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.

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.

Unfortunately, this album is as good as the nerds at /mu/ say it is.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Kind of remind me of Hanson. It's not my least favorite, but there's a lot of stuff I'd rather listen to.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Frantic, cynical and fun. I really enjoyed this album. Can't believe I've never heard of this band before.

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.

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

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.

"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

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)

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.

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.

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.

Thanks to John Bonham and John Paul Jones, the sound is THICK. Big fan.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

This album was quiet and deliberate. Not my favorite sound but it was enjoyable enough.

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 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.

This album is hard to categorize. Little alt-rock, little orchestral, little electronic. It was a fun listen.

Not my style, but it's fun enough.

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

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

I liked some of the slower, proggier sections. This album was a little dull at parts however. Fun stuff for the mid 70s.

Jazzy, funky and patient. Definitely lets the sound breathe. The titular track is a standout here.

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

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.

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

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

Very chill. As much as I hate Lou Reed, this album was a fun listen on a quiet Autumn Saturday morning.

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

Funky, lively and just a delight.

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.

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

This album was super popular when I was a kid and it pretty much holds up. I had a good time listening.

A good Jay-Z record or a bad Kanye record? You be the judge. Favorite tracks: Hola' Hovito, Never Change

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.

A pleasant, if not forgettable, 60s rock record. Just like a lot of the albums on this list it seems.

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

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)

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.

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

If you've never driven on the 405 while blasting Bad Habit you haven't lived.

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.

My expectations were low going into this, so I'm very pleasantly surprised. Favorite tracks: Hallelujah, Eternal Life

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.

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

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

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

Another early 70s slogfest. Very competently made album that just happens to bore the hell out of me.

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.

Some really sick bass lines on this album.

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.

This album still slaps so hard it's out of this world.

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

This album is so rad. Danceable, intense and just 90s in the best/worst way. Also, fukcing CRAB

Pre-9/11 country music is a lot of fun. This was a solid album. Will revisit it someday for sure.

Just a fantastic album and a killer listen. I definitely want this album for my personal collection.

Generic, boring, slog of an album. Started my day off with this and now I'm upset.

Quiet, intimate and simple. All things I personally don't value in my music much.

Oddball and genre bending crappy little rock band.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Moody and thoughtful, this was a great listen.

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!

Not my favorite type of music, but enjoyable enough.

Fun as a time machine listen, not something I would listen to routinely.

80s pop rock circus clown music. Fun when it leans into the silly stuff. The more generic poppy tracks did not wow me.

It's really cool that the game series Fallout gives these lesser known artists some exposure.

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.

What a delightful, charming little album. Love me some R.E.M.

Pleasant enough, but quickly got dull. Thankfully Suspicious Minds is on the back half of the album and got me re-engaged there.

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.

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.

Not the best Zeppelin album but it's really, really solid. Only complaint is not enough hobbits. 4 1/2 outta 5

As a Christmas album it's listenable. Why it ended up on this list I'm not sure.

Was expecting something more groovy, but it was a fun listen.

Long, but fun. The skits in between songs weren't my favorite, but whenever there's full riffage it's a really good time.

Started off strong with high energy, frantic rock and roll. Then it got really bland for another hour.

Aside from a couple tracks, pretty forgettable. But it was a fun album, very chill.

Fun but dated.

More interesting than most reggae I've ever heard. Not my favorite genre, but this is a cool and historically important release.

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.

Thoughtful, dynamic (in that it goes from super soft a little above speaking volume) and pretty pleasant.

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.

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.

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.

Very fun. Interesting listening to an album that bridges new wave with 90s electronic.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Obnoxiously chipper at times, but damn if it's not infectious.

Music for people who think they were losers in high school but were actually bullies.

Just some solid country music.

Yet another album that's a lot more interesting to read or talk about than listen to.

Just delightful.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Not my favorite CCR album but it's always a good listen.

If you don't like this album, you don't get it. You never will.

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 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.

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.

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?

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.

Sax parts were cool. Not sure if there's anything else of note here, but its fun.

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.

Good production and Happy Gilmore references only get you so far. Kanye's personality is so strong for better and for worse.

Music for christian high school girls going through their rebellious phase.

Love the amount of edge these clowns brought to music at the time. Unfortunately, the sound has evolved so much since then.

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...

Man, this music is just fun. Gets me dancing.

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.

Total mixed bag of an album.

Listening to boomer rock is my business and business is a BOOMIN.

So surprising. This album was just fantastic from start to finish.

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.

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.

Sultans of Swing alone makes this a 4/5, the rest of it is good too.

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.

It's not the best Talking Heads album but it's got some great tracks.

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.

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.

Some fun, poppy R&B. I'm curious to see how influential this album becomes.

It was... fine. Kind of hard to come up with things to say about an album that's so non-offensive.

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.

Pretty fun!

*Insert The Big Lebowski reference here*

What a pleasant surprise! Diverse sound, lots of great instrumentation and fantastic energy throughout. Super solid album.

Think of how much blow these guys were doing recording this bad boy.

Non-offensive and a little dull, but I can appreciate the production.

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.

Just a solid hip hop album.

Probably my favorite smooth jazz album.

Pretty phenomenal album that ends in near 20 minute drum solo.

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

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.

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 is undoubtedly talented, witty and funny.

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

I feel like a lost of the magic of these late 60s rock bands are really lost on me.

This album is historically relevant, but I can't find a good reason to listen to Elvis in 2024.

Unfortunately, this album is as good as the nerds at /mu/ say it is.

Short and pleasant.

Wasn't expecting much, but this was a fun little album.

Very encapsulating of the 80s.

Reminded me a bit of Radiohead.

Fantastic album this late winter morning. Here sipping my coffee, this album was a joyful, sardonic and bitter delight.

Just reminds me of that Futurama episode where Zapp and Kif leave the DOOP.

Pretty forgettable, but mostly pleasant tunes. 2.5/5

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.

What can I say? It's Depeche Mode. Formative but there's other things nowadays I'd rather listen to.

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.

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?

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.

Breddy gud :DD

Driving bass lines? Check. Songs about Halloween and Witchcraft? Check. Annoying noises in the song mix? Check. Yeah, it's Goth time.

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?

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.

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.

Tickles me that this super upbeat music is from the same place Black Sabbath was formed.

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.

So rarely are my middle school tastes in music vindicated.

Virtually no song called out to me on this album, but it was pleasant enough.

Music was totally fine. Great kitty on the album art.

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

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

Fun but typical honky tonk.

Pleasant :)

Hell yeah

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.

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.

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.

Some absolutely fantastic prog rock constantly interrupted by cartoon BOINGYOYOYOING sounds. 7/10, I had a good time.

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.

Beautiful piano riffs on this album.

Super bluesy and Tom Waits has such an incredible voice.

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...

Totally fine!

Feels like a collection of b-sides more than a complete album, but it's pretty fun.

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.

Doesn't feel like anything super special. Fun 80's romp.

Funky bass lines. Great voices. Just groovy.

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.

Groovy.

Totally fine 50's country music.

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.

Man, this album was just painfully boring. It's just so flaccid and safe.

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

Just chock full of classic lines and hooks. Fantastic album.

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

Having only heard "the hits", this was a surprisingly fun album.

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.

Chill listen this morning.

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.

Absolutely classic, timeless music. Incredible stuff.

Totally acceptable white boy blues rock slog from the worst decade of music!

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.

Already a cool album, then they busted out the Sabbath cover.

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!

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.

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

Fun electronic music with lots of cool influences. Very much so the kind of music I like to listen to while focusing on work.

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.

Musicality is too few and far between to make this an interesting listen. Mostly its a just a soft rock slog.

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.

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

This album is so much fun. The samples, the instrumentality, the attitude. Peak 90s for me.

Back when country music was about real shit... like getting eaten alive by bed bugs and coke.

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

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

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).

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.

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.

Most of these songs are pretty decent on their own, but listening to the whole album front to back gets a little repetitive.

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.

This album is only a little pretentious.

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.

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.

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 :("

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.)

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.

Pleasant listen, although a bit forgettable.

So varied and seminal for a lot of artists. 4.5/5

Not my favorite Beck record, but really nice. Somber, thoughtful and intentional. 3.5/5

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.

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

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.

"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

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.

Always fun to hear time capsules like this.

Delightful from start to finish.

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.

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 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?

Totally fine!

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.

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

This album is wicked fun.

Steel Ball Run

Changes sounds like it came off a solo Ozzy record 10 years in the future.

Reminds me of Quincy Jones.

MAKE WAY FOR THE HOMO SUPERIOR! -The Sovereign

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.

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.

Flashy, fun and just shy holding my attention the entire time.

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

Very relaxing.

The noisy tracks on this album elevate it so much. Feels like a bunch of folks getting together to jam. Having a blast.

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.

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

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.

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.

Not bad!

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.

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

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.

What can I say, this album is just fun and beautiful.

Despite having a couple of covers, this album is phenomenal.

"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.

Chill album. Like a lot of hip hop from decades past, it has it shortcomings but overall a really fun listen.

More boring than anything. Had to fight to keep attention on it.

Would put on during dinner with my parents.

This album is massively overrated, but it's still good.

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

Philosophical and poignant. The sci-fi inspired futurism theme really does it for me.

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.

90's electronic music, my love.

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.

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.

Music for people with no personality made by a nepo baby. At least some of it is catchy!

Still a great thrash album.

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.

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.

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.

While it didn't blow me away like their first album, this is such a solid psych rock record.

Iconic album. Like all good electronic music, it's just a little annoying.

As far as live albums go, really solid. Would rather listen to this than any Greatest Hits compilation.

A pretty self indulgent album. Lotsa peaks and valleys. There's a lot here I love, and even more I feel ambivalent about.

Killer album.

Quick and dirty. Fuckin' excellent album.

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.

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.

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.

Nothing I could really say about this. It's good, give it a listen.

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!

Not much to say. Solid pop record.

Half an hour of some fun, iconic jams.

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

Solid pacing throughout, knows when to rip and when to chill.

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.

Reggae, dub, Spanish guitar, this album is definitely someone's jam, but it wasn't mine.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Still relevant social commentary but it's this type of brit-pop just isn't my thing. Favorite tunes: Brainwashed, Australia

CAM ON CAM ON LETS GO SPACE TRUCKIN'

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.

I wouldn't go as far as to say this sucked, but it is really not for me. I found it uninteresting and dull.

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.

Super hit or miss. Some tracks suck me right in with an infectious arrangement, but others just feel derivative and boring.

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.

Phenomenal improv. Incredible musicianship.

There's a couple massively overplayed songs on this album, but overall its a good one.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Great pipes!

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.

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.

Pre-9/11 country music, my beloved.

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.

Mad respect for this musician.

Totally acceptable country music :)

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.

Spoken word over mildly interesting guitar and piano.

Enjoyable but I likely will not revisit.

It's fine :D

This album was chill, jazzy and just a blast.

Elliot Smith is good, just wish I was listening to this in High School.

Excellent album with a lot of replayability.

Ahead of it's time.

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.

Nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said before.

Incredible prog album.

Solid folk rock, some proto jam stuff going on. All in a tight sub 40 minute package. Ideal.

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.

Phenomenal album. Glad to have been introduced to it.

If you don't get it, you don't get it.

A solid 80's pop album.

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 makes good music.

Totally fine blues rock from the 70s.

This is a SFSO album first and a Metallica album second.

Catchy music and well done, just not my thing. Probably won't revisit it, but I enjoyed being exposed to it.

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.

Layered, intimate and epic. This album was excellent. Bjork doesn't miss.

Went in blind, super happy to have heard this. Lovely album.

Surprisingly good album. Was expecting another 90s britpop slog, but this was innovative, full of youthful energy and not pedestrian like their contemporaries.

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.

Quirky without being irritating. This is the secret to Talking Heads success.

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 Stones' influence can't be denied, but I'd much rather listen to the countless bands they inspired.

Shines when it's more distorted guitar solos and less britpop nonsense. Still a good album, though.

Just an excellent folk album with the perfect amount of edge.

What if Talking Heads was irritating?

It's... fine. I can't really imagine listening to this again in the future. 2.5 / 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.

Might be the least interesting or creative Albarn project I've ever heard, but it's passable.

I don't know if I have a solid opinion on this band. Definitely feels ahead of it's time in '78.

These Aussies are trying their best.

Transgressive (for the 70s) lyrics and some classic prog rock. Big fan.

Gotta admit, this is pretty fun.

Solid folk album. I don't really have anything meaningful to say about it.

I enjoy concept albums. This one is hit or miss, but mostly hit.

Fun electronic soft rock album, but the vocals and vapid lyrics really hold it back.

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.

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.

I like Genesis, I like Phil Collins, turns out this was good too. Who woulda thunk it?

I'm not a big fan, but I can see where others might be. The bass lines were especially fun.

Evokes images of the Peanuts gang, wearing all black, dancing along to these songs.

I still prefer Gorillaz, but this was a solid 90s britpop album.

Very surprising. Fantastic house album.

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.

Ya' know... it's the Cure. Not unlike your goth phase, it sticks around a little longer than it should.

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.

A classic and formative to my taste in music.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Like a less quirky, less memorable Gorillaz. Still had a good time. 3.5/5

LCD Soundsystem is so iconic, I hate to admit their better than I thought they were in High School when this music was new.

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.

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.

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 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.

Very surprising album today. The mix of genres here is fantastic.

Proto Tom Waits. Very interesting stuff, probably won't revisit for a while.

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.

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.

Early Queen is interesting.

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.

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.

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.

Great socially conscious hip hop.

Come on... it's Stevie Wonder. Higher Ground is worth the price of admission, but there's other goodies here too.

I can picture how sweaty James Brown was while recording this.

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.

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."

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.

Not quite punk, not quite pop rock. The clash were doing it better and earlier. But honestly, this album was fine.

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.

If you've never abused amphetamines I don't care about your opinion regarding this band. Most things really, but especially Motorhead.

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.

This music is a fun balance of twinkly guitars and distorted overdrive. Enjoyable.

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.

I enjoy Hüsker Dü.