205
Albums Rated
3.1
Average Rating
19%
Complete
884 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010
Favorite Decade
Hip-hop
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
7
5-Star Albums
1
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Calenture
The Triffids
|
5 | 2.55 | +2.45 |
|
Live At Leeds
The Who
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
|
Melodrama
Lorde
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
|
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
|
4 | 2.42 | +1.58 |
|
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
|
5 | 3.46 | +1.54 |
|
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
|
5 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
|
GI
Germs
|
4 | 2.53 | +1.47 |
|
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
|
5 | 3.64 | +1.36 |
|
Shalimar
Rahul Dev Burman
|
4 | 2.65 | +1.35 |
|
21
Adele
|
5 | 3.69 | +1.31 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A Night At The Opera
Queen
|
2 | 3.95 | -1.95 |
|
In Rainbows
Radiohead
|
2 | 3.85 | -1.85 |
|
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
|
2 | 3.73 | -1.73 |
|
Chelsea Girl
Nico
|
1 | 2.63 | -1.63 |
|
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
|
2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
|
Marquee Moon
Television
|
2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
|
Green
R.E.M.
|
2 | 3.47 | -1.47 |
|
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
|
2 | 3.46 | -1.46 |
|
Abbey Road
Beatles
|
3 | 4.45 | -1.45 |
|
Synchronicity
The Police
|
2 | 3.41 | -1.41 |
5-Star Albums (7)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
David Bowie · 1 likes
2/5
I mean. It’s fine. It’s impressive it’s his 25th album but he sounds like an old man
2
The Triffids · 1 likes
5/5
Blew me away. I think I enjoyed every single song. You can hear so many bands from before and after them, production and variation was excellent
Madonna · 1 likes
3/5
Weirdest country album I’ve ever heard. Haha just kidding
Production was really good. Very late 90s french electronica. Madonna was the weakest part of the album; is she good or just super hot? Will have to listen to more of her lesser known work.
X-Ray Spex · 1 likes
4/5
Is proto punk good because it’s a little more accessible?
To me one of those albums where it just sounds like the band is having fun. The sound is a little less refined, which isn’t shocking for a first album, but it’s not unrefined to the point of disjointed.
The band supports itself well with interesting bass/drum lines and the vocals put a bow on every song. And you know what? I’ll just say it. The sax is fun and a great call
1-Star Albums (1)
All Ratings
Oasis
3/5
Kraftwerk
4/5
Probably ahead of its time, wasn’t sure why it was on here until “the model” played.
3.75, but would be a 1 if it came out today
Michael Jackson
4/5
He’s the king of pop. Album certainly holds up.
Eagles
3/5
Inoffensive classic rock album. Easy to listen to, liked the B side but the top tracks have been played to death
4.5 if I heard it for the first time
3.0 today
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Just not enough variation for me to enjoy. It’s fine rock, 3.0
David Bowie
3/5
3.5
Some good songs, end of the album too ambient for me
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Neat (very) 90s album.
3.0 - some tracks are too long and I don’t care for how a few sound.
New Order
4/5
4.25
Album hits a sweet spot between that 80s rock, techno synth, and the Phil collins drum sound. If the songs were a little more diverse and more lyric forward it would be a 5/5. First and last songs are perfect
The Clash
3/5
2.75
Very garage sounds, a little unrefined. In a vacuum it’s fine as an album, but in context is 5/5 for its importance
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Just not for me. Lyrics, and music were actually good, his voice ruined each song
2.5
The Fall
2/5
2
Nico
1/5
I get that this album came out in 1967 and she’s German. In a vacuum her singing is not good, and everything I liked - the composition and instruments - were done by the velvet underground. Just go listen to velvet underground
1
Various Artists
2/5
It’s fine it’sa Christmas album
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Really big fan of the sound. Certainly a product of its time and I could dare the same exact album being released today since you do see the same themes in music today.
Lou Reed
3/5
Almost skipped based on the first song and the album being a “concept album”
Bleak story album, love the lyrics, a few songs a little too concept-y. But really not too bad
3.5
Gang Of Four
3/5
Had what that clash album was missing
The Avalanches
2/5
I wish I could do halves. Not a 2 and not a 3.
Lo fi LL cool J. Not bad, cool beats
Taylor Swift
4/5
In context it’s a 4.5, I love the style, goth-folk, and it showcases Taylor swifts skill as a lyricist, which I think is her best talent. This album should almost have been combined with folklore, since the recording/ writing overlapped so much they are two sides of the same coin. Evermore is more experimental, and some songs just feel out of place - no body no crime for example. I feel like this album is here because it seemed a little passed over - released 6 months after folklore and 3 months before fearless (TS version), but folklore should be here instead. Folklore was the huge change for Taylor Swifts style and evermore is the B side
Overall it’s interesting to return to one of my top albums of 2021 in this context of listening in a Vacuum - 4 as a standalone
Fleet Foxes
3/5
2.75. It’s fine, a little too laid back folky. Interesting that it was way more successful in the UK than US. Probably why it’s here
Wild Beasts
2/5
B.B. King
3/5
I was prepared to hate it because I don’t care for live albums, but it’s just a recording of his performance and was actually really fun to listen to
David Bowie
2/5
I mean. It’s fine. It’s impressive it’s his 25th album but he sounds like an old man
2
The Police
2/5
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
I get drugs now.
Some songs songs are 5s, others are 1s.
Can
2/5
David Bowie
3/5
Much more vintage bowie. Overall liked it.
Hole
3/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Knocked for not bowing to our corporate music streaming overlord Spotify.
Just kidding. Like everything, it’s well produced, doesn’t really stand out
The Rolling Stones
4/5
One of my favorites. Really good introductory stones album for people who only really know the hits.
Sympathy for the devil is my favorite song by them. Super bluesy album with just the right amount of variation.
4/5
Charles Mingus
3/5
Solid 3.5, I don’t listen to a lot of jazz and this was a good introduction and easy to digest
The Soft Boys
3/5
Actually enjoyed a lot. Surprised it came out in 2010, sounds a lot like a bridge between classic rock and alt rock
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Overall 3.5.
Fun to listen to the album other than just the typical hits you know
The Doors
4/5
Not the sound I was expecting from the doors, overall good. I wish the website allowed for decimal voting 3.75
Traffic
4/5
Started with the deluxe album by mistake. Still good, really enjoyed this one. Gotta love a 6 song 35 minute album
4.25/5
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
Beastie boys but they rebranded as a 90’s garage band. Neat
Brian Eno
3/5
Literally no idea. Super experimental in a way I liked but I don’t think I’ll ever listen to it again. 2-4 stars
Sister Sledge
4/5
Albums like this are what I love about this. You know the hit, never heard any other songs, and they rock
Little Simz
2/5
Fine British rap, wouldn’t skip any songs if they came up in a playlist . Not my particular style and really lost me with the lyric about people being unaware because they haven’t read the alchemist, followed by “we live in a society..”
2.5/5
Tina Turner
4/5
This might actually be the top one we’ve listened to for me. Something about her voice just grated on me tho
Public Enemy
3/5
Ah good they got one without professor griff lmao
Over solid early 90s rap album and a very public enemy sound
Happy Mondays
3/5
The Kinks
3/5
Really was something else. Neat chill could listen again
Waterloo sunset was the standout
Adele
4/5
I wonder if we end up with more Taylor swift or Adele lol
She is an unbelievable vocalist. The lyrics are honesty meh, but the way she uses her voice as an instrument is incredible
4/5
Carpenters
3/5
Sound and production was good, but something just hit me weird about it. Little too hippy I think
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
This is one of the most easy to listen albums ever. I played it twice but there was near enough variation
Elvis Presley
3/5
Interesting. Floating around 3.5
In a vacuum it was a good foot tapping album.
Sade
3/5
System Of A Down
2/5
Tis not for me
The Pharcyde
3/5
Love the beats but not in love with the lyrics
Emmylou Harris
3/5
A hair gospel-y, but actually really enjoyed it. 3.5
PJ Harvey
2/5
This was fine to me. Just kind of regular grungy
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Really liked it, Funky
Air
2/5
Surprised to see a movie soundtrack. I mean it’s fine, but if you divorce it completely from the movie I wonder if it makes the list
Dire Straits
2/5
This album could have been 30 minutes, but if you’re into the band I get it. Instrumentals were really enjoyable, but so so repetitive
2.5
Kanye West
2/5
Overall to donda, a few listenable songs but overall just not too great. Power makes it a 2
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
Really solid production and instrumentals.
Radiohead
3/5
It’s tough, the 90s/00s grunge is just not really my thing, and Radiohead is just not for me. I know a lot of people would burn me at the stake for that tho so 3 stars (2.5)
Bob Dylan
2/5
I’m sure context makes it a 4 or even a 5. His voice is so grating, he sounds so old
Hole
3/5
Shivkumar Sharma
4/5
Double checked the date this was released. It has a really modern sound and is extremely easy to listen to
The Triffids
5/5
Blew me away. I think I enjoyed every single song. You can hear so many bands from before and after them, production and variation was excellent
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Fine background. Very sound of the 90s
Queen
2/5
Bizarre album. I don’t think I like a single song on it but it’s overall good? I think the production is really excellent, maybe that’s it
2Pac
4/5
Never listened to that much 2Pac. Overall I think he was really preaching non-violence which is a stark contrast to a lot of the gangster rap at the time
Pink Floyd
3/5
Well produced, the 6 song 45 minute jam albums are not my favorite. Not sure I see myself coming back to it
Django Django
4/5
When this album came out iTunes gave you three free songs weekly or monthly, usually from new artists and “Life’s a beach” was one. Never listened to the full album and really enjoyed it, really remind me of alt-j (coincidentally, breezeblocks was an iTunes free song)
4/5
Julian Cope
2/5
Way too long. But I didn’t hate any of the songs individually 2.5
Cream
3/5
Right down the middle I get why it’s here, didn’t blow me away
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Classic Springsteen. Easy listening, just wish anyone on the right listened to the lyrics of born in the USA
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
There’s good stuff and it’s well produced but I was never a Simon and Garfunkel guy. They’re a little like dark ethereal(?) rock for my taste. Good songs on their own
OutKast
2/5
Overall fine, but not sure any individual song was above a 3
Deerhunter
2/5
To ethereal/ experimental.
4/5
So close to a 5. I’ve heard all these songs individually but never together. All time indie rock defining album
Arcade Fire
3/5
Good but didn’t blow me away by any means. Maybe for the time it was
Donovan
3/5
Fine background, probably a lot of people’s favorite album and certainly would have been for the time
The Blue Nile
3/5
I could see this album really growing on me. It was a cool experimental sound that wasn’t overly so and had a certain appeal
The White Stripes
3/5
3.5-75
Classic indie rock, you can hear a lot of the stones and Jack whites production.
Air
3/5
Really neat enjoyable French electronica. It didn’t surprise me that they did work with phoenix
Radiohead
3/5
3.5
I thought I didn’t really like Radiohead but I guess I just don’t like their big songs. Over all a little too drone-y ambient but not bad overall
Drive Like Jehu
2/5
Little too experimental, not for me
Foo Fighters
3/5
Solid indie rock album from a mid 2000s staple
Gene Clark
3/5
Completely inoffensive. Wild that people hated it when it came out, I mean it’s not gonna blow your sock off, but it’s easy to listen to
Madonna
3/5
Weirdest country album I’ve ever heard. Haha just kidding
Production was really good. Very late 90s french electronica. Madonna was the weakest part of the album; is she good or just super hot? Will have to listen to more of her lesser known work.
Thundercat
2/5
The back half went together more than the first. Overall fine. Felt like an album for musicians, and nothing really stood out except for the hits
3 stars
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Really enjoyed it. I thought pet shop boys were jazz but this was well produced, 80s pop
Talk Talk
3/5
It was fine. Good production and easy to listen
Depeche Mode
3/5
Feels pretty experimental. Top of the album sounded very depeche but middle and end felt like they were just doing stuff. As always, well produced. Cool sound but probably not a re-listen
The Hives
2/5
I’ve started this album 3 separate times and just can’t get into it. It’s fine and I’m sure is good, but the sound is too generic
Traffic
3/5
Super close to a 4, and is probably a 4.5 with context. Extremely well produced and easy to listen to. There’s just not quite enough variation and the album is a little too long. Can’t believe it came out in ‘68
The Stone Roses
3/5
Overall good. It was extremely well produced and decently interesting. I’m sure it was ground breaking for it’s time but it’s a 3.5 for me
Sonic Youth
2/5
A little too tonal and spoken word for me to really take any enjoyment out of it. I can appreciate what went into it but I don’t get anything out of it
2/5
Pixies
3/5
Lots of pieces I likes lots of pieces I didn’t.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Shocking at this point - really well produced. I get the whole anti war thing but sometimes the lyrics were a little weird but I like that he said the n word 4 stars
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Why listen to this album when you can just rail cocaine?
For real love this album, hype but not unlistenable. It’s 3-4 songs too long
Leftfield
2/5
2.5
Easy to listen to, but not really outstanding in any major way
The Youngbloods
3/5
Actually really enjoyed this one. Good listenability and neat sounds that was kind of a middle ground between the 60s 70s.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Elvis Presley
4/5
This is a top Elvis album. Really unique I think even today and good variation.
The Jam
3/5
Elton John
4/5
Solid and quintessential Elton John. Well produced and stands up.
My signature move is the Jamaican Jerk Off
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Really had to think about this one. Not really one for progressive rock so maybe a third of this album was not for me. But it was well produced and sounds like a bunch of dudes jammin
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
I get the influence and historic importance. Just not my kind of jam
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
If I knew jazz, I’m sure this is 10. It’s easy to listen to and is really diverse when you pay attention to it
Roxy Music
3/5
Music 3/5
Album art 5/5
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Extremely well done, talented, I’m sure really inspirational for people but I’m not going to listen to it again
Slint
2/5
I like the gothic scarcity of the guitar. I don’t like the spoken word
Dion
3/5
Enjoyed way more than I thought. Not doo op at all. Pretty modern wel produced sound
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Sounds like shit and needs a remaster lol
Love the folk almost swamp rock sound. But run run run was grating on the right side, and I don’t like nicos voice. But it’s easy listening and they do neat things with the left right balance.
I do understand why it’s a cult classic tho. Really surprised non of it charted.
The Band
2/5
I have started this album three times and can’t get into it. Spotify thinks I love it.
Like everything else, extremely well produced, but nothing standing out to me
Le Tigre
3/5
Fun pop punk. Definitely understand the cultural significance. Opener is excellent, modern sound. Ends up a 3.6 I think
Elliott Smith
3/5
This album turned me into a Gen Xer
Sonic Youth
2/5
I’m not really one for 90s grunge, but this is pretty much the quintessential sound. Personally a 1, with context probably a 4
Violent Femmes
2/5
Music, production and composition does a lot to carry the album. Album is a little incel ish overall. Don’t even really care for the one hit.
Beatles
3/5
Exceptionally produced. As an album it’s a 3-3.75 for me, but the highs are high. Starts super strong, but I was not into the Indian inspiration songs.
Deep Purple
4/5
Really enjoyed. Swampy, psychadelicy sound holds up and extremely well produced. Hesitate to give a four but I think it’s like 3.9
The Killers
4/5
One of the better early 2000’s indie side A’s. Good variation and they keep it interesting. Trying to take out my bias of loving singing mr bright side drunk as fuck
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Actually really enjoyed it. Phoenix was a good song but had a little bit too much spoken word for me to put this album on any kind of rotation, side A could be. Well produced and great sound. music/instruments were relatively simple but they were used well and if makes you wonder what blues greats (or any old greats) could do with modern equipment
The Smiths
3/5
Quality 80s depressed indie
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Well produced jazz that I’m not sure I’ll ever be in the mood to listen to. I did like it, and can appreciate it, but I’m not sure I’d listen again
Janelle Monáe
3/5
A couple songs I really liked, a couple I didn’t. Really interesting sound that was a cool a blend of soul, jumpy pop with r&b
Beatles
3/5
To me this was the quintessential Beatles sound, but definitely inoffensive. Strong all around good album, just nothing that stands out and if it was a different band I’m not sure it would be on the list
The Doors
3/5
You can hear a lot of future psychedelic rock. Came out much earlier than I thought.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Inject swampy blues straight into my veins. I love it and the music it inspires. Cool to hear more of the inception albums in this list
Frank Zappa
3/5
This one goes in the “I don’t believe the year”
Really interesting experimentally modern sound. Well produced and honestly ahead of its time. I’m not surprised it’s not more mainstream being a jam album but the sound really carries the album as a whole.
Patti Smith
3/5
Can’t quite pick where I land on this one. Something about her singing voice didn’t resonate for me and the songs are too long imo. However, I love the music and the way her voice goes with the music. I enjoy this sort of bluesey folksy rock and it’s really well executed
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Well produced, low three. There are songs I do like and may just need to listen to again. Really interesting sound and was probably ahead of it’s time.
Common
3/5
Really easy to listen to, classic rap album structure. Easy beats border on Lofi, lyrics border on funny, well produced, but nothing particularly stood out. I could see a world where I think this is a 4/5
Santana
3/5
Refreshing to listen to at the time. A few recognizable songs I didn’t realize were Santana. Not sure it ends up in any regular rotation but a good listen.
Guitar riffs were well done and well done together and make for good listenablility
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Yea I mean the hits are the hits. Very well produced almost experimental. Very very early 2000s eclectic indie sound. But you can hear who they influence in that sphere now. Overall not super listenable, just because of the experimental sound/nature, the songs I like the most were the actual songs.
The Byrds
3/5
Honestly enjoyable. I’m a little out on religiosity in lyrics, but it’s more humble Baptist Christian rather than evangelical.
I really enjoy the full country ensemble twang band with just the right amount of fiddle/violin and weird instruments that sound like they are cobbled from someone’s backyard junk. You can hear some current artists which is what I like about these seminal albums
Pearl Jam
3/5
I don’t think I’ve listened to this album, but I have heard every song. Well attenuated and honesty pretty masterful composition. Not my particular cup of tea, but I see why they were basically top of the rock chart for the 90s
MGMT
3/5
Had to think about this one. It’s very good, the hits are hits, but I felt like every song was just a crescendo with different loops added
Happy Mondays
2/5
I listened to this album 3 times. I like the beats, it’s just indie/ experimental enough, the balance is good, I just can’t get myself to like it as a whole
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Super funky, do enjoy the cadence and simplicity but sometimes the simplicity leads the album to be a little too Jammy
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
I really enjoyed this album. Well produced and sounds refined. If I had an issue it’s the similarity. It’s well voiced and performed
Beatles
3/5
I think come together is my least favorite song of all time and I don’t know why. Album is excellent as a whole, lyrics are a little out there but that’s who they are. It’s long but there’s a lot of songs and they do well with variation. I think it isn’t quite as well done overall as revolver, but it’s very core for the era.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Really enjoyed this album. The vocals are excellent and the two main singers work well together. Beats are pop rocky and catchy. Nothing too special, but overall really good listenability
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Gabriel loves that 80s echoing snare. Some of the album was a little too experimental, but some of the songs were very enjoyable.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
If the album was 3-5 songs shorter it might be a 4-5. Really enjoyed the music, the base guitar was a little relative and not interesting, the horns were but they were used a little too relatively as well. It’s kind of my issue with punk is how repetitive a single song can be
Chicago
3/5
Side A was fun rock jazz with big band horns that really worked. Got a little experimental for me on B side but the highs were high
The Cars
3/5
I do love this album. I think it’s a little unrefined and the songs mesh in an ok fashion, but each stand out. Inoffensive and possibly even formulaic, but we’ll composed
Nick Drake
3/5
Super nice chill album really reminds me a sufjan
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Too long and don’t quite like the voice. Well produced but that’s about it for me. I’d be curious how it does with other audiences
John Cale
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. It had a fun ethereal/shoestring sound that was well balanced throughout.
I hate that hanky panky know how was my favorite song
3/5
I mean it’s a jam album. If i was a fan I’d probably love it
Will I ever listen to it again? No
Television
2/5
Tough one to have right after close to the edge. Enjoyed the 3 minute songs, rest not for me
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Classic stones. Some absolute bangers but nothing inoffensive. Stones B sides are so easy to listen to, I’d love an album of their blusier songs
The Boo Radleys
2/5
Pretty wide range of song genres pcked into one album. A couple songs I really liked and some that were complete misses. Probably averages to a 2.75 based on length. More I didn’t like than liked
Taylor Swift
4/5
I love this album. Consistently in my top 5 Taylor swift albums but certainly not number 1.
She does some weird things with her pronunciation and voice, and it’s not her best writing work - her previous albums had some even better writing overall. However, every single song could have been a radio hit, and while they all follow relatively the same crescendo 3 verse formula, there is a really good amount of diversity. This album hits a length, both song and album, sweet spot.
My issue with her writing is that her theme worked and she won’t ever change it.
George Harrison
3/5
George, what’s higher? The number of songs or the number of people to get thru the album. I get it, but release it as 4 albums for and easy 4 top selling albums.
Fats Domino
3/5
Is this the guy Elvis stole from? Can hear foundational stuff from everything and really cool to listen to
Napalm Death
3/5
I am that guy’s goth friend and just like them, 3 stars. Lots of shouting and don’t know what to look at
William Orbit
2/5
Ambient 8bit type beep boop album. Neat to listen to but not sure it ranks on albums you must listen to before you die.
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
Even taking the historical significance away, the album is an 5. Every single song slaps but don’t drag out; each is interesting, don’t overstay their welcome and stay reigned in and mesh well. Chemistry between the two is excellent and the lyrics are great.
(Caveat 5 is that this producer produced the beastie boys first album.)
Aretha Franklin
3/5
No notes
Massive Attack
3/5
This album haunts me
R.E.M.
3/5
I’ve started this 3 times. It’s fine and I’m whelmed
Röyksopp
3/5
Ambient cool audiophile BS
Little Richard
4/5
See everydaytunez
Bob Dylan
4/5
Each song is enjoyable and really an encapsulation of the genre before color TV. OG simple folk that aged pretty well
Paul Weller
3/5
Yea I mean it’s good but it feels like it was made for radio. Overall kind of simple and inoffensive and to a degree not creative. Easy to listen to, well produced and good, just not outstanding
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
See everydaytunez
The Who
5/5
See everydaytunez
4/5
Tough to say where I land. Really well produced and enjoyable. The album is cohesive but aurally interesting. I’m not sure I’ll really listen to it entirely again
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Really cool folk/country/blues album. It’s funny she didn’t want to do windmills of your mind. It stands out like it doesn’t belong but it is a good song.
Overall enjoyable listen even if thematically a little boring
3/5
Recency is easy - The Who’s Live at Leeds came out one year later and sounds so much better. This might be the first album on the list that I thought was not well or under produced. Better production and it’s 4/5.
Yea it’s generic by 2024 standards, because they were first. Relatively modern/70s rock sound that must have been awesome live. Wish they would have released a studio recording, but the album seems like an afterthought
Spacemen 3
2/5
IMO pass this for the Jesus and Mary chain album and spiritualized album later on
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
See everydaytunez
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Track just goes. I’ll be interested to see if we get Dr. Dre’s album that Snoop built on for Doggystyle
Michael Jackson
3/5
Super well produced disco funk type album. That feels almost more like MJ finding his sound before Thriller/Bad. Not my usual haunt and a few misses for me but overall enjoyable
Beyoncé
4/5
Why does beyonce make me feel like a hot bitch
Beastie Boys
5/5
No notes
Justice
3/5
Warming up on additional listen but after the first 3 songs there is little to enjoy
The White Stripes
4/5
Steely Dan
4/5
I see the popularity. Just well put together and easy to listen to but not plain. Interesting enough but not up it’s own ass.
Talking Heads
3/5
I’ve listened to this album 4 times. I black out every time because I have no idea where i stand. It’s not great but not bad. It’s not fast or too slow. It’s not boring but not very musically interesting either.
Spiritualized
3/5
Literally had to check and see if Sufjan Stevens was part of this group. But another exercise in “this group did it first”
So weirdly 90s mixed with sort of ethereal. Enjoyed after spacemen 3 which was a little to psychedelic. This toned it down nicely and was a better meld
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
I am not into noise rock. Half this album was unlistenable noise. But they do cool work and you can hear they are so close to the shoe gaze guitar noise loop that got big. There’s melody behind the noise and if the loops were a little less fierce it might be an A+ album.
R.E.M.
2/5
I get why it’s here but it’s just sort of boring and I find the vocals flat. Given how huge they were, I probably would’ve killed myself by 1994
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Who gets credit, the person making a joke or the person that says it louder? Gotta have balls to open with a song about high school and married to your 13 year old cousin, so points there. Point against for this being a little Richard cover album
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
The worst part of this album is at the very last note of the last song because then it’s back to Brit pop.
Extremely well produced blend of modern and folk Indian sound. Enjoyable, catchy and interesting.
X-Ray Spex
4/5
Is proto punk good because it’s a little more accessible?
To me one of those albums where it just sounds like the band is having fun. The sound is a little less refined, which isn’t shocking for a first album, but it’s not unrefined to the point of disjointed.
The band supports itself well with interesting bass/drum lines and the vocals put a bow on every song. And you know what? I’ll just say it. The sax is fun and a great call
LL Cool J
3/5
LL’s career is really cool and showcases evolution of rap from 80s to 2000s. This album bridges 80s to 90s.
Mama said knock you out is the best track, and is a microcosm of the transition - 80s sound with 90s lyrics.
Half the album is a miss for me and either doesn’t age particularly well, or is honestly a little cringy.
I will go by Mr. Good Bar from now on, Krackle doesn’t feel right.
Elliott Smith
3/5
I just could not get into it. It’s definitely good, well produced and has a clean sound and finish but I’m not sure I’ll listen to it again
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Not only are Without You and Coconut by the same artist, they’re on the same album. And not only are they on the same album, but they’re back to back. This album was a wild ride and it worked
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Much like starting your day by eating a handful of dirt, every album should start with ear splitting screaming to ensure it only gets better.
At times it sounded modern Stones-y but really had an interesting 90s grunge character. Could take or leave the lyrics
LTJ Bukem
2/5
Not for me but genre defining. Unfortunately that genre is how fast you can beat out a pattern on a snare drum which is not my kink.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Chillest an-cap album I’ve ever heard. Daddy took the T-bird away to LAPD took the right to assemble away
I’ve heard almost nothing from The Beach Boys except for their top 5-10 and honestly this was refreshing. Excellent production, but has a distinct 60s sound that’s complete separate from what you think of The Beach Boys.
Lorde
5/5
Relatively foundational Industrial pop and one of Jack antonoff’s Crown Jewels.
It’s a little bit her style, but I think Lorde’s vocals are a little uncrisp. But everything else about the album is 10 out of 5. The production and instrumentals are fantastic and layer in such an easy way that all of the album is listenable without being exhausting. The hits are bangers and the feel of the album is very relatable and real, which I think is my biggest bias - the album is about being 20 and came out when I was 20.
To me, Melodrama is little bit of a safe pick for popheads to put in a top X list; the album is good enough to exist in a 85th percentile of all time but be overall a little more obscure. I don’t think the album is very bold and but Antonoff pretty much just has the formula to write good music, and really it’s hard to find reasons why this is still not a 5
Killing Joke
3/5
Easy to listen to, but nothing really stood out.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
Ah. Yup.
The Style Council
4/5
Every song was good but I found the Male vocals a little karaoke than professional. Hard to put above a 3 with how non cohesive the album is overall But I like how the back half of the album just pretends the middle didn’t happen.
The Temptations
3/5
Funky bluesy but not really the wall of sound I expected.
DJ Shadow
4/5
Really cool to see a full DJ mix album on here. Although i don’t want to just rag on the Anglo centricity thing; DJ shadow got huge in England first so if you’re gonna put a DJ album on here, I guess he’s the one you know.
Really awesome for ‘96. It’s just a dude jammin and I could listen to Lo fi forever.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
I get this is the big one. This is every psychedelic album but in Portuguese
Adele
5/5
I think I land at 5. There’s a lot of emotion and orchestral over the top-ness that truly is hit or miss for me. The album is charged with emotion and has good listenability and variability to stay interesting. It’s popular for a reason
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Another sort of classic easy pick for an all time list. Ahead of its time, well produced and I hope we get the first album.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
I love Kendrick but to pimp a butterfly isn’t my end to end favorite. Great tracks and classic Kendrick story telling. Listenability drops off for me a few times but overall still a very sticky album
Public Image Ltd.
4/5
Weird but I love the albums on here that take characteristic sounds from various genres and put it into something that works.
Music historians have the best job in the world. Yes this 1978 is post punk rock.. which has existing for… -1 years? Germs came out in 1979 and the Sex Pistols first album in 1977. Get your timeline straight!
Jacques Brel
2/5
I guess if I grew up in Vichy France this guy would also blow my mind. Obviously a live album has its limitations in 1964, but this looses a lot of depth. La valse a Mille temps autoplayed after this, and sounds so much more clean and was recorded 5 years prior. Maybe there’s some remastering going on since it was released later but it should’ve been the pick here.
You might think Brel is kind of a lifeless singer that came from money. Listen to Mille a temps and you’ll know he’s a decent singer that came from money.
Radiohead
2/5
Why the hell are any other Radiohead albums on here when clearly this is their best work.
I am a hater though so minus 1 star for every Radiohead album already listened to. Looking forward to Ok Computer and Pablo Honey!
Germs
4/5
Seriously cool album I’ll only listen to once. You hear sounds from 1950 to 1990 and a lot of bands in between.
This album answers a lot of questions for me like How did we get from The Temptations to NOFX? And, what would it sound like if the Tasmanian Devil sang lead vocals for Deep Purple?
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Good. You know what? Better than good - Good enough. Don’t know if it’s 16 platinum in the steaming era; I get why it’s huge tho.
Well produced, pumpy fun rock from trivia’s favorite English rock band, The Yardbirds
Iggy Pop
4/5
Excited to hear his first collab with Bowie and then Bowie’s entire discography which I assume is on the list.
TBH I did really enjoy this. Iggy Pop sounds like he’s legit having a good time recording this album. Great production, and once again shocked that this came out in 77
N.E.R.D
4/5
Well produced rock rap. Inject it into my veins