Progressive pop - can something like that even exist? Pop, by definition, is just not very innovative. It relies on the familiar. In my humble opinion, there can just be very few progress pop albums. Kate Bush's Hounds of Love is one of those very few examples. Instrumentation, lyrics, pure weirdness ('Waking the Witch'!) go hand in hand to create something very unique. This is indeed a classic that is really timeless.

I do like the theme and approach of this LP but it feels all a bit forced. I think something more melodic here and there would be the proper contrast to the ever-droning sound. It is the same problem for all LPs of this sort: It is just too much in the same direction.

As with the first album of the Beatles, listening to this is historically interesting but nothing you need to check out. A cover of blues songs and not as interesting as their later works.

Look, this album is not something you listen to while you dust your living room, all right? It is an early work of industrial and drone sound to create nightmarish landscapes. There are certainly better guitarists than Blixa Bargeld on a technical level but few people in music use their instrument to create proper soundscapes like that. In that respect, he is closer to Robert Fripp and his Frippertronics than Eric Claption or Jimmy Page. Compare that with Unruh's and Einheit's percussion work you have something extraordinary.

A wonderful album that wraps sad and sarcastic text into lovable music. Imagine The Smiths being a bit more playful and you have this classical album of The Triffids.

Great genre mix.

Didn't like it that much, it is too pure punk for me.

Here you have everything you want from Dylan. The album might just be a wee bit too long.

Great album of Post-Britpop that has some problems here and there with keeping the vibe over time.

One of the best blue-eyed soul albums out there. You could really feel the combination of new elements and the tradition of soul. England is the best country for modern music, hands down.

I can see why this album was important for the genre of punk. It is just not my cup of tea. Too simple in its structure.

While Sonic Youth are not my favourites they deliver a strong, surprisingly idea heavy album.

Little Richard wrote great songs as it is evident on this album. I just don't know if he works on this length because many things sound similar.

Van Morrison is a great songwriter but I just can't really dig his style of delivering his songs. Another interpret would be great. While Astral Weeks is a gem in its own right, it is not for me.

I like Dolly Parton but I'm not sure she is for me on an album length. It's fine background music though.

It is a wonderful album that combines many styles.

Art Rock at its best. However, after the great start the later songs become a bit mediocre.

A magical album with so much atmosphere. It definitely wants me to listen more to The Cure which I often put a bit to the side!

I got 'Astral Weeks' recommended to me and I gave it just two stars because often I can't deal with Van Morrison. 'Moondance' is the wonderful exception though and his best album in my book. There is a clear style yet a lot of fun ideas that it never gets boring. One of the best albums!

Some people say: If you know one album by The Smiths you know basically every Smiths song. Parts of that are true but I think that's mainly because of Morrissey's voice. There is some great musicianship next to his vocal delivery and I think you can hear that on this LP. It is a great listen and maybe the one you need by this band.

So many great tunes on here that really showed what rock music can do.

Usually I like Eno's works but that goes more for his straight-up ambient work, especially with Robert Fripp. Also his job as a producer is tremendous. This album is not for me. Some of the later tracks have a nice experimental character to them. Besides that it's not really for me.

It is a masterpiece of rock music - not just prog rock - and one of the best albums of this band. I could write endless paragraphs about it. The strongest suit might be the highly versatile jump between complex and challenging parts as well as the the melodies and atmosphere. 'Books of Exile' is reminiscent of the more 'romantic' KC while something like 'Easy Money' shows how banging and jamming goes. Absolutely gorgeous!

It's just not for me. Experimental stuff by a dude that was mainly produced by another dude (Trevor Horn).

When it comes to rock music Deep Purple is solid and so is this album. But it's nothing that will be too memorable for me.

It's a nice country album with some depth that other albums are missing. Nothing too special though if you have the limits of the genre in mind.

Nice background music, certainly from it's time. I liked it but nothing of it was too memorable.

It is a classic and we all know why. PF was more psychedelic at this point but you can already see why they would become one of the big five of the prog rock genre.

Not as good as other Dylan albums but a worthwhile, a bit too bluesy listen.

Like most people I prefer the more guitar-based Cohen. But from his 80s era this is really good. There are some very political, complex themes in this album which portrays the maestro with a banana on its cover. Cohen knows how to deal with life.

It's a fast and funky soul album that misses some highlights.

This band produced solid music over the ages. I know many who think this is their best album. And, yeah, I can see why. From time to time you always want to shout: 'Master!' - Wrong album, I know, but it would work. I don't know if that's a good or a bad sign.

Green Day was always this mainstream'ish punk music to me so I never invested to much time in their work. Now I got suggested this album and I can say that they are alright. Some nice work from the rhythm group here. Can't say that I care too much for it. A solid listen, nothing more, nothing less.

The Talking Heads make great music. You can hear what made them great: Existenzial lyricism combined with paranoia and absurdism too - without forgetting about the humor. Musically the later albums are more interesting.

It might be boring to say it but this is the best album of this mighty band. It shows that the Stones were also a great band in the studio itself. 'Wild Horses' and 'Moonlight Mile' are highlights for the ages.

I nearly stopped this album after the first seconds. While I was always interested in music from middle and eastern Asia it's certainly something just for certain moments with our western ears. After a while it clicked. There is something uplifting in it that I can't put my finger to it. While this won't turn me to Islam I see the general appeal.

Common's first 6 albums are milestones of the more sophisticated jazz rap of the 90s and early 2000s that was influenced by neo soul too. 'Be' doesn't waste time and puts you into all the things you would need to know as a Chicago kid. Common's lyrics are better than ever because he puts some subtle humor in the stories he tells. And then of course there is producer Kanye West. I never thought of him as a genius (albeit a great producer, of course always aided by an army of other talented people). I think 'Be' shows more than his own albums that West has talent.

Bon Jovi's music is rock music that is just too polished for me. The album is fine enough for some background music though.

Buckley is a gem in the subgenre of Psychedelic Folk. I like his approach but I think the album is a bit too meandering sometimes. I'll definitely check other works of him out!

Look, this album is not something you listen to while you dust your living room, all right? It is an early work of industrial and drone sound to create nightmarish landscapes. There are certainly better guitarists than Blixa Bargeld on a technical level but few people in music use their instrument to create proper soundscapes like that. In that respect, he is closer to Robert Fripp and his Frippertronics than Eric Claption or Jimmy Page. Compare that with Unruh's and Einheit's percussion work you have something extraordinary.

An allright rock album.

This is how some freaking rock should be! You could argue that there are some highlights missing here and there but hey-ho - this is fun.

Barry Adamson has a great ear for atmospheric melodies and arrangements that are more than droning, noising or loud sounds that dominate a lot of actual soundtracks these days. The problem of the album might be the too different styles. A better track order might've helped. I prefer him as part of the Bad Seeds.

A good addition in the neo soul genre but like with the classic acts (D'Angelo) too many of the songs seem to blend into one another with the same style & lyrics. Certainly enjoyable for a chill background music and even in another particular room with a bed.

When you listen to their album you see that The Mamas & The Papas are often closer to a folksy sort of swing music with their interpretation of standards. 'California Dreamin' and other songs might give a different impression. This combination this album a worthwhile collection of songs.

It's a great soul album!

This is a classic album for hip hop, no doubt about that. When you listened to it often enough you feel the limits of the early hip hop though. And it is still funny to me how activists these days hail it as some sort of emancipation for black people (which is certainly true to some extent) but ignore the positive attitudes towards guns, drugs, violence and the overwhelming sexism.

Fats Domino is a smooth singer and piano player and great to get the day going. Overall it misses a bit of a high mark which is not a surprise for the non-concept albums of these days.

A decent listen from a talented band that somehow wasn't as exciting to me as all the British bands at the same time. They had something outstanding that GD lacked. Hence the album flows mellow but highlights are missing.

Think of Clapton's political opinions what you will but this is a classical album with a laid-back attitude. While I personally prefer JJ Cale, this album is gorgeous with all that you need from a blues rock guitarist.

This no-nonsense attitude is respectable for 5 minutes. Then the 'songs' are just annoying. I felt taken aback to one of these bad memories of my fellow puberty friends trying to be 'hard' because they listened to Napalm Death. In these days, I hope they see that this is just boring.

For some reason I confused this band always with punk bands from the 2000s. But, no, My Bloody Valentine does excellent shoegaze and this album shows their talent. It is atmospheric, unclear, but in a good way. It gets your juices flowing. As with most of the genre, it can be a bit repetitive so usually less would be more.

An absolute classic of rock music. You can hear that Led Zeppelin sometimes drift into proggier territories and that is right so. They have a talent of bringing the right pieces together with every band member with talent in its own right.

I was never a fan of this band. Except some singles I couldn't care that much for them. Now I listened to my first Guns N' Roses album and I was positively surprised. There is some direct approach that is quite refreshing. It works all very well together, especially the guitars in contrast to Axl Rose's voice. Am I going to listen to more albums? Probably not. But it was a nice detour nonethless.

A not-so-well known gem of the psychedelic rock subgenre that comes across a bit harder than other works of British bands. And that's fine.

The Flaming Lips have many albums under their plate and this one is definitely their master piece. It makes great transitions from faster and slower, lusher and harder, deeper and thoughtful. It certainly is their best album so far and I wish they would look out more for quality than quantity.

A classic of the Folk Rock genre. They were a good team with those harmonies and the songwriting structure.

I'm one of those people who, in the on-going debate of which is the best Springteen album (at least of the pre-2000 years), is the best: Born in the USA or Darkness on the Edge of Town? Whenever I lead to one, the other ones let me discover something new. Right now, while listening to this classic again, I think Darkness has a small lead. While not all the songs are as iconic as on the later follow up they do have bit more variety in style to them. Darkness shows how Springteen's Roy Bittan pianist placed the keys so central compared to other rock music at the time, especially as punk was on the rise. That really helps to stand out and makes every track a great story of their own. 'Adam Raised A Cain' and the title track might be my favourite ones on this grandiose journey through the American heartland. The 'worst' track might be 'Streets of Fire' because it is just an example of the forceful albeit by now standard, even somewhat parody-ish Springsteen style. But other than that? A great classic.

This album has a great thematic concept and the different blend of styles is quite cool - till the album becomes just too long and if feels like you have either some downtempo lounge sound, Indian music or a female singer piano based ballad. It's nice but not something you will listen to that often.

A nice ska and reggae album that transfers the music of Jamaica into a proper British context. Is it as good as the stuff from the island? No. But it is so more unique than many other 'white reggae' stuff that came later.

This jazz-rock album was often described as cleaner and more accessible than previous albums. To me it sounds quite poppy and I'm not sure I like that. I think jazz-rock and fusion don't need to go this way. It certainly stands out in this approach but when you have something like Soft Machine and the entire Canterbury scene - why not chose these guys?

Elis Regina is a grand dame in the South American music, especially Bossa Nova and similar genres. While I prefer her softer colleagues she shows a wide rang of skills on this album that has something quite powerful to it.

This band made better music but also the shoegaze genre has better folks out there. It is all a bit too similar for my taste.

This album has the typical forward-driving sound of the band which can be quite charming but is rather repititive over a while. I liked to listen to it but rock music really has so much more to offer.

I do like the theme and approach of this LP but it feels all a bit forced. I think something more melodic here and there would be the proper contrast to the ever-droning sound. It is the same problem for all LPs of this sort: It is just too much in the same direction.

A nice treat that shows what a great performer Brown was - especially when he had the right band with him. Overall it is a bit short though.

A bit too similar but a style that was copied later again and again. I respect this album for what it is in music history.

An interesting collection of songs.

This album shows the big talent of Buddy Holly. He has the roll in rock'n'roll.

Cohen wrote many great albums and this is definitely one of them. While other albums might contain better and more famous songs this one here really shows why he's such a great song writer. He doesn't need cheap rhymes or a great singing voice to lure you into his musical world.

Without a doubt one of the best albums by The Who. Sometimes it feels though that Roger Daltrey holds the songs more back and that Pete Townshend should've done a lot more solo stuff a lot earlier.

Hardcore Punk is usually not my cup of tea but Henry Rollins knows how to lead a band behind him. Maybe they're not meant to be funny but some moments are exactly that. I can enjoy it but I will not listen to it it too much.

Zappa is a genius, his band is great too and the influence on the prog rock genre is crystalclear. As an album itself, I think it is simply too long and unnecessary 'artsy'. It's not something you can listen to very often. Hence three stars from me.

It is one of the most powerful hardcore albums in the list because it can really get things going. A cheese grater torturing a guitar? Yeah, that's how it sounds. And when you're in the mood for it why not? In the end, it is all a bit too similar.

This folk album has a variety of many songs. It is still a bit too standard for me when it comes to folk. I need more progressive, more haunting elements. This is too much 'bar music'. Still a great listen.

A great selection of classical songs. Ray's delivery is one of the best. His voice carriers so much - it's not just an instrument but half an orchestra. I rate it four stars because while it is great it's just another selection of standards.

I love The Beatles as the next man but their early albums are not as powerful as the proto-prog of the later days. It's a decent listen though but overall you wish for more.

It is a classic and rightfully so. You have everything you need in a concept album here, whether that concept is looser or tighter. The great thing is that you can still listen to each song on their own.

As with the first album of the Beatles, listening to this is historically interesting but nothing you need to check out. A cover of blues songs and not as interesting as their later works.

Another nice listen by Dusty Springfield with some famous tunes and many highlights.

An absolute classic of rock music, especially for the genre of acid punk. There are so many great songs on here that sound a bit like the Stranglers would do psychedelic rock with a little bit of Talking Heads. Definitely one of this gems everyone should listen to!

There are many shoegaze albums in this 1001 list. Why, I do wonder, because the genre can be quite limited. This album is better than others and a nice background listen but it's quite hard to make out the highlights.

New Order brought a certain special style of electronic-aided rock music into the world. This album showcases their talent best.

This band/Art collective was an inspiration for Rammstein. I don't like either of them that much but I can at least appreciate the musical character and especially the rearrangements of pop songs of the time. I'm sure this album did lots to get music evolving. It's just not my cup of tea.

Country with a lot of schmalz can be nice on a journey. It evokes certain emotions that Jones's voice transports over everything you need in country. It's an album you'd present to a newbie in the genre. He might not be too impressed but nothing much can go wrong too.

Nick Cave is the best songwriter in my opinion and so it's no surprise that I will say only positive things about his albums. 'Ghosteen' is another masterpiece but I understand the scepticism of people who have not much connection to Nick Cave's work. In the grand scheme of the discography of him and his band it's certainly something. Brooding, ambient, some say dark but on other parts quite uplifting. Abstract and challenging. Sometimes I miss more of the band because most of it was made by Nick & Warren Ellis alone. I still recommend everybody to listen to this though.

The first album of this great band is a must-listen. While I like the later releases more - because the band tried out more - you can see the genius formula for great and catchy songs with 'I'm so bored with the USA'. RIP Joe Strummer who has gone way too early.

This dance-rock hybrid is surely something worthwhile to listen to, on a drive or a when you clean your house. But if you inspect it closer it's all a bit too similar.

Another example of an album that is an important stepping stone to make rock more interesting and sophisticated. While labelled as psychedelic rock it can also be put under the subgenre proto-prog rock. I love the works with the flute. But the vocals! Argh! No, that doesn't really work. I stay with the actualy classics of the genre(s).

Motörhead has its place in the olymp of straightforward rock music but it's not really for me. I feel a lot of this powerchord stressing isn't a very interesting path for rock music.

Country music has a lot more to over than just cowboy stuff and this album is a wonderful example for it. This is alternative country sliding into folk with darker, brooding themes. I love it! The opener is gorgeous. After a while you'd wish for more diverse arrangements though.

Considered the comeback record of Muddy Waters in the 1970s. It's a fresh, rocky collection of blues song that make you get going in the morning.

For some reason I, a rock-nerd, never got much into Radiohead. The suggestion was therefore very welcome. I did enjoy this album and its many ideas with its different sounds. I listend to earlier Radiohead stuff after that. And I liked it! That Thom Yorke's vocals are often distorted helps because they often really put me off. I enjoyed the jazzy elements as well.

Progressive pop - can something like that even exist? Pop, by definition, is just not very innovative. It relies on the familiar. In my humble opinion, there can just be very few progress pop albums. Kate Bush's Hounds of Love is one of those very few examples. Instrumentation, lyrics, pure weirdness ('Waking the Witch'!) go hand in hand to create something very unique. This is indeed a classic that is really timeless.

One of the classics of the Afrobeat genre. I appreciate it but over a while the album's tracks blend a bit into each other. There are no clear highlights, at least to my untrained ear in this genre. I enjoyed it though.

Without a doubt Sign o’ the Times is one of the best albums by Prince. He shows his talents as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer (Camille). It’s the Prince sound, no matter what. ‘Hot Thing’ and later ‘The Cross’ are my favourite tracks with the later being a bit different than the rest of the tracks. Prince made so many other great records and was home in many genres. This albums reminds us that he want too early.

I'm a big fan of Costello's work whether the old stuff or the new. His third album is a typical example of the brazen, smart new wave style. While the line of style is clear, the themes are wide and so this album has much for everyone. Definitely a listen that gets you going in the morning. 'Moods for Moderns' is my favourite track.

This showcase of Elvis Presley's talent combines the strength of his powers - steered by the right producers and musicians around him. It's a great start to get into Elvis who is more of a single's artist anyway.

I just listened to this album the other day. From the perspective of the variety of styles this might be the best album of that iconic duo, especially with the highly politicised last track. An absolute classic!

Paul McCartney has a giant body of work under his belt outside of The Beatles. This might be one of the best albums he created. He is such a great songwriter with the ear for melodies. It's not clear how much influence his then-wife had but as a group effort it is great. There are so many styles tied together by clever order for those tracks.

Michael Jackson put some great effort in his albums, more than we tend to think, but he'll mostly be remembered for this powerful singles. He's a singles artist, whether he liked it or not. And so it goes for 'Bad' which might be one of his best albums. But I only really care for Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel and Smooth Criminal - three powerful singles, accompanied by more mediocre tracks. Hence I give Bad as an album an average rating.

A collection of great soul classics. You miss a bit the highlights and innovation from our times since there are so many versions of these songs.

Brian Eno and David Bowie produced and mixed this album. They must have seen something in this band. I say they are a decent listen but for me it felt like an uneven mixture of Talking Heads (the singing style - but not as innovative) and Television (the instrumentation - without the streamlined, focused approach). There is some humour in their absurd texts and antics but compared to those other bands I rather listen to those. For someone else, who'll find a different way into music, it might be something.

I must have listen to this album a million times. It's one of the greatest hip hop albums ever made with a solid production on all levels and wordplay of great lyricists. The best Wu-Tang tracks are those were quality is over quantity (that also goes for the numbers of rappers on those tracks). Here it all comes together. Favourite track: Hard to say but I'd go with 'Wu-Tang Clan Ain't nuthin ta fuck with'.

A combination of nice folk tracks with psychedelic elements and great guitar work. It really takes a while to get into Martyn's voice though I find.

This is one of the best albums of rock music ever. Television is post-punk in the best way and unique in their clean, controlled style. Every track is a wonderful little journey.

A nice and wild ride of rock music that tried something. It still feels a bit unfocused and therefore I go for other psychedelic and progressive rock.

This is a big classical album by Prince and certainly one of his top 5 if not top 3 albums. Much has been said about it. I find some of the outros of some of the songs a bit irritating. Hence I give it 4 out of 5.

Not the biggest fan of Ozzy and BS but this is a great selection of songs. I love the opener that just starts directly with the action. I think I like it more than their infamous debut.

Indeed: This is raw power! But that means that the music could have done with some work here and there. Certainly not as good as other album by The Stooges.

A haunting experience that for some reasons relies too much on the underproduced vocals. Why do that for every track on the album? I think 'Desintegration' is the better album because it was way better produced.

AC/DC is to me the parody of rock music. The people who love this band are mostly bland people. Now, I tried this album out and with the intro and the first tracks I was positively surprised. But then the vocals kick in... The way of singing is basically the same on every track. Not for me. I can tolerate some tracks in the back but that's about it.

While I prefer Crosby's work with those other big names - you know who I'm talking about - this album has really a great mix of louder and quieter tunes, all wonderfully arranged. You can also hear what great guitarist Crosby was. At a point I miss something that diverts a bit from the style though.

This album was made at the height of Grunge but it has many stylistic elements, especially in instrumentation, that reminds one of psychedelic rock. They use Indian instruments or the mellotron, popularized by prog rock. In some way you might think this album was created by time travellers. Then again often some of the typical vocals and - how should I call it? - singing styles of that time break through. Overall a pretty cool album with a better later half I find.

Obviously one of the best album by the boss with so many great classics on it. 'I'm on Fire' might be my favourite.

Paul Weller crafted an album that is indeed a nice journey to a wild wood, with ups and downs, drama, and personal struggles. I love how easily he mixes the soft and the harder tones. This albums definitely deserves its status as a classic.

A great jazz album that is the epitome of bar atmosphere with a wonderful host. Still can't get behind scat in vocisl jazz.

I do like some progressive country music here and there. This one has nice ideas and a certain groove. However, I wasn't too impressed by it. At some point it just sounds relatively standard to my ear.

A better selection of original stones songs. Some of them are still too rooted in other people's music.

While I do appreciate some great latin music this focus on percussion seems a bit too meandering for me. I can enjoy it in the back but that's about it.

Another great album by this soul-funk band.

On this album, Led Zeppelin is still very much rooted in blues music - something they would transcend on later albums. It's a great collection nonetheless with many classics and the right atmosphere. Soul of a woman was created below, for sure!

The Sonics are one of the rockier bands of the the 60s Rock'n'Roll. It is mostly a selection of songs written by other people which they adapt in a rawer style that is quite different to e.g. The Kinks of that time. It doesn't work on all of the songs and by the time you hear track 5 you get the formula. Some songs are very good for what they want especially 'Have Love Will Travel' that was so wonderfully used in Guy Ritchie's RockNRolla. All in all this is a great album with some songs full of energy - and others you'll skip.

Frank Zappa is without a doubt a genius in music but I can't get into most of his music. This here is one example. The tracks sound like giant jam sessions with some horn arrangements on time - which can be great. But I think I just got lots of other experience with that already by listening to many prog rock albums. Hence I can't rate it this one that high.

Joni Mitchell is a legend. She is a great lyricist. However, her vocals are a bit limited and can be quite tiresome. Hence I can't rate this album with 5 stars even though I kinda would like to because thematically this woman really delivers.

I'm a big fan of Johnny Cash's later work and the American series in general. This is one of the best entries. People talk too much about 'Hurt' but there are so many other great tracks on this album. Check them out please!

Is this an album of collection of songs - and just said? Afraid so. Country would benefit from more concepts behind their albums. Loretta Lynn's work is the bet example of this. All the songs are quite enjoyable but there is a certain similarity around that makes the whole thing not really stick in your mind.

This is certainly a classic of the later RnB. It has some great songs but I prefer the Neo Soul movement if I want to listen to the music of that time.

This album has a wonderful groove that is carried by the drums who are not soft and energetic but not too frantic or too dominant either. I really enjoyed all of the songs - expect this cover of Pink Floyd's great 'Comfortably Numb'. While the cover surely has its own style it really is awful.

This is the most well-known album by Iggy Pop as a solo artist. For a good reason! It has drive, power but it is all about dark stuff like heroin abuse. Trainspotting used the title track for a good reason.

This classic is the one album by Jay Z you need to listen to. It has clever wordplay and dope production. It is another album that showed us Kanye West's production skills.

Man, this list really loves Led Zeppelin, eh? This is the 4th album of Led Zeppelin I have now in my list. Compared to I to IV I think 'Physical Graffiti' has more ups and downs. This is due to its nature as a collection of songs for other albums. Sure, we have 'Kashmir' on this one but also some not so interesting songs like 'Custard Pie' or 'The Rover'. An issue for me is the mixing. Robert Plant's voice often sounds like he put through a tunnel which diminishes his high-pitched efforts as one of the best singer in rock music. Hence I give this 4 instead of 5 stars (like the other albums).

This is one of my favourite albums. Nilsson was once deemed just to be a solo Beatle (since he worked with Lennon) but his music is a lot more. It is rocky and mellow and the same time and there is always some sense of longing. It's a perfect album for many moods. Favourite track: Too many! "Jump into the Fire" if I had to choose one.

This is a great collection of the most well-known songs of Aretha Franklin. I like the mixing - it doesn't make any element of the music, whether voices nor instruments, overtly dominant.

A great album of storytelling that uses many musical elements.

For many folks this is one of the best album by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. This goes especially for then-not-fans who see them a bit critical - but usually they are blown away by this album. And there is a good reason for that: This album has one of the richest instrumentation that backs up Nick Cave. It is Gospel Rock on a grandiose scale that highlights the talents of all the musicians involved. The double album is therefore split by who drummed: Abatoir Blues by Sclavanous and The Lyre of Orpheus by Thomas Wydler. Both have their own distinct styles, the former a gentle giant and the latter a capacious cat. You could argue that Nick's lyrics are - while as always great - a bit repetitive here and there. He uses a lot of the same imagery, sometimes starting a song with the same setup ("Through the..."). But this would be nitpicking. He's a charismatic preacher as well as chronist of a world of love, thunder and God. Best songs: 'Hiding all away' on the first side, 'Breathless' on the second side.

This album is a milestone of hip hop and the perfect example of old school work. Everybody knows 'The Message'. But what few people who have not actually listened to this album know is that the old school rap is just one part of the album. The opener 'She's Fresh' is pure funk with live instruments or 'You Are' a proper soul ballad. You could say that this a funk album all in all. And that is great. It's rich and you want to groove. I don't give it 5 stars because the simple raps feel a bit outdated today.

This is without a doubt one of the best albums that have ever been produced simply because of the fact that is walks the tightrope of being danceable and sophisticated at the same time ("Crosseyed and Painless", "Houses in Motion" are the best examples for this). The musicianship is just grand with the inspiration from Fela Kuti's Afrobeat to construct polyrhythms as the backbone of the great instrumentation carried by bass, keyboards and guitars (Adrian Belew, here as a guest, delivers one of his best work) and David Byrne's lyrics. This is a masterpiece. I'd give it 6 star if I could!

This song has some nice tunes but overall it's a bit too poppy for me.

This album has a bit of an awkward and slow start but it really gets going with the later tracks. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it but I really did in the end - literally!

On the first tracks I needed a while to get into the albums but later I could really enjoy this glam rock that doesn't shy away from anything - in a time where rock music was heavily besieged by numetal.

This is one of the more influential albums of Neo Soul. If you like D'Angelo you'll like that. And I do. I think Maxwell is even better because his smoothness and lyrical focus makes this a more coherent album that has also some more interesting instrumentation than the first two D'Angelo albums.

Scott Walker is a good guy and does well on this album. There are stronger singers though and I think they could really do more by giving him less but more poignant instruments to sing too (even if that sounds counter-intuitive).

Jethro Tull has many great albums under their belt. 'Aqualung' is certainly one of them. It shows the wide range of styles of the band. I don't listen as often to it as my favourite 'Songs From The Wood' but I thorougly enjoy it and recommend it for everyone who want to get into this band.

What? Another record by The Smiths? Don't they all sound too similar anyway? Well, yeah. That's what people say. Good thing is that this album has a hand full of more funkier elements than earlier but also later albums - despite the dark topics. You can't do anything wrong by listening to this.

This is a grand album somewhere between psychdelic rock and early progressive rock. I really enjoyed this one, especially the interplay between drums and piano.

This is surely some great musicianship but I find it overall not as interesting as later works of other blues rockers including Eric Clapton himself.

...and while I say again that Michael Jackson is more of a singles artist I think that this album has really a lot of gems and feels better in it its consistency than Bad. The title track and 'Beat It' are obviously great but already the opener goes in full.

I love Tina Turner as the next man but this one of this pop records where some singles are great but not so much the rest. The title track, "Better Be Good To Me" or "What's Love Got to Do with It" stand out, the rest is alright. Got to say that I have my issues with ranking artists high who 'just' sing these songs but don't write or produce them.

Without a doubt one of the hallmarks in David Bowie's career. There are great instrumentals that work well with the sometimes dark lyrics.

Nick Cave's first band made a punk record that was basically punk when it was already dead. It's a corpse of punk. Dark stories straight out of horror films or weird fiction instead of political protest songs. "She's hit" is one of those masterpieces. Still, I prefer the Bad Seeds. Nick evolved to be a great songwriter and lyricist with the help of those talented musicians. If he and Mick Harvey would've continued with this band they might have not become the talented chaps they were now. The music just sounds too similar in the end.

Music lovers shouldn't underestimate the importance of Gary Numan. The robotic early-synth style was phenomenal back in the days while it might seem a bit 'And what's the big deal about it?' now. The music is synth-based but not completely electronic yet like it would be in the 1980s. "Conversations" is phenomenally great. But in a way, Gary Numan is a one-trick pony. This album and the two Tubeway Army records seem interchangeable. I'm not sure if you are not better suited with the LP Replicas if you want to get into his stuff. Shout out to Cedric Sharpely, his drummer here who shows why drum machines will always be boring. Check out his first band Druid who would've been stars of the genre if they just had stepped some two years or so earlier into the scene.

This is surely an impressive live album and I get why it is voted as one of the best out there. I just don't find Frampton's music that interesting.

A solid entry of earlier rock and blues music. The albums gets more interesting towards the end.

I'm no fan of metal and I know why. It is just too forced. Don't really get the love for Anthrax here.

What starts as a standard country song has some more depth as the time goes on. I really enjoyed this one!

Blondie's third album is a real charmer. Their producer made them write proper songs and do a whole 'less is more approach'.

This a great live album by a talented band. For the perfection I would want some more surprises and diverse instrumentation.

Another nice addition from the early days of punk from the UK. It sounds as much punk as you want it to sound. I like it but since I prefer rother genres more I can only rank it with 4 stars.

This album is a nice, easy listen but in many ways dated. I cringe when I hear these fake pan flute synths.

The sample work is rich and impressive but it really is not my kind of music. Samples of female singers, then high-pitched? Nah, not for me!

Indian music is often reduced to some trip scenes in movies. We often don't know proper music. This album by Shankar is a good bridge into the genre with it's combination of western sounds, instruments and some covers. I prefer the last tracks though instead of some of the covers because it is more of the actual music we want to listen to.

This pseudo live album bursts of energy. I like it!

A nice punk album that feels too long even though it's super short. Not a good sign, eh?

Roxy Music's first album is pure delight. They are eclectic but not proggish but created what others would call Art Rock later. Love it!

Another Kings of Leon album that left me positively surprised after I know most of this band just by the radio airplay. It's an all right listen. Maybe it didn't need to be on this list but it's still good.

Blood, Sweat & Tears is one of the best bands of this productive age of music that combined so many influences. Their debut is also one of their best albums. While you don't really need the Satie variations (so many did them before and after it), the original tracks are amazing. 'Spinning Wheel' is just full of energy and 'You Make Me So Very Happy' too. These songs just want to makes the biggest loner have a big party with his family and friends on a long summer evening.

Another great experimental album that does has some lengths on its second half. It also seems to me that John Cale is the more interesting character compared to Lou Reed. I enjoy his solo works a lot more.

I was positively surprised by this album. Next to the famous 'Nothing Compares 2 U' there are many other styles in music here that sound quite timeless but still somewhat root it in the 1990s. In that respect, O'Connor's album is closer to the soulful tracks of Massive Attack. I enjoyed it!

Breakbeats, lounge, trip hop - this is a 90s album as you like it. It's the best background music. Nightmares On Wax crafted better tracks though.

This might be Tom Waits's best album. His bluesy ballads are pure atmosphere and describe people and their many sufferings. It is underlaid with some music that could be great background music for a party but in this constellation forms a bond with its singer.

Without a doubt one of the most influential yet basic albums of punk music. The Sex Pistols's album is these days more renownend for the scandals of the band and the presentation than the actual musical quality I'd argue. If punk was just posturing at this time, then, yes, it has its place. But musically I don't think I find something interesting here.

Solid folk album with some nice covers of popular songs but over time I find Baez's voice a bit tiresome.

A solid listen but Emmylou Harris can't keep me with her voice for the length of an album.

The first album is a giant classic of hip hop. Not only you have the cartoonish, near-parody of gangsta rap with B-Real's & Sen Dog's lyrics that show how you can laugh about yourself and still be gangsta at the same time. It is mostly known for the production by DJ Muggs who as a Westcoast guy uses an near all-sampled approach of classics of funk and soul music in a very sophisticated way. Their music would get darker in the subsequent records so many people consider this record as one of the bests. I say you can listen to all of those first four albums. Best tracks: How I Could Just Kill A Man, Latin Lingo, Hand On The Pump, Stoned Is The Way Of The Walk

Never cared that much for KISS but I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Especially the latter tracks show some musical dexterity that I didn't expect.

I enjoyed 'I Should Coco' but this one was too annoying.

At the time of their release I never paid much attention to Franz Ferdinand but I can see why their discoesque, powerful but still sophisticated style has something to it.

I require a special brand of punk music. This is not it but I appreciate the commitment, especially in songs like Chemical Warfare.

Nice little rock album that gets you into some work. Some highlights missing but another listen might change that.

A wonderful album that wraps sad and sarcastic text into lovable music. Imagine The Smiths being a bit more playful and you have this classical album of The Triffids.

This album doesn't deserve to be on the list. While it is all right and has some character on some of the songs it is still meandering. Loops are not an adequate replacement for actual drums.

A jolly good live album of a band that I hadn't heard of before. They really combine the louder and quieter parts very well and end with a country-like song - the end of an acid dream. The only thing I wished for: More highlights, less meandering in the middle tracks.

Another great album that could be considered proto prog with lots of psychedelic and folksy element - but without going too much over the top.

It was a nice listen but I can't say I was too impressed.

A nice album of trio ladies who definitely know their harmonies. What you miss are some highlights but I guess that's sweet country folk for you.

The Eagles are a singles band to me. I have a knack for their harmonies combined with the country rock of the earlier albums. I still can't dig the opener but really enjoy 'Witchy Woman' and others. I wouldn't listen toe the album that many times again but pick out some of the best tunes.

Ah, another of those historically interesting but then just a bit boring punk albums!

This is a great live album with the remarkable quality that it either works as something you listen to very closely or has the power to run in the background and spurs you on to do some great creative work.

The dream pop of the late 80s and 90s knows better albums. Still this is a worthwhile listen of this great band.

Snoop's classical album is a must listen for every golden age rap fanboy. The beats are g-funk at its best and the lyrics - while extremely sexualized - always funny because of that. Don't take it too seriously but enjoy the relaxed wild ride.

Nice country record that still misses something to make it kinda unique for someone who's not too much into country.

Okay, I'm going to say it: This album is not only one of Gaye's best works but maybe even better than the well known What's Going On. The music is more interesting (the drums) and Gaye works with many harmonies. Maybe it doesn't win out thematically but it is the better bedroom music.

This record is fire and really doesn't let up after you started it. Funny and charming.

This album gives now, in the year 2023, an almost melancholic and nostalgic vibe. I love it! Rich but not overburdened instrumentation that creates a room to breathe for the vocals about love and desire.

When I hope for some more progressive country music it is something like this record I have in mind. While a bit too eclectic here and there I very much enjoyed it.

This is a classical Dylan album and one of his best works. There is nothing much to say except praises. However, I personally don't find Dylan that impressive compared to other big names like Cave, Cohen or Waits. Hence I can just rate it 4 stars.

Eno's works are usually a hit and miss for me and I didn't think much of this album at first. The opening tracks are not that interesting but the later works like 'Sombre Reptiles' really have a strange charm to it. Very much recommended!

To me this sounds like a happier version of Timber Timbre. I enjoy it very much even if some of the music is a bit too formulaic here and there.

I appreciate the effort of this project but 69 songs that are all short are just too long. This makes this album even for a background listen too annoying after a while. The theme love is also a bit, well, overdone, innit?

So far Supergrass didn't really impress me but I do like this album as a nice, direct approach.

In my youth I was tormented by the omnipresence of the song Clint Eastwood. The video was a big misleading as well. Now, listening to the whole album, I discovered a lot more. It is a decent listen but the 2nd half feels rather dull. Ironically enough, it's also the part with more and more dub elements which is a genre of the reputation to be a bit meandering.

A great, more mature country/folk album that still could be darker so it deserves the subgenre 'gothic folk'. So, yeah, one could've seen even more darkness!

Nice listen with a health mix of styles. They should've not used drum computers on some of the songs. It really makes some parts of the music artificial.

This really is a great album that doesn't really qualify as post-punk anymore since it is not that much punk left anymore - and that is very much a good thing! I thoroughly enjoyed these dreamy (but not too dreamy) landscapes of music.

A great album that shows how much is going on in Brazil music wise. Is this tropical rock or how it's called? Maybe even better.

A nice post punk record that gets going in the 2nd half after a bit of weak start.

Short tracks that do what they need to do. But I do wonder what to make of this album. It all feels a bit like a soup and not a collection of stand out songs.

Missy Elliots music with its sex positive attitudes was certainly something and the album is better than I thought after I just vaguely remembered the singles. However, it has the problems of many other hip hop albums that just deals with, well, hip hop. It's all very self-absorbed in a way and so I didn't care so much either when Beyoncé popped up. A different time, I guess. Nothing you really need to listen to.

Peter Tosh's own solo work is these days hugely underrated. In the never-stopping output of reggae music, most people don't know the big classics except Bob Marley. And while the work Tosh's former comrade is still enjoyable, you get more from Tosh's discography. But then I do wonder why 'Legalize It' is on the list. As his first solo effort, it's fine. But compared to the later albums I consider it to be his weakest. Sure, some of the elements that makes Tosh's music great are already there (that is to carefully enrich it with some non-reggae elements which Tosh did way better than Marley) but it is not as good as the follow-up 'Equal Rights' or 'Bush Doctor'.

There are two albums in the discography of Metallica which will always get a lot of flak: This one here, also known as The Black Album, and the later released 'St. Anger'. Both albums are pretty good in their own right though. This one here gets flak because people who have usually no clue of metal or even hard rock know some of Metallica's singles and think they are cool enough. It's the surface of an iceberg. But that can still be magnificent enough, can't it? 'Enter Sandman', 'Don't Tread on Me' or, yes, even 'Nothing Else Matters' are all great songs. It's certainly a worthwhile album to get more into this band.

Some albums who bend genres have problems to satisfy all the needs of the genre. But on this album Steely Dan has a very attractive mix of songs that are easy accessible but more complex than you might imagine. It's wonderful blend of jazz rock and pop.

There was a big hype around The Strokes when they were around back in the days. As someone who grew up with older rock music I always wondered what my contemporaries found in them. Didn't they just sound like a little updated version of The Kinks and other bands? Now, years later after I got recommended this album, I still stand by my opinion. The music is solid albeit surprise free. I'd rather listen to some old school stuff.

Sinatra's best album will always be 'In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning' which captures the melancholy swing at best. This one here is great too with some of his most famous tunes. But these days one might deem it a bit much of a rather standard collection of songs.

I never liked Slipknot and I never will. Most metal like this is shit whether you call it alternative metal, groove metal or nu metal. Growling and boring shredding of guitar. Get the fuck outta here.

You want to know what hides behind the subgenre 'dream pop'? Well, here you have it. 'Treasure' is the most well-known example of this genre that gave people of the late 80s and then 90s room to breathe in this new world why also highlighting the mysterious aspects of it. It is no wonder why songs of this album got often used in films (like 'Lorelei' in 'Mysterious Skin'). Listen to this!

I know that the 90s sample music with breakbeats has its place in music history but I can't really enjoy it that much. It's like hip hop without good lyrics but not lively enough to enjoyed as instrumental pieces. Okay for some background music.

I can't really deal with the Arctic Monkeys because their music sounds to frantic for me. Like you would put one of the veteran Britpoppers into a time machine and let them out in a wild time - but not for the better. Their music suffers. Hence I was sceptical about this side project of their frontman. But he said he loved Bowie so... Yeah, it sounds a bit like Bowie. And Western music. It is a great combination of these sounds. But then the singing starts and, well, yeah, I can enjoy the music but not the singing. Hence it's a solid album to me but nothing I will listen to too often.

This is some fine African blues music. I can't really say too much to the genre other than it sounded exactly like I wanted it to sound. Not sure that is good or bad but you can't really say anything bad about the quality of these songs.

Missy Elliots music with its sex positive attitudes was certainly something and the album is better than I thought after I just vaguely remembered the singles. However, it has the problems of many other hip hop albums that just deals with, well, hip hop. It's all very self-absorbed in a way and so I didn't care so much either when Beyoncé popped up. A different time, I guess. Nothing you really need to listen to.

I'm a huge prog rock nerd and have an incredibly unpopular opinion: Rush is... not good. No, they don't suck but considering how good they are in many rankings I find them incredibly overrated. That goes for this album as well. 'Moving Pictures' is fine enough but when it comes to high nasal singers and complex musicality they are nothing compared to Jon Anderson and Yes. The album gets better later but it can't be saved from being medicore - especially considering that so many better releases came beforehand.

I never heard much by Adams. This album was fine, a nice rock'ish and popp'ish collection of songs.

Wonderful post-funk. Too much feminist focused for an old macho like me (not really) but I appreciate the raw energy with the clever use of the back-and-forth vocals. Jolly good!

While it could be considered a somewhat conceptual album it was just too much of the same on a long line of songs. Ok to listen to, nothing special.

I found this to be a bit of an underwhelming reggae record that try to incorporate different elements but ultimately didn't bring too much to the table.

Everyone knows 'Paper Planes' which is a great song - but not on this album. Instead M.I.A. gives us more of her trademark style in a combination of East Asian pop music, ragga and British hip hop. It is really unique among all the releases in the hip hop genre out there and some songs are fire. At some point you want to skip tracks though. Again, less could've been more!

It's rather dull listen. While there are some nice playarounds with instruments and I'm sure the loops at the time were a new thing, these days I don't find the appeal. It's cocktail rock music in a way.

Never liked Manu Chao's music too much. It always sounded like hipster reggae music to me for people who didn't bother to go into reggae and rather lavished the idea of being some sort of pot smoker on a Saturday evening. They would listen to this music and 'chill' - and that's about it. There is not much interesting stuff on this album but a solid, sometimes boring stream of quality. That's why it makes more of a background listen.

I'm a big fan of Neil Young's work but till this day don't know too much about this great supergroup and their individual talents. I do like their debut a lot more but the first album with Young is still a great listen. 'Helpless' is an ageless classic that even my aunt and uncle danced as young lovers in the GDR too.

It's a nice feel good album with a rather boring singer who would benefit from a wider range.

I'm an occasional listener of U2 and find 'The Joshua Tree' is one of the best rock albums out there. This one here? Well, it's alright. They wrote a lot of better stuff. The opening track sets the course for a straightforward, somewhat mellow but rather highlight-less album by this band which can do a lot better.

Before listening to this album I knew not much of the band except their name and some fame in the indie rock scene. After listening to 'Lost in The Dream' I'm again very happy for this project that let me find albums like this. This is a very good album that shouldn't be classified as indie rock anymore. We don't have your usual guy v-nick shirt guys here but something that leans more into the areas of psychedlia and shoegaze without being one of these overlong, meandering albums. The musical vastness of these songs actually mean something here and gives the lyrics room to breathe. I will check out more of this band, especially these later albums!

I remember people listening to this band and album by people who hadn't much knowledge of rock music in general. It was exhausting how many people thought this was somewhat of a pinnacle of good music when it is just the similar stuff that has happened before. Some catchy chorus (if that) and power chords. And if they didn't know what else to do they'd use the keyboards. But I don't want to just shit on it. A song like All the things I've done is great and all in all it can be seen as a solid release. My problem is the participation in this list. No, you don't really miss anything - not even as a negative example - when you don't listen to Hot Fuss.

Certainly an enjoyable album by a talented lady that carefully updates blue-eyed soul. It was music for a certain generation which hadn't been in contact with the soul music of old. Winehouse gives a helpful introduction. Her own music was always a good gateway but nothing I'd consider it too special.

These drums and the bass! So great. But G. Love isn't the best songwriter. Lots of the stuff sounds the same and the style gets tiresome. Sure, this is way better than other alternative hip hop that steps into country territory. But it's not good enough. Less would've been more.

One of the classic albums of hip hop and on that verge of being old school and the golden age of the nineties. It is really impressive how many samples, programmed drums, synths and live instruments were combined for these beats. The lyrics and their flowery delivery is not that interesting compared to that. A fun listen but there are more interesting albums of that era.

This album starts being a bi of a late punk record where one's a bit inclined to stop the listen. But the 2nd half is really great, tarting with the little ballad 'Androgynous' which doesn't seem to much of a thing these days but was something in the 1980s. So, yeah, a 'Just okay' first half and a great 2nd half.

As many other people I know Sufjan Stevens through the film Call Me By Your Name. His songs there have the perfect place there because they are used outside of the album context. On length I don't find Stevens's music as convincing. This album here as some little filler skits I don't really need. Also you soon notice the formula for the album. Still, the use of the horns is great. I might check out other albums by Stevens.

It's a great folk album but I prefer Jansch's work as part of Pentangle where there is a bit more musical variety. This album here should've been more about Scottish folk music I find.

Another Nick Cave album on the list and of course I love it. One might wonder why it is Henry's Dream of all the albums because Nick and the band often talked about some dissatisfaction with the production as well as the musical direction. Originally, Nick wanted it all to sound like Brazilian raw street music, raw and estatic use of acoustic guitars etc. What came out of it was a bit different but still one can see the ideas behind it. Dark energy, American gothic landscapes and obscure characters. Never has Nick Cave more been the dark preacher character than here. My favourite song is one of the quietest though: "Christina the Astonishing" with its medieval vibes tells the story of a saintly woman that hates sin. But let's face it, every track is great on its own and "Straight To You" one of Nick's best love songs.

A powerful, fun little album but I found the female singer a bit too annoying on some of the tracks. It felt like the band relied too much on her even though they had great musical ideas of their own.

One of these albums that make a background listen in the positive sense. It has enough character to liste closely but till then it gives you a sort of peace.

I very much adore PJ Harvey and her work but I personally like her later, more in-depth and less straightforward alternative rock more. 'Dry' is still a great album that gets all its energy from the emotional force that PJ Harvey brings across.

While I don't listen to Beck that much, this album shows this talent of a man Ed Sheeran wants to be. Beck really brings everything together here with great musical ideas and without any rap stuff but rather obscure piano chords here and there. I love it!

Lots of people were disappointed when Springsteen ditched the band for this solo album but I think in the long run it really helped him to be a great songwriter. These stripped down stories of characters who struggle are haunting. It's not rock music, it's not folk, it's not blues but also not your singer-songwriter dreaming. 'Nebraska' contains a different spirit that you can't properly locate within the boundaries of these genres. And that makes it so great. In my top list of Springsteen albums it might not be number 1 but certainly in the top 5. As we all know, he made many great ones. Best tracks: 'Atlantic City' & 'State Trooper'

Most know selected tunes. Listening to them in the length of an album they don't make much sense as a collection. Just to similar in its Spector sound. OK but not on my list of great Christmas albums.

Everyone knows this album and it is great but I personally rate Revolver or Abbey Road as the best albums by The Beatles. Shoot me.

The Who is a great band and 'Tommy' certainly shaped the subgenre of the rock opera. Not so sure that it works though because I find many tracks to similar. Great is that the band really works very well together. You don't hear it as a Pete Townsend composition but as an collective effort to tell a story.

I'm positively surprised by this album. I just remembered some singles of the past of N.E.R.D. that sounded like they tried to hard. Listening to the full album, it really has some funky rock sounds that tries to have their own soul. It might not have worked on every track but it is certainly above average.

Another classical Bob Dylan album. I appreciate the serious efforts but still can't say I'm a big fan of his music.

This album is certainly one of my favourite albums by this great band. The first tracks with the grandiose opener Come Together in particular set the mood for a joyride that goes up and down, louder and quieter. The Beatles showed what a versatile band they were.

The debut of the best harmonics group. Something between rock, country and folk that gives a very calming feeling. It's kind of a meditation I find. Definitely an entry that deserves to be on this list!

A nice singer with some thoughtful songs. It's not as complex as PJ Harvey, not as lush as Feist but also no dream pop either - but then more than that. It's an easy listen without it being easy listening. I enjoyed this rather approachable listen.

A powerful album by this great artist who has the balls to be aggressive, bizarre or sad. While I still prefer PJ Harvey's later works, I do enjoy this raw energy.

I just know radio friendly stuff of this band so I was skeptical when this was recommended. After some rather dull openers I really liked it. It's not my favourite nor I find the album per se special - but it's a nice, uplifting mellow listening experience.

A great garage rock, sort of grunge album. The Vines are musically more interesting than Nirvana to whom they often get compared. The album starts a bit low effort wise but gets better later.

I did enjoy this album because it seemed it was bit more sophisticated than other releases by ZZ Top. Nonetheless I don't feel they need to be on this list. For me it's just a rather standard rock album.

Bit of an odd collection that is diverse in musical styles but the individual tracks could have had more character.

"Relax" and "The Power of Love" are two amazing songs and masterpieces of 80s pop. But this album is not. Whether Trevor Horn really dabbled with everything the band created or not (these at least are the rumours), the album feels really inconsistent. Why is the big title track on number 2? Why do they needed to make a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run"? Why is the track order so incoherent? Why do some songs need to make references to other music in that very on the nose way? This is an example of a collection of songs that don't really feel like a proper album. I therefore can just rate it 2 out of 5 stars.

Another great album by David Bowie. What is there more to say? Well, maybe that 'Low' is more interesting for example. Still a great listen with the top track 'Changes'.

Most people know this classic rock album. Some say it is soft rock. Well, damn good music is what is! And that is because Fleetwood Mac have always been able to point out more the roll in Rock'n'Roll. Few bands are able to pull this off. Think about that.

Miles Davis and his comrades do a lot of a interesting stuff in these songs but it makes you wonder why this list has a compilation album like this in its ranks? Like many albums of that type it is a bit disjointed and allover the place. Miles David has a lot more interesting releases in his catalogue that actually work as an album. It's still a great listen though.

This albums shows a variety of musical skills that spans many genres but at some point you wonder why one of the songs needs a industrialesque outro. In that respect I liked this wild journey but some songs felt like they wanted to be experimental just for the sake of being different - and not to write a good song.

For me it's a relatively easy going background listen. Nothing too spectacular.

This album is a masterpiece of the 1990s Britpop. Listening to it it now, it transports me back into a different time. Some people called The Verve and their frontman Ashcroft a bit of a buffoon here and there but I think that just was - if at all - true for the latter's solo albums. 'Urban Hymns' is a definitely one of the more sophistcated Britpop albums that surpasses the musically-not-that-complex works of Oasis but also Blur very easily. It surprises you how psychedelic some of the indeed longer songs are. Still, the album could've been a bit shorter, two or three tracks in the latter half maybe. But that is one of the only nitpickings I have. Definitely check this one out!

Mellow rock album with many lovers tunes. It's enjoyable

This is a great post rock album that has strong bonds to prog rock but without going over the top. Especially the percussion helps to keep the music a bit grounded. It has some sort of meditative element that allows you to be shaken up by the world around it.

If you like 80s rock music you will love that album. But if you are like me it's all just a bit 'meh'.

An odd but unique mixture between disco and punk. The Cramps definitely paved the way for musical blends that came after them.

I liked that other album on this list by this band more. 'Loveless' has some nice musical ideas but it really feels all a bit messy and unclear - not surprising given the chaotic history of making that album.

The Roots provided one of the last but best entries to the neo soul that came up since the mid 90s. Seldomly hip hop was that abstract in sound but got held together by tight lyrics. It's a masterpiece but maybe not the best album by this great band because it takes a while to find access to.

Another all right country album that just misses a bit of that special flair that would make it stand out among this genre of often too similar sounding genre.

Radiohead is certainly a great, innovative band and this album is more accessible than Kid A as their other great 'different' work. I still miss something with them. Maybe it is just Thom Yorke's singing or that certain special instrument. A great album you don't go wrong with.

Absolutely deserved to be on this list. Brubeck as a piano player might not be as versatile as others but he definitely has a great feeling for harmonies and so gives his co-players the perfect backdrop. Everyone knows 'Take Five' but you definitely need to check out them other tunes!

Some albums just have this certain ear for great song structures. That's one of them.

It's one of these rather harmless rock rap combos. Not bad and groovier than many other albums in a similar direction but nothing I would've put on this list.

This sounds a bit like The Smiths but less melancholic and more upbeat. Great album that could've stood out more on some of the tracks

One of the best soundtracks ever - and certainly enjoyable as a stand alone album to give you a nice evening at home or at a party. Hayes' arrangements leave so much room to breathe which is not always working in soul music but here if really does.

Without knowing to much of Grant or The Czars I think it's a decent listen but more for the background.

A promising start ends in a rather self-absorbed show of a certain style.

Amazing live performance that encompasses every bit of talent Tom Waits has. His players are amazing too.

Hip hop has not that often bought the right people together to combine softer hip hop without losing any steam or hardness. Certain tracks stand out obviously.

This is one of these albums that gets you with its unique style on the opening tracks but then it just stays the same. Howie Gelb might be a good producer and man for writing music but his voice is not enough to carry an album, especially not in that quiet style alone.

Great record but the 2nd side is not as convincing as the beginning of the record.

I'm not the biggest expert on jazz so I don't really know what makes this album stick out to be put on this list. For something that was released in 1986 I heard a lot of things that were already used in the decades prior. I don't see the innovative justification to put it on here. A decent listen, sure, but no classic to me.

It is one of the more mature albums by this great band that did so much for pop and rock music. What's there more to say?

It's alright for what it is. Too dancy tunes don't work so well with the more rock tunes.

The Wailers weren't the same after Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left. 'Natty Dread' then marked the sound of Bob Marley with his a bit of rock influenced stuff. It was never as important as the first two albums for the the innovation in reggae music. It's still a great album though with many tunes Bob Marley was famous for. While it lacks a bit of the magic it is still a great listen.

CCR created amazing songs over time but I always felt that they are more of a hits and single band. Sure, they created tons of them that can fit many best of collections. And maybe rightfully so. 'Green River' is surely great but I prefer indeed one of the mentioned collections.

A great early hip hop record.

A great album with its own style

Hawkwind is great and these live performances show it. But, damn, two long discs like that? Jeez.

I don't know if The Cult would've been a more interesting band if they'd followed their earlier approach. It's a good album but I didn't find it very impressive.

Alanis Morissette is well known to anyone who had to endure mainstream radio stations. Is the album as good as one of the single which was - to be fair - quite all right? Nah. To me it was just background noise and more an artifact of the time it was made in than music I would listen to in my free time.

This album feels like an odd mix of Frank Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours, a bit of Morrissey and Timber Timbre + country elements. It's a nice concept album about the lonely people of the night but it is a bit too long. As with most of concept albums like this, less would be more to keep the style over time.

One of the most iconic albums of prog rock made by a very young man. The actor and musician Matt Berry calls it his favourite album - for a good reason. It's pure atmosphere from beginning to end. It can help you write, dream, imagine and also relax. Just one reason why it was used for the soundtrack of The Exorcist.

It's a great pop album by a legendary singer. In fact, I find that this electronic sounds really helps to give more of contrast to Faithfull's rather raspy voice than many other instruments she had and would sing with.

This album has its merits whenever the band strays away from the punk formula and emphasises the groove of their music which is certainly hidden there. Lots of potential but in this form not something I'd put on a list of the greatest albums ever.

An alright record. I can't say much more to be honest.

Nothing will ever beat 'The Joshua Tree' but this one is a nice effort.

Atmosphere is the one thing that should be used to describe Dr. John's debut album. While the voodoo stuff might all be a bit obscure and maybe cliché ridden it surely works as a proper setting for this album you should listen in summer evenings and nights with that certain aura of mysteriousness. But for all the great sounds in the percussion work there are proper relaxing tunes too - 'Mama Roux' must be one of those few songs that are sexy, cool and laid-back enough for a little bit of openmindedness (if you get my meaning). I absolutely adore this album. Dr. John made some other great records which are certainly good - but in a different, less psychedelic and challenging way.

This is an actual great psychedelic-yet-very melodic album that sounds not too hard like other psychedelic stuff - and that is its secret strength. Love it.

One of the first industrial rock records apparently - but what you hear is a harder version of Tubeway Army I find. Still, that isn't so bad. It takes a bit to get used to the style but it clicks and is certainly a unique listening experience. Singer and his synthesizer give it the certain spicy style.

It's another great album by Neil Young. What is more to say?

Yet another country album that is alright as a background listen but misses the certain special element that makes it stick out of the many releases in country music.

Smooth as it should be. Curtis Mayfield is not only a great texter but also writer of music. You can hear it in every track but Beaton Freddie's dead.

Another interesting special album with tongue-in-cheek humour that contrasts nicely with the grandiose orchestration. I liked this more than the other Walker album.

This is the best album of the Beatles. It shows that they could've been a prog rock band if they'd continued. I don't even mean Eleanor Rigby but all those other elements hidden in the songs. The culmination is Tommorrow Never Knows that is so innovative it still beats most songs of today easily.

I was interested in earlier albums of Kings of Leon. This one is alright but it kind of laid out while they became a bit boring

A classic of the Bossa Nova genre. If you just need one Bossa Nova album it is this.

Love and pop. You don't need it but it's fine for an evening of lovers.

There is a great feeling for groove in these songs. Still you can't shake the feeling that T. Rex is a bit of "dad rock". Might be unfair to say it but yeah.

One of the best rock albums that show all of Hendrix's talent.

A versatile and somehow calming listening about the evergoing topic of love.

One of the best psychedelic rock record that really worked with what the genre wanted to do.

Surely a classic but I agree with critics that the album has too many filler tracks like so many other albums too. They also have the overdone style of the time by ending a verse with the words of the title track.

I tell you what: The very similar drum and percussion arrangements can get annoying no matter how great the rest of the album is. That why I give it 4 stars even though I want to give 5.

Piano ballads of a harsher kind. It's not Nick Cave yet but worthwhile enough. Only over time you notice that the album would've been more with fewer tracks.

Nah. Not for me. It wasn't really getting somewhere.

If you make a morbid list of the albums an artist released shortly before his death this one would be one of the greatest, hands down. Cohen gives no quarter as the title track is already very dark. What follows are other songs of longing facing the end of this hard life. 'Treaty' is also another great contribution describing an interesting contractual social relationship with one's God. Maybe that's one of the few things that could give us a little bit more security considering we can't ever know the answers to the big questions. What a masterpiece. Rest in peace, Mr Cohen. You were one of the best lyricists music ever had to offer.

Not for me. It is yet another addition of something something rap and rock which was very popular in the 1990s. But was it actually good? Did it pass the test of time? I would disagree.

A great blues album that doesn't need to put its famous title track so much out front - all the other songs are great as well.

David Bowie produced these guys and was a big fan. You can hear why. As Bowie fan, hungry for more, this is a food choice.

Monk is one of the best pianists of jazz music. You will always here his distinct brilliant style that shows how important rhythm is. I'm not sure though if this album is the best example of his talent. His band mates are great but they overshadow up a bit of his talent I find Maybe it's just me but I prefer Monk with very sparse co-instrumentation.

Another entry that shoes a certain preference of the 1990s and grunge, alternative and similar genres. Not a bad collection of songs per se but it's certainly no album I need to listen to before I die. Everything I heard here I heard in punk before.

They are a great punk rock band but why are the horns gone after the first track? With them all of the later songs could have a more interesting structure.

A great album that is really fascinating with its... groove. Yes, that's right. Bauhaus never wanted to be labeled as 'gothic rock'. While their music is dark and the title track shows this perfectly (as 'Hollow Hills', my favourite) other songs really put the drums and bass to the forefront and let it roll nicely. If you read up on the band it's not that surprising since they loved reggae. All in all, this album is an atmospheric journey that keeps you invested in each track. One of the highlights of this list.

Forceful yet playful music that could even work with less glam but more prog. And that's what I find very fascinating: Each of these songs seem straightforward enough but each of them could develop into something completely different.

It's nice folk rock album with lots of energy.

Good album but many tracks sound the same

Big fan of CCR but I found their 2nd album actually a bit boring. The title track, Proud Mary and the long simple but effective Graveyard Train are superb but the rest is a lot of filler stuff I have to say.

I always liked The Verve more but you can't deny that oasis were musically better than most gave them credit for. Don't look back in anger and the overplayed wonderwall are actually great and catchy songs. So is the rest. In the end, I'd always prefer something more versatile.

A big album by the great guitarist. It's a good listen that unfolds it magic after multiple listenings.

Not the first album after the breakup of the Beatles (that was Ringo with a collection of swing tunes) but surely the one that matters. The title track is best in the acoustic version and the infamous My Sweet Lord really can stand on its own feet. This record shows that Harrison could helm a project. It has these carefully used gospel elements, not too heavy, that make every rock album better.

This is one the best albums by nick cave and the Bad Seeds. Every song a twisted or black humour story. Many people talk about Stagger Lee or Where the wild roses grow. But already The opener Song of Joy and the later Lovely Creature are amazing.

A bit psychedelic, a bit darker here but powerful on other tracks. I enjoyed it after all these years never really getting into these guys.

Incubus were always a softer part of the nu metal subgenre but also a bit more complex. Maybe more alternative rock. The album shows that. While the turntables often feel pointless there is more going on with the rhythm section as you'd expect. Brandon Boyd is ok as a singer but not too interesting for such a long run time. All in all, it's ok but nothing that should've made this list.

Krautrock that goes surprisingly relaxing for most of the time. It has something to it.

One of the best albums of rightful classics of folk. Nick Drake sings sweet and charming and melancholic but still mellow and inviting.

I really enjoyed this album. It's string heavy baroque pop album that ends with a melancholic call to adventure. Some tracks seem a bit too long and it takes a momet to get into it but it's quite something.

I was around when The xx were hyped. They certainly fitted a time that seemed to go too fast and needed some calmness. With some reminiscence of old Massive Attack songs but technically more pop (you can hear it in some ways the parts of the songs are connected to each other), it was often the simple man's version of "deep" music. Well, is that assessment fair? The album is certainly OK to listen too. It's relaxing too. But something in me misses something. The dramatic setup of every song is very similar to the one before with the same instrumentation. It's this kind of music that gets you in the mood to listen to some different, better music.

It's one of the best ways to get into jazz fusion. Easier accessible than Bitches Brew.

An amazing debut. Bullet in the head, know your enemy and Bombtrack are the best tracks. Also please appreciate this bass work.

I enjoyed this wild ride a lot more than I thought I would. It has more coherence than earlier album by Roxy Music and show that Brian Ferry was a wild guy once.

It's a lush, richly arranged album that embraces the big feelings without going to crazy. It's more interesting than most of the more poppier stuff the Bee Gees also released over time.

This classical Santana album has everything you need including the wonderfully esoteric ambientish intro. We don't need to say anything about the hit songs.

This album has some amazing arrangements in some nice twist on world music. But Wainwright is too much of a wailer to me.

Obviously Kid Rock is a bit of a bellend. I wouldn't have listened to this album if it wasn't for this list. And that's again the main argument for me: This album doesn't deserve to be on this list. Others blended rap with other styles and did it better. Still, I wouldn't say that this album is bad. It feels lame by today's standards but it's all right for a background listen. I was surprised to find out that Kid Rock can really play instruments and was involved in production and all that. It's an all right package. Nothing that sticks out and surely this crossover stuff runs its course very fast.

Such a great album. Everyone knows the title track that will surely make you dance. But there are so many other wonderful tunes on that album like You're a Friend to me and especially thinking of you. Both should be mandatory on every wedding playlist.

This is one of the best albums ever made. It came at a wrong time but it was very much needed because the times changed so fast and a view back - of course with some irony - is not so bad if it happens like here. Joyful melodies with that certain melancholy transported through folkish rock music that is not folk nor rock. And that makes it so great.

Some food riffs and techniques but in the end I found it too meandering.

Another great album by the master of soul music. From the opener to the later tracks its a good journey of up and down. I appreciate that the music is a bit more versatile than other albums while the lyrics are good soulful Marvin Gaye.

Depeche Mode is grand. They being their dark synth style to a new height with some interesting instrumentals in the later half of the album.

A nice pop record that makes you feel good

This album clearly cemented Nick Cave's status as one of a musical genius. It walked into a completely different direction than the weird humouresque 'Murder Ballads' released shortly before. It has sparse instrumentation (but no solo stuff, there's always at least one Bad Seed with Nick) and is focused on the confessions of a man with a broken heart. Here he was strongest in his lyrics with so much romantic imagery that made you feel everything the protagonist of these songs felt. Much has been said about 'Into My Arms' or 'People Ain't No Good' so I like to highlight 'Lime Tree Arbour' and 'Brompton Oratory': The first one has amazing running baseline they never could produce live while the second one is a perfect combination of love and religion and why they can be so intertwined.

I just knew that one song. Now listening to a full album I appreciate Crowded House a lot more. I'd describe them as soft rock in a better sense. The bass player does a really good job.

Gets you in the mood with its first bars even though those ared deliberately irritating because they use disco sounds. The rest is salsa - really good one written with social thematic intent too. The only negative would be that on the length of an album the music is just a bit too similar.

Some interesting pop stuff. But it didn't really get me.

DJ Premier shows again how he's one of the best producers in hip hop. Jeru is alright. Not an album I would need to see on this list but you can't go wrong if you're in the mood for some good 90s eastcoast hop hop.

Beck is a talented musician but there is something about his music that makes it all very dated in a way. He is one of the few who really mastered using rapping with 'serious' music. But this album shows the barriers of this approach. What sounded great in 1996 just feels even annoying nearly 30 years later.

All right Album but I liked her later stuff more. After a while it's just unnecessary convoluted I find.

The Cure has many great songs but the collection here starts to similar and stays this way.

Another good album by T-Rex with many good tunes. I just feel much of his style is very similar and not to a great interest to me.

Always heard of the band and never bothered to look into them. That might change now. In a positive way, they sound like Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and The Smiths were turned into one band. Some songs need more highlights maybe but that's by the by.

A classical album of hard rock with all the atmosphere you would need. I still think the album could've been less bluesy and more prog rock in some parts.

One of the best jazz fusion albums that stars slowly but shows his brilliance over time. This band is in harmony and feel like a well oiled machine in the best sense. The last track is the best.

Great rock album with a nice interplay of guitar and organ.

It's not as great as Hounds of Love because the music feels to similar: Some good keyboard effects, drum machine and piano arpeggios. Still a good album.

This is a great album. The title track is even a bit misleading because the other tracks have more musical ideas and grandeur (for example "Other Side"). It showed that New Wave and Synth Pop could offer more than just a bit of funny dancing.

It's one of his best albums. Great production and lyrics

I wanted to hate that album since I never liked Aerosmith that much when they were used to torture my ears in the public radio. And when the first tracks started I felt I was right. However, with the following tracks this album really got it going. It's fun, it pumps.

These guys have a huge talent but their mix of vocal harmonies and electronica often feels to antic. I feel like they don't allow their songs to breathe and hide behind a wall of effects and sounds which wouldn't be necessary.

If you find RIO like Univers Zero or Henry Cow to annoying you should start with these guys who bring a lot more punk attitude to the table. They influenced bands like The Birthday Party and you can hear why. What I like about this album that all the obscurities sound carefully crafted and intended for the quality of the song - and not just for the sake of being different. There are still some structures I miss here and there.

This is a great synth pop album that sounds a bit like someone forced the Smiths to ditch any kind of connection to rock and pop music. But that might give this album not enough justice. The first track makes the album feel a harder then it will be in the end.

Nice album but it all felt a bit too washy for me.

A lovely singer and great tunes but you'd wish the mixing would've been better

Talk Talk is a great band that knows how to combine the electric smooth sound with other elements and great handcrafted instrumental work. The lyrics are great too. The singing is just a bit too much of the same.

Arguably one of his best albums and one of the best from any songwriter. That first track with first lines! But of course also the later tracks. Joan of Arc for example is another great one.

This album feels like it should be on this list if it would've been shorter, better mixed, quality in fewer songs and those with a bit more instrumentation. It all sounds like Joker's Daughter covering Leonard Cohen. But whereas Cohen could carry his songs with guitar and help from musicians, but even more his lyrics, this is all a bit too fuzzy.

An all right album but I don't see much great stuff.

I liked the guy's experimental outfit but it wasn't enough to grip my attention.

Great live album but I feel not one of the best as it is teased here. In my book, Evans did more and better on other albums.

It's a nice folk rock country blues hybrid that makes good use of some horns. It is just not something that I'd put on this list.

XTC is really a great discovery in this project. Another great album and more of their typical sound.

Not just a classic because of the songs themselves - everyone is a banger - but also because as a debut of a band consisting of such young, hungry men AND as the dark end of the hippie movement. Everyone knows the big hits so I think that songs like The Crystal Ship or Backdoor Man deserve more recognition. The first one is a melancholic ballad with amazing piano, the 2nd one a blues rock song with obscure humour. Yes, this is one of the best albums ever and definitely deserves a place on this list - like many other albums by The Doors.

Great collections of big soul songs. Nowadays it might be something you heard enough in films etc but it's still good for every party.

It's not my type of music but I respect it. They also sound like they gave the red hot chili peppers some inspiration. The best tracks here are the slower ones.

Not interesting enough for me on a musical level. I appreciate some good in your face stuff though.

A great collection of songs that shows a more melancholic side of folk country. No doubt about Fred Neil's talents as a singer and songwriter but my favourite track is his version of Farethewell in more of a quieter treatment. The two big tracks are obviously The Dolphins and Everybody's talkin. I like the latter more in Nilson's version. He brings a bit more emotion into it which is sometimes a weakness of Neil. His deep voice doesn't suit every song. Combine that with some of the mixing which has very conservatively guitar on your left and the bass on the right. Here they could've done more even at the time the album was recorded. Overall a good album that you definitely should listen to.

Good stuff but not as interesting as Eno's other albums which had that special experimental character without being too much. Compared to those, this album sounds just a bit too standard.

This album is not bad per se but it is nothing that needs to be on this list. I have a hard time seeing the appeal when hip hop already had so much more to offer that didn't make it to this list. What we have here is a British rapper who tries to imitate every fashion in US hip hop over the last 15 years or so - including skits. British hip hop was already way better with Roots Manuva for example. So... no. Two stars is enough for an album that definitely nothing I need to listen to before I die.

Most people don't know much of Indian music so it's good that Shankar gives an intro here how it works. What follows is accessible music and usually not the parts of a long song you hear to illustrate a weed smoking scene in a film. It's great and atmospheric yet not too much.

Elvis Costello has tons of great albums under his belt. This one is one of his best and a signature sound.

It's that classic sound. But as with other bands of this era, the later works are far more interesting.

Good album. Not as good as the others but I can still enjoy it.

This is an ok album that transports emotions but the singing style and the instrumentation isn't as interesting on album length. Yet another entry on this list of an album that is good in principle but nothing I need to listen to before I die.

This is some great soul and funk.

Man I missed out a lot by not listening to the earlier albums of U2. This is a great album with Seconds or New Year's Day as my favourite tracks. The rhythm group are the heart of U2 as you can hear here pretty well. I think it's even better than The Joshua Tree at some points.

Nice psychedelic pop. Not sure what to think about it for now. It's one of these albums that might grow on you.

I got tormented with the RHCP over the years and especially "Californication". It is a good song but overplayed. The rest of the album seems mediocre. I don't even dislike the band but if I have to listen to them I go for their earlier funk rock albums which just have a certain character. This one here? Fine but not very spectacular and one of the albums that don't need to be on the list.

I kinda wanted to hate this after the opening. "Freddie's Dead" is just a classic that should lay in the hands of Curtis Mayfield and not be covered. But then the rest of the album really grew on me. Nothing I would listen to too often but nice enough.

It was alright but nothing that I needed to listen to.

I just know that one big song. All in all, it is a good pop album that has too many tracks on it.

I wasn't the biggest fans of other albums of LCD Soundsystem because their mixture of electro pop and rock felt too forced. This album is more coherent though and actually fun. The last track about new York doesn't really fit I find.

You all know the big cover he got famous with. But the other songs are great too. I have more important Albums on my list though.

A great album that is something post-punk'ish, post-rock'ish, funky, groovy and still something you could also see Bauhaus or New Order doing if they'd a bit happier. While not everything works on the album it still really deserves to be on this list for that rhythm section alone!

This band certainly has its own identity but to me the combination of salsa, other Latin fenres, rock and rap feels very dated. It's of that era I guess.

This band is very creative in most of their endeavours but some albums just feel a bit too forced. Annoying like Jared Leto albeit talented. The is one of them.

An amazing concert all by the power of the piano.

Nice live performance but the selection of songs isn't as interesting.

The Police did sold great stuff and this album is the best showcase for that. It also showed what Sting was able to pull off years later.

A great collection of classic blue influenced rock and roll. The Yardbirds were pioneers. Others did similar things, I knew their albums first, so I wasn't blown away by the album except one of two tracks.

Nice Rock and roll but I couldn't see anything standing out to me.

This is one of the first concept albums if you will: A man singing in loneliness about a broken heart. One of Sinatra's best album with lush arrangements.

This is Acid Jazz at its best - one might think since Jamiroquai is so connected with the genre. I say it is indeed cool but there could've been a bit more quality over quantity.

After being tortured by the Pet Shop Boys over the radio for years I can't like them. I tried. But their stuff just sounds very similar without any highlights. I really don't get why there are three albums (!) so far of this band on this list. Some tracks are ok, sure, but nothing that is a highlight.

While I prefer Gabriel's Genesis era, he really shows what a good musician he is. This poppy and funky but you also have some great prog leftovers in the mix. In this respect, he did a good and better genre transition than his old band. 'Don't give up' is a wonderful ballad.

It's a good album with some bluesy elements of a duo that works really well together. Rock music that deserved the attention it got back in the days.

Wow, another punk album that's... punk. I can't deal with it.

A classic of the golden age of hip hop. Everything feels so smooth and easygoing. It's one of the albums that work as a nice background sound or as something to really listen closely.