My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Tarkus Emerson, Lake & Palmer	5	2.78	+2.22
Larks' Tongues In Aspic King Crimson	5	2.98	+2.02
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying Megadeth	5	2.98	+2.02
Dig Your Own Hole The Chemical Brothers	5	3.11	+1.89
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor Lupe Fiasco	5	3.13	+1.87
Hejira Joni Mitchell	5	3.14	+1.86
Deloused in the Comatorium The Mars Volta	5	3.19	+1.81
Close To The Edge Yes	5	3.2	+1.8
Rust In Peace Megadeth	5	3.24	+1.76
GREY Area Little Simz	5	3.24	+1.76

Album	You	Global	Diff
Heartbreaker Ryan Adams	1	3.02	-2.02
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels Dexys Midnight Runners	1	3	-2
Group Sex Circle Jerks	1	2.75	-1.75
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not Arctic Monkeys	2	3.73	-1.73
Cut The Slits	1	2.71	-1.71
Let's Get Killed David Holmes	1	2.67	-1.67
Follow The Leader Korn	1	2.65	-1.65
A Grand Don't Come For Free The Streets	1	2.63	-1.63
Ramones Ramones	2	3.56	-1.56
Now I Got Worry The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion	1	2.52	-1.52

Artist	Albums	Average
Led Zeppelin	5	4.8
Beatles	7	4.57
David Bowie	9	4.33
Bob Dylan	7	4.43
Michael Jackson	3	5
Radiohead	6	4.33
Steely Dan	4	4.5
Stevie Wonder	4	4.5
Miles Davis	4	4.5
Pink Floyd	4	4.5
Public Enemy	3	4.67
Black Sabbath	3	4.67
Kanye West	3	4.67
The Doors	3	4.67
Nirvana	3	4.67
Fela Kuti	2	5
Megadeth	2	5
Aretha Franklin	2	5
King Crimson	2	5
Van Halen	2	5
Kendrick Lamar	2	5
The Smashing Pumpkins	2	5
Joni Mitchell	4	4.25
Simon & Garfunkel	3	4.33
The Smiths	3	4.33
Beastie Boys	3	4.33
Nick Drake	3	4.33
Jimi Hendrix	3	4.33
Marvin Gaye	3	4.33
Yes	3	4.33

Artist	Albums	Average
Ryan Adams	2	1.5
Pere Ubu	2	1.5
Dexys Midnight Runners	3	2
Elvis Costello & The Attractions	4	2.25

A staple of the nu metal genre, I have heard of it, but never listened to it besides the radio hits, was an interesting listen, that although it feels like 2000’s music, that doesn’t make it a knock on it, if anything it’s stood the test of time.

Phenomenal Drumming by Ginger Baker, and I can’t imagine how this helped expand his drumming for future projects, it’s a good introduction to African rooted music, and the last track on the album was by far the best. (16 min Drum Duet)

I can understand the appeal, and some songs were good, but never been a fan of ZZ Top, so this was a personal preference rather than objective.

A legendary album in the history of metal, and a benchmark for a new era. Arguably Maiden's best album and it has one of my top 5 songs on it being its closer "Hallowed Be Thy Name." I am heavily biased for this opinion, but it maintains as a 5/5 album that anyone who listens to metal should listen to.

I love this album, very biased, the only knock I have on it are the shorter songs (interludes?) are a bit tough to listen to, but still a favorite that gets played frequently.

I haven't listened to much Simon & Garfunkel besides the radio hits. This was a pleasant album and listening experience and I was impressed with how good the imagery was on the album, and how smooth the songs were when telling stories, instead of rhyming.

As many others have said in the reviews, due to the cultural and language barrier, I feel my ability to appreciate this is lessened, I get the idea, and appeal, but can’t fully get with it.

Very biased, but love Steely Dan, and while I don’t think this album scratches their top 3, it could be a top 3 album for any other band that would’ve made it (wouldn’t be the same though)

I can only listen to reggae in short bursts before it becomes very redundant and repetitive, But I also respect, and understand the importance of this album.

Decent production, good ideas, middling execution, giving it a 3, since I wouldn't be as hard as it seems some others are.

I'd like to think if I had heard this album in the time period it was in, maybe I could see it's influence and gravity a bit more, but it's just so sluggish at times, and at others it's beautiful.

I like the backing band, and the instrumentation, but it's a bit too dramatic for me after a few songs.

This one is a tough one. I see the vision, love the instrumental, and the overall vibe, but am In a paradox of enjoying and not enjoying the vocals.

Has the honor of being the most unorthodox, slightly enjoyable 1 rating so far.

Although I wouldn't hold it as high as most of the other 5's I've given, it deserves it, for good vibes, and being one of the highest standards of funk music to ever come out.

(Incredibly biased opinion) There's often a question posed in regards to music, across all genres, that is "If you got rid of the entire genre, but had one album, what could rebuild it?" Just like in the wikipedia, I firmly believe this is one of, if not THE album that could do it. Truly one of the greatest rap albums of all time, and my personal all time favorite hip-hop album, and sometimes outright favorite. Nas managed to put out his magnum opus on his debut at a young age, and although he's never really quite hit that high again, he's still putting out albums well into his 50's. This would be one of the first albums I'd recommend anyone wanting to survey into the hip-hop genre. NY State of Mind is also IMO the best hip-hop song ever made.

This is the second Pogues album I have gotten, and both time's it's been a unique case of good idea, good execution, but just not for me. There are 1 star albums I have rated that I got through easier than this. I still respect the musicianship though, and on the right day, it would probably be a fun listen.

Someone mentioned, when Waits is in the zone, he’s at his best, but man, when he isn’t, or he’s off-key, it’s a tough listen.

I enjoy a lot of Steely Dan, so I was sure I'd enjoy this one, but was surprised to find I didn't as much I wanted to. It's hard to give a 3 vs a 4, because my knock on it is "The Steely Dan sounds like Steely Dan" which is obvious in a solo career, but was hoping for more. It is very reminiscent of Gaucho (release 2 years earlier) and besides I.G.Y and New Frontier sounding semi different I wouldn't be able to tell this was a solo project.

This is my personal all-time favorite album, and normally I would think that's a bias, but I truly think this deserves a 5, regardless of where I hold it. Normally I don't look at reviews, so I can form my own opinion without being swayed. I had an outline of what I was going to write regarding the milestones this album contributed to, and everything in between, but one of the top reviews said almost everything i had to say and more. I would reccomend reading that, because I wholeheartedly agree. (The review starting with 2/14/2022)

This album I think is by far the hardest I’ve had to rate so far a little over 500 albums in. I don’t usually look at reviews until I’ve made mine, but this one helped me put thoughts I had into words. Despite only being 4 years ago, this feels like a timepiece in the fact that it would’ve been much more powerful during the time it was made for. That being said, I really flip-flopped throughout this album, because for as much good instrumentation and creativity, there is just as much repetitiveness and not-so-blunt delivery. There have been albums on this list, whether it be Beyoncé, Fela Kuti, Grandmaster Flash or even my last album the day before this MIA, and also artists that I haven’t gotten/aren’t on the list, range in decent to great delivery of their messages, and mantain their musical proficiency. I agree with the sentiment that Wildfire is the best song out of this album, and would be most listenable, removed from the context of the album. I don’t have a problem with the overall idea of the album, even though at times it feels lazy in the way it’s put to the listener, I just feel there are a lot better ways to convey Black Excellence/empowerment , especially with how rich the history of music is, and how much of it is owed to African/African-American artists. A great example in modern times is GREY AREA- Little Simz, another album on this list released 1 year earlier, (and one of my biggest regrets of giving a lower rating than it deserves.)

There aren't many albums on this list that I have personal negative bias towards, but this is one. I've had 1 star albums that were easier to get through than this. I enjoy the instrumental sound they have, but man this is one of the top examples of vocals absolutely killing a band for me.

As a mid 20's person, my instinct on seeing this, was of course, thinking about how Running Up That Hill absolutely blew back up in 2022, to the point where you couldn't be on any sort of social media without hearing the song within 10 minutes. (Not that it's a bad thing, just making a point) This didn't give me a negative or positive bias going in, as I don't know much about her besides that, just I knew to expect a heavy hitter. I was pleasantly surprised as a fan of prog rock, and as someone who sometimes needs 2nd listens to certain pop (Heaven or Las Vegas comes to mind) to truly understand it, how well both these elements shined, on the first listen. The aforementioned track deserves it's flowers as the most infamous song, because it stands out from the rest. That doesn't mean the rest of the album disappoints. Kate seems to have been experimenting (especially in the backhalf) in ways that feels 20+ years ahead of her time. Things you see modern artists try to do with their albums. Through 3 of her albums generated, she is the one of the original pop blueprints for maximizing sound to instantly punch through and grant you a vision beyond the lush, purple cover, on what the album is supposed to sound and feel like. I can understand this album not hitting for others, since I've had a few albums similar to this (including one her other albums) that I just couldn't get right away, but you can't deny the artistic talent, and influence to come from it afterwards.

I'm learning that I'm not the biggest fan of Grime and British rap, which is unfortunate, cause I can see the talent there, and enjoy the sound, it just hasn't clicked for me expect for Little SIMZ, and even then, I gave it a 2 (regretfully) and only came around to it after the 2nd or 3rd listen. I could see the same happening with this album, but it feels repetitive in the blueprint for the songs.

Objectively one of the best punk albums out there, and an absolute trendsetter, only reason I'm not giving a 5, is simply because I'm not huge on punk.

Truly one of the greatest albums of all time, and probably in my personal top 3. There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said.

diet duran duran, not a good or bad thing.

I 100% understand why this is a bottom 10 album (10 at the time of writing) on this list. Reviews like "what the actual fuck" and "Sounds like drums beating saxophones" are 100% accurate, and made me laugh. Funnily enough, I, going in blind, decided to listen to this album (of all the ones to pick) while trying to lay down to start to go to sleep. I will say though, maybe it caught me on a good day, and especially after 10-15 straight albums of middling of the pack psychedelic albums, one off 2000's pop albums (Looking at you Ceelo) or British wannabes from different eras, trying to emulate Oasis, Blur, The Beatles, or even Radiohead. (Not to say there aren't great versions of these things listed) but this was incredibly refreshing to hear, even if sonically, it wasn't nearly as accessible. This is by far my biggest positive stray from the pack in terms of rating, and after all, is that not what this project is for?

I love this project, but I sometimes feel the perception you get of some artists are victim to the order you get their albums in. Example: I got 6 of Bob Dylan’s 7 albums on this list in my first 100 Albums, Time out of Mind and Royal Albert Hall were the first (not the best introductory to him) and 700 albums later I haven’t pulled Highway 61 Revisited. Which is by far his most acclaimed.) I bring this up in the case of MBV, as I’ve gotten them almost back to back, but neither of them being Loveless, which holds great weight to a lot of people. Both their debut and their long awaited follow-up to the aforementioned Loveless, I just can’t fully grasp. It’s a paradox of enjoying each sound individually, but with it all together, maybe I don’t? I’m not sure. I wonder if I would’ve enjoyed it more had I gotten Loveless first? Objectively this is a good album, but it lacked something for me. I’m really hoping this can be one of those album’s like previous ones to where, down the line I can relisten with fresh ears and enjoy this album more.

I've always been a Songs in the Key of Life guy (so much so, that it's going to be in contention for my favorite when all is said and done.) But I saved the rest for this project, knowing they were coming. Talking Book was a great album, but good in Stevie standards, FFF was also great, but this one by far takes the cake. Legit one of the best albums I've ever heard. Crisp production, captivating bass and backing tracks, and great lyricism as always. Easiest 5 in a while.

Split between giving a genuine review and making a “Me when I see the horse of wisdom” joke due to Pagan Poetry.

As someone who’s grown up in this 2000’s/2010’s pop era, I find some of the really bad albums on this list easier to listen to than the pop that’s oversatured my listening tastes for virtually my entire life. This is objectively good, and Lorde has a great voice, but something about this modern style just makes me impatient very quickly due to how much I wanna branch out from this. Reading the top review is funny though, considering I’m a millennial who has King Crimson as one of their favorite artists of all time. So maybe they were onto something there.

There's a select dozen of albums, that I go into not having heard of them at ALL, and it blows me out the water. This was one of them. A fun album, that I truly wasn't sure I had grasped, so I waited and listened to it 1 more time, to confirm before giving it a rating.

Maybe it’s because I love prog, but I loved how all over the place this was, so I def understand the lower rating on this album, but this was just a lot of fun overall

Getting this album the day Brian Wilson passed away, and judging by others online, this may have not been a coincidence. If it was forced, there are very few people still alive on this list, maybe Mccartney/Dylan, that would deserve a forced generation, but Brian Wilson is one of them. His impact and pure understanding of the theory of music shines, even 40 years later from the original making of this album. Maybe it's due to him passing, that I took a closer listen and enjoyed it with a heavy heart, despite not being a Beach Boys enthuiast, but you couldn't describe modern music today, without him.

It’s about what you’d expect from 3 hours of Motörhead. Great for ‘81 though, and you can clearly see the influence on Thrash Metal. That being said, I love the Ace of Spades, but hearing it then 2-3 songs eeriely similar isn’t the best. Fun album though.

Objectively, this is a rough listen, and understandable on why it’s the lowest album. I’m going a 2, because there were a few enjoyable songs, and also, there are elements in this album, that I’ve heard influence bands, 10, 20 years on.

I hear shades of Joy Division, Tom Waits, and Jim Morrison in this, all 3 who I've grown to love throughout this project. Problem is, Nick Cave is currently on the opposite side of the spectrum of that. I genuinely didn't mind it compared to some of the other lower rated albums on the list. I think if you Cave's vocals out for over half the songs, it's pretty decent musicianship. I also don't think we needed to reaffirm that Joe is dead, with a 2nd version but it never hurts I suppose.

Decent background music, but not the best music to full-fledged listen to, about as down the middle you can get.

The album sounds very nice, and I like the instrumental, but every couple songs, the lyrics just sound so forced that I have a reaction to it. Similar to an edgy teenager trying to portray themselves as an outcast, or putting on a mask.

A bit long, and a bit unstructured at time, but really enjoyed the album.

I'm pretty neutral on a lot of artists on this list, and most music that is lower rated, I would be forgiving on, and even my 1's were early on, and probably changed now. All this to say, that I firmly believe Elvis Costello for me is my "worst artist" on this list. I can't get with him, and most if not all of his albums I have not enjoyed, and not a single one has left a memorable mark on me.

Admittedly, I don't think this is their best (see Rust in Peace), and may not be as much as a 5 as others I have rated, but I have a soft spot for Megadeth, and taking them at face value, it's a pretty great album. I'm not listening to get introspective, or take a lesson (not that you couldn't) the experience of Friedman shredding, and Mustaine's one of a kind vocals (whether that's good or bad) is the fun in it.

Was more interested in the concept as it started than I expected to be, but it fell flat fast. Not bad, just not 90 minutes worth.

I've really changed my mind on The Beatles throughout this project, especially after hearing a lot of music before and after they impacted the history of it. My project had most of their early albums in my first 200, and then abbey road at 250. I am at 950, and I just got White Album a few weeks back, and now Sgt. Peppers (here's hoping after I send this Revolver shows up.) Albums I know are on this list, I refuse to listen until they generate, even if it takes 700... This is one of the few albums that I truly can't wrap my head around how it sounds for it's time. It both sounds like the 60's, but also sounds ahead of anything of the year 1967 (besides VU & Nico debut) I thoroughly enjoyed this album. There's a juxtaposition with the rating on this album. I can see the case for rating this lower than expected based on not liking The Beatles, whether you think it holds up to their other albums, or even are just tired of the 60's sound in general due to Dimery's ever so bias towards 4-5 certain genres. However, there's also an inherit case to be made, that the pure gravitas of the album, and the culture shock it emitted, can only make it a 4 or 5 at the very minimum. One that gets harder to understand and empathize with the impact, the farther we get from the 1960's. Whether it's the outlook the west took after the album came out in the Summer of Love, the full-forced incorporation of eastern music, the artistic expression of album covers, sleeves, promotion, and easter eggs in song and design, the musical directions this would inspire, or of course, the stampeding statement trying to normalize, that this has been sparked by the use of LSD among others, you could argue that never has an album so sharply impacted the world, and it could only be a high rating. When you hear bands proudly declare that their grandiose album, that they poured everything into artistically, is their "Sgt. Pepper's", that's gotta count for something right?

A trend in these hair/glam metal albums, are about 3-4 good hits that made the radio that you recognize. Any other song on the album is not nearly as good or listenable, and drags it down.

2 Star voice, 4 Star production.

Tough one to rate, I like her voice, I just don't know if it's the musical style, or lyrical content, but it drags it down a bit for me.

This isn’t on the same level as Fear of a Black Planet or my personal favorite It Takes a Million… so this would be a 4, but I was in the gym while playing this and it added an extra star

One of the more coinflip albums I’ve gotten in recent memory, parts of it felt truly forgettable or middling, and other parts I really grooved with. Depending on the day, and how I’m feeling this could’ve been anywhere from a 2 to a 4, today it caught me on a good day, so it gets a 4.

One of those albums, that unless you have a massive disdain for hip-hop in general, I can't fathom not understanding the importance of at least 4-5 songs, much less the full album. Probably within the first 10 albums you would list regarding hip-hop, if you had to sit and create this list yourself of 1001 albums. As for the actual album review, it's Eminem in his bag both lyrically and sonically, it's him at his absolute peak, knowing the influence he has (whether he wants it or not) and weaponizing it in such an unbelievable manner unrivaled in music. I'm not a huge fan of horror-core at times, especially cause it's a thin line between shock value, and just plain corniness, but for the most part the line is toed very well. Not my favorite Hip-Hop album of all time, but you can't tell the story of the 2000's without Slim Shady.

I had almost the same questioned reaction as one of the top reviews on this project. "M.I.A. has a second album on this list...?" I actually really enjoyed this one a lot more than the first album I got from her. (so much so I may go back and try that one again at some point.) It's a hard genre to pin-point at times, but I got a cool feeling of being able to hear the past and future in at same points in some songs. The sound of Fela Kuti, aggresiveness of Public Enemy, but also, hearing future rappers like Little Simz, and even the massive wave of K-pop that has washed over worldwide the last decade or so, you can pull similarities from this album, almost a quarter century before. (ugh) Can easily see why people rate this lower, but these type of albums make it very interesting.

I’ve struggled with U2 this entire project, but this one just clicked for me, usually the U2 sound is good for about 4-5 songs then just kind drones on and sounds the same for an entire albums worth of content. This one felt unique enough song by song to be enjoyable, enough so to where it makes me ponder about revisiting U2 albums I got incredibly early on in the project.

I really enjoyed this album, I usually don't check reviews before an album, but I had no idea who Joan Armatrading was, so I decided to look at the keywords. I can for sure hear the Chapman sound with the Joni Mitchell writing. It's got soft tender love, it's got upbeat groove/funk, and much to my delight, in thinking maybe a Temptations backing vocalist had an appearance, it was none other than Lester Freamon from The Wire on some backing vocals! There are even some short jam breakdowns that you could pull some progressive rock vibes out of. Very pleasant surprise, and one of the few artists to get a 5 out of me that I had no awareness of going in.

I don't want to sound harsh in any review unless it's truly warranted, but this truly feels like the textbook definition of "background music." It feels simplistic and cookie-cutter. Now the cool thing is, is that can be a positive thing or a negative thing depending on the person who listens to this. Unfortunately in my case, it's just not what I'm looking for in the project. I understand the demographic of the average person enjoying this and buying it to have in their CD collection, but third-best selling album of the 21st century is crazy to me. I'm sure if she pushed the envelope more in genre in any other albums, I'd be interested, because she clearly has the talent to do so if she wanted to.

I had to take a step back on this one and truly think, if the nameplate was off, and I heard this blindly, I could pick up some hints that it's Pink Floyd, but overall, I probably would've been quicker to remember some of the other psychedelic rock albums I've had to listen to throughout this project. Maybe another day I would've rated differently, but the name can't save it from a lower rating then I expected going in.

There are 1089 albums on this list, Revolver was number 1060 for me. I bring this up, because I think it's funny, especially when so many people refer to it as the biggest link in evolution from album to album for The Beatles. I got 4 Beatles albums in the 300's, and then didn't get another one for over half the project until Sgt. Pepper's at 953. The two arguably biggest advancement's with innovation, took the longest. I think there are a lot of artists on the list you can listen to their albums in whatever order and it works out, but Beatles are one, I would also say maybe Led Zeppelin, where the evolution of the artist plays a key role in understanding what you are listening to. After all of this waiting, and excitement (especially since there aren't many albums I know I'm waiting for with a month to go) I couldn't listen to this one right away since my left ear was completely shot due to a medical issue. Possibly the worst band to lose left right stereo audio on... Funny how life works... Anyways to the review. Admittedly I was a bit surprised by how "pop" the album sounded and was expecting a bit more experimental. (not that it isn't.) Eleanor Rigby has already been a favorite Beatles song of mine, even before the deep dive into the catalogue. Somehow I've avoided listening to Yellow Submarine my whole life so that was a fun one to hear for the first time in full. I loved how well John's vocals were, and I really gotta wonder how many albums before this one had such a consistently driven bass-line that wasn't just holding the song down, and was actively the melody or main attractions. I gotta imagine Paul's Bass-playing on this album was a remarkable achievement at the time. The back-half was a bit lackluster for Beatles standards, not to say it was boring, but maybe it'll grow on me the same way a lot of the White Album has. A little side tangent, I had a moment of recognization for the closer Tomorrow Never Knows, despite never hearing it before, until pinning it to Mad Men, and one of the biggest scenes in the show. Pairing this with the knowledge of the inevitable stampede influence of the latter part of the Beatles catalog, and how that parallels to the context of the scene in Mad Men elevates that scene for me and my love of that show. All in all I really enjoyed the album, I would probably rate quite a few Beatles albums higher than it, but maybe that's something that'll change over time, as Beatles albums often do. Regardless, I am gonna use this final Beatles album to reflect on how wonderful it has been to experience the band as a whole, and it being one of the shining hallmarks of the project. I truly think that every person could find a Beatles song that they could connect with, or find something within if they searched enough, and that is a special trait that I don't know how many other artists have. The farther we get removed from the 1960's, society around us seems to go through an echo-chamber of repeated conversations of "The Beatles are overrated" or "The Beatles are underrated because so many people think they are overrated/hated." I don't know if there is a correct answer to it, similar to how I don't know if there is a best answer to who your favorite Beatle is. (Mine seems to change depending on what song I'm listening to) What I do know is they absolutely deserve to be heard as one of the most influential bands of all time, and that not only did they evolve music as a whole, they probably helped build the stadiums that influenced artists who followed them would sell out in years to come. In a time where we can see the true vastness of history and how much has been lost and forgotten, The Beatles are one of the few things in the history of music, that's legacy won't be forgotten, erased, or lost to the sands of time.

I lean more for more aggressive Jazz, but you can't deny the quality of this album. Not only is it THE staple for Bossanova, the instruments sounds unbelievably clear and clean.

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