Jan 19 2023
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
REM have some great records, but this one is boring. It has some of their most popular songs, which are exactly the ones I don't like. Drive, Man on the Moon, Night Swimming. Favorite song on the album: Ignoreland.
2
Jan 20 2023
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Protection
Massive Attack
There is some kind of suspense in the music. That's a good thing. But there is no climax. That's bad. It's great background music. It's too slow for dancing. The songs are long and there's not enough variation to keep my attention 5+ minutes per song. Favorite song: Heat Misser.
3
Jan 21 2023
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
It's all good, but nothing stuck in my head. Wide variety of samples, good flow in the lyrics, not too repetitive, it stays at the same level until the end. He sure likes himself very much for all the wrong reasons, according to the lyrics. Favorite song: All I Need.
3
Jan 22 2023
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Risque
CHIC
The songs are basically long loops of a short chord progression with lots of subtle changes in the arrangement. It's played well. The songs are the right length for dancing, but very long for listening (only one song under 4 minutes). Favorite song: Good Times.
3
Jan 23 2023
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
Great melodies, great lyrics. It's jangle pop with keyboards. The singer has a very distinct voice. Favorite song: Stop me if you think you heard this one before.
4
Jan 24 2023
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Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
I like this a lot, but it's probably not for everyone. The singing is not that great. The production is noisy. Guitars are out of tune. But it wouldn't be as intense if it was all tight and tidy. Favorite song: Eric's trip.
4
Jan 25 2023
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Elephant
The White Stripes
I like the production of the album. Most of the songs have a good hook, but I don't like the singing on most of the songs. The cover version of I Just Don't Know What to do with Myself is an abomination. Favorite song: Seven Nation Army.
2
Jan 26 2023
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Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
This album is not for headphones. The stereo image is very weird. The songs are great. This band is underrated. When talking about 60s British rock, people mention the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, maybe the Kinks and the Who. This record is on par with them. Favorite song: the Journey.
4
Jan 27 2023
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Teen Dream
Beach House
Objectively there's nothing wrong with the music. But I hate this. I hate the way of singing, the tempo is too fast to be relaxed and too slow to be anything else, the drums are too laid back, there's way too much reverb for my taste. I'm pretty sure this music is supposed to be relaxing, but it annoys me. Makes me want to punch them in the face to get them going. Least hated song: Norway
2
Jan 28 2023
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Let It Be
The Replacements
3
Jan 29 2023
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Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Amazing. It's a live record. It's as metal as you can be without distorted guitars. Favorite part: the gnome.
5
Jan 30 2023
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British Steel
Judas Priest
This is a very important record in the evolution of heavy metal, but it's outdated now. Production is remarkably good for a heavy record this old. Musicianship is great. The songs are just not that interesting to me. It's too hard rock for metal and too metal for hard rock. 5 stars when it was new, 3 stars now. Favorite song: grinder.
3
Jan 31 2023
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A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
It's all done well, but nothing stands out. The style has been done to death. The band rose from the ashes of the Small Faces. Apparently the creative genius was someone else from the band. This record is not bad, but it lacks the element of surprise. Favorite song: Stay with me.
3
Feb 01 2023
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Laidback dance music. Enough variation. It's not all about the groove, it's mainly proper songs. Production is a little primitive. Some of the s-sounds are like nails on chalkboard. With contemporary production, this could probably be popular in the indie scene if it was released now. Favorite song: like the swallow.
4
Feb 02 2023
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
Very smooth. I like the saxophone and the rhythm guitar. I don't like the lead guitar as much. Favorite song: One Note Samba.
3
Feb 03 2023
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3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
It's still listenable, but it's a document of its time rather than a groundbreaking masterpiece. Not that different from what Dela Soul did a couple of years before. I don't think any current hip hop was influenced by this. Favorite song: Mr Wendel.
3
Feb 04 2023
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
Miles Davis has always been one step ahead of everyone else. I like his influence, but I don't like his music as much. Newer music wouldn't be the same without him. I only know a couple of his records. I hadn't heard this one before. I like it better than the newer ones I know. Favorite song: Venus de Milo.
3
Feb 05 2023
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
This was not included in the 2018 revision of the book anymore. I think it should be. It's better than a lot of other albums on the list. The late 60s/early 70s are overrepresented. Favorite song: 40 feet
4
Feb 06 2023
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Phrenology
The Roots
Sounds surprisingly modern for a 20 year old hip hop record. Enough variation to stay interesting for the most part, but it could have been a little shorter. I mean, 10:24 is very long for a song with basically 1 riff and some noise. Favorite song: In The Way Of Things.
4
Feb 07 2023
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
I remembered this as a very boring record. It's not as boring as I remember, but I don't enjoy it very much. I don't like the vibe. Favorite song: On The Run.
3
Feb 08 2023
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Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
Very repetitive African folk music inspired pop with late 80s production, which is a mismatch. The bass player is really good, but overall the music is very cheesy. Favorite song: Porte-monnaie
2
Feb 09 2023
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Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Very slow and smooth. It sounds like the soundtrack to a very dramatic movie. I usually don't have the patience for this kind of music, but this record is actually quite good. Favorite song: Olsen Olsen
4
Feb 10 2023
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Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
This is the only Queens of the Stone Age record on the list. It's the wrong one. It's a bland version of what they became in the 2000s. Pretty good, but not very exciting compared to their later albums. Favorite song: Give The Mule What He Wants.
3
Feb 11 2023
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London Calling
The Clash
The Clash were the most creative of the OG punk bands. They were probably also the most influential one on a wide range of artists. There's a lot of variety on this record. The good songs are awesome, but not all songs are good. Favorite song: London Calling.
4
Feb 12 2023
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The Chronic
Dr. Dre
Every newer 90s hip hop album tried to be this. The flow of the rapping sounds dated. The gangsta rap lyrics are stupid as always, especially the later songs on the album are ridiculous. The beats are varied enough for an entire album. Favorite song: Stranded On Death Row.
4
Feb 13 2023
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Rio
Duran Duran
A lot of great songs and a couple of good ones. No real bad ones. This is a great album, but because it wasn't influential at all, besides maybe the music videos, I can only give it 4 stars. Favorite song: Save A Prayer
4
Feb 14 2023
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
It's good, but there's more than 1000 more essential albums. Favorite song: Kamikaze.
3
Feb 15 2023
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Kimono My House
Sparks
One song in this style is great, 2 is annoying, a full album is torture. They’re trying too hard to be original. It sounds incoherent and unnatural. Favorite song: this town ain’t big enough for the both of us.
2
Feb 16 2023
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Pink Flag
Wire
Very influential, but I like the bands they influenced better. Joy Division, Husker Du, Fugazi, Gang of Four, etc.
The album has a couple of great songs, but also some filler. The production is boxy. It's great for the slower songs, but not for the faster ones. The guitars lack punch. The fast drum parts sound very weak.
Favorite song: Three Girl Rumba.
3
Feb 17 2023
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Skylarking
XTC
This album was a pleasant surprise to me. I knew them from Making Plans for Nigel and Senses Working Overtime, both not on this album. Those songs are OK, but didn't make me check out an entire album. I should have. It's great. Todd Rundgren was supposed to make this sound less European. I don't think it worked. Reminds me of lots of other artists - older artists like Duran Duran, ELO, Joe Jackson and newer like Blur and the Kaiser Chiefs - but it sounds consistent. Most songs are great, but they could have left the last 2 off. Favorite song: Mermaid Smiled.
4
Feb 18 2023
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Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
This sounds very 1990s. Loop based music, which means it's very repetitive. It has variation in sounds/FX to try to keep it interesting. It's probably better for dancing than for listening. It could have been shorter. The songs are long and the middle of the album is quite boring. Favorite song: Setting Sun.
3
Feb 19 2023
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Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
This is somewhere between Nirvana and Dinosaur Jr, they probably influenced Queens of the Stone Age, but it's not as good as any of them. It's not really bad, but it sounds like they want to rock hard without putting in the effort. It's OK, but not essential. Favorite song: Who You Drivin' Now.
2
Feb 20 2023
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Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Not my style, but it's good. The singing is very much up front and the instruments are very much in the background. She's a very good singer and the harmonies are great, so it works. Favorite song: Where Does It Lead
4
Feb 21 2023
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode definitely belongs on the list. Two albums made it, Violator and this one. This album is good, but I would have included an older album instead. This is a transitional album from the mechanical 80s mode to the more organic 90s mode. It makes more sense to include one of each or the transition. Favorite song: Behind the wheel
4
Feb 22 2023
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Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
It's bluesy rock with spacy synths. It sounds newer than it is. Weird combination of styles. I don't like it. Her voice is quite monotonous. I don't think anyone needs to hear this. Favorite song: Why'd ya do it
1
Feb 23 2023
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
I like her voice. The songs are not bad, but not very memorable. Favorite song: people
3
Feb 24 2023
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
Quite good. No filler. Soundwise somewhere between the Simple Minds and the Cure. Probably influenced Suede and Muse. Favorite song: nocturnal me.
4
Feb 25 2023
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Doolittle
Pixies
Bands as diverse as Drive Like Jehu and Weezer wouldn't be the same without this album. And Nirvana wouldn't either.
It all sounds very simple, but it isn't. The rhythms don't stick to the normal multiples of 4 all the time. A lot of dissonance. The guitar and bass patterns are sometimes intentionally out of sync. The singer is not that great, but he's perfect for the music.
Favorite song: Wave of mutilation.
5
Feb 26 2023
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
If you put everything 70s in a blender, this is what you get. Maybe with an extra touch of Steely Dan and Chicago. It's all played, recorded and arranged very well. Almost too well. Most of the songs are good, but longer than they should have been (especially Rudy). You keep listening, because they have so many changes and something interesting might come up. Despite all the changes it sounds coherent, unlike a lot of their contemporaries. They have two singers. The one who sings the most and the best songs has an annoying voice. Favorite song: dreamer
4
Feb 27 2023
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
It's not bad, but it's all been done at least as good by other bands before them. Somehow this got them to be one of the biggest "indie" rock bands of the late 00s. Favorite song: Still Take You Home.
3
Feb 28 2023
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
The songs are good, but the album could have been a lot better if the singing wasn't as weak. It's too restrained. As if he didn't want to wake up his little baby in the next room. He sounds like he could have done a lot better if he tried. The songwriting reminds me very much of the Posies. Similar chords and melodies. Favorite song: Angeles.
4
Mar 01 2023
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
He has a great voice. I like the live vibe. Half way I got bored. I did finish listening to the record, but I didn't enjoy the 2nd half at all. Too much too similar in a style that I don't like very much in the first place. Favorite song: Folsom prison blues.
3
Mar 02 2023
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Kenya
Machito
I like this a lot. Especially the more up tempo tracks. Favorite track: Wild Jungle
4
Mar 03 2023
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
I thought I would hate this, but it's not that bad. I don't like it, but I understand why people do or did. Probably more did than do, because it sounds very outdated. There's a charm to it like to little kids drawing stick figures. Favorite song: Honey Chile.
2
Mar 04 2023
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Transformer
Lou Reed
At the time I rated this, the average rating was 3.74. That's 3.74 too much. This is a piece of garbage. I can't think of anything positive to say about, except Walk on the Wild Side has a cool bass line. People stop fooling yourselves. This is not good. Least hated song: Walk on the Wild Side.
1
Mar 05 2023
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Sounds newer than it is because of the huge bass sound. Not enough going on in the midrange to my taste. It sounds unfinished because of that. The lyrics are not as cringy as a lot of their contemporaries'. Favorite song: Everything is fair
3
Mar 06 2023
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
It's great for dancing. Songs are a little long for listening. Some are great, some not so much. They should have left off the last couple of songs. Over-all it's a feel good record. It's funkier than a lot of their contemporaries. Kind of a mixture of big beat and house music. More on the house music side, but not as synth based. More sampled. Favorite song: U can't stop me.
3
Mar 07 2023
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
Coincidence. They just played here yesterday. I like this record, but it's a little messy. Everything fell into place on their next record. Favorite song: River Euphrates
4
Mar 08 2023
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Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
Every aspect of tear jerkers done to perfection. I hate tear jerkers. 2 stars for effort.
2
Mar 09 2023
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
It has everything I like in music, except I can't stand the singing. It's weird, but catchy. Favorite song: Space Junk.
3
Mar 10 2023
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Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
They're one of my favorite bands. I like their older records better. Not as long and more manic. But this one is very good too. Favorite song: the glory of man
5
Mar 11 2023
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
To me this sounds like classical musicians trying to play jazz. They're good at it, but it's not as exciting as some other jazz records. It sounds very composed. Favorite song: Take Five, but parts of Blue Rondo a la Turk are better.
3
Mar 12 2023
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Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
Very good. Too short. I didn't think I would ever say that about an album. Favorite song: Strange Feeling.
5
Mar 13 2023
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
This isn't terrible, but it isn't very good. It doesn't live up to its 3.81 average rating so far at all. The lyrics are good. It would have been better as a collection of poetry. But it's music, so the music matters. The songs are way too long. Not enough going on to keep my attention. He's not a very good singer. Guitars are out of tune half of the time. But it's listenable. I can imagine it was quite something when it was new though. Favorite song: Ballad of a thin man.
2
Mar 14 2023
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Pleasant voice. Slow entrancing music. Nothing ground breaking, but not a dime a dozen. I usually don't like this style of music, but this record was a lot better than I expected.
Favorite song: Rococo Zephyr.
4
Mar 15 2023
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Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Kitsch. Novelty. Not even done very well. But it's fun to listen to for a while. Some songs are alright, but there's also some very bland versions of more spicy originals, like Pipeline and Satisfaction. A full album of this is too much. If you need samples for your hip hop or dance music, this record is for you. Otherwise ignore it. In my opinion this doesn't belong on the list. Favorite song: Kiburi.
1
Mar 16 2023
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Hunting High And Low
a-ha
Whoever said A-ha are a one hot wonder has never been to Europe. They were one of the most successful bands of the late 80s over here. They had around 15 big hits, including the title track of a James Bond movie, and 3 top 10 albums. That being said, this album definitely has some filler. Half the songs are good, but the filler really isn't. In general the singles are the good songs. Obviously Take On Me, but also my favorite song on the album: Hunting High And Low.
3
Mar 17 2023
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The Undertones
The Undertones
I never heard the album in full, but I knew a lot of the songs. They're still played between bands at punk rock shows. I think they were very influential in American punk music. Bands like Bad Religion, Descendents and 7 Seconds, the subsequential 90s punk rock boom and newer bands like Pup and Wavves. Probably not so much in British punk, because they went either more aggressive or more arty. Favorite song: I know a girl
4
Mar 18 2023
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Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
Nothing on this album sounds particularly bad or good to me. In one ear, out the other. It sounds more like an album by two artists than like a cooperation because of the different vibe of the songs. Favorite song: Eisler on the go.
3
Mar 19 2023
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
The record sets a specific mood. Probably exactly the mood they intended to set, but not a mood I like or can relate to very much. That being said, it's not bad at all. Favorite song: heresy
3
Mar 20 2023
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
I like listening to this album. I'm 100% sure I heard it a couple of times before. I listened to her entire discography a couple of times. However, I didn't remember any of the songs. They sound good, but they don't stick. It's like a bluesy version of Nirvana and the Pixies. Right up my alley. The drums sound like Nirvana's Nevermind. Favorite song: Rub 'til it bleeds.
4
Mar 21 2023
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Low-Life
New Order
This fits somewhere in the middle between The Cure and Depeche Mode, but it's not as good as either of them. The music is alright, but the singing drags the level down. It doesn't sound like an artistic choice to add character to the music, it's incompetence. The songs are longer than they need to be. There's probably over 1000 better records than this. Favorite song: the perfect kiss.
2
Mar 22 2023
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Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
It sounds like a very long demo. About twice as long as it should be. Apparently the original release didn't have as many songs as the internet version. Some songs are good, most are average. The lyrics are better than the music. Favorite song: Greetings to the new brunette.
2
Mar 23 2023
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Microshift
Hookworms
The record sounds very 2010s arty alternative. The scene was already at its peak when Microshift appeared. They barely caused a microshift, rather than a landslide. I think this style is already covered with Tame Impala and MGMT. Not bad, not essential, not to my taste. There's over 1000 albums more worthy to be on the list. Favorite song: Boxing Day.
3
Mar 24 2023
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E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
I love Sonic Youth. Sister, Daydream Nation and Goo are some of my favorite records. They also made some of the most unlistenable music ever, like the Silver Sessions and this record. Very dissonant, soundscapes rather than songs. Too much of a good thing for me. Favorite song: Expressway to your skull
1
Mar 25 2023
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Decent retro rock album. Nothing new, but it was different from what everybody else was doing at the time. Songs are quite generic, but the singer lifts them to a higher level. Favorite song: She talks to angels.
3
Mar 26 2023
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Second album by one of the original hair metal bands. The style is somewhere between Motley Crue and Def Leppard. A pop version of hard rock. It's more about fun than about art. Not bad, not great. I don't think it's essential. Favorite song: Mental Beat.
3
Mar 27 2023
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New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
This record was popular because it's naughty. It's not terrible, but I don't enjoy most of it very much. Favorite song: Blockheads
2
Mar 28 2023
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
Very good. Only bad thing about this album is, the 2nd song is too long. Favortie song: Big brother.
4
Mar 29 2023
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The Specials
The Specials
Good but not great. Favorite song: (Dawning of a) New Era
3
Mar 30 2023
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Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
It was OK. Better than I expected. Favorite song: Gasoline Alley
3
Mar 31 2023
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
One of the most overrated records ever. I don't like the general vibe of the album, but most of the instrumentation is well crafted. The main problems, it's way too long and the singing is awful at times. Favorite song: is there anybody out there
2
Apr 01 2023
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Thriller
Michael Jackson
This album definitely belongs in the list. I'm not a Michael Jackson fan. I hadn't played the album before, but I knew every single song except the last one. It's not my style, but there's nothing to complain about on this album. Favorite song: wanna be startin' somethin'
4
Apr 02 2023
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Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
To me this has very strong theater nerd or art school vibes. Doesn't mean it's bad, 'cause it's not. Does mean that I don't like it. I don't have the patience for this kind of music. And it's long too. Favorite song: Waiting for you
2
Apr 03 2023
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Some of the songs are too long without the visual support of a movie, but most of them are great on their own. It's mainly instrumental music, so probably not for everyone. Most people value singing too much. Favorite song: No name bar.
3
Apr 04 2023
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The White Stripes did it before them, but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs did it better. No need to listen the Arctic Monkeys anymore once you heard them. One of the first records so far that's too short. Favorite song: Pin
4
Apr 05 2023
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Sister
Sonic Youth
This is one of my favorite albums. It's very noisy, but the noise is catchy. Favorite song: Catholic Block.
5
Apr 06 2023
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
Incoherent mix of folk, psychedelic rock and soul. Not bad, but I don't think I'll play this again. Favorite song: Good time boy
3
Apr 07 2023
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
Couple of good songs and lots of filler. Favorite song: Fever.
2
Apr 08 2023
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Melodrama
Lorde
She sings like she's singing to a baby. That's a little annoying. Otherwise it's good. Favorite song: Hard Feelings.
4
Apr 09 2023
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Stankonia
OutKast
This album is much longer than it should have been. A couple of the funky songs are good. The more hardcore songs are not very good and sound outdated. Too much filler in between. Favorite song: Bombs Over Baghdad.
2
Apr 10 2023
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Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
This is all rhythm and sound design. Techno, but not as bass heavy and entrancing as rave techno. The vibe is more similar to Aphex Twin and maybe Nine Inch Nails. I appreciate the creativity, but I don't like the music very much. Favorite song: theme 4
2
Apr 11 2023
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
Grunge was over, so they made a power pop album. And they did a good job. Not very original, but there isn't a single bad song on this album. Favorite song: Use once and destroy
3
Apr 12 2023
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Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
The Beach Boys did it better, but not by much. Slightly more European vibe to it. Hard to pinpoint what it is. All songs are good, but Time of the Season is obviously the best.
4
Apr 13 2023
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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
I wasn't a big fan of this cowboy rock style in the first place, but by the time "Moved" came up, I really wanted to turn it off. And that was only halfway. None of it is objectively bad, but there's too much of it. Favorite song: dead drunk and naked
2
Apr 14 2023
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Street Signs
Ozomatli
I couldn't find 2 of the songs: not available in my country. The first song sounds promising. Most of the rest of the record is not very exciting. It's Latin pop, but there's more to it. They try to incorporate a lot of styles in their music, but they're not particularly good or bad at any of them. This would not be on the list if I was in charge.
Favorite song by far: Who's to blame
2
Apr 15 2023
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OK Computer
Radiohead
I hated this record when it was new. I don't hate it as much anymore. The singing annoys me a little. Otherwise it's pretty good. Favorite song: Airbag
3
Apr 16 2023
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Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
I think this is underrated. I hadn't heard it before. People don't mention the band very often. They combine lots of styles into a cohesive sound. It has anything from the Beatles to Acid House. And it's all good. Definitely better than the average record on the list. Favorite song: Sidewalk serfer girl
4
Apr 17 2023
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
In my memory this album was better. Most songs are longer than they should be. Some are great, some just drag along. I don’t like the vocal harmonies most of the time. Favorite song: would
3
Apr 18 2023
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
This sounds like a lot of music I heard before, but nothing I know sounds like this. The bass player is really good. Almost half of the songs were hits. My favorite song is not one of those: right through you.
4
Apr 19 2023
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Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
This sounds like a more intense version of the most intense Nirvana, Fugazi or Sonic Youth songs. I like this record, but it's a little too repetitive and dissonant for the sake of being dissonant at times. I like most of John Reis' other bands better (Hot Snakes, Rocket from the Crypt, Plosivs, etc.) and some of the bands this band influenced are among my favorites, like At the drive-in and Refused. Favorite song: Do You Compute.
4
Apr 20 2023
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Tapestry
Carole King
About half of this record is wallpaper music, the other half is very good. Favorite song: Home again
3
Apr 21 2023
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Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
I don't like this record. The music is too monotonous for me and the singing is annoying, but it sounds completely intentional. I'm convinced they tried to sound like this and succeeded. Favorite song: All The King's Men.
2
Apr 22 2023
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
They put punk on the map overnight, so they definitely belong on the list. That being said, I like a lot of the bands they influenced better. Favorite song: Pretty Vacant.
3
Apr 23 2023
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
It's a good album. Some songs are great, some are good, none are bad. But there's three Simon and Garfunkel albums on the list. I like the other two better. That makes this record a good candidate to make way for newer artists. Favorite song: The Dangling Conversation
3
Apr 24 2023
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
I don't understand what emotion this music is trying to caption or evoke. The songwriting is creative, but the performance and production are about as boring as it gets. Very listenable, though. Very inoffensive. Favorite song: Parker's Band
3
Apr 25 2023
View Album
Virgin Suicides
Air
I can understand why people would like this, but I don't. It reminds me of Pink Floyd. Not my taste, but it's obviously quality music. Favorite song: Empty House.
3
Apr 26 2023
View Album
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
Couple of good parts and a lot of rubbish. Favorite song: Praise You.
2
Apr 27 2023
View Album
Space Ritual
Hawkwind
I think a double album is too much. They could have made a great single album from these recordings. The first couple of songs are very good. The singing is not entirely up to par. Maybe that's why there's not so much of it. Then the middle part is not very interesting to me. My favorite song is near the end: Master of the Universe.
3
Apr 28 2023
View Album
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Very good. Every song is good. But it's not his best. Favorite song: They won't go when I go.
4
Apr 29 2023
View Album
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
This album is not all about the music. It's as much about acting and styling and story telling. The Ziggy Stardust persona was a big part of the success, I imagine (I wasn't born yet). That's the main merit of this record, not the music. The singing is a little flat almost all the time. The band sounds more like individual musicians than like a solid unit. The drums sound weak and they drag slightly. Guitar sounds boxy. Overall the timing is a little shaky. The songs are not bad, but not great. Similar to what the Small Faces and the Kinks already did better before. All in all it's not terrible, but the current 4.3 average rating is too generous. Favorite song: Suffragette City.
3
Apr 30 2023
View Album
The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Every song has at least one good idea, but none of the songs are good from start to finish. I think I understand what the appeal of this music is. The singing is very annoying, but the good parts are really good. I hear echoes of this album in the obvious Joy Division and Gang of Four etc., but also early U2 and later Dead Kennedys. Favorite song: overground, because it's the most consistent.
3
May 01 2023
View Album
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
It’s all a blur to me. No catchy hooks, hardly any dynamics, songs are way too long. If you play as many extra notes in a chord, every chord sounds the same. Pointless.
2
May 02 2023
View Album
Vespertine
Björk
This would be great as a very dark and dramatic movie soundtrack. The singing is an acquired taste. Favorite song: Heirloom
3
May 03 2023
View Album
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
I knew Marlene on the Wall before and I like it. Most of the record didn't live up to my expectations. Favorite song: Freeze Tag.
2
May 04 2023
View Album
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
I think their next 2 albums are better, but this was a huge step forward from Licenced to Ill. It's funky and it has enough variation. I don't like all the songs, but there's definitely some good ones on this record. They shout too much.
I'm not an expert on hip hop. I don't know how this compares to other hip hop from the same time. To me it sounds somewhere in the middle between Dela Soul and Public Enemy, but that's just me.
Favorite song: Eggman
3
May 05 2023
View Album
The Score
Fugees
They were very popular, but they were pop hip hop rather than innovators. Compared to the other hip hop on the list so far, this is a little boring. Favorite song: Fu-gee-la
2
May 06 2023
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
Not the greatest record ever, but I like it. Favorite song: Grande Finale.
3
May 07 2023
View Album
All Hail the Queen
Queen Latifah
She's better than the Digital Undergrounds and Salt-n-Pepas of the world, but that's what I associate this sound with. And that's a bad thing. Favorite song: Wrath of my madness
2
May 08 2023
View Album
At Budokan
Cheap Trick
Over-all a very good power pop album. The most important part is good, the songs. Except maybe the 2 long songs in the middle. Favorite song: Goodnight.
4
May 09 2023
View Album
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
I don't like it, but it belongs on the list. Favorite song: Fiesta.
3
May 10 2023
View Album
Cut
The Slits
Post-punk dub or something. I like it. That is, I like every song by itself, but an entire album is too much. Favorite song: instant hit
3
May 11 2023
View Album
Sea Change
Beck
Not bad at all, but I like most of his other albums better.
Favorite song: Paper Tiger
3
May 12 2023
View Album
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
It's good. Towards the end it gets a little boring. Favorite song: the jungle line
4
May 13 2023
View Album
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
I heard about half of the songs before. And while they're good songs, I don't like them. I didn't like the songs I didn't know before either. I never thought about why, but while listening to the full album I found a couple of reasons. The performance in general sounds very lazy to me, unexciting. The singing makers me want to yawn alinea. And all songs are a couple of bpm off of the ideal tempo. Favorite song: god put a smile upon your face.
3
May 14 2023
View Album
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
It's a wall of sound. Very monotonous. Production is not that great, but that's not uncommon for live albums. It's fun for as long as it is. It shouldn't have been any longer. Favorite song: the roadcrew
3
May 15 2023
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Manassas
Stephen Stills
Played well, sang well, just not my taste. The more psychedelic songs are OK, I hate the more Americana songs. Favorite song: it doesn't matter
2
May 16 2023
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
I understand the importance, but I like my music more succinct. Favorite song: so what
3
May 17 2023
View Album
Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
I usually don't have the patience for this kind of music, but this didn't annoy me. Probably underrated, because very few people mention them these days. On the other hand, they're not as good as Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. Favorite song: when you love.
3
May 18 2023
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Elastica
Elastica
I like most of the songs, but this record is not essential. They were followers, not leaders. Almost every song reminds me of an older song by someone else. But in a good way. Favorite song: Smile
3
May 19 2023
View Album
Guero
Beck
I like this a lot better than his album Sea Change, that I got about a week ago. Especially the first half. Favorite song: Black Tambourine.
4
May 20 2023
View Album
Ace of Spades
Motörhead
Somehow more than one motorhead album made it to the list. With a lot of the dame songs. It only needs one and it's this one. It's a very influential album for both heavy metal and hardcore punk. They do one trick, but they do it well enough to justify a 36 minute album. Favorite song: Bite the bullet.
3
May 21 2023
View Album
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
I like this album. The melodies and the instrumentation are good. They set a very specific mood. Recognizable. Unique enough for the list. I usually like shorter songs, but these songs seem shorter than they actually are. I like this record. However, I can't think of any occasions on which I would want to put on a record like this. Favorite song: the fix.
4
May 22 2023
View Album
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
I don't understand why this would be good for airports. This would be perfect background music for a David Attenborough documentary or something, but the music by itself is extremely boring. Nobody needs to hear this album before they die.
1
May 23 2023
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Ramones
Ramones
This record was a necessary step in the evolution of music. It's been done a lot better by thousands of bands after them, but they couldn't have done it without this record. Favorite song: I don't want to walk around with you.
2
May 24 2023
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
This is an improved version of The Scream. I like it better. It kind of has the same issues to some extent. I don't like the singing much and most songs are good, but not from start to finish. Favorite song: Into the light.
3
May 25 2023
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
I hadn't heard this band before, because I hate Lou Reed's solo work. It's not as bad as I expected. It's good for a while and then it's very repetitive. I understand why this record is important. I like some artists who were obviously influenced by it, like Sonic Youth and the Pixies. Favorite song: The Gift
2
May 26 2023
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Woodface
Crowded House
I never played this record before, but I knew quite a lot of songs. Good pop record. It could have been great if they skipped a couple of songs. Favorite song: four seasons in one day.
3
May 27 2023
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Illmatic
Nas
I heard it before. I didn't remember a single track. Most of the beats are not very interesting to me. I wouldn't rate this as the top hip hop album of all time, as many reviewers say. But I don't hate it. Favorite song: the world is yours.
3
May 28 2023
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Paris 1919
John Cale
Well crafted music. The singing isn’t terrible, but his voice is boring. He was one of the members of the Velvet Underground. This record is the opposite. Favorite song: Paris 1919.
2
May 29 2023
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
I knew most of the songs before, but not all of them. A lot of variation, and it’s all good. No atrocities like yellow submarine or ob la di. Production is not great. It’s was new and everybody was still learning. Favorite song is hard to pick, ‘cause they’re so different: Girl.
4
May 30 2023
View Album
I Should Coco
Supergrass
I already knew a couple of songs. They were popular over here. I never heard the entire album before. I like it. Most songs are great, no bad ones. Favorite song: strange ones
4
May 31 2023
View Album
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
Fascinating record. It's weird and objectively bad sometimes, but it seems intentional. I bet they had a good laugh making this. Favorite song: Waltz of the New Moon
3
Jun 01 2023
View Album
90
808 State
It sounds maybe 5 years newer than it is. Lots of attention to detail regarding the drums. The bass and the rest of the music are sometimes in completely different keys. It definitely belongs on the list, but I don't like it very much. Favorite song: anacodia.
3
Jun 02 2023
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
A greatest hits of Aretha Franklin album would be great from start to finish. This album has a couple of songs that would definitely make it onto that, and also a lot of dime a dozen Fats Domino style rhythm and blues. None of it is bad, but not all of it is great. Favorite song: don't let me lose this dream
3
Jun 03 2023
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Sound Affects
The Jam
All of the songs have great parts. Most have a couple of unpleasant transitions or chord changes. The singing is flat sometimes, especially the harmonies. Favorite song: boy about town
3
Jun 04 2023
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A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
They managed to perfectly capture the sound of indifference. The songs are way too long. Otherwise not particularly good or bad. I only knew Tinseltown in the Rain before. Favorite song: Stay
2
Jun 05 2023
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Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
I hadn't heard of her before. A lot of the music reminds me of Lauryn Hill with more modern production (low end way out of proportion etc.) Not bad, but I'm not sure many people will remember this in 20 years. Favorite song: the other side.
2
Jun 06 2023
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Moondance
Van Morrison
It's alright. Sounds old. Not sure if I like his voice. Favorite song: Everyone
3
Jun 07 2023
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
I like it. There's so much going on. Favorite song: son of mr. green genes.
4
Jun 08 2023
View Album
Pelican West
Haircut 100
I knew their name, but not their music. In my head they were Duran Duran wannabes. Not too far off at times, but it doesn't do them justice. They're funkier. More guitars and horns. Not bad at all. Pleasant surprise. But after around 20 minutes, they couldn't keep my attention anymore. Favorite song: lemon firebrigade
3
Jun 09 2023
View Album
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
Very smooth folky jazz. Very well done. A little too smooth for me, but I can understand why people like it. Favorite song: cold cold heart
3
Jun 10 2023
View Album
Low
David Bowie
I didn't like either the Bowie or the Eno records I got before very much. But this one is alright. They obviously bring out the best in each other. The best thing is, Bowie doesn't sing much. Favorite song: a new career in a new town.
4
Jun 11 2023
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White Ladder
David Gray
It's ok, but never great. Better than I expected, but I had very low expectations. A lot of the songs remind me of songs by different artists. Not good enough to put it on myself, not bad enough to turn it off. Favorite song: we're not right
2
Jun 12 2023
View Album
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
This is from the time when an album was the singles plus B-sides and other filler. As one would expect, it has a couple of great songs and lots of filler. Most of the filler is not too bad. Favorite song: Under My Thumb
3
Jun 13 2023
View Album
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Most of it is good. Favorite song: Happy feelin
3
Jun 14 2023
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New Wave
The Auteurs
Not terrible, but nothing special. Favorite song: bailed out
2
Jun 15 2023
View Album
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Psychedelic soul done to perfection. I don't even mind the falsetto singing. Favorite song: blue monday people
4
Jun 16 2023
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Infected
The The
This has almost everything people hate about 80s music and it doesn't have much of what people love about it. Favorite song: angels of deception
2
Jun 17 2023
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The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
Better than I expected, but not something I would ever play much. Favorite song: the robots
3
Jun 18 2023
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
I rated the Chic album from the same year 3 stars. This one is slightly better. More varied, some songs are better, some songs are not that long. But it's not worth 4 stars. Favorite song: lost in music
3
Jun 19 2023
View Album
Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
I don't know this style of music very well, so I don't know how it compares to similar music. I don't hate it, but the songs should have been a lot shorter. Favorite song: yaadan vichre sajan dian aiyan
2
Jun 20 2023
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
This is my favorite Hendrix record. It shows the widest range of his capabilities. A little out of control at times, but that's great. Favorite song: crosstown traffic.
4
Jun 21 2023
View Album
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
I understand what's good about this. I think this album was a necessary step in the development of music, but I don't recommend going back to it anymore. It's a little too sweet for me. Production sounds very thin. The B-side is more interesting than the A-side. Favorite song: tribal gathering.
2
Jun 22 2023
View Album
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
First impression was, I liked it a lot. But they couldn't keep my attention all the way to the end. Favorite song: slavery days
3
Jun 23 2023
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
It has some moments of genius, but some of the record is just bad. Favorite song: there she goes again
3
Jun 24 2023
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
I don't think this recorded adds much to the list. It's a lot like Dark Side Of The Moon. While DSOTM was not as boring as I remembered, this record was more boring than I remembered. Over 2 minutes to the first chord change, for god's sake.
2
Jun 25 2023
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Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Not bad, I just don't like the vibe of most songs. Favorite song: our house.
3
Jun 26 2023
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Queen II
Queen
I don't think this is essential. It's good, but the list also has their next two records. Those are the essential ones. This doesn't bring anything much different to the list and the newer records are better. They should have included one of their 80s synth heavy records like The Works instead, to show more of the bands versatility. Favorite song: Ogre Battle.
3
Jun 27 2023
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
I don't get it. I think you must have been there when it was new to fully appreciate it. Favorite song: I want you.
2
Jun 28 2023
View Album
Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
I saw them at a festival around that time. Not very impressive. I never checked out their records. I like it better than I thought I would. Not all of it, but it has a lot of good parts, besides the weird parts. I also understand this doesn't work very well live. Favorite song: identity
3
Jun 29 2023
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
Not bad, but nothing special. It's been done a lot better by lots of people. Favorite song: Atlantic City
2
Jun 30 2023
View Album
Music
Madonna
This is not in the latest issues of the book anymore. Probably because it's not different enough from Ray of Light. It's not the worst album on the list by far, so that can't be the reason. It's alright. Not a record I would pick myself. Favorite song: What it feels like for a girl
3
Jul 01 2023
View Album
The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
I didn't think I'd like it, but I did. His flow is amazing. Favorite song: Alexander's ragtime band.
3
Jul 02 2023
View Album
Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
The rhythm guitars are great. Very melodic with lots of maj7 and 9 chords etc. Probably influential to late 90s/early 2000s emo like Sunny Day Real Estate and the Get Up Kids. Not all songs are very interesting. The singing is a little flat at times. I'm not sure about the lyrics. Favorite song by far: Debonair.
3
Jul 03 2023
View Album
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
I appreciate the creativity, but the music not so much. Somewhere in the middle between Zappa and Supertramp. Very 70s. It's all over the place. So it's not all bad. Production is so so. Favorite song: Tic tic tic
2
Jul 04 2023
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Violator
Depeche Mode
First song is not that great, the rest of the album is. Even the bonus tracks. Favorite song: Enjoy the silence
4
Jul 05 2023
View Album
The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
I saw them at a festival and I didn't like them. I never listened to their albums. The songs are not bad, but the singing is. Favorite song: race for the prize
3
Jul 06 2023
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Bubble And Scrape
Sebadoh
It's hit and miss. Not essential to me. Favorite song: Homemade
2
Jul 07 2023
View Album
Private Dancer
Tina Turner
She's a good singer, but her voice is a complete mismatch with the super clean emotionless 80s production. Quite a few cover songs. None of them are better than the original. I don't like the originals on this album very much either. Favorite song: I can't stand the rain.
1
Jul 08 2023
View Album
Document
R.E.M.
Great. First record I got for this challenge was Automatic for the People. That's boring. This is a lot better. A lot. Favorite song: The One I Love
4
Jul 09 2023
View Album
Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
It's a weird record. At times it seems completely random, off the beat and incompetent, at times it's genius. Over-all it's a mess. The male singer annoys me. He sings most of the time. It's still a good addition to the list, if only to show people what's possible. Favorite song: stillness is the move
2
Jul 10 2023
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Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
I can't listen around the awful production. Hurts my ears. Least hated song: Come back to me
1
Jul 11 2023
View Album
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
It's not terrible, but a little boring. Same level of intensity all the time. Sounds like one very long song. Favorite song: under the pressure
3
Jul 12 2023
View Album
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
It's pretty good from start to finish. One song stands out: California dreaming
3
Jul 13 2023
View Album
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
You could make a best of Elvis Costello record and it would be one of my favorite albums. But his regular albums have to much filler besides the couple of great songs. Nothing bad, but just not that great. Favorite song: Accidents will happen.
3
Jul 14 2023
View Album
Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
I'm sure there's over 1000 more essential albums than this. This is the musical equivalent of color by numbers. Everything by the book. The result is not really bad, but it's not exciting in any way. Favorite song: blue moon rose
2
Jul 15 2023
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C'est Chic
CHIC
2 Chic albums on the list. Very generous. They're not bad, but they're pretty much the same. The songs are long and repetitive, with subtle changes in the arrangement. Perfect for dancing, not as much for listening. I'd keep this one on the list and remove Risque. Favorite song: funny bone
3
Jul 16 2023
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Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
It sounds outdated, but it's not the worst of that time. The singing is not that good. The rapping has a more natural flow than a lot of her contemporaries. The first three songs were big hits here, but they definitely wouldn't be if they were released now. Favorite song: So Here I Come.
2
Jul 17 2023
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Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
Not bad, not great. Incoherent. It wouldn't be on my version of the list. Favorite song: supernatural defibrillator.
2
Jul 18 2023
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
I like it. Favorite song: the blues to be there.
4
Jul 19 2023
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Dog Man Star
Suede
It's alright. A little long. They're a key early Britpop band. Probably underrated, but only slightly. They probably listened to the Smiths and David Bowie and Echo and the Bunnymen. I like them better than Oasis, but I don't like Oasis very much. Favorite song: the asphalt world
3
Jul 20 2023
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The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
Nothing objectively bad about, but it's not my taste. Favorite song: Fly by night
3
Jul 21 2023
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Yeezus
Kanye West
A lot better than I expected. A lot. But some of the lyrics are very immature. Favorite song: BLKKK SKKKN HEAD.
4
Jul 22 2023
View Album
Fragile
Yes
There's a lot going on. I don't like all of it. It has really good parts to listen to and parts that are just for showing off their skills, sometimes both in one song. The good parts are really good, the showing off is not very annoying most of the time. Favorite song: the fish
3
Jul 23 2023
View Album
Very
Pet Shop Boys
There's 3 pet shop boys albums on the list. PSB definitely belong on the list, but not 3 albums and not this one. It's not bad, it's not great. Favorite song: Yesterday When I Was Mad. But really none of the songs are very memorable.
2
Jul 24 2023
View Album
Truth
Jeff Beck
This is good. On par with Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. A little too bluesy for my taste at times, but so are Hendrix and Zep. Lyrics are not very good. Favorite song: Morning Dew.
4
Jul 25 2023
View Album
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
It's a bit of Led Zeppelin and a bit of The Band, but not as good as either of them. In all fairness, they were there before The Band. They know how to play, but the songs are not very interesting to me. Favorite song: I ain't the one. Because they obviously aren't.
2
Jul 26 2023
View Album
Dummy
Portishead
I thought I'd only know 1 or 2 songs off this album. Turns out I knew about half of the album. Must be a classic then. I like it. Favorite song: roads.
4
Jul 27 2023
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
This is probably on the list because it's the most mediocre record ever. I can't think of any other reason. It's not good, it's not bad, it's right in the middle. Generic alt. country. In one ear, out the other. Favorite song: Transylvanian Blues.
2
Jul 28 2023
View Album
Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
Some songs are good, some are just Ok. I read a lot of reviews blaming him for not playing real enough reggae. The Rolling Stones were not playing real enough blues and people worship them anyway. This record is obviously not pure Jamaican reggae. It also has big beat and trip hop influences. And that’s fine. Favorite song: sunday shining
3
Jul 29 2023
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Is This It
The Strokes
It's OK, but very much of the same. The Brits did it better. Favorite song: hard to explain
3
Jul 30 2023
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Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
I liked their other record on the list better. A-side 4 stars, B-side 2.5 stars. Solid 3 stars. Favorite song: Tarkus
3
Jul 31 2023
View Album
Boston
Boston
I like their 2nd album better. It's more consistent. This one has some great songs (obviously More Than A Feeling), but also too many generic 70s rock parts (like Smokin'). Favorite song: More Than A Feeling.
4
Aug 01 2023
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
Somehow I'm not convinced of the sincerity, but most of the songs are good. Favorite song: She's always a woman
3
Aug 02 2023
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Well done, but not very memorable. I don't remember what my favorite song is. It's not the title track.
2
Aug 03 2023
View Album
Kala
M.I.A.
Very percussive and repetitive, very little else going on. It's not just your typical hip hop percussion, but also some exotic samples. I guess that's why it's on the list. Fine. It's just not for me. Favorite song: the turn
2
Aug 04 2023
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Shadowland
k.d. lang
I like her voice. I like the lyrics. I don't like the music very much.
Favorite song: black coffee
2
Aug 05 2023
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
I like a lot of bands that were influenced by them, but I don't like the Talking Heads themselves as much. Singing is annoying. Songs are too monotonous. Not terrible, but it doesn't stick. Favorite song: who is it
2
Aug 06 2023
View Album
KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
This is the missing link between thrash and nu metal. It's not missing anymore. To me when this came out, it was a noisier, more sarcastic, less heavy version of what Godflesh already did a couple of years before. Favorite song: Psalm 69.
3
Aug 07 2023
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Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
What a waste of talent. The man made some great music in the 60s and then he made this. It doesn't sound very original or very good.
2
Aug 08 2023
View Album
...And Justice For All
Metallica
I played this a lot when I was young. I still like it. On the other hand, I don't recommend this record. You had to be there when it was new to fully appreciate it. Master of Puppets was better. Most of the songs are too long. The singing is not that good. It's not very heavy by today's standards. Lots of people complain about the lack of bass, but it wouldn't be as tight and punchy with more bass. Favorite song: Battery
4
Aug 09 2023
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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
The good parts are really good, but it is sooooooo long. Way too long. They could have made a 5 star single album instead. Favorite song: Back in NYC
3
Aug 10 2023
View Album
Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
Weird album. It took a couple of tracks to learn to ignore the terrible singing. Still not that great once you can. Kind of reminds me of the last record by the Clash, which was terrible.
1
Aug 11 2023
View Album
Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby
Girls Against Boys
I only knew one of their newer records before. This record is a lot better. Sludgy post-hardcore. People who liked them were probably also into Fugazi, the Jesus Lizard and maybe Quicksand and Helmet. GvsB have a less harsh, more laid-back vibe. The songs are repetitive and long, but I like them. Favorite song: Billy's One Stop.
3
Aug 12 2023
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
It's alright. They sound very European for an American band. They remind me of Pulp and Editors at times. The songs are good enough to justify their popularity. Nothing annoying about any of them. Easy to listen to. A lot of the songs go in one ear and out the other. Favorite song: Somebody Told Me.
3
Aug 13 2023
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Bad Company
Bad Company
70s rock. Easy to listen to. Lots of ballads and the occasional hard rocker. The genre has been done to death in 70s and 80s, so I'm not really impressed. It's definitely above average, though. Favorite song: movin' on.
3
Aug 14 2023
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Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
It sounds 10 years newer than it is. Doesn't mean I like it. It's not terrible, but I hate the singing. I haven't heard their other records. Judging by the reviews, they have a more essential one. So I'd take this off the list. Favorite song: Expectations
2
Aug 15 2023
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The Doors
The Doors
Most of the songs are great. Some aren't. Probably their most consistent album. Favorite song: Light My Fire.
4
Aug 16 2023
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
'90s psychedelic rock with an annoying voice. If you can stand the singing, it's probably quite good, but I can't. Favorite song: Pick up if you're there, because it's instrumental.
2
Aug 17 2023
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Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
This record could have only been made in 1981. Tom Tom Club were a novelty act. I don't hate this record as much as I thought I would, but I don't like it very much. Songs are long and repetitive. It's fun for a couple of minutes. An entire album is too much. Favorite song: Lorelei.
2
Aug 18 2023
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Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
Rhythm and blues with ironic lyrics on social issues. It's alright. Not really my style, but it's done well. I would probably like every song if it popped up in some playlist of random music, but an entire album is too much for me. Favorite song: Louisiana 1927
3
Aug 19 2023
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Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
In a time when people associated soul with Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey and similar super slick music, Amy Winehouse put the soul back in soul. Great record. Very influential. Favorite song: Rehab
5
Aug 20 2023
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Not bad, but for the most part not very interesting. The songs are nothing special. Playing is good enough, but not great. "Clapton is god" was obviously based on his '60s work, not on this. Favorite song: Mainline Florida.
2
Aug 21 2023
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Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
The good parts are really good, the bad parts are a mess. There are quite a few good parts, but also quite a few bad parts. I like it, but I can imagine it's not for everyone. I like it a lot better than Malkmus' other SIlver Jews that I reviewed before. Favorite song: Conduit for sale.
3
Aug 22 2023
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Graceland
Paul Simon
That bass guitar is really amazing. The songs are alright, but some should have been a little shorter. It was definitely different from what was popular at the time. Last 2 songs feel a little out of place. It's not one of my own favorite albums, but no doubt at all it belongs on the list. The youtube playlist is very uneven mastering wise. Favorite song: Under African Skies
4
Aug 23 2023
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Music From Big Pink
The Band
I just finished playing the entire record. It sounded good while it was on, but it doesn't have anything that stands out. I don't remember a single song. I think it's 2.5 stars. The average rating so far is a little too high, so I round it down.
2
Aug 24 2023
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
Feel good music, even though it's the blues for the most part. Favorite song: Green Onions, but they're all good.
4
Aug 25 2023
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Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
It's been done a lot better after them. It sounds clumsy by today's standards, not essential at all.
2
Aug 26 2023
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Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
They became famous despite having Axl Rose as their singer. This album was one of the first I bought as a kid, so I played it a lot. Over the years it's moved to the bottom of the stack and I hadn't played it for years until now. I didn't remember all the songs. That means not all of them are great. About half of the record is awesome, the other half is just OK. Favorite song: Welcome to the Jungle.
4
Aug 27 2023
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We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
I appreciate the creativity, but it's exhausting to listen to. I'm glad I heard it, but it was the last time. Especially the "funny" voice FX are annoying. The humor is hit and miss, more miss than hit. It's very much about 60s themes, like hippie culture, and I guess you have to be in on it to appreciate it. Or maybe it was never funny. Favorite song: flower punk, which is obviously a parody of Hey Joe.
2
Aug 28 2023
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Survivor
Destiny's Child
Pop perfection. Intricate rhythms. Enough variation in chord progressions and melodies. Too many ad libs for my taste, but I can live with it. Favorite song: fancy.
4
Aug 29 2023
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
The album has a handful of above average hip hop tracks, but with 2/3 I wondered why anyone would even consider recording it. The man is full of contempt and obsessed with sex and violence. I'm pretty sure the world became a little better the day he died. Favorite song: things done changed.
2
Aug 30 2023
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
Nice but a bit samey. At least the samey parts are good. Favortie song: Mercy Mercy Me
3
Aug 31 2023
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Under Construction
Missy Elliott
It's alright, but I lost interest after about 7 songs. Favorite song: Back in the day
3
Sep 01 2023
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The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
I never heard this full album before. I remembered a couple of songs from when they were hits back in the day. I love the production. Most of the songs are good. Some are a little boring. The voice is an acquired taste. Favorite song: Living in another world
4
Sep 02 2023
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
There's nothing wrong with this album, it just doesn't resonate with me. Favorite song: Longer Boats.
2
Sep 03 2023
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
This could have been a good post-punk album if literally anybody else sang it. This guy is even worse than Loud Reed. I hate Lou Reed. The bonus tracks are awful. Favorite song: Glam-racket
2
Sep 04 2023
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En-Tact
The Shamen
It's not terrible as background music. Not very good to actively listen to. Obviously made for dancing, but I don't think anyone would dance if you played it at a party these days. It sounds very outdated. Way too long. Favorite song: Move any mountain. (it's on the US version)
2
Sep 05 2023
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Horses
Patti Smith
The beginning is dull, later on it becomes better. Or maybe it just took some getting used to. Favorite song: Kimberly.
3
Sep 06 2023
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Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
Not really my taste, but I understand what people like about it. Favorite song: Omaha.
3
Sep 07 2023
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Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
I knew the album before this one, but only 2 songs off of this one. I like it. The other record was more grunge like. This is leaning towards the pop side of nu metal like Incubus and Alien Ant Farm, but with a much better singer. Favorite song: Tracy's Flaw
4
Sep 08 2023
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G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
Only problem is, it's too long. It's not particularly good at any of the genres it blends, but I like the blend. Favorite song: this ain't living.
3
Sep 09 2023
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
It's good, but very samey. Favorite song: I hung my head
3
Sep 10 2023
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
The music is very good. Lyrics... Half of them are basic dick and bitches hip hop lyrics that make you look stupid, no matter how eloquent you are. The other half is pretty good with recurring motifs etc. Favorite song: God is gangsta.
3
Sep 11 2023
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
This album is a lot better than their first one. It has great songs like War Pigs and Planet Caravan, but it also has the atrocity that is Iron Man. Not a big fan of the titel track either. Favorite song: war pigs
3
Sep 12 2023
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
Besides the hits, I only knew their 1st two albums. They had some good ideas and lots of filler. This album doesn’t have any filler. Apparently critics say this is the album that finally combined their influences to a sound of their own. Probably true. I’m not a big fan of the overly dramatic style of singing, but I think it complements the music well. And it’s instantly recognizable as either Radiohead or Muse. The music is put together very well. There’s a lot going on and none of it is coincidence. Favorite song: map of the problematique
4
Sep 13 2023
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Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
I like most of it, but the 13+ minutes Sagar is booooring. Favorite song: snow flower.
3
Sep 14 2023
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Cross
Justice
Nice electro disco. It starts of great, but there’s definitely some filler on this record. Favorite song: newjack.
3
Sep 15 2023
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
I already got their newer album Sound Affects before. The song structures of this album make more sense to me. Paul Weller always sings a little flat, but less on this album. So this album is slightly better. But not enough for an extra star. Favorite song: A-bomb on Wardour Street.
3
Sep 16 2023
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
This is by far their worst album. It's also their most important one. I loved it when it was new and I was 10, but it didn't age well. The flow is very unnatural. The samples are very short loops and a lot of the time it's just a drum machine with rapping. Favorite song: no sleep til brooklyn.
2
Sep 17 2023
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
I liked this better than The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, which was also very good. Favorite song: Car on a Hill
4
Sep 18 2023
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Forever Changes
Love
Yesterday I got Joni Mitchell. So this is a little disappointing. It’s not bad, but nothing that hasn’t been done better. Some of the chord progressions are very far fetched. Not essential if you ask me. Favorite song: you set the scene.
2
Sep 19 2023
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
I liked this better than the debut. It has the same flaws to less extent. Repetitive, annoying singing. Favorite song: Warning sign
3
Sep 20 2023
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
Good with a couple of songs that are almost great. Favorite song: Candy's room
4
Sep 21 2023
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Hypnotised
The Undertones
I like it, but their debut was better. Favorite song: Hypnotised
3
Sep 22 2023
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Sheet Music
10cc
If Queen made a yacht rock album, it would sound something like this. It shas a lot of variation. For the most part it's good. The not so good parts are short. Favorite song: worst band in the world.
4
Sep 23 2023
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
It's alright. Some of the songs are a little too predictable. The singing is full on all the time. Would have been better with more dynamics. Favorite song: Green River.
3
Sep 24 2023
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Better than I expected. Repetitive, but somehow it works. Favorite song: Them Belly Full
4
Sep 25 2023
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Triangle
The Beau Brummels
I don't understand why everybody needs to hear this before they die. It's not terrible, but it's not good. Favorite song: Only dreaming now.
2
Sep 26 2023
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
The songs are good, but I can't stand the flat singing. Would have been an extra star with a different singer. Favorite song: neigborhood #2.
3
Sep 27 2023
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Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
I read the reviews and lots of people compare them to the Strokes. I don't hear it. It's like comparing Cheap Trick to the Sex Pistols. The strokes are a drunk indie band, the hives are excited rock 'roll puppies. Favorite song: Outsmarted
4
Sep 28 2023
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My Generation
The Who
Great. Favorite song: la-la-la-lies
4
Sep 29 2023
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Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Booooring. Next. I mean, it's very monotonous. Whatever interesting may be going on in the background is drowned out completely by the bass and the singing. Especially the bass is very monotonous. I don't like falsetto singing and he does that almost all the time. The harmonies all sound the same. The shortest song is 4:20, which is already too long. I hate all the songs. Music like this should be actively discouraged.
1
Sep 30 2023
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This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
There's too many Elvis Costello records on the list, but this one belongs on the list. Favorite song: the beat
5
Oct 01 2023
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When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
This is great, but they should have made a shorter album. They only had about 30 minutes worth of good ideas and made a 54 minute record. I like their noisier records they made before better. Favorite song: Chocolat.
3
Oct 02 2023
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
Child in Time is awful. The rest is great. Basically a tighter, better version of Led Zeppelin with an organ. Favorite song: speed king
4
Oct 03 2023
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From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
He’s a great singer. Obviously. First songs are ok and then it just keeps getting better almost until the end. Favorite song: suspicious minds.
4
Oct 04 2023
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OK
Talvin Singh
I thought I'd hate it, but I didn't. It does what it's supposed to do, entrance you. Favorite song: OK.
4
Oct 05 2023
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Achtung Baby
U2
I like some U2 records, but this one not so much. I think this is their take on the Madchester sound that had been around for a couple of years already. It's neither groundbreaking nor very good IMHO. Favorite song: Ultra Violet.
2
Oct 06 2023
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Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
I think I understand what people like about this record. I just don't like it very much myself. It's good enough and original enough to be on the list. Favorite song: Frou-frou foxes in midsummer fires
3
Oct 07 2023
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The Yes Album
Yes
A while ago I got to rate their next record Fragile. I gave it 3 stars. This record sounds more natural than Fragile. I like it better. I still don't like the singer's voice very much. Favorite song: Yours is no disgrace.
4
Oct 08 2023
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Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
Let's be honest. The Cramps were not famous for being great musicians. Their main claim to fame is the manic freakshow they put on live. That was really something. The music is a very punk version of rockabilly. Horror lyrics, but the real horror is the music: out of tune, off the beat. Favorite song by far: their cover of Fever.
2
Oct 09 2023
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Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
The vocal harmonies are a bit too much at times, some of the spacey sound effects are annoying, but most of this album is really good. Favorite song: Everybody's been burned.
4
Oct 10 2023
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Some of the songs are great, others are generic stadium country rock. Favorite song: glory days
3
Oct 11 2023
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Aqualung
Jethro Tull
It's not terrible but not great. They combine hard rock and folk. The hard rock is not very good compared to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. The folk is just OK. Favorite song: Mother Goose.
2
Oct 12 2023
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Odelay
Beck
It's Beck. He does whatever he wants. Some of it's great, most of it just exists. Usually I like the first half of an album better and lose interest after a while. On this record I like the second half better. Favorite song: Minus.
3
Oct 13 2023
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Highly Evolved
The Vines
I never checked them out. They were always bracketed together with the Strokes. I didn't like the Strokes very much. I like the Vines better. If Nirvana were a brit pop band from Australia, they would have sounded like this. 3.5 stars. Favorite song: Outtathaway
3
Oct 14 2023
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Parachutes
Coldplay
If you have trouble getting to sleep, this album is for you. I literally fell asleep listening to this record. Middle of the day. Never happens.
It's not as polished as their newer records, so that's good. None of the songs are bad, but I don't understand how they got to be one of the biggest bands of the world. Favorite song: Shiver.
2
Oct 15 2023
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
All the songs are pretty much the same, but it's good. More bands should have songs as short as these. I like the intensity of the performance. Favorite song: doesn't really matter because they're all the same.
3
Oct 16 2023
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Basket of Light
Pentangle
I hadn't heard it before. Pleasant surprise. It reminded me of fairy metal like Nightwish and Within Temptation, but it's obviously not metal at all. The singing, the mysterious fairy tale lyrics, the entrancing arrangements. Very well played. Sometimes they get carried away with melodies that are more appropriate for instruments than for singing, but in general it's very good. Favorite song: Light Flight.
4
Oct 17 2023
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
I'm a little disappointed. This doesn't sound that different from the Rolling Stones to me. Some songs are alright, some are nothing special. Favorite song: lust for life
2
Oct 18 2023
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
It's good, but the songs are toon long. I prefer the studio version.
3
Oct 19 2023
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LP1
FKA twigs
Sounds mysterious and surreal. Reminds me of triphop, dubstep and Bjork. Not my taste, but I can understand why people like it. It's unique enough to be on the list. Favorite song: closer.
3
Oct 20 2023
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Screamadelica
Primal Scream
Apparently a rock band with rave influences. But really they do both, but they don't blend them. They're not very good at either. Not essential, but not 1 star bad.
2
Oct 21 2023
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GREY Area
Little Simz
There's some tension in this music that's lacking from most other hip hop I got so far. I like it. Favorite song: 101FM
4
Oct 22 2023
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
It's good, but a little too long. As opposed to their later records, there's actually something going on in the midrange. Favorite song: Luck of Lucien.
4
Oct 23 2023
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
Eight Miles High, the rest goes in one ear and out the other.
2
Oct 24 2023
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
Some songs are great, some not so much. Example: I Can't Help It has a great bass line, but the other parts seem kind of random. Favorite song: off the wall.
3
Oct 25 2023
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High Violet
The National
The tempo of must songs just doesn't feel right to me. I would have liked it better if it was either quite a lot faster or a couple of bpm slower. Favorite song: Bloodbuzz Ohio.
3
Oct 26 2023
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Murmur
R.E.M.
There's 4 REM records on the list. That's too many. I like this record, but it's not their best by far. Not the worst by far either. But I don't think this should have been on the list. Sounds like a British new wave record with an American singer. Favorite song: Pilgrimage.
3
Oct 27 2023
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
I don't like it. I don't hate it, but I don't like it. It does belong on the list. A perfect example of that horrible 2000s electronic indie sound. A warning to not ever make music like that again. Favorite song: Dancing Choose.
2
Oct 28 2023
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The World is a Ghetto
War
Starts off alright and gets better with every song. Favorite song: Beetles in the Bog.
3
Oct 29 2023
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The Stooges
The Stooges
Part garage rock, part psychedelic rock. I like the garage parts. The psychedelic parts are boring. Favorite song: I wanna be your dog.
3
Oct 30 2023
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
He definitely proved he's not just that dude who was allowed to hang out with Lennon and McCartney. I would have liked this record better than John Lennon's solo records if it wasn’t way too long with way too much filler. Favorite song: Art Of Dying.
2
Oct 31 2023
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Since I Left You
The Avalanches
Fun dance record. It suffers from the same repetitiveness as other dance records, but somehow it's more tolerable. Favorite song: Since I Met You.
4
Nov 01 2023
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
It's good for such an old record, but I don't think I'll ever play it again. Favorite song: Buena Sera
3
Nov 02 2023
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Back to Basics
Christina Aguilera
First of all, the production is like nails on a chalkboard. Especially the S-sounds and some of the percussion. That being said, she has a good voice. The songs would have been good with a more organic production. The arrangements are too tight, too perfect, emotionless. And it's longer than it should have been. Apparently this record is not in the latest editions of the book anymore. There's other records I would remove before this one, despite the obvious shortcomings. Favorite song: Oh Mother.
3
Nov 03 2023
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D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
Really? Why? It could be a good soundtrack for an art house movie. But as an album of music and nothing but music, it's awful.
1
Nov 04 2023
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Disintegration
The Cure
Some of it is great, the rest is good. I don't have the patience for all of the songs. Favorite song: lullaby
4
Nov 05 2023
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The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
It's not surf rock anymore and it's not the masterpiece that Pet Sounds is. It's a transitional record. To be honest the transition is not very interesting. Everything is OK, but nothing stands out. I don't think this belongs on the list. The link to youtube music was dead, but it's there if you search for it. Favorite song: When I Grow Up To Be A Man.
2
Nov 06 2023
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Young Americans
David Bowie
Not terrible, but it wouldn't be rated anywhere near 3.65 average (current rating in 2023) if it wasn't Bowie. Favorite song: Fame.
2
Nov 07 2023
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
The music is high in the 4 star range. The lyrics about misogyny and gang life and stupid stuff like that definitely don't raise it to 5 star. Favorite song: Gz and Hustlas.
4
Nov 08 2023
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1989
Taylor Swift
I heard the album before, but I didn't remember much of it. Some of the safest, least offensive music ever. That's probably why she's so successful. Three of the songs were big hits in my country. Two of them are still played a lot everywhere after 10 years. Her voice is unremarkable, so are most of the songs. I don't hate it, it's just not very exciting to me. Shake It Off is by far my favorite song off the album.
2
Nov 09 2023
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Casanova
The Divine Comedy
I thought I didn't know this band, but I recognized Become More Like Alfie. Starts out as britpop like Pulp etc. and slowly morphs into music for theatre nerds. It's all well-crafted, but I don't like it very much. I'm pretty sure there's over 1001 records more essential than this one.
2
Nov 10 2023
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Brothers
The Black Keys
There’s one album by the Black Keys on the list and it’s not El Camino. El Camino is better in every aspect. This one is not bad at all. It probably should have been under 45 minutes (most albums really). Favorite song: Tighten up
3
Nov 11 2023
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Beautiful, but a little boring. Favorite song: Hazey Jane I
2
Nov 12 2023
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S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
It's late 60s psychedelic rock that sound exactly like late 60s psychedelic rock. Their experimental parts are a little more out there than most of their contemporaries. It's alright, but nothing sticks with me. Favorite song: SF Sorrow Is Born.
3
Nov 13 2023
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Odessa
Bee Gees
Lots of tear jerkers. Done well, but not my taste. I don't hate it. I played the entire record and I don't remember any song.
3
Nov 14 2023
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
I understand what's good about it, but I was not in the mood. I very rarely am. Doesn't help that it's very samey.
2
Nov 15 2023
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
It's great for the most part with some filler. There's a strange atmosphere to it in a good way. Favorite song: Cloudbusting
4
Nov 16 2023
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The Bends
Radiohead
I wanted to hate this, but I didn't. I still hate their later records. Favorite song: Bones
4
Nov 17 2023
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
It's Let's Stay Together and some other songs that are easy to listen to, but not as good as the title track.
3
Nov 18 2023
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Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
It's alright, but not essential. Reminds me of early Queen, but not as good. Favorite song: You See Me Crying
3
Nov 19 2023
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Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
If only they left off the filler, it would have been a 4 star single LP. Favorite song: massacre.
3
Nov 20 2023
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Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
It's sounds old, but it aged better than most old hip hop. Favorite song: Planet Rock
3
Nov 21 2023
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
I didn't know what to expect. It's good. Smooth but not too smooth. Good songs, good lyrics. Favorite song: the first taste
4
Nov 22 2023
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Suede
Suede
Early Britpop, they say. I think they deserve their own spot in music history. It sounds darker and much more dramatic than Blur and Oasis and the likes. They're closer to the Cure and the Smiths. The singer has that Bowie gasp. Favorite song: Pantomime Horse
3
Nov 23 2023
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#1 Record
Big Star
Doesn't sound very special to me, but I don't mind listening to it. Favorite song: The India Song
2
Nov 24 2023
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On The Beach
Neil Young
There's a lot of Neil Young records on the list. This is the first one I got. I hope the others are better. It's not bad but, I just don't like it very much. Favorite song: on the beach
2
Nov 25 2023
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Marquee Moon
Television
I don't hate this as much as I remembered, but I'm not a fan the singing. Favorite song: elevation
3
Nov 26 2023
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
It start OK. Then it gets better and it stays good until the end. Favorite song: 'Til I Die
4
Nov 27 2023
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Gris Gris
Dr. John
Never heard it before. I knew Dr. John played some kind of blues. I'm usually not a big fan of blues, so I always ignored him. What a shame. I didn't expect it to sound anything like this. Mysterious, psychedelic, ominous. I like it. Even though some songs are too long. Favorite song: Danse Kalinda Ba Doom.
4
Nov 28 2023
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Bossanova
Pixies
It's good, but not as good as Doolittle. Favorite song: Allison.
4
Nov 29 2023
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Raw Power
The Stooges
I like it. I don't love it. The Sex Pistol and Black Flag obviously listened to it. The 50th anniversary edition is too long. Just listen the Iggy mix songs. Everything else is filler. Favorite song: Shake Appeal.
3
Nov 30 2023
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Sex Packets
Digital Underground
This didn't age well.
1
Dec 01 2023
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Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
This record and the album before, Cowboys From Hell, were truly eyeopeners in metal. At the time, metal was supposed to be fast. Death metal was the main style. This record was a step back to Metallica's ...And Justice For All, which sounds very similar to me, and then a step in the other direction. More focus on a New York Hardcore punk style groove (Cro-Mags, Prong, Biohazard, etc.). That being said, I never really liked Pantera. Favorite song: A New Level.
4
Dec 02 2023
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
I hate this style of singing with all my heart, but it's a varied, creative album that deserves to be on the list. Favorite song: of moos, birds and monsters
3
Dec 03 2023
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Wild Wood
Paul Weller
His singing improved a lot over the years. It was always the weakest part of the Jam. That being said, I don't understand what makes this album special. It's not bad at all, but I'm sure it wouldn't have made the list if it wasn't from the UK. Favorite song: all the pictures on the wall.
2
Dec 04 2023
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Being There
Wilco
Perfect background music for coffeeshops. Well played, varied alt country, with a voice that suits the music. Probably a highlight in the genre. However, it doesn't resonate with me at all. On the contrary. When I feel like this music, I'd rather play something to snap me out of it. And despite the variety, it bores me. Favorite song: outtasite
2
Dec 05 2023
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
It must have been quite something when it came out. By today's standards the good parts are great, but they're few and far between. For the most part it's boring. I thought I would like this album better. Favorite song by far: 21st century schizoid man.
3
Dec 06 2023
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
Color by numbers country music. It has everything I hate about country music and not much more. I don't hear what's special about it.
2
Dec 07 2023
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
I only new him by name. The first song is boring. Then it gets better. Actually really good. As if Radiohead made a cabaret record. It could have been shorter. Favorite song: Old Whore's Diet.
4
Dec 08 2023
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I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
Not my taste. I think I understand what people like about it. Favorite song: there was this song I liked better than the rest, but it turned out I didn't turn off youtube's autoplay (I did, but somehow it didn't work) and it was not from the album.
2
Dec 09 2023
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
I remember I didn't like the band when they were new, but they're not bad. The singing is the weakest link and overall the album is a little monotonous. It has a couple of great songs, though. Favorite song: I wanna be adored.
3
Dec 10 2023
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Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
Yesterday I got the Stone Roses. This record is similar. It's a wall of sound with lazy, unconvincing singing. While the Stone Roses are a nice plastered wall, this is rough with bricks sticking out of it, which makes it more interesting to me. Favorite song: No Bones
4
Dec 11 2023
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
Good entry level heavy rock. Nu metal was already well developed by bands like Korn, Deftones and Limp Bizkit when Linkin Park emerged. Their sound is somewhere between Limp Bizkit's rap metal and Deftones' more melodic approach. Not groundbreaking in any way. What made them so successful is, they have very catchy choruses and a way better singer than 99.9% of their genre mates. Favorite song: Crawling.
4
Dec 12 2023
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Moving Pictures
Rush
It's quite an accomplishment to make an album like this. That being said, it doesn't speak to me at all. I don't hate it. I appreciate the effort. There's good parts. The voice is probably an acquired taste that I haven't acquired yet. Favorite song: YYZ
3
Dec 13 2023
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
3 of his albums made the list. This is the best one. Favorite song: it's not really about the songs, it's about the performance and the interaction with the audience. The songs are not that special.
4
Dec 14 2023
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The Renaissance
Q-Tip
It's alright, but not as good as his older work with A Tribe Called Quest. Too monotonous. Favorite song: Official.
3
Dec 15 2023
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Butterfly
Mariah Carey
It's around a week until Christmas. I've had it with Mariah Carey.
The mix is very tiring. Big smiley curve EQ. Unpleasant to listen to. Occasionally she shows how good she can really sing, but most of the time the ad libs sounds as if she can't hit the right note properly. She also sings very breathy. I can't stand that. It's a complete mismatch with the loud rhythm section. The songs aren't bad per se, but I don't think anyone on this record was on the top of their game. Favorite song: 4th Of July.
2
Dec 16 2023
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
This is supposed to be one of the sexiest albums ever, but I don't feel it. Should have been a little slower, if you ask me. Nothing about this record is bad, but nothing is as good as I hoped it would be. Favorite song: Distant Lover.
3
Dec 17 2023
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War
U2
It has a couple of really great songs, but at times the album is a little boring. Most of the songs are too long and not catchy enough. Favorite song: New Years Day.
3
Dec 18 2023
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Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Fascinating record. Part chamber music, part psychedelic like Pink Floyd, part minimal music like Philip Glass, part plain weird like Zappa. But it all sounds smooth and gentle. Even the weird dissonant parts. Favorite song: Penguin Cafe Single.
4
Dec 19 2023
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
I think his voice works better for Natty Dread. It suits the message of this album, but the music is too sweet. Not that it's a bad record. It's just a little predictable. Favorite song: waiting in vain
3
Dec 20 2023
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Green
R.E.M.
Probably their best. It shows their full range. I don't like all of them, but most of the songs are great. Favorite song: Stand
4
Dec 21 2023
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
I like this record, but it's far from essential. Like a lot of CD era albums, it's longer than it should have been. It sounds very 1990s. More American than most of their Brit pop colleagues. Reminds me of the Posies. Or maybe the Posies sound more British than other American bands. Favorite song: A Design For Life.
3
Dec 22 2023
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Reign In Blood
Slayer
Burst of energy. Every fast metal band was influenced by this record. It holds up surprisingly well for an old heavy record. Favorite song: Raining Blood.
5
Dec 23 2023
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Frank
Amy Winehouse
She will always be remembered for Back To Black. I gave Back To Black 5 stars. This is at least as good, but it doesn't have the big hits everybody knows. Favorite song: Help Yourself.
5
Dec 24 2023
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Abraxas
Santana
Great, but I can imagine there's not enough singing for a lot of people. I don't mind. Favorite song: Oye Como Va.
4
Dec 25 2023
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
It sounds very much late 60s. Somehow reminds me of the Monkees, but it doesn't sound very much like them for the most part. Not bad, but not at all essential. Favorite song: Sham
3
Dec 26 2023
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
Doesn't belong on the list. Various artists. Against the rules. Plus it sounds very dated. Favorite song: it's a marshmallow world
1
Dec 27 2023
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The White Album
Beatles
This album has some of their best songs and some of their worst. It could have been an easy 5 star record if it was a lot shorter. Favorite song: blackbird
4
Dec 28 2023
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Eternally Yours
The Saints
I colleague gave me this record when he got rid of his vinyl collection. Pleasant surprise. It's very similar to OG UK punk like the Damned, but more energetic. I think it's good, but not essential. Favorite song: Run Down.
3
Dec 29 2023
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Heavy Weather
Weather Report
They definitely know how to play. The lively parts are exciting, the other parts are kind of boring though. Favorite song: Birdland.
4
Dec 30 2023
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
It's not bad, but it's uninteresting. It's Johnny Cash without the great voice. I think there's other old country music that belongs on the list more, like Chet Atkins or Jerry Reed, who didn’t make it. Favorite song: I don't really care. I lost interest after 2 songs. I did finish playing it, but it didn't register.
2
Dec 31 2023
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
It feels more human than Pretzel Logic, so I like it better. Favorite song: Bodhisattva
3
Jan 01 2024
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Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
It's good but not great. Sounds like it could have been the next Smiths album. Favorite song: they're all good, but none of them stand out.
3
Jan 02 2024
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
It's alright. He had already been going for 15 years when this was recorded. This is probably a good summary of his early work. Without BB King, rock 'n roll and everything after would have been different. I like his influence more than his music. Favorite song: woke up this morning
3
Jan 03 2024
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Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
I like this a lot. It's weird, but not annoying post-punk. Very dissonant, but it sounds intentional. Favorite song: on the surface.
4
Jan 04 2024
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Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Production is good. It sounds mysterious, but it's too repetitive for me. The songs are way too long and the riffs are very short.
2
Jan 05 2024
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
This record must have been quite something when it was new. It's not as samey as most of his contemporaries. Not all the songs are the same tempo, more dynamic singing. But music has evolved a lot since then, almost beyond recognition. This record is not relevant for anything that is fresh and new today. Favorite song: Money Honey
3
Jan 06 2024
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
Awesome. The songs are great, the performance is very lively. Only bad thing is, production sounds like a thick layer of dust on your vinyl LP. Favorite song: third stone from the sun.
5
Jan 07 2024
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Among The Living
Anthrax
Great. I played this a lot when I was young. They're the most fun of the big 4. Favorite song: Skeleton in the closet.
4
Jan 08 2024
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Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
There's 3 albums by the Fall on the list. This is the 2nd one I got. I didn't like The Infotainment Scam because of the terrible singing. The music was good. On this record, there's more conviction to the singing. It's still flat/atonal, but the timing is not as lazy. The music is more on the punk end of the post-punk specter. Someone decided to add a lot of "bonus" tracks to the reissue. Why do people do that? The album was borderline too long as it was. I skipped those. Favorite song: futures and pasts.
3
Jan 09 2024
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Great from start to finish. Favorite song: Chain of fools.
5
Jan 10 2024
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Third
Portishead
I understand why people like this, but I don't do drugs. Favorite song: Nylon Smile
3
Jan 11 2024
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The music is great, the lyrics are stupid, the album is about twice as long as it should have been. This is a great album to play along with as a drummer. Chad Smith has a great style. He knows what notes not to play. That's rare and more difficult than you think. Favorite song: Breaking the girl.
4
Jan 12 2024
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Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
MC Solaar
Smooth. Not as annoying as a lot of US hip hop. Reminds of 90s skateboarding videos. Favorite song: Caroline.
4
Jan 13 2024
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
I hate it, but it belongs on the list.
2
Jan 14 2024
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Quiet Life
Japan
It's Duran Duran, but not as catchy. It's good, but it doesn't stick. Favorite song: Fall in love with me.
3
Jan 15 2024
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Morrison Hotel
The Doors
The best parts are awesome, the worst parts are OK. I don't like their bluesy side very much. The more mysterious sounding songs are better. And my favorite song: Peace Frog.
4
Jan 16 2024
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
I hate his voice. Or at least his way of singing. Too unsteady. Doesn't sound like he's in control. The songs have good parts, but they're far fetched at times. Reminds me of early Radiohead. I'm not a big fan of theirs either. My review is very negative so far, but I appreciate the creativity. Favorite song: last goodbye.
3
Jan 17 2024
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
My first thought was, oh no, not another one of those outlaw country singers. But this is different. The songs are better. More variation than his genre mates. He's not the best singer out there, but he makes it work. Favorite song: Stardust
4
Jan 18 2024
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Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
Quite different from most UK and US music. It's singing, but it sounds more like he's telling a story half the time. He definitely has conviction, even if I only understand half of the French. The length is good. Short, but it shouldn't have been longer. Favorite song: Le Plat Pays
3
Jan 19 2024
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American Gothic
David Ackles
I like his voice. Reminded me of Neil Diamond even before I read the reviews. The music is more like Broadway musicals. Especially the last song. It's good, but not what I'm looking for in music. Favorite song: Blues for Billy Whitecloud.
3
Jan 20 2024
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Tommy
The Who
It's good, but I'm not sure it's still good in 20 years. I like it less than I did 20 years ago. It's very long. I had to take a break half way. Best song by a mile: Pinball Wizard.
3
Jan 21 2024
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
Apart from the title track, this isn't very good. I don't understand why it's on the list. It was already old when it was new. Favorite song: the healer.
2
Jan 22 2024
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The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
Not something I'd have thought of myself, but it's good. Favorite song: everybody's stalking
4
Jan 23 2024
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Great. Better without the bonus tracks. I knew more songs than I thought I knew. Favorite song: 3/5 of a mile in 10 seconds
4
Jan 24 2024
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Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
Very weird music. Fascinating. Favorite song: the electrocutioner.
4
Jan 25 2024
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
It's good, but over-rated. I liked it better than Funeral. The suburbs is also on the list, but I haven't heard it yet. Favorite song: black wave.
3
Jan 26 2024
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Junkyard
The Birthday Party
I imagine bands like the Jesus Lizard, Nomeansno, Drive Like Jehu, even the Pixies listened to this. My favorite bands' favorite band. Favorite song: kiss me black
4
Jan 27 2024
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Flawless. Favorite song: living for the city, but they're all good.
5
Jan 28 2024
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
The music has its ups and downs. The dark cynical lyrics are great throughout. Favorite song: bigmouth strikes again.
4
Jan 29 2024
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Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
The singing is annoying. The music is a better version of Metallica. This was a big improvement over their debut (not on the list), but they peaked a couple of years later with Rust In Peace (also on the list). Favorite song: wake up dead.
4
Jan 30 2024
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
Yesterday I got Megadeth, who are better at every aspect of heavy metal. The singing on this record is very flat a lot of the time. The songs are OK. They stood the test of time. They're a spectacular live band. Favorite song: Hallowed be thy name
3
Jan 31 2024
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Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
I don't feel I needed to hear this. I don't mind hearing it. Dreamy female vocals with psychedelic synths and occasionally some jangly guitar. Nothing fresh and groundbreaking. More like newish music for old people. Not bad though. But it shouldn't be in the next edition of the book. Favorite song: Modern Kosmology
3
Feb 01 2024
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
I don't really like hip hop, but this album is alright. Of the hip hop I got so far, this is among the best. They should have made this 40 minutes and skipped the filler. Especially the last song. Favorite song: If you only knew.
4
Feb 02 2024
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1984
Van Halen
Good but not great. Favorite song: hot for teacher
3
Feb 03 2024
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Harvest
Neil Young
Some of these songs are pretty good. Too bad Neil Young sings them. I hate his voice. Favorite song: old man
3
Feb 04 2024
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The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
Pleasant surprise. I don't like their newer music very much. Too perfect. Perfection is boring. This has the youthful energy their newer stuff lacks. It sounds more human. The lyrics are... let's say they're better at writing music. Favorite song: Lucifer Sam
4
Feb 05 2024
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World Clique
Deee-Lite
Of course I knew Groove is in the heart. Based on that song I expected more of a P-funk or disco sound, but it sounds more like the British house music of that era. The album has one stand-out track: Groove is in the heart, which is really a great song. The other songs are nothing special and not my taste.
2
Feb 06 2024
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The Joshua Tree
U2
This was huge when it came out. I like their older music better. This record doesn't sound spontaneous at all. It's not dark enough to be dark, not sparkly enough to be sparkly. It's kind of meh in between stuff. Favorite song: with or without you.
3
Feb 07 2024
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Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
It was important that somebody made a record like this around that time. Run DMC did it. Probably a big step in the evolution of rap music. But it sounds very outdated. Very bad by today's standards. If it wasn't such an important record, it would be a 1 star from me. There was one song that I didn't hate as much: Rock Box
2
Feb 08 2024
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Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
He sounds bored. It's contagious. Favorite song: avalanche
2
Feb 09 2024
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
It's good, but samey. It doesn't help that the bonus tracks are some of the same songs. Favorite song: double-O.
3
Feb 10 2024
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Blue Lines
Massive Attack
The songs with singing are great. The rapping didn't age very well, like most older rap music. Favorite song: hymn of the big wheel
3
Feb 11 2024
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Solid Air
John Martyn
Strange combination of psychedelic soul and folk music. But it works. Surprisingly modern for a record that's over 50 years old. Favorite song: Go down easy
4
Feb 12 2024
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Sounds like a better version of Taylor Swift. Not much better, but better. With a pinch of Norah Jones. Inoffensive elevator music. Favorite song: High Horse
3
Feb 13 2024
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
They have two albums on the list. They are quite different. This one is not bad, but the other one speaks to me more. I prefer their rock side to their synth pop side. Favorite song: Heads Will Roll, which reminds me of Blue Monday.
3
Feb 14 2024
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Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
I hate everything about this. Next.
2
Feb 15 2024
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Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
This sounds like Black Sabbath, but it's older. It's also nowhere near as good. People shouldn't be listening to this anymore. I don't recommend any of the songs. Listen to Clutch or Fu Manchu instead.
1
Feb 16 2024
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
It's exactly what you expect. No surprises. Good but not great. Favorite song: walk all over you.
3
Feb 17 2024
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
It's like Bruce Springsteen playing Queen songs with Elton John. Made well, but not my taste. Favorite song: You took the words right out of my mouth
3
Feb 18 2024
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Hotel California
Eagles
It's too perfect. It's boring for the most part with a few highlights. The lead guitars on the title track are amazing and my favorite song off the album: life in the fast lane.
3
Feb 19 2024
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Be
Common
Sounds good, but I didn't remember much of it after one spin. Favorite song: Be (intro)
3
Feb 20 2024
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American Idiot
Green Day
One of the few bands who hit the jackpot twice ten years apart. It's kinda tame for punk music from that era, but it probably wouldn't be as successful if it wasn't. Ironic how this record has a couple of those songs with lots of different sections like the 70s prog rock that the OG punks rebelled against. Favorite song: American Idiot.
4
Feb 21 2024
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Medúlla
Björk
I appreciate the creativity, but the result is awful for the most part. Favorite song: Who is it?
2
Feb 22 2024
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Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
Most old rap music sounds very outdated, but this doesn't. It doesn't sound anything like modern rap music, but it's still very listenable. The flow is better than their contemporaries’ and it sounds more sincere. Favorite song: Brothers gonna work it out
4
Feb 23 2024
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Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
First song is good, but most of the album is boring.
2
Feb 24 2024
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Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
Weird, but not too weird. I like it. Remarkable voice. Instrumentation with horns and stuff. Favorite song: Swordfishtrombone
4
Feb 25 2024
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Ten
Pearl Jam
It's good, but this record is responsible for Nickelback and Creed. Favorite song: Deep.
3
Feb 26 2024
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Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
This came out a couple of years after De La Soul and Gang Starr and a Tribe Called Quest. So they don't really bring anything new to the table. The beats are alright, the flow of the raps sounds awkward and outdated at times. Over-all it's not terrible, but not great. Favorite song: soul flower.
3
Feb 27 2024
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The Poet
Bobby Womack
Like Marvin Gaye, but slightly better. Marvin is the better singer, but Bobby's music is better. First song is amazing, the rest is not that good, but there are no bad songs on the album. I didn't know his solo work, only Womack&Womack, which is kind of boring, so this was a pleasant surprise. Favorite song: So Many Sides Of You.
4
Feb 28 2024
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Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
One of the songs is called "my everchanging moods". That's what it is. Part ultra retro jazz, part ultra modern (for the mid 80s) rap and almost Prince-like funk. None of it is terrible, but none of it sounds like the real thing. Favorite song: council meetin'
3
Feb 29 2024
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Close To You
Carpenters
The songs are good, but the performance and production are way too sweet for my taste. Especially the singing. Favorite song: love is surrender.
2
Mar 01 2024
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Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
They were neither very popular nor innovators nor trendsetters, so I don't understand why this album is on the list. Not the worst ever, but 3 songs too long for me. Bands like the Birthday Party, the Jesus Lizard (not on the list) and Girls vs Boys did it better years and years before. Favorite song: spit on it.
2
Mar 02 2024
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S&M
Metallica
They should have done fewer songs and worked on the arrangements more. Some songs were done quite well, but on most songs, the orchestra is just filler for the last available milliseconds. If you're gonna play with an orchestra, at least give 'em some space to play.
Favorite song: Battery. It works surprisingly well with an orchestra.
2
Mar 03 2024
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Great, but too long to listen the entire album in 1 go. That's the only weakness. Sometimes the music is quite complicated, but it sounds very natural. Favorite song: the man of metropolis.
5
Mar 04 2024
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Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
It's a cover album with 3 original songs. I think they wanted to include some German music. They obviously didn't know much German music and opted for a collaboration with someone they did know. I wanted to give it 1 star, but it's too well crafted. This definitely doesn't belong on the list.
2
Mar 05 2024
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
First song is good. The singing is not as annoying as on his later records. The rest of the album has its good moments and its mediocre moments. I can understand why people like this record. Favorite song: Cinnamon girl.
3
Mar 06 2024
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In Utero
Nirvana
It's harder to listen to than Nevermind, but it's good. It's more on the post-hardcore side of grunge. I'm sure the Deftones heard this when they were young. Favorite song: radio friendly unit shifter.
4
Mar 07 2024
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
Sounds mysterious at first, but it becomes a trick after a couple of songs. Blend of 60s/70s movie soundtracks and trip hop. Favorite song: Pilots
2
Mar 08 2024
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
I like the energy of this record. It's like Little Richard with more variation. They even do a Little Richard cover. They do a lot of covers, but their own songs are just as good. The sound quality is pretty bad. Favorite song: Have Love, Will Travel (which is a cover song)
3
Mar 09 2024
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
Great. I never heard of them, but I knew the Circle Jerks' version of I Wanna Destroy You. It has too many bonus tracks, but some of them are even better than the original album. Favorite from the original release: Positive vibrations. Favorite including the bonus tracks: Where are the prawns
4
Mar 10 2024
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Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
It's good, but it doesn't have any real highlights. They received more hate than they deserved from the self-appointed gatekeepers of rock 'n roll. Reminds me of Bush. The singer sounds like a rock singer in a cartoon would sound. Almost a funny voice. Favorite song: sex on fire.
3
Mar 11 2024
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Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
It's too long. The beats and the flow sound dated. The message is still relevant for the most part over 30 years later. Favorite song: satanic reverses
2
Mar 12 2024
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Liquid Swords
GZA
Like most 90s albums, this is too long. It's not bad, just too long. And quite monotonous, but that's obviously intentional. Favorite song: liquid swords
4
Mar 13 2024
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
Good length. More variation than the Johnny Cashes of the world. Her voice is unpleasant to my ears, but that's a matter of taste. Favorite song: early morning breeze.
3
Mar 14 2024
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Not as bad as I expected, but not great. I knew the 2 biggest hits from the album. They were everywhere at the time. The rest of the album sounds more like a less miserable version of Oasis. I expected a more danceable album. Favorite song: Ego Agogo.
2
Mar 15 2024
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Crazysexycool
TLC
It's alright. Favorite song: Switch.
3
Mar 16 2024
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Dry
PJ Harvey
I heard this album several times before. I like it a lot, but I didn't remember much of it. Favorite song: Victory
4
Mar 17 2024
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Nowhere
Ride
The songs are OK. Basically psychedelic rock with a lot of distortion. Great background music, but it's all one big blur. Nothing stands out. The producer must have had some serious hearing damage, because the production is very shrill. Way too much of those disco dip frequencies that you lose first. Favorite song: doesn't matter much, it's one big blur.
3
Mar 18 2024
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Pump
Aerosmith
I like this better than their 70s records. Favorite song: F.I.N.E.
4
Mar 19 2024
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Aja
Steely Dan
Same review as Pretzel Logic. I don't understand what emotion this music is trying to caption or evoke. The songwriting is creative, but the performance and production are about as boring as it gets. Very listenable, though. Very inoffensive. Favorite song: Peg.
3
Mar 20 2024
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...The Dandy Warhols Come Down
The Dandy Warhols
They sound like all those brit pop bands, but more boring. On drugs or very tired. Best song by very far: not if you were the last junkie on earth.
2
Mar 21 2024
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Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
The British accent sounds more musical than an American accent to me. I like it for a while, and then about half-way in, it becomes annoying. Favorite song: fix up look sharp
4
Mar 22 2024
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
I like the music, but it would have been a lot better if the singer had any emotion whatsoever in her voice. Favorite song: Nao Bate O Corocao.
4
Mar 23 2024
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Da Capo
Love
I like it better than their other record. Song structures/chord progressions make more sense. The last song is way too long. Favorite song: Stephanie knows who.
3
Mar 24 2024
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Legalize It
Peter Tosh
Boring. Too repetitive. Favorite song: Watcha gonna do.
2
Mar 25 2024
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Suicide
Suicide
Yesterday I got Peter Tosh. My review was, it's too repetitive. Now this... Some kind of proto house music or something. I think I understand why it's on the list, because it has a weird atmosphere unlike anything else I know. Doesn't mean I like it.
1
Mar 26 2024
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
I like the general atmosphere, but most of it is not very catchy. They sound like the American version of PJ Harvey, who has the same issue. Favorite song: words and guitar
4
Mar 27 2024
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The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Starts off better than I expected, the rest is a little disappointing. Old school rap music, still with a lot of disco and soul influences. Some songs are sung instead of rapped, but the singing is not that good. The importance of this record is mainly that it was the first big rap record. It was original, but it's been done a lot better since. Favorite song: she's fresh.
3
Mar 28 2024
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Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
They didn't do anything that hadn't been done like 5 years before on the Judgement Night soundtrack or by Korn. The singer doesn't sing with conviction and his voice cracks a lot when he's rapping. That's annoying. The lyrics are cringe. The riffs are catchy as hell though. They had lots of friends all across the music biz. Some of them are featured on the album. That was the main key to their success. And they had a mysterious weird looking guitar player. Favorite song: the one.
3
Mar 29 2024
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
Songs are great, production is awful. Favorite song: new dawn fades
4
Mar 30 2024
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
The songs are good, but too long and I hate his voice. Good use of more traditional instruments like violins, double bass, and I think I heard a bassoon somewhere. Favorite song: Sweet thing.
3
Mar 31 2024
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Signing Off
UB40
I got into music in the mid 80s, so I'm familiar with their pop reggae side. This sounds quite different. It has the desperation and sincerity that their later music lacks. Favorite song: Tyler.
4
Apr 01 2024
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Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
I understand why it's on the list. Good to have some more modern music on there too and this is a good example. Psychedelic like Tame Impala with better singing. Some songs remind me of the Beach Boys if they made trance music. At times it's very good, but for the most part it's not my taste. Favorite song: Brother sport.
3
Apr 02 2024
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Closer
Joy Division
The songs on their other album are better. Production of this one is better. I like the other album better. Favorite song: Passover
3
Apr 03 2024
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Snivilisation
Orbital
I think I understand why people like this music. The songs each have a different vibe, more so than most EDM. Not all of them are good. The songs are repetitive, but they still manage to build tension. The last 2 songs are way too long. Favorite song: Kein Trinkwasser
3
Apr 04 2024
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Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
I like it. I'm not very familiar with this style of music. Couldn't keep my attention all the way to the end, like most albums really. I liked it better than his other album on the list. Favorite song: Hamady Boiro
3
Apr 05 2024
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
The first couple of songs didn't sound very special, but it got better later on. I thought maybe I just had to get into this record, so I played it again. Those songs were just not that good. It has some very good moments, but I don't think this album needs to be on the list if Rumours is. Favorite song: Beautiful Child
3
Apr 06 2024
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Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
Great. Like a more structured version of Sonic Youth. I don't like this style of singing very much. Favorite song: Feed me with your kiss
4
Apr 07 2024
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Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
Great, but there's some room for improvement. He's not the best singer and side 3 and 4 are too much. Also the weird stereo image, but they probably didn’t have the equipment yet to do it properly. Favorite song: Motherly Love.
4
Apr 08 2024
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Apple Venus Volume 1
XTC
It has some good songs, but most of this record is forgettable elevator music. Reminds me of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, some of Sting's solo work and especially They Might Be Giants. But not as good. Favorite song: river of orchids.
2
Apr 09 2024
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Hms Fable
Shack
It's not bad, but not essential at all. I'm absolutely sure there's over 1000 more important records than this one. The songs remind me of Oasis and Train. As I said, not terrible, but nothing special and not trend setting. I don't understand why it's on the list. Favorite song: Streets of Kenny
2
Apr 10 2024
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
Most of it is boring. Towards the end there's some better songs, but the performance is still boring. I don't think I'll ever play this record again. Favorite song: Blossom.
2
Apr 11 2024
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
A couple of great songs and some filler. Best song is obviously Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, but there's more good ones on the record.
3
Apr 12 2024
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
Great record, but not as easy to listen to as her other records on the list. Favorite song: Coyote.
4
Apr 13 2024
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Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
I heard it before. These days they are mainly known for their soft rock. Their first couple of records (this is the first one) sound more like Deep Purple with horns. It's great, but the songs are too long. Favorite song: does anybody really know
4
Apr 14 2024
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
His singing reminds me of Chris Rock. Once I heard it, I couldn't unhear it. Favorite song: Having a party.
2
Apr 15 2024
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Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
I don't have the patience for this music. He should have been a writer instead of a singer. He obviously doesn't enjoy singing. Least hated song: the partisan.
2
Apr 16 2024
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Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
It's weird, but it sound as if it's only weird because it's all he can do, not because he's creative.
2
Apr 17 2024
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Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
It's alright but I liked his other album on the list better. There's a couple of good songs, but towards the end it gets worse and worse. Favorite song: unfinished sweet
3
Apr 18 2024
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Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
It has some good parts and some boring parts. More boring than good. But I can understand why people like it. Favorite song: roygbiv
3
Apr 19 2024
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Imagine
John Lennon
Not bad, but far from great. Not nearly as good as his work with the Beatles. Favorite song: how do you sleep
3
Apr 20 2024
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
He has 3 albums on the list. The other 2 are better. I don't even like those very much. I think this album is way too long and it doesn't belong on the list. Favorite song: Time to get it together.
2
Apr 21 2024
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
They have 2 albums on the list. This is the newer of the two. It’s more consistent. The music got better. The singing got worse. Really bad at times. Favorite song: kowalski
2
Apr 22 2024
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Take Me Apart
Kelela
Not bad, not great. The singing is too one dimensional. Production was apparently futuristic for Americans, but the Brits had been doing similar things for years already. Favorite song: enough
3
Apr 23 2024
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Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Sounds like early Spandau Ballet with a bad singer to me. It’s not awful, but I wouldn’t call it good. Favorite song: I can’t help myself.
2
Apr 24 2024
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Sounds like drugs. Some great ideas. I wonder how good it could have been without the drugs. I don’t like it when he does funny voices. Favorite song: slow country
4
Apr 25 2024
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
If I’m not mistaken there’s 3 Bob Marley albums on the list. This is my favorite. Exodus is too sweet, Natty Dread is too bluesy. This hits the sweet spot right in the middle. Favorite song: no more trouble.
4
Apr 26 2024
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The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
Awesome. People still try to sound like this. White Stripes, King Khan, etc. This record sounds more sincere. And even though it’s mono, it sounds powerful. I skipped the bonus tracks. They’re not part of the album, youtube. The original album is perfect length. Favorite song: reverberation.
4
Apr 27 2024
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Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
I’m not really into hip hop. I never heard of this before. It’s pretty good, but I don’t think it will be on heavy rotation at my house. Favorite song: no 1 st
4
Apr 28 2024
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What's That Noise?
Coldcut
Important step in the development of bad music. Big inspiration for the techno to come, I guess. I hated this when it was new. Usually I come round a little over time, but not in this case. Still hate it. Writing on the wall that this isn’t on the major streaming services. Least hated song: smoke dis one
2
Apr 29 2024
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Justified
Justin Timberlake
A couple of good songs and a couple of godawful ones. I hate the falsetto singing. He doesn't do that all the time. Weird how right after Cry me a River, which is a genuinely great song, the next song is the atrocity that is Rock Your Body, with the singing in a different key than the music. What the hell. Favorite song: cry me a river.
2
Apr 30 2024
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
I'm not a big fan of country music. This is definitely not the worst country record on the list. I like his enthusiasm. Doesn't mean I'll ever play it again. Favorite song: Memphis.
3
May 01 2024
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
I like this better than their other record on the list. Usually I don't like songs this long, but in this case it doesn't really bother me. Only the last song is too long. Favorite song: Emotional haircut.
3
May 02 2024
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Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
Better than I expected. More like Nine Inch Nails and the post hardcore bands of that time like Rollins Band etc. than like Korn and Limp Bizkit (that's what I expected). There's some good songs and some filler. The songs are generally too long. Favorite song: tourniquet
3
May 03 2024
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Play
Moby
Some of it is OK, a lot is boring. Favorite song: Run on
2
May 04 2024
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Better than I expected, but too samey for an entire album. Favorite song: I can't be satisfied
3
May 05 2024
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
This album has more great songs than most albums on this list. It also has a couple of very predictable blues rock songs, like Ooby Dooby and Before you accuse me. The singer has a great voice, but it would have been better if he wasn't raging full-on all the time. I heard it through the grapevine is a good example of what could have been. So great album, but not perfect. Favorite song: I heard it through the grapevine. Favorite song that's not a cover song: run through the jungle.
4
May 06 2024
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
It's all great, but it's too much. Favorite song: promenade
4
May 07 2024
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
I like it, but most of it is not very memorable. Favorite song: it's no use.
3
May 08 2024
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Different Class
Pulp
Good but not great. The singer is obviously influenced by David Bowie. I don't like that way of singing. Favorite song: common people
3
May 09 2024
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Van Halen
Van Halen
It's good, but I'm sure it was better when it was new. Favorite song: ain't talkin' 'bout love
3
May 10 2024
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James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
I was familiar with his later work. That's too much of the same thing, so I didn't check out more of the man's music. This record is better than I expected. It has enough variation. The songs are good. The audience is excited. Nice and short. Favorite song: think.
4
May 11 2024
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Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
Not bad at all, but I think this is one of the albums that has to be taken off the list eventually. Somewhere between the Doors and the Byrds, but not as good. Leave it on for now. Favorite song: the masked marauder
2
May 12 2024
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New York Dolls
New York Dolls
Glam rock version of the Rolling Stones. Also reminds me of the Clash at times. The songs are not very good. Production is better than I expected. It seems a lot longer than it is. Favorite song: trash.
2
May 13 2024
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After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
Good songs. I just wish someone else sang them. Favorite song: Don't let it bring you down.
4
May 14 2024
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Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
I like some of it, but did I need to hear this before I die? Is that a rhetorical question? Favorite song: the big bamboozle
2
May 15 2024
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Pink Moon
Nick Drake
I don't like it very much, but I understand why lots of people do. Favorite song: Free ride.
3
May 16 2024
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
I hadn't played this record for years. It's good, but not as good as I remembered. Favorite song: Da Mystery of Chessboxin'
3
May 17 2024
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The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
Boring with only a couple of good moments. They obviously sound exactly the way they want to sound. It's actually quite hard to play this slow. So it's hard to call it bad. But I don't like this record at all. Favorite song: blue moon
2
May 18 2024
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Great. I hadn't heard it before. Favorite song: Editions of you
4
May 19 2024
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Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Good example how old is not the same as classic. This is just old. It's not bad, but nothing about this record feels essential to me. Favorite song: sunshine superman.
2
May 20 2024
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Roxy Music
Roxy Music
I got For Your Pleasure 2 days ago. I like them both, but I don't see why they both need to be on the list. This one starts strong and is 2 or 3 songs too long. Stylistically, it's all over the place. Glam rock, some noise, almost-punk like at times, some prog parts... Favorite song: re-make/re-model.
4
May 21 2024
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Me Against The World
2Pac
Gangster rap, but at least he's not glorifying it like a lot of his contemporaries. So his message is better. I don't like his flow very much or the music. Most of the guest rappers have better flow IMHO. The album is, like a lot of CD era albums, too long. It didn't age very well. Favorite song: death around the corner
3
May 22 2024
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Disraeli Gears
Cream
The drums sound like cardboard, the singing is not very good, bass is great, guitar is great. I'm sure it was groundbreaking, but it's been done better later by lots of bands. Favorite song: strange brew
3
May 23 2024
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25
Adele
I liked 19 and 21 very much. This one is not as good. Not really bad, but not list worthy. Favorite song: Send My Love.
3
May 24 2024
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
2nd radiohead album I got. I wanted to hate first one, but I didn't. I do hate this one. I do appreciate the effort, but not the music. I don't have the patience. Favorite song: dollars and cents.
2
May 25 2024
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
At times I feel it, at times I don't. When I don't, it's boring. Favorite song: Lever street.
2
May 26 2024
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Night Life
Ray Price
I'm not the youngest myself, but this is for people older than me. It was alright at first, but after a while I got bored. Favorite song: they all sound very similar to me, so it doesn't matter.
2
May 27 2024
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Good, but over-rated. Quite a few of the songs are great, but not all of them. Favorite song: dreams.
4
May 28 2024
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
All his studio albums are on the list. This is the last one I got. I didn't like the other ones very much, but this one is absolutely great. Favorite song: river man
4
May 29 2024
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
I don't know what to think of this. Glad I heard it, don't like it very much. Kind of proto-punk, but in a completely different way than the Stooges and the New York Dolls, etc. The Americans were more about playing hard and fast, this more about not giving a shit and just doing whatever. Very sloppy and off-key at times. Favorite song: here come the warm jets.
3
May 30 2024
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
This sounds more dated than Fear Of A Black Planet. Makes sense. It is older. It has a couple of classic tracks, but I'm not going to play this very often anymore. Favorite song: party for your right to fight
3
May 31 2024
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
People seem to hate the jingles in between songs. I don't mind those. What bothers me more is the bad mix. I see this as a transitional record from My Generation to Tommy. I like them before and after the transition, but I don't like the transition itself very much. There's some really good parts, but as a whole, it doesn't sound essential to me. Favorite song: our love was
2
Jun 01 2024
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Better than I remembered. Most of this album is good. I don't like the basic blues songs. There's a couple of those. I don't like the vocal acrobatics on some of the songs either. The production is not up to today's standards, but it's not terrible. Favorite song: good times bad times.
3
Jun 02 2024
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2112
Rush
The music is good, but I hate the singing. Favorite song: 2112
3
Jun 03 2024
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
I remember I saw them at a festival about a month after this came out. Nobody heard it yet. All we knew was, it was that guy from Nirvana's new band. Some songs even sound like Nirvana, but not as depressed. Other songs sound heavier or more like the Beatles. I think Dave Grohl is a better songwriter than Kurt Cobain, but his voice doesn't have the same emotional depth. Favorite song: Weenie Beenie
4
Jun 04 2024
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Make Yourself
Incubus
This is a transitional album from their more energetic bouncy side to the mellower pop rock they made after this record. I liked it a lot when it was new. With today's ears, it's too polished and the singer's voice is a little boring. Favorite song: pardon me.
3
Jun 05 2024
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Arise
Sepultura
One of the few metal albums I still play all the time. Is it perfect? No, not at all. But it's so energetic. I was very disappointed when Chaos A.D. came out after this one. Favorite song: desperate cry.
4
Jun 06 2024
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Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
I like all their other albums better. It's not terrible, but it doesn't belong on the list. Favorite song: Advert.
3
Jun 07 2024
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16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
A blend of U2, the cure and the smiths, but not nearly as good as any of them. A couple of decent songs, a couple of boring ones, and only one good song: streets of your town.
2
Jun 08 2024
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I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
The songs are OK, but he doesn't even seem to try to sing in tune. I know people who love it and I kind of understand why, but I disagree. With very little extra effort, this could have been a 3 star record to me, but alas. Favorite song: death to everyone
2
Jun 09 2024
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
3rd Miles Davis album I got. I like this better than his 50s work. Favorite song: Pharaoh's dance.
4
Jun 10 2024
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
Starts strong, but it's not enough for a full album. Samples sound random and unconnected. Favorite song: overcome.
2
Jun 11 2024
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Fromohio
fIREHOSE
The Minutemen were awesome, I liked the first fIREHOSE record better than the last minutemen record, but this sounds like they got old. I liked them better when they were young. Good but not great. Favorite song: in my mind
3
Jun 12 2024
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
It's not all bad, but a lot of it is. Favorite song: Eat Em Up L Chill
2
Jun 13 2024
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Playing With Fire
Spacemen 3
Name checks out. Spacey and 3 stars. I usually don't like this kind of monotonous drones, but this record is fine. It doesn't bother me at all. Favorite song: so hot.
3
Jun 14 2024
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All Directions
The Temptations
Good background music, but very repetitive. And suddenly it was over. Favorite song: papa was a rolling stone.
4
Jun 15 2024
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Beautiful Freak
Eels
This is like the American version of Elvis Costello. Not spectacular, but it's good. Very popular with the 90s alt rock scene. Favorite song: Novocaine for the soul.
4
Jun 16 2024
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The Only Ones
The Only Ones
It's alright, but they should have taken the singer's vocal range into account when writing songs. So he wouldn't have to sing like Lou Reed and whoever the singer for the Strokes is. Favorite song: the immortal story
3
Jun 17 2024
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Leftism
Leftfield
At first I thought it was alright, but it's way too long. I got bored halfway. Favorite song: Black flute
3
Jun 18 2024
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Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
A friend of mine is a big fan. I never understood why. Still don't. Most of this record is boring, but it has some good parts. Good background music. Favorite song: Amy
3
Jun 19 2024
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
One song is head and shoulders above the rest: Cherokee. The rest is good for the campfire in case you run out of wood
3
Jun 20 2024
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Hot Shots II
The Beta Band
On one hand electronic music is under-represented on the list, when you consider its utter dominance of European pop culture the last 35-odd years. On the other hand it's not an album genre and a lot of it just isn't very good. Crossover with rock music are often not good at either genre. This is a good example of that. The first song is alright, the rest is boring.
2
Jun 21 2024
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Rocks
Aerosmith
Nothing is bad about this album, but still it sounds like a poor man's Led Zeppelin. Favorite song: Last child
3
Jun 22 2024
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I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
I can understand people hate the voice. It's like an exaggerated version of Billy Holliday. Apparently too much for a lot of people. I like it for the length of the album and probably not much longer. Favorite song: fistful of love
4
Jun 23 2024
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
I remembered I liked this, but I liked it better than I remembered. Sounds newer and fresher than it is. Favorite song: Eye know
4
Jun 24 2024
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Melody A.M.
Röyksopp
First 2 songs are awesome. The rest is not that good, but still good. Great background music. Favorite song: Eple.
4
Jun 25 2024
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
They are very good at setting a specific atmosphere that I don't like very much. The music is just there. Not bad, but it doesn't stick. Favorite song: he doesn't know why.
3
Jun 26 2024
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
How the hell is this rated 3.68 average to this date? What's wrong with you people? Way too high. 3rd Bob Dylan album I got. My least favorite so far. 4 more to go. The songs are boring and it doesn't help he's a terrible singer.
1
Jun 27 2024
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Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
I only knew them by name. Better than I expected. Everything pop and alternative of the mid to late 80s in a blender probably gets you something like this, but not quite. It's better than that. Except the lyrics, but it's not their language, so you can't really blame them. Favorite song: sick for toys.
4
Jun 28 2024
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Wild Gift
X
Even though their first album Los Angeles is more iconic, I like this one better. Not sure it's essential. Favorite song: We're desperate.
3
Jun 29 2024
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
Great. Reasonably easy to listen to for a Sonic Youth record. Still quite harsh, but it's actual songs. It has their biggest hit and only a couple of misses. Good starting point if you want to get into the band. Favorite song: Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit
4
Jun 30 2024
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Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
2nd Bob Dylan album I got this week. I don't like Bob Dylan. This is not as bad as the other album. It's more rock than folk music. It doesn't matter as much that he's a bad singer with this music. Favorite song: Love minus zero
3
Jul 01 2024
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
Everything about this record is just fine. Nothing is great. The songs are just fine, the instrumentation is just fine, his voice is, well he ain't no Frank Sinatra, but it's fine. I wonder how this ended up on the list. It was neither groundbreaking nor the start of a new revival. It's just fine. Favorite song: Tonight.
2
Jul 02 2024
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A Seat at the Table
Solange
Reminds me more of stuff like Massive Attack than US R&B. I like it, but it seems longer than it is. Maybe because all the best songs are in the first half. Favorite song: Don't touch my hair.
4
Jul 03 2024
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In Our Heads
Hot Chip
Some songs are great, some are pathetic attempts to sound like the 1980s synth pop their parents used to play. Songs are long. Favorite song: these chains
3
Jul 04 2024
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
It's obviously quality music. Played well, sung well. I just wasn't in the mood for this today. And most days. I don't have the patience. Favorite song: glad to be unhappy
3
Jul 05 2024
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You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
Great, but the singing is really bad. The very lo-fi stuff towards the end is also not for me. Favorite song: the lung
3
Jul 06 2024
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
Great. Starts of sounding more Pink Floyd than Pink Floyd, the rest is more like an improved version of Jefferson Airplane. Their music should be as popular as those bands. I don't know how much of an impact they had when they were new. That could be a reason why they're not as popular today. Plus the playing is too sloppy at times. Favorite song: the garden of earthly delights
4
Jul 07 2024
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Pornography
The Cure
This is probably their most consistent album. Starts great, good almost until the end. It's the dark sound they're still associated with today, more than their later pop sound. The singing is flat a lot of the time, but it doesn't really bother me. There's enough space in the production so it doesn't clash with anything too bad. Favorite song: a short term effect
4
Jul 08 2024
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
Easy to listen to, easy to dance to, played well, recorded well, but not memorable. Favorite song: give up the funk
3
Jul 09 2024
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Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
It's made very well, but it's not at all what I'm looking for in music. It's like Beck playing Pink Floyd. Favorite song: electricity.
3
Jul 10 2024
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Abbey Road
Beatles
A lot of variation and all of it is great. Favorite song: here comes the sun.
5
Jul 11 2024
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Yesterday I got the Beatles' Abbey Road, the last album he was on before this one. This is not as good. Not even close. None of the songs are bad, but none are great either. Favorite song: Hold on
3
Jul 12 2024
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
All songs are good, only Solsburry Hill is great. I didn't remember any of the other songs after one go, but they are well-crafted.
3
Jul 13 2024
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Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
I don't understand why it's on the list. It was not a hit record. It was not influential. It's not even very good.
2
Jul 14 2024
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Moon Safari
Air
Not something I would put on my own playlist, but it's good. Sounds very French. And it is. It was over before it started to annoy me. Favorite song: ce matin-la
4
Jul 15 2024
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
Awful. Just awful.
1
Jul 16 2024
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Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
These kinds of hidden gems are my main reason to take on this challenge. Most bands would be proud of a record that is good at one of the many styles that are blended together flawlessly on this album. These people are good at all of them. Never heard of them before. Favorite song: Lilia
4
Jul 17 2024
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Django Django
Django Django
Good, but hardly essential. I remember Default was a hit here. I didn't know the other songs. They're not as annoying. Favorite song: Silver Rays.
3
Jul 18 2024
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Connected
Stereo MC's
I think it's supposed to be dance music, but I don't feel it. Favorite song: Pressure.
2
Jul 19 2024
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Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
Very repetitive, but for a reason. It's entrancing. And it actually works on this record. On a lot of other records, it doesn't. But they could have left a couple of songs off. Favorite song: sega.
3
Jul 20 2024
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Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
They didn't sound like anyone else. Still don't. Alternative rock, but funky. The singing is flat and has the timbre of nails on a chalkboard. The music is good. The songs are too long. Favorite song: stop
3
Jul 21 2024
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Up until this record, most people picked samples so the sample set the mood for the song. DJ Shadow took samples and turned them into something completely different. Cut them up, change the accent, etc. So it's an important record for the development of music. However, like a lot of other groundbreaking records (black sabbath, frank zappa, run dmc,...) , I wouldn't recommend it to young people. Because by today's standards, it's not that good. Favorite song: organ donor.
3
Jul 22 2024
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Kenza
Khaled
It's not terrible, but hard to believe this is the creative peak of the genre. It was a big commercial succes, of course. I think they wanted to include something arab-ish and didn't know anything else. Favorite song: Derwiche tourneur
2
Jul 23 2024
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Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
The songs are not terrible. I even remembered a couple of them. However, the performance is bad. If you wanna play loud, you gotta sing loud. Or no one will hear you. So this sounds very unrealistic. Production sounds like a bad demo. Favorite song: the hardest walk.
2
Jul 24 2024
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Kings Of The Wild Frontier
Adam & The Ants
I liked it so much, I even played the bonus tracks. I usually don't. The bonus tracks are even better. He's not a very good singer, but it suits the music well. Favorite song on the original album: Kings of the wild frontier
4
Jul 25 2024
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You Are The Quarry
Morrissey
I played it once or twice before, but not more. I recognized some of the songs. Probably my favorite solo album of his. It's good, but not spectacular. Favorite song: How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel
3
Jul 26 2024
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
Groovy disco soul. Played very well. The singer is alright but not great. Sound wise, there's a big hole in the mid range. It lacks warmth. I played this quite a few times in the past. I only remembered a couple of songs. Great background music. Favorite song: music of the mind.
3
Jul 27 2024
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
Good. Not much else to say about this record. Favorite song: move over.
4
Jul 28 2024
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
It's good, but I don't like all of it. Favorite song: track A solo dancer
3
Jul 29 2024
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Some of it is really great, but there's also quite a lot of filler. That goes for the album as a whole, but also within songs. Favorite song: Kashmir (by far)
3
Jul 30 2024
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
I heard it for the first time. I like it. Surprised me. I think I'll like it less the 2nd time without the element of surprise. Favorite song: lost
4
Jul 31 2024
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Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
I don't remember hearing of the songs before. The good parts are not as good as his other record, but the filler is a lot better. Favorite song: everybody needs a 303
3
Aug 01 2024
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John Prine
John Prine
I understand what makes this good, but I don't like it at all. You can have very good termites in your porch's wood, but that only makes it worse. Favorite song: Hello in there
2
Aug 02 2024
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It's Too Late to Stop Now
Van Morrison
I wanted to hate this, but I didn't. I usually don't like live records, it is much too long so I didn't listen the entire thing in one go, I don't like his voice very much, but the band is good, the songs are ok, must have been a hell of a night if you were there. favorite song: I believe to my soul.
3
Aug 03 2024
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m b v
My Bloody Valentine
On one hand, if you make a wall of sound and you sing like that, no one's gonna hear it. On the other hand, if you sing like that, I don't even want to hear it. Same problem I had with the Jesus and Mary Chain the other day. But this is not as bad. At least it doesn't sound like it was recorded in a toilet. Some riffs are cool. Songs are too long. And as I said, the singing is awful. Favorite song: she found now
3
Aug 04 2024
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
Some songs are almost perfect, some are just good. Favorite song: the windmills of your mind
4
Aug 05 2024
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The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
I would call this psychedelic prog folk dub. Too psychedelic for my taste, but it's good (if you can stand Damon Albarn's singing). Favorite song: Herculean
4
Aug 06 2024
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
I don't mind hearing this at all. Not great, but definitely not the worst album on the list. Favorite song: bang a gong.
3
Aug 07 2024
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Before And After Science
Brian Eno
Sounds a couple of years newer than it is. This man is very creative. Some parts are really good, some are pretty bad. I don't think he cares what I think. Favorite song: Kurt's rejoinder
2
Aug 08 2024
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Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
At first it was pretty good, but it just kept dragging on and on and on. The lyrics are stupid, but I like his flow. Favorite song: rainy dayz
3
Aug 09 2024
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Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
It sounds very amateurish. It's very old. May have been good when it was new, but people shouldn't listen to this anymore.
1
Aug 10 2024
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
This record doesn't sound as awkward as their other record on the list, but it's not quite 3 star material. Favorite song: walk this way
2
Aug 11 2024
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The Visitors
ABBA
I didn't recognize any of the titles, but I definitely heard some of these songs before. This record is made very well. Almost too perfect. There's nothing really wrong with this album. Production is perfect. I just don't like the theatrical vibe that some of the songs have. But it makes sense. The Bs next project was the music Chess. Favorite song: Soldiers
4
Aug 12 2024
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Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
Good, except the singing. People always refer to them as a one hit wonder. They're not. Geno was a hit. Favorite song: seven days too long.
3
Aug 13 2024
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Sultans of swing. The rest is boring. They can definitely play. They're just not that good at writing memorable songs.
2
Aug 14 2024
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The Idiot
Iggy Pop
There's 3 stooges albums and 2 Iggy albums on the list. I think it's too much, but this record is different enough. Punk was still brand spanking new and this was already post-punk. Favorite song: Baby
4
Aug 15 2024
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
It's alright, but I expected something more energetic. Especially the singing is kind of bland. Favorite song: Anunciação
3
Aug 16 2024
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
There's a lot going on on this record. Lots of different styles and influences. But somehow it sounds coherent. I really enjoyed it. Wouldn't have found it without this challenge. Favorite song: Dance or die.
4
Aug 17 2024
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I Against I
Bad Brains
Very influential record, but a lot of bands did it much better later. Bands like Sick Of It All, Refused, Turnstile, hell even Korn and Limp Bizkit wouldn't be the same without this record. But if you are used to listening to hardcore punk (I am), this is too tame. Especially the vocals. I don't really like any of the songs. I don't even think this is a good gateway into hardcore punk. Listen to some newer bands instead.
2
Aug 18 2024
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Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
Songs are way too long. The awful singing makes them seem even longer. It's not 1 star bad, but not much better. At least the production is OK. I think this was the right record at the right time when it was new, but it's not now. Favorite song: Poptones
2
Aug 19 2024
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Fever Ray
Fever Ray
It's not my taste, but it's made well and different enough to be on the list. They probably wanted to sound like this. Very minimalistic. Favorite song: Seven (which is actually the 4th song)
3
Aug 20 2024
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Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
Nothing is bad about this record, but nothing is memorable either. I usually don't like long songs. It doesn't bother me on this record. Except Feedback. What the hell is that about?
3
Aug 21 2024
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
This is what all the local bands around here sounded like in the 90s. Not bad, but I'm not impressed.
3
Aug 22 2024
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Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
I heard it once or twice before. I remembered some of the songs. Good sign. Or very bad. Good in this case. I don't like all of them, but the best ones are really good despite the mediocre singer. Favorite song: safety in numbers.
4
Aug 23 2024
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Mott
Mott The Hoople
Solid glam rock album. Doesn't feel essential to me. Favorite song: Crash Street Kids
3
Aug 24 2024
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Tago Mago
Can
The first half is amazing. Like a much better version of Pink Floyd (they are so overrated). And then they ran out of good ideas. Favorite song: Oh yeah
4
Aug 25 2024
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Not their best, but it's alright. Most songs are good, except when he tries to rap. Lyrics are very adolescent for a bunch of almost 40 year olds. He said fornication, huh huh. Favorite song: Parallel Universe. Not as good as Blood Sugar Sex Magic, which was ****. Not bad enough for ***.
4
Aug 26 2024
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My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
There's too much Brian Eno on the list. Some of his work is good, but this is him doodling again.
2
Aug 27 2024
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The Band
The Band
Not bad, just not memorable at all. Favorite song: up on cripple creek
3
Aug 28 2024
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Blur
Blur
The irony. Today the big news is, there's an Oasis reunion and I get this record. Blur, proving once more how much more creative and versatile they were than their rivals. Good album. Could have been shorter. There's 3 Blur albums on the list. I think 2 would have been enough and this should be one of them. Favorite song: Song 2.
4
Aug 29 2024
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
Some of it is really good, some of it is too arty. Favorite song: Fine for now
3
Aug 30 2024
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Scott 2
Scott Walker
This man has made some weird music later in his career, but this is easy on the ear. Favorite song: plastic palace people.
3
Aug 31 2024
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
This kind of music has a very strong music school vibe to me. Very well done, but not very original. This is basically a remake of Luther Vandross and Barry White etc. with updated production (which is very good by the way). Especially the voice lacks character. The start is alright, but towards the middle it became too smooth for me and it only got worse later on. Favorite song: Ascension.
3
Sep 01 2024
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...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
This album was better than I expected. Musically it's not groundbreaking, but there's not as much filler as I expected. Or you could say the filler is not as bad as I expected. I didn't like the hits very much, but I didn't hate any of the songs. Britney was unavoidable at the time, so that alone is a reason to put her on the list. Favorite song: and the beat goes on, of the originals: soda pop, which doesn't really sound like her singing. Sounds more like Christina Aguilera to me.
2
Sep 02 2024
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
Not bad, but I don't understand why they got the biggest out of all the brit pop bands. Must be more about the drama than about the music. It's quite samey and especially the singing is really not very good. Sounds as if the singer doesn't like the music. Massively overrated. Favorite song: she's electric.
3
Sep 03 2024
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Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
The first couple of tracks are very good. Act 3 and 4 are not that good, but still not bad.
4
Sep 04 2024
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Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
He has a great voice. I just don't like his songs. Favorite original song: They Won't Go When I Go (originally by Stevie Wonder)
2
Sep 05 2024
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Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
Never heard the album before. I think The Word Girl and Absolute were hits here. I remember some other parts. Maybe they were used as background music somewhere. I can't stand the singing. Makes it almost unlistenable. I'd swear I heard autotune on this record, but it hadn't been invented yet for another 10 years or so. Favorite song: Don't work that hard.
2
Sep 06 2024
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Out of Step
Minor Threat
Not only the music was influential, but also the message. Still sounds angry and energetic by today's standards, unlike a lot of other old "angry" and "energetic" albums (Bad Brains, Iron Maiden for example). Favorite song: No Reason
5
Sep 07 2024
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
I like this record. Production is great. Sounds newer than it is. They sound like a funky version of Talking Heads or Minutemen. Funky and punky. Usually I don't like that combination, but they do it well. Songs are each quite monotonous, but they are different enough. Favorite song: Love Like Anthrax
4
Sep 08 2024
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Greetings From L.A.
Tim Buckley
I got Happy Sad before. That was amazing. This was just good. It didn't feel essential to me. Favorite song: Devil Eyes.
3
Sep 09 2024
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I See You
The xx
Not bad, but a little boring. Not my taste. Favorite song: a violent noise
3
Sep 10 2024
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Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
I played this a lot when it was new. I liked the album before and the album after better, but this is better than I remembered. It's more versatile. Not all of it is good. I'd rather have a more consistent good record. And shorter too. Favorite song: Two Reelers
4
Sep 11 2024
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
It has some great parts, but over-all it sounds outdated and almost corny at times. Favorite song: Jet
3
Sep 12 2024
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
I got bored halfway through the first song. I paused it and continued later. It's very good, but it's too long.
3
Sep 13 2024
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
I didn't enjoy this at all. Least hated song: mr. tambourine man.
2
Sep 14 2024
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Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
Last week I got Postcards from LA. I like this better. It sounds more sincere. Favorite song: Phantasmagoria in two.
4
Sep 15 2024
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Technique
New Order
I got low-life before. This is a lot better. Especially the singing. Still not great, but good enough. During the first track I hoped the rest of the album would be different. Fortunately it was. Most bands who try to combine indie rock and dance music fail miserably, but except for the first track this album sounds reasonably coherent. Favorite song: run.
3
Sep 16 2024
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Great. He has a great voice and I like the mood of the instruments. Favorite song: Rolling. (but most of them, really)
4