A good listen on the whole. Unfamiliar with Neu but enjoyed the techno/ambient flavour of this album, especially the hypnotic Seeland. Some elements of proto-punk here too - Hero has a feel of the Stranglers to it

Great album, packed full of memorable songs and demonstrating what good musicians the Damned are. The album starts strongly with Love Song, Just Can't Be Happy Today and ends strongly with Smash It Up but most of the other tracks hold up well too

Not previously into Stone Roses and not familiar with much other than Fool's Gold. First listen and feels like a group evolving from a mixture of post-punk c1979 through C86 indie to their strongest material, as represented by Fool's Gold (far and away the stand out track), She bands the drum and Waterfall. Ian Brown's vocals get a bit lost in the mix - and he doesn't have the most commanding of voices anyway - and give many of the songs a slightly ghostly feel. A pleasant listen and would happily repeat play without necessarily wanting to further check out Stone Roses catalogue

this is the second album I am reviewing and comes hot on the heels of Stone Roses. I was surprised that there is a gap of eight years between the two, as in my head they were from about the same time but that probably says more about my lack of interest in most of the music of the 90s. Whereas I thought the Stone Roses album was insubstantial beyond Fools Gold and Waterfall, Urban Hymns is a much stronger offering. Not just because of the standout singles - Bittersweet Symphony, Lucky Man, the drugs don't work - but also the coherent sound and quality of songs like Sonnet, and the clever use of orchestration. There are one or two weaker songs, but overall Urban Hymns boasts a strong sense of identity with a distinct sound that sets the Verve apart. Genuinely impressed and would consider buying this

I loved the Village Green Preservation Society, and Arthur has something of the same wistfulness, at least lyrically, but with less rose tinted glasses. if anything there is quite an anti-establishment, anti-war theme to the album. Victoria is a strong opener, Some Mother's Son is poignant and Drivin is quintessential Kinks whimsy (and sounds as if it may have been left over from Village Green; see also Young and Innocent Days). The Australian tourist board missed a trick if they didn't use Australia to promote the land of Oz, but otherwise an unremarkable track. Apart from that, the remaining tracks aren't - with the exception of Arthur - that much to write home about. Arthur has its moments, but not one of their best

Not listened to a Yardbirds album at length before but glad I have now come across Roger the Engineer. It's an exciting listen and feels like the work of a band that is transitioning from pop and blues towards psychedelia and something heavier. Some blistering guitar courtesy of Jeff Beck (no Clapton or Jimmy Page), especially on the Nazz (one of the more traditionally bluesy tracks), Jeff's Boogie and Lost Women. The singing isn't particularly strong and the other weakness is that the eclecticism of the material hints at a group unsure of its direction. Having said that there is something raw and unpredictable here and I would imagine they would have been a great live band at this time.

I have this in my collection and have been a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd for a long time. This is a strong debut album, showcasing the band's varied style and distinctive Southern sound, particularly the soaring guitar lines. Stand out tracks - Gimme Three Steps (the epitome of Southern boogie), Simple Man, and the monumental Free Bird of course. The latter may not be everyone's cup of tea and the guitar soloing does go on, but I love it as much now as when I heard it as a 14 year old. There are a couple of plodders on the album but that should not detract from the confidence, power and presence of this debut from the greatest of the Southern rock bands

This is really not my thing at all. Monotonous, synthetic, plodding. Breathe was okayish, other than that there was nothing I would want to hear again. Next!

I 'd heard the Johnny Cash tracks before but hadn't realised there were also contributions from Carl Perkins, June Carter/Carter Sisters and Statler Brothers - a real bonus as they are all great songs. Listening to Johnny Cash again, what is striking is the quality and clarity of his voice and the warm rapport he strikes up with the inmates. Some great songs here - Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, Folsom Prison blues of course - but also Big River, I Still Miss Someone and Wanted Man (written with Bob Dylan). Note too the huge audience response to San Quentin. A really good live album and also a good introduction to Johnny Cash for anyone unfamiliar with his work

This is wasted on me. While some of the tunes are cleverly constructed I just don't like the rapping on most of them. Aside from one or two half decent tracks - Rainy Dayz, Glaciers of Ice, Heaven & Hell - this has just bored me silly.

Refreshing, eclectic, lovely harmonies. Not a group or style I am that familiar with, so difficult for me to compare it to anything else. But it did sound like Jeff Buckley may have been an influence? Not bad at all

Never liked the new romantics, as a young lefty I thought it was mostly escapist, vacuous, synthetic nonsense. 40 years later and while my toe is tapping to Rio and Hungry like the wolf, I can't say I have warmed much to Duran Duran. Not for me

I am fairly sure that I saw Kraftwerk's debut on british tv on tomorrow's world in the early 70s, so was always intrigued by them and Autobahn in particular. I never got that into Kraftwerk but have really enjoyed listening to this album, particularly the monumental title track. Even at 22 minutes it is a joy to listen to. The remaining tracks are well worth a listen and I particularly liked the contrasting moods between Mitternacht and Morgenspaziergang. one thing that intrigues me is how different Kraftwerk really are to other exponents of 'kraut rock' such as Tangerine Dream and the extent to which their far greater popularity is down to image as much as the music?

This will never be in my top ten, but it's hard not to like the storytelling in Stan, quite like The Way I Am too. Otherwise not much that caught my attention Not too keen on some of the profanity, explicitness etc e.g. My name if Marshall Mathers

A very enjoyable listen. The combination of latin rhythms, jazz and hard rock (and Carlos Santana's virtuoso guitar) works really well, especially on Oye Como Va, to me the standout track on the album. Black Magic Woman and Samba Pa Ti are the obvious crowdpleasers on here, but I think every track stands up - there are no fillers.

Monotonous, repetitive, dreary. Used to like old school heavy metal but this stuff leaves me cold. Scare Crow the only redeeming song, possibly because it has a slower tempo and is reminiscent of Black Sabbath

Not really doing it for me. Pleasant enough, but nothing that memorable. Comes across in parts as a lighter version of Black Keys, but not as good.

Have played this several times, and, sadly, nothing is standing out beyond The One I Love and End of the World. I thought the lyrics might make me look more favourably on the album, but I can't say Stipe's songwriting does much for me - when it comes to radical lyrics, these don't stand comparison with say Drive By Truckers. in summary, a bit disappointed with Document

Fabulous album. Would have first heard the single young americans when I was 13 and liked it then (although probably liked his glam stuff more). YA plus Fame still sound great, I really like the cover of Across the Universe (never heard this before) and Right and Someone up there likes me are also worth a repeated listen

Same issue for me as with Raekwon's album, I am just not into hip hop, no matter how classic this album is meant to be. This has left me totally cold

an enjoyable listen, albeit definitely an album of its time. The distinctive west coast/psychedlia vibe shares something with the likes of the Grateful Dead and Spirit. Some lovely catchy numbers, especially Looper.

A really solid album from fairly early in Metallica's career. You can definitely hear the influence of Diamond Head and the twin guitars are reminiscent of UFO and Thin Lizzy. Standout tracks are the brilliant Master of Puppets and The Thing That Should Not Be. A few other tracks are a bit plodding, but overall a really good listen

A fresh, funky and slick collection of songs, enhanced by repeated listening. While the familiar Reasons and Shining Star are outstanding, this is a strong collection with notable tracks including That's the way of the world, Happy Feelin and All About Love. I really enjoyed listening to this

This is some debut, including as it does the fantastic singles My Best Friend's Girl and Just What I Needed. While these are the highlights, there are other decent offerings, such as Good Times Roll and I'm in Touch with Your World. There is a tendency for most of the tracks to run along similar, one-paced plodding rhythms and the singer's voice is a bit lost in the mix on a couple of the songs. Other than that, a very strong offering - did it get any better than this?

As with my previous reviews of Wu-Tang Clan and Raekwon, these types of rap albums really struggle to hold my attention. According to spotify there are 27 tracks on this expanded album, and I just haven't the patience to work through all of them. So I am bailing after two tracks. I'm just not into this

This was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting an album of atonal thrash, but although it is quite raw (in a good way) I was impressed with the quality of the songs, the disciplined riffing, the guitar solos and the funky sax on Fun House. Dirt, 1970 and Fun House were an impressive trio of songs. Arguably as important an album for metal and grunge as it was undoubtedly for punk. Reminds of the heavy psych of the late 60s, early 70s. One of my favourite albums reviewed so far

This requires repeat playing but it has grown on me. Hypnotic guitar patterns, understated vocals. reminds me of someone but not quite sure who.

while I like this more than later proponents of rap like Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, this just doesn't engage me

The first stone cold classic album I have reviewed to date. Every song is superb, to listen to, to dance to, to reflect on. Pure joy

A curious mixture. The psychedelic tracks (Somebody to Love, White Rabbit) are the stronger material, as opposed to the west coast acoustic and blues numbers, none of which stand out much. As with Moby Grape, an album of its time

A very retro feel to this album. But aside from the lovely There She Goes and I Can't Sleep, nothing really stands out. It gets your foot tapping but largely unmemorable

A really fine album. Some great songs, particularly the title track, Calvary Cross and Down Where the Drunkards Go, beautiful guitar throughout

A fantastic album, full of excellent albeit very familiar material. The standard is high throughout, with only one to two tracks dipping a little.

Never a big fan of Tears for Fears and I particularly don't like Shout. This is a slickly produced album, but their material does not do anything for me. I just find it dull and redolent of glossy 80s production numbers that leave me cold

A good combination of originals - It Won't Be Long, All My Loving - and covers - Money, Please Mr Postman. Very much phase 1 Beatles. A good listen, but so much better to come

Some good tunes and backing tracks, but the braggadocio and slackness of Kid Rock are pretty tiresome

Not that familiar with Cheap Trick, other than I want you to want me, and their quirky visual presentation. Quite like the slightly poppy hard rock sound and remember Live at Budokan was rated as a live album (at a time when live albums were very much in vogue). Listening to this, it's okay, some decent tracks - Surrender, I want you..., - and some fine riffing and solos from the idiosyncratic Rick Nielsen. But there is a sameness about most of the songs and a sense that they are caught somewhere between hard rock, powerpop and new wave. Nothing to write home about

I liked born slippy, and had them pegged for similar to Leftfield so was interested to hear this album, but disappointed in the dull monotony of most of the tracks, with the exception of One Too Many Mornings and Alive Alone. Otherwise boring

Was expecting to like this more than I did. Rock Lobster is great, obviously, but not much else stood out. Something very similar rhythmically about many of the tracks - Planet Claire is Rock Lobster by another name for instance. Bit of a disappointment

Thoroughly enjoyable, funky, hypnotic. Well worth repeated playing. The drum solo at the end probably prevented this being a 5 star review!

As per other rap albums previously reviewed, some interesting things going on with the music, some predictable things going on with the lyrics. This just does not appeal to me

Mix of funk, new wave, AOR, pop. Perhaps because of this eclecticism, it can be a bit bland in places. Predates ambient albums Alright, nothing special

Fantastic album from a period of great albums from them as well as De La Soul and Arrested Development. Intelligent, positive and fantastic music too. So many great tracks on here - Bonita Applebum, Left My Wallet in El Segundo, After Hours, Can I Kick It of course. Highly recommended

The classic Deep Purple and arguably this captures them on top form. Some great tracks here - Highway Star, Never Before, Smoke on the Water (of course) and When a Blind Man Cries - the musicianship is exceptional, and their sound is a lovely mix of heavy rock and melody courtesy of Richie Blackmore's mellifluous guitar and Jon Lord's keyboards. A couple of throwaway tracks - Lazy especially - prevents this being an absolute classic

Fresh, dynamic, urgent and no track over 4 minutes. Mr Costello is on fine form supported by a great backing group. Some memorable songs - Lip Service, Chelsea, Radio, Pump it Up. Superb

Gets an additional star for Miss Jackson, but otherwise sounds like just another rap album, sorry!

I quote like the music, but not the singing. No desire to listen to this a second time

This is a joy to listen to, all the more because I have not heard much Nick Cave previously. Such a strong set of songs, instantly memorable, diverse, intelligent intriguing lyrics, superbly backed up by the music. I will definitely be buying some Nick Cave vinyl!

A bit of a mixed bag. A few good tracks - Boogie on..., Smile Please & They won't go when I go - but overall lacks energy and rather bland. Not his best by any means

This really has done nothing for me. Cannot get beyond my indifference to her style of singing. Not for me

No. Just no

This is a fantastic recording of the Stones at the absolute peak of their power. From the magnificent and menacing Gimme Shelter, to the languid country blues of Love in Vain, Country Honk (I never knew this earlier version of Honky Tonk Women existed) and Let it Bleed, to the dextrous riffing of Monkey Man and the classic You Can't Always Get What You Want, this is as good as it gets. The guitars of Richards and Taylor are a pleasure to listen to and even Mick Jagger's slightly hokey accents on some of the songs are a hoot.

Strong start to album - David Watts, Death of a Clown and Two Sisters all great Kinks songs. A real mixture here of pop, baroque, hints of psychedelia. The following songs are all a bit middling, nothing wrong with them but not the strongest either. However, Waterloo Sunset is a strong closer to the album, and sounds as great as ever (best ever Kinks song imho)

Never a big Banshees fan, but liked their music from this period, reminiscent of the Cure and subsequent goth groups (Arabian Nights, Into the Light, Night Shift and liked the psychedelic flavour of many of the songs here - Spellbound, Could do with a little more variation, the songs start to sound a bit samey and most have a similar tempo

A bit bland so far. The harmonies are, without doubt, beautiful, but it is just the songs themselves just don't do it for me. An uninspiring cover of To Know Him and I've Had Enough is just dull and passionless. Honourable exceptions - Those Memories of You, Farther Along

So far loike the instrumental track more than anything else. Nothing much standing out. Tracks I like - Ode to Noone, Galapogos

A great album, one of Stevie Wonder's best. Chock full of classics - You Are the Sunshine of My Life, You and I, You've Got It Bad Girl, Superstition, I Believe.

I wasn't expecting to like this much, but I must say there are a lot of memorable, well constructed songs on here, especially In My Place, Put a Smile on Your Face, Clocks. Not bad at all

What a rip-roaring start to an album! Really strong opening half but trails away a bit after Lithium. This would have been three stars, but Smells Like Teen Spirit gets it an extra star

A slow burner of an album, deserves repeated listening to realise how well crafted this collection of songs are. A mixture of influences, slightly psychedlic pop at times, but also traces of everything from Prefab Sprout to Black Keys.

A real mixed bag of an album. The singles are the stand out tracks - Sound of the Crowd, Love Action, Open Your Heart and especially Don't You Want Me. The other tracks less impressive, even after repeated listens. The singles get Dare an extra star

Very smooth. Too smooth. The aural equivalent of drowning in a compote of syrup, treacle and molasses. Cannot fault musicianship and D'angelo's voice, but it is all just a bit dull

Fantastic, beautiful, sublime. One of the best albums of any genre

Very interesting mix of hard rock and funk and some echoes of Zeppelin and Hendrix as well as foreshadowing the likes of Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Perhaps it's too eclectic and diverse at times, in the end not always clear what direction the music is heading in

Superb debut album. Starts (Break on through) and finishes (The End) so strongly while also boasting the magnificent Light My Fire. What stands out for me is the way that Ray Manzarek's keyboards drive the songs and of course the deep, distinctive quality of Jim Morrison's singing.

I quite liked this, they are very tuneful and there are shades of Bowie and Bolan in the vocals. The album starts well but there aren't to my mind many standout tracks and it gets a bit samey after a while

I like my metal a bit more melodic and varie-paced than this, which I found a bit relentless. Some good bits and clearly good musicians, but lacking in light and shade

A superb album, combining Aretha's majestic vocals with great musicianship and memorable tunes. Natural Woman is the stand-out track, ably supported by Chain of Fools, People Get Ready, Since You've Been Gone and Groovin.

Magnificent. To me this is Genesis's masterwork and up there in the top 5 prog albums. I really like the playful lyrics (especially Battle of Epping Forest and Cinema Show) and the lovely, understated playing of Hackett and Banks. The songs all stand up and are both complex and accessible. A total joy to listen to

An uneven album, undoubted quality musicianship and songwriting, especially Life's what you make it, but overall tone and tempo a bit downbeat and one or two unmemorable numbers. Life's what you make it, earns an extra star

The Message is such a brilliant track, it overshadows everything else here. It's not the worst album but nothing else is anywhere near as memorable as the title track

Great dance music, you would want to play this if you were having a party. Nice variety of moods, tempos and styles. Would you listen to this if you weren't in the mood for dancing? I'm not so sure.

Taken in isolation, some quite good songs, especially Some Candy Talking. But as a whole, it becomes hard to distinguish one track from another. little variation makes this a dull and forgettable experience

Fantastic album. More Than A Feeling, obviously... one of the great hard rock anthems. But lots more, great melodic rock, lovely guitar and keyboards. A really confident debut album

Okay, but nothing that really stands out, drifts along pleasantly enough. Smooth but utimately a bit bland

This album grows on you with repeated listening and is ideal to have on the headphones, playing in the background while you are doing something else. I like the description of Boards of Canada as purveyors of downtempo music; that sounds about right

A dynamic and bold debut album. A good combination of original compositions (gangsters, too much too young, blank expression) and astute covers (monkey man, message to you rudi). The lyrics are a cut above and have a real flavour of alienated and bitter youths. One or two tracks are not much more than fillers but you can see the direction the Specials were heading in

fantastic album. I now realise how familiar I am with many of these tracks, without ever really having gone out of my way to listen to Janis Joplin. What is particularly impressive is the diversity of the music - blues yes, but also soul, gospel, rock, pop. Janis Joplin's voice is up to the challenge of adapting to these different styles - she is far more than just a belter of blues songs. Loses one star for Mercedes Benz, which I could quite happily never, ever hear again

hard to approach this with fresh ears, given the ubiquity of Bat out of Hell. To me it is caught between not being heavy enough for hard rock, not complex enough for prog rock and too over-elaborate for rock n roll. Good but not a classic for me

pleasant enough noodling, and okay if you like dancing to this sort of thing. Not really for me

Lovely album to dance to, but not such an attention grabber if just listening

This really didn't interest me at all, other than the occasional riff reminiscent of the Faces. A bit drab

Superb. Excellent representation of Kraftwerk's music, every track is a classic.

Magnificent album, the best of the 'Franks' wild years' trilogy and my favourite Tom Waits album. It's a kaleidoscope of styles, sounds and stories all rooted in a downtown world of dives, old world funerals, and hard-bitten women for whom 'nothing that a $100 wouldn't cure'

Not my thing and didn't engage me, with the exception of I Luv U and Fix Up, Look Sharp

This is a patchy album and is testament to the Faces' reputation as being better live than in the studio. Beyond the standout track - Stay with me - and to a lesser extent Debris and Miss Judy's Farm, a lot of the other tracks are in substantial and unmemorable. It's a mystery why Rod Stewart wasn't lead singer on all the tracks. The cover version of Memphis added nothing to the original. A good but not a great album

Majestic performance from Muddy Waters, backed by some exceptional musicians. Some great classics here - Mannish Boy above all - and each track has your head nodding and foot tapping

Despite repeated listens I just couldn't get into this. I did have their follow-up album Solid Gold at one time and I seem recall that was much better. This was dull and plodding

Supervision and Stupid Girl aside, didn't hear much that was of interest

Very smooth, very funky and Maxwell has a lovely voice. But a bit dull and samey after a while. Could have done with a little more grit

Beautiful, haunting, lovely voice

Nothing much to recommend this, blurry indistinct, monotonous

Marvellous album, some absolute classics including the title track, Lilac Wine and Four Women. I particularly liked I like your lovin ways, the most upbeat and R&B number on the album

Quite an enjoyable listen, but could have done with a bit more shade and light. Black Hole Sun stands out, but lack of variety loses it a point

Grows on you after repeated plays

A milestone of an album, including one of the dance anthems of the late 80s. Keep on Moving is brilliant and still sounds great, and there are other good tracks such as Fairplay, Feel Free and Back to Life (the precursor to the later single). Some of the other tracks don't stack up quite so well, particularly those with a spoken Jazzy B accompaniment. Nevertheless, a landmark album.

A very pleasing mix of post-punk, country and folk. Definitely grows on you

The first time I won't be listening to an album, but I have absolutely no interest in hearing anything by Kanye West

This was okay, but a bit one-paced and not a patch on subsequent albums, especially disintegration

Never been a fan of a-ha and nothing here that is of any surprise. Bland, glossy, insubstantial

Fantastic, swinging, rocking music from one of the giants of rock'n'roll. Every track is two or three minutes of fine, focused and groovy dance music, delivered with that great, deep voice. Blueberry Hill is rightly the standout track but they are all good

A good listen on the whole. Unfamiliar with Neu but enjoyed the techno/ambient flavour of this album, especially the hypnotic Seeland. Some elements of proto-punk here too - Hero has a feel of the Stranglers to it

A very uneven album. Kicks off with the mesmeric Krautrock, but followed up by some fairly insubstantial tracks

I saw Motorhead on this tour and had this album too. It is a great live album and showcases Motorhead at their best, with the classic line-up of Lemmy, Philthy Phil and Fast Eddie (all RIP sadly). All the classics are here - Ace of Spades, Bomber, Overkill, Motorhead - and some good supporting numbers too - Metropolis, We are the Roadcrew, No Class, particularly.

It's okay, one or two songs reminded me a bit of Kate Bush. But I haven't really taken to this, even after multiple plays

This takes some listening to but it does slowly grow on you. There are clearly lots of influences at work here and I could hear some similarities with Drive by Truckers songs of that time. Particularly liked Heavy Metal Drummer and Kamera

Sounds like generic indie rock and therefore of limited interest to me

Like the music, minimal jazzy soul. Very much an album of its time - June 2020 - as reflected in the lyrics. The accent on positivity and self-esteem is good, but some of the lyrics are a bit too simplistic and repetitive. If anything the love songs are the best

Absolutely not the kind of stuff I listen to and really uninterested in this

A great album, the best by the Clash. While they may have become synonymous with punk, this shows they were so much more than 3 chord thrash merchants. Such a strong opening with London Calling, backed up by a great cover of Brand New Cadillac. Honourable mentions too for Guns of Brixton (the Clash did reggae better than most other non-reggae groups), Clampdown and Train in Vain. The second half of London Calling is a little weaker, but overall a superb album

Lovely album, very easy on the ear. Sinatra's voice is of course peerless and who can resist bossa nova? Not sure I would buy this, it isn't really my thing, but I would be up on the dance floor for sure

A real mixed bag. The best track is School's Out by some distance. Otherwise there are a variety of sounds, some heavy, some jazzy or proggy, there are some similarities to Meatloaf in there too. Has the feel of a group not sure of its direction. But repeated listens recommended

A fine album full of great songs - Do the strand, In every dream home..., For your pleasure etc. Never heard Bogus Man before, what a revelation. Guessing this was the last album featuring Eno, and there are signs of the more mainstream direction that Roxy would travel in e.g. Beauty queen. Classy, eclectic, unique

Some very good tracks but not sure if enough to warrant a double album.

Enjoyable listen, especially La Femme d'Argent and Sexy Boy.

While this isn't my usual listening, this is quite an impressive album. Super Rich Kids is an outstanding and memorable track and Pyramid and Bad Religion are also decent. Some of the other tracks less memorable, but overall not bad

A superb album, REM's best in my opinion. Instantly memorable songs, great musicianship and singing. I've never been a huge REM fan but this is just outstanding

an album of two sides. Part one contains some of the great heavy metal tracks - Paranoid, War Pigs, Iron Man - while Planet Caravan showcases that Sabbath were talented musicians and not just riff merchants. The second side really dips and there is nothing to stand comparison with the first four tracks. Still a really good album

I always liked the sound of Isley Brothers singles from the 70s, they had such a unique sound, particularly Ernie Isley's unmistakeable guitar playing. There are some absolutely brilliant songs here - Who's that lady? Summer Breeze and especially the sublime Highways of My Life. Great stuff

I don't like listening to Christmas records, even at Christmas, so this is rather wasted on me. Have to admit I do like Santa Claus is Coming to Town, but otherwise I will pass if that's all the same to you

A really enjoyable and infectious listen. Not come across Machito before, but this is great and gets your foot tapping immediately.

Unexceptional, didn't engage me at all.

Never going to like this. I like old school heavy metal but not this, is it thrash metal? To be fair there is a bit of variation in one or two tracks, but otherwise this is wasted on me

Not doing it for me, sorry!

Undoubtedly a great singer, but I can't hear anything on this album that stands comparison with Pata Pata. It's the sort of album that you feel you ought to listen to and like, but am finding it hard work and now want to listen to something entirely different

Quite like the scattergun approach with so many ultra-short songs, however the novelty does wear off after a while. Too many songs that are not well developed or tail off. Would have preferred an album with half the songs but twice the length of each song

A really gritty, down and dirty album and all the better for it. The Stones mix blues, rock, country, soul and gospel on one of their last truly great records. It's well paced with Rocks Off, Tumbling Dice, Happy and Shine a Light sprinkled among some less well known but decent tracks

First time I have heard this, despite being aware of its reputation as one of the great live albums. Listening to it now I am not sure it has aged well. A strong start and finish for sure and a good mix of classics (Can't Explain, Substitute, Happy Jack) and covers (Young Man Blues, Fortune Teller) but it really sags in the middle around A Quick One (which does not stand the test of time) and Amazing Journey. Not as good as I expected

Excellent album, so many memorable songs, all the more impressive given the issues within the group at the time. Stands the test of time.

Not something I will be rushing to hear again. Heavy metal without melody or tunefulness just doesn't do it for me

A long time since I listened to some jazz rock, but this is a little disappointing. Birdland starts the album and it is an outstanding piece; sadly nothing else on the album comes near it. The musicianship cannot be faulted but most of the subsequent tracks are a little too smooth and bland. Gets an extra star because of Birdland

Saw JR & the Modern Lovers over 30 years ago and what good memories this album brought back. Aside from the fantastic Road Runner, many of the tracks reveal an eclectic mix of influences (garage rock, Springsteen, rock n roll, pop) as well as a proto-punk and new wave elements too. Repays repeated listens

Really very enjoyable, thought the best tracks were the singles, especially Seven Seas.

A soulful, mellow offering that is easy on the ear, but perhaps not Bobby Womack's most memorable work

Superb, an influential album predating Americana. Excellent tracks include Sin City, Do Right Woman, #1 Hot burrito and a decent cover of At the dark end of the street. Close your eyes and you could be sat in a diner on a sunny Saturday morning, about to get your second cup of coffee

Bit of a mixed bag. Some glorious songs, particularly Sunday, Sunday and the sublime California Dreaming but many of the other tracks are so, so and the covers ( especially Spanish Harlem) don't really add anything to the originals. Would give it 3. 5stars if that was possible, but California Dreaming knocks this up to 4 stars

Despite repeated listenings, this has just not done it for me. Cannot think of one track that has lodged in my head.

Elvis's best album since the 1950s by a country mile. The material is far better than anything else he recorded in the 60s and he is in very fine voice. Some great tracks here - In the Ghetto and Suspicious Minds (although not sure the latter was on the original recording) but some of the lesser known numbers are pretty good too - I'm Moving On in particular. There are a few slightly cheesy numbers, but overall this is a strong recording

Didn't have high expectations for this, but pleasantly surprised. Jauntier than I was expecting and songs very melodic and ably performed

Indulgent yes, bombastic yes, unnecessary drum solo yes, but still a really good listen. I never got into ELP at the time but I imagine they would have been good fun to watch live, and this album captures something of that spirit

Very smooth, jazz infused solo album, which also bears the imprint of Steely Dan. Some good tracks, particuarly I.G.Y and New Frontier, but many of the songs border on the bland and too smooth

made very little impression on me

Great album, packed full of memorable songs and demonstrating what good musicians the Damned are. The album starts strongly with Love Song, Just Can't Be Happy Today and ends strongly with Smash It Up but most of the other tracks hold up well too

Very fine album and evidence of how the Jam were evolving. Start, That's Entertainment and Boy About Town are the highlights but most of the songs are very listenable and no real fillers

I was looking forward to hearing Wire, but a bit disappointed how basic and minimal much of this album was. There were a few decent tracks - Three Girl Rhumba comes to mind - but overall I guess I would find their subsequent material more rewarding

An excellent album, showcasing transition of Beatles from the mop tops to a more sophisticated, adventurous style. Proof too of Lennon and McCartney's continuing development as great songwriters. So many superb songs - In My Life so haunting, If I Need Someone, Drive My Car, Nowhere Man, Girl, Michelle. Bettered only by Revolver

I'd never previously listened to My Bloody Valentine, and on first play didn't really get the appeal. However, Loveless is a definite slow burner and after repeated listens, I have come to enjoy the swampy, ghostly melodies, fuzzy guitars and ethereal vocals. Only Shallow was a strong opener and only bettered by When you sleep and I only said. One criticism is that on some tracks the vocals are a bit too much in the background, but otherwise a great album

A really good album, although it takes a few listens for the songs to seep in. Quite an elegiac feel overall and the best tracks - the Next Day, Where are we now, Valentine's Day - are all quite haunting. Not one of his absolute best, but as good as anything he had released in the previous 20 years

A typically complexing, rewarding listen. Signs of the direction that King Crimson would take on subsequent albums is evident in the title track, but there still remain traces of the old Crimson in the more contemplative numbers Book of Saturday and Exiles. Easy Money is fine musically but the lyrics haven't stood the test of time But overall a really good album

A riproaring raucous cacophony of garage, R&B, and proto-punk. Would definitely get you on your feet and some great covers, especially Have Love, Will Travel. 12 songs in 30 minutes is pretty impressive too

This is a curious album, in that the first half is slick but also formulaic and dull. and then it takes off with Synchronicity II, Every breath you take, Wrapped around my finger, before falling away again. The album certainly highlights what good musicians the Police were, but it also feels at times like they were going through the motions and it generally lacks the dynamism of their early LPs.

Bright, vibrant, eclectic. A good listen. Not my usual cup of tea, but nothing to fault here

On the whole I found this an unremarkable listen. Other than Impact, which is a memorable and creative track, I found the remainder of Orbital 2 to be dull and repetitive. Not for me

This is superb from beginning to end. Supertramp are a hard group to pigeonhole, somewhere between progressive and West Coast FM. Every song on this album is memorable, and the musicianship is first rate.

At the risk of damning with faint praise, this album is okay but I can't say it has left much of an impression on me. I know a lot of people absolutely love Leonard Cohen, but on the basis of this album, I really cannot see what the fuss is about

fantastic atmospheric brew of psychedelia, cajun, blues, soul and n'awlins voodoo. Dr John really finds his voice with this album, which is chock full of funky, bluesy tunes. Walk on Gilded Splinters, Mama Roux and Jump Sturdy are all classic numbers. As well as brilliant musicianship, the backing singers really add a lot of personality to the songs

I don't particularly like Morrisey and I never idolised the Smiths like some of my friends did. Nevertheless I really enjoyed listening to Meat is Murder, nearly every track is a classic. It has stood the test of time and still sounds very fresh. The Morrisey-Marr alchemy is evident in the first seven numbers - maybe Barbarism and Meat is Murder are not quite as strong. A reminder of how good the Smiths were

Not previously familiar with PJ Harvey, this has taken a few listens. But it has grown on me and I can hear elements similar to Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley and even Robert Plant. What I didn't previously realise is what a beautiful, soaring voice that PJ Harvey has - this really elevates some of the songs, that would otherwise not be so special.

This is an absolutely superb album. Not familiar with Hugh Masekela, and not an authority on jazz by any means, but this strikes me as being up there with the likes of Miles Davis. A number of tracks veer into jazz-rock territory but the more interesting end of the spectrum! I could listen to this again and again!

Crunching riffs, twin guitar harmonies and doom-laden lyrics. What's not to like? I would definitely have been into Metallica had I not stopped listening to metal in the 1980s. I found it a bit plodding and unremitting in parts and not sure I would listen to this much now, although I do like some Metallica

He might be a legend, but I can't say I warmed to Olympia 64. The best thing was that it comes in at under 30 minutes. Really not interested

A fine album, with a range of torch songs and dinner jazz numbers. This is one of Billie Holiday's last recordings and her voice has more of a world weary, less vulnerable feel than on her earlier albums. Still unmistakeable, still classy

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I liked this a lot, but needed repeated listening. Radiohead sound quite unique to me, and I don't quite get the Pink Floyd comparisons, other than the music and lyrics feel quite introspective and serious. I particularly liked No Surprises (which I now realise I have heard repeatedly over the years) and Subterranean homesick alien

Show Me the Way was one of the sounds of summer 1976m, when I was 14. It was great to hear this again and I was looking forward to hearing Frampton Comes Alive, one of the biggest selling live albums (at a time when live albums were very much a thing). I have to say it has not aged brilliantly and some of the songs plod along and get lost in overlong guitar solos.

So so album, liked the mid-section tracks best, especially the Portishead like Hell is Round the Corner. Otherwise, not much to hold my attention

Very slickly produced, with the sound instantly placing it in the mid-19080s. While I quite like Peter Gabriel and think Sledgehammer a fine song, most of the remainder of this album sounds quite dated and rather bland.

A very nice listen, easy on the ear, foot tapping C&W. Not sure there is anything that memorable on this album, but it certainly helped pass a very pleasant half hour

Absolutely love this. Hypnotic, spectral with traces of Meddle-era Pink Floyd in places. Having never heard Air I am definitely going to check out more of their stuff

Didn't particularly enjoy this album. Rather bland and have never rated Madonna as that great a singer. Not for me

Great album wonderful singer, beautiful songs, a real talent

This is certainly an influential album, both in terms of the punk/new wave records that followed, and also in Patti's vocal style which can be heard in Debbie Harry's singing, among others. That said, I didn't hear much here that was particularly captivating and certainly nothing to match the majestic Because the Night. while the cover of Gloria was different, I didn't feel it was a patch on the original

I really needed to listen to this several times, before I began to appreciate the craft and cleverness of these songs. I particularly enjoyed Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc and Last Year's Man. The guitar playing, arrangements and backing singing all add greatly to the songs. On some of the other tracks it does occasionally feel a little close to a Dylan tribute act, but on the whole this is an original, if very downbeat, piece of work.

bit disappointed with this to be honest. I only know Bauhaus from Bela Lugosi's Dead and I think they covered Ziggy Stardust, but haven't heard much on Mask that is that memorable. Can hear traces of Gang of Four and some gothic guitar in places, but overall I found this quite dull

Quirky, poppy, okay songs but I'm really not so sold on this that I am going to listen to almost 3 hours worth of this. Life is too short

This is a sophisticated, smooth and lyrically complex album. A great combination of elegant pop melodies and superb jazz musicianship, with some absolute gems, especially Peg, Deacon Blue, Aja and Josie. One or two tracks don't quite match these, but overally one of Steely Dan's best

A really great offering from a band who were at their peak. Brown Sugar and Wild Horses lead the way, along with decent blues numbers You Gotta Move and I Got The Blues. I also like Sway which features some extended soloing from Mick Taylor (or is it Keith?) and finishes strongly with Moonlight Mile. Every so nearly a 5*

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, not having previously been into Talking Heads. The overrall feel is funkier, more rhythmic and experimental than their earlier work and some of the tracks are quite hypnotic and the musicianship (aided by one or two guests) is impressive. Once In A Lifetime is the standout and probably more comprehensible lyrics wise.

Overall a very strong album. We've only just begun is sublime and along with Close to You highlights just how beautiful Karen Carpenter's voice is, along with some gorgeous harmonies. some of the other tracks don't quite reach these heights and their cover of Help is not a patch on the original (the cover of I'll never fall in love again is pretty decent however)

This was unlikely to appeal to me, and this has proved to be the case. One song felt like it was merging into another and I couldn't get excited about any of these tracks

Faith and Father Figure are great tracks, but that is about it. As these were the opening tracks, the rest of the album sounded a bit dull and sterile and very redolent of late 80s production values. not that special in my humble opinion

This has made next to no impression on me. Cannot get remotely excited about this

Not for me. Next!

An album that really requires a few listens before the quality of the songs sinks in. Particularly liked Stand and Orange Crush and the lyrical complexity along with the memorable riffs and melodies. I'll never be a big fan of REM but this is a decent album

This is a hugely ambitious album, and maybe a bit over-ambitious as it is a long listen and contains so many different styles and influences - I could hear nods to Moody Blues, New Order, Caravan, the Cure, the Zombies (I also wonder if they influenced the Zutons, among others?). It requires concentrated and repeated listens but after a while the songs grow on you. I particularly liked Butterfly McQueen and Best Lose the Fear. overall a nice, gentle psychedelic feel on the whole

Not bad, lovely voices and harmonies and most tracks good to dance to. While I won't be rushing out to buy this, I recognise that it is a classy dance album, well produced too

Not that interesting, quite thrashy and grungy without any memorable songs. Not one I will bother with again

Nothing wrong with this album, but not my genre and found most of the tracks dull and twee

A superb album, only bettered by Close to the Edge. This is prog at its peak, with a clutch of classic tracks including Yours is no disgrace, Starship trooper and I've seen all good people. A Venture and the Clap are less essential listening, even if the latter is a perennial favourite. Overall a really great listen

It's quite a likeable album and starts strongly. I do think after a while the songs start merging into one another and it hasn't kept my attention for the duration

Great hip hop album, fresh and inventive, good use of samples and very danceable tunes combined with sharp and humerous lyrics.

A great heavy rock album, with some stone-cold classics - Speed King, Child in Time, Black Night. Worthy mention to to the lesser known Flight of the Rat which has a fantastic rocking riff. Some of the other tracks stand up less well, although most are still illuminated by the virtuoso work of messrs Blackmore and Lord. Throughout Ian Gillan's voice is magnificent

Really enjoyed this, great use of sampling. I liked the jazzy, hypnotic feel of many of the tracks

An absolute classic, without doubt one of the best albums ever. Brian Wilson is a genius. there really isn't much more to say

Not for me

Superb. Such a great voice allied to some great, understated but funky soul. Title track obviously brilliant but rest of album is more than decent

Didn't get to the end of this...dreary, run of the mill indie fodder

ELO were a bit too poppy for me back in the day, but I now have a better appreciation of what fine tunesmiths they were. Not sure they bettered Out of the Blue with its plethora of hits - Turn to Stone, Mr Blue Sky, Wild West Hero, Sweet Talkin' Woman - while the other tracks don't quite reach these heights, there is much to admire in the melodies, arrangements and harmonies (and the clear influence that the Beatles had on Jeff Lynne!). Great listening and stands the test of time

This is a really good showcase of ZZ Top's combination of blues, boogie, hard rock, humour and musicianship. Every track has something to commend it from the rocking La Grange to the swinging Jesus just left Chicago and the mellow Hot, blue and righteous. Bill Gibbon's virtuoso guitar is superbly anchored by the Beard/ Hill rhythm section. Well worth a listen especially for anyone who only knows ZZ Top from Gimme all your lovin and Legs!

No doubting the quality of the songs and Adele's voice but I found an entire album' worth of introspective, personal songs way too much

A mixed bag. A very strong start to the album with the title track, New Kid and Life in the Fast Lane. Wasted Time is fine too, but thereafter the quality of the tracks falls away. Gets an extra star because of Hotel California, which I could listen to every day

A good album, showing direction Yes were heading in and which would peak with Close to the Edge. Roundabout remains a classic and has a surprising funky rhythm, South Side of the Sky and Long Distance Runaround are also very decent tracks, again supported by strong rhythms rather than hugely complex time signatures.

an original, complex, interesting and highly listenable. Hard to categorise but some lovely guitar interplay and atmospheric songs. The title track is just beautiful

Great, original rock n roll, especially That'll be the day and Oh Boy. One or two tracks are a bit more hum drum, but hard to complain when 12 tracks are crammed into 25 minutes

An interesting and eclectic collection. I generally liked the mellower numbers the best, in particular Novocane

This album has grown and grown on me. I already liked Reward but forgot about When I Dream, absolutely brilliant. Honourable mentions to Sleeping Gas, Treason and the title track.

The best Led Zep album in my opinion. It is possibly the most diverse collection of songs (other than Physical Graffiti, which was a double album) but kicks off with some great driving, riffing numbers in Immigrant Song, Friends and Celebration Day. Some of Jimmy Page's most dexterous and imaginative soloing is evident on the bluesy Since I've Been Loving You and the beautiful Tangerine. The acoustic numbers on side two are the perfect counter to lazy stereotypes about Zep just being rock behemoths. Highly recommended

An okay listen, and an interesting mixture of punk, metal and goth. Not so keen on the singing and other than the Wait and Requiem, too many of the other tracks plod along rather aimlessly

Not bad, strong vocals supported by muscular riffing, reminiscent of Jeff Buckley in parts. Didn't make me want to listen more than once though

I bought this album on the strength of the seemingly many ads featuring Moby tracks, and grew to like this enormously. The way that he weaves samples, dance, ambient music, and blues to make memorable and distinct tunes is so impressive. There are so many great tracks threaded throughout the album. one or two tracks aren't that special but overall a major, seminal album

I liked mid-70s Queen and this is pretty good. Everything is in place - Brian May's distinctive guitar, the harmonies and the pomp, and still a predominantly hard rock sound. Now I'm Here is outstanding but I also like the underrated Tenement Funster. Side two tails off a bit.

Dull, basic, unmemorable

This is a long listen and so far, not hearing anything out of the ordinary. Very jingly, jangly.

This took a lot of listening to before I really got into it. It is a good collection of west coast, americana and country, with similarities in places to the Band, Grateful Dead and early Eagles. Can't say there were many stand out tracks, but Colorado, So begins the task and Move around were all decent

Great album, my favourite. Grittier, more mature reflections on urban/small town America backed up with some marvellous musicianship

Fine, mellow album, very early 70s vibe. Concrete Jungle and Stir It Up of course, but other good tracks 400 Years and No More Trouble. Very much of its time, with quite a lot of guitar and keyboard noodling

Rather dreary but at least it was brief. The influence of David Bowie is all over this and indicative of his late-70s music. The problem is it is not as good as Bowie's material (including China Girl). Dum Dum Boys quite good, but nothing else sticks out

Top album from ZZ Top characterised by turbocharged rhythm section and some hard rock classics, especially Gimme all your lovin, Legs and Sharp Dressed Man. Honourable mention for TV Dinners too. Perhaps less light and shade than earlier ZZ Top albums but hugely likeable

A superb album, one of the great albums or all time and to my mind the best prog album ever. It fizzes with energy, invention, imagination and the virtuosity of messrs. Wakeman, Howe, Squire and Bruford. Who cares if Jon Anderson's lyrics are incomprehensible, when music is this good? The high point for Yes and for prog

I would describe this as a work in progress. The elements that would come together with Shaft and subsequent albums are evident here and there, especially on Hyperetc. You can also see how Isaac influenced other genres e.g., his cover of Walk on By has echoes of trip hop and ambience. But it can be overlong and a bit aimless at times

Fascinating listening to what could be described as the last of the 'Mop top' albums. This is still the unmistakeable sound of the early 60s Beatles, but there are signs of their sound evolving, particularly on the title track and Things We Said Today. A good album but lacking the brilliance of the albums to come

I've had this album a long time, bought on reputation, and have never quite taken it to my heart. Nevertheless, it is always worth a listen. It's fairly unique to my ears,, Jeff Buckley is a lovely singer, the songs are good, there are some great riffs, almost Zeppelinesque on occasion. The covers are good too, even if Hallelujah is very familiar now.

Not for me. Blister in the Sun is jaunty enough (and I now realise that I know this song from some advert or other) but cannot get into the relentless jauntiness of the majority of this album. The only other track I like is the slower tempo Good Feeling

A bit better than I was expecting, some typically whimsical offerings and can hear how this may have influenced some Britpop. But overall cannot hear anything on a par with Arnold Layne for example

A brilliant album showcasing the majestic voice of Aretha Franklin. Contains some great interpretations of classic songs, including Respect, Do Right Woman, Save Me and A Change if Gonna Come.

Disappointing, didn't hear anything remotely memorable. Wanted to not resort to the stereotype of characterising JD as dour, miserabilists but evidence is all there

Brilliant album full of bone-shaking rock n roll tunes. Highlight is the title track, a perfect blend of Angus Young's crunchy but fluid guitar, the rock steady rhythm section and Bon Scott's growling vocals. Plenty of other great tracks, with only one or two fillers

Poignant, beautiful album, some wonderful interpretations of a diverse mix of songs. Johnny Cash's deep, cracked voice is just right for tracks like Hurt and his version of Bridge over troubled waters. Doesn't work all the time - We'll meet again is forgettable. But a great album overall

A solid selection of blues tracks, some particularly fine instrumentals (Hideaway, Stepping Out) and of course some fine guitar from the young Eric Clapton

enjoyable listen, nice variety of songs and Harry Nilsson has a fine voice. Aside from the brilliant Without You, there is more than a hint of Beatles on some of the songs with Nilsson sounding like both McCartney and Lennon on occasion. I also liked the rocking Jump in the Fire

This is a much acclaimed album and there are one or two numbers I quite like. But I don't generally see what all the fuss is about. It's okay. I'll leave it at that.

You know what you are getting with the Ramones. Even though the album if less than 30 minutes, it is hard to sustain interest across the 14 songs here as they merge into each other. Blitzkrieg bop, Judy is a punk and their cover of Do you wanna dance are all decent enough though

Despite repeated playings this really hasn't left much of an impression on me. Nothing stands out beyond a fuzzy, scuzzy sound which is fine I guess, but not my cup of tea.

A fabulous listen, great songs allied to Dusty's sublime voice. Son of a preacher man is the stand out track, but there really aren't any fillers on this album.

A seminal album, if like me, you like old school metal. The title track, and opener, is stupendous and other numbers - NIB, Wicked World, set the template for subsequent Sabbath albums and their many imitators. The deft musicianship belies their reputation for blundering riffs (although these are here too). A few fillers on here loses them a *