812
Albums Rated
3.36
Average Rating
75%
Complete
277 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Rock-and-roll
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
54
5-Star Albums
10
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
The Blueprint
JAY Z
|
5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
|
Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
|
5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
|
L'Eau Rouge
The Young Gods
|
4 | 2.32 | +1.68 |
|
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
|
5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
|
Smash
The Offspring
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
|
The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
|
5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Sensual World
Kate Bush
|
1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
|
I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
|
1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
|
Bad
Michael Jackson
|
2 | 3.81 | -1.81 |
|
Pearl
Janis Joplin
|
2 | 3.73 | -1.73 |
|
In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
|
2 | 3.6 | -1.6 |
|
Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
|
2 | 3.58 | -1.58 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
2 | 3.49 | -1.49 |
|
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
|
1 | 2.48 | -1.48 |
|
Butterfly
Mariah Carey
|
1 | 2.48 | -1.48 |
|
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
|
2 | 3.44 | -1.44 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 5 | 4.4 |
| Steely Dan | 4 | 4.5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.5 |
| OutKast | 2 | 5 |
| Fleetwood Mac | 2 | 5 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.25 |
| The Rolling Stones | 6 | 4 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.33 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band | 2 | 1.5 |
| Madonna | 3 | 2 |
| Tim Buckley | 3 | 2 |
| Morrissey | 4 | 2.25 |
5-Star Albums (54)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Linkin Park
5/5
4.5 stars. What a debut album! Every track is solid from start to end. Bennington's singing with Shinodah's rapping blends so well. Album is harder/heavier than I remember. "A Place For My Head" is a microcosm for the album and the band.
12 likes
The Offspring
5/5
4.5 stars. Fantastic album. Could do with fewer "ooohhoohhh's and yeaaaheeaaahhs" but this is just a great punk rock album. Lots of energy, catchy choruses. Takes a little edge off of some of the rawer punk, but not overly pop-y. Standouts are "Bad Habit", "Gotta Get Away", and "Self Esteem".
5 likes
Norah Jones
4/5
Gorgeous voice. Album is platform for showcasing it. Instruments are just an afterthought. Slow melodies, light piano makes for a lullaby, soothing type of sound throughout. Standouts are "Don't Know Why" and "Come Away With Me"
4 likes
Pere Ubu
3/5
3.5 stars. Started off great for being pretty out there. But second half faded and got too harsh. Standout is "Non-Alignment Pact".
3 likes
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
"Candy's Room" is fast-paced and fun, not super into the power ballads, but liked "Streets of Fire". Not the most exciting album.
3 likes
1-Star Albums (10)
All Ratings
John Lennon
3/5
2.5 stars. It was fine, pleasant to listen to. Nothing really stood out. His voice could be annoying on occasion. Appreciated the melodic sound, various supporting instruments
The Verve
3/5
Bittersweet Symphony incredible. Album feels a bit like U2 or simpler Oasis, pleasant alt/radio rock. 'Space and Time', 'Catching the butterfly', other good tracks
The Lemonheads
2/5
Reminds me a little of Counting Crows. Easy-listening, simple. Steel guitar in "Hannah & Gabi" is a nice surprise. "Kitchen" is pretty fun.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
"Candy's Room" is fast-paced and fun, not super into the power ballads, but liked "Streets of Fire". Not the most exciting album.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
3.5 stars. Really solid album, good guitarwork. Love the continuity yet unique vocals. Standouts "Carry On", "Woodstock", "Everybody I Love You".
CHIC
3/5
Only 7 tracks but they're long, overall decent disco. "Good Times" fun but repetitive, "Warm Summer Night" namesake, sensual R&B,
The Crusaders
3/5
Pleasant jazz. 6 tracks long Only "Street Life" - 11 min long - has vocals.
Linkin Park
5/5
4.5 stars. What a debut album! Every track is solid from start to end. Bennington's singing with Shinodah's rapping blends so well. Album is harder/heavier than I remember. "A Place For My Head" is a microcosm for the album and the band.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Great album, enough variation to keep it interesting. Uptempo drumbeat contrasts well with 'bleak' sounding vocals. Organs, strings, horns on various tracks to make up for repeating chorus lyrics bore. Catchy standouts: "Keep the Car Running", No Cars Go".
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
Country soft rock, not bad not overly exciting, "Christine" was best
ABBA
3/5
3.5 stars, Catchy fun pop, a little bit of variation between tracks too, "Dancing Queen" "Fernando" standouts
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Shorter album, but a good listen. A little more raw/early sounding. Standouts are: "Born on the Bayou", "Proud Mary",
Morrissey
2/5
2.5 stars. Not a big fan of his voice on this, a little boring, no standout tracks. Liked the piano on "Late Night, Maudlin Street"
Ryan Adams
4/5
Liked this album, hints of Counting Crows, Turnpike Troubadours, Rob Thomas, Black Crows. Standouts are "Firecracker" "The Rescue Blues", "Gonna Make You Love Me",
2/5
Probably a lot of fun actually live, but this album was too noisy. Decent protest rock and guitars wail, but not my cup of tea.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
Really fun salsa, surprising amount of variation across tracks. Hard to not want to dance when listening.
The Specials
4/5
Great album. Alternates between ska and reggae. Enjoyed the faster tracks more than the slower. Standouts are "A Message to You Rudy", "Concrete Jungle", "Little Bitch,
Stevie Wonder
4/5
3.5 stars "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" "Superstition" standouts
3/5
3.5 stars Beautiful voice, most enjoyed "I got caught"
The United States Of America
2/5
Mostly too weird and experimental for me. Liked "No Love to Give", "You Can Never Come Down",
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
4.5 stars, beautiful albums. Upbeat stuff has Beck vibes, slower stuff Hozier or Sam Smith. Pleasant listen all the way through but standouts are "You Ain't the Problem", "Rolling", "Light"
Black Sabbath
5/5
4.5 stars. One of the seminal, early metal albums for a reason. Standouts "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Paranoid".
Buck Owens
3/5
3.5 stars. Good early country. Standout from original album (not including "Act Naturally") is his "Memphis" cover
The Velvet Underground
3/5
3.5 stars. Enjoyable, soft-listening indie feel. "Pale Blue Eyes" is beautiful, "The Murder Mystery" is strange but I liked it.
Santana
5/5
Phenomenal album, creative covers. Impressive guitaring.
David Gray
4/5
Really nice album. Standouts "Babylon", "Please Forgive Me", and "Sail Away". Pleasant voice, sounds like a precursor to James Blunt sounding English soft rock, piano rock, pop feel. Not stripped down but not overly produced to still feel folk-y.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Long showcase of Jimi shredding the guitar. Standouts "All Along the Watchtower", "Voodoo Child"
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Pretty strange, not sure I'd seek out to listen to again
The Band
4/5
3.5 stars. Americana classic, distinct sound. Standouts are "The Weight", "This Wheel's On Fire", "Chest Fever".
Steely Dan
4/5
Nothing blew me away, but front to back it was just a good, well-produced listen.
Jeff Beck
3/5
Not bad, not my personal taste. Need to listen more
Miles Davis
4/5
Good jazz
Michael Jackson
4/5
Hard not to bob your head along with this disco-y pop. Fun, upbeat. Standout is \"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough\"
The Slits
3/5
3.5 stars. Post-punk all female. Not a big fan of the vocals, but like the music. "Newtown" has creative instruments. Standout is "Typical Girls", "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
Slayer
4/5
Pure metal. Heavy guitaring, fast double bass pedal drumming. Standouts are "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood" opening with it's iconic riff.
Def Leppard
4/5
80's hair metal at it's finest. Clean layering gives it a pop, glam feel. Standouts "Pour Some Sugar On Me", "Animal", "Women".
Metallica
5/5
Album goes so hard. Not a dull moment, everything is great from start to end. Favorites are "Master of Puppets", "Disposable Heroes" and "Leper Messiah"
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Brazilian, beautiful voice. Standout is "Alegria, Alegria"
Green Day
4/5
4.5 stars. Surprisingly timeless. Birth of pop punk. Billie Joe Armstrong's moody vocals, Dirnt's memorable bassline make this a great listen. Nothing special instrumentally but it works well for what it does. Standouts are "Basket Case", "Longview", "Welcome to Paradise", "When I Come Around".
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Jazz, kinda boring, maybe don't appreciate it like I should
The Cure
2/5
Not my cup of tea. A little ethereal at times which was cool, but overall just boring.
Public Enemy
4/5
Solid album. Standout is "Fight the Power" but the whole album is a good listen. Can now understand how this album was so important for future hip hop.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Really wasn't into this. Dreary voice. Would really have to be in the mood for slower sad stuff. Did enjoy "Open All Night" though.
Gotan Project
3/5
Enjoyable electronica. Nice and groovy. Slow builds that never get too big.
Spacemen 3
2/5
2.5 stars. Vocals more spoken than sung. Repetitive in build up, heavy distortion. First part of album slow and boring, takes a while to get going. Gets better with "Revolution" to end
The Smiths
3/5
Decent album, listener friendly. Cheery.
The Kinks
4/5
Really enjoyed this, similar to the Beatles. Standouts are "Picture book" and "People Take Pictures of Each Other"
Sepultura
3/5
It was good, but wasn't in the mood for this type of music at the time of listening so it put me on edge
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Unreal. Can't believe this is a debut album, what a talent. Standouts are "Purple Haze", "Foxy Lady", "Hey Joe"
James Taylor
5/5
Great album, comforting vocals, standouts "Fire and Rain", "Sweet Baby James"
George Michael
2/5
Not for me. Felt really corny.
Elastica
3/5
2.5 stars. Wasn't super into it but not bad
Aerosmith
3/5
3.5 stars Classic hard rock. Standout is "Back in the Saddle".
Supertramp
3/5
2.5 stars. Piano heavy, decent.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Fantastic album. Southern rock with multiple anthemic hits. Standouts are "Tuesday's Gone", "Gimme Three Steps", "Simple Man", and "Free Bird".
The Pogues
4/5
Fun Irish sailor shanties! Sounds like a precursor to Flogging Molly.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Solid early 00's alt rock album. "Take Me Out" major hit but the rest of the album keeps the vocals-driven feel throughout.
Stereo MC's
3/5
3.5 stars. Easy listening hip-pop. The standout "Connected" is very catchy and the rest of the album carries on the funky easy feel and the simple lyrics.
The Stooges
2/5
2.5 stars. Like a more rowdy or punky version of The Doors or the Stones. Less polished in a not great way though.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Brutal murder ballads. Nice storytelling but gruesome and difficult to sit through the visceral tales at times.
The Youngbloods
4/5
Liked this album, lots of variety. Could feel jazzy at times, folky, 60's classic rock. Good blend.
JAY Z
5/5
Amazing album. Standouts "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)", "U Don't Know", and "Heart of the City".
Kate Bush
3/5
Very strange and experimental. Lots of layers and sounded pretty busy. Should probably give more time listening. Standout was "Houdini".
Ian Dury
2/5
Very British, illicit humor. Standout is "Clevor Trever"
Kraftwerk
3/5
Early German techno. Standout is "The Model".
Tom Waits
3/5
Growly, masculine, vocals. Sometimes ballad-y, sometimes jazz-ish.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
This album is gangster rap personified. So many skilled verses, catchy hooks, and in-your-face choruses. C.R.E.A.M. is the anthem.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Enjoyable poppy prog rock album. Standout is "Solsbury Hill" which is extremely catchy. Felt a little over-produced at times, with some exaggerated ballad-y moments.
Simply Red
3/5
This album was alright. At times had elements of disco, pop, jazz and always had an 90's feel to it. Standout was the catchy "Come to My Aid"
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Female vocalist led punk with anti-consumerism sentiment. Standout is "Art-I-Ficial."
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Nothing blew me away but it was a good album. Standout was "Powderfinger"
The Replacements
3/5
Early post-punk indie rock. Fairly diverse, faster paced but also slower tempo tracks. Standout is "I Will Dare".
Blur
4/5
3.5 stars. 90's alt-rock. Nice vocals. Standouts "Magic America", "This is a Low".
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Really fun glam that isn't overly-obnoxious. Standout is "Sailing Down the Tears".
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
3.5 stars. Enjoyed the instruments, especially the guitar. But the vocals were a bit grating at times.
4/5
Starts with a fast-ish paced alt/radio rock sound before gradually mellowing out to more melodic and piano-heavy. Nice vocals that convey emotion. Doesn't shy away from raw, coarse lyrics. Standouts are "Big Exit", "You Said" and the duet "This Mess We're In"
The Offspring
5/5
4.5 stars. Fantastic album. Could do with fewer "ooohhoohhh's and yeaaaheeaaahhs" but this is just a great punk rock album. Lots of energy, catchy choruses. Takes a little edge off of some of the rawer punk, but not overly pop-y. Standouts are "Bad Habit", "Gotta Get Away", and "Self Esteem".
Bob Dylan
4/5
4.5 stars. Easy to understand why this was so poignant at it's release. Lyrically powerful. Unique vocals. Bringing really old folk to the modern age in tumultuous times so well. Hard to believe he was only 21 yrs old at the time of recording.
Norah Jones
4/5
Gorgeous voice. Album is platform for showcasing it. Instruments are just an afterthought. Slow melodies, light piano makes for a lullaby, soothing type of sound throughout. Standouts are "Don't Know Why" and "Come Away With Me"
Metallica
4/5
Solid enough album, but felt a little repetitive to me at times. Standout is "One"
SAULT
4/5
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this. Started kind of slow and took a bit to get into, but it really picked up toward the middle and onward. Standouts are "Bow" and "Eternal Life" and "Monsters".
Deerhunter
3/5
3.5 stars. Pretty decent indie. Fairly psychedelic and more poppy than rocky, but catchy at times. And a good listen. Lot's of variation in length of songs. Standouts are "Revival" and "Fountain Stairs"
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
2.5 stars It was alright, but wouldn't really go back and listen to anything specific from it. Collection of live tracks from various shows. Mostly instrumental.
Madonna
2/5
Just wasn't really into this. Pop that was catchy at times and had "deeper" lyrics and the cultural impact was probably meaningful, but I doubt I'll re-listen.
Fiona Apple
3/5
3.5 stars. Really solid debut album, good vocals. Standout is "Criminal"
Deep Purple
3/5
Impressive but harder for me to get into live albums. Guitarwork was phenomenal
Prince
4/5
4.5 stars. Great album. Prince shows phenomenal talent. Crosses multiple genres. Very well-produced, crisp and clean but doesn't lose emotion. Standout is "The Cross".
Louis Prima
4/5
Just super fun swing music. Hard not to tap your foot to the groove. Saxophone drives the rockin' album. Standouts are "Jump, Jive, An' Wail" and "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody"
Dead Kennedys
2/5
Rowdy and lyrics centering on social issues. Fast-paced punk. Standout is "Kill the Poor"
The Cardigans
3/5
3.5 stars, pleasantly surprised. More than just "Lovefool" this Swedish pop-rock album is catchy and the clean production doesn't drown out some fun alt rock guitar and basslines. Other standouts are "Step On Me" and "Your New Cuckoo"
Rush
3/5
3.5 stars. Different layout than most albums, but this was impressive musicianship. Standout is "A Passage to Bangkok"
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Arctic Monkeys front man side project. Has a "grand symphonic" feel but soens totally do it for me, not bad though. The opening title track is the standout.
The Dictators
3/5
Precursor to punk rock. Album picked up as it went on, last four songs are actually pretty listenable. Standout is "Two Tub Man".
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Goofy brit-pop. Tongue-in-cheek "romantic" lyrics. Catchy at times but really nothing special. Standout is "Something for the Weekend"
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
3.5 stars. Beautiful voice. Fun atmosphere that very much makes you aware it's a live recording. Standout is "September in the Rain"
Neu!
2/5
Kinda ethereal and mostly instrumental. Nothing special.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
3.5 stars. A lot of heavy and dark lyrics, can feel the emotion from the singer. Musically the ominous rock is distorting and grinding. Standouts are the sexually explicit "Closer" and "Ruiner"
George Jones
2/5
Drawl-y country western. Standout was slightly faster-paced "The Weatherman" but for the most part it was a pretty bland.
The Smiths
3/5
Fairly non-descript alt-rock. Not objectionable, but a bit dull. Standout is "Meat is Murder".
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Alternated between undesirable noise and interesting, catchy melody. Standout is "The Hardest Walk"
B.B. King
4/5
This album is a great listen, I wish it were longer. King is hard to tune out, and easy to connect to. Soulful jazz that just calmly draws you in with it's rhythms. Standout is "You Upset Me Baby"
Nick Drake
4/5
This album is beautiful. The combination of the strings and woodwinds with the folk guitaring is and Drake's pleasant voice is really neatly done. Good balance of over-produced vs stripped down.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Solid rock album. Guitar-driven Standouts are "Cinnamon Girl" and the catchy "Down by the River"
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Starts off with iconic guitar riff in "Brown Sugar," other standout is slower "Wild Horses". Occasional older, folkier sound to offset the rock and roll.
Finley Quaye
4/5
This is a great album, 4.5 stars. Reggae influences without being full-on reggae/repetitive. Balances blending lots of different instruments with still feeling simple. Vocals set a tone that feels 'relatable' and guitar is given freedom to shine at times. Pace changes throughout but is never too fast or too slow. Standout is "Sunday Shining"
808 State
2/5
Not impressed. Lackluster techno. Feels like boring, background music to an early video game. Standout is "Pacific 202"
Mike Ladd
3/5
Solid hip hop album. Slower paced, has lots of electronic elements. More something I would enjoy in the background instead of listen to actively. Standout is "Bladerunners"
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Catchy beats, ill rhymes, this is a lot of fun. Implementing the electric guitar was a great idea and pulled off well. Lyrics are whimsical at times and poignant at others and nearly every song is quite catchy. A couple duds, but overall quite an album. Standouts are "It's Tricky" and "My Adidas."
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Love the emotion and passion of "To Zion", standout is "Doo Wop (That Thing)" is a banger, so catchy. A lot of spirituality woven implicitly and explicitly in the lyrics. Album seems to lose a bit of momentum toward the end, 76 min length could've been cut back a bit.
Traffic
3/5
3.5 stars. Pretty decent listen, albeit short. Interesting crossover of folk rock and prog rock. The singer is what makes this more than an mediocre album. Standout is "Empty Pages"
The Auteurs
2/5
2.5 stars. Pretty boring, uninspired alt rock. Singer fairly monotone, drum beats really simplistic. Standout is the more lively "Early Years" and the hidden track at the end was pretty good.
The Avalanches
3/5
3.5 stars. Different sounding electronic album. Brings in a lot of elements and sounds and samples. Standout is "Frontier Psychiatrist" which seems chaotic but underlying beat and overall mix keeps it really fun.
Iggy Pop
2/5
1.5 stars. Really didn't dig this. Voice is annoying to listen to, musically it was OK but nothing special.
Tito Puente
4/5
Album instantly drops you into a different cultural experience, strongly Cuban-influenced with the leadoff standout "El Cayuco." Music seems so danceable and variations of faster and slower numbers led by horns, keys and Spanish language singers make this a lot of fun.
Pavement
2/5
2.5 stars. Grungy and shoegazey, the singer's monotone made it tougher for me to get into. Standout is "Summer Babe"
Rod Stewart
2/5
Sounded like a dollar store Bob Dylan record. Really repetitive at times. Musically mostly uninteresting despite incorporating a range of instruments. Standout is "Mandolin Wind."
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
3.5 stars. Enjoyed this record. Felt like it started to emerge from the 80's and bring in some 90's alt rock influence. Standout is "April Skies."
Guns N' Roses
4/5
While sprinkled with iconic hits this album otherwise felt a little more hair-metal at times than I was anticipating. The vocals are impressive for hard rock/metal. Lyrics don't hold back from the "sex, drugs, rock & roll" theme and the guitar solos are prominent throughout, most highly featured in intro to the standout "Sweet Child O' Mine." Other hits are "Welcome To The Jungle" and "Paradise City."
Jane's Addiction
4/5
4.5 stars. First half is a really good mix of high energy rock without feeling overly rowdy. Guitars have some great breakdowns best highlighted in "Three Days." Second half gets slower and more emotional due to subject (memoriam of singer's girlfriend). Standouts are "Been Caught Stealing" and "Stop"
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Way too experimental for me. Cool to incorporate random industrial sounds, but this is just noise to me. Can't imagine ever going back to listen again to any of it.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Strong influence from the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Vocals carry the album, lots of good harmonizing. Not too much filler front to back. Standouts are "California Dreaming" which is a great song, a cut above the rest. And "Monday, Monday."
1/5
1.5 stars, because "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" is nostalgic and not as obnoxious as the rest. Try hard angsty lyrics that overpower any semblance of musical acumen that might have showed up in the second half of the record. So many albums run only 30-40 min and thanks to a nearly 10 min pointless outro this album is 75 min of something only a 'rebellious' young teen could put themselves through.
Judas Priest
4/5
4.5 stars. Great metal/hard rock album. Radio ready hits "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" interspersed into heavier, faster tracks. Expected more heavier metal sound, but the singing and arena rock-ish elements were a pleasant surprise. Record flowed well from start to end, keeping up the energy.
Van Morrison
4/5
Pleasant folk rock/jazz. Dream like at times, album highlights Van Morrison's vocal talents. A record meant to be listened to front to back with each track carrying into the next with good continuity. Standout is "Sweet Thing"
Fleet Foxes
4/5
4.5 stars, indie folk at it's finest. Vocals can be a little too studio-y/echo-y at times but this album has a lot of energy blended with gentle melodies. Plenty of great tracks with standouts "White Winter Hymnal" as well as "Blue Ridge Mountains" and "Ragged Wood."
Supergrass
4/5
Enjoyed the variety. Starts off like fast and punk-ish, gets a little more pop-y ("Alright") and then slows down toward the end. For 1995 seemed somewhat ahead of it's time in ways. Got Jack White vibes in "Strange Ones."
Television
3/5
Art punk an apt description for this. Doesn't stop/start in bursts of high energy like typical punk. Not my personal taste, but can see how this album was influential.
Aphex Twin
3/5
3.5 stars. Electronica that is really solid ambient music. No lyrics but ethereal sound draws you in.
ZZ Top
3/5
3.5 stars. Blues-y southern rock starts slow and builds into more energy halfway through. Standout is "La Grange" which takes it's iconic guitar groove from a John Lee Hooker boogie blues song.
Method Man
4/5
A darker, heavier hip hop album by Wu-Tang's premier rapper. Solid production for mid 90's, record's strength is Method's rhymes. Standouts are "Bring the Pain" and "All I Need."
2/5
New Wave just isn't really for me. Sounds at times like a punkier, dollar store Beach Boys. Standout is "Come Back Jonee"
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Blegh. It's here because if it's influence as early pop punk. But what a slog of a listen.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
4.5 stars. Folk at it's best. Front to back a gentle yet bright and usually acoustic listen. The vocals is what makes this record, the harmonies as well as individual moments are really beautiful.
Adele
4/5
Soul-infused pop showcases Adele's supreme vocal ability. Musically isn't super interesting as the focus is on her singing. Standouts are bookends the powerful piano ballad "Hello" and the uplifting "Sweet Devotion."
Marvin Gaye
4/5
The ultimate baby-makin' album. Gaye's crooning and passionate voice and jazzy saxophone hooks sets the mood.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
A lot going on in this album leading to good results. Starts with heavy distortion and grungy. Moves a little more prog-y. Middle of the record is more rock and roll, times when there's horns accompanying ("Idiots Rule"). Acoustic guitar-driven "Jane Says" is the standout.
Garbage
4/5
'Doomy' alt rock shifts from hints of grunge to more mainstream rock. Elements of more dance/repetitive sounds mix with sharp guitarwork. Standout is the catchy "Stupid Girl."
Jimmy Smith
2/5
Too 'elevator music-y' for me. Not a jazz connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I think there's a lot else out there that I'd like instead of this.
The Who
3/5
Not usually into live albums, but this was a decent listen. Pure rock and roll and mildly entertaining banter between songs.
Antony and the Johnsons
1/5
Would need to be in a very particular mood to listen to this again. Very melancholic "baroque pop." Singer tells tale of journey relating to gender?
Michael Jackson
4/5
Best-selling album with ephemeral hits including the title track, "Billie Jean", and "Beat It" Jackson's post-disco pop acclaimed as maybe the best pop record of all time. Hard to separate the tracks from their pervasiveness but it is enjoyable and an easy, catchy listen.
TLC
3/5
3.5 stars. 90's R&B. An easy listen but nothing overly special. Standout track is the catchy "Waterfalls."
Bob Dylan
4/5
Musically a fun folk journey led by Dylan's meandering, drawn out vocals. Elements of jazz throughout. Standout is "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again."
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Just hard for me get into jazz like this, at least right now.
The Clash
4/5
The classic early punk album. Speedy guitaring, angry lyrics. Short (32 min) but solid album. Standout is "White Riot"
The Jam
2/5
2.5 stars. Meh. Brit alt punk. Catchy at times but fairly bland. Standout is "Billy Hunt."
Love
4/5
3.5 stars. This a good folk rock album that starts a little slow and picks up pace and energy as it goes. Has a hippy and happy feel to it. Standouts are the acoustic guitar driven "Alone Again Or" and "Bummer in the Summer."
Beck
4/5
3.5 stars. Fun and at times wacky. Gets a little experimental-ish at times which I wasn't a fan of, but overall enjoy Beck and this earlier work even if track by track it's hit or miss. Standouts are "Where It's At" and "Devil's Haircut"
5/5
This album rocks. Exciting front to back. Mostly flowy alt rock but brings in ethereal elements and clean distortion that brings an extraterrestrial feel. Standouts are "Knights of Cydonia" "Assassin" and "Map of the Problematique"
AC/DC
3/5
The title track being catchy and anthemic is the only appealing part of this album. Lyrics have a bit of a creeper/predator feel to them. Mostly boring arena rock.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
This was such a slog to get through. Far too experimental for my taste and the "art" of it was lost on me due to grating vocals and out of tune instruments. Those with refined musicianship seem like they "get it" but not me.
John Cale
3/5
Art/baroque pop that is not very pop-y. Has a pretty and gentle sound, upbeat at times and slow and beautiful at times. Standout is the title track.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is peak rock. "Ramble On" is one of the best songs ever written. Shredding guitars, drum-driven tracks, memorable bass lines, Plant passionately taking the listener on a journey. Hard to get much better than this.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
3.5 stars. Musically this is interesting. Wandering folk at times catchy and at times trippy. Goofy lyrics that knock the seriousness don't really align with the impressive instrumental writing. Standout is the piano-drive "Gotta Get Up"
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Not purely rock and roll. Lots of horns and piano complementing the standard guitar, drums and bass. Lighter than their earlier work. Incorporate a lot of blues and jazzy swing feel to the record. Works well as a full listen as it doesn't have the standalone hits that other Stones albums do.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Fully solo Grohl project in the post-Nirvana/pre-Foo days. Produced a bit raw, but this recorded really rocked. Singing ranges from yelling angrily ("Wattershed") to smoother ballad easy-listening ("Big Me"). Album begins to wane just a little bit after 7th track. Personal favorite is "Good Grief."
White Denim
4/5
This was a good indie rock album. Felt tropical/psychedelic at times and folk-y at times. Experimental enough without going overboard. Standouts are "Street Joy" "It's Him!" and "Drug" which exemplifies the band's instrumental talent.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Flea's funky basslines carry this sexually-charged early 90's alt rock album that pushes back against the grunge of the time. Ranging from silly to serious, contemplative to corny and always explicit, the bluesy guitar riffs over creative bass lines make this a solid listen. Major hits include "Give It Away," "Under the Bridge," and "Breaking the Girl."
Motörhead
3/5
Album would've been much better if it ended after the first song (the title track). Instead it was another half hour of more of the same but worse. Drum track was uninspired and same schtick with the high energy guitaring and growling, masculine singing was not much to write home about.
Tom Waits
3/5
3.5 stars. Experimental jazzy blues. Liked his deep almost ominous voice. Slow and sometimes dark but overall enjoyed this.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
3.5 stars. Early Michael Franti hip-hop that has activist heavy lyrics. Themes touching on homophobia, misogyny, immigration, race, economics, etc. are poetically carried over laidback beats. Very progressive for it's day. Production value felt a little lacking, but good record nonetheless.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Dreamy throughout and psychedelic at times this indie rock album is a great listen. Vocals illicit strong Bob Dylan vibes and lyrics are heavy and depressing. Ethereal effects overlays bring a bit more depth to each track. Standout is "Red Eyes"
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
Cuban son, bolero and dazon on full display in this ensemble of Latin American talent. From slow and beautiful, to catchy dance, instrumental to traditional singing this hour long listen has a full range of variety. There's also something in the way in which it was recorded (probably the nature of it being such a so many musicians in a large room) that makes it sound incredibly rich. Title-track highlights wonderful piano, but the standout is the leadoff "Chan Chan," what a banger.
Nick Drake
4/5
4.5 stars. This album feels really ahead of it's time, something you'd hear a 21st century folk indie artist record. Simple acoustic guitar and vocals, occasional piano but it really works and the pacing is quicker than expected and I wish the run time was a bit longer (only 28 min). Pleasant sound, calming/lulling singing, but not too slow. No low points throughout but the standouts are the bookends: title track and "From the Morning."
Frank Black
3/5
Decent 90's alt rock as solo project from the Pixies lead singer. Songs are short but there's 22 of them. Standout is "Headache."
Hawkwind
3/5
Live album of spac rock/prog rock. Long, loose tracks that have interesting bits of instrumentals, but mostly too drawn out for my taste. Standout is "Orgone Accumulator"
4/5
Soul/jazz album with a funky vibe that is a good listen. Brings the listener into a 70's black neighborhood. Leadoff "The Cisco Kid" is the standout.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Early 80's old-school hip hop. Great beats, smooth listening, no duds as the whole album explores different sounds while generally at a relaxed pace. The ice cold title track is the standout.
The Darkness
4/5
Goofy glam metal that can be a lot of fun. Falsetto singing of sophomoric lyrics over riffing guitars. The ultra-catchy "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is the anthemic standout.
The The
3/5
3.5 stars. Very 80's post punk. High production value, the bleak lyrics contrast with the upbeat music. The singing is actually a good listen and better than the instrumental backing. Standouts are title track and "Heartland"
The xx
4/5
Chill indie dream pop. Calm female vocals over relaxed beats. Music that is nice to have on in the background. Standouts are "Intro" and "Crystalised"
Dennis Wilson
3/5
3.5 stars. Solo Beach Boy album that really would've been good if it lasted only 1 disc. What started out as an enjoyable mix of piano ballad, pop rock, funk, and good singing became a slog. Standouts are title track and "Rainbows."
Carpenters
3/5
2.5 stars. Brother sister folk duo. Somewhat generic album with two big hits, the better of which is "We've Only Just Begun." Pretty female vocals is the strength of the record.
The Cure
4/5
Not a big new wave fan but liked this. Gothic rock and "gloomscape." Minimalist but had some intrigue. Standout is a "A Forest."
The Libertines
3/5
3.5 stars. Decent garage rock indie. Nothing extraordinary but it was a fine listen. Simple musically, duo vocals are good not great. Occasional fun guitaring.
Goldie
2/5
2.5 stars. Groundbreaking electronic album that feels dated. The fast beats are good at times but nearly 2 hours of this drops the rating for me. I appreciate something that moved forward the EDM genre but probably won't go back and listen to any of it.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
The 80's meets late 90's boy bands. Pretty forgettable pop.
Solomon Burke
4/5
4.5 stars. The name defines it. Rock and roll elements by one of the fathers of soul. Contagious singing that is hard not to get into. Contains lots of hits but standout is "Cry to Me."
The Temptations
3/5
3.5 stars. Soul with funk and motown feel. Easy-listening, nothing super special. Leadoff title track is the standout.
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
This was fine. Senegalese singer uses synthesizers and local sounds.
Beth Orton
4/5
Enjoyed this had a good rhythm throughout. She has a pretty voice but the album didn't just rely on that as it had some interesting instrumental backing her vocals. Folk but has electronics supporting it which is different but works well. Standout
David Bowie
4/5
Art rock that is just enough experimental in a good way. Mood of the album swings back between gloomy and upbeat. Occasional guitar riffs and synths throughout. Album ends with 4 pleasant instrumental tracks. Standout is the title track which is 80's ballad-y in a good way.
DJ Shadow
4/5
3.5 stars. Chill mostly instrumental trip hop that feels like a precursor to Lo-Fi. Created entirely from samples high production quality. Impressive for a debut album. Personal favorite track was "Organ Donor."
Peter Gabriel
4/5
3.5 stars. This is one of those albums that I respect more than I like. The genre/sound isn't my cup of tea but I can appreciate the audio engineering and crisp, clean production. Standout is "Sledgehammer."
Stevie Wonder
5/5
4.5 stars. Longer album that is still great and doesn't feel like it drags on, hard to achieve. Plenty of tracks in here ended up getting sampled in the future. Littered with hits and filler is nearly as good. Standouts are "Sir Duke," "I Wish" and "Isn't She Lovely."
Stevie Wonder
3/5
This was fine. Not the same energy as other albums by him and more of a swooning/swaying sound to the whole thing. Still decent but not Stevie at his finest, in my opinion.
Jerry Lee Lewis
5/5
Wow, what a performance. Usually difficult to convey energy in a live album but the key-slamming vocal drive and rocking mix does this flawlessly. Can't imagine what this would have been like to experience in-person, rock and roll at it's finest. Half a star off for being so only 22 min long (some tracks not included).
Justice
3/5
3.5 stars. Solid house EDM album. Lots of sampling, it's a good listen but nothing extraordinary. Standouts are "D.A.N.C.E." and "Genesis."
Kanye West
4/5
3.5 stars. Very impressive debut album. Lyrics tend away from "gangster" feel and are more introspective. The sped up beats/production as well as the guest artists are the strong points of this album. Although there are plenty of hits, personal favorite is "Spaceship."
The Sonics
3/5
3.5 stars. Upbeat fast-paced rowdy early garage rock that is produced to have a live sound. Tracks are all under 3 minutes and have gain-y riffing guitars and loud yells from lead singer. Lots of covers and a few originals, the best being "The Witch" but the LP standout is their version that popularized "Have Love Will Travel."
Germs
3/5
2.5 stars. Rowdy fast-paced early punk with a lot of repetitive choruses. Shorter tracks save for the long outro. Not my cup of tea but I can appreciate it for being one of the earliest punk albums.
OutKast
5/5
4.5 stars Creative hip hop double album that spans different sounds . First Speakerboxxx by Big Boi and lots of guest artists is just solid track after track and sounds a little more like traditional hip-hop. Then The Love Below by Andre 3000 is more poppy, jazz/funky and longer and drawn out with more filler and doesn't have the same bass-driven oomph as the former. There's absolute hits that are timeless led by "Hey Ya!," "The Way You Move," and "Roses." This record is expansive and showed what hip hop could be. Half star deduction for The Love Below not being on quite the same level as Speakerboxxx.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Soul-infused funk that blends genres and is catchy and easy-listening. Lots of variety: male/female, black/white, gospel, rock and roll leads to a great overall sound. Standouts are "Everyday People" and "I Want to Take You Higher."
Arcade Fire
4/5
4.5 stars. Solid indie rock album despite feeling a bit repetitive and metronomic. Similar sound throughout means no really strong hits but no weak tracks either. The steady pace gives a consistency as the husband + wife duo singers alternate and lead a feeling of floating toward a dreary future while holding on to nostalgia.
De La Soul
4/5
4.5 stars. As smooth as the hip hop group's name rolls off the tongue this debut album is wonderful and creative. Strong beats that a sample a range of musicians, lyrics range from comedic to comedic giving the record a positive vibe. Standouts are "Me Myself and I" and "Eye Know."
Pearl Jam
4/5
4.5 stars. Vedder's impassioned, growling vocals drive this iconic 90's grunge rock album. The guitars, bass, drums all feel powerful and make this quite extraordinary debut record. Standouts are "Even Flow," "Alive," and "Jeremy."
Pulp
3/5
Definitional Britpop. Has a fairly 80's feel but matures out of it well enough. It's lyrics center around sex, social class, nostalgia, and regret. Standouts are "Common People" and "Disco 2000."
The Stone Roses
5/5
This is really good. Feels like a progression of English rock from the 80's to 90's, even track by track within the record itself. There is a lot of variety: upbeat and rhythmic at times, and romantic at times ("Waterfall"), and builds toward an alt-rock sound by the end. Clean production without sounding overcooked. Gets a little weird/experimental and mostly instrumental toward the end.
David Bowie
2/5
Meh this didn't do a whole lot for me. Musically it was OK but Bowie's age really shows itself and makes it hard to get into. Standout for me was "Love Is Lost."
Leftfield
4/5
This is a really solid progressive house record. The pace starts slow and then picks up as it goes on. Very listenable beats and the sampling fits in well. Standout is "Afro Left."
Kelela
3/5
3.5 stars. Creative album that goes beyond the standard R&B genre. Standout is "LMK."
Mariah Carey
1/5
Oof not a fan. Airy, breathy voice over boring R&B/pop beats really made this an annoying listen.
Joy Division
4/5
4.5 stars. Creative basslines, catchy guitar riffs, steady drumming, this album derives a lot of it's feel and mood to the production which creates a dark and eerie, atmospheric sound. Only Joy Division record before death of front man Ian Curtis and spinoff of New Order. Standout is the leadoff "Disorder" which is phenomenal.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Mostly covers, 60's pop with mo-town influence. It's fine and easy-listening but doesn't really do a ton for me. Standout is her rendition of "Wishin' and Hopin'"
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Surprisingly enjoyable shoegaze album. Maybe because it pioneered the genre it did it well. I still wish the mix didn't have the vocals as quiet as they are compared to the instrumentals. Drums on "Feed Me With Your Kiss" are great.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Classic Stones, a really good listen. More rock than pop but influences of international sounds add a bit of flavor to this. Standouts are the leadoff and six minute long "Sympathy For The Devil," and "Street Fighting Man."
The White Stripes
4/5
Garage rock husband wife do with lots of hard beat drumming and distorted guitar riffs. Jack White's talent on display here as front man and producer. Creative, raw, foot-stomping, fun ("Fell In Love With a Girl"), sentimental and Beatles-esque ("We're Going To Be Friends").
Blondie
3/5
3.5 stars. Fun and catchy New Wave that borders on too poppy but is still overall enjoyable. The leadoff track "Hanging On The Telephone" that really does a good job of setting the tone for the album. Other standouts are "Heart of Glass" and the earworm "One Way Or Another/"
Dr. Dre
3/5
Solid rap album but overall vibe wasn't my favorite. Standout is "Nuthin But a 'G' Thang"
The Charlatans
4/5
3.5 stars. More from the 'Madchester' britpop genre, that gives a summer Oasis-y sound. And while it isn't quite as good as Stone Roses, it is catchy. Lot's of keyboard effects that set the listener squarely in the 90's. Overall there aren't major standouts nor are there duds, just a front to back decent listen.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
3.5 stars. A bit weird, this electronic indie rock has some great moments while being a bit too out there at times. The vocals can be a detractor at times, but overall this is a good album. Standout is the superlative "All My Friends" whose steady build and catchy beat is a masterpiece that carries the record.
Fairport Convention
3/5
60's British folk rock that has a bunch of covers of unreleased Bob Dylan music. Not bad, not amazing. Didn't have strong feelings about it one way or another.
Beastie Boys
5/5
4.5 stars. Brash debut from the Jewish trio from the Bronx is a lot of fun. The six track run in the middle of the album starting with "Girls" encapsulates what this group is all about. Combining creative beats and wide-ranging samples with rapping and yelling hedonistic and sophomoric lyrics brings the listener into a head-bobbing entertaining new world of hip-hop.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
This was fine but I'm not sophisticated enough musically to appreciate jazz-funk.
Otis Redding
4/5
4.5 stars. Otis Redding sings the blues. A soul album by the King of Soul. Lots of covers and very impressive that he recorded all but one song in 24 hours. But there are three originals - including a pre-Aretha Franklin "Respect" - and his voice is just so profound this record is a joy.
Lou Reed
2/5
2.5 stars. This was ok. Singer songwriter early rock. Lyrics are full of heavy themes. Didn't have any big standout tracks.
Spiritualized
4/5
Pleasant surprise here. Dream pop/space rock that does a good job of layering without feeling overly ethereal. Sounds a little reminiscent of an early version of some of Kasabian's work. Album fades a bit toward the end as the tracks become longer and slower and more instrumental. Standouts are "I Want You" and "Run"
Stephen Stills
3/5
The leadoff "Love The One You're With" is great, very catchy but the album is a bit of a letdown after that. Still fine for a singer songwriter rock album, but doesn't have the same punch as some contemporaries.
David Bowie
3/5
Took a couple listens but it grew on me. Musically it's interesting but I don't care for his voice on this record. Standout is the last song is the "I Can't Give Anything Away"
Digital Underground
2/5
Thought the hit "The Humpty Dance" wasn't much to write home about on a forgettable album. Vocals were okay, but beats were boring on ab illicit 90s hip hop record.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
3.5 stars. Interesting indie folk that lyrically explores history and culture at times poetic and at times narrative. Gets points for creativity. Standout is the phenomenal "Chicago"
Emmylou Harris
3/5
3.5 stars. 70's Country Western that is carried by Harris's beautiful voice.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
4.5 stars. At times good alt/radio rock, at times experimental and weird. Lots of variety. "The Gash" with choral singing. Standout is the beautiful, catchy, mysterious, "Race For The Prize"
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
Beautiful pop album that brings in orchestral elements to rock and roll. The vocals with the tenor harmonizing and up tempo backbeat drums drive the record. Is it overly produced? Possibly. The pre auto-tune auto-tuning of the voices can be annoying at times but overall it makes for a pleasant listen. The masterpiece that is "Mr. Blue Sky" unfailingly puts one in a cheery mood. "Sweet Is the Night" understated track.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Good soul album that lyrically touches on lots of heavy topics. Gaye's voice is so easy on the ears. No major standout tracks but no duds either.
k.d. lang
3/5
Pop album that showcases Lang's voice more than focuses on the music (which is pretty at times - "So It Shall Be"). In the Nora Jones/Sarah McLachlan mold. Pretty decent listen, but album started to drag on a little too long for my liking.
Mike Oldfield
4/5
4.5 stars. Experimental and out there, but got to me in a good way. Composition is pretty much just two long and mostly instrumental tracks. Implements orchestral elements, music meanders through different moods. Interesting that Oldfield, who played nearly all the instruments himself, was only 19 at the time and it became the first album on Virgin Records.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
3.5 stars Janis Joplin's powerful vocals bump this up a bit from being more run of the mill rock/psychedelic rock. Standout is leadoff "Combination of the Two" and "Pieces of My Heart."
The Cars
4/5
4.5 stars. Wow, one of those albums where I kept hearing hit after hit not realizing they were all from the same artist, much less the same debut record. New wave that is synth-heavy and at times too neat with the tech, but overall great pop/classic rock. Standouts are "Just What I Needed" "My Best Friend's Girl" "Good Times Roll" and the less popular "Don't Cha Stop"
Julian Cope
3/5
3.5 stars. Strange and eclectic, meandering at times. Varies in genre from fast-paced to slow and drawn out. Enjoyed disc 1, but disc 2 was too experimental for me. Standout was "Hanging Out And Hung Up On The Line".
Liz Phair
4/5
This had some really strong moments as an indie rock album and Phair's honest emotion is present throughout. Despite me not loving her voice, the guitar work and creativity meant there weren't really any low points. Standouts are "Never Said" and "Mesmerizing".
Beastie Boys
3/5
3.5 stars. "Sabotage" is an absolute banger. Another standout is the leadoff "Sure Shot". There are some international influenced instrumentals. Still fun and entertaining but not the Beastie Boys at their best.
Pere Ubu
3/5
3.5 stars. Started off great for being pretty out there. But second half faded and got too harsh. Standout is "Non-Alignment Pact".
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Of "Fast Car" fame, Chapman is a talented singer-songwriter as this folk rock debut album shows.
The Temptations
3/5
70's soul/funk. Not as catchy as some of their other work. Standout is "Papa Was A Rolling Stone".
Frank Zappa
4/5
Jazz fusion. Fast paced. Impressive musicianship. Opener "Peaches En Regalia" is the standout.
Travis
2/5
"Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" kind of epitomizes this album. A bit of a downer and didn't really do much for me musically.
Iggy Pop
4/5
4.5 stars, really liked this hard rock version of new wave. Felt ahead of it's time. Not a full 5 stars because some of the middle tracks didn't overly impress, but overall this was fantastic. "The Passenger" is a total banger. Title track also good.
Beatles
5/5
The Beatles redefining pop and what a complete album is: not just a collection of singles. It's a great listen. They creatively implement baroque sounds and sitar + harpsichord to make the record more than just folk rock. The biggest standout is "In My Life" and it's earworm melody.
Björk
3/5
2.5 stars. Meh this was weird. At times it was fine, but overall it was too avant-garde for me. The acapella was impressive, while also not being an enjoyable listen.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
3.5 stars. Sinatra crooning over bossa nova makes for beautiful background music. Dock the album a little bit for all the tracks sounding the same and it being under 30 min long. Standout is the leadoff "The Girl from Ipanema".
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
3.5 stars. Dark gothic rock that feels like a fun soundtrack to a scary adventure. Standout is "Lucretia My Reflection".
Sister Sledge
3/5
Disco sould. Catchy, pretty much to a fault. Title track is the standout.
Fela Kuti
3/5
3.5 stars. This was nice jazzy afrobeat. More good background soundtrack than anything,but had major political implications in Nigeria.
David Crosby
4/5
Singing is phenomenal,and even if the music isn't as good as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young it's still creative and melodic. Beautiful listen.
Talk Talk
2/5
Blegh. Lots that I don't like about the 80's. The worst of New Wave. Long drawn out slow autotuned singing.
Goldfrapp
4/5
This is art pop that really works. Creative and different without being too weird to get into. Standout is "Utopia".
Johnny Cash
4/5
Late era Cash with some great covers. Despite his age his voice is still impressive and a lot of this stripped down album evokes heavy emotion. Standouts are "Hurt" and "I Hung My Head".
The Cure
4/5
Musically creative. Don't care for lead singer's voice, but the instruments make up for it. Title track least favorite. Standout is the catchy "Lovesong".
Robbie Williams
3/5
3.5 stars. Reminds me of Everclear~esque 90's radio alt rock. Thought the slower, ballad-y stuff wasn't as good as the higher energy alt rock sound. Standout is "Let Me Entertain You".
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
There it is. In contention for GOAT album. Banger after banger. Variety of lead vocalists, catchy hooks, beautifully constructed tracks. Nearly flawless, wish it were longer than 40 min.
Eagles
4/5
Enjoyable classic dad rock, pleasant listen. "Try and Love Again" is underrated, great bassline. Other standout is the iconic title track.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
3.5 stars. Alternative synth-y pop rock. Driven by the phenomenal dance anthem, "Heads Will Roll", but not a ton else to write home about but not many duds either. "Zero" is the second best track.
Tears For Fears
4/5
4.5 stars. Great album. Some of the best of what 80's new wave/pop rock has to offer. Generally good melodies, catchy yet sophisiticated without being over-wrought. Standouts are "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", "Broken", and "Shout".
Solange
3/5
3.5 stars. Laidback, modern R&B with interesting beats. Pretty voice, hits high notes in a nice way. Interludes weren't irritating. Standout is east-Asian influenced "Cranes in the Sky".
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The bookends "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" are total bangers, just masterpieces. But the middle is not my favorite. Kinda honky-tonk-y rock and roll that doesn't really stand out and can be repetitive sounding at times.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
1.5 stars. This was rough. Like dollar store Destiny's Child and then at times trying to bring in rock? elements with whiny guitars. "Beautiful" being a decent pop song only thing that saves it from 1 star.
Cat Stevens
4/5
3.5 stars. Simple yet enjoyable folk rock. Steven's voice is easy very homely. Standout is "Wild World", very catchy and has been a recurring earworm over the years.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
4.5 stars. Hard rock, funk, blues, prog. There's a lot in here and it showcases all of the musical talent of the group. "Down by the Seaside" is underrated and "Kashmir" and "Houses of the Holy" are the two standouts.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Hip-hop changing debut album by iconic duo. Drum machine creates a new sound that is fairly minimal and repetitive but lets the duo's rapping be the centerpiece. Standout is "Rock Box", while "Wake Up" lyrics give an MLK-esque social commentary.
Beatles
4/5
4.5 stars. It's the Beatles. Shorter album (33 min) but hard to dislike anything about it, even if it isn't packed with tracks I love. "Roll Over Beethoven" sounds very Beach Boys. Standout is "All My Loving".
k.d. lang
3/5
Elements of country at times, love ballads, a little bit of variety and a pretty voice make this a decent pop album that covers lots of older country work.
The "Stay With Me" album. Vocals sound a bit like Steven Tyler so I always thought it was an Aerosmith song. The other standout is "Memphis". Overall a decent rock album.
Jack White
4/5
4.5 stars. Jack White's solo debut showcases his well-rounded musical prowess. Blues rock that incorporates jazz, hip-hop, folk/country, piano ballad, and more. Standouts are "Take Me With You When You Go", "Freedom At 21", and "Sixteen Saltines".
John Lennon
3/5
Appreciated this more than I enjoyed it. Lennon's singing is the driving force here, but I just didn't get into it.
Elvis Costello
4/5
This was some fun pub rock. Not anything genius musically, but not objectionable. Standout for me was "Mystery Dance", which kinda encapsulates the album when it was at it's best: fun and fast-paced.
Metallica
4/5
4.5 stars. This was epic. They symphony adds to the metal performance, enhancing what is essentially a Metallica greatest hits live album.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
2.5 stars. A little too overdone for me. Catchy at times but not really my thing. Still better than most pop. Very 80's and some covers that weren't my favorite. Standout was "Relax".
Alanis Morissette
4/5
4.5 stars. Despite not knowing the definition of ironic, Morissette does know how to make a great radio alt rock album. Lyrics aren't subtle but aren't too overt, hooks are catchy, lots of emotion is captured while still feeling relatable, production is clean without losing too much grungy feel, length is perfect. Standouts are "Ironic", "You Oughta Know", "You Learn", and "Hand in My Pocket".
Green Day
4/5
3.5 stars. Solid rock album, but more mainstream/poppy than the more punk earlier version of Green Day. More made for radio than I'd prefer, but still a decent listen. Production/mixing isn't my favorite, sounds like Billy Joe Armstrong is really trying to sing over the guitars. Hard to detangle my nostalgic memories of "Holiday", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" as they were inescapable during middle school years.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this. Funky and catchy. High pitched voice sounds a little gospel/soul at times. Standout is "Jesus".
The Rolling Stones
5/5
4.5 stars. Fantastic album. Classic rock defined. Standouts are "Paint It Black" and "Under My Thumb".
Air
4/5
Cool downtempo space pop electronica. Sets a nice chill vibe. Standout is "La femme d'argent".
Erykah Badu
3/5
Meh. Neo soul. Didn't dig it, didn't hate it.
Metallica
4/5
Solid album. Less thrashy and more refined/polished. Really starts to crossover into rock more so than metal. For better of for worse. Standouts are "Enter Sandman" and "Nothing Else Matters".
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
3.5 stars. "Breakdown" and "American Girl" are great, super catchy. Rest of it is more filler and harder to really get into.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
3.5 stars. Felt cohesive throughout, good production value. The Wu-Tang member packs a punch from start to finish. Skits didn't ruin it like they are prone to. Standouts are "The Champ" and "Be Easy".
Violent Femmes
4/5
4.5 stars. Strange but compelling early alternative rock -ish album. The acoustic basslines drive this record and make up for a. Impressive songwriting for an 18 year old high school kid, even if his vocals are a bit high and awkward. Standouts are memorable "Blister In The Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone".
Happy Mondays
3/5
Not bad, not great. Sounded pretty 80's. A little repetitive at times but "Wrote for Luck" is a solid tune.
The Prodigy
4/5
Heavy "big beat" electronic rock. Standouts are the adrenaline pumping "Smack My Bitch Up" as well as fast-paced "Firestarter".
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Still cracks me up that this band is from El Cerrito and not from the south. This album finds a way to make swamp rock jam band-y type music crisp and concise without droning on and on. "Bad Moon Rising" is an all-time classic, so well done. The title track is the other standout.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Blues with unsurprisingly impressive guitarwork. Short track lengths is nice for this genre. Could do without the disturbing lyrics that are uncomfortably pedophile-y.
Lightning Bolt
2/5
A grind at times, sorta catchy and fun at others. Can appreciate this being different, but noise rock isn't for me. "Assassins" is the best of the bunch.
The Associates
2/5
Nah. I suppose there's some musical talent here, but I just really wasn't a fan. Too 80's art-y for me.
Daft Punk
3/5
3.5 stars. Pretty catchy French House debut album. Standouts are "Around the World" and "Da Funk".
Amy Winehouse
4/5
4.5 stars. I dig this. Beautiful voice but doesn't overdo it. Sensual but funny at times, honest and has attitude. Impressive debut, especially for a teenager. Music meanders from jazz to R&B to soul in a very listenable way. Standouts are "Fuck Me Pumps" and "Brother".
Chicago
2/5
Was not into this. Too much jazz than rock for me. Some of it was fine, like "Beginnings" but "Free Form Guitar" alone made this listen a drag.
Johnny Cash
4/5
3.5 stars. The leadoff title track is so good. Lyrically dark, which makes sense given the context. "Jackson" duet is beautiful. Really sounds like a live album, in a good way.
Kanye West
4/5
4.5 stars. High quality production, creative writing. Pulls in lots of different genres. Grandiose, though second half does tail off a bit. Probably won't be back much to re-listen.
Coldplay
3/5
This is like the opposite of jazz. My very limited understanding of music and music theory makes the complexity of jazz tougher to listen to and appreciate what is happening. This is like popcorn. Extremely simple melodies, boring but inoffensive musically, pleasant voice from a lead singer, makes it easy to consume.
Ray Charles
4/5
It's like good Christmas music that isn't about Christmas. First half of the album the horn and big band accompaniment can distract from Charles, whereas the second half string and ballad-y feel better suits and highlights his singing.
The Fall
3/5
2.5 stars. Started off weird but got better as it went on. Punk influences at times, other times pop-y but overall a bit too experimental for me to get into. Standout is "L.A." which is catchy, if repetitive.
The Icarus Line
4/5
4.5 stars. This album gets after it. A little muddled and overly distorted at times, but for the most part it's just really good rowdy post-hardcore. Starting with "Spike Island" it takes off, and the standout is "Getting Bright At Night".
4/5
The was a creative art-y album that worked well. Orchestra elements, some middle eastern influence. Overall beautiful sounding.
Talking Heads
4/5
4.5 stars. This is really good, David Byrne is so talented. From the leadoff "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel", the tone is set for an upbeat, positive sound with catchy riffs and solid basslines. Enough time has passed from when those obnoxious fish mount decorations were popular that "Take Me to the River" stands alone as a great track. "The Girl Wants to Be with the Girls" is great as well.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Sinatra swingin'! His voice is so iconic, the jazzy big band is exuberant.
Madonna
2/5
Long drawn out pop tracks meet diet techno. No thanks. Title track was OK, but there were some real painful ones in here including 11 straight minutes of the "Candy Perfume Girl" and "Skin" back to back.
Kate Bush
1/5
That was a struggle. Her voice was grating, there were weird string accompaniments that felt really outta place. Even the hit "This Woman's Work" seemed really abbreviated. I like to think I have a somewhat wide taste in music as far at least tolerating different varieties but this one was testing that.
Depeche Mode
4/5
The three hits "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", and "Policy of Truth" are catchy well-crafted tracks. The rest of the album is good not great.
Aerosmith
3/5
3.5 stars. "Sweet Emotion" is an incredible song that has an iconic bass riff. "Walk This Way" has equally catchy hook as gross lyrics? "You See Me Crying" is what a power ballad done well sounds like. But the rest of the album is meh,
Duke Ellington
4/5
3.5 stars. The format of this (over two hours long and interludes with presenters just talking) took away from what was really good jazz big band. The standout is the iconic "Jeep's Blues".
Roxy Music
2/5
2.5 stars. First half was OK, with interesting guitar riffs. But the vocals dragged it down and it really faded in the second half. "Virginia Plain" is a solid track.
Paul Weller
3/5
Eh it was decent. There were good moments were it was enjoyable radio rock that sounded like budget Collective Soul, but too much filler in-between. Standouts are "Sunflower" and "The Weaver".
Giant Sand
2/5
Pass. This was weird, and I suppose the lyrics were different and interesting in a good way but overall this was a snooze.
Frank Ocean
4/5
4.5 stars. Expands the bounds of R&B by incorporating psychedelic, soul, jazz elements. Extremely listenable while also creative and not lacking in depth. "Pyramids" is the standout but there's not a bad track.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
3.5 stars. Solid electro space rock album. Strange yet inoffensive. The two standouts are the pt. 1 title track and "Do You Realize??".
Beck
4/5
Alt rock gem. Laidback vibe but catchy hooks. Clever subtle sampling from a lot of 70s work. Standouts are "E-Pro", "Girl", and "Go It Alone".
Dire Straits
4/5
4.5 stars. The opening 3 tracks are phenomenal, but then it feels like a letdown afterward. It's not terrible, but it doesn't live up to the start. Throughout the whole album, the recording/production quality is absolutely outstanding. Very clean and crisp and sounds like it's meant to be played loud on a high-end stereo system.
Black Sabbath
3/5
It was fine, liked that it was varied with softer moments. But probably something I won't return to much. Standout was "Snowblind".
R.E.M.
4/5
3.5 stars. Pretty decent alt rock. More listenable than intriguing or compelling. Standouts are "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" and "Man On The Moon".
5/5
So anyway, here's "Wonderwall". Perhaps because I am young enough to have missed this being ubiquitous for a period of time in it's heyday, it wasn't hard to come at it with a fresh look. Was not let down. It's mainstream rock that appeals to the masses without feeling too watered down. Standout is the closer, "Champagne Supernova" but start to finish it starts fast and doesn't slow down. No clunkers.
The Roots
4/5
There's some good moments to this hip-hop record that incorporate complex lyrics and beats. The standout is the catchy "The Seed (2.0)". Fast paced beat of closer "Thirsty!" is great as well. "Water" is so weird/bad and out of place, was the biggest letdown in an otherwise solid album.
Merle Haggard
4/5
4.5 stars. This is prime country. Title track is the standout. Other greats are "Drink Up And Be Somebody" and "Mixed Up and Messed Of A Heart", but start to finish this is just really good old country. Interesting music with steel guitar, piano, catchy hooks, and Haggard's iconic singing.
The Coral
3/5
2.5 stars. Eh wasn't really into this. Felt like ballad-y psychedelia rock. Fun dueling guitars at times, but overall this was a little too repetitive at times. Standout was "Simon Diamond".
T. Rex
4/5
Glam rock but had enough pop and folk sound to be a really enjoyable album. Beyond the catchy hit "Get It On", "Mambo Sun" and "Hot Love" are great.
Björk
3/5
2.5 stars. Weird and disjointed. Enough pop to keep the strange avant-garde listenable. Her voice is the worst part, singing is not her forte. Standout is "Venus As a Boy" which has a pretty string and ethereal electronica compliment.
Dusty Springfield
5/5
Wow what a pleasant surprise. So much more than "Son Of A Preacher Man", this was a joy from start to finish. Leads off sensually with "Just A Little Lovin'", ends with a deeply emotional "No Easy Way Down" R&B track. This is pop done right. Absolutely beautiful singing, well-constructed backing music, engaging lyrically.
The Byrds
4/5
Really captures the Laurel Canyon folk rock sound. Flows together as an album. Dabbles in different genres while a keeping a consistent rock base.
Not as much a fan when they get more psychedelic though. "Goin' Back" is the standout.
Brian Wilson
2/5
Bleh. Late career Brian Wilson not for me. Youthful and upbeat but just felt like unexciting pop overall.
Yes
2/5
2.5 stars. The leadoff "Roundabout" is great, but the album is all downhill from there. I guess I'm just not into 70's prog rock.
The White Stripes
4/5
I love the music making artistry of Jack White, and this album is at it's best when the piano is driving. Less guitar-riffing which makes this less enjoyable for me than a lot of his other work, but still creative and implements lots of interesting instruments. "Blue Orchid" and "The Denial Twist" are the standouts.
Brian Eno
4/5
4.5 stars. Beautiful, calming ambient music. Pretty impressive that this album was sorta the first of it's kind when it comes to this genre. Works equally well as background music while focusing on something else, or as interesting standalone art on it's own.
4/5
4.5 stars. Summer of Love! It's catchy, it's zany, it's art, it's mainstream pop. A lot going on here, in a good way...LSD working well to the band's benefit. Lyrically touches on a variety of cultural changes during a pivotal era. The standout is "With A Little Help From My Friends" which will always be a classic.
The Incredible String Band
1/5
Oof, no. Struggled through this. Way too esoteric for me.
Songhoy Blues
5/5
4.5 stars. Opening riff shreds and from there on its just a great blues rock album. Fun and different that it's not in English, but the guitars from this Mali-based group just carry the listener on an enjoyable ride. Standouts are "Soubour" and "Al Hassidi Terei".
Led Zeppelin
4/5
4.5 stars. Blues-infused hard rock that kicked off the career of one of the greatest bands of all time. From the initial riff in the leadoff "Good Times Bad Times" to the grabbing solo in "How Many More Times", Page's guitar prowess is felt throughout. Bonham's driving drums support well and this record does not have a single skip. Not quite as strong as some of their subsequent work, but still really really good.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
This was a lot (2 hours). Mostly enjoyable though. Newer country rock blended with old-school Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs bluegrass. Standout is "Tennessee Stud" but I enjoyed their take on the bluegrass classics like "Flint Hill Special" and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown".
Alice In Chains
3/5
Unlike other 90's grunge rock, I only like this in small doses. Singer drawing out and holding notes for too long gets old quickly. The hits ("Rooster", "Down In A Hole", and "Would?") are good but the rest is forgettable.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Meh. Would have to be in a pretty downer mood to get into this. Singing is just too lackluster to make up for pretty songwriting. Enjoyed the storytelling in "Story of Isaac". Standout is "The Partisan" with it's French and nice backing vocals.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Pop R&B at it's best due to the incredible soulful Aretha Franklin. From the kick-off "Chain of Fools" through the ending emotional "Ain't No Way", this half-century old album still holds up sooo well. The backing music is occasionally big-bandy, occasionally jazzy, and balances so well with the singing as it never takes over but is always catchy. Great cover versions of classic soul like "People Get Ready".
ZZ Top
3/5
3.5 stars. Driving fast-paced hard rock infused with blues. It doesn't take itself overly seriously, most notably lyrically. The hits are catchy and fun, "Sharp Dressed Man" being the standout. But the womanizing schtick did get old after a bit.
Fever Ray
2/5
Wasn't into this. Kinda eerie and interesting to start, but kinda devolved from there and was a bit dull.
The Residents
1/5
Nope. Way too avant/eclectic. Couldn't get into it and it was really long.
Carole King
4/5
Female James Taylor vibes in terms of how the album feels, especially instrumentally, and that was before hearing "You've Got a Friend". Standout is leaf off “I Feel The Earth Move” which has a vibing anthemic drive to it.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Great folk rock that is elevated by the soulful singing. Standouts are lead off “Down to Zero” and the emotional “Love and Affection”.
Various Artists
4/5
Gotta separate the art from the artist here. Results in beautiful Christmas album that balances enough enthusiasm and passion without becoming overly whiny.
U2
4/5
3.5 stars. It’s good, but Bono’s singing is best in smaller doses for me. Good guitarist, but record feels a little over-produced. Standouts are the bookends.
Eminem
2/5
Brilliantly talented rapper and songwriter giving voice to frustration of the disenfranchised and highlighting social issues? Yes. Obnoxious shock jock striking a chord with angsty high schoolers through over the top language? Also yes. “It’s a joke, bro” or not, couched in too much anger, violence, misogyny, homophobia, and toilet humor for me to go out of my way to listen to. Standout is “The Real Slim Shady”.
Ride
4/5
Budget Oasis. Didn’t like that the vocals were more in the background than the foreground, as dull/draggy as they were at times. Still good shoe gaze record, especially when it avoided being overly prog rocky.
OutKast
5/5
Bangers from start to finish only briefly interrupted by goofy interludes. The singles lead the way with my personal favorite being "B.O.B." instead of the more famous "Ms. Jackson" and "So Fresh, So Clean" but there are underrated tracks throughout: "Gasoline Dreams" and "Humble Mumble" being the best of the rest. Hip-hop mastery with infectious hooks, driving beats, clever lyrics, impressive clean production. Creative and takes hip hop to new places and the singles are arguably early examples of rap becoming mainstream.
Rush
4/5
Pleasantly surprised this was only 40 min runtime, was expecting it to be at least double that. The standouts "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight" are really good and carry a more mainstream sound and structure than the rest of this prog rock record. Enjoyed the drumming, really impressive.
M.I.A.
4/5
4.5 stars. Sri Lankan hip-hop artist creatively blends world sound into dance-paced record. There's times where I found the tracks annoying (e.g. the high pitched tinny "World Town") but overall this is good. The highs (e.g. upbeat, synth-y "Jimmy") are really high. Unlike most of the rest of the album that is more fast-paced dance genre, the infectious "Paper Planes" is down-beat hip-hop that's mocking lyrics cleverly play on many American's views on third world country immigrants.
Brian Eno
2/5
Art rock/pop that was hard for me to get into. Can appreciate Eno's contributions to advancing music, but this in particular was a bit of a snoozer.
SZA
3/5
Hard to give this an honest rating. Production-wise it's good, and from a lyrical standpoint she digs deep on some emotional topics but I just don't care for this kind of music.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Album's strength is the lead singer's vocals which are best showcased in the earworm standout "Maps". At times it borders on noise rock, but overall stays in a good indie garage rock genre.
The Band
3/5
The twangy lyrics, and foot stomping beats make it feel a bit more southern than standard folk rock. Driving piano in "Jawbone" is upbeat fun. Standout is "Up on Cripple Creek".
Billy Bragg
3/5
Sing-song-y Woody Guthrie lyrics set to the tune of Billy Bragg and Wilco. The first half or so is good, but the act got a bit tired for me after that. Overall decent folk rock but nothing amazing. Standouts are "California Stars" and "Way over Yonder in the Minor Key".
N.W.A.
4/5
4.5 stars. Man this just gets after it from the get-go, what a leadoff track. Ice Cube's writing ability shines through across the record and the sampling is on point. There are some weaker tracks that keep it from being 5 stars ("I Ain't Tha 1", "Compton's N The House - Remix" ) but this genesis of gangster rap is a hit. Standouts are the title track, "Fuck Tha Police", and "Express Yourself".
Supergrass
4/5
I like Supergrass, their sound is a good example of alt rock/power pop I enjoy: fast-paced, driving drums, vocals that aren't grating, somewhat consistent and predictable but occasionally mix things up to not make it boring. Standout is "Richard III".
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Dark and brooding. Vocals are deep and breathy but it works. The violin really and other background instruments really help complete this album. Standouts are "Steer Your Way" and the title track.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Interesting combination of melodic eloquence of depicting dark subject matter in gangster rap. Catchy beats that are quality Dre work and Snoop brings clarity in the delivery. Easy to see why this was so influential. Standouts are "Gin and Juice", "Who Am I (What's My Name)?", and "Tha Shiznit".
Tim Buckley
2/5
Musically there may have been something here, but Buckley's singing turns it into a dreary affair.
Radiohead
4/5
3.5 stars. The singing brings down otherwise creative and interesting songs. Interesting basslines, heavily layered and goes for an 'epic' sound. Standout is "Jigsaw Falling Into Place".
Animal Collective
3/5
Really busy, the layered singing and back up vocals were distracting at times. Appreciate the creativity and going for something different, but was a bit tough to get into. Standout was "Summertime Clothes".
Moby
4/5
4.5 stars. Have always enjoyed this album. Simple yet engaging electronica. The slower vibe-ier downtempo tracks ("Porcelain", "South Side") are better than the fast paced ones ("Bodyrock", Machete") which sound a bit dated. Wish "Flower" made it onto the original cut, probably my favorite track and was released on B Sides nearly a decade later.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Short and sweet early rock and roll. Sound like a pre-Beach Boys with surf rock influence as well as Johnny Cash deep baritone vocals. Standouts are "Oh Boy!", "Not Fade Away" and "Rock Me My Baby".
Le Tigre
3/5
2.5 stars. This was weird, dance punk-ish. I enjoyed it at times, but overall just didn't do it for me. Standout is "Deceptacon".
Sugar
4/5
4.5 stars. Great alt rock/power pop with a tinge of grunge. A garage-ier Collective Soul at times, singing voice similar to Blue October. Can be a little repetitive but the fast-paced drive and reasonable run length (45 min) makes for a fun listen. Standout "A Good Idea".
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Crisp and clean funky soul that isn't formulaic.
Really liked this. The whole album doesn't have any skips (partly due to 36 min run time) but the standouts are "Pusherman" and "Superfly".
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
3.5 stars. A little short (under a half hour) but still enjoyed it, decent folk rock. "Fakin' It" is the standout. "Mrs. Robinson" is a classic. "A Hazy Shade of Winter" is also good.
Queen
5/5
4.5 stars. Over the top and unconventional in the best way possible. Takes listener on a journey that spans well beyond hard rock/prog rock. Layered and dynamic, it's a work of art and not just a bunch of songs thrown together. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is an all-timer and epitomizes the record.
Charles Mingus
3/5
Something to come back to. Typical jazz I struggle to appreciate now but hope to some day.
The Kinks
3/5
3.5 stars. It was decent. Very Beatles-esque baroque pop/folk rock. Standouts are “Party Line” and “Sunny Afternoon”.
Eels
4/5
Musically nice and slow and melodic and at times ethereal countered with creepy lyrics and singing that varies from almost falsetto to strained/smoky. "My Beloved Monster" reminds me of Shrek movie but it's still a great tune. "Susan's House" (along with Atmosphere's "Yesterday") samples Gladys Knight and The Pips piano intro.
The Smiths
2/5
2.5 stars. Boring, nothing really caught me.
Minutemen
4/5
3.5 stars. A bunch (43) of short tracks that is all over the place but not too it's detriment. Punk in it's own way. Less rowdy than most of the genre but lyrically poignant in a goofy delivery. Guitar can be jazzy and catchy at times but it's one of those albums whose importance outweighs it's enjoyment. Standout is the memorable riff-driven "Corona".
The Band
3/5
The twangy lyrics, and foot stomping beats make it feel a bit more southern than standard folk rock. Driving piano in "Jawbone" is upbeat fun. Standout is "Up on Cripple Creek".
Massive Attack
2/5
2.5 stars. A little bit slow and downbeat. Gets a bit reggae-ish at times. Standout is "Unfinished Sympathy".10
Throwing Muses
2/5
Not for me. Was ok at times as grungy alt-rock with lots of distortion but probably not something I'll come back to.
Kate Bush
3/5
3.5 stars. Enjoyed this more than the other two Kate Bush albums that have come up so far. Starts off so strong with "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" and tails off a bit but is still pretty good overall. Didn't care for really weird "Waking The Witch". The ethereal "Cloudbusting" and up-tempo Irish "Jig Of Life" were the other standouts.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
4.5 stars. Amy Winehouse is pop music that I really dig. She is now more soul than jazz, but the backing instrumentals are still really nice and don't get in the way. Voice is just so listenable. Depth and emotion in the lyrics. Kicks off with the ultra-catchy "Rehab" but there's not a skip on the album.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Eh, musically it was ok but his high-pitched singing (as talented as it might be) was distracting.
Lucinda Williams
3/5
Decent sing-songwriter americana with a bit of a country twang. Nothing really stood out, in a good or bad way. Enjoyable voice to listen to.
Anita Baker
4/5
Beautiful. Really liked the crooning singing, pseudo-jazz soul band. Feels like it could've been from an older era than the 1986 recording date, just a traditional sound instead of contemporary R&B.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Unrelenting. Aggressive. Breakdowns, build ups, poignant political lyrics, growling passionate cries, riffing guitars. The no sampling, synth, or keys helps drive the rawness that the album works so well. This is prototype for what rap metal could be is an all-timer. Standouts are "Bombtrack", "Killing In the Name", and "Bullet In the Head" but there are no weak tracks throughout.
Iron Maiden
5/5
4.5 stars. This is a lot of fun. Very foot-tapping, air guitar inducing. High BPM, drum-driven, high pitched and drawn-out vocals over screaming guitars. The standout title track sounds Judas Priest-y combined with the good elements of AC/DC. Will be coming back for more.
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
1.5 stars. Naw. I'll pass. Cool that she was making a comeback after fighting addiction, but I didn't like any of this. Especially the explicitly vulgar closing track.
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Pretty good if not unmemorable. Pair of brothers make a 50's rock & roll record. "Love Hurts" is interesting given this is the original and how many times it went on to get covered in years following.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
3.5 stars. Starts out as occasionally creative and fun metal/rock with elements of string/orchestra layered in. Singing alternates between something different in a good way, and grating/detracting from the music. Lyrics can be aggressive but not to the point of off-putting. Starting with "Lately", which is more like generic 90's alt rock, it really slows down and gets down to soft rock or almost R&B. Different genre than the beginning of album. Standout for me was "We Don't Need Who You Think You Are" and "The Skank Heads".
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
4.5 stars. The jazz influence really makes this hip hop record a masterpiece. The underlying bass lines give it musical depth. Has a more mellow sound than macho hardcore gangster rap. Standouts are "Check the Rhime" and "Scenario".
Aretha Franklin
4/5
4.5 stars. "Respect" cover is one of the best songs ever recorded, so powerful. Showed what soul could be. "Save Me" underrated, fun groove musically.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
3.5 stars. No big standouts in terms of individual tracks, but it's a good album overall. Uses layers and depth to go a bit genre-bendy in a creative yet listenable way. Dance-y but not overly catchy electronica but not at the expense of a variety of instruments. Runs a bit long.
The Stranglers
3/5
3.5 stars. Early punk. Eclectic but catchy beats. More something I'd enjoy as good background music as opposed to seeking out individual tracks to listen to. Standout was "Hanging Around".
Björk
2/5
An hour of Bjork. Would've been better as an instrumental, the singing is so off-putting and musically it is interesting and pretty at times. But alas.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Can definitely understand all the accolades after listening to this all the way through for the first time. Brilliant song-writing, beautiful singing, raw emotion. Start to finish it's cohesive and there's no weak points. "Carey" and "This Flight Tonight" are underrated.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Leads off with an all-timer, very impressive to make a seven and a half minutes long track not feel too long. "Pre-Road Downs" is a nice pleasant surprise. "Song with No Words" is a skip as well as their down-tempo "Everybody's Talkin'" cover. The rest of the album is a pleasant listen, just a good folk rock sound.
Pantera
4/5
Heavy heavy metal. Growling vocals over down-tuned riffing guitars. Fast and thrashy. A little repetitive at times, but this seems like definitional heavy metal.
Scritti Politti
1/5
1.5 stars. Struggled through this. 80's pop at it's worst. This sound is why the decade gets a bad rap musically.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Eh generic pub rock, wasn’t as into it as other Elvis Costello. Above average lyrics. Standout is catchy cover of “(What’s so funny ‘bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
Has some real bangers, "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" which are both unfortunately under 3 minutes long. Wasn't as into the slower, more acoustic stuff but the album really thrived when there was more energy putting the rock in folk rock.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
4.5 stars. I like this experimental/art take on folk rock. Just unconventional and weird/grating enough to be interesting but still highly listenable. Bob Dylan-esque singing and lyrics. "Run Run Run" different from rest of album but catchy and good. Standouts are "Sunday Morning", "Heroin", and personal favorite is "Venus in Furs".
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
4.5 stars. Really difficult to not like Jimi Hendrix. "Spanish Castle Magic" goes so hard.
The Magnetic Fields
3/5
2.5 stars. Interesting conceptually, but at nearly 3 hours long it's lot to sit through. Lyrically clever at times as it's a take on love songs, not really love songs themselves. "I Don't Want to Get Over You", "The Book of Love", "Sweet-Lovin' Man" were the standouts.
Jurassic 5
4/5
3.5 stars. Fun and flowy. Catchy rap style. Beats are easy. Standout "Break", "What's Golden".
Bob Dylan
3/5
2.5 stars. The leadoff "Like A Rolling Stone" is iconic, but the album is a bit of a letdown after that.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
World music meets hip hop and helps introduce the UK to the genre. Put together in a way that sounds like listening to the radio with a DJ and call-ins. Interesting that there are so many different sounds/genres but apparently he seems to have ripped off original artists without crediting them. Standout is "Double Dutch" while the last track "Duck For The Oyster" is super annoying.
Koffi Olomide
2/5
Eh wasn't really feeling this one. It was decent as background music but hard for me to really get into.
Elis Regina
3/5
This was pretty good. For some reason this was a little tougher than other world music to get fully immersed in because of the language difference but musically and from a singing standpoint this was good.
New York Dolls
3/5
Starts off rowdy and fun but kinda devolves from there into a weird fusion of glam rock/punk rock. "Trash" is the standout, sounds a bit like The Clash.
Ray Charles
3/5
3.5 stars. Opposite of some other albums on this list where the music is great but the singing is the downfall. Some fairly boring/generic country and western tunes but Ray Charles' voice makes it all a pleasant listen nonetheless.
Nirvana
4/5
4.5 stars. A little too rough and experimental at times but there are some great tunes and overall it's a good album. I liked the slower tracks more than the aggressive ones. Standouts are "Heart-Shaped Box", "Rape Me", and "All Apologies".
Mekons
3/5
3.5 stars. A bit weird, kinda alt-country new wave-ish at times. Harmonica makes things more interesting than generic alt-rock, more upbeat tempo than standard country.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
3.5 stars. Dark lyrically (good break-up album) and less grungy than other 90's alt rock. Has some duds including "What Jail is Like" and "My Curse".
But it's mostly a good listen and standouts are "Gentlemen" and "Debonair".
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
2.5 stars. Early country & western, like a pre-Bob Dylan twangy singer-songwriter. Standout is "New York Town". "Cocaine" was unexpected. First and last name of protagonist in leadoff song shared by a childhood friend was kinda funny.
Radiohead
4/5
3.5 stars. Has a dark and downer theme but melodic and could land well if I'm in the right mood for it. Standouts for me are "You and Whose Army?" and "I Might Be Wrong".
Roni Size
3/5
2.5 stars. Was more like generic background techno than standalone hit tracks. Wasn't bad, but was a bit boring.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Lots of latter teenage years nostalgia with this one. At the time felt like more than just pop rock, but it is a bit bland on the re-listen more than a decade later. Still enjoy it, catchy tunes and memorable hooks. No bad tracks, but the hits don't really hit in the same way they did back in the day. Still humorous that "Sex on Fire" was supposed to be Set's Us on Fire until a sound mixer made the joke.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
Overly repetitive and bland lyrics. Fairly dull musically.
Machito
4/5
3.5 stars. Lively and fun Afro-Cuban jazz.
Adele
3/5
3.5 stars. Starts off with a banger ("Rolling in the Deep") but kinda tails off from there. Both when it was released and re-listening now I wasn't into the other hits as much as the leadoff track. And while the rest of the album is fine, I don't really love it. She has a beautiful voice, but these songs don't really grab me in a meaningful way.
Fiona Apple
4/5
4.5 stars. Nice twist on pop without being overly eclectic. The jump from "Newspaper" (layered and almost experimental, creative sounds) to "Ladies" (slow almost R&B) back to back good example of the diverse sound of the album. Standouts are really clever "For Her" and catchy "Relay".
Super Furry Animals
3/5
2.5 stars. Aspects of this I liked ("Sidewalk Serfer Girl" catchy alt-rock, "It's Not the End of the World?" pop rock, "No Sympathy" which feels like 70's folk rock until weird twist at end) but for the most part it was just a strange twist on alt rock that I wasn't really into.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
4.5 stars. Really dug this album. After the leadoff title track that felt too 80's synth-y, it just became a really solid blues record. Standout was "That's Alright".
The Gun Club
3/5
3.5 stars. Pretty good album that tries to combine blues and punk rock in an interesting way. Made for a good sound, upbeat and angsty but not too rowdy. Standout was "Preaching the Blues".
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
2.5 stars. Not a big reggae guy. All kind of sound the same to me, probably need to be blazed I guess? "No Woman No Cry" is good, but otherwise it was a bit of a bore.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Biggie's debut. Raw and aggressive gangster rap delivered in crisp and creative rhymes. Catchy beats. The tracks running from "Juicy" through "Big Poppa" in the middle of the record is as impressive as 90's hip hop gets.
Blur
3/5
It was OK. "Song 2" obviously the unlikely effervescent smash hit but also liked "Chinese Bombs" and the more ballad-y "Look Inside America".
The Police
3/5
3.5 stars. This is a mixed bag for me. "Every Breath You Take" has gotta be one of the most overrated songs (3rd-most streamed 20th century song on Spotify? Really?). But there's some great stuff too. Standout is the underrated leadoff title track. "King Of Pain" enjoyable as well.
The Human League
2/5
Boring, trite 80's synth-pop but finished off by a worldie song in "Don't You Want Me" that is as catchy an earworm one can find.
Jamiroquai
4/5
3.5 stars. Fresh funk/jazz, very upbeat. Standout is "Too Young to Die"
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
3.5 stars. Really pretty and well-produced Indian influenced down tempo drum & bass. "The Conference" really fun speed-singing/chanting. Standout is "Homelands".
Michael Jackson
2/5
There's some decent tracks ("Smooth Criminal" and "Man in the Mirror") but overall I'm just not a fan. There's some real duds ("Dirty Diana" and "Speed Demon") and the rest just feels dated.
U2
4/5
It's a good album with drawbacks. Feels self-absorbed (Bono's at times overly-breathy singing is annoying) but getting past that it's well-produced and an enjoyable listen. Standout is "Mysterious Ways".
Shuggie Otis
4/5
4.5 stars. This is great soul. Lots of instrumental only, but singing is good too. "Strawberry Letter 23" is phenomenal and "Ice Cold Daydream" is another standout.
Ice Cube
3/5
Interestingly equally sociopolitical and machismo lyrics. Ice Cube's rapping is 90's gangster rap to a tee. Skits brings listener into the projects. Beats start off well but fade toward the end of the album. Standout are "Turn Off The Radio" and "Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside).
Gary Numan
3/5
It was fine. Synth-pop new wave that is not memorable or disagreeable. Standout is "Cars".
Steely Dan
4/5
4.5 stars. This is really good, no filler and flows well as an album. Great production without feeling contrived. Singing complements the instrumentals well without being generic. Standout is "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" with it's memorable post-chorus hook.
The Shamen
3/5
Interesting genre-wise to see the crossover and blend of psychedelic rock with rave electronic music but overall it's not very exciting.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
3.5 stars. Funk and soul. A little lower energy than I'd prefer at times but it's still good. Standouts are "Family Affair" and the instrumental "My Gorilla Is My Butler".
Tortoise
3/5
Interesting chill, and more ambient but apparently a groundbreaking "post-rock" album. Didn't love it, but didn't hate it and enjoyed it as background music.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Probably important and groundbreaking for creating post-punk but too abrasive and eccentric for me. Some irony in that the town the album was recorded in is called Painesville, though that might be a bit harsh.
Kings of Leon
4/5
The singing is the weakest part of an otherwise solid alt rock record that has strong hints of garage rock and southern revival. Album is at it's best when it's upbeat and harder-driving than when it's more calm and slowed down. Standouts are "Taper Jean Girl", the musically interesting "Razz" and "Four Kicks".
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
4.5 stars. The album before Come On Eileen and it's great. Brass horns full of energy and punk-ish vibes but still catchy pop and a bit of soul. Standouts are "Tell Me When My Light Turns Green", "Geno" and "Seven Days Too Long".
Alice Cooper
2/5
1.5 stars. Booo. Shock rock that's just boring musically. "No More Mr. Nice Guy" is the standout.
William Orbit
3/5
2.5 stars. This was decent electronic, ambient trance music. Nice to have on in the background while I'm working/focusing but not very memorable.
Cornershop
4/5
3.5 stars. Pretty enjoyable 90's indie rock album. Weird interludes. Standout is the catchy and memorable "Brimful of Asha". "Good Ships" and their "Norwegian Wood" cover also good.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Layered singing and bright for shoegaze. Standout is the title track. Melodic and beautiful closing track. Feels short (37 min runtime), was left wanting more.
FKA twigs
4/5
3.5 stars. More of an avant-garde electronica take on R&B which makes it an interesting listen. Lyrical themes centered on intimacy. Standout is the catchy "Two Weeks".
Boards of Canada
4/5
3.5 stars. Pretty subtle but cool down tempo electronic ambient music. "Roygbiv" is the memorable standout.
Saint Etienne
3/5
3.5 stars. Whimsical dance-ish indie pop. Groovy beats. Standout is "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" as well as "People Get Real".
Mott The Hoople
2/5
Not into glam rock. Most was lame but the standout is the leadoff "All the Way from Memphis" which was pretty decent.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
This was weird but I enjoyed it. Energetic 90's alt rock that brings in elements of punk, post-punk and other genres. The lyrics clearly reflect the darkness the lyricist (rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards) was going through.
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
Kinda vacillates between lazy alt rock and more energetic power pop but it struck a chord with me. No bad tracks and good catchy hooks throughout. Standout is "Every Day Should Be A Holiday". Other good tracks are "Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth" as well as "Boys Better".
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
It was fun swing/big band. Not bad but not super memorable.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Meh, wasn't really into this. Lots of art-y innovation but wasn't my taste. Standout is "I Don't Remember".
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Old-school hip-hop. Title track is great, really catchy. The rest of it is fine, a little too repetitive. Didn't realize "Renegades of Funk" originated here.
Janelle Monáe
5/5
4.5 stars. Really liked this, will be coming back to it. Felt like an album and not just an amalgamation of tracks. Enjoyed the hints of classical/orchestral music. Standout is "Cold War".
Buzzcocks
3/5
2.5 stars. Early pop punk. "I Don't Mind" catchy and memorable. "Fiction Romance" repetitive but nice riff.
LL Cool J
3/5
The title track is a head-bobbing banger, but otherwise all the other tracks feel like the same thing just less impressive. A bit repetitive.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Aspects of this that I liked (the stringed orchestral elements and the backing vocals and some of the melodic tunes) but the droning, depressed lead singing capped my enjoyment overall. Standouts were “Gay Messiah” and “Waiting For A Dream”.
Miles Davis
4/5
Peak jazz. Still not a genre I seek out but I suppose this would be as good a record as any if/when I do.
The xx
4/5
3.5 stars. Starts off well with good energy, “Dangerous” is fantastic, but fades and isn’t as good the rest of the way save for “On Hold”.
The Strokes
5/5
Slays. One of those records that you wish would keep going and going when it ends. The quintessential indie rock album. Not a weak track to be found. Lots of nostalgia but quality as well.
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Not a JT fan. Would go elsewhere if I were in the mood for pop R&B
Isaac Hayes
3/5
3.5 stars. Progressive soul soundtrack from a 70's blaxploitation film. Probably won't go back and listen to individual tracks but it I would enjoy having it on in the background again.
John Coltrane
4/5
4.5 stars. Even though I’m not a jazz enthusiast I really enjoyed this and will continue to come back to it.
N.E.R.D
3/5
2.5 stars. This was OK, felt a bit repetitive at times but more creative than bland rap-rock. Good layering at times and consistent beats that made it more authentic and less derived. Standout was "She Wants To Move".
The Zombies
3/5
3.5 stars. The hits are good, but the rest is kinda filler weaker Beatles-esque redux. Standouts are the piano-driven sing-songy “This Will Be Our Year” as well as the psychedelic “Time Of The Season”.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Great live album. Rowdy without being too distorted to follow. Standouts are the hits “Jailbreak” and “The Boys Are Back in Town”.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Post-Richey Edwards so more mainstream sounding, but still solid alt-rock. None of the tracks are major standouts but no duds either and it is still a good listen.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This was really enjoyable Brazilian pop/samba. Upbeat and despite the lyrics being in Portuguese, quite catchy. Standout is "Taj Mahal".
Femi Kuti
3/5
3.5 stars. Afrobeat with activism-infused lyrics. Upbeat tunes, big band feel at times.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Stripped down ballad country about a fugitive on the run. Not my favorite but not bad. Standout is the slow "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" and the title track.
Lambchop
2/5
2.5 stars. Meh, it was OK. Slow tempo and kinda ballad-y alt-country/chamber pop. "Up with People" was different and pleasant but the rest wasn't much to write home about.
Fugees
4/5
Solid hip-hop/R&B album that's at it's best when Lauryn Hill is singing. Relaxed pace, poignant lyrics. Nice choice of samples. Standout is "Ready Or Not".
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
Down tempo indie rock/chamber pop that was a precursor/influencer to artists I like more (Deathcab, Sufjan Stevens, Decemberists, etc.) but wasn't super into this.
Meat Puppets
2/5
2.5 stars. Weird and eclectic spanning multiple genres but not too out there. Twangy and country at times, upbeat tempo at times, slowed-down acoustic, it's a bit all over the place. Liked the instrumental parts the best.
Cream
5/5
4.5 stars. Taking half a star off for the short length. But overall it’s psychedelic blues rock at its best. Classic guitar, bass and drums lineup with catchy riffs and rhythms. Standouts are “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Tales of Brave Ulysses”.
David Bowie
4/5
Not perfect, but a solid rock and roll album. Cleaned and well-produced, cohesive. Leadoff "Watch That Man" along with "The Jean Genie" are the two standouts.
Randy Newman
3/5
3.5 stars. Singer-songwriter that is more orchestral than pure folk. Incredibly talented lyricist. The slow and 'quiet' nature of the music led to it not being quite as engaging but more an album I just appreciate.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Impressive that it was released in 1977, but I won't go out of my way to listen to it again. Minimalist elctro-synth pop.
Bert Jansch
3/5
He can pick it, and it is a pleasant listen. But it drags on a bit. Standout it lead off “Strolling Down the Highway”
Bebel Gilberto
4/5
4.5 stars. Beautiful. Musically and the singing. A bit dance-y and leaning into the samba at times but most of it is chill and relaxed.
D'Angelo
3/5
3.5 stars. Solid if unspectacular neo-soul R&B album. Standouts are "Higher", "Lady", and the title track.
Morrissey
3/5
2.5 stars. Lyrically not a fan, no subtlety. Musically it's fine, if boring. Pretty singing voice. Instrumentally kinda generic sounding alt/pop rock
Eagles
4/5
3.5 stars. Classic-est of rock. Inoffensive dad-rock that is nice to have as a soundtrack in the background. Standout is the microcosm of the album “Take It Easy”.
The Byrds
3/5
3.5 stars. Bit too much of a Beatles redux at times, but "Eight Miles High" is great and overall it's a decent folk/classic rock album to have in the background.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
3.5 stars. Dark and brooding but musically it's pretty good. Standouts are "Death to Everyone" and title track.
Barry Adamson
2/5
2.5 stars. Super weird, all over the place. Anthemic and catchy beats but highly sexualized bookend tracks, creepy stalker story and odd fairytale story interludes, instrumental jazz-y soundtrack. It accomplishes getting in your head and eliciting some kind of psycho journey but I don't think I'll return to it.
Air
4/5
3.5 stars. Pretty good ambient soundtrack. Great to have on in the background. Standout is "Dead Bodies".
Sex Pistols
4/5
4.5 stars. Rowdy but refined enough to be catchy and actually understand what Rotten is singing. Iconic British punk rock. Standouts are "God Save The Queen", "Anarchy In The UK", and "EMI".
Elton John
4/5
3.5 stars. Opens with an absolute iconic banger in "Tiny Dancer" and the rest is OK, just ballad-y piano rock. The other track I enjoyed was "Rotten Peaches".
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
4.5 stars. Pretty phenomenal live album. Gets jam band-y but not overly so, lots of driving southern rock and blues that keep the energy going and really clean-sounding recording. Standout is "Statesboro Blues".
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Pretty impressive debut album that was a landmark breakthrough for creating the post punk genre. Wasn't exactly my taste but I can appreciate it for what it was.
Standouts are "Hong Kong Garden" and "Helter Skelter".
The Young Gods
4/5
4.5 stars. I was into this. 80's ish metal that is just experimental enough. At times heard some Rammstein, Motley Crue, and Iron Maiden influences. Standouts are "Rue des tempetes" and "Longue route" and "Pas Mal".
The Young Rascals
4/5
3.5 stars. Title track is the standout, great song. But the rest of the blue-eyed soul album is pretty good too. Other enjoyable tracks are "Sueno" and "It's Love".
The Specials
3/5
Eccentric ska that is more of a mix of genres and styles and less rowdy than typical ska. Standouts are "Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think" and "International Jet Set".
T. Rex
3/5
2.5 stars. It was fine, just fairly lackluster overall. Title track is the standout. "Metal Guru" is decent too.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Pretty forgettable 90's east coast gangster rap
The Electric Prunes
3/5
3.5 stars. A lot of it isn't memorable, but the early psychedelic rock dabbling in "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" and "Get Me to the World On Time" are great.
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
Fairly non-descript R&B. Not terrible but nothing really drew me in.
Bauhaus
3/5
2.5 stars. Experimental goth rock. Some nice melodies at times and the sax and keys are a nice touch but overall a bit too out there for me, especially with vocals that I'm not into. Cool bassline in "Passion of Lovers".
Hüsker Dü
5/5
4.5 stars. Key album in paving the way to 90's alt rock sound. Knocking off a half star because it's a bit long and the sound can get repetitive, but I really liked this. "Bed of Nails" only track that was a real dud. Otherwise standouts are "Could You Be The One?", "These Important Years", and "You Can Live at Home".
Steely Dan
5/5
It's so good, incredibly well-crafted. The hits are extremely memorable, they sure know how to write a catchy hook. There are no weak tracks. Record isn't too long or too short. Standouts are the aforementioned hits "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", and one of my all-time faves "Reelin' In The Years".
The Undertones
4/5
This was fun, upbeat, Sonics-y. Standouts are "Family Entertainment", "Here Comes the Summer", "Get Over You", and the hit "Teenage Kicks".
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
This was fine as honky-tonk country but perhaps because it wasn't his album that I grew up hearing all the time on long road trips (This Time) it didn't really stand out to me. His voice is still great which makes it inoffensive despite the super grim and bleak subject matter the lyrics entail. Standout is the foot-tapping inducing "Streets of Bakersfield".
Elvis Presley
3/5
Elvis' voice is what carries this. Musically more soul and gospel than traditional Elvis. Lyrical themes are heavy but the hit "In the Ghetto" is a moving protest track.
Morrissey
2/5
Blegh. The worst of Britpop and glam rock. While it's melodic it's so vanilla that it isn't worthwhile. Won't be returning to it any time soon.
Billy Joel
4/5
4.5 stars. Quite the breakthrough album with a ton of hits. Simple and basic yet captures the listener without using cheap hooks. Joel's singing is just so easy on the ears. Standouts are a lot of the big hits "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", "Vienna", and "Only the Good Die Young".
Morrissey
2/5
So bland. Don't really get the appeal here. The low breathy vocals in "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning" is so bad. Standout was "Billy Budd".
Wild Beasts
4/5
This was a little strange but pretty good indie art rock/dream pop that has an attractive overall sound. The lyrics are very corporeal and odd but are a nice change of pace. The ethereal layering in the background make it enjoyable. The standouts are "Empty Nest" and "Two Dancers (ii)".
The Bees
2/5
2.5 stars. Was pretty stripped down and indie, wasn't the biggest fan. As a standalone single "A Menha Menina" is catchy and good, but gets lost in the rest of the album which is not worth writing home about.
Britney Spears
2/5
The title track is no doubt a paradigm-shifting pop sensation, but outside of that this album was just really difficult to get through. Some records have important lyrics that are difficult to understand because of the genre/singing/mixing/etc. but this was the opposite. "Born to Make You Happy" encapsulates this.
Dolly Parton
4/5
4.5 stars. This is a nice little album (<30 min). Dolly has some dark themes and lyrics that her high pitched voice belies. Standouts are "Early Morning Breeze" which is a beautiful tune and "Traveling Man".
Massive Attack
3/5
It's OK and I appreciate it's trying to blend genres (electronica, hip-hop, R&B) and be creative but it leaves the listener wanting more. It's a decent chill background vibe, but not much more.
Silver Jews
3/5
2.5 stars. Depressing country-tinged indie rock. Some definite songwriting skills here but it's a bit of a downer overall. Standout is the fun "Tennessee".
MC Solaar
4/5
4.5 stars. Man I don't know if it's just the novelty of being in French, but I enjoyed the hell out of this. Excellent flow, vibing beats. No letdown tracks. Standouts were high-energy "Ragga Jam" and "Quartier nord" with it's fast rhymes as well as head-bobbing "Qui seme le vent recolte le tempo"
Nirvana
5/5
Only one weak track (closer "Endless, Nameless") but otherwise a near flawless album. Overplayed as it is/was "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is contender for the ultimate Gen-X anthem. "On A Plain" underrated and is the catchiest song on the record for me. Ripping memorable bassline in "Come As You Are" from Killing Joke takes away from it for me.
Queen
4/5
4.5 stars. Queen going for a one-off, grandiose, hard rock/glam rock tour that borders on heavy metal (e.g. "Ogre Battle") and I'm here for it. Can't quite pin down the genre but it makes for a varied listening experience. "Seven Seas of Rhye" closer is the standout. "Father to Son" also good.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
3.5 stars. One of the best conclusions to an album I've come across. The long slow "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" builds to a lovely instrumental outro. Other than that a good if not overly-memorable soul album that was a landmark in it's time but I won't necessarily re-visit.
The Damned
4/5
Great punk rock album. Short and sweet. Good energy, catchy riffs. Standouts are "Plan 9 Channel 7", "Love Song" with it's goofy ending, and "Anti-Pope".
The Birthday Party
1/5
Man, I just don't jive with Nick Cave. His disturbing Southern Gothic lyrics do nothing to improve the noisescape, gained out, scratchy music he sings over.
Kraftwerk
4/5
3.5 stars. Cruising electronic pop. Sets a good atmosphere. Title track is the standout.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
3.5 stars. This was decent but I prefer her more pure folk, stripped down music than this jazz-infused soft rock. Still a pleasant listen because of her beautiful voice and some good lyricism, just not my favorite. Standouts are "Free Man in Paris" and "Raised on Robbery".
Slipknot
2/5
2.5 stars. It's fine. Album is at it's best when the driving double bass pedal drumming and speeding guitar rhythms carry it. The alt rock and acoustic tracks are so forced and out of place.
Soft Machine
2/5
Too much for me. After getting past the initial 5 min irritating noise feedback, the album was OK. Experimental electronica rock/jazz. Moments of it being good but moments of detracting singing and too much wandering.
The Stooges
4/5
A little rowdy but enough refinement that it works well. Game-changer for hard rock and punk, at times when listening it's hard to believe it came out in 1972. First two tracks "Search and Destroy" and "Gimmme Danger" are the two standouts but the whole album is good.
The Hives
4/5
Swedish garage rock that starts strong with ear worm leadoff "Hate To Say I Told You So" and fades a bit but is still a solid album.
The Beau Brummels
3/5
Weird but it worked. Sometimes sounded like Bob Dylan hopped up on amphetamines, sometimes the strange trippy 60's,occasional horns, and sometimes like The Bryds and tambourines. Favorites were "Nine Pound Hammer" and folky but upbeat closer "Old Kentucky Home".
Joan Baez
4/5
Beautiful singing voice makes for a nice folk album. Great guitaring showcased in standout "I Know You Rider".
Tim Buckley
2/5
While listenable musically at times, Buckley's annoying voice singing inane lyrics kinda ruins things. Every track is hypersexualized and the schtick wears off quickly.
5/5
4.5 stars. This is U2 at it's finest. First three tracks "Where The Streets Have No Name", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and "With Or Without You" are the high point but it doesn't tail off too much from there. While it's not daring or bold and sounds clearly catered to the masses, it's still a good listen. Clean production without feeling too sterile. Bono not too obnoxious and instrumentally it's fine if not overly exciting.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
Started slow but picked up as it went on. Content-wise there is a lot to say with both clear as well as subtle messages about culture and the world Lupe Fiasco is coming from. There are good, smooth beats, the standout is the Daydream sampling in "Daydreamin'" as well as the super chill "Kick, Push". Other good tracks are "The Cool" and "Hurt Me Soul".
The Pogues
3/5
3.5 stars. The album is at it's best with it's upbeat sea shanty-esque "Billy's Bones", "The Gentleman Soldier".
The KLF
2/5
2.5 stars. Didn't like this. Tried to do too much with too little. Ends up being weird house/trance music.
Big Black
4/5
Angsty and unfiltered but not unlistenable. Felt a bit like dollar store Rage Against The Machine at times. Had some catchy guitar riffs sprinkled in throughout. "Kerosene" is a really good track. Other standout is "Bazooka Joe".
Living Colour
4/5
4.5 stars. Got some Aerosmith vibes, but really it crossed over lots of genres and did a good job of infusing lots of different styles. Lyrically it was culturally salient social commentary. Standouts are the catchy "Cult of Personality", "Middle Man", and "Funny Vibe".
Steely Dan
5/5
4.5 stars. Incredible infusion of jazz into rock and roll. Such clean playing and production. Fagen's voice is great and pairs so well with the music. "Peg" is a phenomenal track. Other standout is "Josie".
Jacques Brel
2/5
Wasn't for me. Glad it was short (<30 min).
Led Zeppelin
5/5
An all-timer. It blends hard rock, heavy metal, folk, mythology in such a complete and masterful way. No weaknesses, and each of the 4 band members bring so much in their playing and singing. Don't even have to ding them for not giving credit to many of the songs' original writers like they are more guilty of on other albums. Except for maybe "Stairway to Heaven", which is overrated anyway. Favorite is "When the Levee Breaks".
Willie Nelson
3/5
3.5 stars. Willie Nelson switches from country outlaw to cover some pop hits in his soft, easy vocal style. He puts a simple yet nice spin on things and it is a pleasant listen if not a revelation. Standout "Moonlight in Vermont"
UB40
2/5
Meh, not into this reggae. Pretty forgettable.
The Police
4/5
4.5 stars. White reggae, a great album. I enjoy the instrumental aspects of this a lot but Sting is a bit more mood-dependent for me. At times he's great and I can appreciate his singing and other times he's grating, but that's more due to my personal taste. Overall this is a fun listen. "Walking On The Moon" is the standout, with the musical/instrumental aspects of "Deathwish" making it a hidden gem.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Moments that the aspects of this clicked with me. Most of it was just too different though. Standout is the hilarious tale of woe in "The Gift". Musically the catchiness of "Stephanie Says" and zaniness of "Sister Ray" were memorable too.
XTC
3/5
3.5 stars. Alt rock/pop that is a bit baroque but works. Fun little melodic stretches and creative songwriting. A couple duds (including "Mermaid Smiled") but some standouts as well, "Earn Enough For Us" and "Dear God". Overall it is a different twist on standard pop rock that incorporates a lot of different sounds.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
This was so far outside of what the music I typically listen to it made it difficult to rate/compare. Still found it a pleasant listen.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Slaps. Sick beats that take sampling to it's upper extreme. Jam-packed rhymes with all three members jumping in to flow together. Over-the-top facetious macho bravado that is hilarious. Super creative. Understandable why it wasn't a commercial/pop hit like their debut album but it's still so good regardless. Standouts are "Sounds of Science" (really the second half of that track), and "Shake Your Rump", with a shoutout to the goofy banjo-driven "5-Piece Chicken Dinner" interlude.
Ministry
2/5
1.5 stars. That was terrible. I like a lot of metal, especially on this 1001 albums list but really struggled with this.
Funkadelic
3/5
3.5 stars. Funky! Standout is "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"
Janis Joplin
2/5
2.5 stars. Singing talent and power is undeniable but the style just isn't for me. I'm sure she was incredible live but other than a few tracks here and there I'm not a Janis Joplin fan. Standout is her version popularizing "Me and Bobby McGee".
The Clash
5/5
4.5 stars. Not just punk rock, so many genres (reggae, new wave, ska, even some jazz) work together to make a great sound that is more mainstream than typical punk. Catchy bookends ("London Calling" and "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)") are the highlights. A few too many total tracks but overall the whole listen is so good.
Fugazi
4/5
Post hardcore but an early alt rock sound with intricate riffs and driving guitar rhythms. Very impressive debut indie album that helped rock take the next step in it's evolution. Standouts are the title track and "Merchandise".
Fred Neil
3/5
3.5 stars. Decent folk rock. I like "Everybody's Talkin'" but far prefer Harry Nilsson's version that popularized it. "Faretheewell (Fred's Tune)" and "Green Rock Road" are also good.
The National
4/5
4.5 stars. Layered indie rock. Varied without being overly complex and kept a consistent feel throughout. Not really any hit individual tracks but no duds either. Standout was "Conversation 16".
The Rolling Stones
3/5
3.5 stars. Not the Stones at their best but for their debut it's good blues rock. Kinda like discount Beach Boys. Standouts are the two leadoff tracks "Route 66" and "I Just Want To Want To Make Love To You".
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
2.5 stars. A bunch of instrumental beats sampling and covering various songs. It's fine as background music but I wouldn't go out of my way to play any of it again.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Not as good as their record from a few years later (Songs For The Deaf) but still good energy and strong rhythms that portend good things to come. "If Only" being a ripoff of The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog" takes some of the shine of it being the best track, but there are other standouts. "Regular John", a more metal sounding "How to Handle a Rope", and "You Can't Quit Me Baby".
Eminem
2/5
No thanks. There's plenty of other great rap and hip hop in the world so I'm not going to subject myself to the non-stop violent misogynistic lyrics ("Bonnie and Clyde '97" the foremost example) unnecessarily. "My Name Is" only redeemable track on the album.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
It's fine as a little more avante garde than typical 90's alt rock-y brit pop, but not super noteworthy outside of "Lazarus" which is great.
Iron Butterfly
2/5
2.5 stars. The title track has a catchy riff and cool structure but is ridiculously long (17 mins). Other than that it's just some forgettable psychedelic prog rock.
Mylo
4/5
4.5 stars. Chill house music sampling 70's and 80's soft rock. Enjoyed it more than I was expecting. Standouts are "In My Arms", "Drop the Pressure" and "Musclecar (Reform Reprise)".
Peter Frampton
4/5
Great live album. Excellent energy, clean sound. Just good classic rock. Standouts are "Show Me The Way" and "Baby, I Love Your Way"
Eurythmics
3/5
3.5 stars. Nice hooks, entertaining pop album Title track a smash hit and as catchy as it gets.
Scott Walker
2/5
Leadoff "Jackie" is good and he has a good singing voice but this baroque pop isn't for me.
Talking Heads
4/5
3.5 stars. Appreciate David Byrne's creativity and this is a solid art rock album. Very listenable without being overly pop-y. Standout is "The Book I Read" "Love -> Building on Fire" and "Psycho Killer".
The Mars Volta
3/5
3.5 stars. Fast-paced heavy prog rock. Mixing makes the vocals a bit distorted/muted. Interesting and experimental with ups and downs. Standouts are "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" and "The Apparatus Must Be Unearthed".
Tina Turner
3/5
3.5 stars. Great voice, some great tracks and some duds and just a bit too 80's cheesy overall. Not a fan of end of album which gets too glam-rockish. Standout is "Better Be Good To Me" along with the catchy pop hit "What's Love Got To Do With It".
Neil Young
4/5
4.5 stars. Mellow folk rock that incorporates some banjo and harmonica well. Well written melodies. Lyrics go through various moods throughout (angry "Revolution Blues"). Standouts are leadoff "Walk On" and "For The Turnstiles".
John Martyn
4/5
Beautiful folk rock. Strong melodies. Standout "Over The Hill" great tune.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
Eh this was too eccentric and experimental. There were some highlights ("Zig Zag Wanderer") but that difficult tracks ("Dropout Boogie") were too much to get through.
David Holmes
3/5
2.5 stars. Like his work scoring "Ocean's 11" film more than this album. Some of it is good, some of it is forgettable. Weird violent interludes/spoken word vocal sampling of rough underground of NY in beginning of a lot of songs. Standout is "Don't Die Just Yet" with some string orchestral sounds.
Korn
2/5
1.5 stars. "Freak On a Leash" is still okay but the rest of this is so terrible. "Dead Bodies Everywhere" so cringey. Thought album was pretty bad until coming to "All In the Family" where Fred Durst's appearance brings things to a new low.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Powerful lyricism that allows the listener to peer into Cohen's soul. "Suzanne" is beautiful. Fast and impressive guitar-picking (e.g. "The Stranger Song").
David Bowie
4/5
It's a art rock and a touch experimental but the Brian Eno influence works well and I enjoyed this as an album, even if individual tracks didn't necessarily stand out. It's heavily synthesized and there aren't many lyrics.
3/5
For Britpop 90's alt rock it's fine. Not amazing, but not grating. Just meh. Standout is leadoff "For Tomorrow". "Chemical World" frantic ending but good.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Maybe just wasn't in the mood for Costello's voice (overly whiney) but this was a letdown. Enjoyed another album by him (My Aim Is True) but not this one. Even the popular seductive turned frustrated "I Want You" was bad. The rest was pretty bland rock that I won't return to.
Brian Eno
3/5
2.5 stars. One of those influential but not a great listen records. The African sampling was cool but a lot of the inventive drum loops and soundscapes which were probably more groundbreaking at the time are nothing special now.
R.E.M.
4/5
This feels ahead of it's time in terms of ushering in the 90's alt rock era. An enjoyable listen with some great tracks and not any duds. The standouts are the two hits "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I Love".
Dolly Parton
3/5
Beautiful singing by talented artists. Musically a little boring but that's not the point because it's country. Standouts are "Those Memories of You", and their rendition of the gospel tune "Farther Along".
The Soft Boys
3/5
2.5 stars. As a precursor to modern alternative rock it's decent, especially the first half of the record. But it drags on gets old, too long. Standouts are "I Wanna Destroy You" and "Insanely Jealous of You".
PJ Harvey
4/5
Pretty good raw-ish alt rock. A lot of heavy power chords and lyrics coming from an honest place. Standout is "O Stella" with "Victory" as well.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
4/5
Traditional qawwali music by Pakistani singer. Surprisingly catchy tunes made for an enjoyable listen. Standouts are "Biba Sada Dil Morr De" and "Ni Main Jogi De Naal".
Killing Joke
3/5
3.5 stars. Slow driving metal/industrial post-punk. Nothing as good as "Eighties" (from a later album) with it's phenomenal bassline and thundering kick drum but this record is still pretty good. Standout is "Requiem".
Pink Floyd
4/5
Enjoyable prog rock. Standout is the opening first pat of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" which brings the listener on an ethereal ride. Other standout is the title track which sounds like a more mainstream rock song with the vocals sounding a little like folk 60's singers.
Little Simz
4/5
Skilled rapping, aggressive but reflective lyrics. Good beats. Shorter run time (35 min) means no fluff. Standouts are the middle 3 track run of "Venmo", "101 FM" and "Pressure".
Adam & The Ants
3/5
3.5 stars. Campy but fun new wave. Double drums does a lot for this. All the chanting makes it feel anthemic at times but obnoxious at times ("Don't Be Square (Be There)"). Standout is "Kings of the Wild Frontier". "Los Rancheros" also decent.
Fats Domino
4/5
4.5 stars. So good. Standouts are bookends "Blueberry Hill" and "Trust in Me", "Honey Chile" also good. Only track I didn't care for was "You Done Me Wrong" but the rest is just really fun swingin' rock 'n roll.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
3.5 stars. Noisy/distorted shoegaze with minimal singing and lyrics. Some of it is too repetitive and annoying ("nothing is") and some of it is catchy and enjoyable: standouts "new you" and "only tomorrow".
Leonard Cohen
2/5
2.5 stars. Want to give Cohen some credit for the lyrics and his weird deep singing that I kinda like but this is way too 80's and The Police knock-off. Standout is the closer "Tower of Song".
Sebadoh
3/5
"Soul And Fire" more generic, slow-paced grunge a la budget Nirvana. The faster-paced alt-rock "Sacred Attention" and "Sister" sound is better.
Brian Eno
3/5
2.5 stars. Much of it is instrumental and very minimalist and experimental. "St Elmo's Fire" closest to a traditionally structured song.
Happy Mondays
3/5
3.5 stars. A lesser version of Stone Roses in the Madchester genre, indie rock meets psychedelia. Still a decent listen, better than run of the mill britpop, has some good tracks. Cover of "Step On" is catchy but the standout is "God's Cop" as well as "Kinky Afro".
Elton John
4/5
Pretty good as far as pop rock goes. Runs a bit long (by the time I got to "Dirty Little Girl" it felt like it wasn't really doing much more), could've cut it around the 1 hr mark and made for a better album. An underrated track is "Grey Seal" with "Bennie And The Jets" and "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" the other two hits.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Enjoyed this more than most reggae. Preferred the regular version to the Jamaica version but both are good. Standout is "Stir It Up".
Sonic Youth
3/5
3.5 stars. Weird noise/art rock with dark lyrics. Liked it, didn't love it. Standout is "Hot Wire My Heart". "Schizophrenia" also good, more reminiscent of a traditional song and less experimental.
Japan
2/5
2.5 stars. Title track is cool but outside of that it's fairly drab and forgettable synth-pop.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Melodic folk rock/pop. Simon's voice is a pleasant listen. Title track OK, a bit overrated. Standouts are the hits "Cecilia" and "The Boxer" which are great.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
4.5 stars. Sounds ahead of it's time (1988). Driving lead guitar, punchy/catchy drumming. Fairly noisy/grungy, but not overly so. Standouts are "Freak Scene", "They Always Come", "Budge", "The Post" good. Only letdown is "Don't", screaming vocals too much.
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
2.5 stars. Early electronic music. Decent background music but mostly boring except for "Oxygene, Pt. 4".
The Go-Betweens
3/5
"Streets of Your Town" is a great pop/radio rock tune but other than that this is pretty meh.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Enjoyed some trumpeting but it ran long (75 min) and started to get dull. Clearly talented musician though.
Weather Report
4/5
High energy jazz rock that is a lot of fun. Standout is "A Remark You Made" is beautiful. Leadoff "Birdland" is good too.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
4.5 stars. So good, so groovy. "Africano" is unique, title track, "Shining Star" other standouts.
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
3.5 stars. Didn't love it but it was good. She has a nice voice and some activist lyrics ("Black Boys On Mopeds"). Standouts were: "You Cause as Much Sorrow", her cover of Princes "Nothing Compares 2 U" which is a really heart-felt outpouring to her mom, and the acapella title track which is really pretty singing.
Laura Nyro
2/5
2.5 stars. Hard to tell what genre. Has a distinctive style, but not for me. Would've preferred if she stuck with blue-eyed soul, or pop, or folk or jazz but she didn't pull off the amalgamation in my opinion. Voice can be really irritating at times. Standout is "Stone Soul Picnic".
Guided By Voices
4/5
3.5 stars. Rocking and fast and fun indie rock. 28 short tracks squeezed into standard length record. Obnoxious snoring layered over noisy "Ex-Supermodel" was only song I'd skip in future. Standout is leadoff "Salty Salute".
It's cheesy. Middle school me was super into "Elevation" but for the most part this didn't age as well now re-listening as an adult. "Beautiful Day" is still good at the right time.
Kings of Leon
4/5
4.5 stars. This debut is more garage-y rock (with the southern/blues influence) than their latter albums and I personally like it. Rolling Stones influence (tuning of the guitars in leadoff "Red Morning Light"). Had only heard "Molly's Chambers" before this listen-through but "Holy Roller Novocaine", "California Waiting", and "Joe's Head".
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
Some downer Canadian alt-country. Slow-paced. Wasn't into it.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Decent hip-hop album. "Soul Flower - Remix" funny. "Otha Fish" good along with hit "Passin' Me By".
Turbonegro
3/5
3.5 stars. Norwegian glam rock. Reminiscent of The Darkness (not quite as goofy and falsetto though) with the over the top vulgar/silly lyrics and The Offspring (especially "Good Head" with the 'whooaaa' and 'yeaaahh's) heavier musically.
The Saints
3/5
2.5 stars. Run of the mill punk record. Wasn't terrible but didn't really stand out too much to me. Horn section helped.
Donald Fagen
4/5
4.5 stars. Solo Donald Fagen just as groovy and smooth as Steely Dan. Album is short and sweet, great jazz-y take on pop. Clean sound, slick production. Standouts are leadoff "I.G.Y." and groovy "New Frontier"
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Pretty enjoyable chill indie pop. Reminded me a bit of Father John Misty and Sufjan Stevens. Standouts are "She's Losing It" and "I Don't Love Anyone".
Pink Floyd
4/5
4.5 stars. Epic rock opera. Standouts are "Another Brick In the Wall, Pt. 2" which has a very anthemic sound and "Comfortably Numb" which is a masterpiece. "The Trial" is super weird.
Patti Smith
2/5
2.5 stars. Art punk rock. The two covers ("Gloria: In Excelsis Deo" and "Land of A Thousand Dances") were interesting but didn't care for the rest of this, as influential it may have been.
Madonna
2/5
Pretty generic pop album. Auto-tune was obnoxious in "Nobody's Perfect". Standout was "Paradise (Not For Me)" until about the 5 minute mark, twice as long as it should have been.
The Who
4/5
3.5 stars. Difficult to rate an album based on one iconic hit (title track) and the rest of it being more forgettable pop rock, even if it set the stage for harder genres to grow out of it.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Beautiful vocals in this ethereal dream pop album that has a very light and air-y feeling. Standouts are "Aloysius" and closer "Donimo".
Dirty Projectors
3/5
3.5 stars. Avante-garde indie rock/pop. Tough to define with it's unconventional sound and stop-start melodies. Beautiful moments at times though. Standout tracks are "Stillness Is The Move" with Amber Coffman's singing and catchy hook, and "No Intention".
Jeff Buckley
5/5
4.5 stars. So good. Takes alt-rock on a haunting ride with fantastic songwriting. Beautiful tenor voice, varied guitar playing with different tunings and styles. It's avant garde enough to be interesting without losing the listener. Standouts are cover of "Hallelujah" and "Last Goodbye" but there are no weak tracks.
The Modern Lovers
4/5
3.5 stars. Driving rock and roll that helps open the door to punk. Standouts "Someone I Care About" and "Roadrunner".
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Pleasant listen given Mitchell's talent. Nothing stood out in a big way, either positively or negatively. Lyrics range from dark and sad to humorous, lots of story-telling.
Mercury Rev
4/5
3.5 stars. Got "Do You Realize??" by Flaming Lips vibes. More rowdy take on Americana/pop. Standout is "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp"
2/5
Intense jazz. Hard for me to handle most of this, was exhausting.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Classic Stevie Wonder. Bit of a mix of progressive soul: slide guitar in "Too Shy To Say" almost a country feel, "You Haven't Done Nothin'" protest anthem, "They Won't Go When I Go" dark hymn with slow piano reminiscent of Chopin, "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and "Creepin'" sensual love songs.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
A little weird and out there (psychedelic), though the long "Medley.." was fun at times.
The Monkees
2/5
Bland 60's pop rock. The Beatles with all of the creativity removed.
Miles Davis
4/5
Really pretty jazz-rock fusion album that is just two tracks, all instrumental.
The Teardrop Explodes
4/5
3.5 stars. High energy 80's post-punk. Better than a lot of what similar genres bring. Only dud was "Strange House In the Snow". Standouts were "When I Dream" and "Brave Boys Keep Their Promises".
Faith No More
3/5
3.5 stars. Diverse alt-metal. Sounds a bit like Aerosmith at times ("Falling to Pieces"), other times heavier (title track). Standout is catchy "Epic", "Falling to Pieces". Dud was "Edge of the World" with it's creepy, pedo vibes.
The Black Keys
5/5
One of my personal favorites. Pinnacle of blues-infused garage rock. All the tracks are great, "Tighten Up" will always be nostalgic, other fave is "Unknown Brother" and the closer "These Days" is underrated.
Don McLean
3/5
3.5 stars. The title track aaaand some meh folk rock. As good as the title track is, hard to rate the album super highly when the rest is fairly forgettable. Though "The Grave" is a good dark well-written song.
David Bowie
4/5
Creative songwriting that is more piano-based than guitar-based. Several tribute songs, and not really any weak tracks throughout. Standouts include catchy earworm "Changes", more modern-sounding "Life on Mars?", and "Queen Bitch".
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Blues from a Malian artist. Enjoyed this despite the language barrier. "Erdi" grooves, very rhythmic. "Savane"
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Record picks up after first couple tracks and is a really good soul/blues/jazz fusion. "A Very Precious Time" slower love song. "H2O Gate Blues" witty lyrics. Standout is "The Bottle".
New Order
4/5
3.5 stars. No hits but a solid 80's dance rock album, slick and well-produced. Standout is "Run".
Janet Jackson
2/5
Pretty boring pop R&B.
Boston
4/5
4.5 stars. Such a fun album, opening three tracks are just peak soundtrack to good times. Tails off a bit after those three but still not bad. Master's from MIT to international rock star is quite a career for Tom Scholz. Given the summer night nostalgia associated with it, "Foreplay/Long Time" an all-time favorite of mine.
a-ha
3/5
3.5 stars. The "Take On Me" album. But some other decent tracks on this short synth-pop debut record. Didn't know a-ha was Norwegian. Standout "The Sun Always Shines On T.V."
Simple Minds
2/5
2.5 stars. 80's synth pop that doesn't really age well.
The Kinks
4/5
3.5 stars. Nothing to complain about for this art pop album. Standouts are "Love Me Till the Sun Shines" and the iconic and catchy "Waterloo Sunset".
LTJ Bukem
3/5
3.5 stars. Drum & bass, jungle compilation record. Cool fast-paced electronic.
Big Star
3/5
3.5 stars. Very listenable power pop/rock. Made for the radio. Singer has a high/falsetto voice. The track "In The Street" is the theme from "That 70's Show". Standout is the acoustic "Watch The Sunrise".
Donovan
3/5
3.5 stars. Two excellent tracks - title track and "Season of the Witch" surrounded by mediocre folk. Hard to rate the album of a whole given the gap between those two and the rest of the tracks.
Bee Gees
3/5
Weird, not what I was expecting when I saw Bee Gees. Varied and kinda ballad-y at times.
4/5
Surprisingly good record for being a live record. Standout is closing "Like a Rolling Stone"
The Beach Boys
3/5
Fine, but not my favorite Beach Boys. Still impressive for it being 17 studio albums in as a band.
Paul Simon
4/5
4.5 stars. Really good pop/rock record that has big hits as well as some world-influence variety. Simon's voice and style is very easy on the ears. "You Can Me Al" and the title track are standouts while "I Know What I Know" is annoying and the only major dud on the album.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
4.5 stars. Nothing crazy, just easy listening soft rock. Eagles-esque. Hits are great (title track, “Jet”) but so is “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”.
Maxwell
3/5
3.5 stars. Neo soul/R&B album that replaces hip-hop with more soul and funk which is a sound I much prefer. Lots of crooning and romantically-saturated lyrics paired with sensual beats makes it a make-out soundtrack.
The Beta Band
3/5
2000's Scottish electronic rock. There was some interesting moments ("Lion Thief", "Easy", and "Out-Side") but for the most part it just felt like low-budget Gorillaz.
Hole
3/5
3.5 stars. Liked the sound overall, but none of the sounds were particular standouts. A little more raw than some of their other stuff.
Pink Floyd
3/5
3.5 stars. Early Pink Floyd debut album. "Interstellar Overdrive" a harbinger for their prog rock future. Standout is "Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk".
The Doors
4/5
Last Doors album with Jim Morrison's passing right after it's release. A lot more blues-heavy that I was expecting. Standouts are title and and "Riders on the Storm" which are fantastic.
King Crimson
2/5
2.5 stars. Preferred the more prog rock-esque stuff (the title track) to the jazz jam-band stuff (closing live track).
Gang Of Four
4/5
Seminal post-punk that that works well. Philosophically-heavy lyrics. Evident that this influenced Rage Against The Machine and other major artists. "Damaged Goods", "Return The Gift", "At Home He's a Tourist"
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
3.5 stars. Rhythmic and fun upbeat New Wave/Post Punk. Standout is "All of This and Nothing".
Al Green
4/5
Classic soul album. Standouts are bookends: title track and "It Ain't No Fun to Me"
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Rockin' fun time full of hits: "Travelin' Band", "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Run Through The Jungle", "Up Around The Bend", "Who'll Stop The Rain", "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Long As I Can See the Light".
Django Django
4/5
4.5 stars. Art rock with memorable grooves. Standouts are "Default", "Firewater" and "Wor".
Tom Waits
2/5
Abstract experimental rock. Growling storyteller. Standout is "30 Shells From A 30.6"
The Thrills
4/5
3.5 stars. Irish pop indie rock band, easy-listening. No major standouts but no duds either. Best is "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)".
50 Cent
3/5
3.5 stars. The thug persona he portrays certainly isn't faked, the violence comes across pervasively in the lyrics. The Dr Dre production influence helps a lot on this album to elevate it. Lots of mainstream hits but the standout is the timeless "In Da Club".
Roxy Music
3/5
3.5 stars. Experimental 70's art rock that has some ups ("The Thrill Of It All" and "Out Of The Blue") and downs ("Bitter Sweet" and "Triptych") but a decent album overall.
Hole
4/5
4.5 stars. Courtney Love fronted 90’s alt rock. Standouts are first two songs including the great earworm title track.
The Fall
3/5
2.5 stars. Early rudimentary early punk. A little too noisy and formless for my taste but can see how it would be influential and there are some decent guitar riffs. Standout is "Mother-Sister".
Beatles
5/5
Peak Beatles. Varied, trippy, catchy and full of hits.
Megadeth
2/5
2.5 stars. Meh, forgettable metal. Standout is "My Last Words".
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
2.5 stars. Decent ambient electronic music to focus work to. Standout was "Tow Truck".
Public Enemy
4/5
4.5 stars. Essential 90's hip hop. Slower paced with good beats. Lyrics with some activism and commentary on African American community. Standouts "By The Time I Get To Arizona", collab with Anthrax "Bring Tha Noize".
Basement Jaxx
3/5
Decent late 90's house music. Not bad, but didn't really hook me in either.
James Brown
4/5
Helluva live performance by the Godfather of Soul. Oozes with energy. Short record (half an hour) and the recording quality is definitely lacking but the women's loud screams throughout capture vibe.
Neil Young
3/5
3.5 stars. Not my favorite Neil Young, was a little boring and sounded too much the same. Felt like it needed variety and different pacing. Standout was "Birds".
The Byrds
4/5
Brilliant folk rock that does well dipping into different genres. The first half is a bit eclectic, the second half more classic. Bits of electronica that isn't great but brings in horns (opening "So You Want to Be a Rock 'N' Roll Star") and almost steel guitar western ("Time Between"). "Thoughts And Words" an example of getting too experimental. "My Back Pages" more traditional Byrds with pretty harmonizing in chorus.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
3.5 stars. Fairly simple musically (basic beats) but memorable for it's themes. Explores femininity, relationships, sexuality in an honest and blunt way. Has a half dozen short, spoken-word interludes breaking up the tracks.
Serge Gainsbourg
4/5
3.5 stars. Really enjoy the instrumentals, cool string arrangements backing the guitars. At times chill and at times faster-paced. Choral backing in final track is a nice touch. Vocals (spoken word) and - though I can't understand because it's in French - lyrical content (middle-aged dude hooking up with 14 yr old), detracts from an otherwise good pop album.
Q-Tip
4/5
3.5 stars. Smooth hip-hop. Raps over some light jazz and finds steady beats throughout album. No big standouts, but no dud tracks either. Favorite was "ManWomanBoogie".
Sonic Youth
4/5
Heavily distorted guitars but catchy choruses that keep it from veering into the unlistenable side of noise rock. Long stretches of instrumental that is easy to rock out to. Some real standouts: "Kool Thing", "Dirty Boots" and "Disappearer".
The Killers
5/5
One of the best debut albums ever. Hard to separate this from and review more objectively because of how much these songs colored my teenage years. Lots of nostalgia, but also alt rock that goes supernova popular but is still good and enjoyable even if they weren't bringing much new to the table from a creativity standpoint. Standouts are the first five airwave-permeating tracks ("Jenny Was a Friend of Mine", "Mr. Brightside", "Smile Like You Mean It", "Somebody Told Me", and "All These Things That I've Done"), but "Change Your Mind" a personal favorite as well.
Magazine
3/5
3.5 stars. Upbeat post-punk debut album led by former Buzzcocks front man. Synth used well with guitar solos. Especially evident in leadoff "Definitive Gaze". Varied sound track to track, seems ahead of it's time (1978).
Meat Loaf
3/5
2.5 stars. Impressive singing and and fun idea (mini opera of teen coming of age) but couldn't shake the feeling like it's just wannabe Queen. Cheese factor and dating itself holds it back a bit too much, hit "Paradise By the Dashboard Light" the prime example. Really can't handle to power ballad ("Two Out of Three Ain't Bad"). Standout is leadoff title track.
Bad Brains
4/5
3.5 stars. Rasta alt-metal. Some Motorhead meets Collective Soul vibes? Interesting sound. Better than a lot of the stuff coming out of the 80's. No particular bad tracks but not standouts either.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
3.5 stars. High pitched voice can be annoying at times but overall it's a pretty good pop album with catchy hooks. Standouts are the slower "Time After Time" as well as "All Through the Night".
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
3.5 stars. Lots of layers in the chamber pop album. Occasionally very listenable voice, but a lot of flat and nasally affect brings it down a bit. Lots of good harmonies and backing vocals help though. Album at it's best when he brings in orchestral elements. Standout is opening track "Oh What a World" which heavily "samples" Ravel's Bolero and elevates it beyond a standard pop song.
Suede
3/5
Art rock that is a bit too much but not overly eccentric so it's still listenable. Lots of David Bowie influence.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
4.5 stars. Title track is a masterpiece of a composition that really sets the tone for the album which has other standouts ("Bell Bottom Blues" and "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?"). Even if there is some filler, it's blues rock at it's finest.
Gorillaz
5/5
4.5 stars. Virtual band that is the creative outworking of Blur front man Damon Albarn but sounds incorporates more trip-hop than straight alt rock. Had heard and loved "Clint Eastwood" but didn't know much else about the rest of the record but loved it all. Varied sound but the lo-fi/chill vibe throughout makes for a very listenable album.
Eric Clapton
3/5
3.5 stars. Blues rock with a lot of covers. Not my favorite Clapton but still decent. Leadoff "Motherless Children" cover is the best, more upbeat than the rest which is a bit more slow ballad-y.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Masterpiece. Album feels much longer than the 37 min runtime which is a testament to the quality and variety of the songwriting. Standouts are "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Sloop John B." and "God Only Knows".
Pulp
2/5
2.5 stars. Weird art rock with sexual lyrics and disjointed melodies that make it tough to get into. Standout is closing track "Like A Friend"
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
3.5 stars. Quintessential prog rock. A bit portentous, but it can be a fun at times.
Radiohead
4/5
4.5 stars. Phenomenal album, impressive arrangements. Yorke's falsetto and dreary lyrics can be draining at times. "High and Dry" harbinger for 2000's mainstream alt rock. Heavier tracks like "My Iron Lung" are more hard rock. Favorite is "Just".
George Michael
3/5
Props to Michael for his pop songwriting ability but not my jam. Catchy hooks and understandably a big mainstream success, but I won't go out of my way to listen to it.
Soft Cell
2/5
The cover of "Tainted Love" is rightfully a smash hit, but outside of that this was a slog to get through. 80's synth-pop with overtly sleazy nightlife lyrics.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
3.5 stars. 80's hip hop from artist with interesting background/upbringing. Incorporates elements of 80's pop, seems genuine lyrically and has a nice singing voice. First two tracks are great, "Buffalo Stance" especially.
Primal Scream
3/5
3.5 stars. Alternate soundtrack to a film I haven't seen. U2 vibes at times. Shoegaze-y at times.
Nas
4/5
4.5 stars. Landmark hip-hop album. East-coast urban ghetto life captured in poetic lyricism. Shorter runtime (39 min). Standouts "N.Y State of Mind" "Halftime" and "Life's A Bitch".
Dire Straits
4/5
4.5 stars. Impressive debut album with clean production and good hooks and very listenable blues rock. Standout is "Sultans of Swing".
Burning Spear
3/5
3.5 stars. Early reggae with heavy Jamaican culturally-relevant lyrics. Standout is "Slavery Days", "Old Marcus Garvey" is good too.
The Jam
3/5
3.5 stars. Upbeat 80's post punk album.
Beatles
4/5
4.5 stars. Opens with the title track with one of the more distinctive chords in rock and roll history and is a fun time from there out. Third album is more poppy than their previous work but is a treat, as signified by my young kids getting up to dance when it came on. Fast-paced treat with a quick runtime (30 min) but full of energy.
Incubus
4/5
Electronic-infused nu metal/alt rock. The hip-hop influenced verses aren't my favorite, but the riffs and driving choruses are a fun take on alt rock. Prefer their next record Morning View to this one but it's still decent, especially the standout "Pardon Me" and catchy radio-hit "Drive".
Raekwon
3/5
2.5 stars. 90’s east coast hip hop that doesn’t quite reach the levels of Wu Tang. Enjoyed some of Ghost Faced Killa’s bars.
Suzanne Vega
2/5
Really drab singer-songwriter folk with some 80's synth thrown in. Didn't care for her voice or the simplistic lyrics. Standout is "Marlene On the Wall". "Small Blue Thing" is also pleasant.
Lou Reed
4/5
4.5 stars. Lou Reed of Velvet Underground with an edgy glam rock (a la David Bowie) record from the early 70's that feels way ahead of it's time. Standout is "Walk on the Wild Side".
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Musically all the tracks sound the same (early country & western) but lyrically they describe bleak Appalachian folk life in a variety of dark ways. So many depressing murder ballads, "Knoxville Girl" chief among them.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
Clunky and abstract 80's synth pop. Not for me.
Little Richard
5/5
4.5 stars. Wow this holds up despite being nearly 70 years old. Arguably the birth of rock and roll. "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally" are masterpieces, the whole album is just non-stop high energy with the keys hammering on at 90 miles an hour.
Wilco
3/5
3.5 stars. Alt country with some steel guitar and mostly down-tempo. Feels close enough to rock to balance well. Standout is "Red-Eyed and Blue".
Screaming Trees
3/5
3.5 stars. Some what generic hard rock/radio rock but it's fine. Standout "All I Know" is catchy.
Primal Scream
4/5
Light alt-rock with some psychedelia influence. "Movin' On Up" near perfect summer jam.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
4.5 stars. Stunning live solo album by world-class pianist, incredible improv.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
2.5 stars. Enjoyed the beginning more than the end, started to get weird and abstract.
Prince
4/5
4.5 stars. Soundtrack to film that is great as a standalone pop/rock/R&B album. Prince's talent is on full-display, heavy layering throughout. Personal favorite is opening "Let's Go Crazy" and the title track is a hit fora reason too.
Mudhoney
3/5
3.4 stars. Angry early-grunge garage punk. Dirty guitar effects, driving drumming, heavy bass, silly over the top lyrics sung with angry vocals. Standout "Touch Me I'm Sick"
Black Sabbath
4/5
Prince of Darkness sets the stage for a new genre. The opening eponymous track (song, album and band name!) is iconic and opens a new world of music. The riff over the last minute and a half is stellar.
Elliott Smith
4/5
4.5 stars. Really liked this singer-songwriter indie rock. Nice singing voice, and popp-y enough at times to not be overly depressing.
Pixies
5/5
This album kicks ass, peak alt rock. Has a lot going on without being too all over the place. They master the quiet verse/loud chorus dynamic. So many different influences in different tracks but still a cohesive record. There's surfer punk ("Debaser"), pop ("Here Comes Your Man") almost Modest Mouse sounding 2000's alt rock ("I Bleed"), rowdy grunge rock ("Tame" and "Gouge Away") slide guitar country/folk("Silver" and "Mr. Grieves") Favorite is leadoff "Debaser".
The Yardbirds
4/5
3.5 stars. Nice riffs at times, especially in the standout "Over, Under, Sideways, Down". Pulls from older Blues rock and can tell how it influenced a lot of future genres (hard rock, acid rock, psychedelia).
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Title says it all, short (27 min) but easy-listening.
Small Faces
3/5
Storytelling interludes between jam band-y psychedelia.
Doves
4/5
Late night/morning after comedown feel for this pretty good indie rock record. Standout is the more radio-friendly "Catch The Sun" which has a little bit of Foo Fighters sound to it (when they're more pop-rock).
Van Halen
4/5
4.5 stars. Hard to pin down a genre (glam metal, hard rock, heavy metal, pop metal, cock-rock) but the sound works well. Catchy hooks but still has impressive riffs. Standouts are "Jump" and "Panama".
System Of A Down
3/5
3.5 stars. Rowdy debut album that is a good take on nu metal. Not as good as the follow up Toxicity but Tarkanian's creativity and lyricism makes this a decent record. Standouts are "Suite-Pee" and "Sugar".
Elvis Costello
3/5
Elvis Costello's 14th album, cheesy power pop/alt rock. Singing is decent but most of the rest is fairly forgettable.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
3.5 stars. Good soul/funk record. Standouts are covers "That Lady Pt. 1" and "Summer Breeze".
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
4.5 stars. Breakthrough alt rock record, nice blend of grunge and mainstream. Leadoff "Cherub Rock" with it's intro riff is an all-timer. Other hits are great too ("Today", "Disarm") with "Silverfuck" being the other standout. Other than "Hummer" and "Mayonnaise" the rest is a bit meh which knocks the rating down a little for me.
Steve Earle
2/5
2.5 stars. Standout is "Hillbilly Highway" super catchy steel guitar. The rest feels like it needs to pick a lane, too hick for rock but doesn't fully commit to country and western. Cheesy songs like "Little Rock 'N' Roller" really bring it down.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Frank Zappa-led experimental rock. Standout is "Trouble Every Day" with the harmonica before the next track "Help, I'm A Rock" where it gets off the rails and through the end is really weird.
Megadeth
3/5
Starts off with "Holy Wars" which has Iron Maiden meshed with Metallica vibes.
Aerosmith
3/5
3.5 stars. Raunchy hard rock/hair metal with a few hits ("Love in an Elevator", "Janie's Got a Gun"). Steven Tyler's singing/screaming range is impressive, but I don't really care for this style of rock.
Pretenders
4/5
3.5 stars. Polished but still punk rock enough to balance out well. Almost like an edgier Blondie. Chrissie Hynde's singing and songwriting carries this, standout is the hit "Brass in Pocket" as well as leadoff "Precious".
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
4.5 stars. Pop take on country done really well. Talented songwriter and singing voice has just enough twang to match the music. Favorite is leadoff "Slow Burn". No weak tracks across the board. Last three are more overtly pop.
Portishead
3/5
3.5 stars. Downbeat chill trip hop. Nice voice that fits mood well. Standout is "Glory Box".
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Decent harder 90's indie rock. Some dud tracks ("7 Seas" and two ending songs) but a great standout "Bullet Proof Cupid".
Gram Parsons
3/5
3.5 stars. Father of country-rock, can tell his influence on future artists of the genre. Emmylou Harris works really well with him as his partner. Really pretty duet in "In My Hour of Darkness". Standout is "Ooh Las Vegas" which is upbeat and fun.
KISS
3/5
2.5 stars. Cock rock that is probably more fun live in a big arena. Not into power ballads ("Beth"), but first couple tracks ("Detroit Rock City" and "King Of The Night Time World") are OK.
Talvin Singh
2/5
2.5 stars. Traditional Indian meets electronic. Standout is "Butterfly".
3/5
Electronic take on Latin music. Decently well done.
Madness
3/5
The "Our House" album by British ska band. That is a great pop track but the rest is kinda weird.
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Goofy new genre of rapping over the blues. Points for trying something different and while fun, it's not amazing or anything. Standout is the nostalgic "Baby's Got Sauce".
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
Fun 90's alt rock/power pop by Scottish band. Catchy if not overly creative. Lots of swooning by lead singer. Standouts are "Start Sign" and "What You Do to Me".
Ice Cube
4/5
Aggressive west coast hip-hop/gangsta rap. Ice Cube is hugely talented, the lyrics are politically charged, the beats are ahead of their time ('92). Standout is "It Was a Good Day".
Aimee Mann
2/5
2.5 stars. Meh pop/rock album. Like a low-budget version Alanis Morissette. Standout is "Jacob Marley's Chain" but real duds like "Stupid Thing" throughout.
Portishead
3/5
3.5 stars. Mixed feelings on this. Sometimes vibe-y electronica rock, sometimes drab and repetitive. Standout is the "The Rip" which builds into a cool track.
Holger Czukay
2/5
2.5 stars. Early foray into sampling. Tries to bridge avante garde to pop, does an OK job but still a bit too experimental for me.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
3.5 stars. Sufjan Stevens-esque. Some variety track to track instead of standard singer-songwriter. Standout "Disillusion".
The Cult
3/5
Run of the mill hard rock, kinda like budget AC/DC. Not bad, but not super memorable either.
Circle Jerks
3/5
Fast and furious debut hardcore punk album. Even with 14 tracks, runtime can't get any shorter (15 min) but it's fun while it lasts. Standout is "Live Fast Die Young".
Can
3/5
2.5 stars. Feels like two different albums. First half is pretty cool German psychedelic rock that is just enough avant garde. But then the second half is real weird/experimental noise rock starting with "Aumgn". Probably groundbreaking in it's time (1971) but the second half is too out there for me to enjoy.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
4.5 stars. Dense with heavy infusion of jazz and soul but works so well. Incredibly talented lyricist, opens window into societal issues of the black struggle. Feels deeply personal and genuine and the production level quality is stratospheres above a typical hip hop record. Favorite tracks are "Complexion (A Zulu Love)" and "i".
Doves
4/5
4.5 stars. Standout is "Words" which has a great hook and "Pounding" with it's fitting kick drum. Interlude-y tracks with horns, strings, choral backing make for a cohesive album. Has an ethereal, distant sound without feeling overly synthetic. Well-balanced.
John Martyn
3/5
2.5 stars. Not my favorite John Martyn, a bit too experimental. Standout is "Dancing".
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
It's not Rumours but this follow-up is so great. Enjoy every track on it, the varied sounds: gentle and lush ("Over & Over", "Sara", "Never Make Me Cry"), thumpy and choppy ("The Ledge", "Not That Funny", "That's Enough for Me"), catchy radio-friendly ("Angel", "Think About Me", "I Know I'm Not Wrong"), and the unorthodox but standout self-titled track. Beginning of "Save Me a Place" sounds a lot like like something from The Format. The whole record is a bit more experimental in a fun way, but refined enough that lets all of the band's highly talented musicians shine.
Beck
4/5
Beautiful melancholy-soaked album. Pretty evident the sad conclusion of long-term relationship has it's fingerprints all over this record. Much like his companion-album "Morning Phase" I like it more as a cohesive than liking enjoying specific songs. Although it can be overly mope-y at times, it is still great and I really like the orchestral additions that make it more than just folk rock.
Genesis
2/5
Giant double album prog rock opera that tells a drawn out story of a protagonist on a spiritual journey. There were moments I enjoyed and/or appreciated but it was mostly a chore to get through. Especially the second half. Standout track is "The Carpet Crawlers".
Jungle Brothers
3/5
3.5 stars. Vibe-y African influenced late 80's hip-hop. More musically-focused than the gangster rap albums by various artists that followed in the 90's. Standout is "Doin' Our Own Dang".
Pixies
3/5
3.5 stars. Pretty weird and the heavy guitar distortion and choppy rhythms and some experimental twists on the singing give it a much more raw and muddled feeling than most alt rock. Some absolute standout songs ("Where Is My Mind?" and "Gigantic") that are a nice melodic break from the rest of the heavier tracks. Wish Kim Deal sang lead vocals more. Liked when they dip into a more surfer rock sound ("Tony's Theme"). They didn't master the quiet-loud dynamic as well as they do in their next album Doolittle. Grating vocal filter in "Something Against You" makes it a skip.
2/5
80's pop is so hard for me to get into. Not as catchy/groovy as good disco hits. Singing almost satirically falsetto at times which brings this down quite a bit. Cheesy lyrics ("Poison Arrow"). The orchestration can be good at times, same with some decent funky bass lines ("Date Stamp").
Hookworms
3/5
3.5 stars. Musically, first couple tracks remind me of LCD Soundsystem. "Soft Season" synth sounds like M83. Annoying noisy distortion in "Boxing Day" makes it a skip. Standout is "Static Resistance".
Arcade Fire
4/5
Impressive debut indie rock record. Forgot how many additional instruments they utilize beyond just guitar, guitar, bass and drums. The orchestral instrumentation, especially fits in well. "Neighborhood #4 (Kettles)" one of the more heartfelt tracks. Standouts are "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" and the anthemic "Rebellion (Lies)".
M.I.A.
2/5
2.5 stars. Decent minimalist hip-hop. Activist-heavy lyricism. OK overall eve if there are some duds ("Pull Up the People", "M.I.A"). "Bucky Done Gun" is the catchy standout.
David Bowie
4/5
3.5 stars. David Bowie's foray into soul/R&B. Instrumental in "Win" and "Across the Universe" is good but lyrics and vocals detract from it. Standout is the funky "Fame".
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
2.5 stars. Context of it being completely solo (all songwriting and playing all instruments) from a guy who was just released from a hospital after a mental breakdown makes it a bit more interesting. Like acoustic guitar in "Books of Moses". Some of the riffing on bonus tracks at the end sound a bit like Violent Femmes.
The Streets
2/5
Rap opera. Occasional moments of impressive lyricism and good beats, but otherwise a lot of it felt really forced. Standout is "Fit but You Know It"
Marty Robbins
4/5
4.5 stars. Brings the listener out to a romanticized gunslinger depiction of the wild west with tragic short stories usually ending in death and murder. But the melodies and smooth harmonies keep things from descending too far into darkness, despite the lyrical content. Great singing voice really keeps your attention and sounds a bit like Roy Orbison, if not quite as deep. Have to dock it a little because of how similar all the songs sound to one another. "Big Iron" is an all-timer. "El Paso" a melodic masterpiece.
Hot Chip
3/5
"Let Me Be Him" is fairly representative of the album: basic electronic beats, simple repetitive lyrics, easy-listening. Standout is "These Chains".
The Style Council
4/5
3.5 stars. Upbeat sophisti-pop (never heard of this genre). Approachable amount of jazz and the bits of soul add in at times make it a good listen. Long stretches of just instrumental music are mostly better than when there's singing. Didn't care for the rap parts though and was glad there wasn't much of it. Enjoy this alternative to the more standard 80's pop.
Sabu
3/5
Upbeat Cuban rumba. "Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso" fun guitaring.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Fully instrumental Memphis rock/R&B/soul album. Title track is iconic and has so much swag. Can listen to it over and over. Lots of nostalgia with it (The Sandlot soundtrack) but regardless, an incredible R&B/soul track with one of the best basslines all-time and Jones rockin' blues bar on the Hammond. The rest of the record is a step down after that but still has some decent instrumental covers and the other standout track is the original "Behave Yourself".
Tom Tom Club
3/5
3.5 stars. "Genius of Love" super catchy hook which understandably went on to be sampled over and over later in the 80's. Leadoff "Wordy Rappinghood" is fairly weird but good. Overall a decent funk album by the Talking Heads side project.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
3.5 stars. Pretty good early outlaw country record. Too much splitting instruments out to each stereo channel individually is a little distracting at times. Re-listened to a bit of it with mono audio and wished it would've been mixed closer to that. Standouts is the title track, which is a genuinely great song and musically a step above standard country. "We Had It All" ballad a nice example of Jennings's pretty good singing voice.
Baaba Maal
2/5
2.5 stars. 90's Senegalese worldbeat by Not bad, not super memorable. Standout is "Gidelam".
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
2.5 stars. Tries to break out of the standard 80's pop sound but is a bit tough to listen to at times. Rowland's singing voice can be annoying. Enjoyed some of the snarky lyrics in "One Of Those Things". Standout is "Listen To This". Would like to re-visit at some point when in the right mood to get into it.
Sparks
2/5
1.5 stars. Piano-led falsetto glam rock. Too sing-songy and lacking catchy hooks or memorable choruses. Seemed like a knockoff impotent version of Queen. How does a track like "Equator" not get left on the cutting floor?
Muddy Waters
4/5
Blues with lyrics that live up to the album title. Throughout the record Waters is letting you know he's cooler than you and his accompanying musicians also shred.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Classic Sinatra with a bit of a focus on jazz as opposed to big band swing. Iconic voice doesn't need much more explanation, just a wonderful listen because of it. "Dancing On The Ceiling" cover with it's small and simple ensemble is a standout.
Sonic Youth
4/5
4.5 stars. Indie rock that borders on noise rock but in a good way. Heavy punk influences (as well as some shoe-gaze, but heavier) and a clear precursor to grunge alt rock. So many catchy hooks throughout that. Long stretches of instrumental-only that highlights the talented guitar work and drumming. Only skip is the interlude-y "Providence" with its dubbed phone messages. "Hey Joni" is their art rock at it's best. Standout is the iconic leadoff "Teenage Riot".
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
The quality of the recording is impressive for it being a live record from the early 60's. Bass playing by LaFaro is best part of this, tragic he died days later in a car accident.
Christine and the Queens
2/5
Felt like run of the mill contemporary pop to me. Listened to the English half (side 1). Standout was "Doesn't Matter" because some of the synth was kinda cool.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
4.5 stars. Some of my favorite jazz on the 1,001 list so far. Eastern (Turkish) influence is an interesting twist, as well as the pioneering usage of unconventional time signatures. Shorter run time (38 min) helped it feel more approachable. Seems like being a "studio album" in that it has distinguishable tracks on isn't a more run-on live record.
Soundgarden
4/5
4 stars. Heavy metal meets alt rock and results in an iconic grunge album. The dark lyrical content throughout is sad given what ended up happening to Cornell. Musically a great blend of heavy (lots of guitar with drop D tuning) and melodic and passionate singing. Personal favorite track is "The Day I Tried To Live" but the hits ("Fell On Black Days", "Black Hole Sun", and "Spoonman") are all great.
Napalm Death
2/5
1.5 stars. 28 short (primarily 30-90s) intense grindcore metal tracks. Moments of melody and build that quickly get cut short by repetitive bars. Painful vocals, otherwise musically not bad meta. Impressively fast drumming, guitar that sounds a bit like Metallica or Motorhead at times.
Heaven 17
2/5
The opening "[We Don't Nee This] Fascist Groove Thang" is kinda cool but after that it's just generic lame 80's synth pop. Singer sounds like knock off version of David Bryne. The end of "We're Going To Live For A Very Long Time" feels like trolling with how repetitive it is.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
Jazzy take on 60's rock. They're really into Satie's "3 Gymnopedies", using a guitar + flute arrangement of it as the bookend tracks of the record. Standout is "Spinning Wheel".
Deee-Lite
4/5
Really fun, simple early 90's house. Filled with catchy hooks. Standout is the hit "Groove Is in The Heart" but other solid tracks too ("Good Beat") and no skips until the last two songs.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
2.5 stars. Mid country. Didn't hate it but probably won't be coming back to it much. Standout is "Banks Of The Pontchartrain" with it's banjo and steps out beyond typical rhythm and sound of country.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
3.5 stars. Long ballad-filled album that lives up to it's name. Can tell at times that they were low-budget, self-produced but it's still a pretty good listen. Filled with stories about the South, both semi-autobiographical and highlighting important figures in it's history including a lot of Lynyrd Skynyrd. "Birmingham" sounds a bit musically like bottom shelf Tom Petty. Nice simple bassline "Women Without Whiskey". Favorite is fast-paced "Guitar Man Upstairs".
Parliament
4/5
3.5 stars. Fun over-the-top funk. Some annoying high pitched whines in "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication" and 'stretching' sound in "Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples" but otherwise liked this. Standout is the super catchy hit "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)", the title track is good as well
Tom Waits
3/5
3.5 stars. Album punctuated by Waits' dark lyrics and raspy, broken growling voice. Liked it better than I thought I would, but definitely have to be in the mood for it. "Jesus Gonna Be Here" most blues-y track. "Black Wings" super creepy and most representative of the whole record. Weakest track is "Whistle Down The Wind" which highlights his broken singing voice in a rough way, unlike the lo-fi "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" which handles it better as a whole track. Standout is faster-paced, wild west anthem "Goin' Out West".
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
2.5 stars. Mostly instrumental acid/psychedelic rock. Side 1 is a 25 min riff on Bo Didley's "Who Do You Love?". Suppose drugs would help but hard for me to get into this one.
Anthrax
3/5
Speed/thrash metal. The double-pedal bass-drum is fun at first but it gets a bit old/over-used after a while. Singing doesn't really grab you like Metallica or Megadeath do. Fine, but not likely what I'll choose when I go to listen to this genre.
Thundercat
4/5
4.5 stars. Bass-playing virtuoso creates a wonderful genre-melding journey: funk, jazz, R&B, soft-rock, soul but carries consistent theme and story the whole way. Great balance of not repeating the same track over and over but keeping consistent groove throughout. Head-bobbing. Featured artists fit in well, with the exception of Wiz Khalifa though even his contribution wasn't totally out of place. Ending tracks really beautiful, bring in some orchestral/string sounds and slow things down. Standout the ultra-catchy bassline "Them Changes". "Jethro" is also really good, synth-heavy take on R&B.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Impressive record from a songwriting standpoint and can appreciate what it did for Rock and Roll but doesn't really land with me, maybe if I were in teen in the 70's. Feels a bit too formulaic and over-the-top for essentially being pop rock. And while the character-driven storytelling is good, some of the lyrics are too repetitive ("Backstreets"). Springsteen's Roy Orbison impression singing doesn't land with me.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Slow paced art rock that pulls in a bunch of different instruments sounds and musicians. Fairly boring.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
3.5 stars. Decent Adult rock/radio rock. Almost like a country-twinged Goo Goo Dolls precursor. Strength of album is beginning, with the opening track and the title track the two standouts in addition to "Wish You Well". Ending part of album takes a weird turn with trippy "Dixie Drug Store", repetitive "America Snoring" and Pixies-esque "Grace".
Prefab Sprout
4/5
3.5 stars. Enjoyable alt pop album with a lush sound and strengthened by the female backing vocals. Doesn't try to do too much but has a really pleasant sound throughout.
Peter Tosh
3/5
2.5 stars. Former Wailer with his debut solo album. Not the biggest reggae fan. Standouts are catchy "Ketchy Shuby" and "Till Your Well Runs Dry" as well as the activist title track that launched him to fame.
The Stooges
3/5
3.5 stars. Dark and brooding, old-school garage rock. Iggy Pop howling over wailing guitars. Standout is the way ahead of its time "I Wanna Be Your Dog" with it's really catchy guitaring. Also good is the musical chanting backed "We Will Fall".
Neil Young
4/5
4.5 stars. Phenomenal folk rock album. Just enough steel guitar with Young's talented songwriting and wistful/nostalgic singing voice. More orchestral elements than I was expecting. No weak tracks and standouts are the mega-hits, "Heart of Gold" and all-timer "Old Man".
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
3.5 stars. 90's big beat electronica, very The Matrix soundtrack-y. Favorite tracks were Leadoff "Block Rockin' Beats" and "It Doesn't Matter" with Fat Boy Slim vibes. Last two tracks are also good, catchy.
The Who
3/5
2.5 stars. Far more pop than rock than I was expecting outta The Who. Outside of catchy "I Can See for Miles" which is fun, the rest just feels like a lesser Beatles re-tread.
R.E.M.
4/5
3.5 stars. Good early alt rock. Fun incorporation of a mandolin. Standouts are the hits "Stand" and "Orange Crush". Gets a little heavier at the end which feels a bit out of place but the drumming on "I Remember California" is good.
Slade
3/5
Fun if not a raw version of glam rock. Occasional Rush vibes. Not obnoxious but not super memorable.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Masterclass in contemporary hip-hop. Flawless beats. Infectious, skilled rapping with perfect cadence. Lyrics make the album a journey through maturing. No weak tracks, banger after banger. Standout is the almost satirical "Backseat Freestyle".
Kanye West
2/5
Not a Kanye fan. Overly self-indulgent egotistic lyrics that can't stop bragging about where he's going to jizz next distract from any artistic talent that otherwise might be more tolerable.
Ryan Adams
3/5
3.5 stars. Talented singer songwriter with a debut alt country record. Can get a bit self-pity wallowing but it's a decent album. Harmonica provides some nice hooks but is over-done at times. Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris provide some nice backing vocals Standout is catchy "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)", while the other hit "Come Pick Me Up" is a bit of an obnoxious 90's hangover.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
4/5
Surprisingly good jangle pop/"college rock" debut album. Avoids the techno-pop excesses of the 80's but isn't just stripped-down folk rock. Keyboard hooks that are subtle but still grab you. Nice singing voice that is quieter and helps match the poetic (if not corny at times) lyrics. "Four Flights Up" simple but upbeat and fun.
10cc
3/5
3.5 stars. Production value a little lacking/dated at times but the concept is good resulting in creative art pop. Lyrics walk fine line between clever and silly. Standouts are "The Wall Street Shuffle" and "Clockwork Creep".
The Verve
2/5
2.5 stars. U2 vibes. Choruses to repetitive (title track: 'I'm gonna die alone in bed'....OK we get it). Not as clean/refined as their follow-up album. Feels a bit too generic to be memorable.
Haircut 100
2/5
New Wave drivel. Overuse of horns doesn't help.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
2.5 stars. Interesting tutorial of traditional Indian music by country's most renown musician with lots of spoken word description of some music theory. Fine as a listen-through, would only have on in the background as something else to enjoy in the future.
Talking Heads
4/5
Some actual good new wave. Steady rhythm throughout, but doesn't feel repetitive. Byrne's singing is very listenable. Album is weird enough to keep things interesting without being overly distracting or disorienting. Catchy hook in "Cities" helps make it the standout.
Deep Purple
4/5
Man I guess I should've paid more attention to Deep Purple beyond just "Smoke On The Water", this album rocks. Definitely of the same ilk as Led Zeppelin. Enjoyed every track. Other standouts are leadoff "Highway Star" and the slow build instrumental "Lazy".
Steve Winwood
2/5
2.5 stars. Mostly sounds like knockoff Phill Collins, not very into it. Except for "Spanish Dancer", that song was great.
Prince
4/5
Tough when the by far best song on the album is the first, spend the rest of it hoping it will live up to the first. Still, a really good funk take on synth-pop. Backup singers compliment him really well. Highly sensual lyrics.
Fairport Convention
3/5
60's British folk rock. Lead singer has a pleasant voice which makes it a decent listen. "Medley: The Lark In The Morning" is a really fun little jig. Standout is "Matty Groves".
Brian Eno
2/5
Weird art pop/rock. Felt too esoteric and different for the sake of being different.
Ozomatli
3/5
3.5 stars. 2000's Latin album that is at times pop/hip-hop/rap rock. "(Who Discovered) America?" feels like knockoff Santana. Standouts are "Saturday Night", a nostalgic memory with it's catchy chorus and "Dejame En Paz" a fun, uptempo Latin tune.
Scott Walker
3/5
Ballad-y folk take on avante garde pop but with lots of string orchestral arrangements that add to the sound without being distracting. Standouts are the back to back "Hero of War" and "The Old Man's Back Again".
Death In Vegas
4/5
Somewhat stereotypical late 90's/early 00's electronic, Matrix soundtrack-y on the surface. But there's some good basslines and an elevated shoegaze sound that take it up a notch. Enjoyed the sampling and it makes for good focus music. Standouts are leadoff "Dirge" which is simple but builds in a great way, as well as dark lyrics "Aisha".