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Albums Rated
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Average Rating
98%
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Featured Review
Automatic For The People
R.E.M. • 5/5
I already know this is one of my favorite albums ever, I listened to it recently at the end of August as it has the line "Septembers coming soon" in Nightswimming which is just about a perfect song on an album of perfect songs. I could honestly have this be the last album I hear and die happy. REM is just important to me in my music life overall. My first real rock concert was seeing REM on June 3rd 1995 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. I was 2 weeks away from turning 13 which is a pivotal point in anyones life. That concert is actually immortalized on REM's 1994 "Monster" album's 25 anniversary deluxe edition. Every summer we'd drive to New York from Chicago and REM albums dubbed onto cassette tapes were a staple, in particular the "Eponymous" record. Once a CD player became standard equipment this was one of the first to be played. The album closer "Find the River" is also just perfect in a way I just can't understand. Anyways, I'll gladly listen to this one again, maybe even the giant 25th Anniversary extended edition. On the list of finalists for favorite album of this entire project!
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1960s
Favorite Decade
Blues
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
131
5-Star Albums
40
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
|
5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
|
The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
Oxygène
Jean-Michel Jarre
|
5 | 3.08 | +1.92 |
|
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
|
5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
|
Autobahn
Kraftwerk
|
5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
|
Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Truth
Jeff Beck
|
5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
|
xx
The xx
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
System Of A Down
System Of A Down
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
|
Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
|
1 | 3.15 | -2.15 |
|
Hunting High And Low
a-ha
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
|
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
|
Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
|
1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
|
Maxinquaye
Tricky
|
1 | 3.04 | -2.04 |
|
Killing Joke
Killing Joke
|
1 | 2.99 | -1.99 |
|
Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
|
1 | 2.98 | -1.98 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 7 | 4.86 |
| Radiohead | 6 | 4.83 |
| Neil Young | 4 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.8 |
| Beatles | 7 | 4.57 |
| The Who | 5 | 4.6 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.75 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 5 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 4.5 |
| U2 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Joni Mitchell | 4 | 4.5 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.5 |
| Steely Dan | 4 | 4.5 |
| David Bowie | 9 | 4.11 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.67 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.67 |
| Grateful Dead | 2 | 5 |
| The Band | 2 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 6 | 4.17 |
| Brian Eno | 5 | 4.2 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.25 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.25 |
| The Kinks | 4 | 4.25 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Prince | 3 | 4.33 |
| Van Morrison | 3 | 4.33 |
| Kraftwerk | 3 | 4.33 |
| Yes | 3 | 4.33 |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Slipknot | 2 | 1 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 1.5 |
| The xx | 2 | 1.5 |
| Bee Gees | 2 | 1.5 |
| Kings of Leon | 3 | 2 |
| Pet Shop Boys | 3 | 2 |
| Kanye West | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Isaac Hayes | 2, 5 |
| Michael Jackson | 5, 2, 4 |
| Madonna | 3, 2, 5 |
5-Star Albums (131)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Grateful Dead
5/5
Gotta give it a 5 to help counter all these 1s, yes it's weird early Dead but it still far superior to random 80s pop band
9 likes
The Birthday Party
1/5
Listened to the first half on the way to work. Had no desire to put it back on so it's a sad birthday party 😔
3 likes
Mj Cole
1/5
Did not finish. Its not early hurting but what's going on here? How is this unique or list worthy? I like that some obscure shit is on the list but what is this. Would this be better on drugs? Probably but would still be kinda bored
3 likes
Bob Dylan
5/5
The ghost of 'lectricity howls in the bones of her face.
Where these visions of Johanna, have now taken my place.
3 likes
1-Star Albums (40)
All Ratings
Joy Division
2/5
Kind of weird, I guess this is post punk or new wave or the start of emo I don't know. Appropriately depressing for a dreary, gray October morning.
Depeche Mode
3/5
It's fine, if your going all in with the synths and production of the era be consistent which Depeche Mode definitely is.
Agent Orange with the hidden track was pretty good.
Kept waiting for Personal Jesus. Still waiting
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
Put that fancy new drum machine to work!
Rock Box keeps it funky fresh with the Duncan Hines reference and guitars.
Sucker M.Cs pretty great
Wake Up is kinda sad because not one of the problems from 84 is solved.
Jam Master Jay can jam!
Every M.C. that follows owes it to Run DMC so gets a 5 by being the template for pretty much all the rap/hip hop that follows
De La Soul
4/5
Good rhymes, interesting samples it's alright, dare I say even funky fresh?!
Janis Joplin
5/5
Classic album without a doubt, each song with that powerful and unique voice. Move Over, Half Moon, Me and Bobby Magee are favorites. Easy 5
Screaming Trees
2/5
Mediocre grunge.
What's with the weird little keyboard solo on Sworn and Broken?
Dying Days sure reminds me of Pearl Jam, no wonder it features Mike McCready.
Nothing special or interesting here gets a charitable 2. It's not an abomination but not sure it should be on the list.
Megadeth
2/5
Metal needs representation and this is reasonably heavy I guess. It will help wake you up in the morning I'll give it that.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Pretty good, album seemed to get better as it went along. The Ledge, Beautiful Child and Tusk we're standouts. The kind of album that could get to 4 on future listens.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Now we're talking, rap-metal with socially conscious lyrics. Album totally holds up 30 years later. No shitty synths or reverb drenched guitars thankfully. Totally deserves to be on the list
Killing Joke
1/5
Well the shitty synths and reverb drenched guitars are back. This band probably said "hey lets be like The Clash but really suck".
The Doors
4/5
Yeah pretty good Doors album, probably not my favorite, probably not their best but overall solid.
Talking Heads
4/5
Crazy that this is their debut album it's good and shows potential for the future. The driving beat makes it impossible to stay still. Psycho Killer an all time classic and Don't worry about the Government, such a weird song, I mean who made songs like that in 1977. The Talking Heads of course
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
This was fine, good performance. How high the moon with wrong lyrics was kinda weird. Also weird to have included a live album on this list, surprisingly good recording for 1957
Fela Kuti
4/5
Pretty good, love Afrofunk and Fela is the king of it
Beck
5/5
Great album, ended up listening to it twice as I was having a rough morning. 2nd listen was much better and reminded me how unique and inventive Beck was back in the mid 90s. It may be a bit disjointed with all the genre melding but I think that's part if what makes it awesome. It's list wirthy
The Gun Club
3/5
This was alright had a definite Velvets/ Lou Reed feeling, maybe just the vocals. Didn't love, but didn't hate and can see why it's on the list I guess
Frank Black
2/5
Based on the cover I assumed it would be a comedy album or something so listening to it left me confused. How could this balding middle aged man be teenager of the year. I expected irony. Oh well. Sounded like generic mid 90s rock.
Adele
2/5
Yeah she can sing, good album I guess, not an abomination but not sure its list worthy and first representative of the 2010's. 21 is better
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Pretty good
The Cramps
1/5
The Garbageman can take this away
Fleet Foxes
4/5
Big improvement from yesterday. I like this one
Venom
2/5
Buried Alive->Raise the Dead gets this from a 1 to 2. Phish's version of Buried Alive is way better as it doesn't even need words to convey the sheer terror of being buried alive.
I hope Tyler plays this at the store, preferably as setbreak music for a Dead show, but as usual he won't honor Satan.
Also interesting to find out today that the Radiohead song "Burn the Witch" is apparently a counter argument to Venoms "Don't burn the Witch".
Hail Satan!
Alice Cooper
3/5
Surprised I hadn't heard this one before. Better then I thought it would be.
AC/DC
2/5
It's just okay, pretty repetitive drum beats and guitar riffs. Highway to Hell may be the greatest song ever (by AC/DC) but that just means everything is downhill from that opener. AC/DC has a bunch of good songs but no good albums.
Roni Size
1/5
A few decent beats, pretty repetitive but I guess thats the point. People on molly maybe would enjoy this. Not list worthy, didn't finish
Thin Lizzy
2/5
Wasn't terrible, Wasn't great. When I think of iconic live albums though Thin Lizzy just doesn't come to mind.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
It's ok had some good rhymes
Blondie
3/5
It's alright, is it new wave? I don't know, doesn't matter. One way or Another and Heart of Glass are great tracks
Pavement
3/5
It was ok I guess
Pixies
3/5
Just like Pavement this is another I'm "supposed" to like because it's influential or some bullshit. I guess for the time period it was different and weird so there's that. Unlike something like Run DMC who's influence led to a whole new genre of music this just underwhelms, I guess I just don't get it. Maybe Matt is right and Frank Black is better.
I do like the album cover though so that gets it an extra star.
Love
3/5
Ok
Supergrass
3/5
Mediocre English Green Day that has a keyboard to start. Has that song 'Alright' that's alright I guess. Sofa of my Lethargy was good. Album improved as it went on
Jurassic 5
3/5
Good flow, beats and rhymes
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
It's alright for what it is, which is essentially a bunch of demos. Kinda depressing and like most people I prefer the upbeat happier Boss.
Ramones
2/5
3 chords, loud and all the songs are the same. I guess thats punk rock
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I remember getting the CD of this album back when it was new and listening to it very stoned and it was great. Much different years later not all stoned but still enjoyed it.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Wasn't sure what I was getting into with this one only knowing of this group as peak 80s synth pop. Was pleasantly surprised to find a long weird album that wasn't just drenched in shitty synths and reverb although plenty of that.
David Bowie
3/5
It's ok there's better Bowie out there. The side two Eno stuff is kind of weird and out there so there's that
Def Leppard
2/5
Not quite an abomination but not good
Prefab Sprout
1/5
Not good, this is more evidence that 1985 may very well be the worst year in music
Mariah Carey
2/5
Not list worthy. Where's the record that features Ole Dirty Bastard? That's list worthy. Her Christmas album is way better then this shit
Edit: didn't like it but listened to it all so it gets a 2
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
This was enjoyable, it was nice to hear real instruments especially after some of the over produced, synth-laden crap we've endured. Hearing the song Come on Eileen in context of the album was interesting too
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Another hip-hop classic that matt will hate and or not listen to. The skits do bring this down a star but no denying Biggie had one of the best flows and deliveries of any rapper living or dead.
Radiohead
4/5
Radiohead's 4th or 5th best album so I expect the UK bias of the list will include more Radiohead albums.
Miles Davis
3/5
Bert Jansch
3/5
Parliament
4/5
Along with James Brown P-Funk is responsible for funk as we know it so for that alone we must be thankful. This is certainly funky and weird
2Pac
2/5
Not that great, no interesting beats and all the songs are the same. Apparently he released this just before going to prison for rape so it's difficult to mourn his violent death that he lyrically predicted, of course
Metallica
4/5
Alp metal should be like Metallica
5/5
Great album where each track adds to the flow. Will Matt find some reason to not give it a 5? Maybe so, maybe not
Slayer
4/5
So I'm getting into my backlog of albums that I can't get to the day they're generated either from it being a weekend or just not being able to handle listening to things like Slayer at 4:30 am on the way to work.
I'm only familiar with this one from that South Park episode where hippies take over the town. Cartman's plan is to put "Reign in Blood" on over the PA system because hippies can't stand death metal, this is true. His plan works and the hippies disperse.
As for me, how do I deal with this one. It accomplished what I assume it set out to do which is make loud, angry music which honors Satan. It's both terrible and awesome at the same time which is a rarity in music. I'm surely going to be subjected to more death metal along this journey hopefully it's not a caricature of this.
Hail Satan!
Blur
2/5
Various Artists
5/5
Classic Christmas album
Iggy Pop
3/5
I bet Bowie was involved with this. Weird. Maybe will listen again someday when it's not the middle of the night with crappy headphones
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Björk
2/5
Well I made it back to this one and sure gave it a try. It's weird but not in the way I prefer like how Zappa is weird or jazz can be weird. Maybe I just don't get it and never will
The Young Gods
1/5
Ok I gave it 2 tracks and couldn't take anymore
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Superbly was better
U2
5/5
Great album I haven't heard in a while. Listening to Bono's book so now was a good time to revisit this one.
Solange
3/5
This was fine, went into it with no expectations and can add it to the listen again someday pile.
Sparks
3/5
This is weird but not terrible I guess.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
Massive Attack
2/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Maybe the 4th or 5th best Zeppelin album but still better than some of the nonsense on this list
Everything But The Girl
2/5
David Bowie
4/5
Rod Stewart
3/5
Coldplay
3/5
a-ha
1/5
"Take on me" is quintessential 80s synth pop and likely the only reason this is on the list. That doesn't make it good and reconfirms that 1985 is possibly the worst year in music history
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Paul Simon
3/5
Ryan Adams
3/5
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
I guess in the end is this an album that's list worthy and even though I haven't heard this album in years I knew almost every damn song like they're imprinted on my brain and they're pretty much all good with Second hand News, Dreams and The Chain being the best
Tricky
1/5
Couldn't get through the whole thing so it gets a 1
Grizzly Bear
3/5
3/5
I definitely remember this CD from when I was in middle school in the mid-90's. Not sure that I ever really listened to it from start to finish back then, probably played Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova lots of times. As an album it's got decent flow and was not bad, not a 5 could be a 4 but I'll round down like Matt
Green Day
5/5
Wow sticking with shit I used to listen to in the mid-90's. So the punk purists say this isn't punk, fuck them if you're actually punk you wouldn't give a fuck. I'm not a purist of any damn thing as far as I know and like this album so fuck you!
The Damned
1/5
Terrible noise
Bobby Womack
3/5
Not really my jam but it had a couple bangers so it can have a 3
The National
2/5
Lana Del Rey
1/5
It's OK but not great. Good songwriting but It's all the same song. Joni cover was alright. I agree there should be a 5 year waiting period for new albums to see if they hold up especially since she has better albums! I could be charitable and give a 2 as it's not an abomination, but not list worthy so round down.
MGMT
3/5
It's alright has 2 or 3 pretty good songs. Electric feel and kids are good. Round up today to a 3
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This almost plays like a greatest hits it has so many good songs! "I heard it through the grapevine" is a jam!
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
This could be good setbreak music at concerts, innocuous background music to smoke a spliff to and groove. Does that mean it should be on the list? No not really but I'll round up
T. Rex
3/5
It was ok all the songs kind of sound the same though
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Not bad but Petty has better albums that should be on here. A good first try as Breakdown and American Girl are obviously classic, Stranger's in the Night also good
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Best Zepp album? Maybe so maybe not, House's and Physical graffiti may be better but this is a good one! There's no way Matt can't give this a 5
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Combine Afro-Funk and Brazilian samba? Works for me!
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
This is fine
Chicago
4/5
Great album loses a star for the awful guitar noise track
PJ Harvey
3/5
WWI concept album that covered both the western and Gallipoli fronts?! Wasn't expecting that
Leonard Cohen
4/5
The voice and lyrics overcome allot, but not all of the shitty 80s production. I need to check out more of Cohen's stuff it seems and will round up for this one.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Fugees
4/5
This was better then allot of the mid 90s gangsta rap.
Sepultura
2/5
Better then the other speed/death metal I've been subjected to so far. I was nodding my head during 'Dead Embryonic Cells' and 'Murder' despite myself. Orgasmatron is a good name for a song.
The Stone Roses
4/5
Not bad I'll put it in the needs second listen someday list
Isaac Hayes
2/5
AC/DC
3/5
Better then Highway to Hell
Radiohead
5/5
Maybe Radiohead's 3rd best album but still really good plus I remember how it was pay what you want to way back in the summer of 2007 which was awesome. Who else could and would attempt such a thing. If I remember correctly we saw them at Alpine Valley that summer too
The Cure
3/5
Every song is the same minor key, depressing kind of drone. That's what they were going for. Not particularly happy music but a few tracks were ok
Beach House
3/5
It is music to fall asleep too. For what it was or was trying to do I guess it works but not my thing. This could maybe be setbreak music but it's just too damn chill so I don't know
Solomon Burke
4/5
Not bad
Tim Buckley
3/5
Ok, side 1 better than side 2
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Wow this one gets out there. Had no idea who this guy was until I read the bio during the last song which really gets weird in its 9+ minutes. It's strange and will need another listen at some point
Adam & The Ants
2/5
This is pushing the abomination line. Not quite there only because for the era this would have at least been unique and strange. Still, not very good
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
It's fine
Minutemen
4/5
This was good, even though some songs are similar they almost all have unique guitar riffs which is impressive with 40+ tracks. Is it punk, I don't think so also doesn't matter.
Sonic Youth
3/5
The Police
3/5
I Like The Police so I was glad this showed up. It's fine but they have better albums I'd even go so far as to say that Zenyatta Mondata, Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity are all better and I'll be lucky if even one more of those is on the list. Best tracks: Message in a Bottle, It's Alright For You, Walking on the Moon.
Stewart Copeland of course is amazing on the drums.
Animal Collective
3/5
It's ethereal, psychedelic and weird so that's worth something. This could definitely be setbreak music at shows.
New York Dolls
2/5
Yeah I guess it does sound like a shitty punk version of the Rolling Stones
Grateful Dead
5/5
Great album probably The Deads best studio work. How anyone can hate an album with Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, Ripple. Til the Moring Comes and Truckin' is beyond me. Yet some people love punk and death metal so to each their own I guess.
The The
2/5
Based on the album cover I didn't know what the hell I was getting into with this one. This was weird, not terrible but not really good
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
Skunk Anansie
2/5
Not what I expected but didn't know what to expect
Beck
3/5
It's fine but I prefer my Beck to be the happy Beck with samples and weird instrumentation. I guess I've also just never been a huge fan of the woe is me breakup album genre.
The Temptations
4/5
Papa was a rolling stone is a jam!
UB40
3/5
Not bad, I like the dub kinda vibe the most. Instrumentals pretty good and dig the Anti-Thatcher anger. Yeah fuck the Tories!
The Monkees
3/5
It may not be very "good" but it sure is happy and fun dammit!
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Soundgarden
4/5
Röyksopp
3/5
Was an OK listen on the way to work at 5 a.m. not sure when else it would work. Maybe could be setbreak music
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Blue Cheer
3/5
It was ok, pretty heavy and different for the era
Carpenters
2/5
I'm not sure what do with this one, it's not like it was terrible just not my thing. Their "A Christmas Portait" album is pretty good if you like Christmas music. "Another Song" that closed the album was kind of a jam. And that Why Do birds Suddenly Apear song reminds me of that one Simpsons episode so that's worth something
Little Simz
3/5
Not terrible had some interesting beats and rhymes
Nirvana
3/5
Spacemen 3
2/5
I don't know that shit was weird
Little Richard
3/5
3/5
Pretty chill, good morning music. Could be played at setbreak
Talking Heads
4/5
Good album probably their weirdest and darkest
The Cars
5/5
The Cars will always remind me of August 2004 when we set out on what would become a quest to Coventry Vermont. We were doing what at the time was to be the final shows of a well known drug band who shall remain nameless. Anyway, we had only 1 small case of CDs for some reason and one was The Cars. We drive from Illinois to Massachusetts then to Camden NJ then up north to Vermont in the remnants of a fuckin hurricane. We played that shit at least 2 or 3 times a day and it was a parking lot staple. I don't know why but this album is just chock full of all time Cars awesomeness! Best tracks are everything except "I'm in touch with you're world" and "Don cha stop".
"Just what I needed" and "You're all I've got Tonight" are top level shit!
Miles Davis
5/5
Yeah this really gets out there. Too bad Matt has given up on the album a day challenge as I'm pretty sure this is his favorite Miles era. It may sound like a jumbled mass of noise at points, but remember you've got to listen to the notes they're NOT playing man. Also, Bitches Brew is one of the greatest album titles ever!
George Michael
3/5
I remember this album when it was new and I was like 5 or 6 years old. We'd dance and jump off the couch sometimes skipping the record during "Faith" and then be disappointed when "Father Figure" came on because it was slow. It didn't matter as my mom would always turn it off anyway before "I want your sex" came on. We'd then want to hear the "other Michael" who if course was Michael Jackson. So I think it was today that I finally get to hear side B of the record. And yeah the album peaks with "Faith" but "Hard Day'' and "Monkey" are also jams.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Thus shit is weird in the best possible way
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Sister Sledge
2/5
Disco on a Monday morning. Ugh
The Saints
2/5
Not as terrible as some punk, but still not great.
The La's
3/5
It's okay
Skepta
1/5
I just have a hard time taking British MCs seriously. Not really list worthy
Metallica
4/5
Eminem
4/5
How can an album be really good and really awful at the same time? This one does. Of course I remember hearing it many times when it first came out so it can get an extra nostalgia star from 3 to 4
The Soft Boys
3/5
This was strange and different especially for 1980 so it was ahead of its time or 12 years too late? It's unique I'll give it that. I didn't stick around for 1.5 hours of bonus tracks though
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Randy Newman
3/5
Fiona Apple
4/5
Beatles
5/5
How can it not be a 5 with side B alone and "the long one" being awesome. The recent Super Deluxe release is worth seeking out for all the rehearsals and outtakes.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Not bad, I can handle some modern Disco or whatever the hell you'd call this much better on a Tuesday morning then a Monday. Best tracks are "Take your Mama" and "Tits on the Radio"
Barry Adamson
2/5
This was strange most seemed to be score for a film or something. Not necessarily bad but not something I'd seek out really
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Great songwriting, great voice, great album
System Of A Down
1/5
Made it through 2 tracks, my God this is just awful
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Alice Cooper
3/5
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
The Beach Boys
5/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I don't know what to do with this one. His other stuff is better and that last song "Green Eyes" was really weird.
Throwing Muses
2/5
The Cure
3/5
It's OK I guess but it's all the same song, they chose 1 beat and stuck with it. Already had 2 Cure albums but no Dylan or Stones yet hmmm
Milton Nascimento
3/5
I understand Spanish way more then Portuguese so I understood little of the words. Didn't really matter as the music was good. This could, or already has been setbreak music. Reminded me of Jorge Ben Jor was this first?
Foo Fighters
3/5
It's fine but Color and Shape is way better which means it probably isn't on the list.
Al Green
3/5
Crowded House
2/5
Mediocrity at its best
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Does it get a 5 for Freebird alone? I guess so
The Black Keys
4/5
Yesterday I happen to listen to their album "El Camino" and can safely say that is the superior album. This one is still good though
Bob Dylan
5/5
As much a classic album as you can get. Not my favorite Dylan but so many great songs. Masters of War holds up depressingly well 60 years later. A song that's seen the politicians like Johnson and Nixon with Vietnam, cold warriors in the 70s and 80s like Reagan, Bush 1 and Thatcher. On to Bush 2 with Iraq and Afghanistan and its continuation into the Obama era. All of the defense contractors and others getting rich with blood money. And now today with Putin trying to take over Ukraine and the largest conflict in Europe since WWII. Will it ever end? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.
David Bowie
3/5
Meh it's Ok, kinda weird with the Brian Eno influence. Apparently it's music to stop taking drugs too
Love
3/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This is another album that gives me these tiny memories of hearing the LP as a kid. My parents loved this album and "Songs in the Key of Life" and likely dubbed both onto cassette tapes. These tapes would be in rotation on every road trip. For some reason "You got it bad girl" and "I Believe (when I fall in love)" have strong memories and "Superstition" is just a banger so I love hearing this one again.
Beck
3/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
Bad Company
3/5
It's OK company I guess. Somehow this album has 4 songs that would be on "classic rock" radio all the time
Slipknot
1/5
The Prodigy
2/5
Would be better if it was the mid-90's and on a bunch of e.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Not sure why this is on here. Mediocre
Edit: don't like at all but listened to it all so it gets a 2.
N.W.A.
3/5
Created Gansta rap which in the end probably wasn't a good thing. Gets some nostalgic stars as I remember listening to this and Dr. Dre's The Chronic allot back in the late 90's
The Police
4/5
Side 2 is another of LPs that's imprinted on my brain from when I was a kid. For some reason we really liked Every Breath you Take and then let the record play which is a good thing as it's maybe their best album. Can't give it a 5 because of Andy's just God awful song 'Mother' which I can't help but to skip every time.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
It's OK, could be setbreak music. Good driving around music and that's what I do so it works.
Morrissey
3/5
Eh it's alright I guess
OutKast
4/5
Has some definite bangers but also some unnecessary interludes and fillers. I last listened to this 3 or so years ago when a 20th anniversary edition came out, hard to believe it's been that long already!
Amy Winehouse
2/5
Wild Beasts
3/5
Oddly weird
Baaba Maal
3/5
Alice In Chains
4/5
Unfortunately an album with allot of themes involving addiction and despair is just too on the mark this week
Frank Sinatra
2/5
It's all the same song
The White Stripes
4/5
The Fall
2/5
Beastie Boys
5/5
Inventive use of samples and lyrics classic!
Metallica
4/5
I'm not a huge metal fan but I can dig some Metallica. This has some real heaviness but with musicianship missing from some of the more terrible death and thrash metal. "Master of Puppets" is the albums star and with the pointless and seemingly endless war in Ukraine raging "Disposable Heroes" is as poignant as ever. Orion also was pretty good
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
John Lennon
3/5
I still have a hard time reconciling that on the same album we have "Imagine" and "how do you sleep". An unparalleled (and incredibly naive) song of peace of hope along with a weird angry dis track against Paul. I guess he's just a jealous guy
Fats Domino
4/5
Historic
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
It's fine but an hour and a half is a bit much
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
So much better stuff came out of San Francisco in the 60s this just ain't it
Taylor Swift
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Ice Cube
3/5
The Residents
3/5
More then once I said this is fuckin strange. Still not sure if this is brilliant and ahead of its time or just meaningles garbage. I'll give it this, in 1978 I'm sure the punk rockers and Zeppelin heads would equally hate this noise. I do have a soft spot in my heart for strange music like Ween, They Might be Giants, Zappa, and of course Phish so I can see the appeal
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Santana
5/5
TV On The Radio
2/5
It's good but not great and also all the songs kind of sound the same.
CHIC
3/5
It starts off with the jam Good Times and then all the rest is kind of the same song
T. Rex
3/5
Thelonious Monk
4/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Neil Young
5/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Machito
4/5
Deep Purple
3/5
OutKast
4/5
Liked it more then I thought I would
Grateful Dead
5/5
Gotta give it a 5 to help counter all these 1s, yes it's weird early Dead but it still far superior to random 80s pop band
Sigur Rós
3/5
Kinda weird, apparently I need to either follow along with English translation or learn Icelandic and neither of those is happening. Interesting music that could be more fully appreciated on later listening
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
It's OK its hard for me to be objective this morning as I have a sinus infection and feel shitty. Extra star though for possibly most 70's album cover ever
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Haircut 100
3/5
Not sure exactly what the hell I just listened to. Kept waiting for that one song I at least recognized from a movie or 80s playlist of 1 hit wonders and nothing. It wasn't terrible but wasn't really good so I don't know
1/5
No
Elton John
4/5
B.B. King
5/5
5/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Shack
1/5
Definitely a meh not list worthy
The Stooges
2/5
I guess it gets an Xtra star for being kinda weird and ahead of its time, but that doesn't make it good. Apparently it influenced many others to make crappy music (AKA punk) in the future
3/5
This was fine, no idea who this group is and listened to this retroactively as it's not on apple/spotify.
Enjoyed the song "I'd like that" since it mentioned sunflowers and I like sunflowers
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Now this one is for sure setbreak music as it's on the list and I listened to it in that context last year. Strawberry letter 23 is a jam!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
James Brown
4/5
Good stuff but still prefer the funky coked out madness of the 70s
Justice
3/5
Prince
4/5
fIREHOSE
3/5
The Sugarcubes
2/5
Weird not sure it's good, add it to the listen again someday pile
Pixies
3/5
Neil Young
5/5
Pretty bad when you're dealing with a man and the light shines in your eye yeah!
Norah Jones
3/5
May have finally found the album where the drug of choice is caffeine!
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
Charles Mingus
4/5
This was all over the place and weird so I liked it. Good to start the day in a strange way
Big Star
3/5
Mediocre not sure why this is on the list
Edit: I was too harsh on this and amend my 1 star to 3 after another listen.
The xx
1/5
Why did I listen to this? Didn't like the vocals and it's all the same song. Not list worthy
N.E.R.D
2/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is what the list is all about 5/5 even though I like House's of the Holy more
Pulp
2/5
The Specials
4/5
The Undertones
2/5
They listened to The Clash and The Ramones didn't they
Lorde
3/5
Nick Drake
4/5
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Kinda weird so it gets 2 stars just not sure there was enough here to make it to 3 and I don't like the vocals particularly. Chose the instrumental track to go on my new list of 1 track from each album.
Eminem
3/5
So this brings me back to being 16-17 years old in the late 90s when I acted like I enjoyed this kind of shit way more then I actually did. As mentioned this has aged really poorly and yeah Eminem may be joking around but allot of the impressionable morons who listen to it don't get the joke. Em can rap that's for sure and I guess the terribleness is the point and Dr. Dre's production is good so there's that. I'll be nice and give it a 3
Otis Redding
4/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
Not much to like here. Y Control is the track I disliked the least and Maps was ok
Michael Jackson
5/5
Thriller, Beat It and Billie Jean is as solid a 3 song block as you'll find. Now which of the 3 goes on the list
Billie Holiday
3/5
It's fine a little too chill for my early, early mornings
The Velvet Underground
5/5
There are problems in these times, but wooooo, none of them are mine!
Every Velvets album is great in one way or Another this is the more quiet and introspective one I guess. Is it the best or my favorite I don't know but maybe
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
It's just okay kinda repetitive and the 80s productions is just too 80s
Spiritualized
3/5
I had no idea what to expect from this one and it sure is something. They were looking for IT for sure. Did they find IT? Not sure but this was weird and ambitious so it goes in the give it another listen Someday pile.
Beatles
4/5
As a Beatles fan I like all the albums but this one is not at the same level as say Sgt Peppers or Rubber Soul to me. I'm glad that they met Dylan around this time frame and got their minds expanded as you can hear the beginnings of that. Maybe rating this against what would come later makes no sense but whatever it's way better than all that 80s/90s Britpop on the list that wouldn't exist without this.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Nico
2/5
It's not terrible but not good or something I'd be putting on every day it can be handled in small doses not at album length. Pretty safe to assume this only exists because of Warhoul and the VU not only as an actual album but its inclusion on the list.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Fuck this noise I mean there has been some bad shit on this list but at the very least that shit resembles music. I don't see how the author could possibly get to track 3 and not only want to hear more, but then put it on the list.
One thing that will come from listening to 2 tracks of this shit is it clarifies what is really worth a 1. In the past I've given Kings of Leon, Mariah Carey and A-ha 1s but that stuff while bad is at least music or an attempt at it.
And what kind of drugs does someone even take to this noise?
Neil Young
5/5
Kelela
2/5
It was fine but not my thing. Loses the 3rd star because I checked to see how much was left.
Kanye West
2/5
This is just all over the place with wild mood swings between terrible noise and some decent, interesting rhymes. I guess this album is not long before Kanye's full meltdown into the Trump world Swamp. It should be a 1 because it is really awful but I'll round up because of my new grading rubric and it had a few good rhymes
Linkin Park
2/5
Not a fan of rap/rock or whatever but can see why people enjoy this. Even though allot of the songs all have a similar structure and sound the same there is something here that's alright. I also remember when this was new back in high school so while overplayed there's some nostalgia factor. I think I round down to a 2 though as this led to or at least was part of way too much rap-metal nonsense
The Human League
3/5
Jamiroquai
3/5
Some decent grooves, in 93 doing neo-soul or funk wasn't really a thing so at the time it was unique. Now not so much but I could see this being put on at setbreak so there's that.
The Verve
2/5
After the one hit wonder of Bittersweet Symphony its a big pile of mediocrity. It's pretty much all the same song and more often then not they go on for too long.
4/5
I had only heard one other album by her and I liked this one allot more. This was pretty good and could benefit from a future listening
Iron Maiden
4/5
I didn't know what I was getting into with this one and liked it way more then I thought I would. Today I saw a great picture from inside the state capital building in Des Moines Iowa. The Temple of Satan was allowed to put up a display alongside a nativity scene or whatever other religious items. The Mark of the Beast made me think about that. I kept trying to remember where I'd heard "run for the hills" before, that's a good one and the album finished strong with "Hallowed be thy name."
Hail Satan!
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Some of this resembles music
Pixies
3/5
3rd Pixies album already and it's not that I dislike them I'm just not a huge fan. That being said this was fine but I don't put their stuff on otherwise.
Soft Cell
2/5
Sex Dwarf huh?
The Undertones
3/5
Better then the previous Undertones album from a few weeks ago. On that one I said they were pretty much copying The Ramones and Clash and that influence is here but they have their own sound now. While not my favorite it's a decent listen with improved songs and playing gets moved from 2 to 3 stars!
The Stooges
3/5
Better then the first album
Green Day
4/5
So, for some reason this one brings me back to 04 and my political history. I was born in 82 so turned 18 in time to vote in the now infamous 2000 election of Bush vs Gore. As a young person growing up with liberal damn near hippie like ideals (in Illinois) I voted for the Green Party candidate Nader justifying my protest vote of sorts as not really mattering as Gore would easily carry IL.
So Bush "wins" the 2000 election, I'm bummed but not too worried as what could really go wrong and surely there won't be any giant crisis to be dealt with. 9/11/01 I'm a college freshman and suddenly it matters allot. As a 19 year old I was pretty sure I'd be drafted into the military for the upcoming World War III, luckily that didn't happen.
So the chance to use the Goodwill and cooperation of the entire world is quickly squandered as Bush and Co decide that oil and revenge for Daddy is the plan. The misguided and terrible Iraq war is not happening and some "punk rockers" from California decide to write a concept album about it or something. That's American Idiot which I haven't listened to all the way through since that tumultuous era of 2003-2006.
Prince
5/5
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Meh
Johnny Cash
4/5
Supergrass
3/5
This is fine, add it to the listen to again someday pile
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
I approach this album with some trepidation similar to when an album by slayer. Or iron maiden comes up here. It's not that I dislike metal and things like that. It's just that I don't know what i'm getting myself into often at an early hour in the day. Also I read some brief reviews of this and saw how it's one of the lowest rated albums in the entire project.
I also knew of captain beef hearts affiliation with Zappa. So that in itself meant this would be weird and interesting. I don't know how else to write this up so it will be sort of like a brief travel log from my day. I drive a truck around in the Chicago area all day. It's partly why this project has been so great for me to hear new random stuff all the time.
So I make the final delivery in West Chicago and have to drive all the way back up to Gurnee. The North suburbs, the journey will take about an hour and a 1/2. Which is roughly how long this album which is the double album. First couple of tracks must be on here to separate out those who are ready for the journey and cull the herd, so to speak. If you can't get through those first two, then this is just not meant for you. And it's better to probably just get out of the way. I decide to carry on after about 10 or 15 minutes. I think to myself you know what? I need to just see how much weirder this gets because it's gonna get weirder. I can't believe a record company actually released this.
Turn off it does get weirder. And it's just hard to even explain. But within the weirdness, there are some cool beats and grooves where you just cast things off. Wow, that's an interesting what? What was that? How did that happen? Where that come from? So between just strange spoken word nonsense and weird polyrms and times signatures. And whatever else at all was is interesting music. In the very small amounts that you can hear in there. But there's just so much else going on. And it's just so damn weird that it's just. You don't even know what to think about it. When else would I ever play this? I certainly could never play this any sort of social setting. This could certainly not be separate music. But it is weird and it is interesting and it gets. I don't know I have to I could just only put it right in the middle like 3 stars. So they we go.
What also was strange as I had to listen to It on YouTube. Because it's not on Apple Music or Spotify. Believe it or not, so during this strangeness, that's going on. They're all the Sudden will be an ad for Disney World or other things like that. Because the algorithm remembers that I watched some Disney World videos in preparation for a tripl awhile back. So it's very kinda disjointed to all of a sudden have a targeted ad for Disney World pop-up. And the middle of this absolute strangeness. After an ended, I was about 10 minutes away from the shop. And just let it go in silence the rest of the way trying to process what I had just listened to. And I still don't really understand what the hell that was but it was a trip.
So this is just too interesting and weird to give a one. But it's also just too weird and out there to give a 5. So I gotta just give it the three. I type this up on a voice to text self. There's any weird grammatical airs or formating issues it's because of that.
Dr. John
3/5
Yeah this one is pretty weird and gets out there. It needs another listen for sure
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
So back when this came out I must have thought it's what I need to listen to both to be "cool" and and as rebellion against parents or something. I didn't really like it then but acted like I did at roughly age 12 I'm sure the lyric " I want to fuck you like an animal" was pretty edgy and cool back then. Don't really like it much now but unfortunately understand it. Also understand why my parents hated this lol. It sucks to be able to understand the concept of this apparent concept album now nearly 30 years later especially with how fucked in particular the last several years have been.
Theres terrible war in Ukraine and now in Israel and Gaza, global pandemic killed millions and pretty much scrambled society as we knew it. Another nut with an AR-15 just massacred a bunch of people. A tropical storm turned into a category 5 hurricane in under 24 hours then slams into coast of Mexico. In 5 or 10 or 20 years what isn't under water will probably be on fire. Right wing Republicans not content with their coup failing in 2020 are doubling down on a presidential candidate who is dividing his time between 3 or is it 4 different criminal trials (and that fraud trial and that defamation one in NY). He has the unwavering support of approximately 40% of the population no matter what.
So yeah hearing this today makes me wonder what the hell was so depressing back in 1994
Suede
3/5
So this is Britpop's answer to grunge or what? It's not bad but not really good. Charitable 3 stars
Judas Priest
4/5
Solid if a bit repetitive rock n roll. Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight are classic
Stan Getz
3/5
Probably shouldn't have listened to right after Judas Priest. Its ok maybe could be setbreak music but it's all the same song. Would make fine music for that sophisticated cocktail party I'm never having
PJ Harvey
4/5
It's good has that early 90s grunge production that was all the rage then. This goes in the give another listen pile.
The Crusaders
3/5
Cat Stevens
5/5
Well this one sure hits allot different at age 41 then at 31 or 21 or 11 which is roughly when I would have first heard my parent's LP copy. Longer Boats is the song I remember from back then with its sing along chorus. Wild World, On the Road to Find Out and of course, Father and Son are all classics
Frank Zappa
5/5
Awesome album listened to it twice in fact. Been a mainstay parking lot jam since 03'. The guitar solo in Son of Mr Green Gene's is Fire! Peaches is amazing. 2nd favorite Zappa era?
Steve Winwood
3/5
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
The guest parts were the best i.e. Lou Reed and Devendra Banhart
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
A few tracks were ok, the droning reverb got to be a bit much. Round up to 3
Ryan Adams
2/5
He does handstands in grand fashion, but he's a genuine asshole.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
This is some good proto-funk and another amazing 70's album cover
U2
4/5
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
Not only is it filled with some well known bangers but Sex Machine is some crazy funkyness
Beatles
5/5
Beatles
3/5
It's fine, not my favorite but is foundational to all that comes later
4/5
Pere Ubu
2/5
This was weird for the sake of weird or something. This was made by a bunch of guys from Ohio apparently, wasn't expecting that. Not great but had 1 or 2 interesting tracks
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
It's OK final song was the best one.
The Smiths
3/5
Coldplay
3/5
Fine does drag on a bit at at end
Barry Adamson
3/5
This reminds me of the score I wrote for a non-existent movie except I haven't done it yet. That being said, it was a decent thing to listen to while driving and trying to imagine the cheesy late 80s early 90s B movie this would soundtrack.
Rush
2/5
To much prog for its own good. Surely Rush has better albums than this. Oh yeah they do.
Calexico
4/5
Solid album with mostly heard of them before as setbreak music as it certainly is chill and works great in the background. Perfect music to cruise the desert southwest
Os Mutantes
4/5
This was pleasantly weird and my first though was this must be the Brazilian answer to Sgt Peppers or something. If this hasn't been setbreak music it yet it totally should be. Has relisten potential
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Miles Davis
4/5
The Byrds
3/5
The Auteurs
2/5
It's not terrible but it's not really good it's just more brit-pop this time with some "indie" flavor or something. Never would have encountered this without the list, so there's that.
Eagles
3/5
The good songs are good and the not so good songs are just....ugh. If it was all like side A it would've been so much better as the trio of songs that start are great but the lame ballads easy listening 70s over production of side B brings this down.
Doves
4/5
This is interesting big atmospheric sounds. Reminds me of Radiohead I'm a way. I'm intrigued by this band who I've never heard of before and will check out some of their other stuff.
Van Morrison
4/5
This was a decent live albums, Van certainly has a tight band and they played the hits. Pretty good overall
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Not as terrible as I feared in fact liked some of it. Best tracks "when you were mine", "She Bop" and of course, "Girls just want to have fun". The synth laden production of the era didn't drag it down too much.
Bob Dylan
5/5
The ghost of 'lectricity howls in the bones of her face.
Where these visions of Johanna, have now taken my place.
Muddy Waters
5/5
If you listen to this and don't know the blues you never fuckin will.
Tangerine Dream
4/5
This quasi-futuristic music sounds vaguely familiar. So I soon realize it reminded me of the background music at Disney World in Tommorowland and Epcot. I like that atmospheric background stuff as it adds to the experience there so I liked this album especially as I had no idea going into it what it was. This would also be good music to hear in space whenever I go there. More likely it will be added to the next playlist for a long road trip, ideally timed to sunrise.
Michael Jackson
2/5
It has 4 pretty good songs but the rest is well, bad
New Order
3/5
Buck Owens
2/5
Not my thing but can see how it influenced others or whatever.
Bee Gees
1/5
Ugh this was a slog to get through. Wanted to turn off more then once, this was really pushing me towards giving a 1 which I haven't done in awhile. Not a single song that was memorable or anything like a banger. Not list worthy. And was the song "Trafalgar" even about the namesake battle? I listened to it and still don't know
Björk
4/5
I think this is the 3rd Bjork album I've had now and I like this one the most.
2/5
Wow this may be to Avant Garde fir it's own good. It's difficult to think of a situation where I'd ever voluntarily put this on again, certainly not in a public setting. Could not be setbreak music, it would freak way to many people out. That said, they were definitely going for IT and trying something weird and new so theres that.
KISS
1/5
I had a tough time rating this one because on the one hand this was just awful, but on the other did make it through the whole thing. So on my new grading system it should get a 2 but it didn't have a single good song and some that were just terrible like "Beth" and "Great Expectations".
First time listening to a Kiss album as they were never a band I took seriously because of the makeup and Pyrotechnics, that's the only reason people like them right? They're not very good and their only good song I'm aware of "Rockn roll all nite" isn't on this shit album so fuck it round down 1!
Sam Cooke
4/5
This show sounds like it would have been fun to be at. Great performance and sound
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
M.I.A.
4/5
The first track didn't do much for me beside make me worried about having to listen to the whole thing. I've said before I have a hard time taking British MCs seriously and this was kind of the same. But the beats, samples and grooves grew on me and it became a somewhat interesting listen. "Jimmy" and "Paper Planes" are bangers
The Band
5/5
Carole King
5/5
Red Snapper
3/5
It's fine, not amazing not terrible. Could be setbreak music. I had a dream last night I was on the rail at a show which was cool then did it twice after. That's a good night. "The rough and the Quick" gets this album an extra star, awww yeah
CHIC
4/5
Le Freak is a jam and it's good overall but some songs just go on for too long. Liked it better then the other Chic album
The Who
5/5
The first time I remember heating Tommy was in the early 1990s. Back then we were exploited Columbia House and BMG to get CDs for cheap and my dad upgrading vinyl LPs. So Tommy arrives and it gets put on our fancy CD player with dual cassette deck. I'd never heard any music like it, not only Keith Moon's insane drumming but music that told a story. I'd never heard of opera of course much less rock-opera so my mind was blown! I followed along with the Liner notes and enjoyed it allot. Later I would hear Quadrophenia and be even more blown away.
I also was thinking just yesterday that I'm 335 albums in and nothing by The Who yet. I'm glad that's been corrected!
Common
4/5
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Was 2007 the year I may have seen LCD Soundsystem at Lollapalooza? Or was it 2008? That seems like something that happened for some reason. If it did happen it was me walking by a listening for a bit.
Metallica
3/5
I don't know this was fine but went on for over 2 hours. I think this is the 4th Metallica album I've had wow! More interesting than just a live album with the addition of an orchestra to a metal band.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
The Doors
5/5
My fire has been lit
Duran Duran
4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
As 3 as 3's get. Not great, not terrible. Very mid as they say
The Beta Band
4/5
Not bad this can be added to the listen again pile
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
This is fine could be setbreak music but much more chill. I liked the uptempo stuff the most, could be good background and road trip music
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Another interesting and kinda weird one I was not expecting. Add to the listen again pile
50 Cent
2/5
This just kept going on and on and it was allot of the same beats and violent boasts. If it weren't for a few straight up bangers this would get a 1
Wire
2/5
I don't know this just ain't my thing. Not terrible but not really good
DJ Shadow
5/5
I was first Entroduced to this album by my old pal Fletch who sadly passed away last year. This (I think) was in the late 90s or 2000 when we were in high school. He pretty much said we need to get as stoned as possible and listen to this. So we did and that will always be the optimal way to experience this crazy, ground breaking sample Fiesta.
Around 2008 when we all lived in Chicago we saw DJ Shadow at the Vic Theater and took Molly and smoked a bunch of green. That also was a great time. So I love this album and miss ya Fletch RIP
Tom Waits
4/5
So while listening to this I had some crazy coincidence or whatever happen. First I delivered to McHenry Illinois which is mentioned in the song Johnsburg Illinois where we also have customers. Then back at base he mentions Birmingham at the exact moment one of our trucks from Birmingham Alabama pulls out it front of me. I have no idea why he was all the way up here in Northern Illinois but made for a great coincidence.
Album was fine, once I get used to Waits voice I enjoy the stories and it's just weird allot too so there's that.
Gang Starr
3/5
It's fine and for the era maybe even ahead of its time. Preferable to gangsta rap
Prince
4/5
I believe this is the 3rd Prince album I've been given yet my favorite Prince album is probably not on the list. That of course is Dirty Mind. This one I'd never listened to all the way through and it's good and should get another listen. House quake!
Stan Getz
4/5
This is fine would be good setbreak music. Good background and driving music
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
Madonna
3/5
I don't know, it's fine but the Electronica style production got to be a bit much
Bob Dylan
5/5
So good, possibly my favorite Dylan album so it's up there at the top for best Dylan album. Start to finish it's just one great song after another and Bob's vocals are pretty good in this era along with Desire which is another favorite that I happened to listen to last week.
This is a nominee for favorite album of the entire project!
New Order
2/5
Why is this like the 3rd New Order album I've been subjected to. Only the lead track I kinda like mostly from familiarity with it being played on WXRT here in Chicago over the years.
Turbonegro
2/5
Didn't need to hear this weirdly unironic album. Did they listen to Kiss and Spinal Tap and want to mock it or honor it? No idea but wasn't a fan
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I was already inclined to like this as my parents are fans of Joni, my mother in particular. Blue didn't get ads much play as Court and Spark but it is one I definitely remember hearing growing up .
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Good stuff
Pere Ubu
3/5
I don't know why this group has another album on this list. It was weird and just ok. I made it through the whole thing and give it a rounded up 3
1/5
Apparently the author corrected the egregious mistake that was the inclusion of this album on the list removing it in a later edition. This is just bad in all ways and I made it through pretty much the whole thing skipping ahead when some tracks were just unbearable. A disgrace that this ever made it on the list at all
Peter Gabriel
5/5
I've heard this many times over the years and it's such a great album start to finish. Sledgehammer and Big Time are bangers and In Your Eyes is a classic.
Dr. Octagon
3/5
This is definitely some of the crazier shit that's made it on the list. How the author ever heard if Dr Octogon who knows. This gets extra star for being weird, crazy, offensive and just different
Arcade Fire
3/5
It's fine I guess, I don't really get the concept though
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Powerfully sad, I'd listen again but hopefully not for a long time
Sex Pistols
3/5
Terrible musicians if you can call them that but extra star for the anarchy
The Triffids
2/5
How did this get on the list? Obviously never heard of this group and didn't really need to. I will finish the album so for that it gets a 2
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
Good stuff Janis sure has some powerful vocals on this one. Classic
Johnny Cash
4/5
Not sure if I like Folsom or this better but it's good. Weird how the swears are bleeped out
Nirvana
5/5
Very much a classic voice of a generation blah blah blah
Fatboy Slim
3/5
It's ok Praise You and Rockafeller Skank are jams. Not something I'd put on to often or ever again
The Specials
3/5
Eh it's ok kinda weird driving music. I liked the James Bond song and International Jet Set
Elvis Presley
4/5
This Elvis era is fine has a few good jams especially Suspicious Minds. I wish there was more rhythm section and less strings but overall a good listen
The Monks
4/5
Wow how have I never heard this before?! This is exactly the kind of obscure weirdness that I'm glad the list sometimes provides. I can't believe this is from 1966, besides The Mother's and maybe The Dead who was making anything like this at the time. I hope it returns to streaming as I had to listen on you tube
Femi Kuti
4/5
Solid album gets close to Fela but has his own thing going. I can dig it, would make fine setbreak and possible festival camping music
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Good beats and rhymes
The Prodigy
3/5
Don't know when I'd ever listen to this again when not on allot of drugs at a rave or something. Breathe and Firestarter are jams I guess
Magazine
4/5
Never heard of this and was pleasantly surprised! Definite new wave kind of feel and some tracks reminded me of talking heads from this same time frame. Could use another listen in the future
The Go-Go's
3/5
It's fine. Fav tracks Our Lips are Sealed, Lust to Love, We got the Beat
Supertramp
3/5
I don't know its ok maybe I didn't "get" it and needs another listen
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Oddly enjoyable may listen to more of their stuff
Paul Weller
3/5
It's fine didn't do much for me round up to 3
King Crimson
5/5
Much of the music I listen to today can draw a direct line of influence back to King Crimson and prog so for that alone it gets a 5 even if it's kinda weird and slow in parts
The Rolling Stones
3/5
It's okay they have better albums
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
This didn't do much for me
ABBA
4/5
Can't say I've ever listened to an ABBA album front to back until today and it wasn't terrible. Contains the undeniable bangers of Dancing Queen and Fernando, Tiger was alright too.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Opens with Like a Rolling Stone and closes with Desolation Row. Best Dylan album? It's certainly up there
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Meh
Nas
4/5
Good Beata and rhymes
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Did not particularly enjoy this and it's certainly not "good" but can see how it's influential for better or worse. Religion I and II make some salient points in regards to organized religion pretty much being bullshit so it gets a star for that. Closing track Fodderstompf was weirdly interesting so I'll round up to a 3 for this album. I'm surprised too!
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Look at album cover say, "this is gonna be weird".
Ended up not as weird as I thought it would be so a bit disappointed. The whole time I was listening I created a documentary in my head about a penguin named Zopf. As a score to that nonexistent doc this would make sense. Otherwise it was just chill background music. And I swear I've heard the track "Milk" somewhere before! But where the hell would that have been!?
Oh yeah, of course this was produced by Brian Eno
Pretenders
4/5
Some nostalgia factor here as this was a tape and later CD that was in the case on family road trips back in the 80s-90s. Solid album overall and it stands up after 40+ years
The Doors
4/5
Solid Rockn roll
The Byrds
4/5
Neil Young
5/5
Contains my favorite song about leaving Earth due to humanity destroying it. As timely as ever in this ever increasingly fucked year of 2024. I too am hoping for replacement when the sun bursts through the sky. Excited to see Neil with Crazy Horse later this year
Amy Winehouse
4/5
This one is way better then her other album on this list.
Madonna
2/5
Her previous album Ray of Light was fine but this one just wasn't. I made it through the whole thing so there's that.
David Bowie
5/5
Radiohead
5/5
Best Radiohead album? Maybe so, maybe not. If it were combined with Amnesiac as (possibly) intended as a double album it for sure would be. But there's also OK Computer and In Rainbows so difficult to say which is "the best". Either way it's an easy 5 stars
The Beach Boys
4/5
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Did not particularly enjoy this
David Bowie
5/5
After my second listen this one gets a 5. Second Bowie album in week is great!
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I don't know, not terrible but not really good. It's what 3's are made for!
Orbital
2/5
Goes on for a long time. Not bad but not awesomeness to zone out with on in the background. Probably not setbreak material
5/5
Good stuff playing the intricate acoustic stuff first to get all these English folkies or whatever comfortable then an absolute onslaught of loud noise unlike anything they've ever heard. Dylan didn't give a fuck that they hate it and that his vocals are pitchy and terrible. This is rock n roll unleased upon an unsuspecting world that was not at all ready. If I was in the audience would I have been yelling at the stage in anger or happiness? No idea but I love hearing this today
Cream
4/5
The Kinks
4/5
Big Black
2/5
I wasn't sure what I was going to get with this one. Started off with disconcerting noise, not a good sign. Eventually it found a groove of sorts and wasn't unlistenable luckily. Not sure if this is a 2 or 3. Would possibly benefit from another listen. 2nd listen didn't do much more for me. This sounds like music angry robots would make and/or listen to.
Radiohead
5/5
Wow I had Kid A last week and now it's companion Amnesiac! I think I like this one slightly better but both are awesome and as I mentioned in previous review if these were a double album that would be up there with best double albums ever!
Traffic
5/5
Another one that has some definite nostalgia factor as I've heard this many times over the years. It's good, very good
Fiona Apple
4/5
I remember when this came out which was almost 4 years ago already. It puts the unofficial 5 year waiting period for new albums to the test because it's fuckin good. Intense powerful vocals and some themes of loneliness and anger fit the crazy early months of the pandemic in April 2020. Yeah remember that whole thing? Society is pretty much permanently fucked from it but go on we must?
Wilco
4/5
Needs another listen. After listen #2 it gets a 4
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
First few tracks I thought to myself he must really like Jay-Z and sure enough Jay-Z is a producer. Had some good rhymes and interesting record overall
Hanoi Rocks
1/5
This isn't something I'd willing listen to again not list worthy
The Young Rascals
2/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Definite James Brown and Prince inspired. Listened twice not bad.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
To paraphrase Walter Sobchek "Say what you will about the more obscure 80s Britpop, at least it's music".
I don't know what the hell this is and certainly have no idea why I should have heard it before I die.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
Another well done and depressing indictment of American culture from the early 90s. Even worse how not only things haven't gotten better but even worse especially considering one political parties descent into full blown fascist madness. We're probably doomed
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Sonic Youth
2/5
I don't know this doesn't do much for me.
The Strokes
3/5
Gave it a second listen to decide of its a 3 or 4. It's a 3
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Hadn't heard of her before, this was pretty good and added to the listen to again someday pile
Slint
3/5
I had to listen to this twice because I just didn't know what to make of it. Like another review said, I still don't know if I like it or not. The Lo-fi DIY esthetic isn't really my thing but it's kinda interesting. "Good morning Captain" is probably the best track even though I still don't know what the hell is going on. The howling of pain at the end is certainly one to haunt your dreams though
Finley Quaye
2/5
It's OK I just hope there's some real dub Reggae type stuff on the list like King Tubby, Scientist, Prince Douglas etc
Moby Grape
3/5
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Gorillaz
4/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
This was weird but not necessarily in a good way
Bon Jovi
4/5
With it being Opening Day 'Livin on a Prayer' is very appropriate as it's organ music at just about every ballpark I'd imagine. 'Wanted Dead or Alive' is a banger of course and 'Never say Goodbye' is a solid monster ballad. So for never listening to this album it's pretty good overall especially as far as 80s hair metal type stuff goes
The Darkness
2/5
White Denim
4/5
Interesting could use another listen
Fever Ray
2/5
The music is better than the vocals and lyrics for sure. Doubt I'd revisit this one after giving it a 2nd listen
Ice T
4/5
Like pretty much all gangsta rap much of it hasn't aged well but he's got some rhymes. I also love the irony that the original gansta Ice-T plays a police on a show literally called "Law and Order"
Joe Ely
4/5
I may be a honky who doesn't often tonk but this was fine. Maybe it's because I can't stand modern country that seems so intentional with the twangy accent or whatever and also how it's formulaic garbage. This is much more enjoyable and I liked it more as it went on
Small Faces
2/5
I don't know didn't do much for me, maybe a second listen would have it make sense or is it not supposed to. They're like The Kinks but intentionally far weirder or something
Kraftwerk
4/5
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Not sure what's going on here but I listened to the whole thing
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
Didn't finish, I found the rhymes and beats to just be grating
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Not bad, could be setbreak music
Steve Earle
4/5
Not bad, I like songs that tell stories so much this was a good one
Tom Waits
4/5
Rough voice always takes a bit to get used to but always love the weird stories. The jazz club vibe is interesting, I like it
Billy Joel
5/5
After a 2nd listen it's a worthy of a 5. The Stranger is a jam and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is great
Tom Tom Club
3/5
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Gene Clark
3/5
Beyoncé
2/5
Some of the songs a kinda hot but otherwise didn't do much for me
Madness
3/5
Didn't hate but didn't really like it a charitable 3
Incubus
2/5
Can't say I'm a fan of nu-metal or whatever but I did listen to this whole thing. It has that one song "Drive" that I remember and have put on a driving themed road trip playlist. "Battlestar Scratatalitcica" or whatever wad ok. So I liked the songs that don't sound like the rest of the album.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Jacques Brel
3/5
Definitely the most French thing I've ever heard. Dude has some passion I'll give him that just no idea what the hell he's singing. At least Spanish I kinda understand and Portuguese I can make some guesses. Not terrible and entertaining I guess. The crowd treats this guy like Taylor Swift, they go nuts which is pretty funny
The Incredible String Band
2/5
Its both awesome and terrible. Few can do that. I couldn't help but sing along to The Minotaur. If more of the album was like that it would have been better.
Apparently if you had access to a Sitar in 1968 it was required to be put on the record whether you're any good playing it or not. They're not. This really dragged on making me look forward to it finally ending
David Bowie
4/5
Love when Bowie brings the funk. Starting with Young Americans ending with Fame is solid bookends
Faith No More
3/5
Motörhead
2/5
It's been said that "Lemmy is god". If that's true then consider me an atheist. It's all he same song
Elliott Smith
3/5
It's fine I guess
Ozomatli
3/5
Jeff Beck
5/5
Solid rock and blues and Rod Stewart's vocals are top notch. I heard this one and Beck-ola plenty of times growing up so it's got some pleasant nostalgia too
Hawkwind
3/5
So 4 days ago I get Motörhead No Sleep Til Hammersmith and am contemplating if in fact Lemmy is god. I decide it's unlikely that Lemmy is god and if he is that makes me an atheist. Lemmy is back (from space! In the past!) And his crazy fuzzed out bass drives this weird crazy madness. So I like Lemmy better in Hawkwind and think this "album" would be improved with a few jack and cokes and a doobie. So yeah, I'd have appreciated this more if I had other drugs in me besides caffeine.
Koffi Olomide
2/5
Doesn't have the beat or funk to be setbreak music. How this compares to similar music in its genre? Who knows but it was kinda boring
Pentangle
4/5
They're way better then The Incredible String Band certainly on Sitar at least. Nice vocals and playing
Dire Straits
4/5
Solid 3 songs to start the album. Walk of Life is great and reminds me of baseball probably because it was used in highlight reels or something. Goes a small distance to redeeming 1985 as the worst year in music. Gets slow in the middle so loses 5th star
Yes
5/5
Yes, thus is the kind of prog I'm talking about!
Massive Attack
3/5
Miriam Makeba
4/5
Tina Turner
3/5
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
John Grant
4/5
This is interesting and kinda weird, one to revisit perhaps someday
Air
3/5
Has this been setbreak music? It could be setbreak music. Decent chill background stuff so it's okay
Wilco
4/5
Not bad I'll give it another listen someday. I may like it better then Yankee Hotel Foxtrot we'll see how a second listen goes
Isaac Hayes
5/5
As smooth and soulful as it gets! More evidence that 1969 may be the greatest year of music.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Didn't like his voice and it went on too long unlike all the sex he claims to have been having
Iron Butterfly
4/5
Sisters Of Mercy
2/5
I don't know kinda moody, semi-depressing and weird. The 80s production didn't help. Not something I'd put on again
Gary Numan
4/5
Distinctive and interesting synth based music. Only heard the song 'Cars' before and it seemed like the whole album was leading up to that as I knew it had to be on here. Pleasantly surprised by this one, it could even be setbreak music! Gets a 4 today but is one to give another listen
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Air
2/5
It's OK I guess but without the film to go with it seems unnecessary for the list
Cypress Hill
3/5
Black Sunday is the better album. Is that one on the list too? I remember seeing them in concert around year 2000, that was a good time
Todd Rundgren
3/5
It's interesting but gimot kinda long
Anita Baker
3/5
It's not really my jam but side 2 had some jams so it's alright.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Like most all the other west coast gangsta rap of the era it has not aged well lyrically. That's not to say Snoop doesn't have solid rhymes and of course Dr. Dre's production is on point. It's got a couple bangers as well and looking at this along with The Chronic it's the early 90s in a time capsule. So we're gonna smoke an El to this!
Neu!
3/5
It's fine I guess not something I'd likely put on again but it didn't hurt my ears.
Scritti Politti
1/5
Ugh 1985 is the worst year. Couldn't finish this shit
Burning Spear
4/5
Billy Bragg
4/5
Leftfield
3/5
This would be good for an overnight stretch of a road trip, keeps ya awake. Liked the track 'Melt'
CHVRCHES
2/5
The Adverts
2/5
It didn't hurt my ears so I'm giving a charitable 2 stars. Getting 2 English punk debuts from 1978 in a row, hopefully that's it!
X-Ray Spex
2/5
Side 1 was rough was close to turning it off. Side 2 was better as the lead singer wasn't screeching so much and it was almost like a cross between Blondie and The Clash or something
Nina Simone
4/5
Powerful vocals, smooth sound. Like it!
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
Classic that I of course remember from when it first came out in that magical summer of 1991. Great flow, funky bass lines and a few bangers.
Guided By Voices
3/5
I don't know, maybe needs another listen as it went by fast
ZZ Top
4/5
David Gray
3/5
Oasis
3/5
Other album is better
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Nothing on here struck me as being list worthy. The few tracks with harmonica were not good and the fact that it didn't hurt my ears or just make me angry kept it from getting 1 star.
Laura Nyro
4/5
Never heard her before, I like it. Solid, powerful vocals and having a good time it sounds like. One to revisit
The Zombies
4/5
Bad Brains
3/5
George Jones
3/5
Pantera
2/5
Fishbone
4/5
I liked it. Gave a 2nd listen and it will go in my playlist of stuff for driving to the fest Mondegreen this summer!
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
Just okay background music, probably not setbreak music. Not terrible but not one I'd seek out or probably ever play again
Elton John
5/5
I've heard this one many times over the years as my parent had it on vinyl. I'm reminded of the crazy long amount of time it took us to see Elton John fir his Farewell yellow brook road tour. I bought tickets fir the show in Milwaukee in January 2018 for a February 2019 show. About 2 weeks before the show it gets postponed for "technical reasons" until Octobet 2019. Luckily it still happened and ended up being the last concert I saw before Covid shut everything down a few months later. Anyway, classic album love it!
Patti Smith
4/5
Cornershop
3/5
Didn't know what to expect and it's reasonably pleasant so ok!
The Shamen
3/5
This was fine. Could maybe be setbreak music
Julian Cope
3/5
Common
3/5
The Bees
4/5
I liked it and will add it to the listen again pile. It could be setbreak music. Will check out more of their records
Megadeth
3/5
Not as terrible as I feared which has been a theme with (some) metal albums. I wouldn't willingly put this on but it rocked adequately
Deerhunter
3/5
The Byrds
3/5
Method Man
3/5
Björk
2/5
My first thought when this was generated was "ugh, I don't want to listen to Bjork this morning". My first thought was correct as this was a slog to get through. I can't say I really liked anything about it and was glad when it was over so does that make it get a 1 or do I round up since I managed to get through the whole thing?
Eagles
4/5
Ghostface Killah
3/5
The Byrds
4/5
Goldie
2/5
Did not finish not list worthy but it didn't hurt my ears so I'll be nice and give a 2
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
First side good weird interesting. Side 2 not as much but they went for it
Slipknot
1/5
I'm just not going to listen to Slipknot. Knot sorry
The Who
5/5
One of the greatest, loudest live albums ever. As if the regular 1970 set The Who puts on isn't enough why not do a full runthrough of Tommy as well. Awesome
The Fall
3/5
Did not like the other album from this group on the list but this one was okay. Kinda weird would give another listen
James Taylor
5/5
The Temptations
4/5
3/5
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
It was fine
Donovan
3/5
The Only Ones
1/5
Did not finish. The vocals suck and it's just not very good
Paul Simon
4/5
John Prine
4/5
Interesting lyrics I like it
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Peter Tosh
4/5
The Beau Brummels
3/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Is it the best Zeppelin album? Maybe so maybe not. Either way it's awesome and gets a 5
The Icarus Line
2/5
Didn't particularly enjoy this but I made it to the end and was glad it was over.
The Cardigans
4/5
Liked more the I thought I would.
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Surely this has been setbreak music. If it hasn't it totally should be
Japan
3/5
The Pharcyde
3/5
Kinda weird but had some interesting parts
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Ministry
2/5
Made it through the whole thing
Pink Floyd
4/5
Syd Barrett craziness you can hear the start of what they'd become but its also pretty weird
Aphex Twin
3/5
Decent driving and/or background music
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Elliott Smith
4/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Did not particularly enjoy and was glad when it ended. Charitable 2
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
The Lemonheads
3/5
Gillian Welch
4/5
Listened to this twice and feel like there's more I'm missing. I like the voice and general vibe though
David Bowie
4/5
Strange coincidence with this one as the generator gave me a Bowie album, then at the show tonight they play Moonage Daydream then the set closes with David Bowie. We listened to this on the way home after our quick escape from the lot. It needs a second listen when in a different head space as was a bit crispy after the show
Q-Tip
4/5
Not bad
The Kinks
5/5
Probably the best Kinks album and my favorite. It's definitely been setbreak or pre-show music so that helps too.
Roxy Music
4/5
Coldcut
4/5
Wow never heard of this before but it's got some beats and is a beautiful time capsule of the late 80s! This could be played at setbreak and has some rhymes. One to revisit
Joan Baez
3/5
She's not bad but I don't really like her singing if that makes sense
Sabu
3/5
Destiny's Child
4/5
Listened to this twice and feel like there's more I'm missing. I like the voice and general vibe though
Kraftwerk
4/5
Innovative and weird and interesting
Living Colour
4/5
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Iron Maiden
3/5
What is this prog-metal? Not as bad as I feared but I think I liked their other album I've heard better
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
Not my thing but not terrible I guess
Moby
3/5
This reminds me of 1999. It's fine but was too long
Can
4/5
Wow this is some crazy shit. I can see it benefiting from another listen when on more drugs then just caffeine.
The Fall
3/5
I don't know what to do with this. I wouldn't voluntarily put it on but it's not exactly unlistenable. 3rd album by this band somehow?
Aerosmith
3/5
Is it a good Aerosmith album. It doesn't matter because Love in an Elevator is one of the tracks that gets played on Rock n Rollercoaster (Starring Aerosmith) at Disney World's Hollywood Studios
Elvis Costello
4/5
R.E.M.
5/5
Great album, we listened while driving east towards Mondegreen. Reminds me of listening to REM while driving to New York so many times over the years.
Digital Underground
3/5
Weird
Ravi Shankar
5/5
After listening to this once I'm confident that what ever I manage to play on the Sitar is great and deserves to be on a "psychedelic rock" album.
-Me in 1967
In reality I need to listen to this again as there's so much going on yet it's so simple but it's definitely not.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Classic album I've heard many times over the years. Listened to this twice including in the campground at Mondegreen
Dusty Springfield
3/5
k.d. lang
3/5
Janet Jackson
4/5
Wow haven't heard this one in a long time! I used to want to live in the Rhythm Nation before I found out how difficult that would be. Escapade is a fuckin banger and gets this to a 4 despite the overproduction reverb drum machine sound.
2/5
Meh not that great
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Kings of Leon
2/5
Better then the other album they have on the list but still not good
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Ok I guess for an early early drive to the airport
Doves
4/5
This is fine I liked the other album from Doves on the list.
Morrissey
2/5
Ugh not my thing. I know little about Morrissey but he's apparently an asshole. Not sure why exactly but that's what I know about him. And he was in The Smiths. That's it I guess. This was tolerable but not great.
Aerosmith
2/5
Had the Aerosmith album Pump the other day. That one is way better.
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Do I listen to this again? Meh probably not. Didn't do anything for me, so much mid-90s Brit Pop. Makes sense as Oasis just announced a big reunion tour next year (2025) in the UK
D'Angelo
3/5
Not my thing but it's not unlistenable so that's good.
The War On Drugs
4/5
I like it it's gotta a certain vibe but it's a bit repetitive.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I'm not a big fan of dense layers of reverb drenched guitar so this was not for me
Kate Bush
3/5
Was this brilliant or just madness? I may have to listen to It again. Very strange that's for sure
Aimee Mann
2/5
I don't know, it's just kinda boring
Motörhead
2/5
Not that great in general and Lemmy's "singing" is just god awful. Only song I kinda liked is (We are) The Road Crew but of course it then reminded me I picked a bad week to quit sniffing glue.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Blah
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
The Youngbloods
4/5
Arcade Fire
3/5
It's fine I like their other albums better but this was a good start
k.d. lang
4/5
Chill background countryfied music, good voice. I had another album by her like 2 weeks ago so that's a weird coincidence?
Goldfrapp
2/5
The reviewer who said it alternates between boring and weird was right. The weird parts were better it should have all been like that.
Kid Rock
1/5
I knew this day would come. Approaching so bad it's good territory but it's still bad. Even my limited nostalgia from hearing this shit back in 98 (in high school ugh) when it was new can't save it. Joe C. had way to small of a part, his rap is hilarious. Also the Bud Light has turned him gay.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Muy bien!
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Like Run-DMC they are the foundation of rap and hip hop to come. Never heard any songs on this before besides the title track and that was probably a shortened radio edit version. Has 3 bangers and a couple weird slow-jams that I thought were being an ironic joke but I guess in 1982 (the year of my birth ugh) this was serious. Gains the 4th star for 'The Message' and it's influence
The B-52's
4/5
The Charlatans
2/5
More mediocre Brit-pop. Why? This is not new, interesting or as good as other Brit-pop that dominates the list. It doest hurt the ears so gets a 2nd star for being completed
Merle Haggard
4/5
The Mars Volta
3/5
Is it nu-metal or nu-prog or what? Had some moments but overall not my thing. Some jams I guess
John Coltrane
4/5
The Smiths
3/5
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Lou Reed
3/5
Kinda depressing but I like storytelling albums so maybe revist someday
Gotan Project
3/5
It's fine, could be setbreak music. Are they pioneers in the use if accordion in electronic music? It's certainly possible
American Music Club
2/5
Went inside a building to check in and it kept playing in the truck. I didn't mind that I missed any of it. Generous 2 stars
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Stand is better but this one is fine
Frank Ocean
4/5
Sugar
2/5
Forgettable
Todd Rundgren
3/5
I don't know allot going on here it maybe needs a second listen but it was just weird and kinda long
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
Interesting, could use another listen
Louis Prima
4/5
Good stuff, fun and not at all serious. King Louie!
Radiohead
5/5
Of of the best and favorite albums ever, an easy 5
Jethro Tull
5/5
Hymn 43 gets this to a 5 alone. Does it have a unifying theme or "concept" as an album? Doesn't really matter I guess. So is the whole album about Aqualung and his journey away from forced religion or something?
Gene Clark
2/5
The Waterboys
3/5
Radiohead
5/5
Wow what a week, had OK Computer on Monday and Thursday is The Bends! These are both in the top 3 Radiohead albums along with In Rainbows and Kid A...or is that 4? Anyway great album love it easy 5!
The Verve
2/5
Boring
Faust
2/5
Listened to it so it gets a 2. Weird but it had its moments I guess
Richard Hawley
2/5
Nothing here that struck me as list worthy. He's not bad but it's just not special or great and there's so many albums and artists left off the list for something like this.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
At least it's short. California Uber Alles and Holiday in Cambodia were alright
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
One of the best albums ever? Yeah probably
Bauhaus
3/5
Got a little better as it went on. The dub other weird stuff was ok but unlikely to revisit. I'm feeling like 2.45 but will round up.
Suede
3/5
I listened to it and it didn't hurt my ears but wasn't particularly memorable so a nice safe 2.5 round up to 3
Hole
3/5
Ok I guess
Paul McCartney
3/5
It's fine other solo stuff is better
John Cale
3/5
Listen again someday ?
The Thrills
2/5
It's not that it's necessarily bad, but what makes this list worthy over so many other things? Ugh I've said this same thing very recently haven't I.
Circle Jerks
3/5
Interesting that last week on the Reddit group someone asked if this is the shortest album on the list and I believe the answer is yes. Now it pops up today! It was recommended to listen to It twice back to back so I did. No song goes past 1:35 so it's all short and to the point. That's good in a way. So yeah this wasn't terrible but still not my thing and probably never revisit but for what it is and hopes to "accomplish" it works.
Now back to my regular programing of bands playing a single song longer than this whole thing
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Boring and don't they know drum machines have no soul? Made it all the way so it gets a 2. Not list worthy
Kacey Musgraves
5/5
Great album love her voice! Slow Burn, Oh, what a World has all the feels, the kind of song that can almost make you briefly forget that we may all be totally fucked in a couple weeks. Love is a Wild Thing another great track. I can only hope the closing track which claims "It will all be alright" is true.
SAULT
3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
When (many) people remark there's too much Elvis Costello on the list they must be referring to albums like this. I generally like Elvis Costello but this was unremarkable and not really list worthy
R.E.M.
4/5
Not my favorite REM record but still very good.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Lightning Bolt
2/5
This noise did not improve my mood this morning. I did get all the way through it so that's an accomplishment
Nick Drake
4/5
Kanye West
3/5
Yeah Kanye was way better before he went totally nuts into the Trump Swamp and all that. He has some good rhymes and beats with top-notch guests like Jay-Z and Mos Def so it's not terrible
Mekons
2/5
What am I missing here? This was not very good with the pitchy singing and off key violins or whatever. Listened to the whole thing though so gets a charitable 2
Sebadoh
3/5
I don't know the low-fi isn't really my thing but it also didn't totally hurt my ears
Steely Dan
4/5
Not my favorite Dan album but very solid
FKA twigs
2/5
What the hell did i just listen too? Can be described as Bjork like but that doesn't make it good. Finished it so it gets a 2. Numbers was only interesting track
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
M.I.A.
2/5
It's consistently inconsistent. How is this the 2nd album by her on this list. 1 wasn't enough? She has a unique style I'll give her that
Orbital
2/5
Brian Eno
4/5
Interesting and weird in the best possible way. Further investigation required
Mercury Rev
2/5
If it wasn't November 6th 2024 this morning as I listen to this is could be a bit more objective. So while not terrible it loses a star because I feel terrible about the country/world being doomed
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
If it wasn't November 6th 2024 this morning as I listen to this is could be a bit more objective. So while not terrible it loses a star because I feel terrible about the country/world being doomed
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
I liked this one more but it unfortunately still will suffer from me being bummed out about the country/world being doomed
Nanci Griffith
2/5
If it wasn't November 6th 2024 this morning as I listen to this is could be a bit more objective. So while not terrible it loses a star because I feel terrible about the country/world being doomed
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
A great album to celebrate the end of justice and possibly democracy as we know it in America!
Mike Oldfield
4/5
I like different stuff like this and parts remind me of the background music you hear at EPCOT and things like that and I'm a big background music fan. Part 1 was better but for "new" 50 year old now classical music it works.
One to revisit
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Weird but interesting not sure I'll revisit but maybe. Of course Eno had something to do with at least some of it
Death In Vegas
3/5
It's alright the instrumental stuff is better. Something to have on in the background on a late night road trip through a weird place. Round up because why not today
Minor Threat
2/5
Good thing it wasn't very long. If it went on much longer it would've been turned off and given 1 star
Eric Clapton
3/5
Steely Dan
5/5
Can it be too damn smooth?
Nah
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Yeah that will get it done
Van Morrison
4/5
Randy Newman
3/5
Liked this one more then the previous Randy Newman album. Political Science, You can leave your hat on, Maybe I'm doing it wrong were the favorite tracks.
Britney Spears
3/5
I too am not that innocent. Soda pop is an underrated jam. E-mail my Heart is awwww. 16 year old me loved Britney back in '99, not so much her music though. It's a tolerable listen today. Extra nostalgia star
Le Tigre
3/5
I don't know this was fine but not sure what to think of it. Had a song about Metrocard for the subway I guess. Be nice and give 3 stars why not
Lou Reed
4/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
Not bad but not really list worthy. Never would have heard this without the list though so there's that
The Replacements
4/5
Needs another listen to really know what it's all about. Or not
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Apparently my ill advised semester of German I took in high school left me unprepared for this. Its very dramatic and strange she has a good voice I guess but I'm just not sure what to do with this.
Mj Cole
1/5
Did not finish. Its not early hurting but what's going on here? How is this unique or list worthy? I like that some obscure shit is on the list but what is this. Would this be better on drugs? Probably but would still be kinda bored
Malcolm McLaren
4/5
Never heard of this but I'm all about finding weird random crazy shit like this! The instrumentals and various interludes were cool and it's ahead of its time being from the early 80s. The "World Music " vibes pretty good too.
Meat Loaf
4/5
Not bad over the top theatrical rock n roll
Portishead
4/5
I usually am not as big a fan of down tempo stuff like this but it's got some interest beats and atmospheric going on. Apple music rated this like 67 on the top 100 list they have which means nothing really. I will listen again on the way home from work in the car with better speakers then the ones in my work truck.
On second listen it deserves a solid 4
Heaven 17
2/5
Appropriate opening song. The rest was not my thing
The Vines
2/5
Finished but it wasn't particularly good or memorable
4/5
Interestingly weird
Peter Frampton
4/5
It's a classic i guess but not that awesome
The Zutons
4/5
This is fine, in fact I may investigate if The Zutons made any other albums before they were killed.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Another classic that brings me back to hearing on LP in the 80s-90s that my parents would play. Too high is imprinted on my brain. Higher ground and Don't you worry bout a Thing are straight up bangers.
Ian Dury
3/5
Or yeah this was weird maybe needs another listen. Not terrible hes like a cockney English Tom Waits or something
Depeche Mode
4/5
Definitely the most Depeche Mode sounding Depeche Mode album
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Napalm Death
2/5
Well, I knew this day would come so I suppose I was better prepared then most. Like any normal human I wanted to turn this off half way through the 2nd track, "Instinct of Survival". Perhaps it was just morid curiosity to see how much worse it could get had me leave it on for my entire drive to work on the first really cold day of winter 10f (-11c!). It was pretty much all the same song with the rapid drums, way to loud everything and of course there's unintelligible "singing" . "Siege of power" had a guitar solo. At least towards the end that other guy started screaming some like a weird little goblin. Deserves 1 star for being objectively awful but I made it through the whole thing, so Gott help me it gets 2 stars. Album cover is kinda cool
Missy Elliott
3/5
It's fine kinda long. Not really my jam but could see how some dig it
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
Solid psychedelic madness as the name would suggest. I think the monorail version is better but does it really matter?
Khaled
1/5
Not listening to this whole thing sorry?
Kraftwerk
5/5
Quite possibly the greatest driving album ever. Komentenmelodie 2 has great tension and release. Morenspaziergang is just a beautiful way to end it.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Blur
4/5
Was this the third Blur album or 4th? Anyone i liked it the best of them all!
The Psychedelic Furs
2/5
The KLF
3/5
Decent late night or early morning trance type shit is guess. More drugs could help but not terrible I gyess
The Coral
4/5
Interesting could use another listen
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Not really list worthy. Its like music a late 80s teen sitcom or drama would produce to be played at the promise or whatever
Brian Eno
4/5
Weird in the best possible way
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Germs
2/5
Not good. So they're trying to be the Sex Pistols? Ugh, finished so it gets rounded up to 2 stars
Willie Nelson
4/5
Festivus came early this year as this is a traditional album (along with Billy Joel) to be played that day. This I know of course from watching the entire series of Seinfeld on DVD with the added "notes about nothing" extra info. And the Festivus Wikipedia page or something. Anyway I like it
4/5
Wow this has a groove going
Dire Straits
5/5
Haven't heard this in awhile and forgot how good it is.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
It's fine I guess not really my thing but guy can sing. Favorite line was "If you were a horse I'd shovel the crap from your stable"
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Didn't do much for me. Kinda all the same song
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Better then the other album by this same group from 2 days ago wtf. Still not great so I overrated the previous one I guess oh well
Spiritualized
4/5
Interesting stuff i don't know what's going on exactly but I gave it 2 listens and it's something to take drugs too and or for a long weird night road trip
Lucinda Williams
3/5
Tim Buckley
4/5
Scott Walker
2/5
The Kinks
4/5
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Roxy Music
4/5
The Associates
1/5
Turned off after a few tracks couldn't take anymore
Tortoise
4/5
Something to listen to again as its interesting. I can dig a 20 minute opening track. Not sure most on here can lol
Fugazi
4/5
Not terrible I guess
Elastica
4/5
Traffic
4/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
One of if not the best Neil albums. Add this to list of possible favorite albums on the list.
Fairport Convention
4/5
PJ Harvey
3/5
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Great album love Stevie
Another one I remember hearing on vinyl back in the olden days. Yeah it might get a little bit long and weird but its got the funk, jams and is just good
Public Enemy
4/5
2/5
I've already heard 3 or is it 4 Blur albums and have a hard time differentiating this from them. Goes without saying but too much BritPop
Devendra Banhart
4/5
It's alright and interesting, put it into the revisit pile
Sonic Youth
4/5
Pretty, pretty goo. Maybe the sonic youth album I've liked the most minus the track with screeching noise
Raekwon
3/5
David Ackles
3/5
Talking Heads
5/5
One of my favorites and a very important and influential album for reasons most here would find too boring or weird
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
Uhhh pretty, pretty, pretty good
Stereolab
3/5
Donald Fagen
4/5
Duke Ellington
4/5
The Avalanches
4/5
Now this is great pre show tunes to get down to. I'm pretty sure one of their other albums has been played as setbreak music and big down with it
The Roots
4/5
Hole
4/5
Better than the other Hole album on here
Taylor Swift
3/5
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
Public Enemy
5/5
This one hits extra hard now that God help us the Tangerine Palpatine has returned. We're all pretty much doomed so we must fight the power I suppose
4/5
As proggy as original gets which many probably hate but I don't mind. This kind of thing directly led to my favorite bands and how they play so I'm down with it. Single side tracks are awesome
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
The Boss has done better this one's not list worth
Genesis
4/5
Ray Charles
4/5
Thundercat
3/5
Weird not sure what's going on here
George Harrison
5/5
Classic easy 5
Ray Charles
4/5
Lambchop
3/5
Not sure but I listened to it all
The Last Shadow Puppets
2/5
Listened to it but don't really remember it so didn't create much of an impression
Dolly Parton
4/5
Brian Eno
5/5
Such an interesting weird album that needs more then one listen. It has the ambient Eno stuff but at the same time Byrne is doing the afro-funk Fela kinda thing. Fear of Music and Remain in Light are right around this album.
Of course then the direct line from that album to Phish covering it for Halloween 96 which led to the groove-based jams of 97 and beyond.
So right around the time of my birth in 82 the strange brew of prog like Yes, King Crimson and Genesis combined with the weirdness and technical whatever of Zappa. Throw in classic guitar rock of Hendrix, Zeppelin and the Stones and the music that's defined and dominated my life for near 30 years. So yeah I like and appreciate David Byrne and Brian Eno
The Yardbirds
4/5
The xx
2/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Not Neil's best but still better than 90% off the list
The Killers
3/5
It's OK. Makes me think of that rock band guitar hero game
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
In the late 90s I may have had a soft spot in my heart for stupid, Stoner rap type stuff. While Scooby Snacks is a jam that's about it and it doesn't really hold up
Shivkumar Sharma
4/5
I will listen again unique
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
No familiar with them, kinda weird could use another listen
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Maybe my favorite Joni album. Reminds me of driving to Mwold this was in the tape rotation for sure.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Deep Purple
3/5
Kings of Leon
2/5
How is there a single Kings of Leon album on this list and now this is the THIRD (3rd) one. Wtf?! I only liked the first song and just can't deal with the guys voice. There better not be a 4th one ugh. 2 star but only because I managed to listen to It all
Sonic Youth
3/5
I don't know I'm just not a big Sonic youth fan. They sure have allot of albums on here
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
It's OK when she sticks to the blues guitar but should not have got sucked into that terrible late 80s production but I guess it was unavoidable
Queen
5/5
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
Dirty Projectors
2/5
The Smiths
2/5
So I've no listened to all The Smiths now albums right? This didn't do much for me
Frank Sinatra
3/5
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I'm sure someone somewhere considers this brilliant to to me on this day it's allot of noise. So yeah my listening was less than ideal as my current gig is wearing me out and making me crazy.
The Birthday Party
1/5
Listened to the first half on the way to work. Had no desire to put it back on so it's a sad birthday party 😔
Bee Gees
2/5
So was this their we have to make a Sargent Peppers album? Not sure why it's here just like Trafalgar. I don't know what it's about but it was better then that one at least. I guess they were better at disco
Franz Ferdinand
2/5
It's kinda all the same song
Frank Sinatra
4/5
I like the happy go lucky I'm having fun and trying to get laid Sinatra allot more then the sad "In the wee hours" Sinatra.
Beatles
5/5
An all time classic and favorite. Just the other day I asked my mom if she liked this one better than Revolver. Back in the olden days I'm sure revolver and Rubber Soul were sides 1 and 2 on a Maxell XL-II 90 in the car. So yeah I've heard this one allot since I was born in guess
Daft Punk
2/5
This was sort of the background music to my day at work driving through rain that decided to turn into snow. It wasn't a bad thing on in the background I guess but not sure I'd put it on more or probably ever again. It sure went on for along time too
Morrissey
2/5
So i thought i was finished with The Smiths and Morrissey. I was wrong.
Black Flag
2/5
I listened to this whole thing and unsurprisingly TV Party was the only song I liked. Otherwise allot of mediocre noise
Steely Dan
5/5
Funkadelic
5/5
So way back in the olden days meaning around 99-00 my old pal Charlie introduced me to the P-Funk or at least what I knew of them beyond the classic film PCU. He had this album on CD and was nice enough to dub me a copy onto cassette. I think he put Sly Stone on the B side. He had what he thought was a hilarious joke of making a tape labeled Dave Matthew's Band but was only dave for like 30 seconds then Sly comes on. This presumably to freak out the squares or something. Anyway I love this album one of my true intros to Funk!
Deee-Lite
3/5
The Magnetic Fields
4/5
The sheer ambition gets it to 4 i guess
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson all did it first and better. Its not unlistenable but not really list worthy
Korn
1/5
Just terrible. How's garbage like this and not one but two Slipknot albums on the list? I get that in the late 90s Nu-metal was all the rage for some reason but it still sucks.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Was pretty good until he went off into gangsta rap territory.
Giant Sand
2/5
Another one that makes you say "why is this here" instead of (unrepresented but way better artist). Its better then Korn at least but didn't do much for me
Dr. Dre
5/5
Like so much 90s gangsta rap allot doesn't hold up to the times but this has so many undeniable bangers.
David Bowie
4/5
Richard Thompson
4/5
Anthrax
2/5
Not the worst metal but still not my thing
Tori Amos
4/5
Happy Mondays
3/5
Television
4/5
After listen number 2 I think i get it. Its one to revise for sure. 4.5 round down
Beatles
5/5
Weather Report
4/5
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
10 years later and seemingly nothings changed except now we're ALL doomed. This one hits allot different in this current era ugh it's rough. Good album though but needs multiple listens to get it
Morrissey
3/5
I really thought i was done with Morrissey a few weeks ago. I literally said "ughhhhh" when this popped up as i eat breakfast at 430 in the morning. Wrong again. This was listenable plus he's angry at allot of the same people I'm angry at so that's good I guess
Brian Eno
4/5
Hüsker Dü
2/5
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
The Jam
3/5
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
TV On The Radio
3/5
David Holmes
2/5
It's fine but not awesome or anything not really list worthy
The Cult
2/5
I don't know the pretty much Rip off the Stones, Zeppelin, ACDC and whatever else. Nothing much new here at least this was before everything had to be drenched in reverb.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
The Stooges
2/5
Another's one where just because it may be influential on others doesn't mean it's good
Robbie Williams
3/5
This guy must be the final boss of 90s Brit-pop on the list. Its not terrible but also not good like so many things, just not for me I guess
William Orbit
2/5
So I knew I'd be driving allot at work today so figured, why not listen to Strange Cargo parts 1 and 2 in preparation for part 3. We'll turns out I liked those ones way more then part 3 which I will be giving 2 stars but only because I finished it. Parts 1 and 2 would each get 3 stars but none of that matters and who is this guy anyway?
Suicide
1/5
Another awful album that has no place on the list. Did the editor if the book actually listen to this or what? Terrible
Tom Waits
3/5
It's weird but fine when I get past the voice. The storytelling is where it's at
Kanye West
1/5
Ugh no more Kanye !
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
ZZ Top
3/5
Johnny Cash
4/5
Queen
3/5
This is fine but they have better albums
Happy Mondays
3/5
Erykah Badu
2/5
Joanna Newsom
2/5
What was this? It was interesting and weird for sure but not something I'd ever put on or subject anyone too. Gets a 2nd star for the sheer ambitious weirdness
Eels
2/5
This guy sure is sad or something
Caetano Veloso
3/5
I'm pretty sure this guy has a different album that's been setbreak music. It works in that format because setbreak is always weird but not really otherwise
Public Enemy
3/5
Their other albums are better
Laibach
2/5
I just don't know
Soft Machine
2/5
Baaba Maal
4/5
Ill take unique underrepresented "world music" like this over yet more britpop
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Gram Parsons
3/5
Joni Mitchell
4/5
It's good I just like Blue and Court and Spark better
The Blue Nile
3/5
Listened to this last week couldn't remember it much. Not usually a good sign. Now 2nd listen it's OK but still unremarkable. Round up to 3
The Stranglers
2/5
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Willie Nelson
4/5
This is the kind of country I like
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Yeah I like the VU and this one is just almost too weird and noise filled. But it's interesting and ambitious especially 'The Gift' such a weird story. Sister Ray does go on a bit too long
Brian Eno
4/5
I previously listened to this in an airport last summer (August 24). I was going from O'Hare to San Francisco at the ungodly hour of 4am all so I could make it to the Oakland Coliseum before the A's and all that history was over. This was pleasant to listen to in an airport terminal through ear buds, much better then on my early drive to work in the car. If this was played at even some airports just some of the time that would be great. Outside of airports maybe not so much
Soul II Soul
2/5
The Who
4/5
Amazing this is the Who's 4th or 5th best album as Tommy, Quad, Who's Next and maybe ever The Who's by Numbers are all better. This one's still great though and pretty original for the era. I doubt Face Dances will be on the list but one can hope
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Simply Red
2/5
Not list worthy
Yes
4/5
Fairport Convention
4/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Well it is part of the foundation of rock n roll and popular music so that's something
Marianne Faithfull
4/5
Wiw the closer Why Y'da do it was pretty intense and got this up a star. It got better as it went on maybe needs another listen
Van Halen
5/5
Side 1 is one of the strongest of any album listened twice to confirm this indeed rocks
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Meat Puppets
3/5
Gang Of Four
2/5
I don't know another band that wants to be The Clash or something. I didn't listen to the whole thing through. They're not particularly good at their instruments
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
Derek & The Dominos
5/5
Ray Price
2/5
Kind of all the same song and boring at that. After listening I still don't know if overall Honky Tonks are a net positive or negative on the night life.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Miles Davis
5/5
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Beastie Boys
3/5
I like their other albums more but this is fine. The muffled lyrics thing is kinda weird and unnecessary. Sabotage is a jam
Maxwell
2/5
Theoretically I'd bang my wife to this music but in reality that's unlikely to ever happen. Having it on though at least wouldn't decrease the chances of getting some that something like death metal would. So there's that and your mileage may vary as they say. The guy can sing and there's some grooves here but its just not my jam
Deep Purple
4/5
Buzzcocks
2/5
Brian Wilson
4/5
Ash
2/5
Another one that I struggle to deem list worthy.
The Beta Band
3/5
The Band
5/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
5/5
So I guess I'm "lucky" to have the time each day to devote to listening to music. I'm driving around all day and already enjoy ambient and other background music. Also a fan, of course of theme park BGM especially like Epcot and tommorowland. So this is the kind of thing I'm all about. I'll have to now go see if this guy did any of the music for Epcot. Also has a cinematic score vibe too, some sounded very familiar in parts. Anyway I'm glad to have heard this as its the kind of find the list should provide. I listened to it twice back to back while driving the hour and 20 minutes from Joliet back up to Gurnee. Will have to listen to It at night
Stereo MC's
2/5
Meh, Connected, the title track is alright but the rest doesn't do much for me. Sure is an early 90s time capsule though
ABBA
2/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Sepultura
1/5
Nope, not gonna listen to this for an hour
The Offspring
4/5
Extra star for the nostalgia factor
10cc
4/5
I listened to this a second time and still don't know what to make of it. Its kinda strange but in an earnest way how they emulated Queen and Zeppelin or whatever. May need to see what else they've got
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Great voice and vibe, the whole album has an excellent flow. Listened twice and would revisit
SZA
2/5
Not really list worthy. The song about pussy with Kendrick Lamar was alright I guess
The Clash
3/5
The Beach Boys
4/5
RIP Brian Wilson who passed away yesterday 😢
Interestingly weird and different than what they'd done before do it was likely a big risk. Allot of it works
I guess.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Why is this here? How do they have not 1 but multiple albums on the list? I can see the one with 'Come on Aileen' being here but this? I don't really want to give it 2 stars but I listened to the whole thing
Don McLean
4/5
Title track gets it to a 4 but the rest is just ok
Michael Jackson
4/5
I'm yet to stop as I haven't had enough
Talvin Singh
4/5
Way more unique and interesting then, say, a third Dexys Midnight Runners album or similar. Good uptempo driving music as well that works for me.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Jack White
3/5
Mike Ladd
2/5
Eurythmics
3/5
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
Nothing much of interest going on here
Talk Talk
2/5
Ugh boring. I want to give it a 1 but I managed to listen to It all. Not list worthy
The Byrds
4/5
The most Byrds sounding Byrds album?
Billy Bragg
4/5
Primal Scream
3/5
Not terrible for the era, could maybe use a 2nd listen
Aerosmith
4/5
Maybe it's because I was heading to Disney world where rockn roller coaster starring Aerosmith is, but I was glad to hear this one. Sweet emotion is a jam
Pink Floyd
5/5
If this ain't list worthy I don't know what is.
The The
3/5
Fine had that one song they play on WXRT in Chicago I recognized
The Streets
4/5
Never heard this guy before but its alright maybe listen again.
Madonna
5/5
Another one that gets some nostalgia points as i heard it allot as a kid in the late 80s. The first 3 tracks alone get it there and I forgot that Prince was on this too so yeah what the hell its a 5
Sonic Youth
3/5
So all the sonic youth albums are on here? This is fine but I'm just not a big fan
Orange Juice
3/5
Keith Jarrett
4/5
There's just something about this is just can't place but its enjoyable. I'm guessing it's all improvised so quite impressive
Can
3/5
Ok I guess maybe needs another listen
Kate Bush
2/5
Weird and not really my thing
Black Sabbath
5/5
Does all metal flow from Iron Man? Maybe so maybe not but this is undeniably heavy with some of the best known riffs ever
The Clash
5/5
Lots of variety and a strong message. The Clampdown is more relevant than ever as the US slides into fascism which of course is sad.
Paul Simon
4/5
Garbage
2/5
Peter Gabriel
3/5
It's ok his other albums are better
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Django Django
3/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
I guess it's meant to be quiet and slow, but damn it's quiet and slow.
Liz Phair
3/5
Songhoy Blues
4/5
JAY Z
3/5
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Not my favorite Dan album but still good
The Rolling Stones
3/5
It's a good start I guess
Sade
3/5
A smooth operator one might say
Beth Orton
3/5
Black Sabbath
4/5
RIP Ozzy I guess you can say high to Lucifer for reals. Paranoid is the better album, this one's ok.
MC Solaar
2/5
Sacre bleu
5/5
Underworld
1/5
Usually can handle stuff like this but it's was just all the same song and just went on and on. Maybe would be better on different drugz
Elbow
3/5
I don't know it's fine I guess, add to the listen again pile as my listening experience today was a bit disjointed at work
Missy Elliott
3/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Ice Cube
4/5
Def Leppard
3/5
Liked better then other Def Leppard album
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Microphone check one two, what is this?
Just one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever.
Big Star
2/5
Fine I guess but very disjointed. I was too harsh on the other Big Star album and should relisten and maybe re-rate.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
Butthole Surfers
2/5
Wasn't sure what I was getting into with this one and kept listening to see what would happen next. It wasn't particularly good or enjoyable but at least unique. Won't revisit
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
Not very good but I listened to the whole thing
Funkadelic
4/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Why, just why is this the 4th album Dexys midnight runners have on the list? Having one was pushing it this is just ridiculous. I did listen to it all so limps in with a 2nd star
Mudhoney
2/5
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
The Black Crowes
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Yeah not bad needs another listen
Rod Stewart
4/5
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
Van Halen
4/5
Marilyn Manson
1/5
Yeah not particularly enjoyable or good. Why is this here? Did not finish
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Interesting I get a second album from this guy in a week. The combo of desert blues and delta blues or whatever was cool
The White Stripes
3/5
Not as good as the other Stripes
Queen Latifah
2/5
Didn't do much for me. De la soul should have more tracks lol
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Yeah it's was long but she can sing and it sounds good as i drive on 294
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Ride
2/5
Not my thing
Bob Dylan
4/5
Manu Chao
3/5
Not sure what was going on here, was it brilliant or just allot of weird noise? I did listen to it all though
Culture Club
2/5
Karma Chameleon is an ok song I guess but the rest of the album really did nothing for me
Portishead
2/5
Arctic Monkeys
2/5
Not list worthy
John Martyn
2/5
What am I missing? Why is this here?
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Another one just not great its been a rough week of 2s, sad!
The Libertines
2/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Les Rythmes Digitales
1/5
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Goldfrapp
4/5
Didn't know what I'd be getting here but was pleasantly surprised I guess.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Not sure what's going on here. Weird stuff maybe needs to listen on headphones I don't know
The Pogues
3/5
Holger Czukay
4/5
I have to listen to this again, its so strange and has allot going on. Who the hell is this guy?
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
The Slits
3/5
The United States Of America
2/5
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Never heard of or at least not much from these guys. Definitely fits in with the happy positive hip-hop of the late 80s early 90s. Along with De la Soul and A Tribe Called Quest its good stuff. Would have listened before if it was on Apple music but that's not much of an excuse. Will check out some of their other stuff on there.
Hot Chip
1/5
Why is this here?
Ute Lemper
1/5
Second day in a row I say "why is this here?"
Rush
4/5
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Never heard of this guy, it wasn't terrible I guess although it went on a bit long and was half French
Black Sabbath
3/5
It's fine the other Sabbath albums are better
Elvis Costello
3/5
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Politicians may be temporary, but Wu-Tang is forever!
The Sonics
3/5
Kate Bush
3/5
It's OK I guess kinda weird and it certainly got weirder as it went on
Christina Aguilera
3/5
I surprisingly didn't hate this and it's like some kind of guilty pleasure lol. The 2nd half where it got a bit naughty with Candyman and such was alright with me
R.E.M.
5/5
I already know this is one of my favorite albums ever, I listened to it recently at the end of August as it has the line "Septembers coming soon" in Nightswimming which is just about a perfect song on an album of perfect songs. I could honestly have this be the last album I hear and die happy.
REM is just important to me in my music life overall. My first real rock concert was seeing REM on June 3rd 1995 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. I was 2 weeks away from turning 13 which is a pivotal point in anyones life. That concert is actually immortalized on REM's 1994 "Monster" album's 25 anniversary deluxe edition.
Every summer we'd drive to New York from Chicago and REM albums dubbed onto cassette tapes were a staple, in particular the "Eponymous" record. Once a CD player became standard equipment this was one of the first to be played.
The album closer "Find the River" is also just perfect in a way I just can't understand.
Anyways, I'll gladly listen to this one again, maybe even the giant 25th Anniversary extended edition.
On the list of finalists for favorite album of this entire project!
Cheap Trick
2/5
Their two okay songs don't really make a live album necessary
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
The Who
4/5
LTJ Bukem
3/5
I don't know it's not terrible but not really my thing it could be interesting to listen to on a late night road trip or something.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Not my thing but its fine, yet another entry that would no doubt benefit from drugs past caffeine. I do like me some block rocking beats though
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
One to revisit, not bad
Stephen Stills
4/5
Not bad, God Back Home was a jam
Tito Puente
4/5
Teenage Fanclub
2/5
Genesis
4/5
Waylon Jennings
3/5
It's fine but seemed like every time a song was starting to really cook it would just end at 2 and a half minutes
Emmylou Harris
3/5
This was fine kinda quiet
The Style Council
2/5
This one was all over the place and not really in a good way.
LL Cool J
3/5
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Not my thing but finished it.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
2/5
Not really sure about thus one it seemed pretty bleak
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Mr Blue Sky into Sweet is the Night was probably best part over some decent prog-pop if that's a thing
808 State
3/5
Alright I guess got into it more as it went on and the 80 production kinda faded if that makes sense
The Boo Radleys
2/5
What was going on with the mixing or mastering or something on this album. The volume level was all over from one track to the next. Overall I guess there was a reason I'd never heard of these guys as it was way to long with not much of interest
3/5
They may not be "good" but at least they have passion!
Silver Jews
4/5
I had to listen to this one twice as I just wasn't sure what to make of it first time through. I think i get it now, the vocals at first wasn't doing it for me but its an acquired thing like listening to Dylan or something. Going between sad and positive was kinda nice I guess. Overall was good and will try out some other albums
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
John Martyn
3/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
It's fine but not as good as his other stuff it does get a little funky though so yeah not bad
Stephen Stills
4/5
Why have I not listened to this before?
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Didn't do much for me, is this some sad sack breakup album or what. I remember they had another album on the list being way more interesting.
Tom Waits
3/5
Mylo
2/5
XTC
3/5
Van Morrison
5/5
The Jam
4/5
Lauryn Hill
4/5
TLC
3/5
Waterfalls gets this to a 3
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
David Crosby
5/5
Björk
2/5
I made it through this whole thing. Never once over 1000 albums have I said "oh boy I hope to hear some Bjork today!" Is it weird for weird sake or do I just not get it?
Joy Division
2/5
Hookworms
3/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Fine but they have better
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
Weird but not as weird as Trout mask replica so does that make it better?
4/5
Hadn't heard this one before its alright!
Nirvana
5/5
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
On first listen I didn't know what to make of it beyond "are they just copying the Stones?" So I listened tonight again followed by Sticky Fingers and I guess I get what they were going for.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
GZA
3/5
Adele
4/5
George Michael
3/5
Klaxons
2/5
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
The Cure
4/5
Maybe The Cure album I like the most although it kinda drags towards the end.
The Hives
2/5
The Pretty Things
2/5
Ok so this must have been these guys "We've got to make a Sargent Peppers".
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Pretty dreary and depressing but that's the point so mission accomplished. Can't think of when I'd willingly listen to this again though.
3/5
Tears For Fears
5/5
Has 3 bangers in Shout, EWTRTW, Head over Heels/Broken. They utilize the production of the era in a good way. Much better then say Simple Minds
Simple Minds
2/5
Boston
5/5
Yeah pretty much a greatest hits but its the whole damn album!
Tom Waits
2/5
Why theres yet another Tom Waits album I don't know. After Rain Dogs don't really need more
R.E.M.
4/5
Not my favorite REM but its got some good songs and indecipherable lyrics so that's good
Slade
2/5
Mediocre, unlist worthy with poor spelling gets a rounded up 2
Talking Heads
5/5
The Dictators
3/5
Not really sure about this one, it wasn't terrible and was kinda funny in a tongue in cheek way.
Syd Barrett
4/5
Very strange stuff and I knew a few of these songs like Love You and Terrapin because of Phish covering them lol.
John Lennon
4/5
This one hits allot different when not all stoned out hanging by the fireplace in the olden grainery. Its amazing how many great post-Beatles albums came out in 1970. This one requires the right mood as its the most introspective and raw of them
Bill Callahan
3/5
First couple tracks were so slow and the monotone singing wasnt doing it for me but as it went on the tempo increased and I liked it more
Queen
3/5
This must be a rock opera but I probably need to listen again as I'm not sure what the hell it's about. A Night at the Opera album was way better thats for sure
Nick Drake
4/5
Good chill music for my early drive to work
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Elis Regina
3/5
This was fine I prefer Jorge Ben for my Brazilian music though
Saint Etienne
4/5
Don't think I'd heard this artist before and liked it well enough on my morning drive in to work
Fred Neil
4/5
Boards of Canada
3/5
Interesting but quiet most of the time almost too quiet!
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Drive Like Jehu
1/5
Not good, turned off
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
Its good though I remember liking it much more when it first came out so a nostalgia star!
Travis
2/5
They're wannabe Radiohead right? Not list worthy, yet more UK bias on the list
The Who
5/5
Possibly the best Who album so puts it in running for favorite album of the project. The bookends of Baba O'Reilly and Won't get Fooled Again are top notch rockn roll! Also have to mention that Roger Daltrey is now Sir Roger Daltrey as of last week!
The Pogues
3/5
Its fine not really my thing though
Pavement
3/5