Journey Complete!
Finisher #646 to complete the list
View User Albums Summary1089
Albums Rated
2.94
Average Rating
100%
Complete
Favorite Album
Superunknown
Soundgarden
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Curator
Rater Style ?
69
5-Star Albums
76
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Vulnicura
Björk
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
Repeater
Fugazi
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Permission to Land
The Darkness
|
5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
|
Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Vespertine
Björk
|
5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
|
Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
|
Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Thriller
Michael Jackson
|
1 | 4.22 | -3.22 |
|
Bad
Michael Jackson
|
1 | 3.8 | -2.8 |
|
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
|
1 | 3.79 | -2.79 |
|
Funeral
Arcade Fire
|
1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
|
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
|
1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
|
The College Dropout
Kanye West
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
Dance Mania
Tito Puente
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
|
Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
|
1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 7 | 4.43 |
| Radiohead | 6 | 4.5 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 5 |
| Björk | 4 | 4.5 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.5 |
| David Bowie | 9 | 4.11 |
| Peter Gabriel | 3 | 4.67 |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2 | 5 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| Joni Mitchell | 4 | 4.25 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
| Tom Waits | 5 | 4 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 1 |
| Van Morrison | 3 | 1.33 |
| Primal Scream | 2 | 1 |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 1.67 |
| Kraftwerk | 3 | 1.67 |
| Eminem | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Specials | 2 | 1.5 |
| Robert Wyatt | 2 | 1.5 |
| Can | 2 | 1.5 |
| Barry Adamson | 2 | 1.5 |
| Cocteau Twins | 2 | 1.5 |
| The The | 2 | 1.5 |
| Aerosmith | 3 | 2 |
| The Fall | 3 | 2 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Orbital | 4, 1 |
| Fatboy Slim | 4, 1 |
| Kanye West | 3, 4, 1 |
| Madonna | 1, 3, 4 |
5-Star Albums (69)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Waylon Jennings · 3 likes
2/5
1001 country albums that sound like each other
Slade · 3 likes
2/5
Paint by numbers pub rock
American Music Club · 2 likes
2/5
Meh
Limp Bizkit · 1 likes
1/5
really? why did i say publicly i would listen to all of these...
it takes a lot of effort to be this bad
The Zombies · 1 likes
4/5
Got a soft spot for this kind of English pop
4-Star Albums (254)
1-Star Albums (76)
All Ratings
Bob Dylan
3/5
I've listened to most of this album, once, in 2007.
Depeche Mode
2/5
I have never previously streamed Depeche Mode!
I'm sure fans love this album. It's just not my thing.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Two days in a row, a famous, well regarded artist that I've never heard.
I mean I thought it was fine, probably not going back for a repeat listen soon but i'll check out some other Elvis Costello stuff.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I've listened to Iron Maiden 7 times, but never this record.
Artist #1498 pre this album
It's average yeah? Surely there are better Iron Maiden albums.
Billy Joel
3/5
Never listened to this album. Probably heard the songs from it but post 2006 I've only listened to Billy Joel 7 times.
Artist #1459 pre listening to this
A bit "musical theatre" for my taste tbh
Suede
4/5
Listened to Suede once in 2019
Artist #6989 on Last.fm
Nice surprise, this was pretty good.
Nirvana
5/5
Of course I've heard it. Many many times.
Funnily enough Nirvana aren't high in my post 2006 (last.fm era) listening stats.
Artist #156
Yes
4/5
I've never listened to Yes before. Huh.
Interesting.
The Crusaders
3/5
Never heard of 'em...
Interesting
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Yet another artist I've never listened to!
Nice discovery, I'd listen to more
More like 3.5
Donovan
1/5
No
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Unbelievable as it seems, I've never listened to this record.
The hits from this are amazing, the vocal only track is great too!
Roni Size
3/5
Again, never scrobbled.
I can appreciate this. I can hear the work that went into it. The stuff with vocals was cool... I just don't know
The White Stripes
3/5
Artist #886 on last.fm
15 scrobbles
This record is not terrible but overrated IMO
Common
4/5
Scrobbled 1 time
Artist #4820
Nice vibes, like the jazzy backing tracks
John Martyn
2/5
Who knew? John Martyn is actually Artist #1667 on my scrobbles
Never heard this album though
Hmm, disappointed actually - I was really looking forward to this one.
Deep Purple
3/5
Believe it or not I've only listened to Deep Purple 3 times - 3!
Artist #2556
I was expecting a whole lot more metal sounding minor stuff... this is like good time rock yeah?
5/5
260 streams for The Beatles but only one listen through Sgt Peppers - seems criminal doesn't it?
Artist #64
Who am I to give this album anything less...
Orbital
4/5
Another artist I had heard of, but never heard.
It was surprisingly enjoyable considering my usual tastes, great for a chilled evening.
Currently sitting at artist #1207
John Cale
3/5
Never listened to this artist before
It's OK I guess.
Traffic
3/5
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
4/5
Another one from the never listened batch!
This was surprisingly enjoyable though
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Some nice stuff on here but some super indulgence too
Justice
2/5
I can appreciate the effort here - didn't do it for me though
Kanye West
3/5
OK I have listened to Kanye before but just putting it out there that I'm not doing this as a fan any longer
Artist #108 on my last.fm but i've only heard some of this album before
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Yep. Enjoyed.
Artist #992 on last.fm
Björk
5/5
I loved this, great record!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
Not a reggae fan
Eminem
2/5
Last fm artist #477
I have a feeling this album has not aged well. Either that or we've all grown up and realised how shit these macho rappers are in the shadow of some of what conscious hip hop is doing.
Drags a bit actually. I found myself wanting it to be over towards the end - checked out
Eurythmics
3/5
Decent record, I don't think any of these are their best songs though
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I can see why people love it, grooves and great tunes.
Tom Waits
4/5
I love Tom
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Dragged after a while
Iggy Pop
3/5
It was fine.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
It cannot be true, but my stats say I've never heard this record. What!?
Artist #123 in my Last.fm (now #114)
The Police
2/5
Breath and King of Pain are great, the rest... meh...
Death In Vegas
1/5
Don't think I even know who this band is.
Not an album I needed to hear before I died.
Beatles
4/5
The Beatles are artist #61 currently on my last.fm but, if i can believe the stats, i somehow skipped over listening to this record!?
Not my favourite work by the band but still solid
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Two Bruce in one week!
Artist #114 - an album I've listened to twice before
Ah so hard! It's not perfect but it's pretty bloody good!
Method Man
2/5
Some cool beats. Just not something I can get into for an hour.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
I mean it's fine but I don't have the desire to listen again ever
The Specials
2/5
1 previous listen... to 1 song
Def Leppard
4/5
Artist #411 on last.fm but never heard this record
Some classic tunes here! Nothing wrong with a bit of Leppard!
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Streamed once in 2017 haha - song wasn't on this record
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Artist #331 but hadn't listened to this album before
Butthole Surfers
2/5
Prior to listening, I'd only heard one BS song in my life, "Pepper"
Was this a noise experiment?
The Mars Volta
5/5
Oh I know this record
#49 all time streams
I listened to this a lot when it came out, not so much in the streaming era
Love this record, forgot how much so
R.E.M.
4/5
R.E.M. are #148 on my all time streams but I've never heard this album!
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
Apparently I streamed "Everyday People" twice in 2016. Random fact of the day.
Not my thing.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Really looking forward to this!
On last.fm Sabbath are #609 in my all time artists but really should be higher
Thoroughly enjoyed!
Van Morrison
2/5
Currently #818 on my artist charts. I know this is supposed to be a classic but it'll be different listening after his lockdown tantrum.
Pretty plain.
Fela Kuti
3/5
Some fun jams but ultimately nothing more than background music
The Young Gods
3/5
At first I was thinking wtf is this... but it grew on me
System Of A Down
5/5
I'm biased. This is one of my favourite debut albums ever. And to think there was better SOAD albums to follow
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
Heard of but never heard this band.
Enjoyed this record, would go back for more
John Martyn
3/5
God I hope it's better than the last one of his on this list
Artist #877 currently on last.fm
Update: Yep. Much better.
X-Ray Spex
2/5
It was probably ground breaking in 1978, now it sounds like cookie cutter punk
Black Flag
3/5
I expected to like this album so much more.
Duran Duran
3/5
Not bad. I knew a lot of these tracks already.
2Pac
2/5
I can appreciate this, i think, i just don't get much from it.
Bert Jansch
1/5
1001 albums to bore you to death
David Bowie
4/5
Great record. I love it.
Milton Nascimento
2/5
Background music at best
Dolly Parton
3/5
Muddy Waters
3/5
It's alright.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
2.5 - some amazing lyrics here, probably a friday night album with wine...
Ozomatli
3/5
Some enjoyable stuff however I could only find maybe half of the tracks online
The Libertines
3/5
Unbelievably, for how ubiquitous this was when I was living in London, I've never actually heard this record. First couple of tracks were cool but it's all a bit samey same.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
It was fine but I've heard better from Ella
Otis Redding
3/5
Beatles
5/5
It's astounding to me that this isn't a best of. Just another record.
The Zombies
4/5
Got a soft spot for this kind of English pop
Dolly Parton
2/5
Hot Chip
2/5
Queen Latifah
2/5
not for me
Elvis Presley
2/5
There must be better Elvis albums than this
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I'm hearing more Rolling Stones through this than previously in my life. This is the 2nd best of the two Stones' albums so far.
Beck
4/5
Beck is a legend. I should listen to him more.
Beck
4/5
See previous day's review haha
Still not my favourite Beck album but a good one
Tim Buckley
3/5
Some great songs, some borderline comic (i imagine unintentionally)
A Tribe Called Quest
2/5
Some of the beats here were great but 80s/90s rapping still doesn't do it for me
The Cure
4/5
Yeah I like me some Cure...
Paul Weller
3/5
Probably a 3.5 but it did end up background music kind of
ZZ Top
3/5
Motörhead
4/5
Energy. Love it.
Erykah Badu
2/5
Tortoise
5/5
A genuine discovery! I enjoyed this so much
Elis Regina
2/5
Some cool grooves but mainly elevator music for me
Silver Jews
2/5
Nah. There's some cool slacker/shoegaze sure, but this is a bit boring.
Aerosmith
3/5
Some classic rock here. Takes me back.
Beyoncé
3/5
Impeccable production. Just a bit too long.
CHIC
3/5
R.E.M.
3/5
It’s rem sure, love the band but, outside of Orange Crush I wasn’t taken with this record overly
Cornershop
2/5
The Kinks
3/5
Blondie
4/5
Nice. Some cool tunes I didn't even realise they sang, feeling generous today.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Got a blindspot for ELO, nearly gave this 5 stars before I listened
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
That was pretty much the same track on repeat yeah?
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Dig it
Incredible Bongo Band
1/5
Honestly, wtf
The Youngbloods
2/5
Positive start but all a bit the samey for me
The Byrds
3/5
It was fine but I didn't expect it to be *this* country
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Sounded exactly like I thought it would, that 7 min song near the end went on forever though
Arcade Fire
2/5
Why? The only band I've ever fallen asleep watching live...
This was marginally less rubbish that I expected. Marginally.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
For an album with 18 tracks is wasn't that bad actually.
Slade
2/5
Paint by numbers pub rock
Buffalo Springfield
2/5
Did I *have* to hear it? - 2.5 rounded down
Maxwell
3/5
Who is/are Maxwell?
Pretty funky actually, enjoyable but not a repeat listen candidate
Metallica
5/5
According to my records, it's 13 years since I last listened to this all the way through. Let's go!
#32 all time artist listens
1/5
really? why did i say publicly i would listen to all of these...
it takes a lot of effort to be this bad
Iggy Pop
2/5
I was expecting better from Iggy
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Probably haven't listened to this in full in more than 20 years. My appreciation has grown.
Serge Gainsbourg
1/5
Tired trope the old man loves young girl thing... not for me
GZA
3/5
Fine. Kinda blends into one song after a while.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
All time classic. It's like a greatest hits record.
Steely Dan
4/5
More enjoyable than i expected
Nirvana
5/5
Iconic and timeless
Adele
3/5
I'd never heard an Adele album, and I expected this to be outstanding. Her voice and control is, no doubt, but with few exceptions I thought the songs were pretty average.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1/5
42 songs is taking the piss.
2/5
So is a lot of this album
Neil Young
5/5
Soft spot for Uncle Neil
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Solid
Morrissey
3/5
Alright I suppose
Dion
2/5
Meh
Wilco
4/5
I should listen to more Wilco
Crowded House
3/5
Amazing hit songs and a bunch of filler
Dr. Dre
2/5
The music is cool. But the lyrics are rubbish. And the music belongs to someone else anyway.
Hugh Masekela
2/5
I don't jazz enough to know if this is "good", it was rather uninteresting to me
Burning Spear
1/5
I would rather listen to almost anything else besides reggae
Hawkwind
2/5
a 2 hour live album is a rubbish way to be introduced to a band...
3/5
I found this fascinating but there's little chance I'd ever re-listen :)
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Arctic Monkeys B Side collection
Venom
2/5
I’m sure this hasn’t aged well. Unless it’s intended to be comical?
Ice Cube
3/5
Rap is better when the performer has something to talk about other than their own gretaness.
Santana
2/5
Nah
Louis Prima
2/5
Starting to think I should have signed up for 1001 EPs to listen to. Some of these are just an hour of the same song.
Love
3/5
3/5
Aretha Franklin
4/5
I can appreciate when something is just good. I saw the track list and thought it was a greatest hits record
Guns N' Roses
5/5
#62 all time artist on my last.fm
This is a debut album. A DEBUT. And arguably their best.
The Jam
5/5
Thoroughly enjoyed this one
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
#94 all time artist
Never heard this album somehow - loved it though
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
I have actually never previously heard "Free Bird" - i know right...
Supertramp
3/5
Neil Young
3/5
I read somewhere that Neil wanted Side B to go first so that's how I listened. 3 of the most boring songs I've heard from NY... thankfully saved by Side A, somewhat.
4/5
Yeah I’ll listen to more PJ Harvey
Christine and the Queens
4/5
Not bad for a band I’d never heard
Digital Underground
1/5
Dated garbage
New Order
4/5
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this
Travis
4/5
I'd written this band off based on their singles, there's some depth here
Tom Waits
4/5
Not my favourite of Tom's but it contains some of my favourite songs!
Megadeth
3/5
Run of the mill Metallica B-Sides
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Incredible to fit so many good songs on an album
Django Django
2/5
Indie borecore. Big fan of some of their peers but struggled to get through this.
Calexico
3/5
Initially really enjoyable but the extended instrumental sections started to wear after a while
Herbie Hancock
3/5
jazz
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
According to my stats I listened to this 3 times in 2011 and never since.
I'm guessing there's gonna be a heap more hip hop in this generator, hope more of it is like this
Johnny Cash
4/5
Masterful collaboration between Cash and Rubin
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Not quite what I was expecting
The Who
3/5
Late 90s and early 00s I listened to so much of the Who, even saw them live [well two of them] - since then, only 17 plays apparently...
Some great songs, some strange inclusions.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Great songs with such an iconic 80s sound. -1 for the awful power ballad
Stereolab
2/5
Not for me
Blur
3/5
3 stars is a lot more than I would have given it at the time of release. I appreciate, rather than like, this album
Bobby Womack
4/5
Solid grooves here
Little Richard
4/5
Lots of fun
Eric Clapton
1/5
Recent events colour my thoughts. I will listen to all 1001 albums but some are hard work.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
William Orbit
2/5
Sometimes interesting but definitely not my thing
The Gun Club
4/5
Lou Reed
4/5
Great tunes, some of those lyrics though...
The Black Crowes
5/5
Jungle Brothers
2/5
The Darkness
5/5
It's been too long, this is a cracking debut!
Charles Mingus
4/5
The Modern Lovers
2/5
yawn
N.E.R.D
3/5
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
I expected more from Tom, this album felt pretty bland
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Interesting
Germs
3/5
Alice Cooper
2/5
not what i was expecting nor very enjoyable
Funkadelic
4/5
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
Ice T
3/5
Some funky stuff here but with time other parts sound borderline comedic. Last spoken word piece was powerful though.
The Verve
4/5
Singles are deadset smashes. The rest was more psychedelic than I’d imagined
The White Stripes
3/5
I can appreciate the band, but they don't do much for me.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Garbage. Such a tough listen. Would almost prefer reggae
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Van Halen
3/5
Some great tracks... some filler too
The Prodigy
3/5
It's good, in parts. I don't love this kind of stuff though generally.
AC/DC
4/5
The Cure
2/5
Nothing outstanding for me
Carpenters
3/5
The Specials
1/5
I hate ska almost as much as reggae and bad hip hop
Dire Straits
3/5
Not what I wanted it to be
Arrested Development
4/5
Air
3/5
Better than I expected background music
Bob Dylan
4/5
Pixies
3/5
Patti Smith
3/5
2/5
Started ok, a bit much by the end
Deep Purple
4/5
Pretty good
Randy Newman
3/5
Just always sounds like toy story haha
Sonic Youth
4/5
Some stuff on here I really liked
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Nice
Billie Holiday
3/5
Might have been a 4 on a different day
Jane Weaver
3/5
PJ Harvey
3/5
Jorge Ben Jor
2/5
Occasionally interesting but not anything I’d ever listen to again
Manu Chao
2/5
Norah Jones
4/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Moby
3/5
Some great songs on here... but I've heard it sooooo much
Super Furry Animals
3/5
James Brown
3/5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
OutKast
3/5
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
Black Sabbath
5/5
Todd Rundgren
1/5
Talk Talk
2/5
Nah
Nas
2/5
The Saints
3/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Beatles
5/5
T. Rex
4/5
Robert Wyatt
2/5
The Beach Boys
5/5
The Young Rascals
2/5
60s pop by numbers
Funkadelic
4/5
The guitar on the title track 😳
Sam Cooke
4/5
John Grant
2/5
A bit too kitsch for me
Supergrass
4/5
Raekwon
2/5
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Eagles
3/5
Some classics and some boring country adjacent strum alongs
Scott Walker
2/5
Television
3/5
Isaac Hayes
2/5
Classic funk, but a score without the movie is not my thing
Faust
1/5
Prince
3/5
The last few songs were excellent, but you have to wade through a lot to get there. I had high expectations too which doesn’t help
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Fleet Foxes
2/5
I thought I liked the Fleet Foxes, this was pretty boring though
Ghostface Killah
2/5
Music 👍 lyrics and skits 👎
5/5
Thin Lizzy
2/5
Missy Elliott
2/5
Better than so much of the similarly styled stuff on this list but the records are toooooo long.
Lana Del Rey
2/5
Just all a little bit dull and boring isn't it?
The Clash
2/5
I expected I’d love this… didn’t get me
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Actually pretty cool
Green Day
5/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
Interested to hear more SY
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Got better as it went along, especially the acoustic stuff towards the end
Pink Floyd
4/5
The Stooges
3/5
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Some very cool stuff, took a while to get going though
ZZ Top
2/5
James Taylor
4/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Nick Drake
4/5
Sepultura
2/5
I've enjoyed Sepultura albums more than this
Traffic
2/5
Second Traffic album in this list. I'd argue neither are vital.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Spiritualized
2/5
Didn't do much for me
Elvis Presley
2/5
Steely Dan
2/5
Side B better than Side A
Public Enemy
3/5
Fishbone
2/5
Not what I was expecting
R.E.M.
5/5
Some beautiful songs here
The Stooges
2/5
Yeah ok
Common
3/5
The music on most of these tracks was cool but some of the lyrics... i may have missed something but i was expecting more from Common
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
Cool. I like it.
The Zutons
2/5
bit bland
Eels
5/5
Loved it. #477 on my all time artists
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Not my favourite of the LZ albums
Genesis
3/5
6 tracks in and I was concerned I wouldn't make it through the record but it gets better... the first Genesis album I've listened to in the streaming era.
The Band
2/5
Bit bland...
Sepultura
4/5
Enjoyed this far more than the last Sepultura album on the list
Miles Davis
3/5
Some parts it's "this is amazing, listen to that", other time "what the f is going on?"
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
69 songs is a lot. I nearly didn't even attempt it but I swore I'd listen to all these albums. I didn't enjoy it 95% of the time, and as you'd expect it is massively quantity over quality... but it's not the worst thing i've heard on this list - and it blows my mind that nearly 3 hours later I'm willing to give more than 1 star
JAY Z
3/5
Better music than a majority of the hip hop on this list but the lyrics, it's still the lyrics - I don't get the acceptance of sexism and homophobia, I just don't.
D'Angelo
2/5
Funky, although background for me
Bill Callahan
4/5
Started slow but i came to really enjoy
The War On Drugs
5/5
So good. Artist #334 on last.fm, but they will rise!
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Never listened to Devendra Banhart before... is was ok
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Cool for what it was
George Jones
2/5
Reminds me of family car trips. Not a bad album per se, just not my thing
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
dig it
The Prodigy
3/5
Iconic sounds
Meat Loaf
4/5
It's a great record still
Neil Young
4/5
Neil does it well
The La's
2/5
If i'd bought this on the strength of "There She Goes" I'd be terribly disappointed
The Lemonheads
3/5
Disposable power pop
Public Enemy
4/5
This is what I've been wanting from all the hip hop so far, finally one that delivers #299 albums in.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Some truly classic songs, would make an amazing 6 track EP
Liz Phair
3/5
George Harrison
3/5
Ray Charles
3/5
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Minor Threat
3/5
Fine but not amazing
The Black Keys
2/5
I don't get the Black Keys.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Oasis
3/5
It's no Morning Glory
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
I thought I'd hate it, it was actually kinda interesting
4/5
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
I'm a bit confused... more interesting than your average 2 / more average than a good 3 hmmm
Mike Ladd
1/5
Nah
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Some great songs but not my top JH album by a long shot.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
More enjoyable than most of these croony types, still not my thing
808 State
2/5
Van Halen
3/5
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
The Afghan Whigs
5/5
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
Goldie
2/5
Could have been about half as long. Sounds to me like the EDM version of a jam band.
David Bowie
5/5
The xx
3/5
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Tears For Fears
4/5
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
AC/DC
5/5
Not much of an AC/DC fan myself but hard to argue this isn’t a 5 star album.
King Crimson
3/5
Roxy Music
4/5
Got better as it went along
Various Artists
2/5
Unnecessary self congratulations
Pulp
4/5
The Blue Nile
4/5
Never heard of this band before but it was a nice surprise!
The Who
4/5
LCD Soundsystem
1/5
Don't understand the hype tbh
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Cool for what it is, some very funky stuff. Not for me though.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Can
2/5
Sister Sledge
4/5
Screaming Trees
4/5
Slow start for mine, I sometimes think I like the idea of liking the band more than the band... the album gathers speed though and ends up a pretty good listen
The Cars
4/5
Carole King
4/5
Green Day
5/5
The most unexpected 5 star album ever
Beatles
4/5
The Temptations
3/5
I really thought I was gonna love this… but… I dunno, it didn’t do it for me
ABBA
4/5
Metallica
4/5
Eminem
1/5
So dated. The man has skills obviously but I prefer my hip hop with intelligent lyrics and generally free of misogyny and homophobia
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Pretty bland 90s indie rock
Yes
2/5
The Go-Betweens
2/5
I get the love i suppose but The Go-Betweens have never really done it for me
Grateful Dead
2/5
Never heard a Grateful Dead album before. Probably not going back.
Foo Fighters
4/5
#27 all time artist on Last.fm
Currently 525 scrobbles - 44 for this album alone, but apparently only 1 full play through in the last 17 years? I listened to this album a lot when it came out, I can't be unbiased about it!
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Some great playing here, I’m not normally an instrumental album person but the organ playing is amazing.
Soundgarden
5/5
#20 all time band in my Last.fm, this is one of my desert island albums. Probably responsible for me wanting to be in a band.
The Smiths
4/5
I kinda wish I discovered the Smiths when I was growing up so I could enjoy them... before...
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
I haven't listened to this in such a long time but i forgot what i high point it was - a glorious return. I get the feeling it's a true "the best 15 of the 40 we demoed" which gives it strength that later (imo) bloated albums don't have.
The Beau Brummels
3/5
Portishead
2/5
Aww like 2.5, some of this sounds amazing, some of it sounds like they duplicated 6 minutes worth of loops and forgot to edit it or finish the song.
David Ackles
3/5
I don't think it's the amazingly beautiful lost gem that some reviews said, but their are some nice songs here. Better than a lot of the singer songwriters fare I've heard in this list so far. Really wishing for half stars lately but anyway 3.5
Queen
4/5
Great band, wanted to like this more than I did though
Blood, Sweat & Tears
4/5
Enjoyed this, mostly.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Metallica
4/5
Interesting concept, works much better with the visual but I still dig the sounds
Tim Buckley
3/5
Definitely the 70s
Sonic Youth
3/5
Some cool stuff, nothing really stood out. I’ve developed an appreciation for sonic youth via this challenge though
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
This sort of rapping I can handle.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Public Enemy
3/5
Like a lot of 80s/90s albums it's a tad bloated, some of the themes have aged poorly - still a decent listen
Michael Jackson
1/5
I swore I'd listen to every one of these 1000 albums, and some have tested me for sure, especially ones where i have a moral objection. Some of the best songs ever sang by one of the worst kinds of person, I can't separate music from life. Sorry. 1/5
Beach House
3/5
Pixies
3/5
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
ho hum
Dagmar Krause
2/5
yep. weird.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Paul Simon
2/5
Wow, I expected way more...
Pixies
5/5
R.E.M.
4/5
Sigur Rós
3/5
Not my favourite of theirs, but neat background music
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Beastie Boys
3/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Le Tigre
2/5
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Not as bad as i was expecting, but not something i'd listen to again by choice
Cream
2/5
Unremarkable considering the talent that put it together
Tom Waits
4/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Orange Juice
2/5
Had it on in the background, best it stayed there.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
FKA twigs
3/5
1/5
So, whoever put the list together knows someone in this band yeah?
Elliott Smith
3/5
Barry Adamson
2/5
Mariah Carey
2/5
With very few exceptions, up tempo MC > down tempo MC
Too often her voice is expected to do the heavy lifting over song ideas that probably shouldn't have made it past demo stage.
The Band
3/5
Frank Ocean
4/5
The Only Ones
3/5
Grew on me over the course of the album... did I *have* to hear it before I died though?
New York Dolls
3/5
The Smiths
3/5
Brian Eno
3/5
Grew on me as it went
Michael Jackson
1/5
Same dilemma. Some of the best songs ever but it feels icky listening to mj
Spiritualized
3/5
Pretenders
3/5
Jamiroquai
5/5
Aerosmith
1/5
Did not enjoy this at all
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I wanted it to be better, in my mind (before I heard it) it was a certain 5. Turns out to be 3.45, rounded down.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Like. It’s fine. Not really exciting
Fairport Convention
3/5
Has its moments.
Cocteau Twins
1/5
Not for me
King Crimson
5/5
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Near perfect record. -1 for hey Joe 🥱
Sabu
2/5
Interesting but not essential
Muddy Waters
3/5
It’s like a cool song that’s just really long
Kanye West
4/5
I’m so conflicted. At the time I thought this was one of the best produced records I’d ever heard. Of course modern day Kanye is a problematic concept and it would take quite a backflip to change my current opinion
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
The Doors
4/5
Queen
4/5
The good is brilliant but -1 for the car song and a couple of others
Pulp
3/5
I don't mind Pulp, got Jarvis' book on my "to read" list... but i expected more. If this was a vinyl I'd guess it was side B before I heard something I liked - after that it was OK.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
There’s some great performances on here, a different but very cool band
Justin Timberlake
2/5
If all the tracks had been produced by the Neptunes and the lyrics weren’t written by a horny 16 year old, this would have potential
Portishead
3/5
Amy Winehouse
2/5
meh
Prefab Sprout
4/5
Femi Kuti
5/5
Loved it
Gene Clark
3/5
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
1/5
It may have been different in its day but I find this kinda thing so boring now. Like a weeknight open mic jam where every one playing thinks they’re amazing and the audience is asleep.
Kate Bush
3/5
Fugees
3/5
Not bad actually
Violent Femmes
3/5
Nick Drake
4/5
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Pretty ho hum for an "experimental" record. How can you write 2 minute psych songs and have them be boring?
a-ha
2/5
Started incredibly, what an opening. The rest was a bit bland for me
Arcade Fire
2/5
something about Arcade Fire really bothers me. Bores me even. I find it hard to be objective in this rating.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
Massive Attack
2/5
I appreciate more than like this band.
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
Not for me. Sounds like an hire long loop. I understand this was vital for the development of rap but it doesn’t do much for me
The Fall
2/5
Destiny's Child
3/5
Some of the greatest R&B tracks ever surrounded by d-grade ballads and some questionable lyrics. I was leaning towards 4 but *juuuust* can't get there
Robert Wyatt
1/5
Fats Domino
4/5
The Who
4/5
This is what I want from an album. 30-40 minutes of well written music. It's only not 5/5 cause some of the lyrics are a bit... um. Let's just say there was better to come from the band.
B.B. King
4/5
Kings of Leon
3/5
Ryan Adams
3/5
Some great songs but about 6 tracks too long
Machito
3/5
Nico
2/5
Sex Pistols
5/5
Still sounds fresh
Björk
4/5
This list has made me a fan of Bjork
Garbage
3/5
Some cracking songs on here, also others that sound very dated.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Side B better than Side A. Probably a 3.5 rounded down.
Ian Dury
2/5
Some of the Music ✅ a lot of the lyrics 👎
Pavement
2/5
Samey same
ABBA
2/5
CHVRCHES
4/5
Pleasantly surprised - enjoyed this!
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Steely Dan
3/5
Cool enough
Sugar
4/5
Enjoyable
Goldfrapp
3/5
Coldplay
4/5
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
The Pretty Things
2/5
Beatles
3/5
The Residents
1/5
Honestly - what was that?
Laura Nyro
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Not usually my thing, but this was pretty cool
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
What a trip
The Doors
4/5
Radiohead
5/5
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Solange
4/5
David Bowie
4/5
The Byrds
2/5
Gillian Welch
4/5
The Style Council
2/5
Os Mutantes
1/5
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
I thought this kind of thing was brilliant in the 90s. Not so much now.
Talking Heads
2/5
I appreciate, rather than like, Talking Heads it seems
Throwing Muses
2/5
MGMT
4/5
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Too much harmonica 😂
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Tom Tom Club
1/5
Rod Stewart
2/5
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
The Monkees
2/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
The Beach Boys
4/5
Ray Charles
4/5
Anita Baker
3/5
John Lennon
3/5
Bad Brains
3/5
Beatles
5/5
Blur
4/5
Kate Bush
5/5
Hole
4/5
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Joy Division
3/5
Massive Attack
3/5
Some great songs, some far too long thought bubbles.
The Fall
2/5
David Crosby
2/5
The thing about getting these albums randomly is it really depends on the mood you're in and today, this album kinda bored me.
Aerosmith
2/5
LTJ Bukem
1/5
Not my thing, I appreciate a lot of work would go into this though.
Turbonegro
3/5
k.d. lang
3/5
Constant Craving is a banger. 3.5
George Michael
3/5
M.I.A.
2/5
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
Blue Cheer
2/5
Van Morrison
1/5
I can’t really sum up my feelings about VM but this review comes close:
Morrison’s career arc looks something like this: He went from being a brash teenage wunderkind with his band Them, to a promising young solo artist (“Brown Eyed Girl”), to a moody, soulful poet casually creating masterpieces (“Astral Weeks” and “Moondance”), to a middle-aged curmudgeon showcasing occasional moments of brilliance (“Common One”), until he slowly devolved into a boozy-uncle type, cranking out boilerplate blues LPs while leaning on his earlier legacy to fill concert halls.
Mekons
3/5
Agree with another reviewer who said it often threatens to be great but never quite gets there, not a very promising start but it got better
Skepta
2/5
I’m sure it takes incredible skill but I can’t connect with anything here. And I’m sure it’s not meant for me and that’s ok.
Morrissey
4/5
Billy Bragg
5/5
Taylor Swift
4/5
Trim a few from the middle but otherwise pleasantly surprised
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Neu!
4/5
Kinda cool
DJ Shadow
3/5
It's cool but I always love a vocal
Dead Kennedys
3/5
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Huh... first Pet Shop Boys album I've ever listened to, apparently.
Well since 2006 anyway - thanks last.fm
Artist #1578
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Another one?
Actually this one’s better
The Stooges
2/5
The Stooges currently sit at #744 in my all time listening chart and I reckon its all come from the 1001 generator... I get that they were important and bands i love wouldn't be around without them, but these records on their own merit... I'm disappointed.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
It's been so long since I listened to Jimi. It used to be everyday... it's a welcome return. #208 all time on last.fm
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
I was *really* digging it until the last 2 tracks, so nearly a 4.
Michael Jackson
1/5
I cannot separate art from the artist
Supergrass
3/5
I have a few of Supergrass' later albums, I prefer those
Artist #802
TV On The Radio
4/5
Thelonious Monk
5/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
My Dad loves Elvis - I've listened to about 3 of his records.
Elvis as a cultural phenomenon seems amazing, as a musician that I enjoy a little less so. That said, this album isn't bad.
Koffi Olomide
1/5
this list needs an edit
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Love a bit of CCR
Sebadoh
3/5
The Cure
3/5
First half 3 stars, maybe 2.5. Second half 4
White Denim
3/5
The Shamen
2/5
I was never a rave person, it just didn't appeal. A lot of this sounds like someone holding down the demo button on an expensive keyboard. Music for another life and time I suspect
Air
3/5
Madness
2/5
Parliament
2/5
I can appreciate this is probably good, or better than. I just don’t like it.
Rahul Dev Burman
1/5
WTF... this list...
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Tom Waits
4/5
I’m biased. Tom can do no wrong.
Queen
4/5
The Yardbirds
2/5
Most blues jams sound the same to me
David Bowie
4/5
3/5
Fugazi
5/5
Janelle Monáe
4/5
2/5
Some clever writing, but still country. I think I heard the same song 4 times.
Ice Cube
2/5
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
A lot of skill but i prefer vocals with my jams
The Undertones
3/5
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Liked it more than I thought
Mudhoney
3/5
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Great background party music
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
A great album from a genre I normally can’t stand
Richard Thompson
4/5
I’ve got a lot of time for RT. Not sure this is his defining work but still good
The Flaming Lips
4/5
It's so earnest I can still taste it 20+ years later
Grateful Dead
2/5
Jam bands meh
The Associates
2/5
Radiohead
4/5
TV On The Radio
3/5
Nearly a 4
Wilco
4/5
Ryan Adams
3/5
I was a big Ryan Adams fan once, I’m firmly
On the downside these days but there are some decent tracks here
Saint Etienne
1/5
No thanks
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I’d love to see the music Zappa would have produced in the 2000s, such a visionary and artist in the truest sense. In saying that, this isn’t my favourite of his work.
Simple Minds
3/5
Gram Parsons
3/5
Motörhead
4/5
Dirty Projectors
4/5
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
Big Black
1/5
I had such high hopes too
Pere Ubu
2/5
Beware of high hopes
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Jimmy Smith
2/5
Great blues is phenomenal. Other blues is… meh
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Korn
4/5
Some songs better than I remember, some far worse. Rating boosted by having recently seen Korn live, a 3.5 going to an admittedly generous 4
Fairport Convention
3/5
Miriam Makeba
3/5
Weather Report
2/5
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Fiona Apple
4/5
David Gray
4/5
Thundercat
4/5
I saw the cover, and the amount of tracks and thought "here we go, another overly long, self indulgent record" - how wrong I was, experimental and entertaining. Nice work Mr Cat.
The Roots
3/5
Finley Quaye
1/5
I genuinely don't understand why this is on this list
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
I don’t like reggae, but there are some classic songs here.
3/5
Chat GPT, write me some enigmatic lyrics an unspecified journey to a majestic place. Don't worry about making sense, just make it go for 40 minutes.
The music is interesting though.
Haircut 100
2/5
2.5
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
Paul Simon
3/5
Man, I’d never heard Graceland but I’d heard all about it. The bar was high, and at least on first listen, not really met.
The Byrds
3/5
I mean. It's fine.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Enjoyed
Morrissey
3/5
Sufjan Stevens
2/5
Al Green
4/5
Soul goodness
The Replacements
3/5
I’ve come to expect a lot from Paul Westerberg, this was good but not great. 3.5 rounded down.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
3/5
Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it
Napalm Death
1/5
Hahahahahahaha… oh it’s not a joke? Oops
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
Kinda indistinguishable from all indie folk pop 1994-2004. Enjoyed the 2nd half a little more than the first
Artist #771 on last.fm - never heard this album before
Q-Tip
3/5
I have one play for Q Tip in my library... an Elton John cover. This is kinda cool though, jazzy influences, the kind of hip hop I’d listen to if I could only listen to hip hop.
The Slits
2/5
I randomly listened to one song from this band in 2016.
It's raw I suppose, not particularly my thing. I love punk, but I dislike reggae enough for this to be ruined haha.
Currently at #3500 on my all time last.fm artists with 3 lifetime plays
N.W.A.
3/5
Production ✅
Flows ✅
Misogyny 🙅♂️
Homophobia 🙅♂️
Didn’t age well, I know why this is important - especially the political stances which are at once spine tingling when you hear the visceral tone and cheapened by the attitude to women. I wish it was the former that had lived on in hip hop instead of the latter
The Monks
3/5
I would probably like it but I can only find 2 songs…
Mylo
1/5
It doesn’t (destroy) and you don’t (need to hear it)
Google “free loop pack” - it’ll take less time
The Offspring
5/5
And just like that I’m 16 again, on a school bus for an excursion to somewhere and my mate passes me his Discman and says, “listen to this”.
It was my intro to punk, I learned the riff to “Cone Out and Play” - it opened the door for me to Green Day, which brought me to Bad Religion and then Propagandhi. A love affair to be sure.
I didn’t keep up with the Offspring, but I appreciate what they did for me.
5 stars - less for the album than what it meant to my future life.
Joe Ely
2/5
If you’re gonna country, you might as well full country.
Heaven 17
1/5
Ok, I’m taking it out on this piece of subpar garbage. This has been a shit week for albums (bar one day) can I get something not from the bargain bin of music history please?
Bee Gees
2/5
So many great songs in the Bee Gees catalgoue, not many of them on this record. This *can't* be the most essential BG record surely.
Pavement
2/5
Ok I see where Weezer got their ideas…
Honestly the last 20 albums must have averaged 2 stars. I might be kinder in other circumstances but this is an easy 2 for me, again.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Kelela
3/5
2/5
The Go-Go's
3/5
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Anthrax
2/5
I can see why this might have been influential. I just didn’t like it very much.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Neil Young
4/5
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Stereo MC's
3/5
Surprisingly enjoyable for the most part
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
620 albums in and I'm starting to fatigue....
Shack
2/5
Vanilla oasis
Brian Eno
3/5
The Thrills
4/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Tracy Chapman
4/5
The Auteurs
3/5
Cheap Trick
3/5
I do find edited live records somewhat contrived but there are some cool tracks here.
The Pharcyde
1/5
Why is this here? Misogyny and homophobia seem to be par for the course in a lot of these 90s records. They haven’t aged well, sure, but the question probably should be why they were ever “acceptable”
The Adverts
3/5
Started with promise, finished in a blaze of "meh"
Syd Barrett
1/5
That was not pleasant, nor is it supposed to be but I’d be happy to die without hearing this tbh
The Fall
2/5
Alice Cooper
3/5
The reviews had my hopes up! It was ok, not a classic imho
Doves
4/5
This gotta better as it went, felt like two albums almost, first part was good, second was great
Country Joe & The Fish
2/5
The Temptations
3/5
Radiohead
4/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I'd venture there are very few 5 star double albums, this is a very solid 4, the best bits for a single album would make an amazing piece of work
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
The Soft Boys
3/5
David Bowie
3/5
The Icarus Line
2/5
Hard to judge when I can only find 4 songs online
Killing Joke
2/5
Frank Zappa
4/5
I love instrumental Zappa
The Byrds
3/5
Moby Grape
2/5
Basement Jaxx
1/5
Unessential
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Some brilliance, some garbage. Interesting strategy.
Wire
4/5
Radiohead
5/5
Arcade Fire
1/5
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Radiohead
5/5
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2/5
I think this is the actual link
https://open.spotify.com/album/4m7Du1Wc5NpDQkaC2QXsAM?si=d6ISo-17SdONvLadKhEtqA
I don't even know how to review this - kinda cool but also not my thing
The United States Of America
2/5
Well that was something
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Black Sabbath
3/5
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Important, but ultimately too samey to be a 4. I love audiobooks and jazz, just not at the same time
Gang Starr
2/5
The Human League
4/5
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Hypnotising
Minutemen
2/5
ok but looooooong
The Undertones
3/5
Leonard Cohen
4/5
The Triffids
3/5
4/5
Tangerine Dream
1/5
nah
Pink Floyd
3/5
Brian Eno
2/5
Like interesting but sort of boring too?
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Yep, it's jazz
Gotan Project
2/5
Background music for me
Lambchop
2/5
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Elvis Costello
2/5
Lou Reed
3/5
The Rolling Stones
2/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I cannot put myself in the 60s, I'd reckon this would have turned some heads though. I do love me some Zappa, this isn't my favourite ere though.
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
That was a journey…
Lucinda Williams
2/5
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
It's jazz alright
The Jam
3/5
The Stranglers
4/5
The Coral
2/5
The early 2000s are increasingly seeming not a good time for music
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
David Holmes
2/5
It took some research but I’ve been convinced of the reasons for inclusion, I just didn’t like it much.
Marty Robbins
2/5
It’s country, but not the kind I hate. This is bearable.
Shuggie Otis
2/5
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Sounds ambitious but generally fails to land
The Streets
4/5
I can’t tell you how much I hated the Streets when I first heard them and for years after… but then I started listening to the lyrics and realised the raps were basically beat port audiobooks. I don’t revisit often, but the record deserves its place here
Soft Machine
1/5
My favourite bit was when it was over.
Big Star
4/5
Soul II Soul
2/5
Sounds like someone kept pushing the demo button on the casio
Def Leppard
5/5
Mj Cole
2/5
Not terrible but not for me.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
So much better than I was expecting, i might have actually enjoyed some of this.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Tom Waits
4/5
Orbital
1/5
John Prine
2/5
I've had so many people tell me how great this bloke is, but i was pretty bored tbh... maybe i'll go read the lyrics again
Ministry
4/5
Torn here. I am not a maybe fan of industrial music, but when I think of it this is pretty much the archetypal sound. Jesus Built My Hotrod is still a banger after all these years.
Janis Joplin
5/5
Yeah that was great
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Like many of these albums lately, not my usual thing but you can't deny how well this is put together.
Richard Hawley
3/5
Japan
2/5
and i'm asleep...
Steely Dan
2/5
I didn’t get It
Sheryl Crow
2/5
Less exciting than I remembered
Kate Bush
3/5
Laibach
3/5
Initially found it interesting but it dragged. Group comments about the sincerity of the “supposed” parody of authoritarianism worry me.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
The White Stripes
2/5
I like listening to Jack White talk about music…
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Bauhaus
2/5
Not atrocious, just not my thing
Boards of Canada
2/5
Interesting, I suppose. Glad to find out the final track was "bonus" track and free myself from listening to it
David Bowie
4/5
Hüsker Dü
5/5
Happy Mondays
2/5
Fatboy Slim
1/5
Pales in comparison to what he’d produce later
The Beta Band
1/5
zzzzzz
LL Cool J
2/5
Title track is a banger, the rest is patchy
John Coltrane
4/5
Enjoyed that
Guided By Voices
1/5
Sounds like a bunch of demo ideas from voice memos
The Velvet Underground
2/5
You're all artists. I get it.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
Kings of Leon
4/5
Duke Ellington
4/5
Cool tunes but I skipped the talking bits, does that make me a bad person?
Snoop Dogg
2/5
Production is funky as, musically this as interesting as any of the hip hop I've heard across 700+ albums of this challenge. But, maaaan... the lyrics... even if they're tongue in cheek I just... can't. And that's the most generous interpretation. At worst? Well...
Nick Drake
4/5
Prince
5/5
Incredible. What an album!
M.I.A.
3/5
Loved the inclusion of the Wilcannia Mob, look em up!
Faith No More
5/5
Kings of Leon
3/5
You have to be a pretty legendary act to need more than 1 album on this list. I don’t know that KoL deserve that honour…
Neneh Cherry
2/5
aka Buffalo Stance and not much else of note. I expected more tbh
Ride
2/5
Yawn
SAULT
2/5
Baaba Maal
2/5
Kinda cool but not my thing. Its sounds repetitive to my uneducated ears, and I’m sure it has a devoted audience.
3/5
Started out with promise…
The Sonics
2/5
Not a massive fan of cover bands
Linkin Park
4/5
I still have "One Step Closer" on CD single.
#339 on my all time Last.fm artists but I reckon I played this album more than a few times pre-scrobble era
John Lee Hooker
2/5
Like this is good blues but... eh I don't get blues, maybe aside from Robert Johnson...
Missy Elliott
2/5
Cool beats. Atrocious lyrics.
The Doors
2/5
Pretty boring record considering I actually like a lot of what I’ve heard from the doors
The Smiths
3/5
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
The art 3/5 the artist 0/5
Half decent tunes for a racist
Madonna
1/5
🥱
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
CHIC
4/5
Joy Division
3/5
It's OK
Stan Getz
2/5
De La Soul
2/5
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
I feel like I’ve heard this album 5 times on this list already
Rod Stewart
2/5
Obviously a lot of these albums have some kind of historical significance but based purely on listening enjoyment there are a lot of sub 3 star listens for me.
The The
2/5
God I'm bored and I still haven't got to the 9 minute song. It want to be good.
update: it wasn't
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
I’ve been stumped lately why some of these are even included. Cue GPT
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions’ debut album Rattlesnakes (1984) is included in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die because it is widely regarded as one of the defining albums of 1980s indie rock and jangle pop. The album is praised for its intelligent, literary lyrics, sophisticated songwriting, and melodic, guitar-driven sound, which blends elements of folk, pop, and new wave.
Key reasons for its inclusion:
1. Lyricism – Lloyd Cole’s lyrics are witty, literate, and full of literary and cinematic references (e.g., Truffaut, Norman Mailer, Evelyn Waugh), setting him apart from many of his contemporaries.
2. Jangle Pop Sound – Influenced by artists like Bob Dylan, Roxy Music, and The Velvet Underground, Rattlesnakes helped define the jangly, melodic guitar sound that became influential in indie music.
3. Strong Songwriting – Tracks like Perfect Skin, Forest Fire, and Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken? are considered classics, blending introspective storytelling with catchy hooks.
4. Influence on Later Artists – The album had a lasting impact on British indie and alternative bands, influencing acts such as Belle & Sebastian, The Go-Betweens, and Teenage Fanclub.
5. Critical Acclaim – Upon its release, Rattlesnakes received widespread praise and has since been recognised as one of the great debut albums in UK music history.
Its inclusion in 1001 Albums highlights its status as an essential listen for anyone interested in literate, melodic pop with emotional depth.
I still only liked one song
Tricky
3/5
Not usually a fan but this has a cool sound
The Damned
5/5
Just as I was losing hope - a genuine gem of a discover, thank you!
Scott Walker
3/5
Ali Farka Touré
1/5
Primal Scream
1/5
Prince
4/5
Donald Fagen
2/5
I don't mind me a bit of yacht rock but this got pretty sleepy
Julian Cope
1/5
Nope.
k.d. lang
2/5
Capably executed songs by talented musos in a genre I can’t stand
Dusty Springfield
4/5
That was enjoyable
Baaba Maal
2/5
Interesting to be exposed to, but if I’m honest, I’m never gonna listen to this again in my life
Bob Dylan
3/5
The Charlatans
2/5
Oasis b-sides the world didn’t need
The Beta Band
3/5
I mean, I didn’t hate it - and with the band name and cover I really wanted to
Kanye West
1/5
oh Kanye, a study in how to throw it all away. Was always gonna be a 1. I can't separate the artist from the art.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
The xx
3/5
On first listen it kinda washes over - but it was enough to maybe get a repeat listen sometime
Can
1/5
It’s taken me 3 days to get through this and it’s still not over
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
That was fun
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Tina Turner
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Nick Cave-y
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
The Strokes
3/5
Less dynamic than I recall
Circle Jerks
3/5
Sometimes you just want a record where people say what they wanna say and leave. This > a 30 track skit laden album anyday.
The lyrics could be better though 😂
Paul Simon
3/5
I always find Mr Simon very earnest and self important. Start of the record it was a 2, gradually edged up.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
The algorithm would suggest that I would very much like Elvis Costello. But i don't, not very much. I don't need multiple albums on this list to prove that to myself. Some of the tracks are ok, I even like some of this album, just not the whole album... not very much anyway
Slipknot
3/5
Not even the best slipknot album
3/5
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Culture Club
2/5
Cat Stevens
5/5
2/5
Honestly no more enjoyable than an open mic night at my local
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Dr. Octagon
2/5
The Pogues
4/5
Marilyn Manson
1/5
Scissor Sisters
4/5
Ok well that was much more enjoyable than expected
Elvis Costello
2/5
Seriously did Elvis Costello put this list together himself?
PJ Harvey
2/5
Joan Baez
3/5
Nice background tunes
Billy Bragg
4/5
Talking Heads
3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
Elton John
4/5
Bill Evans Trio
2/5
Caetano Veloso
2/5
The Avalanches
3/5
It’s an oft mentioned classic in Aussie music circles, it’s not really my thing but I appreciate the skill required. Good to have some Australian representation on the list anyway
Magazine
2/5
I didn't get much from this, a lot of similar sounding stuff in the list
Deee-Lite
3/5
Roxy Music
3/5
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
I appreciated it more after reading about their motivations, I'd still never want to listen again though
50 Cent
2/5
I have this CD in my collection and I'm trying to figure out how it got there...
Peter Frampton
2/5
I had always heard such great things I expected this would be the live album to top them all... then I fell asleep.
The KLF
4/5
I'm all in for the ideology here - and the documentary - Who Killed the KLF? I think it is, fascinating
Miles Davis
3/5
OutKast
3/5
Years ago I would have said The Love Below hands down, but there's a lot of filler. I might even be a Speakerboxxx man these days.
The Cardigans
3/5
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Bad Company
2/5
dad blues rock, the worst kind
Deep Purple
3/5
This list has been a proper intro to Deep Purple for me, and some of these tracks I really dig... but I can do without the 20 minute jams.
Slint
3/5
I can see the influence on a lot of my favourite bands, likely will never listen again though.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Gary Numan
3/5
Kraftwerk
2/5
I wasn't expecting it to be so boring
Barry Adamson
1/5
KISS
3/5
It was ok, tbh i expected more
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
Awesome
Ravi Shankar
1/5
Important? sure... enjoyable? for me, not so much.
4/5
Front heavy but still a classic.
Dire Straits
4/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Holger Czukay
3/5
It was kinda interesting actually
Frank Sinatra
3/5
frank is frank, right?
Don McLean
4/5
I enjoyed that more than i thought
Doves
4/5
fan of this
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
1/5
Nah
The Verve
2/5
kinda all just washes over me, I've never been a fan of that slice of UK music that sounds like Stone Roses cover bands. Accurate or not, that's what this makes me think of.
The Hives
3/5
Underworld
3/5
Surprisingly enjoyable
American Music Club
2/5
Meh
Björk
4/5
I have developed an appreciation for Bjork because of this list
Nirvana
5/5
For me, this was an amazing time to be alive experiencing music. I was never the biggest Nirvana fan but this album impressed me then and impresses me now. Would have loved to see what came next.
Leonard Cohen
1/5
MIDI instruments have a lot to answer for
Marvin Gaye
3/5
It’s gets better
Kraftwerk
1/5
That was far worse than I’d expected. Got nothing for me.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
U2
4/5
Some of these songs are still amazing all these years later, others insufferable in their fake sincerity
Daft Punk
2/5
I really wanted to like this. I like the whole idea of Daft Punk and the music first identity last philosophy. But some of this was just plain boring. Rarely do I find myself needing a break while listening, but that happened on this record.
Goldfrapp
2/5
Ok. Samey.
Merle Haggard
2/5
Definitely country
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Beth Orton
2/5
Just kinda washes over you pleasantly...
Deerhunter
3/5
Not bad background tunes
The The
1/5
Different things were "good" in the 80s apparently
The Beach Boys
3/5
A sign of things to come?
New Order
3/5
Johnny Cash
3/5
Solid effort from Johnny.
Little Simz
2/5
Cool sometimes but not my thing
Jane's Addiction
2/5
I was looking forward to this but it was a bit of a let down. Perry's voice grinds now in a way I don't recall it doing in the 90s. I'm getting old...
Mercury Rev
4/5
The Cult
2/5
very standard pub rock
2/5
One hit surrounded by a bunch of keyboard demos. One of the best things from the vinyl era is that records like this are a maximum 42 minutes. I couldn’t handle the Spotify version with 33 tracks of this…
Paul McCartney
2/5
Average songs from a great artist
The Incredible String Band
1/5
make it stop
Bee Gees
2/5
Not horrible but not up there with the best Bee Gees. I've learned though this that I prefer artistic direction shifts to not be done with double albums. EPs, EPs are fine.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
1001 country albums that sound like each other
Scritti Politti
2/5
Scarily enough, i was debating chatGPT about the merits of this record and it brought it up from a 1 to a 2... but still... it's like 1/4 cup of The 1975 in a barrel of water.
XTC
3/5
Emmylou Harris
3/5
It was ok for country
Alanis Morissette
4/5
Unbelievably i've never listened to this all the way through. I get why it was massive but by god, some of these sound choices - what were we thinking back then
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Some really interesting stuff here, just a bit much by the end
Ramones
3/5
Solomon Burke
3/5
Soft Cell
1/5
painful
The Divine Comedy
1/5
Please no more of this garbage
Nina Simone
4/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
fine
Kid Rock
1/5
I am dumber for having heard this
David Bowie
5/5
Jazmine Sullivan
1/5
really not my thing
Roxy Music
4/5
Metallica
5/5
The Dandy Warhols
2/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Seems standard Elvis. Too many albums on this list.
Genesis
4/5
Spacemen 3
3/5
Small Faces
2/5
Radiohead
4/5
Animal Collective
2/5
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
Someone got a wah pedal
Iron Maiden
3/5
I was listening to this aloud when the question came from the next room - “Is this the band who does “Steve’s Laca Chicken”?
Brian Eno
3/5
Beastie Boys
3/5
Beck
4/5
Jurassic 5
3/5
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Madonna
3/5
Suede
4/5
Van Morrison
1/5
Pentangle
2/5
Judas Priest
4/5
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Happy Mondays
2/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
The Killers
4/5
2/5
David Bowie
4/5
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Gorillaz
4/5
Talvin Singh
1/5
Megadeth
3/5
The Byrds
2/5
George Michael
3/5
The Who
3/5
Boston
3/5
Stephen Stills
3/5
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
Opening son is outstanding - the rest is less than i remember it being
Aphex Twin
2/5
Björk
5/5
Incubus
4/5
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Would be a 5 star single album
The Police
3/5
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Hole
4/5
Aimee Mann
3/5
John Lennon
3/5
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
A bit snoozy
Elastica
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Eagles
4/5
Stan Getz
3/5
Jazz
Elton John
4/5
-1 for an attempt at reggae
Adele
2/5
Downhill after Hello - amazing voice but these don't sound like songs written for her...
Buzzcocks
3/5
Pantera
2/5
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
Living Colour
4/5
Meat Puppets
3/5
Elbow
3/5
Took me two listens to get it...
The Kinks
4/5
The Bees
3/5
Rush
4/5
Christina Aguilera
2/5
fIREHOSE
4/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
1/5
The Dictators
4/5
Dr. John
3/5
Interesting
Steve Earle
4/5
Best country album I've heard in this challenge (granted, that's a low bar)
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Sparks
3/5
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
Steve Winwood
2/5
Look out, someone discovered MIDI... FM Radio in the 80s must have been unbearable
Brian Wilson
3/5
Tito Puente
1/5
Make it stop. I'm sure this works great live, at a party with amazing food and drinks and atmosphere. Streamed off Spotify it was a punish to finish.
Mudhoney
4/5
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Talking Heads
3/5
Kraftwerk
2/5
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Klaxons
3/5
Ray Price
2/5
Peter Tosh
1/5
The Who
3/5
Everything But The Girl
3/5
This marks the first time I have listened to Everything But The Girl since i handed my listening history to last.fm in 2006.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Prior to listening to this they were #1205 on my all time last.fm artists list - between Sheryl Crow and Sting with Edin Karamazov. Interesting. From things I've heard over the years they seem to be one of my favourite bands' favourite bands... i don't see them doing that for me though
Jane's Addiction
2/5
Jane’s Addiction #1088 all time artist - i started with last fm in 2006 and I know i’ve heard plenty of JA but they seem one of those bands who I just didn’t stick with. I’m sure I’ve heard this record sometime, but not in the past 19 years apparently! Jane Says and Mountain Song still sound ok but some of this is... bad?
The Cramps
2/5
The National
4/5
U2
4/5
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Willie Nelson
2/5
Britney Spears
3/5
I mean, what an opening, front loaded 101. I was actually enjoying myself, then came the filler. And too much length... but what a 90s pop flashback. Max Martin is a master.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
Jack White
3/5
Big Star
3/5
Pere Ubu
2/5
Not everything on this list can be classified a stone cold classic.
Like this, this isn't.
Jeff Beck
2/5
The Vines
3/5
The singles are still bangers, the rest... i think age has caught up. I'd love to say 3.5, but i'm going 3 for now...
Stephen Stills
1/5
Don’t do drugs kids, they make you think double albums are cool
Cee Lo Green
3/5
There's a great record in here somewhere... 10-11 too many tracks.
Bob Dylan
3/5
The B-52's
3/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Coldplay
4/5
Morrissey
3/5
Something about this guy, I find a lot of his stuff melodic but still bland
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Suicide
1/5
trash
Simply Red
3/5
The hits are actually better than I remember, it does drag on though. I initially questioned this one’s inclusion but I’m fortune enough to have one edition of the book and the explanation is valid I suppose
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Half as long would have been a factor of many more enjoyable
Depeche Mode
2/5
Music for insomniacs
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
The Clash
4/5
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
Sounds as described. Not my thing.
T. Rex
5/5
First ever listen, straight up repeat!
Hanoi Rocks
4/5
Apparently...
💥 Why Back to Mystery City is 1001-worthy
1. It’s the band’s creative peak.
This 1983 record is generally considered the definitive Hanoi Rocks album — the moment where their street-punk energy, glam swagger, and melodic songwriting all came together. Earlier albums were rawer; later ones more polished. Back to Mystery City nails the balance.
2. It bridged punk, glam and hard rock before anyone else did.
Hanoi Rocks fused the attitude of the Sex Pistols with the hooks of Mott the Hoople and the flash of early Aerosmith. That mix directly inspired the next wave of glam-metal bands — especially Guns N’ Roses, who cited Hanoi Rocks as their template for Appetite for Destruction.
3. It’s packed with cult-classic songs.
Tracks like “Malibu Beach Nightmare,” “Mental Beat,” “Until I Get You,” and the title track showed real sophistication beneath the sleaze. They’re full of restless youth, romance, and desperation — what Michael Monroe called “the beautiful chaos of being alive.”
4. It captured a global moment in rock.
Recorded in London and produced by Dale Griffin (of Mott the Hoople), the album gave European glam a new identity just before MTV and Sunset Strip rock exploded. You can hear the DNA of this record in bands from The Cult to Skid Row.
5. It’s historically influential.
Without Back to Mystery City, the entire glam-metal movement of the mid-’80s would look and sound different. It’s cited by Slash, Nikki Sixx, and Duff McKagan as a direct influence — Duff even said seeing Hanoi Rocks live “changed everything.”
PJ Harvey
3/5
I've started getting some insight to hopefully rate semi-objectively, this was OK for me - not my favourite of PJ's work.
🔥 1. Raw, Uncompromising Sound
Produced by Steve Albini, the album is a masterclass in abrasive minimalism. The recording captures the live, unfiltered power of the PJ Harvey trio — no polish, no overdubs, just sharp dynamics that swing from whisper-quiet tension to violent distortion. Songs like “50ft Queenie” and “Man-Size” are practically feral in their intensity.
💔 2. Feminist Ferocity and Subversion
Harvey flips the male gaze on its head. Her lyrics dissect sexuality, obsession, and power dynamics with visceral honesty and menace, often adopting roles of both predator and victim. The title track, for instance, is both erotic and vengeful — a performance of female rage that was groundbreaking in the early ’90s alt-rock landscape.
🎤 3. Defining Artistic Identity
This album cemented PJ Harvey’s reputation as a bold, uncompromising artist. Compared to her debut (Dry), Rid of Me is darker, stranger, and more confrontational — establishing her as someone who would constantly reinvent herself rather than settle into one sound.
🌍 4. Influence and Legacy
It influenced countless artists across genres — from Fiona Apple to St. Vincent — by proving that female singer-songwriters could be dangerous, experimental, and unapologetically loud. It also helped shape the sonic identity of the ’90s underground scene, bridging the gap between punk’s rawness and indie’s introspection.
🎧 5. Critical and Cultural Impact
Upon release, it divided listeners — some called it “unlistenable,” others hailed it as genius — but time has confirmed it as a bold artistic statement that expanded what rock could express. It’s an album that still feels confrontational, intimate, and alive.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Talking Heads
3/5
Mike Oldfield
2/5
oooh cousin Mike got a loop pedal
🎵 Innovation & Context
When it was released, Tubular Bells was unlike anything in popular music. Oldfield, just 19 at the time, played nearly all the instruments himself and used the newly available multi-track recording technology to layer them into a continuous, symphonic composition. It was the first album on Richard Branson’s Virgin Records — and its massive success made the label.
🎧 Musical Significance
Genre-blurring: It fused progressive rock, classical minimalism, and folk into a single instrumental piece, paving the way for ambient and new age music.
Structure: Two long suites instead of songs, built on motifs that evolve and mutate — a bold rejection of radio formats.
Production: A landmark in DIY studio craftsmanship; Oldfield’s overdubbing of dozens of instruments was groundbreaking.
🕯️ Cultural Impact
The opening piano motif became globally famous after being used in The Exorcist. Beyond that, the album’s success proved there was a mass audience for experimental, instrumental music.
🧭 Why it matters
It’s not just a prog curiosity — it’s a cornerstone of independent music business history, a technical marvel, and a genuinely moving, adventurous listen that still sounds fresh.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Why 3 + 3 is 1001-worthy
1. It’s the moment the Isleys reinvent themselves — successfully
Before 3 + 3, The Isley Brothers were a soul/R&B vocal group.
This album marks the moment they expanded into a full self-contained band (hence “+3”), bringing in younger family members including guitar prodigy Ernie Isley.
That shift changed their sound and set them up for a decade-long hot streak.
2. It fuses genres in a way that set the template for modern R&B
3 + 3 blends:
funk
psychedelic rock
smooth soul
early quiet-storm atmospheres
It’s a blueprint for artists from D’Angelo to Prince to Anderson .Paak.
3. “That Lady” is a defining moment of 70s guitar-driven soul
That opening riff and Ernie Isley’s scorching Hendrix-influenced solo?
Still one of the great “wait, THIS is the Isley Brothers?!” moments in popular music.
4. Their cover choices are iconic, not filler
Few bands could take songs like:
“Summer Breeze”
“Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”
…and completely reimagine them.
On 3 + 3, the covers become centrepieces, not B-sides.
5. It’s the start of their most influential era
This album kicks off the run that gave us:
The Heat Is On
Showdown
Go for Your Guns
Between the Sheets
It’s historically important because it launches one of the strongest multi-genre runs in 70s/80s Black music.
Johnny Cash
3/5
1. It reinvented Johnny Cash’s career
By 1968 Cash was struggling — declining sales, drug issues, industry doubts.
This album completely revived him, becoming one of the greatest live albums ever and repositioning him as a folk hero.
2. It captures a raw, unrepeatable atmosphere
This isn’t a polished live record — it’s a man singing to inmates who see him as one of their own.
The tension, laughter, gallows humour, and intensity create a documentary-level snapshot of America.
3. It pushed country into darker, more honest territory
Songs about:
prison
murder
addiction
regret
institutional brutality
…were not mainstream country subjects.
Cash made them human, not sensational.
4. It’s a masterclass in shaping a narrative live
The pacing is perfect:
jokey openers
classic hits
outlaw storytelling
quieter moments (Greystone Chapel)
It feels like a one-act play, not just a gig.
5. The mythos is real
Cash wasn’t a prisoner, but he was an advocate.
Recording here built his outlaw image and turned him into a symbol of compassion for the marginalised — a legacy still alive today.
Fred Neil
2/5
Frank Black
3/5
Not bad Frank, 22 songs is a lot though
Coldcut
1/5
I get that it's important. I don't like it though.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Lorde
4/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Madonna
4/5
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
Ute Lemper
2/5
Got old very quickly
Leftfield
1/5
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Rush
3/5
Hookworms
3/5
The Kinks
4/5
Gene Clark
3/5
Cocteau Twins
2/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
Slipknot
3/5
I bought this album when it came out and thought it was great. But then I started to not buy into all of the stuff around it and I haven’t listened to it for a very long time. Some great tracks here but it does wane a little little under the weight of the length
Janet Jackson
4/5
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
Sade
3/5
Giant Sand
3/5
Not as bad as previous ratings suggested, not an album I needed to hear though
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
The Waterboys
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
MC Solaar
2/5
Love
2/5
Röyksopp
2/5
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
The Birthday Party
3/5
At my time of listening, this album had the 9th worst rating on the entire site. Can't wait...
Update: This is definitely better than at least 365 albums on this list
Wild Beasts
3/5
It improved around the point it started sounding like The National ~track 5/6
Tori Amos
4/5
Some great tracks here
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Chicago
2/5
Favourite song was track #11 and if i hadn't sworn I'd listen to every track on every album of this challenge, I would not have made it anywhere near track #11.
Bloated and self important.
The Sugarcubes
3/5
I’ve loved discovering more Bjork stuff through this generator, this album was interesting to understand where the music started but not really essential IMO
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Randy Newman
2/5
This has aged... poorly
SZA
3/5
I would imagine the next update has a different Sza album, but this isn’t bad.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Brian Eno
3/5
Robbie Williams
3/5
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Slayer
2/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Drive-By Truckers
2/5
As someone who as ill advisedly released a double album i feel qualified to say there are very few records that should be double albums. Very, very few. And this isn't one. My favourite thing about this band is Jason Isbell - and he hadn't joined them yet.
90+ mins for an album is usually a slog and this is no exception.
The Pogues
4/5
This is the best of any of the 1001 albums on this list with Elvis Costello's input
Jacques Brel
2/5
There were 2 songs I couldn't find anywhere but i think 3/4 of this record gives me enough to judge. Musically interesting though, and i think French is a very musical language, it's hard to listen in a language I don't understand. I read along with translations so I got an appreciation for the meaning i think. Hard to give it more than 2 stars though.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
This experiment changed my mind about Peter Gabriel
Khaled
3/5
Normally this would not be a 3/5 but there were some good vibes here
Alice In Chains
5/5
This was 5 stars before i even pressed play
The Rolling Stones
3/5
17 albums to go.
Only 112 previous listens to Rolling Stones tracks.
Ready for an epiphany?
Seems not, it was fine, but just reminds me of old dude jam nights at my local, and they are not fond memories.
Fever Ray
3/5
10cc
2/5
15 albums to go. Please be good ones.
…this was not enjoyable
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
14 albums to go. Please be good ones...
The big songs on here are all time classic, but somehow, on an album under 40 mins, there's still filler.
Bob Dylan
5/5
13 albums to go...
Not saying last.fm is lying, but have i really never heard this before?
Idiot Wind is a cool song, nice discovery
Gang Of Four
3/5
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Cypress Hill
2/5
10 albums to go. This is fine for what it is, some funk and groove in the production but it doesn’t give me anything else. I’m not a fan generally of boast rap or songs that are wholly about drugs - so this isn’t a great combo for me.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
9 albums to go. But a third Dexy’s? Was the guy who put this list together in the band?
I consulted chat:
You’re not wrong to be baffled — three Dexy’s albums in that book does feel like a practical joke played on anyone who’s ever thought, “Yeah, one was probably enough.”
Here’s the best possible justification — not a defence, just an explanation of how this happened.
⸻
The short answer
The 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die doesn’t just reward greatness. It rewards narrative significance, genre disruption, and critical reappraisal — sometimes to an eye-rolling degree.
Dexy’s tick all three boxes.
⸻
The long, reluctant explanation
1. Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (1980)
This is the one that actually earns its place.
• Fuses punk urgency with Northern Soul and R&B
• Politically charged, working-class, confrontational
• Sounded nothing like its peers at the time
Verdict: Fine. Fair. No argument.
⸻
2. Too-Rye-Ay (1982)
This is where things get… generous.
• Hugely influential in image (Dungarees! Fiddles!)
• Spawned one of the most unavoidable singles in pop history
• Represents a hard pivot from soul-punk to Celtic pop romanticism
The problem:
Its inclusion is less about album depth and more about “this moment mattered culturally”.
Verdict: Dubious, but you can see the editorial logic squinting.
⸻
3. Don’t Stand Me Down (1985)
This is the critic’s pet.
• Initially ignored, later reappraised
• Kevin Rowland’s emotionally naked, rambling, almost anti-commercial vision
• Now framed as a “misunderstood masterpiece”
Translation:
It failed, therefore it was brave, therefore it must be important.
Verdict: This is the most contentious one — it’s here because critics love a redemption arc.
⸻
Why this feels so wrong
Because the book often behaves like:
“Influential + British + awkward + critically rehabilitated = mandatory inclusion”
Which is how you end up with:
• Three Dexy’s albums
• While genuinely towering artists get one (or none)
• And whole genres get tokenistic coverage
⸻
The real, unspoken reason
The book has always had a UK-centric, rock-journalist bias, especially toward:
• Post-punk adjacent acts
• Artists who “took risks”
• Albums that allow critics to feel clever for liking them
Dexy’s are catnip for that mindset.
⸻
Final ruling ⚖️
• 1 album? Absolutely.
• 2 albums? Questionable.
• 3 albums? Editorial indulgence bordering on parody.
If the list were rebuilt today with stricter standards, Too-Rye-Ay or Don’t Stand Me Down would be the first to go — and no one outside a Mojo roundtable would lose sleep.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
8 albums to go. Man this list throws up some curious selections.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
7 albums to go - let’s go!
Buck Owens
2/5
Primal Scream
1/5
5 albums to go!
...*opens Suno AI. Uses "boring garbage" as reference. Generates more interesting music than this*
UB40
3/5
4 albums to go.
Reggae. By British People. This is not my day.
Hoping for a massive surprise!
EDIT: You know it was actually OK in parts. -1 for reggae, +1 for socially conscious themes
Red Snapper
2/5
3 albums left!
Chat GPT gave me 5 arguments. I chose:
⭐⭐ 2 / 5 — “Interesting, but I won’t come back”
You might land here if:
You appreciate the groove and restraint, but it never quite clicks
It feels like a time capsule rather than something alive
The vibe is nice, but the album feels flat dynamically
Your likely thought:
“I respect it more than I enjoy it.”
Ash
4/5
2 albums to go!
Man this has been a trip.
I have been a part time fan of this band at times. Wonder if this record holds up.
LATER: seems like it does
TLC
2/5
1088 albums down, one to go.
This one.
Wish me luck.
If everything was like the last track it would have been a nice surprise, that was a bit gritty, but most of this sounds like dudes writing songs for chicks to sing to make dudes happy.