This has been one of the absolute finds of this project for me. I was aware of LBM through the Paul Simon album Graceland, and seeing them on British TV in the 90s. I was pretty ambivalent towards them in my youth, and enjoy their embellishments on Graceland. This was an absolute delight though. The vocal arrangements are so delicate and perfectly put together, and it is simply a joy to listen to. Otherworldly; holy. Five stars - I will keep coming back to this.

Surprised to find what I considered fairly obscure on this list. It’s a wonderful album that I have a huge amount of love for.

The greatest Christmas album of all time. Only tarnished by Spector’s later crimes, the songs on here feature that incredible, signature Wall of Sound, only where on non-Christmas Spector productions, it conveyed the excitement of young love/lust, here it provides the sound of wholesome festive cheer.

Remembered this as dull, soulless beigery. Listened without prejudice in case it’s aged well. It hasn’t. I’d remembered it correctly. (IMHO)

Such a rip-snorter of an album. I grew up buying into the British music press’s narrative that the 60s were about flower power, ten years of pathetic prog rock happened and then punk came along and tore it all up. When I first heard the Sonics I couldn’t actually believe it was real - this is the punkest band I’ve ever heard, and they’re doing it contemporaneously with Rubber Soul. It just kicks ass from start to finish. It makes me want to join a band, or start a fight, or start a fire, or all three at the same time.

Marvellous.

Overrated probably. It’s a very good album but I don’t think it’s the classic others hold it up as.

Just wonderful songwriting and sonically beautiful. As someone who loved Radiohead pre-Kid A and loved them even more post, this return to a more melodic, straightforward sound was not necessarily what I’d hoped for from them. But, it’s just a brilliant, magnificent album. Grownup songwriting by one of the best ever to do it.

Remembered this as dull, soulless beigery. Listened without prejudice in case it’s aged well. It hasn’t. I’d remembered it correctly. (IMHO)

The greatest Christmas album of all time. Only tarnished by Spector’s later crimes, the songs on here feature that incredible, signature Wall of Sound, only where on non-Christmas Spector productions, it conveyed the excitement of young love/lust, here it provides the sound of wholesome festive cheer.

Not that arsed about this tbh.

RIP Terry Hall.

Obviously a five star album. It’s almost reached the point where it’s such an obvious choice that it’s tempting to say “oh actually it’s not that good”…but it is. Personally the order of my favourite Nirvana albums changes regularly and I’d often have In Utero higher because it’s so raw and furious and unrestrained. But Nevermind is simply a magnificent collection of rock songs.

My mum has this record from when it came out. I gave it a few spins when I was a kid who’d discovered LC through Buckley’s cover of Hallelujah. Love Suzanne and So Long Marianne but had forgotten the rest. On re listening they stand out but the whole record is strong. What a voice and a truly great songwriter.

It’s the greatest hip hop album of all time, probably.

She’s a genius. Hard to think of any solo artist with such a diverse and brilliant back catalogue without hitting those absolute all timers (Bowie etc). It’s raw and uncompromising and thrilling. PJH doesn’t get anywhere near the credit she deserves for her influence and her staggering consistency.

An absolute masterpiece.

Such a rip-snorter of an album. I grew up buying into the British music press’s narrative that the 60s were about flower power, ten years of pathetic prog rock happened and then punk came along and tore it all up. When I first heard the Sonics I couldn’t actually believe it was real - this is the punkest band I’ve ever heard, and they’re doing it contemporaneously with Rubber Soul. It just kicks ass from start to finish. It makes me want to join a band, or start a fight, or start a fire, or all three at the same time.

Not my cup of tea, lads. Love Eno’s production work with Talking Heads, James etc. not keen on Roxy Music. I also think BF is a bellend but that may be a coincidence.

Garbage

Top echelon stuff, this. A touch of absolute genius, when it comes to arrangement.

Remember this when it came out. Good, lightweight fun.

Singles are good; rest is filler.

Elite level classic. Love this project for discovering new gems, but sometimes you see a familiar sight and it’s just wonderful. This album is, if not quite perfect, certainly as close as can be. Probably his best. ALL IMHO AND SUBJECTIVE OF COURSE

Elite level classic. Love this project for discovering new gems, but sometimes you see a familiar sight and it’s just wonderful. This album is, if not quite perfect, certainly as close as can be. Probably his best. ALL IMHO AND SUBJECTIVE OF COURSE

A staple of my late teens. Pixies make music that both rocks *and* is weird. It’s viscerally and cerebrally interesting. I don’t love them as much as I did then, but I do love them. This album has the hits - Monkey, Debaser, Here Comes Your Man, Gouge Away - and also Hey, which is such a bizarrely lovely song. Oh it’s a great album.

Good grief what a voice. No one has ever done it better.

This has been one of the absolute finds of this project for me. I was aware of LBM through the Paul Simon album Graceland, and seeing them on British TV in the 90s. I was pretty ambivalent towards them in my youth, and enjoy their embellishments on Graceland. This was an absolute delight though. The vocal arrangements are so delicate and perfectly put together, and it is simply a joy to listen to. Otherworldly; holy. Five stars - I will keep coming back to this.

Slightly overrated. Very good though.

Really? On the 1001 albums you *must* hear? Goodness me.

Surprised to find what I considered fairly obscure on this list. It’s a wonderful album that I have a huge amount of love for.

Morrissey solo is such a profoundly disappointing experience. Then you go back and listen to the Smiths and think, good god, he really was the worst part of that band. Woeful album, this.

Not my cup of tea.

I know it’s canonical, but for me - a huge Dylan fan - this is the pre-great era still. Obviously the best songs here are standards. Obviously Masters of War and Blowin’ still sound amazing and must have been world-changing to hear at the time. But…nah it’s not a patch on Blonde or Bringing It, never mind Blood on the Tracks.

Never really got it. Not for me.

Magical. Nick Drake is three things: a guitarist, a songwriter and a vocalist. As a guitarist, he was exceptionally talented; as a songwriter, he consistently produced moments of utter greatness; as a vocalist… these things are subjective, but to me he is otherworldly. This album is less edgy than Pink Moon and less polished than Bryter Layter, and hits the sweet spot betwixt the two. As a result it may be my favourite of his trilogy.