You would think The Velvet Underground were the second coming of Jesus or something with the way people hype them up, but the reality is they actually had little commercial success during their time. Honestly, I can see why. This is just your average underground rock album from the '60s. There is some interesting instrumentation and are an interesting enough mixture of rock and avant garde things, but it's very middle of the road to me. I wonder if the "myth" of the band is greater than the sum of its parts. The standout song is "Candy Says" which was actually surprisingly progressive and sensitive for its time. Excellent song. Other than that, meh.

Not a fan. This is the kind of soft rock that plays in the background of an accountant’s office.

Very Yoko Ono-ish background vocals on the opening track, which at first were off-putting to me. But I decided to give it a shot and go deeper with an open mind. But no, I ended up absolutely, viscerally hating it. This is honestly one of the worst albums I have ever heard in my life. It can be characterized in one word: noise. Self-indulgent noise. I just don't get it at all. This album is the equivalent of an Ohio transplant who moved to Brooklyn to "discover" Crown Heights and now refuses to shop anywhere but Buffalo Exchange for his clothes. If you know, you know. Oddly mixed as everything is LOUD. All the sounds are competing with one another. It's an inharmonious, cacophonous disaster that should not be listened to with headphones lest you want to blow your hearing. The singer sounds like he's doing a half-rate Tiny Tim impression, the background singers shout over him, there are random claps interspersed everywhere, the music often changes key and time signature, and almost every song starts out slower and then has a "drop the beat" moment. It's just a mess. I bet when they were making this album, they were like "Fuck yeah! This sounds cool!" and nobody wanted to say otherwise. Because it truly doesn't. Offbeat hipster nonsense that is way too far up its own ass. Awful album. Right in the trash.

I came into this not expecting to like this. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the various interesting instruments she used; sometimes I felt like it was an imaginary soundtrack that played along as I was riding a white horse in the Scottish Highlands and so that was kind of cool. But that's about all that I found enjoyable in this album. I couldn't get past the very dated-sounding '80s production and her breathy, odd voice. She tends to go on these weird, warbling runs, and it sounds very unpleasant to my ears. For someone who likes this type of music, I am sure this is a very enjoyable album.

Very self-indulgent. At first I thought, “I could get into this” but then they stuffed absolutely every single ‘80s musical trope in and it became too much. Personally, I was not a fan.

Wow, is this ‘80s or what? I feel like this entire album could be the soundtrack to a Clive Barker made-for-TV movie about gothic vampires. From what I read, this band doesn’t even have a drummer! It’s a drum machine named Dokter Avalanche. I find that hilarious. Let’s see…. Synth on every track? Check Songs which are almost entirely made of digitized synth percussion? Check Affected, cheesy ‘80s vocals? Check Choir-like female backup vocals? Check Trash-can drums? Check Drums that sound like a basketball hitting a school gym floor? Check Midi ballad? Check Final thoughts: catchy but gets old really quickly. Not bad, but not good. But then again, I’m not an ‘80s goth vampire so…

Heeeeey! I liked it. The album cover really belies how funky this album gets at certain points. It's like a whole album of the "Jump Up, Superstar!" song from Mario Odyssey, but make it more conga-y, more casino house band-y, and more British. Some songs also sounded like genuine precursors to Japanese city pop. All told, this album is poppy and inoffensive with some good dancing songs. Surprisingly, I did not like the song Fantastic Day which I gather everyone likes but was too indie-pop for me. I also did not enjoy Snow Girl which was also very indie-pop. For me, the standout song was Lemon Firebrigade which at points sounded suspiciously like the Super Mario Theme crossed with a conga beat (I sense a theme here?). I found myself tapping my toes and bobbing my head while doing the stank face, and that's always a good sign. :)

You would think The Velvet Underground were the second coming of Jesus or something with the way people hype them up, but the reality is they actually had little commercial success during their time. Honestly, I can see why. This is just your average underground rock album from the '60s. There is some interesting instrumentation and are an interesting enough mixture of rock and avant garde things, but it's very middle of the road to me. I wonder if the "myth" of the band is greater than the sum of its parts. The standout song is "Candy Says" which was actually surprisingly progressive and sensitive for its time. Excellent song. Other than that, meh.

I mess with this album, hard. First of all, funk is one of my favorite genres and Sly and the Family Stone one of my favorite groups besides. This album is deeply funky in a darker, grittier way than their earlier work. The lyrics are deeply introspective and insightful (sad to say much hasn't changed since then!). This album is very well-crafted and is a great example of a solid studio album, meant to be listened to in one go without distractions. It's an experience, a funky ride through the civil unrest of the time period. It's not party music like their earlier, somewhat poppier music. It's mature, introspective, and meant to be savored. Also, “Thank You for Talking to Me, Africa” is a clever, dark reset of their earlier hit “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)."

Very Yoko Ono-ish background vocals on the opening track, which at first were off-putting to me. But I decided to give it a shot and go deeper with an open mind. But no, I ended up absolutely, viscerally hating it. This is honestly one of the worst albums I have ever heard in my life. It can be characterized in one word: noise. Self-indulgent noise. I just don't get it at all. This album is the equivalent of an Ohio transplant who moved to Brooklyn to "discover" Crown Heights and now refuses to shop anywhere but Buffalo Exchange for his clothes. If you know, you know. Oddly mixed as everything is LOUD. All the sounds are competing with one another. It's an inharmonious, cacophonous disaster that should not be listened to with headphones lest you want to blow your hearing. The singer sounds like he's doing a half-rate Tiny Tim impression, the background singers shout over him, there are random claps interspersed everywhere, the music often changes key and time signature, and almost every song starts out slower and then has a "drop the beat" moment. It's just a mess. I bet when they were making this album, they were like "Fuck yeah! This sounds cool!" and nobody wanted to say otherwise. Because it truly doesn't. Offbeat hipster nonsense that is way too far up its own ass. Awful album. Right in the trash.

If The Cars were a car they'd be a Hyundai Elantra. You'll get where you're going but you won't really like the ride. Overall, a standard, inoffensive--but not very good--album. But then again I'm not a fan of new wave.

Let's go! I loved it from the first second. Baroque harpsichord, rock and roll sax, a waltz, staccato guitars and the lead singer in the throes of a very entertaining frenzy-slash-nervous breakdown... There’s a lot to like here. There is a syrupy, Dusty Springfield-esque ballad, a proto-punk banger, abnormal song structure, HARPSICHORDS, etc. They kind of sound like the Doors but before the Doors. And I love the Doors! Also, in doing my reading about this band I found out they were one of the first racially diverse rock bands ever. I can get down with that. Nonetheless, I wanted to give this a 4 but am knocking it down to a 3 because the last track ruins all the goodwill of the ones that come before it. Horrible song.

Not a fan. It's cute if you're looking for music to play on a beach. But the songs all seem so similar that they kind of melted together. Not the type of music I would seek out but the kind of music I would bop to with a margarita in my hand.

I fuck with this. Kick ass, hard rocking Southern boogie rock band. It makes me, a die-hard New Yorker, want to chug some sweet tea and ride ATVs through the mud lol. There are 8 songs on this album and FOUR OF THEM ARE ALL TIME CLASSICS. Free Bird, Gimme Three Steps, Simple Man, and Tuesday’s Gone on ONE album?! And it’s a debut?!?!?! Come on. Come ON! Not a single skip or dud on this album. 'Nuff said. (Though I will say that it genuinely bothers me they got their own phonetic spelling wrong, lol)

Ah, the sound of my childhood. I picture myself at 14 playing power chords on my electric guitar, imagining myself as the female Angus Young lol. I wish upon wish I could just hop into a time machine and go to 1979 and be at one of their concerts. Everything about this album is just perfect. AC/DC just gives you straight rock and that's what we all love them for. They're not complicated. They're not self-indulgent. They're not out here making grand proclamations or penning introspective lyrics. Fuck that. They're gonna give you hard-driving, kick ass anthem rock that will get you banging your head! That's all you really need anyway. This was their last album with Bon (RIP) and was followed up by Back in Black. I mean, probably the best one-two punch of any band ever. I must have played this album more than 75 times in my life, so much so that I've committed every line, every riff, every drum beat to memory. It's gotta be a 5 for me, all day every day! Favorite track: Girl's Got Rhythm, which is one of my favorite songs of all time from any band. Also, Night Prowler is such a cool song. But really, every single song on this album is a banger.

Not a fan. This is the kind of soft rock that plays in the background of an accountant’s office.

I like a lot of the songs by The Kinks but it was difficult for me to get through this album for some reason. I just feel like this album is too "British" for me to get it. It falls flat for me.

Excellent album and one I've listened to probably 20+ times in my life. Janis was a shooting star. Just an incredible talent.

What. the fuck. This album is so cool! I'm kicking myself for not having listened to Dr. John before, despite having heard of him. The entire album is spooky and very atmospheric. It makes me feel like I am on a boat slooooooowly sailing down the bayou, surveying everything around me. Love it.

OMG! I'd never heard of Fishbone before but... I kind of love them! Any band that covers Curtis Mayfield is okay in my book. This is a mix of rock, metal, ska and reggae and no two sounds sound like they're coming from the same band, but it's so fun to listen to! I liked it way more than I thought I would. I would actually buy this album.

I like the Cardigans! Catchy, inoffensive stuff.

I can definitelt see how this was influential but it’s not my style.

First of all, I loooooved TLC. Second, this is just a straight up fantastic album. Excellent production, just the right mix of R'n'B, pop, and hip hop for crossover appeal. Certified banger. 4/5

I kinda get what they were going for by sticking the random jingles in between the actual songs. But perhaps it would have made more sense to just make a good album, instead.

I can appreciate this album, but R.E.M. was never really my thing. This album sounds very "of its time." But It's The End of the World is a good song! Middle of the road album for me.

I fucking hate Bob Dylan's music. The whiny voice. The ever-present harmonica. The off-key singing. I'm not a fan and I truly, truly do not get it.

Classic pop. Really an iconic album for its genre, but it's not something I would own or actively seek out.

Why do I keep getting awful albums?

Way too long. Way too sad. Not my jam.

Pound for pound, this is my favorite album of all time. There's nothing else to say. This will always be a 5/5 to me. I must have listened to this album 1,000 times, to the point that I've committed every note, every riff, and every beat to memory.

Excellent album. One of the first, if not the first, concept albums.

I know and love this album. Tracy’s voice is like silk. Surprisingly mature, thoughtful lyrics. Excellent.