214
Albums Rated
3.66
Average Rating
20%
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1950s
Favorite Decade
Blues
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Cheerleader
Rater Style ?
50
5-Star Albums
2
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caetano Veloso | 5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
| Gris Gris | 5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
| Bert Jansch | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| Sister | 5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
| Immigrés | 5 | 3.08 | +1.92 |
| Trio | 5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
| Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space | 5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
| Songs From A Room | 5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
| Loveless | 5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
| Fisherman's Blues | 5 | 3.2 | +1.8 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vulgar Display Of Power | 1 | 2.97 | -1.97 |
| Led Zeppelin III | 2 | 3.96 | -1.96 |
| Tago Mago | 1 | 2.79 | -1.79 |
| Master Of Puppets | 2 | 3.73 | -1.73 |
| Beggars Banquet | 2 | 3.63 | -1.63 |
| Machine Head | 2 | 3.59 | -1.59 |
| Songs For Swingin' Lovers! | 2 | 3.52 | -1.52 |
| 1984 | 2 | 3.51 | -1.51 |
| Foo Fighters | 2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| Crime Of The Century | 2 | 3.41 | -1.41 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 2 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 2 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
5-Star Albums (50)
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Popular Reviews
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
One of my all time favorite albums. I listened to it four times through just for this review. Why do I love it so much? It's so innovative, so different. It really gave birth to a new genre (shoegaze) and it's still the best album ever released in that genre (at least in my opinion).
The music is like nothing else. It wraps you up in a soundbath, like you are hearing it from underwater, or perhaps most aptly, from inside the womb. Gorgeously textured and nuanced. A thoughtfully conceived album and beautifully executed. This deserves its place on this list and maybe even on the top 10 best albums of all time. 5/5
4 likes
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
A moodier, more downbeat Bob Marley album, but absolutely timeless and beautifully done. The songwriting is excellent, as always with these guys, weaving political themes into beautiful, soft melodies. The production is amazing, and these guys were such good musicians. An underrated album and a pleasure to listen to. 5/5
3 likes
Burning Spear
4/5
Reggae is not one of my regular, go-to genres and in many instances I would probably say, "it's not my thing." BUT, I do appreciate the subversive political message of some reggae, and this album hits that mark on the head. Far from the stereotype of laid back party music to listen to while you smoke pot on the beach, this album is edgy and angry, with a powerful political message. Musically, I don't like it as well as Bob Marley (but that's a high bar), but perfect production and instrumentation isn't everything. This album is very cool, and I can see why it's on the list. I'd probably give it a 3.4-3.7 if I had more granular options, but I'll round up to 4/5 because it's different and cool.
1 likes
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I don't hate the music. I get the appeal. I love the blues. But if you take away the music they blatantly stole from African Americans with inadequate recognition, there's nothing left. 2/5 - 2 only bc there are some good guitar licks
1 likes
Youssou N'Dour
5/5
I was not familiar with this particular album, but I really love Youssou N'Dour, so this particular assignment came as a "heck yes!" for me. As mentioned in a prior review, it's a bit hard to rate albums that aren't in English because I can't compare songwriting when I don't understand the lyrics. But dang, I love the SOUND of this album. The drums are amazing, the layers of guitar and brass, the sound of the vocals. Just wonderful. Wikipedia tells me that this album was criticized for the use of synthesizers? I like the synth sounds! So there you go. Love it. 5/5
1 likes
1-Star Albums (2)
All Ratings
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I don't hate the music. I get the appeal. I love the blues. But if you take away the music they blatantly stole from African Americans with inadequate recognition, there's nothing left. 2/5 - 2 only bc there are some good guitar licks
Joy Division
4/5
Amazing first track. It propels forward like a train locomotive. There is something surprising here, despite the simplicity.
Supergrass
4/5
Dang, I wish I knew about this album back in 1997! It would've been right up my alley! I love the opening track. The album is long but really fun. Gives me Guided by Voices/early Blur/Dandies vibes in all the best ways. Really enjoyed this, I may add it to my rotation.
Jamiroquai
4/5
I haven't heard this album since the 90s and I had forgotten how excellent this music was. Great musicianship, jazzy fun funk grooves with a 70s feel, hard not to dance to. I might listen to this one again.
Air
4/5
I loved this album when it came out, and I still love it. A really cohesive, beautiful soundtrack/album.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
This is one of those albums I know really well even though I never intentionally listen to it. I must admit, I just don't get why this is so beloved. I don't hate it but I find it a bit of a sleeper.
Louis Prima
4/5
I had never heard of Louis Prima, but his voice and several songs on this album were familiar to me. It's kinda impossible not to like this - this musicianship is amazing, the songs irresistibly upbeat, swingy, and fun.
Madness
3/5
This album isn't available on Spotify so I listened to it on YouTube. This is such fun era of English ska and the musicianship is excellent. Lively, fun, and upbeat. I'm not likely to be drawn back to it again bc that era of my music obsession has passed but I would have loved this in the 90s!
Pearl Jam
3/5
Full disclosure: this album came out when I was an impressionable 14 year old and I was never a major fan. Radios then proceeded to overplay this album for the subsequent 30 years. It seemed like every third song played on my radio stations was Pearl Jam. I am beyond bored by this music at this point. So that's where I was coming from listening to the album today. Thoughts: it is just as self pitying and whiny as I remembered; the album is actually very cohesive and every song is strong - there's almost no filler; the musical skill and songwriting are there and I can see why this album blew people away; but basically, I just don't really like it/it was ruined for me by overplaying a whiny ex boyfriends who were obsessed with it. Still, it was an interesting exercise listening to it from beginning to end. All those years of hearing singles, I never appreciated how well the album holds together.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
That first track is sooooo freaking good. Does the rest of the album keep to that high standard? Alas, no. But this did come out just when concept albums got hip again, and it did try. Struggling between 3 and 4 here ...
Mudhoney
2/5
I guess these guys invented grunge rock? I might have thought this was kinda fun at age 13 for the sole reason that it would annoy my parents. At my current advanced age, however, it just gives me a headache and seems hopelessly monotonous. Not my thing.
Ice T
4/5
Muddy Waters
5/5
SUCH AN AMAZING ALBUM. Muddy Waters is a fantastic vocalist and guitar player and every song is just perfection. I love the sense of fun and the unrestrained masculinity (mojo!). One of my all time faves, everything this man touched was gold in my book. 5/5
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Wow. Such a good album. I know many see it as not as good as his first album (Songs of Leonard Cohen), I would take a sophomore effort by Leonard Cohen over the vast majority of albums out there. Powerful, austere, spiritual, melancholy. It's hard to date by its sound because the production is so minimal and therefore always feels fresh and relevant to me. 5/5
Can
1/5
Getting all the way through this album requires ... grit. The first six tracks are very weird and non-melodic but you feel like, ok, this is cool even if it's pretty hard to listen to. You probably need to be stoned out of your mind to appreciate it, and even then you'd prefer to listen to something more ... musical. But ok. The track seven comes and it's just absolutely horrendous noise - l it's a really bad trip and your drugs were laced with poison. I mean I'm sure these guys were technically good but this is just too much!
I emerged a little shaken, glad I survived. I won't be listening to this one ever again if I can help it.
Goldfrapp
4/5
I had never heard of this one but it's right up my alley with the gorgeous lounge vocals and sweet electronic vibe. I will listen again for sure! This album is slick.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
There are some really fun, exuberant tracks of this album, songs I'm always happy to hear come up on a song list or the radio, but the rest of the album just doesn't live up to them. I'd give it a 2.5 just bc those tracks are legit fun and good but as an album it's pretty forgettable.
Simple Minds
3/5
I had never heard this album, and was only aware of a couple of singles by Simple Minds. This album started out a bit meh for me but then really grew on me. I really enjoy the vocals and there is some good songwriting. Overall enjoyed this listen but not sure I'll seek it out again.
Pantera
1/5
Oh gosh. I just pretty much suffered through this album and hated every moment. My 10 yo daughter asked me why anyone would listen to this, and I suggested it would annoy your parents and that could be fun? "Poor parents!" she said. Even to annoy my parents I couldn't listen to this.
Elvis Presley
2/5
This is light and fun and you can see why people loved it. Too bad it was basically all stolen goods.
Spiritualized
5/5
This may come as a surprise from someone who HATED Tago Mago, but I love this album. This is how I enjoy my experimental electronica - in a lush soundscape with some actual melodies. It is what it is and I'm not going to apologize. This album helped turn me onto electronica circa 2002 and I still have a big soft spot for it.
I listened to this twice yesterday and it still holds up for me. The first tracks are the best but there are good moments throughout. The album is wonderfully cohesive, which I love. I'd give it a 4.5 if I could, bc not every track is amazing. But it's so solid.
Nina Simone
5/5
Nina Simone is flawless, powerful, confrontational, amazing. Everything she touches turns to gold. Four Women knocked me over, and Lilac Wine is of course fantastic. Break Down is a fantastic song I don't think I had ever focused on before and it's a new favorite. My only minor criticism of this album is that it's an odd assortment of songs and doesn't feel cohesive. But with Nina this almost seems like a positive thing - she really keeps you unsettled and guessing here. 5/5
The Young Gods
2/5
Well this album is completely bizarre. It mostly consists of loud clanging sounds, grungy guitar, and baritone screaming and grunting in French. That said, I hated it quite a bit less than the Pantera album I was recently subjected to. At least it was mildly entertaining. Definitely not my thing, and I will not be seeking out French industrial music again, but it was weird and interesting and not PURE torture, hence 2/5.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
I have a difficult relationship with this album. I love everything that LCD Soundsystem did for electronica. I think this is a great album from a musical standpoint. So many of my favorite musicians list this album as a favorite and I get it.
But I just don't love it. For me, it's a touch too cerebral and self-aware, the exact qualities that other love about it. It just doesn't touch me in any emotional way at all. It's undoubtedly a great album but it's not my favorite album. 4/5
Prefab Sprout
3/5
I had never heard this album before - I liked it, and I feel like I could grow to like it quite well. Breezy, stylish, 80s Brit-pop with sophisticated instrumentation (a little disco/jazzy). I liked Bonnie and When Love Breaks Down. I agree with other commenters that the album cover doesn't fit the vibe of the music at all. 3/5
Germs
2/5
I was pretty much expecting to dislike this - early punk is not my thing at all, although I do love a lot of later 90s punk-influenced music, especially Sleater Kinney and Sonic Youth. But those early days when you went to a punk show in order to get trashed and brawl? Yeah, not my thing. The Germs were so notorious for shows that ended in violence they were banned from clubs in LA and had to change their name to (GI) to get gigs!
All that said, I was surprised by how much I liked this album. I think it's the crisp production that makes it so compelling to listen to. Apparently this is not how they sounded live and listening to some live recordings confirmed that. But here each instrument comes across clearly and there is a surprising amount of skill here ...
It's still not my thing but I couldn't bring myself to hate it at all. 2.5/5
Frank Sinatra
2/5
This album is a classic and I don't dislike it, but it's just not my thing. I just find Sinatra a cut clean and perfect and biting. At the end of the album Spotify recommended Nat King Cole and I immediately perked up, bc BLUESY. Sinatra feels square in comparison. Yawn. 2.5/5
The Divine Comedy
3/5
I had not heard this before. This album is strange and interesting and I could imagine it might grow on me over time. The production and musicianship is excellent despite it being recorded live. I'm not completely converted by the high theatrical sound and humorous lyrics but definitely intrigued ...3/5 for intrigue
Christine and the Queens
2/5
Superficially, this has many features I often love - European bubblegum pop/electronic with LGBTQ leanings. But I found it so boring and unmemorable. I liked the French part of the album better in large part bc the lyrics in English are terrible. Sadly, this was a "MEH" for me.
The Byrds
3/5
As far as the Byrds go, this is a fun, different, and interesting album. They move away from poppy folk (which to me sounds anodyne and overplayed at this point) to more psychedelic vibes here. They also get points for directly crediting black sources of musical inspiration in their interviews. I'm not likely to listen to this again on purpose but I can see its importance and impact.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Even though many of the songs on this album have been horribly overplayed, this album is just so solid. I'm reminded of what great musicians these guys were and the production is just so clean and well done. The songwriting is cohesive, every song but one is a stand out, just a fantastic album. 5/5
Simply Red
2/5
I really like some of the more synthy jazzy prog of the early 80s, but this is just too "doctor's office music" for me. Super elevator-y and unmemorable.
Richard Hawley
3/5
This is a mellow, dreamy, cozy album with 40s crooner vibes. I didn't love it at first but it grew on me as I listened. It's unusual enough to catch my attention while being eeeeeeasy to listen to. It's not revolutionary but it is well crafted and enjoyable.
N.W.A.
3/5
I don't love this album - the lyrics are so aggressively violent and misogynistic, the sound is old fashioned and uninteresting to me (with the exception of the track Express Yourself, which is really good) - but I can appreciate the impact and importance of this album and I've enjoyed several NWA spin-offs far more than the original. 3/5 for legacy/import.
Björk
4/5
Bjork is really on the cutting edge here - this album is unusual, experimental, and understated. I personally prefer the raw emotion of Homogenic but there is no question in my mind that this is an excellent album, deserving of being on this list.
5/5
This is one of my favorite albums. It was so prescient when it came out - it became one of those iconic albums which perfectly aligned with the zeitgeist. The songwriting is cohesive and so beautiful. The Thom Yorke tracks kill me every time. I know it isn't everyone's favorite PJ album but it's definitely my personal favorite.
Gorillaz
4/5
Oh dang, this is such good stuff! I loved this album, especially Clint Eastwood, of course, when it came out and it was my happy soundtrack for a while. Just. So. Good. So happy to be reminded of this one. 4/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
This was - totally fine. I liked it. It didn't blow my mind in any way, though. I'm not sure why it's on the list but there are some good tracks here. My love of pretty vocals over electronic sounds is well known. Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 but I'm rounding down because it didn't strike me as particularly original or the best of its genre.
The Hives
2/5
Meh. Not only isn't this my thing (it's not), but I think these guys are quite a bit less talented than some of the other folks playing this genre (which is not my thing). Overall: boring and monotonous.
Spacemen 3
4/5
This was new to me and very cool. While I don't love the emphasis on/glorification of drugs and suicide in the lyrics, I loved the experimental psychedelic electronica vibes, and when I looked them up I realized Spacemen 3 were a precursor to Spiritualized (who I love) which makes sense and explains a lot. So this was awesome, would definitely listen again.
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Well this was just fun! Like listening to the soundtrack of B movies from the 70s - I mean this as a positive. Lively, upbeat, bongo-centric 70s jazzy musak - what's not to love? Seriously, I would listen to this again, it would be great party music, I love the vibe.
Elvis Presley
3/5
I am not an Elvis fan! At all! In large part because he stole music from black people without providing the appropriate credit, and because he only seemed "original" to white people at the time bc the music world was so segregated.
But this is such a well produced and thoughtfully conceived album, a return to the soulful roots of Southern rock. So I'm a bit torn! I'd give it a 4 for production and concept, but a 2 for originality. So I guess it's a 3 ...
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Not my favorite Neil Young album - as he got older, his songs became more and more didactic, and the overall feeling is one of being lectured. That said, I love love love the crunchy country guitar and I have a major soft spot for his voice. A good album, if not the greatest. 3.5/5 rounding up to 4 because Neil Young.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Um, no. I love Sitar music but this is just terrible. Sitar covers of Rolling Stones songs and Light My Fire?? I just ... can't. I can get into some music fusion, but why these terrible songs?! In case this didn't come across (lol), this is not my thing AT ALL. But I will acknowledge (barf) that this album might have turned some bland white people onto sitar music. So sad.
Dr. John
5/5
I had not heard this one before, but I came to it completely prepared to dislike it because it's late 60s psychedelic and I thought my hippy parents kinda burned me out on this whole genre (although I adore Jimi, Janice and any number of hippy era artists so this is probably one of those dumb prejudices that has no basis in reality). Indeed, I loved this album! So much that I'm giving an album I had never heard until yesterday FIVE STARS. That's serious stuff.
This album is hard to put words to, but it's a richly layered Cajun/zydeco cacophony. Extremely well produced, super fun songs, amazing musicianship. I listened to it twice and want to listen to it again right now.
Radiohead
5/5
I listened to this album CONSTANTLY in the late 90s, to the point where my CD version got beat up and scratched and started to skip, but I just kept on listening. Now when I listen to it on Spotify my brain expects it to skip at a couple points and I am viscerally surprised that it doesn't.
Which is to say, this is an all time favorite, changed my outlook on music, was the soundtrack to a pivotal time in my young adult life, defined an era, etc. etc.
Listening to it 20+ years later, it holds up pretty dang well. In retrospect this was a transitional album as Radiohead started to move away from guitar and into electronic music, and away from sad sack introspection to bigger philosophical themes around technology, late capitalism, postmodernism, etc. It was because of that latter transition that this album captured the zeitgeist and mood of the moment so perfectly. How did they nail that existential millennial anxiety so perfectly? Or did they actually create it? Either way - goosebumps!
An important album and one of my all time favorites. 5/5
Arcade Fire
5/5
Such an amazing and personally important album for me. In 2010 when it came out, we were still in deep recession, I had a one year old son (but if it's too much to ask, send me a son), and I was experiencing parenting in a hyper-vigilant culture in a big city in an underwater house. This album powerfully described all of the above, pulling me into lyrics thick with nostalgia for my feral 1980s childhood "screaming and running through the yard."
Of course the suburbs of my childhood had problems too, and this album doesn't shy away from them.
The truly poetic lyrics plus driving guitar-heavy rock interspersed with moments of soft pathos and amazing catchy melodies- this album is so freaking addictive. Since getting it as my album I haven't wanted to hear anything else.
It ends with this piece of pure poetry and philosophy:
If I could have it back,
All that time that we wasted,
I'd only waste it again.
If I could have it back,
You know I'd love to waste it again and again and again.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
I enjoyed this album a lot. It has those rich layers I always love, lots of variety and experimentation, always with solid grooves and great instrumentation. I feel a bit out of my depth reviewing and rating an album that isn't in English, though - as one reviewer put it, I have no idea what he's saying but I have no reason to doubt it! I definitely enjoyed the he listening experience and will be playing this again!
For the excellent instrumentation and overall coolness factor 4/5
D'Angelo
2/5
This is totally not my thing. My knowledge of this genre is admittedly nil. But even as R&B goes, I do not find anything especially good or different about this album. On the contrary I can think of a lot of R&B I like a lot better than this. I don't hate it, but it's big MEH for me. 2.5/5, rounded down bc it's just so unremarkable.
David Bowie
4/5
This album is very cool, especially when you realize it came out in 1977. Definitely on the cutting edge at that time. I love the exploration of electronic and ambient sounds. Overall the album is a bit downbeat and at times, sad, speaking to David Bowie's personal struggles. I find it slightly disjointed as an album, but that may have been intentional. A great album, albeit not one of my personal all time favorites.
The Soft Boys
4/5
This was another new album to me. Fun very early 80s Brit pop/rock. I could see how this album could grow on me, and I could definitely hear the influence of the Byrds on these guys and the later influence this would have on REM or even later stuff like Pixies and Pavement. It didn't totally blow my mind but it is fun fun fun rock and roll. I could see myself returning to this. 3.5/5 rounded up to 4.
The Verve
3/5
I can definitely hear the similarities to Radiohead on this album but despite listening to it twice, I just could not get into this. It wasn't horrible but it just never really caught my interest. 2.5 rounded up bc I didn't actively dislike it, it just didn't do anything for me.
The Byrds
3/5
There are too many Byrds albums on this list in my not-so-humble opinion. I like them fine but I'm not a mega fan and - it's a lot. I can absolutely appreciate the influence they had on British pop and folk. The harmonies are really pretty and the musicianship is good. It's just not really my thing. To my mind it has not aged as well as some other music from the same era, although I know many would disagree. 3/5
Ride
4/5
My love of shoegaze is well known. This isn't my favorite of that genre (my favorite is My Bloody Valentine of course) but I do love the shushing, whooshing, whirling vibes. I'd much rather listen to this than probably 75% of this list. Therefore it gets a 4/5 from me. Solid, interesting, and enjoyable, but not my all time favorite.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
This was a super fun surprise. A lively and upbeat cacophony of different instruments and samples and musical styles. I especially love the opening track but Hero is also top notch. The style is difficult to pin down but I'm reminded of the best parts of later Blur as well as the more obvious 70s references. So good! I will definitely return to this. 4/5
Fleet Foxes
4/5
I can appreciate this album, with its roots in British folk, but I've never fallen in love with it. I guess that sweet Byrds style of vocal harmony just isn't my thing. Still, this is a good album, very listenable, great musicians, cool layers of psychedelic folksiness. 3.5/5, rounding up in an attempt to be fair to good musicians.
3/5
I just couldn't get past how much like Radiohead this sounds, and not my favorite Radiohead either, but the earlier stuff I never liked that much. I listened to the album twice, hoping to hear more nuance, but it didn't happen. Why would I listen to this when I could listen to actual Radiohead? 2.5/5 rounded up bc I don't actively dislike it.
The Waterboys
5/5
I can't provide an unbiased review of this album because it was formative to my musical development. I was obsessed with it from at least the early 90s and listened to it regularly for 10+ years. Hearing it again for the first time in 20 years, it holds up well! I had forgotten how long the album is, there is definitely some filler in there, but also some great tracks mixed in right up to the end. I love the diversion into Yeats towards the end. I still have a soft spot for folksy rock. A beautiful, rich, complex album that formed my tastes. 5/5
The xx
4/5
This album is a mood. Soft, almost whispering voices, downbeat, fuzzy bass-tones, minimalist, pared down. It is definitely unique and immediately recognizable. I love it, although I'm not sure I'd characterize it as an all-time favorite. But it is the perfect music for a quiet day at home, working on a project, perhaps with the pattering of rain on the roof. 4.5/5 rounding down because I am not sure it has lasting power.
Billie Holiday
5/5
I have mixed feelings about this late recording of Billie Holiday ... I prefer her earlier recordings, when her voice was more dynamic and the instrumentation less heavy. This album is heartbreaking, a picture of Billie at the end of her life, beaten down by drug and alcohol abuse and life circumstances. She sounds so beaten, tired, and sad ...
Yet, I'd rather listen to my least favorite Billie Holiday album than 98% of music out there. It is not possible for me to give her less than 5 stars, ever. And listening to this again, I'm wondering if I should give it more of a shot. There is something so poignantly powerful in this effort.
Burning Spear
4/5
Reggae is not one of my regular, go-to genres and in many instances I would probably say, "it's not my thing." BUT, I do appreciate the subversive political message of some reggae, and this album hits that mark on the head. Far from the stereotype of laid back party music to listen to while you smoke pot on the beach, this album is edgy and angry, with a powerful political message. Musically, I don't like it as well as Bob Marley (but that's a high bar), but perfect production and instrumentation isn't everything. This album is very cool, and I can see why it's on the list. I'd probably give it a 3.4-3.7 if I had more granular options, but I'll round up to 4/5 because it's different and cool.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
This is some classic American rock. I had not heard this whole album from beginning to end, although I had obviously heard the singles. I like Tom Petty, although as far as this "genre" of "heartland rock" goes I'd choose Bruce Springstein every day of the week. This album is solidly rocking and upbeat. I enjoy it but it's not a favorite - still, it's better than a lot of albums on this list in my opinion. 4/5
4/5
As suggested by the title, this album is a bit edgy. It's only three songs, with the first song being 18 minutes long. I like Yes, I think they do a good job of melding experimental sounds with melodic pieces, and their long songs don't offend me. But this album is edgier than later works, and a bit harder to follow. But, holy noodles, there is some great guitar work here. Whoa. I have mixed feelings - it's not the most cohesive album, it's weird and only borderline listenable, but it IS borderline listenable, and there is some great stuff there. Going with 4/5 despite some uphill slogs because it's cool.
Youssou N'Dour
5/5
I was not familiar with this particular album, but I really love Youssou N'Dour, so this particular assignment came as a "heck yes!" for me. As mentioned in a prior review, it's a bit hard to rate albums that aren't in English because I can't compare songwriting when I don't understand the lyrics. But dang, I love the SOUND of this album. The drums are amazing, the layers of guitar and brass, the sound of the vocals. Just wonderful. Wikipedia tells me that this album was criticized for the use of synthesizers? I like the synth sounds! So there you go. Love it. 5/5
Talking Heads
5/5
This album is so cool and unique. Listening to it, I can't help but wish I had been older in 1980 and able to appreciate it when it came out. Oh, to have been conscious of the music scene at that point! It must have been so exciting and different.
This album sounds like nothing else recorded, either before or after. According to Wikipedia, David Byrne and Brian Eno were influenced by Fela Kuti and African music, which makes sense - the rhythms are unusual and there is a rambling feel to the vocal melodies that definitely reminds me of Fela. (Of course, Fela was influenced by jazz and funk!)
Super unique and cool. Could listen to it over and over and still discover new depths. 5/5
The Byrds
4/5
This is my third Byrds album in 66 albums so far, which seems insane (in contrast I haven't seen a single Beatles album yet), so I am feeling like they are really overrepresented on the list, especially since I am definitely not a hard core Byrds fan. That said, this is my absolute favorite of their albums, and that is because it's really more of a Gram Parsons album with a little Byrds on the side, and I can get behind some Gram Parsons. You can hear the influence this had on country and alt-country, and the album is packed with great songs (even if, ironically, I prefer other versions of those songs, but again, I'm not a huge Byrds fan!). While there are arguably too many Byrds albums on the list, this album deserves its place on the list in my opinion. 4/5 for importance and impact.
The Clash
5/5
Oh thank goodness for the Clash! These guys brought punk to the popular consciousness with a skillful blending of harsh mosh pit punk rock with pop, including reggae and ska. This album is such a classic, with one classic tune after another. Angry but totally upbeat at the same time, which is embodied in the two sets of vocals - angry and gruff juxtaposed with sweet and melodious. Really, these guys were brilliant. A favorite (although I like their later work even better).
R.E.M.
5/5
This is a fantastic album, my favorite R.E.M. album, and one of my favorite albums ever. This is where their music got a bit sadder, a bit deeper, a bit more grown-up. Every song is good - there is no filler in sight here, and some of the best songs come at the very end. Poignant, crystaline, well-conceived song-writing, from beginning to end. I love the instrumentation, too, especially the strings - absolutely beautiful. Of course, I would remiss if I didn't mention that this album, along with several other R.E.M. albums, was the soundtrack of my life at a very formative time and was very personally significant to me. A great band at the peak of their talent. 5/5
Adele
4/5
Before I listened to this album, I expected that my review of this album would note the absolutely sensational blockbuster hit, "Hello," but then find the rest of the album wanting, because surely the rest was a mere afterthought, right? But in this I was completely mistaken - there are a lot of great songs on this album; moreover, there is a cohesive thread of songwriting through the album. The songs are about getting older (the old, old age of 25) and learning about life, for better and worse.
Of course, Adele's voice is just stellar and her vocals have an authenticity that transcends genre - she is a real talent. Now that I've dispelled my first notion that "Hello" was the only song worth listening to here, I will come back to this album and listen more.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
There are some fun hits on this album, and overall, I think was a more mature effort than previous RHCP albums. In my opinion, it has not aged particularly well, however. Another reviewer mentioned the fidelity being terrible, and although I don't remember noticing it at the time, I agree it's a fuzzy mess! And not in a cool lo-fi way. It must have been less noticeable when hearing these songs on the radio in my old 1972 VW bug, flying down the freeway with the windows open ...
There are some fun, even good, tracks on this album, especially in the first half, but the second half is boring and unmemorable at least until the last track. It hasn't held up super well over the decades, and what felt subversive in 1999 now feels obnoxious and crude to my (older, more matronly) ears (clutch pearls, lol). Still, I have fond memories, so 3/5.
Nirvana
5/5
I mean. Obviously. 5/5.
Grunge is not one of my genres. I do not subscribe to Nirvana or Kurt Cobain fandom. At age 14, I even pretended to dislike this album when it came out, because it was SO POPULAR, and I wanted to be cool and different and like different things.
But let's be real here - this album stopped the world, or at least my world, in its tracks. We all looked up and said, "what?" when this came out. Now that I'm older and can accept that I love many popular things (some things are popular because, um, they are good), I realize just how amazing this album was.
It is genre-shattering, cohesive, well put-together, had a consistent message to impart. Whatever you think of that message, you have to admit: THE CRAFTSMANSHIP. Holy crap.
Nirvana went on to make a lot more music, some of which I enjoyed and think is good, but nothing ever topped this album. Not one of my personal favorite albums ever but any list of influential music would laughable without it.
Elvis Costello
2/5
I confess, I'm just not a big Elvis Costello fan! His lyrics are clever, but musically, his work generally just doesn't have enough interest for me. I have respect for him and his fans, it's just not personally my thing. For this reason, I was a bit overwhelmed to learn that there are six of his albums on this list ...
My favorite track on this album is 20% Amnesia. Kinder Murder is another stand-out. Otherwise, it's just all the same to my ears.
The White Stripes
3/5
This album came onto the scene to assert that rock and roll is not completely dead, which of course it is not. It is not my favorite album of theirs, but it is pretty fun. I am not sure that we'll all be listening to it still in 40 years, though. Fun but ultimately not a stand out for me in terms of musical skill, songwriting, or composition.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Confession time: I don't really "get" Pink Floyd (or a lot of prog rock, for that matter). But I do understand how important this album is in rock history and it's place on this list. There are a couple of great songs on this album, including Comfortably Numb, which is a total classic. The rest of it I find strangely boring, and I don't understand the hype. But I'm not going to argue it wasn't a turning point in music; it clearly was. If I was on a dessert island, cut off from contact with the larger world, and this was all about me, I'd give it a 2. But I'm not, so it's getting a 3.
Finley Quaye
2/5
I don't get why this is on the list. It's just ... not that great. Inoffensive, but also uninteresting.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
California Dreamin' is undeniably a fantastic song, and as a life-long Californian myself, I FEEL this song on a visceral level. But the rest of this album is something I basically suffered through. With only a few exceptions, I am not a fan of the 60s folk-influenced vocal harmonies, which I find to be too sweet and lacking in any interesting dissonance. Several bands fall into this category for me, including the Byrds (so well-represented on this list) and the Mamas and the Papas. It's fine, it's just not my thing. I feel like I can feel my teeth start to ache after three or four songs ...
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
4/5
Well, this was interesting. I had never heard of this artist or this album. In learning more about the artist, I understand he wrote much of this album while in a mental hospital after having a delusional episode, which is heartbreaking. This album starts out with a country twang, and I thought I knew what I was dealing with, but it quickly devolves into something very different - soft, mumbling, almost comprehensible vocals over soft, almost low-fi guitar. The production is very minimal (I understand these were recorded all at once, and it does sound quite raw.) The guitar playing is quite good.
As the album evolves/devolves, you can suddenly hear something almost like Elliot Smith or Bonnie Prince Billy emerging from what started out as a country rock/folk album. It's weird, it's sad, and it's interesting. I am not sure I would want to listen to it frequently but I will say - it's not boring. It's hard to know whether this album influenced later indie sounds, given that I had literally never heard of it, but perhaps Skip is a musician's musician and this has been an important album? It made it onto the list.
I am giving this four stars for waking me up and shaking me up a bit. It's definitely an interesting selection. I might come back to it.
Queen
3/5
Several very fun and dramatic songs on a not-so-cohesive album with quite a few filler/so-so songs. In other words, a Queen album! They were more of a singles/best-of band on the whole. But, you have to appreciate their flare for drama and of course, the fact that they achieved mainstream success as LGBTQ artists when that wasn't the norm. Overall, I would not go out of my way to listen to this an album, but it has some banging tracks.
Pavement
4/5
I was a die-hard Pavement fan back in the day - they sounded so different, so fresh, and really launched the whole lo-fi indie rock sound of the 90s and early oughts. Their fuzzy guitar and clever vocals strongly influenced my music taste for two decades or more.
This holds up pretty well on relistening, although Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is the better album in terms of cohesive sound and lack of filler. This earlier effort is less polished, but that's a good thing in this genre. I don't love every song, but it's full of good songs.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Well, it' s Jimi Hendrix. He was an amazing musician and will always get 5/5 out of me. And this is just the most iconic, era-defining Hendrix album. One amazing song after another. Irreverant, challenging, beautiful lyrics, amazing musicianship, and beautifully and minimally produced. I wouldn't want to listen to it every day, but there's no question that it deserves its place on this list. An important and striking piece of art.
The Modern Lovers
4/5
Strongly reminds me of Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, and then, later, a lot of 90s lo-fi indie rock. I have always liked Jonathan Richman's music. Although I wouldn't want to listen to him everyday, there is something really refreshing about his simple, upbeat songwriting and delivery. In a world of jaded, cynical artists, he is so - not jaded.
This is cool and different. I can see why it's on the list. It's not going to be one I'll be listening to frequently, but I am glad I heard it.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
I get why this is on the list, and there are several great/iconic/blockbuster tracks on this album, but as an album it's grating and headache-inducing for me. Not enough variation in the loud guitar metal to keep me engaged, and lots of unmemorable filler tracks. For cultural import and good songs, I'm giving this a 3/5 although my personal review would be more like 2.5.
Cypress Hill
3/5
This is an album where I understand the cultural importance, and I really like a couple of the tracks, but as a whole, the album doesn't do much for me. Still, I get why it's here, and people who know and understand this genre better than I do appreciate this album. I would probably give it a 2.5/5 but I'm rounding up in recognition of its place in the history of hip hop. I do love hearing hip hop in Spanish and these guys do it well.
Orange Juice
4/5
This was fun. I had never heard of this one, but I really like the opening track and there are a few other good songs on this album. Interesting Scottish post punk synthy 80s pop. A lot to like there! I don't think this will be going on my repeat list but I'd be happy to hear it again. 3.5 rounded up to 4/5.
Judas Priest
3/5
I don't know how to review this one. It's definitely not my genre (metal), but it has its catchy, rockin' moments. The album is cohesive, very well produced, and the drums are stellar. Compared to other metal albums on the list I've heard so far, I actually quite liked this one. Not like I'll go out of my way to hear it again, but there is a fun driving energy in this album. For me, it's a 3 - it's not my thing but I like it.
Bert Jansch
5/5
I can't believe I'd never heard of Bert Jansch. This is exactly the sort of thing I love and seek out, and apparently he influenced many of my favorite musicians. This is classic cafe singer-songwriter music, a voice over guitar, but wow, what guitar playing! I can hear the influence on artists like Donovan, Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkle, and even Elliot Smith. A really lovely album I will definitely be coming back to. A surprising 5/5 for me despite never hearing it before now.
Elbow
4/5
There is a lot to like about this album, which I think I listened to off and on when it came out. British indie with nice layering/depth, good lyrics, some solid tracks. But I just don't like it nearly as well as other albums in the genre that came out around the same time. To me it is just not particularly groundbreaking. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't be inclined to put it on again. 3.5 rounding up in recognition of solid musicians.
The Black Crowes
3/5
This is not my genre at all (I think it's Southern Rock/blues mixed with a bit of metal and grunge?), but I enjoyed this album full of big hits, catchy songs, and driving energy. I can see why it had such a commercial success. I'm not sure it's super original, and after all their greatest hit was an Otis Redding cover, but they seemed to have shown appropriate respect for their sources and it's a fun album. Sort of like comfort food in music form. It's hard to choose 3 or 4 for this one - but I'm going 3 because it was not groundbreaking in anyway.
Various Artists
4/5
I did not know about Phil Spector or the "Wall of Sound" before listening to this. Setting aside the fact that this is a compilation of some of the most cheerful, fluffy, and earwormy Christmas carols, I must say that the musicians are excellent and the production is super cool/good. After this album, I listened to some other Phil Spector-produced music and his style is really distinctive and cool. Unfortunately it sounds like he was plagued by mental illness, traumatic head injury, and was probably a murderer. But I can see why this album is on the list and I learned something new to boot. 4/5 for great production and musicians. I can't give it 5 just because - oof, christmas carols!
Lauryn Hill
5/5
Such a fantastic album. Cohesive, powerful, thematic, iconic. One of the best albums of the 90s, and still one of my all-time favorites. Lauryn shows us how it's done. Transcendent, woman-centric hip hop. 10/10
The Pharcyde
3/5
This is light-hearted and funny 90s hip hop. Not my genre (to be honest, the funniness is as much "not me" as the hip hop, I often don't relate to "humorous" lyrics) , but it's easy to hear that the production was richer and lusher than earlier 90s hip hop and this would have been a precursor to some of my favorite hip hop sounds. I like the layering of samples, the different voices, the jazzy vibes. That said, I probably won't be listening to this again, the language is crude and the humor doesn't speak to me.
fIREHOSE
4/5
Another album I had never heard. This is a fun, genre-bending, late 80s album that I probably would have really dug back then if I had been aware of it. I had no idea that members of the MINUTEMEN went on to do other things, including fIREHOSE, but that explains the cleverness and amazing musicanship on this album. An interesting and hard to pin down piece of work.
Bobby Womack
3/5
Totally not my thing! I'm learning that R&B is really one of my least-understood/appreciated genres, but I never want to be unfair to good musicians just because I don't get a genre. The musicianship here is good, but the production is schmaltzy beyond belief. It's almost a stereotype of early 80s easy-listening, borderline muzak style production. That said, it is, in fact, easy to listen to and I rather like Bobby's soulful voice. 3/5
Röyksopp
4/5
I love Royksopp, and I really like this album. That said, I would have chosen some different electronica albums to be on the list over this one (Daft Punk, Discovery, obvs), so that was a bit tough for me. I like this album but I'm just not sure it is groundbreaking enough to be on the list. But, but, I really like this album! Soft, mellow, downbeat electronica with strong 70s influences - in other words, one of my favorite sub-genres! A great album that I love, even if I'm not sure it's one of the 1001 best ever (but of course, there are a lot of albums on the list I find questionable).
John Martyn
4/5
Another album by a British musician I had never heard of. This was definitely an interesting discovery! I would characterize this as soft, mellow, experimental prog-jazz-folk-rock? Whatever it is, it's cool, and I like it. Very cool guitar playing. I would absolutely listen to this again. Love the album art too.
Dolly Parton
5/5
Heck yeah. Trio is just magic. The combination of voices (personally, I'm especially partial to Emmylou Harris, but you can't fault Dolly or Linda) is better than any of them alone. To Know Him is to Love Him is an absolute stand out. Yes, some of the songs are a bit corny, and many of them have been overplayed. It's an 80s country album with 80s overdone production (and seriously, Emmylou, what were you thinking with that HAIR?), but this is ICONIC. Smashing good album.
The Only Ones
4/5
This is fun! I'd call it proto-punk, proto-Brit pop from the late 70s. The lead singer has a very distinctive, almost drawling voice which I think you either love or hate (I like it). The opening track is great. It has some Velvet Underground vibes for me. I would definitely listen again.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
I mean, this is amazing. Duh! The opening track, Brilliant Corners, is jaw dropping. The rest is perfect for weekend afternoon mellow chilling out vibes.
Tina Turner
4/5
Tina is fantastic. Absolutely stellar. She wails, growls, sweetly croons, then back to bluesy growling again. Her voice is so versatile and she exudes talent! There are some banging hits here, too, although the album suffers from 80s overproduction, and at points the instrumentation is a bit painful. Overall a great album.
Circle Jerks
2/5
Punk is totally not my thing, not my genre. That said, I can see the charm in this short, obscene, bratty, adolescent album. Since I was listening to a later remastered version of the album, I found it pretty hilarious when the band members are heard arguing about what approach to a song would sound best on one of the rehearsal tracks, when anyone listening to this album would imagine that they couldn't care less about how anything sounds. But I guess even that takes work!
I don't like punk, and I would never listen to this on purpose, my favorite thing about it was how short it was, but I didn't totally hate it. Buried in the crunching and screaming are some noticeably melodic tunes. 2/5
ABBA
5/5
If you don't find yourself bopping along to this album, you need to check your pulse! So many classic dance hits here, it's unreal. And as an album, it's surprisingly cohesive - even operatic - and holds up really well even now. This is an excellent album.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
This is clearly an important album that belongs on the list. No question. I might find the vocals a bit too cleanly harmonic (these 60s harmonies lack interest and dissonance!) and the tunes ridiculously overplayed (remember, I was a child of hippies and overexposed to this stuff from birth), but there is a lot to like about this album - especially the instrumentation and the cohesive themes. It is quintessential flower power, but you really can't help but groove along with it. 4/5 despite the fact that I'm pretty tired of this stuff.
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
I was not familiar with this one, but this is some solid 90s NYC rap/hip-hop. You Can't Stop the Prophet and Ain't the Devil Happy were my favorite tracks. I don't know that I'd listen to this again, but I feel like it filled in a gap in my 90s hip hop education. Definitely solid stuff. Would probably give it 3.5/5 if that was an option but will round up because it's cool even if it's not daily listening material for me.
Eels
3/5
I liked this album when it first came out, and on re-listen, I can hear that it was a more mainstream album that was leading me towards other, less mainstream low-fi indie rock bands. The instrumentation is cool - very cool at points - but the vocals haven't aged well for me. The vocal style is distinctly whiny. Like Marie Kondo, I thank this album for the ways in which it served me, but it does not have staying power for me. My time would be better spent listening to Pavement, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Built to Spill. 3/5
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
There are some really excellent hits on this album - Time After Time and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - it doesn't get more iconically 1983/84 than that. As an album .... hmmm, I'm not sure the album is as good as the indivudal songs on the album. But generally - super fun, good poppy hits, a bit of filler, but fun to revisit. 4/5
Beck
3/5
I can appreciate why Beck is featured on the list, but despite loving so many things Beck-adjacent, I am just not a Beck fan. First it was the pretentious irony which turned me off, then it was just his voice. Sorry, just not for me. That said, I like the *idea* of this sweeping, thoughtfully composed album, even if I don't like listening to it. I get why it's here. But also, it's insanely long, especially for a non-Beck fan. So here we are. I can't give it a strong positive rating, but I realize it was deserving of acclaim and that this is MY PROBLEM. So, 3/5.
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
One of my all time favorite albums. I listened to it four times through just for this review. Why do I love it so much? It's so innovative, so different. It really gave birth to a new genre (shoegaze) and it's still the best album ever released in that genre (at least in my opinion).
The music is like nothing else. It wraps you up in a soundbath, like you are hearing it from underwater, or perhaps most aptly, from inside the womb. Gorgeously textured and nuanced. A thoughtfully conceived album and beautifully executed. This deserves its place on this list and maybe even on the top 10 best albums of all time. 5/5
Beatles
5/5
I mean. It's the Beatles. And not only that, it's my favorite Beatles album. I've always that this was peak Beatles - mature, ironic, not too woo-woo, a little stranger than earlier albums. I know that intelligent minds could differ over what the BEST Beatles album is, and this might not get the majority vote, but it's my favorite.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
This is solid 90s hip-hop and I regret that I didn't listen to it more in the 90s (oh, if only I could go back in time and toss the RHCPs and Dave Matthews and substitute Tribe and the Fugees - alas). This album is everything you want in 90s hip hop - peppy, fun, political, great beats. Was bopping my head happily along.
Orbital
4/5
I had never heard of this and was prepared to hate it based on the title. I thought for sure it was going to be some jokey, snide, statement about how, well, civilization is sniveling. And maybe it is but that kind of thing always feels pretentious and annoying to me.
So I was happily surprised to find that it's a fun, cool, 90s techno album. I like it! I don't know where the title came from, but it's not an overpowering theme in the music itself. This was fun. I should listen to more 90s techno.
Pavement
5/5
I love this album. It defined a part of my life and it is really one of the the best of the low-fi indie rock genre in my opinion. Although it was never hugely successful, it had a strong cult following and I was 1000% a member of that cult. My friends and I used to parse out Steve Malkmus' clever/ironic lyrics and recite them as poetry to each other. Although I've moved past that degree of lead singer crush/hero worship, this is still a really well crafted album and these guys are great musicians. Now I can appreciate not just the hipster irony (I'm really over that part of it, actually) but the moments of touching pathos ... "Put it on a postcard: Dad, they broke me."
Fantastic album and a personal favorite. 5/5
Steely Dan
5/5
I love Steely Dan, but I'm less familiar with this particular album (of course I am very familiar with Ricki, Don't Lose That Number), so it was a delight to listen to this one a few times through. Apparently this was their last album made as a "touring" band - after this they became entirely "studio musicians." You can hear them edging towards that aesthetic here. Their songwriting, musicianship, and arrangement is just top-notch. I love the way they incorporate jazzy riffs with pop in such a precise but also fun way. These guys were just so. freaking. good. 5/5
The Pretty Things
2/5
First of all, the stereo mix on this is SO WEIRD and not in a good way. It's tough to listen to on headphones, as the music is popping from ear to the other and doing all sorts of strange things. Very distracting and unpleasant. As far as the music, it's sort of the Beatles plus the Who - there are some fun catchy tunes in the middle (I liked "Private Sorrow"), but overall it's really not my thing. Apparently this is the first "concept album" and inspired other albums that I like better? So I can appreciate its place on the list but it's not my thing. 2.5/5 but I'm rounding this one down for the horrible production/stereo mix, which was just painful to me.
Van Halen
2/5
Yawn!! So bland! Okay, "Jump" is a fun song, no doubt about it. But that's the only track I like even a little bit. Songs with titles like "Hot for Teacher" and "Drop Dead Legs" manage to achieve both bland AND misogynistic. I'd give this a 2.5 if I could - there are some fun moments but it's otherwise boring. I'm rounding down because it's just so pedestrian.
Sabu
4/5
This one is ... not boring! Cubans banging on congo drums - for long periods, with some random yelling. It is not something I would've expected to find on this list, not because it isn't great, but because lists like this tend to lean towards more popular music and this is way too weird to ever be popular. Overall, I found it super interesting, raw, engaging, and cool. The rhythms are killer. This is a strange one but definitely one I will enjoy listening to again.
Manu Chao
4/5
This is ridiculously fun. Upbeat, super catchy, great beats, fun lyrics. Is it the most innovative thing ever? Maybe not, but who cares? This just makes you want to dance and party. Love it. It's exactly the music to play when you want to make a tedious task more upbeat. Will absolutely keep this on regular play.
Queen
4/5
This album is absolutely iconic. There are multiple amazing songs here, but especially Bohemian Rhapsody. I mean, even if every other song on the album was terrible, that song would get this album at least a 4 in my book. Having said that, not every other song on this album is terrible - far from it - but it must be noted that there is at least one really terrible song on the album, "I'm in Love with my Car." That song is like, WTF? 4 stars.
Peter Tosh
4/5
A solid reggae album. There's not much to find fault with here. The instrumentation is lush (love the drums) and the musical skills are on point (not a surprise given that Tosh and several of his bandmates were ex-wailers). In California circa 2023, where marijuana is legal for medical and recreational use, the album has lost a bit of its original subversive edge, but it is good music. Set a good mood for a long work day ending in a board meeting for me, lol.
Alice Cooper
3/5
A fun, romping good ride of a classic rock album. For some reason (the makeup, I assume), I always thought Alice Cooper was, I dunno, scarier and more goth than this? I definitely didn't expect such a weird and lively album. Classic rock or heavy metal are not my thing but this has some good and surprising qualities, including a cool thematic feel, twists on Westside Story, and some good grooves. 3/5
Lana Del Rey
4/5
I love Lana Del Rey. I question why this album was chosen for the list and not one of her earlier albums, but I'm not complaining - it's a great album. I feel like Lana is really channeling Joni Mitchell throughout this this one and this is of course signaled by the Joni cover at the end - the sadness, the folksiness, the songwriting style, the alternating sweetness and grittiness. She edges more into folk with this album. I know she's not for everyone but I think she's a massive talent and this is a very solid album. 4/5
Metallica
2/5
Blarg. Thrash metal is not my jam. That said, I understand why this is on the list and there's a political edge to this album that I can respect. The title track was my "favorite" of these songs that I generally didn't enjoy. 2/5
George Michael
2/5
Oh gah. R&B is not my thing and this is SO SLEAZY, it practically oozes. I felt like I needed to take a brisk shower afterwards. I didn't like this when it came out and I still don't. I can understand why it's on the list, but it's not my thing.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Ethereal shoegaze/dreampop is my jam, and these folks basically invented the genre. That said, I haven't actually listened to them that much - they were a bit before my time, I guess? I listened to this through twice and found a couple of the tracks to be standouts - especially Lorelei. The sounds are layered and crunchy and yet always light and dreamy too. Really enjoyed, would definitely listen again.
Booker T. & The MG's
5/5
Heck yeah. This is amazing. This is one of those albums where the music is 100% familiar to me, but I had never listened to the album and couldn't have even told you who Booker T. was or what he did. Well, now I'm obsessed! What a fantastic discovery. I can't wait to explore more Booker T. & the MG's music. The title track is phenomenal, the musicians are amazing, I'm left thirsting for more: love love love. 5/5
Joni Mitchell
5/5
This one only gets better with age. Joni's voice is at its peak here, the jazzy ensemble backing her up is utterly brilliant, the songs speak to the human condition and the female experience, with notes on the music industry, Hollywood, heart break, and loneliness, but also the "Court and Spark" of fresh new love. The poetry is unusual, off beat, and endlessly fascinating. My goodness, it doesn't feel like 5/5 even does this album justice. It should get a 6.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
I confess I did not listen to the full 3 hour version, but to the "best of" version. That said, I did grow up hearing the whole set of this (as well as the Cole Porter Songbook). Ella's versions of these songs are so iconic that to me they are the definitive versions of Gershwin's work. While this is very very long, and I'm not sure I would ever listen to it all in a sitting, it absolutely deserves its place on this list and Ella's voice is just pristine. Can't give Ella less than 5/5, ever.
Kate Bush
4/5
This isn't my favorite Kate Bush album, but it is excellent. It is bookmarked by two standout songs (The Sensual World and This Woman's Work, but there are other hidden gems in between, including The Fog and Rocket's Tail to name a few. The album as a whole grew on me as I listened to it a few times. I really, really love Kate Bush, but I'm torn between 4 and 5 on this one. I don't think this particular album is on the same level as my other 5s, although it's very good. So 4/5 it is.
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
I had never heard of this album or artists and it took me by surprise. The sound is definitely ahead of its time - it came out in 1966 but sounds like classic early 70s rock to me. Great surfer guitar licks, and that amplified jug is pretty unique. The vocals are gritty, squealy, bluesy and strongly leaning towards a hard rock sound which had not become popular yet. This is a combination of several genres that aren't my normal go-to (psychedelic rock, hard rock, 70s rock, etc., etc.) but it's so unusual and early I have to give it at least a 4/5 for sheer coolness. I mean, amplified jug .... so strange and cool!
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
This is a more recent album, but is reminiscent of late 60s/early 70s British rock opera, with heavy orchestration and big crescendos. At times it sounds really cool and I was enjoying the melodrama, but I feel it tries to maintain that same level of drama throughout and after a while it takes on a sameness. Some great tracks and I like the concept (in smaller doses) but the album as a whole didn't blow me away.
Pulp
3/5
This is one of those 1995 albums I wish I had known about in 1995! I would have really loved this mix of Brit pop and early Indie with some great, catchy tracks. That said, it is not the sort of thing I'm drawn to these days for whatever reason. I liked it, at times liked it a lot, but did not love it. 3.5 rounded down because I don't see myself listening to this one again.
Paul Simon
5/5
This definitely deserves its place on the list, as it hit the world like a bombshell, putting South African (and African American) musicians at the center of a musical sound during Apartheid.
In fact, the politics of this album are controversial - many criticized Paul Simon for violating the embargo against South Africa, while others congratulated him for bringing attention to Apartheid. (I was only 10 years old at the time, so I didn't have deep opinions about that issue back then.) There is also the title and the explicit connection that Paul Simon makes to Graceland and Elvis, which I now find a bit creepy (Elvis profited on bringing African American music to white audiences). Paul Simon "helped" black musicians with this album, but also made a nice pile of change. There is complexity here.
That said, Paul Simon's songwriting really takes center stage in this album, with the sounds of South Africa and the Southern United States included for texture, but never totally appropriated. I think it was that skillful meshing that saved this album from being more problematic than it was. Paul Simon's songwriting could never be confused with anyone else's - it is so distinctive and unique. Furthermore, I think Simon did a good job of letting his guest artists express their own creative powers, without forcing them into his mold too much. I think this is why the album has aged so well. It's so unique. There's nothing that sounds like it.
An important and unique album, and distinctively of its time.
5/5
Dire Straits
4/5
Mark Knopler's guitar work is top notch, and I love to listen to him play. I don't like this album as well as their self-titled album - while Money for Nothing is an absolutely rocking song, the homophobic slurs really drag it down. I actually like the "filler" on this album as well as or better than the hits - that's where Knopler's guitar work really shines in my opinion.
This album deserves its place on the list in my opinion, and I really enjoyed listening to it again. But it doesn't quite merit a 5/5 in my book.
The Saints
4/5
Punk is definitely not my thing, especially early punk from the late 70s, early 80s. So it was to my great surprise that I really enjoyed this album! Admittedly, everyone seems to agree that it's a very poppy, glossy punk album. That must be why I like it! The songs are rocking, off and on super catchy, fun, and the instrumentation is rich. These guys are talented! Why haven't I ever heard of this group? Totally fun. Would absolutely listen again. 4/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
A moodier, more downbeat Bob Marley album, but absolutely timeless and beautifully done. The songwriting is excellent, as always with these guys, weaving political themes into beautiful, soft melodies. The production is amazing, and these guys were such good musicians. An underrated album and a pleasure to listen to. 5/5
Sam Cooke
5/5
I had never heard this, but it is fantastic! A great live album - electric energy, an amazing audience, and banging songs throughout. It also has a cool history, being recorded and then shelved for two decades. I now want to listen to more Sam Cooke (I know, I'm super remedial when it comes to early Soul!) to compare it. Great album, would absolutely listen to again and again.
Gary Numan
4/5
This is a decidedly cool album, and deserving of its place on the list. Gary Numan was really ahead of his time, and this must have sounded pretty revolutionary in 1979! The combination of synthesizers and Numan's flat affect voice invoke post-modern anomie in a way that clearly led the way for so many other electronica artists. That said, as with much new wave, it's not the easiest listen. It lacks the subtlety of later New Order or Soft Cell, giving it a challenging and edgy feeling. It is also lacking in human feeling, which is 100% the point of the album, but keeps it out of 5 point territory for me. 4/5 in recognition of its importance and place in the genre.
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
This is a fantastic album and artist worthy of being on this list and a 5/5 rating, just for the skill level, poetry, and historic/political importance. I love the jazzy flute solos and GSH's voice is so pained. Brian Jackson's piano playing is amazing.
I find it to be a challenging listen, not easy or light at all, but a bit grueling and heavy. It's not one I will reach for when I need a pick-me-up. But of course, that's not the point at all. Like so many really important albums, it is not an easy piece of music, but worth the effort. 5/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
This is such a fun pick-me-up after some serious, challenging albums. I don't think it's Bruce Springsteen's very best album, although it's packed to the gills with major hits, but it's upbeat, rocking, and a joy to listen to. Springsteen has a gift for writing solid rock tunes that are more thoughtful than they seem, and he's a good musician. The production on this one is a bit dated, but it has a feel-good 80s vibe that I enjoy despite myself.
Genesis
2/5
What the actual ... this album is so weird and not in a good way. It's all over the place, mixing cloying folk melodies with experimental prog. I offically hate the first song, but then there are some cool moments here and there, but then they are immediately ruined by cloyingly pretty lute plucking or a flute solo. I *like* prog. I *like* folk. I like folksy rock, too. But this combination is the worst. Heck, I even thought I liked Genesis, but this is terrible ... clearly they got better with time.
Napalm Death
2/5
Oh my goodness. This is unlistenable to the point of complete hilarity. I just laughed as I listened to this, read the lyrics (you can't understand a word of them, adding to the general hilarity), and read the reviews. So funny. It gets 2 stars rather than 1 because it's blessedly short and so entertaining. It takes a lot of skill (especially that drummer!) to sound like this, you have to respect that degree of effort for something so utterly unlistenable.
Mike Oldfield
4/5
This album is not boring! Very strange and interesting. I think strange in a good way, although I completely understand why this isn't universally loved. I like the experimental vibes, and I can hear the influence of 20th century classical composers on this as well as the influence this album had on jazz and electronica that came later. Not everyday listening material, but extremely cool. Deserving of its place on the list, and a fun excursion into experimental sounds. 4/5
Dennis Wilson
3/5
I can really appreciate the skillful and subtle studio work here, this album is beautifully arranged and orchestrated. But I find the songwriting a bit anodyne and same same after a while. I would give this a 4 if this list were about the musical skill of the accompanying artists, but of course, it's not. For me, this is a 3/5. There are good songs here, but overall it's forgettable for me.
CHIC
5/5
This feels like the swan's song of disco ... it was 1979 and disco was losing its popularity. Economic times were hard as well. This album encapsulates the entire genre, and does it so well I can't stop listening to it! Peppy beats but the lyrics are sad. The band is TIGHT. The songwriting is TIGHT. Musical and production skill practically oozes from this album. I love it. 5/5
Sonic Youth
5/5
I did not get turned onto Sonic Youth until their later efforts, and honestly have not listened to this album much. But it's all here - the amazing guitar work, the odd song structures, the dissonant noises, the way it all somehow still holds together. Apparently it was a concept album based around Philip K. Dick's life? Seriously, can you get any cooler than that? I've now listened to it three times through and as is often the case with their albums, it sounds more melodic and less random with each new listen. Definitely one of my favorite bands of all time. Although this isn't my favorite album of theirs, it still deserves a 5/5.
Iggy Pop
4/5
This album just feels like good, clean, fun. The title track is outstanding and it's impossible not to bop along with the catchy tune. As far as influence and importance, I can hear the influence of David Bowie here coming through, and the album is not only fun but very well put together and produced. I'm not sure I'll be turning to this all the time, but it does make fun party/cleaning music.
Neneh Cherry
4/5
Fun, super feminist, late 80s pop/rap here. It's not really my favorite kind of music to listen to, and I'm not sure I'll be coming back to this one often, or ever, but I do feel like it's worth an extra star just for the confident feminism, which is rare in this genre. I feel like the production is a bit dated and it all sounds a bit same same to me, but the lyrics are killer. I'd give it a 3.5/5 but I'm rounding up because of the great content.
Randy Newman
3/5
This is SO NOT MY THING. I can appreciate that the lyrics are satirical, but I was super turned off by the use of the "n-word" by a white guy, etc. That said, the musicianship is on point here, and there's no question that it is well done. I just don't want to listen to it. I'd give it a 2.5 but I'll round up to 3 just because I can see why it's on the list and why others might enjoy it, and there is no shortage of excellent musicians on the album. But not my cup of tea.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I'm just not an Elvis Costello fan! His lyrics are clever but his style and delivery do nothing for me. It's not that it's bad, it's just not my thing.
Van Morrison
4/5
The song "Sweet Thing" is amazing (and I love the Waterboys' cover as well) and gets this album at least 4 stars even though it's not my favorite Van Morrison album, and even though I'm only rarely in a Van Morrison listening mood. But his poetry and style is so unique, he completely deserves his place on this list. And this album deserves its place on this list.
The Who
3/5
As others have noted, it's a bit odd that this live album made the list when many of the songs are also included in other studio albums which also made the list. Overall, I feel like this one didn't fully earn its place on the list in the way that others have. That said, it's a fun album! I enjoyed the listen, and the live versions of these songs do have a lot of pep and energy. Overall, though, this does not stand out to me as a particularly important album or one that I will return to. 3/5
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Um, this is a ... challenging listen. There is nothing enjoyable about it, and I do feel that I basically suffered through it. That said, there are some interesting/not boring experiments happening here, so it should get some credit for that. Totally not my jam, but interesting enough to warrant at least a 2/5.
Nico
3/5
This album is so strange! Nico's voice is so flat and monotonal, but I think that's cool and interesting. The arrangement of the music with strings and flute is bizarre, but then you find out that Nico actually hated that? Despite that, you can hear why Wes Anderson and other pop culture giants think it drips cool. It's so unlikeable it verges on cool and challenging. It's never going to be a favorite, but can't hate it, even if Nico herself did hate it. I do have a soft spot for dissonance, and this album definitely delivers that in spades! 3.5/5 rounded down because it's just not a 4 for me.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
I am actually pretty sick of the song "Come on Eileen" and figured these guys were a one hit wonder so I was surprised to enjoy this album so much. Very cool Northern English new wave. Brit poppy moments, Celtic instrumental interludes, funny and engaging lyrics. Overall a very listenable upbeat album. A fun surprise and an album I'd like to listen to again.
OutKast
5/5
This is a fantastic album that absolutely deserves its place on this list. Rich, dynamic, and just seriously fun! I would put it below Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on my favorite hip hop albums of all time list, but just below. This was so innovative and the singles haven't gotten tired! Just good stuff.
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
This is an excellent album. Groovy, funky, but also dark and political. Extraordinarily talented musicians, fantastic production, good song writing, a powerful message. Literally, what else can you ask for? I listened to this four or five times before moving on, and I'll definitely be coming back to this one.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
With some notable exceptions, 70s glam rock is not my thing. This album may be one of those exceptions, however, or at least I'll say - there are some fun tracks here! I especially enjoyed "All the Way from Memphis." This is good clean rock, while I can't say I listened to every word, nothing horribly offensive jumped out at me, and it's good to work or just bop your head along to. It's probably not something I'll be revisiting often, nor does it seem groundbreaking, nor is there something absolutely amazing about the music or production, so I'm rounding my 3.5 down to 3 for this one.
David Bowie
4/5
This particular Eno/Bowie collab might be my favorite. Great hooks and experimental arrangements: what more can you ask for? Apparently this is a controversial opinion, though, since hard core Bowie fans like others better and Bowie haters hate this album most? Who knew? I enjoy this take on layered, complex, synth pop. 4/5
Alice Cooper
2/5
Again with Alice Cooper, who looks scary but sounds like the soundtrack to a cheesy kid's Halloween movie. It's just not that good! It's not remarkable in its terribleness either, just kinda lame. 2/5
Queen Latifah
3/5
I wanted to love this, because Queen Latifah! Women in hip hop! Her message in this album and in life is great and I love her as a person. But I just couldn't get past how dated the sound of this late 80s rap album is. I think I liked it at the time? Now I can't get into it. Very much a product of its time. But I can see its importance and the ways it moved hip hop forward. 3.5-4 for importance, 2 for actual sound, so I'm settling on 3/5.
Laura Nyro
3/5
I grew up hearing Laura Nyro, who was one of my mom's favorites, and I love her take on soul, although I'd rather listen to Aretha or Gladys or Whitney or Diana any day of the week. One thing about Laura Nyro is that she's noticeably off-key (flat) a lot. It's part of her sound, I think it's intentional and supposed to be there, but it sounds just wrong to me a lot. I don't understand that ... all in all, great songs, but the delivery isn't my favorite. 3/5
Aerosmith
2/5
Not actively bad, but very unremarkable. Definitely a couple moments of "rocking out" here, but overall it runs together in a blur. When this album was over, Spotify put on other artists, and for a brief moment I thought the music had just improved substantially. But alas, no. 2/5
Rush
3/5
This has some cool moments, but overall is not my brand of prog ... although the instrumental parts are very well done I found the lyrical delivery derivative of other 70s rock band like the Who and Pink Floyd. And the whole concept underlying this concept album (Ayn Rand) is not my cup of tea. Not terrible, but not something I'd listen to again.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
This album is absolutely BEAUTIFULLY done, but it's also unremittingly sorrowful. Just devastating. I have so much respect for the talent and power here, but it's not one I'm going to return to often because it is so painful to get through. And I love depressing music! But this is extra.
Although it's definitely a work of art, I'm giving it a 4/5 because the listenability is not there.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Well, this is ... interesting. I'm trying to imagine going to a concert only to find out the band is going to perform a live interpretation of Mussorgsky. Would I be delighted or annoyed? Hard to say. But I will say, this is not the same old stuff. It's weird, it's unlikeable at some points, it's pretentious as all get out, and it is not boring. I'd rather just listen to Mussorgsky but this is extra. 3/5 - Intriguing but not one I'm likely to repeat.
Missy Elliott
3/5
An interesting mix of sounds here, and great production (Timbaland). Missy Elliott has a good singing voice and (at times) fun and engaging lyrics. Other times, not so much, and it feels dated. But you can see why it's on the list. Not something I'm likely to come back to, but an enjoyable listen.
John Martyn
4/5
This album meanders a bit, but I rather liked this journey. Underlying the variety is John Martyn's voice and guitar, which I understand is an acquired taste, but again, I rather like it. I also like the mix of singer/songwriter style with jazz, folk, and blues. Overall, I found this interesting and would listen again. There is something quintessentially 1973 about this, but you also wouldn't mistake this for anyone else. 4/5
10cc
2/5
Sometimes I like weird and offbase. This was not one of those times. This album felt like "department of random" with multiple different styles in each song, with no cohesive anything anywhere in sight. Without anyone driving the bus, it meanders in the most disjointed away. Trying a second listen did nothing to change my point of view and I found it mildly tortuous and pointless. As art, it is just not doing it for me, it doesn't feel exploratory or inventive, instead, it feels like a mistake. 2/5
B.B. King
5/5
Well, this is a fantastic album. B.B. King's voice is smooth as silk, and the songs in this album flow beautifully. Just perfection. I listened to it three times and have nothing critical to say about it. 5/5
Raekwon
3/5
I love Wu-Tang so I wanted to love this, but the best I could do was "like." It didn't flow like a Wu-Tang album, and while it had moments of sounding like Wu-Tang, it never achieved the same overall cohesion of sound. I didn't hate it, but I don't think I'll be listening to this again.
The Pogues
5/5
I have always loved this album for years, but hadn't listened to it straight through for a long time - maybe a decade? It is even better than I remembered! Great songwriting, amazing instrumentation, and is distinctive enough you'd never confuse it for anything else ... overall, it just oozes talent. Need to listen to this one more! 5/5
David Holmes
2/5
I don't get why this made it onto the list. I like electronica, and I enjoyed this sort of sampled dub electronic stuff back in the day, but this does not do it for me. It's amazingly bland, and learning that the artist is a white guy from the UK made the attempt at black NYC street cred seem poseur to the max and a major turnoff to put it mildly. I can't bring myself to actually loathe this because it's too boring. 2/5
Violent Femmes
3/5
Full disclosure, the Violent Femmes were SO OVERPLAYED on the radio when I was a teenager and young adult, I got incredibly sick of them and would never voluntarily listen to this album. It did not age well for me. But listening to this, I was reminded how new and fresh this sound was when the album first came out. These guys paved the way for indie rock, for sure. I still don't plan to listen to this again, like, ever if I can help it, but I will acknowledge the influence they had on music. 3.5/5 in acknowledgement of the impact, rounded down to 3 due to tiredness factor.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
This is so iconic, so classic, it's hard to review it. I can only imagine how innovative it sounded when it first came out - listening to it now, it's still innovative, different, interesting, challenging, even as it's also very familiar. I love the way Hendrix pushed boundaries with his sound, and there is something very avant-garde jazzy about this album. A masterpiece. 5/5
Miles Davis
5/5
An amazing album, although it can be hard to stay focused and not fall into the chill grooves and just relax while it's playing. Miles with some of my favorite accompanists, including John McGloughlin and Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. Improvisational jazz isn't always my jam, especially when it's as intellectual as this album is, but there is no denying the musical talent and the moments of pathos carry the day for me. 5/5
4/5
I was never an Oasis fan, so I was surprised by how much I liked this album. I liked the less popular tracks more than the popular ones (probably because as with many of the 90s rock albums on this list, the hits on this album were horribly overplayed on the radio in the nineties). I can now hear these guys as the cool Brit pop/rock influence that they were. Still not my favorite, but a legitimately enjoyable and cohesive album. 4/5 for pleasantly surprising me.
Deep Purple
2/5
This journey has made me aware that there are so many more shades of 70s rock (and especially of British 70s rock) than I ever dreamed. At the same time, I think I could have died happily not being so aware of this, and I'm getting burned out on the entire decade. This had some okay tracks, but was overall incredibly forgettable. I will avoid listening to it again. It wasn't horrible, just unmemorable. 2/5
Willie Nelson
5/5
This is an amazing cover album, which was played frequently in my childhood, and introduced me to the idea that :"standards" could be covered and transformed into nearly any genre. Willie is at his best here, creative, not too honky-tonk, subtle and smart. Amazing guitar playing too. A lifelong favorite album of mine. 5/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
From reading about this album, I understand it was Paul's first great album post-Beatles. There are definitely some catchy songs here, and it's a fun listen, but it's definitely not Beatles-level for me, at least. But it's totally fun, so 4/5
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
This is such a fun one to find on this list! Jazz tango with the most interesting instrumentation. Really enjoyed listening to this, and I would definitely listen again. An unexpected find and -wow- the virtuosity! 4/5
Yes
4/5
I remember studying Yes album art at the tender age of 4 of 5. I grew up hearing this album, as well as my dad telling me that the later albums were too "popular" (I really like their later work, but I like a lot of popular music!). This album is more experimental but still has a lot of catchy grooves. I enjoyed hearing it again. 4/5
The Kinks
3/5
There are some good songs on this album but much of it sounds very dated 60s folksy to me (also, as noted elsewhere, 60s harmonies are not my jam). That said, I enjoyed the lyrics about ordinary life. I probably won't be listening to this again, but it definitely has good moments. 3/5
Beach House
4/5
So moody and lush. This album lets you enjoy a sonic sound bath as it just sort of washes over you. I love it, although I confess it's hard to pin down exactly what I love so much after it's over. I'm torn between 4 and 5 but I'm going for 4 because while I love it, I don't know that it rises to the level of "groundbreaking." I'll probably have regret later and wish I had given it a 5.
Lou Reed
4/5
I really enjoyed this album and listened several times. There are some hits on here that were very familiar (Perfect Day! Walk on the Wild Side!) but I don't think I've ever heard the album and I really enjoyed listening to it in full. It still manages to sound edgy and cool after all this time and the message is on point. Probably not surprising since Bowie was involved. An easy 4/5 for me.
The Human League
4/5
I do love me some synth heavy 80s pop, so this hit the spot. It has several really great tracks, and the filler is pretty pleasant and fun too. I don't know that I would listen to this frequently, but I really liked it. 3.5/5, rounding up just to be nice.
The United States Of America
2/5
I found this nearly unbearable to listen to, although I will say it's not boring at least? It's a whole lot of musical talent but aimed towards making something really horrifically awful sounding. You have to admire the skill with which they achieve this goal, I guess? It's like 2 or 4? I don't even know, but since I could barely get through the album I'm going with 2.
Jethro Tull
3/5
I don't know how to rate this. It's definitely not my thing and brings back memories of ex-boyfriends who were determined to turn me onto their cerebral, angry at religion, society, and the world, prog-rock. I could never get into it and much of it felt self-indulgent and whiny to me. That said, there's no doubt that there are great musicians on this album and there are some songs that I find tolerable. It isn't a bad album, it might even be quite good - it's just really not my thing. I can only tolerate prog when it's more jazz/disco adjacent, apparently. So I'm giving this a 3 but it's a surprisingly emotional 3 - I don't like it but I have to respect it on some level.
50 Cent
3/5
Some definite bangers on this album, and it's hard not to bop your head along to those great songs that helped define a decade. But overall, I'm not sure this is a great album, and the misogyny and violence just grow wearing after a while. Oh, for some Kendrick Lamar on this list ... 3/5 in recognition of impact and a few great songs
Moby
4/5
I loved this when it was first released, and it holds up after more than two decades. My only criticism is that so much of the original material wasn't Moby's - but he does such a great job curating and arranging these songs, and it's still just great fun to listen to - powerful because of the bluesy tracks he chose and vibing because of his clever arrangements. This album along with a few others around the same time (late 90s, early oughts) nudged me towards electronic music, for which I am forever grateful. This was so fun to listen to again. 4/5 - solid, good, but I've always struggled with how much it's "original" work.
4/5
I am a fan of later Blur, but this is not my favorite album by a long shot. That said, you can definitely hear the origins of britpop indie rock in this album, and I loved this when it came out. Now, it feels a bit too clever and funny for its own good, but that was my JAM back in the 90s when I was a snarky teenager filled with faux cynicism. Overall, a decent sophomore effort but it doesn't hold up well for me 30 years later. 3.5/5 rounded up because I see the potential here for the later, better work.
The B-52's
5/5
This album is the bomb. The reworking of 60s surf guitar, the playful beats, the nonsense (but do I hear some cold war references in there? why, yes, yes, I do), the delivery, everything. It's so good, so skillful, so playful, so joyful (tho not always happy or light), so edgy, SO. DAMN. COOL. This is one where I honestly wish I could experience hearing this for the first time when it first came out. What would I think? It's innovative, it's weird, it's a bit humorous, what on earth would I think? I expect a lot of people hated it, but you can't help but appreciate how awesomely strange it is! And now to think this is music you might hear at the airport. Life is weird. 5/5
Supertramp
2/5
There are a few Supertramp songs I really like, but none of them are on this album, and I found this quite bland. Apparently I only like prog rock when it's more jazz-influenced? I'm learning things about myself here, so that's valuable. The Pink Floyd influenced sounds do nothing for me, since I'm not a big Pink Floyd fan to begin with, and it feels derivative. The 70s rock on this list seems to stretch on and on into bland infinity ... will I ever get through it? Not my thing. 2/5 because I don't like it but I can't muster up the energy to hate it either.
Foo Fighters
2/5
This just does nothing for me. A lot of the reviews note that the Foo Fighters helped folks get over the loss of Nirvana. Well, I can appreciate that, but whereas Nirvana were cutting edge and interesting and different, this is generic and same-same. I didn't like them when they first came out and changed the radio station when they came on, and I still feel that way. 2/5
Spiritualized
4/5
Full disclosure: I love Spiritualized. This may not be my favorite album of theirs, but I still loved the way it made me feel like I was floating, ethereal, weightless. I see a lot of reviewed noting that this didn't "grab" the listener, and I agree, this is not the thing for when you want pathos, melody, hooks, driving rhythms. This is for when you want to suspend reality and float in space a bit. These guys invented the genre, and I'm here for it. 4/5
3/5
I have no idea what to say. This was utterly unlistenable, super speed jazz grindcore. Just ... an to the senses. But unlike some of the albums on this list, it definitely isn't boring. It's sort of shockingly awful, and there is a lot of musical talent making it this terrible to experience. I will actively avoid hearing it again for the rest of my life. But at the same time I'm glad I gave it a once listen. It's impossible to rate but let's go with 3/5 because it's interesting.
Todd Rundgren
4/5
There is a lot of musical skill and good songwriting on this album, although the production is pretty schmaltz. It also verges into the strange quite a few times, apparently Todd Rundgren thinks of this as his cannabis/ritalin album? Audio-wise, I'd throw some shrooms into the mix as well. But between the bland 70s soft rock songs and the weird crunching/popping sounds, there are some great songs here. I had never heard of Todd Rundgren (although I definitely recognized some of the songs) so this was new and I didn't know what to expect. I liked a lot of the songs quite a lot. As an album, it's scattered feeling and far too long. Overall, a pleasant surprise. 4/5
The Velvet Underground
5/5
The first thing I noticed here was how much better this album is than the Nico "Chelsea Girls" album I got not that long ago. That was definitely one of those "I must not be cool enough to get this" album, but with VU, I genuinely enjoyed listening to this album. Some great songs. A bit overhyped and still "cool kid" but a legitimately solid album that was ahead of its time. Highlights for me are "Venus in Furs" and "Run Run Run." 5/5 Deserves to be on this list, has some great songs, a good album.
The Offspring
3/5
Oh gosh, the hardest part of this list is the bland 70s rock and bland 90s rock. I enjoyed the radio hits that came off this album when it came out, but the album as a whole does little for me. It starts to feel really same/same after a while and I sort of suffered through it. 3/5 for the two decent hits, surrounded by bland grinding grunge.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
At first this was doing nothing for me but it grew on me over a couple of listens. Classic 90s britpop but the lyrics are dark, funny at times, and interesting. In reading more about the album and learning it was a memorial of sorts, I could hear that it has a serious edge. I could definitely listen to this again, although I don't know that it would become a favorite. Definitely one that I am glad I heard. 4/5
Kate Bush
5/5
Oh, YES. So happy to see this come up. I love everything that Kate Bush touches (breathes into?). This album is so weird, so cool, so ahead of its time. My only critique is that it starts out with the two best songs on the album and then sort of gets weirder and weirder from that point on, making for an interesting experience. But. KAAAAAAAATE. Love it. 5/5
Jane's Addiction
2/5
Jane's Addiction does absolutely nothing for me. The most exciting thing about this album is the cover, unfortunately. For me, anyway, their sound is quintessential "whiny 90s" and it just grates on me. I know that this album contained several radio hits and had an influence on music generally, but I just don't like it.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Oh, what to say about Nick Cave? I love him when I'm in the right space and in small doses. This album is not a small dose, however, and it feels a bit long and morose. But there are so many good moments in it! There is no question that a whole lot of creativity and great musicianship went into this album. But you have to be in the mood for it. I'd give it a 4.5/5 but I'll round up because the skill is there.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
I tend to think of this album as amongst the saccharine sweet folk albums of the 60s, but it's so much better than that. Yes, the sweetness is there, but so is Paul Simon's quirky and original songwriting. I can see how this must have really wowed listeners at the time. It is a step above the Mamas and the Papas or the Byrds in mind. Absolutely worthy of its place on the list and worth listening to more frequently. 5/5
Mudhoney
2/5
This was a long and tedious listen. This does absolutely nothing for me. I don't find it interesting enough to even hate it. Boring 90s grunge rock - completely lacking the pathos or complexity of Nirvana or even Pearl Jam. 2/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
This was not my thing at the time, although I can get into some of these songs and I certainly heard enough of "Sabotage" back in the 90s. But the jazziness of this album comes as such a surprise - an interesting, fun surprise. These guys had chops. This will never be one of my personal favorite albums, but it is absolutely deserving of its place on the list and was an important and interesting album. 4/5
The Triffids
3/5
I could see this being an album that teenage me could get really into. This is basic 1980s singer/songwriter stuff, with intelligent and emotive lyrics. But in terms of this list, I don't know why it's here - it doesn't seem that it was important or even very popular. And does it stand the test of time? I don't think so. Overall, didn't hate it but didn't feel it needed to be on the list. 3/5
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Why this Everything But the Girl album?! It's my least favorite and I think the least interesting. I still love the vocals, but the instrumentation and production are pretty terrible (and this from someone who actually likes some synthy muzak sounds) and the songs lackluster. SIGH! For all of those who hear this and can't understand why, please check out their later music. 3/5
Nirvana
5/5
This is an important album and deserving of its place on the list. I think my biggest takeaways are (1) these guys were better guitar players than you might have guessed listening to them play grungy power chords; and (2) taken down to its barest essentials, Nirvana is actually just playing the blues (but not in a derivative way). This was a revelation at the time and it's still a really powerful listen. 5/5
Coldplay
4/5
I loved Parachutes, but Coldplay started to sour on me not long after A Rush Of Blood came out. The extreme popularity, the overplaying, the ego and annoying love life of the lead singer, it just ruined it for me. But I will say that this album has some great songs on it. This was Coldplay just before things got icky, but hey, it was really good while it lasted! In any event, this album clearly deserves its place on the list. 4/5
The Verve
4/5
The Brit pop albums on this list have been hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed this one. As an album, it's a bit too long, but there are some great catchy 90s punk pop hits on here! A lot of songs that were familiar from my FM radio listening days, but I didn't realize they were all on one album. This is one I really could've gotten into back in 1997, but I never did. At any rate, a happy surprise. 4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Well, this is definitely an iconic album - listening to it, I might have guessed it was a greatest hits album, but nope, all of these songs were on one album! Some great bluesy moments, some great country moments. I must say though, I'm not sure what they added to these covers of black musicians except that they brought the music to white kids. But it's definitely a classic album and deserving of its spot on this list. 4/5
Radiohead
5/5
Talk about introducing a new millennium. This album just blew my mind, blew everyone's mind. It set the mood for the 21st century. Which was, naturally, a rather dark mood, but also innovative, fresh, different. Absolutely deserving of its place on the list and so fun to listen to again. 5/5
Iron Maiden
4/5
Metal is totally not my thing - I usually find it tedious and unvaried. So I was surprised to find this album to be (despite the scary cover and name and reputation) downright fun and upbeat? It's still not my thing but there are some driving beats and catchy tunes here. I can see why teenagers loved it. And the controversy alone merits its place on the list. So despite myself, 4/5.
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
It was refreshing to get a country album after so many rock albums. There are some fun songs on this album. It's classic 80s country, which, for the record, I hated in the 80s but came to appreciate in the 2000s. This will never be a favorite for me, but it's a solid take and it's good to see different genres on this list. 4/5
Caetano Veloso
5/5
This was a surprise 5 out of 5 for me. I had never heard of this album or "Tropicália" but hey - I really like it! A mix of classic Brazilian jazzy/folk sounds with psychedelic influences. It is enjoyable to listen to and full of surprises. I have no idea what the lyrics reference but I understand from the description that it's politically edgy? I can't speak to that of course, but what a fun new discovery. I will definitely add this to my listen list.