260
Albums Rated
2.35
Average Rating
24%
Complete
829 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Psychedelic-rock
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
6
5-Star Albums
38
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
|
4 | 2.28 | +1.72 |
|
Tidal
Fiona Apple
|
5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
|
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
|
5 | 3.61 | +1.39 |
|
The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
|
4 | 2.62 | +1.38 |
|
Kid A
Radiohead
|
5 | 3.71 | +1.29 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
|
1 | 3.74 | -2.74 |
|
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
|
1 | 3.74 | -2.74 |
|
Graceland
Paul Simon
|
1 | 3.74 | -2.74 |
|
21
Adele
|
1 | 3.69 | -2.69 |
|
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
|
1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
|
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
|
1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
|
So
Peter Gabriel
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
|
1 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
|
Rio
Duran Duran
|
1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.67 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.25 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Adele | 2 | 1 |
| Dire Straits | 2 | 1.5 |
| ZZ Top | 2 | 1.5 |
| David Bowie | 4 | 2 |
| Metallica | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Kendrick Lamar | 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (6)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
David Bowie
1/5
I never expected to find this so genuinely and thoroughly lackluster.
9 likes
Tito Puente
2/5
I don’t think I’d ever get deeply into it, but I could see this keeping my spirits up while cleaning or something.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (38)
All Ratings
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
The Velvet Underground
2/5
A bit dull really
Don McLean
3/5
Simple with beautiful, earnest lyrics.
Le Tigre
2/5
Not a fan of the vocals or immature sound
Led Zeppelin
3/5
It’s Led Zeppelin being Led Zeppelin. They’re alright.
Digital Underground
3/5
The instrumentals can be repetitive, but the lyrics are usually entertaining.
Talking Heads
1/5
Wish I could understand its supposed greatness, but I find it annoying and uninspired.
Missy Elliott
2/5
It doesn’t appeal to me in particular, but it’s not horrible.
David Bowie
1/5
I never expected to find this so genuinely and thoroughly lackluster.
Ramones
2/5
Certainly important and innovative but also a bit basic and one-note.
Donovan
2/5
It would be excellent if listening in the 60s during autumn while on LSD.
Scott Walker
3/5
A charming, strange album with a grand sound, so much so that it can get overbearing listening to it all at once.
Carpenters
4/5
Much of the album feels sincere and sublime vocally and musically, though there are some parts that I don’t connect with.
The War On Drugs
1/5
Derivative and drab.
Eminem
1/5
Some impressive lyricism, but it’s not musically interesting enough to keep me engaged for most of the album.
Adele
1/5
The singles are OK but incredibly overplayed, the rest is pretty bland and unoriginal.
The Mamas & The Papas
2/5
Pretty clunky and in your face melodies. Their hits, including California Dreamin’ here, are good, at least.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
Who can dislike thought-provoking lyricism such as “dum di dum dum, ho boy”? I do love Buddy as a figure, but it’s tragic that his talent didn’t have time to develop to its full potential.
Marianne Faithfull
1/5
Super unpleasant voice, nothing special here.
Sonic Youth
2/5
Feels significantly less inspired and more annoying than Goo. Not great.
Metallica
2/5
Uninventive drumming, riffs, solos. Repetitive with some okay parts.
MC Solaar
2/5
Good flow and decent backing tracks.
Slade
1/5
Feels generic, probably because the band seems to be a precursor for years of later rock. It’s kind of hilarious sometimes, but I’d never listen to it again.
Björk
3/5
Her singing style is obviously unique and inventive, but it gets quite tiring not so far into the album. Musically, this one is less interesting than later efforts.
Dire Straits
2/5
A bit dull sometimes. Could have done a lot more with the drums, and the vocals aren’t that interesting. Guitar work has the most character by far. It’s never unpleasant, but I could zone out or fall asleep to it.
Fela Kuti
2/5
It’s pretty fantastic in style but not very smooth nor pleasant.
Muddy Waters
2/5
Absolutely love his voice. Found the first seconds of the first track so promising, until it went into the most absolutely generic blues riff for the rest of the song. Of course, he’s one of the legendary artists that originated this sound, but I’d have liked to see him grow and expand more musically.
Beastie Boys
1/5
I think it’s completely insufferable to listen to in one sitting. The samples feel pretty cheesy today, and the vocals are grating.
Hugh Masekela
2/5
Pleasant enough jazz. I can’t find a deep connection to it, but I would enjoy it during dinner.
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Quite an energetic youthful album. From the Ritz to the Rubble has been my favorite. Some songs aren’t as sonically distinct from each other as I might like.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
It’s alright, I just don’t find the voice particularly charming, and the music and sound is not unique for its era.
Booker T. & The MG's
1/5
The first track is, of course, a classic, but there’s not much else here of substance.
Rod Stewart
1/5
Not a fan of Rod Stewart’s voice, and there’s nothing groundbreaking in the music for his era.
T. Rex
2/5
Not that interesting.
Eagles
1/5
I’ve never found the Eagles to stand out much, even in their time. Blah.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Some pretty good relevant lyrics here, not bad but gets tiring.
The Sonics
2/5
Fun and a bit raw coming from the mid 60s.
Erykah Badu
1/5
Feels like there’s some talent here, but I don’t enjoy the voice nor style.
Iron Maiden
2/5
I appreciate it to an extent, but everything is so in-your-face.
Nick Drake
4/5
Usually pleasant, breathy vocals with sometimes upbeat instrumentals create an interesting contrast.
Thundercat
4/5
His vocals suffice, while the musicianship is fantastic. Good features. Lot of great moments but it also drags sometimes.
Blur
2/5
Alright, I don’t connect much with it.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Interesting and very herself.
Machito
2/5
Yeah, this is decent jazz.
Fishbone
1/5
I hate this style of music.
Duran Duran
1/5
I never want to hear the hits again they’ve been so overplayed, and nothing else caught my ear.
The Triffids
1/5
Is this not just super generic? Why is this here?
David Bowie
2/5
I don’t enjoy a lot more Bowie than I thought I would, to be honest.
Happy Mondays
2/5
I don’t care for the vocals nor the sound of the instruments.
Motörhead
2/5
Pretty fun, energetic.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Nice set of covers from the man.
Little Richard
2/5
It’s albums like this that remind me how profound 50s lyrics were.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
He has brilliant moments but I’m not going to pretend everything he touched was gold. Too long. Would’ve been an incredible experience back in the day.
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Enjoyed it more than most electronic albums.
Billy Bragg
2/5
Why no drums? I wouldn’t return to this, but it’s not terrible.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Great instrumentals, smooth vocals.
Beatles
5/5
My favorite Beatles album. They began to push forward into more experimentation but still included beautiful ballads. Felt like there was healthy competition between band members but also between bands of the time that led to this excellent album.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I like the atmosphere of it but some is a bit plain.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Typical music for the time but overall pleasant and tasteful.
Orbital
2/5
I suppose this is music.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Good vibe but a bit repetitive and not much for me to get attached to.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Heartfelt and minimal.
Dire Straits
1/5
Very dull, considerably worse than self-titled.
The Temptations
2/5
I don’t always find it pleasant.
Fred Neil
2/5
I like his voice. Deeper voices are generally harder to make grating sounds with, maybe. Not bad.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Too long, and this genre/style never resonated with me. It’s a bit samey between songs after so many. Never unpleasant, I guess. Favorite: If It’s Magic
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
An absolute masterpiece. Brought so many artists together to collaborate and capture lightning in a bottle. Dives into so many raw topics and does it well.
The Who
2/5
Pretty heavy handed. Unpleasant voice. Never liked them as much as their contemporaries.
The Offspring
2/5
Dexter’s voice is so unique. Sounds pretty unskilled but kind of works sometimes. Other times horribly annoying. Teeters between the two for me.
New Order
2/5
I don’t enjoy most of it. A lot of repetitive beats/synths.
The Auteurs
1/5
The soft vocal sound does not work for me here, with really dull songwriting. Most of the song intros just make me want to turn them off, with repetitive chords and strumming and beats.
Adele
1/5
Feels more contrived after she blew up. “Here I am, Adele, making an Adele album.” I appreciate the rare maturity of “Send Your Love” as far as pop music goes. I might like some of this with more raw production.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Enjoy it a bit more than I thought I would…but not too much.
Tito Puente
2/5
I don’t think I’d ever get deeply into it, but I could see this keeping my spirits up while cleaning or something.
The Smiths
3/5
Enjoy it a bit more than I thought I would…but not too much.
Patti Smith
2/5
She seems to do a lot vocally without much skill - in way that might appeal to some people but not to me. Super influential and ahead of her time though.
Alice Cooper
2/5
Generally noisy but not in a way I find at all pleasing. Some interesting choices.
Ash
2/5
This just feels like another mid-late-90s band riding the coattails of grunge’s surge earlier in the decade. Not bringing
much new and sounding very derivative.
Tim Buckley
3/5
I didn’t know Jeff Buckley had a father.
On a serious note, they both died tragically young. I really vibed with most of this album as I was cleaning and pacing my basement. Got a bit tired for a few songs but none were bad.
2/5
It’s ok
R.E.M.
3/5
Distinct sound, influential, and nice atmospheric sound on this album.
Pixies
3/5
Some good ideas and very influential, gotta respect that.
Beatles
4/5
Not their strongest work in my mind but still excellent moments and enjoyable throughout.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
It’s kind of pleasant but not for me.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Distinct voice, early innovator.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Interesting fusion of influences but not anything amazing
Fairport Convention
2/5
I might give it 2.5 if they let me.
Norah Jones
2/5
Can’t seem to engage with it. Certainly not unpleasant.
Peter Gabriel
1/5
I really don’t enjoy his voice nor the aggressively 80s sound.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
I do like his voice, but few rap albums hold my attention the entire length.
Wire
3/5
I like how no songs overstay their welcome.
Metallica
2/5
It’s got energy. The vocals and instrumentals both get tiring to me pretty quickly. Prefer more variety.
Dennis Wilson
1/5
It’s like it tries to be so grand. I don’t like the horns in this, or the piano, or his voice.
2/5
It’s sometimes pleasant!
Jurassic 5
3/5
Got good flow.
Bee Gees
1/5
Not impressed with the vocals nor the songwriting.
Public Enemy
2/5
Good energy but like most rap albums, I wish it had more varied instrumentals, not loops.
Elton John
2/5
The hits have been so overplayed that I don’t enjoy them, and the rest l just don’t care so much for.
Kanye West
2/5
Some creative production choices.
Jimmy Smith
2/5
It is indeed a jazz album.
Django Django
2/5
I guess it’s not awful enough for one star, but there’s not much here for me.
3/5
The hits are iconic but I wasn’t terribly impressed by the rest.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Their voices together sound so bright and pure. Not what I’d normally listen to but pleasant.
Raekwon
2/5
So long and just doesn’t stand out much.
Meat Loaf
2/5
Theatrical and in your face. No one does it quite like Meat Loaf.
Fats Domino
3/5
Yeah, this guy has style.
David Gray
1/5
That voice, that repetitive background music….No.
D'Angelo
2/5
Smooth ass voice, it’s sometimes tolerable for 90s R&B.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
Wow, I actively dislike his singing voice.
The Byrds
2/5
I don’t find many songs distinct, all pretty similar in sound but not bad. Frequently jangly with harmonized vocals.
Iron Maiden
2/5
It’s not for me, a bit screechy with the guitars, and the songs ran into each other.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
2/5
It’s aight.
B.B. King
2/5
He’s not my favorite as far as blues goes.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
Decent musicianship but Kiedis can get tiring. Not every song feels like a fleshed out idea, just the band making RHCP noises.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
I generally like his vibe.
Beach House
2/5
I was familiar with Beach House but not this album. Their whole appeal in my eyes is that their music is good to chill and zone out to. It’s ambiance. For me, this album is weaker in that regard than both Depression Cherry and Bloom.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
I always loved Take Me Out but somehow never got acquainted with the rest of this album. I don’t like any songs as much as that one. He’s got a great voice for this style.
Guns N' Roses
1/5
I find him to have one of most insufferable voices in popular rock n roll, maybe only better than Brian Johnson. I would like to please never hear their overplayed hits ever again.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes is a classic, but I’m not sure they had full ideas for some of these songs. All are pretty pleasant though.
Radiohead
5/5
I still think this is decidedly inferior to OK Computer, but I could still give it 9/10 and round to 5. Several incredible songs and only a few lulls.
Red Snapper
1/5
Isn’t it pretty telling when all the Wikipedia intro has to say about the album is that it was featured in the 1001 albums book? The question is: Why?
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Some good stuff on here. I think they had better energy in live performances like at Woodstock.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
Props for creating such a unique sound combining Lynne’s voice, the orchestral elements, yet going for a futuristic vibe. Mr. Blue Sky is one of my all-time favorites, but admittedly, the tracks I haven’t heard don’t make a big impression.
Queen
3/5
Many albums on here have songs that don’t go anywhere, but these all go places. I just don’t necessarily like where they go.
Love
3/5
The songs vary quite a bit. They’re intriguing. I imagine it would have sounded amazing in 1966.
The White Stripes
3/5
They’ve always had an alluring image. The music draws a lot from the past with maybe a slight new spin. I like them, but it’s not revolutionary. Kind of stripped back/minimal two piece bluesy garage rock. It’s good stuff.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Gets boring really fast, the repetitive sounds.
Minutemen
3/5
The best thing about this is the drumming! I’m not super into the voice, and it’s way too long and bloated with songs, in my opinion. Corona, aka the Jackass theme, is a classic, though.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
It’s just not very anything.
Little Simz
4/5
The instrumentals are interesting and more eclectic than most rap albums. The songs don’t get repetitive, they build to impressive peaks. I love her accent and flow. Good work.
Deep Purple
1/5
I hate this brand of in-your-face, screeching guitars and vocals rawk n’ roll music. I mean, rock is my favorite genre, but not this.
Frank Zappa
2/5
Honestly kind of irritating to listen to a whole album of this.
Mike Ladd
2/5
Some VERY annoying samples on this, and other than that, it sounds like an unremarkable rap record. A long, dragging one.
The Band
2/5
His voice isn’t smooth enough to make for good chill background music for me, but the music also doesn’t stand out enough to actively listen to.
Todd Rundgren
1/5
So dull…so long…
The Stooges
2/5
Underwhelming for how much it was kind of hyped up. Search and Destroy is decent. The rest I could take or leave. Brings to mind Alice Cooper’s album from a year earlier.
Paul Simon
3/5
Everything solo Paul Simon I’ve heard pales in comparison Simon & Garfunkel. But it’s not unpleasant. A few interesting instrumental moments.
Simple Minds
2/5
So indistinct as an 80s album.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Her voice is classic. Soothing and delicate yet powerful. Great recordings.
Leftfield
2/5
It’s pretty long, and I’m not struck by any of it. I’m sure it’d be amazing in the right situation…like rolling in a club.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
The making of this album and its whole sound are so fascinating. I understand many finding it hard to digest, but I think it’s actually pretty hooky at some points. Charming chaotic weirdness. It’s a bit long, though.
Bob Dylan
3/5
He wrote some clever lyrics here and there, but the instrumentals on this are pretty repetitive and generic bluesy rock. His voice is tolerable in small doses. I wouldn’t come back to it.
Paul Simon
1/5
I guess it’s trying to be worldly, but it just sounds 80s blah.
Ministry
2/5
I like plenty of heavy and abrasive music, but I prefer more melodic dynamic sounds. It’s like this combines what I consider the worst parts of electronic and metal - repetitiveness and a near constant wall of noise.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
I always struggled to get into the tracks where Grace isn’t singing lead. On this listen, I don’t find anything unpleasant, but the rest of the band feels ordinary next to her powerful, unmistakable voice. It’s like if Queen only let Freddie sing lead on a couple songs an album.
Michael Jackson
2/5
I enjoy a lot of pop music, and I’m truly not saying this to be contrarian or anything - but I never got the extreme Michael Jackson hype. Some of the production is cool but also very 80s.
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
It doesn’t appeal very much to me. All of my favorite rap and R&B albums have less repetitive or more complex instrumentation. And vocally, it sounds very on trend…like not very unique in a sea of similar artists.
FKA twigs
3/5
I had already loved a few tracks by FKA Twigs but somehow never listened to this whole album. Interesting production paired with her high, sometimes ethereal vocals. Her EP called M3LL155X is still my favorite. On this, Pendulum and Two Weeks are the big standouts. There are some annoyingly repetitive moments on here and song ideas that don’t feel like they have an aim, unfortunately.
Van Morrison
2/5
Van Morrison is one artist I cannot stand in large doses. His voice and delivery is very unique.
Sarah Vaughan
2/5
I think I prefer jazz vocals that are a bit less showy or sink into the instrumentals more.
Jane's Addiction
2/5
You can definitely hear how this album is transitional between 80s hair metal and 90s grunge. Ultimately, I’m not a huge fan. The vocals are so distinct but also polarizing - energetic or annoying?
Randy Newman
2/5
Some artists have generic voices. But Randy Newman is the only person with a Randy Newman voice. I can’t decide where it sits in the scale from pleasant to unpleasant. I don’t think I would ever sit down and think to myself, “yeah, I’m in the mood for some Randy Newman.”
Kanye West
2/5
Its production is much more interesting and unique than most rap albums on here, but it’s still not for me.
Sepultura
2/5
I don’t think I could form a deep connection with it, like I do with my favorite records, because the songs sound too alike.
Coldplay
2/5
I always hear that Coldplay used to be good, that this is their best album, that I’ve got to listen to it. Well, here I go.
At some points, it reminds me of OK Computer except made very dull and sanitized. The chord progressions are often simple or generic or repetitive. Clocks and Daylight are my standouts. Throughout the album, it feels like they were on the cusp of something great and had a good atmosphere. But songs didn’t hit the heights I’d have liked. Think they could have made an excellent album if they grew in the other direction.
The Smiths
3/5
Always distinct from other bands with the voice and guitar work. I’ve always had some appreciation for The Smiths’ sound, but they aren’t a favorite.
Janis Joplin
2/5
I recognize she’s supposed to be a great who died tragically young. I don’t enjoy her voice in general and definitely not a whole album of it.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I might hypothetically like some shoegaze, but this album is so repetitive and vague. What I like best is the album cover, washed out with intense light. I think it represents the sound well.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Certainly one of my favorite jazz records on the list.
Bad Brains
2/5
Love a lot of punk but this has, I don’t know, a bit much generic 80s sounds bleeding in? Don’t care for the vocals, production.
Billy Bragg
2/5
I’m sure it would have been excellent if Woody himself had performed it. This is extremely dull with too clean of production for my tastes.
ZZ Top
2/5
Wow, a lot of these riffs are super repetitive! Also they are responsible for inspiring a lot of shitty acts, though I am grateful for their influence on Josh Homme who does this type of rock best, in my opinion.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
It’s alright, nice production choices and voice, but I don’t see myself coming back to it.
Lucinda Williams
3/5
It’s not bad. I mean, it’s pretty mundane and generic, but somehow in a very tolerable way, sometimes verging on pleasant.
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
Love me some French ASMR. No really, I love the backing music and it sounds a bit ahead of its time. The story and lyrical content is really weird, but then again, I can’t understand much.
The Clash
2/5
I feel like this is one of those albums/artists I don’t like much because they were pretty huge and influential, and people built off of what they did and did it better.
OutKast
3/5
I like it better than most of the rap & hip hop on here, and Hey Ya is a bona fide classic. Still, don’t care for all the interludes and don’t see myself deeply connecting with it. And it’s so long.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Begins with Merry Clayton upstaging Mick Jagger, continues into the Stones’ regular generic rip off blues. I can give it 3 on the immense strength of the first song. They have a few incredible songs, but I question anyone who suggests the old Stones vs Beatles comparison is not a landslide win for the Beatles considering how much more variety and innovation they had on every album.
The Cars
4/5
It’s not hard to imagine having a fantastic time with friends in the late 70s with this album as a soundtrack. Just What I Needed is a favorite. It’s a pretty even album, all fun.
Happy Mondays
2/5
I sense some potential in there, maybe, if not for the oppressive 80s-ness of it all. Gah, those generic drum and key sounds!
The Killers
3/5
The hits are decent for popular music but the rest is invariably dull or repetitive by comparison. Their image was somewhat interesting, a Las Vegas Mormon wearing eyeliner with a faux English flare to his singing.
U2
2/5
Bono’s vocals are more often irritating than not. The instrumentals are so blah. Sunday Bloody Sunday is the only U2 song I’ve ever really liked, and it’s charged with meaning…before the rest of the album becomes overbearing.
Dexys Midnight Runners
1/5
Dull shite!
John Prine
2/5
It’s pretty unremarkable but not awful. Fun lyrics here and there.
Fiona Apple
5/5
Here’s one I’m familiar enough with to rate, but I’ll listen to it again anyway. Because it’s great. The record’s current is turbulent with vigorous emotions that pull you every which way. There’s a sultry sad rage to it, and it’s a tremendous album from such a young voice. 9/10
Kelela
3/5
Pretty smooth pleasant album, but I question whether it’s that remarkable or unique for this list. I do like it a little, or much more than most R&B I’ve heard thanks to the production and her vocals, which are never too showy nor annoying.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Just pleasant to listen to.
Rush
3/5
I think Rush has created masterpieces in individual songs. Here, I really enjoy Limelight, while Tom Sawyer has been overplayed to the point I don’t want to hear it for many years, probably (perhaps if I had some Cheeto dust to snort…). Much of the rest of this sounds like show off prog to me without actually going anywhere that interesting. I don’t connect with it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Very familiar with this one; Ramble Tamble is a behemoth of an album opener that I heard all the time growing up because my dad played it. For a bunch of California boys, they sure could pull off that bayou blues sound. That said, I think they peaked with that first track.
Guided By Voices
2/5
They tried to do something here. It’s mostly unpleasant.
Foo Fighters
1/5
God, I can’t stand Dave Grohl’s voice. I don’t know why. He’s obviously a great drummer. This is just nothing. It does nothing for me. I don’t hear a hint of originality. I’m sorry.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Not my favorite Sonic Youth album, a bit indistinct in its noisiness. But they were super influential and innovative for 1987, leading into the 90s grunge.
Steely Dan
2/5
It’s not enough of anything for me to strongly feel any type of way about it.
I grew up hearing the more popular tracks far too many times. I would like to please never hear Reelin’ In The Years again, thank you. Do It Again and Dirty Work are somehow still tolerable.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
Monitor is my favorite song I’ve heard from them. I know they’re influential, but I’m not that enthralled.
Tina Turner
1/5
This is so thoroughly not my thing. I can hardly get through the aggressive 80s instrumentals and kind of showy yet not-pleasant-whatsoever vocals.
The Doors
3/5
The Doors…less varied and innovative than The Beatles, less heavy than Sabbath. Jim Morrison has his charm, and I’m sure this was mind shattering only four days into 1967. But yeah, sometimes it just feels meandering, and the lyrics aren’t so profound if you’re not high. Love The Crystal Ship and Alabama Song.
Beck
2/5
Devil’s Haircut is repetitive and doesn’t really go anywhere. A lot of this has what I don’t like about rap—boring looped beats. Oh god, a sax solo. Someone reputable told me they liked this, and now I’m questioning their tastes. Novacane and Minus have some slightly better harder sounds. Overall feeling very meh about it.
The Dandy Warhols
2/5
I find it really unremarkable for its era. Had potential if they went weirder or were more distinct. Don’t love the vocals.
Maxwell
2/5
Not unpleasant but worthy of a place on this list? Is it even notable among R&B?
Blur
2/5
Vocal melodies and timbre not good. Not worthwhile.
The Damned
2/5
I love Dave Vanian. But a lot of this feels noisy in an indistinct/aimless way. Doesn’t hold my attention. Favorite part: the laughing on These Hands.
Iggy Pop
2/5
I’ve heard the hits enough. The rest does not stick out as particularly good. In fact, it sometimes felt unpleasant to listen to.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Influential, but I find it overrated. Often dull and drab, sometimes grating but not in a good way.
Rush
2/5
I do love a few Rush songs, but a lot of this blends together as typical showy prog and screechy vocals.
Miles Davis
4/5
Great in a mellow, put it on at a house party for intellectuals type of way.
LL Cool J
2/5
It’s fine, not the best, not the worst old school rap album.
David Bowie
2/5
I’m really surprised how much David Bowie I find lackluster other than the hits. It’s one of those times where what’s popular is actually what’s good. Except I don’t care that much for Heroes, ironically. His other hits are much better.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
I like how the songs build with some nice instrumentals. Solidly okay.
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
It’s so much less musically interesting and complex than To Pimp a Butterfly. Can’t get into this one.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
So many hits I’ve heard so many times. The screechy vocals always put me off but are so integral to Plant’s singing and Zeppelin’s sound.
Beatles
4/5
I love The Beatles. I grew up on them, and there are many nostalgic, iconic individual tracks on this album. But it’s so all over the place. It is not a cohesive album. Some songs can even be annoying or repetitive. For example, I got genuinely irritated listening to Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? I don’t know, Paul, why don’t we? 3.5/5
Jack White
3/5
People loved to rag on Meg, but it’s interesting how Jack never made anything solo that lived up to the White Stripes.
Michael Jackson
2/5
I’ve always been put off by Michael Jackson’s vibe. Objectively, I’m sure this is great. It just doesn’t appeal to me. Some of the production and bass lines are great.
Radiohead
3/5
Maybe less edgy and annoying than Pablo Honey but very conventional and some bad lyrics for Radiohead. It’s kind of wild the progression they had to make OK Computer and Kid A after this. Just and My Iron Lung are the highlights.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Not the best I’ve heard from Elvis, but he was just starting out.
ZZ Top
1/5
I am actively not a fan. They’ve got one sound, and there’s no substance to it for me.
Van Morrison
3/5
Moondance is definitely my favorite song by him. He’s one of those artists that is incredibly unique, like no one else, but I really can’t decide if it’s pleasant to the ear.
The Shamen
1/5
Man, I just can’t get the dance music. Maybe the list curators know something I don’t. But I don’t think there’s anything very interesting here. 5/5 on ecstasy, I’m sure.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Such a vibe. Chill music I’d like to play on a yacht or something if I had one. Or just a Sunday afternoon at home, cooking dinner. Something with capers.
Tracy Chapman
2/5
Very distinct voice but the music does not go anywhere interesting. The lyrics are meaningful in obvious ways. Not my thing.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I don’t care for the ambient synths with Cave’s voice. The subject matter is kind of harrowing.
R.E.M.
2/5
I can’t see myself connecting with this, just find it pretty blah.
Queen
3/5
Bohemian Rhapsody was obviously lightning in a bottle. It’s so impressive that they were bold enough to go out there and do this operatic rock. I am a bit meh about some of the non hits here.
Johnny Cash
3/5
I love that he did performances in prisons. Classic songs and excited audiences.
Louis Prima
3/5
Transports me to a 50s party or eating at a restaurant. It’s got character, and it’s generally pleasant.
The Cure
2/5
The best Cure songs sound timeless, while this record sounds so 80s in an old, dull way.
Sam Cooke
3/5
Soulful as fuck.
The Flaming Lips
1/5
The singing is really irritating to me. Most songs have some annoying element to the instrumental. Otherwise it might have been enjoyable.
Pixies
2/5
I know this album and band influenced many bands I love. I appreciate their wild variety. But none of this really sticks in my head. Some of it is grating in an irritating way rather than an intriguing way. I guess I’m missing out not hearing the greatness.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
It’s interesting, I’ll give it that.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Not the most polished nor varied Queens of the Stone Age album. Still some great riffs and hooks from a very young Josh Homme. I always loved Mexicola, Avon, and The Bronze.
Heaven 17
1/5
Oh god, the production is way too generic 80s for me.
DJ Shadow
2/5
Nothing for me to connect with, really.
Suicide
2/5
Pretty wild for ‘77 but not so much for now. It is repetitive. There’s like the same white noise sound over several tracks.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Not my kind of jazz. Doesn’t stand out much to me.
The xx
2/5
I always liked Intro and Crystalised. The rest of it is tolerable but forgettable. There’s not much to it.
George Jones
3/5
Some sweet minimal earnest country. I’m not passionate for the genre, but this is perfectly pleasant and tolerable.
The Fall
2/5
Starts with a cool ominous note, then quickly gets repetitive. I don’t really like the guitar sound, vocals, and overall production on this. The bass is the best part.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Son of a Preacher Man is pretty iconic in Pulp Fiction. The album is overall pleasant, but the vocals can get kind of melodramatic, and the arrangements feel conventional. I wouldn’t really come back to the whole album.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
It has some energy but is repetitive. I knew of them for years but never checked out their music much. Not particularly impressed.
The Charlatans
1/5
This is sooo unremarkable. What justifies putting it on the list?
R.E.M.
2/5
A lot of this is not pleasant to my ears. Sometimes I find R.E.M. to be a bit monotonous with Stipe’s unwavering voice and pretty unimpressive instrumentals. Orange Crush stands out.
Nirvana
4/5
Already very familiar with most of this. While I enjoyed the non-hits on Nevermind, I find them considerably less appealing here. They’re not bad, but they don’t go anywhere that interesting to me.
Cobain was a real master of catchy pop sensibility wrapped in an abrasive package. It was the right place and right time for them to explode, but maybe it wasn’t for the best that they did.
Lorde
3/5
Pure Heroine is better. Melodrama is both more mature and more generic than her first album, which had a unique sound and portrayed the isolation of growing up raised by the internet but also the uncertainty of a foreseen thrust into fame.
Liability and Writer In the Dark are my favorites here, full of emotion and vulnerability. Homemade Dynamite is fun.
Many of the other tracks have this conventional pop sound and structure, although Lorde’s distinct voice sets them apart. Hate Perfect Places.
Some of the lyrics and phrasings are odd in a way I don’t like, or they feel too contrived instead of falling naturally into the song.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
Not my thing, don’t care for the timbre of her voice.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Gets stale after a while. The first three songs were enjoyable, and then Eileen of course. The rest is meh.
Megadeth
2/5
It’s crazy how a band like Black Sabbath still sounds fresh today, while this newer album sounds very dated. I find a lot of thrash metal songs indistinct from each other and cannot connect with them.
Taylor Swift
1/5
Her voice is genuinely unpleasant to me. She gives these shrill belts that make me cringe and sound unskilled. The song structures and production sound incredibly generic. The lyrical content is basic and heavy handed. There’s not much redeeming here. I think she does have some better material than this.
Pink Floyd
3/5
It’s not their tightest work. Certainly some greatness in the soaring guitars and the lyrics of the lengthy tribute to their former bandmate Syd aka Roger Barrett, Shine On You Crazy Diamond.
The title track is a 10/10 song from beginning to end. Makes the rest of the album sound more lackluster. Pink Floyd were at their best when they were relatable on a nearly universal human level, and that song hits that mark for the feeling of missing someone. It’s simple in an elegant way, musically capturing that longing.
Amy Winehouse
2/5
I’m not super impressed by themes here. Her voice is distinct, for sure. Favorite is probably (There Is) No Greater Love.
Cream
3/5
Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker are so talented.
Syd Barrett
4/5
I got very into Syd’s story for a time. People have a lot of theories about what happened, but it seems pretty apparent to me that he had schizophrenia or similar—perhaps worsened or accelerated by his drug use. It most often shows up in men in the early-mid twenties. We see social withdrawal, behavioral changes and disorganization, appearance changes (Syd in 1975 is shocking compared to just years before). It happened so quickly. We understand these things so much better now.
You can hear his deteriorating mental state here, and it’s a bit haunting. The music is fascinating if you’re into that. And the melodies are often catchy with quirky, sometimes childish, lyrics. I genuinely enjoy much of it musically, in a strange way. There’ll never be another Syd, that’s for sure.
Supertramp
2/5
Too cheesy and typical of the time. I like Breakfast In America better.
Mylo
2/5
It is marginally more interest than a lot of electronic on this list. Don’t know why I’d ever want to sit down and listen to an album of this.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
Already familiar with Heads Will Roll. Pretty fun synth sound. Yet I find her voice a bit on the irritating side, kind of unskilled-in-a-bad-way. Tapers off into boring territory.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
It’s another one where I get bored after a while of the repetitive instrumental/beat. Great flow and could be excellent with more varied backing. It’s not the album, it’s me.
The Hives
3/5
I’m sure someone has already made the joke: they’re not my new favorite band. It’s never really annoying but never very remarkable.
Fugees
3/5
Zealots is so underrated, definitely one of my favorite songs. The group complement each other’s voices well. Lauryn in particular is a gem with that timbre, lyricism, and both singing and rapping ability. But I think the album is a little uneven/does not constantly hold my attention like the best tracks do.
Metallica
2/5
Meh, I don’t really like live albums unless I really love the artist/songs. They sound pretty good if you love Metallica.
2/5
I don’t know man, it ranges from mediocre to irritating. But it has a distinct mood.
Various Artists
2/5
The production is really nice and full. It’s just hard to enjoy because these songs are overplayed to death every single year. I cannot escape them, so why would I want to listen to them by choice?
Talk Talk
1/5
Dull.
Pixies
2/5
I’d love to hear what this band sounds like through a fan’s ears, because I can’t seem to hear what they’re hearing.
Cee Lo Green
2/5
I really just wanted to get this over with. Most redeeming quality is some interesting production. Wish it was someone else singing/rapping.
Beatles
4/5
Ah, the Beatles’ Pot Album. They were transitioning into more musical experimentation and drugs, but the songs are more dated than Revolver and onward, with more “oooh la la la” backing vocals and maybe more simple, less mature subject matter than some later tracks. I’d say In My Life, Girl, and Norwegian Wood are my favorites; I do favor John and find him to be the most innovative of the group, while Paul wrote the most sublime heartfelt ballads. George was still honing his talents here but showed great promise. It’s an important album but not my favorite Beatles work. Also, Run For Your Life is the worst track.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
First two songs are best, followed by a lot of underwhelming typical Zeppelin. Screechy Plant vocals.
Nirvana
5/5
Kurt was a true master of infusing pop hooks into heavy, raw music with wide appeal. I’d say nobody has done that as well since Nevermind. It was cool how grunge seemingly struck in reaction to and directly opposed the over-the-top fashion and hair-focused glam metal. Wish we could have something like that again in popular music. I mean, Nevermind was a very well-produced product but still felt unpolished and real.
Nirvana
5/5
Classic. Loved how they mostly did lesser known songs and covers. Great selection with the Lead Belly, Bowie, and Meat Puppets. Tasteful inclusion of the cello and the subdued renderings of the songs, yet bursting with dark heavy emotions and tension. Looming over the album is of course what would happen to Kurt, and the unknown art we will never hear that he could have made. The way he sang Where Did You Sleep Last Night can haunt your soul, his voice.