736
Albums Rated
3.04
Average Rating
68%
Complete
353 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
63
5-Star Albums
68
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Arise
Sepultura
|
5 | 2.73 | +2.27 |
|
Among The Living
Anthrax
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
Microshift
Hookworms
|
5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
|
Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
Repeater
Fugazi
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
|
5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
|
Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
|
Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
|
5 | 3.18 | +1.82 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
|
1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
|
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
|
1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
|
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
|
1 | 3.34 | -2.34 |
|
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
|
1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
|
Homework
Daft Punk
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
|
1 | 3.23 | -2.23 |
|
Closer
Joy Division
|
1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
|
Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
|
1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
|
Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
|
1 | 3.16 | -2.16 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.6 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Steely Dan | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Queen | 3 | 4.33 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Public Image Ltd. | 2 | 1 |
| Tom Waits | 2 | 1 |
| Fatboy Slim | 2 | 1 |
| Grateful Dead | 2 | 1.5 |
| PJ Harvey | 2 | 1.5 |
| Dinosaur Jr. | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Fall | 2 | 1.5 |
| Orbital | 2 | 1.5 |
| Spiritualized | 2 | 1.5 |
| Rod Stewart | 2 | 1.5 |
| Madonna | 3 | 2 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 4 | 2.25 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Kings of Leon | 2, 5 |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2, 5 |
| Brian Eno | 1, 2, 4 |
| R.E.M. | 2, 3, 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 4, 3, 3, 1, 1 |
5-Star Albums (63)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds · 13 likes
2/5
There were some very pretty moments here and there, but everything else felt like I was listening to an audiobook. I feel like this should've garnered a more emotional response from me, but it just didn't
Little Richard · 6 likes
2/5
Just too repetitive for me. Almost every song is about a girl and I can only take so much HoOoOoOoO
The Mothers Of Invention · 3 likes
2/5
The lowest attention span of anything I've ever heard. Mostly sounded like British campfire songs mixed with noises they made with any random objects they could find around the studio
ABBA · 2 likes
3/5
I don't think there were any bad songs, but also no songs that hooked me in. Just ABBA doing ABBA things
The Thrills · 1 likes
2/5
It seemed like this should have been a solid alternative album, but the vocals were kind of whiny and breathy, which got a little annoying. Overall the whole thing just sounded kind of hollow
1-Star Albums (68)
All Ratings
David Bowie
3/5
Started off strong. First few tracks were very groovy, layered, emotive. The back half of the album kind of killed the momentum that the first half had. The spacey soundscape tracks weren't bad in their own right, but they just went on for way too long. Definitely would be a 4 if the balance between conventional and instrumental tracks was a little better.
Alice Cooper
3/5
No strong opinions here, kind of sounds like a lot of other acts from the late 60s and early 70s but with more edgy vocals. The title track definitely stands out, but it is a bit weird to start with the one ballad and have the rest of the album be much more tame.
Grateful Dead
2/5
Overall a pretty bland listening experience. The songs just kind of chug along with nothing really happening, and many of them feel indistinguishable from one another. Nothing offensively bad, just feels very unengaging to listen to.
The War On Drugs
3/5
The guitar really carries this album. I wasn't a fan of the vocals at all, but the rest of the instruments were complementary enough. The best parts of the album were the droning guitar solos, but unfortunately a lot of time was spent on more reserved indie rock type tunes that just weren't very interesting.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
This is a great example of music that is very eccentric but completely coherent. They really love their trumpets and violins, and know how to write simple yet effective hooks. The vocals can be a bit hit or miss, and the slower, softer songs didn't quite hit the same for me. Overall a fun listening experience.
Public Enemy
2/5
Chuck had some memorable bars and the overall message of the album was great. I also liked the incorporation of the live sound bits. But oh my god, so many of these beats have the most obnoxious sounds I've ever heard. I also find Flav very annoying, so while I enjoyed parts of the album, other parts were almost unlistenable for me.
The Kinks
2/5
I'm sure I would've listened to these guys if I was alive in 1966, but today I simply get nothing from this album. A few decent tracks and a lot of below average ones. It's all just a little too dated for my liking.
The Doors
4/5
Joni Mitchell
4/5
This was way more of a trip than I was expecting. The progressive, jazzy flow of this album was new and refreshing for me. The track and album lengths were nice too, nothing was dragged out and some songs were so full of ideas that they felt much longer. I'm not crazy about the vocals, they worked well for some songs but others missed the mark by a lot. Overall, this was my favorite so far and I hope more Joni comes up on this list.
Gang Starr
1/5
The rapping on this album sounded so unenthused it was actually putting me to sleep, and the excessive disc scratching noises were dumb as hell. I also hate when people rap about how good they are at rapping. I honestly kind of checked out half way through this one.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Pop rock with some variety, but nothing very memorable. Decent ideas with solid execution outside of some occasional annoying vocals.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
1/5
Whatever they were going for here did not resonate with me at all. The whole album was just noisy as hell, and any tracks that were more tolerable just ended up being repetitive. Noisy rock or pop that isn't done right is just straight up annoying.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
Pretty enjoyable album and one of the better 60s rock groups I've heard. However this general era of rock just isn't my thing, especially with how far rock has come since then it just doesn't hold up quite as well.
The La's
2/5
Credit for some solid variety, but most of it just didn't land with me. It somehow managed to be eccentric but also fall flat at the same time.
Mercury Rev
5/5
This album felt like not only multiple genres coming together, but multiple eras as well. It transitioned between themes really well and the songwriting was sneakily intricate. Probably my favorite discovery so far
The Temptations
2/5
A relatively plain soul album that's almost entirely love songs. Nothing I hated besides the crying child, just uninteresting.
Isaac Hayes
2/5
It's a perfectly fine soundtrack, but I think the only reason I would listen to this is if I had some nostalgia for the movie, which I don't. It was a bit long and I don't think I could distinguish anything besides the title track.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
It was fun to hear something from a completely different era and part of the world than I'm used to. That ended up being its biggest downfall for me however, because I simply couldn't find much of anything to connect to as I listened. It's difficult to rate something like this, but my lasting impression is that I'm glad I heard it but I'm in no hurry to listen to it again.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
A couple good songs on this one, the rest of it was just okay. Nothing wrong with easier listening classic rock but I personally prefer something a little more engaging.
Kanye West
4/5
I enjoyed this album and the story it told. The first 20 minutes or so were excellent, and the variety and creativity were well appreciated. It gets kind of distracted in the middle and I had mixed feelings about some of those tracks. I think some of these tracks maybe bloated the album's length just a bit.
David Crosby
2/5
I wanted to like this one but it just felt too ambient and kind of put me to sleep. It made me zone out a little and then it was just over. I'm sure if I was tripping balls I'd enjoy it.
Billy Bragg
1/5
Excessively British vocals are as grating to me as modern country vocals. There's good album here somewhere but sadly it's buried beneath the sounds of an old Englishman who had one too many at the pub.
The White Stripes
3/5
I can sense the artistic ideas that went into this and the range of emotions conveyed. But it didn't totally translate musically, it felt like 80% of the album was just chunky, distorted guitar and crash cymbals, and there's only so much you can do with that. Didn't hate it, but was underwhelmed.
Janet Jackson
2/5
This album actually ended pretty well, but the first half was overly layered and busy with lyrics that were way too on the nose. Trying to be altruistic through cheesy 80's pop doesn't really work in my opinion. This album just felt like it was trying too hard.
Ride
3/5
I started out hating this one, with the flat, droning vocals and uninspiring sound. Enjoyed it a bit more towards the end, not sure if the tracks got better or it just grew on me. It's still a bit mediocre and not super memorable.
Arcade Fire
4/5
A pleasant, steady, and inoffensive rock album. Their style isn't too exciting in my opinion so each track seemed to lean more on the composition, which was mostly fine. The bulk of the album didn't live up to its best tracks, but when does it ever
Astrud Gilberto
4/5
I'm far from an expert on the genre, but this really feels like almost everything I would want from a bossa nova record. She has a very full voice and this album does a good job letting it take center stage. The only thing holding it back for me is that some of the weaker tracks can feel really disengaging, although most of the album is pretty consistent.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Every song on this album feels unique but consistent at the same time. The vocals always match the tone of the song perfectly. There's so many good build ups and the release is always well executed. My only complaint is that a few tracks just go a little longer than they need to.
Sheryl Crow
1/5
I don't like Cheryl Crow's voice. Some of the softer tracks didn't sound horrible but were just boring, and if she tried to add any edge to it using her voice it sounded like shit. I don't think a single track hit for me.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
If you've heard one song off this album, you've heard them all. The tone is very melancholy, and if you're not in the right mood for it it becomes a chore to listen through. There's nothing terrible going on with the music itself but the songs feel ambient at best.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
The range of this album is really impressive. It got off to a really hot start and even the less interesting tracks were carried by Stevie's voice. But man this album could've easily been 30 minutes shorter. So many songs in the second half had a good idea going and then ended by doing nothing for an extra four minutes. Would've been five stars without that
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
A very calming and pleasant listen. I think the foreign vocals made me disengage a bit for better or worse. Everything was consistent track to track and I was neither thrilled nor bored.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
This album has some good hooks and interesting ideas, which is what I've come to expect from them. I think the use of horns on this one was pretty excessive, and the vocals were very hit or miss. Not as memorable as some of their other albums
Def Leppard
2/5
I was ready to rock out at the start of this one, and by the end I was just bored. Very stereotypical 80s metal and every song sounded the same.
The Smiths
4/5
I enjoyed the quicker pace and conciseness of this one. There was a nice little groove to most of the songs and while nothing blew me away I was at least entertained. Had to dock points for Robert Smith's overly British vocals though.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Overall this one was a mixed bag. The best songs were really catchy and had memorable choruses, but there were a handful of songs that were very boring in comparison and felt like filler. Would've enjoyed the whole album much more if they trimmed some of that down. Also there were a couple of songs where it almost seemed like the vocals were being drowned out by everything else, which is weird considering they should be the focal point of the album
Fairport Convention
4/5
This felt simultaneously haunting and calming. It certainly feels like one of the more cohesive albums from this experimental sort of era. Maybe a little campy at times but it mostly kept my attention
Fiona Apple
3/5
This felt like a pop album with hints of loungey jazz, but it didn't really excel at any particular genre in my opinion. It would've been nice to incorporate more sounds than just piano for 90% of it. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, but it just bored me at times.
Joy Division
1/5
Monotonous instrumentals and monotone vocals. I really failed to see a point to this one, and I was ready for it to be over by the 3rd track
Beatles
3/5
This was overall a solid album, but only a few tracks felt like they really broke out of the boring 60's rock formula and were memorable. It did still feel like it was ahead of its time, and it's impressive that it holds up pretty well 60 years later.
Fred Neil
2/5
Very slow folk that just isn't for me. I can appreciate the last track trying something interesting but considering it was a quarter of the entire album it needed to really impress for me to change my opinion
Deep Purple
4/5
Live rock albums are very hit or miss for me, and I usually don't like when bands go on tangents for way too long. But for the most part, I didn't really mind it with this one. The performances of the actual songs were great and the elongated jams were mostly good, albeit pretty long in a couple places.
Solange
3/5
I do enjoy listening to very passionate projects with a clear story to tell, but musically there wasn't much that piqued my interest. The slower pace made it harder to stay engaged, but otherwise it was nice to feel like I gained a perspective that I would otherwise never have.
Metallica
4/5
I'm not one to just listen to a 2+ hour live show without actually being there, but this one was pretty good. It was really densely packed from start to finish, wasn't much time wasted. The live performances were all good, but my main issue is that the orchestra didn't always contribute much. Some songs felt enhanced by it but others just felt like extra noise on top.
Gang Of Four
3/5
This was a bit all over the place, with groovy sections transitioning into abrasive ones that didn't really feel natural. Solid ideas and decent execution, but it feels like they took it one step too far in a few cases
Lou Reed
1/5
Was going to rate two stars by way of it being very unspectacular folk, but then they added crying children. Don't put crying children in your music
Radiohead
3/5
There were some nice tracks in here, but unfortunately there were a few too many that felt like just whininess on top of dissonance. It had potential but some of the artistic choices were just a bit over the top.
George Harrison
3/5
This is about what I expected from a Beatles member solo project. Some nice, catchy tunes with variety, but wow this definitely did not need to be two discs. Just having all the good tracks on one disc would've been excellent, and honestly the entire second disc felt pretty unnecessary. Otherwise it felt like Beatles but also a little closer to American classic rock.
Nas
4/5
Good beats, good energy, some good bars and overall an enjoyable listen. Not something I'd personally listen to often but definitely one of the best rap records I've heard so far
The Band
4/5
This sounds like the band was shot forward in time from the Dust Bowl to write folk, but I actually kind of dig it. It's one of those albums you have to be in the right mood for, but it feels like there was so much soul put into it that it kind of roped me in. If I had to work in a field this is what I would play.
Billie Holiday
1/5
A bunch of slow love songs with absolutely zero change in cadence or tone. Bored me to tears
Dirty Projectors
2/5
I really don't know what any of this was supposed to be, kind of like some hipsters trying to imitate jazz or progressive rock I guess. There were some okay parts here or there, but most of it felt super disconnected and without anything really standing out
Miles Davis
4/5
A very enjoyable jazz record. Feels a little dated now because of how much later artists really pushed the genre, but I could easily see why this one has so much influence.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Zeppelin never really misses, and even though this isn't one of my favorites, it's still one I can get down to in most occasions. Compared to their other work, some of these songs feel like scrapped ideas or b-sides to other albums, but that's a high bar to hit.
AC/DC
4/5
Overall a fun album to listen to, even if it's a bit repetitive. They seem to really walk the line between catchy and cheesy.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
It's like there were flashes of good music for like four seconds at a time, followed by the most annoying whining over semi-interesting but sloppy drums. Not my thing
Isaac Hayes
4/5
A nice, smooth and passionate record with a little bite at certain points. I think the long format tracks worked well, and while the last track took me out of it a little bit, I still felt like this is one of the easier records to get into so far.
Morrissey
3/5
Didn't feel all that different from a Smiths album. I like The Smiths but this was slightly underwhelming. It was pretty good overall but nothing stood out, besides the usual cheeky lyrics.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
This one was all over the place. Some really catchy upbeat pop stuff early on, but really fell flat towards the end. Take out the last 30 minutes and maybe shorten up the title track a bit, and this one could have been a banger.
New Order
3/5
Overall an enjoyable new wave sort of record, but also didn't feel like anything that I hadn't already heard before. Could be really fun if you're in the mood for it, but I didn't really have that connection. The backtracks seemed pretty well thought out, but the vocals tended to take me out of it
ZZ Top
3/5
La Grange is a good song, but most of the album doesn't have that same groovy feel to it and just feels a little more like your typical classic rock. It mostly felt kind of flat and even the songs with good riffs didn't have anything else to build on
Britney Spears
2/5
I was hoping nostalgia would carry this, but it's really just forgettable and kind of cheesy pop, with some really nasally singing.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I can appreciate the artistry with this one, but a lot of it just didn't stick with me. All the little high pitched fluctuations in her voice and a few overly arythmic sections ended up being distracting to me. I could very much feel the emotions being conveyed, which takes a lot of talent, and a few of the tracks were able to suck me in and keep me engaged.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
This felt like one quick song followed by 45 minutes of jams. It was probably meant to be enjoyed live at Woodstock tripping balls in 1971
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Classic rock with added keys and trumpets, and Mick Jagger being pretty over the top with his weird open mouth Britishness. I just know that mic is coated in saliva
Elton John
4/5
A surprising amount of drive behind this one despite being mostly slower, piano centric songs. Some parts were a little too slow and the vocals weren't as good on the climaxes, but I still enjoyed it
Tears For Fears
5/5
This is how pop should be. Wonderful use of rock instrumentals, and just all around great performances. The slower songs didn't quite live up to the hits but Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Head Over Heels make up for it
ZZ Top
5/5
What a fun listen. This album really makes you feel like you're eating a TV dinner
Oasis
3/5
Good alternative rock muddied by Liam Gallagher's annoying as hell voice. I'm not saying I don't like any bands with subpar vocals but the overall compositions don't stand out enough for me to totally look past it
Slipknot
2/5
This was just straight up anger with barely any cohesion. It's very stereotypical nu metal and didn't age very well. The parts that did go hard didn't last long and I feel like their later music after this was much better.
Syd Barrett
2/5
Nothing egregiously bad, but it's just basically more of the same Brit folk I've already heard without anything memorable or pushing the genre in any meaningful way
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Even though a lot of 60's music runs together for me, I can't deny this one had some bangers. The worst tracks felt pretty formulaic for the time but the best ones were super catchy
The xx
3/5
A very okay pop album. I felt mild satisfaction during it.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Pinnacle metal. If this doesn't get you into the genre, nothing will.
Mj Cole
1/5
This has to be AI generated. There's no way anyone has actually listened to this awful, repetitive, annoying, boring excuse for club music
PJ Harvey
1/5
Never thought I'd listen to British hipster music, but here we are. Borderline unbearable
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Good album with some nice harmonies and well written, layered tracks. Why are you keeping your cats in the yard? :(
Grateful Dead
1/5
Why are live southern rock shows just so boring? There is nothing interesting or engaging about this, it's just slow and bland.
Gene Clark
4/5
Really nice mix of classic country and folk with what feels like a hint of Pink Floyd. Both intricate and easy listening
Justice
4/5
Pretty solid dubstep/EDM type album, nothing too overbearing. Some tracks were kinda average but some were definitely bangers. Good if you're in the mood for it
James Taylor
2/5
90% of this was just the same cadence and tone, so I was pretty bored for the most part. There was nothing particularly bad about the singing or guitar playing, he just needed to throw a little something extra in here or there
Steve Winwood
3/5
Some nice, consistent, and extremely 80's tunes. Easy to listen to but didn't really make me feel much of anything. It just felt like they could've been a little catchier or something
Frank Zappa
4/5
A great jazz record that starts off really strong, but doesn't keep me interested throughout the entire thing. It was mostly pretty fast and complex, which I much prefer to more monotonous music, but there were times it got too busy without pulling itself back together for a while.
Kanye West
4/5
Good flow and a mix of good bars and really dumb, narcissistic, and sometimes misogynistic shit. Beats were all good except for maybe some overused bass. Easy to get hyped during this one despite Kanye's dumb ass
Weather Report
3/5
A fine jazz album with a big band feel, but bored me a little bit to listen all the way through. Good for certain occasions but not an every day album
Lorde
4/5
A pretty good pop album that's really elevated by the dynamic sounds and production, and some good lyrics. The songs aren't groundbreaking and the vocals are fine, but the rich backing beats keep it from falling flat
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
You pretty much always know what you're going to get with Bob Marley. Good for a specific type of mood, although sometimes a little too on the nose
Pere Ubu
1/5
This is what Talking Heads sounds like to people that don't like Talking Heads
Taylor Swift
3/5
Conflicting feelings on this one, some songs were really catchy but some were really formulaic and unmemorable. It's tough for me to get really into an album where every song is about boys, even if there were some bangers.
Faith No More
4/5
Overall it's a pretty fun listen, the grooves are good and the bass goes really hard. But man, these tracks live and die with how much nasality Mike Patton puts into it
Minutemen
4/5
This is the kind of punk I could get into. It's pretty fun and puts a lot of different ideas together cohesively. This particular album felt extremely long though, and not all of it hit.
Garbage
3/5
It's a perfectly fine album, doesn't take many risks but doesn't have a lot of bad tracks either. Good as far as alt rock goes but not super memorable
Nina Simone
2/5
The slow piano songs bored the hell out of me, but the rest of it was fine. Mostly just a product of its time
Ozomatli
1/5
I think they used every corny latin music trope in existence, as well as some underwhelming rap. A couple songs were kind of catchy, but it was mostly annoying
Nico
1/5
This could have been a good folk at album at certain points, but the low, flat singing was just not it at all. Some parts were just incredibly annoying to sit through
Violent Femmes
3/5
Some jarring aesthetics in a fun package. I really liked the more upbeat and catchy songs, because they were the only ones that masked the aggressive singing and hollow sounding instruments
Beck
3/5
It's like they took a good alternative album and just put random noises in random spots. There was weird ass synth, some squealy guitars, and some beeping(?) Wasn't a bad listen but it did at times feel like it was trying to be different just to be different
Sonic Youth
4/5
I only knew Teen Age Riot coming in, and there was a lot more post-punk type stuff than I expected. Neither singer did much for me, and some parts definitely lost me with a noisier sound. But the highlights were great, really 90s sounding layered guitars and fun drum beats. Wish they stuck with that just a little more.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Really good one to close your eyes and relax to. The only parts I didn't enjoy were when it was less musical and more spoken poetry with guitar plucking, although he kind of rode that line throughout.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
A cornerstone of southern rock. Just very catchy and Fogerty's voice fits perfectly.
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Not exactly sure what I just listened to. They used just about every instrument under the sun, especially violins and xylophone. There wasn't really a ton of structure, it felt like mostly ambience or short, jazzy ideas that went all over the place. Wasn't really my cup of tea but I can respect it.
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Before starting: Well this is certainly going to be new to me.
3 minutes in: OMG it's that one song
This went surprisingly hard. Unfortunately towards the end I learned that there's such a thing as too much bongos
The Zombies
4/5
Even though some songs were a bit too slow and campy, overall this was a good psychadelic album. It was pretty well paced and most of the tracks were either kinda catchy or good for a slow listen.
Aerosmith
4/5
I thought the album with Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way would be an easy 5, but the rest was pretty forgettable. Does Steven really have a 10 incher?
Silver Jews
3/5
There was some really nice songwriting in the first half, but this whole thing would've been soooo much better with vocals that weren't completely flat. It's a competent album that I didn't hate, but it felt like a missed opportunity
MGMT
5/5
Super fun and groovy with intricate backings. Lots of great songs. Easy 5
Thundercat
3/5
Overall a pleasant album, and I liked some of the jazzy backtracks. But ultimately there wasn't anything that stuck out or was memorable to me.
DJ Shadow
3/5
This wasn't bad by any means, but I'm also not really sure what this was supposed to be. Most of the tracks didn't sound like songs, just a beat to rap over. Maybe that was the point, I don't know
Queen
4/5
Queen has always been hit or miss for me, and that was true even within this album. I think they're at their best when they go for really big, grand ideas. There were a few of those here that were awesome, but the lulls here and there kept me from really loving this one
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Started out strong, but some of those tracks towards the end were garbage. A couple songs were nice and catchy, but it was mostly unmemorable
The Cramps
3/5
I'm not a big post-punk guy, but this one kind of grew on me. Some of the beats were fun and the singing wasn't as abrasive as some similar bands. Still not something I would normally listen to but I didn't mind it
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
A great mix of some slower folk and fun, upbeat stuff. Not every song was amazing but I honestly can't think of anything bad to say about this one.
Moby
2/5
A lot of these didn't even seem like actual songs, just some beats or dance music repeated many times. It didn't sound awful or anything, but I'm just confused as to what this was even supposed to be
David Bowie
3/5
Certainly different for a Bowie record. Plenty of interesting songs, even though he sounds a bit old and there was some variation of an Amen break every few minutes. Still solid, just not one of his more outstanding releases
Various Artists
1/5
The holidays just ended and I get a fucking Christmas album. What have I done to deserve this?
Joe Ely
2/5
Songs about cornbread, fingernails and honky tonkin' aren't really my thing. Still better than modern country
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Ah, the good old days where songs were two minutes long and only about love. I liked it but I thought the guitar was going to be a little more prominent
Paul McCartney
2/5
Reminiscent of some older Beatles, but outside of a couple songs this was a snoozer
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This one felt way more country than I could've expected. Gimme Shelter is a great opener but the rest is just okay
Merle Haggard
3/5
One of the better old country albums I've heard. The genre is not really my thing but there was a nice mix of slow and upbeat songs
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Cool sort of dark new wave sound, but unfortunately none of the songs really went anywhere. It was just kind of the same drums and synths, wasted opportunity in my opinion
Willie Nelson
3/5
Nice, pleasant listen, even if a couple songs were a little slow for my taste or just too on-the-nose country
David Holmes
1/5
I guess this type of electronic music is more prominent than I thought, but I still don't get the appeal. It's so repetitive and all I could do is just zone out
Julian Cope
2/5
This thing is over two hours long. The first half was just inoffensive brit rock, but the rest was just confusing and weird. I just can't understand why it was so long. I should be compensated for sitting through that much of dollar store Mick Jagger
Little Richard
2/5
Just too repetitive for me. Almost every song is about a girl and I can only take so much HoOoOoOoO
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
A decently fun and pleasant listen, but only a couple songs stood out. I enjoyed the female vocalist, it's too bad she was only in a few songs
Cat Stevens
4/5
Some beautiful songs on this one, with great use of piano and strings. Relaxing vibe without getting boring
Beck
4/5
Slower but very emotional. Some great dynamic sounds and cool buildups keep most of the songs interesting.
Ministry
1/5
This is the most diluted metal album I've ever heard. Everything is so overly distorted and mindlessly repetitive. Industrial metal already isn't my favorite genre but it has some merit, this is just annoying
Public Enemy
4/5
Pretty fun and hype. Some of the backtracks were a little overbearing but otherwise it was both powerful and catchy with a strong message
Tori Amos
2/5
When it's mostly just piano and singing, I get bored quickly. The songs weren't terrible or anything but this style just isn't for me
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
Having only known Take Me Out, I was pleasantly surprised that most of the album matched the same energy. Really playful instrumentation and good hooks. Only a couple songs felt like filler
Spacemen 3
2/5
Some cool spacey stuff in this one, but it usually went on too long and never had any satisfying conclusion to it
Miles Davis
2/5
Had a nice aesthetic to it, but was otherwise really bland. I swear the drums were just on a loop
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Wasn't crazy about the voice at first, but after hearing it in a bunch of unique styles and ideas it grew on me. No particular song stood out but there weren't many bad ones either
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2/5
The most underwhelming rock record I've ever heard
Stevie Wonder
5/5
All of the best aspects of funk and jazz are here, and Stevie's vocals are majestic as always. Even the slower songs were groovy
Santana
4/5
That famous Santana guitar tone just works so well with Latin music. They found a great sounding formula and just rolled with it.
Eminem
4/5
Every song is like "My mom is a fat bitch so I cut off her vagina and put it in the oven for 75 minutes at 400°. Then I did some mushrooms and dipped my balls in the cotton candy machine."
T. Rex
4/5
It's like a bunch of rock and pop artists came together to make an interesting sort of fusion alternative rock. Pretty solid all around
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
A nice compilation of blues/soul/jazz. Nothing stood out as amazing but there were some fun moments and overall good musicianship
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Nice and psychadelicy, but not really a lot of surprises. A good record to smoke doobies to
The Thrills
2/5
It seemed like this should have been a solid alternative album, but the vocals were kind of whiny and breathy, which got a little annoying. Overall the whole thing just sounded kind of hollow
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
More of a bluesy CCR, but without most of the catchy songs I'm used to. Mostly forgettable
The Prodigy
2/5
Every track was repetitive, but at least it felt a tiny bit more creative than I was expecting. Still mostly indistinguishable from any other electronica I've heard
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Really solid jazz fusion. Bro was absolutely shredding that trumpet
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
A mix of R&B and rap, a couple songs were catchy, most were mid. Could've done without the skits/dialogue after almost every track
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
I liked the various genre influences throughout, and while there weren't any tracks I particularly disliked, the album as a whole was just a little slow for my liking
Fela Kuti
3/5
Some cool jazz writing and worldly flavors. I didn't enjoy the singing sections as much, and it was maybe a little excessive with the brass
Kings of Leon
2/5
A lot of old brit rock and punk influences came together to make something worse than all of them
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Tough to rate off of one listen. They really can put on a good fast groove when they want to, but a lot of parts were not easy to digest, even as a big fan of prog. The more conventional tracks in the back half were fine, but just not really their strong suit
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Sounds like something I'd hear in a fancy restaurant. Pleasant but kind of boring
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Obviously she has an amazing voice, and there were more groovy and upbeat songs than slow and sad ones, which I appreciate
Brian Eno
1/5
Nothingness. Not cool, mysterious, thought provoking nothingness. Just... nothing.
The Icarus Line
2/5
The distorted guitars and droning vocals are just so overdone. They still had a decent sound, but ruined their own momentum with unnecessary abrasive noise sections
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Fun beats, but the singer went to the Tom Petty school of nasally vocals
Magazine
4/5
Really interesting and cool alternative type rock, wrapped in a brit punk aesthetic that I'm not super fond of. Every song felt unique and I could get down to most of them
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
All the usual components of Fleetwood Mac were there, so the album was already good by default. This one kind of lacked some of the magic of their other stuff, and there wasn't nearly enough Stevie
Duran Duran
5/5
The entire sound is so 80s, but I've never heard a group do more with it. Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf are bangers, but I don't think there's a bad song on here.
Charles Mingus
3/5
Some pretty decent jazz that liked to add these weird, sinister, off-key sections that didn't always flow super well. Points for originality and overall brevity, but not my first choice when it comes to jazz.
Beatles
4/5
While this isn't one of the most memorable Beatles albums, it's still solid all the way through and stands out compared to similar acts of the 60s. It suffers a little from feeling samey like a lot of early 60s stuff, but it's still a pleasant listen
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Rolled my eyes when I saw the length, but ended up enjoying every minute of it. Something about the style and the flow is infectious, and a few of the tracks brought a genuine emotional response out of me
Klaxons
4/5
Pretty high energy alternative rock with some interesting spacey sounds. It sometimes was a bit abrasive and repetitive, but overall not bad
OutKast
4/5
A two hour double album, that is certainly a lot of OutKast. There was definitely some great range showcased, even if some of the beats felt too similar. The best tracks could've been condensed into one really good album, but sadly that wasn't what happened.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Pretty solid slower folky rock. It went on a few tangents with these odd guitar sections, but they weren't always interesting enough to justify the time spent on them
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
Pretty unassuming Southern Rock. A couple songs were interesting lyrically, but I expected something more from a band called The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Black Keys
3/5
This one started out great, and then the last 2/3 or so was incredibly mid. Another case of an album that could've been much better if they just trimmed the fat
Milton Nascimento
3/5
Some soothing latin with a couple standout songs, but ultimately I just couldn't connect with it and was uninterested by the end
The White Stripes
5/5
This feels like the maximum potential of this band. Some great, catchy riffs and lots of creativity with feeling too avant-garde or disjointed. Really good performances too
2/5
I guess this is another one of those albums that was made before the invention of songs that aren't about love
Dinosaur Jr.
1/5
I was trying to find a good album out of this, but it was drowned out by just the most awful whiny vocals. "Don't" is one of the worst songs I've heard in my life.
David Bowie
3/5
Another Bowie album with some quirky sounding songs and a long artsy section. None of the songs were really bad but none were memorable. Every instrument was so evenly mixed in it was kind of hard to distinguish anything
Muddy Waters
1/5
This is the blueiest blues that ever blued. Also the most harmonica I've ever heard. Like waaaaayyy too much. Really not for me at all
The Modern Lovers
2/5
Flashes of greatness surrounded by British mediocrity. Kinda went back and forth between somewhat interesting and annoying.
The Police
4/5
Pretty weird 80's cop show kind of vibe, but I enjoyed it. Some bits were a little corny or just odd, but the musicianship was great.
The Undertones
4/5
A kind of surf-punk thing, a little samey but still a good sound.
Massive Attack
3/5
Some combination of electronic and hip-hop, it didn't excel at either but it didn't totally miss either. It had a pretty low-key vibe and made my mind wander a bit, but I wouldn't be terribly excited to listen again.
Manu Chao
2/5
Mediocre and indistinguishable from most Latin stuff I've heard. It was mostly tolerable, although a lot of Spanish singers get annoying quickly in my opinion
Green Day
5/5
Even though the edginess can come off kind of cheesy, this album has some undeniable bangers and is really well produced. I'm sure nostalgia/familiarity played a factor but I had a great time relistening.
The Kinks
2/5
This band always just feels like a cheap knockoff Beatles to me.
The Bees
2/5
Psychedelic rock that felt stale immediately. It won me over a little more towards the end but not enough to make me want to listen again
5/5
Absolutely nailed the spacey rock sound, and the competitions were fun and intricate.
The Young Gods
2/5
When you make something French, it automatically becomes better. Except people and music
Jurassic 5
3/5
All in all it was perfectly fine hip hop, but it was almost an hour that didn't really go anywhere and wasn't memorable
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Pretty spontaneous and eccentric, but always cohesive. The highs weren't crazy high but there were plenty of great moments.
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
This one was just way too corny 80s hip hop for me to take it seriously. Not really painful to listen to, just formulaic.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Solid tunes and genuine, infectious positivity. Bonus points for a nice tight 27 minute length
Bee Gees
1/5
Are we sure the Stayin Alive band made this boring church choir ass shit?
k.d. lang
2/5
90% of it was just slow and sappy, with the same guitar tone I feel like I've heard in every country song ever. The vocal performance was good, but it felt wasted on this
2/5
Had a pretty good funky sound, but none of the songs felt creative or innovative and it kind of dragged on
The Cure
3/5
An interesting, full psychedelic sound and a pretty decent pace. But the whole thing was just super long-winded, none of those tracks needed to go on as long as they did.
The Who
4/5
Just enough weird and silly to go with some earlier Who. With it being full of odd concepts some were bound to miss. I really love Keith Moon and his drumming added a much needed texture to this one.
Deep Purple
4/5
Classic Deep Purple. Fast drums, complicated keys and power chords.
Funkadelic
3/5
Meh, I've heard funkier. The last track was really good though
Lucinda Williams
2/5
Not the worst country I've ever heard, but it is country.
Eels
2/5
A mediocre alternative rock album that felt like it was just trying to be different. Also the worst album cover I've ever seen
The Clash
4/5
I'm not a big punk guy, but this is basically everything I'd want from a punk album. It was consistent but not repetitive. Some good and catchy sections that snuck in different genres. Have to dock it for being overly British though
Elliott Smith
3/5
I had a pleasant time with this, a lot of solid tracks in a row but nothing that really wowed me. Just one step above typical radio quality songs.
Neil Young
3/5
It's Neil Young. Some songs have guitar and are like la la la, some songs have piano and are like wa wa wa. It's perfectly okay.
Rush
5/5
My second favorite Rush album behind Moving Pictures. Really sick bass, the acoustic guitar sections sounded great, Neil and Geddy doing their things.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I didn't care for it, but I'm sure it was influential for other shitty music
KISS
4/5
An even mix of catchy 80's rock and filler. Kind of cheesy but that's to be expected.
David Ackles
3/5
Sounds like the male Joni Mitchell, and my opinion is basically the same. The semi-musical poetry is artistically respectable, but doesn't do much for me. Part of me feels like it could've been better off written than sung
The Gun Club
3/5
Surf punk, I guess? Was fast paced but didn't feel all that energetic. Certainly wasn't bad though
Nick Drake
3/5
I really enjoyed the nice, calm atmosphere of this one. I just wish there was more structure, or something for me to grasp onto instead of just wandering the whole time
Depeche Mode
3/5
Pretty solid new wave. There were plenty of cool, groovy parts, but also a lot of boring sections that got annoying before an actual song kicked back in
Frank Ocean
4/5
A very solid hip hop album with a nice variety of supporting sounds implemented. Didn't care all that much about the subject matter and maybe was a little heavy on the high vocals, but I still liked it
Radiohead
3/5
I appreciate the variety, although none of songs stood out that much. This could've been better but I'm really not fond of Thom's whining
Fela Kuti
4/5
Even though it was a little too aggressive at times, there were still some great jazz moments. I'm a sucker for drum solos too
Goldfrapp
3/5
I liked the nice trancey vibe, but most of it sounded a little too similar. Would've liked to hear that sound used a little more creatively
The Specials
3/5
Each song was basically a different genre, they were mostly fine in their own right but it didn't feel blended particularly well. It kind of felt like a weird mixtape
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
A bunch of good songs and a couple okay ones. Reminds me of Simon and Garfunkel with a little more modern and dynamic sound
Hot Chip
4/5
Some catchy new wave type stuff, consistent throughout although it lacked any sort of a standout hit
Todd Rundgren
4/5
Lots of good tunes on this one, kind of sounded like something a former Beatle would write. There were some weird transitional bits and odd lyrics that weren't really necessary
Joy Division
3/5
The dark and gothic sound can be really cool if used effectively, but the slower, monotonous pace just doesn't quite do it for me. Not bad, not great
Christina Aguilera
2/5
Pop mixed with more R&B than I expected, although it felt a little soulless for R&B and lacked any good pop hooks. The second half was better by virtue of having a personality, despite being egregiously slutty
Tim Buckley
3/5
I need whatever this guy was on when he sang this
Sigur Rós
3/5
Some really beautiful sounding sections, but it was an extremely slow burn. I would've liked an abridged version of this, instead of it being stretched very thin
Talking Heads
4/5
Some real post punk bangers, if only David Byrne was so tough to listen to sometimes
Some nice classic rock from a band I've never heard of before. Good use of keys too, although it was nothing revolutionary
Rush
5/5
A prog rock staple, and Rush at full form. It's accessible but feels rewarding on multiple listens. I especially appreciated the bass on this listen.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
This is what I was hoping to hear from the Stones. A little more subdued, and every song felt like a slightly different genre. Some simple yet beautiful acoustic guitar, strings and even some worldly sounding drums at times.
Japan
3/5
A lot of individual elements that would indicate a good album. Some jazzy sections, some fun new wave stuff, and a range of emotion. But for whatever reason, this one just never clicked with me. Wasn't bad at all, but didn't grab me either
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
I understand why this album is so highly regarded, but as someone who has almost no history with rap, I had trouble those reasons for myself. Maybe the pace was just too fast and unrelenting for someone like me to grasp
Ian Dury
1/5
As fun as getting kicked in the teeth by a horse
The Stranglers
3/5
Interesting blend of punk, some psychadelic proggy sections and poppy hooks. Would've been great if it wasn't executed mediocrely
Coldplay
3/5
It's Coldplay. Pleasant on the ears but uneventful
The Youngbloods
4/5
This one was fun. Psychadelic but a bit more upbeat
John Prine
4/5
As someone who doesn't like country, I still really vibed with this one. His voice was kind of goofy but it was just the right pace and the songs were well written and nice to just relax to
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Pretty much every Simon and Garfunkel stereotype in one place. A couple of surprises here and there but it's mostly exactly what you'd expect
The Beta Band
3/5
Pretty cool sound, just didn't leave much of an impression on me
Green Day
5/5
One of my all time favorites. It's too bad they suck now
Iggy Pop
2/5
The instrumentals were pretty repetitive and the vocals sounded like a drunk David Bowie doing a Jim Morrison impression. Mostly kind of ugly sounding
Cornershop
1/5
Some variety is good, but the songs still have to not suck. This album did absolutely nothing for me
Steely Dan
5/5
Impossible not to be in a good mood after this one
M.I.A.
3/5
Not the most inventive songwriting, but what saves it are the well designed sonic layers behind each track that reward you for being attentive
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
This could've been such a beautiful album, but once I realized just how much vibrato I was hearing it was hard to focus on anything else
Lightning Bolt
1/5
I was kind of digging it at first, then it became way too chaotic, and then it actually gave me a slight headache. These guys seem like talented musicians, sucks that they cover everything with so much noise
The Strokes
3/5
It's a fine alternative album, although I think the blown out, distorted vocals are super overdone. I knew it was really hyped up coming in, so the album title is basically how I felt after listening
Mudhoney
2/5
Annoying, monotone and yelly vocals, but other than that it was semi-interesting punk.
The Cure
4/5
Nice goth and psychadelic Cure stuff, very chill and not super slow or long-winded
AC/DC
3/5
Having more than one AC/DC album on this list seems redundant
Tricky
3/5
Pretty relaxing trip-hop vibes, but also a bit too generic sounding
The Go-Go's
3/5
Points for being a pretty unique genre (surf-glam?) Unfortunately if you've heard the two hits you've heard the whole album
Peter Tosh
2/5
Just got a contact high listening to this
Kate Bush
2/5
I'm not crazy about her voice and it's mixed oddly quiet. I appreciate the songs being structured in a different way, but with a near complete lack of hooks or sensible composition it was just hard to get into.
Beatles
5/5
How could someone not like this
Willie Nelson
4/5
Timeless, really puts the "rock" in "rocking chair"
The Kinks
3/5
Stop forcing The Kinks on me, they're so average
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
A little bit slow and drawn out, but some of the guitar parts were really cool and it had a nice desert-level feel to it
Wilco
2/5
A nice varied assortment of boring indie songs
Napalm Death
2/5
One of the most bizarre and schizophrenic things I've ever heard. This is what metal sounds like to people who don't like metal. It did actually win me over a little bit just because of how absurd it was. Unfortunately so far the metal representation on this list has been awful
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Probably the best flow on a hip hop album I've heard so far, and consistent maybe to a fault. Kinda wish they took a little more risk creatively
Kelela
4/5
Definitely a lot of early 2000s R&B vibes, and she has a really nice voice
American Music Club
3/5
A decent late 90's-early 00's alternative kind of sound. Not all that imaginative though
Sister Sledge
3/5
Some fun disco songs, but also some slower ones that don't do it for me
2/5
Not sure what hipstery subgenre they were going for but it didn't work. Can't really figure out who this is for. Not the most offensive thing I've ever heard, just a head scratcher
The Beau Brummels
4/5
Yeah it's brit rock, but it was catchy and concise
TV On The Radio
2/5
Already mediocre indie with some unnecessary droning noise slapped on top.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Good and groovy electronica, but the beats are repetitive and the tracks are long. A good listen if it isn't your primary focus, bad if you want something engaging
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
There were some very pretty moments here and there, but everything else felt like I was listening to an audiobook. I feel like this should've garnered a more emotional response from me, but it just didn't
Waylon Jennings
2/5
It's got an old country sound that I usually enjoy, but this one was otherwise very underwhelming
The Doors
3/5
I like The Doors, but this one didn't quite hit the same. Jim Morrison's voice was weirdly off, like it was pitch shifted to avoid copyright claim, and most of the songs felt a little too esoteric or like they were B-sides
Wire
3/5
Some good, fun punk songs on here. Unfortunately this is yet another album that's held back because the singer sounds like if a crumpet could talk
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
If you need background music while you smoke fat dabs, then boy do I have the album for you
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
The lowest attention span of anything I've ever heard. Mostly sounded like British campfire songs mixed with noises they made with any random objects they could find around the studio
Pixies
3/5
Alternative indie type rock with some weird stuff thrown in. Mostly fine but nothing in particular stood out.
Beatles
4/5
Really solid tracks throughout, even if it was a bit long and rough around the edges
Fugazi
5/5
Really well executed punk that's raw but not too raw and has fun and interesting instrumentation that has a nice groove
Jack White
5/5
I don't really have anything bad to say about this one. It's well written, easygoing but not boring and earnest but not pretentious.
The Style Council
4/5
The random switch from jazz to a funk/hip-hop thing halfway through was a bit jarring, but the whole thing was still really solid and didn't miss, outside of maybe that weird rapping section
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
Not special and not even that saucy. The inflection he puts on his voice makes it seem like he's trying really hard to be cool
Little Simz
2/5
Most of this felt pretty formulaic, and the times where it wasn't were mostly overbearing
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Even though it's a little bloated, there's still plenty of bangers here
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
It was just kind of the same throughout, but I'll be damned if that vocal choreography wasn't impressive
XTC
3/5
It's fine, but feels mostly derivative of stuff I've heard a thousand times
5/5
Lots of catchy moments in between softer but well crafted glam. My favorite Bowie album
Sonic Youth
2/5
I feel like they're a good punk band, but there's just so much unnecessary crap thrown in everywhere for no reason
Boston
5/5
Every song just sounds so happy
Mudhoney
4/5
Nothing genre defining, but just a lot of fun grooves and not too abrasive
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Some good soul that's easy to listen to but does just enough to keep your attention. I must've not paid enough attention because the narrative that everyone raves about was a little lost on me.
Megadeth
4/5
Megadeth lives or dies on its guitar licks, the rest is just okay. This album had some bangers, but also didn't highlight Mustaine's wild playing as much as I would like
U2
4/5
This was a pretty mellow listen, but delivered some good vocal and guitar harmonies and was pretty consistent
The Charlatans
2/5
Uninspired and painfully average
Steely Dan
5/5
Steely Dan perfection, I don't know whether to sit back and smoke a cigar or get up and boogie
TLC
3/5
Pretty cool, very sexy, but definitely not crazy
Bob Dylan
4/5
Good songwriting, good lyricism, good energy. Not exactly my preferred genre but I still enjoyed it
Portishead
3/5
Each song is fine in its own right, and it was a little more sonically interesting than most electronica I've heard, but still ultimately suffered from being sluggish and unchanging
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
More of what you'd expect from these two, their formula works for me and there were a couple of standout tracks on this one
Janelle Monáe
5/5
An absolute journey from start to finish. So many styles well executed, great vocal performance and never really lost steam.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
The style made it seem like it was edgy and cool, and yet it was so boring
Sinead O'Connor
2/5
I feel like this one didn't really have a discernable identity, and the slow pace didn't make it easier to digest
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
A pretty cool post-punk sound but I honestly couldn't discern a single song from any other
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Any% Live Set Speedrun in 22:25.63 (WR)
Thin Lizzy
3/5
A good live performance by a decent band. Unfortunately, like most other live rock albums, has one too many jam sessions that immediately makes me lose interest
The Everly Brothers
2/5
Yup, that's early 60's music alright. Half the songs just abruptly faded out
R.E.M.
2/5
R.E.M. is already pretty average, and this felt like all their filler in one place. There's absolutely nothing special about this album
Radiohead
4/5
It was a bit slow to start, and I'm still not crazy of Thom's vocals, but the last 2/3 or so of the album were pretty great. Fun hopping between styles with lots of cool effects subtly added in.
CHIC
3/5
The disco-funk-jazz hybrid was quite good, but this felt like 15 minutes of music stretched out to 50
Elbow
3/5
Some great songs that seem to pull from multiple other alternative bands, but also one too many boring songs that make this far from a complete album
Gotan Project
2/5
As far as elevator music goes, it's pretty good
B.B. King
3/5
Blues isn't my thing, but this was a good, energetic performance all around. Also shockingly high quality for 1965
Le Tigre
1/5
The preferred album amongst the most insufferable people wearing the dumbest hats
LTJ Bukem
1/5
More mindlessly repetitive electronica. I can't believe I just listened to an hour and a half of non-stop breakcore drum loops
Screaming Trees
4/5
A bit lighter take on grunge, not mind blowing but solid all the way through
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I still don't know what "chooglin" means
Motörhead
2/5
The couple songs I already knew from Motorhead were not that great, and nothing really changed with this album. Not sure what was so special with this live recording either
Suicide
1/5
Well I know what I'm playing next time I want to harsh the vibes horribly
Maxwell
3/5
An easy listen but also somehow ruthlessly sexual. Overall left very little impression on me
Van Halen
4/5
Some of Van Halen's best tracks in one place, the rest were hit or miss. Pretty good balance of catchy ballads and moments where the guitar/synth/drums just rip
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Nothing about it was particularly bad, but outside of one or two songs it topped out at okay. The singing and the compositions were all fine, maybe could've been a little shorter.
Buzzcocks
4/5
At first I wasn't too fond of it because I thought it was just kind of flat, but there were enough catchy beats and punk energy to reel me back in
Bob Dylan
3/5
Each song was fine by itself, but the album was way too long and the vocals were a doozy, even for Bob Dylan standards
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
An hour of acoustic guitars and high pitched harmonies, not bad but very uninteresting
The Saints
2/5
Best case scenario, I could see one of these songs in a skateboarding game on the PS2
Pixies
3/5
The musical equivalent of a box of chocolates. Some of them will suck, but you can't be too upset that you tried it
Nirvana
3/5
I hate that I can't help but compare this to Nevermind. It's got some good songs, but as a whole it really doesn't stand up to not only Nevermind, but a lot of grunge albums
Basement Jaxx
3/5
Actually not bad, it's still not very creative music but the style was decent and the songs didn't go on way too long
Laura Nyro
3/5
It was kind of show tune-y which was fun. Her vocal style is pretty aggressive so it either hits or misses badly
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Kinda conflicted because there were some interesting instrumental moments, but the rest sounded like a subway performer on MDMA
GZA
3/5
Pretty good rap, although it mostly ran together for me
Bob Dylan
3/5
This is the most Bob Dylan-y Bob Dylan I've heard. It's funny how even at the beginning of his career he sounds like he's 73
Dire Straits
4/5
Good album, but why did it have to get soft on me. I still enjoyed the slow songs but I was kinda hoping for a couple more Money for Nothings
Iron Butterfly
4/5
I like this organ-y psychadelic era of rock
The Band
3/5
Not bad, but it lacked something to really set it apart from other southern folk rock
Stephen Stills
4/5
Good variety of cool guitar licks and catchy choruses with some gospel like backing. Only a few tracks didn't land with me
Hookworms
5/5
Very much a 2000s indie rock sound, so I can't say it hasn't been done before, but it was done very well. A couple of certified bangers carried the album. Just don't try to Google the band's name
Cream
4/5
The album as a whole didn't live up to Sunshine of Your Love, but it was still good minus a couple stinkers. I especially appreciated the drummer absolutely working those toms
50 Cent
4/5
Finally something I can relate to (I'm white and sheltered)
Teenage Fanclub
2/5
Some people that play their instruments at an intermediate level found a guy that can kind of sing and wrote an album with no interesting ideas and spent three minutes designing the cover
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Sort of a swingy big band style, just without the big band. So it maybe didn't have all the same intricacies, but it also made it a little more intimate which I liked
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
Didn't think I'd ever listen to a Bollywood soundtrack, but I definitely didn't also think it would go kind of hard
Bobby Womack
4/5
This shit made me want to dance proactively
Television
4/5
Some really great moments of post-punk mixed with some prog styles and really cool progressions. Sadly feels like a little potential was wasted because the singer was actively fighting against the melody
New Order
2/5
If you've heard any new wave then you don't really need to listen to this, just kind of a baloney sandwich of 80's music
Mott The Hoople
2/5
I can't point to anything I specifically hate, and yet almost none of the tracks were appealing to me
Foo Fighters
3/5
Foo Fighters are never terrible, never outstanding, just fine. Every album has one or two catchy songs and the rest is okay.
The Byrds
3/5
Pretty standard, but there's just something comforting about old country
Ice Cube
3/5
Pretty hit or miss, some really good songs and some that were kind of annoying or overbearing. Some of the inserts came at a time where I was enjoying the music and it came to a screeching halt
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
This made me feel a newly discovered human emotion called blumber.
Queen
5/5
The best Queen is when they go full Queen and make a bunch of miniature rock operas. This wasn't quite full Queen but it was like 90%
Iron Maiden
5/5
They really ride the line between 80's camp and actual bangers, but overall this one had enough great songs that I could shamelessly enjoy it
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Perfect if you ever find yourself walking through a forest filled with woodland creatures on your way to slay an ogre
Nick Drake
3/5
Overall it was fine, but that's really as far as breathy, whispery vocals and acoustic guitars can get you
Mariah Carey
2/5
One very bland song repeated a dozen times, she has such a strong voice and yet it was barely shown here
Neil Young
3/5
Some decent songs that could've been a lot better if the vocals weren't so raw
The Boo Radleys
2/5
They were really trying to do the "make every track a different style" thing, but none of them were really special and it felt kind of tryhardy. Also the production was jarring, lots of big volume fluctuations
Pulp
3/5
Pretty hit or miss for me, the new wave/indie sound was nice and there were a couple of great songs but the rest didn't really stick
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
Okay sounding funk, but a mostly uneventful album that felt like it took too long
Louis Prima
4/5
Just flat out fun, not a lot of dull moments and a good swing sound
4/5
This is the first Kinks album I've heard where they actually tried, and whaddaya know it's actually good
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
I would fuck to this album if it didn't put me to sleep
Suzanne Vega
2/5
More minimalistic and loosely structured singer-songwriter. Not really for me, it just needs a little something more
Living Colour
5/5
I was afraid this one wouldn't be much more than just Cult of Personality, so happy I was wrong. More great riffs, great drums, and just a great energy all around
Led Zeppelin
4/5
An above average album, although just an okay album for Zeppelin standards. Plenty of highlights but also a little bloated
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
Bit of a weird vocal style and the lyrics were not what I was expecting, but there was enough low-key punk energy and catchy songwriting to make it a decent experience
Turbonegro
3/5
Some good songs on here, but overall kind of a generic pop punk sound
Amy Winehouse
5/5
A cool modern twist on older soul artists, really full sounds and something musically different to take away from each track
The Hives
2/5
Awesome, another band with annoying, blown out vocals. Please let that trend die forever
Dion
4/5
The style isn't really unique or innovative, but it was well executed and easy to listen to
The Shamen
1/5
Nightclub drum machine poppycock. Best case scenario you get a track that sounds like a rough draft of a New Order song
Arcade Fire
3/5
A very safe album from a band that could do so much more with their sound
Ice T
3/5
Some good flow and and a couple standout tracks, but man this felt like it was never gonna end
Badly Drawn Boy
2/5
Every time I thought they were going to do something interesting, they reverted back to their plain indie sound
Nirvana
4/5
Acoustic Nirvana is kind of a double-edged sword. You get some really beautiful renditions but also sometimes miss out on the production that elevated the studio versions. You get more raw emotion but Kurt expressing it doesn't automatically make the vocals better
The Fall
2/5
This sounded like they wrote a bunch of okay songs and then reverse engineered a bunch of post-punk tropes into them
The Sonics
1/5
Really outdated and sounds like shit. It actually seemed to get worse as it went on, maybe from all the unnecessary screams into audio equipment that couldn't handle it
Paul Simon
3/5
Pretty steady and safe, but otherwise typical Paul Simon
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
I've been to an Allman Brothers show and I can confirm it's one neverending jam. Cool if you're on mushrooms (which everyone was), bad if you just want to hear some of their songs (which I did)
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Led Zeppelin doing everything they do best. Timeless.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
The hits are really good, the rest is pretty typical hair metal
Janis Joplin
3/5
Bookended by very good songs, and shows some range in the middle, but the constant fried out yells took me out of it
Chicago
4/5
Glad I ordered a side of rock with my horns. Lots of fun and engaging songs, but also got weirdly self indulgent and unfocused towards the end
T. Rex
4/5
Same T. Rex sound that I like, although this one was a little slower and safer
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Actually some good rock grooves here. Unfortunately they just had to try and be different and throw in random stuff all over the place
Ghostface Killah
3/5
The crazy amount of features on this one kind of saved it, because Ghostface's style is a bit much for me
N.W.A.
4/5
Enough variation in styles and themes to keep it interesting, even if the pacing was pretty samey
Femi Kuti
4/5
Cool jazz band that was well blended with the classic African chanting. It went on a bit too long but I still enjoyed it
Daft Punk
1/5
Torturously repetitive
Q-Tip
4/5
Just a cool sounding modern rap feel with enough added production and creativity to keep it engaging
The Police
3/5
There's a lot to like about this album, especially Stewart Copeland. But two things bother me to no end: one is how goofy Sting sounds sometimes and two is the fact that they simply do not know how to end a song
Red Snapper
3/5
Not groundbreaking stuff, but good variation and atmosphere building made this an electronica album I surprisingly didn't hate
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
A couple songs went pretty hard but otherwise it's what my uncultured brain expects from a Latin album and not much more
Prince
2/5
I just find Prince's style boring and mostly unchanging. There were interesting moments of instrumental mixing but not enough to save the whole album
SZA
4/5
Mostly just a decent hip hop album, but there were a couple of really good songs in the first half that made it worth the listen
The Fall
1/5
Just a bunch of musical rambling, pretty pointless and uninteresting
Digital Underground
1/5
I tuned out pretty quickly, the sound is just so generically 90's. I think parts of this were supposed to be funny but I wasn't laughing
ABBA
4/5
It's what I expected from ABBA: fun, jiggy, and really nice harmonies
Adele
3/5
I feel like one ballad per album is enough, this one has like five of them. There's a couple great, if not overplayed songs and obviously her voice is powerful, but the slow, methodical pace of the album makes it kind of exhausting
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Overall some well-executed R&B, even if some of the rapping sections took me out of it a little bit
Fats Domino
4/5
Sounds really good for how old it is, probably my favorite 50's record so far. Unfortunately a lot of songs still run together, but at least I had fun trying to imitate his voice
Beyoncé
2/5
Outside of a couple songs, there wasn't really anything that set this apart from other bland modern hip-hop acts
3/5
They had a good classic rock sound, but also threw in some extra sections and weird sounds that mostly didn't work
Michael Jackson
2/5
Super disco-y, which means all the tracks feel homogenous and drawn out. It wants to be fun but if you're not at a club in the 70's it's pretty boring
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
A nice, chill atmosphere, but not a lot of substance to grab onto
Roxy Music
3/5
I can still call this a good album despite how inconsistent it is. It just constantly reeled me in, then lost me, then reeled me back in, then lost me...
R.E.M.
3/5
Another case of the hits being good, but not much else. Way too much slow, sad filler
Machito
3/5
A good sounding and fun big band, but it was pretty excessive on the brass and there weren't any particular moments
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
I guess I'm not as big of an RHCP fan as I thought. There's so much talent in this band and then Anthony Kiedis has to open his mouth and go bippity bap bop suck my weiner
Brian Eno
2/5
There are a few points that remind you that this was capable of being good, but the rest was too avant-garde to be enjoyable
Elton John
5/5
Excellent album that works both as a comfort listen and an intricate work meant for analyzing on multiple listens
The Smiths
3/5
Not their best, some good tracks towards the end but the beginning is beans and toast level bland
The Stooges
2/5
Too amateur sounding to be a good rock album but not enough edge to be a good punk album. Some good guitar parts though.
Love
3/5
Packed tight with just about every style that was popular in the late 60's. Executed decently well but nothing to write home about. The last track was interesting but not quite good enough to justify the epic length.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
A much slower burn than their other stuff. Not as many of the fun grooves that I like. Less of the super goofy vocal parts but they do still pop up a few times. Overall they still retained many enjoyable aspects of their style, just in a slower package
Elis Regina
4/5
Nice and jazzy. Didn't understand a word of it but I know she was spittin
Solomon Burke
3/5
A good soul sound, but gets monotonous when every song is about love
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
I think the author genuinely mistook this guy for the other Elvis, because why are there three albums on here by this nasally fuck
3/5
Weird in a fun way, like if Talking Heads wrote surf punk. The tracks themselves were very hit or miss
Brian Eno
4/5
Super weird mishmash of instrumental soundscapes and atmospheres, but with just barely enough cohesion to make it feel like a traditional album and not one long slog. Certainly not an everyday listen but I'm just happy to listen to something I think will be memorable
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Nothing more than serviceable 80's radio
Pentangle
2/5
A painfully uneventful folk album
Madonna
2/5
2000 was a weird year. Everything sounds so synthesized and it really didn't age well
Germs
1/5
What punk sounds like to people who don't like punk
Holger Czukay
2/5
First make a backing beat, then roll some dice every ten seconds to determine what sounds to throw in. There was some good jazz talent in there but it was so sporadic I could never connect to it
Van Halen
4/5
Some really good songs in the first half carried the whole album. The goofy vocals and aggressive guitar tone puts a cap on how good this band can be
Goldfrapp
4/5
Normally I don't like slower, minimalistic stuff like this, but it had a really ethereal and almost eerie sound to it that I found really interesting
Beatles
4/5
Very much ahead of its time, as most Beatles records are. Constantly interesting and while I stayed engaged, I was never really wowed by anything
Lana Del Rey
3/5
Really rode the line between having a nice chill vibe and just being boring. There were a couple songs where it broke out of the quiet formula and they were quite good, just not enough of that.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
One of the albums of all time
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
New wave/indie sound with a little bit of The Cure thrown in. Not a bad sound at all and there was some standout drumming, but overall just not very memorable outside of The Killing Moon
John Coltrane
4/5
A little slow to start and end, but was mostly great with lots of fun detours to complement the swingy brass and drums
Lou Reed
3/5
Folk with some good variety, however the half singing/half talking style gets annoying
Pixies
2/5
Their sound is just kind of annoying to me, especially the guitar tone and vocals. I can respect what they do in terms of songwriting, but none of the tracks are really that special either
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Pretty solid pop although it was really long. Her voice is nice as long as she doesn't go super over the top with it
The Offspring
5/5
I don't know how they blend punk and alt rock so well, but it just works
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
They cycled through a lot of different influences, mostly worldly ones, but none of it was really all that interesting. Felt longer than it was
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Great band, and pretty much all their best songs are on this album
k.d. lang
4/5
Soft, slow, and country-ish isn't usually my thing, but this one just hit the right spot. Some songs came and went without leaving an impression, but most of them were quite nice
Buck Owens
2/5
Just a guy whining about being lonely, but he does it in such an on-the-nose twangy country way that it was weirdly kind of endearing
Ryan Adams
1/5
So incredibly bland, and a slog to get through
Michael Jackson
4/5
To me this isn't quite the life changing record people make it out to be, but it is still a collection decent to great pop songs
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Sounds like any other 90's rapper to me. Some good songs, a lot of okay ones, and a few that were extremely annoying
Fairport Convention
4/5
Even if it was a pretty odd folk sound at times, the songs were really well written with a prog type of playfulness
Black Sabbath
5/5
Early Sabbath couldn't miss if they tried
Orbital
2/5
Some neat spacey sounds to try to keep me interested, but it's still so repetitive
Ramones
4/5
Pretty good punk formula with a fitting guitar tone. They do seem to be scared to deviate from the formula even slightly
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Reggae is something I enjoy listening to here or there, but a full album of it does not excite me. This is some of the best I've heard and it still doesn't quite get me going
Simply Red
3/5
Some solid 80's stuff that sound like something I'd tune out while shopping. It was pretty nice but I'll probably forget it soon
Finley Quaye
3/5
Another reggae album that's perfectly okay
Happy Mondays
1/5
This is what new wave sounds like to people who don't like new wave
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Nothing outstanding but still some really solid funk that gets even better if you're already in a good mood
Soundgarden
5/5
The few songs I already knew were great, and while I wasn't wowed by the others I was surprised by how consistently good this was for over an hour
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Somewhere between Thom Yorke and Michael Buble you get this guy. That doesn't sound like a good thing but surprisingly it worked, there were some pretty well written songs in here
Big Brother & The Holding Company
2/5
Some of the songs were kind of interesting, but Janis Joplin sounds like Marge Simpson
Burning Spear
2/5
Like most reggae, it's fine but mostly just boring
Os Mutantes
2/5
Very weird. Sometimes good weird, but mostly just weird weird
Massive Attack
3/5
Works good as background music but not very engaging, so I guess enjoying this album just depends on the situation
Suede
4/5
Surprisingly good for what seemed to just be another britpop new wave type album
R.E.M.
5/5
The softer songs are this band's strong suit, and this album has a lot of them. R.E.M. is always good but I think there's enough memorable songs here to make this one great
Air
3/5
I was pretty fond of their sound at the beginning, but it kind of lost me as it went on. Still above average for an electronic album
Dr. John
1/5
Not sure what that was. There were times where I could see the vision, but I don't really ever want to listen to this again
Prince
3/5
Prince's sexual pop rock style just isn't for me, the songs were decent but were also painfully 80's
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Minimalist instrumentals and unremarkable vocals made this mostly just boring
Carole King
4/5
Sounds really nice and was well paced between soft ballads and catchy songs
The Isley Brothers
4/5
I was expecting mostly just soul, so I was pleasantly surprised to get some funky acid jazz type songs to go along with it
Talk Talk
4/5
At first I thought this would be boring, but almost every song had one or two elements about it that managed to keep me interested just enough
Erykah Badu
4/5
Nice and easy listening, with just enough soul to keep it interesting. You need to be in the mood for something soft but it works
JAY Z
2/5
The first half was just tracks trying to be big and grandiose, but they instead came off annoying, and his style doesn't excite me. The back half toned it down a little and had a couple good songs, but not enough to save the whole thing
Eric Clapton
2/5
You shot the sheriff, but you didn't shoot the deputy? Cool... what's your fucking point?
The Pretty Things
3/5
Very typical brit rock sound, but they did take a lot more creative risks and didn't stay on any one idea for too long. Some of the risks just became annoying but some paid off
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Sounds like typical 80's radio to me. You can sing with passion but there's not much point of you don't actually take any risks
Miles Davis
3/5
1h45m is a long time to fill. Even though the trumpet, drums, keys, pretty much everything sounded great, a lot of the runtime was spent kind of meandering. Really enjoyed certain pieces of it but listening to the entire thing was a different story
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
The guitar playing and drumming put in so much work, it's like a secret sauce in Jimi's music. This one was a little sporadic in quality, but still plenty of jams.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Didn't think something I'd like something this sexual. This might be my favorite soul album, my only complaint is that it slowed down one too many times, I wish it would've stayed with the funkier stuff more
Tom Waits
1/5
What in the fuck is this guy talking about
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Very early Stones, some simple and catchy songs, and some where Keith Richards was doing too much
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Nice vibes and grooves, but nothing I'd ever revisit
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
Arctic Monkeys but less stadium alt rock and more intricate indie
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Great album all around but man John Bonham really went off here. Dazed and Confused is an all timer
System Of A Down
5/5
I didn't think I liked SOAD this much. Every song is different but it never loses its drive
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
Lots of different, fun rock ideas at a quicker tempo
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Well written songs held back by confusing changes in tone and randomly inserted annoying guitar sounds
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Really well executed soul, even if the quality is a bit dated
Roxy Music
3/5
All over the place in terms of genre and theme, small flashes of brilliance here and there but mostly just fine songs performed adequately
Sparks
4/5
It's labeled as glam but I got a lot of 70's prog vibes. It actually went really hard but ended with a thud
Devendra Banhart
2/5
Acoustic guitar plucking over kind of a dumb singing voice. I'm sure the lyrics were deep or whatever
Richard Hawley
4/5
This guy is somewhere between Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash. Some good melodies and nice harmonies, just well crafted all around
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
Could work as slow music for porch sitting, but still unremarkable. If it started looping I probably wouldn't notice
De La Soul
4/5
Just a fun, unserious album to groove to, even if most of the attempts at humor weren't funny
Aerosmith
3/5
Aerosmith always has some banger hits, but is usually mediocre outside of those. The "hits" on this one were not all that great so it didn't have much to fall back on
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Sounds like it was played from a jukebox in a diner covered with checkerboard patterns. I feel like I should be doing the jitterbug or something
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Not quite as corny as I expected for a mid 80s rap record. Didn't do a ton of interesting things besides implementing rock instrumentals, but it was still a pretty fun listen
Haircut 100
4/5
Like a more fun uptempo The Cure. Pretty fun with some nice jazzy trumpets as well
The Crusaders
4/5
Super nice jazz, great balance of all different instruments. I only wish they would've been a little more adventurous
New York Dolls
1/5
I guess this might be one of those groups that's popular for their stage presence? Because the music was the most generic glam/hair metal sound I've ever heard and did absolutely nothing for me
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
I don't enjoy ambient music, but this one at least had some structure to grasp onto and sounded nice enough, even if I was still kind of bored
Dagmar Krause
1/5
I don't know what else I expected after choosing to listen to over an hour of German war folk.
Baaba Maal
3/5
There was some really cool sounding guitar and percussion work, it's a shame there was too much focus on the inferior vocals
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Pretty mediocre new wave, but at least it was short
2/5
If you aren't totally enthralled by the punk energy, this album doesn't really have much else to offer
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Nothing really innovative, but still well executed and catchy in the same way as some of The Cure's better stuff
The National
3/5
Perfectly fine indie. Sounded nice but didn't try to push any boundaries
Radiohead
4/5
Maybe my favorite from Radiohead so far, vocals were much less whiny and had a nice atmosphere without getting too slow. Good alternative rock but still not really outstanding in my opinion
Black Sabbath
4/5
It sounds like Sabbath and I actually liked the soft tracks, but I think they strayed just a little too far from the cool riffs and dynamics from their earlier works
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
This has the feeling of something I'd be extremely nostalgic for if I grew up with it. Either way it's still good 90's rock, some bangers but also some filler
Marilyn Manson
2/5
Actually some well crafted songs in here, but all the extra industrial noise and the long runtime made it kind of headache inducing towards the end
Bad Brains
3/5
A little more nuanced than most punk which is cool, but most of it still had a hardcore sound which is more abrasive than I would've liked
Hawkwind
3/5
If you just took the 30-45 best minutes of this album it would be great. Even though I like these guys, a two hour live album is always tough to get through
Tortoise
2/5
Slow and atmospheric but not quite ambient. They had a good sound so I didn't hate it, but I was still bored.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
I've always liked this group, they're great at writing fun and catchy alt rock hits. This album's songs were pretty consistent, but I wish they didn't have several tracks of them waffling around on a repetitive riff. It made the one hour runtime seem undeserved
John Lennon
2/5
Did he only have five minutes to write each song? Boring and half baked
Sam Cooke
3/5
Some good swingy songs and infectious crowd energy, but the music itself wasn't super notable to me
Pavement
2/5
The more traditional songs were mostly hollow sounding, and the weirder ones were mostly annoying
Khaled
3/5
Fun songs with a neat middle east flavor, however the style of singing isn't something I've really been exposed to and feels like a taste I haven't acquired
Underworld
1/5
Some substance here and there, but the rest is soulless background music
Mike Ladd
3/5
I actually liked most of the experimental bits, but they were cut in next to some common rap tropes in a way I didn't love
fIREHOSE
4/5
Just a bunch of fun, tight indie with playful drums
Duke Ellington
3/5
Duke is the king of big band, but even the best swingy jams couldn't save this 2+ hour monster from feeling like a chore
Sepultura
3/5
Pretty angry groove metal with some tribal stuff going on, the execution was decent but there were some tracks that were pretty meh and experimental bits that kind of flopped
The Jam
3/5
Fast paced and catchy, like The Kinks with some early punk energy. But oh my god it's just so British
The B-52's
2/5
People say this is a fun album, I guess we all have different definitions of fun
Dennis Wilson
4/5
Hopefully the 2nd disc wasn't necessary because I didn't listen to it. This was a pleasant and relaxing listen with good writing and extra instrumentation that was used subtly but well
Jamiroquai
4/5
Sounds like if Stevie Wonder was a little poppier and could see
Goldie
1/5
One of the most unremarkable things I've ever heard. Two hours of my life I'll never get back
Donovan
3/5
This album made my hair grow 10 inches and now I can't stop saying "flower power"
The Avalanches
3/5
It sounds nice, but something about this style of music feels incomplete. It's like they're almost songs but not quite
Kings of Leon
5/5
Nice sound, some cool basslines, and softer but not boring. A solid band playing near their full potential.
The Yardbirds
3/5
More of an eccentric blues sound mixed into some brit rock. Some cool guitar playing, but everything else about it was kind of forgettable
George Michael
3/5
Kinda cheesy and very sex obsessed, but still had some catchy songs
Venom
2/5
Sounds like a punk band impersonating a metal band. Not awful but not sure why I would listen to this over other thrash records
Billy Joel
5/5
Engaging, gentle and fun all at once. Maybe one or two songs that feel more fillery but no bad songs
Herbie Hancock
4/5
Absolutely cooks for 30 minutes, but Vein Melter is such a dud to end on
4/5
Still not crazy about Oasis, but most of their best songs are on this album
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Better than I expected for an early 00's hip-hop album, but no so much that I'd really care to revisit it anytime
Beach House
3/5
Pretty unmemorable indie pop, still had a lovely sound but every song was more or less the same
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
I hate how long it went on for, but I'll be damned if this wasn't some good guitar music
Boards of Canada
1/5
Yet another electronic album. Sounded better than some but still ruined it with endless drum loops
Moby Grape
3/5
Solid 60's rock, still not very memorable but points for brevity
Hole
2/5
A lot of grunge and punk elements came together, which I would normally like, but the end result felt like less than the sum of its parts
Blood, Sweat & Tears
5/5
Weird combination of classic rock, jazz, prog, and a little southern flavor. But something about it hit just right, it was entertaining and I'm really into it
The Auteurs
2/5
The songs were okay, but the weird breathy singing was off putting
Can
2/5
Each song felt like a 20 second piece of a Radiohead song stretched out to 10 minutes. (Not really a compliment)
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
Every time I think I might enjoy one of these kinds of albums, it always degrades into the same repetitive blandness
Fugees
3/5
Pretty hit or miss for me, some standout tracks but a lot of the raps started to sound pretty samey. The themes and commentary were good but also not anything I haven't heard before
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
I really enjoy Ella Gitzgerald and this style of music, but three hours of love songs is a chore and a half to get through
Röyksopp
3/5
Better than most electronic on the list. Maybe it's growing on me a little, or maybe I've just gotten better at tuning out during these albums.
Ray Charles
4/5
Ray's voice is great, and a solid mix of uptempo jazz and slower blues and soul
George Jones
1/5
Way too country for me, I find the typical male country singing voice to be grating
LL Cool J
3/5
I liked about half of this album, and the other half was pretty cheesy
Shivkumar Sharma
4/5
Made me feel like I was milking a cow in the middle of a field in Mongolia
Talking Heads
4/5
Mind if a white boy catch a vibe
The Magnetic Fields
1/5
The definition of quantity over quality
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Very mediocre, very dated, very British
The Beta Band
3/5
A decent rock album that incorporated some electronic sounds, but not in a way that really excited me
Primal Scream
3/5
Interesting genre surfing between different kinds of rock, pop and electronic house stuff. I wouldn't really say it was more than serviceable at all of them
Gene Clark
3/5
Pretty solid folk, disregarding the inclusion of my least favorite instrument (the harmonica)
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
The style does stand out on its own, and there's more creative and complex decisions in the songs. But something about Kendrick's sound just never grabs me, I'm sitting through songs that I can get along with while waiting for a banger that never comes
Eurythmics
2/5
They made Sweet Dreams and then a bunch of boring copies of the same song
Leonard Cohen
2/5
There were a few actual songs and the rest was mostly a stream of consciousness over vaguely musical sounds
Common
3/5
Pretty tough to discern from a lot of other rap I've heard. I enjoyed it, but I don't think it had enough to say to justify the runtime
The Beach Boys
2/5
Kinda boring and kinda sounds like shit
Pink Floyd
5/5
An ambitious concept album that actually hits the mark. Everything transitions naturally and the standout tracks are well spaced out among the storytelling bits
The Associates
2/5
It was fun, then bland, then weird but enjoyable, then weird but annoying
Morrissey
3/5
I still find his vocal style to be kind of goofy, otherwise this album was just forgettable
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Safe and inoffensive with pretty on-the-nose lyrics. Checks all the boxes for a modern pop country type of album, but at least she has a nice voice
Baaba Maal
2/5
Cool in that I've rarely heard anything like it, but the percussion was sometimes overbearing and the vocal stylings just weren't for me
Suede
4/5
Some really cool, psychadelic and emotive songs with definite relisten value. Unfortunately there were also some parts that were mixed in a way that sounded like a homogenous soup of noise
Motörhead
2/5
A little more groove than I was expecting, but I still really don't like Lemmy and every song kind of sounded the same
The Who
3/5
This is well before The Who came into their own, this era sounds more or less like any other rock group of the 60's, maybe a little better
Adele
4/5
While I still wish she would branch out a little more with her style, this album felt like it had more variety and had a great sound overall
1/5
The first half with just him and the harmonica was brutal, then the band came in and I got excited, only to be let down again
The Pogues
4/5
I imagine this is what plays in Irish people's heads all day
Animal Collective
2/5
This group seems talented, but they seemed more concerned about being different than making something good
Doves
4/5
Sort of a mix between 90s alternative and 00s indie, really solid and made for a chill but enjoyable listen
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Interesting combination of styles on paper, not as interesting in execution
Sepultura
5/5
A tight, intense thrash album with some super good riffs. Big Slayer energy in the best way
Orange Juice
2/5
Extremely 80s sound, some nice and interesting moments but they were pretty scarce
1/5
It's as if they recorded a bunch of musicians separately, said play whatever you want as long as it's fast and loud, and then played them all on top of each other
Soft Machine
4/5
A bit long and maybe self-indulgent, but that was some of the trippiest prog I've ever heard and I'm surprised it worked as well as it did
Slint
2/5
Felt like it was trying to be artsy but came off very shallow
X-Ray Spex
1/5
The worst vocals I've heard on this list, and that's saying a lot
The Damned
5/5
Really inventive, catchy and fun. Punk energy so good I can even excuse the excessive Britishness
The Monkees
4/5
The sound was identical to any other British invasion group, but the songs were above average
Iron Maiden
4/5
While the absence of Bruce makes me sad, pretty much every other element of the band still exists here, so it's still good.
Supertramp
4/5
Prog is best when infused with other genres, and Supertramp is a great example
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Some catchy songs but still indistinguishable from other 80's pop
The Triffids
3/5
A bunch of radio friendly 80's songs
Genesis
5/5
There were some ups and downs, but the highlights of this album were borderline out-of-body experiences for a prog fan
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Pretty fast and playful, and consistently good. I don't think there was any one track that stood out or left a big impression
ABBA
3/5
I don't think there were any bad songs, but also no songs that hooked me in. Just ABBA doing ABBA things
Leonard Cohen
2/5
The whole album felt like that snake's song from The Jungle Book. Unique but not that interesting
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
Wasn't a big fan of the parts that were angry and loud, was a fan of the parts that were angry and not as loud
Ravi Shankar
3/5
Pretty jazzy sitar playing, but it's hard for me to get into when it's only two instruments the whole time
David Bowie
2/5
This style that later Bowie adopted is boring to me. Sounds like some random alternative album without any real identity
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
This group's style is just so fun and ridiculous, even if this isn't their greatest work it's still entertaining to hear those organs get absolutely shredded
Nick Drake
3/5
Very nice sounding, layered instrumentals although most of it wasn't super riveting. I also find his voice kind of annoying, I can't really explain why
Elvis Costello
3/5
Not as annoying as some of his others, but I just don't understand what's so special about him
Paul Weller
4/5
Not an amazing album, but it grew on me as it went on and I had a pleasant time with it
Saint Etienne
3/5
Better than most electronic/pop albums I've heard, but I still found it hard to stay attentive throughout the whole thing
The Cult
3/5
Some good riffs amongst a very average rock record
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Not terrible, but with most electronic albums, the songs should've been half as long and even then they would've run together
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Alt rock with a bunch of added noise, I just don't really get it
SAULT
2/5
Was kind of all over the place, and a bit boring at the same time somehow. You'd think an album about oppression would show more emotion
Elvis Presley
3/5
Feels like a bunch of Elvis b-sides. I didn't hate any of the songs, they just seemed unpolished and off-the-cuff
Talvin Singh
2/5
I keep starting these albums thinking maybe electronica is growing on me, and then remembering why I don't like it by the end
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Great mix of psychadelic playing and rock jams. Some of the more experimental parts do go on way longer than they need to. Incredible ending to the album though.
Brian Wilson
4/5
Went in expecting Beach Boys, got Beach Boys but also The Wiggles on ecstasy. It's good to have something that's kind of silly every once in a while
Madness
4/5
Lots of decent and catchy songs, even if they were a bit crumpety. And then Our House came on and it was a crazy plot twist
3/5
It's a good thing most of these songs are catchy because this was maybe the cheesiest love song album I've heard
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
No messing around, just straight to the jams. Even the weaker songs are pretty good. This feels like the most true to form Jimi album
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Probably the best written songs I've heard from this guy. I still don't really want to hear his voice ever again
Doves
3/5
This works well as a chill, background album, but trying to give it a deeper listen wasn't very rewarding
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Most of the album alternated between good groovy songs and rambling over jazzy chords that I didn't like. But that ending was incredible and aged shockingly well over 50 years
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Maybe not as adventurous as I thought it would be, but the flow, sound, lyrics, pretty much everything was as solid as expected
The Zutons
3/5
I think I enjoyed it, despite the lack of memorable hooks or identity
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Bit of a snoozer. Sounded exactly like my vague idea of what it would sound like
David Bowie
4/5
A little bit of soul and slow funk here, a bit of a reach from his usual but I think it works pretty well
Dr. Dre
4/5
Solid as any classic gangsta rap with some good, memorable tracks. Also unfortunately the exact same subject matter as every other gangsta rap
Koffi Olomide
2/5
Fun and groovy for about 10 minutes, but I was kind of over it after that
Method Man
2/5
I could not tell you anything about what I just listened to other than the vocals were mixed too low. This album just kind of happened
Fatboy Slim
1/5
There were some good beats, but this was so repetitive it made Daft Punk sound like Zappa
The Dictators
3/5
Some fun, above average punkish songs, but nothing I could really get into or want to relisten
3/5
This was all the same U2 formula, it works fine but it's quite predictable
The Temptations
3/5
Their sound is great for soul/funk, I just wish they wrote more interesting songs
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
1/5
Several attempts at being artsy that bored me to death. At its best it's very bland 80's music
Al Green
4/5
Soul usually doesn't do a whole lot for me, but this one was so well executed that it just worked for me
Beastie Boys
5/5
Lots of surprises, I was never bored and they pulled off every different genre they attempted. Overall just a cool ass album
Miles Davis
4/5
A very pure form of jazz that's beautifully played, makes me feel like I'm at a fancy dinner party. The slower pace makes it fall behind more eccentric jazz albums for me personally
Cheap Trick
4/5
A good set by a decent band, and all the Japanese screaming from the crowd added a nice layer of energy. The music was simple but effective
The Mars Volta
5/5
This album takes everything I love about prog and turns it up to 11. Mind-bending every time I hear it
Spiritualized
2/5
Spacey shoegaze for the sake of being spacey shoegaze. The writing and production were at least competent but any emotion I was supposed to feel was overwritten with boredom
Joni Mitchell
3/5
It sounds like if you flipped to a random page in a book and had to read it while making up a rhythm to go with it on the spot
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
A couple good songs in an otherwise typical gangsta rap record
The Doors
4/5
Not their most memorable work, but they still did all the good Doors stuff
PJ Harvey
2/5
I can sense the authenticity and I appreciate trying different things, it just wasn't that well executed
Blue Cheer
3/5
Reminds me of Cream but maybe a little heavier. The quality is pretty bad and the playing is very loose. Probably stood out much more at the time than it does now.
Rod Stewart
2/5
Absolutely nothing about this stood out to me. This must be one of those guys that's more known for image or stage presence.
Stereo MC's
3/5
Had some catchy songs and thankfully not too repetitive, but certainly nothing special
Pantera
4/5
Not easy to mix groove with anger, but they do it well. Had a surprisingly good time with this one, my only complaint is the singer trying to do too much.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
A little less rambling and more cohesive than I expected, but every song went on way too long in a seemingly self indulgent way
Supergrass
4/5
Lots of different alt rock ideas, most of which were well written and enjoyable
Dire Straits
4/5
Sultans of Swing is still excellent, the rest is more of the same but not quite as good
Anita Baker
4/5
Seems more reserved than what she's probably capable of, but the smooth pop/jazz sound just hits my ear right
Butthole Surfers
1/5
I'm sure this is good as far as noisy avant-garde goes, but it's just not musical enough for me
John Lennon
4/5
Definitely the best Lennon I've heard so far. Songs are well written and around closer to Beatles than his other solo stuff. Knowing how he is as a person makes me unable to shake the feeling that the energy of this album is very fabricated
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Not something I'd normally put on, but it was fun and groovy, and unserious but still well put together
Stan Getz
3/5
Very lovely sounding bossanova, sadly it just kind of chugged along and felt more like background music
Cocteau Twins
3/5
It's got a nice dreamy vibe with the vocals and guitar, but otherwise is just a slightly above average new wave album. Even if it was a nice formula, everything sounded too much alike
Tom Waits
1/5
I still don't get Tom Waits and I probably never will
Anthrax
5/5
It's fast, fun, and catchy. Anthrax is just really good at what they do.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
Someone tell them that it's possible to have their punk energy and also not write songs that are so annoying
Arcade Fire
3/5
Every time I thought it would lose me it pulled me back, only to lose me again shortly after. There aren't a lot of bad songs, it's just that they either have the same progression or no progression
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
Despite all its flaws, my nostalgia goggles tell me this album still slaps and is a staple of 90's alternative
Madonna
2/5
Music that was made with the sole purpose of being on the radio
Madonna
2/5
I know I'm far from the target audience here, but that still doesn't explain why every song is two minutes too long
Sabu
1/5
Relentless percussion and very repetitive singing/chanting. Almost nothing about this worked for me
Sonic Youth
2/5
Decent when they decide to actually play music. Not as much when they just sorta make noise and talk over it
1/5
Most of the songs have some annoying three note phrase repeated for forever, but it also feels like it's trying to be artsy and experimental. Whatever it was going for, it failed
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Lots of solid and distinguishable rock songs, good contrast between fast paced and mellow tracks
Scissor Sisters
4/5
Catchy indie pop rock with a nice sense of humor. A couple places where they kind of copied off better artists but also some original bangers
Bon Jovi
1/5
As bland and predictable as rock music can get. It's music that is specifically engineered to be played in a stadium, it has to be so simple that crowds of extremely basic people can sing along
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Pretty surface level and unremarkable musically. Definitely of its time
The Adverts
3/5
Very typical Brit punk, but I did appreciate the cleaner sound
N.E.R.D
3/5
This was like a weird mix of every artist that was popular in the early 2000's. I think that's a good thing?
Black Flag
2/5
I want to like hardcore punk like this, but the abrasiveness just wears me out too quickly
UB40
4/5
My favorite reggae album so far, it still sticks to all the usual reggae conventions but stands out with good musicianship and interesting rhythms
Fishbone
4/5
A ska band playing whatever the hell they feel like. They throw everything at the wall and even if it doesn't all stick, it's still fun
Aphex Twin
3/5
I think this is the first ambient album that didn't put me to sleep. The beats were chill but kept my mind active just enough. Still far from something I'd normally listen to but it works for what it is
The Byrds
3/5
Very average 60's stuff. Some nice harmonies at least
Heaven 17
3/5
Pretty basic as far as synthpop goes, but still manages to be catchy some of the time
White Denim
5/5
Kind of proggy indie rock mixed with the non-boring elements of psychedelic. Catchy and different without trying too hard
Tim Buckley
2/5
A cool combination of psychadelic and folk styles that sadly just meandered for way too long
The Young Rascals
3/5
Solid British invasion stuff with some different styles, but not something I'll remember past the very near future
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
I'm all for art against injustice, and I enjoyed many of the musical styles they used. But oh my god, there is not even the slightest crumb of subtlety in the lyrics
Leonard Cohen
2/5
If a day comes where I need some sad, slow music, I might turn to this album. Today was not that day however
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Not only has a great message, but wastes no time getting to the point while also having a good sense of humor. Possibly the fastest album I've ever heard, and a little too loose for my personal liking. It is refreshing to hear hardcore punk without a god awful British accent
Björk
3/5
Constantly rode the line between being a fun experiment and just annoying. Her weird little accent feels kind of forced, but other than that I didn't hate it
Fatboy Slim
1/5
I would be shocked if I ever heard an album more predictable than this
Joan Baez
2/5
The songs all felt the same and she uses way too much vibrato, but her voice is kinda nice
Super Furry Animals
3/5
They definitely have their own sound, but it just fits awkwardly between a lot of other mediocre British acts
Van Morrison
3/5
A well played and recorded live album that I enjoyed, although it was at least 30 minutes too long
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
Mostly had the same groove and cadence as every other 60's rock. Had some psychadelic elements that were pretty good, but also sounded like it was recorded through an empty soup can
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
Seems like they set out to make something quirky and esoteric without considering if the music would actually benefit from it (it didn't)
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Instrumentally I thought it had a nice sound, and overall was just mellow and inoffensive. Lyrics were a bit cringe
Christine and the Queens
2/5
A collection of synth pop that lacked any real energy or purpose
CHVRCHES
4/5
Very poppy synth music with consistent energy and nice vocals. Music that just makes you feel good
Faust
1/5
A whole lot of nothingness, and the parts with actual music were pretty joyless
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I cannot handle any more of this little dweeb
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Pretty loungey jazz, it didn't feel super adventurous but it wasn't boring either. Just a calm listen with a lot of bass solos
Neil Young
3/5
Pretty well written folk songs but his performances don't really add anything meaningful to them
Ryan Adams
3/5
Pleasantly performed and sung, just one too many slow songs for my liking
The Black Crowes
3/5
Very average as far as rock goes, sounded like they wanted to be a 70's rock group but didn't really try that hard
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Had a really nice vibe to it, but it gets very repetitive after a while
At first I thought I might be able to enjoy some softer rock, but as it went on the only thing I felt was boredom
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
Safe and forgettable
The United States Of America
4/5
After listening to a lot of boring music, this freakish clown trip was actually welcomed. Good psychadelic rock with a lot of weird surprises
The Soft Boys
4/5
The first hour was some creative and enjoyable rock, everything after that was dumb but thankfully I found out that only the first hour was the base album and the rest was unreleased bonus track type stuff
Joanna Newsom
1/5
Sounds like Bjork trying to do a Joni album, and I mean that very unfavorably
Keith Jarrett
4/5
When it's an hour of just piano, it's hard for me to get into it. But somehow it was so well done that I actually enjoyed myself. There weren't many dull moments and it felt very emotive
Public Enemy
3/5
Same as every other hip hop album from this era: Some tracks are hype and some are just annoying
Dr. Octagon
2/5
Trying to be funny and different over very generic beats. Maybe one or two tracks that were catchy but it was mostly just dumb
Jane's Addiction
5/5
Fits right in to all the 90's alternative and grunge that I love, even though it's not from the 90's
John Grant
5/5
The overall presentation was really good and the vocal production gave the album a great sound. Similar feeling to a lot of folk albums but every song felt different. Only complaint is the lyrics trying too hard at times.
Mekons
2/5
Some drunk British guy rambling over disjointed instrumentals. Trying to be post punk and failing usually leads to a pretty annoying album
10cc
4/5
Purposely fun and mixes lots of different ideas together that surprisingly mostly work
Ananda Shankar
3/5
I like the sitar, but it started to get old towards the end. Appreciated the random Doors cover though
Gorillaz
3/5
Never knew Gorillaz got this experimental. They're great at making psychadelic beats and sounds, but the other 11 styles they attempted were mostly not that well done
Queen
4/5
A few bangers as with every Queen album. The rest didn't particularly stand out, but it wasn't bad either because it was still Queen doing Queen stuff
Neu!
3/5
The first half was some nice chill electronic rock that I really enjoyed, until they took a hard turn into some heavier punk sounds that just didn't work well at all with their style
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Music that makes you go "hell yeah"
Alice In Chains
5/5
One of the most stacked grunge albums. Super dark but some excellent melodies and Layne is incredible as always
The The
4/5
Fun new wave stuff that was nice and upbeat, although the songs all could've been shorter
Judas Priest
4/5
All the fun parts of 80's metal without getting too cheesy. Didn't feel super ambitious, more of a gateway to bigger and better metal projects
Patti Smith
2/5
It's a shame that the couple actual songs were short lived because the rest was just slam poetry yelled over uninteresting instrumentals
Bill Callahan
3/5
Another one of those half singing half talking albums, but there were at least enough interestingly written songs to keep my attention
Bob Dylan
1/5
The most Bob Dylan-y thing I've ever heard, and I mean that very unfavorably
Nanci Griffith
4/5
A great old country sound with a beautiful voice, got a little repetitive but it was still nice and pleasant
The Verve
1/5
Just a lot of slow, boring noise. The singing is whiny and the songs are just bland, and when you think you have something chill to listen to it pivots into super screechy guitars for no reason
Guided By Voices
2/5
Felt like I was listening to a bunch of British radio demos. Such a weird album structure but the music itself was not noteworthy
Norah Jones
3/5
I like her voice and it fits perfectly into the style of songs she writes, but when it's this incredibly mellow I just find it hard to stay attentive to it
Jimmy Smith
3/5
A good jazz record by all accounts, it could've been really great if not for the relentless use of the organ
Talking Heads
3/5
They still do all the fun Talking Heads stuff, but otherwise this one doesn't really stand out to me
Scott Walker
2/5
Bargain bin Sinatra sings a bunch of pleasant but bland songs
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
More minimalistic and mellow than my preferred type of jazz, but still an example of some excellent jazzy songwriting
Spiritualized
1/5
They were clearly going for something spacey and shoegazey, and there were only a couple moments where they kind of succeeded. Everything else just felt like a complete lack of substance that I doubt I would be able to enjoy even if I was tripping balls
Roxy Music
3/5
I think these guys could excel if they stuck to one style, but they're set on being the okayest band of all time
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
An absolute failure and probably an inspiration for hacky, pandering country acts of the 2000s
The Cardigans
2/5
Trying to be cutesy with the baby voice singing, instead it was mostly an empty experience
Leonard Cohen
3/5
He's honestly a really good songwriter, but the slow, artsy, poetry type songs are not my cup of tea
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
I'm a sucker for a good concept album, and this one was great. Jazzy instrumentals and nice singing wrapped up in a cool sounding indie pop form
Pink Floyd
5/5
I'm starting to realize that the reason this album syncs up with every movie is because it's one of the most defined narrative and cinematic albums ever
The Human League
2/5
I'm just getting sick of new wave at this point. This album isn't that bad but it's getting harder to discern this from everything else I've heard
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
Nostalgia trip from my teenage years, very 2000's but it still holds up. Longer credits sequence than a fucking Marvel movie
Laibach
1/5
I'm not sure who this appeals to besides German skinheads. I feel like I was being mind controlled to march in rhythm. Their sound still could've been used in an interesting way but this was gratingly repetitive
The Who
4/5
I just think concept albums are fun, and I'm still a huge Keith Moon fan. I do prefer the more rock side of this band and this one is softer, but they still pulled it off
Rod Stewart
1/5
The only thing memorable about this guy is how bad his singing is.
Sleater-Kinney
2/5
I like the feminist punk movement, I just wish they didn't all have banshee screeching vocalists
King Crimson
5/5
The rest of this album is so good I'm actually willing to forgive Moonchild
Elastica
3/5
Some fem punk I can definitely get down to, but it's not really anything I haven't heard before
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Expanded on ideas briefly here and there, but then went back to being just an average hip hop album. Lyrics were pretty wholesome though
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Pretty low-key for a funk album, but it does the job well. Also works as background music for receiving anal
Funkadelic
3/5
It was kinda funky and pretty experimental, I think it would've benefited from being much more funky and a little less experimental
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Probably as good as I'm gonna get from this man. Wasn't as slow or pretentious sounding as his other stuff, but his style is still very much an acquired taste
The Stooges
3/5
Apparently any 60's rock and roll with psychadelic parts is considered ahead of its time, even though I've heard close to a dozen albums like this now. The songs are mostly fine but the recording quality is pretty bad
Orbital
1/5
More mindless, repetitive, and empty techno. I feel dumber after hearing this