1001 Albums Summary

The Genius Of Ray Charles by Ray Charles

Nostalgia for me having grown up listening to Glenn Miller. What a trip to remember how influential Charles was!

The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd

Still songs to get high to. Or sit by a fire to. Or gaze wistfully from widow’s walk for our loved one to return to. Or to get murdered to on a dark street in a 1980s slasher.

Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

I don’t know what to think of this album. It’s not made for me, but some of the tracks are so good and take risks. Heavy Balloon was my favorite.

Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy

Maybe I’ve never been a 70s hard rock fan. Or a live album fan. I’m doing this project to try to explore more. But I was glad when this album was over. Every song just felt almost indistinguishable from the next and from any other hard rock band of the time.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

So many bangers for wistfully looking out a window on an autumn road trip.

Urban Hymns by The Verve

Have always liked Bitter Sweet Symphony but never thought to get the rest of the album a shot. It was splendid!

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde by The Pharcyde

Lord of bits that have been sampled in future songs and undoubtedly influential. But wow we’ve come a long way in lyrics…

1989 by Taylor Swift

Sad girl music for sad girls. Several earworms and certainly 5 stars for the people it’s intended for.

Marcus Garvey by Burning Spear

Probably the only time I've sat down to listen to a Reggae album. Liked some of the political tones.

C'est Chic by CHIC

This album has so many bangers that it’s a shame everyone only puts Le Freak on repeat.

If I Should Fall From Grace With God by The Pogues

Nobody told me the Pogues were awesome

Funeral by Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire is one of the bands that makes me wish it was still 2004.

Parklife by Blur

Fun, but mostly forgettable. Love Girls and Boys though. Also the song I guess too.

Welcome To The Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Their cover of Ferry Across the Mersey is the hidden gem.

The Healer by John Lee Hooker

I enjoy Blues, but I’m not sure what I’m supposed to get from this album that’s substantially different.

Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division

I see why folks adore this album. Lovely dark bits make for some bright points. So different from anything else at the time.

Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye

It’s good fuckin’ music. It’s good fucking music. Gaye is iconic, but it’s not an album I’d return to.

The White Album by Beatles

So longggggg. But definitely some bright points and influential in scope.

Spiderland by Slint

Just...wow. I accidentally had found the last track ages ago and I loved. I can't believe this came out in '91.

Back To Black by Amy Winehouse

Wonderful soul and I think the first time I spent listening to an entire album. It's bang up work and shows what is possible in music

All Directions by The Temptations

This can’t be the same band that did My Girl!

Technique by New Order

Neat and likable, but ultimately forgettable

Songs From A Room by Leonard Cohen

I left this album understanding better why people loved Cohen.

Time Out Of Mind by Bob Dylan

There are 1001 albums on this list. All of them are noteworthy. Some of them I won’t be able to say anything about. They’re not bad. They’re just them. This is one of them.

The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus

If classical and jazz had a baby and that baby went up to college and got a really good job and then always came home for the holidays and bought you a nice house and, when you retired, it put you in one of those nice communities with palm trees and where the water is clean and they came over on Sunday to watch Looney Tunes.

The Slim Shady LP by Eminem

Loved this album growing up. Lyrics in the genre have improved over 20 years, but it's without a doubt that Eminem has strongly influenced the genre. I'm still partial rather to the Marshall Mathers LP.

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath

An album where my initial reaction is "Why weren't more people making better music in 1970?" But also an album that just...draaaags along.

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by A Tribe Called Quest

There's something special about 90s hip hop, but most of the time they seem a little static when it comes to their cadences.

KE*A*H** (Psalm 69) by Ministry

A treasure of psychobilly.

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens

Fun, folksy, and Cat Stevens voice is incomparable.

Tellin’ Stories by The Charlatans

Good music to watch trains to.

Fragile by Yes

Fun and punchy. I like to groove to it.

Fulfillingness' First Finale by Stevie Wonder

I wanted more. Even the boogie tracks are too gentle.

Eagles by Eagles

Very likable, like a familiar neighbor who always helps out.

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths

Good music. It’s unfortunate Morrissey is a shit person.

American Pie by Don McLean

I won’t turn Don McLean off, but I am never thinking “oh, I need some Don McLean.”

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan

Most original rap from this time period, but obviously some of the most original work musically ever.

Debut by Björk

I thought I hated Björk. Nope. I loved this and want to listen to more.

Bone Machine by Tom Waits

Tom is the carnival I always want in the background and this album is no different.

Superfuzz Bigmuff by Mudhoney

I like their energy.

Here Are the Sonics by The Sonics

The drawback is the number of covers. The upshot is knowing how garage rock compares to those covers.

Be by Common

This is a bop.

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen

Bruce is a wonderful person, but this album is mostly background music.

Modern Kosmology by Jane Weaver

What music can be.

Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson

Why are all The Beach Boys so good?

Blood And Chocolate by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

I feel like a bunch of these legends sound awfully the same.

Songs The Lord Taught Us by The Cramps

This album gets better as it goes on.

Blur by Blur

I am pretty critical of bands with multiple albums on the list. Not sure if I get anything out of this I don't get from Parklife. Probably could have died without listening to it.

Lam Toro by Baaba Maal

Funky, groovy, and generally a pleasure even if I have no idea what we're singing about.

Rocks by Aerosmith

Meh. It's Aerosmith. It's fun, but I have to agree with the album's contemporary critics--it's just Aerosmith reheated. Obviously inspiring to a number of guitarist who ended up picking up the instrument *because* it's fun, but the dearth of decadent music and a bunch of people's nostalgia is not enough for me to be impressed by this on its own.

Graceland by Paul Simon

Poppy, catchy, lyrically lovely. Something where my chief criticism is that You Can Cal Me Al lives rent-free in my head.

The Velvet Underground by The Velvet Underground

Picture Book by Simply Red

Melody A.M. by Röyksopp

The Undertones by The Undertones

Oracular Spectacular by MGMT

Starts strong with wonderful anchors. But the real treasure is in the last three tracks, elevating this from popular ear candy to something ethereal and wonderful.

The Clash by The Clash

No Other by Gene Clark

Exactly the reason I wanted to do the 1001 Project.

Under Construction by Missy Elliott

Nixon by Lambchop

This is so close to good, but sometimes I can’t let my ears wrap around some things, like vocal choices, that distract me from perhaps fully enjoying it.

Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen

I am pretty critical of artists with multiple albums on the list. Not sure if I get anything out of this I don't get from Nebraska, and multiple albums means other noteworthy ones are lost. Probably could have died without listening to it, but the title track is strong enough to keep this rating up a little.

Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson

Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill

Pink Moon by Nick Drake

Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz

Black Monk Time by The Monks

Metallica by Metallica

Bug by Dinosaur Jr.

Figure 8 by Elliott Smith

Bandwagonesque by Teenage Fanclub

Mask by Bauhaus

Rip It Up by Orange Juice

Private Dancer by Tina Turner

Disintegration by The Cure

En-Tact by The Shamen

Hunting High And Low by a-ha

Power In Numbers by Jurassic 5

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd

Vauxhall And I by Morrissey

Homework by Daft Punk

Rage Against The Machine by Rage Against The Machine

La Revancha Del Tango by Gotan Project

American Gothic by David Ackles

Tanto Tempo by Bebel Gilberto

Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos

Antichrist Superstar by Marilyn Manson

I am unable to separate the art from the artist.

25 by Adele

It's A Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis

Chirping Crickets by Buddy Holly & The Crickets

Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout

Red Dirt Girl by Emmylou Harris

Queens of the Stone Age by Queens Of The Stone Age

BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé

Out Of The Blue by Electric Light Orchestra

Hms Fable by Shack

Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson

Hot Fuss by The Killers

Songs From The Big Chair by Tears For Fears

Elvis Is Back by Elvis Presley

Movies by Holger Czukay

Step In The Arena by Gang Starr

We Are Family by Sister Sledge

Apocalypse Dudes by Turbonegro

Snivilisation by Orbital

Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz

The Predator by Ice Cube

Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain

Future Days by Can

Soul Mining by The The

Eliminator by ZZ Top

Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt

Strangeways, Here We Come by The Smiths

Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath

Dare! by The Human League

Blackstar by David Bowie

Africa Brasil by Jorge Ben Jor

Parallel Lines by Blondie

Clandestino by Manu Chao

Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós

Either Or by Elliott Smith

Rejoicing In The Hands by Devendra Banhart

OK Computer by Radiohead

The Trinity Session by Cowboy Junkies

Another Green World by Brian Eno

Sweet Baby James by James Taylor

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis

Fear and Whiskey by Mekons

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor by Lupe Fiasco

Birth Of The Cool by Miles Davis

This is my third Miles Davis album. Even though this is as good as the others, I give a vote towards the spirit of “before you die.” In my opinion, we could find 1-2 different albums and someone on their death bed doesn’t need to waste their time after Kind of Blue or Bitches Brew.

The Rolling Stones by The Rolling Stones

High Violet by The National

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco

In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra

Queen Of Denmark by John Grant

Make Yourself by Incubus

Band On The Run by Paul McCartney and Wings

Maverick A Strike by Finley Quaye

Dust by Screaming Trees

Smash by The Offspring

With The Beatles by Beatles

Third/Sister Lovers by Big Star

Life Thru A Lens by Robbie Williams

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire

Cut by The Slits

Jack Takes the Floor by Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Here Come The Warm Jets by Brian Eno

Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk

Back to Basics by Christina Aguilera

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths

Berlin by Lou Reed

Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke

Exile In Guyville by Liz Phair

G. Love And Special Sauce by G. Love & Special Sauce

Back In Black by AC/DC

British Steel by Judas Priest

Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey

The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) by The Kinks

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black by Public Enemy

Idlewild by Everything But The Girl

New Boots And Panties by Ian Dury

Sea Change by Beck

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by Beatles

Will The Circle Be Unbroken by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips

Rubber Soul by Beatles

The Man Who by Travis

Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu

It's Too Late to Stop Now by Van Morrison

My Generation by The Who

Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch

Blue by Joni Mitchell

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins

Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs

Triangle by The Beau Brummels

Natty Dread by Bob Marley & The Wailers

Electric by The Cult

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips

Black Metal by Venom

Parachutes by Coldplay

New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) by Simple Minds

Juju by Siouxsie And The Banshees

Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury by The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

Abraxas by Santana

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen

Holy fuck.

Synchronicity by The Police

Bad by Michael Jackson

Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple

Nick Of Time by Bonnie Raitt

The Yes Album by Yes

Gasoline Alley by Rod Stewart

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears by The Mamas & The Papas

Elephant by The White Stripes

Peter Gabriel by Peter Gabriel

London Calling by The Clash

The Band by The Band

Fun House by The Stooges

Shake Your Money Maker by The Black Crowes

My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello

Document by R.E.M.

Tapestry by Carole King

It's Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Aftermath by The Rolling Stones

Stardust by Willie Nelson

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton

The Poet by Bobby Womack

Pelican West by Haircut 100

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake

Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg

Duck Rock by Malcolm McLaren

Fuzzy Logic by Super Furry Animals

Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin

Gris Gris by Dr. John

I like how weird this is. Like…Louisiana Tom Waits.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake by Small Faces

Songs For Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra

Devil Without A Cause by Kid Rock

Basket of Light by Pentangle

Rust In Peace by Megadeth

Court And Spark by Joni Mitchell

All Hope Is Gone by Slipknot

Music From Big Pink by The Band

Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie

Smokers Delight by Nightmares On Wax

Cupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti

American IV: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash

Lady In Satin by Billie Holiday

Fred Neil by Fred Neil

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane

Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds

Master Of Puppets by Metallica

Butterfly by Mariah Carey

Hot Rats by Frank Zappa

The Hour Of Bewilderbeast by Badly Drawn Boy

Dirty by Sonic Youth

Horses by Patti Smith

The White Room by The KLF

Stephen Stills by Stephen Stills

Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses

Surfer Rosa by Pixies

The Rising by Bruce Springsteen

Dummy by Portishead

Frank by Amy Winehouse

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs by Marty Robbins

In It For The Money by Supergrass

Buena Vista Social Club by Buena Vista Social Club

Electric Warrior by T. Rex

The Chronic by Dr. Dre

First Band On The Moon by The Cardigans

Home Is Where The Music Is by Hugh Masekela

Third by Soft Machine

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush

Rio by Duran Duran

Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem

1977 by Ash

Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

Aqualung by Jethro Tull

Seventeen Seconds by The Cure

Arise by Sepultura

One World by John Martyn

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

Ellington at Newport by Duke Ellington

Garbage by Garbage

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys

Teenager Of The Year by Frank Black

There's No Place Like America Today by Curtis Mayfield

D by White Denim

Green by R.E.M.

Rising Above Bedlam by Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart

Hejira by Joni Mitchell

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not by Arctic Monkeys

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones

Shadowland by k.d. lang

Feast of Wire by Calexico

Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite by Maxwell

GI by Germs

From Elvis In Memphis by Elvis Presley

In The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson

Whatever by Aimee Mann

Tommy by The Who

L.A. Woman by The Doors

Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin

Heroes to Zeros by The Beta Band

Play by Moby

Vulnicura by Björk

Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

That's The Way Of The World by Earth, Wind & Fire

Gorillaz by Gorillaz

Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park

A Date With The Everly Brothers by The Everly Brothers

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Raw Like Sushi by Neneh Cherry

Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Who's Next by The Who

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea by PJ Harvey

New Wave by The Auteurs

Slipknot by Slipknot

Off The Wall by Michael Jackson

Low by David Bowie

B-52's by The B-52's

Infected by The The

Music in Exile by Songhoy Blues

Superunknown by Soundgarden

Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos

The Last Of The True Believers by Nanci Griffith

Tical by Method Man

Chicago Transit Authority by Chicago

War by U2

The Stooges by The Stooges

Wild Gift by X

Ramones by Ramones

Post Orgasmic Chill by Skunk Anansie

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell

The Score by Fugees

Remain In Light by Talking Heads

Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive by Merle Haggard

At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band

Justified by Justin Timberlake

Femi Kuti by Femi Kuti

Mott by Mott The Hoople

Live! by Fela Kuti

Go Girl Crazy by The Dictators

Deserter's Songs by Mercury Rev

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music by Ray Charles

Loveless by My Bloody Valentine

Nevermind by Nirvana

Hunky Dory by David Bowie

White Blood Cells by The White Stripes

Station To Station by David Bowie

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down by The Dandy Warhols

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul by Otis Redding

Maggot Brain by Funkadelic

Now I Got Worry by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Peter Gabriel 3 by Peter Gabriel

3 + 3 by The Isley Brothers

Darkdancer by Les Rythmes Digitales

Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone

What's Going On by Marvin Gaye

Who Killed...... The Zutons? by The Zutons

The Infotainment Scan by The Fall

Grace by Jeff Buckley

Black Holes and Revelations by Muse

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel's 1966 album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme" is a proto-punk album, and I will not be elaborating.

Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

The Good, The Bad & The Queen by The Good, The Bad & The Queen

Dance Mania by Tito Puente

S.F. Sorrow by The Pretty Things

Purple Rain by Prince

This Nation’s Saving Grace by The Fall

Very by Pet Shop Boys

Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin

Morrison Hotel by The Doors

Warehouse: Songs And Stories by Hüsker Dü

Maxinquaye by Tricky

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

Immigrés by Youssou N'Dour

Hot Shots II by The Beta Band

Madman Across The Water by Elton John

So by Peter Gabriel

Goodbye And Hello by Tim Buckley

Crosby, Stills & Nash by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Celebrity Skin by Hole

Meat Puppets II by Meat Puppets

Solid Air by John Martyn

The Joshua Tree by U2

Opus Dei by Laibach

Live At The Witch Trials by The Fall

Rum Sodomy & The Lash by The Pogues

Crime Of The Century by Supertramp

Me Against The World by 2Pac

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Dire Straits by Dire Straits

Killing Joke by Killing Joke

Club Classics Vol. One by Soul II Soul

Selling England By The Pound by Genesis

She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper

Endtroducing..... by DJ Shadow

Young Americans by David Bowie

The Stranger by Billy Joel

Seventh Tree by Goldfrapp

Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones

I'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen

The Wall by Pink Floyd

The Fat Of The Land by The Prodigy

Goo by Sonic Youth

Green Onions by Booker T. & The MG's

The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett

Like Water For Chocolate by Common

I Should Coco by Supergrass

Hail To the Thief by Radiohead

You would think I might give this a 1 because some of the members of Radiohead are not great people. But actually I'm giving this album a one because it's exhausting and annoying. OK Computer remains tops for a reason.

Faith by George Michael

Trio by Dolly Parton

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

The Last Broadcast by Doves

Raw Power by The Stooges

We're Only In It For The Money by The Mothers Of Invention

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

...And Justice For All by Metallica