1001 Albums Summary

When it’s not about the lyrics, the talent of the instruments, the sound design, it’s simply about production. I’ve never heard of DJ Shadow or of this album, or heard any references to it, but then again I’m only just now learning about the concept of music production. It’s always been about the lyrics and songs for me, not about the production. As a historical marker this kind of music brings us into the new age and certainly marks a change in the winds when it comes to music and recording. Influential not for its ability to pull at your heart strings or make you identify with a certain lyric, but simply because of how it was made. Not my style, wouldn’t put any of these songs on my playlist, but I appreciate it for its historical and cultural value and respect the innovation that comes through so clearly. Made me feel melancholy at times, relaxed at others, but mostly I just waited for it to be over. My favorites: Mutual Slump, Organ Donor, Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain

When I think of Zeppelin I think of my dad. I feel as if they almost belong to him, and I can’t listen to them because they aren’t mine. I’ve only ever heard the hits, of course I’ve heard Immigrant Song about a million times in every movie. Listening to a full album feels like a real treat. Celebration Day to me cements this album in its time, the 70s, where every other song feels timeless. Perhaps that’s why quite a few of their albums are in this list- it showed music doesn’t have to be a product of the era it was made in. In my naivety I thought that like most other bands, Plant’s vocals would soar above the supporting instruments, but this album shows me that all members were equal and cherished pillars that made Zeppelin what it was. Jones’ bass in Gallows Pole and Tangerine, Plant’s vocals in Immigrant Song and Hats off to (Roy) Harper, Bonham’s legendary skills on Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Page’s guitar on Tangerine and Gallows Pole, make each and every song it’s own masterpiece while simultaneously being a cohesive album where each song is a part of a seamless puzzle. I had previously thought of Zeppelin as an ominous group with dark lyrics, but this album left me with a strange positive feeling. I’m excited to dive into the rest of their discography! My favorites: Since I’ve Been Loving You, Gallows Pole, Friends, Tangerine

Even in the first few seconds of the first song I can hear what influenced The Grateful Dead and others like it. I would consider myself a fan of blues rock, but I’ve only heard of the Band in passing and of course have heard the Weight, but never anything off this album. I’m not gleaning any particularly spectacular musical talent with any of the instruments, it’s just some guys vibing and singing about Cripple Creek. It was novel for the first few songs, but halfway in I’m ready for something different. Also, is no one talking about how problematic Jemima Surrender is??Looking at the cover art and listening to the organ and fiddle in these songs, I feel like I’m in the middle of the Gold Rush and I just stopped into the saloon after a long day of panhandling for gold. The Wikipedia talked about this album reflecting life in America, and I guess I don’t know enough about the 60s/70s to corroborate, but this just seems too old for even then. But then again, I can see them performing at Woodstock. My journey with this project has been short, but already from each of the few albums I’ve listened to already that is the main theme: each is timeless and yet represents its time period perfectly at the same time. I guess that’s what makes good music, when it stands the rest of time. I don’t know if I can agree with the critics however, it certainly isn’t better than Abbey Road, and Abbey Road is my least favorite Beatles album. My favorites: Rag Mama Rag, Up on Cripple Creek, King’s Harvest (Has Surely Come) (which btw sounds like a Schoolhouse Rock song?)

I feel like Eminem represents/maybe started a piece of culture that has been popular in the 21st century: sensationalism. Writing abrasive and outrageous lyrics simply to get people talking. He knew that the graphic violence he raps about would cause controversy, and that’s why he did it! He knew that the people talking about how awful his lyrics were meant they were still talking about him, and talk spread his image and skyrocketed him to fame. Shock value was the currency with which he bought his infamy. This album fucking slaps. My favorites: My Name Is, Role Model,

You know when you have a song saved on your playlist but you don’t even know who sings it? That was me with Within Your Reach. That was off the Hootenanny album, never heard anything off this album before today. The stripped down sound of an early 80s punk 4-piece band really makes me yearn for a decade I never experienced. It sounds a bit boring now, but I’m sure it sounded absolutely mind-boggling back then. I wish I wasn’t desensitized and used to big production music done by computers. This album truly makes me want to spike my hair and walk around in a ripped jean jacket and Converse on the streets of New York smoking a cigarette and flipping off policemen. I’m learning from this project that often the bands that influenced the sound or created it aren’t as widely recognized or remembered as the bands who perfected it. This is one of those times. If I were a teenager in 1984, this would be on my record player every night as I laid on the floor of my bedroom hating my parents. My favorites: I Will Dare, We’re Coming Out, Black Diamond, Answering Machine

Like with a lot of these bands, I’ve heard of the Pogues but never heard anything by them. Upon first listen, I really dig them. I love Madness and I can clearly see they were influenced by this band, and I love when dark lyrics are put on a happy and upbeat background. I grew up listening to polkas and this takes me back there in a way. These songs really rock and I want to add them to my playlist, but I’m hesitating because I feel like this music doesn’t belong to me? Like I’m somehow not allowed to listen to this because I’m not an Irishman during the trouble. Unlike the other albums I’ve listened to so far, this band and album have carved out a distinct place in history and I’m really not sure it still holds up today, but still great to listen to for the history and the pure fun of the album. Shane’s screams between refrains are really delightful. His voice in general adds a very unique razor blade edge to the otherwise vanilla instrumentation. Everyone is obviously very talented and it comes through in their music. Thoroughly good album that I’ll be returning to. The last album generated for me was Let it Be by the Replacements, made for 16 year old rebels. This album is for those rebels, now 20 and entering adulthood still with their rebel spirits. My favorites: If I Should Fall From Grace with God, Turkish Song of the Damned, Birmingham Six, Sit Down By the Fire

My grandparents’ music. Few artists have been as influential as Simon and Garfunkel in the 20th Century, and Paul is just as popular if not more in his solo career. I mean who hasn’t heard Me and Julio Down by The Schoolyard? I really enjoy the stripped down instrumentals and bare vocals that are bordering on ASMR, even if this isn’t my typical genre. Paul has talent and he knows it. His voice is so soothing and the nice guitar makes you feel like he’s right next to your bed, serenading you to sleep. I also feel like I can’t really place this album in a certain genre. Every song makes me want to put it in one, then the next song turns that on its head. I can also place a lot of modern bands having been influenced by this album. Listening to Papa Hobo and Armistice Day, I feel like Jack Johnson is a direct descendant of this album. It’s overall fun and soothing to listen to, but none of the songs are being added to my playlist. My favorites: Duncan, Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Armistice Day, Congratulations, Paranoia Blues (Unreleased Version)

I’ve always had trouble understanding how you can communicate tough themes through a pop song. I like dark lyrics against an upbeat background as much as the next guy, but pop to me is for dancing, not really to sit in your room alone and ponder the bigger themes of the music. I’m not saying every song on this album is a pop song, Promise to Try, Oh Father, and Pray for Spanish Eyes are ballads, and I’m not even sure what to call Act of Contrition, but I find the themes of the other songs set against the synthy dancey background come across as cheesy. Madonna is an icon to be sure, a legend in the 80s and still to this day, but I’m not sure any of the songs besides the bigger pop singles do anything for anyone besides make them want to listen to the bigger pop singles instead. Also, why is she talking to little kids in like three of the songs? A fun fact is that my dad went to high school with her. He said she was very popular. My favorites: Like a Prayer, Express Yourself, Cherish

I’m glad this helped to bring hip-hop to Britain, especially as early as 1983, and a lot of the songs are catchy to be sure, but I simply cannot like this album because Malcom is such an awful person. Some people say he’s a genius- he’s a genius alright, he was genius enough to realize he had no talent himself so he stole the talents of others and put his name on it. First it was the Sex Pistols, now it’s black artists. While listening to this album, the whole time I’m thinking “who did he steal this from” and that we should just be listening to the original albums instead. I recognize that all music is essentially stolen, but it’s important to give the influences their due. McLaren had no intention of ever doing that.

Dear 1001 albums, Can we chill with the British electronic hip-hop albums? 1 was enough. Sincerely, Everyone Every song sounded exactly the same- and since I’m not listening to this in a club drunk, that bothers me. A real snooze fest that was not fun to listen to. It started out as indifference, turned to general dislike, and at the end turned to disdain and loathing because of the sheer repetitiveness. But man, I bet they really thought they did something with this. My favorites: Connected

So fun! Made me want to dance the Mambo in Havana in the 20s. Even though it’s not my normal style of music, I enjoyed every song and would definitely listen again or even put this on during a dinner party.

So fun! Made me want to dance the Mambo in Havana in the 20s. Even though it’s not my normal style of music, I enjoyed every song and would definitely listen again or even put this on during a dinner party.

If Rocky Horror Picture Show was a documentary instead of absurd fiction. Don’t know what’s going on with the guy’s voice, but I didn’t like it.

The genius of the lyrics from the boys and the genius of Rick Rubin’s producing combined to create the perfect storm of Licensed to Ill. When I first heard Fight For Your Right as a kid I thought they were a parody band, out to create music for the laughs, not to be taken seriously, like Weird Al. Now that I’m older and have gotten into them more, I can say with certainty, they are completely serious. Serious about making a mockery of rap and embedding parody into a real and, might I add, truly banger album. And it fucking works. Their parody was so serious their work has helped shape the genre of rap and hip-hop as we know it, and is one of the greatest rap albums of history. Their annoying voices are just part of the fun, and it’s something that would generally hurt any other band, while helping add to the icon-status of the boys. It deserves to be played at full volume and annoy all the neighbors, as they would want. My favorites: Rhymin and Stealin, Girls, Fight for Your Right, She’s Crafty, The New Style, Brass Monkey,

It’s sad when people rate albums on this list low because it’s simply not their taste or hasn’t aged well, completely discounting their historic and cultural value. There’s a reason albums like this are on the list- not because they are groundbreaking masterpieces of music, but because they reflect the time period and have great historical value. The albums on this list are on here because they were influential, not because they are the best albums of all time. That’s a different list, and I think a lot of people forget that when listening. All that being said, while the relentless synth beats do get a bit tired, this album was fun and I love when melancholy/dark lyrics are set against an upbeat melody. 80s rule! My favorites: Rent, What Have I Done to Deserve This?, It’s a Sin, Heart, King’s Cross

I personally don’t think you can truly understand psychedelic rock unless you are in the 60s tripped out on shrooms and this is playing on the record player. Listening to this while getting ready for my 9-5 job, completely sober, doesn’t really do it justice. The rhythms were sick though. My favorites: Paperhouse, Halleluhwah

I’ve heard of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in reputation, but have only heard their most popular songs on the radio or in passing. I had no idea they were a British band, but it definitely checks out. This is the first album I’ve heard so far that is post 2000s, but it’s reminding me of the 70s and 80s punk eras, with formidable women with interesting voices at the front. I’m sure their shows are super fun. It’s also interesting- the last album I listened to was Can’s “Tago Mago” with 17 minute songs, so this is an interesting contrast where the album is only 36 minutes long and the songs average around 2 minutes. She also really likes to repeat words and lyrics, probably why they’re called the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and some of the lyrics are flat-out dumb. She had nothing better to sing in Pin than the vocalization of the other instruments? My favorites: Maps, Y Control

Every song sounded like that one Coldplay song. Lost interest by the third track. Forgettable.

A guy singing his heart out in a language I’ll never understand. A drum kit and a keyboard were also there. And a flute?

Fun and groovy, experimental in places, definitely the complete opposite of what I expected going into it.

After first hearing “This is Paul Simon” off this list, I feel like they definitely were better together. Paul is great on his own, but together they just achieve new levels of something that can only be described as pure pleasure. Not even my kind of music but this made me inexplicably happy when listening. Songs like The Boxer and Why Don’t You Write Me really didn’t have to go that hard. As a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture style, it is safe to say that So Long FLW was a tribute song I never really knew I needed, even though it felt like a sort of joke. Favorites: Bridge Over Troubled Water, Cecilia, The Boxer, Baby Driver, So Long Frank Lloyd Wright, Why Don’t You Write Me

The music is so so good and the Smiths were obviously so so talented but I just can’t rate this high because Morrissey is such an atrocious human being. Sad.

I’m sure this was fun to see live but unfortunately it just doesn’t translate. Boring and repetitive.

I thought they only did Seven Nation Army but they are a very talented duo! I’ve been in a bit of an album slump and I was starting to despair. This album brought me out of the depths. It was a red light at the end of the tunnel. In your face and doesn’t apologize for rocking. The very definition of a power couple, made bittersweet knowing that their marriage didn’t last, but maybe that adds to the beauty of what they created while together. I didn’t know they still made rock music like this. Would’ve been 5 stars but the singer’s scratchy voice started to get on my nerves a bit towards the end. Bonus piano duet at the very end perfectly wraps up the synergy that produced this great album. Favorites: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Expecting, the Union Forever, I Think I Smell A Rat, Aluminum, I Can Learn

Immediately lost 2 stars for having a fucking 20 minute track, and didn’t have many stars to begin with. I didn’t know lofi could make it on this list.

Glamorous. Like the big jewel in the middle of the fancy brooch, this flashy album is set right in its time period. Elton is having the time of his life and railing away on that piano, no doubt dressed in his signature extravagant outfits. It’s definitely Stadium Rock, the type of anthems that only sound good when 50,000 people are squished together in an arena listening to them. The songs started to sound the same somewhere in the middle, but there are some iconic and legendary songs on here. Bonus points for thinking it was “electric boobs” and not “electric moves” until I was 20, and for the rocking cover art. My favorites: Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Harmony

I really want to like The Who, but every one of their songs gets stuck in my head for weeks and then I don’t like them so much. The album is great technically, lots of fun, and has three of the bands all time greatest hits. All of the members are obviously very talented. The middle songs drag a bit. My favorites: Bargain, Love Ain’t For Keeping, Behind Blue Eyes

When I was 10 years old, I went through a phase of being a songwriter. I wrote like 15 songs, mostly about love I had never known and a lot about school. I even wrote one about school supplies. This is the level of lyrically talent I feel Taylor has. Her lyrics are filled with trite sayings like “if the shoe fits, wear it” and silly metaphors. Every song is exactly the same: I thought this guy was the one but he was too old/cheated on me/not who I thought he was and he did me wrong. Really hard to listen to. Also, this album is way too young to be on this list. We have no idea if it “defined a genre” or “influenced a generation”. It didn’t even chart that well.

Super viby. I can definitely see how this would be great to listen to while high. Kind of boring and tedious if not.

The first song gave me a headache, and it didn’t get much better after that. I was unaware there were this many UK 90’s/200’s Electronic group albums on this list, and I have to say I’m very disappointed.

5 minutes in and no rapping yet. Is this a hip-hop album or a vaudeville play set in the projects? Would’ve been a masterpiece without all the talking.

Something about this type of music just gets me. However, I think her voice was better in her earlier works.

Radiohead did something other than Creep? Oh, no wonder I’ve never heard of it.

Was hooked from the first 30 seconds. Rest in Power Bob Marley!

Weird. I’m learning from this project that I really hate art rock. The scratchy and out of tune vocals make it even worse. I feel bad because the guy had just had a bad accident that left him paralyzed but maybe he should’ve done a bit more reflecting and recovering before penning this atrocity. Just because he was paralyzed doesn’t mean he’s excused for inflicting this album upon the world. Couldn’t finish.

I’m glad I can now say I have listened to a Mamas and Papas album, but at the same time I could’ve gone my whole life without listening to it and been fine.

Frankly, not as good or iconic as Combat Rock, but still defined a genre and a generation. Long Live the Clash!

Groovy!

I understand the cultural impact, but I personally just can’t get into it, probably because I can’t relate at all. I didn’t know if it was ironic, didn’t get the references.

The grating and one-level voice had me longing for instrumental breaks. The stale and predictable instrumentals made me long for the vocals. It was like sitting through a family member’s political speech at the Thanksgiving dinner table when you don’t share the same views- I just couldn’t wait to get out of there.

If I had a nickel for every Neil Young and Crazy Horse album on this list I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

George Michael really just can’t do anything wrong in my eyes. I guess I’m just biased.

Rhythms were good, musicians talented, I just don’t think that guy should ever sing. Ever.

Very REM, very Hootie and the Blowfish. Nothing to write home about beyond the obvious hit

So… when do we get to the actual music? This sounded like the 4 Neanderthals from Night at the Museum escaped and found an instrument store, and one of them accidentally hit the record button on a recorder while they were discovering the instruments.

There’s a whole generation of kids who don’t know Snoop Dogg was on trial for murder.

It was kind of fun and new and interesting at first, but grew more tedious as the album went on, finally turning into boring 90s sitcom music toward the middle (I mean, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a show with the exact plot as Earn Enough For Us and Big Day). I love 80s punk as much as the next guy, but this is definitely skippable.

Like Simon and Garfunkel but without the talent

I’ve never understood what the world sees in Bob Dylan. His voice sounds haunted and soulless, and not in a good way, and his drummer can’t even keep up.

I love the black female lead punk band, but I sadly found the vocals annoying and hard to listen to. I love metal but this ain’t it.

This is the third time I’ve gotten a non- Simon and Garfunkel, Jack Johnson-like acoustical album from a 70s artist, and I have to say: what makes them each different? To me they sound virtually the same. We really could’ve just picked one of these artists and used their albums. Flip a coin for all I care, their albums all sound the same. If it ain’t S and G, then what’s the point? I get the feeling this isn’t the last one of this genre either. Shame.

Romance is dead and it died with Old Blue Eyes.

I’m so glad Neil Young isn’t on Spotify because this is now the fourth Neil Young album that this list has generated for me and I do not want him showing up in my Spotify Wrapped as my most listened to artist of the year because he’s trash and I think the only reason that four of his albums could possibly be on this list is simply that the creator of 1001 Albums has a huge crush on him. Should I be expecting more Neil Young in the future? If so, I’m going to need at least 3-5 days notice to prepare my ear holes.

It’s giving Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Shop of Horrors, Rocky Horror Picture Show. The inner theater kid in me didn’t find this half bad. Unfortunately we can’t let that kid win.

I’m suffocating on the 90s of this.

They had me in the beginning but lost me by the end. I didn't realize how grating Mick's voice can get after listening to it for an hour. Instrumentation got repetitive.

Actually found myself grooving! Did I detect a sample from Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" in "It Ain't Hard to Tell"? Nice!

I was expecting to hate this, but Dusty sang her little heart out and I found myself moving and grooving along with her songs of independence!

People trying to recreate Sgt. Pepper’s but ending up overdoing it with the drugs.

Part of me is like maybe Prince knew how bad this was and so this whole album is super meta and this album is on 1001 because it’s a parody of itself, and of pop music at that time, and that’s why he named it how he did, but the other part of me had to turn it off because I couldn’t listen to it.

Good rhythms and riffs but I honestly couldn’t stand his whiny voice for most of it. Can’t believe Bowie called this the greatest album of all time. I do like to think he foreshadowed his own demise in So Real with the line “I couldn’t awake from the nightmare that sucked me in and pulled me under.” Spooky.

Who cares about the other songs, this album has bohemian rhapsody. Nothing else can be said.

He said what about my weight?

Why does this sound like a 12 year old kid recording in his room with a keyboard and the voice memo app on his phone. What is the global societal impact this album had on the world that it belongs on this list?

Which white bread Beatles wannabe is that soul voice coming out of??? Horrible production though. This sounds like it was recorded inside of a tin can.