Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
673
Albums Rated
3.48
Avg Rating
113
5-Star Albums
62%
Complete
416 albums remaining
Rating Speed
4.1
Per Week
1161
Days Active
Reviews
667
Written
99%
Review Rate
vs Global
0.26
Avg Diff
3.48
Avg Rating
Rating Distribution
How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Shoegaze
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Balanced
Rater Style
19
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Box | 5 | 2.41 | +2.59 |
| Live At The Witch Trials | 5 | 2.64 | +2.36 |
| Bubble And Scrape | 5 | 2.65 | +2.35 |
| Remedy | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| m b v | 5 | 2.71 | +2.29 |
| White Light / White Heat | 5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
| Fromohio | 5 | 2.89 | +2.11 |
| Kala | 5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
| Bug | 5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
| New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) | 5 | 2.95 | +2.05 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 1 | 3.51 | -2.51 |
| Come Away With Me | 1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
| A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector | 1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
| Hysteria | 1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
| Pyromania | 1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
| Led Zeppelin II | 2 | 4.12 | -2.12 |
| At Budokan | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Pump | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Youth And Young Manhood | 1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
| Aha Shake Heartbreak | 1 | 2.97 | -1.97 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic Youth | 5 | 4.8 | 4.13 |
| Radiohead | 5 | 4.8 | 4.13 |
| Talking Heads | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Steely Dan | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| The Cure | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Cocteau Twins | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Neil Young | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Aretha Franklin | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| New Order | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Stan Getz | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| The Pogues | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| My Bloody Valentine | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Pixies | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Nick Drake | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| The Velvet Underground | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Dinosaur Jr. | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Brian Eno | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| David Bowie | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and low weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings of Leon | 3 | 1.33 | 2.17 |
| Def Leppard | 2 | 1 | 2.2 |
| Aerosmith | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Van Halen | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Christina Aguilera | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Deep Purple | 3 | 2 | 2.5 |
5-Star Albums (113)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Kings of Leon
1/5
Painfully boring. Annoying vocals and cliche instrumentation. Feels like the mix between Lynyrd Skynyrd, The White Stripes, and The Strokes went rancid in the fridge. And those were all, at best, 3s themselves. Cold garbage, solid 1.0
13 likes
Iggy Pop
2/5
A full star off for the heavy sexualization of teenagers. The fuckin' 70s, man. 🤮
Lust for Life and The Passenger are definitely the standouts here, and probably the only songs I wanna come back to.
10 likes
Soft Machine
4/5
A sometimes bracing sometimes beautiful prog/jazz fusion album. It was honestly a little exhausting listening to the entire thing, but I can't deny that it was NOT BORING (my most important metric!). I can see why some people would give it a 5 for sure, but it's not quite there for me yet. 4 it is.
9 likes
Calexico
5/5
Me listening to Feast of Wire for the 5th time in a row: "God damn that is good. Shit, that's fresh."
But in all seriousness, hadn't listened to this in many years and I'd forgotten how freaking good it is. Glad it made it onto the list too, most of the stuff I was obsessed with in 2005 did not lol. It has "filler", but even those are hella good tbh. A jewel of the 00s, straight back into the rotation. 5/5
5 likes
1-Star Albums (19)
All Ratings
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Worth listening to for Fight Test, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and Do You Realize?? The rest is pretty forgettable.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
A couple decent songs, but really nothing special here. Once again I am unimpressed by The Rolling Stones.
Black Sabbath
4/5
The Beach Boys
3/5
Some nice songs here, might revisit this one at some point.
Massive Attack
4/5
Nice.
Doves
3/5
Some good stuff here actually, I'd give this a 3.5 if I could
X-Ray Spex
5/5
Never heard this before yesterday, freaking rocks though. Reminds me of Bikini Kill in a way, love it.
The Avalanches
5/5
Stone cold classic, one of the perfect summer albums.
The Cure
5/5
Simply one of the best albums by one of the best bands.
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
This actually has some pretty solid songs, but most of it is just goofy. Can't say I'll ever listen to it again.
Ian Dury
1/5
This dude has a punchable voice. And face, actually.
Eric Clapton
3/5
Clapton has better albums IMHO.
Coldplay
2/5
Ngl, this actually has some decent songs on it. But also the best song is the 1 and a half minute intro, and everything besides that and the 2 other decent songs is bland af. Also... Coldplay are just the absolute biggest let down of a music career that has existed in my life. This album felt like it had PROMISE when it came out (I would've given this a 3 or 4 back then easily). Now it's just sad and bitter. Anti-nostalgia.
The Beach Boys
2/5
Pleasant enough, unlikely to listen to it again though. 2.5 basically, but I'm trying to lean harsh on these ratings lol
Merle Haggard
3/5
The Smiths
4/5
Morrissey is an ass, but these songs are still good. Bigmouth Strikes Again and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out in particular. Classic.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Didn't expect to like this much, but it's got some really sweet and funky riffs! Solid.
The National
4/5
I could give this album a 4 just for Bloodbuzz Ohio, but actually the whole album is really good. Sorrow, Anyone's Ghost, and Conversation 16 are some other stand-outs.
2/5
There are some good tunes here, but the singer basically ruins them. I would take straight up screeching over this nasal whining.
There's a good album in there somewhere, but it's not this.
Pretenders
4/5
Rockin'. Not my favorite Pretenders album, but still 100% solid.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Eurythmics
4/5
Obviously, Sweet Dreams is the star of the show here, but the whole album was definitely really good. I'll be revisiting this one soon!
John Prine
4/5
Mekons
3/5
Overall I liked this, not sure how much I'll be listening to it again though. I'd probably give it a 3.5 if I could.
Ray Price
2/5
Not my thing.
4/5
One of Blur's better albums imo, some amazing songs here.
The Stooges
4/5
Tentative rating, I liked this quite a bit but it could go down. But... I like the style. I'll revisit this one later.
Nina Simone
5/5
I can't believe I've never sat down and listened to Nina Simone before! Such a powerful and haunting voice. Another instant 5. *Chef's kiss*
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Some skippable songs here IMHO, but the great songs are GREAT. Super lush production, good stuff.
The Who
3/5
🤷 There's a banger or two here. But like... White boys copying the blues is so passe. Also would've probably liked this more if I didn't listen to the band talking.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Good stuff, I want to listen to this more.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
Immigrant Song was good. The rest of this reeks of stealing from black musicians. With some cool riffs, I will admit. But yeah. Won't be revisiting most likely.
ZZ Top
3/5
This was pretty fun, if a bit samey. Might revisit.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
I did like this. Needs another few listens for a final opinion I suppose. Didn't blow me away. 🤷
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Great album, don't listen to Springsteen often but it's always a pleasure.
Bobby Womack
3/5
Not bad, I liked parts of it a lot. Overall a bit bland though, not sure if I'll come back to the whole thing.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Some of the best early-00s rap I've heard tbh. Lush beats, conscious and fun lyrics... Good stuff, will be listening again.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Pretty good stuff tbh, but something I'd have to be in the mood for. Probably not going to revisit, but you never know 🤷
Paul Weller
2/5
This was... Interesting. But not something I see myself revisiting. I'm waffling between 2 or 3 stars, but once again leaning harsh on these.
4/5
Great stuff, it's in the rotation. Catch me on a different day it would be a 5. 🤷
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Genius stuff. Has like 3 or 4 contenders for best rap songs of all time. I love it.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Clever lyrics, and... Not much else to write home about. I don't really like his voice. I might've really liked this in 2002, but it's not really doing that much for me now. 🤷
OutKast
4/5
So, it's long. Super ambitious. Some amazing singles here. Overall I think it could've been a bit better with a little trimming, but it's still damn good. Certainly never boring!
The Band
4/5
Good stuff! A few songs on here I already knew and loved, and the rest is solid too. Very lush and sonically interesting album throughout. Needs some more listens.
The Clash
5/5
To me, this is the best album to come out of the original punk scene. Wildly creative and vibrant. This is where punk transformed into something more.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Some amazing songs here, and some pretty good ones. Probably not gonna listen to it as a whole too often, but I'll certainly be coming back to my favorites.
4/5
Solid synthpop! Some of these songs are definitely going in the rotation. The last two songs seemed a bit unnecessary, but the rest of the album worked pretty well for me.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
I was going to give this a 4, but I know I wouldn't have Run the Jewels without this. RtJ is more my personal taste these days, but I still appreciate this a lot. Let's call it a 4.5 that I'm rounding up because FUCK YOU, I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME! MOTHER FUCKER!!!
Dr. Dre
3/5
I love the production on this album. Lyrics lean way too heavily into mysogyny and gangster machismo for my tastes. Still worth the listen though.
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Not shabby, I might revisit this at some point. Overall didn't really grab or wow me much though. It's a 3.5 rounded down.
Air
5/5
This album probably would've been a 3 for me 10 years ago, go figure. Nowadays, I find a nice mellow groove that stays for the whole album, even as it shifts around in tone and mood. It doesn't overstay it's welcome either. 4.5 rounded up because Kelly Watch the Stars puts me in a better mood whenever it gets stuck in my head. 🤩
The Kinks
3/5
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Not too bad, just not really my thing I suppose.
Crowded House
2/5
Very boring. No thanks.
John Lennon
2/5
If you took out the song advocating domestic abuse it would be better.
LL Cool J
3/5
Some bangers on here, overall nothing too thrilling to me though. 3.5 rounded down.
OutKast
4/5
So fresh and so clean!
Beastie Boys
2/5
Sorry, this kinda gave me a headache listening to the whole thing at once. I'll take just the singles on this one I think.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Please just listen to Ravi play actual Indian classical music. You're welcome.
Primal Scream
4/5
I don't like the vocals much, but everything else makes up for it pretty well IMHO. I recommend being nice and stoned for this one. 👍
New York Dolls
3/5
Hmm, wish I had more to say. Not bad, not great.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Smashing Pumpkins were the first band I got really into as a 6 year old circa '95. Honestly I should probably give this a 3 since there's kind of a lot of filler here, but the handful of really good songs are still in the normal rotation, plus this album gets me feeling nostalgic. We'll call it a 3.5 rounded up.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
This was a fun album. Indie psych rock type stuff that swings through a lot of other genres, from country to techno. There's a lot of similar stuff out there that I like a lot more, but that's okay. 3.5 rounded down because I'm trying to be harsh! Gotta keep reminding myself of that lol.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
A heartbreakingly beautiful album that I'm rounding down to a 4 because it is literally SO. INSANELY. DEPRESSING. Not in the fun way either. I'm pretty goth and all, but this is too much.
110% deserving of being on the 1001, but I can probably go another 10 to 15 years before I'll feel like listening to it again.
Peace and love to the trans comrades, stay strong.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Great energy and great songs. Good stuff!
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
The Killing Moon is amazing obviously... The rest is quite good, probably needs more listens.
The Sonics
4/5
Raucous and fun, I liked this.
Beach House
5/5
Probably my favorite Beach House album, so you already know my rating. 🤌
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Interesting stuff. Not an everyday listen, but good stuff.
Aerosmith
2/5
This had one or two pretty catchy songs on it, but most of this is stereotypical boring classic rock guitar-noodling shite. At least it was over quickly.
Jacques Brel
1/5
I just don't have the context I would need to enjoy this. The accordion bits were nice, but this guy's voice doesn't do it for me and I don't know French. To me, very bad unfun not good times.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Probably a 4.5 tbh. Rounded down as per protocol, but there weren't really any bad songs here. Those reggae grooves are super nice when you're in the mood.
The Temptations
4/5
Fun stuff, will get some more listens for sure!
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Definitely worth the listen, I'd probably need to be in the mood to revisit it, but most certainly some lovely piano music here.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Interesting blend of punk and bluesy rock and roll. Not sure if I'll be revisiting this one any time soon tbh, but it was interesting.
Nico
3/5
Really liked a few of the songs, particularly These Days. Most of it was kinda middling to me though, I dunno. Might need another listen.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Liked this a lot more than I expected tbh. Just the right amount of silliness! It's got the one pretty misogynistic song that I could live without, but the rest is quite good.
Obviously the singer is a bit of an acquired taste, but his voice grew on me as I listened to the whole thing. Again, just the right amount of silliness.
Deep Purple
2/5
Look, I don't really know or care about Deep Purple, and I'm not a huge fan of live albums from artists when I don't already know their music. I wasn't destined to like this much lol
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Pretty fun, might revisit this one. Pretty goofy though, I dunno.
Portishead
5/5
This album took a while to grow on me honestly, but now I can't imagine why there was any reason I had mixed feelings. It's a bit depressing, but those beats just freakin' KICK. And great lyrics. Yup, love this one.
Faith No More
2/5
Not for me. 🤷
Barry Adamson
4/5
This was a rather good unconventional trip hop album! If you like Angelo Badalamenti and Massive Attack, I'd recommend this.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
This was alright. Pretty noodly and goofy sounding sometimes, but definitely some cool bits. Might come back to this if I'm in the mood.
Cheap Trick
1/5
Stop. With. The. Live. Albums. I literally don't know a Cheap Trick song, this is useless to me.
Actually, I knew I Want You to Want Me and Surrender. Those were probably the best songs here, but that's not really saying much. Really don't like most of this. Very bland poppy hard rock. No thanks.
Hole
4/5
It's no Sleater-Kinney or Bikini Kill, but I can dig it.
2/5
Not actually as bad as I expected, but not really something I see revisiting ever. It comes across as extremely juvenile, like something my 8 year old Smashing Pumpkins and The Offspring loving self would have enjoyed if I'd been allowed to listen to it. But honestly not bad musicianship. And a fuck-everything attitude that I can appreciate. But if I was in the mood for this I'd play Rage Against the Machine or something instead. 🤷
The Dictators
3/5
Pretty decent punk-ish stuff, don't really think I need to revisit it though.
Van Morrison
5/5
Really liked this, dude has a cool voice. Great use of sax. If you like Cat Stevens at all, you'll probably like this too. Definitely some songs in here that are going into the rotation. In fact: 4.5 rounded up. This is definitely better than some of my 4s.
Iggy Pop
3/5
🤷 Not bad, not great.
The Prodigy
3/5
Fire singles, the rest is fine.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Pretty fun, reminded me of A Tribe Called Quest a bit. Needs more listens
Cocteau Twins
5/5
Stone cold classic! Already know and love this album, just went and listened to it twice back to back, still freaking amazing. If anything, this (and every other Cocteau Twins album really) just keeps getting better and better the more I listen to it. Effortless 5.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
Liked this quite a bit actually, but it's definitely not something I'd want to put on whenever. 3.5 rounded down.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Not my favorite Sonic Youth album by a stretch, but it's definitely an interesting listen with some bangers. 3.5 rounded up because I'm biased.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Not as good as some Stevie Wonder, still nice though, would listen again.
The Go-Go's
4/5
I knew the singles (which I like), but the rest of the album is better tbh. I'm not always gonna be in the mood for this, but when I am... I'll know where to go.
Jane's Addiction
2/5
Ummm... Tempted to give this a 1 except I do appreciate the experimentation on certain songs. Bad guitar solos. Bad singing. Not for me.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Just a fun listen from start to finish. Love me some EW&F!
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Fun listen with some absolute fire singles.
Beatles
5/5
Easily my favorite Beatles album, good songs front to back!
Laura Nyro
3/5
Pretty typical late 60s singer songwriter type stuff to my ears. Not bad, not great.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Very good blues performance, Muddy Waters is damn legit.
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
Pretty solid, I hear some movie score influence, particularly Ennio Morricone. Otherwise pretty basic indie rock, but I won't complain. Would've dug this a lot back in '08 probably.
Paul Simon
3/5
Not the best Paul Simon imo, comes off a little cornier. Still fine.
Green Day
3/5
Mostly pretty middling to me, a couple great songs though.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
This is fine.
The Black Keys
3/5
Tighten Up and Howlin' For You are really solid, most of this is rather forgettable though.
Pink Floyd
4/5
I truly think Pink Floyd get overhyped by people who make one band their whole personality (or was that just people I met? 🤔). But I still quite like them tbh, this album feels like rock at it's core, but done in a novel way. One of the top 5 Pink Floyd albums.
Not a 5 for me in the end. Entertaining and interesting album that I'll revisit sometime though. Missing that true spark of connection for me though.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Some nice mellow jazz, real pretty. Sorry, I honestly don't have much more to say, I'm no jazz aficionado. I could come back to this though.
Goldie
4/5
Classic EDM album. I definitely dig atmospheric/liquid D&B, and this is the daddy of all of that stuff. It's a bit over long for sure, but it's perfect music for focusing/work, which I use it for regularly. A very solid 4, almost 4.5.
Robbie Williams
2/5
A couple semi-catchy songs here, but yeah... Mostly just bland Brit-pop type stuff. Probably not worth revisiting.
Pulp
4/5
Classic, definitely one of the most interesting albums to come out of Brit-pop. Certainly better than anything Oasis did. #isaidwhatisaid
Neil Young
5/5
I don't listen to this one as much as some of his other music, but it's freaking great, that's for sure. Definitely worthy of being on the list, I'll probably go back for another listen real soon. 😊
Bonnie Raitt
4/5
Apparently my mom listened to this a lot after I was born. Not only that, Bonnie Raitt was my very first concert as a baby with cotton stuffed in my ears (slept through most of it apparently).
Pretty sure that has something to do with how I feel about this album. It's got a comfort food quality for me. Slick af production, catchy songs. That said, still kinda cheesey sounding at times. It's pop-rock-country from 1989 after all. But it has a lot of charm and heart I feel. Or maybe that's just nostalgia. In either case, it's a solid 4 for me. Will listen again.
Judas Priest
2/5
Boring. No.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
It's short and sweet with a high ratio of bangers. What's not to like?
The Stranglers
3/5
3.5 rounded down for now, it could use another listen though. Definitely a couple good songs here.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Probably their best album all told. Some absolute bangers here, this is a 4.5 rounded down.
Slipknot
2/5
This is like a 2.5 I guess, not quite my thing, but still some things I appreciate as well. I'm rounding it down, but that's just me being harsh on these ratings. Glad to have listened to it once, that was probably plenty lol
David Bowie
3/5
3.5 rounded down because I'm being harsh! This was solid, but I listened to it back to back with "Heroes" and one of those is a 5 and the other is not lol. Might revisit, but Bowie tends to be one of those artists I really like that I'm rarely in the mood to listen to a whole album of. And if I am, there's gonna be a better choice than this one.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Pretty solid stuff overall with definitely a few utter classic bangers. Not my favorite or least favorite Floyd. 🤷
Various Artists
1/5
Working retail has soiled any love I ever had for Christmas music, which was never much to be honest. At best, this is tolerable to me. Like I would try to ignore it if I heard it playing at the grocery store, and I'd probably be able to because the actual recordings are solid. So I guess if I'm really itching to hear Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for the 10 billionth time, I might reach for this album! But what kinda sick fuck needs to listen to that again? I fucking hate Christmas music so much...
Metallica
2/5
Never have liked Metallica all that much. I guess I understand the appeal, but this didn't change my mind.
Kraftwerk
4/5
We Are the Robots and The Model are amazing songs, the rest is quite good too!
Travis
3/5
Pretty typical sad boy alternative stuff. Easy on the ears, but nothing spectacular.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Literally every song is a banger.
The White Stripes
3/5
Fire singles, the rest is a bit meh.
Morrissey
3/5
🤷 Not that bad honestly, but not super memorable either.
The Saints
4/5
Good fun punk, I dig it.
Gang Of Four
4/5
Tough call giving this a 4, but I'm trying to be harsh! It's a classic that everyone ought to listen to. Some 5/5 songs here too, also some that don't hit quite as hard. But overall I really enjoy it, I just don't find myself in the mood to listen to it much, I suppose. I'm more of a The Fall guy lol
Beck
3/5
This album felt pretty different at the time, but I don't think it's aged particularly well. Still some good songs and worth listening to, I think this sort of thing has been done better elsewhere though.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
This has a couple good songs, some nice bass lines, otherwise it's mostly just annoying and juvenile. No thanks.
The Police
4/5
I've never listened to much from The Police besides their big hits. Fun new wave-y stuff! Definitely a ton of variety on this album, some kinda weird experimental leaning tracks right next to classic pop tunes. I definitely dig it, I'll need to listen to this (and their other albums!) some more.
Pentangle
4/5
Solid folk rock a la Fairport Convention, but a bit more "out there". Some wonderful songs here for sure, will be listening to this again.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Pretty fun indie rock/pop kinda stuff. Might come back to this.
GZA
5/5
This one just gets better on every listen. Mostly just because that production is LUSH. Mmm. I love this one. It has flaws, but not very impactful ones.
Dolly Parton
3/5
This was fun, I might come back to this. Probably a bit mood dependent, but you can certainly hear the songwriting chops. 3.5 rounded down.
David Crosby
4/5
Liked this quite a bit, too bad I could only find the whole thing on YouTube. It's pretty much a prototypical 70s singer-songwriter type of sound, but it manages to be sonically interesting the whole time with its structure. Pretty dang nice.
Prince
4/5
Never listened to this all the way through before. I guess I get the hype? Not fully though? It's real good though, I fully enjoyed it. To me, it's a very solid 4. Some great singles, and nothing bad. But not exactly mind-blowing or anything.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
This album has a few absolutely amazing songs on it, but I'd need to be wayyyyyy stoned to want to listen to the whole thing front to back again.
Mike Oldfield
3/5
This was pretty interesting! Equal parts cool and bafflingly weird lol. Don't think I'll need to revisit it any time soon, glad I heard it once though!
Bee Gees
2/5
2.5 rounded down. This was okay-ish, but leans towards being bland soft rock, which... Not my jam. I'll take their disco stuff every time!
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Pretty solid alt rock kinda stuff, I may revisit this at some point. 3.5 rounded down.
Santana
4/5
Obviously I knew the big hits, this is a really fun listen all the way through though. Great guitar playing and a lot of variety. I'll almost certainly come back to it!
TLC
3/5
This album is EXTREMELY 90s. Not something I'm gonna put on all the time or anything, but honestly quite fun, I see the appeal.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
A few good songs here. Not amazing. Just a perfect 3/5, nothing more or less.
Eminem
2/5
If you took away all of the INSANE sexism, how much of this would be left? 🤔
It's a shame because I like his flow and production, but a good half of this album is sickening and disturbing, like the musical equivalent of torture porn basically. No thanks.
The Beau Brummels
2/5
Just not my thing I guess. Not really bad, just meh. Some wannabe Bob Dylan psych-folk. Again, not exactly bad, but there weren't any songs that actually grabbed me. 2.5 rounded down.
Ute Lemper
2/5
Pretty bland across the board with like 2 or 3 actually good songs. Solid 2.
Madness
4/5
Really fun album! Clever instrumentation, and a lot of great songs. Will be coming back to this one, too bad I could only find it on YouTube.
Steve Earle
3/5
Solid old country-rock, not exactly my thing but there were definitely some good songs here.
The Verve
3/5
Bittersweet Symphony is 5/5, the rest is like 2-3 range. Classic one hit wonder type of stuff lol.
Carpenters
4/5
Some classics on here for sure. It tends towards being cheesy and saccharine, but you know what... I still really like it. Hard to be in a bad mood with this playing.
Blur
4/5
IMHO, this is a classic. Not MY FAVORITE classic, but a classic none the less. This album has an actual arc from beginning to end (with some silly interludes and such as was the fashion of the time), and at least four 5/5 songs. That said, it's never gonna be a 5 for me. Always has been and most likely always will be a solid 4/5 for the amount of filler here. But those 5/5 songs are, and will continue to be, in the daily rotation. It's a great album.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Haven't listened to much Fiona Apple, this was pretty good though. Fairly experimental at times, but pretty accessible overall. Might come back to this. 3.5 rounded down.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
Solid 2. A couple of decent-ish songs, mostly pretty boring and uninspired.
Depeche Mode
5/5
Banger. There's like 3 utter classics on here, and the rest is super good too. 4.5 rounded up because it's basically the progenitor of all of the chilly synth pop that I love.
The Boo Radleys
4/5
Hadn't heard this before, but it's definitely up my alley! Shoegaze/Jangle pop type of stuff, solid af. Will be coming back to this for sure!
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Not a fan of her voice, it gets pretty grating after a while. A few good songs here no doubt, but this is supremely overhyped IMHO. Solid 3.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This is a comfort album, and my favorite CCR album. Hard to give this any other rating! I love it.
Mudhoney
4/5
Solid album, this feels more like Dinosaur Jr or other noisy indie rock than grunge to me, but I suppose grunge has always been a weird fuzzy boundary in that respect.
In any case, I liked this, will probably go check out their other albums soon!
Black Sabbath
4/5
I dig 'em. Blues-y and rocking, I'll come back to this (and their next few albums) for sure.
The Style Council
2/5
This one should've been in the companion volume, "1001 Albums You Can Safely Skip Before You Die". Feels like a whole album of filler tracks, kinda. Not sure who the audience is supposed to be... It feels like it's doing a lot of different things and none of them particularly well, so most of the tracks just feel vaguely disappointing. The final track was pretty fun though.
Public Enemy
4/5
Not their best, still absolutely great.
Missy Elliott
4/5
Honestly, this was really fun. Have only really heard her hits, but it turns out she's a great singer?! Some of these songs come off as pretty toxic though... Pussycat in particular. So a little bit off for that. I'll still give it a 4 though, honestly pretty much any rap from this era is going to have some road bumps like that, and it's not egregious or anything. Fire singles, and like I said... Just fun.
Rush
3/5
Rush are... Fine. I liked some of this. Not really my thing I guess?
Johnny Cash
4/5
Here's a live album I actually like! Short and sweet.
The Doors
4/5
This has some bops, very bluesy. I dig it
Bert Jansch
4/5
Solid folk album, I listened to this twice in a row because I didn't feel like I absorbed it properly the first time through. It's simple and beautiful music, pretty much just a nice voice singing pretty words with some nice guitar playing. Can't complain about this one at all tbh, it's a 4 for now!
The Cardigans
4/5
Solid pop album, I probably prefer Gran Turismo, but I still really like this one.
Otis Redding
4/5
Lovely voice and some very nice renditions of these songs. Not sure if it'll ever be the top of the list of what I want to listen to, but I'm not gonna complain either. Solid 4.
Fugees
5/5
This is one of the albums that got me into hip-hop, so I've probably got some bias! But yeah, I freaking love this album. Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La, Family Business, Killing Me Softly With His Song... All freaking amazing songs. I ought to put this on more often. So good.
Haircut 100
4/5
Very fun obscure new wave with some really sweet funky grooves. I'm gonna come back to this one!
Elvis Presley
2/5
Hey Elvis, where'd you get your signature sound!?
...What?
...oh.
The Killers
3/5
I straight up HATED this album when it came out, but after not hearing it for almost 20 years(??? I'm old), it's not too bad. I think I mostly hated the cringe-y lyrics? Those are still pretty cringe-y, but I've learned to embrace cringe over the years, so it's less of a deal breaker now.
Anyway, it was overplayed as hell for what it is, but it's not bad. The first 4 songs are damn good, the rest is alright. Solid 3.5 (rounded down as per protocol).
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
This feels like it was included because it was a #1 album in England and not because it's actually good?
I actually liked a couple of the songs here, but mostly kinda sounded like blander and not as good Prince? *Shrug* I'll pass.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
I *love* the production on this album, but occasionally the flow is... A bit cheesy sounding. I think it's mostly an artifact of the times, and no doubt this is an essential listen, a hip-hop classic... But it does keep it from getting the 5 from me. I don't think that'll change for me either, I've listened to this one a LOT (and will continue to, it's a great album). 4.5 rounded down.
Barry Adamson
4/5
Ah, some more Barry Adamson. This is an absolutely wild album to have come out in '89! Dark jazz/Sound collage type stuff. I think I prefer Oedipus Schmoedipus, but this guy really nails a weird and (mostly) dark atmosphere. I dig it well enough, but I'm not exactly gonna throw it on for a pleasurable listening experience, it's weird as hell. 3.5 rounded up because too many of y'all obviously don't appreciate Angelo Badalamenti either. 🙄😆
Gang Starr
4/5
Good stuff, I want to listen to this one again!
Genesis
2/5
Never understood the hype for Genesis.
Still don't.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Great album, I like it a lot! The production is obviously a highlight, some of the songs don't really do it as much for me as the highlights here, but I'll always be happy to have this on.
Machito
5/5
I'm not really a jazz aficionado, I've listened to a good amount of the classics I suppose, liked most of them pretty well. This one hits a special spot for me though. It's energetic, dancey! I think describing it as old-timey big-band Afro-Cubano jazz gets the main idea across. Very Salsa like, with brash and kinda noisy brass and also... Bongo solos! I never thought I would be hyped for yet another bongo solo! But I was!
Listened to this twice in a row and I still wanna listen to it again! Apparently I dig Latin jazz. 5/5
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Advant-garde semi-ambient classical-but-not type stuff. I liked it well enough, but there's plenty of stuff in the same vein that I like a lot more. An interesting listen, probably won't return to it, but maybe I will. 🤷
The Jesus And Mary Chain
5/5
About You is *such* a good ending to this album. This is, IMHO, *way* better than Psychocandy. This one has aged like fine wine... It doesn't reveal all of its character on first listen, it's a very layered album that I don't feel like I've plumbed the depth of more than 20 years and dozens of listens after hearing it for the first time. So much goodness packed into 36 minutes!
One of my top 5 albums of the 80s, easy 5/5.
The White Stripes
3/5
This is fine.
Lorde
3/5
Pretty solid pop album, didn't necessarily grab me too much, but pleasant enough.
Violent Femmes
4/5
A lot of great songs here, plus some nostalgia. Solid 4/5
Femi Kuti
4/5
If you like Fela Kuti, you may also like this!
I'll come back to this soon I think.
k.d. lang
2/5
Quite boring. Instantly turned into mediocre Western-themed-jukebox type background music and never once entered the foreground of my mind. Probably could use another listen, but I'd rather not do that because I'm pretty sure I would just be bored again.
The United States Of America
4/5
Cool psychedelic rock, I could definitely come back to this. Solid 4 for now
Nas
5/5
Had actually never listened to this before (despite knowing OF it, of course), but yeah... Fairly obvious why it gets held up as being one of the best rap albums of all time. Really slick jazzy production, and Nas's flow fits into it perfectly. Listened to it twice in a row and I might go back for more later, it's definitely damn good.
Hard to rate it anything else, so 🤷
Ramones
4/5
Very fun and upbeat punk rock, sounds rather poppy compared to a lot of other punk of the era. A bit repetitive, but overall still a fun listen.
The Shamen
3/5
Had never heard of this band before. It's pretty typical early 90s rave music, really. Wiki claims psychedelic rock mixed in there too, which... Kinda I guess? But really it's some rather generic bouncy EDM.
Honestly liked this somewhat, but it's pretty dated and rather samey. Doubt I'll come back to it, but you never know.
Kraftwerk
3/5
This is fine. I think I like Kraftwerk a lot more when they stick to stuff that's at least vaguely poppy and/or has strong song structure? These don't really stick too well in mind for the most part. Good music for cleaning the house to though.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
26 minutes that felt like much longer...
Just look at the cover. Whitest of whites!
...I appreciate that this type of music has a corny old-timey kinda charm, but if I would rather be listening to something else the whole time (like some blues!), then I can't actually claim to like it? Not the WORST thing I've ever listened to, but I don't think I'll ever be itching to put it on. Like, ever. It's got some catchy tunes, but so do The Beatles and they're way more interesting. Same for Howling Wolf or Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Yup, gonna go wash out my ears with some blues now. 🙃
The Who
3/5
Overall not GREAT imho, but glad to have listened to it. Handful of really good songs, and I can appreciate how important this type of sprawling concept album was at the time. Don't think I'll be listening to it front to back any time soon, but I'll probably be back to some of the singles. 3.5 rounded down
Miles Davis
4/5
Beautiful album, one of my favorite jazz albums... Which means it's a solid 4 leaning 4.5! Sorry, I just don't get the urge to listen to jazz all that regularly, so chalk this rating up to my understanding/appreciation of this type of music, not to the music itself (which is still really good even to a jazz noob like myself, just not where I need something to be for me to rate it a 5).
Certainly one that belongs on the list!
New Order
5/5
Arguably not one of New Order's best... But I still adore it. Round and Round is one of my favorites songs of theirs, and the rest is great too. I considered giving this a 4, but I do think I like this more than the majority of my 4s, so... We'll call it a 4.5 rounded up. New Order are too damn good.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Another Aretha Franklin, another instant 5. Amazing voice, great songs, and doesn't overstay it's welcome. Seriously, what's not to like?
Fleet Foxes
2/5
I listened to this A LOT when it came out, trying to figure out what other people liked about it that I was missing. Never figured that out, and for a while there I kinda hated Fleet Foxes. Years later, my opinion has mellowed somewhat, but... I still think this is pretty bland lowest-common-denominator type stuff though, especially compared to some other indie folk I could mention. Feels like eating cotton candy kinda: Sweet and airy with no actual substance. Inoffensive, nice on the ears, and pretty darn uninteresting to me. 2.5 rounded down.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Look, is my rating based heavily on nostalgia? Absolutely. Is Billy Corgan a raging douche? Indubitably. But I still fucking love this album. I feel like the ratio of bangers to filler is EXTREMELY high, way more than Siamese Dream, which is like half filler IMHO. This one has a handful, sure, but honestly the ebb and flow from the harder grunge songs to the melodic ballads makes the 2 hours go by like a breeze for me (although I recommend taking a quick break after Take Me Down to switch CDs 😉).
Anyway, I usually listen to this album once a year around the end of October when it came out originally, and it's got perfect vibes for that time of year. Getting the annual listen out of the way in March felt a little weird, but it's still great. Probably listen to again in 7 months tbh!
It's a subjective opinion and people are allowed to feel differently of course, but for me this will always be THE Smashing Pumpkins album, and one of the best albums of the 90s. I'll say top 25, it was a pretty good decade. 😆
Soft Cell
3/5
A few bangers here, mostly didn't quite do it for me though. Might need another listen or two, solid 3 for now though.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Some fun songs here, mostly It's Tricky. It's 1986 rap though. Pretty cheesy and silly by today's standards. Solid 3.
Kelela
4/5
Pretty cool stuff, I'm not usually TOO into R&B, but the production here is interesting enough to keep my attention, and she's got a great voice. Gonna try to come back to this and check out her other music soon. Gonna give this the ol' 3.75 rounded up because my initial feeling is that I like this more than a lot of my other 3s lol.
Arrested Development
3/5
This was fine. Like... Good, but didn't grab me very much except a couple songs. Might need another listen.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Definitely some 5/5 songs on here, and I do want to return to this. Nice and mellow Saturday listening. 🤙
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Ahh, Creedence. Maybe not quite as many bangers here as on Cosmo's Factory, but Lodi is one of my favorites. Not to mention Bad Moon Rising. Very close to a 5, but I'm gonna lean harsh. 🤷
Holger Czukay
2/5
This was... Interesting. Not actually GOOD, mind. Avant garde noodly meandering funk almost? Although it covers quite a few genres, I suppose. And it definitely has really cool moments, I think. But 40 minutes of it? Nah.
Calexico
5/5
Me listening to Feast of Wire for the 5th time in a row: "God damn that is good. Shit, that's fresh."
But in all seriousness, hadn't listened to this in many years and I'd forgotten how freaking good it is. Glad it made it onto the list too, most of the stuff I was obsessed with in 2005 did not lol. It has "filler", but even those are hella good tbh. A jewel of the 00s, straight back into the rotation. 5/5
Flamin' Groovies
2/5
This was okay-ish, minus the titular song about a "teenage love machine". ??? The 70s were wild... But yeah, I hope by now anyone reading my reviews has learned that white boys making blues knock offs doesn't really do it for me. Some catchy riffs here, sure, but why would I want to come back to this?
Meat Puppets
3/5
Debated whether to give this a 3 or a 4 for a while, but ultimately I don't think I liked it enough to listen to repeatedly. It's good though, some very off the beaten path punk music. Might come back to it if I'm in the mood I guess? 3.5 rounded down.
Miles Davis
4/5
Listened to this twice in a row. Definitely like it. Honestly can't say much more because I'm a jazz noob a bit, but it was fun and energetic and has this quality where I never know wtf is going on but it's cohesive and done with intent? I dig it.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Meh. A song or 2 that is liked, I suppose. But meh. 2.5 rounded down
50 Cent
2/5
Am I wrong in thinking this is super bland? I don't often call rap flat out BORING, but... The songs don't really have much differentiation from each other. Just a blur of dated and silly gangster machismo. Don't feel like this needs to be on the list.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Tentative rating, but... I liked it.
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Quite liked about half of this? Solid 3.5 (rounded down as per protocol), potential to go up. Could come back to this one.
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
Got to see Sufjan on tour for this album! So good.
Hadn't listened to it in AGES, I had to listen to it like 4 times in a row lol. And then some of the singles on repeat the rest of the day.
Anyway, this one is an easy 5, so easy it's making a lot of my 5s not seem so hot anymore lol. One of my favorite albums ever, top 10 depending on the day I think. A good amount of Philip Glass influence on this album I think, which is obviously amazing. So well orchestrated, arranged, produced. Love it.
The Cars
4/5
I mean... the first few tracks kinda carry it, but those tracks! I think this album is just what I needed? 😆
Taylor Swift
3/5
🤷 It's the Fleet Foxes issue again where it's *too* smooth? It's fine I guess.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Not too shabby, but I think I'm less likely to just put this on than some of the other jazz albums I've had from this list so far. Probably needs more listens 🤷
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I liked some of this. Some of it (particularly the last song) was a little much though. 3.5 rounded down
Radiohead
5/5
I've always thought that if Radiohead had released this before Kid A, then everyone would probably be gushing over Amnesiac instead. It's quite obvious that they are two halves to the same thing, and I'd feel a bit disingenuous giving it another rating. It's awesome.
Cream
3/5
This was aight, rock done in a somewhat interesting way with twinges of the psychedelic in there. Ngl though, did not wow me. It's fine, certainly prefer it to the stuff that's purely a blues rip off. This is only MOSTLY a blues rip off. It's an improvement, 3 leaning 3.5.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Solid. I'll come back to this before Electric Ladyland for sure.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Not gonna lie, I'm mostly here for the first two songs. But the whole thing is still pretty damn good.
Linkin Park
3/5
I definitely like a couple songs here. May need more listens.
Honestly a tough choice between 3 or 4. Rounding down for protocol.
Radiohead
4/5
This one doesn't hit quite as hard as some other Radiohead albums IMHO, but it's still really good. A very solid 4.
The Prodigy
3/5
This was fine.
4/5
This is very close to what I consider peak prog honestly, even after two listens. Tentative 4 for now, but I can see that rating going up with more listens.
Sonic Youth
5/5
This is my favorite Sonic Youth album sometimes. They have like four or five 5* albums for me, and... This is one of them.
So many good songs here, no bad songs... An all time favorite for sure, safely in my top 50 of all time. Maybe top 20. It's an incredible album front to back IMHO. I can listen to it three times in a row and not be bored.
I particularly love Mote, noise section and all. This is definitely an album you need to be able to like some noise for, but... The riffs on every instrument just kick ass. Sonic Youth showed me how noise and discordance in music can be meaningful and artistic. This album was key to my current understanding of music as a whole.
Yup, easy 5/5, can't wait for more Sonic Youth on this list.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Hmm, this didn't really hit for me. It's not bad by any stretch, just didn't hit. I dunno, could use another listen maybe? Solid 3 so far.
Lou Reed
4/5
A good example of rock music done in a unique and interesting way. Kinda reminded me of a more rough-around-the-edges Bowie or something. Good stuff.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Didn't expect to like this all that much tbh, but it's got quite a few bangers. Some less good stuff too, but overall I felt this was extremely solid.
Elton John
3/5
This was pretty fun, overly long and not very cohesive I feel. I think it would be a solid 4 at 40 minutes or so, but as is... I don't see a lot of this growing on me. This is the sorta thing I raid for the singles and probably never listen to front to back again. You never know, could change my mind on that, but for now it's a 3.
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Pretty cool stuff, solid 3.5 (rounded down as per protocol).
Eagles
4/5
I'm usually not in the mood for this type of music, but I'll admit this has a lot of bangers on it. The title track is still overplayed af, but in the context of the rest of the album I really like it. Solid 4.
Stan Getz
5/5
This pretty much is my happy place now?
Napalm Death
4/5
I mean, I'm not going to put this on for the dinner guests, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't entertained by this. It's certainly not boring! And it doesn't overstay it's welcome. The 30 second songs of just one riff and a few screamed words make me laugh and give me a bit of life. A solid 3.5 that I'm gonna round up just to bring up that average score a little. ;)
Sugar
2/5
Pretty meh. I would take the first two Cranberries albums over this one if I want early 90s alt. 🤷
I'll give it like a 2.3. (Rounded down )
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Just a damn fine album from start to finish. Hits the freaking spot when I'm in the mood for it!
Little Richard
3/5
This is alright, pretty fun.
ZZ Top
3/5
That was alright. Not bad, not great.
Def Leppard
1/5
I never listened to Def Leppard before because I didn't really think they'd be my thing.
I was wrong. They're not just \"not my thing.\" This is easily one of the most shitty things I've ever heard. I'm straight up stunned at the moment. This is the raw chicken that got microwaved for 45 minutes of music (with Pop-Rock seasoning). Just when I thought I had passed the worst of it, I was hit with another insipid verse from that \"voice\" (I hate it), or another endlessly noodly and annoying guitar solo (hate it)... And the ballads. The ballads are WORSE. jfc
Honestly, I could probably tolerate some of these songs if they got mixed into a playlist at low ratio. But if this doesn't deserve a 1, I don't know what does. Wow that sucked.
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
This was solid, sent me down a rabbit hole of DJ Premier's work, the production here is very cool, often atonal and surprising. The lyrics and flow are definitely pretty good too, less misogynistic than a lot of 90s rap (which isn't to say not misogynistic, but at least it's just one song and not even that bad for the 90s? 🤷). Solid 4 for now.
Brian Wilson
4/5
This was a super interesting listen. Tentative rating at the moment, but I definitely dug it for the most part.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
This is a good one. Has the feel of being in some backwoods bar with a low-key local band playing as you slowly drink yourself into a blackout.
And of course it's like the grandaddy of slowcore, so there's no way I wouldn't like it. Gotta be in the right mood for it I think, but it fuckin' hits if you're there.
Iggy Pop
2/5
A full star off for the heavy sexualization of teenagers. The fuckin' 70s, man. 🤮
Lust for Life and The Passenger are definitely the standouts here, and probably the only songs I wanna come back to.
The Pogues
5/5
So many great songs here. Not much to say except that it's an easy 5.
Richard Hawley
2/5
Pretty boring chamber pop. There's a LOT of stuff in the genre I prefer to this.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
A very interesting album with some great songs. Probably overly long. It's not Rumours. 🤷
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Probably too long. Actually definitely too long. Still quite a lot of bangers though.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I do like their production, but the flows on this one felt a little samey tbh. Could use another listen probably, but for now it's is the not bad not great 3.0 zone.
Brian Eno
4/5
First half was kinda like a Talking Heads album, 2nd half felt more like typical Brian Eno spacey ambient stuff. I dug it.
Prince
4/5
Lots of bangers on this one, a couple songs less so too, but... I guess I appreciate the influence. Probably more than the actual thing actually. But I dunno, I kinda just wanna give it the 4 and move on lol
The Adverts
4/5
Pretty fun punk album. Was waffling between 3 and 4, but I'm gonna lean high on this one, it has a vibrancy that makes me want to come back to it soon.
Talk Talk
4/5
This one is a journey. Never listened to it before, but I this one breezes by with a lot of beautiful sections and at least a few actual *bangers*, but this is more of a vibes album than a singles album. The production is absolute fire. Talk Talk always surprise and delight I have to say, this one strikes a nice middle ground between their later ambient stuff and their more pop albums. Truly singular, at least to me! I need album recs similar to this, solid.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
This was good, some of it better than other parts I guess. Waffling between a 4 and a 3 here... Not sure I like it enough to come back repeatedly though, so... 3.5 rounded down for now.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
What can I say, I like most of this quote a lot. Solid 4. 👌
Beth Orton
3/5
Some super good songs here, a bunch of kinda meh ones too. Solid 3 I think. 🤷
David Bowie
5/5
So many classic Bowie songs here. And really no songs I disliked. So yeah. It's a great album.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Solid disco. A couple less good songs, but He's the Greatest Dancer and the title track make up for it honestly.
Björk
3/5
This is a weird one. Not bad necessarily, but not exactly as listenable as Vespertine or something lol. For now, solid 3.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Pretty good, probably needs another couple listens before I have a final opinion. 3.5 for now.
Dire Straits
4/5
Solid. The first 3 kinda kick the ass of the rest I think, but still solid.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
I mean, not boring. Didn't necessarily grab me much either for the most part, but I might come back to this.
Talking Heads
5/5
Talking Heads have at least 3, probably 4, albums which are arguably their best. This is one of them. Straight 🔥
Beatles
4/5
Not top tier Beatles by a stretch, but it's got quite a few bangers and doesn't overstay its welcome. Pretty solid.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Psychedelic and rich soul/R&B. Not an everyday listen by a stretch, but damn good for sure, I'll be coming back to this one.
FKA twigs
4/5
I like out-there ethereal pop music, so this is basically straight up my alley. I probably would've stuck Purity Ring - Shrines in here instead, but this is still solid. Needs more listens.
The Temptations
4/5
Fun stuff, pretty different from the other Temptations album I had, but still very solid. Will have to come back to this.
Queen
4/5
This was a fun listen, probably my favorite "hard rock" album off the list so far. Although I'd call it more like theatrical prog/glam with a sprinkle of hard rock, myself. But yeah, fun and not boring or bland. Nice.
Duran Duran
4/5
Really good album front to back tbh, obviously most people know the singles but there's a lot of other great songs here. Solid af.
4/5
Pretty interesting down tempo album that I had never heard of. I could probably think of some other electronic stuff from the same era that's more deserving of the spot, but this was definitely solid and I'm glad I got exposed to it, at least.
Mariah Carey
1/5
Trash. Mariah is obviously a talented vocalist, so it's not WHOLLY without redeeming qualities, but I'd still have preferred listening to construction noises for the duration. Pretty much all of the songs sound alike (and that sound is late 90s high school slow dance). No fuckin' thanks. 1.5 rounded down.
Frank Zappa
3/5
This was pretty fun overall, kind of a psychedelic jazz-rock medley in a way. Not something I think I'll feel the need to revisit any time soon, but perfectly enjoyable listening tbh. 3.5 rounded down as per protocol.
The Kinks
4/5
Fun album, never listened to it although I knew a few of the songs. Solid.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Some great songs here, but kinda over long, began to lose interest by the end. Still pretty good though, 3.5 rounded down.
Coldplay
2/5
A couple solid songs here for sure, surrounded by a whole lotta fuckin' meh. 2.5 rounded down.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
This seems like it would've been an awesome show to be at, but without the visual impact it kinda just... Sounds like a lot of noodling. Still pretty entertaining for a random live album, all told, but I don't feel like I'll really want to come back to it. At least not until some of their studio LPs inevitably show up on the list later.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Solid af, as expected. Not as many standout songs as Violator probably, but I see this one growing on me.
Fever Ray
5/5
Not sure how exactly to put this rating into words... Suffice to say that I like it more than the 4s lol. It's got a dark and kinda unsettling vibe you just won't get outside of The Knife or maybe Joy Division, and I really freakin' dig it. Not gonna be for everyone obviously, but I do find it truly singular.
Deep Purple
2/5
Eh. Tempted to give it a 3 because there were a couple good songs and actually some nice riffs, but I also don't really care and I could go without listening to it ever again. We'll call it a 2.5 rounded down.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Probably my favorite EC&A album so far. Still a 3.5 (rounded down per protocol).
Venom
3/5
Not bad, not great. Entertaining enough for a listen imo, but not something I feel like I need to come back to.
Eels
3/5
*Shrug* Not bad, not great.
U2
3/5
Some bangers here for sure. Most of it doesn't quite do it for me though. Still pretty good overall though.
Talvin Singh
4/5
This was quite good imo, probably the best of the late 90s electronic that the list has given me, outside of like Portishead obviously. World music inspired trip-hop with some dope tabla playing. Definitely snagging some of these to go on various playlists.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Not really my thing, especially given the context. 🤮
Boston
3/5
More Than a Feeling is a classic for sure, the rest is fine.
Blue Cheer
4/5
This was a lot of fun, reminded me of some of the heavy neo-psych stuff that was coming out in the mid/late 00s. Liked this quite a bit more than most of my recent albums, so it's a 4 for now. We'll see if it stays there long term, but hey.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Honestly pretty fun, I love Modest Mussorgsky, so that bumps this up a bit. Call it a 3.5
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
I was rather obsessed with this album when it came out, it still holds up pretty dang well IMHO, a few of the other songs are just as good as the singles. Solid.
Paul McCartney
2/5
Pretty much just meandering and boring. I'm good.
The Darkness
2/5
Never understood the appeal here. There are a few ok songs here, but most of it is pretty bland to my ears. It's fine I guess? Like I wasn't actively hating it as it played. But I also was never like "Oh wow, this is a great riff!" Because it all sounds like rehashed hair metal (which is rather the point, no?). Like I said, doesn't really do it for me. 2.5 rounded down per protocol
The Incredible String Band
3/5
It's a hot mess tbh, but so is a lot of stuff I like. Not boring at least! Also don't feel like I'll ever really want to come back to it (if the lyrics were a little less silly then I honestly might). I guess that's a 3?
The Smiths
3/5
Some good songs here. It's a pretty solid 3.5 for me I think.
The Stooges
4/5
Fun album, reminded me of Velvet Underground at times, but also not lol. I'll lean high ang give it the 4
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
Eh. I've definitely heard worse from the list, but I don't particularly think this needs to be here. Not a huge fan of the vocals either. Pretty solid 2 for me.
AC/DC
2/5
Really having a hard time enjoying this, mostly due to the vocals. Some fairly good bones on a few of the songs though. I'll call it a 2.5. Tolerable, but not for me.
Paul Simon
3/5
Some fire singles here I think. Still just a 3.5 overall imo.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
Yeah, they're not my thing I guess. Tolerable enough as background music I suppose. 2.5 rounded down.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Some good songs here, would've been better if it was 50 minutes probably.
Stephen Stills
3/5
A fun and varied album with some great guitar playing and singing. Not gonna call it a favorite or anything, but it's solidly good. 3.5
Ride
4/5
Honestly I think Ride are kinda second rate shoegaze, I'd put this album below at least a half dozen other shoegaze/nugaze albums that are better. And that's not even counting My Bloody Valentine or Slowdive lol. But I still just love shoegaze in general, basically my favorite genre within rock music. So... It still gets a 4, I love most of the songs. But they're no Slowdive.
Big Star
3/5
Pretty standard kinda rock/power pop, but it's fun. 3.5
Paul Simon
5/5
This is honestly the Paul Simon album to beat for me. The production is killer, the songs are varied and great, and I have a lot of nostalgia for it because my dad had it on repeat quite a lot when I was a kid.
Waffling between 4 and 5 a bit here because on one hand I really really like it, and on the other hand I kinda need to be in the mood for it? But I also need to be in the mood for some of all time favorites, so... We'll give it the ol' 4.5 rounded up because nostalgia lol.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
This feels pretty mid to me. 🤷 A good example of a clear 2.5.
Fela Kuti
5/5
There's really nothing that sounds like Afrobeat. And this is the quintessential album of that genre. Obviously it belongs on the list, and I happen to love it already. Easy 5.
Suede
4/5
Hadn't listened to this in years, but I definitely still really like it. It's a bit mood dependent, but it's got a unique feel (although many would rightly say that this is what set off the Britpop explosion, it definitely doesn't sound anything like Blur or Oasis). I should try to revisit this (and the rest of their albums) soon. Solid 4.
Patti Smith
5/5
🤘 Effortlessly cool and badass. One of my favs of the 70s.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Solid stuff IMHO.
Fishbone
3/5
Some of this was pretty ok, not boring at least. Still pretty much a solid 3, not really for me.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Fun and funky! I want to revisit this one.
Incubus
2/5
I think the best I can say about it is that I didn't hate every song. I feel my rating is generous. Radio friendly 1999 nu-metal is not the vibe.
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Pretty much what I expected from a more poppy Talking Heads spin off. Pretty great honestly, Genius of Love is killer and there are definitely a few other songs here that I'll be putting on repeat. I always need more offbeat pop music in my life. Solid 4 with room to grow perhaps.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Probably their best I've heard so far, which isn't really saying much. Stairway to Heaven is cool (if over played), the rest is pretty bland and typical. I'll be nice and give a 3 I guess. I don't hate it, but I definitely don't love it either.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I definitely didn't like this one as much as Funeral when it came out, but I feel like it's aged really well honestly. Or maybe I'm different and can just appreciate it for what it is now. In either case, I dig it.
Turbonegro
2/5
Kinda sounds like The Ramones had a baby with some poppy hard rock band like KISS. Some of it isn't TOO bad, but it all eventually blurs together into a mash of chugging guitar, wanky solos, and juvenile humor. Not for me.
David Ackles
2/5
🤷 Not unpleasant, but not something that I connected to at all or see myself revisiting. 2.5
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
She's definitely got pipes, and it doesn't overstay its welcome. Solid live album.
Love
4/5
This feels like a 3 or 3.5 on some songs, then kicks it into high gear on some others. Not boring though! I am actually finding that to be my main criteria in going through the 1001. Since so many are bland as fuck!
Anyway, this one is like a 3.5 because I like it, but it's not *great*. Some songs are definitely not my jam. But I'm rounding up because I've never heard anything quite like it, so even if it's not GREAT, or not quite my jam at times... It's still cooler than most of my 3s. 🤷
And yeah, the last song seals the deal on the 4*s. It's batshit insane, and I love it. 👍
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
I clearly remember hearing this one for the first time as a teenager and being a little confused by it, I don't think it was what I expected. By the 3rd or so listen I loved it, and I've loved it ever since. Single handedly started my obsession with shoegaze and dream pop which continues to this day!
This is one of the albums by which I judge other albums to be a 5. Like, if it can't stand next to this one, can it REALLY be that great? A top 5 of all time for me, easily. Getting it today is literally just an excuse to keep it on loop. In other words, a good fucking day.
Tl;Dr: If this album isn't perfect, then I don't know what is. 🤷
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
A pretty decent album, I definitely enjoyed it but I'm leaning low. I don't think it really deviates from the 90s rap formula in enough ways for it to have real staying power for me. 3.5 rounded down.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Less headache inducing than Licence to Ill, at least. It's fine.
Little Simz
3/5
Pretty good, I could definitely see my rating going up with more listens. 3.5 for now.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
I listened to the "Best of" instead of the 3 hour box set because I'm not a masochist lol. Anyway, the rating reflects that. Ella has a killer voice and this was a really fun and pleasant listen.
The Strokes
3/5
This has held up pretty well overall. It's kinda faded for me since the mid 00s, but it's fun enough. 3.5
Aerosmith
1/5
🤢
The Monkees
3/5
Kind of an interesting historical foot note as the #2 album when Sgt. Pepper's came out. But obviously one is a classic and the other is not. I'll be nice and give it the 3. It's not unpleasant, but it's basically background music at best.
UB40
3/5
🤷 Feels like a 3? I liked parts of it?
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
This album has a spark that I don't think YYYs ever managed to capture again (I do like some of their other albums, but none of them sound anything like this). Rich is an absolutely killer opening track, followed by Date With the Night (banger), Man (banger), Tick (banger), Black Tongue (banger), Pin (banger)... Then a couple songs I like a touch less, than the obvious stand outs of the show Maps and Y Control.
Honestly, I probably appreciate this album more now than when it came out. I think it was a little too pop-punk for my tastes back in the day, but now I do feel it be hittin'. I waffled back and forth between 4 and 5 for a while, but every time I do that I kind realize that if I'm debating between those two numbers... Then it's probably pretty fucking good.
4.5 rounded up because why not.
Cornershop
2/5
Typical one hit wonder with the pretty solid song and a lot of other bland songs.
Big Black
4/5
Nice album, pretty catchy as far as hardcore punk goes. And of course it's angry and nihilistic. Not an every day listen, but it's definitely really good.
Metallica
2/5
This is probably my favorite Metallica album so far. Still pretty mid compared to a lot of other metal though? Dude has an irritating bro-y voice, and everything is pretty flat and similar sounding. I might come back to 1 or 2 of the songs. Maybe. Probably not. 🤷
PJ Harvey
3/5
Love PJ Harvey, and this is definitely among her most unique and interesting. Not sure it tops her more raw/punk music, but no doubt it's great. There's room for this one to grow even more on me, I think.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Painfully boring. Annoying vocals and cliche instrumentation. Feels like the mix between Lynyrd Skynyrd, The White Stripes, and The Strokes went rancid in the fridge. And those were all, at best, 3s themselves. Cold garbage, solid 1.0
Devendra Banhart
4/5
Fun story: I was visiting my oldest sister in L.A. and she took me to a tiny concert at an art gallery to see a couple artists I'd never heard of. The opener was some screechy lady with a harp (Joanna Newsom), and then "headlining" (keep in mind there was less than 50 people in the room, basically just a circle of people around a chair and a microphone) was Devendra Banhart. I didn't really enjoy myself at the time, but my tastes have changed.
This is definitely a singular album, captures a certain moment in time quite well. I'm not going to keep coming back to it like I will with Sufjan or whatever, but it's definitely quite good and unique.
T. Rex
3/5
Bang a Gong (Get It On) is a classic of course, I stuck that one on repeat occasionally. There are some other gems here too. Worth the listen for sure, but doesn't really stand out too much to me besides the obvious hit. Solid 3.5
The Byrds
2/5
This has some alright songs. I suspect it's included on the list because it's a bit of a quirk of musical history and not so much because of the actual quality. We'll call it a 2.5 rounded down.
Cypress Hill
2/5
This didn't do it for me.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Superstition and I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) are definitely the stand outs to me... And the strength of those two justifies the rating imo.
John Coltrane
5/5
This was probably my favorite jazz album before I started going through the list. Still absolutely spectacular, listening to this on headphones is an experience.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
I've got a soft spot for Janis. And I love the guitar playing here too, unhinged and wild. Sounds like they were having fun on this. And uh... Janis. Nuff said.
Radiohead
5/5
This was a mind opening album for me. Still sounds truly fresh 25+ years on. It's probably my favorite Radiohead album, although of course they have at least 3 albums I'd give a 5. Anyway, easy 5. I feel like the album speaks for itself better than I can.
Pixies
5/5
Hadn't put this on in literal years, and so of course I had to listen to it like 3 times in a row. My sister gave me the CD of this for my birthday back in like '05 and it blew my little Sonic Youth obsessed mind. This was formative to my taste, but I feel like I like it even more now than when I first heard it. Easy 5.
The xx
4/5
This has some pretty great singles, but it's really more of a vibes album. And the vibes... The vibes are fucking immaculate. For night time sad boy/sad girl/sad nb hours, at least. Jamie xx's production really elevates it and gives it that push from 3.5 to 4.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
"I need to listen to more Pet Shop Boys," I say to myself... Knowing that I actually listen to them quite a bit.
But a fan though I may be, I hadn't listened to this one before. Look, these 2 are STILL making music, they're prolific af, I haven't heard most of their music tbh. But yeah, this is great. As expected.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Most dad of dad rock. Still pretty good though, ngl.
Gary Numan
5/5
Wild that this came out in '79! Ahead of it's time for sure.
I knew Cars, but crazily I don't think I'd ever listened to this whole album before. Or if I had, it was absolute ages ago. Anyway, this album fuckin' kicks IMHO. Feels like New Wave by way of Kraftwerk, which is very much up my alley. Sweet bass lines, hella Moogs, random viola to spice things up... Hard to call this anything but pure synth-pop deliciousness. Just gonna go ahead and call this a 5 because I feel like it.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
There's the saying that something isn't perfect when there's nothing left to add, it's perfect when there's nothing left to remove. I think when applied to music, that might be especially true with the blues.
The fact that this isn't an absolute dumpster fire is just tribute to John Lee Hooker himself and how incredible of a songwriter the dude is. But would it not be better with rawer production and with fewer extraneous elements? Qualities easily found on his older material?
Some of the collabs aren't TOO bad though. Once I got past the 3rd song or so, I did find I was enjoying myself. And look, I actually LIKE both Santana and Bonnie Raitt. But did they actually improve this album, or the songs they're on even? I press X to doubt.
Anyway... This is pretty tepid from what I expect from the man. 3.5 seems about right (rounded down per protocol).
P.S.: I love John Lee Hooker! But this ain't the one IMHO.
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Didn't know this was on the list! I mostly consider this a slightly different and slightly less good album than Loveless. I'd guess I listen to Loveless 10-15 times for every listen of m b v on average? That said... I always feel surprised by this one when I listen to it. I do feel it holds up better than Isn't Anything. Better than Ride - Nowhere for sure. Less good than Slowdive - Slowdive if we're talking shoegaze reunion albums. Certainly less good than Slowdive - Souvlaki. So once again I find myself comparing an album to some of my favorites of all time, deciding whether it's a 4 or a 5.
...And it's definitely a 5. I guess it's more like a 4.5 rounded up, but... No way I'm giving this the same rating as Nowhere lol. It's shoegaze, the production is fucking wild and beautiful... Doesn't hurt I saw them live on this tour. I love it. How about a 4.85? That feels right.
The Who
3/5
I too wish boomers had died before they got old!
Nick Drake
5/5
Each of the albums Nick Drake left us are a little piece of perfection. Such a shame that he wasn't appreciated in his own time, and a shame he had so little time to share his genius. And at the same time I'm thankful we have what remains that we do. RIP Nick
P.S.: Learned from his Wiki that The Cure got their name from the line "a troubled cure for a troubled mind" from Time Has Told Me. An interesting connection I never knew about!
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Very solid, this rating could go up with more listens tbh.
Deep Purple
2/5
Some ok moments here, for the most part it's pretty much just generic 70s hard rock though. Not for me.
Sleater-Kinney
5/5
🤘
I probably prefer Call the Doctor slightly, but this is still one of the best albums of the 90s. Easy 5.
Silver Jews
4/5
This is definitely the kind of thing you either like or don't. I happen to be a fan of lo-fi alt-country, so I like it. I'm not gonna take it over Songs: Ohia or anything, but that's a rather high standard imo. A nice listen that didn't overstay its welcome, dryly humorous with a slacker kinda vibe. Solid.
The Pogues
5/5
The crowning achievement of Elvis Costello's career. 👏
But seriously, this is just such a fun listen from start to end. Can't rate it anything else honestly. MAYBE not as good as If I Should Fall From Grace With God, but it's kinda a toss up.
The War On Drugs
5/5
I'd heard of this band, but never listened to them before. But Wiki tells me some inspirations were The Waterboys and Spacemen 3? That feels very close to how this sounds. And I really dig both of those bands lol. This is... Kinda genius. Gonna go ahead and call it an instant 5. Atmospheric, moody, noisy, folky... and some damn fine guitar solos. Not sure why I never listened to them before, but this has definitely made me a fan. Listening to this on repeat today I think. 🎧 🎶
Scritti Politti
2/5
This is the rare pop album with basically no real melodic hooks or actually catchy songs. Dozens of 80s pop albums that absolutely destroy this, from the actually good of a-ha and Tears for Fears to the mediocre-but-at-least-some-catchy-songs Wham!. Tempting to give it a 1 honestly, but I'm a sucker for cheesy 80s synth music. Plus it's definitely not quite as bad as my other 1s (some of which are getting very near to being actual crimes against humanity)... Just very much not good, no need to listen to ever again. 2 it is. Time to listen to some mediocre (but still infinitely better) 80s synth-pop to clear my mind.
Randy Newman
1/5
Oh please god no. I'm sorry I complained about the Aerosmith, please!
I would've quit out after the first song if I wasn't stubborn as hell. That would've been a great choice, but here we are. This is straight up making me question whether this whole 1001 journey was really such a good idea. Fucking hell. I get that it's satirical, but if it's this bad does that even matter? I'd rather have been getting root canals for 35 minutes.
DJ Shadow
5/5
This one is a grower. I definitely didn't appreciate it the first time I heard it, now I hear it as a trip-hop masterpiece and one of the most influential albums in electronic music. Do I like some of the things this influenced more than this? Yes, absolutely. It's still great though. 🤷
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I'm not necessarily a "Leonard Cohen person", although I do absolutely love some of his stuff. Just not as much as a lot of people. This is really good though. A haunting album from someone well aware they're on death's door. I could definitely come back to this.
Morrissey
3/5
Unfortunately, most Morrissey music just sounds like second rate Smiths music... And I'm already someone who LIKES The Smiths but doesn't love them. Realllllly missing Johnny Marr on this one. Still a couple good songs though, and some nice bass playing. Pretty solid 3, maybe 3.5
Joe Ely
2/5
This was ok, didn't fully do it for me though. Call it a 2.5.
David Bowie
5/5
An otherworldly album for sure. This is DEFINITELY one that everyone should listen to before they die... Even if you end up not liking it. I love it of course, this and Low are his masterpieces to me.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This might grow on me, 3.5 for now though. It's sad vibes for sure, not sure I really feel much else from/about it though.
Pearl Jam
3/5
This goes straight into the over played and over hyped pile. It's not bad, just not even close to "one of the best rock albums ever". Eddie Vedder's vocals are not great, a couple of the songs manage to get past that anyway. That's pretty much all I have to say about it. Solid 3 material.
Stan Getz
5/5
Mmmmm, I'm loving all the samba and bossa nova. Just a lovely listen.
Nick Drake
5/5
Another Nick Drake, another 5. Perfection.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Pretty fun, but not really better than any of the other new wave or post punk greats. Probably not even The Psychedelic Furs' best album. Still good though, solid 3.5
Songhoy Blues
5/5
Never heard of these guys before, this kicks ass though. Listened to it 3 times through without getting bored, so I'm pretty sure it justifies the rating.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Solid and fun listen.
The Who
4/5
This is a Who album I can actually see myself coming back to on a regular basis, doesn't really sound much their other stuff I've heard so far tbh. Cool use of synth, definitely some banger songs too.
SZA
2/5
Pretty solid production, her voice is aight. I dunno, this didn't really do much for me overall. 2.5
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Easily one of my absolute favorites of the 70s, one of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time, one of the best vocals performances ever, etc etc. Just straight up beautiful.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
I feel like this is kinda missing something. I kinda feel that way with most purely a capella or choral music though, with some exceptions here and there.
Not bad at all, but I'm unlikely to come back to it.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
This is over the top in the perfect way/amount for me tbh. Surprisingly, I don't think I'd ever listened to this front to back despite Mr. Blue Sky being one of my favorite songs. Anyway... I dig it. Gonna call it a 4 with room to grow.
David Holmes
3/5
Pretty cool trip-hop/breakbeat kinda stuff. Not sure this justifies its position here over Amon Tobin or something, but it was an interesting listen overall, I jacked a couple songs for a playlist. Not bad. 3.5
Eminem
3/5
Some fire songs here, along with the usual horrific stuff. I'll give it a 3 I guess.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
This is a fun one, very off beat poppy new-wave/post-punk kinda stuff. I put this one on when the mood strikes me, it's a very solid 4 IMHO.
The Slits
4/5
Experimental post-punk/proto-riot grrl with reggae stylings. I dig this quite a lot tbh, call it another 4 with room to grow.
Soft Machine
4/5
A sometimes bracing sometimes beautiful prog/jazz fusion album. It was honestly a little exhausting listening to the entire thing, but I can't deny that it was NOT BORING (my most important metric!). I can see why some people would give it a 5 for sure, but it's not quite there for me yet. 4 it is.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Honestly, all the Bob Marley albums so far have been solid 4s: Great. They're a bit dated and I wouldn't say I LOVE them, but they're perfectly pleasant. Will listen again, probably in like 3 years when the exact mood hits. 🤷😅
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Dude has an absolutely buttery voice, but most of the music doesn't do so much for me. It's fine, just not really my thing. Probably call this is a 3 leaning 3.5.
Fela Kuti
5/5
You can probably skip the bonus track (16 minute long drum duet, I kinda dug it but I'm weird that way), the rest is 🔥 though.
Spacemen 3
4/5
For me, Spacemen 3 never quite reached the heights that Spiritualized got to later. I still put them on when the mood hits though, and this is perfectly enjoyable to me honestly. Great, but not amazing.
Circle Jerks
4/5
Most hardcore punk isn't really stuff I'm gonna put on randomly tbh, but I can definitely enjoy it in small doses. 15 minutes of this is just about perfect, and while I don't see myself revisiting it any time soon, this was quite enjoyable. I'd call it a solid 3.5, rounded up because most of y'all got some basic ass boomer taste lol
Willie Nelson
4/5
Another one that's really nostalgic since my dad used to play it all the time (and play/sing along on guitar sometimes). Not EXACTLY my thing honestly, but there are definitely some really pretty renditions here, and it's overall a very pretty and mellow listen, I can definitely still appreciate this one even if I'll never have a burning itch to listen to it. A solid 4.
The Libertines
3/5
Pretty fun overall, I feel like it's a pretty clear 3.5 to me. Good, not great. I like the story of the band though. Album is probably better if you imagine them getting into fist fights and then passionately kissing right afterwards. 🤷
Death In Vegas
3/5
First song was really cool I thought, the rest of it didn't really live up to it for me. It's fine.
The White Stripes
2/5
Blue Orchid is the type of catchy and rocking song I want and enjoy from The White Stripes. The rest is not. Pretty solid 2.
Bob Dylan
3/5
2nd Bob Dylan album so far. I like it, but... I don't really "get" Dylan yet (In my 30s now lol). This is fine and all, but I expect lyrically dense music to jump to the forefront of my mind. This turns itself into background music very quickly for me (basically everything after Tangled Up In Blue). Not sure why necessarily, but here we are. Solid 3.5 rounded down per protocol.
Basement Jaxx
5/5
The rhythm, the tracks, the Basement Jaxx!
This album helped get me into electronic music (bought a used CD in 2009 or so and proceeded to wear it out), so I'm biased. But yeah, this whole album is fuckin' popping imho. Particularly Bingo Bango and Rendez-Vu, but every song has its place and its own charm to me. Stop 4 Love, for instance, has an ethereal and experimental quality to it that feels more like something that would've come out a lot closer to the present, or at least come from another artist. The people calling this a generic dance album obviously weren't listening very closely (or quit out of the album early).
Anyway, easy 5. It's not Discovery or whatever, but this will always be a classic to me. It's got a couple flaws imo, but I also don't really care about them because I fucking love it. Basement Jaxx have some killer singles that came later, but none of their albums ever beat this one.
George Jones
3/5
This has a calming kind of charm to it for me honestly. Not gonna wanna listen to it often or anything, but hey. Call it a 3.5.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Solid imo, though certainly Neil has better. This has some classics and bangers though.
Van Halen
2/5
Endless noodly guitar playing, mediocre singing, and a quite a few bizarre musical decisions that seem, for the lack of a better term, entirely fucking coked out.
This embodies a lot of things that I absolutely hate in music tbh, but at least there's a catchy song or two. It gets a 2, I'm feeling nice today.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
Know it, love it. Utter banger from beginning to end (Love the movie too). Listened to it 3 times in a row because if I had a complaint about this album... Not long enough. Easy 5.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
4/5
I think a lot of people missed that everything after Grey/Afro is bonus tracks. That probably explains a good number of the low ratings.
This is a really interesting and unique album that didn't overstay its welcome, with a really unique story behind it. I'll probably go back for another listen soon. It's not exactly an easy listen, but it's also NOT BORING! Again, my most important metric.
And yeah... Y'all should probably try to digest just the album proper before you get lost in the weeds with the whole extra LP worth of bonus tracks hahaha.
Primal Scream
4/5
I might like this more than Screamadelica, honestly. It's very close, in any case. Cool album.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
There are definitely some jams here, Blue Rondo a la Turk and Take 5 definitely stand out. My rating might go up with more listens, but for now this feels like a very solid 4.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Fun album from start to finish imho. Nothing mind blowing or anything, but no complaints.
Baaba Maal
4/5
I did it. Not sure how much I'll come back to it I guess, but it was a perfectly enjoyable listen. Solid 4 for now.
The Jam
4/5
Pretty nice new wave kinda stuff, I could come back to this.
The The
4/5
Nice album, dark pop that reminded me a bit of Depeche Mode or The Cure. I'll be coming back to this one soon.
The Modern Lovers
4/5
This is a pretty dang fun album IMHO. Not amazing or anything, but fun. Call it a 3.5.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Now here's a Bob Dylan album I actually really enjoy. It's playful and fun in a way that most of his albums aren't, while still being unmistakably Bob Dylan. This one and Highway 61 Revisited are easily my favorites (of what I've heard).
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Honestly never really got the hype for LCD Soundsystem, even though by rights they should be something I really like (I love a lot of other indie/dance hybrid shit, I'm the right age, etc). But yeah, this to me is a couple great songs and some pretty good ones. In other words, solid 3.5 material. Pretty good, but I can name like 5 other indie dance bands I prefer.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
5/5
If you don't like depressing af indie folk, this isn't for you. I'm in the latter camp.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Side 2 manages to drag down the incredible side 1 somehow. Overall I like this one for the singles more than as an album, still really good though.
Talking Heads
5/5
I can agree with some of the folks saying that this is mid-tier Talking Heads to a degree, it's no Fear of Music/Remain In Light imo. But one band's 4th best album is still way the hell better than anything most bands could hope to put out. 🤘
The Only Ones
2/5
Fine, couple good songs even, but I lost interest pretty quickly. Not sure even why tbh, but I'd really rather not revisit this one. 2.5 leaning 2 for me.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
My intro to EBTG was my big sister gifting me Temperamental on CD when I was a tween, way before I actually appreciated electronic music. It took a while, but that album really grew on me. I would credit it for my current love of deep house.
This one never hit me as hard, I still feel like it has more filler. But now, as an older person who has grown to love trip-hop and downtempo (those are the genres here btw, how tf is this new-wave LOL) and countless other electronic subgenres... I really like it, it's some sad ass 90s night bus kinda music, but I can appreciate that now. There was also a time that I didn't appreciate Burial, we all make mistakes (particularly as optimistic teenagers who haven't grown into their major depression yet).
Anyway, Temperamental is still better though (5/5).
Jane Weaver
4/5
This is cool, kinda like Stereolab with more chugging krautrock influences, kinda reminds me of School of Seven Bells or a much more rocking Broadcast as well. Ends right as I was starting to think it was going a little bit over long. Solid.
The Fall
5/5
Love The Fall! They're prolific as hell and I don't think this is their best, but it's still great. A very biased 5 since I doubt they have many albums on the 1001.
Britney Spears
1/5
I honestly think "...Baby One More Time" is an essential listen. Just that song though. The rest is actual garbage. To the point where this still averages out to a 1.5 (rounded down per protocol).
Rod Stewart
2/5
This is the toasted white bread (no butter or jam) of music. Not even bad necessarily, but why would I go out of my way for it?
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
I can appreciate this in a lot of way actually, but musically it loses me somewhere. Pretty solid 3 I think, it's fine.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
I mean... Not boring I suppose, but not exactly good either. Feels like a pretty solid 2 to me. All over the place, can't really take it seriously even as satire. 🤷
Van Morrison
4/5
This one didn't hit me as hard as Moon Dance tbh, still really solid imo though
Steely Dan
5/5
Do It Again and Reelin' In the Years are obvious classics, the rest of this album is actually bonkers good too though. There's really no other band that sounds like Steely Dan. This an album that feels like it has everything, yet remains cohesive. I love it.
Tom Waits
2/5
😴
Marvin Gaye
3/5
This one is mood dependent, but I can dig it when that mood hits. Solid 3.5 I feel
Buck Owens
2/5
Not for me.
Genesis
3/5
A pretty fun and interesting album that is dragged down by being as a long as a damn movie. I'll call it a 3.5.
Scott Walker
4/5
Pretty nice honestly, I could see this one grow on me. I dug it overall. Depression music? Perhaps. Am I depressed? Also yes. Not an every day listen... Still good though.
Dion
2/5
Dull. Don't care enough to let it grow on me, although maybe I could I guess? Feels like a solid 2 leaning 2.5 I guess).
Pavement
5/5
I was introduced to Pavement by my sisters when they were \"cool teens\" (in my eyes at least 😆) and I was their baby brother. At the time, I definitely liked Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana a lot more tbh. But around high school, Pavement finally clicked for me. Particularly the album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain actually, but this one too a bit later. I think I actually understand people who hate it though, tbh. Not for everyone.
If having a tongue-in-cheek slacker version of Sonic Youth sounds like something you'd be interested in, I'd recommend checking this out.
It's like a 4.75 to me, definitely worthy of the slight round-up. Indie rock as we know it exists because of this album in a lot of ways... The ripples of this album are probably less noticable now, but it was rather apparent through the 00s imo. Anyway, take it or leave it or whatever lol
The Monks
4/5
Definitely one of the wildest and most punk albums from the 60s that I know of. I think that justifies the rating tbh, although I think I'd probably go with the 3.5 rounded down if I had absolutely no context. C'est la vie?
Madonna
4/5
Some 5* songs here and quite a few 3*s. But overall I still liked it quite a bit, understandable that this made a splash back in the day.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Solid, I could for sure come back to this if the mood hits.
Stereo MC's
3/5
Connected is in the movie Hackers. Pretty cool song. But like a lot of early 90s electronic music, this all sounds pretty samey. Fun enough, but really nothing special.
Erykah Badu
3/5
I feel like this one has some room to grow, I definitely really liked a couple of songs. Calling it a 3.5 for now though.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Enjoyable enough, great vocals and production. Lyrics are fine, bit bland probably. I don't really have too many complaints per se, but I also don't feel like there's anything that's pushing it past a 3.5 for me.
John Grant
3/5
Nice. I might come back to this, solid 3.5 for now
Ozomatli
4/5
Latin jazz + salsa + funk + hip-hop... These are all things I like. Recommended, would shake my ass again.
Love
4/5
I think this one just misses the 5 tbh. It's a great album, super lush sounding with some awesome guitar playing and generally just really intriguing songs. Just... Missing that true spark of connection I suppose. Still a classic though.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
Warrants the rating just from Kick, Push imo, love that song. The rest is pretty good too. Shame that Kanye tainted it with his future (ie, present) Nazism, but I highly doubt Lupe saw that one coming.
Slipknot
2/5
I actually feel like there's a good album in here somewhere, but it's overly long, the record scratches feel extraneous at best, and the mix is very weird and kinda anti-heavy most of the time. As is, not really for me. Even if I do appreciate bits of it. Call it a 2.5 I guess.
CHIC
4/5
Just a really fun album. Not sure about it's staying power necessarily, but I've already got a couple of these on my disco/funk/soul playlist, so it's AT LEAST a 4 forever, I think.
Green Day
2/5
When I Come Around I think is a genuinely pretty good song. I really don't feel the rest of it much tbh. It's not THAT bad or anything, a lot of it is pretty catchy, but then I get annoyed by it being stuck in my head for longer than it's welcome lol. (It should be noted that pop-punk is not generally my thing)
His voice sorta annoys me on this one, I like the vocals on the later albums quite a bit more tbh.
Overall feels like a 2 leaning 2.5 with a couple strong high points and with the rest quite bland or bad imo. As I said, pop punk isn't really for me most of the time.
Simple Minds
5/5
First of all, those bass lines! 🤌
I hadn't heard this one at all before, although I of course I knew and liked Don't You Forget About Me. This is one of the dreamier and more ethereal 80s pop/new-wave albums I've heard up to this point... Which of course means it's right up my alley. Sparkling 80s synth + chugging funky bass + layers of reverb + smooth vocals... I mean, yeah, that's plenty enough to love for me already.
4/5
If you can get into this album's bizarre manic energy, it's a lot of fun. Not an every day kinda listen for me personally, but I can definitely appreciate it occasionally. Off the wall in a good way.
Roxy Music
3/5
Pretty nice. Didn't really grab me too much, I'll admit, but pleasant enough, no doubt. Feels like a 3.5 for now.
Bill Callahan
4/5
"It's time to put God away" 🤘
It's a kinda weird album honestly, a bit love or hate probably. I'm leaning love though.
2/5
This actually had some really interesting production and instrumentation, but the song writing didn't really do it for me. Meh.
Prince
4/5
I think 80 minutes of Prince is too much tbh, this has enough great songs to make up for it though I think. Cut the last song and it'd be better imo, but so it goes.
The Undertones
5/5
Damn, just a few albums after Dookie where I had to point out that pop punk isn't really my thing, I get this one (never heard it before). This is the pop punk album to beat forever after, I think.
16 songs in 35 minutes so nothing overstays it's welcome. Perfectly fun and danceable. Doesn't take itself seriously and only the necessary amount of angst. Literally no complaints, this album is fun as hell.
Fred Neil
3/5
Interesting... But not deeply so. Calling it another 3.5 I suppose.
a-ha
4/5
I think the high points here justify the 4* personally. Take On Me, The Sun Always Shines On T.V., and I Dream Myself Alive are all absolute bangers in my book.
CHVRCHES
4/5
Just shy of a 5 for me I think, the great songs are absolutely banging but there are a handful that don't really do anything for me. Still a great album though, I throw this one on pretty regularly when the mood strikes.
N.W.A.
4/5
Gets the 4 for paving the way for dozens (if not hundreds) of other artists. Also, Fuck the Police.
Queen
4/5
Just a really wild and fun ride of an album. Can't complain, I'll call it a 4 with room to grow. Bohemian Rhapsody kinda steals the show though, so a 4 seems like where it should be. 🤷
XTC
3/5
I wanted to like this more than I did, it's aight though. Feels like a pretty solid 3.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
This was fun. Feels like a solid 3.5 for now, maybe some room to grow?
Christina Aguilera
2/5
There are things here I enjoy, but overall I'm not really feeling the vibes of the music here. R&B is a little hit or miss for me, and there's a lot of that DNA here. It's good for early 00s radio pop I guess? Ie, Still not very good. Probably like double the run time it should've been given too. From an enjoyment perspective, I think a 2 is fair. There are things here I can certainly appreciate, but not for me overall.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
First off, listening to this sober is the wrong move. Also, looking for traditional song structure? Look else where. This one is for the druggies by the druggies.
I honestly think this one is SO ahead of its time. Like, Yo La Tengo and Dinosaur Jr. were trying to sound like this 20-30 years on. If you dig early 90s indie noise rock you'll probably find something here to appreciate. I fucking dig it, not for everyone though obviously.
The Replacements
5/5
Discovered this in high school at some point, I love this one. Bangers from start to finish, one of my favorite post-punk/indie rock albums. I need to put it on more tbh, I had it on repeat a lot at one point but it's been a WHILE.
Anyway, easy 5 for me.
Adele
3/5
Great voice, kinda hit or miss song writing IMHO. Hello is a banger, most of the rest just kinda slides past inoffensively. It's fine.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
This was really nice, maybe a bit long for my liking, but not too terribly. The music shifts around quite a bit, I really loved some of the transitions. I could definitely come back to this one, I'll call it a 4 with room to grow.
Ice T
2/5
Definitely no reason for this to be a double album. Even at 30 minutes I think this would be a 3 or 3.5. As is, easy 2. 🤷
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Meandering, ethereal, and beautiful. Gonna call it a 4 with room to grow.
Q-Tip
5/5
The production on this is so funky and cool. Reminded me of Nujabes at times. Loved it honestly, gonna be coming back to this one.
Stephen Stills
4/5
Definitely on the long side, but varied enough to keep my interest. Some rad guitar solos, more music that sounds quite similar to CSN if you're into that (I am). Not mind blowing, but definitely fun and worth the listen imo, I could definitely come back to this one.
Louis Prima
3/5
Fun album, hadn't heard this before but I'd heard a lot of the songs in movies and such. Probably better for the singles tbh, I'll call it a 3.5.
Tortoise
4/5
Pretty cool post-rock/experimental album with krautrock, minimalist and jazz influences. Kinda gives me an instrumental Stereolab or Broadcast vibe at times, which can only be a good thing to this listener. Not an every day album or anything, but it's moody and beautiful and I can appreciate it for that. Probably doesn't deserve to be here over Mogwai or Sigur Ros or Explosions In the Sky or whatever, but I'm not complaining.
The Yardbirds
3/5
This feels like a solid 3. Not bad, but also doesn't really stand out much to me. Typical bluesy 60s rock stuff. 🤷
Faust
3/5
This was aight. Some good songs. I'll call it a 3.
John Martyn
2/5
I was hoping this would be above average from the wiki, but... I consider this below average. Wanky and meandering to a fault. 2 feels right.
The Auteurs
3/5
This was pretty good. Nothing mind blowing, but enjoyable. Feels like a solid 3.5.
The Specials
3/5
This has a few good songs, I don't think it stands up to their first though (although it's been ages since I've listened to that one either, so I guess we'll find out when I get there). Solid 3.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
Well it's a bizarre noise freak out for the most part, definitely not an every day listen, but I can appreciate it honestly. Call it a 3.5.
Elastica
3/5
A couple killer tracks imo (2:1 is legit af imho, also Connection and S.O.F.T.), overall though... Maybe a 3.5 with room to grow OR shrink? Part of me thinks this should be more up my alley, part of me just thinks I should be listening to Blur and/or Sleater Kinney and this is kinda blah besides the good stuff. Time will tell I guess. In any case, all that comes out to a 3* rating. Definitely listenable, ymmv.
808 State
4/5
This was a bop. Parts of it sounded almost like vapor wave, but of course not quite. Definitely dug this one, I'll be coming back to it.
Tom Waits
3/5
I like some songs here honestly, it's got a cool dark vibe. There's also a lot of stuff I could never listen to again and be perfectly happy. I think the 3 is fair, it's a touch over a 2.5, so 🤷
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Decent. I've come to accept that Led Zep will probably never be really for me, but this has some pretty cool songs on it. Can't get into Robert Plant's vocals, but... There's a whole lot worse out there.
Korn
1/5
Wow, misogynism and homophobia! How original! /s
This was hardly even shocking or edgy tbh, just boring and lame. At least Eminem expresses his awful views of people creatively.
Destiny's Child
2/5
Yeah... The late 90s and early 00s were a dark time for pop music. This had a couple okayish songs. I think the 2 is generous. No reason to listen to the whole thing again.
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
I really liked this honestly. Very unpolished, but that's half the charm of these types of albums. I'll come back to this one.
Sebadoh
5/5
Classic indie noise rock, I love how dynamic this one is from angry squalls of noise to very tender breakup/depression songs. Some might call it disjointed, but it's got 3 primary song writers and honestly... That's a lot of the charm. For fans of Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Built to Spill, Hüsker Dü, etc. Maybe also if you like Midwest Emo, I feel like a lot of those bands were heavily inspired by all of the bands listed.
Anyway, I love it. Maybe not as great as the high points from the other bands I listed, but I feel like Sebadoh are sorta under rated in general as far as 90s lo-fi indie stuff. This rocks.
The Young Rascals
4/5
A lot of folks saying that this is trying to ride The Beatles' coat tails... To me, it sounds more like they were trying to copy Motown if anything, or rather a synthesis of both those sounds.
Honestly I quite liked this. Only knew the title track, and while I'm not sure I'd call the album "essential", it's a cool little overlooked gem. A nice and soothing 4 from me.
Beatles
4/5
This is definitely tier 2 Beatles IMHO. Many classics with sooooooo much chaff. I've listened to this one plenty of times, but the urge to listen to front to back just isn't there anymore. Still real good though, it'd probably be a 5 if they shaved 20 minutes off.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
This had a couple neat moments, but overall was very boring. And I believe this would be like a full star better if it had no vocals. So yeah... Can't really justify anything but a 2. Not for me.
Aphex Twin
5/5
Easily a great as far as 90s electronic music goes, and I feel like it still holds up remarkably well 30 years on. Some of it more than others perhaps, I still feel it deserves a 5 though. Xtal is a truly beautiful song, and there's definitely more here to love.
Gene Clark
4/5
Solid, really interesting blend of styles here. I definitely want to come back to this at some point, going to call it a 4 with room to grow for now.
Madonna
3/5
It's STILL not as good as Temperamental by Everything But the Girl... It's not too shabby though. Might come back to this, 3.5 for now
Björk
5/5
Love this one. Still sounds wholly unique, still very much of its time, but that'll never be a bad thing to me. Anyway, it's a classic, it's awesome (probably not even her best imo, but I'd call it among her best still).
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
Not really my thing tbh, it had some alright moments, and it's eclectic enough in sound and energy where I feel like many would find SOMETHING here to love, but overall... It just feels meh to me. Fine to listen to once, not something I'll ever really want to come back to. 2.5
2/5
I do think the U2 greatest hits would be absolutely full of bangers... But I also gotta say that listening to an entire album of U2 feels pretty damn boring. I used to like this album so I'm not even sure what happened lol. But here we are. I'll call it a 2 leaning 2.5.
10cc
4/5
The closest thing I've heard to this might be Of Montreal, or early Queen, or... I don't know, maybe some other 2000s indie pop kinda stuff, maybe a little Steely Dan? It's an interesting one for sure, particularly for when it came out, so I think it deserves the 4. I'll probably be coming back to this soon.
Pixies
5/5
Probably something of a biased opinion, but I don't think I can give any Pixies album less than a 5. This might be my least favorite (I happen to think Trompe le Monde is super under rated), but it still kicks and is way more interesting to me than most of the stuff that I've been given on this whole 1001 journey. ♥️ Pixies, 'nuff said!
Beatles
5/5
Agree quite a bit with the top review here lol. Not my favorite Beatles album, but still a ton of killer songs, and probably where they truly began to shine. Call it a 4.7.
Talking Heads
5/5
Oh look, my favorite Talking Heads album! I've already got 2 of their albums at 5* (gonna be 4 by the time we finish this 1001 thing), so you know what this is gonna be.
Another absolutely effortless 5, this album kicks all kinds of ass IMHO.
Alice Cooper
3/5
For something which I'm DEFINITELY not the target audience for... This was pretty decent. Tooke me a few tries to get into it, but there are some good riffs here despite most of it sounding like pretty prototypical 70s hard rock (not usually my thing). Not something I'm going to come back to often (if at all tbh), but I'm okay having listened to it once.
M.I.A.
5/5
I personally consider Boyz and Paper Planes to be stone cold classics, there are a lot of other jams here too. Gotta love the cheeky Pixies reference as well. This sound tracked the couple years after high school for me as well, so bonus nostalgia points. True millennial shit. I dig it.
So take the 4, bonus points for nostalgia, bonus points for the anticapitalist themes, 4.5. Rounded up because I think it needs more love here compared to the deluge of samey rock albums.
Almost forgot to mention that this spawned one of my all time favorite remixes: https://youtu.be/m9dIv-kSpEQ
Soul II Soul
4/5
I can wholeheartedly recommend this to the house heads among us. Disco forever!
Yeah, anyway, not perfect by a stretch, but I can dig it.
George Harrison
4/5
A lot of people making the mistake of listening to the bonus tracks, which are weirdly in "the middle" since they showed up on CD1 originally. If you're using Spotify, hide the tracks starting with "I Live For You" and ending with "Oh My Lord (2000)".
With that said, it's still too long, particularly in the last few songs. Now with THAT said, it still is absolutely 90% gold and well worth listening to (sans bonus tracks) IMHO. Kind of a hard album to rate for that reason. I think it's not quite 5 material all told though. Definitely a 5 in there somewhere, but I'll call it the very solid 4 I feel it actually is.
Supergrass
3/5
This has some bangers. Pretty fun, I guess I could come back to it... But Alright is definitely the stand-out here. Feels like a solid 3.5. Maybe room to grow, time will tell.
Queen Latifah
2/5
Meh. Not the worst or anything, feels like a 2.5 though.
Garbage
5/5
So many damn bangers on this album (Milk in particular is an unsung classic imo). I'm definitely a little biased from nostalgia since this is an album from my childhood, but I still don't want to rate this anything else. 4.5 rounded up because 🤘
New Order
5/5
I love New Order, this is one of my favorites of theirs. The Perfect Kiss, Elegia, and Sub-Culture would honestly be enough for me to give this rating even if the rest was like 3.5* kinda level, but that's not the case. Easy 5.
PS: Peter Hook is a god.
4/5
This is sloppy as hell, but I can dig it. This has a lot of energy, the execution is kinda amateur sounding at times, but hey. This has its place imo, it's fun and raucous, sometimes that is what I need.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Fine, a bit bland overall though. Solid 2.5
B.B. King
4/5
Solid album, quite fun. I could come back to this for sure.
The Human League
4/5
Don't You Want Me is one of the all time classic 80s songs and synth pop songs, I quite like the rest as well. But we know why we're here.
Minutemen
4/5
This is an undeniable classic in my book, but I'd rather listen to Zen Arcade any day. This is still really good, don't get me wrong... Just a little exhausting to get through for me. It could grow more on me some day I suppose, but this is where it is right now.
Bob Dylan
5/5
If I'm in the mood for Bob Dylan (which isn't often tbh, but it happens), this is the one I reach for. Fully enjoyable and I can't pick out any flaws, so it gets the 5. It's technically a 4.5 I'm rounding up, but I think it deserves it.
Elvis Costello
3/5
The 1001 is gonna make me go from feeling meh about this dude to hating him. 🤦 I guess this still earns the 3.0 though, there are some fun songs.
Common
4/5
Nice production, shame about the Kanye.
Heaven 17
4/5
Off beat synth-pop is definitely my style, I definitely dig this. A couple songs jacked for play lists. Probably will be coming back to this, it's got some bangers for sure.
Elvis Costello
2/5
🤷 Feels like a 2.75. I'm rounding down because there is way too damn much of this dude on the damn list.
The Residents
2/5
I mean... I guess I'm ok having heard it once? Can't really see wanting to put on this creepy clown music again though. Unless I wanted to give someone a bad trip or something lol. I still think I'd take this over most of my 1s though. It's more of a 🤨 and less of a 🤮. Still feels like a 2 though, there's only so much creepy clown music one wants to subject themselves to.
Supergrass
3/5
This feels more consistent overall than I Should Coco, but not the same highs either. Solid 3.5 I think.
The Bees
4/5
Mellow and tropicália infused psychedelic indie pop. I appreciate this a lot more now than when I first heard it honestly, it's a nice album. Not like OMG THIS IS THE SHIT, but definitely easy on the ears. I'll need to check out their other stuff.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This certainly felt like a Nick Cave album. Can't say I REALLY liked it, but there were definitely some good songs here. Could come back to this, feels like a 3.5.
2Pac
3/5
I really liked a couple songs here, but overall this kinda feels like it's missing something to me. Not bad, but yeah. 3.5
Sonic Youth
5/5
Probably not my personal favorite SY album, but definitely a classic and full of great songs. Still earns the 5 pretty handily IMHO.
Le Tigre
5/5
Absolute classic, bangers all around. Kathleen Hanna kills it.
Def Leppard
1/5
I can fully admit that this doesn't suck as much as Pyromania. I still find it very difficult to listen to. Pop "metal" is just not a vibe I enjoy. From an enjoyment perspective, I'll call this a 1.5 (rounded down per protocol).
Bad Company
2/5
A couple decent songs, pretty damn bland overall though. Feels like a solid 2.
Aimee Mann
3/5
They did Aimee hella dirty by including this over literally any of her other albums. She's got at least 2 that are 5s for me, this feels like a bit of a first draft for where she'd end up. Her voice is still killer though, I think it ends up as a 3.5 overall.
4/5
I'd heard of X, never listened before. This was quite fun though, solid punk music with rock and roll overtones. I'll be coming back to this at some point.
Röyksopp
5/5
Another 4.5 rounded up because Remind Me is freaking FIRE. Love the rest of the album too though.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
A couple great songs, a lot of meh ones. Feels like a 3.
The Undertones
4/5
This isn't hitting me quite as hard as their debut, but it's still really good IMHO. A solid 4 with room to grow perhaps.
Dinosaur Jr.
5/5
Know it, love it. Like a more tender and vulnerable sounding Sonic Youth in a way. Just a warm and lovely listen IMHO.
Brian Eno
5/5
I've grown into this album (and ambient music in general) in my middle age in a big way. Gorgeous.
Underworld
4/5
I've heard about Underworld, hadn't really listened to them before. I definitely dig this though. Some very cool techno with forays into jungle and ambient. Probably a bit over long, but not sure where I'd make cuts lol. It feels like a 4 with room to grow, gotta check out more Underworld now.
Gram Parsons
3/5
Pleasant enough, but not something I see coming back to all that often.
Neil Young
5/5
Love this one, definitely among my favorite Neil Young albums.
The Kinks
4/5
Very nice, I can hear the influence of this on the late 90s/early 00s neo-psychedelia scene. Not exactly mind blowing or anything to me, but a very nice listen none the less.
Billy Joel
3/5
This for sure has some good songs, but I don't really feel like I'll ever want to listen to the whole thing front to back again. Feels like a solid 3, maybe leaning towards 3.5.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Something really relaxing about this kind of music to me, but I've also heard better I guess? It's a solid 3.5 though, definitely enjoyable.
Lana Del Rey
4/5
Solid. I guess Lana is a bit love or hate, but I'd generally consider myself a fan.
SAULT
4/5
Groovy, the production on this is killer. Kinda drags in some spots imo, but the good qualities make up for it I think. Solid 4.
Slayer
2/5
I guess I can appreciate that it was over quickly, and it made me laugh a few times. Unfortunately it prioritizes speed over actually sounding good for the most part. Raining Blood is about the only song I could pull out of a line up here.
I don't know, thrash metal has never done it for me. I'm alright having listened to it once, might come back to Raining Blood if the mood strikes. Feels like a solid 2 overall.
Fairport Convention
5/5
I probably like Liege And Lief a little more, this one is still pretty fire though.
The Hives
3/5
A couple decent songs despite being pretty damn samey. Feels like a solid 3.
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
A couple pretty good songs here, overall this was pretty damn underwhelming though.
The Soft Boys
4/5
I'm actually going to make this the rare 3.5 rounded up just because it has a couple super killer tracks and it's a lot more interesting than most of the dross I've been getting lately.
Norah Jones
1/5
This got so damn overplayed when it came out that I still kinda hate it. I think the nicest thing I can say about it are things like "tolerable" and "inoffensive". I was thinking I'd give it the 2, but actually... 1.5 rounded down, this is so damn boring and trite. No thanks.
Christine and the Queens
4/5
Again, off-beat synth pop is basically my jam. I dig this
The Specials
4/5
Very very fun. I could probably get sick of it if I listened to it a little too often, but it's definitely super enjoyable as a once-in-a-while thing. Solid 4.
Carole King
5/5
This was a perennial favorite of my parents growing up, so there's definitely some nostalgia associated with it. Also, it's basically all bangers.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
No need for any kind of lengthy review on this one, it fuckin' KICKS. Enough said. 🤘
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Not bad, not great. Solid 3.5 material for me.
Public Image Ltd.
5/5
Ngl, this is dope. I mean, I love noise rock and unhinged goth shit, so take that into consideration obviously, but yeah. I'm actually a little surprised I had never listened to this before, it's definitely way up my alley. The vocalist is definitely going to be an acquired taste (or not lol), but the bass playing and drumming here is absolutely sick, and the guitar player is unhinged and wild (so also pretty sick). Add in the occasional weird synthy tones and there you go.
I'm giving this an instant based/5, but again... Fan of The Fall here. Not for everyone lol
Living Colour
2/5
I can respect it, but I don't really like it. 🤷 Poppy hard rock ain't it for me. The hit is decent though. And some pretty cool bass playing. Doubtful I'll ever want to come back to it though. Call it a 2 leaning 2.5.
George Michael
2/5
Not a big fan of the vocals, which is kind of a make or break thing for pop music (for me, at least). The ballads are all skips. The hits have been over played as hell for me as well.
It's not the worst or anything, but I really don't think I'll ever want to listen to the whole thing again. Gonna call it an interesting artifact of 1987 and continue living my life lol. 2, mayyyyybe leaning 2.5.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Full of pathos to the point where it actually kinda borders on being emo, but I'm not complaining. I definitely liked this, will probably be coming back to it soon.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
...It's like a 2.5. Pretty fun at times, but certainly cheesy and a little hard to listen to from front to back.
Hookworms
3/5
Pretty solid neo-psychedelia with krautrock vibes. I could probably come back to this, 3.5 for now (with some room to grow probably).
Morrissey
3/5
Decent. Probably what I'll end up saying about all of his solo albums. 🤷
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
This was aight, but kinda bland to me overall. Killer voice though. Feels like a solid 3.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
This is fine. A couple pretty sweet songs, a lot of it blurs together. Pretty enough though.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Solid 3, it was pleasant and contemplative for the most part, kinda lost me somewhere in the middle of Gypsy Woman and never recovered. Not terrible though.
The Mars Volta
4/5
I didn't like this much when it came out, but it's grown on me honestly. Over the top frenetic prog emo, it's love or hate for sure, but... I think it deserves the 4.
Japan
4/5
Love the bass playing here. Reminds me a little of Duran Duran, but a little more dramatic and/or melancholic. If you like 80s synth pop, I can easily recommend this. Had barely heard of this band tbh, but it's definitely pretty damn solid, I'll likely be coming back to this one.
N.E.R.D
2/5
I don't know, it's not terrible I suppose. Just not really hitting me either. Definitely a couple good songs though. It's probably like a 2.5 for me.
Ngl, definitely some songs I like here. Also a lot of meh and blah ones. Typical U2 album really, solid 2.5.
Radiohead
5/5
Honestly it's like my 4th or 5th favorite Radiohead album, but still fire and I listen to it pretty regularly. I don't really think I can give any of their albums from OK Computer through In Rainbows anything other than a 5 because they were all formative as hell. This one was a grower though, I definitely didn't like it in 2007 as much as I do now. So it goes.
R.E.M.
3/5
It's the End of the World As We Know it is a classic obviously, some other good songs here too. Feels like a 3.5.
Killing Joke
4/5
Solid 4! I'll take a number of other post-punk albums over this one, still very enjoyable though. Would've probably preferred Night Time for their slot, but I suppose that's a matter of opinion.
The xx
4/5
This is probably my favorite xx album honestly, some absolutely awesome songs and fire production. I'd call this one an easy 4 while the others are like... Just barely 4s, or maybe lower (haven't listened to Coexist in a while). Anyway, it's good, I like it.
Koffi Olomide
1/5
Rapist.
Os Mutantes
5/5
I heard about this album in high school when I was obsessed with a lot of the Elephant 6 bands (for many of whom this is a direct inspiration). I mean, it's an absolutely classic psychedelic rock album in my book, more joyful than The Doors and more obtuse than Sgt. Pepper's. It's a 5 for me even though I rarely listen to it any more, listening to it again today was a joy. Probably aught to listen to it more.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Honestly I don't feel like it's QUITE a 5 for me, but like all Stevie Wonder albums it's got some crazy good songs on it. Sick ass bass playing on this too. And didn't feel as long as it was, even though it still feels long as hell tbh. I don't know, I'm tempted to give it the ol' 4.5-rounded-up, but... Perhaps not. Maybe on the relistens, but again, it's long as hell and that's kind of a commitment lol. It's still EASILY a 4 just for the singles though.
Grateful Dead
4/5
This is a comfort album for me. Not mind blowing or anything, but really pleasant. Brings me back to sneakily smoking weed in high school lol. Still a good album sober, but I'd certainly pair this with some good trees if you can. 😉
Syd Barrett
2/5
This sorta hits a 2.5 on the head for me. Had some nice moments and I didn't really hate listening to it, but I'm not sure why I'd want to come back for more. Out there psych-folk has been done a lot better elsewhere imo.
ABBA
4/5
I love ABBA's singles, I feel like the forgettable stuff is pretty forgettable though haha. Like... TOO sparkly sometimes, where I feel like the low end dropped out and all I'm left with is soprano harmonies in major key. It's not bad, and still very easy on the ears for the most part, but I kinda gotta be in the mood. We'll call it a 4 because those singles are 🔥
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Have never listened to Rufus Wainwright before, so we'll see how this goes.
...I liked that. The first song makes an impression for sure, then it spirals off into a bunch of different genres that I would probably throw under the large umbrella(s) of art/chamber/indie pop. I can certainly hear all the comparison to Thom Yorke for his vocals.
Feels like a solid 4 with some room to grow. Will probably come back around to this when I get Want One lol.
MGMT
4/5
Personally, I think this album has a lot of chaff. But the good stuff is GOOD. Overall I find it pretty solid, even if I like Little Dark Age a lot more. I probably would've filled this slot with Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours, but maybe that's a hot take?
Sonic Youth
5/5
Another SY album that might be my favorite of theirs! Listen to this one regularly, it's got like 5 songs that could be my favorite SY song.
Anyway, easy 5. I believe Anita Hill.
Janis Joplin
5/5
🤘 God damn, Janis rocks.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
👍 Very solid, not boring, could definitely listen to this again.
Christina Aguilera
1/5
I've tried and failed listening to this album 3 times now. I give up, sorry not sorry.
Buzzcocks
4/5
Solidly fun album, probably not gonna back to it too much, but hey. No real complaints.
Sparks
5/5
Wow, hadn't heard this one before. I think I love it though. Theatrical and tongue-in-cheek feeling while still being actually really great and not just silly. It's certainly much more interesting than most of the stuff I've never heard of, it gets a tentative 5 for now because I wanna go right back and listen again.
R.E.M.
4/5
This is definitely in the upper tier of R.E.M. albums, I still think they mostly stand out for their singles (and influence on other bands of course), but hey. It's pretty solid.
Mudhoney
3/5
This was alright, short and sweet since I just listened to the original release. Probably not something I'll be putting on much though.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
I always thought she was a country artist for whatever reason. 🤷 Anyway, I definitely liked this. Soulful and buttery vocals. Can't really complain.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Dope album honestly. I think Shaft Theme is a bit better than the rest, I still love most of it though.
Happy Mondays
3/5
Fun album, nothing too special imho, but fun. Solid 3.5
Pink Floyd
3/5
Well, it's certainly a unique one. Not sure how much I actually liked it though. I didn't hate it... This seems like the right rating, I dunno.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Dude has a really nice voice, this didn't strike me as particularly memorable though. Maybe could use some more listens I suppose, I definitely didn't hate it but it didn't leave a strong impression except from his voice. 🤷
Brian Eno
3/5
Some of this is pretty out there, some it kinda bops though. Not sure how often I'll come back to it, but I liked it well enough.
Beck
2/5
A few catchy songs, overall Beck is always just kinda meh to me though. Especially when he's trying to make more serious ballad type songs lol. Anyway, it's like a 2.5 I guess.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Honestly it's like a 4.5 for me, but definitely worth of the round up here imo. I'm Waiting For the Man by itself would be enough to make it a classic for me, there are a ton of good songs here though and enough absolutely weird shit to keep it interesting. Gotta love a band talking about heroin in 1967 lol
KISS
2/5
Spinal Tap did it better.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
This is, to me, the beginning of her golden era. Super solid album imho, killer voice and interesting production for a folk/country album. Will be coming back to this.
Elvis Presley
2/5
I guess this was more interesting than a lot of Elvis stuff. Still not really my thing though. 2.5
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Wasn't really expecting to like this, but pretty fun tbh. Decently catchy, doesn't take itself too seriously, and didn't overstay it's welcome. 3 leaning 3.5 I feel
Beastie Boys
5/5
Wasn't particularly expecting to like this much given how I felt about their other albums, this is pretty great though. Jazzy, funky, rocking, punk... Just very cool and varied production overall. I'll be coming back to it for sure. Screw it, 4.5 rounded up.
Oasis
2/5
Bland. I'm good.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
This is an undeniable classic, although I'm sure it's too solemn and meditative for a lot of folks. I'm kinda there too tbh, but I still appreciate the artistry even if I'm rarely going to be in the mood to listen to it front to back. It's unique and poetic for sure, just not exactly "my thing" I suppose. A 4 it is.
Sonic Youth
5/5
Kinda thought this would be a 4 going in, I remembered it being good but maybe not their best. That's still probably true, but at the same time I think this was so freaking ahead of it's time and I absolutely adored most of the songs after the long break since I last listened to this. Sonic Youth are just too damn good. 4.5 rounded up
The Cramps
3/5
Look, it's kitschy fun. Actually good?🤷 But fun... Sure. I think the 3 is about right, personally.
Brian Eno
5/5
Still fresh af 50 years later, which is something! Some absolutely amazing guitar work on this album IMHO, and... Well, I really just like off-beat and/or "out there" pop music. This fits the bill. Hadn't heard it in years, but I definitely feel like this one has aged like wine. Love it.
George Michael
2/5
Cheesy. Not terrible, but I can't say I particularly enjoyed it either. Solid 2.
k.d. lang
2/5
Boring except for Constant Craving.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
This is probably my favorite of his albums honestly. I'm Your Man is an absolute banger, plenty of other good stuff too.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Brown Sugar is gross, the rest is fine I guess. Would prefer to listen to blues. Not bad, not great.
4/5
Fun album. Didn't blow me away or anything, but definitely enjoyable. Could see this going up with more listens probably.
Yes
4/5
Very nearly a 5 for me, the filler is kinda wonky and takes me out of it. The rest is pretty fire though, funky and fun prog. Not words I associate with prog very often lol
Blur
4/5
Blur's alternative phase. I really like a lot of it, some of it doesn't quite hit though.
Dizzee Rascal
4/5
Sick beats, I'll be coming back to this.
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Honey, get the shotgun! It's the psychedelic clowns again!!
By the end I was enjoying some of it, the first half is tough though. I'll call it a 2.5
Lou Reed
4/5
Fun one, some bangers here for sure. Needs more listens, but I'm feeling a 4 for now.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
Another Cocteau Twins album that just gets better and better the more I listen to it. Hard to pick a favorite from them, but this one is definitely up there. An easy 5 for sure. Cocteau Twins permanently changed the way I appreciate music in general, and I appreciate the hell out of them for it. Time to go on a CT kick for a while. 🤙
Gotan Project
5/5
Absolute banger, this was the album that put tango music on the map for me back in the day (as well as helping me get into downtempo while it was at it). Queremos Paz, Época, Santa Maria (del Buen Aire), Una Música Brutal, and El Capitalismo Foráneo are all very much 5 star songs for me, have them on lots of playlists and listen to them regularly. The rest might drag it down to a 4.5 overall, still very much worth the round up IMHO.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Pretty nice. Feels like a 3.5.
Charles Mingus
4/5
Some nice and dense and heady jazz. I'll take the jazz heads' word that it's brilliant, it feels like a 4 for me though. Something really good that I need to be in the mood/headspace for.
Ray Charles
3/5
Solid 3.5. Ray Charles has a lot of way better stuff, this doesn't quite hit for me I guess.
The B-52's
4/5
Fun album, I dig it.
Steve Winwood
3/5
Liked this more than I thought I would! I feel it's a solid 3.5, pretty nice.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
This was aight. Felt shorter than it was, but also kinda samey and self similar. This rating feels right for now, could go up perhaps.
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
This was like a 2.5, mayyyyybe 3?Pretty good instrumentation at points, lyrics and vocals not quite landing for me. I would've put some other 2nd wave emo into this slot. Leaning on the low end on first pass, it's not something I see going back to much if ever.
Parliament
4/5
Funkaliscious!
Todd Rundgren
2/5
This had some ok songs, but what a slog. Too long by a LOT.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Bleh. I liked this more than their first I suppose, but dude has an irritating voice and the music doesn't make up for it. This feels like Coldplay with a little more edge to it. Still bland af
Small Faces
3/5
This was a really fun and quirky kinda album. Doesn't overstay it's welcome. I enjoyed it, solid 3.5
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
I'd say about a third of it hits hella good, the rest is decent. On one hand I feel like this is a rather bizarre choice for 90s IDM albums, on the other hand it's pretty good. Feels like a solid 3.5, could grow on me.
Steely Dan
5/5
So damn good! Steely Dan have done no wrong (at least as far as I've heard). Jazzy and catchy and just... Really damn good. Want to listen to it like 4 times in a row lol
Waylon Jennings
2/5
🤷 Probably the best thing I can say is it didn't over stay its welcome. Not terrible or anything, but not really doing much for me either. 2.5
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Title track is a classic obviously, the rest is pretty cool too.
Gene Clark
3/5
This was pleasant. Not mind blowing or anything, but pretty enjoyable to me. Solid 3.5 kinda stuff.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Gimme Shelter is one of the actually good Stones songs, the rest is pretty meh to me. I'll be nice because of the one song though I guess.
PJ Harvey
5/5
🤘 Crazy that this album is over 30 years old. Unfortunately still very relevant, fortunately still kicks absolute ass. Love this damn album even after not listening to it for YEARS.
Richard Thompson
5/5
Solid folk rock. Richard's guitar playing and both of their voices make this one a delight. Gonna give it the ol' 4.5 rounded up because imI want to give it another couple listens ASAP
Traffic
3/5
This was interesting one, covers a lot of different musical territory while still being pretty poppy and accessible. Not sure how much I actually enjoyed it though, some of it just feels... Basic. Like background music from the early 70s kinda. It's not bad though, I was definitely tapping my foot for some of it, just not sure if it'll have staying power for me. 🤷
Marilyn Manson
1/5
Got halfway through before reading up on the abuse allegations and getting the ick, but this probably would've gotten this score anyway tbh. Very "look at how edgy I am" kinda shit.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
Under rated, tbh. This is still going hard more than 25 years later. The Chemical Brothers are pretty handily one of the best artists of the big beat scene, a lot of it sounds pretty dated now. This does too, but it's also still cool sounding.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I think this is easily my favorite Nick Cave release so far, though I did break it into two sittings and the score reflects that.
Weather Report
4/5
This album is cheesy, sure. But you know what? I like it. It's nostalgic. No regrets lol, f the haters.
Simply Red
2/5
New heights of banality achieved! I literally felt nothing except vague boredom with a dash of preferring to be listening to something else. Music for sex scenes in bad 80s movies.
Daft Punk
4/5
It's a classic with some absolute bangers, but it definitely drags, particularly towards the end. Still a solid 4 imho, but yeah. Discovery is definitely where it's at.
Dinosaur Jr.
5/5
Classic, love this one. I should listen to it more, but I guess it makes it hit even harder when it's been a while between listens, so 🤷
The Blue Nile
3/5
I'll give it an extra star for some SWEET bass playing. Otherwise very unremarkable though, definitely 2-leaning-2.5 kinda stuff overall.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
This was fine. Some bangers and some pretty forgettable stuff. Feels like a solid 3.
White Denim
4/5
This was pretty decent. I'll round up to a 4 because this was definitely pretty interesting relatively speaking. Might not entirely be my thing, but hey.
Madonna
3/5
This was better than expected. Some bangers, and some kinda bad stuff. Feels like a 3.
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
This one has enough disjointedness to take it down to 3-3.5 range for me. Definitely a handful of really cool songs though, I feel like cutting the vocals from a song or 2 would've gotten this an easy 4.
Elvis Presley
3/5
It's aight. Over quickly.
Scissor Sisters
4/5
Definitely a wild and interesting one. Dancey poppy glam, more or less. I'll give it the 4 since I certainly wasn't bored lol
Kings of Leon
1/5
I feel like the fact that this is the THIRD Kings of Leon album I've had on the list is a war crime.
Megadeth
3/5
This is definitely one to beat for thrash metal. The vocals are still pretty annoying, but the riffs are cool and the bass player is absolutely kicking ass. I definitely didn't hate it, might listen again if the mood strikes. Feels like a very solid 3.5.
Fiona Apple
4/5
This is nostalgic, and I like her smokey voice. Quite nice.
Tom Waits
2/5
I mean... That was a thing I listened to. Not necessarily bad. But that voice is a high hurdle to clear. Don't think I'm there yet.
Goldfrapp
3/5
An interesting change of direction for Goldfrapp, but I can't say I like it better than their catchy synth pop stuff. It's fine, kinda bland as far as ethereal dream pop goes though IMHO.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
This was pretty meh, honestly. I really like some of their other albums, I feel like this one fell short.
Spiritualized
5/5
Absolutely love this album. Some of the most sublime noise freak outs of all time, and a lot of really just beautiful stuff in between the cacophonies. Not for everyone of course, but if you love noise rock and/or shoegaze you will likely agree that this is both an absolute classic and absolutely kicking ass.
Slade
1/5
Best song was the bad Janis cover.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
I knew Fast Car, first listen besides that though. I once again find myself waffling between a 4 and a 5 because while the production is a little dated and cheesy sounding now, the message is unfortunately still just as relevant as ever and beautifully expressed for the most part. Fast Car being absolute fire is the tie breaker I think.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Two Weeks is an absolute banger to this day, the rest has kinda fallen off for me over the years though. Still a fairly solid 3.5 overall, just not all that special as it seemed to me in 09 lol
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
This feels very much like a 3. Fairly enjoyable tbh, but not really very special.
Sepultura
4/5
For 90s metal, this is very solid. Didn't feel as long as it was, had interesting variety, I can't complain. Gonna give this the ol' 3.5 rounded up actually, I could come back to this.
AC/DC
2/5
There are some solid riffs here, but mostly this is just exhausting. Not my thing.
Van Halen
1/5
Annoying. Boring.
MC Solaar
4/5
This was pretty sick. Really liked some of the beats.
Blondie
5/5
Been years since I listened to this. I think my opinion has only grown. Freaking 🔥
Marty Robbins
4/5
I mean, if you like Big Iron, this is a whole album of that. Can't complain, personally. Gotta be in the mood, but it definitely scratches and itch.
The Who
3/5
This was interesting I suppose, definitely proves that The Who were always messing about with their sound. Feels like a 3.5.
The Beta Band
4/5
If you like accordion over drum machines then you'll probably like this. Definitely held my interest, kinda like a better Beck without the rapping lol
Elbow
4/5
This was a nice little discovery, some really good songs here. Surprised I wasn't listening to this back in the day, but hey. I'll come back to this one at some point for sure.
The Cure
5/5
Not much to say except it's freaking flawless. Know it, love it, will listen again.
fIREHOSE
5/5
Never heard this before, it is directly up my alley though. Love the bass playing. Kinda like a less one-note feeling Violent Femmes or something. Doesn't overstay its welcome either. Long story short, I dig the heck out of it. Time to listen to more from them.
Steely Dan
5/5
Steely Dan don't miss! One time I saw someone talk about this album and complain about the production being "too slick." I literally laughed out loud, because that is one of the things that makes this album so singular. Nothing has (or likely ever will) sound quite like this album. It rides the line of cheesiness for sure, but in a way that is, to me, perfect.
It's not something I'll always be in the mood for, but if I'm in the mood then there's no substitute. No notes.
The Waterboys
5/5
I found this album some time after high school, and I've loved it since. Fisherman's Blues, We Will Not Be Lovers, World Party, And a Bang On the Ear... Those are enough for me the 5 tbh, I like it all the though.
Radiohead
5/5
What an album to drop at the turn of the 21st century. Still holds up completely 25 years later. This is one of the best of the best, no notes.
Scott Walker
2/5
😮💨 Crooner music gone weirder and creepier?? Not an easy listen.
Sex Pistols
4/5
Not my favorite punk album tbh, but it's pretty fun. Can't complain really, it's enjoyable.
Morrissey
3/5
This is fine.