257
Albums Rated
3.49
Average Rating
24%
Complete
832 albums remaining
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2000s
Favorite Decade
Hard-rock
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other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
39
5-Star Albums
0
1-Star Albums
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Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street Signs | 5 | 2.87 | +2.13 |
| Vespertine | 5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
| Nothing's Shocking | 5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
| The Slim Shady LP | 5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
| Achtung Baby | 5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
| The Chronic | 5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
| Ready To Die | 5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
| Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs | 5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
| Hail To the Thief | 5 | 3.44 | +1.56 |
| Tidal | 5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Leaves Left | 2 | 3.47 | -1.47 |
| Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols | 2 | 3.46 | -1.46 |
| Aqualung | 2 | 3.44 | -1.44 |
| Odessey And Oracle | 2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
| Different Class | 2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
| The Fat Of The Land | 2 | 3.41 | -1.41 |
| British Steel | 2 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
| The Stooges | 2 | 3.26 | -1.26 |
| Mr. Tambourine Man | 2 | 3.23 | -1.23 |
| Machine Gun Etiquette | 2 | 3.15 | -1.15 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.67 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| U2 | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
5-Star Albums (39)
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Popular Reviews
Rush
5/5
So many hits! What a treat! Everybody in the band was at the top of their game for this album. Prog rock doesn’t get much better.
11 likes
Miles Davis
5/5
A masterclass in jazz improvisation. Amazing tone and playing by all of the musicians involved. These tunes are still played regularly to this day by jazzers.
2 likes
The Damned
2/5
Heavy punk, a little bit more polished and poppy than I think the band intended it to be. Better musicianship than I typically associate with punk from this era, the guitar player sounded like he knew more about how to play the guitar than he should have to be a part of this band. This will definitely be both my first and last time listening to this album.
1 likes
Ozomatli
5/5
Very cool hybrid of Latin, Rock, Hip Hop, and Middle Eastern sounds. Worth a spin in the future for sure. Strong vocals, and big rock guitars. Very catchy songwriting with some very memorable and singable choruses. I’ve listened to the album 3 times which is very unusual for me with this challenge.
1 likes
Led Zeppelin
5/5
One of my favorites by the band. Page is still developing his sound on the guitar, which is going to peak on the next 4 albums, and he is beginning to show his abilities as a producer. Great playing by all involved. Virtuosic without pretense.
1 likes
All Ratings
Bob Dylan
4/5
From before my generation. I knew the opening track which hooked my from the beginning. Good stereo separation for an album I don't know. Was my first album from this project. I am not used to listening to something not recorded with a click track lol! It is very interesting to listen to a legend that I know nothing about. The whistley noise in Highway 61 is something that you don't hear to often, with the exception of Van Halen 1. The out of tune instruments take some getting used to for sure.
The Cars
4/5
Synth heavy! A precursor to what was going to come in the decade we all know very well for too too much extra excess. The vocals sound really far back with synths front and center. A lot of pop with some punk and too much treble on the very bright but confidently played guitar. Lack of reverb is noticeable but makes each instrument easily identifiable in the mix.
The Mars Volta
3/5
Heavier than what I usually listen to. Great voice on singer, can be so gentle then so strong. Band reminds me of something that I can’t put my finger on, but it is also a style that I don't listen to too much. Very math rock and prog, like heavier Porcupine Tree. First tune definitely hooked me.
Stan Getz
4/5
Nice intro to Bossa Nova. I think that the title is a misnomer. The 2nd track, which is the only one that is not a cover, is kind of cheesy, in a Benny Hill sort of way. Solid playing, it is a bit unusual to hear a bright electric guitar in this setting instead of the duller, lower tone playing is usually common with this type of playing. Bright tempi for all tracks, faster than I play them. This album is making me reassess my tone choices for jazz, although I do typically play with a lower tone setting than what is on this album. Even though Desafinado and One Note Samba were the only tunes that were familiar to me, the general vibe of the album was familiar.
Prince
3/5
Great album that I was not at all familiar with. Prince's guitar tones seem to have never changed throughout his career, thanks to his consistent use of BOSS pedals. Solid, confident, aggressive playing throughout, by a new group that was not The Revolution. This is after Purple Rain, it was very noticeable that there were far fewer hits (none) on this album than on Purple Rain. This album is definitely more raw and has less synth than what he did in the past and what most people typically associate with the 80's.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Fun classic hip hop. Has strong Beastie Boys vibe with regards to instrumentation and rapping style. Hints of the rock/rap collaborations that would take place in the future weee evident on this album.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Soothing, warm, welcoming voice. This is the first album by him that I have ever listened to. Playing and instrumentation reminds me of old Disney movies as well as any movie or TV show from the 50s. Considered to be one of the first concept albums, which I enjoy, especially The Wall of course.
SZA
4/5
Great combo of hip hop beats, and good pop/rock playing. The language is authentic but may turn some people off from this album. She is an amazing talent and more people should know about her.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
I was really looking forward to listening to this album. Started slower than I expected, I’m used to big strong songs opening an album. Tons of hits that I recognized. Some of the tunes were longer than I expected with more extended jams than are typical these days. The fusion tunes were a surprise. The variety of styles was a surprise as well. I look forward to exploring more SW in the future.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Reminds me of acoustic Nirvana. Nice unpredictable key changes and melodies with interesting twists with out being unlistenable for a pop listener. Great music that is an approachable accessible combo between sad, happy, and confused. Nice contrast between his gentle voice and then pain you know that he experienced in his life.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Dark mood and sound. Nice 70’s indie pop style. Long songs with many verses that tell stories. Interesting chord progressions that meander in and out of different keys in an unpredictable way. Calming and soothing like Sufjan’s acoustic tunes.
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Average 60s hippy pop with fuzzy guitars, lots of reverb. Psychedelic. Tremolo on guitars. Style is familiar sounding from old movies and tv shows, but I am no at all well versed in 60s psychedelic pop rock.
Steely Dan
4/5
Fun music! Awesome guitar playing with great tone, pop melodies with complex jazz harmonies. Enjoyable if you like pop or jazz. Lots of deep cuts. Creative orchestration dependent on piano.
Blondie
3/5
Fun party pop punk pop lite. This album has a dark edge with contrasts of hope and light. Guitar is much heavier and distorted than I would have expected. Many surprises on this album. Hints of 50s pop and show tunes can be heard in some tracks.
Metallica
4/5
Dry mix that is well known for having bass guitar, but not bass drums, way too low in the mix, aggressive but catchy songs, part of the end of the MTV generation of metal and rock music being as popular is hip hop is in the 2020s. Tight, scooped mid guitar tones. I had never realized how good of an album this was, but I definitely like Master of Puppets much more for both tunes and recording style. This album could use more bass and a touch of reverb, but the lack of reverb helps to showcase the virtuosity they had on this album by making the mix far less muddy. This genre appealed to me much more when I was a teen. I didn’t give this album as much of a chance when it came out as I should have.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
Angry dark album. Supposed to mark the end of the fun and all too brief grunge era. Recording marred by excessive drug use and guitar player quoting during session. The distorted vocals add a nice edge to the dark. Great guitar playing and use of feedback as an effect. Super crunchy guitars that are very prominent in the mix. The cover art, dissonance, and horror like mood of this album would have been nightmare fuel for me as a kid.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Traditional electric blues instrumentation. Was a big influence on many electric blues on rock players. Traditional yet super clean. I love how in blues tunes they talk about their problems, but they don’t usually ever get resolved. Makes for an easier tune to write for sure. Will listen to more Muddy Waters in the future for sure.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Something is missing compared to the classic hits by The Beach Boys that I know so well and I can’t put my finger on what it is. It still has the tight and unpredictable harmonies that The Beach Boys are known for.
Pavement
3/5
Reminds me of early Weezer with untuned guitars and Peavey practice amps for the guitar distortion. Loose, jammy tunes with wandering tempi making for a very live performance recorded in the studio sound. With no click track feel. I will check out more of this band in the future. They have an interesting sound that I am not familiar with, reminds of early Indie Rock.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Amazingly clear vocals that really cut through the live mix. Excellent right band that really starts grove by the end of the opening tune. You can hear how good he would have been as a performer just from the vocals. Guitar is clearer than typical for this era, especially for a live recording.
The Smiths
3/5
Nice 1980s New Wave sound, darker than a lot of the other pop that was in the radio at the time. Has strong Cure vibes. Very listenable and pleasant even on the first listen.
Orbital
3/5
Old school electronic from before I had ever heard electronic music. Less monotonous then current electronic music for sure. My ear needs to hear changes for this type of music to keep me interested, and for the most part, this album supplies that interest, even if it is just one instrument changing, providing a bit of ebb and flow in a sea of sameness.
The Killers
4/5
Great album! Super energetic, clear lightly crunchy bass tone, retro 80s sound while not sounding dated. Vocals are an unusual but very listenable style. Good hooks. Will listen to more Killers in the future. Nice guitar tones that rock without being overly distorted.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Great guitar playing on this British interpretation of American Blues that was a part of a movement in the 60s that went on to become a heavy influence on guitar playing at the time and to this day. Very listenable album that will be a big part of my rotation going forward, this album is a keeper for sure. I don’t know Clapton as well as I should, but this has some early Zep vibes for me for sure.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Hooked from the first tune. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this artist. Sufjan meets Enya meets Pink Floyd, hints of The Beach Boys and the Beatles, with a little bit of indie edge sprinkled in. Pleasing reverby vocals, synths from every era, cool key changes.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Great old school classic rock. Nice slide playing, traditional song structures, unfamiliar songs with a familiar vocalist from his other projects.
Q-Tip
3/5
Very funky, nice mix of rap and jazzy funky pop with jazzy pano chords and prominently features effect laden guitars, which for me makes for the most listener friendly rap. Light use of samples make for an authentic yet accessible album.
The B-52's
3/5
Interesting tones that are definitely dated. Album intro definitely longer than any than I can remember with vocals coming in super late. Super fun tunes with guitars high in the mix. Strong show tune vibes are ever present. The back up vocals add a ton to the texture. I would love to see these guys live for sure.
The Beau Brummels
2/5
Definitely not my cup of tea. Very clear Medieval Manor vibes on this album. Probably one of the picks that may have been big in England but never caught on in the US that some people have mentioned in reviews of the book. Sounds like movie/tv/musical theater tunes from the 70s.
Queen
4/5
Awesome guitars played with reckless abandon while being conscious of making listenable melodies instead of carpet bombing us with notes. Retro synths galore! And of course, Freddie Mercury. Amazing and big vocal harmonies and creative, unpredictable chord progressions. Makes me want to listen to more Queen, I only know the hits. Hints or Beach Boys, and reminds me more than a bit of Radiohead even though they are very different and from different eras. The drums would sound great a bit bigger and with more modern production, but it is similar to the production of other albums of the era. This, and some of the songwriting sound experimental and dated, but nothing else sounds like Queen, and they were definitely trendsetters.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Very cool mix of Latin and African rhythms, and Jazz. Reminds me of something I would hear at the International stage at Montreal Jazz Fest. Definitely very cool, and I will revisit this album in the future.
Nick Drake
4/5
Great use of open tunings on the guitar. Nice calm vocals, does not at all sound dated or like it is from the seventies. Piano adds nice color to the mix. Has a Sufjan Stevens or Elliot Smith type vibe to it that I really like.
Nico
2/5
Nice acoustic style guitar playing on what sounds like a hollow body guitar. Nico’s voice is too deep for my liking on first listen. String arranging reminds me of Eleanor Rigby. Nico didn’t like the strings and flute in her recordings, and i don’t blame her one bit. The songs would be much cleaner without the strings. The album grew on me as it progressed, I got more and more used to her style by the middle of the album. Interesting uses of electric guitar that I had never heard before were present in a few tracks.
Massive Attack
3/5
Cool mix of Enigma, Chaka Khan, Sade, and SiSe. Easy to listen to from the first play. I enjoyed hearing different singers on different tracks.
Neu!
2/5
Sounds like it was recorded when synths were tens of thousands of dollars. Definite Epcot Center or Boston Museum of Science Commercial vibes to the synth patches. Much too dated sounding to become a part of my regular rotation.
Neil Young
3/5
Chill summer classic rock. This my first time listening to one of his albums front to back. Solid playing and vocals.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Great album that I have never listened to, I’ve only heard their hits. Solid power chord driven rock with intricate bass lines. Many of the e bands I enjoy listen to list them as an influence, so will give more of their albums a listen for sure.
ABBA
3/5
Surprisingly sophisticated playing. Awesome vocals and production. Nice synth sounds that are retro but sound like they were ahead of their time when this album came out in 1981. Definite musical theater vibes from this album.
Simple Minds
3/5
Decent old 80s new wave. Very creative, maybe to creative for more radio airplay back in the day. New and familiar at the same time because of the genre that I grew up listening to. The instrumental was a nice surprise. It reminds me of a tune I might hear in a dance club scene in a movie like Scarface.
Genesis
2/5
Not the Genesis I thought i knew from the 80s. This album doesn’t do much for me. Pink Floyd meets musical theater meets sleep depravation. Amazing musicianship for sure though.
AC/DC
5/5
Arena rock at its best, cars and girls accompanied by Gibsons and Marshall stacks. Well crafted songs, amazing solos, and vocals that are instantly recognizable.
Tom Waits
3/5
Strong Sopranos soundtrack and Springsteen vibes, but without all of the hookiness. Simple bluesy instrumentation, dark and sad vocals. Worth another listen for sure, but will not be put into my regular rotation. This is my first experience listening to Tom Waits.
Ride
3/5
Interesting combo of big fuzzy guitars and 60s style song writing and drum playing. Will give another listen in the future for sure.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Fun old school music. Sound like organ trio jazz but far bluesier and poppy. I could listen to this album a thousand times, will be in my rotation for sure. Clear guitar but not offensively loud.
Jane Weaver
4/5
Lush vocals, wish I had hear of this artist before, great energy. Retro but not too retro indie synth pop.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Pleasant 70’s easy listening. Decent songs, album, and playing, but it won’t stay in my regular rotation.
2/5
Interesting tunes, genre I am totally unfamiliar with. Creative use of dissonance in a lot of the songs on guitar. Reminds me of The Police. From my favorite era, yet I only know the biggest hits.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
Calming, island/African sound, jazzy tunes. All of the songs are quite short. Great album to listen to if you are cooking breakfast on a Sunday morning. I definitely will give this album a listen again in the future.
Jethro Tull
2/5
Great playing, but has an extremely dated and out of style vibe to it. Amazing musicianship for sure. The fact that these guys beat out Metallica for best heavy metal album in 1989? leaves a very bad taste in my mouth for this band.
Wilco
4/5
Eclectic mix of sounds. Started very loud and aggressive, yet the vocals had a big contrast with the guitars. Indie feel to the album, just indie enough to not be pop, but definitely has some of the songwriting hallmarks of pop. Great album that will go into my rotation in the future, this is my first time listening to this band, but I have heard of them before.
The Stooges
2/5
Opening track was frightening compared to what I usually thought of as music from the 60's. More distorted than what I am typically used to from that time period. Loud, aggressive, early version of what I consider punk.
5/5
This album is a masterpiece. Hit after a hit, and The Edge wrote the textbook on using delay on his guitars. Great songwriting, great hooks on all of the tunes. Definitely an album that you can play front to back without any filler material. Super tight and accurate playing by the entire band.
The Damned
2/5
Heavy punk, a little bit more polished and poppy than I think the band intended it to be. Better musicianship than I typically associate with punk from this era, the guitar player sounded like he knew more about how to play the guitar than he should have to be a part of this band. This will definitely be both my first and last time listening to this album.
New York Dolls
3/5
I never listened to this band, and I see know how I always heard about them being a big influence on 80’s hair metal. Very similar stylistically to Crue and Poison in the way the songs are written and the playing style of the guitar. This album definitely has more of a punk edge to it though than the bands that they influenced.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Soul baring and honest album. The piano is almost used as a weapon. Nothing is held back in the playing or the lyric writing. Amazing template on writing from the heart. She is my age, so it is interesting to hear her view of the world on how it is similar and different from mine.
Nick Drake
2/5
Uneventful acoustic 70's rock with a bluesy jazzy edge.
John Martyn
3/5
Nice vibe, but kind of boring. Vocals a tad high in the mix. Decent 70’s acoustic singer-songwriter tunes.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
Reminds me of listening to King Diamond when I was a kid, which both scared and intrigued me. This album would definitely scare most religious parents. Drug and horror movies and comics definitely contributed to the writing of this album. But it is nostalgic nonetheless! I will give the rest of their catalog a listen for sure!
Hole
3/5
Great 90's vibe to this album. Super aggressive vocals, yet with cool harmonies and melodies. I recognized a handful of the tunes from the radio. I miss the angry angsty woman tunes of the 90's.
David Bowie
3/5
Interesting listen for my first listen of a Bowie album. Synths typical of the era, or a bit before their time. Unusual choice to put an instrumental at the front of the album.
Le Tigre
4/5
Super fun and lively, but not the best album to listen to while relaxing. Abrasive in a fun and punky way. Will listen to it again for sure.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Awesome predecessor to old school West Coast Gangster Rap. Jazzy backing tracks with heavy synth drums. The Beatles sample caught me off guard. Simultaneously unfamiliar and nostalgic album.
Moby
3/5
Great vibes, great accessible electronic music with electric guitar. Would love the album if it wasn’t attached to a negative time in my life. Will give other Moby a listen for sure. Super chill, but you can tap your foot to it.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Great mix of electric and acoustic. Perfect playing by all involved. Guitar heavy in a perfect way. First four albums really show them developing and improving on their influences.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Fun arena rock lite typical of Bruce. Guitar tones are a bit abrasive and high in the mix for the genre. Nice mix of intensity levels on the tunes. Nothing was tough to listen to, the entire album had a nice listenable and nostalgic vibe.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Fun and very listenable album, was only familiar with the title track. Nice textures with the unusual instrument choices and cool synth sounds. Radiohead vibes with more pop hooks. Very creative all around, and will get more listens in the future for sure.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Interesting first listen of a Stones album front to back. Hard to think that back in the day the were competing with the Beatles, this seems very different from the Beatles. Much closer to Zep. Fun poppy but bluesy tunes. Mix typical of 60's-70's rock and pop.
Jane's Addiction
5/5
Solid album. My introduction to alternative and without realizing it at the time. Huge guitars, great effects and tones in all the vocals and guitars. Nice mix of Pink Floyd, 80’s hair metal, and what was to come with the grunge era.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
Very fun combination of hip hop, humor, and rock guitars. Less music samples than is typical of the genre. Has a definite Cypress Hill/Sublime/mid 90s vibe to it. Will give this album another spin in the future for sure.
Boston
5/5
Perfect. Perfect lead vocals, harmonies, arena-ready guitar playing, mix, lyrics, peaks and valleys, it’s all here in this album. The acoustic guitar really contributes to this in this album. Like many, (but not all) debut albums, it’s hard to peat this one.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Springsteen and War on Drugs vibes. Thick, plush instrumentation. Catchy singable dark arena rock tunes. Will get more listens in the future. Great combo of arena rock bangers and indie sensibilities. Not as strong of an album as “The Suburbs”, which is definitely more hooky, but I will definitely give this album more spins in the future.
Various Artists
3/5
Definitely super fun album and nostalgic for anyone who is over 45 in 2022. I was kind of mad when I saw this on the list, but it was quite ok in the narrow retro girl band holiday songs produced by a murderer genre.
The Zombies
2/5
Sounds like a mix of the Monkees, The Beach Boys, and Pink Floyd. Not my cup of tea, but cool and unpredictable chord progressions in most tunes that kept my attention, sort of.
Radiohead
5/5
Love how this band is always reinventing themselves. Nothing is of limits. Unpredictable as an album and a band. Love everything about it. Always staying the same by always changing.
The Cure
3/5
Instrumental opener, seems to be a theme among some of these albums. Synth pop/alternative at its finest. Tinges of punk as well. Such delicate vocals by the singer that do a great job of reeling in the listener to the story. Song structures atypical of 80s radio pop. Familiar guitar tones. No musicians stand out as a virtuoso, this album is more about mood than playing out individually. Somber, melancholy. Mix is amateurish, vocals very low on some tunes.
Saint Etienne
3/5
Fun indie pop with a rock edge. Tinges of dance music as well. Fun catchy song writing. Hints of electronic music as well.
Radiohead
5/5
Awesome tones on all the instruments, listenable but strange, ai love how every album sounds so different from the last, they are constantly reinventing themselves. Perfect combo of optimism, despair, and sadness. Amazing songwriting as usual.
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
Amazing album. I love the history behind the band. Amazing playing, flawless rhythms, so much great dissonance, Latin rhythms… I could go on forever about this album. A masterclass in Latin musicianship.
Pulp
2/5
Sounds 20 years older than it is. So mixed between genres. Too stuck in the 70s and 80s for my liking.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Nostalgic album from friends that have listened to this band during my life. Catchy songwriting, easy to play tunes for musicians, yet super listenable.
The Band
4/5
Nice classic rock album. Was familiar with The Weight and Long Black Veil. Having only been familiar with the “Last Waltz” album before listening to this, the style and instrumentation was still very familiar because of my experience listening to that album.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Amazing old school hip hop from what it was just starting to gain national attention. Surprising prevalence of guitar that I never picked up on when I first heard many of these tunes as a kid. Slow rhymes, lack of profanIty was very noticeable considering how prevalent it became when gangsta rap first hit the scene.
The National
4/5
Down tempo indie rock, pretty depressing, definitely my cup of tea. Keys are heavy in the mix, while guitars are way in the back. Unusually sparse drums for the genre that really add to the songs. This band will definitely be in my rotation going forward.
U2
5/5
Amazing album. This band is always putting out great, powerful, relevant, creative music. Much like Radiohead, they are constantly reinventing themselves. One of the most creative guitar/vocal combos in popular music, and the bass and drums are always flawless both live and in the studio.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Classic album, was cool hearing how many songs on this album went on to stand the test of time. Super unique grit to Bruce’s voice that can be aggressive or gentle. Some of the songs had a surprisingly strong 50’s sound to the vibe and instrumentation. All around solid album, I now want to explore i more of Bruce’s albums going forward.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Very mellow, reminds me of something that would play during the credits during The Sopranos. Definitely an acquired taste. Relaxing. Very strange vocals, but I guess that’s what he’s known for.
The Byrds
2/5
Diverse group of 60s pop tunes that remind me of the Monkees. Typical pop instrumentation, great vocals, but overall kind of bland.
Fever Ray
3/5
interesting electronic indie pop with vocals, predictable, easy to listen to, not super adventurous or interesting, but very easy to listen to. Very dark, minor, bassy sound to all of the tunes on the album.
3/5
Old school country. Amazing slide playing. Super tight band and vocals. Very short catchy songs.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
Lush orchestration. Interesting songs. I’m not familiar with the band but they sound like they influenced or were influenced by artists I’m familiar with like The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Queen, and Radiohead. Will give this another spin in the future for sure. Amazing high quality singing and playing.
The xx
4/5
Awesome indie rock album. The mix of male and female vocals is unusual and refreshing in the genre. Great synths mixed with crystal-clear guitars. Super listenable album that has some tracks that I've heard on the Sirius XMU radio station.
David Bowie
3/5
Eclectic mix of styles, from jazz to prog to radio pop rock. Amazing guitar tones and vocals, and unexpected chord progressions and vocal harmonies.
Rush
4/5
Amazing playing, quite a few hits, super creative early prog rock.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Chill, downtempo synth pop reminiscent of The Cure. Makes me want to watch crime dramas set in the 80’s. Hypnotic and repetitive.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Awesome hybrid of jazz instrumentation with late old school rap, making it a great listen for people who are into either of those genres.
Al Green
3/5
Amazing vocals. Great songwriting that keeps you mellow throughout . . . nostalgic for me as a child of the 80s. Similar to alot of what I heard on the radio during my childhood. All of the instruments are clear and easy to hear, not at all overproduced.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Pleasing old school soul, fuzzy guitars, strings, and wah make this album super fun to listen to. Hypnotic, very cool old school use of stereo makes the band sound like it is swirling around you as you are listening.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Surprising number of hits on this album. Stereotypical 80’s lite metal sound, which is not intended to be negative. Memorable rock anthem, great writing, playing, and performing. I remember this album being very popular when it came out.
Boards of Canada
3/5
Chill electronic music, cool for listening to in the background.
Jacques Brel
2/5
Old school style that I am completely unfamiliar with. Pleasant enough tunes that would be fun to listen to while cooking dinner or having a candle lit dinner in the city.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Amazing early pop grunge. Hints of 80’s production with a completely different style from the 80’s. Super high energy, refreshing non conventional song forms that are reminiscent of jam bands at times. Very bluesy guitar parts, great mix of strat and Les Paul sounds that are complimentary and don’t clash in the mix. Big guitars are clear and not muddy or overbearing.
KISS
3/5
Fun 70's dad rock, solid songwriting, great bluesy guitar solos, and more hits than I would have expected on any one Kiss record. I am only familiar with the radio hits.
Soft Cell
3/5
Early 80s retro synth heavy. Stereotypical of the style that I remember being referred to as “New Wave” when I was a kid in the 80’s. Heavy reverb, drum machines, theremin, and lack of guitar is also reminiscent of a lot of radio pop during the 80’s. Use of clarinet and unusual percussion instruments caught me off guard when listening to this album.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Fun pop rock that sounds like a combo of 90s alt, The Beatles, and STP. Easy and fun melodic and catchy band that I will listen to in the future for sure.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Great acoustic folk rock album, I had no idea that they were as funky as they got in “Good Time Boy”. Wonderful vocal harmonies throughout the album, along with great old school fuzz on the electric guitars and crisp, clean acoustic guitars and organ that complement each other perfectly.
Julian Cope
3/5
Definite early indie/alternative vibe. Could have come from anywhere from the late 90's to today. Great rock instrumentation and playing. Reminds me quite a bit of Jane's Addiction playing and song-wise minus the vocals and with the addition of keys on many tunes. Sounds like something that would be playing in the background at Adrianna's night club or the Bada Bing in the Sopranos.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
A handful of classics that I was already familiar with, which made it a much easier listen than I expected it would be. Super accessible combo of jammy poppy bluesy 60s music.
The Smiths
3/5
Catchy album for sure. Reminds me of The Cure but happier. Doesn’t sound typical of mid 80s radio pop. Nice chorusy electric guitars, driving drums, and crisp acoustic guitars with vocals reminiscent of Robert Smith of The Cure.
The Cure
4/5
Amazing collection of early emo/synth pop. Instruments create a consistent mood throughout the album. Whispers of 80s pop apparent throughout, with more darkness and hopelessness.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Definite 60s vibe. Calming vocals. The non-aggressive use of the electric guitars was something I haven’t heard on many albums. Definitely has a jam band feel that is still popular to this day. Very diverse instrumentation with the dynamics constantly rising and sinking like a living being.
Prince
4/5
Great album that starts with some great hits. Very 80s aesthetic, sounds, and vibe.
Santana
3/5
Familiar style and tone right from the opening track, which had Santana’s signature sound right away. Two tracks were already known to me as staples of classic rock radio during my teens. I will be giving more Santana a listen in the future for sure after hearing this album.
Circle Jerks
2/5
Shortest album ever! Fun and aggressive and silly punk album, a genre that I am not very familiar with. Reminds of a less melodic and slightly faster and angrier version of Green Day.
Rush
5/5
So many hits! What a treat! Everybody in the band was at the top of their game for this album. Prog rock doesn’t get much better.
Miles Davis
5/5
Definitely more experimental than Kind of Blue, but still easy to listen to even on a first listen. So great to hear so much guitar on the extended improvs on this album. Highly recommended to any fusion fans.
Tori Amos
4/5
Alanis without guitar. The melodies are a little tougher to get on an early listen than Alanis, but your efforts will be rewarded. If you are a Fiona Apple fan, I highly recommend giving Tori a listen.
Blur
4/5
Great guitar driven indie rock album. Awesome and catchy vocals, playing, and songwriting. Interesting and strange guitar and keys parts that sound phenomenal even when they are dissonant. I’m surprised that the only song that got big from them was Song 2, they deserved a bigger following than they had for sure.
Scott Walker
3/5
Nostalgic 60s/70s acoustic with strings vive for the entire album. Nice for fans of acoustic music from that time period.
Aerosmith
4/5
Well polished album by classic arena rockers that combines tight playing, catchy pop melodies and songwriting, radio hits, and an aggressive sound that is even parts pop and sleazy guitar driven rock and roll.
The Byrds
2/5
Cool 12 string intros to many songs. A bit droney for my tastes. Decent vocal harmonies, which always add to the quality of a tune or album for me.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Relaxing old school country. Old fashioned sounding recording.
Can
2/5
Meandering psychedelic early 70’s jam band folk indie rock.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Cool combo of pop funk and blues sounds and instrumentation. Very catchy and easy to listen to.
The Temptations
3/5
Much darker and funkier than I anticipated before listening. Great vocal harmonies and falsetto. Very live quality to the sound of the recording. The strings give the album a definite and obvious 70’s feel.
Madness
3/5
Quirky original, and sometimes dark 80s new wave Brit pop that has big instrumentation and lots of clever writing.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
New School percussion along with old school funk and R&B rhythms make for a solid first album. Amy’s voice is so unique, smooth yet unschooled, innocent yet dirty. She was one of a kind and is missed by all who were touched by her music.
Raekwon
2/5
Inner city woes with old school beats.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Huge spacious reverbs, hints of Floyd and Radiohead in the sound and vibe. Cold, dark, and distant, easy to listen to electronic based mood music.
Living Colour
4/5
Amazing playing all around. Dated tones that are a bit 80’s, but it works for this album. Definitely quite a few bangers on this album. I’m not completely sure what I think about the song writing, but it’s definitely a repeat listen type of album. Prog rock, 80’s pop/rock, arena rock, and jazz fusion combine for something quite special here.
2Pac
4/5
Easy to listen to West Coast 90’s hip hop the reminds me of old school Snoop. Easy to listen to. 70”s sampling.
James Brown
3/5
Very energetic performances of covers and James Brown tunes. Definitely worth a listen if you are only familiar with the hits like I was before listening to this album.
Radiohead
5/5
Dark, chaotic, bitter, and confused. Beautiful tunes written and recorded during a tumultuous time in world history. Yorke’s talent for writing a melody for any chord progression shines so brightly on this album.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Very different in many ways from the Pink Floyd that I know, which is Dark Side through the Wall. Hints of the creativity they possess is apparent, as is the willingness to be creative with instrument and sound choices. A good starting place if you want to delve into some early Pink Floyd.
The Crusaders
3/5
Great dance/disco/jazz fusion. Only the first song had vocals, which I found surprising. Sax is lead instrument throughout this jazz fusion album.
Queen
5/5
Amazing. They sound like they were still figuring out their craft while showing us the future. Virtuosic playing by everyone in the band. What was to come from Queen is the only thing holding me back from 5 stars.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Interesting mostly instrumental/jazz/electronic/experimental album reminiscent of Pink Floyd. It’s
Scritti Politti
3/5
Very reminiscent of Boy George/Culture Club and from the same era, but with quite a bit much polish and edge.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
6 discs, over 3 hours. All the familiar songs you would expect, plus some beautiful instrumentals on the final disc. Great soundtrack for a long drive.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Fun summer dad rock album, a few familiar tunes.
Dr. John
2/5
Eclectic and entertaining, yet barely listenable.
Miles Davis
5/5
Fresh sounding even though it has been around forever. The modal long solos staying in a key for a while make it easily accessible to people who are new to jazz, while being something that seasoned veterans can enjoy.
David Bowie
3/5
Very cool songs that have unpredictable chord changes and melodies, along with much more sax playing than most pop bands. Across the Universe was a cool cover.
Dirty Projectors
4/5
Dissonant, interesting chords and vocal harmonies. Super interesting album that I thoroughly enjoyed. The addition of orchestral strings made for a welcome change from a typical indie rock album.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Amazing vocals, like Freddie Mercury without the grit but all of the control and emotion. Eclectic mix of instruments. Will give this album and artist a spin in the future for sure.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Great Stones album that sounds to me very similar to all of the other stones albums.
808 State
2/5
Semi interesting and monotonous old school electronic music.
Dr. Dre
5/5
Super listenable, great samples on the tunes from the 70’s, great story telling that reflects inner city life in the 90’s, with some humor as well. Great to listen to from start to finish.
Culture Club
3/5
I loved the radio hits on this album when they came out when I was a kid. Pop with a little bit of soul and Caribbean flavors sprinkled in.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Amazing first album the gave hints of what was to come. Amazing electrified blues rock with some folk added in. Great guitar heavy production, impeccable playing by all.
Holger Czukay
2/5
Pretty strange album, but interesting nonetheless. Was one of the pioneering albums that used sampling according to Wikipedia. Not a good album to listen to if you are trying to sleep or relax.
Hot Chip
4/5
Amazing! Creative instrumentation and effects, vocals reminiscent of Dirty Projects. Catchy songwriting, good use of synths. Each song has a different vibe. I will definitely give this album another spin soon.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Blues mixed with more traditional African music. Pleasant to listen to, like a familiar meal with unfamiliar spices. If you like electric American/British Blues, you might like this album. I’m torn between 2 and 3 starts, so I will round up.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Above average interest-wise electronic music for someone who doesn’t ordinarily listen to this type of music. Acoustic instruments or very realistic ones are mixed in with the typical electronic sounds.
Gary Numan
3/5
Early new wave synth pop, the only song I knew was Cars, which reminded me of a lot of the early mid 80s pop that was on the radio when I was a kid. Cool and original songwriting and performances.
Janet Jackson
3/5
Decent album, has many production aspects reminiscent of New Jack and late 80s early 90’s pop such as 808s, big guitars, and huge drums. Great songwriting and performances.
The Prodigy
2/5
Would be a fun soundtrack for a video game session in my teens playing GTA in a friends basement. High energy, relentless electronic music.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Amazing slide playing, polished yet gritty country pop. Easy to listen to songs.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
Lots of hits, excellent tight harmonies, and a more eclectic mix of songs than what I would have expected.
Beatles
5/5
Many, many hits. Accessible to people who like early Beatles, while still retaining the pop sensibility that their early albums were full of. Experimental, uninhibited, yet easily listenable. Even though it is a double album, it never seems too long. It always kept my attention. This album is a beautiful and raw unpolished gem.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
Crisp and clear acapella voices with lush reverb, beautiful and uplifting tunes, a must listen album.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Strange, but creative. Repulsive, but interesting. Demands your attention like driving by a car accident. Reminds me a bit of Zappa, Steve Vai, Pink Floyd,, Zep, and the Beatles.
Prince
5/5
Amazing and underrated guitar playing on this album. Edgy radio friendly pop, but with enough dissonance and aggression to make it barely radio friendly. Classic 80s guitar tones produced with BOSS electronics. This album still holds up after all these years.
Sex Pistols
2/5
Aggressive, dissonant, early pop punk with a raunchy edge and the same drum fills throughout the album.
Steely Dan
4/5
Masterfully executed hybrid of rock and jazz with a 70’s flavor. Complicated chords and playing yet super accessible. Clever songwriting.
Janis Joplin
3/5
Amazing powerful vocals, band reminded me a bit of the Black Crowes, way more hits than I expected.
David Bowie
3/5
A bit heavier than I would have expected, unusual, big, dramatic writing and chord progressions, heavy Queen vibes on this album.
Björk
5/5
Eccentric, unpredictable, yet easy to listen to. Synth heavy, but also has extensive use of acoustic instruments. Sounds like something that I would put on my playlist if I was going to the Moon or Mars. She is IMMENSELY talented as a writer, arranger, and performer.
Miles Davis
3/5
Pretty aggressive jazz, the addition of guitar on this album was welcome. A bit too dissonant for my taste. Very long instrumental jams. I think I would enjoy this album more and might have given it 4 stars if I gave it a few listens.
The Offspring
3/5
Intense fun radio friendly (clean versions) of accessible pop punk, but Green Day massively overshadowed them due to the similar release dates of this album and Green Day Dookie. This album hasn’t stood the test of time quite as well as Dookie, but it still hits hard for sure.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Nostalgic style for me as a Gen Xer. Sometimes dark but always interesting, unexpected, and creative harmonies. Great playing by the entire band on this album. I only recognized one song before listening to this album.
Air
4/5
Definite TEMU Radiohead and Floyd vibes. But I still really like it. Creative instrumentation, relaxing, mysterious, old school synths even for the time.
R.E.M.
4/5
Early indie rock with a little taste of pop and Irish music. Eclectic instrumentation that is out of the ordinary for the genre. Beautiful songwriting that is reminiscent of The Decemberists.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Great guitar playing for the time period, when a lot of the playing was excessive and tasteless. Awesome songwriting. Strange chord progressions that caught me off guard but worked well.
Lorde
3/5
Great melodies and amazing vocal performances, a bit monotonous instrumentally as an album, but definitely great mood music for driving in to a city at night.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Solid songwriting and some welcome gems considering that I have only heard the hits in the past. Tighter band than I would have expected.
The Bees
3/5
Interesting and eclectic mix of genres that span between 60s pop and later Radiohead. I will give it a spin again for sure, I had never heard of the band until this listen.
Radiohead
5/5
Amazing debut album. Creative guitar effects that help lend the album a feeling of angst and confusion. Spicier chords than similar albums of the time period. The interaction between the vocals and the band couldn’t be anymore perfect.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Very dark, cool to hear where some bands that I liked got this from, such as AIC, Metallica, and Slayer. Awesome early metal album.
The Blue Nile
3/5
Synth pop/rock with a U2 flair.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Super clear mix. All instruments are clear and pop out with limited effects and not overly aggressive stereo separation. More hits than I would have anticipated or knew about before listening.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
Interesting, raunchy, awesome vocals!
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Easy to listen to tracks that are heavily 70's influenced West Coast gangsta rap. Many hits from the early 90's, great story telling on most of the tunes. Lots of sampling while also being very original compositions that stand up on their own.
David Bowie
4/5
The unusual instrumental tracks were a welcome addition to this album, including electronic sounds and some unexpected instrumental choices. His songs are always creative and have unexpected twists. This album was definitely way ahead of its time.
Guided By Voices
3/5
Indie rock, diverse and high quality songwriting, many different guitar sounds, good album in a genre that I don’t know much about.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Beautiful and well crafted indie pop songs. Eclectic instrument choices for what is primarily a guitar driven genre.
3/5
Funky Jazzy old school jam band sound that reminds me of Santana with less guitar. Super cool album.
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
A gem from a decade that had some amazing music and a lot of junk as well. This album has stood the test of time with a surprising amount of songs that ended up becoming modern day classics. Amazing instrument playing when compared to most of the pop playing at the time. Beautifully crafted and performed songs.
George Jones
3/5
High quality writing playing, and performing. You can see why he is so highly regarded in country music after listening to this album.
3/5
Poppy but dissonant early indie rock. All around interesting, great distorted guitars. Heavier Camper Van Beethoven vibe.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Guitar driven pop/disco/rock with some keyboards as well. Very catchy and danceable songs, I’m surprised that they didn’t get more famous than they did.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Diverse tunes stylistically on a single album. Impeccable playing by everyone in the band. Quality guitar playing that was unexpectedly good. This albums placement on this list is well deserved. Listening to it makes me want to drop everything and start dancing.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
Easy to listen jazz album that doesn’t stand out to me in any way.
Tim Buckley
3/5
More accessible to me than most folk from this era. The variety of instruments that are not typically in folk really adds to the sound. Reminds me a bit of Mad Season but from a different era.
ZZ Top
4/5
Massive guitars, catchy songs, flawless heavy blues playing, and the synths work well with the blues. A true classic and gem from the 80s.
Traffic
3/5
Cool 60s rock album that reminds me of some of the tunes on Led Zeppelin I and III regarding its use of electric guitars.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Interesting instrumentation but it works with acoustic and electric guitars, strings, harmonica, occasional backup vocals, and sparse percussion. He weaves beautiful stories, but his voice is an acquired taste for sure. But it did grow on me.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Fun energetic early hiphop. Amazing use of early hiphop technology, fun and clever lyrics. A fun old school party album.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Interesting contrast between show tune type vocals and unusual pop music with eclectic instrument choices like full strings.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
Really cool and unexpected melodies and harmonies. Reminds me a bit of Pink Floyd.
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Truly a masterpiece. Dark and light, the imperfect vocals make it even more perfect. Relatable for anyone who grew up in the 90s when this album was huge. It truly never gets old.
Fiona Apple
5/5
Fiona can do anything with her voice, she has an incredible range and can evoke any emotion with her voice. Without a doubt she is the best vocalist of her generation. This combined with the unusual chord progressions and a variety of styles, although all piano heavy, makes for an amazing album.
M.I.A.
3/5
Cool indie rock rap album that is great party music, good combo of alternative indie, rap, and electronic music.
Judas Priest
2/5
Cool guitar playing, but really cheesy as a whole.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
A true masterpiece. Some echoes of the third album are present with the acoustic tunes, yet it still has the heaviness we all expect from Zep. So many amazing songs that showcase the band’s diversity. This album is responsible for my love of the genre, and I vividly remember the first time that I heard it as a teen.
American Music Club
3/5
Acoustic indie folk with polish that is reminiscent of the Decemberists but less hooky. Good sound train for a rainy Sunday afternoon lounging around the house.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Great album with many hits. Very influential to this day to most musicians in the genre. Very dark, and listening to it is a masterclass in metal. If Alice In Chains and Metallica love this band, they are worthy of my attention and respect.
The Smiths
3/5
Decent English 80s pop album, I had heard of the band but this was my first listen through an album, I am looking forward to listening to more of them in the future.
The Stooges
3/5
Old school punk, cool vocals, short songs, the addition of acoustic guitar was surprising and really added to the style in an atypical way.
Talvin Singh
4/5
Electronic music that has a very interesting and listenable mix of eastern musical instruments, in addition to the sounds that you would typically associate with the genre. Above average listenability, reminds me a bit of Enigma with an eastern twist.
Animal Collective
4/5
Cool combo of indie rock, electronic, psychedlic music, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, and arena rock, minus the big guitars, and with a hint of poppiness.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Beautiful jazz piano playing. This is an amazing and relaxing album.
M.I.A.
4/5
Fun danceable electronic beats, catchy, gritty street smart rap singing. Definitely worth listening to, great pre-party music.
Frank Zappa
4/5
Fresh and original melodies for this prog jazz rock pop fusion instrumental work. I can hear where Steve Vai got his inspiration largely from by listening to any Zappa. Wide variety of instruments. More rock than anything else.
a-ha
3/5
Bright 80s synth pop, I only knew Take On Me, which I loved as a kid and still do to this day. No big standouts on this album other than the previously mentioned track.
Van Halen
5/5
This album came out when I was 10, and to this day it is still one of my favorites. Eddie’s guitar playing is amazing as usual, and the addition of keys really works well. Great songs front to back whether or not you are fan of keyboards.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Old school early indie meets the Beatles. Fun, energetic, and not terrible.
The Incredible String Band
2/5
Cheesy. Acoustic singer songwriter tunes. Nothing spectacular.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Groovy and smooth R/B and soul, virtuosic playing, but still accessible from a pop perspective.
Ray Price
3/5
Decent old school country, with a bit of blues. Amazing pedal steel playing, great musicianship all around. Lyrics that keep your attention.
David Bowie
3/5
Awesome old school rock, fantastic writing.
Gillian Welch
4/5
Beautiful and relaxing acoustic tunes, amazing lyrics, great guitar playing.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
A legend for sure. So much feeling in her voice, and it sounds amazing in every song. Super tight band as well.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Ahead of its time rock with 50’s pop style vocals that are very rocking. His voice reminds me very much of Lenny Kravitz.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Gritty rock, very listenable vocals that hold your attention. Iggy has such a unique quality to his voice. Much less punky than I would have expected due to the pictures I have seen of him without having listened to his music previously.
Miles Davis
5/5
A masterclass in jazz improvisation. Amazing tone and playing by all of the musicians involved. These tunes are still played regularly to this day by jazzers.
The Young Rascals
3/5
Typical radio friendly late 60s-early 70s pop, with more of a soul feeling of similar bands of the era. A couple of the songs on this album were in steady rotation on the radio during the early 80s. Standard instrumentation of the period as well as recording style.
System Of A Down
4/5
Super fast and accurate big dirty distorted guitars that clean up instantly to create contrast within the individual songs as well as the album as a whole. All musicians are highly proficient on their instruments. Angry songs, silly songs, and aggressive songs all “peacefully” co-existing while staying stylistically appropriate. The vocals are very prominent and are a big part of the musical diversity.
Wild Beasts
4/5
Big reverbs on the clean guitars. Slightly unusual almost theatrical and powerful vocals. Reminiscent of Muse and The Cure. Solid post 80s tasteful synth sounds. Perfect soundtrack for a maiden voyage to Mars. Definitely worth a listen.
The Who
4/5
Solid album that is one of a small group of albums that I know of that the group of songs tell a story and each individual song tells a chapter of the story. The album as a whole has a clean clear sound. Recordings quality really seems to have improved around this time when compared to the mid 60s. I will give this album a spin for sure in the future, even though I enjoy a lot of music from this era and style, this was my first time listening to a Who Album front to back.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Poppy folk music, but with a healthy dose of jazziness. Vocal timbre very reminiscent of Nina Simone, very deep. Decent anulan with catchy writing.
The Verve
4/5
The strings add a lot to the sound of this album. Reminiscent of Coldplay and Oasis. Easy to listen to on my first listen through.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Old school 60’s folk pop. Lush reverbs, acoustic guitar, flute, and harmonies make it sound similar to a lot of bands from the period.
Killing Joke
2/5
Punk rock with synth. Nothing particularly notable or appealing about this album.
Ozomatli
5/5
Very cool hybrid of Latin, Rock, Hip Hop, and Middle Eastern sounds. Worth a spin in the future for sure. Strong vocals, and big rock guitars. Very catchy songwriting with some very memorable and singable choruses. I’ve listened to the album 3 times which is very unusual for me with this challenge.
Hole
4/5
Great album and songwriting. Sounds like a hybrid of Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and Alanis Morissette with more grit and agression and less vocal training (but not in a bad way in this case). This album came out at the end of the grunge era, and was definitely heavily influenced by many of the big bands of the era.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Very depressing album that I really enjoyed. You can really hear the pain that he experienced in his life in this album, which was also his last album. His coevers of Hurt and Desperado were highlights.
The Style Council
3/5
Cool but strange album that is so eclectic it sounds like different bands or songs from different albums. Mostly jazzy but some mid 80s pop as well.
Eminem
5/5
Very dark but still humorous old school hip hop. This guy has some serious talent. Not as jazzy as west coast, not as dark as east coast.
Supertramp
4/5
Super talented group, I’m surprised they didn’t have more of an impact. Great instrumentation, melodies, harmonies, and catchy songs.
Spiritualized
3/5
Synth alt album, a bit heavy, not too bad.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Very strange album, but very entertaining. He makes original music like no one else. But it is an aquired taste for sure. Fans of Steve Vai will see where his creative knack for melodic construction from after listening to this album.
Taylor Swift
3/5
Fun pop music, decent writing, a surprising number of hits for an album. While she is not a virtuostic writer, singer, or dancer, she knows how to put on a great show and she knows how to market herself.
R.E.M.
4/5
Alternative album from before it was really a term that was in popular use for music. The jangly arpeggiated guitars over a more distorted guitar are a hypnotic signature of their sound, and it is all over this album. Solid performances and writing from all involved. The hit tunes from this album were in heavy rotation on the radio through the 90's and beyond. They definitely have staying power, and this album is way before his time.
Yes
3/5
Cool early prog rock album, super creative writing, performances, and vocal harmonies.
Frank Black
3/5
Downbeat indie pop alternative, godd songwriting and great vocals in an oversatureated genre.
Derek & The Dominos
5/5
Many differnt styles of electric blues are on this album, it is an amazing showcase of Clapton's versitility in the genre, as well as a showcase of his vocals, both of which were at the top of their game during this era. Worth a listen for sure.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Very listenable early electronic music album, reminds me of an SNL skit though, so in a way it is difficult for me to take it too seriously.
Little Simz
4/5
Very cool hip hop album, reminds me a bit of Janelle Monae, the beats, raps, and electronic instrumentation is all listenable and makes for a great album that I will listen to again in the future.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
East Coast 90s hip hop at it's finest, super listenable tales of his experiences (or fiction writing) on the street. His smooth voice makes for a calmness in all of his raps. One of the top albums in the genre from this period for sure. Great storytelling in his raps that keeps the listener interested.
AC/DC
5/5
A masterclass in blues influenced rock about the bands admiration of the opposite sex, as well as the bands proclivity towards making bad decisions. I use these guitar tones as a template to this day for my guitar performing. A lot of gems are sprinkled throughout that don't get massively overplayed on the air waves as well. Worth a repeated listen for sure.
The Jam
3/5
Ahead of it's time punk pop (different from the 90's version of the same name though,) that is heavily Beatles influenced. Very British new wave sound to the vocals. Consistently interesting songwriting throughout the album.
fIREHOSE
2/5
Indie Garage-Band rock. Reminds me a bit of a less polished version of Vampire Weekend.
Arcade Fire
5/5
Amazing well crafted diverse group of songs. The strings, piano, and keys really add to how big everything sounds. Having a male and female vocalist that take turns on lead vocals really adds to the diversity of the sounds that the band can get. This album has a well deserved spot on this list for sure.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
So, so amazing. Very beautiful songs that use such creative harmonies and melodies, yet the entire album never sounds overly complicated. You and I was a highlight on this album for me that I had never heard before.
Magazine
3/5
Definite punk sound but with keys and better playing. Punk meets prog meets mid 80s new wave synth pop. Very cool album.
Donovan
3/5
Reminds me a bit of Jesus Christ Superstar. Very cool to hear some early playing by Jimmy Page from before his Led Zeppelin days. Has a repetitive feel.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
One of my favorites by the band. Page is still developing his sound on the guitar, which is going to peak on the next 4 albums, and he is beginning to show his abilities as a producer. Great playing by all involved. Virtuosic without pretense.