905
Albums Rated
3.71
Average Rating
83%
Complete
184 albums remaining
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1950s
Favorite Decade
Post-punk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Cheerleader
Rater Style ?
160
5-Star Albums
5
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sulk | 5 | 2.36 | +2.64 |
| Third | 5 | 2.43 | +2.57 |
| The United States Of America | 5 | 2.61 | +2.39 |
| The Madcap Laughs | 5 | 2.62 | +2.38 |
| Sex Packets | 5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
| Group Sex | 5 | 2.74 | +2.26 |
| Faust IV | 5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
| My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts | 5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
| Rejoicing In The Hands | 5 | 2.82 | +2.18 |
| Go Girl Crazy | 5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
| Ready To Die | 1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
| (What's The Story) Morning Glory | 2 | 3.84 | -1.84 |
| Siamese Dream | 2 | 3.83 | -1.83 |
| Yeezus | 1 | 2.77 | -1.77 |
| Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness | 2 | 3.68 | -1.68 |
| A Grand Don't Come For Free | 1 | 2.67 | -1.67 |
| good kid, m.A.A.d city | 2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
| Gorillaz | 2 | 3.53 | -1.53 |
| Definitely Maybe | 2 | 3.52 | -1.52 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 9 | 4.67 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 5 |
| Brian Eno | 5 | 4.8 |
| Beatles | 6 | 4.5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.6 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.75 |
| Steely Dan | 4 | 4.75 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 5 |
| Neil Young | 4 | 4.5 |
| Peter Gabriel | 3 | 4.67 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.67 |
| Miles Davis | 2 | 5 |
| OutKast | 2 | 5 |
| The Velvet Underground | 2 | 5 |
| The Stooges | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 4.2 |
| Joni Mitchell | 4 | 4.25 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.25 |
| The Rolling Stones | 6 | 4 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.33 |
| Queen | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Who | 3 | 4.33 |
| Deep Purple | 3 | 4.33 |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Talking Heads | 3 | 4.33 |
| Björk | 3 | 4.33 |
| Kate Bush | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kanye West | 3 | 1.67 |
5-Star Albums (160)
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Popular Reviews
Haircut 100
2/5
It's not terrible, but I don't understand the inclusion on this list. Even if you take the UK centric nature of some of the selections, why would this be included instead of something like Ultravox or Visage or Howard Jones? (all UK options) Icehouse or Split Enz or Thomas Dolby? These six are all much more worthy "new wave" inclusions than this album -- even if you were just looking at UK options in the same general timeframe, this is a poor choice. Looking at the charts, Asia would be a better option and bring something interesting to the list... Gap Band IV would have been amazing as an inclusion... Flock of Seagulls debut! Scorpions "Blackout"! Anyhow, poor choice. I owned this record in the 1980s and gave it away back then... it didn't stay in my collection for any real duration.
9 likes
Jacques Brel
3/5
OK, so this is the sort of thing I had kind of expected and also hoped for when signing up for this 1001 albums thing. Yesterday I had Limp Bizkit and today I have Jacques Brel. LOL
This album definitely broadened my horizons just a little bit. I am familiar with this style but only in passing. It's the first time I've listened to several tunes of this era and style in a row. Brel is clearly connecting the cabaret with what would become early contemporary French music.
Glad I listened to it? Yes. Need to listen to it more? Probably not, it was interesting precisely because I had limited prior exposure.
Good selection for the 1001 though!
8 likes
The Associates
5/5
I was so pleasantly surprised to see this record on the 1001.
This album was too weird for my friends back in the early 1980s when we were in high school.
We listened to some pretty weird stuff at times, Tones on Tail, Liquid Liquid, but The Associates were too weird for most of the folks I hung out with.
Listening to it now I'm impressed with it, honestly, it's coherent and yet very very strange, particularly given the time. It's probably one of the more "effected" sounding records I can think of, unusual for the early 1980s.
I'd put in in the same category as Soft Cell. Disconnected odd music for outcasts. Lovely.
It's totally fine if you don't like the style or the sound, but for some of us, this is great precisely because it's unique.
Bonus points for the "Love Hangover" cover!
5 likes
The Specials
4/5
I like ska but haven't had enough exposure to everything that's out there. Great record, well played, with some entertaining song choices.
I'm slightly tempted to give this album a five, but it's not going to change anyone's life... I suppose unless they are inspired to create a ska band!
3 likes
David Bowie
5/5
Huge Bowie fan, and I was so happy when he surprise released this. I listened to it on and off for eight months or so. Great record. I think it shows a lot of maturity vs. some of his other output.
2 likes
1-Star Albums (5)
All Ratings
The Black Keys
4/5
I was surprised that I was familiar with several of the tunes on this album. Felt a bit derivative but the songs weren't bad.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
I've listened to this album many dozens of times. It's fairly commercial which is interesting as I think it's more the case of the songs being good, and people liking them, and they end up commercial... as opposed to Peter setting out to make something people would like. Honestly it's probably my least favorite Gabriel album. Then again, I more or less love the other ones, and this one I like a lot.
Common
4/5
A few of these tunes definitely got a lot of airplay on streaming. It's more of a rap album, with melodic content, than hip-hop.
Neil Young
4/5
Wow. I'm a huge Neil fan, and I've never heard this record. It's definitely got a very strong country influence, and I could see that being off putting to some folks. Not a single track on this album is something that Neil plays anymore, which is interesting. I suspect this record would grow on me if I listened to it more, and reading about how it was essentially a "lost" album i.e. was out of print for a long time explains to me why I hadn't heard it until now. Interesting!
Led Zeppelin
4/5
At the time this came out it had to have been pretty revolutionary. I've listened to this album a decent amount in the past, though I probably prefer II, and hadn't listened to it in a long time, so I gave it a listen. Over time I have definitely listened to heavier music, and also stuff that is more revolutionary... I'd say the big negative with Zep is that they definitely repackaged blues into rock, and made it safe for 1970s white America. That said, there's good musicianship, and obviously many solid original tunes.
R.E.M.
3/5
Sigh. I will admit that there is some R.E.M. that I get and enjoy, and other R.E.M. that I don't really get. This album has a certain sameness to a lot of the material which makes it hard to get excited about what is almost certainly great musicianship and songwriting. The lone exception is "Orange Crush" which just appears as a total breath of fresh air out of nowhere in the middle of the album. "World Leader Pretend" was a fairly big hit for them but is in the same idiom as the rest of the album. I wasn't impressed. I know there are R.E.M albums I like a lot. This isn't one of them. It's fine.
Joy Division
5/5
OK, this is an album that is well loved by me, and one that I bought in vinyl back in high school. I might like Unknown Pleasures better, but generally I think one cannot argue the importance of Joy Division. The mood, the precise drumming, the overall sense of dread... Basically they created an entire genre of goth rock all on their own, with some help from Black Sabbath (ancestor) and Bauhaus (descendant). Definitely an album everyone should listen to once before they die, and also a great album.
Stephen Stills
4/5
I've never heard this album before. I'm well acquainted with CSN and sometimes Y, but my only Stills solo material have been a couple of tracks on live albums. Pleasantly surprised! Interesting sound, material, songwriting, good harmonies. I'll have to listen more.
Charles Mingus
4/5
Not a great listen -- on a plane, lots of noise, not loud enough -- but very interesting material indeed. I am aware of Charles Mingus and have listened to him on some recordings as a member of a group, but I haven't listened to an actual recording with him as the artist. Clearly some sort of avant modern dance accompaniment, this is interesting stuff. I see why he's referenced in the same breath as Miles.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
On the road so not the most critical listen, but then again, very familiar with this record, own the vinyl from years and years ago. Interesting cross pollination of prog rock with classical. There are other ELP albums I like more, the live albums or Brain Salad Surgery, but this one is entertaining and a good performance.
The Youngbloods
4/5
Was on the road for this one so Spotify again but had time to listen to this twice under decent conditions. Clearly a roots influenced situation, an album I've never seen or listened to before, but a band I've heard before as background music. I liked it and suspect I'll end up listening to it again. There's a lot of music from this era that has similar sonic qualities, I thought the vocals were pretty distinctive, and it was a nice mix of blues, folk and rock.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Very familiar with the title track, never heard the album. It's a mood.
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
Very familiar with many of these tunes from the live album Wings Over America. Great songwriting, interesting material, good tunes. Impressive and definitely gives credence to the idea that Paul was the one with the pop song writing chops.
Haircut 100
2/5
It's not terrible, but I don't understand the inclusion on this list. Even if you take the UK centric nature of some of the selections, why would this be included instead of something like Ultravox or Visage or Howard Jones? (all UK options) Icehouse or Split Enz or Thomas Dolby? These six are all much more worthy "new wave" inclusions than this album -- even if you were just looking at UK options in the same general timeframe, this is a poor choice. Looking at the charts, Asia would be a better option and bring something interesting to the list... Gap Band IV would have been amazing as an inclusion... Flock of Seagulls debut! Scorpions "Blackout"! Anyhow, poor choice. I owned this record in the 1980s and gave it away back then... it didn't stay in my collection for any real duration.
Gorillaz
2/5
Um. This isn't a bad record, there are interesting things here and there, and it has some elements that are musically cool. That said, it makes me think of a quote from a friend of mine -- "the Black Eyed Peas are the sort of musical act you think about creating with your friends when you are nine" -- Gorillaz are basically that sort of thing, somewhat updated, less dance oriented, more of a trip hop sort of feel in places. I don't understand why this album is on this list and Digable Planets "Refutation" isn't -- hell, I'd take Beastie Boys "Check Your Head" or "Hello Nasty" over this, even with several BB albums on the list already. (I discovered later that this seems to have been removed from more recent editions of the list LOL)
The Go-Go's
3/5
My sister wore out a copy of this album. It's decent power pop, and not supposed to be any sort of life changing experience... I mean, it's definitely significant in terms of having an impact for women in rock, and charted decently well, but I don't really see the point of inclusion, except precisely for the fact that these folks encouraged a lot of other ladies to get involved. Hard to imagine Hole or Sleater-Kinney if there were never any Go-Go's. Then again, Joan Jett might have been enough on her own!
4/5
OK, I'm only about halfway through, and two things immediately come to mind. First, I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying this, I've never listened to these guys at all, really, other than random hearing of their bigger hits. That said, I like industrial (Ministry, KMFDM, Front 242) and I like rap (Beastie Boys, Digable Planets, Tribe) and I'm not scared of noise (Swans) and so this is kind of great. Second, I am blown away -- amazed -- to hear there is a "clean" version of this album. What the hell?!? I am just going to have to check that out, as the level of profanity in this record is off the chart. The album runs a bit long and some of the tail end of it is rather meh, but overall still surprised and impressed that I enjoyed it as much as I did.
Jacques Brel
3/5
OK, so this is the sort of thing I had kind of expected and also hoped for when signing up for this 1001 albums thing. Yesterday I had Limp Bizkit and today I have Jacques Brel. LOL
This album definitely broadened my horizons just a little bit. I am familiar with this style but only in passing. It's the first time I've listened to several tunes of this era and style in a row. Brel is clearly connecting the cabaret with what would become early contemporary French music.
Glad I listened to it? Yes. Need to listen to it more? Probably not, it was interesting precisely because I had limited prior exposure.
Good selection for the 1001 though!
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Well for me, this is a classic formative album. I'll admit the vocals can be a bit hard to get used to, but conversely, there's just some fantastic songwriting here and some outright jams. Holiday in Cambodia is certainly a jam, as is California Uber Alles, but I must admit a big soft spot for Let's Lynch The Landlord which clearly states, unequivocally, exactly where their sympathies lie. IMHO a classic album that everyone should have heard at some point in their life... so a great inclusion on the list.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I will admit two things simultaneously. I am not particularly a Dylan fan. That said, it's impossible to have a grounding in popular music, particularly folk and/or music from the 1960s, without picking up a few albums and having some favorite tunes. Most Dylan albums therefore end up feeling a bit like a collection of "greatest hits" with some filler added in for good measure. This is one of those. Several absolutely classic tunes, several deep cuts. Dylan's voice is strong on this recording. I was debating rating it three vs. four and ultimately chose three as I suspect I wouldn't listen to this record again under normal circumstances. (I'm a lot more likely to grab a live album.)
Pavement
3/5
So, for starters, this is a band that could never have existed without the Velvet Underground. I'll also compare it to Wilco, but with vocals that aren't as tuneful, and tunes that aren't as well written. This isn't bad, in fact, I love both of those bands, but it does feel a bit derivative listening to it now in 2023.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
OK, saw the French titles, had no idea what to expect, but didn't expect this... very much sounding like a modern French Madonna clone. Not that that's bad! Madonna is a guilty pleasure for many, and her early albums were huge massive club hits. Ah, interesting... didn't realize there was an English version. Honestly, was kind of enjoying the French, probably because you can't tell if the lyrics are dumb or not when they are in a language you don't know LOL. Somehow this makes me think of a very cleaned up Peaches.
Linkin Park
3/5
Kind of surprised at my overall enjoyment of this. Never heard it, know the band exists, possibly a couple of singles somewhere along the line, but no familiarity. Not bad. A bit of a pastiche of various styles, sort of unique, yet derivative.
Sade
3/5
Have the vinyl, remember when Sade burst on to the scene like a breath of fresh air. Beautiful voice. Understated production. Doesn't really hold up as anything super special in the context of history, though.
The Band
3/5
Fairly familiar with this album, very very familiar with certain tunes. I'd agree this is an album everyone should hear at some point. These days, the production seems very "open" i.e. the sound isn't very layered, so it is a sparse recording... it is both soulful and yet obviously a studio recording. There are classic tunes on this record, but I like Big Pink better.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
I will admit that this album ended up feeling like cool background music. Dusty has great pipes, and the musicianship backing her is strong, but I didn't find anything super super memorable. Possibly unique for 1969 in that this felt like a throwback to late 50s early 60s. It's not rock, it's not psychedelic, it's not electric folk... It's soulful, R&B, and yet somehow very very white.
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
This is cool. I've never heard of this artist, much less this album. I am conversant with some hip hop... this reminds me of Public Enemy, probably more than anything else. Good beats, interesting melodies, nice timing. Color me impressed.
The Offspring
2/5
Initial impression after the first few tracks... boring. Just not that much going on. Production has too much emphasis on midrange, they seem to be thinking they are playing super fast super thrash which is true but conversely this just isn't all that interesting. Vocals are lame, just a monotone sing shout. There are two songs I recognize and they are a bit more tuneful and better, but honestly, without them this album would be pretty terrible. I was listening to Dead Kennedys right before this and boy, what a contrast, so much better songwriting, so much more emotion, so much more energy! I was sorely tempted to give it one star, but there are two decent songs, if I could I'd do 3/10 so I'll give them two stars and save the one star for something truly awful, not just boring.
TV On The Radio
4/5
Very mash up feel. Kitchen sink. The main thing that is holding it together is the enthusiasm. They are doing weird things, and singing tunelessly, or tunefully, whatever they want, and if you like it, great, and if not, that's fine too. Compares well with LCD Soundsystem. Never heard of these guys, nice find.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
OK, so this is a bit funny. I had never heard of this album, and honestly, when I looked at the track listing, I thought it was some early greatest hits record. LOL! Now all that said, there are three totally classic tracks on this record, and the rest isn't anything special. There are MANY great Rolling Stones records. This one isn't bad, but I don't see how it is an album everyone should hear before they die... I mean, for sure Let It Bleed and Beggars Banquet are much better records than this one.
MGMT
3/5
I had thought I had not heard of this band, and then recognized three of the tunes right away -- this record must have been pretty huge when it came out. It's got some interesting layering of sounds, and the songwriting is OK, but I didn't find it anything special.
Louis Prima
4/5
I'm a sucker for New Orleans music. This is just a fantastic mélange of styles which really swings with a great jazzy big band accompaniment. Vocals solid and expressive too. Never sat down and listened to an album from Louis Prima before... but some of these tracks are absolute classics. A great example of the sort of thing that needs to be on this list! I am jealous of anyone who has never experienced this style of music before at this quality.
Beck
3/5
I'm generally a Beck fan. The album I listen to the most is probably Mutations. Odelay is more straightforward than some of his other work, with typical backbeats and less layered instruments. It's fine but I like other Beck records more.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
This is an album I've always really enjoyed, particularly the third album side on vinyl with "Rainy Day, Dream Away", "1983....(A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" and "Moon, Turn the Tides....Gently Gently Away". Maybe it's a Seattle thing, I dunno. It's definitely got a really laid back feel that I enjoy and is more psychedelic and more improvisational than the other Hendrix studio albums.
Fairport Convention
3/5
I'm a big Richard Thompson fan and haven't really listened to much of this early material, at least, not intentionally and not an entire album. Some of these tunes are often covered by him solo, or were in the rotation for a while at some point, and I'm familiar with those. It's interesting to hear him in an ensemble presentation, particularly one as "folky" as this group is. (Harpsichord, fiddle, etc.)
Pixies
4/5
OK, so I probably like Doolittle better than this record, and Trompe le Monde has better production and really rocks from start to end... but I love myself some Pixies, and this record has some absolute classics... Rock Music, Velouria, Is She Weird are all top shelf in my book. Great band, great album.
R.E.M.
4/5
I think this might be my favorite R.E.M. album.
Basement Jaxx
2/5
I was heavily involved in the rave scene in the mid 1990s in the Bay Area, and while I personally preferred techno and related situations, I was certainly conversant with house, acid house, trip house and similar. I don't understand the inclusion of this album on this list, particularly when there's nothing from The Orb or Future Sound of London or Art of Noise. If the goal is to expose people to things they may not have heard, OK, sure, I haven't heard of this record, but that said, it's derivative in the worst possible sense of not being creative. I will give it two stars because it's not objectively bad -- if someone put this on at a house party, I don't think anyone would run over and turn it off -- but there's no there there. LOL reading Wikipedia now and this seems firmly in the area of the author is UK based and this record was apparently big over there, but hell, Rolling Stone said it's #13 on the top 30 EDM albums of all time... I guarantee that 1-12 aren't all on this list. Silly!
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
Super interesting. Not at all what I was expecting, based on the album cover, the album title, the artist name. I saw that it was tagged with the genre Drum & Bass but this wasn't what I was expecting. Precisely the sort of thing I was hoping to run across when starting this journey. Cool!
Ramones
5/5
So I'm a big fan, and to put a personal story in here, my daughter was taking classes at School of Rock and the unit was Ramones. I was thrilled. She shared the setlist with me, and I scoffed, and said "What? No 'Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue' or 'I Wanna Be Sedated'? Lame!" She brought it up to the musical coordinator and corrections were made... I think this is my first five rating (about 30-35 albums in) and that seems about right to me.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
I had the very good fortune of discovering Bill Evans in the early 1990s and getting to see him perform live in a small club in San Francisco around 1993 or 1994. It was wonderful, and I am so glad that one of my friends there organized that outing. Bill Evans has a rare quality of being precise and yet also having a rhythm, a swing, an emotion to his playing. Great choice for the 1001.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
So this wasn't at all what I expected. That said, it was pretty great. Interesting musically, a variety of moods, different tempos. Cool!
The Beau Brummels
3/5
OK, this is a bit silly but I have to admit that I keep thinking of Spinal Tap and their discussion of the various directions of the band before they became Spinal Tap. This really feels almost like a parody of 60s psychedelic folk rock. They are super earnest though. I think in the interest of being polite I'll give it a three, it's not my cup of tea, there's definitely effort being made, and while the style isn't at all what I typically like to listen to, it's not objectively bad, the musicianship is solid.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Impressive debut album, includes "Gimme Three Steps" and "Tuesday's Gone" -- both fantastic songs well loved by fans -- and the instantly recognizable "Free Bird" and "Simple Man". They've got a unique style that comes across really well in the record... they basically invented "Southern Fried Rock" along with the Allman Brothers. Solid. Big fan of "Saturday Night Special"... not on this album, worth checking out.
k.d. lang
3/5
I did enjoy listening to this, but it didn't feel like it was really covering any new territory. It felt very much like throwbacks to classic female country and/or jazz standards artists.
Happy Mondays
3/5
I'm not sure what that point of this record is. It feels like people trying to be hip and funky... but they are not naturally hip and funky people. Karaoke in an album format? Perhaps. I suppose on second listen they occasionally manage to be hip and funky, though it feels forced. I may give them a three just because I'm feeling sorry for them. The music isn't terrible... but it's certainly not great. LOL I try to not read the Wikipedia entry until after I form my opinion -- but this is almost comical in that the 1001 list is often derided as being too UK centric and having too many mediocre UK acts on it... and yeah, here's another one.
The War On Drugs
5/5
This album made a huge impression on me when I first heard it, and it survived many, many, many relistens. When I saw it pop up on this list, I was like "OK, easy five, an unbelievable record" and immediately looked forward to cuing it up. Yep, amazing record. Kind of jealous of anyone coming across it for the first time. One of the more interesting records of the last ten years. Very worthy of a spot on the 1001.
Buck Owens
3/5
I recognized a couple of these tunes -- not sure if they are originals or covers, but "Cryin' Time" and "Memphis" definitely made it into the canon, such as it is. (From research, Cryin' Time is an original by Owens, and Memphis is of course by Chuck Berry, I was well aware of his version, but wasn't sure which came first!) I have a limited appreciation for country music. I like Johnny Cash, I like Merle Haggard, I like Willie Nelson... and that's probably about it, honestly. This record is definitely pure country and very much of it's time. At least it's honest!
Blur
3/5
Well, the big hit "Girls & Boys" is definitely the best track on the record. This reminds me of being in high school, with limited cash, and buying albums based on the strength of a single, and being disappointed with the album... happened all the time, actually. I wouldn't say this record is bad, but I didn't find it compelling, and I fail to see how it breaks any sort of new ground. I'll put it in the bucket of being an album that the UK centric author wanted to include as it was significant in a UK centric way, but it's not really all that important, big picture.
3/5
I remember this record coming out and a lot of people loving it. I had been listening to U2 for a few years at that point and I didn't like this record as much as I liked "Boy", "October" and "War". Listening to it now, the production seems poor. It's very muffled sounding. I read a bit about it and apparently this was intentional -- something about making the record sound more immediate, authentic, cozy -- but listening to it now, it's just muddy. It's possible that newer remasters or whatnot may not have the same issue or it might not be as bad, but the overall impression is really imprecise. There are some classic tunes on here but I prefer earlier works.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Cool record. Kind of amazing to listen to this vs. other stuff that was going on in 1973. It's hard to give it a rating. Definitely a record that is of its time and yet also something that paved the way for a lot of other bands.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4/5
Fun, smooth. I generally like Jah Wobble but had never listened to any solo material. I don't know if this is revolutionary, if I could give it 3.5 stars, I would... It's definitely above average musically but conversely I didn't find it all that super creative. Ah, second listen. Rare, but felt like it was necessary. Feeling four stars now. Very funky world music. Definitely some creativity and some energy.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Classic record. Very familiar with all of these tunes, as there are several live recordings that circulate from this era that were recorded off FM radio. Excellent stuff!
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
So, yeah. A bit indulgent. Not sure if I'd consider a 28 track record with four hits to be a great accomplishment. Imagine if it had been trimmed down to a dozen tracks... including some of the more interesting transitions and musical parts, plus the four hits. Now that would be a record! I must also admit that I don't like the politics of the front man at all either. Art is difficult to separate from the artist. Some of the tunes blend together, which is to be expected with 28 tracks. My overall impression is indulgent, too many tracks that are filler...
The Saints
4/5
I gave this one casual listen and enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm generally a fan of punk particularly when it doesn't take itself too seriously.
David Bowie
4/5
So. I'm a big Bowie fan. I'm also a little picky. I think this is a great record, particularly fantastic saxophone LOL but that said, it's not in his top five.
The Byrds
3/5
So, this was unexpected. I had no idea the Byrds became a country band. Very odd. Not bad, either.
Television
5/5
I have to laugh. I'm very familiar with this record, and planned to give it a four, as I think it's formative, but not truly spectacular. I listened to it again. Five city, baby.
Sonic Youth
4/5
I've been fairly aware of this band for years and saw them live at a club in Santa Cruz CA (the Catalyst) back in 1993 or 1994. Wild show, crazy crowd, to the point where the band threatened to end the show early if people didn't calm down -- too much stagediving apparently. Anyhow, I have never really dug into their back catalog... and apparently need to make plans to do so.
Cat Stevens
4/5
So this is a beautiful record. I definitely spent a bunch of time years ago listening to this and "Buddha and the Chocolate Box". If I could give it 4.5 stars, I would. It's a bit saccharin for modern days.
New Order
4/5
I own the vinyl, bought the record when it came out. Honestly, I can't argue too much with this inclusion in the sense that their huge singles were not on the previous album "Power, Corruption & Lies" -- if "Blue Monday" and "Confusion" and "Thieves Like Us" were included on that record, it would have been a clear winner over this one. That said, we rate the albums as released, not the albums we wished were released LOL and this is a very solid outing with some good tunes.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
I never really listened much to this record -- I had a roommate who would play it with some frequency in his room, but I didn't own a copy myself. Listening to it now, it just seems a bit depressing. I liked the energy of "Pretty Hate Machine" and saw NIN live during that era... I like industrial, but I prefer angry music to depressing music.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Cool record. I was familiar with a few of the tracks, but hadn't listened to this album before. I'll definitely have to give it another listen.
Scritti Politti
3/5
The couple of hits on this record are interesting tunes... this was pretty early club music i.e. something you wouldn't really hear on the radio with any real frequency, but you'd hear when you went out. Definitely also a bit of a mishmash with a few different elements -- funky, electronic, a bit of a reggae feel here and there. I would say it's aged somewhat poorly, as it isn't nearly as complex as music became.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
I've heard the singles, never listened to the album, rectified that today, enjoyed the record, will have to listen to it more. Some wild guitar sounds for sure!
Sonic Youth
4/5
Two observations. A) There seems to be quite a bit of Sonic Youth on this list and B) I'm not complaining.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Wow. I actually kind of looked forward to listening to this... "Come On Eileen" was a sensation, really unusual sound, fun record, and I thought there was a decent chance that this record would be in the vein of Violent Femmes or B-52s or something like that, quirky, energetic. Yawn! Definitely a case of video killing the radio star, this act looked cool on TV, and the single had a huge hook, but the album is pretty terrible. I'll give it a two just because the single is still fun, energetic, and relatable even now.
Queen
4/5
Love Queen. This is a transitional album for them -- they are moving away from their prog roots and becoming a bit more of a rock band. "Killer Queen" was huge, and "Tenement Funster" still rocks. There are several Queen albums I like more than this one, though.
Arrested Development
4/5
There are idiots who gatekeep and just like they might claim that someone isn't black because they have light black skin, they will judge this record and say it's not real rap or not real hip-hop or whatever. Such garbage. Garbage! Just because a record is approachable, and the lyrics are positive and aren't full of f-bombs doesn't mean it's not real. I run into this from time to time with another band I like a lot, Digable Planets, they are a bit weird, and political, and positive, and interesting... and people will say they aren't real hip-hop. I don't care! Really I don't care. I want the music to be interesting, I want the lyrics to be thought provoking, I want the band to take an overall position... and this album delivers all that in spades. Don't gatekeep tunes. It just makes people think that you are someone who wants to force your preferences on other people as if they are the only valid preferences. Garbage!
The The
5/5
"Sweet Bird of Truth" is one of the best songs ever written. Several tunes on this record are absolute bangers. Criminally underrated, The The is one of the most important bands of their era. Check out the "Mind Bomb" album if you haven't already. You're welcome. (Glad to see "Soul Mining" already in the 1001.)
DJ Shadow
3/5
This didn't do much for me. I like foreground music, and generally prefer music with lyrics... this felt like it was just a bit too clever for its own good.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
If you could wear out a CD, I would have wore out my copy of "People's Instinctive Travels". I will admit that "Low End" hasn't gotten nearly as much play into my ear-balls. This record has some good moments and is more straightforward rap than "People's".
Milton Nascimento
3/5
Most decidedly not my cup of tea. Truly unusual. There's a lot of talent and emotion so I'll give it a three, but again, not something I'd typically want to listen to. That said, glad things like this are on the 1001, if they are exceptional examples of their craft, which I'm assuming this is. At least it's not another Byrds album.
The Who
4/5
So, on this one, I'm kind of torn in terms of a rating. I think I have to approach it a little differently than I might otherwise, precisely because A) I'm intimately familiar with this record B) I think it's actually a somewhat important record, in terms of being ambitious C) I have a soft spot for the band. I wouldn't argue with someone who gave it a three strictly based on the quality of the tunes and the musicianship, but that said, in context, this is a pretty great record, though I like earlier Who more, and for a big grandiose mess, I strongly prefer Quadrophenia. The "rock opera" and "concept album" would never have gotten real momentum without this record and how successful it was.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Interesting. This will be one of those rare instances where I make the time for a second listen right away. I like it. Unusual mix of sounds, tempos, singing. My reaction reminds me a little of when I first heard "Buena Vista Social Club" so high praise, I guess.
Les Rythmes Digitales
4/5
Interesting. I was a bit involved in the rave scene in the SF Bay area in the 1992 to 1994 timeframe and this wouldn't be out of place in that situation. Reasonably good beats, some good ideas. I'm giving it a four as I do think it's above average... on a ten point scale it would be a seven, not an eight, though...
Afrika Bambaataa
4/5
Absolutely love the title track -- big fan -- was absolutely huge when I was a VJ back in the mid 1980s. Didn't find the "album" was really worthwhile, though. It's just an assemblage of singles in varying quality, none of them as good as Planet Rock.
ABBA
2/5
First cut, meh. Second cut "Dancing Queen" timeless anthem. Third cut, dreck. Fourth, bad dreck. Fifth track "Knowing Me, Knowing You" timeless anthem. Sixth track "Money, Money, Money" timeless anthem, I guess, though not as strong as the other two. Seventh, dreck. Eighth, meh with sax. Nine, wow, so bad. Ten, bagpipes? Electronic bagpipes? Wow. I'm listening to a bonus version with "Fernando" which wasn't on the original album but I gotta say, based on some of my other reviews, it's hard to give this a very good rating, though it has a couple of classic tracks on it. From the era where the record companies were happy if an album had two hits on it, and the rest was filler, and people bought the record. Ugh! I went into this knowing full well what I was likely to find, prepared to hold my nose and give it a three based on the monster tracks, and after listening, I think it doesn't even merit that rating, because the other tunes are so terrible.
Jurassic 5
4/5
This is a cool record. I pretty much immediately gave it a second listen. It's going to require further listening.
New York Dolls
5/5
I was familiar with several tracks, but I doubt I've sat down and listened to this whole album all at once before. Classic, seminal, brash. The sound, the look. Massively influential, and fun to listen to or thrash dance pogo around to. Rock and roll, baby!
Paul Simon
5/5
I like this record. It's got a really great feel to it. Good songwriting too.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Elvis isn't really my cup of tea, but he does have a great voice, he and his people know good songwriting when they come across it, and the band and orchestration on this album are definitely stronger than some of his other records.
Wilco
4/5
I like Wilco. I've heard most of these tunes from the various live albums, but I haven't ever listened to this album. It's solid. I like the richer textures of "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" but this record has a country feel which is nice. I can already tell I'm going to have to listen to this in the car driving around in the winter nice and loud.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
So, this record is definitely a vibe. You might like it, you might not. It certainly came out of nowhere and inspired a lot of folks who hadn't heard this kind of music before. I find it to be sort of a rocking version of Cocteau Twins, if that makes any sense. Well worth a spot on the 1001 in terms of influence, style, and creativity. When I first heard this record, it felt like I was picking up some alien radio transmission... psychedelic in the truest sense of the word. Had it been vinyl, I would have assumed something wrong with the pressing!
Van Morrison
4/5
True story. When I was in college, I was friendly with a group of women who were roommates at a nearby all women's school. They had a running bet between them to see who would be the first to have sex to "Moondance" and had a cassette of the album in a little holder near the door in their room. Apparently there were several false starts LOL i.e. one of them would be heading out on a date, take the cassette, and come back and put the cassette in the holder... and not collect on the bet. Eventually one of them did manage to claim it, but it was harder than they thought!
I do think that Van Morrison has a great voice, very emotive, nice range. The horns on this record are super cool, interesting arrangements and solos. Songwriting solid to excellent.
Honestly writing that I just talked myself into giving this record four stars. It would be a seven on a ten point scale.
Willie Nelson
4/5
For me personally, this album was an introduction to Willie Nelson when I first heard it. I don't really like country music, other than some specific artists, like Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash, and I suspect if had initially heard "real" Willie Nelson, I probably wouldn't have liked it much. This was a really cool career move on the part of Willie, he sang the hell out of these songs, and with good instrumentation and production, a lot of folks noticed, and he definitely escaped the "country" label as a result.
Deep Purple
4/5
Cool record. I was familiar with "Machine Head" -- own a copy -- but hadn't heard this. I like heavier stuff and had never thought of Deep Purple as being all that heavy... Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, that sort of thing is "heavy" in my book... well, this record is pretty heavy! It's got a sludgy feel to it, they were definitely successful in capturing the spirit of rawk. I like the keyboards particularly, they add a lot of depth to the tunes.
Spacemen 3
4/5
I had no preconceived notions about this album, I had never heard of it or of this band before. I found it interesting. I know I'm going to have to listen to it more, and the initial listen was cool.
Supertramp
4/5
I've always really liked this record. It's got some absolutely fantastic songwriting, the arrangements are cool, there are many interesting musical ideas, and the overall concept is really well executed. Definitely one of the best single disc concept albums. My favorite Supertramp record.
Pixies
4/5
I love the Pixies. Elements of this record are brilliant. There are other albums that are more consistent from top to bottom but the highs on this one rival the highs on any Pixies record.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Familiar with several tracks, probably never sat down to listen to the entire album, generally a Joni Mitchell fan. She's got such a great voice, and selects such emotive songs...
Manu Chao
3/5
This wasn't my cup of tea. I don't think it's bad, I just didn't relate well to it. It's hard to rate something like this -- there's stuff out there that is objectively terrible, and this isn't that.
GZA
4/5
I liked it. I have never listened to any Wu-Tang related material before, except just randomly, from streaming. I may have to address that.
Deep Purple
4/5
Great drumming. Nice keyboards. Heavy, but with swing and swagger combined. I like.
James Taylor
4/5
I'm a fan. The songwriting is amazing. The actual performances are honestly a tiny bit too polished -- I think there's more emotion in some of the live recordings floating around -- but it's not like there's anything wrong with the capture on the record. Good inclusion if somehow someone out there had missed out on hearing James Taylor.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
This is beautiful music. I really enjoyed it. I had heard of the artist but for whatever reason thought he was some sort of "soft jazz" type deal, which is of course completely wrong. A nice find in the 1001.
The Police
4/5
It's a measure of how great the Police were that this album isn't even in their top three albums, as far as my own personal preferences. Zenyatta Mondatta, Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity are all better records... which is kind of wild, it's got to be one of the most consistent outputs of any band ever -- in that sense, the relatively early breakup kind of preserved their legacy (cough, cough, looking at you, U2).
Al Green
3/5
It's a nice smooth listen, he's got a great voice, but I dunno, it doesn't really grab me the way some of his other records do.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
4/5
First, I gotta say that this album makes the case for the online 1001 generator vs. the various print editions. This particular record is apparently on some versions of the list, but not on all, as it wasn't on the spreadsheet I made from the version I've been working through. It's a cool record! I find it interesting and odd that it was dropped, but conversely, I've heard a lot of weird conversations online that the print editions have a lot of churn on the more recent selections, but the early material from the 1950s through the 1970s or so is basically left alone due to technical constraints i.e. the publisher doesn't want to completely repaginate the print edition when early pages are changed, so the author just leaves them alone, and when new stuff comes out that has to be included, it's usually something from the 1990s or 2000s that gets the axe. A shame, but again, thank you for the 1001 generator for having an exhaustive list including every record that's been in any edition -- I think that's correct, anyway.
Anyhow, I only got four tracks into this and was like "OK, cool stuff, band I've never heard of, definitely glad that it was on the 1001".
Oddly folky and psychedelic. A really great mishmash.
(Much better inclusion on the list than the seventh Byrd album, or however many there are.)
Beatles
5/5
I consider this to be the best Beatles album. Every song is at the least strong, some of them are beautiful, memorable. I have a fondness for "Revolver" but it's not as coherent or as mature as this record.
Yes
5/5
I'm a huge Yes fan, and this is my favorite album, by a decent margin. Several of the tunes on it are absolutely fantastic, particularly "Roundabout" and "Heart of the Sunrise", also a big fan of "Mood for a Day". Excellent!
If somehow someone had managed to live without ever hearing Yes, this is a fine inclusion on the 1001.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
This wasn't what I expected. I thought this band was one of those "louder faster" sort of situations -- this is kind of psychobilly or some sort of honkypunk. It was OK, but I wasn't moved.
David Bowie
4/5
Great songwriting, interesting arrangements, fantastic vocals... so expressive. This is one of my favorite Bowie records. Some wonderful hidden gems that don't make the greatest hits list but are among the finest songs ever: "Cracked Actor", "Time" and "Lady Grinning Soul".
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
4/5
I own the vinyl and also have an original import ZTT 12" of "Relax" which I bought before the video hit MTV.
The album is rather uneven, in terms of musical styles and content. Damn near certain it was a rush job to capitalize on the strength of the big hits.
That said, the sequence of "Relax", "War" and "Two Tribes" has to be one of the most slamming three song sequences on ANY record, period, and "The Power of Love" is a beautiful ballad.
The DDD mastering really stood out for the timeframe as well, an unbelievably clear sounding record, extremely well produced.
I loved the video for "Two Tribes", classic.
Suede
4/5
The more upbeat stuff was nice and punky and sort of surf rock sounding, with jangling guitars. Not bad. The slower stuff wasn't as interesting to me. I was a bit surprised as I was definitely aware of this band, but it didn't make much of an impression on me before. Must listen further.
Green Day
4/5
I like punk and honestly had always thought of these guys as poseurs more or less. I listened to the album with an open mind, and was pleasantly surprised. It's pretty good, all things considered, and has some of that energy of the late 1970s.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This is cool. Never heard of it. Kind of a wild mashup, definitely world music, great energy, nice vocals, interesting instrumentation. I'm a bit more than 100 into the 1001 and am discovering I definitely have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to world music.
Eurythmics
5/5
This was a really revolutionary record and an exciting band at the time this album came out. The videos were really cool, and the sound was unusual, as was the songwriting. They had a brilliant career, and Annie Lennox went on to do some great solo work. I think this is the best Eurythmics record. I have been stingy with my fives but will give this a five as I think it's a solid nine on a ten point scale, and I'm rounding up because of how revolutionary everything was... the instrumentation, the look, the design of the album itself. It all felt NEW.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Some of these tunes are iconic, including the title track, "Pusherman" and "Freddie's Dead". Buried in my brain was the factoid that they were from a soundtrack album... hadn't really thought about it. Cool musical style, and quite possibly one of the more significant soundtrack albums in terms of exposing a larger group to a music style that they might not have otherwise heard.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Innocent. I do miss the era where a typical album clocked in at less than 40 minutes. Nice vocals, but a bit treacly songwriting.
Dire Straits
4/5
Generally a fan of the band, and like a lot of debut records, the songs on this album are really polished. I think I like "Love Over Gold" and "Making Movies" more but this is a very good record, consistent top to bottom.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Classic. I like some of the other records better, though.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Never heard of this particular musical group, or this album. I did notice right away that it wasn't included in the edition of the 1001 I'm working from. Either it was added later, or it was added then removed, or something, but without getting too pejorative, in general, if that is the scenario, it's usually the case that it was something that seemed pretty good at the time, but later didn't seem to add much. I thought the vocal delivery was too affected. I didn't think the record was bad, but it was very much not my cup of tea.
Pulp
3/5
This album didn't make much of an impression. I was tempted to give it two stars but if it was actively bad, I'd probably have a stronger impression of it. It shows the bias of the 1001 author -- yet another UK band that is somehow important to him, but it's not an album that really has anything to recommend it.
Black Sabbath
5/5
This is one of the best albums ever made. Period, end of story. I'm a bit jealous of anyone who discovers this record through the 1001. I spent a summer listening to this album over and over...
The Young Rascals
3/5
Generally I like my 60s music more psychedelic OR more heavy OR more harmonious and vocally adept. This isn't bad, but really the only track on the album that kind of kicks butt is "You Better Run". "How Can I Be Sure" is a lovely, pretty song, I suppose.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Kind of unbelievable in terms of the top to bottom quality of the songs on this record, and the funky stylings, a bit of everything. Quite possibly the best Stevie record, which is saying something.
Ryan Adams
2/5
Not at all memorable. I like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson. This isn't interesting by comparison. I suppose if you feel that it's nice to have modern topics and modern instrumentation and modern production in country, you might like this, but it did nothing for me.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Big Neil fan. Nice album. Not my favorite, but good.
Beastie Boys
4/5
I like this record a lot. I prefer "Check Your Head" but that has more to do with the production and the overall sound than the actual material.
Green Day
3/5
My review is going to be a bit meta. I feel like Green Day was pushed pretty hard by the record label. They aren't bad, but they aren't as good as they should be for the amount of attention they got. Tons of stuff I'd rather listen to, including real punk from the 70s. Now, that said, this gets three stars because it's oddly subversive. I think it's funny they sold their label on a concept album punk opera called "American Idiot" and then managed to tour all over the world on the record. It's even more funny that they got tons of label support and radio airplay. The sense of irony is off the charts.
The Style Council
3/5
I gave this two listens and basically reaffirmed my first opinion. It's not bad, but it's not some hidden gem either. I suspect this is again something that's on the 1001 due to the UK bias and timeframe bias of the author.
Radiohead
4/5
I'll admit that I have very little familiarity with this band though I have been led to understand by friends and by the press that I might like it. I heard a playthrough of "In Rainbows" at the Dead & Co shows in Boulder in 2023 during set break and it reminded me that I needed to check these guys out. Fade to now, definitely interesting stuff. I suspect that Wilco, Beck and Radiohead are some of the only enduring music to come out of this era.
Pink Floyd
4/5
I like a lot of Pink Floyd records. This is one of the better ones, but in the interest of not ranking several of them with five stars, I'll give it four.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
This record didn't do much for me. I haven't really listened to Leonard Cohen before, and I see there are some other records by him on the list, so I guess we'll see if I develop a taste for it.
David Bowie
4/5
Huge fan but Bowie's passing made me not want to listen to this record, I knew it would make me sad. This was the first time I listened to this album, and I liked it, though it is definitely a bit haunting. In the same mode as "The Next Day" but a bit more melancholy. As with some other artists with several albums on the 1001, I'm going to give it a four mostly due to the fact there are other Bowie albums I like better.
Living Colour
3/5
"Cult of Personality" is a great tune and has a great video. Honestly, the whole thing in retrospect is a bit cringy. Living Colour was a rocking band which happened to have black members. In terms of mass market radio airplay, they were definitely trendsetters, but in a way, it feels like at the time they were mostly being treated like they were a novelty act. Of course, this is absurd. One of my favorite bands is Bad Brains, and they are totally out there in terms of energy and uniqueness, but that said, they were never put up as some sort of "wow, look at this" by the record label. Anyhow, really good guitar sounds, wide variety of quality in the songwriting, and sure, I'll give them points for "Cult of Personality" which really said something that needed to be said in Reagan era America, but I hesitate to think that this band would have been huge without A) MTV and B) "wow, look, a black band that plays rock!" The cover of "Memories Can't Wait" is pretty great, though.
Public Enemy
4/5
Always a fan. I had tickets to see them live in Boston in the late 1980s but the show had to be canceled due to a problem with the venue. (If I recall correctly, the afternoon of the show they announced that a sewer line had collapsed and the venue had no working bathrooms so the show couldn't happen.) These guys were smart, hard working, and talented. The material still holds up today.
Rod Stewart
3/5
He's got a great voice, there is some good songwriting here, but I didn't find this all that compelling and I don't think it's necessarily aged all that well. The production seems really thin, and there's a lot of material from this time period I'd rather listen to.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
I'm a fan. The vinyl of this one is in the garage. Such a unique approach and sound. Ambient music really had fallen off from the last Eno records until these guys showed up. The gibberish / made up language sounds really add something and make this truly unusual. I'm reminded of Jerry Garcia saying something like the Grateful Dead didn't want to be the best at what they did, they wanted to be the only ones doing what they did.
Metallica
4/5
It's interesting to listen to this now. It's been a long time. In my brain, the vocals aren't nearly as sludgy as they are on this recording. I don't know if it's the difference of equipment, or if the CD is mixed very differently, or what. I'm fairly sure my main way of listening to this album was on cassette and it was a portable system, nothing fancy and the system I have now is definitely light years better. The songwriting is strong, and they definitely tapped into something that wasn't in the forefront of metal at the time. Faster tempos, more sophisticated topics. I would never have suspected that the title track would make a monster comeback 35+ years later... I do think this is my favorite Metallica album, though it's a lot less clearly mixed listening to it now than it is in memories in my brain LOL
Beatles
5/5
I like the fact that this double album is all over the place. The quality of the tunes is very high, regardless if we're talking "Blackbird" or "Helter Skelter". This is one of my favorite Beatles records.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
I'm a big Neil fan. This is an interesting record, with some excellent tunes, but it doesn't achieve greatness.
Funkadelic
4/5
Huge fan of George Clinton. This particular record has some great moments but there are many others I prefer.
Santana
4/5
I really liked this record. It's got a really interesting mix of styles but it's all tied together. I've always had a fondness for Santana but never really sat down to listen to an album until today. If this was a ten point scale I'd probably give it a nine but I'm saving my fives for stuff that really really deserves it.
Fiona Apple
4/5
I am familiar with the artist but was not familiar with this album as an album. It's nice. The pianist and violinist are excellent. OK, I cheated, and wanted to know who was playing, so looked it up... and Fiona herself is the pianist on some of the tracks, and she wrote everything. Wow. Impressive. Definitely makes this a solid four star now.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Alright, so I have a bit of a controversial take. I think some terminology is not used very well. Bands like Joy Division are often considered post punk. Well, I think Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson are really post punk. It's basically the energy of punk music, plus a bit of a subversive or sarcastic edge to the songwriting, but with the musicianship and production of a more modern era. This is a fun, energetic album, and absolutely worth a listen. I fondly remember Elvis being banned forever from Saturday Night Live for unexpectedly performing "Radio Radio" against the wishes of NBC. That's punk!
Steely Dan
5/5
This is a five star without listening to it again. I'm a huge Steely Dan fan and would rank several of their albums as five stars from memory without re-listening. Simply stunning production, great songwriting, fantastic performances. The epitome of what a studio band can be.
B.B. King
3/5
I liked it, but I wasn't blown away. I do generally like B.B. King but on a list like this, he doesn't have the energy, creativity or range that some of the other artists do. I did give it two listens and if I could give it a 3.5 I would, but it doesn't rise to a four.
Roxy Music
3/5
Generally a fan of the band, but this album is a bit out there in terms of the instrumentation and musical direction. I prefer more straightforward and sparse material from these guys. Love Bryan Ferry's voice, though, it's always so distinctive.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
ELO is an acquired taste. There tends to be a lot of similar instrumentation and treated vocals across all the tunes, and so if you like the sound, you'll like it, and if you don't like it, you won't like any of it, pretty much. This record has a couple of classics in "Turn to Stone" and "Mr. Blue Sky" which both still sound great and interesting today. The rest of the record is unfortunately somewhat forgettable, tunes blend into each other and don't have the hooks and songwriting necessary to really stick out like those two specific tracks do. I'd give it a seven if that was an option, but since that isn't, I don't think it deserves four stars...
Ray Charles
3/5
On a quick listen, I thought this had some pretty music and of course great vocals, but I prefer his more upbeat stuff, and not much of that is on here.
4/5
I am generally a Dylan fan, but I recognize that much of his output is not terribly accessible. This is a high quality recording for the period, a great setlist, and solid performance. I, for one, was quite surprised when this came out of the vault.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Obviously you'd have to have lived under a rock to have never heard any of these tracks, as they were absolutely everywhere for a year or so after the album dropped. Good stuff overall, though a few of the tracks feature really annoying hooks -- many of them have great hooks, but boy, I don't ever need to hear that tune with the whistle sample ever again in my life. That said, I want to listen to this more, and check out other albums, so I give it four stars.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Classic. Invented a new genre, which they later perfected. The very definition of a five star record and something that everyone should hear before they die.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
I enjoyed this, but then again, I was helping promoting small scale raves and house parties in the mid 1990s in the San Francisco Bay area, so this came just after that, and I understand where this material is coming from and why. I typically don't listen to this sort of thing for pleasure, it's great to dance to, and that can leave some people cold. That said, it's creative, good loops, interesting breaks, and in a genre where a lot of stuff is really repetitive and formulaic, this isn't.
The Libertines
4/5
I was concerned as I realized after very little investigation that this particular record was included in some editions of the 1001 but not the one I was working off of.
Usually these records are thought of as being groundbreaking or interesting at the time, and then are pulled for better stuff later. Often these are UK bands.
I liked this record. It is "post punk" in every sense of the phrase. It might not be groundbreaking and may be overrated, but it has good energy and I enjoyed listening to it.
Slint
3/5
So I gave this two listens, and I liked it, but it didn't really rise to the level of being great or even particularly memorable. It reminds me of Wire, but not as good.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
I don't live under a rock so of course I have heard most of the tunes on this record, but that said, listening to all of it all at once, it's super impressive. What a talent! It's not exactly my cup of tea, so I'm not giving it a five, but it's really quite good.
Soft Cell
5/5
To a certain group of teenagers -- all across the country -- drinking black coffee in Denny's in the early hours of the morning -- confused in Ronald Reagan's America -- not belonging -- this record was an expression of rebellion and unity -- something guaranteed to offend the people you wanted to offend. Essentially a New Wave punk album, the tunes are elevated with fantastic empathetic vocals and excellent electronic instrumentation. "Tainted Love" became an anthem, and rightly so. Peaches could never have happened without these guys, same with Frankie Goes to Hollywood (which I would argue is great but derivative, FGTH took all the things Soft Cell were doing and did a better job packaging and marketing it).
Ozomatli
4/5
Cool record. Not at all what I expected. I gave it a second listen and ended up just as intrigued.
The Cars
4/5
A very polished debut album. Fairly unique sound, relatively traditional pop songwriting themes. I've always had a soft spot for these guys. This record came out when I was fairly young, there were others that dropped during my teenage years that were a bit more impactful for me personally. I do think that The Cars were a very palatable New Wave act and as such they were important. Other bands like DEVO, The Fixx, Thomas Dolby, even Talking Heads were more "out there" and probably wouldn't have gotten nearly as popular without bands like The Cars who were a bit of a transition / merger between a mainstream sound and a true New Wave sound.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
I had to cringe when I saw the genre for this online was "Ethnic" as it reminded me so much of the "Ethnic" food aisle in the supermarket in the 1970s and 1980s which usually would be salsa, tortillas, maybe soy sauce... Ugh.
Evaluating this on its own merits, it's a pretty amazing recording for the time, really well produced, easy to hear everyone and all the instruments.
It's always hard when lyrics are in a language you don't understand, but conversely, it's easy to appreciate the beauty, conviction and energy of the performance.
Maxwell
4/5
I liked it. Interesting beats. Never heard of these guys, I was busy in 1996.
The Cardigans
2/5
So yeah, again one of those records that had a catchy single that was inescapable for a long time, perhaps too long. I may give this album another listen, but honestly, I had the same reaction to the vocalist that some folks have with Geddy Lee i.e. something about the tonal quality just grated.
Second listen didn't go well. Ignoring the vocals as much as I could, I just didn't find the instrumentation, playing, or songwriting very interesting.
Kind of amazing anyone thought this was anything special, honestly. It's not terrible, but boy, I'd rather listen to just about anything.
Gotta say I really also don't like the drum sound. A lot of it almost sounds like they are hitting cardboard boxes... really lame, maybe they were trying for a subtle effect but it's almost like they are playing underwater or something. Ugh.
2/5
Not to be rude, but this just isn't very good. I've never thought Oasis had any real talent, and listening to this album, it confirms my opinion. I'm giving it two stars because it's commercial i.e. clearly some people like it, and it's not horrible, it's just not at all good.
Nick Drake
4/5
I like this. I have a soft spot for moody English singer songwriters, like Richard Thompson, and this is right up the same alley. I don't think I've ever sat down and listened to a Nick Drake album before.
The Yardbirds
3/5
I wouldn't say that this album made a huge impression on a double listen through, though some of the singles are absolute classics on some of the radio stations here in Seattle. Definitely staying power for sure.
Thin Lizzy
5/5
This is excellent. If I had to quibble, it would be that it's early enough that it's missing some later hits, but boy, that's a quibble for sure. Really good recording for the era, nice energy, what's not to like?
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Classic, though the production makes the music a little less immediate and vital than it could have been.
Nick Drake
4/5
So Nick Drake has been an interesting discovery for me thanks to the 1001. As compared to the other album I heard a few days ago, this one has some fantastic saxophone playing, more instrumentation in general... it's rich and textured and I like it.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I like the band name. I think I'm still traumatized by the Oasis album a few days ago. There's so much stuff on this list from the UK late 70s through mid 90s where it's just not very good. This isn't as bad as some of it, but it's not exactly making any real progress, either. It's not like these guys are reinventing popular music, and this album isn't essential by a long stretch.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
This is a cool record. Some of it is in a mode that is funky but not revelatory, but the album gradually becomes more experimental as it goes on. The individual instrumental performances are really impressive in spots, some truly inspired playing here and there. Great inclusion on the 1001.
Adele
3/5
Gave it two listens, and yeah, I get why it was popular and why people were excited about it, but honestly, it's a bit too "glossy" for me, overproduced, not clever enough. She's got a really distinctive voice and the song selection is interesting but that said, this just isn't the sort of thing I regularly listen to, and it's not all that unique, so I didn't really get much from it.
Aerosmith
4/5
Classic. I think the songwriting is great along with the performances.
Metallica
4/5
I think this is one of the better Metallica albums. It's well produced and some of the songs are exceptionally well written, like "One".
Moby Grape
3/5
Spotify weirdly only had a few tracks available. After munging around a bit, I was able to listen to the whole record, and it was fine, but nothing exciting. There's probably two dozen albums from around this timeframe that I can think of right off the top of my head that are more interesting and have better musicianship. Not really understanding why this particular record is on the 1001.
Ian Dury
4/5
I went into this with no preconceptions at all, having only vaguely heard the name Ian Dury in passing. I thought the record was immediately captivating. Great bass and drums, fun songwriting, down to earth enthusiastic vocals. What's not to like? I suppose song to song the album is a bit uneven in places, with a couple of clunkers, but overall it's quite good.
Tom Waits
3/5
Gave this a couple of listens, didn't really grab me, though I know there are tons of folks who love Tom Waits.
Pretenders
3/5
Pretty classic record. Post punk all the way. It doesn't sound as revolutionary now as it was then. Ultimately I was surprised at how overall indifferent I was to this record when listening to it now, but then again, I would say that when I was growing up and people would mention The Pretenders, really the only song of theirs that made a huge impression on me was "My City Was Gone".
The Temptations
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit. The random lesser known tunes were interesting and fun with good energy and emotive vocals. I gave it a second listen and was just as impressed. This album aged really well.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Definitely the best Marvin Gaye album. Amazingly relevant, even now.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
Honestly, I gave this a serious try, and it didn't really grab me, though there were flashes here and there. I can't give it four stars. It's not bad but I expect something MORE for me to give it a better rating.
Van Halen
4/5
This record immediately became part of the "canon" when it was released. It holds up really well even now. The production is clean, the performances have good energy, the tunes both rock and swing, what's not to like?
I can't give it a five as I wouldn't call it an all time classic, but it's got to be one of the strongest debut albums ever, top to bottom, even the "filler" is pretty dang good.
Culture Club
4/5
This record was an absolute monster at the time and Boy George was everywhere. Very much a product of early MTV, the look was just as important as the sound. Great vocals, very soulful, and while some of the tunes are a little cheesy, the big hits are solid.
Meat Puppets
3/5
This record isn't bad, it's kind of interesting, certainly quirky, but I suspect it would have never gotten on this list except for the Nirvana covers of their tunes.
Miles Davis
5/5
I'm a big fan of Miles. This is a great record. Honestly, people can prefer various eras of Miles, but as a body of work, it's amazing. Outrageous that this recording is entirely from a SINGLE THREE HOUR SESSION. Unbelievable.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Kind of brilliantly bad? I mean, it's like elevator music, but with sitars? Um. Yeah. I guess it's something that was interesting to listen to once, and it seems to be in earnest, but super out there, and for my taste, not something I'd want to experience again.
It does get better. The covers are the worst part, by far.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
I'm a huge fan, this is a great record, and I'm slightly surprised to only see three Gabriel albums on the list, but it is what it is. I will give it a four in the interest of not having multiple fives from an artist with only three albums on the list.
On the other hand listening to it, I could certainly argue a nine out of ten, there are a few absolute all time classic tunes on this record, for sure.
LOL from looking at my ratings so far, I think this has to get a five, given what else has gotten a five.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
This seems to be another of those UK centric additions that were then dropped in later editions of the 1001. It's not bad, but it's nothing special, and it gets weird in a not enjoyable way in places.
Miles Davis
5/5
Outstanding, impactful, interesting, ground breaking.
I could see giving it four stars strictly because it challenges the listener a bit, but that said, if this isn't five stars, nothing is.
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
Um. While I appreciate the inclusion on the basis of diversity, and I also appreciate that the people making this seem to be sincere, this is kind of hysterically bad. It might end up being my first one star.
I assume it's only on the 1001 because of the number of breaks that were sampled for various hip hop tunes.
I guess I'll give it two stars because of how earnest it is.
Heaven 17
4/5
I definitely remember this album, I didn't own a copy but borrowed one from a friend, it didn't make a huge huge impression at the time.
I'm enjoying this record quite a bit, it's got some elements that came along in other ways from other bands that made more impact, like Human League.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
I'm generally not a big Tom Petty fan, his voice is a bit annoying, and there's a lot of music out there that is better and more interesting to me. This record has two classic tunes on it "Breakdown" and "American Girl" but again, neither really does all that much for me, I like "Breakdown" more than "American Girl" I guess if I was forced to choose.
"Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)" got a decent bit of airplay where I lived too.
I don't think this is a bad record. I just don't particularly like it.
Tangerine Dream
4/5
I generally like these guys, but hadn't heard this record. Promising. Glad it's included on the 1001.
Joe Ely
3/5
This didn't do much for me. Not bad, just not my cup of tea.
Various Artists
5/5
Like most folks in the USA, I've heard almost all of these tunes many many times, but I personally never owned a copy of this record, and have never listened to it all the way through. Frankly, amazingly high quality, great stuff. Not a huge Christmas music fan, but this is a great record.
Randy Newman
4/5
Never heard this album before, but I generally have a soft spot for Randy Newman, particularly the super ironic "Short People". He's a skilled musician and writes intelligent witty lyrics. I enjoyed listening to this record.
X-Ray Spex
4/5
This is pretty great, though I have a fond spot for punk in all forms. The female vocals and the sax make this unique.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
This didn't do all that much for me, which is odd, as I'm typically pretty sympathetic to this genre. I was listening to other things at the time. If this was familiar to me and I had been listening to it back then, I might be more excited about it.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I'll admit that I've never really "gotten" Bruce, I've enjoyed a few live recordings but haven't really found anything life changing in the studio records. I think the production sounds a bit thin by modern standards. The songwriting might really resonate with some people, it doesn't do much for me.
XTC
4/5
I like XTC and this is a great album. The production is really quite amazing. I'll admit that the album I'm most familiar with is "The Big Express" with only passing familiarities with some of the other records. I'll need to find the time to revisit and dig in a bit more. I enjoyed this more than I expected.
Marilyn Manson
4/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I like a lot of industrial music and have a soft spot for Ministry, KMFDM, Skinny Puppy and so on. Not a huge Nine Inch Nails fan -- it's not bad, but I prefer aggressive to depressing.
My feeling when this came out was that all the controversy was off-putting and made me think that the music was likely not very good. I never really listened to it, and never had any of the records.
Well, mea culpa. There's clearly a lot of thought going on behind the scenes, and had I given this band a listen years ago, it probably would have fit right into the things I was listening to then.
Radiohead
4/5
I'm generally a decently large fan of Radiohead. This is an interesting record and I haven't listened to it as much previously as I probably should have. They've got interesting musical ideas and do a good job capturing them in the studio.
The Smiths
3/5
I've never been that big of a fan. There's a lot of stuff they generate that sounds a lot like all the other stuff they generate. The handful of tunes that are really unique are the ones you know, like "How Soon Is Now?" and "Meat Is Murder". Morrissey is insufferable, ego with faux intellect.
The Pretty Things
4/5
I liked this. Trippy, folky, musical. Kind of surprised I've never heard of these guys.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
This wasn't bad, but wasn't anything exceptional either.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Cool, laid back, but at the end of the day, not that engaging for me personally.
Beatles
3/5
I can't separate this from their other output. For them, this is an average album. Some great songs, some that are OK. Certainly a nice exercise in the generation of the three minute pop song, but there are five albums of theirs I'd reach for before this one, at least...
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Good energy. If I could give it a seven, or a 3.5, I'd do that, but if I have to pick between three stars and four stars, given my previous criteria, it's going to be three stars.
Frank Zappa
3/5
Frankly it shocks me that this record is the only Zappa entry on the 1001. This record isn't in my Zappa top five... it might not even make the top ten, depending on if you count certain albums as Zappa or Zappa + Mothers or Zappa + Beefheart or just the Mothers. Do your ears a favor and check out "Joe's Garage" before writing Zappa off!
Michael Jackson
3/5
By modern tastes the production is a bit thin, I wish the bass and drums were higher in the mix. That said, it's a pretty great mix of tunes, and a famous record. The first two tracks are all timers.
Silver Jews
2/5
Underwhelmed. Very derivative, and not even in a good way. There's plenty of stuff out there that is unoriginal but at least is exciting and fun to listen to. This is derivative and boring. I'll give it two stars because the musicianship isn't bad.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
I've been a fan and I'm glad this is on the 1001 for the few people who have never heard Jerry Lee. That said, while he's talented, it's clear he's repurposing black soul and R&B for white audiences, for the most part. Great Balls of Fire and Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On are absolute all time classics, though. I guess I'm going to give this a four strictly on the basis of how influential Jerry Lee was. Just a great rollicking piano sound!
Nirvana
5/5
I live in Seattle. Close friends went to high school with the Mudhoney guys. My neighbor has been on a whole ton of records, bands you'd probably recognize. I'll admit several things... I appreciated what Nirvana did, in terms of putting Seattle really on the map, and creating some really great music. That said, they were never really my cup of tea. For local bands, I like Soundgarden better, if you are willing to stretch the definition of local, Alice In Chains. That said, those bands would never have gotten promotion and attention if it wasn't for Nirvana.
I've always like the Unplugged format and particularly appreciate the Neil Young and Bob Dylan entries in the series -- artists that aren't really super approachable because of a large catalog and long history -- in a format that is more interesting than any typical compilation.
Nirvana Unplugged is at times brilliant, particularly because of the cover tunes.
I have to give it five stars simply because it's the best Nirvana album, in my opinion, and they definitely made a mark on an era of music.
Bob Dylan
5/5
I own a copy, I bought it right after the album came out, I felt very strongly then that this was a great record. It's probably the only studio Dylan record that I listen to with some regularity. Giving it another listen now just reinforces that opinion, it's a great record.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I was familiar with a couple of the singles but hadn't listened to the album. It's quite good, actually; at least, I enjoyed listening to it enough that I gave it a second listen right away.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
So many Stevie records seem like they might be greatest hits records, then you discover that all his records are just full of great songs. This is no exception!
Billie Holiday
4/5
Such a beautiful voice, and really nice instrumentation and production as well.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This isn't bad, but it's not my cup of tea. I'm not sure why. I know there are tons of people who love Nick Cave, but apparently I'm not one of them.
Grant Lee Buffalo
4/5
I have a bit of a soft spot for these guys. Grant Lee toured with Robyn Hitchcock, one of my favorite artists, and the show was really quite memorable. Grant Lee Buffalo was pretty popular in Boston when I lived there.
James Brown
5/5
This is kind of an amazing record. James Brown is most remembered for his upbeat tunes, but he definitely had some romantic crooner in him as well.
I actually had the great fortune to see James Brown live in the 90s in the Bay Area, he played a relatively small venue, the Circle Star Theatre, and the fashion, the vehicles, the spectacle of the pre-show from the attendees alone was worth the price of admission!
Peter Tosh
4/5
This is a classic record. I've enjoyed it before, and am enjoying it now. I don't think anyone is going to be blown away by the performance, musicianship, production, capture, mastering... but it's fun to listen to.
Steely Dan
5/5
Massive Dan fan, and this is one of the better records.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
It's wild to realize that this is my least favorite Jimi album, and yet, it's pretty fantastic.
White Denim
4/5
I had never heard of these guys and am pleasantly surprised. I liked my initial listen very much. Good variety, interesting musically.
The Kinks
3/5
I like the Kinks but they pale a bit against their contemporaries. They seem to think they are super clever and naughty, but it's not much, and I'd rather listen to The Who, Rolling Stones or Beatles.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
This is kind of great. I had no idea what to expect, and honestly, the title, the cover, I'd just skip right over it, or think it wouldn't be interesting to me. Jazzy, funky, good swing, nice horns...
Sex Pistols
5/5
One of my favorites, for many reasons. Revitalized rock and roll by giving the establishment the middle finger... which is the very essence of rock and roll.
The United States Of America
5/5
I really liked this. Far out!
King Crimson
5/5
I am a huge Crim-head and this is a great record. I will admit that some of these tunes become truly special when played live. The studio environment results in some odd non-musicality probably just because it's more possible to have that result in studio than it is to have playing live.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
I found this interesting. I recognized a track or two. This is a classic problem with the five star system. I don't know if it reaches a four. It's definitely not a five. If I give it a three, it might get lost in the shuffle. Hm. On second listen the songs are all pretty similar to one another.
Elton John
4/5
Classic, and inspired in places. I suspect that if this had been released as a single album, with the obvious hits on it, that it would rate more highly for me.
American Music Club
4/5
It was hard to track this one down -- it's not on Spotify so I ended up streaming it from random YouTube uploads, not exactly the best way to listen to something new.
I was impressed! I liked the tunes, found them reminiscent of Wilco, and then looked at the year, and wowzers, this was way ahead of its time.
Definitely a great inclusion on the 1001 and a band I'm going to have to check out more thoroughly.
R.E.M.
4/5
This is definitely one of the better R.E.M. albums but that said, I'm just not all that excited about jangly pop songs.
The White Stripes
3/5
I generally like this band but for whatever reason this record didn't really take for me. I like "Get Behind Me Satan" better.
Dr. John
5/5
An amazing record. He stood on the shoulders of giants, true, but was a remarkable, unique man. The word unique is used too much, but it's the only correct major descriptor for Dr. John. May he rest in funky, multicultural peace.
Bee Gees
2/5
Terrible and not in a good way. Remarkably inconsistent.
Beck
4/5
I generally like Beck, hadn't heard this record. It's good and warrants further listening.
The Blue Nile
3/5
I seem to recall having a cassette copy of this back when it was released. Listening to this album now, the songwriting is pretty terrible. Musically it's interesting in spots, but overall, it's the sort of thing that I listened to once, and then didn't want to listen to it again. As I'm going along in the 1001 and I'm a bit beyond 200 albums now, I'm beginning to form the opinion that I won't give a four or five to something unless I know I want to listen to it again. If it doesn't capture my interest enough on a first listen, there's no way it deserves a four or five.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I just didn't find this record compelling.
Method Man
4/5
I was impressed. Some interesting songwriting combined with occasionally inspired music choices.
Oasis
2/5
Another UK centric pick. Jangly bad songs.
Brian Eno
5/5
This is one of those auto five rating albums for me. It's an album I've loved for a long time, and I think anyone that appreciates interesting instrumentation and intelligent songwriting can enjoy it.
Wild Beasts
3/5
This is another one of those fairly odd UK selections that is only in more recent versions of the 1001. It's not bad, but the vocal tone is affected, and that's creating a bit of a ceiling for me, as I don't like them much.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
This is cool. I liked it enough to immediately queue it up for another listen.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Drone, monotone, not terribly interesting to me. I'll give them credit for the fact other people like them.
Morrissey
3/5
Not my cup of tea, but not bad. I'm just not a big fan of Morrissey. His vocals are a bit affected and so an acquired taste.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
4/5
I'm kind of amazed. This album feels very much like a parody, but they take it super seriously. I laughed out loud at some of the lyrics, but that said, the musicianship is actually pretty great. Sort of Zappa meets Beefheart meets Spinal Tap.
Stan Getz
4/5
I enjoyed this and want to check out more from this artist.
Van Morrison
4/5
I like this album. The jury is still out for me personally as to how inspired, important, critical Van Morrison is, but this is an enjoyable listen.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I was just listening to this in the car a few days ago and so it was a bit funny to have it come up on the 1001.
Amazing artist, really lovely album. I find myself getting emotional when I listen to Joni Mitchell, which makes her a very unique talent indeed.
Eagles
3/5
Overplayed, overrated.
Pulp
3/5
Another one of those UK choices that just doesn't do much for me and leaves me shaking my head... so many bands that the author of the book missed completely that IMHO are infinitely better than this. Shriekback comes immediately to mind.
Turbonegro
4/5
Apparently I like death punk. Who knew?
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Not bad, interesting sound, but not nearly as inspired as other records from this period.
The Smiths
4/5
For whatever reason, I liked this record well enough. Maybe because it's the one I'm least familiar with?
Madonna
3/5
I generally like Madonna, and have a soft spot for her earlier stuff. This didn't do much for me.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I'll admit only passing familiarity with these guys but this album went down easy i.e. I had it on while doing other things and found myself occasionally checking in and being like "oh, that's interesting" -- unusual for a record in semi background mode to do that. It means I'll have to listen to it again, hence a four, anything interesting enough to require a relisten later is clearly better than some of the dreck on the 1001.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Um, yeah. I was kind of excited to listen to this record, I never really did, and I know there are people who love it. It didn't live up to the billing in my brain. There are a lot of hip-hop acts that I prefer to this. It's not bad, just not my cup of tea.
The Notorious B.I.G.
1/5
Possibly the worst record I've heard on this 1001, even including "Bongo Rock". Utter trash. Embarrassed to be listening to it. Hope to never hear it again. Amusingly earlier today I was telling a co-worker how gangster rap ruined the genre... I like all sorts of rap and hip-hop, just not interested in pop pop pop and sex noises (unless it's Zappa's "Make a Sex Noise").
Maybe there's a track here or there that isn't total garbage, but I'm sorry, if you can't rap without putting an expletive every ten words, you might want to find a different line of work.
Morrissey
3/5
Not terrible, nothing special.
The Shamen
4/5
I liked this record. Interesting beats, positive lyrics.
The Avalanches
4/5
I liked this and am going to have to listen to it again.
3/5
This didn't do much for me, but it wasn't bad. Kind of proggy.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
I thought this was pretty good. She's got an excellent voice. It's certainly a product of the times when it was made.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
I like this record. It's got emotion, energy, good playing.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I own the vinyl, overall a brilliant record, accessible in a way that Black Celebration was not, and yet, mature themes abound. I have a hard time giving it five stars because it's more of a culmination of a direction this band was going in, and less a giant inspiration from unknown sources, but if I could give it a nine, I would.
The Band
5/5
Amazing record. Always worth a listen. Great songwriting, cool sound, good feel.
Koffi Olomide
4/5
This was not at all what I was expecting, but it was good, a fun listen, and something surprising out of the 1001.
David Bowie
5/5
Huge Bowie fan, love all the Berlin records.
TV On The Radio
3/5
This didn't do much for me. Kind of an emo muddled mess, not all that engaging. Dark just for the sake of being dark. Sludgy, atonal, not in a good way... I'll also admit that the affected vocals just aren't my cup of tea...
The Lemonheads
4/5
Jangly power pop in the mold of Big Star. Good but derivative.
Deep Purple
5/5
I've always had a soft spot for these guys and I love live music, but somehow this one had escaped me. Wowsa! A great recording of a great band at their height... also I gotta say that it's refreshing to hear a heavy metal band with a keyboard player kicking butt.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
I've always liked this band and somehow missed this record, though the "big hits" ring a bell, I didn't own a copy of this album. Good stuff!
The Undertones
4/5
Punky. I like.
Mj Cole
4/5
I thought this was interesting and merits further listening.
ZZ Top
4/5
Definitely a classic, instantly recognizable songs... Waitin' for the Bus > Jesus Just Left Chicago is all time, as is La Grange.
Talking Heads
4/5
Great record but I'll save five stars for Fear of Music and Remain in Light.
Baaba Maal
3/5
I found this interesting but not compelling. I'm glad the 1001 included it, as it's really different from anything else I've listened to recently.
Duran Duran
4/5
This was a classic record for the time. Clean, interesting sounds, unusual look for the band -- essential for MTV -- some controversy due to nudity and sexuality, even the graphic art for the cover of the record... it all came together to make a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts and propelled Duran Duran to super stardom for several years. The record hasn't aged poorly, but conversely, it feels "slick" now, very packaged, which is likely correct.
3/5
Really out there. I've had the good fortune of seeing Ornette live with his band and with the Grateful Dead and I appreciate what he and Zorn have done for jazz. That said, it's difficult listening hour for sure! I don't mind some atonal stuff, but this was a bit much.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
In places, this album was pretty good, but there were definitely misses too. I prefer more lyrical material and a more positive message.
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
I remember when this came out, Wishing Well was a decent sized hit, and he was sold as being from London which is more exotic than the real story... I thought about giving it a four because his vocals are strong, but ultimately it's not all that creative or groundbreaking.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
A bit indulgent, like many double albums. It could be a four if five songs removed...
Donovan
4/5
This album actually aged pretty well. It's certainly a product of the time, but Donovan has an interesting vocal delivery, and the music and songwriting are interesting.
Aimee Mann
3/5
Extremely country sound, not at all what I expected from this artist. I guess it's interesting in that way, but I don't think it's all that great for a country record.
Radiohead
5/5
This is really beautiful music. I've gotten a lot of appreciation for this band through the 1001. I had never really listened to Radiohead before.
I did get to listen to this album at a Dead & Co show in Boulder summer 2023 and really enjoyed it, they played it during a lengthy break, and made a mental note that I had to check it out, but hadn't done so until today.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Pleasantly surprised by this record. I had heard of the artist before but hadn't listened to anything from them.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Huge Neil fan, never listened to this studio album, though I'm very familiar with the material having both seen it live several times and having all the Neil live albums on heavy rotation. I don't think this is the strongest batch of tunes on a Neil record, but it's good compared to most of the dreck the music industry turns out.
AC/DC
5/5
This might be the perfect heavy rock album.
Moby
4/5
I was a little surprised that I recognized at least four of the tunes on this record. Apparently it was played a lot when it came out. I am generally a Moby fan, though I don't own any of his records. The music is approachable and catchy, with interesting samples. Creative.
Cornershop
4/5
Genuinely odd. Really fun. Thank you 1001 for introducing us.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Honestly, I thought this album was overwrought. Too much instrumentation, too many odd sound effects, and so on. The couple of classic tunes on this record are tunes that don't have these distractions. Simon & Garfunkel are best when they are singer songwriters, not trying to be the next Jefferson Airplane acid freakout.
The White Stripes
4/5
I think this might be my favorite album by this artist. Lots of very approachable rock and roll tunes.
Suzanne Vega
4/5
This is a real echo of my personal history. I was leaving high school and going to Boston for college. I ended up dating a woman from Wellesley College and my freshman year the winter concert was Suzanne Vega. Everyone on campus was thrilled to have her -- they signed her up to do the concert on the basis of this record, and then she came out with Solitude Standing shortly after that. The concert was great, and folks had been playing the album in the dorms for months at that point. I think she brings a unique female voice to her songwriting, and that was unusual for the time. I'd put Tracy Chapman in the same general category, both amazing singer songwriters that speak of their own experiences -- and represent underrepresented voices. They really were trailblazers in every sense.
Deerhunter
3/5
I thought this was interesting, it kind of grew on me a bit after the second listen. That said, I didn't find it compelling, memorable, unique... it got multiple listenings more out of laziness than anything else, as I had it on loop and wasn't paying attention.
Nick Drake
4/5
I liked this and listened to it several times. Generally a fan of this genre if the singing, playing and writing are all good.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
Classic.
The Soft Boys
5/5
I've been a huge fan of Robyn Hitchcock for years. It was ironic that it probably took me fifteen or twenty years before I discovered The Soft Boys. This is a great album. Quirky, fun. Great songs.
Brian Eno
5/5
This is a great collaboration of two amazing artists. I think it really shows a more experimental side with the sampling and found sounds.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
Every time I hear this record, I'm blown away again.
Gang Of Four
5/5
Ive always thought this was one of the greatest records ever made.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
I get it, it's an interesting concept, the tunes are fine, but I'm just not feeling this as much as some of the other Marvin Gaye selections on the 1001.
Bad Brains
5/5
OK, if we're going to talk about all time albums that have 10+ songs and come in at right around 30 minutes, this has to be in the discussion. "Sacred Love" is an all time classic. Same with "Re-Ignition". Just a little below would be the title track, and "House of Suffering".
This is the band that is the all time contrast against something like Living Colour. This is a real punk, hardcore, thrash band, that happens to be black. The blackness is not the point. The blackness is just part of what makes it real. Punk is about dissatisfaction with the status quo, and honestly, it's amazing there haven't been MORE fantastic punk bands that are black, given how the status quo has favored whites for centuries.
I love Bad Brains, I was just listening to "The Youth Are Getting Restless" earlier in the week, fantastic album, have great memories of seeing them live and the crowd just SEETHING with energy, and the band inciting a near riot... it was wonderful, feeling all those feelings that strongly as a young person and wanting to see things get better for all people, everywhere.
Music can be a force for positive change. Full stop.
Note that I wrote this entire review without listening to this record. I don't need to listen to this record again to know how how important it is, how vital, and how much other music pales in comparison to the raw emotion and excitement of Bad Brains in their prime.
Turn it to eleven before putting this on. If you are pissing off the neighbors, you are doing it right.
So interesting to hear more nuances in the studio recording. Genre bending for sure. I love the Day Tripper / She's a Rainbow pairing they did live, hints of that here, seeds for the future. What a record!
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
This album epitomizes the Summer of Love. Messy at times, it's psychedelic and heartfelt.
Doves
3/5
This didn't do much for me. Not bad, not terribly interesting either.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit. It helped me understand Bob Dylan better.
David Bowie
5/5
Really a collaboration with Brian Eno, this is a fantastic album with real depth for repetitive listening.
Nirvana
5/5
As someone from Washington state, I'd always been a bit of a snob in regards to Nirvana. I preferred the Pixies. That said, they influenced the direction of rock for the next couple of decades and arguably were the most important act ever from the Pacific Northwest, literally putting Seattle on the map for many folks. This album is excellent top to bottom with no filler, which is rare.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Not the strongest Zep album, but in some ways, the most pure, in terms of their blues background and the straightforward performance. I like it more when they get weirder...
Elvis Presley
3/5
What strikes me the most is that most of the better tunes on this record are all covers. Elvis was a phenomenon, one of the first true cultural icons of rock and roll, but that doesn't mean that his records are high art, or even required listening. This collection isn't bad, but everything that is good on it was done better by someone else... Blue Suede Shoes, Tutti Frutti and on the extended version Lawdy, Miss Clawdy and Shake, Rattle and Roll.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
This is pretty classic stuff, but I don't find it terribly relevant or interesting in today's world.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
I like his more seminal blues work but this didn't do much for me. I'm not generally a fan of these mixed collaboration albums, they were all the rage for a while, and although I can imagine that certain people who are big fans of everyone on the collaboration might be super excited, the results usually aren't all that great.
Pink Floyd
5/5
So much has been said about this album. It was around from the beginning for me. This record and the Beach Boys "High Water" collection... plus Rolling Stones "Beggars Banquet" were always near the turntable. A bit dark for a kid? Sure, and actually, I liked those other records better LOL.
For me personally I'd rather listen to "Animals" or "Wish You Were Here" in most situations... I also like "Meddle", "Piper", "Saucer"... but this was the record that put Pink Floyd on the map for most people and one can't argue the brilliance and creativity that went into making it.
The Police
4/5
It's a bit wild to me that this album got as popular as it did. It's a rather weird record... "Mother" is a full on freak out, and the title track parts I and II are definitely out there. The album succeeds on the strength of the massive massive massive hits "Every Breath You Take", "Wrapped Around Your Finger" and "King of Pain" though I'd argue that the third is a pretty weird song as well for top 40 radio. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing this record.
I think my favorite Police record is "Ghost in the Machine" but the more straightforward "Zenyatta Mondatta" gives it a run for it's money.
Slade
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I expected I would. It definitely rocks, and the softer tunes are, well, tuneful.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Not terribly familiar with this band, just the one or two hit songs they've put out, but I did like this record on an initial listen, and will have to explore further.
Big Star
4/5
Strong in the ways of power pop, not a perfect record, but a great one.
OutKast
5/5
This is a pretty amazing record. I spent a good bit of time listening to it when it came out, and the overall quality is very high. Melodic in a way that makes it feel fresh.
The Fall
3/5
Familiar with the band, not with this album. It didn't do much for me. It wasn't bad, just not terribly interesting. I guess a track here or there was a bit out there but for the most part it didn't have the energy that I was expecting. Clearly influenced by "Madchester'.
Gang Starr
3/5
This album feels dated now but had to be a bit of a revelation at the time. I like the fact that occasionally it meanders, like a musical conversation.
Stan Getz
3/5
I liked it but conversely didn't find it revelatory or particularly inspired. I suppose it's a product of the time, these days the influence of world music is felt across all genres, it may have been more important when it was released.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
This is wild. I've never heard of this guy, but four or so of the songs on this album are total classics -- easy listening soft rock classics. Great example of what the 1001 can do... it's super cool to hear these originals that have been classics for decades and covered by a lot of famous artists.
Wilco
5/5
This is an unbelievably great album. I spent the better part of a year listening to it. Even with that, I'm looking forward to listening to it again right now.
5/5
So many good songs. I will admit to a certain amount of fatigue in regards to this record... because of that, there are several others that I usually enjoy listening to more. That said, one cannot argue its greatness.
T. Rex
3/5
Initial listen was relatively positive but not mind blowing. I queued up another round after listening to some other stuff. Similar feel this time around. It might have been ground breaking at the time, but whatever they were doing was clearly absorbed by everyone, and now seems pretty normal. Perhaps it's an issue of them being an early visual glam sort of operation. Obviously that doesn't translate to the recording.
Roxy Music
4/5
Nice weird record. I like it. There's some totally atonal material, some weird chanty stuff, odd audio effects... but I'm generally a huge Eno fan, so not surprised. I was familiar with the popular tunes from this record, not so much the deeper cuts, glad I got to listen to the album.
Red Snapper
4/5
I decided after one listen that I had to give this another listen, and I found the second listen interesting, so it meets my basic requirement for a four rating i.e. interesting enough to require a second listen, and still interesting after the second listen. It does have some rather filthy lyrics, in places, but the musicianship is good, and there's a nice swing to many of the tunes.
Beatles
4/5
This is a nice assemblage of tunes, but in this vein, I prefer Revolver, and I also like Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper better, so I don't think this deserves five stars, though it has some classic songs on it.
The Kinks
3/5
I enjoyed listening to this but conversely I didn't find it special.
Aerosmith
2/5
I like Aerosmith but boy, this record really doesn't have much going for it, except for some hit singles. I just didn't find it interesting, at all.
Jeff Beck
4/5
My initial listen was inconclusive. This record has a lot of blues standards, folk tunes, and is fairly laid back, all things considered. I tend to prefer higher energy material. I ended up giving it a second listen and there's some good stuff on here. I think the combination of Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart is interesting, unusual, and kind of cool.
Johnny Cash
5/5
I am generally a huge Johnny Cash fan and this record was a pleasant surprise. I had heard a few of the singles from it, but hadn't listened to it all the way through, and it was great to see him revisiting some old material as well as the covers (which made all the press). The whole is greater than the sum of its parts!
Arcade Fire
4/5
This is definitely a band that I was aware of before starting the 1001 but conversely sitting down and listening to entire albums from them has created a lot more interest. I like some of the tunes very much. I wonder if the other songs will grow on me, or not, as that'll be the mark of something truly excellent.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
This wasn't bad, but it's not my cup of tea.
Blur
2/5
Sorry, I just don't get it. Another one of those UK acts that just isn't all that interesting.
Sugar
3/5
I didn't get much out of this. It wasn't bad, but honestly, I thought (before reading the Wikipedia entry) that it was a lot like the random UK crap that seems prevalent on the 1001 -- I had the Blur debut album right before this, and musically, it wasn't all that different, not much in terms of complexity. I gave it two listens as the first one was not memorable, and the second wasn't either.
Love
4/5
After a few listens, I definitely ended up with an appreciation for this album. It's interesting, not my usual sort of thing, but good.
Lana Del Rey
2/5
Um, yeah, right out of the gate, annoying voice. Trite songwriting. I'm oscillating between one star and two stars. It's bad. I suppose she's committed to what she's doing, which says something, and it's musical... but boy, pretty terrible. I guess there's a song or two that isn't awful... but I really don't like affected voices, particularly breathy ones.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Honestly, this record has one massive hit, and otherwise, it's not terribly memorable. Not bad -- if it was bad, it would be memorable LOL but nothing special.
Prince
5/5
Amazing record, incredible artist. Every time I listen to Prince, I tell myself I need to listen to more Prince. His live shows, really well documented on various bootlegs, are particularly fantastic. Well worth hunting down. I knew this was a five before I played it today, and listened to it twice, just because!
Steely Dan
5/5
Another auto five. Fantastic record. Unique band. I've probably listened to this record a thousand times.
Dr. Dre
4/5
I'm a big Snoop Dogg fan, not so much Dre. As with some other records, I have a bit of trouble with the misogyny and gangster posturing. I think this record would be a five if it didn't have those issues.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I gave this a second listen and I'm glad I did. It made a much stronger impression the second time through. Some good tunes. I am not sure if this record is inspired, or not, but it certainly has quality. Unique sound.
Blue Cheer
4/5
Never heard this record, but it's pretty compelling, definitely a different beast than either the pop music popular at the time, or the overtly psychedelic counter culture tunes.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
It's atmospheric but not really my cup of tea.
Beatles
5/5
This and "Abbey Road" are my favorite Beatles albums. Just an amazing range of sounds, songwriting, and singing... wonderful production too. It's a bit like the White Album with the more random stuff removed, condensed.
The Mars Volta
4/5
I had never heard of this particular band -- though I have a vague recollection of a band with the same name in Boston back in the late 1980s. I am generally a fan of progressive rock in all forms, and anything with some complexity and musicality is right up my alley. I liked this record and will definitely check more of their stuff out.
KISS
4/5
The production on this record is interesting and I like it quite a bit, but honestly, I prefer a more rock and roll sound, and there are also several tunes on this record that are filler, not very good. The good stuff is very very good, but the bad stuff is pretty bad. I think "Alive" is their best record by far, it does a good job of approximating what the band might sound like on a really great night. Four stars for "Detroit Rock City" and "Shout It Out Loud".
Fats Domino
3/5
As a kid in the 1970s I really enjoyed music from the 1950s. A couple of these tunes are absolute classics, and he definitely influenced the development of rock and roll from the roots of rhythm and blues. That said, I wouldn't want a steady diet of this for listening.
The Beach Boys
3/5
One of the earlier albums I listened to a lot was a compilation of Beach Boys tunes. I really loved it and would mimic surfing in the living room. I was five. In retrospect, the material isn't all that sophisticated, except when it is... but ironically, I think I like the simplest tunes best, so the later material isn't as interesting to me, even though sonically there's more going on.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
I really liked this quite a bit. It might be five stars with more listening.
Grateful Dead
5/5
I'm a giant Deadhead and have been for many decades, this is one of the best Grateful Dead studio albums, very accessible, not as psychedelic as the early stuff, not as poppy as the later stuff. This and Workingman's Dead really defined Americana for me.
Parliament
5/5
Huge fan. This isn't my favorite -- that would probably be "The Electric Spanking of War Babies" -- but it's a solid slab of P-Funk. I want the bomb!
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I'm a huge Zappa fan but prefer his middle era material vs. the early material with the Mothers and the later "Jazz from Hell" material. This record isn't bad, but it's a bit gimmicky and hasn't aged particularly well.
My favorite record is "Joe's Garage" and I strongly recommend checking that out if you want a different Zappa experience.
k.d. lang
4/5
What a great voice. Outstanding. A truly lovely record. Not something I was familiar with. Could be a five with more listening.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I enjoyed listening to this, and it's a bit more energetic and a bit less dark than some of his other records. That said, I don't think it's anything super special.
Frank Sinatra
5/5
I've always had a soft spot for Sinatra and this record is amazingly good. Defines an entire genre, in fact.
Shack
3/5
Listened to it once, not a big impression, not bad, not all that interesting. Decided to give it another listen. Same opinion. Some parts that are a bit cool, some parts that seem fairly derivative, overall not much in the way of unique, the sound itself was either copied by other bands or it's copied itself.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
I gave this a couple of listens and found it oddly compelling. I think the character of the vocals is really interesting, nice harmonies, and while the instrumentation is a bit elevator music in places, it's certainly skillfully played.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I enjoy Elvis Costello. He's got a unique sound, and I consider him essential pre punk, he created melodic structures with approachable songwriting but added some of that punk energy. This album has some classics, including "Radio, Radio".
Tricky
4/5
I thought this was interesting, and had a particularly great selection of samples for some of the tracks.
Iggy Pop
5/5
I'm a fan, and this is a great album. People will discredit it because it doesn't sound like The Stooges, or even later Iggy Pop solo records, but that's precisely what makes it great -- it's unique, it created musical ideas that resonated with many people for many many years.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
This is just a wonderfully super weird album, and I absolutely enjoyed it. I had zero expectations going in.
Joanna Newsom
4/5
Not at all what I was expecting. The vocals are affected, which usually bugs me, but in this case, it's kind of compelling, perhaps because she's actually often on pitch, and it's more of a sing song talky sort of voice. Reminiscent of Kate Bush, if Kate Bush was quirky, or channeling Björk. The instrumentation is very Renaissance Faire which complements the vocals.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
I liked this more than I expected, but I don't generally find the genre all that interesting.
The Doors
5/5
This is a great album. That said, one of the tragedies of modern electronic rock and roll music is that The Doors weren't recorded live often enough, and so we don't have the depth of catalog for them that we have for some other significant 1960s artists. Doors live shows were absolutely insane, and if you haven't already, make sure to check out some of the recordings available. Jim Morrison would often go completely off script, occasionally with profanity, ranting, nudity, you name it. When Elektra did send folks to shows to record them, often it seemed like Jim pointedly sabotaged the whole thing... it's kind of wild... the resulting recordings were deemed too outlandish and crazed to be released to Middle America that wanted "Light My Fire" LOL. Nothing quite like listening to a random super weird Doors bootleg from 1967 or 1968 while driving in the car in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night...
Norah Jones
4/5
On the one hand, it's kind of sweet pabulum. On the other hand, it's great for what it is.
Can
4/5
Quite interesting. I thought I'd like it a lot, but it's pretty weird. Familiar with the band, not familiar with the album. I suspect it'll grow on me.
a-ha
4/5
I have the vinyl, anyone of a certain age remembers the video for "Take On Me" which was rotoscoped and super cool and spawned a bunch of copycats to the point that within a year, anything rotoscoped looked out of touch LOL
This is actually kind of a cool record. It's definitely new wave, and it's neat to think that this style of music was truly global.
I had originally planned to give this a three but the songs are catchy, well written, and have a fairly wide range of subject material.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
This is a beautiful album and highlights a lot of strengths. The instrumentation is fantastic, the songwriting interesting, and she's got great vocal quality and control.
The Darkness
4/5
I liked this. It rocked decently well, and was a bit of an homage, or throwback, and yet managed to sound reasonably modern. I could see people not liking the vocals, though, it was a bit Geddy Lee-eque.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
This is a beautiful touching record that has wonderful vocal harmonies and interesting song ideas.
Björk
4/5
I like the artist and this is a great record on first listen. Not familiar with it, but it feels like a culmination of her earlier work.
Kanye West
3/5
I enjoyed the record at first but then ultimately there wasn't enough differentiation and development in the tunes. If I'm going to listen to something for over an hour, there better be a few different musical styles, or some songs that are more complicated and some that are more catchy and some that are slower... I just didn't get that from this. I suspect if it was cut down to 40 minutes I'd like it better.
Prince
4/5
As with a lot of double albums, this record is a bit bloated. Prince was prolific during his life and they probably could have put out a quadruple record if they included everything they recorded during these sessions. I think if they had been editorial it easily could be a five star album, and I wouldn't argue with anyone who rates it that way.
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
This didn't do much for me. It didn't have a lot going on lyrically, and the music and samples weren't very interesting. I was tempted to give it two stars but ultimately decided it wasn't bad, it just wasn't good.
Sam Cooke
4/5
I had forgotten that my mom used to play Sam Cooke on the living room record player when I was a kid. He's got such a great voice, and these are classic tunes.
Taylor Swift
3/5
This is rather derivative, or perhaps, everyone else is sounding like her these days. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's bad, but it feels like the mass market fast food of female led modern pop.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
I haven't heard this record before but generally like this band from other exposures. This is solid and might even be a five with more listening.
Super Furry Animals
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit and have only had limited exposure to this band. I'll have to give it some more listens.
Portishead
4/5
This is a really interesting album, kind of spacy in places, rhythmic in others, very atmospheric. I like the vocals and guitar very much, particularly in the tone they have. It's not grabbing me instantly as being totally compelling, but it's close, if I had the option of a nine of ten, I'd do that, but without that option, I have to go four stars, but there's potential for five.
Circle Jerks
5/5
Fantastic.
Big Black
4/5
I liked this, but then generally I like a lot of different styles of music and have a soft spot for industrial and harder rock. This fits the bill. I didn't give it five stars because there wasn't enough variety but I did like it quite a bit.
The Prodigy
4/5
Quite good. Might be a five with more listening. The video for Firestarter was on heavy max rotation when it came out.
The White Stripes
4/5
I liked listening to this record and got a copy when it first came out. I'm generally a fan of the band. I don't know if it's as strong as some of their other material, though. The more rock and roll the sound, the better, I think.
Talking Heads
4/5
Huge fan of the band. This album only hints at what they'd eventually become. The production is sparse by modern standards, sort of angular sounding, and because of that, it hasn't aged particularly well. That said, it sets the stage for future inspiration.
Mylo
4/5
It's interesting... this feels very "throwback" and is essentially 90s techno with a bit more of an emphasis on sampling. I would have never guessed that it came out in the 2000s just from listening to it. It feels both old and new at the same time, which is unusual.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
I didn't get this. It's strange to me, I really enjoy a lot of hip-hop and funk, but I generally don't like rap. It's just not a style I enjoy. There is the occasional exception, like I really enjoy Public Enemy, but typically anything that is rap dominant and from the 2000s or later, well, it just doesn't do anything for me. I'm not really interested in gratuitous profanity, or misogynist tropes, or gangster posing.
Britney Spears
3/5
I'm going to give this three stars because it created a frenzy at the time, and it created a lot of imposters, copy cats, and a bit of a sea change in terms of what the typical music on the radio sounded like.
That said, I don't personally find it all that compelling. It's not bad, but it feels a lot like the classic white artist ripping off black artist situation. I think someone who listened to the record in a vacuum and had never seen the artist and didn't even know what her name was would just assume she was black. It has to do with vocal tone, affectation, and instrumentation. Tale as old as time... some producer gets a white talent, puts them up on stage, finds compelling music and makes it feel "contemporary" i.e. mines the styles and mannerisms of black artists, and laughs all the way to the bank.
Fugees
5/5
I really enjoyed this. Maybe due to the excellent percussion, piano, organ? Cool samples, raps that aren't about "tha gangsta lyfe"? Female vocals?
A truly interesting mish mash of funky beats.
The Cure
5/5
I'm generally a fan of the band, and this record is a great example of early Cure. It's very atmospheric, with some really interesting musical choices. They became a bit more poppy later on, which I didn't like as much.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5/5
I was initially planning on giving this a four, largely because of the whole "white guys covering black music" issue, which is a real problem with the blues, particularly. After a couple of listens, I decided it was inspired enough to give it five stars anyway. A first for me!
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Cool record. It might be a five, hard to say, decently compelling on first listen, but I was interrupted a bit. Never heard it before.
Holger Czukay
4/5
Never heard of this artist, or this album, or any of this material, but I liked it and thought it was a good listen.
Kanye West
1/5
I am not finding this terribly compelling, but I'll give it three stars because of the samples of "21st Century Schizoid Man" and the tune that shamelessly rips off Black Sabbath's "Ironman".
I'm sorry, I'm just not all that interested in raps and auto tune lyrics about falling in love with porn stars.
Actually, with the anti Semitism, I can't give this anything other than one star. "Ye" is an asshole.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
I liked this quite a bit, and it's weird that I had never listened to this record before, it's got a lot of elements that match up with the sorts of things I like. It's possible it might be a five star with more listening, for now, I'll give it four stars.
M.I.A.
4/5
I didn't have any preconceived notions about this record other than remembering the artist appearing with Madonna live on some telecast. (Looked it up, Super Bowl halftime, apparently kind of notorious because M.I.A. flipped the bird at one point.)
I generally like dance music if it's inspired and interesting. This was definitely interesting! Her delivery can be a bit droll or mechanical at times, which reminded me of Grace Jones, actually.
Interesting record. Glad to have ended up listening to it.
Supergrass
3/5
Jangly power pop. Not bad, not something I'd reach for though. Seems like it's another one of those UK records that the UK author decided to include on the list, but anyone anywhere else would have found something else more deserving.
3/5
This just didn't do much for me. I am not sure why. Maybe it's a vocal tone thing... there was some variety in the songs, but they all felt kind of same, somehow.
Soul II Soul
3/5
This feels very dated to me now. I remember it being interesting at the time. It seems very slow. I certainly wouldn't consider it "club music" at all.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
4/5
I was surprised by how much I liked this. Something about the way everything came together... it was a nice, relaxing, smooth, upbeat listen.
R.E.M.
4/5
I liked this record quite a bit, but that said, I've never been a super huge R.E.M. fan and it's probably because everything is just way too straight. I like weirder music, and while they definitely are not mainstream pop, they are closer to that then they are progressive rock or new wave or Zappa.
My feelings about R.E.M. are probably colored by my belief that they were one of the last "record label" pushed bands -- they were allegedly alternative but that said they weren't as adventurous as other bands of the same era, and their singles and videos were always on heavy rotation... the hype around each new release just built and built for years and years.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
Generally a fan. "This Corrosion" is an all time banger. That said, I think it's by far the strongest tune on this record, and as such, it's hard to give the album a five, though it is a really interesting mix of industrial, goth and emo stylings.
The Byrds
3/5
This is clearly a transition from folk to psychedelic in terms of what is going on musically and lyrically. It's cool, but dated.
U2
4/5
I spent a lot of time listening to this record and the two before it back when they were released. I think this is a great album, with some really interesting songs and heartfelt singing. I love "Boy" but this record shows the band had matured a lot and they had become better musicians, better songwriters, better singers.
The B-52's
5/5
Such a fun record, and really unusual, one of a kind, unique.
The Doors
5/5
This record was on major rotation in our shared living space when I was in college in the late 1980s. It would get played a lot later on in the evening when things were starting to get going... maybe around 11:30 PM, or midnight, when everything needed a little injection of weird energy. Worked perfectly!
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
4/5
This is kind of great, but then again, I like the solo Syd Barrett albums quite a bit, and this reminds me of those. A bit more straightforward perhaps.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Four or so absolute classic tracks, the rest is mediocre filler. Hard to rate as a result. If I could give a 3.5 or so, I'd do that, but given that I have to give an even star rating, I think it's closer to a 3 than to a 4.
Adele
3/5
She sold a lot of records, and there are some pretty songs on this album, but I don't really see the appeal. I like much more dynamic music, with rhythm and swing and bass and energy and edge and quirkiness. I can't argue with the musicianship, or production, but it's not for me.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
I liked this quite a bit. It's quirky, but musical, and clearly there's a lot of thought behind the arrangements.
U2
4/5
This album was on heavy rotation in the shared living situation I had at the time. I got tired of it, but that said, I appreciated then, and still appreciate now, the willingness to experiment. Certain tunes definitely have an industrial edge to them, and your typical mass market listener at the time had zero exposure to that style of music. It was great for this record to come out and have some impact in terms of a few tracks that were more adventurous. I'm generally a fan of the band, though I didn't like Joshua Tree, too polished, and preferred Boy to all the other records, with Unforgettable Fire probably being second (mostly due to the great production). This record restored some of my faith in the band not being washed up.
Pantera
2/5
This didn't do much for me. It seemed angry without purpose. The musicianship left a bit to be desired as well. That said, they were definitely playing with energy and commitment so I'll not give them a one star.
Tim Buckley
4/5
I liked this quite a bit, probably because of the horns and piano. It had a fun honky tonk sort of vibe.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I found this particular record a bit more compelling than the other Nick Cave record (s?) that I've had in the 1001. Kind of a dark Johnny Cash vibe. This record had a bit more variety in the sound and lyrics, so I liked it more than the other one (s?) that I've had.
The Beta Band
3/5
It wasn't bad but wasn't particularly innovative or memorable either.
Jethro Tull
5/5
Honestly, at first I didn't like this record precisely because so many people I knew loved it. The flute thing was a gimmick, right? Eventually I decided "Thick as a Brick" was fantastic, and it ended up changing my opinion of this record. It's brilliant.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I am generally a fan of the Stones, though I'm not as rabid as others, and prefer The Who and Led Zep among their contemporaries. This is a good record, with several classics, but is not a great record. As with many of their albums, there is definitely filler.
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Difficult to rate this particular record. On the one hand, it's not terribly groundbreaking or very complex. On the other hand, it does feature some really cool Jamaican influences, some fun rapping, and is one of the few early bands where women were clearly in charge of the overall direction.
I have the vinyl and at least one 12" single with remixes in my stash.
I'm going to give it four stars as it's definitely above average, whatever that means LOL
Garbage
4/5
I was surprised at how much I liked this record. I had never listened to it, but was familiar with a hit or two.
Genesis
5/5
This is one of those things where this is a great great record, but there are other great records by Genesis that I like more than this one... but does that mean I have to give this four stars? No. It's a five star record. I think that "Foxtrot", "Lamb" and this record are all solid five star records. I happen to like the other two more, but that doesn't mean this isn't a five star record.
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
This was cool. I like this sort of thing but haven't listened to enough of it. Back in the day I was part of the rave or party scene in San Francisco. I attended a decent number of events over a couple of years that I lived there, and I also threw a few events with the help of many other people. I distinctly remember folks really enjoying the beginning of the ambient era, having a separate "chill out" zone that was away from the dance floor, so people could recharge and connect. Tunes like this were instrumental (pun intended) to having people get the right mindset, not zoning out, but active, but relaxed. Trip-hop indeed!
The Only Ones
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I expected I would, just given the general era and the fact I had never heard of them, and they are from the UK... the 1001 has such a big UK bias that many of the UK entries, particularly in the 1990s, are just not very good.
That said, this reminds me of The Soft Boys and Robyn Hitchcock and I love those guys so that probably explains why I'm enjoying it.
Alice In Chains
5/5
I find it interesting when people consider AIC and Soundgarden to be metal. It's more unique than that. It's definitely got the sludge and hair of early Black Sabbath but it's not Metallica or Judas Priest. The guitars tend to be buried and the emphasis is on the bass and drums.
The thing that really sets AIC apart from the others is the songwriting. The lyrics are always interesting if sometimes depressing.
I'm biased, being a Seattle person, but honestly, I like these guys better than Nirvana, in terms of something I'm usually happy to listen to when it comes up in the rotation. Possibly that's just due to overexposure to Nirvana LOL
Mike Oldfield
3/5
It's funny, I have this on vinyl, I think it was my dad's copy. It was pretty groundbreaking for the time, but that said, I later found Tangerine Dream, Can, Brian Eno, all of which scratch this sort of itch much better.
Tears For Fears
4/5
I have the vinyl album and at least one 12" single, maybe a few.
The album actually holds up pretty well all things considered.
The songwriting is good, and the other elements are solid as well, interesting instrumentation, evocative vocals.
Primal Scream
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I expected. I think the band name and album name left me thinking that the music would be quite different than it was. A mash up of all sorts of styles.
I like U2 the band but strongly prefer the earlier output. The later material just becomes more grandiose, more melodic, and more boring. Kind of the definition of arena rock, almost as silly as a band like Coldplay.
It's hard to give this anything less than three stars because the instrumentation and production is so seamless and carefully done, but overall, it's pretty boring.
I guess I'm giving it two stars largely out of disappointment. They are capable of so much better!
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
This is a great record. Groundbreaking, fun, well written, enthusiastic performances.
fIREHOSE
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I expected. I've heard of this band, and maybe listened to them at some point, but it's been a long, long time. Fun, energetic, interesting decisions here and there for sure.
Dire Straits
4/5
This is a great record, but I have to grade it on a curve, and given that I can think of three Dire Straits records I like better -- without even making an effort, I know I like the debut, "Making Movies" and "Love Over Gold" better than this record -- I can't give this one five stars.
The rest of the world discovered Dire Straits because of this record, but that doesn't mean it's the best Dire Straits record. Not even close.
The Adverts
5/5
I'm giving this a five because it's great and I've never heard it before.
The Thrills
4/5
I enjoyed this a decent amount, which surprised me. There's a tendency on the 1001 to include too many UK bands, and this particular album is on some editions of the 1001 and not on others, which tends to be a red flag.
It's fairly light and quite approachable.
Willie Nelson
4/5
I liked this quite a bit, but I've had a soft spot for Willie Nelson for years, largely because of "Stardust" which is just a fantastic record.
Röyksopp
5/5
Kind of surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I started out thinking it was solid, and I had never heard it, and I'd give it a four... and then it grew on me over the remaining tracks... it's a mood for sure, and honestly, several moods, which is a challenge given what they are using in terms of instrumentation and vocals. They aren't using evocative things like a strong emotional vocal, or an orchestra with swelling and dwindling strings... they are using electronics, and getting the maximum out of them. Cool stuff.
The Human League
5/5
I have the vinyl, some 12" singles, and the cassette... This is one of those things where honestly the absolutely worst thing on the record is the big hit! Rare, but something which does occur in the wild, just not often. There are a ton of great tracks on this record, it's interesting, lyrical, dark in places, great vocals, good songwriting, fantastic drum programming... amazing that it came out in 1981. Outstanding. Easy to dismiss it as synth pop but it's so much, much, much more. I probably listened to this record hardcore for several months, and it was on regular rotation for three or four years. Many new wave records never achieved that for me... I thought this was a great record then, I think it's a great record now... and "Don't You Want Me" is a very catchy single, just not something I'm terribly interested in revisiting, it was way overplayed and there are much better tracks on this record. Even "Love Action" is a better track, and I don't think it's a particularly strong one... great bass line, incredible hooks, fun to sing along with. My favorite tracks are probably the opener "The Things Dreams Are Made Of" and "The Sound of the Crowd" though "Darkness" and "Seconds" show some real range for this band.
David Bowie
5/5
Such a great record. All killer, no filler. Possibly the best Bowie record, and that's saying a lot.
Beck
4/5
Generally a Beck fan, this record has clear influences, but in some ways is more straightforward -- less found sounds, less generally weird -- at least that's my feeling from a listen or two. It was in some editions of the 1001 but was subsequently dropped. I think it's actually pretty good, and while I get that they don't generally go back and revise the older years much, it seems weird to me that it was dropped, there are some interesting tunes on it, and it's got an unusual overall concept, kind of a wild mélange of world music influences.
Patti Smith
5/5
An all time classic. So many owe so much to Patti Smith.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Huge VU fan, and particularly a fan of this record, and their official live output.
The Verve
3/5
I like some elements of this record very much but it's hard to compare it to others in the 1001 who are either groundbreaking or feel more compelling or more unique.
Animal Collective
5/5
I really liked this record. It reminded me very much of Brian Eno.
Sepultura
3/5
I'm just not a huge fan of this genre. I like heavy metal, and I like punk, and I even like thrashy sort of stuff, but this particular combination just doesn't do much for me.
That said, there are technical chops for sure, and so I have a hard time giving it a poor rating.
Michael Jackson
3/5
It has moments of greatness, but isn't great. Certainly it's no "Thriller" and not even an "Off The Wall".
Dennis Wilson
4/5
This record really grew on me. I gave it one listen, thought it was maybe 3 1/2 stars, but I wasn't sure, and I had the time and gave it another listen. It's got some great songwriting and there are interesting musical ideas here and there as well. Definitely a four star with potential.
Missy Elliott
3/5
I liked this decently well, but it wasn't super compelling.
The Monks
3/5
I'm glad I got to listen to this, but that said, rating it, it's not punk enough for me, and it's not weird enough for me. I wish it was more of either and less of a blend. That said, certainly trend setting, important records that other people heard and did cool things with.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Generally a fan, saw an amazing Sonic Youth show at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz CA in the mid 1990s, but I like some of the records better than this one, and generally prefer the live version, more energy.
Steely Dan
4/5
Big Dan fan, but this isn't their best effort...though there are some classic tracks on the record for sure.
Sepultura
3/5
Creative musically but the distorted angry vocals just leave a lot to be desired. Better than the previous record that I listened to from this band. Wider range of sounds.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Generally a fan but prefer later era Sinatra with more swing jazz influence. This is a bit too straight.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Entertaining. Bjork became a massive star, the glimmer of that was present here
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Generally a huge Zappa fan, but this early material is a bit weird just for the sake of being weird... trying to freak out the squares, which is fine, but it could be more interesting musically.
Lou Reed
3/5
It's interesting to listen to this as someone who loves Lou Reed's live output. Many of these songs have an urgency and clarity live but these studio versions are way more dressed up and frankly significantly more depressing or generally negative feeling because of the slower tempos and the orchestration. I strongly prefer the live versions to these, though I appreciate that listening to the studio originals gives me a bit more insight into the songs.
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
Generally a big fan of the band but that said, I think the earlier records are a bit more genuine in that they were slowly influenced by the other things going on in music once they were cutting records and being played on the radio... this is probably the most consistent album, though, in terms of quality of effort on each track.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This record has a few classic tracks but I like other albums from these folks better.
The Who
5/5
One of the best albums ever made. Great songwriting, inspired performances, well produced. When my friends break out the tired old debate of best band ever -- the Stones or Zeppelin -- I often respond The Who (or Black Sabbath)!
Death In Vegas
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit and had never heard of this group before.
Coldcut
4/5
Wasn't able to stream this exact record on Spotify but listened to couple of albums and generally positive. I'd do 3.5 if I could.
Le Tigre
5/5
Never heard of these guys, but I'm impressed. Great punky energy.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
I enjoyed this decently well, which is interesting, as I wouldn't say that I am necessarily a huge fan of the genre. I'd probably do a 3.5 if available, but since that isn't an option, I'll round up because of liking it despite the genre.
Def Leppard
3/5
I like Pyromania better. I can't think of that record as a five star record, so this must be a three star record.
John Coltrane
5/5
Adam & The Ants
3/5
My feeling on this is that it was one of the classic early MTV bands i.e. the visual impact was as important as the music, and when the two worked well together, like with Adam & The Ants, you probably ended up with a hit. I personally liked "Stand and Deliver" more than any of the tracks on this album. It's hard to argue that this is anything other than average, though, in terms of the quality of the music and the place of the band in musical history.
3/5
This strikes me as yet another UK centric entry, there's nothing special at all about this record. It's not bad, it's just not unique or super interesting.
The Killers
5/5
This is a great record. I liked it when I first heard it, but over time, it's really grown on me. Complete in the sense that there's a nice range of tunes and yet everything is clearly from The Killers.
Liz Phair
3/5
I know this album is well regarded critically, but I am not a huge fan of her voice, the instrumentation is jangly, and the lyrics are fairly explicit at times. Sure, the overall package was somewhat groundbreaking, it's always interesting to hear from a strong female songwriter, but I didn't find it all that compelling as a finished product for listening.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
I think this record shows a lot of growth from their previous outing. It's a great listen with good hooks and interesting decisions. I would give it 4.5 if I could, but since I can't, I feel like it's more of a four, there is a coherent musical style which is pleasant but I'd like to see more variety.
The best track from this timeframe is probably the cover of "Always On My Mind" which is frankly incredible and inspired a lot of out there cover remixes of classic tunes... and it's not on the record!
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
I like electronic music, but this just wasn't terribly interesting. Probably another marginal UK band included on the 1001 because the author is from the UK...
Pearl Jam
4/5
It's a good record and a nice alternative to some of the other "grunge" bands of this era. Conversely, I like most of those other bands better. They've got a bit more hair in the mix, not as clean, not as straightforward. Eddie has a distinct voice which you either like or you don't... it spawned a lot of imitators.
Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains... I'd rather listen to any of these, but that doesn't make this record bad.
Tim Buckley
4/5
I enjoyed this record, it's got some interesting instrumentation and songwriting.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I'm giving this a four largely because it is a white British band repackaging American blues in a high quality way for a worldwide audience. It's a mystery to me -- other than flat out racism -- as to why the blues greats weren't appreciated in the USA in the 50s and 60s... they are now revered, as they should be.
Screaming Trees
4/5
I often only listen to my album of the day once. If I listen to it twice, that's a good sign, typically means I haven't heard it before and I find it interesting. I gave this three listens. Really cool stuff overall. I don't know if I've ever heard anything from this band, though I've heard their name here and there.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
I think without Cyndi Lauper that we would have never gotten to the same acceptance of women (and men) who are quirky, a bit different, and frankly, fun. I remember what it was like to grow up in the Regan era, so many of us felt like outcasts, it was always affirming when someone who was an outcast or a rebel got exposure for their art.
I particularly like her version of "When You Were Mine", a fantastic Prince song which she does very very well.
Lorde
4/5
I liked this, it had an interesting emotional range and good variety in styles.
Neil Young
4/5
Great record. Hard to give it five stars when there are other better Neil records, but not many... hmmm...
Daft Punk
4/5
Generally a fan of most forms of EDM and this was a very influential record.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Fantastic record. Possibly only eclipsed by At Folsom Prison.
G. Love & Special Sauce
4/5
I'll admit total bias. I lived in Cambridge MA for a while and used to go to the Plough and Stars, a local watering hole, and these guys played in the area quite a bit, would hang out at the bar before and after their sets. Fun music, great people.
Robbie Williams
4/5
I liked this. I wasn't expecting to like it, I had never heard of the artist, assumed he was some UK flash in the pan, but musically it's solid. Reminds me of Elton John in places, also some more edgy electro pop feel in places.
Django Django
4/5
I enjoyed this, and it kind of defied being categorized, which I found interesting.
David Bowie
5/5
Huge Bowie fan, and I was so happy when he surprise released this. I listened to it on and off for eight months or so. Great record. I think it shows a lot of maturity vs. some of his other output.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Huge fan of the band, but this record isn't their best. Groundbreaking, important, well worth a listen. I like "The Robots" and "The Man-Machine" the best, I'm not as big of a fan of the softer more lyrical tracks... which also explains why this record isn't my favorite Kraftwerk album.
Love
4/5
I enjoyed this, it was refreshingly of the time it was made, and yet was distinctive, particularly the frequent flute instrumentation.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This is an interesting combination of emo, ambient, and songwriting. I wasn't expecting this, having listened to a few Nick Cave albums, but thought it was a good listen.
Boards of Canada
4/5
I have another album from these folks and hadn't heard this one, but it's cool ambient music without being just drone tones or breathy white noise. It has musical ideas but is laid back and cosmic feeling.
Slipknot
3/5
Good energy, but I'm not a fan of the modern distorted vocals trend. Give me Judas Priest or Iron Maiden or Black Sabbath any day...
LTJ Bukem
4/5
Cool ambient oriented electronic music, without being too formless or too dance oriented.
The Vines
3/5
It's funny, this is one of those records that was in some editions of the 1001 but was dropped, and it's exactly what I'd expect... it's reasonably fun, and the musicianship is good, but there's nothing truly exceptional about it.
This seems to be a theme of the 1001, they cycle newer albums, so the list doesn't seem "dated" but conversely they seem to have a much lower bar for some of these additions. A record will be on the list for one or two editions and then it's gone. Note that this only happens with newer records, because apparently dealing with redoing the entire book is too much work i.e. if they take out a Byrds album from the 1970s, basically 90% of the book has to be reorganized, so it's just easier for them to axe a newer record.
The result is that some older records stay on the 1001 when they probably shouldn't, and some newer records get put on the 1001 just so there is a reason for people to want the newer edition... as it's changed... but frequently the new albums are short lived and get dropped in a future edition.
The Doors
4/5
I'm generally a fan of the band, and this particular record shows a lot of mastery -- it's very straightforward in places with a great bluesy rock and roll feel, and totally weird in other places. The keyboard parts are awesome.
Kate Bush
4/5
Such an absolutely unique artist. Amazing that she managed to stay true to herself throughout, even with the ridiculous way the music industry tried to portray her as some sort of weird young sexpot at first.
I wasn't familiar at all with this particular album, I was busy starting a business at the time it came out, but I was glad for the opportunity to listen to it now.
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
This has a unique laid back feel to it. It's not really my cup of tea, but I did find myself listening to it three times, when I don't usually do that. Great harmonica! (Can't remember ever saying that...)
Korn
4/5
I can't recall ever listening to an album from these guys before, and honestly, they've become a bit of a punch line, the look and videos haven't aged particularly well.
That said, I liked it. It reminded me somewhat of Marilyn Manson.
Any band that covers "Earache My Eye" gets a bonus star!
The Who
4/5
I love this band, but I have to reserve five stars for "Quadrophenia" and "Live at Leeds" i.e. the David Bowie problem, so many great records that it's hard to figure out where the cutoff is between four and five stars.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Jimi was a unique talent and the studio albums he made are some of the most innovative rock and roll ever devised.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Unbelievable talent.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
This is an interesting record and really a bit of a culmination of the mainstreaming of world music. I think of it as a much more authentic "Graceland" in that the fantastic musicians are playing their own music, not songs written by a white person.
Morrissey
2/5
I don't like him as a human -- horrible political beliefs, obnoxious personality -- and his solo material just isn't even remotely as good as the early Smiths records. I'll reserve one star for albums that have no redeeming qualities, this is listenable.
N.W.A.
2/5
Generally not a fan of this genre... the posing, the violence (especially against women), the language. I'll give it two stars because there is certainly musical talent, but it's not something I'd want to listen to again.
Slayer
2/5
I like metal, but I'm not a huge fan of speed metal or nu metal.
This is just a bit too frantic for me.
Queen
4/5
This is a fantastic prog rock album which shows Queen as the great musical adventurers they were when they first began.
Over time, they'd become a bit more mainstream, and have a bit more of an edge at times, but they were always willing to experiment.
I consider them to be one of the best bands of my lifetime.
I think I have to give this four stars, though, because of the "Bowie problem" i.e. so many of their records are great, you have to reserve five stars for a couple of them, not just give five stars to all the great records, as that would be ridiculous.
Pink Floyd
5/5
A masterpiece.
Gary Numan
5/5
Of course, this record is known for the mega hit "Cars" which at the time felt like it had been beamed in from an alternate planet... which made sense, because Gary looked like he had just landed... even the album cover gives that sense, like the aliens had scanned the planet, determined the predominant appearance of those with influence, and put Gary in an oddly fitting suit and conservative haircut... he is looking at the pyramid as if he is communicating with it somehow, it's all quite odd, especially the unnatural perfection of his hands, and the mirror reflections of them.
All that said, Mr. Numan is so much more than this particular record. I own at least a dozen albums on vinyl.
I think in some ways the thing that I appreciate the most about him was his willingness to execute "The Plan" in that he had trouble getting a record deal, so they sat down and wrote fifteen punk songs and sent that into the label. Tubeway Army got a record deal, and within a year, they had switched completely back over to the stuff Gary really wanted to play. The label couldn't complain, because of the huge hit "Are 'Friends' Electric?" which has to be one of the first blatant crossover hits between science fiction and popular music.
It's also clear that Gary opened up the universe of what could make money for record labels. We'd never have had Thomas Dolby or Flock of Seagulls or The Fixx if it wasn't for Gary.
Great live performer too, check out "White Noise", it's my favorite, I think, though "Dark Light" is good too.
I was pleased when Foo Fighters covered "Down In The Park" as it was a really nice little homage to Gary and his fantastic songwriting... much like Nirvana covering Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World", it showed these artists were really listening to these albums, getting into the deeper tracks, and taking something away. We all grew up together listening to these fantastic artists who could invent these outlandish scenarios and generate these bizarre plots and communicate them through music.
Merle Haggard
4/5
My dad used to play Merle all the time around the house, and I appreciate him very much as a uniquely American artist.
The Byrds
3/5
Certainly a reference work for this timeframe, but it's only inspired in places.
The Charlatans
3/5
The 1001 has a number of semi irrelevant UK records on it.
This isn't one of them. It's actually pretty good.
Raekwon
3/5
I liked this, it was musical and wasn't too 'gangsta' or misogynist.
Lou Reed
5/5
I will start by stating that the versions on the live records "Rock and Roll Animal" and "Lou Reed Live" are superior, I like the energy of the live recordings. I also think the drum sound on this record is really thin.
That said, this record has so many great tunes. "Vicious", "Perfect Day", and "Satellite of Love" are enough to make this record absolutely worth the listen. Add in the timeless "Walk on the Wild Side" and it's impossible for me to not give this five stars.
Throwing Muses
3/5
This feels oddly like an album of Siouxsie and the Banshees trying to do folk influenced country tunes. Quite weird.
David Gray
4/5
I think it's an interesting sign of where we are musically in popular music that a record like this with a lot of electronic drums, keyboards, bass can just end up sending quite natural to the ears. It's better electronics and software, and also artists trying to make organic sounding music with the electronic tools we have.
This wasn't what I expected, but I liked it.
I particularly liked the cover of "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye". It's really emotional and brings out what an excellent song it is. I really enjoyed the Soft Cell original because it had a strange tinge of isolation, regret and a sense of moving on... it certainly sums up the way someone would feel about the ending of a relationship that in some ways was good, but in other ways was not at all good... kind of the new wave "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" I guess.
I was going to give this three stars but the cover makes it a four for me.
Kid Rock
2/5
It feels a bit like the 1001 Generator is giving me the middle finger by making me listen to Kid Rock on Election Day.
It is musical in places and catchy in others, so I'll give it two stars. That said, there is zero innovation, it's entirely derivative, and a great case study in a white person selling black music to white people.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This double album is a bit indulgent. I prefer "Beggars Banquet" and several other records over this one.
Gotan Project
3/5
I liked this. It's got interesting rhythms and is a bit hypnotic. I'm having a hard time giving it a four, though, as it's sort of aural wallpaper.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
The cover of Comfortably Numb is both the most odd thing on this record and also the most compelling. The vocals are reminiscent of the Bee Gees which is truly bizarre.
That said, this record strikes me as nothing revolutionary or evolutionary. It's fun in places, but that's about it.
Note that this is yet another record that is in some editions of 1001 and dropped in later ones, which is usually a signal that the record isn't really all that essential. (Especially true for UK bands.)
Madonna
4/5
I was a little surprised as how much I enjoyed this. I don't think it's super revolutionary, but it was cutting edge for the time, and Madonna is one of those artists that makes things that are approachable, of the time they are from, and yet unique. It's quite the combination.
So many of her records are great records for the time. Always reinventing herself, never sitting idle.
3/5
This wasn't bad but didn't really catch my interest.
Destiny's Child
2/5
I was kind of disappointed, to be honest, I hadn't heard this record, but I had heard of this record, and it really didn't do much for me.
Klaxons
4/5
I liked this. Weird, but great energy.
Honestly I was a bit fearful in that this is one of those records that apparently had only a very short stint on the 1001, and they are a UK band. Usually this means the record isn't all that good... but this is the exception that proves the rule, I guess.
George Harrison
3/5
There are a few good songs on this record but overall it's indulgent. Not enough killer, too much stuff that's just average.
I'll freely admit that I like Wings better, and Paul's solo output better, too.
Eric Clapton
2/5
I didn't find this record compelling, and I generally like Eric Clapton's music, though he himself is a wanker.
I'd give it a three, but he's a wanker.
Kraftwerk
4/5
This isn't my favorite Kraftwerk album, but it's an interesting one. Very ahead of its time.
4/5
I don't think I had ever heard this album before, and I liked it, but I generally like XTC.
Billy Bragg
3/5
I thought this was fine, but nothing outstanding, pretty typical Billy Bragg.
The Byrds
4/5
This isn't my taste, as a generally don't like folk, it's a little too "pretty" for me.
That said, this album is chock full of classics, and it's a lot easier to listen to these guys play these songs than it is to listen to Bob Dylan singing them.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I'm generally a fan of the band, and this is an interesting record, worth a listen, brilliant in spots. I'd probably give it a 3.8 if I could...
Taylor Swift
4/5
I have had one or two Taylor albums on the 1001 so far, and wasn't looking forward to this one much, but that said, it's not bad, and I think given what I've heard so far of her output, I have to give it four stars.
It's the most mature and coherent sounding record I've had from her, which makes sense, she's getting a little older and has a bit more to say, I think.
Q-Tip
3/5
I liked this, but did think that there wasn't a lot of variety in the sound between the different tunes.
The Associates
5/5
I was so pleasantly surprised to see this record on the 1001.
This album was too weird for my friends back in the early 1980s when we were in high school.
We listened to some pretty weird stuff at times, Tones on Tail, Liquid Liquid, but The Associates were too weird for most of the folks I hung out with.
Listening to it now I'm impressed with it, honestly, it's coherent and yet very very strange, particularly given the time. It's probably one of the more "effected" sounding records I can think of, unusual for the early 1980s.
I'd put in in the same category as Soft Cell. Disconnected odd music for outcasts. Lovely.
It's totally fine if you don't like the style or the sound, but for some of us, this is great precisely because it's unique.
Bonus points for the "Love Hangover" cover!
The Jam
4/5
I hadn't heard this record before -- just some of the singles -- but it fits very well into the idiom of what was going on in the UK at the time it was released.
Fun, energetic, power pop, essentially.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
I'm underwhelmed.
Obviously care and time went into the production, and it's not utter crap, but I was disappointed.
Lack of variety is a real problem on an album with 12+ tracks.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I love this record, it's so out there.
I got the privilege of seeing Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets and it was so much fun hearing these tunes live.
There are quite a few singles from this time frame that didn't make it on the record... particularly "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play"... bonus points if you hunt down "Vegetable Man".
I really enjoy the Syd Barrett era Floyd.
"Astronomy Domine" is so awesome that the modern Floyd was using it routinely in concert during the "Division Bell" tour, same with "Interstellar Overdrive".
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
I was privileged to have a crazy choir teacher in high school... he was white but sported a huge afro and had absurd amounts of energy.
He had us singing all sorts of wild stuff, like tunes from Hair the musical... and this in a small town in rural eastern Washington state, population 3,000.
Claude, thank you for exposing so many folks to new music and new attitudes. I was already well on my way, as I was DJing and hanging out with people who played a lot of soul and funk records, but Claude was a fantastic influence all the same.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
5/5
I had the good fortune of running across this album in my youth when it came out. I ended up going on a bit of an OMD binge, and paid attention to them for several years.
This record has some great atmospheric songwriting, and was way ahead of its time.
This is a great example of a record that needs to be on the 1001. There are so many people that will never hear this record -- I feel sad for them.
D'Angelo
4/5
I liked this quite a bit. It had some nice variation between tunes, and he's got a great voice.
5/5
This has great energy, but I have to admit that I am a sucker for live recordings... particularly for straight ahead rock and roll bands.
I also liked that this had a real anarchistic streak, definitely anti-establishment... what could be more rock and roll?
Justin Timberlake
4/5
I'm going to give this four stars and chalk that up to Justin being a bit of a guilty pleasure... I just enjoy listening to him, he's got an interesting style and feel, and a good voice. It's not challenging listening by any standard LOL but it's quite a bit better than most of the dreck that passes for music these days.
Public Enemy
4/5
I am a fan of the band, and while I prefer "It Takes A Nation Of Millions", this is a good record.
Ute Lemper
3/5
I liked a couple of songs, but most of it wasn't to my taste. Not terribly surprising, given that she's collaborating with a bunch of different people... folks are going to like some, and not like others.
Björk
5/5
I've always liked Björk and initially planned to give this four stars as I think her later material is a bit more coherent.
That said, I gave this two fresh listens right now, and am giving it five stars. There's a real quality to each track, though she's a bit all over the place in this record, moreso than later albums.
The Verve
3/5
Not bad but this is another UK centric entry, just not terribly interesting, not sure why it's on the 1001.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I'm ambivalent. I don't particularly enjoy his voice, I suppose it must be an acquired taste. There are a couple of songs I like -- the first track is a bit of a classic, I think -- but overall I listened to this twice and it just didn't make a strong impression. Not my cup of tea, not bad by any stretch, but nothing that really grabbed me.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
This record has really held up well over time. I enjoyed listening to it back in the day, and it's still a fun listen now. At this point in their career RHCP wasn't inventing anything new but they know how to make a good song.
Brian Eno
4/5
I'm generally a big fan, particularly of his work with Roxy Music, and his ambient records. For the more traditional records, I like "Another Green World" the best, though this record is good, that one is better.
Can
4/5
Interesting record. I'm generally a fan. Certainly groundbreaking and unusual for the era.
Baaba Maal
2/5
This didn't do much for me. I suppose it was nice to have it on the 1001 in terms of variety of musical styles and exposure to a wide range of artists, but I didn't find it all that compelling.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
I was amused. A bit simple, and not as rock and roll as I might like, if going this particular direction, but at some point, you have to appreciate the earnest delivery of clichés.
Duke Ellington
5/5
Outstanding.
The Coral
3/5
Eh. Not bad, not great. Not worthy of the 1001 but at least it's not terrible.
Common
4/5
I liked this enough that I had an immediate relisten, which is unusual for me.
This record has a really wide range of musical styles and yet is held together by the common thread of, well, Common. LOL
Minutemen
3/5
I thought this record was fine, but was assuming given my personal tastes, and what I knew of this record, that I'd like it a lot more.
Buzzcocks
4/5
I really liked the energy of this record.
I like Pete Shelley's solo output, so not surprised that I liked the vocals on this.
John Martyn
3/5
Interesting in places but ultimately didn't do all that much for me.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
I remember when this record came out. It was a bit of a revelation, a glimpse of a different sort of life led by someone who was on the same planet as the rest of us. Really excellent songwriting.
I'm tempted to give it five stars, but not everything can be five stars.
M.I.A.
4/5
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. It's a really interesting mélange of world music, electronica and dance.
I particularly enjoyed the bizarre wordplay, really interesting use of grammar, syntax and vocabulary.
It's not my normal cup of tea, and there are good songs and bad... if it was all the former, it would be five stars.
(Also worth noting that this is yet another album that is on one or two editions of the 1001 but then was taken off... always interesting to see that.)
Solomon Burke
3/5
I generally like music from this era, and I liked this, but conversely, it's not the sort of thing I listen to much these days. I did really like music from the 1950s and 1960s when I was a kid, though.
Good inclusion on the 1001 if someone never heard this sort of thing, but that said, it's not revolutionary, it's early rock and roll when that sort of thing was still very blues influenced in the pop realm.
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
On the one hand, I enjoyed this decently enough. On the other hand, it didn't make a giant impression even with two listens...
Dolly Parton
3/5
This is a very pretty album, and Dolly's voice is awesome.
That said, it's just not my cup of tea.
I appreciate the inclusion on the 1001, though, definitely worth the listen!
Calexico
4/5
I liked this quite a bit, and had no preconceived notions going in, other than the fact that this album appears on some editions of the 1001 and not others. Usually that's an indication that the album isn't all that great... but this is an interesting record. Well worth the listen!
Richard Hawley
2/5
This did very little for me.
I'm tempted to give it one star but the execution is competent.
Eagles
2/5
Honestly, I don't really get the Eagles thing.
It's not bad but it's not something I ever really want to listen to.
Stereolab
3/5
I've never listened to anything by this band, though they come up in conversation and in articles from time to time. I expected I'd like it, but surprisingly didn't find it all that interesting. Unique for sure, in terms of the mix of elements and ratios therein... also competent musically.
That said, I didn't find it especially moving.
Nanci Griffith
2/5
I don't like most country music, and this isn't an exception.
I like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, that sort of thing, but when it gets too twangy, I'm out.
I'll give it two stars because it isn't objectively bad, but this just isn't something that I would listen to again, ever.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Difficult to rate. "We Are Family" is a timeless classic, an anthem particularly for those who are outcasts from their biological family and who found new brothers and sisters in whatever movement or culture they participate in.
That said, other than "He's the Greatest Dancer", and I suppose "Lost in Music", the rest of the album is pretty thin. It's not bad, but I like disco, and I like this era, and I'd rather listen to a random Donna Summer album than this particular record.
Spiritualized
3/5
Honestly, I expect to like this more than I did, given what I knew of the band, but having never heard this album before.
It wasn't bad, but didn't do much for me.
I wonder if this is another case of a UK band getting on the 1001 mostly because the author is from the UK and the record came out while they were actively engaged in consuming new music?
The Crusaders
4/5
Coming into this with no preconceived notions, having never heard of these guys, and only knowing that it was "Jazz", I liked it quite a bit. An interesting find, definitely contemporary, but also definitely jazz.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
This wasn't bad but also didn't do much for me.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Was this bad? No.
Was this great? No.
Did I want to listen to it again? No.
On a 1-10 scale I'd probably go four, but with 1-5 scale, I find it hard to give it a two, as it is not objectively bad.
Yet another UK centric pick, certainly not something you "need to hear before you die"...
Chicago
4/5
I've always had a soft spot for these guys... I think they really did a great job of making psychedelic rock into something more complex, more subversive, and generally just a lot more interesting.
"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" has to be one of the most classic songs of the late psychedelic era.
I also think of these guys as the precursor to acts like Steely Dan, which for me is high, high praise.
SAULT
3/5
I liked this, it was an interesting mix of styles, had a theme, was competently executed, and so on. That said, I generally prefer things that have a bit more oomph.
Underworld
4/5
I enjoyed this and there was enough going on musically that I gave it a relisten.
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
Interesting, moving at times, good to have on the 1001, not necessarily something I'd listen to with any frequency, though.
The Monkees
4/5
I'm not sure what to think about these guys.
The TV show was kind of ridiculously bad.
Conversely there are absolutely subversive elements and their squeaky clean image was obviously tongue in cheek... as evidenced by some of the songwriting on this record and other records.
I think they definitely came close at times to writing perfect pop songs. That's probably the main reason to give them a decent rating... there isn't anything super special about the musicianship, or even the packaging and promotion of the band.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Um. This is pretty bad. It escapes one star because it's sincere...
Neil Young
5/5
Huge Neil fan. One of his best.
I could see someone not liking his voice but the songwriting is impeccable.
Still finding meaning after 30 plus years of listening!
The Cure
4/5
This is a strange depressing album but that said, it's quite creative and has some truly unusual textures and sounds.
I think there are a lot of people who know The Cure from singles like "Friday I'm In Love" and they'd never recognize this band.
I do like the later material a bit better, in general.
This album brings to mind the old adage "The Cure make you want to kill yourself, The Smiths make you wish you'd never been born".
Kings of Leon
3/5
I liked the emotion on this record, and the musicianship was solid.
That said, it was otherwise more or less forgettable, and I can't give it a high rating when I couldn't care less if I ever heard this record again.
Air
4/5
I didn't think I knew anything from these guys but recognized the first track right away, so that was a bit of a surprise.
Also a surprise was how much I liked this record. I thought it had some real character and was absolutely unique in places... a combination of interesting lyrics, compelling music, and sophisticated style.
I nearly gave it five stars though I tend to reserve that rating for things that are immediately compelling and/or timeless.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Nothing special. Yet another one of those UK inclusions that leave me shaking my head.
The Clash
5/5
A fantastic recording of a great band at their peak.
Several of these songs are all time greats.
The Smiths
4/5
"The Cure make you want to kill yourself. The Smiths make you wish you'd never been born."
Removal of one star because Morrissey is such a wanker.
Rush
5/5
The album that put them on the map.
Side A is probably one of the five best album sides ever.
Slipknot
3/5
My initial reaction was pretty negative, likely because of the distorted vocals on some tracks, and the rage. I'm fine with angry music, I'm fine with fast music, but stuff that just seems to be raw bile, well, not really my cup of tea.
That said, some of the other tracks on the record, as it progressed, had some more interesting elements, and I found myself deciding to give it a three.
Ultimately the album had a lot more range than I thought it would, given the first four or five tracks, and while I don't think of this record as some great work of art, it's certainly got more going for it than I thought it would.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
An all time classic, absolutely a tent pole of jazz funk fusion.
Black Flag
3/5
It amuses me to no end that I can say, in all seriousness, that I prefer their later works.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
This album makes me feel like Bruce has channeled Neil Young.
There are some tunes that have more of a R&B sort of feel, but broadly, this strikes me as the least Bruce Springsteen album from Bruce Springsteen, if you catch my drift.
That said, for me, it's great that it has a more dark feel to it, more emotion.
Reminds me a little bit of Merle Haggard too.
I am not generally a Bruce fan, and I'm surprised I'm giving this five stars, but I think it deserves it.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
There are a couple of "hits" on this record but overall it didn't do all that much for me.
Little Simz
3/5
It's OK.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
This has a more roots oriented feel to it than I was expecting.
Good stuff. Needs more listening.
Napalm Death
2/5
Just a little too, well, everything that it is. Too much of all that.
Pere Ubu
4/5
Weird, but interesting. I'm a little surprised that I hadn't heard this before, given the general time frame and the overall genre.
Kate Bush
4/5
Kate Bush is a treasure. I like a couple of her other albums better, and haven't listened to this much, but boy, she really went for it... this record is really out there.
Her range is "chef kiss"!
Kings of Leon
3/5
I just don't think this is anything special... Telling that it isn't on the 1001 anymore.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
The 1001 has definitely encouraged me to rethink my opinion of Sly & The Family Stone. Good stuff!
Portishead
4/5
I had heard of this band and have friends who like them, but had never listened to one of their albums.
I really enjoyed this, it had an interesting mixture of different musical styles and yet was coherent.
I'm generally reserving five stars for timeless classics, things that are just overwhelmingly great, so I am not giving this that rating, though I was tempted... it really is that good!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I was surprised at how much I liked this, as I had heard of the band but never listened to an album. It's got a lot of energy and the musicianship is accomplished but with an element of fun.
AC/DC
3/5
The songwriting is a bit Spinal Tap...
Magazine
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit. I remember listening to this band in the mid 1980s, but I don't recall this particular record.
Gene Clark
4/5
I really enjoyed this. It is a very clean sounding classic country album in places, and yet, it has some modern touches and some elements of what would become current pop country music.
I'm floored that it was recorded in 1974.
Orange Juice
4/5
Wowza. Odd mix of styles, seems to have just about everything, including a horn section? Never heard of these guys but I must admit I'm a little intrigued...
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Not bad but nothing special.
Ray Charles
5/5
A national treasure. I prefer his more upbeat material, and the album title is a misnomer, but one cannot argue his talent or impact.
Motörhead
4/5
The title track is an all time classic. It really combines the energy of punk with the hard hitting nature of heavy metal.
I think one certainly can question some of the other material on the record, as some of it is of its time -- "Jailbait" anyone? -- but that said, they put down a marker for what could be, and what is, and what will be.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
So good.
David Bowie
5/5
Earlier in my trip through the 1001 I distinctly remember giving an excellent Bowie album four stars precisely because there are some GREAT Bowie records.
This is one of those, a GREAT Bowie record. It really shows his development as a performing artist and as a songwriter.
The Auteurs
4/5
I had never heard of these guys and the album ended up being a soundtrack to the start of a lengthy weird drive... which was probably perfect. Interesting record.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
This was really out there.
I'm glad it's on the 1001 but that said, it wasn't my cup of tea.
Adventurous!
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
It certainly is interesting to listen to something like this and, having never heard it before, understand it through the lens of a band like Talking Heads, or even artists like Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon.
I am not well versed in "world music" (what an awful term!) and so it's nice to get an opportunity to check this out.
That said, I wouldn't make this a regular part of my musical diet, so the rating is largely due to that.
Great inclusion on the 1001.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
5/5
Groundbreaking artists. "White Lines" is probably their best track, but they didn't really release albums...
Def Leppard
3/5
This is a fun record, and while "Photograph" got most of the attention, there are several other great tunes on here.
That said, it's not revolutionary...
Devendra Banhart
5/5
I had never heard of this artist, and as far as I'm aware, I've never listened to any of their music either.
Maybe it was the setting -- a drive through the Gallatin River valley in southwestern Montana, after a day of skiing in below zero conditions -- but I don't think so...
This is an outstanding record. It reminds me very much of Syd Barrett's solo work. I particularly like the fact that some tracks are one great idea, and that's it, so the song clocks in under two minutes. No padding.
It's like drinking maple syrup from the jug.
As I write this, I know nothing at all about the artist, and I'm definitely going to investigate, but the mystery is also a factor, I think.
The guitar work reminds me a bit of Richard Thompson.
Lyrically I suppose another good comparison would be Robyn Hitchcock.
Outstanding!
The Undertones
2/5
Yet another UK centric 1001 inclusion that makes no sense in the broader picture. So many more worthy possibilities.
The Specials
4/5
I like ska but haven't had enough exposure to everything that's out there. Great record, well played, with some entertaining song choices.
I'm slightly tempted to give this album a five, but it's not going to change anyone's life... I suppose unless they are inspired to create a ska band!
Mariah Carey
1/5
Ugh.
John Lennon
4/5
This is probably one of the stronger solo records from a member of the Beatles. That said, I don't think it's consistently brilliant.
ZZ Top
4/5
On the one hand, I wouldn't say this album is groundbreaking... vs. Tres Hombres or other early ZZ Top.
On the other hand, the singles from this record are all great, and it was impossible to escape the barrage of videos when this album came out.
Considering most people had never heard or seen of these guys before this record, and the visual and musical styles worked so well together, it's fairly unique... especially considering that pop music at the time was either new wave, dance oriented, or heavy metal, for the most part.
Tortoise
3/5
I generally like this form of music but this particular album "went down too easy" i.e. it's a bit more like aural wallpaper than it is music.
I like my tunes a bit more forward.
Rush
4/5
I was pleased to see this record on the 1001.
In some ways, it's the most ambitious record Rush ever made.
In other ways, it's a gigantic failure. The concept is complicated enough that it requires careful listening, and that meant that it was unlikely to convert casual fans.
That said, I remember this record being handed around in my circle of friends... it came from a much cooler older brother of one of my buddies and as such, like "Joe's Garage" by Frank Zappa, immediately had a certain cache.
The title track holds up quite well and has some great moments. Very prog!
The Velvet Underground
5/5
An all time classic, enhanced with the presence of Nico... she's a little bit like sorbet or cheese between courses. I think the record might have been a little heavy without the melodic accent of her singing.
4/5
"Poison Arrow" has an absolutely amazing bass line.
The production is fantastic, and the horns here and there really stand out.
It's a super clean recording, with a ton going on in the background, which makes it fun to listen to.
That said, I can't consider this record groundbreaking or life changing.
Fever Ray
4/5
I had no idea what to expect, and enjoyed this quite a bit, actually.
Femi Kuti
3/5
Eh.
Soft Machine
5/5
Super weird and very cool. I rarely give a five to something I've never heard before, but this deserves it.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
I have the vinyl, I'm a big fan, this album is a great way to experience Siouxsie and the sorts of flavors and colors she brings to music.
That said, I could see someone thinking that there's not enough variety in this record, and they'd be right, there are other albums that show a wider range.
The Pogues
4/5
I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. It's an interesting style musically, that's for sure!
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I like the band, but this isn't their best album, at least to my taste.
3/5
Sonically, these guys work with a pretty limited palate, and I don't really like the vocal tone of the lead singer.
That said, they have an ear for the majestic chord sequence, and had an odd hit with Knights of Cydonia, largely due to exposure from Guitar Hero III, of all things.
The Clash
4/5
A classic. I like other albums a bit better, but this is where it all started.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
This wasn't bad, but it also didn't do all that much for me.
Stephen Stills
3/5
This is a very good example of popular music at the time it was released.
The arrangements and performance have aged well, the songwriting, well, not so much.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
The title track is classic, and I think the record is well worthy for an inclusion on the 1001 because of how early of a soundtrack record it was for a major major hit. Conversely, the rest of the album is sort of filler to me, I'd much rather listen to P-Funk from this era.
Meat Loaf
4/5
I probably haven't listened to this record since 1982 or 1983.
Kind of a remarkable piece of work. Lyrically it's very tongue in cheek, and yet, the music is fairly complex in places, particularly piano and horns.
Three major hits.
I definitely feel like this channels 1950s music in a very clear and distinct way, which is probably why it had so much appeal.
I can't give it a three. It's good enough to deserve better.
Sigur Rós
4/5
I did not give this album a very close listen, but that said, it definitely intrigued me. I generally like orchestral ambient sorts of things, and this seemed well put together.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
This is an all time classic record. Every track has merit.
Morrissey
2/5
Nothing too exciting musically, and Morrissey is a wanker.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
This didn't do much for me. Not bad, just nothing special.
Neu!
4/5
I found this interesting and will need to revisit it later.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Honestly, this record feels like a "greatest hits" for Zep.
It's one of the greatest albums of all time, and a really good example of how some double albums are not indulgent... they can be fantastic!
Alice Cooper
3/5
While the title track is an all time classic, the rest of the album doesn't really follow through... I'm actually a fairly big fan of Alice Cooper, his approach was truly unique for the time, and he influenced a lot of other acts to come, but many of his records have one or two great songs, and the rest is filler. This was unfortunately quite common in the 1970s and 1980s.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
I thought "Loveless" was rather brilliant.
This isn't bad but it doesn't have the same edge as "Loveless", it's a bit more ambient, which doesn't work as well for these guys in my opinion.
That said, it's great to see something of this quality come out so much later, I know I was surprised when this was released.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
This is a bit tough to write, but I'm not going to pull any punches.
This isn't a bad record, but it's only on here because of how topical it was after 9/11.
It's not nearly as interesting musically or lyrically as other classic Springsteen albums.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Amusingly, I had The Rising yesterday.
This is such a great record, with fantastic horns, backup vocals and keyboards.
Side note: it's well worth checking out the Frankie Goes To Hollywood cover of Born To Run.
Mekons
4/5
To the best of my knowledge, I've never listened to an album from these folks... and I'm glad to have rectified that, as I enjoyed this quite a bit.
Felt like a fairly wide range of musical styles and yet everything was tied together with a nice firm dollop of flat out weirdness, which I appreciate and enjoy.
I look forward to listening to this record more and seeing what else this artist has put out.
Elastica
4/5
I liked this quite a bit. In general, I'm a big fan of albums that have 15 tunes and clock in at 40 minutes or less. LOL
Good energy and a reasonable range of different tunes all within one overarching idiom.
The Dictators
5/5
Magnificent.
Elbow
3/5
This wasn't bad but didn't do too much for me.
Queen Latifah
3/5
I appreciate the effort but conversely this didn't do much for me.
The Bees
4/5
I had never heard of this artist and was pleasantly surprised. It's moody, but isn't depressing or sorrowful... it's emotive. The songwriting and composing is creative. I liked it and am curious to learn more about the band.
Killing Joke
4/5
I remember this album from high school. I'd swap records with a few friends of mine and later swap back. This was one I didn't own but kept for a while and liked.
It's a really interesting proto punk sort of feel but leavened by the beginning of new wave.
I think that is also shows distinct early industrial stylings. Industrial would really come into its own several years later, but bands like Killing Joke and Joy Division set the early tone.
50 Cent
2/5
Didn't do much for me. That said, there's some talent... I'm not a fan of this genre but I have to give some credit for the obvious skill of the artist.
Gram Parsons
4/5
I often don't like country but this was pretty great.
William Orbit
4/5
I've listened to other albums by this artist and in general it's relatively interesting ambient music with clear techno influences.
This album fits neatly into that paradigm.
Good atmospheric music without being formless.
The Young Gods
2/5
I didn't get this at all. French nu metal?
I like weird music most of the time, but not this.
I'll give two stars as they are enthusiastic about what they are doing, and it seems original to me.
The Sonics
5/5
Fantastic early rock, that said, I am biased given that I'm from Washington state and have lived in Seattle for almost 30 years now.
It's wild to think these guys were playing at the same time as the Beatles.
A totally different wavelength.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Generally a fan, but this is the weakest of their albums and the only one I don't recall owning.
They are at their best when they are funky and sampling interesting records. This album has a number of tunes that are straight ahead rock rap, which is the least interesting material they made.
Fugazi
4/5
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I've heard of this band a million times but I don't own any of their records, and I haven't sat down and listened to any of their stuff before now.
I'm going to give it four stars with room for growth.
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Honestly, looking back, this band feels Spinal Tap esque. Led Zeppelin transmuted into Iron Butterfly.
I did like the ridiculously psychedelic oil light show on the videos of them performing the title track.
It's not bad, it's just not great.
OutKast
5/5
I would consider myself a fan of the band. These two artists plus their friends and associates create a really interesting and deep mix of samples, original playing, rapping and singing. They are heroes in Atlanta, and rightfully so.
I am torn between giving this four stars and five stars.
Ultimately I gave it five stars because it's the best example of modern hip hop in the 1001 so far, and I'm over 700 in.
(Public Enemy is the best example of old school hip hop so far.)
David Holmes
2/5
I had never heard of this and was a bit excited when it came up on the car stereo as "Electronica". That said, I found it pretty boring. I was expecting Aphex Twin or something ambient. I didn't find the beats all that imaginative, and the samples and whatnot seemed to just be trying to tell us over and over that the sample is from New York.
I have a hard time giving it a two, but it barely deserves better.
Ah, I just read the Wikipedia summary, and it's all clear now. Another relatively lame UK entry in the 1001 because the author is from the UK. Particularly obvious when the entry is from the 1990s.
Goldfrapp
3/5
My initial listen wasn't all that positive. The album felt a bit like a derivative Kate Bush, which basically put me in the mental position of "why?" i.e. why would I listen to this record when I have better, more original, amazing records to listen to, like the records Kate Bush made?
I left the album on repeat while I was doing other things, and ultimately, the record started to stand on its own.
I still don't think of this record as some amazing thing everyone needs to experience, but conversely, it's got moments, and clearly the people involved have talent.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
This is arguably the best Simon & Garfunkel record.
Wire
5/5
Amazing album. I'm a huge fan. Everything they put out is worth a listen, even the later stuff -- which is how I discovered them, through a copy of "A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck".
I think of Wire as being similar to Gang of Four in some ways, but they are both more poppy and more industrial sounding, depending on the track, and of course way less political.
Primal Scream
3/5
On the one hand, this isn't bad.
On the other hand, it's not great, and falls firmly into the basket of 1990s UK bands that the author has a fondness for.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie is a national treasure. Such an amazing talent!
Germs
4/5
This record has good energy and there's more variety than in, say, your typical Ramones album.
That said, I don't think the material is groundbreaking. It feels rather derivative.
I read Wikipedia and now understand that these guys were early and everything later was derived from them!
That said, I'd rather listen to Sex Pistols or Clash or Bad Brains...
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is a great record. It's a bit hard to reconcile vs. all the other great Zeppelin albums, but I think it's more creative than the previous albums, and a bit more "pure" than most of the later albums. It has several classic tracks, and the "filler" is actually quite good, unlike some of their other records.
The Strokes
3/5
I bought this record shortly after it came out, there's a couple of good songs on it that got fairly popular.
That said, the vocal quality gets annoying after a while, and I don't think the album has held up very well over time. It's just not all that interesting.
Pentangle
3/5
I found this fairly interesting. It reminds me of a more progressive "Peter, Paul and Mary" sort of sound. That said, I don't think it would be a regular listen for me... it's a bit too crunchy, granola, hippie.
JAY Z
2/5
This record didn't do much for me.
I was a little surprised at my reaction to the record as he's got a fairly mass market following, in many respects, but it was a little heavy on the gangsta and a little light on the talent.
Bee Gees
4/5
This was surprising.
I know of these guys from the ridiculous harmonies and folk music, plus their later disco period with Saturday Night Fever and the remake of Sgt. Peppers.
This record felt very progressive rock in places, probably due to the orchestration and the general trippy nature of some of the proceedings.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
This is a beautiful record, and even though it's not the sort of thing I'd listen to with any frequency, I can totally appreciate the quality and elegance.
The Icarus Line
3/5
I gave this a listen and it didn't do much for me.
I just didn't find much that was unique or compelling.
Billy Bragg
5/5
I really liked this but then again, I like Wilco a lot, and my main issue with Billy Bragg has been with his songwriting, so having a recording where he's featured but didn't write anything, that's kind of perfect.
5/5
There's not much to be said about this album per se, so I'll share a personal anecdote.
Early in my childhood, when I was probably five or so, my dad gave me this album. He also gave me Beach Boys "High Water" which was sort of a greatest hits record (two records, one studio, one live), Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" and Rolling Stones "Beggars Banquet" (white RSVP design).
I particularly remember loving Mr. Kite. Still a great track.
Between the vinyl and setting me up with my own stereo in my room, those were probably the best things my dad ever did for me. RIP
I later bought Chuck Berry's greatest hits, and Elton John's greatest hits, and I embarked on a lifetime of love of music.
Thanks Dad!
Ministry
4/5
I'm a big fan of the band, and of industrial music in general.
That said, I personally prefer "In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up" which came out a couple years before this record. It has absolutely scorching live versions of several Ministry tunes. My favorite is "Thieves".
FKA twigs
2/5
This wasn't a difficult listen, but conversely, there isn't much there.
The semi rap chirpy breathy singing just didn't do much for me.
The beats weren't all that interesting either.
David Ackles
3/5
I liked this. I didn't think it was anything crazy amazing, but I did enjoy listening to it.
Crowded House
4/5
I was a fan of Split Enz back in the day, and was pleased when Crowded House formed, but didn't pay a lot of attention to them at the time.
This was a new album for me, something I hadn't heard at all, and I found myself enjoying it quite a bit.
It's pop, but it's not meaningless, there's some craft to it for sure, which is the dividing line between art and noise.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
I've always had a soft spot for this band and hadn't really listened to this particular album.
TBH, my initial listen wasn't all that profound. I decided I hadn't really listened to it. I turned the volume up and put it back on.
On a second listen, I found it a bit more compelling. I think the key, honestly, is that the record came out in 1979. It was unusual for the time. The songs did not have typical structures. They meandered. It was clearly heavily influenced by dub, which wasn't something that was typically part of mass market music, with distortion and repetition. The vocals were clearly post punk and surreal.
Would I say this is a great record? No, it's not. Would I say that it's an influential record? Yes, absolutely. Was it ahead of its time? Certainly.
I like other material from PiL better.
Faith No More
3/5
The video for "Epic" put this band on the map, and they certainly got a lot of attention as a live act.
I like the Doc Edgerton milk drop photo on the cover.
That said, when the best thing on the record is probably the cover of "War Pigs" -- great choice -- I have a hard time giving it a high rating.
Tom Waits
3/5
Emotional, raw, a bit dark. Not really my cup of tea but interesting. Good instrumentation.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Unbelievable record. The contrast between Neil solo and Neil with Crazy Horse is so much fun!
Travis
3/5
This falls firmly in the category of albums in the 1001 more or less only because the author is from the UK and the band is from the UK.
It's not bad, but definitely isn't anything world changing.
T. Rex
4/5
Fun record. Very much of its time.
Emmylou Harris
5/5
This is a beautiful recording.
I'll admit a fondness for Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. Amazing artists!
I guess at the end of the day I appreciate originality and musicianship over everything else. This record has that in spades.
Cypress Hill
4/5
OK, I've surprised myself.
I only knew the big hit from these guys "Insane in the Brain" and assumed that I would find this album tedious at best.
I think the samples are hilarious in places, and the rapping is great in spots, too.
Really interesting choices.
It's great that they carved out their own niche, leaning hard on stoners and people who like low riders and 40s.
Dr. Octagon
4/5
I liked this -- with about 700 albums done in the 1001, one of the surprises for me has been the Wu-Tang content, which I've generally enjoyed.
I don't like gangsta rap at all, but I do like old skool styles, and hip-hop.
This material features some wacky samples and entertaining rapping, but more importantly, has some real musical content as well.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
4/5
I enjoyed this but then again I like early country and blues tinged psychedelic rock, and I particularly like high quality live recordings of that material from this era.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Very much a classic record.
I don't know if I consider it inspired or inspiring, it's a bit derivative of some of the other stuff that was going on in the south at that time, but it's fun to listen to, and it's aged well.
The Byrds
4/5
I've gained a new appreciation for The Byrds because of the 1001.
I was only really familiar with a couple of their big hits, but it's clear they had an outsized influence on the music of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Lots of different styles, great songwriting, and good musicianship.
Tim Buckley
3/5
A new artist and a new album for me.
I thought it was entertaining, though very much of the time it came out, and at least for me, not terribly groundbreaking.
(Of course it's possible it came out before other things I've heard, and it was in fact cutting edge at the time, but I don't think so.)
Johnny Cash
5/5
This is simply one of the best albums, period, and has to be seriously considered for best live album of all time.
Dirty Projectors
3/5
I gave this a couple of listens and it didn't make a huge impression on me.
It wasn't bad, but it was definitely erratic, with several different styles that sort of alternated... not really mashed together so much as happening in sequence one after another.
This seems like a very niche pick for the 1001.
Sabu
3/5
Interesting. Great example of early world music. That said, not exactly my cup of tea.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
This was kinda great. I wasn't expecting much.
I'm aware of the band, I think they had one or two big hits at some point, but I've never listened to a complete album.
It's nicely post punk, reminds me of The Killers or The Strokes.
Brian Eno
5/5
I'm generally a huge fan of Brian Eno, particularly his songs (as opposed to ambient works).
He's got a real ear for the unusual and yet compelling.
I also really like his work with David Byrne.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
I was entertained. Conversely, I was not transformed.
John Martyn
2/5
This didn't do much for me on an initial listen, so I listened to it again, and it still didn't do much for me. I dunno, I'm generally a fan of a lot of types of music, but this felt listless... I suspect people who like it think that it's soulful, but it doesn't have much energy.
Massive Attack
3/5
This was somewhat interesting but not compelling. I think the selection once again shows the UK bias on the part of the author of the 1001. I will give it three stars but it's barely that. So many other more interesting possibilities... how about Unkle "Psyence Fiction"?
Michael Jackson
5/5
I was just starting high school when this came out, and I had been a DJ for a couple of years at that point, primarily at school and church dances, as well as the occasional private party.
It was AWESOME to get to experience the release of this record and Prince "Purple Rain" and see the transformation of pop music that occurred as a result.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Didn't really get this. Feels a bit like an album added so a new edition has new records... then probably dropped later.
I'm generous with my rating here, it's not objectively bad, just really a stretch to say everyone needs to hear this record.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
This is absolutely the kind of truly unique record that deserves to be on the 1001. I'll even overlook the "Saw"-esque lyrical content on one of the tracks.
Such a cool mashup, old kung-fu movies, rapping about all sorts of things including children's programming and nursery rhymes, and hip-hop.
Great beats too!
Talking Heads
5/5
This is one of my favorite records, period.
This album and "Remain in Light" are both outstanding and while they didn't have the commercial success of "Speaking in Tongues" they are better!
Jane Weaver
4/5
This is a unique, bizarre, compelling record. I had never heard of it, or the artist, before listening. Glad it's on the 1001.
Brian Wilson
5/5
Frankly, it's amazing this record wasn't salvaged at the time. It's amazing. I understand Brian Wilson was having a lot of mental issues, but anyone involved in the recording should have recognized the brilliance.
I can only assume that one of the factors is that the record label probably thought it was far out -- really not at all what anyone would expect from the Beach Boys -- and so the record label wasn't pushing for it to be finished.
(I know there's tons of history around this record, and I don't think I've read any of it, so that's just an educated guess. Another great example of this is Daryl Hall "Sacred Songs" which is a fantastic record and it just kind of went into obscurity... his label wouldn't let him release it, they went back and forth, he wrote the sardonic tune "Something in 4/4 Time" which is about as strong of a rebuke as you'll hear from an artist to a record label. That album was totally out there compared to the output from Hall & Oates and understandably the record label was concerned that the solo record would reflect poorly on the duo career. Anyhow, great record, never got any label support, most people have never heard of it...)
Carole King
4/5
This is a fun, pretty record. I don't find Carole King as compelling as Joni Mitchell or Joan Baez, but even being compared to them is a great honor.
Pixies
4/5
This is a great album, but I like "Tromp le Monde" better.
The Fall
4/5
Not terribly familiar with the band, never heard this record, but I like it!
Feels a bit like a less polished more punk Gang of Four, which is high praise.
I'll have to give these guys a bit more playing time in the future.
Kanye West
1/5
I liked this musically more than I expected.
That said, he's still a world class jerk.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Groundbreaking? Yes.
As good as "Raising Hell"? No.
The Cult
3/5
Decidedly mid.
I strongly prefer the previous record "Love" which has a lot more energy.
Kind of shocked that this is on the 1001 and "Love" is not.
The Replacements
5/5
"I Will Dare" and "Androgynous" are two of the best pop songs written by any band, ever.
Extra points for covering Kiss "Black Diamond".
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
This is a cool record, it feels very honest and reflective of the culture it comes from, while also being a good listen and well produced.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
I found this a bit out there, particularly when compared to his later work which is much more straightforward and poppy.
I liked the Nazz and Utopia decently well when I was a kid.
I thought his later solo work was a bit saccharine. I had never heard this particular record, and actually, liked it more than his later solo work.
It feels a bit like a record from 1967 with better production values LOL and clearly a lot of psychedelic drug use.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I like Joni. This album is a bit more avant garde than her earlier work, I think, in terms of the lyrics and instrumentation and particularly the use of other vocalists. It's good!
Beth Orton
4/5
I liked this more than I expected, having never heard of the artist.
She's got an emotive voice and uses it well.
Waylon Jennings
5/5
This is a certain kind of fantastic. I may have heard this before, years ago, as my dad had a cassette with Merle on one side and Waylon on the other side, and I don't remember the album titles... but believe me when I say that modern country is a pale shadow of the real roots country.
Bob Wills is still the king!
808 State
3/5
Is this bad? No.
Is this particularly interesting? No, not really.
There's a ton of more interesting electronic and club music out there. I don't know why this is on the 1001.
I suspect it's that same boring reason for many of the other head scratchers on the 1001 -- it's from the mid to late 1980s or early 1990s and features a UK band or an act that was unusually popular in the UK.
The author clearly has a soft spot for material that was popular with his peer group, and it's unfortunate, in that there are dozens of selections in the 1001 that make no sense.
Laibach
2/5
I cannot tell if this is parody, or serious.
Certainly they seem to be performing in earnest.
Weird, and not in a good way.
Suede
3/5
Sigh. I thought these guys were OK back in the day, but through the lens of the 1001, there's no reason for Suede to have two albums on this list. They just aren't that good. It's the classic UK 1980s / 1990s bias problem because of the author. I'm a little tired of it now that I've got 700+ albums done.
Decidedly mid.
Shivkumar Sharma
4/5
This had a very nice calm feel to it, along with being accomplished and professional. Not exactly my cup of tea, but hearing it, I understand a bit of how a band like The Beatles could go to India and have their mind blown.
The Pogues
4/5
I've always been aware of The Pogues having lived in Boston and played in a dart league with several Irish bars in the division.
That said, the 1001 has given me a new appreciation for them.
Motörhead
5/5
Big fan of live albums, particularly if they are true classic rock and roll, which this is. I found myself making the "devil's horns" at my desk.
The Temptations
5/5
These guys are super talented and created some amazing music.
Brian Eno
5/5
Huge Eno fan. I have this on vinyl, purchased in the early 1980s. I love his more musical lyrical work, but he is a pioneer in the ambient genre, and he did amazing things with Talking Heads.
Ice Cube
3/5
Strong in places, some good choices of samples, but there's quite a bit of profanity and some misogyny plus a bit of gang-banger posturing which drags down my rating.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
I liked this more than I expected. I don't like most "modern country" and so pretty much anything after 1980 is usually not all that interesting for me.
She's got a great voice, and these are interesting songs, with good instrumentation. Very traditional overall, with a nice bit of a folk and blues influence tucked in here and there.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
I'm quite biased. My dad gave me a copy of this album with the white cover when I was five or six. I played it all the time. It's a great record!
Jungle Brothers
3/5
This was fine. I personally prefer a lot of other stuff in this genre, but it wasn't bad, and had some interesting moments.
Small Faces
4/5
I hadn't heard this album, only really aware of the artist because of the confusion over their name. I did like it quite a bit, though. It was clearly very much of its time, folky, a bit strange, psychedelic in places. I'll have to give it additional listens!
The Beach Boys
5/5
I think "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "God Only Knows" are two of the best songs ever.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Another UK act from a particular time frame that probably doesn't really deserve a spot on the 1001.
That said, these guys aren't bad.
Eminem
2/5
So, this is a bit hard to rate. I don't like the violence, I don't like the misogyny, and I don't like the profanity. That said, it's got some of the elements of a great piece of work... it's clearly heartfelt, there are some meaningful contributions from others, it's creative, it definitely adds to the genre it is part of.
I've been consistently giving one star to artists that I think are douchebags, and to albums that seem to be profane and violent for no purpose.
Though I'm tempted to one star and move on with my life, I have to give this two stars. The artist has shown signs of trying to work on himself and improve himself, and the profanity and violence on this record are autobiographical.
Justice
4/5
I liked this more than I expected. I didn't know anything about the album before listening -- never heard of the album, or the artist, much less any exposure to the music. Reasonably interesting while also being something that doesn't require a lot of focus to enjoy.
Gillian Welch
3/5
I liked this but I didn't find it revelatory.
I appreciate that it's straight country, not some sort of pop country abomination.
She's got a nice voice!
Massive Attack
4/5
I was worried this was going to be more of that mid UK stuff that shouldn't be on the list but because the author has a soft spot for anything UK from early 1980s to early 1990s it's on the list anyway.
This was actually good. It had some interesting ideas and was well executed.
Beastie Boys
5/5
I'm a big fan of this record and of Check Your Head.
Really unique material, great samples, cool guests.
Syd Barrett
5/5
I love Syd's solo output. (I also love the early Pink Floyd with Syd.)
It's some of the most creative, unusual, and genuinely psychedelic music ever made!
Nas
3/5
This didn't do much for me. It wasn't bad, just not inspiring or even terribly interesting, I suppose.
SZA
3/5
This was fine. I'm a little irritated by the use of auto tune, but it's groovy in places, which means it's not terrible.
The Gun Club
5/5
This is right up my alley. Great stuff!
I appreciate the energy, the creativity, the musicianship, the quality of the recording... it's just a fantastic example of intelligent post punk.
4/5
I like real country music, and this is that, for sure.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
This might be the perfect rock and roll album.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Classic. When I was a kid, I went through a phase where I listened to a lot of 1950s era music. I particularly remember a greatest hits compilation from the Buddha record label. Anyhow, albums like this one are really where mass market rock & roll became, well, everywhere!
Paul Weller
3/5
I didn't find this all that compelling, which isn't a big surprise, it's another UK act from the late 1980s to early 1990s. The author of the book has an affinity to this time period for UK artists, because that's when he was a young person in the UK and listening to a lot of music.
It's a little annoying at this point.
Ride
3/5
Here's another random album from a UK band you've never heard of from the late 1980s or early 1990s.
This one isn't bad, but again, it's not great, and it's annoying to get these particular types of records over and over because the author is from the UK and grew up in that timeframe.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
I'm generally a fan of the artist, and this is a pretty record, with strong feelings and good songwriting.
Suicide
4/5
I'm generally a fan of this era and this sort of thing...
I like this record but it's kind of a tweener i.e. it's not as contemplative as some of the really out there contemplative ambient stuff, and it's not as active and energetic as some of the (excellent) early new wave.
Faust
5/5
I really liked this, and had never heard the artist or the album before.
Then again, it's right up my alley. I generally like Krautrock, and also prog, and this fits nicely into both genres.
Cool example of the 1001 turning up something I will probably explore further, now that I'm aware of the artist.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Classic.
Elvis Costello
3/5
It's hard for me to decide between three and four stars for this.
I appreciate the artist and enjoyed his earlier output.
This isn't nearly as interesting as his earlier material.
System Of A Down
4/5
I was surprised at how much I liked this.
I do like heavy metal -- Sabbath, Priest -- and some of the newer heavy bands, like Tool, which has a distinct industrial influence.
This definitely slots into that same general feel.
Four stars with room for growth!
The Stooges
5/5
This is an all time classic, one of my favorites.
The energy is off the charts, it's truly unique, with great songwriting.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
This record was such a breath of fresh air when it came out.
It was funny, it had great beats, the content was very relevant to everyone...
I particularly loved "Ham 'n' Eggs", "El Segundo" and the silly keyboard on the first track "Push It Along".
It makes me feel a bit old to read about how historic and groundbreaking this record was LOL as it came out while I was in college. That said, we listened to it on and off more or less constantly for probably four months!
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is one of those albums that, if heard in a vacuum, might be mistaken for a greatest hits compilation.
It's completely stacked with excellent Dylan tunes.
There's only one track that could be considered filler, "From a Buick 6".
Every other track has been covered by numerous artists and performed by Dylan live over the many decades since this album was released.
Sure, you may not like his voice, or find the songwriting unnecessarily convoluted, it's valid to dislike Dylan, but this is probably his best single album.
(Blonde on Blonde would be his best double album, and I hedge slightly as the single album Blood on the Tracks is also excellent.)
Otis Redding
4/5
I enjoyed this. Familiar with the artist, not this particular album. Definitely canonical.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
I had the great pleasure of attending a rehearsal show when Neil Young was getting ready to go out on tour with Booker T. and the M.G.s. Probably 1993, maybe late 1992 or early 1994.
It's a fun story. We knew some folks that were tight with Neil, and we heard that they were practicing together, were going to go on tour as a band playing Neil's songs i.e. Booker T. and the M.G.s would be the backing band, and that they "might" have a surprise rehearsal show, maybe two.
We got the high sign that the show was on and would be at the Warfield and the date... also was told that tickets would go on sale the next morning at 10 AM at Ticketron outlets in the Bay Area.
My buddy and I drove over to the outlet in San Mateo -- it was our preferred outlet, well run, and if there was a line (rare), it moved quickly. I think we got there at like 8:45 AM... we were told that the local radio stations were going to announce the show at 9:30 AM with tickets on sale basically immediately.
The clerk there was someone we sort of knew, having frequented this outlet before, and he was curious... they had nothing on the schedule of any kind going on sale at 10 AM anywhere. I just asked him to be ready to refresh the system every 10 minutes or so starting at 9:30 AM, and didn't tell him what was going on... The tickets were all GA so we weren't worried about the situation, per se, but that said, we knew the venue was tiny for Neil, and the added draw of Booker, and the fact this was all brand new... well, pretty exciting.
Tickets showed up in the system at 9:50 AM for 10 AM show, and by then, there was a good bit of a line, not a ton, but more than you'd think for 9:50 AM on a random weekday for a show that was only announced on air 20 minutes prior.
We got our tickets at 10:01 AM and hung out for a little bit. Everyone in line got tickets no problem, but it was sold out by 10:20 AM.
Fun show! I remember feeling the band definitely gave the Neil songs a bit of a different feel. Absolutely a rehearsal! They had to start a few of the songs multiple times, and I remember one song they stopped, talked about a particular transition, and then redid it.
Anyhow, it was fun to listen to this, a record that really put these guys on the map... very much a product of the time.
Blondie
4/5
"Heart of Glass" was a revelation when it came out.
It really meshed what would become New Wave with post-punk and had a giant dollop of what would become club music, EDM, house as well.
There are other moments on the record too, of course, and it's got some good energy, but it's definitely not a five star record, too much filler.
Nina Simone
4/5
I enjoyed this, but it's not the sort of thing that is typically in the rotation.
Clearly the product of skilled musicians and artists.
The Boo Radleys
4/5
Wow. Really unexpected. Super post punk, veering into some fairly unusual proggy sort of sounding stuff. This is unusual... never heard of these guys.
I find it interesting that the hive mind wants to say they are shoegaze... OK, I see elements of that, but My Bloody Valentine it is not!
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
I have the vinyl in the garage... bought it when it came out, more or less, I was 9.
This was the kind of huge record that never happens anymore because we don't have a monolithic music industry and FM radio.
There's definitely quality to it, and on that basis, it could deserve a five, certainly it's an all time record.
That said, for my own personal tastes, I'd rather listen to something else. It's a little bit like an Eagles album... there's clearly quality there, but that said, you can agree it's a good work, worthy of a listen, but then prefer to listen to other things.
The Kinks
3/5
I didn't really get much from this record.
I like some of the early Kinks, it's a little more of a folk bent, and I like some of the later Kinks, it's a little more rock and roll.
This is decidedly mid.
Paul Simon
3/5
I'm generally a fan but this record didn't do much for me.
Orbital
4/5
I was slightly surprised to recognize one of the songs for sure, maybe two of them, as I wouldn't have said I knew anything by Orbital before listening to the record. I'm assuming it made it on a soundtrack or similar.
In general I like this sort of thing. Ambient music with a beat, or maybe more accurately, EDM without it being ridiculously high energy and over the top.
It's good for things like driving or as background music when playing games.
I think this is a solid representative of the genre and the sort of thing that a lot of folks -- who are open to electronic music -- might like.
Randy Newman
4/5
This is about as harsh and as real as songwriting gets.
Randy Newman has a way of writing biting satire... one of my favorites is "Short People" which is an unbelievably misunderstood work of genius.
I had never heard this record before. I'm giving it four stars precisely because it's great, but it's not an instant five star for me... room for growth, perhaps.
Tina Turner
3/5
I feel a bit like this was one of the Oscars where someone who had done great things years ago, but had never won an award, gets an Oscar for a more recent work... though it's pretty clear to everyone that the more recent work isn't as inspired as the earlier work.
She had a huge hit with "We Don't Need Another Hero" and the title track from this record was pretty big as well... but mostly I think this is an example of how a recording industry and a big label could force something into massive airplay.
Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, but it's no "Proud Mary"!
Bert Jansch
3/5
Eh.
I mean, it's pleasant enough, but I prefer my folk more folky, my bluegrass more bluesy, and my acoustic tunes more psychedelic.
Doves
3/5
Eh. This didn't do much for me. Seems a little bit later than the big chunk of UK artists in the late 1980s and early 1990s that don't really deserve to be here, but perhaps cut from the same cloth. Nothing really stood out.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
OK, I generally like industrial and electronic music, and am even pretty happy with most random ambient stuff... and weird music... but...
This isn't really very coherent. I suppose that's the point, but if I think I'll never listen to something again, and am only listening to it because of the 1001, it just can't get a very high rating.
Two stars because they are earnest.
John Grant
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I expected. I've never heard of any of the people involved with this album, much less the album itself.
Burning Spear
3/5
I enjoyed this, and I'm not all that familiar with the band, though I know they are a favorite of my wife and a few of my friends.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I am a huge fan of the band, and I think the first three albums are all top notch.
I appreciate that this record goes in a little bit of a different direction, and the high points are very very good, but it's not as good as the other three records.
The Cramps
4/5
The Cramps are like black licorice.
Some people really like black licorice.
It's nice when a band puts a new style on the map. These folks really are the epitome of psychobilly.
I also really like the band name, and this album name is {chef's kiss}!
Bill Callahan
3/5
I enjoyed this, but I didn't find it revelatory.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Not sure what to say on this one.
I listened to it twice, and it kinda just went in one ear and out the other.
It wasn't bad, but it didn't make much of an impression.
Gene Clark
3/5
It was better than average, but I don't think it rises to four stars.
I prefer my folk to have more emotion, or be a little bit more off center.
Talk Talk
4/5
I have this on vinyl, bought it when it came out, was a fairly big fan of the band at the time.
I think this record shows a lot of maturity and empathy. It's certainly much more complex than their earlier work.
Some bands have a really well developed debut album and then frankly they never do anything else that's as good. This is common because often bands toil for years on that first record, and the following records have to come out more quickly, so the quality suffers... and they also may just not have that much more to say!
This album is a great example of how a band can evolve, change, improve, mature, become more relevant over time.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
I love prog, and this is a good example of the genre... though I prefer Pictures, Brain Salad, and their live album to this.
Fishbone
4/5
I had the good fortune to see these guys live, and it was a hoot.
An interesting mix of musical styles, delivered with great energy.
Barry Adamson
3/5
In an odd coincidence, I have been listening to quite a few of Robert Fripp's Soundscapes recently, and this very much fits into that mode at times.
Also occasionally more adventurous, also occasionally more ambient.
I enjoyed listening to it but didn't find it all that relevatory.
Lambchop
3/5
Didn't get all that much out of this.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
I liked this but I didn't find it revolutionary.
Queen
5/5
This and Jazz are probably my favorite Queen albums, but boy, what an amazing body of work!
This particular record has probably the broadest range of styles on any single Queen album. Super fun.
CHIC
2/5
OK, so "Good Times" is one of the most sampled tunes ever, and it's a bit of a banger beyond that... but boy, I would not have expected two albums from Chic on the 1001, and I certainly wouldn't have included this record.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Reasonably fun, didn't blow me away.
Paul McCartney
3/5
This is a nice little record, and it has one massive hit "Maybe I'm Amazed" and one underground little nugget "That Would Be Something" that was covered by the Grateful Dead among others.
I do think of this as being somewhat weaker than his work with Wings on the whole, and I also think there are much stronger Beatles solo records.
Donald Fagen
5/5
This is a fantastic record. Incredibly well produced, many styles, very tongue in cheek here and there, earnest in others.
I loved this album so much that my friends and I named our company after the track "New Frontier".
10cc
3/5
I remember listening to a few 10cc albums when I was a kid.
I think they were a little more popular in my area (PNW) because of the proximity to Canada. Quite a few artists who were big in the UK but not big in the US got more than the normal amount of exposure in this part of the country because of FM radio from Vancouver BC.
This record wasn't bad but didn't do much for me.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
4/5
This was a lot more punk in terms of attitude than I expected given the name of the band.
So, it's kind of funny, on a second listen, without thinking I was going to get a blues record, I liked it!
Fred Neil
4/5
I liked this quite a bit. I'm generally a fan of real country. Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, that sort of thing. This felt very reminiscent of that sort of thing, essentially roots music for American white people.
Neil Young
5/5
All time classic.
Paul Simon
3/5
I enjoyed listening to this album, but it wasn't any sort of giant revelation.
Roxy Music
3/5
I'm generally a fan of Roxy Music and particularly Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry.
This album is interesting and musically adventurous but Roxy Music became a much stronger band in later incarnations, even though Brian Eno left.
I'm going to give this a three but I had trouble deciding between three and four. It's definitely future forward given when it was recorded, which makes me want to give it the higher rating, but conversely, there are tracks that don't work as well as others, so the quality of the album is uneven.
Os Mutantes
4/5
I've heard probably three of these tracks on the radio at some point with enough frequency that they stuck in my brain.
That said, I had no idea who these folks are, and this is a really out there record.
I mean that in the best possible sense!
2Pac
4/5
I generally don't like gangster rap.
This isn't that, and that's a pleasant surprise, I just kind of assumed given what I had heard about the artist that this was going to not be a particularly fun listen.
I enjoyed this. He's got some skill, for sure.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
This had a couple three big hits on it but I prefer their earlier material.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I worked in cannabis retail for about ten years and this was a band that a lot of folks liked, along with King Gizzard.
I think it's fun and interesting but not revelatory.
I'd give it four stars if it felt a bit more creative. As it stands, it's more of a mélange of many other acts.
Nirvana
4/5
This is a great record, but Nirvana has several great records...
I have fond memories of one of my male roommates singing "Rape Me" in the shower on Saturday night before heading out LOL
Björk
4/5
Did I like it? Sure.
Was it revelatory? Not really.
Would I pick a different Björk album if I could only have one on the 1001?
For sure, and obviously the author agrees with me, as this album is no longer on the list... it was only on the list for a few years, I think.
It's pretty good, though. She's quite an artist.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I'm generally a fan of the band, and this is one of their better albums for sure.
Minor Threat
4/5
It's kind of amazing to me with my overall enjoyment of punk, admittedly with a preference to post punk, that I haven't listened to these guys before.
I mean, I'm sure it was played, and people I lived with had the record, but this is the first time I've sat down and listened to an album.
Good stuff! Clearly from the same school as Suicidal Tendencies and other great bands of the era.
Kraftwerk
4/5
I'm a huge fan of this band, I have the vinyl in the garage from high school.
I personally think that a couple of the tracks on this record are very very influential for the creation of industrial music. In particular, the title track, "Metal on Metal" and the portion labeled as "Abzug" are all really quite transformative.
The concept of finding rhythms in everyday modern life that can be used as the base for music is also essentially the beginning of the idea of sampling.
Now, there are other albums I'd rather listen to, so I'm not giving this a five star rating, but it's certainly important.
Little Richard
5/5
Absolute classic. Unique!
Supergrass
3/5
I gave this a good solid listen and just didn't find it all that interesting.
Not bad, but nothing special either.
Kate Bush
5/5
It was so validating to have "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" become a massive hit several decades later.
She's a generational talent.
I like "The Kick Inside" more, but it's close.
Cream
5/5
Kind of an ultimate rock and roll record from the period.
Psychedelic, yet with great feel and rhythm, and lots of nice contrasts between the tunes... which all sound like Cream even though they are different.
I suspect a lot of people would put this in the top ten rock albums of all time.
The Prodigy
3/5
Certainly this is interesting enough and shows some technical skill.
That said, I don't think it's exceptional.
Jamiroquai
4/5
This is quite funky. I can remember when I first heard of this artist, I've enjoyed his work for a long time.
Easiest comparison is Stevie Wonder, and that's unbelievably high praise.
I'm having trouble deciding between four stars and five stars, it's just that good... but I tend to reserve five stars for things that can be life changing, and this isn't quite to that bar.
The The
4/5
Big fan of the band, good album, not as good as "Infected" or "Mind Bomb" though it has moments for sure.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Not really worth inclusion in the 1001.
Not bad, but it's that same stupid UK bias from the author that shows over and over, if you see something random on the list, it's probably a UK act that isn't bringing anything super exciting to the table.
Mike Ladd
2/5
Yeah, this isn't very good.
I suppose there might be some irony in some of the rhymes, but if you aren't in tune with his sense of humor, they come off as being lame.
The instrumentation isn't bad, hence the two stars.
De La Soul
3/5
I enjoyed the listen, but conversely, I like other hip hop from this period better. One example would be Digable Planets.
Radiohead
4/5
This is pretty great in places.
I'm not sure if this is my favorite Radiohead album, or not, but it's certainly a good one.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
This makes me think of my dad.
He really enjoyed American roots music, including spirituals, and I think this would have been right up his alley.
Hell, it's possible we had a copy when I was growing up, I certainly recognize many of the tunes... that said, these are American songbook sort of tunes, the kind of songs that anyone who grew up in a certain time would know.
Some of the performances of some of these tunes on the live Johnny Cash records are all time great!
David Crosby
4/5
This is a very pretty record.
I've always enjoyed his stuff with CSN (and sometimes Y) and this is quite nice. A bit laid back, but not boring.
The Triffids
2/5
This is pretty obscure. Never heard of it or the band. I guess there's a reason... it's not all that good. I mean, it's earnest, but I found it overproduced and a bit full of itself.
Very derivative, like they are channeling other bands.
Bauhaus
4/5
This album is amazing on nitrous oxide.
Seriously.
I've always been a fan of this band. They fit in a very narrow niche as an entity that popularized and defined an entire genre. These guys and Siouxsie really put goth on the map and defined that sound for all time.
I think this band is just as important as Black Sabbath or Judas Priest, for example.
The live album "Press the Eject and Give Me The Tape" is all time fantastic.
Alice Cooper
3/5
The title track and "No More Mr. Nice Guy" are Alice Cooper classics.
That said, I don't think his stuff has aged particularly well. He has a fantastic live stage show and really brought a lot of interesting ideas into rock music as presented in concert. The actual songwriting, both music and lyrics, is definitely fun and also a bit pioneering in terms of "shock rock". "I Love the Dead" feels like it was just put on there to make parents angry and sell records LOL
Coldplay
3/5
I liked this more than I expected.
I'm not a big fan of the giant arena rock stylings of the other Coldplay records that I've heard. Those records also seem super derivative.
This is pretty in places, and has some emotion, and while I'm not sold on the quality of the band as an entity, it's a good outing.
Much better than I thought it was going to be.
Lyrics are definitely trite in places... that to me is the weakest thing going on in this record.
Steve Earle
3/5
I like early country, Merle, Johnny, that sort of thing.
It's rare for me to like more modern country, and this wasn't any exception.
This album is fine, but I didn't think it was anything special.
Soundgarden
4/5
As a Seattle person, I never really considered Nirvana grunge.
Soundgarden and Alice In Chains really did a lot more for me personally.
This is a good album but I like Badmotorfinger better.
Anthrax
3/5
Eh. Fairly typical. A bit faster paced than most metal. Hard to get excited about it, also hard to give it a poor rating.
Goldie
2/5
Generally a fan of the genre, but this stuff is derivative and uninspired.
I'll give it two stars because the instrumentation is good, I just don't think they have anything terribly interesting to say.
Best guess is another UK act that no one really cares about other than the author.
Public Enemy
4/5
I prefer "It Takes A Nation of Millions" but this is a good record.
One certainly has to appreciate the relevance and freshness of this material.
Happy Mondays
3/5
I've never thought these guys were particularly innovative or interesting.
It's not bad, it's just not great.
I want greatness!
This is more of the same UK centric albums that the 1001 suffers from.
John Prine
3/5
This is a nice record, easy to listen to, and yet there's definitely some depth to the lyrics.
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
This is one of those records that was heavily influential due to the unique sound and production.
It's a fun listen, too. It's essentially psychedelic surf music.
Laura Nyro
3/5
I was a bit surprised by how little I enjoyed this.
I've heard of the artist but apparently never listened to any of her output.
I know she's influential... but I just didn't find this very interesting.
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Very classic psychedelic rock sound.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit. I like ambient music, and I like electronic music, and this is clearly related to both.
I found some of the material Eno-esque and so was amused to read the Wikipedia when I was giving this a second listen.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
I liked this but it really was just sort of glorified garage rock. Well executed, but not at all unique.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Decent and relatively straightforward drone + grunge material.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
This is such a great record. Just very heartfelt, and extremely musical. Stevie Wonder is a national treasure.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Another Dylan album that feels like it's almost a greatest hits record.
Tangled Up in Blue and Simple Twist of Fate are all time classics.
I have a real fondness for Idiot Wind, especially some of the super biting live versions... I think this song and Masters of War are cousins.
It's tough. I think I have to give this a four, just because I think he has other records that are stronger top to bottom. That said, the good parts of this album are very very very good.
Don McLean
2/5
The title track is well known and if anything, a bit overplayed.
I didn't find the rest of the album very compelling. I prefer more roots oriented folk.
The La's
2/5
Maybe I'm just in a bad mood this morning, and I listened to this yesterday and didn't take any notes at the time, but this was totally forgettable.
If I went with my typical normal rating, I might give it three stars, but I'm tired of albums that waste my time.
Stereo MC's
2/5
The title track is a jam for sure, but the rest of the album is forgettable.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
This was a band that was pushed a lot by my local station KEXP back in the day. I never paid all that much attention, but boy, did I miss out!
This has some great punk energy, good songwriting, and doesn't take itself too seriously. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
That said, no one is going to get confused and think this is some profound work of art. It's a good listen though!
Beach House
3/5
This was a reasonably pleasant listen, and given some of the super derivative boring stuff on this list, I'm happy to have something that didn't annoy me for a change... most of the newer material isn't all that great, frankly.
I suspect the author is under financial pressure to come up with 20 or 30 new albums every decade so he can release a new edition. This is, of course, pointless and frustrating. If the book covers roughly the mid 1950s to current day mid 2020s, that's 70 years, with 1001 albums. If there was going to be a meaningful attempt to update the book, every decade he should be replacing about 150 albums (!) not 20 or 30.
The result, for whatever reason, is something that is neither fish nor fowl. It doesn't really capture the range of material it claims to capture... there are far too many random UK acts from the 1980s and 1990s... these could be summarily removed. I also think that brilliant musical artists, like the Byrds and David Bowie, could have just the most essential three or four albums, same with the Beatles, and you'd create more variety as well as having the list serve as a hook for further exploration.
Anyhow, the book is what the book is, but I wish it encouraged more exploration outside the list by having a wider range of artists on it.
(I've been keeping a list of things that need to be added, when I finish and get to submit an album, and it's kind of amazing the stuff that isn't on the list at all... like the Moody Blues! Wild that such an important seminal UK band isn't represented in the 1001 at all. Crazy.)
George Michael
3/5
A reasonably enjoyable listen, but nothing overwhelmingly exciting.
Julian Cope
3/5
I liked this more than I expected. It definitely grew on me with a second listen.
I don't know if it'll ever reach a four star rating, but my initial reaction wasn't all that great... was debating two or three... but it's a strong three now.
John Lennon
4/5
I was a little surprised at how much I liked this.
Yoko's solo output is hard to listen to.
I have generally liked the John + Yoko stuff I've heard, though, and this was no exception.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Generally a fan of the band. This isn't their strongest work, but it's solid.
The Zutons
4/5
I liked this quite a bit. Interesting stuff.
Janis Joplin
5/5
I'm a big fan. In the world of rock and roll, uniqueness is key.
There is so much material that is derivative, it's unusual to come across something that's so distinct.
Janis was one of a kind.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
Great record. I hadn't listened to it all the way through before.
It definitely has a message that resonates with anyone who lived through the time period in question.
Relevant right now, of course.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
One semi hit but otherwise not remarkable.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I just didn't find this all that compelling.
I generally like Elvis Costello, particularly the earlier more punk feeling material.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
This album didn't make much of an impression but it wasn't a difficult listen, either.
Machito
4/5
I quite enjoyed this. Very fundamental, some of the stuff on here was covered by jazz greats, sampled in hip hop, and became the foundation of hits much much later. Cool inclusion on the 1001.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
An artist with a classic timeless feel and style.
Eminem
2/5
It's hard to rate this album.
The music and overall style and tone of the raps are strong.
The content is unbelievably offensive in places.
The Stooges
5/5
I consider this to be one of those all time classics, an early example of a new genre that would influence everything for decades.
Joan Baez
4/5
An unbelievable talent.
This is a solid debut album, but some of her later work is much more polished and mature.
It certainly provides a glimpse of what the artist would become!
Missy Elliott
3/5
This was an entertaining listen, but it felt very much like a guilty pleasure i.e. we're not inventing the future of music, but we're having a good time.
Megadeth
2/5
I was surprised that this wasn't harder. I enjoy bands like Judas Priest and Metallica quite a bit. I always thought this band was a lot heavier.
Nothing terrible, nothing special. I'm not feeling particularly charitable tonight in that I'd listen to a lot of things before I'd give this another listen.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
I live in Seattle and when I drive to Olympia, or points further south, I pass the exit for Sleater-Kinney, and I always smile.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
This album felt very self indulgent and congratulatory at times, inappropriately so because I don't think this artist has that much talent.
Then I listened a bit more carefully and whoa, she's got great pipes.
I'm pulling this up to a three just based on the fantastic vocal quality.
Otherwise it's fairly useless pop music.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
This is a sweet record, with several classics.
The style of music isn't my cup of tea, and I don't consider the record life changing, hence the four stars.
3/5
I'm a sucker for bands with great horn sections.
That said, I don't think this has aged particularly well.
It's a good listen, but not revolutionary.
Sheryl Crow
4/5
This is a pretty record, and it's well produced, with good performances and focused playing and singing.
This was fine, I didn't find it to be anything special.
Thundercat
4/5
I liked this a lot, especially the start of the record. It felt very much of the future, a wild mix of musical styles served with verve.
Tom Waits
3/5
Initially I found his tone off-putting. I listened to the record a few times and while I still didn't like his vocal tone, the overall impression improved. The songwriting is good, and the performances are strong. I just don't think he's my cup of tea.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
This surprised me. Given the name of the band, I was expecting some sort of wacky situation, like the Mothers of Invention or Captain Beefheart. Instead, I got country music with somewhat subversive lyrics. Not bad, but just not all that compelling.
Iggy Pop
4/5
I'm generally a huge fan, but I like his earlier stuff with the Stooges better.
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
I found this very weird. It's a mix of rap, hip hop, and preaching. I find it surprising that this artist was as popular as he was.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
More or less impossible to not give this a five.
Influential and a great listen.
Hot Chip
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Fairly unusual mix of different inputs, yielding a pleasant and somewhat unique output. I'd consider a five but it needs more listening for that.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
I've never heard of this album or this artist but I really enjoyed it.
I generally enjoy a lot of prog rock and this sort of fits in that box. It makes me think of Another Green World by Brian Eno.
The Streets
1/5
This is more or less unbelievably bad.
If it was a satire, I wouldn't be surprised.
The beats are derivative, and the rapping is terrible.
I will give it two stars because they clearly put some effort into it, but this is bad bad bad.
I save one stars for things... well, actually, I'm giving this one star.
Tom Waits
3/5
Tom Waits is apparently an acquired taste.
I haven't acquired it yet.
Strangely, I really like some of the more unusual male singer songwriters, like Richard Thompson and Robyn Hitchcock, as well as giants like Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, but I don't get this.
It's not bad, but I just don't find it terribly compelling.
The Pharcyde
3/5
I didn't find this album to be anything special. There are a couple of tunes I recognize, but I didn't think it was transformative musically or lyrically.
I thought that I might find this more up my alley, as I love Digable Planets and A Tribe Called Quest, but it doesn't have nearly the level of inspiration that either of those bands have.
Pavement
3/5
I was expecting to like this more than I did. I know folks who really love this band, but this album didn't do much for me.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
I'm generally a fan of the band, and of post-punk.
That said, this album isn't my favorite, at all. I think PiL got stronger over time. The early stuff is somewhat grating, and hasn't aged particularly well.
Incubus
4/5
I had no preconceived notions about this before listening to it, and was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed it.
Never heard of this band or this album.
Mudhoney
3/5
I saw these guys at the King Kat Theatre here in Seattle probably 1994, maybe a bit earlier. Fun show. Everyone had booze in their cars and would go outside for a "smoke break" and sneak it in. No real point, beers were like 50 cents, but it went along with the "make your own fun" ethos of the time.
This album is fine, nothing special. I think others have a bit more energy.
New Order
3/5
I'm generally a fan of the band, but the inclusion of this particular album is fairly mysterious. I don't consider this to be one of their better works. It's more or less dead average.
I understand this band is difficult in that a lot of their early formative stuff was released as 12" singles and never on an album, until the compilation Substance.
Still, I would have chosen differently. Low-Life is a stronger record.
The Jam
5/5
A good friend of mine told me a while back that The Jam were his favorite band of all time. This statement went in one ear and out the other, apparently, as I never really followed up... my bad!
This is a great record. I'm super impressed.
Van Morrison
4/5
Generally a big fan, I hadn't heard this particular record. It's good.
It seems to be an accurate reflection of the performance from the artist at this point in time, which is what one wants in a live recording.
(It doesn't seem to have a ton of processing or overdubbing.)
Christina Aguilera
3/5
I had another one of her records recently.
This one was on the 1001 briefly, but then doesn't appear in more recent editions... which kind of makes sense, this record isn't all that special.
That said, I'll repeat my previous comment. She's got amazing pipes. Great control, range, strength... you name it. I was surprised. She's not just the typical pop star, overproduced to make up for lack of talent... she's got real talent, for sure.
Ice T
3/5
This was a bit of a blast from the past. I bought the CD when it came out, and saw Ice-T on the inaugural Lollapalooza tour.
I don't really like gangster rap, but this is probably the best album of the genre.
Tom Waits
4/5
It's funny, I got a whole series of studio albums from Tom Waits in the last couple of weeks -- at least two of them, maybe three -- and just didn't get much out of those.
Conversely, I really liked this live record. It had a lot of soul and swing to it, where I felt the studio records just didn't have that much emotion, or at least, it felt more monotone.
I love live music, and there are quite a few bands out there where the recorded output is fine, nothing special, but the live recordings are fantastic. Tom Waits might just fit into that category for me.
We will see. I had never listened to Tom Waits before doing the 1001.
CHIC
3/5
Nile Rodgers is pretty amazing. He was involved with a whole bunch of fantastic projects over the decades. It's wild to think that it more or less all started here.
I have a 45 single of Le Freak in my garage... which I bought when I was ten, in fifth grade, with my own allowance money.
The Beach Boys
3/5
I listened to a lot of Beach Boys as a young kid.
It's still a reasonably enjoyable listen now. I think they were a bit advanced for the time, which is interesting, considering how poppy they were at first.
Elis Regina
3/5
This was an interesting listen but didn't make a huge impression.
The Roots
3/5
I am generally a fan of the genre. This particular record is unknown to me, and I didn't find it super compelling. It wasn't bad, just not memorable.
Hole
4/5
IMHO as someone who grew up in Washington state, this album is underrated. It's both a major influence in the grrrrl rock movement, and a really good grunge record. I think it speaks for many women of a certain age and the realization that society has unrealistic visions for what they should be as "young ladies".
Courtney Love is a bit of a polarizing figure but I appreciate that she frequently says exactly what she thinks, a rarity in the rock world.
Goldfrapp
3/5
When I saw the category of Electronic, I thought this was going to be EDM or something like that, particularly with the name of the artist.
It was not at all what I expected. Moody, a bit atmospheric. Interesting.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
This is a classic record. There are several tunes on here that had heavy rotation back in the day.
Air
4/5
I really enjoyed this. I hadn't heard of the band before the 1001, and had the album "Moon Safari" earlier. Good stuff!
Saint Etienne
4/5
I had never heard of these folks before, but enjoyed this album quite a bit.
Lots of interesting melodies and beats, interesting vocalizations and effects.
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
I like a lot of industrial but prefer stuff that leans a bit more EDM. Examples would include Cabaret Voltaire and Front 242.
This leans more towards noise, which is not as enjoyable for me.
Good inclusion on the 1001 in terms of variety and exposure... certainly everyone should listen to a few industrial albums to see if they like it.
Mass market industrial like Nine Inch Nails is good too. I'm a big fan of Ministry, for those who want something harder... but as I mentioned, this veers too close to noise for me to really enjoy it.
Tori Amos
4/5
This is a very pretty record. Tori has great pipes.
It does feel very derivative of Kate Bush, but then again, that's high praise!
Digital Underground
5/5
I've always had a soft spot for this band.
They remind me a bit of David Byrne describing George Clinton's music as "joyful confusion".
There's a ton going on with this record, and it's all fun, and funky.
I also love bands with great horn sections!
MC Solaar
3/5
This was pretty far out. I'm glad it was on the 1001 as I don't think I would have ever come across it otherwise. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I did enjoy it as a one shot listen.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
This is a really lovely record and an interesting historical artifact.
Graceland was a huge Paul Simon hit, and these folks were featured on that record. On the tour, they opened as themselves, and then played with Paul Simon.
I think that tour, and this record, plus Graceland, really opened things up in terms of world music and the appreciation of the quality and realization of the variety of music out there.
Peter Gabriel famously championed world music with WOMAD and Paul Simon brought it to a broader audience.
5/5
I think DEVO is one of the most important bands to appear in my lifetime.
It's fairly tragic that they ended up signed to Warner Brothers, who treated them so poorly, even to the point of the master tapes for their albums being damaged and lost.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
Energetic, with a couple of big hits.
The lead singer has detestable politics and beliefs.
The Zombies
3/5
This is a classic 1960s album, with pop and psychedelic elements.
It's an enjoyable listen, and was a bit advanced for the time, but feels somewhat dated now.
George Jones
4/5
I enjoyed this. I generally like traditional country music, like Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, and this fits that niche fairly well.
Beyoncé
3/5
There is clearly talent here, but honestly, I don't really get the fuss.
Fiona Apple
3/5
I'm aware of the context for this record, it's a mature and logical endpoint for many of the more heartfelt and explicit solo female singer songwriters.
That said, I didn't find it super compelling.
Dolly Parton
4/5
This is a very pretty record. No surprise, the artists on it are amazingly talented. I hadn't heard this before and enjoyed it.
Fairport Convention
3/5
I thought I'd like this more, as I'm a huge fan of Richard Thompson.
It was good, but didn't rise to the level of greatness for me.
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
I remember hearing about this band back in the day, but I never followed up to track down any of their albums.
Good stuff! I like this sort of thing. Well played, good energy, interesting songwriting.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
This is a great record. It produced a couple of hits but I think there's more to it than that... the band had a really great sound for this record, and the songwriting was on point. I'm a fan.
Giant Sand
4/5
Never heard of these folks. Weird, atmospheric, laid back. I liked it.
Tonally it reminds me of the soundtrack to "Until the End of the World" which I was just listening to earlier today, strangely enough.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Quite an overrated band. I remember the hype being fairly extreme for these guys. They aren't bad, just nothing relevatory.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
Huge fan of the artist, and this is arguably one of his best solo records.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Exceedingly groovy. I enjoyed it, having come to it with no preconceived notions, no knowledge of the artists other than knowing that Gil Scott-Heron is politically active.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
Cool record. Interesting to listen to for the first time. That said, I don't know if it would merit a relisten, so I can't give it a high rating.
4/5
Generally a big fan. These guys and Sonic Youth really defined American post post punk for a generation.
I prefer "Under the Big Black Sun" but that's a matter of personal taste.
Roni Size
3/5
I found this pretty repetitive and also fairly derivative. Nothing unique in this record.