Tally Hall has always been a fun band, and this is no exception
This one was kind of weird, ethereal, and at times haunting. Not sure how I feel about it just yet.
another kind of oddball album. Interesting, but I can't exactly explain how or why.
Fun album. Had never heard of these guys, so it was a nice surprise.
Barenaked Ladies have often been written off as a sugar pop or humor band, and nothing is farther from the truth. These guys make amazing music that may seem innocuous on the surface, but hit with the power of a thousand suns when you're not ready for it.
It's a folk album, pure and simple. If that's your thing, you'll dig it.
I don't understand the appeal of Vampire Weekend, and I doubt that I ever will. Don't take that as a condemnation of their music, I just don't get it.
Progenitors of 3rd wave Ska. This is a seminal album in one of the best genres ever created.
Blind from birth, Gurrumul wove together an interesting pastiche of musical styles and themes. Thought provoking, but not something I can really see myself listening to again.
You never know how to take Type O Negative. If you take it seriously, then you're mocked for being too involved with the persona. If you take it as tongue in cheek, you're labeled a poseur.
a very tasty album of blues songs and standards.
I'm not sure what I was expecting, so you would think it would be impossible to be disappointed, but you'd be wrong.
Kind of neat Spanish soft rock that went on waaaay to long. Fun, but it eventually just turned into background noise.
Weird, Post-pop music for the tragically hip. I kept getting essence of Neutral Milk Hotel for some reason. Not my bag.
Weird, unsettling, and darkly seductive.
British dream pop that will probably appeal to fans of the Lemonheads.
Electro dance from Britain. Not my thing, but it's enjoyable enough.
Interesting take on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Seems totally on brand for the Alan Parsons Project.
Fun dub album from one of the progenitors of the subgenre. Well worth a listen.
Punk rock from Spain? Heck Yeah!
Irish Post-punk. Tasty, but almost niche.
I don't know if it's fair to call this music. It's more like an aural assault from multiple angles at the same time.
I can imagine seeing someone like Charlie Sheen saying "This is why you don't take Ketamine and LSD at the same time. It's like you're simultaneously sodomizing and being sodomized by goats."
Not really sure what to make of this, but I enjoyed the heck out of it.
I was expecting some Southern, Country-fried twangy stuff. This completely caught me off guard. Good stuff!
A masterpiece of camp, androgyny, debauchery, and good wholesome fun.
This went way harder than it should have, but still felt pretty tame. Not a bad band, but not one that I would necessarily seek out again in the future.
While not their crowning achievement (IMHO, it's 10,000 days), Lateralus pull no punches, expects no quarter, and makes no demands of it's listeners - but it will change you; regardless of if you want it to or not.
Not even remotely close to my preferred genres, but Styles has an easy flow to him that I sometimes find cloying. However, he keeps a quick pace, and lays down infectious beats that are hard to ignore.
Ah, Debbie Gibson. Gen X heartthrob for many young men (and women) that grew up during that time (Personally, I preferred Tiffany, but that's because I've got a thing for redheads). If you ever watched "How I Met Your Mother" Gibson was one of the main influences for "Robin Sparkles" and listening to this album, you can almost smell the comingled scents of hairspray, deep fryers, and denim.
I can see why Sufjan Stevens is such a popular artist, I just can't groove to his stuff most of the time. I have a desk shaped dent in my head from dozing off while this was playing today, and I don't know how long it will take to fade.
Ween is an interesting band that by all metrics I should love. Unfortunately, their stuff just doesn't grab me. Still, It's a decent album.
Al Stewart always seems to be written off as an effective "One-Hit Wonder" (not true, he had several hits), but I find his voice and musical style rather soothing. Gentle enough that it slips into the background, but it doesn't get lost. An enjoyable album.
A quiet, haunting album that is much like eating a bag of MSG. Filling, but doesn't last very long, and the memory has a hard time sticking around. I had to listen to this a second time to remember listening to it at all.
Not my jam. I can see how people may enjoy this album, but the inherent conceit and mellowness bored me.
I get it, Garbage is a big deal in certain circles, and it doesn't hurt that the lead singer is nice to look at. Brit pop either runs hot or cold for me, and this one is cold. Not in the realm of Radiohead, but definitely not something I really enjoyed either.
Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential artists of his time, and it's impossible to ignore his impact. This album just didn't do much for me.
Fusion Jazz? I don't know. It was over before I could really get a feel for it.
Had to listen to this several times.
Didn't know what to expect from this - I was expecting some sort of trap or drum and bass sort of music. Boy was I wrong. While not a band I would actively seek out, this was surprisingly fun and quite enjoyable.
As my only other exposure to Procol Harum was "A Whiter Shade of Pale", I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Not that I don't enjoy that song, I just wasn't expecting a whole lot from them,
Interesting album from King Crimson alum. Not exactly sure how I feel about it. Definitely fascinating, but I think I have to be in a certain mood to really appreciate.
Never been a big fan of screamo. I can appreciate the genre, but I miss the appeal.
Shoegaze is one of those genres that I never really explored, but if this is any indication, I'm in for a deep dive.
It's difficult to not enjoy They Might Be Giants (unless you're an absolute fuddy dud), and this one is no exception. A lot of fun, toe tapping, head bopping tunes to be found here.
Not my thing. Jepsen is a competent and accomplished singer, but her musical stylings just don't connect for me.
Metalcore is niche enough that you either really enjoy it, or you don't. Either way, it's liable to make your ears bleed. I Dig a lot of Metalcore, but Killswitch Engage just isn't one that holds my attention.
Fascinating and unnerving album that feels less like music, and more mood.
This one caught me completely by surprise - Wasn't sure what to expect, and I'm still processing what exactly it is. Definitely 80s pop, but with a Castellan bent. I did learn a new phrase that I am attempting to integrate into my lexicon. La cagaste Burt Lancaster (You screwed up, buddy). four stars for the linguistics lesson alone.
Brazilian rap. It's got some good hooks, and if I understood what he was saying, I might like it more, but rap really isn't a genre that I listen to.
This album didn't know what it wanted to be, but I don't think that's a bad move. Definitely outside of my standard listening zone, but well worth a revisit.
Sadly lost in the annals of time, Yellowcard is a brilliant band that has done so much for punk.
interesting. different. worth a second look.
In another universe, maybe even two or three doors down the hallway, this would have been the gold standard for music in the late 'teens.
In this universe, it's a hidden gem.
I like a fair amount of Depeche Mode, but this album just didn't do a whole lot for me.
The Cure still manages to amaze me after so many years together.
Aussie Punk. For some reason, puts me in mind of Leftöver Crack, D.O.A., and MDC.
I get that Portishead is an influential band, and they are beloved by many listeners. It's just not my jam.
Not really an album that I would listen to.
It's a shame that there wasn't more Earth, Wind, & Fire on the original list. This is good stuff.
Interesting jangle-pop-esque music. Wasn't bad, but not my thing.
I don't remember a whole lot about it, but I know I didn't hate it. I'll have to give it another listen.
Everything about this screams mid-80s power pop. I feel like this would be part of the soundtrack for a Haim/Feldman vehicle that has aged like milk in a hot car.
An absolute classic of new wave pop-ska. Fortunately, it was not a portent of later endeavors, and remains a timeless jam.
Blink-182 was cute when they started out, but the schtick tends to wear thin early on. By every metric, they are an incredibly accomplished and competent band, but constantly and consistently going for low hanging fruit will eventually leave one wanting something else.
Techno/house music is not really high on my list of genres that I enjoy, but this one bordered on bearable.
Interesting. Can't tell you much about the album, but it's definitely worth a listen.
DCFC is an influential band, there's no doubt about it, but their stuff just doesn't connect with me as well as it probably should.
While they hate the term "noise rock" I think it sums up their style pretty well.
Much more entertaining that I had anticipated.
Funk as puck Australian band. Well worth a listen.
Thought this might be some sort of rap of gansta style music. Instead, I found a haunting, soulful album that was over quicker than I had anticipated.
I couldn't tell you anything about this album aside from the fact that it blended seamlessly into the background to the point I didn't even realize it was over for at least 10 minutes.
Not really sure how to classify this aside from French. It was surprisingly catchy and worth a listen.
Peppy, catchy, post-punk garage rock.
Is this Tool's best album? No. Is this an incredible showcasing of their talent and ability? Arguably. Is this the capstone to witnessing their growth and development from Undertow? Absolutely.
Not even remotely my thing, but understandable why this album would be selected. Brown knows what he's doing.
the intersection of punk and emo starts here. Good album that was really overlooked at the time (in my opinion).
Allegedly the concert that signaled the fall of Iggy and the Stooges. Great for Punk historians or fans of the band, but otherwise, it's nothing really special.
Pastorius played the bass like a fiend. It really makes you wonder if he would have been as influential and iconic if he had access to the treatments available today.
Jack Johnson has such a beautiful way of expressing emotion in a gentle, yet firm way. Played this for my middle kid when they were first born, and I like to think it has made a world of difference.
Nice little prog-jazz album that found me bopping my head and tapping my toes from time to time
I could never get into The Breeders, but I do have a newfound appreciation for their work.
Feels very self-important and pretentious. It's not a bad album, per se, just not one I particularly enjoy.
Really unimpressive. I just finished listening to this album, and I can't tell you a single thing about it.
Dreamy, ethereal electronic. If I was 30 years younger, and chemically altered, this would be a mind expanding experience.
As it stands, it's a passable album, the title is good for a laugh or two, and the cover works well as a reaction meme.
Fascinating Ethiopian melding of Jazz and Punk. While Ska adjacent, it's not Ska, two-tone, or dubstep - it's something more, and I don't know that there is the proper lexicon to describe it.
It's freakin' Baby Metal. If you don't think that's the tightest sh*t, then get out of my face.
Meh. Built to Spill is for a specific style of fan, which I'm not.
Crash Test Dummies are a lot like The Barenaked Ladies; Canadian, much more talented than they're given credit for, and highly underrated.
A perfect example of ska-punk.
It's difficult to go wrong with Springsteen, especially his early stuff. Still, it's a live album, so points off for that. However, you can tell the boss is really in his element, and this is a beautiful example of just how powerful Clarence Clemons was on saxophone.
Not sure how I feel about this album.
I couldn't tell what genre this was, and it really didn't do a whole lot for me.
A solid, traditional holiday album
This was like a fart in the wind. Jarring, a little discomforting, but quickly dissipated and forgotten.
cute little folk album. Not much else to report about.
feels very much like late 90s, mid 2000s rap that vacillates between being street and Casanova.
Interesting, but not enough to hold my attention for more than a minute or two at a time.
This did absolutely nothing for me. Music, even if I don't like it, will elicit some sort of response in me - this was literally no different than no music at all.
Another album that feels like it would be found on Temu or Wish. Not impressed.
Enjoyable, but not something I would normally seek out.
Seemed good? Listened to it 20 minutes ago and I can't remember much of anything about it.
Found this to be more annoying than enjoyable, but for those that groove to this, it is a very well put together album.
This felt like an overly long Guitar Hero DLC.
Good rap/funk from a cadre of talent.
TRON hasn't had anything interesting to say since the original movie in the 80s. It's difficult to get into music for a movie that doesn't move the needle in the first place.
A lot of people think Babymetal is kitsch or a publicity stunt, but these gals are the real deal. Brutal, intense grind riffs with the ebullience of Jpop.
This is what I remember country music as. Also reminds me very much of John Prine.
Interesting. Not enough to hold my continued interest, but still enjoyable. Reminiscent of King Crimson.
The B-52s always managed to encapsulate the camp of queer culture while still managing to retain a biting edge that cuts much, much deeper than people actually think.
Not a fan of the vast majority of live albums, and not a fan of Techno/House/Repetitive EDM, but Daft Punk does manage to make some songs that really hit. Still, not enough to elicit a higher rating from me.
I'm not much of a rap/Hip-Hop type of listener, but I'll always make time for Childish Gambino. There's just something evocative and dangerous, much like his predecessors Public Enemy, NWA, and 2 Live Crew.
I don't really know what to say about Yoko Ono. Growing up, I only knew her as the woman who broke up the Beatles. I was told she was a social gold digger, a hack, a charlatan, and the worst musician in the world.
Her music is definitely not to everyone's tastes, and I personally felt that a couple of tracks were just her screwing around with her voice for extended periods of time. Regardless, there is a certain artistry and (dare I say, ballsiness) to her work that no matter how hard you try, is inescapable.
Fascinating pseudo-concept album. Fun without getting to bogged down in details. Definitely worth a listen.
As this has been effectively delisted on the majority of streaming services, I almost broke my rule and hit the "Did Not Listen" button. However, I got a track list and painstakingly searched youtube for the individual songs. I was unable to find Pen Gwag Glas or Meirlon Wylit, so I will not create a playlist for the album.
This was honestly too much effort for a middlin' album. It's inoffensive enough that just about anybody could listen to it, but didn't really spark any major excitement.
Coe is the epitome of "outlaw country" and a fascinating character that seems almost mythical in stature. While not my style of music, this was an enjoyable album.
These guys have been around for a long time, and they're good for when you're gripped with a sense of melancholic ennui.
When you think of theatrical over-the-top metal from the 80s, Savatage is what comes to mind.
Interesting theme album from Pink Floyd. Not their best album, but definitely in the top 3 for me.
A couple toe tappers, but Daft Punk succumbs to the trap that most House/EDM/Techno artists fall into; repetitive repetition repeating repeatedly.
A bit like wafer cookies covered in MSG. Light, sweet, and tasty, but leaves you wanting something that is more fulfilling once you're done with it.
Much more interesting than the album cover lets on. Well worth a listen (or two).
She had a beautiful voice, but this style of music just doesn't hold my attention.
Sounded much like the dime a dozen albums that came out in the early 2000s that were aimed at "intellectual" listeners and the hipster adjacent.
Felt like a bunch of discordant background noise
The Tragically dull. Late 80s pseudo-country/rock that genuinely feels like a relic.
Doesn't grab me like his other albums, but it's still a good listen.
A meh album from a meh band.
This one caught me completely by surprise. I was expecting maybe some gangsta rap or some sort of street posturing. Was not expecting Australian sleaze rock. Definitely a fun listen.
This is what country is supposed to sound like.
Yet another album that caught me by surprise. Quite enjoyable and worth a re-listen or two.
While Ten might have put Pearl Jam on the map, Vs. cemented their place in the pantheon of generational musicians whose work would shape entire lives. Granted, I'm a little biased, as this was an album that helped me get through some very dark times as a younger human.
Definitely different. Would have loved to hear more from her.
World music is a genre that always surprises me. I guess I'm used to the harsher staccato rhythms of American hard rock.
Bjork has always been an interesting listen. She's insanely talented, but I've always found her music novel.
I found this to be more distracting than enjoyable. Didn't really feel like it know what it wanted to be.
Super mellow and relaxing. Didn't even realize it was over for close to five minutes.
R.E.M. is one of those bands that I enjoy, but don't actively seek out.
This struck me a a shallow clone of bands like Nashville Pussy and other "renegade metal / outlaw country" yee haw goodtime bands.
Semi-interesting, poppy, dance-adjacent music that didn't cause offense, but didn't inspire further listening.
The flew so far under the radar, it crashed in a copse of trees back east. The most fascinating thing to come from this was a rabbit hole on the origins of the term "chairkicker".
Much more interesting that anticipated. Eclectic, fun, and engaging.
Didn't really land with me. Regardless, a well crafted and executed album that created the blueprint for rap and R&B we know today.
Holy smoke. Was NOT expecting that.
Further proof that you cannot judge a book (or album) by its cover alone.
Not the best album in the world, but by no stretch of the imagination a bad album.
Pop Punk that's safe enough for soccer moms the world over.
Ugh. Tedious, self-important hipster rock from the late 90s that tried to disguise itself as grunge-lite.
The only way I knew this was Silverchair was due to the name on the album cover. Did not recognize it at all, and once I did, it was a bit of a disappointment.
Listening to this reminded me of a George Carlin quote:
"Soft rock music isn’t rock, and it ain’t music. It’s just soft."
This is modern day soft rock.
The soul of early 80s teen yearning, and launcher of millions of gallons of Coors Light. Good stuff, if you can handle it (the music and the beer).
Technically and functionally, this is a knockout album. If I was several decades younger, I'd probably love this, but there's just too much youthful angst and naivete for me to truly enjoy.
This album felt like it was having an identity crisis. I couldn't figure out what it wanted to be, and I don't think it did either.
Hipster Brit pop. not my cup.
club/dub/scratch a heady combination, and in the right ears, pure magic. These were not the right ears.
Nice little sleepy time album.
Much like the Bad Bunny Halftime Show at the Super Bowl, I couldn't understand a thing on this album. That did not lessen my enjoyment of it. Kind of bummed it only lasted as long as it did, I could have used another 20 minutes or so.
Paradoxically, the band occupies a state of being that is both its namesake and the furthest thing from being the truth.
On the one hand, they genuinely are sublime in their use of beats, social commentary, and vibe.
On the other hand, they're about as subtle as a brick to the head. Their lyrics are blunt, surface level, and immature.
Combined, it weaves a tapestry that is irresistible to discerning listeners that simultaneously revels in the brokenness of the systems that constrain them while demanding tectonic social change. Would have loved to see what Bradley would think of the state of play today.
Felt similar in tone to Violent Femmes. Nice distraction for the better part of an hour, but probably would have liked it more if I knew Portuguese.
If 80s hair bands had a type (either arche- or stereo-) it would be Dream Theater. Listening to this, I could almost taste the hairspray.
Foetus is always a surprise, and if you allow the name of the band to pre-color your interpretation of the album, you're doing yourself a disservice.
This one hit like a velvet brick. Definitely worth a revisit.
Esoteric art rock. I think I like the name of the band better than the music.
Sounds just like the majority of other 90s Grunge/Alternative bands. Nothing to really delineate it from other bands that performed in the same style.
Not nearly as interesting as suggested, but it does what it says right on the tin. It's labeled "art rock" and that's exactly what it is.
Fascinating, and at times a lot of fun, but it gets a little long in the tooth, and overstays its welcome by about 10 minutes.
Wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed the heck out of this album.
My only complaint about this was I didn't hear it sooner. Raw, visceral, and speaking truth to power.
even ignoring the messaging on this, it's still a boring, uninspired slog through pop rock. It's not beautiful, but it's definitely a letdown.
Mellow, beautifully rendered. Reminiscent of Sade. Definitely sets a mood.
to (mis)quote Randy Jackson:
"That's a meh from me, dog"
Personally, I found the album cover more compelling than the album itself.
weird, post-pop art rock. Not bad, but not my thing.
Refiners of the rap-metal/nu-metal style. As pivotal as 311 is, I just find them too adolescent for my taste.
While Blinding Lights is an absolute bop, the rest of this album help no interest for me in the least.
Can something be so striking that it makes you stop what you are doing, but be so uninteresting that you completely forgot what you heard two minutes ago?
I can see the appeal, but it's just not my thing.
With an album cover like that, you'd expect something raw, challenging, or controversial.
The most challenging thing about this album is staying awake long enough to turn it off - unless you're streaming from your PC. When your head inevitably hits the keyboard, that should pause it.
I love the concept of Jazz. The execution, on the other hand, is a different story. By any metric, this is a solid album, just not something I am into.
Porcupine Tree inhabits a liminal space in music. Listening to their music is like waking up from the most transgressive nightmarish dream that quickly dissipates from waking memory, only leaving spectral residue that hammers your emotions without warning, restraint, or concern for well-being.
The melodies and lyrics may escape you, but the effect on your soul is everlasting.
When it comes to punk and intellectualism, Bad Religion in in a league of their own. While not my favorite album, this is still an extremely strong entry in their catalog.
I didn't not like it. If that makes sense.
Not my thing, but there's some juicy stuff here. For those that dig this, it's essential listening.
This was a terrible album. Not a flawed execution, or cacophonic delivery. Production is top notch, and Adams is showcased quite well. No, this album's cardinal sin was that it was boring. Even his cover of 'Wonderwall' left me hoping for something to break it out of the doldrums, but alas, it was all for naught.
Complete waste of time.
What starts out as too long in the tooth slowly morphs into discordant background music. Reminiscent of Black Midi and other Avant Garde musicians.
This is the type of music that genuine hipsters listen to - semi-obscure, inscrutable, and, in the right frame of mind, entertaining.
Porcupine tree isn't for the faint of heart, or the "casual" listener. There is a lot to unpack in all of their albums, and if you're unwilling (or unable) to dig through it, you're not going to be entertained. They seem less of a musical outfit and more of an ideology.
early 2000's pop-punk. As influential and omni-present as it was, I've always found Blink to be like junk food (or the Bloodhound Gang), immensely satisfying in the moment, but not very nutritional, and too much of it will make you sick.
Felt a bit whingy, which for Emo is spot on. If I was several decades younger, I would be all over this album. As is, it's good, but not my thing.
Not bad, not great. Definitely see where Brit Rock got a bad case of the boogie woogie flu.
Unless you're deeply fascinated with the process of creating EDM, or you're a Jai Paul completist, you're going to be bored with this album.
Snippets, scraps, and unfinished songs populate this album, and much of it is definitely incomplete.
Not really sure how to classify this, aside from not great.
This really felt like it didn't know what it wanted to be. Confusing, jumbled, and not that enjoyable.
Felt less "postpunk" and more neo-goth. Very heavy influences from The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, Bauhaus, and The Cult.
Personally found it a bit of a snooze.
Neo-Riot Grrrrl that feels fresh and exciting.
This feels very much like a sedate AJJ or introspective, slightly sardonic Cracker. Not a bad album by any measure.
Usually not one for Theater albums, and this one didn't move the needle much for me. I imagine if I knew the story better, or had actually seen a production, I'd be more invested.
Jazz just doesn't do it for me.
Definitely and heavily influenced by King Crimson. Weird, experimental hippie music that veers from foreboding to exhausting.
Twee pop / Bubblegum Rock for the Alpha Male set.
While punk is my lifeblood, Hardcore has always left me conflicted. This is a good album by damn near any metric, it just doesn't really land with me.
Nightwish doing what they do best: theatrical, melodic gothic metal.
Haunting, ethereal, almost like Enya on quaaludes.
The Eels are one of those bands that seem much more aggressive on paper, but feel more like alt-rock lite in practice. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a little soft for my tastes.
I appreciate what DiFranco has done for the music scene, but I just can't groove to this.
Classic screamo from a founding band.
I don't know if prose can get much more purple than this. As a kid, I was enthralled with his "Lady In Red", but as I have grown older, the schmaltz and sheer saccharine pseudo-earnestness of it leaves much to be desired.
De Burgh's singing is like painting an Italian Fresco with 4" brushes and spray guns. A little too much for such a delicate operation.
Digital pop with hints of lo-fi. While fun, it felt like it could have been so much more.
The one thing that makes me sad about this album is that I can never listen to it again for the first time. The sheer joy I felt was heavily tempered by the sadness of not being able to ever capture that feeling again with this album. I'm not a big hip-hop fan, but this is a master class in style and substance.
