I have this album on cassette & have had it since 1990. It's quintessential 80s Peter Gabriel & it's perfect. Don't Give Up ft. Kate Bush, Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Big Time, and In Your Eyes - Jesus, this is a juggernaut. Something about his voice, cadence, and emotion draws me in. I've been revisiting Peter Gabriel in both his Genesis & solo years lately, and I wish I would've taken a deeper dive sooner. He's touring this year, so I'm taking this as a sign to see him live. I'll regret it if I don't. 5 out of 5.

ZZ Top is Texas Rock. This album gives groovy blues & touches of early metal. I've always loved La Grange, and Beer Drinkers & He'll Raisers is classic metal - who would've thought they could rock this hard? I'm glad I'm finally listening to a ZZ Top album in its entirety. Being born & raised in TX, this band reminds me of home. They've got some heat in this album - if someone were to ask what the Lone Star state sounds like, I'd play this album. Gonna listen to their entire discography thanks to this challenge.

Depeche Mode is one of the few bands I will go to great lengths to experience live. They were part of my bucket list - see one of my favorite bands on their home turf - and that I did. I saw DM in London at Queen Elizabeth Stadium surrounded by an English audience in 2017. The pinnacle was the first track of this album, Never Let Me Down Again. It started raining, the entire audience was swinging their arms back & forth, and the energy was electric. Fast forward to 2022 and I get to see an epic lineup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA - Cruel World Fest. I couldn't help to think about the infamous 1989 Depeche Mode show at the same venue - Depeche Mode 101. They pulled heavily from Music for the Masses (arguably one of the best live shows in modern history). If you've never experienced 101, I highly recommend it. It will make you wish you could travel back in time. Depeche Mode, my 4th favorite band & my favorite band to see live, will always get high ratings from me.

This album has officially converted me - Kate Bush is far more talented & creative than I originally gave her credit for. What a challenging & thrilling listen. This album moved me so much that I played the album twice. It's creative, odd, eccentric, theatrical, brooding, and bold. I'm surprised that I enjoyed this more than her commercially successful albums. I honestly never thought I'd get around to truly enjoying her work, but I'm REALLY into this. 4.5

What a mess. This album was all over the place with no real theme or direction. It wanted to be pop, punk, and rock all at the same time. Even though I like Alex Turner's voice and I like some of AM's songs (seen them live), this album left me annoyed and irritated. I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could sonically rinse my ears with something else.

One of the few bands I cannot get into

Minimalist electro with deep tones & sleepy vocals. I had forgotten how great this album is. Excellent listen.

How in the heck have I never heard of this band? Dude's soothing vocals are calming, and it reminds me of the early 2000s indie rock/folk era that became super popular at the time. This album sounds timeless, though, and I ended up listening to hours of Travis. What a great find. 5/5.

Another great classic-one of the foundations of punk. Reminds me to mention the punk history bit Fred Armisen did on Jimmy Fallon. Definitely worth a watch.

What a mess. This album was all over the place with no real theme or direction. It wanted to be pop, punk, and rock all at the same time. Even though I like Alex Turner's voice and I like some of AM's songs (seen them live), this album left me annoyed and irritated. I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could sonically rinse my ears with something else.

This album got me pumped and reminded me how fun it was to be a twenty-something in the 90s. I was a college kid at UT Austin, and the city was still very weird at the time. I remember clubbing & going to raves...so many weirdos, gays & club kids...so much Fatboy Slim, The Prodigy, and Daft Punk. A solid 5 stars for this album.

Boring & generic with that one song from Shrek. Terrible.

Decent dance album, but not the best. I did learn that "Music Makes You Lose Control" is a full Les Rythmes Digitales song & not just a Missy Elliott blip. I had no idea of this band's influence on some of my favorite artists, so kudos to the artist. It just didn't move me (pun intended) the way I had hoped.

Superb. 90s R&B at its finest. Every track is gorgeous, and I love his rendition of Smokie Robinson's Cruisin. A new favorite.

I love the dreamy sleepy soundscapes of Beach House. This album is not my favorite, though. The vocals seem out of place, and their 'sound' is underdeveloped. I think first time listeners should skip this album & go straight to Depression Cherry - that album is ethereal, wavy & emotional.

I'm a sucker for weirdo vocals- what an interesting sound. The Two Dancers track was my favorite but wasn't wowed by the album as a whole. I still ended up listening to a few of their other songs. They were so so.

The perfect 80s synth-pop-funk album. Not enough credit is given to bassist, John Taylor, whose funky bass lines make this album & much of DD's catalog more than lip gloss pop. Rio sits on my top 20, and is the perfect listen start to finish. The Chauffeur is haunting & sultry, and the video is film noir erotica. I adore this album. 5/5.

Freedom '90 is one of my all-time favorites, but the rest of this album is a real chore. I appreciate George Michael's vocal talents, but I prefer his pop tunes over his gospel ones.

Such an underrated band. I've been listening to Madness more this year than any other year. I love their playfulness mixed with serious punk-ska beats. This is one of the bands I wish I were old enough to see live. Thankfully, YouTube exists & I can watch their videos & live performances there. Excellent album.

Reminds of a French Leonard Cohen. Thanks to French class, I was able to follow along pretty decently. There's a lot of passion, pain, art, and angst in this album - not sure what it is about Western Europeans, but they seem to delve right into the feelings of things & let it flow out of them like poetry. I've just added this to my Edith Piaf playlist. P.S. While listening on YouTube, I found a 1001 Albums Journey YT channel

I love all of Roxy Music's catalog. This is definitely during their more experimental years with Brian Eno's strange compositions & Bryan Ferry's drug fueled cabaret style vocals. I deeply appreciate this band & their influence on rock n roll.

The The is such a unique band. They don't fit into any of the traditional 80s genres, and they are not an easy listen - I think that's why I like them so much. Kudos to Matt Johnson for creating great music. I love his voice & the band's videos are strange af..into it!

This genre is my Achilles' heel, but I'm glad I listened. I enjoyed the story telling, vignettes & the weaving of other musical genres into the songs. My major criticism is the overt use of curse words & sexually explicit content - that has been the main reason I'm generally turned off by this genre (it's lazy, in my opinion). But the album was solid & ended up listening to more of his music. 3.5 stars.

"If I Fell" is one of the best love songs ever recorded, and "Things We Said Today" stops me in my tracks. This album gives me the warm fuzzies, and the film is a fun watch. I will always love The Beatles.

Damon Albarn's naggy yet playful in your face we're-fucking-British vocals always amuses me. I didn't appreciate them back in the 90s, but I'm glad I gave them another chance a few years back. Solid.

One of my favorite go-to jazz albums with the most recognizable jazz tune of all-time. This is cool cat jazz. Smooth & hip. Excellent album.

FKA twigs sounds like Portishead & Bjork had a baby. I dig her weirdo vocals.

Just spectacular from start to finish. I've always been a fan of The Boxer & Cecilia but never gave the entire album a listen. It's no wonder this album is considered one of the greatest ever recorded. It's emotional, uplifting, and playful. And those harmonies - blew me away. I just added this to my favorites.

Better than I expected, but not the best.

So glad this is on the list. I enjoyed it so much I listened to it twice along with two other albums. I was already a fan of their most popular songs, Eighties & Love Like Blood, but this album was rougher with a mix of rock, punk & industrial. At times, they reminded me of Ministry. I'll be listening to Killing Joke regularly (which is something I've been meaning to do anyway). They've got a new lifelong fan.

Common People & Disco 2000 are my favorite Pulp songs, so it's nice to see they're on the same album. I especially like the lyrics to Common People, and I've read it's autobiographical. Pulp (and Blur) are quintessential 90s Britpop, so next time I'm feeling nostalgic for that era, I'm putting on this album.

Boring & unoriginal.

My original notes got erased, but my synopsis is this band fkn rocks. I'll be listening to more of X.

A lot more psychedelic than I prefer

I never paid close attention to the harmonies or Karen's vocal rage, so this album was a treat. I had already enjoyed their music & I know a fair deal about Karen's demise. In all, this is a beautifully composed album & is now part of my "chill' playlist.

Rejected James Bond/Twin Peaks songs. Insufferable.

I very much enjoyed this album. I've seen him live & it was the smokiest show I've ever attended. Solid listen.

Lana is one of the few talented modern artists (great songwriter & singer), but this album was too snoozy & cheesy for my liking. I like her work, but this album just wasn't for me.

So many different styles of song in one album. Beautifully sung & underrated. A reminder to listen to more Sinead.

Nothing special about this album. They almost sounded like Echo & the Bunnymen & Bowie at times, but the songs never developed into anything. A real bore.

Eclectic R&B house that kept me pumped for hours. Sometimes I need music with few lyrics & a good beat. The album felt like musical mixed media with bits & pieces from everywhere coming together cohesively in funky way.

A few songs were chill & melodic, then it got creepy & off kilter. I did not enjoy this.

Hard fast 60s in your face rock. Totally my style.

I never listened to the entire album in one go, and it blew me away. I can imagine it knocked people off their feet when it was first released in the 60s. The Doors will always remain one of my favorite bands. Incredible album.

Much like The Buzzcocks, The Undertones are masters of playful punk. Fun listen as my day got started.

Sober more mature Bowie still put out some great tunes. Gonna have to listen to this phase of his music more often. Love me some Bowie.

Fantastic 70s soul. Groovy.

I mourned Nirvana so deeply I could never get into the Foo Fighters. It sounds silly, but it was a deeply personal feeling that I still carry. For the first time, I listened to a FF album in its entirety - and it was pretty great. Sure it's mainstream rock, but it's done well & some of the songs go pretty hard. I'm glad this was on the challenge, otherwise I never would've listened on my own.

3.5 I enjoyed it more than I expected

I very much enjoy this band & album

Annoying. I had high hopes because Fat of the Land is one of my favorite albums, but this was intolerable.

Classic. Rock Lobster is one of those crazy infectious songs you can't help to dance to. From my 20s to now, I have countless memories of dancing to it with friends. I love the sound of Planet Claire, and the whole album is quintessential B-52s.

90s dance techno at its best. Every song drew me in, and few times I stopped what I was doing to dance. Some of these tracks had some super funky beats, which is next level techno mastery. I'm adding this album to my favorites. 5 outta 5.

Generic & dull. Did not enjoy.

A personal favorite

Far more shoegaze & reverb than I expected. I was wrong for intentionally passing them up in the past. This is some damn good stuff.

Roxy Music will always get a 4 or 5 from me

3.5 solid American blues-folk-rock. I'm someone asked what New Jersey sounds like, I'd put on Springsteen.

Fitting that this album pops up a day after the Queen died. New Wave perfection.

Terribly dull

Unremarkable

Bad ass girls rocking out

Love her voice & her music. Great album.

Solid punk album

Aside from a couple of songs & that one samba, I didn't care for the album. Just not my thing.

Peak Beastie Boys

Sounded like Leonard Cohen with a sprinkling of Bryan Ferry at times.

Nothing special 2.5

I hate that style of vocals. I never understood its appeal. Not my bag.

The beginnings of metal

A good mix of punk & rock. I love Karen O's voice, and Maps is one of the best love songs ever recorded.

Stellar. One of my favorite bands & albums. I'd argue that Beach Boys are the best American band.

Not my favorite genre, but I'll give credit for the musicianship.

I hear some of my favorite bands in here (MGMT, Foxygen, Beach House). I've always gravitated to Pet Sounds, but this album is spectacular with its psychedelic beachy sounds. This is when this 1001 challenge pays off - I'll be listening to this on repeat.

Finally a Spanish album. I remember my mom telling me about Ruben Blades when I was a kid. This guy is incredibly talented & has a bona-fide music career. I enjoyed this album so much, I listened to three more. I'm certain Blades influenced many modern artists including Ricky Martin. I'm glad this was part of the challenge. Love me some salsa.

Definitely a 90s album with sounds reminiscent of U2, Stone Roses & Oasis. It was a bit too long for me, but enjoyed it all in all. 3.5

One of the best listening experiences is starting with Bowie's Station to Station and ending with Heroes. Yes, I know the Berlin trilogy includes Lodger, but I find the others far superior. Bowie is one of my musical heroes, and I have Nine Inch Nails/Trent Teznor to thank for that. Heroes is one of those albums many acclaimed artists drew inspiration from - no wonder. It's fucking fantastic with a dash of experimental weirdness. Heroes is one of those songs that if I let it, will drift me to another emotional space. I've also heard it covered live covered by my favorite bands, and it's always a visceral experience. This is one of the greatest albums every recorded. Everyone should listen to this era of Bowie.

This whole genre of folk rock can take a hike

I've listened to this band more this year than any other. While Earn Enough for Us & Dear God are the radio friendly hits, I'm blown away by 1000 Umbrellas. I love the strings & structure of the song. I'm wowed! Love me some XTC.

Hell yeah, this is 80s rock. Love love David Lee Roth, the percussion, and those guitar riffs. One of the things I've had on my bucket list is to learn the drums on Hot for Teacher. The drums really get you going right from the start. Damn good stuff. 🤘

Funky & fantastically arranged. These are some skilled & talented artists, and I can hear where Prince got a lot of his sound from. I've just added this album to my library. 4.5

Dark, moody, intense. One of my favorite albums of all-time.

Not my thing

I'm team "Make Ministry Synth Again" (With Sympathy is one of the best synth-goth albums of all-time), but I appreciate Ministry's industrial era. It's not my favorite, but Jesus Built My Hotrod is a classic. 3.5 P.S. Uncle Al, you're a weenie for turning your back on your synth roots. You were so great with that fake British accent. Good times.

I'm ashamed to admit that I've only been actively listening to Sonic Youth for less than a year even though they're from my generation. Looking back, I wouldn't have appreciated them as much as I do now. Drunken Butterfly is my favorite off this album. I'm glad I finally added them into my rotation. Great 90s alt rock.

I adore Lauryn Hill's voice. Every time I hear one of her songs, my ears perk up. She has a lot to say on this album, but the one thing I didn't pay attention to in the past is her songs of faith. What a risk that must've been for her, hip hop, and popular music. Most artists aren't that open with their faith, and I'm sure record companies prefer to steer clear. My new favorite is Everything is Everything, I'll always love Doo Wop (That Thing), and what a great rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. Solid album.

This is the music I often crave - swanky, soulful & cool. I had never heard of Sarah Vaughn, but I'll be listening to her on a weekly basis (she fits perfectly my work playlist of chill-jazzy artists). Gorgeous voice.

I wanted to like this more, but I wasn't a fan of the heavy sampling. I'm not giving up on this band, though. I'll definitely give their other albums a listen. 3.5

I enjoyed this album more than I expected

I never got into her music, and now I remember why. I really didn't like this.

One of my favorite bands & albums of the time. Modern psychedelic with touches of synth & funk.

Stripped down to mostly strings, guitar, and vocals - this album has a moody, chill feel & I enjoyed it.

ZZ Top is Texas Rock. This album gives groovy blues & touches of early metal. I've always loved La Grange, and Beer Drinkers & He'll Raisers is classic metal - who would've thought they could rock this hard? I'm glad I'm finally listening to a ZZ Top album in its entirety. Being born & raised in TX, this band reminds me of home. They've got some heat in this album - if someone were to ask what the Lone Star state sounds like, I'd play this album. Gonna listen to their entire discography thanks to this challenge.

Reminded me of West Side Story. Not something I'd actively listening to.

I'm realizing that I truly enjoy 70s funk. Thanks to this challenge, I'm regularly listening to Funkadelic, and I'm adding this album to my work playlist. Anything with a groovy beat gets me going.

I very much like Elvis Costello, but this album was a snoozefest. I'll stick to his earlier stuff.

Really not a fan of world music. It did have some jazzy elements, though.

Socially conscious and far less sugary than 60s Temptations.

Now I fully understand why 50 was & has remained so popular. Every song had a hook or featured a big time rapper. There's also a lot of layering in his songs - more instrumentation than most rap albums, which I like very much. 4.5 rounded up to 5 nostalgia's sake.

Better than I remembered. Jazzy with a touch of country.

Post punk shoegaze guitar is one of my favorite styles of guitar. This album & band are right up my alley. I only wish I had listened to this album when it was first released. 4.5

Solid 90s rock. I've always loved Perry Farrell's voice.

Sexy album by one of the best pop stars in history.

A juggernaut of an album with some of my all-time favorites.

Electric acid Talking Heads. On paper I should like this band, but I find them a bit annoying.

This has got to be regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all-time. It was like listening to a musical collage with great lyrics & vocals on top of bits of sampled a songs with creative instrumentation. Everything fit together beautifully by masters of music. Excellent album.

Just because you can record an album doesn't mean you should. This was easy listening hell. Hated it.

Excellent debut album by rap legends. I wasn't much into this album when it came out (mostly because I was into rock & didn't like that some of the lyrics were misogynistic) but listening to the album at this age give me a fresh take. It's a big F'U to the powers that be along with being prideful of where these guys came from. Glad I got a give it another chance. 5 outta 5.

Just weird enough for me to like. Sounds like 70s psychedelic prog mixed with a bit of country & Funkadelic's Maggot Brain (which I listen to on a weekly basis). What an odd album - and I mean that as a compliment. I'm adding this to my chill/funk playlist.

I was a big fan of early Green Day. This album was good, but too poppy for me.

I had no idea this band was this good. So glad to get past their one hit & give the other songs from this album a try. I have a feeling the more I listen to this album, the more it'll become a favorite. Wow. Good stuff.

So many styles of music & vocals composed in one album. I hear early metal, but enjoyed also the cabaretesque piano & heard a few strings, too. How creative! Aside from No More Mr. Nice Guy, I very much enjoyed I Love the Dead. Into this.

Ambient electro glitch. I listened to it twice as it made good concentration music. I'm a huge fan of electronic music, but it starts to lose me at Glitch..that's probably my least favorite electronic subgenre. Aside from that, this album had a nice flow & reminded me of Daft Punk's Tron soundtrack at times. I'll be listening to more Boards of Canada.

Nina Simone is perfection. I learned that one of my favorite songs, Wild is The Wind is a Nina Simone tune & not a David Bowie original. I've listened to Bowie's Station to Station dozens of times & always take a reflective pause at the song. It's hauntingly beautiful - just like much of Nina's work. I ended up listening to hours of her music. She's incredible.

There is such a things as too much xylophone

Ambient art. Brian Eno is brilliant. One of the most talented people in the history of music.

I didn't like this as much as I had hoped, but I'll definitely dive into the rest of the discography.

Unapologetically Irish. I was already a fan of Fairytale of New York thanks to the film Basquiat and had always wondered what other Pogues songs were like. This album had the same folk-gypsy energy as Gogol Bordello's work & I bet Pogue live shows were pretty amazing. Gonna take a deeper dive into this band.

The best album of its time & genre. I remember dancing to these songs at clubs, and it's my workout go-to. Running to this album is pure adrenaline. This album will always be a personal favorite.

Her vocals aren't terrible, but the lyrics are weak. Giving this two stars cause I hate most modern pop.

Some real chart topping bangers. What a fun time for early 2000s pop & interesting to see the start of Beyoncé & Kelly's career. And let's not forget Charlie's Angels - good times.

I was blown away by this album. I had already known that Kendrick Lamar was one of the most talented rap/hip-hop artists of our time, and man does this album prove so. I'll definitely be listening to more of his work.

Reminded me of Afro Harping by Dorothy Ashby mixed with Alice Coltrain with dashes of electric guitar and other eccentric musings. The album was a bit long, but it fits a certain mood & vibe. I dug it.

I used to hate Bob Dylan, but I like some of his work - not this, though. I can't stand the nasal-ly harmonica Dylan. It's insufferable.

The Doors will always rank at the top for me

One of the best albums by one of the greatest bands in pop history

I've never been a fan of Kate Bush even though I should...I'm big into weird female vocals & arrangements. After giving her another listen, I now realize how incredibly talented she is. I still stand by not liking her style of piano. It's a bit too melodramatic for me. Still, I'm glad she came up on this challenge.

T.Rex are glam rock gods. Some of my favorites are on here, but there are some sleepers too (which are not as great, in my opinion). Overall good album.

Not enjoyable. Too bad cause they have some good tunes, but they weren't on this album.

Great techno/dance album

Some of Morrissey's solo work is pretty great. Can't stand the person, but man did he have some good stuff.

Terence Trent D'Arby has an incredible voice. I've always loved that raspiness. I actually own this album so I could play Wishing Well on repeat. That song and music video are sultry (it's one of my all-time favorites). Sign Your Name is great, but the rest of the album is a miss for me.

I prefer the blues-rock version of Dylan, but there was still too much harmonica folk happening here. It grinded my nerves so much, I had to listen in two parts. It was ok. I'll never fully get into Dylan.

What a lovely & soothing album. I very much enjoyed it.

Absolutely incredible. So perfect from start to finish, I listened to it twice in a row. How I got this far in life & had never listened to one of her albums in full is a shock. It's no wonder she's The Queen of Soul.

My city is a huge on metal & Metallica. Even though I didn't actively listen to them in the 80s, I knew their songs & they've always felt like home. As an adult, I've grown to greatly appreciate this band & have seen them live - what an electric show. One is a favorite, and the others are just sheer hard metal perfection. This is one of the few albums where I actually enjoy a 7 minute song. I'll have to revisit their other albums & take a trip down hometown memory lane.

One of the most Bri'ish pop albums ever recorded. My all-time favorite Blur song is Girls & Boys, and I enjoy Parklife (I sometimes sing this on my way to the park with my pup). I wasn't sold on the rest of the album, though. It's just ok.

Boring & unoriginal. Lyrics were terrible, but music was ok.

I wanted to be vowed, but I was bored instead. Their two hits are good, but this album just didn't do it for me.

It took several months after his death to be able to listen to this album. Once I did, I wept. Bowie is one of my all-time favorite artists & it still saddens me that he's gone. The song Blackstar is a masterpiece telling the story of transformation with layers of sounds & styles. I honestly reminds me of a mini opera. The rest of the album sounds like bits & pieces of his work from over the years. This will always be an emotionally beautiful album for me.

I'm impressed. This band is far more than their one hit. They're multi-talented instrumentalists with a mix of pop, new wave & world - this album is just a great mix of genres. My only criticism is it's too long. Aside from that, solid listen.

I like this just enough. It's odd prog rock & I'm ok with that.

I'm realizing I've become a fan. Very much enjoyed the album & hope for more from this duo.

Beautifully crafted ambient landscapes. Brian Eno will always get 4-5 stars from me.

This gave me anxiety. When punk turns to noise, I'm outta there.

I've realized that I do not like folk harmonica & folk in general. This was boring & a bit annoying.

Spiritual Madonna with trance tracks. I was never a huge fan of the song Ray of Light but have always enjoyed the album as a whole. Little Star was an ode to her eldest daughter, Lourdes, which always warms me, and Frozen is one of my favorite songs of all-time - I can listen to it on a loop & the video is spectacular. Solid 4.

EDM/House is best enjoyed live or in a club. Listening to this as part of this challenge was not great, bur still decent music all in all.

Dadaist, experimental, bluesy, and 60s rock goodness. I very much enjoyed this album & I can hear some of favorite bands here. I appreciate Zappa far more than I already did, and stoked to listen to more.

This felt like one long Byrds song. It was good but not core shaking.

Incredible harmonies & beautiful arrangements. Fantastic album.

Good with a couple of favorites. I've yet to listen to a Pixies album & be completely moved.

Under My Thumb & Paint It Black are spectacular, but the rest of the album is okay. I do recognize that The Stones are masters at country-rock, and you can hear a little of that here. Solid album.

This was strange, but I kinda liked it. It was like a cross between prog rock, punk, and stripped down electro a la Kraftwerk. I'd probably listen to a couple of tracks again. 2.5 stars (wish this thing had half stars for rating).

Indy rock that reminds me of a cheesy version of Vampire Weekend. I'm not a fan of polished overly produced soft rock. A miss for me.

3.5

Spector's Wall of Sounds plus The Crystals, The Ronnettes & Darlene Love make for a spectacular Christmas album - in my opinion, the best Christmas album. I'll be listening to this every year thanks to this challenge.

We all know this band & its 70s organ rock sound. Sometimes they annoy me (not sure why), but I know a lot of their songs & lyrics. Maybe because they're actually pretty good at what they do? They're a bit overly polished for me, but I'll sign along if one of these songs comes on.

Excellent country album by my favorite country artist. There's a nice blend of country, rock, Southern hymns & conjunto featuring my hometown hero Flaco Jimenez on accordion. I've seen Dwight & Flaco play live in Helotes, TX at a watering hole/live music venue called Floores Country Store (more than once), and it's always electric. I love Dwight's twangy-nasaly style but this album isn't about the fun hits - there's a lot of storytelling here & some of it is dark as hell. Dwight is highly underrated, but he'll always be #1 in my heart. 4.5 stars P.S. I own \"Live from Austin TX -Dwight Yoakam\" recorded in 1988. Fun fact: After a lot of rejection from Nashville, Dwight's career started to take off in Southern California punk bars. No joke.

I wasn't feeling this. The album felt like it was all over the place with no cohesiveness. The lead signer's voice did remind of of Lux Interior, which I found interesting. Aside from that, this is just so so.

This is exactly the type of weirdo Eno/Bowie-esque sound I'm into. Definitely a departure from the sound of the Stooges, this album is more experimental, artsy, and electronic. I've always loved Nightclubbing & I have a feeling this will become one of my favorite listens going forward. 4.5 stars

I used to say that I hated REM, but recently I realized that isn't true. Michael Stipe's voice grates on my nerves after too many songs, so that's true. But the band & this album are pretty great. Radio Free Europe is catchy & the rest is just good stuff.

Slightly better than the last Joni Mitchell album but boring overall. Sounds like generic elevator music played while you wait at the dentist office...and your dentist should've retired 30 years ago & the paint is chipping off the walls. Joni Mitchell is not for me.

I've loved the The Monkees since I was a ten yr old kid. Thanks to my aunt & Nickelodeon, watching The Monkees TV show was part of my afternoon schedule. It was then when I developed one of my first crushes on Michael Nesmith. It was as an adult that I learned that he was from TX & spent quite a bit of time in my hometown. Childhood aside, this group is incredibly talented. My favorite songs are those led by Mike, but Mickey is also a fantastic lead vocalist. Also cool to note that at least one of these songs is written by Neil Diamond (he's a phenomenal song writer IMO) and that wins points too. I hope we see more from The Monkees. They're definitely a favorite.

3.5

This album is sex, drugs, & rock n roll. It's a juggernaut & will forever be one of the best albums in history. If I'm ranking this album out of 1001, it's gotta be top ten.

Ethereal chimes & Björk's beautifully weird voice. This album is much softer than her others, and some of these songs remind me of Icelandic lullabies. I hope we see more of her on this list.

Stellar Country-Western ballads by one of the most talented artists in country music history. Not only is he an incredible music writer, he's an impeccable singer. It's no wonder he's considered one of the greats.

James Taylor has a soothing voice, but his music is far too easy listening for my taste.

I don't care for this chill mellow guitar stuff

Nice to see some post punk/alt on here. It's a genre that deserves more attention. I hope we see more albums from the 80s. 3.5 stars.

It was ok. Definitely not memorable. I think this is the third or fourth bossa nova album on the list while other genres are completely ignored. I'm getting a bit annoyed. 2.5 stars

I'm a fan of Elvis Costello, so it was nice to see this on the list.

Janis is one of my favorite vocalist & she nailed the Southern blues-rock genre. This album's got great story telling & all the feels. Cry Baby shakes me to my core every time hear it, Mercedes Benz makes me wish I could sing like her, and Bobby McGee nearly makes me cry every time I hear it. Love love Janis.

Depeche Mode is one of the few bands I will go to great lengths to experience live. They were part of my bucket list - see one of my favorite bands on their home turf - and that I did. I saw DM in London at Queen Elizabeth Stadium surrounded by an English audience in 2017. The pinnacle was the first track of this album, Never Let Me Down Again. It started raining, the entire audience was swinging their arms back & forth, and the energy was electric. Fast forward to 2022 and I get to see an epic lineup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA - Cruel World Fest. I couldn't help to think about the infamous 1989 Depeche Mode show at the same venue - Depeche Mode 101. They pulled heavily from Music for the Masses (arguably one of the best live shows in modern history). If you've never experienced 101, I highly recommend it. It will make you wish you could travel back in time. Depeche Mode, my 4th favorite band & my favorite band to see live, will always get high ratings from me.

Fantastic twangy country music

70s Jazzy-Funk Bowie isn't my favorite, but it's still Bowie. Fame is my favorite off this album with John Lennon on backup vocals.

This wanted to be Prog, but it ended up being an album of nonsense & crap. This doesn't deserve to be on this list. I can think of 10 other albums that do. Awful.

This is my favorite Bowie album & era. I learned of this album when reading that Trent Reznor listed to it heavily while recording The Downward Spiral. Since then, I've learned a ton about the two artists and their tour in the 90s. I credit Reznor for getting me into Bowie. The first half of this album is soul-funk with my two of my all-time favorite songs - Sound and Vision & Be My Wife. The piano on Be My Wife is spectacular & grabs you right away. Sound and Vision is the diary of a despondent loner sung with just a touch of humor. The second half is the Eno-Bowie ambient alien sound & I'm all for it. I could get lost in it and float away...it's beautiful. I genuinely like the weird stuff. This album, and Station to Station, are my two favorite Bowie albums. 5 stars.

Excellent. Fast, hard, energetic. Can you imagine what it would've been like to be at a live Motörhead show? And in the pit? I wish.

Not really my go-to genre, but this album has a couple of favorites & it's probably the best of the country-folk that was out at its time. I absolutely love the harmonies (I'm a sucker for them), and this trio really melds well together. I listened to this album twice in a row today - it was an enjoyable experience.

I've been taking a deep dive into Prog thanks to a question posited in a Facebook group, "How Prog was Bowie?" The answer: The Man Who Sold the World. Thanks to this discussion, my curiosity, and the movie Mandy, I've been actively listening to King Crimson, early Peter Gabriel Genesis, Can & more of Pink Floyd. To be fair, I had already been lightly dipping my toes into Prog & Krautrock for the last few years. Back to the album - I enjoyed it. It was atmospheric, calming, unnerving, alien, ethereal, and beautiful. You bet I'll be listening to this again. Probably cued up after Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. 4 out of 5 but will likely turn into a 5 pretty soon.

The dark side of Siouxsie. I absolutely love Hong Kong Garden and their cover cover of Helter Skelter, but it's a bit too brooding for me. I am happy to see post punk/new wave on this list...we need more of it. 3.5 stars

The perfect early 2000s alt-pop album. Hot Fuss is one I revisit a few times a year. The Killers is a solid band all around.

This was like a bad mix of Supertramp & Frank Zappa. Maybe we'll hear some of his other work because I like him as a vocalist, but this was a loss for me.

Solid synth pop album but no hits or songs that really get me going. Still, it's the Pet Shop Boys & they're a fantastic band. 3.5 stars.

Incredible album & my favorite by the band. Every song is a hit, and each of the Fab Four gets at least one song on lead vocals. Keen writing & storytelling with both classic & experimental Beatles sound. This is peak Beatles. 5 out of 5.

I don't like world music. Sure, she's got a lovely voice, but this isn't enjoyable.

Solid Smiths album. I'm glad to see this genre & band represented again, but I took a peek at the 1001 list & many other notable albums & artists are missing. It's a real shame to have so many albums & so few post punk/new wave bands on here *big fkn sigh* Anyway, 4 stars for Meat is Murder.

Beautiful. I can & have listened to hours if Sade. Her voice is soft velvet.

Classic Stevie

Aging hippies who did too much LSD got a hold of keyboards & made this dumb Prog album. I rolled my eyes as soon as I saw the cover..WTF is up with the armadillo?! It's frightening & looks like something out of the movie Jacob's Ladder. Kudos for the unique arrangements, but that's the only positive thing I can say about this album.

Of the Leonard Cohen songs I've heard, I liked these very much. His voice & style reminded me of Serge Gainsborough at points, and I liked the use of synthesizers/key boards. I'll definitely revisit this.

I know I'm going to be in the minority, but this album is so violent I couldn't finish listening to it. I'll give it 3 stars because Eminem is talented & a good story teller, but the misogyny & anger is off the charts. This is my main gripe about rap & hip hop, and it honestly turns my stomach. I couldn't listen to this album when it was released & I couldn't finish it now.

Meh

Nope

Fantastic with some of his hits. Classic Billy Joel.

Better than I expected

I wanted to like this more because I like her & she's great live...maybe I just wasn't in the mood. I'll try again another time.

Dusty is the best of the best - incomparable

Solid album. Man on the Moon is one of my all-time favorites (love the ode to Andy Kaufman), and Everybody Hurts was a big hit at the time. The video was shot in my hometown & my high school friend is in the video. He recently told me the whole story & it's pretty fantastic. 4 stars.

Essential Pretenders & top tier post punk. Chrissie Hynde is in a class of her own with that snarky sultry rock voice. Great band & great album.

I had listened to some of her other songs & didn't care for them, but this album was surprisingly good.

One of the best albums by one of the best bands.

2.5 stars

I enjoyed this more than I expected. It's solid chill house & was a great listen while I walked my dog in the dusk.

How fantastically gay in both the Oxoford dictionary & Queer way. I fell in love with Queen thanks to Wayne's World, no joke, and I've been fascinated with this band ever since. In who's right mind would think recording an Opera/Rock/Country album would be a good idea? It had to be one of the most outrageous & risky recordings in pop music history. Nonetheless, they pulled it off & some of these songs are the most recognizable across the globe. I adore Queen, I loved that they embraced the double meaning of the band's namesake & they didn't shy away from being pretty gay. What wonderfully talented hard rock weirdos.

This CD lives permanently in my car, and it's the album I've most listened to over the last 15 years. The first time I saw the Enjoy the Silence video, I was stunned & amazed. I was 14 going on 15 spending time at nerd summer camp when the video comes on in the lounge area of our school. I stopped in my tracks as it started & I couldn't walk away -WHAT IS THIS?! My eyes must've been as big as saucers as I let the song drench me in dark disco synth. There I was, nerdy & weird, instantly in love with Depeche Mode. The album cover still seduces me & I plan on getting that wilted rose tattooed (eventually). Halo, Blue Dress, and Clean are non-radio favorites & I just scored tickets to see them this year on my bday. I'm actually seeing them twice in 2023. It will be undoubtedly different without Fletch, but I AM STOKED. This band is me...14 year old me, 20 something me, 30 & 40 something me, forever me.

Owens is one of the most influential country musician & I have him to thank for inspiring some of my favorite artists (Dwight Yoakam, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones to name a few). This album has classic 60s country tunes along with the beginnings of rock n roll. Act Naturally has been a favorite for years & throughly enjoyed this album. I'm adding it to my country music rotation.

The vocals on this album are incredible. I don't know what kind of training it takes to sing like this, but it's gotta take a lot of work for both Björk & her backup vocalists. Ethereal, surreal, soothing, and beautifully foreign. A nice rounded 4.

I think this is the first soundtrack that's come up in this challenge, and it's one I'm very familiar with thanks to a close friend. As much as I love Air, this isn't a particularly riveting listen. My favorite is Playground Love & heard it dozens of times, but Suicide Underground is just a creepy recap of what happens in the movie & the rest is a tad boring. I prefer Moon Safari over this album, but I'll give it four stars for nostalgia, the movie, and because I love this band.

I was late to the punk scene (mostly because I had new wave/metal head friends), so this is was my first intro to pop-punk. This album came out the year I was a freshman & I instantly loved it.

After hearing only great things about Solange, I can honestly say that I am WOWED. She's got a gorgeous voice, her songs & interludes are beautifully told, and the vibe vibe is wonderfully chill. I've officially added her to my library. 4.5 stars *On a separate note, I wish we'd have the ability to edit our reviews since I accidentally hit the vote button before I finished writing my last review.

Better than I remember. Kudos to Shirley Mason & the band for still drawing crowds at their shows. Solid 90s alt rock.

This is my kind of metal. Dark, heavy, loud, fast & with a healthy amount of Satan worship. Fucking classic. Reminds me a bit of Motorhead. After another listen, I'm sure I'll bump this up to 5 stars.

I know this album is supposed to be an epic, but I found it hokey & a little dull. I know this band is crazy talent, but I never really enjoyed them - they're my least favorite of the big rock English bands of that time.

This is good stuff! It's like punk meets spoken word with hella style. I'll be listening to this again.

I've been listening to Lennon's solo work for many years, so this was like revisiting old favorites. I've always admired his writing style & sometimes wished I had just a sliver of his talent. Solid album.

I was hoping for more from this album since Love Fool is one of the best 90s pop songs, but it fell a little flat. It was pretty voice music with not much to offer. I did enjoy Losers & an interesting take on Iron Man, but everything else was just ordinary. 3.5 stars.

Elton John is one of my all-time favorite artists & pianists. I'd listen to him so much that one of my cats took a strong liking to him. Eventually, he became her favorite & she'd roll around in bliss to his music. As she became increasingly ill with cancer, I'd let her watch his old concerts on my iPad & I'd serenade her. It was sad & beautiful. This album, and cover art, is wonderful. I adore Goodbye Yellow Brick Road & its somber lyrics & I enjoy the opening tracks, too. Bennie and The Jets always pulls me in & Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting is full-blast fun. What a great listen. This definitely deserves to be on the list & I hope those not familiar with his work found something they enjoyed here. 5 stars. P.S. there was a bad ass arcade in Austin, TX that had a Goodbye Yellow Brick Road pinball machine & playing it was one of the best memories ever.

You Can Call Me Al brings back vivid memories of the video with Chevy Chase. That song was a mega hit at the time, and little kid me loved every bit of it. 80s Paul Simon was pretty fantastic...great song writer & composer, but I've always felt a little uncomfortable with a wealthy white dude making Afro-Carribbean music. Is it homage or is it appropriation? Especially since some of the singers & musicians were from apartheid South Africa. Definitely something to think about. Musically, I thoroughly enjoyed this & will absolutely listen again. Paul Simon is just that good.

Dang, this album is funky jazz hotness! As soon as the first track started playing, I stopped what I was doing & started dancing. This fits right in l with my James Brown/Funkadelic/Alice Coltrane playlist. I'm so glad this popped up in the challenge, otherwise I probably would've missed out. I'll be listening to more of his work. 5 enthusiastic stars.

Fantastic album by a fantastic band. I think people pass Devo off as a one hit wonder, but they couldn't be more wrong. They're a electronic punk band with a message of devolution & were founded after the founding members witnessed the Kent State Massacre. If you listen carefully, those aren't just pop songs, and I'm grateful to have seen them live last year at Cruel World Fest. The energy was off the charts complete with the band ripping their signature suits to shreds. Do yourselves a favor & watch their old 80s shows on YouTube. Nearly the entire album is made of my favorites. I remember first hearing their version of (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction on the movie Casino & was amazed. How in the world can a band recreate THAT song so perfectly? Again, wow. This album is pure joy for me. 5 stars.

Stunning album. These are three of the strongest & most memorable vocalists in country, folk, and rock. All three are legendary in their own right. Separately, these ladies sing some of my favorite songs: Dolly - Jolene, Emmylou Harris - Wayfaring Stranger, Linda Rondstandt - Blue Bayou & her mariachi songs (an ode to her Mexican-American roots). Together, they sing in perfect harmony & cover some classics. I'm also sucker for sappy country, banjo, fiddle & guitar...partly thanks to hearing country growing up & living in Nashville for 8 years (Emmylou lived in my neighborhood). I'm so happy this is one the list & I hope we get to hear their solo albums. What a lovely listen.

I should like this more than I do, but I don't. I'm strangely picky with female led rock/alt bands. 3.5

Pink Floyd is the best psychedelic prog rock band in rock history. I've loved this band & album for a long while & have seen the movie at a local music venue. The whole thing is a misanthropic journey with nightmarish visuals, sharp lyrics, and guitars that will pull you in for an atmospheric ride. Aside from Another Brick In The Wall Part 2, Mother, Young Lust, Hey You & Comfortably Numb are my favorites. I remember first discovering Pink Floyd my freshman year at UT Austin when my intro to psych professor talked a about tripping balls to Floyd & Zeppelin...and somehow he'd weave it into our lectures. Such a liberal arts & hippy-rocker thing to do & very telling of Austin at the time. I used to hate Comfortably Numb because it reminded me of one of my first college jobs doing phone surveys & that song was part of the survey, but years later the association between song & job have faded and have come to deeply appreciate that tune. Floyd also reminds me a bit of a ex...we'd have discussions about the band & it's movies - good times. 5 stars. I can't wait for Dark Side of the Moon.

Not my favorite by The Kinks. Aside from David Watts, the rest was unremarkable. That's too bad 'cause I like this band.

This is exactly what I was in the mood for today. Thanks to this challenge, I went down a Lou Reed, Velvet Underground, and Iggy Pop rabbit hole. Perfect Day & Walk On the Wild Side are classics, and I love Satellite of Love. The album gets a little sleepy at times, but it's such a solid listen, I left it on repeat. 4 stars.

Great post punk album. It even went a little techno at one point. Will be listening to this again.

Classic rock done right. Great album.

When I saw this album, I thought easy 4 or 5. Yup, I give it a solid 4 for some of the best pop songs in modern history. It's easy to hate this & pass it off a bubble gum pop, because it is, but this album & its singles never stopped being played at gay clubs, drag shows, and at parties. Britney isn't a strong vocalist, in fact she has a lot of support from her backup singers on this album, but damn those tunes are catchy. I will always love Britney & she deserves pop music accolades.

Even with Old Blue Eyes on lead vocals, I found this boring.

Classic punk

Reminds me of the late 80s & the school dances I'd go. Loved doing the Humpty Dance. Good times.

Such a bad ass metal album. The arrangements & Ozzy's voice just make this a spectacular listen. Long live Sabbath!

This is fantastic - what incredible talent it takes to write such poignant songs & slap with high energy guitars, percussion, brass & vocals. 5 stars.

I love his music & his style of piano playing. I'm glad this came up on a day I was feeling blah...it lifted my spirits & ended up listening to hours of him, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke & the like. Yes, Ray Charles is a genius.

Of all bands & albums, this is one of two where I have to brace myself. It's so fucking emotional, I can barely stand it (the other is Blackstar by David Bowie). Stripped down & raw. Covers of old songs & original work. This is what beauty & pain sound like. I ADORE this album & love this band in a way I love no other. I'm going to keep this short because it still pains young me & I never got over what happened. I'll never forget the news I received that high school morning about Kurt's passing, all us kids sobbing & none of us being able to breathe. 5 sad depressing beautiful stars

Fits in nicely with what I've been listening to lately.

Holy smokes, this was their debut album?! This band is hard to describe & I think a little hard to get into, but after a few listens, you'll get pulled in & end up listening to more of their work. Hugh Cornwell has a naturally strong & brooding voice that isn't typical of most punk/post-punk bands. It lends to a deep & rich sound, which stirs up the senses & gives the album gusto. Great listen.

Faces & this era of Rod Stewart is pretty spectacular. They're rockin, bluesy, and witty. The lyrics to Stay With Me are hilarious...it's a one night stand, but ya better be gone by the time I wake up. The brutal honesty is on another level. Most bands use innuendo, but not this one. It's a perfect song. The rest of the album is just as good. Definitely one to revisit. 4.5 stars.

This was not enjoyable

Cry to Me has been a favorite for a long while thanks to Dirty Dancing, but I was surprised to find new favorites. What a voice! It feels like he's signing straight to your soul. I was raised on 60s soul & rock, so this felt warm & familiar. Great addition to this challenge. 4 stars.

A wonderfully crafted post-punk/new wave album.

Chill 70s Dad Rock. The first two songs are my favorites, and I learned they sing Reelin' In The Years. I dig it.

Atrocious

You know when you taste or smell something that takes you back to a certain place & time? That's exactly what this album does to me. I'm a freshman in high school feeling all the feelings & have found my catharsis. Nevermind is hard raw poetry that makes all the sense in a senseless world. I lost myself in the words, angst & heavy guitars. It's a phenomenal album by a phenomenal band. 5 out of 5.

If I could go back & re-rate the other Bruce album, I'd give it a perfect 5. This one, though, is not my favorite. I've never been a fan of folk/Americana, and what's up with that shouting? No, thanks.

Aside from Peg, this album fell flat & was boring.

Not great, not bad. Chamber pop will never be something I truly enjoy.

Solid album. If I were a teen in the 70s, I would've gone nuts over his music. What an interesting collection of songs, and I especially like the inclusion of brass instruments - I was just thinking about horns in rock songs & how they often add that extra kick. Metal heads & goths owe a lot to Alice. He's the Godfather of the macabre.

I was raised on Elvis, early rock n roll, country, and R&B, so this is something I've been looking forward to. His early stuff is wonderfully sappy, fun, and saucy. He perfected that country-rock twang & rhythm. I love Elvis & listen to his music fairly often. Did he exploit black music & musicians? Probably. Or is it homage to black music? Something to think about. The album cover is so iconic, The Clash copied it for London Calling. I'm listening to this on repeat for a while - it's that flippin good. I look forward to more Elvis.

I used work at an Italian restaurant in downtown Nashville & waited on John Prine several times. He was a big man with a soft presence. I didn't know who he was at first, but everyone was quick to tell me he was one of the most respected & revered artists. I very much appreciate his songwriting & this is a solid debut album, but folk-country just isn't my thing. I give it 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this album for chill background office music

I was hoping for more from this band, but the album was mediocre.

Unremarkable

The night before this popped up, a friend asked what song would I listen to if the world was ending. I said if I had enough time for two songs, my first would be One Hundred Years by The Cure because it's pure gloom & doom followed by the song 1999. The lyrics to that song a wholly apocalyptic, but you can also dance your ass off & feel good about the world ending. Prince had a knack for introspective song writing paired with catchy funky dance beats. This is album is excellent across the board & Prince will always be one of my favorite all-time artists.

I started listening to Megadeth a few years ago when I rediscovered metal, and I'm glad I did. They're fast, their loud, their lyrics are poignant, and it's entertaining as hell...let's also not forget about Eddie. I really need to sit down & have a Megadeth marathon because this band is that good

I know this band was pretty popular at a point, but I never got into them & find them just moderately interesting. I'd rather listen to Portishead.

It's weirdo prog rock Genesis. I don't care for it. The Peter Gabriel era is interesting & I prefer Nursery Crime over this album.

I enjoy his voice & some of his music, but this was a little on the boring side.

In My late 20s & early 30s I had a rock/blue phase. I'd go to blues clubs & festivals, so this album fits that part of me perfectly. I love this style of guitar & vocals...it sounds like soulful sex. I'm taking this as a reminder to revisit this genre. 5 outta 5.

One of the best rock albums of all-time. Zeppelin is my second favorite band, so I have this album memorized. There a lot of favorites, but In My Time of Dying is one of my funeral songs. It starts off slow & slowly builds to wailing with out of this realm vocals. Yes, I want Plant & Paige played loudly with an open bar nearby - not joking. The album has several of my other favorites, and I'll never tire of them. This is rock n roll, this is sex, and Plant & Page are bona-fide Rock Gods.

Solid 90s album. I'll have to revist this.

Fuckin fantastic headbanging metal. It's no wonder this is a lot of people's favorite band. Strong vocals, excellent guitar & bass, and perfectly executed percussion. As a side note, I'm glad Master of Puppets was featured on Stranger Things. I hope the younger generations carry on with the meal tradition. I never want it to die. 🤘

It's decent French pop. I'd listen as background music while working. I'm sure if I were in a certain mood, I'd very much like some of the songs. Overall, it's an okay album.

A great electronic album with house & jazzy elements. Beautiful vocals by the lead singer, Tracey Thorn, and excellent mixing by Ben Watt. If anyone wants to know what the late 90s sounded like, this is it. Glad to hear they're putting out a new album 20+ years later. It'll be a nice welcome back.

A bit too hippie folk rock for me. I did like a few bits when it veered into chill soundscapes & made me realize some of my favorite bands must've been inspired by that particular sound, but the rest was not my bag.

I've never been a fan of overt sexual content in music, so the album lost points for me. It was a decent listen for this genre, but I would not listen again.

Spectacular album. I was thinking about this band & album the other day. Most of the songs were already marked as my favorite, so it was an anticipated listend. I ended up enjoying this album four times in one day - it's that good. Trip hop with gorgeous vocals...it almost veers into industrial/Goth territory. 100% up my alley. Love love love this album. 5 outta 5.

What a fun album! Listening brought back several friend memories, so this was a joyous listen. I'm also impressed this was their debut album. Aside from the pop hit Blister in the Sun, Add It Up, Kiss Off, and Gone Daddy Gone are my favorites. Seeing them live three times has been a real treat. They've been performing for decades, and you can tell they still love what they do. 5 outta 5.

ABBA is always fantastic. Some songs are super hits while others are so so, but I enjoyed this overall. I have a list of favorite Swedish bands, and ABBA is #1.

Beautiful melancholic shoe gaze. It's raw & emotional. This band reminds me that guitar is my favorite instrument & they're masters of their work. I adore JAMC, but I've never seen them live despite having the chance last year...I have a regretful feeling I'm never going to see them. Excellent album & band.

I have this album on cassette & have had it since 1990. It's quintessential 80s Peter Gabriel & it's perfect. Don't Give Up ft. Kate Bush, Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Big Time, and In Your Eyes - Jesus, this is a juggernaut. Something about his voice, cadence, and emotion draws me in. I've been revisiting Peter Gabriel in both his Genesis & solo years lately, and I wish I would've taken a deeper dive sooner. He's touring this year, so I'm taking this as a sign to see him live. I'll regret it if I don't. 5 out of 5.

Very good electronic music

This era of The Kinks is pretty great. I enjoyed this.

Good, but not spectacular. 3.5 stars rounding up to 4.

Good pop album. Beyoncé definitely knows pop, but it's just my thing. 3.5 stars.

I totally understand Tom Waits' following, but this album didn't do much for me. 3.5 stars. On a side note: I barely learned that he played Redfield in Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1992. I feel silly for not knowing that because it's very obviously him.

3.5 stars

I've been actively listening to Can for a couple of years, and I dig their stuff. They're a little weird, psychedelic, and experimental. Some tracks remind me of the t.v. show, Twin Peaks - there's definitely an ethereal haunting quality to this album. The more I listen to Can, the more I enjoy. Solid 4 with the possibility of 5 stars in the near future.

I wanted to lie this more, but I didn't.

Such fantastic disco funk. Pretty much anything Niles Rodgers touches turnstiles into gold. I'm glad I finally got the opportunity to listen to an entire CHIC album...I'll add them to my playlist cause this was fun & I'll see them in about a month opening for Duran Duran. Niles Rodgers helped revitalized DD's career, so it'll be cool to see both bands on the same night. 4 solid stars.

So very good. I wish I had gotten into Judas Priest years ago. Rob Halford has one of strongest vocals & widest ranges in music history, and I'd bet seeing JP live back in the day was spectacular. If you follow Rob on social media, you'll see a sweet & kind man that adores cats. Great album.

It's so so

Elevator jazz

I know this dude has a huge following, but it sounds like standard British pop. Meh.

Loved listening to this album. I feel like I can always reset my mood when listening to classic metal.

Tiny Dancer is my favorite Elton John song, and Levon is great. A solid album by one of my favorite artists.

Better than I expected. 3.5 stars.

It was ok

Much better than the last album we rated. I enjoyed this.

Reminded me of the time I had a brief Moby phase.

3.5 stars

Just a notch above truly awful

I'm embarrassed to admit that I barely found out about this band last year after seeing them live at Riot Fest. How did I miss out on this great all-female indy band? For shame. Better to have discovered them late than never.

Something about Bob Marley & The Wailers that puts me in a good mood even though some of their stuff is pretty heavy lyrically. I'm not a big fan of reggae, but this was solid.

I've always enjoyed Van Morrison's voice, and Moondance is one of my favorite songs. I enjoyed this.

Rock forward synth - this is a fantastic album by one of my favorite bands. I've known some of these songs for decades, particularly Elegia for being in Pretty In Pink & Perfect Kiss for its cute as heck frog noises (I could probably just hear a loop of the frog noises & be happy). This album is a mix of joy, sorrow, and anguish done in a danceable fashion. I've never seen New Order live as a whole, but I have seen Peter Hook and The Light, and that show was PHENOMENAL. It was at an intimate venue & he did a full Joy Division & a full New Order set. Just spectacular. Great album by a great band. The more I listen, the more I want to get lost in it. 4.5

This album is gay-rock-art-glam with hints that Bowie is a poetic alien. I think most people getting to know Bowie's work generally start at this phase of his career (although I started at Low thanks to NIN), and it's a good place to get to know his work. I've know Changes since I was a kid and later realized that it's quoted at the beginning of The Breakfast Club. Of all the songs, Life on Mars? gets me right in the feels - I have to catch my breath nearly every time I hear it. Oh! You Pretty Things, Kooks, Andy Warhol, and Queen Bitch are all fab. Great Bowie album.

I imagine hearing this live with people dancing is the best way to enjoy the album.

Super hard & fast. I can imagine the live shows were dangerously fun.

A more mature less disco version of ABBA. The song The Visitors sounds like a Sparks composed tune, which was a pleasant surprise. The rest reminded me of what you might see as part of a theatrical musical. Good but not fantastic. 3.5 stars.

Good classic Aerosmith

That was bad

This album definitely deserves to be on this list.

Incredible from start to finish. One of my favorite albums by my second favorite band of all-time. It's rock, folk, soul, and the beginnings of metal. And if I could emulate anyone's voice, it would be Robert Plant's - dude can wail! I ended up listening to hours of Zeppelin, as I often do when I feel like I need to a hard reset. Zeppelin is where my musical foundation lays, and everything else is built upon it. 5 perfect stars.

Awful

Soothing orchestral background music 3.5 stars

I remember Mr. Wendel & Tennesee pretty well and enjoyed both back in the day & today. The rest of the album was ok but not stellar.

It's good & nice, but how many Brazilian albums are we going to continue to get? I wish this list had albums from other countries. This feels skewed.

Fantastic. I think this is my favorite phase of The Who.

Excellent English punk

I really liked this. It was far less wacky than I expected. I'm a fan of acid jazz, so this is good listening. Adding this to my "chill" playlist.

Just fantastic classic country. I've always been a fan of George & his voice. 5 stars.

Very enjoyable. I've heard a fair amount of Jamiroquai but never a studio album. Wow! That was funky, soulful & groovy. Feel good 70s vibe. I'll be listening to him during my workdays. 4.5 stars.

I'm sure being there live was pretty fantastic, but it felt cheesy as an album.

I remember having a Talking Heads phase & knew no one that enjoyed the band. They quietly became one of my favorites & I've appreciated them ever since. The whole album feels like one piece with Burning Down the House as it's standout. The video for that song was a core MTV moment for me. I remember trying to figure out the faces on the side of the house - what did it all mean? Talking Heads made great music. 4 stars

808 State laid the groundwork for electronic dance music. It may sound dated, but they are pioneers for their genre. Gotta love when Speak & Spell was used as a musical instrument.

WTF is up with all the bossa nova albums?! It's so irritating. Like I mentioned before, there are international albums that deserve attention. Boooo!

Although none of their mega hits appear on this album, it's still Fleetwood Mac. Beautifully written & performed, this was an enjoyable listen. Sara & Tusk are my favorites with new tracks added to my liked songs. What a band. 4 stars.

I had a coworker play the hell out of The Gun Club, and now I can't stand them. If I hadn't had that experience, I'd probably like this just enough.

That was boring. Did not care for it.

So Pink Floyd has always been it weird, it seems. This album is very prog rock & good to be played in the background...and possibly under the influence of fungi. 3.5 stars

I very much enjoyed Thelonious Monk & often listen to him when I'm in a jazzy mood. 4.5 stars

I'd been listening to this album quite a bit in the last few months in preparation of seeing Iggy at Cruel World, and it gets better as I continue to listen. Lust for Life is one of my funeral songs & Success is something I play for myself to get pumped for my work. The rest of the album is fantastic & I love Bowie as a background vocalists. Excellent album. 5 stars.

She's got a gorgeous voice and I like the genre just enough, but it isn't an album I'd reach for. 3.5 stars

I never thought I'd like this band as much as I do, but it's something I'll admit after listening thanks to this challenge. I love the harmonies & the lyrics. It's solid stuff.

My knowledge of punk is mostly British, so I'm glad this was part of our challenge. Interesting that they sound more rock in this album & not what I expected for punk. I very much enjoyed it & will listen to more of them.

I love Janis & all of her work. There's lots of soul & 60s folk-psychedlic vibes in the album, and her voice is stellar. Enjoyable listen.

Sounds like a cheap version of Ministry. 2.5 stars

I enjoy this style of jazz & enjoyed this album

I got about halfway through & stopped listening cause it got boring. I love Southern rock, but this feels like an ode to Southern rock not the actual thing. 2.5 stars

I was so stoked to see Neneh on this challenge. She's incredibly talented and should've risen to stardom but just didn't make it. Her song, Buffalo Stance, is on high rotation cause it's that good - perfect, in my opinion. The video is equally captivating & is a true example of late 80s hip-hop. I took a Neneh Cherry deep dive about 5 years ago & learned she's from Sweden (score another for the Swedes...they're some of the most musically innovative artists in the world). I enjoyed this album so much, I ended up listening to it on repeat. What a talent. 4.5 stars

Unremarkable indie rock 2.5

Just quirky & interesting enough. Hello It's Me is a 70s classic, and some of the stuff here touches on the experimental. I need to give him props for helping other artists (Sparks comes to mind), so this guy is talented. It's just not something I'd reach for. 3.5 stars.

What a great listen. Very groovy & 70s chill. And let's not forget how smooth Isaac Hayes' voice is.

I have a big appreciation for CCR & wore out one of their albums in college. That twang & that Southern soul really struck me (eventhough the band is from California). Excellent listen. 4.5 stars

Classic late 2000s indy. Great vocals & arrangements. Solid album.

I liked this quite a bit & they reminded me a bit of The Damned at times. The album was far too long, though. Good listen. 3.5 stars

I really enjoy 60s jazz, on the verge of even loving it. Mellow & smooth. Definitely something I'd listen to again. 4.5 stars

There are some good songs and a couple of songs that were just alright. 3.5 stars

It's just a bunch weirdo forest hippies making crap music. Even my dog looked at me & wondered what the hell is this. Hard no.

U2 was my favorite band for many years, and this era is just spectacular. They were one of the best post punk bands, and it's because of them I learned a bit about Irish religion & politics. Sharp songs & lyrics. Excellent. I hope we get to hear Boy & October since they feel like part of an early U2 trifecta. 5 stars.

I'm surprised at how much I liked this. I've said numerous times that I can't stand Neil Young's whiny nasal voice, but I enjoyed this entire album. Glad my opinion of him was challenged cause this was good folk rock.

This is generic boring new wave. Nope.

Right as I was pining for the old feel of Austin & San Antonio country, this album pops up. I'm impressed with this Californian band, and it seems Gram Parsons had a lot to do with the sound on this album. When I think of country rock, I usually think of The Rolling Stones, but I'm stunned at how good this is. I love classic country & country-rock, so I'm adding this to my favorites. 4.5 stars

This has got to be one of the greatest live performances ever recorded. It's top-notch funky soulful James Brown.

This album is an emotional, physiology, psychological, and psychedelic journey. If shrooms were an album, it would be this. The first song is like holy shit - yes Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time & it ain't good. I remember challenging myself to listen to this about a year or so ago, and I'm so glad I did. It's so weirdly funky & poignant it leaves me breathless. It's also jam & dance worthy. Absolute perfection. 5 stars.

I may be in the minority, but I don't like the harmonies & I can't stand Neil Young's voice on this album. I enjoyed Almost Cut My Hair but didn't care for the folksy Americana tracks. The ones with a rock sound were pretty good, but I wouldn't play this again. Our House is grates on my nerves & just can't stand that song.

Fats Domino was a rock n roll pioneer. Good stuff.

Someone recently asked to define myself with 3 bands. I can't narrow myself to just three in total, but when it comes to classic 60s & 70s rock my top favorites are The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. This album is gnarly, psychedelic, experimental, emotional prog rock at its absolute finest. I love this album so much (my 2nd favorite of the band) I played it in a loop today. I get lost in it every time, and Wish You Were Here is one of the greatest songs ever written. This band & album gives me goosebumps. Someone better play this at my funeral. 5 stars.

I heavily got into 70s music during the first two years of college, and Blondie was often on repeat. Excellent post punk with unique vocals from Debbie Harry. Gotta love the band's look, too. 4.5 stars.

I like Kanye, but this is not his best.

I love this album & Amy Winehouse so much, I created a YouTube playlist YEARS ago dedicated to her. She absolutely nailed the 60s girls group soul vibe. Her voice gives me chills, and her lyrics were sharp & biting. How she managed to make music sound retro & modern at the same time is beyond me. I've seen many live performances & the documentary, Amy. It guts me every time and wish she were still with us. What an incredible talent. 5 brilliant stars for Amy & this album.

Solid listen

Absolutely fantastic. Without Amy Winehouse, we wouldn't have Adele. She has one of the most soulful & powerful voices in modern music. Beautifully performed. I ended up also listening to 21 since this album got me in the mood for Adele. 4.5 stars

I know this band thanks to M.I.A.'s cover of Roadrunner. The rest of the album felt like it was trying to take off, but it just didn't go anywhere. Maybe I should listen to another of their albums since I'm intrigued enough. We shall see.

Classic & enjoyable

How I never had a Jeff Beck phase is beyond me. I love 60s & 70s rock, so I'm sore to have missed out on his music most of my life. It's rock, it's blues, it's country...it's great stuff.

I'm a fan of artsy weirdos 4.5 stars

I must've been in the mood for this because I found this relaxing & enjoyable 3.5 stars

Something about Cat Stevens' voice sooths me. Although I'm not a big fan of mellow folk, this album was enjoyable. 3.5 stars

Better than I expected

Best of Blue Eyed Soul. Absolutely fantastic. 4.5 stars

Of the Stevie Wonder albums we've listened to thus far, this is my favorite. He definetly found his own groove here. Living for The City & Higer Ground are classics, and the rest was quite enjoyable. I can also see how this particular album must've inspired modern R&B/pop artists. 4 stars.

The first song was good & that's about it. This is a NO for me.

P

This album influenced me so greatly, I discovered David Bowie, his album Low, and the love for music that challenges me. The Downward Spiral came out the year I graduated high school & went to a giant state college. The video for Closer was on heavy MTv rotation, and it simultaneously scared the shit out of me, intrigued & excited me - these were feelings about music I had never had before. My favorite NIN song, March of the Pigs, is burned into my brain also thanks to the video. It's raw, angry, and I loved the contrast of a blank room with super angry dudes in black going at it. Sidenote: the still image of Robin Fink standing with his guitar with that hair, leather & boots is permanently saved to my phone. If someone were to ask what 1994 looked like, I'd show them that pic. This is much darker album than its predecessor, and it was recorded during Trent's heavy drug phase. You can hear the self-loathing, dark depression, and the fuck you to Christianity...which spoke to me as a 20something having experienced a traumatic childhood. I'm so grateful to this band & this album. Last year was the first time I saw them live & was three rows away from Trent. I lasted three songs then crowd surfed my way out at the age of 46. I then gave myself a concussion from body slamming so hard. I also had this album on cassette & passed it onto my nephew when he was a teen. I think it helped him while he was going through his own muck. Incredible band, album, and memories.

I fondly remembered Anita Baker thanks to my aunt & uncle listening to R&B stations back in the day. Every time Anita came on, I'd stop to listen. To this day, I think about her - I'm so glad this was on the challenge. This is classic R&B, and it's done right. I loved this album so much, I listened to it three times & let the algorithm run free after the album was over. What an awesome day of beautiful & chill R&B. It was like hearty chicken soup for the soul. 5 stars.

This is my least favorite Madonna album, but I do love Impressive Instant. The rest sounds dated & bland compared to her other work. It's honestly disappointing to see this one & not Confessions on a Dance Floor - that one has an ABBA sample for christ's sake! I will always love/hate Madonna, and she'll always be The Queen of Pop, but this album is a general dud.

This band is in my blood. Every song is stellar, and Thank You is one of the best love songs ever. Can't believe a band can be this brilliant on their second try. 5 stars.

I enjoyed this album & this era of rock. Take Me Out will always be a favorite. Fun listen.

She annoys the hell outta me and can't stand to listen more than one song. No thanks.

Fantastic. Some of this still sounds fresh today, and I enjoyed the trip down memory lane with their classics. I particularly enjoyed the ambient tracks. Well done. 4.5 stars.

Such a damn good album. This is Southern rock at its best - swampy, full of grit & soul. 5 stars, easily.

Mediocre and they ruined Norwegian Wood. Boo!!!

This is definitely Eno & Bryne, but it's muddled with no direction. I love their own stuff, but this felt like wasted air. What a shame.

Not as good as I hoped it to be

I'm just not into this

This had a few of my favorites thanks to the movie Velvet Goldmine. It stars a very young Christian Bale along with Ewan McGregor, Toni Collette, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Eddie Izzard. It's a great intro to Eno, glam rock, and Queer cinema. Not every song was a favorite, but I enjoyed the album overall. It's a bit glam, ambient, experimental, and prog rock. I'm into that kind of weirdo music. 4 stars.

It turns out I like R.E.M. more than I thought. Solid album, although Stand has to be one of the most annoying songs. My favorite song, Orange Crush, still has that special something after all these years. I don't think I could listen to hours of this band, but I could certainly listen here & there when the mood strikes.

Classic Aerosmith

This mega sucked & took the spot of an album that deserves to be here. Dumb.

This album has officially converted me - Kate Bush is far more talented & creative than I originally gave her credit for. What a challenging & thrilling listen. This album moved me so much that I played the album twice. It's creative, odd, eccentric, theatrical, brooding, and bold. I'm surprised that I enjoyed this more than her commercially successful albums. I honestly never thought I'd get around to truly enjoying her work, but I'm REALLY into this. 4.5

Good background music, but that's about it.

Great album with some of my favorites

I've been taking a deep dive into TFF over the last few years & saw them live, again, a month ago. It's not easy to sing like Roland & Curt, but they make it seem effortless. They're sensitive rockers & this album feels like 80s comfort nostalgia. I love their big hits with a soft spot for Head Over Heels (thanks, Donnie Darko), Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Mothers Talk. The music videos for their hits are also memorable. Excellent listen. P.S. Roland's birthday just passed & I learned that his full name is Roland Jaime Orzábal de la Quintana with family from Argentina. Who knew?!

One of my favorite albums at the time. It's mellow French synthpop with dreamy landscapes.

The Weight is a good song, but the rest is too Americana folksy for me. 2.5 stars.

This is better of The Who albums we've listened two with a couple of classics, but they are my least favorite of the big British bands of the time.

I forgot how much I used to like this. This was very much my thing in the late 80s. Soulful electronic house. Good stuff.

Not my thing

I understand the significance of Method Man & Wu-Tang, but this isn't for me.

I know Serge Gainsbourg via his daughter, Charlotte, and his popular song Bonnie and Clyde. He's definitely a French staple, but the nature of this album is creepy & pedophilic. There's something about European men in the 70s that got away with A LOT of grooming of young women (read how Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones married & took custody of a teenager). Back to the album...I liked it. Maybe it's because I studied French for seven years & sometimes enjoy spoken word concept albums. I like the tone of Serge's voice & it made me want to revisit French (something I put back on my to-do list last week). I would listen again. 3.5 stars

A little too jam band for me, but still decent..

Not my kind of metal

Finally a Sparks album! I was introduced to this band about 12 years ago by ex & took a deep dive a few years after. Sparks sounds like theater nerds who didn't make it in acting but killed it at making quirky music. I didn't realize how influential they were until I watched the Edgar Wright documentary. I was wowed at how many of my favorite bands were influenced by them. This album sounds like the older cousin to Kate Bush's The Dreaming but funnier. It's astounding that the Mael brothers have made decades of music and no two records sound the same. Kimono My House is one of three of my favorite Sparks albums with the big opener, The Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us. It's over the top glam with oddball lyrics...and that voice! I honestly love the entire album with a soft spot for Amateur Hour, Falling In Love With Myself Again & Equator. This album is in my usual rotation along with Angst In My Pants & The Number One Song In Heaven. I absolutely love this band & have seen them live twice. These guys are almost 80 and they're doing world tours with a new album that dropped this spring. This band brings me such joy that I cried at their show. They feel like the dorky older brokers I wish I had. I adore this band & this album.

80s blues & soul. Great voice & I enjoy Holding Back the Years, but it's not my speed.

I love Rod Stewarts voice & a few songs on this album, but it doesn't quite hit the mark for me. 3.5 stars

I already had their cover of Sweet Jane marked as a favorite and was pleasantly surprised by the rest of the album. I've heard the band name many times before, but I never dove in until now. It's very David Lynch-esque with its dramatically slow & mellow vocals & vibes. It's the type of bluesy country you'd find in Twin Peaks. I dig it & will definitely listen again.

Aside from their mega hit Wake Up, the rest was ok. Not something I'd actively want to listen to.

Classic rock blues

I liked this more than I thought I would 3.5 stars

I liked it 3.5 stars

Connected & Step Up are two of my favorite jams of the era. The rest of the album made for good background dance. 3.5 stars.

This was pleasant & reminded me of Echo & The Bunnymen at times. I will definitely listen again.

I'm sure this guy has an audience, but that audience isn't me.

I liked the jazzy songs, but the album took a weird turn & was all over the place.

This is like a cross between Van Morrison & Jimmy Buffet except it's forgettable.

Another mediocre album taking the spot of far better album that could be on the list.

Finally something with soul. I loved this & it reminded me to revisit one of my favorite genres. I had a good Blues listening streak long ago & would go to a couple of Blues bars in Nashville, including B.B. King's. His voice & guitar playing are recognizable from the first note. Just brilliant stuff.

Fantastic trip down 90s memory lane. Beth Gibbons' voice is gorgeous & the band essentially created the trip hop genre.

I loved this. It was a wonderful listen throughout the day.

Absolutely iconic album & album cover. I'll never forget the times I saw The Bunnymen live. The first time was pure magic, but the second time was an utter mess thanks to Ian's alcoholism...but I digress. The Killing Moon is superb, and the video is essential 80s goth. The rest of the album is dark & romantic. I could go on about how Ian is a huge wanker, but the music he made with his band is wonderful. This album, along with others of its time, is part of my regular listening. Fantastic album.

Firey, psychedelic, bluesy rock n roll. Everything Jimi Hendrix did was superb.

All I can hear is Toy Story & Pixar songs. If my mind wasn't predisposed to think about kids' films, I'd say this is an okay album.

I was so happy to see this one the list. I've been listening to Buddy Holly since I was a wee kid thanks to my aunts & uncles. And one of my youngest memories was learning that Buddy Holly was from Texas - it was like a badge of honor for my Texan family. This era is when country turns into rock n roll, and it will always be one of my favorite pivot points for music. I absolutely love Holly's nasaly hiccupy voice. It's so distinct, and a personal favorite. There's so much I could say about Buddy Holly & his band, but I'd go on forever. Let's just say I'm a big fan & I truly loved this.

I understand the significance of Buffalo Gals, but the rest of the album was all over the place. It was strangely part rap & part world. No cohesion.