Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
880
Albums Rated
3.55
Avg Rating
217
5-Star Albums
81%
Complete
209 albums remaining
Rating Speed
6.6
Per Week
929
Days Active
Reviews
880
Written
100%
Review Rate
vs Global
0.35
Avg Diff
3.55
Avg Rating
Rating Distribution
How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1970s
Favorite Decade
Britpop
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Generous
Rater Style
32
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The United States Of America | 5 | 2.61 | +2.39 |
| Live At The Witch Trials | 5 | 2.64 | +2.36 |
| Bright Flight | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Honky Tonk Masquerade | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Raw Like Sushi | 5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
| Triangle | 5 | 2.71 | +2.29 |
| Two Dancers | 5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
| Sweetheart Of The Rodeo | 5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
| Songs The Lord Taught Us | 5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
| Kilimanjaro | 5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Theory | 1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
| 1989 | 1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
| The Rolling Stones | 1 | 3.25 | -2.25 |
| Me Against The World | 1 | 3.25 | -2.25 |
| Chicago Transit Authority | 1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
| Your New Favourite Band | 1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
| In Our Heads | 1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
| Manassas | 1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
| Chemtrails Over The Country Club | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| Let Love Rule | 1 | 3 | -2 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 6 | 4.83 | 4.22 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 5 | 4.14 |
| The Kinks | 4 | 5 | 4.14 |
| Radiohead | 6 | 4.67 | 4.11 |
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 4.67 | 4.11 |
| Pixies | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Joni Mitchell | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| Björk | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| Blur | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Talking Heads | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| The Stooges | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Kate Bush | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Kraftwerk | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Iggy Pop | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| The Jam | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Cocteau Twins | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| The Clash | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Beck | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Kanye West | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Oasis | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| John Lennon | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Randy Newman | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Goldfrapp | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Pulp | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Manic Street Preachers | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| The Fall | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| David Bowie | 9 | 4 | 3.75 |
| Sonic Youth | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Paul Simon | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Nick Drake | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Morrissey | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| The Cure | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| My Bloody Valentine | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and low weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Adams | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Stephen Stills | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Everything But The Girl | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Taylor Swift | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
5-Star Albums (217)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
John Lennon
5/5
Raw is the only way to describe this album. It’s unreal how much emotion he can convey with his voice and the stripped back instrumentals. The album cover matches perfectly as well. This album works so well at describing the essence of John.
Rating: 4.7
4 likes
Hot Chip
1/5
After getting more post 2000s albums I feel like the author could’ve used some help on what albums were actually influential during this time. This album is not influential in any way. I just feel like the author randomly heard this one day and liked it so put it on the list. It’s just safe synth pop. And I hate post 2000s synth pop.
I guess points because I didn’t actively hate it? But that’s why I usually hate synth pop. It’s safe and makes me feel absolutely nothing. It makes me feel bad I rated other albums lower bc at least they were trying something new and made me feel hate.
Rating: 1.5
3 likes
Blood, Sweat & Tears
5/5
Never heard a band like this that fuses jazz and rock so well. Liked almost every single track. Thank you to this list for showing me this album.
Rating: 4.8
3 likes
Kate Bush
5/5
It takes a few listens to really get a grasp of it. It’s so unique and I never know where the song is going to go.
Rating: 4.7
2 likes
The Zutons
5/5
Really enjoyed the entire thing. Especially the first half I feel they did enough to make it sound weird and unique enough to them where I could easily identify the band.
Rating: 4.6
2 likes
1-Star Albums (32)
All Ratings
Janis Joplin
3/5
It was decent. All the songs sounded similar. 3.0
The Doors
4/5
Liked a lot of the songs and didn't dislike any of the songs. I need to listen to the other Doors to see which I like the best.
Rating: 3.5
Steely Dan
4/5
Very good album. Lots of big hits plus a few surprises. Whole album was really solid and was filled with about half excellent and half pretty good songs.
Rating: 4.3
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Only liked pale blue eyes and after hours. Murder mystery is cool at the end and the rest of the album I found bland.
Rating: 3.1
The Avalanches
4/5
Very early Gorillaz Daft punk vibes. Album got better and better as it went on, unlike most albums.
Rating: 4.5
Moby
4/5
I can see why it’s the best selling electronic album ever. Really strong first half but the back half was a lot slower and tougher to get thru.
Rating: 4.0
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
The live album helps understand why this music was so popular in 50s. Good for what it was but not stuff I’d ever listen to again.
Rating: 2.0
Sigur Rós
2/5
The soundscapes remind me of the experimental Radiohead stuff. Very calming
Rating: 2.5
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Decent listen with a couple bangers
Rating: 3.3
David Bowie
3/5
I don’t know enough about Bowies early work to respect the transition of his music. Didn’t care for any of the rock songs besides the title track. Having instrumental B sides is a cool idea.
Rating: 2.7
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Very good album with a really cool concept. Paul Simon is definitely one of my favorites.
Rating: 3.8
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Good slow folksy vibe and really like the parts where he really shouts. More in the mood for something upbeat so could see myself enjoying this more in the future.
Rating: 2.8
Jurassic 5
3/5
Good old school hip hop but a bit too clean sounding for me.
Rating: 3.4
Caetano Veloso
2/5
From Brazil in the 60s. Very cool for its context but wouldn’t listen again.
Rating: 2.3
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Has always been arguably my favorite Zeppelin album. Absolutely unreal this came out in 1969. The holy bible for rock music.
Rating: 4.9
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Bootleg strokes.
Rating: 3.3
The Young Gods
1/5
Rating: 1.3
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Very good album. Like the shorter song length time for a change. Beautiful voice and this album has her biggest hit Respect.
Rating: 4.0
Koffi Olomide
1/5
The songs stay in the same place yet still last for 5 minutes each.
Rating: 1.2
Little Richard
3/5
If I was rating based purely on context, this would be near 5. Not something I’d relisten to though.
Rating: 3.2
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Jazz.
Rating: 3.0
Prince
4/5
Awesome mainly upbeat fun album. Great guitar obviously and loved the drums. Some vintage 80s sound. So great ending the album with purple rain.
Rating: 4.4
Neil Young
4/5
Much better than I was expecting.
Rating 3.8
Mike Ladd
4/5
A couple of really good songs. I love the late 90s early 2000s experimental music.
Rating: 4.0
Fiona Apple
3/5
Rating: 3.2
The Beach Boys
4/5
Very good all around.
Rating: 4.2
Kings of Leon
3/5
Love their sound.
Rating: 3.5
Astrud Gilberto
5/5
Sounds like your on a beach hitting by waves of nostalgia. Feels like a precursor to Summer Salt.
Rating: 4.6
Billy Bragg
3/5
Easy listening but pretty forgettable
Rating: 2.8
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Very good and loved the flow between songs.
Rating: 4.2
The Cardigans
5/5
Very good album from start to finish.
Rating: 4.6
Lou Reed
5/5
Awesome.
Rating: 4.7
Sonic Youth
2/5
Will never listen to this again. No melody just noise. Have no idea if people just use this as goth ASMR but genuinely baffled by all of the high reviews.
Rating: 1.8
Paul Simon
4/5
Fantastic album with a theme/style throughout connecting the songs.
Rating: 4.5
Brian Wilson
5/5
Phenomenal. So complex and ahead of it’s time. Easy to understand why Brian Wilson drove himself to the edge with this in his head but never able to get it out to the world.
Rating: 4.9
Metallica
4/5
Very good.
Rating: 4.0
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Iconic sound. Need to listen to his other 50s stuff to see if this is run of the mill for this period of Sinatra but regardless I really liked it.
Rating: 4.2
The Young Rascals
3/5
Very easy listen and Groovin is a permanent stay in the library. If I had to guess it sounds just like I’d expect a 1967 summer of love song to sound like. Nothing too unique about their sound though.
Rating: 3.6
David Holmes
3/5
Good background music. Flows really well
Rating: 3.0
Radiohead
5/5
Side 1 might be better than any ever. Side 2 is pretty good but lucky and tourist never really do it for me. Still an absolute masterpiece and right off a perfect score.
Rating: 4.9
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Rating: 4.4
Norah Jones
3/5
Very good for what it is being comforting music. It doesn’t blow you away but don’t think it tries to and just makes for easy listening.
Rating: 3.5
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Thought about half were forgettable and half were all time classics. Great debut album.
Rating: 4.3
Van Halen
4/5
Decent with a lot of their biggest hits.
Rating: 4.2
Lou Reed
4/5
Darkest of all the Reed albums I’ve listened to. I love Lou Reed but this one is still probably my 4th favorite of his solo work as of rn. It’ll probably grow on me but behind Transformer, New York, and Coney Island Baby. This album has a much better theme with stories that tie it all together. Lou Reed is that guy
Rating: 4.4
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Great solid record.
Rating: 4.3
Nina Simone
3/5
One of those albums which I respect but not my personal jam.
Rating 3.0
ZZ Top
4/5
Good easy listening rock music all the way through. Most songs I couldn’t differentiate between however.
Rating: 4.0
The Monkees
4/5
The original Big Time Rush. Enjoyable easy listen.
Rating: 4.1
Johnny Cash
4/5
Awesome live album. Had all 3 factors of my favorite live albums: 1. Songs have more energy than studio version 2. Great crowd noise 3. Great banter between songs
What else could you want
Rating: 4.4
Public Enemy
3/5
Rating: 2.8
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
The songs were pretty good and easy to listen to.
Rating 2.5
The Doors
5/5
Awesome front to back with a lot of unique songs.
Rating: 4.6
Ray Charles
2/5
Rating: 2.5
Aerosmith
4/5
Front side is amazing and second half was decent with one of my favorites in What it Takes. I like 70s Aerosmith a lot more but still amazing they are able to evolve their songs and reach bigger commercial heights 20 years in.
Rating: 4.2
Thelonious Monk
2/5
Jazz
Rating: 2.0
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Rating: 4.3
Paul Weller
3/5
Nice easy listening but nothing too exciting for me.
Rating 3.3
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Liked this a lot more than a lot of the earlier rap albums I’ve heard.
Rating: 4.2
Death In Vegas
4/5
Awesome just my style.
Rating: 4.5
Eagles
4/5
Side A is absolutely perfect. Side B didn’t reach the same heights and a couple of the songs didn’t really do it for me but still what a great album.
Rating: 4.3
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
Rating: 2.5
Blur
4/5
Decent fun with some cool experimental aspects.
Rating: 3.9
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Solid.
Rating: 4.5
Iggy Pop
5/5
Loved it from front to back. Not a single miss.
Rating: 4.8
John Grant
3/5
Really liked the front side but not really the back half.
Rating 3.2
LL Cool J
3/5
Alright and easy to listen to but not many songs caught my attention. Nothing seems that groundbreaking here.
Rating: 2.8
Sex Pistols
5/5
Awesome. Can hear their sound throughout so many punk bands I like. Bible for Punk
Rating: 4.8
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Awesome.
Rating: 4.5
Green Day
5/5
Iconic with some all time great tracks. Never get tired of how good the drums are. Still like American idiot a little more.
Rating: 4.6
Nirvana
5/5
Rating: 4.7
Elis Regina
3/5
Easy listening.
Rating: 3.1
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Rating:
3.5
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Rating: 3.0
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Rating: 4.2
Ramones
4/5
They have such a signature sound and I can hear their influence in other artists I like. Most of the songs do tend to sound the same to me however.
Rating: 4.0
Fairport Convention
4/5
Really liked it. Cool blend of folk and rock.
Rating: 4.4
Jethro Tull
3/5
Didn’t like it as much as I was expecting.
Rating: 3.5
Orbital
2/5
Meh.
Rating: 2.5
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
I like gothic rock and some of the songs were great.
Rating: 3.8
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Rating: 3.0
Jack White
4/5
Rating: 4.1
Buck Owens
3/5
Decent old country.
Rating: 3.4
Blood, Sweat & Tears
5/5
Never heard a band like this that fuses jazz and rock so well. Liked almost every single track. Thank you to this list for showing me this album.
Rating: 4.8
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Another Alex Turner albums I haven’t been able to get into. I keep expecting to like his stuff but it always leaves me underwhelmed.
Rating: 3.2
Suede
4/5
Thought it was decent and don’t know why it got labeled as pretentious so much. I didn’t dislike any songs but only heroine was an instant add. The others I could see growing on me with repeat listens
Rating: 3.9
Black Sabbath
3/5
Meh
Rating: 3.0
The Modern Lovers
4/5
Pretty decent. I can see how this influenced a lot of what came after in late 70s.
Rating: 4.3
AC/DC
5/5
About half are all time classics and the other half isn’t too shabby either.
Rating 4.5
R.E.M.
3/5
Rating: 3.5
CHIC
4/5
Decent enjoyable listen.
Rating: 3.8
ZZ Top
3/5
Rating: 3.5
Ministry
1/5
Not listening to whole thing.
Rating: 1.0
The Jam
5/5
Really enjoyed it.
Rating: 4.7
Peter Tosh
3/5
Boring.
Rating: 2.8
Beastie Boys
4/5
Need to do a beastie boy deep dive to really see how I rank them all. Easy listen.
Rating: 4.2
PJ Harvey
2/5
Did not enjoy at all.
Rating: 2.0
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Fun/trippy/experimental. Didn’t enjoy as much as Yoshimi but still good
Rating: 4.2
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Rating: 4.4
Echo And The Bunnymen
5/5
This album gets better and better every time I hear it.
Rating: 4.8
Talk Talk
3/5
Decent with some songs I liked but a bit boring to me.
Rating: 3.5
Bon Jovi
4/5
Really iconic with so many classics.
Rating: 4.2
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Liked this one more than Bookends. It’s close between this and Graceland. Haven’t heard Paul Simon I don’t like so far.
Rating: 4.5
Traffic
4/5
Easy listening. A decent amount of songs I saved but a decent bit that were kinda forgetful.
Rating: 3.9
The Lemonheads
3/5
Easy to listen to.
Rating:3.4
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Stevie Wonder is always fun to listen to. Not my favorite of his but still great.
Rating: 4.3
OutKast
4/5
Decent.
Rating: 4.4
Black Sabbath
5/5
All timer. It’s so easy to hear their sound influencing so much music ever since.
Rating: 4.8
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
Really enjoyed it. Don’t like much recent country besides Sturgill but don’t really give it a try tbh.
Rating: 4.4
Television
5/5
Favorite album ever. I only discovered this album a month ago yet it is already safely my favorite album ever. If I had to show someone one album to describe my music tastes, it would be this without question. The guitars always go where I want them to go, the drums always come down hard when I want them to (especially on torn curtain) and Verlaines vocals are perfect. Kinda bummed I already got this one just over 100 albums in. It might be all downhill from here haha. First perfect 5.0 rating from me. Well deserved.
Rating: 5.0
Robert Wyatt
2/5
I like the story behind it but didn’t like the music itself.
Rating: 2.0
Nick Drake
3/5
Really liked it. Nothing too memorable but enjoyable the whole way through.
Rating: 3.5
4/5
They felt like a pop rock version of Radiohead. I usually don’t like pop but found this pretty enjoyable throughout for what it was trying to do.
Rating: 3.7
Willie Nelson
5/5
My favorite Willie album. I didn’t expect it to be on this list. It moves so slowly and I love it for it.
Rating: 4.6
The Pogues
4/5
So unique and fun to listen to. A couple songs I liked more than the rest but still think it’s more of a put on the entire album if you’re in the mood then adding specific songs to the regular rotation.
Rating: 4.0
The Soft Boys
4/5
Really fun. It sounds almost like if the Beatles started off as a psychedelic band with the way they harmonize. Such a unique blend of new wave and 60s psych.
Rating: 3.8
The Temptations
3/5
Rating: 3.3
KISS
3/5
Dads favorite band as a kid. Detroit rock city and Beth are obviously the best. The rest was alright.
Rating: 3.4
Maxwell
2/5
Such a bore to get through. The most bland R and B shit you’ll ever hear. I dislike it so much I think I hate R and B now. I guess this album is here because it represents the larger late 90s movement? Either way this album blows
Rating: 2.0
Joy Division
4/5
I just listened to some New Order and Closer which I’m sure is on here so super excited to get this one. I remember not liking this one the first time so interested to see how I feel now that I really like 80s new wave and gothic sound. After listening again, I respect this one more for how it influences the music after it. Don’t think I like as much as Closer or Power Corruption and Lies. It feels like post punk as a genre just getting its footing, Also has one of the best album covers ever.
Rating: 4.2
Killing Joke
3/5
Isn’t my favorite but liked it more as it went on.
Rating: 2.7
Nirvana
4/5
I respect the abrasive sound on a lot of the songs and understand why they chose to go in that direction, but regardless isn’t my cup of tea so only about half the songs are ones I relisten to. But those songs I do relisten to are incredible.
Rating: 4.3
Fela Kuti
4/5
Lot of fun. This had to have influenced Remain In Light. There’s even an outtake on Remain in Light called Acela’s Riff so doubt it’s a coincidence.
Rating: 4.0
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Incredible triple album so rare to make a good one. It’s amazing how often it can slip from a heavy high energy song to a soft sweet song. Really tough to rate because there’s a ton of great tracks and decent bit of filler but don’t even think the filler is that bad.
Rating: 4.6
The Go-Go's
4/5
Really fun debut.
Rating: 4.3
Joan Baez
3/5
Rating: 3.1
David Bowie
3/5
Rating: 3.4
Burning Spear
2/5
Rating: 2.5
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Nice easy listening old country. I wonder what the oldest album on this list is.
Rating: 3.4
The War On Drugs
3/5
Really liked the sound of this album at the start but grew tired of it by the end of the album.
Rating: 3.1
GZA
4/5
Another really good 90s rap album. Good beats and lyrics so what else to ask for.
Rating: 4.3
The Only Ones
4/5
Really liked this one.
Rating: 4.4
Slayer
2/5
Slayer sounds good at what they’re trying to accomplish. If I liked this genre of music, I could see a much higher resting but this is my least favorite genre.
Rating: 1.7
Muddy Waters
5/5
Opening track is so good. Every song has so much energy behind it I can only imagine when the music is being played live. This might be my favorite blues album. Only negative is sometimes getting bored on 6+ minute song.
Rating: 4.6
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Liked a couple of the songs and appreciate the context of when it came out but won’t relisten to most.
Rating: 3.4
The White Stripes
4/5
Really liked this one. Had only heard his heavy electrical guitar stuff so was a nice change of pace.
Rating: 4.3
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Really good bass on the opening track. It seems more important for being an influential album than an album that’s fun to listen to. Public image is probably my favorite from it.
Rating: 2.8
Beatles
5/5
Lets go I love the film. First beatles album I've gotten so far. They’re just so far ahead of everyone else at the time. John’s younger voice is so good here.
Rating: 4.6
The Sabres Of Paradise
4/5
Easy listening to while doing other stuff and very unique and rhythmic. Sounds like lo fi study beats. Liked it more and more as the album went on.
Rating: 3.8
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
Really enjoyed this. Perfect music to do while focusing on something else.
Rating: 4.4
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Really good. Can’t believe this came out in 1969.
Rating: 4.3
AC/DC
4/5
Solid throughout. Don’t know if I like this or Back in Black more.
Rating: 4.2
Stan Getz
3/5
Decent.
Rating: 3.2
Dire Straits
4/5
My favorite Dire Straits album.
Rating: 4.3
Talking Heads
4/5
Might be my fourth or fifth favorite talking heads album but I still love it.
Rating: 4.4
Morrissey
4/5
Have never really liked the smiths but enjoyed this one the whole way through.
Rating: 4.3
Cocteau Twins
5/5
That was awesome. Have never listened to them before but will be now.
Rating: 4.8
Fats Domino
3/5
Rating: 2.8
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Liked it more as it went on. Definitely unique and think it could be more enjoyable if I was in a better mood for it.
Rating: 3.7
Public Enemy
4/5
Liked this one more than the other public enemy album I heard.
Rating: 4.1
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
Liked it a lot through the first half but second half dragged on to me.
Rating: 3.8
The White Stripes
4/5
Rating: 4:0
Butthole Surfers
3/5
I like the light and experimental aspect of it. It sounds like they are just having fun in the studio trying out different effects. But not really any I’d come back to listen to.
Rating: 3.1
The Teardrop Explodes
5/5
I love echo and the bunny men and had never heard of them so was a good surprise. Really enjoyed the entire album.
Rating: 4.8
Adele
3/5
First half was really good and second half was slow.
Rating: 3.4
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Meh
Rating: 2.8
ABBA
4/5
Really solid the whole way through with a couple great tracks. Only problem is comparing this to the high bar they’ve set themselves.
Rating: 3.9
The National
2/5
Found it pretty boring. The live versions on deluxe edition were pretty good tho.
Rating: 2.4
Supergrass
4/5
I could see this one growing on me.
Rating: 3.7
Missy Elliott
2/5
Found it pretty boring. Was alright as background music
Rating: 2.4
Radiohead
4/5
Like all of Radiohead’s complex stuff, it grows on me each listen. It’s crazy that even though it’s grown on me a lot and I think it’s a really solid album, it’s still like my fifth or sixth favorite Radiohead album.
Rating: 4.3
Frank Ocean
5/5
Not usually an R&B fan but this is an obvious exception. One of the best albums of the decade and a work of art.
Rating: 4.9
The Boo Radleys
5/5
Really enjoyed the entire album. Now I gotta go thru their entire discography real quick.
Rating: 4.8
The Police
3/5
Have heard the first two police albums and think I like this one slightly more. Still not my favorite but easy listening.
Rating: 2.8
White Denim
3/5
Thought I would like it more but found it pretty forgettable.
Rating: 3.0
Paul Simon
5/5
It’s tough but I might like this one more than Graceland or Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
Rating: 4.7
The Kinks
5/5
First Kinks album I’ve heard all the way through and loved it. First half was stronger overall but end of the season and Waterloo sunset are probably my favorites.
Rating: 4.7
Roxy Music
3/5
Didn’t find it interesting.
Rating: 2.7
The Clash
5/5
Definitely second best clash album. Pivotal punk album.
Rating: 4.5
Rush
5/5
Classic
Rating: 4.5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Rating: 4.1
Hookworms
4/5
It sounded like a mix of Tame Impala and new order. Really liked it but wish some minutes were trimmed off the tracks. It became a bit laborious waiting for tracks to end.
Rating: 3.7
Dr. Dre
5/5
Rating: 4.5
Erykah Badu
3/5
I enjoyed the first half a lot but this feels like the definition of bloat in the CD age. She really couldn’t find 20 minutes to trim it down? I think I’d rate it a lot higher if some of the filler was removed.
Rating: 3.2
The Strokes
5/5
One of my favorite albums ever. Julian Casablancas will forever be one of my favorite musicians. Only second perfect 5.0 album for me 175 albums in. I fell in love with the new abnormal which has lead me on the path to seeking out new music which in turn lead me to this website. Only fair to give this one a 5.0 just for that. Julian’s other band the Voidz is awesome too if anyone has read this far but doubt they’re represented on this list.
Rating: 5.0
Various Artists
5/5
Has gotta be the GOAT Christmas album right?
Rating; 4.8
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is in that top tier of Bob Dylan albums where my favorite of his is constantly changing.
Rating: 4.9
Sam Cooke
4/5
Rating: 4.3
Röyksopp
2/5
Nah
Rating: 2.3
Wilco
5/5
Liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. The second half definitely dragged more but I still really enjoyed it overall.
Rating: 4.7
Slade
5/5
I usually get bored with some pure classic rock bands but I loved this entire thing. Will definitely be looking into their other stuff.
Rating: 4.8
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Not really a fan of Janis Joplin but liked this one more than I thought.
Rating: 3.3
The Who
4/5
Love the early use of synths here but found myself bored throughout a lot of the middle of the album as tends to happen when I listen to classic rock. Still have some all time great songs on here but don’t love it as much as most people do.
Rating: 3.9
The White Stripes
4/5
Some of my favorite white stripes but still think I like De Stijl and White Blood Cells more.
Rating: 4.4
Brian Eno
4/5
David Byrne is one of my all time favorites. This album I like more for showing off how innovate and ahead of the music scene that Byrne and Eno were. It’s fun to listen to for the first time but not something to go back and relisten to.
Rating: 3.6
Sonic Youth
5/5
I got Evol earlier and didn’t like it. I’ve since listened to all their 80s stuff up to Goo after becoming obsessed with Daydream Nation. I still only like Evol in terms of seeing the bands progression from pure no wave into what they become on Daydream Nation. Sister is still such a great album even though not quite up to the heights of Daydream Nation. It’s amazing the steps they took from Bad Moon Rising to Evol and from Evol to Sister.
Rating: 4.5
Adele
4/5
Really solid but not my favorite genre of music to listen to a lot. But for what it’s trying to be, it does it emphatically. Liked this one more than 25.
Rating: 4.1
Joni Mitchell
5/5
This one blew me away. Really tempted to give it a perfect score which I haven’t considered for an album I hadn’t heard before.
Rating: 4.9
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Sounds very ahead of its time and like many things I’ve heard released after it. Solid points for that but wouldn’t go back and ever listen again.
Rating: 2.9
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Like all Bob Marley it’s easy to listen to but boring. The songs always stay in the exact same place. I get why in this instance but I still hate music like that typically.
Rating: 2.7
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
I always thought they were a one-hit wonder so was very surprised at how much I liked the album as a whole. Liked the first half more than the second.
Rating: 4.4
Giant Sand
3/5
Liked it more as it went on. Sounded eerily close to Lou Reed at points. Don’t quite understand what’s so important about this one to include it on this list but an alright listen regardless. Temptation of egg my favorite.
Rating: 3.2
PJ Harvey
3/5
Liked the first half a decent bit. Second PJ album I’ve gotten after Rid Of Me. Neither has clicked with me yet. Wish I could understand the hype now but sure I’ll discover it later down the line. I usually don’t focus on the lyrics the first time I hear an album so I’m sure some of the disconnect lies in that.
Rating: 3.1
Radiohead
4/5
Surprised this one and Hail to the Thief were on here. Would much rather the Bends be on here so people who weren’t familiar with the band could see where they started before OK Computer/Kid A and also because it’s an awesome album.
But whatever. This one is probably between my 6-8th favorite RadioHead album. Don’t listen to it much but still super unique. It’s so hard not to compare it to Kid A which is just better.
Rating: 4.4
Air
4/5
Enjoyable and easy to work to. Started at same time as daft punk and can hear the similarities.
Rating: 3.6
Nick Drake
5/5
Had heard his second album before and enjoyed it but think I definitely like this one more. Very beautiful blend of instruments and I didn’t even focus too much on his lyrics the first listen through.
Rating: 4.7
Alanis Morissette
4/5
I can see why this sold so well. I enjoyed a decent bit but got tired of it in the later half.
Rating: 3.9
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Liked this one more than Murder Ballads. I’m surprised to read that the band didn’t like how this one turned out. I need to listen to the live album to see if I like any of those versions better. Liked the first half more but second half was still solid.
After listening to the versions on the live album, I do think they are slightly better with a bit more energy. If you could replace those versions with their live counterparts, I’d raise the rating to 4.6. Just relistened to murder ballads and think I like that one more.
Rating: 4.4
Janet Jackson
2/5
Sounds very dated in a genre I don’t really like anyways so will not be returning to this one. Love the cover art tho
Rating: 2.3
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Really enjoyed it. His lyrics are so good and match the jazz/blues feel perfectly. Agree with another commenter that Pieces of a Man should be on here to. It was awesome and not sure which I like more.
Rating: 4.4
Arcade Fire
5/5
One of the first albums I ever listened to all the way through. It's been a while since I've listened to it all the way through again. It still takes me to such a specific time in high school and brings up more emotions in me than maybe any album I can think of. Nostalgia aside, so many great tracks. After listening again, gonna give out my third 5.0 rating after 200 albums. Every song is fantastic and couldn't even choose the weakest track if I tried.
Rating: 5.0
Underworld
4/5
Good background music to work to but have no idea why this would be on here over something like Discovery by Daft Punk.
Rating: 2.4
Pere Ubu
3/5
Unique but nothing id come back to.
Rating: 2.7
Depeche Mode
3/5
If I’m in the mood for 80s synth I’d go to New Order than this but they’re definitely doing their own thing compared to New Order. I didn’t connect with a decent bit of the songs here but it still managed to keep my attention the whole way through as you really don’t know which way the album is going to go next.
Rating: 3.4
Gang Starr
5/5
Out of all the 90s hip hop albums I’ve gotten so far, I think this is my favorite with some close competition by Tribe Called Quest. Enjoyed the entire thing.
Rating: 4.7
Silver Jews
5/5
Surprised there are multiple Silver Jews albums on here, not sure if that’s needed but I love them so not mad. This is either my second or third favorite of theirs with American Water easily being the best. This is still such a solid album. Silver Jews is probably my favorite fall time band.
Rating: 4.7
Cypress Hill
5/5
Second early 90s rap album in a few days that I’ve really loved. Just now really getting a grasp of how big the boom in hip hop was in the late80s/early 90s. Like I knew of the huge acts before but now have so many different albums in this period that I love.
Rating: 4.6
Funkadelic
4/5
Really enjoyed it. I do tend to have trouble with the longer jams but still good for what it is.
Rating: 4.0
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Ended up liking it more by the end of it. Had heard the band name before but didn’t know what genre of music it was gonna be. Easy harmless light music.
Rating: 3.8
Fred Neil
4/5
Enjoyed it a lot. Really nice voice
Rating: 4.2
Frank Zappa
3/5
Liked the first couple tracks a lot. Nothing bad about the rest just not as memorable on first listen.
Rating: 3.4
The Adverts
3/5
Decent punk album.
Rating: 3.3
Eric Clapton
3/5
Very easy listening. Haven’t touched Clayton’s stuff yet and this feels like a great entry point. Will definitely begin going through his work.
Rating: 3.5
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Getting tired of the 90s electronic music.
Rating: 2.2
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Somehow my 5th Paul Simon album at just over 200 albums. Have loved them all but think this might be my least favorite so far. Still really beautiful and I love the depressing news update over silent night to end the album. I hear a lot more Bob Dylan influence in this one than the later ones I’ve heard.
Rating: 3.5
Tears For Fears
4/5
Liked this one more than the first time I’d heard it. I listened to their first album for the first time and think I like that one more than this. But still a solid 4
Rating: 4.0
Solange
3/5
Easy to listen to and flows very well. Probably won’t go back and listen to many tracks tho.
Rating: 2.9
Ella Fitzgerald
2/5
Respect the voice but the album was alright.
Rating: 2.4
Peter Gabriel
2/5
That was pretty atrocious besides the lone good song.
Rating: 1.6
Ash
5/5
Should’ve known I would like it as soon it opened with the TIE Fighter sound. Enjoyed the whole thing. The front half and final few tracks were all great with a little in the middle I was pretty indifferent too.
Rating: 4.6
Snoop Dogg
2/5
Rating: 2.4
Elton John
4/5
Trying to not rate it to harshly for the filler because it would be an almost perfect album at 8-10 songs. But the filler does still exist. When the album hits it hits hard and the forgettable stuff isn’t hard to listen to either.
Rating: 4.3
Pixies
5/5
Probably the Pixies album I’m in the mood to listen to the most. So many classics and The Happening might be my favorite Pixies song. Only a couple misses for me on the entire album and even they aren’t bad or ruin the mood of the album.
Rating: 4.9
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
Pretty bad honestly. I hate music that goes nowhere and it sounds like they don’t know where the music should be going either. Went in with high hopes.
Rating: 1.9
Dusty Springfield
2/5
Rating: 1.6
Sebadoh
3/5
A lot of it sounds heavily inspired by Sonic Youth.
Rating: 3.1
Prince
3/5
It was pretty good. Don't know which I like more between this and purple rain. Still not my favorite genre.
Rating: 3.3
Travis
2/5
Aggressively average.
Rating: 2.5
Nick Drake
5/5
Really hard to rank the Nick Drake albums. I feel like any of the 3 could be my favorite on any day. This one flew by especially so had to listen a few times before I really started to get it.
Rating: 4.6
The Who
3/5
It was a decent listen but don’t get the hype.
Rating: 3.0
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Rating: 2.0
Beck
5/5
Such a good album. The bonus tracks on the deluxe edition are great too and if I could choose some of those tracks to replace some of my least favorite on the album then this could be a perfect album.
Rating: 4.9
The The
4/5
This feels like an album that’ll really grow on me but still liked it a decent bit the first time around.
Rating: 4.2
Fever Ray
1/5
Waste of time honestly. There are some really weird choices for the post 2000s albums.
Rating: 1.3
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Good just a little long.
Rating: 3.4
Neil Young
2/5
Listening on YouTube really kills this album. Having to hear 2 ads after a 2 minute song really hurts the flow. Regardless tho I didn’t get much out of it.
Rating: 2.4
Christina Aguilera
2/5
Great example of 90s-2000s bloated CD albums. Doesn’t push the boundaries in any way at all. Regardless of that, the songs are well produced. I like the piano on on our way but even the rest of the song takes away from it for me. Generic pop music post 2000 is my least favorite music and this falls squarely into that category. Surprised this is inspired by old school soul music because this album has no soul of its own.
Rating: 2.0
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Thought it was really good. Could see this one growing on me more the more I listen and process all of the lyrics. Even ignoring the lyrics this was fun to listen to.
Rating: 3.3
George Harrison
5/5
It’s crazy to me how so many people don’t understand the context of why this album is so long. George was so tired of having so few of his tracks end up on the record and having to filter so many great ideas. So this is him finally being free to release everything pent up so it goes against the ethos of this album to “get rid of the filler.” Of course there might be some filler but to hold that against the album when it would be the greatest double album ever (right there with London Calling) is absurd to me. Classic after classic. I’ve spent most of this review talking about other peoples reviews which I hate but frankly there are some really embarrassing reviews of this album out there. It’s almost unbelievable how many classic songs are on here. The filler makes this a 4.9 instead of a 5.0. Deducting anymore than that seems ridiculous.
Rating: 4.9
Minor Threat
3/5
Really good harder sounding punk. Not my favorite genre but executed very well.
Rating: 3.5
Big Star
2/5
There were a couple songs I liked but didn’t like most honestly.
Rating: 2.4
Aerosmith
4/5
I’ve got a huge soft spot for 70s Aerosmith. The first band I ever got into even before the Beatles. But weirdly enough my ranking of the 70s albums is quite different than most. Like I even like Night in the Rutz as a whole more than this one and Toys in the Attic which I get is a weird opinion. Still some absolute classics on this one.
Rating: 3.9
Deep Purple
3/5
Sounds like something spinal tap would write. I’m sure it’s a great live gig but all the songs just flounder and have no cohesion. Still enjoyable to listen to just nothing special for me.
Rating: 2.7
The Zutons
5/5
Really enjoyed the entire thing. Especially the first half I feel they did enough to make it sound weird and unique enough to them where I could easily identify the band.
Rating: 4.6
Hot Chip
1/5
After getting more post 2000s albums I feel like the author could’ve used some help on what albums were actually influential during this time. This album is not influential in any way. I just feel like the author randomly heard this one day and liked it so put it on the list. It’s just safe synth pop. And I hate post 2000s synth pop.
I guess points because I didn’t actively hate it? But that’s why I usually hate synth pop. It’s safe and makes me feel absolutely nothing. It makes me feel bad I rated other albums lower bc at least they were trying something new and made me feel hate.
Rating: 1.5
Fleet Foxes
3/5
White Winter Hymnal is a classic. It’s not really my thing but I respect it a lot for having a unique sound and executing it well.
Rating: 3.1
Femi Kuti
4/5
Really liked this entire thing. Great to work to. Second African album after Fela Kuti and have loved both.
Rating: 4.4
The Vines
4/5
This one was a lot of fun. Saved a decent bit to the library and the ones I didn’t weren’t bad by any means just didn’t stand out enough.
Rating: 4.3
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
I think this one is a hair behind RAM but still easy top 2 of Paul’s solo career.
Rating: 4.9
The Stooges
5/5
I think I like the Bowie mix more but need to listen to Iggys again. Great album from legendary band ahead of the time. It’s so hard picking a favorite stooges album. Almost every track is an instant save
Rating: 4.8
Big Star
4/5
Liked the first half more but second half was still enjoyable. I’ve already gotten their third album and didn’t like it as much as this one but might be worth revisiting now.
Rating: 3.8
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
I liked this more than I thought I would. Ended up saving 5 of the 18 which isn’t the best ratio but I still enjoyed the other songs.
Rating: 3.5
Supertramp
5/5
This is my third favorite supertramp album but still amazing. Love all the tracks except the last two don’t do much for me.
Rating: 4.7
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
The opening track is my favorite. I heard this on the perfect day, it’s perfect when you want to lean into your sad/depressive emotions. Most of my music is usually much more upbeat so this was a great change of pace. I wish it was on Spotify
Rating: 4.4
Ryan Adams
1/5
Shit
Rating: 1.0
Madonna
2/5
I feel like people just pat this one on the back for Madonna doing something different. If it wasn’t her name attached and was someone’s debut I doubt there’s nearly as much acclaim.
The electronic elements were cool at the start but even they couldn’t save this album and didn’t sound that different throughout. If that is all that’s special about this album, why not just choose an electronic album that is actually innovative and sounds good from the same time period?
I hate these pop albums during the height of CDs that carry on far too long.
Rating: 1.8
Meat Loaf
3/5
It’s definitely a fun album. Hard to have a bad time listening to this one. Don’t think I’m gonna come back to listen to it tho.
Rating: 3.0
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Really liked the start and end of the album. It scratches an itch I didn’t know I had. The whole album has its own unique tone which I always love. It kinda devolved into some jazz background noise in the middle of the album tho.
Rating: 3.2
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Lot of fun and a ton of energy. I need to go thru the discography so I can understand how it changes from their previous stuff.
Rating: 4.2
Carole King
5/5
It’s so good I just let it keep playing through a second time after the record finished.
Rating: 4.7
Tom Waits
3/5
Reminded me of Nick Cave but even weirder. Don’t know how much I’ll ever come back to listen to this but is definitely unique.
Rating: 2.9
Orange Juice
5/5
Another random gem of a band. I liked it so much I listened to their debut album after and think that one is even better. I’d rate their debut like a 4.9 and this slightly lower. This one did grow on me on the second listen.
Rating: 4.6
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
I can hear the influence on Nick Cave. It was alright there were a couple tracks I liked a lot. It might grow on me as I get some distance and understand how it fits into its time period.
Rating: 2.8
Beach House
4/5
Such a step up from their previous albums. It feels like one very long song. Not sure if this is my favorite beach house but has to be up there.
Rating: 4.5
Napalm Death
2/5
I can see how people like the high energy of it but not for me. Every genre deserves an album on here but hopefully none more from this genre.
Rating: 1.7
Ravi Shankar
2/5
Always fun to hear another country’s music. Sad to say that it still didn’t resonate with me even with the instructions.
Rating: 2.1
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Another fantastic Zeppelin album. It’s hard to compare between their other releases which it might be slightly less than for me but still so good.
Rating: 4.6
Madonna
2/5
I had Ray of Light recently and think all my comments apply about this one. If you took her name off of it, no one would care about this. Unreal how well this awful music sold.
Rating: 1.8
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Easy listening
Rating: 3.2
k.d. lang
4/5
Liked it more than I thought. Very cinematic. Can see myself going back to this one.
Rating: 3.7
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Some of the best Americana I’ve heard. Not quite my thing but it excels at what it’s trying to accomplish. I can see myself liking this more if I’m ever in the mood for it.
Rating: 4.5
Bert Jansch
5/5
Meant to only listen to one before bed but was blow away and had to listen to the whole thing.
Rating: 4.8
Tortoise
3/5
Very unusual rock. Enjoyed it a decent bit. I could see this one growing on me.
Rating: 3.4
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
3 songs I really liked but didn’t enjoy the others. Very hit or miss.
Rating: 3.1
Billy Bragg
2/5
Meh.
Rating: 2.5
Steely Dan
3/5
I don’t know it didn’t grab my attention as much as the debut. Idk if I just wasn’t in the mood for it today or if my music tastes have changed. Still a couple songs I liked a lot tho.
Rating: 3.1
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Thought it was really good. Not sure how much I’ll come back and listen to though.
Rating: 3.8
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Rating: 2.9
Saint Etienne
3/5
It was decent enough that I want to look at their other stuff. I like house/electronic vibe usually but got pretty bored on some of the songs.
Rating: 3.0
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Liked this one more than armed forces.
Rating: 3.3
Kanye West
5/5
Definitely in peak Kanye era. Some of the songs have been played to death but for good reason. Even the lesser songs are still pretty unique.
Rating: 4.8
Sonic Youth
5/5
Third sonic youth album. First, I had Evol and wasn’t a fan of the band but it intrigued me enough to listen to more. Second, I had sister and by that time I had listened through about Washing Machine and was obsessed. Now at this album, I’ve listened through their entire discography at least once and their 80s and 90s stuff a ton.
This might be the one I play the most of theirs. A lot of their biggest pop hits which I tend to like more than their hardcore no wave stuff that a lot of their die hard fans love. The front half of this album is absurdly good.
Rating: 4.8
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Rating: 3.5
The United States Of America
5/5
Loved just about every track and even a lot of the bonus tracks were good. Very surprised by this one.
Rating: 4.8
R.E.M.
4/5
Liked it better than their later one.
Rating: 4.3
Elvis Presley
3/5
Started to really like it by the end but most of it was meh.
Rating: 3.4
Pink Floyd
3/5
Not a big fan of early Floyd but it’s still unique and experimental so points for that.
Rating: 3.1
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
The first half of the album is unreal and second half wasn’t bad but doesn’t maintain the level of the first half. I liked this one more than Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
Rating: 4.5
Hawkwind
4/5
It was a lot of fun but liked the first disc a lot more than the second. Sounds like something Spinal Tap would make
Rating: 3.8
The Byrds
4/5
Liked it throughout but wasn’t blown away by it.
Rating: 3.7
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
I’ve listened to this a few times and want to love it but only a few songs ever do it for me. Still solid just not killer.
Rating: 3.5
Oasis
5/5
So good. Only a couple songs went on a tad too long but only thing keeping from a perfect rating.
Rating: 4.9
The Stooges
5/5
Go back and forth with raw power over my favorite. So good with one of my favorite album covers.
Rating: 4.7
The Cure
4/5
I liked this one more on this listen than previously. It really is such a depressing album. I think the music is good, it’s just not something I ever feel like putting on with how much of a downer it is.
Rating: 3.6
B.B. King
2/5
Meh.
Rating: 2.4
Stephen Stills
2/5
Meh
Rating: 2.4
The Icarus Line
2/5
Meh just sounds like a staler version of the early 2000s rock scene
Rating: 2.0
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Definitely my favorite Neil Young so far. Haven’t been the biggest fan on past ones but thought this one was fun.
Rating: 3.5
David Bowie
3/5
A few awesome ones and the overall feel of the album was enjoyable.
Rating: 3.5
Garbage
4/5
Pretty solid.
Rating: 4.0
The Coral
3/5
Thought it was pretty mediocre. I was hoping for another gem like the Zutons album but came up meh for me.
Rating: 2.8
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Didn’t like as much as born to run but points for cool album cover.
Rating: 3.2
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Pretty good. Think her second album is better
Rating: 3.6
k.d. lang
4/5
I liked this one even more than the other KD Lang. I’m not sure how prevalent this sound was in country before her but you can hear it all over now. Super easy listening.
Rating: 4.2
John Lennon
5/5
Raw is the only way to describe this album. It’s unreal how much emotion he can convey with his voice and the stripped back instrumentals. The album cover matches perfectly as well. This album works so well at describing the essence of John.
Rating: 4.7
3/5
Easy listening.
Rating: 3.3
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Good background music and cool album cover for an album from the 50s
Rating: 3.4
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
First time listening all the way thru and pretty great. It makes me wanna listen to other albums in 1967 to hear how different the guitar sounds.
Rating: 4.7
MGMT
4/5
I feel like everyone loves this album. I love the big singles but the deeper tracks didn’t resonate with me.
Rating: 4.2
William Orbit
4/5
Liked this one more than I thought I would. I’ve been going through Blurs stuff nonstop so cool to see that he produced for them.
Rating: 3.8
Suede
4/5
I’ve been listening to a lot of Britpop so this came at the perfect time to hear the first album of the era. I liked it but it reminded me a lot more of 70s glam more than the other Britpop bands. Not bad just wasn’t the sound I was expecting. I wanted to listen to it again right after.
Rating: 4.5
The Pretty Things
3/5
Meh I wasn’t listening too intently so probably need to give this another listen to understand the story better.
Rating: 3.0
Charles Mingus
3/5
I don’t have any frame of reference with jazz music to know how it fits into the bigger picture. Easy to listen or work to but nothing Id put back on if I had a choice.
Rating: 3.1
Rush
3/5
Just sounds like Pink Floyd followers
Rating: 3.0
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Just sound like sonic youth followers.
Rating: 3.1
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Cowboy song into boys are back in town was definitely the highlight. It’s the kind of easy listening rock that my dad would like but sounds pretty boring to me.
Rating: 2.9
Tim Buckley
3/5
Meh
Rating: 2.8
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Another hip hop album I loved from this time period. I enjoyed the whole thing but not sure how often I would throw a song from here on but it might grow on me.
Rating: 4.3
50 Cent
4/5
First half is loaded and had heard most of them growing up. Still not something I’d listen to on my own but still so many huge songs.
Rating: 3.7
Kate Bush
5/5
It takes a few listens to really get a grasp of it. It’s so unique and I never know where the song is going to go.
Rating: 4.7
The Cult
3/5
I enjoyed it more than I thought but nothing unique about it.
Rating: 3.3
Simply Red
3/5
One of the most 80s sounding records. Meh
Rating: 2.7
Marty Robbins
5/5
I love old western music like this. My family used to go out west on trips and my dad would always play music like this (only Big Iron from this album) so this one has some extra nostalgia built in for me to push it up to a low 5.
Rating: 4.6
Rod Stewart
3/5
Meh Maggie May is awesome and couldn’t get into the rest.
Rating: 2.8
The Style Council
3/5
I love the jam and liked Paul’s solo albums I’ve heard so was excited to hear this transition. It’s definitely cool in the context of his career as it’s such a left turn to what he was doing. However as an album on its own it didn’t do much for me. No songs I think I would return to.
Rating: 2.8
DJ Shadow
3/5
Second time listening and both times I went in excited but both times I haven’t gotten much out of it. Points for being arguably first album of all samples but the Avalanches do it so much better a few years later.
Rating: 3.2
The Cure
5/5
Let’s go this is my favorite cure album. Darker than their debut, not suicidal like their next couple before their more pop turn. The guitar work is so good. This is the cure album I come back and listen to the most.
Rating: 4.9
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
I liked this one more than their 93 album. Very easy listening.
Rating: 3.7
Eminem
4/5
Not near the heights of Marshall Mathers but still a lot of fun.
Rating: 4.1
The Kinks
5/5
Love this and have been listening to a lot of BritPop inspired by Kinks so this came at a great time. Super stacked album and really close which is my favorite between this and Something Else.
Rating: 4.6
4/5
It reminded me a lot of early Talking Heads so cool to see Eno produced this one before working with them. The opening track is iconic and sounds like a precursor to Song 2 a couple decades later. Some good grooves throughout but usually not enough for me to save the songs to library. Still short and fun though.
Rating: 3.6
Milton Nascimento
3/5
There were a few songs I’ll listen to regularly and the rest were still nice if not a little bland and hard to tell apart form each other. But this cohesion makes for an easy listen which is usually hard to say for double albums. Awesome cover art too.
Rating: 3.5
Harry Nilsson
5/5
Loved this one. All the tracks give you something unique and the top tracks are classics.
Rating: 4.6
Foo Fighters
3/5
Meh it sounded like a worse Dinosaur Jr.
Rating: 3.0
Skunk Anansie
3/5
This one didn’t do much for me.
Rating: 2.8
Ghostface Killah
3/5
It was alright
Rating: 2.8
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Liked this one a lot more than I thought.
Rating: 4.2
Super Furry Animals
4/5
I liked it a lot more than I expected going in. A lot of fun and a lot of tracks I think I’ll be going back to. Also cool to listen to a Welsh band. It’s crazy how much the singer sounds like Damon Albarn at points.
Rating: 4.5
Michael Jackson
4/5
Great MJ more infused with funk than his later work. Even though this was great I still think it’s behind his other work with some of the tracks not interesting me much. The gems of this album are up there for my favorite of his songs.
Rating: 4.4
Slint
3/5
It grew on me the second time around. This would usually be exactly what I’m looking for but most of the tracks left me overwhelmed.
Rating: 3.4
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Iconic sound of the 60s and love the hits but overall not for me.
Rating: 3.3
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I had listened to this about a year ago and liked it much more that time. I found it pretty boring blues rock. It’s cool in the context of The Rolling Stones career path but as a listening experience pretty meh.
Rating: 3.0
Baaba Maal
4/5
Really enjoyable. After a bit I really started to get the feel of being out in a relaxing field.
Rating: 3.7
5/5
From an influential standpoint it doesn’t get larger than this. Perfect score in that regard. In terms of how much I enjoy listening in 2024, still pretty high. I’ve heard these songs so many times growing up that it’s hard to rate fairly when you know exactly how every song goes. Even the weaker songs I don’t listen to as much like fixing a hole, Mr kite, within you without you, and good morning all add something different to the album. It’s amazing how eclectic the songs are yet they all feel like they belong on this album. But again I don’t know if that’s just because I’ve listened so many times. Also can’t forget to add that arguably my favorite song ever in a day in the life finishes the album.
Rating: 4.9
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I tend to like western music inspired by African/Brazilian music but this didn’t do much for me. Had about the same reaction to the other solo Gabriel album on the list. Maybe it’ll grow on me with time but as of now it hasn’t.
Rating: 2.8
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
Definitely a unique listening experience. Cool idea to invite all of these legends that inspired you and keeping some of the natural conversations before songs began. I forgive them a bit for the bloat when you wanna document all these different people but it still is tough to listen to it all in one sitting. I think it is a much better experience to listen to each disc separately. This would be a standard 3 based on the music alone. A few I’ll come back to but most I won’t. The unique structure of the album pushes it to a low 4 star.
Rating: 3.6
The Roots
3/5
First time listening to them besides the odd song here and there. I haven’t listened to their bigger album right before this one which I’m sure would give me a better appreciation for this. The album didn’t do much for me. It was alright with some fun beats but didn’t feel that game changing to me.
Rating: 3.0
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Such a strong debut. Not as good as their second album but amazing how well they knew their sound right from the start.
Rating: 4.7
Tori Amos
5/5
This one really surprised me. Liked the entire thing. Such beautiful songs with worrying lyrics running underneath it. That’s consistently been something I’ve loved in music and she does it outstanding here. I think I’ll definitely be coming back to this one a lot.
Rating: 4.7
U2
3/5
Opening track is an all timer but was kinda let down by the rest.
Rating: 3.1
Beastie Boys
3/5
Iconic album but disregarding the context of it, I don’t like it as much as their later albums.
Rating: 3.3
Van Morrison
3/5
Meh. A few pretty ones but a lot of forgettable for me.
Rating: 3.0
Iggy Pop
5/5
I listened to this one after Lust for Life and didn’t like it but loved it this time. I can hear the echos of this album through a lot of the post punk and gothic rock of the 80s. China Girl even sounds like a precursor to Hong Kong Garden. All around great album. It is innovative and the entire album has a unique and consistent feel to it.
Rating: 4.8
Elliott Smith
4/5
Rating: 4.3
David Bowie
4/5
Really cool transitional Bowie album. I don’t love this one as much as the Berlin albums but still a lot of fun. I haven’t listened to this one much so need to give it some more listens.
Rating: 3.8
Frank Black
3/5
He can make some catchy music and with 22 songs there’s bound to be a handful that I like. As a whole though I prefer more of the bite that comes with Pixies music that is lacking here. Still though even on the less memorable tracks, which there were a decent bit for me, I was still having fun listening to it.
Rating: 3.4
Eels
5/5
Loved this entire thing. One of my favorite new albums I've gotten on the list in a while.
Rating: 4.7
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Classic. What else needs to be said. Don’t know anyone who doesn’t like the main hits on this album.
Rating: 4.2
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Almost perfect album. There are a few songs I don’t listen to but work well in the context of the album.
Rating: 4.8
Tom Waits
4/5
Liked it a lot more than the other Waits album I’ve gotten. It’s like if pirates made rock music.
Rating: 3.9
Joy Division
5/5
An album where everything fits together perfect- the music, lyrics and art. Even looking at the cover fills me with such a weird feeling with how well it fits with Ian’s death. I feel sorry for people that never “get” this album but it is pretty transcendent to me. This would be a 5 star for its influence in post punk/gothic rock alone, not even considering the devastating context to this album. RIP Ian who was somehow able to write from the afterlife before going there.
Rating: 5.0
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
There are some great tracks and love the feel of the album enough where it wasn’t as hard as I thought to listen to it all at once. There is a lot of pointless wandering
Rating: 4.3
Elvis Presley
4/5
First rock/pop star phenom so points for that. Yeah all the songs are covers but he still gets to showcase his fantastic voice. Iconic album from the dawn of rock n roll.
Rating: 4.0
Pixies
5/5
A lot of the tracks that haven't clicked with me did this time round. I did have this one below Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde but think it is above them now. Very strong and fun the whole way through. You can hear its influence in a lot of the 90s music that comes after it.
Rating: 4.8
Coldplay
4/5
First half was pretty good and second half meh. I replayed a lot of these songs over because of the ridiculous streaming numbers most of the songs have but they still didn’t click with me.
Rating: 3.9
Dire Straits
5/5
Classic album of the 80s and still sounds so clean. First half is perfect and second half is still enjoyable.
Rating: 4.6
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
First time listening and loved the whole thing. I’ve always loved the photo of the monk so such a cool cover to go with the music. I can see why people love it, it’s not my favorite sound in the world but executed perfectly. I’m excited to listen to their subsequent records.
Rating: 4.8
Soul II Soul
2/5
Meh
Rating: 2.5
The Who
3/5
I’ve been listening to more 50s and early 60s so I appreciate the heavier sound this has but still wouldn’t listen to most of the tracks on a whim
Rating: 3.1
The Stone Roses
5/5
I listened to this for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it didn’t really make an impact. For whatever reason the whole album kept me entertained this time. I can hear how the sound helped inspire Oasis as well.
Rating: 4.8
Bob Dylan
4/5
Don’t like this one near as much as his following run of albums where he perfects the sound but respect this one for its legacy/innovation into new territory.
Rating: 4.2
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Amazing
Rating: 4.9
Wild Beasts
5/5
Surprised at how much I liked this one. Will definitely have to check out the rest of their stuff.
Rating: 4.6
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Fun
Rating: 3.8
Pere Ubu
3/5
Ended up having more fun with the second half of it. I enjoy the experimental nature and when it works it's a lot of fun. Tough one to rate after one listen. Most of these songs though didn't land for me.
Rating: 3.2
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Ended up liking it more than I thought by the end of it. I could see this one growing on me easily.
Rating: 3.8
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Enjoyed this one a lot. The jungle line is so innovative it surprised me. Time to do a Joni deep dive
Rating: 4.6
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Whew there’s a lot better house music. Not sure what context I’m missing to make this one interesting.
Rating: 1.9
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Lot of fun. The African music almost always hits. I love Casablancas so was even more exciting reading that Cult Records helped release this. It didn’t disappoint even though my expectations were a bit higher than they should’ve been. Such a fun fusion and such an amazing story of how such awful circumstances drove this band together.
Rating: 4.2
The Rolling Stones
4/5
This one I liked a lot more on the second listen. Short and to the point with a lot of decent songs. I’m usually not as big a fan of The Rolling Stones compared to most. And while some songs still bored me I found something enjoyable about most.
Rating: 3.9
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Meh
Rating: 3.1
Calexico
4/5
Wasn’t liking it much the first half but really started to get I. The groove over the second half. Indie mariachi is such a good niche genre.
Rating: 3.7
The Beach Boys
5/5
Rating: 4.6
Alice Cooper
4/5
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Super solid front to back.
Rating: 4.4
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
The first half is pretty great but I lost interest throughout the second half. The songs are very full of themselves.
Rating: 4.1
Soundgarden
3/5
I just like the British 90s alternative music so much more than US. This sounds so cheesy like if the Eagles dads turned to this during their midlife crisis.
Rating: 2.7
David Crosby
2/5
Rating: 2.5
Richard Hawley
2/5
Rating: 2.4
Laura Nyro
5/5
Really enjoyed it. Everything about this one seemed ahead of its time. You can hear the sound that so many icons build off later. Even the cover art looks more modern than 1967.
Rating: 4.7
R.E.M.
3/5
I went to school in Athens and parents love them but I still can't get myself to like them. The intricate guitarwork can be good but never pays off in a satisfying way like Television does. It's alright and maybe the next album is the one where it clicks for me but not this one sadly. I think the closing track was definitely my favorite.
Raing: 3.1
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Liked it more than I thought. I thought it was gonna be pretty boring with an emphasis on lyrics and while I’m sure the lyrics are still really thoughtful, there was a lot of cool instrumentation that kept me engaged and made each individual track stand out.
Rating: 4.0
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Don’t feel like I will ever “get” jazz until I do a deep dive on the genre. I’ve got a lot I want to go through before that so maybe I’ll appreciate you in the future but not today.
Rating: 3.0
Kanye West
5/5
When I got this I was a little disappointed because I like Graduation and Late Registration of his early career more. After listening though I can’t believe how many good songs I’ve overlooked here. The entire album is a lot more solid throughout than I thought. This really throws my personal rankings of his albums out of order.
Rating: 4.7
Bob Dylan
5/5
One of the landmark early albums. It’s amazing how good the lyrics are on his first album writing almost all the songs. One of my favorite album covers as well. People have the right to not like Dylan but I also have the right to judge you when you say it. The Dylan haters are always so loud and whiny it’s unbearable. They sound to me like Dylan does to them.
Rating: 4.7
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
A lot of fun. African music continues to be a highlight whenever it comes up.
Rating: 4.2
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Another fun Nick Cave album. This one sounded more accessible than some of the previous I’ve heard. Some amazing songs and a lot of meh
Rating: 3.9
Al Green
3/5
Meh
Rating: 3.0
Tom Waits
3/5
Don’t like this one as much as bone machine.
Rating: 3.2
MC Solaar
3/5
Pretty fun first half but second half was meh.
Rating: 3.5
Duran Duran
5/5
I’ve always loved Duran but have put off listening to their stuff. Every track here was great. Iconic sound of the decade
Rating: 4.9
Barry Adamson
3/5
I don’t mind. I thought the entire thing was gonna be super anxiety inducing based off the first track but it does mellow out.
Rating: 3.0
Big Black
4/5
It went down a lot smoother the second time. Really cool that you can hear it’s influence on a lot of great albums that come right after this.
Rating: 4.3
Supergrass
5/5
Really sold whole way through. I relistened to their debut and it’s better than I remember. This one wasn’t quite as good as debut but still a lot of fun
Rating: 4.7
Deee-Lite
2/5
Whew I was in such a good mood this morning and I still thought this was garbage. It’s one of those that makes me embarrassed the creator listened to this and thought it belonged. The songs go on forever without going anywhere new. Just put the groove in the heart single on here and you’ve heard all you need
Rating: 2.3
Björk
4/5
The creativity oozes out of it. Her more experimental stuff after Post I still don’t like near as much as her first two but I’ve only listened to these later ones once so I’m sure they will all grow on me. It’s so hard to hate her and Kate Bush when even if an individual song isn’t for you it’s still very entertaining because it’s so unlike anything else. I’m interested to see how my opinion on these change over time but for now this one isn’t near as high as some of her others.
Rating: 3.9
Bob Dylan
5/5
This one still creeps into a 5 star rating and used to be arguably my favorite but it has since fallen since I’ve relistened thru his iconic run again. The songs do tend to go on and on compared to his other stuff which slogs it down. Still a lot of my favorite tracks on here though.
Rating: 4.6
Massive Attack
2/5
Oof this was one of my least favorite in a while. Just didn’t have anything going for it that entertained me
Rating: 1.9
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Velvets get an instant 5. This one is probably my third favorite of theirs. I’m more of a Reed fan than Cale but Cale still absolutely crushes it on this one. It’s tough to think of anything to say that hasn’t been said. So far ahead of the curve it’s hard to comprehend. Like they turn the fuzziness of the Who all the way up into noise rock territory 15-20 years before most everyone else. Lou’s guitar on the Gift is some of my favorite too
Rating: 4.8
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
I always find Buffalo Springfield pretty good but always wanting a little more from it. I don’t know exactly what I want more of but I’m always feeling unsatisfied after listening to them.
Rating: 3.0
M.I.A.
4/5
Unique/fun. Super cool that Justine Frischmann helped with this. Sounds like an early charli xcx
Rating: 3.9
Mariah Carey
3/5
The first song got me optimistic but didn’t really vibe with the rest. I can see why some like this but just not my thing.
Rating: 2.8
X-Ray Spex
5/5
I was not expecting by the cover for this to be a punk classic. I loved the whole thing. What a debut
Rating: 4.8
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
I liked the first couple songs a decent bit. The rest still didn’t do much for me besides a few pretty sections here and there. Still a great album to start your morning with. Not surprised at all Eno produced this.
Rating: 3.2
Sade
3/5
I can see how some love it just not my personal thing. Well executed tho
Rating: 2.8
The Auteurs
5/5
This one surprised me. I liked almost all the songs. I am probably in the minority for liking all the Britpop on this list. Definitely gonna go through the rest of their stuff to see if it’s as good.
Rating: 4.8
Common
4/5
It starts to win me over halfway through and then does overstay its welcome a bit. Still a fun vibe throughout and I can hear the influence on a lot of my favorite rappers today. Lot of great intangibles on this one
Rating: 3.8
Liz Phair
3/5
It did a decent job of keeping me entertained throughout. I could see this one growing on me but thought it was just alright on first listen
Rating: 3.4
Talking Heads
5/5
Talking heads is an immediate five but I will say this is probably my least favorite of their first four. It’s a unique blend of their early sound with the experimental elements that they will soon amp up. So cool album when looking through the lens of the bands development and has some of their all time best songs. Still think it is weaker than the albums around it on a song by song basis.
Rating: 4.6
Queen
3/5
I haven’t gone through Queens discography so this one might be cooler if I understood how this fits into their development. Besides Killer Queen I didn’t like any of the songs enough to come back to. But the songs do flow incredibly well. It just seems like a worse version of their next album
Rating: 3.2
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Didn’t do much for me but its relation to Creation records is pretty cool. I was even getting a Weezer vibe every now and then which is cool since this would’ve predated it
Rating: 3.1
Pretenders
4/5
Brass in Pocket is a classic and there were some other great tracks. This did seem like it could be trimmed down but still a fantastic debut
Rating: 4.0
Pantera
3/5
I don’t have the ear to hear what makes each heavy metal band unique. So it did sound kinda generic but I did still like it. The guitars aren’t too aggressive and pretty melodic and the main vocals, while I don’t like the style, I did get used to his voice quicker than I usually do. Still pretty middle of the road for me.
Rating: 2.9
Miles Davis
3/5
Congrats to those who get something out of those but I did not
Rating: 2.9
Solomon Burke
3/5
Decent change up. It was nice to have a simple early 60s rock album. Still though there’s a lot more late 50s early 60s I’d rather listen to. Still enjoyed myself tho
Rating: 2.9
Blur
5/5
Instant 5 star. The album cover is even my phone background rn. This is one of the only albums to feel like it matches the BritPop name. Only 1 or 2 I don’t really care for. So good
Rating: 4.9
Queen
5/5
I just listened to this a couple days ago. Without a doubt the best Queen album.
The back half still isn’t as good as the flawless first half but what a way to end the album.
Rating: 4.8
Bad Brains
3/5
I gave it a second listen after seeing all the love in the reviews and I still didn’t get too much out of it for now. Didn’t dislike it but pretty meh
Rating: 2.8
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
My favorite artist of the 50s. A precursor to so many songwriters. It would've been amazing to see where he would've gone in the early 60s and its subsequent effect on the early Beatles especially. I like Buddy Holly's solo album more so hope that one is on here too but understandable if not. 50s rock is so interesting when you get the full context of where it fits into moving the country/blues sound into something like the Rolling Stones or Doors of the mid 60s. Still tough to determine 4 or 5 star depending how much I lean towards historical context vs listenability. Probably a 3 for listenability and 5 for context so will meet in the middle.
Rating: 4.0
The Triffids
2/5
It was quite long and honestly don’t quite get why this one is on here. Still I didn’t hate it. The singer especially sounds so much like Tom Verlaine at times who I love. So I enjoyed that part but the rest didn’t do much for me.
Rating: 2.5
The Clash
5/5
What else needs to be said. This is definitely up there for favorite album cover. Off the top of my head, I think it is my favorite double LP ever. Still have 1 or 2 I skip over but unreal
Rating: 4.9
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Not a Neil Young fan but I think this has definitely been my favorite so far.
Rating: 4.1
The Damned
5/5
Wow really enjoyed the whole thing. Definitely gonna have to go through the rest of their stuff.
Rating: 4.6
Khaled
4/5
Fun change of pace. Really enjoyed a decent bit of these.
Rating: 4.3
Soft Cell
5/5
I was just wanting to go through Soft Cells stuff so perfect timing. I liked it a lot. Tainted love is the obvious classic but there were a lot of songs I enjoyed a decent bit. Entertain me totally caught me by surprise, that one was a ton of fun. Will definitely be listening back over.
Rating: 4.7
Destiny's Child
2/5
It’s got that trademark bloat of most pop albums in this era. Clean production and can hear its influence on all R&B after it but still not my stuff. Even this one isn’t even my favorite of destiny’s child and I’m ambivalent about the group as it is.
Rating: 2.5
The Monks
3/5
I think I got my hopes up too much reading up on the album before. I didn’t hear a ton of the protopunk sound I was expecting. Still had some fun songs and didn’t really hate any.
Rating: 3.3
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
TCQ is easily my favorite 90s hip hop group. The production is incredible, it samples some of my favorite artists, no way I don’t like it. The back half wasn’t as good as the first but never actively disliking any of these songs.
Rating: 4.6
Stevie Wonder
4/5
All of his stuff is great. I don’t like this one as much as the ones that come after this, but still good on its own
Rating: 3.9
Mike Oldfield
3/5
The length of each track would usually turn me away but I've been listening to a lot of instrumentals recently so this came at the right time. It's cool to know where that first iconic bit that starts the album came from. There were parts of each track I liked and parts I didn't. Really good to work to. I can't imagine a 19 year old making this, that's crazy
Rating: 3.4
Gillian Welch
3/5
It was decent and easy to listen to. She has a great voice and I love the older country instrumentation much more than when it is overproduced. Still wasn’t able to focus on the lyrics intently while listening so a lot of its charm might’ve been missed
Rating: 3.2
Blondie
5/5
Even better than I remember. Even the weakest song is a fun juiced up cover of Buddy Holly. Honestly hard to find a fault with this one.
Rating: 4.9
FKA twigs
3/5
I do enjoy experimental pop but this one didn’t do much for me. It sounds similar to a lot of good alternative pop of the past 5 years so credit to it for coming out before it. It still was engaging tho
Rating: 3.2
Yes
3/5
Had more fun with it than I thought. Prog can be so hit or miss because if you aren’t enjoying it then you still have to buckle in for 10 minutes of it. I didn’t get that with this. Lots of fun melodies and riffs to keep me engaged. Still not my favorite stuff but I can definitely see how they have a loyal following.
Rating: 3.4
Bebel Gilberto
4/5
I love Bossa Nova music but am only familiar with the classics from the 60s. This was a great renovation of the genre with modern production. Had a lot of fun with the first half especially. The story of the producer who died saving the recordings and her being the daughter of the Bossa Nova legend makes this one even cooler.
Rating: 4.3
John Lennon
5/5
Not as good as Plastic Ono Band but still feels like easily his second best solo album. All the reasons I love this album are better on his earlier album. Jealous guy makes me almost cry no matter when I hear it.
Rating: 4.7
The Smiths
5/5
The Smiths are finally clicking for me. It took a couple of listens just focusing on Marr’s guitars and then by that point Morriseys vocals meshed much better against the music than the first time I tried this album.
Rating: 4.8
Primal Scream
3/5
Meh most of the songs exhausted me. I can see how some would love it, I usually like acid house stuff so I’m surprised I didn’t enjoy it more. I’m sure this one would require a few listens for it to really hit
Rating: 3.2
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Darker album than I wanted to kick off the morning but incredible execution at what it was trying to do. RIP
Rating: 4.0
The Beach Boys
3/5
Cool in the context of The Beach Boys development and I guess pop music itself since they were so influential. Still though, I would rather listen to any of The Beach Boys albums right before or after this one. None of the tracks didn’t do much for me the first time I listened to it and on this listen as well
Rating: 3.0
5/5
Easy 5 stars. Honestly a perfect rock album. I had been thinking I liked their debut more but after relistening I do think this one is slightly more polished overall. I’m handing out another perfect score, I mean when cast no shadow and she’s electric are your weakest songs on the album that’s pretty absurd. It’s even crazier when you consider how good their B sides are that didn’t even make it. I think I’m around 5 perfect scores after about 450 albums.
Rating: 5.0
Raekwon
2/5
Damn hip hop is one of the worst genres when it comes to bloat. Is your ego so big you think all of this shit deserves to be on an album? A handful of decent beats surrounded by shit along with shit lyrics raining down
Rating: 1.6
Laibach
3/5
It was unique and interesting. Didn’t mind it at all
Rating 3.3
Queen Latifah
2/5
It was alright
Rating: 2.5
Gotan Project
4/5
Ended up liking the whole thing more than I thought. Very easy to work to.
Rating: 4.2
Ryan Adams
2/5
I did like this one more than his other album on the list but that’s a low bar.
Rating: 2.1
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
I enjoyed it. Reminded me of the Gift by the Velvet Underground where there's some awesome instrumentals going on behind a story being told. I do agree with other comments where how close his mic is can be unsettling. I would guess that's the point considering the subject matter but it does make it tougher to listen to.
Rating: 3.2
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
4/5
I liked this more than most. It reminded a lot of a slightly more aggressive white stripes. A lot of fun guitar riffs
Rating: 3.8
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
It was alright. Definitely too long
Rating: 2.7
Donald Fagen
3/5
Decent. Cool to hear what came after steely Dan. I do kinda get what people mean when they mention the music is so clean that it’s almost sterile. Still tho I did like it even if I thought the songs tended to drag on
Rating: 3.2
N.W.A.
3/5
Rating: 3.4
Goldie
1/5
Idk what context I’m missing to understand this one. The drum/rhythm seemed the exact same on every single track. It sounds like there are only two speeds these tracks alternate between and it gets tiring quick. The length of this album is an extra fuck you.
Rating: 1.2
Afrika Bambaataa
4/5
Enjoyed the first half a lot. Glad to have heard it
Rating: 4.0
The Youngbloods
5/5
Really enjoyed it. They reminded me of an American version of the kinks. I’ll definitely gonna come back to this one
Rating: 4.6
5/5
Like all Blur albums this one grew on me more this listen. Chemical World through Oily Water is one of my favorite 3 track runs of all their albums. The piano interlude at the end of Chemical World is a great example of what set them apart from the other Britpop bands. I could see maybe Supergrass adding that in a song but it is just so joyful and fun that is a big reason I love Blur. Even if the subject matter of the songs is some depressing stuff. The cover art is one of my favorite. Also, their single popscene should be required listening with this. I always see that single/this album as one of the early movements of Britpop so definitely worth the listen. Now in terms of its flaws, I agree with others that they improve on the sound in subsequent albums. Not to say that this one doesn’t have its own sound/feel between their sound on their debut and Parklife. And the back half does have more songs I don’t came back to more than their other albums. But that just feels like judging them against their own high bar.
Rating: 4.7
Morrissey
4/5
Went thru all the smiths last week so this is perfect timing. It was alright. A few songs I really liked. I’ve already gotten Your Arsenal on this list and think I liked that one more and obviously all the smiths stuff more than this one but it was still decent.
Rating: 3.7
David Bowie
5/5
Wow I was surprised how many tracks I had missed when I’ve listened to this in the past. The whole album is loaded and might be up there for my favorite of his now.
Rating: 4.8
The Sonics
4/5
Really cool I’m starting to hear what sets them and the Who apart from the others around this time. It’s one of those albums that is tough to believe it came out so early.
Rating: 4.0
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Rating: 3.7
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
It was decent fun
Rating: 3.6
Steely Dan
4/5
I think this might be my favorite Steely Dan so far but need to do a deep dive. Really fun and like that they tried to trim the length of the songs down.
Rating: 4.4
The xx
3/5
I like this one more than their second album but still think their debut is best. Decent to listen to but a bit too drab for my taste
Rating: 3.2
Small Faces
3/5
It was fun psychedelic rock pop. Some fun stuff like the Kinks and Beatles obviously but I still think they sound distinct enough that I could pick them out. Ended up not saving too many songs but there were usually parts of each song that I enjoyed.
Rating: 3.2
U2
3/5
Every time I’ve gotten U2 I think this is the time it’ll hit me. Sadly still didn’t get anything out of it.
Rating: 2.6
Doves
2/5
Maybe when I get the other Doves album I’ll be in a better mood for this one. Influences and cover art looks like something I’d like but didnt. :/
Rating: 2.4
Eurythmics
3/5
I listened to their debut before this one and think it was much better overall. This one of course has the big hits and probably represent the sound of the group better than their debut but I would still rate the debut much higher in terms of enjoyment than this one.
Rating: 3.3
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
One of the first jazz ones I’ve liked but it does seem easier to digest and more accessible than those others. It was pretty good but reading the context of this album from some of the reviews makes it so much cooler.
Rating: 3.8
The Pogues
5/5
I loved this one and then went through all of their stuff. I had already gotten their album with Elvis Costello but didn’t like that one as much as this one. It was better relistening today however. What a unique and fun blend of genres. I could listen to it all day
Rating: 4.7
4/5
It started to lose me the last few songs but honestly surprised how much I was enjoying it. Lots of fun effects and melodies. A shame I can’t add some of those to my library.
Rating: 4.0
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Another really strong one. A couple songs on here that kind of sum up the issues I have with them but they’re surrounded by such great tracks that it more than makes up for it. Tough on where I’d put this one in my ranking of their albums but it’s gotta be up there.
Rating: 4.5
Funkadelic
4/5
Funkadelic
Rating: 3.8
Gary Numan
5/5
Wow easy 5 star. I saved almost every song but think the big hit Car was the only one I had heard previously. I can’t believe how early this came out. What an innovator
Rating: 4.8
Randy Newman
5/5
Wow the only record of his I own. Being from the south, there isn’t much music outside of country that turns its focus down here. I can’t think of a better album to represent the old south
Rating: 4.9
Digital Underground
2/5
Oof so cheesy and lame. The lyrics are so so bad so the enjoyment entirely comes from the beats which seem pretty standard for other hip hop albums I’ve heard from this period. A great example of all the shit hip hop in this era! It’s important to highlight the shit so the actual great albums can be compared to something
Rating: 1.8
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Tough between this and This Is Happening on what my favorite of theirs is. Still incredibly strong and a fun listen. Perfect music to work to as well.
Rating: 4.8
SAULT
2/5
A couple good songs. You have to imagine this one is here to represent the larger movement going on in the United States at the time. There’s a couple good beats but nothing really special compared to its peers. The lyrics as well leave a lot to be desired. Just meh on both fronts and I’m sure there are better albums that represent this movement better.
Rating: 2.5
Dead Kennedys
5/5
Lot of fun. Songs don’t overstay their welcome yet exhaust you despite being less than 2 minutes. It’s a cool mix of hardcore punk while still achieving pretty accessible melodies.
Rating: 4.7
Willie Nelson
4/5
Definitely a cooler concept than Stardust but still like it a little less. Still amazing and so comforting.
Rating: 4.4
Grizzly Bear
2/5
Oof I hated that. Expectations might’ve been too high going in. Two Weeks is obviously a smash hit and still sounds amazing. The rest of it just made me wanna tear my hair out. The songs don’t go anywhere. It doesn’t build in a satisfying way like LCD soundsystem. The way they kick the songs into overdrive sounds like they just strum the guitars slightly louder. This would be a good litmus test type album to see if I have similar music taste as someone.
Rating: 2.4
The Black Keys
5/5
I liked this one a lot. Reminded me a lot of Alabama Shakes. The backstory of recording in the original Muscle Shoals Studio makes it even cooler.
Rating: 4.8
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
Rating: 2.4
The Undertones
3/5
British Ramones. I liked a handful
Rating: 3.3
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I feel like Springsteen has everything I should like but it never quite comes together for me. It’ll probably grow on me in the future and it has the disadvantage that the huge songs on this have lost their impact since I’ve heard them so many times.
Rating: 3.3
The Beau Brummels
5/5
This was right up my alley. A lot of fun beautiful songs that I’ll come back to. Have never heard of this group so need to dig into their stuff more.
Rating: 4.8
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
I liked it at the start but quickly turned pretty stale. Nice sounding voice and music but just nothing that particularly made it stand out to me.
Rating: 2.5
The Slits
3/5
I thought I would enjoy it a lot more than I did. Awesome cover tho
Rating: 2.7
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Bleh
Rating: 2.2
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
I liked their previous album a lot but can’t say the same about this one
Rating: 2.0
Def Leppard
4/5
This one was a lot of fun with some classics. So many great guitar melodies. Fun intersection of pop and heavy metal. It does lose some steam at the end after Rock of Ages but still a great album
Rating: 4.5
The Gun Club
3/5
The only way I got anything out of this one was through viewing how this influenced the white stripes sound. That makes it fairly enjoyable but still sounds like standard punk with twang of blues. It did grow on me as it went on.
Rating: 3.4
Gene Clark
1/5
This list treats the Byrds like they are the avengers. Idk why this has any relevance besides being from a former member of the Byrds
Rating: 1.3
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I was pretty apathetic my first listen which has tended to happen with the Stones. However, the bonus tracks were great and made me relisten thru the main album and it clicked a lot more on the second run through. Still not my favorite of theirs but a fun listen regardless.
Rating: 4.1
Deep Purple
3/5
Meh
Rating: 2.8
Kings of Leon
4/5
This is the first of theirs I've heard besides their debut and it has the main radio hits. I usually find this era of rock pretty generic and while I think this album is, it doesn't push the boundaries in any ways, I still enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Better than their debut but not an album I'd go out of my way to champion.
Rating: 4.1
D'Angelo
5/5
Wow I usually don't care for R&B from this era but liked this one a lot, especially compared to Maxwells album but it’s been a couple years since hearing that one. Definitely gonna have to listen to more of his stuff. It’s not excessively long like other R&B either.
Rating: 4.8
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
Don’t know much about the history of country music bedsides the ancient and recent. I enjoyed the minimalist approach along with more modern production
Rating: 3.4
T. Rex
3/5
It was pretty good. I haven't listened to T Rex besides the big singles so need to do that to really rate this one properly. Decent fun on first listen and my appreciation will probably grow as a dive further in.
Rating: 3.4
Devendra Banhart
2/5
I liked the beginning and end. Cool cover art and a diverse range of influences. It is pretty forgettable tho. Doubt I ever return to this one
Rating: 2.5
CHIC
3/5
It was alright and think it would work better if dancing to it in a club then listening intently to it. Then the 8+ minutes runtime would work great. Still very talented musicians with fantastic production
Rating: 3.4
Britney Spears
4/5
I enjoyed this more the last time I listened to it but most of the songs fell flat this time around. It’s still up there battling for her best album. Iconic and launched a bunch of pop I don’t enjoy
Rating: 3.6
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Ended up enjoying it more than I thought by the first 10 seconds. It definitely has its own unique personality
Rating: 3.6
Jeff Beck
2/5
Not my thing blues based rock is so fucking boring
Rating: 2.2
Japan
3/5
Liked a few songs a decent bit and didn't hate the others. Wasn't blown away but it is a cool link between Glam and New Wave
Rating: 3.3
The Rolling Stones
1/5
Only seems necessary for Stones fans, I mean it's all covers besides one song. Whatever, at least it’s quick. Let's make people listen to these young white kids amateurly play blues instead of the actual blues musicians. But because they are white which made it sold more copies than this is more important to listen to than those apparently. Also, what a laughably bad take by the reviewer who compared this to the Beatles debut. That Beatles debut had many more original songs, huge hits (Twist and Shout vs. pick any awful fucking song on this album), and spawned Beatle-fucking-mania. Legitimately your local pub band could play this wihout practicing. Get off your knees just because Rolling Stones name is attached. Only one more Stones album to get through on this list thank Christ
Rating: 1.1
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Meh I like elements of a lot of it but not how it all comes together in the song. Still some great songs on here and could see this growing on me
Rating: 3.3
Beatles
5/5
One of the best ever and feels like it is one of the best examples of a band changing its style. I am admittedly a huge Beatles fan who grew up on these songs. I can't give an objective review on these, they just can't do any wrong to me. Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, Michelle, I'm looking through you, In my Life are all songs I simply don't want to live without. This album fits perfectly in the context of their musical journey, beautiful cover art, and has its own unique feel to the rest of the albums. The strength of the ones I love make me want to paper over the 1 or 2 songs I'm a little indifferent on but those take it slightly down from a perfect score. I've only given I think 5 perfect scores 500 something albums in so I don't want to give it out cheaply.
Rating: 4.9
Iron Butterfly
4/5
I usually don't like winding acid rock like this but that title track sounds like what all those songs I don't like are trying to emulate. What a great song, I can see how it sold like fire on the back of that. I agree with others that the first half is just bland to me except I really liked Termination. So I ended up enjoying over half of this album's runtime which is pretty impressive for a genre that I'm not a big fan of. Cool artwork and band name as well.
Rating: 4.2
Goldfrapp
5/5
Wow this is gonna be the sixth perfect album through 517 albums and the first where I had no prior knowledge of the album/band beforehand. It is obviously not as groundbreaking as Portishead whom I love (haven't gotten any of theirs to rank yet so that might be another perfect score in future) but still incorporates the best of Trip-Hop along with taking influences from other genres I love. Every song felt unique to me and the album art is awesome too. Finds like this are why this 1001 albums project is so fun. You never know when you'll find another gem that's perfect for your taste.
Rating: 5.0
3/5
Wow I’m surprised how much my opinion changed by the end. It’s still not really my thing and don’t know if I’ll ever come back to it. I hated the first couple songs but then there were some interesting things going on throughout the rest of the album. Definitely unique/memorable. I try to be more generous for stuff that carves out its own unique lane and this does that.
Rating: 2.7
Elvis Presley
4/5
This is probably my favorite of his yet. Lot of different styles that I didn't expect of him, especially early in his career. There were a few gems I'll come back to that I hadn't heard before.
Rating: 4.2
Motörhead
3/5
I could see how some love it but not really my thing. I didn’t find anything wrong with it though
Rating: 3.0
Beth Orton
5/5
I really liked it and usually not the biggest fan of this style. I’ll definitely be coming back to this one in the future
Rating: 4.6
The Sugarcubes
4/5
It was pretty good, I liked the first half more. It reminds me of Oh-OK. Had no idea Bjork was in a band first, very cool
Rating: 4.1
The Everly Brothers
4/5
I liked it a decent bit. I still like buddy holly over them but they weren’t far behind. The vocal harmonies are great and cool to hear what John and Paul were taking inspiration from. I enjoyed the guitar a lot more than I thought I would too.
Rating: 4.2
New York Dolls
4/5
Definitely an important album to listen to and an interesting band to read about. I do only end up returning to Personality Crisis on a regular basis though
Rating: 3.9
Tim Buckley
3/5
It was decent. I liked most but didn’t love any
Rating: 3.4
Drive-By Truckers
2/5
Just don't like this kind of music. I grew up in Alabama so want to like this one but its a pretty good representation of the music I was surrounded in and do not like. If I did like this kind of thing, I think they would be one of my favorites. Cool cover art and deeper lyrics than their contemporaries at least. This just kinda makes me embarrassed to be from Alabama. A double album of bland southern dad rock. Good Old Boys remains my favorite Southern album by a pretty far margin
Rating: 2.0
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
Damon has a ton of music and I genuinely like 90% of his life’s work. This is somehow one of his only projects I really don’t get anything out of. Genuinely I think there are 15 of his albums I’d put on here over this one (granted a lot of those are on here). I hate to give this a low score because I love Damon but I really don’t get why this was added
Rating: 2.1
Slipknot
2/5
It is a weird juxtaposition of having a heavier look than any other band and then having these pop melodies you’re singing. But still they have a huge audience so congrats to them for finding their space. Still not a space I interact much in. My rating is negative due to personal taste, not the bands fault
Rating: 2.0
American Music Club
2/5
Meh I did enjoy more than dislike
Rating: 2.5
Everything But The Girl
2/5
I liked maybe a couple near the start but got to be the most forgettable album yet. Rating: 1.7
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
I liked the instrumentation a lot more than I usually do with grunge. The vocals do turn me off of it but I didn't notice them that much the first half of the record. I still like the first few songs but didn't like any of the rest enough to return to.
Rating: 3.4
fIREHOSE
5/5
I’ve been going through 80s alternative Athens bands so this comes at the perfect time. I’m not familiar with this group or Minutemen but I think I liked this enough to go down that rabbit hole. It’s very catchy and is growing on me more the second listen. Probably just because I’ve been listening to them but I hear similarities with Pylon/Gang Of Four with the seemingly endless riffs. Just finished my second listen and most of the songs I was neutral on clicked.
Rating: 4.6
Justin Timberlake
3/5
I liked the first half but nothing from the back half grabbed me.
Rating: 3.4
Turbonegro
2/5
I liked it a bit at the start but did grow tired of the vocals fast.
Rating: 2.4
3/5
Simple, bright, and doesn't overstay its welcome. Great iconic voice backed by sunny instrumentals.
Rating: 3.5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Wow, it's been a minute since I've listened and forgot how good it was. The only tough part is deciding if I like this one or LZ2 more. Nothing to say that hasn't been said 1000 times before. Timeless
Rating: 4.9
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
I enjoyed the beats of the first few but that enjoyment fell off for me after that. It wasn’t too bad, though some songs were
Rating: 3.2
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
I've heard this band mentioned a lot so glad to finally listen. It was a cool mix of sonic youth and my bloody valentine. Also, the Lost in Translation banger
Rating: 3.5
Beatles
5/5
Listening back this is arguably my favorite of theirs. Every song brings a wave of nostalgia. And Tomorrow Never Knows is easily a top 5 Beatles song for me. Seventh perfect score after 539 albums
Rating: 5.0
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
There were a few songs I enjoyed and didn’t hate the rest. Unique fusion of genres I hadn’t heard before
Rating: 3.2
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
I think this was my favorite CCR album so far. I've already heard 3 so might as well go through the rest. Only a couple of songs I didn't like. I don't like songs that overstay their welcome but these were so good it's hard to dislike them
Rating: 4.7
Otis Redding
3/5
Some classics and impossible to hate but most I wont return to
Rating: 3.1
The Verve
3/5
I like the big hits but not much else. I have some of the same issues with this one as Be Here Now
Rating: 3.3
The Byrds
5/5
Really surprising how much I liked that one. Just a solid album from front to back. I'm surprised that this is one of the first examples of this sound, so I can excuse the lack of original songs since they are doing something different with them anyways.
Rating: 4.7
Chicago
1/5
Oof did not like this one at all. It was so tough to listen to the entire thing, each song seems to never end
Rating: 1.3
Radiohead
5/5
I rarely listen because it is so draining but it is amazing every time. Tough to think of anything new to say. Everything about this one (music, artwork, etc) comes together. 8th perfect rating so far
Rating: 5.0
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
I don't think I've heard music from Finland so that is something new. That is about it for the something new. Some alright guitar but nothing better than the countless other small bands in this period. Tough to rate because I didn't hate it but just think it was a waste of time
Rating: 1.7
Pearl Jam
3/5
It was decent. I’m not a big grunge fan but did enjoy it and Vedders voice. At the same time, I didn’t like most of the songs enough to want to come back to them. My appreciation for this one could go up whenever I deep dive grunge but for now somewhere between a 3 to 4 star.
Rating: 3.4
Joni Mitchell
4/5
It feels much denser than Blue and Hissing of Summer Lawns so it'll probably take a while before I get a good grasp on this one. I still really enjoyed it albeit not as much as the previously mentioned. It goes in a jazz direction that I usually can't get much out of but I felt like I was able to understand it better than usual.
Rating: 4.3
PJ Harvey
5/5
That blew me away. I've gotten a couple of her later albums very early on in the project and was pretty indifferent. This one I loved from start to front. I think the front half rocks a bit more than the second half but there's genuinely not a song I didn't enjoy.
Rating: 4.8
The Specials
3/5
Reminds me of the B 52s with the use of punk ethos to revive an older genre. I’m just not a big ska fan so 3 stars seems right. I like the big hits and a couple of the deeper tracks but as a whole I was bored most of it.
Rating: 3.2
John Martyn
3/5
I enjoyed the second half of it.
Rating: 3.1
Morrissey
5/5
So good, this one is definitely up there for my favorite of his solo stuff. Only a couple of the backside that I don't get much out of. My appreciation for Morrissey has grown a ton over this project, I only gave Viva Hate 4 stars previously but would put that one at 5 stars with this one.
Rating: 4.8
The xx
3/5
This is definitely my favorite of theirs. Even then, it is incredibly front-loaded. Those first four tracks are so good and then the rest are meh to me.
Rating: 3.4
System Of A Down
3/5
This is like the perfect example for me of a band that executes their sound perfectly, the sound just isn't for me. I still had fun with this and can see how some love it. This sounds like an album that grows on you each listen. Glad to have an album from the Nu-Metal genre that I can point to as my favorite. My favorite was probably Peepshow, I usually like circus effects in music and that's one of the most unique instances I've seen.
Rating: 3.4
The Byrds
3/5
Sounds like demos of Beatles/Dylan that haven’t been fleshed out yet.
Rating: 3.2
The Isley Brothers
3/5
I liked the couple of big hits but even then I hate how long the songs last.
Rating: 3.3
Meat Puppets
3/5
I think other bands have done this sound better but the ones I'm thinking of came after this came out so got to give respect for that. Still though, only a couple songs I will probably come back to. I didn't really dislike the other tracks but didn't think they were special either. Also cool to hear a band from Arizona, I think that's the first one I know.
Rating: 3.3
The B-52's
5/5
I went to UGA and still live near Athens so obviously very familiar with this one. From a national perspective, they formed their own little sub-genre of “thrift shop punk.” Their first two albums are great at exemplifying this and their late 80s album has some huge commercial hits but that’s it from a larger perspective.
From a local perspective, they burst down the door and helped inspire countless bands after them. The early 80s Athens scene is the only one I’d consider myself an expert in. Some other great band recommendations of this time period besides REM are Pylon (GOAT), Method Actors, Limbo District (like an Athens version of Avant-garde Velvet Underground with a member from Warhol's factory who also helped write one of the songs on this album and for an REM song), Oh-Ok (featuring Michael Stipes sister), and current rage. Those are just my personal favorites but there are many more.
Rating: 4.9
Anita Baker
2/5
I just watched a TV show that made me really anxious so honestly this was the perfect time to listen to this one. It is a very safe sound and feel, no tension being built. While I was fine with it now, this is some of my least favorite music. Just junk.
Rating: 2.0
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
I liked their 2009 album but hated this one. Might’ve just been a bad day but pretty disappointed. I hated her voice too, I love Siouxsie Sioux and others with a similar vocal style.
Rating: 1.8
Can
3/5
Listening to it, I tried to imagine what time period it sounds like and it's really tough for me to place it. I love albums like that which seem to exist outside of time. I've been waiting to get into Krautrock, I still haven't heard any of Kraftwerk so I really have no reference point for German music. This was not at all what I was expecting. I had a more industrial vibe in my head associated with Kraftwerk so the soft sound of this album was a great surprise. I'm not sure how much I'd seek this to turn it on, but it was fantastic to have on in the background while I was working.
Rating: 3.5
Pavement
3/5
I want to like Pavement every time I put them on but it never really clicks. I liked a few songs but even then it was a pretty lukewarm feeling. Honestly, that might be my issue, with how purposely lofi it is, how is it supposed to make you feel anything stronger than lukewarm? Even as I type that, there have been plenty of stripped down, lofi artists that make me feel a ton so I still don't quite get my distaste with Pavement. There have been too many awesome bands that I didn't enjoy at first which is why I want to tread lightly with my criticism. I'm also not a big grunge fan, so I can appreciate how some would choose this in response to grunge's sound.
Rating: 3.2
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Is the author of this book just a huge Costello fan? None of these albums I've gotten from him sound different. There were only a couple good songs. The album isn't good enough on its own to get anywhere near this list and it isn't a reinvention of sound by Elvis so why tf is this here?
Rating: 2.0
Herbie Hancock
4/5
It was decent fun. Watermelon Man was definitely the big takeaway for me. My favorite tv soundtrack in recent times is the White Lotus soundtrack. As soon as Watermelon Man starts, it is clear what served as inspiration for that soundtrack (even though this was 50 years before the show).
Rating: 3.9
Everything But The Girl
1/5
Please let there only be 2 albums from them
Rating: 1.4
Kelela
1/5
Let’s goooo it’s over
Rating: 1.3
Fugazi
5/5
Wow that was so good. First time hearing, have put off hearing Fugazi because I’m pretty lukewarm about hardcore punk. This felt like the archetype for the genre of my limited listening so far. The instrumentals are so catchy, the vocals aren’t my favorite but at the same time I can’t imagine what would fit the music better. Only not a perfect rating since the genres not my favorite but that’s not the genres problem
Rating: 4.8
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Just made me want to listen to the originals. One of the original crossovers?
Rating: 2.4
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Almost 600 albums in and just got my first German album a couple days ago. This one was much worse wow. It definitely deserves higher than the lowest possible score. Using actual industrial machinery definitely makes your music more hardcore than anything I’ve ever heard. It’s unique but still it’s just kind of a fun fact. It’s so hard to listen to. It’s like if the concentration camps were turned into an album. 23 different torture devices. I did like the SpongeBob song but that’s about it. It feels more like a showcase of different skills/textures that could be used to make actual music than music itself.
Rating: 1.4
Jeff Buckley
5/5
A lot more rock than I was expecting but I loved it. I liked the more uptempo songs more than the more famous slow ballads but those were pleasant too.
Rating: 4.8
Happy Mondays
5/5
I’ve tried the Happy Mondays before and felt the same as most reviewers but I loved them this time. They like the Hacienda personified and the perfect album to encapsulate the Madchester scene. I loved a few songs and liked the rest. Can’t imagine how great it was to hear this in its full glory at the time.
Rating: 4.8
Kraftwerk
5/5
Perfect. I’ve been excited to get them for a while. Feel like there’s nothing new to say here. You can hear the influence on so much that comes after it, and I genuinely think it still sounds great and coherent
Rating: 4.9
The Darkness
5/5
Don't think just enjoy. It doesn’t break any new grounds but I still had a ton of fun with it.
Rating: 4.6
Tina Turner
4/5
Really great pop album, maybe my favorite I’ve gotten in the 80s. I was surprised because I usually find this genre super cheesy. The Help cover was pretty abysmal tho. Her voice is great on it but the instrumentals are as cheesy as you could imagine.
Rating: 4.5
Fiona Apple
5/5
Any Fiona album gets a 5. Such an insane debut album. I’ve always thought the back half was a bit weaker but they hit me a lot harder this listen. Also is my favorite album cover of hers. I sadly ranked Fetch the Bolt Cutters at a 3 star but it would be 5 star if I had to rate again. Hopefully one of the other 3 albums are on here as well. It's impossible to rank her albums; genuinely any could be my favorite that day.
Rating: 4.9
Kate Bush
5/5
Incredible. This is up there for one of my favorite pop albums ever. Such a unique tapestry of sounds and it has gotten better every listen. This or Never for Ever I think is my favorite of hers. The like the first half more but still great
Rating: 4.8
Neu!
3/5
Meh it was alright. Like other Krautrock more but I still enjoyed it. Seems more like looking at building blocks than the finished product
Rating: 3.3
Roxy Music
5/5
No way, I randomly went thru Roxy’s stuff last week and think this was my favorite when I listened through.
After relistening, this is easily my favorite. My favorite songs of theirs are on other albums but none of those other albums are as consistent to me. I'm pretty ambivalent about most of the tracks however. I would say they are definitely passed the border of enjoyment, but none really creep into love territory to me.
Rating: 4.6
Minutemen
4/5
I went thru fIREHOSE a month ago so this is the perfect time. After listening thru their discography today, this one is still pretty good but I think I like What Makes a Man Start Fires more. Mike Watt has definitely got to be one of my favorite bassists now.
Rating: 4.4
Ice Cube
4/5
Most of it really sits on the border of like but not love besides the big hits but that might change as I listen more. This was one of my favorites so far of this era of rap but the genre as a whole still isn’t really my thing. Still has a great flow between songs and didn’t find it stalled like some of its contemporaries.
Rating: 3.6
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
That was pretty meh. It has its little niche but I could care less for it unless I need something to listen as falling asleep. I could see the appeal with the soothing tones. I liked the opening instrumentation of Sweet Jane but it deflated to me when the vocals started. Still cool that a country group covered Velvets tho
Rating: 2.3
R.E.M.
5/5
One of my favorite albums ever. Their later stuff is still pretty great but this first one was just next level for me. Also the Chronic Town EP should be included listening with this. The album cover as well is one of my favorite ever-it’s amazing how making it black and white makes the Kudzu seem as ominous as it does to other plants.
Also I went to UGA so obviously have a soft spot for this. 9th perfect rating so far after 583 albums
Rating: 5.0
Aerosmith
4/5
Tough in where it ranks in their 70s output. Always have a soft spot for them. Also never noticed Big Al on the album cover
Rating: 4.4
Ian Dury
4/5
This has to go squarely in the guilty pleasure folder for me. I love British stuff and this oozes it to an embarrassing degree. There were times I was chuckling at myself for liking some of these stupid songs.
The front half I liked a lot and second half was a little above meh. I can see myself returning to these more than I care to admit
Rating: 4.4
Björk
5/5
This is pretty easily my favorite of hers, probably a given since it's her most accessible. I've only got through Medulla so not quite done with her stuff. It does feel like 90s electronic Kate Bush. One of my favorite pop albums ever and certainly one of the most innovative. Toughest part of the review is deciding whether to give a perfect score or not. I will, I think any potential qualms I might have with it are papered over by how creative it is. 10th perfect score, album #586
Rating: 5.0
Finley Quaye
2/5
Rating:2.0
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Cool story behind the album and it was pleasant. I don’t have enough context of the genre and didn’t like it enough to really elevate it to a high rating.
Rating: 3.3
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Don't think I like it as much as Hot Buttered Soul but tough to compare since this is a soundtrack. I liked it more than I thought I would
Rating: 3.6
Orbital
2/5
Parts of this made me want to tear my hair out and then they’ll repeat that part for a solid 5 minutes. I love Goldfrapp so hearing her contribution was about all I got out of this
Rating: 1.9
Emmylou Harris
2/5
That was pretty miserable to get through. A singer from Alabama is always unique so I was rooting for it but couldn’t stand it.
Rating: 1.8
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
Honestly have a tough time deciding my favorite ELO album. This feels like the easy pick, the iconic artwork and a fair bit of their biggest hits. There is a decent amount of filler on here that are fine but I would’ve been fine with being removed. I still think I got to give a 5 in case this is the only ELO
Rating: 4.6
Megadeth
4/5
Not really my thing but seems like harmless fun. Seems like songs that are made for expert Rock Band difficulty
Rating: 3.8
Kraftwerk
5/5
Even better than I remember. I could see this being more influential than Trans-Europe Express but still like that one more
Rating: 4.7
The Hives
1/5
There's literally nothing new going on here. It's just punk with a facelift, modern production and pop-punk vocals. Such a bizarre decision to include this compilation. Not even a cool compilation of various artists like No New York, just a greatest hits album. That's automatic 1 star. No other artists get the benefit of having a juiced up tracklist, and even then it's pretty bad considering this is a greatest hits.
Rating: 1.1
David Bowie
4/5
So sad
Rating: 4.1
Pulp
5/5
Maybe my favorite album ever. Kind of sad to get it as I liked knowing it was waiting for me. 11th perfect rating, 597 albums in
Rating: 5.0
The Residents
2/5
Weird and inaccessible but that’s the point so how do you rate that? I did genuinely enjoy some of the instrumentation every now and then but that’s about it. It is pretty cool they’re from Shreveport, LA. The only other act I know from rural north LA is Neutral Milk Hotel who funnily also didn’t enjoy being seen
Rating: 2.3
Love
3/5
I really liked the softer songs on side 1 which they apparently expand on that sound in their more acclaimed follow-up. I haven't listened to that yet but excited to after hearing this. The harder rock number on the first side I didn't get much out of but can hear how it's influential. Side B is just a waste jam band groove. So this feels more like enough good material for an EP. Useless spot on this 1001 list but I did still get some songs out of it I like
Rating: 2.6
Taylor Swift
1/5
The Queen of Im14andthisisdeep. Like come on the lyrics on bad blood are abysmal. But pretty good for an eighth grader!
Rating: 1.4
TV On The Radio
4/5
Really fun surprise. The first half was so solid. Second half did feel weaker but still had a couple awesome ones. Will definitely be going through their other stuff. Thanks list!
Rating: 4.3
Kraftwerk
4/5
Easy 5 on influence/importance. It’s not a 5 for me on personal enjoyment. Love the title track but back half is weaker than their later albums for me. Just legendary stuff
Rating: 4.3
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
The way he emphasizes words just annoys the hell out of me. I’ve tried so many times Elvis. I’m still holding out hope that it’ll eventually click but every single one of his albums has been the same experience for me sadly.
Rating: 2.5
T. Rex
5/5
So so good, I feel like I'm always in the mood for this one. It still sounds so fresh to me. I remember the first time listening to this, just blown away instantly. One of the landmark albums of the glam rock movement and absolutely lived up to the hype for me. The only tough question is if I give a perfect score. I think it’s just a hair under for me.
Rating: 4.9
The Cure
4/5
I like their earlier stuff more, this one is always so hard to get all the way through. I’ve always liked groove/melody more than atmosphere so I’m sure that’s part of the disconnect. It’s starting to sound like I hate this album, it’s just one tier lower for personal enjoyment than the others.
Rating: 4.4
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Meh
Rating: 2.3
Wire
5/5
One of the landmark Post-Punk albums. Just casually laying the groundwork for so much 80s/90s rock. It has gotten better each listen. There are so many tracks coming at you that it's almost impossible to digest it all in one listen. But then each subsequent listen it's been so fun and random which tracks jump out at me. It feels different every time.
I do need to give their later albums another try but none come close to this insane debut.
Rating: 4.8
The Pharcyde
3/5
Decent fun, not meant to think much
Rating: 3.3
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Made no impact on me
Rating: 2.0
Ozomatli
2/5
Another random album from post-2000. Let your grandchildren pick these grandpa
Rating: 2.2
The Magnetic Fields
1/5
How lame is the author? Theres barely enough good songs to fill an EP, much less this monstrosity. It's literally here because it makes the dumb haha 69 joke. Does the author of this book have a learning disability?
Rating: 1.3
Tricky
4/5
I liked the first half a decent bit. I love Alison Goldfrapp so cool to hear her. Need to listen to Massive Attack to have the full context needed for this. I still got a handful of new songs I liked. I like Portishead more but this one does operate in its own lane
Rating: 3.6
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
I liked the organ thats about it.
Rating: 1.6
Bill Callahan
5/5
Really incredible. I enjoyed almost every song. I thought the interlude could've been better and the final track was meh but everything else blew me away. Unfamiliar with him or Smog but will definitely have to check it out. Feels like finding out Silver Jews has a long lost brother
Rating: 4.9
Stereo MC's
1/5
Sounds like Happy Mondays with their balls cut off
Rating: 1.2
Björk
5/5
Bjork albums take more focus than any other I can think of. This one was beautiful and made much more of an impact on me than previous listens. No one else can make this. It is unique to her other albums and has a consistent tone throughout. I still like Debut more, this or Post would be fighting for second spot.
Rating: 4.8
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
I've just gotten through with a post-punk deep dive so perfect time for Franz Ferdinand. They are one of the only bands who list Josef K as an influence, one of my all-time favorites. I enjoyed it much more this time than when I first listened to it. I can't find a bad song on here so very tempted to give a perfect score.
Rating: 4.9
Stan Getz
5/5
It was such good background music as I worked that I kept having to go back to make sure I knew each song apart, it all flowed so seamlessly. I love BossaNova so this has to be a five star. It always puts me in such a great mood. Not sure if I like this one or Astrud Gilberto's more.
Rating: 4.8
The Divine Comedy
3/5
It was fine. I enjoyed the other Divine Comedy album more. Outside of this project, this is a pleasant album but in the context of this project I'm not really sure why it's here. I think I've enjoyed enough of their music to warrant a deep dive in the future.
Rating: 3.4
a-ha
3/5
Wow I never knew they were Norwegian. Besides the two big singles, I didn't get anything out of it. Not bad just meh
Rating: 3.3
The Verve
4/5
I’ve always liked the Verve less than the other Britpop bands (still do) but did enjoy this album. I think I’ve tried their other two albums and didn’t get much out of them but the first half of this I liked a decent bit. Still it’s more of a like and never a love with any of these songs. I feel so bad for the guitarist after reading the background of this album. Sounds like a miserable time.
Rating: 3.9
Animal Collective
3/5
I can hear their sound in lots of albums that came after. I enjoyed the highs and didn't hate the "lows." Still not really my thing but think I would like it more with repeated listens. It's so dense and packed to the brim with effects.
Rating: 3.4
The Thrills
2/5
Liked Big Sur
Rating: 2.4
Magazine
5/5
I found Magazine like a month ago in my post punk deep dive and am shocked they don’t get talked about more in the same league as the big names. Magazine also highlighted how incredible John McGeogh is. His work with the Banshees is my favorite of theirs as well. Their other albums are pretty good too but think this is their best. How can someone not like Shot by Both Sides? That songs sends you into the stratosphere. Definitely one of the most accessible post punk albums
Rating: 4.7
The Kinks
5/5
It is absurd the leap they made from their previous album to this one. Obviously their proto-punk work in their early albums is important, but this is the start of the Kinks sound I love. Unreal how many reviews can't see the huge influence they had on British music for decades to come. They clearly have carved out their own lane, how are reviewers hearing generic Beatles/Rolling Stones here? Embarrasing takes but a good reminder of the old adage "Imagine how stupid the average person is..."
Rating: 4.7
Primal Scream
3/5
Trainspotting is one of my favorite movies so that track is the obvious highlight. I want to like this and Screamadelica but feel the subtleties just fly over my head. It's a very cool vibe I enjoy, I can see how some love but most of it was just background noise for me. Maybe one day it will click
Rating: 2.8
The Undertones
5/5
I've listened to this before and didn't get much out of it but now I have no idea how that was possible. So many fun catchy songs. I will definitely be coming back to this one for some good harmless fun.
Rating: 4.8
Randy Newman
5/5
Amazing. Lyrics usually go over my head so I’m lower on legends like Cohen etc but for some reason Newman’s always hit me hard. He tackles tough themes while providing a beautiful unique sound behind it.
Rating: 4.7
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
They feel like their chasing their contemporaries sound than forging their own. Cool to read about their outfits and being from Idaho. A couple I liked towards the end but mostly forgettable for me.
Rating: 2.5
Stereolab
4/5
I was expecting not to like it but really enjoyed it. Definitely think it'll grow on me more with additional listens as well.
Rating: 4.1
Soft Machine
1/5
awful. Ill try again in 20 years maybe
Rating: 1.2
Dagmar Krause
2/5
I liked it more than I thought I would. There are a few songs I would've added on streaming but don't like them enough to seek them out on Youtube.
Rating: 2.4
Love
4/5
Pretty good
Rating: 3.8
Deerhunter
5/5
Wow was not expecting Deerhunter. I live between Atlanta and Athens so this one definitely has a local personal connection to me. David Barbe also worked on this one who is a legend in the Athens music community (his band Mercyland sound eerily like Green Day but came a bit earlier). I've never listened to this one all the way through but it was fantastic. I played it again and the songs were even better on a second listen.
Rating: 4.8
Todd Rundgren
5/5
So good. This is the second time I've listened all the way through and liked a lot more of the deeper tracks this time. The concept is so cool, playing all the instruments, beautiful cover art, printing the vinyls in color - so many great things to love. I think it's time to delve into the rest of his work.
Rating: 4.8
The Waterboys
5/5
First half was perfect, second half does drop off a bit but still enjoyed it. I could listen to them and Pogues all day
Rating: 4.7
N.E.R.D
3/5
I can see why people love this, pretty meh for me. I never actively disliked it, some of the songs were just missing some oomph for me. Cool to learn more about Pharrell even tho I'm not a huge fan, I feel like I should've heard of these guys before
Rating: 3.2
Fugees
5/5
Not the biggest rap/hip hop fan but even after my first listen this is already up there for my favorite of all time in the genre. The whole thing was so so good. An absolute mammoth of an album. If I was more familiar with this then I might have given a perfect score.
Rating: 4.9
Stephen Stills
1/5
So so lame. Imagining people jamming to this, bobbing their head to the beat makes me laugh
Rating: 1.4
Lenny Kravitz
1/5
Not a fan
Rating: 1.5
Spiritualized
2/5
I could see it growing on me after multiple listens but it fell flat for me first time around. It kept feeling like I was about to like a song but just never crossed the threshold.
Rating: 2.2
Culture Club
1/5
I could see how this made a big enough cultural impact to validate its inclusion but yeah this could've just been a 7-inch single instead of the whole thing.
Rating: 1.5
Miles Davis
5/5
Like many other reviewers a part that I loved was that it was enjoyable if you had it on in the background or if you were listening intently to all of the subtle variations. This feels like one of the more accessible jazz albums I've gotten. I wish I could see the full picture of how jazz evolved and how this fits into it to get the most out of this album. One day I'll do a jazz deep dive and have a feeling I'll start with Miles Davis
Rating: 4.6
The Bees
2/5
Liked a couple
Rating: 2.2
David Bowie
5/5
This has always been up there for my favorite Bowie album. Even before I did a postpunk deep dive and saw how often this album is referenced as an inspiration. Sound and Vision is right up there as maybe my favorite Bowie song. On the back side, it's such a unique feeling that the ambience carries me too. I feel nostalgia for it yet never heard it when I was younger. The album art as well is beautiful and my favorite of his. I got to throw Bowie a perfect rating somewhere so might as well do it here. 12th perfect rating, 645 albums in
Rating: 5.0
Green Day
5/5
Easy 5 stars. One of the few mainstream albums that I think absolutely deserves the sales. It's unreal how many radio staples are on this one album. They could've trimmed maybe a couple on the backside while still having 45 to 50 mins of a flawless album. American Idiot is THE song for me for the George Bush/War on Terror era.
Rating: 4.9
Miles Davis
5/5
Two Miles Davis in a week. I thought Kind of Blue was very accessible and this one seems even more so. I don't have the appreciation of jazz to see how this fits into the bigger picture of the genre but I loved this one.
Rating: 4.7
Genesis
4/5
Wow a prog album I like, even further it was the longer classic prog tracks I liked and the shorter tracks I didn't.
Rating: 4.5
Cornershop
4/5
This is one of my favorite surprises so far. Have never heard of the group or any of the songs but a ton of fun. I can see myself returning to this one for a good pick me up. I ended up adding a little over half the tracks and didn't hate the other tracks.
Rating: 4.2
Daft Punk
5/5
Great debut, I liked it a lot more than previous listens. Not as good as Discovery or RAM but not weak by any means. I would rate this a high 4 but scared there aren't any other Daft Punk albums so gotta give them a 5.
Rating: 4.6
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Everything about it is great, no notes. Soon is one of my favorite album closers of all time. I had no idea Shields had so much influence on all the other instruments as well. Album cover matches the music perfectly. Not sure what else I'd want out of an album.
13th perfect rating, 651 albums in
Rating: 5.0
Bob Dylan
5/5
Tangled Up in Blue is probably my favorite Dylan song, and this is right up there for my favorite album of his as well. It's honestly so hard to pick his best album, it always seems to change for me. Idiot Wind and Shelter from the Storm are my next two favorites on this one, but there's not a weak song on here.
Rating: 4.9
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Fun dance music
Rating: 3.3
New Order
4/5
Very consistent album throughout, it just doesn't have the highs as their previous stuff which is why I'd rate it behind at least a couple of their other albums. It is definitely a unique spin on the Madchester movement but doesn't feel as era defining as Happy Mondays/Stone Roses. Still feels deserved here since they nurtured the whole scene at the Hacienda. Honestly between a high 4 and low 5, new order has set the bar too high.
Rating: 4.5
The The
4/5
The The is one of the last big post-punk bands I haven't dived into yet. I tried one of their earlier albums once and for whatever reason it didn't make an impression. This however was awesome from start to finish. I love the amalgamation of sounds, it's definitely chaotic but still is able to maintain the funk.
Rating: 4.3
Kings of Leon
2/5
3 kings of leon albums on here? This was my least favorite of the three
Rating: 2.2
Shuggie Otis
5/5
I had listened to his earlier album Freedom Flight a couple of times and didn't expect to like this one as much but liked this one more overall. Even cooler that he's 21 playing everything.
Rating: 4.6
Talking Heads
5/5
This, their debut, and Remain In Light go back in forth as my favorite. It is slightly more polished than their debut and feels like their classic sound. I can see how some don't like Byrne's vocals but he is one of my all time heros. I love his aloofness/ manic energy he puts off, he always makes such unique observations is his lyrics as well. Tina's bassline in Found a Job is one of my favorites ever. Everyone if firing on full cylinders. The heights on their debut and Remain in Light might be higher but this feels more consistent than either. I love every song on here, the thing that might put it just below a perfect rating is the larger impact this album had on its community. I would argue the debut and Remain in Light both had more influence/were more groundbreaking while this one just continues where they left off on their debut. Still though probably my favorite front to back listening experience of Talking Heads, easily in my top 10 favorite bands.
Rating: 4.9
The Band
4/5
The second half is so good but the first half I can never connect with for whatever reason. I relate to Christgau's feeling that he admires the album but from a distance. Still though its influence can be heard all over, even if a lot of the bands that were really inspired by it aren't my favorites either.
Rating: 4.0
Mudhoney
2/5
Just not a big grunge fan. Thought this was very lame
Rating: 2.0
Goldfrapp
5/5
This is a cool one in the context of Goldfrapp's career but I'm not sure how important this is to the larger musical landscape. Regardless, Goldfrapp can do no wrong in my eyes. Nothing will beat Felt Mountain, that's one of my favorites of all time. I still enjoy all the songs on here, very consistent. It doesn't have the highs of some of the other albums.
Rating: 4.6
David Ackles
3/5
I enjoyed about half the songs, decent fun
Rating: 3.4
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
I liked the first couple songs but then the rest was pretty meh. Still cool to be one of the first branded psychedelic music.
Rating: 2.8
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Just not my thing, was maybe my favorite of the CSNY universe
Rating: 3.1
Van Halen
3/5
Fun, never been huge on arena rock but it still felt impossible not to enjoy myself.
Rating: 3.5
Paul McCartney
5/5
This one gets better with each listen, McCartney has always been my favorite of the Beatles. The album puts me in such a good mood. I honestly don't know how Paul didn't go crazy in this period of his life, probably thanks to the lovely Linda. I love John and George's solo stuff, but I still think they are some of the most self-righteous yet hypocritical people to ever live. They love to preach about enlightenment while treating those around them like shit. Paul had to deal with all of their BS, with all the music critics falling for John and George's pseudo-intellectual crap. Yet like always, Paul just wants to put his head down and focus on the music. I think Paul embodies the qualities John and George loved more than they themselves. Now obviously it's all water under the bridge between them over the years but still necessary context to understand Paul's headspace for this one.
I get some of the criticism that some of the ideas were underbaked, but even those criticisms feel like just a front when he fully develops ideas in RAM and everyone pans it even harder. Both are incredible albums, this isn't as good as RAM but the underbakedness of it is absolutely part of the charm. Paul gets five stars for primarily making a fantastic influential album, but also for having to go through all the above bullshit at the same time.
Rating: 4.8
Donovan
3/5
I wanted to like it more than I actually did. The title track is an all-timer for me though.
Rating: 3.1
Peter Frampton
4/5
Monumental live album.
Rating: 4.5
Django Django
4/5
That was a fun surprise. Probably my favorite so far of the 2010+ albums that I hadn't heard before. Tough to give this a 4 or 5 star.
Rating: 4.4
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
I had only heard the two big hits before this. I disliked it a lot more than I thought I would. Lame kept popping into my head. Also have some quality control, in no way did this need to be 1 hr 12
Rating: 2.6
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
There are elements I like more than Loveless here but think that one is just a smoother ride from start to finish. If you like this album enough to buy, highly recommend as it has some of my favorite packaging of all time. Belinda Butcher is my love
Rating: 4.4
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Sunny Sunday morning at the start of summer, so perfect time for this.
Rating: 4.4
Deep Purple
3/5
Decent fun, my favorite of the Deep Purple I've gotten so far
Rating: 3.4
Really liked this one. I've finally been coming around to U2 so gonna inflate the score a tad here to make up for some of my previous ratings of theirs
Rating: 4.6
Linkin Park
1/5
I've put off Linkin Park for ages so wasn't sure what to expect. My jaw was genuinely dropped at how bad this was. And then to see how many streams each song has is mindboggling. Might be the lamest album I've ever heard
Rating: 1.0
The Cramps
5/5
I've been meaning to listen for a while and glad I finally did that was great. Punkabilly is such a fun genre. I'm a big fan of the Fall who seem like an English brother with their "Mancabilly" style. Will definitely be coming back to this one and hopefully their later stuff is as fun as this. Plus extra style points for being in the CBGB scene.
Rating: 4.6
Screaming Trees
4/5
Not a big grunge fan so surprised how much I liked this. The last few tracks didn't do anything for me but very solid overall.
Rating: 4.1
Neneh Cherry
5/5
Very surprised how much I liked this one. Yes it has dated effects that instantly place it in this era, but honestly that makes it more impressive that despite knowing that I couldn't help but enjoy it. Also really cool to read that she was in the Slits when she was younger along with some other cool groups. There's gotta be some cheesy 80s albums that are genuinely good and this feels like my personal go-to for that.
Rating: 4.7
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
Meh
Rating: 2.0
David Bowie
4/5
This is only the second time I've listened to this one and liked it much more than the first time around. Still like what he does before and after this a bit more but all Bowie is pretty good.
Only one Bowie album left on the list, and of course it's Ziggy Stardust.
Rating: 4.3
Elvis Costello
2/5
Only 1 more Costello album
Rating: 2.0
Scritti Politti
2/5
I like a couple songs of their earlier stuff but have never really been a fan of Scritti especially once they moved in the pop direction. This clean pop is miserable to me
Rating: 1.7
Van Morrison
5/5
First listen to Van Morrison and thought that was great. The second half has a hard time keeping up with the insane bar set by the first half but I still enjoyed the second half
Rating: 4.8
Bob Dylan
4/5
Loved the aged texture.
Rating: 4.3
Cocteau Twins
5/5
Cool mix of goth/ethereal. I had only heard Heaven/LasVegas before this and this is just as good in a completely different way. I went and listened to their early stuff and it’s crazy how much of a step up this feels into their own sound compared to before with their obvious Siouxsie and the Banshees influence.
Rating: 4.7
The Who
4/5
Second time listening to this and can’t believe how many decent tracks I missed the first time I listened. Don’t have anything new to add, fantastic concept. Christmas is probably my favorite.
Rating: 4.5
10cc
3/5
It's decent but there's at least a couple other 10cc albums I'd put on here before this one. It does start off very strong with the first couple songs, but it does get pretty spotty the rest of the way. It's still unique enough that it keeps my interest throughout but I do like campy British music more than most
Rating: 3.3
Simple Minds
2/5
I've tried Simple Minds a couple times and can never get into it. Did not change this time round. There's no weight behind any of it, it feels like it's trying to move me somewhere but it's so weak that it passes by me like a light breeze
Rating: 2.0
2/5
I thought it was fine, the more interesting takeaway was reading how this guy died right at the time of the album release by going into a burning studio to try and save recordings. Hardcore! Why don't all artists do that??
Rating: 2.4
Coldplay
4/5
I liked like half of them. I can see both sides to the argument about Coldplay but don't feel strong enough either way to pick a side.
Rating: 3.7
Tom Waits
2/5
I didn't get much out of this one. He always keeps it interesting though, it really does transport you to sitting in an intimate jazz-club. After a while the laughter did annoy me, it felt like hiring a laugh track
Rating: 2.0
The Killers
3/5
Killers are very overrated. Some decent songs on the front half. Everything will be alright is one of the worst songs I've ever heard. One of the best debut records ever? Get out of here
Rating: 3.0
Elton John
4/5
Tiny Dancer alone is worth a couple stars, a few other good tracks. Not very familiar how this one stacks up to his other albums
Rating: 3.7
Bauhaus
2/5
I love postpunk and most bands of the gothic scene but never really cared for Bauhaus. Didn't change this listen
Rating: 2.4
Dolly Parton
4/5
Have never gone through their discographies, but growing up in the South I'm aware of each of their legendary status in the genre. This one lived up to the hype for me. One of those albums that remind me how good country can be before most of the monstrosities put out today. It faded a bit the second half but still liked it overall
Rating: 4.4
The Who
4/5
Beginning of the Who’s concept albums. I enjoy how light this one is compared to their future ones, it provides its own unique feel. Really like the first half but did find the back half to run out of steam. Also really like their Hall of the Mountain King cover in the bonus tracks.
Rating: 3.8
Skepta
3/5
Pretty good in a genre I don't spend time in
Rating: 3.4
Kate Bush
4/5
All of Kate Bush is pretty great and I do like all these tracks but don't love many. It's very consistent, I'm just more of a fan of her weird stuff on The Dreaming
Rating: 4.5
George Michael
3/5
I liked the first couple a decent bit. I thought it was enjoyable overall but just not really my thing. Still need to go through Wham's stuff as well
Rating: 3.3
Van Morrison
3/5
I think I liked Moondance more, I really like the instrumentals but don't feel his voice fits them well. Really big fan of Ballerina
Rating: 3.4
808 State
4/5
It was perfect to listen to while working. Very surprised how much I enjoyed the entire thing, the flow of it was fantastic. It was a rollercoaster ride that had the drops and rises at the perfect time. Also doesn't overstay its welcome under 40 minutes unlike the vast majority of electronic albums
Rating: 4.4
Björk
4/5
Intricate and uniquely Bjork, something I more respect than will come back to listen to. I think this is the last Bjork on the list and surprised Post is not on here. Only have her albums after Medulla still left to listen to minus this one
Rating: 3.8
Cee Lo Green
4/5
There were some fun songs on there, the style varied throughout. Lots of pretentious reviews of this one
Rating: 3.6
Suzanne Vega
3/5
A nice change up with how stripped back it is. Plus it's nice to have a sub 40 minute album. Feel refreshed after listening. Got more out of the first half than back half
Rating: 3.3
2/5
Their chapter in Simon Reynold's Post-Punk book was easily my least favorite. I just don't like what Trevor Horn does. I've discovered how underrated the 80s are through many albums on this list but this is one of the poster childs for the side of 80s music I hate.
Rating: 2.0
Lana Del Rey
1/5
Just not my thing, cheesy lyrics that are whispered with boring instrumental backing. I can see how some like this but don't most Lana fans like Norman Rockwell and some others more than this one? Another swing and a miss with the recent albums. Some points for having Weyes Blood on it. Titanic Rising shits on this album, where's it at?
Rating: 1.4
Shack
2/5
Britpop is one of my favorite genres but there was so much garbage produced as well when trying to replicate the big boys. This is definitely one of those. I did enjoy the small shifts of genre but seems like an easy 2 star
Rating: 1.9
Waylon Jennings
5/5
Outlaw country is easily my favorite country subgenre. Seems almost unrecognizable to the modern trash coming out. Somehow comes in at under 30 minutes despite the songs feeling like they take their time and aren't rushed.
Rating: 4.8
Little Simz
4/5
That was a great surprise. Some really sick bass lines in there. The last few tracks were a bit weaker but weren't bad by any stretch. The whole album flew by for me, if the ending was a tad stronger it would've moved to 5 stars.
Rating: 4.4
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
I've only heard their 90s albums but this one is definitely my favorite. So influential on a genre I don't enjoy which makes the fact that I do enjoy this one all the more impressive.
Rating: 4.7
TV On The Radio
2/5
I was surprised at how much I liked their other album on the list but this one sucked.
Rating: 1.8
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
I think I like their debut more but still pretty solid. I like but don't love most of the tracks.
Rating: 4.0
Throbbing Gristle
3/5
Throbbing Gristle is fun to read about but definitely tough to listen to. This one was much less dissonant than when I first listened months ago, almost to a surprising degree. Definitely unique and most definitely influential.
Rating: 2.6
Mott The Hoople
2/5
Pretty bland
Rating: 2.3
Baaba Maal
2/5
It was alright, don't know enough about African music to understand its significance.
Rating: 2.3
5/5
Very fun surprise. Keeps you on your toes throughout and some really great songs on here. It might've lost me a little at the very end but even those songs might end up growing on me. I love when an album I've never listened to demands a 5-star rating.
Rating: 4.7
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
It was some decent fun
Rating: 2.8
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
Dark, funky, awesome. First time listening to this one but loved almost all of it. The songs flow into each other so well that it will take me some more listens to really get a grasp on this one. I'm torn between a four and five star out of enjoyment but think I'm gonna go to five as this feels like one that gets better the more you listen. Then adding the context of the album and its impact makes it seem like an easier decision.
Rating: 4.6
Nirvana
5/5
Tough to say anything that hasn't already been said. The capstone project of Nirvana, one of the greatest/most iconic live albums ever. It's like the live album version of Joy Division's Closer. Don't know what else you could want from a live album. It provides an alternate take to their songs along with a great selection of covers. Most live album versions of songs are great because they are juiced up and full of more energy than their studio counterparts, while this album kind of operates in the reverse. 14th perfect album, 719 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Merle Haggard
4/5
Really interesting to read about his backstory in prison. Love old country like this.
Rating: 4.3
JAY Z
3/5
Probably deserves a 4 but giving a high 3. I'm not the biggest hip hop guy and can see why the die hards might not be into this but I'm a sucker for the soul influenced sound that he/Kanye go for. Some fun songs on here and there was a lot that I was close to adding to library but didn't quite get me there.
Rating: 3.4
Dirty Projectors
2/5
It was interesting for sure. Most of the songs didn't really culminate the way I wanted but it was pretty satisfying when they did.
Rating: 2.3
The Libertines
5/5
I've put off listening to them for a while and what a mistake. This was great as was their debut, tough to decide which is better after listening to them both only once.
Rating: 4.6
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
A ton of fun, been meaning to listen to Beefheart for a while. It was much less weird than I was expecting but this was the debut. Very excited to go through the rest of their stuff.
Rating: 4.4
Q-Tip
2/5
I liked a couple near the start
Rating: 2.4
Brian Eno
3/5
Peaceful. Feels like putting it under 3 stars when it's so influential is unfair.
Rating: 3.0
Grateful Dead
1/5
Mozart for music lovers with brain deficiencies. Jam band bros would make up my personal version of hell.
Rating: 1.3
Roni Size
1/5
If I had 30 minutes left to live and I wanted it to feel like 2 hours then I might listen to this again. I have no grasp on the genre to really get anything out of it.
Rating: 1.2
Manic Street Preachers
5/5
Been meaning to listen for a while and hate myself for not doing it earlier after listening. I was surprised how much I liked it despite how "mainstream" it sounded as that is usually not my favorite sound in an album. Also absolutely crazy to read about their previous songwriter vanishing. Really torn between 4 or 5 stars.
Rating: 4.6
Michael Kiwanuka
2/5
It was fine, didn't get much out of it. He's great at the pace/transition of the album
Rating: 2.4
5/5
Really fun. One of my favorites of the California punk/post-punk wave. Love Punkabilly so this was easy to fall in love with
Rating: 4.6
James Brown
2/5
Felt more like a cool historic artifact than a good listening experience to me. Love the cover art.
Rating: 2.5
Michael Jackson
5/5
Monumental, easy 5 stars. Maybe the best 5 song run ever
Rating: 4.8
Manic Street Preachers
5/5
I've had this one on repeat for the last week after I got the other Manic album on here. It was love at first listen and has just gotten better. I still need to do a deep dive of listening to it with the lyrics in front of me but I know at least the synopsis of each song. Just a thrill ride from start to finish.
Intense Humming of Evil I probably won't come back to like the others but it's still an amazingly dark idea. Ifwhiteamerica sounds like it came straight off American Idiot despite being a decade earlier. I remember passing this album up a year ago because of the grotesque album cover but if any album needs it than it is this one. Think I'm gonna give this another perfect rating, seeing as how the people who love this put it as their favorite album ever, I can only imagine my appreciation of it growing. 15th perfect album, 734 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Pink Floyd
3/5
I think I'm in the minority in liking Tommy more. This does have the higher highs but I really don't care for any of it besides the big tracks. It just feels they tried too much here, pompous gets thrown around a lot but can't help but feel it's an apt description. The end of a biblical run of albums to me
Rating: 2.9
Guided By Voices
2/5
I get half-baked is kind of the charm and it is a fun change of pace to have sub-minute songs but it just skipped from one idea I didn't like to the next.
Rating: 2.3
Julian Cope
2/5
Meh I like the Teardrop Explodes a decent bit but this one was just alright. It started to win me over throughout the second half but still doesn't feel like a necessary inclusion on the list.
Also unrelated but it astounds me how many times I see a review complain about the bonus tracks thinking they are part of the main album. Do some people not even read the wikipedia pages with the track lists before listening?
Rating: 2.4
Siouxsie And The Banshees
5/5
Really hard to rank their albums. John McGeoch is one of my favorite guitarists ever and this is some of his best work. The album could've had a stronger ending but that's about my only flaw.
Rating: 4.7
Wilco
2/5
There were some decent songs and think some could grow on me but by and large this wasn't really my thing. It was long but didn't feel as long as I thought it would. Also the backstory on making it a double album was pretty cool.
Rating: 2.5
Common
2/5
Thought the other Common album on here was better. I was expecting more with Kanye's production but even it felt boring to me.
Rating: 1.8
Ice T
5/5
Wow I was not prepared for how much I liked that. This might be my favorite hip hop album of the project so far. I was expecting it to feel bloated but I wouldn't cut any of the songs and I enjoyed the skits more than usual. Ice T fuses rock in a great way
Rating: 4.8
Paul Simon
4/5
I was expecting pretty meh but ended up getting into most of the songs by the end. It does seem a step down from his best but in isolation I think it’s a solid album. He used some different effects I’ve never heard him use in his songs which was fun. It did seem like a dick move to cut out Garfunkel though
Rating: 3.9
Marvin Gaye
2/5
Nothing cool going on with the instrumentation, didn’t care about the lyrical subject matter enough to pay attention. That’s a bad combo and then throw in that it’s way too long
Rating: 1.7
Dennis Wilson
3/5
I could see this one growing on me, there were elements of most songs I liked. For whatever reason most of them didn't connect with me today.
Rating: 3.0
Pixies
5/5
Tough to say anything new, just fantastic. I love all of the Pixies first run of albums but think this has to be top. It has its own unique feel as do the rest but I prefer this one slightly more. I don’t know if it’s the rockabilly influences but it’s great every time I put it on. There’s only like one song that’s not my thing to keep it from a perfect rating but even it’s pretty good
Rating: 4.9
Sugar
2/5
I've been meaning to listen to this as David Barbe, the bassist, is a legendary music figure in the Athens music scene. Didn't get anything out of this though. Agree with other reviewers that there wasn't much to set this one apart from others of the era
Rating: 1.8
The Stranglers
5/5
Not familiar with the Stranglers but really enjoyed this one, even more on my second listen. Only one song I don't care for. Definitely has its own feel compared to the other punk albums of the time, probably due to the organ.
Rating: 4.6
Spacemen 3
2/5
Didn't get anything out of this one. They've got some great influences but having a tough time hearing it in their music
Rating: 1.7
Traffic
2/5
I liked the other Traffic album more. I didn't dislike this one but also didn't connect to any of it. Had no idea Steve Winwood was in Traffic.
Rating: 2.4
Beck
5/5
Really enjoyed that. It’s not as iconic as Odelay but I still thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing. I would’ve liked one more faster paced song near the end as it does mellow out a bit for most of the backside but I still enjoyed each individual track. Definitely time to do a deep dive of the rest of his stuff with how much I’ve enjoyed this and Odelay. He might be my favorite Californian artist, I usually prefer New York but his sound checks all the boxes I want out of a Californian vibe.
Rating: 4.7
Elvis Costello
3/5
Sixth Costello album done, I didn't mind this one as much as the others. Still don't understand the significance of why this one has to be on the list. Was him getting back with the Attractions that big of a deal?
Rating: 3.1
Black Sabbath
3/5
It's decent, extra points for coming first. Still it's hard not to compare to the juggernaut of Paranoid.
Rating: 3.4
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
There were some fun songs on there but didn’t feel like anything different to a ton of other different punk bands
Rating: 2.5
3/5
MC5 is more fun to read about than actually listen to. Their little brother band the Stooges are just so much better
Rating: 3.3
Joanna Newsom
4/5
Beautiful trip through a fairytale. I’ve been meaning to listen to her for a while so glad this was thrown in my path. Very hard to digest after a listen. I feel like I could say that after 5 listens. This is definitely one to listen to as a whole rather than throwing on a song every now and then.
Rating: 4.5
Michael Jackson
4/5
Iconic, impossible to follow up on Thriller but still a respectable attempt. I only care for about half the songs on here (mainly the big singles) but when a song works it really works. There are 5 all time great songs on here, if the other tracks were a little stronger than it would’ve been an easy 5 star.
Rating: 4.5
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
I liked it at the start, but got tired of it halfway through. Still though it doesn't last long and is a nice change of pace from the norm.
Rating: 2.8
Gene Clark
4/5
I liked this one a lot more than the other of his on here. Nothing unique to say about this one, pleasant listen
Rating: 3.9
The Birthday Party
1/5
Oof this is one of my least favorite post-punk bands, didn't change this time around. Just nothing good to latch on to. "Oh but it sounding bad is the point" well the Fall dirties up their records in a fun way. Seems like an excuse to hide behind
Rating: 1.2
Motörhead
2/5
It was some decent fun
Rating: 2.5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Tough between this and the other Fela album on this list on which I like more. He's got to be up there for one of my favorite international artists. Zombie was so so good and the other track was pretty decent too. It's so fun seeing an album with only 2 songs on it. We wouldn't have Remain in Light without this. An album he could've died for, very deserving spot on the list.
Rating: 4.2
Billy Joel
5/5
Tough to believe how many hits are on here. All the songs are unique while still feeling like they are cut from the same cloth. I love and know all the songs by heart besides the closing track. Even though I think that's the weakest song, it still works well in the context of the album and love the addition of the Stranger melody at the end to put a nice ribbon on the album. It's not even worth listing favorite tracks as it'd just be the tracklist. 16th perfect album, 762 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Grant Lee Buffalo
4/5
I enjoyed the whole thing. Not sure it has a unique enough identity to warrant five stars but I still liked all of the songs.
Rating: 4.4
Incubus
2/5
Nu Metal is up there for my least favorite genre. Surprisingly I was kind of thinking this would be an exception near the start. That quickly changed to me counting down the songs until it was over.
Rating: 1.8
Public Enemy
3/5
It was alright, felt very half baked honestly. Some of the lyrics were great but I don't think the majority was. I'm sure the samples were great/innovative at the time but think groups get much better with it quickly after this. The feel of the album is pretty fun
Rating: 3.0
Genesis
3/5
I enjoyed Selling England by the Pound more. Still though I love how absurdly they go for it and wish more groups tried to tackle such extravagant premises. The plot of the story reads like a bad dream or something from Studio Ghibli. There were a few songs I'd come back to on their own but most I feel only work in the context of the album. At the end of the day, it was an alright listen with a lot of unique elements
Rating: 3.4
The La's
4/5
The first listen was decent, by the second listen I enjoyed each song enough to save them. I can see why many see this as a precursor to Britpop. Still, I was more ambivalent towards most of the songs and not really in love with them.
Rating: 4.4
Sarah Vaughan
2/5
Love the album cover more than the music. It is cool how it instantly transports you to a certain time period. Still though I was waiting for it to end after a while I hate to say.
Rating: 2.4
Taylor Swift
2/5
Some of the instrumentals aren’t bad but the lyrics are just not for me. I’m in the same camp as many other reviewers, just don’t care for this recent soulless pop with no edge/unique qualities to it. It makes me feel nothing, I guess you have to focus on the lyrics to really get a lot out of this. I’ve never related to a heartbroken 14 year old girl so that pretty much takes out 95% of her lyrics for me. Whatever I’m sure the biggest pop star in the world will survive without my support.
She always just feels like a tourist in all the genres she visits, not an explorer into uncharted areas. There’s better country (admittedly my favorite era of hers), pop, rock, and folk out there. She never pushes the boundaries in any of these genres, it feels like a music for dummy’s book for casual listeners who don’t explore each genre. That’s very harsh to her fans, I don’t mean to call them dumb. I’m just trying to describe the consistent lack of depth sonically I personally find in her music.
Rating: 1.7
John Martyn
3/5
Pretty interesting, I think I liked this one more than his other album on here. Don't have a deep knowledge of folk to understand how this fits into the bigger picture
Rating: 3.0
Pink Floyd
5/5
It’s dark side of the moon, good luck trying to find something unique to say about this one. Just a fundamental pillar of rock music. Takes me right back to high school trying drugs for the first time. Easy 5 star but do I give a perfect score? Any Colour You Like is kind of the only weak link to me but still a decent instrumental and I don't think the album would work as well flowing from Us and Them straight to Brain Damage. 17th perfect album, 771 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
5/5
Admittedly, I am the target audience for this one. I’ve grown to love Tom Verlaine’s voice and this sounds like a lost album by him with some southern twang. Even looking at the bonus tracks, there’s a Television cover so he definitely wears the influence on his sleeve.
I found there to be lots of catchy guitar melodies throughout. I was surprised to see I had already listened to this album sometime in the past with about half the tracks already saved. I ended up saving the rest of the tracks this time around. Maybe not anything ground-breaking here but I found it to be a very solid album front to back.
Rating: 4.6
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Enjoyed most of it, thought it was pretty strong up until the last few songs. Very loose fun feel, doesn't take itself too serious
Rating: 3.9
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Love the album cover, fits the music perfectly. Don’t have too much to say since this is so far removed from music I’m used to. The first half had some really cool moments but did get bored near the end and was waiting for the end. Interesting to read about all the famous musicians it influenced.
Rating: 3.4
OutKast
3/5
When it's good, it's very good. Too bad there's two hours more on top of the good.
Rating: 2.6
Barry Adamson
4/5
Really enjoyed that 90s sleaze. Had no idea this guy was in Magazine and Nick Cave's band. I thought Jarvis and Nick Cave's cameos were really good. A couple songs were hard to get through but for the most part I enjoyed the flow of the whole album and thought it felt shorter than its runtime
Rating: 4.0
Roxy Music
3/5
Not my favorite of Roxy's but Do the Strand is one of my favorite songs of theirs. Great cover art as well. I always expect to like Roxy a bit more than I actually do, they are a lot of my favorite artist's favorite artist. I think I still enjoy their debut and Country Life more.
Rating: 2.9
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
So influential on the coming decade. I noticed its impact on grunge the first time I Iistened but this time I really can hear its impact on shoegaze as well. This one is definitely more influential and “important” than his 90s stuff but still think I’d enjoy listening to that over this one. Just raw sludge coming at you
Rating: 4.4
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
I love Sound is Silver and This Is Happening but not really this one. It just sounds like a more mediocre version of those. It doesn’t branch off in a different way to those so honestly scratching my head why this is necessary. It did grow on me a bit this time compared to whenever I first heard it at least. Still one of my least favorite album covers ever.
Rating: 2.6
Missy Elliott
2/5
It was alright, I liked a lot of the beats but that's about it
Rating: 2.4
Lambchop
3/5
Cool little unique blend of genres. I enjoyed the first half a decent bit but not really the back half. Album art is great too.
Rating: 3.2
5/5
I love PJ Harvey. I hate I've given a couple of her other albums 3 stars on here, she's one of my favorite all-time artists since I did a deepdive of her. This is probably my third favorite of hers behind Is This Desire and Dry, but each of her albums have their own feel. This one definitely makes me the happiest out of all of hers. The Thom Yorke cameo works so well, love the album art as well. 18th perfect album, 782 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Sonic Youth
5/5
Masterpiece. Some of their greatest songs, the whole album has a pretty consistent texture, iconic cover, hugely influential. What else could you want. No notes, just flawless. Greatest alternative band ever. 19th perfect album, 783 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Scott Walker
4/5
So many of my favorite artists reference him so was excited to see it pop up. I did like most of them but wasn't blown away. I do feel it has the potential to get there though with repeated listens. Definitely gonna go through the rest of his when I have the time. 4 stars seems fair for Scott 4. Sadly by that logic I won't like Scott 1, 2, and 3 as much.
Rating: 3.7
Justice
5/5
A ton of fun. I only knew the big single DANCE before this but the whole thing was solid. Even some of the melancholy songs worked much better than I thought.
Rating: 4.7
The Smiths
5/5
My favorite Smiths album. Even the title track, which is the weakest, I’ve grown to enjoy and think it fits well closing the album. This is one of my favorite fall albums. Headmasters, rusholme, and barbarians are some of my favorites of theirs. Cover art is awesome as well. Johnny and Morrissey just kill it but it still feels wrong to leave out the rest of the band in the appreciation. Everyone’s at the top of their game. I get people hate Morrissey etc but after you’ve listened a bit I genuinely can’t think of anyone’s voice or words that would fit better. I’ve got a few singers whose voice *might* have a decent fit but even then they’d never think of the lyrics Morrissey wrote or put in the inflections he does.
20th perfect album, 786 albums in. What’s even crazier is this is my third perfect album in the last five days, I’m definitely on the best run of albums I’ll probably get on this entire project.
Rating: 5.0
Moby Grape
3/5
It was decent enough, I’ve never been a big fan of that San Fran scene though. Again nothing I really disliked about it.
Rating: 2.9
1/5
Nu metal continues to haunt me. It's just so so lame.
Rating: 1.3
The Go-Betweens
2/5
I thought that was incredibly dull, surprised to see a lot of love in the reviews and so many Smiths comparisons. I was doing other stuff and wasn't as focused as usual so I should give this one another go sometime in the future.
Rating: 2.0
The Fall
5/5
Awesome, this is the album that got me into the Fall. Now they're up there in my top 3 bands (might be the first but don't feel like debating that internally). This definitely feels like their most accessible work. The opener and closer serve as nice bookends that give the album more of a cohesive feeling than other Fall albums.
Bombast is a high-speed train that gets the album off to a great start. Steve Hanley is one of my favorite bassists ever and I think he mentioned his bassline in this song is one of his favorites (his book is well worth the read). What You Need is another of my favorites of theirs. It's one where the lyrics fit the repetitive, hypnotic nature of the Fall's instrumentals perfectly. Paintwork is arguably the best, definitely the prettiest song on the album. Just a brilliant idea splicing the two textures together. Then the nod to their biggest influence Can with Damo Sazuki. Peel really summed them up well "always the same, always different" which does help to describe their ever-changing lineup and material from a broader sense. But it can also be used to examine their songs on a micro scale. They find their groove and add subtle variations throughout. Who needs 2 minutes of filler in a song to get to the cool groove when you can just make the whole song exist in that sexy groove. Then add Mark scribbling his dark poetry on top of it.
As far as Fall lineups go, this has to be one of the most legendary. Brix obviously deserves and gets the recognition of her era. There's the backbone of the Fall in Craig Scanlon and Steve Hanley (It always shocks me and reminds me how great MES is that the band didn't go to hell after their departure. A lot of their later stuff is fantastic. Blindness and Auto Chip 2014-2016 especially). The super underrated and unpredictable drummer in Karl Burns. He always makes such interesting choices I couldn't imagine other drummers choosing.
As far as where this album places in their catalogue, it's very tough. Listening again there's not a weak link on this album. Comparing to the rest of their pre-90s material, Witch Trials, Slates, Grotesque, Hex Enduction Hour, Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall all genuinely have as good of a shout as this one. There will never be another Fall, thankfully they've given us the output of 10 bands to make up for it. Long live the Fall, Rest In Peace Mark E Smith. 21st perfect album, 790 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5/5
I’ve not really enjoyed the other Clapton on this list so am surprised how much I liked this one. It makes me want to go back and give the others another chance.
Rating: 4.6
Queen
3/5
This one was interesting in terms of its place in Queen's discography but didn't feel that special to the wider musical environment. It is heavier than what you are used to with them so it is kind of a unique blend of genres. Still though I liked about half of the songs. Iconic artwork.
Rating: 3.4
Beatles
5/5
Best album ever. Feels impossible to say anything new/worthwhile about this. 22nd perfect album, 793 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Faith No More
3/5
Really liked the instrumentation, I would've loved this if I liked the vocals. I did start to grow tired on the second half but thought the first half was pretty good. Also points for influencing a genre a decade later, even if it is my least favorite genre. If I was even slightly a Nu Metal guy this is an easy 5 star, probably an easy 4 star if I had listened to before.
Rating: 3.2
Blue Cheer
4/5
That was a total surprise. Have never heard of them but loved it. I had no idea that they were one of the creators of such a large genre.
Rating: 4.4
John Cale
4/5
I enjoyed it much more than whenever I previously listened to it. A couple fantastic songs and the rest were pretty good. Beautiful orchestral pop rock
Rating: 4.3
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Maybe I'll like it more on repeat listens but was pretty whelmed by it today. It felt like the weirder sibling of his previous album.
Rating: 3.0
3/5
It's iconic but I much prefer the sound of their first 3 albums. I'm just not a big fan of the atmospheric rock they get into. Still there are a few songs on here I feel like everyone I've known has heard before and that's quite the feat.
Rating: 3.2
Beatles
4/5
Surprised this one is on here over a couple of their others. I've always thought of it as one of their weaker albums but even then I still enjoyed every song this time through. A couple fantastic songs, some underrated ones I forget about, and some decent covers. Cool album art as well. Still can't believe this one is here over Help but whatever I'll never complain to listen to some Beatles. It's always a fun excursion to go back and listen to one of their earlier albums, it always leaves me in a good mood.
Rating: 4.4
Elastica
5/5
The britpop haters in the reviews are more annoying than getting 10 shitty britpop albums. Whatever not focusing on that swine and focusing on the 5 star album by the queen of Britpop. My opinion on Justine isn't the highest as a person from reading other's accounts but my opinion of her music is it rocks. Yeah basically Wire with 90s productions and PJ Harvey sounding vocals but what part of that sounds like a bad thing? I enjoy all but 1 of the songs and I enjoyed their follow-up album a lot more this time around. She is also a Mark E Smith fan so extra points but she also did my boy Brett Anderson wrong so minus points.
Rating: 4.9
Portishead
4/5
What an amazing band. I guess a decade isn’t a crazy amount of time between albums but it still blows my mind that they didn’t drop off at all and seemed to take it in a different direction while still being undeniably Portishead. It has gotten better with each listen, maybe 1 or 2 on the back half I’m not crazy about.
It didn’t dawn on me how much darker the mood is on this one until reading others reviews. Surprised this is my first of theirs I’ve gotten, no doubt the debut is on here which I do still prefer to this one. I wish their live album was on here, that has to be in my top 5 live albums.
Rating: 4.4
LTJ Bukem
2/5
It was really good to work to. It was quite long even by electronic album standards. Good cover art, feels like you can guess the type of music just by looking at it.
Don't really have a problem with it being a compilation album to help sum up a movement. But if this is allowed how is No New York not on here to sum up the no wave movement?
Rating: 2.4
The Electric Prunes
4/5
I enjoyed most of it. Lots of different styles they are having fun with but adding their own little touches to it. It reminds me of if Ween was in the late 60s
Rating: 3.7
The Offspring
2/5
I don't know why exactly but found it pretty cheesy. It had a couple songs that were pretty good but by and large it was forgettable using recycled punk ideas with 90s production. Not a fan of the lyrics either so nothing else to latch on to.
Rating: 2.5
Madness
3/5
I didn’t know Our House was theirs, completely caught me by surprise. I have a weird experience with that song. I distinctly remember listening to it as a kid in a pep rally and for whatever reason grappling with the concept of time never ending in Heaven for the first time. Such a funny juxtaposition between the fun environment/song and the internal turmoil going on in little me’s head.
Anyways I’ve never been that big of a fan of the Ska revival but this one I was enjoying decently throughout. It is a bit gimmicky but still varied enough to hold the attention.
Rating: 3.4
Le Tigre
5/5
Wow I randomly went through Bikini Kill randomly last week so perfect timing. Honestly think I enjoyed this one more than Bikini even tho the former is more iconic. Just a ton of fun throughout while sounding like it doesn’t try too hard
Rating: 4.6
John Prine
3/5
It was hilarious how much this sounded like Bob Dylan. Still a long lost country Dylan album was pretty fun. I'd get a lot more out of this if I pulled up the lyrics while I listened.
Rating: 2.8
Anthrax
2/5
This just isn’t my thing unfortunately. I never get hyped up by this genre, I just find it lame.
Rating: 2.1
George Jones
2/5
Some nice songs, it was pleasant. It wasn't unique enough to set it apart from other country to me.
Rating: 2.3
CHVRCHES
2/5
It sounds like a lot of music of its time, I don’t have a good enough ear to really pick out what makes this one unique. It’s fine, there’s nothing really wrong with it. But at the end of the day do I personally like the songs I’m hearing? Meh
Rating: 2.4
The Prodigy
5/5
That was not what I was expecting from the cover. That was one of my favorite electronic albums I've gotten on the project. I can see why they were referenced as the Godfathers of Rave.
Rating: 4.8
Brian Eno
4/5
The first half was flawless. Backwater and King's Lead Hat were probably my favorites. By this River instrumentals would fit perfect on the Minecraft soundtrack. The second half I didn’t enjoy as much. But I’m sure it’s the more influential half as he starts wading into ambient territory. Really torn between 4 and 5 stars.
Rating: 4.5
Jorge Ben Jor
5/5
That’s right up there with my favorite non English album from the project. I can hear elements taken from this as recently as the White Lotus soundtrack. The groove is amazing, of course David Byrne would love this.
Rating: 4.8
The Temptations
2/5
Wow didn’t expect to dislike this as much as I did. Old school R&B can be so boring, I just can’t get into it
Rating: 1.8
The Stooges
4/5
Inspired literally thousands of bands. I can't think of how many bands I've read about that mention the Stooges as the beginning of their lineage. What's crazy is that this is still my least favorite of theirs despite having a couple of their arguably best songs. The influence alone makes it at least four stars, but it only has enough great songs to make a perfect EP, not quite a full LP.
Rating: 4.2
Sabu
2/5
It gave me a headache unfortunately. Still it was a unique listen compared to the usual and always fascinating to hear music from the 50s.
Rating: 2.0
Pavement
5/5
Pavement is the light to the Fall's dark. Just because I might prefer the Fall doesn't mean there's not enough for Pavement to carve out their own niche. While the Fall go for intense longer songs, Pavement chooses to go the opposite way while still keeping the style close enough to endlessly get compared to the former.
It has taken me ages to "get" Pavement, but this listen finally did it. I thought the whole thing was pretty great along with the B-sides. The album cover is great as well at representing the music behind it. Not sure if this or Odelay is my favorite slacker rock album.
Rating: 4.7
Portishead
5/5
This is an easy one to rate and one of my favorite ever. I can't think of many other albums that sound so cool and yet so beautiful at the same time. 23rd perfect album, 818 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Doves
2/5
I liked a couple of the songs and the rest was alright. I didn't find much on either of the Doves albums to make me want to listen again.
Rating: 2.3
Living Colour
4/5
Have never heard of them but it really surprised me. A few I really enjoyed, most I enjoyed enough to save, and only a couple that I didn’t. Some of the guitar parts weirdly reminded me of the Contortions as well.
Rating: 4.2
Aphex Twin
4/5
Ambient is in the title yet I’m still surprised how ambient it is. It feels very modern. That’s about all I can say, I don’t have a grasp on the ambient scene to understand its significance. I did enjoy most of the tracks
Rating: 3.9
Jane's Addiction
2/5
I didn’t really care for this. I remember liking the other one of their albums on here a decent bit so I’m a bit surprised. It just felt pretty generic to me, maybe a case of everything coming after it copying them. Either way I didn’t enjoy or find interesting the music.
Rating: 2.4
Emmylou Harris
5/5
Fantastic, up there with my favorite country albums of the entire project. I’m looking forward to going through her stuff when I have some time. Really great instrumentals and her voice is the highlight that ties it all together.
Rating: 4.8
Aimee Mann
3/5
I really enjoyed it on a second listen. I like the cover art as well. Not sure what exactly it does unique to warrant a spot on the listen but still enjoyed my time listening.
Rating: 3.3
Radiohead
5/5
Wow my favorite Radiohead album on my wedding day. It’s just great top to bottom. This era probably has my favorite B-sides of theirs as well. Greenwood goes berserk on this one. They just drop a perfect alt-rock album and then move on to another world. 24th perfect album, 825 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
Wow they really know what they’re trying to execute and do it well. Nothing in particular seems that unique but the blend of all the styles together does give them a unique sound. The first half was great. When it slowed down in the middle I didn’t get much out of it but then I enjoyed the ending as well. Really fun one and would’ve never guessed they were from Portland from listening to it.
Rating: 4.2
The Associates
2/5
I enjoyed the instrumentals that begin and end the album along with the two big singles near the end. The rest didn’t have much I enjoyed but respect them for trying unique production ideas. Synthpop is one of my less favorite genres but I didn’t hate this nearly as much as most it looks like.
Rating: 2.5
Rod Stewart
4/5
I find it funny the hate he somehow conjures. I do tend to find middle of the road classic rock boring but for whatever reason I’m always entertained listening to Rod. His voice is unique and I enjoy the melodies he chooses. It doesn’t have to be more ground breaking than that. Enjoyable album start to finish.
Rating: 4.3
Sleater-Kinney
5/5
I’ve been meaning to listen since watching Carrie in Portlandia clips. It was one I knew I’d love as soon as the first note played. The guitar interplay was fantastic. I’m sure I’d get even more enjoyment if I was reading the lyrics as it played. Very excited to listen to the rest of their stuff and see how this fits into their discography.
Rating: 4.9
Pulp
5/5
Pulp is one of my all-time favorites so I’m definitely biased on this one. It’s just fantastic for so many reasons. I feel like Pulp’s (and Blurs) 90s arc encapsulates the Britpop movement the best. His N Hers is brimming with life as the movement really goes into full flight, Different Class is the peak of the movement and tackles the central class themes of Britpop much better than its peers, and This Is Hardcore is the hangover from the party as the movement comes to an end.
In terms of how it relates to the bands personal experience, it is a harsh rejection of the fame they had been seeking for over a decade. It is a purposefully going the other way as Different Class. The lyrics and sound all going into darkness, anxiety, fear, and isolation whereas its predecessor is a celebratory, unifying, call to arms. So of course Different Class will be more fun to return to. But in terms of executing the idea and mission of the record, it is just as good as Different Class.
The Fear, Help the Aged, This is Hardcore, A Little Soul, and I’m a Man are all top tier Pulp songs. This record has its own unique texture compared to any of their others while still being undoubtedly Pulp. The B-sides are again excellent as is par for the course for their 90s work. The backside of the record could’ve been improved if they kept the original lyrics to Glory Days (Cocaine Socialism on the deluxe edition) and it does go on a bit long (fits with the hangover theme but feels like a cop out). I have grown to love all of the weaker songs on here but they are not as essential as Different Class where I can’t imagine any of the songs being cut. Definitely check out Like a Friend on the deluxe edition. It is one of their best but was made for a soundtrack so part of this era but not technically the album (same as Mile End from previous era). If you have the chance to see them live, I was lucky enough to go a month ago and they are phenomenal. Jarvis still sounds just as good as the 90s recordings.
Rating: 4.8
The Beta Band
4/5
Had never heard of them but really enjoyed it. Fun blend of styles and never knew what to expect with each song.
Rating: 4.4
Black Flag
2/5
This is where I split off from the die hard punk fans. I’m just not into the hardcore sound. This does deserve 5 stars for the influence/importance though, no arguments there. I didn’t take away much besides having a better understanding of the type of punk I don’t enjoy. I feel like this is what most people imagine if you say you’re into punk.
Rating: 2.5
M.I.A.
2/5
I liked her debut more. I respect it for trying unique things but it sounded awful to me. I don't know how you can use Blue Monday and Where is my Mind in the same song and butcher it so bad. There was usually an element of a song that I liked or the song would get decent after 4 minutes of build up but even then it was never satisfying enough to warrant it. LCD Soundsystem can take 4+ minutes to get to where the song really kicks in, but his keep me interested along the build up instead of making me wince with how bad it sounds. Paper planes and one other save this from 1 star.
Rating: 1.9
Joe Ely
5/5
That was a ton of fun the whole time. A few of those are up there with my favorite country songs. It's cool to read his unexpected connection to the Clash. It looks like he didn't make that many albums unlike other legends who have released 100 so excited to go through his work.
Rating: 4.7
The Jam
5/5
I thought Sound Affects was my favorite but listening back I think this one takes it. Any day though it could be those two or Setting Sons. This one is just perfect from start to back and only seems to pick up more and more steam as the album progresses. Man I wish I could see them live at their peak. 25th perfect album, 835 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Radiohead
5/5
Easy 5 stars but still maybe my 4th favorite of theirs. It's just splitting hairs trying to rank their albums. It comes down to liking the feel/texture of their other albums more, but nothing wrong with this. I do prefer their up-tempo songs more so maybe that contributes to why this one ranks lower for me as there are a decent bit of slower songs. Joyous album cover
Rating: 4.7
SZA
2/5
This is similar to her follow-up where I adore the big singles and am so surprised how much I dislike the rest. The lyrics are cheesy which is amplified when she just decides to repeat what she just said. The instrumentation is pretty bare so you're left with just her vocals to grasp on to. I don't like her vocal style either where she holds a note while dropping the pitch like she's walking down the stairs.
Rating: 2.4
Ice Cube
2/5
I liked some of the beats at the start but that trailed off. Lyrics didn’t do anything for me. I’m not the target audience here
Rating: 2.1
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
I think their follow-up is a bit better but this was still a lot of fun. The punk northern soul fusion feels more obvious on this one as well. This goes into the guilty pleasure folder.
Rating: 4.2
Throwing Muses
4/5
The whole thing was great. I don’t know how many women-fronted post punk bands there are but I can’t remember listening to one I haven’t liked. There was a ton of room for each instrument to shine and take the spotlight. Unique song structures that I know will just make repeat listens even better. I wish this was an easy one to buy in stores since it’s such a pain to find all in one place. This one will probably rise to a 5 star as time passes.
Rating: 4.4
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
It sounds like Tom Waits backed by a more folk rock Contortions. The discordant guitars keep it very interesting and I can hear how this influenced many others who were able to use the style in a more traditional way.
It’s cool to compare this to the debut to see how much further off the rails they’ve gone. I like Zappa’s idea of treating it like a field recording of a foreign civilization. After reading about how they were living while making this, it might as well be foreign to me.
Rating: 3.8
Klaxons
3/5
It was alright, I was lukewarm about most of the tracks. I think I got my hopes up too high reading the influences on Wikipedia.
Rating: 3.3
Beyoncé
1/5
I went in with an open mind but it was just abysmal. It was an amalgamation of everything I hate about modern pop. Even the big singles I remember hating at the time. Her vocal style is just so cheesy to me. It ruins even the couple of songs where I kinda enjoyed the production.
Rating: 1.4
Judas Priest
2/5
I don’t get anything out of this. Sounds cheesy
Rating: 2.0
Mekons
4/5
Had a lot of fun with that one. It definitely feels like the country brother of Dexys or Pogues. There were some catchy melodies despite the weirdness of it
Rating: 4.3
Miles Davis
4/5
It set a minimal landscape yet it kept me interested throughout. It is impressive to hear them improvise while keeping the minimal atmosphere. It feels like an Eno album a decade too early. The album cover is amazing as well
Rating: 4.4
Dr. Octagon
1/5
Some of the beats were fun but not near enough to save the album
Rating: 1.3
Robbie Williams
2/5
There were a few alright songs but it does sound like he’s just riding the wave of Britpop. I’m sure the cultural relevance when it came out was huge but it doesn’t help listening decades later. Great album cover though.
Rating: 2.4
Manu Chao
4/5
That was great, the songs flowed perfectly into each other. Fun international music that goes by fast.
Rating: 4.2
Don McLean
4/5
I enjoyed it. I’m surprised how understated most of the album was after the title track. Vincent and the Grave were probably my favorites after that.
Rating: 4.2
The KLF
3/5
They were a fun band to read about. I got more out of the second listen than the first. A fun listen and cool to hear their Doctor Who song
Rating: 3.5
Hole
5/5
Really great grunge album. The messiness of the music perfectly matches Courtney Love as well.
Rating: 4.8
Mj Cole
2/5
There were a couple alright tracks but quite forgettable
Rating: 1.7
5/5
I think this is my favorite Kinks album, it has the most of their English shtick that I love. It’s an album that not only I enjoy from start to end but it also influences a ton of music I love decades after. Listening back through their stuff, I think Kinks might be in my top 3 of 60s bands.
26th perfect album, 854 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
It was alright, I didn’t get much out of it. Always fun to hear 50s albums though
Rating: 1.9
Fishbone
3/5
I enjoyed the beginning and the end of the record. It was a fun fusion of styles with catchy melodies and dated production.
Rating: 3.4
Fun Lovin' Criminals
1/5
I didn’t hate it but found myself constantly counting down the minutes.
Rating: 1.5
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
A perfect mix of alternative and mainstream elements. Legitimately over half of the songs were inescapable hits and the others are just as interesting. I’ve always thought his follow up was my favorite but listening back I think this one edges it. It’s a more efficient package. It’s the closest thing to Dylan.
27th perfect album, 858 albums in.
Rating: 5.0
Eagles
4/5
There are some big hits on here and very care free feel to the entire thing. Iconic sound regardless of whether I love it or not.
Rating: 3.8
Pink Floyd
5/5
What a way to follow up on dark side. I thought this was my favorite of theirs but in this listen I didn’t enjoy it as much as past times and might move this down to 2 or 3. It’s still fantastic and Shine On is my favorite song of theirs.
Rating: 4.7
The Fall
5/5
Great debut and in the top tier of the Fall’s albums. A very unique lineup yet it still sounds instantly like them. Mark E Smith adds so much personality to the songs. The album is full of fantastic raw songs that only get better and the non album singles added on are just as great. This is definitely their punkest record. The start to my favorite band of all time.
Rating: 4.9
David Gray
2/5
There were a couple of songs that were memorable enough to save but it was largely forgettable.
Rating: 1.7
2Pac
1/5
I was surprised how forgettable I found it. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to his lyrics so probably could’ve gotten more out of this one.
Rating: 1.5
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
It gets better as it goes on. I went through their first album before listening and think that one’s a little better. Pet Shop Boys are quickly rising up my favorite synthpop bands, granted I don’t have many. The cover art is great too.
Rating: 4.3
The Cars
5/5
Classic front to back. One of the best debut albums and helped define the new wave sound
Rating: 4.9
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Very interesting to read about. It was a decent listen, better the second time. I don't know enough about electronic music to appreciate its place in it.
Rating: 2.8
Tim Buckley
4/5
I enjoyed it. Easy listening fusion of fun late 60s genres. I'll definitely go through his other stuff. Very fun to hear the connections between his sound and his son.
Rating: 4.4
Cat Stevens
5/5
The start and end of the album are better than any out there. There is an emotional weight to these songs that moves me to my core. On this listen the lesser-known tracks in the middle resonated with me as well. His artwork is fun too, just a great all around package.
Rating: 4.9
Yes
5/5
This is my favorite of the two I've heard of them, both good. I had no idea the opening song was from Yes so that's a great way to kick the album off. I love the structure of this album. 4 fleshed out songs with unique tidbits filling the space between. The front side of the album was perfect, experimental yet containing catchy melodies. This is up there as my favorite Prog album.
Rating: 4.8
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Her voice/vocal style makes every track instantly hers. This one is so interesting as a bridge from Blue to Hissing of Summer Lawns. I don't think I like it as much as those but there's not a bad track on here.
Rating: 4.3
The Smiths
5/5
This has some of their best and a unique feel to the rest of their stuff. The songs seem to float more than being propelled. There's not a bad song here yet it's still might be my least favorite album of theirs.
Rating: 4.7
5/5
My final Bowie album on the list. I'm not sure if it's my favorite, but it has to be in the conversation. It kicks off with some fun glam-rock before reaching the stratosphere with Moonage Daydream and Starman.
Lady Stardust kicks off the second side on a more subdued beat but there are still fun rocking numbers. Suffragette City is a personal favorite but they're all good. There's a reason this album is so regarded. It's the perfect mix of mainstream appeal and experimentation. It's the face of a genre.
Rating: 4.9
Holger Czukay
4/5
Experimental and weird but I was in the mood for that today. The long songs never felt like a bore and the album had enough variance despite being 4 songs. Definitely a hidden gem
Rating: 4.3
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
1/5
There were a few vocal parts that were cool and it’s interesting how the songs continuously kept tension over several minutes. It’s always a nice change of pace to remember how big the musical world is but I didn’t get much out of this.
Rating: 1.4
Coldcut
3/5
This was a nice surprise. It does remind me of the Avalanches a decade earlier. Their uniqueness was probably more apparent at the time but still some fun cheesy songs. I thought I had heard all of Mark E Smith, I wonder how much impact this had on him as their sound did become more electronic around this time.
Rating: 3.4
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
I appreciated this one more listening today. It would never surpass Loveless but a pretty great final result after 20 years of tinkering. It’s only an essential listen for MBV fans but I still found it to be up to their lofty standards.
Rating: 4.3
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
I liked that more than I thought I would. They keep it weird the whole time for a fun ride
Rating: 4.0
Def Leppard
2/5
I enjoyed Pyromania a decent bit but this one didn't click. I think it's a bit too over-the-top for my liking. It's just a bit of harmless fun, nothing too serious.
Rating: 2.5
Ride
4/5
This was a fun one to listen to at night. This is my first time listening to their brand of shoegaze and it won me over after a little. I don’t know if there were any standout tracks but I found the level throughout to be quite high. I connected with the album cover immediately as well, quite beautiful while adding to the texture of the album.
Rating: 4.3
The Incredible String Band
3/5
I like the premise more than the execution. It is essentially a field recording of a commune of Scottish Scientologist hippies which makes their acid folk sound more authentic than another record in the genre that might sound better. Some of the songs near the end I liked on this initial listen and think it’ll take some more time to really understand this one.
Rating: 3.2