It’s a long album, but you can choose any song and be blown away by her talent. Definitely changed my view of her, since I always just had her a generic pop star in my head. My bad.

More stars than songs. Impressive.

The first theee songs sound like they could be the background to a guided meditation. Nothing special, but pleasant listening. The next three songs erase any good will and totally shift gears. More electronic, more upbeat, more lyrics (barely). Two halves, neither of which did anything amazing for me.

Au contraire, I did not have to listen to this before I died.

Juvenile and unpleasant.

Hotel California (song) is amazing. Rest is pretty good. Wasted Time is a solid anthem

Exactly what you expect for an album that starts with Ace of Spades.

Good Irish drinking music. Felt like what would happen if you gave a pub band from the 1300s modern day instruments.

This is a Missy Elliott exclusive. Appreciated the monologues and the songs were mostly fine. Not my typical genre but I could see myself throwing this on again.

Just felt pretentious and too much for me. Occasionally a song or two would have good moments, but not enough to bring me back to this one.

Just couldn’t get into it. Enjoyed the sound of it, but the lyrics just didn’t grab me.

Outside of a few good melodies, I got nothing out of this one.

While I understand why some feel strong emotions about this album, this isn’t something I enjoy listening to at all.

The energy of this album is terrific. Even if it hasn’t aged perfectly, you get the message of how they felt in that time.

Really love this version of Taylor. Think I prefer Folklore to this one, but the vibe is one of my favorites

Enjoyable enough, but definitely gets dull at times and doesn’t quite earn the length of the jams.

It’s fine, but nothing that hasn’t been done better or less juvenilely.

The first theee songs sound like they could be the background to a guided meditation. Nothing special, but pleasant listening. The next three songs erase any good will and totally shift gears. More electronic, more upbeat, more lyrics (barely). Two halves, neither of which did anything amazing for me.

Not my favorite Bowie album, but still a really good album.

A fun listen, just for the voice and the showy feel of it. But it’s pretty simplistic and being another language makes me unlikely to return to it anytime soon.

This is one where I just go really? Really? There wasn’t another album out there more influential or, just better? Hard to believe. It makes me look back at some other 1s I’ve given and realize they should’ve been 2s.

Not my favorite Bowie, but still a lot to like. The piano rock vibes that come out in this album are really fun.

Great energy in this album and Sabotage is an all time get pumped song.

Third Beastie Boys in under three weeks. Middle of them, between Paul’s Boutique and Ill Communication

I appreciate that when music is in a different language, it’s just a vibe check. And this one passes

First four songs are one of the best album openers ever. Rest of the album doesn’t keep that level but still good overall.

Perfect blend of groovy and weird. Will definitely listen again

If David Bowie had 50% less lyrics and 150% more sax.

Too gloomy to enjoy that much

Just another random songwriter album that fill the thousand albums. It’s nothing special, I’m not sure why it’s on the list, but it’s not bad or anything. Just a resounding meh

Maybe a boomer take, but I really love a simple album like this. All songs are straightforward, short, and catchy. Just don’t make them like this anymore I feel.

Definitely before it time. Would never guess this was 1970. But ultimately, not quite my style.

The name of the album and the band, combined with the album cover, gave me a pretty clear idea of what the music would be. It did not disappoint.

Haven’t listened to this since high school, but man, Keith Moon is a monster in this one. Great energy for the whole thing with a few really excellent songs outside of the titular one.

Simple and cool.

A few really good songs on this one. Love Wilco

Always loved this album. Paranoid is an underrated all time song.

I love this album for many reasons, but the perfect use of piano and saxophone might be the biggest one.

If I had heard this in high school, probably would’ve liked it way more.

Steely Dan is great but I still feel that I can never name any single song outside of Reelin in the Years.

Straight bongo vibes

Prog rock is just so weird. Sometimes I’m really grooving to it, and other times I’m rolling my eyes

A perfect jazz album. Great tunes for each song and then the solos are wonderful.

Pleasantly surprised by this one. Old style country doesn’t always appeal to me but the lyrics were good and it wasn’t too much a caricature of country either.

Sounded like the music to the Multiplayer levels of Sonic Adventure 2 Battle.

I can see what they’re going for… but it’s not fun to listen to at all

I always have thought of Sam Cooke as a calm, soothing sound. This was an emery I didn’t realize he had and is making me dive into him even more. Such a fun listen.

Incredible talent but just not my favorite style of music. Feel bad giving this rating

Too much meandering, not enough grooving for my prog rock tastes

Straight bops

Everything about this album just fits. The name matches the sound. The cover art matches the vibe. Never heard of this one before, but now it’s easily up there.

Just not very good. There’s a certain angers energy in it, but the voice is just unpleasant and the music isn’t very impressive or enjoyable to listen to. I’m sure teenage angst elevates it but I’m 31 and this just isn’t good.

One of my formative albums. Neighborhood songs are all great in their own ways, but Wake Up is my favorite and a top level pantheon song for me. Goosebumps every time.

Not my favorite Pink Floyd, but still not bad. Just doesn’t have the same memorable songs that my favorites of theirs do.

Album woke up after two songs. I got nervous but it turned out to be a pretty solid album.

An artist that I’ve never dived into before, and that’s my bad. This is an awesome album.

Many people love his lyrics, but man, the music is just straight bad. Some of the songs are painful and, even if they had the most moving lyrics of all time, I’d avoid. Sorry Leonard!

Def Leppard is like McDonalds. It isn’t fine dining, but you know exactly what you’re gonna get and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

If my CRT TV played this instead of white noise, I guess that’d be alright.

Too weird to really love, but definitely able to groove to it at times.

Best Led Zeppelin album in my opinion.

Fantastic chill vibes.

Perfectly fine to listen to, but entirely forgettable.

Had no idea what to expect, but this was an excellent soundtrack for a day.

Very pleasant background, but nothing stuck out.

Was surprised at how many of these I recognized past the top 3. She was much bigger in my childhood radio stations than I realized.

The less I pay attention to it, the more I like it.

Always thought of him as an average 80s rocker, but I enjoyed the hell out of this live album. Doobie Wah was very fub

The hits are fantastic on this one, but the rest of the album doesn’t quite earn the five.

My favorite type of album - a slice of music I never would’ve found on my own.

Just too much meandering. Some cool moments, but not enough to make it worth a second listen.

La Grange is great, but the rest doesn’t stand out at all really. Just fine

Too much meandering, not enough actual song for me. Surprised this one gets universally praised as a top live album.

Nothing I could say hasn’t been said about this album. Perfection.

One of those albums that I’m just not sure why it’s on the list. Nothing terrible, but uninspiring.

Even with Revolution 9, this one gets 5/5 (mainly because I always skip past that one).

In my head, Duran Duran always seemed like generic 80s fodder. This album definitely changed that view.

I love when Elton John gets more dramatic and boy, does he in this album. Strings, long songs, and powerful lyrics. Fun stuff.

Love it all. Slide Away in particular has always been a fave

The length helped the rating because I can listen to anything for 15 minutes.

This music slaps.

A lot more fun than I was expecting. Angsty, but more of a pop to it and less drab.

Fun for a moment.

A bit too self indulgent sounding for me. But Sledgehammer is an all timer.

One of the first albums I ever listened to. Still holds a place in my music heart.

It’s like a mediocre sandwich with the most amazing French bread.

I did really “Let’s Not and Say We Did.”

Short and excellent all the way.

I just don’t get it. You can’t even argue the song writing elevates poor music because there are no lyrics. The music is fine but nothing special and downright weird at times. If I want to listen to a soundtrack, I’ll just listen to one.

It’s a long album, but you can choose any song and be blown away by her talent. Definitely changed my view of her, since I always just had her a generic pop star in my head. My bad.

Too many “meh” songs to earn 5, but when this album goes, it fucking goes.

If anything, this journey has helped me realize Elvis is pretty damn cool, flaws and all.

It’s fitting that the song “I Know I’m Losing You” comes towards the end of this album, because that is definitely where he started losing me.

Outside of one song, this is a fantastic album for a rainy day.

Sultry saxophone sounds to sadden the soul.

Look, you can’t write a misogynistic song, then have it get covered and flipped into an all-time women’s anthem and a top-3 song of all time, and get five stars on the album. You just can’t!

Really thought this would be a five star, but the second half of the album really just drops off in quality. But the first half is sooooo good, so actually, my first thoughts were right.

At least this album wasn’t about murder.

Just a banger of an album. Jump, Panama, and Hot for Teacher are all such great songs, and the rest of the album doesn’t fumble the five star.

I don’t believe there is an album with three better songs together to open. It’s just perfection.

Oh I’m sorry, I thought I was supposed to be listening to music.

People may not like this for generational or pretentious reasons, but you won’t get either of those here!

The kind of album that could be a 1 or a 2. I never hated listening to it, but won’t recall a single thing from it.

I can see why people love this, but can also see why people hate this. Which means, yup, I’m right in the middle.

Good time all around.

Three absolute bad ass songs, and then the rest holds serve.

Second half of the album really picked up and was enjoyable. First half… not so much.

Everything about this album is exactly what you’d expect with that title and album art.

Not sure how this band got two albums on this list. Not sure why I got them both within a week either.

One of these songs: fun! All of these songs: insanity.

As an album to have on while cleaning, it was perfect. Not gonna relisten to this one much I’d wager, but it’s got a specific energy that’s hard to hate.

Hippy dippy music.

There have been many times a songwriter-type artist has come up here. Most are fine, but I don’t attach fully to them, or the lyrics go in one ear and out the other. But every once in a while, the songwriter sticks out and totally captures me. Tracy Chapman is one of those.

So I read the Wiki blurb, saw the album cover with a straight up goober, and saw it was a long one. Got busy and had to skip that day, and was always unexcited at the thought of eventually listening. Finally got around to it, and I got bit by judging a book by its cover. This is a fun album full of entertaining songs.

Honestly, the best prog rock album so far.

This feels impossible to rate. Ambient music can’t be listened to and rated, because by nature, if I’m paying attention to it, it is failing. So I guess considering the fact that I played it and got some work done during means it must be okay, I guess. Weird choice for this journey.

All the respect for his song writing… but his albums just don’t quite hit the mark.

I really enjoyed this, but why are all the songs so long? I just want a normal 3.30-4.30 version of some of these songs.

Shoutout Madden 2005! Hit stick!

Such a mood.

Do You Compute and Super Unison have TERRIBLE beginnings for normal ears. Not fun, not enjoyable. Don’t care how good it is after, having my cringe for the first 30 seconds is a strategy. Also, this music raises my heartbeat. Not really what I’m looking for when I’m trying to get through a Wednesday.

Ah yes, live prog rock. What could be better? I will admit, Nutrocker was pretty sick.

Weird album.

What a lovely adventure of an album.

On the perfect line of never wanting to turn it off, but also never feeling a modicum of emotion or excitement.

Here’s another one of these albums… the vocals suck, the instruments are fine but repetitive, and maybe I can mildly groove to the bass line for a bit. But if that’s all I get, and then the vocals or dissonance brings me out of the groove, what’s the point? Especially when there’s at least 20+ of these albums on this list.

Au contraire, I did not have to listen to this before I died.

What a weird ass album.

Intentional and organized chaos-beauty. Did not see this rating coming. She took me in and I was hooked.

Saw the album and thought, “Sweet, those first three songs are all great, can’t wait to hear it all.” Afterwards, thought “My Dad brainwashed me when I was young.” It’s good, but nothing special. Just What I Needed still bops.

Velvet Underground has long been the band I feel like I should love, but can never fully get into. There are moments that I enjoyed this album, but on the whole, it just doesn’t click for me.

Weird title, good jams.

Zzzzzzz

Incredible talent, but just not my favorite music.

It was fine, but I would always just choose to listen to a Bowie album over this.

Side A: 6/5 Side B: 4/5

There ain’t nothing like a what now?

Big swing with a little bit of everything.

Perfect jams. Thanks Dad for showing me this band in elementary school.

Every song is about two minutes too long.

“Shoulder shrug”

My third electronic album in a row… give me reprieve.

One of the first albums I ever listened to, and it still is awesome. Might be my favorite Zeppelin. Opening riff of Custard Pie is awesome, Houses of the Holy is a Mt Rushmore LZ song, and Night Flight is stupidly catchy.

Serious loser energy.

Juvenile and unpleasant.

Man, it’s a shame that they’ll never be able to make music with this type of energy and fire, rooted in struggle, anger, and hope for the future. Got too big, and that fire dies.

More stars than songs. Impressive.

Never as impressed with Stevie Wonder’s albums as I want to be on the whole.

Just good fun.

What a strange experience. But hey, I got a history lesson

The exact kind of thing I was looking for when I signed up for this challenge. I won’t blast this on repeat, but will definitely return to it when I need some sweet sitar sounds.

I think it finally happened. I found my first five star rap album. Maybe it’s because I’ve been exposed throughout this process and grown my appreciation. It might be the rock’n’roll influenced felt throughout this album. It might have been the catchy lyrics that land in the perfect zone of “tough” but not harmful. Whatever it is, I dig it.

Enjoyable while listening, but entirely forgettable within a week.

It’s clear the creator of this list has a bias for industrial rock. While I know that it has its place, I don’t really enjoy it. This one was no different.

There is just so much music like this on this list and I wonder why. I get why people might like it, but feels like every week I’m hit with one or two noise/industrial rock albums that are a heavy beat with whateverthefuck over top of it. The beats never bad, but the rest of it usually is.

When I read “synth-pop duo,” I instinctively rolled my eyes at yet another group that would be repetitive slosh. But, on a grey Monday morning in the Pacific Northwest, this album was perfect for my drive to work. Moody, passive, and an ever-present beat.

Listened to this the first time after a major break-up and it hit hard. Always been a major album for me since. But this time, it just didn’t hit me the same way. Still good, but guess getting older means some things fade away.

You know how Spotify makes up weird genres? This album is the most “Sunshine Rainbow Activist” album there could be. It’s perfect for what it does.

CCR is one of a kind.

Not my cup of tea at all.

Looked up her story, and wow. Powerhouse of an artist, and you can feel her life while listening to the music. A shame she’s not still creating music and singing. Ohh a much less somber note, there are some funky bass lines on this album.

Just kind of boring.

Not a big metal fan, but something about a rock band and a symphony orchestra playing together just gets my juices flowing. Will I ever listen to this in its entirety again? Probably not, but I’ll definitely return to the Metallica songs I like quite often for this one.

When the first song had a fun trumpet section, I was pretty excited. But then the rest was nothing new. Sad times.

Silky smooth sound right here. Perfect for the background of a classy party.

This came out in high school, and while I’ve never consciously listened to this before, it all felt familiar. Very enjoyable, though a bit too synthy and strange at times.

Always weird to listen to something where I have a relationship with the artist, but haven’t actually listened to much of her work. Unfortunately, it all tracks with her sad story. Talented artist, no doubt, but her struggles are well documented in her work.

Definitely sounded like potential Beatles song. Very intimate though, which was pretty cool.

I love some good harmonies, and they were in spades in this one.

Think the album is just a bit long, but I also think if you polled people with that opinion, they would never agree on which songs to pull, which just means it’s a solid album overall.

Had no idea that the song was called “Alright,” so was a pleasant surprise when a song I recognized showed up. But it was also an interesting juxtaposition to the rest of the album.

Some very strong “Teen Titan” theme song vibes. In general though, a bit too chaotic at times for me to fully buy in on the first listen, but I’ll return.

Just pretty generic stuff from a mostly unknown band. Not bad at all, but nothing memorable.

Another one - generic, not bad, but not special.

This one got served to me after my newborn kept me up most of the night. So, bad luck.

He gets better. This feels raw and just not fully Elvis yet. And yeah, he stole some shit.

Great little unknown artists are why I love this challenge. Hope there’s more of her!

Anytime you see “______ Rock,” and the blank is not music related, you know you’re in trouble. This wasn’t even terrible or anything, but felt like a middle school band who learned to be loud, but they just got good at their instruments.

Propulsive pop. Had a blast

Very enjoyable background music. Will listen again

The peak of music.

Like a warm blanket.

Yup, they were on drugs alright.

What an obscure choice. It’s fine, but I have to imagine there’s better Bollywood representation out there.

Apt title.

Have never listened to Billy Joel intentionally, but somehow knew all of these songs. He is ubiquitous.

The bass is bassing here, the drums banging, the guitar fully rocking, and the voice? YEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!

It insists upon itself.

Not an album that I would just randomly throw on some day, but when the mood/activity calls (no more clubbing days for me, but gaming/work), it works damn well.

Truly random choice.

I’m not sure the strings I heard would classify as incredible.

You know Benson, some people listen to some real twisted shit these days.

It’s hard to give him 1 star, because there’s certainly something in there that I’m drawn to. But also, it doesn’t sound good more often than not. Weird fellow

A really good sound, but hard to dig it too much when the lyrics are all misogynistic crap.

Listenable enough, but certainly doesn’t seem like a critical piece of music history.

Budget Flaming Lips (complimentary).