p325. 1974. 2 stars Straight up I have to say I have always hated Roger Hodgson's voice. Every time he opens his mouth I just want to punch him to make him shut it. It's like chalk being drawn down a board. I also don't like electric piano, which is a major part of the band sound. And somehow the cheesy sax makes things 10 times worse. So, this album starts at a major disadvantage. Shame really as musically its OK, tight clean production, but suffers badly from prog-rock wank solo pretentions. And as usual with mid 70s albums, a lot of the songs outstay their welcome. Well done of its kind, and some good tunes, but that voice and tinkly piano... ffs. 2 stars.

p487, 1982. 2 stars I know he's a great wordsmith, but lyrically this is just depressing and bloody miserable to listen to. Very few standout tunes either. And something about Elvis Costello's voice leaves me cold, its either a whine or a sneer or a whiney sneer. Well done but definitely not my thing. Not likely to listen to this again. And will avoid sharp objects, pills and alcohol if I do.

p526. 1984. 2 stars Sounds like the bastard love child of Nick Cave and The Cure's Robert Smith, but without the talent. Perfectly acceptable without being exceptional in any way. A couple of OK singles, but that's it. On the plus side, it's short, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.

p455. 1980. 2 stars. The sound of musicians that were born 10 years too late and wish the 60s had never ended. This sounds like an album of 13th Floor Elevators, Byrds and Ziggy Stardust outtakes, only without the talent. Listening to it you'd have thought that punk never happened. Quite good guitar playing, though it frequently strays in 70s wankage. It's OK, but nothing special - no idea why this is on the list.

1977, p377, 2021-01-04: Spotify. Excellent blues album, single LP

2021-01-05, p933. Spotify OK US indie guitar rock, vaguely 60s vibe

p717, 1993. Rap :( Well done of its type but not my thing at all

p426, 1979. 3 stars. 1970s smooth pop-jazz, plus Randy Crawford. The background music for Studio 54, silky strings, horns and electric piano. Title track is a classic. Good stuff, well done, but not my thing.

p950. 2022-01-10. 2017. Steely Dan-ish jazz/rock crossed with modern R&B+rap, but without any memorable tunes. Good production, technically good, pleasant enough but a bit soulless. Nothing that sticks in the mind. Not my thing.

2022-01-11. Not in the book! Indie guitar rock meets punk. Great riffs. I approve :)

2022-01-12 p628 1990 So-so garage/indie/heavy rock, nothing special 2 stars

p788, 1996, 5 stars Nick Cave :) all the favourites: Stagger Lee, Henry Lee, Curse of Milhaven, O'Malley's Bar

p218. 1970. 2022-01-14. 3 stars Early 70s samba jazz rock and ace guitar, vague Doors-ish echoes. Slightly bland. Cool background summer music :)

p820. 1997. 5 stars. Terrific mix of 60s psychedelia, Pink Floyd, Stones, Beatles, Julian Cope, 90s Brit Pop. This is GOOD.

p717, 1993. 4 stars. Bass driven indie rock with great riffs and sardonic delivery. Excellent :)

p27, 1956. 3 stars Light listening, "jumping jive", good fun. Have to be in the right mood for it though. You can see where Paolo Nutini stole from.

p434, 1979, 3 stars Classic dance album, fabulous production. Play and recreate nightclubs in 1978-79. Suffers from the "extended dance version" syndrome. Still sounds good, have to be in the right mood it though :)

p226, 1971. 2 star Prog rock hence excessive musical wankage :( Jon Anderson, can't stand his voice :(( Dodgy lyrics. Shame as the rest of it is good, especially Steve Howe's guitar work. 2 stars for production, and guitar work in general, especially on Clap.

p385, 1977. 5 stars. Prime Bowie, Brian Eno production. Not a weak track on it. Excellent.

p584, 1987. 5 stars. 2022-01-25 1980s electro soul. Great voice, catchy hooks, great songs. Production a bit dated - cheesy synths - but still excellent and still sounds great today. I'd forgotten what a great album this is.

p294, 1973. 2 stars Was prepared to dislike this as I tended to lump Genesis in with the entire prog rock-wank era but... parts of this are OK. Always liked Peter Gabriel's solo stuff, and his voice is spot on. Steve Hackett and Phil Collins also on form. Set against this, all the usual early 1970s complaints... dodgy lyrics, overly long instrumental "fiddly" bits - look how fast I can play! Listen to my fabulous, sterile instrumental "improvisation"! See how long I can go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and ON - and dig my groovy 70's synths maaaaaan. But it's got something, despite all that. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it, but I don't hate it either.

p381, 1977. 3 stars Proto punk, surprisingly OK, not as raw as The Clash or Sex Pistols but suitably angry. Decent songs and playing. As with a lot of punk, you have to be in the right mood for it, and if you are then this is above average.

p441. 1979. 3 stars. It was cool (probably still is) to bash Fleetwood Mac because of the success of Rumours and for being part of the entire late 70s FM radio/MOR/AOR/West Coast hate vibe that come from punk and new Wave. I get that - it was a reaction of two different musical cultures - but does that make this a bad album? The short answer is NO. It's actually pretty good. This is the Fleetwood Mac equivalent of the Beatles White album - a weird mix of well crafted pop songs, half thought out ideas that don't really cut it (The Ledge, Save Me A Place), fabulous harmonies and over-production. People were expecting Rumours part 2 and this ain't it. Christine McVie is the star of the show - voice of an angel, breathtaking love songs with instantly memorable melodies. The hits are there - Over and Over, Sara, Tusk - and standout tracks like Never Make Me Cry and Beautiful Child. Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Lindsey Buckingham are all on form, and there is no excessive wankage on the solos. Set against it - can't help thinking it needed someone to slap Lindsey Buckingham with a wet kipper and tell him, "this track ain't good enough." Too many of his songs like That's All For Everyone and Not That Funny feel self indulgent. He does sound like he's trying too hard. And it's missing a sense of excitement - too many tracks meander and outstay their welcome (Brown Eyes, Sara, What Makes You Think You're The One, Storms), so they're almost background noise. The shiny production and smoothness of the sound is going to turn off a lot of the rockers and punks regardless. With a bit of judicious editing this could have been a great single album but as a double - too much filler, and so 3 stars.

p546, 1986. 3.5 stars, not strong enough for 4. Wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Rap meets heavy rock riffs, bass and guitar. THE sound of twenty year old American white boys in the mid 80s, taking the piss of out everyone and themselves. Having said that... points deducted for Girls, which is just cheese - compare that with the next track, which is Fight For Your Right - and it is all a bit shouty and "samey".

p436. 1979. 3 stars. Strange mix of punk and garage rock and reggae and ska. Vague Springsteen undertones, which isn't a bad thing. Excellent production values. However... don't like Joe Strummer's voice, and other than title track, nothing stands out. Goes for on far too long - it's rare for a double album to actually hold up without spotting the filler, and this fails the test. Saggy in the middle. Can see why this was influential in the punk era - far more sophisticated that most of the offerings of the time - but it hasn't aged well. Would have made an excellent single album. Glad I've listened to it but just doesn't do it for me.

p894. 2003. 3 stars. Came cold to this one, didn't know anything about the band or the album. Well done garage rock, great voice, but nothing here that hasn't been been done before (and better) by Siouxsie, PJ Harvey, Garbage or Elastica. It's good, and I'd listen to it again, but not sure why it's on the list as it's neither innovative or anything special.

p531. 1985. 3 stars Prime example of 80s stadium synth pop, even down to the audience whooping it up on the end of Broken. No doubt that they could knock out a good tune - some of these tracks are instantly recognisable - and the album has excellent production and musicianship. Lots of synths, sax and big guitars, and as a consequence it does sound a bit dated. Most of the tracks meander and outstay their welcome. Whilst it's well done, I always found them a bit soulless. 3 stars just because of personal preference.

p325. 1974. 2 stars Straight up I have to say I have always hated Roger Hodgson's voice. Every time he opens his mouth I just want to punch him to make him shut it. It's like chalk being drawn down a board. I also don't like electric piano, which is a major part of the band sound. And somehow the cheesy sax makes things 10 times worse. So, this album starts at a major disadvantage. Shame really as musically its OK, tight clean production, but suffers badly from prog-rock wank solo pretentions. And as usual with mid 70s albums, a lot of the songs outstay their welcome. Well done of its kind, and some good tunes, but that voice and tinkly piano... ffs. 2 stars.

p159, 1969. 4.5 stars. All the best bits of Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds and The Hollies in a strange mix of folk, country, rock and jazz. Gorgeous harmonies and songs. Excellent and understated guitar work from Stills. Unfairly dismissed in recent years because of the retrospective view of late 60's/early 70s long hair rock and by the punk ethos, "never trust a hippy". This is the direct ancestor of all of the West Coast soft rock albums of the 1970s. Half a star deducted for those songs that haven't dated well, Marrakesh Express being the prime suspect. On the whole this album still holds up well 50 years on.

p540. 1985. 1 star Dull indy rock that thinks noise+feedback = edgy+important. Would have helped if the singer didn't sound doped. Nearly every track sounds the same. Listened to the entire album and nothing stuck or left an impression. This is just noise. Move on, nothing to see (or hear) here. Not sure why this is on the "must hear" list, as there is nothing new or innovative here - the Velvet Underground did this kind of thing better 20 years earlier.

p52. 1960. 3 stars. Nice ;) Wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Smooth as Jim Beam bourbon. Direct connection to Booker T and Georgie Fame. Tight guitar work and smooth sax. Tends to stray into background music though. Not a jazz fan, so not sure I'd play it often. Incidentally, I once owned an album called "The Swinging Organ of Jimmy Smith". Sadly missed opportunity for the album cover.

p487, 1982. 2 stars I know he's a great wordsmith, but lyrically this is just depressing and bloody miserable to listen to. Very few standout tunes either. And something about Elvis Costello's voice leaves me cold, its either a whine or a sneer or a whiney sneer. Well done but definitely not my thing. Not likely to listen to this again. And will avoid sharp objects, pills and alcohol if I do.

p853, 1999. 1 star I like Sigur Rós , but this one... meh. Left me cold. Strays dangerously close into pretentious, over-long prog-rock wankage. Not sure why this one is on the list, as Valtari is a far better album.

p301, 1973. 2 stars. Early hipster jazz-rock. Look how well we can play our instruments! Look how fast we can go! Look how precise we are! Look at the polish and sheen and shiny chrome! All at the expense of any emotion or feeling. It doesn't help that Donald Fagin sounds stoned on every track. And it has an electric piano ffs. The entire album sounds like something you'd hear in the lift or restaurant in an expensive hotel. Technically excellent, but zero heart or soul. 2 stars for some sharp lyrics and for the guitar work, even if that does stray into 70's "look how fast I can play" wankage a lot of the time. Thank god for punk.

p400, 1978. 2 stars. Not my thing, but pleasant enough of its type. Nice voice, nothing exceptional though, and a lot of the arrangements are very 70s and haven't aged well. This album needs a warm sunny day to bring the best out of it, and we tend not to get them in Stoke. Not sure why this is on the list, definitely not essential.

p377, 1977. 3.5 stars New wave/pub rock classic. A little bit dated, but still holds up well, with some absolute bangers - Hanging Around, Peaches, Get A Grip, Go Buddy Go, Peaches - with the last two making up possibly the greatest double A side ever. On the downside, some surprisingly out of place guitar wankage (Princess of the Streets, Down In The Sewer), Not strong enough for a 4, hence 3 stars.

p592, 1988. 2.5 stars, not a 2 but definitely not strong enough for a 3. Suspect this is highly rated by people who were there at the time and are re-listening with psychedelic tinted headphones. For the rest of us... nothing to like or dislike. There are better Happy Mondays albums.

p686, 1992. 3.5 stars, leaning towards 4. Came to this absolutely cold. Don't usually like rap or hiphop but this was surprisingly good. Excellent production and accessible. Would happily listen to this again.

p83, 1965. 3.5 stars. The sound of an above average 60s beat combo :) It's a 50/50 split of filler and genuine classics. Interesting to listen to from a historical perspective - you can hear the genesis of The Who's later sound, and Pete Townshend's song writing is at least on par with anything Lennon/McCartney, Jagger/Richards or Ray Davies did at the same time, but not sure it needs repeated listens.

p152, 1968. 5 stars Classic Brit blues rock. Beck and Stewart on absolutely top form - the interplay between guitar and vocals is fantastic. Most of the tracks are stone cold classics - they even manage to cover Ol' Man River and get away with it. A couple of weak tracks - Shape of Things doesn't add anything to the original other than Beck's guitar work, and Blues Deluxe outstays its welcome, complete with the overdubbed "live" audience applause - but they are still worth listening to just for Jeff Beck. This still sounds great nearly 50 years on.

p750. 1994. 1 star So-so drum and bass with synths and samples. Probably brilliant for clubs at the time but not my thing at all. Just goes on and on and on...

p163. 1969. 4 stars Classic late 60s 'merican blues-tinged rock. The sound is dated, but you can't argue with the song writing, one of THE great rock voices, the energy, or the simplicity of great music stripped down to bare metal. 4 bangers on the album: Green River, Bad Moon Rising, Lodi, Commotion. 1 star deducted for dated production and filler (Broken Spoke Shuffle, Glory Be). This album is a lesson for all the prog rockers: if you can't say it in a 4 minute song, don't bother saying anything.

p823. 1998. 4 stars Came cold to this, knew nothing about the band or their music. Pleasantly surprised. Vaguely pretentious hybrid of punk and glam rock with ridiculous song titles, but doesn't take itself too seriously. All sorts of echoes in here - Ramones, The Who, Queen, Oasis. I liked this more than I was expecting to :)

p268. 1972. 3.5 stars He knows how to write a tune for sure - there are absolute classics here (You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Superstition, I Believe). Having said that, points deducted for some songs outstaying their welcome (Maybe Your Baby) and it does drift to "easy listening" mode far too easily. Probably on the list for historical reasons as it's generally recognised as the first of his "classic" albums. It's OK, with some real highlights, but there are better Stevie Wonder albums.

p681. 1992. 1 star Well, the cheesy synths and arrangements haven't aged well on a lot of the tracks. Nothing much to like here. This was the first album on the list that I struggled to listen to all the way through. Not my thing at all.

p136. 1968. 3.5 stars Lyrically light years ahead of the competition. Stripped down, sparse sound that still sounds fresh. Overwhelming sense of melancholy though, and if you're not prepared to listen to the lyrics a lot of the tracks can sound the same. You have to be in the right mood to fully appreciate this, and if you're not it can sound like self pitying meandering.

p483. 1981. 2 stars We all know their great run of singles in the 70s, but I'd never actually listened to an ABBA album all the way through. First time for everything. Pros: They know how to write a hook. Fabulous voices and arrangements. Excellent production. Cons: schizophrenic style - can't make its mind up whether it wants to be 80s electro pop (The Visitors, One of Us, Slipping Through My Fingers) or show tunes (Head Over Heels, I Let The Music Speak), which is where Benny and Bjorn eventually ended up. All the usual issues with suspect lyrics, and one song - Two For The Price of One - is possibly the worst thing they've ever done. It is all a bit bland and soulless. When they're good, they're brilliant, but there is too much filler here for repeated listens. This album is not essential listening. ABBA Gold is.

p551, 1986. 1 star. Poor man's Tears For Fears. Mark Hollis always sounds like he is straining, and not in a good way. It's all 80s synth and sax, long meandering tracks, and that ain't aged well. Soulless and dull. Not essential listening.

p92. 1966. 4 stars, 1 point deducted for being too clever by half. Bunch of smart arses taking the piss out of 60s American society and the music of the time and doing it really well. Still holds up today, and it's got some great tunes and production. There is a direct line from this to everything early 10cc did. I loved it, but satire and humour are subjective so some people might miss the point. I'm in love with Suzy Creamcheese :)

Not in my edition of the book! 5 stars Came cold to this, hadn't heard of the band or the album. Surprisingly good indie-pop. All sorts of good echoes/influences in here - late 60s Beach Boys, Radiohead. On the replay list.

p484. 1982. 4 stars The sound of a thousand UK early 80's nightclubs. This isn't about ABC, its all about Trevor Horn and his production. Quality work, fabulous orchestration, instantly recognisable and still fresh despite the 80's synths and sax. Some great tunes here, let down by dodgy lyrics. And it's all slightly pretentious... but fun. It's a bit like eating candyfloss, you know it's not good for you but you still enjoy it at the time. "Like a phoenix coming back/From the ashes/I know what's good/But I know what trash is"

p167. 1969. 2 stars Got to be honest, I've never been a fan of the Stones - booze soaked, drug raddled white boy blues rip-offs with a fucking annoying fat lipped gobshite who thinks he is God's gift to women for a front man. The faux blues-country whine he uses on most of this album is really annoying, especially when everyone knows he comes from Dartford. On the plus side they know how to knock out a good tune (Gimme Shelter, Midnight Rambler, though You Can't Always Get What You Want outstays its welcome), and the band is tight - Keith Richards is on form, and Nicky Hopkins and Ian Stewart stand out on every track they are on. At the end of the day it comes over as the so-so efforts of an average white band in it for the chicks.

p526. 1984. 2 stars Sounds like the bastard love child of Nick Cave and The Cure's Robert Smith, but without the talent. Perfectly acceptable without being exceptional in any way. A couple of OK singles, but that's it. On the plus side, it's short, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.

p392. 1977. 4 stars Stripped back rock and roll at its finest from one of the great voices. Two absolute bangers in the title track and The Passenger. Bowie production and vocals are a bonus. 1 point deducted for the filler (Neighbourhood Threat) and some tracks (Turn Blue, Fall In Love With Me) outstaying their welcome. Still essential listening.

p412. 1978. 1 star. Soulless, spandex-clad, big haired cock rock. Lots of sheen and not a shred of emotion. Yes, you can play the guitar fast, but if you don't put any passion into it then it turns into pomp rock wankage realllll fast. Jeff Beck gets more feeling in 3 minutes than this lot have managed in a career.

p415. 1978. 3 stars I knew the singles, but never listened to the album. This is good stuff - quality power pop, echoes of Blondie. The singles are the standout tracks, the rest is well done but not memorable. Short and sweet, still holds up today.

p342. 1975. 2 stars It's well done, but nothing outstanding - it just washed over me and left no residual trace. No standout tracks. Not a fan of reggae, so won't be revisiting.

p436. 1979. 3 stars Thin White Duke impersonator and Brian Ferry sound-alike steals the best bits from Roxy Music's "Stranded" and "Manifesto" and creates the template for Duran Duran, Midge Ure-led Ultravox and the entire New Romantic movement. If you like synths and moodiness then you can appreciate how influential this was. If not, then you'll get bored with this VERY quickly.

p705. 1993. 4 stars Elder statesman of Brit rock on top form. There is valid school of thought that says Paul Weller is a better songwriter than Elvis Costello, and they are right - there are more good tunes here than in the last 10 Costello albums. One star docked for the faux jazz wankage of the instrumentals - it didn't work with the Style Council, and it doesn't work here - and the vague worry that he is slowly turning into Eric Clapton.

p347, 1975. 4.5 stars He's always had a bloody awful voice, sounds like he's straining with bad haemorrhoids when he tries for any long notes. Set against that, he writes some cracking tunes and is a fabulous wordsmith. This sounds like something that Mark Knopfler should have written, and sung better. Half a star deducted for the voice.

p79. 1965. 4 stars Loveable 60s mop tops discover illicit substances, and expand minds and song writing potential. This is the departure point from covers and 3 minute pop gems - you can hear the cross-pollination between Dylan and The Byrds. It's Lennon-McCartney-Harrison, so there are more stone cold classics on this one album than most bands manage in a career. Docked a point for What Goes On, and the production which haven't aged well. This album is a bit like sex - when it's good, it's terrific, and when it's bad, well, it's still good.

p461, 1980. 2 stars It's not bad, its just not great either. Too many tracks just meander. Brian Eno on form though. Great guitar work on The Great Curve. Other than Once In A Lifetime, nothing left a lasting impression. Not on the replay list.

p634. 1990. 2 stars Instantly recognisable, lovely sound and production but... it's all a bit samey. Becomes background noise very quickly and there are no real standout tunes. Perfectly unremarkable 90's cocktail bar music. Not on the replay list.

p508. 1983. 3 stars. Above average rock band with glitter and a sly sense of humour. A refreshing change from the 80's synths at the time. You can see where The Killers got their inspiration from. Well done of its kind, but it's hardly essential listening.

p564. 1987. 2 stars. Prototype grunge. Nirvana meets Black Sabbath but without the songs or talent. The vocalist can't sing, and they do enjoy their feedback and squealing guitars, so its a bit harsh on the ears. There is also an unhealthy degree of weirdness (Poledo) and hard rock wankage. On the plus side, they do keep it short. Perfectly acceptable of its type, and probably on the list because of its influence rather than its quality, but points deducted for wankage and the vocals. Wouldn't listen to it again.

p778. 1996. 4 stars. So this is what the bastard love children of Donovan and Albert Lee sound like. Bittersweet songs, sharp lyrics and a sense of melancholy. All that is missing are some standout tunes. On the replay list.

p570. 1987. 4 stars One of the great voices evolves from pop pretty boy into accomplished blue-eyed soul boy/singer/songwriter. Who would have thought the man who wrote Club Tropicana could move on to Father Figure? Not a weak track on this, although you can make a case that I Want Your Sex outstays its welcome and that Look At Your Hands is filler. This still sounds great today. Essential listening.

p594. 1988. 1 star. A bloody mess more like. Badly mixed, tuneless noise, with no redeeming features. Lead vocalist can't sing. 38mins and 2 seconds of my life I'll never get back.

p241. 1971. 3 stars. Got to be honest, I have never cared for Robert Plant's voice, it strays too close to a hysteric shriek. He sounds like Roger Daltrey with added oestrogen. This is a schizophrenic album - a competent rock band with some good tunes that can't decide whether to play blues, be rock'n'rollers or folkies. And it suffers from the usual early 70's wankage which means a lot of the songs outstay their welcome. Didn't do it for me. Jimmy Page seems like a quite good guitarist though.

p318. 1974. 4 stars. In terms of influence, this is absolutely massive. Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis, Gary Newman and all of the 80's electro/synth bands owe this a huge debt, as well as John Carpenter and anyone working on sci-fi soundtracks in the 1980s. Aural cinema :) If you don't like atmospheric synths then you're going to hate this - but everyone should listen to this once in their lives.

p78. 1965. 4 stars Damn I love me some blues :) It doesn't get much better than this. The blueprint for everything Eric Clapton and Peter Green became famous for, only done better. One of the great guitarists on top form. 1 star deducted for it being a live album.

p586. 1988. 2 stars. This has not aged well - it sounds like every bad drum machine, synth and mid-80s cocktail bar musical cringeworthy cliche you can imagine. In particular the female backing vocalists and whoever did their arrangements need to be taken outside and shot. Twice. Shame, as there are some cracking tunes here, and lyrically he is still light years of the game.

p462. 1980. 2 stars All sorts of echoes here - Kraftwerk, Moroder, Bowie from his Low period. Depressing lyrics, harsh on the ears, repetitive songs. Vocals sounds like Jim Morrison after a bottle of bourbon and downers. Bleak machine music for a country under the early days of Thatcherism. No wonder Ian Curtis topped himself.

p176. 1969. 3 stars Yeehaw. Average band play average country rock songs. Well done of its kind I suppose but... just washed over me and left no residual trace. Only a couple of standout tunes, and a lot of the vocals veer into a thin whine far too often. I might be missing something, but on the other hand this album could just be really average.

p351. 1975. 5 stars Yes, it's overblown and over produced camp rock - but it's also an A grade rock band on top form with some cracking tunes and a sense of humour, and that covers a multitude of sins. There is a reason why Queen were so popular and why their songs are still played today, and this is the perfect illustration why. There isn't a weak track on it, although you can argue that The Prophet's Song outstays its welcome. And Brian May seems quite a good guitarist.

p505, 1983. 2 stars. So-so 80's Brit synth band with no tunes and desolate lyrics. A lot of the tracks meander and outstay their welcome. Bonus star for Jools Holland on Uncertain Smile, otherwise there is not too much to like here. Not on the replay list.

p582. 1987. 4 stars. The sound of late 80s stadium rock. Oddly enough, it's the most well known tracks - Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With Or Without You - that haven't aged well, it's like repeated plays have worn off any real impact they once had. The album really kicks in from Bullet The Blue Sky onwards. It's good stuff, not a weak track on it BUT then we come to Bono. You can only take so much Irish bombastic earnestness before thinking, "just shut the fuck up", so a point deducted for that. On the plus side, The Edge seems quite a good guitarist.

p155, 1968. 2 stars. Yeehaw. Former folk/psychedelic/pop idols go country in desperate attempt to reinvent themselves. Well done of its kind and in hindsight one of the key bridges between pop and country - you can see a direct line from this to The Eagles and The Dixie Chicks - but not my thing at all. Unlikely to play this again.

p556, 1986. 2 stars. I can see why it's influential - rap meets rock - but not my thing. The impression I get is other than the singles, a lot of the tracks sound the same and seem like filler. Unlikely to listen to this again. Well done of its kind though.

p836. 1998. 4 stars The bastard love children of Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis. Accessible electronic mood music for the masses. It's good, but does outstay its welcome on the longer tracks.

p446, 1979. 4 stars Ska meets disillusioned angry young men at the start of Thatcher's Britain. I don't usually like ska or reggae, but this is good - a rare example of the soundtrack to a moment in time that still sounds fresh today. Having said that... I like it, but don't love it. Just my taste in music.

p684. 1992. 2 stars. Average white boy garage band plays average white boy garage songs. Nothing memorable here. Why is this on the list?

p802. 1997. 3 stars. Weird, but it's got something. It's like the soundtrack to a B movie., along with the associated risk of it becoming background music You have to be in the right mood for this otherwise I should imagine it gets tired very quickly. Worth listening to though.

p174, 1969. 5 stars. 60's tail end classic. White man blues meets heavy rock with a garnish of folk, and world domination ensues. I'm still not a fan of Robert Plant's voice, but here it hasn't evolved into the hysterical shriek of later years. Bonham and Jones are on top form, and Jimmy Page seems quite a good guitarist.

p28. 1956. 4 stars. Feel-good primitive rock'n'roll that still sounds fresh today. Great sound, great production, great voice. The only thing missing is the same sense of excitement you get from a Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis track.

p709. 1993. 4 stars Accessible indy rock with distinct hints of Nirvana. Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised. On the replay list.

p702. 1992. 3 stars The source of skinny white chick rock. Well done of its kind, but a lot of the songs tend to blur into one another after a while.

p943. 2016. 5 stars Gravel voiced old man ruminates on death and produces final work of power and beauty. Lyrically, still light years ahead of the competition, and this time we've got decent tunes and quality production to match the words. Not a weak track on it. I am guessing this will resonate more with an older audience.

p496. 1982. 3 stars THE soundtrack of a million 80s nightclubs worldwide. It's packed with hits, and Quincey Jones is on top form. Having said that, there is filler - Baby Be Mine, The Girl Is Mine (hang your head in shame Macca) - and the 80's synths haven't dated well (PYT). Jackson sounds like he never really cracked puberty, and those shrill whoops get annoying real soon. It's not as good as Off The Wall. "You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)/Still they hate you (still they hate you)"

p251. 1971. 3 stars I feel like I should like this more than I do but... meh. Don't get me wrong, lyrically it's sharp, he had a cracking voice and it has its tunes, but I think it says a lot when the biggest track on it was written by someone else. And it has an utterly redundant cover of Let The Good Times Roll. When it's good, its very good, but there is a lot of filler that hasn't aged well. It feels and sounds like a hipster Billy Joel.

p475. 1981. 4.5 stars The sordid pale white underbelly of early 80s Britain disguised beneath brilliant electropop. Like or loathe him, Marc Almond has a terrific voice and sharp lyrics, whilst Dave Ball is simply a musical genius. At it's best this is brilliant - Youth and Say Hello Wave Goodbye are highlights, and it was a stroke of brilliance to tempt in the casual listener with Tainted Love, which proves that you can cover a song and make it your own. Set against that, some of the tracks outstay their welcome, and Entertain Me is filler. Apart from that, you get sex, kinks, self loathing, emptiness, isolation, all within the hits. I feel like I need a shower after listening to this.

p867. 2000. 2 stars Rap. Well done of its type - I like the Indian samples and jazz influences - but otherwise, not my thing at all. Would not listen to it again.

p805. 1997. 2 stars. Average white girl punk band with nothing to add to what The Runaways and The Go-Gos have done before. In fact it sounds like the Go-Gos. Well done of its kind but not essential listening. Why is this on the list?

p256. 1972. 2 stars. Primeval 70s hard rock. So this is where we put the blame for a thousand hysterical shrieking vocalists and an eternity of guitar wankage. I found this tedious beyond belief, really struggled to listen all the way through. Well produced though. Thank god for punk.

p825. 1998. A perfect example of the artist's surname reflecting the content. It's a bit like porridge, you consume it to fill a need but it leaves you feeling vaguely unsatisfied. Every track sounds the same, and the cover of Say Hello Wave Goodbye is appalling, it sounds like a dirge. The entire album is background noise for a 90s dinner party. Definitely not essential listening.

p569. 1987. 3 stars. Broody Goth rock meets Jim Steinman and ends up sounding like late 70's Bowie/Iggy. It's OK, but nothing special.

p344. 1975. 3 stars The epitome of 70's singer-songwriter albums. Great voice, sharp lyrics, all sorts of things going on here - burundi beat, jazz, West Coast AOR. Not to everyone's taste, and probably not as good as Blue. 1 star deducted for dated production - dig that electric piano baby! - and some tracks outstay their welcome.

p829. 1998. 5 stars. Madge on top form. Not a weak track on this. Excellent production. Still sounds great 20 years on.

p75, 1965. 5 stars. One of the all time great vocalists shows how it should be done. Yes, most of these are covers, but they are mostly definitive versions that you'll have heard a thousand times before, and they still sound great. Production is excellent and the MG's are on absolutely top form. There is something on this album for everyone every time you listen to it.

p201. 1970. 4 stars Late 60s hippies wake up in a new decade and discover country. Fantastic harmonies, fine musicianship, great tunes - what's not to like? Still holds up after 50+ years, although you can argue that Country Girl is filler and that Our House is as weak as a kitten. Imagine what they could have done if they hadn't been perpetually wasted and/or soaked in booze.

p53. 1960. 4.5 stars. Damn I love blues, and this is as pure as it gets. Half a point deducted for being a live album, but other than that it's perfect.

p367. 1976. 3 stars Primeval trippy electro music from the 70s, and hence a high degree of musical wankage. Outstays its welcome on most of the tracks, and oh my, didn't someone have fun passing those synth sounds from speaker to speaker? Vangelis did this kind of thing much better IMHO. Perfectly acceptable of its kind, but it's all a bit pompous and sterile.

p364. 1975. 3 stars Perfectly acceptable fodder, well produced with a sense of humour but... not my thing. It's missing standout tracks. Listened to it, thought it was OK, then forgot about it.

p729. 1994. 2 stars. Hip-hop/rap. Not my thing at all, so 2 stars. Like the bass and production though, and there are a couple of OK tracks like Life's A Bitch. On the whole, 40 mins of my life I won't get back.

p688. 1992. 3 stars Middle of the road songs offset by terrific voice and production. There simply aren't enough standout songs - after a while they tend to just blur in to each other. Not sure it is essential listening.

p872. 2001. 3 stars. The Icelandic love child of Sinead O'Connor and David Lynch. This sounds like the lost soundtrack to Twin Peaks. Having said that, their is only so much weirdness you can listen to before it gets boring. Well done of its kind, but becomes background music real soon.

p316. 1974. 2 stars. This ain't aged well. Vague echoes of early Hall and Oates but without the melodies. The boy's got talent - he plays nearly everything on the album, and some tracks like Rainy Day, Sweet Thang and Freedom Flight show promise - but there's a reason why this didn't sell in the first place, and its because its utterly forgettable. Why is this even on the list?

p97. 1966. 4.5 stars. Classic 60s Brit blues. This is where Clapton made his reputation, and he still sounds light years of most of the competition. There a couple of filler tracks - the cover of What I Say outstays its welcome - but other than that it doesn't get much better than this.

p252. 1971. 4 stars Fey, but muscular. Absolutely fabulous early 70s glam rock. As with all things Bolan, lyrically suspect, but the riffs and band and production are still fantastic. Some filler, especially on the 2nd side, but if you can't dance to at least one track on this you are officially dead. "Just like a car/You're pleasing to behold/I'll call you Jaguar/If I may be so bold" "Girl I'm just a vampire for your love/And I'm gonna SUCK ya"

p121. 1967. 1 star Poor man's Johnny Cash. All the worst excesses of country music are here. I really struggled to listen to the entire album. On the plus side the songs are short. Definitely not my thing. "If I could die/My pain might go away". I wish he would.

p122. 1967. 5 stars Sounds as fresh today as when it was first issued. Not a weak track on this. Hugely influential. Raised the bar for every other guitarist without ever straying in wankage, although you can argue that Third Stone From The Sun outstays its welcome. Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell on top form. Packed with genuine rock classics. This one is essential listening.

p78, 1965. 1 star There is a reason that jazz fell out of favour, and this is a prime example of why. It might be technically excellent, but for the casual listener it simply isn't accessible - it comes across as formless, self indulgent, meandering musical wankage. This is 32 minutes of my life I will never get back.

Not in my edition of the book! 2007. 3.5 stars. Fabulous synthesis of indie pop and 60's psychedelia, irritating catchy riffs and vague Beatle-ish overtones. Time To Pretend and Kids are standouts, but a lot of the album is filler. This would get a 4 on a good day.

p24. 1956. 3 stars. Primeval white rock'n'roll. Even after this time, the voice is terrific. Fabulous guitar solos from Scotty Moore, and Bill Black and DJ Fontana are rock solid on bass and drums. Set against that, there is an awful lot of filler, especially on the maudlin ballads, and some of the covers don't add anything to the originals. When this is good it's excellent - it's there are just too many average songs to give this anything other than a 3. But that voice...

p476. 1981. 1 star. Dreary and soulless synth pop. This is the soundtrack to every dull grey wet Tuesday in Liverpool in Thatcher's Britain. Most the album is the band farting about with synths on songs that outstay their welcome - who the fuck needs a 7 minute "moody" instrumental, it's like punk never happened, eh lads? And what the fuck is the album title about? Pretentious wankers.

p206. 1970. 2 stars. Bland late 60's/70's CSN&Y wannabees with no redeeming features. Sounds like the less talented younger brothers of the Band. Well done of its kind, but utterly forgettable. Not essential listening.

p470. 1980. 4 stars. Fabulous rock-pop-punk hybrid. Outstanding songs and vocals about sex, desire and loathing. Needs to be played loud for maximum impact. 1 star deducted for occasionally straying into guitar wankage. Still sounds fresh 40 years on. PJ Harvey has based her entire career on trying to write something as good as this.

p251. 1971. 4 stars Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised. Lyrically sharp as a razor and some good tunes. Sounds like country-era Dylan, which isn't for everyone, but once you get past the strings and slide guitar it's terrific - there is a direct line from this to Springsteen's Nebraska. It's everything The Band aspired to and failed to deliver. Probably too country for most, but it's definitely worth a second listen.

p890. 2002. 2 stars Hip-hop, so not my thing at all. Well done of its kind, and had me tapping my foot, but a lot of the tracks just blurred into each other.

p639. 1990. 2 stars Adequate pub-rock band tries to be Rod Stewart and the Faces, only without the talent or songs. It says a lot when the most successful song is a cover. This is just average - why is this album on the list?

p50. 1960. 2 stars Well, this ain't aged well. It's mostly a collection of mediocre pop songs, saved only the Voice. There are maybe 2 songs that stand up to comparison with his pre-Army songbook, and on the couple of occasions that the songs are decent, we have the Jordanaires droning on it. And who let that sax player in?? Seriously, this album sounds like something meant for Bobby Vinton or Pat Boone. The boy had the looks, the moves, and the Voice. Just a shame that he rarely got the songs to match.

p230. 1971. 2 stars On the plus side: if you want an example of why Duane Allman rates alongside Clapton and Hendrix as the greatest guitarist of all time, look no further. This is it. On the negative side: if you want an example of excessive, overly long, wankage filled early '70s southern blues/rock, look no further. This is it. Don't get me wrong, the musicianship is great and Duane Allman is fantastic but... it's too much, and too long. Seriously, did anyone actually enjoy 15-20 minute "jams" on a live album unless they were stoned? Maybe you had to be there.

p656. 1991. 4 stars. Point deducted for suspect lyrics, filler tracks on the 2nd half of the album, and for ripping off "More Than A Feeling" by Boston. Apart from that, this is pretty good. "Here we are now/Entertain us/A mulatto/An albino/A mosquito/My libido/Yeah"

p455. 1980. 2 stars. The sound of musicians that were born 10 years too late and wish the 60s had never ended. This sounds like an album of 13th Floor Elevators, Byrds and Ziggy Stardust outtakes, only without the talent. Listening to it you'd have thought that punk never happened. Quite good guitar playing, though it frequently strays in 70s wankage. It's OK, but nothing special - no idea why this is on the list.

p300. 1973. 3 stars All the evidence you need to prove that Elton John is best as a singles artist. When it's good, it's very good but... most of it is filler, and do we really need a 5 minute instrument as the opener? The production hasn't aged well - one listen and you know it was recorded in the early 70s. This could have been a stunning single album - just needs the fat trimming off.

p390. 1977. 5 stars Costello when he could still knock out a decent tune. Listening to this, you can see what the fuss was about - razor sharp lyrics, minimal production, and short snappy songs that actually stick in the ear. This is the standard he set himself, and it's just sad to hear the thin meandering whining that he puts out these days compared to this.

p94. 1966. 5 stars A perfect time capsule of the mid 60s, capturing all the hope and fears of the era in 28 minutes. 50 years on this is still an example of why Paul Simon is one of the greatest songwriters ever, and why Art Garfunkel is one of the greatest vocalists ever. Classic.

p88. 1966. 3 stars. The primeval ancestors of Blur. Pros: Ray Davies can knock out a tune, and lyrically he's as sharp as Costello or Weller. Cons: he can't sing, the Kinks weren't great musicians, and the production hasn't dated that well. Compare this with Revolver or Pet Sounds from the same year and all the flaws really show up. It's more of a historical significance piece - "look what Ray Davies was doing at the same time as Dylan and Lennon and Wilson".

p638. 1990. 3 stars The bastard love children of The Byrds and Love. Lots of jangly guitars and OK tunes, but there's an overwhelming feeling that this was done by a late 60s B-list band, and the record company rejected the album. There She Goes is the only standout track. Well done of its kind but not outstanding.

p874. 2001. 2 stars Velvet Underground wannabees without the style or the substance. Great album cover though.

p845. 1999. 3 stars. Mood music/background listening, with samples and Asian influences to hook you in. Well done of its kind, but it does outstay its welcome.

p648. 1990. 1 star. Shouty power pop with no redeeming features. Green Day without the tunes. No thank you. Why is this on the list?

p864. 2000. 3 stars Classy soul/jazz background music. Vaguely reminiscent of What's Going On, but without any standout tracks. It sounds like a Nora Jones outtakes album. Can imagine this being played whilst the black forest gateaux is being served.

p578. 1987. 1 star. This is noise, not music. It sounds like acne ridden teenage boys finding their older brothers guitar and drum kit and pretending to be Motorhead, and doing it badly. It is loud, badly played, pointless, pretentious, annoying random shite. Avoid.

p483. 1981. 1970s Canadian-American prog-rockers, and that in itself should be enough warning. I can't stand Geddy Lee's vocals, he sounds like his testicles have only just dropped. You could put him in a room with Jon Anderson and Roger Hodgson and have your own boys choir. And as with all things prog-rock, there is excessive musical wankage. Not my thing at all.

p115. 1967. 2 stars Well, the voice is fantastic, but this isn't his best work. Frank barely breaks a sweat, and sounds half asleep in a lot of the songs, and the arrangements pale in comparison to those of Nelson Riddle. Each track sounds the same as the one before, and the bossa nova vibe hasn't aged well. It's bland, and that ain't good.

p36. 1957. 5 stars The raw DNA of rock'n'roll and that would follow. Little Richard crams in more excitement and energy in the opening track than some artists manage in an entire career. There isn't a weak track on this.

Not in my edition of the book so! Obviously not essential to listen to before you die! 2012. 1 star. Purile, sexist, misogynistic, obnoxious shite that gets boring reallll fast. Strange that it's OK for black rappers to use the N* word but if anyone else does you're racist. Or that it's OK for them to call women bitches and pussy and hoes (whores), but if anyone else does you're misogynistic. Or that it's OK from them to to boast about how high and doped they get, but if anyone else does then you're just a fucked up junkie. Just saying. "I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower/So I can fuck the world for seventy-two hours". FFS, grow up.

p270. 1972. 3 stars CSNY meet the Byrds and Merle Haggard. Well done of its kind, but not many standout songs. It frequently strays into musical wankage and outstays its welcome. Would have been a far better single album.

p948. 2017. 3 stars Kiwi Pink wannabee but without the songs. Sharp lyrics, which is a plus, but a long of the songs blur into one another. It's OK, but not great.

p606. 1989. 2 stars Average Aerosmith/Kiss wannabees with average songs play loud to try and cover up deficiencies and fail. The best song on this is a cover. Nothing to keep your attention here, move along. WTF is this doing on the list?

p213. 1970. 3 stars. 60's white soul boy gets jazzy and throws in some folk to spice it up. It's well done, but there are no standout tracks, and you get all the usual musical wankage you expect from early 70s albums. It says a lot that the best track on it is an old English folk song. On the plus side, it is is short.

p169. 1969. 3 stars. One of the great white female voices on top form, but let down by suspect material and production. When it works (Just a Little Lovin', Son Of A Preacher Man, I Don't Want To Hear It, Breakfast In Bed, Just One Smile, I Can't Make It Alone), it's fabulous. Unfortunately the rest of the songs are filler, some of the production hasn't aged well - the strings quickly veer into middle of the road syrup - and the cover of The Windmills Of Your Mind is pure cheese.

p718. 1993. 4 stars. Good things: great production, some great songs. Bad things: Bjork's voice. It's the aural equivalent of a cheese grater on the fingertips.

p141. 1968. 3.5 stars. Schizophrenic mix of pop, country, folk and 60's psychedelia wrapped up in an aura of world weariness. It's odd, but it's got something, and it still sounds fresh nearly 50 years on.

p321. 1974. 3 stars. Vaguely pretentious glam/pomp rock that outstays its welcome and frequently strays into early 70's rock wankage. Well done though, and Brian May seems quite a good guitarist. Other than Seven Seas of Rye, it's missing standout tunes. Not sure it's essential listening.

p744. 1994. 5 stars Great songs, great production, great guitar work and THAT voice. And it has the rarest of things, a cover that has become the definitive version. Faultless. To what heights could he have risen...

p204. 1970. 3 stars This is going to be unpopular opinion, but I don't think Robert Plant can sing. He sounds like a castrated bullock that has inhaled helium. It's like a weird high tone yelling. Combine that with the 7+ minute wankage that is "Since I've Been Loving You Too Long" and it makes your ears bleed. Shame, because there are some good songs on this, the rest of the band are on form, and Jimmy Page seems quite a good guitarist.

p126. 1967. 4 stars. Ethereal mood music with an Indian vibe. Had low expectations of this and was pleasantly surprised - excellent production and musicianship. Not sure I will listen to it again, but glad I did.

p662. 1991. 2 stars, but should be 1.5. Distinctly average, and far too long for what it is. Not keen on the shouty white faux funk/rap, and most of the tracks sound the same and just blur into each other. Set against that, excellent musicianship and there are a couple of good tunes - but not enough to deserve repeated listening.

p460. 1980. 1.5 stars. Well done of its type, but definitely not my thing. Rob Halford can't sing, and there is a lot of filler. It's dull and left no lasting impression, and the final track (Red White And Blue) is an abomination. Really struggled to listen to this one all the way through. Not essential listening.

p888. 2002. 4 stars. Nick Drake for the new millennium. Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised - strong lyrics, excellent musicianship and production. On the repeat listen list.

Not in my edition of the book! 2000. 1.5 star. Shouty white boy rap metal noise. Gets tedious VERY quickly. Shame, as they seem to be adequate musicians. Not essential listening.

Not in my edition of the book! 2018. 5 stars The millennium lovechild of The Dixie Chicks, Joni Mitchell and Lana Del Rey. Great songs, lovely voice, classy warm production and excellent musicianship. On the repeat play list.

p254. 1971. 5 stars. One of the great singer/songwriters on absolute top form. There is not a weak track on this. Exquisite musicianship and production. What's not to like?

p560, 1986. 2 stars Jangly 80s guitar music for lonely pasty faced Mancs in long overcoats whilst standing on damp street corners in the rain, waiting in vain for someone to notice them. Everyone has a musical blind spot, an artist or band that everyone loves and which you just don't like. The Smiths are my blind spot. I don't like Morrisey's whinging whine of a voice, and too many of their songs sound the same. 2 stars for the couple of songs that sound different from the others and for Johnny Marr's guitar work.

p264. 1972. 5 stars. Camp, sardonic glam rock classic. 50 years on and it still sounds terrific. Half a star deducted for suspect lyrics (Andy's Chest), but otherwise this is practically flawless.

p775. 1996. 1.5 stars. Vaguely annoying, repetitious, soulless electro Europop with bland vocals and no tunes. Strays into synth wankage far too often. Well produced, but outstays its welcome big time. Not essential listening in any shape or form.

p316, 1974. 3 stars This is going to sound like heresy, but I don't think Steve Wonder is a great album artist. The singles are usually fantastic, and there are always one or two standout tracks, but there is also a lot of filler - and this album is no exception. I appreciate the craftmanship, but not sure I would listen to it again.

p607. 1989. 4 stars Well done pilfering of Prince, Hendrix and Beatles circa Abbey Road. Was surprised at how much I liked this. 1 star deducted for some tracks outstaying their welcome. Still on the replay list, though.

p431. 1979. 2 stars The problems here are David Byrne's voice - he can't sing - and no standout songs. It's instantly forgettable, other than the "singing". The best thing about this is Brian Eno's production. Not sure this is essential listening.

p665. 1991. 2 stars Hip hop/rap. Well done of its kind but not my thing at all hence 2 stars.

p400. 1978. 1 star. Unpleasant mixture of Talking Heads, 13th Floor Elevators and The Doors, only without the songs or the talent. And David Thomas cannot sing. This is bloody awful. 35 minutes of my life I will never get back.

p514. 1983. 3 stars. Victim of poor quality control and letting the untalented song writing members of the group contribute. There is a LOT of filler - both the Copeland and Summers tracks are B side material at best, and there worrying hints of the faux jazz wankage that Sting strayed into as a solo artist. Points also deducted for suspect lyrics and vaguely repellent lyrics - Every Breath You Take is every stalker's theme tune. Bit of a shame really, because when Sting is on form he can definitely knock a tune out. When this is good, it's very good. "Hey Mr. Dinosaur/You really couldn't ask for more/You were God's favourite creature/But you didn't have a future." How prescient.

Not in my edition of the book! 1999. 4 stars Interesting Brit alt guitar rock that wants to be Godspeed You! Black Emperor when it grows up, but with lyrics. Could be the soundtrack to a cult urban horror film. Good if you like this sort of thing, which I do.