
5/5
Biased cos own it
Jethro Tull
3/5
Tooty flooty
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Somewhat repetitive but better than the last LCD Soundsystem album i bought for £3 in Fopp. I miss Fopp.
The Beach Boys
3/5
I wanted to like it more cos Beach Boys & 'Til I Die but nothing else grabbed me that much.
David Bowie
3/5
One day I'm going to 'get' David Bowie but this isn't the album to do it. Fine. Why are there only 4 reviews? 🤔
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Janet Jackson
3/5
Tears For Fears
3/5
Tears for Fears is a funny name isn't it
Radiohead
4/5
See i know this is supposedly amazing, but there's no denying it's depressing. Much prefer their bleepy bloopy. 4 for familiarity.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Boring actually. Every song sounds the same.
Public Enemy
3/5
Yet another that maybe I would 'get' if I listened to the lyrics
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
I wanted to like it but not for me
Elbow
4/5
Could listen to again
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
60s
JAY Z
3/5
He likes girls. He could sell water to a well. He's the sinatra of his day. Funky sample use.
David Bowie
4/5
Glam rock
The Who
3/5
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Weird how familiar that album cover is considering I've never listened to it. I thought maybe I'd never listened to it because I didn't like them but I guess it was more just the restrictive price of cds and means of music sharing in 1996. And the fact that I wasn't indie enough. No beef with sfa.
CHIC
3/5
Bit disappointing actually, bit too slow to feel like disco bangers. Still funky though.
N.W.A.
3/5
Defo dubious lyrically, but can't deny the funky samples.
Pavement
3/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Quite liked that.
The Mars Volta
3/5
Pixies
3/5
Quite noisy
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Max said sounded like hotel bar music and I'm inclined to agree. But maybe context is everything and I should listen to it when not in a hotel bar.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Babbety.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Quite liked some of the wafty moments. Otherwise a bit noisy
The Fall
3/5
Seems to be divisive, but not awful, there's a lot worse on this list. The 'singing' style reminds of a current band or 2 that I forget the name of.
Richard Hawley
3/5
I thought I had this album in the past but must have been a different Richard Hawley one. I prefer the other one. Rip Coles.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Talking Heads
3/5
Sad the album tracks weren't called 'macaroni cheese' and 'Kettering town hall'
Solomon Burke
3/5
A pleasant listen
James Taylor
3/5
The Specials
3/5
Beach House
4/5
Nice
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
Had heard the band name but that was it and don't think I was expecting melodic indie. Apparently I like bands / albums with 'teen' in them.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
Definitely expecting more whimsy from such a named band
The Slits
3/5
Made no impression
R.E.M.
3/5
Just REM
Ice T
3/5
He's a hustler
George Michael
3/5
Peaks at the title (first) track for me. A bit lounge musicky
Aphex Twin
4/5
Always avoided because I assumed it would be noise but turns out it is literally what it says on the cover & very much my genre of bleepy bloopy. Also, turns out he's my boss boss boss boss boss' brother - tenuous celebrity connection?!
Green Day
5/5
Familiarity bias
Stereolab
3/5
Another band heard of but never knew what they were about. Turns out partly French.
John Lennon
3/5
Thought I'd be nostalgia biased but no actually. And his voice really isn't that great. Still really like Oh Yoko though, what a ditty.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Humpty Dumpty was a big fat egg. Shouty. Funky. Samples.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Not for me
The Verve
3/5
Never really liked the verve, still don't. Obvious parallels with other moany overblown music of the same era.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Seems i should have listened to lyrics. Not as avant garde as I thought it might be
Justice
3/5
King Crimson
3/5
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Def Leppard
4/5
Fun cock rock
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Plinkety
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Mercury Rev
3/5
Elliott Smith
3/5
Dolly Parton
4/5
Turns out I like dolly and country. Prefer the jingle jangles to the ballads but I got played a lot extra so not sure what's on album
TLC
3/5
Very rnb. Cover is so familiar even though I never owned it.
Korn
2/5
I think he thinks he's a freak? The Linkin / System side of me doesn't find this as bad as I thought I would. The singing not exactly melodic but the riffs are OK. The lyrics not the most savoury but enjoy 'warm as a mitten' in a sexual context.
Pink Floyd
2/5
Drugs much? Wouldn't listen to again
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Average. Would it get any kudos if it wasn't an ex beatle?
Fishbone
3/5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
What the the fuck is this shit? Made a bad mood a million times worse.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Would like to listen again. Had some definite bops.
AC/DC
5/5
Wall to wall bangers 🤘
Bobby Womack
3/5
Boom chicca waah
George Harrison
4/5
Pleasantly there
Public Enemy
3/5
Green Day
3/5
The Smiths
4/5
Did everyone get this album today?!?!?
Carpenters
3/5
Nice
Sonic Youth
2/5
Dirge
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Even reading the lyrics I didn't get what was going on. Smoking spliff, hos, the usual. Don't get the hype but enjoy the beat.
Taylor Swift
3/5
Cosy. Would listen to again in front of open fire. Found the cover pleasantly evocative
3/5
Aimee Mann
3/5
Dawson's Creek vibez
Metallica
3/5
Kelela
3/5
Was willing to give a 3 at first but somewhat boring
Pretenders
3/5
The Gun Club
2/5
Meh
Everything But The Girl
2/5
More bland lounge music. These guys would be nothing without Todd Terry.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
SAULT
3/5
3/5
Dug out a mini disc for this, therefore familiarity bias. The riffs save it over 'singing' or lyrics
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
For max
Nirvana
3/5
It's fine. I guess you had to be there.
Q-Tip
3/5
Fine. No real impact.
MGMT
3/5
I was OBSESSED with the song Kids, even went to see them live and have CD. I think the singles are the hits though. They look annoying on the cover.
Beatles
4/5
Finally, after umpteen Beastie Boys and Talking Heads, my first Beatles! Familiarity bias. Even Yellow Submarine.
2Pac
3/5
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Made no impression
System Of A Down
3/5
If I didn't already like SOAD I would doubtless declare this to be noise. But I do so I didn't.
Aerosmith
3/5
I think this was preferable to the previous Aerosmith albums
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2/5
Only so much bluegrass I can take
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Blondie
5/5
Was mad into this when I first discovered it (2005?). Not a duff track.
New York Dolls
3/5
The Verve
3/5
Got the cassette out. Not sure why I've got it as never liked it much. I guess I didn't know until I had it.
David Bowie
3/5
Kate Bush
4/5
Familiarity bias. I hope Aerial is on the list, 'washing macheeeen...'
Nina Simone
3/5
I felt cool
Beatles
5/5
Vinyl on the radiogram. It is good, isn't it.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Would probably listen again which I guess makes it a 4?
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
Wobble board.
Black Sabbath
3/5
No impact
Bon Jovi
4/5
Enjoyed the inane rhyming.
Big Star
3/5
Made no impression
The Cure
3/5
I like their greatest hits but his voice is a bit annoying here
Hole
4/5
Pleasant surprise. Was expecting whining and against but melodic and enjoyable.
The Stone Roses
4/5
I'd forgotten I'd got this on cd. My bro gave it a couple of Christmas ago and actually I think I thought it was the greatest hits... Which I guess says it all. I was underwhelmed then, but this time was a good listen.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Would listen again.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Crumbs & butter
Beyoncé
2/5
I've never got the Beyoncé hype. The hype makes me give this rating. Agree with the other reviews about product not person.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Not as whacky or obnoxious as I expected, quite holiday vibez actually. The original round the outside, round the outside!
The National
4/5
I seem to like this. I think because it's of the 2010s type of indie that I liked then - Editors, Bloc Party et al. Waiting for buses in the dark.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Sounds like a good gig!
The Damned
3/5
Classic authentico 70s punk
Big Black
3/5
I shouldn't like this, it's quite noisy & shouty and yet there must be enough underlying melody to get away with it. The lyrics would probably make the difference between 2 & 3, however I can't discern them.
The Kinks
3/5
Sounded like The Kinks
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Fine. Maybe I missed something. Reggae not my fave though.
PJ Harvey
2/5
Atonal anguish, I'm just not cool enough to enjoy this
Linkin Park
4/5
Familiarity bias. Could have sworn Numb was on this album.
Bee Gees
3/5
Partial all to all Bee Gees genres
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Pleasant enough rnb. Not sure specifically why on list?
Buzzcocks
3/5
Generic 70s punk
Pink Floyd
3/5
Turns out it's a musical?!
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
SWAAAAMP BUSNESS
Pixies
4/5
Like a greatest hits. It remains my life goal to shout Debaser at karaoke.
Gang Starr
3/5
90s hip hop is vastly superior to modern
The Pharcyde
3/5
Like De La Soul but not as good
Metallica
4/5
Ridiculously epic. I never realised what this album was (as in with an orchestra). It's long though.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Adele
3/5
I know she's good. It must doesn't grab me, I don't need to listen to again.
3/5
Backgroundy, loungy, pleasant enough. The music that auto played after soothed me into a nap.
Erykah Badu
3/5
Slinky jazz soul rnb which just got me 6 points on popmaster
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
The tunes are jolly, but is he flat?
Air
5/5
Familiarity bias. Much use of this as falling asleep music in my youth. Still great. Remember still the worst track, the Beach Boys sample just doesn't work for me.
Finley Quaye
3/5
One of those 90s album covers that is super familiar even though I never owned it. Turns out it's packed with familiar singles too. Surely his voice is cultural appropriation? I'm not sure specifically why this is on the list.
Paul Simon
3/5
It's fine. Don't really get the hype. But you can caaaall meeee Hel!
Talk Talk
2/5
Boring
Various Artists
4/5
I'd rather put this on repeat than listen to other Christmas music, and often have. I guess I'll overlook the crazed murderer bit...?
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I enjoy the apparent musical contradiction of Cohen plus synth. Beware the Jazz Police!
Portishead
4/5
Good plinky plonky background music. Always been aware of this album, don't know why I've never listened to it, I definitely listened to similar and certainly recognise a couple of tracks.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Had on in background, seemed good for that, although a little avant garde wailing too.
The Soft Boys
3/5
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
First song swampy, then a bit forgettable but fine
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
It's not the worst of the avant garde this experience has offered, mainly noise and not all atonal or shouty. But it's still a 1.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Billy Bragg
3/5
Fine. Expect I should have listened to the lyrics.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Hurr Hurr 'willy'. I've definitely listened to this plenty in the past, I think probably because boys liked it. I guess it would be a 3.5 because I prefer it to other 3 rated albums but I'm not sure it's a 4. Does go on a bit too.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Well my heart sunk at yet another PJ, the artist I have most tried to like but failed too. She was the chosen autoplay artist after Throbbing Gristle, afterall. And yet - for whatever reason - I'm OK with this one. Did some lyric reading, that didn't shed any further light though. Maybe I should revisit the other ones...
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Undeniably frenzied rock 'n' roll performed by an undeniable bad egg.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Like a greatest hits but went on a bit
ABBA
4/5
A new ABBA album for me! Features some of their best, but also The Day Before You Came. Usual mixture of bops and slower ones and I never like their slower ones so much.
UB40
2/5
Not as bad as I thought it would be. Boring rather than annoying.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Every bit as silly as I hoped it would be
Prince
3/5
I want to like Prince more than I do. He's fine but I felt like I was missing something. Picked up towards the end.
Gorillaz
3/5
I always thought I wasn't really into Gorillaz and I was right. Best song: rock the house
Van Morrison
5/5
That totally suited my Saturday afternoon post park run potter. Can't find fault with it, should I give it a 5...??
Muddy Waters
3/5
Bloooz bizniz
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
God, those opening chords. And to think I bought the piano music thinking I could do it justice 😆 could have done an LP listen but gets terrifyingly stuck on Cecilia
Kate Bush
3/5
Hmmm, so Kate Bush bias made me start at 4 but actually it sounded quite similar (and similar to Hounds of Love) with no stand out tracks, apart from the last one
The The
3/5
Just nothing of note
Ian Dury
3/5
Sad no rhythm stick
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Quite pleasant. For some reason I always thought they were heavy. The name sounds heavy?
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Plinkety plonk. Not really for me.
CHIC
4/5
Yes, disco bops. Less keen on the slower ones, but big ups Bernard.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
80s nothingness maybe sung in a made up language
Pere Ubu
2/5
More avant garde atonal nonsense. Hints of tune.
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Pleasant enough. A bit lobbyesque but better lobby than EBTG
Miles Davis
4/5
Babbity toot toot! Accessible jazzzzz
Al Green
3/5
Smooth groooooves from Al
Morrissey
3/5
Just Morrissey
Lightning Bolt
2/5
If this is a wonderful rainbow then i evidently like my rainbows less full of wonder. Should be a 1 really but not quite as awful as those
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Pleasant enough to listen to. Less pleasant to read about them!
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Wish I'd listened in French first, however in think the underwhelm was done. Wanted to like it more given the hype, but it was just fine.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Didn't really listen, seemed ok
Nico
3/5
I actually thought it was quite 'nice' at first. It was a pleasure then was not a pleasure. I actually don't hate her voice though it's a bit silly. Interesting that the album does not sound how she wanted, wonder what it should sound like... Went on a bit. Had a headache by the end. May have been unrelated.
Billy Joel
3/5
Much piano. Much familiar actually, didn't realise
T. Rex
3/5
It was sounding quite repetitive to start, but enjoyable enough
Soul II Soul
3/5
Quite backgroundy. Jazz flute. Was going to say 90s beatz, but it would be more accurate to say 80s beatz...
James Brown
3/5
SCREEEEEEAAM!
The Adverts
4/5
Shouty and repetitive but I quite liked it. Must have been in the right mood
Bauhaus
2/5
Thought would be more avant garde but wasn't. Still unremarkable.
Louis Prima
5/5
That was bloody great. I jumped, jived and wailed. What fun. An unexpected 5!
Venom
3/5
Everything I expected from a band and album named thus. I expect the lyrics are hilarious if I could pick them out. Not unenjoyable silly thrash thrash.
Love
3/5
Yep, that was definitely Love. 60s flute aplenty. Last track went on a bit.
Funkadelic
3/5
Much more rock than I was expecting
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Rock n roll blues country
George Jones
3/5
That's country.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Hmmm. So am familiar with this album, so all a bit meh at first, but by the end I was raving to all the forgotten album tracks. Actual lol at the one where it sounds like it says I am a druggy druggy druggy.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
This is what this is all about. Zero knowledge or expectation, end up really enjoying some moody 80s synth stuff.
Beatles
3/5
Twee.
Meat Puppets
2/5
Where jaunty country esque with tuneless, flat singing. Noisy. Reminds me of Bright Eyes a bit.
Hole
3/5
Bit shouty, like I thought Hole were going to be like when I had one of their albums before but found them quite melodic them
Basement Jaxx
3/5
I ought to like this, but I never had it at the time and am still not wowed, although always enjoyed them live
Coldplay
4/5
Familiarity bias. I think I put one or two of these on mix tapes for a boyfriend. Or maybe 2 🙊
Van Halen
3/5
As expected 80s cock synth rock
Madonna
4/5
When I eventually found the right version of the album, that was super fun. Cherish & Express Yourself are pop bangers (I feel I've heard Like a Prayer slightly too many times). The songs I didn't know were mostly funky, last one batshit and the ballads pitched dispersed right.
Beatles
4/5
Familiarity bias although I'm not sure I've ever listened to this much as piece of work just apparently know all the words. Docking a point for creepy possessive lyrics in the last 2 tracks though.
Calexico
3/5
Varied jazz, chill, folk noise. Max says 4. I say 3.5 but that's not an option. Not super memorable, but not unenjoyable
New Order
3/5
I really like the bleepy bloop synths and bops Bernard's voice 😖 otherwise might have been a 4
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Big funky lonnnng songs
The Incredible String Band
2/5
Mumford and Sons meets Belle & Sebastian, a sitar player, Nico, an 18th century sailor & Bob Dylan. I don't need to listen to again but not unlistenable. Actually went on a bit.
The Strokes
3/5
I was totally obsessed with Last Nite and listened to this album a lot. Last Nite remains the stand out track. After that, tracks sound more distinct, but before all merged into one, odd considering I listened to it a lot. I guess not my jam anymore!
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Was kind of fun, but I don't like the waily singing
Ice Cube
3/5
Classic funky 90s hip hop with I assume offensive lyrics. Some recognisable samples. finally allowed swears on the speaker.
Kanye West
3/5
Dark, moody, surprising? I didn't hate it. I can somewhat tell what he's saying although mostly sounds like the usual arrogant bullshit although was that a 'rapolic priest'?! 😂 Mind blown that it's the original of Sigma's 'Nobody to Love'
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Gotta say I don't know why I needed to listen to this before I die. Innoffensive and nice so can't give 2. But yeah. Nothing.
Black Flag
2/5
Bit too punk for me. Shouty. Glimpse of 90s - 00s punk inspo
R.E.M.
4/5
So. It's good, I'm even on with the sidewinder sleeps tonight these days. Was going to default to a 3 tho but then realised I was maybe going to do that with Dinosaur Junior and those 2 albums definitely not in the same league... It is also a lot better than the other REM albums I've had on here, so I guess 4.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Exactly what I would expect from reggae/ Bob Marley
Fela Kuti
3/5
Think I only got the main track. Alright.
Patti Smith
3/5
I want to like it more than I do because I want to be cool. Gloria is a banger. The rest is fine.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Exactly how I would expect Elvis to sound. Good bluesy, funky and a bit sexy. Enjoyed how much like Pharaoh's backing singers the backing singers sounded. Bab showaddy wah!
Johnny Cash
3/5
Enjoyed for a first listen. I wonder if the chat would be annoying on repeated listens. Liked the story telling
Johnny Cash
4/5
There's a familiarity bias to Hurt & I Hung My Head. Some adaptations felt twee, others rousing. Would I listen again? Probably
Little Simz
3/5
Dire Straits
3/5
Just Dire Straits. Sultans of swing a banger but did I need to listen to before my certain demise?
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Pleasant. Reminds of death cab for cutey, bright eyes, Jason mraz... Can't quite put my finger on the exact artist I'm thinking off, but stuff my ex listened to in 2005-06
Barry Adamson
2/5
Barry's lucky I got past track 1 which made feel like I was in a modern art museum looking at an art installation of a traffic cone. It got better, if you like cop themes, but, sorry Barry, my dinner was ready so I turned you off for Gogglebox.
3/5
Sounded like Bob doing an impression of himself. Can't imagine it was a riot to be there?
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
Nah. Noisy, grimey, not for me. I like a melody. I'm sure the lyrics were profound if I listened.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Plinkety plonkety nice background
The Monks
3/5
60s. Psychedelic. I didn't notice the punk.
Eurythmics
3/5
Unremarkable. Bit disappointing
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Kind of preferred to other BM albums. Don't know why through
Joni Mitchell
4/5
First the speaker tried to play me 'Hey Shearer' by Newcastle United.
Eventually listened on my phone, would like to listen again properly, think I liked it. Lots of motels.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Female punk. Short. Fine.
Tricky
3/5
Fine background music
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Noisy. Not for me. Hints of tunes amongst the shouting redeemed from a 1.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Bit disappointing. No impact.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Very Ash. Or should that be that Ash are very Dinosaur Junior? 🤔 Didn't sound 80s. Fine until the screaming at the end
3/5
Blondie esque punk
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
80s niceness
Led Zeppelin
3/5
I don't think I listened to it all but what I heard was fine.
Gillian Welch
3/5
Had on in the background. Sounded perfectly innocuous quiet folk that I would probably like and maybe merits another listen
Paul Simon
4/5
Nice, in exactly the way I would expect Paul Simon to be. I like that I can actually hear the lyrics & story.
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
I don't know why this album cover and title is so familiar. The music certainly isn't. It's fine.
Slade
3/5
How I would expect a Slade album to sound
Bob Dylan
5/5
I'm going to do it, it's a 5. Familiarity bias. But god, this album on a Sunday morning. Don't really know why, I just like the heartbreak, the storytelling and the chance to go full Bob on the singalong. Definitely his best .
Sonic Youth
3/5
Initially thought it was better than my last Sonic Youth (which I don't think I liked), then it went on a bit. Quite Undertones-esque for a bit
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Ok, am I finally getting Zeppelin? On their first album? Opening really grabbed me, then went off the boil a bit with You Shook Me (no ACDC is it). Back on with Your Time Is Gonna Come. No to the solo track. Yes to Communication Breakdown. Ah more blues, apparently I don't like the bluesy ones. Ugh and that the last track wangs on. It's getting 4 only because it's better than the other Zeppelins.
The Sugarcubes
3/5
Bjork less abrasive here than on solo work and enjoyed the random bits spoken with a heavy Icelandic accent
Kid Rock
3/5
I didn't hate that, which is odd because early 00s when Kid Rock was all the boys I knew would play at 'parties', I did not like at all. Definitely dumb but in no way the worst thing I've listened to in this journey. As ever, the lyrics are probably objectionable if I could pick them out.
Blur
3/5
Never listened to this before. Know the hits. 8 wasn't a Blur girl and I'm still not.
SZA
3/5
It was alright. Quite rnb with a bit about pussy
The Icarus Line
2/5
Noisy
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Very 60s babbity with added seaside organ
Marilyn Manson
2/5
So my usual problem with this genre, the guitars are good and riffy, it's not devoid of melody but the 'singing', ugh. Didn't hate as much as I thought I would, but wasn't sad when the internet stopped it. Can't follow the the lyrics, I expect they aren't to my taste. Went on a bit too.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
I actually quite like this, but I'm not sure of its significance to end up on this list.
3/5
Prefer The Presidents' song
Motörhead
3/5
Alright. Did get a bit noisy
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
I'll be the judge of whether you are sensational, Alex, and the answer, in short, is you're not. Although it is true that there is nothing like a gang bang.
The Pretty Things
3/5
60s drug plinkety wafts
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Bank holiday bongo brilliance. Really enjoyed that. There's no reason to not give it a 5, but there is also no reason to give it a 5.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Bit noisy at first and then half way through it grabbed me
Fleet Foxes
3/5
Kind of Christmassy? Medieval folk harmonies? Wrote that before looking at the track names - they suggest that is there vibe they were going for. Bit twee. Not one of my favourite debut albums of all time!
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
So much guitar blues
Stevie Wonder
3/5
No real impact
Sex Pistols
4/5
You cannot deny the energy of this album. Great guitar riffs and certainly more melody than other punk from this era. Familiarity bias, sure (excuse to listen to the LP (not original), but deducting a point for some samieness
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Bit waily. Liked the Helter Skelter cover
Miles Davis
3/5
Probably the only jazz album I could name, but not my favourite from this list. Obviously I'm too much of a musical heathen to know why it's supposed to be good, one just enjoyed others more 🤷♀️
The Specials
4/5
Well I didn't really think I liked ska, but this was a bop. Whether that was familiarity bias because of the songs i knew, or if I'm just more familiar with this style from drum n bass. Dandy Warhols used as a sample?
Sonic Youth
2/5
Oh more Sonic Youth 🙄 keeps making me think of Chronic Youth, early 2000s Raging Speedhorn. When it was in the background it was fine, but I kept listening when it was noisy 😠
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
There's definite bangers on here. I would listen again, and I'm sure I've listened before (familiarity bias). Just not quite sure it's a 5. I might just be being contrary because I know it's highly acclaimed
Animal Collective
3/5
Unremarkable background fine
Queen
4/5
Can tell that they're heading towards A Night At The Opera with some of the multi layering, songs about cars & other ridiculousness. Stone Cold Crazy 🤘
Doves
3/5
I was apparently not into indie anymore by 2002. A bit of the drone of Embrace and Elbow. Recognised a couple of tracks. Fine but not sure what sets it apart.
Judas Priest
4/5
Well I was not expecting to enjoy that, for some reason I thought JP were super heavy, but turns out it's classic operatic rock with melody and riffs and just really fun. Never knew they were Breaking the Law 🤦
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Your usual 90s funky hip hop, better than today's.
The Doors
3/5
I didn't realise Jim's voice was so, um, erratic? Into the Riders on the Storm croon, less on some of the more screechy. Good blues and good 60s though.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
90s hip hop with socio-economic political lyrics. Good to hear from an unknown to me artist.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Wafty background fine
David Ackles
4/5
Like Nick Cave does a musical? I quite enjoyed the drama of it and the storytelling, although, as ever, didn't listen enough to the words but I know he swapped the milk for booze.
Metallica
3/5
Just Metallica
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I kind of liked it. Melodious enough with dark tales within when I tuned in. Second to last song went on tho.
The Blue Nile
3/5
Unremarkable background 80s
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I like Joni Mitchell. Less motels in this one.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Pleasant enough 80s indie
Radiohead
5/5
More bias and not because I got it for free when released (I didn't, probably bought for £3 from Fopp). Wafty bleepy Radiohead is much preferred to 90s angst. Forgot how much I loved House of Cards. Feel bad for not giving I Am A Bird Now 5 so I'll 5 this.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
Familiarity bias here. So I feel like the melodies are catchy and simple and effective, but I've listened to this album loads in the past so 🤷 the vibrato should annoy me, I don't know why it doesn't. But I think that still makes it a 4 rather than 5.
3/5
Just 3 songs, very prod! 😆
Richard Thompson
3/5
Pleasant folky background. Maybe I need to re listen to work out its genius.
Primal Scream
3/5
Big wafty drug fest. Was enjoying it then got a bit bored.
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Got autoplayed more guitars and shouting once it finished so I didn't actually know when the album ended
Stephen Stills
3/5
That was pleasant enough. Couple of the more country ones grabbed my attention a bit but don't know name
Genesis
3/5
Not sure I've ever heard any non Phil Collins Genesis. Very Prog but not unenjoyable
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Original vinyl listen! Would listen again, so guess that ought to be a 4. More of a 3.5. But enjoyable easy 70s pop listening.
Spiritualized
3/5
Some lovely anthemic moments and some noisy wanging on
The Cure
3/5
Was every song instrumental? I think they all sounded definitely like The Cure. The type of the cure I like, so I should definitely listen again
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I enjoy the overblown-ness. What's the word? Theatricalness? Pomp. But I find his voice a bit flat. Flat with a vibrato. But flat. Or just irritating. If not for the voice would listen again.
3/5
I still don't get Bowie.
Best tracks: Starman, Ziggy Stardust and Suffragette City. The rest made no impression.
It's like Star Wars, Bacon and Beyoncé. Like everyone else is watching, eating and listening to something different to me.
The Smiths
3/5
Just Morrissey whining on. I know I'm supposed to spot something amazing in the guitars, but yeah, just Morrissey.
FKA twigs
3/5
Well I feel old, I thought FKA twigs was still 'new', not 10 years old! Recognise one year which I never knew was called Two Weeks. I guess this is artpop or avante garde? She clearly has a good voice, under the high pitched breathiness, but the lack of melody is not for me.
Madness
3/5
Was entertained that there was an 'I Like Riding on My Bike' song then realised I was far into the bonus tracks so don't know what was actually the album. It all sounded how I would expect Madness to sound. Jaunty fun.
Mj Cole
3/5
Knowing this is one that's rated bottom I feel obliged to give it a 3 because this is not Throbbing Gristle! Very much of its time repetitive garage beats, that goes on too long, and I never did like garage, but for some reason I've always liked the song Sincere and Crazy Love was a nostalgic bonus.
Klaxons
3/5
Another one that I thought were a 'modern' band but turn out to be heading in for 20 years old 🙈 never knew that song I recognised was called Golden Skans. What is a Golden Skan? Other than that just 2000s indie.
Wilco
4/5
I was getting into that, then saw there was a whole other disc, but that seemed quick, so who knows if I was listening to the right thing... Anyway, actually caught my attention and made me listen.
LL Cool J
3/5
Don't worry he won't rape you, he just wants a tuna melt. That's a new euphemism on me. Actual lol at whole song seemingly relating lady bits somehow to cereal 🥣 Hopscotch reference lol. 6 Minutes of Pleasure - so the ladies love cool James but James loves them a bit too much if 6 minutes is it. People only like him for his money. What a pout 👄
Roxy Music
3/5
Bit whacky. His voice is silly.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Predictably nice. All the other songs from the greatest hits that aren't on BOTW. Hello lamppost.
Baaba Maal
2/5
I tried and it was fine for a bit then it got a bit repetitive
Rush
3/5
Intense ott 80s sounding rock
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
Damon Albarn seems like a good enough bloke, he's on my living room wall, afterall. But I just don't love his voice. Don't think I'm cool enough to get this, like all of his stuff
Violent Femmes
4/5
I was fully prepared to not like this as they wang on about the band all the time in The Time Traveller's Wife, and goodness I hated that book. But would listen again
Ghostface Killah
3/5
N this n that with some of them funky beats you don't get anymore
Emmylou Harris
4/5
If this process has taught me anything it's that I like country. Would listen again.
David Bowie
3/5
I just don't think I'm ever going to get Bowie, but there were some funky moments in the middle plus Golden Years
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
I couldn't work out if that's was actual 60s or pretend 60s, which was weird. Jolly 60s vibez
Julian Cope
3/5
I seem to be struggling to get a whole album to play. What I can get is frantic.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
Mournful background music which reminded me of Jeff Buckley and Bright Eyes
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Yeah Shaft soundtrack
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
Not really my thing but in the right mood I reckon it'd be bang on
Deee-Lite
4/5
I really enjoyed that, but maybe just because 90s. Funky. Who knew they were more than just Groove is in the Heart?
Gram Parsons
3/5
I was like ooh one I've been meaning to listen to! And maybe that expectation led to underwhelm. All the better for Emmylou, but didn't enjoy as much as some other country albums. Also didn't enjoy reading about his death.
Death In Vegas
3/5
I was like, I recognise both this album name and band but 1999? Q magazine? Then AISHA, I'M VIIIBRATING! that made a compilation tape back in the day. Unremarkable otherwise.
Little Richard
4/5
I'm not sure we got played the actual album but it was definitely Little Richard. Was he a proven bad man? Is it ok to enjoy this? Very rocknroll. Hard to not bop to.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
I think it was a fine. I lost my temper (unrelated) whilst it was on so probably this isn't a fair review 🙃
The Associates
2/5
Just 80s.
The B-52's
3/5
They're definitely recognisable. I don't think that's a compliment. Thank God no Love Shack though, that would have made it a definite 2. As it is I think it scrapes a 3
The Who
4/5
Doesn't sound live apart from some chat. And that's a good thing. Got the extended not the original, of course, so more chat than probably intended.
Fever Ray
3/5
Plinky plonky electro background
The Byrds
3/5
I wouldn't have thought full on country was the natural progression from psychedelic but hey. Very country. Which normally I like but I just had a country album so no novelty
The Police
4/5
That was a bop with hits
Ryan Adams
4/5
Liked that. Not cool to say but David Gray and Damien Rice vibes with added country. Also *insert joke about Bryan Adams here*
3/5
Just generic listenable rock from the past. Not unpleasant but not standout either
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
Your standard 90s rap with shooting skits etc I assume lyrics are Not OK but beat funky
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Bjork meets Kate Bush and does folk. Didn't hate it.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Charming. Very O Brother Where Art Thou. Couldn't discern the words to know if they truly were tragic. Oh then they killed a girl who was meant to be their wife
Simply Red
3/5
Cheesy but I can see why the 80s mums liked them, he does have a good voice and they have good tunes
Donald Fagen
3/5
Super cheesy 80s
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Shabooby. Not sure what Sarah I was expecting, but for some reason I was expecting folk. I guess Sarah is not a very jazz name.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Oh no, another that I thought was modern but is 20 years old! 😮 Defo 2000s indie vibes though
Brian Eno
3/5
Started very 70s then went wafty. No specific impact
OutKast
3/5
Got the CD out! Never listened to it much. The Love Below a more enjoyable listen for me. But there's also a reason I've never listened to it much
Scissor Sisters
5/5
Impeccable pop filled with all the hits. I can't fault it.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Oh I did listen to this one. Can't remember.
Radiohead
5/5
I am not one of those people who is predisposed to think everything Radiohead did / does is great - I'm defo not that keen on OK Computer - but this album is just perfect. Definitely less gloomy and more classic rock, I think. Although I am wondering if I came to it at an impressionable age when I was still inclined to LOVE something and put on repeat (recall mini disc listening) and therefore familiarity bias.
Turbonegro
3/5
Perfectly listenable punk
Girls Against Boys
3/5
All in a minor key. Brooding rock.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Started off with me finding his voice a bit ott, ended up with me enjoying the tunes. 3.5?
The Thrills
3/5
Plinkety plonkety twangy niceness
The Velvet Underground
3/5
It's definitely a lot noisy (initially I said a bit but I had to skip Heroin & now my tinnitus is going) & a lot arty. I bet this lot were insufferable. But I don't mind the more chilled melodic ones. I had to stop before the end because tinnitus was being induced again
The Sonics
3/5
can you step off the mic a bit? the same old 3 chord songs with a bit more hoarsness and franticness
The Stranglers
3/5
Punk
Gene Clark
3/5
Pleasant enough. Neil Young esque
Randy Newman
3/5
Woody from Toy Story singing 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' was not on my bingo card.
Eagles
3/5
Unremarkable. I'll never get over the fact my ex had never heard the song Hotel California. Should have broken up on the spot.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
Jaunty
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Into my arms 5. Floored me. Don't know why, I've heard it before somewhere, no idea where.
Worried that the throat chat on Black Hair was going to turn all murdery like the last Nick Cave I got. This is my 4th I think??
Anyway, I liked it.
The Byrds
4/5
Wafty 60s, could listen again.
Tim Buckley
4/5
I thought it was surprisingly funky (not sure who I was getting confused with) then all the reviews mentioned the lyrics so I gave them a read. Someone needs a good wank, don't they, Tim?
M.I.A.
3/5
Track 1 banger. Track 4 Moscow Moscow vibes! Mad where is my mind. Obvs Paper Planes. Rest was ok.
Air
3/5
For some reason I quite liked this film. The soundtrack compliments it
Charles Mingus
2/5
Very babbity. Ends up being tuneless babbity.
Deep Purple
3/5
Raaaack
Willie Nelson
2/5
Normally I like country, but this was pretty boring. Should have read it was a storytelling concept album first so I could follow
Sebadoh
3/5
90s indie. Bit whiny at times, raw at others.
David Bowie
3/5
I wonder what he drew on the carpet. Haven't I had sound and vision on a different album already? Like an 80s soundtrack. Ahead of it's time then I guess. Can appreciate potential for influencing.
Paul Weller
3/5
My first Paul Weller & probably exactly how I expected it to sound. Pleasant enough. Made me want to listen to Ocean Colour Scene.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Good vibes but sanctimonious. Some abrupt endings, was Max accidentally skipping whilst out for a run?. Why was the triangle so prevalent?
Giant Sand
3/5
I thought the speaker had switched to playing Lou Reed at one point. Perfect Sunday in front of the fire music, just chill and nice
Justin Timberlake
2/5
I've never listened to this album, despite it being very on my radar and popular with friends. White man rnb wasn't my thing and it still isn't. Interesting that it's been bumped from my copy of The Book. I got bored and put some drum and bass on
The Smiths
3/5
Everything I expect from The Smiths
The Cramps
2/5
Everything sounded like a bad version of the Surfin' Bird
Orange Juice
3/5
It was fine, quite jolly. Unsure of its significance though.
The Fall
3/5
Quite liked the riffs n rock. Voice a bit annoying.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Rock with some lazy rhyming
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Nice enough background
The Birthday Party
2/5
I'm glad I didn't go to this birthday party. Only a 2 by virtue of not being as atonal as some of the other albums.
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
Industrial angst.
Doves
3/5
At first I was really enjoying that, was thinking '4', then it went on a bit, so 3.5. never actually listened to Doves before, different to what I was expecting
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Perfect Sunday morning vibes
The White Stripes
4/5
First five tracks rocked. Even 7 Nation Army which is erm, a little over chanted...? I liked Meg singing. Didn't finish but would listen to again
Saint Etienne
3/5
Unexpected Richard Whiteley sample
Jack White
3/5
Apparently I prefer Jack with Meg
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Not expecting Jumping Jack Flash. Was expecting the following twingy twangy
The Replacements
3/5
Turned out not to be a cover of the Beatles' album.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Can't hold us down, what a bop, even if she did basically black up in the video.
First thoughts were wow she really does have quite a voice, but after a bit it's quite a lot of warble and ballads. I didn't get Beautiful or Dirrrrrty so something went wrong there. Another one that seems to have been since bumped from the book
ABBA
5/5
Familiarity bias but also impeccable pop
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I can appreciate not for everyone and I'm too basic to get the 'poetry' but I like the mellow. Would be good on a Sunday morning. Lol at the final wail though
k.d. lang
3/5
YouTube music really didn't want to play me this. Maybe I can't pronounce the title. Constant Craving reminds me of Atlantic 252. Why did I ever listen to that station?? Pretty mellow apart from that one really.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Well I wasn't in the mood for that. Skipped the first 3 tracks, track 4 better but then was glad to go back to work. There were some hints of good riffs but I've listened to Bollocks & I don't think I need anymore of Lydon's slightly out of tune whatever noise he makes. I was mostly thinking 'oh shut up'. So I made it shut up.
Nirvana
3/5
I didn't realise half these songs weren't on Nevermind. Bit drony in places. Don't think got played all of it.
Chicago
4/5
For some reason I thought Chicago was dad rock so I was pleasantly surprised that it was late 60s funky. Started as a definite 4, went on a bit & became a bit self indulgent so teetered... But sure, I'll go 4
The Cardigans
4/5
Nice. Pleasant.
Supergrass
4/5
Well, I had completely forgotten I ever had this album, but from the opening bars, a huge weird realisation remembering. I think it was on the other other side of my tape-to-tape copy of The Fat of the Land, therefore has been listened to A LOT. and therefore familiarity bias. I think a friend put it there as a bonus as I don't remember particularly liking Supergrass, but I did love Richard lll.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Much babbity. Not my favourite jazz at all but 2 seems a bit harsh
Tom Waits
3/5
Made me laugh out loud more than once. Silly voice.
Os Mutantes
3/5
Sixties silliness
The Temptations
4/5
Track 1 and 2, 5 stars. Papa doesn't need to be 11 minutes long. After that bit mellow, but still enjoyable.
Travis
4/5
Very Nice. I'm can't be sure I've not heard it before, or were there just a lot of singles? I used to love Driftwood & Fran Healy actually. Go on then, a 4.
Ramones
4/5
Bops. Repetitive but bops.
Radiohead
4/5
Argh every time I thought about not giving it a 5 there was a key change or sound or something that got me right in the solar plexus.
It's total familiarity bias. Going for 4 just so my stats report me as less of a Radiohead super fan because I'm Really Not!
Michael Jackson
4/5
Ok finally going in on Thriller.
Yes to opening bars.
Lol at the girl is mine. School memories.
Beat it was always one of my faves.
Billie Jean has never been one of my faves
Had to bop to PYT
Nah to the following ballad
Oh and that's the last track?
It is good but deducting for my personal opinion of Billie Jean, the balladry oh and because he is surely cancelled these days??
Japan
3/5
Quite liked the bleepy blooby intro then realised I wasn't really listening after that. Singing a bit flat in a New Order esque way.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Little sandwich?
At first I was like, sigh, my bajillionth Elvis Costello album but actually was listenable pop
The Doors
3/5
Preferable to the last Doors album, for sure.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Classic Neil Young.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Had a lot of greatest hits on. Including the ones that go on too long
Lana Del Rey
4/5
I really like Lana Del Rey although I don't know why, the chilled vibes? So yeah I really liked this but don't know what marks it out beyond other chilled out vibes. She goes a bit Joan Baez in places. Hey, there's a reference I couldn't make it it wasn't for this project!
4/5
Was on the for a solid 3, then A Day in the Life swung it. Not sure even in my top 5 Beatles albums. Good tunes but Within Without you, George, not your finest work, you let the side down.
Faith No More
3/5
I have an abiding memory of Faith No More doing a slightly terrifying shout 'It's Your Letters' theme on TGI Friday, so always assumed they were somewhat inaccessible. Not so, classic anthemic 80s cock rock, some familiar, some funky nu metal vibes. Singer bit whiny though.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
What an opening.
Enjoyed more than other Zeppelin
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Like an insane, pompous, prog opera.
Some tracks that actually felt like songs as it went on and none of the sonics were unpleasant.
The Stooges
2/5
First side better than the last Stooges album I had. Second side had to stop. 2.5?
Arcade Fire
3/5
Yep, sounded like Arcade Fire
Bill Callahan
3/5
Don't know who Bill is but enjoyed that enough
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Is this a musical soundtrack? Is he as good a singer as he thinks he is?
Found it a bit annoying.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
God that was boring. Kept waiting for it to start.
Adele
4/5
Have never listened to before. Quite liked it. Soulful. Catchy. Still not bothered about seeing her live though.
Television
3/5
Patti Smith vibes. Can hear where Razorlight got their sound.
Magazine
3/5
Quite liked that. Punky yet melodic and not too whiny
The Pogues
5/5
A riot. Wanna go to Ireland. Wonder if this was supposed to be the Paddy's day album and I'm out of sync? Expecting to not tolerate Shane's voice, but somehow I did.
Deep Purple
3/5
Not sure 20 minute long drum solos translate when you're not there. Some good rock wails
I like Rod's voice in this context, more rock, less cheese? Stay with me is such a banger.
David Holmes
4/5
Not at all sure what to expect from the name having never heard of the guy, but yes, this is a bit of me
Billie Holiday
3/5
Not sure if I listened to the album. Can very much see where Amy Winehouse got her inspo
Gene Clark
3/5
Chilled country vibes
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
More prog. Wasn't awful but not what I was in the mood for
Soft Machine
2/5
Babbity prog shite. Skipped track 2. Skipped track 3. Met by silence, relieved when I thought I'd lost track 4. Left it playing but left the room.
Killing Joke
3/5
Track 1. Accessible, quite modern sounding.
Track 2. Silly voice.
Track 3. Oh no the voice is still here.
Track 4. Got funky. And no singing 👍🏻
Track 5. Intro! Oh no the singing is back.
Track 6. More melodic singing?
Track 7. Long, repetitive.
Track 8. Can't remember.
Enjoyed most of the music, just not into the singing all the time.
The Stooges
2/5
Track 1. Fine.
Track 2. Lock stock.
Track 3. No, fuck off, velvet underground drug shite
Track 4. 2manydjs. And also 2minutes2long.
Track 5. 2 chords.
Track 6. Dirge.
Track 7. Guitars.
Track 8.
And thank god that was short. Some good riffage but that's about it. Suspect being high would make it more palatable?
Yes
4/5
Not unpleasant dad rock. Really quite liked it. Not that prog?
Steve Earle
3/5
Max music
Can
3/5
Ambient prog noise
Goldfrapp
4/5
Familiarity bias, I love this album, it's just a lovely vibe. For those saying no standout song, I guess A&E was the song that got me into the album. I will always listen to this album when I want mellow.
The Bees
3/5
Pleasant enough background
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Babbity
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Music for holiday, not for prepping a radiator to be painted. Not sure why any better than other holiday music?
Eminem
3/5
Fine. Eminem.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
How young black girls taste has not aged well. Indulgent bluesy ramblings.
The Clash
4/5
Familiarity bias. Not a duff track, I just don't LOVE enough to be a 5. 4.5?
The Hives
3/5
CD revisiting! I loved Hate To Say I Told You So and in those days buying the album was how to get the song (was it? What happened to taping off the radio). Short and frantic. I remember they were fun at Leeds Festival 2002. Bumped from the book.
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
Hey kids, drugs are bad, but they sure make funky records. Loved the funk yodelling.
Janis Joplin
5/5
Absolutely fucking epic
Peter Frampton
3/5
Screeeeeeeam
Napalm Death
2/5
Classic case of thinking it wasn't as bad as I was expecting then realising the speaker was playing stuff just 'like' Napalm Death. So double the grindcore for me. Still, there was melody, in so much as it wasn't atonal, riffs & brief. I actually listened again to decide if 1 or 2 because on first listen this was no way as bad as Throbbing Gristle or Butthole Surfers. And lol to the 1 second long song. My ears are ringing but it's not in the same bracket as the other 1 ⭐s. Wonder what the lyrics are...
Cornershop
3/5
Really surprised I'm not familiar with the album title or cover when am obviously aware of Cornershop growing up in the 90s. Quite a lot of instrumental. Pleasant background easy to work to music.
Wilco
3/5
Bit background dirge like but ok?
Van Morrison
3/5
Here's one I've always seen towards the top of albums you should listen to lists and try never have. It was nice background. I like his voice. I no longer like Brown Eyed Girl (not on this album) which is ironic as my friend just gave me the 45. I've started sitting skip at the speaker when it comes on.
Queens of the Stone Age
2/5
Dirge. Never did see what the fuss was about and album doesn't even have That One Song.
The Byrds
3/5
A bit whacky 60s
T. Rex
3/5
Does every track sound the same?
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Perfectly adequately background music
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Always found to be a bit overrated (I think I bought a previous album to try and be cool), but enjoyed the 80s synths of track one so felt optimistic. Then some tracks were boring and some were funky basically
The Roots
3/5
Good classic funky hip hop
Iron Butterfly
4/5
Good 60s
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Is the first song father and son?
Is the second song Tame Impala?
Very sexist, I assumed Yoshimi was male, based on absolutely nothing
Bit more tame Impala mixed with bill Withers.
The Supernaturals??
Oh the do you realise song!
I realise Flaming lips predate tame impala.
Liked it
Coldplay
4/5
I like it. Just kind of nice and naive compared to their later stuff. Maybe familiarity bias though.
Small Faces
4/5
Enjoyable 60s nonsense
Billy Bragg
3/5
Exactly how I expected a billy Bragg album to sound. Cor blimey guvnor, unions. Wasn't expecting the Huggies pull ups advert though. Mummy wow I'm a big girl now. Quite liked it though. Definitely has a style.
Crowded House
3/5
Perfectly pleasant but before I die?. nah
Iggy Pop
3/5
Imagine if it didn't open with that track.
Hmmm well I suppose 16 is legal but how old were you Iggy?
Much Bowie sound.
So I'm dying at age 22 and I get told everything is going to be ok tonight?
More accessible than The Stooges, for sure. Almost mainstream sound.
Is the cover photo meant to be a cheesy yearbook photo?
3/5
80s pop. Did I need to listen before expiring?
Guided By Voices
3/5
Fine. Genuinely couldn't tell at times whether it was from the 60s or 90s
Manu Chao
3/5
Surf club memories
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
I was looking forward to the Pet Shop Boys thinking it would be some nice Sunday morning bleepy bloops but it was actually Really Boring