852
Albums Rated
3.07
Average Rating
78%
Complete
237 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
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1950s
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Favorite Genre
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Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
51
5-Star Albums
57
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gold
Ryan Adams
|
5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
|
Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
The La's
The La's
|
5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
|
Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
|
If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
|
5 | 3.18 | +1.82 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
|
1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
|
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
|
1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
|
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
|
1 | 3.36 | -2.36 |
|
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
|
1 | 3.25 | -2.25 |
|
Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
|
1 | 3.18 | -2.18 |
|
No Other
Gene Clark
|
1 | 3.18 | -2.18 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Wilco | 2 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.2 |
| Beatles | 6 | 4 |
| Prince | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Charles | 2 | 1 |
| Kraftwerk | 3 | 1.67 |
| Emerson, Lake & Palmer | 2 | 1.5 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 1.5 |
| Dexys Midnight Runners | 2 | 1.5 |
| Kanye West | 3 | 2 |
| The Who | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| The Verve | 2, 5 |
| Grateful Dead | 1, 4 |
| Tim Buckley | 1, 3, 4 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 5, 2, 4 |
| Miles Davis | 5, 2, 4 |
5-Star Albums (51)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Grateful Dead
1/5
My inner dialogue…
Upon seeing this as today’s album: oh no
A minute into the first song: maybe I will like this, it’s kind of cool
9 hours later and the first song is still going: No.
55 likes
Lucinda Williams
5/5
Her raw, gritty voice perfectly matches the words and music. The song Car Wheels… makes me think fondly of my own childhood in a rural community with unpaved roads and free-range cousins.
I can still sing along to every song.
2 likes
Genesis
1/5
Not today Prog Rock, not today.
The Battle of Epping Forest has me slightly intrigued. But still, no.
1 likes
CHIC
5/5
Nile Rodgers rules. And the album would get a 5/5 for ‘Good Times’ alone. But the fact that so many great songs came from it, like Rapper’s Delight and Rapture makes me want to give it a 6.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (57)
All Ratings
The Who
1/5
Rating 1. I’m not a huge fan of The Who, but I like songs like Baba O’Riley, behind blue eyes, etc. You know, the hits. When I looked at the track listing for this album I recognize the song ‘I can see for Miles’. I thought I liked that song and so started listening to the album. I liked the idea of mixing advertisements with the music, but the execution fell flat. The first few songs reminded me a little bit of CSN. I gamely listened until the song that I knew came on and expected that to elevate the experience for me. But instead it made me like the song ‘I can see for Miles’ just a little bit less. I kept listening because that’s what this is about, right? Starting with ‘Glitter Girl’ and ‘Melancholia’ , I could recognize what I do like about The Who, which is more forceful guitar playing. However I don’t think I ever need to listen to this album again.
David Crosby
3/5
An unobjectionable album. I listened to it while going to sleep.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Tim Buckley
1/5
Seems like it wanted to be a Doors album but fell far short.
Jeff Beck
4/5
When the first song started I thought that it sounded like Rod Stewart. Then I remembered that it was him. I love Jeff’s playing and Rod’s voice so it all worked out!
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Over and Over: is OK.
The ledge: also just ok. Jangly.
Think About Me: the complete FMac package so good.
Save Me a Place: I kept waiting for it to go somewhere.
Sara; this is the reward for not turning the album off. Makes me excited for what may be next.
What makes you Think You’re the One: keeps the momentum going.
Storms: very controlled, measured. That’s All for Everyone: has a tamped-down ethereal sound. Simple lyrics.
Not that Funny: the energy is back!
Sisters of the Moon: the energy changes, the coven is near.
Angel: Sara with a little more power. And more voices.
That’s Enough for Me: I love Lindsey. The playing, the voice, the tempo.
Brown Eyes: I keep waiting for it to rock out but it remains repressed. I thought it might at the end but it didn’t.
Never Make Me Cry: solid
I Know I’m Not Wrong: straight-ahead beat. Lindsey
Honey Hi: Christine with great harmonies
Beautiful Child: poignant, pretty. Seems like a precursor to Landslide
Walk a Thin Line: simple, a bit plodding
Tusk: JACKPOT!
Never Forget: a fine song, but a let down after Tusk
I’m listening on Spotify and after the original it goes into the remastered versions. Not commenting on those, but all the power and ‘rock out-ness’ I wished for on the original was there.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Radiohead
4/5
1. I like it. A little sonic, still melodic.
2. I really like this one.
3. This one I have always liked.
I think of myself as someone who doesn’t like Radiohead but the first three songs have proven me wrong. Let’s see what comes next.
4. Oh damn, I may be a Radiohead fan. I do love the Fake Plastic Trees.
5. Maybe it’s the Kid A-OK Computer Radiohead I don’t like because this has been a delightful experience so far.
6. A bit repetitive but still good. A bit of the experimental feedback-y stuff near the end that I associate with them (rightly or wrongly, who knows because I am certainly not a reliable narrator!).
7. And the rest…
This is a great album. I need to go back in time to see them at someplace like the North Star and enjoy them while they were good!
Doves
2/5
I didn’t know the Doves until now. The album is OK. If it was being played somewhere I wouldn’t turn it off. Not sure I’d go looking for it either but I do think I may listen to it again sometime. … if it’s being played somewhere by somebody else.
I read in one of the reviews of this album that the band was up for a Mercury Prize in 2002. According to an article in the Guardian “ the Mercury music prize…is perceived as the "eclectic album of the year award". If by eclectic they mean uneven ^^^then , OK, I agree with that. If they mean interesting then not so much.
^^^The musical interlude(Where We’re Calling From) and the song unlike the rest (Friday’s Dust). I think those are the ones. I listened to this over three days, which says something about how compelling it was(n’t).
I found out that Ms Dynamite won the prize that year. I don’t know who that is either. I am tempted to listen to some of her/their/his music but I won’t now, just in case that album comes up later in this 1001 albums journey.
*Fun fact: ‘Heathen’ by David Bowie was also up for the same prize that year.
Massive Attack
5/5
I loved it then. I love it now. That is all.
Gil Scott-Heron
1/5
Nope.
I listened to the song Winter in America on Spotify. Couldn’t find the album. Review of the song: Jazz and a lecture.
Found the album on YouTube and listened while driving and running errands. Because it was on YouTube I had no idea what song was what, and a few times it skipped to a totally different album. I did my best. This album gets a 5/5 for difficulty of listening!
I didn’t like the electric piano/organ or the Pan-flute(?). Didn’t care about the song for Bobby and wasn’t moved by the one about first love or the one about domestic discord. At the end there was a poem about Watergate that was interesting…. Mildly. It name checked Frank Rizzo. I’m sure it was sensational at the time.
I would have liked a lot of the songs more if there were no words.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I know Nick Cave a little but this is the first album I’ve listened to. Very distinctive voice and style. Although ‘Let the Bells Ring’ sounds a bit like Looking Glass. The song Spell would be a good mix with ‘Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon’ either Urge Overkill or Neil Diamond’s version. So maybe not as distinctive as previously stated.
Album a bit Halloween-y without being overly maudlin. The refrain (the singing, not the words) in Abbatoir Blues sounds downright cheerful. Hiding All Away is really good.
Some songs went a little too long, as did the album.
TV On The Radio
4/5
A bunch of years ago a casual acquaintance was talking about how good this band was. They were so enthusiastic about them that, when asked, I agreed that they were good. I never listened to them until today. It turns out I wasn’t lying.
I would play this album on purpose and if the 1001 albums ever end I may even investigate more of their stuff.
I got a Beck vibe from some of the songs, starting with Crying.
I really like Heroic Dose. And the song with the line about getting so high that their face melts off. I think it’s Lovers Day.
Motörhead
3/5
Excellent driving music.
The song Love me like a Reptile has a line that goes ‘shock you like an electric eel’. And the band MGMT has a song called Electric Feel. Listen to it. Coincidence?
I had planned to write derisive things about this album, like how all the songs sound the same and the lyrics aren’t very inspired. But I just realized that those things are OK because all that matters is the unrelenting beat. Is it the drums, the bass, the guitar? Or all of them?
*My brother (limpbizkit…) just informed me it’s the bass. And then talked a lot about Lemmy. I won’t steal that info for my review but he said interesting things so I hope he reviews this album.*
It is short. But that doesn’t matter because you can always just play it again. Optimally, while driving fast.
The Killers
3/5
Sounds like the 80s are back on this one. I usually think of Duran Duran, but one of the songs started out a bit like The Smiths. Killers songs brighter and poppier than the influences. Front-loaded with hits, very weak end.
The beginning of ‘Jenny was a Friend of Mine’ reminds me of ‘Friends of Mine’ by Duran Duran. I enjoy both songs.
“Somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend that I had in February of last year” is a lyric I always have to think about a little bit before I figure out what he’s saying. Kind of a musical word problem.
I have no idea what “…I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier” is supposed to mean but it’s fun to sing.
Le Tigre
2/5
No inclination to organize listening notes into anything more.
Deceptacon - fun, summer vibe.
Hot Topic - swingy and still fun. Until the name checking at the end.
The one about John Cassavetes was where it took a turn for the worse. And the barking didn’t help.
Made me want to listen to ‘Pepper’ or ‘People Who Died’. Just to cleanse my palate.
Then came ‘The the Empty’ - no. No. NO. It hurt my ears.
Phanta - OK. Thinking about Missing Persons… or maybe the Waitresses
Eau de…. OK
Let’s Run. I like this one
My My Metrocard- great for the first few seconds before the vocals started.
Friendship Station - this one is good. Melody, beat, no ear-bleeding inducing vocal.
Slideshow - ‘Sunscreen’ anyone?
Dude - random words. Why?
Les and Ray - why save this perfectly nice song until last? If I hadn’t committed to listening to this album for this project I never would have heard it because I would have stoped listening at ‘The the Empty’.
Method Man
3/5
I can’t name any Wu-Tang songs and, before today, couldn’t name any by Method Man. In 1994 I was busy scamming Columbia House for $.01 Nirvana, STP and Green Day CDs.
The music seems familiar, though, and I like it.
I noticed some similarities between the sounds/techniques used here and those used on Reggae radio stations (like on WKDU’s program Jam City Rock). I don’t have the vocabulary to express exactly what it is, but I think I’ll keep digging into it.
I was asking my brother about it today and, after listening to my incoherent explanation of what I meant he threw back a bunch of words. Dubstep was one of them.
I read on Wikipedia that dubstep started(or at least the term Dubstep) in the early 2000s in London. and the sound I’m thinking of (but can’t explain) goes back to at least the early 90s. So maybe I’m hearing part of the evolution? Dub/hip-hop/reggae?
Sometimes the internet is not as helpful as I want it to be.
If any of you have any idea at all what I’m trying to get at, please let me know. If not just ignore my rambling.
This album gets a 5 for occupying all my spare thoughts today. But probably less for actual quality.
Radiohead
3/5
Less melodic and more atmospheric than The Bends. But still better than I remember. Especially good rainy day music.
ZZ Top
3/5
Great musicianship. I still love the songs from this album that were released as singles. I think whoever was in charge picked the right ones. Except TV Dinners - I liked the B-side much more (Cheap Sunglasses) The rest of the songs weren’t bad, but didn’t make me feel like I missed anything.
Fun fact: Billy Gibbons was on the show ‘Bones’ as one of the main character’s bad-ass guitar-playing dad.
The song ‘Thug’ had an Eagles vibe. And brought to mind the theme from Seinfeld.
I also am sorry I gave OK Computer 3 stars. It deserves 4. Karma Police has been in my head all weekend.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Her talent is undeniable. The production on this album is not.
I’m not sure what it was exactly, but it seemed like the album should have been better. Tighter, more lush…something. Mark Ronson would have known what to do.
I enjoyed ‘F*** Me Pumps’.
R.E.M.
5/5
I think it’s a nearly perfect album.
What keeps it from being that for me is the instrumental. And that’s just nitpicking.
Everybody Hurts is one of my favorite songs.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
Garage/Indie/Alt rock. I like the guitars. And maybe the cello (?). Afghan Whigs sound like somebody else. The name is on the tip of my tongue and I just can’t think of who it is.
Although I know of the Afghan Whigs, I couldn’t name any songs or albums before today. I may have heard ‘Debonair’ before. It seems to me that the band was either in a movie playing themselves or was on some soundtrack in the early 90s. Reality Bites or Singles come to mind. I just looked it up and they did play as a band in some movie I didn’t see and they were on the soundtrack of the movie Beautiful Girls.
I like the first few songs but the interesting instrumental parts start with Be Sweet.
Be Sweet - Guitar reverb/feedback is cool
When We Two Parted - guitar sounds. Is it a Wah wah pedal? Is this what it means to make a guitar weep? Or is it a cello? The line about the person who hurts you being the only one that can make them feel better is very psychopath-y.
My Curse - is it a different singer? (I just looked it up and yes it is)
I Keep Coming Back - the beginning has the same kind of vibe as ‘The Night We Met’ by Lord Huron
I just genuinely liked it all. Found out that it is an album about the end of a relationship. According to Pitchfork, it’s ‘A harrowing song cycle chronicling the death throes of a relationship ‘. I will have to listen to it again knowing that - someday.
Violent Femmes
4/5
This is not an album to be analyzed.
This is one to turn up loud, sing along, and remember how fun college parties were with warm beer and sweaty people oozing pheromones and freedom.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Even if you don’t think you know the Beach Boys, you know The Beach Boys.
This album sounds like teenaged angst wrapped in California sunshine.
I am having a hard time talking about this album without thinking about everything else that they have done so I will just say that, except for the part about them talking about hamburgers and French fries, it was very good.
I listened to this album today with my 16 year-old niece.* After it was over we listened to quite a few One Direction songs (2 1/2 hr drive from Sleepy Hollow, NY, to Philadelphia) and we were talking about how the video for their song ‘Kiss You’ was influenced by The Beach Boys.
* I invited Brave to join our listening group so we may get some GenZ-based reviews soon!
Final note: I can’t get the song Brian Wilson by the Barenaked Ladies out of my head right now and I’m not mad about it!
R.E.M.
3/5
REM has a signature sound and Michael Stipe has a unique voice. There is no song I’ve heard by them that I would mistake for another band. A lot of their songs are similar but not the same.
I’m not their biggest fan but I like them well enough. The songs ‘It’s the End of the World..’ and ‘This One Goes…’ are ingrained in my memory because of constant airplay at the time and occasionally even now.
Here are some thoughts on other songs on the album:
I like the guitars in Exhuming McCarthy
Strange - Solid.
If you’re going to name a song after Lightnin’ Hopkins it should be better. Much better.
King of Birds - My favorite on the album.
Odd fellows Local - Love the rhythm of the drums and bass. Second favorite song.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
The album was good and the last two songs were better, especially the Joni Mitchell cover.
Her voice goes well with understated arrangements, but when the music opens up it gives it an extra dimension. I think she is probably great live.
And I’m glad someone finally wrote a song about chemtrails!
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
I like my socioeconomic/political commentary with a beat.
My favorite thing about this listening project so far is getting to hear things I wouldn’t necessarily choose. I was never a big hip hop fan and that hasn’t changed, but I am glad to have heard this album. I didn’t realize DHOH was Michael Franti’s band.
If the song H2O-Gate Blues on the Gil Scott Heron album had better music I might have liked it more.
And if anyone cares about my rant from the Tical album, some reggae radio stations just mix hip hop with reggae. Question answered.
Miles Davis
5/5
This album makes me want to be a cooler person.
The Who
3/5
I could hear The Who becoming more of The Who that they would become.
This sounds trite when written out, but I stand by it.
The beginning of the album sounded to me like a lot of other British invasion bands of the same era including The Beatles. After I had that thought I listened to Revolver, which came out the same year as this album and it was not the same at all. But I will leave that to talk about for when Revolver is our album of the day. Sneak preview- it is great.
So for anyone who is offended, this does not sound anything like anything the Beatles ever did.
I listened to this album (the mono version) in the car today with my nephew Max (Brave’s twin brother), who does not like music played loudly. So besides the songs ‘My Generation’ and ‘ The kids are all right’ I don’t remember which song was which and because I couldn’t listen to it very loud (and I had to pay attention to traffic) i wasn’t fully involved. I do remember that there was one very blues-y song and one that reminded me of the Old 97’s.
Bon Jovi
3/5
I wonder what Tommy and Gina are up to these days?
Solange
1/5
She has a great voice, but I found this album super boring.
The ‘Tina Taught Me’ interlude was interesting.
Funkadelic
2/5
The album was short but the songs were long.
I don’t really like the ‘jam band’ genre, but these funky jams were better than Phish.
Bobby Womack
2/5
‘Just My Imagination’ had a harp. And seemed to be ripped off from The Temptations.
‘If You Think You’re Lonely Now’ was good.
Nothing great, nothing horrible.
I prefer my smooth jazz/R &B to be sung by George Benson.
The last few albums make me feel like the mean judge on American Idol (Simon Cowell). I wish I knew what his catchphrase was, if he had one.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Ah, Swamp Rock. I like it.
This album makes me think of ‘Nam. Or at least movies about it.
There are a few songs on here that have, I think, seeped into the collective consciousness of a few generations, both the John Fogerty-penned songs and the covers.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
When I saw that this was the album for today I thought that either I was going to be really happy or really disappointed.
There was a bit of both. When the first song started I was immediately disappointed because it wasn’t as good as I remembered it being. Rockafeller Skank was as fun as ever. In Heaven repeated fucking about a million times too many. Then came Ganster Trippin. From that song on my sensibilities shifted and I was happy. Except for Kalifornia. That was annoying.
The thing that made me happiest was remembering that Norman Cook used to have a group called Beats International and my roommates and I listened to the album (cassette) Let Them Eat Bingo a lot in 1990. It still holds up.
I was also thinking about how I say I don’t like jam bands but this seems to be an electronic jam record. And jazz has lots of jamming going on. So I guess I just don’t like the Grateful Dead and Phish.
The Who
2/5
I am OK with the deaf dumb and blind kid playing pinball, but I am not OK with all of the familial abuse suffered by poor Tommy.
I’d like to go back to before I listened to this. I will stick with the radio edits that came from this album and attempt to forget the rest.
I guess because it was the first rock opera it should be on this list of albums to listen to before I die but I really wish it wasn’t.
I hope Jesus Christ Superstar is also on this list.
The Gun Club
2/5
The music is good. The singer is annoying and some of the lyrics are problematic (For the Love of Ivy).
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
I didn’t listen to this band in 1985 because they weren’t in the Top 40 or in heavy rotation on MTV. I watched a lot of MTV and don’t remember them being played at all.
Later on, when I did hear about them it was from a friend who was super pretentious and so I didn’t listen to them on principle.
I like them. Sometimes a bit too much feedback but mostly a good balance of dissonance and melody.
Also, I thought they were from Lancaster, PA. When looking them up today to verify that, I learned that they are not. They are Scottish and their genre was called Shoegazing. That’s a new one for me.
The beginning of Sowing Seeds sounds like the beginning of Concrete Blonde’s Joey.
I really like the band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and one of the reviews I read said that Jesus and Mary Chain was an influence on them, so thanks JAMC.
Lastly, do you think it is possible that they meant to put Jesus Christ Superstar on this list instead of the Jesus and Mary Chain?
Don McLean
3/5
When I was really young, my dad sang American Pie around the house. The first time I heard it on the radio I was incredulous about how his song ended up there!
Nostalgic 5. Otherwise, earnest man telling stories well.
Public Enemy
3/5
30 years later and I still don’t understand Flavor Flav’s giant clock necklace. To be fair, I have never really looked into it. And he is a great hype man.
I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the word Nigger. About how it is a horrible word and shouldn’t be said. About how it has been taken back by Black people and used as a representation of power. And about how that is all well and good but if you are going to put it in a song that millions of people listen to you shouldn’t be surprised or angry if that word gets said/sung/shouted by non-black people.
I don’t know if any of the members of public enemy have expressed anger over this, maybe I am just thinking about Jay Z. It is quite the conundrum.
The album was solid. I would’ve thought that It Takes a Nation… (Rebel Without a Pause) or even Fear of a Black Planet (911 is a Joke) would have been the PE album chosen, but as I have not investigated all of the albums that are on this list they very well may be on there, too!
Weather Report
1/5
I liked Rumba Mama. Otherwise, no thank you.
I looked the band up and they’re really important in jazz circles. And that Rumba Mama was a live version. So while I will never listen to their studio recordings, I would probably have enjoyed them in Montreaux.
The album title is the same as a song by Cousteau, a band I like very much. Now I’m listening to them.
SAULT
1/5
This is not for me.
I liked bits of some songs but not all of any song. The closest was Monster.
Disjointed and distracting.
I’ve never heard this album (or group) before and heard nothing that compels me to listen again.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
It’s a hard album to listen to at times. I think that’s the point.
Prince
5/5
From the first sound of the organ/synth to the last note of Purple Rain, it was a wonderful journey!
Brian Eno
3/5
Is Brian Eno the first artist to fool around with sonic landscapes? I don’t know.
Do I enjoy sonic landscapes? Sometimes.
I’m glad I got to listen to this album twice. It was OK the first time, but I appreciated it more the second time. I don’t often have the luxury of listening to our daily album more than once, which I think is a shame because, unless something really strikes chord, I am more likely to give it a lower rating.
Julie With and Down by the River we’re my favorite songs on this record.
4/5
Not perfect, but great. I think the concept that was promised went a bit off track, but it was a fun ride.
I always forget how much I like Moonage Daydream.
I really want to give it a 5, but my finger tapped the 4th star and that seems right.
The Byrds
3/5
This album is very evocative of a specific time and place. Very Laurel Canyon.
I wish I lived in the Hollywood Hills in the late 60s. I imagine the Byrds, the Mamas and the Papas, The Beach Boys, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, etc. hanging out, getting stoned and making music.
I would hope to avoid the Manson Family, though.
James Brown
4/5
This is one of the few live albums that works.
Alice Cooper
3/5
From ‘School’s Out’ (the harbinger of freedom throughout my school years) to the jazzy ‘Blue Turk’, this was an enjoyable listen.
I didn’t expect the West Side Story interlude.
My Stars went on a bit too long.
Public Animal #9 is a catchy tune. Hey hey hey.
Alma Mater is a bit Led Zeppelinesque. Until the banter.
I wonder if school marching bands play The Grande Finale?
Iron Maiden
3/5
Heavy metal is what I would’ve said if you had asked me what genre of music iron maiden was yesterday. I still agree with that today but after listening I now have to include hints of speed metal, punk/Post punk, and (horror of horrors) progressive rock.
I say horror of horrors, because I do not consider myself a fan of progressive rock. I also am not really sure what progressive rock is, except that I know it is called Prog rock, and I do not like that term at all. (And no, I am not going to learn anymore about Prog Rock right now for fear I might like more of it.)
I only learned that they are considered progressive because I looked at a review to make sure that I wasn’t totally missing the mark when I detected the hints of speed and punk.
Putting my hangups aside, I thought it was a fine album. I did not mind the instrumental Transylvania, and became invested in Charlotte the harlot. Remember Tomorrow was my fave.
And kudos to them for existing so that Wheatus could talk about them in Teenage Dirtbag and then One Direction could do a fantastic cover of it.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
I enjoyed this music very much back in the days of late nights and questionable activities. Solid electronica.
Please refer to Andy’s review of ‘Rockafeller Skank’. I feel it’s appropriate here.
I saw them in the early 2000s and remember it being a good time.
Love
2/5
Trippy dippy 1960s psychedelia. Probably music being played in places other than my imagined barbecue in Laurel Canyon.
Reminds me of other bands, but I can’t quite think who off the top of my head. Maybe the Moody Blues (days of future passed). Maybe the Doors, Beatles?
Some lyrics that struck me:
‘A house is not a motel’ …and the water’s turned to blood…go turn on your tub and it’s mixed with mud
‘The daily planet’ … plastic Nancy she ‘s so fancy…
‘Live and let live’ …The snot has caked against my pants.
Summer in the summer is different than the other songs
‘You Set the Scene’. …There’s a chicken in my nest and she won’t lay until I’ve given her my best.
The next song that Spotify chose to play after this album was from the Beatles’ album Revolver. Hmmm?
The only song that that I definitely had heard before was the first one, ‘Alone Again Or’ but the rest of the album was both really familiar and foreign at the same time.
I wholly enjoyed listening to this. Once.
Elastica
3/5
I was familiar with the song Connection and am happy that the rest of the album is as enjoyable.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Willie’s distinctive voice, combined with the spare, simple arrangements were put to good use in the telling of the tale of the red headed stranger.
I’m not sure I liked it, but I appreciate it.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Is that a harmonica on The Wizard? I don’t associate harmonica with heavy metal, but here it is.
It was interesting to learn about the modifications Tommy made so that he could play guitar. I guess heavy metal would sound a bit different if he had all his fingers.
The fact that this record was done in basically one take is impressive.
Bert Jansch
5/5
This was a pleasant surprise. Listening to the jangly guitar transformed a foggy afternoon from gloomy to hopeful.
Even the song about famine (I Have No Time) was jaunty.
The mood turned dark by Needle of Death. Why was this song not in Trainspotting?
The tune belies the words in Do You Hear Me Now?
The skies darkened as his songs did the same. My enjoyment persisted. Jangly chords and mournful lyrics.
A perfect meeting of the right record at the right time for me.
Mission accomplished, book. This WAS an album I needed to hear.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Love the band, love the album.
Q-Tip
2/5
2/5
The song Victoria holds up and the Churchill song stood out. The rest of the album was unremarkable.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Masterful, dynamic and engaging - yes.
An album I needed to hear before I die - no.
After I listened to it I read about the album and artist. He deserves all the stars for his skills and playing this concert on a sub-par instrument. And for doing it while in pain and wearing a back brace.
Culture Club
4/5
I wish the river boat from the Karma Chameleon video was real.
The album is more R&B/soul than I realized at the time.
Real piano, instead of just synthesizers. Also appreciated the horns and backing vocals.
Charles Mingus
4/5
I like this but I’m not sure how much is genuine and how much is pretension.* Probably about 80/20.
Things I thought of while listening to this album: The I Dream of Jeannie theme song, the Bewitched theme song, the show Mad Men, film noir, flamenco music and the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley.
* to be clear, it is myself I am trying to impress. I’m trying to be cool enough for this music.
The Youngbloods
1/5
This music was not pleasing to my ears.
CHIC
5/5
Nile Rodgers rules. And the album would get a 5/5 for ‘Good Times’ alone. But the fact that so many great songs came from it, like Rapper’s Delight and Rapture makes me want to give it a 6.
Adam & The Ants
4/5
Rockabilly pirate post-punk music. I like it a lot!
Wilco
5/5
I am a huge Wilco fan.
This album is not my favorite Wilco album (Summerteeth). Nor does it include my favorite Wilco song (Casino Queen)
But it is still a Wilco album. When Jay Bennet was there and they were all kinds of messed up. Good times.
Simply put, I love all the Wilco music up to and including Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Everything after that is enjoyed at various levels. Some being not at all.
Being There is a bit too long. And all of the songs on this album sound 100 times better when played live.
The Lonely 1 is a plaintive song about a fan. Makes me think of the Carpenters’ Superstar. Also, kind of like a Sesame Street version of Eminem’s Stan.
Red Eyed and Blue has a cool whistling part that I can sometimes do.
I will happily sit with any of you and discuss Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt (and any side projects) ad nauseam.
If I remember correctly, Wilco opened for Sheryl Crow at the Mann in support of this album. I do remember that Jeff wore Khaki pants and a light blue Oxford shirt and it made me sad. Uncle Tupelo was truly gone.
Pixies
2/5
Based on other bands I listen to I should love this band. I should know all their songs and their history and have seen them live.
But I don’t. And I haven’t.
I know the names Black Francis and Kim Deal. I recognize and like a few of their songs but that’s as far as my relationship with the Pixies has gotten.
I liked the songs sung by Kim more than the ones by Frank.
Various Artists
4/5
I played this album at a dinner party on Christmas Eve and it was a big hit.
Classic Christmas songs in truePhil Spector style.
Billy Bragg
5/5
The concept for this album was interesting and the execution was fantastic.
I heard that tensions ran high between Billy Bragg and Wilco while making this but they all must be happy with how it turned out.
Some songs are somber and mournful, some are raucous and bawdy and then there is the glorious cacophony of Hoodoo Voodoo. These are songs that seem like they would be played at a hootenanny. One that I would be happy to attend.
Natalie and Billy singing on Way Over yonder in the Minor Key is beautiful.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Heroin beach funk. Great musicianship all around.
Soundgarden
4/5
The song structure is similar on many of the tunes in this album with enough differences to keep me interested.
Spoonman, Black Days and Black Hole Sun are most familiar to me. I also really like the song Head Down. It has a trippier kind of vibe than the others.
Genesis
1/5
Not today Prog Rock, not today.
The Battle of Epping Forest has me slightly intrigued. But still, no.
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom is a strange man with a voice that hurts. I like his music a lot. And also his acting gigs.
‘Tom Traubert’s Blues’ is my favorite TW song. Not on this album. I was trying to remember where I heard it first and finally remembered it was on the Basquiat soundtrack. Then when I was looking it up to verify, I learned that Tom met Jim Jarmusch at a party for (or held by) Basquiat.
I like the bluesy/jazzy style of this album. The songs with the strings/horns feel warmer than those without them.
I did not know that he was the composer and original singer of Jersey Girl!
‘Don’t you know there ain’t no devil that’s just God when he’s drunk’ is such a good lyric - Heart attack and vine
‘How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porch light on?’ - Mr. Siegel is my favorite in this album. Tied with Jersey Girl.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I have no strong feelings about this album except the long weird Murder Mystery. I am not a fan of that song.
The Cardigans
2/5
Lovefool is a fantastic pop song.
The rest of the album was easy to listen to.
I enjoyed Iron Man, as it was a bit different than the other songs.
Definitely not a ‘must hear’ album.
The The
4/5
I have loved the song Kingdom of Rain (not on this album) since I first heard it in the early 90s but never explored the band further. And I think I knew at one point that Sinead O’Connor sang on that song, but today I was pleasantly reminded.
I started listening to the album this morning without paying very much attention to it but was drawn in by the big sounds and interesting lyrics.
I then did some googling and watched all of the videos for this album and I think that today will not be the last day that I listen to The The.
I learned a lot of interesting things about this album and the band today, but that can all be read on Wikipedia. The one thing that stood out was that there were, I think, 61 instruments played.
Similar sounds: Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, Wall of Voodoo and Morphine
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
It was all fine. I like the mix of rock and hip-hop on Rock Box.
I was going to say that this is an example of making urban music palatable in the heartland, then I read some review that called this music hard. So what do I know!
The La's
5/5
I first heard ‘There She Goes’ while watching the movie ‘So I Married an Ax Murderer’ in 1993. Thought it was great. Moved on with my life.
Then a few years later my great friend Marianne reintroduced me to the band. I borrowed the CD from her and did not want to give it back. Eventually I did after many requests and gentle threats.
All of the songs are my favorites!
This was an easy listen. Bluesy rock tunes with story lyrics.
‘You’re So Rude’ is a bit Hedwig-esque.
‘Stay With Me’ is as familiar as a well-worn pair of shoes.
Marianne Faithfull
5/5
She was God in ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ and it was a well-deserved role.
She is fantastic. I just checked on Wikipedia to make sure she’s still alive and she is.
Jeru The Damaja
1/5
The only thing I know about East Coast versus West Coast is that Tupac was West Coast, biggie was East Coast and they were both shot. If I delved into the meaning behind the beef I might find the lyrics on this album interesting. But I haven’t done it so far and have no plans to do so in the future.
So while I don’t dislike this music, it does not resonate with me and is definitely not something that I needed to hear.
And I know the names Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. but I have never heard of Jeru the Damaja before today and will not care tomorrow.
I like the track Mental Stamina.
Beastie Boys
2/5
There’s a lot going on here. Funk, jazz, hip-hop, rap, punk. It’s a bit much.
Sabotage is a great song. So is Sure Shot.
Joy Division
4/5
Is the title pronounced Closer or Closer?
I think it is closer, as in end. The mausoleum on the cover was my clue. And the fact that the lead singer offed himself.
This sounds like it should be played at a funeral after party in a loft in a warehouse down by the docks. Maybe it was.
Ian’s voice paired well with the sterile post-punk/pre-industrial arrangements.
Ray Charles
1/5
I don’t like his voice.
Talking Heads
3/5
I remain ambivalent about the Talking Heads. I know their hits and don’t dislike them. I have never owned any of their albums and haven’t felt like I missed anything.
The music grew on me. By the time ‘Artists Only’ played I think I had Stockholm Syndrome. But a little David Byrne goes a long way.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Before today I only knew one of their songs, ‘Daft Punk is playing at my house’. I really like that song and I always think of it as being very meta-. I’m not actually sure what Meta is so I may be wrong and now I’m thinking of poor Alanis and all of the unironic things she thought were ironic! And that song isn’t on this record anyway so pardon my tangent.
This album is delightful. I heard influences of The Strokes, The Killers and even New Order. The music was good, some lyrics were clever and I will definitely listen to this again.
1/5
I don’t like his voice. I get that he’s a great musician and songwriter, but my hands are tied when i can’t get past the voice.
And there was a LOT of harmonica, which just made my headache worse.
I did persevere and noticed that the timbre of his voice changed a bit on the plugged in tunes. A bit more palatable but not much.
The B-52's
2/5
Some songs come very close to being too annoying, but mostly succeeds as Fun party music. I love Kate Pierson’s voice. Didn’t like the Petula Clark cover very much.
3/5
This album contains the garage band, indie sound I so loved in the 90s. It’s a record that, if I had heard it then, would probably be an old favorite. Having heard it only once, i would probably rate the experience at a 2 with hopes of it becoming a 4 after repeated listens. But I don’t have time for all that now so a 3 it is.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I love the vibe of this album. Great for a road-trip in the barren landscape of the American Southwest. I would shuffle this album with some Eagles, Santana and Fleetwood Mac.
Neil Young does not have the best voice and if his singing was water in a bucket there would be quite a bit of spillage., but he is pleasant to listen to nonetheless.
Nina Simone
5/5
The spare arrangements complement her powerful voice on this bunch of torch songs.
Fantastic.
Hole
4/5
There are one or two songs on this record that I don’t care for, but that is more than made up for by how much I love all of the other songs!
One of my favorite lyrics ‘Like a liar at a witch trial, you look good for your age’ - Plump
The Beach Boys
3/5
Perfectly nice.
Taylor Swift
4/5
She’s a great lyricist. I was interested in almost all of the stories told in these songs.
Standouts include ‘Willow’, ‘No body no crime’ (ah, HAIM), ‘Cowboy Like Me’ (with Marcus Mumford), and ‘Coney Island’ with The National.
I’m not fond of the song with BonIver on this album, although I love the song ‘Exile’ that he sings on in her Folklore album. I thought the mixture of musical styles in Closure didn’t work. And the songs with girls’ names were not my favorites.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
1/5
I did not need to hear this album.
Peter Tosh
3/5
The first song sounds like an infomercial.
Till Your Well Runs Dry is my favorite song on the album.
Mylo
1/5
The music is benign but the lyrics ruined it for me.
Frank Sinatra
5/5
there are most definitely better singers and better arrangements of all of these songs, but that doesn’t lessen my enjoyment of listening to Ol’ Blue Eyes
Def Leppard
3/5
I really love the beginning of Foolin’.
Also, Photograph, Too Late for Love and Rock of Ages are seared into my memory because of MTV.
Bad Brains
3/5
The singer’s voice gets on my nerves - is it an accent, an affectation?
The music, the speed, the volume, is fantastic.
I really like the genre and if I had time, I would probably investigate this band more.
The Verve
2/5
There was nothing on this album that stood out. It isn’t bad, it’s just not memorable.
I’m going to listen to Bittersweet Symphony now. That gets 5 stars!
Travis
4/5
This was a favorite when it came out. Still is.
The xx
3/5
Intro sounded really familiar, but if I heard it before I didn’t know who it was.
The more I listen, the more I like it.
Very chill beach music.
Eels
3/5
David Bowie
3/5
I listened to the first song and thought that this was not going to be a good album. Then the second song gave me hope.
And that’s how the rest of the album continued, they were highs and there were lows. The highs were never fives and lows were never ones.
Some of the lyrics were just plain bad, but it’s still David Bowie.
Kate Bush
3/5
Her songs evoke memories of windswept English moors I’ve never seen and Victorian carnivals I’ve never been to.
There are a few of her songs that I would give a five, but none of them are on this album.
Ian Dury
2/5
I was ready to turn this album off during the first song. I didn’t. The rest of the album was slightly better and I liked the last song, but I definitely didn’t need to hear it.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
Tiger Mountain peasant song starts out like Led Zeppelin.
Meadowlarks was a little bit like Simon and Garfunkel looking for America
The song before meadowlarks was a bit Fleetwood Mac esque
Blue Ridge Mountains was a bit Crosby stills, Nash and Young ish
U2
4/5
The only criticism I have is that most of the songs go on a little too long.
Elliott Smith
5/5
This is a gem of a record. Quiet and subtle, it begs to be listened to with full attention.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
I probably would have enjoyed this when I was in my 20s and high and drunk at a club, but I also think that most of the credit would go to the drugs and the drink, not LRD.
I don’t even want to read any reviews on why this deserves to be in the1001 albums list. I just want it to go away.
Until I got to Mdc Vendredi. Either the songs have gotten better or I have become a slave to the rhythm and succumbed to Stockholm syndrome. That still doesn’t get it more than two stars.
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
America is one of my favorite songs ever and Mrs. Robinson is a classic. The album as a whole was disappointing. It didn’t really seem to flow and the peace with the old people talking was creepy.
The Verve
5/5
Terrific!
Prince
3/5
When Little Red Corvette was popular I knew it had something to do with sex but didn’t know exactly what. I was pretty naive at 14.
I thought I’d have a hard time deciding whether to rate this album a 4 or a 5 but it turns out that, as much as I like a bunch of the songs, the album falls a bit short.
Talking Heads
2/5
Meh. Besides Psycho Killer, there was nothing memorable for me.
Moby Grape
3/5
Dead Kennedys
3/5
I first heard this band in college. I didn’t really like them and couldn’t understand their lyrics at first, but after a while I grew to appreciate them.
I love the fast guitars.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Come for the rock, stay for the blues.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I was always ambivalent about Bruce until I saw him in concert. Someone gave me tix to see him when he toured for his 50th birthday. I wasn’t excited to go but they were really good tickets, and a gift, so I went.
The show was fantastic and I gained a new appreciation for him. It was very confusing to hear all of his ‘fans’ booing him during the concert…until I realized that they were just chanting ‘Bruce’.
I’ll never be a super fan, but I will always attend a show of his if given free tickets!
The Black Keys
3/5
I can’t figure out why I don’t like The Black Keys but I don’t. Even as I listened to this album and enjoyed it I still don’t like them. I think Jack White may have something to do with my opinion of them but I’m not sure what.
These are two things I was thinking of while listening to this album:
1: There was an episode of the show Friends where Phoebe was mad at Ross. She couldn’t say why and after a while figured out it was because of something he did in a dream.
2: I dated a guy once who was perfect on paper but there was just no chemistry.
Aerosmith
2/5
I haven’t done any investigation into this, but it sounded like someone besides, Steven. Tyler was singing lead on some of the songs.
Besides the two hits from this record, I liked the song Uncle Salty. The rest sounded like a band finding its sound. The song big 10 inch record was a little too tongue-in-cheek.
The Beach Boys
1/5
Definitely did not need to hear.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I love this album. In spite of the instrumentals that were thrown in to fill time(?). And, while I like Moonlight Sonata (and played it for my first piano recital), I’m not sure why it’s on here.
Is it Music for the Masses as in all of the people or is it Music for the Masses as in church? Some of the music on this album seems like it could play played in a church that turns into a nightclub after services are over.
Tim Buckley
3/5
They were hints of the doors, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin. And for some reason during the first few songs, I kept thinking of Kris Kristofferson’s song. Sunday morning coming down. I do not hate this album. I actually kinda like it.
All the songs go on way too long, but other than that I must say what a long, strange trip it’s been
Sing a song for you was a bit Elvis-y
Napalm Death
2/5
A little grindcore goes a long way.
I admire the drumming.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I love this album in all its messy glory. I would have watched the film tonight except I didn’t have any pot and it really should be watched while high.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
I am not fond of this album. I do like Mansion on the Hill, though.
During the song Farmer Hohn I kept thinking about champagne eyes, wondering if they would look really cool or really creepy.
Supertramp
3/5
I knew their hits but had never listened to a whole album. I was prepared to rate this a two because of the two songs I recognized and liked. I had dinner with a friend, who was extolling supertramp’s virtues and we listened to the album together. She is a little older than me and remembers loving them (and smoking lots of weed) so, while listening with her I leaned in and could see this being something I might have rated a 4 if given time. However, as we all discuss with this project, time is something we don’t have so I will split it down the middle and call it a 3.
Miles Davis
2/5
This album provoked no strong feelings. I am indifferent. Perfectly acceptable background music.
Slade
4/5
Hard rock or glam rock?
I thought the band was heavy metal or hard rock, but it turns out that they’re actually glam rock.
Although I’m not sure what image they are trying to convey on their album cover. Makes me think a little bit of Måneskin. And Queen.
I went into the listen thinking I would rate this album a 2. But I didn’t know I’d like it so much and now here we are. Or, here I am
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Everything was fine until Spaced Cowboy.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This album sounds like a fuzzier, lo-fi version of the Black Keys album Brothers.
The songs on this album also reminded me at times of lord Huron
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
I liked the rich, warm sound of the horns and strings, with the more staccato guitar/bass/drums.
The whole album made sense in the context of the cover.
John Martyn
3/5
I had never heard of John before today and so I did a quick Wikipedia search, and this album was billed as folk.
The first song on the album had an ethereal quality to it, and I could buy it as some sort of folk music. I didn’t really love it and wasn’t looking forward to listening to the rest of the record.
But from the second song until the end of the album, I was questioning the definition of folk music. Because to me, it did not seem like what I consider folk. If anything, it seemed bluesy.
Even though I hadn’t heard any of the songs before, they all seemed familiar and made me happy.
I also read that the songs had something to do with Nick Drake. A tribute? A theme? I didn’t get to delve into this aspect of the album, but I liked it a lot and would play it again.
Sonic Youth
4/5
I have only ever been a casual listener to Sonic Youth. After hearing this album I may put a little more effort in.
I enjoy the parts where there are actual melodies and singing to the more prolonged periods of sonic dissonance but I was never tempted to turn the album off.
I thought about Hole and Pavement and Dinosaur Jr. while listening.
Ryan Adams
4/5
Ryan is a pretentious dick.
This was true before the allegations of sexual misconduct.
I went to see him once in the early’00s and it was just him, a piano and a bottle of wine. The music was great and he was A. Pretentious. DICK. And a big baby. His name sounds like Bryan Adams and inevitably someone would request Summer of 69. One would think he would have a strategy to deal with that other than acting like someone stole his toys. But his strategy was to have security escort the offender out of the show. (This is, or was, a regular thing).
Anyway, sorry to bury the lede, I love his music. In spite of the fact that he’s _____.
Besides Gold, I have no clear idea of what songs were on what album, which were him solo or with one of his bands. When I became a Ryan fan I just went to my beloved Napster and downloaded all the songs I could find.
Fun fact: I discovered Tift Merritt (who I believe I put on my extracurricular list) because one of the RA songs I downloaded included him talking about her (she was his opening act).
Come Pick Me Up has all the things. Ticks all the boxes.
The album could have ended after Shakedown. The last three songs were unnecessary.
2/5
I do not enjoy Devo.
Makes me think a little bit of the Talking Heads and B-52’s.
I did like the Stones cover and Johnny B Goode.
Massive Attack
4/5
Really good, but the slick production removes any rawness, which takes something away from my enjoyment of it.
Jerry Lee Lewis
5/5
This was great fun to listen to.
John Martyn
3/5
A medium bodied selection.
I detected notes of Michael McDonald, Nick Drake and a hint of Eric Clapton with a mellow finish. Pairs nicely with running errands on a grey day.
Incubus
3/5
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Beatles
3/5
I never knew the Beatles did a cover of a song from the music man!
Johnny Cash
5/5
My first reaction to this album was that it was very cool of JC to be playing for the prisoners. I went down a whole rabbit hole of thoughts about the prison system and morality, etc. that ended up with me wondering what would happen if Taylor Swift performed at a prison. I bet the fans who paid lots of money to see her concerts would be angry.
The song choices, and especially playing ‘San Quentin’ twice, were on point.
‘A Boy Named Sue’ has always intrigued me.
Metallica
4/5
I feel like this should be a 5 but it doesn’t quite get there for me. The combination of the sweeping arrangements with the audience yelling/singing along felt like a bit much at times. And the whole thing went on too long.
It may have gotten really great at the end but I fell asleep.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Take Me Out is a fantastic song. The rest of the album isn’t as strong, but it was an enjoyable listen. I liked the Matinee song.
Franz Ferdinand always gets mixed up in my mind with other bands that came out around the same time, like the Postal Service, death cab, Travis, Keane, Snow Patrol, etc.
Louis Prima
4/5
This is an album I didn’t know I needed to hear. But I did.
So fun.
It is an album that would be great to listen to while making homemade pasta and gravy for my (nonexistent) large Italian family with my (also nonexistent) Italian sisters.
Also, I am not Italian.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I love the texture of this album.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
I never thought of Suzanne and Taylor Swift as being similar, but the song ‘The Queen and the Soldier’ sounded like a song TS would do.
The Stooges
4/5
I didn’t know any of their songs by name except ‘I Wanna be Your Dog’ and I forgot that Iggy Pop was in the band.
The album was fun.
Mercury Rev
2/5
Aerosmith
3/5
I thought this would be a favorite and an automatic 5.
I’ve said this before about another album and it’s true here as well. The A&R people chose the right singles.
I love the hits but don’t much care for the rest of the songs.
Pulp
4/5
I don’t think I ever knew Pulp, but they sound so familiar and I enjoyed this album thoroughly.
Grateful Dead
1/5
My inner dialogue…
Upon seeing this as today’s album: oh no
A minute into the first song: maybe I will like this, it’s kind of cool
9 hours later and the first song is still going: No.
Gang Of Four
3/5
My first thought about this album is that it was not very dynamic. They have a similar tones as the clash and the strokes. I think they would be very good live.
4/5
Layered arrangements that sound lush and cool at the same time with very little blank space.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Much to my surprise I like this album.
I would still rather hear other people sing these songs but I am grateful to Bob for writing them.
Jane Weaver
1/5
No thank you.
The synthesizers were too much.
Country Joe & The Fish
2/5
I was on board in the beginning but lost interest after the song about the porpoise.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
The intro is classic.
I love the strings in Of Course.
At times, I was wishing that Perry Farrell had a richer voice with more rounded tones, and then I realized two things. The first thing was that I have been watching too much of the show The Voice, and the second thing was that if his voice was any different, it just wouldn’t be Jane’s Addiction.
Big Black
3/5
I liked it, but I don’t think I needed to hear it.
I had never heard of the band before but I saw that a bunch of people cover their song Kerosene so …
Def Leppard
3/5
Many of the songs sound the same but I like that one song so it was ok.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
I respect her talent.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
The Boys are Back in Town is an all-time favorite. The album was enjoyable, even with the shenanigans that come with a live album.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
I usually just listen to the album of the day without doing any research but today I had some extra time and did not know who the artist was so I looked at the Wikipedia entry on her. I immediately thought back to an album that we listened to in November by SAULT, which I did not enjoy. The Wikipedia description sounded similar, and so I was predisposed to dislike this album.
But I was wrong and I liked this album. I especially liked the tracks with Anderson Paak and H.E.R.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Black Sabbath
3/5
The Strokes
5/5
Simple, Lofi, fantastic. I love everything about this album.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Chan Chan is my favorite song on this album. I bought the album when it first came out but don’t think I ever listened to the whole thing. When I saw that this was today’s album, I was excited and was predisposed to give it five stars, but, while I enjoyed it a lot, the fact that I had never listened to the whole album in the many years, since it came out, signaled to me that this might not be an actual five star album. It’s probably more like a 3.5 but I’m gonna give it a four.
A few years ago, when Cuba was open to Americans, I planned a trip there and booked an evening at the BVSC. Also planned a tour in a vintage car. And then before the trip commenced, entry was again denied to Americans (thanks Donald). I ended up on a cattle class cruise that went to the Bahamas and Key West. Poor me.
John Lennon
4/5
I have a very vivid memory of being a preteen at the New Jersey shore with a boombox on our blanket in the sand. When the song Imagine came on it was everything to me.
And the rest of the album is good, too.
Still not sure how I never heard the song Imagine until 1980.
David Bowie
3/5
Sound and Vision was great. Most of the rest of the sonic landscape was pretty good. The last two songs were not appealing.
I really enjoyed Warszawa.
Richard Hawley
2/5
I enjoy this style of music and there was nothing technically bad about the album but I didn’t connect with his voice and so my rating reflects my indifference.
Solomon Burke
4/5
A total pleasure.
Common
3/5
I listened to this Friday and remember very little about it today. I think that I liked Testify and the one with the kids
I like Common as an actor.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I really like their sound. Most of the songs were very similar. I’m not sure if that is strictly true, or if I am just missing the subtle differences upon first listen. I really liked the last song on the album. It sounded funkier than the previous songs.
Japan
4/5
I hear the same influences in this music as I do in Duran Duran’s. Definitely Bowie. And The Velvet Underground…as evidenced in the cover ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’.
I love it.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Small Faces
1/5
No thank you.
King Crimson
3/5
Music sounds like something from Ocean’s 11 or The Pink Panther. Some caper movie from the 60s.
Grand swells of music that make me feel like I am in some sort of magical land of long ago where dragons and unicorns exist.
Beach House
4/5
I have a note in my phone from at least 10 years ago that just says ‘Beach House musical group’. Either I heard them and wanted to explore more or I read about them. I can’t remember now and I never followed up. So it seems like this is an album (or at least band) that I needed to hear,
The first song had me wondering what my past self liked about this band besides the name. As it went on I liked it more and more. My favorites after one listen are ‘10 mile Stereo’ and ‘Lover of Mine’.
It certainly is music I would like to listen to in a beach house while sunlight streams through filmy white curtains and waves crash in the background.
And I think I’ll keep the note in my phone so I listen to more of their stuff someday.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Sonic youth has a really cool cover of the song Superstar by The Carpenters. This album has a creepy song about Karen Carpenter. I find that intriguing.
The rest of the album is kind of hit or miss for me.
Stan Getz
4/5
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know ‘The Girl from Ipanema’. It’s a classic and this is a wonderful album.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
I like the mix of rock and orchestra most of the time.
Bob Dylan
4/5
He writes some great songs. It’s All Over… is an all-time favorite. The version by Them and Van Morrison.
His voice and harmonica playing are things I dislike.
Sigur Rós
3/5
It’s a cool vibe and they were fun to see live.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
David Bowie
3/5
Love Heroes, can take or leave the rest.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
A true classic. I love it.
Public Enemy
3/5
Not my favorite PE album but still good.
Nick Drake
2/5
Pleasant enough but fairly boring after a while.
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
When I started listening to this album, I was thinking I was gonna give it at four. But the sheer length of the album diluted my enjoyment.
I really like the soliloquy and subsequent song about George Wallace. They are pretty fun band to see live.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I didn’t really appreciate Bruce Springsteen’s music until years later, but my high-school self knew all the lyrics to all the hits from this album, envied Courtney Cox in the ‘Dancing in the Dark’ video and could probably pick Bruce’s ass out of a lineup.
David Bowie
3/5
This album is more consistent than Heroes. While it includes the classics ‘Changes’ and ‘Life on Mars’, they don’t overshadow the rest of the album. I enjoyed his song about Bob Dylan.
Queen Latifah
3/5
Solid.
4/5
This is the last album of theirs I really like. It builds on the raw sounds of their early music without going over the top, like their later stuff.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
First thoughts: Bolero. Pirate music.
I listened to this album while reading a story about an LSD-fueled murder that happened in London in the 60s. And it was a perfect soundtrack.
AC/DC
3/5
Hells Bells, Back in Black and You Shook Me are tolerable. The rest was tedious and made my head hurt.
Still an album that should be heard.
Cream
3/5
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I thought I was going to love this but it got boring pretty fast.
All the songs are fine on their own, but not one after another.
‘In the wee small hours’ was on the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack. It’s a great record.
Pulp
4/5
This was my review of the last Pulp album we heard and it remains true. “ I don’t think I ever knew Pulp, but they sound so familiar and I enjoyed this album thoroughly.’
Reminiscent of Morphine and Cousteau.
I kind of want to give it a 5, but I’m going to go with a robust 4.
Linkin Park
5/5
Their sound was different than anything else when this album came out. I loved it then and still do.
Television
3/5
I was going to give this a neutral 2 but I think I will give it a hopeful 3.
As I listened to the album for the first and only time, nothing turned me off, but nothing grabbed my attention, either.
Until I got to the song Elevation, which I really liked. And it was the same with all of the songs after that. I haven’t had time to go and re-listen to the album to see if everything before elevation was crap and everything after it was wonderful, or, if my feelings about the album simply had to do with time exposed to the material .
That’s where my hopeful three comes in.
Brian Eno
5/5
Thanks to Brian for making this and thanks to this project and Wikipedia for teaching me about the origin of Ambient Music.
The Smiths
5/5
This gets a 4 for the version without How Soon Is Now and a 5 for the version with it.
The Specials
3/5
Muddy Waters
4/5
Great
Parliament
2/5
A little funk goes a long way.
Give Up the Funk is a classic.
Suede
3/5
I vacillate between thinking this album is cool and thinking it’s ridiculous. Today I landed on cool.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
I would like to forget I ever listened to Wordy Rappinghood.
The song, genius of love gets all the points.
I’m not sure why I was surprised that this album came out in 1981, but I was.
L’Elephant was fun.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
Upon first listen I was underwhelmed until the song Madeleine Mary, which I initially liked because it had more going on than the other songs.
I read the Wikipedia entry on the artist, which led me to Johnny Cash’s cover of I See A Darkness.
This morning I gave the album a second listen and liked it very much. What I initially dismissed as simple became a bit more….I don’t know ….just more.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
5/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
LC is a great lyricist with a distinct singing style.
I love ‘Everybody Knows’. The Concrete Blonde cover is fantastic.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Slick pop arrangements accompanying dark lyrics.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
All the songs just went on too long.
Layla and Bell Bottom Blues are classics.
Beatles
5/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I did a double take when I saw the release date for this album. I didn’t realize the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were around since the early 2000s. I was familiar with the song Maps from this album and with a handful of their more recent songs.
Karen O has a cool voice and style, but a whole album is a lot.
If you enjoyed this band and didn’t already know, check out their song with Perfume Genius. It’s called ‘spitting off the edge of the world’ and it’s really good.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Man, I forgot how good this album is!
Eric Clapton
3/5
Os Mutantes
1/5
I didn’t know this band before it came up as our album today. I read the blurb about them and thought that maybe I would like it because it was tropicalia, and also thought that perhaps the psychedelic part would be fun mixed in. .I was wrong.
It is fine as background music. There was one song that seeemed like it could be a soundtrack for a Tom and Jerry cartoon. And there was a part during the Mamas and Papas cover where I thought my phone alarm was going off. (My alarm is bell tower).
Wilco
5/5
I love this record, with its mysterious lyrics and experimental (for them) sounds. I was (and still am) sad that they didn’t continue in the vein of Summerteeth but the ‘sonic landscape-mess’ of YHF grew on me.
This is the last album of Wilco’s that I really cared about.
Van Halen
3/5
I was thinking that I would mention in my review that you can always tell a Van Halen song, because they have a very distinct sound.
But when I got to the song ‘Jamie‘s Crying’ I had to pause and wonder why an Aerosmith song was on this album. And then I realized that I was mixing it up with ‘Janie‘s got a Gun’.
This is a very solid album
Daft Punk
2/5
Please refer to Andy’s review of Fatboy Slim. It applies here.
I have very fond memories of listening to the song ‘Around the World’. I had it on a lot of my mixed CDs.
I really like the song ‘Daft Punk is playing at my House’ by LCD Soundsystem. Much better than I actually liked listening to a whole album of Daft Punk in my actual house.
M.I.A.
3/5
She’s always fun to listen to. I think she’s pretty political, but I didn’t listen very closely to the lyrics, so I’m sure I am missing some deeper meanings. And that’s OK with me.
I love the ‘Sanford and Son’ samples in URAQT.
M.I.A. and Dizee Rascal remind me of one another.
Traffic
3/5
I like Steve Winwood. This album was pleasant to listen to while waking up.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
This is the band and the songs I think of when someone says ‘Southern Rock’.
The Jam
2/5
I was going to give it three stars, but the use of she instead of her in “English Rose” knocked it down to a two.
I liked Fly
Finley Quaye
3/5
Good music for wandering around and relaxing.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Van Halen
3/5
Deep Purple
1/5
5 stars for Ian Gillian’s voice minus 4 stars for it being Deep Purple.
Blur
3/5
Blue Cheer
2/5
The first song is familiar and a classic and the second song reminded me of Led Zeppelin but all the songs after that were not good at all.
I just read the Wikipedia review that said that this was the precursor of heavy metal so I guess that makes it something that should be listened to. Unless you are one of the people who doesn’t like heavy metal at all, in which case this would have been the album that a time traveler from the future would’ve gone back and destroyed so that heavy-metal never existed.
So, while I am glad that this album existed for the future of heavy-metal, I still didn’t like it so much
Mudhoney
2/5
I have never been a fan of Mudhoney. To scream-y. The cover of The Rose was disappointing.
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
This got 1 star because there is no option for 0.
Arcade Fire
3/5
The album was fine. Perfectly pleasant. There was a time when there was quite a hike around this group and I just never got it.
David Bowie
4/5
New Order
3/5
When this came out I would have given it a 5. Now it gets a 3, more for my disappointment in the fact that I don’t still love it than a change in quality. It’s still NO doing what they do.
George Michael
4/5
The Jam
3/5
‘That’s Entertainment’ was the only song that was familiar. It sounded like they were having fun on this album. There was a lot going on. Happy cacophony is the phrase that sprang to mind during my listening session.
Ray Charles
1/5
I loathed this.
I like most of the original songs.
I’m not a huge fan of Ray Charles.
The music and arrangements made me feel like I was in some sort of 1960s suburban hellscape. This album would have fit in on the soundtrack of movies like ‘The Stepford Wives’, ‘Don’t Worry, Darling’ or ‘Get Out’.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I love Leonard Cohen and this album doesn’t change that. The stories he tells have changed a little but he’s always been fairly dark.
It’s not the record of his I would choose to listen to, but I wouldn’t turn it off.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Easy like Sunday morning.
David Bowie
5/5
Sam Cooke
3/5
I love the songs, but am not a fan of this live performance.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I’m not sure if this album is better than the other two arcade fire albums we’ve had, or I am just being worn down by the cumulative exposure.
PJ Harvey
4/5
I didn’t pay any attention to PJ back in the day because I was busy listening to other stuff. I’m glad I got to really listen now.
Kraftwerk
1/5
I don’t like Kraftwerk.
Metallica
4/5
It’s long. The songs are similar. Sometimes there’s a bit too much guitar noodling.
That being said, I think it’s great. Metallica’s sound is unmistakable.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I like Elvis Costello and love some of his songs. I had never heard this album before, nor had I heard any of the songs.
The standout songs were I Want You and Battered Old Bird.
I can see I Want You as a song one would send to the person who did the breaking up. Probably preceded by REM’s Everybody Hurts.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
I didn’t like the skits. When he referred to himself as Iron Man/Tony Stark it confused me.
Vulgarity bothers me more than it used to in music, but this was still mostly fun to listen to. Kilo, Jellyfish and Back Like That were standouts.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
I love the song North American Scum. I wanted to gouge out my ear drums on All My Friends.
Norah Jones
4/5
It’s a great rainy day listen.
Coldplay
3/5
I start it off thinking I might give this 4 stars, but by the time the song ‘Whisper’ came on, I was annoyed down to two.
The Doors
4/5
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Their glam rock style is fun. Reminiscent of Elton John, Bowie and Queen.
I’m not sure how I feel about the Pink Floyd cover.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
Dolly Parton
3/5
I admire many things about Dolly Parton, like her guitar playing and songwriting. Her voice is not one of them. At least not on this album.
Warbly? Vibrato?
Boston
4/5
This album is full of songs that I have grown to love, seemingly through osmosis. I would not categorize myself as a Boston fan, nor have I ever owned any of their albums, but every song on this record was familiar.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Funkadelic
3/5
I couldn’t listen to this on Spotify, so I listened to it on YouTube and there was no track listing so I’m not sure what song was what, but I really liked the very long guitar solo in one of the songs near the end.
Tom Waits
4/5
Wonderfully weird. I would have liked to be at one of those recording sessions.
During one of his monologues he talked about saving coupons from packs of cigarettes to redeem for lawn furniture and I had a flashback of my mother doing that exact thing.
Duke Ellington
3/5
I like the music. I don’t like the talking between songs. The album was very long.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Alice In Chains
4/5
Very bleak.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Sister Sledge
2/5
I lost interest in all the songs before they were halfway through, including We Are Family.
It’s good music for the roller skating rink.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
This is a gorgeous album!
Living for the City is an all-time favorite.
The Police
4/5
Some of their best songs on an uneven album.
Slayer
2/5
It’s good for a cardio workout. I didn’t listen to the words much and every song sounded the same.
5/5
I know most of the songs like the back of my hand, but today is the first time I ever listened to the entire album. If we could give half stars, I would probably give it a 4.5, but here we are.
The song within you or without you was what would’ve knocked .5 star off.
The War On Drugs
3/5
On the whole, I liked the vibe of this album.
Some of the songs went on a bit long and were kind of navel-gazey.
Neil Young
4/5
Talking Heads
2/5
Except for the songs Once in a Lifetime and Overload, this album left me cold
Emmylou Harris
3/5
The Velvet Underground
3/5
‘The Gift’ was insidious and perfect. Reminded me of Tom Waits’ ‘What’s He Building?’
TLC
4/5
The line ‘Three letters took him to his final resting place’ gives me chills every time.
The prince cover was fun.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Little Richard
3/5
Slight variations on a proven formula. A very fun album that makes me nostalgic for a time I never lived in.
Fugazi
3/5
2/5
Meh…
I feel I should love her. And I did like ‘A Coal Miner’s Daughter’.
Nick Drake
4/5
This was delightful!
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Janis’ voice is iconic. Summertime was interesting.
Every song went on way too long.
Grateful Dead
4/5
I have always said that I don’t like the Grateful Dead and I will continue to say it. But this is a pretty great album so I may not say it as loudly in the future.
I will continue to hate all the live jammy stuff, though.
And it really bothers me that the song ripple sounded like it was being sung by Jeff Tweedy.
The Young Rascals
4/5
I started the listening session, mildly interested, and by the end of the album I was all in.
How Can I Be Sure is a song that I will always stop and listen to when it comes on the radio. The first notes are haunting.
I didn’t know that You Better Run was a cover for Pat Benetar. I like both versions.
The song Sueno was a bit of a cipher. Other than a few guitar notes and saying guitar in Spanish, it was all English. Even the word dreams was, well, dreams. Why name it Sueno? Artistic license I guess.
Sepultura
2/5
This music has a time and a place. But the time is not now and the place is not here.
I did not listen to this album in its entirety. I listened to the beginning of each song and fast forwarded to the middle of it. Across both the album and within each song there was little variety. The BPM and the angry growling is good for a cardio workout but, musically, it did nothing for me.
Duran Duran
5/5
This album has some of their most iconic songs.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
When I was a little kid, the song Stairway to Heaven sparked my imagination. I didn’t know what bustles and hedgerows were but I was transported to an Alice in Wonderland/Robin Hood dreamscape while listening to that song.
SZA
3/5
Lorde
3/5
Her voice/singing style is reminiscent of Bjork at times. This album was fun to listen to.
I liked it a lot more than SZA but I’ll rank it the same because, while SZA got the 3 for being a little better than a 2, Lorde will get it for being not quite a 4.
The Thrills
4/5
The Thrills were one of a bunch of Irish/English bands that were popular in the early 2000s. Snow Patrol, Death Cab, Travis, the Postal Service, etc. were all the same band to me. One that I liked, and still like, very much.
This album doesn’t break any new ground, but is very well done. The songs have enough differences to make the record interesting.
Green Day
5/5
I used to like them a little, and now I like them a lot. The band grew on me. I am really sad that I didn’t get to see the stage production of American idiot.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
My (our) friend Jason refers to this band as Siouxie and the Cream Cheese. He also thinks this is their best album and would rate it a 4.5.
It’s moody and ethereal and I agree with Jason.
Ravi Shankar
4/5
I didn’t find the tutorial bits very helpful, but I enjoyed the music.
The Beta Band
4/5
I first became aware of the beta band when Jack Black’s character in the movie High, Fidelity played one of their records i(Dry the Rain) n the fictional record store.
I really liked this album, it had a very peaceful energy.
If you’ve ever seen the movie High Fidelity, or read the book, or watched the recent Hulu series I recommend them all.
Jurassic 5
3/5
Garbage
4/5
Shirley is my favorite Manson.
Neil Young
4/5
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Steely Dan
5/5
I love Steely Dan.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
J’s (not quite) lackadaisical singing style softens the (not quite) cacophonous music.
I think this is probably a 3.5 star album. I was going to round up to four, except I don’t really like the song Poledo so it’s getting a three.
I liked the Cure cover.
Elton John
3/5
Levon may be my favorite EJ song and Tiny Dancer is up there, too. Madman Across the water is good. The rest of the songs can disappear, especially the one where he is singing in first person about being an Indian. I don’t care about political correctness, I just don’t buy it!
Pearl Jam
5/5
I don’t really consider myself a Pearl Jam fan, but this is a really good album
Kelela
2/5
Vanilla/sterile/color by numbers
Uninteresting
The Who
3/5
N.E.R.D
4/5
I used to love the song she wants to move back when it was first released. I don’t know if I heard any of the other songs of the album before this week.
Listening to the whole album at once is a lot, because it just started sounding repetitive. Playing the tracks one or two at a time was much more enjoyable - to me at least.
I could go anywhere from a three to a four on this.
Radiohead
2/5
Before we started this project, if you had asked me, if I liked Radiohead, I would have said, no, with the exception of a few songs. And this album is the reason why.
This one seemed a little off the rails, kind of sonic landscape-y. Same sort of thing (but executed differently) I didn’t like when Wilco did after YHF.
I very much liked the other three (?) Radiohead albums that we have already heard on this journey.
Beck
4/5
Ute Lemper
2/5
It was fine. Her voice was fine, the songs were fine, the arrangements and music, all fine. But I listened to it twice and I still don’t care about it.
Cornershop
4/5
LL Cool J
3/5
The beats are dope but the lyrics are whack.
This is probably more like a 2.5 but ladies love cool James! So I rounded up.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Beck
4/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Gillian Welch
3/5
I’ve known of Gillian since WXPN first played her in the 90s. I never explored her music past the tracks they played. I remember Marianne seeing her live and saying how good she was.
I loved Elvis Presley Blues. The rest of the album was strong, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to it again.
New Order
4/5
Songhoy Blues
4/5
The music was dynamic and engaging. I understood about three words. I will definitely check out more of their stuff.
This is a 3.5, but because they are from Timbuktu (a place I thought was imaginary as a child) they get the extra half.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
It’s Bruce. Not the best Bruce but not bad.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
The band’s name is familiar, but I didn’t know any of their music before this listen.
I wasn’t able to fully pay attention to the lyrics, and I suspect that if I had been, I may have rated this album a bit higher
Spiritualized
3/5
Herbie Hancock
1/5
I remember seeing the video for the song ‘Rockit’ back in the 80s. I hated it and never gave Herbie another listen.
This album has not changed my opinion. The last song was fine but it was too little, too late.
Questionably interesting sidenote: I had a boyfriend in 2004 who, very early in our relationship, expressed interest in going to a Herbie Hancock show. We broke up very shortly after that.
Rush
3/5
Air
4/5
Buzzcocks
3/5
I feel like I should be giving this four stars, but today it feels more like a 3.25.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
Quirky and whimsical, this was mostly a pleasure to listen to, except for the (thankfully short) Body Rap.
Rush
3/5
Coldplay
4/5
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Nico
3/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
1/5
This added nothing to my life. I don’t like his voice. I almost liked the hrothel song.
Frank Zappa
1/5
This isn’t my thing.
I associate Frank Zappa with the Dr. Demento show. (DJ who featured odd music). I’m not even sure if Dr. Demento ever played Frank Zappa on his show, because I never listened to but it is the sort of music that I imagine was on. He probably also played The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
Al Green
3/5
He’s got a great voice. Let’s Stay Together is a classic. His version of How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is almost my favorite version.
It was a little more than a 3 but I wasn’t feeling generous enough to go to a 4.
Paul Simon
3/5
This definitely isn’t his best album or strongest work, and if this is the only one of his albums that is represented on this list, I will be very sad.
I don’t think I had ever heard any of the songs on this album before, and I really wanted to give it a two, but even his weaker stuff is pretty good.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Led Zeppelin’s version of ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’ is one of my favorite songs.
I looked the song up today and found out that it is a folk song written in the 1950s by Anne Bredon and Joan Baez sang it in the early ‘60s before Led Zeppelin put their spin on it. So I listened to Joan’s version and it was horrible.
The whole album is bluesy, trippy, and wonderful.
4/5
XTC is clever and fun.
I wasn’t familiar with this album but I enjoyed it very much.
JAY Z
3/5
I don’t know anything about Sean Carter personally. I do not like the Jay Z persona. I find a lot of his lyrics problematic, but some songs are just pretty fun anyway.
4/5
Kid Rock
2/5
There are 2-3 songs that I like, but on the whole the album gives me the creeps.
Supergrass
3/5
Johnny Cash
4/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
I enjoyed this very much, but was taken a little bit out of it because I was trying to pick out any words I knew in Portuguese.
Bob Dylan
3/5
The Yardbirds
4/5
I enjoyed this very much. There were hints of the doors, glimpses of the monkees, peeks of The Moody Blues, etc.
Jeff’s boogie was the weakest song of the album for me, but still solid.
Alanis Morissette
3/5
I find her voice slightly annoying but the songs are so fun to sing along to. I saw the musical ‘Jagged Little Pill’ last year and these songs were used well to tell a contemporary story.
AC/DC
3/5
Screaming Trees
4/5
This album is like a Sunday drive. No real destination, but a pleasant journey.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
This was a fun album.
I liked the song she did with her child. For a few moments, I was thinking that it was Bebel Gilberto, who I also like. When I looked it up, I found out that she is not Bebel’s mom (she and Joao broke up and Bebel is his kid with somebody else) and that it is her six year old son on the song.
Living Colour
3/5
This fall somewhere between two and three. Glamour Boys pushed it up.
Raekwon
1/5
Hell no.
David Gray
4/5
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
The Human League
3/5
The Shamen
3/5
I wasn’t sure who this band was. And then Move any Mountain started. I didn’t know any of their other music. Basic club fare, it didn’t detract from my life but maybe the ing I would seek out.
Beth Orton
3/5
. She is great in concert.
Lucinda Williams
5/5
Her raw, gritty voice perfectly matches the words and music. The song Car Wheels… makes me think fondly of my own childhood in a rural community with unpaved roads and free-range cousins.
I can still sing along to every song.
The Prodigy
4/5
Terrific!
808 State
2/5
I think I like some stuff by 808 State, but none of it is on this album.
Talking Heads
4/5
I am not generally a big Talking Heads fan but I love this album.
Scott Walker
3/5
Supergrass
4/5
Super fun.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
The Monkees
4/5
Portishead
3/5
If there had been a little more of her beautiful voice, this might’ve gotten a 4.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
A friend had tix to his concert at the TLA a bunch of years ago and when he got to the venue there was a sign on the door explaining that the concert was cancelled due to illness. I remember my friend saying it was probably because Rufus was in a K hole.
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
A bit disjointed. The song Immigrant hurt my ears and The Conference made my question my sanity.
The Offspring
4/5
CHIC
3/5
Bee Gees
3/5
At a certain point I thought that Spotify started playing another album/artist. Marley Purt drive sounded so much like The Weight!
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
I got about halfway through. This was truly terrible.
Gram Parsons
4/5
So good.
Ash
3/5
They remind me a bit of The Lemonheads.
Garage rock with catchy tunes, it was an easy listen, but nothing really stuck in my mind at the end.
Pretenders
4/5
I’m not the biggest Pretenders fan, but there’s no denying greatness.
I saw Chrissy tour solo 5-6 years ago. It was a little weird when her in between song banter included talk of her grandchildren!
The Cult
2/5
Pere Ubu
2/5
I don’t like his voice
Carole King
4/5
I thought this would be an easy 5. It is great and the songs are classics.
A few years ago I got to see the show ‘Beautiful’. The seats available were at the very back/top of the theatre. I told my friend that they would be fine because we would be there to hear the music, not look at the actors. I was right, the music was great, the actors were little blurry spots and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Should one hear this album? Yes.
Is it a 5? Not for me, today. But it is a wonderful 4.
Motörhead
3/5
It sounded like one VERY long song. But they played it well.
The Specials
4/5
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
My biggest take away from this album was that I got to hear what I am assuming is the source material that Eminem used in one of his songs (Buffalo Gals).
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Enjoyable and forgettable. If the song ‘Spring Release’ were on here it would have been a four.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
I love the story songs. She has a unique voice that I enjoy in small doses.
Joanna Newsom
2/5
Thought during first song: Music to accompany an old silent, black-and-white film.
Overall impression was that it was strange and reminded me a bit of Bjork.
I didn’t exactly dislike it but I also have no desire to learn more about her or listen again.
Cowboy Junkies
5/5
CHVRCHES
3/5
One of the radio stations I listen to played the shit out of the song ‘The mother we share’ when it first came out. I never got sick of it.
The rest of the album is equally unobjectionable. Very polished production and catchy pop tunes.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Stan Getz
4/5
The album is short, but each song feels a little too long.
Sex Pistols
4/5
Billy Bragg
4/5
‘The Other Brunette’ has long been a favorite. And the sentiments expressed in ‘Ideology’ are just as true today.
His voice is immediately recognizable and the music is jangly.
Minutemen
3/5
This bounced between 2 and 3 stars for me. The tracks I enjoyed came on the Chaff side.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Her voice is powerful. Production is super slick. I know the words and will sing along with the hits.
I could take or leave this album.
The Avalanches
3/5
It works as a bunch of tracks of samples to be sampled.
It doesn’t work as something to listen to all the way through in one sitting!
Machito
4/5
Mekons
3/5
I rated this a 3 because I read that it was considered the first alt-country record and they deserve credit for that.
I appreciated the coming together (kind of) of the yell-y punk and the folk that made me think of an Irish ceilidh.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Primal Scream
4/5
Wholly satisfying.
The Cure
4/5
Very lush and macabre.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
This has a lot of the sonic elements that I like in some later bands but here it seeems muddy, ill-defined and tiresome.
I feel like mbv must have influenced the Smashing Pumpkins.
George Harrison
3/5
Talvin Singh
3/5
I wanted to like this more than I did, especially after reading how long it took to get the various parts recorded.
Aimee Mann
3/5
This is a solid record but her best was yet to come.
The Style Council
3/5
The jazz and funk were cool. The rap was not. ‘My Ever Changing Mood’ and ‘You’re the Best Thing’ are the keepers.
Laibach
3/5
I found the music intriguing, especially the reworking of the queen song. This isn’t something that I will reach for often, but I am definitely glad that I heard it.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Giant Sand
2/5
Skepta
3/5
Roxy Music
3/5
Not terribly exciting.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Erykah Badu
3/5
Tim Buckley
4/5
I think this is the third Tim Buckley album we’ve had so far. I really hated the other two, but found this one delightful.
John Coltrane
4/5
I found the drums a little distracting at times, and I didn’t like the brief vocalization.
Brian Eno
3/5
PJ Harvey
3/5
I am ambivalent about PJ Harvey. I enjoyed the music but her voice is a bit too Bjork-y for me. I didn’t listen closely to the lyrics.
It’s always nice to have Billy Bragg involved.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Both this record and I started out strong, but by the end of it, I was tired, and the tunes seemed monotonous and overlong.
Iron Maiden
2/5
Hmmm. Songs about God, the devil and Native Americans.
4/5
Excellent!
Jethro Tull
4/5
Aqualung and Locomotive Breath are songs that I both know well and have never voluntarily chosen to listen to.
The biggest take away for me while listening to this record yesterday was some sound life advice: ‘Be sure to leave your underpants with someone you can trust’
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Although I like a lot of these songs better when done by other artists, the originals are very solid.
As with the Jethro Tull album yesterday, the Spotify version of this album also included an interview. I wish every album came with an interview of the band,
Lou Reed
4/5
Björk
1/5
I liked the first song and was rethinking my aversion to Bjork. Then came the rest of the album…
Public Enemy
3/5
ZZ Top
4/5
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
I love the organ.
Guided By Voices
3/5
I have long been aware of this band but had never intentionally listened to their music before yesterday. The music was fine and some of the lyrics were clever but nothing stuck in my head and I’m not clamoring for more.
OutKast
4/5
Tom Waits
3/5
Calexico
4/5
Engaging and dynamic. The instrumentals felt like TV/movie scores.
The jazziness of The Crumble was unexpected.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
I knew of this band but hadn’t heard them. I probably avoided them because I didn’t like their name. That is a petty reason to avoid them and, it turns out, my loss because this record is great. I was talking to Nikole and she said that their previous two albums are even better.
I really like Skin’s voice. There were moments when she reminded me of Alanis Morisette without the annoying affectations.
Pixies
4/5
Super fun
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
This album was the aural equivalent of being in stop and go traffic.
Kate Bush
2/5
I’m not sure how I could love Kate Bush and dislike this album so much, but here it is. I disliked everything except the song ‘This Woman’s Work’, which is fantastic.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
From the first discordant notes to the anthemic end this album grabbed me and didn’t let go.
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
James Taylor
2/5
Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James and Country Road are great. The rest of the songs weren’t bad, they just suffered in comparison to the great ones.
The Only Ones
3/5
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
The Band
3/5
The Weight is a classic.
Their cover of the Long Black Veil was not as good as Johnny Cash’s version.
I was surprised to hear the AbFab theme song. And I just learned it was cowritten by bob dylan.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
The Byrds
3/5
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Ministry
2/5
Jesus Built My Hotrod was my favorite track. That’s not saying much.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Simple. Classic. Music to be played at the beginning of a dinner party when people are mingling, sipping champagne and eating canapés.
Even better if the dinner party is on a yacht in St. Barth’s
Tom Waits
3/5
The Mars Volta
3/5
I had heard of the mars Volta before, but I don’t recall ever listening to anything by them. Whenever I hear the name of the band, I always think of 30 seconds to Mars and Son Volt, neither of which is this band. I enjoyed this album and would not turn it off if I ever heard it playing again, but don’t plan to listen to it again on purpose, or seek anymore of their stuff out
Beastie Boys
5/5
Name me any other group who mentions white Castle as much as the Beastie Boys do. Or at all, for that matter.
Dexys Midnight Runners
1/5
I did not make it to the end of any of the songs.
Come on Eileen is the only DMR song I need in my life.
Arrested Development
4/5
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
Sweet voice, catchy tunes and crisp production. Perfect for a summer day.
Roxy Music
2/5
I derived very little pleasure from this art school album.
T. Rex
3/5
Ice Cube
4/5
I kind of want to give this five stars, but the ‘kid’s’ voice in the fairytale song is beyond annoying.
I especially liked the instructional intro About being processed into prison, and I felt like the song ‘Don’t trust ‘em’ also had some very good advice. 😂
Sepultura
1/5
This is music to listen to while dismembering a body
Elton John
3/5
King Crimson
3/5
I absolutely hated the first song and wanted to turn it off, give it one star and call it a day. But I persevered and I’m glad that I did. I liked the song Exiles and was invested after that. I don’t think I’ll ever listen to this again but I’m glad I heard it once. Parts of it reminded me a little bit of the Moody blues Days of Future Past, which is an album that I love. But I think that albums like these are such that if you hear them at a specific moment in time they’re very meaningful, And if you don’t, then they’re just tedious.
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
Iron Butterfly
3/5
This album is more easy listening than I expected, having only ever listened to inagaddadavida. Maybe it was more edgy in the 60s?
The Pogues
3/5
Good fun.
The Triffids
2/5
This wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t memorable. Fine background. I was slightly interested in ‘The Jerdacuttup Man’ but the story was weak.
Doves
3/5
Laura Nyro
2/5
I thank her for Stoned Soul Picnic, but am not a fan of anything else on this album. Her voice elicits an ‘uncanny valley’ reaction from me.
Destiny's Child
2/5
Independent Women Part 1 and Survivor are great, catchy anthems and had me thinking the album might be a 4 or 5 but the rest of the album was disappointing. Although well sung and produced, the lyrics felt off. And the last song was just too much.
Stereolab
3/5
I really like Stereolab, but prefer their songs that are not trying to make a point. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a complete album of theirs before. I do have many of their songs from, I think, the sound dust album on various burned CDs.
Killing Joke
4/5
Otis Redding
3/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Easy on the ears, Steely Dan never disappoints.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Fairport Convention
2/5
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Solid Britpop.
The Temptations
3/5
Their version of ‘I Heard it Through the Grapevine’ was interesting.
LTJ Bukem
3/5
Portishead
3/5
Some songs were great, while others were so-so. Well, this is more of a 3.5, it doesn’t rise to the level of four for me.
XTC
4/5
Traffic
3/5
Kings of Leon
3/5
Aretha Franklin
3/5
4/5
This is not the type of music I would seek out, but it was great.
Goldie
4/5
I was upset with this album when I first started listening to it because it took about 15 seconds for there to be music and then, the first track didn’t grab me. I stopped listening at that point and was chatting with Nikole and thought that I would probably rate this about a 2. I dove back in later in the day and it was magical. I was driving and stuck in traffic so I wasn’t sure if I really liked it or it was just the circumstances, but then I got home and continued listening to the album while taking a walk and it was still great. So, this album has gone from my 2 to 4 all in the span of 10 hours.
The Zutons
3/5
I feel like this is a band that would be fantastic live but most of the recordings on the album fell flat to me.
Missy Elliott
2/5
I really dislike Missy Elliott. The only reason I am giving this a two is because I do like Ludacris,
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
I am pretty tired of hearing about Bies sexual prowess. Big papa is catchy and the reggae influenced song was OK but I did not need to hear this.
Spacemen 3
1/5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
I found this to be both energizing and relaxing at the same time. Short, sweet and thoroughly enjoyable.
Queen
3/5
Fiona Apple
3/5
Various elements that I usually dislike were at play on this album, but they worked.
1. Excessive repetition
2. Odd extraneous sound effects
3. Spoken word-ish style.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I really like Karen O’s voice. This was fun to listen to. I’ve only heard their singles before.
The Libertines
2/5
The United States Of America
2/5
This album didn’t seem to have a cohesive through line. It was a hodgepodge that was pretty annoying most of the time. I did like the song about the wooden wife.
The The
4/5
4/5
Orange Juice
3/5
Roni Size
3/5
The Replacements
4/5
Manu Chao
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
The Black Crowes
4/5
I love this album
Merle Haggard
3/5
Black Flag
2/5
My knowledge of black flag before listening to this album was the reference in the Atari’s version of the song boys of Summer (they replaced Grateful Dead sticker with black flag sticker) and a bit of in between song banter from Ryan Adams, where he was stating that some people south of the mason Dixon line listen to Black flag, intimating that they weren’t all dumb shit kickers.
So I get that black flag is a cultural touch point, but on my first full album exposure to them I was not super impressed
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Christine and the Queens
4/5
Johnny Cash
3/5
Yes
3/5
Cocteau Twins
2/5
Van Morrison
3/5
Paul Simon
3/5
This is really more of a 2.5, but because I love what came before and came after I consider this a necessary steppingstone. And there were two great songs.
The Stooges
4/5
Bad Company
3/5
The Zombies
3/5
I love the song “time of the season”.
Megadeth
3/5
Dr. John
4/5
Makes me think about voodoo, funerals and Halloween.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Blondie
3/5
Muddy Waters
3/5
Janet Jackson
3/5
Tina Turner
3/5
The hits were great, the covers were not and the rest was ok. I am more an admirer of Tina as a person than a fan of her singing.
Paul Weller
3/5
The Cramps
4/5
I think the Cramps were one of Tiger Army’s influences.
The Incredible String Band
1/5
No.
The Dictators
3/5
fIREHOSE
2/5
I’m not bad, but I have never heard of them before. They don’t add anything to my life at this point.
Ozomatli
4/5
I have known of this band, but had never listened to this band. That was my loss.
they’re great and this album is great
Pantera
1/5
Soft Machine
1/5
I disliked this one more than the Pantera album from yesterday.
Korn
3/5
I definitely could have done without cameltosis and the banter before earache my eye, but I am a sucker for freak on leash.
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
My/our friend Jason once described them as ‘Scottish art school kill yourself music’. I hadn’t thought of them that way before he said it but ever since he said it, I can’t listen to any of their music without that quote going through my head repeatedly.
Both he and I really like them and have seen them in concert. One of the concerts we went to I remember they had swirly lights that were like peppermints. so, very happy. Although I think the pot helped with the happiness. And then another time they had scheduled a concert in Philadelphia and canceled because of one of the 9000 members of the band was having mental issues.
This is an album I could listen to on a desert island. I am vacillating between a four and five. I think it would be really a 4.6 but I’m gonna be nice.
2/5
This is some dungeons and dragons, Renfaire, LARPer music.
They pose a good question about wizards and glasses.
Khaled
3/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
ABBA
4/5
Objectively, I would write this album as a three. I didn’t love the song about the violin, Arrival and the one about Hawaii
But Abba holds a special place in my heart. One of the first records that I bought was the single honey honey when I was a very little girl.
The song Fernando always made my heart swell, even though I didn’t really understand what it was about when I was a kid.
Marianne and I were in New York last month at a tiny bar called The Cubbyhole where we used to go with Keith. When the song dancing Queen came on the entire bar sang and danced. It was lovely.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
Beyoncé
2/5
Joan Armatrading
5/5
Pere Ubu
2/5
Jungle Brothers
3/5
The sample of Rapture in Days 2 Come was fun.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Queen
4/5
GZA
3/5
The Sugarcubes
3/5
U2
3/5
Animal Collective
3/5
Bee Gees
1/5
I love the Bee Gees, but this album was abysmal. Except for ‘How Can You Mend a Broken Heart’
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
This is a 3.5 to me.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
This might be the first album I’ve ever listened to where there was a song about both bill weevils and bedbugs.
While listening, I was thinking about Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, and then Woody showed up on the album.
The Cure
4/5
New York Dolls
3/5
Van Morrison
4/5
Taylor Swift
3/5
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Moby
3/5
Kanye West
2/5
I really don’t like Kanye West. As a person. And I couldn’t name any of his songs. I almost turned this album off after about two or three songs, but I kept going, in the spirit of our endeavor. I can’t say that it is an album I needed to hear or will ever play again, but it doesn’t deserve the one star rating that I was planning to give it. If it wasn’t Kanye, I might give it a 2.5 but because it is a Kanye album I am giving it a 2
The Byrds
3/5
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
5/5
Elvis Presley
2/5
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
Ray Price
3/5
Mike Oldfield
2/5
Meat Puppets
3/5
MGMT
4/5
Besides Frankie goes to Hollywood, I was stuck in a rut of threes for a while. Thank you, MGMT!
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Rick Ward (a friend to some of us in the group) introduced me to this when it first came out. Fix Up Look Sharp is still a favorite. And I like the album fine. It’s a solid 3.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
I would like this music if I was at a spa, but I am not at a spa
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Bill Callahan
2/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Fairport Convention
3/5
Randy Newman
3/5
I can take only so much of his voice at a time.
I love ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’. I’m glad he wrote it so Joe Cocker could cover it!
Baaba Maal
3/5
DJ Shadow
3/5
MC Solaar
4/5
Adele
4/5
The Doors
4/5
White Denim
2/5
TV On The Radio
3/5
Joe Ely
3/5
His voice wasn’t ‘big’ enough for the music.
The Darkness
4/5
The Undertones
4/5
Teenage Kicks is a favorite!
David Ackles
2/5
Teenage Kicks is a favorite!
Scott Walker
3/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Suede
4/5
Lush. Layered. Gorgeous.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
I have never been a JAMC fan and I guess it’s just because I didn’t hear them enough. This album is great!
The Cars
4/5
The Cure
4/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
Aerosmith
2/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
a-ha
2/5
The two songs that were released as singles were good. I did not enjoy the rest of the album.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
The Divine Comedy
1/5
Big Star
3/5
Underworld
4/5
The Blue Nile
3/5
Stephen Stills
2/5
Missy Elliott
3/5
D'Angelo
1/5
Apathy is the only word that comes to mind. I don’t exactly hate it, but I definitely don’t need it in my life.
Anita Baker
2/5
The Saints
3/5
Barry Adamson
2/5
Cee Lo Green
2/5
His voice has a whiny, grating quality.
The National
4/5
Sugar
3/5
Beatles
3/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Dolly Parton
3/5
The harmonies are great. This is a little too Dolly forward to get anything higher than a three though.
Pavement
4/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Frank Ocean
3/5
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Slow start, strong finish. Although I must confess, I’m not even sure I’m listening to the right album because with Spotify it seems like all I can ever find are deluxe, remastered, and anniversary versions of albums.
Simple Minds
3/5
Gene Clark
1/5
Tears For Fears
4/5
Pentangle
1/5
Sade
4/5
Music for ski chalets and yachts!
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
Boards of Canada
2/5
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
3/5
David Holmes
2/5
Circle Jerks
3/5
Nas
3/5
Fever Ray
1/5
Neu!
1/5
Van Morrison
2/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Dire Straits
4/5
Big Star
3/5
Elbow
3/5
The Icarus Line
2/5
Not horrible, but it didn’t cover any new ground for me and I definitely could’ve lived my life without ever having heard it
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Her voice isn’t the strongest (3), but I love this album like a 5, so here’s my compromise.
Crowded House
3/5
This was delightful until ‘All I Ask’. I did not enjoy that song, and then couldn’t get back that loving feeling for the rest of the album.
Iggy Pop
4/5
The Stooges
3/5
T. Rex
3/5
Deep Purple
3/5
Beck
3/5
Michael Jackson
5/5
2/5
I don’t know John Zorn or Ornette. While listening to this, I kept wondering if what I was listening to was categorized as acid jazz and also thinking that if it was, I do not like acid jazz.
I didn’t listen to the whole album, probably only about 15 minutes of it so it could’ve gotten much better, but as it stands, this is my opinion
Justin Timberlake
3/5
Mott The Hoople
3/5
George Jones
3/5
Everything But The Girl
3/5
The Fall
1/5
The Kinks
3/5
Buck Owens
3/5
The Fall
3/5
Beatles
5/5
Neneh Cherry
3/5
I’m not sure if I am proud or ashamed, but I still know all the words to ‘Buffalo Stance’. That, and the fact that I also like the song kisses on the wind or why I will give this a three instead of a two.
Randy Newman
2/5
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Billy Joel
5/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Donald Fagen
3/5
Slipknot
2/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
The song ‘Oh Daddy’ gives me the ick, which takes my rating from six stars down to five.
Beatles
3/5
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Primal Scream
3/5
PJ Harvey
3/5
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
I like anything with Damon Alburn involved in it. I like this a bit more than a three but not quite a four.
The White Stripes
4/5
2Pac
3/5
The Charlatans
3/5
Death In Vegas
1/5
It’s not horrible, just no connection.
I never heard it before today and don’t feel that I ever need to hear it again.
Wild Beasts
1/5
I do not like this. The singer’s voice is too swoopy.
Cat Stevens
3/5
Gary Numan
3/5
Fugees
3/5
This version of killing me softly is fantastic.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Faith No More
3/5
Can
2/5
Talk Talk
3/5
The Birthday Party
3/5
This is a perfect album to listen to while in traffic. If we had partial stars, I would give this a 2.75.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Kanye West
2/5
The Soft Boys
2/5
Brian Wilson
3/5
R.E.M.
4/5
Miles Davis
4/5
The Undertones
3/5
The Lemonheads
4/5
Some article called them ‘bubble grunge’. I agree.
I saw Evan perform this album a few years ago with Juliana Hatfield (and musicians who were jot original Lemonheads). It was quite a surreal experience to watch two 60-year olds on stage singing songs that had meaning to them when they were in their 20s. And it was equally as surreal to see their 20-year-old selves coming through.
And also, Evan Dando looked like he hated being on stage every single minute.
Kanye West
2/5
Gene Clark
3/5
Reminds me a bit of the Jayhawks
Joan Baez
2/5
Peter Gabriel
4/5
The Flaming Lips
4/5
The Fall
3/5
From the very start, I disliked this album. Then somewhere around the middle I didn’t mind it so much.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Billie Holiday
4/5
The Slits
1/5
The Temptations
3/5
G. Love & Special Sauce
4/5
4/5
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4/5
Soft Cell
3/5
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
The Sonics
2/5
Their renditions lacked soul
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Milton Nascimento
3/5
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
The Police
3/5
The Monks
3/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Cheap Trick
3/5
Black Sabbath
3/5
The Smiths
3/5
American Music Club
3/5
I recognized the name of this band, but not any of the songs. From the beginning, the singer reminded me a bit of Evan Dando. The song Bad Liquor seemed like it belonged to a completely different album/band. One of the songs near the end was reminiscent of Elliott Smith and then another had a very The The/
Tom Waits
3/5
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
‘Perfect Skin’ is great. The rest I could do without.
Nirvana
4/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
The White Stripes
3/5
Coldcut
2/5
Slint
2/5
Chicago
2/5
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Prefab Sprout
3/5
The lyrics ‘I’m turkey hungry I’m chicken free’ from the song Moving the River are the only thing I remember from the album.
The Adverts
3/5
Neil Young
3/5
Leftfield
3/5
Eagles
5/5
Morrissey
3/5
‘Every Day is Like Sunday’ was my pandemic theme song.
Ella Fitzgerald
2/5
Ella has a great voice and the Gershwin‘s wrote wonderful songs. Standards are standards for a reason, right?
Put this album was too long, the songs began to run together, and I don’t even think I ever knew there were as many verses in ‘Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off’.
Dr. Dre
2/5
Goldfrapp
3/5
Sweet, haunting songs that seemed like they were from a 60s noir movie.
The Magnetic Fields
1/5
The story behind the album is interesting but the actual album is not.
The Kinks
3/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
The Waterboys
3/5
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Deee-Lite
2/5
‘Groove is in the Heart’ is a near-perfect song. The rest of the tunes on the album were awful.
Nick Drake
3/5
Pretty songs that make me think of elves and fairies. This is more than a three but not quite a four.
Can
3/5
Dire Straits
3/5
Carpenters
3/5
Fela Kuti
3/5
Metallica
3/5
Genesis
3/5
Eminem
2/5
Janis Joplin
3/5
The KLF
2/5
Build a fire sounds like Fish from Marillion is on it.
I like the song Justified and Ancient.
The rest of the songs definitely make me think of college and are fine in
Throwing Muses
3/5
KISS
3/5
Elvis Costello
4/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
Sparks
1/5
I hate everything about this. 0/5
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I’ve always felt that I was supposed to like this more than I actually do.
So my 3.5 becomes a 4.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Dion
2/5
Sleater-Kinney
2/5
They toured with Wilco a bunch of years ago and I tried to like them but I don’t. It’s the voice.
The White Stripes
4/5
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Pixies
3/5
Eurythmics
3/5
Femi Kuti
3/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Kraftwerk
2/5
Kings of Leon
4/5
The way he sings makes me feel like I need to adjust my imaginary hearing aid but I still like it a whole lot.
Green Day
4/5
The Go-Go's
3/5
Fred Neil
2/5
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Burning Spear
4/5
Lightning Bolt
1/5
This album would get a five if we were reading music used during interrogations at Guantánamo Bay. But we’re not.
Bauhaus
3/5
Ice Cube
2/5
Monotonous and boring
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
The beginning of lonesome fiddle blues sounded like the beginning of the devil, went down to Georgia
Steve Winwood
3/5
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Solid album. Strong rhythm section.
‘I Was a Teenage Hand Model’ would be an effective tool in enhanced interrogation.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Hole
3/5
John Grant
3/5
Yes
3/5
My appreciation for this album puts it out of two, but nostalgia bumps it up to a three
The Hives
3/5
FKA twigs
2/5
Overproduced and disjointed
Ryan Adams
5/5
He is a problematic individual, but his music is fantastic. This is the album that introduced me to his music.
The Vines
3/5
I really like this band. I get them mixed up with a lot of other bands though. I think if I listen to this a few times, it would get a four stars. Right now I’ll give it a robust three.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
The Everly Brothers
3/5
I didn’t realize that Love Hurts was performed by them!
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Stephen Stills
3/5
Pleasant enough. This is probably a 2.5 or 2.75.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Kraftwerk
2/5
I am really not a fan. Although I did go from wanting to turn it off to deciding that this album would be great for a spin class.
Eagles
3/5
Patti Smith
3/5
Nirvana
3/5
Radiohead
3/5
Django Django
2/5
The Residents
2/5
If I were to devolve into madness this would be my soundtrack.
There’s a bit of Primus mixed with Southpark.
Jack White
4/5
Radiohead
2/5
Germs
2/5
Peter Frampton
3/5
The Beta Band
3/5
I first learned of the beta band when their music was in the movie high Fidelity. I really like their vibe, and they’re probably more of a 3.5 but not quite a four.
M.I.A.
3/5
Airplanes is a 5. The rest of the album is not as memorable
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Aphex Twin
3/5
Björk
3/5
I still don’t like Bjork, but I got to listen to this album while in Iceland, which elevated it for me….a little bit.
Neil Young
3/5
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Mariah Carey
2/5
The Prodigy
2/5
very boring
The Streets
1/5
Madonna
2/5
Dr. Octagon
1/5
Saint Etienne
3/5
Delightful
The Beau Brummels
2/5
Britney Spears
1/5
Björk
3/5
Isaac Hayes
3/5
I would have liked it more if there would’ve been less of it.
Eminem
3/5
Little Simz
3/5
Silver Jews
2/5
Digital Underground
1/5
Ice T
3/5
Donovan
2/5
Prince
5/5
Basement Jaxx
1/5
The Crusaders
1/5