1001 Albums Summary

No skips! Prince is one of my favorite artists of all time. Stress on "artists" (not just singer/vocalist or songwriter or producer or musician - Prince does all the things!) and "all time," as in I've listened to and loved his music for different reasons at every age and stage of my life. He's timeless, classic, and genre-bending. Name something he can't do and doesn't do extremely well. I often hear comparisons of Prince and Michael Jackson. I hate it because they’re apple and orange. Michael Jackson’s music, while also classic, doesn’t have the variety or depth of Prince’s. I can dance to MJ’s music, cook a meal, clean my house. Great for kicking off a party of diverse party-goers. Prince’s music is more suited for a long drive in summertime, with or without friends. It’s more mature and contemplative. It’s sexy. It sparks conversation. The Sign o the Times album is so good because it covers all those moods and adjectives. So do just about all of his albums. I recently watched the Sign o the Times concert film as well. A true performer. I was more sad over Prince’s death in 2016 than I have ever been for any celebrity ever in my life. It shocked me how overtly sad I was. I’m still in mourning now. I wasn’t done enjoying his presence in the world. At least we have his music.

Not my usual in terms of genre, but this is good music! Feel good music. Even though song titles like Barbarism Begins at Home and I Want the One I Can't Have say otherwise, this is the type of music that makes you feel carefree. It made me jump around and dance like no one was watching on a sunny Saturday morning. I found myself bopping pretty hard to Rusholme Ruffians with that underlying bass groove. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and the title track, Meat is Murder, satisfied my love of moving, emotional, thoughtful ballads.

I've only ever listened to jazz like this live. I think that's my preferred way to hear it. I like to watch the musicians and see how they feel the music they’re playing. Usually, you end up applauding various moments in the set. Since that’s how I’m used to hearing music like this, I missed that while listening at my desk. It's Miles Davis so it's great music, and it was fine playing in the background while I work. But I definitely connect better to jazz in a live setting. However, I know I’ve heard the 2nd half of the title track before. It immediately sounded familiar. I think it was featured in a ballet I saw recently. So dramatic! And this cover art is gorgeous!

Soulful and bluesy right out the gate. With a 1965 release date, I can't help but think they were influenced by the African American music stars of the day. Please, Please, Please sounds just like James Brown. Not to mention the Shout (and Shimmy) remake, originally done by The Isley Brothers, and Heatwave originally by Martha & the Vandellas. I've heard of The Who but I'm not that familiar with them. I'll have to look more into their history and who they credit as their influences. Definitely straight up rock on tracks like The Good's Gone and Much Too Much. But the title track, My Generation, reminds me of call & response in the Black church. Instant Party Mixture is a mix of doo wop and Chuck Berry. Again, I'll have to research who The Who credits as their influences, but all I can hear in their sound is the Black music of the 1950s and 60s that my now 80-year old parents introduced me to as their teenage and young adult favorites. Maybe that's a testament to music's unifying power.

LOVE the dramatic opening of church bells on the first track, Hells Bells. It's like a good opening sentence of a good book. You know you're in for a treat! Hard rock is definitely not a genre I typically dabble in. However, I realized while listening to this album that I knew a few AC/DC songs without knowing they're by AC/DC. You Shook Me All Night Long is an example. The title track, Back in Black, is one of my faves! I was introduced to it via an early hip hop sample (Dope Beat by Boogie Down Productions). I remember many years later, I heard Back in Black for the first time and I loved it just as much as I loved the BDP sample. The lead singer is giving great vocals too. Sometimes hard rock sounds like screaming to me. This guy, Bon Scott (RIP) from what Google tells me, has a decent falsetto. I will say, I can only take so much hard rock at once. All the songs start sounding alike to me. I think that's why Back in Black, the track, stands out. It has such a distinct melody. Completely different from all the other tracks on the album. Let Me Put My Love Into You also. After the first four tracks, it comes in like a somewhat calmer intermission, leading us into the album's second act, which starts with Back in Black (again, my fave on the album and probably of all the hard rock songs I've ever heard). But then, Have a Drink on Me takes us right back to the energy from the top of the album, which is typical of the hard rock I've been exposed to. And Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, a cool song to end on, has a good driving melody like Back in Black and Let Me Put My Love. No skips on this album. If I were to recommend hard rock to someone who, like me, isn't all that familiar, I'd tell them to listen to this one.

Interesting mix of melodies here. Because I'm unfamiliar with rock and metal, I only have the impression of it being loud music played by sweaty musicians. I appreciate the diversity of sound on this album. Changes has a tenderness, while FX left me quite curious. I didn't understand what the sounds were supposed to be about, if anything. But then we pick up the pace again with Supernaut. Laguna Sunrise is pleasant. It sounds like its title. And just like before with Supernaut, St Vitus Dance picks up the pace after a moment of tranquility. While this is the only Black Sabbath album I've heard, they're just ok to me.

I hate that The Band couldn't come up with a better name. Their music is pretty soulful. A little country twang to it too. Is there a "soulful rock" genre? It may be a sign of the times since Music from Big Pink was released in the 1960s. Maybe that was just the sound then. This rock music is very mellow. Unlike the other hard rock and metal albums I've listened to through this experiment. Chest Fever is the most rock-sounding of all the tracks on this album. But I Shall Be Released sounds just like an old Black church hymn. This is music I imagine listening to while dining in a barbecue restaurant in the South. Wood floors and tables, a paper towel roll on each table so you can wipe sauce from your hands and face after eating ribs so tender the meat falls off the bone. Everyone on the waitstaff speaks with a southern drawl. Not sure if that was The Band's intention, but that's what my mind conjures when listening to Music from Big Pink.

Classic! Who doesn’t love Bob Marley? I will say, this is probably the first time I’ve heard the original recording of No Woman No Cry. It threw me for a moment because I’ve always heard the live version. This album came out in 1974. I didn’t come out until 1975. These songs have been the soundtrack to many cook outs and family gatherings over the course of my life. Even though his life ended early, Bob Marley is such an icon. One can only wonder how far he would’ve gone had he lived longer. Not just in music but also in politics as he songs often have a political theme. I will say, one reggae album at a time is enough for me. I love the music, but the songs start to sound alike to me. I like a little variety in the soundtracks to my gatherings.

I’ve never heard of The Gun Club. From the looks of the cover art, I definitely wasn’t expecting what I got. I’m not sure what I was expecting, though, because the music was about as chaotic as the album cover. However, Preaching the Blues, For the Love of Ivy, Ghost on the Highway, Cool Drink of Water were standouts for me. Definite blues and country influences throughout the entire album. I imagine people getting high to music like this. I imagine the band was high when they made this. I could be wrong. But I imagine a lot of jumping around and moshing to this type of music. Not my scene, but the music wasn’t bad at all.

Loved it from the first track. This type of music is the stuff dream vacations are made of: a tropical beach with a gentle and constant breeze, me and my favorite people on a patio (or a yacht!) looking out at the horizon sipping on good wine and noshing on charcuterie while talkin’ shit, laughing a lot, loving life. At least that’s how I felt until Parade came on and ruined the mood. Thankfully, Oba Oba takes us back to yacht life. Canoeiro feels like it was taken from the big number in a Broadway musical, but it still fits the vacation vibe. As does I Had the Craziest Dream. Takes me right back to the tropical beach. And there we remain for the most part. You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice is cute. Doesn’t fit completely into the wine and charcuterie on a yacht, but it’s like the moment someone’s kid ventures out of their assigned space away from the adults because the curiosity got the best of them. We humor them, give them a little attention and some of the adult snacks, then send them back to wherever they were tucked away before the adorable interruption. Then, Nao Bate O Corocao keeps the party going. By the time Here’s That Rainy Day and the remaining tracks come on, the yacht gathering is winding down. The sun has fully set, the yacht is docked, and only the closest loved ones remain. We might be cleaning up, but we’re probably too lazy, so we lounge instead. Still talkin’ shit and laughing, still loving life.

Classics only! Aretha Franklin is an icon. One of the greatest singers of all time. The album title says it all. Many of these songs are remakes or have been remade by so many others, but nobody does it better than Aretha. Her version of A Natural Woman is the only one any of us ever needed. She takes us to church on People Get Ready. Groovin’ is barely recognizable as a total remix – the best way to redo such a popular song. Make it your own. My mom sings Since You’ve Been Gone just about everyday. It’s just a song that lives in her head rent-free. Ain’t No Way lives in mine. I’ve been mesmerized by that song since I was a child. I didn’t understand the draw then, but now, as an adult who’s been through some life and had some loves, I now know that operatic wail in the background vocal is what raw emotion sounds like. So, I'll repeat: Aretha Franklin is an icon. One of the greatest singers of all time. The album title says it all.

Brand new lessons for me listening to this album. First, this is another instance of me never hearing of the band before but definitely hearing the music. Second, while I certainly know of Janis Joplin, I had no idea she started out as part of Big Brother & The Holding Co, or any other band for that matter. Her solo career was so prolific. And listening to her vocals, it’s obvious why. I’m quite familiar with Piece of My Heart, but never knew who sang it. Although her life was so short and she was so young, Janis is so soulful. Her rendition of Summertime is masterful with a depth of someone well beyond her years. As is I Need a Man to Love, Ball and Chain, and just about all the tracks on this album. Cheap Thrills was no cheap thrill. Now that I know how soulful Big Brother was with Janis, I’ll have to dive deeper to see what their sound turned out to be after Janis left the group.

Definitely not my typical choice in genre, but there’s decent music here. I like the more funky melody of Questions, than the more folksy melody of Carry On. I struggle with the vocals a little, though. It sounds almost like a monotone choir singing from their throats instead of their diaphragms. Teach Your Children and Helpless are feel good country tunes, but I tend to steer clear of those. Almost Cut My Hair is more my speed. Rock ballad with depth of both sound and vocals. I’m familiar with Our House, but never knew the artist. Again, a feel-good tune. I think someone used it for a tv show theme song long time ago. While the overall sound of Deja Vu doesn’t resonate with me, I can see why it would with other listeners and fans.

pening with the Curtis Mayfield classic Freddie’s Dead from Superfly immediately perked up my ears and grabbed my attention. Fishbone’s version was ticked up a couple notches to fit their high energy, but it was a decent rendition. This entire album is pretty high energy, featuring upbeat tunes with lots of horns. Pouring Rain is a bit slower tempo, but right after, Deep Inside picks up the pace again and pivots somewhat into hard rock. If horns are your thing, never fear. They make a triumphant return in Bonin’ in the Boneyard, which sounds very Prince-like. Melodically, One Day is my favorite track on the album. It’s somewhat midtempo, but the pace revs up once again with Subliminal Fascism. Slow Bus Movin and Ghetto Soundwave were standouts for me as well before ending on a more mellow note with Change. In all, Truth and Soul is a solid album from a high energy band with depth, substance, and soul.

Tangerine Dream put me to sleep with this album. The opening to Phaedra sounds like white noise I might play in the background after shutting down for the night. Then we move into what sounds like background music for the dramatic moment of a sci fi film. I’m tapping out before my head hits my desk in the middle of the workday.

Heard of him, but not familiar with his music. Wasn't able to get through it, though, because I hear he's decided to be a horrible human. I'm on a 1001 album journey. There's no need for me to waste time on someone who I know is terrible. Nobody's perfect, but there's so many more albums! Moving on...

I've definitely heard of The Eagles and some of their music. However, I’ve never paid close attention, so I didn’t realize until now how much Hotel California, the song, sounds very reggae-influenced. I wonder if that was by design. New Kid in Town and Life in the Fast Lane are decent. The latter being more appealing to me than the former. I’m not a big rock music fan, but this is the kind I’d listen to when/if I felt like listening. Or at least, I thought it was until Wasted Time came on. Nothing wrong with it, but I don’t know how I feel about rock ballads. I associate rock with high energy so Wasted Time didn’t resonate with me. But never fear. We came right back with Victim of Love and that guitar riff. A real head-knocker. But then, we’re hit with another ballad – Pretty Maids All in a Row. I didn’t need it, but I didn’t dislike it as much as Wasted Time. Try and Love Again is a nice midtempo track, and then we end with The Last Resort, another ballad, which has a distinctly country vibe. Once again, I prefer high energy, fast tempo rock, but in all, Hotel California is a good album. I can see why it’s one of the 1001 albums to hear before you die.

could tell this was going to be interesting when the first track, Hair of the Dog, opens up sounding like electric static. However, I enjoy the drum beat that drives the track. The Passion of Lovers has a good melody too. I didn’t enjoy the vocals much, though. Actually, I didn’t much enjoy any of the vocals on this album. Hollow Hills is very dramatic. It sounds, um, hollow, so I guess that was the goal. However, Kick in the Eye takes me back where I need to be. Something upbeat to dance to. A lot of this album is chaotic to me. The yelling and whining vocals are distracting. Not my scene but decent music.

So right of the bat, I’m not a fan of this cover art. Normally, I see something like this, I wouldn’t bother listening. For the sake of this journey of discovery, I pressed play. I don’t mind electronic. After the mechanical saw-sounding intro, Break and Enter is ok. It’s just a little fast for me. Can’t really bob my head or dance to it. Listening to Their Law made me think it’s more workout music than dance music. I could see this music playing in one of the gym-bro type places that’s just a huge room full of dumbbells and weight machines. But as we get further into Full Throttle and The Heat, I don’t know. Prodigy loses me a little. It’s not bad melodically, but there’s A LOT of different sounds to take in here. It was distracting.

Upon opening this album in the Spotify web player, I thought, wow, under 30 minutes for an entire album. Interesting, but that’s all I needed. I’m more familiar with Paul Simon as a solo artist, but I certainly knew of him as part of the Simon & Garfunkel duo. The music here certainly isn’t bad, but the first few songs feel like a mish mosh of different styles and sounds. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. Overs lulls me to sleep, then I kept waiting for the music to come in after the Voices of Old People. I guess that’s what happens when you listen as you work. Turns out it was just an interlude followed by Old Friends and Bookends Theme, which sounds like the music in the background of an old dramatic movie. But we pick up the pace with Fakin It. It was somewhat Beatles-like to my ears. Same with Punky’s Dilemma. The Beatles sound is so keen to me that I thought Mrs. Robinson was a Beatles song until the very moment of listening to the Bookends album. Go figure. Bookends ends on a pleasant, upbeat note. Not bad. I’m interested enough to dive deeper to see what other songs of theirs that I thought were sung by someone else.

Once again, the album cover art is off-putting. So is the title. I'm not excited to listen to this but I've committed to this project so here goes... Invaders sounds pretty much like what I'd expected upon seeing the cover art. Noisy and chaotic. However, Children of the Damned is thankfully more melodic. The Prisoner takes us back to the chaos, though. The rest of the album is pretty much more of the same. The last song, Hallowed Be Thy Name, is somewhat of a standout for having a bit more melody than just loud, noisy, electric guitar, but the end of the song ramps back up to what, to me, sounds like noisy chaos. That's the issue I have with heavy metal. All the songs start sounding the same. I get bored.

When Suzanne started, all I could think was I hope this picks up because Mr. Cohen is going to put me to sleep. From the gentle guitar strumming to Leonard’s monotone voice, this is very mellow music. And that’s pretty much the entire album. It feels like I went to a poetry reading that was accompanied by someone playing acoustic guitar. So Long Marianne gave us some background vocals to contrast with Leonard’s monotone, so that was a somewhat upbeat break. In all, not bad if you want something mellow to listen to. I often enjoy mellow music. However, these songs start sounding very similar. Some of the guitar strumming is quicker on some of the tracks, but for the most part, this entire album is Mr. Cohen speak-singing poetic stories over quiet, peaceful guitar.

The 90s was the golden age for hip hop for multiple reasons. One being that we saw the rise of west coast rap stars. Ice-T was one of them. However, being from the Bronx in NYC, I grew up as a staunchly NY hip hop fan. I couldn’t even receive Ice-T back then. Listening now, 30+ years later, I see he’s really a talented rapper. He’s also a well-rounded artist, introducing us to his metal band on Body Count. In all, this is a pretty stellar album from a pretty stellar artist. Of course, I knew of Ice-T back then; mostly for “Colors,” which isn’t on this album. He and other west coast rappers, like NWA, made a name for themselves making songs that came to be referred to as “gangsta rap,” providing a glimpse into Los Angeles gang life and spelling out all the ways they would fight back against police brutality. However, I wasn’t much into the west coast sound, so I didn’t pay much attention. But Ice-T has a good flow, and these tracks aren’t distinctly west coast. They’re just classic hardcore hip hop. Maybe because he’s actually originally from Newark, NJ. In fact, he spends half of MVPs shouting out east coast rappers of the time, and the other half shouting out west coast rappers. The song I’m most familiar with on this album, aside from the title track and Bitches 2, the most west coast-sounding track on the album, is New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme). It was featured on the soundtrack of the eponymous New Jack City, a 90s movie classic. Ironic that this is the song Ice-T the rapper contributes to the soundtrack since Ice-T the actor plays a cop in the movie. Even more interesting that he’s played multiple cop roles as an actor when he rose to fame belittling police and threatening to meet their brutality blow for blow. I wonder if that’s how he saw his career playing out.

I live in New Jersey where Bruce Springsteen is worshipped as a hometown hero. While I’m not a fan, there’s no way to not be familiar with his music. He’s one of the biggest stars in the world. That said, I was a little taken aback by his voice as the first track, Thunder Road, began. I’ve only paid attention to Bruce when I caught him on television singing live. He was also considerably younger on this album, released almost 50 years ago in 1975. The second track, 10th Avenue Freeze Out, has a bit of a bluesy sound to it, followed by saxophone-heavy Night. While cutoff in most photos of the album cover, Bruce is leaning on a Black guy with a saxophone. I assume that’s who’s playing on the track. Backstreets showcases the power of Bruce’s vocals. I appreciate each song on the album having its own sound instead of all sounding melodically the same, which is an issue I sometimes have with rock music. I can see why Born to Run, the single, was such a success. I’m sure it’s a big number at concerts. Same with the final track, Jungleland. However, Meeting Across the River might be my favorite track on the album. It’s an emotional ballad, and I love an emotional ballad. In all, Born to Run is a well-rounded rock album. I enjoyed listening to Bruce in his early days and see why he’s a world-renowned rockstar.

As the first track, Supervixen starts, I’m scared it’s going to be one of those hard rock albums that bore me because the songs all sound alike. Thankfully, my fears weren’t realized. Queer, the second track, barely sounds like rock at all. It’s quite the catchy midtempo dance track. As Heaven is Wide is another favorite on this album. It reminds me of music that plays on race car video games. A Stroke of Luck slows down the pace a bit and takes us in a different direction. But Vow ramps us right back up. And there we remain pretty much until the final track, Milk, which sounds more vibey and ethereal. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of melodies on this album. It left me curious enough to dive deeper into the Garbage catalog.

This is soulful, sometimes jazzy, rock. I’m digging it. Good music to play when hosting a social gathering at home. Not too lowkey, not too loud.

Not a fan. The vocals are at times distorted or repetitive and/or screaming at me, and a lot (not all, but a lot) of the instrumentation lacks melody or sounds choppy. It’s just a lot of noise.

Classic!!

This is Lite FM music. Lite FM is a radio station in NYC that plays midtempo, feel good, elevator-type music. I don’t mean that to be insulting. There’s a place for music like this for sure. Songs like Love’s Enough are comforting and sweet. They give you hope. Ballad of the Ship of State is more dramatic. It reminds me of a Broadway musical. Maybe off-Broadway. One Night Stand takes us back to Lite FM, but still sounds as if it belongs in the lineup for a musical. As does Oh, California! Then comes Family Band, taking us to church in a small town where everybody knows everybody and nobody locks their doors. Somebody should make a musical called American Gothic about small town, post-war America. All the music they need is right here on this album.

I'm sure there are people that this music works for. I am not one of them.

I didn’t know what to expect but I didn’t expect what I got. I’m having a good time, though. It’s like love electronica. I’m digging it. But we take a bit of a turn with the fourth track - The Heart Remains a Child - which is more midtempo pop. Not bad but not the love electronica I was grooving to up to that point. The title track, Walking Wounded, follows and brings us back to where we started. Romantic electronica. This is good night drive music too. And then they lose me again with Mirrorball. Just like before, not bad, but more midtempo pop than electronica. I’m all for genre bending. I just find their electronica more appealing. In all, good album.

Music of a simpler time by a master! The songs start to sound alike after a while, but this is great music to have on in the background while you work or clean house. Feel good music.

Meh.

This is the music of long drives on a spring or early fall day. Top or windows down, wind blowing through your hair. The sky is blue, and the sun is shining bright. Or maybe sitting on a porch watching people go by. Or background music as you sip wine and hold deep conversation with a lover or partner while curled up on a couch together. Just carefree.

I only know “Hello, It’s Me” from Todd, so this album was a surprise. I prefer the Hello, It’s Me Todd.

Something has always rubbed me the wrong way about Guns & Roses. Maybe because the lead, Axl Rose, was always in trouble at their height when I was a kid. However, I remember how popular the first track, Welcome to the Jungle, was. I’ll admit. It’s catchy. Hard rock just isn’t my thing. However, this music isn’t bad. Mr. Brownstone is decent. As are Paradise City and Sweet Child O’ Mine. Honestly, the entire album is good. I can see why Guns & Roses is one of the best hard rock bands ever. The musicality is definitely there. Not my favorite genre, but I get it.

Just looking at this album cover, there’s a lot of people who needed to be paid off this album. I hope everything worked out. I had no idea Paul McCartney was in another band after the Beatles. I’ve definitely heard the first track before, Band on the Run. Bluebird was pleasant, as is most of this album. Let Me Roll It sounds like something I’m going to call gospel rock. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five was another standout. Shout out to Sir Paul and Wings on a solid album.

Two tracks in: I’m not having a good time. We’ll see how long I last. Five tracks in: Meh. I think it’s the lead singer’s vocals that I’m not connecting with. Nine tracks in: How much more of this? Album ends: At least it was pretty short. Still meh for me.

Certainly, I’ve heard of Iggy Pop. However, I never knowingly or purposely listened to his music. The first song and title track, Lust for Life, was immediately recognizable, and this album dropped when I was 2 years old. That’s saying a lot. Not the biggest rock fan, but this album as a whole is decent. Kinda soulful.

It's ok. Has a country, bluesy twang to it. I gave up 3/4 of the way in, though.

Classic NYC hip hop!

Talk about a classic! So sad and tragic that Marvin Gaye was taken from the world so young and under such horrific circumstances. So sad and tragic that this album was released more than 50 years ago, and every single thing he's talking about is relevant still today. "Who really cares? Who's willing to try to save a world that's destined to die? When I look at the world, it fills me with sorrow. Children today really gonna suffer tomorrow. Oh, what a shame. Such a bad way to live. Who is to blame when we can't stop living?" - lyrics from Save the Children

What to say about Steveland Morris? He's my number one favorite artist of all time. This is one of his absolutely best albums. No skips, classics only.

Um....the entire album is only 15 minutes long. 14 songs completed in 15 minutes. I couldn’t get into it. The vocals were just a lot of ranting and yelling. The instrumentation is there, but the vocals ruined it for me on most of the tracks.

Classic standards. I love this type of music around the holidays. It's not exactly holiday music, but it's great for cooking and baking with family or playing overhead while shopping in a department store or mall. I'm not the biggest holiday music fan, so this big band, jazzy sound is a great substitute. And Ella's voice is just so smooth. What's not to love about this album?

This is a lot of chaotic noise. I’m only on track one. We’ll see how the rest of this goes and whether I make it all the way through. Five minutes in: Ok, I’m hearing some actual melody. Six minutes in: Never mind. Nine minutes in: I’m tapping out.

The vocalist sounds like he's whining, moaning, crying at times but the music isn't bad.

I miss the old Kanye. [deeeeep sigh.....] He's so good. Part of the problem is he knows he's so good.

I like this! I wonder who did the sample on the first track, Squares. I love every song I hear that “daydream” sample in, so I will have to look into the original song. But I like this sound. “Folktronica” as I read on Wikipedia. Definitely some rock and country influences too. I’m here for it.

The Al Green version of How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is the only version I ever knew, but here it is as the first track on this Bee Gees album. Looks like the Bee Gees released it first. I have loved the Al Green version pretty much all my life. It’s just a really good song. The rest of this album is just ok for me. It’s the vocals that ruin it for me. They’re kinda whiny. So for me, the album is just ok.

Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang!

The Allman Brothers are listed as a “rock” band, but this is very bluesy. I definitely hear the rock too, but the blues is what’s attracting me. Stormy Monday feels very soulful. However, it’s a remake of a blues original/standard. I’m also loving You Don’t Love Me. Catchy, upbeat, good groove. They could’ve spared me the last 7-10 minutes, but it was probably better live. However, I definitely enjoyed this album.

The Ragers are very hip hop-ish. The lead vocalist is absolutely rapping on Take the Power Back and Bullet in the Head. Rock and hip hop have come together several times in the past. I’m willing to bet RATM has a song with some hip hop artist. If they don’t, they should. I’ll have to look into it. This is good music. With a message. As usual, songs from 20 or 30 years ago that rail against the political atmosphere of the time are still quite relevant today. I guess there will always be reason to rage against the machine.

I like this. Good music to play while working. Some of it is more midtempo and jazzy.

Interesting cover pic. Also interesting that Wikipedia says Fred didn’t achieve commercial success. Apparently, his songs are known for being recorded by others. Like “Everybody’s Talkin,” which is the only song I’m familiar with on this album. I’m not much of a folk music connoisseur, so I’ve never heard of Fred. But he has a good voice, and his music has blues and gospel undertones. It’s unfortunate he didn’t find success, but he also may not have wanted it since he apparently devoted a lot of his life to saving dolphins instead of performing. *shrugs*

I prefer jazz live, but this was nice background music while I worked.

This is….cute. The vibe is fun. I wasn’t alive yet, but I know the Beatles were a BIG deal. I can see it. This album is giving teeny-bopper music

My favorite rap group of all time! Their albums are a major part of the soundtrack to my young adult life. Whenever I hear one of their hits, it brings up so many memories. Good memories. So any Tribe album gets 5 stars from me. RIP Phife.

I keep saying I prefer jazz live. Same rule applies here. But this album reminds me there’s so much that falls under the “jazz” umbrella. This is big band type music. Reminds me of the black and white movies I’d watch with my mom on Sunday afternoons when I was a kid. Good stuff.

Kendrick Lamar is my favorite rapper right now. “Rapper” isn’t a good enough word to describe him. He’s an artist.

The originators! What would hip hop be without them? Run DMC is hip hop royalty. RIP JMJ

Didn’t care much for the first track (Stephanie Knows), but Orange Skies has a pleasant melody. The rest of the tracks go back and forth between pleasant and whiny. The singer sounds like he’s crying sometimes. But the music isn’t bad.

Oh, Bob. A woman on my team at work complained about his voice just last week. I have to agree with her. He sounds like he’s wailing. Through his nose. I gave up by the third track.

A master composer and musician! These songs have been sampled so many times in hip hop too. I recognize them all, both the original works as Herbie Hancock was played in my home when I was a child, and the songs that have sampled them. (Look them up!)

I like Jane. Never heard of her until now but she’s cool. This music is vibey and ethereal but with an edge to it. I’m digging it.

Dreams, the 2nd track, is one of those classic faves that I never knew who it was by. I remember when it went viral in the pandemic because a guy was on a skateboard drinking cranapple juice, listening to that song. Good to know whose song it is now. Never Going Back Again is classic too. As is Don’t Stop. I remember that song being played so much it was often on loop in my brain without my permission. I was two years old when this album was released. Again, never knew who sang it. The classics continue with Go Your Own Way, Silver Springs, and The Chain. This is a really great album. So many classic hits!

4 stars. Great album and I love Sade. It’s not 5 stars because I love her other albums better.

Some of this is ok, but it gets a bit annoying for me after a while. Sounds like carnival or old school video game music.

Sleepy-time jazz. Snowy night, candlelight, holiday time jazz.

Kinda generic sounding. Like rock you’d hear when you go to a bar.

This 1001 album project is extremely rock-heavy, and this album is coming up at a time when I just can’t take anymore. It’s too noisy for me. Maybe I’ll revisit another time.

Not much into folk music but this was somewhat jazzy.

This is music I could clean my house to