I don’t fawn over Dylan like some as his thin sing-talk voice and excessive use of harmonica aren’t easy on my ears, but I can’t deny his songwriting brilliance. Best lyricist of a generation. I prefer Dylan covers (Hendrix, Clapton, etc.) to the songwriter himself, but he still gets 5 stars.
Peak improvisational jazz from the early 60s. Quartet.
Quintessential British punk rock. Each song sounds like the last. Simple chords with an electric wall of raw sound all in 4/4 time. It’s the feeling of confidently spitting in the face of authority.
Dance music for a generation that grew up without dance. Upbeat, repetitive instruments with confidently poor singing. The most famous track, Take Me to the River, is slower and more interesting than the rest of the album, but as it’s a cover, no points awarded. While not my style, I see how the band bridged a generation from punk to pop.
All time great singer songwriter album, often emulated over the past 50 years.
An experiment in sounds that somehow got produced into an album. Whenever a melody threatens to appear, it’s interrupted by distortion, a random percussion instrument, or a hiss/yodel. It attempts to be exotic without actually having anything interesting to convey. Its inclusion has me questioning this entire project.
Manic and satirical. Sounds like they inspired several 90s bands. Tough to enjoy.
Surprised to see this album on the list as I always thought of it as a novelty record. Yes, they launched Tupac, but just include more Tupac.
This is a tech demo, not an album. The musicians, particularly the drummer, are highly skilled with their instruments, but at no point do they create music. A skilled musician may enjoy observing their prowess, but nothing played here is intended to move an audience. With the volume at 1, my ears still burned.
Emo rock, but done well
I give it 4 stars since much of the music is not original with Tina Turner, even if her versions are the most recognizable. Incredible performer.
Fantastic album with complex raps, beats, and instrumental support, but a couple of experimental tracks detract from the whole. Maybe those “songs” are important, but they’re not the ones I keep on repeat. The political messages are well stated on the fun songs as well, and they reach a broader audience.
Indy singer songwriter music isn’t my thing, but at least this group can sing and made original contributions to the genre.
Great rock album with strong bass, elite drumming, and nonsense lyrics. A few throwaway tracks that could have been omitted, but the classics on here are classics for a reason.
Metallica at their best
Some great stuff, but then as is usual with the more modern albums on this list, they get experimental at times. In a few tracks it sounded like multiple Brit pop songs were playing simultaneously.
Killer Queen shows how they can merge elite vocal ability, rock, and pop.
One of the more enjoyable singer songwriter albums on the list, though it doesn’t add much to the genre or overly memorable pieces outside of Babylon.
Enjoyed this one more than the other Heads album from the list so far. Complicated sounds but never takes itself too seriously. I could appreciate the music without feeling I needed to be a musician to get into the rhythms.
Whining. Uninspired. Thin vocals. The sound of low T. At one point I thought, “well this sounds a little catchier”, but it was only YouTube had cut to a grocery store ad.
I see why this album was one of the first crossover electronic successes as it adds more variety than other albums in the genre.
Fantastic from start to finish
I don’t fawn over Dylan like some as his thin sing-talk voice and excessive use of harmonica aren’t easy on my ears, but I can’t deny his songwriting brilliance. Best lyricist of a generation. I prefer Dylan covers (Hendrix, Clapton, etc.) to the songwriter himself, but he still gets 5 stars.
Really great vibes, but also forgettable
I really want to like Bowie, but it’s just not for me
The progenitor of low-fi hip hop The steady beats and wide variety of percussive elements vibe well with the haunting alto
While the music is simple, Chapman’s powerful, controlled, passionate, and at times understated singing moves the listener.
The sound is almost cliche as it’s been emulated for generations since. The archetype of jazz
Sounds like a basic Euro pop album, no better or worse, save for Bjork’s lead which does add some intrigue.
Tries many things and does them well, without conforming to expectations or genre boundaries. Fun listen, if trippy at times.
Fun
These folks were on another level
Just a fun album. I was impressed to learn Michael wrote, produced, and performed multiple instruments on nearly every track. While not complex musically, it does the simple things very well.
Interesting to hear the blues elements mixed in with a great American rock album. Sweet Emotion is an all-time great track.
I love their Elvis meets Rage Against the Machine sound, but it’s wasted on a bunch of jam sessions. There are no true songs on the album.
At first I thought it was just a pretty good, heavily produced pop album, but it really grew on me. There’s some experimentation, but it contributes to the entertainment value.
I’m not much for folk music, but this one caught me by surprise. Some pleasant acoustic that avoids becoming laconic.
Eminem raps his ass off and changed the genre, but I can’t give it the full 5 to an album of impotent range that is “just clowning” when advocating senseless violence.
Good vibes
Nice little folk album with pure vocals, but didn’t make a big impact on me
Not the best Queen album, but still fantastic
Master work of jazz piano. While I prefer more structured pieces, I frequently found myself lost in these.
This album is the person at your school lunch table that everyone has decided is “the funny one” despite the heavy feeling and need for a shower you experience whenever they strike up a conversation.
The beautiful whimsy and monotone flat vocals both remind me of Kermit the Frog. The most enjoyable tracks are the ones where they added a little range.
I appreciate the album more when I remember it was 1986 and hip hop was still finding its way
Dated, but captured a point in time with heart
Lyrics are as juvenile as ever but man does this slap. Forgot what a rush this album is.
In the emo alt rock BritPop 90s war, Oasis is the clear winner. This was ok though.
I can hear the inspiration Taylor Swift used to move from folk to pop. The album has lyrics worthy of a poet with standard highly produced radio beats. whenever it became too predictable, however, the artist would mix up her use of instruments and add a new element.
Some random songs mixed in, but the hits (Sabotage, Sure Shot) carry the album
The archetype of Southern rock and still the best of the genre
I see how this album is a great representation of the British folk style, but I find the genre soporific. Nice guitar and a talented singer.
Is “experimental” code for “making it up as one goes along”? Great singing voice wasted on rambling jazz instrumentals
I understand why the album was included as it helped usher in electronic music as a genre. It’s an early entry, however, and simplistic compared to more modern albums.
This project has given me a new appreciation for REM. While this album’s lyrics cross the line from poetry into nonsense, it sounds like the breakthrough for alternative music that would come to dominate the 90s. It mixes sounds and instruments while always taking care to entertain.
Like the Grateful Dead, Sonic Youth is a band with longstanding cultural impact with no recognizable songs.
The album doesn’t show struggle with her lifestyle but rather celebration of it, although it would take her life
All classics, and the “wall of sound” has been a massive influence. Still, I can’t give too many stars to an album that’s all retreads of popular songs.
Nonsense
Has me seriously considering abandoning this project
Enjoyed their sound but don’t think I could distinguish the Strokes from a dozen other bands