My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
The United States Of America The United States Of America	5	2.61	+2.39
Scott 4 Scott Walker	5	2.8	+2.2
Good Old Boys Randy Newman	5	2.86	+2.14
Swordfishtrombones Tom Waits	5	2.95	+2.05
Sheet Music 10cc	5	2.96	+2.04
Sail Away Randy Newman	5	2.97	+2.03
For Your Pleasure Roxy Music	5	2.98	+2.02
Steve McQueen Prefab Sprout	5	2.98	+2.02
The Nightfly Donald Fagen	5	3.01	+1.99
Safe As Milk Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band	5	3.01	+1.99

Album	You	Global	Diff
Play Moby	1	3.47	-2.47
Exit Planet Dust The Chemical Brothers	1	3.16	-2.16
Make Yourself Incubus	1	3.08	-2.08
Vulgar Display Of Power Pantera	1	2.97	-1.97
Strange Cargo III William Orbit	1	2.77	-1.77
Lam Toro Baaba Maal	1	2.72	-1.72
Orbital 2 Orbital	1	2.69	-1.69
Highway to Hell AC/DC	2	3.66	-1.66
Rising Above Bedlam Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart	1	2.61	-1.61
Funeral Arcade Fire	2	3.56	-1.56

Artist	Albums	Average
Beatles	6	4.67
Bob Dylan	7	4.43
Prince	3	5
The Who	3	5
David Bowie	7	4.29
Brian Eno	5	4.4
Led Zeppelin	3	4.67
Miles Davis	3	4.67
Leonard Cohen	3	4.67
Joni Mitchell	3	4.67
Roxy Music	2	5
Randy Newman	2	5
Isaac Hayes	2	5
The Doors	2	5
Tom Waits	2	5
The Beach Boys	2	5
Fairport Convention	2	5
Pink Floyd	2	5
Talking Heads	3	4.33

Beastie Boys

4/5

It was pretty good, not my scene. Real funky at times but very 90’s. 8/10

Def Leppard

3/5

At first you love it but it all gets a bit samey by the time you get 3/4’s through. Still an enjoyable listen in moderation.

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa

5/5

Incredible Album. Got that Zappa Flair from the get go.

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea

PJ Harvey

2/5

Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, Stories I’d be happy to go without hearing again

Frampton Comes Alive

Peter Frampton

3/5

It’s like a private performance from your Uncle’s favourite band, an easy and cosy listen.

Life Thru A Lens

Robbie Williams

3/5

Reeks of “take me seriously now that I’m no longer a part of Take That”. Saying that, it’s actually a pretty good album. Still won’t take him seriously though.

Welcome To The Pleasuredome

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

4/5

From the bawdy opening number to the cordial closer. Welcome to the Pleasuredome is a journey masquerading as a double album that leaves you breathless as it rockets through its track listing.

Murmur

R.E.M.

4/5

A timeless album that wouldn’t sound out of place in the years proceeding it. R.E.M nailed their sound from the very beginning.

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

3/5

I can’t seem to find the words for this album. Maybe this is a product of its time, preaching to the youth of the 90’s. Maybe it’s the overwhelming sound they produce. Maybe it’s the bias from the Gallagher Brothers inevitable falling out and impressive feats of being C*nts. Maybe it’s the fact that you can visually identify a diehard Oasis fan from how much of a moron they are. Maybe I can find the words to describe the general ambivalence towards this album. Yes, definitely maybe.

For Your Pleasure

Roxy Music

5/5

This was an album whose ideas formed two tribes, Brian Eno with experiments and synthesisers and Bryan Ferry’s glam rock direction and almost crooner-like style of vocal delivery. These two tribes fight with each other yearning for a split that was ultimately delivered after this album. These two distinct styles both did and did not work well together and that’s what makes this album incredible. The general unease of it all regarding subject matter, themes and instrumentation makes for a fascinating and unique listen that must be undertaken by anyone who considers themselves “into their music” at least once in their respective lives.

Since I Left You

The Avalanches

5/5

I was blown away by the complexity of the arrangements, the variety of samples and the sheer joy and elation that emanates from this album from beginning to end.

The Undertones

3/5

It would be a good album to be getting absolutely shitfaced to but once you peer between the lines it’s then you realise the album isn’t that much beyond surface level Punk Rock.

Tea for the Tillerman

Cat Stevens

4/5

It was like having your Dad sit you down and proceed to tell you stories about his life. It was a very intimate affair.

Play

Moby

1/5

There’s a Song for every Advert imaginable. An Ad Man’s wet dream.

The Last Broadcast

Doves

3/5

Couldn’t help but feel it was miserably uplifting. Great album all round.

Vento De Maio

Elis Regina

4/5

I don’t speak Portuguese but if I did I’m sure I’d enjoy the album more than I already do. Or maybe its charm comes from the fact I don’t speak Portuguese. Anyways.

GI

Germs

3/5

This is what people think of when they think of Punk. It has the attitude people expect and want from it.

Dance Mania

Tito Puente

3/5

Dance Mania? Dance Mania. Makes you want to dance from the very first beat down to the last!

Shaka Zulu

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

3/5

Don’t know enough to be entirely critical but I think this is considered a good album. Talented for sure!

Superfuzz Bigmuff

Mudhoney

3/5

This was actually a pretty enjoyable album. Great guitar work!

Bad

Michael Jackson

4/5

Y’know what? This is a very good album. Well crafted bangers and not a detail missed or a corner cut.

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens

3/5

I imagine this is what a Musical Theatre Kid’s favourite album sounds like.

...Baby One More Time

Britney Spears

3/5

Pop so chewy it’s almost tiring.

Isn't Anything

My Bloody Valentine

3/5

An interesting listen that’s for sure. I want to say it’s like the Velvet Underground & Nico but just from the 80’s.

At Budokan

Cheap Trick

3/5

Average Rock. By the time it actually gets interesting, the album’s over.

Pink Flag

Wire

4/5

Punk Rock with enough texture and variety to more than deserve a 21 piece tracklist.

Graceland

Paul Simon

5/5

This album was phenomenally good, I was blown away by the composition and depth present in each song. I will definitely be listening to this again!

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

2/5

Same song 10 times over.

Electric Warrior

T. Rex

5/5

An incredible album from start to finish with heart, soul and gripping guitar work

The Band

4/5

Solid Album. Will very much listen to again.

Caetano Veloso

3/5

It’s a good album, I’ll say that much

All Mod Cons

The Jam

3/5

Y’know what? I really enjoyed this album. Once I got past the Vocals that is.

Soul Mining

The The

4/5

A real unique and interesting listen. Quite the surprise!

Peggy Suicide

Julian Cope

2/5

This album failed to capture my interests. That is all.

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

4/5

Thumping and bumping all through the night. Incredible album.

Either Or

Elliott Smith

3/5

I mean, I’ll be honest, its merit lies in its lyrics. That’s where the album shines.

You're Living All Over Me

Dinosaur Jr.

4/5

I love the fun and the fury that this album gives off. Great fun listening to this record!

Close To You

Carpenters

5/5

What can I say other than it’s filled with back to back Smooth Radio classics

The Fat Of The Land

The Prodigy

4/5

If I had to choose, this would be the album I’d choose to have my jaw swinging to.

Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago

3/5

I mean, it was alright. A bit incomprehensible at times.

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode

2/5

Couldn’t find anything of note here.

Something Else By The Kinks

The Kinks

4/5

This was… something else! I loved the album all the way through. None of the songs overstayed their welcome and had a nice charm across the whole album.

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

4/5

Fun little Jazz album. Enjoyable listen

Elvis Presley

5/5

Well, he is after all known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. Music was different back in the 1950’s and it’s evident Elvis set the world on fire with this record, even though it could be seen as boring by contemporary standards.

White Light

Gene Clark

4/5

A lovely album similar to David Crosby (also a former band member of The Byrds) and his album “If only I could remember my name”. Both highly rated albums!

Madman Across The Water

Elton John

4/5

If you can get past the Album cover then you’re in for a good listen. I don’t know, there’s something about the album cover that just puts me off. This isn’t “1001 Album covers you must see before you die” after all.

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

5/5

I loved this album. I never did like Bob Dylan on account of his vocal style but over time it’s grown on me. His talent as a poet and songwriter is truly incredible and it shows.

Future Days

Can

2/5

To sum up in one word: “Atmospheric”.

The Pleasure Principle

Gary Numan

4/5

Great album, that’s all I’ll say.

Parallel Lines

Blondie

5/5

A rough and tumble band creates their finest album that’s two parts punk and one part new wave. What’s not to love?

Brown Sugar

D'Angelo

4/5

Pleasantly surprised by this album seeing as it’s not in my particular field of taste.

The Nightfly

Donald Fagen

5/5

Fantastic Album that’s known as the benchmark for testing out Hi-Fi Systems due to its incredible production and coordinated, tight arrangements.

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde

4/5

Pretty neat. Humorous lyrics and thumping beats.

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

4/5

I mean, it’s GOOD but the albums only get better from here!

Gasoline Alley

Rod Stewart

3/5

It’s alright I guess. Nothing exceptional. It’s a good Rod Stewart album by Rod Stewart standards.

Goodbye And Hello

Tim Buckley

3/5

It’s weird but good at the same time

Cross

Justice

4/5

48:13 seconds of just French Noises.

Master Of Puppets

Metallica

5/5

It was thumping, bumping and I couldn’t get enough of it

Fear Of A Black Planet

Public Enemy

4/5

Good Ol’ Hip Hop doing its thing out here

Fever To Tell

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2/5

A bit too alternative for me. Didn’t appeal to me. I can appreciate it for what it is but it’s not my style.

Immigrés

Youssou N'Dour

3/5

It’s some good world music

Channel Orange

Frank Ocean

3/5

It was alright, felt it was a bit bloated at an hours length

Urban Hymns

The Verve

4/5

Although this isn’t totally up my street, I can appreciate that it’s a great album.

Woodface

Crowded House

3/5

It was alright I guess. Gave me an REM feel about it but with a lot less fun

25

Adele

4/5

Can’t deny that this album was fantastically produced with talented vocals and lush arrangements. I mean, I won’t listen to it again but whatever.

In Rainbows

Radiohead

4/5

It’s not what I expected that’s for sure. It’s a very thoughtful and intimate album. Will be listening to again.

Femi Kuti

5/5

Nothing else I can say other than this album will exceed every expectation you may or may not have

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

4/5

This shit slaps hard

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

Richard Thompson

4/5

I really enjoyed this album more than I thought I would

She's So Unusual

Cyndi Lauper

3/5

What can be viewed as irritating due in part to Lauper’s vocals at the beginning, by the end of the album you see it as an album to have a bit of fun to.

Street Life

The Crusaders

4/5

Thumping great time

Sail Away

Randy Newman

5/5

A kind and soft affair. It’s very own private concert.

Come Find Yourself

Fun Lovin' Criminals

4/5

It was a surprisingly fun album. Would listen to again.

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

5/5

Iconic.

Exile On Main Street

The Rolling Stones

4/5

Not my favourite, it has its highs and lows but all in all a fantastic album all round.

The United States Of America

5/5

Wild, imaginative and unique for not containing guitar in a guitar heavy, late 60’s era. I love it.

First Band On The Moon

The Cardigans

5/5

Great Album, lots of fun to listen to. Sounds like a lot of fun to make too!

Zombie

Fela Kuti

4/5

Funky Worldbeats. Can’t argue against it.

Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan

4/5

Classic Album, though out of the Electric Trilogy I prefer “Highway 61 Revisited” more.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Red Hot Chili Peppers

4/5

I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would. I may enjoy Californication a bit more though.

Fisherman's Blues

The Waterboys

3/5

It’s a good album. Pleasantly surprised to discover the band formed in Edinburgh, Scotland!

L.A. Woman

The Doors

5/5

A roaring great time hosted by the Lizard King himself, Jim Morrison, before his untimely death.

Dookie

Green Day

3/5

I mean, it’s a good punk album.

Vulgar Display Of Power

Pantera

1/5

Pain.

Tidal

Fiona Apple

4/5

A lovely album, a nice calm listen. Pleasantly surprised.

Walking Wounded

Everything But The Girl

3/5

Y’know. I liked the beats on offer here. And I’m not usually into Dance stuff.

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

4/5

A Fun Christmas album with iconic renditions of iconic Christmas songs

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

5/5

Nervous and revolutionary. It makes for uncomfortable listening in the best way. The 1st half is the beat to a perfect frenzy, the 2nd half is introspective and eye opening. I can’t rate this highly enough. Beyond 5 Stars.

Sheet Music

10cc

5/5

L'Eau Rouge

The Young Gods

2/5

I had no idea what was going on at any moment, L’Amourir and Pas Mal slaps though.

Atomizer

Big Black

2/5

Kudos to the person who mixed this, just massive amounts of noise to comprehend. Had its moments though.

It's A Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads

2/5

I mean, it’s alright. A bit samey, Mrs Robinson was a highlight though.

Risque

CHIC

4/5

As they say, I had “Good Times”.

Cheap Thrills

Big Brother & The Holding Company

2/5

I never understood Janis Joplin before this. No closer to understanding after this.

Slippery When Wet

Bon Jovi

2/5

I remember when I was a kid thinking this is what a proper rockstar is. After listening to this, I was wrong.

Truth

Jeff Beck

3/5

A High 3. That is all.

The Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest

4/5

Great stuff. Nice to chill out to or get some work done.

Endtroducing.....

DJ Shadow

3/5

I’ll give it 3 for merit on its sampling but overall wasn’t too keen on the album.

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin

4/5

It’s a very good album. Solid tracks and excellent musicianship.

Purple Rain

Prince

5/5

This album was influential at the ages of 19-20, just as I got my driving licence. Still as influential to me today (25) as it was 5-6 years ago.

The Real Thing

Faith No More

3/5

Fairly average. Not my scene but it might be yours!

Tonight's The Night

Neil Young

4/5

Reeking of sadness and personal directionless, Neil Young really poured his heart out on this album.

The College Dropout

Kanye West

3/5

It’s alright, early signs of that troubling Kanye arrogance.

The Velvet Underground

4/5

Astonishing piece of art.

Red Headed Stranger

Willie Nelson

5/5

This is a quintessential Country album to listen to. Show the naysayers this album and they’ll soon turn around and be more open of Country!

Low

David Bowie

4/5

Revolutionary in all the best ways.

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

Maxwell

3/5

It was good, that’s all I’ll say.

Synchronicity

The Police

4/5

Really surprised by how much I enjoyed this album.

Nilsson Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson

4/5

Man this album absolutely rocks!

Hard Again

Muddy Waters

3/5

I’m sure for those who truly love Blue’s, they will love and rate this album 4 or 5 stars. Everyone else will rate it 3 or below. Since I am everyone else; 3 stars.

Fun House

The Stooges

4/5

Essential listening for any Punk enthusiast!

Phaedra

Tangerine Dream

2/5

Important to note that this album would be revolutionary in 1974. Unfortunately I’m not here to rate revolutionary practices (it would be a 4) though it does inform my overall rating. At the end of the day, most of it is down to personal enjoyment. Might not be my thing but might be yours!

Rage Against The Machine

3/5

All I can associate this album with is X Factor 2006 Christmas Number 1.

Africa Brasil

Jorge Ben Jor

4/5

Funky Stuff. Though the Album cover is somewhat unsettling.

Crocodiles

Echo And The Bunnymen

5/5

Plagued with sadness and misery, this is a standout album of the Post-Punk era

Vespertine

Björk

4/5

An enjoyable, intimate listen.

New Boots And Panties

Ian Dury

4/5

Quite surprised by how quirky and down to Earth this album was.

Tubular Bells

Mike Oldfield

4/5

Engaging and interesting throughout!

If I Should Fall From Grace With God

The Pogues

4/5

Good Ol’ Irish fun, lots of familiar tracks on here.

461 Ocean Boulevard

Eric Clapton

3/5

I wanted to like it, but aside from 3 standout tracks (I shot the Sheriff, Let it Grow and Mainline Florida), there really wasn’t much here for me to enjoy.

Countdown To Ecstasy

Steely Dan

4/5

On the weaker side of their discography but more than worth the listen!

Peter Gabriel

4/5

It’s a good album. Out of the 4 self titled albums, is it the best? No. #Melt4Life

Clube Da Esquina

Milton Nascimento

4/5

Excellent example of Brazilian Jazz!

Violent Femmes

4/5

Excellent album, Gordon Gano sounds very similar to Tom Verlaine (of Television) but both bands couldn’t sound any more different!

Blue Lines

Massive Attack

2/5

It was ”huh” I guess

Inspiration Information

Shuggie Otis

5/5

Now THIS is some easy listening funk and soul! Perfect album to just chill out to.

Odelay

Beck

4/5

I enjoyed it. Part Rock, part hip hop, everything there to keep your interest

Savane

Ali Farka Touré

3/5

A difficult album to rate. African Blue’s is certainly a new listen for me. It’s not great but it’s not terrible either. All of it blends together quite well. Would make more than excellent music to have on in the background though!

Here Come The Warm Jets

Brian Eno

4/5

Groundbreaking album that would form the foundations of Brian Eno’s solo career and inspire countless other musicians

On The Beach

Neil Young

4/5

The follow-up album to the wildly successful “Harvest”, Neil Young clearly presents himself here as an alienated individual who didn’t know what to do with himself atop the pedestal

NEU! 75

Neu!

4/5

It had my attention from the very start. I was curious about it and I felt very satisfied at the end. Will be listening to a lot more Neu!

Alien Lanes

Guided By Voices

2/5

It’s a bit too Lo-Fi for me. Felt it had too many different ideas going for it.

Coat Of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

4/5

Coming across an excellent country album is always a joy.

James Brown Live At The Apollo

James Brown

5/5

Terrific energy from James Brown (The Godfather of Soul, as Chris Frantz once shouted out) from start to end. You feel like you’re really there!

Bitches Brew

Miles Davis

5/5

Music to get lost within!

Pornography

The Cure

4/5

Moody and gothic, an album that must be listened to at a high volume to feel the beat and the heat of the art on display here

Live At The Regal

B.B. King

4/5

It was a good bit of fun.

Leftism

Leftfield

2/5

A bit mindless. Not my scene.

Fuzzy

Grant Lee Buffalo

3/5

Music to shrug your shoulders to.

Green Onions

Booker T. & The MG's

5/5

Solid bops here. Instantly recognisable and instantly considered a classic!

The Suburbs

Arcade Fire

4/5

Not the biggest fan of the modern additions to the “1001 list” but this one proves to be one of the more enjoyable.

Astral Weeks

Van Morrison

2/5

I just didn’t like it at all. There I said it. A pain to listen to.

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Dead Kennedys

3/5

I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected!

The Number Of The Beast

Iron Maiden

4/5

I enjoyed this A LOT more than I thought I would have!

Closer

Joy Division

5/5

It’s an Ian Curtis guided trip into the gothic mausoleum of Joy Division.

Kimono My House

Sparks

5/5

Loud and bombastic, as much a thrill-ride now than when it was released 49 years ago!

Lady Soul

Aretha Franklin

4/5

An excellent, easy listening album that makes you groove for a whole 28 minutes and 46 seconds.

The Genius Of Ray Charles

Ray Charles

5/5

A very appropriate title.

Welcome to the Afterfuture

Mike Ladd

3/5

Imagine looking at a black and white picture, simple isn’t it? Then imagine that black and white picture slowly turns into a picture with colour, gets a bit more complex! That’s what it’s like listening to this album.

Third

Portishead

3/5

It was good. Quite surprised by it.

The Modern Lovers

4/5

It’s a good album. Lovely to hear Jerry Harrison before he made it big(ger) with Talking Heads!

Teen Dream

Beach House

4/5

It’s like a warm hug from a loved one saying “Everything will be alright”.

Underwater Moonlight

The Soft Boys

4/5

A rockin’ good time.

Marquee Moon

Television

5/5

A glorious example of punk in its prime

Roger the Engineer

The Yardbirds

2/5

It’s a “No” from me.

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones

4/5

A great album that lays the foundations for what’s to come in “Let it Bleed” and “Sticky Fingers”.

Catch A Fire

Bob Marley & The Wailers

3/5

A high 3.

Blonde On Blonde

Bob Dylan

5/5

Far better listening to it 2nd time round.

My Aim Is True

Elvis Costello

4/5

Solid debut album

I'm Your Man

Leonard Cohen

5/5

Incredible record but maybe not as good as “Songs of Love and Hate”, at least in my eyes

Manassas

Stephen Stills

5/5

Phenomenal.

Beautiful Freak

Eels

2/5

Thoroughly bored

Killing Joke

3/5

I enjoyed the second half more. High 3.

Heartbreaker

Ryan Adams

2/5

🤷🏻‍♂️

Time Out Of Mind

Bob Dylan

5/5

Amazing album. You’d be quick to write off Dylan at his age here with his gravelly voice but that only adds to this album’s rough and rowdy ways!

Strange Cargo III

William Orbit

1/5

This is just boring. It reminds me of Moby and I REALLY don’t like Moby.

Grievous Angel

Gram Parsons

4/5

I enjoyed it!

Idlewild

Everything But The Girl

3/5

It’s a good album, easy listening. Nothing groundbreaking though. What I will say however it is VERY strange to listen to ‘Walking Wounded’ and THEN ‘Idlewild’.

Let England Shake

PJ Harvey

3/5

Reeks of early 2010’s.

Exit Planet Dust

The Chemical Brothers

1/5

It’s a “No” from me.

Reggatta De Blanc

The Police

4/5

Good bit of fun

Tres Hombres

ZZ Top

2/5

Sounds all the same.

In Our Heads

Hot Chip

3/5

It’s a great Hot Chip album. It’s a good album otherwise.

Dry

PJ Harvey

3/5

I enjoyed this album from PJ Harvey more than I enjoyed “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea”. What’s important to note however is that this is the “band” PJ Harvey and not “Solo” PJ Harvey so that may be a contributing factor.

Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)

Bob Dylan

4/5

A tale of two halves that make one hell of a concert!

Rattus Norvegicus

The Stranglers

4/5

Solid piece of British Punk here with heavy doses of what was to become new wave

Wonderful Rainbow

Lightning Bolt

1/5

The most interesting part was the silence after the album was over.

There's A Riot Goin' On

Sly & The Family Stone

3/5

I can merit a good album but I feel there was some things lacking here. I felt a bit disappointed as I was looking forward to this one.

Kind Of Blue

Miles Davis

5/5

Solid piece of Jazz here

Fear and Whiskey

Mekons

3/5

It’s good, but I only reviewed this album now (as in right now) after listening to it last week and, aside from the first two tracks, it’s pretty forgettable. Still good though.

Elvis Is Back

Elvis Presley

4/5

A solid album with some solid performances.

The Sounds Of India

Ravi Shankar

4/5

Slaps a lot harder than you think it does.

What's Going On

Marvin Gaye

4/5

Excellent piece of Soul that you can sit and chill to.

Repeater

Fugazi

3/5

It’s good!

Aqualung

Jethro Tull

4/5

Including a flute in modern mainstream music? Jethro Tull did it before Lizzo.

Let's Get It On

Marvin Gaye

3/5

Music to have fun with your partner to for strictly 30 minutes.

Let It Be

The Replacements

3/5

It was alright. Nothing stuck with me.

Lust For Life

Iggy Pop

4/5

This sounds like it was made to be performed on a shitty, grimy stage in a bar with dreadful stage decorations. I love it.

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

4/5

Bob Dylan-core mumblecore

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Eurythmics

4/5

Bumpin’.

Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen

3/5

I listened to it twice through and I just couldn’t hack it. Bruce Springsteen’s efforts and talent are to be commended here however as this was recorded entirely by himself. A dark and haunting album.

Bitte Orca

Dirty Projectors

2/5

Try hard late 2000’s pop.

Pump

Aerosmith

4/5

Doesn’t stop for a moments breath.

This Nation’s Saving Grace

The Fall

2/5

Lost my interest, couldn’t get into it.

69 Love Songs

The Magnetic Fields

3/5

A gruelling task to listen to in one sitting but never a boring one.

Back To Black

Amy Winehouse

4/5

Amy Winehouse sought out to realise her vision and succeeded in creating an album so accessible that both music toffs AND middle aged divorced women can enjoy it.

Bossanova

Pixies

5/5

There wasn’t a moment where my foot wasn’t tapping.

All Directions

The Temptations

5/5

Slaps.

Guitar Town

Steve Earle

3/5

Standard country rock schmaltz.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

OutKast

5/5

A tale of two halves to make once complete album. ‘Speakerboxxx’ provides an excellent album of old school hip-hip whereas ‘The Love Below’ tells the story of André 3000’s unfortunate attempts to find “a Layydayy” using funk and jazz. All in all, one excellent album even if both halves are listened to consecutively or separately.

The Lexicon Of Love

ABC

4/5

Banger after Banger.

Lam Toro

Baaba Maal

1/5

Dated as soon as it hit shelves.

The World is a Ghetto

War

5/5

This album went hard.

Live At The Star Club, Hamburg

Jerry Lee Lewis

2/5

Not particularly exciting

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears

The Mamas & The Papas

5/5

Easy listening masterclass. Indicative of that groovy, swinging 60’s vibe with some dark undertones.

Doolittle

Pixies

3/5

A very enjoyable listen. Accessible.

Figure 8

Elliott Smith

3/5

More of the same from Elliot Smith, though slightly more interesting than “Either or”.

World Clique

Deee-Lite

4/5

I was bumping the whole time.

Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen

4/5

Sad and intimate banger after banger

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs

Derek & The Dominos

4/5

I'm not the biggest fan of Eric Clapton but I was thoroughly impressed with this.

The Clash

3/5

Fairly average debut.

3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...

Arrested Development

3/5

A good dose of conscious hip-hop.

Permission to Land

The Darkness

4/5

Good fun is to be had here amongst the high pitched hard rockers!

Tom Tom Club

4/5

Say what you will about Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, they really were firing on all cylinders on this album.

Thriller

Michael Jackson

5/5

Speechless.

Smash

The Offspring

4/5

I thought it was going to be "dire and serious" punk but it turns out its more of a "lighthearted and fun" punk that would characterise the pop-punk to follow.

Like A Prayer

Madonna

3/5

Dropped hard after “Like a Prayer”.

Ellington at Newport

Duke Ellington

4/5

Electrifying set... even if some of it is studio work.

Darkdancer

Les Rythmes Digitales

3/5

Bit average. It's got its highs and it's got its lows.

Trio

Dolly Parton

4/5

Country supergroup unite!

Cypress Hill

3/5

I can appreciate it's good but it's not quite my style.

Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction

3/5

At first I didn't like it but then by the end I was more appreciative of the album, still a 3 though. A good 3.

The Wildest!

Louis Prima

5/5

The Wildest! truly lives up to its name!

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

5/5

Peeling back the curtain on an interesting, quaint English village…

Songs In The Key Of Life

Stevie Wonder

4/5

The Funk Bible.

Swordfishtrombones

Tom Waits

5/5

A bizarre album that you simply can’t stop listening to.

Butterfly

Mariah Carey

2/5

I’m sure she was trying something here.

Exodus

Bob Marley & The Wailers

4/5

A chill album filled with wisdom and love from Mr Marley himself.

Lost In The Dream

The War On Drugs

3/5

It’s alright I guess. Chill.

A Night At The Opera

Queen

4/5

A three act show performed to near perfection.

All Things Must Pass

George Harrison

5/5

An important album making an important statement regarding George Harrison's status post-beatles as a force to be reckoned with.

British Steel

Judas Priest

3/5

On a Metal scale of Magnesium to Osmium, (British) Steel is pretty appropriate for what you’re going to find within.

1999

Prince

5/5

Brimming with sexuality and prowess, a love explosion that sent Prince, the Revolution and Minneapolis sound straight to the top.

Midnight Ride

Paul Revere & The Raiders

4/5

A fun little album that clocks in at just under 30 minutes.

Revolver

Beatles

5/5

This album belongs on top of no pedestal, it belongs in the foundations of the albums that came since its release. A innovative and revolutionary triumph that, like 'Pet Sounds', changed the music scene forever.

Little Earthquakes

Tori Amos

3/5

I can appreciate the content was good it’s just that I was so bored.

The Joshua Tree

U2

4/5

I was blown away.

Joan Baez

4/5

Folk in its purest and most basic form.

Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys

5/5

Important, revolutionary and timeless. As groundbreaking now as it was back in 1966.

Pearl

Janis Joplin

4/5

I was very, very surprised by this album. Showed me that Janis Joplin wasn’t all screaming and shambling.

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators

2/5

Felt like it was trying to be psychedelic for the sake of being psychedelic.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

5/5

As grandiose as folk rock gets. Even if it does contain a ballad dedicated to Frank Lloyd Wright.

Metallica

4/5

Pretty good metal on offer here.

Machine Gun Etiquette

The Damned

3/5

Underwhelmed.

Born To Be With You

Dion

3/5

Starts off not so good and then ends on a pretty good note. Got that signature Spector sound to it.

Tommy

The Who

5/5

A three act play about the rise and fall of a blind, then not blind, cult leader who at first wasn’t a cult leader but then is a cult leader but then isn’t again.

Guero

Beck

3/5

A good, contemporary bit of fun. It’s like an auditory journey through a busy city.

Jack Takes the Floor

Ramblin' Jack Elliott

2/5

Difficult to say. Not exactly much depth to be found here. The only thing I could really comment on is it’s excellent lyricism.

Tapestry

Carole King

4/5

4 star schmaltz, I love it.

Eagles

4/5

This album screams "get some mates, grab some beers and sit in the garden to talk shit all night."

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

4/5

A delightfully long album that always kept my interest.

Murder Ballads

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

4/5

This is prime candidate for seedy bar or very old record store music. At first that point was a negative but then it turned into a positive.

In A Silent Way

Miles Davis

4/5

Oddly I feel this would be an excellent album to listen to on the train.

Sulk

The Associates

3/5

Weird and strange.

Private Dancer

Tina Turner

4/5

It’s good, really good. The title track is the massive standout here.

Dirt

Alice In Chains

3/5

Grungey, greasy and… dirty

Duck Stab/Buster & Glen

The Residents

2/5

Outcast music.

Ambient 1/Music For Airports

Brian Eno

4/5

“Music to get a massage to.”- Matt

Safe As Milk

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

5/5

Safe as Milk.

Morrison Hotel

The Doors

5/5

More subdued than L.A Woman but just as excellent.

Rum Sodomy & The Lash

The Pogues

4/5

I liked this a lot better than “If I should fall from grace with god”. Maybe because this doesn’t have that annoying ass Christmas song on it.

Queen Of Denmark

John Grant

2/5

I didn’t like it.

At Mister Kelly's

Sarah Vaughan

2/5

The audio quality and drop outs really took me out of the zone here that the live performance was desperate to conjure up.

Space Ritual

Hawkwind

2/5

Music made by people called Hawkwind for people who wished they’d call themselves Hawkwind.

Clandestino

Manu Chao

4/5

Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

Young Americans

David Bowie

4/5

Plastic Soul. Fake in every regard. Bowie’s own interpretation of selling out.

Bongo Rock

Incredible Bongo Band

5/5

Bongo’s kept-a-bongoing

Rising Above Bedlam

Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart

1/5

There wasn’t one part of me that liked this.

Now I Got Worry

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

1/5

I don’t like it.

The Köln Concert

Keith Jarrett

5/5

Transcendent.

Suede

4/5

Give in to the delusion that Brett Anderson sounds like Russell Mael and you’ve got yourself a 4 out of 5 star album.

Good Old Boys

Randy Newman

5/5

Excellent follow up to “Sail Away”.

Siamese Dream

The Smashing Pumpkins

3/5

It was good, I guess.

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

Otis Redding

4/5

Soulful and iconic.

Oxygène

Jean-Michel Jarre

4/5

Blade Runner-esque beats lay throughout this piece.

1977

Ash

3/5

Average.

Moon Safari

Air

3/5

Not as good as I remember it from when I was younger.

Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Billy Bragg

4/5

I loved it a lot more than expected. Very much like the Pogues.

Hunky Dory

David Bowie

4/5

It’s not my favourite Bowie album but it does have a few bangers.

The Bends

Radiohead

4/5

I loved every minute of it. An album that must be played loud rather than quietly.

This Year's Model

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

4/5

An album I’ve listened to plenty times and will listen to plenty times to come

En-Tact

The Shamen

1/5

White noise is more appetising than this.

Goo

Sonic Youth

4/5

I prefer this album over ‘Sister’.

Abraxas

Santana

4/5

I didn’t know what to expect, it did. 4 Stars.

Tusk

Fleetwood Mac

4/5

A rather alienating follow up to “Rumours”, heavily influenced by the post-punk popularity surrounding the period of recording. It’s experimental and almost disjointed nature IS however what makes this album stand out as a whole.

Maverick A Strike

Finley Quaye

3/5

It’s “alright”. Not my scene though.

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

5/5

A live album that shows that sometimes less (songs) is more (extended jams)!

S&M

Metallica

3/5

Just because you could, doesn’t mean you should.

The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem

3/5

It was a 4, until it was a 3.

The Madcap Laughs

Syd Barrett

2/5

This is like being confronted with something very awkward and then trying your very best to not look at it. Look, I get it, co-founder of Pink Floyd and a figurehead of its psychedelic beginnings but this sounds downright uncomfortable and in hindsight shows his deteriorating grip on reality.

Axis: Bold As Love

Jimi Hendrix

4/5

Dude shreds

Youth And Young Manhood

Kings of Leon

2/5

Didn’t like them then, don’t like them now.

Elephant Mountain

The Youngbloods

4/5

An album cover can say a lot about the album. What this album art tells me is that this is some backwater, country-rock, folk-rock. And to be honest. It’s not far off.

Highly Evolved

The Vines

2/5

Just because it’s loud indie doesn’t mean it’s good indie

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths

3/5

Band carried Morrissey on their backs.

Black Monk Time

The Monks

3/5

I would never expect that this was released in 1966.

Raw Power

The Stooges

3/5

I enjoyed “Funhouse” more. Maybe because it was better produced.

Debut

Björk

4/5

A brilliant slice of 90’s pop-electronica

Sister

Sonic Youth

3/5

I enjoyed “Goo” better.

Bandwagonesque

Teenage Fanclub

4/5

Always great to hear Scottish bands!

Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Personally, I prefer this over Led Zeppelin IV.

Mermaid Avenue

Billy Bragg

3/5

It was good. I like “Talking with the Taxman about Poetry” better though

Low-Life

New Order

4/5

Another natural inclusion into the Joy Division/ New Order Discography

Brilliant Corners

Thelonious Monk

4/5

Jazz!

The Next Day

David Bowie

4/5

I remember listening to this in 2013. Loved it then as much as I love it now.

Berlin

Lou Reed

4/5

The Cold War in Berlin. A real dark and dirty album.

Triangle

The Beau Brummels

3/5

Short and enjoyable. High 3.

Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Bill Evans Trio

5/5

If I had to pick a selection of albums that would be “your stereotypical jazz”, this would be one of them.

C'est Chic

CHIC

4/5

I experienced road rage while listening to “Happy Man”. 4/5 stars.

Os Mutantes

3/5

The good stuff.

Be

Common

3/5

High 3 for Common.

Myths Of The Near Future

Klaxons

5/5

Sunny weather driving music. Not too hot on the late 2000’s indie explosion but this one is an exception.

Back to Mystery City

Hanoi Rocks

3/5

It was a bit “meh”. Hard 3.

Chore of Enchantment

Giant Sand

3/5

Lead Singer sounds a lot like Lou Reed. But it isn’t Lou Reed.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Iron Butterfly

4/5

Bart Simpson and the First Church of Springfield rates it well.

m b v

My Bloody Valentine

4/5

As much as it can drone on, that’s exactly the magic behind this album. A soundscape to lose yourself in.

Cosmo's Factory

Creedence Clearwater Revival

4/5

I don’t know what to say about this album, but my gut feeling says “4”.

Strangeways, Here We Come

The Smiths

2/5

Nobody carried anybody here because this album sucked.

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan

5/5

“En garde, I'll let you try my Wu-Tang style“

Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park

3/5

At first I didn’t like it. And then I realised I wasn’t meant to like it, I was meant to *feel* it. “Feel” meaning get angry and throw my arms around in intrinsic, uncoordinated fashions on the “Dance floor” at the local bar’s “Nu-Metal Mondays”.

That's The Way Of The World

Earth, Wind & Fire

4/5

Some sort of “Elaine-Benes” kinda album

Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

3/5

I wouldn’t listen to it again. Not my style. My praise however does lie in regards to its lyrical content. Biting. In touch with the times. Perhaps a lot of the lyrics ring true even today.

Hejira

Joni Mitchell

5/5

This is a 5 star Joni album that stands up there with “The Hissing of Summer Lawns” and “Blue”.

The White Album

Beatles

5/5

An interesting and incoherent look into what the Beatles would mostly become in their solo work. Most notably, Paul did not go on to continue making Heavy Metal music.

Melody A.M.

Röyksopp

3/5

A rather enjoyable album here. No grating noises that could be found on other electronic albums to be heard here!

Entertainment

Gang Of Four

4/5

Gang of Four stars!

3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul

5/5

Puts the “Fun” back into “Funky”! As far as Hip-Hop goes at least. Thankfully it’s now out on streaming services and repressed on Vinyl so the masses can enjoy! Again!

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West

3/5

Just Kanye being Kanye.

Bat Out Of Hell

Meat Loaf

4/5

Would have been a 5 if it weren’t for the jarring inclusion of Ballads. Still good ballads mind you.

Gold

Ryan Adams

3/5

It’s good Ryan, it’s good.

Time Out

The Dave Brubeck Quartet

5/5

Jazz Gold.

Trout Mask Replica

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

4/5

Unlistenable in the most outrageous way possible. It requires true talent to be so in sync yet so out of step with the rest of the band. Masterful playing on display.

Make Yourself

Incubus

1/5

Between the album cover and the album content, this is among the most 90’s albums to ever 90’s.

Cut

The Slits

3/5

It had its ups and downs I reckon.

Parklife

Blur

4/5

Blur over Oasis any day

1984

Van Halen

4/5

Long haired metal music. 4 stars.

Ghosteen

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

3/5

3 stars-y

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

3/5

Between this and “Elephant”, I preferred “Elephant” more.

Colour By Numbers

Culture Club

3/5

I’m reminded of a charming anecdote about my Grandad who “thought Boy George was a straight guy”. You can already imagine how that turned out. 3.5 stars.

Crime Of The Century

Supertramp

4/5

Solid work from Supertramp.

Truth And Soul

Fishbone

2/5

It wasn’t for me, that’s for sure

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

After having only listened to “Nebraska”, it’s great to hear what everyone means when they mention “The Boss”.

Spiderland

Slint

3/5

Superhans from British TV phenomenon “Peep Show” said it best; “What we need to do is create a powerful sense of dread”.

Miriam Makeba

4/5

Good fun from Miriam Makeba (even if the recording is a bit spotty)

Fragile

Yes

3/5

It was… good.

Music From Big Pink

The Band

4/5

This is music for that big wooden lodge in the middle of nowhere that you always dreamed of having.

Grace

Jeff Buckley

4/5

I think he put his heart and soul into this one.

Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby

Terence Trent D'Arby

3/5

The Hardline is that it’s a pretty good album, according to myself that is.

Fleet Foxes

4/5

It felt graceful and incredible to listen to, not pretentious and “indie-y”

At Newport 1960

Muddy Waters

4/5

I like this album (coming from someone who detests “Mannish Boy”.)

Before And After Science

Brian Eno

5/5

It’s got punch. And ambient music.

Back In Black

AC/DC

3/5

I’m not too fond of AC/DC. Not at all.

Punishing Kiss

Ute Lemper

2/5

Punishing Kiss? Punishing listen.

Night Life

Ray Price

4/5

Night Music. Cruising with the top down music. Music.

Better Living Through Chemistry

Fatboy Slim

2/5

Saying this kind of music falls into the same familiar structure of “build up and drop” as a criticism would be rather hypocritical as most other music falls into its own structure specific to genre. But I’ll make an exception this time because I don’t like this music.

Heaven Or Las Vegas

Cocteau Twins

5/5

Finally, a redeeming quality of Grangemouth, Scotland.

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

3/5

Despite its length, I quite enjoyed this album.

Wild Is The Wind

Nina Simone

5/5

This album made me feel things. Not many albums make me stand still in the livingroom and “feel” upon the first time listening to it.

Funeral

Arcade Fire

2/5

Bit too “millennial” for my tastes.

With The Beatles

Beatles

4/5

Not just a corny, quick cash grab follow up, this is a remarkable step up from their first album and proved that these boys had some serious talent.

Ágætis Byrjun

Sigur Rós

2/5

I was rather bored by this.

Scott 2

Scott Walker

4/5

It’s good, brassy, bold. It ain’t quite Scott 4 though.

Band On The Run

Paul McCartney and Wings

5/5

Wings and Paul McCartney’s strongest piece of work together. Captured Paul at the height of his powers post-Beatles.

Dear Science

TV On The Radio

2/5

Painfully late 2000’s.

Another Green World

Brian Eno

5/5

An album that enters, makes a statement and then leaves quietly out of the backdoor…

Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane

5/5

It’s Psychedelic Rock, but it’s Psychedelic Rock with *Heart*.

Scream, Dracula, Scream

Rocket From The Crypt

3/5

The amount of horns in this album confused me, 3 stars.

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Public Enemy

4/5

Bangers, slappers and slap-bangers.

Shaft

Isaac Hayes

5/5

You could tell Isaac Hayes had a massive “shaft” the whole time while making this straight heat.

Deep Purple In Rock

Deep Purple

5/5

I always thought of Deep Purple as “Archetypal Dad Rock” after being subjected to “Smoke on the Water” so much as a child. I was glad to have my opinion changed upon listening to this album, words like “Wizard Rock” and “Shreds” came to mind.

Oracular Spectacular

MGMT

3/5

Remember some guy would always chuck this on at house parties and “swear by it”.

One Nation Under A Groove

Funkadelic

3/5

I really liked it at first…

Jagged Little Pill

Alanis Morissette

3/5

Brings back memories of Teachers in school always playing this song. Bearing in mind this was the mid 2000’s. All in an effort to teach “irony”.

Marcus Garvey

Burning Spear

4/5

Great “Great start to the day” music.

Elephant

The White Stripes

4/5

Between this and “White Blood Cells”, I preferred this more.

Hail To the Thief

Radiohead

3/5

This album didn’t draw me in as intensely as “In Rainbows” did. Still good though.

2112

Rush

4/5

I know Rush fans get a bad rap sometimes but man was this a great album.

Locust Abortion Technician

Butthole Surfers

2/5

“Kuntz” was a standout here.

Melodrama

Lorde

4/5

Prime Kiwi night time music.

Sign 'O' The Times

Prince

5/5

An astoundingly great album.

Rain Dogs

Tom Waits

5/5

My first full Tom Waits album. Didn’t disappoint.

The Specials

3/5

Jaunty and typically British tunes.

Orbital 2

Orbital

1/5

Aside from Worf’s inclusion in the beginning, a big “no”.

Station To Station

David Bowie

5/5

Personally, I’d put this above “Ziggy Stardust”.

Court And Spark

Joni Mitchell

4/5

I’d say it’s up there with her best pieces of work (I prefer The Hissing of Summer Lawns more though)

Slipknot

2/5

2 stars to recognise the skill required to play those instruments like that.

Green River

Creedence Clearwater Revival

4/5

John Fogerty’s haircut gets rated a 0 out of 5.

More Specials

The Specials

3/5

More jaunty and typically British tunes.

The Atomic Mr Basie

Count Basie & His Orchestra

3/5

Jazz!

Dog Man Star

Suede

4/5

See review for “Suede”. (love “The Power”)

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin

5/5

I was listening to this album so hard I forgot to form an opinion. 5 stars.

The Predator

Ice Cube

4/5

Ice Cube’s message is heard loud and clear here.

Here Are the Sonics

The Sonics

3/5

If you wanted to listen to an album that was recorded through a tin can and a potato, look no further.

Moondance

Van Morrison

3/5

I like this album. I do NOT, however, like the title track.

Disintegration

The Cure

4/5

Anyone who disagrees with listening to music in its Album format clearly hasn’t listened to this album.

Neon Bible

Arcade Fire

3/5

It was okay. Indie can be a hit or a miss for me.

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts

Brian Eno

4/5

These two mad hatters cooked up something good here!

The Stooges

3/5

I’d say this album was ahead of its time as I don’t actually believe it was released in 1969 since it sounds more early 70’s. Iggy’s haircut would suggest otherwise.

The Bones Of What You Believe

CHVRCHES

3/5

Big up Scotland

Illmatic

Nas

3/5

So low down to the streets I could almost taste the pavement.

Throwing Muses

3/5

It was good. 3 stars good.

You Are The Quarry

Morrissey

2/5

Post-Smiths Morrissey slightly gets over from Lockjaw in the mid 90’s only to really show how much of a massive racist he is in the early 2000’s.

I Against I

Bad Brains

2/5

Simply put, I don’t like it.

Casanova

The Divine Comedy

3/5

A special place lies in my heart for “The Diving Comedy”. Though this album was good, I’d always recommend “A Secret History…” but maybe that’s because I grew up with it…

xx

The xx

3/5

Aside from “Intro” being played to death by the general population, I was quite surprised to find I rather enjoyed this album and not write it off as “landfill indie”

The Visitors

ABBA

4/5

An album of isolation and sadness. It’s refreshing to see an Artist or Group pull of a change in tone swapping the light and infectiously fun side of pop for a darker and more mature side, reflecting ABBA’s (then) current state of affairs with the collapse of both couples marriages. The B- Sides to the singles should also not be missed out!

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

4/5

50 minutes of Michael Stipes dancing around the room unable to keep still to seemingly “jaunty” tunes of hopelessness, despair and nostalgia

Sweet Baby James

James Taylor

4/5

My friend told me in a record store “buy this record man you won’t regret it.” I don’t regret it. One of my first purchases.

The Boatman's Call

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

3/5

The issue I had with other Nick Cave albums is that they were too long. I enjoyed them don’t get me wrong but I like my Nick Cave in bitesize chunks. That’s where this album comes in.

Ys

Joanna Newsom

2/5

Thoroughly uninterested.

Oedipus Schmoedipus

Barry Adamson

4/5

I loved this film!

Ace of Spades

Motörhead

3/5

No other way to listen but to swing your long hair around your head and shred guitar.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Ray Charles

4/5

More like “TRADITIONAL Sounds in Country and Western Music” amirite

Songs The Lord Taught Us

The Cramps

3/5

Take the B52’s but make it 50’s B-Movie “Psychobilly”

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down

The Dandy Warhols

2/5

This was a pain to get through. I didn’t enjoy it.

The Colour Of Spring

Talk Talk

4/5

Finally got round to listening to it a few years after my friend told me to buy the record. It was pretty good. I’ll hold onto it.

Blunderbuss

Jack White

4/5

I like this better than his White Stripes output, felt like the same vein as T-Rex at times.

Rubber Soul

Beatles

4/5

I remember this being my favourite Beatles album when I FIRST started out listening to music and though it’s no longer my (top) favourite now, it still has a special spot in my heart.

Water From An Ancient Well

Abdullah Ibrahim

5/5

I didn’t know peace until I heard this album.

Sincere

Mj Cole

2/5

Found myself grooving for the first few songs but then the feeling faded FAST

Document

R.E.M.

3/5

Another banger from R.E.M

Movies

Holger Czukay

3/5

Strange in all the right ways…

Aladdin Sane

David Bowie

4/5

I always wrote Aladdin Sane off but after listening to it here I was soon mistaken.

Back to Basics

Christina Aguilera

3/5

Loved it, thought it was recorded terribly at first due to (what could be regarded in the modern era as) a dusty vinyl rip. But I guess that’s the point, it’s back to basics!

The Chronic

Dr. Dre

4/5

This shit was tight.

So Much For The City

The Thrills

3/5

Good bit of fun. Nothing spectacular.

Cupid & Psyche 85

Scritti Politti

2/5

Didn’t draw me in.

I Am a Bird Now

Antony and the Johnsons

4/5

At first I thought it was strange, sad and mopey. Indicative of boring mid-2000’s music. As the album continued however I was taken aback by the talent and craftsmanship of Anohni and the Johnsons and quickly changed my mind. Though I probably won’t be running back quickly to listen to this album, it does show me that there are people out there determined to make great music whatever the results.

Moss Side Story

Barry Adamson

4/5

I love this film!

Garbage

4/5

Might be an American band but it’ll be remembered in part as Scotland’s own 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

D

White Denim

3/5

I rather enjoyed this. Which is unusual for me regarding Indie from this time.

Ingenue

k.d. lang

3/5

I rather enjoyed this album. Nothing else to say.

More Songs About Buildings And Food

Talking Heads

4/5

A step up from “77” and a step in the right direction for this Post-Punk Quartet

Call of the Valley

Shivkumar Sharma

3/5

Not the biggest fan. Not the smallest one either. An important 60’s album showcasing Indian Music to the west however.

Vulnicura

Björk

3/5

Björk has their fans. And I applaud that. I also applaud the musicianship and creativity on display here.

Traffic

3/5

I was under the impression this was a 70’s soft rock album until I saw it was instead a 60’s soft rock album. However it does include the obligatory “weird 60’s song involving minors” which firmly dates it.

Bryter Layter

Nick Drake

4/5

Though at moments I cannot stand Nick Drake’s vocals, Bryter Later’s instrumentation does marvellous work at enriching his vocals and creating harmony overall.

Imperial Bedroom

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

2/5

I found it quite boring. Not as exciting as his earlier stuff.

Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

Frank Sinatra

5/5

Smokin’!

Roxy Music

5/5

I remember seeing Roxy Music live in 2022. The standout performance was “Ladytron” and “Virginia Plain”. This album is just too good.

Lady In Satin

Billie Holiday

4/5

Sultry and Slick

My Generation

The Who

5/5

Thought it was going to be a copycat of the rough sound of the Rolling Stones, you know, laying the groundwork for a successful late 60’s, 70’s golden era. This album however shouldn’t be disregarded as such, it’s a fantastic album in its own right.

Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones

4/5

A startlingly timeless album that perfectly bookends the 1960’s.

Winter In America

Gil Scott-Heron

5/5

Incredible Album. A personal favourite of mine.

Le Tigre

4/5

This felt like a late 80’s album as opposed to a late 90’s album. Felt in the same vein as New Wave/ Punk from Athens, GA where the likes of the B52’s and DEVO hail.

Quiet Life

Japan

4/5

Ahead of it’s time, a new wave UK standard.

Emergency On Planet Earth

Jamiroquai

4/5

Stunning debut from Hat Enthusiast Jay-Kay and Band.

Medúlla

Björk

3/5

Björk has their fans. And I applaud that. I also applaud the musicianship and creativity on display here.

Vauxhall And I

Morrissey

3/5

Post-Smiths Morrissey slightly gets over from Lockjaw in the mid 90’s.

Who's Next

The Who

5/5

What a great album.

Transformer

Lou Reed

5/5

Brilliant Album from the Iconoclast.

Viva Hate

Morrissey

3/5

Post-Smiths Morrissey suffers from Lockjaw.

Buena Vista Social Club

5/5

Fuck that guy who rated this album 1 star because “it’s not in English”.

This Is Hardcore

Pulp

4/5

Pulp > Oasis

Songs Of Love And Hate

Leonard Cohen

5/5

Easily my favourite Leonard Cohen album, I hope it’s yours too.

The Slider

T. Rex

4/5

A great album (but I like Electric Warrior more...!)

Scissor Sisters

5/5

Filthy ✅ Gorgeous ✅

Skylarking

XTC

3/5

I couldn’t really break into XTC and this just furthers that.

Talking Book

Stevie Wonder

5/5

A perfect step in Stevie’s Wonder years.

We're Only In It For The Money

The Mothers Of Invention

3/5

What *is* the ugliest part of your body?

Arc Of A Diver

Steve Winwood

3/5

A staple classic of that Island Records “Soft-Rock Sound” that Robert Palmer moulded out in the late 70’s, saying that, Robert Palmer ekes out Steve Winwood in terms of overall quality on this occasion.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo

Devo

4/5

You may not like it at first but you will… everyone does eventually.

Different Class

Pulp

5/5

Pulp is my #1 Britpop band. Oasis can shove it

Diamond Life

Sade

4/5

A certain “je nais se quois” comes around when this album plays, cigarette smoke fills the room and you find yourself with your (drink of choice) in hand listening to… Sade’s “Diamond Life”.

Scott 4

Scott Walker

5/5

I’m a sucker for this kind of music. Kind of like Leonard Cohen but perhaps rooted in fiction (and dare I say, optimism?) rather than the dark and gritty works of Cohen.

Out Of The Blue

Electric Light Orchestra

3/5

Landmark album from ELO. A perfect display of what they can do and what they do well! Run's a bit long though...

#1 Record

Big Star

5/5

This is your perfect “70’s summer rock” album. No-Skips, All-Bangers.

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground

4/5

A bold debut effort.

Unhalfbricking

Fairport Convention

5/5

I regret putting off listening to this album for a long time. I wish I heard it sooner.

(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)

Lynyrd Skynyrd

3/5

I really didn’t like the first song and the thought “oh my god I hope this isn’t some overrated rubbish” popped into my head but y’know I warmed to the album by the time “Free Bird” rolled around.

Steve McQueen

Prefab Sprout

5/5

Fantastically produced and a delight to listen to. Side 1 is banger after banger!

Rust Never Sleeps

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

4/5

One of my favourite Neil Young albums!

American Beauty

Grateful Dead

4/5

A wonderful album.

The Message

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

3/5

This could have been a far better album without “Scorpio”.

The Wall

Pink Floyd

5/5

The final hurrah for Pink Floyd MKII as the band would undergo another lineup change as Richard Wright would not appear on “The Final Cut” and Roger Waters was out after “The Final Cut” (Rick did return after “The Final Cut” however). A Rock-Opera for the ages depicting Pink’s isolation from the outside world within his… “Wall”.

Getz/Gilberto

Stan Getz

5/5

For a moment, I believed I was the Girl from Ipanema going walking.

Mothership Connection

Parliament

5/5

Slaps

Peter Gabriel 3

Peter Gabriel

5/5

One of my favourite albums of all time. I’d say of the Quadrilogy of Peter Gabriel Albums (Car, Scratch, Melt and Security), this is the top dog.

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

5/5

A darker output from the Beach Boys (Cover art says it all really, “End of the Trail”?). See through the preaching of Ecological responsibilities and Civil rights to glimpse the tortured artists within…

Faith

George Michael

4/5

A fantastically made album that shows George Michael as the butterfly emerging from the cocoon.

The Rolling Stones

4/5

We all start somewhere.

Odessa

Bee Gees

3/5

This could be rough listening for those accustomed to the bright, disco-infused chart toppers of the late 70’s. Provided you ignore the glittery part of their career and concentrate on this output as a “late 60’s” album, you’ll find an album that has its highs and has its lows. I believe if you trim the fat off this album you’ll find an overall higher score but this is still able to be considered a good album nonetheless.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie

5/5

Personally, not my favourite Bowie album. That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s not fantastic.

Histoire De Melody Nelson

Serge Gainsbourg

4/5

Serge Gainsbourg came here to fuck and by god he got it

Abbey Road

Beatles

5/5

I could go on at length about this. You could write it off today as “The Beatles are overrated” but take a step back and think. This was NEW in 1969 nobody else was doing it better (I’m not saying no-one else was doing it. People influence and copy others all the time. Just look at Sgt. Pepper). This was pushing the boundary on what popular music could be! Sitting through this album was a joy and even though I had listened to it countless times before, I still get chills when I reach “The End”. “Her Majesty” only serves as the Cigarette after sex.

The Idiot

Iggy Pop

4/5

An album rich with history tying in neatly to Bowie’s own struggles with Drug Addiction and the music history being made in mainland Europe from 1976-1978 with this Bowie/Pop collaboration.

McCartney

Paul McCartney

4/5

This album is the definition of “Lo-Fi”. This album didn’t need to be made. It doesn’t stand up against any of the other works of the Beatles or McCartney’s own works. It doesn’t really work as an album as a majority of the songs are half baked. However. This album is the definition of “Lo-Fi”. It went on to inspire countless other musicians and serve as a source of inspiration for them. It showed music didn’t always need to be polished. It showed that an odd idea was better than no idea. It provided the foundation for McCartney’s penchant for breaking the rules and trying something new.

Third/Sister Lovers

Big Star

3/5

And just like that, it was over. Until 2005 of course.

Dare!

The Human League

4/5

An album of dizzying highs and plastic 80’s excess.

B-52's

The B-52's

4/5

Though remarkable, I’ll always hold “Wild Planet” slightly more favourably.

There's No Place Like America Today

Curtis Mayfield

4/5

It would be wrong to call this Curtis Mayfield’s “What’s Going On” album as this stands out clearly from the rest with its (not often heard of) “downbeat soul”. Not all music can be sunshine and rainbows.

Blood On The Tracks

Bob Dylan

4/5

A sparkling return to form for Bob Dylan.

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive

Merle Haggard

3/5

Enjoyable album all-round

3 + 3

The Isley Brothers

4/5

Heartfelt music for pleasing your lady

Hot Fuss

The Killers

5/5

I first heard this from start to finish 6 years ago while working a Bar close. I was quoted to have said to my friend showing me that it was “a religious experience.” This album is all Killer(s) no filler. Best heard loud.

The Stranger

Billy Joel

4/5

Solid Album from Billy Joel, a very enjoyable listen.

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns

Joni Mitchell

5/5

All time favourite Joni Mitchell album made in a period of an incredible string of albums.

Don't Stand Me Down

Dexys Midnight Runners

3/5

I do like “This is what she’s like” but I realise now that’s as far as it goes.

John Barleycorn Must Die

Traffic

4/5

More green lights from Traffic.

If I Could Only Remember My Name

David Crosby

4/5

David Crosby’s guests feature not in the background of the album, but most prominently. This adds to the feel-good and collaborative nature of most west coast musicians in the late 60’s/early 70’s and this is reflected in the work seen here. A fantastic album all round.

Chelsea Girl

Nico

3/5

Nico has the kind of voice where if any modern star would be to imitate her style of singing and mimic the tone, they would fail miserably. All I took from this album was “This is an album only Nico could do”.

In The Court Of The Crimson King

King Crimson

4/5

“Nice argument. However, I have depicted you as the schizoid man and myself as the crimson king.” “Moonchild” was weird huh.

Superfly

Curtis Mayfield

4/5

Super slick offering by Curtis.

Let's Stay Together

Al Green

4/5

Right off the bat with the iconic opening track, you’ll be jamming and grooving along to some sweet 70’s soul from Mr Green himself.

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock

5/5

4 songs of pure stank. Meant to be played loud!

Wish You Were Here

Pink Floyd

5/5

Much like the iconic album cover, this goes hand in hand with the memory of founding member Syd Barrett to whom this album was inspired by and in tribute to.

Something/Anything?

Todd Rundgren

4/5

4 Sides of brilliantly inventive tracks including the stellar “Hello, it’s me”.

A Wizard, A True Star

Todd Rundgren

3/5

Bizarre and outright horrible to listen to in parts. Worth a listen.

John Prine

4/5

You’ll laugh and you’ll cry listening to these observations from God’s own down to Earth Mail man

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

5/5

A stellar first outing from CSNY

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

4/5

Though in parts strange even for me, this is still a top tier album.

Liege And Lief

Fairport Convention

5/5

Following “Unhalfbricking”, this is another stellar 5 star album.

White Light / White Heat

The Velvet Underground

4/5

Do you remember that scene from kids film ‘Madagascar’ (2005) where Alex the Lion falls down the hill and lands on grass, rocks, flowers and cactus? This album is a suitable comparison. Some tracks sooth and take you down the stream and other tracks are sonic onslaughts of the sense (I’m looking at you Sister Ray). You’ve always got to take the rough with the smooth, especially if it makes for an all round fantastic album.

The Scream

Siouxsie And The Banshees

4/5

I know to rate it a 4, I just can’t explain why. Siouxsie just grabs your attention from the get-go and like a demon-possessed she won’t stop until the record’s over.

Eli And The Thirteenth Confession

Laura Nyro

4/5

It’s incredible this was made in 1968. Lightyears ahead of its time.

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles

5/5

This review stands outside of what I have rated other Beatles albums here. This was MY first Beatles album way back when I first started listening to music (27M) and even after listening to thousands of other albums, of course including the Beatles own work as a group or individually, this one is still a certified banger.

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