A classic which basically started electronic music. It sounds so futuristic and so hard to believe it’s from 1978

If there was an essential bossa nova album this would be it. Or at least a very strong contender. Easy 5 stars. Especially the time of listening my city has been raining for the last 2 weeks. This brings Copacabana vibes and lifts the spirits somewhat.

King of Rock is the better album but considering this one came before it might be more influential.

I’m not an electronic music guy, but without Kraftwerk EDM would not be the same today. For that alone this deserves an easy 5 stars.

Maybe a front runner for Talking Heads? I don’t like Talking Heads so logically I don’t enjoy this either. It’s one of those styles of music where you claim to like it to be cool in a contrarian sort of way.

Black Mirror is a great opening track and the indie punk sound reminds me of my uni years. Nice drums but the angular guitar parts get a bit repetitive halfway through the album. nice vibe to listen to while walking, or to use in a hipster indie film

I don’t listen to trip hop much, it’s not bad but most of the album faded into the background until Heat Miser which grabbed my attention.

Some schoolmates and I once went on a joy ride during high school one summer night and discussed our favourite music. Apparently at one point I said “well everyone loves a bit of Foo Fighters” It’s refreshing to hear this album again after so long, especially looking back from 2023 where most music is so digital and heavily edited and sampled, to get that usable TikTok soundbite. Basically a Dave Grohl vehicle (he played all the instruments) it’s quite stripped down in a way that’s understandable as someone coming from a 3 piece grunge band. It has the same ingredients to Nirvana (loud distorted guitars, pounding drums, quiet loud structure) yet so different, decidedly sunnier and more pop. Still, it’s got that charming rough around the edges and a bit more raw compared to the stadium rock polish they would be so famous in later albums. What I noticed this time is how the vocals are a little bit buried in the mix. I forgot how much I used to enjoy just lying back and letting a wall of crunchy distorted guitar and loud drums wash over me. Steak and potato rock for sure, but nothing wrong with that.

Here’s an album that’s been on my to listen list for a while. They said Bowie made a masterpiece before he passed away. The album manages to capture a classic Bowie sound while being forward looking at the same time. Highlight song for me is Lazarus.

I used to listen to a lot of classic rock like this, but somehow this particular album just doesn't really do it for me... the mix of the bass is a bit weird in the earlier tracks and that continued to distract me haha. And man is the bass line so busy in the opening track! Is it sacrilege to criticise an album that every boomer rates 5/5 stars? That said, the more mellow acoustic songs were quite nice (maybe because the arrangements didn't have as much bass!). Obviously Maggie May is a classic but for me the standout tracks are "Tomorrow is a Long Time" (which turns out to be a Dylan cover... figures!) and "Mandolin Wind".

Brilliant album, tonally consistent. Leonard Cohen has a way with lyrics and the stripped back folk arrangement suits this well. Standout track is "Famous Blue Raincoat" but "Avalanche" demands your attention as soon as you hit play.

I am not familiar with Sonic Youth but have heard about them a lot. So it was good to have a chance to listen to them. My thoughts on this album? A bit meh. It’s fine as music playing in the background when I try to soak up in it I find most of the tracks too meandering with not much melody to make any of the tracks memorable. Maybe that’s the point with noise rock? And I usually like my fair share of noise and distortion. I think this kind of sound was probably groundbreaking in its time but after grunge became mainstream this doesn’t sound too exceptional. Anyways this is also supposed to be their grunge album. Disappointed that I didn’t like this album but afterwards I started checking out their earlier stuff and I like them a bit more. Standout track for me here is Chapel Hill with its catchy opening riff.

Interesting album and concepts to incorporate world music sounds. It ends up sounding like background music in a cafe that tries to be a bit posh. At least the bass lines are pretty solid. Standout tracks: Bomba and Erzulie

Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Love the funky jams

Classic album and really good from start to finish

Not a country music expert by any means and the album won’t make me start listening to it more, but I appreciate how polished this album is. Clear dreamy vocals, reverb laden lead guitars, plodding bass. This is what I imagine a barn slow dance would sound like. Also appreciate that this is trying to be a concept album at an era where this wasn’t the done thing.

All the classic hallmarks of REM is here. The jangly guitars, the cryptic haunting wails from Michael Stipe.. this is 80s alternative at its best. Accessible yet sounds a bit underground like the best years of university. Second half feels a bit weak I find but the first half makes up for it and I found myself singing along to One I Love while vacuuming. Solid effort.

Very competent punk album, the songs are short and to the point!

Haunting choral like vocals with hard hitting 90s alternative rock drums. This album is a masterpiece. Highlight tracks: Grace, Lilac Wine, Hallelujah, Lover You Should’ve Come Over

A bit like a more diverse Motley Crüe. LA metal/hard rock sound but with a bit more groovy rhythm section and some experimental songs. Dave Navarro is a tasteful lead guitarist in small doses. Can’t really stand the lead vocals though. Standout track is Standing in the Shower Thinking and Mountain Song

To me it seems like more noise rock like Sonic Youth but apparently they are not. Not sure what the difference is. There’s something to appreciate in noise rock. Unusual song structure, a wall of sound that drowns you. On an intellectual level I think it’s pretty cool but I just can’t connect with it emotionally. Feels a bit calculated, eschewing conventional rules just because you want to rebel. I guess it’s a teenage instinct that I don’t relate to anymore. The texture of noise is actually quite nice and visceral. Unfortunately the whiny mopey lead vocals don’t really do it for me and it takes away from the experience. Most of the album feels like a blur of noise but the stand out song for me it’s Don’t. I couldn’t help comparing it with Nirvana’a Territorial Pissings but much more raw and cathartic (which is an awesome thing).

Never heard of them before but it's pretty good Britpop with less whiny vocals when compared with Oasis. High energy rock.

Smooth grooves. Love the long jams but I think I need to be in the right mood for it.

Clint Eastwood and 19/2000 are classic standouts. The rest are interesting jams with a lot of instrumentals over various styles of music blended into a unique Gorillaz sound. Pretty interesting blend of genres which is pretty ahead of its time.

Punk/new wave from the 80s. Interesting addition of bluesy keys.

Can't deny the influence of Motorhead to heavy metal. The combination of hard rock and punk (in sound and attitude) is charming, as is the production value. Standout track is the classic "Ace of Spades" but the rest of the album sounds a bit samey to me. Lemmy is not the most technical bassist but his hard driving bass lines and slightly distorted tone suits the music so that's cool. I definitely enjoy his bass playing more than his vocals haha. Something I don't mind listening to in small doses but not all the time (generally applies to metal for me nowadays).

Can't go wrong with a vintage Bob Marley album. This is the first time I've heard the non-live version of No Woman No Cry and I have to say the vibe is more chill.

A quirky album with satirical commentary lyrics and even in attitude. I appreciate it for its vision and concept intellectually. I also agree that it is definitely influential, but it was not enjoyable listening to it. Reminds me of when I was super drunk trying to be a rock star at my friend’s flat. I thought I was super witty with my random lyrics but I wouldn’t listen to it again the next day.

I thought I would Neil Young but his voice grates after a while. Highlight on this album is For the Turnstiles for me for the laid back folky arrangement.

Beautiful buttery voice with a bite. Standout track for me is Down in the Valley

Eclectic mix of sounds but doesn't really work for me

Great jazzy record. Couldn't spend enough time to listen to it properly but what I heard was great.

Gritty 60s rock, can see how it influences punk.

Actually really nice classic rock. Prefer the more acoustic folky numbers like Teach Your Children and Our House

A bit too hippie for me

Didn’t really stand out for me

Interesting Brasilian music. Samba influences apparent but mixed in interesting ways.

Comparisons to early Coldplay is justified. And to me that’s in the best way possible. Love late 90s/early 00s Britpop

Good folk music. Can see how it influences later artists

Silky smooth voice. Sometimes the songs on the record are a bit cheesy. Highlight is Son of a Preacher Man.

The live album captures Motorheads energy a lot better than the studio albums. But it gets repetitive after a while.

Surprisingly enjoyable old school country music. Found myself dancing along haha. Great vocals and storytelling.

Great 2000s indie rock

Quite smooth but in some parts Sinatra’s lounge croony voice doesn’t really suit the bossa nova style.

Interesting arrangements with positive message.

Another punk album

Love industrial metal from time to time. This album is pretty influential to the point that Du Hast sounds very similar to Just One Fix. I prefer my industrial metal with more chunky groove and less of that harsh vocal though.

Interesting alternative rock

Quiet pleasant album to listen to while winding down on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Vocalist has a calming voice. Feels like an album to be highly regarded and recommended by purveyors of taste and played in cool record stores.

A moody post punk album that’s been very influential in the genre. I need to be in the mood to enjoy Ian Curtis’s vocals but love the instrumentation. The rolling drums and plucky bass high in the mix is quite catchy.

My favourite Radiohead album. It's a transition album from their typical Britrock debut to the electronic rock of OK Computer, and it's a perfect balance.

Feels like generic 70s hard rock

Cheesy pop metal from the 80s? Yes. But such a guilty pleasure

Another REM album. Not bad to play in the background but nothing much sticks out to me apart from Radio Free Europe

60s British rock, less Beatles-y than the Beatles. Favourite tracks are Sunny Afternoon and Rainy Day in June. They’re fine but it made me realise how much I am missing the Beatles harmonies, John’s sarcasm, Paul’s bass lines, George’s licks and Ringo’s fills.

Not bad but still can’t really stand abril Young’s voice most of the time. Love the distortion tone of the guitars though.

I enjoy most of the trip hop recommendations on this list.

Love their brand of rootsy hippie rock. I’m ambivalent with their straight up rock and roll numbers though. Classic album with plenty of CCR classics.

Really dig Billie’s voice. Such a rich timbre with a lot of emotion. The arrangements don’t get in the way.

Great folk rock by Yusuf. His most well known songs are on this album.

Great grooves and rhymes

Strong tunes in the first half but the latter part of the album feel like fillers

Really enjoyable Bowie album. Sounds a bit stripped back and folky (a lot of piano driven songs) but with that touch of Bowie quirkiness and flamboyance. One of my favourites.

Some tracks that I liked. Not really sure how to categorise the music here and maybe that’s the whole point. Maybe Jack White is trying to broaden his sounds to more than just bluesy garage rock. Quite unlike The White Stripes and it’s a bit more polished of a record.

So many eclectic styles in one album. Some people hate his voice. I think it’s quite cool. Just can’t stand the tracks with the extremely 80s saxophones and the carnival style songs.

For a 22 minute album this is full of energy

Almost no bad tracks here. Black Dog has one of the best riffs in hard rock. Rock and Roll is unstoppable.

Another Neil Young album…

The first five tracks are flawless. I always have a soft spot for Mr Brightside, it’s the song of the iPod generation. But looking back from 2023 I have a new appreciation for All These Things That I’ve Done. The rest of the album don’t compare unfortunately and for that I need to rate the album down. In 2004 there are better dance post punk garage type bands like The Strokes and Franz Ferdinand. The Killers would make better albums later (Day and Age I think of their best) and perfect their sound into a stadium rock style. But I also like the rougher guitar tone in this album. Amusingly, Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll sounds like they’re attempting a Queen sound haha.

Not sure what is the big deal with Elvis Costello. He’s basically a smug, insufferable version of Bruce Springsteen, without the working class earnestness. The whiny vocals grate after a while. Good drum work on the album though.

Interesting album, wish I had more time to listen to it

Nothing really special

Apparently this is the first ever program rock album. Some nice moments but it’s sandwiches between long sessions of noodling that sometimes meander. Could have trimmed the fat in places. Maybe that’s the point? I enjoyed the drumming and the melodic bass lines though. And the guitar part has a spaghetti western vibe and sounds like they belong in a Ennio Morricone piece.

Santana is one of my favourite guitarists so this is an easy 5

Another 60s hippie folk rock. Love Again is pretty cool

Love the big 90s hip hop beats and Lauryn has such a good flow. A classic for sure even though there are some tracks that feel like fillers

Solid 90s alt rock

A lot of diversity in style in this Rolling Stones album. Quite enjoyable. Dead Roses is a favourite.

Love the stripped back and raw approach of this album. I used to prefer Nevermind because it has all the Nirvana hits but these days I prefer In Utero. A certified classic, hard not to give it 5/5.

A pleasant country pop album

Pleasant harmonies

Funky and smooth

Interesting album but after a while it feels like noodling

I remember when this came out it was a sharp contrast to the other mainstream hip hop which was either gangsta or about bling and women. The political consciousness coupled with a chilled jazzy vibe was refreshing.

Classic Motown soul with James Jamerson’s velvety bass lines

Experimental indie music. Ambitious but didn’t really connect with me emotionally

Didn’t listen to all the lyrics but I quite enjoyed this one. She has a distinctive tone of voice

It’s not as good as I remember it. Apart from Hotel California the rest seems to be average country rock

Led Zeppelin makes the best hard rock music and this is one of their best albums. They expand their sound into more folk compared to their first 2 albums. Highlight: Since I’ve Been Loving You

Not sure if this was The Specials best work.

If their intention is to make art with something unlistenable then they’ve succeeded. Some catchy soundscapes but not full enough to become songs (maybe that’s the point). Not quite enjoyable

Great psychedelic music but would sound better without the jug

A classic Britpop album. Morning Glory has all the hits but this has Live Forever

If there was an essential bossa nova album this would be it. Or at least a very strong contender. Easy 5 stars. Especially the time of listening my city has been raining for the last 2 weeks. This brings Copacabana vibes and lifts the spirits somewhat.

That raw punk sound but more dangerous sounding compared to The Clash

This kind of hipster indie folk/pop is my kind of jam. Beautiful harmonies with folky arrangements. White Winter Hymnal just sounds timeless.

Very similar to other 90s Brit pop/alt

Great piece of jazz

Classic Sinatra vibes

Intriguing album and no doubt influential to the electronic genre.

Love Here Comes Your Man.

Pretty cool production style but not really feeling the vibe.

Classic album, the highs are super high but also with some filler.

Didn’t listen to the whole album because it’s not on Spotify any YouTube ads annoy me. What I did hear is nice enough though. Folky singer songwriter style.

The songs get more and more electric until the last track which has been said to be the godfather of grunge. That said I only enjoyed the first and last tracks of the album.

Sweet bass lines

Pretty rocking Blur album

Classic Elvis album

I remember the big hype around this one because you could pay whatever you wanted to get a digital copy of the album. The good old days before music distribution platforms eh? Looking back this feels like a consolidation Radiohead album where they still do the electronic experimentation but in a more standard a song structure. A best of both worlds type of Radiohead album. Highlights: Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, Reckoner, Jigsaw Falling Into Place

I’m not an electronic music guy, but without Kraftwerk EDM would not be the same today. For that alone this deserves an easy 5 stars.

A Queen album showing an expansion of their 70s hard rock sound.

I thought I would enjoy an album inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Turns out this album is pretty bland. All flash no substance, led by a mediocre vocalist. Even guitar solos are drowned in the mix.

Mrs Robinson is a classic.

This is the kind of discovery I’m looking for by doing the 1001 albums. This is a great story for blues music. Black music from America influencing African musicians. Not as flashy or focused on lead guitar solos but uses the blues structure and electric blues tones in a Malinese groove.

Nice vocals

Certainly a vibe when it’s cold and raining outside and you are driving through peak traffic.

This has proto RHCP vibes

The Police is one of my favourite bands and Reggatta de Blanc is such a good album. This was a mid career album where they still play lean new wave reggae music without adding the pop flourishes that you get on later albums. So remarkable that they can be so lean and tight as a power trio. Sting is the charismatic frontman but to me the real star is Stewart Copeland’s tight drumming and groovy fills. But everything fits together perfectly here. Favourites: Message in a Bottle, Walking on the Moon, Reggatta de Blanc.

Funky tracks

Catchy indie tunes

Interesting soundscapes. I actually enjoyed this

This is the ABBA album with their most well known hits, including Fernando which is one of my favourite ABBA songs

Love the eerie dark vibes and the strong beats. Very 80s in a good way. I don’t know much about Depeche Mode but really enjoyed discovering this band. This album has hints of Kraftwerk and Joy Division. Highlights: the first tracks up to Strangelove. The haunting piano and vocals of Pimpf (sounds like a theme for a video game).

I have a love hate relationship with prog rock but YYZ rocks

Funky alt rock

Very interesting beats but not a fan of the guitar tone

Ugh there are some nice tunes in there and I dig the indie pop aesthetic. But throwing in fillers to a 3 hour playtime is torture. I couldn’t finish it and ended up listening to John Mayer.

Once upon a time I might have enjoyed a Lofi gloomy post punk album but today was not one of those days. Appreciate the influence they have on alternative music though.

Didn’t get through it all. It wasn’t bad but didn’t stand out to me.

Hard to pick the standout tracks here because all are awesome and they follow one another seamlessly.

This is what you hear in cool cafes in the 90s

The musical vibe felt contrived

I can see Blur starting to branch out from the Britpop sound with more experimentation, eventually culminating in the Gorillaz sound. Some songs are not catchy but I respect the effort. Outside of the obvious big singles, I enjoyed Death of a Party

An ambitious album to split off the different styles of Big Boi and Andre 3000. But I feel like it has too much filler. My favourite tracks tend to be on The Love Below though. I guess I prefer Andre’s spin on eclectic funky jazz stuff. He’s channeling Prince vibes

Meh

I’m a fan of 80s new wave but I didn’t really dig this one. Some of the darker tracks are cool. I can appreciate the influence of this album on said 80s new wave bands though

Actually quite an enjoyable psychedelic record

The Police album with the hits. Also the most poppy one. My favourite Police song is here: Synchronicity II.

What a smooth velvety voice. Love this from start to finish. I haven’t heard of Sarah Vaughan before but she must be one of the best jazz vocals like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Even though I'm really familiar with this album, it still rocks. The first half is practically flawless. The raw energy of punk, with alternative structures and poppy melodies, optimised for mass appeal. Favourites: In Bloom, Breed, Lithium, Territorial Pissings, Something in the Way.

Jazz rock has always been a mixed bag for me. There are some cool tunes in here but I feel is inconsistent.

I enjoyed “Baby you’re where dreams go to die”. Lovely ballady folk stuff and I like how he enunciates his lyrics.

Can’t stand David Byrne’s voice but the rest of the band is pretty tight. Credit them for taking the punk spirit with an arty approach without the nihilist attitude.

Still can’t stand Elvis Costello’s voice. People say he’s one of the greatest lyricists but all I’m getting is someone who tries to fit lots of big words into a flat melody. At least with rap you have rhythmic flow instead of verbosity. I gave him 1/5 on another album and this one is begrudgingly 2/5 because Pump It Up and Radio, Radio are kind of okay.

Not sure which Michael Jackson album I like best but it’s in the top 3. People say this album sounds dated but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Love the slightly harder edged vibes compared to the smooth R&B of Thriller. Also the synth bass slaps.

They say this is an important country album as it takes in some rock and roll influences. I’ll have to take their word for it since I’m not an expert but it’s not too remarkable for me.

This brand of speed/thrash I think I could like more if I spend more time listening to it. But the vocal is the weakest point. Plus kind of cringey D&D style lyrics I have somehow outgrown. But Tornado of Souls totally rocks. Fell in love with the guitar solo at first listen and I had to rewind to listen to again. This has not happened to me for a while.

A lot of big hits here. I love when ZZ Top get down and dirty with their fat distorted guitar sounds. There are some stylistically different tracks, I’m not so much of a fan but I suppose respect for branching out from their usual style.

This album was everywhere when it came out. The big hit is obviously Rolling in the Deep. And it can be argued that Adele (along with others of course) paved the way for solo female artists that charted big in the 2010s. Listening to it outside of its cultural context is interesting. The music is arranged to allow Adele’s voice to be the primary focus. Which is probably not necessarily a bad thing. Other albums I have rated and enjoyed are like this, like Billie Holiday.

Can’t believe I never listened to this album. The only Hole song I knew before was Celebrity Skin which is a lot more polished. This album is a raw mix of punk and alternative, it is pure grunge. Love Courtney’s vocal delivery especially when she screams her lungs off. Angsty teenage me would have loved this.

Yes it’s the Rolling Stones but not sure why their album of blues covers is on this list, apart from it being their first album? Surely their later work is more worthwhile once they’ve refined their blues influences into their signature sound. No disrespect to the Stones but I’m talking stars off this one. If you want to highlight blues music pick one by one of the OG blues musicians from Chicago or the Delta.

Not feeling it

It’s ok

The soulful singer Adele wishes she was. Classy jazz arrangements that don’t detract from her smoky soulful vocals. Fade to Black still hits with the lyrics.

Metal and classical music actually pair up quite well, and the treatment suits some Metallica songs more than others. What was a novelty in 1999 seems to be now quite common in some metal genres. That said, the orchestral treatment seems overdone in some other songs (too much spy movie vibe).

I ironically enjoy Billy Joe's music from the 70s. The songs are arranged well in the singer songwriter style of the period (without getting too folky), with interesting imagery evoked in his lyrics. Highlight is The Stranger and She's Always A Woman

I reviewed their other album The Last Broadcast while recuperating after doing a hike in the Fiordlands of New Zealand. I was chilling to that album in a cheap and cramped hostel in Queenstown, but really loved the vibe. Their sound is representative of the post-Oasis Britpop sound. I probably don't seek out their music intentionally but really don't mind it.

Cosy folk arrangements

Strong funky numbers in the first few tracks, followed by Motown R&B. Love the James Jamerson bass lines as always

I enjoy a couple of Stones songs but I think they are overplayed now. The rest just feels like too jangly for me. Controversial opinion maybe. But I respect their influence on rock music.

How many Costello do we need on this albums list? 😐

Appreciate the artistic vision but it wouldn’t be something I play very often. By conventional means it’s not pleasant sounding but actually if you isolate certain parts you can hear good tunes.

John Lennon’s voice is pure rock and roll in this album. This is The Beatles right in the middle of their jangly Merseybeat phase before expanding their sound in the later albums. The cover tracks are fine but are probably the low points.

Pre crazy Kanye is pretty cool. I listened to Graduation a lot when it came out but I know that this was what put Kanye on the map. This bucked the gangsta rap sound so in that sense is very influential.

Cool industrial trip hop vibes.

Salsa is an easy 5 for me. Sunny dancey vibes

Prefer the old style of U2 but respect the reinvention

Dirty grungy sound with bleak ish lyrics

An easy 5 stars for one of the biggest names that brings hip hop to the mainstream. The production and the flow is old school but the influence is massive. It’s Tricky is my all time favourite Run DMC track.

Birth of hip hop was essentially a stripped down soul album. Sounds dated but appreciate the influence. It also has a surprisingly diverse style that varies from track to track.

Dark post punk energy in a similar vein to Joy Division

Would have been at least 4.5/5 if they didn’t muck up the bass guitar in the mix. Cool riffs and structurally technical composition. This is rightly called the closest Metallica gets to prog metal. Highlight: the machine gun drumming in the bridge of One still gives me goosebumps.

Great blues album and Muddy Waters influenced rock music in a big way.

Easy 5 stars for this classic gem of Cuban jazz

Cheesy electronic pop music but some interesting effects

I can’t believe I got Pet Shop Boys 2 days in a row. The lyrics and arrangement is even more cheesy than the last one (Behaviour). This reminds me of suburban malls in the early 90s but not in a good way. Go West is mildly anthemic so kind of ok I guess.

I always preferred Closer to Unknown Pleasures. But maybe because I found Unknown Pleasures too lofi.

The rhymes hit hard over old school hip hop beats. Yea boii

Trademark Prince robotic funky beats

Where to begin. It’s a chaotic album. It’s an interesting blend of lofi, Nirvana, and darkish 80s post punk. Makes sense given that they share band members with Dinosaur Jr. The most fascinating track is Fantastic Disaster where every instrument (including vocals) seems to play on its own key. Maybe the instruments are even out of tune. At least you can save time playing these kind of songs live because you don’t need to tune? But on the acoustic or stripped back numbers you can feel an In Utero vibe. Just the right level of lofi. So clearly these guys know how to play. So I give it a 2/5 for effort. I feel like it’s uncool to like bands like this but I honestly feel no emotional connection.

Not feeling this modern R&B pop stuff

Except for the one standout single and Rod’s voice (which later launched his solo career), this seems like a pretty average British rock album typical of the era.

Surprisingly enjoyed this Britpop album. Original enough to stand out from other bands with an anthemic vibe.

The first half is quite an eclectic blend of rock and hip hop which fits in with the 2000s sound, yet unmistakably Beck. The second half seems a bit samey and drifts into the background.

Not sure what's so special about this mellow country rock. It's ok.

REM is not flashy but they are tight and the songs are consistently good here.

The two good songs are the singles. The rest are super cheesy 80s synth pop (not in a good way) with cheesier lyrics.

Bowie’s music always defies categorisation, especially his earlier work.

Truly a classic and a great introduction to jazz fusion. Chameleon and Watermelon Man are so groovy. Easy 5 stars.

Ambitious and layered. The flow is not something I’m drawn to instantly but I respect the music that demands attention.

Respect the complex composition and layers. It’s fun adding electronic noise on top of even conventionally more acoustic songs to make them more interesting.

Interesting hints of Pink Floyd and Radiohead rolled into one.

Sometimes all we need is good old bluesy swampy rock

One of the good folk rock albums. I think this is when Bob Dylan started incorporating electric guitars.

Cool drumming and the songs come together when they sing clean vocals. Not such a fan of the death metal growls. The guitar parts are a bit cheesy though.

Not always in the mood for smooth 80s soul

I can only tolerate Morrisseys voice in small doses. But the rest of the band is fine.

One of the classics. Absolutely top notch hip hop.

Loving the African vibes which actually led me down a rabbit hole of zydeco and mbaqanga playlists on Spotify. I understand there’s a bit of controversy about cultural appropriation but this helped me discover some new music genres so that’s cool. I guess like a lot of things this is quite complicated. Songs wise the majority are okay with some misses due to being cheesy 80s pop compositions.

Prog rock with flute. Honestly I thought I was going to hate it but it kinda rocks.

A fun album that helped me understand the progression of British music from the 80s to 90s Britpop era. Didn’t mind it at all.

Love his voice! Can still feel the electric energy of rock and roll from the OG.

I get the accusations of cultural appropriation. But this is still a fine album of 70s blues rock and among the best of Clapton’s work.

Smooth soul and groove

Totally enjoyed this on a rainy evening. A strong big band album that totally swings. Bonus points for a mushroom cloud cover

An uneven album, with some average blues rock stuff. I don’t mind the big hits Imagine and Jealous Guy and my favourite is probably Gimme Some Truth. I think John’s voice only suits certain styles of music. With the support of The Beatles his music was awesome, The Beatles was truly more than the sum of its individual parts. There was a bit of bitterness that Paul had the more successful post Beatles career, and if you judge it by this album, you’ll probably understand why.

The Who rocks. Powerful drums by Keith Moon, John Entwistle is one of my favourite bassists. Pete Townshend does awesome rhythm guitar. Usually I like Roger Daltreys voice depending on the song, sometimes it’s a bit shaky. Anyway this album has a lot of their hits. Baba O Riley is a bit overplayed. Won’t Get Fooled Again, I’ll always love the screaming bit.

Great blues jams. Second half is a bit too meandering for me though.

I respect the concept behind repackaging country music into a big band jazz sound. Sonically it sounds like Ray Charles does Sinatra. But I miss the r&b Ray Charles. Maybe there’s one of those on this list too.

Hippie folk that didn’t stand out too much for me.

Great live blues album

Smooth 90s vibe

Classic Dylan

So much funk. These guys could jam endlessly and it would still not be boring. And I can see the evolution from Parliament to early hip hop from the song structures.

The second half the album is eclectic af and I’m here for it

Not my favourite Led Zeppelin album but it’s still pretty solid. The band has started shedding some of its bluesy influences compared to the earlier albums. There are less long solos, and John Paul Jones’ keys start to become more prominent here. Bonus points for having the coolest cover artwork in the Led Zep discography, and having Kashmir.

A classic of nu metal

Relaxing country music with some covers.

Very familiar arrangements of secular Christmas carols

Gave me a headache haha

By the strength of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”, this deserves 5 stars.

She had a golden voice

Quite an enjoyable listen while doing some home chores. Some of the interludes are interesting. Almost like a classical symphony quality of building the music up.

Basically revolutionised how the electric guitar can sound

Psychedelic sounds mixed with some boss nova vibes

I loved RHCP growing up, but now I can’t stand Anthony Kiedis’ voice. This band has written some iconic hits in this album but on the whole it is enjoyable due to the tight interlock between Flea and Chad Smith.

Awesomely fat 90s hip hop beats. Big Poppa is an anthem.

Good voice but can’t take the music seriously.

Interesting compositions but I didn’t have enough time to listen to the whole album properly.

Sometimes you just need simple rock and roll

A classic which basically started electronic music. It sounds so futuristic and so hard to believe it’s from 1978

My favourite Bob Dylan album with Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright. Love the simple acoustic arrangement.

Reminds me of the time I lived in Idaho for 3 months for work

U2 and Killers vibes on an indie rock record, it’s representative of the time period

A classic. Innovative guitar playing and track mixing, with a solid rhythm section.

This is The Cure at their atmospheric best. Plainsong is hauntingly beautiful.

I could imagine this album being in my parents car permanently

This is actually the first time I listened to Amnesiac this closely. Usually I’m a fan of Kid A. Even though these were said to be recorded around the same sessions these songs seem be more traditionally structured. So on balance feels like Radiohead synthesising their different styles. I like it.

Blues rock through the lens of Gen X punk attitudes. Got a bit tiring listening through the whole thing though.

Now I know why they changed up their sound when disco blew up. I did however enjoy How Can You Mend a Broken Heart and Trafalgar. And yes the harmonies are top notch.

Typical 90s Britpop

Typical 2000s indie rock

Hard not to listen to this and not hear Nirvana. The influences are very direct.

Sounds like rain in Britain but you are walking around forlornly in your rain jacket watching couples having dinner inside restaurants. This list seems to love British bands. Not sure if you need to hear it before you die as it’s quite derivative. Better to listen to Radiohead’s The Bends. In saying that I did enjoy it though.

Excellent Cuban jazz, it helps that I was making salsa while listening to this.

The first couple of tracks are a bit too abrasive and inhuman for me. But I guess that’s the whole point of industrial metal. Also so much processing of his vocals sometimes leaning on the side of overdone. But when the industrial beats groove it’s really great.

Sweet emotion is great

Nice indie rock arrangements that became the template for the 00s. Not really vining with the melody though which I thought was forgettable.

I wished the electric guitar sound was grittier in Money for Nothing, it seemed to be toned down to fit that smooth 80s production. But I’m strangely enjoying the smooth saxophone of Your Latest Trick.

I realised I can only handle a bit of Elton John at a time. Tiny Dancer is always a banger though

Got hints of 2000s indie rock which was unexpected. I guess this is an influential album and I enjoyed it a bit more than I expected (having not enjoyed a previous Kinks recommendation).

It feels like an Irish pub in here

Why is an album of unremarkable covers something you must listen to before you die? What’s worse is that they are songs by Elvis Costello and Tom Waits

Still unable to resonate emotionally with Joni Mitchell

So many classic songs, with kick ass riffs. Sometimes all you need is a James Hetfield chugging power chord. Lyrics are a bit cringy though. Kirk’s wah drenched solos are a guilty pleasure. Lars’ drumming is plodding but suits the style of the band. I’m also happy that you can hear the bass here unlike … And Justice For All Second half kind of dips in quality. Highlights: Enter Sandman, Sad But True, Wherever I May Roam

Lovely tunes and vocals. Originally thought it was from the 50s but I found out it was from the 60s and they are covers.

The campiness gets tiring towards the end. Too much carnival vibe. Our House is a great pop tune though.

The singing scares me a little.

Creepy atmosphere. I guess good gothic rock.

Morrissey’s voice still annoys me. But I’m warming up to Johnny Marr’s jangly guitar

Great grooves. This holds up.

Dark industrial twist on new wave. The second part of the album is even operatic and made me think of Wagner. The influence on Rammstein is obvious. The last few tracks a bit too avant garde for me though.

Moody indie folk tunes

Still don’t get the hype

Mr Blue Sky is awesome but the rest is a weird version of a less bombastic Queen. Respect the orchestral arrangements though.

They changed up their sound after this album so I think this is one of the albums that best encapsulates that Beatlemania sound

Jungleland is my favourite Springsteen song and for that I give this a 5. The album has Murica dive bar somewhere mid Atlantic vibes. A jug of beer with your spaghetti and meatballs while you watch the band play after a hard day in the docks or something. Also bonus points for looking so cool in the album cover, despite having the piano and sax more prominent in the songs.

One of the best 90s breakbeat albums

Pleasant enough as background music. Feels representative of 90s trip hop/lounge electronica

This probably was cool back in the day but comes across as generic classic rock. Still enjoy More Than A Feeling though. I can see the progression from this to 80s rock though.

I just realized the album cover photo is blurry. Anyway great album I think this is one of his classics. Just Like a Woman is achingly beautiful

Clean 80s pop production to let George Michael’s soulful voice soar. But second half seems to drag for me Highlights are Faith and One More Try

Dancy Cuban music

Irish fiddle pub music. It’s ok in small doses but a bit long

Funky and soulful

It is disco, funk, soul and R&B perfectly encapsulated. Rock With You is one of my favourite Michael Jackson songs.

An enjoyable reggae album

Pleasant electrónica music

Wow I don’t know how to describe this album. It’s hard rock, with blues scales at it’s base but it’s not bluesy. There is a jazzy component with the saxophone. But at its heart is a wildness and rawness that would become punk. Can’t believe this came out in 1970, they were ahead of their time. Love the energy and it would have been wild to see them live.

This is a 70s hard rock Queen, it has Led Zeppelin vibes but without the dirty blues sound. I think I prefer the more bombastic sound they would have later. Ogre Battle is awesome though

Classic Elton

King of Rock is the better album but considering this one came before it might be more influential.

Didn’t really vibe with these

There is a British bias on this list when something as unremarkable as this 80s pop is on the list

Every generation there’s always a reinterpretation and repackaging of blues or blues influenced music. Well The White Stripes was one such band for the millennials with their minimalist punky style. I prefer De Stijl but this album is pretty good too

Perfection. One of my favourite albums for just vibing. The opener Shine On You Crazy Diamond is the prefect execution of building music to a climax.

Their music was unavailable on Spotify apart from one track and what I heard from it didn’t interest me to try and time find it elsewhere

50 years on maybe the shock value is not as strong. But it's still a good hard rock album and he has a good voice.

Not feeling this kind. Another forgettable indie pop record

These are epic power ballads

Gets points for Riders on the Storm. It’s classic 60s rock but I think their best songs are the big hits.

Good Times is excellent

Björk is supposed to be cool and it’s cool to like her but I can’t connect emotionally with this album

The guitar solos in some tracks save this otherwise generic but of the era 70s singers songwriters music

Great Texas style blues rock

Born to Run has a slight edge for me but this is also a great Springsteen album

It’s ok standard 90s punk type music

Cool 90s alt rock vibe

90s gangsta rap is so fun. Some of the lyrics don’t age very well but the groove and flow is peak hip hop for me. B Real has a unique voice

Surprisingly very enjoyable. They are very consistent tracks, probably not too technical but very tight and high energy. Probably what I would have aspired to when I was still in a band. Classic New Wave in a good way.

Amazing voice but if you’ve heard one Adele album you’ve heard them all. The quintessential suburban normie music of the 2010s. Why are there more than 1 albums of hers on this list?

Never expected such an unabashedly slick pop album from an ex NSync to be on this list. Bonus points for being fun and nostalgic. He definitely managed to shed his boy band image with Justified. Second half feels like fillers.

The best decision the Bee Gees made was to embrace disco. This is meh folk rock.

This is highly respected hip hop which I think influenced a lot of later alternative rap music like OutKast.

One of my favourite albums

Enjoyable when in the right mood

Don’t have much to say except that it is very nice

There are still traces of Joy Division post punk new wave stuff but blended with the dance sound they’d be more well known for.

Someone said this album was too long. Rubbish. This was pure grunge muscle from start to finish.

The first half are all bangers, classic U2 stuff. They really know how to play simple but effective stadium rock. Everyone gives each other space. By the second half I sick of Bono’s voice though.

Representative of the indie rock sound of the 2000s

Genetic

Sounds like an Oasis knock off

It’s ok but does seem pretty influential

A strong Dylan album

Gen x uni student music

Feels like the bad cuts that didn’t make it to the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour album

First track was pretty good. Then it devolved into elevator music. Jazz can be better than this.

A classic. Dramatic, with sparse but soulful arrangements. Prince was a genius.

Classic Bowie bridging classic rock with new wave

Raekwon is importante in 90s hip hop but I didn’t vibe with this one

Classic gangster rap but misogynistic lyrics. Gritty portrait of 90s urban USA. Fuck the Police is a banger though.

Very 80s hip hop. The Queen is cool though

Interesting fusion of samba and rock styles. Funky grooves!

If only every band’s final album is as good as this. Definitely more of a McCartney album than a Lennon one but I don’t mind.

Lovely voice and Gershwin is a classic

This is peak Stones. Tight rock songs with delicious lead parts by Keith Richards.

Samey after a while. Pet Sounds is better.

It’s got my favourite RHCP tracks but they would really be a better band without Anthony Kiedis

Elvis without the raw rock and roll grit

Pretty cool but this is literally background music

It’s ok

Ok so influential to the development of post punk and new wave. But apart from the tight rhythm section I don’t enjoy this. Tuneless singing and discordant guitar noodling.

It’s quite experimental and a lot of it is instrumental which is unusual for a Bowie album

Panama is great and this is representative of 80s hard rock

Respect the experimentation but not my kind of thing

The Cure at their gothiest?

Pleasant country music. Good bass grooves.

Wow this is so good. I’ve been underwhelmed with some of the vocal jazz that has been on this list but Nina Simone’s voice is captivating. So much emotion and command. Highlight is Four Women, I love the storytelling here. And I forgot that Lilac Wine was a cover in Jeff Buckley’s album so it’s nice to hear the original here.

Representative of the 2010s sound of minimalist girl pop

Great vocals and blues rock. But sometimes Janis overdoes the hoarse vocals

Lush arrangements but I’m not really into it

Very interesting style this is what makes this list interesting

After the first track of a cringy attempt at reggae, the album redeems itself with what Paul Simon does best, folky singer songwriter grounded in acoustic guitar.

Surprisingly enjoyed this country album

Gets a bit much with the black metal vocals after a while but Roots is brilliant. Also love the traditional Brazilian instruments

Incredibly difficult to get through.

This is terrible but in a good way and after Nick freaking Cave this is actually awesome. Obviously influential to the industrial music that comes after.

Great heartfelt concert

Could not play this album with the kids around but I remember it being pretty cool

One of the best hip hop albums. Love his rhyming and the 90s production

It’s fine

I think shoegaze is over represented on this list. It’s fine and maybe influential but not my jam.

Generic classic rock that gets played at boomer radio stations. Not sure what is special apart from nostalgia factor.

I like The Who but this live album ain’t it

Grime is to the 2000s what dubstep is to the 2010s. Quite polarising music that sounds quite different from what it is being compared to (in this case American hip hop). I quite like this album, it does get a bit samey but the attitude and style still feels fresh.

Appreciate the artistic vision but I didn’t enjoy this. The album is well produced though.

At first I was annoyed at this album for its inclusion of 2 rock covers which basically just replace guitar with sitar and call it a day. Seems gimmicky. What a waste to represent musical tradition going back centuries to a bunch of lazy fusion rock covers, just because it's played by Ravi Shankar's nephew, how much more western centric can this list get? But my stance softened a little with the originals that offer something a little more unique. This is not quite 60s rock, not quite raga music, but an interesting attempt to blend the two during a unique period known as psychedelia. Still taking stars away for the cheap and lazy covers though.

Classic punk sound

The angsty teen version of me is happy. Loved this album to death. I remember getting stuck in traffic coming home the Muse concert in 2007 and I ended up playing this album again from start to finish. A combination of romantic classical piano and prog metal is cool right? So I thought. Except by this album I think Muse already started moving away from that sound towards a more Queenesque stadium rock sound. Someone said this is music for nerdy IT consultants and I totally relate with this haha. Knights of Cydonia is my favourite Muse song.

Rhythm Nation is cool, and some of the new jack swing beats is representative of the style.

I don’t even like Talking Heads hits let alone their less known songs. Grating vocals. I appreciate him embracing weirdness but this is not my brand of weird sorry.

Not sure why this is on the list.

Sounds like any other indie pop album which there’s already plenty of representation. Not sure why it’s on the list. Stylistically derivative of 80s post punk with a tinge of minimalist electronica.

This is cool sophisticated hip hop. Clever, chilled out and jazzy.

Maybe a front runner for Talking Heads? I don’t like Talking Heads so logically I don’t enjoy this either. It’s one of those styles of music where you claim to like it to be cool in a contrarian sort of way.

Experimental and fun

A bit of Aerosmith vibe here but with more grit. I was prepared to call myself too cool to enjoy this but the blues rock really does boogie. Enjoyable! Second half is a bit samey though

Iconic cover. The songs are fine but I’m not as familiar with them compared to say Heroes

This feels like a very heartfelt and intimate concert

California Dreaming is one of my favourite songs from the 60s

First track was ok. The atonality was interesting. But his voice was insufferable

The first three singles are iconic. The rest were generic

Larry Mullend Jr hit the drums like it was a military parade. This was a pretty bare bones and raw U2 album.

Fantastic debut album by Coldplay. Picking up the alternative britpop sound from Radiohead I love the melancholic and lush sound. They’d go to bigger things but intimate and sensitive Coldplay from the first 2-3 albums are their best.

There is an emotional depth to his voice which is quite appealing

Enjoyably funky R&B songs, the strongest of which are the famous singles which will always be classic 90s tunes

Bob Dylan doing Bob Dylan things. Feels like a very organic record with songs written from the heart.

I don’t know anything about Randy Newman apart from the Toy Story song. It turns out that’s his signature sound.. earthy country rock sound.

Bold and experimental, with some of his strongest songs.

I understand the hype (genre bending!) but can’t really enjoy Beck on an emotional level.

This is near perfect 80s hard rock. Debut album full of energy, and very tight. There are basically no dud songs. A lot of overplayed songs but can’t deny it 5 stars

I appreciate the jangly indie sound but it didn’t stand out too much

Good blues rock

this album encapsulates the angsty 90s alternative rock vibe

I used to associate The Prodigy with the cool but scary kids at school. That, and the stereotypical underground clubs in 90s movies which play this type of electronic where goths wear studded clothing and have neon hair.

Paul wanted to be in a touring rock and roll band after The Beatles and this is what he did. The result is pretty solid 70s rock, accessible but with some interesting arrangements.

One of, if not the, favourite Beatles record of mine. Gorgeous harmonies, all the parts are tight. Ringo’s drums are a joy to listen to, I could almost sing them. Some folky influences moving away from the Merseybeat rock and roll sound of their earlier work. This is the start of The Beatles really branching out and experimenting.

Fun to listen to for nostalgia. The first half are bangers in terms of nu metal classics but it fizzles out in the second half. This CD was permanently in my stereo for about 8 months of my high school years.

60s blues rock. I used to like The Doors but now I find Jim Morrison a bit insufferable. The big hits are classic songs though

Hippie music

Kind of boring

Better than the Gene Clark rubbish I was subjected to the previous day. Familiar with some of the hits and on the whole quite competent 70s soft rock

Pleasant soft rock, almost too sweet

Maybe because I’m not familiar with her work and it’s from a long time ago, I fail to appreciate the hype. But she does have a nice style of alternative music

Classic hip hop, I take one star off for the skits that sometimes go on too long

A bit of Beatles, Monkees and Kinks rolled into one.

Pretty cool mash up of alternative rock and rap actually.

I was expecting this to be quite pretentious considering the ambitious concept of the album. But when it comes down to the actual music some of it is not too bad.

Influential to the development of the hard rock sound of the 70s and arguably heavy metal as well. I loved these songs as a youngster. Although they feel overplayed to me now I can’t deny the mastery of the musicians. Bonham really rocks, Page was equal parts soulful lead guitar and crunchy riffs, Jones was steady and dependable, Plant cuts your soul with his vocals. However deduct one point for plagiarism without crediting original artists.

I forgot how much I enjoy the raw stripped back sound of The White Stripes.

Not bad but sounds like a hillbilly Tom Jones

Cool style of chilled funky instrumentals with spoken word on top. But the creepy subject matter is a bit ick

I associate this sound with grubby clubs (and not the good kind of grubby)

Terrible album. I get that it’s trying to be anti establishment but without the energy of punk. The vocals grate. Did not enjoy this

Classic reggae from the master of the style. Chilled vibes and rhythms

The guitar tone is quite well mixed and that’s the only good thing I can say about this album. Annoying vocals, like a Bowie/Morrisey wannabe. Boring songs that don’t build up, too wordy. There are no hooks. Not sure why this should belong on the list. Do I have to be a Brit to understand it?

His voice is cool and his poetry is quite combative

Great debut, still sounds fresh even though a lot of trip hop sounds of its time. The bass creates a great mood of introspection

Pearl Jam is a bit overrated, here in NZ I associate them with steak and potato dudes who drink Woodstock excessively and listen to The Rock FM all the time while hooning in their big utes. This is the one album of theirs that is a must listen and admittedly it is a really good one (although Vs is good too). Definitely a quintessential grunge album. Big riffs, rhythm section is tight and relentless. Eddie Vedder’s vocal is a love it or hate it affair, but I quite like it. Favourites are: Black (first song I ever learned on guitar), Once, Even Flow (great solo at the end), Alive, Jeremy.

First time listening to Manic Street Preachers. Cool alternative rock style with punk attitude and drumming.

Nice flows with great jazzy instrumentation

Skate punk vibes, this album by The Offspring is full of energy and sounds fresh. This was before The Offspring became a parody of themselves

Chill country music

A bit of post punk style with 90s alternative aesthetic. Not a fan though, the songs kind of meander.

Indie band starting off sounding quirky and novel, but overstayed its welcome.

Respect this innovative approach to creating music called plunderphonics. Some enjoyable disco-like grooves but ultimately emotionally couldn’t connect with it.

Pretty cool new wave album with iconic bass lines

Interesting trip hop using live instrumentation. Not so keen on tracks with lyrics.

Energetic first gen punk

Did not enjoy this. Annoying vocals.

I expected to not enjoy this, this list has a lot of throwaway alt/indie albums that I have not liked. But this one is not too bad. Eclectic but still a mostly grounded alternative rock avoids being indulgently weird for the sake of it, except it’s a bit long. Pretty good songwriting.

A 60s blues rock sound with Jeff Beck at the helm

Tries very hard to be included in a Richard Ayoade film soundtrack

Cool drumming

Interesting and they said it was an influence on Queen

Awesome flow, album feels a bit too long.

Classic era defining G funk with cringy lyrics as per your worst stereotypes of gangsta rap. Love all the collaborations with his homies

I can see why they're influential. This came out in 1973 and would have sounded very unique compared to anything else that was around. You can hear their influence in punk rock, new wave, disco (and subsequent genres that were influenced by those). But I can't get over the slightly annoying voice of Brian Ferry and the thumpy sound of the drums. I think the best parts were the bass parts and Brian Eno's synths.

Simple rock and roll and they do sound the same in all their songs. But what they do, they do it well and sometimes it’s what you need.

Easy to see how this was influential. The latter tracks are more experimental and ambient.

Representative of hip hop sound around this time

A bit meh

Great jazz music for a quiet evening in and glass of wine

Interesting new wave music, given the year of release it must have been quite an influence on later bands

All he has going for him is the too much cigarettes voice. As the album goes on the jazz arrangement grows on you though

The mid 00s hip hop vibe is strong here.

Very smooth jazzy electronic music.

I think he comes fully into his own later. But some interesting songs still

A classic punk pop album

Clearly a blueprint to be followed by punk rock almost 10 years later. So you can see that this is a very influential band. I only enjoyed a few of the songs though (particularly the faster ones).

Not the kind of music in my usual rotation but it’s nice to listen to old rock and roll from time to time. These guys are pretty influential

Probably influential but not my cup of tea