If there's one thing I'm not interested in it's generic pop albums from the past

The album opens extremely strong with great giutar riffs in the opener and a real momentum is created over the first two tracks. Unfortunately this momentum is killed by some of the most criminal track sequencing I've ever heard. The one two punch of Changes and FX drags on and kills the energy of the album just as it is getting started. I actually think changes is a nice, introspective track but it's a bit too long and seriously should be a closer or a mid-album break and not the third track. Snowblind is a very epic midpoint with a great guitar solo. It's well placed as this grand ceterpoint of the album with more excellent guitar work. The back half of the album drags a little with a slight lack of energy although I did like the way Cornocopia evolved over the course of the song. I thought the instrumental outro at the end of the closing song was a good way to end the album. The 2nd Black Sabbath album I've listened to and it was another pretty good one. Some great tracks like Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener and Snowblind but the track sequencing was unforgivable and really hurt the album experience for me. 3.5

Very glad I got this. Really need to familiarise myself with jazz more and this was the next album on my list. Shh/Peaceful is a track with real purpose and groove that builds and holds the listeners attention even over its runtime. What I find very clever is how minimal each instrument is but they are all played with a lot of purpose and they work really well together. No one instrument is ever played in a way that crowds out the others or played in a strained way which gives the track a really relaxed feel. The drumming is a real highlight for me. In a silent way is another very chilled track which once again utilises simplicity and repetition to give the song purpose and momentum. It builds to these grand moments where all of the instruments come together over a catchy keboard section. Davis builds the tenion excellently with the trumpet between these moments which are used sparingly to keep to listener wanting more. I also like the way the track begins with this quiet section and then returns to it at the end. It gives the feeling that this buzz of the main part of the track comes and goes but the listener is left with the peace of their own mind. That said I'm not as in love with the beginning/end section as the rest of the song as it is verging on aimlessness but I think it serves enough of a purpose that I'll forgive it. I'm really not a jazz person but this gripped me in a way I've never had in the genre before so much so I had go listen to it again straight away. A perfect album for a lazy morning or a quiet evening, it has a real aura of tranquility and mindfulness. Every note seems intentional and in harmony with eachother and I can see the real development into Jazz fusion with the rest of the band being just as crucial as Davis himself. Will definitely be coming back to this and seeing how it grows on me. 4.5

Modern life is Rubbish, is rubbish. I'd take any Oasis album over this. I cannot stand Damon Albarn's voice throught his entire blur career. His vocals improved massively in Gorillaz where he is more chilled out. If I had to pick any highlights it would be Advert and Chemical World as tolerable tracks. 1.5

A pretty enjoyable listen. Drumming surprisingly good and its mixed very well for its time and of course the synths can be excellent at time as you would expect for a synthpop album. For me the issue is that the songs are all very similar so it drags a lot on the back half. Cars is a legendary single but it doesn't really come together as an album as most of the tracks are forgettable. Highlights: Airlane, Tracks, Cars 3.5

What a fun little album. Bobby really knows how to have a party and he doesn't overstay his welcome at all. Womack has an unusally charming voice that he uses to great effect and he really sounds like he's enjoying himself. He's supported by a strong cast of backing musicians as well, I particularly enjoyed the groovy bass lines and the great backing vocals as is so often a staple of the genre. I will say It does feel like an album you put on when you're in the mood to dance but I don't feel it has the memorability to make it a truely great album. Standout tracks: So Many Sides Of You, If You Think You're Lonely Now 3.5

Not an album I was expecting to see on this list. As someone who grew up listening almost exlusively to bands like the Arctic Monkeys and a lot of random noughties landfill indie I'm very familiar with this already. As I think was common with a lot of the indie rock of the time, this album is a few strong singles and a lot of filler, although maybe I'm being a bit harsh as there's nothing really terrible on here. The musicianship is solid and Turner and Kane write relateable songs full of their classic northern charm. I do also think this album is trying to be cool and it pulls it off well which is quite hard to do intentionally. That said I struggle to give this a high score. It was better than I remembered but I can name at least 5 Alex Turner projects I like more than this. I don't think the hooks are strong enough to be memorable and a few of the songs are underbaked especially in the back half with songs like In My Room and Time Has Come Again sounding like the duo are just going through the motions and hoping something sticks. Highlights: The Age of The Understatement, Standing Next To Me, Seperate And Ever Deadly.

I'm not too sure what to say about this album. I've never been a big fan of this grungy alt rock that was popular in the 90's. Musically it sounds fine if a bit derivative. Maybe I've just listened to too much modern music to apprieciate that this was quite fresh for the 90's but I don't think the production has held up particularly well. Where it really loses me is the vocals. Lyrically very wishy-washy and I find her vocals very annoying. In way she gives the the impression she's the sort of person to complain about literally everything and it rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's an unfair comparison but if you put PJ Harvey over the same instrumentation I'd probably enjoy this a lot more. I get this album but it just wasn't for me. 2.5

Even though I'm a modern pop apologist, this album is still very mediocre. It's a very clean album but probably to a fault. Highlights: Butterflies, Happy and Sad, Rainbow. 2.5

Enjoyed this more than I expected. Didn't have anything that blew me away but was just solidly fun throughout. Lost a bit of steam in the 2nd half but it does seem like this may have been intentional. Either way it meant the last few tracks were a bit of a slog. 3.5

Jay-Z has never been my favourite rapper and I don't think this album has aged particularly well but it's a perfect example of the exactly what hip-hop wanted to be at the start of the decade. Lyrically HOV is on the top of his game and he has a presence. This album is him declaring he's on top and I find it hard to argue against that. The beats are not particularly but they do suit the grand ambitions and the NYC identity of the album. Overall just a great listen. He's still not personally one of my favourite rappers as I don't find his music particularly exciting or suprising but he is incredibly dependable and I have to give him credit for that.

A massive slog to listen to. Nothing really grabbed me at all. 2

What?

This was a snoozefest

As I expected a very groovy release. Definitely worth a listen but didn't quite grab me as I would have wanted.

I really feel the people who make these lists are really out of touch with what is relevant past the mid 00's. Listened to this before and as I remembered it's pleasant but forgettable.

Never got into this one. Bowie has a lot better in him before and after this.

This was a great listen. I've been meaning to give The Roots a proper chance for a while. The rapping was excellent and I really loved how well they incorporated rock into their sound. The seed is a clear standout track, heard it in passing before but it really blew me away. Sadly the album drags a bit on the back end and loses focus, could definitely do with cutting a few tracks. Will definitely be digging further into their discography after this.

I like trains

Never been able to get into this. Obviously very influential but don't think it has aged well at all. Compared to the yesterdays listen of Trans-Europa Express by Kraftwerk, this album is lacking any direction and just feels like they got way too excited on the synths but had no real interesting ideas. Kraftwerk meanwhile created an exciting world with a lot of purpose that has aged excellently and came out 12 years earlier. In reality I probably enjoyed this a 2 but I'll give it a 3 out of respect for it's influence and for Personal Jesus which is head and shoulders above anything else on here.

Really solid album. Love the dark atmosphere and you can hear Bowie all over it.

Not very interesting

The synths are so out of place here it is really strange

Having listened to the Idiot earlier this week, this is a big step down from that. It doesn't have much atmosphere and the production is a lot less interesting.

Really solid political jazz album

A really strong release. He really makes the covers his own.

What a fun album. So much energy and each track flows with a purpose. I've found it really hard to decide between giving this a 4 or a 5 but I think it has to be the 5. There's no real weak spots on here and it sounds miles ahead of his time. I'm really excited to give this a bunch more listens.

Smooth and charming. A lovely album. Really close to giving it a 5 but it just needed something extra to blow me away to get there.

Very chill but not quite interesting enough

Not quite as good as the other Kraftwerk I've listened to (Trans-Europa Express) but it's still Kraftwerk and it's still great.

I honestly dismissed this album too quickly when it's actually really solid with some of their best tunes like High and Dry and Just. The album gives off real frustrated teenager energy which sounds like it could be a bad thing but it balances it perfectly with the more introspective moments of the records. It really feels like an album of maturing in multiple ways. Of course radiohead would go on to change up their sound again multiple times after this and pushing the boundaries of music but this is the album where radiohead nailed the alternative rock sound of the time and it's definitely a great listen.

This is such a great record and easily my favourite from Arcade Fire. It's lyrically very tight and works great as a front to back album. It potrays the feeling of being stuck in the suburban sprawl and yearning to escape and be something greater but still loving home anyway because it's what you know. Musically it's energetic and danceable and the production is very clear. They really nail the Arcade Fire formula here with great tension building and larger than life moments. Easy 5 for me.

Wow, what an album. Hayes makes these 4 tracks his own in this proggy soul album. His version of walk on by has to be one of the best songs I've ever heard. It sprawls over the 12 minute runtime perfectly, creating this grand masterpiece. The other 3 tracks are excellent as well. Hayes has such a strong presence and a great voice. The album cover is very charming as well. A true gem and an easy 5.

If there's one thing I'm not interested in it's generic pop albums from the past

I'll be honest I wasn't feeling like relistening to this album so I put on their new album that came out today instead. Probably a mistake as it was a huge waste of time. Yeah I really just couldn't give two shits about Muse. Possibly the most uncool band on the planet.

A very pleasant listen. Had only heard Fast Car before so I was excited to listen to the whole thing and it did not dissapoint. The songwriting is excellent and Chapman has a real way with words that allows her to get her message across. Maybe a 5 is a little generous as it didn't blow me away but I can't really find anything to critisise.

It's fine but there's a lot that sounds like it out there

Sounds very good for its time but not my kinda thing

Not my usual kind of thing but this is clearly a top top quality album

Yawn

A lot of fun

I was being edgy and relistened to this yesterday for obvious reasons. This has always been an absolute classic for me. The juxtaposition of Morrisey's grim, helpless lyricism against the jangley instrumentation is a perfect combination and this album stands head and shoulders above the rest of their discography as the one where they really nail the formula over the entire track list, which contains no duds. The energetic title track opener is such a great way to kick the album off and really lets you know what to expect for the next 40 minutes. The lyrics are designed to shock and I really love the drumming here that gives the track the dramatic pace to kick the album into gear. I have a real soft spot for Cemetry Gates with it's excellent wordplay around famous writing and poetry. Morrisey really delivers his message about plagiarism in a unique way. Marr's guitar work is brilliant here and throughout the entire album. There is something so charming about the tone that I just love. I can't not also mention There is a light. The beautifully hopeless lyrics and the quirky but sombre instrumentation comes together to create something really special. One of the greatest songs ever written. RIP Liz, fuck Morrisey.

Some of the best Ska I've ever heard, not that that means much. A thouroughly enjoyable experience and one I may come back to in the future. A message to you Rudy is a huge highlight.

As with most yeah yeah yeahs material, it's good but it doesn't blow you away.

I love Q-Tip in a tribe but this is just lacking a lot of the crisp beats and flow of his best work

Better than its contemporaries but something I have no interest in listening to more than once.

Yikes

I don't really care for Led Zep and this album is a bit too long

Not a single redeeming quality