Feb 17 2022
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Had never before listened to this in its entirety. Listened twice today, once in the background this morning and a second time more focussed while walking Lucy ( my Vizsla). Only knew Jean Genie and “lets spend the night…” - rolling stonspes cover- the rest were new to me.
It has the feel of a unique artist very much in his element. Great and original album. A classic.
5
Feb 18 2022
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
I already knew this album quite well from back in the day. Slim Shady at his prime. Love it. Don’t live the skits
4
Feb 19 2022
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Blackstar
David Bowie
I remember when this came out, just before Bowie’s death. I kinda hear it at the time but didn’t pay much attention.
I’m glad I have listened properly to it now. It probably holds an odd place in music history as he was clearly past his prime but still a great artist.
I like it. But I’m a world of thousands of albums it’s hard to know where to put it.
Also, I am only on day 3 of this project and have had 2 David Bowie albums!
4
Feb 20 2022
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
This was something i had never listened to before, despite being 20/21 yrars old when it came out. This kind of metal was never my thing, and i never paid much attention to it. this 1001 project made me give it a go, and i guess that is part of the point.
i listened to the first 30-40 minutes while walking the dog yesterday afternoon. the first two bands that came to mind, both contemporaries of RATM were the Beastie Boys, and Nirvana. both of whom I love,
But this just didnt do it for me. Angry, serious, political, raw. no humour, no finesse and no fun, for me. And i couldnt finish it.
But the sound / vibe kept coming back to me in the evening and i decided to give it another go this morning. i listened to the whole thing.
i didnt love it. its hard to put my finger on it. And from reading about it is was evidently an important and successful album.
The music is raw, and i dont think great. the lyrics are serious snd angry, but no finesse. All of this may be deliberate but it leaves me wondering why i should listen. The message is, for me, drwoned out in noise and screaming.
i reckon that unless this project gives me another RATM album, i will probably never listen to them again.
But i did give it a go!
1
Feb 21 2022
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
i always admired Stevie Wonder but only really knew his 80s / more commercial stuff. This album is fantastic. the funk, the soul, the rhythm, his voice. The fun they are clearly having making it. This is an album that makes me smile when listening to it.
The first track sounds like something from Jamiroquai, who were obviously 20+ years later, and no doubt inspired by this sound.
5 stars from me.
5
Feb 23 2022
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21
Adele
Tjis is a mixed bag for me. i acknowledge Adele is a great singer, but to me she does not live up to the hype. Dont get me wrong, this is an above average album from one of pop music’s biggest stars.
But i dont love the songs. And ghe voiceis to me pure and beautiful, but there are dozens of singers that fit that description.
Rolling in the deep is a fun crowd pleaser, but songs like Turning Tables are not exciting. sure they snowcase her voice, but give me Amy Winehouse over this any day if the week. An above average album, but to me not a masterpiece.
3
Feb 24 2022
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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
I have always known of Ray Charles, as a legend and an icon of soul and other genres from the 50s onwards. When i hear his name i think of the Blues Brothers movie - i guess thats when i first heard of him.
i didnt know this album. have enjoyed listening to it. When i started i assumed it was from the 1950s, but as it turns out it was 1962, which i guess means the music would have probably sounded like a collection if old classics. By a guy who has his own style and mood,
it is not really my thing, kind of an old fashioned hollywood vibe. i guess to appreciate it it should be considered in its historical context, early 60s, civil rights movement era, yet mainly “ white” music by a pioneerning black blues / soul singer.
i can see how it belongs in a list of albums to listen to before you die, but i dont see myself coming back and lisrening to it too often.
Careless Love was a stand out to me for mood and feel. And You are My Sunshine
more of a histroical artefact,
4
Feb 25 2022
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Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
i knew some of Tim Buckley’ later stuff but had never heard this. this music is right up my alley, folk, psycedlic, californian flower power music. his voice is very feminine in some places which was a little offputting - i had to check if i was still listening to Jeff Buckley.
But the music feels vibrant and energetic, you can almost feel that he is innovating with sounds and styles as he goes. i am adding this album to my rotation. love it!
5
Feb 26 2022
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
i know this album very well, as a long time stones fan, and have also seen the great documentary movie that covers its creation. this is an iconic sones album and also kind of marks a transition of style / maturity in the stones’ very substantial journey. this one is right up there with their best and as a double album was probably quite a statement at the time.
4
Feb 28 2022
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Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
I had never heard of this band before. My first impression was that they sounded a little like REM, and perhaps some Definitely Maybe era Oasis. I read that they started out as a hardcore punk band and evolved to this indi rock style.
I like this music and the style - has a good feel to it. I could imagine listening to this on a solo road trip, on the freeway. And I also think I would enjoy this music live.
4
Mar 01 2022
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25
Adele
This one would be better featuring in a book called “1001 albums you will likely be subjected to before you die”. I may be jaded partly by the fact that it wss only a week ago that i got 21, another Adele album.
Full disclosure. i did not listen to all of it. But i tried. Twice. both times i made it about 6-7 songs in before I realised i wasn’t listening and her voice was distracting me from my thoughts and irritating me.
i was quite surprised to hear that she actualy wrote a lot of these songs herself. They sound like they are manufactured to showcase her voice. But they are bland, manufactured pop trash. Kmart background noise.
Great music sounds like it is beimg performed with passion. This has some of the ingredients, her voice is good, it is clearly well produced and no doubt the session musicians are spot on. But it has no soul. No narrative. And her great voice becomes whiney. No thanks. i hope there are no more Adele albums in this project.
2
Mar 02 2022
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Forever Changes
Love
love this album. 1960s psychedelic flower power. easy to listen to.
4
Mar 03 2022
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Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
Not my thing, but i appreciate it is quite fun,esp. Sweet Child of Mine. The sort of thing that they would play on Waynes World.
3
Mar 04 2022
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Elephant
The White Stripes
one of the best alums of the 2000s decade. 7 nation army is a rock classic. plenty of genuinely great rock songs with some fun and humour thrown in too.
5
Mar 05 2022
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Truth
Jeff Beck
Big loud guitar based rock. But for me just missing the hook of the stones or Clapton - hard to explain why. Don’t live it.
2
Mar 06 2022
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Dummy
Portishead
This band was starting out in Bristol (England) while I was at university there. But somehow I didn’t hear about them until after I had left, some time shortly after this album came out. This, plus massive attack became my staple and around that time and I still listen to this music. Great, innovative, original band. Love it.!
5
Mar 07 2022
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
Texan rock and roll, and childhood memories. Love it. I think the is the best ZZ Top album
5
Mar 08 2022
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Pink Moon
Nick Drake
This is cool, ambient and original sounding music. You can listen to it absorb the lyrics, or have it on the background - it works both ways. A thoughtful, intelligent musician with his own sound. I can see why this belongs in the 1001 albums….
5
Mar 09 2022
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Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
This is very weird music! not quite right for the morning commuite, maybe better suited to being slumped in a chair with a dram. I enjoyed lostening to this, found it quite trippy and very original.
3
Mar 10 2022
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
This is very much music of its era, the late 70s where electronic music and synthesisers were becoming quite common. Music was changing,to me this wss the foundation of the 80s pop sound. There are similarities with Talking Heads. This is fun, humerous music and less confrontational than the contemporary punk sound coming from the Clash, the Pistols and Iggy Pop. it is fun to listento, but sounds very 70s
4
Mar 11 2022
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69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields
I have not listened to all of this yet - 69 songs! But i will listenend to a couple of hours and will get to all of it eventually. i really like it, it is my kind of music. Hard to define as it is quite varied. Quite random and not really love songs.
for the most part the songs are humerous and often quite light hearted, perhaps sometimes with more serious undertones. i could listen to this on a long drive, or while running and enjoy pretty much every song ( so far)
4
Mar 12 2022
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Reminds me of a band playing at high school in a acoobie doo movie. I love it, fresh Colley rock. I like her voice and the whole vibe. Not every song works but overall a lot of fun to listen to.
4
Mar 13 2022
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Illmatic
Nas
90s hip hop/ rap. I didn’t know this guy. Enjoyed listening to it on a long drive. There is lots of music like this and I’m not clear what puts this album into the 1001. It was descent but …
3
Mar 14 2022
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
Love this. Have always known a few of the songs, but thisnis the first time i have listened to a JJ album right through. Cool music and suits many different moods.
4
Mar 15 2022
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
More Janis. - second day in a row l. Luckily I live it - lots of fun to listen to.
4
Mar 16 2022
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Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
I am not a fan of this kind of music, (at least I wasn’t) so my hopes were not night for this. But I really enjoyed it. Great beats and energy and anger, and the music is much more accessible than I expected. I have listened to this a couple of times and we surely listen again.
4
Mar 17 2022
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
i had not heard of this band before but i seem to be getting a sequennce of 90s Indie famale led rock. Some of the tracks are a little manic/ punky and repetitive for me but overall i liked the sound and the vibe, and would go back for more.
3
Mar 18 2022
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Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
This is my kind of music, though I didn’t know David Holmes when I started listening. Innovative DJ trip hop with lots of mixing and sampling. How did I not know this. Reminded me a little of the Avalanches- who came a few years later.
4
Mar 19 2022
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Easy listening. Fun. Happy. i prefer songs with lyrics, but this is great mood music.
4
Mar 20 2022
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John Prine
John Prine
Normally i don’t like this kind of county folk, but this was an exception. Because of the powerful lyrics and subject matter. It was very engaging to listen to, and I will be back.
4
Mar 21 2022
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Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
love this album. i remember it at the time and was a fan of the chemical brothers. they made list of good stuff and this was right up there with the best.
5
Mar 22 2022
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Live At Leeds
The Who
I think a live album should have to be of an iconic band in an iconic era, playing their best to make it to this list. And I don’t reckon this cuts it.
2
Mar 23 2022
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
yesterday afternoon i wrote a grumpy review asking why a live album by The Who would make the cut, only to be presented with an extra long live Deep Purple album.
i’m sure it would have been awesome to be at this concert in person. and the album would probably be great to listen to if you had seen them live, But for me, it takes a lot of imagination to really enjoy this highly indulgent rock with crazy long drum and guitar solos.
this is an album for Deep Purple fans, not for everyone to ,listen to before they die.
2
Mar 24 2022
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Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
A fun 60s album by a band I had never heard of. A bit like a kinks/ Doors fusion. I guess there were lots of good bands like this and only a few reached the true echelons of legend status. 3 stars from me.
3
Mar 25 2022
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
Love this album. And I liked the next one “in it for the money” even more. Great 90s music, full of energy and fun.
4
Mar 26 2022
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
i would never have guessed it would sound like it does, having read the wikipedia page first. He is a crooner, with a great voice and cool style, almost out of a different era. great to relax to on a sunny afternoon. i would come back for more, not normally my style of music though.
4
Mar 27 2022
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
For me this is quite fun mood music which is probably doing it a big injustice but it’s Jody not my type of thing. Pleasant enough and exotic sounding. But I can’t get excited about it.
3
Mar 28 2022
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Kings Of The Wild Frontier
Adam & The Ants
I really want to like this - remember that from when I was a kid. But I only really like the hits. It is not consistent
3
Mar 29 2022
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Not another live album! This stuff is for fans only - not great sound quality - I have said this before, for a live album to make this list it has to be really special and capture a particular special moment in time. This is not that. I’d rather listen to their studio albums.
2
Mar 30 2022
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Interesting
3
Mar 31 2022
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
This is cool music. I didn’t really pay much attention to them back in the day. Reminds of of De La Soul.
4
Apr 01 2022
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
I knew this album, or at least most of the songs already. But I learned some things from listening to it and reading the Wikipedia entry. This was kind of a repurposing of Dylan, and other songs into a “pop” sound, almost Bearlesesque. I have mixed feeling about the title track as the original has so much more in it than this cover. But Dylan himself has often reinvented and changes his own songs, at least live so I reckon else would approve. The Dylan songs are by far the best ones on the album .
4
Apr 02 2022
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
I knew most of the songs on this because it was so big at the time. Not my thing but I listened start to finish in the cat or the freeway. Enjoyed it but don’t love it.
3
Apr 03 2022
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Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
I think this would be great to experience live in concert. I don’t think it works as well as a record. Not for me.
3
Apr 04 2022
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Copper Blue
Sugar
Had never heard of this or the band before . 1990s American Indie rock - I could place it by the sound. I didn’t love it, listenable, I thinks they take themselves seriously- the sound is quite dated - very typical of early 90s
2
Apr 05 2022
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Love this. Had never paid attention to Kanye west before- not sure why. This is fun, innovative, fresh hip hop.
4
Apr 06 2022
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The Last Broadcast
Doves
Love it. This is new music to me.
Reminded me a little of late 80s: early 90s Manchester music in parts. Stone Roses. But it did vary a bit. This is what I was hoping for out of this project
4
Apr 07 2022
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Bone Machine
Tom Waits
I don’t love Tom Waits, mainly because if the voice. Definitely some cool songs, messages and attitude, but I find him hard to listen to.
2
Apr 08 2022
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Faust IV
Faust
Enjoyed listening to this - very easy to listen to and interesting. Ahead of its time - had never here of them before. This kind of thing is the reason for doing the 1001 albums project.
4
Apr 11 2022
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
This is, in my opinion one of the best rock and roll albums of all time. And from when I first heard some of the songs on it about as a teenager 30+ years ago, it is still growing on me. It keeps giving, and I keep getting more out of it. That’s the thing about Dylan. There are untold layers and his body of work is a tapestry of art that is virtually unmatched in any artistic realm.
5
Apr 14 2022
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Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
Great sound- great covers. Can hear why the Stones liked them.
4
Apr 21 2022
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
Great album - feel like I have known it all my life. A defining album of its era
5