553
Albums Rated
3.28
Average Rating
51%
Complete
536 albums remaining
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Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
102
5-Star Albums
54
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
Ctrl
SZA
|
5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
|
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
|
5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
|
evermore
Taylor Swift
|
5 | 3.04 | +1.96 |
|
Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Smile
Brian Wilson
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Violator
Depeche Mode
|
1 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
|
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
|
1 | 3.54 | -2.54 |
|
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
|
1 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
|
Odelay
Beck
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
Stardust
Willie Nelson
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
|
Blue Lines
Massive Attack
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
|
1 | 3.36 | -2.36 |
|
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
|
1 | 3.36 | -2.36 |
|
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
|
1 | 3.34 | -2.34 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 5 | 4.8 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.75 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 4.67 |
| Queen | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nick Drake | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Steely Dan | 2 | 5 |
| Michael Jackson | 2 | 5 |
| Aretha Franklin | 2 | 5 |
| Coldplay | 2 | 5 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.33 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Massive Attack | 2 | 1 |
| Public Enemy | 2 | 1 |
| Scott Walker | 2 | 1 |
| Depeche Mode | 2 | 1 |
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 2 |
| Tim Buckley | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Chemical Brothers | 2 | 1.5 |
| Dusty Springfield | 2 | 1.5 |
| Primal Scream | 2 | 1.5 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 2 | 1.5 |
| Tom Waits | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Willie Nelson | 1, 5 |
| Brian Eno | 3, 1, 5 |
| Tom Waits | 4, 1, 1 |
| Beck | 1, 4, 3 |
5-Star Albums (102)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Metallica
5/5
Honestly, Metallica just rules. They are an insanely good thrash metal band.
I'm also impressed with their lyrics. Disposable Heroes is the stand-out for me, in that regard. The instrumental song helps break up the album quite a bit, tbh. And there's a decent amount of variety in songs/style, which is usually an issue for me with Metallica.
Favorite Song(s): Master of Puppets, Disposable Heroes
1 likes
Kanye West
5/5
Production on this album is insane, as everyone before me has already said. Everything sounds very intentionally crafted, and it really pays off.
It's incredible how many iconic songs from the early 2010s all come from this album.
Rating this is hard, because while the production is insane and the songs are very iconic, he's a trash human being, and I think that slips out into his lyrics every once in a while. I don't think it's a 10/10 because of that. But God damn is this a really good album. It's also just incredibly high quality from beginning to end. Even the non-hits are just really good songs.
Favorite Song(s): POWER, All of the Lights, Devil in a New Dress, Runaway
1 likes
Radiohead
5/5
I'm finding that every Radiohead album doesn't really have a standout song for me. Which is more about the fact that all of the songs go so well together and are all excellent, rather than any single song being single worthy.
This one just feels like one complete idea. The album is a tapestry of songs all woven together.
1 likes
George Harrison
2/5
I like George Harrison! I think he's got great musical ideas! But over 100 minutes for an album is too long! I couldn't finish this album! It would have been better if he broke it into two smaller separate albums, and he could have developed some songs more, made them more unique.
If this album is a normal respectable length it gets 3 maybe 4 stars from me.
1 likes
OutKast
3/5
It's a shame that these albums are paired together, because Speakerboxxx is a 5, while The Love Below is a 1.
It took me a second to adjust to Speakerboxxx, but I was grooving and vibing to every track. There wasn't any 1 particular song that stood out, but rather the entire album was well-constructed, well-thought-out, masterfully executed, and each feature was used to elevate Big Boi, rather than take the spotlight for themselves.
The Love Below did a similar thing with its features, the issue is there's not a whole lot that's great to highlight and elevate. The album is overly repetitious and also quite a bit over sexualized. There's a time and place for that kind of musical content, but the first half of the album goes too far for me, and it ends up being a really bad first impression that never really improves.
I did like what they did with My Favorite Things. That was very good.
Favorite Song(s): Unhappy, Reset / Hey Ya, My Favorite Things
1 likes
1-Star Albums (54)
All Ratings
Miles Davis
5/5
Sooooo smooth
If I was asked, "Do you like jazz?" I would respond yes, and not be startled or surprised by who or what is asking me.
Listening to this just demands my attention, which is hard to do for me with lyric-less music.
It's so incredibly modal and dissonant without being "crunchy".
Common
3/5
Wayyy more vibey than I was expecting. Had to throw in the second earbud part way through The Corner.
I don't love the refrains. They feel a little odd and sometimes uncomfortable and forced. The verses are incredible, though.
The production of the album is fantastic. The produced noises are never overdone, and are finely tuned to the song.
A really good album, particularly the first half. I will probably never listen to this again, though.
Massive Attack
1/5
I think this album probably really benefits from a chronological listening, because as is, separated from its contemporaries, it just kind of falls flat for me. But the review says this is the first "trip hop", so congrats for that.
By fall flat, I don't mean that it's bad, just, for the most part, uninteresting. There are flashes of brilliance, though, like the guitar riff in Be Thankful For What You Got.
Hymn of the Big Wheel was probably my favorite song.
Duran Duran
3/5
The album starts off soooo hot with Rio, and shortly after, Hungry Like the Wolf.
I didn't realize how insane some of the bass lines are for Duran Duran. By far the best part of their music.
I thought this was going to be one of those albums thats a couple of boys and nothing else, but the back half of the album is definitely doing its part.
Fela Kuti
2/5
The first non-Eurocentric album on this listen through.
Really enjoying the vibes. I wish there was a little more evolution in the songs, but I'm pretty sure that's a style thing, a back beat with lots of solos throughout. That does mean it makes excellent background music for me.
The Incredible String Band
2/5
First impression: it sounds like if John Lennon grew up in a small town.
Yeah, I can understand why this was really popular in the late 60s. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I love the combination of psychedelic and folk.
Kind of wish the singer wouldn't push the bottom of his range so much. He sounds much better in the mid and upper ranges of his voice. The low stuff ends up losing a lot of his nice tonality. And as soon as I typed that out, he hit that really beautiful low note on Nightfall.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Really fun! I like the energy.
I feel like this is something that music has exceeded, though. Like there's music released recently that has the same vibes and style but is better. That's influence, though, so good for Iggy
Nick Drake
5/5
This is beautiful. I don't love the lower range of his voice, but I feel so comfortable listening to him.
Roads is an amazing song. I've actually been hoping to start a new playlist for my fall vibes, and Roads got to start it for me.
An amazing album. Intimate but comfortable, relaxing but emotional. I loved every song.
Fugees
3/5
This is not my preferred style of music. It does slap, though.
I'm just not impressed with the other music elements of the album. I want more than just backing loops.
I will say, Killing Me Softly is killing me
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Much more my style compared to some of the other stuff on this list.
It doesn't really stand out for me though. Most of the songs are really solid without much else.
The back half of the album definitely brings it up a notch though.
Kraftwerk
4/5
A lot of fun! A good album front to back.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I think I understand some of the ideas of the songs, but man, I really did not like listening to this. Fodderstompf made me want to claw my eyes out of my head.
Charles Mingus
4/5
It's all a little too much for me. I prefer quieter jazz, but this is excellent for what it is.
Track C is my favorite on the album.
A Tribe Called Quest
2/5
Took a while for it to click for me, and nearly wrote it off before we got there. Lyrics and writing were very good, but music that relies heavily on loops isn't for me. Did enjoy the vibes, though.
3/5
A lot of fun. I really enjoyed the sax solos. Just kind of there, though. Missing something for me, though, so it falls into a "this was fine." for me.
The Crusaders
5/5
Really enjoyed listening to it. The fusion of jazz and disco goes really well together. I wanted the vocalist of the title track to come back, but I was still jamming to every song.
Jazmine Sullivan
4/5
I really love the concept of the album, and really enjoyed listening to people's stories and then a musician exploring the concepts musically. The vocals on the album are also stellar.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
She is such a good singer. Her scatting is unparalleled.
I kind of wish there was some more uptempo songs, a lot of the album is slow and beautiful, but they all blend together.
Oh, Lady be Good legit gave me chills.
4/5
I think its cultural importance is a big reason why this album is so highly regarded. Not that the music is bad, but I don't think it's elite, in a vacuum.
I will say, this album is legit all the way through. Ziggy Stardust might be my favorite song, and it's third last on the album.
Carpenters
4/5
A masterclass in vocal harmonies. Absolutely incredible.
I really wish it didn't have a 70s musical vibe, though. It really brings it down a notch or two for me. A lot of the songs feel like they're a rip off of The Sound of Music, when they would excel more if they had their own identity.
Le Tigre
4/5
I love that the album kind of sounds like it was made in a bedroom. I don't like drum machines, but I'm also a drummer, so I recognize that's a bias that I have.
For how simple it is, it sounds really good. And while they embrace the punk vibes of loud instruments and muffled vocals, the message still comes through loud and clear.
I love the recorded spoken bits of Slideshow at Free University.
Public Enemy
1/5
It's so heavily over-produced that it's really hard to listen to.
The lyrics seem really good! At least when I can hear them. Unfortunately, it just kind of sounds like bad, over-produced hype music, though.
The Smiths
3/5
It's not quite The Smiths that I've listened to on my own. I do enjoy listening to them, though.
I think one of my favorite things about The Smiths, just in general, is that their albums don't really fall off in quality as you listen. The end of the album is just as strong as the beginning.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I do really like his keyboard playing. He's a very talented instrumentalist. His voice isn't incredible, but it is perfect for this genre.
A lot of true bops on this album. You Are the Sunshine of my Life. Maybe Your Baby. You And I. Superstition. The songs that aren't bops, though, are really losing me.
The last few songs on the album are snooze-fests. Except the ending section of I Believe (When I Fall...)
Motörhead
2/5
I actually really like the unique way the lead singer sounds. Makes them stand out from other bands of a similar style.
It kind of all blends together after a bit, and I just find myself listening to noise. Noise that I like, but I'm not paying attention to what I'm listening to.
Beatles
5/5
The "beep beep. beep beep. yeah!" lives rent free in my head.
This is the beginning of my favorite Beatles era. Just a lot of my favorite songs from the Beatles, and a really good album beginning to end.
Gary Numan
2/5
It's a little kooky, a little strange, but well created and sounds really good. His voice is a little off-putting, but it works well for his style.
I ended up tuning out for over half the album. I like it, but it becomes really good background noise.
Pink Floyd
4/5
I really love Pink Floyd's instrumentals, so I really enjoy Shine On You Crazy Diamond, all parts of it.
There's nothing that really stands out for me in the album, but it's so good from top to bottom. Really good listening.
Moby
3/5
I was really into it for the first couple songs, but as the album progressed, I started losing interest.
The varied voices is kind of a weird thing to do. It just makes me worried about inconsistency with the vocal quality of the songs.
To me, there's three distinct sections to the album, a beginning, middle, and end. The middle section is the different by being the most upbeat, and to me, it's the worst section. If you just got rid of it, I think there would be a complete album with a full feeling, and there wouldn't be any necessarily bad songs.
The National
3/5
I'm not a big fan of the really deep voice. But I really like everything else with the sound.
Scott Walker
1/5
To be honest, this makes me think of the Gaither Gospel Band, a 80s southern gospel vocal group. I don't like it.
I do really like some of the orchestration, but it's a miss for me otherwise. If there was no singing, I'd say this was a really good instrumental album. But I'm getting the ick from this.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
This has some *iconic* 90s sound. I couldn't tell you what that is. Maybe like unfiltered and underproduced? All I know is that it sounds like the 90s.
The talent of the musicians is pretty clear. And I feel like they also really like their own style. So the musicianship is just really good.
The Band
4/5
Really good. But doesn't really have moments of greatness for me. I do like the style, and the bass slaps.
The Verve
2/5
Bad radio style pop rock
Billy Bragg
3/5
This is some pretty weird stuffy. But there is some strange vibey-ness to it, that makes it tolerable at worst, and oddly enjoyable at best.
Soft Machine
4/5
Through two songs, both of them have some really great moments. I generally like this style of music - the experimental rock, so I'm a little biased.
Lots of really good stuff. There weren't any parts, really, that felt like it didn't belong in the song.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Really good stuff. A couple of weird things that I just didn't vibe with, but for the most part, a really quality album with some really good vocals and instrumentation. I also loved that each track flowed into the next, made for a really enjoyable listening experience.
Could have done without Save the Children. That was just weird.
The Strokes
5/5
This is goooooood. It's got the throwback garage band sound, while still taking every advantage of music production and quality.
Fela Kuti
3/5
This album definitely benefits from being a live recording. The singing bit in Egbe Mi O is really fun.
2/5
This is fine. Not a whole lot of interesting things going on. The first 2ish minutes of Starship was the best part, but I didn't like all the electronic stuff going on after that point.
Justice
2/5
Skrillex was really overplayed when I was in high school, so I'm pretty burnt out from this heavy electronic dance music. That said, this is good. Like very good music. The ending of Let There Be Light is phenomenal.
Some of the songs on the back half of the album are causing me pain. Stress and DVNO, specifically.
Rush
5/5
I really love Rush's sound. This album isn't quite at the level of Moving Pictures for me, and some of the back end of the album is just there, but the story telling in the first track is incredible.
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
This is not the first time listening to parts of this album or Sufjan. So, I know already that I really like his sounds, and know to brace myself for some of his weird instrumentations.
High key, this is an incredible album. A little artsy (but what Indie album isn't), but full of character.
Eels
3/5
Yeah, this is some real American rock, with songs about guns and drugs. Kind of wild and weird, but really consistent, which I appreciate a lot. The album quality doesn't change as you progress towards the end of it.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
I didn't really like the lead singer's voice. There were some moments of brilliance from the album, but for the most part it was just kind of bland or uninteresting. The ending of the album was by far my favorite bit.
Anita Baker
1/5
I'm loving the bass on Same Ole Love. I'm a sucker for the poppy bass playing, especially when it carries some melodic weight.
The whole album wasn't available on my Spotify, so I wasn't able to listen to the whole thing, but what I did get was good, but not great. A couple of really good songs, and some songs that sounded like they shouldn't be allowed to leave a hair salon.
Lambchop
2/5
I was really enjoying this, and then the singer went into his falsetto range, and now all I hear is Tiny Tim. The instrumentation is really good and interesting, but I can't get past how not great the falsetto singing is.
Beastie Boys
3/5
I'm learning that I might not like hip-hop. Don't get me wrong, this is very good. But I just don't think it's my preferred flavor of music.
Eminem
4/5
This is nuts. Eminem is a wordsmith, though, and these songs are so incredibly detailed.
It's a pretty profane and insane album, but it's really well done, and I've enjoyed it more than quite a few other albums on the list so far.
Hole
4/5
I really enjoy the grungy rock of the album, distorted guitars and attitude of the lyrics.
David Bowie
2/5
Yeah, this is just kind of fine. I'm wishing it was more rock influenced. I just didn't really like it that much.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
I really like this. Chill and subtle. I'm a big fan of quiet/chill music in general, though. So this is just in my wheelhouse.
I really enjoy the different instrumentations. The horn section in Down was a really great touch.
I really enjoyed the first half of the album, but then I just started getting lost in the second half, starting with Coconut.
Joy Division
2/5
Didn't really get it. I can understand why it's good, but not for me.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
His guitar playing is incredible. I really have no idea how guitarists can play a melody line and chords at the same time.
The lyrics of his music are thought provoking and just generally interesting.
I love the sounds. The anti-war music of the 60s and 70s is low-key some of my favorite music, and this feels like an evolution in that style, even if it doesn't have the same message.
Nina Simone
5/5
This is sooooo good. Excellent instrumentation and musicality. Giving me a lot of feels.
Why Keep On Breaking My Heart is kind of a dud for me. Everything else, so far, is incredible.
I tuned out for a little bit, but that's because I listen at work, and I got bombarded with emails, but this is so good.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Confession: I've never actually listened to Elvis besides some of the iconic hits, and I never really liked them all that much, honestly. So it's nice to listen to Elvis apart from a top hits. And the first two tracks have changed my opinion on Elvis.
I love all the varied styles and genres in the album, really shows a depth of talent from Elvis.
Ute Lemper
1/5
Yeah, this misses for me more than it hits. There's a few flashes of brilliance, but most of it feels over-the-top.
I couldn't even finish the last song.
Rush
5/5
Neil Peart is the best.
Tom Sawyer is one of my absolute favorite songs. The vocals, the bass licks, the solos. It's all just so fucking good.
Pixies
3/5
I'm learning I don't really love the 90s vibes, but this is a pretty good album. Don't really love anything, but it is pretty good.
Small Faces
4/5
It's like Wanna Be Beatles, but they're actually really good. I really liked the story-telling bit, and will probably re-listen to the whole album again.
Tim Buckley
1/5
The bass is the only thing that I'm really enjoying from this album. His voice isn't impressive, nor do I feel like unique or interesting.
Sonic Youth
3/5
It's got that experimental vibe, but it's kind of, tame? Not that that makes it bad, but if they were going for the wild and different, why wouldn't you really go for it? I guess this was one of "the first great American albums to come from the underground". So I'll cut it some slack, but it just doesn't do enough for me.
The guitar work is top notch.
The back half of the album is much better than the first half, in my opinion.
Elton John
4/5
There's a lot right with Elton John's music. His piano work is always excellent. The instrumentation with strings, brass, and woodwinds. His voice is also distinct and wonderful.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Some really good Americana vibes. I do have a love/hate relationship with vocalists in this genre, as I often feel like they sing in a way that hurts the quality of the music. For the most part, though, this avoids the poor quality sound.
This is just a really good Americana album. Maybe the best I've ever heard in this genre? But there's not really much competition for "Best of Americana".
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
A really, really good jazz album. The funky time signatures are the highlight, but they only get to shine because everything else is executed so well.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
5/5
I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but this is really good. You can pretty easily trace how their music influenced the next generation. What's impressive is that even with the hindsight of the evolution of the genre this still holds up and is really enjoyable.
I'm really glad the songs are so short. I feel like if they went much longer they'd start bordering on annoying, but they're kind of the perfect length.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
4/5
I really don't like the singer's voice. But I also don't like Bob Dylan's voice, and I think that's kind of what he's going for. Other than that, this album is really incredible. Excellent instrumentation. Some really interesting songs, too.
The Police
2/5
Listening to this album makes me realize that I'm mostly just a fan of the Police's hits. They are this interesting blend of reggae and rock, but it really doesn't do much for me overall. Message in a Bottle is still a bop, though.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I didn't know that I was a Black Sabbath fan until today. Some really good stuff. Not quite sure if it's what I would call Metal, or just 70s Metal.
It feels like it's missing something. Just not punchy enough. But really solid.
The Chemical Brothers
1/5
Some interesting bass lines, and I like the phasing parts. But all in all, this album really isn't for me. I'm not a fan of electronic heavy music, or music that relies on loops, and this heavily leans on both.
Laura Nyro
1/5
This feels like the album wants to be jazz but is afraid to try. It's blues, I guess, but I don't think that the genre choice was intentional, and in my opinion, that really hurts it. If they were intentional about their style and sound this might be good, but it is just meh.
Eli's Coming puts the train back on the tracks, so to speak, but I'm already pretty checked out.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
I love a good concept album, and this kills it, in that sense. But it goes a little too hard for me.
Kanye West
4/5
This is a tough one to rate. With hindsight and some of his takes on the album, there's some pretty hurtful things that he says.
But the music is really good. The lyrics that aren't controversial or hateful are really good, and occasionally brilliant. I love that he shares his story of the album on the last track.
If he wasn't a shitbag guy, this probably gets 5 stars/a 10.
Various Artists
1/5
A really good Christmas album. Some of the best versions of classic Christmas songs. But does a Christmas album, even if one of the best, deserve a spot in the top 1001? I don't think so.
Dusty Springfield
1/5
This was bad. The only thing that I kind of liked were some of the instrumentals in the background, but they were also just on repeat, so even that got boring.
The Shamen
3/5
I don't normally like EDM music, but this is hitting a little different than it normally would for this genre.
The repetitiveness of the songs kills it a bit for me. The melodic material is all very good, and the vocals are always well timed. I'm left wishing songs were 30 seconds to a minute shorter so that I'm getting less fluff and just the best stuff.
Primal Scream
2/5
The album art had me a bit deceived. I thought this was going to be some driving and distorted guitar heavy music. But I am pleasantly surprised by what this album actually is.
Despite my expectations being wrong in a pleasant way, I'm not sure I really actually enjoy this album. It's better than what I was expecting it to be, but there's a lot of misses for me on the album.
Depeche Mode
1/5
Just not good. Uninteresting. The best part was when it ended.
Taylor Swift
3/5
I don't like the dance era of Taylor, but sue does still have very good music. Just not my Swift Style.
The harmonies are on point
George Harrison
2/5
I like George Harrison! I think he's got great musical ideas! But over 100 minutes for an album is too long! I couldn't finish this album! It would have been better if he broke it into two smaller separate albums, and he could have developed some songs more, made them more unique.
If this album is a normal respectable length it gets 3 maybe 4 stars from me.
Cream
4/5
I'm not sure I would call this one of the greatest albums of all-time, but it is, at worst, really solid for sure, and has some really nice highlights in Sunshine of Your Love.
The back half of the album is so good. I take back what I said before. This definitely belongs.
I'm learning that I really like this rock-a-billy/bluesy rock kind of music, and this album is no exception. A few moments really stand out, but otherwise, so far, solid throughout.
The tempo changes are sooooo good.
Willie Nelson
1/5
This is fine, but I think if I wanted to listen to Willie Nelson, I'd rather listen to some of his outlaw country music, not him singing covers.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Maybe one of the greatest rock albums of all-time.
The Byrds
3/5
I don't know that I would call this the Byrds best album. It's definitely one of their most developed, that shows their most growth and change. But I don't think that necessarily makes it their best. Still good, though!
Moog Raga sounds like it would be in one of those weird SpongeBob episodes.
Neil Young
3/5
I feel like Neil Young is the king of bad lyrics with really good music. The instrumentals are so good, but I just don't care about most of what Neil is saying. Old Man is a good song, though.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
I'm not really a big fan of electronic music. This is one of the best electronic music albums I've listened to, though. The repetition gives comfort, and the slight variations in the melody or adding/removing a channel (is that the right word?) becomes really noticeable and impactful.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Yeah, I think I'm okay only listening to Tom Petty's hits. This album is good, but I don't think it's great. It's consistent, which I really appreciate, but Luna and American Girl are the only really highlights, and they're not dramatic highlights by any means.
Fatboy Slim
5/5
This is actually subtly really good. Repetitive, but has a lot of small changes and developments that it's never boring. It doesn't demand your attention to be a really good album, but when you do give it the attention all the small details become really enjoyable.
The Cars
4/5
Lots and lots of bangers. Hits a bit a of a low point in the middle of the album, but starts and finishes on high, high notes. Great classic rock.
Lupe Fiasco
5/5
The instrumentals are really good. Some of the piano riffs are top notch. The lyrics are also really good, from what I can catch. My brain generally doesn't work fast enough for me to understand rapping.
High key, this is a really good album. There hasn't really been a single dud song on the album. Even the songs that aren't among the best on the album have moments of excellence.
1/5
There's a vibe to it, but it's hidden under a bunch of stuff that's bad. Just not for me.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
So, I hear this as the more rebellious version of The Beatles, but I'm not sure that I like it more than the Beatles. I do get it, and I don't dislike it, but it doesn't measure up to the other music of the time for me.
It is still good, and deserves a place in the top albums of all-time though!
The back half of the album is also much better than the first, but I think that's because it gets away from that rebellious attitude and settles down a bit.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
Each new song that I listen to through Are You a Hypnotist?? on this album because my favorite song on the album. The only exception to that is Pt 2 of the title track, and even that wasn't a bad track, I just didn't like as much as what I had already listened to.
This is an awesome album. It kind of hits some of my favorite things about music. Melancholic. Is experimental in sounds/noises, but doesn't allow that to be the driving music. And it also has a good story.
This isn't mind blowing, but it is really really good.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
I really like big band jazz. Lets multiple instruments shine. I prefer slower tempos generally, and most of this album is fasssstttt. But it's really good throughout. Doesn't really do anything revolutionary, but it's the height of big band. Excellent dissonances and I was bobbing along to every song.
Beatles
5/5
One of the best Beatles album (not the very best, in my opinion). Really straddles the crazy psychedelic Beatles and the rock Beatles, and I think it kind of nails it perfectly.
John Prine
4/5
The lyrics are really detailed, which makes it a little hard to get the full scope of his music on one listen through. The light instrumentation means the electric (steel?) guitar really shines in its moments, and the harmonies on Paradise are excellent. Better than Bob Dylan.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
One of my favorite musical duos of all time, but I've never actually listened to this whole album. They're just so incredibly talented, and every song is at minimum interesting to listen to, if not a certified banger.
The guitar work paired with their harmonies and *also* great lyrics? Just an all-timer. I don't think it replaces my favorite album from them though.
Radiohead
3/5
This album doesn't really stand out on its own, but it does lay the foundation for a lot of the 90s and 00s music that follows it (including some of the other Radiohead albums). It's definitely good, but without its influence, I'm not sure it deserves a spot in an unbiased top 1001. I do like the style a lot and enjoyed every track, though.
Alice Cooper
2/5
Aside from No More Mr. Nice Guy, this album just doesn't do anything for me. It sounds like other stuff from the era, just worse. I'm also not a big fan of some of the content of the lyrics. Gives me the ick.
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead goes harder than I thought/remember them going.
I really love the the electronics and post production instruments are used to enhance what was already there, rather than be the focal point of the music. Definitely some certified bangers on the album. No real low moments at all during the album, but it's lacking a wow factor for me.
The Police
4/5
Listened to this album while hangry and doing chores, so I'll try not to hold that against it.
Honestly, the best songs on this album are some of the best songs ever. Every Breath You Take, Synchronicity II, King of Pain, Wrapped Around Your Finger. There are a couple of misses, though, that actually make it tough to get through the whole album.
Björk
2/5
This is mostly just too weird for me, and lives mostly in a genre that I don't like, house/dance/electronic sound. It's not bad, but it isn't really enjoyable for me. I am glad that she leans into her unique sounding voice, rather than shying away from it and trying to create more "normal" sounding music.
Beatles
4/5
A good Beatles album, but it's one of the few albums that doesn't have a ton of hits. A good album, but definitely not one of their best.
Sam Cooke
2/5
My biggest "issue" with the album is just that it's live. I feel like it takes away from all the interesting things Sam Cooke brings to the table.
The music is really good, though. Sam's voice is interesting, and his songs are fun. Just wish this wasn't a recording of a live performance.
King Crimson
5/5
This is giving me Meatloaf vibes, in the best way.
I really love the orchestral touches and evolution in this. A lot of really interesting bits exist only because they challenged the expectations of what rock and roll should be. I also wish there was more through-composed popular music like some of the songs on this album.
Dolly Parton
4/5
This is really good 70s country, which is pretty expected since Dolly is a queen of country. There are a few things that I'm glad we moved away from that are mainstays in this album, mostly the "bouncy" bass lines and some of the plucky guitar work. But those were standards of the time, and also just minor issues.
The Stooges
3/5
You can tell that this is a group that is really trying something new, as they've got that unrefined kind of sound. It does get credit from me for that, but ultimately, I don't think it goes far enough.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Some of the lyrics are problematic, but otherwise this shit just fucking rocks. Sweet Child O' Mine is a banger, Welcome to the Jungle is insane.
This album is definitely Hall of Fame worthy, but it's not quite inner circles Hall of Fame, if that makes sense.
Paul Simon
2/5
This album just makes me miss Simon and Garfunkel. This genre/style isn't doing Paul Simon's voice any favors.
You Can Call Me Al definitely exists and Graceland is good, but this album is mostly a miss for me.
The xx
4/5
Based on the first track, I was really worried that this was going to be an EDM/House/Dance album, which I would have not enjoyed. BUT it was just a fakeout. A real emotional album, excellent lyrics, and instrumentation that supports it. A really wonderful surprise (as I've never listened to the xx before).
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Just some really good classic American rock n roll. Some big times hits and some hidden gems (for those not familiar with Lynyrd Skynyrd like myself), and not a single disappointing or bad song throughout. Spotify had some demo versions that don't really do much for me, but I'm not holding that against the album.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I feel like this is a victim of just having to pump out an album a year. The highlights of this album are awesome, but there's just so much fluff that's not needed. A 'Best Of' album by Stevie Wonder would be an auto-10, but there's so many songs on this album that aren't even that good. Even some of the songs have extra fluff, that if you trimmed them down they'd be a lot better.
Honestly, just go listen to Stevie's best songs and leave the albums alone.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
2/5
I didn't really enjoy this? Which is strange, because they do things that I generally enjoy, and they're leaning into a style that I also usually enjoy. I think just most of the album falls flat for me.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Some really good rock blues. I wish there was some more variety throughout the album, but that just makes Layla shine all the more when you do get to that song. A few other songs are top notch, and the rest of it is just incredibly solid.
Nirvana
5/5
A really good album, and a great response to hitting the mainstream from the previous album. Heavy and abrasive, and excellent writing (for the most part; not a big fan of screaming "R*pe me"). The hits coming from this album are also deserving of their popularity.
Richard Thompson
3/5
Kind of bounces between really great folk music, and Sufjan Stevens kind of odd sounding, but it's never really bad, and the album has some really great "high" moments.
Bob Dylan
1/5
I really don't want to give this a one star, because Bob is a great guitar player, and the harmonica work is excellent, but I absolutely hate his voice, and it kills everything for me. The intonation sucks. His vocal embellishments are cringy. The vocal strain is bad. It's just bad.
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
So In Love is an incredible song. Everything else is kind of a miss, though. The vibes are great, but the singing drags it down, and I'm left wishing this was 30 minutes of So In Love.
Steve Winwood
3/5
This mostly ends up feeling kind of like a Kirkland brand Genesis or other synth heavy band. Still good! But not an original vibe or top name brand quality. Good, but doesn't blow me away.
The Darkness
5/5
This just fucking rules. It's got a classic rock sound and vibe with the attitude of the aughts. The guitar solos are excellent, and the singer is masterful in the control over his voice.
Fiona Apple
2/5
There's nothing here that's particularly good. Sometimes her voice sounds really nice, but on the whole it's forgettable.
Definitely not a bad album though. Just not special.
The Temptations
3/5
Definitely a tale of two halves. The first half is different, experimental, and awesome. The second half is some classic motown, which just doesn't hit as good after the first half. Wishing the first half was more, or by itself.
The Doors
3/5
Riders on the Storm is the big hit on the album, but I think some of the bluesy stuff is better music. Some solid stuff, but I don't think it really stands out.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
They've got a great sound, but I get a bit tired of it quickly. They're still a really good group, and even though this album doesn't have any big hits, there's still some great listening on the album.
N.E.R.D
3/5
I really like the rock music, and the lyrics are really well crafted. There's some quality difference in some songs.
The beginning of the album was missing something for me, but the album gets better and better as it goes.
Not great, but this is definitely good.
Lou Reed
4/5
I'm not a huge fan of his voice, and while the music is fine and has some flashes of brilliance, it's never really consistently great. The star of this album is the lyrics and the story of the full album. They're dark and sad, but well crafted and make for a great listen.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Hell Yeah
Bob Dylan
3/5
I really don't like Bob Dylan's voice, and Idiot Wind is the perfect storm of why I hate it.
But then immediately after that song on the album, he voice is much less abrasive. It really actually let me listen and appreciate his lyrics, and also was kind of a window into why he is such a highly regarded musician.
Elastica
3/5
This could be a really, really good album, but there's some songs on here that are just misses, that don't do much of anything interesting. The good songs are excellent, including some of the 3-part harmonies, but it's just not a great album from beginning to end.
Portishead
5/5
This was way different than what I was expecting, but it was so good. Her voice was perfect for the style, and the "triphop" was a jam the entire time.
It does fall just short of a 10 for me, but it is darn close.
John Grant
4/5
I was fully expecting this to be a bad album, but it's actually really good folk (even if it is occasionally weird/odd). His voice is perfect for the genre and vibes.
I don't really appreciate the use of slurs in any music. But outside that, this is a great album.
Radiohead
5/5
I'm finding that every Radiohead album doesn't really have a standout song for me. Which is more about the fact that all of the songs go so well together and are all excellent, rather than any single song being single worthy.
This one just feels like one complete idea. The album is a tapestry of songs all woven together.
N.W.A.
4/5
The backing tracks are actually really awesome. The lyricism is really great, but the content is often too violent or misogynistic for me to really get behind it.
Tom Waits
4/5
High key, the instrumentation and instrumentals are incredible. I really don't like the singer's voice, though. The spoken parts are kind of perfect. I really don't like how much I actually truly enjoyed this album.
Dr. John
1/5
This is not for me really. I can see why this is on the list as a boundary pusher, and helped evolve music, but I won't be listening to this again.
Traffic
5/5
This just fucking slaps.
It's like Kansas, but turned down to like and 8, rather than an 11.
I was really worried the album would fall flat a bit as it went on, but it constantly surprised me and some of the back half was even better (not all of it).
This is saved, added to playlists, and I can't wait to listen to it again.
Nas
2/5
I have a really hard time catching the lyrics, which is what (apparently) makes this album great. Without that it all just kind of falls flat. There's some good production work, but otherwise I'm not into it.
Good enough that it's not bad, though.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Bon Jovi's hits are so good. You could argue that they're overplayed, but I would say they're played that much because they are *that* good. The album does, however, have a feeling of the hits and some other songs, but that's probably more a me problem being unfamiliar with other Bon Jovi songs.
The songs other than the hits aren't quite misses, but they're not as good as the hits.
Louis Prima
5/5
Some of the best big band jazz I've ever heard. The variety in singers is wonderful, because every single one of them is really talented.
This is just kind of like chicken soup for my soul.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I'm liking this album more than our previous Stones album, Aftermath. I do like the folky rock style a lot, and I feel like the identity of the album is a lot more clear. I know what it's trying to be, and how it's accomplishing that.
There's no real "highlight" on the album but it's an incredibly solid and consistent listen from beginning to end, which is something that I really appreciate. A hit or two would make this into a 5-star album for me, but it just misses on that.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Weird, and not enjoyably weird. The vocals aren't great, and the rest of it is just odd folky music with some ancient instruments thrown in (that was a nice touch, though). Not worth listening to.
Norah Jones
3/5
This is fine pop/blues/jazz. Nothing really impresses except her voice. The light instrumentation doesn't elevate or highlight. Just a fine album.
Public Enemy
1/5
I just don't like this. Like, there's nothing enjoyable about this to me.
The Youngbloods
3/5
There's some really good instrumental moments in this album, including "Trillium". I enjoy the folk/country/rock vibes, but the psychedelic moments are not quite as enjoyable.
A good album that isn't a major hit, but also avoids missing, for the most part
Neil Young
4/5
Man, Neil is just not a great singer, or at least I don't like his voice, at all. His lyrics are really good, though. If he would have been content to just be a songwriter for a different vocalist, this would be top tier stuff.
Everything except the vocals on this is incredible. Like, an easy 10 if any other professional singer is taking lead.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
This guy gives me the creeps. Which sucks because the rest of the music is actually pretty good. But this is unlistenable because of the lyrics.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
I generally really love the guitar and bass playing on Neil's albums. The solo on Down by the River goes on quite a bit too long for me, though. Actually all of the instrumentals are a bit too long for me. I don't mind music with really long solos or instrumentals (I'm a big Kansas fan), but the ones on this album just don't do enough new or interesting things to really keep me engaged.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
I was not familiar with anything Tracy besides Fast Car, but this is a really good acoustic album. It doesn't stand out as a best ever, but it is very, very good.
Ryan Adams
5/5
This is really, really good. I love the choice timings for harmonies. Occasionally there's some really interesting and great chord choices. The instrumentation and vocals pair together wonderfully. There's not a single miss on the album, and there's some really, really good songs that push it over the top for me.
Scott Walker
1/5
Ugh, the first song was fine, but this guy is a bit of a creep, and his music makes me uncomfortable.
Yeah, the album starts fine, but then it immediately gets bad and cringy and nearly unlistenable.
I would have a better life if you promised me that I would never listen to Scott Walker ever again in my life.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Slaps. There's not significant lowlight to the entire album, and neither does any song stand out above the rest for me. A really great album, but one that I think misses out on being like a top 50ish. Still well deserved on this list, and I really enjoyed listening to it.
Arcade Fire
4/5
It either starts off a little too indie for me, or I just wasn't fully prepared for the sound/style when I started up the album, but god damn it's growing on me.
Really good indie music. Raw and unique. It doesn't blow me away by any means, but it is really solid album to listen to.
Miles Davis
5/5
Tonality that no one musician would touch with a 10-foot pole, and Miles Davis and his friends make this one of the smoothest sounding albums ever??? Incredible.
I honestly could have done without the last track. The singing is just not up to par with the rest of the instruments.
Favorite song: Moon Dreams
Pretenders
2/5
I'm not really impressed at all? Maybe because it's "old" pop punk, but imo this isn't that good. Space Invaders is rad, but the majority of everything else is a miss for me.
The soft ventures into other genres is really cool, but when the base sound isn't great, it's like adding sprinkles to bad food.
Ray Charles
4/5
At this point in my life, I need big band music that I'm listening to for the first to do something interesting, and there's nothing that stands out about the first half of the album to me. I would listen to it again, but I'm not going to go seek it out.
Now, the ballads on the second half of the album are a completely different story. I'm a big sucker for slow jazz ballads, and these songs are killing me.
The Fall
2/5
If I listened to this in the 80s, I'd probably think this is rad as hell, but in today's context it doesn't really sound good, and I'm mostly uninterested.
The White Stripes
5/5
I need to be careful, because I could describe all the things I love about this album in detail, and I don't want to get too long winded.
The songs are incredibly well crafted, from lyrics, to guitar riffs, to offsetting the drums.
The back half of the album simply cannot keep to the same standard of the first half, but it's still really good.
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
Yeah, I'm just not a big fan of live albums. I do enjoy listening to music live, but I don't want the same experience when listening to a recording. I do like the vibes of the band/music/album, the slightly jazzy rock.
Yeah, this would be awesome to listen to live, but I really am uninterested in this kind of album layout for a recording.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
This is some fine Indie Pop. A couple of songs have good vibes to them. I don't have anything bad to say about the album at all. But I also don't really have anything great to say? It just ends up being a good but not great album for me.
Brian Eno
3/5
I'm not really a fan of the first few tracks. This is all just kind of too weird without much direction, in my opinion. It feels like something frog men would listen to. I don't know what that means exactly, but that's what it sounds like.
After a few songs, it mellows out, and the avant guard-iness plays so much better in this low energy/slow tempos. I'm glad I didn't fully give up on it after the first half, because I ended up really enjoying the second half of the album.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
1/5
The bass playing is pretty slick, especially on Erzulie. But otherwise I'm not interested. The male vocalist is boring and bad, and the instrumental being a weird mix of synthetic and acoustic just is not combining very well.
This gets worse as I listen too. I'm so checked out, and just waiting for the album to end.
Jurassic 5
5/5
I'm not a big hip-hop fan, but greatness is still easily recognizable. There's a few songs that I don't like at all (either Break or React, I don't remember already), but otherwise this slaps hard.
This isn't quite best of the best, but it is excellent from beginning to end. Beats go hard, lyrics are topical and well crafted.
Sex Pistols
4/5
This a really good punk album. I'm not blown away by it musically, but I don't think that's what makes it legendary.
It is a really, really good album. There's not really any highlights for me personally. Just a whole lot of good late 70s punk from beginning to end. Listening to this 45 years after its release, I don't think it has any of the same impact that it may have once had. In comparison to the music being released today, this is no longer ground breaking in any way. But I can appreciate its historical significance.
Leftfield
1/5
It's house music. Everything gets repeated or looped about 418 times, so the interesting stuff becomes boring and the bad moments become a nuisance. I just don't like this style or genre, and nearly quit listening to it.
Roxy Music
2/5
The first song was good! But then it gets kind of bad immediately after. Not really interested in much else going on in the album. The bass playing is pretty great, though.
I do think the changes in vibes and style a bit made in the second half of the album elevate it some, but it's still not that good.
John Lennon
3/5
I feel like this album is just "Imagine" and friends. Nothing else really lives up to that song. Not that any of it is bad, it all still has the John Lennon vibes, but none of it is as good as Imagine
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
This is some really good hip-hop. Shit constantly slaps.
I don't know what else to say about this, just because I'm not familiar enough with the genre and the history of hip-hop. But I enjoyed it, and it was good music the whole time.
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
I've never actually listened to this album, so we're learning some things about Franz today.
Take Me Out might be one of the best songs ever. I could listen to it on repeat for hours. I was a little worried that it would overshadow every other song on the album, and while it is still the best song, the rest of the album really holds up well. I'm bobbing and jamming along to The Dark of the Matinee and Darts of Pleasure. Just an excellent album in total. They stay true to their unique sound throughout, but vary themselves enough that each song feels unique.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
This isn't really an album that I would expect to find on this list. About halfway through, and this is good, but I'm not sure what makes this so special or important to be here. Yeah, this is fine, but it's not great.
The novelty of the singing gets old pretty quick for me. The guitar playing and distortion is pretty nice, though.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
They can be a little much sometimes. But when it's not noise pollution or overstimulating, it's really great music. Tight vocal harmonies, instruments are all in sync.
This is great, but it falls short from elite, for me. A few odd songs, and sometimes there's just too much going on. But I was bobbing along to most songs, and it's an overall great listen.
Metallica
4/5
Better than earlier Metallica albums! I'm glad they slowed it down. It lets the differences in each song stand out more, so the album doesn't sound like one continuous song.
Favorite Song(s): Enter Sandman, The God that Failed
B.B. King
3/5
Most of the songs sounded very similar to each other, which is probably more a reflection of the genre than the album, but I checked out after the 3rd song or so. He's a great singer, he's got a good band, and this is probably one of the best blues albums, but I don't really need a full blues album in my life.
Favorite Song: How Blue Can You Get?
The Isley Brothers
4/5
There are some staples of the genre on this album, and they're a little different than the most popular versions of the songs, but they still slap hard.
Some of the singing is off-putting, but it's only brief moments of a couple songs. The instrumentation is incredible, especially for the time. It's honestly a really incredible album from beginning to end. I did skip all the alternate versions that were at the end of the Spotify album, because I didn't really want to "re-listen" to songs with minor changes to them.
Radiohead
5/5
An incredible album from beginning to end. It's different from the other Radiohead albums we've had, and I love what they did.
The Fall
2/5
Man, I do not like this guy's singing at all. I do really like the general style, but I can't commit to completely listening, because his voice is so bad and off putting. I honestly think I would love this album if it wasn't for the singer. The guitar, drums, and bass are all excellent.
The last song on the album is stinky poo poo, though.
Beck
1/5
The last song in the album keeps this from being a 1/10, but while they were trying to be interesting, they forgot the music did still need to be good. Just not something I want to listen to.
Sister Sledge
5/5
R&B Bass playing is one of the best things in the world. I found myself bobbing and dancing in my chair subconsciously constantly while listening to this. Just a fuckin incredible album.
Favorite Song(s): Thinking of You, You're a Friend to Me
The White Stripes
4/5
This is a much different vibe than Elephant. Not that it's bad, but I do miss the grunginess of the previous album. Like, if I heard this first, I would think they're just an odd rock band. Jack White's voice does carry the songs that aren't as musically interesting.
I spent the first few songs just getting used to the less grungy/lighter style, but once I got use to it, this album is pretty great. There's a couple of songs that blow me away, but the whole album doesn't have that same quality.
Stereolab
4/5
Really enjoying this. The synth is not a musical choice I would have made, but it's not overused and doesn't take away from anything else. A bit of a strange album, but a very good weird album.
Favorite Song(s): Cybele's Reverie, Tomorrow is Already Here, Monstre Sacre
Culture Club
2/5
The album starts off with a bang with Karma Chameleon, and it never gets back to that level of quality. In fact, a handful of the songs are just really bad. It's never consistently bad, but the album on a whole is not worth listening to.
The Avalanches
3/5
Before I say anything else, I just need to note that I don't like this genre or style of music. I generally find repetitive electronic music boring and uninteresting.
That said, this album does actually do some really interesting things, even if there is a lot of boring repetitions still. Bending of pitches. Manipulations of samples already introduced. Using non-musical samples in musical ways.
I didn't love it, but it wasn't offensive to me, like a lot of other electronic/dance albums have been, and there were some occasional really good things happening!
3/5
This album does not start off strong for me. The first couple of songs made me think this whole album might end up a miss, but there's a big swing at "Beautiful Feeling" and the album doesn't really look back from there. Beautiful Feeling is the peak of the album, but every song after that is much better than the first part.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
This album as a whole goes hard. Some excellent lyricism and rapping. It gets a little old near the end of the album, but that's not a major issue.
There is a major issue of some of the set pieces and some of the content of the songs. They cross a line for me, and it takes away from the album for me.
Favorite Song(s): Ready to Die, Juicy, Everyday Struggle
Jane Weaver
3/5
Very clearly a modern singer-songwriter album. Ethereal, breathy singing, and light synth work. Some of the songs could be on a space-related movie soundtrack.
A pretty good album, but honestly nothing particularly special.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
A couple of the tracks feel like elevator music, and I mean that as a compliment. Smooth, repetitious, but not boring, and incredibly comforting, whether you're actively listening or just letting it play through in the background.
This is a really good soundtrack, but that's also kind of all it is. Imo, it's really hard for soundtracks to be among the greatest albums of all-time. This one deserves a spot, but it doesn't get to sit among the elite of the elite.
Also, Spotify only has 6 tracks available, and I don't feel like using another platform.
Brian Eno
1/5
The unusual/experimental stuff is cute, but I really don't think it adds anything worthwhile to the album. There's some moments that are okay, but otherwise it's pretty bad.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
I don't love when does some squealy things with her voice, but this is solid lady punk rock. I started listening to this before I was really awake, so I started it over, and this is a much better album that I thought it was on first listen. I think the back-half of the album is the better half, but an awesome album nonetheless.
David Bowie
3/5
I think I'm learning I'm just not a big David Bowie fan (this is the third album I've listened to.) It just doesn't really stand out to me as anything particularly special? "Lady Grinning Soul" is a great song, but the rest of the album is just good. A few better than good moments, like the piano solo in "Aladdin Sane", stand out, but on the whole, good not great.
Bee Gees
2/5
I enjoy a good concept album, but the concept of this one kind of goes away or at least is pretty unnoticeable after a little while. It also sounds nothing like what I would expect a Bee Gees album to sound like, and they're not playing to their strengths. Some of the songs sound like straight Beatles rip-offs.
Just kind of a miss overall. Wishing it were a "classic" Bee Gees sound.
Favorite Song(s): Edison, I Laugh in Your Face
Wilco
5/5
This is some really nice/chill indie rock. I really like atmospheric sounding music, and this falls under that umbrella. Yeah, this is just comfort music to me.
I don't often save albums from this list to listen to again, but I did with this one. It kept getting better until the end, and I just really enjoyed the sound.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
This is some fun upbeat electro-pop-rock, but it's repetitive. I could have listened to 30 seconds or less of each song and gotten everything I could have needed from the song, and saved myself maybe half an hour.
It is fun. It does groove. But I get quite tired of it pretty quickly. It also probably doesn't help that I had a work meeting break up my listen.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
I'm not entirely sure why this album is labeled as Soul/Jazz. I can get behind calling it blue-eyed soul. But it's really Pop with some jazz influences.
She's got a great voice, and the album does a great job of highlighting it on every song. All of the instrumentation is just there to support her singing.
Outside of her voice, though, the album is pretty bland. It's a good pop album, but not a great one, and pop is just pretty boring. If it was any singer other than Dusty, this would probably be 1-star.
Steely Dan
5/5
This feels so unique. The jazz elements are just delicious. The bass, guitar, and drums all drive everything forward. The singing is just kind of what it is, but I could live in this sound for days. Every solo was different and interesting, and there wasn't any major or noticeable dips in quality from song to song.
Favorite Song: Peg
But they were all great.
Morrissey
3/5
This isn't bad by any means, but I don't think it really has great legs to stand on. The style is good, and I like his voice, but other than that, it's bounces between standard/normal music and some slightly odd/weird music that's not off-putting, just odd.
Favorite Song(s): Everyday is like Sunday
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I don't know if my expectations/bias for Led Zeppelin played a role in my opinion here, but the first half of the album didn't really impress me all that much? It is still a good listen, but it didn't particularly stand out to me.
But Trampled Under Foot, Kashmir, and In The Light all flip a switch for me, and those songs are by far the best on the album.
As an album, on the whole, I'm kind of just whelmed. But those three songs made 1 listen through worth it, but pull them out and listen to them separately rather than relistening to the whole album.
Scritti Politti
1/5
This is definitely some 80s music. There's a couple of moments that are pretty good, but for the most part it's overproduced and cringy. Any moment that I start enjoying the music is ruined pretty shortly after. I didn't really find any whole song good or enjoyable.
Favorite Song(s): Small Talk
Metallica
3/5
I love some good protest music, and even though this doesn't fit the historical mold for political protest music, it does still absolutely scratch that itch for me.
Unfortunately the sound of Metallica gets pretty worn out for me as the album goes on. They really only have the one setting, and that's fast, loud, and rockin'. Which is fun for a while, but I need something varied, even just a little bit, to keep me engaged.
The Go-Go's
4/5
We Got The Beat doesn't impress me as much as I thought it might, honestly. But the album on the whole is a lot of fun. And the songs are varied enough, even though they all have the same high tempo and vibe, that I'm engaged to every song throughout the album.
Favorite Song(s): Our Lips are Sealed, Can't Stop the World
Queen
5/5
What to say, other than Queen good?
Aside from Killer Queen, there aren't any **hits** from Queen on this album, but it still has that incredible, distinctive Queen sound, which means every song will, at worst, will be solid. Most songs are excellent works of artistry.
Waylon Jennings
5/5
Honestly, some very good old country. I really love some good steel guitar playing. The high harmonies are a treat whenever they show up.
The peak of the album is at the end, which I was a little confused/worried about in the middle of my listen-through, but it made the end of the album that much better.
Favorite Song(s): Old Five and Dimers (Like Me), You Ask Me To, Black Rose, We Had It All
Miles Davis
5/5
The fusion bits are kind of lost on me. So any of the moments that start heavily featuring the electronics I'm a bit out on. Everything else is so so damn good, though. Miles Davis is a jazz genius and it really comes through in all of the quiet moments.
Favorite Song: In A Silent Way
Metallica
4/5
Soundtrack-style orchestral music pairs so well with heavy metal. This album is way too long for streaming/listening, but I'm sure the live performance was incredible. I didn't listen to the whole album, but I did listen to enough to know exactly how I feel about it. It's just an elevated version of Metallica's best music.
Beatles
5/5
When I first started collecting records, I always thought Abbey Road was overpriced and overhyped. The more I've listened to the Beatles, though, I've come to learn that a lot of my favorite songs come from this album, and this is some of their best artistry. I honestly don't really have anything negative to say about this album, other than a couple of the songs don't sit in the same tier as the rest, but is that really a complaint if the songs are still very good?
Favorite song(s): Come Together, Oh! Darling, Octopus's Garden, Here Comes the Sun
James Brown
4/5
I'm not a huge fan of live albums, but this one is a lot of fun. The band bangs the entire time. The instrumental bridges between the songs are high-key fucking insane.
Favorite Song(s): Try Me, I Don't Mind
Elliott Smith
4/5
His voice is pretty unique, and I could see how that could be a problem for some people, but he's a magician with his lyrics and instrumentation. Each song is fairly unique, but all of them have this underlying haunting-ness to them.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
The album is high energy, driven by the live performance. There's a couple of major hits on the album, that bring it up a ton for me, but there's a few moments where the band just seems out of sync/tempo, and it just doesn't sound great to me.
Favorite song(s): Good Golly Miss Molly
Prince
3/5
This just isn't it. The first couple of songs are really good, but the rest of the album is either fine, or not good. The synth/drum machine starts pretty interesting but gets old after a handful of songs. It's got vibes, but I find the music mostly uninteresting.
"Lady Cab Driver" breaks up some songs worth skipping, but that's only a brief reprieve.
I've never actually listened to Prince before, so this experience is teaching me that his hits are great, that rest is just there.
Favorite Song(s): 1999, Lady Cab Driver
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I don't think there's any individual stand-out from this album. None of the songs really blow me away. But every song is really good. I really like the bluesy vibes, and the varying instrumentation keeps every song interesting.
This album is the poster child for high floor, low ceiling. A really, really good album, but no shining star.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
I just don't like electronica music. There's nothing about this that is interesting to me.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I can't really explain it, but, as a straight man, this album makes me want to put on a sundress and spin while the sun is shining down on me. This album just makes me happy and comfortable. The jazz music in the singer-songwriter/folk style is incredible.
Favorite Song(s): Help Me, Down to You
Michael Jackson
5/5
Jackson 5 is one of my favorite artists, and this is the perfect transition from that group to MJ's solo work. The bass playing is a definite vibe, and his ballads hit so so hard.
The last couple songs on the album are a far cry from the quality of the rest of the album, but it does not make a large enough difference to impact the rating much.
Favorite Song(s): Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough, Girlfriend
The Beach Boys
5/5
A masterpiece from beginning to end. Not a down moment. Obviously some songs are greater than others, but just one of the greatest albums of all-time. Don't ask me what this means, but I feel like this appropriate music to play at a petting zoo.
Favorite Songs: I'm Waiting for the Day, God Only Knows, Hang on to Your Ego
Pink Floyd
5/5
I've listened to the album before, but I did not realize until today that Us and Them is one of my favorite songs ever. Fucking incredible.
I love, love, love when an album flows seamlessly between tracks, and this album does that so well I didn't know the track changed a couple of times.
This is just an all-time elite. One of the best albums ever.
Favorite Song(s): Time, Us and Them, Any Color You Like, Eclipse
Doves
4/5
The style and genre is right up my alley. Really melancholic without being sad. The melodies, but vocally and instrumentally, drive the album. I would really love to listen to this while driving at night; I feel like that's what this album was specifically created for.
There's a few songs that kind of lose the magic of the rest of the album, but on re-listens it's easy enough to just skip them.
Favorite Song(s): Rise, Catch the Sun
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
This album is why reading the little Wikipedia excerpt is really important. Without that, I would have been really disinterested in this album. But knowing that this is the beginning of Shoegaze as a genre really gives the album an air of importance.
Musically, this isn't really for me. Underneath all the heavy extreme distortion, it's basically just a pop album, which is why that distortion is so important. Without it, this is honestly a really bad album.
Favorite Song(s): Cut the Dead, Some Candy Talking
Red Snapper
2/5
The album is largely hit or miss, and then it becomes a lot more miss. Aside from the two songs below, it's all kind of same-ish and forgettable with brief moments of musical clarity.
I like the vibes and the idea behind the songs/album had a little bit or promise, but it just ends up falling pretty flat for me.
Favorite Song(s): Shellback, Belladonna
Lauryn Hill
4/5
The album is an incredible vibe from beginning to end. The interludes of the classroom talking about love is really wholesome and fun. The lyrics are excellent, and I was bobbing along from the get go.
Favorite Song(s): Ex-Factor, Nothing Even Matters
Fats Domino
4/5
My foot was tired from tapping at the end of this album, even though it is so short. An excellent early rock and roll album with obvious New Orleans influences. The songs and album are both very short, so not a lot of details to call out, but an album that just makes me happy.
Favorite Song(s): What's the Reason I'm not Pleasing You, Blue Monday, Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Queen
4/5
One of my favorite things that an album can do is flow from one song into another. I think it really shows an intentionality to making an album, rather than just making a collection of songs. Queen is very good at that, even in their early days.
Ogre Battle had me really worried that the second half of the album was going to be, uh, not good, but that song kind of stands alone as not great.
Besides Ogre Battle being pretty rough, none of the other songs really stood out, good or bad. The whole album has an early/rough Queen Sound (tm), which they obviously refined later. The album misses out on being great, though, imo.
Favorite Song(s): Some Day One Day, Nevermore
Depeche Mode
1/5
I hated this. The music itself is fine. It's not particularly good, and it doesn't have any flaws or anything, but I don't like the guy's voice, and the style of music is something that I really don't like. So this is just an un-perfect storm.
The Sonics
4/5
This is pretty good. I wasn't overly impressed by their musicianship, but it's a lot of fun. The guitar distortion is excellent, and the vocals find a great balance between singing and screaming (lol). If the album was any longer without any other stylistic changes it might get old, but it's kind of the perfect length.
It's also really solid from beginning to end, without any songs that are "duds".
Favorite Song(s): Night Time is the Right Time, Good Golly Miss Molly
Dire Straits
4/5
If this album was Money for Nothing for a straight hour, it would be a 5/5.
It still is a really good album, even though none of the other songs really measure up to Money for Nothing (what can, if we're being honest?). It's a lot more vibey than I thought it would be.
Air
3/5
The low-fi vibes are pretty incredible on this album. I normally really don't like Electronica albums, but this one hits different. A big thing for me usually is the repetitions of the electronics, but here I feel like those repetitions are used more as a backdrop for the more interesting bits.
Honestly, just vibey and fun to listen to.
Favorite Song(s): La femme d'argent
Mott The Hoople
2/5
There's some pretty good moments in a couple of songs. Hymn for the Dudes has a great riff. Whizz Kid is a good song. But otherwise, I'm having a hard time finding any song that I really like, or that sounds good from beginning to end.
This album is hard, because there's some good moments, some meh, and some moments that are really not good.
Soul II Soul
1/5
This is basically just slightly elevated shitty club music. For the most part it's fine. There's some parts that aren't good, and the style is just boring.
The Hives
2/5
I don't like that this is a compilation album. There's not really any other "best of"s or comp albums post 1950s on this list. I do like this music, though. So I'm in this difficult spot of trying to rate an album that I don't think should be on the list, but am thoroughly enjoying.
Musically, it's not complicated at all, but it doesn't need to be. They want to blow your face off with distorted guitar riffs, muted screaming vocals, fast tempos, and drums that sounds like a train that lost its breaks. They do all of those things well.
On principle of it being a compilation album: 1 star
Rating it as if it were any other album: 3.5 star (ish)
So we'll split the difference and call it a 2 star.
Favorite Song(s): A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T, Main Offender
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
This is a major vibe. A lot of fun. I don't like some of the instrumentation, but that's more a cultural difference than poor music choice.
I'm having a hard time differentiating the songs from one another, so I don't really have a favorite, but they're all a good time.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Honestly, not that impressed. It sounds good, but it's carried pretty heavily by Gimme Shelter, and You Can't Always Get What You Want closes it out, and that's really all that's notable about it. Other than those two songs, though, the rest of the album feels really forgettable.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Aw shit.
How do you rate this anything other than a 5/5 or 10/10???? It's just hit after hit after hit, and the songs that aren't top 10 hits are top 50 hits. (and then there's Second Hand News).
Just an incredible album. I get goosebumps listening to The Chain, even though I've heard it hundreds of times. The vocals throughout are incredible.
Favorite Song(s): Dreams, Don't Stop, *The Chain*, I Don't Want to Know
OutKast
3/5
It's a shame that these albums are paired together, because Speakerboxxx is a 5, while The Love Below is a 1.
It took me a second to adjust to Speakerboxxx, but I was grooving and vibing to every track. There wasn't any 1 particular song that stood out, but rather the entire album was well-constructed, well-thought-out, masterfully executed, and each feature was used to elevate Big Boi, rather than take the spotlight for themselves.
The Love Below did a similar thing with its features, the issue is there's not a whole lot that's great to highlight and elevate. The album is overly repetitious and also quite a bit over sexualized. There's a time and place for that kind of musical content, but the first half of the album goes too far for me, and it ends up being a really bad first impression that never really improves.
I did like what they did with My Favorite Things. That was very good.
Favorite Song(s): Unhappy, Reset / Hey Ya, My Favorite Things
The Beach Boys
4/5
"Ugh, the ending of I'm So Young gives me goosebumps.
Beach Boys albums can suffer from songs sounding too same-y, and this one falls into that category. Especially the first half.
But you can also hear the development towards Pet Sounds in this album. An expansion of instrumentation. More complex harmonies. And an attempt to get out of the surfing/summer lyrical content rut.
My bias bleed through on this rating. I really love the Beach Boys. They just have a really high floor for me, almost exclusively because of their vocal talent. I could listen to them sing harmonies about anything.
Favorite Song(s): Help Me, Rhonda, I'm So Young"
Led Zeppelin
5/5
It's just good rock. Excellent guitar work, awesome vocals. I love the song structures, very non-standard. I could listen to Led Zeppelin for hours.
The abrupt transitions between some songs is pretty jarring. Not sure if that's just the version I'm listening to or actually a fault of the album, though.
The only thing this album is missing for me is a real banger. Like a song that absolutely blows me away or a major hit. But it's such a good album from beginning to end, that it's hard to fault it for that.
Favorite Song(s): Good Times Bad Times, Dazed and Confused, Your Time is Going to Come
Van Halen
4/5
Jump and Panama are iconic songs. I think I like Panama more, just because Jump is a little more pop with the all the synth, but both are the cream of the crop on the album.
Some of the songs are a little odd/creepy, but for the most part this is a good album with some great songs. I generally like the rock music from this era, and this is not an exception to that.
Favorite Song(s): Jump, Panama, I'll Wait
The Who
5/5
I honestly love this. It's rock enough, that you could pull out a song and put it on the radio, but it's very clearly an album that begs to be listened to as a complete piece.
I actually really like the story. Although, I'm also just a sucker for a rock opera. The only song that really doesn't really do anything for me is Tommy's Holiday Camp. Everything else about the album though, I really, really enjoyed.
Favorite Song(s): Christmas, Pinball Wizard, Go to the Mirror!
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
The more rock influenced music on this album isn't particularly interesting to me. It just doesn't seem like it's fully realized. But the more folk influenced songs, the ones with heavier vocals, are very good and I think they can compete with some of the other major folk artists (i.e. Mamas and Papas). The stretch of songs of 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds to Embryonic Journey is really good and, in my opinion, the cornerstone of the album.
The rest of the album is just alright. I'm not overly impressed by it.
Favorite Song(s): 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds, How Do You Feel
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Just some really good, heady, crunchy jazz. It gets a little monotonous, but I'm sure live it's an incredible experience.
Favorite song(s): Alice in Wonderland, Jade's Visions
Al Green
4/5
This just makes me happy to listen to. I'm not as familiar with Soul or Al Green to make well-thought comments or critiques, but I'm vibing and having a great time listening.
The title track is definitely the cream of the crop here, but every song has something going for it and is a good listen.
Favorite Song(s): Let's Stay Together, Old Time Lovin, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Sarah Vaughan
2/5
This is generally one of my favorite styles of jazz. Just a singer, an excellent pianist, and some soft percussion. Her voice is just slightly off-putting for me though. And with this style being so stripped down, something as small as that makes a fairly big difference. Her scatting also is just not that impressive.
Overall, it's a fine jazz album, but it's not particularly unique nor incredibly excellent.
Favorite Song(s): Willow Weep for Me
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
This is fine. I do appreciate that it's very apparently real instruments and singing. I do think the instrumentals are probably better, mostly as some of the singing is just not for me. Some of the vocal embellishments are really really good, though. English is also my only language, so I don't understand most of the vocal songs. I'm also not a fan of this being a movie soundtrack. I'm not familiar enough with Bollywood movies and soundtracks, so maybe this is the best soundtrack to come from Bollywood, but that's not something I would know, or even really be able to tell, without listening to more content from Bollywood.
Favorite Song(s): Romantic Theme
SZA
5/5
Musically, there's a lot of stuff that is starting to come out now that sounds exactly like this. It's really really good stuff. I'm not entirely on board with some of the content of the songs, but I also understand what's she's trying to communicate, and why she chose to communicate it in that way. If that makes sense. (looking at you Doves in the Wing).
As a 29-year old, I really resonated with 20 Something.
Honestly, though, an incredible album. The vulgarity and explicit-ness was a little much on a couple songs, but otherwise no notes from me.
Favorite Song(s): Prom, Anything, 20 Something
Erykah Badu
5/5
This just feels like a natural evolution of jazz. Incredible instrumentation. Her voice is perfect for this style and content.
This is an album that just feels really comfortable to me, even though I've never listened to it before. And it really just makes me happy.
Favorite Song(s): ...& On, Orange Moon, Time's A Wastin, Green Eyes
The Doors
3/5
I think hindsight has only hurt this album. Not dramatically, but I don't think it stands out as much now, as it probably did when it was released.
That said, it's a very, very solid album. Not really "greatest ever" but still great. Nothing particularly stands out, other than the keys/synth work throughout the album, which is really well done and balanced.
Favorite Song(s): Light My Fire
3/5
The musicians are incredibly talented, and the music itself is carefully crafted. There's something vaguely off about the album, that kind of makes it all forgettable, though. I can't put my finger on it, but once a song is over, it kind of feels like I never listened to it in the first place.
This album is something that high school me would have *loved*. My tastes have changed some though.
This is good modern rock, including good uses of electronics. But it kind of just ends up being good, not great. Non-zero chance I end up coming back to this at some point and relistening, but it'll be to make sure I'm not crazy, and not because I really secretly loved the album.
Favorite Song(s)? Starlight
Cornershop
3/5
The album bounces between really good brit rock/indie and weird and difficult to listen to Beatles sitar-era rip-off music. If they would have leaned a little less into the latter, this would be a great album, but those misses drag down the whole for me.
It's kind of a shame, because the album kicks off incredibly well with Sleep on the Left Side, that I'm left wishing the whole album was like that one song.
Favorite Song(s): Sleep on the Left Side
Tricky
3/5
I have a little bit of mixed feelings about this. The album starts off awesome. Overcome is one of my favorites on the whole album, but then it kind of falls off right after. There's a few other good songs, but, as new and experimental albums tend to go, there's also some duds.
All-in-all, the album is pretty fine. There's some really good songs, and the style and artistic decisions definitely paved the way for a couple of albums that have already come up on this list. I'm not wholly impressed though.
Favorite Song(s): Overcome, Hell is Round the Corner
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
It's nearly impossible to hear Dizzee Rascal rapping over the music; it's so poorly mixed. A lot of it is painful to listen to. The refrains are bad. Like, really bad. The verses are fine, but the refrains should be a rest from the verses. But when they're this bad, they aren't a rest, and I'm just exhausted trying to listen to this.
At least it's recognizable as music.
Favorite Song(s): Jus' a Rascal
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I'm surprised at how much I'm caught off guard with the excellent guitar work. Like, I know it's Jimi Hendrix, but I keep getting (unexpectedly) blown away.
It doesn't really stand out as an elite album to me, but it is very good, verging on great.
Favorite Song(s): Spanish Castle Music, Little Wing, Castles Made of Sand
The Clash
3/5
This is some solid punk. It's pretty simple, which isn't a knock against it, but it does kind of cap how great it can be. Yeah, the simplicity of the album cannot be overstated. A good album, but nothing particularly special, other than it sets punk off onto a great track.
Favorite Song(s): What's My Name
fIREHOSE
2/5
Parts of this are totally fine. The instrumentals are really interesting, and sometimes very good. I really don't like the low singer at all. His voice is very unclear and uninteresting. There's honestly some really good things in this album! And some very not good things.
All-in-all, it's a fine album. I would probably leave it off my top 1001 albums, but I can understand it sneaking in at the bottom of other people's lists.
Favorite Song(s): Vastopol, The Softest Hammer
Elvis Presley
2/5
Honestly, not impressed with this album. Feels a tad racist. His voice, while iconic, does a little too much every once in a while.
Elvis is talented, and you can hear it, but this isn't a great showcase of his talent. It's a fun album, but it's not particularly good.
Favorite Song(s): Blue Suede Shoes
Kate Bush
2/5
My senses did not like this.
It's a very ethereal and floaty, but that gives it a lot of uncertainty and lack of stability. Her voice is interesting, but it's also all over the place. I just could never feel comfortable listening to this.
Favorite Song(s): Reaching Out
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
I'm generally less interested in the post-Beatles albums from any of the former members, but I was actually surprised as how much I actually enjoyed this album.
It's not anything particularly special, but it is very good, with a couple of really banger songs.
Favorite Song(s): Jet, Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)
Funkadelic
4/5
A really fun psychedelic funk album. The first track is really interesting, the next 5 tracks are really fun, and then the last track is good but then loses me at the end.
The two 10-minute instrumentals make the album as a whole feel really short, and I do kind of wish there was more, but it's a really good album.
Favorite Song(s): Maggot Brain, Hit It and Quit It
Q-Tip
3/5
This hits. The beat is pretty heavily laid out, and everything has a pretty clear rhythmic base to it. That can have a negative impact on some of the singing/raping/lyrics, just emphasizing being on beat more than have free expression of the words. But that only happens a few times and doesn't generally take away from an entire song.
This is pretty high floor/low ceiling hip hop. I think it's kind of held back by its sub-genre and less than stellar instrumentation, with exception for the bass. The bass is probably the best part of the album.
With the exception of "Move" and "Believe", the album starts with its best stuff, and gets a little worse with each song, until the end, which is pretty forgettable. And honestly, the second half of "Move" follows the pattern of the rest of the album. The Norah Jones part is also an exception.
Honestly, this whole album is mostly just good moments put in disappointing songs. The songs are just less disappointing at the beginning of the album.
Favorite Song(s): Gettin Up, Move, Believe
Blood, Sweat & Tears
4/5
The album opens with a Theme and Variation from one of my favorite piano pieces from one of my favorite composers, and then immediately goes into some rocking full band music. I've never been so turned on by an album before.
They're a little like an off-brand Chicago, just a little more classical-influenced and honky-tonk(?) and not quite as good. Still a great listen, but they fall just short of great for me.
Favorite Song(s): Variation..., Smiling Phases
T. Rex
1/5
The vibes are just of a bad version of a Beatles rip-off band. Get It On and Lean Woman Blues can stand up on their own legs and be respectable songs, but nothing else is really any good. And honestly, the album gets pretty bad, too.
The only really good things in the album are the two aforementioned songs, and they can't hold up a whole album on their own. AND they're not even really great songs, just good songs.
Favorite Song(s): Get It On, Lean Woman Blues
Foo Fighters
3/5
Just some good ole fashioned 90s alt/grunge rock. I don't think it's particularly special (other than Grohl doing this all by himself), but it's still very good, and there's no drop off in quality throughout the whole album. Just some quintessential 90s rock.
Favorite Song(s): X-Static, Floaty
Deep Purple
3/5
I think I'm just too familiar with Smoke on the Water for it to have any sort of musical impact to me. The rest of the album is actually pretty awesome, though. My expectations were pretty low, and I'm pretty blown away.
I think my expectations were pretty low because I don't have a ton of respect for Smoke on the Water anymore. So I was pleasantly surprised when the rest of the songs on the album has interesting guitar riffs and and fun instrumentals. It still doesn't really measure up that well to its contemporaries, but it's at least a good, fun, and complete album.
Favorite Song(s): Maybe I'm a Leo, Never Before
Willie Nelson
5/5
This is so comforting. Not they lyrics/story, but the music. If all country music was like this, I'd be the biggest country fan.
One of the best parts of this album also becomes a criticism of it, though: The album is very simple. There's not a lot of interesting instrumentation, tempos are all very similar (slow). It make the album intimate, and some songs sound like they were recorded out on the porch of a ranch house in the wild west. So, even if it draws a little critique, Red Headed Stranger would be much different if it were recorded any other way.
Favorite Song(s): Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Can I Sleep in Your Arms
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
Off the bat, the instrumentation on this is really interesting: a stereotypical rock band, but also a brass section and some other miscellaneous instruments that show up on individual songs. Even though their musical formula doesn't change much, I'm still slightly surprised every time the brass section pops up in a song, and I'm occasionally searching to find them, keeping me engaged in even some of the worse songs on the album.
This would have been awesome to see live which, based on the Wikipedia excerpt, sounds like it's part of the reason it shows up on this list: the fame/excitement from their live performances and on-stage antics.
I honestly really enjoyed the album, and wasn't really expecting much.
Favorite Song(s): Born in '69, On a Rope, Salt Future
Sugar
2/5
She said She said
This is a bad song
The 90s garage alt-rock vibes are strong here, but I don't think this particularly stands out. There's a few cool guitar or drum moments, but nothing ever really comes together completely.
Favorite Song(s): If I Can't Change Your Mind, Man on the Moon
Neil Young
4/5
Neil Young's voice is really abrasive to me. On this album it sounds like Kermit the Frog mixed with a small child. It sucks because everything else about Neil Young's music is right up my alley and is also very good.
I really really want to love Neil, but I always just get stuck on his voice. It pulls me out of any immersion I get from the story of his songs or appreciation of talent and skill of the instrumentalists. Maybe one day I'll be able to listen to an album of his and not get distracted by his voice, but today is not that day.
That aside, it's an excellent album. The songs are interesting from a lyric and instrumental standpoint, and there's a ton of variation between the songs that no songs sound too similar to each other.
Favorite Song(s): Southern Man, Cripple Creek Ferry
Otis Redding
5/5
I'm vibing to this a lot more than I thought I would. I'm not really a big endorser of cover albums, especially on a list like this, but this does feel special and stands out significantly.
Shiiiiiiiiiit, and the album gets better as it goes on. The middle songs are crazy good.
I don't love that this is a cover album, but this may be one of the best blues cover albums ever? I'm not actually qualified enough to comment on that, but I really enjoyed this from beginning to end.
Favorite Song(s): Down in the Valley, Shake, Wonderful World
1/5
This is odd. I don't really like the shout-singing with de-emphasized enunciation. For me, this is kind of cringy throughout. There are some really great instrumentals and backing music, but the singing brings it down a lot for me. Especially since that's what's emphasized in the balance and mixing.
This is just a miss for me. There isn't really a whole lot that I like or enjoyed from this album, and I could have lived without hearing it.
Favorite Song(s): Uncontrollable Urge
Alanis Morissette
4/5
The album has a lot of the distinctly 90s sounds to it, which I'm generally not a fan of. But this album doesn't highlight those trends, and it powers through them when it needs to. The year and the album art honestly didn't have me very excited for today's album, and I didn't recognize Morissette's name at first, but my bias and apprehension was poorly placed. This album is great.
I really love when the bass takes the lead with its funk/disco sounding licks. It provides an awesome contrast to the driving pop/angst rock. And Morissette's voice is perfect for the pop/angst rock. It's honestly just an incredibly well-crafted album, musically. I'm never really good at picking out lyrics, but from what I can make out, she's really pouring out her heart and emotions into these songs.
Favorite Song(s): Perfect, Forgiven, Mary Jane
The Beach Boys
4/5
Artistically, a great album. Musically, I'm kind of wishing they didn't go away from the fun-loving, surfer-dude kind of music from their earlier albums. Those vibes and songs live rent free in my head.
It's still a very good album. I just like other Beach Boys albums more.
Favorite Song(s): Disney Girls (1957), A Day in the Life of a Tree
MGMT
4/5
Kind of sneaky how good it is. The vocal talent itself isn't great, but everything else, musically, is pretty excellent. There are a few songs that kind of drag down the rest of the album, but outside of that, this is great.
Favorite Song(s): Electric Feel, Kids, The Handshake
The Temptations
3/5
It's good, and the best song on the album being roughly a third of the run time definitely helps. It's missing something that really makes it feel impactful, though, despite being pretty excellent musically. Maybe I'm the one that missing something, but the album really never goes past, "Yup, that's good" for me.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
This album is weird for weird's sake. Besides maybe a couple of singles, there's also no real reason for it to be on here, imo.
Listen to the "hits" and move on.
Favorite Song(s): Lorelei
Björk
3/5
I really like the beginning of the album. It's so emotionally packed and honestly really good to listen to. But then it slowly starts getting worse. At the end of the album, I'm wincing through pain to finish listening. If the whole album were like the first couple tracks, it would be really, really good. Instead, the album as a whole just falls flat.
Favorite Song(s): Lionsong
David Bowie
4/5
Kind of unfortunately, you can tell Bowie is getting pretty old on the album in his voice. If this was recorded 10 years earlier, I think Bowie's voice would really shine, but the instrumentalists end up being the shining light, musically, on the album.
It's so different and experimental, that I'm tempted to say that it falls a little flat, but I was emotionally invested in every song. A number of the songs also had an incredible groove that was impossible to not bob along to.
Bowie's voice ends up kind of being the worst part of the album, which sucks to say out loud. But everything else was tastefully crafted, including the lyrics, that it ends up holding the album back from being truly elite for me. Still excellent, though.
Favorite Song(s): Blackstar, Lazarus, Girl Loves Me
The Cure
2/5
It's crazy how this album is only 17 seconds long. Jokes aside, it is a really short album, and I feel like I barely listened to anything that really lets me know how to feel about it. It's just kind of bland Indie Rock that doesn't leave me with any strong impressions. I probably could have lived my life without needing to listen to this.
Favorite Song(s): A Forest
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
The album sometimes has this surreal soundtrack feeling interwoven with the rock genre. I don't think I really understood what the album was going for until Enola/Alone. That track turned around my perception of the album, and the rest of it kind of clicked. I don't know that this is necessarily an elite album, though. I'll give the first couple tracks another listen, after I finish my first listen through.
It is a complete album, and there isn't any large variation in song quality throughout, but it never is really good. I liked it, but it's not a great album.
Favorite Song(s): Enola/Alone, No Surface All Feeling
Donald Fagen
4/5
Donald's voice is aggressively nasally and pretty strained. It definitely ends up taking away from the album. If you can get past that (and in the moments where his voice isn't pushed to the limits), this is an excellent album. As you'd expect from a former Steely Dan member, the band and instrumentation are both pretty incredible.
I wish I could call this an all-time great, but vocals are such an important part of an album for me.
Favorite Song(s): I.G.Y., The Nightfly
Aimee Mann
1/5
There's very little that I like about this album. Her voice is nasally. The instrumentation is sometimes interesting, but then it gets really basic and boring. The lyrics are ??? (odd, weird, confusing). This feels like a bad album by a new artist that should have been faded. The only song that isn't ruined is I've Had It, but it also kind of fills it's potential, based on what was on the rest of the album.
This didn't need to be on the list.
Favorite Song(s): I've Had It
The Black Crowes
5/5
I didn't realize Hard to Handle came out in the 90s! I could have sworn that it was like a Led Zepplin contemporary that did that song. Shows how much I know.
This album, though, feels like an incredible call back to 70s rocks. Everything works so well together. The vocals and the instruments blend beautifully. I honestly had a hard time rating this, because it's honestly really simple, but so well done. It doesn't help that I've got some personal bias to this style and Hard to Handle.
Favorite Song(s): Hard to Handle, She Talks to Angels
The Rolling Stones
4/5
From the first couple moments of the album, you can tell that it's going to be a good one. It is a bit top heavy, imo, but the variation in style from song to song helps keep everything interesting and keeps the listener invested and engaged.
My only real complaint is about the singing. They're not able to change the vocal style at all when the rest of the band does. So, there's a few songs where the raspy rock singing just doesn't really fit. It does work well for a lot of the songs, though.
Favorite Song(s): Brown Sugar, I Got the Blues
Madonna
2/5
I was looking forward to listening to this, but I ended up pretty disappointed. It's more of a one-hit wonder, as even the other big "hits" aren't particularly good. Like a Prayer stands so much taller than anything else on this album, that I would have enjoyed just listening to Like a Prayer for 50 minutes.
Favorite Song(s): Like a Prayer
Serge Gainsbourg
4/5
This is less a music album, and more a work of art. It's a very solid album, but it's much better if you think of it as something to experience in a museum or similar venue. I think it tries to help put you in that mindset with the orchestral music and purely spoken word. I think that also helps with the topic of the album. I don't think the album wants you to take it literally, and it's definitely not encouraging you to do as its main character is doing.
With all that in mind, this is really good. I honestly wish it wasn't all spoken word, but I think it would take away from the vibes of the album. I probably won't ever listen to this again, but it was good.
Favorite Song(s): Melody
The Everly Brothers
4/5
It's just a simple 50s/60s harmony heavy rock and roll. This is comfort music for me. Put it on in the background, and I'll be happy.
The lyrics have a lot of the misogyny of the day loaded into them, and some of the blues licks get really old really quick. So, while it's a generally nice listen, if you start digging deeper it's not as perfect as it seems on the surface.
Favorite Song(s): Stick with Me Baby, It's Always You
Adele
5/5
Adele's voice is just so damn good. She might be one of the best modern female vocalists??? While her vocal performance carries the album, it's well deserved, and the album is pretty intentionally built around her performance.
The hits also bump this up a touch for me. The album floor is very high, every song is excellent in quality. But the hits show how high her ceiling is. To say anything other than Adele is one of the best modern musicians/vocalists/recording artists, is to admit ignorance.
Favorite Song(s): Hello, Send My Love, Water Under the Bridge
Johnny Cash
5/5
Confession: This is the first Johnny Cash album that I have ever listened to. Just needed to get that off my chest first.
This album is an emotional punch after emotional punch. The first three songs are disturbingly incredible: musically, lyrically, emotionally. I generally don't love covers, but they're clearly very intentionally picked, and they're done in a unique enough way that they don't take anything away from the other songs, and they only add to the tone/theme of the album.
The first half-ish of the album is a 10/10 for me. The rest of it sits in the 7-8 range. I'm going to be sitting, thinking of those first three songs for the rest of my day.
Favorite Song(s): Give My Love to Rose, Hurt, The Man Comes Around
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
It's *vibey*. Moreso than other Fleetwood Mac albums, I would say. The album doesn't have any of their hits that I immediately recognize, but it still has a lot of really great hits.
Besides the end of the album, it's a very high floor album with a lower ceiling. The last couple of songs start falling off a bit for me, held up only by their excellent musicianship and vocals.
It doesn't blow me out of the water, but I'll be damned if it isn't a great album. Will definitely save it for another re-listen later.
Favorite Song(s): Over & Over, Save Me a Place, That's All for Everyone, Sisters of the Moon
Japan
2/5
This is fine. It's not particularly good, though, and I'm not really sure its place on this list. The long instrumentals are not bad, but they don't do enough interesting things to justify taking up the majority of the songs. On the other hand, I don't think the singer is very good, and when the instrumental sections start, I'm a little relieved to not have to hear the creepy tones of his voice.
Favorite Song(s): All Tomorrow's Parties
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
It's a good album. The variety of styles/genres is honestly really incredible, especially since there isn't really a quality drop off, when they move away from a more comfortable rock sound. There are some real gems mixed throughout the album, too!
Musically, his voice is pretty rough to listen to at times. When it gets really whiny/nasally, it's really hard to listen to and can ruin a few moments. The album is also just too long. There are albums that can justify a runtime 2 hours or more, usually albums with a longer story to tell. This is not one of those albums. There's no reason that this couldn't have been broken up into 2 albums.
Favorite Song(s): Tonight, Tonight, Porcelina of the Vast Oceans, Take Me Down, 1979
3/5
At this point, Wonderwall is a meme and overplayed. But on release, I can see how this song was really impactful.
This is a really simple album; it has "big" choruses or whatever they were trying to say in the wikipedia blurb, but it's not frilly big choruses, if that makes sense. It's pretty straight forward music, made for the masses. There's nothing bad about the album, but it doesn't strike me as great. Very good, though, from beginning to end, and no duds. It's just there.
Favorite Song(s): Don't Look Back in Anger, Champaign Supernova
Oasis
2/5
I don't often get through an album without many thoughts, but this album is one of those rare exceptions. There is nothing particularly of note or interest to me with this album. It is simply a fine pop album. But this isn't supposed to be a list of fine albums; it's supposed to be a list of the greatest albums of all time. And it just doesn't do anything noteworthy for me.
Favorite Song(s): Columbia
a-ha
3/5
I've only ever listened to Take On Me by a-ha before, so it's nice to hear the vocal quirks and talents from that song on other songs as well, for better or worse.
This album is kind of just hits and other songs. The hits really do stand out over the others. That's not a bad thing, but it keeps an album from being excellent for me.
Favorite Song(s): Take On Me, Hunting High and Low, The Sun Always Shines on TV
Minor Threat
3/5
It's low-key absolutely crazy how this sounds like 2000s or later punk. Truly ahead of its time.
Aside from that, I don't think it really stands out though. In context of the 80s, and looking at it as an influential album, it's pretty incredible. But musically, comparing it to its contemporaries, it's another punk album without anything particularly special about it. Still good, though! All the songs do kind of blend all together.
Favorite Song(s): Look, Back & Laugh
Grizzly Bear
4/5
I am familiar with the song Two Weeks, but I did not know the band or the name of the song.
This album is Indie Indie, which is pretty unexpected, tbh. Most of the albums I've listened to (260-ish of them) have all been fairly large, in name, sales, reputation, or critical reception.
I really like Indie music, and this is a cream of the crop Indie album. I know not everyone is going to particularly enjoy it, but I really do.
Favorite Song(s): Two Weeks, About Face, Foreground
Alice In Chains
4/5
I love the harmonies in Alice in Chains. It sometimes surprises me that this heavy rock band has these really incredible vocal harmonies. Honestly, all the musicality of Alice in Chains is really good. All the members are locked in with each other and understand how to work together to make a complete sound.
Personally, this is a little too heavy for my tastes. The music is really good, but it falls just a bit outside my range of heavy rock that I personally enjoy.
Favorite Song(s): Rain When I Die, Rooster
Santana
5/5
It's honestly really incredible how quality this sounds from the get-go, and it just never really stops. Black Magic Woman is obviously the well-known hit from this album, but in the context of the other songs, it really doesn't actually stand out all that much, because everything on this album is that good.
I do wish there was some more vocals, just to help me differentiate the songs from one another, but that's really only a minor complaint.
The vibes on this album never really stop.
Favorite Song(s): Oye Como Va
M.I.A.
2/5
There's some songs that are interesting or vibey, but most of the songs are a miss for me. I'm holding out final judgement for the album after Paper Planes, but my opinion is low before we even get there.
Okay, yeah. Paper Planes is still as good as it was when it came out. The rest of the album, though, ranges from bad to meh.
The album never really feels cohesive, some of the instrumentation and style choices were interesting, but that was kind of it.
Favorite Song(s): Paper Planes
Michael Jackson
5/5
MJ's sound in this album is so iconic that if you took his voice out, I think the music is still clearly recognizable.
Holy shit. Man in the Mirror straight fucks. Like, I knew going into listening to the album that it was probably going to be my favorite song. But I always forget just how great this song is.
An insanely good album. Some of the songs are kind of forgettable, but the hits go so hard that they quickly make up for it. These songs don't measure up to Man in the Mirror imo, but deserve a shoutout: Bad, Speed Demon, Liberian Girl, Smooth Criminal.
Favorite Song (far and away): Man in the Mirror
Blur
3/5
The album starts off pretty hot. The indie style seems like a great choice for them, but I also never listened to a Blur album before. It starts off with a band, but kind of slowly fades. After the first 6 or 7 songs, you've heard everything that you need to from them.
The only song in the back half that really does anything for me is Look Inside America, but I always end up enjoying European songs criticizing America.
Save yourself 45 minutes by just listening to Song 2, You're So Great, and then something else randomly chosen from the album, and you've heard everything important.
Favorite Song(s): Song 2
Dire Straits
3/5
The vocals were hard to listen to at the end. And even in the beginning, it just sounds really lazy and uninteresting. The rest of the band picked up some of the slack from the vocals and kept me listening and engaged. If there was a different singer on the album, I'd maybe give it a 5, but good vocals are so important to me, especially on a first listen, that this ends up falling in rating for me.
The band really is quite good, though. Give me the vocal-less tracks of the album, and I'd probably give it a good couple of listens.
Favorite Song(s): Sultans of Swing
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I could listen to Joni Mitchell for hours. Her voice is really incredible. I like the accompaniment decision of keeping it pretty low key. I don't think it quite lives up to the bar the Wikipedia set it up for me, but it is really, really good with a lot of really good songs. Maybe I just got distracted, but there were just a few songs that didn't catch or keep my attention the way that I'd expect from a 5/5 album, so it gets a 4.
Favorite Song(s): Little Green, River, The Last Time I Saw Richard
Blue Cheer
3/5
You can tell it's the beginnings of an offshoot of a genre. It's not bad, but it's like a photo that hasn't fully developed. That also means that it's kind of the perfect length at a little over 30 minutes. Any longer and it would need to have a lot more variety in sound or style. The end of Second Time Around does end up being some of that needed variety, but it grows out of a song that sounds much like all the others on the album.
That all sounds a little harsher than my feelings on the album. Overall, it's pretty good. I don't think it's particularly great though. A contextually and historically important album.
Favorite Song(s): Rock Me Baby
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
The lyricism of Kendrick is insane. The story of the album is really fully fleshed out. Excellent musicality and rapping. The guest appearances don't interrupt Kendrick's story of flow, but add to each song they appear in.
The beginning of the album was a bit of a miss for me, but it picks up quickly and doesn't ever really slow down after that until the last couple songs. But an expertly created album.
Favorite Song(s): The Art of Peer Pressure, Money Trees
Tito Puente
3/5
I don't quite understand why this album is on this list. Not that it's bad, but that it doesn't seem noteworthy, at least by the Wikipedia page. It is a very good album, though.
The solos end up being the best part of it, and for me personally, the marimba solo in Hong Kong Mamba being the best of those. It really is a fun album to vibe and groove to.
Favorite Song(s): Complicacion, Hong Kong Mambo
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
If you can get past the familiarity, the hits on this album are so freakin' good. They're played a lot, but I think it's so well deserved. The music itself is really fun and a bop on its own, but then her voice takes everything to another level. She's so incredibly vocally talented. The end and fade out of "Money Changes Everything" is a prime example of her talent.
The non-hits on the album are still bops but are just good and not great. Still a very fun album to listen to from beginning to end.
Favorite Song(s): Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Time After Time, All Through the Night
Beck
4/5
Melancholic and emotional without being sad, if that makes sense. I have not really listened to Beck before, but this is something that I really would have enjoyed in college.
There's something, musically, that's keeping me from loving this album. I'm not 100% sure what it is, but it just doesn't resonate with me. It is very good, and a style/mood that I really enjoy, so I'll be saving it for another listen later.
I do know that if it was more synthetic/produced, rather than live instruments, I would like it much less.
Favorite Song(s): Guess I'm Doing Fine, Sunday Sun, Side of the Road
Neu!
3/5
It's a really solid vibey rock album. The form reminds me a lot of Kraftwork's Autobahn. These kinds of albums usually have a really low ceiling for me, like you won't often find me giving them a 5/5, but as long as the music isn't bad, they're generally really enjoyable! And that's where this one falls for me. It's not great, but good and very solid.
Favorite Song(s): Isi
R.E.M.
2/5
I don't love the sound. The only way I can describe it is "goat rock" like the animal, but I don't even think that makes sense to me. There are a couple of really big hits and important songs on the album though, and that takes it out of "I don't like this" to "this is tolerable" for me.
It's like, bland rock. Not all of the songs, but there are a lot of moments that are the musical equivalent of cooking chicken with no seasoning.
It's fine. The good songs help it out a lot. I'd suggest just listening to the middle of the album and saving yourself ~20 minutes.
Favorite Song(s): It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love
The Band
5/5
I honestly didn't think the style/quality of the songs would keep up after the first few songs, but this whole album is full of bangers.
I'm most surprised at how vocally heavy the album is and how quality the harmonies are. I wish the melody didn't change voices so much from song to song. There's a voice or two that I don't think are quite as good as the others.
The album is so incredibly vibey and a jam. It's just a really freakin good album from beginning to end.
Favorite Song(s): The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Look Out Cleveland, Jawbone, Up on Cripple Creek
Solomon Burke
4/5
This album is a *vibe*. There's a couple of songs that are out of place or just a miss, but otherwise I'm bobbing and swaying to every song on the album. There's a few that stand out from the rest, but it's not a "hits and shits" situation at all.
The occasional low notes that Solomon sings just hit me in the depths of my soul. The background singers are sometimes a miss for me, especially when they have a more choral sound.
Honestly, it's a really complete album. I wish there was a little more form to the whole thing; it just feels like a smashing together of songs, rather than an album. That said, it's a great, great listen from beginning to end.
Favorite Song(s): Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye), If You Need Me
Lou Reed
2/5
His voice is emphasized in the mix, and I don't think it's that good. The whole thing is just kind of odd, and I'm not really all that impressed. The instrumentation is quirky and fun, but that doesn't really elevate the album out of its "meh"-ness.
Favorite Song(s): Perfect Day
Slipknot
3/5
Tbh, very surprised a Slipknot album is on this list. Not that I think Slipknot is bad, just that I don't know if they belong on a list like this.
Also, the album is totally fine. It's not particularly amazing, nor does it really do anything new. It's just good metal. There's a few songs that differentiate themselves from the rest of the album, which keeps you engaged. Those songs end up being the highlight of the album for me, generally.
Ultimately, this doesn't really stand out for me too much. It's good, but it's not great.
Favorite Song(s): Psychosocial, Snuff, 'Til We Die
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
I really like the guitar work on this album. I also do like an album that is innovative and pushes music forward, as the drumming does for this album.
Musically, it's fine. I don't think it's particularly special other than what I said above. Contextually, it's an important album, and I'm guessing a lot of albums today can trace influences back to this one. With that in mind, it's good, but still not really great.
Favorite Song(s): Helter Skelter, Hong Kong Garden
Green Day
4/5
I think this album is great because I grew up in the early 2000s, and this album is just so iconic from that time. Listening to it now, I wouldn't really call this a punk album. It has some of the lyrical qualities of punk, but not a ton, and it's definitely not punk stylistically (more like pop punk if anything).
The hits on this album hold up so hard. They're still so good, even if they've been meme-ified a little. The rest of the songs hold their own weight, but the hits are definitely the highlight of any listen through.
Favorite Song(s): Holiday / Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Wake Me Up When September Ends
5/5
We don't tolerate Beatles slander in this house. I'll hear out negative opinions, but they are easily a top 10 band all-time.
This album is experimental but accessible. Unique and incredibly well crafted. There's a bit of a lull in the back half (before the final 2 songs), but I think part of that is just how great the album starts, too.
Favorite Song(s): Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, She's Leaving Home, A Day in the Life
Paul Simon
4/5
This is good. Peaceful. It's simple, but it makes me happy. And it feels like a much better stylistic choice and vibes for Paul than Graceland. I do miss Art, but this works really well on its own.
Favorite Song(s): Run That Body Down
Primal Scream
1/5
Not worth listening to. Some of the instrument choices were interesting/cool. The musicianship wasn't very good, and I didn't like the singer's voice. The instrumental parts made for interesting background music, but that's about all the album really had to offer.
Favorite Song(s): Movin' On Up, Loaded
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Just excellent modern singer jazz. The comparison to Frank Sinatra is very easy to make in style/form/genre, and Amy just puts some modern style into the music. Her voice is wonderful to listen to. She doesn't have the silky-smooth tones of Frank, but a little more abrasive sound that matches her twist to the form.
Honestly, I've never listened to Amy Winehouse before. I will be listening to Amy Winehouse again.
Favorite Song(s): Know You Now, I Heard Love is Blind
George Michael
4/5
It gives Michael Jackson rip-off, especially the beginning. Not necessarily a bad thing, though! An imitation of the King of Pop can still be very good music!
The lyrics are icky, though. After "I Want Your Sex" I decided to just stop listening closely to the words, so as to not ruin my day.
Great music, good vibes. Put it on in the background of a party, and hope no one knows George Michael music well enough to point it out.
Favorite Song(s): Father Figure
The Who
3/5
A really solid debut album! It's definitely carried by My Generation, but there's a wide variety of styles and all of the songs are at least decent, most of them pretty good. I don't think it's a special album; it doesn't really stand out in any particular way, other than My Generation. Enjoyable, but, for me, on the fringes of top 1001ish albums all-time.
Favorite Song(s): The Good's Gone, My Generation
Metallica
5/5
Honestly, Metallica just rules. They are an insanely good thrash metal band.
I'm also impressed with their lyrics. Disposable Heroes is the stand-out for me, in that regard. The instrumental song helps break up the album quite a bit, tbh. And there's a decent amount of variety in songs/style, which is usually an issue for me with Metallica.
Favorite Song(s): Master of Puppets, Disposable Heroes
Janet Jackson
2/5
I can usually get behind albums calling out for societal change, but I'm not really a big fan of this style of pop. The heavy industrialized and (imo) overproduced sound, poppy bass, steel-like snare drum sounds. It just doesn't really sit well with me. And it doesn't help that almost all of the songs sound the same.
Escapade is a turning point for me, since it's really the first song to actually vary in sound. The next few songs are also interesting or different in their own ways. But the back half of the album probably keeps me from calling this a bad album, musically. I still don't love the album as a whole, but it ends up being not bad.
Favorite Song(s): Escapade
Steely Dan
5/5
Reelin' in the Years is one of my favorite songs that I had no idea what it was called or who it was by, but it's a song that constantly gets stuck in my head for days. And that song is just casually placed in the middle of this album, while surrounded by already excellent music.
The whole album is a lot of fun. They manage to keep the same vibes and groove, while each song is unique and identifiable from each other. I think the solo sections really help out with that. It's honestly a joy to listen to.
Favorite Song(s): Dirty Work, Reelin' in the Years, Fire in the Hole
Crowded House
3/5
An interesting and good album. The first half holds up a weaker second half, but the vibes are on point throughout.
It's an album that I'm not really sure how it got to be on this list, but I did really enjoy listening to it, much more than some other albums that have come up on the list. The album itself never really gets quite to being great, but it is very good.
Favorite Song(s): Chocolate Cake, Whispers and Moans
Stevie Wonder
3/5
At this point, unless it's one of Stevie's best albums ever, I know exactly what to expect on one of his albums. There'll be one or two really great songs, and then a bunch of fluff to just bump up the run time of the album. If you want to listen to Stevie Wonder, go listen to Innervisions or a best of album.
This album is good; it's fine; it's a fun vibe. The first track is really good! But I don't think any of the other tracks really elevate the album. Some are better than others, for sure, but nothing that feels great.
Favorite Song(s): Smile Please
Dr. Dre
3/5
In the 90s, this was probably the shit. But time hasn't been kind to The Chronic. The skits aren't the worst that I've ever heard, but they're still not good. There are sprinkles of that classic 90s sound that I just really don't like. Snoop appears so often that this may as well be a Dre and Snoop album. And the content is just... too much sex. And not in a particularly good or interesting way. bleh.
It's good. There's plenty of musical skill involved, and if you're good at ignoring lyrics and skipping skits, it's a really fun listen. But music, including Dr. Dre's own, has gotten to a better place since this released.
Influential? Sure. Something you need to listen to today? Maybe not.
Favorite Song(s): Nothing But A "G" Thang, Lyrical Gangbang
Sigur Rós
5/5
One of the most influential albums of post-rock, which has been one of my favorite genres, since before starting listening to this list.
If you're unfamiliar or unprepared for what this might sound like, it'll probably catch you off guard and might even take a while to get used to. First impressions mean a lot, too, so I can understand why some people might not like this. But if you know what you're getting into and can sit in this, man it's a great album. Atmospheric and full of development. It set the standard for post-rock.
I think I would like the album more if I understood it (or if there weren't any words at all), but that's a minor complaint (if it is really a complaint at all).
Favorite Song(s): Svefn-g-englar, Flugufrelsarinn, Ny batteri, Agaetis Byrjun
Sorry for the butchered spelling
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
It's solidly alright. The first couple of tracks are really interesting, and then the rest of it is fine. Some songs go on for a little too long, and others just don't do enough interesting things to keep me engaged. Nothing particularly wrong with it, but not something that I want to really dig into.
Favorite Song(s): Soukora
Fugazi
4/5
This is honestly like a really good complete album. I feel like a lot of times punk and punk adjacent albums can just be like a collection of songs, but this album flows really, really well. There also aren't really any misses on the album. Not all the songs are great, but they're all at least pretty good. Some of the reviews that I saw about the album complain about 90s punk feeling same-y, but this one to me stands out for me as being better than most of them.
Favorite Song(s): Brendan 1, Merchandise
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Some of this feels a little dated. Not in terms of the lyrical content, but rather the musical style. Hip Hop has just come a long way from the 80s, and this probably influenced some of that 90s sound that I (personally) really don't like.
But this is really good. It's really top heavy, but the top very much has some incredible and notable songs. The back portion of the album falls pretty far from the bar they set with the first 4 or 5 songs. And the beatboxing that shows up on "Get It Run" and a couple other times after is really bad.
I also haven't ever listened to this version of "Walk This Way" before and holy shit.
Favorite Song(s): It's Tricky, Walk This Way, Raising Hell
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
I thought I was falling in love during the first half of the album, and then the lights were dimmed, and the candles were lit.
It's such a great album. Some obvious, notable hits from the album, but honestly it works so much better as a whole. And the more I sit and think about how I want to rate the album, the more I realize how great it really is, and how much higher I want to rate it.
I could help but sway/dance and vibe along to every single song. And some of the songs really caught me off-guard with how great they were.
Favorite Song(s): So Much Things to Say, Exodus, Waiting in Vain
Joan Armatrading
2/5
I'm not sure what this is supposed to be, honestly. It's not bad, per se, but there's nothing about this that is good. There's some really odd vocal musical choices.
There were a couple of songs that got me to nod along, while mindlessly listening. But any time I pay attention to this album, I just kind of wish I didn't. Again, not because it's bad. It's not bad, but it's uninteresting, and not committed to be anything in particular.
Favorite Song(s): Somebody Who Loves You
Talk Talk
2/5
I don't like the phlegminess of his voice. It's not pleasing or interesting to listen to. A lot of the songs on the album give the vibe of being played during a climatic montage in 80s movies.
I like the instrumentation and the general chord/musical decisions, so that just kind of cancels out with how much I dislike his voice. The bass playing, in particular is delicious. You can hear some of the classical influences on the music, especially in Chameleon Day.
I'm just kind of wholly unimpressed. I think with some evolutions and development, this album (or later works by Talk Talk) could be good, maybe really good. This album just isn't really it, though. It's not bad, I'm not upset by it, and there are some good things going on.
Favorite Song(s): Chameleon Day
1/5
I really don't like Bob Dylan's voice. It's strained and whiney, and he slides his pitches all over the place. It just flat out does not sound good. When he doesn't strain, whine, or slide his pitch, it actually sounds pretty good. The issue is he slides his pitch at the end of every line and pushes his voice frequently for lyrical/musical emphasis. If his voice wasn't so bad, I would really like his music. He's an excellent guitar player and maybe an even better harmonica player. I also generally love music from this era (Peter, Paul, and Mary and The Mamas & The Papas being two of my favorite bands).
The second half of the album helps a touch. The instrumental sections get even better and easier to listen to. Unfortunately, at this point I'm so sick and tired of Dylan's voice that I'm taping out.
DID NOT FINISH
Thin Lizzy
3/5
I'm generally not a huge fan of live albums, this one is pretty solid, though!
Honestly, it's just kind of generic rock for the time. The hits are really good and deserving of being notable, but none of the other songs really stand out in any interesting way. If you love music from this era you'll love Thin Lizzy, but there's not enough on this album to consider it a greatest of all-time situation.
That said, very few bands will ever have hits as iconic as "The Boys Are Back in Town".
Favorite Song(s): Still in Love with You, The Boys are Back in Town
Prince
3/5
I guess I really don't understand Prince, because this is fine, but it's not really that good, let alone great. It has some good fun sex appeal, and the album does a great job of at least remaining interesting. But he's not that good a singer, and the style in generally is just bleh.
Favorite Song(s): When Doves Cry
The Streets
1/5
This is baaaaaad.
Loops, while decent, are still loops, and these ones don't change or develop at all. So throw it all in the trash, imo.
The rapping/singing is awful. Like, I've heard greater rappers in rural high school talent shows. The content feels like something a high schooler would rap about to seem like he's older, too.
This is bad. The best parts of it were where I got to pause it because someone started talking to me at work. My favorite song was the one that just sucked the least.
Favorite Song(s): Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
Megadeth
3/5
This is very much not my kind of music. Even more so than rap/hip-hop these days, honestly. That said, it's a really solid album. I don't know that I personally would ever call it great. But I won't argue with anyone that does say that about this album. To me, the most important thing for this genre is that there isn't anything that I dislike about it, which is true in this case! There's nothing abrasive in the mix, instrumentation or vocals. If I was a metal head, this probably gets a much higher rating.
Favorite Song(s): Peace Sells
The Byrds
3/5
I'm incredibly surprised how country this album is. I actually like it a lot for the Byrds, but I can see how jarring it would be to their usual fans, and how offended Nashville could be.
I don't think this is a particularly amazing album, but it is a trend setter and a good quality album. There's nothing that particularly stands out, either good or bad for me. Just a solid country rock album. The guitar work is some of the best parts throughout, which is a little abnormal, since I generally love the harmonies of The Byrds.
Favorite Song(s): You're Still on My Mind
Marty Robbins
4/5
When you say that you like country, you are talking about modern pop country. When I say that I like country, I am talking about this kind of country. We are not the same.
The storytelling of the songs is just incredible. I'm nearly in tears listening to El Paso. The vocal work of the entire album is really good. The harmonies are phenomenal, and it's a joy to listen to Marty sing. Everything about the album is simple (as it is music from '59), but I think that just adds to the charm of it.
I'm not overwhelmed or absolutely in awe of the album, but it is very good from beginning to end.
Favorite Song(s): Big Iron, The Master's Call, El Paso
Soundgarden
4/5
The album art did not entice me at all. Unfortunately, I did judge the book by the cover and am now regretting it. This rules.
I don't love the harmony/backup singer, but I do think he plays part in ensuring the music is varied enough. It might end up feeling really same-y without some vocal variation.
This is a hella good album. It sits on the border of being a 4- or 5-star album for me. Like, it's very, very good, but it's not really great, imo. I'll definitely be saving it for another listen, especially for the first half of the album.
Favorite Song(s): Fell on Black Days, Mailman, Black Hole Sun
Yes
5/5
If you can handle long songs, which this day in age is not a given, this is some really incredible stuff. Lots of musical development and some incredible vocals. I saw another review call this Rush but worse, and I agree. They meant it in a negative way, but I mean it in a positive way. Rush, imo, is one of the greatest ever, and this holds up to them.
This is pretty much everything that I love in an album. It's got great instrumentals, the vocals are locked in with each other, musical development within songs, and thematic ties throughout the album. It's getting saved for a re-listen later (probably getting added to the lawn mowing rotation).
Favorite Song(s): Starship Troopers, I've Seen All Good People
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
5/5
Oh wow! This album is mostly a ton of fun. The vibes, groove, feel, or whatever you want to call it are all perfectly on point. Different instruments (or families of instruments) are given moments to shine. It's also musically excellent; the harmonic progression of some songs, while probably very salsa (I'm not familiar enough to comment there), are different from most other styles you'll find, and they keep you engaged musically. Everything is also locked in together very tightly. It doesn't really feel like there's any note or instrument played out of place.
I could understand if someone complained that it was all too much. Too many instruments, leading to too much noise. But I have to assume the people that would think that are a small percentage of listeners.
This is an album that I'm surprised to have ranked so highly. But there's just not a lot holding it back, and I'll be damned if I didn't love listening to it.
Favorite Song(s): Buscando Guayaba, Dime (specifically the ending)
Robert Wyatt
1/5
Be creative! But maybe not like this. As a whole, it is not good. There are good moments in some of the songs, but they're surrounded by painful garbage. It's recognizable as music, at least.
Also, for an album that apparently includes a lot of guest artists, there are not additional credits on Spotify, which seems super sus to me.
His voice is grating, I keep finding that the best parts are when he's not singing.
Favorite Song(s): Maryan
The Kinks
3/5
I love the nostalgic lyrics and theme. The music itself is alright, very mid/late-60s English pop rock. The lyrics and theme are what make it stand out for me, though. It pushes it from a decent album to something I think is actually quite good.
Even in its time, though, it wasn't highly regarded, and I think that's for a reason. I enjoyed it, and it has its spot in history, but I don't think it would make a list of top 200 albums.
Favorite Song(s): Do You Remember Walter?
The xx
4/5
There is very little to this album. It's subtle, quiet, chill, intimate. It has White Stripes vibes, if The White Stripes had a stripped-down sound. It comes really easy, and feel so comfortable, but at the same time is serious, like teenagers telling each other secrets at 2 am during a sleepover.
I really like it. I think that the bass and guitar work is what makes it so good. If the style was even slightly different, it would have ended up being a much different (and probably worse) album. It'd be cool if the album were a little bit longer, but I'm not going to complain about a shorter listen.
Favorite Song(s): Crystalised
The Human League
1/5
This is not good. The singing is very not good. The instrumentals function as a break from the vocals, but they themselves are also not good.
I thought I was starting to like a song (Seconds), but then it just kept going. The instruments on that song are actually good! But it was like 2 minutes too long.
Even Don't You Want Me is not actually that good. It is the best song on the album, but the verses are hot garbage. But the pre-chorus and the chorus are kinda boppin. It does also go just a smidge too long though.
Ultimately, the best part of this album though, is when it's over and you don't have to listen to it anymore.
Favorite Song(s): Don't You Want Me
Aretha Franklin
5/5
What a queen. She's so incredibly good.
There really isn't much to say about this album at all, other than, she's among the best to ever do it, and this is her at the height of her powers.
Favorite Song(s): People Get Ready, (Your Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Billie Holiday
3/5
I generally have a soft spot for this kind of album. Jazz, voice, and light instrumentation. But that does end up putting a lot of pressure on the person singing, and for me, Billie Holiday's voice just isn't that great, at least on this album. She's very expressive, but that's really about it. For me personally, she ends up falling into what I'm going to dub the "Bob Dylan Category", which is a giant in the industry/their genre, but whose voice/vocal talent ends up hurting my enjoyment of the album.
The orchestration here is truly incredible work. Light, for the most part, with well-timed swells.
Favorite Song(s): It's Easy to Remember
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Honestly, pretty incredible how musically dense this is while still being really easy to listen to. There's a lot going on, but it never really feels overwhelming. The synth work is pretty incredible, especially considering that it's a newer synth! It sounds like he's been playing it for a decade, at least.
This is one of the first Stevie Wonder albums that's come up on this list for me that doesn't feel like it's a couple hits and a lot of fluff. Every song meaningfully contributes to the album, and it ends up being really freaking good.
Favorite Song(s): Living in the City, Higher Ground, All in Love is Fair
Queen
5/5
One of my most played vinyl albums. I love this album, and so maybe this will be a little biased. "You're My Best Friend" was also the recessional song at my wedding. "The Prophet's Song" is, in my opinion, the most underrated Queen song. I like it more than "Bohemian Rhapsody", which is (obviously) the other favorite on the album. But I enjoy every song on the album, and every song has a role to play in the album (yes, even "I'm in Love with My Car").
The Prophet's Song is so good because I really enjoy the first section of it, and then the delay section makes me forget all about the first section I like that so much, and then it comes back so strong, that I forget all about the delay section because I like what comes after so much. It's a masterclass of a song.
One of the things that impresses me most on the album is how varied each song is. Each song is unique and stands out on its own, while the album still feels very whole. I could listen to this for hours straight and not be tired of it.
Favorite Song(s): The Prophet's Song, Bohemian Rhapsody, You're My Best Friend, Death on Two Legs
Joe Ely
3/5
I really don't get why this is on the list. It doesn't seem notable or special in any particular way? That said, I really enjoyed it. I really like steel guitar heavy country music, and this has a fun bounce and groove to it. Just some good old fashioned country.
Favorite Song(s): Cornbread Moon, Jericho
Garbage
3/5
This is... odd. Although, I just generally don't like the vibes or sound of most 90s music. It has some really good moments, though! Other than its good moments, it's just a fine 90s rock album with some heavy produced moments. It doesn't really feel like anything special, though.
Favorite Song(s): Queer
Portishead
3/5
I think moving away from triphop wasn't the best call. That was something that made them really unique and interesting. The production on their album is still really good, though. Even the drums, which I usually hate fake or overproduced drum sounds, I'm actually quite impressed by. The singer's voice is also really nice, and I think is pretty unique.
After listening to Dummy, though, I was really excited to hear another Portishead album, and this just disappointed. Maybe coming into this with absolutely no expectations would have changed by experience, but I can't imagine it would have dramatically moved the needle for me.
There are still some good songs, but overall, it's disappointing.
Favorite Song(s): Hunter, Thread
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Fuuuuuuuck yeah.
This is a masterpiece on so many levels. First, Kendrick might be one of the best rappers? I'm not expert on rap, so @ me if I'm wrong, but there's moments where I'm absolutely amazed at his flow. Secondly, there's a lot of masterful blending of genres. The jazz, funk, and soul music backdrops to Kendrick tickle my brain in all the right places. Lastly, this is lyrical genius. I'm still not great at picking up lyrics in rap, unless I'm focusing on doing so, but doing so at any point in the album is a treat. His lyrics are really, really good, while he's also trying to say something really important.
This is an album worth listening to multiple times, because I believe that you'll find something new to love in it every time you do.
Favorite Song(s): For Free?, u, Hood Politics, i
New Order
1/5
This started... interestingly. The singing is really bad. Like really bad. The music is really hit or miss. When it hits, it's really vibey and enjoyable. Plus, it covers the bad singing. When it misses, though, the album becomes a really tough listen.
Everything does magically come together on "Sunrise". It ends up easily being the best song on the album and is actually a really good song. "Face Up", on the other hand, ends up being so incredibly bad, that I think it's on a short list of worst songs I've ever heard in my life, and undoes any goodwill the album earned through those good moments. I'd rather go deaf than listen to that song again, unless I'm doing it as a joke.
Favorite Song(s): Sunrise
Talking Heads
2/5
When his voice gets nasally, this gets bad. When it's not nasally, it's still not good, but it no longer is horrible. His vocal skill is just not particularly good at all. And the rest of the music doesn't really do much to hide or enhance it.
Psycho Killer manages to catch some magic. There are some bad moments, but it's like the singing figures itself out, while the musicians find a fun groove for the whole song.
Alright. The band does figure something out after Psycho Killer, and the album is at least tolerable from that point on.
Favorite Song(s): Psycho Killer
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
I cannot place my finger on what it is with this album, but I reallllyyy like this. The singer's voice is kind of perfect for the genre/style. The music has some of the early 90s to it, which I generally don't like, but it doesn't ruin it and is honestly confined to mostly percussion and some synth bits.
The songs where the singer stretches his range, have so far, about halfway through, been some of my favorite songs.
In total, I don't really think this is extraordinary. It is very good, and it surpassed my expectations, by quite a bit.
Favorite Song(s): To Face the Truth, Nervously
The Flying Burrito Brothers
5/5
I'm ashamed to say that I've never heard of The Flying Burrito Brothers before today. I'm proud to say that this album is getting added to my saved albums today, though.
The instrumentation on this album just makes me really happy, specifically the prominence of the steel guitar. The vocal arrangements are beautiful and masterful. The album does put its best foot forward, but even the last couple songs are still really good (the second to last song still ended up on my list of favorites below, but the ones before that were also not as strong as the start).
Favorite Song(s): Christine's Tune, Do Right Woman, Do You Know How It Feels
The Cure
2/5
I think ultimately, I just don't really understand this. There are some solid moments and things that I enjoy, but it never really clicks for me. It's music, at least. But I don't think it belongs here.
Favorite Song(s): Lullaby
David Bowie
3/5
Musically, I really don't like Bowie's voice, I think. Stylistically, his voice is really great, though. It's unique and stands out. But I don't think I would intentionally go out seeking David Bowie's music strictly because of his voice.
So, I don't love it. But it definitely has its place in history (and on this list). I don't think that I have much else to say about it, though. It is what it is: a solid rock album with a front man that's larger than life but doesn't really have a ton of vocal talent.
Favorite Song(s): Changes, Life on Mars?
The Velvet Underground
2/5
I end up just feeling really disappointed by this album. And sure, part of that is on me for having certain expectations before actually listening to the album, but it's just so bland. Murder Mystery is by far the best song on the album, and it's the second to last track, and you have to wade through 40 minutes of bland ballads before you get to it.
I want to like Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground, I just don't think I do though.
Favorite Song(s): The Murder Mystery
Kanye West
5/5
Production on this album is insane, as everyone before me has already said. Everything sounds very intentionally crafted, and it really pays off.
It's incredible how many iconic songs from the early 2010s all come from this album.
Rating this is hard, because while the production is insane and the songs are very iconic, he's a trash human being, and I think that slips out into his lyrics every once in a while. I don't think it's a 10/10 because of that. But God damn is this a really good album. It's also just incredibly high quality from beginning to end. Even the non-hits are just really good songs.
Favorite Song(s): POWER, All of the Lights, Devil in a New Dress, Runaway
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
"May this song be all done".
Dad rock that should not have been around in the 2000s. I firmly believe that this album does not really belong on this list. It's fine for what it is, but yeah, does not need to be here.
Sade
3/5
Crazy vibey. I think Smooth Operator kind of stands out above the rest of the album (so far at least). This is good, but aside from that song, it's not particularly great.
I think I'm just not overly impressed with her voice. She shines in Smooth Operator and has a few other great moments, but she's otherwise the lowlight of the album. The band is fantastic and does a really great job existing not in any particular genre but blending a few styles together. Some of the lyrics are also odd? Forced? I'm not sure how to describe it, but they definitely aren't coming naturally.
Favorite Song(s): Smooth Operator
Deep Purple
2/5
They do a good job capturing a "live show" sounding vibe. I'm just not sure if that's a great choice. It just doesn't really stand out to me. It feels like any generic rock album from this era. I will say, they do go very hard. I can't think of a better way to word this, but the whole band is overplaying, if that makes sense.
It's a fine album. I'm not convinced it's particularly good, let alone great. They're showcasing their obvious talent, but they're not doing anything particularly interesting, like it's just crazy guitar licks and drum fills.
Favorite Song(s): Into the Fire
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
The most important thing about this album doesn't come from the music, but from reading at least parts of the Wikipedia page. It's incredible for Marianne to have returned to make music, and to release an album after everything that she went through. You can hear it in her voice, both the quality (poor) and the emotionality (great).
The suggestion from the producer to go more "modern and electronic" was a really great decision, I think. I think the album falls pretty flat as it is, and I think it would have been much worse without that "modernization".
Ultimately, I think this album wouldn't make this list if it was made by anyone else. Context is really important, and this album is notable mostly for that reason.
Favorite Song(s): The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
Massive Attack
1/5
I like the first track, but I think a lot of that is due to Tracey Thorn's feature, because the very next song reminds me why did not like the first Massive Attack album that came up. It's just boring. Most of the music is crappy loops, and the parts that aren't are incredibly uninteresting, like if a jazz soloist simply did not give a shit.
It just stinks. It's uninteresting and boring. I'm thankful there's a handful of singers, because that variety is the only thing saving this from being a 1/10 for me.
Favorite Song(s): Protection
Aphex Twin
2/5
It's really crazy to listen to something for over an hour, but it also is absolutely nothing, like this album. It is minimalistic, it leaves nothing, it barely has an origin.
Listening to this is like eating those chips, Bugles. It's kinda nice while it's happening, and it has a cute, niche idea, but it has absolutely no impact whatsoever, and only makes you want something heartier or more filling.
Neil Young
4/5
I think, through listening to one of these albums nearly every day for roughly two years, I've come around a bit on Neil Young. I don't think I like the first album we had from him, but I'm really enjoying this one. I still don't particularly like his voice, but his lyricism and theme are on point while his band (and I presume his guitar playing) are on point.
A really beautiful album. I don't really know what more I can even say about Neil on like the 5th or 6th album of his that I've listened to. While there's not a lot that changes from album to album, I think this is one of my favorites from him that I've heard so far. It's gentle and melancholic, without being slow or sad.
Favorite Song(s): See the Sky About to Rain, Ambulance Blues
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
I'm not sure if I can really pinpoint why I'm enjoying this album. At least not exactly. It's really good, each song is varied and stands out on its own, while still clearly being a part of the album/sound/style of RHCP. Actually, I think that's really most of it, but it's also just done at such an incredibly high level, musically.
The back end of the album definitely isn't up to the same level of the first half, but the majority of the album is excellent. I ended up not loving the whole album as much as I thought, but the first 30-45 minutes of the album are worth listening to over again.
Favorite Song(s): Parallel Universe, Otherside, Californication, Porcelain
The Dictators
3/5
I feel like this is here partially because of their cover of "I Got You Babe". But, honestly, that song kind of sucks here. What's really weird is that the rest of the album is actually pretty good? It's at least fun to listen to.
There's nothing about this album that is great, in my opinion. It's just a really solid, pretty good listen. I don't know if it really belongs to be on this list, though.
Favorite Song(s): Back to Africa
Little Simz
4/5
This is the kind of album that will have you saying, "Oh sh*t!" at the beginning of the first handful of tracks. The first couple of songs really start building off of each other, in greatness. This album also just feels really emotionally raw, like Little Simz is really truly pouring out herself and her feelings into the music.
The music is also really interesting. Sampling is used much more sparingly, compared to contemporaries, and I think it works out really well. The samples that are used end up having a much bigger impact.
I think this album peaks a little early (not that the end of the album is bad, but it's definitely not on the same level as the beginning). It also feels like this isn't the best that Little Simz can do. Like there's better things to come from Little Simz.
Favorite Song(s): Selfish
William Orbit
2/5
It sounds fine. But this isn't my style of music, and I'm honestly just kind of disinterested. It doesn't help that a lot of the songs end up sounding incredibly similar, if not exactly the same.
There are a couple songs that end up having some interesting things going on, but then it's just kind of back to the same stuff that I've been listening to the whole time.
Favorite Song(s): Water Babies
The Clash
4/5
I really appreciate how every song is pretty different, and individual. It does kind of make the album feel like it's missing an identity, though?
Okay, I wasn't really paying attention while listening to the first few songs. I went back, and I'm very glad I did. It made everything feel a little less disjointed and just helped raise the floor of the album for me.
Because they're doing so many different things in so many different styles, there's a couple of songs that are a little odd or just fall a little flat. I think in most cases, it works out in their favor, but not on all of them. The success of this album is, imo, all due to how well they're able to bounce between styles.
Favorite Song(s): London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Death or Glory
Black Sabbath
4/5
This is just really good rock. Maybe I'm a little numb to how good this is, as a listen to a lot of stuff like this, but this is my first time listening to this album. It's basic, as in, it has all the basic elements of rock of this time, without anything extra or particularly unique. But it's all very high level. The guitar riffs, the singing is excellent. I could listen to this over and over.
Favorite Song(s): Black Sabbath, N.I.B., Wicked World
Fairport Convention
3/5
Honestly, this is a really nice blend of folk and rock. The rock never feels too heavy, and the music clearly has very solid, deep roots in folk music. The more I listen to this, the more it grows on me. It never really ends up as a great album for me, but it is very good. It's weird to say about a folk album, but I think if it was recorded/mixed/produced a little more cleanly, I would probably like it more. The album on Spotify sounds like it's being played from an old record that hasn't been played in at least half a decade.
Favorite Song(s): Who Knows Where the Time Goes?, Percy's Song
Sepultura
3/5
thrash
This is just mostly not for me. There are some things that are interesting and surprising, things that catch me off guard. But I'm pretty checked out for the most part. It's a fine album. But for me personally, it's not a style I like, and it doesn't do anything interesting or extra to really rope me in. I'm sure for someone out there this is a great (maybe even an elite???) album, but I just don't see/hear it.
Favorite Song(s): Desperate Cry
Wire
3/5
This is like, and hear me out, the popcorn chicken of punk music. These songs are so short that they're almost like previews to the songs and albums that were influenced by Pink Flag. That's not a bad thing; in fact, I really liked this album. But while listening, I was trying to figure out if I like this album for exactly what it is, or if I like it because I know and can hear the influence it had on all of the music that followed in its footsteps.
It's probably a bit of both.
One last note, I didn't realize how quickly the songs were flying by at first, and I didn't relisten to the album. So, my favorites could potentially change on re-listen if any of the first handful of tracks stand out to me.
Favorite Song(s): Surgeon's Girl, Strange
Judas Priest
2/5
The first chunk of this album is some pretty bland rock and roll. It's not really metal, imo. But the middle of the album turns things around. I still don't think I would label it as metal, personally. Hard rock for sure, but metal seems like a stretch.
The album is very much a bell curve. The beginning and end are bad, boring, or both. There are some solid songs in there, but it's not a good album in total. Listen to the good songs and move on with your life.
Favorite Song(s): Living After Midnight, The Rage
Calexico
1/5
Not good, and not worth listening to. It's like a bad version of Blind Pilot but they don't commit to an actual sound, and never really develop anything interesting.
The best bit was the odd jazz song right in the middle of the album that didn't need to be there.
Favorite Song(s): Crumble
Thundercat
2/5
Honestly, the vibes are on point. And the musical ideas of the album are pretty good! A mix of funk, soul, driven by modern electronics. The issue is it sounds too mathematically perfect, so fake that it's almost robotic. It reminds me a bit of Jacob Collier's music, which I also really dislike because it's so mathematically perfect, and gives everything just an unsettling kind of feel.
On top of all of that, this is just super weird. He's using slang in his songs, and it's like hearing your grandpa say, "lit". Nothing about his singing makes me want to listen more. And I think it's really telling that some of the features on the album end up being the best parts. Kendrick nearly saves the song he appears on. Wiz Khalifa's parts in his song are also really good. Ironically, my favorite song is only Thundercat, but it's also the one that feels the most real and avoids most of the weirdness going on in the rest of the album.
Favorite Song(s): Lava Lamp
Milton Nascimento
4/5
I unfortunately got wrapped up and distracted from this album shortly after starting it, so I wasn't really able to listen closely, which I think is ultimately okay.
It is very clear that this album is special though. It's so unique and varied, crossing through plenty of genres and instrumentations all while being high quality music. I don't really have anything else to say about it, other than that this probably really does need to be heard by everyone. And maybe even multiple times.
Favorite Song(s): O Trem Azul
Black Flag
4/5
This ended up being much better than I thought it would be. It starts off a bit unassuming, but the more you sit with it, the more its greatness shines. I do think that this album benefits a lot from hindsight as well as taking its cultural and musical impact into account. But it's still a really good, borderline great hardcore punk album.
Then you add in that Kurt Cobain listed it in his top 50 albums, and you can hear some of the music that came after it clearly followed in its footsteps, and you can see that it really is a great album.
Favorite Song(s): Thirsty and Miserable, Police Story, Damaged I
Television
5/5
This album surprised me; caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting much and then was fully blown away. It doesn't really sound like a punk/rock album from the 70s. They've constructed this really unique sound through their instrumentation, melody lines, chord structure, and harmonic progressions. It's delicious. After every song, I was wondering how they would top it, until the album ended. Everything was great, and the more I listened to it, the more I loved it.
Favorite Song(s): Friction, Marquee Moon, Guiding Light, Torn Curtain
Nick Drake
5/5
Man, I really love his guitar playing and singing. I think they both work so perfectly together, particularly in this style.
I'm a little cursed on rating this, because Pink Moon is one of my favorite albums, and part of the reason is because it's just (for the most part) him and his guitar. And I think this album would be better if he went that route with the instrumentation. That's probably the one major downside to listening to these albums randomly; you don't get the artist's development and progression. And my rating of this album is going to take a (probably small) hit because I know that he makes a stylistic decision that makes his music all the better.
Any pop album that uses wind and string instruments always gets my attention. Pair that with Nick Drake's guitar playing, voice, and lyricism and this is a really, really great album. I think there are moments where it all is too much though (see the paragraph above). That's not enough to keep me from giving it a 5/5, though.
Favorite Song(s): At the Chime of a City Clock
Ozomatli
2/5
The music is really good! But the singing is not, and the lyrics are corny or just straight bad. The album, I would say, is fun, but I would not say it's good.
It really doesn't have any business being here.
Favorite Song(s): Love and Hope
Frank Zappa
1/5
Son of Mr. Green Genes was going to be my favorite song, but then it just kept going, and going, and going, and going. If the song ended in the first 3.5ish minutes, I would have really liked it. And that's kind of how I feel about this whole album. It has some really good ideas but exhausts them without elaborating in new or interesting ways.
The longer this album goes on the more I don't like it. It started at a solid, this is fine, and I can see why it's highly regarded, and now I need the album to be over.
Favorite Song(s): none
CHIC
4/5
The bass playing is *by far* the best thing about this album. It's so goddamn good. I could listen to "Good Times" for about a half hour straight, as well. None of the other songs really truly live up to that one, though. It's very much a downhill kind of album. By the end, even though it's a shorter album, I was ready to move on to something else.
That bass playing is special though. I could listen to that isolated and be happy.
Favorite Song(s): Good Times
Linkin Park
4/5
The lyrics are incredibly cheesy, but the singing style is low-key iconic. Specifically, the little bits of rap, and the transition from singing to screaming. The sound itself is also pretty iconic, the heavily produced sounds, and the guitars distorted to Hell and back. I think you can't really talk about music in the early 2000s without at least mentioning Linkin Park, for better or worse.
I think there's two ways to think about this album, its longevity and its immediate impact. I don't think album has aged particularly well, and I think it will continue to age poorly, but it was such an important album to when it came out. Generally, people feel one way or the other about Linkin Park and trying to balance those two perspectives in a ranking is really hard to do.
Favorite Song(s): Crawling, In the End, A Place for My Head
Bob Dylan
2/5
I've said it before in previous reviews, and I'll say it again until the end of time. I do not like Bob Dylan's voice. His singing is really not good. Everything else about his music is really great. His lyricism is great, and maybe among the greatest ever?? He definitely was one of the greatest song writers ever. Even his guitar and harmonica playing are really good. But his voice is so off-putting to me, that it takes everything down a notch, especially since a lot of his music places an emphasis on lyrics. Having a full band helps "hide" his voice a lot more than when it's just him on a recorded album.
This album wasn't as tough for me to listen to as Live 1966 or Blonde on Blonde. If I don't listen to closely, I vibe and bob along to the music, but then I'm missing out on what makes Bob Dylan go great, his writing. Unfortunately, I just think that Bob Dylan really isn't for me.
Favorite Song(s): Like a Rolling Stone, It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
Bobby Womack
3/5
Maybe it's just me, but this doesn't really seem that great? It is good, and I'm vibing along, but it doesn't really feel special in any way. Again, I like it, and it's good, but it's missing something to make it really special/good.
Favorite Song(s): Stand Up, If You Think You're Lonely Now
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
This just makes me really happy. I really like a cappella music; it reminds me of doing barbershop quartet and barbershop choral music in high school.
This is really good. The vocals are *locked in* to the point where you could convince me that it's actually a keyboard with like a vocal setting or something. It does get a little "same-y", but each song does have some unique things to themselves that make them stand out enough, that even if you're not paying close attention, you know you're listening to a different song.
Favorite Song(s): Hello My Baby, Lomhlaba Kawunoni
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Man, this a really freaking good protest album. There aren't really any low points through the album. There are a few odd instruments being used, or instruments used in odd ways that doesn't really work well. But there's really one moment where it's particularly noticeable. It's an album with an incredibly high floor. Some of the time changes are also really freaking cool. All of this while being a "fuck you" protest album.
Hell yeah, brother
Favorite Song(s): Killing in the Name, Take the Power Back, Wake Up
Muddy Waters
3/5
This is good; honestly, it's very good. It does kind of feel like exactly what I would expect a blues album to sound and feel like, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing. I really wish it did something different part way through the album. It's just kind of the same thing through the whole album. Again, it's really good! But also, *just* really good and nothing else.
Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe I'm looking at this too much from my 2025 perspective and am missing something contextually. Maybe I'm not appreciating the talent and skills of the musicians enough. I don't know, but it gets a good not great rating from me.
Favorite Song(s): Deep Down in Florida
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Man, Aretha's voice is incredible. She's a phenomenal singer, and she's capable of moving souls with her music. Respect is not only one of the most popular songs ever, but it also really is musically incredible too. It is pretty clearly the best song on the album, but the other songs are also great.
Favorite Song(s): Respect, Dr. Feelgood
Anthrax
2/5
The music is pretty good. A lot of really interesting tempo/meter changes make it engaging. But it's otherwise really bland and not good. The singer is oddly not built for metal, in my opinion. Like, he doesn't have the power that I want/expect from a thrash metal singer.
Yeah, the album never really does anything special. There are moments where it sounds like they could be about to do something great, but either they never develop the idea further, or they go back to a more basic sound. It just ends up not really doing anything interesting for me.
Favorite Song(s): Among the Living
Gang Of Four
4/5
This album is trying to fool you. It sounds like it's recorded in a basement with cheap instruments. The vocals are basic. There are multiple voices recorded, but no harmonies. But this is actually a really good album. Like, a really good album.
I'm honestly really caught off guard how good this is. It's not going to be for everyone, and there are some moments that aren't done well and end up kind of bad. But there's a lot of songs that are just executed so incredibly well. This album is more than worth multiple listens.
Favorite Song(s): Natural's Not In It, Damaged Goods
David Bowie
2/5
This doesn't do it for me. I'm glad Bowie got himself to a better place, rehabbing and working towards taking care of himself. But this album isn't good. The beginning was too short for anything to really stick for me, and the ideas in the second half would have been done better by someone else.
Favorite Song(s): none
Billy Joel
5/5
The best part of a Billy Joel album, to me, will always be his instrumentation and arrangement of his songs. A plethora of instruments come together on just to create one complete song. I honestly think it's really incredible. Say whatever you want about his lyricism/storytelling on these songs, because they're not the best, but they never take away from the music itself.
This album is also just full of hits and some of my favorite Billy Joel songs. Like I ended up putting over half the album on my favorite songs lol.
I can't help but love this album.
Favorite Song(s): Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young, She's Always a Woman
Bob Dylan
2/5
I cannot reiterate this enough. I do not like Bob Dylan's voice. I greatly appreciate his guitar playing and his song writing, but the way he ends each line is like nails on a chalkboard. He refuses to hold a note until it actually ends and is singling like he's shouting.
This album does have two of my favorite songs from this era of folk (see below). I also recognize the cultural and musical importance of Bob Dylan. I just don't want to hear him sing his own songs.
Favorite Song(s): Blowin' in the Wind, Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
Rod Stewart
2/5
This is bad. Rod Stewart is a recognizable name, so I thought it might be good, but it is not. The singing is rough. Lyrics are boring. And the instruments aren't anything noteworthy. The last song ended up saving this from being a completely pointless album, but it's still not good, and not really worth the listen, in my opinion.
Favorite Song(s): You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It)
Ramones
3/5
Blitzkrieg Bop is iconic. But the whole album is kind of same-y. It's good! But the middle just gets a little tough to listen to. It helps a lot that all of the tracks are pretty short. The album also ends on a high note.
I'm not really sure what else to say about this one. It's solid. Good but not great. Short, and kind of an easy listen. Headlined by a great and incredibly well-known song.
Favorite Song(s): Blitzkrieg Bop, Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World
Tina Turner
2/5
There are two great things about this album: "What's Love Got to Do with It" and Tina's powerful and emotional voice. Everything else is pretty bad, honestly. No other songs are overtly interesting or fun. The music itself is incredibly 80s to a fault, and Tina can't go all-out for the entire album, or even those moments would lose their power, so there's lots of times where her vocals are special, just good.
Favorite Song(s): What's Love Got to Do with It
David Ackles
2/5
This is pretty weird. It's like he wants to be a classical composer, but his parents forced him to learn guitar and he ended up like a busker or something. It straddles the world of folk/country/singer-songwriter and classic cantata with a full wind ensemble. It just doesn't really do either thing well, though and ends up just being okay.
I think if you took this album's idea and spent 2-3 years with some of the best artists of today (in both the county and classical worlds), you could make an incredible album. But that just isn't this.
Favorite Song(s): Another Friday Night
PJ Harvey
2/5
This is really interesting, but I don't think I would say that it's good. She's very talented vocally! I think that's really the only nice thing I have to say about the album though.
I also don't really have anything particularly negative to say though, either? Like it's not good, but there's nothing specifically bad about it. It's just unremarkable, to the point where I don't have a favorite song from this album.
If you're obsessively into British female pop vocalists, this album might crack your top 1001, but for a general audience this is probably a skip.
Favorite Song(s): -
SAULT
5/5
This is a really incredible album, borne in a year of a lot of upheaval. Not all albums earn an instant re-listen from me (especially since I'm more than a month behind), but this one did.
I'm not entirely sure how to rate this one, just because it's still so recent. Like, I'm hesitant to give it a 5, just because I'm not sure how it'll age. But the music is incredible, and the message is very important and still relevant. I have a hard time believing this won't end up an all-time album.
Favorite Song(s): Hard Life, Monsters, Wildflowers
Elvis Costello
2/5
This isn't really that good. The band feels unsure of what kind of sound they want. The album as a whole is not quite rock, not quite folk. There are a few songs where they commit to one style over the other, and it actually makes sense. And Elvis's voice is slimy. Like slippery, but not really enjoyable.
There's really just not much that I end up liking about this album. There are a few moments where things might start coming together, but for the most part it's mediocre and occasionally bad.
Favorite Song(s): -
Napalm Death
1/5
It's really crazy that not only someone paid a studio to record this, but also that it was released and available for purchase. There are approximately 45 songs on this album, but the whole album is 30 minutes long. And each song is also somehow exactly the same.
Any of these songs sound like they could be a joke song that would be on a Tony Hawk Pro Skater game.
Favorite Song(s): -
Tears For Fears
4/5
New Wave has become my new "no thanks" genre. I just haven't really heard any New Wave albums that I actually really enjoyed. This is the first one that has changed my mind. I think part of my feelings towards New Wave is that there's a cliche/trope/expectation for vocalists that I just really don't like. I can't really explain what it is, but I know that I don't like it. This album does still kind of have that singing style that I don't really like, but everything else about this album is soooo good, that it really only keeps me from debating about if this album is a 5/5.
This album is honestly pretty incredible. It's a ton of fun, and the big hit of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" does elevate the entire album. The transition between "I Believe" and "Broken" also does something to me deep down.
Favorite Song(s): Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World
PJ Harvey
4/5
This is really good. I haven't loved some of PJ's later stuff, but I really enjoy listening to her 90s indie rock sound. And she's honestly a really great singer. There are some odd songs near the end, and I'm not sure if I like them as much as the earlier songs. "Plants and Rags" starts off as a song that I would usually end up loving, but it takes a weird turn, and that taste follows to the next song. It does end up on a high note, though.
Favorite Song(s): Oh My Lover
Mike Oldfield
2/5
A super weird album, where the weirdness actually works pretty well? I don't really understand why, but I don't make the rules I just follow them.
The vocalizations in part ii ruin most of that part for me, though. Take that out, and this is a much different rating, because I did, for the most part, really enjoy this album. But why am I listening to monster man scream at me.
Favorite Song(s): Part i
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Marvin is the king of background music for romantic moments. Not to say his music is generally bad, but it's not great. It's still very good, but the closer you listen, the more it doesn't really hold up. I think this album is best if you're only paying a little bit of attention to it, which stinks, because there are some really nice harmonies and chord progressions hidden in a couple of the songs.
The album also goes on for a bit too long for me. I didn't need either of the returns of "When Did You...".
Favorite Song(s): When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
This feels like a pirate discovered pop rock. I don't think it's a good combo.
I honestly really don't have much else to say. It's kind of generic otherwise, and it's just not that good a listen.
Favorite Song(s): Papa Won't Leave You, Henry
Moby Grape
3/5
It's short, simple, solid, but ultimately forgettable. An album this short really benefits from having a major hit on it, and this one just doesn't. It's a fun listen, but I don't think it needs to be on a list like this.
I will say that the varying styles are fun, but again, the album isn't long enough for that to play any sort of major role in what's going on.
Favorite Song(s): 8:05
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Lowkey thought I would hate this, since I'm not a big fan of 90s music, in general, and this is clearly some 90s shit. Britpop can also be really hit or miss. This ends up being much more of a hit than a miss, though, which surprised me. It is very much "eclectic" as the Wikipedia snippet says. There's nothing really tying each song to each other, which isn't a bad thing, but it does make it feel less cohesive.
The solo/ending on "Bad Behaviour" is too much, though. Sticks out like a sore thumb, and it really the only actually bad part of the album.
Because it's a little all over the place, there's some moments/songs that aren't quite as good, but it is overall a good album! Like, I honestly really enjoyed it.
Favorite Song(s): Something 4 the Weekend, If You Don't Want Me to Destroy You
Beck
3/5
This is weird. To the point where I don't really enjoy any particular song enough to call it a "favorite". Might to a partial re-listen to see if I just missed a song that I really like. With that said, though, it is a really vibey album and is a nice listen. I don't know if I have much else to really say about it, though. I don't think this is a great album, but it's a good listen and interesting.
Favorite Song(s): Broken Drum
Bebel Gilberto
5/5
This is really smooth, and, dare I say, sexy. This takes me to a place that I didn't know that I needed to be. And honestly, I enjoy not knowing what she's saying more than when she sings in English.
The instrumentation is great; there's a great mix of recorded/produced instruments and acoustic instruments. Her singing style is perfect for the tone of the album.
This album doesn't really have much (or any at all) cultural impact, at least mainstream culture. Which I think challenges the purpose of this list. Is it to listen to albums that are good (and sometimes great), well-known, and made a major impact to a wide audience? Or is it to listen to albums that are the very best of their genre or sub-genre, whether or not they're known to larger audiences. This album falls in the latter group, but a lot of the albums on this list are the former.
Favorite Song(s): Tanto Tempo
Tom Waits
1/5
I don't get this. Is it supposed to be a jazz album? Comedy?
Okay, so it is a jazz comedy album. I don't like that choice. I also really don't like the half-assed singing/talking. And I also don't like live albums. So, this is just kind of checking all my "don't like this" boxes.
I feel bad for the other musicians, because they played great. The piano work is excellent. If this was an instrumental jazz album, I'd probably love it, honestly.
Favorite Song(s): Better Off Without a Wife
Roxy Music
2/5
This was much different than I expected. All that I could think about while listening is that it felt like someone had a good, solid idea for a band/album, and then just let in every intrusive thoughts they had about each song. Most songs were flooding with things that ruined them. There was a song that was really good, though, so maybe there's something there long term? Idk.
Overall, not for me, style or singer, but there was one hidden gem in a pile of dirt.
Favorite Song(s): 2HB
U2
3/5
The album as a whole is really same-y. There's not much that distinguishes one song from another. Not necessarily a bad thing, as long as the album doesn't go on for a long time, and there's enough difference between songs that they can at least keep you engaged as a listener.
I enjoyed the album, but I wasn't completely engaged, partially due to the same-iness of it all. I think this album would also benefit from a re-listen (and honestly, probably multiple). "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a song that will just pop in my head all the time, though, in a great way.
Favorite Song(s): Sunday Bloody Sunday
Elton John
5/5
Man, this really does feel like Elton John's magnum opus, starting with the first track. And I really do think that Elton is the very best of his little niche of pop rock, piano heavy glam rock.
This really is just a great, complete album. It does everything well and just sounds so good. It also has some of Elton's best hits, and even some of the other tracks stand out on their own.
I think the genre/style does kind of cap its greatness though. There's something about Elton John's music that just feels safe. Like there's never going to be anything that surprises you or catches you off guard (in a good way). And I mean that in, this is a top 150 album all-time, easily, but I would be surprised if anyone had it in their 25, or even top 50, maybe.
Favorite Song(s): Benny and the Jets, I've Seen That Movie Too, Saturday Night's Alright, Roy Rogers
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
I just, don't like this? It could be cool, but I don't think it represents Pictures at an Exhibition very well.
On further listening, this is a prog rock abomination of a beloved and iconic classical piece of music. Even the encore song is bad. Maybe it's legendary to the prog rock community, but outside that, it doesn't really have a leg to stand on, in terms of this list.
Favorite Song(s): -
Gene Clark
2/5
I feel like this is on this list pretty exclusively because Gene is a former Byrd. The music itself is fine. It didn't have a major impact on release, and I don't think it's made a major impact on the music world since its release. It's not bad, just fine.
There is also just no variation in style/sound, and I'm starting to fall asleep listening to this only halfway through.
Also, holy wow, "Stand By Me" is bad.
In total: boring, skip it.
Favorite Song(s): With Tomorrow (but all the songs are really the same, so pick any of them, really)
The Psychedelic Furs
1/5
This is not good. Repeating boring instrumental breaks. The singer sucks. Some of the lyrics are creepy.
I had written more at one point, but I must not have saved it. And this album honestly doesn't deserve me writing those thoughts again.
Favorite Song(s): -
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Maybe it's just me, but blues in general always feel really repetitive to me. And while this album is really good, about half ways through I feel like I've heard everything this album can offer to me.
It's a fun album! The solos (besides the drum solo) are well done and interesting. The harmonica playing is great. But it kind of just feels like that's it. I don't feel like it's special. And I think that's a me and a blues thing.
Favorite Song(s): Hideaway
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
I'm honestly not really sure what to say about this? Like, it's not incredibly amazing that I want to go on gushing about the album, and I don't even know what I would really gush about. And I don't have any real critiques. I could comment on some musical decisions, but those would be so nit-picky.
It's just really, really good folky rock. The harmonies are tight and well done. Drumming can be kind of odd in the 60s, but other than that, all of the instruments are great to listen to. And, honestly, all of the songs are worth listening to. I don't like albums that have a lot of filler music, to just bump up the album length, and none of these fit that description. They're not all created equal, but they are at least worth listening to.
Favorite Song(s): Expecting to Fly, Broken Arrow
Happy Mondays
2/5
This really doesn't do anything for me at all. It kind of low-key sucks and doesn't do anything interesting. The singing is really hard for me to listen to. I guess the production quality is really good, but that's really all that is interesting to me in this album.
Favorite Song(s): Wrote for Luck?
John Cale
3/5
This one is a bit of a rollercoaster for me. It starts off so incredibly mid. Like impressively mid. And then the middle of the album is actually quite good? The instruments are definitely what carry it, but the steel guitar, the drum work, and the orchestral instruments all work really well (in the songs that they're in). But the end of the album gets all weird and, consequently, really bad.
It's really hard for me to rate because of those massive swings in quality. I'm just going to average it out to about a 3. It's definitely on the low end, because the mid isn't interesting and the bad is pretty damn bad. I would listen to the middle of the album again, though.
Favorite Song(s): Andalucia, Paris 1919
Peter Tosh
3/5
This is not an album to listen to when it's less than 50 degrees outside (F), which it is right now. This is an album that needs some sun, or at least warm weather.
It's a good album, though! I don't think there's anything in particular that really stands out to me, but I'm not as familiar with reggae, so there could be something unique/interesting about this album, that I just wouldn't notice.
A really good, high floor kind of album. Each song is worth listening to, no duds.
Favorite Song(s): Ketchy Shuby
Weather Report
4/5
BIAS ALERT: I love this album. My dad is a bass player, and is a big fan of Victor Wooten and Jaco Pastorius, so I listened to this album and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones a bunch growing up.
I think my nostalgia holds this album up a little higher than it deserves, just in that it's not as great as I remember it being. It is still very good, but I thought this would be an easy 5/5.
The solos are incredible. I love when all the instruments lock in with each other. And the bass playing is just sick as fuck. I think for the purposes of this list, you can probably skip any extended version nonsense at the end of the album (unless you truly really love those songs).
Favorite Song(s): Birdland, Teen Town
The Zombies
5/5
This is incredible! How haven't I ever listened to this before? I have heard "Time of the Season" but that's it. This is just Beatles Lite, if Lite means the same exact thing, basically.
I love the heavy harmonies. The choruses are somehow really catchy without feeling like earworms? I don't really understand it. It got an instant relisten.
Favorite Song(s): Care of Cell 44, Maybe After He's Gone, Brief Candles, Changes, Time of the Season
PJ Harvey
4/5
Holy shit is this raw. PJ is rad as hell and delivers a really emotional performance on this album. She's definitely the highlight of the album, and the instruments play a really great supporting role, especially through their dynamics work.
I don't think this is something special, though. I want to push it up to a 5/5, but it just falls a little short of that. It's definitely a great album, but I think it could have benefited from more of the noise/rock experimentalism that it toys with in the middle of the album. I think that would have been enough to get it that last star.
Favorite Song(s): Rid of Me, Rub 'Til It Bleeds
Ray Charles
4/5
Honestly, I'm really impressed with this album. Unless you know these songs, the only way that you would really be able to tell that these are Country Western songs is by the lyrical content. Otherwise, they sound like what you'd expect from Ray Charles. Maybe he just got a little emotional in the writing room lol.
It does get a little same-y for me, so I stopped listening really closely on the last 15 minutes of the album or so, but it's a great album.
Favorite Song(s): Half as Much, I Love You So Much It Hurts, Teardrops in my Heart
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
I got a little distracted while listening to this album doing some chores around the house, so my favorite song listed below probably isn't the most accurate. Most of what I wasn't paying close attention to was the beginning of the album.
That said, I really enjoyed this. A lot more than I thought I would. It feels almost like a way to ease into some harder rap/hip-hop, without having any sacrifices to quality. And the rapping itself is actually really good, like probably my favorite part of the album. The backing tracks are solid enough, but they get a little tired at the end of each track. They're not the reason to listen to this album, though.
Favorite Song(s): Ain't the Devil Happy
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I wasn't really impressed by this on immediate first impression, but it's really grown on my very fast. I originally thought this might have made this list just as a precursor to what Leonard Cohen would eventually release, but this does absolutely stand on its own!
I do really love an acoustic guitar and vocal heavy folk album. Keeping it simple really lets small things be major highlights to an album, like his guitar plucking skills or lyricism (both of which are very good).
The album never really blows me away though, which is something that I was really hoping and *wanting* it to do. It's incredibly consistent, with only the final couple moments of the final song really being noticeably not good. It also helps this style is in my comfort zone; my wheelhouse, so it's really easy for me to listen to.
Favorite Song(s): Winter Lady, Stories of the Street
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
It took me a minute to really understand what I was listening to. It has rock/blues musical elements, but this is very much a hip hop album.
It's fine. It has some moments, but it's not particularly special. There aren't really any hits on the album either. Like it's just meh/solid throughout. I liked one song more than the others, but that's more a taste thing.
Favorite Song(s): Garbage Man
Skepta
4/5
I'm surprised how much I'm actually enjoying this album. It's not a genre that I generally was not partial to, but after a year and a half or so of listening to albums here, I'm at least able to vibe with albums like this. I wouldn't say that this album is great, but it is really enjoyable. Skits still suck ass, but the beats are steady, and the rapping is really strong.
I'm also generally not a fan of over-produced music, but this honestly sits in a pretty good place. It's pretty clear that almost nothing on the album is coming from actual instruments, but the music isn't jarring or abrasive. It can sometimes be a little excessive, but never really annoying.
Favorite Song(s): Konnichiwa, Man
Aerosmith
4/5
Hot take: Janie's Got a Gun is overrated. I don't think it's that good a song. I'm also not really loving the double tracks, or the songs that have the "/" in them. Let me listen to one song at a time if I want lol. That's a minor complaint, though.
I'm not sure why, but the lyricism of Aerosmith was not something that was in my book. I'm genuinely impressed at the lyrics that I'm catching in these songs. And a lot of them are really clever too.
You can tell that this is a later album from a well-established band. They have a sweet spot that they really know how to hit, but they also aren't afraid to try out some new sounds or do some things a little differently. The songs that aren't their bread and butter are honestly pretty good too.
I'm a bit torn on how to rate it, because I think it does a lot of stuff well, and a couple of things great, but it never really feels like a great album, if that makes sense.
Favorite Song(s): Love in an Elevator, The Other Side, Don't Get Mad, Get Even
Meh.
It's pop rock. It really can't be that good. It's good pop rock, but that's like saying something is good fast food. There's only so good something destined for mediocrity can be.
The highest praise I can give it, is that there's nothing bad about the album. It's great bland music.
Favorite Song(s): Beautiful Day, Grace
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Snoop's rapping is just really pleasant to listen to. His flow is easy to listen to and follow along with. I'm not really sure that I love the content of most of this album, but, musically, the album does kick ass.
As a debut album, it's really good. Besides Snoop's personal style, it doesn't do anything that feels world changing. The West Coast hip-hop style was apparently still pretty new, though, I guess.
It's good! And I really enjoyed it, but I'm not sure if I would call it great.
Favorite Song(s): Gin and Juice, Lodi Dodi
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Man, this is honestly really impressive and a masterclass in improvisation. Give yourself solid footing, find a progression/melody to play underneath, and establish your key. Then create interesting melodies over that, and once you've exhausted an idea, change a chord slightly and completely change the tone of what you've been doing.
Knowing that this is not what the concert was intended to be only makes it all the more impressive. Honestly, his use of dissonance is really impressive as well. I think it's generally pretty easy to improvise while avoiding dissonance, but to use it and use it well makes it much more enjoyable to listen to and gives it much more impactful development.
I wasn't fully sure what to expect, or how I would want to rate this album, just because it's so much different than nearly everything else on this list. It's labeled as "Jazz" but it's much closer to a classical style solo pianist performance with lots of jazz influence. It won't be everyone's favorite album, but I do think that is enjoyable by everyone. It's really approachable. It's also complex and interesting enough that highly trained musical ears will eat this up.
Favorite Song(s) (even though this isn't that kind of album): Part II c
Digital Underground
2/5
This just isn't really that good. It doesn't do anything particularly musically interesting. A lot of the rhymes are really cheesy. And then the album gets really horny, and that's not something I ever really want from the music that I listen to.
It's dated. The concept isn't really interesting. The beats and mixing are fine but aren't ever highlighted. I could have gone my life without needing to listen to this.
Favorite Song(s): The Humpty Dance
Stephen Stills
3/5
Other than the last song, which really stands out, it's kind of just your generic 70s singer-songwriter kind of music. Like, I'm honestly not really sure why this is special album other than he's a member of CSNY. And it could just be that I'm missing something or not understanding fully what I'm listening to.
That said. "We Are Not Helpless" is a really special song. It saves the album from being a lower/mid-mediocre album to being a good album (in relation to this list). I still don't think as a whole it really does much that's interesting or special, but it's a good listen.
Favorite Song(s): We Are Not Helpless
Stephen Stills
3/5
It's good, but a double album really needs to be special, imo, either in that it's one full complete idea (like a concept album) or it's full of hits and doesn't have any duds. This album does neither of those things.
I do really enjoy the harmony heavy songs (and also just the harmonies in general). The album as a whole is solid, but combined with the length, I'd rather listen to something else. Even if you just cut it in half and called it two albums, I'd probably like it a little more.
Favorite Song(s): Fallen Eagle, Johnny's Garden
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Costello's voice, for me, is incredibly inconsistent. It's sometimes very good, sometimes just fine, and other times it's pretty rough. That inconsistency ends up hurting the album as a whole for me. Because I really like the vibe and the band! The Attractions as a whole are really good and do a lot of interesting things!
I honestly wished I really enjoyed this album, but it ended up being alright enough.
Favorite Song(s): This Year's Girl
John Martyn
2/5
The ambience and musical style are really cool. His voice is pretty off-putting to me though. It kind of ruins the vibe. If he was a little less Kermit-y, this would probably be a completely different rating for me. The singer, in this vibey, atmospheric style of music, has the most ability to ruin an album. I really like this music; it does feel very tropical and relaxed and makes me want to go spend some time outside in the sun, preferably by a beach. But his voice kind of cuts through all of that and undoes any feelings the instruments gave me. And that's why that last song hops onto my favorites list, because there's so little singing in it.
So close, and yet at the same time, not really close at all.
Favorite Song(s): One World, Small Hours
Brian Eno
5/5
I think it actually really helps knowing how this album was made. That it's tape tracks of varying lengths looped together. So, it's the same melodic material, but when it loops in just the right way, you get new and interesting harmonies.
The vocal sections don't do much for me, until they start getting really crunchy, harmonically. They've all but worn out my interest in them by that point, though. I do love the piano and keyboard percussion loops.
What's really funny with this being today's album is that yesterday I was playing catch-up on some albums that I missed, and I listened to Sigur Rós, which is also a really atmospheric album.
I honestly actually really love these kinds of ambient/atmospheric albums. It's a style/genre that I will admit is very much a personal preference, and there's a lot of people that do not like this kind of music. It's not a 10/10 for me, but it is an album that I'll save to listen to later when I'm looking for this kind of vibe.
Favorite Song(s)?: 1/1, 2/2
The Saints
1/5
It's a lot of fun, but the singing sucks lol. Replace the singer, and I'm probably having a good time with this album. But the singing is such a problem that I can't even find a song that I think is the best. The horns are a pretty cool addition to an otherwise pretty standard punkish album.
Elaborating on what I dislike about the voice: it's just really lazy and poorly enunciated, and it ends up making a really gross end product that makes the album not really worth listening to.
Favorite Song(s): Orstralia
The Bees
4/5
It's funky and different. Clearly some English colonialism playing a role in this album, snatching different ideas and genres from other cultures and putting a British spin on it. It doesn't work for all of it, but some of these songs are actually really quite good.
The songs that work well are really freaking good. I don't normally do this with albums that I listen to from here, but I've added a couple of songs to my own personal playlists. The songs that don't really work well, though just kind of fall flat. It makes the album as a whole really hit or miss depending on the track.
"Sky Holds the Sun" joined my playlist of favorite songs, though. So, while the whole album isn't special, there are definitely special moments within that make it worthwhile to listen to.
Favorite Song(s): Punchbag, Sunshine, Sky Holds the Sun
3/5
This is pretentious. I don't think that's an inherently bad thing, as art can also get pretty pretentious while also still being able to make a point. This album does get to a point where the pretentiousness hurts it, though. Like it just goes a little too far without having a ton of qualities to justify that.
I do really love the orchestration, though! I will always encourage and enjoy albums that include strings, woodwinds, or other orchestra instruments in their music. That ends up being the only major highlight for me, though. The rock instruments have a couple of good moments but mostly live in meh. The lyricism doesn't do anything for me specifically. His voice is fine, and, in the end, the pretentious attitude of the album ends up hurting it for me.
Favorite Song(s): Easter Theater
The Specials
2/5
Huh?
Kraftwerk
4/5
The electronics work is really incredible, honestly. Especially knowing that a lot of the electronic sounds of this era had to be handcrafted in homemade synthesizers.
While the electronics continue to be impressive, after Europe Endless, I start getting left behind by the songs. This album is not impressing me as much as Autobahn did. AND THEN I'M REELED BACK IN AT THE ENDING. Franz Schubert into Endless Endless is chef's kiss perfect.
If this album was a sandwich, the bread would be artisanal, and the rest of the sandwich would be whatever isn't moldy in the fridge. It's not bad, but it's not where near as good as the first and last (two) songs.
Favorite Song(s): Europe Endless, Franz Schubert, Endless Endless
Deee-Lite
1/5
I'm glad that "[They] like it", because nobody else does.
"What is love?" Love is skipping this album.
"I couldn't ask for another" Brother, I didn't ask for one of this in the first place.
It's incredibly disrespectful of this website to make me listen to Kraftwerk yesterday, foundational early Electronica that holds up astoundingly well, and then to make this the next album. It's a spit in the face to Kraftwerk, really.
Oh, thank God it's done. I thought Grove Is in the Heart would be decent, but it was barely better than the rest of the trash on the album.
No favorite song for me on this one.
Little Richard
5/5
This is great. A lot of fun, plenty of up-tempo songs, but they don't ever get exhausting, like can happen without much slower songs. His vocal ability is also really incredible. The screams are not only iconic, but also just really well done and fit perfectly in the songs, in tempo and key.
It is 50s rock and roll, so I really don't have much else to say about it. Music from this time to me is pretty same-y and simple. Not necessarily a bad thing! It can be though if the songs don't do enough. Little Richard does plenty to keep the songs varied and interesting, though.
Favorite Song(s): Tutti Fruity, Can't Believe You Wanna Leave, Oh Why?
Miles Davis
4/5
This is just tooooo loooooooong an album for my poor attention span. Musically, this is ranks up there with "Kind of Blue" for me, in terms of other Miles Davis albums. I think the electronic instruments do wonders for the sound.
In another world where I've got a much better attention span, this one probably gets a 5 from me.
Favorite Song(s): Pharoah's Dance, Sanctuary
Baaba Maal
3/5
This is really interesting. Not necessarily really good, but really interesting. None of the songs really particularly stand out. I think that if you like one of them, you like them all, maybe to slightly varying degrees, but they're all pretty same-ish with having enough differences that it doesn't feel like listening to the same song through the whole album.
I start losing interest on the last few songs of the album. Which is tough, because this was an album that never really that took a hold and didn't let go of your attention. That, and the fact that nothing in particular really makes it stand out just kind of puts the album in a good but not great area.
The guitar (or what I'm assuming is a guitar?) playing is really excellent. They're clearly very talented.
Favorite Song(s): Maacina Tooro
Iggy Pop
3/5
You can definitely clearly hear the Bowie influence in this album. The instrumentation is really good, and I'm enjoying that a lot, but I don't think it really matches up with Iggy, his voice, and his general style. I think it's honestly pretty close to being a very good album, but it just misses the mark. Like, I liked a lot of little bits, but it never really came together to be a complete album. I was even caught off-guard with some really great moments, like the beginning of "Tiny Girls".
Favorite Song(s): China Girl, Tiny Girls
Brian Wilson
5/5
Brian Wilson is a musical magician. He's able to conjure up emotions through music. His harmonies are always so intricate and tight. They're really a joy to listen to. This album also feels like a culmination of his musical career. It's an album worth listening to without break from beginning to end multiple times.
Rest in peace, Brian
Favorite Song(s): Cabin Essence, Good Vibrations
The Slits
2/5
Revolutionary and/or influential music isn't always necessarily good, and that's this album in a nutshell. The reggae (almost ska-like??) elements were cool but not really done well. The vocals on the first song got me slightly hopeful that that could be the best part of the album, either with interesting or full harmonies or some complex melody stuff, but they never actually did anything interesting, which is the most disappointing part of the album for me.
I just didn't really have a good time listening to this album. I know this list has to include albums that changed the way other bands thought about making music, and that's probably primarily why this album is here. But that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it.
Favorite Song(s): Typical Girls
The Undertones
3/5
The beginning of the album gave me hope that I would really enjoy this. Pop punky with some late 70s/early 80s influence. But following "Under the Boardwalk" (which was an incredible surprise cover and worked really well), the rest of the album ended up feeling too same-y, and I started tuning out.
I think this album would have benefited greatly from some more variety. Put a super slow tempo in there somewhere in the middle. Get a different singer to feature or take the lead of a song or two. It needed something different, or just less songs.
It works, and it's a fine album. But I wanted it to be better than it actually was.
Favorite Song(s): See That Girl, Under the Boardwalk
Scissor Sisters
4/5
Yeah, America definitely isn't gay enough, culturally, to appreciate this. The album itself introduces itself pretty tamely, but then with every song you get to know it a little better, and you see a few more of its quirks and it gets less shy with its weirdness. And it's beautiful. So, the first half-ish of the album is just warming you up for what's the album really wants to be.
And then the album peaks with its weird/oddness in the middle and tones down at the end. Which is also the flow of the quality of the songs; the ending doesn't really hold a candle to the beginning/middle of the album.
That said, this is really good. Vibey. The singing is excellent. And even some really great musical moments that surprised me. It's a shame this album never really did as well in the US as it did in Europe.
Favorite Song(s): Take Your Mama, Lovers in the Backseat
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
Man. This is just. Not for me. I can appreciate that this is incredibly influential while also saying pass. There are a couple of songs that I end up liking. Although, one of them is mostly instrumental lol.
It's fine. Not my cup of tea. The concept is a great idea, and I'm glad this exists, even if I don't really care for it all that much.
Favorite Song(s): A Warm Place, Hurt
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
This is really great. I think psychedelic rock as a genre evolved and changed much following the release of this album, but I personally like this subtler psychedelic style.
Honestly, this album is actually pretty all over the place in terms of sub-genre of rock. Lots of blues and R&B in this album.
I don't really have a ton to say about it, other than it's pretty great, without really any dud songs, and some really excellent hits.
Favorite Song(s): Hey Joe, May This Be Love, The Wind Cries Mary
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
I was really surprised by this album. I didn't think I would like it all that much, let alone think that it's a great album, but here we are. I think part of why I think that is my music taste growing up. This sounds a lot like other things that I was listening to in my teen years, even if the content and context isn't something I would have been allowed to listen to at the time.
I don't think that this album does anything particularly special, but I also had a hard time really actually picking out the lyrics. I got the gist of what was being said, though, even without the literal words.
This album actually gets a save from me to listen to again later!
Favorite Song(s): The second track lol, Archives of Pain, Mausoleum, Faster
R.E.M.
3/5
You can tell they're a group of talented musicians, and that they have a great understanding of what they're doing musically, but it never really clicks for me. Part of it is probably that I don't love the lead singer's voice, and that's an important part, and helps set up an initial impression. I do like the experimentation that's done. It works well enough to the point that it isn't really all that noticeable, which is a good thing, I think. So, it blends in well with their other musical decisions.
I just didn't really like it all that much.
Favorite Song(s): I Remember California
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
What is this?? Why is it here? It's like bad glam rock. Wait. No. Not like. It is bad glam rock.
"The Last of the Teenage Idols" caught my attention, and was almost good? But the album had kind of dug its own grave at that point.
It's really nothing special or spectacular and especially nothing sensational. The closer you listen to it, the more it just doesn't feel right or sound all that good. It's also all over the place, too. Like sloppy and incredibly un-cohesive.
Favorite Song(s): Gang Bang
Elliott Smith
4/5
I have mixed feelings about Elliott Smith. In a vacuum, I'm honestly not really a fan of his voice; I don't really find it enjoyable to listen to. But I'll be damned if it's not perfect for his haunting sad vibes. And that style is really what makes the album. Meaning, if anyone else is singing here, I don't think album is as good, or as highly regarded as it actually is. He brings something that just can't really be replaced.
And I think that really informs my opinion on this album as a whole. There's nothing else particularly special about it. But it is very, very good at what it does, which is put you in this melancholic mood while making you feel like you're sitting alone with your thoughts, Elliott, and his guitar. It's ultimately an album that I wish I liked more but have a hard time thinking of a way that it could be better.
Favorite Song(s): Between the Bars, Say Yes
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
This is some prog rock shit for real. Tarkus (the song) is pretty good, but it ends kind of poorly. The last part is generally odd, but it slowly devolves, and a 20-minute song that leaves a poor taste in your mouth kind of just sucks. It doesn't ruin the whole song (or the album, as that song is over 50% of the album), but it's definitely what I remember most after walking away from it.
The shorter songs are all a little bit hit or miss, but there is one that I really liked from the group (but also one I really didn't like). It stinks that there really isn't much consistency or even flow to the B side of the album. Tarkus is obviously the most important part of the album, but the B side matters too, when talking about a short list of albums to listen to before you die.
Favorite Song(s): Tarkus, A Time and A Place
Elvis Presley
4/5
I'm not sure why I don't really think that highly of Elvis. I think it has something to do with my dislike for Bob Dylan. I just kind of lump them together for some reason? Maybe because they both have vocal oddities about them that make me generally dislike their music.
That said, this is really solid. I think the soul influence is a really great touch; it adds a ton of depths to the vocals, especially in the early tracks. I don't know that I love this, but I can't even point to something actually negative about the album.
Favorite Song(s): I'll Hold You in My Heart, Suspicious Mind
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Not to pat myself on the back too much, but this is an album that I really wouldn't have enjoyed at the start of working through this list. The first time A Tribe Called Quest came up (The Low End Theory) on my listen was within the first 20 albums, and now over 400 albums ago. I did my best to recognize how quality it was, but I would say I didn't really personally enjoy it. I'm genuinely enjoying listening to this today.
My biggest worry when an album relies heavily on loops is that they get overused and tired by the end of each song, but here they're used, for lack of a better word, very tastefully. The album does have a small problem of some of the songs feeling same-ish, though. I think some people would say that isn't a problem, but I have a hard time staying engaged through the entire album because of it.
A really fun album. Well written, well designed, well produced.
Favorite Song(s): Luck of Lucian, Can I Kick It?
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
It took me a minute to really get into it, but it's a solid 80s punk album. Her singing is probably the best part of the album, and while it is really good, it doesn't really elevate the album to elite levels for me. None of the songs felt particularly noteworthy either. The reason I put Spellbound as my favorite is that I went back to it for a little bit before finally putting the album away.
Favorite Song(s): Spellbound
KISS
1/5
Getting a 70s rock album from this list feels like being told you're going to have steak for dinner. And then you get there, and it's this album. It's like if the steak was unseasoned and cooked poorly and also gave you food poisoning. This is bland and difficult to get through. There are some moments that are pretty good, and nice to listen to, and enough of those moments come together on "King of the Night Time World" that I can say it's my favorite song on the album without grimacing. But I think the less is said about this album as a whole the better.
Favorite Song(s): King of the Night Time World
Hawkwind
2/5
This is pretty bad. And it's a double album. Doubles have to be pretty damn good to justify a 2-hour listening experience, and this one definitely does not do that.
There are some brief interesting moments. "Seven by Seven" has some good instrumentals. Actually, the rock instrumentals are the best part. Once they start getting really "space-y" and techno, I'm out. And the instrumentals also go on so long without doing much that's interesting.
You could "fix" this album by relying less on technology; their style of play gives is enough Space feel on its own, a light sprinkle of synth moments and vocal effects would hammer in the theme enough. And cut the instrumental moments in half. There are plenty of interesting things in them that would be more impactful if it didn't take forever to get there. And that would also cut the length of the album down by like 30-45 minutes.
Make those changes, and I might actually enjoy listening to this album.
Favorite Song(s): Space is Deep
4/5
There's not a lot of albums that I would say this about, but it feels really disjointed or disconnected. There's not really any cohesiveness from song to song on the album. And maybe that's intentional? Because the songs do have a vibe of actually being someone's dreams. They don't really make perfect sense and have some psychedelic elements to them.
The production is the highlight of this album. I don't really know how to articulate it well, but everything just sounds really great. Nothing ever feels like it's competing to be heard, and everything feels intentional.
Favorite Song(s): Nature's Way, Soldier
Incubus
2/5
I thought this sounded vaguely familiar, and then "Drive" came on. And I'm pretty sure that song was on one of the Madden games that I played incessantly as a kid, but I couldn't confirm it through the magic of Google.
Honestly, this whole album feels like watered-down music. I couldn't tell you what the original was supposed to taste like, but I can tell you that it's lost whatever makes it stand out. Not to say that this album is necessarily bad, but it's definitely not great, and parts of it aren't really all that good. "Drive" ends up being my favorite song, but I think that's mostly due to its recognizability than anything else.
Favorite Song(s): Drive
Pink Floyd
4/5
You can tell this is early Pink Floyd. The ideas are there for them, but they sound really unrefined, at least with hindsight. It does help set up a base understanding of the foundational sound of Pink Floyd. They're just slightly odd and unusual with some really long instrumental tracks that are heavily psychedelic. They're really a unique group, and that's showcased even on their first full album.
I kind of wish I had more to say about the album, but my first sentence is really my biggest takeaway. It's a solid album, but two important things about it is its influence on psychedelic rock and its foreshadowing of what the group would do in the future. It still has some good songs and is definitely worth the listen!
Favorite Song(s): Matilda Mother, Chapter 24
Def Leppard
5/5
I think Def Leppard, and this album specifically, is just 80s rock perfected. The really loud echoey drums, dense vocals, and everything sounds like it's being performed in a stadium.
This album is full of really good songs, and then there's also Pour Some Sugar on Me, which I think is an elite song and one that is pretty timeless.
For me, 90% of the album is 4 stars, and then Pour Some Sugar on Me gives it just enough of a boost to 5 stars.
Favorite Song(s): Rocket, Animal, *Pour Some Sugar on Me*, Love and Affection
Peter Gabriel
5/5
Honestly, I'm blown away. I thought during the first track that this album would be some prog rock continuity from Genesis, and I wasn't really sure that I would really enjoy it. Then the next track hits, and you realize you know nothing about what this album is actually going to be like. And the whole thing is like that. Each song is so different from the last that you can't ever really prepare for what you're about to hear. And everything is so damn good. The 4-part barbershop-style vocals were excellent. The big, emotional, hair-band-y rock is moving. The bluesy piano and guitar are packed with vibes. I'm honestly so impressed at how complex and deep this album is in only 45ish minutes.
Favorite Song(s): Solsbury Hill, Waiting for the Big One, Here Comes the Flood
Ravi Shankar
4/5
Good sitar playing is just good music. Simple as that. The music on this album specifically is really transportive.
I had a hard time really discerning what he was explaining, but the things that I did actually pick up was fun to learn about!
Favorite Song(s): Dadra
Silver Jews
1/5
The most influential part of this band and album in my rating is the singer. I hate the half-assed singing style so much, and he even manages to be out of key when speaking. It's bad. It's really bad.
Which kind of stinks, because the band is actually pretty good! I like the electric guitar moments, and, in general, the music is pretty airy and light and really enjoyable. Drop the vocals from this album, and I would at least enjoy the album, but it's so bad that I have to force myself to finish listening.
Favorite Song(s): Transylvania Blues
Elbow
4/5
This has really caught me off-guard on how good and varied this is. Each song is almost unique in style/vibes. Not actually, but almost. Usually, with any variation in style/sound, there's a major risk of quality drop, but, since their variation isn't that wide, they have a consistent quality to them, while still getting the highs of having some different sounds that really elevate a couple of their songs.
This is an album I think that would benefit from multiple listen throughs (or I just need people to stop bothering me while I'm at work so I can listen straight through from beginning to end). It's also a really deep album, meaning some of the last songs still have really great moments, making the whole album worth listening to.
Favorite Song(s): Mirrorball, One Day Like This
Death In Vegas
2/5
This is fine. The singing isn't great. They're definitely at their best without any vocals. It's interesting, but not particularly noteworthy or good. I really have very little to say about this album at all. It doesn't deserve to be on this list, in any capacity, though.
Favorite Song(s): Dirge
Bob Dylan
3/5
Honestly, old man Bob Dylan voice is my favorite version of his voice, from what I've heard from him so far. Mind you, it's still not good, but it's much more tolerable for me to listen to than most of his music.
I do really like the bluesy-ness of this album for him. It's a great backdrop for his old man voice. And just like his early folk music, it really lets his guitar playing shine and be a real highlight of the album.
Unfortunately, this album also just goes on too long for me. I'm completely disinterested in what it's offering by the end of it. Drop the cover, shorten up a couple of songs, and I think there would be some more cohesiveness and investment to the album. I think this is still my favorite Bob Dylan album that I've heard, but that's not a high bar, unfortunately.
Favorite Song(s): Standing in the Doorway
Pavement
4/5
I think this album makes this list mostly for its historical importance, but it's also actually a pretty solid listen. The production feels really fresh and clean, almost like it was recorded and published without much actual production.
Musically, it's fine. It's not really great, but solid. More importantly, though, there's nothing bad about it. The vocals sometimes do a little weird scooping thing with tone, but that's really about it. And I think that's a little more important than occasionally sounding great. Mix that in with its music history significance, and it gets a little boost into 4 stars, otherwise it'd be a solid middle of the road kind of album.
Favorite Song(s): In the Mouth a Desert
White Denim
5/5
To be honest, I did not get the first couple of songs. Like, I was getting upset at what I was listening to. I was able to relax by the third song, and then the fourth and fifth song clicked for me. This is rad as hell. It's still super weird, especially the singer's voice.
I think this is a sneaky great album. It's so complex and varied. It sounds like a soup of noise but also feels so thoughtfully constructed and masterfully executed. These guys are very clearly masters of their instruments and also either have impeccable timing or just have really great musical chemistry. I went back to listen to the first couple tracks that made me upset for some reason, and boy was that a silly opinion.
I "accidentally" listened to the album multiple times. Also, it wasn't an accident.
Favorite Song(s): Sweet Joy, Anvil Everything, Back at the Farm, Drug
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
This is pretty boring new wave mumbo pop synth garbage. I, personally, don't like most things in this genre and style, so for me to like an album like this, takes something really special. And this isn't it. It's so bland. Half of the songs have the same exact beat and rhythm. I doubt there's a real instrument used on the entire album.
It's not so bad that it's awful. And there was one song that actually was enjoyable to listen to. But I still don't really want to ever listen to this again.
Favorite Song(s): To Speak is a Sin
Black Sabbath
5/5
It's funny how genres evolve over time. If you asked me to assign a genre to this album, "metal" is not one of the words that would come to mind. That genre, to me, is so much heavier than what this sounds like, and a lot of that is just because of how the genre developed. Because this certainly was metal when it was released, but the genre has evolved into more thrash, more screaming, and/or more distortion.
But anyway, this album rocks. My favorite songs below are by far the highlights, both in popularity and in best songs on the album. But each track has something to offer. And while the entire album isn't banger after banger, it is a great album that's elevated by its hits.
Keep rocking in the afterlife, Ozzy.
Favorite Song(s): War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man
Jack White
3/5
Jack White's voice is special, honestly. I don't really think that aside from his voice, though, if this album is really anything special. It doesn't really come close to the heights of The White Stripes. Combined with the fact that this is a pretty recent album, I'm wondering if this is one of the albums that was added to this list with the expectation that it would be a special album well beyond its release, and it just really isn't.
On top of the clear White Stripes sound/influence, I also get a little bit of Panic! At The Disco in there, particularly on "On and On and On".
The end of the album is actually pretty good. I got a little worried that it was really going to be dragged down by the last few songs as I started the back half. Not to say those songs were the best, but they kept me engaged and listening, which I wasn't fully expecting.
As a whole, it's better than a lot of modern albums we've gotten on this list, but it still doesn't hold a candle to the majority of this list. I definitely think this was an album that was prematurely added. And I don't think that it's one that everyone needs to listen to before they die. Could still potentially be worth your time though, if you're a big Jack White fan.
Favorite Song(s): Freedom at 21, Trash Tongue Talker
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
There is a bit of European/American elitism in music. I'm guessing that 90% of people living in Europe and North America will never hear this or music like it, unless they travel to places that aren't extremely touristy. Which is why I'm really glad when albums like this make lists like this one.
This album is a ton of fun and vibey. It's repetitive, but I'm pretty sure that's a quality that most music around the world has, and the repetitions never really get boring, which is always my worry when music is built that way. The soloing instruments are really good; I specifically love the tone of the stringed instrument. I almost wish the album was longer or had a couple more songs on it. I want more of it.
Favorite Song(s): Taaw
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Listening to this is like watching a train wreck. It's awful to watch/listen, but there's nothing you can do to stop paying attention to it. The guest singers (shoutout PJ Harvey) prove that this could be a decent album if the singing is good. But Nick Cave is a terrible singer.
What stinks is that murder ballads have an opportunity to be really good music. But this sucks. I think I like this more than the order Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album that we already got, but that has nothing to do with Nick and the Seeds, but everything to do with the features.
Favorite Song(s): Henry Lee
10cc
2/5
This is one of the weirdest things I think I have ever listened to in my life. Also, for an English rock band, they're oddly obsessed with the US. I feel like all of these songs are about the United States. Because of how odd it is, there's a lot of moments that are a miss. There are some good listening moments, but that's not what catches your attention on a listen through.
This would not make my own personal list of 1,001 albums to listen to before dying. I think it's funny and interesting. But I wouldn't say that it's good, or even particularly unique or special.
Favorite Song(s): The Wall Street Shuffle
Talking Heads
3/5
Nearly 500 albums in, and this one is making me realize that I probably just don't like New Wave as a genre all that much. Not that a New Wave album can't be great, just that it has to be a little bit better to really blow me away. Less to do with this album though, and just thoughts about my music opinions in general.
This album is odd. It's kind of clear to me, though, that this is supposed to be a complete album, because there isn't really a single song that stands out to me, but the album as a whole is pretty good. There are some dud songs, imo, but I think they still play a role in the album, and they're not bad per se, just not as good or interesting as the other songs.
I do really like the rhythmicality (is that a word?) of the stringed instruments, particularly the bass. It does really bring an interesting element to the table that, without it, I don't think this is a good album. I think it ultimately ends up being a good and interesting listen, though.
Favorite Song(s): Life During Wartime, Heaven
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
The first song made me think that this was going to be some folksy singer-songwriter music with some Irish influence, and while there is some of that on this album, there's also plenty of songs with some up-tempo rock adjacent vibes. I don't think either is particularly better than the other. Her voice is pretty incredible. Without her vocal talent, I think this ends up being a really forgettable album, but I think this album does a great job of centering itself on her.
Yeah, it's a good, maybe borderline great album, in my opinion. I don't think, besides her voice, that there's really much that elevates this album for me, even lyricism or style or anything.
Favorite Song(s): Nothing Compares 2 U, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Wilco
3/5
Honestly, this is pretty crazy, and a little all over the place, musically. They do a really good job of not letting it get really out of hand. I don't think that they really have a solid identity, though, and to me, their best sounding songs are the ones that lean towards the alt/indie sound and away from the more country influenced sounds. I am a slut for steel guitar though.
They are clearly influential, a lot of music across all of the genres they touch on pull from some of the sounds of this album. Which is pretty incredible and almost certainly why this is on this list. As a listener, though, I don't know who they influenced with this album just from listening to it. So, in that regard, this is just a fine album. The wide range of styles hurts it just as much as it helps it, in this case. And without any songs that feel like bonafide hits, the songs that aren't as good seem to stand out a bit more.
Favorite Song(s): Sunken Treasure, Someone Else's Song, The Lonely 1
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
This is something, for sure.
It's not terrible 90s rock. Much like the subjects of the lyrics, the album is a bit self-destructive. Like, it's actually pretty close to being a good album, but then (usually) the singer does something stupid with his voice. Nothing on this album is good on the same song. The instruments are killer on a couple songs, and then the lyrics or singing style kills them. Or, when there aren't vocals or they're actually pretty solid, the instrumentation is a tough listen.
I want to like this. I actually really want to like this, but it feels like it never really gives me an opportunity to.
Favorite Song(s): Fountain and Fairfax, I Keep Coming Back
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Honestly, the 80s pop side of this album is really not that bad. The hip hop stuff is a bit more cringy and doesn't really mix well. The instrumentation is pretty fun, though! I specifically like the electronic slap bass sound. If Buffalo Stance is her best song, though, this album is going to start feeling really long.
The lyrics are toooouuuuughhh. "You're like one of those Cabbage Patch creatures." what???
Yeah, it gave its best right off the bat, and then just didn't really do anything else good. And even Buffalo Stance wasn't exceptional. I really could have gone my whole life without listening to this.
Favorite Song(s): Buffalo Stance
Tortoise
5/5
What?!?!?? Another post-rock album! I'm really surprised, and, as a fan of the genre, I've never actually listened to Tortoise before.
This is excellent. They kind of nail all the things that I love about the genre. Slow musical development that makes you feel really familiar with the ideas/motifs/melodies, so that even the slightest of changes is noticeable and impactful. The synth work is honestly pretty incredible. It's deep and varied, but I never feel like it's trying to out-do the guitars or drums. It's obviously given the limelight when it's carrying the melody, but it also tastefully takes the backseat when adding embellishments.
I love this, but I'm not going to fault you if you don't. It's pretty different than a lot of other styles of much you'd listen to in the US. I'm also not really sure if it deserves to be in this book. I'd have to see what he said about it in the actual book.
Favorite Song(s): Djed, The Taut and Tame, Along the Banks of Rivers
Coldplay
5/5
Reading through some reviews of this album and Parachutes, I'm learning that some people really hate Coldplay, and that's really surprising to me. 2000s Coldplay are like perfected pop music. And I guess that's kind of why they're hated? That they're built to dominate radio and get really popular really fast, which probably ends up with them getting overplayed some. I don't really fully get it, but I'm a Coldplay believer.
I don't think this album is supposed to be particularly memorable. It's not something that should stand out because of how unique it is (unless you're talking about Chris Martin's voice specifically). It is, however, idealized radio music. Everything on this album is easy listening, and the album is also deep, and by that I mean that there aren't really any bad songs on the album.
I like Parachutes more than this album, but this is still an incredible follow-up that fully stands out on its own.
Favorite Song(s): God Put a Smile Upon Your Face, The Scientist, Clocks, Warning Sign
Eric Clapton
4/5
I don't think I've ever listened to a Clapton solo album. Mans is crazy talented. The guitar playing is funky and complicated, but never feels difficult, if that makes sense. "I Shot the Sherrif" is an iconic song, but I don't think it's actually all that great in the context in this album.
You can kind of pick up a bit that Eric's talent is mostly instrumental and not vocal. He hides that talent disparity pretty well, though. His guitar work and backup singers more than make up for whatever greatness is missing from his voice. Also, let me be clear, he's a very solid singer. There's nothing wrong with his singing. I think the worst thing I can say about his singing is that he's got a bit of a limited range, but even then, I don't feel like he's pushing that range at all.
Man, this is a really great blues album. I honestly was surprised and disappointed when the album ended. It felt like there was still some life at the end, and that it could go on for another 10 minutes or so before it really needed to wrap itself up. But it was still a really enjoyable listen.
Favorite Song(s): Give Me Strength, Please Be With Me
Gillian Welch
5/5
Wow.
This is expertly crafted, between the incredible instrumentation and solos, and the harmonies. I really don't have much of anything to say about this album, because it's just that great.
If you don't like slower tempo songs driven by acoustic instruments, this probably isn't an album for you, but this has become an immediate favorite for me. Got an instant re-listen, and also saved for later.
Favorite Song(s): Dear Someone, Red Clay Halo, April the 14th Part 1, I Dream a Highway
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
This is not good. I even went back to the beginning of the album after getting through a few songs to see if I missed anything. And it's not terrible, like I initially thought, but it's still not good. The Wikipedia blurb that the website pulled, praised it for its emotional highs and lows, but that never really came through for me. Were the highs supposed to be the vocalist screaming/yelling, and the lows him singing in his lower register? Because the band never really followed his emotional lead.
Combine that with instrumentation that always felt like it was trying really hard to impress you, forced into the songs in a kind of unnatural sounding way. It just never really clicks and struggles to sound like a great album to me. My favorite song also ends up being a bit of a pity song. Like there's something here, but none of them are really all that interesting.
Favorite Song(s): Heads Will Roll
Coldplay
5/5
Pre-listening notes: I have a ton of nostalgia with this album. It's one that I distinctly remember listening to while driving around town with my family. And I loved it so much then, that I bought it on vinyl a few years ago and have listened to it that way a handful of times. It's easily an all-time comfort album for me, and one that I know I very much enjoy.
This is what pop music is supposed to be. It's so accessible and simple, but complete. Like, you couldn't add another instrument or change the harmonies/chords without muddying it, and honestly, probably making it a worse album. Maybe you could add vocal harmonies, but I don't think that would outright make the album better.
If I wanted to be overly critical, I would say that the album is a little short, and it is pretty one-note emotionally, but I don't even think I fully agree with the latter statement. I think, on a surface level, it can feel a little flat, but there's enough going on that any intentional listen gets deep enough to see variety in tone, tempo, and general vibes.
Favorite Song(s): Shiver, Spies, Sparks, Yellow, Trouble
Robbie Williams
4/5
I don't think generally there's much to say about pop songs/albums. Especially starting around this time. Like, it just is what it is. Generally, music is not bad, but it's not great or even unique. That said, this is definitely higher end pop music. I can imagine most of these songs being played over radio.
I also recognized "Angels"! Which is not something that I was expecting. I've never heard of this guy before, and didn't recognize any other songs (so far). I did a little digging and found that David Archuleta covered it (also didn't know that he did it as a cover), and I think that's why I recognized it. I do think the original here is better, though.
The album is also pretty impressively varied, especially at the back end of the album. A more rock sounding song with "Killing Me"; a really bouncy kind of pop with "Clean".
I'm honestly surprisingly impressed by this album? I don't think that it's particularly great, but I do think it's very good. Quality from beginning to end and some pretty good songs that were designed (and deserved) to be played on radio. And really fun to listen to as well!
Favorite Song(s): Life Thru a Lens, Angels
Herbie Hancock
5/5
SHEEEEEEEEEEEE.
This is the kind of album where, if you despise 10ish minute long instrumentals, you'll hate it, but, even if you're indifferent to that, it's at minimum a great album. My dad got me into Weather Report when I was a kid, so this is right up my alley. I wouldn't call it quite comfort music, but it gets close to that for me.
Man, those first two tracks hit hard, but the last two I don't think are quite as good. The album as a whole still slaps, and I'm glad we got a slower tempo song with "Vein Melter". And I am left with wanting more.
Favorite Song(s): Watermelon Man
Thelonious Monk
4/5
I really appreciate jazz pianists. They make dissonance sound so pretty. Whenever I slam on a keyboard, it just sounds like shit.
This is the kind of album best listened to between dusk and 3 AM with an adult beverage, preferably served up in a cold, but not icy, glass. It's a classy and cool album without being pretentious. (Although, it is jazz, so some people will assume it's pretentious on that fact alone.)
It's pretty simple in its instrumentation, although the bells are a fun add on "Pannonica". But I honestly would have loved a little more variation. And other than my favorite song, none of the songs really ever felt great or stood out.
Favorite Song(s): Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are
Everything But The Girl
1/5
This is nothing. Incredibly boring. There's like brief moments of something interesting, but they are very short lived and few and far between. The lyrics are also pretty nothing. It's almost impressive how nothing this is.
For the most part, it isn't pain inducing music, which is actually a plus. But it does take a bit of a quality hit as the album goes. To the point where I'm debating on adding it to my "Did Not Finish" list.
I did end up finishing it... To say that the album sucked, is going a little far, but it is not good. It's not interesting. And it for sure shouldn't be on this list.
Favorite Song(s): I Don't Want to Talk About It
The Velvet Underground
4/5
A secret about me: I've never listened to this album before, as iconic and influential as it is, especially in genres that I enjoy.
I fully understand how this album influenced so many bands. It's psychedelic punk rock art. As a pure listener, though, whatever that means, I don't know if it holds up as well against the test of time. Heap praises onto it for being a founder of multiple genres, carving its way through the musical jungle with its heavy distortion and what Lou Reed would call singing. But know, it's really not that great. I do still think it's good! But it's definitely not as great as its reputation.
It definitely does have its place on this list; it's 1001 albums to listen to before you die, which also necessarily includes albums whose influence is greater than its listening experience.
Favorite Song(s): Sunday Morning, Heroin
Sonic Youth
4/5
It took me some effort to not make some snap judgements on this album, and I think that really paid off, because I actually really enjoyed this album, even if it didn't click with me right away. It feels a bit like an intro to Nirvana, like a watered-down version of their garage grunge. And I think it works really well!
I got a little wrapped up in work, so I wasn't able to make as many notes, but it is a good, fun, garage band sounding album.
Favorite Song(s): Theresa's Sound-World
TV On The Radio
3/5
It's almost a great album. The guitars are excellent. I really enjoy a lot of rock that came out in the 2000s, and this album, specifically the guitars, is drenched in the 00s rock sound. What I'm having a harder time with is the a cappalla parts. They just don't sound all that good to me. On top of that, I'm also not a fan of drum machines.
It's a really solid album, and an interesting listen! I think it's worth listening to, but there's enough negatives for me personally, that I really didn't enjoy it all that much, and it ends up as an album that I just wish I liked more.
Favorite Song(s): Dreams
The Byrds
5/5
This is a comfort album for me. I'm pretty sure it's one that I have one vinyl, and one that I got roughly around the same time as my record player, so I've played it quite a bit.
The harmonies of The Byrds are incredible. I think that's the real highlight of the group. They're almost like a precursor to The Eagles. If you tell me that you don't like this album, you have to look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't like the harmonies in the chorus of "All I Really Want to Do".
This is just a really beautiful album. I think it's a little front heavy (the back half/B side of the album definitely doesn't have as many bangers). But it is really a complete album.
Favorite Song(s): Mr. Tambourine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, The Bells of Rhymney, All I Really Want to Do
Bert Jansch
4/5
I've been simplifying some things in my life recently. This album is like the musical version of that. Excellent guitar playing paired with some solid lyricism and good enough singing. I don't think it's particularly special, though. Very good but just isn't elevated enough.
The simpleness of it does help avoid anything that would bring the sound down, which is pretty huge. It also does let little things, particularly in the guitar playing, shine even more than they would if there was a full band.
Favorite Song(s): Oh How Your Love is Strong
Haircut 100
3/5
I don't really know how great this is as an album, but holy hell is it fun. It is, unfortunately, really one note, despite all of the instruments. The same sounding songs are what end up hurting the album the most for me. I was having a lot of fun listening to it, but by the 5th song, I realized that I had heard everything that was already going to be on the album, and there were still 10 more songs to go.
I do wish that this album was a little better, because it is a lot of fun. Adding in one or two songs with a slower tempo would have made a world of difference.
Favorite Song(s): Love Plus One, Love's Got Me in Triangles
Cocteau Twins
2/5
This is solidly meh. It's interesting, but I don't think that automatically makes it good. And actually, I think it's really bland. There isn't really anything special about this album, in my opinion. The only plausible reason I can see this making the list is that it was innovative in some way, but that doesn't seem to be the case, unless I'm missing something.
The last song was the most interesting, although, I could really tell you why. It almost made me second guess my opinion on the rest of the album, but a quick listen to some of the other songs confirmed that I was right the first time. I'm not sure what it is, but if the rest of the album was like "Donimo", I think I would have liked it more.
Favorite Song(s): Donimo
Eurythmics
4/5
An important part of trying new things is, even after making most of your way through something, admitting that it's not for you. And that's this album as a whole for me. Sweet Dreams is special as hell, though. That song is a gift to the entire world. I would listen to it for an hour on repeat.
There are other moments that I personally like in some of the other songs, so it's not like I'm hating what I'm hearing. I just know that this falls pretty far outside my personal tastes. I do recognize that this is a pretty great album, though.
In another world, in another life, I probably love this album. But instead, I will choose to recognize this is pretty great but not for me.
Favorite Song(s): Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Jennifer
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
1/5
What the hell is going on here? I thought I was starting to get used to the nonchalance of the recording, and then they throw a jazz song just right into the middle of it. Jack Elliott isn't even in the song?
I'm interested in the music. I like some of the songs. I like the glimpse into late 50s recording studio culture. Woody Guthrie was a cool addition. But I hate this as an album. I wouldn't be upset listening to some of these songs again, but I don't want to hear this album again.
Favorite Song(s): The Boll Weevil
AC/DC
5/5
If you don't think this album rocks, then you don't rock. Simple as that.
When I was growing up, I was a huge Milwaukee Brewers fan (still am), and we added an old Trevor Hoffman, a closer, who had already cemented himself as a Hall of Famer. His entrance song was Hells Bells. He ended up getting his 600th save with the Brewers (only the second all-time to ever reach that milestone). So that song has a place in my heart, unrelated to music.
Musically, it just rocks. There really isn't any other way to describe it. And it's loaded with hits. At the end of "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution", I was still ready for this album to have at least 2 or 3 more songs.
Favorite Song(s): Hells Bells, Back in Black, You Shook Me All Night Long, Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
CHIC
3/5
I said this about the other CHIC album we had, but this bass playing is incredible. It is by faaaaaar the best thing on the album. The guitar playing is also pretty great, but the melodic repetition of the other instruments makes it pretty tough for me to focus and stay locked into the music. "Savoir Faire" is kind of the biggest culprit of this.
"Le Freak" is an incredible song, and I do like this album. I just wish that I could love it. I end up having a good time, just disappointed.
Favorite Song(s): Le Freak
Devendra Banhart
3/5
This isn't bad, but I really have no idea why this album is on this list. In fact, I would probably say that I like this, but it doesn't really measure up to the actual good albums on this list. And the Wikipedia blurb here, doesn't imply this has any large cultural impact.
Okay, I really love the song "Rejoicing in the Hands". That song is pretty special and is enough to bump this up a half a star or so for me personally.
Yeah, there's nothing particularly special or unique about this album. I like it, and if I had to make a list of my favorite 1,000+ albums (which that's A LOT), it would be on the borderline of making/falling off. But I'm not sure if the general public needs to listen to this before they die. It's pretty standard modern guy and a guitar album.
Favorite Song(s): Rejoicing in the Hands.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
This is very not good. The band is fine, but nothing special. And definitely not good enough to elevate this into something special. I do think that there is a niche where this style works. This old blues-y influenced melodic structure with 90s grunge distortion and vocals. But this isn't it.
I couldn't listen to any more of this album, so I did not listen to any of the bonus tracks that are on the album that is linked in the Spotify. This is not worth any more of my time.
Favorite Song(s): Chicken Dog (for the instrumentals)
Taylor Swift
5/5
Hi. My name is Ryan, and I'm married to a Swifty. So, I've listened to a lot of Taylor Swift. I used to be pretty opposed to her music, especially when I was a big hater of pop music and radio garbage. But actually, I'm very thankful my wife has been a big fan of her and has continued to expose me to her music.
There are two things that Taylor is really great at: her lyricism, and her ability to create hits in whatever genre she wants. The latter you need to do a wider listen of her music to really grasp, but her lyricism is on full display on this album. Some of these songs are an absolute masterclass in storytelling. I already knew that I liked this album coming into today. Part of it is that I love the cottagecore folky style she uses on this album (and also on Folklore).
I think there's a lot of fatigue around the hype and craziness in some of her fandom, but, musically, she deserves all the hype that she gets. I think in 20+ years, we're going to look back and realize that she really is one of the best solos artists ever. The only gripe I can see people having is how many albums she releases with so little time in-between.
Favorite Song(s): Champagne Problems, 'Tis the Damn Season, No Body No Crime, Ivy, Evermore
AC/DC
5/5
Hell Yeah.
AC/DC songs all have a verrryyyyy similar sound, but they're also so good. There's also enough variation from song to song that it's not listening to the exact same thing over and over. Actually, now that I say all that, the songs are a decent amount different from one another. Their tone is all the same though. No change to like guitar distortion/effects or singing timbre, but tempos, keys, time signatures, and vibes change quite a bit throughout the album.
That was going to be my major note, but I don't think it actually is that major. It's not a complex album, but it is a great one.
Favorite Song(s): Highway to Hell, Touch Too Much, Night Prowler
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
I didn't really like the lead singer's voice, and I'm learning that that's a really important thing for me personally when listening to new music. Everything else about this group is pretty awesome. The drumming is chaotic but well timed, guitar riffs give peak grunge. I just have a hard time really listening in closely because of the singer's warbly voice.
I did really enjoy this album, but I felt like I couldn't really dig deep into it because of her voice. Maybe it'll get another listen from me eventually, especially if I can learn to make that less of a barrier to enjoying music.
Favorite Song(s): One More Hour, Heart Factory
Doves
3/5
We had Doves' first album already, and as I noted on those listening notes, their style is right up my alley. It gives a little bit of The Antlers vibes, just less electronic. Ethereal and floaty.
I did eventually do a re-listen of the first album, mostly because I noted, I thought it would be a great listen for driving on the freeway, alone, at night. But I was wrong about that, and I ended up walking away from that thinking the album wasn't as good as I first thought it was.
And I think that kind of revealed the man behind the curtain, so to speak. I still really like the style, but I don't think it's that great. It's an album that I would say that I enjoy, despite its mediocrity. Because of that, it ends up with an alright rating from me, but if it were, let's say, 80s New Wave, I'd probably be giving it a 1/5.
Favorite Song(s): N.Y., Caught by the River
Tom Waits
1/5
I hope there's a really good spit filter on the mic.
And now I'll say good bye to ever listening to this again.
The music wasn't terrible (which is why the best song is the instrumental), but man, his voice just really sucks. And it ruins any kind of interest I have in the album.
Favorite Song(s): In Shades
Dirty Projectors
4/5
This one of those odd albums that it's hard to tell if I love it or not. Actually, no, I do love this. It's super odd, but actually really quite good. It's so unique that it's impossible to try and compare to anything. It's more worried about creating an interesting sound scape than about being good music, but it still ends up being a good listen.
I don't think this is an album for everyone. Nor do I really think that this is a great album. I think it's pretty standard, in that, the first few songs are really very good, but the quality of the album drops off slowly until the last couple songs are pretty unremarkable. But those first couple of songs, "Temecula Sunrise" in particular, are so good that they make the album as a whole very worth listening to.
I wish that the whole album wouldn't have dropped off as much as it did. If that was the case, this could have ended up as one of my favorite albums that I hadn't heard of before going into this.
Favorite Song(s): Cannibal Resource, Temecula Sunrise
Wild Beasts
2/5
So, I'll start with the nice things. His voice has some pretty incredible range, in both pitch and timbre. It's actually pretty impressive. The guitar playing is also pretty interesting and pretty good.
But that's about where the good things stop. His voice is impressive in range, but it doesn't ever really sound that good, imo. He does have his moments, though? I thought about giving up on this album around the halfway point, but I'm glad I didn't, because "This is Our Lot" ends up being his best singing performance.
The instrumental moments give the songs hope before being dashed away. And then, oddly, some of the musical moments behind the singer play down to his level, so to speak, and just aren't as good??? I don't really understand.
I'm just left scrunching my face so much while listening to this, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. It's just a really weird inconsistent album. It gets some props from me for the range, but not the quality, of the singer.
Favorite Song(s): This is Our Lot
Christina Aguilera
3/5
I did not like disc 1 of this double album. For someone who is talking a lot about going back to basics and honoring musicians listened to while growing up, there sure is a lot of 2000s bullshit all over the first disc.
The second disc, however, what an absolute change! It actually sounds like it was heavily influenced by previous eras of music, while still being modern! And I actually really like it. She's got a ton of vocal talent (which is apparent in both discs), which helps keep the worst songs still intriguing.
The first disc is a dud for me. It doesn't really do anything well, sounds awful, and the best parts are Christina singing, which is usually covered up by samples and over-produced noise. That side would get around a 1/5 for me. The second disc is a game changer, though. You can hear the older influences while the album still sounds like modern pop. Her voice is actually given the center of the stage, rather than it having to fight everything else going on, and the songs are pretty enjoyable. It would get a low 4/5 from me.
I know the math here doesn't quite add up but trust me when I say I did the math.
Favorite Song(s): Welcome, The Right Man
Fever Ray
3/5
I actually really like the first track. It's really dark and brooding, but still really interesting. But the next tracks lose those interesting qualities. Honestly this is a whiplash album. It alternates so much between bad/meh songs, and really good, interesting songs. It's like they're throwing spaghetti at a wall, not knowing what makes the spaghetti stick.
I don't normally like electronic-heavy albums. But the good songs on this album are really good. I don't know that I'd go so far as to call them great, but they really hold up what would otherwise be a pretty rough album.
Favorite Song(s): If I Had a Heart, Now's the Only Time I Know
The Stranglers
4/5
I was not initially impressed with the first track and was starting to gear up for a pretty difficult listen. But actually, this rules. I've discovered that I don't really like New Wave, but this is more like Punk with some New Wave flair. The instrumentals are fire, specifically the synth solos.
The album doesn't maintain its quality all the way through it, which is a bit disappointing. But maybe that should be expected as the first track wasn't all that good. I thought the Rock 'n' Roll style "Go Buddy Go" was a bit of a weird deviation, but actually it worked really well, and reeled me right back into enjoying this album after a couple of bad songs.
Their sound gives a spooky season vibe. Like, this should be played throughout October. There are a few songs that really dig into that vibe too. I'm not much of a spooky season person but thought it worth pointing out.
Favorite Song(s): Princess of the Streets, Peaches, Go Buddy Go
The Byrds
4/5
Um what? There is way more psychedelic songs than I was expecting. They're really good too!
One of my favorite things about any Byrds album is their intense vocal harmonies. What's really impressive with this album is that there's a few songs in a row that don't really have those harmonies, but I don't notice at all. The songs are so good that I don't feel like I'm missing out on my favorite part of listening to a Byrds album.
I decided not to listen to the extra tracks at the end of the album before rating it, but I will still listen to them after I rate it.
As much as I would say I enjoy The Byrds, I think I really don't know much of their music outside their first two albums. This one caught me quite a bit by surprise, but I really enjoyed it. Another listen or more familiarity with it might move it up my ratings, but I'm honestly really impressed with this album.
Favorite Song(s): Everyone's Been Burned, My Back Pages
The Smiths
4/5
I'm not super familiar with this album coming into today's listening, and I'm also pretty distracted from some layoffs that they're doing at my job. I do like The Smiths in general, and Morrissey's voice is iconic (in a good way, imo).
On a different day, I'm probably able to listen a little more closely and enjoy this album a lot more. Especially knowing that the lyric work is a highlight of listening to any Smiths song. For today, though, I did a partial re-listen just to make sure I didn't miss anything really great at the start of the album.
From my listen today, I don't think I'd put this in the greatest albums of all-time. It's definitely a great album, and a really enjoyable listen, but just from where I'm at today, it's missing something special (and maybe that something special is just my attention).
Favorite Song(s): Cemetary Gates, Vicar in a Tutu
Meat Loaf
5/5
I love this album. I think what makes this album so great isn't that it's got a couple of elite hits backed up by some solid or maybe good songs, but rather it's beginning to end just great music. None of the songs really stand out above any of the others, at least dramatically so, which I think you might notice when most of the track list is in my list of favorite songs from the album.
This album also really feels like a complete idea. It'd be weird to just listen to 2 or 3 of the songs on their own. Like, just listen to the whole album at that point.
Also, oops! "Accidentally" listened to this on repeat.
Favorite Song(s): You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, All Revved Up with No Place to Go, 2 Out of 3 Ain't Bad, Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Nirvana
5/5
Honestly, the first couple songs of this album are so amazing that the last couple of songs would either have to be really, really good, or really bad to have any major effect on how I would rate this album. And honestly, those last few songs do fall into the middle range of that. Where they're not bad or really all that good, but they add to the album length without really taking anything away.
But man, those first few songs are special. Smells Like Teen Spirit is probably like a top-20 or so song all-time. And the next couple of tracks are great enough to be the highlight of the album on their own (if SLTS wasn't here).
Musically, I'm kind of surprised at how many full chords there are in the guitars. I expected it to be more power chords, or, if anything, a lot of minor chords. But there were a ton of major chords, with a lot of the grunge minor-tonality coming from Cobain's tone, notes, and voice overall.
Despite what I said at the end of the first section, this is a really good listen from beginning to end. And the A-side is worth playing on repeat. Multiple times.
Favorite Song(s): Smells Like Teen Spirit, In Bloom, Come as You Are
Les Rythmes Digitales
1/5
This is bad. Like really bad.
In an attempt to say something nice about this: sometimes the bass line is really nice. I did stop paying attention for a while, and when I focused back in on what I was listening to, I actually didn't hate it (which was the last track). Mostly just because it's solid electronica dance music, which has its place, but, in my opinion, has a quality ceiling to it.
It's not the worst album in the world, nor is it painful to listen to, and the last song has its time and place. But I didn't have to listen to this, today or ever.
Favorite Song(s): Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)
Randy Newman
3/5
Honestly, it seems a little odd that there would be a Randy Newman album on this list. Not that he's bad, but I don't think he's particularly remarkable, other than for his work on Disney/Pixar soundtracks. It's not that it's bad. It's a pretty enjoyable album.
If you're familiar with Newman, it's exactly what you think it would be. Piano heavy, but lots of other instrumentation. His unique voice carrying the melody of every song. Occasional great lyrics with a little bit of whimsy. It's not a great album, but it's definitely good. All of the songs do end up blending together quite a bit though.
Favorite Song(s): Sail Away, Old Man
Air
4/5
Adding soundtracks to this list feels like a bit like walking a tightrope. Soundtracks are so context dependent that I feel like it's hard to be noticed musically, unless it's something that you're really keyed into. Because I also think that people who like soundtracks generally mostly listen to exclusively soundtracks.
All of that said, this is actually a really good soundtrack, and a pretty good addition to the list of 1001 albums. All of the songs are pretty varied enough that it doesn't sound like you're just re-listening to a theme over and over again with different harmonies or instruments. And actually, the vibraphone (or synthesized vibraphone; I can't really tell) is really great on this album. It's one of my favorite instruments, and it's just used really well on this album.
I'm not sure this is a slam dunk top 1,001 album of all-time, but I enjoyed this a lot more than I'm really willing to admit.
Favorite Song(s): Dark Messages, Highschool Lover
The Sugarcubes
2/5
I think I hate this. Not because it's bad, but because it does exactly what it set out to do, which is a take on pop's over-optimism. It feels really unsettling actually. I also don't think the music is actually all that good, either. It's really a weird album.
They did a good job doing what they set out to do with this album, but I don't think this album should have gotten all that popular. And maybe we'd have a little less or maybe better sounding Björk if we did.
Favorite Song(s): Mama
Arcade Fire
4/5
I'm having a bit of a hard time trying to put words to how I feel about this album. My knee-jerk reaction is to, in a complimentary way, compare them to Coldplay, but I don't think that's really all that accurate. This is much less "fake", but I'm not sure what I mean by that lol.
I think the best thing about this album is that it is really full and grandiose. Most of the "white space" of the album is used for effect. Otherwise, I'm pretty certain there's always something going on, without every really being overwhelming.
Arcade Fire is the golden child of 2000s Indie Rock, but I just don't really get the greatness/fame some put on them. It's very good, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure any of their albums will end up in my top 200 or so at the end of listening to all these albums.
Favorite Song(s): Keep the Car Running, Ocean of Noise
David Crosby
5/5
I was hesitant of this album at first, in part because I didn't know this was Crosby of CSN(&Y), and also because that first track doesn't really inspire the most confidence that the rest of the album is going to be all that great. Not that the first track is bad, but it feels closer to a one-hit wonder kind of vibe, rather than an establishing track of a great album, if that makes sense. I'm not sure that it does, reading it back, but that's how I felt.
And I was wrong. This is a really good album. It's instrumental and scat heavy, which feels a little odd, but works really well. I could honestly listen to this on repeat for a long time, and it's an album that also really grows on you as you listen to it.
Maybe one of my favorite "solo" albums from the CSNY crew.
Favorite Song(s): Tamalpais High (At About 3), What Are Their Names
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
At first glance, this doesn't really seem like much. There's not real clear highlight/hit on the album, and the style isn't one that screams this must be heard by everyone. But as I've listened, I've come around on this album being included on this list. I still don't think it's like a really great album or anything, but I do think that it's a really subtly good album. Like if you actually listen, with an open mind, you'll be a little blown away at how good it is, despite the surface of the music seeming like generic rock.
I'm not blown away by this album, and maybe multiple listen throughs of it would deepen the listening experience, but on a first listen through it gets a solid, "yeah that's good" from me.
Favorite Song(s): Avon
Animal Collective
5/5
This is blowing my mind. I honestly wasn't sure that I would like it very much at first glance and from the first impressions of the first song. Maybe I just needed to have a different perspective, and the first song helped me get there for the next one. Idk.
But man, I am vibing hard to this. The middle of the album has been getting progressively worse, but "My Girls" and "Also Frightened" set a high bar, honestly. The album also really picks up at the end again, starting with "Lion in a Coma".
I'm honestly pretty blown away at how much I really enjoyed this. It's complex and modern, without being aggressive or what ends up sounding painful to me. The harmonies are excellent. I save 1 album every 20 or so days from here, and this is one of those. Looking forward to getting to know this album better while doing some chores.
Favorite Song(s): My Girls, Also Frightened, Lion in a Coma
Songhoy Blues
3/5
I like this! I haven't listened to enough desert blues to be able to tell you if this is a really good album or not, but I can tell that the production is high quality. But I really don't have much else to say about it? It's good and vibey, a fun version of blues.
Favorite Song(s): Sekou Oumarou
The Jam
2/5
I just don't get it. I thought maybe I started getting it briefly, but then it lost me again. The bass playing is pretty good, but that's the only thing I'm really enjoying from this album so far. Honestly, I might enjoy the album more if every track was just a bass solo. Like the whole thing. Remove everything except the bass.
This just wholly isn't an album for me. It's not bad, and I didn't hate listening to it, but I don't really want to listen to it ever again.
Favorite Song(s): But I'm Different Now
Heaven 17
2/5
We don't need this crappy music thang
One nice thing I'll say about New Wave as a genre: they really know how to rip on the bass. That shit is slapping. The guitar has some nice riffs, but the rest of it is questionable at best. Quality singing is just a really important thing to me, and New Wave, in general, does not care if you can actually sing or not, but it is just so hard for me to listen to. It ends up ruining the album quite a bit for me.
Favorite Song(s): Play to Win
Def Leppard
4/5
Def Leppard hits are so good. And the other songs also have me nodding and jamming along. The Wikipedia blurb noting that this is their more radio-friendly sound makes sense. I think they've got the iconic 80s sound down to a T. Even with their more radio-friendly sound, they've still got some fairly heavy rock songs. "Billy's Got a Gun" specifically.
I really have a hard time finding much to say about Def Leppard, just because I think they're really solid without doing much that stands out as spectacular, if that makes any sense. Their "bad" songs (relatively) set a pretty high floor, and their big hits take them into pretty elite territory. All while being a pretty easy listen.
Favorite Song(s): Photograph, Too Late for Love
Beastie Boys
4/5
It's a little funny to listen back at Beastie Boys now. They're so iconic that you know exactly how this will sound by their name alone.
The music is really clean, it's almost minimalistic in that it doesn't really have any fluff. Nothing is wasted, and it isn't stuffed with samples or anything that doesn't directly elevate the music. It also lets the rapping take clear center stage. Which also really displays their chemistry. The alternating words and unison moments are really special. The middle of this album is also peak.
They're just classic rap. Trendsetters. My issues with it I think stem mostly from personal taste, and a lack of awareness/revere for rap and its history. Not that I think they're bad; they just don't have as great as an impact on me personally than they would to a general audience, let alone longtime fans of rap.
Favorite Song(s): Fight for Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn
Arrested Development
3/5
I'm generally pretty disinterested in 90s rap, just due to the production and mixing style of the time. And this album falls right into that. I think I don't like it that much because it reminds me of the cringe of some things while growing up (I was born in '95).
I do like that this album isn't city/gansta rap. I think that makes it stand out a little more and keeps me a little more interested. And honestly, I love the song "Mr. Wendal". So even though the album leans into a style of production that I don't like, there's plenty to enjoy in listening to it.
Favorite Song(s): Mr. Wendal
Hookworms
2/5
First impression before listening: "Oh great, Britrock from the 2010s. Surely this isn't filler, and it's actually a great and influential album."
This is actually pretty good. It's not particularly incredible, but it is good. It does fall off as the album goes. The thing that does actually bother me with this album is that it feels uninspired. It doesn't really sound any better (let alone different) from music from the 2000s. If this album came out alongside The xx, Blind Pilot, The Antlers, or other bands like that of similar vibes I think I'd be more impressed/invested. That's not normally how I judge or think about albums, but I can't get it out of my head with this one.
It just never really does anything special or particularly interesting. It's a fine listen, but pair that with my feelings about how I find it uninspired, and I'm just not into it.
Favorite Song(s): Negative Space
Simply Red
2/5
I'm honestly very confused by this. I don't really know what it's trying to be. Maybe it's my perspective, but the album feels like it has an identity issue. Or it hasn't properly mixed the genres that it's trying to mix. The 80s pop vibes and soul elements feel so separate from each other.
I think the idea is there, but the execution is not. It just doesn't really sound that good. Maybe I'm in a pessimistic mood about this album because I'm tired, but it doesn't do anything for me.
Favorite Song(s): Holding Back the Years
Bauhaus
1/5
Who hurt them? And why did they then have to go and hurt me? This sucks. I really don't like anything about this. Well, I shouldn't say anything. The end of Mask is kind of cool, and that's enough to be my favorite song on this album.
But this is a hard skip.
Favorite Song(s): Mask
The The
4/5
I'm so sick of post-punk New Wave.
I do think this album comes at a poor time for me; this is the 3rd post-punk New Wave album in a row, and I really did like the last one. This one is actually pretty varied in sound, which helps it out big time. Yeah, we definitely got off on the wrong foot, this album and me. If this album was all like the first song, I would have hated it. But it ends up being this pretty complex collection of songs that all feel vastly different but form a pretty whole album.
I wish the album opened with a different song, so that I didn't feel so negatively about it right off the rip, but I actually enjoyed this quite a bit.
Favorite Song(s): Uncertain Smile
David Bowie
4/5
I, uh, don't think I like this. Most of the album (through the first 5 or 6 songs) has mostly been a miss for me, but there's some good songs hidden in here (see the Favorite Song(s) below). But this album is so unpredictable. It alternates between bad, mediocre, and good without really much warning.
Bowie's old man voice is maybe the worst thing on the album though, which I believe was also how I felt about Blackstar. The music actually generally slaps. Okay, actually, my opinion on this album turned around quite a bit. The start still isn't great, but it's littered with enough good songs to give hope for the back half of the album, which actually delivers.
I don't think that is a great album. It does absolutely save itself from the mediocrity and song whiplash of the beginning, but I also think that the best songs were in the first half of the album. It's good, and maybe borderline great. Worth adding to this list due in part to Bowie's fame and longevity.
Favorite Song(s): Love is Lost, Valentine's Day
The Velvet Underground
2/5
This is pretty weird. Really experimental. Some of it works, but also some of it doesn't. Like "I Heard Her Call My Name" is not good. Too much of it is a miss for me to really get into this album. Overall, it's not good.
"Sister Ray" is musically interesting but just goes on for too long with bad repetitious lyrics that are cringy. It could be the best song on the album, even if the song was still about sex. It just crosses a boundary that takes it to uncomfortable listening and bad vibes.
Favorite Song(s): White Light / White Heat
David Bowie
4/5
Heroes is an iconic song, and honestly, the instrumental side of this album is also really good. I generally need to be in a mood for instrumental music, and I'm not really feeling it today, but it's good enough to recognize that I would enjoy it, if I were looking for that kind of music.
Even if the instrumental tracks aren't for you, the rest of this album is really good. I think this might be my favorite Bowie album? But I think I need to re-listen to Low before deciding that.
Favorite Song(s): Heroes
Cat Stevens
5/5
This guitar work is really impressive. Actually, a lot of the instrumental work is really masterfully crafted and played. Some of his vocal ornamentations are a little, odd, I think. He's got a really great, but kind of simple, voice. When he pushes it and does these little embellishments, I think it actually takes away from the song. They're not frequent, so it's a little nitpicky of me.
This is an example of really great song writing, both lyrically and musically. This one took a minute for me to really start enjoying it. It doesn't come on very strong (not that it comes on poorly), but I think this album really wants to get to know you and vice versa. If you do that (let it know you and get to know it), I think this is a really incredible album. It helps that it hides some gems right at the end.
Favorite Song(s): Wild World, Father and Son, Tea for the Tillerman