831
Albums Rated
3.46
Average Rating
76%
Complete
258 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1990s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
114
5-Star Albums
14
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Scum
Napalm Death
|
5 | 2.07 | +2.93 |
|
Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
|
5 | 2.23 | +2.77 |
|
Black Metal
Venom
|
5 | 2.46 | +2.54 |
|
Medúlla
Björk
|
5 | 2.72 | +2.28 |
|
Atomizer
Big Black
|
5 | 2.72 | +2.28 |
|
Arise
Sepultura
|
5 | 2.73 | +2.27 |
|
Group Sex
Circle Jerks
|
5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
|
Yeezus
Kanye West
|
5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
|
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Damaged
Black Flag
|
5 | 2.87 | +2.13 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Joshua Tree
U2
|
1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
|
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
|
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
|
1 | 3.23 | -2.23 |
|
Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
|
1 | 3.19 | -2.19 |
|
Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
|
The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
|
1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
|
Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
|
1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.6 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 5 |
| Public Enemy | 3 | 5 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.5 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.5 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.5 |
| Björk | 4 | 4.5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.67 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Flaming Lips | 2 | 5 |
| Iron Maiden | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| OutKast | 2 | 5 |
| Motörhead | 2 | 5 |
| Yes | 2 | 5 |
| Talking Heads | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Tom Waits | 5 | 4 |
| Radiohead | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kings of Leon | 3 | 1.33 |
| Eminem | 2 | 1 |
| Taylor Swift | 2 | 1.5 |
| Ryan Adams | 2 | 1.5 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 4 | 2 |
| Aerosmith | 3 | 2 |
| Leonard Cohen | 4 | 2.25 |
5-Star Albums (114)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
John Grant
2/5
I think that rampant homophobia, the christian theocracy and general bigotry is a huge problem not just in the US, but world-wide.
I don't doubt Mr. Grant had a tough time being gay growing up, but his garrulous use of slurs that don't apply to him comes off like a vapid suburban teen and the music suffers for it. There's something so frustrating about a white man using the N-word like this. It's so tone deaf and insipid. It's lazy. If you want to shock people, learn word play, don't just rattle off a string of slurs.
I can see how this music would appeal to some folks, but I just can't looks past the painfully simple, skin deep musicality. This music borrows a little too much from the music that inspired it. Entire riffs and motifs are pulled from other songs 30 years prior.
I think my major problem with music from the last couple decades on this list is a lack of measurable impact they have on music today. This music has already aged fairly poorly, it's not classic at all. Are there bands out there today citing this album as being seminal for them? Perhaps there are, and I'm just not clued in. Very possible.
7 likes
Alanis Morissette
4/5
So 90's that it borders on distracting. There are a ton of iconic jams on this album. Alanis' trademark strained vocals fit right into the alt rock / grunge that the 90s were seeing. This is one of those albums that made it out of that decade not looking completely ridiculous in the process. Enough here that anyone could enjoy.
6 likes
Kings of Leon
1/5
Music for christian high school girls going through their rebellious phase.
5 likes
Talking Heads
5/5
Unfortunately, this album is as good as the nerds at /mu/ say it is.
4 likes
4-Star Albums (279)
1-Star Albums (14)
All Ratings
The Stooges
3/5
Gimme Danger and Search and Destroy totally hold up. Old school cool and timeless as well. The rest of the album suffers from some dated sounds, like the weird Robert Plant style sex vocal sounds, but other than that, really solid record. Not a routine re-listen for me but I'd re-visit it every 5 years or so gladly.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
So 90's that it borders on distracting. There are a ton of iconic jams on this album. Alanis' trademark strained vocals fit right into the alt rock / grunge that the 90s were seeing. This is one of those albums that made it out of that decade not looking completely ridiculous in the process. Enough here that anyone could enjoy.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
This album is such a mixed bag. Some tracks I feel myself really getting into it, then out of left field there's one like Coconut. It doesn't really gel for me.
Steely Dan
4/5
This album starts off with such a jam. Do It Again is such a rad song. Followed up by Dirty Work, another classic Steely Dan jam. So far, this album is just so chill. Easy listening but complex enough to be interesting. In between songs I've heard before, there are some fun jazzy tracks. Very enjoyable. Reelin' in the Years is classic though. All in all, really solid record. Will absolutely be returning this this. Should probably pick it up on vinyl too.
Steely Dan
3/5
A fairly jammy album. I can see the appeal, but it's not my favorite. Songs like East St. Louis Toodle-Oo are just goofy, but not fun for me. I love the album art and most of these track names are fantastic. I can respect this album, but I probably won't revisit it for some time. Not my favorite Steely Dan record.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Beautiful opening arrangement. Tonight, Tonight is so hard not to at least hum along to. I know lots of people don't care for Billy Corgan's voice, but I like it. Even softer hitting tracks like Here Is No Why are great. The first 6 tracks on this album are fantastic. Vocals and bassline on Tales of a Scorched Earth are fantastic. The breakdown in XYU is a lot of fun. For such a long record, it does a good job with moving in and out of tempo and tone.
Adele
3/5
"Hello" is a fantastic example of voice as an instrument. Adele has such an impressive voice and this song has a beautifully understated accompaniment that builds over the 5 minutes. Total jam. The rest of this album is mostly just pop to me. It's not my style most of the time, but Adele's voice is great.
Funkadelic
3/5
This album was funky and fun, but for whatever reason it wasn't grabbing me on this Monday morning. I'll re-listen to it someday.
Taylor Swift
1/5
My partner heard the first song come on and asked "is this an ad?". The music is generic to the point of forgetfulness. Champagne Problems seems like it's full of references I don't get. This music is just so predictable. It's distracting how generic this sounds. One of the main issues here is that I'm not the target audience. Since I don't like the music, there's no lyrics to grab onto. It's just frustrating.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
The opening track of this album almost lulled me to sleep. The strings and organs on Master Song hint at a more engaging sound but then just fade back away. So many of these songs feel like lullabies. The Stranger Song has such gentle guitar picking and Leo's soft voice barely getting above a whisper. Aside from the accompanying instruments and the occasional guest voice, these songs kind of blend together. The lyrics are poetic and emotionally complex, but Leonard's voice is taking me out of the beauty.
The Doors
2/5
I felt neutral about The Doors going into this album. Now I think I don't like them much. This specific brand of boomer blues rock just isn't for me. I can't see myself ever giving this album a listen ever again. The one song that doesn't come across as cheesy is Riders on the Storm. Even still, lyrics like "his brain is squirmin' like a toad" are just goofy. The Doors are goofy.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
This album is a ton of fun. The Flaming Lips are at their best when their uplifting sound is juxtaposed by lyrics of regret and fear of the future. This album blew my mind when I heard it in high school and it continues to be a favorite. Will return to this album again soon, just as I have been doing for the last decade and a half.
Favorite tracks: Flight Test, Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell, All We Have Is Now
Femi Kuti
4/5
So funky and groovy. The music is uplifting and danceable while the lyrics are political. Very glad to be introduced to this artist.
Favorite tracks: Frustrations, Plenty Nonsense, Live for Today
Crowded House
2/5
Kind of remind me of Hanson. It's not my least favorite, but there's a lot of stuff I'd rather listen to.
Beach House
2/5
Chill, deliberate, laid back and almost minimalist. I can definitely see the appeal. This music isn't really my style. 2010's style vocals over synth just don't do it for me. It's also just so repetitive. There's not a lot of different choices with percussion or tempo between tracks. Nearly every track is breathy vocals with synth riff and tambourine in the background. I keep waiting for the songs to keep building, but they just end when I expect there to be a pay off or climax. Again, I think this is a selling point for some people, just not for me.
The Coral
2/5
Reggae, shanties, britpop. Doesn't come across as groundbreaking but it is a fun record when they're leaning more into the harsher sound.
Favorite tracks: Skeleton Key, Bad Man
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Very jammy. The bass line and recorders on Wishing Well are so delightfully silly. Terence's voice is great and the high point of every song. Tracks like Let's Go Forward where he's really letting loose and belting it sound phenomenal. All in all, I'm not a fan of this type of music, but this album had a lot of charm, even with some less than stellar tracks like "If You All Get to Heaven". "Who's Loving You" is a great way to close out the album. Kind of wish more tracks featured sax. Doubt I'll listen to it again anytime soon, but I'm glad I did.
Little Richard
3/5
Crazy to think the lyrical content was considered inappropriate at the time. I want to go back in time and show people Cattle Decap or something.
This album is super fun, though. Absolutely love the bluesy sax riffs. Some of the songs run together, so I can't really recommend listening to the album all the way through.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
I'd find myself tuning out every now and again but if there was a bass solo I'd tune back in. There's lots of groovy stuff to enjoy in this album. I would throw it on again to work to but I'm not much for active listening to jazz.
Pere Ubu
3/5
Frantic, cynical and fun. I really enjoyed this album. Can't believe I've never heard of this band before.
The Thrills
3/5
This was a pleasant listen. Definitely the kind of band I would be super into when I was 14. I would add some songs to a playlist, but I don't think I'll give this whole album a listen again anytime soon.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
There's nothing I could say about this album that hasn't been said before. Incredible wordplay and production. Really solid album. I would absolutely buy this to keep for my own collection.
Favorite track: Show Business
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
I listened to this album at 8:00am very sober. It was fine. Nothing that excited me, save for maybe when they moved on from one idea to the next. Tended to drag at points, but overall it's clear these guys are talented.
MC Solaar
4/5
"Funky beat-eough"
Had a great time with this album. Couldn't understand what the hell he was saying but the vibes were funky, jazzy and laid back. Even the more upbeat tracks were so damn chill. I would absolutely pick this album up if I found it at my local record shop.
Favorite tracks: Matière Grasse Contre Matière Grise, L'histoire de l'art
The Prodigy
4/5
Besides the occasional overuse of a really irritating sample (looking at you, broken glass), this album has a lot to love if you're into electronic music. 8 minute long songs with themes that build and layer on top of each other for a payoff that makes you wanna move. Several songs from this album would be on a playlist if I ever were to host a dance party.
Favorite tracks: Full Throttle, Speedway, No Good (Start the Dance)
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
This soundtrack is so iconic. Absolutely worth picking up if I find a physical copy. Will probably re-listen soon, I already have half this album saved to playlists and stuff.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
Just a super enjoyable listen. I've been a fan of Thelonious Monk since high school and it's evident this style helped form my taste in jazz. The way this albums moves between tempos, handing ideas back and forth between the players is just plain fun.
Paul Simon
2/5
This album was a bit underwhelming. I don't think I ever gave Paul Simon a chance past some singles here and there. I was expecting more, but I'm not sure why. This type of singer/songwriter acoustic music doesn't really do it for me, but I could see how others enjoy it.
It just injects images of dinner parties in the 80's, throwing on some nice music to eat dinner to.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Thanks to John Bonham and John Paul Jones, the sound is THICK. Big fan.
Black Sabbath
5/5
This is far from Sabbath's best work, but there's a lot to enjoy here. Track's like The Wizard and N.I.B. helped shape an entire landscape of new music for decades. If it's not obvious, I'm a big fan of heavier music and in particular Doom. This album was a blast to revisit.
Since it's clear the folks that put together this list have a frustrating affinity for late 60's / early 70's noodling, this was such a breath of fresh air for music of that era.
Favorite tracks: The Wizard, N.I.B., Warning
Eric Clapton
2/5
This album was... fine. A lot of the tracks went in ear and out the other. Took all the edge out of the blues riffs he jacked.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Holy vibrato, Batman. Bordering on Tiny Tim levels of ridiculousness. There are some beautiful piano and string arrangements, but the vocals really detract from the experience for me. It's a bummer, because a lot of the accompaniment are a ton of fun, particularly on "Fistful of Love". I really wanted to enjoy this more, but I think it's just not for me.
Charles Mingus
4/5
The way that this album builds tension and releases it is just fantastic. I like jazz with a bit of edge and this album delivers.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
This album is delicate and deliberate with the layering of strings, keys, vocals and even in one case, electronic elements. It's a fun album although the first half is so much stronger than the second. I would still listen to it often enough to want it for my personal collection.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This album was quiet and deliberate. Not my favorite sound but it was enjoyable enough.
Blur
4/5
I've never listened to this album (except the one song. You know the one.) I was pleasantly surprised. I assumed it was going to be a brit pop slog like a lot of the other albums on this list, but it's just the slightest hint edgier than some. Like when your white girlfriend says the carbonara you made was spicy because it has black pepper in it.
Favorite tracks: M.O.R., Death of a Party, Movin' On
Bob Dylan
3/5
Bob Dylan gonna Bob Dylan. This was a fun enough listen, but I can't imagine putting this on to listen to of my own volition very often. The folksy harmonica is the most charming thing about these songs in my opinion, and it borders on irritating sometimes haha.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
This album is hard to categorize. Little alt-rock, little orchestral, little electronic. It was a fun listen.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Not my style, but it's fun enough.
The Kinks
3/5
The Kinks always feel less polished and put together than the Beatles. I think this is a good thing. Lots of tracks on this album sound like they're having a good time recording. Overall, a fun record but I probably won't be on the lookout to own it for my collection or anything.
Favorite tracks: Do You Remember Walter?, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, The Village Green
Garbage
4/5
Somewhere between Nirvana's Nevermind and Nine Inch Nail's Downward Spiral, this album is just the right amount of 90's edge. Not quite grunge and I love that. Songs like Vow are head bobbingly catchy. You can draw a straight line from music like this in the nineties to the ultra edgy early 2000's.
Favorite tracks: Queer, Vow
Neu!
3/5
I liked some of the slower, proggier sections. This album was a little dull at parts however. Fun stuff for the mid 70s.
3/5
Jazzy, funky and patient. Definitely lets the sound breathe. The titular track is a standout here.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Enjoyable upbeat songs as well as tracks that sit with Baaba's impressive voice. The king of album I would put on while chatting up a new friend in my living room in order to appear more cultured than I actually am.
Favorite tracks: Toro, Hamady Boiro, Gildelam
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Another chore of a listen. Nothing about this album strikes me as innovative or musically significant. The lyrics made me roll my eyes more than a few times. Someone who contributes to this list just really likes Nick Cave, it seems.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Didn't expect much from this album, but it was a good listen. The tracks are different enough from each other to be actually distinguishable. I appreciated the genre bending from track to track.
Favorite tracks: Bye Bye Bad Man, Made of Stone, This Is the One, Fools Gold
The Police
3/5
This album is a mixed bag. Odd inclusions like Mother and Walking in Your Footsteps lean away from the sound the rest of the tracks are going for. It's less cohesive than other albums, but it's fine overall. This album is at it's best when it's leaning into themes of possession and power dynamics.
Favorite tracks: O My God, Wrapped Around Your Finger
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Very chill. As much as I hate Lou Reed, this album was a fun listen on a quiet Autumn Saturday morning.
Coldplay
3/5
This album was more enjoyable than I remember it. The vocals are slow and hold onto sustained whole notes while the bass and drums drive the song coldly forward. This album reminds me of days getting colder. Trying to get warm in first period after walking to my high school.
I think Coldplay is still a little too poppy for my taste but I can get down with a couple of songs.
Favorite tracks: Don't Panic, Trouble, High Speed
The Temptations
4/5
Funky, lively and just a delight.
Aimee Mann
2/5
Albums like this are so difficult to rate. Like, with no context, this album is totally fine. It has some charming songs and it moves from track to track very satisfactorily.
It's when you put this in the context of being one of the 1001 albums you MUST hear before you die. I find that really hard to believe. I can see some people being fans of this artist, but I don't really see anything innovative or significant about this album.
I wish I could say any of these songs really stuck out to me. I don't really have a favorite.
If I was rating this album independently of this list, I would rate it higher. Perhaps a 3/5.
Klaxons
3/5
True to their name, lots of alarm sounds. Songs with a faster tempo remind me of Muse. Fun riffs, catchy bass lines and synthy electronic hooks.
Slower songs, like Two Receivers and Isle Of Her remind me of Imagine Dragons. Bland. Slower songs can have energy, but these guys just sound so bored unless there's a fire lit under them. I'm sure if I heard this band when I was 14 I would have a lot of nostalgia for them and would routinely listen to them. Unfortunately I can't see myself revisiting this album anytime soon.
Favorite tracks: Atlantis To Interzone, Gravity's Rainbow
TLC
3/5
This album was super popular when I was a kid and it pretty much holds up. I had a good time listening.
JAY Z
3/5
A good Jay-Z record or a bad Kanye record? You be the judge.
Favorite tracks: Hola' Hovito, Never Change
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Truth be told I was stoned and doing the dishes while listening to this album. I'll give it a sober relisten soon, but I had a great time.
When boomers talk about 60s rock having 'feel'. This is what I picture. Obviously Jimi's guitar playing is phenomenal, but Mitch Mitchell's drumming is what kept me engaged with his record. Super jazzy and tight percussion.
Favorite tracks: Manic Depression, I Don't Live Today, Fire.
Love
2/5
A pleasant, if not forgettable, 60s rock record. Just like a lot of the albums on this list it seems.
Iron Maiden
5/5
It's not the best Maiden album, but this definitely set the stage for what's to come. Songs with soaring, operatic vocals. Tight harmonies and even tighter rhythm section. I adore this band, but this album feels more like a blueprint than a complete thought. That being said, I loved it and cherished being able to listen to something with distorted guitars for once.
Favorite Tracks: Phantom of the Opera, Strange World, Iron Maiden
Nas
4/5
I knew NY State of Mind but there are so many other tracks on this album worth checking out. Great record.
Favorite tracks: N.Y. State of Mind, The World is Yours, Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I appreciated how the tone moves from hectic to somber between songs. Can't really accuse this album of having samey feeling tracks. On the more upbeat tracks, Rufus has this almost impish sense of humor about him.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
It's no wonder that Janis went on to have a solo career. Nothing against the backing band, but the tracks where Janis' vocals are allowed to shine (Piece of My Heart, duh) are just phenomenal. The other tracks are fun too, just not as creative or interesting. It's also not often I talk about the album art, but R. Crumb doing the art for this album definitely secures it as a time machine to the late 60s. Looking at his cartoon images transports me back 60 years, complete with racist caricatures.
Favorite tracks: Piece of My Heart, Flower In the Sun
The Offspring
5/5
If you've never driven on the 405 while blasting Bad Habit you haven't lived.
The The
2/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
Try as I might, I can't seem to get into even the most accessible reggae. I appreciate the message and the passion, but the music doesn't call to me.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
My expectations were low going into this, so I'm very pleasantly surprised.
Favorite tracks: Hallelujah, Eternal Life
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Its hard to put into words what I love so much about Dinosaur Jr. They come across as unpretentious folks just making the music they want to.
This isn't my favorite Dinosaur Jr. album, but this was such a delight to listen to this morning.
Van Halen
4/5
Nothing I could say about this album that hasn't been said a million times before. 12 year old me is still in love with Van Halen.
Favorite tracks: Hot For Teacher, I'll Wait
Daft Punk
5/5
It's really cool to see how Daft Punk's sound has changed throughout the years. This is a super 90's record and I love it.
Favorite tracks: Da Funk, Around the World, Rollin' & Scratchin', Rock'n Roll
Fiona Apple
4/5
Never listened to Fiona Apple before this. I had a great time. Jazzy, moody and just impressive song writing and vocals.
Favorite tracks: Shadowboxer, Criminal
Stephen Stills
2/5
Another early 70s slogfest. Very competently made album that just happens to bore the hell out of me.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Overall, I think I would have enjoyed this album more if someone didn't tell me it was one of the best albums of all time before listening to it. Got over-hyped and I was disappointed. That being said, it was a good listen. There's just other bands with music from this era I'd rather listen to.
Duran Duran
4/5
Some really sick bass lines on this album.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Audibly groaned when I saw yet another album described as "singer/songwriter" but thankfully this album has some edge and dynamism to its sound so it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Parliament
5/5
This album still slaps so hard it's out of this world.
Ice T
4/5
Hip Hop that samples Black Sabbath and horror movies? Sick. This album's lyrics are so over the top at times it's distracting. Still, super fun and thought provoking.
Favorite tracks: Midnight, Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous
The Prodigy
5/5
This album is so rad. Danceable, intense and just 90s in the best/worst way.
Also, fukcing CRAB
PJ Harvey
3/5
Waylon Jennings
4/5
Pre-9/11 country music is a lot of fun. This was a solid album. Will revisit it someday for sure.
John Coltrane
5/5
Just a fantastic album and a killer listen. I definitely want this album for my personal collection.
The Black Crowes
1/5
Generic, boring, slog of an album. Started my day off with this and now I'm upset.
Giant Sand
2/5
Quiet, intimate and simple. All things I personally don't value in my music much.
Le Tigre
4/5
Oddball and genre bending crappy little rock band.
Queen
5/5
Queen is a band that get's pigeonholed by their hits. Songs like Bring Back That Leroy Brown satisfy in so many ways. What a great listen.
Mercury Rev
3/5
So whimsical at times that it comes across as circus music. There are some songs that take a darker tone, so overall this music reminds me of sad clowns.
Ian Dury
2/5
This album really started off interesting with some great bass lines and fun lyrics but it quickly wore me out. It's humorous enough, but it drags for so long. I think this album is more fun in theory than in practice.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Jazzy and with the right amount of edge. Super solid listen. I could use a bit more horns, but the way it's used sparingly lets Amy's incredible voice be front and center the entire time.
Orbital
4/5
Great example of 90s UK electronic. Not everything was trying to be The Prodigy, some people were making thoughtful, patient tracks you're meant to sit with.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Moody and thoughtful, this was a great listen.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
An album with lots of peaks and valleys. The piano riffs, guitar solos and horn sections are all fantastic. I just wish there was more!
Solomon Burke
3/5
Not my favorite type of music, but enjoyable enough.
The Fall
3/5
Fun as a time machine listen, not something I would listen to routinely.
Kate Bush
3/5
80s pop rock circus clown music. Fun when it leans into the silly stuff. The more generic poppy tracks did not wow me.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
It's really cool that the game series Fallout gives these lesser known artists some exposure.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I liked the lyrics a hell of a lot more than the music. Felt generic and bland throughout most of the album. It was enjoyable anyways.
R.E.M.
4/5
What a delightful, charming little album. Love me some R.E.M.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Pleasant enough, but quickly got dull. Thankfully Suspicious Minds is on the back half of the album and got me re-engaged there.
Norah Jones
3/5
Didn't hate this as much as I thought I would, likely because of the fun piano and guitar work. I can't imagine ever seeking this music out again, but I'm glad I gave it a shot.
Neil Young
3/5
A lot of what the critics that built this list is just not what I like in my music. This album is so gentle and intentional. Good music, just not for me.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Not the best Zeppelin album but it's really, really solid. Only complaint is not enough hobbits.
4 1/2 outta 5
Various Artists
2/5
As a Christmas album it's listenable. Why it ended up on this list I'm not sure.
Basement Jaxx
3/5
Was expecting something more groovy, but it was a fun listen.
Hawkwind
4/5
Long, but fun. The skits in between songs weren't my favorite, but whenever there's full riffage it's a really good time.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Started off strong with high energy, frantic rock and roll. Then it got really bland for another hour.
The Avalanches
3/5
Aside from a couple tracks, pretty forgettable. But it was a fun album, very chill.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Fun but dated.
Burning Spear
3/5
More interesting than most reggae I've ever heard. Not my favorite genre, but this is a cool and historically important release.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Very surprising how well this album flows. I totally assumed it was gonna be another "one hit wonder" 80s pop slog, but it was great. Wish there were more tracks with sax solos, but that's like every album with sax for me.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Thoughtful, dynamic (in that it goes from super soft a little above speaking volume) and pretty pleasant.
Tom Waits
4/5
Kind of offbeat and odd, I loved this album. Not something I'd listen to every day but I feel good knowing Mr. Waits made such a kooky record.
Beck
3/5
Experimental bordering on annoying. That being said, it's a really fun album. The creative usage of objects and instruments to make odd noises is more entertaining than not. Most of the tracks on this album are super laid back and chill, with simple percussion nudging the tempo forward. Not sure if I'd listen to this again soon, but definitely again someday.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
What a great listen. Some unexpected low points on this album, but nothing terrible by any means. The beginning, middle and end of the record are all great, there's some filler in between though.
The Shamen
3/5
Very fun. Interesting listening to an album that bridges new wave with 90s electronic.
Iron Butterfly
3/5
It's a shame that I didn't enjoy any track as much as IAGDV. Maybe on later listens I'll dig it more. Even the titular song is a little self indulgent but it's pretty fun.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Ushered in the 90s alt rock era. A lot of bands owe success to Sonic Youth and this album. Definitely iconic and captures the feeling of being an adolescent pretty well. Listening to this album gave me flashbacks to highschool, but in a good way.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
Even with such a rich, full sound I don't think this album is for me. Somewhere in the vicinity of Sheryl Crow or the Chicks, but not nearly as catchy.
The Residents
3/5
Hearing the first few bars of this album, I just know the nerds on this website are gonna LOVE this.
If art is supposed to make you feel something, this album makes me feel like I'm on a bad trip. Because of this it's hard to rate on a traditional scale. For enjoyment of listening I'd give it a 1/5. For making me think about music in general and talking about this band, this album and considering how it made me feel, easy 5/5.
Grating but wonky in a proto-Primus way at some points.
I did enjoy this a hell of a lot more than the T-Swift album I heard a month ago. This album definitely reminds the listener that art is subjective.
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
Obnoxiously chipper at times, but damn if it's not infectious.
Moby
3/5
Music for people who think they were losers in high school but were actually bullies.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Just some solid country music.
Syd Barrett
2/5
Yet another album that's a lot more interesting to read or talk about than listen to.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Just delightful.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Lots of great samples on this album. Its fun to draw a straight line from Nicki Minaj and other artists popular today back to the late 90s and Missy.
The Cure
3/5
None of the tracks on this album jumped out and bit me. It was enjoyable enough but maybe I'm just not a huge fan of the Cure. It was encapsulating of a certain vibe, tough to pin down.
4/5
Surprising how fun this album was. Great bass lines, some kooky 80s synth, it was great. Probably won't be on my rotation anytime soon but glad to be introduced to this artist. Bonus points for how many people rated this a 1 because it was "way too 80s" lmao.
Blondie
4/5
The first time listening to a whole Blondie album front to back and holy cow, what a voice. Gorgeous and full, with the perfect amount of vocal fry to give it a bit of edge on a few tracks. This album would be a perfect 5/5 if all the tracks had as much pop and punch as One Way Or Another.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Not my favorite CCR album but it's always a good listen.
Bad Brains
5/5
If you don't like this album, you don't get it. You never will.
Nick Drake
3/5
Very gentle, but full of emotion. The whole album reminds me of being on the verge of tears but not actually crying. Love the instrumentals, especially the sax and flute. I wish there was more of that on this album, but it's enjoyable.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
The ideas in this album are fun, but they kind of feel like "leftovers" from stuff that didn't make it into Demon Days. Entire songs made up of the crooning and guitar work that would be the bridge of a Gorillaz song. I definitely miss the hip hop influence that Gorillaz has here. Without that energy, the songs are a little too dull for me.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
This album is so influential, it's hard to rate it. It's not the kind of album I would put on to listen to very often, but lots of albums I do listen to often are directly influenced by Aretha.
Sigur Rós
4/5
One of those unbearably pretentious hipster post-rock nonsense bands that was passed around for indie cred in the 2000s. I was always much more of a GY!BE fan, but I have to admit this band is pretty talented. Ambient, moody and just a wee bit psychedelic.
Also, anyone else remember the webcomic Questionable Content?
Pixies
4/5
Nothing I could say about this band that hasn't been said hundreds of times before. Pixies are quiet but loud, angsty but calm and terrible but great. I love 'em.
Magazine
2/5
Sax parts were cool. Not sure if there's anything else of note here, but its fun.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Lookin' Out My Backdoor is a masterpiece. There's just so few tracks on this album that aren't fantastic. Hard 4 to soft 5.
Kanye West
3/5
Good production and Happy Gilmore references only get you so far. Kanye's personality is so strong for better and for worse.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Music for christian high school girls going through their rebellious phase.
The Stooges
3/5
Love the amount of edge these clowns brought to music at the time. Unfortunately, the sound has evolved so much since then.
AC/DC
4/5
My mom grew up in the 80s, so this album was super nostalgic for me. I had a good time with it, but I'm happier adding some of the songs to a playlist rather than listening to the whole thing front to back. Some of the chord progressions bleed together...
Louis Prima
4/5
Man, this music is just fun. Gets me dancing.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
Of course people don't like this album on this site. It's not anything like the rest of the late 60's guitar masturbation or smarmy pop rock that this list famously pushes.
Call me a contrarian if you want, but so many cool things in life are going to be beyond your understanding if you can't learn to enjoy things that are a little grating on purpose. Movies, music, books, places, people, you name it. There are plenty of things out there that are ultimately worth it even though they aren't "easy" to get through.
The Sonics
3/5
Total mixed bag of an album.
Dire Straits
4/5
Listening to boomer rock is my business and business is a BOOMIN.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
5/5
So surprising. This album was just fantastic from start to finish.
Simply Red
3/5
Fun 80s pop. I can totally get why someone would nerd out about this, it's just not my thing.
I was dancing a little listening to this though, there's something to be said about that.
Talk Talk
3/5
Duran Duran x Pink Floyd x R.E.M.
Simple piano and some fun bass lines really carry this album for me. Super chill listen.
Dire Straits
4/5
Sultans of Swing alone makes this a 4/5, the rest of it is good too.
Deep Purple
4/5
Seminal hard rock album. I can't deny how influential this album and this band is, but listening to it in 2024 just makes me wish I was listening to Motorhead or Iron Maiden.
Talking Heads
4/5
It's not the best Talking Heads album but it's got some great tracks.
Arcade Fire
2/5
I wouldn't go as far as to say this outright sucks, but it's definitely not as good as I remember. The late 2000's indie sound is just not my favorite any more, it all sounds so radio ready and fabricated. Disingenuous is the word that comes to mind. That all being said, I dig the organ and strings on this album.
Madonna
4/5
This album immiedieteely hooked me with it's techno/trance-esque production and fun, anthem-like lyrics. Runaway Lover especially was just a blast. Starting with I Deserve It, the album took an odd turn into this country inspired pop territory. I wasn't a fan, save for the percussion being wicked tight and reminded me of trap beats. After a short dip into generic pop land, we're back into this odd, spacey auto tune slow jam with Nobody's Perfect.
This album is at it's best when it's less Sheryl Crow and more Bjork.
Also, probably the best version of American Pie I can think of.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Some fun, poppy R&B. I'm curious to see how influential this album becomes.
Peter Gabriel
2/5
It was... fine. Kind of hard to come up with things to say about an album that's so non-offensive.
Santana
4/5
Pretty iconic album. Short and sweet, unlike a lot of the rest of the late 60s/early 70s jam nonsense this list shoves down my gullet.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
Pretty fun!
Eagles
4/5
*Insert The Big Lebowski reference here*
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Roxy Music
4/5
What a pleasant surprise! Diverse sound, lots of great instrumentation and fantastic energy throughout. Super solid album.
5/5
Think of how much blow these guys were doing recording this bad boy.
The xx
3/5
Non-offensive and a little dull, but I can appreciate the production.
The Verve
3/5
This album undoubtedly had a lasting cultural impact, but about half the tracks on this album feel derivative of each other. I had a good time listening through this, but probably won't revisit it again.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Just a solid hip hop album.
DJ Shadow
5/5
Probably my favorite smooth jazz album.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Pretty phenomenal album that ends in near 20 minute drum solo.
The White Stripes
4/5
This album is kind of a mixed bag. Some tracks are so dorky that they're fun. Others are Jack White trying so hard to be cool that he's dorky. Lots of fun riffs and powerfully simple percussion on this album. Fell In Love With a Girl is still incredible, it's too bad the rest of this album doesn't reach those heights.
3.75/5
The Bees
2/5
Soft, a little boring, a tad tired and mostly just background music. Not very engaging at all. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace to listen to this today but I'm not impressed.
Traffic
3/5
A pleasant but typical late 60's rock band. A little technical when they want to be, but not enough to hold my attention. Fun jams though.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Sarah Vaughan is undoubtedly talented, witty and funny.
M.I.A.
4/5
Every time I start an album that doesn't sound like late 60's guitar masturbation or pop-rock, I rush to the comments on this god-forsaken website to read the salty reviews. It sustains me.
So many music "fans" can't listen to anything outside of their little genre circles they've sequestered themselves in.
This album is not what I expected at all. Paper Planes was so pervasive in my high school experience. It was everywhere in the late 2000's. It's definitely a stand-out on this album, but if you can't bob your head to the percussion on the rest of these tracks, you're probably dead inside. The thick sound on songs like 20 Dollar are just infectious. The world music influence on this album is incredible.
I understand this type of music not being your favorite, but calling it "unlistenable" is childish. Grow up lmao
The Band
2/5
I feel like a lost of the magic of these late 60s rock bands are really lost on me.
Elvis Presley
2/5
This album is historically relevant, but I can't find a good reason to listen to Elvis in 2024.
Talking Heads
5/5
Unfortunately, this album is as good as the nerds at /mu/ say it is.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Short and pleasant.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Wasn't expecting much, but this was a fun little album.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Very encapsulating of the 80s.
Lambchop
3/5
Reminded me a bit of Radiohead.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Fantastic album this late winter morning. Here sipping my coffee, this album was a joyful, sardonic and bitter delight.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Fred Neil
3/5
Just reminds me of that Futurama episode where Zapp and Kif leave the DOOP.
Morrissey
3/5
Pretty forgettable, but mostly pleasant tunes.
2.5/5
Nico
3/5
Very surprising. Great alto voice, the strings and flute were arranged so well. These songs are somber and thoughtful but move forward at a reasonable pace. I especially enjoyed the noisier elements of the songs. Discordant strings were a lot of fun.
Depeche Mode
3/5
What can I say? It's Depeche Mode. Formative but there's other things nowadays I'd rather listen to.
John Grant
2/5
I think that rampant homophobia, the christian theocracy and general bigotry is a huge problem not just in the US, but world-wide.
I don't doubt Mr. Grant had a tough time being gay growing up, but his garrulous use of slurs that don't apply to him comes off like a vapid suburban teen and the music suffers for it. There's something so frustrating about a white man using the N-word like this. It's so tone deaf and insipid. It's lazy. If you want to shock people, learn word play, don't just rattle off a string of slurs.
I can see how this music would appeal to some folks, but I just can't looks past the painfully simple, skin deep musicality. This music borrows a little too much from the music that inspired it. Entire riffs and motifs are pulled from other songs 30 years prior.
I think my major problem with music from the last couple decades on this list is a lack of measurable impact they have on music today. This music has already aged fairly poorly, it's not classic at all. Are there bands out there today citing this album as being seminal for them? Perhaps there are, and I'm just not clued in. Very possible.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
My understanding was that Mott The Hoople wouldn't have amounted to anything if not for Bowie's intervention. Is this not the case? Are they valid on their own merit, or are they included here for being involved with that coke fiend?
Television
2/5
While I can appreciate the impact this album allegedly had on rock, I just didn't have much of a good time listening to it. Just wasn't my cup of tea.
Radiohead
4/5
Breddy gud :DD
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Driving bass lines? Check.
Songs about Halloween and Witchcraft? Check.
Annoying noises in the song mix? Check.
Yeah, it's Goth time.
Barry Adamson
2/5
How to get considered for the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die:
Step 1: Have connections to Nick Cave.
Step 2: Record an album that's vaguely inspired by detective noir soundtracks, label it as a "concept album."
I really don't think this music is that interesting or special, but the inclusion here feels confusing. Who is picking these albums?
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Gentle arrangement and very deliberate, despite it's relaxed sound. Mr. Stevens has certainly done a good job making this album sound effortless. The production lends itself well to this. That all being said, I don't know if this music is for me. I had a hard time differentiating songs and it was a bit too long.
Rush
5/5
So funny to me that people are complaining about a song being too long. I guess enjoy your subway surfers and Family Guy: Funniest Moments Compilation 6.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
Tickles me that this super upbeat music is from the same place Black Sabbath was formed.
David Bowie
4/5
I liked that the second half of this album is less pop and more free form. Haven't actually listened to this album front to back before so it was a pleasant surprise.
System Of A Down
5/5
So rarely are my middle school tastes in music vindicated.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Virtually no song called out to me on this album, but it was pleasant enough.
Carole King
3/5
Music was totally fine. Great kitty on the album art.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Not gonna lie, I was expecting more camp. I hadn't heard this album of Dolly's, but it's pretty good. I just love me some old school country music.
3.5/5
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Had a good time with this album. Definitely a pleasant surprise knowing none of Dusty's music aside from that one song in Pulp Fiction.
3.5/5
Buck Owens
3/5
Fun but typical honky tonk.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Pleasant :)
Cypress Hill
4/5
Hell yeah
Ryan Adams
2/5
This album started off pretty strong, but lost steam quickly. The inclusion of speaking lines before songs start comes across as faux-sincerity. Felt like a deliberate move by a producer to make this music feel more genuine.
All that being said, it's nice, gentle music. If that's your thing, go nuts. I have a hard time with these hour long lullaby albums.
The Birthday Party
2/5
How have I only seen 200 albums but 4 of those have been Nick Cave albums?
Anyway, this band was described as dark and challenging. I was a little disappointed as a result. Just feels like being edgy on purpose and as a result feels really safe. I don't know. I like noise, I like grindcore, I like powerviolence, but this just isn't those things. I can see how being a 17 year old in 1982 and hearing this for the first time would blow your mind, so I appreciate it from that angle.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I thought I was so deep and esoteric listening to this band in 2007 growing up in a rural Montana town. I was just so desperate for any music was wasn't church hymns or post 9/11 country.
I think this album holds up. It's definitely another indie record that I think the breakout single overshadows much better songs. Y Control is just so much more fun than Maps, but to each their own.
Solid album, will listen again.
Todd Rundgren
4/5
Some absolutely fantastic prog rock constantly interrupted by cartoon BOINGYOYOYOING sounds.
7/10, I had a good time.
The Strokes
4/5
I tried to approach this objectively, because I can't stand people who never shut up about how great the Strokes are.
A refreshingly short album. I appreciate how much the bass stands out in the mix. Tight, poppy rock music.
A decade earlier, Nirvana changed the face of rock music and the Strokes did something similar for the 2000's. Definitely a beginning of an era, it's just not my style. I like my rock music a little less polished and with a bit more edge. It's not my favorite, but I can appreciate it's place in music history.
David Bowie
4/5
Beautiful piano riffs on this album.
Tom Waits
4/5
Super bluesy and Tom Waits has such an incredible voice.
Randy Newman
2/5
Well, they say the world's your oyster
Man, but oysters ain't for me
You're the belle of the ball
But you ain't my cup of tea
They always vote you Best in Show
But this doggie disagrees
'Cause I like life in Paddy's Pub...
There's a place for me, it's the place I go
Where the beer is cheap, and the lights are low
It's Paddy's Pub
I like Paddy's Pub
Let the record show
The greatest place to go
Is that bar called Paddy's Pub...
[Harmonica Solo]
I like life in Paddy's Pub...
Roxy Music
3/5
Totally fine!
Radiohead
3/5
Feels like a collection of b-sides more than a complete album, but it's pretty fun.
Iron Maiden
5/5
Devastatingly haunting vocals, soaring guitars, bombastic drums and rocking bass lines to glue it all together. This is Maiden at their best and I fuckin' love this record. Can't overstate enough how important this was to me, growing up in rural Montana. Music that was technical, evil/epic sounding and most of all it felt good to play it LOUD.
Iron Maiden goes so fucking hard.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Doesn't feel like anything super special. Fun 80's romp.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Funky bass lines. Great voices. Just groovy.
Bee Gees
2/5
This is definitely conjecture, but after reading about this album I think the only reason it was included here was because it almost tore apart the band. No 70's Bee Gees, the exposure to disco white people get looks very different.
Regarding the actual music, it's a typical late 60's slog. Virtually nothing stands out to me here, aside from the vocal work, but it's just a reminder of what's to come. This is a sub-par Bee Gees record, compared to themselves. It's nothing to write home about in the genre it exists in, either. The album is annoyingly long, too.
Just a slog to get through.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Groovy.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Totally fine 50's country music.
Elliott Smith
4/5
This music feels so delicate if I listen to it wrong, it's going to break. The lyrics give weight to the music, so it's kind of top heavy. Didn't think I'd dig it, but it's pretty good.
Ryan Adams
1/5
Man, this album was just painfully boring. It's just so flaccid and safe.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
It's cool these guys were making this kind of music in the late 80's, pre grunge explosion. Unfortunately, they get kind of lost in the shuffle afterwards.
3.5/5
Public Enemy
5/5
Just chock full of classic lines and hooks. Fantastic album.
Neil Young
3/5
Neil Young's influence and success speaks for itself, but personally I never got the hype. This album has some fun solos here and there, but the lyricism really pulls me out of it.
Thankfully, this album isn't very long. If you're into laid back guitars, almost funky bass lines and songs that make remind you of being on the beach with your family, this might be for you.
Also, maybe it's just that so many local acts I see sound exactly like this and I'm super sick of this sound.
2.5/5
CHIC
3/5
Having only heard "the hits", this was a surprisingly fun album.
Metallica
5/5
Not even close to the best Metallica album, but it's still pretty shreddy and bombastic, like good thrash should be. The lyrical themes stay topical to this day.
It's a weaker thrash album, but it was signaling metal's eventual move to mainstream music. On a list of other thrash albums, I would put this one lower. But since it's on this list, 4.5/5.
David Bowie
4/5
Chill listen this morning.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Can't tell how much I actually enjoy Bob Dylan's music. Might be one of the blandest but most earnest albums I've ever heard.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Absolutely classic, timeless music. Incredible stuff.
The Black Keys
3/5
Totally acceptable white boy blues rock slog from the worst decade of music!
Portishead
4/5
Mostly non-pretentious electronic inspired rock. You'll probably know within the first half of the first song if this is something you'd wanna listen to for an hour.
Faith No More
5/5
Already a cool album, then they busted out the Sabbath cover.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Totally fine mid-90's rock. I didn't understand why The Holy Bible was included in this list and I don't understand this inclusion either. But it's fine!
Foo Fighters
4/5
I listened to a lot of grunge when I was younger and that led me to heavier music like thrash and death metal. I don't often listen to alt rock any more, it all comes across as being palatable to the most amount of people it can (capitalism baby).
I think what I like about the Foo Fighters is that this music sits right in the middle of my and my father's music taste. We don't agree on a lot, but when I visit him some sort of Foo Fighters radio playlist is what we're listening to. He genuinely loves it and I am not bored to tears by it.
I suppose I'm rambling at this point, but this generic-ass rock band did bring a father and son closer together, and I appreciate that. Seldom though they are, there are enough hardcore punk influences on this album that it's a good listen.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I understand how this was cool 6 decades ago, but by today's standards it doesn't hold up for me.
That being said, I respect that it's just a bunch of kids doing drugs and making music.
2.5/5
Leftfield
4/5
Fun electronic music with lots of cool influences. Very much so the kind of music I like to listen to while focusing on work.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
As far as 2000's indie rock nonsense is concerned, these guys are fine. Kind of like the Decemberists, they're getting by on acapella vocals and gentle guitar work.
James Taylor
2/5
Musicality is too few and far between to make this an interesting listen. Mostly its a just a soft rock slog.
Queen Latifah
4/5
Funky, jazzy, and just a ton of fun. Some of the samples remind me of 80s electro and it's just goofy enough to be so enjoyable.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
SHE BEEN SUCKING ON MY DING DONG
SHE BEEN SUCKING ON MY BING BONG
Same as the last VU album I listened to, I can appreciate this for being edgy back in the 60s, but it doesn't make for good listening today.
2.5/5
Beastie Boys
5/5
This album is so much fun. The samples, the instrumentality, the attitude. Peak 90s for me.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
Back when country music was about real shit... like getting eaten alive by bed bugs and coke.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
As far as late 60's rock slogs go, this one was pretty fun. Jazzy and light hearted, it does not feel like it takes itself to seriously.
3.5/5
Tracy Chapman
4/5
I'm not much for singer/songwriter music, but at least this is genuine. Unlike T-Swizzle, I am not rolling my eyes throughout the entire album.
3.5/5
White Denim
4/5
It's no shock to me that the song with the most plays on Spotify is Street Joy. It definitely sounds the most "of the era." I'm not the biggest fan of that late 2000's / early 2010's indie pop rock sound, but this was already really tight and enjoyable.
What really got me about this album was the transitions! Taking pop rock into psych was just great. The compressed and simple percussion on Street Joy turning into the tightly wound but light drumming on Anvil Everything was a lot of fun.
Overall, very surprisingly enjoyable record. Being a senior in high school when this came out, I would have loved to hear this, but it must have slipped my radar (living in a rural area pre social media empire will do that).
Minutemen
5/5
This album is fuckin' perfect. If you don't like this, we can't be friends. Not sure why you'd wanna be friends with scum like me, but there you go.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
It's almost spoken word at some points in this album. These tracks are so gentle, soulful and intentional. Usually things I don't really value in the music I listen to regularly but the rhythm section is just so damn tight and groovy.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Most of these songs are pretty decent on their own, but listening to the whole album front to back gets a little repetitive.
Boston
5/5
This album is so special. I listened to it so much in high school, singing along but not having my own experiences to relate to the lyrics. Over a decade later now, hearing these songs again forces me to look back and appreciate the people in my life who aren't there any more, for any reason.
Just an incredible rock record, in my top 25 albums of all time.
Air
3/5
This album is only a little pretentious.
The Band
2/5
I wouldn't go as far to say this album was boring, but it was on the slower side. Aside from The Weight, I just can't picture remembering any of these tracks.
50 Cent
3/5
The grip that "In Da Club" has on my generation to this day is crazy. All in all, pretty tight album for it's era. I never really got into this particular brand of tough guy hip hop.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
I liked this album, but there's prog out there I'd rather listen to. Possibly my favorite thing about prog is how much it makes people mad. My favorite review someone wrote of this album was just:
"Not fun at all. Weird and boring."
God, I love the simplicity of that.
"This music is yucky to my ears, it made me feel bad :("
Dion
2/5
Another in a long list of albums that ripped off their song entirely from the black community, spruced it up with good production and sold it to the Mayo Americans. I can see how this album is historically relevant, but good lord why would I ever sit down and listen to this in 2024 (the year of our lord.)
Frank Ocean
4/5
The way this album starts fucks so hard. The PlayStation and Street Fighter sounds really put me into a different headspace right away. Then, Thinkin Bout You starts and it's so delicate and intimate. Very cool way to start an album. Wordplay and references were very enjoyable. Not my typical style, but I had a good time with this album.
Throwing Muses
3/5
Pleasant listen, although a bit forgettable.
The Clash
4/5
So varied and seminal for a lot of artists.
4.5/5
Beck
3/5
Not my favorite Beck record, but really nice. Somber, thoughtful and intentional.
3.5/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
This music is a lot of things. Massively influential, irritating, obnoxious, fun-loving, etc. A friend of mine and I got Beastie Boys banned from our band room in high school for repeatedly playing Brass Monkey and Girls on the xylophone and bari sax.
Doves
4/5
Definitely an album that if I had heard this in high school, I'd probably remember it fondly but not listen to it much. It's a fun album, but it is more impressive when it leans away from that indie pop sound. Starts off great, but "A House" is not impressive enough to end satisfactorily on.
3.5/5
Aerosmith
2/5
There's good horny (industrial music, R&B), then there's whatever the fuck this is. This music tastes like stale vomit on someone's breath, dried beer on their clothes and the faint idea that you're making a mistake. There's not a lot musically or novel happening, it's just a couple of singles that Jack F.M. will play relentlessly.
Jurassic 5
4/5
"Some of you like the way my words caress tracks
While some of these politicians secretly suppress facts"
Fantastic album. Community centered and progressive lyrics, funky beats and overall just a fun listen.
4.5/5
1/5
By the end of With or Without you, I was ready to stop listening and try again later. However, the use of overtones in the intro to Bullet The Blue Sky convinced me to stick it out. Unfortunately, the rest of this album is a by the numbers pop-rock slog, complete with crooning vocals, lyrics that make you wanna groan and repetitive song structures throughout. This music is fucking corny.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Always fun to hear time capsules like this.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Delightful from start to finish.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I always enjoy an album that's shorter than 45 minutes. Besides that, this is fun pop-rock. It's hard not to compare Echo & The Bunnymen to The Cure, but I think I prefer the former.
Highlight track on this album for me is My Kingdom.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
2/5
Late 60s soft rock slog. Aside from the vocal harmonies, there's not much I enjoy about this type of music. I'm sure this album inspired so many talented artists to make music, but I don't know if the entire album holds up today.
2.5/5
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits has a rugged wisdom that really makes him feel genuine. This album is fun, thought provoking and hilarious. What else could you ask for in a spoken word jazz album?
Beatles
3/5
Totally fine!
Genesis
4/5
Solid prog rock album. Even being a double album, I never felt I had to take a break or finish it later. Some of the tones and effects were fun, others a little irritating, but I feel that comes with the territory, haha.
David Bowie
4/5
Every time I get a Bowie album generated, I think something like "he's got some good hits, but listening to an entire album might drag a bit."
Every single time I'm wrong! Golden Years is a stand out for me here, but Station to Station, TVC15 and Wild is the Wind are all bangers.
4.5/5
Frank Zappa
5/5
This album is wicked fun.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Steel Ball Run
Black Sabbath
5/5
Changes sounds like it came off a solo Ozzy record 10 years in the future.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Reminds me of Quincy Jones.
David Bowie
4/5
MAKE WAY FOR THE HOMO SUPERIOR! -The Sovereign
Prince
4/5
Fun pop record. Way dirtier than I thought it would be, but I have never really listened to Prince. Great vocals, synth, percussion. All around super solid.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Visceral and intense. I cannot stress how important this music was for people like myself, living in rural America. Before you could just go find music on the internet, finding a CD like this one was life changing.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Flashy, fun and just shy holding my attention the entire time.
The Young Rascals
3/5
This music is non-offensive and little dull. I'm glad to have heard of them, but I won't be revisiting this album any time soon.
2.5/5
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Very relaxing.
Sonic Youth
4/5
The noisy tracks on this album elevate it so much. Feels like a bunch of folks getting together to jam. Having a blast.
David Bowie
3/5
I just don't see this as being influential or sonically impressive. There are much more interesting and impressive albums that could be on this list.
Do I think it's impressive that Bowie was making music up until the end? Yeah, sure. I don't think this album can be cited as being seminal or groundbreaking.
This album is fine. Enjoyable for sure. But why is this album on this list? I really should pick up the book that explains this stuff.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Some really great stuff on this album. As per the usual, the hits were not my favorite. Final Hour was excellent, and the piano on the ending track was so wonderful.
3.5/5
Tim Buckley
4/5
Not bad! Was expecting to dislike this, like most of the 60s rock nonsense that's on this list, but the prog elements really upped this for me.
Van Halen
4/5
I had totally forgotten about the scatting on I'm the One.
But yeah, these songs are seminal and still culturally relevant today. It's just sad that they've been relegated to radio rock.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Not bad!
KISS
2/5
Definition of style over substance. Kiss are a boy band with a costume gimmick. While I wasn't actively angry while listening to this album, it did make me sad. All that said, it should get a star for being culturally relevant back in the day.
The La's
2/5
Fun blast from the past with There She Goes, but the rest of this album is a fairly forgettable. 90s british pop band. Its funny to me that we had a zillion beatles clones in the 60s, then 30 years later we got a zillion more. Don't you people get tired of hearing the same old song over and over again?
It's a decent album, but nothing really stirred me.
2.5/5
Stan Getz
5/5
I've always liked Getz and this album is a classic. These saxophone licks are buttery smooth but complex enough to snap me out of working to listen.
R.E.M.
4/5
What can I say, this album is just fun and beautiful.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Despite having a couple of covers, this album is phenomenal.
Eminem
1/5
"Um, actually it's super cool to include a minute long skit of blowjob noises, playing pretend that two grown men are fantasizing about you while they blow each other." - Eminem fans
This album is cringe-fest wannabe cool guy garbage.
Common
4/5
Chill album. Like a lot of hip hop from decades past, it has it shortcomings but overall a really fun listen.
Randy Newman
2/5
More boring than anything. Had to fight to keep attention on it.
Manu Chao
3/5
Would put on during dinner with my parents.
Green Day
4/5
This album is massively overrated, but it's still good.
The Human League
2/5
Went back and forth on 2 or 3 for this one. On one hand, it's historically relevant. On the other, it's just boring. Other than one or two tracks, this album was a bit of a slog.
We'll call it 2.5/5
Mike Ladd
4/5
Philosophical and poignant. The sci-fi inspired futurism theme really does it for me.
Bon Jovi
2/5
The hits are radio rock fodder, but pleasant enough. I wanted there to be some underrated jam on this album, but no dice. Maybe I'm being too harsh here, but this is the definition of 80s rock mediocrity.
I must admit I am a sucker for that synth keyboard.
Underworld
4/5
90's electronic music, my love.
The Associates
2/5
Quirky, but not enough to warrant another listen. If this album was literally an hour shorter it would be a lot more impressive. The instrumentals are pretty fun, though. The keyboards complement the bassline pretty well, I just wish this album had more high points. It's definitely a slog to get through.
Nina Simone
3/5
Steely Dan
4/5
I always kind of liked Steely Dan, but I think I'm becoming an actual fan. This album is really jazzy, kinda funky and just overall really pleasant.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
Music for people with no personality made by a nepo baby. At least some of it is catchy!
Megadeth
5/5
Still a great thrash album.
The War On Drugs
2/5
Easy listening soft rock for millennials. Art is supposed to make you feel something, all this makes me feel is bored. The soundscape stuff has the most interesting ideas on the album, but it's short lived and completely displaced by this derivative soft rock nonsense.
Mudhoney
5/5
Listened to the original 6 song EP first. This shit rips. Album name does not disappoint. Fuzzy, grungy and absolutely filthy guitar sound. I wish all of the albums on this list had half the distortion that these tracks have. I get it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I can't think of a better way to sweeten my morning beverage than with some Mudhoney.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Right off the cuff, these lyrics are insanely vapid. The music itself is pretty boring, but the lyrics actively make me roll my eyes, at least once a song.
Into the Fire might be the worst part about my day.
Overall, a frustrating album to get through. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
While it didn't blow me away like their first album, this is such a solid psych rock record.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Iconic album. Like all good electronic music, it's just a little annoying.
Deep Purple
4/5
As far as live albums go, really solid. Would rather listen to this than any Greatest Hits compilation.
George Harrison
3/5
A pretty self indulgent album. Lotsa peaks and valleys. There's a lot here I love, and even more I feel ambivalent about.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Killer album.
Circle Jerks
5/5
Quick and dirty. Fuckin' excellent album.
The Style Council
3/5
This album was totally fine. There were interesting elements to it, but they were buried under a lot of generic smooth jazz and 80s pop nonsense.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
Somewhere between Pink Floyd and Radiohead. I liked this! Gentle, proggy little album that feels like it's reaching beyond what other acts in the 90s were doing.
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
Boomer blues rock jam band nonsense. I don't hate this music, but it's really not my thing. I appreciate the musicianship, but overall not that enjoyable of an album for me.
Elton John
4/5
Nothing I could really say about this. It's good, give it a listen.
The White Stripes
4/5
It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking The White Stripes only have one sound. Listening to this album was fun because I had forgotten that these guys have more than one sound. They actually have two!
Radiohead
4/5
Not much to say. Solid pop record.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Half an hour of some fun, iconic jams.
Mekons
3/5
Maybe I need another listen, but I hardly found anything of note in this album. Some things I enjoyed:
1. Short album. Love when albums are sub 45 minutes.
2. Spoken word lyrics with improv sax in the background.
Other than that, it's pretty meh.
2.5/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
Solid pacing throughout, knows when to rip and when to chill.
Stan Getz
4/5
Solid white guy jazz album. I enjoy Getz' sax playing, he was an inspiration for me when I was in high school. This album just doesn't have enough bite for me to love it.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
Reggae, dub, Spanish guitar, this album is definitely someone's jam, but it wasn't mine.
Arcade Fire
3/5
While I liked this more than Neon Bible, I still think this album suffers from being too long, too generic at it's low points and not ambitious enough.
I was in high school when this band was in their prime. I might have a change of heart in the next couple of decades, but this was less of a blast from the past and more of an experience I can't wait to move on from.
Still, gotta give credit where credit is due, there are a couple of jams on this album, just not enough to justify the 1hr+ runtime.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I think Leonard Cohen has a really interesting voice, but that's about it. Thankfully this album was short, but I am not really impressed with the composition.
The Hives
3/5
Tight, fast enough and with more (sadly) distorted guitar tone than 70% of the music on this list.
Which is saying something, because these guys are basically a Buzzcocks knockoff.
Not a bad album, but curious who is citing this album specifically as being formative for their sound today.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
I assumed this wasn't gonna hold up, glad I was wrong. Even with Take Me Out being one of the most overplayed songs in modern history, this album was a great listen.
3/5
Still relevant social commentary but it's this type of brit-pop just isn't my thing.
Favorite tunes: Brainwashed, Australia
Deep Purple
4/5
CAM ON
CAM ON
LETS GO SPACE TRUCKIN'
Moby Grape
3/5
Feels more rhythm and blues influenced than some of their commentaries. Songs like Someday make me really glad to find artists like this, but it just isn't enough for me to want to revisit the entire album.
Oasis
2/5
I wouldn't go as far as to say this sucked, but it is really not for me. I found it uninteresting and dull.
Nirvana
5/5
An album near and dear to my heart. Even though this was ultra popular when I was growing up, not many of my peers were listening to grunge in the mid 2000s in rural Montana.
It's distorted and raw for radio rock.
I can see how someone would think this is overrated today, but those people probably don't understand the massive influence this album and others like it had on the landscape of alternative music.
One bad thing I can say about this album is the endless number of corporate plant bands that flooded the market after this.
Ozomatli
3/5
Super hit or miss. Some tracks suck me right in with an infectious arrangement, but others just feel derivative and boring.
Christine and the Queens
4/5
I think something I like about euro pop is the trance and house influence. Reminiscent of Bjork at points, this album was a super pleasant surprise. I think the double album holds it back, unfortunately. Judging the album as a whole, having a second disc that is basically the same as the first is definitely a hindrance.
Being the pretentious ass I am, I prefer the French side.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Phenomenal improv. Incredible musicianship.
The White Stripes
4/5
There's a couple massively overplayed songs on this album, but overall its a good one.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Every time I found myself enjoying the music, the vocals really ripped me out of it. Not for me.
Thankfully, it was a short album. Likely would rate lower if it was much longer.
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Mixed bag of an album. The electronic music is very apparent and also very UK. The tracks where the production is taking a front seat are my favorites.
I typically prefer US hip hop to UK, so it's no shock to me that some of these tracks didn't work for me. There's enough interesting ideas on this album to make me glad I checked it out, though.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I don't care much for this 60s rock nonsense, but I can't deny the cultural impact the Stones have had. This is a great example of an album that I'm positive has resonated with millions of people worldwide that I just don't care for.
Under My Thumb is my pick for high point of this album, and it's so early on.
OutKast
5/5
The variety on this album makes it's long runtime worth it. The songs flow seamlessly into each other. Massively talented people at the top of their game.
Janis Joplin
4/5
Great pipes!
Nick Drake
3/5
Not challenging, unoffensive but very pleasant. This music is a cut above the usual milquetoast, boring 60s crap that infests this list, but I will likely never listen to it ever again.
Billy Joel
4/5
If you asked me on the street if I liked Billy Joel, I'd probably have a pretty non-committal answer. I don't listen to him often, but I did know 90% of the songs on this album. What can I say? It's just fun.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
Pre-9/11 country music, my beloved.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Pleasantly short album of only covers. Willie is a great artist and I love his music, however I likely will not revisit this album any time soon.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Mad respect for this musician.
Steve Earle
3/5
Totally acceptable country music :)
Jacques Brel
3/5
It's not my style of music, but I can appreciate the clear love of music that Jacques has. Probably a 2.5/5 for me.
Patti Smith
3/5
Spoken word over mildly interesting guitar and piano.
3/5
Enjoyable but I likely will not revisit.
Happy Mondays
3/5
It's fine :D
Steely Dan
4/5
This album was chill, jazzy and just a blast.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Elliot Smith is good, just wish I was listening to this in High School.
Jethro Tull
5/5
Excellent album with a lot of replayability.
Brian Eno
5/5
Ahead of it's time.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
This album was super pleasant. Joni's vocals, the warm guitar tones and the jazzy composition really made it for me. Will probably revisit in the future.
Beatles
4/5
Nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said before.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Incredible prog album.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Solid folk rock, some proto jam stuff going on. All in a tight sub 40 minute package. Ideal.
Lorde
2/5
I have a hard time with these albums. I don't see this as groundbreaking or seminal, so putting a 2017 album on the 2018 version of this list seems short shorted at best. It's a fairly by the numbers electropop album. I wish I could say I was delighted or surprised by anything the tracks were going for.
I think I also sort of ruined this album for myself by reading the wiki page while I listened. Being told there were industrial and noise inspired tracks on this album got my hopes up.
In a vacuum, this music is fine. It's pleasant and achieves the mood the artist was going for. In the context of this list, it's definitely ranked lower. I don't understand why music this generic and new gets put on this list when there's actual groundbreaking music being released today.
Jeru The Damaja
5/5
Phenomenal album. Glad to have been introduced to it.
Fugazi
5/5
If you don't get it, you don't get it.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
A solid 80's pop album.
Queen
3/5
As far as Queen albums go, this was less bombastic and over the top than I hoped. Not a bad album, but I expected more. I can see why music historians consider this important, but it doesn't hold a candle to their later albums.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Stevie makes good music.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Totally fine blues rock from the 70s.
Metallica
4/5
This is a SFSO album first and a Metallica album second.
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
Catchy music and well done, just not my thing. Probably won't revisit it, but I enjoyed being exposed to it.
Aerosmith
2/5
A wholly uninteresting record on it's own, but I have to give credit where it's due. The blueprint laid here for 80's rock bands is hard to ignore.
Björk
5/5
Layered, intimate and epic. This album was excellent. Bjork doesn't miss.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Went in blind, super happy to have heard this. Lovely album.
Supergrass
4/5
Surprisingly good album. Was expecting another 90s britpop slog, but this was innovative, full of youthful energy and not pedestrian like their contemporaries.
U2
3/5
After listening to the absolute slog that was The Joshua Tree, I was dreading listening to this album. I was pleasantly surprised at the deeper than skin lyrics and interesting musical motifs. Way to go, U2! You cleared the bar that was on the ground.
Talking Heads
4/5
Quirky without being irritating. This is the secret to Talking Heads success.
Incubus
4/5
Put grunge, reggae/ska and hip hop into a blender and you get this. I think this is important music on one's journey to heavier music.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The Stones' influence can't be denied, but I'd much rather listen to the countless bands they inspired.
Ash
3/5
Shines when it's more distorted guitar solos and less britpop nonsense. Still a good album, though.
The Pogues
4/5
Just an excellent folk album with the perfect amount of edge.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
What if Talking Heads was irritating?
Scritti Politti
2/5
It's... fine. I can't really imagine listening to this again in the future.
2.5 / 5
Duke Ellington
5/5
Duke Ellington's piano playing provides an incredible foundation for these insanely talented musicians to solo over. The rhythm section is killing it and everyone sounds so tight. Fantastic album.
Man, it would be so fun to be a part of a big band like this. I played in jazz band in high school and this music is just a blast to play.
3/5
Might be the least interesting or creative Albarn project I've ever heard, but it's passable.
Buzzcocks
3/5
I don't know if I have a solid opinion on this band. Definitely feels ahead of it's time in '78.
The Triffids
3/5
These Aussies are trying their best.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Transgressive (for the 70s) lyrics and some classic prog rock. Big fan.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Gotta admit, this is pretty fun.
Joan Baez
3/5
Solid folk album. I don't really have anything meaningful to say about it.
The Who
4/5
I enjoy concept albums. This one is hit or miss, but mostly hit.
TV On The Radio
3/5
Fun electronic soft rock album, but the vocals and vapid lyrics really hold it back.
CHIC
4/5
Those bass lines kept me engaged. Not a ton of diversity of sound in this album, but its a short little ripper. I would totally be in a CHIC cover band.
Throbbing Gristle
4/5
Patient, aggressive and grating. Before even looking at the other reviews I'm willing to bet most people hated this.
I like electronic, ambient and noise. Those genres wouldn't be the same without Throbbing Gristle.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
I like Genesis, I like Phil Collins, turns out this was good too. Who woulda thunk it?
Heaven 17
3/5
I'm not a big fan, but I can see where others might be. The bass lines were especially fun.
Bauhaus
3/5
Evokes images of the Peanuts gang, wearing all black, dancing along to these songs.
Blur
3/5
I still prefer Gorillaz, but this was a solid 90s britpop album.
Mylo
5/5
Very surprising. Fantastic house album.
Peter Frampton
1/5
Peter Frampton's boomer ramblings and irritating stage personality made this live album a real slog.
There is zero reason for this album to be nearly 2 hours long.
The Cure
3/5
Ya' know... it's the Cure. Not unlike your goth phase, it sticks around a little longer than it should.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Beautiful vocal harmonies, warm production and fun. This album is better than most other 60's records I've heard thus far. Really happy with the runtime too.
Johnny Cash
5/5
A classic and formative to my taste in music.
Kings of Leon
1/5
This music is so self-indulgent and vapid. It's marketed towards people who want to fit in with everyone else, but also feel unique.
Dr. Dre
5/5
A classic 90's gangster rap album. The sense of humor is the biggest allure here for me. These tracks are such a great portrait of Dre's personality. A lot of my favorite rappers drew inspiration from this, you gotta respect it.
UB40
3/5
I'm not a huge fan of Reggae, but I am a fan of it's history. This album was a little long for me, but the saxophone and lyrics kept me engaged enough.
I think I would rather listen to the Specials.
Fishbone
3/5
Very eclectic and varied sound here. Ska, reggae, elements of nu-metal, punk, soul, etc. This album somehow feels ahead of it's time but also steeped in late 80's cheese. No doubt this was a seminal album for a lot of acts I listen to, but I fear this album is more interesting to discuss than listen to. Still glad I got to hear it!
Napalm Death
5/5
Anyone dismissing this music as "angry noise" is missing the point. Poignant and philosophical lyrics juxtaposed by absolutely brutally simplistic music.
This album turns 40 in a couple years. Sad to say that the world has just gotten worse. Fuck Thatcher. Fuck Reagan. Those of us lucky enough to be born too late are inheriting a dying and broken world. This album was ahead of it's time and seminal for tons of acts.
D'Angelo
3/5
I've never been drawn to R&B, but I can't deny this album is very jammable. D'Angelo's instrumentation and vocals are showcased well here, it's a very fun album.
The Beta Band
3/5
Like a less quirky, less memorable Gorillaz. Still had a good time.
3.5/5
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
LCD Soundsystem is so iconic, I hate to admit their better than I thought they were in High School when this music was new.
Beatles
4/5
I enjoy this era of the Beatles. They are over their Twist and Shout days and are moving into more iconic territory. This 30 minute ripper was solid. Any longer than that and I would definitely rate it lower.
Taylor Swift
2/5
Started off fairly pleasantly, Welcome to New York is catchy enough. Blank Space was groan inducing, though.
A lot of the album was a pop slog inspired by the synthwave/electronica of the late 2000s. It wouldn't shock me that someone who never heard production like this would find it groundbreaking, but there's nothing here that's innovative. It's simply marketed to a large and musically ignorant audience. This music was designed to be catchy and it delivers here. I just wish there was something more substantial. This is by no means an original thought, but these vapid lyrics really bring it down for me. I also recognize just by virtue of being a man in my 30s, this album isn't really for me.
It's not meant to be consumed as an album. This is a huge bag of jellybeans, not a full prepared and balanced meal.
Dead Kennedys
5/5
To evoke a tired trope, the lyrics on this album are more and more relevant with each passing year. The biting political commentary made accessible with humor and catchy hooks exemplifies youth counter culture. As others have said, the surf rock influence is the big draw musically.
Absolutely seminal album for so many hardcore acts. If you don't see the appeal of this music I don't know what to tell you other than I hope your stocks crash.
The Boo Radleys
4/5
The poppier tracks tend to lose me, but the walls of sound are interesting enough to keep me engaged. Pleasant surprise. Some tracks guitar tone reminds me of Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Very surprising album today. The mix of genres here is fantastic.
Dr. John
3/5
Proto Tom Waits. Very interesting stuff, probably won't revisit for a while.
Hot Chip
3/5
Maybe derivative is too harsh a word to describe how I feel about this album. Mostly I find it to be very emblematic of 2010s dance/electronic music while trying to evoke the power of 80s synth pop. Overall, it was an enjoyable listen but I don't know if I would throw this on just to listen to.
The kind of thing that girls I had a crush on in high school would listen to and I just couldn't get into it.
Slipknot
4/5
I understand why Slipknot exists. There was a niche to be filled for heavier music highly marketable towards youth in the 2000s. Slipknot was ever popular with the 12 year olds that were craving something heavier than radio rock, but weren't familiar with anything heavier than Metallica or Soundgarden. Enter Slipknot, standing on the shoulders of giants. Recycling old Slayer riffs, add some Joey J drum fills and a frontman who can scream AND sing (WOWEE!)
Things I like about this album:
1. I am desperate for variance in guitar tone. Hearing distorted tones again warms my heart after 400 albums of late 60s jam rock slogs and 90s brit pop slop.
2. The lyrics are on point. Slipknot is writing songs that resonated with the youth of the 90s and 2000s and remain popular for this reason. Any music that is pushing back on the right wing christian theocracy that is alive and well today is appreciated. This is peak Bush era music.
3. Joey J definitely is the highlight here. Slipknots songwriting learns heavy into having a talented drummer that can fit in tight little drum fills to doctor up these songs as being more exciting than they are.
Things I dislike about this album:
1. Holy shit the recycling riffs here are boring. There are a couple of downbeat songs here that really let you linger and think about what the music isn't doing, and this sucks. Slipknot is at it's best when its a fast and heavy.
2. Clean vocals. The sing songy choruses juxtaposed to the screamed ones are probably a draw for some, but I can't get into it. It reminds me of those Jpop bands like BABYMETAL. I can't take these guys seriously at all.
I'm struggling to rate this as far as this website goes. Heavy metal and it's subgenres are my favorite to listen to in my daily life, and I don't like Slipknot all that much. The conversation has just moved on. Nostalgia doesn't grip me to this music like it does some other nu metal acts. If I was going to rate this album amongst other heavy metal records, it would likely be a 2/5. Because of the omission of seminal or innovative metal albums on this list, I am forced to rate this higher.
In short, put Acid Bath on this list, you cowards.
Queen
4/5
Early Queen is interesting.
The KLF
3/5
The dub influence is not for me, but the techno tracks here are pretty fun. I want some electronic music from anywhere but the UK. This list is so biased towards UK music scene it's embarrassing.
Sugar
4/5
I'm a big fan of Hüsker Dü, so it's no shock I liked this. It's so sonically close, it feels like an extension of HD. I really like albums like this, where you can draw a straight line from hardcore punk into this softer, gentler sound. It keeps punk sensibilities while exploring a more accessible sound. The clavichord and organ on Hoover Dam give the song a huge boost. Anyone claiming these songs all sound the same probably just didn't listen close enough.
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
Layered and soft spoken, this music seems very fun to play. It evokes images of friends getting stoned together and jamming for hours. Sounds like a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, in my opinion.
While I agree with others this could be considered boring, I disagree that it has no merit. It does exactly what it sets out to do. If you aren't into that, that's fine. Sometimes I think people forget that art is not always (or even often, depending on who you are) made directly for people like you.
Arrested Development
4/5
Great socially conscious hip hop.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Come on... it's Stevie Wonder. Higher Ground is worth the price of admission, but there's other goodies here too.
James Brown
3/5
I can picture how sweaty James Brown was while recording this.
Funkadelic
5/5
The way this fantastic funk album ends with a chorus of flatulence has got me at a loss for words. Truly iconic.
Sub 1 hour total ripper of an album.
Sam Cooke
3/5
Undeniably seminal for many important artists today, but I don't often listen to this music for fun. The sax elevates this beyond "music that Elvis stole."
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
I love electronic music, but this one didn't grab me as much. I definitely hear it's influence in britpop bands from the 90s, so I can appreciate it from that angle. Otherwise, not for me.
The Undertones
3/5
Not quite punk, not quite pop rock. The clash were doing it better and earlier. But honestly, this album was fine.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Bruce sings "wee wee" on a track here. That's all you need to know.
Very important to tell the story of forgotten parts of America. There's a lot to enjoy here if you like being sad about our country's rich history of the wealthy exploiting the working class. The music is fine. The mixing was odd for me. Bruce's voice on some songs was so quiet it was barely a whisper, while the harmonica was so effin' loud it hurt my ears.
In short, okay music about an important topic.
Motörhead
5/5
If you've never abused amphetamines I don't care about your opinion regarding this band. Most things really, but especially Motorhead.
Method Man
4/5
Reading reviews of hip hop albums on this site is always hilarious. You have people typing up long dissertations, going into extreme detail about how influential or innovative an album is and how impressive the music is overall.
Then you have users describing this music like a toddler would describe the taste of their least favorite vegetable. "It sounds yucky!" "I hate rap and asking me to stretch my musical imagination for less than an hour is a lot to ask, 1/5."
Anyway, this album is great. It makes a great double feature with 36 Chambers but is good enough on it's own. Lyrics are mindful, revolutionary and comedic when they need to be. The production is both laid back and aggressive.
If you are listening to this album and thinking "how did this make it on this list" I am begging you to grow up.
Ride
3/5
This music is a fun balance of twinkly guitars and distorted overdrive. Enjoyable.
Shack
3/5
Another britpop album? I'm nearly half done with this list and it really feels like the UK has a stranglehold on the people who wrote this book.
Hüsker Dü
4/5
I enjoy Hüsker Dü.
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
Over an hour of covers of other people's music, rife with the overuse of generic bongos. I can see this album being interesting in music history for sampling, inspiration, etc, but I don't truly believe I needed to hear it before I shuffled off this mortal coil.
It's fine, it just goes on for entirely too long without introducing anything other than "hey, remember this song?"
Johnny Cash
5/5
Little ripper of an outlaw country live album. Great stuff.
4/5
Solid earlyish punk.
808 State
4/5
First two tracks started off pretty uninteresting, but as soon as Cobra Bora hit I was all in. Solid house album that makes me wish I had a turntable so I could sample this.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
It's fine. I enjoyed it.
Spacemen 3
2/5
Another album that is more interesting to talk about than to listen to. I kept waiting for a payoff with each of these tracks, but was left with aural blue balls. This isn't bad music by any means, but this soft, intentional, gentle droning is just not something I'm into. If I'm going to listen to droning, I'm going to listen to some ambient electronic or funeral doom metal or something. This Lou Reed leftover just didn't do it for me.
Barry Adamson
4/5
Oh, interesting, another Nick Cave connection. My expectations were low going into this, but it's a pretty cool album. It's thematic but tonally diverse. The avart garde tracks are engaging and fun, but I have to admit the jazzy tracks are my faves. Miles in general was such a fun little song. Overall, it's a fun album but another in a long list on this site that are more fun to talk about than to listen to.
3.5 / 5
The The
3/5
It's decent new wave.
3/5
Bob Dylan
George Michael
3/5
Unoffensive and safe.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
It's early 2000's pop. I was in elementary school when this came out and I wasn't a huge fan then. By today's standards, it's fine. Pop just isn't my genre.
David Holmes
3/5
Interesting. Minimalist and influenced by multiple genres. This definitely sounded like it should have been rapped over, but whatever. It was fun enough.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Iconic and totally changed the game. One of the best rap albums of all time.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Wasn't a fan when the album started, but it kind of grew on me. Mostly the rhythm section.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Wicked corny, but in a fun way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LvkM-Wp2iI
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Fairly forgettable but pretty enjoyable.
John Martyn
3/5
Songs like Dreams By The Sea are way up my alley. Jazzy, laid back with a smooth sax solo. May You Never takes me right out with it's creepy acoustic "cafe in a college town" vibes. Mixed bag of an album for sure.
Rush
5/5
I used to live in rural Montana. I grew up in the 90s and 2000s, before you could just look up whatever music you wanted on spotify or youtube.
When I was in high school, I came across Rush. I was immediately smitten.
Nobody I had ever met had ever talked about them. I had never heard them on the radio.
Tight percussion, grooving basslines, lightly philosophical lyrics (with topics like, authoritarianism is bad) and packaged in a synthy, jazzy, hard rock box.
I loved it so much.
I had no idea that Rush was even talked about. When I got to college I was shocked at how many people hated Rush.
Shocked at how many people wouldn't even give the music a chance because "Ew Geddy Lee's voice" or "this music is trying to be too smart".
Just shocked. Anyway, this music inspired me to be a better person, a better musician and a better friend. I'm sorry some of you can't see what I did.
The Everly Brothers
2/5
Is this album just here for Love Hurts? I'm betting this is one of the albums that got cut in later editions.
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
Definitely surprising. I haven't heard of this artist before, but apparently she sees a lot of radio play. Fun album. Feels a lot more genuine than other compemporary pop-country artists. The disco beat tracks, synthed drums and vocoder stuff is all wicked fun and gives this album a solid boost past "generically forgettable" into "hmm, that's kind of fun."
Will probably re-listen in the future.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Totally fine! Wish there was more strings on the album, but otherwise feels like a natural progression towards britpop.
Traffic
4/5
Color me impressed. The flute solos, the jammy guitars and all in a half hour package. Solid.
Deerhunter
3/5
As far as indie pop goes, this was more enjoyable than most. A lot of these bands sacrificed compelling musicality for adhering to what was popular at the time, but Deerhunter seemed to escape mostly intact.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
It's been snowing here today, so this album was great to sit inside and do some work to. Excellent sax playing.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
Dude can shred.
Eminem
1/5
The South Park of rappers. Talent is talent, but using that talent to make goo goo gaga noises and rape jokes is just sad.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
It's the Stones ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
Feels ahead of it's time for 1979.
3.5/5
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I like the themes and the lyrics more than the music itself, but it's decent.
The Beta Band
3/5
Second album by The Beta Band I've heard on this list. It's not bad by any means, but I don't know if they are the unsung heroes that this book tries to make them out to be. They're pleasant enough.
Kanye West
5/5
Possibly Kanye at his best. Grimy beats juxtaposed with beautiful choirs. The wordplay here is classic Kanye. Since I had an Eninem album the other day, he's fresh in my mind. Like Eninem, Kanye's lyrics are transgressive and seek to offend but often it seems like Kanye has (had?) a lot more self awareness and is in on the joke. The lyrics are shocking in order to bring awareness to social issues that have been plaguing this country since before it existed.
Black Skinhead sampling the Black Lodge Singers fits so well in a song about racial injustice. African Americans and Native Americans have been working together through struggles for centuries now. Daft Punks production on this song give it a massive boost as well. Just a 5/5 song, easy.
Overall, this is an excellent album. Kanye is advocating for marginalized people everywhere to recognize where we're at and realize that help is not coming. We can only help ourselves and by extension, our community.
4.5/5
Slayer
5/5
Relentlessly fast, but knows how to slow it down and get groovy. This album changed my life when I was 14. To the shock of nobody reading this, I was an edgy, athiest teenager and this music made me feel like I wasn't alone in my rural hometown.
Slayer's Neo-Nazi imagery has aged poorly, which is unfortunate. What played as transgressive 40 years ago just doesn't work today.
That being said, this music fucking rips and paved the way for so much music being made today.
Any band that inspires people to literally carve the band's name into their body with knives is legendary in my book.
Don McLean
2/5
Starts off great, ends pretty mediocre.
Kraftwerk
2/5
I really like electronic music, so a lot of my favorite artists owe Kraftwerk something. The historical and cultural significance of this bands discography can't be denied.
Unfortunately, this album was a slog to get through. Even at 36 minutes, it drags. It's not just that it's slow and repetitive, the constant inclusion of downright aggravating noises is something I can't get behind.
Maybe I'm just not in the mood this morning, but this wasn't doing it for me. For slower and repetitive electronic music, I'd rather listen to Aphex Twin.
Eurythmics
3/5
Never really listened to Eurythmics aside from SDAMoT, sad to say the rest of the album is not as good as that song, but it's still pretty decent.
Tina Turner
4/5
Very subdued instrumentation that encourages (forces) you to focus on Tina's voice. Simple jams written by talented people and sang by a great singer.
Also, Welcome to the Thunderdome.
3.5/5
Soul II Soul
4/5
Super cool album. Feels about 5 years ahead of it's time.
3.5/5
Björk
5/5
Bjork is a little weirdo and I love when little weirdos make music.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Ol' Bobby boy continues to make music that I don't mind. What a perfectly acceptable album.
Beatles
4/5
I think a lot of the time, people misinterpret the word overrated to mean outright bad. This is often not the case and I can think of no better band than the Beatles to exemplify this.
This album is great. It's foray into psych rock is my favorite thing about it. Even the poppier tunes like Back in the U.S.S.R., Obladi oblada and Birthday are fun as hell. However, it's almost impossible to separate the music from the massive ego trips nearly every member of this band is on.
The result is an album that's almost as fun to talk about as it is to listen to. Likely my favorite from the Beatles discography.
Roni Size
4/5
Drum and bass from the late 90's? I'm into it. Some of these longer tracks almost get meditative. Super fun.
Tom Tom Club
5/5
Whenever I come across a band I've never heard of from this list, it makes me uneasy. I'm anxious and excited to see what the music has in store for me. I always try to err on the side of being prepared to dislike it.
From track 1, this album had my attention. By the end of the first song, I was asking myself who was in this band. Lo and behold, it's a fucking Talking Heads side project.
What a delightful little surprise. Absolute banger of an album and 39 minutes is perfect.
Morrissey
3/5
Surprising how much I enjoyed this album. I never really gave Morrissey a shot (because he's such a fucking prick) and I expected to hate it.
The Damned
4/5
Classic punk. Fun, short and full of energy.
The Only Ones
4/5
Had not heard of this band before! Total surprise. Really fun from the get go.
Peter Perret's voice reminds me of Neil Cicierega'a.
Joy Division
2/5
I see a lot of people describing this music as "dark" or "moody".
I think you have to show some sort of emotion to be considered moody. I also understand that there is a whole spectrum of emotional tone to art but I really can't imagine anyone describing this as "dark". It's not chipper and poppy, but it ain't dark.
The vibe seems more like the absence of a vibe. It's the loneliness of depression. Numbness.
Anyway, it was fairly boring but thankfully pretty short,
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
It really sounds like they're having a good time recording this album, so that's fun. Aside from the classic club banger "Relax", there's not much here to write home about. It's a fairly straightforward, by the numbers, 80's synth pop record. If anything is noteworthy it's how ridiculously long this record is.
A lot of this squeaky clean 80s stuff just isn't my bag. I love synth and electronic music in general, I just want more edge.
The Crusaders
4/5
SHARKY'S MACHINE
While I was excited to be reminded of The Venture Bros, I was over the moon to enjoy this banger of an album.
Funky, groovy and overall just delightful. What a great time.
Youssou N'Dour
2/5
There's plenty of other African recordings out there that I find moving, this one just didn't do much for me. Not to say I disliked anything about it, just didn't get much out of it and likely won't revisit in the future.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
I'm willing to bet that this was included because of that throwaway line about it being the "first techno concept album."
To that end, it's a fine album. I like this music, for the most part.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
Not super familiar with this band, but I dig this album. It definitely reminds me of a lot of other late 90s /early 2000s acts, but its not a bad thing.
I don't think I'd like to talk to anyone about this band. I bet the fans are irritating as fuck.
New Order
3/5
Late 80s Synth Pop. The album itself is entertaining and thankfully doesn't wear out it's welcome since it's only a little over a half hour long.
By this time in the 80s, this music is begging for some edge and bite to it, but this album is comfortable to stick around in the years preceding it.
Neil Young
3/5
Not sure what I can say about this album. It feels heartfelt and mostly genuine. The music is simple but enjoyable. It's Neil Young.
Elbow
2/5
Started off as a fairly innocuous indie rock album. Influenced by post-rock acts, perhaps. The light strings and delicate, deliberate instrumentation had me engaged from the first few songs.
As soon as Grounds for Divorce started, this album completely vomited up all the good will that it had earned from me with a completely hamfisted and ugly attempt at capitalizing on the "sound of the time." That completely boring kick-boom-hey blues rock that made the Black Keys so popular. It's fucking music for ads. Even the wiki page for this album mentions Grounds for Divorce and all the different ads and TV shows it's been featured on.
After track 4, my enthusiasm took a nosedive. It's a shame too, because there is definitely something here to enjoy. Thom Yorke style crooning over hushed drums and tight strings.
I have to wonder if the band itself wanted to go in that direction or if they were just trying to get in on that blues rock money that so many other bands of the mid-late 2000's were getting. Either way, it's sad. The album suffers for it. Profits over art, I guess.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
I have to assume the kind of person who describes Nick Cave's music as "dark" or "intense" has never been anywhere other than Disney World.
I'm 14 and this is deep type music.
The B-52's
4/5
Not peak B-52's, but damn this is a fun album. Feels ahead of it's time by a few years at least.
Gram Parsons
4/5
Big fan of 70's country. This is a solid country rock album with one iconic slow jam on it. Is Gram Parsons underrated or an unsung hero of 70s country music? Maybe. Probably not. But this is a really fun album.
Big Star
3/5
Totally acceptable soft rock album.
Roxy Music
3/5
A totally fine release by Roxy Music. The latter half of the album is more interesting than the first, imo.
T. Rex
4/5
When I think of Glam rock, I usually think of Bowie. T. Tex is making me reconsider that. I had a good time with this one.
The Roots
4/5
Surprisingly diverse sounds on this album. Thirsty! is proto Death Grips / Danny Brown. Super fun album. Glad to hear it.
Madonna
4/5
Madonna had a kid, did a bunch of religious tourism (typical Los Angeles white lady) and made a killer pop album. The first half of this album is definitely stronger than the second half, but it's still a solid listen.
Mike Oldfield
3/5
An interesting prog album. Some fun themes were introduced throughout the album, but it's not very cohesive. That didn't necessarily detract from the experience, but it was notable. Still had a good time.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
It's fine. Totally fine album. The poetry is on full display here, but my brain craves something meatier.
Pavement
4/5
A fantastic time machine to a time in my life where possibilities were endless. An album that encapsulates the feeling of having the ability to do anything, but making the choice to do nothing. Feeling as if that choice was made for you. Feeling everything and nothing at all.
Great album.
Orange Juice
3/5
Post Punk / New Wave from Scotland. There's some Reggae and Dub influences here and there, plus some fun synth. Overall, it's quirky and enjoyable. Nothing more to say about it.
3.5/5
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
A classic album. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit do all the heavy lifting here, but it's still a decent album, overall. Grace Slick's voice is so incredibly iconic.
T. Rex
3/5
I had a friend a long time ago that said T.Rex was his favorite band in the whole world. I haven't seen that friend in a long time, but listening to this album was fun because of those memories.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Not nearly as polished as some of the Mother's (or even just Zappa's) albums, but there's enough here to enjoy. I can definitely see why this didn't take off when it was released, especially if you aren't familiar with this band's sense of humor.
People who claim this album comes across as "lol so random" are unfamiliar with how time works.
Donald Fagen
3/5
I didn't really realize how much I enjoyed Steely Dan's music before starting this album journey. I've had 3 SD albums before getting Fagen's solo debut.
It's unfortunate, but this album lacks what very little edge Steely Dan had in the first place, so it comes across as easy listening. It's well produced, it just comes across as what it is: someone's solo efforts after being a part of a band who's sum is greater than it's parts.
As of listening, this album is sitting at a perfectly balanced 3.0 rating. I can't think of any other time in the 500+ albums I've heard so far where I agreed with the consensus so much.
Korn
3/5
It's got everything Korn is infamous for. Filthy bass tone, hip hop inspired percussion, and spooky scatting.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Nothing I could really say about this album that hasn't been said before, but I'll try and record my basic thoughts.
As an intro to prog rock, this is up there. Got me into it from an early age. Just an incredible album. Maybe one of the best ever recorded.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
3.5/5! Totally fine and what I expected, having listened to another Echo + The Bunnymen album on this journey.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Excellent album.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I don't particularly like reggae, so listening to this album was more about focusing on being objective.
The production is clean and very accessible. The instrumentation (especially solos) is worth noting. The lyrics are probably the big draw here.
I can't see myself putting on this album to listen to for fun, but this is clearly a very well made album.
All that said, I really didn't need to hear "Three Little Birds" again. That song is one of the top overplayed songs in the history of mankind. A true feat.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
To be fair, if I had never heard anything besides gospel or folk music before, went to a Stones concert where a stranger gave me acid, I'd love this album too.
Crazy to think boomers did that shit then just ruined everything.
One has to assume Mick Jagger is to blame.
N.E.R.D
3/5
This album kind of settles into a groove somewhere in the middle, it took me a couple tracks to really get into it.
R.E.M.
5/5
A fantastic rock album.
Nanci Griffith
4/5
Solid album. Short and sweet.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
An awe inspiring album chock full of love and adoration for life. This albums tracks seamlessly lead into one another and the whole 36 minute long album is so impressive.
Being a fan of hip hop, there are a ton of samples I've heard over the years taken directly from this album. Classic stuff. Easy 5/5.
Billy Bragg
3/5
Cheeky lyrics, but the music doesn't grab me. Fun enough, though.
The Darkness
5/5
More like the Dorkness, amirite folks?
Still an incredible debut. Glam rock taken cranked all the way up.
Still tickles me that Justin Hawkins was beefing with Lemmy and Lemmy basically had no idea who they were.
The Cramps
3/5
Kind of like Insane Clown Posse, I enjoy talking about it way more than listening to it.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
At it's best during tracks like For Emily. Even at a blistering 28 mins, this album tends to drag a little at points.
Also, maybe I'm just being a hater but that closing track was mega corny.
Tito Puente
5/5
This shit rips.
David Bowie
3/5
A really solid and emotional album. As with most albums from the 2010s on here, I debate on the validity of the inclusion here. I don't think I would include this in my list of 1001 albums to hear before you die.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe in 30 years people will talk about this album like they talk about The White Album.
Laura Nyro
3/5
I enjoyed this for the most part. It is thankfully under an hour.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Massively influential in bringing heavier music to a wider audience, it's just hard listening nowadays because of how massively overplayed this album is. Mr. Brownstone still goes hard, though.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
4/5
Whimsical, thoughtful and patient.
Maybe I'm just a sucker for a good string arrangement, but this was very pleasant.
De La Soul
4/5
Jazzy, uplifting and upbeat. Very fun album and very influential to a lot of artists I listen to regularly today.
John Lennon
3/5
Imagine being a millionaire white br*tish dude singing songs about "what if we didn't have jobs" and getting massive praise for it.
I get that Imagine was transgressive for the time, but damn if the isn't on the floor.
Probably my least favorite Beatle.
Pink Floyd
3/5
The Gnome: easy 5 outta 5.
Everything else on this album? Ehhhh
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Seminal for a lot of artists/groups that I listen to regularly, but not enough going on here to entice me to revisit this album often.
The Message is still a banger.
The Undertones
3/5
Short and sweet little album.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Laid back most of the time. It sounds great, but it lacks the thickness and intensity of tone that I want out of the stoner rock/doom genre.
Basically Kyuss > QotSA
Still an excellent album and one that I am enjoying jamming while getting some work done today.
The Clash
4/5
It's hard to dislike this music. Simple but effective chord progressions and driving bass lines. The progressive lyrics are uplifting. I would spin this today.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Solid listening for a day. Not sure how many other times I'll revisit this album in my life, though.
GZA
5/5
Damn, this album is cool as hell. On the look out to add it to my collection.
Sepultura
5/5
South American heavy metal is fascinating to learn about and Sepultura is one of the biggest acts to come out of that part of the world. The fury and passion this music evokes is so welcome on this list. Such a fantastic listen today.
The Lemonheads
2/5
Thankfully very short. This album definitely reminds me that there is a level of "too palatable" for my tastes. This is so safe and generic that it was kind of a slog to get through. I was alive in the 90s, I remember this music being played a lot on the radio while I was growing up. I just think there's much, much better 90s alternative out there.
Cream
4/5
Iconic album.
Jerry Lee Lewis
1/5
A lot of people are rating this lower on account of how shitty JLL was as a person.
The crazy thing is, this music sucks great balls of fire on it's own. The person singing and performing this music could be a saint and I still would think this blows.
Vapid and without soul. Just how I like my blues inspired rock and roll.
The Byrds
3/5
A lot of these late 60s psych rock albums have some really neat ideas that informed a lot of the music I enjoy today. Personally, I wouldn't put this album on just to listen to, but it was pleasant enough. Short too! More sub 30 minute albums please!
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Thoughtful lyricism over fun albeit generic sounding rock. I'm always happy to listen to an album that feels like it's telling a narrative.
Nick Drake
4/5
Incredibly short and sweet.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Maybe it's because I'm used to listening to hour long doom metal songs, but the consistent themes of this album didn't bug me as much as it did others. I found reading about the members of this band more interesting than the album itself.
One of the first thoughts I had was "well, the strings are nice." Turns out the guy who arranged the strings for this also did it for Bjork, so no wonder I liked it.
7th Tree uses a lot of ideas that were beat to death in the following years. Reminiscent of Stomp Clap music.
Overall though, I liked it more than I didn't.
Mariah Carey
3/5
Totally and completely acceptable R&B/pop. Some of the disco influences on these songs were really fun.
Tim Buckley
3/5
That's how to end an album. The strings on Make It Right were a ton of fun. Very cool album.
Miles Davis
4/5
Iconic album that I have to be in the right mood to enjoy. Today was pleasant.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Wow, another album from the 60s!
It's fine :)
Massive Attack
3/5
Reggae, dub, didgeridoo, etc. There's a lot of influences going on here that don't necessarily add up to a fantastic album, but it was fun.
Van Morrison
2/5
I bet it would be a cool story to tell about how you were there, back in the day. I just wish it was more entertaining today.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
I mean, he's no Black Dynamite...
Van Morrison
3/5
Van Morrison is one of those acts that I can understand why others dig him, it's just not for me. Like Bob Dylan.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Standing on the shoulders of giants, this album is a fantastic unification of black music.
The Zutons
3/5
A little smug and cheeky for me, but I know a lot of people like that.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Pretty much what I expected. Sleazy or creepy? You be the judge.
Fairport Convention
3/5
A delightful surprise. Haven't heard of this band before but I had a good time.
Gang Starr
5/5
This album was super refreshing. Just a really solid 90s hip hop album.
Björk
4/5
Standard Bjork fare. Really interesting and engaging but not a lot of fun haha
Ice Cube
4/5
This website is so biased against hip hip, it's insane. This music is everything Eminem wanted to be. Transgressive and thoughtful but with an energetic, catchy flow.
Has this album's lyrics aged well? No, obviously. But that's not really the point here. The point is that this album influenced a ludicrous amount of music since it's release over 3 decades ago.
The Bomb Squad is the real star here, imo.
The Monks
3/5
I'm just glad they sound like they're having fun.
The Pharcyde
5/5
Seriously, what a ride. I listened to Amerikkka's Most Wanted by Ice Cube the other day, so that's fresh in my mind. That was a fun 90's hip hop throwback, but this is as fresh today as it was then. The songs are catchy, funky, jazzy, layered and flow into each other so well. What a fun album.
Khaled
3/5
Very chill album, though it was very long. Wish I knew more of why this was chosen to be on this list. It sold well enough, but I wouldn't consider this an unknown gem or anything.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Super chill album. Short and sweet.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
The stuff I thought was notable was when the band leans into the electronic sound. Past that, it's early 00's "indie" alt rock.
Donovan
3/5
I'm gonna listen to so much less boomer 60s rock slog albums in about a year when I'm down with this list haha
Super Furry Animals
3/5
The Beatles and their consequences have been disastrous for mankind.
Animal Collective
2/5
Another band that others around me were crazy about in the mid to late 00's, but I never could get into them. You could diplomatically call this music complex, layered, experimental and true to it's pop roots.
You could also say it's standing on the shoulders of giants, doesn't have a single original idea and evokes images of actual animals trying to play instruments.
Animal Collective is just a little too smug and self important sounding for me to get into them.
American Music Club
3/5
Pleasant.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Strong contender for one of my favorite albums of the last century. Ahead of it's time and went on to define an entire genre of music. Planet Caravan, Electric Funeral, Hand of Doom, Fairies Wear Boots, I mean there are so many awesome tracks on this album. Rare occasion that I want the daily album to be longer.
The Jam
4/5
That bassist saved this record for me.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
Pleasant surprise of an album. What an aggressively mid 2000's album.
Dinosaur Jr.
5/5
Creationists deny the existence of Dinosaur Jr.
Peter Tosh
3/5
I used to really dislike Reggae, but I'm warming up to it.
Paul Weller
2/5
Reading through some of the other reviews, it's very fun to see others describe this album as "funky."
I have to assume these are the same type of folks to call black pepper "spicy."
Baaba Maal
2/5
The music is pretty fun. The vocals I can do without, but what are you gonna do?
Hole
4/5
Would this album be as renown if Courtney Love wasn't with Kurt? Yeah, probably. It's a pretty good album.
David Ackles
2/5
Comes across a little like showtunes. I don't hate showtunes, but I don't often listen to an entire album of them.
Richard Hawley
2/5
Would be super impressive if it came out 40 years prior.
Nirvana
5/5
My dad's friend loaded my psp with grunge when I was 13.
Liz Phair
4/5
A great intro to this artist's music.
Gorillaz
5/5
This album meanders around a lot. It sounds like what it is, a couple of musicians fucking around. If that's not your thing, you probably won't enjoy this.
However, if you're under 30, try and recognize how different the world was 20 years ago. The late 90s/early 00's were marrying rock and hip-hop everywhere. A lot of people were super upset about it. Gorillaz was always about making the music that these creators wanted to hear in the world. So many collaborators, lending to the albums eclectic sound.
Gorillaz will always be the act that got me to seriously listen and consider hip-hop. Del's diction, flow and charisma won me over with Rock the House. Such a laid back and fun little jam. It goes without saying that Clint Eastwood had radio stations (and MTV/Fuse) in a vice grip for a while after it's release.
It might not be the best album by Gorillaz, but their self-titled album is undeniably culturally pervasive.
Coldcut
3/5
Look at those dudes who hate this music. Got stink lines and everything.
I love to read reviews on this website. It's really fun to get perspective on how other music fanatics think about music.
I get a huge kick out of reading reviews that are just thought terminating cliches like "Ugh, this music is just shitty!"
No thought put into why you feel that way, no reflection. Just Ew, yucky electronic music! >:(
This is a fun album. Some really funky grooves and clever samples. Anyway, 3.5/5
Gene Clark
3/5
Not bad! I would throw this on for some older guests or something.
TV On The Radio
3/5
I can see the appeal. A lot of the droning guitar work is really fun, very post rock. Unfortunately, the entire picture together just doesn't do it for me.
Bee Gees
3/5
Did you guys know the Bee Gees played music before they were a disco act? Well, someone out there thinks you NEED to know this.
Cornershop
3/5
Eclectic sound, but dang this is a long album. Pretty fun though!
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Not bad. Chill electronica.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
A routine listen for me, this album is just fantastic.
a-ha
3/5
I have nothing original to say about this album. It's pretty fun.
Prince
3/5
It's Prince. Soulful, groovy, funky, but at the end of the day, it's just pop.
Pentangle
4/5
Very chill listen.
John Lennon
3/5
Look, I know the Beatles are like your special little guys or whatever but this is just fine.
The Kinks
3/5
Pleasant enough, but I think once I'm done with this list of albums I likely won't be listening to british invasion music for the rest of my life.
Sabu
3/5
Music that sounds like it's more fun to play than to listen to.
The Police
4/5
White boy reggae is all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
David Crosby
3/5
Boy oh boy is this album is totally fine.
Gillian Welch
4/5
Simple, earnest folk music. Gillian's voice is so delicate but carries such a weight to it.
Metallica
5/5
"You will do, what I say, when I say, back to the front!"
Anti-imperialism, anti-war, anti-authoritarian thrash. The production is much cleaner than RtL, but damn if this album isn't amazing.
Lana Del Rey
1/5
Ugh. 45 minutes of breathy, whispering vocals layered over soft keys. Lana leans super hard on production here. Not every track needs chorus, jesus. I'm heard more track variance on stoner doom albums than this.
It's currently 2025, whomever submitted this album needs to take a reality check. When I think of how fucked everything was in 2021, this album just comes off as vapid. There were people writing music about our institutions crumbling, our leadership failing us and their loved ones dying all around them. Good thing Lana was singing about "remember when we listened to Kings of Leon on the radio?" Who gives a shit.
Similar to Taylor Swift, Lana has that same "shoot for the middle" approach that makes her music come off as dull and and safe. It feels like music made with focus groups. The most offensive thing art can be is inoffensive.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Greater than the sum of it's parts, this album is timeless. Never a dull moment. Easily one of the greatest hop hop albums ever made.
Me at age 14: "Wait, you can rap about Voltron and Spider-man?"
Marilyn Manson
2/5
Vapid, skin deep lyrics that pander to young people that otherwise would be listening to the top 40 list, but the 90s were rife with performative edginess. Downward Spiral came out 2 years before this, so why is half this album recycled NIN songs?
This album doesn't have to be over an hour long. It's got 3 singles that people talk about but it's jam packed with riffs "inspired" by other musicians at the time.
For anyone who got started on heavier music through MM, I'm happy you found something that spoke to you. I hope that now that you're out of 7th grade, you're listening to something with a little more substance. If you define your image and who you are by how much of a non-conformist you are, turns out you're also a conformist.
I think MM was trying to be my generation's Alice Cooper, but turns out you need to be genuine in order to critique the powers that be. MM has always been a hack chasing trends who happens to employ some half decent musicians.
GWAR is what MM wanted to be, but the asking people who clearly aren't fans of metal to parse out what's genuine or not is difficult, I guess. Much easier to go by album sales.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
A little long, a little homogeneous, but when this album does shine it shines bright.
k.d. lang
3/5
Sometimes I really think the users on this website don't actually like music. Or at least music that isn't the same 20 famous albums that /mu/ told you were good.
There are some impressive studio musicians that came together to make this album. k.d.'s voice is laser focused and smooth. If this music upsets you, ask yourself why? Most poor reviews I can see are just thought terminating cliches.
"It's boring." Reviews like that just communicate to me that you have never played music. This music isn't amazing, but it's not boring either. At just over a half hour, it's a ripper of a country album. Perfect music for a starry night or a dew kissed morning.
Pere Ubu
3/5
I enjoy my daily ritual, but nearing album 700 it's all starting to bleed together. I don't even remember the last Pere Ubu album I listened to. Apparently it was 2 years ago.
These guys are kinda offbeat and funky, but this album comes off as lackadaisical. Fun moments scattered through, plus it's barely over a half hour long.
3/5
Is it as bad as people say? Not really. It is a little boring, though.
Silver Jews
3/5
It's lackadaisical, smug and a little too simplistic for my taste. Mostly it just reminds me of smoking cigarettes in a beanie in 2008. Not exactly a bad feeling, but nostalgia for a different time can only carry me so far.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
This is one of those albums that was probably incredibly innovative in it's blending of genres but just doesn't hold up today. I don't even want to hear the Doors play Light My Fire, why would I want to hear a cover of it?
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
A mostly by the numbers 60s rock slog. At least some of the vocals had a bit of an edge to 'em.
John Cale
2/5
Thank god this was only a half hour long. The dreamy tone of this album is likely a draw for some of you, but it was not engaging to me.
Japan
3/5
Fun synth and great bass tone. This was pretty fun, though it could stand to be shorter.
3.5/5
Michael Jackson
4/5
Quincy Jones is the fuckin' man.
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Interesting soundscapes. A little directionless, but there is intent.
Another in a long, long list of historically important albums that don't hold up for me.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Cocteau Twins have always been a blind spot for me. I have heard so much about them but have never really jumped in. This was a fun soundscape. Dreamy is the word that kept coming to mind. Very fun album.
Weather Report
4/5
Jojo's reference?
It's a decent album. 3.5/5
Al Green
4/5
Just a super solid soul album.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Not sure how people can call this boring.
Madness
5/5
Unfortunately, I love ska.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Kendrick is an artist that doesn't hide the fact that he's standing on the shoulders of giants. He collects as many ideas as he can and makes a mosaic from them.
I was never into Kendrick when his music was coming out. Even if he's not my favorite rapper, he's got my respect. Solid album.
Travis
2/5
Just kind of bland.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
She's a talented singer, but this album leaves a lot to be desired. As others have overstated, this is a long album. There's a lot of chaff on this record that likely didn't need to be here.
The big band sound had a comeback for a bit in the late 2000's/early 2010's and I think this album was a bit ahead of the curve on that. Bioshock came out the next year and it was still 2 years before Caravan Palace began ravaging theater kids' iPod shuffles.
It intends to pay homage, but comes off as uninspired. It's overproduced but tries so hard to capture the warmth of analog recording. It's not really for me, but I bet there's plenty of people out there that still return to this every now and again.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Stephen Stills is usually good for a folksy 70s rock album.
Kate Bush
3/5
Overall, very pleasant album to listen to at work on a Tuesday.
Otis Redding
4/5
Excellent vibes.
Elastica
3/5
Halfway between Blondie and Bikini Kill.
Linkin Park
4/5
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would! Linkin Park falls victim to a lot of the issues that nu-metal at large does. Radio rock friendly riffs and beats coupled with 3edgy5me lyrics. I was huge into LP when I was in middle school, but man, it is hard to take this music seriously, but I enjoyed it the same way I would watch Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers. Is it a great movie? Nah, but I had a good time.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Relaxed vocals over some chill electronic. It's not danceable for me to really love it, but it was a very approachable listen.
Fever Ray
2/5
Aphex Twin but with the layers of clever production replaced by breathy vocals.
Music for high schoolers who listened to top40 all their life but found something "different" and it changed their life.
Meat Puppets
5/5
Folk, grunge, punk, this album has a lot going for it. I love Meat Puppets. The strained vocals, the ditsy instrumentation, all of it is this kaleidoscope of angry, sad and hopeful music.
David Gray
3/5
Totally and completely acceptable.
Bert Jansch
3/5
Totally fine folk.
M.I.A.
4/5
Banger after banger on this album. The lyrics, the goofy sampling (that sanford and son sample is incredible), and overall the attitude are great.
Guided By Voices
4/5
Low production quality and some fun (if not simple) songs. I enjoyed this one. Something I really love about a 28 track album that's under an hour.
Black Flag
5/5
For better or for worse, reminds me of being 16. Needless to say, I had a great time.
Brian Wilson
3/5
Man, these looney tunes noises are just not doing it for me. Otherwise a very pleasant listen with a very interesting history.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
The way this album starts is not unlike the way the 80s vampire flick The Lost Boys starts. Came out the same year, both are spooky, have driving synth and rocking sax.
This album goes hard based on vibes alone.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Albums like this definitely make me regret not listening to more of this in high school.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
I was a teenager in the 2000's. I used to think those indie bands were so clever and original. I had never heard music like that before.
Albums like Electric Prunes remind me that I was just 14. This is a fun album. The guitar tone, jingly tambourine, and simple percussion really won me over quickly.
It really helps that this album doesn't overstay it's welcome at less than 30(!) minutes.
Mudhoney
4/5
When this album gets going, it's rad as hell.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Anyone who worked in a guitar center hates this band and specifically this album.
LTJ Bukem
4/5
Very enjoyable breakbeat/DnB.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Beach Boys that isn't Pet Sounds. Fun!
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Very approachable and fun. Kinda crazy to see as many misogynistic reviews as I did here.
Bill Callahan
3/5
A surprising album! Very down to earth and simple. The musicality never gets too indulgent or overly clever.
3.5/5
The Blue Nile
3/5
Totally fine, if not a little dull for me. Nice that it's short!
fIREHOSE
3/5
After that intro, I was expecting something a little less folksy. It was fun, though!
Caetano Veloso
3/5
A fairly enjoyable mashup of 60s psych and samba. I wish I had more to say about it.
Killing Joke
3/5
Just the right amount of edge for post punk.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
The nicest thing I can say about this album is that it sounds like they're having fun.
Described as the "Finnish glam rock EQ of Michelangelo's David."
While I don't even remotely agree with that statement, I do have to appreciate that someone out there loves this album enough to put it in a book.
Love
3/5
The last track on this album was delightful. The rest was okay!
Paul Simon
3/5
Feels sanitized and packaged, even for pop. That said, I didn't dislike it. It was catchy enough, just pretty thin, thematically and lyrically.
Richard Thompson
4/5
Somehow feels ahead of it's time and of the era at the same time. Great folk album, can see a straight line drawn from albums like this to albums like Rogue Taxidermy.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
My desire to hear distorted guitars vs my assertion that shoegaze is just okay.
Public Enemy
5/5
YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH BOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Was expecting to dislike this album more, but hey, it's pretty catchy. Very approachable, but nothing I'd like to return to regularly.
Suede
3/5
Oh look, a 90s album that is capitalizing on the sound of bands that came 5, 10 or even 20 years before!
Chicago
4/5
Halfway through this incredibly pleasant and accessible album, there's just a noise track. Gets an extra star from me for that. Makes for an interesting reframing of their sound track 8 onwards.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Timeless album.
Lou Reed
2/5
Songs like Hangin' 'Round and New York Telephone Conversation take me out completely. Lyrics and musicality completely eye roll inducing. Other songs, like Walk On the Wild Side and I'm So Free are fun enough, if not a little simplistic. If I was a teenager in America in the 70s I'm sure I would have a great deal of respect for this album, but I wasn't and I don't.
Ramones
4/5
A lot could be said about this album, so I'll try and keep it brief.
The co-adoption of punk aesthetics to sell more albums to young people more or less starting with the Ramones. This music is fast, simple and catchy. While I think this album was instrumental in furthering music diversity in America (and the UK), it started a trend of "looking the part" in punk subculture that is alive and well today.
4 stars for historical relevance, transgressive (for 1976) lyrics and just being damn catchy, even if they did reuse the same 4 chords for over a dozen songs.
Tori Amos
3/5
Thoughtful and intimate.
Meat Loaf
5/5
The energy Meatloaf brings to this music is incredible. A lovely album I used to listen to a lot when I was younger.
AC/DC
4/5
Crass, simple music for knuckle dragging cretins. What a fun album.
The Adverts
3/5
Fun, boppy late 70s proto punkish.
Cee Lo Green
4/5
He is... the music.
Honestly, really cool album both musically and lyrically.
I love how the glasses look like they have diamond lenses from a distance.
The Gun Club
3/5
Was never crazy about rockabilly, but this is fun enough. I bet plenty of people in 1981 hearing this music for the first time were pretty chuffed.
Kings of Leon
2/5
There's just so many ways you can repackage and sell blues rock to suburban white kids.
Röyksopp
4/5
I was introduced to Röyksopp in highschool. I listened to a fair amount of trance and french house before, but this was different.
First few tracks are mostly ambient adjacent, but Poor Leno takes that laid back vibe and adds a thumping bass line. Danceable but reserved. The percussion and reverb on this track is hypnotizing.
Poor Leno is my favorite track on the album, if every song was as mesmerizing as that one track, this would be a 5/5 album.
Joanna Newsom
4/5
Bjork-esque, I really enjoyed this album. The vocal harmonies and string arrangements gave it an otherworldly. ethereal feeling.
The Who
4/5
Minus 1 star for inspiring Limp Bizkit.
Alice In Chains
5/5
Driving percussion. Melancholy lyrics. Great bookend tracks. Yup, that's an excellent 90s rock album.
Brian Eno
4/5
What we can expect from a Brian Eno album. Thoughtful and ambient.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Feels like quite the departure from The Stooges. As others have mentioned ad nauseam, Bowie's greasy goblin fingers are all over this album. Bowie brings consistency and a glossy shine to the sound. Takes proto punk into glam territory. Very fun stuff.
Fugees
4/5
Very eclectic sound on this album. Very fun stuff.
Minor Threat
5/5
A straightforward sonic assault. The energy and lyrical content are just fantastic.
John Martyn
4/5
This was pretty interesting. Some of the poppier stuff just reminded me of Steely Dan, but not nearly as catchy. The real draw here is the more ambient tracks. Small Hours was a great way to close this one out.
3.5/5? 4/5? Let's go with 3.75/5. That feels good.
Tom Waits
4/5
An incredibly specific brand of quirky melancholy and darkness. I totally get how this might not be everyone's thing, but I dig it.
3/5
When I say this album is overplayed and overrated, I don't mean that it's bad. I don't even mean to say I didn't enjoy it. It was incredibly influential and popular in the late 90s / early 2000s. It's just that this edge-less, squeaky clean sound doesn't do it for me. Says a lot when Radiohead are edgier than you.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
A real mixed bag.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
Interesting sense of humor. Fun enough.
The Slits
3/5
First ever listen for me. How people can sing the Clash's praises but hate this is beyond me.
3.5/5.
Julian Cope
3/5
A disturbing amount of people assuming that the deluxe 2 disc edition on spotify is the actual length of the album.
As for the music, it's fun enough. College rock, some avart garde stuff. I don't know much these songs will stick with me, but it was a fun listen.
Common
4/5
Jazzy hip-hop with some crisp and chill production. Vintage Kanye was a pleasant surprise (RIP).
4.5/5
Pulp
3/5
An interesting album lost in a sea of 90s brit pop. After one listen, I am having a hard time distinguishing this from other contemporaries, but maybe I'll get more out of it on later listens.
The most interesting thing about this album is the occasional touch of dissonant strings or funky synth.
Radiohead
5/5
The kind of nobhead shite I can get behind.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Introspective and chill. Very pleasant listen.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Not heard this one yet. Very engaging album. Fiona Apple's iconic vocal style is obviously the allure here, but her lyricism continues to intrigue me after years of listening to her music.
After nearly 700 albums on this list, it's rare for me to feel like such a recent inclusion actually earned their spot. As others have pointed out, the themes of isolation and loneliness were very relevant when this album was released, despite taking half a decade to record and produce. Definitely an interesting album and I think it will be interesting to return to it later down the road.
Motörhead
5/5
Makes me wanna snort rails of meth, in a good way.
The United States Of America
3/5
It's hard to remain objective when an album is this annoying.
Anyways, this is a cool album to talk about, less so to listen to (for me). LSD and sonic experimentation go together like smoking weed and doing laundry.
The Magnetic Fields
4/5
It's relentless smultz is somehow charming. Way more diversity on this album than I thought there would be.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
An older guy I knew in high school loaded my mp3 player up with a bunch of 2000s indie rock, including a lot of Arctic Monkeys. In our small town in Montana, it felt like I was listening to music that none of my peers had ever heard of.
As a recovering indie hipster kid, I think this album holds up great.
Soft Cell
3/5
Incredibly seminal for a lot of electronic stuff. Still a solid album, but I don't know if I want to return to this as often as more modern work in the genre.
Metallica
4/5
Hard to deny the influence and reach this album had. Metallica was more relevant in the 90s than the 80s because of this album. We had 15 years of butt rock because of this album.
All jokes aside, it's a very successful record for a reason. It was made in a lab to bring hard rock to the forefront of the musical conversation and it did that.
The lyrical themes and content were very tuned in with a lot of American men. Songs like Don't Tread On Me resonated so strongly with young men in the 90s that we had armed militia groups storm our own nations capital building.
Can I directly blame Metallica for Jan. 6th? No, but I can try. It's basically Five Finger Death Punches fault, but Metallica gave them the idea.
Neil Young
4/5
Not a huge fan of folk, but this was fantastic.
CHVRCHES
3/5
Surprising good.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Reggae has never been my favorite, and Bob Marley was always a touch overrated in my mind. That all said, I think that this album has a great message and the music is well produced and recorded.
Coldplay
3/5
Coldplay is good at two things, clean production and getting the white folks excited.
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Album art goes supremely hard. Innovative for the time, but just like Run DMC, it's hard to listen to this day to day over other more modern acts.
R.E.M.
5/5
This album being from 1983 is fucking crazy to me. R.E.M. came out swinging here.
Scissor Sisters
4/5
Was pretty cool to hear music in rural Montana that was so unabashedly queer in the 2000s. I liked this album then and I like it now.
3/5
I need to ruminate on this one for a while.
Wilco
3/5
Never really got into this band, glad to hear this album holds up.
3.5/5
The Killers
2/5
If you don't think the Killers are christian rock, you're not paying attention. This music is so vapid and skin deep. Just goes to show you what stays culturally relevant because unimpressive white dudes need a song to sing at karaoke.
2Pac
4/5
A fascinating cultural moment leaves a great album for me to enjoy decades later.
4.5/5
Judas Priest
4/5
Lacks the speed and intensity that Judas Priest has come to be known for in the 21st century, but its still a great early heavy metal record. Steeped in counter culture and bluesy riffs, this isn't Judas Priest at their best, but its fucking fun.
Kraftwerk
3/5
I took a music theory class in college. One of the first things we learned was the definition of music. "Organized sound."
This sound is organized as fuck. Filed away. Collated. Properly alphabetized.
Kraftwerk are massively important for electronic music and technology in the music industry, but I can't seem to get into them.
XTC
3/5
Proto Brit Pop nonsense. Very pleasant listen, but not what I was in the mood for this morning.
Solange
3/5
700+ albums in, I feel like a broken record when I am questioning why these albums from the last decade are included here. Is this a good album? Yeah, definitely. It's also not surprising, given the access Solange has to music industry resources.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
Accessible blues rock with some surprising depth.
Sex Pistols
3/5
Music for people that think Anarchy means burning down buildings and throwing bricks at windows. A culturally and historically relevant album that was originally designed to sell a specific look and narrative that took root.
You can draw a straight line from this album to the rich kid wearing crust pants at the local show, asking to bum a beer off you because "his parents cut him off" (no they didn't, he already spent his allowance on blow).
This is a simulacrum of actual punk music. Go listen to Death, they were doing it better and earlier. They just didn't have a marketing manager.
Laibach
3/5
KMFDM if they took themselves a tiny bit more seriously.
ABBA
4/5
ABBA seems to be able to take a wholesome and edge-less sound and keep it engaging for me. I've never been a huge fan of pop in general, but this album is great. Seemingly simplistic on the surface, but has a lot of depth.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Elvis was deemed a danger to the US for promoting black artists and fostering cultural connection between black and white people during a time of great civil unrest. He was stationed in Germany and spent lots of time around high ranking military personnel, got introduced to his wife and came home after a few years. This album was his triumphant return to the spotlight.
As far as the music goes, it's Elvis. As per the usual, couple of covers that I don't prefer his version of, some fun voice stuff and well produced sound. Unfortunately, I just don't care about the music that much. I have a copy of the 2018 version of this book and mostly it talks about how big of a deal it was that he was back, making music again. Other than the cultural moment surrounding this album, there's nothing interesting for me to say about the music.
What IS interesting is the theories that Elvis was different when he came back stateside. There are even theories he was exposed to mind altering drugs like LSD in order to attempt to brainwash him and become even more of a US military asset. I don't know if I believe all that, but it makes sense for the military to draft him at the height of his popularity, get him inside their circle, make friends with him and change his viewpoints to more align with what the US wants for their citizens, not what the citizens want for the US.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Classic Sonic Youth.
The Byrds
3/5
Fun enough for a 60s rock slog.
Van Morrison
3/5
Folk isn't typically my thing, but this is a pleasant enough listen. The instrumentation is subdued save for a couple riffs, so it's very chill.
Jack White
4/5
White boy blues (affectionate)
as opposed to
White boy blues (derogatory)
The Pogues
4/5
Fantastic Irish folk album. The sentimentality, the prose, the mild but full instrumentation. It's like a nice shepherds pie. I wouldn't order it at a restaurant to celebrate or anything, but if it was what was for dinner I would be stoked.
The Young Gods
3/5
Love me some industrial. +1 star for drawing a straight line to Nine Inch Nails and KMFDM, -1 star for being fr*nch and having the gall (gaul) to call themselves Young Gods.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Short and sweet country album.
Pantera
5/5
An incredible band that has had it's legacy ruined by the racist "jokes" of it's frontman. Look, I'm not here to defend Pantera. There are plenty of dipshits on the internet doing that already, so I'm going to attempt to be brief here.
The music is driving, intense and FULL. Dimebag Darrel's guitar sound is iconic. The drums are bombastic and crushing. The vocals are intense and emotional. This album is a fantastic departure from Guns and Roses, Pearl Jam and every other band that was popular in the early 90s.
The lyrics are good, for the most part. At the time, I'm sure this "I don't see color" approach to race relations was considered progressive by some, but a bunch of good ol' boys from Texas singing about coming together while still sporting the rebel flag comes off as insipid and tone deaf today.
All that being said, this is one of the most influential albums in the metal space. If you like hardcore at all, your favorite band owes something to this record.
Ice Cube
5/5
So many reviews of this album are like "look, I get this was important politically and personally to Ice Cube but did he have to use so many bad words?"
Anyways, this album aged well. 4.5/5.
Fairport Convention
4/5
You can draw a straight line from Crazy Man Michael to Madman by Ashbury.
Overall, a cut above the usual late 60s brit rock that populates this list. The dynamism in these tracks feels very before it's time. Parts of this sound clearly influenced American jam bands, but I won't hold this against the album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
I always kind of dread returning to albums that I loved as a teenager. God help me, I think I like the Red Hot Chili Peppers still.
I totally get why some people would not like this album. If clever, esoteric lyrics are your thing, RHCP might not be your band. The lyrics here are not without their charm, but I could see how others might find them grating.
This album has some simple but really tight drumming, guitar that can play to the strengths of the band and a bassist that is very comfortable injecting his own style and taking the lead. The funk/jazz/rock fusion is very appealing to me. There's some diversity in sound here, certainly more than other bands in the 90s.
Gotta admit though, the singles from this album have got to be competing for most overplayed 90s songs.
The Specials
4/5
How could you not like the Specials?
Led Zeppelin
4/5
One of the albums I don't actually enjoy listening to front to back. There are some fun tracks on here (Ramble On is the high point), but ultimately it's no Houses of the Holy or IV. Still, it's clear what an influence this sound had on the rock genre for decades.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Dreamy, layered pop. It's like a well made ice cream sundae. Bittersweet chocolate flakes on top.
The Waterboys
3/5
Solid folk-rock.
Slint
5/5
Ahead of it's time and completely holds up today.
Raekwon
5/5
Even setting aside Guillotine (Swordz), this album is incredible. Modern masterpiece that music scholars will be studying for centuries.
Adele
3/5
I can be pretty down on pop, but this was a fun album. Adele's mezzo voice is the star, through and through. There's some simple but engaging musicality to the track she's singing over that supplements the vocals and doesn't distract from, but they're fun to focus on anyway. Particularly the hip hop/jazzy percussion on tracks like He Won't Go.
Wild Beasts
3/5
I bet I would have been way into this if I was listening to it when it came out.
The Doors
3/5
Honestly, I fucking hate the doors. Getting that out of the way, I can respect how so many people in the late 60s loved this music. It's fine.
B.B. King
5/5
Groovy, jammy, bluesy and that voice is incredible. One of the best live albums of the 60s.
Big Black
5/5
Transgressive, edgy nonsense made by some goobers that wanted to hear more of this kinda shit. My kind of album.
Paul McCartney
3/5
An album that I'm glad Paul made, because he clearly wanted a musical outlet that was completely divorced from the Beatles and especially John. That all being said, this album doesn't need to be heard before you die. It's only significant for being the first solo debut of one of the most famous people to ever live.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
This sound was everywhere in the late 90s/early 00s. I do really appreciate the vocal harmonics on this album. Hopeful and melancholic lyrics sang over simple but fitting music.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Rolling Stones are like the Beastie Boys (hear me out.) They make music inspired by American black people, in the same genres as American black people, but for white audiences. Both groups do inject enough of their personal style (all Beastie Boys songs sound like THAT for example), but ultimately would not exist without the hundreds of artists that laid the groundwork for them.
I'm not a massive fan of the Stones. I know they're important historically and contributed to the rise of Rock and Roll world wide, but if I wasn't doing this list of albums I wouldn't have thought to listen to this album.
That said, that's the best part of this whole site.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
Never been a fan of this era of music, but certainly I'd rather listen to the artists she's inspired by than this album. It's not bad, just a little uninteresting, one-note and forgettable. To be fair, that's 20% of the albums on this list.
Gotan Project
3/5
The album is a little dry, but isn't without it's charm. I don't really know anything about what makes good production, but this album sounded crispy.
I hear a lot of the late 2010 obsession with lofi jazz here. Gotan Project definitely had a part in that era of music history.
The Specials
5/5
What a great seminal album for ska. Who doesn't like The Specials?
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Some simple, folksy pop music.
3.5/5
Elis Regina
4/5
Fun record. Full of energy and the cultural identity of the record is cool.
The Smiths
3/5
Gee, I wonder where the stereotype of sanctimonious vegans comes from?
Lyrics from the titular song aside, this has some incredible guitar work on it. I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself getting into a couple songs. This feeling was fleeting, however. The vocals, vapid lyrics and literal barking kept taking me out of it.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Its proto-90s trance.
3.5/5!
Björk
4/5
Bjork's debut is not my favorite Bjork album, but it holds up well.
5/5
A fantastic follow-up to Fragile and coming in at under 40 minutes, this album is a ripper. Classic 70s prog rock, the swelling crescendos and tight musicality are killer. Huge fan of prog and a huge fan of this album.
Sparks
3/5
I'm kind of split on this one. It sounds like music that my favorite artists would like!
Beatles
4/5
Might be my favorite Beatles album. The pretension is there, but its mostly ignorable.
Muddy Waters
4/5
What a listen. Great stuff.
The Fall
3/5
I never really got the Fall. It feels like I had to be there.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Approachable blues album with some star power. The copy of the book I have calls this album "100-proof blues." I disagree, as compared to earlier blues records, this seems watered down. It's not a bad album, I just question it's inclusion here over other, earlier albums.
The Temptations
4/5
Nothing I could say about this album that's an original thought. Great album.
Pavement
4/5
Enjoyable indie rock.
The Go-Go's
5/5
Totally a breath of fresh air. What a great album.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I don't think I would ever go as far as to say this music sucks, but it's certainly not impressive to me.
The conversation around this band suggests a much more interesting sound, like every other famous band popularized in the 60s.
The Streets
2/5
Hip hop as a genre evolved out of desire for an african american sound in urban cities like NYC. Western pop music often passes back and forth across the pond, but it isn't often we see the genre starting here in the states.
Hip hop was intended to be by and for working class people. By 2004, rappers were as big as rock stars. For those of you born in the 90s and after, I promise this is a notable thing to say. So suffice to say, hip hop wasn't only being mad by working class americans anymore.
Moving onto to this album, the nicest thing I can say about it is that it seems like a genuine application of the genre to tell stories from his perspective, for a specific working class audience in the UK. The music itself is interesting from a cross cultural perspective, but I can't really say I enjoyed this album. It was interesting enough, but it didn't really get any feelings out of me.
This album is long and doesn't have a lot going on musically that I enjoy, but I appreciate the rejection of "posh" english.
William Orbit
3/5
Interesting ambient electronic music from the 90s. Like Aphex Twin, it feels like a distinct move to get away from the hardcore intense music that electronic was known for at that point. This list seems to love ambient electronic music clearly inspired by Eno, so I can see why this was included.
Scott Walker
2/5
I try really hard not to employ mono syllabic reviews for the albums on this site, but this was....
Bland.
Air
4/5
Very introspective listen. Atmospheric but with enough going on musically to keep me engaged.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
Miriam Makeba was instrumental in bringing African music to the international eye. What an incredibly beautiful voice and person.
Kid Rock
1/5
Musically, it's completely trite. Kid Rock takes his favorite aspects from popular music of the day (hip hop inspired percussion, guitar solos Ala Skynyrd and what I can only assume are attempts at rapping), tries to recreate them (poorly, I feel I must add) and jams them together into a disgusting amalgam.
I think country, rock and hip hop can definitely work well together, but this is what "metal purists" think nu-metal is. A frustratingly simple approach to genre blending that comes off as insulting to all but the most ignorant.
Lyrically, this music is just plain sad. It makes me upset to think of people I know, in my life, that feel something other than emptiness when listening to this. The rhymes, the wordplay and flow definitely evoke Mr. Rock's name, it sounds like a kid wrote it.
This album was made in a lab by record company execs wanting to cash in on popular trends while packaging it behind the blandest wannabe gangsta white dude they could find.
The biggest reason I can think of to include this album is as a time machine listen. This album is incredibly late 90s. America's hegemony was unquestionable. Music about partying has always been popular, but Kid Rock being popular goes to show you how thirsty the masses were for any music that wasn't about something negative. The counter-counter-culture to grunge, alt-rock and the metal underground. Say what you want about boomer era Clapton worship, but at least that music wasn't so fucking empty of soul. Gen X lapped this dogshit up.
Os Mutantes
3/5
Very interesting album.
Tricky
3/5
If I had to think of single word to describe this album, it's gloomy. The mood is set from track 1. It's comfortable in the same way that laying half on a couch while you're high on smack is comfortable.
Michael Jackson
4/5
I enjoy Quincy Jones' music.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
I like a cappela music, so this was a fun listen. There is so much going on culturally and historically in this album, it's hard to talk about it all.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Likely a seminal album for a lot of indie rock/folk bands I enjoyed throughout my youth as well as today. Lots going well for this album. The production is crisp, I especially dig the guitar tones.
One of the most baffling things about this album is the constant use of sound effects to embellish the narrative of the song. It comes across as cartoony nowadays, but I bet they felt differently in 19-dickitydoo.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
I enjoyed this album, but it definitely is indicative of US/UK critics uplifting overseas artists that have ties to existing US/UK acts. This album was pretty good, but I was hoping for something with a bit more edge to it. Those are my tastes though, I'm sure others will be spinning this for years.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Just a solid shoegaze album. I definitely regret not listening to this more when I was 15.
Soft Machine
4/5
Its not Zappa, but it wants to be.
The Byrds
3/5
I mean, it's not bad. I can appreciate it from a historical point of view but I will not be spinning this again any time soon. Hypnotically Caucasian.
The Doors
2/5
What can be said about this other than: "It's the doors."
Overplayed, boring and barely worth talking about.
The Replacements
3/5
Great Proto Punk.
3.5/5
Mj Cole
4/5
Very chill. Dreamy and atmospheric, this was a good listen.
The Smiths
3/5
Man, it's fine. Smiths albums tend towards the center for me, I just can't seem to get into it for more than a track or so.
If anything, I know a lot of my favorite bands enjoyed this.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This might be the best album Bobby ever done. Really feels like he's firing on all cylinders and at the top of his game.
The Byrds
3/5
Look, it ain't no 12 Golden Country Greats, but its a fine album.
Aphex Twin
5/5
Incredible album. Not every day that such a seminal album is also on rotation frequently. I listen to this album front to back at least once a month.
Sebadoh
4/5
An album that kept me guessing. Just the right amount of edge. Clear influences of punk, but keeps a lid on that anger. Contemporary with Sonic Youth, which is why I think it was included.
Overall, very enjoyable album.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Not much to say about this album other than it's underrated in Led Zeppelin's discography. Is it essential, though? Not for me to decide I guess.
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom is such a goober, I love him.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Understandably their most unpolished and raw album, but damn if it doesn't satisfy. I am a massive sucker for 90s electronica.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Elvis Costello has always been a blind spot for me, never really was into him growing up and never hung out with anyone who was into him.
This album was surprising in some ways, but overall what I expected.
The Cult
3/5
Another album the English are begging the rest of the world to take seriously. Unfortunately for them, in the USA, we are up to our tits in generic rock bands. Coming out in '86, I can't even say these guys were ahead of the curve.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Ahead of it's time? Meh, maybe. It's pretty interesting, though!
3.5/5
New York Dolls
4/5
Camp, very fun. Musically straightforward, but in the same way that punk rock is. The energy is really what you're here for.
Deee-Lite
4/5
Very interesting sampling. This album clearly had an impact on a lot of the electronic music I was listening to in the late 90s/early 00s.
Spiritualized
3/5
Kind of spacey and simplistic, but not in a way that tickles my brain. It's okay.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
The Flaming Lips embody that hopeful, melancholic sound that was everywhere in the early 2000s. This album definitely made an impact on me when I heard it for the first time.
The Beach Boys
4/5
The Flaming Lips embody that hopeful, melancholic sound that was everywhere in the early 2000s. This album definitely made an impact on me when I heard it for the first time.
Massive Attack
4/5
Very english. Incredibly english. Despite it all, pretty good.
Haircut 100
3/5
Totally fine! Poppy, a little funky, but mostly just fun.
SAULT
4/5
Very interesting listen today, made even more interesting by the fact that I just listened to Massive Attack yesterday!
I knew the spoken word stuff would be lost on a lot of people, and the reviews on this site did not disappoint. There's a lot of interesting stuff being done throughout this album. Handing the narrative back and forth between spoken word poetry and musical motifs. I know essentially nothing about SAULT as I'm writing this review, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I could see how this album would rub a lot of people the wrong day. It's very un-apoligetically black, it goes against what every suburban white gen x through gen z was taught. It's impolite to talk about race! It really makes me wonder about the backgrounds of the musicians involved. This could totally come off as vapid if some industry plant millionaire kid was the one making it.
Moving on to the lyricism, it's not even being subtle in the messaging here. Wild that people are upset about how point blank and on the nose these lyrics are, when an entire songs lyrics are saying "you didn't listen when we tried to tell you before."
As far as the music goes, I preferred the tracks like Monsters and Us, with a pretty sweet synth going. That said, there is a surprising diversity of sound on this album. To those of you that disagree, consider a cheesemonger. They could tell you the difference in regions and varietals of 15 types of cheddar. The subtle taste differences. What goes into making it, how the cows diet effects it, etc. But to some of you, its all just cheese. If your scope is limited, your understanding will be limited as well.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
I get that bluegrass isn't everyone's thing, but some of these reviews are hilarious myopic.
"ugh, I hate country this SUCKS."
Earlets, lmao
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I have nothing original or interesting to say about this band. So, instead, I'll just get some thoughts down rapid fire style.
-I genuinely don't know any ride or die Nick Cave fans personally, so I have a hard time imagining who this music is for. It's certainly not for me. Nick Caves smarmy vocals make me think of theater kids and REPO the Genetic Opera.
-I understand this album was written during a grieving process, but that hardly qualifies this as needing to hear it before I die.
-Less than 10 years old, who is citing this album as being seminal or even a standout? Doesn't deserve to be on this list.
There are some nice soundscapes on this album but nothing that couldn't be found on soundcloud by searching "Moody soundscape."
My advice to the critics writing these books is to get off Nick's jock, leave the man alone.
2.5/5
Britney Spears
2/5
Man, ...Baby One More Time comes out swinging. Great bassline, tight percussion, simple but fun hooks. The rest of the album is fine. As expected, it's drenched in turn of the millennium optimism and teenage naivety.
These songs were everywhere when I was a kid. nearly 30 years later, its a shame that it's not worth really talking about besides the singles/hits. There's a lot of schmutz to sift through on this.
I definitely agree with adding it to this list, it's a cultural touchstone and Britney Spears was/is one of the most famous people on the planet. Albums like this (and the legion of copy cat artists) continued the work started by boy bands like the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Hypnotically Caucasian music that sells you the personality of the singer alongside the music.
You know what, its just more fun and interesting to talk about teen idols as a cultural phenomenon. What the fuck is with that? Why were their grown ass men counting down when teenage girls were turning 18?
A decently interesting pop album that is much more thrilling to discuss than listen to. Fits right into this list.
Billy Bragg
2/5
Opening track must be a joke.
Generic folk updated for a modern audience.
Hoodoo Voodoo is just juvenile.
Overproduced drivel.
Primal Scream
3/5
There's enough going on here that I think it's definitely worth talking about, but man I had to dig in there. Aphex Twin and many others were already doing the subtle electronica thing a half decade before this came out.
The track "Medication" brought the whole album down.
Doves
3/5
This one isn't in the 2018 copy I have. I get it.
Pretenders
4/5
Feels ahead of it's time. Very fun album.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
This is the kind of wanker shit I'm way into.
Anita Baker
5/5
Beautiful husky voice. The TIGHT rhythm section. An excellent album made by a fantastic group of musicians and engineers. That last track? What an excellent way to end an album.
Also, what a good time to never have listened to this before but recognizing parts of it from hip hop samples.
FKA twigs
2/5
I'm not a big fan of pop in general. I thought this was interesting enough. Introspective synth pop, clearly influenced by many genres. It definitely feels a little over-produced to me, but this is subjective. It seems the direction that most pop is going in, so it tracks for this artist's debut.
I see the appeal here, but it's just not for me. Like a lot of art, I can respect why/how others enjoy this, but I probably won't be spinning it at home any time soon.
Joy Division
4/5
I bet these vocals are divisive. I'm not a huge fan, but they work well for this music. The bass lines and tight percussion are really the selling point for me here. The overall sound they're going for is a lot of fun and danceable.
Overall, cool album to start my day with.
Hole
4/5
I think I'm probably just craving any alt rock at all, but this was great.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
As others on this site have pointed out, this is a very long compilation. But maybe grow up? Idk.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Look, I understand the place that this dude holds in the greater conversation. However, it comes off as vapid and as Taylor Swift's music today. The poetry (arguably the only draw here?) is simplistic to the point of nausea.
I'm sure there's a historical context I'm missing here, but I'm really growing to dislike Ol' Leo because of this list. This is the 3rd Cohen album I've heard on this list and I would have a hard time differentiating them to someone who has never heard of this guy.
Def Leppard
3/5
Big dumb fun, but my appreciation ends there.
Metal albums released in 1987 that deserve to be on this list more than this one:
Nightfall - Candlemass
Scream Bloody Gore - Death
Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I - Helloween
Killing Technology - Voivod
Pain of Mind - Neurosis
Abigail - King Diamond
Crossover - DRI
Among the Living - Anthrax
Not to mention the countless recordings of bands that didn't make it because they lacked the funds, reach or otherwise means to become successful in the corporate rock age.
Aerosmith
2/5
Ah yes, the album that is brought up whenever I even hint that I'm not a big fan of Aerosmith.
Look, it's jock rock at best but it probably the best of their albums.
Simple Minds
3/5
By the numbers, but very relaxing this cold December morning.
The Icarus Line
3/5
Was this really good or am I just starved for any distortion at all?
Call that the Sonic Youth effect.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
Anyone remember when making a reference to Tarantino was cool? Its kind of hard to imagine now, because those movies are overplayed as shit in 2025.
Well, what I can say is that the wordplay is notably more clever than other shitass "hillbilly hiphop" groups/artists. The percussion is tight and the musical hooks aren't bad.
Unfortunately, I can't help but compare this to Kid Rock and that's an insanely low bar. I expected it to irritate me, but this album was best when it was mostly clever rhymes over repetitive piano/guitar riffs and some light percussion.
Glad to be exposed to these guys, but I cannot imagine spinning this to relax at home, sparking a J. That's a shame, because that's clearly what this music was made for.
The last thing I'll say is that there's not a lot of discernible reasons why this is an album you have to listen to before you die, at least not in the book that you nerds wrote.
The 2018 copy I own claims that the success of this album was due to the chemistry between the 3 members, it was popular in the UK and that this LP was one of the author of the blurb's favorite LP.
Okay, but it being your favorite isn't a reason for others to listen. The members of a band having chemistry is not remarkable, that's a prerequisite of an band that is remarkable enough to stand out from the countless other albums ever made. Past that, being popular in the UK is a mark against it in my book (kidding, calm down.)
On this list? 3/5 is fair I think. Only because there are a plethora of other unremarkable albums on this list as well.
Yes
5/5
THAT is how you start a prog album.
Holy hell, what a ripper of an album. But it's on rails the entire time! The train is going exactly where they want it to go, at breakneck speed and precision. On top of that, it sacrifices none of the groove. Incredibly ahead of it's time. Bruford is a fucking machine.
I mean that figuratively, nobody that plays prog has sex (citing from experience here.)
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
I definitely enjoy being exposed to more world music, but I don't know that I could comment on this past "it was pleasant and consistent."
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Holy shit, more 60s garage/psych that I've never heard of? This list is a wealth of those bands.
I just wish they didn't sound 90% the same.
Gang Of Four
4/5
Now this is what I'm talking about.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Not as short as I'd hoped, but it's a fun album. The of music I like to sing, but not really listen to haha
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Short, melancholic and a bit heartfelt. You can draw a straight line from this to insufferable pricks talking about In the Aeroplane Over the Sea when I was in highschool, so that might be a mark against it.
Venom
5/5
Spooky Motorhead is alright.
4/5
I remember when I was in highschool and I thought these guys were so cool. Their lyrical themes lack subtly, but I like that about them. This is a bombastic album full of swelling, near overproduced tracks.
I'm betting a lot of people don't enjoy Muse's vibe, but as an ex theater kid I had a good time.
OutKast
5/5
Is it self-indulgent to make a double album bursting with incredible tracks?
This album has tons of ideas executed well. Hip-hop with pop sensibilities, informed by decades of black music.
Outkast are standing on the shoulders of giants and they aren't shy about showing you the view.
Missy Elliott
4/5
Incredibly solid hip-hop album.
Beastie Boys
4/5
If you're not on board with the vibe of "nursery rhymes rapped by the whitest men on the planet" you probably won't enjoy this.
It's camp, goofy and surprisingly clever.
Miles Davis
5/5
If you thought this was boring, you're just admitting you don't play music.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
"He said bitches and talked about his wiener :( I am a real music fan and should be taken seriously. I'm going to google "thesaurus words for childish" just to show you how serious I am."
For real, some of ya'll need to grow the fuck up lmao
This album has incredible flow. The use of synth was innovative and gives the sound a ton of character. Snoop is a dipshit, but this album has a place in music history.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Man, maybe I just love Bjork, but this was pretty fun.
Sonic Youth
3/5
This is the fifth Sonic Youth album I've reviewed on this list. It's pretty good, but not what I was in the mood for today.
Radiohead
4/5
Incredibly solid album.
Justice
5/5
A personal favorite of mine. I was super into Daft Punk in High School (still am) and Justice always felt like a grittier, grimier house act. We love them for that.
This album is definitely a religious experience.
John Prine
3/5
A fun little country album from a time where "find Jesus on your own" was a pretty radical statement.
Orbital
4/5
Very fun album. Layers on layers of sound. Plays with and subverts expectations throughout the whole album, but the high points are definitely in the latter half of the album. Cool stuff.
I love reading people's reviews on this site. So many wannabe music fans that can't find anything interesting or intelligent to say about an album, so they just dismiss it with a thought terminating cliche.
"It's just noise." "Sounds like a toddler made this."
You're just outing yourself as having no clue how music is recorded or produced. Embarrassing behavior imo haha
Public Enemy
5/5
Iconic lyrics and beats. Just an incredible time capsule and brutally transgressive.
Death In Vegas
3/5
Two years before Gorillaz debut makes this more interesting than it sounds, I think. Not a bad album for a chill Monday morning.
3.5/5
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Dusty. Dry. Derivative. Ideas that have been done to death. Sound assets that were feeling overplayed by the second LCD Soundsystem album.
This isn't a horrible album by any means, but nobody has to listen to this before you die.
Wire
3/5
Short little album, always a treat. I absolutely could see this as being seminal for a lot of bands I enjoy.
The Auteurs
3/5
Not bad for soft spoken britpop smiths worship.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Totally iconic.
Turbonegro
4/5
A band you don't hear about much anymore, for obvious and not so obvious reasons. Other bands like Green Day or Offspring had better success with a radio friendly sound, but this album is decent mindless fun.
3.5/5
Erykah Badu
4/5
Solid and funky.