1001 Albums Summary

Very bold, modern Miles, but more meditative than angry. A beautiful and important work.

Picture an early sixties movie. It’s New York City at night and the streets are full of people and cars. A man, his eyes wide with panic, his hair wild, runs faster and faster through the mad streets full of garish lights and ugly strangers, his mind burning and confused. This is the music playing.

Nice. The Film score comparisons ring true. It’s complex and evocative music that creates a mood, I guess. I could have died before hearing it though, and my life wouldn’t have amounted to less.

This is an example of a very insular art form, so without some context it can be difficult to inhabit. Like much contemporary art, it is not only self-referential but is responding to the work of other artists’ earlier works. The menacing background music supports a boasting, threatening voice about domination and power in a world of threat and oppression. Pride and power seem to be foregrounded in a universe of darkness and paranoia. And there’s Kung-fu. It’s good.

Mildly interesting indie rock.

A very strong record that, while begun in NY, took on a late 60s California vibe that was part of the time’s reach toward roots and Americana. Incorporating an array of sound and styles, this album conveys a sense of evolution and growth that keeps it sounding fresh. Folk rock? Yes, kind of. But less dated sounding than much contemporaneous music. Strong.

A strong, original guitar-driven rock album. No punk posturing or metal pretensions, just powerful and complex music. Compelling.

A timeless recording not just for the power and versatility of Al Green’s vocals, but because of how producer Willie Mitchell and the Memphis musicians create the perfect grooves to showcase his genius. Essential.

Believe the hype. This is a unique and powerful statement from an important American composer.

High energy live set of early to mid-career material. Illustrates why Brown was famous for his shows.

More than just an album of great songs, singing and playing, AB demonstrates how traditional American sounds and song motifs are renewed over generations to remain relevant expressions of American culture.

Otis was a good guitar player before and after the sessions documented here but this recording captures a very special moment, one where everything clicked. A true classic.

Beautiful production and great playing. Carefully controlled, tuneful rock record.

Great, great record.

90s electronica that’s considered classic by aficionados. Unlikely to convert non edm listeners.

Passionate African rock with electric guitar. I’ll need to take a deeper dive.

Artsy, fey pretentious electronic music with vocals.

Pretty great guitar rock with a damaged world view and detox cell vocals.

A great record, but a little difficult to understand why it’s been singled out as the all-time classic that it is. Maybe its revolutionary status is connected to its late 60s origin. There are a number of boundary breaking, genre bending records this good or better, but most were at least a few years later. Within a few years Waylon and Billie Joe Shaver and Townes Van Zandt would make this sound quaint.

They popularized rock music that didn’t swing - there was virtually no remnant of the rhythm and blues component of rock. Nice layers, very atmospheric, thoughtful lyrics, ultra-sincere and anthemic.