842
Albums Rated
3.62
Average Rating
77%
Complete
247 albums remaining
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1950s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Generous
Rater Style
207
5-Star Albums
29
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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Ratings by genre
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Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Now I Got Worry | 5 | 2.52 | +2.48 |
| Boy In Da Corner | 5 | 2.57 | +2.43 |
| Scott 2 | 5 | 2.64 | +2.36 |
| Slipknot | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Peggy Suicide | 5 | 2.77 | +2.23 |
| Roots | 5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
| LP1 | 5 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
| One World | 5 | 2.82 | +2.18 |
| Bone Machine | 5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
| Gris Gris | 5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parachutes | 1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
| A Rush Of Blood To The Head | 1 | 3.44 | -2.44 |
| Bitches Brew | 1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
| Achtung Baby | 1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
| Shake Your Money Maker | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| Every Picture Tells A Story | 1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
| Wild Wood | 1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
| The Man Who | 1 | 3.01 | -2.01 |
| All That You Can't Leave Behind | 1 | 2.98 | -1.98 |
| Reign In Blood | 1 | 2.96 | -1.96 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 6 | 5 |
| Tom Waits | 5 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 5 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4.8 |
| David Bowie | 7 | 4.57 |
| Bob Dylan | 7 | 4.57 |
| Peter Gabriel | 3 | 5 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 5 |
| PJ Harvey | 4 | 4.5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.5 |
| Björk | 4 | 4.5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.67 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.67 |
| Kate Bush | 3 | 4.67 |
| Aretha Franklin | 2 | 5 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs | 2 | 5 |
| The Prodigy | 2 | 5 |
| Genesis | 2 | 5 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 5 |
| The Cure | 2 | 5 |
| The Clash | 2 | 5 |
| The Specials | 2 | 5 |
| The Pogues | 2 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Joni Mitchell | 2 | 5 |
| A Tribe Called Quest | 2 | 5 |
| T. Rex | 2 | 5 |
| Dusty Springfield | 2 | 5 |
| Steely Dan | 4 | 4.25 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.25 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 4.25 |
| Neil Young | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nick Drake | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 3 | 4.33 |
| Deep Purple | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Stooges | 3 | 4.33 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 4.33 |
| Leonard Cohen | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| U2 | 4 | 1.5 |
| Coldplay | 2 | 1 |
| The Mothers Of Invention | 2 | 1.5 |
| Public Image Ltd. | 2 | 1.5 |
| Can | 2 | 1.5 |
| Bee Gees | 2 | 1.5 |
| Emerson, Lake & Palmer | 2 | 1.5 |
| Elvis Presley | 3 | 2 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Albums | Variance |
|---|---|---|
| Miles Davis | 4 | 1.79 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 1.5 |
| Happy Mondays | 2 | 1.5 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 1.41 |
| Metallica | 4 | 1.3 |
5-Star Albums (207)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Calexico
5/5
An unexpected treat. I was unfamiliar with Calexico and went into the album pretty blind. What a delight it turned out to be! The mariachi infused indie/jazz/folk offerings here are splendid. I found myself listening to not only this, but a whole number of Calexico albums as I got lost in their pretty unique sound. This album was awesome and has turned me onto a band that I apparently really love.
3 likes
Black Flag
3/5
Whilst I like a lot of the music itself, there's something about the way its recorded that makes it feel small and lack punch. This is loud, raucous, messy music, but it sounds so distant and lacking in power. It's a weird dissonance between the music itself and how it sounds to me.
2 likes
Tom Waits
5/5
I'm a massive Tom Waits fan, so it's always nice when an album of his pops up on this list. The atmosphere created in this album is arguably better than the songs themselves, as it's not his best collection in pure music terms. No one can paint a scene quite like Tom Waits, and this holds true here.
1 likes
The Stooges
5/5
Still holds up. A nasty-sounding punk album with plenty of bite. Damn near perfect.
1 likes
Snoop Dogg
5/5
An absolute classic of the g-funk era. Snoop's debut sounded fresh and was full of creative lyrics and beats. It's held up well and is essential listening for rap fans and non-fans alike.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (29)
All Ratings
David Bowie
4/5
An enjoyable album throughout. It outstays its welcome a little in the middle, but overall it's full of mood, well-crafted songs, and some interesting throwbacks to motifs from classic Bowie tracks.
Neil Young
4/5
A great album overall. You can feel Young growing as a songwriter, with songs such as Southern Man being particular standouts. That said, I don't think it can compete with his next album, Harvest, which stands as an outright masterpiece.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
A classic. Lauryn Hill's approach to hip hop was as fresh and insightful then as it is now. A great combination of catchy pop songs and deeper musings.
ABBA
3/5
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected. The production quality is great, the melodies are wonderful, and there are (obviously) some very catchy songs here. It's not my genre, really, but I had more fun with it than I thought I would.
The Smiths
4/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
The Human League
5/5
Massive Attack
4/5
De La Soul
4/5
ZZ Top
4/5
Harry Nilsson
5/5
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Brian Eno
4/5
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Metallica
2/5
Not as good as each component. It has some highlights, but I’d rather be listening to just Metallica or just an orchestra.
Screaming Trees
4/5
5/5
Little Simz
5/5
Snoop Dogg
5/5
An absolute classic of the g-funk era. Snoop's debut sounded fresh and was full of creative lyrics and beats. It's held up well and is essential listening for rap fans and non-fans alike.
Paul Weller
1/5
Very disappointing. I love The Jam, The Style Council, and have enjoyed some of Paul Weller's solo music, but this was so far off the mark for me. Generic, hokey, and somehow appearing ahead of its time only in the fact it sounds like a strange John Mayer acoustic tribute act at times. Genuinely torn between a 1 or a 2 star, but I found it hard to find anything I really enjoyed.
Van Morrison
3/5
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Slightly slow to start, but sensational tracks back-to-back after that. It’s legendary for a reason.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Whilst important at its time, I don’t think that it’s held up particularly well. More a museum piece than essential listening, and that’s coming from someone who was deep into the gangsta rap scene in the ‘90s.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
A fantastic album. As a big Tom Waits fan, I was put onto this album a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Interesting sound throughout and well worth the listen.
Nick Drake
4/5
The Beach Boys
4/5
Stereolab
4/5
Merle Haggard
4/5
Norah Jones
2/5
Harmless enough, but not exactly impactful. Nothing inherently bad, but nothing to get too excited about.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
4/5
Country folk done fantastically. Lots of wonderful songwriting and production throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Travis
1/5
I thought that we'd consigned Travis to annals of dreary-pop history when the new millennium rolled around. Why on Earth this deserves a place on the list is beyond me. Even something like Elbow would've been acceptable, but not this dross.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
The highs of this album are fantastic, but it’s just a little too watered down with filler.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
Stunning. I’d never visited Dylan’s work outside of the main albums and was suitably impressed. Excellent delivery and swampy blues lines. Very good.
Roxy Music
4/5
Guns N' Roses
4/5
B.B. King
4/5
Fantastic playing and singing throughout, but to say that the songs are one dimensional is an understatement. I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 here. The quality of the musicianship is doing some heavy lifting here, that's for sure.
Aphex Twin
4/5
I started listening to this album on earphones which lack bass response, which was a massive mistake. I put on some decent headphones and it's improved ten fold. Really important in the history of electronic music, but also a great collection of songs and ambient beats. Funnily enough, I've found it helps me concentrate on whatever I'm doing. Worth listening to with an open mind.
Queen
3/5
A somewhat underwhelming entry. The low parts aren't as introspective as Queen can be, and the highs aren't quite as bombastic as they can be.
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
I absolutely adore the instrumentation on this album. There's some fantastic '90s grunge and alt-rock vibes throughout. However, the lyrics and vocals are so far off the mark for me that it mars the entire experience. When the female vocalist performs I love it, top-tier stuff, but the main vocalist lets down the side.
Blur
4/5
The Waterboys
3/5
A solid album overall. Drags a little at times, but some notable high points that make it worth while.
Adele
3/5
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Very hard work. Moments of beauty but disjointed between that.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
A punk classic. Some ska influence throughout. I was surprised to see it pop up on this list, but it was fun to revisit it and feel 16 again.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Taylor Swift
2/5
Well produced pop with a couple of hyper catchy tracks which will get stuck in your head. Really not for me.
Common
5/5
Fantastic album throughout. It’s definitely a product of it’s time, but Common has apologised for these lyrics and is always trying to improve himself, so I think it’s important to bear that in mind.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
The album is a bit one note, but it's a beautiful note, at least. Not something I'm going to be in the mood for every day, but I can't deny that I enjoyed what I heard.
The Go-Go's
5/5
Joyful new-wave pop. I found myself completely wrapped up in it and enjoyed the entire journey.
Silver Jews
4/5
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
A beautiful, and somewhat dreamlike, journey. Really enjoyed my time with it and will definitely be coming back for more.
Ice Cube
5/5
A fantastic album which has stood up well over the years. The main themes are still salient and are delivered with a suitable amount of venom. Some great beats in there, too. This was never my favourite Ice Cube album when I was regularly listening to rap, but going back to it I think that I may have been too hasty with that judgement. Definitely a classic.
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Elvis Presley
2/5
Mike Oldfield
5/5
Just a wonderful, and at times weird, journey. Good headphones and setting aside 30 minutes to just listen are highly recommended here.
5/5
Not even “When I’m 64” can detract from this album.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Fantastic album. "Cinnamon Girl" is an incredibly strong start, whilst "Down By The River" is the true gem. Wonderful, wistful, and melancholy. Essential listening.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
It's a solid album and a real nostalgia hit at the same time. They were very popular for a while in the '90s and it does take me back to that. That said, I did find myself wishing that I was just listening to Portishead instead.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
I've found this a very difficult album to rate. When it's firing, it's up there with the best. However, there are probably a couple too many tracks which are just "okay" to justify a 5-star rating. The best tracks are almost entirely the ones with Grace Slick on lead vocals. Her vibrato and passion are infectious. A great album, but just not quite a masterpiece.
Fishbone
2/5
This album is certainly full on. It sounds as if "Extreme" decided to take a trip through Ska Avenue on their way to the studio. The album is rather all over the place and lacks cohesion, but there are some fun riffs here and there. I can't say that it's something I'll find myself coming back to any time soon, though.
Radiohead
5/5
A classic. Not a bad track on here. Not really much else to add.
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
A very enjoyable jaunt into psychedelia. I can only imagine how it sounded when it was first released as it's still enjoyable now. Worth a listen.
Beach House
4/5
Dreamy.
Gary Numan
4/5
Lots of great tunes throughout. It's a very influential album which still sounds unique and identifiable after all this time. It was clearly a massive influence on the vapourwave aesthetic, too. A little bit one note, but a great album.
Cheap Trick
2/5
I've never been a fan of Cheap Trick, and live albums are very hit and miss. This album was better than I was expecting, but then again I was expecting a 1/5. In fairness, I'd say that it's between a 2 and a 3, but there's not enough quality here to push it up to a 3 for me.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
It’s brilliant, but that’s no real surprise.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Politics aside, this is really a mixed album. The singles are massive and still stand up very well now. However, some of the album tracks really drag down the overall rating. The highs are really high, but the lows really low.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
An enjoyable slice of the '90s Britpop scene. At the time I preferred Stereophonics, but in recent years I've come around to the fact that the Manics are the better band. This album is solid throughout and has a few standout tracks. Nothing to take it to a 5 star rating, but definitely worth a 4.
Randy Newman
2/5
I wanted to like this album, but it just didn't vibe with me at all. Obviously, his voice is divisive at the best of times, but I wanted to look past that. However, I felt that there were too many clunky or childish lyrics, and the music itself seemed juvenile. It really did feel like a "My First Singer Songwriter" type of deal, rather than a definitive album.
Portishead
5/5
Sublime from start to finish. One of my favourite albums of all time, so I was delighted to see it on the list. Sultry, atmospheric, and Intensely stylish. I fully recommend this.
Solange
3/5
This is an interesting album, but it never quite delivers on its potential. I think that it's a little too "light touch" to full achieve what it could. Not bad in any way, just not moving beyond "pretty good".
Slayer
1/5
I should preface this by saying that I've always loved heavy music and still listen to a lot of metal. That said, I hated this album. The guitar solos sound like they've just been pasted in without any regard to the rest of the song, the drums sound cheap, the vocalist is not a great singer, the lyrics are often childish and shoe-horned in without any consideration to cadence, chromaticism has been used as a substitute for creativity etc.
I appreciate that it was important at the time for a number of reasons, but it's really not a good listen now.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Genuinely speaking, I find that live albums fall a bit flat. You don't have the benefit of precise mixing like on the album, and you don't have the energy that you'd get from actually being there in person. That holds true here, too. I do like Thin Lizzy and it was fun hearing a lot of their best songs in one place, but I'd rather be listening to a proper studio production, to be honest.
Shack
2/5
A pretty inoffensive Britpop outing. I'm not sure why it was deemed interesting or noteworthy enough to appear on this list, to be honest. I found that I'd stopped paying attention to it a couple of times and had to focus on it to even really realise it was there. Not "bad", per se, but certainly not of any particular note or merit.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
As this is an album almost entirely of covers, I expected it to be a bit underwhelming and not a touch on some of the original blues tracks on which the songs are based. That wasn't really the case. There's enough personality and unique flavour here, and also hints of what's to come, that it's a thoroughly enjoyable album on its own merits.
The Incredible String Band
3/5
Based on the reviews on here, I'd expected a very polarising album. However, that's not my experience. It was silly and sloppy at times, but it was endearing and had its own charm. I'm not going to say it was a transcendental experience or anything, but there were enough moments of interest to keep me hooked. It is silly, though.
Deep Purple
5/5
Excellent album from start to finish. In fact, the only negative for me is that "Smoke on the Water" is on here and we've all heard that played a million times before. "Highway Star" is an excellent opening track and it just carries on from there.
Red Snapper
3/5
Whilst this album invokes the sounds of Portishead and Massive Attack, it doesn't approach them fully. It was an enjoyable, if slightly forgettable listen.
X-Ray Spex
4/5
A thoroughly enjoyable album. I was already familiar with the band, having seen them some years ago at a punk all-dayer festival, but this was more new wave than I expected. That said, it was great fun throughout. Not every song is a classic or anything, but the album as a whole has a lot of energy and personality. Well worth a listen.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
An absolute classic. "Venus in Furs" is worth the price of entry by itself.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Some good stuff here and there, but it is overly saccharine and simplistic at times. Not awful by any stretch, but nothing that I'll ever return to.
Tom Waits
5/5
An absolutely seminal album. Waits' earlier offerings were fantastic, but were more standard singer-songwriter style with lots of blues, folk, and jazz influences. This album marks a deviation from that as Waits delves more into the experimental and proto-industrial. Echoing clangs of junkyards, haunting Vaudevillian melodies, and poetic musings all fill a rich and varied soundscape. Waits' ability to craft worlds and characters with his lyrics is second to none and ensures this album is truly memorable.
Beatles
5/5
Not too much to say here that hasn't already been said. It's a fantastic album throughout. There are a few weaker songs here and there, but I think they don't do too much to diminish the overall album.
4/5
Muse are not cool. That’s true. But there are some great riffs, tones, and soundscapes here. It’s grandiose, bombastic, over the top, and mostly fun.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
It's not bad, but nothing particularly exciting either. It comes across at times like something off a jazz Christmas album. There's something inherently '80s cheese about the sound. Again, it wasn't bad, but nothing to bring me back.
The Youngbloods
3/5
As a snapshot of a moment in time in music, it's certainly interesting. Arriving at the intersection between the fading of psychedelia and the popularity of the country/folk scene, it has a foot in each camps. It's not massively remarkable in terms of the actual songs, but it's pleasant enough. Although, perhaps "pleasant" is an insult, in its own way.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
A really solid album throughout. The highlights are obvious and there's not really a poor song amongst them. "Mr Blue Sky", whilst being one of the most overplayed songs of all time, still stands up and sounds wonderful.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
There was nothing egregiously wrong with this album, but nothing that really made it stand out, either. It was pleasant enough, but I'm never going to go back to it.
Hanoi Rocks
4/5
I enjoyed this album far more than I expected. It’s cheesy at times, sure, but it’s like a more distorted take on new wave and New Romantics, and I’m here for that.
Calexico
5/5
An unexpected treat. I was unfamiliar with Calexico and went into the album pretty blind. What a delight it turned out to be! The mariachi infused indie/jazz/folk offerings here are splendid. I found myself listening to not only this, but a whole number of Calexico albums as I got lost in their pretty unique sound. This album was awesome and has turned me onto a band that I apparently really love.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Silly and juvenile, but genuinely fun at times.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
As a big Genesis fan, I knew that I was going to enjoy this. Yes, it's very '80s sounding, but the atmosphere that he invokes is wonderful and really pulls you in. There's a melancholy, particularly in the opening track, which really sets the tone well. Very enjoyable.
The Stooges
3/5
I'm a fan of Iggy Pop, but I don't think this album holds up anywhere near as well as "Raw Power" and the like. Obviously, "I Want to be your Dog" is a stone-cold classic, and there is stuff to enjoy here, but it's not one that I'll find myself going back to all too often.
Ministry
2/5
There's parts of this album that I really enjoyed, then parts which were really not up to much. "Just One Fix" has an awesome industrial guitar riff that really grabbed me, but much of the rest of the album fell a little flat for me.
Morrissey
3/5
Not reaching the heights of any of The Smiths albums, but not terrible. I didn't hate it, but I can't say I fell in love with any of the songs, either.
Tina Turner
2/5
This is really not my cup of tea. I’m not saying it’s bad, but just not for me.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
A decent album with some major high points. The opening track, “Mother’s Little Helper”, does set the bar a little too high as it’s probably the best track on the record. There’s some pretty standard blues rock and a few other crackers. Worthy of four stars.
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
I guess that was technically an album.
Suede
5/5
Whilst not delivering as many singles and big "moments" as the follow-up album, "Coming Up", this is a fantastic album. More experimental than you might expect from Suede if you're only familiar with their bigger singles, but it's just a great journey from start to finish.
The Prodigy
5/5
This isn't my favourite The Prodigy album, but it's still fantastic. I'm more of a fan of "Experience", as it goes. However, I'm a sucker for a bit of industrial, so this ticks that box nicely. I've fond memories of seeing them live as a teenager and this brings them all back.
Eric Clapton
2/5
Obviously, Eric Clapton is an odious human. That said, lets focus on the music. Eric Clapton is obviously capable of making some great music, this is apparent with the Blues Breakers album and his work with Cream. However, this album is not it. It's lacking in genuine punch or emotion, ending up feeling like the white-washed take on blues that it is. It sounds like it was made for bankers to listen to on the boats rather than channelling everything that makes the blues worth listening to.
The second half of the album is better than the first, but yeah, not great.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
An enjoyable album throughout. Rather poppy, but some lovely melodies. Worth a revisit at a later date.
Joanna Newsom
4/5
I totally understand why her sound is divisive, but I found a lot here to love. The folk sound with flecks of Bjork here and there is something I can definitely get behind. You do have to be in the right mood for it, mind.
The Jam
4/5
A great slice of mod. Whilst it doesn't have the singles of some of their other albums, it's solid from start to finish and bristling with energy.
MGMT
5/5
An unexpected treat. When MGMT were new on the scene, I'd somewhat dismissed them for just having a few catchy singles and never paid the album much attention. That was a mistake. Whilst having the aforementioned singles, there's a lot more going on in this album. A kind of faux-pop which deviates into spacey and Bowie-inspired tracks. Absolutely excellent.
Tom Waits
5/5
Whilst not the greatest Tom Waits album, this record defines the end of Waits' first phase, that of a singer-songwriter channelling the energy of every dive bar in the US in a piano and guitar driven Cab Calloway-esque explosion. It's not the best example of that early sound by any means, but it's still excellent and still worth anyone's time. As someone else so wonderfully said, Tom Waits finds more beauty in the gutter than most could find in the Garden of Eden.
Donovan
4/5
It's pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a '60s Donovan album. Full of folksy guitar and a dash of psychedelia. I don't think it's a masterpiece, but it's a solid album and worth a listen.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
This album transports you to a beach-side jazz bar in Cuba, resplendent with mojitos galore. In reality, it was a rainy day in Birmingham. Any album which can paint a scene and transport you there is worthy of praise and I'm sure to listen to this again the next time I'm enjoying a strong rum-based drink.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Fantastic from start to finish.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
The album starts off as an old school rock 'n' roll affair, nothing too surprising. It does take a side step into the rockabilly at times, with tracks that would hint at the sound that The Stray Cats would go on to perfect a little later. Nothing too extraordinary here for the modern listener, but enjoyable, nonetheless.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
4/5
I've enjoyed most of Damon Albarn's projects over the years. This one isn't the most exciting, but it's still a solid album throughout.
Justice
4/5
Whilst a little long, and god knows that "The Party" should've been cut from this album, this is a massive sounding album full of catchy tracks. Electronica isn't my genre, but I enjoyed this a lot overall. Honestly, just the quality of the production and how big these songs sound is enough to make it a good time.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
I love Neil Young, but I thought that this didn't match the heights of his solo collection. Pretty middle of the road for the most part. As a fan of Joni Mitchell, I did enjoy the cover of "Woodstock" as a curio, but that's about it.
The Cult
4/5
It's '80s rock in the same vein as Guns 'n' Roses, so if you're into that then you'll probably enjoy this. The sound reminded me a lot of Danzig, at times, which is odd as I haven't thought about them in many years. Something which I haven't seen other people talking about is the impressive production quality of the whole thing. The guitars sound massive and the drums are powerful, but that's perhaps not too surprising when you consider that Rick Rubin was at the helm.
Tom Waits
5/5
I'm a massive Tom Waits fan, so it's always nice when an album of his pops up on this list. The atmosphere created in this album is arguably better than the songs themselves, as it's not his best collection in pure music terms. No one can paint a scene quite like Tom Waits, and this holds true here.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Not Springsteen’s most cohesive album, but probably his best collection of great singles.
M.I.A.
3/5
An interesting album overall. It has its high points, such as "Bucky Done Gun" and "Hombre", but it's not a slam dunk throughout.
The Prodigy
5/5
Always happy to listen to The Prodigy. This album is a wonderful mix of their dance roots with a mean streak of industrial mixed in. Still sounds awesome to this day.
Air
3/5
I think I was already familiar with about half of this album as it's been used in adverts and various forms of media over the last couple of decades. It's solid, good at times, although it does drift into "background music" territory a touch too often.
Mike Ladd
4/5
This was a surprisingly interesting album. It started off as a solid, if slightly unremarkable, rap record. The second half, though, takes on quite a different tone. There's some jazz influence and more than a little Gil Scott-Heron rising to the surface. I'd say the first half is fine, and I'd have been happy giving it a 3/5, but the second half really elevates things. Definitely worth sticking with.
The Stooges
5/5
Still holds up. A nasty-sounding punk album with plenty of bite. Damn near perfect.
Johnny Cash
5/5
A great album from a legend in his twilight. Obviously, there's a lot of covers on here, but some of them are so good that they've transcended the genre entirely. There's a pathos to Cash's vocals here which is so powerful.
Prince
3/5
I was very excited for this, but I really didn’t vibe with it. It sounds incredibly dated. An amazing talent, for sure, but not something I’ll return to in a hurry. Couple of bangers, mind.
Aimee Mann
2/5
Pretty middle of the road throughout. It's not really "bad", but it didn't elicit anything from me, either.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Thoroughly enjoyable album. Starts with "Never Let Me Down Again", which is probably the best song on the album. That said, it's not as if there's a sharp dip in quality. Great album.
Public Enemy
4/5
Yeaaaaa boiiiiiii!
It holds up pretty well after all these years for the most part. the "yeah boi" does get a little tedious about half way through the album, but overall it's still fantastic. Lyrically wonderful and some great beats throughout.
I'm kind of on the fence between 4 and 5. Either would be fair, I think.
...
"YEA BOIIIIII"
...
Yeah, four stars it is.
John Lee Hooker
2/5
This is tough to rate. I love John Lee Hooker, he’s an absolute legend. That said, most of this album suffers from the same thing a lot of ‘80s blues albums suffer from: it’s massively overproduced and has too much going on. All the extra guitars and horns etc just don’t need to be there. The last couple of tracks, though, are much more stripped down and sound far better for it.
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Technically very impressive, but I'm not sure that I had that much fun listening to it. I do enjoy some jazz, but this didn't hit right for me. I'm sure I would feel differently if I'd been listening to it in a whisky bar with a cigar, but I wasn't. I was sat at my desk working.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
The joke wore thin quite quickly for me.
Dire Straits
4/5
Some great tracks. It can be a little ponderous at times, but overall a great album.
Dolly Parton
3/5
A good album. Limited themes overall, but decent.
The Byrds
3/5
Eminently important and full of impressive soundscapes for the time, but it's definitely something of a museum piece for the modern listener. It's worth checking out, along with some of their other work, just so that you can get a feel for their influence and the impact it had on what was to come. That said, it's not terribly exciting in and of itself to listeners who have become accustomed to the more sonically impactful bands that followed.
Eagles
4/5
Some absolute classics on here, of course. The album still sounds great as a whole and, considering the high points, is a must-listen for anyone into rock or rock-adjacent genres.
Neu!
4/5
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this was better than that. Often dreamy, often with a little edge, it's an interesting listen. You can hear a lot of Joy Division in parts of this album, which I found particularly interesting.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
I like a lot of the songs on here, but not as an album. I think it can become grating after a few songs, but individually they’re a lot of fun.
Paul Simon
4/5
Timeless, accessible, full of hits, and somehow not cheesy.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
A very interesting album. At its best it combines poetry with jazz, and at its worst it's swinging wildly without a target. The positives outweigh the negatives, and it's definitely something that any rap fan should check out.
Queen Latifah
3/5
It's certainly limited and showing its age, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. It's rather one-dimensional with its lyrical content, but the beats are catchy and it has a charm.
Barry Adamson
4/5
A unique and enjoyable soundscape. I didn't expect to hear Jarvis Cocker on there, so that was a nice surprise. Was also a bit surprised to actually recognise bits and pieces from throughout the album. Interesting, at the very least.
The Police
3/5
I don't like The Police. I respect their place in music history and respect their song writing, but I've never actually enjoyed their music. This album didn't change that, but the track "Synchronicity II" was bloody good.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
It was like Joy Division, but replace everything good about Joy Division with something much, much worse.
David Bowie
4/5
Decent enough, but not Bowie's best showing.
Mj Cole
2/5
It's not my cup of tea, but it's certainly a sound of the time. "Crazy Love" was everywhere for a while back then.
Genesis
5/5
An absolute masterpiece of an album. "Carpet Crawlers" is an all-time great.
Kanye West
5/5
It's a shame that Kanye West has become such a deranged tool as the music he used to make was top tier. This album is fuckin' incredible and has to be enjoyed outside of the scope of West himself.
OutKast
5/5
The album still sounds as fantastic now as when it released. Sure, it's a touch long, but when the only real criticism I have is that there's a bit too much of something I start sounding like my missus.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Sweet and twee, certainly a product of its time in that respect. It's well crafted, though, and the instrumentation is suitably delicate throughout. It's too long, that's for sure, but there's a lot to love about this.
The Isley Brothers
5/5
Fantastic from start to finish. A chilled out and funky album with plenty of surprisingly cool guitar solos on it. A must listen.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
“You ain’t a beauty, but yeah, you’re alright”.
The Fall
5/5
This really grew on me as I listened to it. It's just a fantastic album. Kind of a missing link in English music, in a way.
Dinosaur Jr.
5/5
Sensational album. I've been aware of Dinosaur Jr. for a long time, even catching a bit of their set at Download Festival many years ago, but I've never actually sat down and listened to their stuff. Turns out it's excellent. Who knew?
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Wonderfully technically impressive with moments of true genius, but it's a long time to listen to a solo piano.
The Modern Lovers
4/5
This grew on me as I went through the album. It's rough and unrefined at times, but there is a sincerity that shines through.
Beastie Boys
5/5
A work of genius.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
I listened to a lot of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs when they first hit the scene, but I was living abroad when this album released and never really listened to it. Shame, because it's fucking excellent.
The Cure
5/5
Stunning.
Carole King
5/5
Legendary.
Def Leppard
2/5
It's hard to imagine a more mainstream focused rock album.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
A wonderful album which swells into life and surges forward with honesty, complexity, and sincerity.
Iron Maiden
2/5
I've never gotten along with Iron Maiden. I find them unendearingly cheesy and lacking in everything which makes for good rock/metal in my eyes. They're also not as cool as their own t-shirts.
Carpenters
2/5
Saccharine from start to finish. There's some classic melodies and tracks here, but it's delivered in such a thick layer of sugar that it's hard to listen to more than one track.
The Byrds
2/5
Mr. Tambourine Man is one of Dylan's truly great songs, so when the title track of the album is a poor cover of that, you know you're not dealing with anything mind-blowing.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Unsurprisingly, just like a less good The Beatles. A couple of good singles, but nothing that really inspires.
Boston
4/5
Whilst certainly straying over the line into cheesy a few times, it's a classic album for a reason. The guitar sounds on this record defined guitar tone for a generation, so its influence can't be overstated in that regard. It still holds up, overall, despite the aforementioned cheese factor.
Bob Dylan
5/5
It's between this and Blood on the Tracks for the crown of best Dylan album. Either way, they're both stone-cold classics.
Elton John
3/5
I've never been an Elton John fan, despite enjoying "Tiny Dancer". This album hasn't really changed my mind on that, but it was definitely better than I'd expected. I'm sure that a lot of people will find a lot to love here, but for me it fell short of what it could've been.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
I'm a big lover of the blues and have been known to dabble in jazz, but big band is something I've never really gotten into. I see the appeal, but it's not for me. That said, this album was really enjoyable and probably the best example of the genre I've ever heard.
Scissor Sisters
4/5
Surprisingly enjoyable. Scissor Sisters were everywhere for a while around 2004 and I'd never listened to their album. I found myself having more fun that I'd expected.
Sebadoh
4/5
A new one on me. Discordant and dissonant at times, but an enjoyable kind of chaos that pulls you through rather than leaving you behind.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Stunning from start to finish.
The Monks
5/5
So far ahead of its time. It's honestly quite surprising to think that this came out when and where it did. Yes, it does get pretty out there at times, but it's genuinely interesting to listen to.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Whilst not the absolute best that Dylan has to offer, it's still exceptional.
Cat Stevens
3/5
Enjoyable, well written, and overall tight. It just doesn't do a great deal for me compared to the other singer-songwriters of the age.
Slade
4/5
Slade are something of local legends around the Black Country, most famous for a few big hits, including "Merry Xmas Everybody" and "Cum on Feel the Noize". Despite that, I'd never really thought to have a listen to their albums. They sort of existed as a band with a couple of singles rather than having albums that might be worth listening to. This album wasn't revelatory or anything, but it was certainly better than I'd expected. Enjoyable glam rock and well worth the listen.
Lightning Bolt
1/5
It was interesting at times, but it felt like they couldn't even play their instruments at times. The bass and drums fall out of time a lot, the snare sounds like it's made from a Quality Street tin, and some songs really drag on. It was marginally interesting here and there, but not one of the 1001 best albums of all time.
Röyksopp
3/5
Reminds me a lot of the Cafe Del Mar scene that was popular in the late '90s/early '00s. It's nothing life changing, but pretty chill.
Miles Davis
5/5
Cool before cool was cool.
The Offspring
5/5
Quintessential American punk.
Coldcut
4/5
There were a few tracks on there I was already familiar with and I found myself enjoying the album overall. Vibes of Happy Mondays mixed with New Order, at times.
Various Artists
3/5
The obvious issues with Phil Spector aside, this is a solid, albeit cheesy, Christmas album.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Stunning from start to finish. A masterpiece of the genre.
The xx
4/5
Atmospheric and moody. Not ground breaking, but an enjoyable listen, nonetheless.
Saint Etienne
3/5
An interesting mix. I wouldn't put it on this list myself, but it was good.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Early Bob Dylan was a work in progress, not yet complete, but the album is still splendid and essential listening.
The Cure
5/5
Another classic from The Cure. Pure atmosphere from start to finish.
Fugees
5/5
Effortlessly cool and timeless. This was one of my favourite albums growing up and it withstood the test of time. Could maybe do with getting rid of the Chinese restaurant skit, but skits were just endemic in this period of rap and hip hop.
The Who
4/5
Strong start and finish let down by a middling middle.
Afrika Bambaataa
4/5
Obviously dated, but iconic and important. You can't view it purely with a modern lens.
Massive Attack
4/5
Not up to the levels of Mezzanine, but still a good album.
Jurassic 5
5/5
This album has been a regular listen ever since I first picked it up around 20 years ago. Great beats with some wonderful lyricism throughout.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
5/5
Starts and ends with cool hip hop, but the soul middle was unexpected. Great album.
Minor Threat
5/5
Fast paced, full of anger and indignation, , doesn't stick around too long, and catchy to go with it. Basically, everything you could want from a hardcore punk album.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
I enjoyed the storytelling here, easily transporting you to a different time and place. However, some of the people who followed him improve on this formula. I can't see myself going back to listen to this when Townes Van Zandt also exists. Still, enjoyable.
Sex Pistols
5/5
Sounds better now than it did as a teenager. A bit manufactured, as we all now know, but still influential, important, and great.
Soul II Soul
4/5
Cool, soulful, and hooky.
John Grant
5/5
Very interesting album from a guy I wasn't familiar with. It's taken a couple of listens to really land, but it really is worth a listen.
Jack White
3/5
I'm a Jack White fan for the most part, but there's nothing here that he hasn't improved upon in his later albums.
Radiohead
5/5
Whilst not my favourite Radiohead album, it's still fantastic.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I found his voice a touch grating at times, but overall it was a really good album.
Scott Walker
5/5
Unexpectedly enjoyable. There's some low reviews on here, but I'm not in agreeance with them. Whilst the songs can come across as a bit cheesy on first listen, they're full of interesting stories and characters. In fact, I was quite surprised by the directness in covering certain topics considering when the album was released. Didn't expect to like this as much as I did.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Fun and interesting enough, despite many of its features becoming cliche over time.
The Doors
4/5
It’s The Doors doing Doors-y stuff.
The Icarus Line
4/5
Unexpectedly enjoyable. It's on the right side of noise for me. A good wall of sound with melody still coming through. Very good album.
Van Halen
2/5
It finally struck me why I don't like Van Halen... they sound like a juiced-up Def Leppard.
I hate Def Leppard.
Of course, it's technically very impressive and some of the solos are great, but the actual songs? Not so much.
Pink Floyd
5/5
It's a banging album. That's all there is to it, really.
George Jones
3/5
Not the biggest country fan, but it was okay. Nothing life changing or anything, but a pleasant distraction.
Nina Simone
3/5
I enjoy Nina Simone, but this album wasn't her best work. The high points were high, but there's a couple of tracks which I really wasn't feeling.
Ramones
5/5
Early punk done well.
Echo And The Bunnymen
5/5
Excellent.
Pearl Jam
5/5
I was thrilled to see this album pop up today. I've always really enjoyed Pearl Jam when I've heard them, but hadn't taken the time to sit down and listen to their albums all the way through. It's just as good as I'd hoped it would be.
Miles Davis
5/5
Whilst I prefer "Kind of Blue", it'd be a crime to give this anything less than a five.
Eagles
3/5
Obviously a little dated and the country influence doesn't appeal to me too much, but there's plenty to enjoy here.
John Lennon
3/5
As a solo artist he could never quite find what made The Beatles so good.
George Michael
2/5
It's really not for me. It's well put together and Michael's performance is solid throughout, but it just doesn't do anything for me. I've never really been one for that kind of soft pop.
Foo Fighters
5/5
Heartfelt and vulnerable.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Interesting enough, if a bit airy at times.
Wild Beasts
4/5
Weird and a bit out there at times, but good. Found myself getting sucked into the songs.
Elbow
3/5
I think I may have been overly harsh on Elbow over the years. I'd considered them to be in the same category as Coldplay and Travis. The truth seems to be that they are in a category above them, but still not a category worth revisiting regularly.
The Undertones
4/5
Well-written pop punk before pop punk was really a genre. Massively well known in the UK for Teenage Kicks, but they are offering something a little different here, and I'm here for it.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Rather torn on this one. On the one hand, the music itself is phenomenal. The playing is top-tier and can't be faulted. But, there are two major issues:
1 - Live albums are so rarely good. This isn't an exception.
2 - It's very long. Maintaining active focus on an album for over two hours is one hell of a challenge when it's not the main task of your day.
Mariah Carey
1/5
I couldn't make it through this one, to be honest. The songs themselves are pretty by-the-number R&B tracks of the time, but I can't stand her whistle notes. It goes right through me.
Otis Redding
5/5
Awesome. Wish it was easier to get a hold of the original recordings without all the additional fluff, but just awesome.
The Bees
3/5
Light and airy.
Dr. Octagon
2/5
Interesting beats and some cool flows, but it's all rather creepy.
Radiohead
5/5
I didn't love this as much as other Radiohead albums on release, but it's grown on me over the years. I think the less focus on guitars put me off at first, but the songs themselves are just great.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Highs and lows on this one. Overall a solid album and somewhere between a 3 and a 4.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
The White Stripes
4/5
Solid.
The Clash
5/5
Legendary.
Hole
3/5
Pretty middle of the road alternative.
Kelela
3/5
Decent, but not particularly exciting.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Lots to love about this one.
New Order
5/5
Excellent. I love New Order, but I wasn't too familiar with this particular album. Parts of it stray into The Cure territory, which is never a bad thing.
Pulp
5/5
One of the finest albums ever made. I'm not surprised to read some of the reviews on here of people so far removed from England who just don't get it. But if you do get it, it's transformative and raw.
Richard Hawley
4/5
Endearing and charming.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Pretty middle-of-the-road soul. He's got a good voice, but there wasn't much else going on here.
George Michael
2/5
Just like the previous George Michael album on here, I just don't think I'm the target market for it.
The Specials
5/5
The Specials are legends for a reason. A fantastic blend of ska, punk, and social commentary.
The Who
2/5
There's quite a few The Who tracks that I like, but I hate live albums. There's very few live albums that actually work, as far as I'm concerned. This isn't really one of them. It's not bad for the most part, but it's certainly not good.
Sister Sledge
5/5
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I knew most of the tracks on the album, but actually listening to them properly let me appreciate them fully. Excellent production throughout and some truly iconic melodies and hooks.
Erykah Badu
4/5
Very well produced and with some great vocal performances. I don't think it quite has enough to push it into the 5* category, but it was a good listen.
Brian Eno
4/5
Interesting, but not always engaging.
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
I wanted to like this. God knows that Green Onions is an absolute belter of a track. The rest of the album just couldn't live up to it.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
I don't know what it is, but I just found this a bit dull and lyrics were pretty goofy at times.
Van Morrison
3/5
Middle of the road and inoffensive.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
What I listened to was fine, but this was just too long to commit to without it being truly exceptional.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Silent Night was weak, but otherwise a top album.
Jethro Tull
3/5
Solid album throughout. Some of the flute solos dragged on a bit long, mind.
The Doors
5/5
A much more well-rounded and well-realised album than other The Doors records. It's solid and consistent throughout, but ending with "Riders on the Storm" elevates everything that comes before it.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I'm not a fan of Iron Maiden by any stretch. I find their particular brand of metal to be quite hackneyed and cheesy. However, this album was the best I've heard of them. There's a couple of weak tracks, notably "Charlotte the Harlot", but there's enough here that I enjoyed. Some of the early tracks reminded me more of the heavier Deep Purple stuff, so that was decent. As the album goes on it evolves into what I'd always considered a more stereotypical Iron Maiden sound. Not enough here to make me an Iron Maiden lover, but it's softened my hatred by a good amount.
Dizzee Rascal
5/5
Fire. I do feel that grime as a genre is somewhat unique in that it started at the high point, rather than building to it. When this came out, it really was a breath of fresh air. There was nothing out there that sounded like it and it wasn't merely aping the American sound.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Surprisingly solid throughout. I obviously knew a few singles before hand, but the whole package was good.
Morrissey
2/5
The Smiths this is not. There are moments where the old magic shines through, but it's not consistent across the run time. "First of the Gang to Die" is pretty solid, but not much else stood out to me.
The Band
4/5
Lacking a bit of cohesion as an album, but a decent collection of songs and a good slice of Americana.
Kings of Leon
2/5
This album makes me sad. There was time, before this album, when Kings of Leon were genuinely good. This was when that stopped being the case.
Dagmar Krause
4/5
That's one of the most bizarre things that I've ever listened to in my life. It was like the feeling of existential dread you get deep in your soul the day after an intense session on the whiskey. It was like listening to the soundtrack to an oddly macabre musical which doesn't exist. It was like listening into an alternative timeline and hearing something you shouldn't.
Yet, it was strangely compelling. Once I'd got my ear in, I was kind of hooked and dragged along for the ride. What an odd thing this is.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Sarah Vaughan is undeniably wonderful, but I'm not a fan of live albums 99% of the time. Whilst this was a pretty decent one, I would've preferred a proper studio album.
Brian Eno
4/5
Excellent pop album.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
Fantastic. Very powerful themes with some great melodies and soulful singing. I've been familiar with her most famous tracks for a long time, but had never listened to her albums. Will be rectifying that going forwards.
John Martyn
4/5
Decent folk album with a lot of Neil Young in it.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Some classics, but not something that stands out to me now.
Turbonegro
3/5
The music is fun, the lyrics are childish. It's a good time overall, though, as long as you don't take it too seriously. Shame I didn't discover them when I was 12 years old because I'd have been all about it.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
It's excellent. The second half isn't as strong as the first, but it's still excellent. Hell, the second half of this album is better than most other albums on this list, and that's not even an insult.
Pixies
5/5
An awesome kaleidoscope of music. Perfectly on the edge of falling apart at several points throughout the album.
3/5
I enjoyed elements of this, but live albums really aren't the ticket for me. I'll probably go and check out some of their studio albums, though.
Oasis
5/5
Yes, it's derivative. Yes, it's brash. But I still enjoy it as it was such a part of my music background growing up. This album is undeniably still good.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
This was huge for a minute or three. I don’t get a massive amount from it personally, but it’s definitely an important album.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
I see Gershwin and Fitzgerald and I’m happy.
The Cramps
4/5
A bit one note, but it's an enjoyable note. A nice dose of psychobilly which was, overall, a lot of fun.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
The '80s production undermines this album a lot. There are good songs here, but the thick layer of synthetic makeup that's slathered over it hasn't stood up too well to the test of time.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Not my favourite LCD Soundsystem album, but still a good one.
2Pac
5/5
Seminal.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
5/5
Spacious and dreamy throughout. I'm a big fan of this kind of shoegaze.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Whilst I didn't enjoy it as much as the Nico album, it was still a good listen. I think it might be an album which improves with multiple listens.
The White Stripes
4/5
Whilst it’s become a very familiar sound now, it was awesome and fresh when it was new. Still a good album.
Gang Of Four
4/5
Influential and still a good listen.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
5/5
An unexpected treat. It's raw and chaotic, with bits of Iggy Pop and Captain Beefheart pulsing throughout. I saw the low reviews and feared the worst, but this was a belter.
N.W.A.
5/5
Like an American sociology case study to a funky soundtrack. It's easy to criticise the content with a modern lens, but that really misses the point as to what makes this album so important. Add onto that the ground-breaking music and production and this is an easy 5 stars.
Joe Ely
3/5
I enjoy a spot of country, but this style isn't exactly my vibe. Still, it had some really nice moments sprinkled throughout where the songwriting shone through.
Meat Puppets
3/5
A bit of a bizarre album. I bounced off the start of it hard, but then parts of it were actually enjoyable. The vocals were just too weak for me, for the most part, but it worked on some songs. It's not something I'll revisit, but I'm glad I heard it.
3/5
The music is great, the vocals are not. This holds a place of nostalgia for me, so it's hard to be entirely objective here. I think there are much better nu-metal albums that could've been on here in its place, though.
Radiohead
5/5
Not as pop friendly, but the journey of the album is fantastic.
MC Solaar
5/5
Stylish, smooth, and full of personality. I've not really listened to any French rap before, but this was sensational.
The Police
3/5
I've never really understood the adoration of The Police. They're fine. They're good musicians. They wrote some good tunes. I just don't see how they belong in the pantheon of the all-time greats, is all. This album didn't go any way to changing that opinion.
David Bowie
5/5
Yet another David Bowie classic. It's not my favourite era of Bowie, but it's still exceptional.
Rush
4/5
Never listened to a full Rush album before, but it's about what I expected. There's a lot to like, but also I dislike the vocals generally. Still, good stuff.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
A bit all over the place. Some good tunes throughout, but lacking cohesion. Great bass work.
Spiritualized
3/5
I enjoy my shoegaze to be a bit more full on, but it was still a decent album overall.
Adele
2/5
It's not bad in any way, but it does nothing for me. She has a good voice, obviously, but the music just feels a bit bland.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
Not my genre of choice, but enjoyable for the most part.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Decent, if somewhat uninspiring.
Jacques Brel
4/5
I don't like live albums, but this one is actually pretty good. It's not my style of music, but the power that Jacques delivers is impressive. A very emotive singer, that's for sure.
Metallica
5/5
It's great. The production does sound a touch flat at times, but the songs themselves are awesome.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Some albums deserve their status.
The Mars Volta
5/5
A simply wonderful swirl of guitars and noise. I don't normally care for this style of vocals, it's a little too emo-adjacent for my tastes, but it works here.
Orbital
2/5
It's an album you have to let happen around you, rather than actively enjoy. The first track got on my nerves, but it did improve a bit once it got going. However, I ultimately found it a bit too repetitive.
Faith No More
4/5
A good middle ground between grunge and metal. I enjoyed the album as a whole, even if the War Pigs cover was a little ill-advised.
Joy Division
5/5
Iconic.
Slint
5/5
A band I was only familiar with by name. I thoroughly enjoyed this waltz through post-rock.
Beatles
4/5
Some of The Beatles best work is on this album and there are patches where it's amongst the finest works ever committed to vinyl/CD/mp3, but there are some bad tracks on here, too. It just seems criminal to have tracks like Ob-la-di on the same album as Happiness is a Warm Gun etc.
Duran Duran
4/5
It's a bit one-note, but I still found myself singing along at times. It's obviously very dated now, but there's a lot of charm here, even now.
Metallica
5/5
A classic. More accessible than their earlier stuff, but still heavy and full of great riffs.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
I've liked some Captain Beefheart stuff over the years, but this album just doesn't stick the landing.
U2
2/5
I've never liked U2 and this did nothing to change that opinion. It's not the worst of the worst or anything, but just feels so bland and uninspiring.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Iconic.
Orbital
2/5
Just not feeling this one. Had I been on a beach in Ibiza recovering from a monster night out, then maybe I'd have enjoyed it a lot more. As it stands, I was sitting at my desk working. So, yeah, didn't feel it.
Rush
3/5
Compared to other Rush records I've listened to, the vocals on this were somewhat grating. Ended up being a pretty middling album.
R.E.M.
4/5
Solid overall. The roots of what the band would become have been established here and it's an interesting listen. I wouldn't say it's essential, but I enjoyed it.
Living Colour
3/5
Obviously, Cult of Personality is a banger. The rest of the album was alright, but nothing amazing. It was a little watered down in some areas and a bit too over the top in others.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Very enjoyable and quirky throughout. Bjork has one of the most distinct voices in music and it's really cool to see the origins of what would become one of the most creative and unique artists ever.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
The first track is sensational. Being a Wu-Tang fan, I immediately recognised the sample, but beyond that it's just stunning. The last track is a little slow on the uptake, but overall this is a great collection of songs.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Some of Dylan's finest songs are on this album, but there are a couple of weaker ones which detract slightly from the record as a whole.
Devendra Banhart
4/5
A snapshot of that time in folk music, evoking memories of Jose Gonzalez et al. An enjoyable and dreamy album overall, if lacking in enough to really make it stand out.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Interesting at times, but I don't think that it built on the Nico album enough and just collapsed in on itself, instead.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Some questionable lyrics aside, there are some great tracks on this album. I don't think it completely stands up now, but still a good listen.
The Boo Radleys
4/5
An enjoyable album and ahead of its time in many ways.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Some good tracks on the album, but it's a little monotonous as a whole.
Ute Lemper
4/5
Honestly, oddly enjoyable. I saw the negative reviews and feared the worst, but it was fun. The whole cabaret vibe is a bit cheesy, but it's endearing, too. The whole thing is played off well and I found myself enjoying it as long as I didn't think too much about it.
Supergrass
3/5
It got better towards the end.
CHVRCHES
2/5
A bit samey overall. I was hoping that it would grow on me, but it started to grate as it went on.
The Roots
4/5
A really good album. I've heard a couple of their tracks over the years, but this is my first time listening to a full album. I enjoyed it throughout. The variety of beats is really interesting and helps to hold the attention.
Steely Dan
5/5
Some great tracks on here and a great album as a whole.
Stephen Stills
2/5
I thought I'd enjoy this as a fan of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. However, I found it rather bland and middle-of-the-road.
Holger Czukay
3/5
Surprisingly interesting. It was daft at times, but genuinely gripping at others.
Elliott Smith
3/5
I didn't get hooked by this album. I think the vocal delivery was the main issue, really. It just felt so airy.
5/5
Classic.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Not for me at all. It felt too polished, too sentimental without substance, and too samey. I don't think it's bad, as such, and I'm sure that some people will find a lot to like. It's just not for me.
The Jam
5/5
Top-drawer mod noise. The bass tone is awesome throughout and the whole thing just works.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Live albums are never good. This one was better than most, but it’s still a live album.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie Wonder somehow manages to make potentially cheesy or overly-sentimental lyrics work. The chord changes during the songs are so out of the ordinary and fun to listen to. It all just works.
Can
2/5
This album passed me by, even when I was listening to it. Didn't really grip me at any point.
Hookworms
5/5
My first time listening to Microshift, but this was fantastic. A swirl of pop, dream pop, indie, and electronic influence.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Pleasant, but a bit boring at times. They were improved massively when Young joined the lineup, to be honest.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Surprisingly excellent. There's something reminiscent of Beyonce in her vocals, but once I looked past that, I really enjoyed it.
Scott Walker
3/5
Interesting, but not mind blowing.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
It's an excellent album. Could do with less wet-sex noises being pumped directly into my ears, but everything else is great. Obviously it's violent and misogynistic, but that's a window into the scene at the time. You can't judge everything with a modern lens, basically. Musically, it's fire.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
1/5
Self indulgent as hell.
Randy Newman
3/5
I hated the last Randy Newman album on this list, so was expecting to hate this. Surprisingly, it was pretty good.
Dr. Dre
5/5
Stone-cold classic. One of the greatest gansta rap albums ever made and it still stands up today.
Lorde
3/5
It was alright. It grew a bit samey as it went on, though.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
One of the great albums of all time. The message is still annoyingly relevant and the music is still fire.
Miles Davis
1/5
I like a lot of Miles Davis' work, but not this one. I appreciate it for what it is, but it's not an enjoyable listen.
The Pogues
5/5
Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash will always be my favourite The Pogues album, but this one has to be up there, too. It's a little odd listening to "Fairytale of New York" when it's not Christmas, but it's a great song on a great album.
The Damned
5/5
Truly enjoyable. I was familiar with a few The Damned tracks, but had never sat down and listened to an album of theirs. That was a mistake as this is excellent.
The Coral
4/5
I remember The Coral knocking about the NME scene of the early 2000s, but never listened to a full album. Better than expected.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
5/5
Found myself enjoying this way more than I expected. Salsa isn't a genre I have a particular affinity for, but this just hit the mood. I can see myself putting this on the next time the sun is shining, the BBQ is out, and the rum is flowing.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Between a 4 and a 5. Not my favourite Neil Young album, but some belters on here.
Big Star
4/5
I enjoyed it well enough for the most part. It's a little bloated as an album, but there's enough good songs to carry it on the whole.
Soundgarden
5/5
Awesome.
Ray Charles
4/5
A bit long and one-note, but good.
Primal Scream
3/5
Solid overall. Not their best work.
Justin Timberlake
2/5
The production on the tracks is more interesting than the songs. It wasn't as bad a listen as I was expecting, but nothing too enthralling.
Janis Joplin
5/5
There's a strange charisma about her voice that grows on me the more I listen to her. She was obviously great, but each time I put on one of her albums I have that same experience.
Hole
4/5
I enjoyed this album a lot more than Celebrity Skin. Catchy tracks, some great riffs, and overall just well made. Will revisit.
The Stranglers
5/5
Top tier, as always.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Despite the lack of focus throughout the album, there are enough good songs to make it work. Not going to change my life, but it was alright.
The Kinks
3/5
Good, but not my favourite of their catalogue.
Girls Against Boys
4/5
Not a band I was familiar with, but I enjoyed it. A couple of the tracks might find their way into a playlist at some point.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Alright, but not as good as I remember.
Fela Kuti
4/5
This is going to become a regular for summer bbqs in the garden. Fantastic.
Roxy Music
3/5
It was fine. Moments of magic with large sections with nothing of note.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
5/5
I've been aware of the band for a long time, but had never bothered to listen to an album of theirs. That was a mistake as this is fire.
Gotan Project
3/5
Decent background music. Kind of seems like a progenitor of lo-fi in a lot of ways.
David Bowie
5/5
In between a 4 and a 5, but let’s just say 5 and all be friends.
G. Love & Special Sauce
4/5
The Beckstie Boys.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Not my favourite album of hers, but even her "not-so-good" stuff is still good.
Nirvana
5/5
A timeless deconstruction of some seminal grunge records with a handful of great covers thrown in. What's not to love?
JAY Z
4/5
I have very fond memories of this album and it still, for the most part, holds up.
Garbage
4/5
Really good overall. I saw Garbage back in 2005 and really enjoyed their set, but never really listened to their albums, which was clearly a mistake.
Sepultura
2/5
Despite loving metal as a whole, I just don't think I get on with a lot of thrash, especially from this time. There's something about the production which just sounds so flat to me, and it's not unique to this album. I want metal to be dynamic and powerful, but this comes across weak. I think it's a case of making everything 11/10 all the time meaning there's no real movement within the songs.
Miles Davis
2/5
Nope.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Very enjoyable. I've listened to and enjoyed a fair amount of LCD Soundsystem, but hadn't listened to this album before. It's great.
The Teardrop Explodes
4/5
Decent enough. A little long for its own good, but I enjoyed it.
Joan Armatrading
5/5
Brummie legend. Really enjoyed this album. I've only really seen her live performances on things like The Old Grey Whistle Test, so was pleasantly surprised to hear how diverse this album was. Not just folk guitar and piano, but also funk, soul, and blues. Great stuff.
Bad Brains
4/5
I normally find punk/rock albums of this era a difficult listen, more due to production techniques and styles more than anything. Despite that, I did like this. A good variety of styles and sounds, if a bit flat sounding due to the production.
Moby Grape
3/5
It was solid, but nothing special. I have no lasting impression of it and doubt I'll think of it ever again. But, on the other hand, it wasn't bad at all. It just exists.
Os Mutantes
5/5
Surprisingly loved this. It really grew on me as it went on.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Better than the last Elliot Smith album I got on here, but just not for me.
Joan Baez
5/5
John Baez is wonderful. This is an old-school folk album in the truest sense, so you need to be in the mood for that to enjoy it properly. But, as a collection of folk standards it's easily amongst the best. Her voice has the sweetness of early Joni Mitchell, but with her own flavour.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Super important in the development of electric guitar and the implication it has to the wider world of rock. There's some real magic on this album, but it is unfortunately diluted a touch too much to justify a 5 star rating. When it's good, it's damn near untouchable, but it is a bit self indulgent at times.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I remember this album coming out. At the time I thought it was fine, but I never really went back to it. Coming it at it again 20 years later, it's clear that it's a much more interesting album than I gave it credit for.
The Charlatans
2/5
It was fine, but apart from a couple of interesting tracks, it was pretty by numbers. Not one of the essential albums of Brit Pop for me.
Can
1/5
Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it, but it really didn't hit at all.
Happy Mondays
5/5
Perfect for a summer's day. Just a snapshot into the Madchester scene which still sounds good today. I'm surprised it hasn't aged more considering it was so of its time.
Beastie Boys
5/5
The Only Ones
3/5
I bought and listened to this album many years ago and bounced off it. It's better than I remember, but it's a case of there being a few highlights and a lot that's forgettable.
David Crosby
3/5
Just a pretty middling folk album. I've never rated Crosby as much as Young, to be honest.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Stevie Wonder just has a vibe about him that works. Whereas the lyrics would sound cheesy coming from another artist, it just comes together with him.
Pavement
4/5
I've heard some of the later Pavement stuff and enjoyed it. This is quite different, but I still really enjoyed it.
Death In Vegas
4/5
A nice surprise. Heavily influenced by the likes of Massive Attack and Portishead, it was an interesting journey.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Thoroughly enjoyable and didn't outstay its welcome.
Black Sabbath
5/5
This album is an easy 5.
Le Tigre
5/5
Ace.
Michael Jackson
5/5
So many hits on one album. Easily his best.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
*put on album*
*listen to album*
...
Jesus Christ, am I still on track one?
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Sugar
3/5
Decent guitar sounds and a few cool tracks, but too repetitive as a whole.
TV On The Radio
4/5
The end of the album was a bit weak, but the first half was interesting enough to warrant another listen.
Destiny's Child
2/5
Track 3 - “watch me shake my booty”
Track 4 - “eww look at that skank”
John Martyn
5/5
Never heard of this chap before, but this album was an excellent surprise.
Robbie Williams
1/5
You're kidding me, right?
Happy Mondays
2/5
Not as good as "Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches", unfortunately. I understand its cultural importance and what it meant, but it just doesn't mean those things to me.
Dion
3/5
Better than I expected. It wavers towards the end, but not bad.
3/5
I enjoyed bits of it, but parts of it gave me anxiety and I don't even suffer with anxiety.
Eminem
5/5
Important, crass, and catchy.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I like Springsteen, but this isn't his best album. Not by a long shot.
Barry Adamson
2/5
It's an interesting concept and I could see it actually being a good soundtrack for a movie, but as a standalone, I just found it a little tedious. There were moments, but not enough of them.
Nas
5/5
Stone-cold classic.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
A couple of weaker tracks on here, but still has that Stevie magic. I always feel like he had the ability to take cheesy lyrics and make them sound good. I've no idea how he did it. Oh, and Sir Duke is a certified classic.
3/5
As a live album, it's pretty good. Live albums are usually terrible, to be honest. Whilst this is pretty good, it's still not great. The harmonica in particular sounds awfully piercing at times.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Interesting, but it grew a touch samey over the course of the album. Some of the covers were really cool, though.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Lupe Fiasco
5/5
This is an album that I've had on my "to listen" list for well over a decade, but somehow never got around to it. It's great. I should've listened to it sooner. A wonderful deconstruction of the genre with some cool production throughout.
Funkadelic
4/5
Cool and iconic, but I was ready for it to end.
Pentangle
3/5
Very torn on this one. It's a wonderful sound and evocative of a different time. It's well composed, well played, and well recorded. It's just that listening to a whole album of it is a lot. It's not that it's bad, but it's a lot.
Peter Frampton
2/5
Fine, I guess. As always, I don't really care for 99% of live albums, and this is no exception. In the words of High Fidelity:
"...is that Peter fuckin' Frampton?"
*sigh*
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
I wasn't really in the mood for this, but it was good when I did listen to it.
Pixies
5/5
Excellent. Raw and gritty but also melodic and easy to listen to.
Blondie
5/5
Too many good songs to be anything other than a 5.
Nick Drake
5/5
A perfect album.
Bee Gees
2/5
Very nothingy, to be honest.
The Yardbirds
4/5
Holds up well. A lot of albums of this genre and age don't sound great, but this has a lot of personality and some killer songs, too.
David Holmes
2/5
Didn't really click with me. Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for it, but it seemed like pretty generic breakbeat
The Sabres Of Paradise
1/5
This never went anywhere.
Chicago
3/5
Alright.
The Kinks
3/5
Not my favourite The Kinks album by a long shot. but still not bad. "Sunny Afternoon" brings it up to a three.
The United States Of America
3/5
More interesting than a lot of the psychedelic we've had on here, but I think the genre doesn't really move me.
Marilyn Manson
4/5
First of all, this is separating the artist and the art.
The album is really good. The high points are great, but it's certainly a little bloated. If this were about 20 minutes shorter, it would be a lot better.
Pink Floyd
2/5
Not a touch on the stuff they made just a few years later.
Magazine
4/5
Started slow, but it really grew on me as it went on. Lots of Buzzcocks influence here, and in turn, a lot that has influenced The Cure. Good stuff.
Spacemen 3
2/5
A couple of good tracks can't save this whole thing.
Don McLean
4/5
Really good. I'd been meaning to listen to more of Don McLean, but never got around to it. The second track is a bit jarring after American Pie, but the album as a whole is really good. The Grave is a high point later in the album, too.
Hüsker Dü
4/5
Fantastic. Bits of Michael Stipe in there, weirdly enough.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
Great.
XTC
2/5
Just couldn't really get into it. It started promising, but it had lost me after a few tracks.
N.E.R.D
3/5
I don't like this album as much as "In Search Of...", but it has a fair share of good tracks. There's a couple of notably weak ones, too, mind.
Gang Starr
4/5
Massively important and influential. Rap has come a long way in terms of flow, so I can see how people might bounce of it. In terms of production, though, the big beats and funky lines really carry this album.
The Byrds
2/5
Better than the other album of theirs I listened to from this list. Nothing life changing.
The Byrds
2/5
The Byrds two days in a row? I didn’t enjoy them that much the first damn time!
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Absolute masterpiece. One of the greatest albums ever made. Whilst Blue will always have a special place in my heart, Hejira is probably the pinnacle of Joni's work.
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
It's fine, but not particularly remarkable. Inoffensive.
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
Not my favourite B&S album, if I'm honest.
Sade
3/5
It definitely has its charms, but it does sound quite dated these days. I don't want to be too harsh on it, but it's not something I'm likely to come back to.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
I mean, it's a good example of jam blues. It sounds good, they play a lot classic blues standards...but it's still a live album. I'll never be a fan of live albums with very few exceptions.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Banger.
4/5
Enjoyed this rather a lot. A new band on me, even though I’m familiar with a decent amount of punk. I enjoyed the rockabilly influence, too.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I expected. There's a lot of cool ideas here which would be used to good effect by other bands. It's a cool stepping stone between eras.
Minutemen
4/5
A bit too long, but I really enjoyed it. Some good stuff on here.
Al Green
4/5
Short and sweet. A beautiful and well-produced album.
Public Enemy
5/5
Excellent. It's held up well over time and is still pertinent in far too many ways.
Soft Machine
2/5
Not for me.
Aerosmith
3/5
There's nothing inherently wrong with this, but it's not great either. There's a few bangers on here, but the rest is average.
Manu Chao
4/5
Fun.
Jamiroquai
3/5
Jamiroquai very clearly have their own sound and explore it well. They've never been my favourite band, but it's a good sound and the album is decent.
The Who
2/5
There's a couple of great tracks on here, but overall I found it to be cheesy. The Who are such a funny band like that. They have some absolute classics, but the quality of their average album-filler seems really low to me.
New Order
3/5
Not the best New Order album by a long way, but still decent.
Megadeth
4/5
Good stuff. Slightly childish lyrics from time to time, but the overall sound is good enough to carry it.
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Very enjoyable album. I only have vague memories of them when I was a kid and never listened to them too much. Turns out that they're rather interesting and there's more to them than a lot of their contemporaries. Although, the lead singer's voice reminded me so much of Damon Albarn at times which made it feel like I was listening to an experimental Blur album. Not a bad thing.
The Thrills
3/5
Twee, cute, but not really mind blowing. I'm a bit torn on this one. 2 feels too harsh, 3 feels too kind.
Yes
2/5
I don’t mind a bit of prog, but this was cheesy.
Dire Straits
3/5
I understand why people like this album, but it faded into the background a bit too much at times for me.
Genesis
5/5
Fantastic album.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Obviously, this sounds very dated and like a novelty record these days, but I guess you have to take that into consideration when rating it. It's not something that I'd go back to, but it was alright.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Very one note, but it's a good note.
Mudhoney
4/5
Important, noisy, and cool.
Ice Cube
3/5
Some good stuff about discrimination whilst also discriminating against women. I love a bit of gangsta rap, but that side of things was a bit much.
Nick Drake
4/5
Not as good as Pink Moon, but decent.
Kate Bush
5/5
It's unusual for an album to sound so '80s, but not be dated. Kate Bush has always been a legend and her music holds up well.
Suede
4/5
Whilst not as good as Dog Man Star and Coming Up, it's still a great album.
Julian Cope
5/5
Too long, obviously, but excellent. Annoyingly so, because I was ready to bail on it when I saw the play length, but ended up listening to and enjoying the whole damn thing.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Decent. I think I need to go back and give it another listen at some point as it wasn't super memorable.
The Young Gods
4/5
Oddly compelling. I've heard the band name in passing before, but never listened to them. It's weird, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Not my favourite QotSA album, but even a "not favourite" QotSA album is still good shit.
Public Enemy
3/5
Whilst it's still influential, it's nowhere near as good as "Fear of a Black Planet" and "It takes a Nation...".
Digital Underground
3/5
Cool beats, stupid lyrics.
Rod Stewart
1/5
Nah, mate.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Interesting overall and worth a listen. I'm not sure I'll be rushing back to it, but it was decent.
Japan
3/5
This is important because of when it was, rather than how well it has held up over the years. As such, it doesn't make a massive impact, but I can get its inclusion.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Not the best Earth, Wind & Fire album I've heard, but still fun. Some of the falsetto is a little grating, mind.
M.I.A.
4/5
This album reminds me of a very specific time in my life. I'd just moved to Korea as a student and had somehow ended up DJing in a bar semi-regularly. I'd managed to get hold of an early release of this album and Paper Planes, so it got a lot of play at that time. I remember the excitement of that time in my life and how much everyone vibed on that song in particular. It was cool, the album is cool.
808 State
2/5
It's pretty cool, especially considering when it came out, but it's just not what I'm in the mood for right now.
The Darkness
4/5
Silly and good fun. It's not often that you listen to an album and get the feeling that the band just wants you to have fun. Some tight guitar work, some genuine bangers interspersed with silly and borderline novelty tracks. Just fun.
The Style Council
2/5
I like you, Mr. Weller, but this ain't it.
a-ha
3/5
Better than I thought it would be. I thought there'd be just one good track on here, but there's actually a few which were solid.
U2
1/5
I don't like U2. I've never liked U2. I tried to listen to this with an open mind as possible. Turns out I still don't like U2.
50 Cent
3/5
Not worthy of being on this list, but decent enough.
Prince
3/5
I respect Prince and think he's a fantastic musician, but I just don't get on with a lot of his music. Whilst it's not for me, I recognise it's not bad in any way, so this rating seems fair.
Orange Juice
3/5
Interesting at times.
FKA twigs
5/5
Well, that was bloody excellent. Still sounds fresh even though it's now 10 years old. There's some cool threads of trip hop here and there, all wrapped up in luxurious electronic threads. Very cool.
1/5
Of all the genres, jazz has the greatest propensity to dip into the self indulgent. This is exactly that.
Parliament
5/5
Well, that was fucking cool.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Nah, man. Not good.
The Avalanches
4/5
Obviously, "That Boy Needs Therapy" is the highlight, but this album was fun from start to finish.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
Fire.
James Taylor
4/5
Excellent slice of Americana.
Frank Zappa
3/5
Whilst jazz fusion does make me break out in a rash, this was miles better than the other Frank Zappa stuff I've heard.
Moby
2/5
This album was everywhere for a while. It wore thin.
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Surprisingly good. I'd heard one or two of the tracks before, which surprised me as the name didn't ring a bell. I'll probably revisit this one again.
David Bowie
5/5
It's not my favourite Bowie album, but it's still excellent.
Big Black
2/5
I liked parts of this, but I feel like the recording itself sounds bad. The drums sound tiny, the guitars sound narrow, and it just sounds distant.
2/5
Pretty by-the-numbers old country. Kind of cute, but generally one note and a bit schmaltzy.
Black Flag
3/5
Whilst I like a lot of the music itself, there's something about the way its recorded that makes it feel small and lack punch. This is loud, raucous, messy music, but it sounds so distant and lacking in power. It's a weird dissonance between the music itself and how it sounds to me.
The The
4/5
Interesting. I don't know what I expected going in, but it wasn't this. I know of the band and the fact that Johnny Marr was in it later one, so perhaps I was expecting more jangly guitars, but what I got was super cool, so I'm not disappointed haha.
Tim Buckley
3/5
It's decent, but I don't think we'd really talk about Tim Buckley anymore were it not for Jeff. That connection makes it all more memorable and important feeling, but the music itself is just "quite nice".
Deep Purple
4/5
Great rock. You can hear what would quickly become heavy metal in so many of the tracks.
Stephen Stills
4/5
Apart from Neil Young, I’ve never enjoyed anything I’ve heard from the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young lot. So, I wasn’t really expecting much, but this was really good.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Pretty good.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Very jazzy jazz that jazzes all over the jazz lands.
Serge Gainsbourg
4/5
Sounds like the soundtrack to a movie that you’re expected to have watched, although most people haven’t.
Syd Barrett
3/5
Floaty, odd, and twee.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Morose, but beautiful.
The Zombies
4/5
Never really listened to them before, but this was great. "Time of the Season" was a fantastic way to round out the album, too.
Coldplay
1/5
Bruh, nah.
Motörhead
4/5
Lemmy is God.
Fiona Apple
5/5
Surprisingly excellent. I knew the name, but this was way cooler than I’d expected. Like a chamber-pop Alanis Morissette.
Beatles
5/5
Probably the best Beatles album. Meaning: it’s rather good.
Ray Charles
4/5
Good and enjoyable, if rather one note. It’s a good note, but still.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Live albums are never great, but this is amongst the better end of the spectrum. Muddy Waters is a great and this collection has some real high points, but it inevitably gets let down by poor sound quality and the unpleasant wooshing of the wind on the mic.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Influential and important, but it doesn’t hold up too well.
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
One note, unfortunately.
Fugazi
3/5
Cool, but won’t be revisiting. Important but not aged super well.
The Vines
5/5
Still great fun to listen to.
Culture Club
2/5
Just old pop. Like Prince, but worse.
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Really cool album which evolves as it goes.
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
A tricky album to rate as it's in a foreign language and is for a movie which I've never seen, but I enjoyed it. It was varied, interesting, unique at times, and well performed.
Blur
5/5
Unlike some of the other mainstream Brit pop of the era, this is rather experimental and builds upon a sound.
Pixies
4/5
It's a Pixies album. It's great, sparse, and rough around the edges.
Dolly Parton
3/5
It's good, but it's not for me. Lot of respect for Dolly, mind, but the music isn't me.
Björk
4/5
It's weird, but then again, it's Bjork so of course it is. It's charming, interesting, and unique. Ideal for this list.
Talking Heads
4/5
A few bangers, a few oddities, a few that were just alright...it's definitely a Talking Heads album!
Baaba Maal
3/5
It's hard to rank something like this considering that it's rather a new sound to me. I guess my criticisms would be that the album was a touch long and that some of the tracks were also a bit long. That said, I enjoyed it. It was a cool vibe.
D'Angelo
2/5
So smooth that it's bland.
Iron Butterfly
4/5
I'm always a bit wary of the "psychedelic" label when it appears, but this was really enjoyable. It avoided being too far up itself and was grounded with good tunes throughout.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Cool as fuck.
4/5
It's difficult to review. It seemed a lot more important at the time, but it's become generic by virtue of how many bands it influenced. I think it's worth the four stars on the strength of Champagne Supernova.
Jane Weaver
3/5
It was pretty good, albeit not particularly revolutionary. Not sure it's worth of being on this list, but it wasn't bad in any way.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Up and down, but overall it was solid.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Unexpectedly fantastic.
TV On The Radio
3/5
The second half of the album was stronger than the first. I like the idea of what they were doing, but not necessarily the execution.
Christine and the Queens
2/5
I like some of Christine and the Queens' stuff, but I found this album to be a bit samey and boring.
The Sonics
3/5
Interesting and influential, but very one note and the constant clipping on the vocals does grow tiring.
The B-52's
4/5
Quirky, vibrant, and other. It was a fun listen. I'm not sure why I've never bothered to check out their albums before, despite enjoying the oddness of their singles.
Wire
4/5
I wasn't familiar with them beyond their name, but they're a cool combo of punk and rock, kind of ahead of its time. Didn't outstay its welcome at all.
The Black Crowes
1/5
God, no.
Tom Waits
5/5
I can see why this wouldn't be for everyone, but I love it. His turn from a crooner extolling the romance behind a forgotten America morphed into an industrial breakdown, and it's just fantastic.
Arrested Development
4/5
Still funky and very influential, it's a good listen. It'd be cool if it also included the single version of People Everyday, but you can't have everything.
Patti Smith
5/5
"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine" will forever go down as the hardest opening lyric to an album in music history.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Fine. Pretty, delicate, but not moving me too much.
Slipknot
5/5
Better than I remembered.
Willie Nelson
4/5
It's a Willie Nelson album. You know what you're getting and it delivers it well.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
It was exactly what I expected a Jane's Addiction album to sound like (having never listened to one before), but with a little more on top. It was cheesy as hell at times, of course, but it was fun.
King Crimson
4/5
I've avoided King Crimson for years as I thought they'd be the worst of prog, but this album wasn't that. There is a lot of the rawness of rock mixed in with the more indulgent elements. It was enjoyable, the playing was good, and it was over the top without becoming cartoonish as prog sometimes has a tendency to do.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Lots of fantastic tracks somewhat let down by a poor recording.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
It was pretty cool, but didn't blow my mind or anything. Surprisingly good audio fidelity considering it's a live album.
Killing Joke
4/5
It's cool. A little samey as the album goes on, but the big bass sound with the drone of the guitars works well.
Grateful Dead
2/5
It's just so self indulgent.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
I'm a big lover of Neil Young, but I don't think this is his best work by a long shot.
Slipknot
4/5
It's a good album with some banging tracks on it, with Pyschosocial being the obvious standout, but it's definitely a bit long and bloated. If they'd cut this down by a few tracks it'd be a five.
Kid Rock
1/5
You're kidding me, no?
Black Sabbath
5/5
It's not my favourite Sabbath album as I find the guitar tone a bit fuzzy overall, but it's still great.
Soft Cell
4/5
Overall a good album. A bit of bloat on it as I felt it could've been a couple of songs shorter.
Deerhunter
3/5
It was alright. Not my favourite Deerhunter album. Some parts were good, some were just there.
The Smiths
5/5
I used to hate The Smiths because I didn't get along with Morrisey's voice (we didn't know he had awful beliefs back then), but I was at a mate's house when this album was on and fell asleep with it in the background. I woke up and found myself in love with their sound. Since then, they've become one of my all-time favourite bands. This album is just so good.
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
Fun, vibrant. Some of the songs drag on a little and don't move along too much, but it was good.
Kraftwerk
3/5
It's influential, I get it, but it's not an amazing listen to modern ears.
Everything But The Girl
1/5
This really wasn't that good. I know that Everything But the Girl have some decent tunes, but I guess they came after this period because this hasn't aged well at all.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Surprisingly interesting for the most part. Some of the more jokey songs don't hold up, but there's enough decent tracks present so that it's not just some novelty.
Q-Tip
4/5
This really impressed me. Cool from start to finish.
Neil Young
4/5
Enjoyable.
Brian Eno
3/5
It’s just kinda there.
Kate Bush
5/5
Starts with a couple of hits and then evolves into something else entirely. Really interesting listen.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
A lot of the really early hip-hop doesn't hold up, but this is still cool. Well worth its spot on this list.
Dr. John
5/5
What an unexpected treat. It sounded like I was listening to The Spirit of Jazz from Mighty Boosh during his years on the run through the Bayeux. Which is it say, I loved it.
The Verve
2/5
It's not terrible or anything, but it did kind of blur into one.
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
A masterpiece. I was delighted to see this on my list for the day. Just a beautiful, layered, and rich wall of sound.
Bee Gees
1/5
Nope.
The Fall
3/5
Interesting and pretty fun, but I’d ultimately rather be listening to Joy Division.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I was going to. I remember this album coming out and not really being taken with it, but I was a teenager back then so that's probably not too surprising. I totally understand why some people hate this. It's a polarising kind of sound, that's for sure. It's not something I'll be listening to regularly, but I enjoyed my time with it. Very personal, very open, and laced with morose introspection.
LTJ Bukem
1/5
I don't think that this is the kind of album that I can enjoy properly whilst sitting at my desk working. I've had some fun nights out at drum n bass events, but you really need the whole surrounding to enjoy it. That said, even considering that, I don't think this album ticks the boxes for me. I assume it was important for the genre, but it didn't work for me.
The Stooges
5/5
Awesome. Raw, powerful, and laying the groundwork for generations of sleazy garage rockers.
Goldfrapp
3/5
It was more dream pop than I was expecting. I remember Goldfrapp having a couple of singles with relative success in the UK, but they came from earlier albums and were a bit more upbeat. It was pleasant, if a little easy to ignore at times.
Billie Holiday
3/5
This is a bit of a difficult album for me. I like Billie Holiday, a lot, but this isn't her best work. Her upper register seems to have weakened over the years and the songs themselves aren't her best work. It's not bad, but if I was pointing someone towards a Billie Holiday album it wouldn't be this one. For that, I'd always suggest "Lady Sings the Blues".
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
Super cool.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Not my favourite of hers, but still good.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
I understand the other reviews.
Björk
4/5
I'd not listened to this one before, but it's good. Whilst it isn't my favourite Bjork album, it's solid and interesting.
The Lemonheads
2/5
It was inoffensive, but rather uninteresting at the same time. The fact that the cover of "Mrs. Robinson" is by far the most interesting song on there is its own story.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Pretty fun. Not a world-beating album or anything, but quirky and eclectic. Ant Music will always be a bit of a silly banger.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Back when Kings of Leon were still interesting. I think their first album is easil their best, but this one still has a lot of great riffs, along with the blues and garage rock influence. It was cool when I was 16 and it's still cool now.
Paul Simon
2/5
Paul Simon has been involved in making some great music, but this album is not that.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Like a fat-free Syd Barrett.
Talking Heads
4/5
It's Talking Heads. You know what you're getting with them.
The Clash
5/5
Seminal, important, and awesome. Top album.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Pretty inoffensive, but also pretty uninteresting.
Johnny Cash
5/5
One of the few live albums which is actually excellent.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Awesome album. It's too long, that's true, but it's still ace.
Tom Waits
5/5
Dope.
Deep Purple
4/5
Better than most live albums. I don’t know how so many made it onto the list, to be honest, but this one at least has some merit.
Brian Eno
3/5
I respect its importance, but it's not a great listen in and of itself.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
It was rather beautiful.
fIREHOSE
2/5
Pretty bland and inoffensive. Not "bad bad", but nothing particularly interesting or stimulating. Don't really get how it's on this list, to be honest.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
It was fine, but one note. I'm sort of in between a 2 and a 3. Maybe a 2 because I've heard Come On Eileen at too many bad weddings.
Morrissey
3/5
Obligatory "fuck Morrissey" to start. As for the music, it's not as good as The Smiths, that's obvious. There's some good songs on here, but the musicality isn't quite there. "I Don't Mind if you Forget Me" does have a cracking bass line, though.
Elton John
4/5
I’ve never been a huge Elton John fan. I appreciate this is a good album but it didn’t catch me on the right day.
Linkin Park
4/5
I avoided this when I was a teenager because it seemed too "mainstream". I was just that cool. I've since heard a lot of the songs, so I was interested to see how the album as a whole would stand up and it's really solid. I get why it was popular. The layering of sounds is interesting and Chester's voice is obviously iconic. I kind of missed a trick as a teenager ignoring this.
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
This is doing nothing for me. It's not bad, it's just bland.
Gene Clark
4/5
Surprisingly very good. I didn't have high expectations going into this, but I really enjoyed it. I also can't see anything about it online, but "From a Silver Phial" reminded me so much of "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead. The cadence and lyrics at times make me think it was a big source of inspiration for Radiohead. Or a coincidence. Just something interesting to listen out for.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
A bit up and down, but the Neil Young heavy tracks are by far the best. It's kind of in between a 3 and a 4.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Live albums suck. This one doesn't. That's twice on this list that Johnny Cash has managed that. I think we don't necessarily need both At San Quentin and Folsom Prison on the list, but I can't deny that they're both excellent.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Rather charming.
CHIC
4/5
It’s CHIC sounding like CHIC. It’s funky when it should be, but some of the songs drag a little too long. Super influential.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Cool overall. Good message for the most part, but the music is inevitably a little dated.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Not usually what I expect from Nick Cave, but it's still really good.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
I just didn't enjoy it.
System Of A Down
5/5
It's awesome. No explanation needed.
The Temptations
4/5
Any album that has "Papa was a Rolling Stone" on it deserves at least four stars.
Lambchop
3/5
The country pop side of the record was pretty good, but the falsetto parts grated a bit too much. For anyone interested in massively different takes on the same song, try comparing "Butcher Boy" off this record to "Lankum - Go Dig my Grave". When I realised it was the same song I had a little chuckle to myself.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Quality.
The Replacements
4/5
Concise and fun.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Prog is a weird genre to me, in that the best stuff is truly fantastic and worth listening to, but anything below that is just self indulgent at best. This is not the best the genre has to offer. That's the kindest I can be.
Sonic Youth
4/5
This was a cool album. It was a touch longer than it needed to be, but it good. I could hear threads of it which had influenced more modern bands, Placebo in particular.
Mate, nah.
Marty Robbins
5/5
Really enjoyable. Well written songs which tell folk tales set to complimentary music. Somewhere between a 4 and a 5, but Big Iron is always a banger and deserves the rating.
Daft Punk
3/5
I like Daft Punk, but I think that a whole album is a lot to listen to in one go, especially when it's well over an hour long.
Napalm Death
1/5
I’ve never been able to get on with Napalm Death. The second half of the album was worse than the first.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Effortlessly cool.
Green Day
4/5
Better than I gave it credit for when I was a teenager.
Better than Rod Stewart's solo stuff, but poor lyrics and alright music doesn't make for a must-listen album.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Cocteau Twins are a band that I've been meaning to check out for a long time as I've seen the name pop up here and there over the years. They're not what I expected, but that's not a bad thing. The shoegaze sound with elements reminiscent of early Cure records is like an aural blanket.
4/5
I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Some excellently constructed songs and wonderful production.
Lou Reed
5/5
Great tracks, great stories, great music.
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
Awesome. Playlisted.
Bon Jovi
4/5
It’s cheesy, but everything is well put together and it’s full of big songs. I like it despite myself.
T. Rex
5/5
Full of great riffs, swagger, and fantastic guitar tone.
Missy Elliott
3/5
It was fine, but Missy went on to make much more interesting music than this. "I'm Talkin" was so bad that I was tempted to give the whole album one star, but on reflection, it's an okay album that deserves three stars.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Proper blues done properly.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
There's a couple of decent songs on here, but those first few tracks really do not help the album as a whole.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
One of my favourite albums of all time. Beautifully personal lyrics, delicate musicianship, and soaring vocals. Each song tells a story and leaves you feeling almost like you were there. Joni's skill really has her near the top of the all-time list.
Björk
5/5
Fantastic from start to finish.
Korn
3/5
A combination of iconic and awesome songs with those which should be well forgotten.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
It’s just excellent throughout.
Underworld
4/5
It’s a difficult album to rate. It’s too long and some of the tracks don’t know where they’re heading. However, it’s important, it is self assured, and it’s good on a purely sonic level.
Venom
1/5
The recording sounds so so weak.
Basement Jaxx
3/5
It’s solid. A lot of the electronic albums that have come up on here have lacked cohesion, but this was good throughout. Some popular tunes in there and a bit of variety.
Radiohead
5/5
It's a fantastic album. Not my favourite Radiohead album, but it does have the best opening track. 2+2=5 is such a banger.
Fever Ray
4/5
It was cool, I’d listen to it again which is something I wouldn’t say for a lot of the electronic stuff in here.
Supertramp
3/5
Enjoyable throughout. Cool soundscapes. None of the songs particularly jumped out, mind.
Beth Orton
3/5
It’s decent, but not something I’d revisit.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
An album of highs and lows.
R.E.M.
4/5
Not the best REM album, but it's still got some belters on it. The singles are definitely the standout tracks, though.
Eels
4/5
Some great tracks on here and I found myself enjoying it more than I expected. The restrained grunge sound is an interesting one, so I'll probably check out more of their stuff some time.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
Some fun bits of music here and there, but overall just not my vibe.
Leftfield
2/5
It was fine, but I don’t think it belongs on the best albums of all time list.
Lucinda Williams
2/5
It was fine, but nothing I’ll ever think about again.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
It just feels so unfinished.
Blue Cheer
4/5
Good fun. Not as a good as The Doors, but like a more raucous version of them.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
An enjoyable listen.
Traffic
3/5
Enjoyable enough but nothing too exciting going on.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
A stone-cold classic. The combination of proper rock songs with more folky tracks makes for a great listen.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
The hip hop tracks were way better than the R’n’B ones.
Laibach
4/5
Unexpectedly enjoyable. A little weird, a little symphonic, but very fun.
The Doors
5/5
Any album that starts like this is always going to be a classic.
The Young Rascals
2/5
It was fine, but hardly memorable and I didn't hear anything which made me think it was amongst the finest or most influential albums of all time.
Caetano Veloso
4/5
Nice to come across something on the list that's completely new to me. It was a solid album and I enjoyed my time with it.
Beatles
5/5
Whilst not hitting the highs of some other Beatles albums, it also doesn't suffer the ignominy of having an absolute dud like a lot of Beatles albums have. Besides, Norwegian Wood and a few others are stone-cold classics.
The Beach Boys
5/5
It's a classic for a reason.
ZZ Top
4/5
Just fun rock music. A little silly and dated, but a good listen.
The National
4/5
Enjoyable in a dour way.
Goldfrapp
3/5
It's got a cool vibe, but it's nothing mind blowing.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
It was alright. A few good tracks, a few bits that were too self indulgent. Nothing to bring me back, but nothing that I particularly hated.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
It was fine. The Rolling Stones have some absolute bangers in their catalogue, but this album didn't hit those highs. It was well executed, albeit quite generic, blues rock. Fine, but nothing I'll want to go back to.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Not a band I was familiar with, but surprisingly solid. Cool style.
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
Jean-Michel Jarre is a fraud.
AC/DC
4/5
Silly fun.
The Adverts
5/5
Fantastic from start to finish. This deserves to be higher in the list of great British punk albums in the general consciousness.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
On the poppier side of the art rock movement of the time, but it's a good album from start to finish. I'd semi ignored them at the time, but it's good stuff.
Kanye West
3/5
Kanye is a twat, we all know that. That aside, this album didn't impress me the way I thought it would. College Dropout is a masterpiece and I'm well aware that MBDTF is held in higher regard than that. However, I just found it kind of corny and childish.
The Fall
3/5
Really cool music, grating singer. I think I could enjoy a bunch of these songs on their own, but listening to an hour of him in one go is a lot.
Michael Jackson
4/5
The first half of the album is rammed with bangers, but the second half falls off a cliff a bit. Some nice bass lines in the second half, sure, but the songs can't match the first half.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
This was better than I expected it to be. It's not the first Dexys album that's been on here, but I enjoyed it rather more.
The Crusaders
3/5
The title track really bumps up the album as a whole. The rest of the album is pretty safe jazz-lite, but the title track is killer.
Heaven 17
3/5
Weird, but not without charm.
Metallica
5/5
I do think the mixing doesn't do the songs full justice (heh), but the quality of the songs themselves is so high that it almost doesn't matter.
4/5
Funky and soulful throughout. I was hoping for some "Lowrider" style bangers, but I was happy with what I got.
Radiohead
5/5
An all-time classic.
Steely Dan
4/5
It's not the best Steely Dan, but even a lower-tier Steely Dan is better than most bands.
OutKast
4/5
A truly excellent and ground-breaking album, but it's definitely got a bit of bloat on it. If a couple of tracks were cut from each album it'd be a very easy five, as it stands, it's somewhere a touch below that.
Neil Young
5/5
One of my favourite albums of all time.
Haircut 100
3/5
It's fine. They've got their own voice and it's all rather twee. Nothing I'll ever revisit, mind.
The Specials
5/5
It's an all-time classic. The collision of cultures and musical styles created something special. Full of socially aware lyrics and the message of equality, it's an easy 5.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
A little one note, but it's a good note. Whilst presenting as sombre and melancholy, there's a thread of hope which runs through the album. It's all rather beautiful.
Boards of Canada
2/5
Enjoyable enough, but not nothing particularly stood out throughout. I can only assume that it was important at the time. Inoffensive, but I won't be returning to it.
Waylon Jennings
4/5
Simple and fun. A bit of a throwback but that isn't a bad thing.
Bad Company
2/5
So middle of the road. There's nothing here to excite, just incredibly by-the-numbers rock.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
Well, that was massively self-indulgent nonsense. Live albums are so rarely good at the best of times, and this does nothing to buck the trend.
Dusty Springfield
5/5
A fantastic debut just stuffed with great pop songs.
Lou Reed
3/5
It's not Lou Reed's best work. It's fine, but mostly forgettable.
3/5
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this at all, but I kind of did. It's not perfect, but it's got a lot of charm and I don't think it ever became too full of itself. somewhere between a three and a four, for me.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
An easy listen with a couple of stand out tracks. I prefer their slightly earlier stuff, to be honest.
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Impressive for its time, but not something essential for all but the most dedicated electronic music fans.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
Far better than I’d expected. Already knew a couple of the tracks as they were popular in the UK, but the album as a whole really stands up.
Ian Dury
2/5
Fine at best, novelty at worst.
The War On Drugs
5/5
Fantastic album from start to finish.
Madness
5/5
Madness are always great.
Pere Ubu
2/5
A bit jarring. I think there's value here and there, but it's not an enjoyable experience on the whole.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Decent, but not something which will stick with me for too long. I think it lacks the interesting musicality of some of his other albums.
Black Sabbath
5/5
A masterpiece from start to finish. Each song has a minimum of three killer riffs, the vocals are sensational, the solos are exactly what the songs need, and the rhythm section is both driving and groovy. I was fortunate enough to see Sabbath play with the original lineup in 2005, so listening to this again in the wake of the terribly sad passing of Ozzy is pretty touching. But man, what a legacy.
Def Leppard
2/5
Super generic and by the numbers rock music. It avoids being a 1 star because it's competently played, but it really doesn't move me in any way at all.
Steely Dan
4/5
Solid and worth a listen.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Sigur Ros sounding like Sigur Ros in true Sigur Ros fashion.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4/5
Surprisingly diverse and joyful. A fun listen with a number of influences present. It felt genuine rather than just an imitation, so it gets a lot of points for that.
2/5
It's just so beige, isn't it? I've tried multiple times with U2, each time sure that I was missing something. I just don't think I am. I think they're beige.
The Beau Brummels
2/5
It was alright. Nothing mind blowing, nothing offensive.
John Lennon
2/5
A couple of decent tracks, but the album starts off very weak. His solo work just can't stack up against the little band he was in prior to it.
Jeff Beck
2/5
Jeff Beck's playing is great, Rod Stewart's singing isn't.
Stan Getz
3/5
Never had a title so accurately described an album.
3/5
You like prog? This is prog. Some of the proggiest prog of the time. So prog.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Timeless.
Skepta
3/5
I've never liked Skepta, or the Boy Better Know crew as a whole, but this was solid. The beats were great, but the lyrics were very one-dimensional. When you compare this to something like Little Simz, the gulf is way more apparent.
Portishead
4/5
I'm a huge Portishead fan, but having said that, this album lacks the clear hits of their first two. That's not to say that it's not a great album, it is, but I think there is a bit of a lack of balance between the avant-garde and the more direct in this album.
The Residents
1/5
There's value in the strange and unusual, but sometimes it can be hard to find. I can only assume that the value in this one is the reigning world champion of hide and seek.
The Byrds
3/5
It was better than the other albums of theirs I’ve had on this list as it at least had a bit of personality. Not bad, middle of the road stuff.
The Blue Nile
3/5
It sounded a bit too like Sting at times for my liking.
The Birthday Party
3/5
Like, it’s fine, but there’s much better in the genre.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
Very cool album. Considering when it was released, this must've been quite the sea change. Yes, it's been surpassed by what came after it, but as a moment in time, it's really good.
Beyoncé
2/5
Beyonce is undeniably a talented singer and performer, but nothing about this connected with me. Pop music written by committee and produced to within an inch of its life. There's obviously catchy tracks on here, but it all feels so sterile to me.
Aerosmith
2/5
Well executed, but super dates and childish. Aerosmith at their best are more than sexy sex songs about sexy sex.
Air
4/5
Very enjoyable throughout as a backdrop to my morning. Obvious snatches of influence from Pink Floyd here and there.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Enjoyable throughout. I think that Curtis Mayfield has some better albums out there, and the Supafly soundtrack is a hell of a listen, but this was still very good.
John Prine
4/5
Starts with the wrong song. "Illegal Smile" is goofy and nowhere near as good as the tracks which follow it. The album is full of great songwriting stuffed with witticisms, criticisms, and soul. It's worth giving a chance to because it really does improve.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Funky and easy to love.
Dusty Springfield
5/5
Soulful and full of catchy tracks. You can see the blueprint for a swathe of soul and soul adjacent British singers being drawn out here.
Elvis Presley
2/5
It's fine, but I'm yet to hear an Elvis album which felt like an album. You could take a random assortment of any of his albums and smash them together and it would work just as well as an album as this does. Might've been interesting 60/70 years ago, but it's rather unremarkable now.
The Pogues
5/5
An almost perfect fusion between punk and folk, fluctuating between beautiful retellings of classic folks tunes, and raucous outbursts of energy. There is so much to love about this album.
The Kinks
4/5
The album really opens up in the latter third and becomes much more expansive and interesting. That's not the say that the early songs aren't good, because they are, but they are much more middle-of-the-road. Either way, "Waterloo Sunset" was always going to be highlight here. It's one of the most perfect pop songs ever written and is still full of magic.
Frank Black
4/5
The album is far better than the cover, so that's a good start. It is too long, but there are plenty of good tracks here. Obviously, there's a lot of The Pixies sound to be found, but I found quite a bit of The Velvet Underground, too. It's well worth a listen, just slightly bloated.
Eurythmics
4/5
The moody synth creates a wonderful atmosphere throughout. It sounds of its time without sounding too dated, which is always a risk with early '80s electronic music. There's a richness to the synths which is endearing, rather than cheap-sounding.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Enjoyable, but didnt connect with me in any meaningful way.
David Gray
2/5
This was super popular almost thirty years ago when I was too young to pay attention to it. However, I didn’t really miss out on anything. It’s just…there. I recognise a few songs but they don’t stir anything.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
It's dated but inoffensive. Nothing really stood out and there's nothing that will bring me back, but it's not terrible.
David Bowie
4/5
It's a great album throughout, but not quite a 5* for me.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Somehow, perhaps via time travel, the Pet Shop Boys somehow managed to get a sample of Cartman from South Park on the first song. That's all I can hear.
It's a good job the rest of the album is good.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
It's a seminal and massively influential album, full of soaring melodies and layers of beautiful instrumentation. It does stray into the "cheesy" from time to time, that's for sure. I don't think it's Gaye's strongest work, even if it is his most famous and praised.
Mylo
3/5
Surprisingly full of hits. There’s snippets of what would become lo-fi in here, too. Some of it is generic and forgettable, but there’s enough good stuff to make it a worthwhile listen.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
It's got personality and creates a solid atmosphere throughout, but I'm not sure it goes much beyond that. 3 feels harsh, but 4 feels too generous.
AC/DC
4/5
You ever heard AC/DC before? Yup. In standard AC/DC fashion, the songs all sound very similar. It's good fun, though, so it's hard to be too cynical about it.
Billy Joel
4/5
Undeniably well written and catchy songs with a good honest core to them. It's a bit overproduced and poppy as a whole, but if you can overlook that a little then there's a lot to like.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
The album starts off with an oppressive atmosphere which opens up as it goes on. There's a solid variety of sounds and styles within this, all stitched together with Cohen's idiosyncratic vocal delivery. A top listen. He does sing about Joan of Arc a lot, for whatever reason, though.
Talvin Singh
2/5
It's an interesting idea, but I don't think enough was done with it. I enjoyed it for a few songs, but then my interest started to wane.
Charles Mingus
4/5
Eminently listenable and full of wonderful lines and melodies. There's a tendency for jazz to get too self indulgent, but this straddles the line nicely between the musicians and the listener.
King Crimson
3/5
There are some great riffs and lines in here, but they never stick around long enough to get lost in them.
Simply Red
2/5
In the words of Alex Horne, in the song "Money's Too Tight to Mention" he mentions money 57 times.
The album itself is fine, albeit dated and a bit uninspiring. It's not bad, but there's nothing to hold it in the esteem of a lot of the other albums on this list.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
Some wonderful vocal work and some fantastic songs. It does come across as a bit twee at times, but that's somewhat inevitable given the age of the album and the genre. Not something I'll go back to, but it's definitely very good.
Love
2/5
Half of this is dross, but half of it is kind of fun. I think the weak parts do outweigh the good parts, though, so the album as a whole is disjointed and not consistent.
Pretenders
5/5
Right from the off, the album is a great blend of punk guitars with a pop sensibility which evokes Blondie et al. Catchy tracks with enough about them to make them musically interesting. I had unfairly dismissed Pretenders as just another pop act of the era, but they're much more than that.
Roxy Music
4/5
Cohesive whilst retaining a broad spectrum of sounds. I've found more to enjoy here than with previous Roxy Music offerings, with perhaps the exception of For Your Pleasure.
Björk
5/5
The album is full of those sultry electronic bass lines upon which Bjork has built a lot of her career. That's never unwelcome. Bjork's vocals are always going to be divisive, but that's to be expected when you have one of the most singular voices in modern music. The album itself builds and crafts a wonderful atmosphere, edging on the surreal and ethereal. Just a fantastic sonic experience.
Hawkwind
2/5
Live albums are so rarely good. This doesn't really buck the trend. It's fine, but it's so self indulgent and the music just exists. Perhaps it would've been wild to see it in person back in the day, but the recording quality isn't great and the music isn't strong enough to carry it.
Country Joe & The Fish
2/5
Perfectly decent, but not too memorable.
Sabu
2/5
Fun listen but nothing I’ll go back to.
Steve Winwood
2/5
The most ‘80s sounding album dropped in 1980. Gotta respect that.
The Saints
5/5
Awesome, high energy punk. They must've been one of the first bands to add brass to punk, but it already sounds really complete as a sound, not just an experiment. Playlist.
Nirvana
5/5
Raw, but mixing that with polished and poppier tracks just to keep everything in line. It's not wonder that it's a timeless classic.
Traffic
3/5
It's definitely of its time. There's some good melodies and instrumentations, the sort you'd hear in a cafe scene in a Tarantino movie. The lyrics are a bit more of a mixed bag. There's a lot of the '60s cliches in there, that's for sure. It's good for what it is, but lets just be glad that Black Sabbath were only two years away. As for the album itself, it could've done with being one or two songs shorter.
Thundercat
4/5
Ridiculously talented musicianship throughout. Whilst there's a tendency for this kind of thing to err towards muzak, there's something here which keeps it honest. The injection of lo-fi sounds, particularly reminiscent of Nujabes at times, is very welcome.. Funky as all hell.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Back when Kings of Leon were decent. They offered another flavour to the indie rock scene of the time, which was honestly very welcome. I actually prefer the follow-up to this album, but it’s still a good time.
PJ Harvey
5/5
PJ Harvey is always good. Dress is a banger. Sheela-Na-Gig is a banger.
T. Rex
5/5
Still a good listen after all these years. Some great riffs throughout and the overall mood is so enjoyable. Top album.
Mekons
2/5
There's a lot of cool ideas here, but the singer absolutely drags it down. Stick someone else on the top of this and you'd actually have something cool. It's not like it needs to be pitch perfect, but stick someone like Shane McGowan or Joe Strummer in and it'd actually be good.
Small Faces
2/5
I'm not massively into prog, at least the era of floaty fantasy prog, but the second half of this album is MUCH better than the first half. I was about ready to give up on it, then the B side comes on and it's much more interesting to listen to. I mean, it's still not great and isn't going to trouble my playlists, but it was a damn sight more pleasant to listen to.
Stan Getz
4/5
Not something I'll return to often, but it certainly does a wonderful job of transporting you to a peaceful evening on the beach with a daquiri in hand. Quite different to the chilly English morning I'm currently dealing with.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Based on the artwork, this might be the strangest death metal album I've ever listened to.
Pere Ubu
3/5
Interesting enough to keep my attention and doesn't outstay its welcome. I can see the blueprint here for some bands which would follow and, ultimately, do it better.
Koffi Olomide
2/5
It's all a bit one note. I enjoyed it for about 5 or 10 minutes, but unless you're in a tropical resort it's just not going to hit right. Everything is well played and sounds as I assume it should, but it doesn't excite or move me.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
An entire album of music which would work well in a '60s flashback scene. The majority of the album is solid, albeit nothing that will live long in the memory. California Dreaming is the obvious standout, of course., but it would've been good if the extended cut were on here.
Gorillaz
4/5
You can tell the band were deciding what they wanted to be on this album. There's some rather by-the-numbers stuff on here, as well as some tracks which are genuinely more interesting. Clint Eastwood still sounds great. The album comes alive in the second half and you can hear the genesis of their sound there. I think their follow up album is better, but this is still a good listen.
Sepultura
5/5
Full of energy and great riffs throughout. Absolute belter of an album.
Buck Owens
3/5
Obviously one of the progenitors of the wider honkey-tonk sound. Because of that, it's incredibly twee throughout. I don't hate it, but it just doesn't hit right when you're not in a Nashville dive bar. It definitely has a charm, I will say that.
Cornershop
4/5
A much better listen than I was expecting. "Brimful of Asha", specifically the remix, was a massive hit at the time but didn't particularly excite me. I expected a generic Brit-Pop adjacent offering here, but it's not that. The last few tracks of the album display some trip-hop and hip-hop influence which is very unexpected. The variety of influences makes this far more interesting than I expected. It's not perfect and it's not a masterpiece, but it's good.
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
Great lyrics and great music. "The Bottle" is timeless, not to mention how many of the topics still being salient to this day.
Faust
3/5
This is a hard album to rate accurately. It's experimental for the time, but there are proper songs in there, albeit interspersed with an aural panic attack.
The Auteurs
4/5
Not a band I'd listened to before, but their take on Brit-pop is certainly one I appreciate. It's Suede adjacent, but definitely its own thing. The music is varied and engaging and the lyrics are great. I can see how the vocals would be divisive, but I quite enjoy his nasal drawl.
Pulp
4/5
An interesting follow up to Different Class. It's a lot more neurotic and dark, verging on paranoid at times. Whilst it doesn't have the pop anthems of its predecessor, it's full of great songwriting and layered tracks.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
A very enjoyable listen. It's a great fusion of sounds which is welcoming yet fresh to my ears. Will be returning to this at some point.
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
It's a difficult one to rate. It's good, the beats are smooth and it's cohesive, but it's not something that I'd put on to listen to. It's more like something you'd have in the background of a vintage clothes shop.
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Fun old school hip hop in the De La Soul vibe.
Deee-Lite
3/5
Fun. Dated, but fun.
10cc
4/5
I don't think it'll be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it. Quirky and a little out there, but enjoyable.
The Triffids
2/5
It's pretty inoffensive, really. There's not a huge amount to get excited about or offended by. Some of the guitar and synth tones are nice, but that's about all I've got. "Holy Water" is dreadful, though.
Khaled
2/5
It's difficult to have a reference point to judge this from. I can't tell if it's innovative or important for the genre as a whole, so this is based purely on vibes. I will say that the "Imagine" cover is ill-conceived. The album started to lose its charm as it went on. 1 hour and 18 minutes is just too long. Had this been 40 minutes then I'd probably have enjoyed it a touch more.
The Cardigans
3/5
The Iron Man cover was certainly an odd moment, but overall it was alright. A couple of tracks stood out, but generally a fine album.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Iconic and important. I totally get how his voice isn't for everyone, but things that are for everyone tend to be a bit dull.
Green Day
5/5
A wonderful slice of pop punk which still sounds great. So many bangers.
Talking Heads
5/5
Not as jam full of singles as other albums of theirs, but just raucous and fun throughout.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
It's impossible to overstate how important this album is. So much of Hendrix's playing influenced almost every guitarist which came after him. He was an absolute alien in the way he approached the instrument. What sets Hendrix and this album apart, though, is that he combined this other-worldly approach with good songwriting. He wasn't just a wizard, he was also making some great songs.
Method Man
4/5
Raw but polished, like a lot of Wu-Tang productions to be honest. This album is a classic for a reason and it still sounds great. It's not the best solo album from the Wu-Tang stable, that'd be Supreme Clientele, but it's still a very good record.
Elvis Costello
3/5
It's Elvis Costello. It's idiosyncratic and will definitely divide opinion. I like his music, but I get why it wouldn't be for everyone. Saying that, this one feels pretty accessible for the most part. You can hear bits and pieces which have clearly been influential to other artists, too. Decent, but not life changing.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Raucous and chaotic at times, but it's counterbalanced by actual songs, riffs, and melodies. It's a fine balancing act, but it's done really well.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
I'm very glad to see Ghostface show up on this list, but it's baffling that it's this album over Supreme Clientele, or even Ironman. That said, the beats are fantastic here and the flow is infectious.
Machito
4/5
A joyful album which was completely at odds with my mood when I put it on during work. This demands some cocktails and a BBQ, not spreadsheets.
Klaxons
4/5
I didn’t have particular strong feelings towards Klaxons during the Nu-Rave era of NME. I wasn’t into them but found them to be catchy chart botherers. That’s true, but the album tracks are much more interesting. Darker and more manic than the single releases, bits which remind of their contemporaries such as The Horrors. More fun than I’d expected.
Germs
3/5
Definitely more in the influential rather than enjoyable category. I like punk, but would it kill them to keep time a little?
Judas Priest
4/5
It's so unapologetically silly, and I love it for that.
The Streets
4/5
I'll start by saying that it should've been "Original Pirate Material" on this list as it's a better and more influential album. That said, "A Grand Don't Come for Free" does have its share of top songs. I totally understand this not being everyone's cup of tea. It's so unapologetically talking of a working-class English life and it's not something I expect everyone to relate to. Not to mention the fact that by the very virtue of being so idiosyncratic it's going to rub some people the wrong way. If it does appeal to you, though, then it scratches an itch that you'd be hard pushed to find elsewhere or done better.
George Harrison
3/5
It's fine. It's certainly far too long, not only in overall length, but the length of certain songs, too. There's a better album in there, but it's a bit watered down and there's nothing strong enough to make up for that.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
A masterpiece from start to finish. It's one of the quintessential examples of old-school hip-hop and it stands up well even now. It's the kind of album that you'll always find yourself coming back to. The kind of album which makes the perfect backdrop for a chill session with some good headphones, or a barbecue with drinks flowing. Timeless.
Doves
2/5
It's alright, but there's nothing here which really grabbed me. It all sounds perfectly pleasant, but yeah... It slightly drifts off into a Stereophonics sound at times, but more like late-career Stereophonics, which is a shame.
Billy Bragg
3/5
A rather strange and disparate collection of songs, but decent enough. Not enough politics, mind.
Madonna
2/5
It wasn't for me when it came out, and it still isn't for me. It's not outright awful or anything, but it all feels rather surface level. Oh, and the American Pie cover is a war crime.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
The album makes a great first impression and just goes from there. It's drenched in the sounds which would become integral to the '80s as a whole, but it doesn't suffer from the same issues as other music from the decade. The quirks of recording and the synths just serve to give it personality, rather than date it.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Nothing revolutionary, but a solid collection of decent rock songs.
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
It's certainly of its era. The production is good and there are elements I like, but it doesn't do a great deal for me.
Tears For Fears
5/5
The album starts very strongly with "Shout" and then goes from there. It's an inevitability that most albums from the '80s sound particularly dated due to the prevalence of (by today's standards) primitive electronics and synths. Sometimes this makes an album unlistenable and sometimes it gives it charm. Tears for Fears fall into the latter. Great songwriting throughout and some all-time bangers.
Queen
3/5
It's Queen, but minus a lot of the pop sensibilities which came later. I've never been a huge Queen fan, but without that flair it just sounds a little flat. Accomplished, but flat.
R.E.M.
4/5
Whilst not my favourite REM album, it's still good. I know this is the one which the public tends to gravitate towards, but I find it's one where you have to be in the right mood to really enjoy it.
Tim Buckley
4/5
The album develops into something much better than the first track or two would have you expect.
Primal Scream
4/5
The highs on the album are great, but there are a couple of lulls. With the hindsight of 30 years of music development, this could've been trimmed down to around 40 minutes and been 5 stars from start to finish, but there's still enough good stuff here.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
This hasn't aged gracefully, that's for sure. That said, there's something interesting about Cohen's mesmeric voice sitting atop tracks which sound like they're from a medley of '80s daytime TV shows and video game soundtracks.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
It's pretty interesting how an album can gain such importance after the fact, and not due to its own merits, but rather because it became an invaluable tool in early hip hop. On its own merits it's fine, but as a cornerstone of rap it's a super interesting heritage item.
Fairport Convention
5/5
Gripping and intimate from the very off. It sounds of its time without sounding twee or too dated. Cracking listen, that.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
It's excellent. There's no point going on about it because everything that needs to be said has already been said. Banging.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Banger after oppressive banger.
The Undertones
4/5
It's great. Teenage Kicks obviously stands out massively but the rest of the album isn't poor or anything. Solid and enjoyable throughout.
UB40
3/5
As a resident of Birmingham, I've a long-standing hatred of UB40s pop output. This is better, though. I'm not going to pretend that it's great or life changing, but it's better. I appreciate the message throughout and it doesn't have the cheesy sheen on it which their big singles had. That said, I'm not likely to be going back to this at any point soon.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
A warm wall of sound. It's not as good as Loveless, but it certainly scratches an itch.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
The tracks on this album are catchier than on other Costello records and there's a good pop sensibility about it which ties everything together. My old band used to cover "Pump It Up", too, so there's something extra enjoyable about this for me.
Kate Bush
4/5
It has its moments, but it’s not as good as some of other work.
Stereo MC's
3/5
I didn't think I was familiar with this group, but about 10 seconds into the first song and I was proven wrong. There's a couple of tracks which were ubiquitous in the UK at the time, so I enjoyed a bit of nostalgia there. The album is rather samey, though, so it does wear thin. However, it's decent.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Let's be honest, "The Killing Moon" is enough quality by itself to get an album onto this list. That said, there's a lot of great stuff besides that. Top album.
John Coltrane
3/5
I know the importance of this album, but I find it hard to really enjoy jazz unless I'm there in person. Chaos and discordance works with the energy of a live gig, but I don't think it quite makes its way across properly in this format. I didn't enjoy it enough to give a 4, but feel dirty giving a 3. But still, sometimes it's nice to feel dirty.
Coldplay
1/5
Nah.
The KLF
3/5
Cheesier than a wheel of brie, but I still found it kind of charming.
Pantera
5/5
Just bangers.
Television
5/5
Such a fire album. It marks a real transition and blending of genres, similar in many ways to what Joy Division were doing in the UK at the time. The title track of the album is an all-time classic, too.
Madonna
2/5
The title track is a great pop song, that's for sure. The rest of the album can't live up to that, unfortunately.
Simple Minds
2/5
Not particularly exciting. They've found their sound and don't deviate from it at all. It's genuinely fine, but not the best of the era.
Talking Heads
4/5
Talking Heads sounding incredibly like Talking Heads.
Van Halen
3/5
It's so incredibly silly and is responsible for a lot of rock sins which would follow in the '80s, but that silliness is what gives it charm. I'm not a fan of David Lee Roth's vocals, but the instrumentation is all great. Not just Eddie, but everyone is on it. I think you have to be in the right mood for it, but it's a bit of silly fun.