326
Albums Rated
3.67
Average Rating
30%
Complete
763 albums remaining
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Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
97
5-Star Albums
26
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| G. Love And Special Sauce | 5 | 2.74 | +2.26 |
| Apocalypse Dudes | 5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes | 5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
| Ghosteen | 5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
| Heavy Weather | 5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
| Heartbreaker | 5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
| Time (The Revelator) | 5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
| White Ladder | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| Your New Favourite Band | 5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
| Younger Than Yesterday | 5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The College Dropout | 1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
| Made In Japan | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| The Slim Shady LP | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| The Pleasure Principle | 1 | 3.14 | -2.14 |
| The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| At Budokan | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Before And After Science | 1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
| NEU! 75 | 1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
| Murder Ballads | 1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
| Life's Too Good | 1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 5 | 4.6 |
| Metallica | 3 | 5 |
| Beatles | 6 | 4.33 |
| Frank Sinatra | 2 | 5 |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 2 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 5 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2 | 5 |
| Nick Drake | 2 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 2 | 5 |
| Johnny Cash | 2 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Eno | 2 | 1.5 |
| Eminem | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Pink Floyd | 5, 1 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 5, 1 |
| David Bowie | 2, 4, 5 |
5-Star Albums (97)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
NOTE: You can listen to the Very Best of the Gershwin Songbook which is only 45 minutes! I do wish there were more 'very best of' albums on here, but I see why that's difficult for some artists v others.
With that said, Ella is really a timeless voice, with such a sense of melody, rhythm, and jazz (her scat singing is really something else). Not much else to say asides from this being well deserving of a spot on this list.
9 likes
Metallica
5/5
Man, listening to this album brought up a LOT of memories. Not all of them good. It's a really powerful metal album, one of Metallica's last good albums. But lyrically there's quite a bit here that feeds a bit of an incel mentality, and I can really only see that with some serious hindsight and separation from the material. There is a 'victim of society' mentality present here that I think can really burrow in to someone's mind, and I wonder what impact this may have had beyond the album. Whether it's giving a false sense of injustice, a need to prove oneself (in some ways as better than), or facing rejection with anger - there's a lot on display here that just isn't healthy.
But musically holy shit. What a great album full of incredible tracks. Mark's absolute cruising here with insane solos and this becomes less thrash and more power metal, but you can also hear Metallica's sound evolving from here.
2 likes
Eminem
2/5
I thought I'd like this more, but much of Eminem's lyrics have not aged well. There are some really thoughtful, well structured tracks here (Stan in particular), but his trashing of gay men, of how he talks about women, are not only inappropriate, but in poor taste - even if what Eminem is going for is that shock factor. Obviously there are some standout tracks here, it was a 'breakout' album, but today it's so easy to read as teenage, toilet humor. Sure there's this absurdity to it, you aren't supposed to take it seriously, but words have an impact, and Eminem does a disservice to his fans by ignoring that.
2 likes
The Cult
4/5
The Cult has such a classic bad boy/punk sound to them, really helped by Ian Astbury's almost growling vocals. He really shines throughout this album. Bad Fun is arguably the best track on this album, and it's shocking to me that it isn't their most listened to tracks from the album. I remember absolutely jamming to this track playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater back in the day. Not every track is a hit here, and I can definitely appreciate the sentiments that this is somewhat generic. But it's also just too good to not love. This is the kind of album you jam all the way down the highway to (or skate to).
2 likes
Radiohead
5/5
I mean, it's Hail to the Thief! One of Radiohead's best albums! This is where I first really listened to Radiohead, and the album holds up.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (26)
All Ratings
The Doors
4/5
Totally perspective changing. Made me rethink Acid Rock and the Doors.
The Stranglers
2/5
First reaction - what the hell am I listening to. The synth is wild, and the vocals are totally off from what I expected.
But from the second track on this is very early days of British punk rock. Reminds me of Flogging Molly. Very experimental, and not a huge fan, but I respect it's likely influence on others. If I'd never heard this kind of music before I'd probably love it more.
Overall good for music appreciation, but not otherwise not into it.
Motörhead
4/5
I already knew Motorhead for Ace of Spades, but didn't realize how many other good tracks they had. I had always thought of them as a one hit wonder, and am pretty shocked to find they have a really robust catalogue.
Really vibing with this band.
More importantly, the fact that they did this in the 80s is shocking. I thought they were a 90s band.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Really great album. Bob Dylan is a legend, and his lyrics are really inspiring. Some of his best tracks here, though some of the songs were overly long
Spiritualized
5/5
REALLY enjoyed this album. I can see why it won album of the year. Not a band I would have ever listened to without this, but definitely my style of music - same vein as Massive Attack and others. 10/10
Alice Cooper
3/5
School's Out is a classic. The rest of this album is...questionable. Not sure I loved it honestly. Didn't feel like the rest of the album lived up to the hard rock punch from the first part.
Germs
2/5
Had trouble finding this one. Apparently not on Spotify (which is pretty punk in and of itself). Not something I would have easily just stumbled upon.
This is definitely punk as hell. Not sure I love it, but I appreciate it.
Lexicon Devil is a really fun track
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Really enjoyed this. Smashing pumpkins really rocks hard. Don't love his voice, but the guitar and drums are incredible
Frank Sinatra
5/5
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Really surprised by this. For some reason I had never been interested in the Velvet Underground, but this album slaps. Something to add to my rotation for sure. I can also really hear this album's influence on more modern bands.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
Holy shit this album slaps. The beats early on are really strong, and just when it feels like enough it mellows out. Can see how this influenced the EDM scene and more.
Brian Eno
1/5
Wow, um, this is really bad. I hated everything about this. I'm sure there are some people who love this, but they aren't me.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Not a huge fan of this, but it's smooth and sexy in a way I can't quite explain. Not in standard rotation, but I see the appeal for date night.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Good soul music. Adele sounds a LOT like her and I can see where the inspiration came from. Very fun album.
Metallica
5/5
I'm a HUGE fan of this album already - one of my favorites. Combining orchestra with Metallica adds something truly brilliant that is hard to find in either genre, and really adds a lot to their music.
5/5
Already know and love this album. A true classic of modern rock.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Blister in the sun is such a classic. A lot of really good punk music here.
The Cure
3/5
Some smoother listening than the past few days. I hadn't listened to the Cure before, but this is some great brit rock.
White Denim
4/5
Really liked this. I'd heard White Denim before but never did a deep dive on them. The voice is soothing, and there's some really killer guitar riffs and solos here.
LL Cool J
4/5
Some really good stuff here. Also some weird tracks. Hits well, and is a lot of fun.
ZZ Top
4/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Khaled
3/5
This isn't a style of music I typically get to listen to, and for that alone I appreciate this album's inclusion on the list. Not sure this will enter my regular rotation, but certainly encourages me to expand my horizons (I have a soft spot for Arab music)
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Kendrick is king. Absolutely killer album.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Reminds me a lot of Ben Folds. Good stuff, but not quite my style.
Linkin Park
4/5
I hadn't really listened to much Linkin Park before (for some reason I think of them and Limp Bizkit when I think of punk/rap/metal). This was fun though. Would listen to more of them
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead is always phenomenal. Great album
Roxy Music
1/5
I do not think art rock is a genre for me. It was difficult to enjoy or appreciate this album. What baffles me is how this topped the charts when it did come out and the stunning praise for it
3/5
Surprisingly fun. A bit too old school for my tastes but not bad to listen to
Kanye West
1/5
I hadn't listened to this before, but I see the appeal. That said, Kanye is a bigot. Kanye's use of some outdated terms that are pretty offensive these days. We don't listen to Kanye in this household.
Arcade Fire
5/5
I hadn't really listened to Arcade Fire before, and honestly thought they weren't going to be my style. Boy was I wrong - this hits like Radiohead, has some great bangers, and is one hell of an emotional trip.
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
Some good country music. Not quite my style but I can appreciate this being a great album.
The Triffids
2/5
Very 80s vibe here. The first song is great, but not sure about the rest of this. Nothing really clicked for me here.
Beatles
4/5
It's the Beatles. As always classic. That said not sure this is my favorite of their albums.
The Avalanches
5/5
Really enjoyed this album. Can appreciate the musical mastery behind combining so many loops here, and how it inspired others is just phenomenal. Love this style of music.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
I mean it's Fleetwood Mac and one of their best albums. Absolute classic
R.E.M.
2/5
Surprised I didn't enjoy this. It seems like it's trying too hard to be interesting/funky, and none of the tracks (outside the hit single) really spoke to me.
3/5
Fun album. Great classic rock. Could definitely listen to this happily, and can 100% feel David Briggs influence on the sound here.
Sepultura
3/5
Overall there were some fun tracks, but a lot of it sounded 'samey' and like noise to me - it's hard to appreciate the artistry when the guitars all sound the same across the different tracks. That could be a reflection of my relationship with heavy metal (very hit or miss). It's definitely genre defining, and there were some fun bits (like the bass in Subtraction). I may continue to give this a try, but right now it doesn't feel like the right fit. Also that album art is freaky dude.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Overall there were some fun tracks, but a lot of it sounded 'samey' and like noise to me - it's hard to appreciate the artistry when the guitars all sound the same across the different tracks. That could be a reflection of my relationship with heavy metal (very hit or miss). It's definitely genre defining, and there were some fun bits (like the bass in Subtraction). I may continue to give this a try, but right now it doesn't feel like the right fit. Also that album art is freaky dude.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Thrilled to have a chance to dive in with Kendrick. To Pimp a Butterfly is such a phenomenal album and really plays with the idea of what hip hop can and should look like. His poetry is incredible and the themes he deals with continue to be salient today. 10/10
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Good jazz album. I can't say this struck me one way or another but I enjoyed listening to it and would put this on in the background without hesitation.
Beatles
4/5
Sometimes I forget about the Beatles roots as a first of its kind pop-rock band that sang great love songs. I hadn't heard most of these before, or at least not in a long time. Overall good album but Little Child has...not aged well
Eagles
3/5
It always surprises me listening to eagles songs that aren't Hotel California. It feels so distinctive to their sound, yet is so very unlike most of what they do - which is just very different. But despite some great songs overall, there are some much weaker songs later on the album.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
Fever to Tell is such a distinctive album for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I'd almost describe this as more of a punk sound, with Karen O's distinctive vocal stylings but also just her approach to yelling and screaming into the mic. I'm not sure their distinctive sound has carried over into other albums in the same way, but Fever to Tell is absolute fire and most of the tracks are bangers.
The Band
4/5
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Manu Chao
2/5
Harder for me to get into this album. I have never been all that in to reggae, and while it's clear this is an important album, I'm not sure it's something I enjoyed listening to.
Beatles
4/5
A LOT of classics on this one, from Eleanor Rigby to Yellow Submarine and a few more.
David Bowie
2/5
I love Bowie but I think I'm realizing I am not a huge fan of art rock, which this album leans in to very heavily. There are some interesting tracks and I can tell there's a lot of musicality to what's going on, but I just don't think it resonated with me.
4/5
I liked this a lot more than I expected I would. It's a very 90s sound, but there's something very comforting in that.
Mylo
4/5
This is the kind of house music I can behind. Really funky, fun to listen to, and a great album to vibe to.
4/5
Raekwon
4/5
Loved the mix between concept and lyrics here. This was fun to listen to and there were a few clear hits from the album (backed up by Spotify listens), like Crimonology and Ice Cream that were great to listen to.
Aphex Twin
3/5
This is great to chill out to. At times reminds me of Stranger things. But also sometimes a tough listen on its own.
Radiohead
5/5
OK Computer is such a profound album. One of Radiohead's best.
The Cure
3/5
I can see why this was a hit, but I'm really not sure I'm into it. It's dark and moody, and there are some really great tracks. Robert Smith's distinctive vocals really shine through. But would I listen to this again? I doubt it.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
It's Simon & Garfunkel! Legendary duo, and this is a legendary album full of incredible tracks. Their lyricism and knack for making things catchy is really on show here, and it's just remarkable how relevant and timeless it feels. The care and attention to detail in their songs matches that of the Beatles IMO.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
Life got in the way and I wasn't able to listen to this full album. But broadly I enjoyed what I heard. Honestly could feel this influencing a lot of other tracks I've heard that are more recent.
The Hives
5/5
Really really enjoyed this one. Reminded me a lot of the Clash, but had it's own distinctive punk flare. Will be coming back to this for sure.
Radiohead
5/5
I mean, it's Hail to the Thief! One of Radiohead's best albums! This is where I first really listened to Radiohead, and the album holds up.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Some really classic funk here. Sing a Simple Song is an all time favorite from college. I knew a cover band who absolutely killed this one, which brought back some good memories.
Jane Weaver
2/5
This is...fine? But I'm clear why this is on here. It doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. It's not bad but it's not great, and it really makes me question the methodology behind picking any of these albums. I know of plenty of indie artists from around the same time who have released remarkably good albums that are better than this (and if anything I want to go listen to those now):
Thievery Corporation
Lula Wiles
Kaki King
Pentangle
4/5
Honestly didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. The folk/Celtic/indie/etc sound really defies classification. Some tracks feel almost medieval in nature, but in a great way. I'll have to explore them more as an artist.
The xx
4/5
A really strong first album from the xx. The Intro is probably one of the best 'intro' songs ever recorded, to the point that I think it eclipses the rest of the record. A couple popular tracks I recognized on here, but I think the first half of the album ends up being much stronger than the second half, which was harder for me to get in to. That said, those first few tracks are brilliant.
Duran Duran
3/5
Unpopular opinion - Duran Duran is fine I guess? They've got some decent tracks on this album, but I've never loved Hungry Like the Wolf like others do. It's an ok song, but I just think there's better stuff out there. The rest of the album is ok. The artwork is of course iconic.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
I mean, it's Aretha Franklin, some of her greatest hits, and an overall solid album to boot. Her voice is incredible and I'm looking forward to more of her on this list!
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
This was pretty good. It's something I could see myself putting on in the background as light listening. Not my traditional style of music but I can see how it was influential.
The Byrds
4/5
Feels weirdly like the Beatles, but very much enjoyed listening to this - apart from the last track which I frankly skipped over, wasn't in the mood for a 14 minute jam. It feels very experimental in the same way that the late Beatles was, and I actually found the sound to be somewhat similar (you can really see the Beatles influence here).
Is this a good album? No. Are there a couple good songs on here? I guess? Are the lyrics REALLY bad? 1000% The only reason this album feels like it belongs on the list is for Beautiful Day, maybe Stuck in a Moment. But so much of the song writing is shallow, uninspired, and at times just plain awful that it just brings down the entire album. It's way too safe and lacks anything inspiring. I want music with soul, not this dribble.
The Stooges
4/5
Really fun album. Love the punk power here.
The xx
3/5
I feel like this fails to have the same impact on me as the original xx album.
Super Furry Animals
1/5
This is one of the first albums on this list that I just couldn't listen through. It reminds me of another artist I really don't like, and I just couldn't resonate with any of these songs. Not a fan
Mike Oldfield
4/5
Really enjoyed this. There are parts that are weird and clunky but it's raw and powerful in a way that is astonishing to have come from a young teenage mind. Really impressive stuff and the melodies are really incredible across these long concept pieces.
The Byrds
5/5
Really enjoyed this. I hadn't listened to the Byrds prior to this experience, and the previous album by them didn't do it for me. This feels much more like they are doing their own thing and in their prime. You can feel the influence the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel and others had on them, but you also see how they evolved their own unique style and substance. Quite a few classics in here and I'll be coming back for more
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
Wow. This is a really incredible album. The lyricism, the guitar melodies, it all just works together. You can feel a lot of different influences here, but it's also clear that this will itself be an influential album long into the future.
Ramones
4/5
Punk a f.
Common
4/5
Really excellent album. Common's got a terrific flow and brings in some terrific beats and themes throughout his music.
The Gun Club
3/5
I've heard music inspired by this style and absolutely loved it, but this felt jarring and more like 'noise' to me.
AC/DC
5/5
One of AC/DC's best albums, featuring one of their best singles, and some really rocking songs besides.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On is an absolute CLASSIC. Unfortunately, I'm not sure the rest of the record lives up to the expectations set by this song. It's terrific music (and there's a clear time and place for this album), but I was looking to more captured by the album in a way I wasn't. Still, the title track is in and of itself worthy of inclusion on this list.
The Police
3/5
The Police are always a classic. I'm not sure everything on this album resonated with me, but it's an album I want to revisit.
Big Star
3/5
It's a very slow album, very discordant, but also very touching. I can see why this is considered an influential album. There's a very disheveled, surreal approach to the music.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Led Zeppelin II has some of Led Zeppelin's absolute best tracks. Whole Lott Love, Ramble On, Moby Dick, Heartbreaker, What is and What Should Never Be. This is absolutely one of their best and hands down an easy five stars.
The Kinks
3/5
I can't get over how much this sounds like a Beatles knockoff band. That may speak to the style of psychedelic brit rock more than the Kinks themselves, but I found myself wanting to listen to the Beatles over this. Not that there aren't good tracks here, but I think it's missing the special something that makes the Beatles so iconic.
Eminem
2/5
I thought I'd like this more, but much of Eminem's lyrics have not aged well. There are some really thoughtful, well structured tracks here (Stan in particular), but his trashing of gay men, of how he talks about women, are not only inappropriate, but in poor taste - even if what Eminem is going for is that shock factor. Obviously there are some standout tracks here, it was a 'breakout' album, but today it's so easy to read as teenage, toilet humor. Sure there's this absurdity to it, you aren't supposed to take it seriously, but words have an impact, and Eminem does a disservice to his fans by ignoring that.
Neil Young
5/5
It's a great Neil Young album, unfortunately by not being on Spotify I was also greeted with ads between most tracks, which took away from the overall vibe. Still, what a wonderful lyricist - it's hard not to care deeply about what he's singing about or be reflective when he sings. Cheers Neil.
Brian Eno
2/5
From this adventure, I'm learning that I really do not like Brian Eno's music. His melodies tend not to resonate with me, and when he's produced an album, I've tended not to vibe with it. It's wild to know how much influence he's had on music over the past half a century and to feel such a divide between what he's creating and what I enjoy. But I just really can't seem to enjoy his work. (It really doesn't help that he produced U2's absolutely horrific 2000 album)
This album itself seems to encapsulate almost a lofi style, which I could really appreciate on tracks like Big Ship, or really any of the tracks without vocals. I can see how important this is to ambient music, to production, etc. But I still struggle to enjoy it.
Pink Floyd
1/5
What.
Truly not what I expected from this album. This is a very strange, almost psychedelic album, but has a very different vibe than I've come to expect from Pink Floyd. It is VERY MUCH a product of the 60s. Perhaps important to get this context on what Pink Floyd used to be like, but it's a very weird album and I can't say I enjoyed it.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Fun album and not something I'd normally listen to. Can absolutely see how I would dance to this at an event or something. Some great tracks, especially Ojos.
Otis Redding
5/5
Just really incredible. What a phenomenal album. It's amazing to hear his take on so many classics.
Meat Loaf
5/5
When I was a kid, the art on this album always seemed so insanely cool. When I finally had the nerve to pop it in, I found the piano jarring, and immediately felt like this wasn't the album I was hoping it would be. In hindsight, I missed out on a truly epic experience that I'm only catching up on now. While it's not the album I expected based on the art (I think still a fair criticism - it looks like it should be an intense heavy metal album) what a set of epic songs and I'm sorry I missed out of this when I was younger. Paradise by the Dashboard Light, Bat Out of Hell, You Took the Words Right Out of my Mouth (especially that opening!), are all such phenomenal, opera level tracks. RIP Michael Lee Aday
The Cult
4/5
The Cult has such a classic bad boy/punk sound to them, really helped by Ian Astbury's almost growling vocals. He really shines throughout this album. Bad Fun is arguably the best track on this album, and it's shocking to me that it isn't their most listened to tracks from the album. I remember absolutely jamming to this track playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater back in the day. Not every track is a hit here, and I can definitely appreciate the sentiments that this is somewhat generic. But it's also just too good to not love. This is the kind of album you jam all the way down the highway to (or skate to).
Motörhead
2/5
I find myself agreeing with some of the more negative reviews. I'm struggling to see why this is the best live album ever made when the sound is rough, the lyrics almost unintelligible at times (though that's largely due to Lemmy's gruffness), and most of the songs sound like early riffs on the Ace of Spades. I 1000% see the origins of grunge and pink in Motorheads sound in many of these songs, but the sound quality feels fairly bad here compared to things a decade or two later. Muddy Banks of the Wishka, How the West Was Won, and S&M all strike me as better live albums than this.
Genesis
3/5
Some pretty great epic tracks on here. Phil Collins voice really shines through, though the instruments used tend to feel quite dated now, and many tracks overstay their welcome.
Beck
4/5
Really solid album from Beck. Some great tracks here and some funky beats and rhythmic vibes from the likes of Emergency Exit and Farewell Ride, really pushing at what makes music.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This is just good old fashioned rock'n'roll. Fantastic album from a fantastic band.
Slipknot
3/5
Slipknot's overall vibe (as in their dress, the creepy breathing, manic laughter, etc) is definitely not for me. But there's some really hardcore tracks here and I can absolutely see how this had a major influence on rock, punk, emo, and heavy metal when it was released. Definitely some absolute banger thrashcore tracks here. But I really can't get past the creepy clown masks, and something about the vibe just really turns me off.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
The first couple tracks had me going wtf and I was concerned that I was not going to make it through this whole album. As it kept going though, the sound evolved into much more of a jazz with spoken word vibe, and I found it to be relaxing, sometimes soothing, background music. I'm not a big fan of Robert Wyatt's voice and lyrics here, but I can see the appeal.
The Police
4/5
What a classic. Lots of amazing tracks on here. Not their best album, but very very solid.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Despite some of the crass humor, Doggy Style is a rare rap album that has aged fairly well. The misogyny isn't as front and center (and it more feels like posturing than anything else) and there aren't a lot of disparaging comments towards others. What surprised me is Snoop Dogg's trademark crooning voice is almost absent from this album - it's very early on in his career and it's clear he's still establishing his sound. I can see the influence, but I almost feel like the greatest influence here was on Snoop's career itself.
The Clash
4/5
Definitely a fun album. The Clash definitely redefined what rock should be and can sound like, with a mix of genres. The mumbling almost casual nature of the music is really interesting, and there are some really great tracks here. Not sure it's a favorite for me personally, but I think it's one I'll continue to come back to.
The Damned
5/5
Wow, this album slaps. The whole thing is an absolutely fire punk album. I'm surprised I'd never heard of this before, but this is really good British punk, and also coming right off of a Clash album. Big fan of this and it will be entering regular rotation.
Ash
4/5
The Adverts
3/5
This is fine. There has been a lot of punk and brit rock on this list, and this doesn't do much to stand out from what is becoming a crowded field for me, but I could see given when this came out the influence this could have had, but better stuff has since come out.
Beatles
4/5
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Leonard's lyricisim is on full display here. Suzanne is such a wonderful track. Super mellow, very engaging, his voice really brings you in to listen to the lyricism. Easy 5.
Turbonegro
5/5
Wow. Intense, whimsical, punk as hell. This reminds me of the best of AC/DC, and just seems like they are just out here to have a great time. The band name, some of the historical context (ie playing in blackface) hasn't aged well, but I think some of that can be chalked up to them being a European band. Regardless, this feels like glam rock as it should be - fun as hell with absolutely killer guitar and drums.
The Fall
2/5
Despite some really excellent post-punk tones here, this demonstrates just how much I really don't like art rock as a music style. The almost drunken lyrics, the kind of crazy off the wallness of it all. There's some solid tracks, but I just couldn't get into this album.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
While not Fleetwood Mac's best (that of course goes to Rumours), there's a lot to love on Tusk. I couldn't get quite as in to this album as I have with others, but it's certainly worth repeat listens.
Beck
5/5
This album hit me like a ton of bricks. I'd never really listened to Beck before, and the album art (which looks like it could've been done in photoshop in about 5 minutes) didn't give me high hopes for the album itself. But I've been going through a melancholic phase and this was exactly what I needed to reflect on that and get through it. It's the rare album that shows up for you exactly when you need it.
The album itself is filled with that bittersweet sensation - joy, sadness, melancholy, it's all there in Beck's voice, the melodies, and the quiet background. To me it captures the feeling of a lonely sunset drive. It's exactly what you need to reflect and get through a moment, and that to me is ultimately what a great album can capture. A good album has great tracks that you love to listen to, and is maybe full of them. A great album transcends that, capturing a feeling, an experience, perhaps even taking through a series of emotions and is something you turn to when you need to move through those, for whatever reason. This is that, and I would contend is one of the best albums on this list as a result. A true masterpiece.
Yes
4/5
Fragile is an absolutely classic Yes album. Roundabout is such a brilliant track, as are tracks like America, Long Distance Run, etc.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
This isn't music I would have ever been exposed to and I loved it. It's excellent easy listening, similar in some ways to jazz, and the kind of thing I'd put on in the background for a nice dinner.
OutKast
4/5
Overall a great double album with lots of incredible tracks. I think there's quite a bit of bloat here, and not everything landed, but overall really good.
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
The guy making weird sounds in the background really took away from what is otherwise a good album. Sounds a bit like Bob Dylan and other classic rock, but I really can't get over that random dude.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
LFGOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I haven't heard this full album start to finish in quite some time and it's a great reminder of why Guns N Roses were GOAT for so long. Welcome to the Jungle remains able to get you out of your seat like nothing else, and Sweet Child O' Mine remains a true classic, alongside Paradise City. I'd forgotten about Night Train, another great rock song. While a lot of the other tracks feel almost like 'filler', a filler for Guns N Roses still maintains an epicness that other bands lack. That said, repeated listening also reveals a simpleness to the lyrics (which may be a contributing factor to its success).
Radiohead
5/5
The Bends is one of those albums that really encapsulates what makes Radiohead absolutely incredible. Fake Plastic Trees is such a hauntingly beautiful song and never fails to make me extremely emotional. The entire album is like that, fully encapsulating ideas and 'vibes' and bringing life to them in a way you don't see from many bands, including on this list. It's the rare band that can truly capture magic like Radiohead can.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Great longform jazz album. There's a bit of funk in here, and overall greatly enjoyed this. 10/10 would throw on at a dinner party.
Metallica
5/5
Man, listening to this album brought up a LOT of memories. Not all of them good. It's a really powerful metal album, one of Metallica's last good albums. But lyrically there's quite a bit here that feeds a bit of an incel mentality, and I can really only see that with some serious hindsight and separation from the material. There is a 'victim of society' mentality present here that I think can really burrow in to someone's mind, and I wonder what impact this may have had beyond the album. Whether it's giving a false sense of injustice, a need to prove oneself (in some ways as better than), or facing rejection with anger - there's a lot on display here that just isn't healthy.
But musically holy shit. What a great album full of incredible tracks. Mark's absolute cruising here with insane solos and this becomes less thrash and more power metal, but you can also hear Metallica's sound evolving from here.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
This isn't the best of Queens of the Stone Age, but in terms of introducing their offbeat, almost villainous, sound this gets the job done. Definitely enjoyed, but not my favorite of their works.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Energetic and fun! Great love album capturing Sam's energy and vibes
The Killers
5/5
It's pretty incredible how many hit singles are on the front half of this album. Some absolute bangers from the Killers that kind of defined the mid-2000s. The back half is filled with less hits, but no less memorable songs. Mr Bright side is the obvious highlight here, but Smile Like You Mean It and Somebody Told Me are classics that can sit right alongside. Maybe polarizing for some, but the Killers are an important band that really defined the time period and I think will remain a highlight from the early 2000s era
M.I.A.
3/5
I've never been a huge fan of M.I.A, though I did find some of the tracks here really worming there way into my brain (in a good way!). Maybe I need to listen to more of her material.
Kid Rock
1/5
It's so close to being good. So close. But this is really not my vibe.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Born to Run is an absolute classic of a song, and Springsteen has a real talent for lyricism. Interestingly, in many respects this sounded a lot like Meatloaf to me in terms of epicness of some of the tracks.
The Smiths
2/5
The Smiths are definitely influential, but this sad brit rock isn't quite for me.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Full of classics, this is American rock at its finest.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Great jazz album. I can hear a lot of influence here into modern day rap, hip-hop, and more. Gil's lyricism is really on point here, and the political issues he sings about are sadly still prevalent today.
Eagles
3/5
Come on man, I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles!
Good classic Americana, and knowing the influence this had to popularize country rock, this clearly has a place on the list. But not something I'd listen to regularly.
Living Colour
4/5
Hell yeah. Living Colour was a band I learned about while learning bass back in the day. The bass slaps here, and the singing if really fantastic. What really makes Living Colour stand out though is they are one of the few African-American metal groups out there, and quite frankly makes this an important album.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Some classics from the Stones here, and a great short album to boot. Doesn't overstay it's welcome.
Television
3/5
I feel like this is an album that I need to give more listens. I can already feel it growing on me, but it just sounds so similar to other post-punk albums to me that I feel like I'm missing the genius of it. 3 for now, but I hope to listen more and that that changes.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Hah - this was fun. Not my usual cup of tea, but great to have on in the background while I was working.
James Taylor
4/5
I grew up listening to James Taylor with my parents so this hits a particular soft spot for me. I'm not sure this is his best album in retrospect, but James Taylor definitely has a place on this list for me, if only for the pure hit of nostalgia.
Aimee Mann
3/5
A side note that albums like this prove that not all the reviews on this site are worth reading - a lot of sexism and just plain lack of an open mind from folks on here. Country, folk rock, girl rock, 'mom rock', all have a great place on this list and are important for millions of people. Dudes on here, do better.
As far as this actual album - I'm not sure I'm a huge fan, but that comes down to my taste and not the merits of Aimee Mann. It feels of its time and like something I just missed out on. Then again, I've never been a huge fan of soft rock. But her lyrics are terrific and the production value is rock solid.
Fleet Foxes
5/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
66 years on, this is still great. Super old school, but quite charming. This is almost hard to rate because of its age - I'm not sure I'd listen to this on a regular basis, but fun to have on from time to time.
Gillian Welch
5/5
This is terrific. I wasn't familiar with Gillian Welch before this, but this is extremely reminiscent of other Americana/Bluegrass artists I love like Lula Wiles - who were clearly inspired by Gillian themselves. Singer/Songwriter Americana like this isn't something I've explored deeply, and it's clearly a shame because artists like Gillian have influenced some of my favorites. I'm looking forward to exploring her discography more.
Fatboy Slim
5/5
This is fun to listen to in the right environment, and excellent club or getting in the zone music. Certainly a hugely influential album in terms of trance/trip hop and more. I can see why this would be controversial for some - it's not for everyone and you need to already like this 'trance' style of music in the first place. Fatboy is a legend in this regard - the repetitiveness is the point, but those looking for deeper lyricism or musicality beyond the 'vibe' will be sorely disappointed. One of the few genres that can perhaps be described as based on pure vibes.
Nick Drake
5/5
Wow this was really terrific. As a follow on to Gillian Welch I was shocked to hear another excellent singer/songwriter that I felt like I should have been listening to for years on the list. Drake's soothing voice and poetry really shine through, but the guitar turns it into something truly profound - I will note the bass seems a little discordant and out of place at times, but I may feel differently on future listens.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
I was never quite in to Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and if I'm being honest have struggled to enjoy this album. It's clearly good, an excellent concept album, yet it just doesn't really evoke much in me. I don't think this is a fault of the band - and it is truly a beautiful, well-rounded album. But it's also just not really my cup of tea.
Dr. Dre
4/5
Culturally significant, highly important to our own shift in culture and the cultivation of gangsta rap. Whether or not that was a good move away from previous forms of the genre is certainly up for debate. Hearing lots of Snoop was refreshing and Dre's beats are incredible. That this was his introductory album speaks volumes to his abilities as a producer and the way he influenced rap and hip hop long-term.
Venom
2/5
Man - this hasn't aged well for me. The influence this has had on metal is clear, but a lot of it just feels silly now and the guitar riff, drums, and mixing overall just doesn't do it for me. Perhaps that's because it's hard to go back to something that's much weaker than things like Metallica and more.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
This was a real fun Blues listen. John Lee has an incredible voice and this music is just so soulful.
ABBA
4/5
Miles Davis
5/5
Miles Davis is the definition of cool.
The White Stripes
4/5
The White Stripes as a whole is an incredible project. Jack White is such a masterful musician with a really distinguished lyrical style - to say nothing of Mary's masterful drumming. That said, I think this is one of their weaker albums and I'm surprised to find it on this list compared to other White Stripes albums. Several of these tracks are quite good - Blue Orchid, Denial Twist, The Nurse, Red Rain, My Doorbell - and this is quite distinguished from the White Stripes usual sound because of the heavy emphasis on piano, but an album like White Blood Cells or Elephant feels like it would be a more appropriate representation of the Stripes.
3.5 stars, rounded up because I do think it's a good album, but wish it was removed to make way for other albums more deserving a spot on the list.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
It's a haunting experience, and frankly the experience of listening to Skip over the course of an hour certainly merits this being on the list as an 'album to listen to before you die'. That said, it's a ramble of music (likely because this was meant as a demo), and was a struggle for me to listen through. As someone else has said - it's tortured genius. Unfortunately, I just don't think it's for me, but I'm glad it's included.
The White Stripes
5/5
Back to back Stripes albums, this being the greater of the two (previous album being Get Behind Me Satan). Let's start with the obvious here - Seven Nation Army is an absolute masterpiece. There's a lot going on in this album, but I think first and foremost the White Stripes have always been defined by a certain element of stripping back songs to just the core of what's needed to make them shine. Mary is stunning on drums throughout and absolute killing it - hitting exactly the right level of intensity while pulling back when needed to compliment everything else going on. Jack has an ear for simple melodies that turn into rocking guitar jams, rather than more difficult and technically complex playing. But I think where Jack has always stood out is his voice and lyricism, which is on prime display throughout Elephant, and the simplicity of the guitar serves to elevate these aspects. The simplicity of it all actually reminds me most of Nirvana, but obviously with Jack White's own signature twist. It's one hell of an album and, unlike Get Behind Me Satan imo, well deserving of this list.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Wow - this is just a phenomenal album. Incredible rhythms, absolutely fire raps, and just incredible flows. This is the kind of album I wish I'd known about a long time ago, and feels so important to understanding the genre as a whole. What's shocked me is just the shear number of lines present in this that I've riffed on by the likes of Beastie Boys, House of Pain, and Eminem. I had no idea how influential A Tribe Called Quest was in the space until listening to this.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Lovely little album. Really enjoy Joni's overall style, not an artist I've listened to much of but will have to find more by her
Lou Reed
5/5
Really fantastic. Loved this
TV On The Radio
5/5
Really truly enjoyed this. Very different from most of the stuff on this list and felt like a true discovery of a band that I wish I'd know about a long time ago.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Johnny Cash playing at a prison is so culturally important that this is an instant 5.
5/5
Funkadelic
3/5
This one was interesting. I greatly prefer Maggot Brain to this album. This felt more like an abstract painting come to life, with a lot of vibes and themes, but a general lack of cohesion that tied me to this album and most of the songs, and a very weak middle. The back half of this album is just incredible though, with some of the best guitar I've had the privilege of hearing recorded, and saves this from being a 2 star album. It's so good I'm tempted to give this album 4 stars, but will sit in the happy medium of 3. I think this lands between culturally important and genuinely masterful but the weak points and abstractness really sink the album for me.
Various Artists
4/5
It's a Christmas album alright. Better than most. 4 stars I guess?
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
1/5
I really didn't like this album. The almost abstract repetitive jazz-infused hip-hop/rap didn't really work for me and I found it more grating than satisfying or power in overthrowing the system. The songs felt overly long and I couldn't wait for this album to be over.
The Sugarcubes
1/5
Oof. Early Bjork. Did not enjoy this. I can understand having Bjork on this list, but not an early pre-Bjork album.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I liked this more than I expected to.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I think incredibly important for what it helped achieve at the time, a grungy sketched out rock and roll sound that really allowed the improvisation to shine. Knowing that this laid the groundwork for bigger and better things from other bands is huge and merits 4 stars here.
A musing: Before hearing this I had thought Crazy Horse was in reference to another, Native American musician, paying homage to the Lakota war leader of the 1800s. I was very disappointed to learn that Crazy Horse is just a group of white guys appropriating the name to serve as Neil Young's backing band (obviously I'm not a Neil Young fan or I would have known this sooner). Neil's fascination with Native American culture is fairly well known, but I can't help but wonder what could have been if he had partnered more prominently with Native American musicians in his songwriting and included them as part of his band.
Radiohead
3/5
This isn't Radiohead at its best, but still contains some good tracks.
Beatles
5/5
It's hard to say anything that hasn't been said already about the White Album. It is without a doubt the most important album ever produced not just for its artistic or cultural merit, but because of the historic implications of it. It is *THE* album you need to list to before you die. It's hard to think of another album that could merit that number one spot, even if many deserve a high ranking on this list.
Historically the White Album led to the break up of the Beatles, with had huge implications for the future of music. Culturally, the White Album experimented with a dozen different musical styles and served as proto examples of some of several unique genres of today (including pre-heavy metal in Helter-Skelter, punk, and more). Artistically, it's simply a masterpiece and features some of the Beatles best work from Happiness is a Warm Gun, to Blackbird, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Back in the U.S.S.R, and more AND THAT'S JUST DISC ONE. It's also delightfully weird at times, and even when not every song hits, it's hard to ignore the shear musical mastery in each and every song.
For folks who are not into the Beatles, and I can understand why - not every band is for everyone - I would encourage you to look into the history of this album. The influence of the Beatles on modern day music cannot be overstated, and almost every band today has been influenced in some way by them, especially by the White Album. Those of you interested in music theory may actually get the most out of this, because there's just such a rich array of techniques, melodies, scales, and more and the Beatles have always demonstrated a rich and nuanced understanding of what makes music music.
Bad Brains
1/5
If I was into hardcore punk and reggae this would be THE band. But I am just not super into this kind of music and find this hard to enjoy. Appreciate it's place on this list.
John Lennon
2/5
Asides from Imagine, this album really did not do it for me, especially because it came immediately after the White Album. It strikes me that John Lennon without the Beatles to throw ideas around with just isn't the same, and a lot of the charm is lost that let you get past some rather weird ideas.
Michael Jackson
3/5
I find this really hard to rate. On the one hand, the first three tracks are some of Jackson's best work and the album absolutely rips out of the gate with them. The rest of the album mellows out a bit too much and becomes a bit take it or leave it. On the other, it's fairly well established that Jackson was likely a pedophile. I've always been iffy on the particulars of this because Jackson himself was also deeply psychologically complicated, but I've met people who have been close to the matter in the music scene and have ascertained that he was indeed guilty. Because of the nostalgia factor with Jackson, it's a bit easier to separate the man from the music, but I still find it difficult to listen to him. Objectively, a 4/5 album. But with his history I have to drop this to 3.
Louis Prima
4/5
Louis Prima is pretty classic, and this is just so wonderful to listen to. It's great jazz, and I noticed quite a few bits that have been sampled in more modern music.
Astrud Gilberto
4/5
This is some lovely samba music. This reminds me a lot of all the things I love about Saudade by Thievery Corporation (which has a lot of samba inspiration from Astrud clearly). Great for date night or just for some chill background noise.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Simon & Garfunkel are both GOATs and frankly this is just such an incredible album. Their sound is full of comfort, nostalgia, and more and they are in their prime here. Scarborough Fair is one of my favorite songs of all time and
Weather Report
5/5
Weather Report is a classic jazz staple and this album is no exception to that. Five stars, no notes, perfection
Björk
4/5
I was really expecting to hate this and was very pleasantly surprised by this album. It's much more of an experimental mix of jazz, electronica, and to a certain extent art rock than I was anticipating. After hearing the Sugar Cubes (which was horrible in comparison) I did not have high hopes, but this was quite pleasant. Bjorks almost narrative storytelling really shines here, and this feels truly transcendent. I'll be curious if other albums evoke the same feeling.
Queen
3/5
Before this I had only really listened to Queen's Greatest Hits (a stellar album in its own right), and so this is almost entirely new music for me. It both gave me a good perspective on why the Greatest Hits album really is some of Queen's best, but also gave me insight into more of the operatic vibes and killer guitar that Queen has become synonymous with. With that said, the songs themselves mostly don't inspire the same sense of awe that I think their greatest hits do. Seven Seas of Rhye is absolutely killer, but I could take or leave the rest.
David Bowie
4/5
Man, I have always struggled to get into Bowie, in part because I really don't enjoy art rock, and I'm really glad this was my first introduction to him on this list. As others have said, this may actually be a low point compared to other albums of his, but I think it's also a bit of an easier entry point for someone who's been on the edge. It still keeps to the art rock vibes, but really helps me understand why David Bowie has such an incredible following. This is full of incredible tracks from Heroes, to Beauty and the Beast, and the experimental and jazzy instrumentals at the end, especially Moss Garden.
5/5
Really enjoyed this. Incredible Muse album
David Gray
5/5
I'd never heard of David Gray before now somehow, though apparently had listened to a few of his tracks. This album is stunning, and I've really enjoyed it. David's voice carries a wonderful emotion mixing love and melancholy, and this resonates in a big way
purely from the vibes. I think this experiment has taught me that, for my taste, vibes are everything, and this hits that mark. I clearly missed the boat when this was popular and so don't have the negative feelings (likely resulting from this being overplayed) that some other reviewers do, but can understand why this might not be for everyone. I think this album likely popularized a style of music that wasn't quite as popular before, resulting in...whatever happened in the 2000s. Influential for sure, and well deserving of the list.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
NOTE: You can listen to the Very Best of the Gershwin Songbook which is only 45 minutes! I do wish there were more 'very best of' albums on here, but I see why that's difficult for some artists v others.
With that said, Ella is really a timeless voice, with such a sense of melody, rhythm, and jazz (her scat singing is really something else). Not much else to say asides from this being well deserving of a spot on this list.
Paul Simon
2/5
I really struggled with this one. On the one hand, I think Paul Simon absolutely has a time and place (and deserves a spot on this list of course), but at the same time this feels like so much a product of the time and absent Garfunkel, Simon's penchant for frankly weird lyrics isn't tempered. It's very good on tracks like You Can Call Me Al, but it just doesn't hit for me most of the time.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
This is a bit of a nostalgic hit, but also such an evolution of sound from Fever to Tell (there was an album in between of course). Zero and Heads Will Roll are two of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs all-time best tracks, and the rest of the album quickly goes into more of a pop-rock/soft rock vibe, largely doing away with some of the punk-rock vibes that made the Yeah Yeah Yeahs so distinctive. But amazingly it still works and is a great example of a band really evolving their sound in a way that works and makes many of these tracks really iconic. Karen O's vocals and lyricism really stand out here. Runaway in particular is a standout track that is really evocative for me.
FKA twigs
1/5
This feels extremely generic to me. It got better as it went on and I can see it's value as a vibe, but I'm not sure it's distinct enough from similar pop to help me understand it's place here.
Todd Rundgren
1/5
Not gonna lie the first few seconds of International Feel just sounded like one, long fart and set the tone for the rest of the album for me. This is extremely psychedelic, to a fault and I really struggled to get through it, even when it transitioned to more rock/Rush style music towards the end. Very much did not enjoy this.
Sparks
3/5
This album does a brilliant job toeing the line between glam and art rock. It's very operatic in tone and there's a lot going on here overall in terms of the music, the melody, the overall weirdness. The influential side of things is clearly there in the likes of future musical acts like Elton John and Freddie Mercury. I think I could grow to really like this on future listens, but for me right now this is a 3 at best (didn't hate it, didn't love it).
Nas
5/5
This absolutely slaps. Every song is fire, and Nas' lyricism really comes out throughout. The beats, the rhymes, the melodies, it's all there. This is the kind of album I wish I'd known about sooner because this just bleeds cool.
CHIC
3/5
This is some absolutely classic funk/R&B. I like how stripped back to the basics this album becomes, and this album is coming from one of the most influential names in Disco. At the same time, I find myself craving more of the heavy riffs and melodies of someone like Funkadelic, and I'm just not sure this one's for me. Perhaps as filler on a funk playlist, but not as the main event.
John Martyn
2/5
I was trying to wrap my head around this album and how I felt about it, when someone in another review said this sounded a lot like Brian Eno and it clicked for me. I really am not a fan of Brian Eno and his experimental tracks and the similarity to that really put me off, but John Martyn's sound also still has melody and shape to it. I think overall the use of effects works at some points and doesn't in others. The effects feel overused mostly, though interestingly Small Hours works most for me because I think it really captures a really melancholy vibe because of the effects. I leave feeling more intrigued by John Martyn as an artist than this as an album.
PJ Harvey
2/5
This is very much a product of indie rock and grunge 90s movement. It has a raw feel to it, heavy bass, and PJ's voice is incredibly distinctive as of that time. Certainly enjoyed it, but I'm also not sure it's something I'd come back to.
Patti Smith
4/5
This is some early girl-punk and I'm absolutely here for it. Super fun album.
DJ Shadow
2/5
This is one of those albums that caused me to reflect on this whole experience of listening to the '1001 Albums to Listen to Before You Die'. I think many of us come in with various definitions of what that means. Is it best albums? Is it most influential? Is it about discovering different styles of music? Is it something more? Are we listening just to discover music (and is this truly the best way to do that)? And albums like this seem to show that this exercise almost by intention defies categorization - that it's impossible to say without context.
Case in point - I truly don't know why Endtroducing... is on this list. It's fine, but it's not revelatory in the way other albums on this list are. Exit Planet Dust by the Chemical Brothers came out a year before and, for me, is an objectively better album by a large margin. Maybe DJ Shadow's style and what he brings to the genre was influential and so deserves an album on the list? Certainly I've heard the name and know of him. But then why is it this one and not a different album? And truly, without the book or without the context from the person who put this album on the list it's almost impossible to say for this or really ANY album that I'm not immediately drawn to. I've certainly heard albums that make me go 'of course this is here' or 'I can understand why this is here', but I've also heard many that made me go 'I don't know what makes this special', and I think there is a missing connective tissue that maybe the book covers, but maybe it doesn't. Hell, for some of these albums, the Wikipedia entry only states that it's special BECAUSE IT WAS INCLUDED ON THIS LIST!!!
This exercise also makes me reflect on just how many artists I love and albums I feel are much better than what's been provided that aren't reflected here. Just in electronica, there is Thievery Corporation, Tosca, Pretty Lights, and more that, sure, may have been influenced by DJ Shadow, but as a result have produced more interesting and compelling music and also may have been influenced by a hundred other artists. But then how do others discover them if they aren't reflected on lists like these because room has to be made for what came before, when all music is almost universally referential to what came before? You have to start somewhere of course, but you also have to pick and choose to an extent and, to make this exercise truly valuable, justify those choices. If you can include a Best of album for one artist, why can't you for another?
All to say, it's a fascinating but flawed experiment and has made me think much more deeply about how I find and discover music - both in taking risks and listening to things I wouldn't otherwise, but also the value in listening to an entire album the whole way through. And of course in questioning the lists in and of themselves and recognizing that any list is going to be highly biased and can never wholly encompass what is good and what will resonate most with you.
Boston
5/5
Bit of a personal one for me - literally. Brad Delp had a love affair with a friends mom in high school that inspired More Than A Feeling. We always got a kick out of that story growing up, not least of which because Boston is an incredible band, and More Than A Feeling is such an epic track. Peace of Mind and Long Time are up there as well of course. Brad Delp's voice is truly legendary and I love that Boston has made its way onto this list as a result. 70s/80s rock at its finest.
Minor Threat
4/5
Washington DC Punk! Great punk album but also why is there SO MUCH punk in this experiment??
Dagmar Krause
2/5
This feels very much like wartime theater/performance art, and I was actually surprised this was from late in the cold war. The lyrics were quite interesting and overall this is well composed. The ballad of the sackslingers in particular is quite fascinating. But I can hardly imagine listening to this on a regular basis when it was created. It is clearly important, but it's also definitely not for me.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
This is SO 80s, in a very fun but dated way. I can't imagine my kids enjoying this, but the nostalgia hit is great with this one.
On further listening though this started to get very old very fast.
Willie Nelson
5/5
This was really phenomenal. I've listened to Willie before and thought he was good, but never gave his music much time to really sink in. There's something incredible about his comforting voice, his deep lyricism, and often contrasting but simple melodies (upbeat for sad songs, down for happy songs) that is really special, and this album is testament to that. Keep on rocking Willie.
Fugees
5/5
Totally blown away from this. I've heard some great hip-hop through this project, it's a genre I haven't experimented with enough and so I look forward to new albums when they come up. This feels like a pinnacle to me. Intelligent with rhythm, flow, and beats to match, almost every track just bleeds charisma. The singles are well known of course, but I found myself gravitating closer to other tracks.
Butthole Surfers
1/5
Dear lord what have I been subjected to. My butthole has not just been surfed, it has been violated. I have been violated. That said I listened to this on an airplane, does that qualify me for the mile high club?
Spacemen 3
3/5
Some pretty great ambient rock. Not fully my cup of tea, but I can get behind this.
Finley Quaye
3/5
Was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Reggae isn't really a style I enjoy, but this really broadened my horizons. Very trippy in a fun way.
Beastie Boys
4/5
A classic, though Beastie Boys style has become somewhat of a nerdy/lame characterization of itself. No Sleep Till Brooklyn and Fight For Your Right remain classics.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Amy Winehouse is a polarizing character. There's both a charming 'frankness' you don't normally hear in jazz and a clear sense of humor - sometimes self-deprecating, sometimes simply as a commentary on women's relationship to men and love generally, sometimes on men themselves. I'd challenge anyone listening to this thinking that her lyrics are just about hooking up with bad boys to reflect on how serious she's actually being in her songs, how much of it is commentary on hook up culture in the first place, and how often Frank Sinatra and other greats sang about love and women. If it's fine when other jazz crooners did it in there era, why is it not ok for Winehouse to sing about love and sex in the modern era?
Lyrics aside, Amy's voice and the jazz are really what create the atmosphere here. There's a lot of range on display and Amy had one hell of a voice, an extremely unique style, and so so much potential. Her struggles with addiction are truly tragic, and of course add a lot of weight to her lyrics where it's clear she is struggling with her lifestyle and substance abuse.
Talking Heads
3/5
It's really challenging for me to rate this. On the one hand, Talking Heads has such a unique range and a rather avant garde style. It's like nothing else you've ever heard, but it's not art rock, it's not punk, and David Byrn's voice is just so unique. They are wholly themselves and totally embracing their sound. But at the same time it's never really been for me. Maybe they've just never reached me at the right time or place, but I've never really vibed with Talking Heads. And that's ok, it's not for everyone, and that's a risk with embracing your own style. They absolutely deserve to be on this list though and I'm glad I listened through.
De La Soul
5/5
This took a few listens for me to vibe with. The first time I listened to it I just wasn't in the right head space and wasn't able to appreciate the lyrical complexity of De La Soul, nor how the humor contributes rather than detracts from the depth of the songs. I was so shocked by the positive reviews for this album that I had to give it a second listen on a later date, and that's where it really clicked. I'm glad I did cus this album absolutely slaps.
Nick Drake
5/5
Reminds me heavily of Alexi Murdoch, another favorite of mine, who I imagine was himself heavily heavily inspired by Nick Drake. This is beyond excellent and feels ahead of its time. There is something incredibly comforting about Drake's style, but this is also just so so well recorded. It's shocking to me that he went unnoticed while he was alive, but it's also so clear that he was a tortured soul. Really glad to have discovered this.
Talking Heads
4/5
I enjoyed this much more than Fear of Music, though the songs are a bit overly long. Once in a Lifetime is an obvious classic, but then I think this is a little more contemporary. It's still avant garde and embracing the Talking Heads sound, but it also is far more approachable.
Frank Sinatra
5/5
A lot of classics on here. Hard not to love Frank's voice and his style.
Billy Joel
5/5
Really an incredible album. Movin' Out is a great opener for this, but there's a Broadway musical influence to so much of Billy Joel's music while still remaining pop/rock and it just remains so fun to listen to. The Stranger, Only the Good Die Young,
Air
5/5
I mean give my instrumental electronica any day and I'll be pretty happy. Throw in some pretty simple lyrics on top and you've got a winner. I was just discovering this style of music when a friend introduced me to Air back in college. Back then I didn't have access to Spotify so only had a couple of tracks that he had shared with me, but man did it slap. I'm really happy to come across them again on this list and get a deeper dive. The crunchy bass on this is truly excellent and really elevates Moon Safari to the next level. Sexy Boy and All I Need are classics of course, but there's a lot to love on pretty much every track.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Not a huge fan of this one. Outside of Superstition (which, if just that song had been the entire album, instant 5, no comments), there's some interesting stuff happening with the keyboard, but it's also a bit repetitive and fails to feel like there's anything that makes this stand apart from other commercially available music. Where's the stuff that makes Stevie Wonder stand out? Cus it ain't this album.
Neu!
1/5
Really not sure what I listened to here. I normally enjoy ambient noise but this just wasn't it. I could see it being the building blocks of other music, but the incoherent vocals really killed the vibe.
Adele
4/5
We all know Adele at this point. Hello and Send My Love are absolute masterpieces while also being super innovative. The rest of the album is quite good, but is a little more same-y. But Adele's voice is absolutely incredible, as is her lyricism. Not much to fault here.
Gorillaz
3/5
Man, og Gorillaz is SO good, in a way that the later stuff just doesn't match. There's still something a bit raw, almost punk like to electronic nature of this music that gets produced out in later work. Re-Hash, 5/4, Clint Eastwood, and New Genius immediately jump out as album highlights.
I actually first listened to this through the early days of pirating and copying music, and there are a lot of tracks here I hadn't heard previously. I will say many of them are far more experimental than I'd anticipated, and Gorillaz newer work seems to have leaned more into this experimental style than the the punk electronic style it originated. But tbh I don't think this other stuff is nearly as good as what made them famous in the first place.
Miles Davis
5/5
Classic jazz featuring some of the greatest of the greats. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for a musician it's gold
Elton John
4/5
Morrissey
3/5
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Fiona Apple
5/5
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Amy Winehouse is a polarizing character. There's both a charming 'frankness' you don't normally hear in jazz and a clear sense of humor - sometimes self-deprecating, sometimes simply as a commentary on women's relationship to men and love generally, sometimes on men themselves. Back to Black shows a clear evolution from her previous album, without losing what makes her music pop. It's a perfect combination of jazz and pop serving as the background for Amy's incredible range of voice. Her struggles with addiction are truly tragic, and of course add a lot of weight to her lyrics where it's clear she is struggling with her lifestyle and substance abuse. Then again, Addicted is simply fantastic and a super funny song to end on to boot.
The Smiths
2/5
I find this to kind of drone on, despite how varied it is. Morrisey's voice brings it back to that same droning, dreary quality. His voice is distinct and iconic, for better and for worse. If I wanted to set a very particular feel for the 80s I'd use the Smiths, but I just have no desire to listen to this.
Tori Amos
4/5
2/5
This is overly long and too similar to Roundabout for me
Ray Charles
4/5
Calexico
4/5
Really loving the vibes on this one. Reminds me a bit of the Decemberists in the best way. This is the kind of music I was hoping to discover through this project.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Simply amazing. A bit repetitive but Muddy Waters is brilliant.
Gotan Project
4/5
This is some really fun tango infused electronica. Really enjoying the vibe of this overall. This french/euro trip-hop stuff is great to just kind of chill out to or work, which is generally how I've been enjoying this project
Slade
3/5
Sounds surprisingly like a Rock n Roll Beatles knockoff, but in an authentic way. It's definitely brit influenced (as is half this list really). Hard for me to say what this is really adding compared to other stuff I've listened to from this project. It's certainly interesting but also kind of 'generic' and doesn't stand out from the crowd. To be fair, I'm coming off of Muddy Waters and some wild tango infused trip-hop which were both just really fun, and this is good but not outstanding in the same way. I do find it really interesting that they originally wrote Cum on Feel the Noize (which appears on a previous album), which I associate with Quiet Riot who covered it a decade later - why couldn't we have that Slade album instead?
The Mamas & The Papas
5/5
Really good classic rock with tons of incredible tracks.
Nina Simone
3/5
I'm gonna be honest, Nina Simone is a wonderful voice, but I just couldn't enjoy this, even after two listens. I think it's an important album, but it just isn't for me.
The Doors
5/5
Wow. I've always struggled to enjoy The Doors, but this album really rocks and helped me understand the vibe. I really liked this, maybe because it's a little more traditional rock, but Jim Morrison's vocal style really shines through here.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Very sad, but very good. Knowing this is about grief after the death of Nick's son really helped open up this album for me. It's a cathartic listen yet also heartbreaking.
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
Wow - this album just got removed from the list and that's a damn shame cus this is fun. A few tracks were a bit same-y, but I'm really glad to have listened to this.
Jack White
5/5
Of all of Jack White's solo works, I've enjoyed this the most. It feels the most in touch with his White Stripes roots, but despite its range is so clearly missing Meg's influence.
Santana
5/5
Latin Jazz fusion at its finest. What a legend.
Van Morrison
5/5
I grew up listening to Van Morrison so this one is a bit nostalgic. Reminds me of lazy summer evenings on the road, and pretty much every song hits.
3/5
Dylan's poetry is unmatched. But his voice is really tough to listen to on this album - the inflection is a bit much. I also feel that Live album's can be incredibly difficult to listen to and appreciate unless you already have strong familiarity with a band, and their inclusion on this list is often questionable when better albums are relevant and accessible.
Dire Straits
4/5
Dire Straits are absolute GOATs. Yes it's 'dad rock' but it's just oozes style. I'm not sure this is their best album, but damn are they good and is this fun to listen to.
Bon Jovi
5/5
It's perfect. It's so many of the Bon Jovi classics in one package. I'd actually be hard pressed to name a Bon Jovi song I know that ISN'T on this album.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Very raw at times. Visceral (like on I want to F*** you like an animal) but also deep and emotional. Hurt is of course absolutely wonderful, but Johnny Cash's cover of this is just a million times better.
Roni Size
2/5
When I saw that the 20th Anniversary album was FIVE HOURS LONG, I instantly had a 'ain't nobody got time for that' moment. I decided to listen to Disc 1 before going back to the rest of my backlog (which is currently full of bangers, a nice juxtaposition to what I've listened to lately). The initial drum and bass combo on Railing and Brown Paper Bag really work quite well, but from there the tracks are entirely too long and too repetitive, and this would have benefited from some level of restraint or curation. As is, it was even hard to zone out to. That said, acknowledging that this was a first of its kind and really paved the way for drum and bass music, it's spot here makes some sense. But given how niche it is, did I really need to listen to most of this before I die? Probably not.
Deep Purple
1/5
A lot of noise, and not a particularly well-recorded live album. Some cool solos on display here, but it's hard to appreciate. I would have greatly preferred a regular Deep Purple album.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
1/5
Reminds me a LOT of the B-52s. I really like the fusion of styles here, but I think this album is more successful when it treads into non-English lyrics. I'm not sure I can justify giving it a 2 for that though. Really didn't enjoy
Pixies
3/5
I wanted to like this more than I did, but it was an overall enjoyable listen. I think I'm feeling some alt/punk fatigue from this list overall and an unfortunate result is I find it harder to enjoy albums I may have earlier in the process.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Man the recording quality on this is as rough as Eddie looks on the cover. But the guitar rips and the melodies are fantastic. Transylvania and Phantom of the Opera strike me as highlights here and you can see an extremely clear line of inspiration from this to Metallica and many other genres of metal. I'll be excited to continue listening to Iron Maiden in the future.
Afrika Bambaataa
1/5
This was a challenging listen. On the one hand, clearly influential - from the sampling to the cover of Renegades of Funk by RATM - but at the same time a lot of this didn't age well and I found the repetitive beat to get very repetitive very quickly.
The Clash
5/5
It's the Clash. It's classic, iconic, and punk to its core. Very deserving of this list and much better than most of the other punk that's been on offer
Lambchop
1/5
Not much stood out to me here. It didn't strike me as very provocative or interesting, nor was it compelling as background music
Pavement
5/5
This was fantastic. A really great indie, punk, experimental band to cleanse the palette. Really enjoyed
Hanoi Rocks
4/5
Glam metal with a saxophone? Sign me up
Isaac Hayes
4/5
This was really good but also these are four VERY long songs. It turns them into wonderful epics, but at the same time one on an album would have been enough. Four is a bit much
The Zombies
4/5
This a pretty classic Zombies album. Lots to love, not much to hate. It's classic rock plain and simple
Bob Dylan
4/5
This is probably the best Dylan album I've listened to. He leans less into his particularly odd singing voice and it helps carry the tune and music much more. Great poetry and songwriting and damn the dude rips on harmonica
Elvis Costello
4/5
Really enjoyed this. Not at all what I was expecting - it's a mix of pop and rock but not cringe at all.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
250 albums in and this is the first album where I honestly couldn't get past the first two songs. Sometimes ok storytelling, but Mr Stagger Lee sounded too much like a rapey Dr Seussesque song. It's a shame because I thought Ghosteen was wonderful, but I don't need to listen to this before I die, though I can certainly picture being murdered to this album.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Wow, this is a huge improvement over the last Stevie Wonder album I listened to. This was really wonderful to listen to, no notes really, just good vibes
The Black Crowes
4/5
Really enjoyed this. Fantastic classic rock with a bit of a punk twist to it. But also it's a band that I had truly forgotten about until listening to this album, including Hard to Handle. Enjoyable, maybe a bit forgettable, but overall a fun album.
Massive Attack
3/5
I was really looking forward to this but reggae just isn't my vibe. This was good for reggae, but it's not what I associate Massive Attack with.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Not a huge fan of the noise rock parts of this album, but the more mellow songs (like Keep the Glove) are better to listen to. The album feels a bit all over the place, but I've always struggled to enjoy Dinosaur Jr.
Christine and the Queens
2/5
Cool to have a version in both French and English, though I stopped listening part way through the French version. I didn't like the album enough to listen to it twice. Fine 80s pop (published in 2018), but not great
The Undertones
3/5
This was fairly enjoyable early brit-rock-pop. Sounds similar to a lot of other things I've heard through this experiment but was a solid outing.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Absolutely killer album. Great early era metal and some of the true GOATs
Steely Dan
5/5
What a perfect album. Relaxing summers, the open road, good times with great friends, this hits it all.
Orange Juice
2/5
I mean this is just standard 80s pop. I honestly thought it was a different band because of the lead singer who sounds SO MUCH like another 80s pop singer from the time. It's really indistinguishable from other stuff of the time.
Tim Buckley
3/5
This took me a second listen to start appreciating. It's honestly quite good, but overly long tracks and two songs on the six song record don't really sit well and take away from the overall experience.
Gene Clark
4/5
This was very good. Reminded me a lot of Willie Nelson and other great country singers. Something I'll be coming back to listen to for sure.
3/5
Reading other reviews I think I need to come back to this. I had it on as background listening and thought some was very good, but very similar to the Beatles. Overall good brit pop but I need more time with it
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Slipknot
1/5
Woof. This was tough to listen to. On the one hand incredible drums, some awesome guitar riffs. But also I had to drag myself through this album. I think for that alone it gets a 1, though it's more deserving of a 1.5
The Replacements
4/5
Supertramp
4/5
Stan Getz
5/5
It's jazz and it doesn't overstay it's welcome
The Temptations
5/5
Temptations are such a blast, and Papa Was A Rolling Stone is such an incredible song
The Fall
4/5
Pure brit punk in the best ways
G. Love & Special Sauce
5/5
Pure vibes
Magazine
3/5
Really struggled with this one. Others clearly love this but I'm not sure I feel the same - maybe because I'm not super in to art rock. Maybe on future listens
Janis Joplin
5/5
I grew up on Janis. Easy 5/5
The War On Drugs
5/5
Really loved this. What a great vibe. Mellow and somber in all the right ways but melodic and beautiful. A 5/5 for sure
ZZ Top
3/5
On the one hand it's ZZ Top. The guitar is incredible and this is about as rock 'n' roll as it gets. On the other hand, that's about all it is, and it doesn't have the depth I hear in other artists.
John Lennon
2/5
This was fine. John Lennon is great, but I never felt too attached to this album in general.
Big Black
3/5
On first listen I really enjoyed this, but the second listen didn't age this as well.
Scott Walker
3/5
Scott feels like the definition of a crooner. Incredible poetry and lyricism mixed with some crassness and humor. I'm not sure I enjoy this, but certainly I can appreciate it and wouldn't object if he came on.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
This was really fun. Much better than I expected. Just an incredible mix of jazz, rock n roll, and blues with a strong desert vibe. Loved it
Herbie Hancock
4/5
Good music that was far too long. Great vibes, wish it was shorter
R.E.M.
4/5
I think this was ultimately fine? It's good but I don't think, at the end of the day, I'm much of an REM fan.
The Pogues
5/5
At first, I felt like this just sounded like a less refined Flogging Molly, but both the diversity of music here and the slurring lyricism make it increasingly obvious that there is much more going on here, and that the like of refinement is kind of the point. Despite being yet another punk band, this actually feels like it belongs on the list because Irish punk is so distinct (or at least the Pogues are) as opposed to the thousand and one indistinct and frankly unnecessary iterations of British punk.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Good flows, sick beats, some decent lyricism but also some dated references and obviously the sexism. As far as rap goes this is pretty good.
Taylor Swift
5/5
This is a top tier album no doubt. Taylor Swift is a phenomena and this is arguably her single best album, jam packed full of hits. Every song hits a chord, but the album never feels stale or repetitive, showing rather mastery over a wide range of styles. Do I think Taylor is overhyped? Certainly. But this album is her GOAT and Shake it Off is such a bop that it's impossible not to love.
Rush
4/5
Rush is music for musicians. It's technically complex, full of incredible riffs and drums, the whole shebang. YYZ encapsulates this best, but Tom Sawyer is a pretty excellent riff as well. Lee's vocals are fine, an acquired taste really. This isn't an album I'd listen to on a regular basis, but it's still great.
Tom Waits
1/5
Wow - I came back after a long hiatus and then got dealt this, which has been incredibly tough to get through. I'm not a fan of most of this and while certainly interesting, there are just better Tom Waits albums.
k.d. lang
2/5
This was fine. I liked the first few tracks but the rest of this didn't resonate.
The Fall
3/5
I enjoyed this for the noise rock and grungy vibe of this, but not sure I'd listen to this too much again.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Really lovely album. I particularly enjoyed the cover of How High the Moon, which is just a very cheeky and fun last track to include here. Sarah has a lovely tenor
Elliott Smith
4/5
Really enjoyed this. Somewhat mellow and very early 2000s, but it's also quite comforting to listen to. Reminded me a lot of Dinosaur Jr and Death Cab.
Björk
4/5
I mean look, for all the hate she gets Bjork's voice is strange in a beautiful way and this album is pure vibes. It's more art than music, and has a time and place. Worth experiencing
5/5
Possibly Bowie's best album, no need for additional notes
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
I came in going this album is way too long and not really enjoying Billy Corgan's voice. I left still feeling this way, but also in spite of all this, this is a 5 star album. The range of styles on display, the absolutely rocking riffs mixed with really wonderful, dramatic tunes, it's a masterpiece. I just wish it had been split into two.
Lorde
4/5
Really solid album from Lorde. Very mellow but I think it works overall as modern pop
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Fun and funky. Not sure it's his best however.
The Stooges
3/5
Weird, jammy, and with quite a voice behind it. Definitely psychedelic, almost noise rock.
Simple Minds
4/5
Barry Adamson
4/5
Norah Jones
5/5
I was not expecting to love this album as much as I did, which just shows my ignorance on Norah Jones. Simply fabulous, one of the best things I've discovered in this project. Sultry voice, smooth jazz, simply fantastic
Johnny Cash
5/5
I hadn't realized Johnny Cash had done two prison albums, and mistook a previous album for this one. Excellent as all Johnny Cash albums are
Queen
5/5
I mean it's Queen and this is the album that graced us with Bohemian Rhapsody. But it also stands on its own as an incredible concept album, bringing opera to rock.
Cypress Hill
3/5
This is...fine? I can't say I enjoyed the vibe here, but I also hear some stuff here that has clearly inspired others to make music that improves on what's here. So influential, but not something I could see myself listening to regularly
Adam & The Ants
1/5
Woof. This is bad art rock that seems like a bad copy of the B-52s without the camp. This should have stayed in the 80s where it belongs.
Ryan Adams
5/5
What an incredible album. When you're young you get sad is such a stellar track, but the whole thing is filled with artistry, emotion, poetry, and more. One of the better discoveries in this project
Fats Domino
4/5
Good jazz, shame it was so short on Spotify.
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
Really loved this. Not at all what I expected but a solid mix on Ra Ra Riot and other really phenomenal somber/bittersweet indie rock
The Jam
3/5
Sigh - more british rock. This was fine.
Carole King
5/5
Wonderful voice and lovely music.
Eminem
1/5
This just hasn't aged well. Eminem is a lyrical genius but he hides so much of it behind false bravado, misogyny, and more. Certainly he got attention and a successful career out of it, but I can't help but wonder what could have been if he spent his energy on more profound lyrics tackling his poverty. As is, you can't listen to the music anymore, it's too childish.
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
This is really toeing a fine line on what exactly music is, which really makes this more art than music - something designed to elicit and emotion, and not necessarily a positive one. While I can appreciate art rock, I can't stand listening to it when a whole album is like this.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Classics are classic for a reason.
Ice Cube
3/5
A lot of it has not aged well and feels crass. There are terrific tracks on here and Ice Cube's delivery is phenomenal - it makes some tracks that come across as too silly really slay. But time hasn't been kind to this.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Fun and classic rock and roll
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I actually got stuck on this project because of this album. It caused me to go deep, deep down the Led Zeppelin rabbit hole. This isn't even their best album but it has some INCREDIBLE tracks. It has more of a jazz/old school rock feel to it, with many long songs that ramble and flow and is some of Zeppelin at their best.
Gary Numan
1/5
This is just way too 80s experimental for my tastes.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Dear lord this was long. The tracks are great, it's awesome jazz, but there's so much of it. This is proof that you really need to be in the right mood for some of these because it's GOOD music, but I got sick of it very quickly.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
Wow. Simply incredible. Jeff's voice is simply incredible and his range is truly magical. Hallelujah is the obvious highlight here but I actually think Eternal Life is a more powerful and engaging song. Easy 5 stars
Fela Kuti
4/5
This was fun. Good jazz/funk album
Prince
3/5
I've never understood Prince. Incredible musician, but I just have never vibed with his music. This deserves a higher rating, but I need to be honest on where it sits for me
Metallica
5/5
One of Metallica's best albums with tons of killer riffs and tracks and none of the toxic masculine energy? Hell yeah
Aerosmith
4/5
Cheap Trick
1/5
Live albums are a finicky bunch to rate. On the one hand, some live albums are larger than life and can present a band in their best light. Some transcend the band's recorded work. Others are a really fun way to experience the band's music in a way you wouldn't get to normally, or just to relive a fun experience. This is neither. As a live album, this is pretty terrible as it captures more audience noise than band half the time, and none of the subtleties of Cheap Trick come through. Further, you really need to know the band and have an appreciation for them to get any enjoyment from this album. There's the one hit, but the rest are...fine? What I was left with was the distinct impression that this is best listened to after listening to another Cheap Trick album, or better yet left off the list entirely so other, more deserving bands could be represented.
R.E.M.
2/5
It's fine? I just really struggle with REM
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Really enjoyed this, much more than I expected to. There's really something special about Elvis Costello's charisma which comes through very clearly on the tracks
Depeche Mode
3/5
I really couldn't get into this that much. It's fine 80s music, but Im not sure I'd turn this on intentionally.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Given I listen to this album at least once a month this is an easy 10/5. What makes this a standout album years later is such a range of factors - it's a debut album that does not in any way feel like a freshman outing for Rage. The lyrics are evolved and even with Zach's rap and lyricism, he manages to bring an intense amount of emotion to his music while also painting a rhythm through poetic lines, clever alliteration, and of course heavy doses of almost tribal repetition. It burrows into you and it's impossible not to feel the raw anger against the political system. And this is to say nothing of Tom Morello's technical proficiency which is on full display here. Political rap funk metal shouldn't work this well as a genre - and it's clear that the members together are what makes this work, as none of their solo projects have hit quite as hard as Rage has.
I was lucky enough to see Rage live a few summers back when Zach had busted his leg. He spent the whole performance sitting on a cooler. The performance alone was incredible, but what floored me was Zach had more stage presence sitting on a cooler than any artist I have seen before or since. All to say, I think Zach and Rage will be looked back on as timeless musicians who spoke truth to power. People come and go but movements with fire carry on.