My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Everything Must Go Manic Street Preachers	5	3.12	+1.88
Hysteria Def Leppard	5	3.22	+1.78
25 Adele	5	3.37	+1.63
2112 Rush	5	3.39	+1.61
Odessey And Oracle The Zombies	5	3.42	+1.58
Hotel California Eagles	5	3.6	+1.4
Sheer Heart Attack Queen	5	3.65	+1.35
21 Adele	5	3.69	+1.31
Boston Boston	5	3.71	+1.29
Appetite For Destruction Guns N' Roses	5	3.74	+1.26

Album	You	Global	Diff
American IV: The Man Comes Around Johnny Cash	1	3.89	-2.89
James Brown Live At The Apollo James Brown	1	3.46	-2.46
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kanye West	1	3.41	-2.41
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector Various Artists	1	3.31	-2.31
British Steel Judas Priest	1	3.3	-2.3
Drunk Thundercat	1	3.11	-2.11
Tubular Bells Mike Oldfield	1	3.1	-2.1
Songs In The Key Of Life Stevie Wonder	2	4.07	-2.07
Smile Brian Wilson	1	3.05	-2.05
Swordfishtrombones Tom Waits	1	2.95	-1.95

Artist	Albums	Average
Adele	2	5

Artist	Albums	Average
Tom Waits	2	1
Kanye West	2	1
Stevie Wonder	3	2

John Prine

3/5

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Red Hot Chili Peppers

4/5

New York Dolls

3/5

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

4/5

General notes: I'm not a big Dylan fan because I don't really like his voice. But I get it. Borrowing from Erica a bit, this album, on vinyl, played to an audience raw from the war and ripe to pull America out of the significant problems with the 50s. I get it. This is honestly a great album. Erica: Bob Dylan who has one of the most distinctive voices, a guitar, and a harmonica. This could have very easily been an entire album of the same thing, but the songs were all very distinctive and that's super impressive. Blowin in the wind: Blowin in the wind Girl from North Country: I like this one. Borrows lyrics from Scarborough Faire, but it works and I like it. Masters of War: Would have been really meaningful when it was released. I like the sense of urgency in the guitar riff. I recognize it in a few later country songs. He's a good lyricist. Down the Highway: Bluesy. Don't particularly care for the guitar on this one. Don't actually particularly care for this one at all. Erica did a long discussion about the formula of blues music and how this fit and how she can see how it would have been well received. Bob Dylan's Blues: I like this one more, interesting combination of very basic language with good metaphor. A hard rain's a-gonna fall: This one is a little on the nose for me and about 3 min too long. Don't think twice, it's alright: Sleeper. I've never heard this one before and I really like it. So far, my favorite on the album. Bob Dylan's Dream: Again, never heard of it, but I like this one. Oxford town: Okay, not my favorite Talkin' World War III Blues: This one is cute. Lighter and more fun. Bill does not like the sound of a harmonica. I think Abraham Lincoln said that. Corrina, Corrina: Like a tropical island blues with way better vocals. I'll put this one in the number 2 spot. Erica does not rank it that high. Honey, just allow me one more chance: Yeah, this one is okay. I shall be free: Haha, this one is silly. Not bad, not bad.

Bad Company

3/5

I have no expectations going into this. Bryant: These feel pretty quintessential 70s rock jams. It's not a bad album, a little hit or miss. Erica: This was the first album from Zeppelin's studio. It seems like a step backward from the strides Zepplin made in the genre to this. It's more bluesy and simplistic. I really like the songs' beginnings but they don't know what to do with it after that.

OK

Talvin Singh

1/5

Okay, two genres I don't care about put into one album. LFG! That Wiki about it is pretentious as hell and I don't give much credit to "this is great because it's different and they tried really, really hard." -Traveller- (We initially queued up a Led Zeppelin song accidentally and were VERY confused and were like, "this is unexpected and great, but WTF does he sound like Robert Plant?") Bryant: The world is sound. Got it. Bill doesn't mind this. The beats kicked in and Bill is less impressed. This guy does NOT sound like Robert Plant. I'm not sure if the world is still sound, but there's a lot of flute. 8 min in and I could use a snack. But not too much, we've still got a long way to go. Boom! Orchestra out of left field. Erica: And more flute, good, that's the one thing this song was lacking. I was hoping they'd throw it my way. -Butterfly- Erica: "This one kinda slaps. (2 sec later) This guy needs to travel to places with less flute. (2 sec later) starts dancing" She likes the "mandoliny thing". Bryant: 2 songs in and this one is my favorite on the album so far. -Sutrix- Bryant: I really hope this is Indian for "the world is sound" Erica: It sounds like she's saying milky something Bryant: Milky butt. Erica: If you're going to say one phrase over and over again, make sure it doesn't sound like milky butt in someone else's language. Both: Giggles every time she says milky butt. Bryant: Someone got a pan flute for Ramadan, awesome. The dude at the end just realized they were saying Milky Butt, maybe that was the start of the next one. Going into song three looking for a new favorite on the album. -Mombasstic- Bryant: I'm not on enough acid to enjoy this. -Decca- Bryant: I highly doubt this is a true story of Ecstasy. That was blessedly short. Erica: That scared me a little. -Eclipse- Bryant: This one seems okay. Very "prodigy". Halfway through the song and therefore the album. This has been an experience so far. Erica: *interpretive dancin* I like the background singers more than the main guy. I like the background on that quite a lot. Someone should sample it and put it in another song. -OK- Bryant: Title track, here we go. Sounds like a synthesized didgeridoo in the background. It's like girls singing over a 1980s arcade. I do not like this one. Erica: This might be my favorite so far. This is definitely the Japan song. It sounds like a fun one to sing, like the girls were having a good bouncy time. -Light- Bryant: Some smooth jazz. Alright. I officially don't get it. That said, this is probably my second favorite song on the album so far. Erica: This is his Pure Moods album tryout. This is good, I was really missing the flute. -Disser/Point.Mento.B- Bryant: Maybe if you have to try this hard, music isn't your thing. Kung-Fu fighting was written as a joke in 5 minutes in the studio and I'd rather listen to it on repeat than sit through this again. Erica: Eats an egg, "those white eggs are not as good, though." -Soni- Bryant: He misspelled sonic. That game had a better soundtrack than this. Erica: Grimace. I feel like you give me any instrument, preferably something I've never played before and I could do a passable impression of any song on this album. But maybe that's an argument for the "you have to know the rules in order to break the rules." Like, maybe a stunt man has to be really good before he can look like he falls. It sounds like they're falling. -Vikram The Vampire- Bryant: Ooh, lasers. Let's be honest. If this came on a playlist while I was listening to tunes, I'd give it the thumbs down and block artist and I'm like 2 min in. 30 seconds of silence at the end. Cool. Erica: By the title, I have higher hopes. The death of an old robot? What am I listening to? This is the 1 at the end of the 1001 albums. End notes: Bryant: With the other ones, even if I didn't really like it I could see how they were influential/whatever. This came out in 1998. The Prodigy had 3 platinum albums by then. There's nothing here that I see echoed anywhere else, thankfully. I have no idea why this made the 1001 anything. I guarantee some hipster gets a hard on anytime this comes up. Erica: I don't understand who listens to that. It's not boppy enough to be electronic dance scene, it's not chill enough to be "I'm high and want to listen to something transcendental." People who take mushrooms and want to have a bad trip listen to it. I think that the point is that the target audience is pretentious fucks who say they like it because it's like nothing else.

In The Court Of The Crimson King

King Crimson

2/5

-21st Century Schizoid Man- Bryant: Starting off strong here. Lots of early 70s vibes. Iron Man feel. Now we're off on a journey to funky town! I definitely didn't get enough sleep last night. Nap time? Feels more PsyRock than ProgRock. I don't hate it, but it wouldn't make it onto a playlist of mine. Erica: I could have done without the rambling middle, but it fits with the schizoid theme. The drummer is pretty excellent. -I Talk to the WInd- Bryant: This is different. I like it when they do the muffled mics on the drums to give them a softer sound. This feels Paul and Art vs Beach Boys. Erica: I was missing the flute from yesterday, glad we got that back. It's a pretty song though. I need to stop staring at that uvula. -Epitaph- Bryant: Dramatic intro. I wish the vocals were more forward. I like this one. --9Erica: I like the beginning, it's melancholy and broody. I like it, I'd listen to a radio cut. Reminds me of a Flight of the Conchords song. -Moonchild- Bryant: Very Bond-theme-esque. Half-way through and I think this one could end now. Yeah, that was a song. Erica: I feel like if you're to have a rock band, your lead singer shouldn't sound like he's quietly singing hymns. If you look at the contemporary bands in prog-rock, this is less cohesive and doesn't stand-out. -The Court of the Crimson King- Bryant: This is more like it. That's the best on the album so far. Erica: That one was probably maybe my favorite. But like... the radio cut. End notes: This one is another one I don't understand why it made the list. I guess if it's 1001 albums there's gonna be some questionable stuff. An album with one pretty good song that is about 6 minutes too long.

Appetite For Destruction

Guns N' Roses

5/5

I didn't get a chance to listen to this yesterday, but I've listened to it many times. Even My Michelle which is my least favorite on the record is honestly a great song. Mr. Brownstone was my fav on the album for a long time. All time great album. Can't recommend enough.

The Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest

3/5

I am not able to do a track by track on days I work, but I had no idea what I was getting into with this album. I found it pleasant and clever. Mostly, once I started to get a feel for it, it was like a really great soundtrack. Kinda great background music. But when I listen to the lyrics they are really clever. I liked the song that was basically "how not to get screwed by the music industry" sort of thing.

Suede

4/5

I had never heard of this band prior to listening to this album. Pretty interesting that it was the fastest selling album of all time for a while in Britain. Overall, it was okay. There were a lot of hints of other bands in it, but I didn't find anything to particularly write home about with this album. Erica: I dug it

Honky Tonk Masquerade

Joe Ely

2/5

This contributes to my influential doesn't equal good belief. He certainly may have influenced a lot of music I like, or maybe they were influenced by the same people. I appreciate the mix of country/blues/big band but it's an artist that was almost good. Fingernails was just bad. Erica: it's country. It's hard for me to be objective.

Heroes

David Bowie

3/5

I expected more from this. Didn't care for the first two songs or the instrumentals.

Orbital 2

Orbital

2/5

I did not enjoy this.

Odessey And Oracle

The Zombies

5/5

I had no idea what to expect going into this one but it was really good. Glad we listened to it.

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones

3/5

-Sympathy for the Devil- Without this we'd have never had the G'nR version so I'm thankful. This one didn't know when to end. BS aside that's a good song but I do like the GNR version better. -No Expectations- I have none going into this song. It ended and I wasn't paying attention. -Dear Doctor- Folksy. -Parachute Woman- Bluesy. Meh -Jigsaw Puzzle- This one is better, but what's up with the lyrics on this album? Sympathy was good, but these others are a bit lacking. -SFM- Yeah. It's okay. Pretty repetitive. -Prodigal Son- Be my swine? What is this? -Stray Cat Blues- Less bluesy. I like this one. -Factory Girl- Pretty sure this is objectively bad. -Salt of the Earth- This is one of my favorite Stones tracks aside from not knowing when to end. All in all I expected to like a lot more on this album but I didn't. These guys have some all time great songs. They also apparently have some strikes.

Cypress Hill

2/5

Bryant: Clearly, this is an album that wasn't made for me. That said, it pretty much glorifies violence for the entire album and endorses homophobia. I don't like that. When I was 20, I probably would have liked the weed tracks. I'm not 20 anymore. Erica: It's like they were trying to make theme songs for murdering people. This might have been the split that I didn't follow into rap.

Murmur

R.E.M.

3/5

Didn't know there was an REM album without a radio hit on it. This felt early and like he was trying to imitate another sound. Still worth a listen.

With The Beatles

Beatles

3/5

I do prefer this era of the Beatles, it's fun to bop to. I'll never understand the hysteria around them, but they had some tunes for sure.

Brothers

The Black Keys

4/5

This one was pretty good. Had some bangers.

Moby Grape

4/5

Couldn't find the whole album on Tidal, but I was pretty impressed with what I heard. I've never thought of myself as a big psychedelic rock fan, but this was good. As was The Zombies. And the Mamas and the Papas. Maybe I just don't like the Grateful Dead. Anyway, shame this band didn't have more success due to what sounds like mismanagement.

Tanto Tempo

Bebel Gilberto

3/5

If I were sitting in a small cafe by a riverwalk in a foreign land, I'd love this album. Basically anywhere else in my life it's reasonable background music, but I'm not going to get excited about it.

Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Bill Evans Trio

2/5

Two songs in and I had to turn it off before it put me to sleep. This is not my jam.

Bad

Michael Jackson

4/5

There were a couple of meh songs on here. I had no idea Man in the Mirror and Smooth Criminal were on the same album. MJ was a problematic person with a very troubled life but dude made some jams.

Stardust

Willie Nelson

2/5

First thing that strikes me is that Willie didn't write a single song on this album. That makes it hard for me to say it should be included in a best of list. Willie shouldn't sing blue skies. The Wikipedia page for the song gives this cover it's own section. Put that beside Ella's version and tell me it's better. I guess these are all just covers of really old songs. Put Unchained next to literally any other version and tell me it's better. Yeah. I'll take old blue eyes over braids on September Song every time. This is where I check out. I get it. Willie covers songs. My whole life is a lie. Apparently Willie Nelson didn't really write any good music. He wrote Crazy and then a whole bunch of other really problematic songs. Most of the hits by The Highwaymen weren't actually written by The Highwayman. What's going on right now?

The Cars

3/5

Okay. The Cars. Cool. I can name one song by them, this should be fun. - Hello Again - 80's-rific! They said the word car, take a drink. - Looking for Love - I spaced out through this one. No idea what it was like. - Magic - Boppy. - Drive - This is probably on my list of top 100 songs of all time. This is a jam. - Stranger Eyes - Not bad - You Might Think - Spaced out again. - It's Not the Night - This one is pretty funky. I dig it. I feel like it should be behind a montage in an 80s movie. - Why Can't I have You - This one is pretty chill, but his voice is really soothing in this one. Goes on too long though. - I Refuse - This one isn't great. - Heartbeat City - Not bad. Overall a great song mixed in with some 80s vibe. Meh.

The Who Sell Out

The Who

2/5

This is one of those things, man. "critics say this album is their best." Compared to Who's Next? Really? This is like a different band. Critics are the sellouts. I'm all about artists exploring their art, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Don't know unless you try. I don't think this one worked. Erica: I get it, it's a concept album. They're poking fun at themselves. Great. They were doing some jingles. But this music compared to their other music... do people even care about the music or just that the album is fun? Critics are the sellouts

Moss Side Story

Barry Adamson

3/5

As far as concept albums go, this is pretty solid. I'd never heard of it before but the artist did a great job of making a soundtrack feel that was still very musical. Even the sound effects have a rhythm to them tying the whole thing together. I may even listen to this album again.

Disraeli Gears

Cream

3/5

This album gave me its dark surprise. I didn't really have an opinion of Cream going into this; psy-rock isn't really my thing. About halfway through, psy-rock still isn't really my thing. You can't watch your wife and your outside womens too. Well okay. Yeah, it's gonna have to be quite the psy-rock album for me to get on board. This wasn't it. Erica: I liked it.

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

4/5

This was a pretty good album. I'm sorry that's all I really have. I like CSN&Y as a group and individually. This album was that. It didn't blow me away, but I'll definitely listen to it again. Erica: I was surprised by how many songs I knew which may make me biased due to nostalgia factor. I like the harmonies and guitar and a lot of these songs were top notch.

Tonight's The Night

Neil Young

2/5

Tonight's the Night In general, I like Neil Young. But remember, my liking and disliking of things exists almost entirely in the world of radio, I'm new to this album game. -Tonight's the Night- This highlights the mediocrity of his vocals. Honestly, his vocals are bad in the way Bob Dylan's are bad, yeah, they're bad, but sometimes it works. Either way, this song isn't my favorite -Speakin' Out- Yeah, just okay. -World on a String- Not bad. I like that he knows when to end a song. -Borrowed Tune- The guy is a poet with a good band. I like it. Not too much harmonica, that's appreciated. -Come on Baby, Let's go Downtown- This is the kind of tune that his voice is most adept at. Overall, pretty good. Erica: I didn't like the ones before this. It's like there was a time when the world wanted music to sound like it was being sung by a senile old man, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash. It all just sounds weak. At least on this one it sounded like he felt it. -Mellow my Mind- Okay, this one isn't good. This would be better if sung by anyone else. And had less harmonica. This is the drunk guy in the corner booth at karaoke who won't get up to sing. -Roll another number- This is reminiscent of REK. -Albequerque- The music on this one is really good. The vocals are beginning to grate on me. -New Mama- This is the NY I like. Good guitar, good harmonies. Nice. -Lookout Joe- Not bad, again, effort at harmony, good guitar. -Tired Eyes- Meh, back to the first stuff. -Pt 2- "Sing a song in a shaky voice that's a real as the day is long" Gonna have to disagree. A couple of good tracks on an otherwise overall mediocre album.

Pump

Aerosmith

4/5

This is one of the first albums I had. Got it at a garage sale maybe? Maybe from my sister. Had the cassette. I always skipped tracks 1, 4, and 6. This is definitely one of those situations (like so many we've already had) where you have to separate the art from the artist. But Aerosmith put out some hits. Let's get to it. -Young Lust- Yeah, it's okay. I can see why I skipped it. -FINE- Bopping little rock song. I love his grinding voice. -Going Down- Hit for a reason, good track. Juvenile humor driving lyrics with rocking musical accompaniment. -Monkey on my back- Yeah, I'd skip this one now. -Janie- This is what I'm talking about, feeling in the vocals. Even though a lot of them are essentially spoken, they're spoke with feeling. Erica: the same album with "Love in an Elevator" comes swinging at serial child abuse and murder. Heavy hitting. They're covering a lot of ground in this album. -Dulcimer Stomp- Yeah, I see why I skipped that before as well. Doesn't bother me, but it's nothing to write home about, but I had it separated from: -Take me to the Other Side- Which is great. -My Girl- This is one that should've had more play. I may think differently if I listened to the lyrics, I dunno. -Don't get mad get even- Meh. -Hoodoo- Meh -What it takes- Gold. This is the jam.

Blood, Sweat & Tears

3/5

This was not what I expected. It did not meet expectations. One of them sounds like Tom Jones. Another one sounds pretty. Another one sounds rock. I dunno. There are some good songs, but it's just a mixed bag. I don't like the gospel sound. It's still a technically good album, I just don't really like it.

Violator

Depeche Mode

4/5

Super long album that we were interrupted listening to, but great album, honestly.

Countdown To Ecstasy

Steely Dan

3/5

I didn't really have a whole lot of knowledge about Steely Dan aside from my like their sound. At the end of this album, I like their sound.

Heartbreaker

Ryan Adams

3/5

Erica: it's almost like a cross between Bob Dylan and The Goo Goo Dolls. And that's not a bad thing. Bryant: I was ready to make a crack about him being one B away from greatness, but I've never heard of this guy and I really like it. This is my jam. Tracks 2-4 were really good. He really pumped the brakes at track 5 and I didn't like it as much. I'd probably like the slower tracks in a different headspace, but I'm not there right now. I've heard "Come Pick Me Up". After we get past the harmonica it's pretty good. 5-8 cost this album a star for me. Why do they leave... I can pretty much always go with less harmonica. Shakedown... Ohhh some greaser rock, I dug this. Don't ask... Meh In my time of need... Better as far as the slow ones. Sweet lil gal... Really good piano at first, but the vocals didn't hold it. Overall, I'll listen to this again, but it could have been better.

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock

2/5

So yesterday, I had a long day at work. I asked Erica if she wanted to just lay out on the trampoline and listen to the album of the day to just unwind a bit. She declined, it was kinda windy. I'm glad we didn't. This is background music to a life that's not mine. I do not care about this album.

Deep Purple In Rock

Deep Purple

4/5

Going into this I knew "Smoke on the Water" and that was it. This album/band really surprised me. Much more range than I gave them credit for. Some solid 70s rock venturing into the neighborhood of Motley Crue. This was pretty great.

Synchronicity

The Police

2/5

Synchronicity It's the police Walking in your footsteps Sounds like he's saying "Woking in your food stamps." That pretty much ruined it for me Oh my God The Police have a sound. It's unique, but I'm not necessarily a fan. This sounds like that. Mother What the heck is this? Someone needs to check on Sting. Miss Gredenko That was better than the last song... Synchronicity II I don't like 2 part songs as a rule. This is at least a return to reasonable Police music Every Breath You Take Ahhh. Classic creeper song. King of Pain Mother should have had this track name. This one wasn't bad. Wrapped around your finger I also recognize this one. This album took some warming up. This one is okay. Tea in the Sahara This song was a nap Murder by numbers This album was murdered by the number of bad songs. +1

Graceland

Paul Simon

3/5

Bryant: Paul Simon is one of those guys who I don't like most of his stuff but occasionally he hits a really great song. You Can Call me Al is one of those. I'd never heard Under African Skies but it was pretty good too. Erica: I like 'em all. Bryant: Now I wanna meet Fat Charlie the Archangel. Crazy love is pretty good. All around the world was also pretty good. Erica: I like Paul Simon, he does a fair bit of talking through his songs but it sounds like he's feeling it and he's melodic. I like how he really champions African music with references and inclusion on this album. I like the layers of the instruments and how each song has a positive momentum. Bryant: I liked this more than I thought I would. I'd give this a 3.5 if I could.

The Gershwin Songbook

Ella Fitzgerald

3/5

Ella is an all-timer. She has a marvelous and soulful voice that can carry so very much emotion. I don't think that was highlighted with this album. I like the Gershwin songs and I think she did a technically fantastic job of singing them, but technical excellence isn't why I listen to Ella. Give me some of the Louis or Duke collabs any day. Someone to Watch Over Me was a highlight for sure.

Aftermath

The Rolling Stones

2/5

Bryant: The Stones are a prolific band. They put out a lot of music and put out a lot of hits but they're not really consistent. They also have a lot of meh. Basically every hit of theirs, I like the cover better. Erica: Except Paint it Black. Bryant: yeah, that one is perfect. Erica: I was thinking about covers the other day. Usually when you make a hit song, it's because you tried something new and you create emotions around that song which makes it easier for the covers. They get the existing emotions and the ability to play with the song with more abandon. Bryant: Yeah, the songs where The Stones took chances and made something kinda new were the best ones. A lot of this album is not great borrowed sounds. Erica: It's like Jagger, who is super unfortunate looking, wrote a bunch of wishful thinking songs. "I have a face that looks like it was hit by a mallet and I sound like a goat but if I write some good songs and shake my hips I can get the ladies." Bryant: It worked. Erica: I'd give it 3 stars if it didn't have so many misogynistic lyrics, but I can't in good conscience give it a good rating. Bryant: if it didn't have PiB, it'd be an easy 2. Whatever, it's okay, but I won't listen to this album again.

Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby

Terence Trent D'Arby

2/5

Track 1 This dude has some pipes. Track 2 B: This is very MJ. E: Can't blame him. It's like a cross between Mikey and Stevie Track 3 I thought Tina Turner sang this. He apparently lost the best new artist to Jody Watley formerly of Shalimar in 1988. Track 4 Okay Track 5 Would you care to dance grandmother? I'm in. This was boppy. Track 6 Oohh. Getting srs. I could do without the screeching. Track 7 E: Reasonable and measured romantic gestures make terrible songs. B: you were just complaining about the misogyny. E: there are other options B: you do like the rapey songs. Track 8 This is where I list track. Meh

Solid Air

John Martyn

2/5

Track 1 The air is more solid than his pronunciation. Mumbles McGuitar over here. Track 2 Better. Words and more upbeat. Track 3 Emotive slosh mouth. I don't hate it. Track 4 He tried to get more rocky here. Reminiscent of Jim Morrison. Not bad at the start but it kinda fell flat about half way through and just stayed there. Track 5 Yikes Track 6 Man. This is not good. Track 7 I dunno. My ear drums fell asleep and I gave up about here.

Smile

Brian Wilson

1/5

I admittedly went into this expecting very little. Brian Wilson is reportedly pretty hard to work with and so I couldn't think his breakout stuff was gonna be good. Wow. I struggled through half of this album and couldn't do it any more. My first 1 rating. This was awful.

Lost In The Dream

The War On Drugs

4/5

I know of this band but couldn't tell you anything they've done. -Under the pressure- Man, this is good. This is kinda my jam. Little hints of some Tom Petty meets Bob Dylan in the best possible way in his voice. -Red eyes- This is a fun album so far. Really well put-together sound. -Suffering- I blinked on this one. Got busy. I'm sure it was fine. -An Ocean Between the Waves- Has an 80s movie soundtrack vibe. I dig it. Ended rather abruptly. -Disappearing- This one was okay. -Eyes to the wind- Better -The haunting idle- Meh -Burning- And we're back. Nice vibe on this song. -Lost in the dream- A bit more Dylan coming out in this one. But it's still kinda nice. -In reverse- The first part of this was like the music they put on at the end of your massage. This is a good album. It's going into the rotation.

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin

3/5

This is a Zeppelin album. Not my fav album, but has Kashmir which is pretty redemptive. I like Zeppelin so it's hard for me to be super objective. This was a pretty good album, but not a great one.

Trout Mask Replica

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

1/5

Yeah, didn't make it far into this. That's terrible.

Guero

Beck

3/5

This was a good album. Not my favorite album, but it was good. I give it an even 3, Erica a low 4.

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

2/5

Four songs and 45 minutes. This isn't Mozart so I'm probably not going to like this. Made it 6 minutes into walk on by. Made it 3 minutes into ld;fasjuioruean;cvfkld;auiea One Woman was pretty good. This is what's frustrating. He knows how to make a song go somewhere, this one had movements and changes and was only 5 minutes long. Walk on by went literally nowhere for 12 minutes (I spot checked the second half of the song). Can't wait to see what this 19 min guy has in store. 9 minutes of talking. Awesome. At least it decided to go somewhere after that. Okay, it has a couple of movements in it. This wouldn't be terrible ifit didn't start with 9 minutes of talking. Frustrating album because the actual music is good. The knowing when to stop is non-existant. This album feels self important.

High Violet

The National

4/5

I like these guys' sound. Erica is a fan. I like his voice. Blood buzz Ohio is a definite treat. Runaway also really nice. Overall really nice album.

Giant Steps

The Boo Radleys

3/5

This is pretty good, honestly. I'd give it a 4 but it didn't know when to stop. 17 tracks is too many tracks. White noise revisited really needed to stop before it did. Well before.

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

3/5

This one was an emotional rollercoaster. I didn't expect to like it because I didn't really know much about the white stripes. Then I really did like it. Despite having a very unique sound, they covered a lot of ground with a lot of different genres and a lot of different moods. That was great. Aluminum was a terrible song. And, this album went on about five tracks too long. All in all, I think they're going to end up with a three that should have been a four.

Ragged Glory

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

2/5

I saw this album and thought, "I really can't do another Neil Young today". Justin said it was better and I should give it a shot. It's better. The music is much better, but his voice. I just can't.

Grace

Jeff Buckley

3/5

I was really only familiar with hallelujah. Just to be clear this is the only version of hallelujah. I found the rest of the album kind of mediocre, but I'm not sure I knew what to expect going in. Apparently this guy was super influential with a bunch of people that I really like and respect. I may have to give this album a second listen in a different frame of mind.

Frampton Comes Alive

Peter Frampton

4/5

I wasn't able to listen to all of this. I actually own this vinyl. I don't like live music on an album. That being said, it's a really good album.

The Soft Bulletin

The Flaming Lips

2/5

The music on this was quite good. The singer is not and while it works for some of the songs and is stylistically appropriate, I found the voice often distracting from the music to the point of making it unpleasant.

Surfer Rosa

Pixies

4/5

Yeah, this is a solid album. It's got hits and pretty much every song is good. This would be a 4.5 stars if that were an option.

Future Days

Can

2/5

This is weird. I don't like these really long songs. There was nothing /wrong/ with the album, but it's not for me.

We Are Family

Sister Sledge

4/5

Dang. This was great. It's not my typical musical genre, but they had great harmonies, reasonable variation in the sound and not a single song I just really didn't like.

Document

R.E.M.

3/5

Meh, this is okay, but Stipe's voice gets a little tedious. There are some good songs on here, but stuff like Exhuming McCarthy, could do without.

At Newport 1960

Muddy Waters

3/5

Another live album. Cool. This one doesn't have a super "live" sound which is nice. I completely get the appeal of this. This is the framework for a lot of sounds I really like, this is just too repetitive for me.

Happy Trails

Quicksilver Messenger Service

3/5

This is really good background music for a beach blanket Babylon where you're more interested in the vibe than in the music itself. I am not at a beach blanket Babylon.

Ágætis Byrjun

Sigur Rós

4/5

This was really nice! I didn't expect to recognize songs on it but I did. Just can't place where from. This is going into the rotation.

Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Immigrant song Utter masterpiece Friends Meh Celebration Day Mmkay Since I've been loving you Nice. This was a jam. How have I not heard this one before? Erica: I love this song, it's one of their more underrated songs. (Of course she knows it, I think I really need this music discovery journey we're on) Out on the tiles Also a jam. Gallows pole You know, this may be one of the greatest rock bands in history! Tangerine Meh That's the way This is nice. I like this. Bron-y-aur stomp I don't, as a rule, like stomp songs. Rules are made to be broken. This is good. Hats off to (Roy) Harper Not a great ender

Fromohio

fIREHOSE

3/5

This was okay. Not great. It's hard for me to even have a hard opinion about it.

Welcome To The Pleasuredome

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

2/5

Sign 'O' The Times

Prince

3/5

Prince is Prince, he's a legend for a reason. That said, he's not an artist I enjoy a whole album of at a time. So many of his songs are great additions to playlists for specific times and places, this album was no exception, but for me, he's an ingredient, not a whole dish.

Elvis Is Back

Elvis Presley

3/5

I've never been a big Elvis fan, but that was pretty good. His voice is certainly smooth, and I like it better with slower songs. It's hard to explain, but it feels like (to me) many of the same bands/artists of this era performed in a way that removed them from their listeners to some degree. Maybe it's the new remastering of the tracks, but Elvis does seem to have a quality of intimacy to his performance. There's a feeling of closeness that I don't get from a lot of other artists of this time. Maybe that's why all the girlies got the vapors.

2112

Rush

5/5

Holy crap, I'm really surprised how much I liked that. The only thing I really knew of Rush was the Tom Sawyer one from Rock Band, and it's not my favorite. There wasn't a single song on this album that I didn't like (even the 20 minute long one, although songs should never be that long). Tears was beautiful. Period. I will listen to more of them now.

Bongo Rock

Incredible Bongo Band

3/5

I kind of expected this to be a joke, but the joke was on me. It's bongo... but it's good. It's not "sit and listen with the headphones on" kind of stuff, but it's a killer day at the beach soundtrack.

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles

2/5

I've spent a lot of time saying that The Beatles that I don't like is the psychedelic stuff because I thought that was true. I also don't like this. I just don't like their voices. Or the music really. They have some songs I like, but none of them were on this album.

Screamadelica

Primal Scream

2/5

This is an album that appears on this list. Of that I'm certain. Why? who knows. How? you got me. But it's here.

Bone Machine

Tom Waits

1/5

This is not John Waite. This is bad. I tried man, i really did. But I couldn't make it more than a minute into any of the 8M songs on this album. Someone listened to this and was like, "This guy's a star". That person should do less cocaine.

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Public Enemy

2/5

Didn't listen to much of this one, just skimmed through a few songs. This genre of music (I think especially in this era) is overwhelmingly lyrically driven and I don't have the bandwidth right now to comb through lyrics. I heard some good beats and sampling from some tight 70's era brass, and I liked that. If I had grown up with this, it would probably have been a jam but I don't have any emotional connection to it.

Mask

Bauhaus

3/5

This was very '80s. I appreciate that it spawned a goth pop genre. Had flavors of David Bowie.

The Wall

Pink Floyd

4/5

This is the first time in a long time I've listened to this whole album. The songs on this album are great. There's also a lot of just noise and ambient sounds I could do without. But the tunes are pretty stellar.

Gorillaz

2/5

This was a bit of a different one. The first two songs were not good. The third one was pretty good. There was a song that sounded like Elmo sing it. There was a song that they hired a fifth grader with his recorder to play in. Some of the stuff was pretty good, a lot of it was not. Strange.

Ace of Spades

Motörhead

2/5

This is frustrating. The music, the instruments, are really good. His voice is rough but it fits the feel. But the lyrics are so simple and frankly problematic that it ruins it. Glorifying pedophilia is not cool. I bet they'd be awesome shows if not populated by the Sturgis crowd. And that's who would be there. This also only has one level. Yeah. 2.

Doolittle

Pixies

3/5

I was pretty familiar with this album going in. It's got most of the songs of theirs I like on it. Overall it's a good album but some of their stuff just really misses for me.

Songs Of Love And Hate

Leonard Cohen

2/5

I did not like this album. Leonard Cohen does not have a voice for public consumption. He has written some really good songs. This album also shows that he has written some very incredibly mediocre songs. I think he's great when he has other people to bring his better poetry to life. This was not an example of that.

Youth And Young Manhood

Kings of Leon

3/5

This was early KoL. I really think they grew into their sound more with later albums. This was okay but he has such an expressive voice and this album doesn't highlight it.

Power In Numbers

Jurassic 5

3/5

There was nothing wrong with this album. I rather enjoyed it.

Boy In Da Corner

Dizzee Rascal

2/5

It was absolutely nothing notable about this except for how unnotable it was. We listened to one and a half songs.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

2/5

I didn't enjoy this. Lauryn Hill has a pretty intense vocal talent, but this album just didn't come together. I remember hearing about it and how it was critically acclaimed in all of that, but this absolutely didn't do it for me.

Rumours

Fleetwood Mac

5/5

This is one of the best albums ever created.

Caetano Veloso

3/5

Would be nice for a chill day at an Italian cafe.

In It For The Money

Supergrass

4/5

I liked this. It's like a grungier Neon Trees.

Modern Life Is Rubbish

Blur

3/5

Modern Life might be rubbish but I don't think this album is. I thought it was kind of chill and background and a lot more mellow than I expected blur to be. I liked it. Erica: I like his vocals in other stuff, but this wasn't bad.

All Hail the Queen

Queen Latifah

2/5

There was an awful lot of introducing herself for being a Queen. The kids song was weird. Not my jam.

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

3/5

This was pretty good. I can see the draw. It's not as good as I really expected though, thb. Lola is epic and this is... simpler.

The Atomic Mr Basie

Count Basie & His Orchestra

3/5

This is good for what it is. I'm sure at the time it was groundbreaking stuff, but I have to view it through the lens of the current day and it's seemingly standard in hindsight. Either way, it's enjoyable.

Everything Must Go

Manic Street Preachers

5/5

This was really good. Erica liked it a lot. This was super solid and I'll add it to my playlists.

L'Eau Rouge

The Young Gods

2/5

I did not like this nor finish it. There's a time and a place for this. Next time I'm a spy in a French nightclub going tet a tet with a criminal mastermind... I'll give it a spin.

Stephen Stills

3/5

Substantially better than the NY albums we've had. Great voice and pleasant music.

New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

Simple Minds

4/5

Some pretty rad 80s ethereal synth. I liked this quite a bit, honestly.

After The Gold Rush

Neil Young

2/5

This was better than I expected. Neil Young does some much better with harmony and there was a lot more harmony in this one. His voice is a spice, not a dish. That being said, I wouldn't voluntarily listen to this again.

Tapestry

Carole King

5/5

Typically I only give 5 stars if there are no songs I don't like. This is an exception. There are so many fantastic songs on here that I can let Smackwater Jack slide. Incredible album.

If I Should Fall From Grace With God

The Pogues

3/5

It's a Pogues album. If you like this kind of music, you'll love this album. This is one of those "Finest examples of X music" kind of albums. If you're into Irish punk-folk, this is the bees knees. I'm very hot and cold on the genre and therefore the album. So... 3 stars.

Larks' Tongues In Aspic

King Crimson

2/5

Well... this is... something. Kicking off with a 13-minute instrumental is a choice. The Crimson King is the bad guy in my favorite book series, Stephen King's Dark Tower series. It's also really long. Whew. Glad that's over. Book of Saturday - Sounds like a synth guitar? That's really the focus of the song and the vocals are so far below it that they're kinda unintelligible. That's not fun for me. Exiles - Okay, why is this on the 1001 albums I "must listen to"? If this song were better, it'd be okay. Easy Money - GET TO THE POINT! Erica and I went to an open mic night once in Bournemouth, UK. These two guys got up there with these keyboards and just played noises for like 10 min straight. Like, dogs barking, glass breaking, squeaks, hums. This is reminiscent of that. The Talking Drum - 3 minutes of barely audible drumming. Outstanding. And here are the sad strings. Good Lort. I'll never get that 8 minutes back. Part II - I dunno.. better than part 1 I guess. This was #20 on the Rolling Stone's best prog-rock albums of all time. This does not make me want to take that list seriously.

Odelay

Beck

4/5

Yeah, this is a pretty cherry album. Odelay indeed.

All Mod Cons

The Jam

2/5

This was okay. I'd have liked it a lot more if it had a different lead singer. He does that thing with his voice where it sounds like... I dunno like when goofy does the Yuck Yuck laugh, like you're artificially increasing the size of your pharynx. The Thin Lizzy guy does the same thing and I don't like it. Anyway, the music was pretty good, the lyrics were super repetitive and I didn't like the vocals.

The Last Broadcast

Doves

4/5

The intro hit and I thought, "oh boy, another one of these." Then there was Words... oh, I'm interested now... There Goes The Fear? There goes my initial concerns, this is a groove. Reminds me of The Shins, but brighter. Like a festival version of The Shins... Kinda kept that vibe going. NY was a bit more of a miss for me. Satellites was good. Friday's Dust was.. something completely different. The Sulphur Man was back to the good stuff. Caught by the River is definitely my jam. Has a Christian rock feel, but in that Vertical Horizon kinda way. This is good. This band will make the rotation.

Make Yourself

Incubus

3/5

Meh, I just don't really like incubus. The album is fine. It's whatever.

Beautiful Freak

Eels

3/5

This was pretty good. One of the songs reminded me of several other songs. It was the song Susan's House. I did a whole write up about this on my work computer and then didn't hit save... so this is what you get. 3 stars. Which makes me feel bad about giving Incubus 3 stars, because this was way better.

British Steel

Judas Priest

1/5

I don't like Judas Priest.

The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem

4/5

This is a pretty fantastic album. But.... there are a couple of songs I don't really like so 4 stars.

You've Come a Long Way Baby

Fatboy Slim

3/5

If you like late '90s and early 2000s techno music, this is the album for you. I am fairly indifferent on this but this is, obviously, a prime example of that. So yeah.

The Bones Of What You Believe

CHVRCHES

4/5

This was better than I thought it would be. Erica apparently likes a couple of songs from this band. I thought that overall this was super listenable. Honestly, I will add this to my playlist and I felt like there wasn't a song on here that I super disliked.

Exit Planet Dust

The Chemical Brothers

3/5

If you have seen my previous review of Fatboy slim, this is the exact same review. Techno. There we go.

Live And Dangerous

Thin Lizzy

2/5

Ugh

Moon Safari

Air

4/5

This was good. Nostalgic. I likey.

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Arctic Monkeys

3/5

This is the very epitome of a three-star album. The music on this album is absolutely fine. There is nothing outstanding about it. There is nothing bad about it. It's just really music. I would put this on a music playlist to walk around a city and give me a pep in my step any day. Pick any song. That's the song to walk around a city to. Do you want a song to really connect to you on emotional level? Look elsewhere.

Clandestino

Manu Chao

3/5

My wife really liked this guy in college. Listening now, sometimes I wanted to light up a spliff in my dorm room, sometimes I wanted to just turn it off, sometimes it was a decent background album. Not something I'd go to as a listen, but it wasn't bad.

Reign In Blood

Slayer

4/5

This was some pretty sick thrash. I'd never really listened to Slayer. I wouldn't have liked it 5 or 6 years ago, but after getting into doom for a while, this was pretty great.

Pretenders

3/5

This isn't who/what I thought the Pretenders were. Brass in Pocket is a jam but the rest of it was non-offensive ambient sound. It was fine, but didn't really stand out.

Smokers Delight

Nightmares On Wax

3/5

Just... like... background bossa nova? Soundtrack to a chill day? Sure. I mean I don't dislike it.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

4/5

Tom Petty is one of those guys who does not have a great voice but the emotion that he puts into his music more than makes up for it. This album has a couple of just fantastic songs and a few pretty all right songs.

The Score

Fugees

3/5

The Fugees have some really killer songs but I don't find them super consistent. This album is much like that. The lyrics are very intelligent and speak to issues that are really from a world I have a part of. Overall, not bad.

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black

Public Enemy

2/5

This was tough. A lot of the samples were grating. This ended up being a DNF for me. It sounds like there's some good messaging in there and I liked a couple of the songs like Can't Truss It (although it irritated me that they were clearly saying trust instead of truss) Overall, not my jam.

D

White Denim

3/5

This was weird. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. It sounds like a band that was almost really good, but just didn't have that "thing".

LP1

FKA twigs

3/5

This was pretty good.

Aqualung

Jethro Tull

2/5

I'd never really listened to much Jethro Tull before. I didn't realize how heavily they leaned on that jazz flute. A little too much for me.

A Wizard, A True Star

Todd Rundgren

1/5

This is not a real album. This is a demo tape that you get from the 30-year-old guy who sells LSD to college kids in the dorms at a small Midwestern public university.

Green River

Creedence Clearwater Revival

4/5

This is an album of straight hits. Fully solid.

This Year's Model

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

4/5

I thought Elvis Costello was a lot softer than this. This was unexpected and I quite liked it. I wouldn't give it a five-star, but it's a four star for sure.

In Utero

Nirvana

4/5

Solid from Nirvana. Not a 5... but good.

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

3/5

Figure 8

Elliott Smith

3/5

I had never heard of this guy before. It was nice soft background music, overall well put together a good production. I liked it.

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

3/5

Yeah. It's an Oasis album. I've never really been a big fan, but I get why people like it.

Superunknown

Soundgarden

4/5

This is another of those albums where I can almost forgive the songs I don't really like because of how much I like the songs I do like. Almost... but not quite. Brilliant album all around though.

Spiderland

Slint

4/5

I'd never heard of this band before, but with the exception of the last song, I really dug this album. It was dark and broody if a little over-instrumental. I've recommended this to a couple of people now and I'll put it in the rotation.

Channel Orange

Frank Ocean

2/5

When this first started, I was kind of excited. I didn't expect it to sound like that at all, it has a nice sound to it overall. The lyrics really lost me.

The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths

3/5

Yeah, not really listened to the Smiths before, but this was pretty good. I'd give it another go.

Younger Than Yesterday

The Byrds

3/5

Yeah, not bad. It feels familiar. It's like finding a jacket like one you used to love while at a thrift store.

Destroyer

KISS

4/5

I've never really listened to much KISS. This was great. I could have done without the last two tracks, but I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Cloud Nine

The Temptations

3/5

Yeah, this was fine.

The Poet

Bobby Womack

2/5

This was not good. Certainly not my thing. It's rough and unrefined and sounds like a first pass at an album.

Meat Puppets II

Meat Puppets

2/5

I've quite literally been to garage parties with better bands than this. I'm sure they influenced whoever and yeah Plateau and Oh, my ended up being fairly good songs when performed by other people, but they really needed to be performed by other people. Why is this on here?

Hot Fuss

The Killers

5/5

This was honestly great. The first half was "Killer" and the second half fell off a bit but not a single song I didn't like.

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa

3/5

This is objectively good music, but just not where I was today to listen to it. I'll give it a go again, but it didn't really do it for me.

Stripped

Christina Aguilera

3/5

Unquestionably talented vocalist with a strong, high production backing... and I just couldn't care about it.

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

John Lennon

2/5

Yikes.

Rubber Soul

Beatles

3/5

Well... crap. In general, I don't like the Beatles. But this was good. Breaking down some walls. I kinda wish I could give it a 3.5. But we round down!

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

The Smashing Pumpkins

4/5

If anyone but Billy Corgan was singing this is about as 5 stars as it gets... but he is. Either way, this is an incredible album of music.

Feast of Wire

Calexico

3/5

I listened to this twice. I still don't remember it. It is apparently very good background music, but I really can't speak to more than that.

Are You Experienced

Jimi Hendrix

3/5

Man, I wanna start off by saying there is absolutely nothing wrong with this album. It's technically great. His guitar playing is otherworldly sometimes and his contributions to music are unquestionable. This just isn't my jam. I'd not turn any of it off, but I wouldn't intentionally go and put it on either.

The Boatman's Call

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

3/5

The next time I have a deep longing to be horribly depressed, I will just put this on repeat. Dude's got a good voice, but Lord is it all one level in that level is low.

Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen

3/5

This is pretty good. I don't have much else to say about that. I had to look up if the song Toadies came out before the band The Toadies. It did. Huh.

Gentlemen

The Afghan Whigs

3/5

New song starts, hey, this is pretty good. Halfway through it, wtf happened? Repeat x album.

Imagine

John Lennon

3/5

If the Lennon albums I've heard, I liked this one most.

L.A. Woman

The Doors

3/5

A group of very talented people making music that doesn't speak to me.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake

Small Faces

2/5

It's like I went back and made a list of all the things about 60s and 70s music that I didn't like and this band used it as their inspiration. It's definitely music, but yish.

Violent Femmes

3/5

I got this album when I was about 11 and it was unlike anything I'd heard and I loved it. I haven't listened to it in probably 30 years and it doesn't really hold up, but my nostalgia says it gets a 3.

Picture Book

Simply Red

2/5

This was tough.

Talking Timbuktu

Ali Farka Touré

3/5

I actually really liked this.

m b v

My Bloody Valentine

2/5

Couldn't get into it.

Live At The Regal

B.B. King

4/5

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. A lot of the lyrics/talks are a bit... dated.. but I didn't even mind the live aspect on this one. It seemed to fit. Didn't care much for the last song but the rest was pretty great.

Aja

Steely Dan

3/5

This was slower and more mellow than I anticipated. Pretty good background music.

NEU! 75

Neu!

2/5

This was trying to kill me. I was driving and it tried to lull me to sleep.

Seventeen Seconds

The Cure

2/5

I like it when The Cure sings. They really didn't on this. It was like an entire album of B side experimental music.

The Message

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

2/5

This really took a turn after the Stevie Wonder song. This was... Strange.

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter

The Incredible String Band

2/5

Stop trying to kill me!

Suzanne Vega

3/5

I appreciate that she doesn't have a super powerful voice and so uses her quiet voice to create vocal topography in the album but it's overall a bit underwhelming.

The Band

4/5

This is like Death Cab and Guster meets the Beach Boys. I actually really liked it.

So Much For The City

The Thrills

4/5

That last review was supposed to go here. "this is like death cab for cutie and guster meets The Beach Boys and I really liked it."

Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park

2/5

I have such a primal dislike for Linkin Park because the absolute douchiest bully type people I knew growing up loved it. Which sucks because the music was intended to be an anthem against this very people. Musically, he screams too much for me.

Either Or

Elliott Smith

3/5

This is another non-album. Nothing wrong with it, but utterly unmemorable. This is the soundtrack to a very particular kind of day, like laid back 90s California beach day.

Bookends

Simon & Garfunkel

4/5

Some of their best work.

Black Holes and Revelations

Muse

3/5

Erica would take all the leftover stars and throw them at this album. For me... it's nice, but it's spice, not an entree.

Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)

Loretta Lynn

4/5

What a voice. I wish her more woman power songs would have met more radio play, but the times dictated she's "Stand by your man" instead of "The Shoe is on the Other Foot". Really great overall.

25

Adele

5/5

Again with the voice cannon. This was a fantastic and emotionally mature journey through love and loss. Outstanding.

Whatever

Aimee Mann

2/5

I didn't like this

Tubular Bells

Mike Oldfield

1/5

Why is this here?

Songs In The Key Of Life

Stevie Wonder

2/5

Not my jam

Scum

Napalm Death

3/5

This is much more where I am today. Some grindcore with death and doom notes. Not bad. I did not need 27 songs of it.

Lost Souls

Doves

4/5

I unexpectedly really liked this. I'll put this on the list.

(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)

Lynyrd Skynyrd

5/5

This is an all-timer.

The Wildest!

Louis Prima

2/5

I'm sure this is a great example of whatever, but just not my thing.

Natty Dread

Bob Marley & The Wailers

3/5

Bob Marley is one of the very few artists for whom I prefer their live stuff. He's stifled too much by the requirements of studio recording. This is fine, but it's not the Bob I like.

Kilimanjaro

The Teardrop Explodes

2/5

Pretty generic late 80s, early 90s synth pop. Meh.

More Songs About Buildings And Food

Talking Heads

2/5

I do not like his voice. I do not particularly care for the music.

Central Reservation

Beth Orton

4/5

Yeah, great voice, nice mellow tunes. I dig it.

#1 Record

Big Star

3/5

This was nice. I liked this. I'd never heard of the band really, but have heard one of the songs.

Vespertine

Björk

3/5

This is a time/place album, but I appreciate the musicianship.

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

4/5

My favorite AC/DC album.

So

Peter Gabriel

2/5

Meh

Innervisions

Stevie Wonder

2/5

Meh. I'm beginning to think I'm not a SW fan.

Hotel California

Eagles

5/5

Absolutely solid album. There's a reason it's 26x platinum in the US. (Full disclosure, I'd actually probably rate it a 4, but I accidentally gave the Lynyrd Skynyrd album a 5 and it should have been a 4 and I think they're about equal)

Connected

Stereo MC's

3/5

Meh. It's fine.

Dare!

The Human League

2/5

Had no idea they sung that last song. That's a jam. The rest was like dime store depeche mode.

Me Against The World

2Pac

4/5

Man, I remember this album. It's been a while since I've listened through it and it's just so good. RI2P

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

2/5

Some kind of diet blues? Meh.

Palo Congo

Sabu

2/5

Yeah, it's like the drum circle at La Universidad de Mexico Centrale got some studio time.

Ghosteen

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

3/5

If there were a Grammy for beautifully depressing, this would win forever.

Led Zeppelin

3/5

When Zeppelin hits it, they really hit it. This album is a little early and for me, doesn't quite hit it.

Liege And Lief

Fairport Convention

3/5

There's a lot I like about this but it feels just a little unfinished. I'd see this band at a local bar/venue regularly if they played.

Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth

4/5

I've never listened to Sonic Youth before. I really dug this. It's between a 3 and 4 for me. I'm going to give it a 4 so I don't forget to add it in later.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

2/5

First thought: man I really know this band's name from growing up. I don't really remember much about them. Second thought: yeah this is okay. I mean, I get why people would like it. Third thought: 42 F*C#ING TRACKS?!?! I'm out.

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

3/5

Did you know these guys are from California?

American IV: The Man Comes Around

Johnny Cash

1/5

I hate this album.

Back to Mystery City

Hanoi Rocks

3/5

Yeah, I kinda dug this.

Time Out

The Dave Brubeck Quartet

2/5

I'm sure this is good jazz.

69 Love Songs

The Magnetic Fields

2/5

I'm not going to listen to 3 hours of love songs from a no-name band

Dire Straits

3/5

These straits were pretty dire. If you like dire in your straits, you'll like this.

There's No Place Like America Today

Curtis Mayfield

2/5

I remember Dire Straits. I remember The Stooges... I listened to this in between and have zero recollection. Must have been a banger.

Raw Power

The Stooges

4/5

This is the band I wanted The Doors to be. I've not listened to them before, but I like it.

The Yes Album

Yes

3/5

No. This was mostly the no album. A couple of good songs, good musicianship, but just not my thing.

The Gilded Palace Of Sin

The Flying Burrito Brothers

3/5

This was a precursor to a lot of stuff I like, it sounds like. It wasn't bad.

She's So Unusual

Cyndi Lauper

3/5

Cyndi has a couple of bangers, but mostly I don't like her music much.

Chore of Enchantment

Giant Sand

2/5

Is this more Nick Cave? It was some kind of a chore.

Talking Heads 77

Talking Heads

3/5

There are a couple of songs by the Talking Heads that I would not want anyone else to sing. Most of the rest, I'd want anyone else to sing.

One World

John Martyn

2/5

This was pretty hard to get through. Was he eating a burrito the whole time? Was his mom in the next room so he was practicing his singing really quietly? Who knows.

American Idiot

Green Day

5/5

This album is great. Green Day is like the band that grew up with us. The music has become more refined and sophisticated but the same angst and disobedience remain. The melodic harmonies presenting dystopian lyrics are buying a latte while the world burns. It's the life of their generation.

The Renaissance

Q-Tip

2/5

Not bad beats, but the voice is too much.

Yeezus

Kanye West

1/5

Fuck Kanye.

Can't Buy A Thrill

Steely Dan

3/5

This was better than the last Steely Dan, but still super soft. It's just a disconnect between expectations and what's delivered. Had some solid songs though.

Kenza

Khaled

1/5

Henry's Dream

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

2/5

I think I just don't like Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.

Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Lana Del Rey

3/5

She has a fanstastic voice. This album was way more low-key than a lot of her other stuff. What I really don't like is that whisper singing thing she does a lot on this album. So menos puntos.

The Stone Roses

4/5

I liked this. I felt like I'd heard something else from them, but I guess not. This was good.

Closer

Joy Division

3/5

This was fine, also not what I was expecting. I don't know why they chose this album and not the Mountain Wave one that everyone loves.

Raw Like Sushi

Neneh Cherry

2/5

This was reaching beyond her grasp. She had a lot to say about a wide range of topics but her ability to effectively communicate those positions was... not great. But... buffalo stance, amIrite? Super standard style of the time.

Juju

Siouxsie And The Banshees

3/5

A little Joan Jett punky stuff. It's not bad. I wouldn't turn it off.

The Stooges

2/5

The darker and broodier songs were great. The music on everything else was great. But outside of those couple of darker songs it was just really simple, repetitive stuff with lyrics that were written by a 6th grader at lunch.

Sheer Heart Attack

Queen

5/5

There were a number of songs on here I'd never heard before and there wasn't a single song I didn't like. Queen. Legends.

Music From Big Pink

The Band

3/5

I don't know much about The Band, but they're pretty generically of the time. The Weight is a good tune, but the rest of it just seems uninspired.

Let's Stay Together

Al Green

4/5

This was a jam. I don't know much Al Green, but that voice... those jams... man, I'll listen to more of this.

Electric Prunes

The Electric Prunes

3/5

This is a melting pot of every band in the late 60s early 70s.

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens

4/5

This is way better than I expected. It's fun, but it's very one level. And in some of the songs they do that thing where you really can't understand the lyrics even if you're trying which I'm not a fan of. I'm really between a 3 and 4 on this, but I'm feeling generous.

Amnesiac

Radiohead

3/5

I'm actually a pretty big fan of Radiohead. This album disappointed. There were a couple of good tracks, but it was far more repetitive than their normal stuff. Sad day.

Shleep

Robert Wyatt

2/5

This was just weird.

Call of the Valley

Shivkumar Sharma

3/5

I could really go for a nice schwarma or a vindaloo. Definitely some papadums.

Master Of Puppets

Metallica

4/5

This is a solid offering from Metallica. Thrash gem.

Tusk

Fleetwood Mac

3/5

Man. I guess there's a reason why FMs greatest hits is basically Rumors with a few other songs.

Fly Or Die

N.E.R.D

3/5

I couldn't really decide what I thought of this. I feel like the writer thought he was being far more clever than he actually was being. The music was catchy. I dunno.

Dance Mania

Tito Puente

3/5

Yeah, it's fine.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wilco

3/5

This was different. I've never really listened to Wilco, but I can see the appeal. I can also see why people wouldn't like it. I think on some days I'd like it and on others I wouldn't. Some of the random sounds get strange, but the base of the music is good and it seems like the lyrics are pretty good. Humm. I'll listen to more Wilco.

Horses

Patti Smith

2/5

I like her voice and nothing else about this.

Bright Flight

Silver Jews

1/5

This is objectively terrible. Just. No.

Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

Spirit

3/5

Yeah, I'm really questioning my need to hear all of these albums. It's fine, but I just don't know why I "need" to hear it.

Moving Pictures

Rush

3/5

Thought it would be better. Coming out of that Spirit album into Tom Sawyer was a breath of fresh air, but the rest of the album is not as good as Tom Sawyer.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West

1/5

Fuck Kanye

Pyromania

Def Leppard

3/5

Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan

3/5

He's a better poet than he is a singer. He had some important things to say. There were a couple songs on here I enjoyed, but his voice grates on me quickly and most of the vocals are, like, one note.

A Grand Don't Come For Free

The Streets

1/5

This was terrible.

Drunk

Thundercat

1/5

Uninspired stream of consciousness set to a Casio keyboard. Well if that's not a five stars, I don't know what is.

At Budokan

Cheap Trick

2/5

Good band. Good songs. Everything I hate about live recordings.

Garbage

4/5

Erica: I love her voice, it is super chick rock and everything to rock should be but I don't feel like this album showcased it. Also, the audio leveling was a little bit weird. But overall great album. Bryant: I saw her I think 2 years ago when she was touring with Alanis and it was a great show. Still crushing it. I thought this album was great.

Damaged

Black Flag

3/5

Highlights the plight of the young and poor but getting older crowd. Not bad.

xx

The xx

4/5

I actually quite liked this.

21

Adele

5/5

This was incredible.

Swordfishtrombones

Tom Waits

1/5

Rainbird was okay. There was one other song that was okay. That's it.

Antichrist Superstar

Marilyn Manson

3/5

I never really Marilyn Manson, but I found this pretty good. It was a little bit too screamy for me, but good social commentary and "in-your-face-ness" with some really talented musicians.

The Rolling Stones

3/5

It's okay. It's definitely early days for what will be a pretty great band.

Let's Get It On

Marvin Gaye

3/5

I think there's an argument to be made that Mr. Gaye has a diagnosable sexual psychiatric problem.

Rocks

Aerosmith

3/5

Weird hearing so many Aerosmith songs back to back and not knowing any of them. I like his Tyler's voice better on this album but it's definitely less polished than their later stuff. Twas okay.

Nowhere

Ride

2/5

This was fine. But nothing really special. I can appreciate the musicality of it, but there wasn't a single song I really liked... so 2.

Boston

5/5

If you can't appreciate that this is an outstanding album, I don't know what hope there is for you. #ontheattack

Run-D.M.C.

3/5

Haha, this was a fun little time machine. I don't feel it aged particularly well, but it's not bad.

Queen Of Denmark

John Grant

4/5

This is exactly the sort of thing I came here for. This was kind of amazing. Not quite five star musicianship but certainly a five-star experience.

Music For The Jilted Generation

The Prodigy

3/5

As far as techno goes, Prodigy are the cream of the crop. I'm just not really in a techno place anymore.

Live!

Fela Kuti

2/5

This was kind of whatever

Movies

Holger Czukay

2/5

This was super weird. It's not bad, but I don't like it.

Funeral

Arcade Fire

3/5

I really like this singer's voice, however this album was a little lackluster after the first couple of songs.

James Brown Live At The Apollo

James Brown

1/5

I would have really appreciated if they would have turned down the volume on the crowd. This was just awful. Just awful.

Millions Now Living Will Never Die

Tortoise

1/5

Had a very strong and immediate emotional reaction to this album. None of it was positive. It varied between irritable and irate. I hope everybody associated with the chain of events that led me to listen to this album stops their toe.

Risque

CHIC

3/5

This was kinda fun. I wouldn't listen to it again but I see the value and it had a couple of good songs.

Abraxas

Santana

3/5

When he hits, he really hits. I honestly find his guitar playing... kinda okay. When he doesn't hit, it's really not great.

Disintegration

The Cure

4/5

The first half was great. The second half was good with the exception of 2 songs I didn't really like. But all in all, really good album.

Parklife

Blur

2/5

I do NOT like his voice. The music is fine, but dang.

It's Too Late to Stop Now

Van Morrison

3/5

Full disclosure, I only did the first disc. But it was good. I don't like live albums in general, but this one was much better done than a lot of others. No crowd screaming in my ears, retained good recording quality and VM is pretty chill. I'm in.

Talking Book

Stevie Wonder

2/5

Yeah, man, I just don't like SW.

Cosmo's Factory

Creedence Clearwater Revival

5/5

Yeah, this album is a whole ass jam.

Cafe Bleu

The Style Council

3/5

Yeah, this is fine.

Djam Leelii

Baaba Maal

3/5

This was rather pleasant.

Elephant

The White Stripes

4/5

Much different sound that the last White Stripes album, but I like it.

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Limp Bizkit

2/5

Hip-hop mosh rock for angry 13-year-old boys. Except for Hold On which he actually sang in and was actually pretty good.

Get Behind Me Satan

The White Stripes

4/5

These cats just keep on hitting. Another solid offering.

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

1/5

I'm 100% certain no one "must listen" to a Christmas montage put together by Phil Spector before they die.

Buffalo Springfield Again

Buffalo Springfield

3/5

There was nothing offensive or remarkable about this.

Opus Dei

Laibach

2/5

This was ein Schinderei

Vincebus Eruptum

Blue Cheer

3/5

Ehh... I didn't really care one way or the other.

Harvest

Neil Young

3/5

The music is fine, I just can't get past his voice.

OK Computer

Radiohead

5/5

If you don't like this album, you probably didn't have very good SAT scores. Science says so.

Dirty

Sonic Youth

3/5

Yeah, this was fine.

Rio

Duran Duran

3/5

I listened to a re-whatever on Tidal. Not the original. Rio was... offbeat? I dunno, it sounded weird. Maybe it's always been like that but I found it disconcerting. The rest of the album was fine.

Hms Fable

Shack

3/5

Well, I see I'm the odd one out here, but I liked it. I also couldn't tell you a single song on it, but it was good chill tunes.

Hysteria

Def Leppard

5/5

This album is amazing. This is pinnacle 80s hair-band-glam-arena-rock. Solid rock, beginning to end.

The Modern Lovers

2/5

That was certainly something I'd not heard before.

Born To Run

Bruce Springsteen

3/5

This was not bad. There were a couple of good songs on it but mostly it was just okay.

Oedipus Schmoedipus

Barry Adamson

3/5

Yeah, I kinda like these. They're fun.

The Holy Bible

Manic Street Preachers

3/5

I kinda like the music but the "shock" lyrics don't really do it for me on this one. I think the "shock" takes away from the message. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. This one doesn't.

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

3/5

Yeah. It was fine. It's like the other talking heads stuff. For a song here or there, I can't imagine anyone else doing it. But mostly it feels gimmicky.

Purple Rain

Prince

3/5

This was nice.

Shaka Zulu

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

3/5

Yeah, it was fine. I wouldn't likely listen to it again, but I get the appeal.

Gasoline Alley

Rod Stewart

3/5

This seemed really short. I have it in my head I don't like Rod Stewart as a person and that his music was... bigger? I dunno, this album was fine but it didn't really stand out.

Queens of the Stone Age

4/5

I like this band. I like this album.

If You're Feeling Sinister

Belle & Sebastian

2/5

I guess I can see why people would like this album. I am not those people.

Rapture

Anita Baker

4/5

This was buttery smooth jams. Great voice.

Songs From The Big Chair

Tears For Fears

3/5

Moments of excellence but overall average

...Baby One More Time

Britney Spears

2/5

It's hard to write about this album without discussing the absolute shitshow around it. We've had commercially produced pop for a long time, but this one really hypersexualized a child for profit, then kept the child from having access to that profit. This record is fine, not my music, but it's fine, but it's also a projector of the grotesque underbelly of the music industry.

Play

Moby

3/5

Yeah, this was a jam.

Street Life

The Crusaders

2/5

Talented musicians making music I don't care for.

Here's Little Richard

Little Richard

3/5

Yeah, this was fine.

Superfuzz Bigmuff

Mudhoney

2/5

Not my cup of tea.

Tuesday Night Music Club

Sheryl Crow

3/5

B: I really thought this would be better. E: I'm kinda "meh" on Sheryl Crow, she's got some good tunes, but there's something about her I just don't really like.

Green Onions

Booker T. & The MG's

3/5

This was okay. Certainly good musicianship.

Melodrama

Lorde

3/5

Meh. Good music, but didn't jump out.

Entertainment

Gang Of Four

2/5

Yeah, that's a no from me.

It's A Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads

3/5

Never heard of them before. Not bad. I like the candy.

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths

3/5

I do not like that lead singer. I get why this would be something people would like, I can get that it's musically pretty good, but I don't like it.

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

Breakdown

By Genre

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

You Love Less Than Most

Artists

Favorites

Least Favorites

5-Star Albums (18)

Popular Reviews

1-Star Albums (18)

All Ratings

Critic