My 1001 Albums Journey

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1970s

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5-Star Albums

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Albums

You Love More Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
Pink Flag Wire	5	3.21	+1.79
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kanye West	5	3.41	+1.59
Remain In Light Talking Heads	5	3.67	+1.33
LP1 FKA twigs	4	2.8	+1.2
Siamese Dream The Smashing Pumpkins	5	3.83	+1.17
Harvest Neil Young	5	3.83	+1.17
Killing Joke Killing Joke	4	2.99	+1.01

You Love Less Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
To Pimp A Butterfly Kendrick Lamar	1	3.61	-2.61
Brilliant Corners Thelonious Monk	1	3.33	-2.33
Smile Brian Wilson	1	3.06	-2.06
Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel	2	3.96	-1.96
Green River Creedence Clearwater Revival	2	3.78	-1.78
Superunknown Soundgarden	2	3.66	-1.66
Hotel California Eagles	2	3.6	-1.6
Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes	2	3.43	-1.43
...And Justice For All Metallica	2	3.43	-1.43
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears The Mamas & The Papas	2	3.42	-1.42

5-Star Albums (5)

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Popular Reviews

Kollaps

Einstürzende Neubauten

2/5

It’s like when you visit an art gallery and there’s a video instillation. The video is shot on Super 8, and features broken mirrors, religious imagery, and a good deal of nudity. This album would be the soundtrack. You stand at the back of the darkened gallery just long enough to prove you aren’t scared/confused/shocked by it, then politely edge your way out to go and find something by Banksy, whose book you have on the coffee table at home. Giving it 2 stars. If you gave it 1 star, it would mean you didn’t ‘get it’ … and I definitely ‘get it’. 100% ‘get it’. It’s just I prefer stuff by Radiohead, or Banksy.

46 likes

Everything Must Go

Manic Street Preachers

2/5

Quintessential Brit-rock mediocrity featuring cut-&-paste 90's guitar-led indie music with few distinguishing features. Lump it all in with Primal Scream, Sterophonics, Ash, Flaming Lips etc. and let the 'cult followers', who deride you for not worshiping it, tattoo the lyrics on their arms and buy tickets to Reading&Leeds festivals to see them headlining as ‘legends’ - playing to the same people as they were 25 years earlier. If you miss them headlining, fret not, just tune into RadioX and a 50 year old DJ will be playing the same turgid shit whilst pronouncing 'they don't make them like this anymore!'.

9 likes

Smile

Brian Wilson

1/5

Don't get this at all. Clearly I'm in the minority, as it's so loved ... but to me, load of old guff

8 likes

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears

The Mamas & The Papas

2/5

*insert gif of Villanelle going “BORING” here*

5 likes

...And Justice For All

Metallica

2/5

LOUD NOISES - MORE LOUD NOISES - I LOVE LAMP

4 likes

1-Star Albums (3)

All Ratings

To Pimp A Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar

1/5

Excellent swearing. Not one to play with the kids in the back of the car - unless you have Adam Buxton skills. Otherwise, not really my jam.

Siamese Dream

The Smashing Pumpkins

5/5

Best intro to an album ever? From that point, only gets better ...

Hotel California

Eagles

2/5

Very of its time - but don't think it's aged particularly well for a modern listener. What was already 'dad rock' 25 years ago, is now becoming 'grandad rock', and not in a particularly good way.

Street Life

The Crusaders

2/5

Wanted to like it, definitely a lot of skill on show, but after the title track it just gets a bit disengaging ...

The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths

4/5

Some girls mothers are bigger than other girls' mothers

Fleet Foxes

2/5

pleasant enough listen, but one of the best 1000 albums ever made?

Country Life

Roxy Music

3/5

slow start then goes batshit in the middle - peaking with 'Casanova', which is a great tune fades out at the end

1999

Prince

4/5

To think this was made 40 years ago - still sounds so fresh, super funky. Dare I say it, there are a couple of (what feel like) filler tracks, so I don't think it's his best album. Would give it 4.5/5 if I could ...

Underwater Moonlight

The Soft Boys

3/5

Never heard of, or listened to, these guys before. I liked them. Couple of particularly good tracks including 'tonight'. Will come back for another listen ...

Superunknown

Soundgarden

2/5

The genre of American heavy-light-rock is one I struggle with. doesn't have the grunge of Navara, nor the dynamism of REM, nor the pure belters of RATM. Found this quite middle of the road - does get going for 'Superunknown', and 'Spoonman' builds well - rest of it is a little insipid, without being otherwise interesting.

Brothers

The Black Keys

3/5

Trans Europe Express

Kraftwerk

2/5

pioneering work, ahead of it's time, huge influence on modern music, *insert other cliché here*. But if I'm being honest, listening to this for 45mins is a trifle trying.

LP1

FKA twigs

4/5

liked this a lot. shades of bjork - quite ethereal - but with an electro punch. 'Closer' and 'Two Weeks' my standout tracks.

Brilliant Corners

Thelonious Monk

1/5

I tried, but this is just not my thing ... the slower, melodic, hotel-bar type of jazz that it is. Give me some furious drumming, sax solos, and virtuoso trumpeting ...

Out Of The Blue

Electric Light Orchestra

4/5

Had heard 'mr blue sky' before, but nothing else from these guys. Enjoyed the album. 'Sweet is the night' was a standout. Really liked 'Big Wheels' and 'Summer and Lightning' too. Obvious comparisons to be made with Pink Floyd, Queen, and even late Beatles stuff. And while it doesn't hit the heights of those guys, still a fun listen.

Pink Flag

Wire

5/5

BEAUTIFUL GLORIOUS NOISE

Coles Corner

Richard Hawley

2/5

I went to Sheffield once. It rained the whole weekend and our mini-cab driver was involved in a rather unsavory incident with a traffic warden. In this context, Richard Hawley's music is joyous and exotic. Thankfully however, I'm not writing this review from Sheffield.

Kollaps

Einstürzende Neubauten

2/5

Live At The Witch Trials

The Fall

3/5

it's craggy, it's raw, it's at times terrible to listen to. but it's also rather brilliant. Psycho Mafia my standout track

(What's The Story) Morning Glory

Oasis

3/5

A security blanket of nostalgia for ex-teenagers of the 90s. You know all the words ... have sung it at weddings, birthdays, in the street at 3am ... can play Wonderwall on the guitar (and nothing else). It's accessibility makes it easy to knock, but also easy to like.

KIWANUKA

Michael Kiwanuka

3/5

It's better when using guitar for the hooks (such as in Hero/Interlude Loving The People), rather than backing vocals (such as Living In Denial/You Ain't The Problem, which sound like backing tracks from Austin Powers). As a whole album, lots of interesting styles and influences, I like when it gets a bit ambient and trippy, and your man has a great voice ... but some of it I found a bit irritating.

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators

3/5

Fun album - quintessentially 60s I could’ve gone for a bit more 'psychedelic' - but I'm sure at the time it was pretty out-there. Great album art work.

Private Dancer

Tina Turner

4/5

Go on, Tina! Give it some welly!!

Close To The Edge

Yes

2/5

They’ve gone for epic, and A for effort, but to my ear it’s a gratuitous mess. Lead singer sounds like Sting, which in itself is extremely off putting. Hate the omnipresent slappy bass. Having listened to the whole thing, there’s not a single hook I could recite back. Not for me.

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears

The Mamas & The Papas

2/5

*insert gif of Villanelle going “BORING” here*

Gorillaz

4/5

A 'virtual' band in 2001 - the whole Gorillaz package was innovative, just see the music videos! As a standalone album, i don't think it's their very best music (Plastic Beach is my fav) - but this is where it all started, and still has some absolute TUNES on it.

Everything Must Go

Manic Street Preachers

2/5

Vivid

Living Colour

3/5

Good fun album which was surprisingly easy to listen to. Starts with a banger, and then treads a fine line with being parody (see Mötley Crüe) without ever getting silly. Tracks like 'Which way to America' and the cover of 'Should I stay' kept up the pace to the end.

Fun House

The Stooges

4/5

oooooooffftttt - run me a bath of this so i can soak it into my pores

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

2/5

Great songwriting, but the delivery does nothing for me. Soporific, under-seasoned, ineffectual.

Melodrama

Lorde

2/5

Manic Pixie Dream Girl music.

Led Zeppelin

4/5

Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman

John Zorn

3/5

You can hear the effort that goes into making these sounds with those instruments. As a counter-point as to what music 'is' vs. 99% of material on 1001's albums, i think it's inclusion on the list is justified. Sure it's not easy listening, but bloody hell do I wish I could thrash a drum kit/sax/trumpet like that.

Killing Joke

4/5

What's not to like about dystopian art punk funk rock?? Sounds like a soup made from The Cure and Joy Division, that's been mixed in a Pet Shop Boys synth blender.

Green River

Creedence Clearwater Revival

2/5

these guys do a few good tunes. shame none of them are on this album.

...And Justice For All

Metallica

2/5

LOUD NOISES - MORE LOUD NOISES - I LOVE LAMP

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter

The Incredible String Band

2/5

Some parts were enjoyable - some parts completely unlistenable. 'Incredible' might be over-egging it somewhat

Heroes

David Bowie

4/5

Having only ever heard the Heroes single, the whole album is not what I expected at all. 'Sense of Doubt' and 'Moss Garden' are so different to the Bowie I knew.

Smile

Brian Wilson

1/5

Don't get this at all. Clearly I'm in the minority, as it's so loved ... but to me, load of old guff

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West

5/5

5 star album, 1 star idiot

Made In Japan

Deep Purple

4/5

Ian Paice, blimey.

Colour By Numbers

Culture Club

3/5

Such a strong opening, rest is listenable.

Legalize It

Peter Tosh

3/5

Couldn't agree more - though I'm not sure about the claim on curing TB.

Nilsson Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson

4/5

The transition from ‘without you’ to ‘Coconut’ must be the biggest change in tone of any album on the 1001 list. Love the out-tro to ‘jump into the fire’. Overall, really enjoyed it, great full album listen.

Superfly

Curtis Mayfield

3/5

Fresh as the day it was made

Dummy

Portishead

4/5

An album i've listened to plenty before now, it's a goody. Listening again, I find 'it's a fire' the most affecting track, previously overlooked it for the other bigger hits.

Kenza

Khaled

2/5

hard to have an opinion on this. nice to have a bit of world music, but it's not something i'd listen to again.

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Animal Collective

2/5

Like a fruit machine - lots of noise and lights, lots put into it, don't get much out

Too Rye Ay

Dexys Midnight Runners

3/5

cuts along nicely at first, peaking at 'Jackie Wilson Said'. After that, becomes overly long ... they could've cut a chunk out ... all becomes a bit same/same. The Waterboys do what Dexys do, just better.

Queen II

Queen

3/5

None of their hits, all of their style.

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

3/5

Californication. Good, occasionally poor. Around the World, 2 to gale 3, Scar Tissue increasing severe gale 4. Rough or very rough, later. Rain, thundery showers. Road Trippin' Moderate, remainder of album occasionally very poor.

Dr. Octagonecologyst

Dr. Octagon

2/5

curious addition to best albums.

Home Is Where The Music Is

Hugh Masekela

3/5

Enjoyed this. Is it rude to call it background music? I mean it in the best possible way, had it on in the evening whilst pottering about - emptying the dishwasher has never been so groovy.

Eliminator

ZZ Top

2/5

The songs you know creep into parody/novelty music - the songs you don’t know, are junk. Also read, of their more popular hits, someone else wrote them and they didn’t give them a credit. Overall, not a fan.

Urban Hymns

The Verve

4/5

I love how this album goes from huge anthems, to tender songwriting, to expansive almost experimental compositions. Only criticism is the expansiveness means the album it long, too long. Otherwise, cracking set of tunes.

Groovin'

The Young Rascals

2/5

easy listening, not particularly inspiring, but not particularly offensive.

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

5/5

'Once in a lifetime' is one of the all time greats. Really enjoyed 'Seen and not seen'. A Challenging listen at times, but overall it's somewhat brilliant.

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths

2/5

Peak Smiths, peak Morrissey. An album for Smiths/Morrissey aficionados ... which I am not.

Lost In The Dream

The War On Drugs

3/5

love the first 2 tracks - then goes off into sweeping introspective stuff which is a good listen.

Modern Life Is Rubbish

Blur

3/5

I love Blur. But of all their albums, this is my least favourite. It's the album before Parklife (which is an absolute riot), and a looong way from 13 (which I think is Blur's pinnacle). Still a good listen and cuts along nicely - but nothing outstanding, which is a shame because a lot of Blur's output really is.

A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse

Faces

2/5

Snore. Rod Steward is over-rated. Not a fan of 'bluesy-rock' as sung by an Englishman with a mullet.

The Stooges

4/5

amazing how many songs from this album are still in the mainstream today. full of attitude, style, grunge, and cool.

Murder Ballads

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

2/5

is this album any good? that would be an ecumenical matter. actually, pretty sure they would say this was pish. giving it an extra star for annoying the church.

All Directions

The Temptations

3/5

I like the funky stuff more than the r&b stuff. some of it is a little slow, but overall feel good vibes for a damp Monday morning.

Golden Hour

Kacey Musgraves

2/5

I don't generally like country music. I don't generally like pop music. I don't generally like this.

Survivor

Destiny's Child

3/5

man they wrote some big hitters. not my personal taste, but no denying, they did what they did very well.

British Steel

Judas Priest

3/5

Grandmother's favourite band. Precious memories <3

Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago

2/5

found an upside to having tooth ache - it's a welcome distraction to listening to this.

Harvest

Neil Young

5/5

fuck you, Joe Rogan and spotify. i choose Neil Young.

Elephant Mountain

The Youngbloods

3/5

started listening, forgot i was listening, then it was over. does this make in inoffensive yet underwhelming?

I'm Your Man

Leonard Cohen

2/5

You're boring, mate.

Different Class

Pulp

4/5

If you know, you know. If you don’t, you’re probably American.

Smash

The Offspring

3/5

There’s the kernel of something good here - can see what it’s influenced by, and possibly what it influences in turn.

Wild Gift

2/5

Drunk

Thundercat

2/5

The Rising

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

You can't take The Boss in small doses, and this is a large dose of Boss (1hr15mins). Compelling as ever however with a couple of real bangers (Nothing Man, The Rising)

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

2/5

hope he kept the receipt

Cloud Nine

The Temptations

3/5

Personally not into Soul music, though obviously this is a classic, so cannae slate it

Fromohio

fIREHOSE

3/5

Not what I was expecting. Has vibe, good riffing (both guitar and bass) - each track is a little punch of energy.