Free and floaty and definitely not as boring as I was expecting! Some interesting ideas, but still overall just a little too in the background.
Poppier than other Cocteau Twins I've heard, and a bit of a Kate Bush warble. I rather like it.
So into this until the singing started..! You Shook Me All Night Long is an absolute banger, but other than that......
30 seconds in - not what I was expecting. Down with the clapping percussion!
Lots of momentum, feel good energy. I will never get bored of that exaggerated punk rock drawl.
Starts rough - but the longer you listen the easier it is to tune your brain to the right wavelength. I have badly wanted to like this for a long time, because I can see how much pleasure it brings to the people who get it. I'll never love it, but starting to see the appeal..
Instant favourite. And a travesty that I've never listened to this through as one album before. What an all time delight. Highlight probably The Prettiest Star - but the whole thing flows so well. Gorgeous
Genuinely shocked I've never listened to this in one stretch before. Raging and loving it. Holds up better as an album than as individual songs imo. Not sure what to make of MAGA Lydon, but from seeing Pistol and listening properly to these songs the man is pure empathy. Standout track would be Pretty Vacant
Quite intriguing. Didn't expect to like this at all, but it was pretty hypnotic from the word go. Fab background music for working - which is high praise from be, not an insult. Will definitely go back to this.
At least now when I say I don't like the Waterboys I know it's based on fact rather than a vague suspicion..
Classic hardcore punk with some decent moments - Richie Dagger's Crime a definite highlight. I do have a huge soft spot for LA punk, and this lot certainly make the cut.
More than a decade ago, a bunch of us went to a music festival with one of my friend's dads. We abandoned the Eagles headline set after about ten minutes and returned to our tents to drink cider - but seeing the joy in our friend's dad's eyes when he got back from the gig, we were moved to lie and pretend we'd loved it as much as he did. This music is absolutely not for me, but I'll never not respect a band that can inspire that much passion.
Track one is giving me the heebie-jeebies...
Overall, album was boring more than creepy, but I struggled to get through it.
Very almost couldn't finish this.
A couple of enjoyable tracks (Band on the Run, Picasso's Last Words), but overall just really really dull.
Not big on Dylan but I am BIG on this album. An all time nostalgic favourite.
Usually I can find at least one song to like on every Taylor Swift album - some I even love. She's a great songwriter and lyricist. That said. This was boring to the point I thought my brain would slosh out through my ears.
Picked up a little on no body no crime, dorothea but couldn't make up for the fact I had to skip most of the other tracks
Definitely worthy of the spot on this list, but somehow despite the great musicianship and all the detail in the music, it fails to grab my attention. Solid ⭐⭐⭐
Teetering on the edge of four stars, but as good a vibe as this clearly is I just can't imagine ever putting it on through choice. That said, I can easily imagine the end-of-the-night-red-wine-and-embers scenario that this could soundtrack and I would be there in a heartbeat.
All the ingredients of something I should love, but somehow never quite hitting what I'm after. Can definitely feel myself being drawn back to this one, though, and it's got all the makings of a major grower.
Not what I was expecting to hear from Chicago - this goes hard! Not my typical genre, but if I was doing to listen to something that sounds like this, this would be the album I go to.
Not what I would have chosen to listen to on my birthday, but actually a fair amount better than I expected. Some very satisfying melodies and decent lyrical flow. ⭐⭐⭐
Way more interested in this than I thought I'd be - clearly not an album I'd ever play again, but I can completely understand why my then-teenage cousins were so into it at the time. Being slightly younger, it seemed very illicit, something that was neither for the adults or the kids that gave the teenagers their own little world. There's some definite talent here, and I have respect for how they carved out something new and hugely influential. ⭐⭐ on personal preference, but ⭐⭐⭐ for clearly deserving it's spot on this list.
The last time Muse were really really great and every bit as glorious as I remember it. Map of the Problematique is a killer track which wouldn't be out of place on Origin of Symmetry.
Classic British sleaze that just gets better on the second listen. Regional sense of humour required for this one...
Vivid memories of learning that all my favourite Nirvana songs were actually by some weird band called Meat Puppets
This is exactly the genre I love, but wow if this isn't the dullest version
One of the other reviews said that this sounds like joke music and I'd have to agree 😭 I've waited this long to learn what 'smooth' apparently sounds like and I was better off not knowing
My first five star new discovery - obviously well aware of Belle and Sebastian, but I had them down as something twee and poppish. What I got instead was an incredibly rich album full of wit and catchy hooks. Blinder
Somehow even better than I remembered. What a glorious rock and roll triumph.
Raise a toast to saint Joe Strummer 🍺
Started quite weak for me but ended very very strong, almost hypnotic. Teetering between 3 and 4 stars - and I think it's interesting and innovative enough to take the higher score. The album as a whole won't be entering my rotation, but a couple of key tracks that will do.
Competent musicians but oh boy I hate it
That opening chord is such a fabulous mission statement for all out, cheery pop-rock n roll - and the album carries it off. A solid album of b-list Beatles tracks with one of my all time favourites, And I Love Her, landed straight in the middle.
Not quite my thing by wow these songs are pretty. Definitely a preference for the instrumentals, but those alone are worth the ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wish You Were Here and, to a lesser extent, Dark Side of the Moon are all time favourites for me, but I've never really given The Wall much attention. First impression - I'm surprised by how dated this sounds in comparison to the other albums. Some stand out tracks (Comfortably Numb top among them), but overall it's baggy and not as exciting as I'd expected. Still four stars for the impact, craft and wild creativity
Quite a bit stranger than I expected, but just so unpleasant to my ears.
I did not want to listen to Kid Rock today, and I kind of hate it, but honestly it has some pretty clever moments and I've caught myself tapping my foot a couple of times.
Biggest issue is that I can't tell how seriously this guy is taking himself. It's a 3 start light hearted bit of fun or a 2 star 'serious album'. But ultimately there was enough there for me to give it the benefit of the doubt.
I got to see Iggy live in 2011 and had the biggest adrenaline rush of my life after some huge biker guy said "you're going up there", lifted me up off my feet and yeeted me into the crowd. First and only crowd surfing moment, one of my greatest ever memories. I will simply never forget standing at the side of the crowd afterwards with a blobby cup of cider watching Iggy strut his stuff. Legend.
Inching towards 5 stars - the first half of the album is sublime, and the run of songs from You Are The Everything through to World Leader Pretend is god tier. But the second half of the album never quite holds my attention. Still an all time classic.
Newly minted Motorhead fan
Team Blur for the music, Oasis for the swagger - and sometimes a bit of swagger is what you need
Wow this is interesting. So far out of my comfort zone, which is exactly why I start doing the 1001 album thing. Not sure it will be entering my regular rotation - it's just not my genre - but it just hits.
This is far from being my favourite David Bowie and it's still just so good
Rhyming masses with masses straight out the gate is something I would usually hate, but here it feels like such a power move. What a glorious album.
Not sure how to rate this one. Super annoying, not my genre at all - but also really impressive. Impossible not to see why this has the acclaim it does, and I'm sure if this was my genre it would be an absolute go to. Really stands out against other albums of the same style/period.
Update - Monster is a beast. Easy four stars from me.
Not my thing but equally, if I was at a shit club I would be praying for something like this to come on
As a very casual Pixies fan most of these songs are totally new to me. On a first play through, i think I actually prefer this to Surfer Rosa - it would certainly be a close run thing. Very satisfying, cohesive album with plenty of pixies weirdness
I remember this album being released, and suddenly becoming aware of what a huge pop culture phenomenon Taylor Swift had become. The fact that it has now been ten years and she's sustained the same level of interest is quite incredible - since becoming aware that Taylor Swift was 'a thing', I don't think there's ever been a time that she hadn't been part of the Zeitgeist (at least in my circles, as a millennial elder).
Ultimately, I just don't like listening to these songs. But there are a handful of stand out tracks (Blank Space, Style and Wildest Dreams), and the songwriting talent is clear. I'll never be a Swiftie, but I can respect it.
I never listened to this album before because I hate that stupid doorbell song. But in the context of the album, even doorbell becomes awesome. This album is a very good time.
I don't mind Bruce, but it always feels like there are a few great songs and then a lot of songs that are basically the same but a bit more boring. Great song writer, but does it make for a great album listening experience?
From others reviews I thought I'd find this boring but it turned out to be epic.
Sitting here feeling like the emperor's got no clothes on. My music taste can roughly be summed up as '6 music dad', so I was hyped to finally hear a John Grant album. And it's like... Twee melodies and teen philosopher lyrics? Maybe I just don't get the references.
1* for the album and 1 additional star for the admittedly very fun Sigourney Weaver track.
All the good will I felt towards the first 30 seconds of this album evaporated very quickly once the dude started singing. And then to end on one of the blandest covers ever recorded. Let's just say it's not to my taste.
Didn't think I liked the Pet Shop Boys but turns out this is lit
I'm a fuzzy guitar girl, but I'm another life this absolutely could have been my jam
This album tastes of vodka and coke. I loved it.
I am not getting this at all. It's like listening to the songs from some grimy musical, but without the sparkly costumes and choreography to distract you.
People say they only have one song, but I can happily listen to that song a dozen times in a row. My favourite discovery of this project is how much I love Motorhead.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm just naive, but for me the gross exaggeration of the Slim Shady character hits as extremely effective social commentary. I think this album shows so much wit, intelligence and talent.
Two stars for ambition I guess
Interesting, powerful and so much going on. Hard to rate because I -really- don't enjoy listening to it. Then again it still gives me something, a creative jolt.
Enjoyable but not really essential
Some fun moments but overall boring and there's too much of it
Listening to this reminds me why I listened exclusively to The Undertones for about a year when I was 14. All time teenage classics, with My Perfect Cousin as the stand out track.
Absolutely thrilled this album made it onto the list. Another Girl, Another Planet is easily my favourite rock song and the album holds up terrifically. 5+
Good britpop and an extra star for being from my home town
How did I sleep on this for so long
A few good singles does not an album make
Rating for the music alone, on the understanding that I go out of my way not to listen to music by creeps any more than I have to.
Not my genre, not my usual vibe at all but it just has that little extra something special
As another reviewer said - exactly why I'm doing this project and I'm glad to have heard it. I'll be happy to never hear it again though.
Interesting, although not entirely successful
I always feel like I'm going mad when I read all the middling reviews of this album and lukewarm enthusiasm for The Libertines in general. To me they're so obviously set apart from the other indie bands of the same era - the music is so intricate and urgent, and the content is so compelling in how it explores themes of youth and celebrity and companionship and shame, and well, the list goes on... Seeing them do a tepid mid afternoon slot at Glastonbury this year just broke my heart. Forever waiting for the day they get reclaimed by the music commentariat.
Thought I would love this but I just can't.
What can I say, I love sad Bee Gees
I'm not one to put on a Bruce Springsteen album. But when this is beautiful, it's -so- beautiful. Couple that with the influence this album has had on so many of my favourite artists and it's an obvious five stars, as well as one of the few albums that actually seems to have earned its place on the list.
I never get the weird Beatles songs until I hear them in context. Then the whole thing makes sense. I think this is much greater than the sum of its parts
Prise my Morrissey records from my cold dead hands
Interesting. But not two disk, 90 minute interesting
It IS interesting but I actively hate it so I'm going to break my own rules and mark it probably lower than it deserves
Sure it's silly, but come on
One of those cases where the finished product is greater than the sum of its parts. Would I ever listen to Sweet Lady as a standalone track? I would not. I'm In Love With My Car is objectively bad. But once I'm in the album I'm so swept up that the whole thing becomes five stars +++. One of my all time favourites