Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
411
Albums Rated
3.23
Avg Rating
18
5-Star Albums
38%
Complete
678 albums remaining
Featured Review
Fun House
The Stooges • 4/5
My favorite part was when they introduced a saxophone and immediately used it for evil.
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4.1
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411
Written
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-0.06
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3.23
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2010s
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10
1-Star Albums
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight | 5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
| Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo | 5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
| Melodrama | 5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
| The College Dropout | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
| The Downward Spiral | 5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
| Home Is Where The Music Is | 5 | 3.36 | +1.64 |
| Africa Brasil | 5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
| Diamond Life | 5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
| Strangeways, Here We Come | 5 | 3.44 | +1.56 |
| Moss Side Story | 4 | 2.53 | +1.47 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vulgar Display Of Power | 1 | 2.97 | -1.97 |
| World Clique | 1 | 2.87 | -1.87 |
| Arular | 1 | 2.83 | -1.83 |
| Southern Rock Opera | 1 | 2.82 | -1.82 |
| Da Capo | 1 | 2.82 | -1.82 |
| Brothers In Arms | 2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
| G. Love And Special Sauce | 1 | 2.74 | -1.74 |
| Dire Straits | 2 | 3.73 | -1.73 |
| Abraxas | 2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
| Getz/Gilberto | 2 | 3.65 | -1.65 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
5-Star Albums (18)
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Popular Reviews
The Stooges
4/5
My favorite part was when they introduced a saxophone and immediately used it for evil.
32 likes
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Is it obnoxious? Yeah. Did I have fun listening to it? Sometimes.
5 likes
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
This was the absolute worst way to start my morning. I loved every second of it.
3 likes
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
This is certainly a 1957 live album by American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, recorded at Mister Kelly's jazz club in Chicago.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (10)
All Ratings
Fela Kuti
4/5
Some really great songs with electric performances. It can still be a chore to listen to, though.
Adele
4/5
Rolling in the Deep: Classic
Rumor Has It: Funny but the hand claps make it corny. Also it’s “Rumor”
Turning Tables: Banger, respectfully
Don’t You Remember: Saddest wedding song ever
Set Fire to the Rain: Banger and a half, best song here
He Won’t Go: RICK RUBIN??
Take It All: Like the gospel choir but kinda got bored this one
I’ll Be Waiting: Banger, Amy Winehouse really paved the way for Adele
One and Only: Adele in her R&B/Prince Era
Lovesong: BOSSA NOVA CURE??
Someone Like You: Classic
Overall: Did not think I would love it as much as I did, I took a star off because she’s British :(
Metallica
3/5
Battery: Killer intro, nice tribute to their fans
Master of Puppets: Do I dare say it overstays it’s welcome? No, the riff’s too good
The Thing That Should Not Be: Not feeling this one tbh
Welcome Home (Sanitarium): Not a huge fan of the “softer” tracks, Hetfield needs heavier instrumentals for his voice to work for me
Disposable Heroes: This proves my previous point, best song on here
Leper Messiah: David Bowie reference
Orion: Ok
Damage, Inc.: I feel like I can destroy a brick wall with my face
Overall: While, I appreciate the significance this project has on metal music, I was left wanting more as the songwriting and Hetfield’s vocals were lacking on some of the tracks. Kirk Hammett killed it though.
Prince
4/5
A little bloated but c’mon, it’s Prince
Beck
3/5
It’s a solid enough rock album. You enjoy it while it’s on but forget it once it’s over.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Escucha muy agradable. ¡Me veo volviendo a esto a menudo!
ZZ Top
4/5
Great piece of blues rock. La Grange is still a classic and Master of Sparks is electric.
Santana
2/5
I’m not saying it’s bad, it just did not click for me.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I wanted to give this five stars but after repeat listens of “I Want You Now”, I have to bring it down. It sticks out for its weak production, especially compared to every other track. Still a great album.
Paul Weller
3/5
Collection of really good rock songs. Do you like collections of really good rock songs? You’ll probably like this.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Is it obnoxious? Yeah. Did I have fun listening to it? Sometimes.
Dire Straits
2/5
Walk of Life CARRIES this thing. Everything else was either too long or felt too long.
MGMT
5/5
These two decided to make pop music as a joke and casually made one of the greatest albums of all time. Modern hit factory.
Miles Davis
4/5
Two hours of some of the best jazz ever created. It is two hours though.
Air
3/5
It starts and ends with some phenomenal songs but most of what’s in between is pretty forgettable.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
One thing that cannot be denied: this thing is sad. One thing that can be argued: it gets kind of boring as it progresses.
Stan Getz
2/5
Did anyone else think the saxophone was way too loud in the mix? The Girl From Ipanema and Corcovado are classics though.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Absolutely insane.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
The more “accessible” tracks are great, punchy rock tunes! The more “experimental” tracks make me want to eat pavement.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Great metal album, I took off a star because they’re British :(
Richard Thompson
5/5
Absolutely loved this. Great songwriting and the Thompsons add so much character to each song. I want to give this 4 stars because they’re British but I’ll let it slide this time.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
I should really like this. It’s different enough from the other rock albums I’ve heard on here but I’m still not a huge fan. Shoutout Oklahoma though, we’re up.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I am no longer a Bob Dylan denier.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Next time, I’ll just play white noise over The Cure songs
Scritti Politti
3/5
This was the cheesiest, of-it’s-time 80’s album I’ve ever heard. I kind of liked it.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
This was the absolute worst way to start my morning. I loved every second of it.
Beastie Boys
3/5
The production on this CARRIES hard. It’s tough listening to the Beastie Boys rap for an hour.
JAY Z
4/5
Maybe I would take dinner with Jay-Z.
The Specials
3/5
I can’t lie, I had fun listening to this. Very hit-or-miss, though.
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
One hour of the most aimless, sloppy, poorly executed blend of rock, hip-hop, and blues that should be forgotten with time. I’m gonna go read a book.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
This feels like MGMT before MGMT. Taking old sounds and giving them a modern sheen. Can’t say I loved it but I did like a lot of it.
Elvis Costello
3/5
It sounds like he thinks he’s too cool for this when that is absolutely NOT the case.
De La Soul
4/5
I couldn’t help but smile as I was listening to this. Every track has great sampling and some of the better rapping I’ve heard on a Golden Age hip-hop album. The only thing holding it back are the skits (especially THAT one).
Fela Kuti
3/5
They’re all good songs but they all follow the same formula, which makes it harder to listen all the way through.
Animal Collective
4/5
Surprisingly loved it, I thought it would be some pretentious hipster garbage but there’s a lot to like about it.
Queen
4/5
This would have been a 4 if we stopped letting drummers write songs.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Bob Dylan is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists of all time. His lyricism is unmatched and his unique and emotive voice is a perfect vessel for it. This is the second Dylan album I’ve heard and it somehow surpassed my high expectations.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Very very good. The ballads hold this one back though. I know Stevie can do better and I hope I get to hear another project of his very soon.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
There’s no way they sound like that in Berkeley.
The Shamen
3/5
In another life, I was dancing all night long to this in a Scottish club. Not this life though, so it’s just alright.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Some classic songs on here but overall, did not love it. It’s good for a debut but the songwriting is not 100% there yet.
Parliament
4/5
Don’t let anyone make you give up your funk.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Hella whimsical.
Magazine
3/5
British post-punk. Whatever you’re thinking this sounds like, you’re right.
Yes
3/5
There are some REALLY good songs on here but it’s interspersed with random B.S. for no reason.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I listened to this after getting “Court and Spark”. I don’t know what it is but this is lacking something that was on Mitchell’s previous record. Is she phoning it in on this one? Is it the production? Genuinely can’t tell.
Beatles
3/5
The first four songs are great, completely lost the plot after Oh! Darling.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Really good but it starts to blend together after repeat listens. Shoutout all women.
The White Stripes
4/5
Garage rock at its finest. Anyone who says Meg is a bad drummer hates women.
Morrissey
3/5
Morrissey tries to convince you that there is nothing harder on this Earth than being Morrissey. It has its moments, but I could definitely live without it.
Barry Adamson
4/5
Very interesting concept and Adamson executes it brilliantly. Even without any visual aid, it’s easy to see what the story would look like.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Gimme Three Steps is a little basic but everything else is really good. Still don’t fw the Confederacy though.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
The performances are so good I forgot it was a live album. It has a very rich sound despite only having three performers.
Deee-Lite
1/5
This album feels so phoned in. The instrumentals feel cheap and the performances sound aimless. I hate fun.
Destiny's Child
3/5
Consistently good first half (excluding Nasty Girl), back half leaves a lot to be desired.
Frank Zappa
3/5
The instrumentals are great but it does get a little taxing. “Hot Rats” is a fire name though.
Pixies
3/5
Besides a couple of tracks (Is She Weird, The Happening), nothing else was really interesting enough to keep my attention. It all sounded like standard 90’s radio rock fare.
Paul Simon
3/5
Quirked up white boy with a little bit of swag.
Roxy Music
2/5
I’m convinced that some of these are on here just because they’re British.
Motörhead
3/5
12 tracks of pure, unadulterated rock!!! (It was ok.)
Carpenters
4/5
Peak easy listening. Makes me wanna fall in love.
New Order
4/5
80’s New Wave is such a cheat code.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
How can one person be so talented at singing AND rapping? Lauryn Hill deserved a longer career.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
If this were an instrumental album, I would lean towards a 4/5. Anthony Kiedis is a freaky ass rap-rock domestic terrorist.
ZZ Top
3/5
Where ZZ Top jumps the shark. In order to adopt a “newer” sound, they decide to water down everything interesting about them.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
All of the great moments are canceled out by the absolutely horrendous ones. The singer manages some good performances but overall, he is still not good.
Beatles
3/5
Paul McCartney writes such good songs… why let anyone else do it??
Fiona Apple
4/5
How the hell do you write something like this at 18?
Muddy Waters
4/5
Blues seems like one of those genres you have to hear live. Oh, to be born 80 years sooner and see this show.
The xx
2/5
Very fitting that there’s a song on here called “Basic Space”. This whole album is full of that! There should have been another song called “Terrible Breathy Singing”.
Talking Heads
2/5
This is certainly Talking Heads in 1977. They haven’t quite found their footing yet.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Heartland rock isn’t really my thing and this album didn’t convince me of anything I didn’t already know. Just some good songs and good performances.
Various Artists
3/5
I made the mistake of waiting until after Christmas to listen to it. Wasn’t really into it. Phil Spector is a monster.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I have listened to three Dylan albums now and I am stunned by his consistency even 30+ years into his career. He is becoming a contender for favorite artist of all time. The only reason it’s not a 5 is because of the final track, but it is still a great listen overall.
Carole King
4/5
This is what I imagine the 70’s sounded like all of the time.
The Vines
3/5
While The Vines have more personality than other early 2000’s indie bands, their songwriting is still lackluster.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
You know how sticky it gets.
The Black Keys
2/5
I used to love a lot of these songs when they were all over the radio. I’m glad I have since changed and grown as a person <3
Miles Davis
4/5
I’ve learned that jazz is a genre that takes time to appreciate. On my first listen, I was not impressed at all. By my third, I loved almost everything this project had to offer.
Hüsker Dü
4/5
Not as much variety as you would want in a double album but almost every song was insanely catchy. It does lose steam towards the end, though.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
The production sounds thin throughout and the singing performances can be rough but bottom five?? I don’t think so.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
It’s ok. I think more jazzy songs like “The Windmills of Your Mind” would have suited her voice better.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
Good but you could have taken off HALF of this project and gotten the same result.
Dire Straits
2/5
Dire Straits has to be the most boring rock band of all time.
Brian Eno
4/5
That bald head is full of ideas.
Radiohead
4/5
All tracks before Treefingers: Fallen out of favor for or never clicked for me.
All tracks after Treefingers: Some of the greatest Radiohead songs ever.
Solomon Burke
3/5
I imagine this is what the 60’s sounded like all the time.
Fred Neil
2/5
Boring. I guess folk rock had to start somewhere but show some passion, man.
Method Man
4/5
He’s got the method, man.
UB40
3/5
Genuinely can not tell if I like this or not. I like the lyrics and the melodies are great. Those damn upbeats though…
Willie Nelson
4/5
The album equivalent of whatever your grandfather was watching on TV whenever you visited.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I think I see the hype behind this band. You could probably call this album front-loaded but the back half still has some very solid songs.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
I owe Bob Marley, The Wailers, and the entire reggae genre an apology. I was not familiar with their game.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
This is like the less successful little brother of “3 Feet High and Rising” but he’s still chill to hang with.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Didn’t click. I fear it will when I am most vulnerable.
Yes
3/5
While more focused than the other Yes album I’ve heard, it still has the shortcomings of your standard prog rock “experience”.
Rush
4/5
Such an inventive record. If it came out today, it would still sound fresh. RIP Neil Peart.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Karaoke Night’s gonna be a movie with this one.
Hugh Masekela
5/5
The two complaints I have always had about jazz music are nonexistent on this album. All of the tracks have their own distinct sound and none of them overstay their welcome. This might be jazz in its purest form.
Kelela
4/5
If you’re new to R&B, this might be the perfect starter album. Very good blend of sounds and great performances on every track. It can get boring at times, though.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
It should be a bad sign that I prefer the covers over the original material but I can’t deny how fun this project is overall.
Neil Young
4/5
Pleasantly surprised. Young’s voice isn’t as “strange” as people made it out to be.
John Lennon
2/5
I’m not saying he deserved it, but if he was always this pompous and annoying…
MC Solaar
5/5
This might be one of the most interesting hip-hop albums I have ever heard. The way he is able to pull from a lot of different sounds to make a cohesive project is remarkable. His flows are crazy too.
The Prodigy
3/5
I don’t think this cute little crab would like what it’s representing :(
The Doors
3/5
Decent blues rock. Though aside from “Riders on the Storm”, the songwriting and performances don’t do a lot for me.
Ray Charles
3/5
It’s hard to rate albums like these. All of the songs are good but they sound SO similar.
Tori Amos
3/5
Some great songs on here but not a lot that resonates with me.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Dolly really shines on this one! Linda and Emmylou are here too!
The Sonics
2/5
“Here Are the Sonics” Live Reaction
-This sounds like ass.
-Why is this on here?
-Oh, it was very influential for punk and garage rock genres?
…
-This sounds like ass.
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
I underestimated just how corny 80’s hip hop can be.
Charles Mingus
4/5
Love the experimentation on this. It’s also nice to hear jazz that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome.
Ice Cube
4/5
Ice Cube’s flows can lead to the project feeling a little bland but the sample-rich production and his scathing verses make up for it.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Honestly not think RHCP had a good album in them. The hits are hits for a reason but some of the deep cuts could have easily been singles. Anthony K. is back in my good graces.
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
For this project, I like to listen to a given album three times before deciding a rating. It took me about a week to listen to this album ONCE. The horribly raspy or painfully boring lead vocals over butt country instrumentals is so uninspiring. If you don’t like the first couple of tracks, you will be in for the longest 90 minutes of your life.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
One of the best rock albums I’ve heard from this list. Unfortunately, when I tried to replay it, the album had disappeared from every single streaming service. Shouldn’t have looked back ig :/
Public Enemy
3/5
Similar to “Fear of a Black Planet”, Public Enemy bombards the listener with crazy sample-heavy beats and political lyrics. Also like that record, it becomes taxing listening to the whole thing front-to-back.
Gotan Project
3/5
Electronic jazz sounds cool in theory. The execution leaves a lot to be desired.
Spiritualized
3/5
It’s good but overstays its welcome. “Cop Shoot Cop…” did NOT have to be 17 minutes long and full of unnecessary filler.
The Undertones
3/5
There’s definitely a formula The Undertones follow for every song. Occasionally, a great song comes out of it. More often than not, it’s only good.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Consistently great folk rock album. It hits a lull in the middle of the track list but picks right back up with the jazz trifecta at the end.
Norah Jones
3/5
Not very inspired but some good tunes on here.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Bumping this in my Subaru Legacy before a night of debauchery.
Primal Scream
3/5
Definitely has its moments, but the instrumental portions and the failed experiment “Stuka” keep this from being a great record.
The National
4/5
These guys are now my best friends and my dads.
Janis Joplin
5/5
A larger-than-life voice paired with some great instrumentals. Crazy to think she might not have even reached her full potential. RIP Janis.
The Offspring
3/5
Good-enough punk fare. The lead singer is only really convincing to me when he portrays himself as a loser.
Baaba Maal
2/5
Shoutout Senegal but my Western mind can not comprehend the length of this project.
Hole
4/5
Man I sure did Love this one!
Syd Barrett
2/5
I did not like this album. However, I don’t know how much blame I can attribute to Barrett himself. It’s clear he can write songs and sing but the album sounds rushed and a lot of the production is awful. The studio was probably the last place he needed to be at the time.
3/5
I’ve gotten the three highest rated Beatles albums on this website. I’ve given all of them 3/5. Am I cooked?
4/5
As a longtime Muse fan, I am a little biased in saying this project is great. Some of the lyrics can be repetitive and the more radio-friendly tunes can be boring but the musicianship and performances make up for it.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The Stones aren’t rolling just yet GOD I am so funny!
Peter Frampton
3/5
Whenever I see a live rock album I start rubbing my hands like Rick Ross cos I know I’m giving it a three before I even listen to it.
The B-52's
2/5
Why is American New Wave so bad 😭😭
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Lindsey was off the henny for this one.
Public Enemy
3/5
Great lyrics and beats but the constant barrage of sound becomes taxing after both discs.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Solid album that really sounds ahead of its time. I’m sure other people will get more out of it than I did.
The Byrds
3/5
Maybe I’m too cynical or too stupid because this just sounds like another 60’s rock album to me.
M.I.A.
1/5
This project has some very interesting ideas and was highly influential on artists in the internet age. Why does it suck so bad?
Jack White
3/5
White showcases his forward-thinking songwriting talent while restricting himself to rock’s rulebook.
Air
4/5
It’s like a jazz lounge ran by robots. Really cool sounds but the vocal effects on some of the songs take me out of it.
King Crimson
2/5
I’ve seen a lot of people call any prog rock album “pretentious” and I always thought it was a bit dismissive. We don’t know the artists’ intentions when making these records so how can we really call it pretentious? Most of the time, the albums are pretty accessible or have a clear purpose, so I wouldn’t deem them pretentious at all.
That being said, this was pretentious as hell. Stop making long songs with no interesting ideas.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Cash’s personality is on full display but the songs don’t hit as hard as I would like. I need to see the alternative reality where he pursued stand-up.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Where’d they record this? The Snooze Fest? BOOYAH!
Paul Simon
2/5
I am not denying Simon’s talent as a songwriter, but something did not click for me. I think his boyish voice needs more instrumental backing to work.
Beck
2/5
Beck is doing way too much on this.
Tom Waits
3/5
Evil Bruce Springsteen.
Koffi Olomide
2/5
I think that was just the same annoying song nine times in a row. I can’t say it’s objectively BAD though.
The Stooges
3/5
I listened to this after getting “Funhouse”. Honestly, it sounds like it’s missing something that their previous record had. It feels more phoned in. Still pretty solid though.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I wanted to like this more than I did. I think they’re more suited for pop but they wanna keep their rock energy.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Some parts of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” will have you looking at your watch but everything else is pure prog-rock bliss.
OutKast
4/5
This might be one of the craziest hip hop albums ever. André and Big Boi pull from so many sounds and make it sound super cohesive. It doesn’t end on the greatest of notes with the last couple of tracks but 22/24 is not bad at all. Yes, I did like the skits.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Genuine question: Is Malcolm trying to profit off of cultures he’s not part of while making mockeries of them? It doesn’t sound like he’s taking any of this seriously.
Coldplay
3/5
Spotify tells me I listened to this three times. I guess I’ll take their word for it.
David Bowie
5/5
My glorious king David Bowie… my darling angel… my sweet scrumptious pookie bear… my Earth, sun, and moon… my Thin White Duke… where do I even begin? Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. Even in Heaven, you still make me smile. I hope we meet one day so I can personally thank you for your tenth studio album “Station to Station”. Until then, I will do everything I can to honor you. Rest easy. I’m pouring honey on you GOAT.
U2
3/5
It can bore and show its age at times, but there are still some bright spots on this.
Eagles
3/5
Peaceful easy listening. Nothing too stand-out though.
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
Pop country executed to near-perfection.
Baaba Maal
3/5
It sounds really good but it’s too damn long. If you shave like 3 to 4 minutes off some of these tracks, it would be phenomenal.
CHIC
4/5
This is one of those albums that’s ONLY meant for Sundays. I will not elaborate.
Metallica
3/5
It didn’t convince me of anything I didn’t already know about Metallica (I’m still not a huge fan of Hetfield as a vocalist), but it is a good metal album with good pacing.
The Strokes
4/5
It finally clicked.
Mudhoney
2/5
The ear fatigue hit HARD. Also, why did he say that?
Frank Black
2/5
Yeah I can’t pretend to care about this. This brand of nerdy 90s alt rock never did anything for me.
Steely Dan
3/5
The first track lulled me into a false sense of security. I thought I would get something unique but this is largely still one of those ‘70s rock records that I will most likely forget by next year. Still pretty solid though.
Sade
5/5
“What an album, what a woman, what a music.”
Burning Spear
3/5
I feel like I should enjoy this more than I do but it just washes over me.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Tends to sound like Christian contemporary but has some genuinely great country music.
Fever Ray
4/5
Great piece of electronic/experimental pop, but the Björk influence on this is VERY apparent. It’s almost derivative.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Beautifully composed psych rock but I don’t think it reaches its full potential. Makes me very excited to listen to more Hendrix releases.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Do NOT look up why Michael Jackson is bad.
Ray Price
3/5
Every song on here is good. That’s because it’s the same song 13 times. In fact, the title track is used for the introduction so you get to hear the exact same song TWICE! Easy listening shouldn’t make me this upset.
The Saints
3/5
Some good songs, some bad songs. It all cancels out to create the most mediocre album of all time.
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
At the time of writing this, this is the lowest rated album on this website. I completely understand why that is the case, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy this German freak music.
James Brown
4/5
GOD I wish I was there. It feels like something’s missing without the visual component.
Talking Heads
3/5
I DON’T WANT SONGS ANOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD I WANT SONGS ABOUT LETTING THE DAYS GO BY AND THESE HANDS PASSING IN-BETWEEN US!!! It’s still pretty good though.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I hope no one actually waited 22 years for this. Even if you liked “Loveless”, it doesn’t add anything really interesting to the MBV formula. Shoegaze sucks.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Incredibly ambitious to base such a long album off of one of the most boring states. Unlike the real Illinois, Chicago isn’t the only highlight.
Maxwell
4/5
Impossibly smooth. I’m giving this four stars instead of five because I will never be as smooth as Maxwell and I resent him for it.
The Stone Roses
4/5
Practically ushered in the Britpop scene with a great debut album and did nothing else. I have to respect it.
Boston
3/5
This might be the rock album ever. It sounds like every song was written to be put it in a movie.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
The “wild” is silent.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
I would like this a lot more if discount David Bowie wasn’t the one singing.
The Stooges
4/5
My favorite part was when they introduced a saxophone and immediately used it for evil.
Funkadelic
4/5
If the final track had more vocals and fewer fart noises, this would be an easy 5/5.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
I would probably spend a couple of hours at the Chicken Shack.
B.B. King
3/5
Definitely prefer the first half over the second but overall still a solid live blues album.
Fats Domino
3/5
Call me a Zoomer™️ but the outdated recording and lack of variety hinders my enjoyment of these songs.
The Beta Band
2/5
The cover is the most interesting thing about this album. I’d rather stare at it for 42 minutes than listen to this again.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
This album dies by its long intros and outros, but at least they still sound good.
Sigur Rós
3/5
Insanely beautiful. I don’t think it has enough interesting elements to justify the song lengths.
Turbonegro
3/5
This might have been put on here as a joke but I kind of enjoyed it. The main drawbacks were the repetitive instrumentals and childish sense of humor.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
This is certainly a 1957 live album by American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, recorded at Mister Kelly's jazz club in Chicago.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Very surprised by how good the recording sounds on this. It has aged very well in that aspect. What hasn’t aged well are some of the lyrics (chaining women to your wall is not appropriate, Mr. Presley).
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Surprisingly, my favorite song was the shortest one. I don’t know if that’s indicative of these songs not having enough steam to carry their run times or my shortening attention span… I’ll go with the former.
Deep Purple
2/5
Hate when something so influential to hard rock sounds like dog ass.
Pink Floyd
5/5
My parents showed me Pink Floyd in my early teens, right around the time I started collecting vinyl. Even as a child, I was in awe that a record like this could exist. I’m 22 now and I am STILL in awe. An album with writing, performances, and a concept this strong is generational. It doesn’t even matter that there are moments on here I don’t love, what matters is that it all adds to the story. This is a landmark record, a timeless classic, and the greatest concept album of all time. I can’t wait to show this to my kids one day.
3/5
Very cool piece of Latin Electronica, mayhaps a bit too long though.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
There’s a good EP in here for sure. I like some tracks on the first disc but the more stripped-back tunes on the second disc fall flat for me.
Van Morrison
3/5
I liked some of the songs but I hope my favorite artists never make a live double album.
The Who
3/5
I am already so tired of live rock albums. They’re never really good or really bad. They just ARE.
Sister Sledge
3/5
A disco album that doesn’t really sound as fun as I thought I would. Maybe it just hasn’t aged all that well.
Death In Vegas
3/5
The songs range from painfully boring to entertainingly edgy. Hearing Iggy Pop declare he’s a murderer after making those weird mouth noises was the highlight of my day.
PJ Harvey
3/5
This might be one of the most back-loaded albums ever. The first seven songs are a bit tough to get through but then Harvey locks in and delivers a phenomenal five-track run to finish the record. Also, she sounds vaguely like Björk and it’s throwing me off.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Freaky ass title.
The Avalanches
4/5
A nice of variety of sounds yet remarkably cohesive. There are moments that sound a little too cluttered, though.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Maybe some of the best songwriting I’ve heard on an indie pop record. Very pleasantly surprised.
Calexico
3/5
I want to like this more than I did but the tracklist is bogged down by instrumental songs that can’t really stand on their own.
Stereolab
2/5
The production sounds so thin and the vocals do nothing for me.
Coldplay
3/5
Whatever.
The Zombies
3/5
I liked this! Though it definitely feels like it was made in the 60’s.
Metallica
3/5
Some killer, some filler: The Metallica Story.
Pulp
4/5
This goes hard now but will go even HARDER when I have my mid-life crisis.
Arrested Development
3/5
One of the preachier albums I’ve heard but still delivers an enjoyable product.
Miles Davis
3/5
While consistently good, it doesn’t quite reach the highs he would set on later records.
Michael Jackson
4/5
It’s a testament to Jackson’s hit-making abilities that despite having heard many of these songs countless times, I still love a lot of what this project has to offer… except “Human Nature”.
Pere Ubu
3/5
Not as bad as other reviews make it out to be. Definitely not as good, either.
Elbow
3/5
Chronologically, Elbow is the middle child between Coldplay and Radiohead… and the really sound like it.
CHIC
3/5
Some of these songs genuinely felt like a sanity test. The rest were pretty good ig.
Beatles
4/5
I know this is a hot take but their second album has been the most enjoyable to listen to so far. Just a bunch of good songs without any failed experiments.
Talking Heads
4/5
I really appreciate getting the Talking Heads discography in release order. They’re a band I have been meaning to get into and I love seeing their songwriting and performances improve with each album. While this isn’t a perfect Talking Heads album, I probably won’t have to wait much longer for it.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
There is a lot to like about this album but I think that mainly comes down to how accessible it is. It’s just some good ‘90s rock that is definitely NOT better than Nevermind.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
1/5
It’s cool he loves God but he should devote some of his time writing better songs.
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
This album is all over the place. I think that adds some charm to its record, though.
Radiohead
3/5
Consistently good but rarely great. I know Radiohead can do better because I have heard four projects from them that I love.
3/5
PJ is talented but inconsistent. I can do without about half of these tracks.
Common
4/5
Common is a talented rapper that is unfortunately rapping on some of the greatest beats ever. I don’t think he was quite up to the challenge. Still a great project!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Two 9+ minute songs, Young was trying to piss me off. Still decent.
Stephen Stills
2/5
Wikipedia says this is split into 4 “thematic sides”. It just sounds like a double album that did not need to exist.
Van Morrison
3/5
I can’t stress enough how ok this was.
Lorde
5/5
I’m 22 years old, of course I love it.
Richard Hawley
3/5
This was a very pleasant 90’s album that unfortunately came out in 2005.
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
He needs to stay in the corner and think about what he did.
The Darkness
3/5
I shouldn’t like this but I have a soft spot for old sounds with modern production.
Rush
3/5
Over half of the album is a sci-fi odyssey that you could not pay me to care about.
Radiohead
4/5
If you caught me in a vulnerable moment, I might say this is the best Radiohead album.
The Fall
2/5
Get this guy out of the studio until he sobers up.
Kate Bush
3/5
Kate Bush’s talents do not quite match up to her ambitions yet.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
It’s fine but just sounds like NFR! leftovers. Why did this make the list over NFR!? I’m gonna go listen to NFR!
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Solid album. I just wish there were more strings and Leonard used his range more.
N.W.A.
3/5
The production is immaculate but 80’s hip hop is still corny.
Cream
4/5
Making rock music shouldn’t sound this effortlessly good.
Cornershop
3/5
A lot of ideas on here… we could have revised some things a bit more.
Van Halen
3/5
Hair metal is cringe.
Dion
4/5
Most of these songs could pass as 80’s TV intros but I don’t care, it’s fire.
Beastie Boys
3/5
The Beastie Boys remain the worst part about Beastie Boys albums. The production carries.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
They’re a talented group but I can’t buy the New Orleans hillbilly act.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
It gets exhausting listening to each disc individually… what makes you think I want to listen to all three back-to-back?
Joy Division
3/5
One of the better post-punk projects I’ve heard but I might just not like post-punk that much :/
Willie Nelson
4/5
Willie arranges a near-perfect album that finds common ground between jazz and country. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because there is no original material. It does take away some of the enjoyment of this record.
Elton John
3/5
Pleasant but I don’t really care.
The Human League
4/5
Great pioneering new wave album. You can tell it’s one of the first of its kind, though.
Sepultura
2/5
As someone who doesn’t like metal music, this did very little to change my mind. The drums were cool though.
The Stranglers
4/5
Not sure why I love it but I do. It’s tight, catchy rock music and I give it 4 brown rats out of 5.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Old-school metal that really doesn’t waste any time. My only complaint is that the title-track feels redundant.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I could talk about how the mixing on here is often bad or how the songs can tend to meander… but I won’t, this album rips.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Why do critics have such a hard-on for Arcade Fire when they sound like every other indie rock band of their time?
Suede
3/5
Just listen to Pulp.
The Killers
4/5
This is a very crucial album for me. I remember my mom playing this CD all the time and it slowly growing on me as I grew up. It starts and ends incredibly strong but a couple of songs (Change Your Mind and Believe Me Natalie) feel out of place on this. Still a great listen.
Love
1/5
Love stinks.
Television
4/5
I knew this was one of those cult classic records but I was still pleasantly surprised by it. No songs I disliked but the title track did not need to be that long.
DJ Shadow
3/5
I like the ideas presented but it doesn’t keep me as engaged as I would have liked.
Massive Attack
3/5
“Hmmm how do we make hip-hop completely lifeless and boring?”
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
She’s a GOAT for standing up to the Catholic Church but this doesn’t not offer much outside of a couple tracks.
Buck Owens
4/5
While it tends to get repetitive, it’s still a very fun piece of old country.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Consistently great songwriting and performances from Joan but something about the recording prevents it from being a 5.
Pulp
4/5
This is the good kind of “British bullshit” that is all over this list.
The Pharcyde
3/5
I feel like this should be more fun than it is? I can tell they have personality but why are they wasting it on Your Mom jokes??
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie, Eno, and Visconti are the Kareem, Magic, and Worthy of art rock. No, I will not elaborate.
Taylor Swift
4/5
As Taylor’s first full foray into pop music, this is surprisingly great. She’s always been a talented songwriter but the synth-pop aesthetics suit her more than the twangy guitars. “Bad Blood” is sorely missing Kendrick, though.
The Pogues
3/5
Starts off strong then quickly loses steam. Just like my last marriage.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Your grandma probably thinks this guy’s the GOAT because he sang songs written and performed better by black people. Your grandma sucks.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Me clocking in at the “Giving Live Rock Albums Three Stars” Factory.
Green Day
3/5
When it comes to pop punk-operas, you could do worse. You could certainly do a lot better too.
Green Day
4/5
This makes being a loser sound cool as hell.
Aimee Mann
3/5
I wish she had kept the energy of the first track all the way through. It gets pretty stale as the songs get softer.
Nirvana
5/5
“Nevermind” may be the commercial breakthrough but this is THE essential Nirvana album. Not only does it cement Cobain as a one-of-a-kind talent, it also proves that Steve Albini is a one-of-a-kind producer/engineer. Rest in peace to both of them.
Adele
3/5
It’s good but compared to her previous effort, 21, it’s both less consistent and less interesting.
Soft Machine
2/5
Turd.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
Pleasantly surprised. It’s pretty bland but still consistently good.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Sounds like The Strokes drank too much moonshine.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
It’s got that classic 60’s sound (that I’m admittedly not a huge fan of) but she’s a GOAT for a reason.
Judas Priest
3/5
I don’t know if metal will ever click for me but Judas Priest tried their best <3
CHVRCHES
4/5
Well-produced synth pop with great melodies? Automatic 4.
The Young Rascals
3/5
Ok guys… I gotta say… there was a distinct lack of groovin’ on this one.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Remarkably British sounding album from a non-British band.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This is probably what you would imagine the stereotypical Dylan album sounding like but it’s hard to say that’s a bad thing.
Kanye West
5/5
Kanye West used to be my favorite artist of all time. I once listened to his entire discography at the time on a road trip in 2016. I defended him when he was just an egomaniac comparing himself to God. Then, the Alex Jones interview happened. That was the breaking point for me and many others.
This is the first Kanye album I’ve listened to since that interview. I’ve seen so many 1-star reviews for this solely because of what he did and not because of the content of this record. While that is valid, you would have to give 1’s to A LOT of people on this list (David Bowie, Koffi Olomide, John Lennon, Elvis, Morrissey, etc.).
The reason Kanye is such an easy target for this is because we all saw it happen. There’s no speculation on what was said. I still find it tough to rate this low because of that.
This album is a look into the Kanye that once was: a hungry producer / rapper hoping to make a name for himself by working nonstop for years, waiting for his shot. Once he got signed, he did not let that shot go to waste. Every song on here plays into the theme of betting on yourself, not letting others determine your path for you. The production is immaculate, Kanye peaked as a lyricist here, and the skits add even more life into an already lively album.
Kanye sucks. This doesn’t. Don’t punish the art for its artist.
Pink Floyd
4/5
I must say, I was a bit of a hater on this one. While I still don’t think it’s as good or as interesting as “The Wall” or “Wish You Were Here”, I forgot how great these songs were and how well the album is sequenced.
Alice Cooper
3/5
I don’t know how many decent rock albums I can take…
The Police
3/5
“White Reggae” is crazy 😭😭
The Band
3/5
It’s pretty decent but then you get one of the greatest songs of all time right at the end.
The Clash
4/5
Maybe the most consistent punk album of all time. It doesn’t give you ear fatigue either!
The Soft Boys
3/5
Really fun listen! Can’t say it does enough for me to love it though.
Oasis
3/5
It does its job of being catchy but doesn’t offer much after that.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Genuine question: Is Elvis Costello anyone’s favorite artist? He’s on the same level as Coldplay to me. I can not and will not care about him.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
There is something missing here. I don’t know if it’s the mix or what but it feels unfinished.
Blur
3/5
I thought I would like this more than I actually did. The first two songs are excellent but they really put all of their eggs in those two baskets. “Blur” unfortunately debuts at the bottom of my Britpop Power Rankings.
Neil Young
4/5
It’s a little boring but it’s still a great listen.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Yeah I’m not remembering this tomorrow.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Some good ol’ fashioned British post-punk.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I don’t know if I was in a good mood or he hit the opposite of a sophomore slump but this was great! He’s still got a dorky voice though.
Small Faces
2/5
There’s maybe one great psych rock song on here, followed by some not great psych rock songs, followed by an obnoxiously narrated fairytale supported by some more not great psych rock songs. Maybe play this for your kids if they’re having trouble sleeping.
The Prodigy
3/5
It holds you hostage until you start liking it.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Stevie knows how to make you feel good but again, the ballads don’t do much for me.
4/5
Apart from “Four Cornered Room”, this album wastes very little time and delivers some great, soulful funk music.
3/5
Thank you Family Guy for giving me the perfect review to give any progressive rock album. It insists upon itself.
Louis Prima
2/5
Just found out that I do not need 32 minutes of Louis Prima.
SZA
4/5
I have not lived SZA’s life but I had a few situationships back in college so I feel we are connected.
Eric Clapton
3/5
I don’t have anything bad to say about this album but that’s only because I’m struggling to say ANYTHING about this album.
KISS
3/5
KISS had albums?
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Is it safe to say I was disappointed? It seemed like he was working with rough drafts on some of these songs. The ones where he locked in though… masterpieces.
Brian Eno
3/5
I was expecting something like “Heroes” but just got a more primitive “Since I Left You”.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
It’s not groundbreaking but it’s still really fun. The only valid reason to hate it is because it’s too French.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Some really good blues rock but doesn’t quite reach that next level of GREAT until the very end.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
It’s a decent gimmick, but a gimmick nonetheless.
Motörhead
3/5
“Give a live rock album something other than a 3 or double it and give it to the next person?”
My honest reaction:
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Marley and the Wailers mastered what still seems like an impossible task: making reggae not sound boring.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
The best Beatles songwriter proves he can stand on his own.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
The impact this had on hip hop can’t be understated. The quality of this project though…
Van Morrison
2/5
I understand and respect the experimentation but I sure don’t like it.
Daft Punk
3/5
It’s a good display of potential but is very much front-loaded. Shoutout to all those nights trying to 5-star “Da Funk” on Just Dance.
John Grant
3/5
A well-written indie album that doesn’t stick with me as much as I want it to.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
One of the most beautiful pieces of indie rock I’ve ever heard. The songwriting is top-notch but can get stale at times. Still a great listen.
The Cure
4/5
Incredible piece of gothic rock that doesn’t quite stick the landing as the last three tracks leave something to be desired.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
Lil bro is NOT Trent Reznor.
The Smiths
4/5
Very Morissey to end this album, not with one of the most tragically beautiful songs ever written, but with a song about boobs.
Gary Numan
3/5
The Displeasure Principle: The more you listen to “The Pleasure Priniciple”, the more tiresome the album becomes.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Surprisingly great piece of 80’s hip hop. I honestly thought everything before 1989 would have been corny beyond repair but this was fantastic.
Donald Fagen
3/5
This thing reeked of Steely Dan as soon as I started it. This really is just American City Pop.
Nick Drake
3/5
Didn’t think it was possible for a <30 minute album to test my patience.
R.E.M.
3/5
It doesn’t have any of the catchiness of R.E.M.’s hits but it’s still pretty good.
Napalm Death
1/5
*pulls Napalm Death aside* “Hey guys, what the hell was that?”
Manu Chao
3/5
Incredibly fun but not a lot I would take away from it.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Gabriel deserved a better career than Phil Collins.
Pixies
3/5
A collage of whatever they found interesting. Fun but a bit of a mess.
Q-Tip
4/5
A really fun album that proves why hip hop doesn’t have an age limit.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
One of the few albums I’ve listened to where I don’t have a single bad thing to say about it. Jimi is a phenomenal frontman and an even better guitarist. I am glad to say I am now experienced.
808 State
3/5
50/50.
Little Simz
4/5
Is it too much to say she’s the modern-day Lauryn Hill?
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I think I understand the concept of “fuzzy logic” now. It’s like including an ok album in a list of “essential listens” just because it’s tangentially related to britpop.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
I’m glad “Fast Car” made a comeback so that a new generation gets to enjoy Tracy Chapman.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Heartland rock is really not my thing and this did little to change my mind (I’m getting a strange sense of De Ja Bruce).
3/5
It’s all pretty good but underwhelming (yes including Wonderall). It does end on the highest of notes though.
Wire
2/5
One thing I hate more than a boring album is a directionless album. 21 songs 36 minutes of half-baked punk songs is not a recipe for success.
Blondie
3/5
I figured I would enjoy this given the songs I had heard from Blondie but it all felt like the same thing. This may just be my general opinion on post-punk though.
2/5
The instrumentals are actually pretty good but they can’t overcome the Curse of the Durst.
Prince
3/5
I’m cool with one 7+ minute long FreakJam on a Prince album, but FOUR?! Now you’ve crossed a line, buster.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
In my opinion, he’s actually better suited for these bossa nova sounds but it’s still too samey to resonate with me.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
These are 15 songs sung by Frank Sinatra.
Pantera
1/5
Ts is not tuff vro 🥀
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
One of my biggest fears came true… I enjoyed a Captain Beefheart album.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I think this album is remembered mainly due to the names attached to it rather than the actual songs. “A Hazy Shade of Winter” goes crazy though.
Sex Pistols
3/5
I understand that it is a crucial album for punk music overall, but it is just not for me. However, I don’t think they get enough credit for how forward-thinking they were on “Submission”.
Deerhunter
3/5
Am I missing something? Why do so many indie heads cream their jeans to this?
Haircut 100
3/5
Super consistent, but that might be its biggest problem. It sounds like a lot of these could be TV theme songs.
Frank Ocean
4/5
An impressive display of potential more than anything, I still think this gets overshadowed by Ocean’s following album.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Pretty good first half but a super strong finish. Maybe I see the hype now.
Laibach
3/5
Is this what Slovenia is like?
Taylor Swift
3/5
This just sounds like a bunch of Folklore leftovers. That album actually accomplished what this one is trying to.
David Bowie
3/5
I didn’t think there was a David Bowie album that I wouldn’t have a strong opinion of.
Circle Jerks
4/5
It was over before I could even process what was going on but I loved it.
John Lennon
4/5
Ok FINE… I actually really enjoyed this. I hate that he made something I like.
Korn
2/5
I hate to compare the two, but at least Chocolate Starfish was fun at times.
The Beach Boys
4/5
As a young listener, it’s hard to say this is the greatest album I’ve ever heard, but this certainly set the standard for popular music. Rest in peace, Brian Wilson.
Cat Stevens
3/5
This could be the most poetic collection of words ever but if it’s not presented in an interesting way, I’m not listening.
Van Halen
3/5
Literally 1984.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
I’m not usually a fan of hard rock / metal but when a black woman is speaking, I sit my white ass down and LISTEN.
Brian Eno
3/5
.-- .... .- - . ...- . .-.
New Order
3/5
Slightly disappointed. These all feel like songs they’ve made before.
The Byrds
3/5
These are just Bob Dylan songs that I can’t shake ass to.
Wild Beasts
3/5
Tfw the actually interesting instrumentals get bogged down by Tiny Tim moaning in my ear 😔
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Great stories backed by great instrumentals but I think the weakest part of this album is Nick Cave himself. Something about his voice / performance is not clicking for me on this one.
Sugar
3/5
Adding this to the “Mediocre Rock Albums with One (1) Song That Actually Rips” pile. Other notable entries include The Seldom Seen Kid, Fuzzy Logic, and Groovin’.
Massive Attack
3/5
Instrumental for trip-hop. That’s about it.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
It’s a good for a debut and really it just does what a debut should: set up for an even better follow-up.
Tom Waits
3/5
Tom Waits is what I imagine the Hat Man sounds like.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Damn I loved the first Led Zeppelin but the sequel left a lot to be desired. I think if they had spent a year working on it, it would be a lot better.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Daft Punk before Daft Punk existed. Despite the 3 stars, I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this. The robot gimmick does wear thin though.
John Prine
3/5
This guy’s pretty funny. I wish this didn’t wash over me :(
Neu!
4/5
Was not expecting to love this. Not to sound like a Zoomer but if this were just a bit shorter, it would have been perfect.
3/5
I wouldn’t return it but I probably wouldn’t use it either.
Scott Walker
4/5
Big day for fans of the original Scott.
Justin Timberlake
3/5
Not to say JT is a bad performer, but I think Timbaland and The Neptunes did a lot of the heavy lifting.
Lightning Bolt
1/5
This gave me a headache.
XTC
3/5
Pretty front-loaded but the front isn’t great to begin with. “Dear God” is a great closer but it is a bonus track so I can’t factor that in too much.
The Temptations
4/5
Can’t wait to blast this on Sunday mornings to wake my kids up.
The Smiths
5/5
I have to agree with the band, this is their best work.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Was this meant to be heard? It feels like I’m listening to his diary and it makes me a little uncomfortable.
The Clash
3/5
A good enough album, but given the heights they would eventually reach, a bit disappointing.
Sparks
4/5
Once you get past the yelpy falsetto, there’s a lot to love about this.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
It’s good but I will never recover from the psychic damage I got from “Kathy’s Waltz”.
Jorge Ben Jor
5/5
What an excellent find! I may not know the words, but the performances from everyone more than make up for it.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
American New Wave strikes again.
The Fall
3/5
It’s better than “The Infotainment Scan” that’s for sure. Not a very high bar, though.
Black Sabbath
3/5
A few good songs but not as consistently great as their debut.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Super consistent record, love the sequencing on it. Some tracks do tend to drag, though.
Björk
3/5
As disorienting as an actual breakup, but not as compelling.
Tears For Fears
3/5
The hits are hits for a reason but the other songs don’t really hold their own weight.
The xx
3/5
Jamie’s back must hurt from carrying those two goobers. If he didn’t exist, this would be the worst band of all time.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Maybe I’m getting jaded because I probably should love this but I don’t… still a good punk album from this handsome young man.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Few people get it right the first time, but Black Sabbath makes a compelling case.
Slint
3/5
I was primed to enjoy this from “For the First Time” but something seems to be missing… I think he needs to speak up a bit more.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Says jazz-fusion is the worst of both worlds and then makes this BS. He probably gets no hoes.
Genesis
4/5
Great piece of prog rock but I will have to dock a star for tricking me into enjoying a Phil Collins song.
Britney Spears
3/5
Honestly, better than expected. There are some really cool ideas on here and Spears might be underrated for a vocalist. I’m just not a fan of the lyrics or the slower, blander tracks.
Eels
3/5
Better than expected! The songs are actually pretty good but the singing leaves a lot to be desired.
Anita Baker
4/5
Soul that feels larger than life. Despite a lull in the middle, this is overall super consistent and the kind of album anyone can enjoy.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Super consistent, it does need a bit more variety, though. RIP Amy.
Kate Bush
4/5
An album you have to hear to believe. The first five tracks are banger after banger and then the remaining tracks are a suite depicting a drowning? Something only Bush could have pulled off.