1001 Albums Summary

I guess this is the emergence of Americana! Revolutionary for its time.

Chris Martin is a great songwriter but I just find listening to Coldplay SO dreary. My issues are: - His lyric ideas are good but some of the lines are trite. I just wish he was a better poet - His voice is tolerable but not that interesting - Song arrangements are so predictable. No interesting sound scapes. I suspect if he had more talented musicians around him, he would have created astonishing music. As it is, this music is fine so long as you don't listen too closely.

If you didn’t know it was Nirvana, would you really love this? I mean, I like the overall vibe and soundscape but nothing sticks out as melodically interesting.

Love new wave but this isn’t my favourite Smiths album. I know. Controversial. There are obvious highlights but it isn’t of absolutely consistent quality.

I’m surprised how much I loved listening to it. Very invigorating and still sounds great decades on.

I'm surprised to see this album in the 1001. Sure, The Beach Boys are great, but this isn't a particularly interesting or innovative album. Very pleasant to listen to, but not one I would pick. Perhaps because I'm not American I don't appreciate the significance of it?

Yeah, it’s good. Obviously one massive smash hit. But I really liked the vibe of the whole album. I’d forgotten how funky it was with those cool bass lines.

Really disliked this. Put me in a bad mood for hours afterwards.

I wanted to like this a lot. My husband loves this album. But I just couldn't. At times it felt prog rock-like. Other times almost like musical theatre. Maybe at the time, it was more distinctive and ground-breaking. Sorry The The.

Very famous first song. Incredibly important album at the time but not so compelling to listen to now.

Yeah. Nice. Not amazing but stand the test of time pretty well. Not sure I’ll return to it but a perfectly nice listen.

Easy listening that is easy to listen to, but I won’t again.

This is really good. Very nearly a 5 star. Want to listen to some more.

It’s of a time. Not really the kind of thing I would choose to listen to but perfectly pleasant.

I do really like The Who - memories of childhood because my Dad loved them. However, I don't love this album. I can see why it was so critically acclaimed at the time. It's a work of art. But that isn't enough for me to want to keep listening to it today.

4 star but a very very good ones. Lovely songs, a couple of which are obviously outstanding.

Probably cutting edge in 70s but nothing there now.

Nice folksy stuff. Nothing special.

Nope. Really enjoyed nothing about this.

One song is a good song. The rest is just shouting. I'm too old for this.

These are REALLY good songs. OK, prog rock isn't really my scene. It doesn't warm my heart. But nobody can deny that they are songs.

Still so fun to listen to. What tunes! It’s not quite 5 star for me.

Had no idea SFA made this more Radiohead-esque experimental stuff. Listened a few times. Good but didn’t love.

Really did not enjoy this at all. I like the more tuneful Metallica but there’s a lot of one chord screaming here.

Yep. Still dislike listening to Elvis Costello.

More like avant- garde classical. Dislike.

Trad country not be bag but I liked this!!!!

Didn’t get into it.

Ok but won’t listen again. Just a bit non-descript…

Nope. Still don’t like it.

I like the song everyone else likes.

Punk folk. Brilliant. Even better if they made a punk rock version.

Loud music with long guitar solos. Sigh.

My dad would have loved this.

It’s fine. Wouldn’t listen again.

It's good doo-wop. I wouldn't chose to listen to doo-wop but you have to acknowledge this is a good version of it.

I like this but it isn’t amazing.

Nice but I don’t like guitar led blues.

Or the greatest dolly.

Good album. Enjoyed it!

Yes. Interesting for sure. Would listen again but equally would be ok not to.

Fine

Didn’t finish it

Couldn’t be bothered to finish it.

In the end I had to go for 3. Whilst some of the songs are very nostalgic, I don't really find it that interesting overall and certainly wouldn't want to listen to it again.

Some absolute classic songs here.

I find this hard to listen to now. It’s such a strange novelty record. Two great songs - badhead and to the end. Not interested in the rest.

This is a properly great album to listen to. Sure, it wasn’t in innovative when released. Just Brit inspired indie rock and roll. But I like this kind of music and it’s a great example of the genre.

Yeah really good. Like this music.

1 star for enjoyment. Extra 1 star for their talent. Not my scene at all.

One amazing tune, some other nice things. Wouldn’t revisit.

Absolute shit. Unlistenable

This is not a good PJ album

It was ok but I didn’t enjoy it.

Mediocre

I like Dylan. Not sure why this one chosen but I enjoyed it.

I love Bowie but his albums are a bit patchy.

Felt torn about rating this one because I do think David Gray has written a good set of songs here, and that isn't easy to pull off. But it is just so dreary to listen to. He should have sold the songs and have them turned into great pop hits by a songwriting team.

Very good

My husbands thinks it is 5 star. I don’t.

A lot of very well know Elvis numbers on this one.

I like Simple Minds and understand the significance of this album. Just don’t think it is great.

Beautiful album

It’s good.

Very well known stuff

Hated it first time round. Still do now.

Didn’t know this. Interesting mix of rock and roll and bluegrass etc.

I like Kanye but I don’t find his albums very consistent. This is quite interesting given what happens to him later!

Pleasant but dull

It’s good. Important. Not blown away.

Nice. Not outstanding but I’d like to listen again.

I know lots of people who think this is amazing but I just don't get it.

Amazing. Still as good as the first time I listened to it. This is rock music.

I know it’s good but it isn’t my scene.

I know this quite well. Like it. Don’t love it.

Cool music. I didn't enjoy it that much. I probably would have loved it at the time!

Knew this well at the time and liked it. However, I don't enjoy listening to it now. Such is life.

Interesting to hear. Liked some bits and pieces. But patchy.

Perhaps the worst album I’ve ever listened to all the way through.

It’s good. I enjoyed it.

I like Nina Simone. Not crazy about this album.

It’s actually ok but really not my scene at all.

This album brings back so many memories of my Dad. I know it backwards. The first 4 songs are masterpieces. Cohen is an amazing poet. Just didn't quite make the 5-star for me though.

Didn’t like.

Hate

Pleasantly surprised. Enjoyable to listen to. Not blown away by it.

Hate an amazing first 4 songs. It is a great album. A very nearly 5 star for me.

Liked this far less than I remember!

Not my favourite album by them.

Nice. Just nice.

Amazing sound but album is just dull.

Not one of his best…

Not that interesting to me.

It's great. Is it perfect songwriting? For me, not quite...

I know every word of this album. But listening back as a 40-something I’m surprised by how much I dislike it. It over-emotes which makes it tough to listen to.

Good. Long! Wish they’d made it standard length with the best there.

A lot of well-known songs, including one of the most beautiful songs in the world: In My Life. It’s interesting to listen knowing what was ahead of them. The songwriting has taken a big departure from the early doo-wop pop numbers but many of the arrangements are still rough and ready guitar band with close-harmony. Overall there isn’t a consistent sound and the quality of the songs is variable. For that reason, it isn’t an album I listen back to.

It's hard for me to give an impartial view of this, given how important it was to people of my generation at the time. But yes, it's still great to listen to.

Didn’t enjoy much

You can see glimmers of their greatness here. Interesting music but not emotionally gripping.

Great funk but I don’t like funk.

Love Nick Cave but this is only good.

Great voice but only really like 2 songs.

It’s dull

There is much that is strange about this album. I don’t like the start. Then you get Angels, which is objectively speaking an excellent song. Then a load of forgettable stuff. Then Let me Entertain you, which should have been the opener. Then some sweet stuff at the end. At times it is 2-star but for two smash hits I’ll nudge it up to 3.

I’m not a massive fan of his music in general. The best tunes are brilliant but the albums drift into easy listening. This isn’t his best album.

Understand why this was acclaimed at time. Interesting sounds and nice to listen to. However, no compelling songs at the heart of the soundscape.

My husband felt it was cruel to give this 1-star on the basis that it is tedious rather than painful to listen to. But this should be 1001 albums you should listen to before you die, not 1001 albums it is worth tolerating. A strange mix of soul, ruined by a sprinkling of big band. It takes a great song as its first track and makes it terrible. How is that even possible?

It’s Nick Drake so you have to say it’s great. It’s the law. 2 amazing songs, everything very nice.

Remember this well. Don’t really enjoy listening to it but appreciate how important it was to the UK black music scene at the time.

Just no.

Such an interesting album, with moments of brilliance. Very nearly a 5 star for me. Perhaps I’m being cruel only giving it 4.

Tolerable. No great tunes.

One of the best songs ever written - Jealous Guy - and then a load of dross. Sorry John.

Although not really my music I can appreciate why it is on the list.

Nice

Don’t like heavy metal.

Missed this first time around. Can appreciate it is good for the genre.

Not his best but such a talent!

Not my scene.

It’s a strange album because he’s written songs in multiple different genres. Kind of makes no sense.

I love the sound but it just gets very repetitive.

Yawn

I can see it would have been amazing for it’s time but wouldn’t listen again.

Actually pretty good!

I like this.

Very boring, given their talent!

I could get to the end but I really didn't enjoy it at all!

I liked this so much at the time but now I don’t really rate it. Start is amazing.

Disliked a lot but managed to get to the end.

A few amazing songs on here. Definitely worth exploring a few times more.

Not a good one. Few covers and one good song

I like hot chip a lot but this isn’t a great album.

Very repetitive but not unpleasant to listen to.

It was good.

Fabulous - really sounds fantastic in 2023.

Ok

Not really my scene but some excellent y songs on it.

I do like Bob Dylan but wouldn’t really want to listen to this album so much.

It’s a good album but I just don’t enjoy Costello.

Nice rock funk stuff

Incredibly boring

A lovely bit of jazz- not my genre but I did appreciate it.

Hated this, apart from more than a feeling.

Such a great album. Can’t be a 5-star for me because I don’t love the genre but I appreciate the quality of the songwriting here.

I know this so well. Such an important album and yet I can’t quite bring myself to give it more than 4 stars. I do like it but wouldn’t want to hear it too often.

Felt very mediocre to me. Didn’t get on with it so well other than the song everyone knows.

Can’t get excited about this stuff.

Lovely album. Remember it well.

Neil Young is quite a talent but nothing here that grabbed me and made me want to listen again.

Important at the time but fundamentally only one song I enjoy listening to.

Good

Awful. Dreadful. I loathe this album for everything it did to destroy the Britpop dream of the mid-nineties.

It’s classic rock and roll. I like but don’t love.

Good not super great to listen to.

As a Brit, I’d never heard this before. I thought it was pretty good. For a while I even thought maybe 4 stars. But in the end I settled on 3.

I can't believe this came out in 1984. This is Prince at his best. An utterly timeless album.

I liked this a lot. This surprised me. I’d certainly listen again.

Didn't enjoy this as much as I expected to. I guess I only like Pogues music when it is live.

Fine at the start. Got worse.

Proper art pop. Glad I listened but I won’t again.

Not my scene. A few nice songs.

Good funk. I don’t like funk.

I feel it hasn’t aged well. Didn’t get anything out of listening.

A thing.

Ok

Didn't think much of this

Torn. Two amazing songs that I love, but I don't like the genre so much so would never choose to listen to the rest.

Mad. Mixtures of prog folk and psych.

Nope. I just can’t deal with Metallica beyond the big hits.

Never heard of it. This is good stuff. Maybe not groundbreaking but...

This has been a hard choice. I love the Cocteau Twins so much a named a child after one of their songs. And yet... is this really a 5-star album? It's lovely dreampop. I listen to it all the time to relax, but I listen to it because I don't really need to listen to it. It just isn't that complex and interesting. And for me, I'd much prefer some proper lyrics. So, I've reluctantly given it a 4-star.

I love his sound so much. It’s really interesting to listen to. Just doesn’t quite have the tunes!

I really like the first part of this. And then I really hate it. I'd listen to the start again though.

Did not really enjoy this.

Terribly repetitive in the style of the songs. Not unpleasant but nothing worth hanging onto.

Not particularly enjoyable.

Thought the first song was fun punk metal but utterly hated the rest.

I've dithered between a 3 and 4. It's good songwriting but very conventional pop that I don't really listen to so much. So in the end I think it is only a 3 for me. Nice to listen to but I won't seek it out again.

Interesting to hear such an early synth pop. A precursor to the better song writing of the Pet Shop Boys.

Yeah fun

Yeah. It's a great album. The best from him. But for me, Bowie is just a little too proggy. I just wouldn't choose to listen to this kind of stuff.

So good that I named a child after one of the songs.

Very beautiful album with many famous songs. The others I didn’t know weren’t really my scene but no doubt it is a classic.

I like Billy Bragg but really don’t like this album. It’s not really in the English folk tradition. Sounds very Americana at times.

I have to give this 5 stars. It’s brilliant. As a woman, I find the lyrics pretty difficult to tolerate but I appreciate they were teenage boys when they were written.

I like Johnny Cash. This is ok.

I loved this. A great discovery. Am baffled that I hadn’t heard it before. Now going through the back catalogue.

Hmm… I get why people are crazy about Arcade Fire. But their lyrics…

For me it’s a no. I find jazz boring. I even played in a jazz band for a few years to try to learn to appreciate the genre. Didn’t work.

Interesting instrumentally. If you listen closely there is so much to find in this music. But ultimately I found it a little boring and in need of some nicer melodies. It’s possible I would love it more if I listened a few more times.

Some amazing songs at the start before descending into nothingness. Typical Prince!

On the one hand, seminal pieces of music. On the other hand, I never want to hear them unless I’m very drunk on a dancefloor.

I love the first song, otherwise it’s all the same.

God this was a painful listen.

I owned this. I was so excited to see it on the list. But it’s awful, isn’t it? How did I ever endure it as a kid?

It’s brilliant but also deeply offensive and misogynistic in lyrics. So I just can’t listen to it.

I remember this. It’s nice but I wouldn’t choose to listen again.

I’m British so I know Simply Red. I may have even bought their Stars album as a youngster. But this is just awful. Nobody should have to listen to this, unless they are already dead.

I love Nick Drake. He’s an amazing songwriter. But this album isn’t quite 5-star for me. I actually don’t love all the arrangements - too much saccharine strings going on.

Do like Cohen. This isn’t a great one.

One or two great songs but overall isn’t interesting.

Yeah, no. I just don’t get it. I don’t care if that makes me a philistine.

No. A one song wonder.

Two hit songs at the start. The rest perfectly pleasant but not special.

I like Joni but for me this is too jazzy Joni wailing above noise. I prefer the clean songs with beautiful melodies.

Important in its time. I didn’t mind it but wouldn’t be inclined to listen again.

I remember liking this at the time, but the material makes it almost impossible to listen to now.

Not a huge U2 fan and this isn’t their best. Also. Politics.

I do really like Leonard Cohen but I don’t love this album.

I liked this a lot at the time and still love the best Beastie Boys songs but no longer enjoy a whole album of them.

I had this CD. God it’s boring. How did we love this stuff?

Dull

Best album in the world. Ever.

You have to be into lyrics to like Nick Cave. I’m into lyrics and I love Nick cave but I do think this album is patchy, as many of his are.

Very interesting. Hadn’t appreciated how 1950s inspired so many of the songs are. Good songwriting for sure but not really my scene at all.

It just sounds like mediocre mid-career Beatles stuff.

Whilst I don’t listen to this album anymore, and it certainly isn’t perfect, I feel it has to be a 5 star. The quality of the songwriting is absolutely superb and there is very little filler. I don’t love all the production choices and his voice is a bit grating but…

Very mundane. Not impressed.

I’m sure I would have liked this if I’d been of the right age to enjoy, but I don’t understand why it would make a must listen list. It’s quite pleasant but unremarkable.

Mixed feelings. Know it well because my mother had it. Some nice tunes but also very annoying to have to listen to a whole album of it, whilst not in a rough pub or club.

Why is this on the list? It doesn’t even have any of her good songs on it.

Some amazing bangers, then it drifts into mediocre dream pop that kind of wrecks the vibe. I actually like dream pop but I can’t imagine an occasion that would suit both the front and back end of this album.

I appreciate somebody likes this but I don’t.

Just no.

I don’t like this songbook kind of stuff at all.

I think Beck writes music, not songs. Great talent but just doesn’t do it for me.

4 is probably too generous because there is a lot of filler in this. But I do enjoy listening to it. Some pretty cool lyrical lines here and there.

Now that I don’t do drugs, I don’t need to listen to this music.

Brit here so there is nothing nostalgic about this. It’s just country music, and too much of it.

My husband tell me I should get excited by this band, but I just can't seem to. It's a nice soundscape but it is amazing songwriting? Nope.

Beyond the obvious songs, I don’t particularly enjoy this. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood.

I don’t enjoy this kind of jazz.

Surprisingly pleasant to listen to. Definitely dinner party music.

I will never listen to this again but it’s impossible to deny that this is a good album.

I love this album. I know it should be 5 stars but I’m giving it 5-stars anyway.

I’m not a big reggae fan. And this certainly isn’t the best from them. Pleasant enough to hear.

I LOVED this at the time, but on reflection it isn’t an amazing piece of work

I enjoy listening to every White Stripes album because they always do such interesting things in a stripped back way. But I do think this is a weaker album.

Just awful. Couldn’t get through the tracks without wanting to vomit.

This kind of electronic instrumental is pleasant enough but nothing really grabbed me. I guess Wilmot made me smile when it came on.

Very mediocre

Nope. I’m sorry. I couldn’t get to the end. Nobody should have this inflicted on them.

The soundtrack of my life. My father had Rock Lobster at his funeral. A good way to leave this earth.

I had this album. I don’t understand how I listened to it so much. It is dreadfully tedious.

I feel torn on this album. On the one hand it deserves to be on the list - it’s interesting. But ultimately the songs just aren’t that great.

Yeah. It’s ok. Better than I thought it would be.

An emotional 5 star. This was a favourite for a long time.

An album of contrasts. Some of the most important songs written in that era in the first part of the album, followed by less good stuff in the back end.

This is an astonishing album. I didn't know it, except for Goddess on a Hiway which everyone knows. I'm giving it 4-stars but I suspect with a few listens it would be nudged up to a 5-star album. It is just so interesting and emotional.

It’s fine but I just didn’t engage with it at all when listening to it.

I’m not into country and had never heard of this. It was pleasant but forgettable.

I reluctantly have to give this 3-star. There are a few great tunes and there’s no doubt he can write tunes but I just don’t enjoy listening to this kind of rock.

2 stars for not being completely unlistenable to. But there is nothing here worth revisiting. Ever.

I just find this kind of music so boring. Who listens to it? Old people smoking weed I guess.

I’m afraid I am unable to finish this type of heavy/thrash metal.

Very nice instrumental music. Could listen to it a lot, but only 3 stars because nothing really grabbed me about it.

Expected to find this very tedious and was surprised that it was quite an enjoyable listen.

Yeah has echoes of the good stuff to come from this band but doesn’t quite have the songs.

I love that song this women did about smashing windows that was on an earlier album but this album is f***ing awful. Hated every minute of it.

Nope. I’m English and can’t see the appeal or artistry in this kind of thing.

Quite enjoyable but didn’t really get hooked in at any stage. Might listen again sometime.

It’s just blues but pretty pleasant blues

I’m glad 10cc exist. They do some mad and interesting stuff. I like to listen closely. But is it great? No.

I hate this album for how it won the Mercury prize over OK Computer. It is astonishingly terrible. What possessed the judges?

I liked it. Not loads. But I might listen again sometime. Nothing completely grabbed me, though I did like the sound of the band.

Well that was incredibly boring. Just twiddling about on the guitar and singing utterly forgettable songs.

I see why people love it, but for me I don't love this style of big band music.

Couldn't find all of it online. Seemed OK.

This isn't an album. It's a vast collection of random songs that Harrison had lying about on the cutting room floor, including some good ones. Shame - he could have made a masterpiece, but this isn't a good listen.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. I admit it is very much of an era that I like for nostalgic reasons, but it still feels very relevant and compelling.

Probably quite important, and I might get more out of it if I listen closely. But I don't find it that interesting.

I owned this. Listened to it a lot but would be happy to not hear it again now.

Yeah no. Didn’t like listening to this at all.

This is quite a find. I love it. It’s almost a 5 star. Maybe I’ll review it down the road.

Yes, I appreciate this should be on the list. Do I love it? No.

I was lucky enough to see Run DMC in the 90s. It was chaotic. But this album isn't amazing. Except for one song, obviously.

I enjoyed it but nothing grabbed me as particularly interesting.

This is a hard album to rate. I don't love guitar noodling but this is something special, when it is at its best. However, it's just too long and unfocused - he had 40 minutes of a masterpiece that deserves 5 stars. As it is, I'm going to give it 4 stars but it is a low 4 stars... I wouldn't routinely want to listen to this album as a whole.

I appreciate things like this being in the list but didn't find much that was interesting to me in it.

I like folk music and should like stuff like this. Listened through a couple of times and found it very boring. Not unpleasant but don't need to hear it again.

I was there. Had this album. Took the necessary small pills needed to enjoy the music. Now I'm old and clean I find it hard to enjoy such repetitive music. But there's nostalgia there and I appreciate they were good at what they did.

Nice enough, but didn't really grab me. A pleasant listen though.

Not my kind of music but I could appreciate it was fun to listen to.

Thankfully this dross didn’t make it across the pond to England.

I love Bowie but this isn’t one his greats unfortunately. I do find it interesting but not compelling.

I appreciate Elvis Costello is a talented man. I do. But I still don't like him.

Well, this was quite a find. As a Brit, I didn't know Wilco and found the other albums in this list incredibly tedious. But this is interesting in terms of instrumentation. And the tune Jesus etc is quite a thing. I listened to it a few times and found new things to hear each time. Not a 5-star for me in terms of songwriting, but deserving of the list for sure.

It’s a fun album. Not my thing but…

I could give this anywhere between 1 and 5 stars. I’m not a huge avant garde pop fan but I recognise how important it is to have this music pushing the genre to interesting places. Ultimately for me, she doesn’t quite tip her experimentation into a compelling hit in this album.

I think I only like shoegaze when it doesn’t wreck the songs through distortion. This was kind of irritating to hear.

It Nile Rodgers. Great musicians. Never loved his songs.

Not for me thanks

Few well known songs and nothing else I liked.