Not bad at all. Never listened to him before. A little much in parts. Kind of Nilsson in parts. A little like Thom Yorke but more theatrical. Go or Go Ahead is great! Sounds a bit like a Radiohead song. Overall pretty good! At least a 3.5. Cover is weird though.
Interesting first album. Obviously heard many of these songs a ton. Really do like it but never listened straight through. Title track still stands out as best, most emotive. Deep cuts are pretty good. Tears… has a great opening verse, smooth chorus. Overall it sounds pretty plastic, overly compressed. The gimmick of Motown throwback isn’t as impressive in 2023. Deluxe version is a little less loud.
2023 remaster, nice! A little less loud that the other version. Reminds me of Sandlot, obviously. Love the title track! Other than that, this is great sounding record but nothing else very inspiring. Mo' Onions, literally just a less good version of the title track. Some covers without any energy... just bland backing tracks.
Intro pretty cool! Great bass tone, good mix! Rio / hungry catchy as hell, obviously! Very 80s, but also nice. Most songs very similar bass / drum vibe. Dance-music I guess. Save a Prayer trying to be slow but not doing it for me. The Chauffeur is kinda cool.
Great album, but not their best IMO. Great bass tone! RIP Andy Great jangle-guitar. Not as familiar with these songs, but it's classic Smiths. "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" is one of the more interesting ones, slower, with interesting panning / fading effects. "Well I Wonder" pretty calming, nice rainy outro. "Barbarism Begins at Home" has a funky outro, digging that. Nice bassline! "Meat Is Murder" has a cool spacey intro with a cow. Slow jam... like it! Good closing track too. Cool reverse pulsing effect going on. "How Soon is Now" definitely would secure 4+ stars, but even without that, or any of my favorite Smiths songs, I'd say 3.5-4.
Wow! Nice recording for 1955! Mono, but very clear. Very classic sound... not particularly engaging, but a serious mood setter. No big hits or anything, but still would be great chill record to play. Pretty boring, though. Surprising that this is one of 1001, but probably just for historical context being the first 12" released... it's solid. Likely won't be replaying except maybe background music at a swanky cocktail party.
Started with the 2012 master on Apple Music... was overly loud and crispy. Found a vinyl rip, which is a lot more pleasant if not still a little dry. Great Record! It Ain't Easy is surprising, never noticed it much but that chorus kicks! Cool song, but different vibe. "Ziggy Stardust" is really a solid jam! Wish it were a little earlier TBH. I'll have to go with a 4, maybe a 5. I'll sleep on it.
Didn’t know they did Novocaine For The Soul. Pretty good album. I could get into it but it’s nothing especially remarkable to me.
"Don't Be Shy" especially sounds very Clash. Sounds like a Clash-inspired post-punk band from 2004. That could be unfair, but I'm not sure why this is on the list. Maybe this band was really inspirational or popular in the UK. Seems good, maybe it'd grow on me but doesn't seem very remarkable.
Wild Horses is a jam! Can't You Hear My Knocking last half is awesome! Overall solid album, and legitimately probably my first time actually listening through a Stones album front to back. Moonlight Mile is surprisingly good! Never heard this song before but it's right up in the style of music I've been liking lately. Seriously this is a fucking jam! Moonlight Mile as a closer might be tipping it into 5. I love this track! I'm also a sucker for a good opening / closing track.
Do It Clean sounds kind of like a Clash song... Stars Are Stars I'm digging. Pride starts out a bit like an Elvis Costello song with that little guitar hook. I'm digging Villiers Terrace! Happy Death Men jams! Seems almost psych / jam / experimental / kraut inspired. Could be a weird take. Doesn't seem especially "top 1001" remarkable as a whole. Maybe this was a big deal for 1980 since it's bringing us out of first wave punk and into the 80s. I do see some interesting songs in here but seems like filler as well. Still... solid album really, I'll do a 3.
Damn this was definitely a big album for me. Can’t wait to listen through! Know all these words. Takes me back to when things were simpler. I remember looking at every detail of this album cover! Can’t believe this, of all albums, is on Apple Music in 192kHz. Sounds pretty good, all things considered! Never listened to this so hi-fi before. Drums sound great! Vocals, and bass, not bad either. Guitar sounds… 90’s. But it works. That transition from Chump to Longview! So good! This album really does mean a lot to me. I think I’ll have to do a 5. Peak 90’s pop punk. For a kid that got into punk in the 90’s, this was a seminal record.
A classic! Very long though and not as cohesive as I’d hope.
Well produced album, no doubt! Thing Called Love ends with a little Joe Walsh nod. Love Letter definitely sounds Peter Gabriel-inspired. My mom probably liked this album. Ok, Have a Heart is a jam! Probably a 3. I mean, it’s pretty good but probably won’t be listening again any time soon. Her hand position on the cover is very awkward.
Love Otis! This one has Change Gonna Come, and his rendition is great! Two other Cooke songs too. … Loving You still gives me goosebumps on that “tiiiiired”! Got 192khz stream too. Sounds great! First time listening through this album front to back. Solid 4. Don’t love the Satisfaction cover. It was probably pretty novel at the time though.
Opening track feels like it’s from a random 80’s movie soundtrack. Very cheesy production. What’s Love definitely much better than most songs... Private Dancer is good too, production holds up and all. Still really boring IMO. I'm excited to hear "Let's Stay Together" since that's one of my favorite songs... interesting lead-in with the synth pads. She's singing well, pretty emotive in parts, I just do not like her voice... ok this sucks. Do not like the Casio-sounding beat here. Gonna need to listen to Al to rinse out this overproduced version out of my ears. This doesn't really hold up. I think this will be my first subjective 2/5, just compared to my other 3s I've done, this is less despite the popularity of a couple tracks, and historical significance. I don't think I'd put this on again, even ironically. I just don't think I like Tina Turner. Good for her though, fuck Ike.
Yeah, great album! Excited to listen through in earnest. Yeah, solid album... Def a 4. Glad Tidings was a bit of a surprise.
Big Me is a great song! Obviously an important record... very cool that he was recording this while in Nirvana... I'm not sure if that makes it one of the 1001 I need to listen to. And I love Dave Grohl, and Nirvana, and Foo Fighters is a great band. Just saying... this is noteworthy but not must-listen IMO. OK Floaty is cool! Shoegazy kind of thing going on. Ok I like this. I'm going with a 3. I'll see how I feel tomorrow.
Sounds really good! First 2 tracks slide together with good energy. I remember liking this when it came out. Still holds up well! Beck being Beck. Always liked his flow and fun lyrics. Broken Drum is a nice surprise. Hits better than it would have for me 18 years ago. I’m going with a 4. It’s solid throughout!
90’s alt rock. One decent overplayed radio hit. Not sure why it's on the list.
Try to respect it for what it is... but this is not my jam.
Laura, opening track is catchy. Take Your Mama is definitely a great song. Vocals are great, almost Elton John-esque. Catchy. The disco Comfortably Numb cover... not really doing it for me. I mean it does sound a bit like a Beegees song this way, but it's too cheesy to me. Mary sounds good too! Production overall pretty good. Catchy stuff, good vocalist.
Awesome album. Life On Mars is one of my favorite songs. Also Changes. And overall great songs all over. Gotta give it a 5.
Oh Aja… on every audiophile list. Obviously the production is top notch. Let’s give it a real listen through and see how it is as an album. Really growing on me. The smooth jazz part is wearing off. Obviously this is very well recorded. The drum solo at the end of Aja is pushing this up to 4.5 so I’m going 5. Almost completely due to the ending of Aja. Solid album otherwise but that song really surprised me. Really like Deacon Blues too.
Hell yeah, Rush! I now realize I've been kind of a casual lame Rush fan. I really do like a lot of their songs, but never really dove into the longer tracks like 2112. So good!!! The dynamics and vocals are great on the title track. I really like this era of vocals. I'm a sucker for the quiet water parts jumping back into the rock parts. I started at about a reluctant 3-4... now I'm really feeling solid on a 4... I know there's better Rush out there, so I'm excited, hoping we get some more. The little "Kung Fu Fighting" riff is a little cringe on Bangkok, but this is otherwise is a classic Rush tune. Other tracks are all aight. Feeling good about a 4. If the title track was just a little more fluid and if the rest of the record followed suit this would be a 5...
I dunno. Don’t really like this music but some of it isn’t bad. I like the standup bass parts. Really a genre that just reminds me of Ali G.
Classic blues + late 80's collaborations and productions. Honestly some pretty nice music, but nothing blowing me away. I’m liking the last few stripped down songs more. Might check some other Hooker stuff in that vein. 3/5
I remember liking Why Does It Always Rain On Me and have heard this band didn’t deserve to be a one-hit wonder. Curious to see how good the whole album is. So far seems like a pretty chill Radiohead. I’m sure they hate that but it’s really the sound they have. Really do enjoy this though. As You Are has a tinge of Across the Universe but in a nice way. Nice solo. Radiohead with some Beatles. Not a bad mix. Not sure it’s held up super well. It’s good but just sounds like late 90’s Brit pop. Nothing super special. Great hit but kind of passable.
Classic album! Title track is obviously the star of the show here. That song alone has inspired many! Opening track opens great, but kind of fizzles once it comes in. Overall really classic 80's Metallica. I think I like Ride the Lightning a tad more... Probably a 3.5 though, I'll round up.
Classic album. Seven Nation and Hardest Button are hits. Nice sounding album as well. Does seem like some filler, though. 4/5
Wow. Pretty much a modern rap Dark Side of the Moon. Always loved Kenny, and a few songs on this album are my favorites. But! So glad I finally took the chance to listen all the way through! 5/5
This is really good! Never heard of her. Great recordings, really well produced! Love her vocal style too. Seems like a gem. Surprised I didn't know about this at all. Great opening track! Join the Boys is funky! I get a little bit of a John Martyn feel on this... but funkier. This woman rocks! 4/5
Yeah! Love Devo. Not sure I’ve ever listened to a studio album through though, so I'm a little nervous that I'm just too used to Greatest Hits. Out the gate... pretty punk, but quirky. Satisfaction, such a great unique cover. Defines the 80's sound of New Wave. Ahead of its time for sure. So unabashedly dorky... I love it. Gut Feeling is a classic and sounds great! Seriously love this track. Probably gonna go with a 4/5 because although the hits are amazing and I love this band, it's pretty short and even still it's inconsistent in production and quality, and there are many lackluster tracks.
Seems very good for what it is. Doesn’t seem particularly amazing though. Probably a 3/5. I would expect to be blown away here but I’m not. It’s very solid, but not cohesive or groundbreaking IMO. I really do like Song For Sathima. I'm going to try the title track a lot today. The reverb is unfortunately a little unnatural.
I can definitely see how this was influential to some of my other favorite bands like Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Slint, My Bloody Valentine, etc. and I respect them for that. I do wish that it sounded better. It doesn't need to be polished per se, but it sounds harsh and narrow and it makes it feel flatter than I hoped... I would hope for something more raw but still dynamic. Ok, much better with my Bottlehead Crack + HD6XXs. The studio monitors and even IEMs both make it sound much worse. Now I'll have to listen again. It sounds so much better now! I've always heard of album -> equipment pairings, but never gave that much thought. This really comes alive with this specific setup. Now feeling a 4/5... which sounds snobby, but the presentation definitely helps. Schizophrenia really is a good song! Also really like Tuff Gnarl, has a Replacements vibe to it...
Remember this one pretty well, know all these songs! Still holds up. A little abrasive but that was the point. My favorites were always Maps and Y Control. Those two definitely top this into 4/5. Modern Romance is nice, I don’t remember this one. Poor Song too. Obviously like their slow jams more.
Some really good songs on here. Great album, but not their most solid. I feel like Nevermind is a 5 and this is a 4.5. Heart-Shaped Box, Rape Me, Dumb, Pennyroyal Tea, and All Apologies get it to 4.5. Don’t think I ever noticed the strings on All Apologies. RIP
Weird that this is the first Neil Young album I get on here. I love NY, but there better be a bunch of others on the list because this seems like it would be barely top 10… but let me give it a solid listen. White Line has a catchy lead tone and nice group vocals. Good jam. Overall I’m going to give it a 3.5. Hoping it grows on me more.
Yes! It sounds so good! Maybe the greatest bass tone of all time. RIP Chris. Vocals are very classic on this album, especially on Good People. A really good mix of poppy and progressive. Very accessible but technical. The Clap is kind of out of nowhere but sort of love it for that... I guess it's to introduce Steve Howe. It's up there for favorite Yes albums... might be my favorite because I'm kind of a pleb, though I'm sure some others come up so I can give them a more critical listen. It's not Close to the Edge, it doesn't have Roundabout on it, but it's really good!
Really nice sounding album, though little tame TBH. Good for him quitting heroin. I Shot the Sheriff is a really good cover though I don’t believe him. 3.5
Never really listened to this. I’m excited to try it out. So far, really like the production! Those opening guitar chords on Supermodel sound so good. And when the drums come in! Normal Girl is a surprisingly good too. Love the lyrics, and that guitar solo at the end... cool how it just drops off. Sax on Pretty Little Birds also nice! Solid 4/5. Maybe even 4.4. Just gotta leave some room for 5s.
Not sure what’s so amazing about this… sounds pretty unremarkable. Kind of like the strings at first but they kind of just are always hanging out. Almost no dynamic range on this record... About as good as a decent local band, TBH. Hard to imagine this is in top 10,001 albums let alone 1,001. Must be a regional thing. Captain’s Table and Streets of Kenny try to be a little psychedelic… kinda cool but still lackluster. It’s not terrible but not particularly inspiring. I'll go with a 3, some of the tracks are growing on me, and I'm glad that I gave it a listen because I normally wouldn't have given it any time of day.
Influential album, to be sure. Between the Bars and Say Yes are absolute hits. Alameda is pretty good too! No Name No. 5 is hitting pretty good too. Angeles is real nice, the fingerpicking intro with that whistle sound in the background. Great ambiance. I was not initially as impressed as I thought I'd be given the quality of the songs I already knew, but it's a slow burn. 4.5/5
Tiny Dancer opens this record, such a great song! Love Levon too.. the piano, strings, voice, drums are all just about perfect! Love the production. Kind of peaks on that second song though, title track not bad. The Indian song, interesting. Unfortunately, even though I really like EJ, I think this one is a 4.
Pretty disappointed, honestly. 3 stars for having Paper Planes though.
I mean, they might not be cool, but this is a solid album. Great musicianship, good production... Really good debut, honestly. Even if they felt kind of a watered-down Radiohead at the time. They are good! Maybe I'm just not always paying attention to lyrics. It's beige, but it is better than that Travis album, I think. I do like \"Why Does It Always Rain on Me?\" better than \"Yellow\" though. But overall, it's pretty solid.
Great energy! Kind of a mess, and a bit repetitive. But, I gotta give it a little credit for the influence, for the groundbreaking "motherfucker!". I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would, unfortunately. Probably sticking with a 3 on this. Really wish it was more, but there's nothing catching me.
Secrets is nice! That bass. Stand Up is jammin’! If You Think You're Lonely Now is amazing! Great classic R&B here, I could see this influencing a lot of great 90s R&B. Where Do We Go From Here, great bass lead-in! Going with a 4/5, this is a solid album!
Yea! Love Björk, and this is probably her best album. Definitely a 5. Love the warm fuzzies of Cocoon, and the string instrumentation, thumping beat and vocals of It’s Not Up To You. Undo has this wonderful build to it. Overall, the cohesion, the textures, the dynamics. This one is a masterpiece!
Yes! This is the NY&CH album I was wanting. Easy 4 here! Love Cinnamon Girl, really dig the extended tracks. Almost a 4.5 but I gotta leave some room up there.
Really digging this! Great blend of Devo and Krautrock and surfy stuff. Going with a 3-4.
I liked Surrender back in the day. This isn’t as good, and is kind of dated sounding, but still solid for what it is.
Title track, Hurt... and I forgot about I Hung My Head being on this one... Oh and the Personal Jesus cover is cool too! Definitely one of his best. There are some really great songs, it's recorded a little hot... and there is \"filler\", but definitely should be on the 1001. In My Life is one of my favorite songs, and I do with they got a little better take, but I still love that it's on here. Last thing released when he was alive. That outgoing message on We'll Meet Again. Hate to be sentimental, but I'm leaning towards 5.
Solid album, Strangelove is probably the best track. The synths kind of wear on me sometimes, honestly. Behind the Wheel works well! I Want You Now also interesting. Effective on headphones. Still thinking a 3. Solid album, but not their best. Doesn't age terribly well.
Hüsker Dü is one of those bands that I've always wanted to like more. They're kind of a link between 80's hardcore and the more emotional / melodic emocore / indie stuff that came after. There are a few popular songs I really do like, but I never would say I was a huge fan because I always had a hard time with the sound. Never listened to this album, and it doesn't have any songs I recognize. There's a lot here. “Standing In the Rain” is a style that I can get a little more into. “Could You Be the One?“ also. Wish I could do a 4, maybe if it was a tighter selection. Gonna have to do a 3.
I guess this is Celtic rock... Doesn't do much for me especially, but it's nice. Probably 3/5...
I spent the whole day trying to get into this. Finally at the end of the day, with a glass of wine and all my attention, I’m starting to get it!
It’s ok. Not as good as something like Portishead or Massive Attack, maybe that’s not fair… but still fun and listenable. 3/5
Yes! Love Stereolab. One of my favorites bands and basically tied for my favorite album by them. I love this so much. I place a high value on tone and texture and Olv 26 is a very nice example. Overall, the mix of smooth French / English female vocals, philosophical / political lyrics, chill Krautrock moog with strings vibes is right up my alley. 5/5
One of my favorites! Have it on vinyl. Love the music, lyrics, vocals — crooning, biting. Some of my favorite bass playing of all time. Love the drums too, very dynamic. The overall mix is so great, The Attractions really shine. Good hooks all around, too!
Not really my thing… it’s not terrible and I like the recording, instruments, and the singing is nice. But will likely never listen to it again. I’m gonna have to go 2.
One of the best live albums capturing a unique and intimate performance of one of the most influential bands mere months before the lead singer / guitarist / songwriter commits suicide. Great covers. Very much 5.
The production is obviously very good. Opening track will always remind me of "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", thanks a lot Will. Somebody Loves Me is probably more my vibe these days, slow and R&B... Thinking of You also really good. We Are Family has been so overplayed, but for good reason. It's anthemic, really catchy, and means a lot to a ton of people... ok this bridge really jams and I doubt I've ever heard it! You're a Friend to Me... so smooth, this is great! I love the guitar playing on this. Not on my list of must-haves, but it is remarkably well done and a classic. Maybe a little tooo polished... it's groovy and nice but not especially moving or impactful, but 3/5 for being so damn slick.
Nilsson! Love this guy. Loved The Point since I was a kid and recently started getting back into his stuff. This is very much The Point-era Nilsson. His musicianship, voice, sense of humor, the whole thing feels like home.
I honestly wish I liked this more than I did... It's good, but doesn't really do much for me.
Wow, this one seems like a big jump over the last one. Much bigger, better production. More interesting and accessible. Personal Jesus is really catchy, obviously. Waiting for the Night has some really nice ambiance to it. I would totally listen to this without vocals. The vocals are solid, but not really my thing... but that slow build into Enjoy the Silence is great. Enjoy the Silence is just a very very solid hit. I don't remember this outro... kind of cool. Seriously great sounding album.
A lot of these Mercury Music winners ending up on this list… I feel like for a lot of them, you had to be there. This one seems to have stood the test of time so I'm giving it a real shot. I kind of like the Bowie-esque vocals. Lyrics on Mis-Shapes hitting pretty good. Honestly kind of a 90's Bowie / Costello type of thing. A bit obnoxious but it works. I Spy sounds a little like a Jermaine Clement doing Bowie for a movie soundtrack... Disco 2000 is really catchy... Kind of love Underwear too. Not sure if this is suppose to be funny or not but I’m giving it a 3.5.
Production really holds up! Very glam. Catchy, cool, and iconic. Cosmic Dancer is the biggest surprise to me... really nice song. A lot of similar sounds going on, but it is super solid. 4/5
Good renditions of great songs. Most of them not the definitive version. Kind of just a collection of 60’s singles. Other than Wishin’ And Hopin’, not sure if any of these are the go-to renditions. Again, points to the list being pretty UK-centric. I love these oldies though. And she’s a solid singer. 3/5
Never really good into Nick Cave. It’s good but just not my thing.
I love Led Zeppelin. Never gave this one a listen through, to be quite honest. Not sure why, it’s amazing! A lot of great songs. Biggest surprise: In the Light Maybe I’m basic, but I gotta go 5. It’s Led Zeppelin. And one of their better albums at that.
I respect this band a lot more than I like them. Especially this album, I have a hard time getting into it. If I’m honest, I have to go with a 3. Just like that Nick Cave album, Hüsker Dü, MC5, and other ones I’ll come back to. Not for me today.
As a millennial, he’ll always be Chef to me. Fond memories of asking my mom to get Chef Aid: The South Park Album when it first came out. It was my first personally-owned CD. I also like the Shaft theme, but never checked out his other stuff. Digging this! Love that little fuzz lead on the opening track! Dirty fuzz tone. The ending of that track has some very obvious fader riding which I kind of love. All the tracks have something good going on. I like his vocals and the band is jamming on. I like the backup vocals a lot. At first I felt like the tracks were missing something. But after listening more, the vibe is growing. Also, considering this was one of the first albums of its kind, gotta go 4/5 on it.
Why Limp Bizkit, but even more importantly, why this one? I guess this one got removed, which is good. I kind of do like the intro to Take a Look Around. It’s not the worst thing in the world but definitely not required listening. 2/5
So weird that I just had Hot Buttered Soul 2 days ago. I can dig it! The instrumentals are very good, as with the other Hayes / Bar-Kays stuff. The title track is amazing, well produced, and iconic! Cafe Regio's is a "whole vibe". Also, grooving to "Do Your Thing" for about a full 18 minutes. Going 3.5 - 4 on this too! Only thing really keeping it down is the length with a tad too much misc. "soundtrack" stuff that breaks up the real jams. It's all good, but some editing could make it a golden album, but it's not an album really it's a soundtrack.
Big fan of Elvis Costello, and even though there are some great songs on this one, and it’s a solid debut, it’s not top-tier EC. He did good by getting The Attractions. Alison and Watching the Detectives are super solid songs. ...Red Shoes is catchy, very Costello. Blame it on Cain is pretty rocking'. Some throwback rock n' roll tracks which don't hold up as well. Still going with a 3.5 - 4 because I love the above songs, and it's still a good listen, especially to see the progression.
Amazing album. Perfect production, singing, the whole works! Really a top tier pop album! First two tracks are most memorable, but the production is great throughout. Leaning towards a 4/5 for me, personally since I don’t think I need to listen to the whole album. I think Thriller is gonna be a 5, though.
Yes! One of my favorites. Don’t really need to say much else.
Never listened to this but just recently heard about it. I love Sam Cooke, so I’m excited to check his out. Very fun! Cool to be able to hear the faster, raw, live versions. But I will say that it’s not as listenable. Things seem rushed. Might have to go 4 as much as I love Sam.
Really great album! Obviously, I've heard Fast Car hundreds of times... but I never really listened to it, it's a very beautiful song. Behind the Wall is also heartbreaking. The production is about perfect. Reminds me a lot of Joan Armatrading. That's gotta be an influence! Very important voice and perspective. Easy 4
I really like Talking Heads but am not familiar with this album at all! Take Me to the River holds a special place in my heart, and is really well produced! The Good Thing and Warning Sign are both great songs. I like Found a Job as well! Overall, really liking it! I think probably a 4/5 for me.
Don't really know much of Bauhaus's stuff aside from Bela Lugosi's Dead. Interesting that this is the one chosen to be on the list. Hollow Hills -- I'm liking this! Kick in the Eye 2 is a nice catchy new wave jam. Harry is kind of a goth ska vibe... Overall it's cool, but not hitting me especially. 3/5
Never got super into Randy Newman. I like him OK, but it doesn't do much for me. I'd rather hear Nilsson singing Newman.
I really like ATCQ! I love that old school chill 80's / 90's hip hop flow, very poetic, and their samples being so eclectic and jazzy / funky is such a good pairing. It's the creme de la creme, and you can vouch for that. Can I Kick It? Is one of my favorite rap songs. That Lou Reed sample, the flow, lyrics... really really like this song. Also really like Bonita Applebum. A couple of my favorite rap songs, and overall a solid album. As a package though, I think it's a 4/5. Very good, but not front-to-back required experience.
I like this more than A Love Supreme! It is dense but I can feel how important this is. I’ll have to spend more time with it.
Pretty jamming’ overall. Jet Set is a nice blues rock jam! Really like the outro into Anyway. This is nice classic rock. Johnny’s Garden is a nice tune. Not sure I’ve heard it before but definitely jumps out as a hit. Really pretty good! I think I’ll listen more.
Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone is just an amazing song! Mother Nature also pretty great! Also, Do Your Thing! Was on the Shaft album, but a funky little cover here! Great production! Temptations really embracing the direction of Soul / Funk into the 70’s! Giving it a 3.7 for Papa*
First track was a little disappointing for me. Second track starts out like a Bowie song, but also has a very 90’s indie vibe with a great solo. Fuzzy is pretty good too. Songs really pretty inconsistent, in style and even in volume. R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe praised Fuzzy as "the best album of the year hands down”… that’s a bit much. That year also had Siamese Dream, Souvlaki, Enter the Wu-Tang, In Utero, Midnight Marauders, Björk’s Debut…. It’s good. Probably a 3 for me.
Everyone makes a big deal about these guys… Kind of reminds me of that early 2000’s garage rock revival… The Hives… Franz Ferdinand… a little White Stripes / Strokes but more and British. I liked this kind of music a lot around 2001 - 2005, but they kind of missed me since this came out in 2006. I do have to say this is a very good exhibit of the style. I wish I knew the songs better. Biggest surprise: Mardy Bum. I do wish this was less hot... it's very 2006 compressed. A 4/5 for me, though. Will listen again.
This is classic 1992 grunge, or alt metal or whatever. I was always more of a Nirvana fan, also listened to Pearl Jam, or STP, or even Soundgarden (maybe?) more than Alice In Chains. Reminds me of the 90’s MTV, Beavis and Butthead, etc. The vocals never super appealed to me. First time hearing a lot of these songs, to be honest. Just was not an AIC fan. Rooster is by far my favorite. Them Bones is a good opener though. And Would? is a classic too. I really feel like this is a 3 for me.
I remember H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A. Still a catchy song. Jigga is also banging. Heart of the City has some solid sampling. Didn't know who Kanye West was going to be at the time, so it's kind of cool to look back. Song Cry is nice too. Solid album for sure... there's some filler, as typical. But overall at least a 3.5
Feels very 90’s British electronic dance pop… Really not bad at all, kind of a nice listen.
Take Me Out really is a pretty damn good song. It’s not as dynamic or interesting as Arctic Monkey’s debut. Not as good as The Stroke or White Stripes imo. The disco beats get a little old on this one. Still really good but probably going to be a 3 for me.
Yep! A 5 for sure, one of my favorite albums. Recently bought it on vinyl and re-found Elvis Costello and appreciated him even more than I did 20 years ago. The Attractions kill it on this album. The lyrics are great. Top tier album.
I really dig this... not sure why like this over MC5, Hüsker Dü, Velvet Underground that came before... but I just like this better. More Nirvana meets Dinosaur Jr. Maybe it's just the more punk / garage vibe to it. The guitar work is great for my taste. The drumming is very punchy and appropriate. I actually like the vocals... there's a decent variety but still a nice set of songs. Biggest surprise: Pokin' Around is really catchy. I think this is a 3.5 - 4 for me. Rounding it up because this one speaks to me more than the other 3s.
It's probably a cliche, but it does sound like Devo / Talking Heads, but less accessible. Survivorship bias there. Devo had better nerd appeal, catchier hits. Talking Heads also catchier hooks / rhythm section and better vocals... still same ilk. I respect it, chronologically. This was no copycat, this were also Post-Punk pioneers. More experimental. I was starting to dig it but the vocals on Calgary's Mirror was a little too weird and threw me off. I accidentally started listening to Street Waves, was getting into it, and realized that was off The Modern Dance. Thriller! is definitely avant-garde, so that's cool especially because the weirdness is mostly instrumental. Codex just does not work for me, I'm trying to be more open to this stuff, but it just ain't hittin'... it's cringey for me. I get that's probably the point, but I don't like it. Going with a 3 on this one. I don't think I'd claim to be a fan of Pere Ubu based on this album, but I'm glad I'm more aware of them. Thinking I might like The Modern Dance better, so we'll see!
Opening track is pretty damn good. Great production! First 2 tracks are catchy and sound great. Good pop. Love Song immediately sounds like a watered-down Prince song with Madonna on it. Biggest surprise: Pray for Spanish Eyes -- I really like the vocal performance and arrangement, and that guitar solo. Most of this is pretty cheesy though. It's gonna be a 3 for me.
Oooooh boy. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Many of The Who’s best songs. Great production and performance. I just now fully get the title pun. Also seen this cover for decades and just realized the pee gag. Never paid attention, I guess! This is top of the top!
Solid album. Really like Walking on the Moon. Good 3.5 at least.
It’s not Kind of Blue or Bitches Brew. But it is Miles. At least a 3.5
I’ve never listened to Supergrass. I only know about them because one time somebody said I looked like the guy from Supergrass. It somehow completely missed me, like Pulp. I got Oasis, Blur, Travis, and The Verve over here… I’m actually surprised how much I like this! It’s kind of like a mix of 90’s Brit pop, glam rock, and Queens of the Stone Age or something. Heavy 60’s influence too. Richard III fucking rocks! Tonight almost is like a T. Rex song, with catchy horn breaks! Late in the Day is a bit Petty-ish G-Song had a great solo! Sun Hits the Sky is fantastic! That synth solo, and the outro is basically sped-up Krautrock! Great neo-psych stuff going on too. Very surprising! This is an easy 4. I’ll have to keep listening, but this one is the biggest surprise of the list so far.
I’ve loved High and Dry and Fake Plastic Trees since the 90’s. Always been favorites of mine. Fake Plastic Trees especially means a lot to me. Oh, Just is good too, when they still had that rock guitar solo! I remember that one. And My Iron Lung! The rest I don't remember as well, but it's growing on me! Funny enough, I feel like the title track now just sounds very Britpop. "I wish it was the 60s. I wish we could be happy." Man that was very much the 90s sentiment wasn't it? Now we wish it was the 90s... This is at least a 4.5... this is phenomenal record!
Not their best album... but it's good! Great fuzz tone on the opening track! Kind of a motorik beat... like a louder krautrock. Walkin on the Sidewalks has a very good driving bass growl going on! How to Handle a Rope too! These guitar tones and grooves are very good! It's a little too much of the same... I wish some songs were a little slower and a tad more interesting. Still it's very well done! I think the Songs for the Deaf had the benefit of having Dave Grohl on it to really put it over the edge. Really digging You Can't Quit Me Baby. Good change of pace. As it stands, I feel like I'm gravitating more towards a 3... I don't know what it's missing. Maybe it's just the swagger and vocals that don't really do it for me. It’s too cool for school.
Haven’t listened to Missy Elliott in decades! Not sure I’ve ever heard this album. It’s good, but not Supa Dupa good. 3
Really good. Album. Great textures, songwriting. Good sleep record too.
Surprisingly I’ve never heard this! Pretty good, really! I can see the influence on indie music. I can kind of see what Libertines were going for. I gotta give it at least a 3.5 with the overall tone hitting me right, feels authentic and original for the time! Will revisit.
This is groovy! Really digging Family Affair. So cool!
Man I loved this album when it came out. Gotta see if it still holds up… Opening track, love that bass line. Brings me back! So many hits. It’s very derivative of 80’s British synthpop. But it’s exceptional at that! So much so I think they convinced the whole country they were one of them. For my own personal rating, I have to go solid 4. This is a very good album that brings me back!
Huh...never heard of it, kind of surprising this is on the list. I guess just another example of how UK-centric this list is. Some unremarkable American 90’s punk band that was big in the UK… There are about a dozen 1995 punk albums I’d put over this one. I can’t believe this is on the list but not “...And Out Come the Wolves” by Rancid. Other punk bands with solid albums in 1995: Jawbreaker, Lagwagon, Vandals, Good Riddance, NUFAN, Millencolin, Red Aunts, Less Than Jake, Pennywise, Frenzal Rhomb... It's not terrible... but this is definitely not great. I'm going 2 on this one.
A classic for sure! Title track… that solo is so good! New Kid in Town is a nice song but a little easy listening. Life in the Fast Lane is jam! Wasted Time is a pretty solid ballad! It's pretty safe slow rock, but it is a classic and very well done. I gotta give this at least a 3.5.
Man this opening track probably knocked people out! Good songs. A classic for its time. I’ll go 3.5
Still a very good album! Some solid hits.
Such a good album! I recently found out about it and love the vibe, the production. Don’t know this missed me for decades!
Reminds me a lot of Chromeo but not funny. Look At Where We Are Today is definitely the best song on here, maybe because it’s slower. Flutes is good too. Overall, vocals are a little obnoxious to my ears. Maybe if I was dancing in a club or something, which I don’t do. But, it’s not bad really. I’ll do 3/5
Damn, I remember when this came out it was such a big deal. The guy from Blur started a band of cartoon characters with the guy that made Tank Girl. I thought that was a cool concept, and the music was great. I remember playing a little flash game where you ran across a graveyard as Noodle! It was so modern and fresh! Introduced me to Del’s intelligent style of rapping and Deltron3030 which I still love. Opening track is so unassuming. Chill, lazy song. 5/4 getting a little more Blur. Tomorrow Comes Today is a really good one, opens like a good Beck song! Again those lazy vocals that were a whole vibe. Clint Eastwood was fucking huge. That’s obviously how I heard about them, a friend described the video and opening verse lyrics; I was intrigued. Something very new! Man Research isn’t much. Punk is kind of fun for variety and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Sound Check is a surprise. Dig the baseline, sampling and strings! Like the vocals too. Almost a dub / trip hop vibe. Double Bass reminds me of a Tortoise song almost. Pretty slick interlude. Del’s back on Rock the House which is a bit of a throwback hip hop song. Dig it. 19-2000 was one of my favorites! Fun, catchy chill jam. Great album.
Respect is a classic song! God she's good. Better than Dusty Springfield (who ain't bad... just saying)! The A Change Is Gonna Come dedication! 😭 Easy 4 here. It's only missing the cohesive front-to-back that 5s have... So, while there are multiple must-listen tracks, as an album it's a B.
I did dig these guys back in high school... part of the big garage rock revival. Never had an album of theirs but they definitely had some good hits and cool (a bit obnoxious but in a self-aware way) stage presence. Weird that it's this compilation and not Veni Vidi Vicious? Great opening track to pick though. Next two tracks also rock. I don't think I've heard Supply and Demand... but that's a jam for sure. I dig it... but it's probably still a 3.4 or something at most. Not sure I'll bump it up to 4.
Recently got way into krautrock and liked Can a lot, especially Future Days. Also some of Cluster's stuff. This is right in line! I'm excited to check it out completely... First two tracks I'm already sold, Seeland especially is just a vibe. Especially the end with the rain... this is so good! Also, end of Hero with the airplane. Love the inclusion of field recordings. Especially for 1975, this was so influential! I was digging the spacey music and then Hero kicks in and wakes you up! I didn’t really appreciate that song before, but in context it’s pretty cool. Just based on its influence, recording quality, and my personal preference, this is an easy 4. Maybe even a 4.5, but I need to make sure that's not just recency bias kicking in, since I've been getting into this music much more lately.
I liked Green Day a lot as a young teenager, but when this came out I had moved on to \"cooler\" stuff... so even though I recognized it was pretty good, I never really listened to it. Very well recorded, and super catchy! American Idiot was a huge hit... Jesus of Suburbia also really great song! Also Holiday... And Boulevard of Broken Dreams... this song was huge too. Ok this one is really hit after hit. Very ambitious album! Are We the Waiting sounds like a U2 song... a little much. St. Jimmy brings things back to more classic Green Day! A bit of a dip... Extraordinary Girl sounds like a Beatles song. Interesting. Letterbomb is just a catchy pop punk song, could be on Dookie. Wake Me Up When September Ends is a classic Ballad. Homecoming is not great... it's trying to be a counterpart to Jesus of Suburbia but is kind of cheesy and lame. Should have ended it with September. This is at least a 4... it's a super solid, well written, catchy, well produced album. Dookie is more of a personal favorite, but this one is right up there. I feel like it could really have been trimmed down. There are some weird inconsistencies and run-ons as the album goes on. It's ambitious, but gets a little full of itself.
I’m a little familiar with Robert Wyatt, mostly from his cover of Shipbuilding and work in Soft Machine, but I definitely haven’t heard this! It’s fun, quirky, very nice textures. Especially Maryan. Jazzy stuff happening in Was a Friend! I really like this!
Pretty damn influential. Holds up. Great title track! Gotta do at least 3.5.
"Heroes" is one of my favorite Bowie songs! The rest of this album is not hitting the same, but I'm giving it a chance. The rest isn't really clicking. The Sense of Doubt -> Neuköln I dig a lot in a different way. More in line with the ambient stuff I've been enjoying lately. That's Eno for you. Probably still a 4 from me overall. About half the songs don't really do that much for me. "Heroes" is solid, and Side B is pretty nice and inventive.
Must have been a thing in the UK. Opening track is no good… Neither are the next few tracks. The Ballad is ok but still is never something I’d choose to hear. Is she trying to be Tina Turner? The Working Class Hero cover is not bad! Still probably a 2 for me.
Probably not even in the top 3 Beatles albums but still a great record! Some of the best songs, and really a huge collection of material, albeit not as cohesive. 4.5
I really like this! Interesting year from which to include a Bossa nova vocal album like this. I'd imagine a 60's-70's one, but this is like a throwback that I never heard of. Oh, I didn't realize it was João Gilberto's kid! I'd say it's a 3.5 - 4 for me... dig it a lot as a chill out album. Well recorded and performed. Really like the voice and instrumentation.
Oh man, title track is one of my favorite songs ever. Was in my wedding. Still not sure I've listened to the album front to back. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is also such a good one! It's so good. I mean easy 4, but are there enough other songs, cohesion, to make this album a 5? If I gave Otis a 4, this will have to be a 4 too :( sorry Al!
Not bad really. A little blue rock in parts. I like the psychedelic stuff. I was most surprised by the Brainstorm Interlude -> Drive You Home part. Overall too long and not quite remarkable. 3/5
Nice. Don’t know much of anything about this! I remember the name David Ackles from a list of Jim O’Rourke influences. That was Five & Dime though. Title track is kind of theatrical. Next song is a nice slow singer-songwriter jam. Third track back to that Broadway style. And then more of that. Seems like the genre is singer songwriter show tunes. Neil Diamond of broadway. It’s not bad but really doesn’t do it for me. I can respect it though, especially considering how many cite him as an influence. At least a 2.5. So I’ll do a 3.
This is pretty good! Better than the other Dusty album. Son of a Preacher Man is just so good. The production is great! The Windmills of Your Mind is also fantastic. 3.5
One of the best albums! Love NY, and this is him at his best. The two orchestrated songs don’t hold up as well but still this is a 5
Such an amazing album! The engineering and production for 1959 is mind-blowing. Take Five is such a classic tune. I gotta give this one at least a 4.5... it's just so influential and important. And great to listen to!
Pretty wild… a lot of energy. About on par with that MC5 album, but rock ‘n roll piano. Fast and aggressive but somewhat repetitive. I feel like it’s a 3 for me. For 1964 he’s pretty off the rails, though isn’t he. Ok maybe a 3.5 for Long Tall Sally. He’s nuts! Definitely an experience.
Pretty awesome. Muddy Waters. Gonna do a 3.5 I think.
I thought I liked The Kinks, but obviously not super well, because this album totally missed me! This is really good! Right up there close to Beatles or Nilsson stuff. Village Green is the right mix of psych and pop. Feeling it a lot. Gonna go 4.5 on this one!
Not great… I guess it was something at the time but it has not aged well IMO.
Hendrix absolutely on fire! Voodoo Chile, 1983, All Along, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), so many good songs on here. This is one of the most important albums, definitely top tier before you die stuff.
This is a cool project! I listened to it before and I really like California Stars. Way Over Yonder..., Birds And Ships, Hoodoo Voodoo, a lot of catchy songs on here. At My Window Sad And Lonely is also great! I’d say this is a 3.5 - 4. Great songs, great performances.
I’m digging this a lot! Good 60’s folk / psych stuff! A Sailor’s Life is great extended jam Who Knows… is a really good song. The bonus track Ballad of Easy Rider I really like as well!
I really dig this! A lot of variety. Sometimes a little goofy, but some really good stuff, nice instrumentation and interesting styles.
I cringed when this came up. It was so overplayed and made fun of back in the day. It’s very nu metal / rap rock, but is at least a little better than the Limp Bizkit album that was on here. Chester has a good voice for the style. The production is alright, very nu metal. 2.5
I remember this from a long time ago. Cool kids were into him. I thought the singing was weird. It’s much less weird to me now. I feel like I’m more into folk generally. I think it’s a 3.6 for me.
Never actually listened to a Rundgren. This is weird! Really well done. The self awareness and fun combination of styles, the way everything runs together but is still very different. I feel like this is really good. It’s a wild ride in a great way! This is the kind of album I would want to make. Seems like my kind of guy just doing whatever he wants. At least a 4, but maybe a 4.5. Ok 4.5 considering this was 73!
I never got super into Kraftwerk. Something about it doesn’t groove enough for me. Doesn’t catch me. Doesn’t make me feel anything. That said, this is very well done, iconic, and important. So, 3.5 - 4
One of my favorites! Seriously not a bad song on this. It is a tour de force! She’s one of the greatest songwriters of all time and this is her singing her own songs. Beautiful album in writing, performance, production. It was really important to my mom, and many other women of her generation. Love you and miss you, Mom! 5/5
Nothing really wrong with this... I wouldn't mind listening to it, but it doesn't seem especially extraordinary to me. Maybe it was one of the first albums like this, but this kind of stuff is all over the place now.
Solid 60’s pop rock. I really like the Stepping Stone rendition. Still probably 3.2 at the most. Nothing major.
I really really enjoy this. I knew him from the Big Little Lies intro. This album has lots of soul, fuzz guitar. I’m stuck between a 4 and a 5. As an album… I think I gotta go 4.5. He really worked to make it flow and that rips it over for me. A lot of really good albums are 4, but a lot of them just have great songs on them. This is an album, with flow, intros into jams. I respect that. I also respect the vocals and guitar work. The varied arrangements and style. And the production. 4.5!
Not bad at all. Never listened to him before. A little much in parts. Kind of Nilsson in parts. A little like Thom Yorke but more theatrical. Go or Go Ahead is great! Sounds a bit like a Radiohead song. Overall pretty good! At least a 3.5. Cover is weird though.
Really like this! Great vibe, instrumentation (I’m a sucker for Rhodes), production. I like the lyrics and personal style to the singing. It’s so smooth. Orange Moon especially just sits so well in the atmosphere of the track. I could listen to it all day. So comforting. Basically everything A.D. 2000 and on is really good Neo-Soul. Lovin’ it. Above 4 but is it a 4.5? Tricky territory! It’s got a slight edge over Maxwell because it’s a tad more real. I feel like this is right there with Kiwanuka, though it’s more soulful and less psyche. It might even be better. Especially considering its age. I’m going 4.5.
Ver much mostly like this. The lyrics / vocals on Willie The Pimp are tough for me to get into. I really enjoy the jams though. The vocals make up for about 2 minutes out of 43 though. I can tell there’s something really cool going on here. Not sure I can give it a 5, for me. It’s missing something for my taste.
I really like Joni Mitchell, especially Blue. I don’t like this as much. Hard to say why, I just don’t enjoy it as much. Still a 4/5.
Honestly, really good! Her voice is great. The production is nice. Well written songs. At least a 3.5!
Not bad honestly. I like the production, arrangements, and performance. Her voice is nice. The songs are a little corny, but it’s pretty good at what it’s doing. Solid 3 I think. Not necessarily for me but it’s nice.
Well shit. Yeah, this is iconic.
I thought this was very cool in 1997... and honestly it holds up better than the other UK electronica stuff that's been on the list so far. Especially Breathe. 3.7
Kind of surprising album here. Never would have picked this up before but I do like it! Title track has a great feel. Your Own Backyard… dig the vibe and vocals. Also New York City Song. At least 3.5 I feel.
Not the biggest Van Halen fan, but this is a great album. 3 giant hits, great production and guitar playing throughout. The drums on Hot for Teacher! Generally don’t find the antics that entertaining. But it rocks!