Journey Complete!
Finisher # to complete the list
683
Albums Rated
2.79
Average Rating
63%
Complete
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
1980s
Favorite Decade
Shoegaze
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Critic
Rater Style ?
67
5-Star Albums
81
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout Mask Replica | 5 | 2.28 | +2.72 |
| California | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Brutal Youth | 5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
| 69 Love Songs | 5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
| Apple Venus Volume 1 | 5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
| Mask | 5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
| This Nation’s Saving Grace | 5 | 2.89 | +2.11 |
| Rattlesnakes | 5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| Blood And Chocolate | 5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
| Infected | 5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Californication | 1 | 3.71 | -2.71 |
| The Queen Is Dead | 1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
| Buena Vista Social Club | 1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
| Wild Is The Wind | 1 | 3.64 | -2.64 |
| Van Halen | 1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
| Illmatic | 1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
| Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | 1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
| To Pimp A Butterfly | 1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
| Brothers | 1 | 3.58 | -2.58 |
| Licensed To Ill | 1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 7 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 9 | 4.67 |
| The Kinks | 4 | 5 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 4 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.75 |
| The Cure | 3 | 4.67 |
| U2 | 3 | 4.67 |
| Joy Division | 2 | 5 |
| Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band | 2 | 5 |
| XTC | 2 | 5 |
| The The | 2 | 5 |
| The Pogues | 2 | 5 |
| Elvis Costello | 2 | 5 |
| The Fall | 3 | 4.33 |
| Roxy Music | 3 | 4.33 |
| Echo And The Bunnymen | 3 | 4.33 |
| Peter Gabriel | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Morrissey | 4 | 1 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 1 |
| Madonna | 3 | 1 |
| Kanye West | 3 | 1 |
| Tom Waits | 3 | 1.33 |
| Joni Mitchell | 2 | 1 |
| Hole | 2 | 1 |
| Van Halen | 2 | 1 |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2 | 1 |
| Neil Young | 3 | 1.67 |
| Willie Nelson | 2 | 1.5 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 1.5 |
| Dusty Springfield | 2 | 1.5 |
| Eminem | 2 | 1.5 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 1.5 |
| Ice Cube | 2 | 1.5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 2 |
| The Stooges | 3 | 2 |
| Paul Simon | 3 | 2 |
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 2.33 |
5-Star Albums (67)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
XTC
5/5
This is that album for me.
This is that album that changed everything. I was around 13. I liked music but the only thing I listened to or bought on my own was the Beatles. They were everything.
Then one day I’m listening to the radio, with little real interest, and I hear a song called Dear God. The subject blew me away, the music blew me away. You could sound Beatlesque yet modern and have doubts about the existence of God?
I had to know more. Skylarking became the first non- Beatles related album I ever bought.
I pretty much became a zealot overnight. I had to know everything I could about this band. Magazines, fanzines. To my amazement, holy $&!+, they’ve been around since I was 5? Okay then what did their other albums sound like?
I bought the album of singles that was out at the time: Waxworks. The whole thing Blew. Me. Away. There was definitely a progression to how they sounded but I loved every one of those songs. As quickly as my ability to save up money would allow, I’d buy a new XTC album. Soon I had them all. XTC were easily my favorite band. And don’t get me started on The Dukes of Stratosphear.
But it wasn’t enough. I needed more. Suddenly music was the best thing ever. What else was there. The Kinks? Yes. Ate them up. David Bowie? Delicious. I need more. Elvis Costello? Absolutely, it’s so brilliant. Sex Pistols? What the F#<% is this noise? It’s crazy awesome is what it is! Oh snap! There’s a super cool movie about the super cool, awful bass player? It has a soundtrack? Who are the Pogues? Punk is here to stay, man. Give, give, give, me more, more, more. Then the ultimate side quest to find out about Goth music.
Thousands of records, tapes, cds, etc later it still comes back to Skylarking. I will still listen to this probably weekly? monthly?, more during the summer for sure.
Every song is perfect. A story about the cycle of a day, a life, from the mundane daily life to metaphysical theoretical soul searching, to death and beyond. It’s the beauty of it all, the sadness of it all, the meaning of it all, the meaninglessness of it all.
And for me, it was the start of it all.
7 likes
Crowded House
5/5
Not my favorite CH album but 5 ⭐️ nonetheless because it’s still great
1 likes
Bauhaus
5/5
The Paaion of Lovers, what a kick in the eye. The real interesting track for me through the years has become Of Lillies and Remains. Although the other standout when I first bought this on cd was the bonus track of David Jay/Peter Murphy/Kevin Haskins/Daniel Ash. Lets just say my kids learned how to make Fish Cakes at an early age.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (81)
All Ratings
ZZ Top
3/5
Much better than I thought it would be. Pretty enjoyable.
Television
3/5
You really can tell this band influenced a ton of other great bands. It was definitely cool to hear the original version of Friction. I only knew it from the cover by The Church.
Pulp
4/5
I miss britpop. Never listened to the whole album before.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Ouch. The King, maybe, but not my cup of tea.
Oasis
3/5
Nostalgia. I remember it being better.
Beck
3/5
Super chill. I really liked it.
4/5
My favorite Oasis album. My only real critique of them is exemplified by Cast No Shadow. Excellent lyric, gives a real deep mental image. “As he faced the sun he cast no shadow”. Perfect line. But then he has to say it 1,750 times. It loses its meaning after so many times. Sometimes it’s cooler for your cleverness to be a little more subtle.
Jacques Brel
3/5
Certainly was enthusiastically French. I can dig it.
Queen
3/5
It’s Queen.
The Doors
3/5
Good album. Still not a fan of the Doors, but I see why some people love the music.
The Cure
4/5
Oh man, I love this album. It’s been too long.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
It’s fine. I like some Stones stuff, but they’re not my thing.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Great album. Was one that I’ve been wanting to listen to for a while.
Queen
4/5
Excellent
Public Enemy
2/5
Not for me. I appreciate its importance, though. And it was much better than I feared it would be.
The Smiths
1/5
Johnny Marr is great. Morrissey can go pound sand.
Black Sabbath
2/5
It’s fine. Seems like it was a lot of the same riff though.
The Stooges
2/5
Rough one. First 2 tracks I knew from cover versions.
Joy Division
5/5
Yesssssssss. So much better than Morrissey.
One of my favorite albums ever.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
I don’t think I was in the mood
The Crusaders
2/5
Talented musicians. But not in my wheelhouse.
The Stone Roses
4/5
A classic
Air
3/5
Downloaded the album so I can listen to it more
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
3/5
Metallica
3/5
Couldn’t decide between 3 or 4. Maybe 3.75?
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Maybe it’s because I had to listen to it on you tube instead of iTunes but it got old kinda quickly.
Justice
1/5
I couldn’t finish it
Neil Young
2/5
Better than I thought
Erykah Badu
2/5
PJ Harvey
2/5
I want to like PJ Harvey
Stevie Wonder
3/5
David Bowie
5/5
My favorite Bowie album. My favorite version is the Ryko reissue. Bombers may be my favorite Bowie song.
Incubus
3/5
The Replacements
3/5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
For the Monsters, Inc of it all
The Black Crowes
2/5
Better than I remember. I guess because I’m not hearing it on the radio every other song.
Bon Jovi
2/5
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Willie Nelson
1/5
Jimmy Smith
2/5
Not my thing but better than Morrissey
Sepultura
2/5
I like less thrash guitars and this had a minimum of that. But what it did have was great.
Le Tigre
2/5
They like the repetition
Sarah Vaughan
2/5
I like how she says when she doesn’t know the lyrics
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
I can dig it
Joni Mitchell
1/5
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Soul II Soul
1/5
Blue Cheer
1/5
Harry Nilsson
2/5
The Specials
2/5
The Youngbloods
3/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
Aretha Franklin
2/5
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
Radiohead
3/5
Beatles
5/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
Dusty Springfield
1/5
Brian Wilson
1/5
Foo Fighters
3/5
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Traffic
3/5
Drive Like Jehu
1/5
Sufjan Stevens
2/5
George Michael
3/5
Robbie Williams
3/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Rush
3/5
Lorde
2/5
Lightning Bolt
2/5
The Avalanches
2/5
John Martyn
2/5
John Lee Hooker
2/5
Afrika Bambaataa
1/5
Louis Prima
2/5
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Kraftwerk
2/5
Keith Jarrett
1/5
The Stranglers
3/5
Brian Eno
4/5
Adele
3/5
New Order
3/5
Spacemen 3
3/5
Fairport Convention
3/5
Common
2/5
Aphex Twin
3/5
Linkin Park
1/5
The Stooges
2/5
David Bowie
3/5
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Nas
1/5
Happy Mondays
2/5
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
Goldfrapp
2/5
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
R.E.M.
5/5
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Shivkumar Sharma
2/5
a-ha
3/5
The White Stripes
3/5
Magazine
2/5
UB40
2/5
Hole
1/5
Coldplay
3/5
The Adverts
3/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Elton John
3/5
Love
3/5
Little Simz
2/5
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Various Artists
3/5
Beck
3/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Jane's Addiction
2/5
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Pixies
2/5
KISS
2/5
The White Stripes
2/5
Prince
2/5
Peter Tosh
2/5
Nitin Sawhney
1/5
Michael Jackson
2/5
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
2/5
Flamin' Groovies
2/5
David Gray
3/5
Elvis Presley
2/5
The Go-Betweens
5/5
Iron Maiden
3/5
Fats Domino
2/5
Nirvana
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Fugees
2/5
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
John Prine
2/5
Pink Floyd
4/5
Paul Simon
2/5
Beatles
5/5
Adele
3/5
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
2/5
The Kinks
5/5
The Damned
3/5
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
1/5
Goldfrapp
4/5
Tito Puente
1/5
Neu!
4/5
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Leftfield
3/5
Nina Simone
1/5
Van Halen
1/5
The Go-Go's
3/5
The Specials
2/5
Donald Fagen
2/5
I feel like I’m in a hotel bar in the 80’s or a wedding.
Neil Young
1/5
David Crosby
1/5
The Modern Lovers
2/5
Madonna
1/5
The Zombies
3/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Eels
5/5
If you like this, I’d recommend A Man Called (E) and Broken Toy Shop by E. Broken Toy Shop is definitely the precursor to Beautiful Freak.
Sabu
1/5
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
3/5
The Black Keys
1/5
Van Morrison
2/5
The Beach Boys
2/5
Public Enemy
2/5
Miles Davis
3/5
Iron Butterfly
3/5
2Pac
2/5
Buffalo Springfield
2/5
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Steely Dan
2/5
Prince
2/5
Elton John
3/5
Hüsker Dü
3/5
Kraftwerk
3/5
Fatboy Slim
2/5
The Stooges
2/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Stevie Wonder
2/5
George Harrison
5/5
k.d. lang
2/5
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
Johnny Cash
3/5
Common
2/5
Fugazi
3/5
John Grant
4/5
Beatles
5/5
Black Sabbath
2/5
Gary Numan
3/5
Tom Waits
1/5
Blur
4/5
Jungle Brothers
1/5
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Primal Scream
2/5
The Cars
5/5
The xx
2/5
Eminem
1/5
Faith No More
3/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Bee Gees
3/5
Death In Vegas
1/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Madonna
1/5
Japan
2/5
Talk Talk
3/5
Yes
2/5
Wilco
3/5
Nanci Griffith
2/5
Doves
4/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
The Only Ones
3/5
George Michael
1/5
David Bowie
4/5
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Wu-Tang Clan
1/5
Killing Joke
3/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
Ravi Shankar
2/5
Buzzcocks
3/5
Röyksopp
3/5
The Notorious B.I.G.
1/5
Beck
3/5
2/5
Kings of Leon
2/5
Fela Kuti
3/5
X-Ray Spex
2/5
The Streets
1/5
Marvin Gaye
2/5
1 or 2 tracks about boning are fine. But every single track gets old
Sister Sledge
2/5
Animal Collective
2/5
Snoop Dogg
2/5
Kendrick Lamar
1/5
Alice In Chains
2/5
Syd Barrett
2/5
I respect syd’s creativity, but it’s not for me
Ramones
3/5
M.I.A.
1/5
Fleet Foxes
2/5
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Eminem
2/5
The Kinks
5/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Kate Bush
3/5
The Young Gods
2/5
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
New Order
4/5
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
1/5
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Super Furry Animals
3/5
The Band
2/5
Marty Robbins
2/5
Big Iron was good.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Sigur Rós
2/5
John Martyn
3/5
Muddy Waters
3/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
Mercury Rev
2/5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
The Who
3/5
Ozomatli
2/5
The Byrds
3/5
Jorge Ben Jor
1/5
Ministry
3/5
1/5
Pulp
3/5
Norah Jones
3/5
Kanye West
1/5
The Beau Brummels
1/5
The Offspring
3/5
TLC
1/5
The Human League
3/5
Venom
3/5
Michael Jackson
3/5
Nico
2/5
Tough listen
Supertramp
4/5
Love the cover and I have such fond memories listening to this vicariously because my sister loved it so much.
Joni Mitchell
1/5
CHIC
2/5
2/5
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
The Isley Brothers
2/5
Lana Del Rey
2/5
Hawkwind
2/5
Paul Simon
2/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
2/5
Megadeth
3/5
Talking Heads
3/5
Arcade Fire
3/5
The United States Of America
1/5
I feel like this is where stereotypes of 60’s music comes from. I’m sure it was wild and innovative at the time but hearing it over 50 years later it sounds like hackneyed crap.
Buena Vista Social Club
1/5
Dire Straits
4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
N.W.A.
1/5
Just not for me
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Dusty Springfield
2/5
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
Mj Cole
1/5
The Fall
4/5
Prince
3/5
De La Soul
2/5
Aimee Mann
3/5
Steely Dan
3/5
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
Dion
2/5
Isaac Hayes
2/5
5/5
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
5/5
The Saints
2/5
David Bowie
5/5
Garbage
4/5
White Denim
2/5
Tim Buckley
2/5
American Music Club
5/5
AMC bring back so many memories. Western Sky is a perfect song. I don’t hear too many references to them any more, so I’m glad they’re represented here.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
2/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Yes
3/5
John Coltrane
2/5
Tortoise
3/5
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Genesis
4/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
DJ Shadow
2/5
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Finley Quaye
2/5
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
Talking Heads
4/5
The Clash
4/5
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
Napalm Death
2/5
Pere Ubu
1/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Metallica
3/5
Nirvana
3/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
Johnny Cash
3/5
Beatles
5/5
Elastica
3/5
The Who
3/5
Eagles
3/5
Pixies
3/5
Radiohead
3/5
The Police
4/5
Soundgarden
3/5
Deep Purple
2/5
The Birthday Party
1/5
U2
4/5
5/5
Brian Eno
4/5
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Nick Drake
3/5
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Roxy Music
5/5
T. Rex
5/5
The Blue Nile
3/5
PJ Harvey
4/5
Violent Femmes
3/5
Lambchop
2/5
Roxy Music
4/5
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Scott Walker
2/5
Beastie Boys
1/5
Pass
R.E.M.
5/5
The Clash
4/5
Portishead
3/5
Tears For Fears
4/5
Cheap Trick
3/5
Live albums are my least favorite
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Scott Walker
3/5
I had no idea that In The Nursery’s version of The Seventh Seal was a cover song. Gives this a +1.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
Brian Eno
3/5
Hole
1/5
Gram Parsons
2/5
R.E.M.
4/5
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
Hot Chip
2/5
Circle Jerks
3/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
Herbie Hancock
2/5
Dolly Parton
2/5
Guns N' Roses
2/5
The Incredible String Band
2/5
Morrissey
1/5
Because F him
Slade
2/5
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
The Coral
3/5
Charles Mingus
2/5
3/5
Judas Priest
3/5
Breaking the law
Queen
3/5
The Gun Club
2/5
Sepultura
1/5
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Def Leppard
2/5
💯 would rather listen to Steel Panther. Glad this junk didn’t poison my music taste back in the day.
Miles Davis
3/5
Prefab Sprout
3/5
The Beta Band
3/5
Björk
2/5
The Strokes
3/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1/5
F RHCP. I was forced to listen to too many songs from this when it was on the radio. I really can’t stand listening to the same song done slightly differently each time. They are singularly responsible for any dislike I have for California. We get it, you love California. Stop it already.
James Taylor
2/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
The Vines
3/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
2/5
FKA twigs
2/5
Doves
4/5
David Bowie
5/5
Pavement
3/5
Culture Club
3/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Dolly Parton
2/5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
5/5
Genesis
5/5
The National
3/5
Soft Machine
1/5
Sounds like the soundtrack to a bad 60’s movie.
Mylo
2/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Roxy Music
4/5
Big Star
4/5
The Beach Boys
3/5
The Smiths
1/5
Can’t stand Morrissey as a person and his lyrics
Jazmine Sullivan
1/5
The Police
4/5
Silver Jews
2/5
The Residents
2/5
Primal Scream
3/5
Supergrass
4/5
Shack
4/5
Todd Rundgren
3/5
The 70’s man
Van Halen
1/5
Ice Cube
1/5
Morrissey
1/5
If I could give a zero
Fiona Apple
3/5
Peter Gabriel
4/5
The Magnetic Fields
5/5
Ash
4/5
John Lennon
4/5
The Kinks
5/5
David Holmes
4/5
The 007 track was a great track
Liz Phair
3/5
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Sparks
2/5
Giant Sand
2/5
The Cure
5/5
Suede
4/5
Jamiroquai
2/5
Paul Simon
2/5
Bad Company
2/5
The Cure
5/5
Devendra Banhart
1/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
The La's
3/5
Rally 2.5 but I’ll round up
Richard Thompson
5/5
Calexico
3/5
Deep Purple
3/5
System Of A Down
3/5
JAY Z
1/5
Tom Waits
1/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
2/5
Neil Young
2/5
Minutemen
3/5
The Dictators
3/5
Who would’ve figured. But pretty damn good
The Darkness
3/5
Wild Beasts
1/5
Music not bad. Vocals not my cup of tea
N.E.R.D
2/5
King Crimson
3/5
Pentangle
2/5
Very 60’s RenFaire. Would’ve been a higher grade if I was at an actual renfest
Led Zeppelin
3/5
The Monkees
4/5
The songs that I knew from this album already were great enough to overcome the tracks that I didn’t know that are only okay.
Sonic Youth
3/5
The Soft Boys
4/5
Why did I ignore the Soft Boys as a teen. Damn.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Sisters Of Mercy
5/5
This is in my top 10. 5 stars isn’t enough
ABBA
2/5
Wow. Very overrated. The only track I didn’t skip after 1 minute was dancing queen.
Meat Loaf
2/5
Meh
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
Good sixties music but I’ll listen to the Kinks before them. Their version of stepping stone was great, though. The Monkees version is a pretty note for note copy. I had no idea.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Van Morrison
2/5
Radiohead
3/5
Mott The Hoople
3/5
The xx
2/5
Boston
3/5
The Who
3/5
Would have been a good concert to see
Alanis Morissette
4/5
Tricky
1/5
Grateful Dead
1/5
1 good song. Yikes.
The Band
2/5
Not my taste but I could dig it
Tom Waits
2/5
Almost listenable
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
One of EC’s best. Always one of the first I will go to on any given day.
John Lennon
5/5
This one really takes me back to when I was a huge Beatles nut in the 70’s and 80’s. So many great songs here. Later on in life I found John to be a little hypocritical, even a bit on this album. But as a whole this was an easy listen all the way through.
5/5
Classic that didn’t appreciate at the time
The Prodigy
3/5
Really a 3.5, give or take.
Rod Stewart
3/5
XTC
5/5
This is that album for me.
This is that album that changed everything. I was around 13. I liked music but the only thing I listened to or bought on my own was the Beatles. They were everything.
Then one day I’m listening to the radio, with little real interest, and I hear a song called Dear God. The subject blew me away, the music blew me away. You could sound Beatlesque yet modern and have doubts about the existence of God?
I had to know more. Skylarking became the first non- Beatles related album I ever bought.
I pretty much became a zealot overnight. I had to know everything I could about this band. Magazines, fanzines. To my amazement, holy $&!+, they’ve been around since I was 5? Okay then what did their other albums sound like?
I bought the album of singles that was out at the time: Waxworks. The whole thing Blew. Me. Away. There was definitely a progression to how they sounded but I loved every one of those songs. As quickly as my ability to save up money would allow, I’d buy a new XTC album. Soon I had them all. XTC were easily my favorite band. And don’t get me started on The Dukes of Stratosphear.
But it wasn’t enough. I needed more. Suddenly music was the best thing ever. What else was there. The Kinks? Yes. Ate them up. David Bowie? Delicious. I need more. Elvis Costello? Absolutely, it’s so brilliant. Sex Pistols? What the F#<% is this noise? It’s crazy awesome is what it is! Oh snap! There’s a super cool movie about the super cool, awful bass player? It has a soundtrack? Who are the Pogues? Punk is here to stay, man. Give, give, give, me more, more, more. Then the ultimate side quest to find out about Goth music.
Thousands of records, tapes, cds, etc later it still comes back to Skylarking. I will still listen to this probably weekly? monthly?, more during the summer for sure.
Every song is perfect. A story about the cycle of a day, a life, from the mundane daily life to metaphysical theoretical soul searching, to death and beyond. It’s the beauty of it all, the sadness of it all, the meaning of it all, the meaninglessness of it all.
And for me, it was the start of it all.
The Jam
3/5
The Fall
5/5
Mark E Smith. Genius. RIP
The Lemonheads
4/5
Evan Dando has such a great voice
Green Day
5/5
I don’t know why I’ve largely ignored Green Day. Maybe it’s because they got so much airplay that I didn’t feel the need to listen to the whole album. My loss.
Gil Scott-Heron
2/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
I think I missed a lot of the charm of this album by not really being able to hear the band interplay. Still 3⭐️
The Byrds
3/5
Morrissey
1/5
Again, F this man.
The Byrds
3/5
The The
5/5
Radiohead
3/5
Crowded House
5/5
Not my favorite CH album but 5 ⭐️ nonetheless because it’s still great
Bee Gees
3/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
One of EC’s best
5/5
If Victoria was the only good song on the album it would still be a 5 Star album
Madonna
1/5
Missy Elliott
2/5
The Pogues
5/5
Easily in my top 10 all-time. I was lucky to get into the Pogues with this album. I was able to go backwards so to me they evolved into a more punk band before becoming a great all around band.
The Prodigy
3/5
Kanye West
1/5
Maybe a fabulous album. But I will never listen to it. And Fuck Kanye.
Pearl Jam
4/5
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Morrissey
1/5
If I could give it a zero I would. This could be the best, most beautiful music ever recorded. As always, fuck Morrissey.
The The
5/5
Beatles
5/5
David Bowie
5/5
One of the favorite periods of Bowie’s career
The Pogues
5/5
The album that solidified my love of the Pogues
Big Star
4/5
This Mortal Coil is the real reason I ever listened to Big Star. Thank goodness for TMC
Lou Reed
4/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
5/5
The Who
3/5
Fiona Apple
4/5
Fairport Convention
5/5
Amazing all around.
Serge Gainsbourg
4/5
I loved this album so much. Did I know what they were saying? Not a bit. But it was super compelling and the music itself amazing. That’s the late-60’s early 70’s sound that still is effective today. I downloaded the album when I finished listening.
Beastie Boys
2/5
Queen Latifah
1/5
R.E.M.
5/5
So many great memories of listening to REM in HS. Culminating in Green, when I was finally able to see them in concert. Went with my sister, her BF, & my hs crush Francine. I probably should have kissed her that night when I walked her to her door. Le sigh.
Anyway. I loved REM, I loved this album, and I loved the concert. I had the Turn You Inside Out t-shirt which had the artwork printed on the inside of the shirt so you wore it inside out. How fucking clever is that?
David Bowie
5/5
Amazing time in Bowie’s career
Donovan
3/5
Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch stand out but the whole thing is really good.
Black Flag
3/5
I appreciate them more now then I did then
Air
3/5
Billie Holiday
3/5
Not my thing but I recognize greatness
Sex Pistols
5/5
Nostalgia vote. Do I listen to it anymore? Until today it’s been nearly 3 decades. I still dig it though.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Elvis Costello
5/5
Being around music for his entire young life, it should be no wonder why his freshman album is so well written and full of classics. It’s stil an impressive feat.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
I became a fan this year (2024) when I saw them play as a dual headliner with The Church. This album exemplifies why I liked them live.
Elbow
5/5
Elbow is pretty fantastic. Guy Garvey’s voice at times really reminds me of Peter Gabriel. In a good way.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
I liked it way more than I thought I would.
Depeche Mode
4/5
The Fall
4/5
Frank Sinatra
4/5
The Temptations
4/5
I must have really been in the mood for this one tonight
Q-Tip
1/5
Gene Clark
4/5
I feel like no one is mentioning This Mortal Coil’s version of With Tomorrow. Although I still like their’s more it’s only because I heard it there first.
The album is great, though. I feel like it’s more folk than country if you ask me but what do I know?
Bobby Womack
3/5
The Killers
4/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
Janet Jackson
2/5
David Ackles
2/5
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
Dire Straits
5/5
Portishead
3/5
The Mars Volta
2/5
Billy Joel
3/5
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Talking Heads
4/5
David Bowie
5/5
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Ice Cube
2/5
Simple Minds
5/5
Cocteau Twins
5/5
One of my favorite albums ever
Aerosmith
2/5
U2
5/5
Peter Frampton
3/5
Parliament
2/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Kanye West
1/5
This person with not make one more cent off of me. F Kanye
Haircut 100
3/5
Tom Tom Club
3/5
The Verve
3/5
TV On The Radio
2/5
Jethro Tull
2/5
Led Zeppelin
2/5
AC/DC
3/5
Jeff Beck
3/5
Guitar is great. Never was a fan of Rod’s.
Elvis Costello
5/5
I really liked this album when it was released. Now, 30 (30! Holy crap!!!!!!) years later it has become one of my favorite EC albums. It may be my favorite. It’s certainly the one I am currently listening to most these days.
The Byrds
2/5
Mike Oldfield
4/5
Yes
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Blew me away. Did not know what I was in for and was more than pleasantly surprised. Downloaded the album.
The Libertines
3/5
Good stuff.
Os Mutantes
3/5
I really dig this album a lot
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Ute Lemper
3/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
Michael Jackson
3/5
Aerosmith
2/5
Caetano Veloso
1/5
The Boo Radleys
2/5
Randy Newman
2/5
Peter Gabriel
5/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
5/5
I’m going to go ahead and say that I’m the biggest XTC fan in New Jersey. Or the US. Or the world for that matter. Who’s going to read this and dispute it. Andy & co can do no wrong in my eyes.
However, I found that more often than not I needed more than one listen through to form a legitimate opinion. I find the opening track, River of Orchids, the most difficult track. I have to be in the mood to listen to it. I appreciate it, I think it’s brilliantly composed, but it may be my least favorite XTC track.
It still is a 10/10 for me and I can listen to it every day. Too bad part 2, Wasp Star, isn’t on here because I might like that album even better.
Laura Nyro
2/5
Beatles
5/5
Christina Aguilera
1/5
Marilyn Manson
1/5
I refuse to separate art from artist for this one
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Coldplay
4/5
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Can
3/5
Saint Etienne
3/5
The B-52's
3/5
Blur
4/5
The Cult
4/5
Spiritualized
4/5
Guided By Voices
4/5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
5/5
Love it or hate it, TMR grabs your attention. I got this cd when XTC did a cover of Ella Guru and put it on the BSide of the Mayor of Simpleton 12”. It was wild, so I bought the cd without knowing anything about it except that song. Which, turns out, is a fairly accurate cover of the song.
I tried listening to the album a few times and rarely made it through the whole thing. Recently I’ve put it on and actually like it. Whether it’s my own Stockholm Syndrome of eventually liking the thing that’s torturing me or what, I don’t know.
I do know that it still grabs my attention but now it doesn’t just sound like cacophony anymore and actually sounds like innovative music.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Kid Rock
1/5
Hard pass. Hated it then not listening to it again.
Talking Heads
4/5
The Smiths
1/5
Some people can differentiate between art and artist. I try for most things but I have a visceral dislike for Morrissey. I don’t like his voice, his attitude towards other artists, or his beliefs in general. So I will always give a single star.
I do like Johnny Marr in just about everything else.
Orange Juice
3/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
The War On Drugs
4/5
Tori Amos
4/5
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
Boards of Canada
3/5
Elliott Smith
3/5
The Auteurs
3/5
Holger Czukay
3/5
Joy Division
5/5
Julian Cope
2/5
Carpenters
2/5
I get that she has a great voice and all that. Talented drummer too. But damn are these songs boring. I think in the 70’s and 80’s my dentist played the carpenters in his office on 8 track repeating over and over. 2 stars (2& 1/2 really) because I appreciate why it’s here. I just don’t need to listen to it again after today.
3/5
Veeeeeeeeeeery 80’s. In a good way
Stevie Wonder
3/5
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
Paul McCartney
3/5
Bauhaus
5/5
The Paaion of Lovers, what a kick in the eye. The real interesting track for me through the years has become Of Lillies and Remains. Although the other standout when I first bought this on cd was the bonus track of David Jay/Peter Murphy/Kevin Haskins/Daniel Ash. Lets just say my kids learned how to make Fish Cakes at an early age.
Daft Punk
3/5
I really have to be in the mood for electronica. Fortunately I was and this was pretty good.
My ratings are
5⭐️ = all time classic. Will love forever.
4⭐️= loved the album and will most likely dive deeper into the artist’s catalog.
3⭐️ = liked the album
2⭐️= wasn’t my thing but I understand why it’s here and am glad I listened.
1⭐️= not good, not good at all
Moby Grape
3/5
Motörhead
3/5
Eurythmics
3/5
The Who
4/5
The Charlatans
4/5
Mariah Carey
1/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
Mekons
3/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1/5
F the RHCP.
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
Nirvana
3/5
The Waterboys
3/5
The Doors
3/5
MGMT
3/5
Super Furry Animals
2/5
The Doors
3/5
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Björk
2/5
Billy Bragg
3/5
Patti Smith
2/5
Wire
2/5