I really only knew the name of this band and that they are from Chicago. "Intro" hit and I'm like "woah...am I a Limp Bizkit fan?" "Hot Dog" started to hit a little hard but then I found myself grooving and laughing. While this is not my preferred genre, I'm really surprised that I kind of enjoy nu-metal rap!

I remember when this album came out. Loved "Today" even though it was overplayed on the radio. Listening now I'm finding Billy Corgan's voice monotonous and hard to understand his lyrics. I value this album for its indie influence and hold this band close in my heart but the album doesn't do it for me like it used to.

Who doesn't love the first song on this album? Well...2022 me, that's who. I was cool with it until the 7th and 8th line when he sang about "a woman stealing his bread." Given that this was written in the early 70s before the passage of Title IX in 1972 (which forbade sex discrimination in any educational program that received federal financial assistance), the suggestion of women on the prowl for men's "bread" just doesn't sit right. And then whoaaa Rod...the Asian slur was just too much. But yeah yeah I get these were different times. I did enjoy the mandolin mixed into some tunes and I was excited to hear Rod cover Bob but Rod's version of "Tomorrow is a Long Time" just didn't have the gentleness of Dylan. Maggie May still hits me right. That's a tune I've carried as a fav since I was a pre-teen. I'd say it saves the album for me but now 55-year-old me hears and recognizes the inappropriateness of the situation and I would love to know how old Maggie was to a young Rod. I did not know Rod could rock so hard on (I Know) I'm Losing You. By the time I got to (Find a Reason) to Believe, I was done with Rod's vocal fry. Finally, I think the cover art could be so much better.

Nostalgia is a strong, sweet force. This album took me back on a glorious romp through my early 20s. Setting aside the nostalgia, I still love The Pogues! I completely forgot how much I love the bodhrán, banjo, and tin whistle especially when it's all jamming together with Shane MacGowan's lyrics that I can barely keep up with. I saw The Pogues May 1, 1988 at the Modernes nightclub in Bremen, West Germany...just a few months after this album came out.

I am not a metal head. I can appreciate that many folks enjoy this fast, loud, head banging cacophony. Listening to Master of Puppets (the song) there are some elements I like---the drums, some of the guitar riffs, but when you put it all together I physically get knots in my stomach and my ears ring. The volume for today's album was the same as yesterday's and I had to turn this down to 4 rather than the previous day's 11. I appreciate the political statements throughout the album, particularly on Disposable Heroes. The cover art is great and I always thought the Metallica logo did a good job at capturing the essence of the band/music genre. Bottom line: metal makes me angry.

This is my go-to vibe. I was not familiar with Röyksopp prior to this listen but I definitely got into this type of jam in the early 2000s with Groove Armada, Air, Different Gear.

Listening to this album and trying to put aside all we now know, my resounding thought is "kill your darlings." Out of 11 tracks, there are only 3 songs that I consider a bop: (in order of preference)The Way You Make Me Feel, Bad, Leave Me Alone. I might toss Man in the Mirror in the bop category but if I'm following my own kill-your-darling-thought---that song along with all the others does not make the list.

Guess I'm a real 80s bitch. Totally enjoyed this album. Particularly liked "Poppies," "Books," "When I Dream." I noticed on Spotify, which is my method of listening, has tracked 9.1M plays on the song "Reward" and 85K plays on the album's namesake song "Kilimanjaro." On Spotify there were two bonus tracks that I liked -Traison (C'Este Juste Une Histoire) - Liked them singing in French a lot! - Sleeping Gas (Live at Club Zoo/1981) - Wish I were there! Cover design: what the heck is the guy (second from the left) holding?! Learned the definition of "blighter," which is a term used in "Went Crazy." Can't say I would spin this one on my own, particularly as I never heard of Teardrop Explodes. But would I get up and dance to this...hell, yeah.

I really only knew the name of this band and that they are from Chicago. "Intro" hit and I'm like "woah...am I a Limp Bizkit fan?" "Hot Dog" started to hit a little hard but then I found myself grooving and laughing. While this is not my preferred genre, I'm really surprised that I kind of enjoy nu-metal rap!

Another band I never heard of and from what I read, that's the story of Wire's life. While I'm not a punk fan, I didn't hate this. But by track 15, I didn't like it either.

I just love a good rock opera! Meatloaf's wailing vocals, the guitar riffs, the long journey of each song. And so many of the lyrics just reek of juicy adolescence, "You were licking your lips and your lipstick's shining, I was dying just to ask for a taste." You know he was jonesing for that Bonnie Bell bubblegum flavor... And c'mon, Paradise by the Dashboard Light comes on and I am 17 again. Oh to be doubly blessed! While I've heard Two Out of Three Ain't Bad so many times, this time I lol'd at the sentiment. I didn't realize Todd Rundgren produced this album. Every song rocks. Album art is classic.

Love kd lang and her voice. Listened to Shadowland and then played Constant Craving right after. Such a better sound and overall quality. Shadowland is kd lang doing Patsy Cline. Ingénue is all kd lang as inspired by Patsy.

This album is definitely a winner for me. When I switched to CDs, this was one of the first I added to my collection. I dig this album so much. However, this listen was my first time doing so with headphones. There is so much phonic texture in the background of the first track London Calling (particularly after the 2-min mark) that I never heard before! Maybe b/c I never heard the remastered versions? This album was the first to clue me in to that ska vibe, which I love. While reading a bit about this album, I was sickened to learn that Rudy Giuliani used "Rudie Can't Fail" in his 2008 campaign run. I get excited hearing Mick Jones and thinking about his evolution to BAD (The Globe better be on this list!), who I always enjoyed even more than the Clash. Lost in the Supermarket, The Clampdown, Death or Glory...oh, aw, aw, aw, ow, ow...London, I'm answering on the first ring! Album cover: Long loved this "font" but it wasn't until today I learned that this is hand lettering! Now I love the cover even more.

Oh I just LOVE Morrissey. While I'm more familiar with The Smiths' work rather than his solo stuff, as soon as those first notes leave his mouth I'm swooning. Hold Onto Your Friends hit me hard today. The More You Ignore Me could be a Smiths song, which makes you realize that The Smiths was so much Morrissey...even that guitar, though not played by Johnny Marr here, sounds like it could be him. (It's Alain Whyte on the guitar btw.) As a collection of songs, I enjoyed listening so much but as a cohesive Album I must hear before I die...well, I'll just go right down the middle: 3.

When the late 80s/90s electric music was hitting I had trouble keeping up with all the bands---Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys, Dead or Alive, Simple Minds, Depeche Mode, et al. As my aural skills have evolved with age, I definitely understand and appreciate the nuances across these bands and these sounds. I LOVE THIS MUSIC. I clearly remember dancing to some of these tunes at college parties (Personal Jesus!). Still, hippy early 90s Marianne thought all this electronic music lacked the true musicianship and poetry of the balladeers---Dylan, Joni, The Beatles. Silly girl. This stuff is brilliant. And for the girl who fell in love with a drummer, it's probably scandalous to say...but I do love me a good drum machine. I also appreciate that all these songs strung together took me on a journey to appreciate this as an album (vs great individual songs). The transition from Waiting for the Night into Enjoy the Silence are sonic trips that really hit home the art of the long-form album format.

I dig! I know practically nothing about this genre. Never heard of this Willie Colón & Rubén Blades but this vibe is gonna be grooving a lot in the background when I cook.

Back in the early 2000s I discovered (and endlessly listened to) Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. At the time, I went back to check out other Outkast music. I didn't appreciate this album as much at the time as I did Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The rap - electronic mix was totally lost on me at the beginning of this decade. I really enjoyed the interludes even though they make me recognize how white and unhip (as in hip hop hip) I am.

If you had me choose between jazz and afro beats, I'd pick this vibe over jazz. I like the danceability. Fela is a complicated dude for me to really like because of his 27 wives. This is getting a lower rating because while I really like the vibe, it sounds like one long song.

I first heard Red Hot Chili Peppers when Mother's Milk came out. Thought it was such a cool new sound and groove. Always considered myself a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan. Always found it curious that my musician husband didn't love them. But with this album...I really struggled to get through it. Blah. Meh. I wish I gave Fela a 3 because this is most definitely a 2 of me.

I'll start by saying I had no idea who Robert Wyatt or Soft Machine are. Both names sounded a wee bit familiar. I started reading the lyrics to the first song, Sea Song, before the music started. ugh. As I progressed into the album I thought, I'm cool with avant garde, kitsch, and dada (not to brag but I did see John Cage 4'33" in DC freshman year of college) but ugh...this brings me neither aural joy, intellectual stimulation, nor entertainment. Had I seen the album cover back in my youth, you can bet I'd have made the purchase. I love the artwork and how it makes me feel but can't say the same for the sounds produced on this record.

The Roots are a band for which I thought, "I should know more about these folks and I should know some of their songs." I only know that the guy from one of the late shows (don't even know which one) came from the Roots. I think there is a Philly connection and that also made me think I should really check out these guys and learn more. My ignorance about the Roots felt like a lot to overcome. I don't feel so bad now about not overcoming this lack of music knowledge. I'm going down the middle

I enjoyed the smooth calm of Marvin's voice. A short and sweet album that's hits right down the middle for me.

I always thought this band was overrated and the media frenzy around the Beatles comparison was tiring. Some British musicians really bug me with that exaggerated accent when singing. Sure I think Wonderwall is an OK song and I enjoy it. I do dig Champagne Supernova (mostly because my friend Craig and I liked to sing "where were you when we were getting high"). However, all of these songs strong together don't delight me in any real way. Blah.

Damn! Those opening notes are just so damn iconic. I assumed that I've heard this album in its entirety but yet all the songs in between Young Americans and Fame were unfamiliar. How in the world have I reached this age and not known Bowie did a cover of Across the Universe!? And Luther Vandross on this album! Also no idea. Hearing Bowie's Beatles' cover was a real joy for me. Bowie's interpretation and intonations reminded me again why I love that song so much. Everything in between Young Americans and Fame is just OK. Hard to say if it's just OK because those two songs are just so damn great. I can't rate this a 3 because it's Bowie and because of the bookend songs. I'd probably give it a 3.8.

THIS is the kd lang album that 100% belongs on the list. An album with iconic bookend songs and such beauty in between. kd's voice is so strong, healthy, and lovely. She is no ingénue here. This album reflects real work and dedication to her craft. Interesting that this album was recorded in Vancouver. Something about the cool, high-style of the songs is reminiscent of that shiny Vancouver vibe. Ending with Constant Craving is brilliant. I love every breath on this album.

I'm not at all familiar with Harry Nilsson. Or so I thought for the first four songs and then Without You hit, followed by Coconut and of course I've heard Harry Nilsson. As the album progressed I realized it was only the first few songs I didn't know. This is more of a statement about early 1970s radio rather than me being a Harry Nilsson fan. He's good and there are some things that aurally pleased me like that bass line on Jump Into the Fire. I'm always a bit thrilled when I dig a bass line because I have a hard time actually hearing the bass. Fun little drum solo too in that song that went on way longer than a typical drum solo, which I thoroughly enjoyed. All in all a number of nostalgic songs from my childhood but artistically I felt the album in its entirety was kind of like Harry's bathrobe on the album cover. I mean it's fine, but it doesn't wow me.

Peace Love Understanding

Another band I always thought I should know. I can tell this is good musicianship and a couple songs caught my attention. However, I actually listened to this album 2X and it kept fading into the background. Just did not move me.

I was 55 years old when I realized that this album I've listened to hundreds of times has a penis on it! WTF? I guess you can chalk that up to CD vs LP? Or maybe because I was so mesmerized by Joni's beauty that my eyes never left those cheekbones except to glance down at how she holds her cigarette with her pinky in such a delicate position. I listened to this album on CD (as opposed to Spotify) and as my husband suggested, my good headphones with a CD was the complete aural experience. What fun to hear Joni's whispers on Furry Sings the Blues! I'm a lyrics bitch over the music and this time round some hit harder: "I do accept the changes at least better than I used to do." "I looked at my haggard face in the bathroom light" "I met a friend of spirit" "I well up with affection Thinking back down the roads to then" It feels so trite to attempt a review of any Joni Mitchell album (as well as Jacko's contributions). So I won't. This one is most definitely an 11.

Started today's listen thinking "Blur" who the heck are Blur? Soon as the first note hits on Girls & Boys, I was reminded. I'm surprised Girls & Boys is not a TikTok classic for today's gender fluid kids. Reading the Wikipedia entry for this album, I see that there were a lot of comparisons between Blur and Oasis. I enjoyed Blur way more than Oasis and think they are simply a better band lyrically and musically. I enjoyed the ride and flow of this album. I'm going to explore more Blur!

Brilliant

Highway 61 Pure perfection This was my soundtrack through high school, college, early 20s into my 30s. The perfect blend of lyrics, story telling, piano, keyboard, harmonica!, rock, and fucking roll! I always wanted to throw a dinner party and have people come as a Dylan character from Highway 61. The album is just so rich with personalities and I want to meet and hear everything them. How can I help you Queen Jane? I would love to hold the diplomat's (Andy Warhol) siamese cat! I'm obviously Miss Lonely. Dylan architects the perfect flow of songs and each song's opening notes simply stir my soul with comfort and peace. He taught me a great life lesson with this album and one I try to follow---"negativity don't pull you through." It's actually an 11 but 5 will have to do.

I've really grown to respect and like the Foo Fighters over the years but I'm not really familiar with their music. After Cobain's death, I didn't really get caught up with what Dave Grohl was doing. Yes I loved Big Me when it was played on the radio and was surprised to see Grohl out from behind the drums. Over the years I've come to really respect Dave Grohl and I think the success of Foo Fighters is such a testament to simply working and playing music. I looked up a quote from him worth remembering: "Musicians should go to a yard sale and buy an old f****** drum set and get in their garage and just suck. And get their friends to come in and they'll suck, too. And then they'll f******* start playing and they'll have the best time they've ever had in their lives and then all of a sudden they'll become Nirvana. Because that's exactly what happened with Nirvana. Just a bunch of guys that had some s***** old instruments and they got together and started playing some noisy-a** s***, and they became the biggest band in the world. That can happen again! You don't need a f****** computer or the Internet or The Voice or American Idol ." Well, there is some luck involved too. But the sentiment about just getting out and playing is what I took to heart. Back to this album...this is the type of rock I really like. Hard but not too hard. Throbbing drums. Good lyrics. Loud but not noise. And Jesus! He did all of this by himself over 5 days as a way to process his grief over Kurt. I ended up listening to this album two times yesterday---inspired and moved by Grohl's positive manifestation of mourning.

The album title turned me off. I could envision listening to one or two of these songs in a film. Listening to this entire album was totally unenjoyable.

I was not familiar with Spiritualized. Surprising because they align with the late 90s chill vibes I adore---Air, Zero 7, Groove Armada, etc. I loved the psychedelic cacophony background in I Think I'm In Love. Electricity brought the rock to the spacey roll. Cool Waves went on a bit long but I admire the use of the London Community Gospel choir. I can't parse out all the instruments used in this kind of music---horns, keyboards, and definitely some magic trips, but I totally dig. AWESOME album cover and that blue would win Pantone of the year if I had a say. SIDENOTE: I was mesmerized by the blue. If you listen on Spotify the header art is great and the blue is actually a very subtle gradient (I pulled it into Illustrator to confirm this), which makes it just glow and float (like in space). Beautiful, wild. I'll explore a lot more of Spiritualized.

Love these tunes. Didn’t know much about these guys and now I want more more more.

I was not familiar with this album but knew some of the individual songs. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hands and I Can See For Miles are 4 but the entire album is a 2 or a 3.

I never heard reggae until Freshman year of college. Bob Marley and Peter Tosh touched a groove. While one might listen to this album and hear overplayed reggae hits, they are the hits because these songs are just so good. I listened to this album walking around Washington DC so I couldn’t take notes. But I can say it’s a most awesome album to turn on and vibe around town on a sunny day.

Cis. White. Male. This particular 70s flavor of music by men just ain’t a good jam. Would he even get a record deal today?

Long-time fan of this album.

I'm well familiar with this album as it was my boyfriend's favorite and I always think of driving around in his green Talon in the late 90s/early 00s as he stuck this in the CD player. Of course Rumors was seared in my mind and I knew a few Tusk songs but was far from familiar with the album back then. I LOVE that the first song is a Christine McVie. This album really shows off the beauty of Fleetwood Mac and I mean that from a musical and equitable social view. How many bands from this era shared the spotlight equally among the women and men members? I love that they waited till track 5 to hear Stevie's magic 'cause when she kicks in it hits hard. Odd to me that this album was not well received. I guess after Rumors anything they put out would suffer a poor reception. Combined with the stories around the cost of this album, I can understand. However, I hope time has done its job and pushed this one up into one of the greats. It is on this list so I guess time is working! I wish someone could explain the album cover to me. I did a search and read that Tusk is a euphemism for penis. That pissed off Stevie and she threatened to leave but Mick was adamant. ok...whatevs but what the heck is the dog all about? If you google original album art for Tusk it looked much cooler than this.

Still LOVE this album. Still HATE the title font. Can't believe it was today when I figured out the Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine was cannabis. First time I heard The 59th Street Bridge Song - rainy morning in Vechta, West Germany. I had my yellow Sony Walkman/radio and was walking down a cobblestone street alone. Mind blown! The Dangling Conversation is a nod to Art's reading obsession/love (see https://www.artgarfunkel.com/library.html) The whole album just reeks of 1966. Lots of lovely jingly-jangly (see Flowers Never Bend With the Rainfall). ******** Post-listening note: I discovered that Art's son, Art Jr., has an album in German called "Wie Du: Hommage an Meinen Vater" in which he sings the classics auf Deutsch. Art Jr's grandparents were German and played a big role in his life. My delight = Andre's annoyance. I think any German speaker will enjoy it immensely. Geil!

Classic album with all the hits of Stevie. I get why it's the most referenced Stevie Wonder album. However, it was just too long for me. I think he could have killed some of his darlings. Google Ray Kurzweil and Stevie Wonder if you don't know their story. Kurzweil, like Stevie, is an American gem.

Can anyone listen to High and Dry and not start singing? I didn't cop on to this album in 1995 but once I did, I just couldn't get enough. I still can't. Please come back to us, boys! This is a 10.