344
Albums Rated
3.15
Average Rating
32%
Complete
745 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
24
5-Star Albums
6
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
|
5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
|
The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
|
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
|
5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
|
Live!
Fela Kuti
|
5 | 3.43 | +1.57 |
|
Third
Soft Machine
|
4 | 2.44 | +1.56 |
|
Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
|
5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
|
Zombie
Fela Kuti
|
5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
|
Illmatic
Nas
|
5 | 3.6 | +1.4 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
|
1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
|
S&M
Metallica
|
1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
|
New Wave
The Auteurs
|
1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
|
In Utero
Nirvana
|
2 | 3.82 | -1.82 |
|
Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
|
1 | 2.8 | -1.8 |
|
Metallica
Metallica
|
2 | 3.78 | -1.78 |
|
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
|
2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
|
21
Adele
|
2 | 3.69 | -1.69 |
|
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
|
2 | 3.68 | -1.68 |
|
The Cars
The Cars
|
2 | 3.66 | -1.66 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.25 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| The Velvet Underground | 3 | 1.67 |
| Metallica | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| R.E.M. | 3, 2, 5 |
5-Star Albums (24)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Monkees · 2 likes
2/5
The Monkees have some truly great songs, sadly none of them are to be found on this album. At times they're really channeling their inner 'Beatles', but without any of the charm or musicality.
Klaxons · 1 likes
4/5
Really, really strong start to this album that doesn't quite manage to maintain that momentum throughout. It's still well worth a listen and one I'm keen to get back to again.
Yes · 1 likes
3/5
I have quite enjoyed previous Yes albums I've listened to, however this album fell a bit flat compared to those.
Barry Adamson · 1 likes
2/5
The idea of making a soundtrack to a non-existent film sounds interesting on paper, but in practice it's a bit pretentious. The music is fine, but without any visual accompaniment it all feels hollow. It's the sort of music that someone makes to score the most generic crime noir film ever made, and as such it's completely devoid of any meaning. I want to give it 1 star, but some of the music here is genuinely good, I just think the whole execution of the concept leaves much to be desired.
Blue Cheer · 1 likes
1/5
This list is amazing for discovering albums that one would never have listened to without it, potentially uncovering albums to add to the personal favourites list. But it's also great for realising that there's music out there that you don't just dislike, but actively hate. This is one such album.
1-Star Albums (6)
All Ratings
Beatles
4/5
A landmark album for The Beatles, and an absolute pleasure to listen to throughout, with only a couple of songs not quite hitting the highs the others reach (e.g. 'Love You To' or 'She Said She Said'). Also I don't care what anyone else says, Yellow Submarine is a banger.
Recommended listens: Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, Yellow Submarine, Good Day Sunshine, Got To Get You Into My Life
Neil Young
2/5
'Walk On' is a decent enough introduction to this album, and 'See the Sky About to Rain' was a pleasant surprise for a second listen. However we peak early as the next few tracks lead to an underwhelming mid-section (especially track 4 'For the Turnstiles'). Things really tail off towards the end, and the result is an album that's a bit boring and uninteresting. 'Ambulance Blues' is sort of an alright ballad to end things off with, but not enough to save the album.
Recommended: See the Sky About to Rain
Nas
5/5
One of the greatest rap albums of all time. The mood, the atmosphere, the storytelling, it's all top quality.
The Smiths
2/5
Vocals are a bit, all over the place and not really to my taste. However the instrumentals are really catchy for the most part. Final song ('Meat Is Murder') is the most controversial track on here, but I don't think it really said much, just more going for shock of 'It's murder!". Wasted opportunity as there are plenty of reasons to criticise meat industry, but this felt like a lazy attempt at being socially conscious.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Upon second listen this album clicked a lot more with me, I was really feeling the general vibe of this one. It got a little bit weaker in the middle, but finished strong with a surprisingly good cover of 'Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You'.
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
An incredibly influential album, and one that still hits as hard today as it did back when it was first released. The gritty, rough-around-the-edges production only adds to its charm, all topped off with bucket loads of charisma from all 9 members of the Wu-Tang Clan.
2/5
Most of this album just sounded, sort of, noisy to me, though 'Super Massive Black Hole' is still a banger. The quieter/slower tracks are better on the whole, but not enough to save this album from mediocrity. Just on the wrong side of boring, really.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
Super funky and jazzy, really enjoyable album. This is the kind of funk/jazz fusion that I'm all about, even when some of the songs are 15 minutes long!
The Velvet Underground
1/5
It all sounds a bit pretentious and the screeching guitars are unpleasant to listen to. Altogether quite boring, which is amplified by the droning voices. Ending song is really just noise and screeching, not at all plesant to listen to.
Common
4/5
Has a nice chilled, laidback vibe to it. Rapping was calm and almost serene to listen to.
Gang Of Four
2/5
Most of this album sounded like fairly generic punk, but the tail end wasn't too bad all things considered. Just not really my cup of tea.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
I'm hesitant to call this bad, because I think I just don't get it. That being said this was a real tough listen and not one that I'd hurry to repeat.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
This was a very pleasant listen, old school rock and blues vibes coming through with some really good riffs throughout.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
A trip down nostalgia lane, 'Take Me Out' is and always will be an absolute banger of a tune, the rest is decent enough, but I wouldn't call it essential listening.
Sparks
2/5
It's all a bit weird and is so in the trying-too-hard to be weird sense. It feels a bit forced at times, and that does a disservice to what are sometimes otherwise quite enjoyable tracks.
Iron Maiden
2/5
Better than I thought it would be, wasn't expecting much but was quite pleasantly surprised. Probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again, but also probably wouldn't skip over it.
John Lennon
4/5
A really heart-wrenching and emotional album, you can tell that John was pouring his heart into this one. Sometimes he gets a bit screechy which does feel a tad over the top, and keeps this from being rated higher.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Easily listenable to and very calm and peaceful. Not necessarily something I would hurry back to, but I wouldn't say no if someone suggested playing it.
Mylo
5/5
Really nice chilled out tracks, the house music is strong with this one so it's right up my alley.
Billy Joel
5/5
Excellent album, as one would expect from Billy Joel. Some absolute classics off of here, and the deeper cuts only serve to enhance the experience.
Black Sabbath
2/5
Pleasantly surprised by how much I actually didn't mind this, given that it's not a genre I usually vibe with.
Frank Zappa
2/5
Not exactly my style of music, but not altogether unlistenable either. Unlikely to ever come back to listen to it again, though.
Miles Davis
3/5
Pleasant enough I suppose, didn't really blow me away but also was completely inoffensive.
Al Green
5/5
Excellent album as expected from one as legendary as Al Green, I could listen to his voice for hours.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Fela Kuti is probably the best place to start listening to Afrobeat and you could do little better than to start with this incredible album.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
I have never listened to this type of music before and was unsure of what to expect going in. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and sheer conviction with which the songs were sung. Not something I'd throw on to listen to for fun, but would happily listen to again in the right setting.
Funkadelic
4/5
Upon listening to this album a second time it definitely clicked a lot more than the first time I'd heard it. It's a pretty rocking album though it is a bit strange at times that makes it hard for me to rate it too highly.
Joy Division
3/5
Some glimmers of greatness but unfortunately just doesn't quite do much for me, feels a little bit unfocused at times.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
A pretty good album from a legendary singer, what more needs to be said?
Justin Timberlake
3/5
I really did not think I would find much to enjoy from a Justin Timberlake album, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a pretty consistent pop album from start to finish, though the tail-end does dip a bit in quality in my opinion. Probably not something I'd have on regular rotation but I'd definitely give it another listen or two.
D'Angelo
3/5
D'Angelo has an incredibly smooth voice that is a pleasure to listen to, and the songs themselves are real easy-listening RnB. However, there seems to be just something missing that gives it that extra kick that would make me seek this album out for repeated listening.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Not all that bad, but not all that special either. Some of the tracks were alright but it was certainly an album that pretty much passed me by.
Beatles
5/5
Another classic album from the Beatles that showed them really starting to flex their songwriting ability. So many good songs off of this album, but the best has to be Michelle, what a tune!
Common
3/5
This was rather pleasant to listen to, the production on this is absolutely stellar. It didn't grab my attention too much overall, but I'd throw it on again every now and then if I owned it.
Devendra Banhart
4/5
Based on some of the reviews I'd seen for this I expected to not really enjoy this, but it's actually pretty good! I love the stripped back nature of it and the singer has an overall pleasant voice to listen to.
The Style Council
4/5
The instrumental tracks are a definite highlight of this album, whilst the other tracks are pretty solid throughout. I love the jazzy feel a lot of the songs have, whilst the album manages to still hop around genres a bit. The rap is definitely a bit out of left field and I hesitate to say I liked it, but maybe it's so bad it's good? Either way, a thoroughly enjoyable album.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Somehow one man improvising on a piano manages to produce one of the most entertaining and profound pieces of music I've ever listened to. Simply phenomenal.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Leonard Cohen is a fantastic storyteller but damn do these tracks just sound so ... boring? Lifeless? Just feels like his not really doing them justice.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This album certainly ebbed and flowed for me, sometimes just when you thought things were getting a bit boring a song that really catches your attention comes along. Unfortunately, its this inconsistency that means I can't give it higher than 3 stars, but I'd probably return to it again to give it another chance.
Nick Drake
4/5
What started off as an unassuming album slowly draws you in until you're fully engrossed and sad that it's finished.
Pentangle
3/5
This is a very different style of music to what I'm used to so it probably needs more listens to really determine whether it's my kind of thing. Still, it was inoffensive and I would definitely give it another go.
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
Fairly gentle but very listenable country music, not a bad album at all to just sit back and listen to.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I'd heard this album before and wasn't too sure what I thought of it, but upon a repeat listen I was actually really digging it.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Bob Dylan is undoubtedly one of the greatest songwriters ever, it's just unfortunate that he's the one singing the songs. Some of these weren't too bad, but between Bob Dylan's grating voice and the often ear-piercingly sharp harmonica, it's not always the most pleasant of listens.
The Monkees
2/5
The Monkees have some truly great songs, sadly none of them are to be found on this album. At times they're really channeling their inner 'Beatles', but without any of the charm or musicality.
Richard Thompson
3/5
This is a bit folky at times and at other times I'm not even sure what it is, but it just missed the mark.
Dolly Parton
4/5
I knew both Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt before listening to this album, but had never heard of Emmylou Harris, but it seems she's just as good a singer as those two. Together all 3 come together to create a wonderful trio that delivers a real earnestness in their songs; absolutely loved it!
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Bruce Springsteen is a legend and this has got to be one of his best albums, the second half definitely just keeps going from strength to strength.
The Pogues
3/5
I don't mind the style, but 19 songs of it is probably pushing the limits of how much I'm willing to listen to it in one sitting.
The Byrds
2/5
It seems this was quite ambitious for the time, however I don't think that carries over to the modern day.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
This album is incredible and an undeniably important part of electronic music, still sounds great even to this day.
OutKast
4/5
I was a bit skeptical going into this as this is a double album that is 40 songs in length. Add onto this that these are solo albums for each individual member of OutKast and I was unsure how rating this would work should I love one members individual direction more than the others. Fortunately, both are exceptional and unique in their own right and showcase the talent this duo possesses. Definitely a commitment to listen to both albums in one sitting, but the reward is more than worth it.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Very easy listening and wouldn't go amiss listening to this at a bar on a sunny afternoon.
Bon Jovi
3/5
There's some classics on here and it's altogether a fun listen, if a bit shallow.
Aerosmith
3/5
This is a pretty decent album, nothing particularly standout but an enjoyable listen from start to finish.
Soundgarden
2/5
The songs on this album really do seem to drag on and I really can't say that I found any of them to be particularly engaging.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
There's a lot to like about this album, the soul/funk is strong with this record. That being said, it didn't absolutely blow me away like other soul/funk albums have and so I can't, in good faith, give this a higher score.
Iggy Pop
3/5
There's some pretty recognisable tracks off of this, it's just a tad unfortunate that the rest of the songs don't quite deliver on the same level. The last track, however, was a really great album closer.
3/5
A little bit weird but altogether rather pleasant to listen to.
The Associates
2/5
I was going to give this 1 star but the second half marginally improved things to the point where I could kind of see myself tolerating listening to this at a push. If that's not a glowing endorsement I don't know what is!
The Killers
5/5
This is just an album of bangers from start to finish, throw in the nostalgia of listening to most of these when I was younger and it's a recipe for success.
Radiohead
3/5
I've never been the biggest fan of Radiohead and this album sort of skirts the boundary between getting it and hating it. The instrumentals are all pretty top notch, but I'm just not a fan of the whiny singing that pervades most of this album.
Sinead O'Connor
2/5
Sinead O'Connor has probably been unfairly largely only known by people (musically) for the track 'Nothing Compares 2 U', as she has plenty to say on the other tracks here. Sadly, it doesn't matter how good your message or intentions are if the songs are all a bit boring and uninspiring to listen to.
Metallica
1/5
Whilst the idea of combining Metallica and an orchestra is pretty neat, the result is an overly-long and at times mind-numbingly repetitive performance that long overstays its welcome.
Public Enemy
4/5
Having listened to the two albums preceding this by Public Enemy and throughly enjoying them, I went into this with high hopes and it's safe to say that my expectations were exceeded. Things sound a bit less noisy than before which does take away some of the punch, but that is more than made up for by each track just being a real jam to listen to.
Ray Charles
4/5
Ray Charles has a marvellous voice and his command of the piano is on full display here. Whilst listening to the full two volumes in one sitting is perhaps a bit much, I have no doubt that one would thoroughly enjoy themselves sitting down and listening to these songs.
Duran Duran
3/5
This is an album from which many of Duran Duran's most well-known hits originate. Those tracks ('Save a Prayer', 'Hungry Like the Wolf', 'Rio') are hits for a reason and prime examples of 80s synth pop. The rest of the tracks aren't all that bad, but also fail to live up to those heights.
ABBA
4/5
There are some of ABBA's best songs on this album ('Dancing Queen' and 'Fernando') which already makes this worth a listen. The rest of the album is largely of similar quality, though some of the tracks are a bit forgettable.
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
It's all a bit noisy and not particularly engaging. I wouldn't necessarily turn off any particular song if it came on the radio, but I also wouldn't be going out of my way to intentionally listen to any of them either.
Neil Young
3/5
I've never been the biggest fan of Neil Young and whilst I was yet again not blown away by this album, it did make for quite pleasant background listening.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
What is better than a jazz album by one of the best jazz singers of all time? Why, a live jazz album that perfectly showcases just how incredible her voice was.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
Jeff Buckley has a great voice and his command of it on this album is truly impressive. This is definitely well worth a listen, but probably a bit too full-on all the time to be an album I'd rate super highly.
Pere Ubu
1/5
There's flickers of what could be goodness, maybe even greatness, but the constant reliance on screeching and over high-pitched noises makes for an altogether unpleasant and, at times, frustrating listen.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
This isn't the most pleasant album to listen to, the distortion is at times creatively wielded but more often than not feels a bit excessive.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Lyrically this album is pretty awful, musically it's quite catchy at times, however a lot of the songs are far too long for their own good and are of questionable quality.
Pink Floyd
5/5
A legendary album from a legendary band. 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' is just the icing on the cake.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
A far more modern album than most that I've had to rate thus far in my journey on this list, and it manages to impress. It's ambitious, trying many different sounds and styles which come together to form a thoroughly enjoyable album that justifies its runtime.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
"Come On Eileen" is the only song of note by this group, and it's annoying as all heck. Surprisingly the rest of this album isn't anywhere near as annoying, but it's also completely underwhelming. Questionable inclusion on a list such as this.
Tricky
4/5
Thought I wouldn't enjoy this much, but was pleasantly surprised by a rather abstract but still very enjoyable album. I have a feeling this is an album that I will grow to like even more with repeated listening.
King Crimson
4/5
Based on people's comments on this album I went into this full expecting to not enjoy it, instead I was pleasantly surprised by an album that was quite rewarding to sink one's teeth into. Love the violin bits especially!
Garbage
3/5
It started off a bit slow and I thought this would be an album I would be a bit ambivalent towards, but it really picks up after a couple of songs and by the end is quite an engaging listen.
Supergrass
4/5
There are so absolute smash hits on this album, and the rest is largely enjoyable thanks to the sheer energy put into each song.
MGMT
3/5
The tracks that are well known off this album are well known for good reason, unfortunately the rest of the album is a bit uninspiring.
Frank Ocean
3/5
Whilst at times overly self-indulgent and not an album I'd necessarily want to own, I also wouldn't be offended if someone were to put it on.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
This album may well have been very influential, and it's definitely easy listening, however it unfortunately sounds a bit dated at this point.
George Jones
4/5
This is just some classic country and I'm always down for that sort of thing.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
This is a perfectly pleasant jazz album, though not one that necessarily pushes the boundaries. That's not all bad, however, as sometimes jazz can get a bit full of itself, so this is a welcome 'simple' jazz album that one could throw on whenever.
Pink Floyd
5/5
It's a classic for a reason, one of my favourite albums of all time.
The Clash
3/5
It's punk. The instrumentals are often amazing but the vocals leave much to be desired. Still, not the worse punk album I've ever heard.
Stan Getz
4/5
This is exactly the kind of jazz that I can get behind, really, well, jazzy!
Depeche Mode
3/5
This really does sound like the 80s, and that's mostly a good thing. I was at times, however, flip-flopping between really grooving with the songs and then being kind of underwhelmed.
Willie Nelson
4/5
This is just good, honest country music done brilliantly. Not necessarily going to blow you away, but hard to go wrong with this kind of style.
The Beta Band
3/5
It has its moments of being genuinely quite amazing but it is bogged down by being at times self-indulgent and aimless. Far from the worst album I've ever heard and I'd happily listen again, but could've also been improved upon.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
There's some really good tracks on here, 'Without You' is a classic for a reason. The rest of the album doesn't quite hit those heights, but it's still a rewarding listen nonetheless.
Jethro Tull
2/5
Moments of inspiration often let down by aimlessness. Can't say it's bad exactly, but I was definitely bored throughout, which is perhaps worse. Shoutout to the flute though, that went hard.
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
There are moments of brilliance on this album but it's just overly long. I'm a huge fan of electronic music, but this was at times too experimental and all over the place. Had it been a more focused and concise project I feel I would've enjoyed it a lot more.
Bee Gees
4/5
The Beatles as performed by the Bee Gees.
The Beta Band
4/5
The album cover alone is worth 5 stars, however the songs don't quite live up to that level. Still, a really enjoyable album and an improvement over their previous one.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
A Tribe Called Quest is a legendary group, and their debut proves why. It's such a fun listen and the use of samples is genius. One of the best albums I've heard off of this list so far.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
4/5
Ramblin' is certainly an apt description for Jack Elliott, though therein lies the joy of listening to this album. There's a real earnestness and honesty to these tracks and the storytelling is top notch. Whilst at times things go a bit too off the pace for my liking, it's still a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
The Modern Lovers
4/5
Whilst the vocals are at times a bit droning, the melodies are infectious and I found myself jamming out to the tracks regardless.
The The
2/5
Not a bad album, but also not an album that I'd likely return to in a hurry; unsure why it's made the list.
The Zombies
3/5
This a pretty decent album, quite easy listening and some occasional bops scattered throughout.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Good, honest, American rock music.
David Bowie
3/5
A solid David Bowie album, though far from my favourite by him.
John Martyn
2/5
This album felt a bit all over the place in terms of quality, some songs I could see myself jamming out to whilst others left me underwhelmed. Definitely a bit of a mixed bag.
Fred Neil
2/5
Fairly decent folk rock album but it didn't leave too much of an impression on me.
Muddy Waters
4/5
This is just some good old classic blues from an absolute legend. The energy on this album is fantastic, such a fun and enjoyable listen!
David Bowie
4/5
A varied medley of songs that all seem to work from one to the next. One of his most well executed albums I feel.
Madonna
3/5
The first time I listened to this I was a little underwhelmed, but I've come to appreciate the more chilled out vibe and electronic sound. That being said, the tail-end of the album does drag a bit and feels a tad overly long at times.
Beatles
5/5
Legendary album.
Mudhoney
2/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, however it's likely not an album I'd hurry back to any time soon.
Radiohead
5/5
I'd struggled to get into Radiohead before, but this album is just so good that I think I finally understand what all the fuss is about; sensational stuff.
Richard Hawley
4/5
I thought it started off a bit slow but by the end of it I was fully captivated by this love letter to an older era of music.
Norah Jones
3/5
This is a very calm and relaxing album, the sort of thing you can put on in the background whilst studying or doing some other activity.
Aimee Mann
2/5
Fairly forgettable songs, not bad but not something that I see myself returning to.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
I've listened to this album multiple times, and each time I've enjoyed more than the previous listen. Some of the tracks on this album are absolutely top class (the first track may be one of the finest openers to an album I've heard so far), which does mean that a few of them fail to live up to those lofty heights.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
At times meandering, this is a fairly soft and easy-going album. I could see why people enjoy it, but I can’t really stand her voice unfortunately, else I’d probably rate it higher.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
This album was going pretty decently until the penultimate track 'The Murder Mystery' which I would struggle to even call a song. It's reminiscient of their first album, self-indulgent and more noise than tuneful. This, sadly, brings the score down because such a slight upon the ears cannot go unpunished.
5/5
Doesn't get much more classic country than this, and it's well worth a perfect score.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
If you like Bob Marley, then you'll love this. Wasn't quite my cup of tea, but wouldn't turn it off if someone else put it on again.
AC/DC
4/5
Just good old-fashioned rock, adrenaline pumping stuff. Does get a bit samey listening to a whole album of it, but it's nigh impossible to stop one's head banging along to the drums.
Janet Jackson
4/5
Janet Jackson is quite the legend, and this album firmly cements why that is the case. At times heartfelt, always personal, this is an incredible album to sink your teeth into.
Blur
2/5
It's a bit experimental and sonically all over the place, not for me but I admire the ambition.
The Police
4/5
Upon second listening I think I finally get this album, though 'Mother' is not a song I think I'll be coming back to.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I usually don't mind Elvis Costello and I quite enjoy his voice, but this album was just a bit boring to be honest. Nothing managed to stand out and every song just kind of passed me by, not the worst thing I've ever heard by any stretch of the imagination, but hard for me to find the reason it's on a list such as this.
Ice T
4/5
It's just some great gangsta rap, if that's your thing then this will be your thing. And this is definitely my thing.
Santana
5/5
Absolutely phenomenal album with not a single duff track on it.
The Auteurs
1/5
This was incredibly boring and if you've ever heard british indie music, you've heard this album but likely 100 times better. So unbelievably pretentious at times, thought I was giving this 2 stars but writing this I'm getting more annoyed about what I just listened to.
Skunk Anansie
2/5
Some nice instrumentation going on in this album and I can't say that the vocals are bad, but overall it's not quite my kind of vibe.
David Bowie
3/5
The second time of listening to this album had me appreciate it a lot more, especially the second half. Whilst not everything here hits the mark for me, I feel it is just shy of getting 4 stars and this may be an album that I rate higher with further listens.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
Sometimes good music is just good music, and this is that!
Iron Maiden
3/5
Not really my style of music usually, but this was actually not too bad! Wouldn't mind listening to it again, even if I won't seek it out directly myself.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Nothing to complain about here, but it's pretty tame all things considered. You'll have a good time with it, but you could also listen to something else that would be more interesting.
Coldplay
3/5
The first half of this album is incredibly solid, the second half doesn't quite meet the same standards and you'd be forgiven for checking out early. Sadly, a sign of things to come, I fear, for Coldplay after this.
Eagles
2/5
I quite enjoy some songs by the Eagles, however this album left my wanting as I was thoroughly unimpressed by all but the most well known songs featuring here.
Beck
3/5
Not a bad alternative rock album, with some highlights that shine without overshadowing the rest of the album.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Hard to not enjoy this, just some simple, no frills jazz. Not going to blow your mind, but sometimes you just want something you can chill out to and this ticks all those boxes.
Meat Loaf
4/5
This album is over the top and incredibly bombastic, in the best possible way. Only problem I really have with it is the final song, 'For Crying Out Loud', feels way too overindulgent and is a bit of a low note to end things off on.
Stereolab
3/5
This album has an incredibly solid first half that sort of loses its way a bit towards the end before the final two songs really pick things back up again. Definitely enjoyed it, will likely enjoy it even more upon repeated listens.
Klaxons
4/5
Really, really strong start to this album that doesn't quite manage to maintain that momentum throughout. It's still well worth a listen and one I'm keen to get back to again.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Smooth as butter, Isaac Hayes even manages to make an 8 minute monologue sound good.
Ramones
3/5
Some pretty solid punk music, Blitzkreig Bop is the standout track and the rest are all sort of variations on that sound.
Beyoncé
2/5
Beyoncé is a legend of pop music, but this album did not manage to reveal to me why that is. Very forgettable overall.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Not too bad of an album, but apart from a handful of tracks there's not much I'd be returning to in a hurry.
The Monks
2/5
Some interesting arrangements, but gets a bit screechy and messy in a lot of places. Certainly can hear how influential it was, but it's not really a record for me.
4/5
I'm not usually one for prog rock but this was charming and had interesting melodies. Definitely one to sink ones teeth into.
Simple Minds
3/5
Largely forgettable, but not terrible at the same time.
Green Day
4/5
Just some solid pop-punk that anyone can enjoy. One of Green Day's best.
Tina Turner
3/5
Tine Turner is an incredible singer and some of her best work is to be found on this album, it's just unfortunate that the surrounding material doesn't live up to those same heights.
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Plinky plonk music.
The Doors
3/5
Some good, dare I say excellent, songs to be found on this album, but not quite enough to earn a higher score.
David Ackles
2/5
Sounds like a broadway show at times, other times it sounds good, but not often.
Van Morrison
3/5
I was prepared not to like this, but this was a throughly pleasant listen.
Jeff Beck
2/5
Truth be told this was a pretty uninspiring album. Nothing wrong, per se, just immediately forgettable.
David Bowie
3/5
I'm quite a fan of David Bowie, but I didn't feel like there was much on this album beyond the two most well known tracks to return to.
Tom Waits
3/5
Sometimes it sounds like a pirate singing songs and sometimes it sounds like a pirate singing songs well.
The Residents
2/5
This was a frustrating listen. If you look past the obsession with being weird and different for the sake of it, there's actually some glimmers of hope. But it's that obsession with being weird that holds this album back, instead of making a legitmately offputting listening experience that is still, at it's core, listenable we get something that is simply obtuse to listen to.
Sister Sledge
3/5
The hits are good, the rest is pretty unremarkable.
TV On The Radio
2/5
Nearly every song is far longer than it needs to be, it just felt like everything would be much better if it were a minute shorter.
2/5
The Beatles, but if they weren't as good.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Smooth and easy, Curtis Mayfield strikes again.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
It's a big album, and many of the songs on here are absolutely phenomenal. However, it does feel a little long by the end of it, which stops it from getting 5 stars.
Saint Etienne
3/5
This was pretty good, quite easy listening.
Talking Heads
3/5
Talking Heads typical go down well with music critics, but so far I've been fairly split on their songs. This album exemplified this by having a great first half and then an uninspiring, boring second half.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Rock and Roll is incredible and one of my favourite songs by Led Zeppelin. Still, a couple of songs on this album didn't hit the same way and so it gets a slightly lower score than I expected.
Prince
3/5
Prince has a massive discography which means that you're almost guaranteed to find something you like. It also means you likely to find everything else as well, which sadly this album felt like for me. Some stand out tracks, and some that just didn't work for me.
Joanna Newsom
2/5
It feels like Joanna was trying way too hard to have every song be some long, epic tale. Unfortunately, it is often true that using fewer words to say more is a valuable skill, one that is sorely lacking on this album.
The Waterboys
2/5
Started off pretty strong but it seems like they lost their way of things by the end of the album, becoming largely forgettable.
Beastie Boys
4/5
If you don't like being shouted at then this is not the album for you, fortunately I love it. The sampling is also in a class of its own, lots to love on this.
Ray Charles
3/5
I usually love Ray Charles, but this album didn't quite reach my expectations. The first side is more upbeat and energetic, but the brass can be a bit harsh at times whilst the second side is more ballad-y but lacks anything particularly notable.
Nirvana
3/5
Kurt's delivery is flawless, but I'm not the biggest lover of Grunge so this is the best I could muster.
Sigur Rós
3/5
This is a hard one for me to rate, on the one hand this is exactly the kind of thing I hoped to discover from doing this list. This is not likely something I would've ever listened to if not for this, and the highs were exceptional. Unfortunately I feel like it was just missing that, something extra, to really lift it up. I'm giving this a 3, but it's about as close as one could get to a 4 without being a 4.
Cocteau Twins
2/5
This is what is known as 'Dream Pop', which is very fitting because it sent me to sleep.
Taylor Swift
2/5
It all started off quite pleasant and then lost its way halfway through before sort of just ending with a whimper.
The Pharcyde
4/5
It's just a lot of fun, quite frankly.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
As is so often the case with double albums, this does not really earn its length. Whilst clearly very well put together, I struggled to find a standout track and everything felt a tad ... inauthentic? Like they were trying a just bit too hard to sound bluesy, but lacking the conviction to really sell it. Perfectly fine to listen to, but it failed to be memorable in any way.
Blue Cheer
1/5
This list is amazing for discovering albums that one would never have listened to without it, potentially uncovering albums to add to the personal favourites list. But it's also great for realising that there's music out there that you don't just dislike, but actively hate. This is one such album.
Soft Machine
4/5
One look at the track listing for this album is enough to fill one with trepidation, especially with labels such as 'Avant-Prog'. This was, however, a thoroughly enjoyable surprise that is likely to only get better with repeated listens.
Sufjan Stevens
2/5
If the length and pretentious song titles didn't set your alarm bells ringing, then the over an hour long runtime will. When will artists learn that if you're going to make a long album, it had better be filled with something worth listening to.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
I've thus far not enjoyed my time spent listening to The Velvet Underground, but this was almost the least egregious. In fact, it's probably the one I liked the most, but I still don't get it.
Yes
4/5
Yes continues to impress me, so much so this gets a resounding 'yes' from me.
Soul II Soul
3/5
Relatively low-key, however this is club music before the genre really even existed, surprisingly good stuff.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
Yet another double album that does not earn its runtime. A lot of the songs are overly long as well, further dragging on what is a rather boring collection of songs. The saving grace is that a small handful of songs are actually worth listening to, else this would've been an easy 1 star rating.
Nick Drake
4/5
It's a simple, yet quietly beautiful album that never quite blew my socks off, and yet all the same was an all too enjoyable listening experience.
Beatles
3/5
Though a far cry from the excellence of their later albums, one can start to hear the sounds that would go on to cement The Beatles as one of the all time greats. Whilst not essential listening by any stretch of the imagination, there's some good stuff on here that's well worth checking out.
10cc
2/5
It's very quirky and at times the beats can be quite catchy, but it didn't feel like anybody was taking it seriously and so I struggled to find the point to it all.
Small Faces
3/5
The first half is fairly straightforward, some good songs some pretty forgettable, but the second half is an absolutely wild ride and I'm not sure whether I love it or don't get it; perhaps a bit of both.
R.E.M.
3/5
A real mixed bag of an album, the middle section is incredibly strong with the hits off of this being the highlights, but the second half feels completely aimless and altogether a bit sloppy at times, almost like they were just throwing stuff together and calling it a day.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Really pleasant to listen to and felt quite earnest, despite being released in 2014 it sounds like it came out years before then.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
This album certainly covers some ground, with a healthy mix of genres and styles. Unfortunately this means that whilst there are some good tracks on here, the rest are just kind of ... okay? When they get it right, it's great, otherwise it was largely inoffensive.
The Cars
2/5
The first time I heard this album I remember really enjoying it, however upon repeat listening I've found that outside of the first two songs, the album is kind of bit forgettable and quite boring.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Depending on which version of this album you're listening to, you will end up with quite different results. I chose to listen to the original version but using the complete editions sound/mix which made for a thoroughly enjoyable jazz album. Might go back and listen to the full complete version, but considering how much chatting there is going on, I'm not sure I'd enjoy it more.
The United States Of America
2/5
This is definitely a weird album, but not so weird that it's altogether unlistenable. However, it also doesn't really lean far enough into its weirdness to be worth one's time listening to it, instead it sort of meanders around in its own avant-garde way and comes out the end having not had much to say at all.
Circle Jerks
2/5
With such a short album, comprising of incredibly short songs, it is somewhat hard to accurately judge this. On the one hand, the songs are hyper focused and the enrgy of the whole thing is kind of addicting, on the other hand, it doesn't really feel like there's any actual substance or bite to the music, which let's it down significantly.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Amy Winehouse has an incredible voice, and this album is the perfect vessel to showcase that. Whilst some of the songs on this album falter, when she's on, she's absolutely nailing it.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
This album wasn't all that bad, really, until the final song ("Don't") which, is, uh, certainly ... noise? That's probably the most positive thing I can comment on it.
Meat Puppets
3/5
This is an equally great album as it is a bit underwhelming. The instrumentation is often amazing, it's just a shame the vocals are weak and not at all to my tastes.
Aerosmith
2/5
Aerosmith is usually pretty enjoyable, if not the most exciting or groundbreaking music to listen to. Unfortunately, this album fell a bit flat for me and I'm not sure why.
Eminem
4/5
I feel like a lot of people rating this completely miss the point of what Eminem is doing on this album (and his others), and whilst this one isn't as good as the two that follow, it's still got some absolutely phenomenal tracks on it.
Dirty Projectors
3/5
Far from the worst thing I've listened to recently, I thought the vocals would annoy me but they strangely suit the melodies at play here. This could be one that grows on me, should I find myself returning to it in the future.
The Byrds
3/5
A pretty good Country album that has some highlights ("Pretty Boy Floyd") but wallows in mediocrity at times.
CHIC
3/5
Chic have some great tunes, some of them are found on this album.
Marty Robbins
4/5
Near-perfect country music, there's just something about this old school style that works for me every single time.
The Specials
3/5
I quite enjoy 2 Tone, though I admit most of my exposure to it is through listening to Madness. Still, I'd heard of The Specials and know a couple of their songs, some of which are on this album. Overall, the hit songs are really strong, but the rest of the album doesn't quite meet the same level of quality.
Nirvana
2/5
Nirvana are an absolutely legendary band, unfortunately their style of music just doesn't do much for me. There are certainly elements of this album I enjoyed, and the last track is great, but the rest of it I just couldn't get into.
3/5
Discussions of U2 typically range from considering them an overhated group that is actually excellent to being an overhyped band with nothing worthwhile to say. Personally I think they're boring, and whils this album is perfectly listenable to, I struggle to envision coming away from it feeling a great deal of impact.
Deep Purple
3/5
It's the kind of album your dad throws on that makes you groan before realising that maybe it could be a lot worse.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Prior to listening to this album, reading the reviews made me feel like I was probably not going to enjoy it. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to not be all that bad, in fact the almost 11 minute long 'Three Days' was a real treat to listen to.
Pixies
3/5
It's got some good songs on here, but it feels more like a collection of random tracks they put together than a thought out album.
Wilco
4/5
I first listened to this album a few years ago when I was trying to broaden my listening habits, and found the whole thing to be quite boring. Returning to it now, I feel like my efforts to expand what I listen to must've done me some good because I thoroughly enjoyed this album, perhaps not as monumentally as others will claim, but I'm happy to say that I finally 'get' this album.
Coldplay
4/5
The Coldplay of today may have gone down hill quite drastically compared to the rather quite excellent album that is 'Parachutes'.
Roxy Music
3/5
Roxy Music albums are pretty alright, but they never really manage to blow me away, like they're lacking that special something.
Hole
4/5
There's plenty of controversy and debate surrounding the band Hole, but if one sets that aside and focuses purely on the music, then this album is amazing and one of the big surprises thus far that I enjoyed it as much as I did.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Just a good, honest, live session of Blues from when of the all time greats.
Jack White
3/5
This wasn't all that bad, really, not the most memorable album ever, but also something I could see myself throwing on every now and again.
XTC
3/5
This album isn't all that bad, in fact it sounds very competently put together. It does, however, seem to lack any real hook, instead it feels a bit on the sterile side. Not bad as such, but there's nothing here that'll blow you away.
Radiohead
3/5
This album has both some of the best songs I've heard by Radioheard and some of the worst. The tail end of this album especially is a massive fall off from the start.
The Prodigy
4/5
The Prodigy are legendary, and this is probably their best album. The grooves on here are insane, truly some of the best electronic music to come out of the UK.
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Ambient music is one of those genres I'm still figuring out how to rate properly. The ambience of these tracks is incredible, yet at the same time I can't really see when I'd actually listen to this.
Culture Club
2/5
Karma Chameleon is by far the most well known song off of this album, possibly the only song most people even know by Culture Club. That's for good reason, too, because most of these songs are pretty boring.
Metallica
2/5
Metallica are legendary, however I've never been much of one for metal. I suprisingly enjoyed the first half of the album, but by the second half it really felt like Metallica had used up all of their ideas and the rest of the songs dragged on and were all a bit samey.
2/5
There's certainly better New Wave albums out there than this, and I'd suggest checking them out instead.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Don't you just hate it when a group has an amazing sound and style for the first song of an album and then immediately do nothing else like it for the rest of the album? If not, this might just be your favourite album.
Soft Cell
3/5
Tainted Love is an incredible song, but the rest of this album hovers between almost great New Wave and slightly lacking filler.
R.E.M.
2/5
I love R.E.M., but they do have their moments of complete boredom in their discogrpahy, and this album has a healthy serving of them.
Slayer
2/5
I would never normally choose to listen to thrash metal, and whilst this was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be, the near unrelenting nature of this style just doesn't work for me.
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
To echo the common sentiment shared by many others, this is absolutely the kind of album I am hoping to come across whilst doing this list. Just a phenomenal album that seemingly gets better and better the longer it goes on.
Scott Walker
3/5
Scott Walker has a good voice, maybe even a great one, but someone forgot that the rest of the music has to actually be, well, listenable. Pretty much every song sounds slightly watered down and that makes this whole thing suffer.
Bert Jansch
3/5
A lot better than I thought it would be, it's got that 'rough around the edges' feel to it that is endearing.
Cream
2/5
It's fine, I guess, but by today's standards this is pretty unremarkable.
John Prine
2/5
It's fairly run of the mill folk/country, some of the tracks here are genuinely good, but this mostly washed over me and left me indifferent.
Julian Cope
3/5
Double albums so very rarely justify their existence, and whilst Julian Cope manages to produce some truly stellar music on this, the runtime is just too long.
Eric Clapton
4/5
Eric Clapton may be a terrible person at this point, but this album, taken in isolation, is pretty damn phenomenal.
ZZ Top
3/5
Not bad, not amazing, it's one of the more inoffensive things I've listened to on this list.
Otis Redding
3/5
Otis has a great voice, and some of the songs on here are great, but it lacks that extra bit of something magic to really push it above and beyond 3 stars.
The Charlatans
3/5
It's a pretty standard affair Britpop album, which means it's not bad and has some bangers, but it's also not something you need to listen to.
Billie Holiday
4/5
Billie Holiday has a fantastic voice and this album is one of the best ways to experience it, truly amazing.
Carole King
4/5
This album has quite the reputation, and more than lives up to it.
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
Love them or hate them, albums like this are exactly what this list should have more of. Something likely completely different to what you're used to listening to. They won't always be great, and this album is far from reaching that, but I always appreciate having my musical tastes challenged by something a little bit different.
Adele
2/5
Adele is one of the most successful artists of the 21st Century, and yet listening to her albums one can't help but wonder why that's the case. She has an impressive voice (though not one I personally care for) but her music is pretty middle of the road stuff; fairly forgettable if not competently put together.
David Holmes
3/5
Whilst far from being an amazing experience, this is a servicable, if somewhat underwhelming, listen.
Kate Bush
4/5
Whilst I don't always love Kat Bush's music, there's no denying her creative vision and dedication to producing the songs she wants to make. This album, then, perfectly encompasses that vision and makes for a rich and rewarding listen.
Steely Dan
4/5
Sure it's the kind of music your Dad listens to and you probably hated it growing up because everything they listened to sounded the same, but becoming an adult is recognising that you might also like Dad rock because this is pretty damn good.
Slade
3/5
If, like me, your only exposure to Slade prior to this album was their Christmas song, it will be hard not to hear it in some way listening to this because Noddy Holder's vocals are so distinctive. This ended up being a perfectly okay rock album, but there's probably better things to listen to. Like that Christmas song.
Van Morrison
4/5
I always thought I didn't really like Van Morrison, but the more I listen to him the more I realise I wwas completely wrong.
New Order
4/5
New Wave has never sounded better, this might actually be my favourite New Order album at this point.
Steely Dan
3/5
Whilst not as strong as some of their later albums, this does play host to some of their best songs and for that it's a very almost 4 stars.
The Strokes
4/5
This album may not sound particularly revolutionary now, but for its time it was quite the change in sound.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
It's not a bad soundtrack at all, Isaac Hayes is capable of pulling off this style with ease, however without the context of the movie, it's likely losing some of its impact.
Pretenders
3/5
Pretenders have some good stuff, and it's quite likely the songs you know are to be found on this album.
Portishead
3/5
Portishead is a highly critically acclaimed group, despite their music not necessarily being the easiest to get into. The highs of this album are incredible, however I feel at points they indulge in the noise aspect a little too much for my liking.
Tom Waits
2/5
I'm just really not a fan of Tom Waits' voice, the music itself can be quite good, I just wish someone else was singing it.
Talking Heads
4/5
Talking Heads are one of those groups I seem to be liking more and more as I keep exploring their work. This has got to be the best album of theirs I've listened thus far, which makes me excited for the others that are even more critically acclaimed.
Calexico
4/5
Yet another pleasantly surprising album to come from this project, really impressed with how many sounds they play around with.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Starts off pretty well, but then it loses focus and by the end of it you're left wondering what exactly the point of any of it was.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
It's electronic, it's a bit rough and ready, it's got some attitude. Everything I could ask for, really.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Honestly one of the best synthpop albums I've ever had the pleasure of listening to, actually
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
I've heard on them before, but never actually listened to anything of theirs. Which is a shame, because this album was really good, so good that I will probably end up moving towards a 5 star rating the more I listen to it!
Cyndi Lauper
2/5
This would be a pretty fantastic pop album if it wasn't sung by Cyndi Lauper. Unfortunately, it is, and so you have to deal with vocals that sound like someone's taken a cheese grater to your ears.
John Martyn
3/5
It's a pretty okay album, nothing incredible. The song 'Small Hours' has some interesting ideas, just a shame that wasn't extended to the rest of the songs.
Madonna
2/5
Certainly some of Madonna's best songs are to be found on here, classics of pop music perhaps, but the rest of it is either boring or pretty bad.
Kelela
3/5
I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary R&B, but there were some good tracks to be found here. Not the most inspiring choice of album, but far from the worst this project has thrown my way thus far.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Fela Kuti is legendary, and this album is as good as any other to drive that point home. The energy is infectious and it's impossible to not get immersed and lost in the sound. Fantastic stuff.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
This is quite a mixed bag, the start of this album is phenomenal, the bass in particular is fantastic (a consistent throughout the whole thing to be honest). However, it dips in the middle when things lean a little too into the avant-garde approach for my liking.
Taylor Swift
3/5
I was honestly expecting not to enjoy this, or at the very least find it boring, however Taylor Swift proves that she has the writing chops to produce an album that has genuine moments of brilliance. Whilst it dips at times, the overall package is one that's quite enjoyable.
The Stooges
2/5
This just sounds so ... thin? I'm aware there's a different mix by Iggy which is supposedly louder, but I was suitably unimpressed by the original version I have no interest in trying it again (at least at the moment).
Suede
3/5
It took a little while to get going, but once it did this was actually really quite an enjoyable album.
Erykah Badu
3/5
When I first heard this album, I was still pretty resistant to listening to music beyond what I was already familiar with. Whilst I can't say that my tastes have changed enough to love this album, I can say that I appreciate it a lot more than I did back then.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Bob Dylan is undoubtedly one of the greatest songwriters of all time. However, at the risk of repeating a sentiment all too common, I just wish someone else was singing his songs.
5/5
Yeah, this is one of the all time greats.
Pink Floyd
4/5
This is quite the experience, and rather demands your full attention across the full album. The result is a rewarding experience, if not a tad harder to get into compared to some of their other albums.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
I've come to start appreciating Jazz albums, and when they're as accomplished as this one, it's not hard to see why.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Things started off as I expected from a Bob Dylan album (way too much harmonica and Bob deciding to sing the songs himself) but things improved by the mid section and it turned into a not so bad album overall.
Magazine
3/5
Very much a mixed bag of some great songs and some that felt a bit underwhelming.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
When presented with an album that is 69 songs long, it is easy to have already made one's mind up that it couldn't possibly be good enough to warrant all that. This album vastly overstays its welcome, though at times the genius of what the band set out to do shines on through. Unfortunately, intent alone is not enough to make an album good and no amount of sly smiles, winks, or nudges are enough to convince me that this album isn't a bit too indulgent. The execution isn't all that bad, most of the time, but I fear the idea itself is inherently flawed. Truth be told, this album sits neatly between 2 and 3 stars for me, but I'm giving it two because I just don't think the quality of the songs justify the runtime.
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
Given a lot of the comments about this album I expected it to be pretty bad, however this was genuinely great; a pleasant surprise.
Sebadoh
2/5
It's not bad, but it's also not really that good either. I wouldn't ask someone to turn it off, but you'll never find me asking someone to turn it on either.
The Cure
4/5
It's a fair bit different to the sound I'm use to from The Cure, however the mood sort of works and some of the songs here are excellent, or nearly so.
Khaled
3/5
It's important not to pay too much attention to reviews before listening to an album, as many would have you believe this is an affront to music. As it stands, this is a perfectly fine, if a little underwhelming, album I'd never have listened to if not for this project; and that's okay.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
Certainly an album one has to be in the right mood for, but if you're in that right mood, I'm sure this hits even better.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Snoop Dogg is a legendary Hip Hop act, though I fear that's largely off his features and this album than anything else he's really done. The lyrics are, of course, pretty unacceptable by today's standards, but for the time they were pretty much what all gangsta rap consisted of. The beats can be downright amazing, but the album sort of trails off towards the end and the more times I've listened to it, the less I seem to enjoy it.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Apart from a couple of decent songs, this is mostly pretty boring across the board. The songs aren't necessarily all that bad, but they do drag on for way too long.
Talk Talk
4/5
Aside from two relatively unremarkable songs, this album is incredible. It's just a shame about those 2 songs, because this could've easily been a 5 star album.
Yes
3/5
I have quite enjoyed previous Yes albums I've listened to, however this album fell a bit flat compared to those.
The Band
4/5
Just good, honest, Americana.
The Police
5/5
I knew The Police's hits, but this album blew me away with how great it is, genuinely fantastic from start to finish.
The Who
4/5
It has some absolutely legendary songs on here, but a couple of good, but not amazing, tracks keep this from hitting 5 stars for me.
The Beach Boys
3/5
The reputation of this album precedes it, however perhaps you had to be there because I only found this album to be okay. It might have been revolutionary for its time, but by today's standards there's not much to come back for.
The Cramps
3/5
This is pretty much the definition of a 3 star album, not too bad but also never really excels at anything to make it really stand out
Kings of Leon
3/5
A lot better than I thought it would be, but I don't see why you'd listen to this when The Strokes are right there.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
Everyone sings their praises about Layla, yet forget to mention that halfway through the song it abruptly loses all momentum and drags out what could've been an amazing song to one that's mediocre at best.
Queen
3/5
It's not a bad album at all, definitely got better as it went on, and plenty of proof here that there's more to Queen than just the usual hits you've heard a million times.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
This certainly sounds like the sort of thing music critics would love, but I just don't quite vibe with the (intentional or otherwise) noisiness
The Darkness
3/5
Honestly this was way better than I expected, but I just don't really like the vocals. Despite that, the songs themselves are usually pretty good, and 'Friday Night' is an absolute gem.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Leonard Cohen sounds like he doesn't care any more on this, which may be intentional, but it doesn't make for the most engaging listen.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Reggae is very rarely awful to listen to, but I also find that it also often fails to really punch up into the highest heights. This album is fine, good perhaps, but I'm in no rush to listen to it again.
Laibach
3/5
Far better than I expected it to be, but why do albums like this always have to drag out the song lengths? Cut down each one by 30 seconds/1 minute and they'd be better.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Including one album from Dexys Midnight Runners could've been written off as an error in judgement, to include two likely brings into question what the point of this list is.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Absolutely love this, however not even Johnny Cash can make me like "Danny Boy".
Queens Of The Stone Age
4/5
Some really good songs on here and the rest of it isn't too shabby at all; likely one to continue to grow on me
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
This is bordering on 4 stars, however I find that I just wasn't quite getting into the songs as much as I thought I would.
The Clash
5/5
Most double albums feel bloated, but The Clash not only manage to produce an album that maintains your attention, but that continuously surprises you with how diverse their sound can be.
David Bowie
3/5
Some of Bowie's finest tracks, but perhaps not his finest overall package.
Mj Cole
2/5
This could've been right up my alley, but instead it all sounds like something you'd hear in a hotel lift.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
The message of this album is still pretty poignant even today, but where this album excels in message it stumbles with the beats, and so can't reach the higher heights it feels it could.
Elton John
4/5
Quite the hefty album, but it's surprisingly easy to listen to, especially if you enjoy Elton John. I am quite partial to a bit of his musical style, so this was (mostly) right up my alley.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
An absolute classic of a hip-hop album, but whilst I can appreciate a lot of the effort, some of the tracks towards the middle sort of lose the feel of the album.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
It sort of gets better as it goes in, perhaps the jarring nature of the vocals falls off and the energy of the tracks can shine more.
Public Enemy
4/5
Undoubtedly one of the most impactful hip-hop albums to ever be released, it really is (almost) the full package). The only thing that stops this from being 5 stars, for me, is some of the production choices across the album. Still, it's about as close to a 5/5 as one can be without crossing that boundary.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
As ever with albums like this, if each song had been shortened by about a minute it would've felt that much better. Despite, that, the longest track on here ('Tooting Bec Wreck') is actually my favourite, so what do I know?
Can
2/5
Online music spaces seem to rate this highly, likely because they're inclined towards anything 'experimental'. Whilst this album is undoubtedly exactly that, and I hesitate to call something 'bad' simply because it is intentionally trying to do things outside of the box, what music critics often forget is that music, in my opinion, should be first and foremost enjoyable to listen to. Sometimes this album is, but a lot of the time I can't see for the life of me why anyone would actively choose to listen to some of it. Therein, perhaps, lies the beauty of music, being able to appeal to so many different listening styles and goals. For me, unfortunately, this album is not what I want to listen to, even if I can appreciate the effort behind it.
Machito
4/5
It's jazz and it's good, what else is there to say?
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Whilst an undoubtedly influential and important album for hip-hop, aside from a handful of the hits, it simply no longer holds up by modern standards. Still worth a listen if you're interested in where rap albums first started really being noteworthy.
Beach House
4/5
Sometimes dream pop can actually just feel like you want to go to sleep (i.e. it's boring), but this manages to straddle the line incredibly well and makes for a really engaging, yet somewhat calm, listen.
DJ Shadow
4/5
This album, other than highlighting the insane levels that sampling can take you to, really showcases the flexibility of the hip-hop genre. I think most would hear that name and immediately assume rapping of some kind, but DJ Shadow proves that even lacking that, if the instrumentals are good enough, it's well worth listening to.
Foo Fighters
2/5
I wasn't overly familiar with the Foo Fighters before this, but this was pretty disappointing. There are moments where I thought it might actually develop into something quite good, but the whole album felt like it was allergic to doing anything remotely interesting.
Maxwell
3/5
The opening of this album is really quite fantastic, unfortunately the tailend loses a lot of the smoothness and groove, instead going for a slower style I feel is at odds with the first half.
Fairport Convention
3/5
British folk music isn't a genre I'm all that familiar with, but this was surprisingly excellent at times, and may even continue to grow on me.
Jamiroquai
4/5
All I knew of Jamiroquai before this was 'Virtual Insanity', and after this all I know is I want more.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
In a world of so many jazz albums, this one failed to leave much of an impression upon me.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I feel like this is porbably deserving of higher than 3 stars, however 4 stars doesn't feel quite right either. Still, this is a pretty decent album and one worth a listen, at least the one time.
Elvis Presley
3/5
The first time I heard this album I was quite captivated, but now a few listens after that, my enjoyment of this album has definitely dwindled; it just seems to be missing that little spark of magic.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I've heard the name Elliott Smith a number of times, so there was a certain degree of expectation awaiting this album. On the whole, it mostly lived up to the supposed hype, there's a certain way with words and simple delivery that makes for a very good album; one that will liekly grow on me even more.
Barry Adamson
2/5
The idea of making a soundtrack to a non-existent film sounds interesting on paper, but in practice it's a bit pretentious. The music is fine, but without any visual accompaniment it all feels hollow. It's the sort of music that someone makes to score the most generic crime noir film ever made, and as such it's completely devoid of any meaning. I want to give it 1 star, but some of the music here is genuinely good, I just think the whole execution of the concept leaves much to be desired.
Stephen Stills
4/5
I like to read the reviews before I listen to get an idea of what might await me, and they were not too positive on this one. I'm not sure why though, as this is probably one of the better albums on this list so far. It might not be the most groundbreaking music ever, but it's insanely listenable. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this should be better received.
MC Solaar
4/5
Sometimes an album comes along and just sort of mesmerises you, and this is one such album. Really good music, really fun to listen to.
Beatles
3/5
The Beatles were, undoubtedly, a phenemonal band (not that I needed to say that) and some of their best work can be found on this album. Unforutnately, even The Beatles can't escape the problems that arise from making a double album. It's unfocused, and the desire to include everything makes for a chaotic listen that at times is less than engaging. By no means bad, but It's not an album I want to sit down and listen to again and again.
Red Snapper
3/5
This is by no means the greatest electronic music album I've ever listened to, but the reviews would have you believe this is barely more than a random arrangement of noises. If you can't even appreciate the beats on some of these songs, I fear that says more about you than it does the music.
Ian Dury
2/5
Ian Dury has a lot of personality, and the songs are unmistakably his. Unfortunately, with the exception of the first track, I struggle to stay engaged with them. They're, for the most part, not bad, but I just find myself getting a bit bored by the end of each one.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
I wasn't familiar with Dusty Springfield's work outside of a few select well known singles, but this album is proof enough that she's got real talent and her deeper cuts are well worth checking out.
R.E.M.
5/5
When an album has not just one, but multiple of my favourite songs on it, you know it's going to be amazing. I've listened to this album more times than I can count, and it never fails to impress.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Most people probably know Bruce Springsteen for his more anthemic, sing-along style music. Nebraska seems him take a far darker, heavier approach to the music and the results speak for themselves: a truly powerful album that delivers emotion in spades.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I don't trust anyone who doesn't enjoy Stevie Wonder, and this is one of his best albums.
Scott Walker
3/5
Scott Walker sounds like he was born 20 years too late, but it's still a pleasant enough listen.
Hüsker Dü
3/5
This album isn't all that bad, it's just way too long, and sounds like someone doing a mostly poor impression of R.E.M.. At which point, I'd recommend just going and listening to them instead.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Either / Or is probably Elliott Smith's most personal sounding album, and whilst his simple (in a good way) approach to the lyrics and themes is appreciated, to me it feels too light and airy to sink my teeth into it properly.
The Kinks
2/5
This isn't necessarily a bad album, but it's a pale imitation of The Beatles and lacks a lot of the creativity they possessed.
Pink Floyd
3/5
This is quite different to the more well known Pink Floyd tracks, and with it comes a healthy dose of psychedelia. I'm not that fond of it, not because the often whimsical nature of the music is not to my taste, but because it doesn't really seem to have a hook at any point.
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
For a group with such an odd name, and a claim for something psychedelic, this is a surprisingly 'normal' sounding album with a few quirky elements. All that is to say, I can't quite figure out who this album is for. It's not strange enough for psychedelia enthusiasts and it's otherwise too normal to attract any other attention.
Bob Dylan
4/5
My main criticism of Bob Dylan has always been I just wish someone else was singing his songs. That said, for some reason his voice really works on this album and I honestly don't think someone else would do it justice. Quite possibly the best Bob Dylan album I've listened to so far.
Prince
3/5
Prince has a quite frankly ridiculous number of albums to explore, and this is probably one of his most broadly appealing ones. Still, despite the highs, there's some tracks that miss a bit for me so I can't quite push this into the 4 territory.
Johnny Cash
4/5
This is probably Johnny Cash at his absolute best, the whole atmosphere is incredible and even the parts between songs (and Johnny cracking up at times) all add to the charm.
Cee Lo Green
2/5
This is ... decidely nowhere near as soulful as I was expecting, honestly really quite disappointing. Sort of sounds like OutKast in places, but with none of the charm.