1001 Albums Summary

What a way to start a 1001 albums to listen to before you die! It feels like such a long album - but in all the best ways. Albums quite often have 3, maybe 4 great tracks but this is one that just keeps on giving - Spoonman, Fell on Black Days, Superunknown, The Day I Tried to Live, Black Hole Sun, 4th of July... Listening to this on Spotify I kept going back and thinking I'd maybe finished the album and it had started a 'best of' track listing. This is an album released in the MTV heyday, and I distinctly remember the videos accompanying the tracks being of equal quality - Black Hole Sun and Spoonman in particular. Chris Cornell was special, nobody does sing like him anymore. If you're looking for the perfect introduction to Soundgarden, there is arguably no better place to start than this album.

When an album opens with Blue Suede Shoes, you immediately land in familiar ground. Even if you don't love Elvis, he's ingrained in our psyche and this album is him at his rockabilly best with a brief interlude for I Love You Because.

I found this album a bit like sliced white bread - it's not offensive, but equally doesn't really stand out in any way. Fine if listened to with something else going on - perfect dinner party music. I wouldn't reach for the off switch if it came on, but won't be adding it to my collection.

I don't own many Beastie Boys albums on vinyl, but this one sits on my shelf, and is a must - massive tracks like Hey Ladies, and Shake Your Rump are ubiquitous and rightly so. This is guaranteed to get you dusting off your best funky chicken moves - lots of groovy samples threaded throughout. Far less 'angsty' than their earlier work. Anyone who can thread the word 'mortgage' into three syllables earns their place as lyricist extraordinaire! This is arguably their best album

I remember watching Do The Right Thing and hearing Fight The Power for the first time - by proxy through Radio Raheem's boombox, and falling in love with the track, not fully appreciating the political nature of the record. 911 Is A Joke, Welcome to the Terrordome, Brothers Gonna Work It Out, Fear of a Black Planet, Can't Do Nothing for Ya Man and Fight the Power are the standout tracks for me - and Public Enemy show that a statement can be made without resorting to profanity (in the main) and still be as effective 30 years later.

Enjoyed the start - it's familiar stuff, but the album ceased playing after about the half way point.

Definitely worth the money - with tracks lasting between 5 and 10 minutes, you get a whole lot for your cash.

With the exception of Street Life (which I didn't know was theirs) the remainder of the album sounds too much like either a soundtrack to a 70s porn film, or hold music, I can't decide)

Brilliant - so soulful, and a bunch of tracks I know and love. A perfect Sunday spin.

Never again.

Not really my cup of tea.

I really struggle with Muse - an unpopular opinion I know. Just sounds too theatrical for me.

Not one to listen to with the kids. Good if you enjoy WuTang

I like the occasional dose of Iggy Pop, but I'm not one for a whole album's worth. I found myself wanting to listen to The Doors after this one - a few toe tappers, but not one for me. Solid 3

At the risk of sounding like an auld fart, after track 3 I was looking to see how much more I needed to listen to. I have a headache.

When an album opens with Seven Nation Army, you have to hope that the rest of the album holds up, and whilst it's a great album, the rest of the tracks have a hard act to follow. I'm not sure any can match the opening track, but they all give it a decent go.

If someone says 'female rap artist' I can almost guarantee the first name they think of is Missy Elliott, and with good reason. Love the little intro and outro speeches - setting the scene, and unapologetic. Play Work It and see how many people can resist a little wiggle.

A good old fashioned feel good album. I forgot how much I used to listen to this.

YEEEEEHAW! Even if you don't like 'country' music, I challenge you not to get toe-tapping and slapping your thigh with a yeehaw, yawl! A great bit of fun for a Friday afternoon.

Took me a while to realise I wasn't listening to David Bowie! Decent.

My wife introduced me to S&M some years ago and I've loved it ever since.

Transported me straight back to my childhood, and mum playing music on the 'hi-fi'. Not sure it was The Byrds she ever played, but this is the vibe that reminds me of those times. A decent listen.

If you lookup 'grunge' music you'll likely be presented with the usual suspects - Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and so on, and in many cases struggle to hear what they meant by 'grunge' sounding - however, stick this on and Touch Me I'm Sick leaves you in no doubt what they meant. This is a great album that makes no apologies about being rough around the edges, gnarly sounding, and even the album artwork you can imagine being stuck together using glue sticks and Sharpie pens.

I'll always think if Bad Moon Rising whenever I hear Creedance Clearwater Revival on account of watching American Werewolf in London as a kid, and being terrified (I still get a bit twitchy in fields at night, and in Tottenham Court Road tube station). This album has a great mix of their massive hits, and some other surprises - Heard (or 'Huyd' as prnounced on the CCR version) it Through the Grapevine being a perfect example.

Some HUGE hits on this, and a great little trip down memory lane. Would I listen to the album again in it's entirety, possibly not.

What an album, what a voice. Any album that includes Son of Preacher Man is going to be a belter.

What is there to say about this album that hasn't already been said - a life and career tragically cut too short.

Aside from Damaged Goods I found this just annoying - not one for me.

I found the back ground noise - sounds a bit like a turbo wastegate flutter on a number of tracks just annoying. I get that this was an experimental time for music, but it's just distracting.

Not too shabby - only 8 songs, so even if you don't get along with it, it's not for long.

I just can't get on with Suede - a few catchy songs, but there's just something that grates about them for me, and I struggle to get past it.

A motto I try and follow on this 1001 albums journey, and it's hard not to listen to this without prejudice - of the positive kind. It's a great album, including one of George Michael's signature tracks - Freedom! 90. What's not to love?

A toe tapper - but yet another of those bands I just can't get along with. Something too 'sweet' about the music. I won't reach for the volume to turn it up, but equally won't turn it off if they come on the radio.

Sadly due to Snoop Dogg's ego, belief in NFTs and business interests this has been removed from all the major streaming platforms, so unable to follow the link to listen. Luckily for me, I have it on vinyl so can listen to it when the mood takes me (as long as I'm in the house...). As debuts and statements of intent go, this is hard to beat.

I find myself going through periods of loving Morrisey, and loathing in equal measure. Generally means that depending on which day I'd give this a 2 or a 4 star review. Today is a 4 star day.

Hard not to get carried away with this one, to get out the hairspray, don your sports coat, sleeves rolled up and switch the desk fan on to full whilst belting out 'Rio!' No? Just me then....

Get your funk on!

Catchy, and irritating in equal measure. Rock Lobster is possibly the highlight - but it's a low bar.

Q-Tip is one of the group of rappers whose music leaves you feeling chilled and feeling positive about life, rather than angsty and wound up - on that basis alone this album is worth a 4/5.

Another one removed from Spotify - sadly don't have this one on any other format (apart from Maggot Brain on vinyl). Saddens me, as this will keep some people from discovering great artists like George Clinton and Funkadelic. I'll just have to give it a 3 from memory and tracks that I know from the tracklist.

Not one for me. Mercifully a short album.

Really tricky to listen to U2 objectively for me these days, ever since the now infamous iTunes incident. This is a stonking album which opens with some stone cold anthems, but for me I prefer Achtung Baby and Zooropa as complete albums.

At times I found myself checking to make sure Spotify hadn't jumped to REM - the sound is certainly very similar, and no bad thing. A safe Husker Du album

The unmistakable sound of Perry Farrell - opens with a belter in Stop, then eases you back down until the midway point with that favourite of MTV Been Caught Stealing. Perry's voice is soothing and scathing in equal measure, and fits perfectly in either the hi octane songs, or lower tempo songs like Then She Did... Loved it

Hard to believe it's not a greatest hits album - with anthems like Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, and Stupid Girl on the track list. Quite a debut! Shirley Manson manages to ooze sex and scary at the same time.

Absolute pure gold! Hard to relate some of the lyrics and context now - but if you're unfamiliar with the background, the group members and their stories I implore you to watch the film of the same name. As a 13 yr old white kid from England when this was released I didn't fully understand the underlying issues, and stories or context behind the tracks - it just seemed exciting and 'rebellious' to me. As a statement of intent, and a voice of a generation and community this is hard to beat. Buy it, download it, do whatever you have to and listen to this album.

Fun in places, but not something I'd be sad to never hear again.

Get out the Brylcreem, grab yourself a cheeseburger and get on down to the drive-in. This album conjures up images of pure rockabilly.

MEH!

Catchy, very catchy in places.

Last a lot longer than I realised. Another of those that you look back at on Spotify thinking the album has finished and started another record.

Debut by name, great debut by nature. Bjork is fantastically bonkers and her voice is unique. This album is chock full of belters.

I just can't get past the fact that John Lydon is a pillock.

A definite Sunday chill album.

A bit unfair to list this as a Dolly Parton record - by name alone it's a Trio of Dolly, Linda Ronstadt and Emmy Lou Harris. The sound is a perfect blend of all three voices and only the occasional track is Dolly-heavy.

I think it's fair to say that between Marvin Gaye and Barry White, they're probably responsible for a large portion of babies around the world - indirectly. Even if you're not in the mood, you will be by the end of this record. Filth!

Meh.

Not for me.

Not sure if it was a deliberate thing, but this was suggested on the day our Queen (Elizabeth II) died, so tried to listen objectively, but tricky. I used to hate The Smith / Morrisey, but as I've grown, I have grown to enjoy their music more and more.

The essential Kinks album. Will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, and Googling what a 'Harry Rag' is...

They divide opinion - but that's because they sit perfectly in the middle. This album is as 3 as a 5 star rating gets. In today's world where you can all too easily offend, this is beautifully inoffensive.

Grab your Kangol, your shell toes and get ready to bust some moves.

Look up the term 'grunge' and they should appear.

Given their massive chart successes I found this album a challenge. Having only ever heard their radio edits, or 'pop' songs, the language and tone of the skits and interludes didn't sit right with me, so struggled disassociate them with the light-hearted image. A decent record nonetheless.

The embodiment of cool. The album just oozes it.

Stick this record on, close your eyes and I guarantee you'll see yourself on a Parisienne street, sitting outside a cafe in the sunshine watching the world go by in the 1960s.

I know it's blasphemy to many people (including my wife), but I just don't get it.

One that I know surprisingly better than I realised. Nick Cave is polarising - some might say a bit Mr Marmite. Personally, I like him, but have to be in the mood - and this album seems to ooze autumnal / Halloween vibes, so perfect for this time of year.

Not for me.

What an album!

I mean, it's ok...

Of course, unable to listen due to it being pulled from Spotify.....

A bit too cheery for my taste.

At the risk of sounding like an old fart, I much prefer their earlier work

Almost impossible to resist dancing to this. Very much along the lines of Buena Vista Social Club - infectious.

Not really my cup of tea, but decent enough background music

Aside from the opener - More Than a Feeling, it's an average album for me. Decent background music.

A mercifully short album

Forgettable....

Sounds like a bunch of drunks in places. Lion in Winter I'm looking at you... Not their finest.

One of the less challenging Sonic Youth albums, that's for sure!

Catchy, but not something I'd seek out to listen to again.

I know he's a bit of a legend and all that, but this one isn't for me.

Started to lose interest in Green Day around this point, possibly their last decent album. Cliché I know, but preferred their earlier works.

Unable to listen due to Mr Young's stance with Spotify

Any album called 1977 that starts with the sound of a TIE fighter is ok by me!

Can't help tapping along, no matter how hard you try!

Not my bag. Found it quite grating.

Great album - even better when you consider it's just two people.

Really not my thang, cat! I get how people dig this kind of thing though.

It's ok, but not a memorable album from REM. It leads with its most memorable song, and kinda flatlines after that.

I prefer the radio edits...

Kinda forgetable. In fact, I've already forgotten it....

Was quite enjoying it in a Neil Diamond kinda way, until Family Band, and it went all religious - not my thing. Rest of it is easy listening though.

Save for Mr Blue Sky and a couple of others, it's a forgettable album for me.

Absolute belter. Not everyone's favourite Nirvana album, but I remember waiting for it's release with eager anticipation, and played the CD over and over again for weeks. Still love it some 30 years on. Damn, I'm that old...

Catchy, and annoying in equal measure.

Didn't listen - not available on Spotify

Strap in, hold tight and make sure your medical insurance is current. This is fast tempo stuff. Not for the faint-hearted. No sugar required.

If you ignore the fact that the Gallagher brothers are a pair of numbskulls it's a bloody good album.

Fairly run of the mill - Common I guess...

Takes me back to my childhood and our Indian neighbours - great times, with great food and such a welcoming family, but this isn't something I'd listen to other than for nostalgia purposes.

A little grating after a while - clever as it may be.

Given Mr Young's stance on having his music available on streaming services, I can't comment or rate effectively.

Really not my kind of thing.

Best thing about it is the cover artwork. The rest is ok if you like that kinda thing.

I'm aware of Miles Davis, and I appreciate in his genre he's a

Unable to review as not available on Spotify

Thanks to Pixar it's impossible to listen to Randy Newman without conjuring images of animated films. Easy enough to listen to, but you'll be watching a Pixar film before you know it.

Actually enjoyed this more than I expected!

Thank God that's over!

Music to write 70s porn to.

Well that was a surprise - wasn't expecting to enjoy that much. Some dark lyrics that would have Trent Reznor running for the hills!

Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Liked it more than I expected to.

Mercifully only 5 tracks long.

Can't rate, as not available on Spotify.

With the exception of 'You Could Be Love' - which hurt my ears, the rest is ok.

Absolutely legendary album. I was first introduced to it about 5 years after release, when a colleague of mine (who's wife is Cuban) first placed it to me and then loaned me the CD. Bought my own copy not long after, and now also own it on vinyl - perfect for those lazy summer days.

Unable to listen on Spotify

Unavailable via Spotify.

Just noise. Sounded like kids dicking about.