Sep 08 2023
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
A few 5 star tracks (I only want to be with you, when the love light starts shining thru his eyes, you don’t own me), and overall a 4 star album. This album (her UK debut) isn’t on the streaming service I use, but her US debut is (Stay Awhile/I Only Want to Be with You), which is a slightly reconfigured version. If you like this album then I recommend you check out the great compilation One Kiss Can Lead To Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost And Found. That four disc set is one of the single greatest music purchases I’ve ever made. Although there is an abbreviated 21 track version on streaming services.
4
Sep 11 2023
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The Joshua Tree
U2
It is absurd how good the first three songs on this album are, but the rest of the album is so-so. Too much harmonica. Although I remember those three songs were everywhere when it was released when I was a kid, so they’re a little overplayed and worn out for me.
4
Sep 12 2023
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Boston
Boston
I am burnt out on some classic rock and this album falls under that umbrella. I went through a classic rock phase in junior high, and a summer job in college would blast classic rock all day everyday. These songs are catchy and well-crafted, but I can’t picture myself intentionally listening to this album in the future.
4
Sep 13 2023
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
So good. Will every 5 star album provoke this short of a review from me?
5
Sep 14 2023
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Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
It’s fine. Some metal is amazing, some metal I love. This is not it. If this was playing in a business I was at I would probably nod along, but I don’t see myself seeking out more Megadeth. For me, Slayer’s Reign In Blood is the top of the mountain for this type of metal/thrash.
3
Sep 15 2023
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90
808 State
It’s fine. Is the author of the 1,001 book a white British guy in their 50s/60s? Because that’s the vibe I’m getting so far from these album choices (which is not a criticism). I love electronic music in general, and this album probably sounded futuristic when it was released, but now it sounds almost quaint. I feel like I’ve heard the sax part in Pacific 202 before. Maybe as a reference or joke in an Edgar Wright thing?
3
Sep 18 2023
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The Doors
The Doors
It’s fine. More classic rock I am burnt out on due to over exposure. Silver lining: without The Doors we wouldn’t have Jimmy Fallon’s great version of Reading Rainbow’s theme song. I had a teacher in high school who thought I looked just like The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek.
3
Sep 19 2023
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
It’s fine. Her music never really grabbed me. That might have something to do with me not really paying attention to lyrics. A podcast I listen to (How Did This Get Made) love her and have been talking about her recently, so I was primed to give this a fair shot, but so far it hasn’t clicked for me. Clearly this album is well-crafted, and is understandable how the album went to 2 on the American charts.
3
Sep 20 2023
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
I liked this more than I thought I would. I’m a sucker for layers of catchy guitar. First comparison that came to mind was Matthew Sweet. Surprised it was this album and not Live Through This, although maybe Hole has two albums on the 1,001 list.
4
Sep 21 2023
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Fragile
Yes
Roundabout and Heart of the Sunrise are 5 star songs. It turns out I am not burnt out on Roundabout despite the short version being on heavy rotation on classic rock radio, and this might be the first time I’ve heard the original longer version. I first heard Heart of the Sunrise in a trailer for Buffalo ‘66. The rest of the album is fine but unremarkable.
4
Sep 22 2023
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
Teenager me was bouncing off the walls and loving this album. I still love it. I clearly remember hearing this album for this first time. A friend bought it on release day and we blasted it on his dad’s fancy stereo. That was one of the single greatest album listening experiences of my life. It’s up there with when I first heard Neutral Milk Hotel or The New Pornographers.
5
Sep 25 2023
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
Fun, solid, consistently good. Jump Into The Fire and Without You are my favorite tracks on this album.
4
Sep 26 2023
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
It’s fine. Yes, her voice is amazing, and the band is good, but this is another album I’m burnt out on due to overexposure to its most popular song.
3
Sep 27 2023
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Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Fine, but I was a little bored. Once I thought of them as Peter, Paul, & Mary but with more electric guitars, I couldn’t shake the connection.
3
Sep 28 2023
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
It’s fine. Starlight is a pretty good song and the strongest track on the album. Has it been in a car commercial or movie or something? It sounded familiar. I was surprised to see Lightning Bolt listed as an influence in the wiki description, but on close listening I guess I can hear some elements that slightly overlap between the two bands. Honestly, I ended up skipping through a few tracks, and instead spent the rest of my lunch listening to some of my favorite Lightning Bolt songs, including but not limited to: Dead Cowboy, Assassins, and Ride the Sky.
3
Sep 29 2023
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
Fun. A nice balance of repetitive and fluctuation. This music makes me think of tagging along with a friend to a clothing store that is not quite my style and costs more than I would typically spend.
4
Oct 02 2023
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
Enjoyable. Very much my jam. This listen was my first exposure to this album and artist that I’m aware of. Sounds like something that would be in a Wes Anderson film, if it hasn’t already.
4
Oct 03 2023
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
A couple of strong tracks, but overall just a so-so album. This album feels very of its time, which I respect as an achievement even though this album is not quite my thing.
3
Oct 04 2023
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Enjoyable, but got a little repetitive for me after a while, despite Mark E Smith being a compelling individual. The group is fine, and I’ve heard them here and there over the years, but I have never felt the need to dig into their extensive discography. I got bored about halfway through this album and started skipping through. But after that I went back and listened to one of their other songs I remember liking (Blindness), and I still really like that one.
3
Oct 05 2023
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Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Very good. For a folk rock album its guitars can get pretty scorching at times.
4
Oct 06 2023
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Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
Competent, fine, although Freedom is a 5 star song. I wouldn’t mind if I went grocery shopping and that song played on a constant loop in the store. A couple months ago I watched that Wham documentary on Netflix. It was decent, but I’m a sucker for music documentaries.
3
Oct 09 2023
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
Delightful. All killer, no filler. I bought this album during a trip to Kansas City to find an apartment for my first job after graduating college. This album was on a near constant loop while I drove around during that trip. This album provokes a lot of different feelings in me. I want Sloop John B played at my funeral.
5
Oct 10 2023
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25
Adele
It’s fine. Great voice, polished production, but it’s just not for me.
3
Oct 11 2023
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Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
Fine. Not my thing. Made me think of a brunch I went to at a museum restaurant in New Mexico that was mainly attended by much older people.
3
Oct 12 2023
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
Very good. It still sounds fresh. It feels like it could be released now. Except the song The First Taste. That song sounds very ‘90s.
4
Oct 13 2023
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Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
Not for me. This probably sounded much fresher and more interesting in 1991, but not now for me. Kind of like how Myst was an amazing video game in the early ‘90s but I probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much now.
2
Oct 16 2023
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
Fine. A couple strong tracks. Another album that makes me think of a brunch at a museum restaurant primarily attended by older people.
3
Oct 17 2023
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
So good. One of my all time favorite albums. There are weaker moments here and there, but overall its many strong moments are delightful. A friend of mine used to take a random line or two from Stevie Wonder’s lyrics, print them out without attribution, then anonymously post them around at his job.
5
Oct 18 2023
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
Very good. Strong tracks with interesting twists and turns. Sounds very ‘90s, but in a good way. I went through a phase in college where I listened to this regularly. This album evokes multiple memories from that time. In particular it makes me think of a coffee shop where I first met Mark, where he and another friend of mine (RIP) had submitted movies to a film festival.
4
Oct 19 2023
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
Fine. Not bad. I imagine it sounded a lot more groundbreaking and interesting back when it was originally released.
3
Oct 20 2023
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Slayed?
Slade
Fine. Decent classic rock. A few years ago I watched Slade’s movie Flame, which was okay. My biggest memory of watching that movie is being thankful for subtitles, because I was not familiar with their accents and could barely understand what they were saying.
3
Oct 23 2023
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Delightful. Sounds great. I’m not sure, but this album might be about sex.
4
Oct 24 2023
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GREY Area
Little Simz
Good. I’m pretty sure I recently heard the songs Selfish and Venom in a show or movie or something, but I can’t recall what.
3
Oct 25 2023
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Pelican West
Haircut 100
Boring. Bland. Generic. Not my thing. I’m guessing the author has a strong emotional attachment to this album unrelated to its quality, possibly due to coming of age when this album was popular. A couple of songs came close to being catchy, but nothing ever crested that hill for me.
2
Oct 26 2023
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Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
Competent snooze-fest. Not my thing.
2
Oct 27 2023
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Opus Dei
Laibach
Fine. In general I love industrial music, but this album didn’t grab me. The militaristic marching band vibe is a clever gimmick, and I know its intent is to mock fascism, but it is a little off putting at times with everything that’s going on these days. Although this album motivated me to listen to Laibach’s album Let It Be (yes, a cover of most of that Beatles album), and that album is a solid 4 out of 5.
3
Oct 30 2023
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Very good. Another band that was omnipresent when I was younger, but didn’t charm me enough to seek out any of their stuff to buy. Although in high school some friends of mine who were into Pink Floyd had me tag along with them to a concert during their tour for The Division Bell. That was a great show.
4
Oct 31 2023
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The Band
The Band
Pretty good. Up On Cripple Creek is a five star song. Overall this album is weaker than I remember. I went through a small phase of getting into The Band about 20 years ago. Honestly my favorite album of theirs is The Basement Tapes, even though that is basically a Bob Dylan album.
4
Nov 01 2023
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Stankonia
OutKast
Very good. This was my first time listening to the entire album. Earlier I had only heard the popular songs from it. That heavy rotation is well deserved, because this album has a few five star songs (So Fresh, So Clean, Ms Jackson, B.O.B.). Last summer I attend a music festival where Big Boi was one of the headliners, and that was a great show.
4
Nov 02 2023
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Tapestry
Carole King
Pretty good. Sounds great. I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. GILMORE GIRLS FOREVER.
4
Nov 03 2023
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Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
Decent.
3
Nov 06 2023
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Milquetoast millennial make-out music. I’m sorry, that was too mean. That’s probably not even an original thought. I’m probably read or heard that somewhere and unremembered it.
3
Nov 07 2023
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
It boggles my mind that this album didn’t reach number one in America. This album was everywhere! And justifiable so since it is very good! Garth Brooks had the number one album that week, by the way. I like REM, they are good, but I don’t consider myself a fan, if that makes sense.
4
Nov 08 2023
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Fine. I watched the concert movie for this about 20 years ago. I remember enjoying that movie more than listening to this album now. The closing Hey Hey My My is my favorite track on this album.
3
Nov 09 2023
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
Fine. This album didn’t grab me like his other higher profile albums. Turns out I have a short attention span for listening to a guy talk about his divorce. It felt like reading something on Twitter.
3
Nov 10 2023
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
Pretty good. Nice and mellow. Although nothing grabbed me enough to up the rating to a four.
3
Nov 13 2023
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
Dang, before now I didn’t realize what an emotional connection I have to Wild World. Maybe another song to add to my funeral playlist (aka “STINK-BOY JAMZZZ VOL 69”). Or maybe not.
4
Nov 14 2023
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Graceland
Paul Simon
Very good. Still very catchy. Although wow do I not like some of the bass guitar sounds on this album.
4
Nov 15 2023
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Decent. Sounds like something that would play (has played?) during a montage in an Austin Powers movie.
3
Nov 16 2023
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Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
2
Nov 17 2023
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
Pretty good. Honestly, no one song really stood out to me, but the entire album overall is strong enough to get four stars.
4
Nov 20 2023
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Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
If cocaine made a noise, then this album would be it. And it’s actually pretty catchy. I’m almost angry at how good Walk This Way is.
4
Nov 21 2023
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Young Americans
David Bowie
I can’t think of anything clever to say about this good album and multiple great songs because I’m still mad at Aerosmith for tricking me into giving their album four stars.
4
Nov 22 2023
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3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Very good. But needs more math.
4
Nov 23 2023
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Sunshine Hit Me
The Bees
Fine. Decent vibes overall. I actually bought this album 18 years ago (at an Amoeba in San Francisco on August 5, 2005). I think my reaction then was similar to now. If I recall correctly, I think I bought this album because a review said fans of Beta Band might enjoy it. My copy of the CD says their name is “A Band of Bees”. There was probably already a band called “The Bees” in America when it was released.
3
Nov 24 2023
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Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Nice. Mellow vibes, but bordering on virtuosic navel gazing. Reminds me of music that would play during Mr Rogers segments where they would tour a factory or something.
3
Nov 27 2023
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Great artist, bad person? The energy on this album is bonkers, but I admit to feeling uneasy enjoying this music knowing what I know about his life.
3
Nov 28 2023
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
Pretty good. The first three songs were the most interesting.
3
Nov 29 2023
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Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Delightful. This album hits a sweet spot that balances noisy and catchy. Like a cute little dog that won’t stop howling, but in a good way.
4
Nov 30 2023
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Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
Adequate.
3
Dec 01 2023
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Fine. I remember Fast Car being a hit when I was a kid. That song seemed to be everywhere for a while!
3
Dec 04 2023
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
Delightful. There are a few different versions of this album floating around. Try to seek out the version (legacy edition?) with Big River, I Still Miss Someone, and Jackson. I love those songs.
4
Dec 05 2023
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Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
I clearly remember when I heard this album for the first time. I was around 10 years old and at a church summer camp. I’m pretty sure it was during the year this album became huge. The camp counselor who was in charge of our bunkhouse told me and the other kids “you guys gotta listen to this” and played us a cassette of this album on a boombox. We played that album a lot during that camp. The counselor’s name was Steve, which I only remember because they were fascinated that someone with a common name like Steve helped make this album with people with uncommon names like Axl, Slash, Izzy, and Duff. The big three songs on this album are solid five star songs, among the greatest songs of the 20th century, and Paradise City might need to be played at my funeral. I know this album was everywhere for a while, but I still haven’t tired of those three songs. The rest of the album is fine. I listened to this album over lunch at work, and I got choked up a little bit during Paradise City when the bridge or faster whatever part starts about two thirds in. What is this 1,001 project doing to me?
4
Dec 06 2023
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Homework
Daft Punk
Fun. Da Funk and Around the World are great, but the other songs didn’t grab me.
3
Dec 07 2023
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Tank Battles
Dagmar Krause
Maybe it sounds better in German. The English version I found on YouTube is not my thing. I gave up after a few songs.
2
Dec 08 2023
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Delightful. Although it kind of has the vibes of “background music at nice restaurant”. I’m a big fan of Ry Cooder who helped make this album. If you like this album, then I recommend you also listen to the album Buenos Hermanos by Ibrahim Ferrer, one of the vocalists this album.
4
Dec 11 2023
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Delightful. I was already a Zappa fan, so this hit the spot. Although I understand and respect that Zappa is one of those artists that people generally either really like or really don’t like. That Zappa documentary from a couple years ago is decent for that kind of thing. It’s not on this album, but my favorite Zappa song is Apostrophe’.
4
Dec 12 2023
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Fine. I don’t own this album but over my lifetime I’ve probably heard the big songs on this album a significant quantity more than most of the albums I own.
3
Dec 13 2023
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Is This It
The Strokes
I remember buying this and listening to it a pretty fair amount when it was first released. I enjoyed it back then and I enjoy it now. Back in 2001 I saw them perform in Lawrence, Kansas, shortly after this was released. It was a disappointing show. The singer was pretty drunk or something, and was sloppy enough to where other people in the band were visibly frustrated with them.
4
Dec 14 2023
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Tago Mago
Can
Enjoyable. This album is very much my jam. Now this is the weird German stuff I can groove to. Although a couple of the songs drag a little bit at times.
4
Dec 15 2023
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
Fine. Nothing grabbed me. Even the big song on here Eight Miles High was kind of a snoozer for me.
3
Dec 18 2023
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Heroes
David Bowie
Heroes is a five star song (hat tip to Godzilla). The rest of the album is pretty good. About 20 or so years ago I went through a phase where I listened to this album pretty regularly.
4
Dec 19 2023
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
A great album. Back in Y2K I would have likely given this 5 stars, but now I hesitate to do so. Not sure why. Did I overplay it? Did I grow weary of TFL’s extra-ness? Was it hearing that Wayne might not be a nice person?
4
Dec 20 2023
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
Fine. This would be fun playing in the background of a bar or video game or whatnot, but I don’t see myself seeking this out.
3
Dec 21 2023
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Ace of Spades
Motörhead
Ace of Spades is such a good song. I’ve heard that song many times but it has not yet worn out its welcome. The rest of the album is solid, but Ace of Spades is the only five star song on the album.
4
Dec 22 2023
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
Interesting. Enjoyable. Nothing really stood out to me as something I would go back to and specifically listen to, but overall a good album.
3
Dec 25 2023
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
I admit I’m not much of a lyrics person, but I can’t deny the achievements in this album.
4
Dec 26 2023
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
It’s understandable that David Letterman had Darlene Love on his show to perform Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) every year for 28 years. It’s one of the greatest songs of all time! Christmas or otherwise.
4
Dec 27 2023
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
Fun. Enjoyable. I greatly appreciate how “funk” as a topic in general is the central focus for a large portion of this album.
4
Dec 28 2023
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
Beautiful. The title track and Mercy Mercy Me are five star songs, and the rest of the album is delightful.
4
Dec 29 2023
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Fine. Pleasant. Although the song Fly is a small child pointing at me saying “you feel sad now”.
3
Jan 01 2024
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Enjoyable grooves. Bang a Gong is a great song but not great enough to up the album’s rating beyond a 3.
3
Jan 02 2024
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
I’m borderline on 5 or 4 stars for this one. My rating is just barely 5 stars. I don’t know why I’m so hesitant. The album has an amazing feel from start to finish. Maybe what tipped the scales to 5 for me is that so much of the music is acoustic (guitar, piano, vocals), but yet the album is still so heavy. This album is something where if I was at bar and this entire album was playing, then my reaction would be “HECK YEAH”. Maybe that’s my litmus test for a 5 star album?
5
Jan 03 2024
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Competent but meh. Feels like market research corporate middle of the road coattail riding photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy pop. Although I will confess to his song Millenium being a guilty pleasure of mine.
2
Jan 04 2024
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Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Fine. Boring. Elvis Costello has great songs, but unfortunately none of them are on this album.
3
Jan 05 2024
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
Decent. Peaks and valleys. Mama Said Knock You Out is a 5 star song. That song was popular with my friends and I in junior high when it was released.
3
Jan 08 2024
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
Fine. This feels like another artist I’ve been overexposed to (which I might have also said for a different album with Janis). The big songs on here are pretty good, and I wouldn’t change to station if they started playing on the radio.
3
Jan 09 2024
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
Decent. I was never a Soundgarden fan back in the day, but I remember liking Spoonman and Black Hole Sun when they were released, and those are both still great songs.
3
Jan 10 2024
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Pretty good. I don’t remember buying anything by them way back when, but they’re one of those artists I enjoyed whenever a friend put them on, or I heard while out and about, or on tv or whatnot.
4
Jan 11 2024
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Brothers
The Black Keys
Decent. I didn’t mind listening to it, but I don’t see myself seeking it out specifically.
3
Jan 12 2024
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Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Delightful. I have a soft spot for guitar centric albums that do interesting things with music from different parts of the world. If you like this album then I recommend you also check out the album In the Heart of the Moon by Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté.
4
Jan 15 2024
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
A victim of its own success. This album has been played to death. “Change the station!”, I bark in one breath. This review is not a limerick (just ask Jim or Rick).
2
Jan 16 2024
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
Delightful. Once In A Lifetime is a five star song.
4
Jan 17 2024
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Liquid Swords
GZA
Good. I enjoyed this album, although I’m not as familiar with hip-hop as I should be.
3
Jan 18 2024
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
Fine. A decent album.
3
Jan 19 2024
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New Wave
The Auteurs
Fine. Nothing really stood out to me other than it sounds like a precursor to The New Pornographers. A few songs into this album I found myself wanting to listen to TNP’s album Mass Romantic instead of finishing this album.
3
Jan 22 2024
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Delightful. For me in a normal mood this album is four stars. For me in the right mood this album clicks up to five stars. About 20 or so years ago I read some other list about the best albums of all time and Tres Hombres was on it. My reaction was “Really? That doesn’t seem right”. But then I listened to the album and realized it deserved to be on that list. These beardos have not yet worn out their welcome with me.
4
Jan 23 2024
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Awwwwwww yeahhhhhh. Like I wrote a few reviews ago, I have a soft spot for guitar centric albums that do interesting things with music from around the world. This is album is very much my jam. This album is interesting and doesn’t veer into bland background music in a coffee shop territory. If you like this album then I recommend you check out Ali Farka Touré.
4
Jan 24 2024
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Elastica
Elastica
Good but uneven. One five star song (Connection), a couple four star songs, a few more three star songs, and maybe one or two blah two star songs.
3
Jan 25 2024
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Atomizer
Big Black
Musically: yum, yes please, delightful.
Lyrically: yikes, no thank you, too real.
Another example of my tendency of focusing on the music and ignoring the lyrics. Their album SAF was a favorite of mine in college.
4
Jan 26 2024
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Vulnicura
Björk
Decent. The world is a better place with Björk in it. I wish Björk would release a series of albums with standards from various genres, kind of like Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash did.
3
Jan 29 2024
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Pretty good. I never really got into Bruuuuuuuuuce, but I was never annoyed when their music started playing somewhere. Born To Run is a five star song. If this website had the option to give the album three and a half stars then that’s what I would choose, but it doesn’t so I’ll go with three stars.
3
Jan 30 2024
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
I remember this album being huge when I was in college when it was released. Doo Wop (That Thing) was everywhere, and rightly so, it’s a five star song. The rest of the album is pretty good, but nothing else really grabbed me.
3
Jan 31 2024
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Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
Pretty good. A great vibe overall, but none of the songs on here grabbed me like some of their songs on other albums.
3
Feb 01 2024
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
Pretty good. This listen reminded me of living in Iowa City in the late ‘90s.
3
Feb 02 2024
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
I love this album. It has its peaks and valleys, but it’s one of my favorite albums of all time. I listened to this album a lot back in 2002-ish after reading about it in some other greatest albums list. In 2008 I saw Willie perform and it was one of the best concerts of my life (in top three or five?). I splurged and bought a seat in the second row, and was close enough to shake Willie’s hand after the show. I also lucked out in that his legendary band members Paul English and Bobbie Nelson were still with him (for a fun(?) read search for the article Watching Willie’s Back by Joe Nick Patoski). As a kid I remember reading a storyline in the Doonesbury comic of a character dying but being happy that they were listening to Pet Sounds shortly before they “bit it”. What album would I want in that situation? Maybe Red Headed Stranger.
5
Feb 05 2024
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
Pretty good. Another situation of great artists, possibly terrible person? When I listened to this last week I can’t remember if I decided on three or four stars for this one. Since I can’t recall I guess I’ll go with three.
3
Feb 06 2024
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
This album has aged pretty well. I liked it back when it was released, but haven’t listened to it since then. A lot of the songs are still strong. Take Me Out is still a five star song.
4
Feb 07 2024
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Pretty good. Interesting. I’m only familiar with one or two songs from Siouxsie And The Banshees, so this album was new to me. Nothing stood out to me as a five star song on my first listen, but overall the album is strong enough to get four stars from me.
4
Feb 08 2024
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Abbey Road
Beatles
More like “Owl Be Rowdy”, amirite? I don’t know what that means. Anyway. One of my all time favorite albums, from what might be my all time favorite band. If I had a couple beers in me I could probably talk about this album and things tangentially related to this album for an hour or more. As a kid when I was old enough to play records from my parents’s collection I gravitated to The Beatles and listened to them a lot. That experience probably has a lot to do with what my music tastes are now.
5
Feb 09 2024
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
Enjoyable. I won’t pretend to fully understand what’s all going on in this album, but it held my attention and I was curious what would happen next.
4
Feb 12 2024
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S&M
Metallica
No. This album should not be on this list. Metallica has multiple albums that deserve to be on this list, but this album is not one of them. Sorry. This album isn’t bad, it just feels like something for superfans.
2
Feb 13 2024
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
So good. If Maps was also on this album then I might have rated this five stars.
4
Feb 14 2024
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Fine. Kind of boring. Barely three stars. Solsbury Hill is a good song, but for me that song has been played to death. Whenever I hear that song I think of the jokes where people made a fake movie trailer using that song and scenes from a horror movie or whatnot to make the movie look like a lighthearted romantic comedy.
3
Feb 15 2024
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
So good. So fun. Still sounds fresh. Their version of Satisfaction is a five star song. The podcast 99% Invisible recently had a good episode called Devolutionary Design that was all about the cover art for this album.
4
Feb 16 2024
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This band makes me think of being in junior high when their earlier album blood sugar etc was hugely popular. This album is fine. It kind of became omnipresent wallpaper during its height.
3
Feb 19 2024
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Pretty good overall. Although nothing really grabbed me as being a standout track.
3
Feb 20 2024
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Pretty good. A lovely balance of poppy and heavy. A few four star songs. I remember this album being a big deal when it came out.
3
Feb 21 2024
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
Nice. Chill vibes abound.
3
Feb 22 2024
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Traffic
Traffic
Okay. No tracks stood out to me. Although I guess Feelin’ Alright makes me feel alright. This album sounds like one that would be playing in a used record store where the employee on duty is 10 or more years older than me.
3
Feb 23 2024
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Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Yowzers. Another album I didn’t realize I had this strong of an emotional connection to. I listened to this album a lot back when it was released. Svefn-G-Englar is a five star song and provokes feelings. Parts of this album still sound like it’s been transported to the present day from the future. I’m listening to this over lunch and now I don’t want to go back to work.
4
Feb 26 2024
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Cross
Justice
Very good. Very fun. Overall still sounds fresh. I remember this making waves back in the day.
4
Feb 27 2024
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Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
I love love love love love Solomon Burke. Cry to Me is the first song in this project I wanted to rate six stars. The album is delightful overall and has its peaks and valleys. I first became aware of him via their excellent 2002 album Don't Give Up on Me. A well curated best-of compilation of Solomon Burke would easily earn five stars from me.
4
Feb 28 2024
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Pretty good. This album sounded fresher and more interesting than I thought it would given Zep’s heavy rotation/exposure the past few decades.
4
Feb 29 2024
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The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Delightful. My first time hearing this album. I’ve heard the band’s name here and there, and heard other music band members contributed for other projects, but this is my first burrito exposure.
4
Mar 01 2024
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
A beautiful sloppy mess. It feels like the wheels are about to fall off but I love where it’s headed.
4
Mar 04 2024
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
So good. Still really fun. This album has aged well.
4
Mar 05 2024
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
An uneven mix. I enjoyed the songs The Ledge and That’s All for Everyone and That’s Enough for Me and Tusk, but not much more than that. The song Tusk sounded pretty good cranked up in a car. Maybe some bands should have a best-of compilation on this list instead of specific albums.
3
Mar 06 2024
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Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
*I climb onto my house’s roof, stand on its peak, arms outstretched, shouting to the heavens*: THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF!
I’m a big fan of both of these guys (Ali & Ry). I love this album, although it does have some weaker moments. Yes, this album has major ‘90s coffee shop vibes, but this album for me is the pinnacle of that vibe in a good way. I remember the song Diaraby being a theme song on a public radio show I listened to about 20 or so years ago, so that song is etched into my soul forever. Thankfully it’s a good song. I’d rate this album 4.5 stars if I had the option. But since I can’t, five stars feels better than four for this album.
5
Mar 07 2024
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You Are The Quarry
Morrissey
No thank you. The actions of the person have overshadowed the actions of the artist. Also, the music on this album is meh.
1
Mar 08 2024
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Fine. This album probably sounded much fresher and cutting edge when it was first released. Now it sounds kind of stale/boring/cliche, but still has some catchy moments.
3
Mar 11 2024
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
Love love love. Beautiful. Soothing.
5
Mar 12 2024
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
A lot of this albums still sounds great. It has an odd balance of sounding fresh/revolutionary but then also sounding like Chuck Berry with extra distortion.
4
Mar 13 2024
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Nowhere
Ride
Delightful. Very much my jam. Although thinking about the album a few hours after listening to it, its vibes are more memorable than its hooks.
4
Mar 14 2024
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Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
Meh. Assuming this album sounded fresh and exciting in 1994, it has aged poorly.
2
Mar 15 2024
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Decent album overall. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are both great songs, but a little overplayed for me.
3
Mar 18 2024
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Decent. A Forest is a five star song. I’m curious to check out other Cure albums from this same time period, since I’ve heard good things about those.
3
Mar 19 2024
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
So good. Little Richard made the world a better place. A complicated person who created amazing art and lived an unbelievable life. His authorized biography is a wild ride.
5
Mar 20 2024
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Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
Pretty good. Enjoyable. Sounds like something that would play in the background at Record Collector in Iowa City.
3
Mar 21 2024
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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Decent. Fine, but not compelling enough to make me curious about what their other albums sound like.
3
Mar 22 2024
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A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
Fine. Sounds like something that would play during a montage in an ‘80s movie.
3
Mar 25 2024
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Murmur
R.E.M.
Very good. Very impressive for a debut album by a bunch of young’ins that were basically a college band. Radio Free Europe is a great song.
4
Mar 26 2024
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
I remember listening to this record as a kid when my parents would let me play their records on the turntable. As a kid I was fascinated by the bicycle on the cover. Not sure why. Maybe since it’s out of place in that context? Anyway. Great album. Lookin’ Out My Back Door is one of the greatest elephant related songs ever written.
4
Mar 27 2024
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
Pretty good. I remember listening to and liking this album back when it was released. There are highlights throughout the album (Big Exit, One Line), but overall I don’t like the album as much as I did 20ish years ago.
3
Mar 28 2024
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Aqualung
Jethro Tull
Decent. The title track and Locomotive Breath are flautist epic-sauce (as (the) kids (used to) say (10 or 20 years ago)), but nothing else really stood out to me.
3
Mar 29 2024
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They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
Fine. Sort of interesting, but nothing grabbed me enough to inspire a repeat listen or search out their other material.
3
Apr 01 2024
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
So good. Whenever I type the word “funky” this album should start playing. Although to be honest, I prefer Mongo Santamaria’s version of Watermelon Man (which I became familiar with thanks to the Out Of Sight soundtrack).
4
Apr 02 2024
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
Fine. A couple catchy songs. But (copied and pasted from my review of a different Smiths album in this project): another situation of great artists, possibly terrible person?
3
Apr 03 2024
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Delightful. I love Talking Heads, there are some great songs on this album, but I can’t quite bring myself to give this album five stars due to its unevenness.
4
Apr 04 2024
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Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
Delightful. If you like this album then be sure to also check out his song Strawberry Letter 23 (which is sometimes included on re-issues of this album, but sometimes not).
4
Apr 05 2024
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Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
Fine. It definitely sounds like an album from 1993.
3
Apr 08 2024
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Very good. If you like this album then I recommend you also check out his album Electric Mud which has a slightly bonkers psychedelic twist to it.
4
Apr 09 2024
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Hotel California
Eagles
“Ugh”, I reacted to seeing this album as today’s selection. Yeah, there’s some decent songs on here, but for me this is one of those bands that has been played to death. Random factoid: I read somewhere that at their peak there was a 12 or 18 month span where they were selling over a million albums a month.
3
Apr 10 2024
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Tommy
The Who
Okay. I didn’t finish it. Some catchy hooks. The Who have some things I love, but this album isn’t it. I’m not a lyrics person so a start to finish narrative really isn’t what I’m looking for in an album.
3
Apr 11 2024
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From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Decent album overall. Makes me think of being a kid and wandering around in general stores or drug stores. Suspicious Minds is a great song and seems like something people will still be listening to centuries from now.
3
Apr 12 2024
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Vespertine
Björk
swan swan swan swan
swaaAaAaAaAaaanNnNnN
SWWWAAAAAAAaaaaaaaannnn
Having said/sung/typed that, I’ll repeat what I said for a different Björk album in this project:
The world is a better place with Björk in it.
3
Apr 15 2024
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
Fun. Although kind of bonkers album art. In high school I played trombone in jazz band so I felt very much at ease listening to this. If you like this album then I recommend you also check out the album Sinatra At The Sands where Basie and his orchestra are Frank’s backing band.
3
Apr 16 2024
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Debut
Björk
Björk felt like the future in the ‘90s and they still feel like the future today. Human Behavior is a five star song, but the rest of the album is also strong (although some songs have aged better than others).
4
Apr 17 2024
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Berlin
Lou Reed
Fine. Not really my thing. I love some of Lou’s solo stuff and VU stuff, but this album did not grab me. This album makes me think of Rocky Horror. Or do I have that backwards? Did Berlin (1973) influence Rocky Horror (1975)?
3
Apr 19 2024
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Konnichiwa
Skepta
Fine. Nothing really grabbed me.
3
Apr 22 2024
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Pretty good overall, but some parts haven’t aged well. Firestarter was one of those songs that seemed to be everywhere at its height of popularity. Firestarter is still an exciting song.
3
Apr 23 2024
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
I have no idea why, but this album makes me think of watching cable tv as a kid in the ‘80s.
3
Apr 24 2024
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Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
Decent. Nothing really stood out other than the agreeable vibes that reminded me of other bands such as Stereolab, Broadcast, etc.
3
Apr 25 2024
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Fine. Pleasant. Am I a horse?
3
Apr 26 2024
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The Predator
Ice Cube
Pretty good. It Was A Good Day is a great song, and the rest of the album is solid overall. Although the inserts/skits aren’t really my thing. This album might be the first one we’ve come across in this project where every song is labeled “E” for explicit in my music app of choice. I should not blast this album while driving around with my windows down.
4
Apr 29 2024
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Very good. This album was a pleasant surprise. This was my first exposure to this artist and I really liked it.
4
Apr 30 2024
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Pretty good. Quite a few highlights and some delightful guitar pickin’ & strummin’, but not my favorite Dylan album. Okay, since you asked, my favorite Dylan album is The Basement Tapes.
4
May 01 2024
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Delightful. Dense, complex, balanced, beautiful. A shame this album seems hard to find.
4
May 03 2024
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Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
Pretty good. I dig the country punk vibes.
4
May 06 2024
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Arrival
ABBA
Decent, fun. Sort of like Tabey said for an earlier album, it feels like I’m at a wedding reception. Fernando.
3
May 07 2024
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
Very good. I listened to this album a fair amount when it was first released. Overall the album holds up rather well. I almost saw them perform on their tour for this album. Unfortunately the small club they were booked to play in Kansas City went out of business a week or two before their concert and it did not get rescheduled/relocated from what I could find. Then they became huge. You’re welcome.
4
May 08 2024
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Fine. Likely due to my unfamiliarity with this genre of music, I find it challenging to observe the nuances in this album that place it above its peers and as being worthy of its place on this list. That lack of comprehension is a failing on my part.
3
May 09 2024
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Microshift
Hookworms
Fine. Nothing jumped out at me as being exceptional.
3
May 10 2024
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Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
Fine. Occasional fun moments. By listening to this album I am now contractually obligated to frolic in a field and/or barn within the next fortnight.
3
May 13 2024
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Pretty good. Still enjoyable. Some portions still feel fresh. This feels like one of those albums that casts a long shadow through a lot of different music, but also at the same time I’m feeling “yeah, yeah, you changed music forever, I get it, but I’ve heard you a lot”.
4
May 14 2024
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Fine. Sultans Of Swing is a great song. With my current biases/baggage/etc the album feels kind of tired and very much an artifact of its time. Although trying to put myself in the context of being a music listener in 1978, this album probably sounded fresh and cool to some listeners that weren’t in to the punk stuff happening at that time.
3
May 15 2024
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Station To Station
David Bowie
Decent. The sound of cocaine. Good moments here and there, but I doubt I’ll revisit the album. This albums feels better than 3 stars but not as good as 4 stars. I’ll be nice and round up. A middling Bowie album is better than the best album from many bands.
4
May 17 2024
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Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
Fine. Has its moments but kind of boring overall. Not my thing. Radio where I grew up played Maggie May to death, and I get why, but I’d be fine not hearing that song ever again.
3
May 20 2024
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Beautiful. Moving. Aligns with my biases. I don’t know if I would ever seek this out to listen to in future, but I can’t deny what’s going on in this album.
4
May 21 2024
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Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
Pretty good. A lot better than I remember it being, and I liked this album when it was released. Can something be all over the place but also cohesive? This? Album? This one.
4
May 22 2024
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
Pleasant. Mellow. This album is not quite my thing, but it is understandable why it got as huge as it did. Don’t Know Why is a pretty good song. This is my first time hearing her version of Hank Sr’s Cold Cold Heart, and I really enjoyed that.
3
May 23 2024
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
Decent but a little on the boring side. Depending on my mood, this might be nice as background in a half empty bar on a lazy afternoon. Kind of reminds me of Nick Lowe (who I also find unexciting).
3
May 24 2024
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
Pretty good overall. A few classic songs, even if they’ve been played to death. It took hearing my mom sing Gimme Shelter while playing that Rock Band video game to realize the words “rape” and “murder” are said over and over again in that song.
4
May 27 2024
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21
Adele
Fine. I’m glad others have found joy in this album, but this album did not inspire similar feelings in me. Rolling In The Deep is a great song but nothing else grabbed on here.
3
May 28 2024
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In Utero
Nirvana
Very good. Hearing this takes me back to the time when it was released. Songs from this album seemed to be all over the place when it was released, but I didn’t mind because it was so good. I don’t remember buying this album, and it’s not inscribed with my name and date of purchase like I usually do, but the CD is in my collection. It might have been part of a deceased friend’s music collection their mom gave me around 15 years ago. Which is fitting because he and I hung out a lot when this album came out. Anyway. A few months ago Conan O’Brien had an interesting episode of his podcast where he talked with Grohl, Novoselic, and Albini about this album on the occasion of its 30 anniversary.
4
May 30 2024
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Delightful. Almost a little too much on the easy listening side of things, but it works for me on this album.
4
May 31 2024
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
Do I love this album? Or do I love the memories of what was going on in my life when this album was released? Maybe both. I was really into this album when it was released. I’m pretty sure I saw them live on the tour for this album. The show was okay. My prevailing memory of that concert is the room was way too hot. I can’t remember the last time I specifically put on some Wilco to listen to, but I did enjoy listening to this again today.
5
Jun 03 2024
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1999
Prince
So good. Classic tracks. Starts bonkers strong but remainder is good but not as great. If you’re a person who enjoys museums, and you’re a fan of Prince, then I recommend you visit Paisley Park up in Minnesota. I went a few years ago and I loved it.
5
Jun 04 2024
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Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Very good. Great voice. Although I swear this album already popped up on this list? What am I thinking of? I didn’t know (or simply forgot) The Dap-Kings were the band on this album.
4
Jun 05 2024
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Delightful. Such a satisfying listen start to finish.
5
Jun 06 2024
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Fine. I saw them perform at a music festival a couple years ago and it was a good concert, but I wasn’t wowed enough to seek out their material afterwards.
3
Jun 07 2024
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
Very good. I love You Ain't Goin’ Nowhere.
4
Jun 10 2024
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Fine. Not quite my thing. Big theater kid energy. In high school or college I remember always seeing many copies of this album looking through bins of used LPs & CDs, and for a brief moment I considered making it “my thing” to always purchase every copy of this album I encountered to see how many I would accumulate over a lifetime.
3
Jun 11 2024
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Delightful. Calling something “world changing” usually seems like an exaggeration, but it seems appropriate for this album. Hail to the king/thief.
4
Jun 12 2024
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
I Saw The Light is a great song. Overall everything else is fine but excessive. *insert gif of Jeff Goldblum line from Jurassic Park regarding could/should*
3
Jun 13 2024
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
Nice. Enjoyable vibes, but the songs aren’t catchy enough to bump up the album to four stars.
3
Jun 14 2024
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Live!
Fela Kuti
Delightful. Very much my jam.
4
Jun 17 2024
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Machine Head
Deep Purple
Fine, a little fun. They rocked so we could run(?). Or something. Foundational but overplayed. Should I start a cult based on the song Space Truckin’?
3
Jun 18 2024
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Disintegration
The Cure
Very good. I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I love the overall sound/vibe on this album. A few five star moments here and there but not enough to get five for the entire album.
4
Jun 19 2024
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Enjoyable mellow vibes.
3
Jun 20 2024
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Blackstar
David Bowie
Pretty good. I remember when this was released but I don’t recall if I listened to it or not back then.
3
Jun 21 2024
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A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
Decent. Not my thing.
3
Jun 24 2024
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Pretty good. A few five star moments here and there, but overall a four for me.
4
Jun 25 2024
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Green
R.E.M.
Very good. Solid. Multiple five star songs. I never really dug into REM before this project, and I’m glad it’s exposing me to their work for a deeper and more focused listen instead of just occasional pop culture peekaboos.
4
Jun 26 2024
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
Decent. I remember this album getting a lot of attention back when it was released, but it didn’t gel with me then and it still doesn't gel with me now. It makes me think of another vaguely adjacent UK rock band from around the same time (Clinic and their great album Internal Wrangler) and how I think now (and possibly thought back then) “how did artic monkeys get so big and clinic not so big?”
3
Jun 27 2024
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Ramones
Ramones
Glorious. One of the all-time greats. I listened to this album a lot back in 2001/2002-ish after reading the fun book Please Kill Me (an oral history that included this album and time period).
5
Jun 28 2024
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Very good. This has aged pretty well. Maps is a great song and the drum part was fun and challenging to play on that old Rock Band video game.
4
Jul 01 2024
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Solid, pretty good, but not quite my thing. Or maybe a victim of this album being overplayed back when it was released. Regardless, this album is catchy enough to get a begrudging four stars from me.
4
Jul 02 2024
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Pretenders
Pretenders
Very good. A few great songs.
4
Jul 03 2024
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Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
MC Solaar
Very good. This album was a lot of fun and a pleasant surprise.
4
Jul 04 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Very good. Intense. Occasional five star moments.
4
Jul 08 2024
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Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
So good. Beautiful. Lush. Catchy. This isn’t the right album for all moods, but it is the perfect album for the right mood.
5
Jul 09 2024
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Delightful. Victoria is a five star song and my favorite Kinks song. I also really like Shangri-La.
4
Jul 11 2024
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Low
David Bowie
Delightful. Wonderful vibes all around. This album is definitely my jam.
4
Jul 12 2024
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
Pretty darn good. Metallica is another one of those bands that seemed to generally be around in pop culture background but that I never dug into on my own. This album reminds me of playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater (although I have no idea if Metallica was in any of those video games).
4
Jul 15 2024
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
Man, this album was huge. It wasn’t my thing back then, and it’s not my thing now, but this album definitely held my attention. This album has its ups and downs, and even deeper downs, but for me overall its highlights earn a surprising four stars.
4
Jul 16 2024
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
Goshdarnit. I went in thinking I was over Clapton, but then Bell Bottom Blues started playing and that is still a five star song. Most of the rest of the album is a beaten-horse-meh. Layla is still pretty good I guess.
3
Jul 17 2024
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Decent. Enjoyable vibes. I’d rate it 3.5 stars if I could.
3
Jul 18 2024
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Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
Upon reviewing the lyrics for the song Donovan on this album, I’ve come to the conclusion that I should not make it my theme song.
The album is decent overall. It’s good, and understandable why it was such a big deal back in the day, but now it sounds a little dated. Although maybe it sounds dated due to so many other bands mimicking their vibe and stealing their thunder. It does have some fine four star moments sprinkled about.
3
Jul 19 2024
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A Seat at the Table
Solange
Pretty good. Seems like an album that would continue to be more rewarding with each listen.
4
Jul 22 2024
View Album
1984
Van Halen
Pretty good. This one surprised me. I went in with low expectations expecting to listen to more overplayed dead horses, but overall very enjoyable. Jump, Panama, and Teacher are all five star songs, even though they’ve been played over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. David Lee Roth seems like the kind of person who would be a horrible roommate but a fun neighbor (down the hall or street not sharing a wall with).
4
Jul 23 2024
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
Fine. Does this list need all of these Metallica albums? Seems like this album doesn’t need to be here.
3
Jul 24 2024
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Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
Zzzzzzzz. Not 4 me.
2
Jul 25 2024
View Album
Kollaps
Einstürzende Neubauten
I do love Einstürzende Neubauten, and this album is fine, but I’m not quite sure this album belongs on this list, although it is sort of understandable from an angle of “this one thing was a trailblazer to do a certain thing a certain way”. Their album Tabula Rasa is my favorite of theirs, it keeps a delightful balance of chaos/noise and structure/harmony, and in my opinion a better choice for this list. I saw them in concert in 2004 or so and that was a great and memorable show.
3
Jul 26 2024
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Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
Fine. Some tunes are catchy, but the overall immature vibes are a little off putting to this old man.
3
Jul 29 2024
View Album
Sea Change
Beck
Decent. I listened to this album a fair amount back when it was released. I liked it more back then than I do now.
3
Jul 30 2024
View Album
This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
I was very confused looking for this album. Looks like it’s not on my streaming service of choice in USA, and it was unclear what was what on YouTube. I ended up listening to an essentials playlist of Fats which seemed to have a lot of the same tracks as this album. That playlist was great, very enjoyable. My apologies to Fats on the failure of my search.
4
Jul 31 2024
View Album
Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
Pretty good. Catchy at times. Although didn’t grab me like his other work (Basement Tapes is my favorite album of his).
3
Aug 01 2024
View Album
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
Pretty good. Some very nice moments on here. It’s fun catching samples of other artists (at least one I recognized from a recent album on this project).
4
Aug 02 2024
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
Fine. To its credit, this album does sound like something that would be very popular in 1970. Good job Jimothy!
3
Aug 05 2024
View Album
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
Pretty good. I don’t own this album, but wowzers was this album everywhere back in the day. Listening to it brought back a fair amount of high school and college memories. Speaking of back in the day, the album’s overall sound is very of its time. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it occasionally is on this album. If someone asked me what the ‘90s sounded like, this would be one of the albums I would answer with. Although did this album sound this way due to other albums in the ‘90s, or did other albums sound they way they did due to this album? For me there are peaks and valleys on the album, but the strength of its huge songs pull up its average to four stars. The documentary Jagged from a few years ago about Alanis and this album was pretty good and I enjoyed that more than I thought I would.
4
Aug 06 2024
View Album
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
Fun aka ACIIIIIDDDDD. I remember hearing the big songs from this album on tv/radio/whatnot back when it was released and it was enjoyable, but for whatever reason I did not buy the album. Most of it still sounds pretty good. The overall vibe I got from this album is montage soundtrack with Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright. Which is a good thing.
4
Aug 07 2024
View Album
Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
Decent. When I’ve been at a particular level of tipsiness at a wedding or bar or whatnot, I’m sure I’ve shouted along with Come On Eileen, and that is a great song. The rest of the album was fine but nothing grabbed me.
3
Aug 08 2024
View Album
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Fine. Sounds like something that would play as background music in a used record store where the clerk is a baby boomer. Enjoyable, and probably sounds great on a good system, but I’m not going to buy a copy.
3
Aug 09 2024
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Gold
Ryan Adams
Fine. Very 2001 vibes of an album for sale at a Starbucks cash register.
3
Aug 12 2024
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Bobby D, you did it again! Again! AGAIN! AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN!!!
4
Aug 13 2024
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Cool, cohesive, catchy. Three out of the five classic Cs.
4
Aug 14 2024
View Album
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
Dang. Mr Blue Sky is a pretty great song. Great enough to pull up the album’s rating to a four. The other songs were decent but nowhere near as good as Mr Blue Sky.
4
Aug 15 2024
View Album
Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Wow! This is great. This album feels like a gold standard a few different ways.
5
Aug 16 2024
View Album
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Meh. This band has a few songs that are pretty catchy, but overall they’re a tad overplayed for me. I made it to The Boys Are Back In Town, got bored after, then stopped listening. A live album needs to be something really special to deserve to be on this list. This album ain’t it. Maybe I’ll enjoy their studio albums more.
2
Aug 19 2024
View Album
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Fine. Another situation of the person overshadowing their art.
3
Aug 20 2024
View Album
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Dang, this is still pretty good. I listened to a lot of this band in high school and this album still holds up pretty well. Not every song is five stars on this album, but its strongest songs are so freakin’ good.
4
Aug 21 2024
View Album
Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
Decent. Great voice. Wishing Well is a great song, and I’m sure I’ve heard it in movies or tv shows. Although at times this album sounds very dated and very ‘80s (and not always in a charming way).
3
Aug 22 2024
View Album
Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
Pretty good. I like Blur, but this feels like a relatively weaker album for them. Good overall but no breakout-bonkers-catchy songs like some of their other albums. Although I would probably feel very differently if I was a teenager in UK when this was released. The strength of Chemical World’s chorus just barely gets this album to four stars.
4
Aug 23 2024
View Album
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
Wow, this is great. It still sounds so good. The music has aged extremely well. The songs are not all five stars individually, but collectively this album is five stars. One of my favorite concert memories is seeing Public Enemy perform at an outdoor summer festival in downtown Des Moines where there was a small group of hippies with lit up hula hoops doing their thing up front by the stage for the entire concert.
5
Aug 26 2024
View Album
Who's Next
The Who
Dang, this album is still very good. It’s strong enough that the oodles of times I’ve heard it on the radio haven’t killed it for me.
Pete Townshend and Repeat Townshend are in a boat. Pete falls in the water. Who is in the boat? Won’t get fooled again.
5
Aug 27 2024
View Album
2112
Rush
Fine. Nothing on here grabbed me. I’m aware of Rush, I know people that love Rush, I’ve enjoyed their pinball machine, but I never got into them. Is this album more significant and enjoyable to people that are already devoted fans of the band?
3
Aug 28 2024
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Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Decent. Not quite my thing but still enjoyable. I just realized that Silver Dagger is an old folk song. I’ve heard a version of that song before performed by someone else.
3
Aug 29 2024
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Calenture
The Triffids
😴
2
Aug 30 2024
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Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
😴
2
Sep 02 2024
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Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Holy moly, Maggot Brain is such a good song. One of my favorites of all time. The rest of the album is pretty darn strong as well, not all five star songs, but overall strong enough with the title track’ epicness for the album to get five stars from me.
5
Sep 03 2024
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
Dang, this album is still so good despite many of its songs being played to death. Crazy strong album overall. Listening to it this time I happened to focus more on the drums for some reason, and the drums sounded a lot more jazzier than I remember. That is not a criticism, the drums sound great and work well with everything that’s happening.
5
Sep 04 2024
View Album
Smile
Brian Wilson
This is a tricky one. Yes, there’s a couple of great songs on here. I hate myself for thinking it and I’m a horrible person for saying it and it is completely normal unfair, but, most of this album sounds like Pet Sounds cosplay. I’m glad Brian got to finally make this album, and one of his pinkies has more talent than one hundred of me put together, but this album fell flat with me overall. Less life changing vibes and more straw hat wearing taffy makers at an amusement park.
3
Sep 05 2024
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
Decent. Listening to this album makes me think of browsing in a flea market or antique mall. Dolly is great but this album didn’t grab me.
3
Sep 06 2024
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Ingenue
k.d. lang
Smoooooooooth. And a little on the boring side overall. Not quite my thing, although Constant Craving is a great song.
3
Sep 09 2024
View Album
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Dang. This is still pretty good. Blues? Rock? Man. Blues? Rock? Man. Blues? Rock? Man. Blocks Rue McClanahan.
5
Sep 10 2024
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Imagine
John Lennon
I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. I do love The Beatles. Having said that, John ranks 4th in my personal Beatles rankings. One factoid I love about Beatles solo albums (and other rock albums from this era) is that Jim Keltner and Klaus Voormann are band members in a surprisingly high percentage of them.
4
Sep 11 2024
View Album
The Yes Album
Yes
Good People is a pretty good song, but otherwise the album is competent but unremarkable. Yes might be one of those bands where instead of having multiple albums on this list their accomplishments might be better represented by a best of compilation.
3
Sep 12 2024
View Album
Like Water For Chocolate
Common
This album is pretty good, although nothing grabbed me as a standout song. This feels like the kind of thing where if I heard it playing over a store’s PA that I would enjoy it but not be motivated to use an app to figure out what it is.
3
Sep 13 2024
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Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
Games is a pretty good song, but the rest of the album is kind of meh.
3
Sep 16 2024
View Album
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Okay, Macky-Mac and the Fleetwood Bunch, you got me. This is a pretty good album. Although one or two songs are meh. Is this album the pinnacle of That Kind Of Thing? That solo bass lick near the end of The Chain might be the best solo bass lick ever.
5
Sep 17 2024
View Album
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
Pretty good, but not as good as I remember. I had this album in college and really enjoyed it back then. Although it hasn’t aged as well as I thought it would.
3
Sep 18 2024
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Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
California Stars is a great song. Rest of the album of fine.
3
Sep 19 2024
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Third
Portishead
Dang, really good, very much my vibe. This might be my first time listening to this album. I was pretty into their first two albums in the previous millennium, and those were also great.
4
Sep 20 2024
View Album
Raw Power
The Stooges
You know what, maybe I am a streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm. I love this album. I love The Stooges. I’m 20% certain Iggy is not from this planet. Although it feels like I need to wash my hands after listening to this album. The 2023 mix of this album I listened to is…interesting. Sometimes I loved this new mix, sometimes I really disliked it.
5
Sep 23 2024
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In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
Miles Davis is hit or miss for me, and this album hits very big for me if I’m in the right mood. I was pretty into this album either in college or shortly after college. I think I read about it on some best of listicle kind of like this project. One time back then I listened to this album very loudly by myself during a long drive on the interstate at night. It was a perfect mixture of music and circumstances.
5
Sep 24 2024
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Pretty good, but only a couple great songs. I don’t see myself returning to this album like I would with other albums from Bowie.
3
Sep 25 2024
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Scott 4
Scott Walker
Meh. Not my thing.
3
Sep 26 2024
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
Yikes. I did not like this. What the fudge is this album doing on this list? John Lee Hooker is a legend, and there are many great artists on this album, but this album sounded so freakin’ ‘80s in the worst possible way.
2
Sep 27 2024
View Album
First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
FLUTE SOLOOOOOOOOOO. Yes, Lovefool is great, but album is otherwise fine. This reminded me of Komeda, a different band from Sweden that I was into way back when. It’s been a while since I listened to Komeda, but I’m a bigger fan of Komeda than The Cardigans.
3
Sep 30 2024
View Album
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
But, soft! What train through yonder bend rolls?
It is the east, and Johnny is the Cash.
- - -
Yes, he does deserve to have two live albums on this list. They’re both that good.
4
Oct 01 2024
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Blue
Joni Mitchell
It’s fine. Like I said for a different album of hers on this list, her music never really grabbed me. That might have something to do with me not really paying attention to lyrics.
3
Oct 02 2024
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Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
Raincoat is a pretty good song but the rest of the album didn’t grab me.
3
Oct 03 2024
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B-52's
The B-52's
Very good, very enjoyable. Their cheekiness is fun and the music is very good.
4
Oct 04 2024
View Album
At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
Good. If this was on the radio then I wouldn’t change the station. I have to confess, my favorite album of his is Electric Mud, a bonkers fun album that is riding the coattails of psychedelic rock. It’s kind of like if Bob Dylan released a techno album. … Unrelated question: how much money would it take for Bob Dylan to release a techno album? Answer: you contribution to this Kickstarter will help determine what that amount is.
3
Oct 07 2024
View Album
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
Pretty great. This album sounds like the ‘80s in the best possible way. Hippie voice: Hey man, is that Songs From The Big Chair? Then turn it up, man!
5
Oct 08 2024
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
Pretty good. I’ve probably heard these songs before as background music in a coffee shop or Borders (RIP).
3
Oct 09 2024
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
I’m glad Leonard Cohen has released so many albums that fans of his are able to enjoy. But there are way too many of his albums on this list. Not for me.
2
Oct 10 2024
View Album
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Goshdarnit, I’m so angry, I admit it, this is a pretty good album. I went in with a negative bias thinking I wouldn’t like it due to it being played to death. But. Then. The opening few guitar notes of In My Place begrudgingly turned me around. This album gets a mildly resentful just barely four stars. How did this happen?
4
Oct 11 2024
View Album
Quiet Life
Japan
Fine. Not for me. My favorite thing about this album is the opening statement in its Wikipedia entry: Quiet Life is the third studio album by English new wave band Japan, first released on 17 November 1979 in Canada.
3
Oct 14 2024
View Album
The Specials
The Specials
A message to you: I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Rudy.
4
Oct 15 2024
View Album
Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Very good. Delightful vibes. I know I had at least one album by Jimmy Smith, might have had this one in the past. Or maybe checked it out from the library.
4
Oct 16 2024
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O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
Decent, but a mixed bag overall. Some tracks are great, some tracks sound pretty dated and have not aged well. The interludes made me think of Mister Rogers.
3
Oct 17 2024
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
Fine. I’ve heard a lot about this album and some people really like it, but this album did not grab me.
3
Oct 18 2024
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Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
Fine. Good grooves.
3
Oct 21 2024
View Album
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
Exceedingly pleasant. I apologize, but I did not listen to all 3 hours and 15 minutes of this selection.
3
Oct 22 2024
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
Good. Some classic tracks, but overall for me not as satisfying as their other albums. Also: too long.
3
Oct 23 2024
View Album
Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
Fine. Yowzers, that one song was freakin’ everywhere for a year or so.
3
Oct 24 2024
View Album
Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
Pretty good. Delightful vibes. Amazing voice.
4
Oct 25 2024
View Album
Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
Pretty good. Another album with amazing vibes and a glorious voice. For me peak Waits is Bone Machine. I’m not very familiar with this album, and it might be the first time I listened to the entire thing. Maybe Rain Dogs will get up to five stars after I become more familiar.
4
Oct 28 2024
View Album
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Very good. Feels like something I would like more and more on repeated listens.
4
Oct 29 2024
View Album
Live At Leeds
The Who
Pretty good. The Who is great, and they have multiple albums that deserve to be on this list, but I have my doubts about this live album deserving to be on this list. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: a live album needs to have something really special to make it on this list. This live album doesn’t have it. Well, on second thought, this album’s version of A Quick One is pretty darn good and might just tip those scales. “CELLO CELLO CELLO CELLO CELLO CELLO CELLO CELLO”
3
Oct 30 2024
View Album
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Fine. Reminds me of how much I like John Fahey.
3
Oct 31 2024
View Album
Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Very good. This goes so hard but so smooth. Here and there this album sounds dated in a meh ‘90s way, but most of this album sounds fresh. I love this version of Cruisin’ and it sounds like it could be released today. Jonz In My Bonz is also great, but, for reasons I can’t say in this forum, it reminded me of skeleton John Ratzenberger.
4
Nov 01 2024
View Album
Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
Kind of boring. Sounds stale and dated. This album’s presence on this list is questionable. Although maybe it has cultural significance in the UK I am unaware of that justifies it being here. Or maybe this is the kind of album best experienced in a crowded room at high volume.
2
Nov 04 2024
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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Pretty good. The songs Breakdown and American Girl are strong enough to bump this album up to 4 stars for me. Those two songs feel like something that people will still be listening to in 100 years. Is Tom Petty another artist who would be best represented on this list with a best of compilation? That would be wall to wall five star songs.
4
Nov 05 2024
View Album
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
👏 FIVE 👏 STARS 👏 FIVE 👏 STARS 👏 FIVE 👏 STARS 👏 FIVE 👏 STARS 👏 FIVE 👏 STARS 👏
Full disclosure: this album was already one of my favorites of all time before this 1,001 project, so I’m a big fan and very familiar with it. Is every song five stars? No. Could this triple album have been trimmed to two albums on its initial release? Maybe. Do the jams occasionally get annoying? Yes. This album isn’t perfect, but there is so so so much on here I love.
5
Nov 06 2024
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Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
Fine. Not bad. Feels a little dated.
3
Nov 07 2024
View Album
Hot Fuss
The Killers
Fine. I feel like I’m watching TV in the late ‘00s. Full disclosure: I’m pretty bummed and currently not in a music mood. Sorry, The Killers.
3
Nov 13 2024
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Shleep
Robert Wyatt
Decent. Mellow. Agreeable.
3
Nov 14 2024
View Album
Chris
Christine and the Queens
Peppy. Sounds like something I’d hear in the food court of a mall. Fine. Not quite my thing.
3
Nov 15 2024
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
Good. Satisfying, but nothing on here grabbed me enough to seek it out for additional listens in future.
3
Nov 18 2024
View Album
Nevermind
Nirvana
Wow. This is still so good. I remember liking this album back when it became huge huge huge, although I never bought it. I’m pretty sure my kid logic back then was something along the lines of why should I spend money on something that I’ll be hearing all over the place all the time.
5
Nov 19 2024
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Abraxas
Santana
I coulda sworn we already did this album. Guess not. Anyway. This was probably a popular album to have on while hippies did their taxes. Wink.
4
Nov 20 2024
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
MAN-DOE-LYNNNN!!
The opening riff is fantastic, but most of the remaining album is too much noodle not enough steak.
3
Nov 21 2024
View Album
Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
Dang. This album is still great. Many five star moments. Although the herky-jerky parts in Black Dog still feel bad, kind of like when walking down steps and almost tripping to your death but catching yourself at last moment. Sooo, is Bread Zeppelin anything? Stairway to Leaven, amirite?
5
Nov 22 2024
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Future Days
Can
Delightful grooves. Repetitive, but in a way that evolves and is enjoyable.
4
Nov 25 2024
View Album
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Pretty good. A couple 5 star songs. Although EC might be another example of an artist who might be better represented by a best of compilation on this 1,001 list instead of multiple albums that each have a couple classic songs.
4
Nov 27 2024
View Album
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
Pretty good. Enjoyable vibe overall. If I heard this in a store I’d probably use my phone to figure out what was playing. I’ll be generous and give it a 4 since I can’t do 3.5.
4
Nov 28 2024
View Album
Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
Fine. Not my thing. I’m pretty sure this linked to the wrong album. I maybe found the right one on YouTube? This does sounds like something rockstars would listen to in the late ‘60s.
3
Nov 29 2024
View Album
Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
So good. Examined individually, there’s just a handful of five star songs on here, but there’s something about this album as a whole that makes everything work and feel great. Although I might be biased due to reading about this band in the enjoyable book Our Band Could Be Your Life. PS, I do not object if someone wants to blast Corona on their phone while my ashes are scattered.
5
Dec 02 2024
View Album
Madman Across The Water
Elton John
Yeah, yeah, I guess, Tiny Dancer is a five star song. The rest of the album didn’t grab me and was fine. Elton always seems to be around in pop culture in one way or another. Do I take them for granted? Maybe. Although one thing I love and respect about Elton is that they seem to genuinely be a fan of music in the context of a consumer/enjoyer of pop music (did I see that in a Tower Records documentary?).
3
Dec 03 2024
View Album
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Pretty good. Fairly or unfairly, I think of EWF as wedding music. Being the soundtrack to happiness is a nice achievement, I suppose. A couple mega-strong songs on here, and the rest are decent.
4
Dec 04 2024
View Album
Medúlla
Björk
Decent. A fascinating concept for an album. Although my reaction is mild.
3
Dec 05 2024
View Album
Dry
PJ Harvey
Good, with a couple great tracks, but I like their other albums more. Their other albums might be more deserving of being on this list than this album.
3
Dec 06 2024
View Album
Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
This list loves Björk. As do I! But the list’s love is greater than mine. The dude vocals on this album are annoying.
3
Dec 09 2024
View Album
Rubber Soul
Beatles
Magical. This album isn’t even in my top three Beatles albums. Although some of the lyrics are kind of dumb. Sorry, lads. Basically the world’s greatest ballerinas that occasionally tell a knock knock joke written by a child. Wait, that would be great.
5
Dec 10 2024
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Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Pretty good. I’m pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this. This album probably sounds great on a good stereo.
4
Dec 11 2024
View Album
Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
Pretty good. I remember listening to this in the past and really liking it. I wasn’t in the right mood for it today, so it didn’t quite hit the same, but still good stuff in here.
4
Dec 12 2024
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
Fine. Kind of meh for me. I do like some of Bruce’s other albums, but this one didn’t do it for me.
3
Dec 13 2024
View Album
Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Delightful. Is the opening two minutes and forty seconds of this album the best start to any album ever? The rest of the album is decent but nowhere near as amazing as its start. BUT, Do Your Thing is a marvelous extended jam.
4
Dec 16 2024
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Morrison Hotel
The Doors
Fine to meh. Decent musicians but Morrison is not for me. This album should not be on this list. I can see an argument for including some of their other albums that are more popular and allegedly-classic, but not this one. Why do I dislike some talented jerks (Jim Morrison) but like other talented jerks ([REDACTED])? Although the song Land Ho made me want to start a cover band called Nautical Corner that only plays songs about ships/sailors/seas/etc. Also: one of my cats left the room when I started playing this album.
3
Dec 17 2024
View Album
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Wow, this is great. I’d give this album 4.5 stars if I could, but its vibes are just so good I’ll round up to 5. No song on here feels like a 5 star song, but everything together just works so well.
5
Dec 18 2024
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
You’re love the with one. Or whatnot. That song has been played to death but I begrudgingly accept it is a good song. Album is decent overall.
3
Dec 19 2024
View Album
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
Dang, what a weird album. Did this sound good and/or cutting edge when it was released? Sorry, Leonard. A lot of people seem to like you, this 1,001 list really likes you, but your music is just not my thing. The one positive takeaway I have from this album is that I will now say the term “jazz police” on a regular basis. Per orders of the jazz police this album gets 3 stars instead of 2 stars.
3
Dec 20 2024
View Album
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
Delightful. Strong throughout. I think I remember seeing flyers on telephone poles for Burning Spear concerts when I was in high school.
4