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307
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3.43
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73
5-Star Albums
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782 albums remaining
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Reviews
307
Written
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0.13
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3.43
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1960s
Favorite Decade
Psychedelic-rock
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30
1-Star Albums
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Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duck Rock | 5 | 2.66 | +2.34 |
| Bright Flight | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Ys | 5 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
| Moby Grape | 5 | 2.95 | +2.05 |
| The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators | 5 | 2.96 | +2.04 |
| Os Mutantes | 5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
| Fever Ray | 5 | 2.99 | +2.01 |
| Nowhere | 5 | 3.01 | +1.99 |
| Tubular Bells | 5 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| Dig Your Own Hole | 5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
| Music for the Masses | 1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
| Joan Armatrading | 1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
| The Man Machine | 1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
| Eagles | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| Toys In The Attic | 1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
| Actually | 1 | 3.18 | -2.18 |
| Selling England By The Pound | 1 | 3.18 | -2.18 |
| Blood, Sweat & Tears | 1 | 3.16 | -2.16 |
| Rocks | 1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 4.8 | 4.13 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4.8 | 4.13 |
| The Rolling Stones | 5 | 4.6 | 4 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| The Chemical Brothers | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Kate Bush | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| David Bowie | 5 | 4.2 | 3.75 |
| Leonard Cohen | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and low weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerosmith | 3 | 1.33 | 2.17 |
| Kanye West | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Depeche Mode | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
5-Star Albums (73)
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Popular Reviews
Joanna Newsom
5/5
This is an incredible album. The musicianship and songwriting is just on another level. I have always liked Joanna Newsom but hadn't listened to this album in a while. It got me hooked again. I listened to this one all the way through multiple times today and then moved on to listen to "Have One On Me" for the rest of my work day. I'll probably listen to "Divers" all day tomorrow. It's a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Emily, Monkey & Bear, Sawdust & Diamonds, Only Skin, Cosmia
6 likes
Silver Jews
5/5
David Berman is my favorite songwriter. I've heard this album countless times and love it. His lyrics are incredible, when listening to them, I turn into that annoying guy who needs to point out how great nearly every line is on its own. 5 out of 5. R.I.P. D.C.B.
Standout Tracks: Slow Education, Room Games and Diamond Rain, Time Will Break the World, I Remember Me, Horseleg Swastikas, Transylvania Blues, Let's Not and Say We Did, Tennessee, Friday Night Fever, Death of an Heir of Sorrows
4 likes
White Denim
5/5
I really liked this album. I was surprised how much actually because I think I had incorrectly prejudged White Denim in the past, assuming they were more of a hipster type band based on their name.
The music is dynamic and interesting, they actually remind me a lot of the Montreal band Plants and Animals. Also, had hints of Radiohead at times but also some folk/country-ish vibes to it. Solid album and will definitely look into more of their catalog.
Standout Tracks: It's Him!, Back at the Farm, Street Joy, Anvil Everything, River to Consider, Keys
3 likes
Depeche Mode
2/5
Depeche Mode just doesn't really do much for me. I definitely like this album more than 'Music for the Masses' but really only because of two tracks "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence". These two songs are great and one's that I'd definitely come back to but aside from them I was pretty underwhelmed by this album.
I went back and checked my other Depeche Mode review and still feel like this general sentiment resonates for me with this album (aside for the two songs mentioned above):
The production choices on this type of synth-pop make it feel shallow. It's not that it isn't decent music, just not what I would ever choose to listen to as I have trouble connecting to the artists at all.
Standout Tracks: Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Blue Dress
3 likes
The Pogues
4/5
I'm not a big connoisseur of Celtic music but if I am ever in the mood for the genre, I go to the Pogues. They weave punk in with the folk and more traditional styles so well. 'Fairytale of New York' in particular is probably my favorite Christmas-themed song. In general a very fun, listenable album.
Standout Tracks: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Bottle of Smoke, Fairytale of New York, Fiesta, Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six, Lullaby of London, The Broad Majestic Shannon
2 likes
1-Star Albums (30)
All Ratings
Prince
4/5
Mostly solid album. A few songs had an odd mix of instrumentation that I wasn't a huge fan of but the hits are hits and the songs I knew were still my favorite, which is almost all of them. 'The Beautiful Ones' and 'Darling Nikki' were the two that didn't do much for me, aside from that I really like this album.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Custard Pie - solid opening track.
The Rover - not my favorite but not bad. I didn't recognize the title but definitely knew it as it continue to play.
In My Time of Dying - love the long jam.
Houses of the Holy - meant to be the title track of their last album, fun groove and a nice light feel after the longer previous song.
Trampled Under Foot - not a big fan of the clavinet bluesy main groove.
Kashmir - a classic.
In the Light - cool trippy instrumentation half way through. Didn't know this one beforehand but like it.
Bron-Yr-Aur - beautiful acoustic guitar instrumental. I'm guessing this was originally the end of the first LP.
Down By the Seaside - haven't heard this one before. A nice laidback vibe but then about 2/3 through breaks into a different bluesier song, which I ended up liking. Then, goes back to the laidback verse.
Ten Years Gone - I don't remember this one specifically but has that classic Zeppelin feel. I like it.
Night Flight - I haven't heard this one before. Not bad but not amazing.
The Wanton Song - I didn't recognize the name but a classic Zeppelin song.
Boogie With Stu - Really fun song, sounds familiar but not sure if I knew it beforehand or not. I guess it's a cover of a Ritchie Valens song.
Black Country Woman - Decent foot stomping acoustic bluesy song. Nice pick up on the drums about half way through. Not a big standout for them, sounds like an easy one for them to kick out.
Sick Again - Weird lyric about 16 year old right off the bat which always takes me out of it, though it sounds like maybe he wasn't trying to glorify that based on an interview quote from Robert Plant. Very standard Zeppelin style song, cool heavy drums but pretty forgettable.
Elvis Presley
3/5
A quick 29-min, 12 song album. Mostly really good songs that are a great snapshot of early Elvis but I'll probably always find myself listening to greatest hits rather than coming back to this record as a whole. I can definitely see how this was important but there are just lots of covers and filler that's common for a first record that make it less essential for me personally.
Blue Suede Shoes - a classic, still great. Best song on the album.
I'm Counting on You - croony, paint by numbers country song.
I Got a Woman - not as good as the original but fun cover.
One-Sided Love Affair - fun, upbeat 1-4-5 song with interesting vocal affectations.
I Love You Because - nice, slow, down tempo love song.
Just Because - country skiffle song, pretty good but not a big standout.
Tutti Frutti - not as good as the original but decent cover.
Trying to Get to You - great vocal performance and cool lead guitar.
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - good, simple 2 minute song that just sounds very standard early Elvis.
I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') - very down tempo love song. Not a standout. Picks up unexpectedly in the last 30 seconds.
Blue Moon (Take 9/M) - best cover on the album. Really nice vocal performance. Longest track on the album at 2 min 44 sec.
Money Honey - another great vocal performance. I really like the piano. Guitar is a bit surfy.
Supergrass
3/5
Standout tracks: Caught By the Fuzz, Alright, Time
Definitely a solid mid-90s Brit power pop album. That being said, this isn't my favorite style of music, so I don't see myself coming back to it much aside from the standout tracks mentioned above. Fun album though.
Joan Armatrading
1/5
Decent songwriting and musicianship for sure but not my taste at all. It just feels too coffee house contemporary, easy listening. I stuck with most of it but skipped around a little bit. My score is more reflective of how well it fits with what I like rather than the quality of the album. I don't think there's a song I'd come back to or add to a playlist ever.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Super solid album, very listenable. Not necessarily something that jumped out and hooked me but something I could put on and let play in the background easily without ever wanting to skip. 'Hero' and 'You Ain't the Problem' were standout tracks.
The Charlatans
2/5
Pretty generic Britpop, not as good as early Oasis or as interesting as the Stone Roses or Primal Scream. Not bad either but just kind of forgettable. Not always a fan of the lyrical or vocal choices made. Didn't recognize any songs on the album.
Standout tracks: One to Another, Area 51, How High
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Really amazing industrial rock album. Feels like a complete piece of work that is meant to be listed to in full. Very heavy and negative, so not something I'm going to put on every day personally but a great album.
Standout tracks: Mr. Self Destruct, Heresy, Closer, I Do Not Want This, The Downward Spiral, Hurt
Harry Nilsson
5/5
Already knew I loved this album. 'Jump into the Fire' is just an all-time great song. Really great songwriting and fun songs.
Standout tracks: Gotta Get Up, Without You, Coconut, Let the Good Times Roll, Jump into the Fire
Kraftwerk
1/5
I like the songs musically but the lyrics are almost comical how simple and uninspired they tend to be (this may be because this style has been parodied a lot since Kraftwerk pioneered it). I don't see myself coming back to this album. I know it was groundbreaking at the time for the genre but it just doesn't do much for me when we have so much better electronic music available.
Standout Track: Neon Lights
SAULT
2/5
Really great drums and bass. Not big on the interstitial dialogue tracks. I definitely understand they're positive and I'm not disagreeing with the sentiment, they just come across a little preachy and break from the music. Not a bad album, really good musicality, just not my favorite type of music, so I don't know that I would ever come back to it for additional listens.
Standout Tracks: Stop Dem, Wildfires, Bow, Pray Up Stay Up
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
Really amazing beats and Biggie just has a great flow. Lyrical content is a bit heavy and super misogynistic. It's hard not to just appreciate this album for when it was created but I have to fold the content in with modern times and base my rating on all of it.
Standout Tracks: Things Done Changed, Juicy, Big Poppa, Respect
The Lemonheads
2/5
Decent 90s alt-rock album, though nothing really grabbed me about the sound of this band. I think their songwriting is better on the more acoustic songs. When they go for more of the straightforward 90s rock it just sounds generic.
Standout Tracks: It's a Shame About Ray, My Drug Buddy, Hannah & Gabi.
Aerosmith
1/5
Aerosmith just doesn't do anything for me aside from a few hits, none of which are on this album. Nothing jumped out at me about this one, even the singles.
Standout Tracks:
R.E.M.
3/5
R.E.M. is just super listenable to me, even when the record feels light on hits. I liked this one, though felt like a lot of the non-standout tracks kind of just get lost in the background for me. Still a solid album.
Standout Tracks: Try Not to Breathe, Everybody Hurts, Man on the Moon, Nightswimming
The Velvet Underground
5/5
The VU are one of my favorites. This is an amazing debut album. I tend to prefer a lot of what they did once they were able to work on their own without Nico, though she has a great and unique voice that works really well with their sound.
Standout Tracks: Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting for the Man, Venus In Furs, Run Run Run, All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, I'll Be Your Mirror, The Black Angel's Death Song, European Son
Pink Floyd
3/5
A cool psychedelic album that's a little aimless at times, which is probably intentional. Definitely a different Pink Floyd than what would come with Syd Barrett's departure. I tend to like a somewhat more focused psychedelia but this is a solid debut album and I like Barrett's songwriting.
Standout Tracks: Lucifer Sam, Interstellar Overdrive, Bike
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
Really amazing album. I've never listened to this one in full and it was great music to have on while working. It flows from song to song really well and just has a great vibe. I could definitely continue to revisit this one.
Standout Tracks: this is difficult because it flowed very naturally through the album, so I didn't always clock the specific songs. It's really nice as a whole piece.
Christine and the Queens
1/5
Ugh, generic pop music from the start. I'm ok with pop music when it's unique but this does nothing for me and I can't fathom why it was included on this list. Lame, hacky synth work as well.
Pixies
4/5
Great album, I've loved it since high school. Used to cover some of these songs in our HS band. There are some songs that feel a bit like filler but great overall.
Standout Tracks: Bone Machine, Broken Face, Gigantic, Where Is My Mind?
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
Solid classic rock album. I really like the early Neil Young songs. I found myself listening to this one multiple times throughout the day.
Standout Tracks: Mr. Soul, A Child's Claim to Fame, Expecting to Fly, Good Time Boy, Broken Arrow
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Pretty good album. I'm not a huge Jane's Addiction fan aside from their hits but this wasn't unenjoyable, just not something I'd probably come back to as a full album. Some solid songs and an interesting second half.
Standout Tracks: Stop, Been Caught Stealing, Three Days, Classic Girl
Morrissey
1/5
"Used to be a sweet boy
And I'm not to blame
But something went wrong
Something went wrong
And I know
I can't be to blame"
These lyrics pretty much sum up Morrissey's world view and who he is these days. A racist, insufferable asshole.
I listened to this full album per the exercise and it's whatever, standard post-Smiths mostly forgettable Morrissey. The Smiths were amazing but he's a piece of shit and I can't be bothered with his solo work.
No standout tracks.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
I was excited about this one because I've been meaning to listen to the Cocteau Twins for a long time. I know a lot of friends who dig their music but for some reason just never took the time. I really like this album, very shoegaze and chill. At the same time, due to the relaxed vibes of their music not a lot stood out on first listen and it served more as good background music while working. I liked it enough though to listen again and heard more the second time through. Solid album, planning to give some of their other albums a listen.
Standout Tracks: Cherry-Coloured Funk, Heaven or Las Vegas, Fotzepolitic
OutKast
3/5
Solid album, it's a long one but awesome that there are two such different but complimentary styles on the different discs. I'm a much bigger fan of the Andre 3000 side but both are pretty good.
Standout Tracks: The Way You Move, Bust, War, Last Call, Happy Valentine's Day, Spread, Hey Ya!, Roses, Behold a Lady, Dracula's Wedding
Kanye West
2/5
I'm not listening to Kanye West right now. The guy needs serious mental health attention. I used to love this album but he's been so shitty as a person I find it really difficult to ignore and just enjoy the music.
I don't think Kanye is the genius he claims to be, even musically. He's a great producer and has made some really solid albums but until he takes care of himself and stops with all the hate speech and idiocy, I don't have time for him or his music.
Score reflects that I used to love this album but not enough to listen to it through the bullshit Kanye is up to.
Fatboy Slim
5/5
Amazing dance album. This one has always been in my library for a long time. The hits are great but nearly every song on here is a standout to me. Very catchy and fun vibes.
Standout Tracks: Right Here Right Now, The Rockafeller Skank, Gangster Trippin', Soul Surfing, Praise You, Love Island
Van Halen
2/5
Not a Van Halen guy. Nice, quick, 11 track 35 minute album though. A solid debut album if you're into this band's sound, which again I'm not really.
Standout Tracks: Runnin' with the Devil, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, Atomic Punk, Ice Cream Man
Aerosmith
2/5
My second Aerosmith album. Again, they don't do a lot for me aside from a few hits. I definitely liked this one more than 'Rocks' but not something I would put on again or listen to as a whole. I think I might like their 80s/90s comeback more than their original 70s run but haven't listened enough to know that for sure and a song like 'Sweet Emotion' is still better than any of these songs.
Standout Tracks: Young Lust, Water Song/Janie's Got a Gun, Hoodoo/Voodoo Medicine Man
Black Sabbath
5/5
This is a great album, I love Black Sabbath but have spent more time listening to their first three albums. So, this was a nice album to get today. So many solid songs, and I really like some of the diversity is genre that they're incorporating. I'll definitely listen to this one more from now on.
Standout Tracks: Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener, Changes, Supernaut, Snowblind, Laguna Sunrise
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Amazing album, I love it. I listened to it on repeat three times through today.
Standout Tracks: Badlands, Candy’s Room, Racing in the Street, The Promised Land, Streets of Fire, Prove It All Night, Darkness on the Edge of Town
Sebadoh
2/5
I feel like I should like Sebadoh but just never really have. Not sure what I’m missing because there are tons of similar bands from the era I really enjoy. I even got to see a reunion show of theirs back in the 00s. Not a bad album, just not what I’m looking for really.
I’m sure there were some but I was super busy and listening to this on the go, so I didn’t get a chance to write down standout tracks while I listened.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
What an amazing start to an album! I really loved the first four tracks and then felt like the album gets a little repetitive and hit a bit of a lull. Then, I feel like it picks right back up. 'Where Do I Begin' is such an unexpected, beautiful change of pace that still totally fits in to the album and works great as a penultimate track. This is a super solid album, will definitely add to my library and continue listening.
Standout Tracks: Block Rockin' Beats, Dig Your Own Hole, Elektrobank, Piku, Get Up On It Like This, Where Do I Begin, The Private Psychedelic Reel
Prince
2/5
This is an alright album. As someone who isn't a major Prince fan, I didn't recognize any hits but there were some good songs on it. I felt like this was more of a chore to get through though and don't think I'll revisit this one again, aside from the track "The Cross", which stands alone as a unique sounding track on this album that I really enjoyed.
Standout Tracks: Play In The Sunshine, Starfish And Coffee, U Got The Look, The Cross, It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
Leonard Cohen
4/5
A really beautiful album. It can start to feel a little one note over time, since he uses similar finger picking and vocal tone throughout but he has great lyric. I tend to gravitate more towards an album like "Death of a Ladies' Man" for my Leonard Cohen fix but this has some incredible songs on it.
Standout Tracks: Avalanche, Last Year's Man, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc
Finley Quaye
1/5
I really like some reggae but this album doesn't do much for me. I listened to it all the way through to be able to judge it fairly but was just left a little unimpressed. It just feels like 90s coffeehouse reggae, which is not something I'd ever put on in my everyday life. Tried to find a few standout tracks though that weren't just boring to me.
Standout Tracks: Your Love Gets Sweeter, Sweet and Loving Man
Metallica
3/5
This is obviously a solid metal album, I'm just not a huge metal fan. I can appreciate it but I doubt I'll find myself coming back to this album to listen to it all the way through again. The run time was also pretty lengthy for 9 tracks, which means that the tracks start to get a bit repetitive to a first time listener of the album.
Standout Tracks: ...And Justice for All, Eye of the Beholder, One
GZA
3/5
Solid hip hop album. I had it on in the background and enjoyed it but didn't do a great job of writing down standout tracks cause I was busy. I don't know that I'll add it to my regular rotation or anything but it was good.
Standout Tracks: Liquid Swords, 4th Chamber
The Doors
3/5
Not so much a fan of the real bluesy Doors stuff but this album has some good songs. I didn't know The Changeling before this listen, it's a cool opening track. The title track is by far the best in my opinion. Aside from the standout tracks I'm not a huge fan of the other songs but I don't hate them either, they're just kind of standard blues rock songs, which I find kind of boring.
Standout Tracks: The Changeling, L.A. Woman, Riders On The Storm
Nick Drake
5/5
I'm a big Nick Drake fan, so I've heard this album a number of times. It's beautiful. Nearly every song on it is a standout to me in it's own way.
Standout Tracks: Hazey Jane 2, At the Chime of a City Clock, One of These Things First, Hazey Jane I, Fly, Northern Sky
Silver Jews
5/5
David Berman is my favorite songwriter. I've heard this album countless times and love it. His lyrics are incredible, when listening to them, I turn into that annoying guy who needs to point out how great nearly every line is on its own. 5 out of 5. R.I.P. D.C.B.
Standout Tracks: Slow Education, Room Games and Diamond Rain, Time Will Break the World, I Remember Me, Horseleg Swastikas, Transylvania Blues, Let's Not and Say We Did, Tennessee, Friday Night Fever, Death of an Heir of Sorrows
Hole
3/5
I'm not a big Courtney Love fan based on interviews and her general attitude in public statements/things I've seen over the years but this is a pretty decent 90s pop-grunge album. I still don't think this would ever be something I started adding into my regular rotation but this was a good excuse to give the album a full listen through.
Standout Tracks: Violet, Doll Parts, Softer Softest
Stan Getz
4/5
I don't know a ton about bossa nova music but this is a really fun album. Super enjoyable, mellow music to have on in the background while I was working. Really amazing musicianship on every track. Not sure if it will go into my regular rotation but enough to make me check out other albums.
Standout Tracks: Desafinado, O Pato, E Luxo So, Bahia
Richard Hawley
1/5
I was optimistic when I saw that Richard Hawley is the guitarist for Pulp, who I like. So, I was expecting a more interesting, upbeat album but this one just really fell flat for me. Not many standouts at all but not offensively bad either, just king of boring to me.
Curious to know why the creators of this list felt that this belonged on here, considering I feel like this album is pretty derivative and there are plenty of albums that do this similar type of music better or before this album.
Standout Tracks: I Sleep Alone
Mj Cole
1/5
First thought: this music makes me feel like I'm browsing a shitty store at a mall.
Unfortunately, this didn't change as I sat through the rest of the album. I love good dance music but this feels like the most generic, blah version. I really don't understand why this is on the list as I feel like there have to be more groundbreaking or better versions of this subgenre of dance music. I don't hate it, I just personally find it very boring.
Standout Tracks: N/A
James Taylor
4/5
I think James Taylor is a great songwriter and I initially thought I'd be giving this album a 5/5. The standout tracks on this album are massive standouts for me, however, this album actually has some skip tracks for me as well. Some of the more bluesy songs I'm not as into. If I could I would probably give this album a 3.5, though since I know how strong James Taylor's output can be I'll round up to 4.
Standout Tracks: Sweet Baby James, Country Road, Fire and Rain, Anywhere like Heaven, Suite for 20 G
Beastie Boys
5/5
This album has such great sampling and rhymes. The Beastie Boys make such unique and fun music. Super solid album, it has me listening to more of their catalog today after going through this one.
Standout Tracks: Shake Your Rump, Egg Man, The Sounds of Science, Hey Ladies, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun, Car Thief, Shadrach
Sex Pistols
2/5
Decent British punk album. The Sex Pistols seemed to be pretty shitty people and I don't think this is by any mean a flawless album. I've listened to it plenty in the past and there are a number of skip tracks in my opinion. Really could be reduced to the two most famous singles to me, don't really see myself ever listening to this one end-to-end again.
Standout Tracks: Liar, God Save the Queen, Anarchy in the U.K., Pretty Vacant, EMI
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I like but don't love this album. Some of the tracks are really solid, 'The Killing Moon' in particular is one I've known and liked for a long time. Not an album I think I'd ever find myself adding into regular rotation but if these songs came on, I wouldn't turn it off either.
Standout Tracks: Silver, Crystal Days, The Killing Moon, My Kingdom
Funkadelic
4/5
This album has a great vibe to it. I don't know that I had ever listened to it all the way through until this sitting. 'Can You Get To That' is an all-time great song. This album feels very cohesive and I found lots to like on it. The longer opening and closing tracks serve as good psychedelic bookends. I'll definitely continue listening to this one.
Standout Tracks: Maggot Brain, Can You Get To That, Hit It and Quit It, Super Stupid, Back In Our Minds.
The Pogues
4/5
I'm not a big connoisseur of Celtic music but if I am ever in the mood for the genre, I go to the Pogues. They weave punk in with the folk and more traditional styles so well. 'Fairytale of New York' in particular is probably my favorite Christmas-themed song. In general a very fun, listenable album.
Standout Tracks: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Bottle of Smoke, Fairytale of New York, Fiesta, Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six, Lullaby of London, The Broad Majestic Shannon
Duran Duran
2/5
This is definitely not my preferred genre of 80s music and I wasn't a big fan of this album. The singles are decent and one additional track but I would never find myself coming back to this album. I don't like the production and the lyrics are cheesy/melodramatic to me but there are a few catchy tracks.
Standout Tracks: Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Hold Back the Rain.
Queen
3/5
Queen are such a unique band. I liked this album, though really not many hits on it. The standouts are solid songs but aside from that I don't think I'd spend much time listening to the other tracks, so I don't think I'd come back to this one as a record to listen to all the way through. Still solid though.
Standout Tracks: Brighton Rock, Killer Queen, Now I'm Here, Stone Cold Crazy, Misfire, She Makes Me (Stormtrooper in Stilettos)
David Bowie
5/5
This is an amazing album, so strong all the way through. I kept finding myself realizing a specific song was in fact a standout when the chorus hit. Of course the hits are incredible and some of the all time greatest songs in my opinion but nearly every song on this album is great. I love Bowie and such a solid earlier album. 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Eight Line Poem, Life On Mars?, Kooks, Quicksand, Andy Warhol, Queen Bitch
Pet Shop Boys
1/5
I was interested in listening to this one because the Pet Shop Boys are a group I've heard talked about a number of times but have never really taken the time to listen to.
Unfortunately, this music is not for me at all. It just feels like such shallow, 80s synth pop. The lyrics are pretty ridiculous based on my initial listen (ex. "Shopping"). I listened to the full album to give it a chance but didn't hear any tracks that really spoke to me or stood out. This is just not a genre of music I would ever choose to listen to again and if I was around more in the 80s, this wouldn't have been my go-to music.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Depeche Mode
1/5
Another 80s album that just doesn't really do much for me. The production choices on this type of synth-pop just make it feel so shallow. I'm not saying this isn't decent music, just not what I would ever choose to listen to as I have trouble connecting to the artists at all.
Standout Tracks: Never Let Me Down Again
Björk
4/5
I always had a soft spot for Bjork, especially in high school and early college. It's been a while since I've listened to one of her albums straight through. It's a solid album but I definitely have to be in a specific mood now to listen to Bjork. This only has a couple of songs that would make my list of favorites but it's still a good one. Really beautiful vocals.
Standout Tracks: Hidden Place, Cocoon, Undo, Sun In My Mouth, Unison
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
This album's alright. I like the opening track 'Theme' the most for sure. There's quite a bit of lazy/half-baked songs on this one but I actually think I like it more than the Sex Pistols album, though that at least had a few unarguable hits on it. I think I'm more interested in listening to 'Second Edition' after this one because this feels like he rushed it out after the Sex Pistols and I'm curious how/if the band evolved more.
Standout Tracks: Theme, Public Image
Gorillaz
4/5
This is a solid debut album from Gorillaz. This came out when I was in high school, so it does have a place in my consciousness and I definitely like the majority of the album. Very interesting mix of genres and strong songwriting. I'm a fan for sure.
Standout Tracks: Re-Hash, 5/4, Clint Eastwood, Punk, Rock the House, 19-2000 (and Soulchild Remix version), M1 A1
Ministry
1/5
I maybe have only done this one other time but I didn't even finish this one because I know it wasn't my thing. I enjoy good metal but this is not my style. I thought the vocals were bad and the lame jokey titles and vibe of the album did nothing for me. Not for me.
Standout Tracks: N/A
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
This is an incredible debut album. I really like the recurring theme of 'Can I Kick It?' throughout the album, it builds anticipation for the song, which is one of the best on the album. Q-Tip in particular has such a unique voice in hip hop and is one of my favorites. Pretty much solid all the way through, gotta give it 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Push It Along, After Hours, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It?, Youthful Expression, Mr. Muhammad, Ham 'N' Eggs, Go Ahead in the Rain
The xx
4/5
This is a really strong debut album. I like a lot of the songs, at the same time it's not something I find myself still listening to all that much. I definitely gave it a listen when it first came out and like the band though. Lots of standout songs on this one and honestly no skips or anything I couldn't just have on in the background, at the same time, like I said, not something I find myself coming back to a lot.
Standout Tracks: Intro, VCR, Crystalised, Islands, Shelter, Infinity
5/5
I already know this album is 5/5. I love it. David Bowie is one of my favorite artists and he's at the top of one of his many songwriting peaks on this album. I was lucky enough to see him live on his A Reality tour and it remains one of the best shows I've seen. All around an amazing album and artist way ahead of his time.
Standout Tracks: Five Years, Soul Love, Moonage Daydream, Starman, It Ain't Easy, Hang On to Yourself, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City, Rock 'N' Roll Suicide
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
This is a good Wailers album. I've always liked Bob Marley's music but honestly don't have a lot of exposure outside of a couple of albums, one of which being the Legend compilation. It was cool getting to listen to this one straight through and hear some deeper cuts. I plan to do this more with the Wailers other albums.
Standout Tracks: Concrete Jungle, Stop That Train, Baby We've Got a Date (Rock It Baby), Stir It Up, High Tide or Low Tide.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I'm not usually a big country listener but this was some good classic country. If I do listen to the genre, it's usually for artists like Townes Van Zandt or folkier stuff like John Prine and this album is closer enough to the style of country that I can enjoy. Emmylou Harris has a beautiful voice and I definitely gravitated towards the more upbeat songs on the album. I don't know how much I'll go back to it but it's a good listen.
Standout Tracks: If I Could Only Win Your Love, Before Believing, Bottle Let Me Down, Coat of Many Colors, Queen of the Silver Dollar, Hank and Lefty.
Various Artists
2/5
This is a compilation of good versions of Christmas songs with a weird outro track by Phil Spector, which kind of puts a weird taint on the album as a whole. These are great covers of these Christmas songs but I don’t see myself coming back to this album to listen to it as a whole.
No specific standout tracks because they’re all good versions and I didn’t dislike any except that last track, which is just Spector talking.
The Who
4/5
This is a really strong debut from the Who. I didn't really realize that they were this fully formed by their first album release. The instrumentation on this one is really cool, you can already tell they're going to be different than just another British invasion band, they have more interesting things to offer. The title track is a great way to close out the first half of the album, followed by a great start to side two with 'The Kids Are Alright'. This feels like punk before punk.
Standout Tracks: Out in The Street, I Don't Mind, The Good's Gone, My Generation, The Kids Are Alright, It's Not True, The Ox
Nina Simone
4/5
What an amazing voice and really unique, well-written songs. I've heard lots of Nina Simone but never sat with a full album, I'm glad I did. This album has a great mix of genres and all work well with Nina Simone's vocals.
Standout Tracks: I Love Your Lovin' Ways, Four Women, Lilac Wine, That's All I Ask, Break Down And Let It All Out, Either Way I Lose
Foo Fighters
4/5
A bit of nostalgia with this album. I was a big Foo Fighters fan back in middle and high school but have definitely fallen off over time. This is a really impressive debut album, especially as it was recorded in full by Dave Grohl. It's wild to me how this was released just a year after Nirvana ended, it feels like it could have been a decade and I would have loved to know how Nirvana fans at the time felt or expected from this album.
I still really like this album but it's not one I listen to all the much anymore. Maybe I'll give some early FF another listen again though because of this exercise. Really solid songs throughout.
Standout Tracks: This Is a Call, Big Me, Good Grief, Floaty, Weenie Beenie, Wattershed, Exhausted
Goldfrapp
3/5
This was an interesting album to get. I've never heard Goldfrapp before but have definitely seen the name and this album cover at record stores, so I wasn't sure what to expect at all.
I liked this album, it has good vibes. I'm interested to hear some other albums by Goldfrapp considering the wiki says this was a big departure from their more electronic/dance albums. I would definitely listen to this one again. Not sure that it will go into my library but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on and could see myself Shazaming some of these standout tracks if I heard them in a movie or at a restaurant. All in all, good album.
Standout Tracks: Clowns, Little Bird, Eat Yourself, Cologne Cerrone Houdini, Caravan Girl, Monster Love.
Cheap Trick
2/5
This was an interesting album to listen to as a more formal introduction to Cheap Trick. I really didn't know much about them aside from a few hits like 'Surrender' and 'I Want You to Want Me'.
This is definitely an energetic live album and it's cool to hear the reaction they're getting from the crowd. That being said, I could personally just listen to the few hits on this one and leave the rest. It's cool to hear 'Surrender' played for an arena of super fans the week it was released.
I don't think I'll be coming back to this one again. Not bad by any means, just not as impactful for me. It mostly just made me want to listen to another live album, like 'Stand In The Fire' by Warren Zevon.
Standout Tracks: Hello There, Come On Come On, I Want You to Want Me, Surrender
John Coltrane
4/5
Listening to this one slightly out of order as I didn't have time the day this one came up for me.
Listening to it the day after 'Bitches Brew' gave me a different perspective on it. As I mentioned, I don't have a deep knowledge or understanding of jazz music but this album is definitely more accessible for me and a completely different type of jazz music.
This is a really beautiful set of songs with raw recording choices and a live feel. I had a much easier time sitting back and enjoying this album. It flows super well and allows you to just appreciate the incredible musicianship.
Standout Tracks: Acknowledgement, Resolution, Pursuance
Miles Davis
2/5
As much as I want to be able to appreciate jazz, and as much as I know that this album is one of the most respected in it's genre, I just don't get it.
This type of jazz just doesn't really do much for me personally. I know Miles Davis is extremely talented and groundbreaking but I just have a really hard time getting into this album. I wish I understood it and could appreciate what others are hearing but I have to be honest.
The above sentences were written before listening to the second disc. I liked sides 3 and 4 a lot more than the first disc. It felt much less chaotic and brought in slightly more straightforward progressions they were riffing on.
My rating is just a reflection of where I'm at with the album and whether I think I'd ever find myself listening to it again by choice, not my feelings on the importance of the album. I know this is an important album. Maybe someday I'll come back to it and hopefully it will hit me right.
Standout Tracks: Spanish Key, Miles Runs the Voodoo Down
Talking Heads
4/5
This is a really strong debut album. I like but don't love Talking Heads. I think they're a really talented band and have a really unique sound but I tend to gravitate more towards their hits and have never really loved them enough to dig into their deeper cuts.
I knew a lot of the tracks on this album, which has a particularly solid second half. Much like Talking Heads as a whole, I really like but don't love this album. It does a great job of setting the table for what to expect from the band going forward.
Standout Tracks: New Feeling, Happy Day, Don't Worry About The Government, First Week / Last Week..... Carefree, Psycho Killer, Pulled Up
The Electric Prunes
2/5
This is a fine mid-60s garage rock album. I really love good psychedelia, though I feel like there's an issue in this era with a cool sounding band putting out an album with a few good semi-hits and then mostly filler tracks. It feels like the popularity of this type of music at the time was also its downfall because labels were quick to sign bands that fit the general vibe but didn't have a deep catalog. That's what this album feels like to me.
I can think of a number of other garage/psychedelic bands from this era that I'd go to before ever putting this album on again. This just sounds like a wannabe early Kinks or Sonics album. I think the strongest track is 'Get Me to the World On Time'.
Standout Tracks: Onie, Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less), Get Me to the World On Time, Luvin', Try Me On for Size
4/5
This was a big album for me because it was one of the first CDs I got as a kid. I hadn't listened to it straight through for a while though.
Maybe it's nostalgia but this album is still very solid to me. I was never a big Oasis follower aside from this album but this set of songs still hits hard. I think they're really good songwriters and get why they blew up in the mid-90s.
Standout Tracks: Roll With It, Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, Cast No Shadow, She's Electric, Champagne Supernova.
2/5
This is a decent album. Initially I didn't really like what I was hearing and didn't think I'd enjoy this album at all as it seemed that the first two tracks were supposed to be the more popular ones. The first track in general felt like a mediocre Kinks ripoff right from the opening chords.
As the album went on I enjoyed it more but still not one that I'll probably come back to. I've never really gotten into Blur. I don't think they're bad, I just don't hear them doing anything that unique or groundbreaking. I actually think Damon Albarn has become a more interesting songwriter in Gorillaz and even by the later Blur album 1997 ST album.
Standout Tracks: Star Shaped, Blue Jeans, Oily Water, Miss America, Turn It Up
George Harrison
5/5
This is a great album that I've already spent a lot of time listening to. I really wasn't expecting to add every song from the first disc as a standout but as I was re-listening to it, I couldn't help it, I really do love all those songs.
The only constructive criticism I have for this album is that I think it was kind of frontloaded. A lot of the second disc feels like jams or more b-side level songs, which aren't bad but would be less noticeable if they scattered them over two discs among the incredibly strong tracks on the first disc.
Standout Tracks: I'd Have You Anytime, My Sweet Lord, Wah-Wah, Isn't It A Pity (Version 1), What Is Life, If Not For You, Behind That Locked Door, Let It Down, Run Of The Mill, Beware Of Darkness, Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll), Awaiting On You All, Plug Me In.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
This is a solid debut album, I actually like it more than I remember linking 'Ocean Rain' (their other album I got earlier in this exercise) as a whole. That being said, again I like but don't love the album.
Some of the songs are really great, the two opening tracks in particular kick off the album in a great direction. Same overall takeaway as with 'Ocean Rain' though: not an album I think I'd ever find myself adding into regular rotation but if these songs came on, I wouldn't turn it off either.
Standout Tracks: Going Up, Do It Clean, Rescue, All That Jazz, Happy Death Men
The Beach Boys
5/5
I already know I love this album. It's going to be a 5/5. Excited to listen to it again today. There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about the incredible songwriting on this album. Brian Wilson is great.
Standout Tracks: Wouldn't It Be Nice, You Still Believe In Me, That's Not Me, Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder), I'm Waiting for the Day, Let's Go Away for a While, Sloop John B, God Only Knows, I Know There's an Answer, Here Today, I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, Caroline No
Chicago
3/5
This is an interesting album. I was kind of looking forward to listening to it because I definitely know a few Chicago songs but really don't know anything about their style or what a full album would be like.
I can't say I'm a fan but the album definitely improves as it goes on. It started out with some horn-heavy, jazzy, prog rock songs that are not my thing at all. As the album progressed it falls into more rock and jam-based songs. 'South California Purples' in particular almost sounds like Cream. Then, there's a crazy track like 'Free Form Guitar', which is basically just noise rock. It's cool they jump around but doesn't make for a very cohesive album.
Standout Tracks: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, Beginnings, Poem 58, I'm a Man, Liberation.
Beastie Boys
4/5
This is a great debut album by the Beastie Boys. Lots of fun hits on it. I do think they only got better from here though. I had this album growing up and listened to it a ton. It's a great intro into their music and vibe.
Standout Tracks: Rhymin' & Stealin', Slow Ride, Girls, Fight for Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Paul Revere, Brass Monkey, Slow and Low
Throwing Muses
2/5
This one didn't do a lot for me. I didn't really dislike it but I wasn't in love with any of the tracks either. Only a few songs stood out to me. I like a lot of other artists from this generation/genre (The Pixies for instance) but I just wasn't taken by this album.
Standout Tracks: Hate My Way, Soul Soldier
The 13th Floor Elevators
5/5
This is a great psychedelic rock album and a great debut by the 13th Floor Elevators. I've definitely listened to this one before but mostly remembered the song 'You're Gonna Miss Me', as I think it's easily their most popular.
I really enjoyed this one. The "amplified jug" playing, which almost sounds like a Theremin, adds a cool vibe to most of the songs. These guys were out their in 60s Austin, TX doing it right before many others in the genre.
Standout Tracks: You're Gonna Miss Me, Roller Coaster, Splash 1, Reverberation, Fire Engine, You Don't Know, Tried to Hide
Roxy Music
4/5
This is a really solid album. I'm a Roxy Music fan, somewhat of a casual fan but definitely like a lot of their music. I've spent some time with this album before but it had been a little while. I wouldn't say it has any of their bigger hits on it but a strong album throughout.
Standout Tracks: The Thrill of It All, Three and Nine, Out of the Blue, Casanova, A Really Good Time, Prairie Rose
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Again, don't know a ton about jazz but this is a really beautiful album. It's an easy one to just have on and do work or whatever. The bassist is amazing but some of the solos come off a little sloppy and don't feel like they fit in with the heart of the songs. Still a very good album, I just like it most when all three are playing together.
Standout Tracks: My Man's Gone Now, Alice In Wonderland (Take 2), All of You (Take 2), Alice In Wonderland (Take 1), All of You (Take 3), Jade Visions (Take 1)
Pink Floyd
5/5
This album is one I've always really enjoyed. I was into Pink Floyd and classic rock in general a lot more back in my middle school and high school, so I don't listen to this as much but it was always one of my favorites and still holds up.
Standout Tracks: Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pts. 1-5, Have a Cigar, Wish You Were Here, Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pts. 6-9
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This is a really dark and beautiful album. The subject matter is heavy but also feels hopeful and positive. I definitely liked this album, at the same time I'm not sure how often I'll come back to it as I don't think it's a necessarily easy listen. This feels like a really amazing, heavy movie that I'm glad I watched but don't know that I'll come back to. Still giving it a high rating though because of what it accomplishes and it's strength.
Standout Tracks: Bright Horses, Sun Forest, Galleon Ship, Leviathan, Ghosteen, Fireflies
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
I really like this album. On the surface it's a fun, easy going funk album but the lyrics definitely touch on more serious topics. I didn't have enough time to really dig into the lyrical content as much as I'd like because I listened to this one while working but I'll definitely spend some more time listening to it. Love the album artwork of the alternate flag Sly created as well.
Standout Tracks: Luv N' Haight, Poet, Family Affair, Africa Talks to You ("The Asphalt Jungle"), Brave & Strong, Spaced Cowboy, Runnin' Away, Thank You for Talkin' to Me Africa
The Roots
3/5
This is a pretty solid hip hop album. I feel like it's got about a 50/50 hit rate for me. I don't think I'd ever find myself listening to this one straight through again but I'd definitely come back to specific tracks.
I think I'd only ever heard "The Seed (2.0)" before this listen, still think it's my favorite track, except for maybe "Rock You" into "!!!!!!!". I like that there's a little mix of genres with tracks like "!!!!!!!" and "Thirsty!".
Standout Tracks: Rock You, !!!!!!!, Sacrifice, The Seed (2.0), Quills, Thirsty!
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
This is a great album. It took me a little while to get into Springsteen, mostly because I misinterpreted a lot of what he was about based on the title track of this album. When I was younger I incorrectly thought this was a pro-America, jingoistic rallying cry. I also didn't grow up with his music in my house.
I have a good friend who is a massive Springsteen fan and would play this album a lot at the restaurant we worked at and it really turned me into a fan. It's not my favorite of his albums but it's really strong songwriting and all great songs.
Standout Tracks: Born In the U.S.A., Darlington County, Working On The Highway, Downbound Train, I'm On Fire, No Surrender, I'm Goin' Down, Glory Days, Dancing In the Dark
Germs
1/5
I'm a fan of punk but this isn't my kind of punk. On first listen it just comes across as super unrelenting and unintelligible. Hard to really pick out any standout tracks, given that it all just kind of has the same feel to me on the first listen.
Standout Tracks: N/A.
Sonic Youth
3/5
This album is alright. I like but don't love Sonic Youth. They're a super cool band and I really love certain songs but I also feel like their catalog is full of throwaway tracks. I don't love the talk-singing choice when they do that. When it comes to 80s-90s college rock, I lean way more towards Pavement (one of my favorite bands).
I definitely respect Sonic Youth but, aside from Daydream Nation, I don't find myself ever getting the urge to put on one of their albums and listen to it all the way through.
Standout Tracks: Dirty Boots, Kool Thing, Disappearer
The Damned
4/5
This is a really fun album. I have never really gotten into the Damned but have always been interested. I didn't recognize any of the songs on this album besides 'Smash It Up', which I definitely think is the best track on the album and will go into my rotation. Solid album, really liked it!
Standout Tracks: Melody Lee, Anti-Pope, Plan 9 Channel 7, Looking at You, Smash It Up (Pts. 1 & 2)
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I really love this album. Joni Mitchell is a great songwriter and has a beautiful voice. There are no skips on this album and nearly every song is a standout to me. 5/5.
Standout Tracks: All I Want, Little Green, Carey, Blue, California, This Flight Tonight, River, A Case of You, The Last Time I Saw Richard
Bob Dylan
4/5
I'm a big Bob Dylan fan but I have to admit my fandom generally drops off after his 70s albums, so I haven't listened to this one in full. I know Dylan has had great later albums, I liked what I've listened to of 'Rough and Rowdy Ways', so I was excited to have this album come up.
This is a really strong album that hits a good tone/vibe as far as later Dylan is concerned. I definitely knew some of the songs beforehand, like 'Not Dark Yet', which is great. Surprised to find out that this album won Album of the Year in '98. I'd have voted for OK Computer but of those nominated, I can see this as a second pick. Bob Dylan is a great songwriter and I think that shines through on these songs.
Standout Tracks: Love Sick, Standing In the Doorway, Trying to Get to Heaven, Not Dark Yet, Cold Irons Bound, Make You Feel My Love, Highlands
Sigur Rós
5/5
I've always loved this album. I first heard it when I was in high school, a few years after it initially came out and listened to it pretty regularly in those years, so it holds a special place for me.
It's just really beautiful songwriting and instrumentation. Very cinematic music.
Standout Tracks: Svefn-G-Englar, Starálfur, Flugufrelsarinn, Viðrar vel til loftárása, Olsen Olsen, Ágætis byrjun
Guided By Voices
4/5
I really like this album. I've actually been listening to it a bit lately already because I've always been interested in Guided By Voices but was intimidated by their massive catalog. I asked some coworkers who are into GBV on recommendations for which album to start with and they pointed me towards 'Alien Lanes'.
For being a 28-track album, it breezes by, probably because it's also only 41 minutes. This can be both a positive and a negative though cause there are really catchy songs I wish would go on longer or would develop a bit more. But I also have to admire that they're willing to take an amazing melody or concept and not wear it out by forcing it into a 5 minute track (the longest song is under 3 min at 2:58), just make it a 90 second song and go onto the next one. I can always just listen to those ones again if I want more.
Standout Tracks: A Salty Salute, Watch Me Jumpstart, As We Go Up We Go Down, Game of Pricks, Closer You Are, My Valuable Hunting Knife, King and Caroline, Ex-Supermodel, Blimps Go 90, Little Whirl, My Son Cool, Alright
King Crimson
3/5
I'm just not a prog rock guy. I find it kind of exhausting. That being said, this isn't an awful record, it's just not really my thing.
There were a few tracks that I could enjoy but overall I can't really see myself choosing to put this one on again.
Standout Tracks: Exiles, Easy Money, The Talking Drum (enjoyed parts of this song)
Depeche Mode
2/5
Depeche Mode just doesn't really do much for me. I definitely like this album more than 'Music for the Masses' but really only because of two tracks "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence". These two songs are great and one's that I'd definitely come back to but aside from them I was pretty underwhelmed by this album.
I went back and checked my other Depeche Mode review and still feel like this general sentiment resonates for me with this album (aside for the two songs mentioned above):
The production choices on this type of synth-pop make it feel shallow. It's not that it isn't decent music, just not what I would ever choose to listen to as I have trouble connecting to the artists at all.
Standout Tracks: Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Blue Dress
Muddy Waters
4/5
This is a really good live album. I'm not a big blues guy but Muddy Waters is pretty undeniable. These are just such catchy, fun songs.
Standout Tracks: I Got My Brand On You, I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man, Baby Please Don't Go, Tiger In Your Tank, I Feel So Good, I've Got My Mojo Working, Meanest Woman
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Strong debut album, very listenable. I've always liked Tom Petty's music when I hear it but have never dived too deep into it. This is definitely the first time I've listened to this album all the way through. It had me listening to more of his music after I was done with this album, which is one of the main indicators of a successful album for me.
Standout Tracks: Breakdown, The Wild One Forever, Anything That's Rock 'N' Roll, Mystery Man, American Girl
Iron Maiden
4/5
I honestly don't think I've ever sat down and listened to Iron Maiden, which feels like a huge blind spot but this is a really solid album. Aside from a few exceptions, I don't listen to a ton of metal. I kind of had different expectations for Iron Maiden.
These are good, melodic songs and catchy choruses. I liked this one way more than I was expecting to.
Standout Tracks: Children of the Damned, The Prisoner, The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name
Os Mutantes
5/5
I've been a fan of this album for a long time. Amazing tropicalia psychedlic album. Super fun and catchy. 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Panis Et Circenses, A Minha Menina, Adeus Maria Fulô, Baby, Bat Macumba, Trem Fantasma, Tempo No Tempo, Ave Gengis Khan
5/5
It's a great album, loved it since I first heard it in high school. I can remember where I was the first time I heard this record and it really changing my understanding of the Beatles' music. It led me into their later albums and will always hold a special place for me. It's a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, With a Little Help From My Friends, Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds, Getting Better, Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite!, Within You Without You, Lovely Rita, Good Morning Good Morning, A Day In the Life
Bebel Gilberto
1/5
I didn't dislike this album but also don't really see why it's included on this list. It just feels like very run-of-the-mill bossa nova/easy listening music. Sounds like something you'd hear in a Starbucks or an elevator. That sounds harsh but again, this isn't horrible, just unremarkable.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Ute Lemper
1/5
Second day in a row I've got an album that really makes me question what criteria was used to create this list. Again, not an album that I hate but it's an album of mostly cover songs (why would there be a cover album on here?) in an adult contemporary style. Not a fan of this one.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Malcolm McLaren
5/5
This is a really fun album. I've never heard of this one but really enjoyed it. Lots of upbeat songs with a unique theme and flow to the album. The interstitial radio-style talking and introductions give everything a really cohesive feel.
I can definitely see the influence this album has had on modern music. Glad this one came up in my feed today.
Standout Tracks: Obatala, Buffalo Gals, Double Dutch, Merengue, Punk It Up, Jive My Baby, Soweto
Beatles
5/5
I love The Beatles, great album. 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), You Won't See Me, Nowhere Man, Think For Yourself, Michelle, Girl, I'm Looking Through You, In My Life, If I Needed Someone
Joy Division
5/5
I've always really loved this album and Joy Division in general. Really solid songwriting and sound, though I see the band's issue with the production not being a powerful as they'd like compared to their live sound.
I was waffling between a 4 and 5 on this one but since there's no 4.5, I'm gonna have to round up to 5. New Order is great but I wish we could have heard more from Ian Curtis and Joy Division as well because I feel like they were just getting started. Bonus: some of the coolest album art out there.
Standout Tracks: Disorder, Day of the Lords, Insight, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Interzone
Mudhoney
3/5
This album was alright. I've heard of the band Mudhoney a lot because I liked a lot of other grunge but for whatever reason never really took the time to listen to them.
I wasn't blown away by this album, felt like pretty generic early 90s grunge. A few tracks did standout above the rest but still nothing I think I'd find myself coming back to in the future.
Standout Tracks: Good Enough, Into the Drink, Broken Hands, Pokin' Around
The Who
2/5
This is a weird album by the Who. I haven't seen the film Tommy in a long time and don't remember much about it but after listening to this album and reading the wiki, this plot is way over contrived.
The songs are mostly mediocre, with the big standout being 'Pinball Wizard'. Aside from that track, I could mostly lose the whole album. Also, has a super creepy song on it that I'd rather never hear again. I like the Who but can't give this album much of a recommendation.
Standout Tracks: Amazing Journey, Sparks, Pinball Wizard, Go To The Mirror!, I'm Free
Radiohead
5/5
This is a great album. I really enjoy Radiohead and their albums were big for me in high school. This and Kid A together are an amazing set of albums. For whatever reason I felt like people would always make you pick which of the two was your favorite back then and I tended to lean towards Kid A. But now I'm an adult and we don't have to choose. 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Packt Like Sardines In a Crushd Tin Box, Pyramid Song, You And Whose Army?, I Might Be Wrong, Knives Out, Morning Bell/Amnesiac, Dollars and Cents, Like Spinning Plates, Life In a Glasshouse
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
This is a really solid debut album and important for early hip hop. You can really hear the roots of choices that went on to influence so many other rappers. Specifically I feel like I can hear their influence on what the Beastie Boys would go on to do.
Standout Tracks: Hard Times, Jam-Master Jay, Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1), It's Like That, Jay's Game
Beck
4/5
I'm a fan of this album. It's definitely a sad bastard type record, so I have to be in the right mood for it but the songwriting is really strong. I've listened to this one off and on since it first came out and it definitely reminds me of a specific time in my life.
Beautiful songs, trying to decide between a 4 and 5 because there are definitely Beck albums I'd go to more often and first (Odelay, One Foot in the Grave and parts of Mellow Gold) but this is still such a strong record.
Standout Tracks: The Golden Age, Guess I'm Doing Fine, Lost Cause, End of the Day, It's All In Your Mind, Already Dead, Sunday Sun
Faust
4/5
I really liked this album. I don't have any specific memory of hearing or even hearing about Faust before, which is rare for the albums that have come up on this list. I don't have much knowledge of the krautrock genre but this album made me want to go check out more of Faust's records.
Standout Tracks: Krautrock, Jennifer, Giggy Smile, It's a Bit of a Pain
Elvis Presley
4/5
This is a solid Elvis album. I really like this era where he's singing more soulful songs and seems to have a bit more integrity in the choices he's making still.
Standout Tracks: Wearin' That Loved On Look, Long Black Limousine, I'm Movin' On, Power of My Love, After Loving You, Any Day Now, In the Ghetto
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
This album is fun, it's also a pretty odd concept but overall it has a good vibe and is easy to listen to.
I don't know much I can say about this one except I definitely recognize a number of the tracks from being sampled in other songs. I didn't know this album existed but enjoyed listening to it.
Standout Tracks: Let There Be Drums, Apache, Bongolia, In a Gadda Da Vida, Raunchy '73, Bongo Rock '73
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
This is a decent album of early rockabilly songs. It would have been interesting to see what else Buddy Holly would have done if he hadn't have passed away before his time. I feel like he has this iconic status because he died so young, which makes sense but also means it's untested.
He's got a great urgency to his vocals on some of the songs (Oh Boy! for one) that doesn't match his buttoned up/nerdy façade. I liked a lot of the songs on here and it was an easy 26-min listen but doesn't quite reach the 4 star level, I'd have gone 3.5 if it were allowed.
Standout Tracks: Oh Boy!, Not Fade Away, Maybe Baby, That'll Be the Day, Rock Me My Baby
The Gun Club
4/5
This is a strong album, especially for a debut. I've never taken the time to listen to The Gun Club, though their name is definitely familiar.
At first I felt like they were just kind of an alright Pixies sounding band but then looking at when this album came out, I realized they were before the Pixies and were probably a big influence on their sound. I grew up listening to the Pixies, so it's odd no one ever pointed me in the direction of The Gun Club because it seems like a pretty direct route.
Standout Tracks: Sex Beat, She's Like Heroin to Me, For the Love of Ivy, Ghost on the Highway, Goodbye Johnny
Ray Charles
3/5
This is a good album of standards arranged and played by Ray Charles but I'd much rather listen to an album of original Ray Charles songs.
Standout Tracks: Let the Good Times Roll, You Won't Let Me Go, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
This is a really great album. I've listened to it before but really enjoyed it even more this time around. I listened to it a couple of times throughout the day.
Standout Tracks: This Year's Girl, Pump It Up, Little Triggers, You Belong To Me, Lip Service, Night Rally, Big Tears, Radio Radio
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
I've been a big Belle & Sebastian fan since I got into them in high school and this is a great debut album. They already sound so fully realized. The lyrics and songwriting is super strong. I still listen to this one often outside of this exercise, so this was an easy listen.
Standout Tracks: The State I'm In, You're Just A Baby, I Could Be Dreaming, We Rule The School, My Wandering Days Are Over, I Don't Love Anyone, Mary Jo
Blood, Sweat & Tears
1/5
This type of jazz rock is really not my thing. Not a fan of this album, it just feels very dated and cheesy.
I was real surprised to see that the album won the Grammy for Album of the Year and went quadruple platinum. It's telling to me that this album was so successful at the time but was never recommended by anyone when I was growing up as a big music fan, especially compared to lots of other classic rock that maybe didn't have this same mainstream success.
I've definitely heard some of these songs in pop culture but would never come back to listen to this album. Constant decisions that just don't work for me.
Standout Tracks: N/A
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
I really like this album and The Chemical Brothers in general. I need to spend more time with their music cause I really liked 'Dig Your Own Hole' as well when it came up on here for me previously.
This is a really strong debut and I love the psychedelic rock vibes mixed in with the acid house. I would have really dug seeing them live if I could have back when this came out.
Standout Tracks: Leave Home, In Dust We Trust, Chemical Beats, Chico's Groove, One Too Many Mornings, Life Is Sweet, Alive Alone
Heaven 17
2/5
Not a big fan of the production of this album. It feels very hollow and dated but there are a few decent/catchy songs. I feel like I'm digging some of the lyrics and the point of view of the writers but just don't love the finished product.
Standout Tracks: Penthouse and Pavement, The Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)
The Specials
4/5
I'm not generally a big ska fan but this is a solid album. If I was going to choose to listen to ska, which again I probably wouldn't do this, I can't think of another album I'd choose.
The rating reflects the mix between it being such a strong album but I'm knocking a star off because if I'm being honest I probably won't come back to this one too often, just because I don't know the next time I'll want to listen to ska.
Standout Tracks: A Message to You Rudy, It's Up To You, Nite Klub, Monkey Man, (Dawning of A) New Era, Blank Expression, Too Much Too Young, Little Bitch, You're Wondering Now
Moby Grape
5/5
This is a really good album. I've listened to Skip Spence a little bit before but for some reason never dug deeper to find out about this band he was in. Has real strong Buffalo Springfield vibes, which is up my alley.
I already have some people I'm going to recommend this to, so I've got to give it a high rating.
Standout Tracks: Hey Grandma, Fall On You, 8:05, Come in the Morning, Omaha, Naked If I Want To, Someday, Changes, Indifference
Beck
3/5
I like Beck but kind of found this to be a middling album for him. I definitely recognized a number of the songs but realized I never really gave this one too much time when it came out.
There were a few standouts but for the most part it felt like this album was just going through the motions.
Standout Tracks: E-Pro, Qué Onda Guero, Black Tambourine, Emergency Exit
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is a very strong album by Led Zeppelin, following two other strong albums, all within two years. I grew up really loving Zeppelin and so many of these songs are the reason why. Solid, 5/5.
Also, unrelated to the great music, I've always loved this album cover.
Standout Tracks: Immigrant Song, Friends, Celebration Day, Gallows Pole, Tangerine, That's the Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Johnny Cash
4/5
I really enjoy this album. It's a super interesting concept for a live album and adds a different layer of meaning with the choice of songs he went with for this concert. I like that they keep the banter in between songs and it's nice to hear Johnny Cash break a bit and laugh during certain songs.
Some of the songs start to feel similar when played one after another here and I feel take a bit of a dip in the middle but then pick back up. It's a quick and enjoyable listen too for how many songs are on the track list. Overall, I feel like this is a really strong live album with a cool concept.
Standout Tracks: Folsom Prison Blues, I Still Miss Someone, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Orange Blossom Special, The Wall, Jackson, I Got Stripes, Greystone Chapel
The Smiths
3/5
Morrissey has turned into an idiotic, whiny racist (or maybe he always was), so fuck him. I will rate this one just based on the music and since I always really enjoyed The Smiths and the band's instrumentation.
Overall, this album is just OK. The Smiths were a great band but this just feels like they're going through the motions a bit and not really pushing themselves. I was really surprised to read that both Morrissey and Johnny Marr felt that this was their best album. Only had a few standout tracks in my opinion and the rest could kind of happen in the background without me really noticing.
Standout Tracks: I Started Something I Couldn't Finish, Girlfriend In a Coma, Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before, Paint a Vulgar Picture
Nightmares On Wax
1/5
This music is just not my thing. It's not bad at all, I just find it boring personally. I feel like I've heard it or something that sounds very similar in 1,000 coffee shops over the years.
My rating isn't a knock on the musicianship or even the music itself, just not music for me.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
This is a really strong album and a solid debut.
I'm only going with a 4/5 because I think his next couple of albums are even stronger and I enjoy the direction he goes from here. This is impressive though and totally sets the vibe for his sound and how it will expand.
Standout Tracks: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle, Money Trees, Poetic Justice, Sing About Me I'm Dying of Thirst, Compton
R.E.M.
4/5
This is a good debut album from R.E.M. I like a lot of tracks on here and it's an enjoyable listen throughout. Definitely has the 80s/early 90s college rock sound down that they helped bring to the mainstream.
Overall a strong album but at they same time I've never personally spent a ton of time getting into REM and I don't think this album will push me into more regular listening.
Standout Tracks: Radio Free Europe, Laughing, Talk About the Passion, Moral Kiosk, Sitting Still, Shaking Through
Carpenters
1/5
Not a fan of this album.
I've never really gotten into the Carpenters and now I think I know why. I know that certain people really like their music but I don't really understand the point of this album. It's a bunch of easy listening, lesser versions of mostly decent songs. I'd start to recognize a song and think I was in for a good one and then it would break into their composition of it and immediately would be disappointed.
Standout Tracks: We've Only Just Begun
Venom
3/5
This is a solid metal album. I've never been super into metal but can definitely appreciate it. You can still hear the influence this band/album have on metal bands today.
I don't see myself coming back to this one a lot in the future but actually enjoyed listening to it today.
Standout Tracks: Black Metal, Raise the Dead, Leave Me In Hell
Jimmy Smith
4/5
I like this album a lot. Very chill music and I love the sound of the organ. The title track is definitely my favorite but it's consistently solid throughout.
Standout Tracks: Back At the Chicken Shack, When I Grow Too Old To Dream, Messy Bessie
White Denim
5/5
I really liked this album. I was surprised how much actually because I think I had incorrectly prejudged White Denim in the past, assuming they were more of a hipster type band based on their name.
The music is dynamic and interesting, they actually remind me a lot of the Montreal band Plants and Animals. Also, had hints of Radiohead at times but also some folk/country-ish vibes to it. Solid album and will definitely look into more of their catalog.
Standout Tracks: It's Him!, Back at the Farm, Street Joy, Anvil Everything, River to Consider, Keys
Tito Puente
4/5
This is a really fun record. I don't know the mambo genre well or at all really but I have heard of Tito Puente and enjoyed this album a lot. I don't know that it's something I'll come back to too often but I'd never turn it off.
Standout Tracks: El Cayuco, Llego Mijan (Son Montuno), Cuando Te Vea, Hong Kong Mambo, Varsity Drag, Agua Limpia Todo
Ride
5/5
I really love this album. I've definitely listened to it in the past and am not sure why it never went into my regular rotation. I've always liked shoegaze and think they do a great job of balancing the heavy effects with good songwriting, it doesn't just wash out the whole sound.
Side note: Some of my favorite album artwork.
Standout Tracks: Seagull, In a Different Place, Polar Bear, Dreams Burn Down, Vapour Trail
Eurythmics
3/5
This album is interesting. It's not particularly my kind of music but I didn't really dislike it either.
I really only know Eurythmics by the title track of this album, so I didn't know what to expect. I was surprised/hopeful based on the first track because it was giving me strong LCD Soundsystem vibes. The rest of the album kind of dips, aside from a few standouts. 'Jennifer' was my favorite track by far.
Standout Tracks: Love is a Stranger, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Jennifer
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
I like this album, it's a fun film soundtrack. Not sure how often I'll come back to it as a whole but maybe would favorite a couple of tracks. The title music intro track is real cool and trippy, then 'Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai' is a highlight in my opinion.
This one is right between a 3 and 4, I'd give it a 3.5 if I could.
Standout Tracks: Title Music (Shalimar), One Two Cha Cha Cha, Naag Devta, Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai, Baby Let's Dance Together
Coldplay
4/5
I've got to admit that this is a really well written album. There are a lot of catchy, well crafted songs. I'm not a big Coldplay fan but I do remember listening to this album when it came out and enjoying it. It's probably been since the year it came out that I've listened to it all the way through but that's probably my own thing for thinking they were too mainstream of a band and not "cool" enough.
I've got to give it up for this album though. They wrote some really strong acoustic, pop/rock songs. It makes sense that this album kind of catapulted them to the next level and made them a mainstream band. Not sure if that could still happen today with this genre of album, regardless of the strength of the songwriting.
Standout Tracks: Politik, In My Place, The Scientist, Clocks, Daylight, Warning Sign, Amsterdam
Al Green
5/5
This one is a classic. Not a bad song on the album. Really loved listening to this one multiple times throughout the day. Nothing bad to say about it. 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Let's Stay Together, La-La for You, So You're Leaving, What Is This Feeling, Old Time Lovin', How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, It Ain't No Fun to Me
Dr. John
2/5
This album doesn't do a lot for me. The opening track is mostly interesting and some of the more psychedelic moments throughout are cool but I didn't find the music to do much for me one way or another aside from that.
Standout Tracks: Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
Bee Gees
3/5
This is an interesting album. It started off really strong, with the song "Israel" probably being my favorite. Then, I feel like it never really gets back to that high, though I think there are some good songs throughout.
I had always heard the Bee Gees were more than just their disco hits, so it was cool hearing this earlier music. It makes me want to dig deeper into their early catalog.
Standout Tracks: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, Israel, Somebody Stop the Music, Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself
Beatles
5/5
I'm a big Beatles fan and love this album. It's a 5/5 for me.
Standout Tracks: Come Together, Something, Oh! Darling, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Here Comes the Sun, Because, You Never Give Me Your Money, Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam, She Came In Through the Bathroom Window, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End, Her Majesty
Kate Bush
5/5
This is a great album. Kate Bush has a fantastic voice and the songwriting on this is really strong. I've definitely listened to this one before and have heard the hits a lot but it was good to sit with this one all the way through again.
Also love this album artwork and only just noticed the dogs in it somehow. I think I had always just looked at her and missed that detail.
Standout Tracks: Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God), Hounds of Love, The Big Sky, Cloudbusting, Watching You Without Me, Hello Earth, The Morning Fog
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This is a good album but I'm a bigger fan of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds earlier, more post punk albums. I was sleepy this morning while listening to this one and it nearly put me to sleep.
The songs are really pretty and I don't necessarily dislike any of them, it's just not my preferred style for their music. Still a lot of really strong songwriting on this album and I appreciate what they're doing.
Standout Tracks: Into My Arms, There Is a Kingdom, (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?, Idiot Prayer
Dusty Springfield
3/5
This is a decent album. I liked a number of the songs but a number of them were forgettable to me as well. I've never known much of Dusty Springfield's music besides 'Son of a Preacher Man' but she has a great voice.
I have to go with a middling rating, since the album was a bit hit and miss to me, there are a couple of really strong songs on here though.
Standout Tracks: So Much Love, Son of a Preacher Man, Don't Forget About Me, No Easy Way Down
This is a decent album. I really like some of Faces songs and the standout tracks on this one are great but aside from that, it kind of just feels like filler. Rod Stewart has a great voice and when Faces are hitting, I love the vibe of their music. Other times it just feels like generic blues rock, which I know a lot of these British rock bands were obsessed with.
Standout Tracks: Miss Judy's Farm, You're So Rude, Stay With Me, Debris
Eagles
1/5
Not a big Eagles fan. I've never really liked their vibe much, especially Don Henley's persona. I think the cover photo is the best thing this album has going for it. Take It Easy is mostly solid as well but that was written by Jackson Browne.
Standout Tracks: Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling
Paul Simon
4/5
I've heard this album so much throughout growing up, it's just one of those albums that everyone seems to like a lot and is always on.
I had a coworker that used to come into our restaurant for his midday shift and switch this album on every day for like a year. That kind of wore me out on it but it's a pretty undeniably catchy record.
Very upbeat vibes, with great instrumentation and songwriting. Even though I've been down on this album at times, it's difficult to knock it.
Standout Tracks: Graceland, I Know What I Know, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al, Under African Skies
Nirvana
5/5
I've been a big Nirvana fan since I discovered their music when I was in middle school. Still really love their music and this album is great. 5/5.
Didn't plan on calling every track a standout beforehand but as I listened through again found that I genuinely like every song on this album.
Standout Tracks: Serve the Servants, Scentless Apprentice, Heart-Shaped Box, Rape Me, Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle, Dumb, Very Ape, Milk It, Pennyroyal Tea, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, Tourette's, All Apologies
Franz Ferdinand
2/5
I know this is a catchy record for the most part but Franz Ferdinand's music just never really did anything for me. It all has a very predictable feel to me and I never really dug this genre of super angular, exacting, mathy guitar playing and drums. I don't know a better way to describe it but it all just feels very shallow to me.
This came out when I was in high school and should have fit into the indie catalog I was into at the time but it just didn't and still doesn't do much for me. I was a big fan of the Strokes and am still blown away by their first album, which I feel like people group this in with but this album is just lacking something for me.
Standout Tracks: Jacqueline, Take Me Out
Aphex Twin
3/5
This was an alright album. I didn't dislike anything on it but I like other Aphex Twin music more. I just found it kind of boring and more of background music than anything, so not a lot stood out to me. Not bad at all, just not great either.
Standout Tracks: Xtal, Pulsewidth, Heliosphan
Air
2/5
This album isn't bad, I just find it a bit boring. I feel like I've heard so many albums like this one, very much coffeehouse music. I liked the few standout tracks but the rest served as background.
Standout Tracks: Sexy Boy, Ce Matin-Là, Le voyage de Pénélope
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. I've heard a bit of Jorge Ben's music in the past and liked it a lot as well, so I was excited to get this album. It's inspired me to go check out more of his work. He's great at blending and crossing between genres, so I'll be interested to hear more.
Standout Tracks: Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma), O Filósofo, Taj Mahal, Xica da Silva, Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado, África Brasil (Zumbi)
Kanye West
1/5
Nah, I'm good.
I've listened to this album plenty in the past, back when I could do so and actually enjoy it. Kanye has gone so off the rails that I have no interest in streaming his music and supporting him. I know he struggles with mental health issues and I hope he figures it out but he's also an anti-Semite, so I just can't enjoy his music and put that all out of my head.
Standout Tracks: N/A
The Smiths
5/5
Same preamble as before: Morrissey has turned into an idiotic, whiny racist (or maybe he always was), so fuck him. I will rate this one just based on the music and since I always really enjoyed The Smiths and the band's instrumentation.
This album is pretty amazing. Nearly every track on this one is a standout in my opinion. Really incredible guitar work by Johnny Marr and great songwriting throughout.
Standout Tracks: The Queen is Dead, Frankly Mr. Shankly, Cemetry Gates, Bigmouth Strikes Again, The Boy with the Thorn in His Side, There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
k.d. lang
1/5
This album is not my thing. It just has a very cheesy feeling to the whole thing. It doesn't seem that she wrote any of the songs or played instruments either, so I don't understand how she has her own album. Her voice is decent but nothing truly unique, so that wouldn't seem to justify it.
This is some weird combo between smooth jazz and country that couldn't be less cool to me.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Laura Nyro
2/5
I was interested when this album came up because I'd never heard of it or even of Laura Nyro, so I was hoping it would be a hidden gem I'd be getting to discover. Unfortunately, it's not really my thing. I found it to be a little sleepy for the most part and only a couple of tracks stood out to me.
This one was just a little too jazzy for my tastes but she's clearly a talented songwriter. Either way, I can't rate it too high because I can't see myself ever giving it another listen.
Standout Tracks: Stoned Soul Picnic, Woman's Blues
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
This is a really strong album and wild I didn't realize all of these songs were part of a soundtrack. Makes me want to watch Superfly sometime soon, so I can see where all of these songs fit into the narrative.
Curtis Mayfield is an amazing musician and songwriter. Really enjoyed listening to this one.
Standout Tracks: Little Child Runnin' Wild, Pusherman, Freddie's Dead, No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song), Think (instrumental), Superfly
New Order
3/5
I generally really like New Order and like Joy Division even more but this album felt like kind of a snooze to me. I would add some of the standout tracks to a mix but wouldn't go back to this album as a whole. A lot of the non-standout tracks felt similar to me and just kind of blended together.
I'm actually kind of surprised how universally praised this album is for New Order, who I just think has stronger music elsewhere.
Standout Tracks: Love Vigilantes, Sunrise, Face Up
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
This is a solid debut from mbv. I've been a fan of there's for a long time now but definitely have spent more time listening to Loveless as that's really where they hit a peak. It was good dedicating some time listening to their first album again, as I don't remember the last time I listened to it in full.
Going with a 4, just because they get even better as time goes on and this doesn't quite hit the high point that is Loveless.
Standout Tracks: Cupid Come, (When You Wake) You're Still in a Dream, Sueisfine, Several Girls Galore, You Never Should, I Can See It (But I Can't Feel It)
Tears For Fears
5/5
Tears for Fears are great and this album is definitely one of their bests. Amazing standout tracks and I feel like the album flows really well throughout and is good at bringing back common themes, which makes it feel super cohesive.
I'm a big fan of this one.
Standout Tracks: Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head over Heels / Broken (reprise), Listen
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I really love Leonard Cohen's writing, his lyrics are really captivating, though a lot of his early songwriting feels like it follows the same meter and has a similar picking style. That may be because he was becoming a more experienced guitar player and this was his debut album but either way this album is still full of good songs. My only critique would be that it starts to feel a little repetitive after a while because of the instrumentation.
Standout Tracks: Suzanne, Winter Lady, Sisters of Mercy, So Long Marianne, Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye, One of Us Cannot Be Wrong
AC/DC
5/5
This is a really great record, such amazing guitar work throughout and the energy is infectious.
I had never spent much time getting into full AC/DC records growing up because their hits were already so ever-present. I love their hits but it's definitely worth going into their deeper catalog because even songs that didn't become singles have the same style of catchy riffs and fun lyrics.
Standout Tracks: Highway to Hell, Girls Got Rhythm, Walk All Over You, Beating Around the Bush, Shot Down in Flames, If You Want Blood (You've Got It), Love Hungry Man
Joan Baez
3/5
I really like Joan Baez as a person (based on interviews, etc.) and she has a beautiful voice but this album does leave a bit to be desired. In an interview she explained that they just recorded this in a hotel ballroom with two mics and a few takes per song and I feel like you can hear that in the end product.
There are a number of nice songs on this album but it starts to feel very much the same after a bit, though I think that was accepted in the folk scene at the time and with rearranging traditional songs. Either way, it results in a somewhat middling album. All the love to Joan Baez but this album is just alright to me.
Standout Tracks: Silver Dagger, Fare Thee Well, All My Trials, El Preso Numero Nueve
Magazine
2/5
Not a big fan of this one. Mostly the lead singers voice and instrumentation always had something that turned me off. It wasn't awful, just always something that made an otherwise good song not that enjoyable to listen to and kind of grating. I really don't think the synth work fit in with the music in particular.
Standout Tracks: Recoil, The Light Pours Out of Me, Touch and Go*
* 'Touch and Go' doesn't look like it was actually on the original release, which is too bad. It's definitely my favorite song of any on the album.
Mike Oldfield
5/5
This album is awesome. It was so odd hearing the first track and the super iconic Exorcist theme but then the song just goes in a completely different direction (and eventually comes back to the theme).
It's incredible that he played almost everything on the album at only 19. I didn't really know what to expect from this one by was thoroughly impressed.
Standout Tracks: Tubular Bells (Part One) and Tubular Bells (Part Two)
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
I love this album. It came out when I was in high school and I still have the memory of my friend playing it for me in his car. Then, I went back and checked out Sufjan Stevens' earlier records and was a big fan.
Really beautiful songwriting and fun concept album.
Standout Tracks: "Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois", "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!", "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.", "Jacksonville", "Chicago", "Casimir Pulaski Day", "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts", "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!", "The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders", "Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I Shake the Dirt from My Sandals as I Run"
Mylo
3/5
This was a decent house album. At first I wasn't that impressed but as it went on I really liked some of the songs and specifically the samples he was including. Not sure that I'll ever come back to this one but it's not bad at all.
Standout Tracks: Drop the Pressure, Paris Four Hundred, Destroy Rock & Roll, Rikki, Need You Tonite
Sonic Youth
3/5
I have mixed feelings about Sonic Youth. I know they're an important indie experimental rock band that are in the same camp as a ton of my favorite 80s and 90s bands but I've never been super into their albums as a whole. There's just a little too much noise and not enough well written songs in my opinion.
The songs of theirs that I love, I really love, but I could probably skip about 80% of their songs on any given record. I think I just value songwriting a bit more and don't get enough of that from them.
Standout Tracks: Schizophrenia, Tuff Gnarl, Cotton Crown
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
This is a really solid big band jazz album. I don't really listen to this type of music but Count Basie is undeniably good at it. I get why it was included, even though I don't see myself coming back to it too often.
Standout Tracks: Kid from Red Bank, After Supper, Flight of the Foo Birds, Teddy the Toad, Whirly Bird, Fantail
Portishead
3/5
I know this is a big album for a lot of people but I never really came across it until now, aside from seeing the album cover in lots of record stores. I didn't dislike this one but it also didn't hit me that hard. I found that it kind of just played in the background without many standout tracks.
Standout Tracks: Sour Times, It's Fire, Glory Box
Dolly Parton
4/5
Dolly Parton is great and this is a really solid album. A lot of the tracks have cool instrumentation and naively not what I'd associate with Dolly Parton.
This is a quick, upbeat album that's a fun listen.
Standout Tracks: Coat of Many Colors, Traveling Man, If I Lose My Mind, Early Morning Breeze, Here I Am, A Better Place to Live
Leonard Cohen
5/5
This is one of my favorite Leonard Cohen albums I've heard. I think it's much more dynamic than his debut and he seems to have a bit more humor in his lyrics than on other albums.
I really enjoyed this one and went back to listen to it multiple times throughout the day.
Standout Tracks: Bird On a Wire, Story of Isaac, A Bunch of Lonesome Heros, The Partisan, The Old Revolution, Tonight Will Be Fine
The Shamen
1/5
Wow, I'm really not a fan of this one. I can't really comprehend why it was included on this list. Sounds stuck in the 80s rather than something more inventive for the time. I can't stand the production style, it sounds so hollow and plastic. Also, the lyrics I could understand were insufferable.
I don't do this too often but I just had to start skipping through songs at a certain point because I couldn't listen to over an hour of this music. The songs aren't dynamic either, they just sit in one groove and repeat for way too long. They could have at least made the songs shorter since they just retread the same theme.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Radiohead
5/5
This is a great album, realized I added every track to the standouts list. I've been a big Radiohead fan for a long time and think this album doesn't always get the recognition some of the others do but was an incredible step forward that kept them from being considered one hit wonders and is a great bridge to what they would go on to do.
I've got to give it a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Planet Telex, The Bends, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Bones, (Nice Dream), Just, My Iron Lung, Bullet Proof ..... I Wish I Was, Black Star, Sulk, Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
This is a good but inconsistent album. It does feel more experimental but not really psychedelic. The standout tracks are really good but the rest are pretty forgettable.
Standout Tracks: Bookends Theme, America, Fakin' It, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At the Zoo
The Stooges
4/5
I love The Stooges and Iggy Pop in general. This is a really strong debut album and an awesome first few tracks in particular as an introduction to the band. There are a few tracks on here that tend to skip cause they're more low energy and just feel a little like filler to me, which is the only thing keeping this one from a full 5 for me.
Standout Tracks: 1969, I Wanna Be Your Dog, No Fun, Real Cool Time
Janelle Monáe
2/5
I can see how people would like this but it's just not for me. It all feels very focus-grouped and inorganic to me. Maybe it's because I know she's an actor as well but this feels like an actor pretending to be a musician. I know that's not fair because I believe she's a talented musician but it's just the vibes I get from the album.
Rating is just where I land on the music. I like Janelle Monae as an actress from what I've seen, just never been into the music side of her work.
Standout Tracks: Cold War, Tightrope
PJ Harvey
3/5
I was excited to get this album because I've heard PJ Harvey discussed a lot and a number of her album covers are iconic enough for me to recognize them without ever hearing her music.
This was a good album but I wasn't blown away all the way through. There are some really solid tracks on here and I can see why someone else might love the full album. I do like this enough to check out some of her other albums though. I also think the songs get stronger as the album progresses.
Standout Tracks: The Last Living Rose, On Battleship Hill, Hanging on the Wire, The Colour of the Earth, Written on the Forehead
The Beach Boys
4/5
I like a lot of this album but it also doesn't blow me away. I'm a big fan of the Beach Boys 60s work, with Pet Sounds being an obvious masterpiece. I wouldn't skip any of the songs on here and it's pretty enjoyable throughout but there also didn't feel like many standout tracks to me.
I'd probably give this one a 3.5 if I could but will round up because it's pretty chill and there are some cool interesting tracks on it.
Standout Tracks: Long Promised Road, Take a Load Off Your Feet, Feel Flows, 'Til I Die, Surf's Up
Pearl Jam
4/5
I really like Pearl Jam and this is a great debut. It's highs are super high but there are a few more filler tracks in my opinion, especially on the second half of the album.
I wouldn't necessarily skip any songs on here but the non-standout tracks aren't as much my taste. Growing up I definitely fell more into the Nirvana camp when it came to grunge bands, not that there needs to be a side.
Standout Tracks: Even Flow, Alive, Black, Jeremy, Release
4/5
It was interesting getting this album less than a week after 'Let England Shake' by PJ Harvey. I hadn't listened to her music before then but took a little time scanning through her catalog after that.
This is a solid album and I actually liked it better than 'Let England Shake'. Again, I thought the songs got stronger as the album progressed. I don't know how much I'll listen to full PJ Harvey albums in my everyday from now on but I can say that I like her music and will continue giving her other albums a chance as well.
Standout Tracks: One Line, The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, The Mess We're In, Kamikaze, Horses In My Dreams
Orbital
3/5
This album is okay but it's not really my style of electronic music. I prefer more ambient vibes and this gets pretty repetitive and unrelenting.
I liked the first track, then got distracted and came back to the rest of the album and it wasn't doing much for me after that. The one big exception to this is the track 'Kein Trink Wasser', which was my favorite on the album. To me a lot of the tracks just get boring because they don't seem to go anywhere (at least on first listen).
Standout Tracks: Forever, Kein Trink Wasser, Quality Seconds, Attached
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
This is an easy one for me. I'm a big Neil Young fan and love this album in particular. Crazy Horse is sounding great on this one and everyone is just locked in to the more jam focused songs.
Standout Tracks: Cinnamon Girl, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Round & Round (It Won't Be Long), Down By the River, The Losing End (When You're On), Cowgirl In the Sand
Rush
3/5
I've just never been a Rush fan, though I get why people would like them and respect their musicianship. Unfortunately this listen didn't bring me any closer to being a fan but I didn't hate it, just won't be adding it to my regular rotation anytime soon.
Standout Tracks: Tom Sawyer, Limelight
The Rolling Stones
5/5
I really like the Rolling Stones, especially the late 60s - early 70s albums and this album in particular feels like when they finally started to come into their own and not just follow the trends. This kicked off a solid string of records that are my favorites of theirs.
Standout Tracks: Sympathy for the Devil, No Expectations, Jigsaw Puzzle, Street Fighting Man, Prodigal Son, Factory Girl, Salt of the Earth
The Stone Roses
5/5
This is an album I've spent time listening to already and one that I really like. I kind of forgot how much I like this album until the relisten today. It's got a really unique vibe and doesn't just sit in one genre. It's one of my favorites from the Madchester bands.
Standout Tracks: I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs the Drums, Waterfall, Don't Stop, (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister, Shoot You Down, I Am the Resurrection, Fools Gold
Talking Heads
4/5
This is a good album. I like but have never loved Talking Heads. There are songs of theirs that I really love but I'd say the rest I could take or leave.
I know David Byrne is a great songwriter and they're very influential but I have a hard time giving this one full stars because personally it's not all for me. If there were half stars I'd go with 3.5 but am rounding up because there are some really great tracks on here.
Standout Tracks: Thank You for Sending Me an Angel, I'm Not in Love, Take Me to the River, The Big Country
The Smiths
4/5
Same preamble as before: Morrissey has turned into an idiotic, whiny racist (or maybe he always was), so fuck him. I will rate this one just based on the music and since I always really enjoyed The Smiths and the band's instrumentation.
I thought this album was pretty good but not as great as 'The Queen is Dead'. I feel like this one's relatively light on any hits but still has some really beautiful songs on it.
Standout Tracks: The Headmaster Ritual, I Want the One I Can't Have, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Well I Wonder
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
I really am not a fan of the production on this album so far (3 songs in). The horns sound disconnected and hollow, which is odd for a band that seems so horn-centric.
This album got a lot better to me as it went on and I ended up enjoying it for the most part by the end. However, it is pretty inconsistent and I'm not sure I'd listen to the album again in full, which is why I have to deduct a couple of stars. I would put this at a 3.5 if I could.
Standout Tracks: I'm Just Looking, Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply, Keep It, There There My Dear
Gotan Project
1/5
This type of Starbucks coffeehouse "electronic" jazz music is just not my thing. I started it and tried but ended up just skipping through because I find it extremely boring.
Nothing against the musicians, I'm sure they're great at what they do but I'm just not interested.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
I was looking forward to seeing what this one was all about. I've heard the name Marianne Faithfull before and was interested to see what her music was like but was not a big fan.
I'm not particular about voices but was really not a fan of her singing on the majority of the record (aside from the two standouts). I found the album fine but didn't hear anything on it that grabbed me or would make me want to come back to it.
Standout Tracks: Witches' Song, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
David Bowie
4/5
I'm a big Bowie fan and this album is really good but also a little uneven. It can feel disjointed to me because the second half gets much more experimental ambient and instrumental. This can work for me really well (Moss Garden) or not as much (Neuköln).
The title track is one of my favorite songs ever though, so it's real difficult to give dock this one but I think as an overall album I'd go with 4/5 just because Bowie has so many albums I consider stronger as a whole piece. So, I've got to leave room for those.
Standout Tracks: Joe the Lion, "Heroes", Sons of the Silent Age, Blackout, V-2 Schneider, Moss Garden, The Secret Life of Arabia
Stevie Wonder
5/5
This is a pretty great record. The instrumentation and production are incredible. The sound of the Moog bass and Hohner Clavinet in particular are a standout.
It also has two all time great songs on it with "Superstition" and "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)".
Standout Tracks: You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Maybe Your Baby, Tuesday Heartbreak, Superstition, Big Brother, I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)
Johnny Cash
5/5
I don't usually care about cover albums (I know this isn't all covers) because I rarely find that they improve upon or add much to the originals but this is a really amazing one.
First, it's so interesting to hear the songs that Johnny Cash at this time in his life felt were important to compile and do his own way. On top of that, I feel like the quality of his voice and the production add another level of depth and a new perspective to songs I've heard a hundred times before.
This is a really beautiful album and I'm really glad Johnny Cash made it before he passed away.
Standout Tracks: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love to Rose, I Hung My Head, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Personal Jesus, In My Life, Sam Hall, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Tear Stained Letter, We'll Meet Again
Serge Gainsbourg
4/5
I think this is mostly a really strong album, though reading the wikipedia page on it made me bummed out about the subject matter/concept. Aside from the premise, the music is pretty great.
There are a few short tracks in the middle of the album that don't do much for me but the strength of the standout tracks is enough to lift this one up. I was excited to get this one today because I definitely recognized the album cover and had a passing knowledge of Serge Gainsbourg but this gave me a welcome excuse to dig deeper. I ended up listening to the album a couple of times through.
Standout Tracks: Melody, Ballade de Melody Nelson, En Melody, Cargo culte
Slayer
3/5
This was an interesting one. I've never spent much time listening to Slayer but definitely knew of them. I'm not a big metal guy but this was a good, quick thrash metal album.
I enjoyed the listen and there were some catchy riffs on it but in honesty know that I probably won't come back to this one very often, just because it's not really my world. Glad I gave it a listen though.
Standout Tracks: Angel of Death, Jesus Saves, Postmortem, Raining Blood
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
This is a fun album. I had never dug into CCR's deeper catalog much but have always enjoyed their music when it comes on. They have a great, raw sound on this album. The guitars sound amazing and they have a couple of long, jammy songs on here, which I didn't realize was part of their sound.
Standout Tracks: Born on the Bayou, Bootleg, Good Golly Miss Molly, Proud Mary, Keep On Chooglin'
Billy Joel
4/5
I was surprised by this album. I know Billy Joel from general popular culture but have never really spent the time to listen to one of his albums in full. I knew the hits but that's about it.
I actually ended up liking a lot of tracks on this album, even if I found some of the instrumentation and production choices a bit cheesy. He has some really well written songs on this album, especially "Vienna", which sounded familiar but was one that I had never really heard.
Standout Tracks: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), Just the Way You Are, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young, She's Always a Woman
Blur
4/5
I really enjoyed this album, especially compared to the last Blur album I got (Modern Life is Rubbish). It's surprising that this was just their next album because I feel like the songwriting is so far ahead of where they were and it really starts to feel like they're finding their own voice more.
Pretty much liked this one throughout and it got me to go relisten to other Blur tracks that I hadn't heard in a while.
Standout Tracks: Girls and Boys, End of a Century, Parklife, To the End, London Loves, Magic America, This Is a Low
Tom Tom Club
2/5
Unfortunately I'm not a big fan of this one. The album feels very one note to me and just like art school kids trying to figure out dance music by making a record in that genre.
The few exceptions are the standout tracks.
Standout Tracks: Genius of Love, L'éléphant
The Rolling Stones
4/5
This is a good album but not really sure why it's included on this list, unless it's just because it was the Stones' debut album. They do a great job with these covers but that's mainly all this has on it. Their one original wasn't the strongest.
I'm a big Rolling Stones fan and I'm still rating this higher because it's an enjoyable album but still not sure why it would be one of the top 1,001.
Standout Tracks: Route 66, Mona (I Need You Baby), Little By Little, Can I Get a Witness, Walking the Dog
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
This is a solid album. I like Springsteen a lot but am definitely more drawn to his earlier records, so I haven't listened to this one as much.
I think there are a number of really good songs on here and I wouldn't skip any of them but it still doesn't quite hit me as hard as his 70's and 80's records. Overall a strong album though.
Standout Tracks: Lonesome Day, Nothing Man, Worlds Apart, The Fuse, You're Missing, The Rising, My City of Ruins
Van Morrison
5/5
This is a really great album. This is one of those albums that was always on around my house growing up because my dad loved it, so these songs just kind of sunk into my head.
Ironically the one song I'm not a fan of on this album is the title track, it's too smooth jazzy for me. Aside from that, this feels like an understandable next step after Astral Weeks, which is a masterpiece and will always be my favorite of Van Morrison's. Too bad he's a lunatic anti-vaxxer now, it was fun while it lasted.
Standout Tracks: And It Stoned Me, Crazy Love, Caravan, Into the Mystic, Come Running, These Dreams of You, Brand New Day, Everyone,
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
This album didn't do a whole lot for me, though I didn't hate it either. It just kind of played in the background and rarely piqued my interest.
That being said I do like the production a lot more than the last Dexys Midnight Runners' album I got and I think it's more consistent on a whole. 'Come On Eileen' is a classic and a good Van Morrison cover.
Standout Tracks: Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile), Plan B, Come On Eileen
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
This album was fine. I'm not really a blues rock person, so a lot of it just felt very generic to me. I recognized a couple of songs but only one really stood out.
Standout Tracks: You Don't Love Me
The Cure
2/5
I'm a fan of The Cure but I found this album pretty underwhelming, especially compared to the albums Robert Smith said inspired it.
It feels very one note to me, like Joy Division without the punch, just kind of dark and droning for the most part. There are some exceptions, 'A Forest' is a pretty great track.
Standout Tracks: Play for Today, A Forest
The Strokes
5/5
I've always been a big fan of this album. I think this is one of the strongest debut albums out there and this came out in my early high school years and had a major impact on me. It got me into other more interesting bands as well based on the influences they cited.
I have listened to this album a number of times over the years more recently as well to see if it still held up and I think it 100% does. I love this one, 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Is This It, The Modern Age, Soma, Barely Legal, Someday, Alone Together, Last Nite, Hard to Explain, When It Started, Trying Your Luck, Take It or Leave It
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is a really great album. I've always been a big Bob Dylan fan and this album is such an important step for him artistically.
There are so many incredible songs on this record and his first real album where he wrote nearly every song, since only two tracks on his debut were originals. I love this one, it's an easy 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Blowin' In the Wind, Girl from the North Country, Masters of War, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Don't Think Twice It's All Right, Bob Dylan's Dream, Oxford Town, Talkin' World War III Blues, Corrina Corrina, Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance, I Shall Be Free
Steely Dan
4/5
I actually really like this album for the most part. It's a really solid debut. I have mixed feelings about Steely Dan in general because I'm really not about the more jazzy side of their music as it can feel really cheesy to me. I think they're strong songwriters though and the song 'Dirty Work' has been a favorite of mine for years now.
This might be my first time listening to this album in full and I found some additional standout tracks I hadn't heard before.
Standout Tracks: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Only A Fool Would Say That, Reelin' In The Years, Change of the Guard
B.B. King
4/5
The energy coming off the crowd on this live album is so palpable, it's incredibly recorded and flows smoothly.
I've always known B.B. King was one of the greats of the blues but had never really taken the time to listen to an album as a whole. This was a really solid, energetic album, especially for the blues, which often can feel uninspired or repetitive to me (when done poorly).
Standout Tracks: Everyday I Have the Blues, Sweet Little Angel, How Blue Can You Get?, Please Love Me, Woke Up This Mornin', You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now
Coldplay
3/5
I'm not a big Coldplay fan anymore but I remember enjoying this album when it came out. It's still pretty easy to listen to, even if it's not my favorite music. The tracks I remember being singles are still the standouts. I didn't really hate any of the songs, just some less interesting tracks.
I got 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head' as an album earlier in this exercise and was very surprised by how much I actually enjoyed that album. This wasn't as strong as that one but still not bad.
Standout Tracks: Don't Panic, Shiver, Yellow, Trouble
Hot Chip
2/5
I've really enjoyed other Hot Chip music, like some of the tracks on the album "The Warning" but this doesn't do much for me at all. The vast majority of the music and lyrics feel so hollow, this isn't helped with the lyrics being so forward in the mix.
Nothing connects with me on this album, even the few tracks I thought were okay. I don't really see how this electronic album stuck out to anyone enough to include it on the list. I don't necessarily hate anything on the album, I just find it boring and unneeded.
Standout Tracks: Look At Where We Are, Let Me Be Him
Lou Reed
5/5
This is a great album. I've always been a big Velvet Underground fan and a fan of Lou Reed in particular. It's also great to hear him in his element with Bowie producing and encouraging his instincts.
Nearly every song on here is a standout to me, I've got to go with 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Vicious, Andy's Chest, Perfect Day, Hangin' 'Round, Walk on the Wild Side, Make Up, Satellite of Love, Wagon Wheel, I'm So Free
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
I came across this album in my college years and have loved it ever since. I feel like I tend to dislike a number of electronic albums I get on this list because they lack much of a personal connection and feel hollow. This album proves you can make great electronic music that still feels human.
Standout Tracks: Get Innocuous!, North American Scum, Someone Great, All My Friends, Us v Them, Watch the Tapes, Sound of Silver, New York I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down
Beastie Boys
3/5
This is a good album by Beastie Boys, though I don't think as strong throughout as some of their other albums (Paul's Boutique, License to Ill). I never necessarily wanted to skip any songs but there just felt like less standouts.
That being said, some of the songs that do stand out are extremely solid (Sure Shot and Sabotage in particular). I liked this one but didn't love it as a whole piece.
Standout Tracks: Sure Shot, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, Futterman's Rule, The Scoop, Shambala
Barry Adamson
2/5
This album really didn't do much for me. Reading about it it's a cool concept for an album but I just didn't really connect with the music. Maybe I would have preferred the fake soundtrack for a different genre of fake film but a lot of these types of noir vibes in the songs didn't reel me in.
Cool concept but not something I could find myself coming back to ever.
Standout Tracks: Under Wraps
The Prodigy
3/5
This album was decent. It's not my favorite kind of music but I didn't ever feel the urge to skip any of the songs either. I just had it on while I took care of work, a lot of times I wouldn't think about it but then there were some standout scattered throughout that I noticed got me moving a bit more.
Standout Tracks: Their Law, Voodoo People, Speedway, Poison, Skylined, Claustrophobic Sting
Aerosmith
1/5
Before even listening to this I just have to question, how have I already gotten three Aerosmith albums on this list? I'm not a fan of their music, I think Steven Tyler is a proven creep (look up his current lawsuit) and I really didn't think I'd be getting another album of theirs in this list.
Once again, Aerosmith is just not my thing. The few standouts were their major hits and I'll admit those are decent. I was disappointed that this version of 'Walk This Way' was without Run DMC, which I didn't even realize existed.
Standout Tracks: Walk This Way, Sweet Emotion
David Bowie
3/5
I really love Bowie and this album had a number of good songs on it but it also didn't blow me away fully. I honestly need to give more newer Bowie records more listens, though I tend to gravitate towards his 60s, 70s and 80s period more often.
I thought the production was solid and enjoyed the standout tracks mentioned below but this one didn't rise to the level that other Bowie albums do for me.
Standout Tracks: The Next Day, The Stars (Are Out Tonight), Valentine's Day, Boss of Me, (You Will) Set the World on Fire, You Feel So Lonely You Could Die, Heat
Bob Dylan
5/5
I've been a big Dylan fan since I first heard him and this one is a classic. I listen to this one a lot on my own. It's just great, incredibly songwriting throughout and such a great quality to the production. It's got to be a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Pledging My Time, Visions of Johanna, One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later), I Want You, Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, Just Like a Woman, Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine, Temporary Like Achilles, Absolutely Sweet Marie, 4th Time Around, Obviously 5 Believers, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
Alice Cooper
3/5
I enjoyed this album. I honestly had never spent any time listening to Alice Cooper and really only knew anything about him from popular culture/Wayne's World. The album feels much more theatric and conceptual than the more straightforward metal I expected out of the group considering their image.
I don't know if I'll come back to the record as a whole but I didn't really dislike any of the tracks either. I was surprised that there were two instrumental tracks on a 9 track album. Then, there was one song that sounded very Doors-like and another song that incorporates West Side Story themes. It was cool how all over the place it was but still felt like one piece.
Standout Tracks: School's Out, My Stars, Public Animal #9, Alma Mater
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
This is a really strong album. There are so many great songs/hits on it, it's surprising they all came out on the same album because nearly all of these would be included on a greatest hits.
Bob Marley was just such a great songwriter and this album is a great example of that. The production is incredible too, I really don't have a bad things to say about this one, it's a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Natural Mystic, So Much Things To Say, Exodus, Jamming, Waiting In Vain, Turn Your Lights Down Low, Three Little Birds, One Love/People Get Ready
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
This album really doesn't do a lot for me. It just feels like two guys trying to continue forward in this flowery, boring folk-pop music while Dylan has already released "Highway 61 Revisited" a year before and "Blonde on Blonde" three months earlier.
I know it's not fair necessarily to compare this album to those two, since they're not trying to do the same thing but it feels relevant that those albums still feel vital and timeless to me, while this one feels like it's going through the motions. They aren't on the forefront of anything.
I think Paul Simon is a good songwriter but I just don't find the folk music on this album very engaging. Even the hits like 'Homeward Bound' and 'The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)' just feel dated and cheesy to me now. Even the track 'A Simple Desultory Philippic', which I included as a standout feels like a lazy exercise in trying to write a Dylanesque song.
Standout Tracks: Scarborough Fair/Canticle, The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine, Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall, A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into Submission), A Poem on the Underground Wall
Queen
3/5
I like Queen and this album definitely has some massive hits on it, most importantly 'Bohemian Rhapsody' but overall it felt like kind of a weak album to me.
I didn't dislike anything too much on here but I also didn't find many surprising standouts. A lot of it just played in the background without really piquing my interest. That said, those big standouts do bump this one up a full star in the rating.
Standout Tracks: You're My Best Friend, '39, Sweet Lady, Bohemian Rhapsody
Method Man
4/5
I liked this album. I had never really spent any time listening to Method Man outside of what I'm heard in pop culture but this was a really solid debut. The production by RZA was great and I like all of the features he brought in for his first album, lots of Wu Tang vibes.
Standout Tracks: Bring the Pain, All I Need (feat. Street Life), What the Blood Clot!?! (feat. RZA & Y-Kim), Meth vs. Chef (feat. Raekwon), I Get My Thang In Action, Mr. Sandman (feat. RZA, Inspectah Deck, Street Life, Carlton Fisk, and Blue Raspberry)
Genesis
1/5
I'm just really not a prog rock guy and this album is full on prog. I find it kind of exhaustingly all over the place. The constant time signature changes and super long songs simultaneously bore and annoy me. I've liked later era Genesis albums but this one doesn't do much for me.
If I want long, winding songs I'll always go to something like the Grateful Dead over this type of prog rock.
Standout Tracks: Firth of Fifth, Aisle of Plenty
Joanna Newsom
5/5
This is an incredible album. The musicianship and songwriting is just on another level. I have always liked Joanna Newsom but hadn't listened to this album in a while. It got me hooked again. I listened to this one all the way through multiple times today and then moved on to listen to "Have One On Me" for the rest of my work day. I'll probably listen to "Divers" all day tomorrow. It's a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Emily, Monkey & Bear, Sawdust & Diamonds, Only Skin, Cosmia
Herbie Hancock
3/5
This is a good jazz funk album. That being said, I'm not really someone who listens to a lot of funk or jazz. So, while I can appreciate this one, I don't see myself coming back to it all that much for return listens.
The production sounds great and he gets into some really enjoyable grooves throughout the four songs.
Standout Tracks: Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Sly
Arcade Fire
3/5
This is a tough one because I was a big fan of Arcade Fire, especially their early albums. But Win Butler unfortunately seems like a huge creep, specifically using his status with fans, which was all really terrible. On top of that it kind of showcased that his whole persona was fraudulent, especially with his wife in the band. His actions were so antithetical to the person he was selling himself as as the bandleader and songwriter, so it makes a lot of his music feel inauthentic. With all of that being said, I will try to rank this album based on how I feel about the music at this time.
This album is just fine. I do find Win Butler to be a little self-satisfied with his songwriting. I remember feeling a little disappointed in this album after the incredible debut that was Funeral. This definitely feels like a darker sophomore album, with a few solid standouts. I know I'll have other AF albums come up in this list, and I'd say this is the least successful of their early albums that I was still mostly enjoying.
Standout Tracks: Keep the Car Running, Intervention, (Antichrist Television Blues), No Cars Go
Travis
2/5
Not a huge fan of this album. It really just felt like the band are less interesting Radiohead wannabes that came around a few years too late but are still trying to copy the sound after Radiohead had already moved on to more creative places. The rest of the album just felt boring to me aside from a few well-written standouts (that honestly are a little boring as well).
I remember liking a Travis song from when I was younger and kept waiting for it to come up but it didn't, so I guess that's from some other album.
Standout Tracks: Writing to Reach You, Why Does It Always Rain on Me?
Robbie Williams
1/5
This album is just really overproduced boring pop-rock (with an emphasis on the pop). The lyrics are bad and cheesy, not really sure what the creators of this list sees in this album that would warrant it being included on this list.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
This is a really solid debut album. Siouxsie and The Banshees have always been a weird blind spot for me, I've always heard they were good but had just never really listened to them. They have a great sound and were really on the forefront of post rock. I was thinking how much they remind me of Joy Division before realizing this album came out a year before Unknown Pleasures.
The only thing I'd say is that this album starts to feel a bit repetitive towards the end due to the production but this was my first couple of times listening to it, so that could change as I become more familiar with the specific songs.
Standout Tracks: Jigsaw Feeling, Carcass, Helter Skelter, Metal Postcard (Mittageisen), Switch, Hong Kong Garden
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is one of my favorite Dylan albums by far. I listen to it quite often. It's gonna be a 5/5.
It blows my mind that he came out with this and "Bringing It All Back Home" in the same year and then released "Blonde On Blonde" the next year. He was at the height of creativity and just churning out incredible music.
Standout Tracks: Like a Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues, It Takes a Lot to Laugh It Takes a Train to Cry, From a Buick 6, Ballad of a Thin Man, Queen Jane Approximately, Highway 61 Revisited, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Desolation Row
Radiohead
5/5
This is another easy 5/5. This has been one of my favorite Radiohead albums since I first listened to it when I was in high school.
This album works so well for me and was such an interesting and daring direction for them to go as a band after the height of OK Computer. I feel like this album really cemented them on the path that they've continued on, consistently reinventing themselves, avoiding the easy route.
Standout Tracks: Everything In Its Right Place, Kid A, The National Anthem, How to Disappear Completely, Optimistic, In Limbo, Idioteque, Morning Bell, Motion Picture Soundtrack
Maxwell
1/5
First thoughts 30 seconds into the album: "oh god, another smooth jazz Starbucks counter album that was added to this list for some reason". I will continue forward with an open mind, despite the musicianship being decent, this feels super generic.
.....And after listening through the rest of the album I still feel the same way. I don't hear anything in this album that differentiates it from any other albums in this genre, which is just really not my thing.
Standout Tracks: N/A
The Soft Boys
4/5
This is a really great album. The Soft Boys were another blindspot for me. I had definitely heard of them and recognized this album cover but for whatever reason had just never taken the time to listen.
This really falls into my musical tastes. I found myself listening to the album a number of times throughout the day. There's not really a song I don't like on it, just ones that didn't stand out as much for me. I will definitely be checking out their other album this week as well. Very solid music.
Standout Tracks: I Wanna Destroy You, Kingdom of Love, Positive Vibrations, Insanely Jealous, Tonight, Queen of Eyes, Underwater Moonlight
Tim Buckley
3/5
I like some songs on this album but not a big fan of it as a whole. The majority of the songs have a very dated, grand fantasy folk feel to them (singing about castles and knights, etc.). This style just doesn't hold up as much to me. It's not bad, just not really my genre of folk as it feels less personal.
Tim Buckley is obviously a good songwriter, this album just doesn't do a ton for me as a piece.
Standout Tracks: Pleasant Street, I Never Asked to Be Your Mountain, Once I Was, Morning Glory
Eels
2/5
This album is alright. Not bad at all but just not my favorite rock genre from the 90s. I've listened to this one before and tried to get into it but he tends to make at least one choice a song that just takes me out of it, it's difficult to pinpoint or explain though. It's feels a bit like Beck light, just not quite as catchy.
Standout Tracks: Novocaine for the Soul, Susan's House, Not Ready Yet
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
I really like this album. I've enjoyed ELO's music for quite a while now, so this one was already familiar to me. I was actually surprised to see the album got such mixed reviews when it initially came out because I feel like over time a lot of this album has become pretty universally liked.
If anything, I think this album may have been judged more harshly because it's a double album and often times people question whether that's really justified, which is totally fair. I think this album could be slightly edited down and easily be a 5/5, though it's still very strong. The production is really incredible to me and I love the unique sound and mix of influences.
Standout Tracks: Turn to Stone, Sweet Talkin' Woman, Across the Border, Starlight, Jungle, Summer and Lightning, Mr. Blue Sky, Sweet Is the Night, Birmingham Blues
The Triffids
2/5
This album does not do much of anything for me. I'm really not a fan of the production, though I find it hard to pinpoint the issues there. I mainly find the album boring and uninspired. I was surprised to see that "Bury Me Deep in Love" was one of their more popular songs because I really didn't enjoy it as an album opener. I find the lyrics mediocre and way to forward in the mix.
I didn't hate this album but I didn't feel strongly about any of the songs as standouts either, but there were a few that were OK.
Standout Tracks: A Trick of the Light, Save What You Can
The Rolling Stones
5/5
This is a really solid album. It's got a good mix of songs on it from the mellower 'Wild Horses' and 'Moonlight Mile' to the more straight up blues and rock'n'roll tracks. Still with all this variation it flows really well and the production is great.
This one is a classic in my opinion, though it's not necessarily one of my go-to Stones records. I have listened to it straight through multiple times today. I'd probably give it 4.5/5 if it was allowed but I'm thinking I'll round up just due to the number of really strong tracks throughout.
Standout Tracks: Wild Horses, Can't You Hear Me Knocking, Bitch, Sister Morphine, Dead Flowers, Moonlight Mile
Thin Lizzy
3/5
This is a decent live album, though I don't feel like the live recording sounds great. It's void of a lot of the energy that I feel is necessary for a live album to really hit. You don't feel any of the crowd energy/excitement and the production feels way too bass-focused, it just sounds super muddy to me.
All of that being said, there are a number of solid songs on here and they perform them well. I saw somewhere that there was a remastered version of this somewhere but I'm assuming that's not what's on Apple Music because I feel like they should have addressed some of the production shortcomings (unless some of this was due to the mic setup that was used). I would really like to hear a remixed/remastered version of this one because I feel like that could add a full star to this album.
Standout Tracks: Jailbreak, Rosalie/Cowgirl's Song, Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me in Its Spotlight), Cowboy Song, The Boys Are Back In Town, Suicide, The Rocker
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Wow, two Stones albums in one week. This album is a pretty solid one but they definitely hadn't hit their stride yet. You can hear them transitioning out of the more cover-heavy period and into differentiating themselves with more unique instrumentation.
I don't think this is necessarily a groundbreaking album for them but it is good, especially given their evolving sound. I think I'd give this a 3.5 if I could but considering I gave their debut album 4/5, I feel like I can't rate this one lower (though I probably should have gone 3 on their debut).
Standout Tracks: Lady Jane, Under My Thumb, Doncha Bother Me, Out of Time, It's Not Easy, I Am Waiting, Think
Fela Kuti
5/5
This is a really amazing album. You can feel the energy in the room and the production is incredible, especially for a live in-studio album.
The vibe that Fela Kuti develops with his band is unmatched and it's cool to hear Ginger Baker playing with them. This is an easy 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Let's Start, Black Man's Cry, Ye Ye De Smell, Egbe Mi O (Carry Me)
Dusty Springfield
3/5
This album is decent but I don't know that I feel it's crucial to include on a list like this one. I think Dusty Springfield does a really good job with all of these covers but it also just feels like she's mostly just copying what R&B and soul groups had already been doing. I feel like I'd much rather listen to those versions of these songs.
It's always difficult to rank an album full of other people's music being covered but I think I have to go right down the middle, since she's a good singer but I don't find this album that essential.
Standout Tracks: Mama Said, You Don't Own Me, Do Re Mi (Forget About the Do and Think About Me), Nothing, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Wishin' and Hopin'
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Not a big fan of this one. It wasn't totally awful, I just found it very repetitive and boring. I don't really hear anything new on this album that I haven't heard done better elsewhere. I don't have a ton else to add, I listened to it all the way through and just found it "meh".
Standout Tracks: Wail, Can't Stop
Kate Bush
5/5
This is an incredible album. I don't know why I didn't seek it out earlier given how much I like 'Hounds of Love'. I think I might even enjoy this one more as a whole but that's a tough call.
I continued to listen to this one throughout the day on repeat, which is always a surefire sign that an album is 5/5 for me. I think "Love and Anger" and "This Woman's Work" are my two complete standouts from this album. This is just really beautifully written and Kate Bush's voice carries so much emotional.
Standout Tracks: The Sensual World, Love and Anger, Reaching Out, Deeper Understanding, Rocket's Tail, This Woman's Work
David Bowie
4/5
I love Bowie and this is a solid album with lots of good songs on it. There are two massive tracks on here ('Young Americans' and 'Fame') in particular. That being said, this isn't one of my top Bowie albums and I rarely listen to it as a whole, like I do a number of his other albums. Still really great record though.
Standout Tracks: Young Americans, Win, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Across the Universe, Fame
Boston
3/5
This albums wasn't bad, though it's really not my favorite genre of rock. I definitely recognized more songs on the album than I thought I would but I really had no knowledge of Boston as a band aside from knowing their name.
I think this is a good debut for a band that I don't see myself digging too much more into, so I have to give it a middling rating.
Standout Tracks: More Than a Feeling, Peace of Mind, Long Time
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
This was a good record, though I don't think I enjoyed it as much as their debut, which I got on here about a month back. The few standout tracks I found were really solid but it did start to feel a little repetitive aside from those. Not sure why, maybe it was my mood today but I found a lot of it to kind of blur together and I'd not realize that a couple of tracks had gone by.
Feeling pretty middling on this one unfortunately, though didn't strongly dislike anything about it.
Standout Tracks: Spellbound, Halloween, Monitor
Scott Walker
3/5
This is a difficult one for me to rate. I like Scott Walker's music and specifically a number of songs on this album but I also find it inconsistent. The second side of this album doesn't do a lot for me as a lot of the songs just feel too schmaltzy for me.
I've listened to this album quite a bit in the past but realized I kind of skip over side two. I think Scott Walker is a really intriguing musician. He can get real out there and went on such an interesting, unique path with his music that I respect him a ton, even if I don't love all the songs.
Standout Tracks: Jackie, Best of Both Worlds, Black Sheep Boy, The Amorous Humphrey Plugg, Plastic Palace People
Isaac Hayes
4/5
This is a really strong album. It's got a good vibe to it and was great to just have on while working. That's not to say it's boring or background music though. I have listened to a little bit of Isaac Hayes' music before but this was my first full album and it was solid.
Standout Tracks: Walk On By, Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Beatles
5/5
This is a great Beatles album, so many good songs on here.
Only in comparison to some of their other albums I might have given this one a 4.5/5 (if I could) just because at times it can feel more like a collection of disparate songs than a thought out set of songs for a specific album but they were churning out albums so quickly and again, this is still filled with such strong songs. So, I've got to round up to a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, I'm Only Sleeping, Love You To, She Said She Said, Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing, For No One, I Want to Tell You, Got to Get You into My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
This is a pretty decent album but it's way overlong. I used to be a big Smashing Pumpkins fan and listened to this one quite a bit back in middle school and high school.
I've since come to realize what an exhausting blowhard Billy Corgan is (or has become?). This is a pretty good indicator as to why this album is a bloated, alright double-album rather than a really great single disc album. He doesn't think any of his shit stinks.
I'd go for a higher score if there weren't so many tracks that I just find non-essential and skip over on every listen. This definitely has some of their best songs on it ('1979', 'Muzzle', etc.) but is just really hurt by the long runtime and filler tracks that could have come out as a B-side record first. That's what happens when you decide you're going to make a double-album before you even start writing/recording (from wiki: "From the outset, the band intended the new record to be a double album").
Standout Tracks (Disc 1): Tonight Tonight, Jellybelly, Zero, Here Is No Why, Bullet with Butterfly Wings, Muzzle
Standout Tracks (Disc 2): Where Boys Fear to Tread, 1979, Stumbleine, X.Y.U., By Starlight
The Go-Go's
3/5
This is a good pop rock album, even if it doesn't really speak to me that much personally. I enjoy the hits a lot and a few of the other tracks but I think it would be pretty easy for me to have this one on in the background and not really be drawn to check what any specific track is called.
It's never bad, just kind of right down the middle for me. They're a cool band though.
Standout Tracks: Our Lips Are Sealed, How Much More, We Got the Beat, Can't Stop the World
Holger Czukay
3/5
This album is alright but is just not really my thing. It's a little too all over the place most of the time for my ADD but there are definitely some good moments on it.
I don't see myself coming back to it for a full listen but not upset I experienced it this time.
Standout Tracks: Cool In the Pool, Persian Love
Grateful Dead
5/5
I'm a big fan of the Dead and this is easily one of their best studio albums. I would almost always prefer to listen to their live music but if I was going to put on a studio album, this would often be it.
This album is so full of great songwriting and nearly every song is solid in my opinion. I've got to give it a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, Operator, Candyman, Ripple, Brokedown Palace, Till the Morning Comes, Truckin'
Black Sabbath
5/5
This is a great debut album from Sabbath. I won't pretend to be an aficionado but I have always really liked Black Sabbath's early albums. This is such a strong start, it's funny to read the initial criticism of this album and find out that it was kind of panned. In retrospect it feels so new and unique but that's probably because it stood out and has lasted the test of time better than some of the other bands that it was being compared to.
Standout Tracks: Black Sabbath, The Wizard, Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B., Wicked World, A Bit of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
I'm a big Fleetwood Mac fan and this is definitely one of their great albums. It has so many incredible songs on it and it's one I listen to fairly often. It doesn't seem that wild to me, so it's funny to read some of the dialogue around when it came out. It would have been great to hear it when it was released because I can see how it would be a bigger shock at the time compared to Rumours.
I really love this one, it's a 5/5 for me.
Standout Tracks: Over & Over, The Ledge, Think About Me, Sara, What Makes You Think You're the One, Storms, That's All for Everyone, That's Enough for Me, Never Make Me Cry, I Know I'm Not Wrong, Honey Hi, Beautiful Child, Walk a Thin Line, Tusk, Never Forget
Calexico
2/5
I could see myself liking this if I heard it back when it came out in 2003 and if I was younger but twenty years later I find it just kind of boring. I didn't think there were many songs on here that stood out, one of which being a Love cover that's not as good or really that different than the original.
All that being said, I didn't strongly dislike this one either, I just didn't hear any songs that pulled my interest or sounded unique.
Standout Tracks: Sunken Waltz, Not Even Stevie Nicks..., Alone Again Or
Pulp
3/5
I've definitely listened to this album before but not sure if I've ever sat down and listened to it in full. It's really solid, though not necessarily one of the Britpop albums I grew up listening to, so I don't have a strong nostalgic attachment to it.
There are some really strong standouts that I love ('Common People' of course and 'Mis-Shapes'). Aside from these tracks I liked the album but wouldn't say I call it essential. I'm kind of leaning between a 3 or 4/5.
Standout Tracks: Mis-Shapes, Pencil Skirt, Common People, Disco 2000, Something Changed, Bar Italia
The Rolling Stones
5/5
This is a really incredible album. It's one I've listened to a lot and I think it's one of the best double albums ever released. There's a good documentary on this album as well, super interesting how they recorded it. This has got to be a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Rocks Off, Rip This Joint, Shake Your Hips, Casino Boogie, Tumbling Dice, Sweet Virginia, Torn and Frayed, Loving Cup, Happy, Ventilator Blues, All Down the Line, Shine a Light, Soul Survivor
Prince
3/5
This is a pretty solid but unfortunately frontloaded album in my opinion. The whole first disc is solid and if that's all the album was I'd give it a 5/5 but the second disc I could really take or leave, which dilutes the album as a whole.
If 0.5 stars were available it'd definitely be a 3.5 but since it's nearly half an album that I could take or leave I'm going to round down to 3. Also, was kind of naively surprised that this album and the song '1999' came out in the early 1980s. As a kid I just remember this song getting a resurgence in 1999, so I assumed he released it sometime around then.
Standout Tracks: 1999, Little Red Corvette, Delirious, Let's Pretend We're Married, D.M.S.R., International Lover
Aretha Franklin
5/5
This is a really solid album. Aretha Franklin is on top of her game here, she sounds amazing and the songs are great.
I don't have a ton of specifics to add, it's just really good and she has a beautiful voice. I think it's got to be a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: Respect, I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), Soul Serenade, Don't Let Me Lose This Dream, Dr. Feelgood, Good Times, Save Me, A Change Is Gonna Come
Scritti Politti
1/5
Not a fan of this one at all. Legit don't get it. I also don't understand how this album was so critically well received. It just feels like cheesy, hollow 80s pop.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Pixies
4/5
This is a really solid album. I've been a big fan of Pixies since early high school. I was less familiar with this album as a whole than some of their others but recognized most of the songs and really enjoyed it on a relisten. I love the surf rock vibes that they incorporate into their sound, really feels unique to them as a band within the 80s/90s alt-college rock scene.
Standout Tracks: Cecilia Ann, Velouria, Allison, Ana, All Over the World, Dig for Fire, The Happening, Havalina
Alice In Chains
3/5
This album is alright, though it's really not my type of grunge music. I grew up loving Nirvana and Pearl Jam but never got into Alice In Chains. Their vibe just doesn't do a lot for me.
They definitely have a few enjoyable tracks on here and I recognized the singles but could largely do without this album and I don't see myself ever coming back to it in full. That being said, giving it a middling score cause I don't strongly dislike it either.
Standout Tracks: Dam That River, Rooster, Dirt, Would?
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
This is a pretty good album, though I feel like it's a bit frontloaded. I definitely enjoyed their more upbeat songs more than their more ballad type ones. 'Shining Star' is the clearest standout and a great way to start the album.
I'm going with a middling rating because I enjoyed about half the songs and felt that the album was kind of unbalanced but not a bad listen at all. I didn't dislike the other half of the songs, just could kind of take them or leave them.
Standout Tracks: Shining Star, That's the Way of the World, Happy Feelin', Yearnin' Learnin'
David Ackles
2/5
This album is kind of all over the place. I really enjoyed some songs and then was really not into others. Tracks like 'American Gothic' and 'Midnight Carousel' utilize really dissonant chord progressions/notes that I find difficult to enjoy. Other tracks, like 'Ballad of the Ship of State', basically feel like a number out of a musical which doesn't do much for me. Then, there's 'Family Band', which sounds like a weird Christian folk song.
On the other hand I really enjoyed the tracks I listed below as standouts. I think I've got to go pretty middling though because I don't think it works great for me as a whole.
Standout Tracks: Love's Enough, One Night Stand, Oh California!, Another Friday Night
1/5
I was interested to listen to this one because I've enjoyed XTC's first album from 1978 every once in a while. I'm not a huge fan but have enjoyed their songs in the past. I also didn't know they were around into the late 90s.
I was disappointed by this album. I don't hear anything on it that reminds me of their music I've liked. In my opinion these are some of the most cringingly bad lyrics I've heard in a while (ex. 'I'd Like That', 'Your Dictionary'). I wish I could have ignored them but they're also pretty high in the mix, so they're hard to avoid.
I really didn't like this one at all. Pretty blown away at the relatively consistent positive reviews it received as well. Not sure what I'm missing.
Standout Tracks: N/A
Johnny Cash
4/5
When I first saw this album for today I was surprised because I had already gotten his 'At Folsom Prison' and it seemed a little overkill to have both of these on the list but this is an awesome live album.
It's great to listen to Johnny Cash interacting with the audience and the energy from the crowd is so palpable. It's also really fun to hear him debut new songs like 'A Boy Named Sue' and most importantly 'San Quentin', which gets such a great reaction from the crowd that he plays it twice.
Standout Tracks: Wanted Man, I Walk the Line, Darlin' Companion, Starkville City Jail, San Quentin (both versions), A Boy Named Sue, Folsom Prison Blues
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is an incredible album. I'm a big Bob Dylan fan and actually came to this one a little later than a lot of his 60s records but have been enjoying it for quite a while at this point.
It's got to be a 5/5 for me.
Standout Tracks: Tangled Up In Blue, Simple Twist of Fate, Idiot Wind, You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go, Meet Me in the Morning, Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts, If You See Her Say Hello, Shelter from the Storm, Buckets of Rain
The Black Keys
2/5
I've never really been that into The Black Keys. They've always just felt like really generic alt-rock guys doing unoriginal blues rock and trying to sound old-timey. The production of this album is a perfect example, they've obviously added a tape hiss/reverb effect to a lot of the vocals and tracks overall.
That being said, this album isn't bad, just not something I'd ever really choose to listen to as I don't find it very interesting or exciting. So, I'm going with a middling rating.
Standout Tracks: Everlasting Light, Howlin' for You, Unknown Brother, These Days
TV On The Radio
4/5
This is a great debut album. The production is really solid for the vibe of the music. TV on the Radio was a really unique and cool band to come out of this early 2000s NYC wave of indie bands and I remember liking this album when it came out but it had been a little while since I had listened to it.
I feel like this one is a solid 4/5 for me. I went back for additional listens throughout the day, which is always a good indicator for me that an album should be in the 4-5 star range.
Standout Tracks: The Wrong Way, Staring at the Sun, King Eternal, Ambulance, Poppy, Wear You Out
Missy Elliott
3/5
This is a decent album but it's also not really my thing. I didn't strongly dislike anything on it but also wasn't blown away by any of it.
I think this is a solid debut though, so I'm going with a right down the middle 3/5.
Standout Tracks: Sock It 2 Me, Beep Me 911, Pass Da Blunt, Friendly Skies
The Divine Comedy
1/5
Not one of the Britpop acts of the 90s that I ever got into. I've heard of the band but never felt the need to seek out their music because it was never really in the conversation among anyone I knew. I'm not a fan of the cheesy, swanky nightclub vibes he puts in his lyrics and singing. He seems like he's trying to play the part of a posh playboy and that just doesn't speak to me at all, which makes sense as to why I never got into him or his music.
He definitely feels inspired by Scott Walker but it feels a bit forced to me. I also wasn't a big fan of the sampled and jokey voices that were added to a number of songs.
This one was kind of a slog to get through and I can't imagine a scenario where I'd ever voluntarily listen to it again. Not that it's unlistenable or horrible, just not my thing.
Standout Tracks: Something for the Weekend
Jacques Brel
4/5
This is a really solid album. I had never really heard of Jacques Brel before and was excited to hear something new. I find the chanson style of song really interesting and I can definitely see how it was an influence on other artists like Scott Walker.
I have no idea what he's singing about in these songs but the music and his vocals are great. I don't think it will be a regular in my rotation, which is keeping it from a 5/5 but it's a strong album and a cool artist.
Standout Tracks: Amsterdam, Le Dernier Repas, Les Vieux, Les Bonbons, Mathilde, Les Bigotes, Les Bourgeois, Madeleine
The National
5/5
This is an amazing album. It was the first National album I heard that hooked me on their music and then I went back through their catalog from here. Great songwriting and lyrics throughout.
It's a 5/5 for me.
Standout Tracks: Terrible Love *, Anyone's Ghost, Little Faith, Afraid of Everyone, Bloodbuzz Ohio *, Lemonworld *, Runaway, Conversation 16 *, England *, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks *
* I like nearly every song on here, so the ones with *s are standouts of standouts.
Kraftwerk
3/5
This album is decent but not my favorite type of music. I don't see myself coming back to it much but I didn't dislike it either, just not something I gravitate towards.
Standout Tracks: Autobahn, Kometenmelodie 2, Morgenspaziergang
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
This is a really solid debut. I've never been a big Lynyrd Skynyrd fan but don't dislike them either, just never really sought them out. This probably has the band's three biggest/best songs on it (in my opinion).
I enjoyed listening through this one. The only negative I'd give it is that some of the non-single tracks on the album come off as pretty generic blues/country rock but they weren't bad, just not that unique or as interesting.
Standout Tracks: I Ain't the One, Tuesday's Gone, Simple Man, Free Bird
The Kinks
5/5
This is a great album, it's probably one of the Kinks album I listen to the most in full. I love the production and vibe of the album. It's almost more difficult to review albums I know well and just really enjoy, not a lot to say.
This one is a 5/5 for me.
Standout Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter, Picture Book, Johnny Thunder, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Sitting by the Riverside, Animal Farm, Starstruck, All of My Friends Were There, People Take Pictures of Each Other
Stephen Stills
3/5
This album is alright but nothing outstanding in my opinion. I really love Neil Young and through that have grown to enjoy CSNY but Stills has never been my favorite songwriter of the group.
All in all it's a pretty decent album, I just find a lot of it to sound like CSN(Y) B-sides except for the standouts. That being said, I'm pretty blown away by the musicians he got on this album. Jimi Hendrix, Booker T., Mama Cass and Ringo Starr as well as many others. I just don't hear that level of artistry making it through into the final cut.
Standout Tracks: Love the One You're With, Old Times Good Times, Sit Yourself Down, We Are Not Helpless
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
I know it's hip to like these really out-there experimental records but right from the start this one doesn't do anything for me musically. I'm glad there is some variation as far as the tracks becoming a little more musical at times and not only piercing noises but in general I wouldn't define this as a music album, with 4 minute tracks of mostly inaudible dialogue.
I don't generally enjoy albums or art that are seemingly just created to challenge the audience. You might as well just take a piss on stage, it would be a lot less work. I legitimately can't imagine anyone putting this on in a group of people and not having someone say, "what the fuck is this?" and not in a good way. I'm all for experimentation but I do expect an ounce of musicality if you're going to call yourself a band and release an album. This was a pretty exhausting listen.
Standout Track: AB/7A
Billy Bragg
4/5
This is a solid album. I like Billy Bragg a lot but for some reason don't find myself listening to his music all that often. I like the sparse production that he tends to go with in these earlier albums, though this one turns that up a bit.
I really like a few of the earlier tracks on the album but definitely feel like it gets stronger on the second half. I think this is better than the average album, especially with the lyrical content, but considering I don't find myself going to it that often, I'm going with a 4/5.
Standout Tracks: Greetings to the New Brunette, The Marriage, Ideology, Levi Stubbs' Tears, Help Save the Youth of America, The Passion
The Zombies
4/5
This is a really great album. It's one I've spent time listening to in the past. I really like the Zombies vibes but they do feel very of a time to me, which is the only thing that keeps me from making this one a 5/5. I'm not as drawn to them as other 60s bands just because their sound lacks that timelessness. But this does have lots of solid tracks on it.
Standout Tracks: Care of Cell 44, A Rose for Emily, Brief Candles, Hung Up on a Dream, I Want Her She Wants Me, This Will Be Our Year, Time of the Season
Sinead O'Connor
5/5
This is an amazing album. I've got to be honest, I have always loved 'Nothing Compares 2 U' but never really dug that deep into the rest of Sinead O'Connor's catalog. Listening to this album in whole was great and I was surprised that nearly every song stood out to me on first listen.
I will definitely be adding this one to my own library and listen to it more going forward. I've got to give it a 5/5.
Standout Tracks: I Am Stretched on Your Grave, Three Babies, The Emperor's New Clothes, Black Boys on Mopeds, Nothing Compares 2 U, Jump in the River, You Cause as Much Sorrow, The Last Day of Our Acquaintance
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
I really love the album Loveless by My Bloody Valentine, so I was excited for this album after a long time of the band not releasing music. Unfortunately, I find this album just alright though.
For a relatively short album it feels very repetitive, it makes me wonder why they felt that they had to put out this specific album at the time after such an extended period of silence. I don't dislike it necessarily, I just find it kind of underwhelming.
Standout Tracks: only tomorrow, who sees you, new you
Cornershop
4/5
This is a solid album. I had never heard of Cornershop before but was stoked to hear this one based on what I read about them. It didn't disappoint, though I'm definitely a bigger fan of their non-instrumental tracks, which are scattered through the album. The instrumentals aren't bad, just not as strong as the other tracks in my opinion.
I recognized the song 'Brimful of Asha', which is a good single. Glad to have discovered this album through this process, will definitely give it more listens and check out some of their other work.
Standout Tracks: Sleep on the Left Side, Brimful of Asha, We're in Yr Corner, Good Shit, Good to Be on the Road Back Home, It's Indian Tobacco My Friend, Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Massive Attack
2/5
This album was fine but not what I was imaging based on the group's name and artwork.
I'd never heard Massive Attack before, I knew the name but always assumed they were more on the punk side of things. I know it's no good to judge a book by it's cover but I was really hoping for more of a unique punk hip-hop vibe to this album and what it is is just real mellow, kind of boring (in my opinion) trip hop.
I didn't hate anything on this album, just found it rather unoriginal and too similar from track to track.
Standout Tracks: Blue Lines, Be Thankful for What You've Got, Hymn of the Big Wheel
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
This is a decent album, though I don't feel like it needs to be a double album. If I grew up listening to this band I could see really loving it but coming to the album later, it just starts to feel repetitive after 90 minutes.
I was excited to give this one a listen after reading some about the band and album. I have to be honest, I never really gave the Drive-By Truckers a chance because their name sounded silly to me and painted a different picture of what their band would sound like but there are some really solid songs on here. Also, was stoked to find that they're quite progressive. You can definitely hear the common themes come back up on the album but difficult to find the concept album on first listen.
I'd give this one a 3.5 if I could but feel like I have to go with a 3 instead of 4, just because I feel like it could use some paring down.
Standout Tracks: Ronnie and Neil, Dead Drunk and Naked, Birmingham, Zip City, Plastic Flowers on the Highway, Life in the Factory, Shut Up and Get on the Plane, Angels and Fuselage
The Police
3/5
This is a pretty good album but it doesn't blow me away or anything. I was excited to get a Police album because I know their hits but have never really listened to a full studio album. So, I was interested to get a feel for their non-single, album tracks.
I definitely liked their singles the most of any of the tracks on the album but found the vibe of the other songs kind of boring. It's the same genres but just less interesting/catchy. Overall, this one was very middling for me.
Standout Tracks: Message In A Bottle, It's Alright For You, Walking on the Moon, Does Everyone Stare
3/5
I haven't listened to Liars in a while but used to be a big fan of their album 'Drum's Not Dead'. I remember liking this album back in the day but wasn't recognizing any of the song names really.
Upon initial relisten I wasn't digging the first few songs on the album. They felt more like noise rock for noise sake, wasn't feeling the music enough. Then, I feel like it really turned around at the half way point.
I think there are some solid songs on here and I think it's a cool concept for an album, really like the album name/artwork. All in all, this album is pretty middling for me but not bad at all. I think it would make more sense to have 'Drum's Not Dead' on this list but oh well.
Standout Tracks: We Fenced Other Gardens with the Bones of Our Own, They Don't Want Your Corn They Want Your Kids, Hold Hands and It Will Happen Anyway, Flow My Tears the Spider Said
Elbow
2/5
I wasn't a huge fan of this album but I didn't really dislike it strongly either. I most just found it kind of boring. Not a lot about it stood out to me. It reminded me of lesser versions of other bands like Radiohead or even Coldplay (not that I hold Coldplay up too high).
I just found it difficult to latch on to any of the songs. I put one as a standout because it caught my ear the most but still wasn't blown away by it.
Standout Tracks: One Day Like This
Fever Ray
5/5
This is a great album. I loved this one when it came out and listened to it a lot at the time. Excited to see this one come up today, good reminder to give it another round of listening.
Have very strong associations with this album and camping in the Olympic National Park in Washington state cause my friends and I sat around all night under a tarp as it rained, playing cards and listening to this album on a bluetooth speaker.
I've got to go with 5/5.
Standout Tracks: If I Had a Heart, When I Grow Up, Dry and Dusty, Seven, Triangle Walks, Concrete Walls, Keep the Streets Empty for Me, Coconut
Elliott Smith
5/5
This is a great album. I was a big Elliott Smith fan growing up and still listen to him every so often. He was such a gifted songwriter and this album has a ton of incredible songs on it.
I've got to give it 5/5 just for the songwriting and my nostalgia for it.
Standout Tracks: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used to Know, Everything Reminds Me of Her, Everything Means Nothing to Me, L.A., In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost, Stupidity Tries, Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?, Color Bars, Happiness/The Gondola Man, I Better Be Quiet Now
Suede
3/5
I feel like this album started off pretty strong and then kind of fell off for me. The opening track actually reminded me a lot of the Pixies but as the album went on it felt like it moved more into just standard Britpop.
I didn't strongly dislike anything on here though either, so I'm going to go right down the middle with 3/5.
Standout Tracks: So Young, Animal Nitrate, Moving, Metal Mickey
Beatles
4/5
I love The Beatles and really enjoy the A Hard Day's Night movie but I don't feel like this is one of their strongest albums. I like a lot of songs on here and wouldn't say any of them stood out as bad or skippable but not quite on the level of their top-tier work. Still going with a 4/5 though.
Standout Tracks: A Hard Day's Night, I Should Have Known Better, And I Love Her, Can't Buy Me Love, Any Time At All, I'll Cry Instead
Jane Weaver
4/5
This was a really solid album and one of those that reminds me to not always judge an album by the cover. I saw the album artwork for this one pop up and the album year/name and figured it wouldn't be something I would like. Not sure why, just looks a little Starbucks counter to me. But from the first song I was pretty impressed. Didn't fully fall in love with it but enjoyed the music.
I'd never heard of Jane Weaver before but was really impressed with this album and her musical vibe. I'll check out some of her other albums and see if they're my thing.
Standout Tracks: H>A>K, Modern Kosmology, Slow Motion, Loops in the Secret Society, Valley, I Wish
The B-52's
4/5
This is a really solid debut album. I only recently started to get the B-52's. Growing up I thought they were a joke band because of some of their big hits, then I realized they're a real band that just doesn't take themselves too seriously, which is great.
It was cool to listen to a full album of their early music to get an understanding of where they came from. Personal favorite track was "Hero Worship" but I liked the majority of the songs on the album, no skippers that I heard.
Standout Tracks: 52 Girls, Rock Lobster, Lava, Hero Worship, 6060-842
Elvis Costello
4/5
I've always had mixed feelings about Elvis Costello's music. I really like some songs, others not at all but have never really been able to dive all the way in. That being said, this is a really solid debut album. I liked the whole thing, never really had the urge to skip around even if I didn't love every song.
I feel like he has a more raw sound on this album, which I really dig and found some songs I hadn't heard before that actually stood out more than some of those that I had heard before.
Standout Tracks: Welcome to the Working Week, Miracle Man, Blame It on Cain, Alison, Less Than Zero, Pay It Back, Waiting for the End of the World