I hate the vibrato. I'm sorry, but the vocal performance here is just not for me, to an extent that it renders most of the album a chore, if not a pain, to listen to. Another example of where instrumentals only would be preferable. It's also a bit too bleak in terms of lyricism for me, but definitely not bad. Some cool guest features I'll concede. 05/04/23

One of the easiest 5s I could ever give. The singles are so incredible and memorable and catchy it's unreal. As a record, it has a real love and reverence for all genres, leading to its massive planetary scope. Jeff Lynne is absolutely one of the greatest underrated songwriters of the last 100 years. I understand it's nowhere near as cool as the punk that surrounded it in the 70s, but if John Lennon said this is the band the Beatles would become, then I have nothing else to say. 19/08/24

You really don't need to listen to this before you die. Why is this on the list? It's over an hour of either irritating or just bland music. Vocals get annoying very quickly. Cee Lo does not suit hip hop, so why not include his next album, the shorter, better one, the poppier one, the one with the big hits? Now I'm embarrassed of showing my Cee Lo Green discography knowledge. 26/10/22

It's got a lot of covers, but my God, they're good covers. The absolute balls to open with Mr Tambourine Man and then end with We'll Meet Again with jangly, British invasion styles is incredible. The sheer influence of the album can't be denied, especially in my favourite genres, and it's a great time to boot. Definitely a summer album, maybe smoking a joint in a back garden. 04/03/23

Two albums later, I've concluded that I do not like The Grateful Dead. Far too much of long, unstructured, dull songs which never resolve themselves. I also hate live albums, with very few exceptions, and the live factor is hugely influential in the love for this band. I can understand someone being able to like them, because I too enjoy listening to music under the influence of questionable substances. But I'm sober currently, and wishing I wasn't listening to this dreck. 17/01/24

What a way to restart the project. Although not my favourite Kanye album, it's still probably his best, and practically perfect. Really funny in places, catchy, good for a workout, good for introspective thought, good for a party... it's just really good. First run of 5 tracks is incredible, next three v good but not for me, RUNAWAY, and a solid stretch to close.

Some great songs here, but weighed down by a whole load of other dross which sound pretty much the same. Excess is probably the way to describe it; the vocals, the solos, the length of songs. Sometimes the excess makes a great track, as in the first two examples, but the rest of the time, it's a bit annoying.

Pretty decent, better than expected. Catchy and melodic in places which is a nice surprise considering the reputation metal has.

Despite loving jazz rap, this wasn't my favourite thing. There's some amazing tracks here, The Seed (2.0), Sacrifice, Thought at Work, but then there's just too much weird and mismatched other stuff. I admire the eccentricity in jumping all over the place, but not everything lands.

Great sampling, some absolute classics here. Few too many skits for my liking

I get what the album is going for, the dirty hangover vibe that follows the fun and upbeat previous album, but I'm just not a big fan. It drags itself around in a haze, and I just want it to end. Sylvia and the title track are my favourites, the former basically eschewing the sound of the album, and the latter doing the rest of the songs better, making them obsolete. Maybe it's just too cool for me.

Almost ambient in its restraint with background instrumentals, giving it a beautiful and soft tone, despite the multiple murders going on. Short and sweet, proof that country doesn't have to suck. Most of the tracks were written by other people, but picking and choosing songs to fit the story is actually pretty impressive. Nearly a 5 tbh

Just a classic, with every kind of rock and roll you need. From jazz and blues, to acoustic ballads, to excellent riffs. Probably the most consistent stones album.

Little bit too 80s for my taste, with synths overwhelming everything else in the tracks. Nevertheless, it's pretty good, fantastic for a debut album. Girls Just Wanna and Time after Time are deservedly well known and popular, but the front half of the album is fantastic, but the second half is much weaker in comparison.

Went in prepared to hate it as a symbol of the excessive indulgences of the 80s, but I actually got into it. Drums thankfully have a real weight to them which is often a problem with synthy music. Way too long with a lot of fluff in the back half. The Springsteen cover was basically pointless except to remind me that I probably prefer that kind of music to this. The big bombastic style is brought down by weird deviations in sound (San Jose) and the skits. I can understand why someone would love this, but for me, its just pretty decent.

Little bit disappointed considering the reputation Mitchell has. The pop-jazz combination fails to be either jazzy enough to be authentically cool, or poppy enough to be catchy and fun. Lyrics are still good, but need to be read alongside the listening. Some nice tracks, but a lot of weird choices.

A total surprise, in the best way. It's impressive how the sounds can conjure different places and vibes for different people; a 70s spacestation bachelor pad, a stylish spy film score, a safe zone in a 90s video game. For me, it's the sound of a cool house party, where you're swapping between a fun and crowded party downstairs, and a cool quiet bedroom upstairs to recharge. It's fantastic that an album can vividly take me to such a place, as well as do the same to other people in different ways. Feel bad giving it 5 stars, since it's not revolutionary or anything, but I really like it.

It's got classwarfare against the upper classes, catchy indie rock riffs, witty lyrics, a 90s culture and drugs vibe: basically everything I love. Very little I dislike here, in comparison to the album that follows this. Compared to This is Hardcore, this is cooler, catchier, more meaningful and more enjoyable by a long way.

Slightly too noise-rocky for my tastes, but still very good. First two tracks have a fantastic post-punk grunge feel, but maintain a kind of optimism.

It's growing on me. Completely ridiculous and bombastic, but done with a proper sincerity rather than a smug ironic detachment which saves it imo. Catchy as hell, and pretty enjoyable for what it is. Also finding out it released in 77, rather than the 80s as I had assumed lends the album an air of originality, almost as a model for the arena rock of the 80s.

The concept is very cool, but that's about it. I'm glad it's on the list, and don't actively dislike it, but the failed potential here is really disappointing. Takes a long time to get going, and yet never feels like it gets to the final destination. Butterfly is sick, cool 90s beats with classical Indian melodies- v good

Meticulously brilliant, and with enough catchy tunes to keep you listening to complexity here. One to revisit on a sunny pool party kind of day. 17/04/23

It's indie rock, so I'm very biased in favour of it. Nevertheless, biases notwithstanding, this is a fantastic album. 7 Nation and Button to Button are great head banging catchy tunes, two nice stripped back tracks in the middle. More bluesy than I expected, not entirely unpleasant.

Very enjoyable, and holds up well even today, despite being the origin for a whole new genre. Almost like a Tribe Called Quest's British cousins. A lot of tracks are better suited for background listening, ambient music, but that's fine with me. Starting to realise I have a lot of nostalgia for British albums from the 90s, despite only living a week in the decade. 18/10/22

Another example of why I love this project. I can understand why this album could seem like a total hodge-podge mess of sounds, but I really like that chaotic mix of genres. It keeps you on your toes, never bores, and is pretty catchy. From Latin American rap, to Arabic beats, the sounds of the world feel more cohesive than something like OK. N.B - Really difficult to find this album online which is a shame. Also the whole debate on separating art from artists is a hot potato, but it's nice to see a band promote positive political movements like workers' rights from their inception 20 years ago to the present day. 19/10/22

Glad to have heard it, but not one I'm likely to return to. The cover is fantastic, some of the coolest illustrations to ever grace the cover of an album. Joplin's voice perfectly matches the scratchy, wild guitars. 20/10/22

What I love about Talking Heads is that it's a band that can reconcile the weird, literate, often pretentious, but clever music with fun, radio-friendly, catchy music, all without ever losing their identity. This album achieves that, somewhere between enjoyable and funny (Animals is hilarious), and unsettling and nervous. The title is really fitting, as it's just about fear. Fear of achieving perfection, to urban life, to the air we breathe. 21/10/22

Not sure on this one. Nothing I dislike, but nothing I adore either. This might be a side-effect of only ever hearing how good Young is, but never actually having heard a single song of his. Cinnamon Girl is pretty cool, an ancestor to music I prefer. Having listened a bit more, it's more enjoyable. Guitar solos are tastefully done, skilful without being ostentatious. I actually really like the long tracks, they never feel boring or unnecessary. That can't be said for every song on the album, but the album itself is short enough that even the weaker songs in the back half don't ruin it. Overall, pretty good, just needed some more time with it. 24/10/22

Very poor introduction. The artwork, vocals, and first 3 songs in general really grated with me. A lot of it reminds me of the worse examples of 2000s pop-punk, which is probably unfair to say, considering how this sound influenced so many great and terrible bands from that period. Three Days is good, not as good as I had expected based on the reputation it has. Obvious is ok, but the other tracks are either short and annoying, or long and meandering. Overall, big disappointment considering I'm really fond of alt-rock, grunge and most 90s sounds. Feel bad giving it a 1, probably not fully deserved, but there's nothing here for me to return to, and I just did not enjoy it at all. 25/10/22

You really don't need to listen to this before you die. Why is this on the list? It's over an hour of either irritating or just bland music. Vocals get annoying very quickly. Cee Lo does not suit hip hop, so why not include his next album, the shorter, better one, the poppier one, the one with the big hits? Now I'm embarrassed of showing my Cee Lo Green discography knowledge. 26/10/22

Absolutely essential listening. It's the work that not only birthed the concept album, but the concept of the album itself, as a cohesive piece of art. It also re-ignited Sinatra's career, and formed the basis for the break up album. I love albums that capture a time and place, and for me this is a late-night, rainy-day, drinking-alone-in-a-city album, and I love it. Maybe a bit long, but it works well as a background piece you can dip your attention in and out of at will. 27/10/22

Very solid, funky fun. Despite quite liking jazz, I'd never heard of Jimmy Smith prior to this, and that now seems like a shame. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does what it does really well. Something to groove to at an intellectual dinner party, or a chilled study session. 28/10/22

It's pretty good. It feels a bit trapped between Talking Heads new wave, and Eno's later ambient music, and consequently doesn't really reach the heights of either style imo. Still fairly catchy, enjoyable, and tranquil towards the end. My key criteria of an album creating or transporting you to a place is kind of met, as Eno mentions it's an ocean album, which I can dig. 1/11/22

It's got at least 2 bangers in Stars and Medication, so the album gets at least a 3 for them. I expected a bit more from this as I'm pretty fond of Primal Scream, not to mention that 90s British drug vibe. Never felt fully cohesive as an album, with the sounds and influences jumping around too much to form a strong centre. Didn't dislike it though, and it kind of creates an an atmosphere, as the band describe it as 'an anarcho-syndicalist speedfreak road-movie record' which I personally don't entirely feel or understand. 2/11/22

Not a big MJ fan, and really not a fan of 80s pop with all its excessive indulgences. But, this is pretty good. Hard not to groove along. The main problem I have with it, is a lack of emotional connection. The intention of the album was to create an album with each track being as good as the main single, which it probably achieves. However, as a result it feels a little mechanical, creating tracks to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. As much as it doesn't sit well with my biases and opinions on the artist, it absolutely belongs on the list, its influence is undeniable, and so it has to get at least 4, pretty close to 5. An album to play at a Halloween party, not the strongest atmosphere for a whole album, but it works. 07/11/22

It's got some great new-wave post-punk tracks, but I'm less keen on the ambient gothic rock sound, which is a shame considering I like ambient instrumentals. I like quite a few parts of the album, it just never comes together in the way I was hoping it would, which I guess is fair enough considering it's their 2nd album, and first to capture what we all think of as The Cure. 08/11/22

Pretty good, about what I expected. I quite like the 2000s neo-soul Soulquarian sound, and this fits into the genre well. Way too long, and the second half loses the fun upbeat sound of the start, but the jazzier vibes aren't bad. For me, this is an album for a summer bbq that goes on from the mid afternoon into a cool relaxed evening, something to play before going out. 09/11/22

Way better than expected, since I was anticipating crusty dad-rock, and was ultimately greeted with catchy poppy hooks, and a fun balance of synths and guitars. My head started nodding, and it didn't really stop. It's short and sweet, very little filler or bad tracks to be found here. Appropriately, it's a driving album, windows down, sun out, volume to the max. 10/11/22

Probably some of the better gangsta rap I've heard, some great tracks coated in those 90s hip-hop beats I really like. Another album that suffers due to length, could be cut down a bit, but no skits thankfully. For me, this is an album for driving round a big American city in the 90s, probably around the evening turning to night. 11/11/22

90s drugged up Britain strikes again, and I eat this up every time. It balances the psychedelic sounds with big beats really well, and despite being over an hour long, it doesn't drag due to the nature of the album as more of a dancefloor piece, a place where time dissolves. Love both the vocal tracks, great in different ways. This is to me is a club album, but with different stages of the night out. For some reason, I get a basement club atmosphere for this. The last two tracks feel like the quiet walk back, and the planning for the next night out respectively. 14/11/22

A better, shorter, more clever, more enjoyable version of Welcome to the Pleasuredome. I also way prefer Neil Tennant's vocals, unique but not distracting. The LGBT, anti-Thatcher and general synths position this as almost a soundtrack to films and series like Pride and obviously It's a Sin, so that's the kind of atmosphere I'm feeling. 15/11/22

Some fantastic songs, but they don't seem to go together in a cohesive way. First half much stronger than the back. Can't feel a place or a time from this album, since it jumps in tone so often.

Not entirely my cup of tea. It's got some good and catchy pieces, but the overall atmosphere is far too melancholic for my tastes. Considering its a concept album about a heroin addicted couple as parents, that's unsurprising.

Prior to this, I never really got Dylan beyond appreciating he was an important figure. Now, I think I'm a convert. Dividing the album between the rock and folk styles varies the sound without losing cohesion, and is a great intro to someone like me. I still don't get the lyrics but I feel them, which is arguably better. Tbh it's a 5 if only for Subterranean, Tambourine, and Baby Blue. As for a location, I listened to it in a city on a bright winter's day, so it fits for me. Going from festive, fun and upbeat, to a slower, more melancholic, but never lacking in hope, as the day comes to an end. 15/12/22

It's easy to be snobby about this era of hard rock, but for all it's worth, this is a proper good time. Nothing unexpected, but clearly very influential for other bands that would follow in their footsteps. Solid all the way through, and super brisk at 35 minutes. It's an album for a fat car on the way to the gym to lift some heavy weights.

Bit of a disappointment. Early 2000s British indie singer-songwriter should be perfect for me, and yet it's just slightly annoying. It erratically jumps from sub Nick Drake to more uptempo stuff, but there's an atmosphere of snobishness that rubs me the wrong way. Some decent tracks, but not something to revisit.

Stuck between 3 and 4 here, in that it's I'm quite fond of the style and of course 90s British rock, but I recognise the fact that it's not really that original or clever. I'm not 100% sure it belongs on the list, but I'm glad to have found it here regardless. As for the place and time, I get a cool punky bedroom on an autumn afternoon, and I have no idea why. 07/02/23

Just give me Dinosaur Jr, or Nirvana, or Pavement, or Pixies. This just is nowhere near as enjoyable as those examples, with a bare few tracks that I actually liked. Another one where its presence on the list is in question for me. 08/02/23

Very dense, intricate and clever. When you can get into it, you'll be rewarded with catchy pop and new wave at its best, but unmemorable OK-ness at other points. Love the album art too. It's kind of like a dinner party at a very fancy house, with very intelligent people who are intimidating, but then someone makes a great joke and stuff starts to click, and then the fun starts. 09/02/23

It's not even my favourite Radiohead album but it still achieves the 5. I don't really have much to add to the discourse on it; yeah it's prophetic, yeah it bridges their two styles really well, yeah it's hugely influential. It's just very good. It feels like an album for public transport on a cold day, surrounded by people, but still alone. 14/02/23

I shouldn't have been so cynical upon seeing country-pop as the genre tags. In fact, this whole album basically refutes the concept of cynicism in favour of a kind of melancholic hope. With slight psychedelic and electronic sounds coming through, similar to Porter Robinson imo, it keeps things interesting, but not quite enough for me. It's for sitting in the garden in the sun with a slight breeze and a good drink. 14/02/23

It's about as good as an album of covers can ever be, for better or for worse. Some excellent picks to cover, with a decent variety of styles. Stuck between 3 and 4, but it's not quite good enough to justify the lack of anything original. It captures the sound of the 50s/60s pretty well, and makes me think of working in a dinner in that era (which working at Frankie and Benny's is pretty close to). 15/02/23

Points for the sheer absurdity of mixing 80s Queen and pop, with industrial metal, and a theme of fascism. It fails to hold attention beyond the first half, and essentially devolves, but still worth a listen. The concept is clear- the anthems of a victorious, industrial, fascist autocracy. 02/03/23

It's got a lot of covers, but my God, they're good covers. The absolute balls to open with Mr Tambourine Man and then end with We'll Meet Again with jangly, British invasion styles is incredible. The sheer influence of the album can't be denied, especially in my favourite genres, and it's a great time to boot. Definitely a summer album, maybe smoking a joint in a back garden. 04/03/23

Exactly the kind of thing I want to get from this project. Good but not one I'd revisit, and I'd probably enjoy it more as just instrumental pieces. A chill warm orange sunset. 28/03/23

I recognise that it's just not for me. My first Miles album of the list and I dont know what I think of it. Maybe I need more time with it, but I can realise its good, without really loving it. It's like being in a car crash, and every one of your senses is being violated. Definitely not bad though. 13/03/23

The good stuff here is absolutely incredible, but there's a fair bit of unmemorable filler in my opinion. Cash's Blackstar is emotional and heartbreaking at points, but a glorious swansong. A cold look back at one's life and what will come next. 01/04/23

Very much meh, a disappointment considering how famous the Grateful Dead are, as well as the fact that this is supposedly their best studio album. Solid opening with someone upbeat country rock, but soon falls into unmemorable and slightly dreary, homogenous 70s Americana. 03/04/23

I hate the vibrato. I'm sorry, but the vocal performance here is just not for me, to an extent that it renders most of the album a chore, if not a pain, to listen to. Another example of where instrumentals only would be preferable. It's also a bit too bleak in terms of lyricism for me, but definitely not bad. Some cool guest features I'll concede. 05/04/23

Another great example of why this project is so fun. Despite loving jazz, I'd never ventured into Afro-Cuban Jazz and yet it's really fun. A cool blend of American big-band, with African rhythm, and Cuban melodies. Some complain that it's a bit one note, without enough variety, but I find the tempo and tone changes sufficiently exciting while maintaining a consistent theme for the album. It's an album for cooking, then enjoying a nice meal, then chilling with a cocktail, and maybe having a little dance. 06/04/23

I can appreciate it as a seminal piece of art, hugely influential, incredibly talented, but honestly I didn't love it. I can only take so much psychedelic before it turns into a bad trip and make me ill. I liked a lot of the songs, but I wouldn't necessarily revisit the whole album. 12/04/23

My unconscious dislike of Sting and The Police (with a few exceptions) is pretty much confirmed by this album. I feel as though every song has moments I really like, but then really irritating vocals and white reggae (which is just plain embarrassing at points) rear their heads, and repeat ad nauseam. The opening track and Bring on the Night are very enjoyable. The rest, however, is not. 13/04/23

It's like Nick Drake fucked Van Morrison in a jazzy, bluesy atmosphere, and it's amazing. Tonally inconsistent, but still able to retain a cohesive identity of a chilled nightime, looking out on a city vibe. A real treasure to discover. 16/04/23

Technically impressive in terms of sound quality and influence. It sounds as good as a studio album ten years down the line. Pretty enjoyable, and nothing to dislike, but nothing that grabbed me. A live album creates a unique atmosphere though. 17/04/23

Way better than expected, especially with my fairly neutral stance on the title track. The chilled folk rock are surprisingly entertaining, with a few more upbeat songs sandwich he'd between. It's like a road trip through America, jumping between the optimism of the 50s and 60s and the darker folkier side of the 70s. 26/04/23

It's good but I wish it were better. It jumps too often between garage, psychadelica, surf, lounge pop, blues, and so on to be really consistent. I liked the songs but I wish they were slightly tighter, either with more catchy and accessible hooks, or more obtuse and intellectual. But I'm now very excited to hear their next album on this list. 28/04/23

Pretty good, one of the most recent albums I've had. Like sufjan Stevens but slightly less depressed, but only slightly. Kind of like walking through a weird amusing tourist trap and I have no idea why 16/06/23

It's pretty much perfect, banger after banger, with something for everyone. It's not the most creative or groundbreaking album ever, but it is consistently fantastic, and likely to please everyone around you. Best suited for a garden party or bbq with family in good weather, something for everyone here. 18/05/23

Not as good as Back in Black, but still a good time. You know what you're in for from the title track and there are no surprises beyond how fun the same song ten times is. It's a driving fast album, simple as. 16/06/23

It's clever and funny,conceptually cohesive with good messages but I still don't fully love it. Occasionally a bit too kitsch, but with some decent tracks here and there. The concept speaks for itself tbh. 19/06/23

Pretty apt title tbh, sums the whole thing up very well. It's aggressively horny but in a way that doesn't come across as too leery. Interludes and length are a classic problems of albums of this era and style, and definitely impact my enjoyment. But otherwise its a great listen. Possibly a bedroom album, but could also be a 90s club album. 27/06/23

I probably didn't listen to it as much as I should have to review it, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. The much lauded production is more irritating than anything, in one instance using a phone ringing to induce rage in me. The lyrics are fine, but nothing as entertaining as something like Wu Tang, and the beats and sounds pale compared to someone like Erykah Badu, or even TLC in terms of fun. 28/06/23

Close to being perfect in my mind. A bizarre mix of rocky riffs, orchestral bites, jazzy interludes and almost spoken word lyricism. It's clearly an inspiration for some of my favourite artists, beck, Alex Turner, and so on, but the overall theme leaves a gross taste in my mouth. It's so incredibly French, the sound of a cigarette and adultery in a bohemian hotel room. 09/07/23

It's just amazing. Funny, witty, catchy, dangerous, and funking cool. Like going to a dodgy bar which will occasionally erupt into a fight but has amazing live music, and the coolest people you can ever meet without becoming pretentious. Doolittle is still better though. 18/07/23

While not my favourite Gorillaz album by any stretch, it's getting a 5 for the sheer originality, inventiveness and sheer number of great tracks here. The trip-hop stylings are right up my street, especially in this 90s/early 2000s era, the music videos were incredible, and there's so much different stuff here. I don't love everything, but as a package I can't dismiss it. It has a slightly uneasy atmosphere, an accurate cynicism about the coming decade, an album for the start of autumn. DD and PB are still better though. 28/07/23

Didn't hate it, but it felt so empty and meaningless compared to some other great electronic albums. Air's work has a cool, funky, refreshing atmosphere, Aphex Twin is melancholic and emotional, and so many others have a feel good, party vibe. I get nothing here other than technical profiency, which isn't enough. 02/08/23

If I'd grown up with it, I'm pretty sure I'd love it, but right now it slightly annoys me. Pop punk has always skirted the edges of guilty pleasure and utter shit for me, and this just about stays on the guilty pleasure side, although it's not a huge joy. Fairly repetitive and the vocals still remain a bugbear for me. A few decent tracks from the singles in fairness. 26/09/23

A bit of a slog, but ok in the background. Definitely way too long, and I feel like live albums lose something when you're literally not there with the performance. Also makes it more difficult to imagine a time and place to set the album, which I like to do. 04/10/23

I love Fatboy Slim but you can tell this is an early work. The sampling isn't quite as catchy or iconic as his later work, and that joyous pop sound isn't quite perfected. It's still v enjoyable and as a huge fan of 90s big beat/electronic sounds in the UK, its really good background listening. Best suited as a soundtrack to relaxed, monotonous office work, to spice up your life and get your foot tapping, imagining yourself in a 90s underground rave. 04/10/23

Simultaneously very poppy, riff laden and accessible, as well as kitsch, bizarre and headache inducingly weird. Never boring, and one I'd revisit in the future. The cover is oddly creepy, and I'm absolutely unable to be transported anywhere by this album besides maybe a madhouse. I'm still more of a Bowie and Byrne fan though. 08/10/23

I mean I quite like Dylan and the Stones, and thi is pretty much another flavour of their Anericana infused folk/blues rock. Very chilled out, a mellow piece for a lazy windy, sunny weekend afternoon in the garden. 10/10/23

As aggressively horny as a bald middle aged man on Tinder, who also probably thinks this album is a classic. 13/10/23

Not really for me, but clearly deserving of a position on the list. The jazz influence is a bit too minimalist and I've never been much of a fan of poetry and spoken word stuff in albums. 15/10/23

Very enjoyable but kind of throwaway and disposable. I can't say I paid particular attention to the lyrics but the bluesy rock vibes were entertaining enough on their own. Not a cohesive work of art by itself, but fun enough to dip in and out of, loud American road trip aesthetics. 17/10/23

Went from hating it to really getting into it, with over half the songs now liked on Spotify. It's like 90s Pavement alt rock with some country styled vocals, and surprisingly it doesn't suck. It reminds me of wandering alone an American country road just before dawn, a bit melancholic but with moments of sweetness and humour. 26/10/23

Much more accessible than expected. Just a fun and weird time, with strong 60s psychedelic and funky jazz vibes, like living in a bizarre spy movie. Some tracks are too long for their own good, but otherwise a very enjoyable time. I'm sorry for judging Zappa harshly prior to this. 04/11/23

A hidden gem. Works equally well as background music as it does as the main event thanks to equally skillful lyrics and melodies. The beats are fresh, the hooks catchy, and the sampling straight out of the 80s. At times it feels like an Avalanches album, in a great way. I can't put this album at any place or time, it feels apt for anywhere, anytime. 31/10/23

It's absolutely fine, middle of the road heartland rock, with the huge exception of American Girl. That songs is fantastic, and the best known song from this album for a damn good reason. It can't save the record from mediocrity however. 08/11/23

A little bit bonkers and incoherent but in a fun way. It's jazzy, and rocky, and bluesy, and folks and everything inbetween. Pretty impressive for the 60s but I'm not sure I'd revisit it often, and it seems to have been slightly forgotten by time. A diamond in the rough overall. 21/11/23

I really want to love it, but there's something missing. I like every single song, but nothing here ever hits me hard, nothing above an 8/10. Still v good, and one to look at again, but I wish I liked it more. 06/12/23

Probably my favourite Bowie album, and it's getting a 5 if only for Changes and Life on Mars. Even discarding those tracks, Kooks, Oh You, Fill your Heart, Andy Warhol, Queen Bitch, Quicksand, basically everything is fantastic here. The piano really shines, so props to Rick Wakeman. It's fun and mischievous, a nice lighter Bowie work, like walking round a quaint but busy English town in Spring. 10/12/23

It's nice enough, but it's not doing anything special for me personally. If you're a massive soul or RnB fan, this is probably a great pick, but for me, it generally all sounds the same. Nothing to dislike and it's good background listening, but I wouldn't come back to it for any highlights. 12/12/23

Like a Bowie impersonator singing over Radiohead impressions. I had a headache before I started listening, and without an inch of hyperbole, it got worse over the course of the album. Objectively speaking, it's probably not actually a 1 in terms of quality, but I just really disliked it. 21/12/23

Fun and impressive given the background of its recording. It's cheesy and uncool, but at least it knows what it is. Absolutely no pretension, it's the soundtrack for a cheap bar, with cheap bar, and a good night. 28/12/23

I was somewhat hopeful going into this, being a fan of ATCQ and Diggable Planets, but this feels like an early, incomplete version of those bands' works. Lyrics aren't particularly amazing and it often comes across as preachy or even cheesy, that's when the lyrics aren't just the same 4 lines ad nauseum. The beats are decent enough, but once again it falls into the hip hop problem of having the album go on for way too long. 06/01/24

Difficult to get ahold of but fairly fun. Reminds me a lot of a Brazilian Mariya Takeuchi in a good way. One I'd like to revisit but not being on Spotify is a bit of a pain. 11/01/24

The highs are very high and the rest is decent but I don't have the reverence for this that others do. Honestly struggling to write anything about the album, it left a very little impression on me besides thinking, That was pretty good. Maybe I'll try it again in the future, but at least I got a few new songs for my playlist. 16/01/24

Two albums later, I've concluded that I do not like The Grateful Dead. Far too much of long, unstructured, dull songs which never resolve themselves. I also hate live albums, with very few exceptions, and the live factor is hugely influential in the love for this band. I can understand someone being able to like them, because I too enjoy listening to music under the influence of questionable substances. But I'm sober currently, and wishing I wasn't listening to this dreck. 17/01/24

I liked some parts, mainly the middle three tracks as examples of decent post-punk, but the rest felt incomplete. The lyrics can be very patronising and juvenile, but I can concede the influential nature of the album. 19/01/24

One thing I've learnt thanks to this project, is my love for 90s trip hop and electronic music. I have such a nostalgia for this era, and the fantastic atmosphere these genres create in my head. You can heat the influence this album had on one of my favourite video game composers, Darren Kirby, especially his work on Transistor. Another reviewer compared this album to a city and it's a perfect comparison, a quiet loneliness floating over a busy and dirty foundation. For me it's a winter album, sad and cold, but sometimes thinking of spring. 28/01/24

Probably my least favourite Radiohead album so far, but still decent in terms of musical style. The old rock and new electronic styles mesh well enough but lack the pure inventiveness of the older or even newer (In Rainbows) stuff. A few standout tracks, 2+2 and There There, but it's got a fair bit of fat that needs trimming in the track list. I'll definitely try it again in the future, but not for a while 31/01/24

Very cool, and the kind of thing I started this project to find. Way more accessible and enjoyable than I expected, and the story and background is fascinating too. Not sure I'm going to come back for another listen for a while, but it's very impressive nonetheless. 06/02/24

I know it's no longer the cool pick, but this is my favourite Radiohead album. It does the 90s alt rock so we'll that it makes the careers of bands like Coldplay and Elbow look totally irrelevant. The singles are great, the deeper cuts may even be better, and it's rare for me to have so many songs already liked on Spotify from just one album. If OK Computer reminds me of the depressing work commute in the city, then this is like driving home after being away for so long, a hint of melancholy in otherwise poppy, anthemic 90s rock. 12/02/24

The first great Beatles album post the Beatlemania era, and it's grown on me a lot over the years. There's a few outright duds, What Goes On and Run for Your Life are dogshit, but the highs are super fucking high. Lennon was on a roll here, Nowhere Man, Norwegian Wood, and of course, In My Life, are all absolutely incredible. Meanwhile Paul and George are doing pretty decent rock and folk numbers to fill the rest out. This is the Spring to Revolver's Summer, a promise of brighter, better days ahead. 14/02/24

I wanted to like this a lot more than I did, especially considering it's made by a fellow Welshman. It's slightly catchy but not enough to overcome how cheesy and dated it sounds, although that sounds is meant to be ironic in some ways. Some decent singles, I mean if Miles Davis covers one of your songs, it's got to be at least good. Not one I'm going to come back to in the future, and kind of a disappointment to be honest. 19/02/24

Honestly, somewhat of a disappointment. As a huge fan of 90s Britpop/Indie/Alt-Rock, this should have been perfect for me. The tracks blend together without anything to distinguish one from another. It's not catchy enough to get away with this monotony, and to be honest, I'd much rather listen to Oasis, rather than the cheap imitation. I definitely don't hate it, but it's far from great. 26/02/24

Based on the name, cover, genre, reviews, and even the reputation of the artist himself, I fully expected to hate this. Honestly, I'm a little irritated that I enjoyed parts of it quite a bit. Very strong openers, up to about track 5, and then the quality dips and, unfortunately, the songs just keep coming. Sylvia Plath in particular is awful, the total low point here. I'm genuinely conflicted because my enjoyment of parts of it are a 5, but other parts drop all the way to 1, plus I still hate Ryan Adams, so I'm going down the middle on this one. 01/03/24

The last Dylan album I had from this challenge basically made me into a Dylan fan, and so I'm struggling to rate this one compared with Bringing It All Back Home. I probably prefer that one, with it having higher highs but lower lows, but it's bloody close. This one is more rock and blues, angrier and darker but still with moments of lightness. I won't even pretend to understand half of the lyrics but I love hearing them in the same way you can look at a surrealist painting. Every now and then you get a shot of something meaningful, or maybe not. This feels like a super American album, blues, and folk, and rock for a roadtrip across the desert in the 60s. 04/03/24

A fantastic surprise in the best way. It combines some of my favourite genres, punk, alt rock and jazz, to create an eclectic collection of super short, super addictive songs. Not a single song overstays its welcome, doing everything it needs to in basically 2 minutes or less, and then makes way for other great ideas. I'm going to be coming back to this a lot in the future, probably not the whole album, but just trying a few songs at a time. For me, it conjures images of skateboarding in 80s/90s America, just effortlessly cool. 11/03/24

Pretty good. I wish the horns from the first track were a bit more prevalent throughout to give it a more unique sound, but it's still a great time. Solid, simple, catchy punk, totally unknown band and songs, so the project is doing just what I wanted. Love the Aussie sneer in the vocals too. 19/03/24

The Kanye influences here are absolutely carrying the album but it's still really good. Catchy and amusing in places and gives a strong sense of time and place, New York in the super early 2000s. It honestly could be a 5 but some of the lyrics and themes have aged incredibly poorly. 20/03/24

It's at times entertaining but at others incredibly irritating and repetitive. I'm not angry to have listened to it, and it's relatively short, but not one I'm keen on returning to. Nice to have a Blue Note album at last though. 20/03/24

Nothing I particularly dislike, and it probably influenced a lot of 80s sounds, but I have very little attachment to this. For me, synth should be used pretty sparingly, so I'm not the biggest fan of the 80s as a period for music, but this is decent enough. Maybe I'd like it with time, but right now, it's just fine as background music. 24/03/24

I liked it, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I know it's cool to prefer this to Nevermind, but I do honestly prefer that album. The middle section is pretty fantastic though, Dumb in particular is amazing, and Pennyroyal Tea is great. In no way do I dislike this album, but it makes me wish I was listening to Pixies, or even the earlier albums instead. 26/03/24

Really beautiful and really terrifying at the same time. Seemingly pretty unaccessible but ultimately a grower of an album. I still may not be the biggest Radiohead fan in the world, but now I can definitely say that I'm a fan. This is an album about death and what comes after, beyond that I can't really describe it. 28/03/24

This is the only time I'm going to do this, but as a Beatle fanatic, it's a right of passage to rank the entirety of The White Album. It is definitely too long, but the ecclectic nature is part of the charm. Probably not a true 5 stars, but I'm biased. Back in the USSR- 9/10 Dear Prudence- 8/10 Glass Onion- 8/10 Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da- 7/10 Wild Honey Pie- 2/10 Bungalow Bill- 5/10 While My Guitar- 10/10 Happiness is a Warm Gun- 10/10 Martha My Dear- 10/10 I'm So Tired- 7/10 Blackbird- 9/10 Piggies- 6/10 Rocky Raccoon- 6/10 Don't Pass Me By- 5/10 Do it in the Road- 6/10 I Will- 7/10 Julia- 8/10 Birthday- 8/10 Yer Blues- 8/10 Mother Nature's Son- 7/10 Except Me and my Monkey- 7/10 Sexy Sadie- 7/10 Helter Skelter- 9/10 Long Long Long- 6/10 Revolution 1- 8/10 Honey Pie- 7/10 Savoy Truffle- 7/10 Cry Baby Cry- 5/10 Revolution 9- ??/10 Good Night - 5/10

It's got 4 all-time great singles on it, so that's one star for each. The rest is fine, not really a big fan in general. When it's trying it's catchy as fuck, but the rest of the time, it could have come out of an offbrand Sega Genesis game. 08/04/24

I really wanted to like this after No.1 Record, but I just don't get it. As someone who adores power pop, the bleakness and sheer disconnected style of the album just doesn't work for me. It's probably more of a 2 in terms of my enjoyment, but it's getting a 3 just for my respect for Alex Chilton and his songwriting. 15/04/24

A little dated but still a good time. The influence this album has had on the likes of Gary Numan, New Order, and others is clear and so just for that it's getting a decent score. Someone called it the Sgt Pepper's of electronic music, which could be a reach, but still somewhat accurate. It's somehow monotonous but motivational and entertaining, like a long train ride at night through Europe appropriately. 19/04/24

Despite being a bigger Bowie fan, I think this may be a better album than Black Star and it's impossible to not compare them. Definitely dark, but with a surprising softness despite the tone and vocals. The instrumentals feel sentimental contrasting Cohen's voice and lyrics, but the mix works astonishingly well. I kind of dreaded listening to this so the surprise enjoyment boosted this to a 5 for me. It's like being at a wake in the nicest way possible. 23/04/24

Very good, but doesn't click emotionally with me which is a shame. It's cool, trippy, and chilled out but maybe a bit too horny for my tastes. I'd sooner go for Portishead or Massive Attack, but this is a great example of the 90s British sound that I love so much. 29/04/24

Almost a five, but I wish the energy from the first song was maintained throughout, and it can feel a bit repetitive at times. The style is cool as hell, and you can't listen to it without a smile. It's the closest thing to reliving the Golden Age of 1940s/50s Las Vegas 02/05/24

A perfect album now the sun is coming out. It's going alongside The Stone Roses debut and New Order's Technique as incredible summer day-drinking albums from '89/90. It has no clever messages really, just a hedonistic let's-get-fucked-up vibe which is enthralling. Rock and pop and funk and dance all come together wonderfully 05/05/24

It's very good, but I've little else to say about it, or any personal attachment. She's got a great voice, most of the songs are enjoyable and everything is well produced. I just don't love it for some reason, but would definitely recommend it to someone who might. 13/05/24

Not really that enjoyable for me, it's almost too basic even for punk. It may have been the grandfather of the genre, but it's moved on since then. Kind of cheesy in places too. 21/05/24

I didn't love nor hate it. The artwork is horrendous and that definitely put me off, looking like a teenager's idea of cool and edgy. I was expecting something less approachable but it still didn't grab me in a positive way. 31/05/24

This album is the reason I harbour so much skepticism towards metal as a genre. The tough-guy basic as fuck vocals and lyrics irritated me to no end. The rhythm of the album barely changes from that chugga chugga style, and at 52 minutes, it feels seriously slow. If anything, it made me appreciate the Iron Maiden album I had prior to this far more.It has nothing in particular to say, and even then, it says it badly. 04/06/24

Joyous, catchy and just an all-round good time. It's a super long album but it works as either active listening or as something for the background. Knowing that it revived Ellington's career makes the triumph even greater, and is a rare example of a strong live album (despite some controversy regarding how live it actually is) and is perfect for a sunny day 06/06/24

Quite charming and varied, with so many different sounds at play. A great example of why this project is brilliant as now I'm excited to listen to some of Can's music whom I had never heard of prior to this. The tone jumps all over the place but always remains interesting and heartfelt oddly enough. 07/06/24

There are moments where I can hear the potential but it falls apart into a mess of indie rock, electronic, androgynous wailing, and ridiculous limits. The missed potential is almost as annoying as the vocals. 21/06/24

Another album that should be one of my favourites but somehow misses the mark for me. It's clearly the influence for some of my favourite artists from the Smiths, to the Strokes but I can't say that I love it. I still really like it and enjoyed it, but wished it clicked with me more. Cool, gritty, flamboyant and bluesy, this is 70s New York in 11 tracks. 23/06/24

It's pretty good, with some standout tracks but I'm not sure it holds up with the best of Bowie. 02/07/24

Honestly I found it a bit dull, repetitive and even irritating at times. Love her madly was good, riders is fine if a bit overrated, and everything else passed by without me caring whatsoever. Not one to revisit I reckon. 02/07/24

Bizarre but catchy and clever in enough ways to warrant a listen. I totally understand why this has received so many 1 star reviews, but it's on the right side of weird for me. The vocals are fantastic, varied in so many different ways. It's like being at the world's weirdest house party but still remains a good time. 09/07/24

A blast from the Summer of Love! The hit singles are fantastic and the other tracks hold up very well. Although I prefer the more rock based songs, the slower stuff is also pretty great. Although I didn't enjoy as much as my other 5 star albums, the enjoyment, atmosphere, and historical importance of the album. The sheer vibe factor of the 60s is unmistakable. 11/07/24

Pretty good. Reminiscent of the gorillaz debut with a weird combo of hip-hop, rock and almost country. Some good singles and some unmemorable ones in amongst them. 15/08/24

One of the easiest 5s I could ever give. The singles are so incredible and memorable and catchy it's unreal. As a record, it has a real love and reverence for all genres, leading to its massive planetary scope. Jeff Lynne is absolutely one of the greatest underrated songwriters of the last 100 years. I understand it's nowhere near as cool as the punk that surrounded it in the 70s, but if John Lennon said this is the band the Beatles would become, then I have nothing else to say. 19/08/24

Roundabout is excellent. Everything else, less so. Overly drawn out and often dull, with moments of interest. It doesn't do much to defend against the common criticisms of prog rock. 27/08/24

Some really strong singles and hits and some less entertaining tracks. Elvis Costello is far too represented on the list but this one does definitely feel like it belongs here.

I'm going to avoid looking at his reprehensible politics in this review, and focus on the album itself and the influence. For anyone like myself who really isn't a fan of gangsta rap, you can thank Kanye for nearly completely destroying that genre and essentially ushering the alternative hip-hop world to the mainstream. As a debut, it's incredibly polished and impressive. The skits are far less irritating compared with many of its' contemporaries. I still think it's the weakest of his original trilogy, but We Don't care, All Falls Down, Spaceship, Jesus Walks, Slow Jamz and Through the Wire are fantastic enough to warrant the 5. But yeah fuck Kanye, go punch a Nazi today. 20/10/24

Another incredible debut, and arguably their best album. I might prefer Damon Albarn to the loutish pricks that are the Gallaghers, but the enjoyment and influence of this work can't be argued. The first two tracks are probably my least favourite but after Live Forever, it gets going and doesn't stop. The Beatles influences are nice to hear and the licks and hooks are catchy to Hell and back. The vocals aren't amazing but they are full of character which might even be better. For me, it's an album for getting ready for a night out, showering, pre drinks, and the walk into the first pub. Love it. 24/10/24

I like it but not enough to explain why. I think it's nice and chill and it's a cool mix of acoustic and orchestral, but dear God I am not prepared for another Neil Young album, let alone 3 or 4. 04/11/24

A bit of a let down compared to Bellyaches but some occasional decent songs. Seems a bit unfair to complain that the Happy Mondays are messy but I did expect more from this one tbh. 18/11/24

Possibly my favourite album of all time and one I can absolutely no longer objectively judge. It laid the groundwork for the 2000s garage rock revolution, probably my favourite genre of music. Casablancas' voice suits the lo-fi aesthetic like a glove on an arse, and the guitars sing simple catchy riffs throughout. The best time to play the album is approaching the end of a train journey, to build your confidence as you step out to a new place. Feel the vibes, feel the cool. 01/01/25

So close to being utterly brilliant but it does fall down with tracks 4 and 5 which are just too abrasive and experimental to be enjoyable. Everything else is a fantastic melding of so many genres that it's pointless to list them all. Definitely a band I could see myself loving especially having enjoyed Holger Czukay's solo appearance on this list. It should be a 4, maybe even a 5, but nearly a quarter of the album is unlistenable.RIP. 07/01/24

It's not bad by any means, but a bit scattered and unfocused. The few solid tracks (8 Miles High especially) struggle to stand out compared with the amount of other meh material here. Probably not totally deserving to be on the list. 09/01/24

Way more interesting and varied than I expected. . Some very good tracks at the start but drags towards the end with way too many songs. It's like if alt hip-hop and punk had a very 90s baby. No-one who appears as themselves in Futurama could be evil. 11/01/24

Started quite strong but quickly lost my interest. Nirvana was always able to keep me listening with their quiet to loud acoustics and some kind of pop hook or riff to stay anchored by, two concepts borrowed lovingly from Pixies. Here I find myself unable to get a grip on the music itself, and even if the lyrics are evocative, it's quite difficult to make head or tails out of them. I can understand why people enjoy this, but it's not for me. I'll take my grunge with more garage rock rather than metal. 14/01/25

It's got two big hits here with Highway Star and Smoke on the Water and that justifies its appearance on this list. Otherwise, all the other songs are fine to good but never amazing. Nothing to dislike, but nothing I'd return to in the future. 20/01/25

A nice passive album, good for setting a relaxed, nostalgic atmosphere in the background. It's not as good as Eno's passive stuff, but still very enjoyable, if not the most exciting work ever. 30/01/25

Enjoyable but not quite what I wanted or expected. It's a lot more psychedelic and prog rock compared to funk in a lot of places and it absolutely has tracks that go on too long. Interested in trying some more from George Clinton but this isn't quite it for me. 11/02/25

Sometimes it totally clicks for me, all the chaos and weirdness makes sense and I feel the music and lyrics and the period in which it was written is all lines up beautifully. The rest of the time it's a mess and I kind of hate it. One to try again in the future maybe. 19/02/25

Soft and dark, the better side of country music. Something I'd never heard of before and I'm better off for having heard it. Feels somewhere in between the Nicks Drake and Cave in a good way. Go riding in the countryside in the start of spring to this. 06/03/25

This singlehandedly just made me a Prince fan. It's bombastic and busy but never overproduced. Pure fun, like an 80s party encapsulated in 50 minutes. 23/03/25

Pretty cool, a nice mix of psychedelic country music which go together surprisingly well. Not sure how influential it is, but I'm willing to be proven wrong. 10/04/25

One of my favourite jazz albums ever, and definitely my favourite from Davis. It captures so many different vibes, it's cool and laid back, but can change to exciting and adventurous in a minute or so. The origin for jazz fusion is right here and it's proof of Davis being a true artist in his willingness to evolve and expand not only his own styles, but the medium as a whole. It sounds like a better future and one we've yet to reach. 13/04/25

Just inject that jangling guitar into my veins, it is so addictive. I have no idea what half the lyrics are here but they serve the pieces well in forming an enigmatic tone contrasting the brilliantly charming guitar and bass which feel like they came straight out of The Byrds. A foundational work in the indie rock scene and one that holds up well to this day. My vibes here are walking through a sunny, grassy uni campus, a sense of happiness but a small and underlying feeling of anxiety too. 16/04/25

Stuck in the middle with this one. Enjoyed it in parts but would have to force myself to sit down and listen intently to get anything further from it. Noise rock in its early stage but has been done better since this. 02/05/25

Pretty good but nothing remarkable. Me and Julio, Mother and Child are both classics and all the rest passed me by in a vibe of easy listening. It's no Graceland. 10/05/25

It's perfectly ok in my book. Britpop gets a bad name, and it's definitely overrepresented in the project, this being a prime example. Like I enjoyed it, but probably not groundbreaking or world changing. 25/05/25