I like Queen a lot, but I never really listened to this album but "Seven Seas of Rhye" is just meh for me on its own. But after listening to this album I am OBSESSED with it. The first half is amazing, and I kept having to force myself to listen to the next song because I just wanted to repeat the one I had just listened to. I even kind of like "Seven Seas of Rhye" now because it fits in so well with the rest of the album. I wish I hadn't slept on this for so long because it's so good.

Pet Sounds was always explained to me as The Beach Boys' answer to Sgt. Pepper. You can definitely see where Brian Wilson took inspiration. Is it as good as Sgt. Pepper? Absolutely not. Not even close. But is it still a fantastic record? Absolutely yes. The songs, the production - all of it is top notch. I have no hesitation giving this 5 stars. My favorite songs are "Sloop John B," "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times," and "Caroline, No" but honestly all the songs are great. "I Know There's An Answer" is also way better as "Hold On To Your Ego." Idk what Mike Love was on about with that one.

Didn’t really care for this and kept thinking, “is this really an album I need to listen to before I die?” It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve listened to on this list, but it was boring and a bit repetitive. The title track and “I Cant Do Anything” were okay, but this is a skip from me.

I love Big Star and I love this album. The songs where Alex Chilton sings lead are my favorites, but they’re all good. The standouts for me are “The Ballad of El Goodo,” “Thirteen,” and “Give Me Another Chance.”

I love 60s pop music, so there was pretty much no chance I wasn't going to love this record. I'm familiar with the hits from The Young Rascals, but this entire album is solid top to bottom. My favorite tracks are probably, "A Girl Like You," "How Can I Be Sure," "Groovin'," "I Don't Love You Anymore," and " A Place in the Sun," so pretty much the entire record. A total delight to listen to!

This was okay. I think the Pixies just aren't really for me. I thought the latter half of the album was decent, but I just wasn't a fan overall. "Dig for Fire" and "Down to the Well" were the standouts for me.

Solid album. I primarily enjoyed the songs that felt unexpected to me from Black Sabbath. “Changes” is a highlight along with the instrumental “Laguna Surprise.”

I really hated the first song on this album, but it definitely picks up after that. I’d have to be in the right mood to listen to this again, but I’m glad I listened to this at least once. “Spacelab” is probably my favorite song on the album.

I love punk and this is a classic of the genre for a reason. It had been awhile since I listened to it, and I think I like it better now than I did when I was younger. A few things didn’t age well, but overall a great album.

I love Dire Straits, but this is not my favorite album of theirs. My favorite tracks are “Down to the Waterline” and “Wild West End” and “Sultans of Swing” is a classic, of course. I think they hit their stride in later albums, but overall this one is solid.

Had no idea what to expect when I started listening to this, but I really liked it. The standouts for me are “New Church,” “On the Roof,” and “Great British Mistake.” This is a great punk album and one I’m sure I’ll listen to again and again.

I love Big Star and I love this album. The songs where Alex Chilton sings lead are my favorites, but they’re all good. The standouts for me are “The Ballad of El Goodo,” “Thirteen,” and “Give Me Another Chance.”

This album was fine. Not something I’d seek out or listen to again, but I didn’t hate it. Standout tracks were “Love Interruption,” “Weep Themselves to Sleep,” and “Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy.”

As an album, I'm giving this 3 stars. I like the songs better individually than as an album. Listening to it all the way through, it doesn't flow as well as I remember. A lot of the individual songs are worth 4 or 5 stars, but overall as a cohesive album, it's just okay.

I liked the first few songs well enough, but I got progressively bored listening to this. It’s not terrible, I just didn’t find that it grabbed my attention, even in a negative way. I’d probably rate it a 2.5, but I’m rounding down since I probably wouldn’t listen to this again.

I’m not a Swiftie, but I can admit that Taylor has some catchy songs. I didn’t care for most of this album, but there are a few songs I’ll definitely listen to again. Solid 3 because even though a lot of this isn’t my taste, it’s at least fun and catchy.

Depeche Mode is a band I need to be in the mood for when I listen, but when I'm in that mood, they're some of the best. I really like this album, and it has so many solid songs. "Policy of Truth" is probably the one that ends up stuck in my head the most.

I had never even heard of this band before. I liked this album fine, but it bored me at the same time, possibly because most of the albums I’ve been getting so far have been European punk and I’m craving variety. There were some good, catchy songs. I particularly liked “There Goes Norman,” “Wednesday Week,” and “What’s With Terry.” Overall this is getting a 3 because I’m glad I experienced this album, as I likely wouldn’t have found it on my own.

I always thought I wasn’t a “George girl” but listening to this all the way through I realized that was definitely not true (until I got to “I Dig Love” because what was that?!). “My Sweet Lord” has always been one of my favorite songs, and I always liked the singles from this album for the most part, but there are some real gems on here. “If Not for You,” “Run of the Mill,” “Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll),” and “Hear Me Lord” are new favorites for me. I will be listening to a lot of songs on repeat for the new few weeks. Maybe I’m a George girl after all.

Miles Davis is undeniably talented, and this album is well put together and each song flows seamlessly into the next. However, I'm not a huge jazz fan, so combined with the length, this was a bit of a struggle for me to get through.

I’d never actually listened to this album before even though I’ve loved “Brimful of Asha” since it came out. The album as a whole wasn’t what I expected, but I liked how different it was. “Good Sh**” and “Norwegian Wood” were two of the standouts for me.

When I first started to listen to this album, I wondered why it was on this list, but then about halfway through it started to make sense. There’s some iffy lyrics and the production value leaves something to be desired, but there’s a weird charm to it too. I’m giving this a 3, but it’s sort of a 3.5 for me. Standout songs are “Weekend,” “Cars and Girls,” and “Teengenerate.”

While this isn't one of my preferred genres, I can definitely see why this album is on the list. There are some good songs on here, and I liked the vibe a lot.

I like Queen a lot, but I never really listened to this album but "Seven Seas of Rhye" is just meh for me on its own. But after listening to this album I am OBSESSED with it. The first half is amazing, and I kept having to force myself to listen to the next song because I just wanted to repeat the one I had just listened to. I even kind of like "Seven Seas of Rhye" now because it fits in so well with the rest of the album. I wish I hadn't slept on this for so long because it's so good.

Reggae is far from my favorite genre, but I enjoy Bob Marley from time to time. Most of my favorite songs from him are on this album, and it was overall enjoyable to listen to.

This was fine. Nice vibe and made for good background music. None of the songs stood out for me, but they flowed together nicely.

Not my genre. Not my vibe. An absolute struggle to get through. I ended up listening to just parts of the songs in the end because I wanted it to be over, but it just kept going.

I’ve surprisingly not listened to that much Sparks, but I really liked this. It was fun, different, and something I’ll definitely want to listen to again. On first listen, I think “Equator” is my favorite track, but I expect that could change as I listen to the album more. A solidly put together and cohesive album that I quite enjoyed.

Not my favorite Stevie Wonder album. It's fine, but nothing really stands out. It's Stevie Wonder, so it's obviously not terrible, but I don't think I'll be listening to this very often.

Love Janis, and this is a great album from top to bottom. My favorite songs on it are probably "Cry Baby," "Trust Me," and "Get It While You Can," but honestly there's not a bad song on here.

Not my preferred genre, but this was... fine. It made for decent background music while I was at work, but nothing really stood out to me. I think if I was more of a country fan would have liked this a lot more. Not bad, but just okay.

I don’t love jazz, but this was very pleasant to listen to and made for good background music while I did some work.

Well I sure liked this more than the Pixies. Kind of uneven, but definitely some songs I enjoyed. Probably a 2.5 for me, but I'm in a good mood today so I'm rounding up.

This was okay. Pretty cohesive as an album. Some of the songs went on for much longer than they needed to. The War on Drugs aren't always my favorite, but I liked this well enough.

Had no idea what to expect, but I really liked this. I really enjoyed all the songs even though I didn't know any of the words, and the music made me want to dance. Great blend of instruments and overall great album.

The Beastie Boys are great, and this is a classic. I haven't listened to this album all the way through in quite some time, so it was great to rediscover some of the songs. Maybe not my favorite of their albums, but it's still amazing.

I feel like I need to preface this by saying, I really love Steely Dan! I really do! But it's really clear that Walter Becker was the key to what made them so good. Donald Fagen on his own is so boring. Every song drones on for too long and sounds the same, and I'm someone who loves Yacht Rock and similar genres. I don't know what it is, but I just can't stand Donald Fagen by himself. I would have given this a 1, but I actually enjoyed "The Goodbye Look" so it gets an extra star.

This was fine. Sort of put me to sleep, but I understand why it's on this list. Probably won't listen to it much in the future, but I didn't hate it.

The first song on this album was not my favorite, and I sort of expected to dislike the entire album because it sounds like a lot of other bands, just not as good. That is until the next song “Silver Soul.” Totally obsessed with it, and with that, gave the entire album a good listen. So glad I did because it’s actually fantastic. I will definitely listen to this again.

It is such a shame that I had never listened to this record before. I grew up listening to “oldies” radio and hearing songs by The Zombies, which were always some of my favorites. But until today I’ve never listened to a full album from them. Wow, I was missing a lot. I was completely captivated by the title track “Care of Cell 44,” which is probably my favorite off the album and possibly my favorite song ever from The Zombies. Every song on this is great. No skips. The only thing I hate is that it took me until now to listen to it.

Don’t always love live albums, but I always love B.B. King.

I think I liked this album better when I was younger. It’s fine, and I understand why it’s on here, but it wasn’t doing it for me today.

Great album with a lot of their biggest and best hits. Not a bad track on the album, and if flows together very cohesively.

I definitely don’t remember this album being this good, but I love it. I’ve had it on repeat all day. Not a weak track on it. I was kind of surprised to see this album on this list, but I get it now.

One of Steely Dan’s best albums. Personal favorites are “Peg” and “Josie” but there isn’t a bad song here. Hands down 5 stars.

Ray Charles is great and this album showcases that perfectly. Some of the songs drag a bit, but overall a solid album. But it's hard to dislike anything from Ray Charles.

I thought I had no idea who this band was, but I actually recognized a couple of songs on here (and liked them too). Very 90s, but very enjoyable. "Alright" is the song I was most familiar with, and it's probably also my favorite on the album, but honestly most of the songs on here are good. Will definitely listen again.

I love The Byrds, and this is a fantastic album. While most of these songs are covers, they're all great, as are the few originals. My favorites are "Mr. Tambourine Man," "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better," and "Chimes of Freedom."

I'm biased because I love the Beatles and Rubber Soul is one of my favorite albums they've made. Aside from "Run for Your Life," this album holds up really well and doesn't have a weak track. My personal favorites are "Girl," "In My Life," and "I'm Looking Through You."

Adele is a mixed bag for me. Sometimes I really love her music and other times I'm very bored by it. With this album, I love the singles, but the rest of the album is underwhelming. My favorites are "Set Fire to the Rain," "Rumour Has it," and "Someone Like You," and because of that, I'm giving this a 3.5 but rounding up to 4.

I love 60s pop music, so there was pretty much no chance I wasn't going to love this record. I'm familiar with the hits from The Young Rascals, but this entire album is solid top to bottom. My favorite tracks are probably, "A Girl Like You," "How Can I Be Sure," "Groovin'," "I Don't Love You Anymore," and " A Place in the Sun," so pretty much the entire record. A total delight to listen to!

Wu-Tang is great, and I totally understand why this album is on this list. It's not my favorite of theirs, but it's still really good.

Not a huge fan of dream pop as a genre. I can see why it's on the list; it just wasn't my thing.

I knew a few Sonic Youth songs but definitely hadn’t listened to a full album from them until now. I really loved this. I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s grunge and weird and amazing. My favorite songs were “Teenage Riot” and “Hey Joni” but there wasn’t a song on this album I didn’t enjoy at least somewhat.

Listen, I understand why 21 is on this list. But 25? Is it just because it's Adele that people assume it's a good album? Most songs go on for way too long, and so many of them are incredibly dull. There is no need for this album to be on this list. It's nothing special.

I found this to be a little boring. It's not something I'd normally listen to, but it was fine for what it was. Not terrible but overall not my favorite.

Not my favorite Radiohead, but this is still a great album. My favorite songs are definitely "Optimistic," "Morning Bell," and "Motion Picture Soundtrack." I totally understand why this is on the list. It's a fantastic album even if I prefer some of their others.

I absolutely love Dion’s music from the 50s-60s, but I had no idea what to expect from this. It was a little up and down for me as an album, but “Make the Woman Love Me” is absolutely fantastic. I’ve been listening to it nonstop since I finished the full album. I’m not completely sure this should be on a list of greatest albums of all time, but personally I really enjoyed it.

I love A Tribe Called Quest, and this album is fantastic. Totally understand why it's on this list. Lyrically, musically, and stylistically it's top tier. Plus "Scenario" is an all time classic.

I like Blondie, but I’m not sure I’ve ever listened to this album outside of the major radio singles. I was really missing out! Top to bottom this album is fantastic. Hard to pick favorites because they’re all so good, but I think mine are “Hanging on the Telephone,” “Picture This,” and “I’m Gonna Love You Too.” Will definitely be on heavy rotation for me going forward.

This was fine, and I can't deny Maxwell's talent, but it's not really the type of music I'm into. It was fine as background music, but sort of boring when I really focused on it. "...Til the Cops Come Knockin'" was a definite highlight for me, though.

Jeff Beck on guitar and Rod Stewart on vocals - is there anything better? Absolutely fantastic album. "Morning Dew" is the standout track for me, but the whole album is great.

This was fine. Nothing that particularly stood out or felt groundbreaking. My ADHD loved the short songs, though.

I never actually listened to the full album when it came out because I really didn't care for "Bitter Sweet Symphony" at the time. I still don't, really, but there are some really good songs on here. "The Drugs Don't Work" and "The Rolling People" were probably my favorites, but most everything was solid. I totally understand why this album made the list.

This is good for what it is, but I’m just not a big fan of jazz.

This was alright. I can definitely hear the Wu-Tang influence. I think my favorite song ended up being "Da Bichez" but there are a few good ones on here. Didn't love it, but it was okay.

"Love You Madly" is probably my favorite Doors song and is up there on my list of favorite songs ever. As an album, L.A. Woman is pretty solid. Some great rock tracks and then some weird ass songs that are indicative of The Doors and lots of other bands around this time. Pretty great album top to bottom.

I think Ice Cube is a good rapper, and I think he's great as a part of N.W.A. This album just isn't doing it for me, though. It's okay. Nothing really special. There are definitely better rap albums on this list.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this album. I usually don't care for The Flaming Lips, but I actually found myself really liking these songs and playing a few of them on repeat. The first half of the album is a lot stronger than the latter half, but overall it's really good. My favorite songs are "Race for the Prize," "The Spark That Bled," and "The Spiderbite Song"

This was pretty good. Not something I would have normally sought out, but I'm glad I listened to this. "You Ain't The Problem" and "Hero" were the standout tracks to me.

I really wondered when I was going to get to my next 1 star album, and lo and behold, it's here. This entire album was absolutely grating. There wasn't even one song that I thought was worth another listen. They were all too long and droned on unpleasantly. I ended up skipping through the last few.

This album was fine. Nothing really stood out, but it wasn't terrible either. I think it's just not my genre, but for what it is, it's good.

I got a string of weird ass albums in a row, and this might top the weirdness scale. But there was also something I weirdly liked about this. It was different, but in a somewhat enjoyable way. Should this be on the list? Probably not, but I can’t hate it either.

Enjoyable album. Not sure I'd consider it one of Dolly Parton's best, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. "Coat of Many Colors" and "Traveling Man" were probably my favorite songs. Given some of the albums I've listened to on this list lately, I was appreciative of the short length of both the songs and the album overall.

One thing I love about this album a day challenge is that I rediscover deep cuts from some of my favorite bands. I love The Rolling Stones, but most of the time just end up defaulting to their hits. But on this album, the hits aren't even close to some of the best songs. "Jigsaw Puzzle," "Dear Doctor," and "Salt of the Earth" are the standouts for me, but honestly everything here is good. I definitely have some new favorite Stones songs, though, thanks to this album.

I get that this is a concept album but was anyone actually asking for this? Did this "concept" need an album? Randy Newman seemed way too comfortable saying some of these slurs too. Only reason I'm giving this 2 stars is because a few of the songs are catchy, and at least he's committed to the concept.

I like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs a lot. I generally prefer their later albums, but this one is good too. Plus "Maps" is an all time classic song for my generation.

Not my type of music, but I was weirdly into it at times. I definitely appreciated the instrumentation and composition of the songs. I likely won’t listen to this again, but I can appreciate it for what it is.

I love Nirvana, and this album is just so, so good. "All Apologies" is one of my favorite songs, and it's a great ending to this album. Every track is great, but "All Apologies," "Rape Me," "Heart Shaped Box," and "Dumb" are probably my favorites.

I was really into Eminem when I was younger, but then I stopped listening to him because I just wasn't vibing with how angry his music was anymore. I haven't listened to this album all the way through in a long time. His talent as a rapper and a lyricist is evident, but some of his lyrics definitely haven't aged well. I also think some of his later albums are a lot stronger than this one. The Marshall Mathers LP is definitely his standout album, and you can see the roughness of this one in comparison to his later work. Still, his talent is evident, and there's no question this album should be on the list. My favorite songs now are "My Name Is," "If I Had," and "Just Don't Give a Fuck." I also forgot how many skits were on this album and how annoying they all are. At first I was listening to them just to get the full experience, but I skipped the last few because honestly they were all obnoxious and didn't add anything to the album. All that being said, I'm rating this a 4. I still don't vibe much with Eminem anymore, but the talent is evident and I'm trying to be objective. Plus "My Name Is" is still a banger to this day.

I’m not big into metal, but I quite enjoyed this album. The talent is evident, and it’s a very worthy addition to this list.

I actually enjoyed this album more than Exodus, which was kind of surprising since I knew more of the songs on the latter. "400 Years," "Stop the Train," and "Stir It Up" were my favorites. I don't love reggae, so some of this was a bit of a slog to get through, but overall a solid album. Plus it's Bob Marley.

Of all the albums I've listened to so far, I think this one has been the biggest surprise for me. I had never heard of this group before, but this album is fantastic. It's an absolute masterclass in political hip hop. There isn't one weak song on here. "Satanic Reverses," "Famous and Dandy (Like Amos N Andy)," "Television the Drug of the Nation," and "California Uber Alles" are my personal favorites, especially the lyric "the only cola I support would be a union c.o.l.a." in "Television..." I would not have listened to this without this album challenge, and I'm so glad I was introduced to this group.

Herbie Hancock is incredibly talented, and this album perfectly showcases that. This isn't the kind of music I seek out, but I really appreciate it when I listen to it.

Pet Sounds was always explained to me as The Beach Boys' answer to Sgt. Pepper. You can definitely see where Brian Wilson took inspiration. Is it as good as Sgt. Pepper? Absolutely not. Not even close. But is it still a fantastic record? Absolutely yes. The songs, the production - all of it is top notch. I have no hesitation giving this 5 stars. My favorite songs are "Sloop John B," "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times," and "Caroline, No" but honestly all the songs are great. "I Know There's An Answer" is also way better as "Hold On To Your Ego." Idk what Mike Love was on about with that one.

I'm aware of who FKA twigs is, but I've never actually listened to her music until today. Honestly, I was hoping I'd enjoy it more. This just really isn't my type of music, and I absolutely hated the first few songs, though the album did pick up as it went on.

Mariah is a great singer, but I tend to prefer her more upbeat songs, and this album is full of ballads. Just bores me, even though she has a lovely voice. The singles from this album are probably my favorite songs from it. I'm giving it an extra star partly just because "Honey" is such a fantastic song. But yeah, just meh on this one.

There are so many great George Michael songs on this album, and his voice is fantastic. My biggest issue with this album is that most of the songs go on for like a minute longer than they really need to. But there are so many great, all time classic songs here it’s hard to be that annoyed by the song length.

Frank Ocean is so talented, and this album blew me away. I've listened to most songs from this album before, but I don't think I've actually listened to the album itself all the way through, and wow. Just wow. Every song is great, but I think my favorites are "Thinkin Bout You," "Sweet Life," "Pyramids," and "Forrest Gump." Also, this is the way you do interludes in your album. They really added something and flowed from/into the previous/next tracks seamlessly. A really easy 5 stars from me.

So incredibly boring. My god. Not the worst thing I've listened to so far, but so boring and unnecessary. Should not be on this list.

I think if I were in college in the 90s this would have been on heavy rotation. I enjoy this album for what it is, and I can see how important it is to the genre and time period. For me now, it's fine. Nothing I would listen to all the time, but I'm glad I experienced it. I think my favorite songs from it are "Dance of the Seven Veils" and "Never Said." Also after listening to this I totally understand why people said Liz Phair sold out when she became more mainstream. This album is definitely better than that.

I know what I'm getting into when I listen to a Mothers of Invention/Frank Zappa album. It's going to be weird, and I'm okay with that. I rarely seek it out, but I get enjoyment when I listen, but I like weird things.

I'll be completely honest that I'm giving this 5 stars because "Young Americans" is a top 10 song for me. But overall the album is really solid. And I've always loved Bowie's cover of "Across the Universe."

David Bowie instrumentals? Surprisingly love this. I've always heard about this album but never listened to it, and I get it now. "Speed of Life" and "Sound and Vision" are probably my favorite songs from this album. I love how different it is, yet is still very distinctly Bowie. I got this album right after Young Americans, and it's so interesting to hear the contrast of the two.

I'm not a huge RHCP fan, but I like them well enough. Honestly if you would have had me rate this when it came out, I would have given it a lower rating because most of this was overplayed on radio at that time. "Otherside," "Porcelain," and "Road Trippin'" are probably my favorite songs from it. Personally I think Stadium Arcadium is the superior album from them from this time period, but this one is good too.

I think I prefer k.d. lang's songs that are more pop than country, but I did overall enjoy this album. Though I don't love country music, there are some really good songs here, and k.d.'s voice is so good on everything. My favorite songs on the album are "Sugar Moon" and "(Waltz Me) Once Again Around the Dance Floor."

This was pretty boring, and I did not care for it. Really not a fan of shoegaze. The only reason I’m not giving this a 1 is because I did enjoy the song “Vapour Trail.” Otherwise, pass.

This album is so good. So good. ELO is at their best here, and so many of their iconic songs are from this album. The way this album flows from one song to the next is really unmatched. I don’t think I’ve heard many albums that are this cohesive. The production is great too. Usually I mention favorite songs, but it’s probably easier to mention least favorites. “Jungle” is a mess and “The Whale” is a bit underwhelming, but they still fit in with the story being told by the album. I really can’t say enough about how spectacular this album is. Easiest 5 stars so far.

I can tell that this is good jazz. I just don’t love jazz. But it doesn’t get better than Coltrane.

This is not my favorite Led Zeppelin album, but it's still very good. "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" is one of my favorite songs of theirs. I give this a 4.5/5, but I'm rounding up.

My issue with this album is similar to my issue with every album from this genre - the songs are too long. If I was at a party, I probably wouldn’t hate it, but listening to it on its own is repetitive and annoying. I expected I was going to like this album more than I actually did. I hated “Praise You” when it first came out, but it has grown on me. But I think I liked the radio edits more. They felt more purposeful and concise. With that said, I do understand why this album is on this list, and Fatboy Slim really changed the game and brought this genre mainstream in a way it wasn’t at the time. I just don’t care for it. This album gets an extra star for “The Rockefeller Skank” because that song is amazing to this day. But I didn’t care for it overall.

Such a perfect prog rock concept album. Musicianship, production, lyrics - everything about it is top tier. Rush is a great band, and this is them at their best.

I liked this album. Totally understand why it’s on this list. I just wish I liked it more. The good songs are amazing, but the rest are just kind of middling. I didn’t know much of Arrested Development outside of “Tennessee,” so I’m glad I finally listened to the entire album. “Mr. Wendal” is a great song that I know I’ll listen to a lot. But overall I was hoping for more from this.

Of all the Kanye albums on this list, this is the best one. But in my opinion he has much better and more important/influential albums. Late Registration should be on here, and a few others, instead of what is actually on this list. Anyway, this album is really good. I still remember when it came out and how great and different it was. It’s a shame Kanye became what he did because his early albums were something special. “All Falls Down,” “Never Let Me Down,” “Slow Jamz,” and “Through the Wire” are my favorite songs from the album, and the whole thing holds up really well. A solid 4 stars.

I can’t believe I didn’t know the name of that song is “Green Onions” until today. This album was enjoyable, but I was hoping for a bit more. Many of the songs sounded somewhat the same, but the talent and musicianship were there. If I could I’d give this a 3.5, but I’m rounding down just because outside of the title track I probably won’t listen to this again.

I'm really not into electronica, and it seems like there's a lot of it on this list. But in terms of the genre, this is probably the best one I've listened to so far. Most of the mainstream stuff I've heard from The Chemical Brothers I've at least enjoyed to an extent, and that has translated to this album. Favorite songs are definitely "Block Rockin' Beats" and "Setting Sun."

So much British punk on this list. This was fine. Nothing groundbreaking and none of the songs really stood out to me. Probably won't listen to it again.

I’ve heard of the Scissor Sisters but haven’t listened to their music until now. Not sure why, but I assumed they were a completely different genre. So this was a surprise, but a good surprise. A really fantastic and fun record. Normally this isn’t a genre I care for, but I really liked this. My favorite songs were “Laura,” “Take Your Mama,” “Mary,” and “Return to Oz.” One of my biggest (good) surprises so far!

I’m generally sort of ambivalent about big band music, but I found this rather enjoyable. The best songs were “Just A Gigolo,” “Jump, Jive, An’ Wail,” “Buona Sera,” and “(I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal You.” I likely won’t seek this out again, but it was a fun listen.

I was not expecting to love this album as much as I did. Of course Sinatra was going to get 3 or 4 stars from me, but I did not expect to rate this a 5. It’s such a fun album, and Sinatra puts on a masterclass here. I enjoyed every single minute of listening to this. My favorite songs were “You Make Me Feel So Young,” “Too Marvelous for Words,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and his take on “Anything Goes,” which had a lot to live up to. I don’t always love this type of music, but this was fabulous, and I will listen to it again (and again and again).

I mean, what’s there to say? It’s Prince. It’s Purple Rain. The soundtrack to one of the best musical movies of all time. Arguably the best opening and closing song to any album ever. Absolutely immaculate.

I was expecting a bit more from this. The Bobby Womack songs I’ve heard, mostly his older stuff, I’ve enjoyed, so I expected I’d enjoy this too. Not so much. His voice is great, and I liked the songs “Just My Imagination” and “If You Think You’re Lonely Now,” but the rest of this just wasn’t that great. The songs went on for too long and most of them were fairly boring. I really wanted to like this more than I did.

Bono is annoying, but U2 is generally pretty good. Not my favorite album of theirs, but it starts strong and is cohesive throughout. It starts to drag as it goes on but ends strongly with “40.” The singles are the best songs on here. It’s a 3.5/5 but I’m rounding up.

The first thought that came into my head while listening to this was, “what a sweet album.” Not necessarily what I was expecting given what I know about Willie Nelson, but it was really enjoyable, and there are some great arrangements of classic songs. “Unchained Melody” was absolutely gorgeous and probably my favorite song from the album, but I really liked “Georgia On My Mind” as well. Overall, just very pleasant to listen to.

The Fugees are so good. A few too many skits for my liking, but that’s really a hallmark of most hip hop albums from that era. Lots of solid tracks here. My favorites are probably “Ready or Not,” “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” and “No Woman, No Cry.” Overall one of the best hip hop albums from the 90s.

Quite good for a disco album. “He’s The Greatest Dancer” is probably one of the best disco songs ever, in my opinion. Nile Rodgers production is top tier here. I don’t always love listening to disco, but this was enjoyable. Their voices are beautiful, and the songs are fun. And I totally understand why this album is on this list.

I liked this album a lot more than I thought I would. I’m not a Swiftie, but some of this was really good. Some of it was also very juvenile in the way that I find lots of Swift’s other songs and albums to be, but overall this has a much more mature sound. I definitely think this is more worthy of inclusion on this list than 1989. My favorite songs were, “willow,” “no body, no crime,” and “dorothea.” Not 5 star worthy, but still really good.

This album started off well with “Wild Flower” but it was pretty much downhill from there. You can definitely hear Rick Rubin’s influence (especially considering how much this sounds like his work with Danzig). Overall just kind of boring and not memorable.

I could listen to Jeff Buckley's rendition of "Hallelujah" on repeat for days. As for the album as a whole, I'm a little more mixed on it, but it's really good, and very moody. My favorite songs were "Last Goodbye," "Hallelujah," "Lover, You Should've Come Over," and "Forget Her." "Eternal Life" seemed tonally out of place in relation to the rest of the album, but it wasn't a bad song. It's really a shame we don't have more music from Jeff Buckley.

If there’s going to be a Christmas album on the list, I suppose this would be the one. Lots of classics, and it’s enjoyable, just not sure it needs to be here. But it’s fun that I got this on Christmas!

Well, this was sure an album. The only word that comes to mind is “bizarre.” But not in a good way. Honestly I would have given this a 1 if it weren’t for “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan,” which is actually a pretty good song. I'd probably like this more if it was the 80s, and I was on a lot of cocaine.

For political hip hop, it doesn’t get much better than Public Enemy, and Chuck D is one of the best there is. That being said, I just wasn’t feeling this as much as I’d hoped. There are a couple standout tracks, “Nighttrain” and “By The Time I Get To Arizona” being my favorites, but the rest sort of blended together. Not bad by any means, just hoped for a little more.

This was weird, but in the absolute best way. I think I’m just a sucker for weird psychedelic 60s music. My favorite song on here by far was “The American Way Of Love” but “Where Is Yesterday” and “Coming Down” were up there too. I’d never heard of this band before, and I’m glad I listened to this album. I wish they’d put out more music.

This was a good album, just not particularly memorable. “Neighborhood #1-4” and “In The Backseat” would have made a really solid EP that I probably would have rated 5 stars. But it felt like the rest of album seemed like filler. Not bad, but nothing else stood out.

When I started listening to this, I didn’t much care for it. But as it went on, the production, lyrics, and concept continued to build, and I got really into it. The haunting style and atmosphere are really unique to this record. Parts of it were almost… creepy… but I liked that a lot.

Not my favorite album from The Who, but there's still some really good songs on here. "Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand," "I Can See For Miles," and "I Can't Reach You" are the best songs. This is peak "weird" from The Who, but I enjoy lots of weird music from this time period.

This was good for what it was. Not my favorite genre, but it wasn't bad.

I had high hopes for this since I previously got I Should Coco on this list and surprisingly enjoyed it. This, not so much. Everything was just kind of middling and nothing stood out. “Late In The Day” and “G-Song” were probably my favorites, but it’s a very meh album.

An absolutely fantastic album all around. There really isn’t a weak song on here, though I totally could have done without “Lightnin’ Hopkins.” My favorites from the album are “Finest Worksong,” “Welcome To The Occupation,” and “The One I Love.” One of R.E.M.’s best albums and definitely worthy of being on this list.

Not my favorite from Jimi Hendrix, but his talent is on full display here. My favorite songs are probably "Wait Until Tomorrow," "Ain't No Telling," "Castles Made of Sand," and "Bold As Love," with that being the absolute standout track. It feels like there's a bit more filler here than on his other albums, but overall it's still good, and Hendrix is still one of the best.

I knew the song “Superfly” going into this, but otherwise didn’t know much about this album. Wasn’t expecting much since it’s a soundtrack album, but wow was I wrong! This is a spectacular album top to bottom. Every song added to the bigger story, and the performance and production were top notch. One of the best soul albums I’ve heard.

This was enjoyable for jazz, which admittedly is not my favorite. It was a bit different than some of the other jazz offerings I've had on here, which I liked.

I really love most of Springsteen's early stuff, and Born To Run is no exception. Just an absolutely fantastic record from start to finish, and the opening and closing songs bookend the album perfectly. My favorite songs are probably "Thunder Road," "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," "Backstreets," and "Jungleland," so basically almost the whole album. I don't think there's a song on here I don't at least somewhat like. Overall just amazing stuff here.

The Cure is great, and this is obviously one of their best albums. Musically and lyrically they’re at their best here. My favorite tracks are “Pictures of You,” “Lovesong,” “Fascination Street,” “Homesick,” and “Untitled.” My biggest gripe with this album is the length of some of the songs, but overall it’s solid.

Despite thinking “Tangled Up in Blue” is a brilliant song, I’ve never actually listened to the full album of Blood On The Tracks. Well that was a mistake because the album itself is brilliant too. I think my favorite song actually ended up being “Idiot Wind,” which surprised me because I didn’t think anything would top “Tangled Up in Blue.” “Simple Twist of Fate” and “If You See Her, Say Hello” are also amazing songs. The second half of the album isn’t as good, but the first half is so good that it makes up for any weaknesses of the latter half. Not that the second half is bad either, but the first half is fantastic and every song is top tier. I wish I hadn’t put off listening to this album for so long because some of these songs are life changing.

Wasn’t expecting much from an album that started with “The Humpty Dance” and, well, this lived up (down) to my expectations. None of the songs needed to be as long as they were, and the few that started off okay took weird lyrical turns partway through. I just wasn’t a fan of this at all, and there are much better hip hop albums that should be on this list instead. This is getting 2 stars only because of “The Humpty Dance,” which is still a fun song, albeit too long.

I really wasn’t feeling this at first, but this is one of the few albums I’ve had so far on this list that actually picks up in the second half. “Shot By Both Sides,” “Motorcade” (the mid-song transition is fantastic), and “The Great Beautician In The Sky” are the standout tracks. Just an okay album overall, but a few really good songs here.

Not really a fan of Bjork, and this is no exception. It's not completely unlistenable, but it's just kind of annoying nonsense.

What's there to say? Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison is a classic for a reason. Still great to listen to every time.

This is such a good soul album. Al Green is a fantastic singer, and all the songs are great. I was making a mental list of my favorites while listening, but it ended up being like 2/3 of the album. Overall just an amazing album.

I’m not really very fond of bossa nova as a genre. That being said, this album was okay. Enjoyable enough, but nothing special and I doubt I’ll listen to it again. I liked that it was short.

"Blister In The Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone" are damn near perfect songs, and the rest of the album is great too. "Kiss Off," "Please Don't Go," and "Good Feeling" are also standout tracks. There really isn't a low moment on this album. Probably one of the best albums of the 80s.

Not the biggest heavy metal fan, but this is fine. I enjoy Iron Maiden every now and then. I think “Charlotte The Harlot” is probably my favorite song on the album, but they all blended together a bit.

Practically a perfect album. Even the "weaker" songs are still amazing. I know people have mixed feelings on Wings and McCartney's post-Beatles stuff, but Band On The Run is so good. "Band On The Run" as a song is definitely in my top 10 songs of all time too. This is McCartney at his best. Easiest 5 stars for me so far.

Meh and forgettable. None of the songs grabbed me. Not the worst thing I’ve listened to on this list, but it wasn’t very good either.

Possibly the best live album by any artist ever. This version of “Do You Feel Like We Do” is one of the best songs of all time. For me, it’s rare that a live version eclipses a studio version for one song, let alone an entire album of songs. This is Frampton’s masterpiece.

I usually like The Byrds, but I wasn’t really into this. Apparently it was revolutionary in country rock? I guess. This wasn’t terrible, but it was mediocre and forgettable. The best songs were “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” and “Nothing Was Delivered,” which I think I liked in particular because there were parts that were reminiscent of The Byrds songs that I liked. “Nothing Was Delivered” really is a fantastic song and gets it an extra star from me for that alone.

I haven’t heard much of this album outside of “Roadhouse Blues,” but it’s quite good. “Blue Sunday” through “Indian Summer” are all great songs and make for a really fantastic middle/end of the album. Not my favorite from The Doors, but I still enjoyed this a lot overall.

This album is so good. First two songs are a bit weaker, but once "Travelin' Band" starts, this album hits and doesn't stop. The 11 minute "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" jam is absolutely amazing. Best of CCR, hands down. Also, I'll always have a soft spot for this record because "Lookin' Out My Back Door" was a song in a piano book my mom had, and I taught myself how to play by ear because I knew that song.

One day you’re at karaoke with your friends singing “Jeremy” and they start chanting “teeth, teeth, teeth” during his ad libs, and that’s all you can hear now. Stellar album.

I could not wait for this to be over. So many of the songs were insufferable. Did this make it just to have something from 2020 on the list? There had to be better albums. Even the songs that started out alright went on way too long. “Wildfires” and “Pray Up Stay Up” are the only two songs I didn’t absolutely hate, but it was a low bar.

This is heavy meh-tal at its worst. Just noise and not good. I understand why it’s on the list to an extent, but I don’t like it at all.

I definitely think there are more than 1001 albums that should be listened to before this one, however I still enjoy it. The best songs on the album are "Closer," "Sex on Fire," "Revelry," and "Notion," but there really aren't any terrible songs on here either. Doesn't belong with the greats, but that's fine. It's still good.

I really like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but this is not their best album by a long shot. It's still good, and all the songs are solid, but there's definitely other solo or Heartbreakers albums that should be on here instead of this one.

Admittedly I was not sure what to expect with this album because my familiarity with T. Rex was pretty much just “Get It On,” which I think is an okay song. But I’m so glad I listened to this whole album. The first half is damn near brilliant, and the album as a whole is really good and funky. “Mambo Sun,” “Cosmic Dancer,” and “Rip Off” were the highlights. This was the perfect album to listen to on one of the first sunny days of the year.

I didn't know much of Madness outside of their hits, but this was pretty enjoyable. I think my favorite songs were "Rise and Fall," "Tomorrow's (Just Another Day," and "Our House." Probably more of a 3.5 for me, but I'm rounding up.

BLOOD... BLOOD... BLOOD... Let's fucking not.

Kind of a slog to get through. Far from the worst thing I've heard from this list recently, but not great. Songs went on too long. I did enjoy "Deep Water," but that was about it.

Classic gangsta rap. Snoop Dogg is just fantastic here. Not everything has aged super well, but it's that way with a lot of music. Standout tracks are "Gin and Juice," "Murder Was The Case," and "Ain't No Fun (If The Homies Can't Have None)." Loved hearing Nate Dogg on that last one. RIP.

Cream is so good. I absolutely adore this album. Every song is great, and the album itself is very cohesive. 5 stars.

Listening to this reminded me of the TV show Friends when Ross was doing his ridiculous keyboard music, but I weirdly enjoyed it.

I’ve really been sleeping on T. Rex, apparently. Another fantastic album from them. Didn’t vibe with this one quite as much as Electric Warrior, but it’s still really good and has some stellar songs. My favorite songs are “Metal Guru,” “Ballrooms of Mars,” and “Main Man.” Definitely going to listen to a lot more T. Rex going forward.

Honestly, I expected to hate and at best be indifferent to this album. But honestly? It’s quite good. It starts off strong with “Can’t Stand Me Now” and has some other really good songs, including “Music When The Lights Go Out,” “What Katie Did,” and “What Became Of The Likely Lads.” Parts of it were a little dull and redundant, but overall it was a surprisingly solid album.

This was very okay. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it. I definitely think there’s better Jurassic 5 albums that could have been on this list.

I want to like this more because it's giving me some Dave Matthews Band vibes, which I love, but this is just mediocre. "The Thoughts of Mary Jane" and "Saturday Sun" are fantastic songs, but the rest kind of blended together. Not terrible as an album, but just okay.

Such a great album. Every song is a banger. 5/5 so good!

I waffled between giving this 1 or 2 stars because, while I didn’t completely hate it, I was so bored. Plus most songs are too long. Then “Snuff” came on, which I really enjoyed. That’s really the only highlight.

Didn’t think I was going to like this, but I actually kind of did. It made for good background music while I washed dishes and did some other chores. “I’ll Come Running” was probably the highlight. Started to get kind of tedious near the end, but I’ve heard a lot worse.

Normally I like The Cure, but I wasn’t as into this. “M” and “Seventeen Seconds” were my favorite songs, but nothing really stood out. Kind of boring overall. I hoped for better.

I hate Metallica. The songs are too long. But I love this album. Fuck.

I thought maybe I’d turned a corner with The Flaming Lips because I liked The Soft Bulletin so much. But alas, I’m reminded why I really don’t care for them. I admit I liked listening to this album more than when I first heard it years ago, but there’s so much here that’s annoying and try hard. “Fight Test” and “Do You Realize??” are the best songs, but I’ve come around to “Yoshimi Part 1” a bit too. I totally understand why this album is on this list, but I prefer The Soft Bulletin even more after listening to this.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer just aren’t for me. I find most of their music to be so grating. And just when I think maybe I’m actually enjoying them, there’s a song that reminds me why I can’t stand them. However, when comparing them to other albums on this list, I’m more indifferent to them than anything else. I wish I could give half stars because this is a solid 2.5 from me, but I’m rounding up.

Insufferable rubbish.

Not my favorite album from The Temptations, but there are some really great songs here. "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" is a classic, and "Do Your Thing" and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" are also highlights. Plus it's The Temptations - they'll always make enjoyable music.

My biggest issues with these albums are the length of some of the songs, and the amount of interludes. Idk what it is with hip hop and copious interludes, but they’re so unnecessary and 99% of the time they take away from the flow of the album. That being said, these are fantastic albums. Speakerboxxx is the tighter album, but The Love Below has the better songs. “Roses” is probably the absolute standout, but there are so many great songs. The albums compliment and contrast each other well. Not perfect, but some of the best hip hop albums of the 2000.

Wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this album, but I surprisingly enjoyed it. I loved the concept and the song selection. "Henry Lee," "Where The Wild Roses Grow," and "Death Is Not The End" were probably my favorite songs, but there wasn't anything that stood out to me in a bad way either.

I like Elvis a lot, and some of his most famous songs are here. My favorites are “Only The Strong Survive,” “In The Ghetto,” and “Gentle On My Mind.” A solid album from top to bottom. But can we talk about “Don’t Cry Daddy?” It’s this kind of batshit songwriting I’m glad we left in the past. I cringed so hard I almost removed a star.

Admittedly I find Buffalo Springfield a bit boring to listen to. I hadn’t listened to this album before, but some of the songs were pretty good, with “Mr. Soul,” “Bluebird,” and “Sad Memory” being my favorites. As I got near the end, I was pretty certain this was going to get a 4 from me. But then “Broken Arrow” comes on and, wow, what a song! I immediately connected with it, and it drew me in more than any other song on the album. Still not totally sold on Buffalo Springfield, but I’m definitely sold on this album.

One of the best albums of all time hands down. You can still hear its influence on music today. Few albums have the longevity that this one does.

Unusual. Different. Funky. It’s not really my thing but I enjoyed it well enough.

There is a reason this is considered one of the best albums of all time. Just absolutely beautiful, musically and vocally. My favorite songs here are "All I Want," "River," and "A Case of You," but every song is really lovely. Such an amazing album that you can tell influenced so many since its release.

Enough. With. The. Interludes. 99% of the time they kill the flow of the album. And they add unnecessary time to albums that can border on being too long even without them. With that being said. I do really love Outkast. "Ms. Jackson" is a classic for my generation. Overall a really good album, but there's a fair amount of filler too, which detracts from it.

Randy Newman's music has kind of made me hate Randy Newman. I always thought for the most part he just did the nice songs for the Toy Story movies but my god his non-soundtrack music is insufferable. Only reason this is getting 2 stars is because it's not completely unlistenable. Plus I gave his racist "concept" album 2 stars, and this definitely wasn't worse than that (though not much better).

I love Paul Simon. Generally his music is fantastic. While not his best album, this self-titled gem does have some of his best songs. "Mother and Child Reunion" is one of the few songs that can make me cry from just hearing a few notes. Absolutely beautiful. "Duncan," "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Armistice Day," and "Peace Like a River" are also really strong tracks, but nothing quite tops "Mother and Child Reunion" for me. The first half of the album is generally better than the latter half, but it's still a lovely album top to bottom.

One of my favorite moments with my mom is when we were driving to dinner and “Roundabout” came on the radio. I cranked up the volume and said, “I love Roundabout!” My mom was vibing too but then paused and said, “wait, how do you know Roundabout?” It came out when she was in high school, and I discovered it when I was in high school. Funny how life comes full circle. I love Yes.

Not my favorite genre and kind of all over the place for me as an album. I’d give this a 2.5 if I could but rounding down due to the likelihood of me listening to this again (low).

While listening to this, I kept thinking, “how much more would I hate this album if I didn’t feel like I should like it since it’s Kate Bush?” The answer is, A LOT. Not a fan of this at all. Sorry, Kate, this just didn’t work for me.

Quintessential Janet! So many great songs here. My only real gripe is how unnecessarily long some of the songs are. But overall a spectacular album!

Far and away the best Beastie Boys album. There’s some songs on here that haven’t aged super well, but that can be said for many albums from past decades. I was obsessed with “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” when I was a kid, and it’s probably still my favorite song on the album. So good!

I’ve listened to a lot of music from The Kinks, but not this album. I shouldn’t be surprised that it was also great. It was a lot of classic Kinks style and 60s weird songwriting that I love so much. My favorite songs were “The Village Green Preservation Society,” “Do You Remember Walter?,” “Starstruck,” and “All Of My Friends Were There.” It’s been cited as an early example of a concept album, and I hear it and I dig it. I love The Kinks, and this is no exception.

Didn’t really care for this and kept thinking, “is this really an album I need to listen to before I die?” It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve listened to on this list, but it was boring and a bit repetitive. The title track and “I Cant Do Anything” were okay, but this is a skip from me.

Just a really good hip hop album from the 80s. Their version of “Walk This Way” is iconic! “Dumb Girl” doesn’t hold up especially well, but the rest of the album does, more so than many others from that era. This album has so many iconic songs; it makes total sense why it’s on this list.

This was alright. Kind of boring, but generally this isn’t a genre I love. Okay for what it was but I wouldn’t listen to it again.

I really enjoy the Talking Heads. Sometimes they can be a little much for me, but overall I really enjoy their music, and this album is no exception. "Born Under Punches," "Crosseyed and Painless," and "Once in a Lifetime" are the best songs on here, but they're all pretty good. This is between a 4 and 5 for me, but I've been listening to "Born Under Punches" on repeat all day, so it's getting a 5.

I love Stevie Wonder, and this is really his best album. But listening to it all the way through, since this is a double album, it's very clear that the first album is much stronger than the second. At times the second album was really a slog to get through (and those lyrics to "Black Man"... yikes!). I will say, the four bonus songs are fantastic ("Saturn" is gorgeous) and should have been the second half instead of what's actually there. With all that being said, this is still an amazing album and more than deserves to be on this list. Personally it's around a 4.5 for me, but it's Stevie and there's some stellar songs here, so I'm rounding up.

I like Elvis, but I wasn’t captivated by this one as much as I was some of his other albums. That being said, it’s still quite good, and I enjoyed most of the songs.

This was alright. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are a little hit or miss for me most of the time. My favorite songs were “Into My Arms,” “People Ain’t No Good,” and “Far From Me.” Overall I didn’t love it, but also didn’t hate it. Pretty average.

This was enjoyable enough. I’m not a huge fan of this kind of hip hop, but it was good for what it was. There were a couple lyrics that made me raise my eyebrow, but this isn’t the only album on here where that’s happened, and I know it won’t be the last. “Geto Heaven Part Two” was definitely the best song on the album.

Fantastic album. One of the best of the 90s and one of the best ever by a female artist. Every song is great and most of them are iconic. So, so good.

I like Prince a lot, and this is a really solid album. The main reason it's not getting 5 stars from me is that some of the songs really meander for way longer than they should. The musicality and production are top notch throughout, but this album just loses me at some points. It's not bad by any means, though. My favorite songs are probably "Little Red Corvette" and "Free" but they all have high points.

I don’t know how to explain it, but this album stressed me out. More than half the songs had me on edge, especially the first and last. “My Girls” and “Summertime Clothes” were okay, and there were parts of others I didn’t mind, but overall this was a very unpleasant listening experience.

This is a really good album. I didn’t listen to much Sonic Youth growing up, which is a shame because they are definitely one of the best alternative grunge bands of all time, and this album showcases that perfectly. While it dips a little for me in the middle, there really isn’t a bad song on here. “100%,” “Youth Against Fascism,” and “Purr” are probably my favorite songs, but I was captivated from beginning to end.

This album is iconic for a reason. It’s not my personal favorite Van Halen album, but it’s still really good and is probably one of the best debut albums from any band from that era. My favorite songs are “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” and “Atomic Punk.” Plus “Eruption” is pretty much perfection.

I mean it's the Ramones, what more is there to say? One of my favorite bands of all time. Every song on here is fantastic. My favorites are probably the first 4 and last 3 songs, but honestly everything here is great. Punk pioneers, and one of the best punk albums of all time.

Surprisingly have not listened to much of The Velvet Underground. I quite enjoyed this. My favorite songs are probably "Candy Says," "What Goes On," and "Jesus." "The Murder Mystery" was totally a mixed bag for me; I loved and hated it at the same time, but that was the only song I didn't really care for, even though I kind of did. Overall a really good album!

The more albums I hear that were produced by RZA, the more I appreciate his creative and haunting production style. Tical is definitely one of the best solo efforts from members of the Wu-Tang Clan. “Tical,” “What The Blood Clot,” and “I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need To Get By” are the best songs on a very strong album. Honestly was not expecting to be this impressed by Method Man’s debut solo effort, but his rhymes are great and the production puts it over the top.

Usually after one listen through of an album I have a pretty good sense on whether I like it or not. But not this one. I had to listen to it a few times to actually figure out my feelings. On first listen? Hated on. Next listen? Kind of brilliant. And so on. I’m still not entirely certain on my feeling, but more often than not, I found myself enjoying most of it. But boy does Scott Walker like to write about women crying. I swear like 2/3 of the songs on here have lyrics about it. “Hero Of The War” is probably my favorite song on this album. It’s lowkey brilliant? Somehow? Clearly I still don’t know how to feel, but, uh, 4 stars. Sure.

Definitely one of U2’s better albums. Not my favorite of theirs, but it’s not bad. “So Cruel,” “The Fly,” and “Ultra Violet (Light My Way” are probably my favorite songs aside from their two major hits from this. Solid 4.

I admit I tend to struggle with jazz. Even good jazz. It’s just not my favorite genre. But this album? Totally captivating. An absolute pleasure to listen to. There’s a reason Miles Davis is one of, if not the, best.

I'm kind of meh on Elvis Costello. I really liked the first 3 songs on the album, but then it just fell off for me. Not terrible, just not super engaging. I've definitely heard worse on this list and wouldn't turn this off if it came on a playlist, but I wouldn't seek it out either.

This is an amazing, iconic album by a similarly iconic rap group. NWA really left their mark on hip hop in a big way. Are some of the lyrics problematic? Sure, but that can be said about so many albums on this list in all genres. It’s not exclusive to rap, though I see it levied as a criticism almost exclusively to rap albums on this list. But I digress. One thing about NWA that I find different from a lot of other groups is that all of their rappers are insanely talented, but also so different. Even in other groups with multiple artists, there are usually weaker members, but not in NWA. Everyone is a talented lyricist and rapper. The first 3 songs come out the gate hot and set the tone for the album. While I don’t love every song here, the good ones are so good, and it’s a solid album top to bottom.

Didn't love this at first, but it grew on me as I listened. Not my favorite Radiohead, but even with that said, it's pretty good. My favorite songs were "Faust Arp," "Reckoner," and "Videotape." Wish I could give this a 3.5, but I'm rounding down.

This sort of felt like 2 separate albums put together, and honestly I really don’t like when bands do that. That being said, both parts of this album are really good. I definitely preferred the first half, but also appreciated the melancholy sounds of the latter half. This is probably a 3.5 for me, but I’m rounding up because I absolutely love “Been Caught Stealing.”

This is definitely Neil Young’s best solo album. “Out on the Weekend,” “Heart of Gold,” and “Words (Between the Lines of Age)” are my favorite songs here. I wish they’d kept the entire album as more low key and acoustic. There are a few songs that just feel out of place, especially “Are You Ready for the Country?” Solid album, though.

The quintessential grunge album. Iconic songs all over the place. Not a weak point on the album. Practically perfection. I grew up listening to Nirvana, and this album is just as good now as it was back then.

This album frustrates me. There are so many pieces of good songs here, but then they take weird turns in random places and become strange, but not in a good way. I really wanted to like this, and there are parts I did, but it’s a big mess overall. I am surprised this is one of the worst rated albums on this entire list, though. I can guarantee there are so many worse albums than this.

One of the better live albums I’ve listened to. Music, instrumentation, and production were all really good here. Not my usual genre, but I enjoyed this.

Billy Joel is so good. Probably his best album top to bottom, but he has some other fantastic ones that I think should be on this list as well. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” is my favorite song on here, but I admittedly love his long story songs (“Captain Jack” is all time favorite) but there is literally not one weak song on this album. I’ve seen him play most songs from this album in concert, and if you have the chance to see him, I highly recommend it. One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen.

I'm definitely more of a Parliament person than a Funkadelic person, though both are still good. Absolutely love this album. Great songs top to bottom. Can't really pick a favorite because they're all fantastic.

This is a great album, but the original songs are so much stronger than the covers. Aside from "Summer Breeze," I actually think the cover songs are the weak points. Obviously the vocals and stuff are still good on those, but they pale in comparison to the original songs (and their original versions). "That Lady," "If You Were There," and "You Walk Your Way" are the best songs on the album. Still, though, the album is so good. Definitely some of the best from The Isley Brothers all in one place.

I love Cat Stevens. His music always puts me in a peaceful mood. This album is great. For better or worse, "Father and Son" will always make me think of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and make me emotional. But truly all the songs here are excellent.

Every time I see the title of this album I just think of Alfred E. Neuman/Mad Magazine. “What, me worry?” As an album, though? Completely obnoxious.

Probably the most influential southern rock record of all time. I know some of these songs are kind of played out, but they’re still so good. “Tuesday’s Gone” is my favorite song on here, and I’ve been listening to it on repeat since listening to the album. “Poison Whiskey” is probably my least favorite song on here, but it’s still solid. Overall just a fantastic record.

As a Dan fan, this is one of their albums that I’ve listened to the least, individual songs aside. With that being said, it’s still love it. My favorite songs are “Night By Night,” “Any Major Dude Will Tell You,” “Barrytown,” and “With A Gun.” The album loses some steam in the second half, but it’s still fantastic.

One of my favorite albums by my favorite band? Yeah, I've been waiting for this one. From an objective point of view, I think Ignition and Americana are better albums (they've never sounded better than on Americana, in my opinion, and the non-single songs are some of the best they've ever done, and Ignition is where they're lyrically at their best). However, it makes total sense for this album to be on here. It changed the game. Really brought punk to the mainstream in the 90s in a way other bands weren't and paved the way for the success of bands like Blink 182 and Rancid. Even though I was a kid in 1994, I remember this album being such a big deal. Listening to it with my older brother is what made me a lifelong fan of The Offspring. Let's talk about the songs. My brother had a copy of Spin magazine with Dexter Holland on the cover that I used to steal and read the article on them over and over. While it was during the Americana days, Dexter talked about what persuaded him to write "Bad Habit," and it endeared me to the song ever since. Plus, how can you hate a song with the lyrics "stupid dumbshit goddamn motherfucker?" "Self Esteem" is their masterpiece. Hands down, no questions. "Come Out and Play," "Bad Habit," "Nitro (Youth Energy)," and "Smash" are my other favorites, but honestly there isn't one song on here that I don't like in some way. Still know all the words. Still belt them at the top of my lungs. Practically a perfect record.

Not even a half hour in length, but it still felt long. No fucking thank you.

One of the first albums I got on this list was The Man Machine, and I gave it a 3, but it was very meh. I actually liked this album a lot more, probably about a 3.5, but not enough to round up to a 4. If I could go back and re-rate The Man Machine, I’d probably give it a 2. But alas, this is also getting a 3. But it was much better.

Bad Company by Bad Company from the album Bad Company. Not my favorite album of theirs, but I understand why this is the one chosen for the list. Probably like a 4.5 but rounding up.

Wow okay. Totally obsessed with these Kinks concept albums. Definitely preferred some individual songs on Village Green Preservation Society, but this is so much richer as an album. Only comparing the two due to the conceptual nature of both. But my god. So fantastic. Hard to pick favorite songs, but “Victoria” and “Arthur” are probably my favorites. “Yes Sir, No Sir” and “Shangri-La” are really great too. Just amazing.

A classic of the genre for a reason. Some lyrics haven’t aged well, but you’re going to find that in a lot of albums. Honestly what I don’t love about this album is that it feels light on Dr. Dre himself. He’s a good rapper, but this is more of a showcase for everyone else featured here. Given where his career headed (producing) it makes sense, but it doesn’t really feel like a Dr. Dre album. Still good, but I admit I prefer 2001 from his discography. But it totally makes sense why this is here.

I’m generally kind of ambivalent about Madonna. I like some of her songs but generally don’t seek out her music. So color me surprised when I listened to this and loved it? This isn’t even a genre I enjoy in general, let alone from Madonna, but this was amazing. A super cohesive album, and while on the longer side with songs on the longer side too, it never overstayed its welcome. So many great artists fall into that trap, but Madonna figured out how to perfectly toe the line here. “Drowned World/Substitute for Love,” “Ray of Light,” and “The Power of Good-Bye” were my favorite songs, but I found something to enjoy about every song on this album. Was not expecting to love this as much as I did, but I’m so glad this came up on this list and forced me to give it a chance.

This was alright. I could see how this could have been really important album in the 80s. Listening to it now, though, a lot of the songs are similar and repetitive. I didn’t hate this, but nothing much stood out. I was going to give this a 2, but “4 Ever 2 Gether” was a nice departure from the rest of the album, and I quite enjoyed it. But over, this was just okay.

Marvin Gaye is great, and I liked this album quite a bit. My favorite songs are “Let’s Get It On” (an absolute classic) and “Distant Lover.” The last 2 songs really drag on too long, and that’s my main criticism here. But overall still enjoyed this album a lot.

I thought I’d listened to this whole album back when it came out, but I don’t remember half the songs. “Don’t Panic,” “Shiver,” “Yellow,” and “Trouble” are my favorite songs, but they’re all pretty good. I’m hit or miss on Coldplay in general, but this is one of their best albums.

Liked this quite a bit better than the other Fela Kuti album I got, which I did still enjoy. This was one great and I found the music to be more engaging. Overall a really solid album.

I have really mixed feelings on this album. At points I really loved it, but at other points it seemed so tedious, sometimes even in the same song. I enjoyed parts of “Buzzin’ Fly” and “Gypsy Woman,” but the latter especially droned on far too long. I’d give this a 3.5 if I could, but overall this was just a bit much for me.

This far from the worst thing I’ve heard, but I still didn’t like it much. Something about the song “Aisha” really put me off in an extreme way. Overall just didn’t care for this.

This was okay. Not something I think I needed to listen to before I die. I don’t really have strong feelings about this either way. Was leaning towards giving this a 2, but I really liked the song “Understanding” so I bumped it up to a 3.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Normally I find classical music to be a bit sleepy, but I found this to be really engaging. I listened to this with headphones, and every now and then there would be like talking or murmuring sounds on the track that I kept thinking were happening outside, which I didn’t love. But overall really good and enjoyable.

This is such a great hip hop album. Production, lyrics, everything, just absolutely top notch. My favorite songs are “911 Is A Joke,” “Burn Hollywood Burn,” “Revolutionary Generation,” and “Fight The Power.” I don’t always love Public Enemy, but this is definitely their masterpiece.

This was okay. It’s really not my type of music. It was fine for what it was.

I love this weirdo and his weird ass music. I was so on the fence about him when I heard Scott 4, but I’ve since completely embraced his music. My favorite songs on this album are “Best Of Both Worlds,” “Black Sheep Boy,” and “Come Next Spring” but honestly it’s all pretty good. I think in general I preferred Scott 4 to this, but I like this a lot as well.

A stellar psychedelic rock album. Maybe not my favorite Deep Purple album, but it’s really good. “Hard Lovin’ Man” is probably my favorite track, but there’s not a weak song on here.

Honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this album before I started it. I’m not the biggest fan of big band music, but I also know Count Basie is a legend. This definitely exceeded my expectations. The arrangements were fun and captivating. I kept listening to “Fight of the Foo Birds” on repeat because it was such a fun track. Overall I really enjoyed this.

I’ve really loved the Curtis Mayfield albums on this list. While not as epic as Superfly, this is still fantastic and lyrically masterful. My favorite songs are probably “Blue Monday People” and “Love to the People.” A very powerful album that deserves its place on this list.

Totally blown away by this album. Actually shocked I hadn't listened to this before, though I know I've heard a few songs from it. Her voice is beautiful, and her lyrics are stunning. My favorite songs are "Crucify," "Silent All These Years," "Winter," and "Tear in Your Hand." I also love that "Silent All These Years" was originally written for Al Stewart, who she sang background vocals for, and is one of my favorite artists. This has to be one of the best 90s albums by any female artist. Just gorgeous.

I have really mixed feelings on this. Some of it was great, but some of it has aged so poorly. The skill and creativity were apparent, and I totally understand why this made the list, but overall I just didn’t love it.

This kind of music really isn't my vibe. It's really indicative of what I don't like about late-2010s-20s music. It's far from the worst thing I've heard on this list, but also not sure it needs to be on here. "Wild At Heart" and "Dark But Just A Game" were somewhat enjoyable, but overall this is not for me.

I like Muse well enough, but I don't think I've ever listened to a full album from them. Clearly I was missing out because this is an amazing album from top to bottom. I think this is one of the albums that has fallen off the list over the years, which is shocking to me because it's fantastic and is one of the ones that seems most obvious as to why it should be on the list. It's hard to pick favorite songs, but mine are probably "Starlight," "Map of the Problematique," and "Knights of Cydonia," but honestly I loved every song on here. Just absolutely stunning.

I understand why this album is on the list, but it's probably not the Guns N' Roses album I would have chosen. I think Use Your Illusion I is probably a more memorable album, even if it has less of their hits. Guns N' Roses has always had some pretty problematic lyrics, and there's definitely some stuff on here that made me cringe. However there are still a lot of good songs. "Mr. Brownstone," "My Michelle," and "Sweet Child O' Mine" are probably my favorites. It's still a good album, but not their best.

I definitely should have listened to this whole album before now. I knew "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" as a song, but holy cow the entire album is fantastic. Just stunning. Every song is amazing. And the title track is just absolute overindulged, unhinged greatness.

I hoped to like this more than I did. It was pretty boring and nothing stood out. I waffled between giving this a 1 or a 2, but I'm going with 2 just because it's not atrocious in the same way as other things I've rated a 1. Just really blah.

Honestly any Radiohead post-Ok Computer is hit or miss for me. I appreciate how they continue to evolve their sound, but I preferred them when they were more straight alternative. This is pretty good, though. Didn’t love it at first, but it grew on me. “Backdrifts,” “Go To Sleep,” and “A Punch Up at a Wedding” are my favorites, but there’s nothing on here that was bad. After listening to this all the way through, I actually think I liked this more than Kid A, which surprised me. A solid 4.

I liked this better than Harvest? That was very unexpected for me. I think I actually loved every song on here except “For the Turnstiles” and “Vampire Blues.” But everything else? Stunning and moody in the best way. I was expecting to be ambivalent about this album, but it truly blew me away.

My goodness what a fantastic album. You can still hear its influence on music today. There isn’t one bad song on here. “London Calling,” “Train In Vain,” “I’m Not Down,” “Spanish Bombs,” and “Lost in the Supermarket” are my favorite songs off of it, but I mean it when I say there are no weak songs. Lyrically and musically this is The Clash at their best. This is an album that everyone should have to listen to at least once.

This is like blues-jazz-alternative-rap fusion, right? Honestly I’m impressed someone can mix four genres and not be good at any of them. Oh and add in a bad blaccent? The cherry on top. Hard pass.

This was okay. Somewhat enjoyable but not particularly memorable. The title track was the best song. Not bad but nothing special.

This was exceedingly hard to find. I ended up having to listen to each song individually, but it was worth it. Fats Domino is amazing, and the moment I heard “Blueberry Hill” I was transported back to my family’s minivan listening to the oldies station on the way to school. Love it.

I was honestly shocked by how much I liked this. An absolutely stunning album and probably one of the best concept albums I’ve ever heard. I tend to not like much music from the 2010s and beyond, so I’m glad I gave this a real listen. “Faster,” “Cold War,” and “Come Alive (War of the Roses)” were some of my favorite tracks, but everything here is great and contributes to the whole of the album. It just seamlessly flows, and the production is top notch. Janelle Monae is so talented. Wow.

This was fine. I was surprised I knew more of the songs than I thought I would from hearing them on the radio. The singles were probably my favorite songs, but I also enjoyed “Of Moons, Birds & Monsters.” Not sure if this really belongs on the list, but it was alright and enjoyable enough to listen to.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this. It’s very 90s in an incredibly specific way, but one that is very hit or miss for me, and this is a miss. “Hung Up” was a bright spot, but that was about it. I wish I could give this a 2.5, but I’m rounding down.

I have such a love/hate with the Eagles, bordering more on hate these days. But this album? I can’t deny that it is a masterpiece top to bottom. Even though it is overplayed to hell, “Hotel California” is a perfect way to open the album and really sucks you in and sets the tone. I can’t really pick favorite songs but “Wasting Time” and “Try and Love Again” are what I enjoyed most on this listen. The only song on this album that I don’t care for consistently is “The Last Resort,” but everything else is fantastic.

I was really surprised by this one. Had absolutely no idea what to expect as I’d never heard Shuggie Otis before, but this was so enjoyable, musically and lyrically. It seemed very different from a lot of stuff from that time period, in a good way. I found myself really getting lost in the music when normally I’m more of a lyrics person. Fantastic album overall.

Such a great Bowie album! It’s a great mix of lyrics and instrumentals, and it’s so delightfully moody. The first 3 songs (“Heroes” is a classic, of course) and the last song are my favorites, but it’s strong top to bottom. Hard for me to dislike anything from David Bowie.

Van Morrison is kind of a crappy person, but I can’t deny he’s made some amazing music. This is absolutely my favorite album of his. The first half is definitely stronger than the second half, but it’s still pretty good top to bottom. “And It Stoned Me,” “Crazy Love,” and “Everyone” are my favorite songs on the album. I especially love “Everyone” because of its use in The Royal Tenenbaums, which is my favorite movie. To me, Van Morrison has great singles more so than albums, but this is definitely his masterpiece.

Surprisingly hard to find, but definitely worth the trouble. Even after listening to this, I think I'm still slightly more partial to Parliament, but I greatly preferred this to Maggot Brain. Really solid album. I'll probably return to this.

I just didn’t vibe with this. I can definitely hear the talent, and there’s a great roster of guests, but it bored me. This is one of the albums where I understand why it’s on the list; I just don’t care for it.

I’m a fan of Suzanne Vega for “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner” but I haven’t heard much else from her. I wasn’t feeling this album at first, but it really grew on me as I listened. “Marlene On The Wall,” “Some Journey,” and “The Queen And The Soldier” are my favorite songs from it. It’s a little hit or miss for me in places, but overall I liked it. It’s basically a 3.5 from me but I’m rounding up.

This is Rush at their best. Every song on here is amazing. Great, cohesive album. No notes.

This is a really good Van Halen album. The singles are the best songs, but the rest aren’t bad. I tend to prefer the Sammy Hagar years a bit more (I know…) but this is pretty much peak Van Halen.

MY BROTHER IN CHRIST WHY IS THIS ON HERE? If there was a list of 1001 albums you shouldn’t listen to before you die, this would be near the top.

Not a huge fan of the first song on the album, but it only goes up from there. Genuinely hard to pick favorite songs, but “Thank You Friends,” “Jesus Christ,” “Femme Fatale,” and “Kanga Roo” are probably near the top. In addition to being a great album, the history behind it is super fascinating. I just love Big Star.

I’ve heard individual songs from Elliott Smith that I really enjoyed, but never listened to an entire record. Ngl, I was pretty disappointed. This album, as the kids would say, is mid. Far from the worst thing on this list, but not great. “Son Of Sam” and “Easy Way Out” are my favorite songs from it, but nothing really stood out. I’d give this a 2.5 if I could, but I’m rounding up to 3 because a 2 seems a little too harsh, but it was close.

Probably my favorite Talking Heads album. It’s just so good. Every song is absolutely stellar, and there are no weak tracks. “Psycho Killer” is an elite song; one you have to sing along to at the top of your lungs whenever you hear it. But “Uh Oh, Love Comes to Town,” “No Compassion,” “Pulled Up,” and honestly every other song… just cannot choose a favorite. Might not be possible. It’s been awhile since I’ve listened to this, and I forgot just how good it is. This album will be on heavy rotation for me for at least the next month.

It has been a minute since I’ve listened to this album all the way through. Just… wow. What else can I say about it? Pink Floyd at their best. The pinnacle of concept albums. Absolutely brilliant.

I quite enjoyed this. It has that late 80s/early 90s dance/R&B vibe that is very nostalgic to me. “Buffalo Stance” is a fantastic song, and there are a lot of other good ones on the album too. Wish I could give this a 3.5, but I’m rounding down as it’s not quite a 4 for me, but I still enjoyed it.

Loved “Juicy” and “Big Poppa” but that’s about it. Those are the two I was familiar with before listening to this, and I hoped to enjoy this based on those songs. But I didn’t. I enjoy hip hop a fair amount, but this just didn’t grab me. The Diddy of it all probably didn’t help either. This was just okay, but I wanted more.

Considering my dislike for the song “Get Together” I did not have much hope for an album from The Youngbloods. This is another instance on this list where I was glad to be proved wrong! “Darkness, Darkness” is a fantastic opener, and arguably the best song on the album, and it sets a tone for what’s to come. There honestly isn’t a bad song on this album, and besides the opening track my favorites are “Smug,” “Sunlight,” and “Quicksand.” The instrumentals are fantastic too, and on albums like this they tend to be hit or miss, but they were definitely a hit here. There are so many great albums from the 60s, and this manages to stand high amongst the competition. Truly just a fantastic record.

It seems to me like Amy Winehouse gets the Adele treatment where anything she ever released is considered good, even when it’s remarkably average. Back To Black is a fantastic album, but Frank left a lot to be desired. Maybe I’d like this more if I was going through a breakup or in my 20s, but I couldn’t get into this at all. She’s obviously a talented singer, and there are some decent songs here, but overall it’s just not great and doesn’t deserve to be on this list.

This is definitely one of my top Stevie Wonder albums. Lots of great songs, though some of them drag on a little longer than they need to. My favorites are “He’s Misstra Know-It-All,” which is the best song on the album by far, “Higher Ground,” and “Living For The City.” This is a 4.5 for me, but I’m ultimately going with a 4 because it doesn’t compare with Songs In The Key Of Life, which I already rated a 5. But “He’s Misstra Know-It-All” is a 10/10 song. I can’t get over how much I love it.

Really good album, and you can hear how it influenced hip hop. “The Message” is iconic. Hadn’t heard much else from them besides the title track, but was overall really impressed. Didn’t care much for “Scorpio” or “You Are” but the rest of the tracks are amazing. This is an album where you can tell from the first few beats of the first song that it belongs on the list.

This is the best Deep Purple album. Every song on here is top tier, but “Highway Star” and “Smoke on the Water” stand above the others. Just absolute fantastic 70s rock.

Kendrick Lamar came on the scene when I wanted nothing to do with any current music, so his music has largely escaped me aside from a few major performances I’d seen, like the Super Bowl halftime show a few years back. His talent is evident from the first track. It fits in perfectly with the West Coast hip hop that I grew up with and loved (which obviously makes sense since Dr. Dre had a hand in it). This album is head and shoulders above most of the other hip hop I’ve heard from this time period. I definitely understand why Kendrick Lamar is considered so highly. I didn’t love everything about this album, but it’s solid, had a story, great production, and Lamar’s talent is evident. Definitely a worthy inclusion for the modern side of the list.

I’m just not a fan of the Pixies. I feel like I should like them, but I don’t. While I liked this album better than Bossanova, which was the 2nd album I got on this list, overall I’m still not a fan. “Gigantic” and “Where Is My Mind?” are my favorite songs on the album, and I think I particularly liked “Gigantic” because Kim Deal did the lead vocals instead of Black Francis (with few exceptions, all of the songs where Kim Deal took on more of the vocals I preferred to the rest of the album). But yeah, pass on this.

This might be my new favorite Bowie album. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to it all the way through, but wow. I loved every song, but “Watch That Man,” “Drive-In Saturday,” “Panic In Detroit,” and “The Jean Genie” are the standouts. I also love the concept of this being about him traveling through America during his tour. You can actually hear the inspiration in a lot of the songs. This is going to be on constant rotation for me.

This is probably my favorite Yes album. I cannot pick a favorite song because it changes constantly. Honestly this album is low key (or high key) brilliant. Despite having multiple 8+ minute songs, none of them feel overly long, and that’s hard to do. This is on fairly regular rotation for me, and I don’t ever see that changing.

Most of my knowledge of Duran Duran is their singles, which I pretty much universally enjoy, so I was a little let down by this album. I liked it well enough, but nothing was spectacular about it. “Rio,” “Hungry Like The Wolf,” and “New Religion” were my favorite songs, and while none of the other songs were bad, they were just kind of middling. This is definitely a 3.5 to me, but I have to ultimately give it a 3. It wasn’t bad but wasn’t great either.

I’m so biased when it comes to this album. Steely Dan is one of my favorite bands, and this is possibly my favorite album of all time. For a debut album, it is insanely good and possibly the best album the band has ever made. There is not one weak track on the album. Everything is a standout. It’s also so different from almost everything that was out at the time. Production is great. Sound is unique. Musically and lyrically a standout. “Dirty Work” into “Kings” into “Midnight Cruiser” is such a great creative punch. I could go on and on about this album, but I’ll shut up now and give it the 5 stars it deserves.

I continue to feel very mixed about post-OK Computer Radiohead, and this album might be the one I feel the most mixed about. The standout songs are so good, verging on brilliant. The rest feel incredibly lacking. The best tracks are “Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box,” “Pyramid Song,” and “Knives Out,” and there are a few others that are pretty good. The only reason this is getting a high rating from me is because of the strength of some of the songs and the moody vibe. Even for the songs I didn’t care for, they added to the overall moodiness of the album, and that in itself elevates the material.

Is this Led Zeppelin’s best album? Yes. Does it also have most of my favorite songs of theirs? Also yes. I’ve listened to this album so many times, and it somehow gets better with each listen. If I had to pick a favorite album of all time, this would definitely be in the conversation.

I generally love The Byrds and this is no exception. Fantastic album top to bottom. “So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star,” “Have You Seen Her Face,” and “My Back Pages” are my favorite songs on it, but every song is really enjoyable. It’s just good, fun 60s folk rock.

I’m struggling to rate this one despite the fact that I overall quite liked it. But there were a handful of songs that were actually physically hard to listen to. Just noise and weird sounds and bad production. Listening to those was almost painful. But on the other hand, there were some absolutely brilliant songs. “As We Go Up, We Go Down,” “Game Of Pricks,” “My Valuable Hunting Knife,” “King And Caroline,” “Blimps Go 90,” and “Little Whirl” were spectacular, and I actually loved the brevity of most of the tracks and how some of them were like short poems being sung. Some questionable lyrics at times, but it was the 90s. Because of how much I really loved some of the songs, I’m giving this a higher rating, but a few of the tracks and the production really left something to be desired. Really had to sit with this one for awhile, but overall I think it’s a worthy inclusion to this list.

The Beatles are one of my favorite bands, so I’ll be biased towards any of their albums. Is this the best from them? Not even close. I’m not sure it should be on this list honestly. If there was a Beatles album to leave off, it would probably be this one. But it’s still a 5 star album. Great top to bottom and fun in the unique way early Beatles albums are. Not their greatest, but still great.

I really disliked Meat Is Murder. This is… better? Somewhat? More tolerable, I suppose. My issue with Morrissey and The Smiths is that most of their songs are overdone, overindulgent, and whiney. Plus Morrissey as a human is so repugnant that I have a hard time even attempting to enjoy anything he’s done. This is probably the best it’ll get for me with The Smiths. I actually enjoyed a few of the songs on the album - “The Queen Is Dead,” “Cemetry Gates,” and “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side.” I’d like to give this a 2.5, but I’m rounding up against my better judgment.

I’ve always been kind of borderline on ZZ Top and really need to be in the right mood to enjoy them. I’ve never done a deep dive or listened to a full album before, and it was pretty much what I expected, but it was good. “Move Me On Down The Line” was by far my favorite track, but most songs are good and “La Grange” is a classic. With all that being said, I totally understand why this is on the list, and honestly it would be offensive to not have any ZZ Top here.

I had no idea what to expect with this one. I’d never listened to the Crusaders before, and was surprised in good and bad ways. The title track is the absolute standout, and while all the songs are pleasant, it really verges on elevator music at times. A lot of the tracks sounded familiar, but not in good ways. Like something you’d hear in a mall or a bad 80s sitcom or your very last backup preset radio station that you hope you never have to listen to but every other station is on commercials. Still, it was nice, pleasant, and somewhat enjoyable. I’m really struggling between a 2 and a 3 for this, but I think I’m rounding down. The strength of the title track just can’t quite carry the record.

I wish this wasn’t a double album. The 2nd half is hands down 5 stars. Literally every song there is fantastic, perfect, etc. The 1st half, though, is boring and unremarkable, which is a bummer considering it’s Prince. The title track and “Starfish and Coffee” are the first half highlights, but the rest is nothing to write home about. Splitting the difference here and rating it a 4, which doesn’t quite seem fair because of the strength of the 2nd half, but it seems overly generous for the 1st half. Sadly this is one of those double albums that really shouldn’t be. Add a few songs from the 1st to the 2nd half, and you have a damn near flawless album. Oh well.

I know I’ve listened to this before and liked it. But I didn’t this time. Some of the songs are god awful and cringe and go on for way too long. The singles that came from this are the best parts. “Breaking The Girl” and “Under The Bridge” are 5 star songs. RHCP’s late 90s/early 2000s stuff is a lot stronger than this.

This was fairly unremarkable. I didn’t hate it, but I really didn’t like it either. “Marquee Moon,” despite its length, and “Guiding Light” were my favorite songs, but overall this just didn’t grab me.

Here’s my thing with Moby. I find him to be a pretentious fuck and really far up his own ass. And his obsession with Natalie Portman is so weird and creepy. Clouds my feelings about his music. Also his voice is terrible. I actually liked a few songs on this album, but it happened they were all ones where he sampled the vocals of black artists. I understand sampling and generally don’t have problems with it, but this felt like appropriation to an extent. I mean, the production was good? And the non-Moby vocal songs were generally enjoyable. But overall I didn’t care for this album (or him).

I’ll be honest, I don’t listen to much REM. I like them a lot, and whenever I hear them it’s enjoyable, but it’s not something I seek out or want to listen to very often. This album is great. No question there. I found “You Are The Everything” to be absolutely beautiful and moving. And while this won’t be on heavy rotation for me, it’s still stunning and brilliant.

There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said. Fantastic. Amazing. Sometimes I really have to remember how groundbreaking MTV Unplugged was and how amazing and special this performance was in the history of the show. I don’t even love live albums that much, but this is perfection. The covers are iconic, and the performances of their own songs live up to and often elevate the studio versions. “The Man Who Sold The World,” nothing can top that.

Didn’t like the album and it gave me weird straight dude vibes, like in the way I could totally imagine him having mannequins and pallets of human hair in his basement. So color me shocked to find out this guy actually isn’t straight at all! The album just has that very particular 2010s hipster dude sound where they think they’re so clever and funny and deep, but in reality it’s just tryhard and cringe. Dude’s voice is not good either. Also, I don’t care if you’re trying to be ironic or subversive or whatever, but it’s not okay for white people to say racial slurs. I don’t care what point you’re trying to make. It was just one song but soured me even more on the album. This was really a struggle to get through. I started watching Instagram reels near the end because one caught my eye and I completely forgot I was listening to an album until like 30 minutes later. I’m not sure why this deserves to be on the list and why it received so much critical praise. It is nothing special. I’d say almost every album I’ve rated 1 star so far should be on this list over this. I’ve heard albums from American Idol rejects that are better and more culturally significant than this.

What’s there to say? Another great Bowie album. No weak tracks. “Life on Mars?” is a damn near perfect song. Bowie continues to be at his best here.

I have to separate Michael Jackson the person from Michael Jackson the artist because I do like his music for the most part, but I think he did some terrible things. Speaking strictly musically, this isn’t my favorite album from him. There are fun songs, but also a lot of filler. “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Off The Wall,” and “She’s Out Of My Life” are my favorite songs from the album, and while there are a few other solid ones, the rest are meh. I think he hits his stride in later albums. Still enjoyable, though.

I understand why this album is on the list, and I can hear the influence it had, but I’m underwhelmed. Admittedly, this is far from my favorite genre, but the songs really started to sound the same after awhile. I didn’t hate it, though. This is honestly a 2.5 for me, but I’m rounding down.

People hate this? Really? I know it’s one of the lowest rated albums on this site, but it’s actually really good. It’s wonderfully weird in that 1960s way, but it’s also innovative and influential. Reading that this album influenced Robert Plant is totally evident in early Led Zeppelin songs. I hope people give this an honest chance because it’s actually fantastic and completely deserves it’s critical acclaim and place on the list.

How can you give this anything but 5 stars? It’s an iconic album, and top to bottom filled with great songs. As a Seattle Mariners fan, “Fire” will always make me smile since it’s played after every home win. But “Purple Haze” and “Hey Joe” are also fantastic, plus “Are You Experienced?” ends the album on such a different note, while possibly being the most brilliant song on the entire album. I could go on and on, but I’ll stop now and give it 5 stars.

Wasn’t as immediately taken with this album as I was with their other one on this list. Doesn’t mean it’s bad by any means. “Can I Kick It?” is such a good song it gets a star just for that. Listened to a few of the tracks again and came around on the album a little more. Wish I could give it a 3.5, but I’m rounding up because there are some really stellar tracks.

This definitely deserves to be on the list, but I didn’t love it. Admittedly ska is hit or miss for me, but The Specials are iconic, so I can’t hate. Overall I enjoyed this record. Not every song was great, but it was pretty enjoyable as a whole.

I don’t love jazz, but this was quite enjoyable and calming. You really can’t get better than Miles Davis.

Wasn’t totally feeling the first two songs, but I ended up really enjoying this. A little all over the place, but I love this kind of 60s weirdness. Some of it gave me Scott Walker vibes, who I love. My favorite songs are “Call On Me,” “Dropout Boogie,” “I’m Glad,” and “Yellow Brick Road.” Solid album overall.

I think what sets Metallica apart from other heavy metal bands is that musically they are beautiful. The instrumentation is exquisite. With that said, I still don’t love their music. The title track is fantastic, but the rest is just alright. Not bad, just okay. They have moments of brilliance here, but not enough for me to love it.

I liked this well enough, but I prefer later Black Sabbath albums to this. Nothing bad here, just a lot that sounds the same. Instrumentation is great and some interesting lyrics as well, but nothing really grabbed me. Still good, though. Just not great.

I love this album, but if we can only have 2 Elton John albums on this list, which is apparently the case, aside from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I would have chosen Honky Chateau over this. With that being said, this is still an amazing album. “Tiny Dancer” is a classic for a reason, “Levon” is probably one of my favorite songs of all time, and “Madman Across The Water” is absolute perfection. But then we get to “Indian Sunset.” While I really like this song and think it’s beautiful, it’s something that probably shouldn’t have been written by a white, British guy, let alone performed by a white, British guy. Times were different then. The album seems to peak there, however, and the latter half just can’t hold up to how strong the first half is. Still great overall and one of Elton’s best.

Idk what this is, but whatever it is, I’m not a fan. I made a face listening to the first song, and it didn’t get much better from there. Not a fan.

I just love James Taylor. This is such a perfect record. “Fire and Rain” is an amazing song and stands out on an album full of amazing songs. There should be more James Taylor on this list, but I’m glad at least this one is here.

This is another album where I totally understand why it’s on here; I just don’t care for it. There were some parts I liked, but it definitely felt longer than it’s actual runtime. M.I.A. is definitely talented, but this isn’t my thing.

Is it weird to like this more than At Folsom Prison? I don’t know how they’re ranked against each other. Anyway, I really loved this. Sort of surprisingly so. I don’t love live albums, but there’s great banter and great songs. Can’t ask for anything more.

This was a nice surprise for me. Live albums are very hit or miss for me, and I like Thin Lizzy, but I don’t love them. But this? I loved this. I was surprised to see this on here instead of Jailbreak, but after listening, I get it. This album also showcases just how talented and charismatic Phil Lynott was. It loses a bit of steam for me in the last few songs, but it’s still stellar. One of the best live albums I’ve ever listened to.

I never really “got” this album. So many people think it’s brilliant and Springsteen’s best work, but I’ve always found it to be incredibly mediocre. There are a few decent songs, “Atlantic City” and “Johnny 99,” with “Highway Patrolman” being the standout on the album, but the rest ranges from underwhelming to outright bad (I’m looking at you, “State Trooper”). I can appreciate the stripped down nature of it and the history of its recording, but even with all that, it’s still not that great of an album. If I listen to it with the idea that it’s a concept album, it works a little better for me, but not by much. I really like Springsteen, and I’m probably rating it higher than I would if it were almost any other artist, but this album is just not great.

I think this just isn’t my genre. Very average. Decent background music but nothing stood out. I don’t imagine I’ll be listening to this again.

I can safely say I didn’t enjoy anything about this. Not the absolute worst thing on the list, but it also reminds me why I despise most music of this genre.

This was fun. Didn’t know what to expect but I found this engaging and enjoyable. There were a few iffy lyrics, but overall this was good. I can also definitely hear its influence on other artists.

Not surprised that I basically loved this. I generally really enjoy Harry Nilsson in general. Do I think “Coconut” was unnecessary and seemed to go on for too long? Yes. But was everything else fantastic? Also yes. Basically a 4.5 for me, but I’m rounding up.

This was dreadfully boring, but not bad. I think I’m just not the target audience for this music. That being said, there are much worse things on this list. Not sure if this needs to be here, though.

I really don’t like electronic music. Goldie, Fatboy Slim, Moby, and others on this list were such a struggle to get through. So why do I love The Prodigy? This album is 78 minutes long, and I didn’t know any of the songs on it (I know quite a few from their other album on this list) but I was never bored and this album never felt like it dragged. I guess that’s why this album belongs on this list. It’s quite a feat to make someone love an album in a genre they hate. Kudos to The Prodigy. They’re clearly one of the best.

I’m grateful that this album gave us “To Make You Feel My Love” but otherwise, I’ll pass. Dylan is well past his prime here. His voice does not hold up, and the songs are overly long and meandering. I’m kind of surprised this got so much critical praise, but at the same time, there’s something about it I could see specifically critics in the mid-90s gravitating towards. There are glimpses here and there of a good album, and I did particularly enjoy the first track, but overall it’s uneven and kind of a mess. As I listened, I kept thinking, “did this really need to be made?” But at the same time, it’s Dylan and something in me just can’t hate it.

I think what I love about The Prodigy and what sets them apart from other electronica is that to me their music has an angry and manic edge that others don’t. That’s honestly the only thing I can think of because based on my feelings about the genre, I really should hate them. But I just can’t, for whatever reason. I’d give this album 5 stars just for “Smack My Bitch Up,” which I always listen to when I’m angry and need to rage. And “Breathe” is still a banger. The whole album is great, though. There’s nothing better in this genre than 90s-era The Prodigy.

I wanted to like this more than I did, but I found it to be overindulgent and overdone. “Walk On By” was great but didn’t need to be 12 minutes long. “One Woman” was definitely the standout, which isn’t surprising considering it was the shortest and most concise song. Long songs are fine, but they need to serve more of a purpose than this. Isaac Hayes has a great voice and is super talented, but this could have been better.

This was okay. I quite liked the beginning of the album, but it sort of fell apart as things went on. Most of the tracks also sounded the same, and there wasn’t a whole lot of variety. This is one of the albums on the list that even though I got some personal enjoyment out of, I in no way think it should be on the list. This is definitely not something you need to hear before you die.

I enjoyed this for the most part. Really preferred the more downbeat songs as my favorites were “Androgynous,” “Unsatisfied,” “Answering Machine,” and “Sixteen Blue.” I definitely understand why this is on the list. My only experience with The Replacements before this was the song “Alex Chilton,” which I absolutely adore. This didn’t quite live up to my love for that song, but it was still pretty good overall.

This is elite. It is such a tragedy that Otis Redding died so young. He was so incredibly talented. This album is practically flawless. “Ole Man Trouble” and “You Don’t Miss Your Water” were done so beautifully that it almost brought me to tears. Not only is his voice at its best here, he has some of the best musicians playing on these tracks. I don’t always love covers, but he elevates and innovates so many of them that I can’t help but like them. Just an absolutely incredible album top to bottom.

Sort of struggling with rating this one. The singles are so good, but the rest is a little bland in all honesty. I generally like U2, and I know I’ve listened to this album before, but I remember liking this more when I listened to it previously. I enjoyed it, but I wanted to enjoy it more. Waffling between a 3 and 4 here, but ultimately I’m going to round up.

In my angsty teen years I loved this record. Now? I was a bit underwhelmed. I think I prefer later Incubus (Morning View and Light Grenades are fantastic albums). This was a lot more same-y than I remembered too. While “Stellar” is one of my favorite songs and I’ve come around to “Drive” as time went on (I used to hate that song when it first came out), the rest is mostly just okay. “Pardon Me” and “I Miss You” are the other highlights, but my nostalgia glasses liked this more than I actually did. With all that said, I totally understand why this album is on this list and agree with its inclusion. But overall this was good, just not great, despite what teenage me would think.

This starts off a bit lackluster but really picks up in the second half. “Stay With Me” is a favorite song of mine, but “Debris,” “Memphis,” and “That’s All You Need” are equally amazing. Mostly only knew the hits of Faces before this, but so glad I listened to an entire album. Lyrically and musically it’s top tier. I’ll definitely be listening to the rest of their discography after this.