Long songs make me reflect on 'modern' music and how we have moved away from experiments to formulae. I love the way they have made his lead vocal sound, it's at the front of the mix and still sounds a bit rugged and raw. The songs all have an ending - a proper big build up and ending, like you would have live. I am surprised how many of the songs sound familiar. It's like a big musical soup with all sorts of chunks, floating about in a broth that hasn't been reduced much. The drumming really at the forefront - it's its own instrument on this album, not just a way to keep time. "My ears have heard a whole lot of music, and like me you've heard a bit too much." Great album.
This has some fantastic, classic Prince songs, but it's a bit too long and not every song is a banger.
An easy-listening classic - she's the musical equivalent of wrapping yourself in a towel after a bath...and the towel has been on a heated towel rail...it's lovely, but kind of non-descript. We all agree it's nice, but this album won't change your life. It's offensive in its inoffensiveness.
Bombastic, loud, daft and glorious. The root of the parodies. Steel Panther could never.... Banger after banger.
It's rich and pleasant, sounds a bit like Flight of the Conchords in places, haha! I would listen again as background music, but if I heard it again I don't think I would ask "who is this?".
What is there to dislike? Ok, so it sounds very 'of its time' in places (e.g. I want your sex), but his voice is wonderful.
Surprised me with the electric guitar riffs. Super folky and flutey, showing how folk, metal and prog have similar roots.
There are some really lovely songs on this album, it sounds like a musical theatre soundtrack though... It was a treat to hear Abba songs I had never heard - I think this is their last album, and it has a sadness, a melancholy about it that I quite enjoyed.
Can't rate this without nostalgia.
Leonard Cohen is one of those musicians that you expect to be floored by. I wouldn't listen to this album again. It was a difficult listen. Made me uncomfortable. Jazz police? Wanting to see someone naked? The production is so 1980s, cheesy backing vocals, lift-music style instrumentals, fade-outs, and his vocal delivery is.... idiosyncratic. He sounds like Tom Waits but it's earnest and sort of half-singing, half talking. Not my cup of tea.
This is a lovely album, I always thought Kraftwerk were quite industrial, but this is gentle and catchy, lovely electronic melodies.
A lovely voice, very nice cover of House of the Rising Sun. Great 1960s vibes, wouldn't switch it off.
Unbearable. Made everyone in my house feel angry and irritated.
I get it, but it's not for me. Wouldn't listen again.
It's exciting. It's a joy. It's got elements of punk and hair metal, but it has its own identity. Yes, most of the songs sound the same, but it's unmistakably Motorhead and it's just brilliant.
As I listened to this, I asked myself whether I would rather listen to nothing but Dizzee Rascal or nothing but The Fall. Thing is, both are challenging to my guitar-based-soft-rock-trained ears. However, Fix Up Look Sharp is genius, and the comedy and social commentary in Dizzee Rascal's raps/poetry is far more appealing to me than Mark E Smith's arrogant drivel-uh.
This is clearly a divisive album. It's definitely not for me. Unlistenable - call me a philistine, but it's a discordant cacophony. I prefer music that I enjoy.
It's just a bit too sexy for me.
I get that it's an iconic album with most of the hits...and I was surprised at the diverse sounds, lots of styles going on here...but Suggs' voice really starts to grate after a while. I wouldn't want to listen to the whole album again!
It's a great Iron Maiden album, Bruce is superlative and the choons just keep coming.
Taylor Swift seems to be a pretty decent human, but this album...it's a no. Poetry that sounds like it was written by a lovelorn twelve year old... Lyrically simplistic, boring, trite; plus nothing of interest musically. Reliant on a really samey drum beat for every song, rather than melodies. Really generic. The kind of lyrics I can imagine a grumpy tweenager quoting on her MSN messenger id in the late nineties. Making an effort to sound profound. I get it, you wear red lipstick. Just not for me. Ugh I sound old!
This was a pretty good album, I enjoyed David Byrne's vocals and there were some nice bass-led songs. Wouldn't seek it out, but would listen again.
Loads of classics on here, and I love the way songs blend into each other. Lots of variety and a political intent - love it.
It's not really my era - I feel as though people a couple of years older than me will love this album. It misses the mark with me - too much weird 90s style gentle dance music/ambience. Lots of gospel. The hits are good, obviously, but his voice is annoying after a while. I probably wouldn't listen again.
Not for me. Classic Paul.
It's a lovely peaceful album; the bluesy numbers seem a bit incongruous with his voice, it's the gentle melodic guitar based songs that really speak to me on this album. Really liked it and would listen again, like an ageing hippy.
It's got 'Marrakech express' on it, which is a song I love. Lots of quite annoying '60s-style close vocal harmonies. Gentle, complex guitar work. All a bit samey though. 52 minutes and 14 songs felt very long!
The problem is, he just sounds like the Cookie Monster, and I can't get that image out of my head....
Boring indie Americana. Probably one or two listenable songs. His voice is not to my taste and the 'experimental' sounds feel self-indulgent. Dull for the casual listener.
Well I mean, it was alright. Mark Knopfler has a 'distinctive' singing voice, but, a bit like Pink Floyd, of you pretend the guitar is the lead vocal, suddenly it sounds much better. A great length for an album and the start is very atmospheric. Overall, forgettable.
I like Jack White, it was alright. Would probably listen again.
Into my arms is such a beautiful song. The rest was ok, but not sure I would choose to listen to it unless I felt the need to wallow in despair. Happily for me, I no longer feel like doing that, and I hope I never do again - but if I do, I need to remember that this album exists. 3 stars, would have been 2 but for Into My Arms.
Churchy. On first listen, it felt more atmospheric and less anthemic than Funeral, but on second listen, there are a handful of bangers. I would listen again. 3 stars.
It's a bit zero 7/Moby in places...that turn-of-the-century ambient Ibiza chill-out vibe. It's not an album that I would choose to listen to again.
Pure 1960s - the first track is joyous and the rest of the album is a snapshot of that late sixties sound. Time of the Season is the standout, timeless track that earns this album three stars+, but I would listen to it again.
Six songs, 43 minutes. Track 1 is an ambient start - a pleasant building background bop. Doesn't make you stop and listen, it just exists. Track 2 has an uncomfortable drone and jarring sounds on top, it's like a helicopter with lift music, I had to skip it. Track 3= a bit nothing, Track 4=I had an alarm clock that sounded like this. Track 5= promising start, like a drum n bass track that never really takes off. Track 6 = like being underwater, maybe in a submarine. It was certainly an experience, but the only way I would listen again would be to play Track 2 "DJ'ed" to someone who loves music, as an example of how it can make you feel physically sick.
This is just superb. Phil Lynott's comment about 'girls want a bit more Irish in them' aside (it was of its time), this is a raucous, guitar-heavy celebration of 1970s rock, and I am here for it. A dad-rock joy.
Short but oh so lovely. I listened with cynicism, knowing it is a highly rated album (the highest?) but it is just perfect. Songbird had me welling up. There is variety and quality throughout. Wonderful, an easy five stars.
Exactly an hour - a pleasing length. In this case, it's a bit too long. If I was running a kooky vintage retro shop, I would probably put this album on. As it is, it's kooky retro and vintage, and sounds a lot like other things (Captain Beefheart, Chuck Berry, screaming Jay Hawkins etc...). I'm not that into it, not sure I will be bothered to listen to the whole thing. Oh well. Two stars.
It's difficult to rate this, because it's essentially an album of covers by a man who has a very idiosyncratic voice. I'm not sure I am the biggest fan of his voice. But there is no denying the power of the songs he sings and his being close to death, some send a chill down my spine, while some (Danny Boy) are on the edge of being slightly cringe worthy. Sorry. Needs another listen really, but it is intriguing and in places, powerful. A solid 3.
Very seventies, close harmonies and guitar solos... This was very orchestral (to be expected) and adds more weight to my theory that this list is constructed by middle aged white men. Two to three stars.
Trouble is, I wasn't a young man in 1977. The two last tracks are pretty unlistenable. I would rather listen to Talking Heads. Sorry Dave.
Classic American rock n roll. Very earnest. Obviously great guitar work, but not really one I would return to. Two stars.
Thing is, our generation has Laura Marling. This album is lovely, I would listen again, but it doesn't belong to me.
Didn't like the rape song, but the hip hop jazz with brilliant lyrics is definitely listen again territory. A bit too much about "the industry" but definitely enjoyable.
Bombastic, loud, ridiculous, political, anti-war, tasty album.
It's really good! Joyful, jazzy, funky, bass-led poptastic music. It's Edwyn Collins singing, he's brilliant. I really enjoyed it. I thought the title track was by Talking Heads, and it does sound heavily influenced throughout. Four stars.
It's a bit intense for me. Great atmospheric opening that reminds me of the BBC news theme tune. Lots of tracks that have been used on TV and in adverts. I wouldn't choose to listen to this again. Unless I was raving. Or doing a HITT workout. Two to three stars, will decide at the end.
I did not enjoy this and didn't even get all the way through. 1 star.
Ugh. My heart sank when I saw this. Another Bowie album. I accept he was an inspiration to lots of people, but for me, just...I feel like I know exactly what I am going to get, so I listened with a closed mind. Sorry. But it doesn't feel poignant or powerful to me, I don't like his voice, his lyrics annoy me, the songs aren't funky or fun but dreary and dull. Just not for me. I am annoyed about all of the assumed greatness all his work has, when it bores me. I didn't listen properly in the end, I just skipped through the tracks searching for surprises. "If you can see me" is the least Bowie-sounding. Still him though. "(You will) set the world on fire" is a song I would listen to again. Two stars.
This was interesting, I like her voice, a few songs I already knew and a few that passed by in a dreamlike way. I might be in a Bjork mood in the future and listen again. Three stars.
It was quite sludgy, I liked it and would listen again, although it didn't have many of the songs I knew.... Torn between 3 and 4 stars.
Lots of psychedelic drops, a few decent, timeless songs that really show the influence of The Stooges on bands from the early 00s. I wouldn't listen again but was torn between 2 and 3 stars, mainly for it's influence.
It is orchestral, soaring and epic. There are some good pop tunes on it l, as well as the more experimental sounds. It stands up and is interesting to listen to.
I'm surprised this made it onto the list. It's good, it's like a bit derivative of 1960s music, like a lot of indie was around the mid nineties. It's got some extremely energetic tracks and great use of the theremin! Lovely guitar-based rock. I would listen again. Is it on a par with 'Dark Side of the Moon'? I am still working my head through my scoring system, but 5 is perfect, 4 is excellent, 3 is very good, 2 is ok but not great, and 1 is unlistenable. There almost needs to be a sixth rating to enable more variation between 3 and 1. 3-rated albums will have a big range of listen ability. So I think this is a 3... But it's very good, so maybe it IS a four.
It's very difficult to be objective about this album when you are my age, because it was the soundtrack of my youth. It's evocative of the nineties, of teenage years, school, underage drinking, TV.... It's all the songs that men sing in pubs. It's an album of 20th century folk songs. People will still be singing Wonderwall in fifty years' time. It still sounds great now and it will still sounds great in the future. A well deserved place on this list. Five stars.
Didn't really enjoy this. Aggressive and boring at the same time. Not to my taste, won't listen again.
It was alright. I like Talking Heads, and it sounded like Talking Heads.
Because of when I was born, it has to be a five star review. A seminal album from my youth. Only skippable track was 'Porcelain' and it's actually beautiful when I listen 20+ years later.
It was a bit samey. Didn't love it or want to listen again.
Lovely voice, but you can have too much of a good thing.
Great voice. Like, really great. The Bontempi keyboard effects ruin it for me. Could have been great live with a horns section. The kind of music I would dance to if drunk. Liked it, didn't love it, didn't finish the whole album. 2 or 3 stars.
It's a good album, and I can hear a lot of influences - Soundgarden; Guns n Roses...epic guitar work, grunge.... Yeah, I would listen again. Three stars.
Strong opening track - you ARE the sunshine of my life - then we go a bit funky and crack out some strong guitar moves.
Parts of it are ok, parts are particularly unpleasant. Not for me. Another one for the middle aged white men. Two stars.
I know the Supertramp singles and always enjoyed them. I love the intro to this album, it starts with a mournful, sorrowful harmonica, and the first track is complex with a funky groove. I do like his voice. It's got some jazzy and atmospheric tracks, which don't rush to fit into a three minute pop single format, they build slowly and with unexpected complexity.
It's a Metallica album. It's fine. It sounds like a Metallica album, and I like it. Not sure it's groundbreaking, and I'm not sure there should be any more than one Metallica album on this list. Fours tars, because I like it and I would listen again and it's interesting.
It goes Bluesy, Folky then a bit country, but is unmistakably Led Zep. Not my favourite Led Zeppelin album, but decent. Three stars, verging on four because of Sandy Denny.
Magnificent. Full of chips. Even the drum solo doesn't detract from the greatness of this album. Loved it.
Thirty songs for an album. I mean, come on. There are a few good songs on here, and the influence of the Beatles on other musicians is undeniable. But as an album, self-contained thing to listen to - yeah, no. Too many stupid songs (I don't care about a fucking raccoon), and too bloated and self-important. Two stars.
Hopelessly miserable, dark, sparse and depressing. It gave me sorrow. Would not listen again. I am not sure about how to rate it, because if I wanted to be desperately unhappy, I would go here. It is a musical feat to compose and arrange music so bleak.
Thing is, there are some great songs on here, like Tiny Dancer. It's just that I would have to be in the right mood to put this on, and I'd rather listen to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
This is reminiscent of the music from 'The Sims'.
It sounds like a Talking Heads album. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood today, but I got a bit bored.
There are some fantastic songs on this album, but it peters out a bit towards the end and suffers from a bit too much self-awareness and late '60s/early 70s experimentation (at the expense of actually good music). Think it's a three star album.
Trouble was, it was just a bit too overpowering for me. Lots of rage, lots of musicality, lots of talented lyrics, but I just could not ease into it - it demanded to be actively listened to, not stuck on in the background, which says more about my listening habits than this album. I do t want to give it three stars, though I can't give it two because it is undeniably influential and if I had the energy to endure it, it would be great. That said, it did give me a headache, and I gave Miles Davis a one, so it's going to be a two from me.
I absolutely love this album. I wasn't alive when it came out, but it doesn't matter : 'Got to get you into my life' and 'Here, there and everywhere' are absolutely perfect pop songs. Chemical Brothers also heavily leant on 'Tomorrow never knows' in 'Let Forever Be.' Ahh, this is one of the few albums that deserves the hype. John's voice sounds amazing. There are pop tunes mixed with global influences. There's silliness and heartfelt simple love. I just love it. Well done The Beatles. Five stars.
Excellent - strong start with "Running with the Devil" then excellent choons like "Ain't Talking Bout Love". I very much enjoyed it, although it wasn't quite banger after banger, so only four stars.
Unfortunately I couldn't listen to it all on Spotify, but I already know and enjoy the album, so it's a solid four stars from me - a bit too prog in places to be perfect.
This is annoying and difficult to listen to; an up-its-own-arse record. It's the kind of music about which people would say "Oh you've probably never heard of them, but I love The Mekons". It's just not to my taste - purposely bland songs with too-clever lyrics; music for the head, not for the body or the heart. This review has become a bit of a diatribe but it's the kind of music I really hate now - I want visceral, powerful, moving and beautiful songs, not post-punk rubbish that's stuck in its own head. One star. Couldn't get past track 3.
3+3 is 9, and these are nine wonderful tracks. That Lady and Summer Breeze will always be classics, and are complemented well by the others. Sheer fuzzing psychedelic guitar perfection. Covers are fantastic. Any reason not to give it five stars? Don't think so.
This album has all the best Michael Jackson songs on it. An almost comical dud for me is 'The Girl is Mine' with Paul McCartney - the spoken section, in particular, is very very funny!
It is so difficult to know how to feel about Michael Jackson, but for me, I just feel that his musical ability and hit-making skills are unparalleled. I'm going to give this five stars because it is a spectacular pop record, and if an alien came to this planet, it would be a great introduction to pop music. Even my baby was dancing!
I bailed five songs in. It's just irritating - the songs all sound the same, and to start with it's all charming 1980s synth pop, then you realise, ugh, that's all it is. And like Vivaldi's Spring, when you first hear it, it's nice, but after the fourth or fifth time you end up wanting to gouge your own eyes out. One star.
The trouble is, I heard Badly Drawn Boy before I heard Elliott Smith. It's charming and whimsical with a delicate, understated vocal. Indie pop. I feel like if I gave it a few listens, there would be some real tearjerkers on there. The musicality of it is impressive, the guitars are great, the keys, the atmosphere of each song. It's a good album. A bit samey after a while. In fact, his voice is starting to annoy me. Ben Folds is another soundalike. Oh, I don't know. Maybe three stars, maybe four. Three and a half. Won't be life-changing for me!
