682
Albums Rated
3.41
Average Rating
63%
Complete
407 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
90
5-Star Albums
15
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
|
5 | 2.82 | +2.18 |
|
I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
Out of Step
Minor Threat
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
|
5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
|
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
|
4 | 2.15 | +1.85 |
|
Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
|
5 | 3.2 | +1.8 |
|
The Blueprint
JAY Z
|
5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
|
John Prine
John Prine
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
|
1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
|
The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
|
1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
|
I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
|
1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
|
Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
|
1 | 2.75 | -1.75 |
|
Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
|
1 | 2.73 | -1.73 |
|
Justified
Justin Timberlake
|
1 | 2.68 | -1.68 |
|
Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
|
1 | 2.68 | -1.68 |
|
Follow The Leader
Korn
|
1 | 2.66 | -1.66 |
|
Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
|
1 | 2.61 | -1.61 |
|
Brothers
The Black Keys
|
2 | 3.58 | -1.58 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 4.67 |
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 5 |
| Neil Young | 3 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.5 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 4.5 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Clash | 2 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| Grateful Dead | 2 | 5 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 2 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.25 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.33 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.33 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beck | 3 | 4.33 |
| Metallica | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Public Image Ltd. | 2 | 1.5 |
| Kraftwerk | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| U2 | 5, 4, 2 |
5-Star Albums (90)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I've never heard of this before. Must be British.
Review: Yep...it's British. Over the top, theatrical Brit pop to be more precise. I don't really like it. 2-stars
7 likes
Merle Haggard
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I love Merle Haggard, but this album does not appear to have any of what I would consider to be his top songs. This likely isn't a top 5 Merle album, but I'll end up give this 5 stars to offset the asinine low scores and reviews saying something like "I hate country music". Merle Haggard is a legend that deserves better than that.
Review: While this album does not contain Merle's big hits, its still a very enjoyable album of old school style country songs. I love Merle's voice and it sounds perfect with this album's barroom style honky tonk songs and their lyrics focused on prison, drinking, and lost love. 5-stars for being a great genre representation from one of country's true legends.
4 likes
Kid Rock
1/5
Thoughts before listening: Man what a bummer to get this album today. I was really looking forward to having something good to listen to. I was 17 when this came out so I was Kid Rock's target demographic, and I hated it back then. Something tells me my opinion won't have changed much over the past 27 years (!!!), but I guess we'll find out.
Review: Yeah I still hate it. The nu metal scene was embarrassing at the time and it's even worse looking back now. These lyrics are just so lame...who thought these were cool? I really hope that listening to this album doesn't screw up my Spotify algorithm.
Also it's hard to look past the fact he has now become the guy my father in law loves cause he shot guns at a case of Bad Light after they had the audacity to create an ad with a transexual in it. 1-star for the music and Kid Rock as a person.
3 likes
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Kick out the jams motherfucker!
Review: So I get that its important in the history of rock music and youth culture that in 1969 the MC5 were out there playing loud dirty rock n roll and dropping f-bombs on record, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. This isn't great. The recording is very muffled sounding and while the band has a ton of energy, their songs aren't necessarily all that great. Maybe its a you had to be there type of a situation? Anyway, I added the title track to my playlist and while the music/recording is probably a 2 to me, I'll give this 3-stars because of its importance.
2 likes
Dusty Springfield
2/5
Thoughts before listening: This album is a mainstay in best albums lists, both for the 60s as well as of all time. I know that it has "Son of a Preacher Man" which is a classic song, but I do not know any of the other tracks. In fact, this has always seemed to me like a bit of an oddity for those lists.
Review: This is okay. "Son of a Preacher Man" truly is one of the best songs of all time, but the rest of the album stays in a mid-tempo soul sound that just isn't all that interesting to me. Dusty certainly has a nice voice and these are well arranged songs, but its just not my style. 2-stars.
1 likes
4-Star Albums (234)
1-Star Albums (15)
All Ratings
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Not what I expected and surprised with the number of songs I recognized i.e. Coconut. Reminds me of Lennon solo albums a bit. I like it.
The Beach Boys
3/5
I understand why people praise this album, but outside of the hits I don't necessarily love listening to it. Wouldn't It Be Nice, God Only Knows, Sloop John B, etc are great songs but the rest just doesn't draw me in. I give this a 5 on production value but a 3 on listenability.
Linkin Park
2/5
This was never really my thing, but I have a ton of nostalgia for this album. This was the sound of rock radio during my college years. It's better than I remember thinking at the time when I dismissed it as bland corporate radio rock. The hits are all very catchy and definitely better than most of Linkin Park's contemporaries, but the rest of the album is a little bland. Their sound is closer to 311 than other rap rock groups of the time which is a good thing.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
This was the first Kendrick album I heard, and I immediately loved it. Probably not as good as TPAB, but i have listened to this one more. I haven't paid much attention to rap as an adult, but this is great.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
One of Led Zeppelin's best. I have always liked the groove in these songs and the album includes one of their absolute best songs in Kashmir. Other highlights for me are in My Time of Dying, Houses of the Holy, Trampled Under Foot, and Ten Years Gone.
CHIC
2/5
This is my first time hearing this album although I definitely know Le Freak. The rest were new to me. It's pretty good, but probably not something I'll come back to. I like Nile Rodger's guitar throughout, but a lot of the songs seem repetitive and overly long. That may just be par for the course for a disco album.
Best song other than Le Freak is Savoir Faire which is a cool jazzy instrumental. I Want Your Love is pretty good as well.
The Cult
3/5
AC/DC style riff rock with Jim Morrison vocals. I like it. Electric Ocean reminds me of Alice in Chains and the Cult is likely an influence for them.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Probably my favorite Pink Floyd album with the title track and Shine on You Crazy Diamond being among their overall best songs. That leaves only Welcome to the Machine and Have a Cigar which I count among the band's top deep tracks as well. This will be the first album I've listened to where the entire album gets added to my playlist...some of the best guitar playing ever recorded.
Pixies
3/5
This is my least favorite of the original Pixies albums, so I'm kind of surprised it was included. It's not bad necessarily, just not one that I go back to a lot. In general reviews tend to rank this above Trompe Le Monde and I disagree...Trompe is a much better album. Still though there are some great songs on here including Velouria, Allison, and Dig For Fire.
Simple Minds
2/5
I really like Promised You a Miracle, but the rest of the album isn't doing a ton for me. The dark new wave sound really isn't one that I gravitate to, and I doubt I would ever go back to this album. That being said, I've always thought of Simple Minds as one hit wonders so it's interesting to hear one of their albums without that one hit.
Elliott Smith
3/5
I used to own this album on cd back in the day. I'm not a huge fan of the lo-fi sparseness of a lot of the songs, and while I enjoy some of it, the album never really clicked with me...then and now. I prefer when he does a more full arrangement such as with Pictures of Me, but that sound only shows up on a couple tracks. Overall I don't hate the album but its not really my cup of tea.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
TV On The Radio
3/5
Really good album that I owned and enjoyed when it came out. Not an all time classic however, and it does not include their best song (Wolf Like Me). I'll add a few tracks to my playlist but probably won't go back to this one again.
Antony and the Johnsons
1/5
Not for me. I don't really like Antony's voice and the music isn't my style. I felt the same way when this came out and was making all the critics lists.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
This is the type of album that makes listening to this list so much fun. I've heard of this band but didn't really know what they sound like. This is very good albeit far from groundbreaking. Definitely has a cool Sticky Fingers/Exile era Stones vibe mixed with a little Nuggets-style garage rock...which is great. I'll be adding a number of these songs to my playlist.
5/5
Absolute classic album and I'm not really a big U2 fan.
I'd always heard how great this album was but basically avoided it until I saw them play it live at Bonnaroo. It deserves the accolades. Hard to beat an album that starts with 3 of the best songs of all time. This also includes some great deep cuts like Bullet the Blue Sky and Red Hill Mining Town.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
I had forgotten how good this album is. In my mind Nothing's Shocking was far and away their best, despite Ritual having the big hit, but this is some great stuff. Been Caught Stealing is popular for a reason, but the real showstopper here is Three Days. Wow....I love it.
Janes was special because while the other alt rock, punk inspired bands of their era were rejecting the excesses of 70s classic rock and 80s metal, they fully embraced it. Great riffs, epic songs, guitar solos, a rock star lead singer, etc...alternative bands weren't supposed to have these things. I LOVED these guys back in the day, and it was nice being reminded why.
Massive Attack
2/5
This is kind of boring to me and really isn't my thing. In the 90s I thought this was what music would sound like in the future, but now it just sounds like a 90s sci Fi movie soundtrack throwback...something like Strange Days.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I'm not a big fan of the old timey folk sound of Scarborough Fair to open the album, but the rest is really good. I especially like how they follow that opener with the very 60s rock inspired Patterns. Homeward Bound and the Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine are favorites and I also like the Dylan mocking A Simple Desultory Philippic.
Pavement
5/5
One of my favorite albums of all time. Absolutely a 5 star rating from me.
Mudhoney
4/5
Touch Me I'm Sick! This is right up my alley and is a huge influence on a lot of bands that were extremely important to me back in the day. That being said, I never really listened to Mudhoney all that much back at that time outside of their My Brother the Cow album that I owned.
This album is pretty good, with 3 or 4 songs that really stand out as some of the best from that era. Touch Me..., If I Think, and In n Out of Grace are all great.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Sinatra's voice is obviously great throughout, and the music has a cool vibe to it...however, I probably won't go back to this album. This does not include any of Sinatra's big classic songs, and outside of The Girl From Ipanema, nothing here is really grabbing my attention. All very pleasant well performed songs, but feels like background music more than anything else.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
I really enjoy this album, but it does suffer from the same issues I have with a lot of rap albums: too many interludes and the lyrics can make it a tough listen. I feel the same about a lot of metal and punk albums too...maybe I'm just old and I'm definitely conscious of music I'm not comfortable playing around my daughter. There are some great songs on here i.e. King Kunta, Alright, Blacker the Berry, and i.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
I feel like I should like this more than I do. There are some definite highlights like Freak Scene and Pond Song, but overall I don't love the album. I think it's too sludgy and suffers from the same lo-fi production issues as a lot of 80s indie rock.
I like Dinosaur Jr in general and J Mascis is a great guitarist, especially in a scene not necessarily known for musical chops, but I tend to prefer their 90s and later albums.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
I'm not really enjoying this all that much. These songs all sound like intros, and nothing is really grabbing my attention. I keep expecting the beat to kick in or something...but it never happens. The self titled song is the best of the bunch here and it does get a full band, rocking treatment. I wish the whole album sounded the same.
T. Rex
3/5
I was excited that this album came up today as its one thats been on my radar for a long time, but I have never actually listened before. Its pretty good although the songs I already knew i.e. Jeepster and Get It On are definitely the best ones here. I also like Life's a Gas and The Motivator.
OutKast
4/5
Another album I bought and owned when it first came out. There is a lot to love here, and some of Outkast's most iconic songs are on the album, but I can't help to wish that they had edited this to one cohesive album. Like with most hip hop albums the interludes and skits are unnecessary...and there are a lot of songs that feel like throwaways.
In general I prefer Big Boi's Speakerboxxx over Andre 3000's The Love Below, but there are good songs on each. Andre's Hey Ya and Roses are iconic singles of the era, but Big Boi's side is just more of a cohesive album. From an influence perspective it's BB's Funkadelic vs Andre's Prince.
David Ackles
2/5
This is just okay to me. Not really sure why this made the list, but I guess it was influential to a lot of cool 70s and 80s musicians. It's too theatrical or something for me, and I probably won't listen again.
The Slits
2/5
One of those albums that I've never listened to despite always seeing it on lists like this one. The description would always turn me off, and after listening I'd say my reaction was justified. This is just okay to me...and I'm typically a big fan of anything punk related. This really doesn't sound like what I'd classify as punk though. There's definitely a snotty attitude to the vocals, especially coming from a female in the 70s, but the music is mostly a reggae inspired new wave sound.
Their cover of I Heard it Through the Grapevine is fun.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Awesome album with some great songs. I own this on vinyl and listen frequently. This has some of Stevie's biggest bangers with Higher Ground and Living for the City. I also really enjoy He's Misstra Know It All and Golden Lady for deeper cuts.
Can
2/5
This was okay. I've heard other Can songs that I do enjoy, but nothing was really grabbing me on this one. Maybe too ambient or something for me.
Mercury Rev
3/5
This is another band I had never heard before. Sounds like the Flaming Lips...which is a sound I really like. That being said, I'm not sure I would have put this on the list, but I am glad to have heard the album.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
This album has a cool vibe to it that I enjoy. Organ-based jazz funk music.
Meat Loaf
4/5
This is a fun album and Paradise By the Dashboard Light is an all-time banger of a song. I love the piano on these songs. I read a review that compared this sound to Born to Run and I can see it. They certainly both have a certain epic quality to the songs that really draws me in. There's definitely some cheesiness, and a couple of the ballads are too theatrical, but overall I'm glad to have listened to this album.
Living Colour
3/5
Cult of Personality is great! One of the best songs from the late 80s/early 90s alternative scene. The rest of the album is just okay to me. There are some cool funk rock songs and the guitar playing is awesome throughout...I especially love the slap bass. Funny Vibe is probably my favorite of the rest of the songs.
This is pretty much how I felt when I saw them in the 00s...killer guitar but only a couple songs that really drew me in. The 2nd best song from the live show was a cover of Crosstown Traffic.
Bill Callahan
3/5
While I certainly don't hate this album, it definitely feels like it made the list through a bit of recency bias when the book was published. Its a good album, but seems a little obscure to make a list like this one. Too Many Birds and My Friend are very good songs that have been added to my playlist.
Public Enemy
4/5
Public Enemy is awesome and this is a great album. Very abrasive and in your face style with loud sound collage style beats. The stuff Chuck D is rapping about is still relevant today...and his style is more yelling than rapping. There's a certain rock quality to their sound while still very much being a hip hop group.
Nirvana
5/5
Love this album so much. Nirvana was one of the most important bands to me when I was a kid, but as an adult this is the one I go back to the most. So many great songs on this from About a Girl to The Man Who Sold the World to Lake of Fire. The best though is Where Did You Sleep Last Night...Kurt's scream at the end is an iconic moment of the 90s. Definite 5 star from me.
808 State
2/5
I'm sure this was very influential for the era, but it's not really doing much for me.
The Strokes
4/5
I love this album. When this came out in 2001 it had the energy of the punk rock that I loved at that time, without being pop punk. It was just really catchy rock music with great hooks and a cool aesthetic. Indie rock/power pop I guess, but whatever its called I like it. This always felt underground to me, so its interesting to see them now headlining festivals. I never really paid much attention to their later albums, but they obviously have remained popular despite never being household names. Regardless, this album is great and definitely one of the best rock records of the the 00s.
Willie Nelson
5/5
I could listen to Willie sing anything, but this album of jazz standards is an especially great use of his voice.
Motörhead
3/5
Motorhead is a huge influence on a lot of the music I grew up listening to, but outside of Ace of Spades, I have never really dug in much. This album is great as a way to hear a bunch of the best songs from their peak. Everything kind of sounds the same, but its definitely a fun listen. That being said, I wish the sound was better as the live recordings aren't the best.
John Lennon
3/5
This is my first time listening to this album although I did know a couple of the songs. Its okay. Many songs have very dark and personal lyrics that I don't love, and some of them feel like sketches or ideas instead of fully fleshed out songs. The best track on here is Working Class Hero which is an all time great song to me...lyrics are still dark but its a universal message instead of one that feels like Lennon's personal diary entry. I also like Mother and I Found Out.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Great album. I came in knowing the big hits like Sir Duke and Isn't She Lovely which are all deserving of their classic status, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed a lot of the deep cuts:
- Contusion is an unexpected jazz fusion instrumental that is great.
- Pastime Paradise is instantly recognizable as the basis for Gangsta's Paradise, but the song itself is a true standout on this album.
- Black Man has a really cool groove.
- As is one that I didn't think I knew...until I listened and it was instantly recognizable with another great bass groove.
This is a long album with long songs that's never boring, and that has lyrics that are often providing meaningful social commentary. I really enjoyed this album and its definitely Stevie Wonder's masterpiece.
Tito Puente
4/5
Not something I would typically seek out, but its pretty hard not to like Tito Puente. I have always enjoyed big band swing music, despite rarely listening to it, and adding Caribbean sounds to the mix makes for an enjoyable listen.
The La's
2/5
There She Goes is great...the rest is just okay. Surely there are 1,001 better albums than this one.
OutKast
5/5
This was the first Outkast album I owned...and it's probably my favorite as well. BOB blew my mind the first time I heard it and it still just sounds so unique. So Fresh & So Clean and Ms. Jackson are some of their best big hits and the album is full of great deep cuts as well.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I've always really liked the song Maps from this band, but I have pretty much ignored the rest of their releases. This is pretty good, and I enjoyed listening more than I thought I would. Definitely stands out from other similar 00s era indie/alt rock bands, many of whom were influenced by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Zero is my favorite song on the album.
Spiritualized
3/5
Spiritualized is one of those bands where I really like a lot of the songs that I hear, but something doesn't really click when I try to dig into their albums. There are some great songs on here like I Want You, Run, and Shine a Light, but others that are kind of a slog to get through. Definitely a little too droney and slow for my tastes. That being said, the highs on this album are great.
N.E.R.D
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember Pharrell being in this group, but this album cover is not one that I recognize. From what I remember about them, they have kind of a rap/pop/rock mix to their sound and were pretty popular at the time. I'm pretty surprised this is on the 1,001 list though as I don't remember it being highly touted at the time.
Review: Yep...this is basically rap/r&b with rock guitars. Definitely not rap metal ala Limp Bizkit...and better for it. This is okay...a lot of this sounds like Happy-era Pharrell meets like Maroon 5 or something...very poppy style rock.
According to Spotify listen stats She Wants to Move is the hit here and that makes sense. It's definitely the catchiest song with kind of a Santana-style guitar solo going underneath the music. There are a couple other songs I like fine, but overall this isn't for me.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Before listening: I don't know too much about Joan Armatrading although I have heard her name before. I believe she is 60s folk similar to Joan Baez.
Review: This is definitely folk inspired but also more powerful than I thought it would be...there's a little more rock edge to the production than her contemporaries like Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. Very cool sound with a great voice that was likely a big influence to someone like Brandi Carlile.
Down to Zero and Love and Affection are the best songs on here which shows in the Spotify stats...they have 13mil and 32mil listens compared to less than 1mil for the other songs. Thats a shame though cause there are other great songs on here...Water With the Wine and Join the Boys are 2 that I especially enjoyed.
1/5
Thoughts before listening: I've heard of this band and the album cover looks familiar, but I've never listened to them. My initial thought is that they are 80s synth pop, but I'm not really sure. This is the type of album where I'm often surprised to recognize a song or two, but I definitely can't name any of their hits.
Review: This isn't for me. The bass player is really good...kind of has a disco feel to his playing that I'm enjoying, but everything else isn't really doing much for me...and I might even call it annoying. This is the sound people are thinking of when they say they hate 80s new wave music.
Wild Beasts
1/5
Thoughts before listening: another surprising entry for a 00s/10s era indie rock band. I was listening to this type of music back then but barely remember these guys. I'm sure it'll be fine.
Review: yeah I'm not really sure what to think. The falsetto vocals are annoying and the lyrics are dumb. The music is fine I guess but not really my thing. Indie pop with dancey beats and chiming guitar. Definitely feels like something that made this list because the editors felt they needed to add some recent albums.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is my favorite Springsteen album.
Review: There's not much else to say about this. I love this album. The hits are popular for a reason, but I love the deep cuts on this...Adam Raised a Cain, Candy's Room, Prove It All Night, etc. All great songs that remained heavy hitters in Bruce's live shows.
Sepultura
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pleasantly surprised to see this on the list. I was a teenager when this came out and I remember it being a big deal to my friends who were into metal. I was more into punk rock than metal but I did hear this at the time. It was too dense and the vocals were too much of a growl for me. I'm interested to see what I think of it now as an adult.
Review: This is definitely dense and I'm still not a huge fan of the growled vocals, but I'm not hating this album. There's definitely a cool groove and great percussion to these songs even though it's not necessarily my style. The music sounds a lot like what Korn and the Deftones were doing around that same time. The songs with tribal chants are cool and interesting.
Skepta
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I think this is British rap although I've never listened to this guy before. I like The Streets and I remember when Dizzee Rascal was a big deal, but other than that I don't know that much about the British hip hop scene. This probably won't be my thing but I'll give it a shot.
Review: This is fine. The British accent and slang does make this unique from the American hip hop I am more familiar with. Like with a lot of hip hop albums the skits are dumb and its hard to relate to the lyrics. Overall this probably isn't something I'm going to go back and listen to, but it's okay for what it is. I did add a couple songs to my playlist.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This was one of the earliest albums I ever bought and definitely the first Zeppelin album I ever owned. In college I had a professor ask us to bring in an example of of the quintessential rock n roll song and I brought in Rock n Roll from this album.
Review: This is a classic. Every song on here is iconic, even something like the Battle of Evermore which is a definite departure from the typical Zeppelin sound. The combination of heavy rock with folk inspired sounds was revolutionary for the time and has always set Zeppelin apart from the other early hard rock bands. This is a definite 5 star album and all songs are getting added to the playlist.
Cat Stevens
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm sure I'll know a lot of songs on this album but I've never listened before. I really like the hits, so I'm sure the album will be great.
Review: Yeah, this was very good. I expected a folky album and there is that aspect to the sound, but there's definitely more of a pop rock production to these songs. Wild World and Father & Son are great and I also really enjoyed Sad Lisa.
Madness
2/5
Thoughts before listening: When I was into ska music in the 90s Madness was always listed as one of the original English ska bands along with the Specials. I LOVE the Specials, but I don't know all that much from Madness except for Our House which is on the album.
Review: This is okay. Seems more like new wave pop than ska, although there are some horns in the mix. There is kind of a carnival sound to a lot of the music. Our House is a great song and very iconic for the 80s. Other than that I enjoyed Tomorrow's Just Another Day but nothing else really stands out to me.
Parliament
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't know what's on this album but I'm sure it's great. I know this is one of Parliament's most celebrated records so I'm excited to listen.
Review: Yep...this is awesome. This is the definition of funk music (as they remind you over and over again) and a lot of it is very recognizable since its been sampled so many times in hip hop songs. Mothership Connection and Give Up the Funk are the best songs, but I enjoyed the whole album. Some of the talking was annoying and there is definitely a lot of repetition to the songs, but this is still a fantastic record.
Television
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this one. Great album.
Review: Television gets called a punk band but that's mainly cause they came out of the CBGBs scene. This is more of what would come to be called indie rock or post-punk. Really good guitar playing throughout and a huge influence on many of the bands I grew up listening to. The title track is the best song here and the second half of the album isn't as good as the first.
Germs
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know the Germs but have never listened to them. They are always listed as an early LA punk band with huge influence on the scene as well as Pat Smear's first band before Nirvana and the Foo Fighters which means they should be right up my alley. However, I had always read that they were super sloppy, especially Darby Crash, and for whatever reason I just never sought it out. Seems like one of those albums that makes the 1,001 list for its historical significance more than its quality.
Review: The music on this recording is a lot less sloppy than I had assumed...from a little research it seems this is thanks to production by Joan Jett. I am especially liking the bass in these songs and there are some great punk rock guitar riffs as well. It is very easy to hear their influence on the 80s punk bands that I love like Bad Religion and especially the Descendents. Only problem for me is that I don't love Darby Crash's vocals. Its too growled and slurring....even more so than the bands that came soon after them.
Lexicon Devil is the one song I recognize on this album and its really good. Definitely has a similar vibe to the Ramones, especially with the gimme gimme lines, that I feel a lot of the LA bands avoided. I also really like the bass in Richie Dagger's Crime and Strange Notes. Overall this is a nice early snapshot of the LA punk scene that would have a huge influence on much of the music I listened to in high school. Unfortunately this album isn't on Spotify, and the songs that do exist are all from live recordings that are virtually unlistenable and show the side of Darby Crash I had always avoided.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I only really know Lenny for his late 90s hits, especially Are You Gonna Go My Way, Fly Away, and the cover of American Woman. I always found him to be an interesting throw back to 70s style rock, but his music wasn't something I paid a ton of attention to. I definitely haven't listened to his earlier albums like this one. I think I know Let Love Rule and maybe Mr. Cab Driver.
Review: This is pretty good but it's definitely derivative of 70s rock. Nothing revolutionary here.
Japan
2/5
Thoughts before review: Feels like another fairly obscure 80s British new wave band. I don't recognize this album cover or any of the songs names. This probably isn't going to be for me.
Review: Yeah not really my thing. Slow, gothy synth pop. Usually on these types of albums I recognize a hit or 2 but not here. The only song I recognize, and also my favorite song on the album, is their cover of Velvet Underground's All Tomorrow's Parties. I'm adding that one to the playlist.
The Offspring
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This was one of the gateway albums for me to punk rock, but I'm surprised it's on the list. I feel like it's generally considered the lesser of the 3 big 90s pop punk albums (...and Out Come the Wolves and Dookie being the others). I have a ton of nostalgia for this album and will be adding quite a few songs to the playlist I'm sure.
Review: I know every word to every song. This has been a fun listen, but I still feel like it's a lesser album compared to its peers. The Offspring just aren't in the same league as Bad Religion, NOFX, Pennywise, Bouncing Souls, etc...not to mention Green Day and Rancid. I had also forgotten how some of the cheesy jokey stuff they'd later become known for was already showing up on this album.
The Cars
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know the Cars and will probably recognize a lot of this album, but I've never heard this before. I have always thought of them as simplistic pop rock, but I know they get praised a lot by music critics. I'm excited to dig in a little deeper on them.
Review: This is really good. Sure it's pop music, but it's also really catchy, smart songwriting. The hits on this album are some of the most memorable, timeless songs released in the late 70s. Considering their contemporaries were punk, prog, disco, etc it's refreshing to have a band that was out there just playing solid rock n roll songs. 4-stars.
Slipknot
2/5
Thoughts before listening: If this has Wait and Bleed on it then I love that song. Otherwise I know Slipknot is well respected in the metal scene but they were never my thing. I always thought the costumes were gimmicky.
Review: I didn't like this music when I was listening to punk rock back in the day and I'm definitely not into it now. That being said, Wait and Bleed is still a banger and one of my favorites of the nu metal era. There are definitely some parts in the other songs that I can enjoy cause they do seem to have a knack for catchy choruses, but those are few and far between...and usually just one part of an otherwise annoying song. I especially hate the death metal vocals and raps that are used throughout. This just isn't for me.
ZZ Top
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I love ZZ Top's 70s albums, but I have never listened to this one. They changed their sound a bit in the 80s to become more radio friendly and went hard on the gimmick of their beards...and it worked. I know this album was huge and I'll probably know most of the songs. I'm sure I'll enjoy this, but it's hard to think it's better than an album like Tres Hombres.
Review: The hits are definitely poppy, but they're also iconic songs that have been mainstays of classic rock radio throughout my life. Its hard to deny just how catchy this album is while still very much being a blues rock album. I am enjoying listening to this more than I thought I would. Gimme All Your Lovin, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs are undeniable bangers, and I am also enjoying some of the deeper tracks like Got Me Under Pressure.
That being said, the album is very much front loaded with the 2nd half being pretty weak. There are some questionable things here such as Thug's Don Henley vibe meets slap bass breakdowns and too many throwaway songs with dumb lyrics (i.e. TV Dinners and Dirty Dog). Overall though this is a fun listen.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Todd Rundgren is an enigma to me. He gets massive praise from music nerds and critics, but I don't recognize any of his songs on Spotify. I know he's in the rock n roll Hall of Fame and produced a lot of well known records, but when I have tried to listen to his music, it's just fine to me. Sounds like other 70s rock bands like Steely Dan. I do understand that he changed his sound a lot and I've seen where this album is labeled as experimental, so maybe the "hits" on Spotify aren't representative of his full discography. Anyway, I'm excited to try this album out.
Review: So this sounds like Steely Dan meets Frank Zappa with some Beatles melodies thrown in as well. I think I like it, but its also a lot to take in on one listen. This is one of those albums where a lot of ideas show up but not always in the form of a fully fledged out song. There are bits and pieces of great melodies that are then abruptly ended for some weird avant garde art rock song...much like Frank Zappa. That makes for an interesting if not always fully enjoyable listen.
There are some really good songs on here. International Feel, Zen Archer, Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel, Is It My Name?, and Just One Victory are great tracks that I am glad to add to the playlist. A lot of the other songs are either sappy ballads or complete weirdo arty excursions that just aren't for me.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is my uncle's favorite band. I know Run to the Hills and their other hits, but I have never really listened deeply to them. I think the Satanic imagery has always made me shy away from Iron Maiden, but I am always surprised that their music isn't really all that dark.
Review: Yeah...this is good. Its a really fun listen with upbeat tempos, cool guitar riffs, and walking basslines. Also vocals that are actually sung instead of being growled like a lot of metal bands. Bruce Dickinson is almost operatic in his delivery and it adds a certain epic quality to these songs that is often missing with most modern metal bands. I certainly prefer this to something like Sepultura that I have listened to from the 1,001 Album list.
Run to the Hills is such a great song and really stands out on this album. The galloping pace makes for a fun listen and that same intensity is used throughout the album. Other highlights include The Prisoner, The Number of the Beast, and Hallowed Be Thy Name...and all of these are considered staples of the metal genre for good reason. I am happy to add all of these songs to the playlist.
N.W.A.
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this is a classic full of iconic songs but I've never listened to it. I do know a few of the songs, and they're fun late 80s/early 90s California gangsta rap. I'm sure the lyrics will be a turn off for me, but I'm excited to hear this album.
Review: I really enjoy this album, but as with a lot of the hip hop on here the lyrics make it a tough listen. Still though, I love this era of hip hop where they are rapping over backing tracks that are mostly sampled from 70s funk bands. I like NWA's group approach with distinct individual voices and personalities from each of the members. Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube especially are icons of the genre so it is cool to hear them together interacting on these songs.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Good one although I've never owned or listened to this. I know it's Sabbath's debut and typically called the first heavy metal album. I know Paranoid and the greatest hits albums much better than this one, but I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
Review: Yeah, I enjoy this. Its definitely different than what would become known as heavy metal, with this feeling more just like a slightly more abrasive form of British blues rock ala Cream. It's really good though. The Wizard is my favorite song on the album, and I also really enjoy the opening self titled song. 2nd half meanders a bit and this definitely is not their best album.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This is a surprising entry to the list for Emmylou Harris. She has a large back catalog of 70s country classics, but they include a 2000s album from her? Weird. I am expecting more of a folk album than country, and I am sure it will be enjoyable.
Review: This is basically the definition of adult alternative. Its a very mature sound with strong production and well written songs....its also a little dull. Not bad necessarily, just not overly exciting to me. Definitely a stark difference between this and other recent albums I've gotten on here like NWA and Iron Maiden.
I am listening with the lyrics pulled up onscreen, and these are great story songs with deep messages. Mostly dark and emotionally charged words with music that sets a similar tone. The song Red Dirt Girl is the only one I had heard prior to this listen, and it is probably the best song here. I also enjoyed I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now and My Antonia. Overall this was a fine listen, but its probably not something I'm ever going to play again.
The Band
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Another band that I love but only really know the hits. I've seen the Last Waltz a bunch and probably owned a compilation cd of theirs, but I don't think I've heard this album. I'm sure I'll know most of the songs though, and I definitely know that this is considered a masterpiece.
Review: Yeah this is awesome. Such a great album. The hits are some of the best songs of all time with The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Up On Cripple Creek. I remember the first time I ever heard these songs when my roommate in college took a music history class and started playing them...and I loved them immediately. These songs feel timeless as if they should have existed for years before the Band actually wrote and recorded them.
I forget just how much I love the Band. They were looking back to older music styles with country and jazz elements in their sound while still very much being a contemporary 60s rock group that played at Woodstock. Outside of the hits this album has so many absolute classic deep cuts: Across the Great Divide, Rag Mama Rag, King Harvest, etc.
Blur
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I never really paid much attention to the brit pop bands of the 90s even those that got a lot of press such as Blur. I think this album has Song 2 on it which is a great 90s alt rock single, but most of this album will be new to me. I generally like what I've heard from Blur so I'm sure I'll enjoy this.
Review: So this also has Beetlebum on it....and I do love that song. That plus Song 2 make for a pretty great and iconic 90s 1 - 2 punch to start the album out. I am not hearing much else that is drawing me in though. It is all perfectly fine alt-rock, but I don't really get the hype. I am sure if I listened to Blur back in the day I would have massive nostalgia for this album (like I did with the Offspring), but without that reference point this is coming up a bit flat for me. There are some songs that I enjoy like Country Sad Ballad Man, MOR, On Your Own, and the punk sounding Chinese Bombs, but nothing that reaches the heights of those first 2 songs. Those will be the only ones going on the playlist.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This will definitely be a first listen for me. I believe these guys were a 60s San Francisco band in the same scene as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis Joplin. I'm expecting psychedelic blues rock with lots of guitar solos...I also assume that I'll enjoy this.
Review: There is definitely some great guitar work on this album. The first half of the record is just a jam on Who Do You Love broken up into multiple instrumental parts, and the second half continues the same mostly instrumental vibe. This is just okay to me. I'm sure these guys were awesome live, but on a studio album they come off a little boring. Lots of guitar noodling that doesn't really go anywhere. Maybe this lack of songs is why their contemporaries like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Bros had 50 year careers and Quicksilver Messenger Service were left as a largely forgotten also ran.
As for the playlist, the best song on here is the multi-part Who Do You Love, but that's broken into different tracks that won't translate well to a playlist. I'm adding the first Who Do You Love as well as the next track What You Love which is a really good guitar jam. I'll also add Mona which is an original although it sounds very similar to the Grateful Dead's take on Not Fade Away
All in all these guys were an early jamband and I love jambands! However, like with most jambands, they're style just doesn't translate very well to studio recordings. Maybe I can find a live show to listen to.
Korn
1/5
Thoughts before listening: I didn't like these guys 25 years ago and I probably won't like them now. That being said, I felt the same about Linkin Park and ended up at least enjoying the hits from a nostalgia angle. Perhaps the same will happen here. I know Korn were respected at the time as good musicians, this brand of angry rap metal just never spoke to me.
Review: Freak On a Leash and Got the Life are both good songs for this genre. There is definitely a nostalgia to these songs as they were HUGE during my high school and college years. The rest of the album sounds like more of the same with fewer hooks. Then they trot out Fred Durst to get all homophobic on a song and I'm done. This sucks. This is the music Trump fans listened to in high school. 1 star.
Tom Waits
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Tom Waits has always been one of those artists that I know I'm supposed to like, but I just cant really get into him. I think its mainly because of the growled vocals. I've listened to the classics like Rain Dogs, and I used to own Bone Machine, but a lot of his material just seemed inaccessible to me. That being said, I know this is one of his earlier recordings, and I don't think he was quite as harsh sounding back then. I am expecting jazzy blues with really good lyrics and a lot of attitude.
Review: Yeah....definitely not as gravelly as he would become although that raspiness is definitely there. The music sounds like a late night jazz or blues club in New York City with a weathered, ragged voice singing over top...but at least he's singing here instead of the carnival barker approach he would bring to later releases. Tons of style coming through in both the music and Tom Waits' vocal delivery that I am enjoying.
The best known songs on here are the title track and Jersey Girl both of which are great...I thought the latter was a Springsteen cover, but its actually the other way around as Tom Waits wrote the song. I also really like the ballads Saving All My Love For You and Ruby's Arms which shows off the range and emotion that Tom Waits possesses, despite his rough delivery. I am glad I got a chance to listen to this album, and I will likely seek out more of Tom Waits' material, especially the 70s albums.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of my favorite albums of the past decade. It sounds like 80s roots rock ala Dire Straits or Tom Petty with great guitar work. Basically the epitome of dad rock...so in other words right up my alley.
Review: This is an album where a few songs are so good that it doesn't really matter if all the tracks aren't on that same level. In this case Under the Pressure, Red Eyes, and An Ocean Between the Waves are 3 of the best rock songs released in my adult years. I absolutely love them. I have long been obsessed with a KEXP radio performance they did around the release of this album where the DJ got emotional while they played these songs. Its just such a perfect throwback sound to 80s style rock, but with a guitar approach that makes it feel new and vital.
That being said, this is not a 5-star album to me. There are a lot of long, slower paced songs that tend to drag at places. These are well written songs with nice melodies and interesting guitar work, but they just don't have the same effect as the bangers.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
Thoughts before listening: This comes up a lot on best albums lists but I have never listened. I think that's mainly cause 69 songs is A LOT of songs and it just seems like a daunting task. Plus I have heard bits and pieces of the album and I don't really like what I've heard.
Review: Wow, right out the gate this album has some really nice songs on it. Wonderful melodies and super catchy pop rock songs. Stylistically this is lo fi pop rock with a bunch of different influences on the songs: some remind me of the Smiths, some sound like Irish folk songs, there are some country rock tunes and some that jse electronic inspired instrumentation. There are definitely too many songs, and a lot of this feels like half assed songs thrown together to meet the silly 69 tracks concept. The highs are very high, but the lows are something I'd never go back to.
Also, I don't have time for nearly 3 hours of music...I tried to listen all the way through, but once I realized there are some jokey throwaways on here I started skipping a lot. I tried to cheat a bit and looked up best of lists to help pick and choose tracks, but there is very little consensus. Tracks that were at the top of one list would be at the bottom of others. That certainly speaks to just how polarizing this album can be as well as the stylistic variation throughout.
There are definitely highlights here: I Don't Believe in the Sun, All My Little Worlds, The One You Really Love, When My Boy Walks Down the Street, Long Forgotten Fairytale, Papa Was a Rodeo, Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side, and Death of Ferdinand de Saussure.
Overall this is way too hit or miss to get a good score from me, although I will happily revisit the songs above that I added to the playlist.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pretty surprised to see this on here. John Spencer Blues Explosion were a big deal underground band in the 90s, but they seem to be mostly forgotten. They definitely aren't mentioned with the same reverence as a band like Pavement is. That being said, I do feel that they should be considered as a major influence on 00s bands like the White Stripes and the Black Keys...alt rock/punk bands playing blues based music. My memories of this album are that the JSBE updated their sound with some hip hop type beats but still remained firmly in the trashy blues world. I don't think I've heard this before so I'm excited to listen.
Review: Well I was mainly wrong on the hip hop beats thing. There are a couple songs that are like a more punk rock Beck or something, but they come off as jokey interludes more than anything else. This album is mostly just a really dirty garage punk take on Mississippi delta blues. It's a little annoying if I'm being honest. It sounds like he's doing a bad Elvis impression with a ton of effects on his vocals throughout. I should have been into this back when I was listening to rockabilly punk bands like Rev Horton Heat, but I wasn't.. after listening, I can tell why: JSBE just don't have the melodic songs that drew me to those bands.
I'm sure these guys would be really fun live, but this just isn't translating to record for me. It's too abrasive and seemingly focuses more on style than actual songwriting. In fact, I don't hear any songs that I like enough to add to my playlist.
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember when this came out and the Arctic Monkeys were being hailed as the next big thing in rock...at least since the Strokes I guess. They certainly have seemed to sustain much more of a career than I thought they would. The only song I remember from this album is I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor...and it's really good.
Review: ...Dancefloor is still the best song on here, but the whole album is pretty good. This is catchy alt rock with plenty of hooks and overall a fun listen. I hear a lot of the Libertines and the Strokes in what the Arctic Monkeys were doing which is appropriate since those two bands hit right before the AMs and garnered similar praise for their debut albums.
Paul Simon
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm surprised to see a mid-career Paul Simon album. Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints are both great as is his early stuff post-Simon and Garfunkel, but this is one I'm not familiar with. I generally enjoy Paul Simon so I'm interested to hear this one.
Review: So doing a little research it appears that this came out right before Paul Simon released Graceland...that's a superior album with this one being a bit of a mixed bag. Some songs suffer the same fate of a lot of 60s and 70s artists in the 80s...It's overproduced with unnecessary synths and other sound effects bogging down the songs. There are also silly lyrics in some songs like Allergies and Cars Are Cars that make this album as a whole come off as an afterthought likely thrown together to meet a record contract obligation.
That being said, there are some really nice tracks on here. The title song, Song About the Moon, and The Late Great Johnny Ace in particular standout as classic examples of Paul Simons' strengths. Well written with nice melodies and strong lyrics. Overall this is an enjoyable albeit lesser known entry in Paul Simon's catalog that I'm glad I got to hear..although I am a bit surprised it made this list considering how many truly essential albums he has released.
Erykah Badu
2/5
Thoughts before listening: This is cool neo-soul from the late 90s/early 2000s. This was never my thing but I'm sure I will enjoy this...probably more than I would have when it was released. If this has Tyrone on it then that's a great song that I mainly know from My Morning Jacket's cover.
Review: Tyrone is not on this album, but I like what I am hearing. Awesome grooves throughout these songs and Erykah Badu is a great singer. I especially like the jazzy backing instrumentation with funky walking bass lines that creates a laid back vibe.
That being said, this does drag a bit at times. The whole thing stays in a very similar groove throughout, and while it makes for a pleasant listen I would have appreciated some changes in pace. The best songs are the two biggest hits from this album: Didn't Cha Know and Bag Lady. Those are getting added to the playlist.
Can
3/5
Thought before listening: Krautrock. Classic album and one that I've heard before. I'm usually surprised by how organic Can sounds cause I think of Krautrock as mechanical and like a precursor to electronic music. This is my 2nd Can album on this list, and I did not like the first one...I believe I have enjoyed this on previous listens though.
Review: I definitely like this better than the first one I listened to. This is pretty good although the long songs are way too repetitive including some that in my opinion are too avant garde for their own good (Augmn and Peking O). I do love the guitar work on this album though, especially on the song Halleluwah which stays interesting throughout its 17 minutes thanks to the guitar. My favorite tracks are that one and the opener Paperhouse.
Dr. Dre
4/5
Thought before listening: One of the most important hip hop releases of the 90s. This was the debut of Snoop Dogg and essentially kicked off an entire West coast hip hop movement. I have definitely heard this and probably owned it as well.
Review: I love the 70s funk samples that are the base for this album. So many great bass lines and grooves. This is a really good album, but I feel the same on this one as most rap albums. The lyrics and skits were funny novelties when i was in high school, but as an adult I just cringe at them. It cheapens the whole experience of listening to these albums. Still though, this contains some amazing songs, including Nuthin' But a G Thang which is as iconic as a song can be from the 90s. Fun listen that gets a 4.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 70s soul/r&b. The title track is awesome, but I don't know anything else about this record. I'm expecting a mixture of funk and disco songs with a couple ballad torch songs thrown in a well.
Review: Okay, this is a cool disco record that reminds me of the Chic album I got earlier. Disco isn't something I seek out and listen to regularly, but I have been pleasantly surprised when those albums come up on this list. The musicianship on these tracks is just so much more organic sounding than dance music from the 80s and beyond. This album is no exception with great basslines and cool little guitar licks throughout.
Right out the gate I know the groove in the first song He's the Greatest Dancer without recognizing the actual song...this must have been sampled on something from the 90s (I cheated and its on Gettin Jiggy With It). Lost in Music is another very good song, and of course the title track is iconic.
There are some songs on this album where I am little bored, but overall I enjoyed listening to this. 3 stars.
Hot Chip
1/5
Thoughts before listening: Another album that feels like the editors were grasping at strings to get modern bands on their list. I remember these guys making end of year best album lists, but they have not proven to stand the test of time like the albums on this list from the 50s - 90s. There certainly are some albums from the 00s and 10s that have become modern classics, but this isn't one of them.
I am expecting this to be British electronic inspired indie rock with some catchy songs, but ultimately not something that I would consider one of the 1,001 albums you have to hear.
Review: This sounds like the 80s music I don't like. Its extremely poppy without any edge to the music at all. Pretty boring and I am finding myself skipping most songs. Even the 2 songs with 10 million + listens on Spotify are just saccharine poppy disco sounding indie rock. I thought these guys were more of a dance punk type band i.e. LCD Soundsystem, but they are not. This just isn't for me.
Radiohead
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I love pretty much everything Radiohead has released, and this album is no exception. That being said, I typically don't consider it on the same level as their classics like The Bends, Ok Computer and Kid A. This is still a very good album that I will enjoy listening to as part of this list.
Review: This album is where Radiohead started to move slightly away from the more electronica inspired sounds of Kid A/Amnesiac by mixing in some of the alt rock sounds they became famous for on the Bends and Ok Computer. They would go further down this route for their next album In Rainbows, and in my opinion Hail to the Thief is a lesser album than those that surround it.
The album starts out with a legit rocker in 2+2=5, and its an awesome track. That vibe continues with Sit Down, Stand Up's build to a frenetic climax before reverting back to more minimalistic dancey sounds for the next few songs. I also love There There and Myxomatosis which are two of Radiohead's most high energy and popular live songs. Other songs I enjoy on this album include Go To Sleep, Where I End and You Begin, A Punch Up at a Wedding, and A Wolf at the Door.
In general this album is a mixed bag of great highs and a few lows that aren't necessarily bad, but do keep this from being a 5-star Radiohead album. This will get a 4.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: X is a band that has been on my radar since I was a high schooler listening to punk rock, but I pretty much only paid attention to the first album until recently (I love the first album). I have heard this album and it is very good, so I am excited to give it another listen.
Review: I love X's sound. The rockabilly inspirations, the male/female vocals, and the fact that they have a very polished sound for a punk band at a time when most bands in that scene still valued sloppiness over everything else. In that regard X were one of the biggest influences on much of the 90s punk I would later be obsessed with not to mention bands like Rev Horton Heat who would mirror their fusion of punk rock with rockabilly sounds.
Wild Gift is great even if it doesn't have quite the same legendary status of their first album Los Angeles. If anything there is even more of an approachable poppiness to their sound on here. The best songs are The Once Over Twice, We're Desperate, and White Girl, all of which are getting added to the playlist. This is a 4-star album.
The Kinks
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know the Kinks. Everybody knows the Kinks. I know \"Lola\" and \"You Really Got Me\" and \"All Day and All of the Night\" and I am pretty sure that I have even listened to some of their albums like Muswell Hillbillies. I have not however heard this album, and I feel like there is a HUGE Kinks discography that I no nothing about. What I do know about the Kinks is that whenever I hear their deep cuts I tend to really like them. Catchy, unpretentious, short little pop rock songs. Its like a pre-cursor to punk rock without all the snottiness.
All this to say that I am glad to get my first Kinks album on the 1,001 List and something tells me that this will be right up my alley.
Review: Sunny Afternoon is on this album and that is an all time great 60s rock song. The rest of the album is what I expected: super catchy, unpretentious pop songs with lyrics skewering 60s British culture. Nothing else reaches Sunny Afternoon's heights, but this is an enjoyable listen. A few songs do rise above the rest: Dandy, Session Man, Holiday in Waikiki, and House in the Country.
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I have heard of Terence Trent D'Arby but I am not sure that I would know any of his songs. He is definitely mentioned a lot as an example of a certain type of 80s/90s artist, but I am not really sure what his sound will be. I am thinking artsy R&B with elements of alt rock included.
Review: I was pretty spot on with my guess. This sounds like a more serious, less playful Prince. I can hear Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder in these songs as well. The album is okay although not typically the type of music I would listen to. I don't love the 80s style production that makes a lot of the backing music sound manufactured and inauthentic.
Apparently Wishing Well was a big hit while Sign Your Name has the most Spotify listens, but I have never heard either before. My favorite songs are "Dance Little Sister" and "I'll Never Turn My Back on You" which both utilize a 70s Stevie Wonder style sound.
This is a 2-star album to me. Its certainly not bad, but just isn't really my style.
Jethro Tull
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I own this on vinyl although I haven't listened all that much. "Aqualung" is probably Jethro Tull's best known song and its a great example of 70s proggy hard rock. "Cross-Eyed Mary" and "Locomotive Breath" are also classics that have lived on through cover versions by the jambands I love.
Review: I like the combo of hard rock songs with more folky tracks that is at the core of everything Jethro Tull does. The fact that Ian Anderson is known for his flute playing means that Jethro Tull was always going to be a standout from the typical 70s hard rock bands. I also appreciate that while there are some elements of prog rock here the band tends to shy away from the over the top excesses typically associated with those bands.
The anti-religion themes of the lyrics aren't something I can identify with and typically would be a turn off for me. That being said, a deeper read shows more of a questioning of the organized religion of 1960s Britain that Ian Anderson grew up in than a true attack on Christianity.
David Bowie
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Later era David Bowie album released not long before his death...although it's not his last album since Blackstar was released as he was dying. I don't remember there being a lot of excitement around this album, but there must have been some for it to make the list. I love most of the music Bowie put out so I'm sure I will enjoy this as well.
Review: Well this is pretty good. Definitely better than a lot of the 00s and 10s albums that have obviously been added because the editors felt a need to include modern albums. That can mostly be attributed to the fact that this is very much a David Bowie album. While this is not on the level of his 70s heyday, this is still full of well written and interesting songs that certainly are better than a lot of his 80s and 90s output.
I give this a solid 3 star rating knowing that the classic Bowie albums will be 4s and 5s when they eventually show up on this list.
The Adverts
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 70s British punk rock band that were contemporaries of the Sex Pistols and Clash, but never received the high accolades of those bands. The Adverts have mostly been forgotten to time, and while I have heard the band name, I have never actually heard their music. I like a lot of early punk rock so this should be something that I enjoy.
Review: This is better than I was expecting with some very catchy songs that are more akin to a pop punk sound like the Buzzcocks than the snotty attitudes of the Sex Pistols. The sound is really good with clear vocals and music that avoids the typically murky production of early punk rock. I am pleasantly surprised with this one and really can't believe this has never crossed my radar before.
That being said, the song quality is a bit of a mixed bag. I really like "One Chord Wonders", "Bored Teenagers", "Gary Gilmore's Eyes", "No Time to Be 21", and "The Great British Mistake" but the rest of the album can be a little bland. Not bad necessarily, just doesn't really have any hooks to pull you in. Ultimately this is a solid 3-star album that doesn't quite rise to the heights of its contemporaries that have reached legendary status.
Various Artists
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is appropriate for Christmas. Looks to be classic Christmas songs but with Phil Spector's over the top orchestral production style. I am sure this will be great.
Review: This is a nearly perfect Christmas album. The Phil Spector wall of sound style really elevates these songs, and he is working with some of the best female vocalists of all time: Darlene Love, The Ronettes, and the Crystals. The versions of Sleigh Ride, A Marshmallow World and Christmas (Baby Come Home) on this album have become staples of Christmas playlists so it is fun to hear them amongst the other songs recorded in those same sessions.
This is a 4-star album. That being said, I will only be adding one of these songs to the playlist: "The Bells of St. Mary" which is the only discovery I made while listening (and its a very good track). Great as they are, these songs don't make sense outside of the context of Christmas. I would rather add this album to my Christmas record collection to bust out every year during the holidays than add something to a playlist that I end up skipping 11 months out of the year.
Boston
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is a great classic rock radio album with songs that have been staples of those stations throughout my life. Its also commonly considered one of the greatest debut albums of all time...especially considering the fact that their later albums all pale in comparison. I have heard this before, and certainly know the hits, but am looking forward to listening as part of the 1,001 list.
Review: This thing starts out with an all time banger in More Than a Feeling and then just continues from there. There are 8 songs on this album and 6 of them are hits. MTAF, Peace of Mind, Foreplay/Long Time, Rock & Roll Band, Smokin', and Hitch a Ride are instantly recognizable to anybody that grew up listening to classic rock radio.
The number of hits would make for a fun listen even if the music was mindless drivel...but its not. These are well-written songs with memorable hooks, smart riffs, and strong vocals. Other than MTAF being very overplayed I really can't think of many criticisms for this album. I guess their sound was a bit derivative of other bands that came before them, but when the songs are as good as these that doesn't really matter. I will be adding all of the hits mentioned above to the playlist, and while I don't think this is a 5-star album it is definitely a solid 4.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Psychedelic rock from the 60s. I'm pretty sure I've heard "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night", and it's definitely an all time great psychedelic song title. That being said I don't really know what these guys sound like. I'm not necessarily expecting this to be jammy with guitar solos like the big San Francisco bands of the era, but rather more trippy hippie pop rock music...perhaps similar to the Nuggets style garage bands.
Review: This is definitely psychedelic garage rock. Their sound is pretty close to what the Stones, Who, Pink Floyd, etc were doing in their early years before they grew up and became arena rock stars. Lots of reverb and echo on the guitars with some other psychedelic elements sprinkled in. There is also a proto-punk quality to this and I can definitely hear their influence on many of the bands that came along in the 70s and 80s.
When it comes to the quality of the album, I'm reminded of a band like MGMT who came up with some absolutely classic songs of their era, but never quite released a cohesive album. Songs like "I Had Too Much to Dream", "Sold to the Highest Bidder", and "Get Me To the World On Time" are perfect examples of 60s psych rock that I'm glad to add to the playlist. However, they're surrounded by a lot of filler that keeps this from being a classic album. I'm giving this album a 3 while the hits are 4s.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know Loveless but have never heard anything else from MBV. Assuming they didn't have a major change in sound prior to that album, this should be alt rock with heavily distorted guitars that create a noisy, droney soundscape. MBV are known as originators of shoegaze so that's what I'm expecting here.
Review: This album is okay, which is basically how I feel about Loveless as well. I really like some of their songs, but others just don't work for me. These guys are best when they crank the pace up and rock out. Otherwise the wall of distorted guitar sound just becomes an irritating drone.
The best songs on this album are "Lose My Breath", "When You Wake You're Still in a Dream", "Feed Me With Your Kiss", "Sueisfine", "You Never Should", and "Nothing Much to Lose". All of these songs are fast paced, fully formed songs that remind me of Dinosaur Jr with fewer guitar solos. The rest of the songs on this album sound like noisy demos in need of major editing and production work. This album gets a 3 from me.
Nick Drake
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Quiet, introspective folk music. I'm expecting some nice melodies and lyrics, but an overall sleepy album. I feel like I have heard this before, but I'm not sure.
Review: This is a little less sleepy than I was anticipating, although there are certainly some slow, maudlin songs that drag in places. However, there is a driving rhythm to a lot of these songs that I'm enjoying. \"Hazey Jane II\" and \"One of These Things First\" both have a jazzy swing to the music that I'm quite enjoying.
Overall I can see how this is considered a classic album, and I'm reminded quite a bit of later artists like Elliott Smith. However, like with ES, the slow depressing songs just drag down the album as a whole. I give this a 3.
The Bees
2/5
Thought before listening: Ah yes. Another completely forgotten 2000s release that made the list cause the editors wanted recent entries. So far these have been less than stellar. 2002 was the height of my music nerd days and I have no recollection of these guys. My guess is Brit pop with dance beats.
Review: So apparently these guys were known as Band of Bees in the US. I have at least heard that name. This isn't dancey Britpop...it's got a laid back, almost reggae vibe to some of the songs with others having more of a psychedelic 60s meets lounge sound. This isn't my thing and I definitely don't think it warrants inclusion on the 1,001 list. 2 stars.
David Bowie
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Classic album from Bowie's best era. I'm sure I'll know a bunch of the songs on here, but this isn't one of the albums I've heard. I do love this era of Bowie so this should be good.
Review: So apparently this is the album after Ziggy Stardust, and it's definitely an extension on that sound. This is glam rock but with jazzier elements mixed in, and I like it. This is definitely a weirder, less accessible album than it's predecessor but that just makes for a more interesting sound. Overall this is a 3 compared to the elite albums in Bowie's catalog, but it's still a really good album.
Beatles
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Early Beatles when they were still writing catchy pop rock songs. It's got some absolute classic tracks, but overall isn't as strong of an album as their later releases.
Review: I always forget just how many covers the Beatles used to do. This album is full of classics for sure, but a lot aren't actually their songs. Still though it contains some of their earliest self written hits as well as a number of deep cuts which are getting added to the playlist: It Won't Be Long, All My Loving, I Wanna Be Your Man, and Little Child are examples. This is a 4 star album.
The Associates
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of these guys before. I'm assuming it's very British new wave and most likely won't be for me.
Review: I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. These guys have a pretty cool sound thats closer to the Cure than the overly poppy new wave that I was expecting. It's definitely still synth heavy but it's got a bit of a gothy darkness mixed with kind of a David Bowie vibe that I'm liking. This is a 3 star album.
Ministry
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I used to own this album when I briefly flirted with an interest in industrial music before giving into pop punk. I remember enjoying Ministry although I typically dislike most of their lyrical themes. If this has Jesus Built My Hotrod on it then that's an all time great 90s song.
Review: Yep...Jesus Built My Hotrod is on this album and its as good as I remember. NWO and Just One Fix are also really good songs. The rest of the album is just okay. Much too dense in most of these songs with buried vocals singing some really dumb lyrics. The "hits" have dumb lyrics too but at least they're fun. This is a 2-star album to me despite the 3 songs I am happy to add to the playlist.
The Libertines
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Fun British power pop style alt rock. I got into these guys a little in the 00s. I'm interested to see how much I remember.
Review: Yeah, this is pretty good. Really catchy and melodic alt rock thats not life changing, but certainly makes for a fun listen. There is a lot of British 90s/00s bands on the 1,001 list, and I think I can safely say I prefer these guys to much of what has been included. The closest comparisons are probably Blur who came just before them and the Arctic Monkeys who came just after, and I think I prefer the Libertines' sound to either of those bands.
I know that I owned a Libertines album back in the day, but it seems that it must have been their 2007 greatest hits release. Its strange that a band with only 2 albums would have put out a greatest hits comp, but perhaps it was an attempt to break into the US market since they never really blew up over here like they did in the UK. Or maybe since they imploded so quickly, largely due to Pete Doherty's sobriety and legal issues, their label just needed a new way to repackage their limited catalog. Either way, my recollection of the Libertines is a strong one because I was only hearing their best.
The hits are "Can't Stand Me Now", "What Katie Did", and "What Became of the Likely Lads". All very good songs that are getting added to the playlist. I have also enjoyed some of the deeper cuts like "Music When the Lights Go Out", "The Man Who Would be King", "The Saga", and "Road to Ruin". There are some weaker, throwaway tracks on here but overall this is a nice snapshot of 00s era British indie rock. I'm giving this 3 stars.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the greatest albums of all time. Not a weak song on this album and includes Springsteen's 2 most iconic anthems in Thunder Road and the title track.
Review: This album just hits so hard right out the gate with Thunder Road. I love the imagery in this song (and the album as a whole for that matter) where Bruce paints a picture of idealistic youth when a car means freedom and running away with the love of your life is the only thing that matters in life. Bruce's talent is in portraying the ultimately mundane hopes and dreams of the everyman in a way that makes it seem like the most important story that's been told.
While the lyrics are the star here, the album wouldn't be the classic it is without the music that accompanies the words. The piano and sax take the lead and create an epic sound that adds to the drama of the lyrics. When a song like Jungleland slows to a crawl and then builds back to the "down in Jungleland" peak, it's being driven by the power of these instruments. Easily a 5 star album.
Ice Cube
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this is a classic, but I've never listened to it. "It Was a Good Day" is an all time 90s rap banger so that will be awesome to hear. I'm sure I'll enjoy this, but as always the lyrics will be hard to connect with.
Review: This is not what I was expecting...this definitely isn't a party album. "Good Day" is one of only a handful of songs on here that use the West coast laid back funk sound of Dr. Dre that Ice Cube came from in NWA. Much of the album reminds me more of Public Enemy's sound collage hard rock style with relentless beats and raps that are angrily spit out with almost a punk rock attitude. This is a very pissed off album heavily inspired by Rodney King and the resulting riots, and while not always a fun listen it is very effective.
This is a 3 star album. "Good Day" and "Check Yo Self" are getting added to the playlist.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I was into Arcade Fire's first album and was excited when this one came out. It's okay, but didn't grab me like the first one. I remember only really loving a couple songs, and in general I prefer the Suburbs to this one (Funeral is still their best though). I'm interested to see if I appreciate this more now than I did at the time.
Review: Definitely not my favorite but AF, but there are some really good songs on here. AF create a big sound with lots of different instruments and musicians that lend a certain grandiose quality to these songs. This is the sound of 00s indie rock as it ascended the charts and started headlining festivals. When the melodies match the epic musicianship it's very effective, but this album is uneven to me. There are some definite highlights in "Keep the Car Running", "Intervention", "(Antichrist Television Blues)", and "No Cars Go", but overall I still feel this pales in comparison to the albums released before and after. Too many mid tempo songs that just don't click with me even though I do really like the songs above.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I love it. Johnny Cash is one of the greatest voices of all time and his music is part of the fabric of America. Both of his live prison albums are legendary, but San Quentin has always been my favorite.
Review: Johnny Cash is absolutely on fire on this album. He's telling jokes between songs and delivers a high energy set that really riles up the inmates attending the performance. This is punk rock before it even existed, and the crowd noise acts as an additional instrument that elevates these recordings while making you feel like a member of that audience.
The Legacy Edition of this album is absolutely the best way to listen, and is the version I once owned on CD. The original is only 30 minutes while the LE expands this to capture not only the full Johnny Cash show, but also bits of the openers in Carl Perkins, the Statler Brothers, and the Carter Family. I especially enjoy the Statler Brothers' "Flowers on the Wall".
From the Johnny Cash songs, these are absolutely definitive versions of these songs that add a certain fire missing from the studio versions. "Big River", "I Still Miss Someone", "Wreck of the Old 97", "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Jackson", "Orange Blossom Special", "San Quentin", and "Ring of Fire" are all timeless songs enhanced by the live setting. The true star here (of both the original and LE version) is "A Boy Named Sue" with Johnny dropping naughty words (including the infamous bleep) and the inmates loving every minute of it.
This is easily a 5-star album.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This is definitely a classic album that continues to influence indie and punk artists. I owned this back in the day, and remember especially loving "Heroin", but I have not listened in a long time. This is one of those albums that you respect for its influence more than actually falling in love with, but maybe my perspective will be different 20 years after initially listening.
Review: The VU certainly had a unique sound for their era. This is psychedelic rock thats totally different than anything the west coast bands like the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane or the British bands like the Beatles and Stones were doing. The VU utilized out of tune guitars that create a chugging drone instead of playing riffs and guitar solos. There is certainly a direct through line from the VU to Sonic Youth to a band like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
My favorites 20 years ago were the more upbeat songs and that remains the case today. The slower, often weirder songs (usually sung by Nico) like "All Tomorrow's Parties" just aren't as enjoyable to listen to. "I'm Waiting for the Man", "Run Run Run", and "Heroin" are my favorites on this album. I still feel that "Heroin" is the real gem here with its slow build in intensity to a final crescendo that is meant to replicate a drug high. Really good stuff.
This is a 3-star album with the score being brought down by the inclusion of a handful of songs that are too abstract for their own good.
AC/DC
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I never really got into AC/DC, but their songs have been mainstays throughout my life heard on the radio, at restaurants, and at sport events. I obviously know the title track to this album, but I don't know what else is on here. Probably a couple more classic hits and lots of songs with catchy riffs and plenty of double entendres in the lyrics. It's AC/DC so I know this will be dumb but a really fun listen.
Review: Well the only song I recognize is the title track, but I might as well know them all since this is unmistakably an AC/DC album. Since this is the last album with Bon Scott many people would say this is actually the final real AC/DC album. They would certainly polish their sound to insane radio and MTV success with the next one Back in Black.
I really enjoyed listening to this album. My favorite songs were the title track, "Beating Around the Bush", "Shot Down in Flames", and "If You Want Blood". Really though I could have put any of these songs on the playlist. AC/DC have an unmistakable sound and they do it very well on this album. This is 4-stars.
Queen
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I obviously know Queen, but I don't think I've ever listened to a full album other than A Night at the Opera. I don't know what is on this album, but I know it will be theatrical 70s hard rock. This is certainly an iconic cover so I assume this is one of their bigger releases with likely some massive hits.
Review: Well there aren't any hits on here. This is early Queen a year or two before they became the massive hitmakers that we know so well. It seems that they were still trying to figure out their sound, and while you can hear glimpses of the over the top theatricality found on later songs like "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "Don't Stop Me Now", the songs on here do not reach those heights.
This is a pretty good album that is in league with the other hard rock bands of the era, particularly the Who in their arena rock opera phase, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. The true star of this album is Brian May who lays down some awesome guitar work, while Freddie Mercury still hadn't quite developed the style that would make him one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
As far as songs go, these are interesting, but nothing really stands out. Many of the lyrics are surprisingly fantasy based (ala Zeppelin and Sabbath) with songs about ogres and black queens. My favorites are "Seven Seas of Rhye", The March of the Black Queen", and "Ogre Battle". This is a 3-star album.
David Bowie
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This is the third Bowie album I've gotten on here, and again it's not one of the truly classic records. I've heard this before. The song "Young Americans" is an all time great track. From my previous listens, I don't feel that the rest of the album matches up to the title track, but I'm looking forward to listening with fresh ears.
Review: Well I forgot that "Fame" is on here as well, so that makes two classic songs. This album is pretty good, with Bowie abandoning his glam rock sound for one inspired by soul and r&b, but nothing else quite hits the highs of those two hits. The song "Fascination" is pretty good, as is his cover of "Across the Universe", but ultimately this is largely forgettable outside of the two hits. 3-star album.
The The
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of my favorite band names of all time, but I don't know their music at all. I'm thinking this will be post-punk in the same vein as a band like Joy Division. I tend to like 80s alt rock so this will probably be a nice surprise.
Review: This is certainly on the darker side of 80s new wave, and I really like it. "This is the Day" is one of those hits you know you've heard before, but you cant quite picture any details about it i.e. music video, placement in a movie, etc. "Uncertain Smile" comes later and includes an extended piano solo that elevates the song as a real standout. Both are great songs on an enjoyable album.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This album came out when I was in high school...and it was huge. It's still huge, at least from a critical standpoint. I've never actually known anyone that would list this as one of their favorite albums yet its consistently at the top of best of the 90s lists. Maybe my friends and I aren't the target demographic. For me, I've never listened to this although I certainly know the hits, especially "Doo Woo That Thing" which is a perfectly fine late-90s neo soul hit. In general though I prefer Lauryn Hill's work with the Fugees.
Review: I really like Lauryn Hill's overall vibe and her skills as both a singer and rapper, but I still don't see why this album has so much hype. I'm not hearing much here that sets this apart from her 90s R&B contemporaries like Mary J Blige, Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, etc. In fact I'd say those others have more memorable hits, and although "Doo Wop..." and "Ex Factor" are both great songs, I still consider "Killing Me Softly" from the Fugees to be the quintessential Lauryn Hill song. This is a 3-star album.
Queen
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is my second early Queen album in a week. The first one (Queen II) was a bit surprising as it was before they had fully developed their sound and were still coming off as a Who or Zeppelin sounding band. This is the next album in line so I suspect it will have a bit more of the over the top theatrical sound they'd become famous for. "Killer Queen" is on this album and that definitely is closer to the Queen we all know.
Review: This is definitely closer to the real Queen sound, with a couple of their most enduring songs in "Killer Queen" and "Stone Cold Crazy". Both of those songs are a fun listen, but overall this is definitely an improvement on the previous album. Where I felt that Brian May was the star of that record, Freddie Mercury is starting to exert himself as the true attraction on this one. This is a 4-star album.
Lana Del Rey
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this is the most recently released album I've gotten so far. I know that people go crazy for every Lana Del Rey album, but I don't really understand the hype. I enjoyed parts of Norman F'n Rockwell, but everything just sounds the same to me...mid-tempo, laid-back pop music which never really draws me in.
Review: Man this is so slow...and the whispered vocals are very hard for me to get into. This is like a poppier, female Bon Iver...who I feel the same about. I can understand why people like this, but it's not something that I'm going to go back to very often. 2-stars.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this is a jazz classic with a timeless track in"Take Five", but I have never listened all the way through. My (largely uninformed) assumption has always been that this is pop jazz for the masses...but the inclusion on so many greatest albums lists means that it must be well respected. I look forward to hearing this in full.
Review: Wow...this is such a classic sound. This is one of those albums where you recognize a bunch of the songs without actually knowing who's playing. They're just that much ingrained in our lives. They're consistently played while you walk through the airport or eat at a restaurant or in the background of a TV show. This album has 2 of those songs in "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo a la Turk".
What you also don't tend to notice when hearing something like Dave Brubeck as background music is the level of complexity in these songs. There are wonderful melodies here but also some highly technical musicianship on display. This is far from muzak. Very interesting album that I'm giving 4-stars.
System Of A Down
4/5
Thoughts before listening: SOAD were always my favorites of the nu metal scene although i never owned any of their records. There is a complexity to their music and lyrics that sets them well above the Limp Bizkit set. Most of the SOAD music I know is from the Toxicity album, so I may be less familiar with these songs.
Review: Well this certainly sounds like the SOAD I know and enjoy. I do recognize "Sugar" which is a very fun hit of the late 90s as well as "Spiders" which is much more restrained and anthemic. Both are complete bangers that easily rise above the fray in what was a mostly terrible time for mainstream rock music. The rest of this album falls in the same vein with a mix of high energy metal mixed with more playful styles, often inspired by their Armenian heritage, that you wouldn't typically hear from their contemporaries. This is a 4-star album.
The Prodigy
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I never owned this album, but the hits were pretty ubiquitous for someone obsessed with music at the time. I was never a huge fan of the techno/electronic scene, but I did like the Prodigy's more rock approach to the genre. I'm sure I will recognize quite a few songs on here and that the nostalgic enjoyment will be strong.
Review: Right out the gate I recognize "Smack My B Up"...this is a very memorable song and video. I believe I even may have seen the controversial video during its one time airing on MTV. Furthermore, I am well aware of "Breathe" and "Firestarter" which again were songs I enjoyed during high school without actually ever loving this band.
All in all the album is fine. It wasn't something I gravitated to 25 years ago and it likewise isn't something that I find myself loving today. There are certainly some fun songs on here that I am happy to add to the playlist, but this is ultimately a 3-star album.
Lou Reed
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't know much of Lou Reed's solo work outside of the hits, but I do know a lot of it can be challenging. I feel like I probably won't like this all that much, but I'm definitely interested to listen to a full album.
Review: This is a very nice surprise. I am rather enjoying this album even if I have never heard these songs before. I always loved Lou Reed in the Velvet Underground, and his talk singing vocal delivery is one that instantly draws me in. This is much more of a rock sound to this album than I was expecting, especially the guitar solos on "How Do You Think It Feels". I also like "Lady Day" and "Caroline Says I". There are some songs that don't work for me, and the lyrics are all pretty dark, but overall this was a nice listen. 3-star album.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the earliest hip hop groups. I'm expecting lots of funk samples, dj scratches, and old school style rapping. Should be fun.
Review: This is such old school hip hop that only 2 or 3 songs would qualify as the genre. The rest are basically 70s style funk/soul including a Stevie Wonder tribute. The rap songs are fun though, especially "The Message" which is iconic for its place in hip hop history. "Its Nasty" has a fun sample of "Genius of Love" by the Tom Tom Club and "Scorpio" is unique with the robotic effects on the vocals. This is 3-stars for the influence it played on what was soon to come with popular music.
Soundgarden
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Awesome album that was one of the first I ever bought with my own money. This is full of iconic 90s alt rock songs, and I'm excited to listen for the first time in a while.
Review: So this album is as good as I remember, but for some reason, it hasn't stayed in my rotation like a lot of their contemporaries' albums like Ten, Vs, and Nevermind. In fact even in the Soundgarden discography I typically would say that I much prefer Badmotorfinger, even owning it on vinyl. That being said, this is a great album, and the hits on here are absolutely some of the best from that era.
\"Spoonman\", \"Blackhole Sun\", \"Fell On Black Days\", and \"The Day I Tried to Live\" were massively popular at the time and they still stand as great songs today. This album also has some quality deep cuts in \"Superunknown\", \"Limo Wreck\", and \"Kickstand\" that I had nearly forgotten about before my listen today. Now there are definitely some filler type songs on here that drag this out a little longer than it needs to be, and that is probably why it hasn't stuck with me like the other grunge albums. This is a 4-star album.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I always like A Tribe Called Quest when I hear them, but I don't believe I've listened to any of their albums all the way through. They have a cool vibe and style to their music that I enjoy, and the lyrics are typically easier to relate to than other 90s hip hop. This will be a fun listen.
Review: Man this is a lot of fun. I love the mix of jazzy backing tracks with old school style dj scratches as well as the overall laid-back vibes of this album. Q-Tip has one of the smoothest flows of any rapper I've ever heard, and I've always enjoyed when he pops up on other rappers' songs. Listening to a Tribe record where he is the featured voice is a great experience. Despite never digging in to the group's music before, they have been a constant presence on the periphery of my music interests for years. They show up on best of lists and their songs get added to playlists regularly. Songs from this album like "Anita Applebum" and "Can I Kick It" may not have been "hits" but they're absolute staples to music fans that grew up in the 90s and 00s. This is a 4-star album cause while it's a great sound, it gets a little samey across 14 songs.
Talking Heads
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is a 5-star album, and one of my personal favorites. I was first introduced to this through Phish's cover, but the Talking Heads soon became a band that I loved all on their own.
Review: Yeah this is great. Such a unique sound for the Talking Heads at the time, and I have always loved the tempo of this album. Especially with the first 5 songs, they are playing funky, world music inspired songs but at the tempo of the punk scene they came out of. I have always appreciated the Talking Heads' place as a bridge between the late 70s CBGBs punk scene and the more party aspects of 80s new wave.
Those first five songs are the star here: "Born Under Punches", "Crosseyed and Painless", "The Great Curve", "Once in a Lifetime", and "Houses in Motion". These are the whole album to me and some of the best songs of their era. I am less of a fan of the final three spacey, moody songs that follow, but the quality of the top of the album still makes this an easy 5-star for me.
a-ha
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I know "Take On Me". Assuming that's on this album then it'll get added to the playlist because it's one of the best 80s pop hits. The band however are not typically talked about as anything other than one hit wonders who put out a catchy song with a killer video, so I'm surprised by the entry on this list. I'm expecting poppy 80s new wave, and I'm really interested to see what they sound like outside of the hit.
Review: Well, this album wastes no time getting to the point with "Take On Me" as the opening track. It's still a great tune even detached from the video. The rest of the album ranges from fine to outright cheesy. I do recognize one more song in "The Sun Always Shines on TV" which was a minor hit...and its definitely the second best song on here. The rest are very of their time light weight pop songs, that just don't do anything for me. This is a 2-star album for the strength of "Take On Me".
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I was into this album and "Take Me Out" is a great song. I seem to remember liking at least one or two more from this album as well. This is certainly one of the better 00s indie rock albums, but I don't feel it's a greatest album of all time.
Review: I had forgotten how much I enjoy this album. I don't believe I ever had the CD, but I definitely had these MP3s on my iPod. The style here is very reminiscent of other 00s era indie bands i.e. Modest Mouse, Spoon, the Strokes, etc, but Franz Ferdinand wrote some great songs that make them rise above that crowded genre.
"Take Me Out" is definitely the star here, but it's not the only high point on this album. I also really enjoy "Jacqueline", "The Dark of the Matinee", "This Fire", "Darts of Pleasure", and "Michael" which all show that these guys had a lot more to them than just one hit.
Perhaps it's just my own preference for the 00s indie sound as compared to 80s new wave, but if I'm comparing this against other recent one hit wonder albums I've heard on this list like a-Ha, I'm choosing FF every time. This is a 4-star album.
The Black Keys
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Not my favorite album by the Black Keys, but this is the one when they started becoming alt rock stars instead of underground indie rock cult heros. I enjoy this band quite a bit and have even seen them a few times, so it'll be nice to re-listen to one of their classics.
Review: The hits are definitely catchy and it's overall a fine record. It's not however something I would consider to be one of the 1,001 best of all time. I added "Tighten Up", "Howlin' For You", and "Sinister Kid" to the playlist, and I'll be glad to hear those when they come up. The album however is 2-stars to me.
Def Leppard
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Overproduced 80 hard rock. The hits are classics, although I believe Pyromania is the bigger album with bigger songs. This should be a fun listen, and I've been pleasantly surprised by the deep cuts on a lot of the big hard rock albums on this list.
Review: I don't really like this. I mean I know a lot of these songs and "Pour Some Sugar On Me" is really fun, but this brand of hard rock just doesn't do anything for me. This is what the bands I like from the 80s were rebelling against. I can recognize that this is "good" while also really not enjoying it. 2-stars.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I own this album on vinyl and I like it well enough I guess. "Layla" is an all time great song and there are plenty of other winners i.e "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Little Wing". Its also a long album that gets boring at times, so it will be nice to throw the better songs on the playlist.
Review: This album is a classic for a reason...and not nearly as boring as I remember. Its full of classic blues-based rock n roll songs played by top notch musicians, including Duane Allman adding slide guitar throughout. "Bell Bottom Blues", "Keep on Growing", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out", "Key to the Highway", "Tell the Truth", "Little Wing", and of course "Layla" are all going on the playlist. 4-star album full of 5-star songs.
The Charlatans
2/5
Thoughts before listening: 90s Brit-pop that wasn't as popular as Oasis and Blur...at least in the US. I don't believe I've ever heard these guys before.
Review: This is okay. The songs are catchy and anthemic so I understand why they were popular. That being said, I'm not hearing anything that suggests this album should be considered one of the greatest of all time. Maybe if I grew up listening to the Charlatans I'd feel differently. There are certainly 90s American alt-rock albums that I'd put on my personal 1,001 best albums list (i.e. the Toadies), but I'd be shocked to see them on here just like I am with these guys that seem like also-rans of the UK 90s scene. "One To Another" is a good song that I've added to the playlist. 2-stars.
The Sonics
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I believe this is 60s garage rock/proto-punk from Seattle. This should be an interesting listen because I've always seen them listed as influences on a lot of my favorite music.
Review: This is pretty good. Something cool about a bunch of kids getting together, covering some songs, and writing a few of their own. That being said, there's nothing particularly special about these guys compared to 100s of other bands from the 60s other than that they recorded an album and were from Seattle. I feel like their praise largely comes from being local cult heroes often cited as influential by the grunge bands of the early 90s. 3-stars.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Joni Mitchell is an artist that I respect immensely, even owning a few of her records, but I just can't get into her music. I think her voice is to "warbly" for me or something. Blue is one of the albums I own, and it certainly is one of the more approachable in her catalog.
Review: This has some songs I really do enjoy like "All I Want", "California", "Carey", "River", and "A Case of You". Those would all be getting added to the playlist if Joni's albums were on Spotify. For the other songs I just cant get into it. I recognize that the lyrics are confessional and have a ton of meeting for Joni's fans, but I just can't get past the vocals and rambling song structures. This is a 3-star album to me.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the Stones' greatest albums and therefore by default also an extremely worthy inclusion on this list. Exile on Mainstreet and Sticky Fingers get most of the attention in the Stones' 60s/70s output, but this one is nearly equal in quality. Excited to listen to this.
Review: This is really good with some absolute classic songs, but also one of their sloppier albums. This has some songs on it that just never quite come together, sounding more like demos than a finished product, and keep this from reaching the heights of the Stones' 5-star classics. Still though, the strength of "Sympathy for the Devil", "Jigsaw Puzzle", "Street Fighting Man", and "Salt of the Earth" are easily worth a 4-star rating.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is Bjork's band before she went solo. Poppy Icelandic indie rock with Bjork singing overtop...this should be interesting.
Review: I've always loved Bjork's voice but rarely love her music...it's too weird and out there for me I guess. This however is much more up my alley with it's late 80s/early 90s indie rock sound. With the male and female vocals I'm getting kind of a post-punk X vibe. I'm really enjoying this and will be adding a few songs to the playlist. 4-stars.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't know what's on this album, but I'm sure it's going to be a fun listen. Run-DMC we're innovators in the hip hop scene and while their brand of rap is nearly archaic at this point, it's also a very classic, familiar sound.
Review: This is great. It's definitely an early form of hip hop but I love Run-DMC's style. The rock backing tracks and the call and response raps with two distinct voices are now an iconic sound. This album is their debut and while they would release bigger songs later on, there are some classics on here with "It's Like That", "Rock Box", and "Sucker MCs". Those are going on the playlist and this album gets 4-stars.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I like Leonard Cohen for the most part. His best known songs are very powerful, but his slow, almost talking, baritone singing can be a bit of an acquired taste.
Review: This album starts out with its best song in "Suzanne" which is a great slow burn of a song that subtly builds throughout its runtime. The rest of the album is similar in style, and while I certainly know it is all high quality music, its just not really my style. 3-stars.
The Clash
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Of all the early punk bands, the Clash have been the biggest influence on the brand of punk rock I've always gravitated to. This is my favorite release by them, even better than London Calling which gets most of the praise. There are a ton of iconic songs on this genre-defining album. This will be 5-stars.
Review: A less snotty, more tuneful take on punk rock than what contemporaries like the Sex Pistols were producing at the same time. They also brought a point of view to the lyrics tackling social and political concerns that turned Joe Strummer into a generational spokesperson. "Janie Jones", "I'm So Bored With the USA", "White Riot", "London's Burning", and "Career Opportunities" are aboslute classics of the punk genre and 70s rock as a whole. Easy 5-star album.
Fishbone
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Fishbone were a big deal to a lot of the punk and especially ska bands that I listened to in high school with everyone from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to No Doubt to Sublime calling them out as an influence. Yet I somehow never really got into them. What I have heard is a fun mashup of metal riffs, horns, punk attitude, and soulful singing.
Review: I like this. My favorite thing about Fishbone is that while the music is fairly reminiscent of the 90s ska bands that would come after them, the vocals are much better. Angelo Moore has a great soulful voice that really compliments this style of music moreso than the punk smarl of those later bands. The band also brings in r&b elements to their songs that sets them apart from both their contemporaries and followers. Best songs are "Freddie's Dead", "Mighty Long Way", "Bonin' In the Boneyard", and "Subliminal Fascism". 4-star album.
Cornershop
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember "Brimful of Asha" which I'm assuming is on this album. That's a great song, but I don't know anything else from them. Feels like this will be folky indie rock with samples and hip hop beats...like a British version of Beck.
Review: "Brimful of Asha" is a great song, and the rest of this album follows in a similar vein. This is about as 90s as an album can be sounding like Odelay with Bollywood samples. I enjoy it, but it's nothing groundbreaking. 2-stars but pushed up to 3-stars because "Good to Be on the Road Back Home Again" name checks Chattanooga.
Lou Reed
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is the Lou Reed album that gets the most praise from journalists. I was pleasantly surprised by Berlin when that came up on this list so I'm excited to listen to this one as well.
Review: This is great. Reading up on this album I see that David Bowie and Mick Ronson produced it which makes sense cause this sounds like 70s era Bowie glam rock. There are some absolute classics on here in "Perfect Day", "Walk On the Wild Side", and "Satellite of Love", but I'm also enjoying "Vicious", "Hangin' Round", and "I'm So Free". Overall a very good album that presents a much more radio friendly take on Lou Reed's sound that stands out in a discography filled with tough listens. 4-stars.
The Doors
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I have always considered this to be the quintessential Doors album, and I really like their self-titled debut and LA Woman quite a bit as well. As a whole I enjoy the Doors and consider them one of the better 60s bands. A lot of modern music fans like to dismiss their impact largely due to Jim Morrison's antics, but their music is awesome and has been a major influence on a lot of the punk and indie bands I love.
Review: Confirmed that this is my favorite of the Doors' albums with "Peace Frog" probably my favorite song. Other strong tracks include "Roadhouse Blues", "Waiting for the Sun", "Blue Sunday", "You Make Me Real", and "Maggie M'Gill". This is the band's most focused blues rock album and I think thats why I like it so much. Just straightforward rock songs some of which have gone on to be classic rock radio staples. 5-stars.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
Thoughts before listening: This album is a mainstay in best albums lists, both for the 60s as well as of all time. I know that it has "Son of a Preacher Man" which is a classic song, but I do not know any of the other tracks. In fact, this has always seemed to me like a bit of an oddity for those lists.
Review: This is okay. "Son of a Preacher Man" truly is one of the best songs of all time, but the rest of the album stays in a mid-tempo soul sound that just isn't all that interesting to me. Dusty certainly has a nice voice and these are well arranged songs, but its just not my style. 2-stars.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is basically the blueprint for southern rock. Being a southerner myself Lynyrd Skynyrd is very important for a lot of the bands I grew up hearing on the radio, for better or for worse. This is a classic full of iconic songs, and despite the punchline that Skynyrd and "Freebird" have become years after their peak, this is a great album.
Review: Any album where half of the songs are "Gimme Three Steps", "Tuesdays Gone", "Simple Man", and of course "Freebird" is going to be a fun listen, but this was even better than I remember. I also enjoyed some of the lesser known songs like "I Ain't the One". There's great guitar throughout this album and an awesome classic rock sound. Definitely a 5-star album.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of those bands I've always heard of but know very little about. This album is not one that even looks familiar to me...Psychocandy is the album I typically see getting praised by music sites. Dark brooding indie rock or maybe gothic punk I think.
Review: Definitely not as dark as I was thinking. This sounds like a lot of 80s indie/college rock...especially the Pixies who famously covered one of their songs. This is a sound I connect with and enjoy, and while nothing on this album is blowing me away, it is certainly enjoyable. "Happy When It Rains", "Down On Me", and "April Skies" are very good songs that I'm happy to add to the playlist. 3-stars.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't know a ton about these guys other than that I believe they are electro Euro-pop and that they had a few hits in the 90s. They definitely were bigger in Europe than the US.
Review: I saw another review that said this is the sound of trying on clothes at Gap in the 90s...and yeah thats about right. Slow, soulful singing over non-descript techno beats. Its pleasant music I guess but not for me. I am giving this 2-stars cause its not offensive, but also pretty boring.
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the greatest live albums of all time. This is 5-stars.
Review: Bluesy, jazzy southern rock with killer guitar. Duane Allman is one of the greats on his instrument, especially for a slide player. So much energy in these songs that get pushed to the next level when the slide solos take over. The band would go on to be a huge influence on jambands and others that focus on their live shows over everything else, and this album was really the blueprint for that sound. Absolute classics in "Statesboro Blues", "Stormy Monday", "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", and "Whipping Post". 5-stars.
John Cale
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Former Velvet Underground member that I don't know much about as a solo artist. Lou Reed was always the bigger star, with John Cale being portrayed as an avant garde artist. I'm expecting art rock with lots of ambient soundscape type pieces.
Review: This is more orchestral pop music than the post-rock I was expecting. I hear a bit of the Velvet Underground in the instrumentation and arrangements, but this is quite a bit different from the sound of his former band. On initial listen, "MacBeth" stands out as a flat out rocker that immediately draws me in. Overall I don't hate this album but it's not something I'd go back to often. 3-stars.
The Vines
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This is a bit of a surprising entry to this list. The Vines always seemed like also-rans of the 00s garage rock movement, paling in comparison to bands like the White Stripes and the Strokes. Maybe they were a bigger deal in Europe? Anyway, I'm sure I'll recognize a song or two from the radio or an Apple commercial or something.
Review: "Get Free" was a hit and a pretty good one at that. I'm also enjoying some other songs like "Factory" and "Ain't No Room". The singer has a Kurt Cobain growl and the music seems better produced than their peers, although in some ways that detracts from the sound. There is also a bit of a Britpop style that sneaks in. All in all these guys took a little from a bunch of different popular alt-rock styles and mixed it together...and its more fun than I thought it would be. 3-stars for being an enjoyable, albeit pretty generic listen.
Lorde
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I never really understood the hype on Lorde although "Royals" is a good song....I don't think it's on this album though. Pop music isn't typically my thing but I'm sure this will be fine.
Review: Well right off the bat "Green Light" is recognizable and a very good song with an even better chorus, and "Supercut" was a fun track later in the album. The rest of these songs are just okay to me. I don't know if it's cause Jack Antonoff produces all of their albums, but a lot of recent female singers have a very similar sound...thinking of Lorde, Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, etc. It's a lot of mid-tempo songs with lyrics that are more spoken/whispered than sung. This came before Taylor's folklore/evermore but the vibe is almost identical. This is a 2-star album.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Thoughts before listening: This is brand new to me. Never even seen the cover. I am going to guess European dance music of some sort.
Review: Well this isn't dance. More like classical orchestral music with a German singer. Theatrical and almost operatic sounding with lyrics in both German and English. I am sure this was extremely impactful in a 1980s cold war environment, but it is not resonating with me. This is however well performed music with a strong vocalist that is getting a 2-star rating.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Thoughts before listening: My Bloody Valentine's comeback album. I constantly see them get raved about by music journalists and I never really got it. So far on this list I've had their pre-Loveless album and it was fine. I'm sure I'll enjoy this as well.
Review: I dont really like this. It's all just so droney and many of the songs don't feel complete. Every song is just a wall of noise with whispered vocals. I remember liking a few songs on the earlier album that stuck to more typical late 80s alt rock sound, but that is missing from this album. I'll give it 2-stars for at least being interesting even if it isn't actually enjoyable.
John Martyn
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't know this album or artist. Maybe some sort of avant garde folk music...not really sure.
Review: That was okay. Certainly not unlistenable but also didn't really do much for me. Kind of soft rock with some experimental sounds mixed in. 2-stars
Black Sabbath
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is a very good album by a monster band. There are some outright classics on this album, including the title track which has always been over of my favorite by them. Looking forward to listening
Review: "War Pigs", "Paranoid", "Iron Man", and "Fairies Wear Boots" alone would make this a 5-star album, but even the deep cuts are killer. Absolutely one of the most influential albums of all time, essentially creating the metal genre. I've always loved that despite the crazy places metal would go, the originators were just doing a slightly more distorted take on 60s blues rock. Easy 5-stars.
The Stooges
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Proto-punk from Detroit led by Iggy Pop. It's really fun primitive rock n roll with a wild man singing. Good stuff.
Review: I really like most of this album. "1969", "I Wanna Be Your Dog", and "No Fun" are absolute classics. "We Will Fall" however is a completely unnecessary 10 minutes that hurts the album as a whole. 3-stars for a mostly fun album.
Nirvana
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Huge album for me growing up. This came out when I was 12 and was just starting to pay attention to music. At one point I would have said this was Nirvana's best album, but it definitely is not as good as Nevermind. This is a darker, more punk rock album that unfortunately was Kurt Cobain's final studio recording.
Review: Yeah this is great. I have a ton of nostalgia for Nirvana and these songs meant so much to me when I was a teenager. This would have definitely been one of the first albums I ever bought for myself. "Heart Shaped Box", "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle", "Dumb", "Pennyroyal Tea", "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter", and "All Apologies" are favorites that are going on the playlist. 5-star album.
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is a nice surprise this morning. I really liked this album when it came out although I wouldn't expect it to be on this list. Maybe thats just because years of reading music magazines has instilled in me that everything old is better than everything new. Anyway, I know there are some great songs on this album so I look forward to revisiting.
Review: I have a very soft spot in my heart for Grizzly Bear and other 00s-10s folky pop rock bands like Fleet Foxes. This is the sound of my young adult years and I really like it. I might have more nostalgia for the 90s alt-rock bands, but I think I enjoy this music better. This album is really good, with some absolute gems of the era, especially "Southern Point" and "Two Weeks". 4-stars.
The Band
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I love the Band and this album is one of their best along with their self titled. This will be classic song after classic song so I'm sure I'll add a bunch to the playlist.
Review: This album starts slower than I was expecting, but from "The Weight" on it's about as classic of list of songs as you will ever hear. "Long Black Veil", "Chest Fever", and "I Shall Be Released" are great, but my favorite of the bunch is "This Wheels On Fire". 4-stars from me cause I just don't love the first half of the album.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm surprised to see this on the list, but I really like this album. I play this for my daughter quite a bit.
Review: This album is full of pleasant, well crafted songs with smart lyrics and catchy melodies. I'm not sure it's truly one of the greatest albums of all time, but it's certainly an album I enjoy quite a bit. My favorites are "Slow Burn", "Space Cowboy", and "Rainbow". 3-stars.
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Another of the 00s indie folk albums that has proven to stand the test of time and remains as a standout of that era. While Sufjan's overly ambitious plan to release an album about each state stalled at 2, he would go on to put out a wonderful body of work spanning 3 decades including last year's Javelin. Still, Illinois remains his masterpiece.
Review: This is simply one of the most fun, joyful albums I've ever heard, even when the subject matter is dark i.e. a song about John Wayne Gacy. Orchestral pop ditties with thoughtful lyrics and melodies that get stuck in your head. This came out when I was 24 and has remained in my rotation for going on 20 years. Favorites from this album include "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!", "John Wayne Gacy, Jr", "Jacksonville", "Decatur, or , Round of Applause...", "Chicago", "Casimir Pulaski Day", "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts", and "They Are Night Zombies". My only complaint is that the instrumental orchestral pieces between songs can be a bit much, but they do help to tie all the songs together as a whole cohesive work of art. Easy 5-stars for me.
The White Stripes
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This week has been nothing but 00s bangers. The White Stripes were an incredibly important band to me in my 20s, and Jack White is probably the ultimate rock star of that era. This is a great album.
Review: Right out the gate this album hits you with "Seven Nation Army" which is quite possibly the last great rock anthem, becoming part of American culture as a jock jam, Guitar Hero track, and even popular marching band song. Few songs outside of the 60s and 70s classic rock hits have had that kind of reach. Other than that song, this album is full of bluesy stomps powered with a punk rock grit and Jack White's unique guitar playing style. I love it. 5-stars.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of those 80s/90s college rock bands that I've heard of and read about for years but never actually listened to them. In general I do like this style of music so I'm excited to try this out...if I can find it. It's not on Spotify and the YouTube links appear to be dead as well.
Review: This is okay. It has a cool punk vibe that I'm enjoying, but it's also a compilation of the band's early demos so it has an unproduced quality to it. Not uncommon in 80s indie rock so it sounds very much of the time. The songs are all pretty good with Kristin Hersh's yelp standing out as the star of the show. From reading music magazines in the 90s, she was a huge deal in certain music circles, but I don't really know much about her. I'd give this 3-stars, but I did listen to their later output that's actually on Spotify....and it's really good so I'll bump them up to 4-stars.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I think this is my favorite MJ album. While his brand of 80s/90s pop and r&b isn't typically what I gravitate toward, it's hard to deny that his hits are bangers...and there are a lot of hits on this album.
Review: The hits are great..."Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror", "Dirty Diana", and "Smooth Criminal" are all iconic songs for a reason. I also like "Speed Demon" and "Leave Me Alone" which weren't hits but are really fun songs. That's 7 out of 11 songs that I really like so I'll give this a 4.
Moby
2/5
Thoughts before listening: This came out my senior year in high school and was a very big deal. Moby seemed like the future of music, and while EDM is still certainly popular, Moby has completely disappeared from popular culture. This style of music was never really my thing, but I do tend to enjoy it more as an adult than I did 25 years ago.
Review: This is just okay. The best songs are the hits: "Porcelain", "Southside", and "Natural Blues". The rest of the album is either background music or blues samples with techno beats. It reminds me of the music playing in a Gap changing room or something. 2-stars.
Soft Machine
3/5
Thought before listening: I think these guys were Bowie adjacent with a proggy glam rock sound maybe. This is one of those bands that are often mentioned as an influence on bands I enjoy, but I've never actually heard their music.
Review: Ok so this has nothing to do with Bowie or glam rock, rather being jazzy psychedelic prog rock. This album is very out there and trippy, and while these tracks are too long for their own good, I'm actually enjoying this quite a bit. I'm not going to add any of these 20 minute songs to the playlist, but I will rate this 3-stars as an enjoyable albeit very odd listen.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s Brit pop or new wave of some sort I think. I am not really sure, but typically when I don't instantly recognize an 80s album on this list its something that was popular with British music journalists. I'm sure this will be fine.
Review: This is better than I thought it would be. Sometimes it sounds like U2, sometimes its the Smiths, and others its just kinda generic pop rock. This certainly wouldn't be on my personal top 1,001 albums list, but its not terrible. I like the song "Was There Anything I Could Do?" while the rest of the album is pleasant enough and has actually grown on me on repeated listens. 3-stars.
Kanye West
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Kanye from when he was still interested in putting out smart, fun hip hop bangers. This is a fun album with lots of iconic songs. Kanye is insufferable now but I still enjoy his early albums.
Review: This album is great...even if Kanye is like the worst person ever now. So many great songs and even the skits tend to fall on the right side of funny where as most rap album skits are cringey as hell. "We Don't Care", "All Falls Down", "Spaceship", "Jesus Walks", "Through the Wire", and "Slow Jamz" are all very good songs that are getting added to the playlist. 4-stars.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This is my third MBV album on this list, and I've been pretty underwhelmed by the other ones. I know that Loveless gets massive praise from music journalists, but I've never really listened to it. I'm excited to hear a classic, but based on their other albums I'm not over optimistic that I'll enjoy it.
Review: Well right out the gate I really like "Only Shallow", which is a song I've heard before. The massive wall of sound guitar with ethereal female vocals is a great sound that would go on to be highly influential for the 90s alt-rock to come. The second song however is back to what I have disliked about the other albums: structureless, droney songs that sound like incomplete demos. That sound permeates the rest of the album with only a handful of songs actually adding melody and structure to the guitar noise. I'll give this 3-stars but in general, I don't get the hype for MBV...they certainly don't need 3 albums on this list.
50 Cent
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember 50 Cent being extremely popular, but not something that would necessarily make a list like this. More pop rap made for the radio than anything else, although his association with Eminem and Dr. Dre probably helped get him a little more critical recognition. There will be some fun songs on here I'm sure, but its probably not my thing.
Review: \"In Da Club\" was massive when it came out, and it's still a great 00s era hit. Songs that become that big have a way of worming their way into your conscious to a point that even if you typically would completely avoid their sound, you end up with a ton of nostalgia for the song. That's totally the case here.
That being said, I don't really like the rest of this album. The songs with Eminem are okay, but overall it sounds like every other rap album from that era with the same tired lyrical content as well. It's also long as hell...I don't need 20 tracks and over an hour of this stuff. 2-stars mainly for \"In Da Club\".
Pretenders
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I am new convert to this album having only recently picked up a used copy at a record store on a whim. I knew the Pretenders were well respected, but I only really knew their hits. I never would have listed them as one of my favorite bands, but this album is really good. I'm glad to see it made the 1,001 album list.
Review: Yeah I love this album. It is so much more than its massive hit "Brass in Pocket". Sure thats a great song, but the power of this album is the rockers that bring punk rock attitude with pop hooks and strong musicianship. Songs like "Precious", "Tattooed Love Boys", "Private Life", "Mystery Achievement", and my personal favorite "Lovers of Today" are the highlights here. 4-stars.
Radiohead
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is where Radiohead abandoned alt-rock for more of an electronic sound. At least that was the story when it came out, and because of those reviews, I avoided this album for years. I've since come around, and it's definitely a great album that sits near the top of Radiohead's discography (OK Computer is still their best).
Review: This is a weird album in all the right ways. There is a krautrock propulsion to many of the songs, and while there are certainly fewer guitar solos than on past albums, this is still a rock record. If anything, this was ushering in a new era for rock music that would focus more on atmosphere and mood than traditional rock song structures. Easy 5-star album for me.
Black Flag
4/5
Thoughts before listening: As a 90s punk fan Black Flag were enormous. Every band I liked cited them as an influence and their logo was as iconic as it gets. I do like a lot of what they do, but I never really got into them. Maybe it's too hardcore for me or something. I felt the same way about a band like the Bad Brains, and I gravitated to the more melodic hardcore of Descendents and Bad Religion. I'm excited to see this as my album today though.
Review: I stand by my long held belief that Black Flag is a tier below the more melodic punk bands, despite their status as giants in the scene. Maybe I'm just not a Henry Rollins fan or something. It's too much one note yelling and barking instead of singing like the bands I prefer.
Anyway, I do like some of these songs, including the absolute banger of an opening track with "Rise Above". That is definitely one of the best songs of the punk genre. Other than that, the more melodic the song the better for me: "Six Pack", "TV Party", "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie", and "Depression" being the best of the bunch. I'll give this 4-stars for being so important to a genre I love, but Black Flag still just isn't one of my bands.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Another album on this list that I own. This isn't my favorite Flaming Lips album, but that's only because Yoshimi is a masterpiece. Still though this is a very good album that I've consistently listened to for years.
Review: I love that the band that became known for a novelty song like "She Don't Use Jelly" ended up becoming even better known for releasing nearly perfect orchestral pop albums. These songs are extremely catchy pop gems and blew me away the first time I heard this album. "Race for the Prize", "The Spiderbite Song", "Waitin' for a Superman", "Suddenly Everything Has Changed", and "Feeling Yourself Disintegrate" are all absolute gems that have stuck with me long after I first heard them. I'll give this 4-stars for the fact that Yoshimi is Flaming Lips' best and because there are a couple of boring duds on the album.
The White Stripes
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This was the first White Stripes album I ever heard, and its a great one. I love the band, and this is their second best album behind Elephant.
Review: Yeah this is great. This is an album I would have discovered in college, and I have distinct memories of hearing songs like "Hotel Yorba" for the first time. This really drew me in at the time because it has the attitude of the punk rock I had been listening to for years but mixed with blues and country elements which I had been discovering at the time.
As an album this is a tier down from Elephant, but some of the songs on here are at least on par with that album. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground", "Fell in Love With a Girl", "The Union Forever", "We're Going to Be Friends", and "I Think I Smell a Rat" are my favorites. All in all this is a great album that I have a lot of history with. 4-stars for being a lesser album than Elephant and for some weak tracks.
The Roots
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I like the Roots and used to own this album, but I don't often see this listed on best of lists like this. While it'll be nice to re-visit these songs, this seems like something that made the list because it was released around the same time as the book. This typically isn't even considered the Roots' best album.
Review: This is certainly an electric album, with lots of different sounds and styles over 16 tracks. There is a lot to like here with my favorites being "Thought @ Work", "The Seed 2.0", "Break You Off", and "Water". That being said, there's a lot of songs on here and not everything is a good as these. This is a 3-star album.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The Beach Boys are great. They released some of the best songs of their time which have remained staples for 60+ years. That being said, outside of Pet Sounds, you never hear about individual albums. They're mostly a singles band with their greatest hits compilations being the typical go to. Looking at the tracklist on this album, it seems like there are only a couple well known songs. Not sure I need to hear an album of Beach Boys deep cuts, but here we go.
Review: This is fine. As an album I like it as much as Pet Sounds in that it's a mix of incredible songs and others that just don't do it for me. Apparently this was the band's first album after Brian Wilson went into his non-touring exile where he focused on songcraft and production over everything else. That era produced some absolute classics, but it also wasn't as \"fun\" as the earlier surf rock songs.
The first song here is one of my favorites in \"Do You Wanna Dance?\", although I know the Ramones version better than the Beach Boys. Other highlights include \"When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)\", \"Help Me Rhonda\", \"Dance Dance Dance\", and \"Please Let Me Wonder\". The rest of the album is pleasant enough but too slow to really do much for me. I'll match my Pet Sounds rating and also give this 3-stars.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Early rock n roll with Jerry Lee Lewis' wild man piano playing leading the way. I don't believe I've ever listened to JLL outside of his hits, so it'll be interesting to see what this sounds like...especially being a live album.
Review: 8 songs in 22 minutes and all high energy piano led rock songs. This is definitely fun with some absolute early rock standards on here, but the live production is a little annoying. I love live albums, but the crowd noise on this one is distracting (I feel the same way about James Brown's Live at the Apollo).
"Money", "Great Balls of Fire", "Good Golly Miss Molly", "Long, Tall Sally", and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". All classics that I'm glad to add to the playlist (also what a playlist this is, in the last 24 hours I've added songs by Jerry Lee Lewis, Slipknot, and Ice-T). This is a 3-star album.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Kraftwerk gets cited A LOT by music journalists as a forefather to a lot of modern music. In general I think I know what they sound like, but I've never sat down to listen to one of their albums. I'm expecting synth heavy instrumental music with a driving beat.
Review: Well it's not all instrumental with a few songs having monotone almost robotic vocals. This sounds like a mixture of video game/sci Fi movie soundtrack music and early 80s European new wave like Thomas Dolby or Gary Numan. I'm sure Kraftwerk were a huge influence on both.
Is it possible to understand an album's importance but also not really like it? That's what's happening here. I get that Kraftwerk were innovators, but I don't particularly enjoy the music they inspired. I will say that when their songs take on a more traditional pop form, it's a bit more enjoyable...songs like "The Model" and "Neon Lights" fall in this category. Still though, it's just not for me so I will give this 2-stars.
The Only Ones
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of these guys before...must be British. Based on the year of release and cover I'm going to say this will be punky new wave.
Review: Definitely British, and this is more of a power pop sound than the new wave I was expecting. Reminds me a bit of Elvis Costello maybe or some later 80s post-punk bands. I can also see these guys being an influence on a band like the Libertines. It seems like the biggest hit was "Another Girl, Another Planet", and thats probably the best song here. As a whole, this is a nice surprise of an album. 3-stars.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I love LCD Soundsystem, and this is a very good album. I think "All My Friends" is on this one which is a post-2000s classic. It'll be nice to re-visit this today.
Review: Once again, the 2000s albums feel more like "my music" than the 90s ones while also still feeling modern sounding. LCD Soundsystem has a cool sound that pulls from 80s new wave and punk (especially Talking Heads) while adding its own dancey, industrial flair. "All My Friends" is definitely a post-2000s classic with its steady driving beat that slowly builds over its 7:43 running time. I also enjoy "North American Scum", "Us v Them", and "New York I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down". 4-stars.
Beatles
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Pre-psychedelic classic from the Beatles. This is a fun era for the band even if it doesn't quite rise to the masterpiece level of their later output. I'm pretty sure I've never actually listened to this album, but I'm sure I'll know most of the songs.
Review: This is not as good as the later releases, but it certainly has its own charms. The hits such as "A Hard Day's Night", "And I Love Her", and "Can't Buy Me Love" are about as iconic as songs can possibly be. For deeper cuts, I really like "I Should Have Known Better" and "Things We Said Today".
Overall this is a fun album showcasing the early Beatles sound which would change dramatically in only a few short years. I definitely prefer the later albums, but I do appreciate that this is the first time the Beatles only released songs that they had written themselves. This is 4-stars.
George Michael
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I never thought I would listen to a George Michael album, but here we are. The title song is a great 80s hit and I remember liking it as a kid. I know this album has gotten more respect over the years than I remember at the time. In the late 80s/early 90s this was the pop music on MTV that soon became the antithesis of everything I became interested in as I entered my teenage years. In general I'm able to appreciate this type of pop music more as an adult than I would have back then, so perhaps I'll enjoy this.
Review: "Faith" the song is still great. "Father Figure" has an incredible chorus, but the rest of the song falls victim to cheesy 80s ballad production. In general this reminds me as a lesser version of what artists like Michael Jackson and Prince were putting out in the 80s. There are some catchy songs here ("Hand to Mouth" and "Monkey" are my favorite deep cuts), but its just not for me. 2-stars.
Slipknot
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This is my 2nd slipknot album which seems a bit excessive. The first one at least had \"Wait and Bleed\", so I'm not sure what this one could possibly have on it to justify the inclusion. I didn't like the first album so chances are I won't like this one either.
Review: Well, I have to say this is better than the first Slipknow album I listened to. While there are still pummeling moments on this album, the band is definitely leaning on their pop hook writing abilities a little more on this album...especially on songs like "Sulfur", "Psychosocial", and "Dead Memories" which I am enjoying quite a bit. This is a 3-star album for the strength of these 3 catchy songs.
David Bowie
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the albums from Bowie's Berlin era. This one gets a ton of praise from journalists but I've never found this phase of his career to be as fun as the Hunky Dory/Ziggy Stardust era. I'm excited to give it another listen though.
Review: So this album is a little hit or miss for me. I like the actual rock songs such as "Sound and Vision", "Speed of Life", and "Be My Wife" which sound like a precursor to much of the late 70s/early 80s indie rock I love so much. However, I am not as into the Brian Eno ambient stuff. I mean I understand the talent that goes into those songs, its just not something I gravitate to when listening to music. If this was all avant garde rock songs I'd give it 4-stars, but instead this gets a 3.
Gotan Project
3/5
Thoughts before listening: No idea what this is. I'm assuming some sort of techno/EDM record. Being from 2001 I might have some connection to the sound having heard it at a club or something, but this was never really my scene.
Review: This is pleasant enough although not my style. More ambient background music than the more hard dance I was expecting. I enjoyed listening to this while working, but I'm not adding any of this to my playlist. 3-stars
Cee Lo Green
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Is "F You" on this? That's a great song. I don't know anything else by Cee-Lo Green (besides his Gnarls Barkley stuff) but he's southern hip hop soul music. I'm sure this will be fun to listen to.
Review: It's always interesting the albums on this list that came out in the early 2000s around the release of the book. The editors were having to make a lot of guesses on modern releases that would go on to be classics. There are a lot of 00s era albums on this list that have been completely forgotten in the 20 years since. This is one of them.
This doesn't have "F You" which is far and away Cee-Lo's biggest solo hit. What is on here is fun and I'm enjoying listening to it, but I hardly feel that this rises to the status this list should demand. It certainly hasn't proven to have the timeless staying power of the 70s Stevie Wonder albums it's paying homage to. This is a 2-star album.
Ice T
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I know Ice-T but I've never actually listened to one of his albums, and looking over the tracklist I don't recognize any of these songs. I'm sure this will be fine, but probably not really my thing.
Review: This is just okay. I can't relate to this at all, and I'm not really into Ice-T's brand of rap. There aren't a lot of pop hooks here and most songs have a similar sound. There is definitely a Public Enemy influence to the music on this album, but PE are much more interesting, especially with their lyrics. Best song on here is "Body Count" which was Ice-T introducing his rock band...and I like him as a metal singer more than a rapper. This is a 2-star album.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Classic 60s poppy folk rock record. Assuming this has their hits on it this should be a fun listen.
Review: The Mamas and the Papas' hits like "Monday Monday" and "California Dreamin'" are the sound of the 60s. It's pop music reminiscent of the early Beatles mixed with the sounds of the 60s folk movement that the band members were associated with. Perhaps it's the male/female communal group vocals, but there is a certain hippie idealism to their sound without being overly psychedelic. This is ultimately pleasant pop music with a handful of catchy singles surrounded by pretty forgettable filler songs. 3-stars mainly because "California Dreamin'" is such a great song.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Very recent album. I remember this getting a lot of praise in 2021, but it's not really my thing. Also feels like an odd choice for the list. In general its hard to evaluate the recent entries on this list that is so focused on an album's legacy and inspiration to future releases.
Review: As far as modern R&B goes this is pretty good. I like the concept of story songs that are each inspired by different female perspectives. This album won Grammys and made the top of a ton of best of the year lists. Its a good album, but its just not something that I relate to. Perfect example of an album that I can respect even if its not really my style of music. I will give this a 3-star rating, but I don't really know that it belongs on this list.
Nas
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the most highly regarded hip hop albums of all time, but I don't believe I have heard it before.
Review: Yeah I've never heard this before, and you know what...it's great! I get where the praise comes from. This is closer to something like A Tribe Called Quest than the gangsta rap coming out at the same time. I'm really enjoying Nas' laid back rap style over jazzy beats with some interesting lyrics that aren't all violence and sex. 5-stars.
Marty Robbins
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Early country music with some songs that have become staples over the years like "El Paso". Should be an interesting listen full of story songs with an antiquated sounding musical style.
Review: Yeah, this is fun. Marty Robbins has a great, soothing voice and these songs are like little western movies with the stories they are telling. The music is pretty typical for the 1950s era of country music, and there are some interesting little guitar licks happening low in the mix. Not something that I would typically come back to very often, but I'm glad to have heard this today. 3-stars
The Replacements
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I really enjoy the Replacements, and this widely considered one of their best albums. That being said, I don't believe I have heard this album as a whole. I certainly will recognize some songs, but Tim is the only Replacements albums that I own.
Review: Yeah, this is good, but it's not my favorite from the band (Tim or Pleased to Meet Me are better). I love the Replacements' sloppily played and punk inspired rock n roll, and this album has that in spades even if they have better songs on other albums. My favorites here are "I Will Dare" and "Unsatisfied" both of which are classics of 80s post-punk indie rock. I also really like "We're Coming Out", "Sixteen Blue", and their Kiss cover "Black Diamond". 4-stars because assuming Tim is on this list it's getting the top rating.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Well, I never thought I'd sit down and listen to a full Christina Aguilera album, but here we are. These sorts of pop and r&b albums just aren't my thing, but I have found I can appreciate them more now than I would have at 25 when this was released. She certainly has a powerhouse voice, and I'm sure I'll recognize some of the hits on here, so perhaps this will be better than I think it will be. That being said, looks like this is 2 discs and well over an hour long, not sure I'll have it in me to listen to this whole thing.
Review: Yeah, this is about what I'd expect from a Christina Aguilera album. Great singing on the R&B inspired pop bangers and even better singing on the ballads. This is split into 2 albums with disc 1 being the pop songs and disc 2 being more "jazz" inspired. A lot of the disc 1 production sounds super dated to 00s pop with things like record scratches and synthy fake horn blasts. Disc 2 is a little more organic sounding, but this is still very much a pop album.
Maybe I just wasn't paying attention to pop music in 2006, but I don't recognize any of these songs. I feel like I could rattle off 5 - 10 Christina songs, but none of them are on this album. I can't say that any of these songs are really standing out to me despite having nice vocals throughout. I thought I would at least like the music on the "jazzy" disc, but it's still very much a pop sound. Mainly just feels like an attempt to cash in on her Lady Marmalade sound. This is a 2-star album.
The Stooges
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I didn't like the first Stooges album I heard on here as much as I thought I would. In theory I should love their primitive take on rock n roll, but only a few songs really grabbed me on that one. I'm interested to see if I feel differently about this album.
Review: "Search and Destroy" is such a great song and a perfect way to kick things off. I'm definitely enjoying this more as a cohesive album than the first one with the guitar work and Iggy's vocals being the stars here. Other highlights are "Gimme Danger" and "Raw Power".
Now I'm trying to figure out if I prefer the original David Bowie produced version or Iggy Pop's later remaster. Seems like this is a major debate with Stooges fans, with many preferring Iggy's sludgy version because that is supposedly what the Stooges wanted this album to sound like at the time. For me, I can certainly understand this stance, but I think I'm liking Bowie's version better. Either way, this is a 4-star album.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This has been an iconic, right of passage album for my entire life. Growing up as a kid in the 80s and teenager in the 90s, Guns n Roses were MASSIVE. They were the absolute best of the LA hard rock and metal scene with a sound that was more punk inspired than the glam indebted overly poppy music so many of the contemporaries were playing. This is GnR's first and best album, and one that I thoroughly enjoy.
Review: Yeah this is a nearly perfect album that is an absolutely essential addition to any collection. This is the best 80s hard rock album, and I'm not even really a big fan of that genre. The GnR sound is a Stones swagger mixed with AC/DC style hard rock and a punk rock attitude, and they have some great songs as well. "Welcome to the Jungle", "Paradise City", and "Sweet Child O' Mine" are classic rock staples that hold up as the years go on, but even this album's deep cuts are great. Listening for the first time in a long time, I was reminded of how much I enjoy songs like "Its So Easy", "Mr. Brownstone", "My Michelle", and "Think About You". 5-star album.
Big Black
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I believe this is noise rock that had a huge influence on 90s alternative bands, and I think Steve Albini may have been involved. I've never listened to these guys before so this should be interesting.
Review: The album isn't on Spotify so I can't add any songs to the playlist, but I though it sounded pretty good. I listened while mowing the lawn, so I did not pay much attention to the lyrics which the internet tells me are pretty hardcore, but I guess that is fairly standard for 80s punk bands. As far as the music, I can hear their influence in a lot of the 90s alternative bands that I used to be into, especially on the industrial side. I hear quite a bit of Big Black's sound in Ministry which makes sense with both bands coming up in the same Chicago scene. This is a 3-star album.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the original 70s supergroups with C, S, N, and Y all having spent time in popular 60s rock bands as well as releasing their own solo music. CSNY mixes these guys' rock chops with more singer songwriter folk songs all sung with some of the best vocal harmonies of all time. I own this album and know it will be an enjoyable listen.
Review: Yeah this is good stuff. When Neil Young joined up with C, S, and N he added his ragged guitar style to their folky harmonies to great results. The first CSN album has some great tracks, but also gets diluted a bit with some folkiness that comes off as too sickly sweet for its own good. Neil Young helps to keep this album on track with all 10 songs being strong. My favorites on this album are "Carry On", "Almost Cut My Hair", "Helpless", "Woodstock", and "Our House". 4-stars.
U2
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I used to always say I didn't like U2. They were too over the top and showy, and I just think the late 90s/early 00s was a bad era for them despite their massive popularity. That being said, I have started coming around on their 80s output and can understand why people are obsessed with them. This will be my first time listening to this album as a whole, and I am excited to listen to it.
Review: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" opens this album followed soon after with "New Years Day", and both are highlights in U2's career. Even when I was largely dismissing the band, I recognized these as great anthemic songs. Other songs I am enjoying include "Two Hearts Beat As One", "Red Light" (especially the horns), and "Surrender". This album has often been cited as U2's most rock album, and there is a certain propulsion to these songs that proves this to be true. I am enjoying the Edge's guitar throughout and Bono sounds great as well. I still think the Joshua tree is their masterpiece, but this is a more enjoyable listen than their later more popular period. 4-stars.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Taylor Swift has taken over my household. My wife is obsessed and Taylor is her go to when picking music. I like it for the most part, but I would never choose to listen since its just not the type of music I tend to gravitate to. However, as far as pop stars go Taylor is about as good as it gets. My favorite by her is the Folklore album, but 1984 has a ton of huge pop hits and is overall a very good album. I also love how much Taylor melts the worst people so she gets bonus points for that as well.
Review: Yeah this is good. Its hard to deny just how catchy this album is. "Blank Space" and "Bad Blood" are my favorites hits with "Welcome to New York" and "Wish You Would" as my favorite deeper cuts. This is a 4-star album.
Travis
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember these guys being a big deal with music writers back in the day, especially the British press. In my mind they were a big deal in the post-Radiohead, pre-Coldplay British alt rock world, with a sound that hits on all of the anthemic pop rock elements of Radiohead circa The Bends. Similar to a band like Keane.
Review: Meh. This isn’t very good. This sounds like what you’d get if you took “Karma Police” or “High and Dry” and removed all the cool interesting parts. It’s just vanilla pop rock with anthemic choruses. I remember the songs “Turn” and “Why Does it Always Rain On Me” which are the 2 best songs here. 2-stars.
The Temptations
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I certainly know the Temptations, but I’ve never seen this album cover be though. This is a 60s Motown soul group that has some massive songs. Looks like this album has at least one of those songs with “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” which will be nice to hear.
Review: These are the types of albums I like discovering through this project. I knew the Temptations transitioned from being Motown hitmakers in the 60s to a more psychedelic funk sound in the 70s, but I had never really dug in other than the Psychedelic Shack album I once picked up on a whim in a record store budget bin.
The first three songs on this album have an incredible sound that is quite different from what the Temptations had released prior to this album. All three of these songs are going on the playlist, and I especially enjoy the 9 minute "Runaway Child, Running Wild". The second half is more traditional 60s soul sound that the Temptations are known for. This is an enjoyable listen, but nothing is standing out. 4-star album.
Björk
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I've never really listened to Bjork. I mean I know her bigger 90s alt rock songs, but I've never actually listened to a full album. It always seemed like it would be over my head or something. I know Debut and Post get most of the love (and contain the songs I'd recognize) so it'll be interesting see what this one is all about.
Review: Oh yeah...the fully acapella Bjork album. This was probably the point when I decided Bjork just wasn't going to be for me. On a listen through this morning I was probably right. I mean it's objectively good with Bjork having an amazing unique voice, but this just isn't the type of music I'm ever going to sit around listening to. That being said, this made for a solid album to mow the lawn to this morning. 3-stars.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this is one of my favorite albums of all time. This came out when I was 12 and just getting into music. It blew my mind then and continues to blow my mind when I listen now. It’s such a big rock sound for an alt rock band whose peers mostly leaned heavily on the punk rock aesthetics of angst over technique. Really helped them to stand out from the pack, and the songs from Siamese Dream remain absolute top of the heap of 90s alt rock.
Review: This album still just sounds so modern and vital. Many of the Smashing Pumpkins' contemporaries are starting to sound dated 3 decades past their primes, but Siamese Dream could be released today. Its a timeless record that has been an absolute joy to revisit after a few years without listening. Many of these songs will get added to the playlist, but I especially like "Cherub Rock", "Today", "Hummer", "Disarm", and "Mayonaise". This is a 5-star album.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Classic 70s funk/soul album that I have never listened to before. This makes all the best album lists and I'm sure I will recognize a few songs, but this has just never been something that I sought out to listen to. I am glad this album came up today so I finally get a chance to hear it. In general I really enjoy 70s funk so I'm sure this will be great.
Review: "Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead", and the title track are enough to make this album an all time classic, but this whole thing is great. 5-stars
The Gun Club
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I think this is 80s post-punk with maybe a rockabilly vibe. Something like that. I know they get cited a lot as an influence by bands that I enjoy, but I admittedly know very little about them. Sometimes the 80s underground punk stuff is right up my alley and sometimes its a little too out there for me.
Review: Okay so I pretty much nailed what this would sound like, and I actually quite like it. These guys definitely have a bit of an X or the Cramps sound with rockabilly and blues elements getting mixed into the typical 80s punk style. Also a direct influence on later bands like Reverend Horton Heat who I was a huge fan of growing up. I'm glad to have heard this album, and having a reason to finally listen to an a band long on my periphery is exactly why I am doing this project. 4-stars
The Fall
2/5
Thoughts before listening: British 70s punk rock band that has been around forever. I know that their sound has evolved over the years, but in 1979 I believe this will be kind of a post-punk, pre-new wave kind of sound. Highly influential band that has been cited as an influence by musicians I love.
Review: Meh. This isn't for me. I love a lot of punk and indie music, but it still needs song structure and melody to catch my interest. For the most part this is very repetitive, atonal music with Mark E Smith ranting over top. There are a few standouts such as the first song "Frightened", and I enjoy "2 Steps Back" as well. 2-stars.
The Fall
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this is a first, back to back albums by the same band. I just reviewed the Fall's first album and I found it to be pretty meh. A few good tracks but mostly atonal music with Mark E Smith talk singing over it. Maybe this will be better? It seems like the Fall added some dance sounds to their repertoire later in their career so perhaps that will be reflected on this album.
Review: Okay, this is certainly better than the first album, but I just don't think the Fall is for me. For the most part talk singing isn't my thing, and that seems to be Mark E Smith's specialty. This is not the dance inspired music I was expecting (apparently that was a late 80s thing for the band), with the music here definitely having a bit more tunefulness from the first album. This is still very repetitive with songs that don't really go anywhere though. As I said, it's a little better than the first album, but it's still 2-stars for me.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Probably the biggest alt rock album of the 90s that I just didn't really care about. All the drama around the Gallagher brothers must have turned me off, or maybe Oasis just seemed lame cause I was so into punkier stuff at the time. Whatever it was, I never paid much attention to Oasis. That being said, their hits are undeniably good songs so I'm excited to actually listen all the way through.
Review: This is good. "Wonderwall" is an outright all timer of a song, while "Don't Look Back in Anger" and "Champagne Supernova" are iconic anthems of their own. 4-stars
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't really know too much about these guys outside of "Killing Moon" which isn't on this album. I believe they're similar in vein to the Smiths or the Cure...new wave era bands that had a few hits, but also huge cult followings making them big influences on the post-punk and indie rock world. Should be good.
Review: Yeah I like this quite a bit. Apparently "The Cutter" and "Back of Love" were the hits on this album, and that makes sense because they are very catchy songs. In general, this is indicative of the 80s alternative sound, and I am enjoying most songs. 4-stars
Nico
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I enjoyed Nico's contribution to the Velvet Underground's debut well enough but ultimately I don't think she's for me. I'm pretty sure I've never heard this album, and it's also nothing I've ever sought after either. I'm expecting sad music.
Review: Nico has a very unique voice that I like, but it also always feels like its on the verge of being off key. I really like her cover of "These Days", but nothing else is really standing out to me. In general this is a pleasant listen (for the most part...a couple songs get a little out there), but not something I am likely to come back to. 2-stars
Portishead
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This album gets talked about A LOT, but this will be a first listen for me. I believe Portishead is considered trip hop with ethereal female vocals...this is typically the type of music I respect more than enjoy which is probably why I have never sought this album out despite the acclaim.
Review: This is not the type of music I would usually listen to, but this is good. I definitely remember \"Sour Times\" being a big deal on the college and alternative radio stations I listened to in the 90s, so it is nice to hear a familiar song. These guys get a ton of style points and their sound is very interesting. Lots of cool sounds mixed into what amounts to moody, slow burn, jazzy music with emotive female vocals. My favorite song is \"Glory Box\". 4-stars
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Thoughts before listening: These guys are a pretty big deal to a lot of music fans, but I don't really know anything about them. 90s British alt rock I think but not from the Britpop or Madchester scenes. I am not sure what to expect.
Review: Okay so reading up on thesa guys, they started as a rebellion against the popular British alt rock bands of the time with a sound that leaned closer to punk rock and metal. However, after their guitarist/songwriter mysteriously disappeared, they regrouped and released this album which showed a move toward more accessible alt rock. I kind of remember that story from when I was a kid, but these guys were never huge in the US.
Anyway, this is okay. I don't recognize any of this despite being VERY into alternative music in 1996, and that includes the hit "A Design for Life". I feel like a lot of mid-90s British bands ended up on MTV and college radio, but even these guys' big song didn't cross my path. The album is full of catchy rock music that sounds like a lot of other 90s bands, but there's definitely nothing groundbreaking here. I like the horns in "Kevin Carter" which is probably my 2nd favorite song. 3-stars
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I love CCR. Country influenced rock that came out long before alt-country was ever a thing. I feel like these guys are somewhat overlooked amongst 60s bands despite their massive and enduring hits. I don't know what all is on this album, but I'm sure I'll know most of the songs.
Review: Yeah this is great. CCR just put out so many great songs that have stood the test of time, and many of them are on this album. This starts out with "Ramble Tamble", an all-time great deep cut, before htting you with "Travelin' Band", "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Run Through the Jungle", "Up Around the Bend", "Who'll Stop the Rain", "I Heard it Through the Grapevine", and "Long as I Can See the Light" all of which are staples that I have listened to throughout my life thanks to classic rock radio. This is easily a 5-star album.
Justin Timberlake
1/5
Thoughts before listening: I've seen Justin Timberlake live. It was pretty good although it was so overproduced it felt more like watching a Broadway musical than a concert. Anyway, I respect him as a singer, and I'm sure I'll recognize some songs on here, but pop music in general just isn't my thing.
Review: This sounds very dated to the early 2000s which is a time I was VERY into music and VERY much opposed to stuff like Justin Timberlake. I am having flashbacks and an immediate negative reaction to this. "Cry Me a River" is the best song here, but I really don't like the rest of it. Sounds like Michael Jackson with less vocal talent. It all just sounds so bland...and the lyrics are embarrassing. 1-star
Frank Zappa
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Zappa is one of those artists that I want to like because I'm told I should like him, and I have tried over and over again...and I find him very polarizing. There are some absolute gems in his catalog but there is also a lot that is unlistenable. Hot Rats falls in the first category. I love this album. Excited to listen this morning.
Review: This album starts out with the great "Peaches en Regalia" which was a song I knew from Phish's cover long before I listened to Frank Zappa. This is followed immediately by "Willie the Pimp", and these represent my favorite songs on the album. I also enjoy "The Gumbo Variations" which even at 12 minutes long never gets boring and keeps great energy throughout. Overall a fun to listen to jazz-rock album that is getting 5-stars.
Gang Starr
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know these guys are a big deal in the hip hop world but I've never listened to them. I'm sure this will be good.
Review: Yep...this is the type of hip hop I like. Jazzy beats with cool guitar licks sampled in and laid back vocals...and no skits. These guys were stars of the 90s underground rap scene which is one that I mostly missed at the time but has grown to be my favorite sound in the genre. This was an enjoyable listen this morning. 4-stars.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s goth rock similar to Bauhaus I believe. I have very little frame of reference for these guys and the genre so I'm not really sure what this will sound like.
Review: So it's definitely 80s goth new wave. Like I have found with the Cure and Bauhaus, while the sound here is dark, there's also a pop sensibility that means a lot of these songs are extremely catchy and fun to listen to. It's not necessarily what I'd expect from this genre. I've added a few songs to my playlist (including "The Corrosion' which is one of the better discoveries I've made on this project). I'll give this 4-stars because I'm enjoying it quite a bit.
Gorillaz
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Damon Albarn from Blur with a bunch of studio musicians, producers, and rappers hiding behind cartoon personas. I've never been super into the Gorillaz despite really enjoying some of their songs i.e. "Clint Eastwood".
Review: This is okay. Eclectic sound bringing in a lot of different ideas and styles all with a hip hop beat. Most songs are definitely trip-hop inspired with monotone rapping mixed with Damon Albarn's britpop style, and like a lot of his projects (i.e. Blur and the Good the Bad and the Queen), I feel like there are more ideas than complete songs here. The only song that really grabs me remains "Clint Eastwood" although there are some others I am enjoying like "5/4". 3-stars.
10cc
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I've heard of 10cc but I know nothing about them. I feel like they maybe had a couple hits in the 70s but were never huge stars. Maybe more of a critic favorite type of band than one that was selling out arenas.
Review: Well this is definitely eclectic. I am getting a bit of a Steely Dan vibe with their melodic, poppy take on rock music with irreverent lyrics and varying styles mixed in throughout. "Clockwork Creep" namechecks Chattanooga in the lyrics so thats an immediate add to the playlist. I also like "The Wall Street Shuffle" and "Silly Love". Overall this is a fun listen that I can tell was likely a favorite of many 80s era indie and college rock bands, especially someone like Ween who was doing their own ironic takes on different styles not typical of a rock band. 3-stars cause while there are good songs its a little inconsistent.
Ozomatli
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Latin inspired hip hop funk group. This band used to hit my radar cause their style got them booked on a lot of the jamband festivals I was going to. Pretty surprised to see them on this list though since I never thought of them as being overly well known.
Review: So Santana's Supernatural album meets Jurassic 5? This isn't bad, but as has often been the case, it feels like the editors missed when trying to guess which mid-00s albums were going to stand the test of time. This has largely been forgotten over the last 20 years, and quite frankly I don't remember it making much of a splash back then either. Best song here is "Saturday Night" which has a chorus that sounds like what Eminem was doing around the same time mixed with a ska style breakdown in the chorus. I am also enjoying the more Latin inspired songs. Very chill sound...this gets 3-stars.
Shack
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of this band or seen this album cover, so I have no idea what to expect. I'm sure I am way off but the cover looks like it would be like sea shanty punk or something....it'll probably be some sort of dance music though.
Review: Should have known it was mostly forgotten 90s/00s British pop rock. I was ready to hate on this, and after the first few songs it got better. This started out sounding like Oasis or Blur retreads, but there are some pretty unique and cool songs on the second half of the album such as "Streets of Kenny" and "Re-Instated". Overall this probably isn't one of the 1,001 best albums I've ever heard, but I'll give it 3-stars for having some interesting moments.
Beck
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Now this is a mid-00s album that I actually enjoy although I might not agree its deserving of this list. To me, Beck peaked just before this album with Mellow Gold, Odelay, and Sea Change, but I did own Guero on cd at the time. I have not however listened in a long time, so I am glad to have a reason to revisit this album.
Review: This is good, but I still agree that it doesn't rise to the heights of Beck's earlier albums. There are some good hits here like "E-Pro" and "Girl", and I really like "Black Tambourine" and "Hell Yes" as well. However, there is a lot of filler on this album, with most of the highlights being on the first half and the album losing steam in the second half. 3-stars.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I really enjoyed the Superfly soundtrack that I got on here a couple weeks ago, so I'm sure this will be good as well. I'm expecting 70s funk and r&b perhaps with more of a political undertone to the lyrics.
Review: Yeah this is fine though definitely not as fun of a listen as Superfly. This album gets into a little more of a slow jam and introspective territory. Favorite songs are "Jesus" and "Billy Jack". 3-stars
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Serge Gainsbourg is a name I recognize but not one I know much about. I feel like this is likely 70s French easy listening pop music, but that doesn't sound as cool as Serge Gainsbourg's reputation would have me assume.
Review: The music sounds really cool, but I hate talk singing. Even when it's in English and I know what's being said I still just find it to be more distracting than enjoyable. This is not something I'd ever choose to listen to on my own, but I guess I'm glad I've now heard it. 2-stars cause the guitar in the first song is pretty cool.
The Smiths
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I really enjoy the Smiths and own a few of their albums, including this one. I haven't listened in a while so it'll be nice to revisit this morning, although I don't typically consider this one of their better albums.
Review: Its always nice when I can listen to an album I actually own, as I did this morning pulling this out of the record cabinet before going out to my office for work. This album is pretty good, but it just doesn't have as many songs that catch my ear as their other albums. Still though this is a 3-star record with the following songs getting added to the playlist: "Nowhere Fast", "The Headmaster Ritual", "Barbarism Begins at Home", and "Rusholme Ruffians".
Madonna
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Late 90s Madonna with an attempt to modernize her sound with more techno inspired musical style and introspective lyrics. The song "Ray of Light" is an all time great pop song, and in general I'll probably like this album more than I would one of her earlier releases.
Review: This came out at the height of my music listening days and I'm kind of surprised by how much I recognize. Nothing quite rises to the highs of the title track, but this is fine. I will say though that the length is a little much at over an hour. These songs all kind of blend together as they utilize very similar beats throughout, and I found myself getting bored. I didn't really like this style of music 25 years ago and I don't really love it now either. 2-stars
The Stranglers
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Early British punk rock band that I believe delved into new wave later in their career. Despite being a big punk fan, I have a pretty big blind spot for most early British punk bands that aren't the Clash, Sex Pistols, or Buzzcocks. I'm interested to hear this.
Review: Well this album is from 77 so I expected much more of a hard punk sound, but they come right out the gate with an organ. Definitely some snotty vocals, but also lots of melody in these songs. "Sometimes" opens the album and is a great song with an almost Doors style organ solo in the middle. Not at all what I expected, in a good way. In general, that's the sound here, punk attitude with very melodic new wave style songs and the organ over top of everything. Other great songs include "Hanging Around", "Peaches", and "Get a Grip on Yourself". 4-stars.
JAY Z
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I love Jay-Z. At one point he was one of few rappers who I was actually buying albums from along with the Beastie Boys, Eminem, Wu Tang Clan, and a few others. I'm not sure if I owned the Blueprint, but I definitely know it cause it has a lot of great songs. Glad to listen to this today.
Review: Some will say this is pop rap (it is), but its also really good. There are so many hits that were absolute staples of the early 00s, even for someone like me that wasn't actively paying attention to popular music at the time. Its hard to deny how good songs like "Takeover", "Izzo", "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Heart of the City", "Song Cry", and really just the whole album. I'm giving this 5-stars.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Wings is Paul McCartney's post-Beatles 70s arena rock band. I've never listened to this album, but I know that the title song is an all-time great pop rock song. Something tells me the rest is going to be cheesy throw away songs, but maybe not.
Review: This thing certainly kicks things off on a high note with the title track followed by "Jet". Both are staples of classic rock radio and very fun listens that I'm happy to add to my playlist. After these I was expecting a major dropoff in quality, but you know what? Paul McCartney can write a hell of a pop rock song (duh). There are a few duds, but for the most part this is a really good album. Other songs I'm enjoying: "Mrs Vanderbilt", "Let Me Roll It", and "Picasso's Last Words". 4-stars.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I know nothing about this, but the premise of a soundtrack to a fake movie doesn't sound very promising.
Review: Meh. This was okay. The music wasn't bad per se, it just kind of went nowhere. Soundscapes that would play as background music to a movie, despite there not actually being a movie. 2-stars.
The Human League
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this is 80s new wave and I recognize the cover so I'd assume there will be a hit or two that I'll recognize.
Review: Well, this certainly sounds like the 80s. Synths and drum machines and beeps and bops dominate. This just isn't my style of music but it's a fine album. \"Don't You Want Me\" is an all time banger. 3-stars.
Metallica
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Absolute stone cold classic that came out right when I was starting to pay attention to music. This was HUGE for my generation. Everyone who's parents would allow them to listen to rock music had this...which of course meant I had to listen to my friends' copies. Still though the videos were all over MTV, and even without being allowed to own this until much later, I have very early memories about Metallica and this album.
Review: I know that I'm giving this 5-stars cause of its important to the rock music of my generation, but listening has been an nice reminder of just how good this really is. Opening with "Enter Sandman", this albums comes out the gate with one of the biggest rock songs of all-time. From there the hits include: "Sad But True", "The Unforgiven", "Wherever I May Roam", and "Nothing Else Matters", all of which remain highlights of the earliest days of my music interest.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 70s funk band with some massive hits. Outside of the hits I don't really know their music so this should mostly be new to me. I'd assume there will be some big songs on this album, but I don't recognize the cover.
Review: Well, I know the first track. "Shining Star" is one of those songs that everyone recognizes without really knowing who actually wrote and recorded it. Its a great, fun song which is a pretty good description for this whole album. This is the sound of 70s radio friendly funk and soul music, with a mixture of upbeat party songs and more introspective ballads. The musicianship is top notch with jazzy bass lines and horn punches throughout, and its just overall a pleasant listening experience. 4-stars
Blondie
5/5
Thoughts before listening: 70s NYC punk scenesters who leaned into their pop tendencies to become massive new wave stars and eventual rock n roll hall of fame inductees. I believe this is their first album and generally considered their best. Debbie Harry is one of the coolest rock stars of all time. I'm sure I'll recognize half of this album, but I believe this will be the first time I've ever listened.
Review: Okay so it seems this was actually Blondie's third album, but it is their biggest. There are some huge hits on here, but it starts with my favorite song from them which is "Hanging On the Telephone". Great pop song with a punk rock attitude and tempo. This is followed by "One Way or Another" which is one of the band's most enduring hit songs that also retains a punk grit alongside the pop melodies. "Sunday Girl" and "Heart of Glass" both come later in the album to really hammer home that this is truly an all-time classic. I am also enjoying quite a few of the deeper cuts on here like "I Know But I Don't Know", "11:59", and "I'm Gonna Love You Too". This album is just so influential to so much of the music I would come to love, essentially laying the foundation for much of the pop punk and indie rock to come later. 5-stars.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Does this have "Criminal" on it? I'm pretty sure it does cause the second album has the crazy long name. "Criminal" is a great song, but I haven't paid much attention to Fiona Apple otherwise, despite massive critical obsession with every album she's put out. I'm glad to have a reason to listen to something that is so widely revered.
Review: Man, I had forgotten just how many hits there are on here besides "Criminal". "Sleep to Dream" starts this off and is immediately recognizable as song that had a big impact upon its release. "Shadowboxer" is another song that I had forgotten about but was pleasantly reminded of this morning. In general, this is alt-rock music based around jazzy piano that has memorable songs that interest me much more at 43 than they would have at 15 when this album was released. The album lost steam a bit toward the end, but then finished with a bang with “Carrion”. 4-stars.
Santana
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Another album that I own, so I always enjoy being able to grab the record in the morning instead of queueing up Spotify. Early Santana has a very cool sound with Latin inspired music mixed with heavy rock and virtuoso, jazz-based guitar playing. Excited to revisit this album today.
Review: Yeah this album is as great as I remember it. The hits are huge: "Black Magic woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Oye Como Va" have become mainstays of classic rock radio for a reason, and the album maintains this quality throughout. I especially enjoy the one-two punch of the heavy rock of "Mother's Daughter" followed by the latin-flavored instrumental "Samba Pa Ti". The stars of this album are of course Santana's guitar playing, but also the Latin percussion throughout. 5-stars
Dire Straits
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Another album I own. I love Dire Straits' guitar work and the songs are definitely catchy. "Sultans of Swing" is an all-time great song.
Review: Yeah, I like this. There is definitely a cool almost country vibe to these songs, very reminiscent of JJ Cale. I also like how Mark Knopfler's guitar is constantly doing little runs throughout the songs without being overly flashy. Just a nice compliment to the music adding textures throughout. Only real problem with this album is that "Sultans of Swing" overshadows everything else. The rest are perfectly fine, midtempo tunes, but I just want to listen to "Sultans" on repeat. 5-star song on a 3-star album...so I'll give it 4-stars as a whole.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is one of those bands that I know I should really like, I enjoy what I've heard, but I've never actually dug in on them. Glad to have this pop up today and to give it a shot.
Review: This is fun. Maybe I just have a soft place in my heart for this brand of hard rock, but I rather enjoyed listening to this album. I especially love the looseness of a live album, and despite this one reportedly being heavily overdubbed in studio, this was right up my alley. There is a Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band vibe to the performances here that I was not expecting. There are some classics like "Jailbreak" and "The Boys Are Back in Town", and I am also adding songs like "Rosalie" (Chattanooga reference in the lyrics!), "Dancing in the Moonlight", and "Massacre" to the playlist. 4-stars.
The Cure
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I own this one...and its awesome. I am a bit of a recent convert to the Cure despite enjoying a number of their hits for years. It just always seemed like there was a lot to unpack with the band, and I never took the time to dig in. Perhaps I felt they were too dark and goth for me, despite their extremely catchy pop hits I was drawn to. I am glad I finally gave them a chance however since they truly put out some of the most interesting albums of the 80s, least of not which is this album that consistently ranks as their best from critics and fans.
Review: This album is definitely a mood with dark, droney sounds throughout. I am not always a fan of this sound, but it just works here. I especially love that the dark is often broken up with perfect pop songs like \"Pictures of You\", \"Lovesong\", and \"Fascination Street\". This is a long album that awards patience as songs can take a while to get to the point, but when they do, there is a lot of memorable vocal melodies, guitar lines, and lyrics to be found. 5-stars
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pretty sure I've listened to this before. I know its Dennis Wilson's solo album he put out after the Beach Boys had peaked and he was hanging in LA with all the 60s/70s rock stars. I can't really remember what this sounds like, but I feel like it will be typical 70s LA folky rock style.
Review: Well, this isn't LA folk rock. I was expecting more of a Crosby Stills Nash/Joni Mitchell vibe, but instead this is more of a straight forward 70s rock album with a bit of a Beach Boys vibe mixed in. The best songs here are "River Song" and "Pacific Ocean Blue". There are also a lot of slow ballads that drag on and keep me from really enjoying the album as a whole. 3-stars
David Bowie
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Maybe my favorite Bowie album? If not it's definitely up there. I certainly heard this one and fell in love with it before I ever heard Ziggy Stardust.
Review: This has "Life On Mars" on it which is an all-time great rock song, not to mention "Changes", "Oh You Pretty Things", "Song for Bob Dylan", and "Queen Bitch". This is possibly the best album by one of the most important rock artists of all time. What surprised me the first time I heard this was just how much it rocked, with some awesome 70s glam rock riffs on these songs. Hard to give this anything other than 5-stars.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Sonic Youth is one of the most polarizing bands for me. They wrote some amazing 90s underground anthems like "Teenage Riot" and "Kool Thing", but they also have some stuff that is way too out there for me. I don't know this album, but I fear it's going to fall in the latter category.
Review: This is okay. There is definitely a cool aesthetic to pretty much everything Sonic Youth does, and that comes through here in spades. I have tried for years to like this band, but I still just don't enjoy listening to them all that much. Its too atonal and weird for its own good or something. I know this is a selling point for their fans, but I guess I'm just a pop music fan. Even with punk and alt-rock bands I need catchy melodies and cohesive musicianship to really enjoy it. Best songs are "Schizophrenia", "Tuff Gnarl", and "White Cross". 3-stars.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This album is a really big deal to British music journalists, but never really made much of an impact in the US. I think I've listened to it and it's fine. Late 80s/early 90s British alternative rock that was part of the Madchester scene of dance punk bands.
Review: I don't really get the hype with these guys. There are definitely some good songs here such as "I am the Resurrection", but all in all they're just a fairly normal sounding post-new wave alt rock band. There are some 60s era psychedelic call backs and maybe a couple nods to dance music, but ultimately this is a poppy indie rock album.
I feel like the Stone Roses are just another (maybe the first?) in the line of overhyped British bands i.e. Oasis, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Libertines, etc. None of these bands are bad, and they all have some great songs, but they just don't blow me away. 3-stars
The National
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Love this band, despite being a little darker and moodier than most music I enjoy. These guys were putting out albums through my 20s and 30s that felt like "adult" music that I should be listening to, especially coming out of listening to primarily punk rock and jambands. I very much enjoy all their albums including this one, which includes one of their best songs in "Bloodbuzz, Ohio".
Review: I think I'd probably give most National albums a 4 with maybe a 5 for Boxer or Trouble Will Find Me. There are some great songs on this album, most of which fall in the back half of the album. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" is the centerpiece and still one of the best songs of its era. Other great songs include "Afraid of Everyone", "England", and "Lemonworld". In general this includes some of the band's best songs, but ultimately drags in a few places keeping it as a 4-star album.
Kanye West
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember this being a really good album. That being said, Kanye is a major douche which makes it hard to enjoy his music anymore. Judging purely based on how much I like the actual music though, I'm sure I'll love this.
Review: The music on this is awesome. Some of the best production of its era. A lot of the lyrics are cringey at best with Kanye really coming off as the misogynistic POS he would soon prove to be on a lot of the songs. Still though, these songs are fun to listen to, and I'm adding a few to the playlist. 4-stars.
Julian Cope
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I've heard of this guy, but know very little about him or his music. Just one of those artists that got covered by music magazines in the 90s and in general were around the alt-rock scene. I don't know what to expect with the sound on this album.
Review: Ah, so Julian comes from an underground British 80s band which likely explains his inclusion on this list. I'm not sure this necessarily rises to the stature of of the 1,001 greatest albums of all time, but its pretty enjoyable. The first song "Pristeen" reminds me of Velvet Underground circa VU and Nico, especially a song like "Heroin", as do some others on the album. Slow, chugging music that builds to a noisy peak. "East Easy Rider" has a cool funky rock vibe to it. "Hanging Out and Hung Up On the Line" is a flat out rocker. "Safesurfer" is a guitar freakout type song with some pretty killer solos throughout. All in all there are some really good songs here, and I'm glad I got a chance to hear it. 4-stars
Billy Bragg
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Political punk influenced folk music. I mainly know of Billy Bragg because of the albums he put out with Wilco.
Review: This is okay although I probably should like this more than I do. I usually love early Dylan/Woody Guthrie style political folk, but something isn't really working for me here. Maybe it's the 80s production and electric/distorted guitars that aren't clicking for me. Electric guitars don't sound right to me when they're played solo without a full band. An acoustic guitar can produce percussive sounds and bass notes to make up for the lack of a rhythm section while the electric guitar just creates noise.
That being said, this is growing on me the more I listen. Maybe it takes a while to get used to the music style. This probably isn't something I would necessarily listen to heavily, but I can respect the intent here. I'd like to hear this album done with an acoustic guitar. 3-stars
Jane Weaver
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I have never heard of this artist or album. Probably British? Maybe dance music? Not really sure.
Review: Ok...this is a pleasant surprise of an album even if it probably has no business being on this list. Some of the music is familiar with krautrock rhythms and psychedelic textures throughout, coming off a bit like LCD Soundsystem's organic take on dance music. This is a sound I enjoy, so I am liking those songs. Some other songs have more of a dream pop sounds that is less interesting to me. Overall, it's nothing ground breaking so I give it a solid 3-stars.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I like Elliott Smith quite a bit. I believe this is his more indie rock album whereas the older stuff was more folky with light instrumentation. I don't believe I ever owned this album, but I'm glad to hear it today.
Review: This is pretty good. I am enjoying the full rock band arrangements not always found in Elliott Smith's songs. Elliott's voice always seems so fragile like its about to break at any moment but he always pulls off very nice melodies. Very good songwriter and it's a shame he died so young. Troubled soul who wrote some absolutely beautiful music while he was here. The more I listen to this the more I really like it. 4 stars.
Grateful Dead
5/5
Thoughts before listening: The best American band of all time and one that has really shaped my musical interests as an adult. Growing up in the 90s, with Jerry Garcia dying when I was 14, I never actually saw the Dead live, but their legacy was the blueprint for much of the music I would chase throughout most of my young adult years. This is a document of their early, purely psychedelic live shows, and in some ways it's more interesting than good I guess. Still though it's an important recording for an important band.
Review: What the Dead don't get much credit for is their songwriting, which often gets overshadowed by the psychedelic live show and the fans. On their 70s albums they wrote some absolute gems, which unfortunately don't show up on this album focused on the craziness of their 60s era live shows.
I understand why other reviewers on here are throwing 1s out for this album. It goes way out there, especially opening with a 24 minute "Dark Star" that certainly has it's moments, but also has plenty of meandering atonal sections as well. This is the version of the Dead that was the house band for Ken Kesey's acid tests, not the one selling out football stadiums in the 80s and 90s (let alone Dead & CO's 20+ sold out shows at the Sphere). I like both versions of the band, but I certainly personally prefer arena rock Dead.
The highlight here is "St. Stephen">"The Eleven">"Lovelight", just an exceptional suite of songs with energy that's missing from much of the "Dark Star". All in all this is an interesting listen showing an early stage in the life of an institution of American music. While this album isn't a 5-star album to me within the Dead's catalog (that's reserved for American Beauty, Workingman's Dead, and Europe 72) I'm giving it 5-stars here since it'll be the band's only inclusion on the list....and to counteract the inane 1-star reviews.
The Boo Radleys
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Oh look...more 90s British alt rock. For some reason I thought these guys were jazz fusion, but I realized I was wrong when I cheated a bit and looked at the Wikipedia before starting the album. I'm sure this will be fine.
Review: Well, while this definitely isn't jazz fusion, they do use horns throughout many of the songs. Maybe I read a review 30 years ago that talked about the horns and they stuck with me (or maybe it was them stealing the title from Coltrane). Either way, this is definitely 90s alt rock. There are some cool songs here, but also a bunch of boring ones.
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Definitely one of the most popular 90s albums, but one that I mainly ignored. I mean sure the hits were EVERYWHERE and I have a certain level of nostalgia for them, but the album as a whole never really appealed to me. In fact, I'm pretty sure this will be my first time listening all the way through.
Review: I don't love Alanis' voice. Its certainly unique and would be impossible to mistake her for anyone else, but I can't say its "good". This album does have some iconic hits which all have been added to my playlist, but ultimately this feels like had it not been hugely popular, it likely wouldn't have made this list on it artistic merits alone. I will give this 3-stars for the nostalgic connection I have to the singles, but this likely would have been a lower score if it had come from a different era than my prime music listening years.
Supergrass
3/5
Thoughts before listening: More British alt rock. I do like what I've heard from Supergrass, and the few songs that made it on US college rock radio stations back in the day are really good. I'm interested to hear a full album.
Review: Seems like all the songs I know from this band were on their debut album. I don't recognize any of these, but that doesn't mean its bad. They write some catchy songs with nice melodies that are played at a fast, almost punk pace. These are all things I enjoy in music. My favorite songs here are "Richard III", "Sun Hits the Sky", and "Cheapskate". 3-stars
Paul Simon
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of my favorite albums ever. Some of my earliest music memories are of Chevy Chase in the \"You Can Call Me Al\" video, but I wouldn't actually listen to this album until much later in life when I bought the vinyl as an adult. It's just such a a cool sound with very memorable songs.
Review: Yeah this is such a great album. I see a bunch of negative reviews on here talking about cultural appropriation, but are we not allowed to be influenced by other cultures? Paul Simon recorded in South Africa and employed South African musicians for both the album as well as the associated tour bringing them much more fame and success than than they would have achieved otherwise. I don't see how that's a bad thing.
He also produced a masterpiece of an album. I love the general vibe and sound of these songs, many of which are getting added to the playlist. The bass and drums are especially fun on this album. Easy 5-stars.
Bauhaus
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s goth rock. Bauhaus has always been adjacent to the music I am interested in (punk, indie, alt, etc). but I have never actually listened to them. I think I was turned off by the idea of droney, dark goth music even though I don't actually know thats what they sound like. I felt the same way about the Cure for years, but finally came around, so perhaps the same will happen here.
Review: This is a bit of a mixed bag to me. On some songs its everything I feared a Bauhaus record would be: dark, cheesy, synth-led 80s new wave. However, other songs show a real knack for catchy pop rock melodies. There is definitely bad production here similar to other 80s punk scene bands like the Misfits and Joy Division, both of whom are similar to (and in my opinion better than) Bauhaus. In general I prefer the upbeat songs ("The Passion of Lovers", "Dancing", "Kick in the Eye", and "In Fear of Fear") so those will be added to the playlist. This is a 3-star album
Louis Prima
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I believe this is jazz, and more specifically swing from the 40s or 50s probably. Assuming thats correct, I mainly know swing from the 90s revival of bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the Cherry Poppin Daddies, and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. That scene's connections to the punk and ska scene meant that I was actually somewhat into those bands and saw a few of them live at Warped Tour or opening for others. Anyway, I think this will be my first time knowingly listening to Louis Prima.
Review: Ok so this is some of the most timeless music of all time. One of those that you've heard your whole life without actually realizing you were listening to Louis Prima. "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody", which opens the album, is a perfect example. Both songs in the melody are instantly recognizable...and both great. The horns are so distinctive in this sound, playing riffs and adding texture throughout, accompanying Louis Prima's voice which scats as much as it sings. Really fun listen. 4 stars.
The Clash
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the greatest albums of all time. Growing up listening to punk and constantly hearing about the Clash, I was surprised by how much this really isn't all that punk. I always liked their first album better than this one. Then as I got older and my tastes changed I began to realize just how special of an album this is. Glad to have a reason to listen.
Review: I might put every song on the playlist. They're all so unique and distinctive. The band is playing with so many different styles on this album, but it all sounds like the Clash. Punk, reggae/ska, jazz, rock n roll with guitar solos, etc it's all on here. This is definitely a 5-star album.
Janet Jackson
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Janet Jackson and especially this album have taken on a new level of respect that I feel was never really the case when it was released...or maybe he just lived in her brother's shadow. I remember this album being popular, but I don't feel like it was ever mentioned with the levels of critical acclaim it has garnered in recent years. All I know of the album is that "Black Cat" is a banger.
Review: Okay, I recognize a few more songs than "Black Cat", but thats by far the best song on the album. Maybe it was just the sound of r&b at the time, but I don't like the production on these songs. They sound so fake and cheesy. This is what a lot of Michael Jackson's songs sound like, but I feel he had better songs. Or at least more songs that I have a nostalgic connection to. I found myself pretty bored with this album....until "Black Cat" came on and I cranked it up.
2-stars.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This is certainly a classic album, but also one I don't believe I've heard. I mean I know the title track which is one of the sexiest songs of all time, but I don't believe I've heard the rest. Interested to see why it gets so much praise.
Review: Man, Marvis was feeling randy on this album huh? "Lets Get It On", "Keep Gettin' It On", "You Sure Love to Ball", "Just to Keep You Satisfied", etc...just the names of these songs let you know what this album is about. The title track is a stone cold classic that is always nice to hear. The rest feels like retreads of that song despite Marvin's lovely voice. This is nice pleasant background music, but its not something that I feel I would listen to very often. 3-stars
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Thoughts before listening: There sure is a lot of Leonard Cohen on this list. I just can't get into his music, but I guess I'll keep trying.
Review: I hated this on first listen. Leonard Cohen with weird 80s synths? Sounded terrible. But you know what, something hit for me and I started liking this more. I ended up listening through 2 or 3 times. Its definitely an interesting album. 3-stars
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
1/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this going to be some sort of 90s British reggae? Doesn't sound very good if that's the case. Definitely never seen this cover or recognize the artist.
Review: Well its not reggae although there are dub elements throughout. Lots of other stuff too. Apparently Jah (why I assumed reggae) was the bass player for Public Image Ltd which is a band I can't get into. Same for this. Theres just nothing here thats grabbing me and the vocals aren't very good either. I'm leaning toward a 1-star rating. I don't really like it.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Huge record that I have never listened to. I obviously know "Nothing Compares 2 U" which is an amazing song, but I believe the rest will be new to me. I'm glad to have a reason to listen to this album for the first time.
Review: This is okay. I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but I was surprised by how much it felt like a run-of-the-mill late 80s alt-rock record with some world music influences. "Nothing Compares 2 U" is such an amazing song, and nothing else quite reaches those heights...but really how could they? "The Emperor's New Clothes" is my second favorite song and overall this was an interesting album. 3-stars
Queen
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pretty sure this is the album that has "Bohemian Rhapsody" and a bunch of other big hits. I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I've enjoyed the earlier Queen albums I've already heard through this project, so I'm happy to listen to their most popular album now. I don't think I've heard this all the way through before, but I'm sure I'll recognize most of this.
Review: I do recognize a lot of this album, and I was correct about "Bohemian Rhapsody" which remains an all time great, over-the-top masterpiece. This album is a mix between great rock songs and silly, campy songs that are fun but grow tiresome. Other favorites include "I'm In Love With My Car", "'39", and "Sweet Lady". Overall its a fun album as are most Queen albums. I definitely like that they don't take themselves too seriously, even if the silliness can go a little too far sometimes. 4-stars.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I own this record...it's okay. I mean Janis is amazing and some songs are classics, but it feels like there's a lot of filler on the album as well. Janis would go on to have a short but legendary solo career while the band wouldn't do much without Janis.
Review: As an album, this is at its best when the band sits back and lets Janis cook. Sure there are some nice psychedelic rock moments sprinkled throughout, but really we're all here to hear Janis wail...which she does on some truly magical blues rock tracks such as "Piece of My Heart" and "Ball and Chain".
Overall this is better than I remember it being, especially as an historical record of a fascinating time in popular music, and it's always a pleasure to be reminded of what a powerhouse Janis was. Too bad she couldn't avoid the pitfalls of the 60s rock lifestyle cause I'd love to see what she would have done as she matured as a person and artist. 4 stars.
Dire Straits
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I really like Dire Straits in theory, but in reality I also can get pretty bored with them. Their hits are great, but their songs can all kind of run together and feel pretty similar across a full album. Its a good sound, but only in small doses. Anyway, I haven't listened to this in a while so I look forward to digging in today.
Review: This album starts out so strong and then falls off so quickly. "So Far Away", "Money for Nothing", and "Walk of Life" start out the album with banger after banger after banger followed by "Your Latest Trick" which is the ultimate "hey...I know this one too" song. Then the second half hits and its just so dull. Mark Knopffler's guitarwork is strong throughout, but even his solos can't save these slow bore fests. 3-stars
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This album is very highly regarded and I know it has some huge hits on it. I own one Peter Gabriel album which is earlier than this one, and its okay. I don't love it as much as it feels like I should love it. I can't remember if I've listened to So all the way through before, but I'm looking forward to hearing it today.
Review: "Sledgehammer" is a perfect pop song. Fun, playful, and catchy as hell, it would have been a massive hit even without its video, but when I hear the song I pleasantly think of watching MTV in the 80s and 90s as well. "Big Time" is another fun, funky pop song that is also going on my playlist. Both of these songs' inclusion on So is a bit misleading. This is a very mature, serious album where everything is good, I'm just not sure I'm enjoying it. The rest of the album is certainly not as fun as "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" would indicate, with the best of the mature songs being "In Your Eyes" which is a great moody ballad. These were the 3 big hits on this album and I guess I'm just a normie who prefers hits to deep cuts. Oh well. 3-stars
Richard Thompson
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Another album universally loved by music critics that I feel like I've tried to listen to but just don't get. I know there's a story around this where Richard and Linda Thompson were a married couple that were getting divorced while the album was being made. Maybe I need to really pay attention to the lyrics to understand the appeal of this one.
Review: You know what, a lot of this is really good. Some of the songs remind me quite a bit of music I love such as Magnolia Electric Company. I can definitely see this being a major influence on Jason Molina. Other songs have more of an Irish/English folk sound which is a little surprising at first, but I am enjoying those songs as well. Richard Thompson's background in Fairport Convention makes these songs make sense I guess. Also, apparently this wasn't the album where the couple were getting divorced, thats Shoot the Lights Out which is a reference to this, their first album. 4-stars.
Alice Cooper
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Alice Cooper is great. He wrote some timeless classic rock hits (i.e. the title track here) but also brought a level of theatricality to rock n roll. I have seen Alice Cooper a couple times, and his stage show is just straight fun. This should be an enjoyable listen today.
Review: This album starts out with the title track which I love, but then it gets weird...and I like it. I mean its still very much a 70s rock record, but a song like "Blue Turk" with its jazzy breakdowns isn't what I'd usually expect from Alice Cooper. Having seen Alice live, I know his show is almost like watching a musical, so this album bringing almost a Meatloaf like theatricality probably shouldn't be a surprise. Also, on the title track, I'd never noticed the children singing background vocals...reminds me quite a bit of "Another Brick in the Wall". Other songs Im enjoying include "My Stars" and "Public Enemy #9". 4-stars
Judas Priest
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Judas Priest is a big deal in the metal world, but it I've never paid much attention other than their hits. I think this will be my first time listening to one of their albums all the way through. I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
Review: Its always interesting to me how tame early metal sounds when compared to more modern bands. This is basically just faster paced rock n roll that bares little resemblance to the death metal and hardcore music of today. This is a good thing to my ears.
Judas Priest songs have great riffs with catchy melodies, fast tempos, and a lead singer in Rob Halford that helped define a certain style of metal singer with his voice that can go from menacing to high pitched screech sometimes in the same song. This album contains a couple certified classics in "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight", as well as some deeper cuts I'm enjoying like "Rapid Fire", "Grinder", and "Steeler". Overall this is a very fun album that I'm glad that I had an excuse to listen to. 4-stars
Donovan
2/5
Thoughts before listening: 60s psychedelic folk rock. Or something like that. I know that Donovan gets mentioned a lot but I don't really know much about him.
Review: "Season of the Witch" is an amazing song and is pretty much the blueprint for 60s psychedelic rock. I found the rest of the album to be a bit boring though. Even the title track, which is one that I've always thought of as a big famous 60s hit, was too repetitive to really draw my attention. I was surprised that I didn't actually recognize the song, so maybe it's title is more iconic of the era than the actual song. 2-stars
Bon Jovi
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Well I guess this should at least be fun to listen to. Bon Jovi is one of those bands that you know are cheesy as hell, but you can't help singing along to the hits. I know this is one of their most popular albums so I'm sure there will be tons of well known songs.
Review: "I've seen a million faces and I've rocked them all". Man this is such an over the top cheesy 80s pop hard rock album, but "Livin' On a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" are great. Those 2 songs have remained mainstays of classic rock radio, sports arenas, and karaoke nights for a reason. They're big and dumb epic rock songs and there's nothing wrong with that. The other big hit on this album "You Give Love a Bad Name" doesn't quite rise above the cheeseball aspect, and I'd say the same for the album cuts. There's nothing on here that's pulling me in like those 2 main hits. 2-stars
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I have no idea. Never heard of these guys which means they're probably British underground alt rock from the 80s.
Review: Allmusic calls this UK indie jangle music, so I guess I was pretty close. This is okay. Reminds me a bit of REM which is certainly a sound I enjoy, even if LC&tC doesn't have any songs that rise to the level of early REM. Overall this wouldn't make my own personal 1,001 best albums of all time list, but its not bad. Probably deserves more than 2-stars, but in the context of this list its definitely a 2-star album.
Sonic Youth
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Everything about Sonic Youth says I should love them, but outside of a handful of songs, I just don't. Its too atonal and weird for me maybe. Every album has a couple of interesting songs mixed in with a bunch of over distorted, tuneless noise rock non-songs. I'm not sure if I've listened to Evol before, but I'd expect more of the same.
Review: So I think Sonic Youth is just going to be the band that I respect a whole lot more than I enjoy. At least not until later in their career when they started adding some melody to the mix with albums like Daydream Nation. I guess I'm just not as cool as I pretend. The best tracks here are the instrumental \"Death to Our Friends\" and \"Madonna, Sean, and Me\". Everything else is just so dark and droney and not for me. 2-stars cause I just can't give a respectable band like Sonic Youth 1-star.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I love Black Sabbath, and Paranoid is one of the best albums I have heard from this project. I know that this is one of their classic albums, but I feel like I don't know as many of the songs on this one. I am sure it will be great.
Review: Definitely not as many well known songs on this one as compared to the earlier albums, but this is still great. Black Sabbath was just so good with riffs and had a sound that was fully their own. The metal songs are obviously great on here (i.e. "Supernaut" and "Snowblind"), but I also love the tender ballad curveball they throw in "Changes". All in all another enjoyable listen from Sabbath. 4-stars
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I believe this is an earlier Stones album, and while I tend to mainly listen to their Exile/Sticky Fingers era, I do love a lot of their early songs. I don't know whats on this album, but I'm sure I'll enjoy this.
Review: Ok. I think I was thrown off by the alternative cover used on this site. Once I opened this on Spotify I immediately recognized the album. Kicking off with "Paint It Black" means this album starts with one of my favorite songs of all time. I love that this song utilizes psychedelic/middle Eastern sounds. I love that there's an energy that borders on proto-punk. I love the weird little guitar riff that runs under the verses. I just love the song.
It would be hard to top such a strong opener as "Paint It Black", and for the most part, Aftermath proves this to be true. That being said, there are some definite highlights here i.e. "Under My Thumb". I also learned about the different UK version (which actually uses the cover on this site) and it includes a couple of my favorite early Stones songs in "Mother's Little Helper" and "Out of Time".
In general, I think the Stones were just still a singles band at this time, and while this was their first album of all originals, they were still a few years away from releasing true masterpieces. The good songs on here are enough to get a 3-star rating, but overall this isn't my favorite.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't know much about Shuggie Otis. 70s soul I guess, but I don't associate him with any songs. I do believe he's well respected so maybe more of an underground type guy.
Review: Oh, Shuggie did "Strawberry Letter 23". That's a jam, as is this whole album. Super cool, laid back funky soul music with lots of jazzy musicianship and guitar solos. 4-stars
Bob Dylan
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I used to always say this was my favorite Dylan album, but I think I prefer the early electric albums now. Still though it's an amazing record that captures Dylan at his folky best.
Review: The amount of generation-defining songs on this album is amazing. "Blowin' in the Wind", "Masters of War", and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" are absolute classics that rose above simply being good songs and have become part of the American songbook. These are political songs speaking directly to what was happening in the country in the 60s but still resonate now 60 years later. Few songs give me chills like "Masters of War", and few writers could create a lyric that speaks to the sentiments of the youthful 60s anti-war protestors quite like this:
"How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do"
Other favorites for me on this album include "Girl From the North Country, "Don't Think Twice Its Alright", and "Oxford Town", but ultimately this is simply one of the best albums of all time. While I do tend to gravitate towards Dylan's later, electric albums, its nice to be reminded of just how special this album is. 5-stars
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Interesting addition to the list. I half a soft place in my heart for these early folk and country songs, although the recordings can often make them hard to listen to. Looking at the songs on the cover, I do recognize a number of these songs, mostly from covers by more contemporary bands. It will be nice to hear these songs in an earlier form.
Review: Well, this definitely sounds better than I thought it would. Maybe I am listening to a remastered version, but its much more crisp than I was anticipating. Other than the clarity of the recording, this reminds me a lot of music that I have heard throughout my life. Being from the south, my family listened to and played old country music very similar to the Louvin Brothers. This album would have been released when my grandparents were in their 20s so perhaps this was something I actually heard them play when I was a kid. I really like some songs and others are a little grating honestly. I'll give it 3-stars.
M.I.A.
3/5
Thoughts before listening: "Paper Planes" is great. One of the best songs of the 00s. That being said, a full album of that style of music might get a little old.
Review: Wait. "Paper Planes" isn't on this album? Every song does kinda sound like MIA's hit but nothing is grabbing me quite like that song either. I'll admit this isn't my style, so a low score was definitely possible, but this is pretty fun. I'll say 3-stars.
Happy Mondays
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Madchester scene band that I know very little about. I've been surprised by how much all these once buzzed about Brit alt rock bands just don't do all that much for me, so I'm not too optimistic about this.
Review: This is actually pretty fun. I'm hearing a bit of a punk attitude with psychedelic guitars and dancey beats. I think this all works well and quite frankly these guys probably could have been a big deal in the American jamband festival scene of the 00s. 3-stars
Elvis Costello
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I've seen a lot of people complaining in reviews on here about the amount of Elvis Costello on this list. I don't get the hate. Dude writes some super catch power pop songs. I own this album and think it's great.
Review: This is a very good album, even if it doesn't have my favorite Elvis Costello songs. This was his debut, and I think albums like This Year's Model and Armed Forces are more consistent. That being said, there are some bangers here: "Alison", "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes", "Less Than Zero", and "Watching the Detectives" are all great. 4-stars
Bob Dylan
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of Dylan's classic electric albums. I just got "Freewheelin Bob Dylan" earlier this week, so it's nice to have this as a counterpart to show the more rock side of his 60s output. This will be another 5-star rating.
Review: Yeah. This is about as good as 60s rock gets. I love that Dylan abandoned the folk sound for straight up dirty rock n roll, that at times resembles something more akin to garage punk than the hippie rock of the 60s. Sure there's still some folk rock thrown in for good measure ("Desolation Row"), and the album also starts with a top 10 pop rock song of all time ("Like A Rolling Stone"), but it's the hard rockers that I love the most ("Tombstone Blues" and the title track). Definitely a 5-star album.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I've heard this before but never actually owned it. The cover of \"Hallelujah\" is an obvious classic, but I don't remember this making much of a splash when it was released. At least not with my friends. Over time though, this has come to represent the 90s alt rock scene just as much as Nevermind, Ten, Siamese Dream, and all the other monster albums. I'm glad to have a reason to listen to it.
Review: There is certainly a lot of emotion in this album, and every time I listen I am surprised by how hard it rocks. With "Hallelujah" being the most well known song, you expect more of a subdued and introspective sound, but there are plenty of distorted guitars and fast paces throughout the tracklist. Outside of the famous cover of Leonard Cohen's masterpiece, the songs that grab me the most are "Grace", "Last Goodbye", and "Dream Brother". All in all, this is a good album that possibly should have been more of a hit in the moment of its release, but certainly has earned the reputation its gained over the years. 4-stars
Jeff Beck
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Jeff Beck is a great guitarist. I know a lot of his solo work is instrumental, so perhaps this is as well? I believe Rod Stewart was in his band for a while though, so perhaps this has him on it. Either way, I'm interested that this is on the list and look forward to listening.
Review: This is a mostly vocal album with Rod Stewart leading the way, but as is indicated by the album being listed under Jeff Beck's name, its definitely still a guitar album. There are a couple instrumentals on here, but Rod sings on most of the tracks. I don't believe I had heard this album before although a couple songs are familiar to me i.e. \"Beck's Bolero\". This is very good though with the cover of \"Morning Dew\", \"Ol Man River\", \"Blues Deluxe\", and \"I Aint Superstitious\" being favorites. 4-stars
R.E.M.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I love REM, but its interesting that Green made the list. Its certainly a popular album from them, but in general I have always thought of it as lesser than their other 80s output. I think this is my first REM album, so maybe those albums are on the list as well? Anyway, I'm always happy to have an excuse to listen to REM, even if this isn't their best album.
Review: So in the grand scheme of 80s era alt rock releases, this is really good, but in the context of REM albums, its not one of their best. They just had so many great records, both before and after Green, that this falls somewhere in the middle of their catalog. Still though its has some great iconic moments such as "Pop Song 89", "Stand", and "Orange Crush", as well as some deeper cuts that I really enjoy like "World Leader Pretend" and "I Remember California". Still though, there are some lesser tracks on here that make it feel inconsistent as a whole, and this gets 4-stars.
Air
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Another massive album that I've read about my entire adult life but always assumed wasn't for me. Airy, light ambient soft rock meets electronic music is what I've always thought this would sound like.
Review: It's hard for me to rate something like this that is just so much outside of my personal music tastes. I just don't tend to listen to this type of spacey, slow groove based music although I certainly understand that it's objectively good. It's nice when someone like Beck or the Beastie Boys includes this style track in the middle of one of their albums, but I get bored quickly with a full record of that sound. That being said, I added "Sexy Boy" to my playlist and will give this album 3-stars.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember when this was released in my final year of college. I was starting to transition my listening a bit from the punk and jamband world into more indie rock music, and Arcade Fire was at the forefront of that movement. This album was huge for those of us who were into that sound. I haven't listened in a long time, but I know that I will enjoy revisiting today.
Review: What always drew me to this album was that it felt like a bridge from the punk rock of my youth to more mature music. I could hear a punk and emo influence in the general energy of a lot of these songs, but with more interesting instrumentation, themes, and song structures. There are some absolute anthems on this album that came to define the sound of the 00s i.e. "Wake Up" and "Rebellion (Lies)". I have never had the chance to see Arcade Fire live, but the videos always look like a great time, as these songs seem tailor made for massive group shout alongs. Definitely a fun listen that gets 4-stars.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Frank Sinatra is great. I mean thats a pretty obvious statement I guess, but I feel like he often gets overlooked by younger generations because he represents such an outdated style of music. I do know that in general this album is the one of his that is most often praised by modern music journalists. I don't believe I have heard this all the way through, but I am excited to give it a listen.
Review: What is often overlooked with Sinatra is just how good his bands are. Of course everyone knows that Sinatra has a great, iconic voice, but his band is really setting the mood throughout this album. And this album is quite the mood. This is slow, introspective Sinatra ballads with piano leading the way and plenty of strings to set the mood.
This is definitely an album where I can see the talent, but I don't necessarily love what I'm hearing. Its too melancholy and slow for me, but I am glad to have listened to this. I think this is 2 Sinatra albums now where I didn't enjoy listening to the album. Maybe I'm just a Sinatra greatest hits guy...or maybe I just like upbeat, swinging Sinatra. Anyway, I'm giving this 3-stars.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
Thoughts before listening: Johnny Rotten's post-Sex Pistols band. I don't know much about them, but I believe it can get a little out there. Weirdo 80s new wave style music with sneering punk vocals maybe? I've always assumed I probably wouldn't like this and it's not worth my time.
Review: Man, this first song confirms all of the reasons I never listened to these guys. Its over 10 minutes of atonal post-punk jamming with John Lydon slurring weird ass lyrics over top. Pretty bad. While the sound is carried on through the rest of the album, PiL does at least add some melodic sense to a few of these songs. I was about to give them some credit for this, but the overall sound finally wore me down. I don't like this. 1-star
Radiohead
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Radiohead back when they were still just a great alt-rock band, and before they invented their own sound with Kid A and beyond. I really like alt-rock Radiohead, especially this album which contains some of their best anthems. Glad to see this wasn't overlooked for the later records which get most of the praise.
Review: This is another album that I own, and that I absolutely love. I make the same mistake that critics do in often discounting this album as lesser than the later work, but the reality is that its great. The band certainly has a knack for epic, anthemic songs that many of their contemporaries did not. This is the sound that would go on to influence much of the late 90s/early 00s Brit rock of bands like Coldplay and Keane. Radiohead rocked much harder than any of those bands though. My favorites on this include "The Bends", "High and Dry", "Fake Plastic Trees", "Just", and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)". These are generational anthems that sound as good today as they did 30 years ago when they were released. 5-stars
Supertramp
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Supertramp is one of those classic rock bands that I like all their songs, but I have never really dug deep on any of their albums. I know they get a lot positive press while not being a household name.
Review: This is pretty good although I'm a bit surprised that I don't recognize these songs. There is a theatricality to this that I was not expecting. Reminds me quite a bit of Queen and other early prog rock bands. Best songs are "Bloody Well Right" and "Crime of the Century". 3-stars
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I've heard of these performers, but I do not believe I've heard their music. I also do not recognize the album cover. Perhaps latin jazz of some sort? I definitely think this will be a first time hearing this.
Review: Sounds like I'm at a Mexican restaurant. This is definitely a fun listen even if its not necessarily my cup of tea. I do remember going to Peru and this type of salsa music was everywhere so its bringing back very good memories. Even at dance clubs you'd hear Usher followed by a salsa song. I am glad to have been forced to listen to this today. 3-stars
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I really enjoy Michael Kiwanuka. I saw him at Bonnaroo a few years ago and got really into his album at that time. This one I'm less familiar with although I do believe I listened a couple times. A modern spin on blues based rock music with a singer who has more soul than most rock singers.
Review: This is great. Very cool mix of R&B, blues, and rock. Michael Kiwanuka has a great voice, and he incorporates elements of many different styles that I enjoy. Its refreshing to get a newer album on here that I enjoy and thats a new discovery for me. My favorite songs are "I've Been Dazed", "Piano Joint", "Hero", and "Light". 4-stars
Talking Heads
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I love the Talking Heads. One of the best bands of the punk/new wave scene, and one that I feel a lot of mainstream music fans know little about. Most people recognize "Burning Down the House" and maybe "Psycho Killer", but I think they see the band as on par with something like Flock of Seagulls, A-Ha or other 80s one hit wonders. Talking Heads are so much more than that, and I am glad that the 90s and 00s jamband and indie rock scenes really elevated them as the true trailblazers that they are. Anyway, I'm pretty sure this is their first album when they still leaned more toward angular, punky new wave music, as opposed to the more world music influences found on "Remain in Light". This should be a great listen.
Review: You know what. I don't think I've actually heard this album before. The first song is definitely not familiar to me, and it surprisingly does include some Caribbean sounds that I wouldn't have thought would be part of their sound this early on. The rest of the album settles into more of that artsy side of the punk movement sound that I would expect from the band though.
While I don't believe I've heard this album, I do know a lot of these songs because of the Talking Heads' excellent live album "The Name of This Band is Talking Heads" which includes their early material. In general, I'd say I prefer the live versions of these songs. Still though, this is an enjoyable listen. The ultimate highlight here is "Pyscho Killer" which remains one of their most enduring and well known songs. I'm also enjoying tracks like "Who Is It?", "No Compassion", "Don't Worry About the Government", and "Pulled Up". This is actually the rare album where the best songs are backloaded. Usually bands get the hits out of the way early, but I was a little bored by the early songs while 6 of the last 7 ended up on my playlist. 4-stars
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Another album I own. Devo is super fun, and like my previous comments on Talking Heads, they are so much more important than their one novelty of a hit. This album was a very important one for punk and alternative music, and many musicians that I enjoy cite Devo as a major influence. The band's punk side really shines on this album.
Review: Devo's sound is punk rock but played a bit slowed down for more of a "chunky" affect. Theres also a fair amount of humor and silliness mixed in here. Really fun album by a great band that inspired many others. 4-stars
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the Stones' classic albums from their best era. Off the top of my head I can't remember what's on this one, but the band put out nothing but heat in the late 60s/early 70s. I believe this one came out before Exile and Sticky Fingers, and while I believe those are their 2 best albums, I know that this one if great as well.
Review: The Stones playing bluesy, sloppy honk tonk with pianos and horns throughout this album. I really enjoy it although there are a few songs that drag the album down a bit. Still though, "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" are absolute classics, and I also really like the song "Let It Bleed". All in all this is a 4-star album that doesn't quite match the Stones' high water marks from that era.
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know that this band is a big deal to a lot of people, but I know very little about them. British new wave I guess. I feel like they never really had a hit in the US.
Review: So this is more of a post-punk type of sound instead of the new wave I was expecting. I rather enjoy this although I recognize its not everyone's cup of team. They employ a driving, dense sound that is fairly reminiscent of their peers like the Cure. I like the saxophones that get mixed in on these songs as well. 4-stars
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I assumed for years that this was Springsteen's lamest album. The hits are catchy for sure but also cheesy as hell, and it just seemed like the type of album I wouldn't like. You know what....there's a lot of depth to this album. It's got massive hits for sure, but also some really good deep cuts. It's an album that deserves its classic status.
Review: The hits on this album are some of the most well known songs of the 80s...."Born in the USA", "Glory Days", and "Dancing in the Dark". These have stood the test of time, and for good reason. They're memorable songs with great lyrics that adhered to more of a country inspired sound than Springsteen's contemporaries. While other 70s bands were adding disco and new wave sounds to their 80s albums, Springsteen was standing in front of an American flag with jeans and a tucked in t shirt and releasing an album of heartland rockers.
While the hits would be enough to make this a special album, the deep cuts are what really draw me in. Songs like "Cover Me", "Downbound Train", "I'm On Fire", "No Surrender", and "My Hometown" don't have quite the mainstream recognition as the main hits, but they're certainly no less memorable. These are what really drives this as a cohesive album and why I'm giving this 5-stars.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this should be funky. I know the theme song to this movie, and assuming the rest is on par, its going to be a fun listen.
Review: This is definitely cool. Being a soundtrack/score, a lot of the songs are just instrumental tracks that would have played in the background of different scenes. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and I am quite enjoying these jazz and funk tunes. My favorites here are "Theme From Shaft" (obviously), "Cafe Regio", "No Name Bar", and all 19 and a half minutes of "Do Your Thing". 4-stars
The Go-Go's
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s all girl pop rock band that has some massive hits. My favorite thing about the Go-Gos is that they started in the LA punk scene before hitting it big. I've always enjoyed the songs I've heard so I'm glad to hear a full album from them.
Review: There's definitely a pop punk inspiration here that I'm really connecting with. Sure the hits are fun, instantly recognizable ear worms in "Our Lips are Sealed" and "We Got the Best", but theres a lot more to this album. I'm especially enjoying "How Much More" and "Tonite", both of which have a slightly more polished take on what bands like the Descendents and Bad Rel this is aigion were doing around the same time. This is a 4-star album.
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
Thoughts before listening: There are a couple songs on this album that I really like, but I'm not sure I've heard the whole thing. In general though their sound is everything I love about 90s alt rock so I'm sure this will be right up my alley.
Review: Definitely up my alley. This is very good indie rock with loud guitars (including guitar solos!) and catchy melodies. Pretty reminiscent of other bands I enjoy like Archers of Loaf and Superchunk. These were all bands that I missed at the time, but that I have grown to enjoy more than the bands I was actually into back in high school. My favorite songs were the ones I already knew (especially "The Concept"....awesome song) but it was an overall enjoyable album. 4-stars
The Who
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the best live albums of all time. The Who are an absolute monster on this recording which occurred during their best period.
Review: This is the Who at their loudest and most powerful, and it makes for an exciting listen. That being said, it can be a little sloppy and chaotic which likely would be better received in person than on a recording. Still though, I'm a fan of live albums, and this is a must own as a document of one of the best live rock bands of all time at the peak of their powers. Best songs are "Substitute", "Young Man Blues", "Summertime Blues", and "Magic Bus". 4-stars
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Thoughts before listening: A Dusty Springfield album that isn't the Memphis one? I've never seen any of her other albums getting praised so this is a little surprising. British female soul music is what I am expecting with this.
Review: So I recognize a ton of these songs, but I don't think Dusty is the original artist. I am pretty sure that most of these songs were originally done by American artists, with many of them being done by black singers. Dusty has a great voice and these songs are arranged very well, which makes for an enjoyable listen. This is a 3-star album cause its not really my favorite style, but I can definitely hear that its high quality.
King Crimson
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is a massive prog rock album that gets praised highly by those who like prog rock. I tend to enjoy prog rock although it can sometimes be a bit over the top for me. I definitely know the title track to this album, and I'm pretty sure I have listened to the whole thing before. I'm sure I'll enjoy this.
Review: Oh yeah....I've heard this before. The opener "21st Century Schizoid Man" is as well known as "The Court of the Crimson King", especially with the refrain being sampled by Kanye West on "Power". These are both powerful songs that push a lot of my musical buttons, as does "Epitaph". As a whole, this is definitely proggy, and there are some parts that get a little out there for me, but all in all its an enjoyable listen. 4-stars
Milton Nascimento
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I have never heard of this before. I'm thinking its going to be part of that 70s Brazilian scene that was mixing psychedelic rock with more traditional South American sounds.
Review: Tropicalia is the name of the Brazilian musical movement I was thinking of. This is definitely part of that scene, but its much less psychedelic that I was expecting. This is essentially a pop rock sound with pleasant melodies and some interesting instrumentation. I can definitely hear where this album was likely a big inspiration to something like Paul Simon's Graceland, which is an album I enjoy quite a bit. I am not as distracted by the language gap as I have been on other foreign albums because I can connect so well with the music. I will give this 4-stars.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this is quite fitting coming right after listening to Milton Nascimento's Clube de Esquina. I know this album was a big deal upon its release, but I do not believe I have listened to it. I also don't believe I have watched the accompanying documentary. I have been surprised by how much I enjoy the Central and South American artists on this list, so I look forward to listening to this as well.
Review: Well this is quite different than yesterday's album. Where Milton Nascimento's music pulled from the traditional sounds of Central and South America but mixed with more modern styles, this album leans in heavy to the traditional music of Cuba. Its a really chill sound that is instantly recognizable as background music in restaurants or movies, but I have never dug in. This makes for a pleasant listen with excellent musicianship that sounds as if you wandered into a Havana jazz club and saw a bunch of old timers on stage performing. I'll give this 3-stars
R.E.M.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Early REM is my favorite era for the band (as it is for most non-casual fans), and Murmur is typically thought of as their best...at least from music journalists. Its also their debut. I am a big enough fan of the band to own all these early records and listen to them fairly regularly, but I forget what songs are on each album. REM has so many good songs from their early years that it doesn't really matter whats on this....I know I'm going to love it.
Review: This album is very good, especially knowing that its the debut of such a massively important band, but it is not my favorite REM record. There are some great songs here: "Radio Free Europe", "Pilgrimage", "Talk About the Passion", "Catapult", "Moral Kiosk", etc all rank amongst the band's best, but I feel that that later releases like "Reckoning" and " Life's Rich Pageant" are more consistent. Still though, the influence of this album can't be understated. This essentially kickstarted the entire US college rock movement that over time morphed into alternative and indie rock. Essentially all music that I grew up loving in the 90s and 00s cite REM as a major influence. This is a 4-star album (only cause REM has other 5-star releases).
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Kick out the jams motherfucker!
Review: So I get that its important in the history of rock music and youth culture that in 1969 the MC5 were out there playing loud dirty rock n roll and dropping f-bombs on record, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. This isn't great. The recording is very muffled sounding and while the band has a ton of energy, their songs aren't necessarily all that great. Maybe its a you had to be there type of a situation? Anyway, I added the title track to my playlist and while the music/recording is probably a 2 to me, I'll give this 3-stars because of its importance.
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 00s era Brit pop band. I remember thinking at one point that I liked these guys, but I've gone back somewhat recently to revisit them only to find I don't recognize any of their songs. Maybe on a deeper listen something will click.
Review: I like this quite a bit. There are some weird and unnecessary sound collage parts, but there are some great songs on here as well. This is truly a pleasant surprise. Lots of Beatlesesque melodies and harmonies throughout, with a fairly varied sound. I am certainly enjoying this more than I have other Brit pop bands like Blur. 4-stars
The Smiths
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I really like the Smiths although Morrissey has become a bit insufferable over the years. All of their albums tend to run together to me, so I don't really have any thoughts on this one in particular, but I know its really good. In general the Smiths put out some of my favorite 80s albums.
Review: Morrissey's lyrics and singing style gets all the press with the Smiths, but I really love their music. Johnny Marr was a very inventive guitarist, and the bass lines are high in the mix doing a lot of heavy lifting on the melodies. There are some absolute classics of 80s alt rock on this album including "The Queen is Dead", "Cemetry Gates", "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side", and "There is a Light That Never Goes Out". 5-stars
Beastie Boys
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the best albums from one of my favorite bands. This one doesn't get the praise like Paul's Boutique, and I personally prefer Check Your Head, but ultimately this was the Beastie Boys album that first introduced me to the band. "Sabotage" was a monster song for me and as whole this was a monster album in the 90s.
Review: I love the varying styles that the Beastie Boys employ. Sure they are a hip hop group, but there's also punk rock, alternative, and jazz songs on this album. The Beastie Boys had a lot of swagger that really translated through their songs, and I have always loved how playful they are, with each member taking on a distinct voice and personality that they carry through all their albums. There are so many parts of these songs that have stuck in my head for 30 years now that I regularly reference as an adult....in fact I can still to this day recite all of "Get it Together", including changing my voice to match whoever is rapping each line, even Q-Tip's parts. Best songs here are "Sure Shot", "B-Boys Makin With the Freak Freak", "Root Down", "Sabotage", and "Get it Together". 5-stars
New Order
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Outside of the hits, I have a pretty big blind spot in my music knowledge for New Order. I know they were formed after Joy Division's lead singer died and have a more dancey/new wavey sound than that band. I also know they get a lot of praise from music journalists. I tend to prefer the new wave bands that lean more on the punk side of things instead of dance, so this may not be for me.
Review: After the first song I was a little worried that this was going to be a complete dance, techno album. However, that first song is really not indicative of the album as a whole. By the second song "All the Way" I found a sound reminiscent of poppier songs by the Cure which is a very good thing to me. The music and melody is definitely led by the bass, but it has an organic, rock band feel as opposed to the first track's synthy, computer generated sounds. There are a few more tracks on here that dip into the techno feel, but overall I enjoyed this. 3-stars
The xx
2/5
Thoughts before listening: This band was huge with a lot of music sites I follow, but it just never seemed like something I would be into. I feel like this is going to be a dancey, dream pop, indie rock type sound.
Review: So this is basically very minimalist, sparse, slow indie pop with whispered vocals. This really isn't my thing. I am sure there are people who love this album, but I am just not one of them. I'm giving this 2-stars.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Guitar led African folk music is what I believe this will be. I know Ry Cooder was behind the Buena Vista Social Club album so I'd assume this is a similar concept of a modern recording for very traditional styled music.
Review: This has a very cool, chill vibe with lots of interesting guitar work in these long jammed out songs. While there are certainly rhythms native to Africa this is very much blues based music with Ali Farka Toure singing in native languages. This makes for great background music, but it can get a little boring and repetitive. 3-stars
Megadeth
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Megadeth is one of those bands that I probably should love, but just never really got into. There are some songs that I like for sure, but as a whole, Dave Mustaine's voice grates on me. Metal as a whole has historically been hit or miss for me....I love Metallica, but the rest of the genre is often a bit too much for me to take. I always preferred the melodicism of punk rock and was never overly persuaded by the guitar heroics that are such a big part of metal. I am not sure if I have heard this Megadeth album all the way through before, so maybe this will be the listen that changes my opinion.
Review: Well, I am enjoying this more than I thought I would. Dave Mustaine's voice is still not really my thing, but there are some pretty cool songs on here. This is much less one note than I was expecting. I did recognize a handful of these songs, more by name than sound, having seen them mentioned in guitar magazines or best metal song lists over the past 25 years. Overall in glad I listened to this...3-stars
Dr. John
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Dr. John's the best. I love his raspy voice and his updated, psychedelic take on New Orleans style blues and funk. I know that this is generally considered his best album, so I am excited to listen. I have definitely heard parts if not all of this album before.
Review: This is pretty good although its a little slow and dark for my liking. I've heard more rock oriented covers of these songs, especially "Walk on Gilded Splinters", that I much prefer to these versions. Still though its the debut album of a major musician that went on to have a storied and varied career for over 50 years. This is 3-stars to me
Depeche Mode
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Outside of the hits, I have pretty big blindspot for Depeche Mode. I know they were immensely popular in the 80s and get a lot of press with modern music sites as well. It just always seemed like it wouldn't be for me. This isn't one of their albums I recognize, and I know I have never listened before.
Review: This just isn't a sound that I am ever going to enjoy. With a few exceptions (i.e. the Cure) dark, moody synth driven new wave just isn't for me. The hits from this era of music can be fun, but best I can tell, this album doesn't have any of Depeche Mode's hits. At least not ones that I recognize. Ultimately this is pretty boring to me. 2-stars
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I've never heard of this before. Must be British.
Review: Yep...it's British. Over the top, theatrical Brit pop to be more precise. I don't really like it. 2-stars
The Yardbirds
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The band that launched Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. I've always found the famous alumni to be more interesting than the Yardbirds' music, but maybe I've never listened to an album before.
Review: Yeah this is okay. This is apparently the first Yardbirds record to fully feature Jeff Beck, and he definitely plays some cool guitar parts throughout. In general though, there just aren't a lot of interesting songs on here. Its all blues based with some psychedelic parts which I enjoy, but ultimately nothing is really pulling me in. I've never known the Yardbirds to be praised as an album band, rather as an important step in the evolution of rock n roll that put out a handful of cool songs. In general I'd say that is confirmed here, with the best songs being "Lost Woman" and "Over Under Sideways Down". 3-stars
Beck
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of Beck's best. Its a slower, less playful sound from him with acoustic instruments and a focus on lyrics that really stands out as an outlier in his discography. I've always enjoyed this album although I definitely need to be in the right mood for it.
Review: This starts out with such a great song in "The Golden Age" which employs a very organic sound with acoustic guitars and pedal steel adding texture throughout, but also some electronic/synth-based elements in the background to remind us that this is Beck and not some alt-country singer songwriter. "Paper Tiger" follows this up and is another fully textured song this time adding orchestral strings to the acoustic guitars to really flesh out the sound. Most of this album stays within a very similar sound and it makes for a very pleasant listen. Additional strong tracks include "Lost Cause" and "Sunday Sun".
All in all I consider this one of the better albums by one of the best musicians of the 2000s and while there are a few boring tracks toward the end of the album, its getting 5-stars.
Radiohead
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This gets overlooked a lot in Radiohead's catalog, but I've always found it to be a nice continuation of the Kid A sound. That being said its definitely not on the same level as Kid A, Ok Computer, or In Rainbows.
Review: So I enjoy quite a bit of this album, even if they go even deeper into the world of electronic sounds, further abandoning their guitar-driven alt-rock past. That being said, there are some throw away tracks here that keep this from being a fully cohesive listen, but luckily they are outnumbered by some of the band's better songs from this era. My favorites on here are "Pyramid Song", "You and Whose Army?", "I Might Be Wrong", "Knives Out", "Morning Bell", and "Dollars and Cents". Radiohead also put out a live album right after Kid A/Amnesiac, and in general, I prefer those versions to the album cuts. Still though this is a fine album thats getting 4-stars.
Ramones
5/5
Thoughts before listening: The Ramones are awesome. I love that the band generally credited with creating punk rock had such a poppy and catchy sound. These are sped up, distorted takes on doo wop and Beach Boys style melodies instead of the snarling growl of other early punk bands like the Sex Pistols. I was always more into pop-punk than hardcore, and that comes directly from the Ramones.
Review: The album that launched the punk movement, even if the Ramones themselves never became superstars. This is just such a fun listen with songs that have become absolutely iconic within the punk scene. There's really not a bad song on here, and I could add the entire album to my playlist, but I'll highlight that "Blitzkrieg Bop" > "Beat on the Brat" > "Judy is a Punk" is about as strong of an opening as any album ever. 5-stars
Dion
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I know absolutely nothing about Dion. I'm going to say it's 70s singer songwriter style soft rock based on the cover, although I'd assume it's got something else going for it to end up on this list.
Review: So this is the 50s doo-wop guy of Dion and the Belmonts with a singer songwriter album produced by Phil Spector. Apparently this was mostly ignored in its time, but started getting name dropped as an influence in the 90s from some big time musicians. Its just fine to me. Pretty understated for a Phil Specter project, and none of the songs are really standing out to me. I think the best one I heard was "Your Own Backyard" which I have added to my playlist. Overall this is pretty boring and I'm giving it 2-stars.
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Muse has some pretty good songs, but I've never really seen a reason to listen to a full album. I've watched some live videos and they definitely seem to put on a good show so maybe I'll enjoy this more than I think I will.
Review: So dancey alt-rock with guitar solos? This is just okay. "Supermassive Black Hole" and "Knights of Cydonia" are the best songs here. I think I know those from Guitar Hero. Anyway, this is 3-stars.
Funkadelic
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Everything I have ever heard from Funkadelic has been great so I have no reason to think this won't be the same. I'm sure I'll recognize half of these songs from 90s rap backing tracks.
Review: This one isn't on Spotify for some reason, but I found it on YouTube. This is definitely the classic Funkadelic sound, and I love it. Funk mixed with a rock n roll edge with guitar solos throughout. 4-stars
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I really disliked the first PiL album on this list, so I'm not holding out much hope for this one.
Review: Maybe I'm just a pop simpleton, but I don't like very much about this album. Overly long, atonal music with Johnny Rotten ranting over top isn't something I'm ever going to get excited about. There are 2 songs on here I can stomach: "Annalisa" and "Public Image" (although do they really need to be 6 minutes long?). I'm adding those songs to the playlist and will not be listening to this album again. 2-stars
Garbage
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Garbage is one of those bands where I like their hits, but in general its not for me. I think with multiple producers in the band their sound just comes off as too polished and overproduced. I'm sure I'll add the hits to my playlist though.
Review: Yep, just how I remember this band. The hits are definitely catchy, but its just too "perfect". There is no grit to their music which sounds exactly like what it is: a bunch of people who make a living producing alt-rock hits getting together to write their own album. With this coming a day after getting Public Image Ltd, I can say that for the most part, I prefer this sound to PiL which was trying very hard to be anti-pop music. Although I will say that I prefer PiL's 2 best songs to anything I heard here...maybe its the shock value of finally hearing something enjoyable on that album as opposed to Garbage where everything basically sounds the same. Anyway, this is a 3-star album.
David Holmes
1/5
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of David Holmes, and I do not recognize this cover. I'm going to guess its British and either lo-fi indie folk or some sort of electronic music.
Review: Its British electronic music...and pretty boring electronic music in my opinion. This just isn't a genre that I get very excited about, especially when its more an album of beats than actual songs. I'm just not hearing much here that rises above background music. 1-star for me.
Oasis
4/5
Thoughts before listening: It is appropriate that I get this album today since Oasis announced their reunion yesterday.
Massive album by a massive band for my generation that I never actually owned. I know all the hits by Oasis and I think I've probably listened to the album on Spotify before, but it just wasn't something I gravitated to when it came out. I'm going to say this will be a 4-star album...really good but not quite an all time great.
Review: Oasis often gets lumped into the 90s Britpop world with bands like Blur, but Oasis is head and shoulders above their peers. This is a full fledged rock n roll band releasing catchy songs built to be played to arenas while those other bands, as I have learned from this project, tend to come off as sophomoric indie rock groups with more ideas than songs. No wonder the Gallagher brothers were so cranky about the constant comparisons.
While Oasis' second album would have most of their iconic hits, this, their debut, certainly has its share of great songs. "Rock n Roll Star", "Live Forever", "Supersonic", and "Cigarettes & Alcohol" are the best tracks, but this is a very nice album with no real clunkers. I'm sticking with my initial instinct and giving this 4-stars.
Napalm Death
1/5
Thoughts before listening: You know, sometimes I open this app in the morning and I know it's going to be a good day because I get to listen to a nice pleasant album all day...and then other times you realize that you'll have to suffer through Napalm Death. Being into heavier music in the 90s, I was aware of bands like Napalm Death who had been around for a few years putting out extreme metal albums, but I just always assumed it was going to be too over the top for me. Something tells me I was right.
Review: So some of this music is good. Cool metal riffs that are played at a fast pace similar to hardcore punk or industrial, both of which are genres I can stand in moderation. However, where this band loses me is when the vocals start. This style of growled, incoherent singing is just such a major turn off for me. At least it means I can't understand the lyrics. I'm sure this is a revered album to fans of this style of metal, but I'm not in that demographic. 1-star
Sigur Rós
3/5
Thoughts before listening: These guys were a huge deal when I was starting to branch out my music tastes from the punk and jambands I had grown up listening to. They were constantly getting praise from all the sites I was following, but I never gave them much of a chance. I think it was the fact that it wasn't in English that kept me from paying attention. I'm glad I'll have an excuse to listen for the first time today.
Review: This is post-rock in the vein of Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and Explosions in the Sky, but Sigur Ros is a bit different because of the vocals. While those bands are fully instrumental, Sigur Ros sings in a way in which the voice is utilized as a part of the instrumentation as opposed to being used to convey a message. It doesn't really matter that I don't understand the lyrics here because the singing is still very effective as part of the overall arrangement of these songs.
Now on the music, I have to say that I much prefer the sounds of the aforementioned bands to Sigur Ros. Sigur Ros leans heavily into orchestral and electronic arrangements as opposed to the more guitar-based rock stylings typical of the post-rock genre. I am finding myself getting a little bored with this album although there are certainly some interesting songs. I added a couple tracks to my playlist, but overall this is only a 3-star album to me.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the better hip-hop groups. I never paid much attention in the 90s when they were releasing these albums but I love everything I've heard from them. I know this is one of their classic albums.
Review: I like A Tribe Called Quest quite a bit. Their laid back, jazzy beats and slow drawl of a vocal delivery click a lot of boxes for more. There are some great songs here: "Buggin Out", "Scenario", "Jazz", and "What?" are all going on the playlist. That being said, as I said on my first review for the group, all of these songs sound very similar without a lot of variation. This keeps the album from being a true classic to me. I'll stick with the 4-stars I gave to their first album.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I have a big blind spot for Thelonious Monk as I do for many of the jazz greats. This isn't one of the albums I recognize, but I'm sure it's great.
Review: This is essentially the definition of jazz. Cool, laid back, piano driven with great players contributing throughout. This is background music for a hipster cocktail party in the 50s. Hard to complain about this, 4-stars.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The ultimate high school and college stoner's anthem. While I was never much of a stoner myself, my friends certainly were so I have heard "Legalize It" plenty of time. I also owned a Peter Tosh greatest hits compilation at one time, and while most of the reggae I have ever listened to has been Bob Marley, I got really into that cd for a while. I am pretty sure I have never heard this album, but something tells me I will recognize more than just the title track.
Review: This is pretty good. Peter Tosh came up as part of the Wailers, and his sound on this album certainly stays in a similar space to the music being put out by his more famous former employer. I will say, with my prior knowledge of Peter Tosh being his Essentials album, this record feels a bit like a let down. This seems to be the case with a lot of reggae artists where their compilation packages outshine the studio albums. Hell even with Bob Marley, his most well known album is Legend. Legalize It has some good songs that I am adding to the playlist (the title track, "Why Must I Cry", "Igziabeher", "Ketchy Shuby"), but as an album, its 3-stars.
SAULT
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this made a lot of best of lists when it came out. I also know that its gotten some pretty harsh criticism from this project's Reddit channel. I feel like I listened when it came out and it wasn't really for me.
Review: This is pretty good. Sure its too long and the spoken word bits are somewhat distracting, but the actual songs on here are enjoyable. Lots of good beats, a nice variety of sounds, and some really catchy tunes. My favorite tracks are "Stop Dem" and "Bow". 3-stars
Cypress Hill
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this is fun. These guys were the soundtrack to many high school and college parties even if I never owned any of their albums. I am sure I will recognize quite a few of these songs.
Review: This is good although I am more familiar with and prefer their later albums, especially Black Sunday. Cypress Hill definitely have an iconic sound, largely thanks to B Real's unique voice. His high pitched, sing song style really stands out against the other rappers of their era. The backing tracks are reminiscent of the west coast style of the time with Cypress Hill being early to the game with their laid back, bass heavy beats. My favorite songs are "How I Could Just Kill a Man" and "Hand on the Pump". 3-stars
R.E.M.
5/5
Thoughts before listening: For years I thought this was my favorite REM album, but I now think I prefer the early stuff better. There are some great, iconic songs on here, but it tends to drag in places with some slow, boring tracks. Still though this is REM's best 90's album and I am glad to have a reason to listen today.
Review: Despite my belief that the earlier more energetic albums from REM are better than this, I can't deny that this is a masterpiece. Its just a largely somber, melancholy masterpiece as opposed to the fun poppy indie rock of their past releases. 5-stars
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I own a Keith Jarrett multi-record collection that I rarely listen to but really enjoy when I'm in the right mood. This will likely be an album of solo piano pieces that are very soothing in a background music for a cocktail party kind of way.
Review: Yeah, this is exactly what I was expecting from Keith Jarrett. Long, meditative piano pieces...apparently fully improvised on stage. This album sounds amazing with the piano being recorded beautifully and you can even hear Keith stomping or singing along in the background from time to time. I also enjoy how the music goes through different movements, often slowing down and then picking up to a crescendo before coming back down. I don't think I am going to add any of these to the playlist, but I am certainly glad to listen this morning. 3-stars
PJ Harvey
4/5
Thoughts before listening: PJ Harvey is one of those artists that has been a mainstay of rock music writers since I started paying attention to music. Besides a few songs here or there, I have never been able to get into her, although I'm not sure I ever tried all that hard. I believe this will be the first time I've listened to one of her albums all the way through.
Review: This sounds like 90s alternative rock which means I like it. The only track I recognize is "Sheela-Na-Gig" and thats a great song. Overall I wasn't blown away by this album at first, but it did start to grow on me on repeat listens. I think it was just so similar to other 90s alt rock albums I have listened to over the year that it didn't grab me, but I recognize that this is likely because PJ Harvey was a huge influence on a lot of those bands. This is 4-stars.
Primal Scream
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This album gets a ton of praise by modern music sites even though I don't really remember it being all that big of a deal when I was growing up. At least not in the US...this might have had a bigger impact in the UK. Anyway, I feel like these guys are Britpop mixed with dance music.
Review: I like this and can see why these guys get cited so much by modern music writers. The dance elements here really do distinguish these guys from the rest of the pack when it comes to 90s British alt rock bands, and I can hear where this could have been a big influence on a group like LCD Soundsystem. That being said, the album does drag a little with some of the songs being repetitive and overly long. I'll give this 3-stars although if I had a nostalgic connection with this album I'd probably go higher.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I used to love the Chili Peppers and this album (although Mother's Milk was always my favorite from them). I very rarely listen to the band anymore for some reason though. Their songs are iconic for sure, but they just seem juvenile or something. Maybe its just that their later output became increasingly silly and poppy.
Review: Man I have so much nostalgia built up around this album. RHCP were great musicians, especially Flea and John Frusciante, and this album sounds great. Anthony Kiedis' lame raps and lyrical subject matter have not aged well, although I remember really liking them 30 years ago. This album is full of massive hits ("Breaking the Girl", "Give It Away", "Under the Bridge", etc) as well as some deeper cuts that remain classics ("Suck My Kiss", "Sir Psycho Sexy"). This might be one of those albums that wouldn't get as high a rating from me if I didn't grow up listening to it, but thanks to nostalgia, I will give this 4-stars.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Iconic debut album from the biggest band of the 70s. Zeppelin helped usher in a brand of hard hitting, bluesy rock on this album that led to countless imitators for decades. This is one of the origins of hard rock and definitely a major reason it became the defining sound of rock n roll for years.
Review: Yeah this is great. What a way to kick off an album with "Good Times Bad Times" > "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You". Other favorites on here are "Dazed and Confused", "Communication Breakdown", and "How Many More Times". I like that this is decidedly not a pop album, with long songs including extended jammy sections and guitar solos. Led Zeppelin I is an important album that is also an enjoyable listen throughout. 5-stars
Bob Dylan
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Dylan's first electric album. This is a huge record with timeless songs. Should be an easy 5-star for me.
Review: So while this is the album where Dylan went electric, this is still a bit of a transitional sound for him. While he certainly employs a full band, garage rock sound on half of these songs, there are a number of acoustic, folk songs on this album as well. It wouldn't be until Highway 61 Revisited that Dylan would fully lean into electric rock.
While this album tends to get somewhat overlooked in Dylan's discography (at least compared to the heavy hitters), there are still some iconic songs here. "Subterranean Homesick Blues" kicks this off with what must have been a shock to Dylan fans at the time...pure proto-punk garage blues. Other favorites from the rock side of this include "Maggie's Farm" and "Love Minus Zero". The second half of the album brings more of the folk sound Dylan fans were accustomed to, but with still some absolute classics in "Mr. Tambourine Man", "Its Alright Ma", and "Its All Over Now Baby Blue". Easy 5-star album.
Tears For Fears
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm excited about this one. I know the hits, but I've never listened to this album. I've always dismissed these guys as your typical 80s pop fluff, but I've seen some write ups on them recently that have me intrigued. Maybe there's more substance here than I assumed.
Review: "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" are both bangers that have stood the test of time and still standout as highlights of the 80s. I am also enjoying "Head Over Heels" which was also a hit although not as prevalent as the other two. The rest of the album is fine although these aren't good enough songs to rise above the 80s overproduction. Its the synths and weird muted electronic drums that drive me crazy about 80s pop music, and both of those sounds are prevalent on this album. 3-stars
Kraftwerk
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this is Kraftwerk's most celebrated album, but I feel like they are a bit much for me. At least on the first album I heard, it was too electronic sounding for my tastes. I know that part of the charm with Kraftwerk is that its humans manually making music to sound robotic, but it still just didn't resonate with me. I'd expect the same here.
Review: Well, I think "bahn bahn bahn its the Autobahn" (not the actual lyrics) is going to be stuck in my head all day. I mean this is fine for background music while I answer all my emails this morning, but its really not something I'm ever going to sit down and listen to. Maybe if I can find the radio version of the title track I'll add it to the playlist, but otherwise I have no interest in the 20-minute version. I'm giving this 2-stars despite knowing how influential it is.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of those bands thats hit my radar for years, but where I know very little about them. Its from 1980 so I'm guessing it will be British post-punk/new wave sound. To be honest though I thought these guys were like a 60s garage rock psych band like ? and the Mysterians.
Review: Ok...so this is an 80s new wave take on 60s garage/psych...at least according to Allmusic. Either way, its pretty good. These songs are all upbeat and catchy, and I really like the horns which adds a different element to their sound. The best song on here is "Reward". 3-stars
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this is fun. I used to own this album and I like it quite a bit. Like with a lot of rap album I'm sure the lyrics and skits will be more cringey than I remember, but I'm glad to have a reason to revisit this.
Review: Yeah this is great. The group dynamic doesn't always work in hip hop, but Wu Tang really pulls it off. Each of these guys has their own distinctive voice and personality that really comes through in these songs. I like that Wu Tang has a laid back style to their beats, and there are some truly iconic tracks on here. My favorites are "Bring Da Ruckus", "Wu-Tang Clan Aint Nothing....", "C.R.E.A.M.", "Method Man", and "Protect Ya Neck". 5-star hip hop album
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I see this guy referenced on music sites all the time, but I have very little frame of reference for what he actually sounds like. I feel like it's some sort of outsider folk or pop but I'm really just guessing.
Review: This is pretty weird and not really for me. Lots of atonal, avant garde sounds happening here. A few songs have some nice melodies but there will be something weird with the vocals or instrumentation that is just too much for me. 2-stars
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the most beloved Beatles albums with some of their most enduring songs. I am glad to listen to this today and will likely be giving this 5-stars.
Review: This isn't my favorite Beatles album...some of the songs are a little too whimsical to truly be their best...but there are some absolutely terrific songs on here. I can also recognize that the studio magic they were able to create for this album may seem fairly common by today's standards, but it was absolutely groundbreaking in 1967. This album is worthy of the praise that it receives, and I'm giving it 5-stars.
Stan Getz
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of those albums that I always see getting praised, but that I know very little about. I know its jazz, and I feel like its Spanish flamenco inspired jazz perhaps? Not really sure.
Review: So the internet tells me this is bossa nova not flamenco. Either way, its very enjoyable in a background music kind of way. "The Girl From Ipanema" is a recognizable song that I have already added to my playlist based on its inclusion on Frank Sinatra's bossa nova album. I can't say that this music is something I would typically gravitate to, but I can't deny that its high quality. I think this is a 3-star album for me personally, but I recognize that it probably deserves a higher score.
Beck
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of my absolute favorite albums from my high school years. Not only is this full of catchy songs, but the production and sampling throughout makes it a truly unique listening experience. This is a poppy alt-rock take on the style that the Beastie Boys created on Paul's Boutique (Odelay was produced by the same people...the Dust Brothers).
Review: I have always liked the variation in styles on this album. There is definitely an undercurrent of hip-hop beats and samples, but this isn't rap, with sounds across the board from alt rock to country to lounge. This is a 5-star record if for no other reason than nostalgia purposes, but the high quality of these songs justifies that high rating.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I should really be a fan of Sonic Youth, but I just can't get into them. That being said, this is their most well regarded album and also has some of their better songs.
Review: "Teenage Riot" kicks this album off and is one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. The general sound of this song with an upbeat driving tempo, monotone speak singing, and psychedelic guitar freakouts is carried out throughout the record to great effect. Despite some sections that get a little too out there for their own good, this really is a great album that deserves its reputation as Sonic Youth's best. 4-stars
Guided By Voices
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I want to like Guided By Voices, but I just can't ever get into them. I think it's mainly the crappy production. Robert Pollard writes some good songs, but it's hard to tell with the tinny sound. We'll see if this is the listen that changes that perception for me.
Review: So they call this lo-fi I guess. There are definitely some great ideas on this album, but it all just sounds like sketches of unfinished demos. Maybe thats the appeal, but its just hard for me to get into this album. Best songs/ideas here: "As We Go Up, We Go Down", "Game of Pricks", and "Motor Away". In general, my opinion remains the same that there are some good songs here, but its a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. 2-stars
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I do not believe I have actually listened to this album before although I will probably recognize most of the songs. I have owned a number of Hendrix best of albums over the years, so I am not new to Hendrix, I just never went deep on his actual studio albums. In general I love Hendrix as much as most rock fans so I am excited to listen.
Review: This has some really great, classic songs on it. "Spanish Castle Magic", "Little Wing", "If 6 Was 9", "Castles Made of Sand", and "Bold as Love" are perfect songs of the psychedelic rock era. As a whole however the album has some weak spots that fall into basic blues rock territory. Still though, these highlights are enough to make this a 4-star album.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Thoughts before listening: African style rhythms meets rock n roll drumming I guess? This one should be interesting.
Review: This is great. I have listened to some Fela Kuti before and I always find it to be an enjoyable experience. Fast paced, percussion heavy jams. From reading up on this album, it seems that Ginger Baker was working with Fela to learn Afrobeat drumming, so while his presence adds a certain cool factor to this album, he isn't necessarily changing the sound....at least not in the Afrobeat meets rock n roll way I was imagining. Fela rocks both with and without Ginger. This is the type of album I was hoping to discover by doing this project. 4-stars
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Thoughts before listening: There sure are a lot of Leonard Cohen albums on here. I know people love him, but I struggle with a lot of his music. Its just too dark and droll for my taste. There are, however, 2 or 3 songs per album that grab my attention so I would assume the same for this one.
Review: As I listened to this album I felt that this might be my favorite I've heard so far from Leonard Cohen. The songs are looser and seem more lively than his other albums on this list. I was surprised then to read the Allmusic review and see that this is actually considered a weaker effort in his catalog. To me, his voice is less grating here and a song like "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes" (which the Allmusic reviewer especially disliked) is one of the best I've heard from Leonard. I'll give this 3-stars.
Sepultura
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Gotta say I'm surprised to see another Sepultura album on this list. For the first one, my favorite songs were the ones with tribal elements mixed with the heavy metal sound. If theres more of that on this album than I am excited to hear it, but if this leans more into the cookie monster growl metal side of Sepultura it's going to be a tough listen.
Review: This is better than I was expecting. Its definitely growly death metal which is usually a turn off, but there is also undeniable songwriting here. As someone not overly versed in the different metal subgenres, the music here sounds like thrash to me. Similar to bands I enjoy like Metallica and Megadeth. Thats a good thing to me and I am giving this 3-stars.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I am not overly familiar with Siouxsie and the Banshees music. I know that Siouxsie was part of the London punk scene from the earliest days, but I feel like her music is more new wave/80s pop than punk rock. I also get the sense that her music can get a bit out there sometimes.
Review: So I guess what I have always categorized as "out there" is just "goth", which is a post-punk subgenre that I don't typically love. With bands like Bauhaus the darkness pushes over to cheesy territories and distracts from what might otherwise be enjoyable songs. Perhaps its Siouxsie's voice which adds a brightness as opposed to the typical deep near drone of other goth singers, but I am not getting that from this album. This is enjoyable post-punk 80's music with strong guitar work and catchy melodies. I am adding a few of these songs to the playlist and am glad I had a reason to listen today. 4-stars
The Pharcyde
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is an album I mostly missed in the 90s but that I have come to enjoy in recent years. Cool 90s hip hop is the best hip hop.
Review: This is a very fun album. Similar in vibe to other 90s underground hip hop like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde is playful and funny throughout this album. Jazzy funk backing tracks like the ones on this album will always be my favorite hip hop sound. 4-stars
Beatles
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is typically considered the Beatles' best album. It definitely has a lot of their more "classic rock" sounding songs. I have always enjoyed this album and tend to agree that its their best although really all of their later albums are killer.
Review: Abbey Road certainly lives up to its status as one of the Beatles' best. Its hard to add much more to the praise that this album has received, so I will just say that while I enjoy songs through out the tracklist, the best part is the ending song suite. This is an album full of classics that does live up to its reputation. 5-stars
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 60's psych garage rock led by Roky Erickson (I believe). One of those bands that I recognize by name, but where I don't know if I have actually heard any of the music.
Review: Okay, so I definitely recognize this first song "You're Gonna Miss Me". This is sloppy, simple rock n roll with psychedelic flourishes mixed in throughout. Its easy to see where the through line is from this to punk rock in the 70s while also very much being a 60s sound. I can also understand why this wasn't very commercial. This just sounds like underground music, which is interesting since a lot of 60s underground music has been lost to time while the 13th Floor Elevators are making lists like this one. This is 3-stars
Carpenters
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I have always thought of the Carpenters as talented but ultimately extremely vanilla. Just 70s radio-friendly soft rock that would have very little critical appeal. Therefore it is surprising to see them on this list. This will certainly be my first time listening to one of their albums although I'm sure I've heard their music before.
Review: Yeah. This isn't for me. I get that they're talented, but its just not something I would choose to listen to. This is despite having a couple extremely recognizable songs and a Beatles cover. 2-stars
Duke Ellington
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the jazz greats and another huge music figure I have never really listened to. I believe Duke Ellington is big band swing style jazz, but I may be wrong on that. I'm glad this is a live album.
Review: Very enjoyable album of live swing music. From reviews I've read it seems that this was a transitional album with soloists that typically didn't play with Duke Ellington and brought a newer, fresher take to their parts. So from an historical perspective this is an important album and from a quality perspective its a great representative overview of its genre from one of the heavyweights. 4-stars
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I have noticed a recent surge in this album being mentioned as a major influence on modern musicians. I do not remember that being the case in the 90s and 00s, so its interesting that a newer generation has latched on to this. From my perspective, I have heard of Cocteau Twins, but I always dismissed them as new wave pop that wouldn't be for me. This will be a first listen.
Review: So I can definitely hear a lot of this sound in some of the more recent dream pop bands like Beach House. This is better than I was expecting and is definitely more than just an 80s new wave also ran. There is a lot of effective moodiness to these songs and I enjoy the vocals. Not necessarily the type of music I'd typically be drawn to, but its enjoyable all the same. 3-stars
Common
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I feel like Common is one of the rappers that I've always thought I SHOULD like, but I just don't think he's that great. He was always marketed as the thinking man's rapper, but I just find him boring.
Review: Yeah this isn't all that great. Common's flow is a little weak and nothing is really grabbing me. I added a couple songs to the playlist, but overall this is a pretty weak. 3-stars
Dolly Parton
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of Dolly's classics. Its pretty hard to hate on Dolly Parton, and I'm sure this will be great.
Review: This is a very enjoyable album from one of the biggest names in country music history. 50+ years later she is a household name, and the title track to this album is a staple. Dolly wrote the bulk of these songs and really set herself up as not only a star in the making, but also a creative force within her genre. 4-stars
Nirvana
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Probably the most influential and important album of my life. I was 10 when this came out, and I remember very well the mania that surrounded Nirvana. This poppy take on punk rock and grunge would go on to define much of the music I'd listen to throughout not just my teens, but on into my adult years.
Review: Yeah this is perfect. Even if I did not have such a nostalgic connection to Nevermind, it still just hits on so much of what I look for in music that I feel I would love it. Of course, it could also be true that the main reason I gravitate so much to this sound is because the album was so important at such a formative age for me that it ingrained this in my psyche. Whatever the case, this blend of fast, loud guitar based rock and extremely catchy pop songcraft is one I have enjoyed throughout my life.
I am adding most of the songs to my playlist with my favorite "lesser known" songs being "Lounge Act", "Stay Away", and "On a Plain". This is 5-stars.
Beach House
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Female led, dream pop indie rock. I remember this band being a big deal when this album came out, but I never gave it a listen. Seemed like it wouldn't be for me. However, I recently heard a song of theirs that I really enjoyed, so I'm excited to try this out.
Review: Man, I can't believe I have been sleeping on this band for so long. This is really nice. Definitely moody and slow at times, but the instrumentation is great. This reminds me a bit of other bands I enjoy from the same era such as Fleet Foxes. I am glad to have been "forced" to listen to this album. 4-stars
The Doors
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The Doors get a lot of hate in modern times. This seems to be more because of Jim Morrison's over the top (and often cringey) persona and the fact that every high school stoner goes through a Doors phase then any actual critique of their music. I have always found their sound to be one of the more interesting takes on the blues based 60s rock sound. This is definitely one of their better albums so I am glad to see it on the list.
Review: This is one of the Doors most straight forward blues rock albums, and that makes it a favorite of mine. The title track alone is a rollicking, upbeat classic that builds in intensity throughout, and the album also includes "Love Her Madly", "Riders on the Storm", and a great opening deep cut in "The Changeling". All in all I'll give this 4-stars as one of the best from such an important band.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm expecting some old school, early soul music. I'm sure this will be great.
Review: Solomon Burke may not have become a household name like many of his contemporaries i.e. Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson, etc, but that doesn't mean he wasn't putting out quality material of his own. This album is full of bluesy, soul music sung with a voice that can be sweet in one moment and then immediately turn into a growl. The fact that this album isn't full of well known classic songs actually enhances the experience from a discovery standpoint. Sometimes the older albums on this list are a little boring to listen to because I already know the hits. This is all new to me and has been a great listen. 4-stars
Fugazi
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Fugazi was such an important band and for a 90s kid that fancied himself as some hipster punk indie guy. While I wasn't actually any of those things, the music I discovered during that period has stuck with me throughout my adult life. This is an album I owned at the time, and while I don't necessarily think its Fugazi's best, I am glad to have a reason to revisit this today.
Review: Interestingly enough, I remember not really liking this album all that much when I first bought it. I was more into pop punk at the time, so the lack of sing along melodies just didn't appeal as much to me. I also remember thinking that the song "Repeater" was annoying. The only song I really latched onto at that time was "Sieve Fisted Find".
This opinion has changed over the years as my tastes have evolved. I now appreciate that Fugazi combined the aggression of punk rock with a more technically proficient musical ability. There is a jazz quality to the musicianship here and often the details within the music are as exciting as the words being shouted. 4-star album for me mainly because 13 Songs is their 5-star album.
Miles Davis
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the all time greats. Considering I am pretty sure that I once had a Miles Davis poster on my college apartment wall, this is a pretty embarrassing confession, but I think I have only ever listened to Kind of Blue and Bitches Brew. I definitely don't remember ever hearing In a Silent Way. I am excited to listen to this...and to make my younger self just a bit less of a poser.
Review: This is right up my alley. Two long tracks of jazz fusion studio jams with all the players getting a chance to shine throughout. And what a list of players! Besides Miles obviously, this album also has Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Dave Holland, and John McLaughlin. I am especially enjoying John McLaughlin's guitar contributions here. I am adding both of these tracks to my playlist, and I am very glad I had an excuse to listen to this today. 5-stars
Grant Lee Buffalo
4/5
Thoughts before listening: These guys have been on the periphery of my music interests for a long time, but I don't believe I have ever really listened to them. In my mind they are kind of a rootsy take on alternative rock, maybe like the Replacements...but I have no real reason to think this and I may actually be confusing them with Buffalo Tom.
Review: This is really good. I was pretty on point with my thoughts about their sound. This is distorted alt-rock but not punk rock. Definitely has a bit of a rootsy, country inspiration to their sound, but this is also not alt-country. This sound is right up my alley so its interesting that this band has remained on my periphery for this long. I have added a few songs to the playlist and am very glad this is on the list (even if its probably not one of the 1,001 albums I must hear before I die). 4-stars
Kanye West
2/5
Thoughts before listening: This was about the point when I started ignoring Kanye. I like his earlier albums through My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy quite a bit, but this one was released around the time when Kanye the insufferable personality started to overshadow any enjoyment found in his music. I also find the title of this to be insulting and egotistical.
Review: In general Kanye's sound on this album is less poppy with the backing tracks mainly using distorted, harsh, industrial sounding beats throughout. Also lots of autotune making Kanye's voice sound robotic and mechanical instead of organic. "Black Skinhead" is the best song here and also the only one I recognized on my listen through. I'll add that to the playlist, but I just don't have any interest in listening to most of these lyrics ever again. 2-stars
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Traditional bluegrass meets 70s country rock. I feel like on past listens this isn't as good as I want it to be.
Review: So I think my disappointment on earlier listens may be related to wanting this to be some sort of jamgrass album. It's not that at all. This is just old timey traditional bluegrass that was played by a younger generation in the 70s. There are some older musicians on here as well and sometimes their stories are a bit distracting, but overall this is a very nice listen. Lots of timeless songs that I am glad to have an excuse to add to the playlist I'm building from this project. 4-stars
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Thoughts before listening: One hit wonders who seem to get more respect than other one hit wonders. This album cover doesn't look familiar to me so I'm thinking this is an album that doesn't contain the one hit....which is pretty on brand for this list.
Review: So this is a weird album. Looks like this is Dexys Midnight Runners' weird, troubled 3rd album as they attempted to follow up the massive hit that was "Come On Eileen". There are some moments that I enjoy on here, but overall it's a confusing album. Lots of talking, some atonal singing, an extended section of a song where the music sounds just like "Come On Eileen", and another that is basically a straight rip off of "Werewolves of London". I would say that overall I did not love this album even if there were a few moments I did like. 2-stars
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Simon and Garfunkel are iconic 60s folk rock. The title track is a classic for sure, but its not one of my favorites. The rest of this album though contains some of the best songs of that decade.
Review: So I certainly understand why the title track is so universally praised, but its just so overproduced that it rubs me the wrong way or something. I just want Simon and Garfunkel to play fun little folk songs I guess, which they do quite a bit on this album. "Cecilia", "The Boxer", "Baby Driver", and "The Only Living Boy in New York" all fit that description perfectly. I'll give this 4-stars for how much I enjoy those songs.
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I liked this album when it came out...I think there's a song on it called "Kick Push" thats pretty great. That being said, this definitely feels like another example of recency bias where the editors were trying to guess at modern day (at time of publishing the book) future classics. In this case they merely picked a current at the time banger that hasn't necessarily stood the test of time.
Review: I do like this album quite a bit. Its sound is more akin to something like Jay-Z or maybe early Kanye than the gangster rap that was so prevalent in the late 90s and early 00s. Smart lyrics, catchy (maybe poppy) melodies, soulful jazzy beats, etc. This is a very enjoyable listen even if its probably not one of the 1,001 best albums of all time. 3-stars
3/5
Thoughts before listening: PJ Harvey is on this list a lot, and she has certainly been pretty universally praised from music journalists over the past 20+ years. I usually find one or two songs per album that I enjoy and the rest is just okay to me. I look forward to seeing if this album will be any different.
Review: As usual there were a number of songs I liked and added to my playlist: "Good Fortune", "This Mess We're In", "Kamikaze", and "This is Love". As a whole the album was a nice listen while I walked to get groceries but probably not something I will go back to. I did actually recognize a number of these songs so I believe I had listened to this album before, probably on a playlist made from a best albums of the 00s list. 3-stars
The Who
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Early stuff from The Who when they were still the mod scene band as opposed to the stadium rock giants they became. Their early stuff has much more of an proto-punk feel with short pop songs played fast and loud. I love the title track to this album and in general am a big fan of this era of the band.
Review: This is fun. The Who would definitely go on to bigger and better albums, but I do really enjoy their early sound. These are basically kids bashing out pop originals and blues/R&B covers in a style that would soon be called punk. There is definitely a direct through line from this sound to those early British punk bands...which is interesting since those bands were rebelling against the excesses of the 70s arena rockers such as The Who. 4-stars
Prince
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Massive album for the 80s with the title track and "When Doves Cry" being top tier singles for the decade. I have heard this before and like this quite a bit.
Review: This album is just iconic song after iconic song. Even beyond the timeless hits from this album there are some absolute gems: "Lets Go Crazy", "The Beautiful Ones", "Darling Nikki", and "I Would Die 4 U". These are overshadowed by "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain", but they are ultimately what makes the album a classic is that these massive global hits are surrounded by deep cuts that could only be performed by Prince. A great album from one of the most important artists of my lifetime. 5-stars
The Waterboys
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s pop rock band that mixes in Irish folk music sounds. I really like the title track to this album, but I don't think I have listened to the rest of it before.
Review: I really like this album. These are anthemic pop rock songs that have a certain organic sound that really differentiates them from their 80s rock peers. Perhaps the utilization of traditional folk instrumentation could be interpreted as gimmicky, but I think it adds an element of authenticity missing from the more synth driven sounds of that era.
The title track is a banger, but there are quite a few other songs here that I am enjoying. "We Will Not Be Lovers", "Sweet Thing", and "And a Bang on the Ear" are my favorites. 4-star album for me.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I think this is the 3rd or 4th Sonic Youth album I've gotten on this project. They are very hit or miss for me with some of their songs really resonating ("Teenage Riot" is one of my favorite songs ever) and others just sounding like an atonal jumbled mess. This being one of their 90s, post grunge explosion albums makes me think it will likely fall into the good category for me.
Review: Like with most Sonic Youth albums, there are some songs I really enjoy on here and others that fall into the too abstract and weird category to appeal to me. I think I see why Sonic Youth was always a band that floated around on the periphery of the music I loved growing up, but never actually became one of my favorites. They have moments of brilliance where I can see that they were a huge influence on bands like Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, but they just never quite allow themselves to tip over into the overt poppiness that those bands thrived in. Or maybe its more that every album has a couple pop tracks surrounded by a bunch of songs that are very alienating to casual music fans. Sonic Youth remained underground heroes while the bands that emulated them went on to massive success....and maybe that's exactly what Sonic Youth wanted.
All that being said, there is a lot to like on this album. "100%", "Wish Fulfillment", "Sugar Kane", Youth Against Fascism", and "Purr" are all going on the playlist. This is a 4-star album.
Death In Vegas
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I think I remember these guys, but I don't remember them being all that big of a deal. Maybe they were huge in Europe or something? In my mind they're like a hard rock/techno combo sort of like the Prodigy maybe? I'm not really sure.
Review: This is the sound that music journalists were telling us would be the future of music back in 1999 when this was released. Techno beats forming the backbeat of guitar driven rock music. As someone who was in college at this time and obsessed with punk, indie, and jammy rock bands, I never quite got the appeal of this sound. To me it was more what you would hear in the background of a sci-fi movie than something I was going to put on and listen to in the dorm room.
Still though, I do have a certain nostalgia for this sound. I like a couple of songs here, including "Dirge", but overall this basically just sounds like background music to me. I'll give it 2-stars.
Brian Eno
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I am typically not into ambient music so I have always avoided this album. I like some of Brian Eno's music, but 4 long ambient tracks just doesn't appeal to me. Maybe this will be nice background music while I work this morning.
Review: So I won't be adding any of these songs to the playlist, but this isn't as difficult of a listen as I assumed. It does make for nice background music but with musical themes and textures that keep it interesting. This is very relaxing music reminiscent of what you would hear when getting a massage. Overall I am glad I had an excuse to listen to this although I doubt I would revisit...I also got a little bored by the end. 3-stars
Tortoise
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Cool, abstract indie rock instrumentals. I went through a phase where I was really into Tortoise, but its been a long time since I have listened to these guys.
Review: So this album starts out with Djed which is one of Tortoise and the genre of post-rock's most celebrated songs. Its okay. There are definitely some interesting parts, but as a whole I find it to be too long and abstract to be one of my favorites.
I do however enjoy quite a bit of this album. Its certainly a journey and takes some patience to make it through, but I find it quite rewarding. There are very interesting textures and styles being incorporated throughout, especially with the shorter songs. 3-stars
The Specials
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I really like the Specials although I am pretty sure I have only ever heard their greatest hits. Looking at the track list for this one, I only recognize a few of these titles which is a bit surprising. I guess that most of the songs I know are from their first album. Anyway, I am sure this will be a nostalgic, fun listen.
Review: Oh man...I do know a lot of these songs and I love them. I was really into ska for a while in high school, mostly of the ska-punk variety, and the Specials were celebrated as early innovators in that scene. I find them to be very difficult to dislike...catchy melodies mixed with the upbeat positive ska sounds. Its hard to hate on music with horns. 4-stars
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This was a big deal when it came out back in the early 90s...at least in terms of radio play and Grammy nominations. Bonnie Raitt has always been a little boring to me, but I also have probably never given her a fair listen. She just feels like a very adult contemporary version of blues rock.
Review: Ok so I thought this was the album with "Something to Talk About" on it, but apparently this was the one right before. It also won a bunch of Grammys so I guess Bonnie had a pretty solid run in the late 80s/early 90s. I definitely had the sound pegged though...very adult contemporary with adult lyrics. Today this would likely be categorized as country music, but in the 80s it passed as blues rock I guess. It's technically very good but just not something I'd ever choose to listen to. 3-stars
Blur
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One thing I have learned from this project is that Blur is not as good as I have always assumed they were. In general I have found that they have a couple good songs mixed in with a bunch of halfassed tracks that sound like good ideas that never really got fully fleshed out. That being said, I know this is typically considered their best album, so maybe this is the one where it finally clicks for me.
Review: This does feel like more cohesive songs than ones I have heard from Blur previously in this project. There are some songs here that I really like, mainly the hits like "Girls & Boys" and "Parklife". One thing this project has really highlighted for me is that while deep cuts exist, hits become hits for a reason. This is definitely Blur's best album, so I will give it 4-stars.
Klaxons
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Feels like this will be mid-00s era UK indie rock. I'm sure it will be decent but not on of the 1,001 best albums if all time.
Review: This is fine. Reminiscent of other alt rock albums from this era but maybe with some more dancey elements mixed in. I guess it's a solid representation of 00s era alt rock radio music, but it's not hitting for me the way bands like Franz Ferdinand or the Strokes do. I added their biggest hit to my playlist and feel like this is 2-stars.
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember these guys. I feel like it was kind of a noise rock thing. Probably another example of the editors trying to pick cool recent music but mostly missing on what was going to become truly classic.
Review: Definitely noise rock and definitely not my thing. I'm sure something like this was cool to see live, but on a studio recording it just doesn't work for me. Overly distorted guitar (maybe just bass guitar?) with barely distinguishable vocals and little in the way of melody or traditional song structure...just a droning noisy racket. Its definitely not boring, but also not very good. 2-stars
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this the Sex Pistols manager guy? I guess he put out hir own music in the 80s? Anyway I've never heard of this, but I'm going to guess its some sort of over the top new wave.
Review: So I guess this is like a hip hop/world music hybrid. I recognize "Buffalo Girls" which I am adding to my playlist. This album is all over the place and I'm not really sure if Malcolm McLaren is actually involved in the music here...maybe he is essentially a curator? There are some good tracks, but overall this is pretty uneven. 2-stars
John Coltrane
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is one of the most universally praised albums of all time and an absolute classic of jazz. I have definitely heard this before.
Review: This album sounds like organized chaos, but in a good way. All the musicians are seemingly off in their own worlds creating a cacophony of noise that is nevertheless engaging throughout. I also like how it all works as a single piece with Acts I and IV providing the intro/outro. My favorite act however is "Act III - Pursuance" as that is when the cacophony reaches its peak. This album is definitely deserving of its praise so I'll give this 5-stars.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the most universally praised Dylan albums, with this always landing at the top of best album lists.
Review: Despite starting with one of my least liked Dylan songs in "Rainy Day Women", this is a really good album worthy of its praise. I don't think it's my favorite by Bob, but it does have some of his best songs. "Visions of Johanna", "I Want You", "Stuck Inside of Mobile...", "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat", "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine", etc all rank amongst my most loved Dylan songs. That being said, there is some filler here that just doesn't resonate with me like some Dylan albums. 4-stars
Mudhoney
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Mudhoney is definitely one of those bands where I like what they do, but it can get old over an entire album. They do usually have enough songs to keep me interested though. I am surprised that this is their 2nd album on the list and I look forward to hearing it.
Review: Mudhoney were kind of the unsung heroes of the Seattle grunge scene. In many ways they are as important of a band as the big 4, but they never quite got over the hump of mainstream popularity like the others did. Instead they remain underground cult figures.
This album sounds sloppy and lo-fi compared to their more polished and popular contemporaries. I like the use of harmonica and organ throughout which creates a more fun sound than those other bands. Definitely a cool band with some good songs that are going on my playlist, but I will have to give the album 3-stars.
Adele
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Adele has an amazing voice and in sure I'll know the hits from this album. This will be fine...probably the definition of a 3-star album in that it's not really my thing but I can't deny that it's good.
Review: This is what I thought it would be. A few bangers I knew were by Adele ("Hello"), a few songs I recognized but didn't realize Adele songs ("Send My Love (To Your New Lover)"), and a bunch of filler. In general the filler was enjoyable because of Adele's voice and just the fact that power ballads about relatable subjects is hard to hate on. 3-stars
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember this being huge. I wasn't into the electronic/dance scene back in the 90s and I doubt I'll be into this today either.
Review: Yeah this isn't for me. Repetitive and nothing is really drawing my attention. I'm sure this is fun music to dance to at a festival or something, but its just not something I'm interested in listening to sitting here at my desk this morning. I added "Rockefeller Skank" and "Praise You" to my playlist as a nice reminder that this existed, but otherwise I have little interest. 2-stars
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Another of Stevie's classic albums. Songs In the Key of Life of one of my favorite discoveries since starting this, so I'm sure I'll enjoy this as well. Its hard to hate on Stevie Wonder, especially with his 70s albums where he was at the peak of his powers.
Review: "Superstition" is an all time great song which is the highlight of this album. The rest of the album is good, but it does not rise to the heights of Innvervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. "Maybe Your Baby" is probably my favorite of the rest of the album with a cool funk groove and some killer guitar work. This is a 4-star album.
Supergrass
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I believe this is the second Supergrass album I have gotten on here. While I personally like them, it feels a little questionable for them to have multiple albums on this list. Anyway, they are good alt-rock power pop that I am sure I will enjoy.
Review: "Caught By the Fuzz" and "Alright" are two of my favorites from 90s alt-rock radio. Catchy pop-punk tunes that have stuck with me via playlists for 30 years now. That being said, I believe this is the first time I have heard the rest of this album. I like it fine although the hits are still the only ones that are really grabbing my attention. Pretty reminiscent of what American bands like Green Day and Weezer were doing around the same time although Supergrass certainly has a wider list of influences in the mix with a sound thats not JUST fast loud guitars (although this plenty of that on this album). This is 3-stars.
Merle Haggard
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I love Merle Haggard, but this album does not appear to have any of what I would consider to be his top songs. This likely isn't a top 5 Merle album, but I'll end up give this 5 stars to offset the asinine low scores and reviews saying something like "I hate country music". Merle Haggard is a legend that deserves better than that.
Review: While this album does not contain Merle's big hits, its still a very enjoyable album of old school style country songs. I love Merle's voice and it sounds perfect with this album's barroom style honky tonk songs and their lyrics focused on prison, drinking, and lost love. 5-stars for being a great genre representation from one of country's true legends.
The Coral
2/5
Thoughts before listening: 00s era British dancey indie rock I believe is what this is. Probably doesn't need to be on this list, but might be enjoyable none the less.
Review: Ok so its not really dancey indie rock. More just your run of the mill 00s era alt rock with a few catchy songs but nothing really standing out all that much. Reading reviews it seems like critics liked this because it mixed together a bunch of different styles (i.e. 60s psychedelic rock, 80s new wave/ska, etc), which is true, but I feel like a lot of bands were doing that around the time of this release. As is usually the cause with bands on this list from the 90s and 00s, it feels like there were likely better examples of this sound that could have been added...and I only tend to really like the albums from this era if its something I actually listened to a the time. I did not listen to the Coral and I am having a hard time really connecting to this album. 2-stars
fIREHOSE
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I love the Minutemen...or at least I love Double Nickels on the Dime. I am not sure I have heard the rest of their albums but that one album is a stone cold classic. With fIREHOSE, I know that this is the band that followed after D Boon died. I have heard a few songs here and there, and I believe I owned a tape of theirs once, but I definitely am not as familiar as I was with the original band. I typically love anything Mike Watt is involved with, so I am sure this is will be good.
Review: This sounds like a folkier, less punk rock version of the Minutemen that reminds me of other 80s bands like REM. With the music being very much driven by Mike Watt's bass licks, there is definitely a recognizable, distinctive sound to this album. This isn't as good as Double Nickels.... and while I am glad to have listened to it, I can only give this 3-stars.
Spiritualized
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Spacey but anthemic indie rock. It can be a little slow for my tastes sometimes, but the album definitely has some peaks that I really enjoy.
Review: This is better than I remember. A lot of these songs are a bit of a long, slow burn, but they do tend to eventually hit a peak that I really enjoy. There are also some legit rockers on this album that I forgot about. All in all this is great. 4-stars
White Denim
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pretty surprised to see these guys on this list. I really enjoyed them back in the day and even saw them once in San Francisco. Indie rock meets jamband music has always been my take on them....which means it was right up my alley in my 20s and early 30s.
Review: I love it. This combo of indie rock style with some jamband elements mixed in is just a sound I will always gravitate to. White Denim may not be a band who really deserve to be on this list of 1,001 albums, but I still really enjoy this album. Perhaps if I didn't have a nostalgic attachment to these guys I wouldn't give it such a high rating (i.e. the myriad Brit pop bands thrusted on me as part of this project), but I feel good about giving them 4-stars for my personal preferences.
Love
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Love's album Forever Changes is one of the most widely praised albums of the 60s, but I never see other albums from them getting the same attention. Therefore its interesting that this made the list. Psychedelic folk is I think Love's general vibe, but I am not really sure.
Review: This is a nice snapshot of the 60s psychedelic sound, but I am not sure it needs to be on this list. Especially considering that Forever Changes is already on here. There is a mix of sweet little pop ditties and some more hard rocking sound like on "Seven and Seven Is" (whats up with these guys and open ended song titles i.e. "Alone Again Or" lol). Anyway, its fine but not something I am really connecting with...3-stars
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of those 80s bands that I see mentioned a lot, but I don't really know a ton about. Their album Heaven or Las Vegas has already come up on this list...and I believe I liked it more than I thought I would. I don't recognize this cover or any of the song names on the album, but I would assume more of the same atmospheric new wave.
Review: My thoughts on this album are the same as with Heaven or Las Vegas. This is perfectly fine atmospheric 80s dream pop that I am certainly enjoying even if its not my favorite style. The best song here is "Lorelei" and that is going on my playlist. 3-stars
Thoughts before listening: Very good, rough around the edges bluesy British rock n roll with Rod Stewart singing. The Faces were never as polished as their contemporaries in the Beatles and Stones, and thats part of their appeal. I own this album and am glad to see it pop up today.
Review: Yeah, this is just a fun basic rock album with better than average vocals from Rod. I'm sure the Faces would have been a fun show to see back in their heyday, with their upbeat, rollicking sounds led by piano, walking basslines, and plenty of guitar solos. "Stay With Me" is one of the better songs of this era of rock, and thats my favorite on here as well. 4-stars
Laibach
2/5
Thoughts before listening: No idea what this. I have never seen the cover or heard of the band. Based on the cover I'm guessing some sort of industrial, goth type sound...also probably very European.
Review: Well I wasn't exactly right on the sound although pretty close I guess. This album feels like an 80s version of Rammstein with music sounding like hair metal meets a Nazi rally or something. Distorted guitars with synth sounds and military marching drum beats backing up barked and growled German lyrics. This is quite the album. I'm not so sure I am enjoying this despite being interesting so I will give this 2-stars.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Iggy Pop is one of those rock stars that has always been cooler than he is enjoyable to listen to for me. Most of the Stooges stuff, and a lot of his solo stuff as well, is just so sloppy and I dont know, grimey or something, that its hard for me to listen. There are certainly gems mixed in with the ugliness, but overall its not something I have a ton of interest in listening to. That being said, I know this is one of his more popular releases (perhaps associated with Bowie or Lou Reed?), so I am excited to try it out.
Review: Okay so this was produced by David Bowie...and you can tell. This sounds quite a bit like Bowie's output around this time like Low albeit perhaps more grimey and punk adjacent to meet Iggy Pop's vibe. Like my earlier assessment, this is definitely too grimey to fully win me over although I'll add a couple songs to the playlist: "China Girl" and Nightclubbing". 3-stars
Aphex Twin
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know a couple songs by Aphex Twin that had crazy videos that crossed my radar back in the day, but otherwise I know very little about him. I have never been into techno/electronic music and just assume it isn't for me. That being said, I do know this album is pretty universally praised and always lands at the top of lists, so it will be nice to listen and form my own opinion.
Review: This is good I guess. Not really my cup of team, but I can understand why people like it. This is very good background music with pulsating beats and enough variation in the melodies to keep it interesting. I am sure if I had the patience to dig into this type of music I would find a lot of subtle nuisance sprinkled throughout, but it all just ends up sounding repetitive. That being said, there is definitely a chill vibe throughout, and Its better than some of the other electronic music I have heard as part of this project. 3-stars
Doves
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 2000s era British indie rock I believe. I feel like I have enjoyed everything I have heard from these guys so I am glad to have a reason to listen to a full album.
Review: This is catchy, anthemic alt rock. Sort of a mix of Oasis and the Bends-era Radiohead. The Doves definitely sound more mature than a lot of the British rock I have heard on this list. These are fully flushed out songs with lush instrumentation and lots of emotion in the performances that I am enjoying. "Catch the Sun" is a song that I recognize and one that I have added to playlists for years. Really good song.
Still though, whenever I see these 90s and 00s British bands it makes me wonder how this list would be different if it was made by American writers....would bands like Sponge, Marcy Playground, or the Crash Test Dummies have made the list instead of these endless British groups? I guess we'll never know, but ultimately this is perfectly fine, but not exceptional, 00s era alt rock. 3-stars
Pink Floyd
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Not my favorite Pink Floyd album (Wish You Were Here) but an absolute classic nonetheless. It's too long for sure, but this album contains some of the best rock songs of all time.
Review: This is an easy 5 star rating, especially with the long string of mediocre albums I have had to listen to recently on this project haha. So many absolute bangers on one album is very rare, as is such a long album that flows together as seamlessly as this one.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Fairport Convention is a band I feel like I should enjoy. A mixture of folk and 60s rock makes me think of bands I like such as Fleet Foxes, and since band includes Richard Thompson whos solo albums I enjoy, they should be right up my alley. However, I have found that they just don't work for me...maybe it leans too heavily on the twee folk side of things and not enough rock. Either way, I do not recognize this album so maybe it will be the one that wins me over.
Review: Okay. Maybe I am starting to get the appeal here. They are definitely playing British/Irish style folk music here, but I can hear the rock influences much more than on previous listens. This is especially apparent on a song like "Matty Groves" where its obviously an old song sung in an old style, but the extended jam is pure rock n roll. This is a cool album and I am giving it 4-stars.
Billy Joel
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I used to hate Billy Joel. Or at least I thought I did because he seemed so cheesy. However, the older I get the more I appreciate his brand of catchy pop rock with easily relatable lyrics. Maybe you have to be a middle class 40-something to truly appreciate what he offers. Anyway, I know this is typically considered his best album and looking at the tracklist, it definitely has a lot of bangers.
Review: Ok this album is great, but probably not a 5-star. While "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" and "Vienna" are some of the best songs by Billy Joel, the true hits on this album like "Only the Good Die Young" and "She's Always a Woman" tend to tip over to the schmaltz a bit much. Still though this is a very nice listen that I will give 4-stars.
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Thoughts before listening: British hip-hop from the early 00s. I remember this being a big deal but it was never really my thing.
Review: This reminds me quite a bit of the Streets who I believe came from the same scene and who I did actually listen to quite a bit. The British accent lets Dizzee Rascal distinguish from other rappers and the music has a different vibe than what US rappers were doing at the same time. Not necessarily my favorite thing ever but I like it fine. 3-stars
Frank Black
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I love the Pixies but have never really dove very heavily into Frank Black's solo work. I believe there were a couple songs that made the playlists on alt-rock radio and 120 Minutes back in the day so I look forward to reminiscing about those during this first listen.
Review: Man I've been missing out on this album. I don't actually recognize any of these songs (I guess the ones I know are from his first solo album) but they're great. This album definitely has a bit of the Pixies sound: Frank's distinctive voice immediately makes you think of his main gig and there is a similar rhythm to most of the songs as well. There is however more variation here (keyboard solos, ballads, etc) than on the Pixies' albums. Listening to this I can understand why people have often classified the Pixies final (original run) album Trompe le Monde as a Frank Black solo album since this one has a similar sound. It just so happens that Trompe le Monde is my favorite Pixies album so this is right up my alley. 4-stars
Solange
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Beyonce's sister. I know she made some critically loved albums that didn't become hits like her sister's albums. I think I tried listening a few times and didn't really get the hype.
Review: This is definitely more of a jazzy r&b sound than her sister's over the top bangers. It's a little boring to me although there are some good songs like "Cranes in the Sky". 3 stars
The Youngbloods
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't know anything about this album. I was thinking probably some sort of forgotten 70s rock band, but its interesting that I have no associations for this. I am typically pretty knowledgeable about those bands.
Review: Well it seems I somehow missed these guys. This is definitely a sound I enjoy being similar to something like America or other 60s/70s post-hippie scene bands. This is perfectly pleasant, jazzy folk rock with catchy melodies and some cool jams that gets dragged down a bit by some saccharine cheesy moments. There is nothing groundbreaking here, and I am surprised to see these guys on this list since there are better examples of this era of rock. 3-stars
The Cure
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The Cure is a band that I avoided doing a deep dive on until very recently. I knew and enjoyed their hits, but I think I was thrown off by their association with "goth". They are a great band that I should have listened to long ago. I don't know this album as well as their others, although I believe "A Forest" is one of their most loved songs, so I am excited to listen.
Review: I think I get why this album isn't typically listed as one of the Cure's best. "A Forest" is very very good and I am enjoying some of the other fully fleshed out songs as well, but overall this isn't my favorite from the band. There is lots of filler on this album. Still though its the Cure and therefore better than a lot of what I've heard on this project. 4-stars
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know very little about Adam Ant except for some hits like "Goody Two Shoes". He's new wave but doesn't seem to get the hype of the huge hitmakers or the more punk rock "cool" new wave groups.
Review: This is okay. Apparently this was considered groundbreaking for introducing the "Burundi beat" to new wave. I definitely hear the driving beat in these songs, but it just sounds like 80s new wave music to me. Its not bad, but nothing here is really grabbing my attention. There are definitely better, more iconic songs that use this sound...maybe Adam Ant was a huge influence on those bands? 3-stars
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Throwback soul from a troubled British singer whos life ended way too early. I often complain on these reviews that the post-2000s albums often haven't stood the test of time, but this is one that almost 20 years after its release truly has become a constant on best album lists. That being said, I don't believe I have ever listened to this all the way through, so I am glad to have a reason to do so.
Review: I was very much not into pop music when this came out, but I don't remember a ton of hype around Amy Winehouse at the time of this release. I know it was nominated for and won Grammys, so maybe I was just not paying that much attention to something so out of my wheelhouse at that time, but I remember her for the tabloid drug stories more than the music. Since her death though, this album has soared as one of the universally praised albums of the 2000s. The music here is good with an updated take on the retro 50s/60s girl group type sound, and Amy has a nice unique voice. I'll be adding all of the hits to the playlist and this is a 3-star album to me.
Megadeth
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this the 2nd Megadeth album on here? That’s surprising to me. I mean Megadeth is certainly one of the best thrash metal bands, but usually Metallica is the only band in that subgenre who’s albums get a lot of of focus from music journalists.
Review: Yep....this sounds like Megadeth. Its overall pretty good, and I think I probably prefer this to the other album on this list. Definitely some great guitar work on this album, and I enjoy Megadeth's sound even if Dave Mustaine's voice isn't my favorite. Since I gave the first album 3-stars, I'll give this one 4 as it is probably a little better overall.
Talvin Singh
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Probably British and electronic. I probably won't like it all that much either.
Review: Ok so electronic dance beats meet traditional Indian music. Sounds like Moby or Fat Boy Slim (or some other late 90s DJ) remixing the music that plays in the background while you get a massage. Not for me. 2-stars
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One thing this project has taught me is that the music that resonates with me the most is just simple, catchy rock n roll...just like CCR. This is one of the band's classic albums with a killer title track and plenty of other recognizable songs. This will be a fun listen.
Review: I mean this is basically a greatest hits album for CCR full of their 60s style rock meets country/rockabilly influences sound. So many of these songs have become iconic on classic rock radio and there really isn't a bad song on here. My personal favorites are "Commotion", "Lodi" and "Wrote a Song for Everyone" but the title track and "Bad Moon Rising" are probably more well known. Overall its a great album, and since I've already given CCR a 5-star rating for Cosmo's Factory, this one gets 4-stars.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of Alex Harvey and do not recognize the album cover. I'm going to guess this was popular in England in the 70s and just from the cover I'll say its similar in style to Rod Stewart...blues based pop rock songs maybe. I don't really know.
Review: Well he's not a Rod Stewart copycat although I did get the British part right. This sounds a bit like Alice Cooper to me. Over-the-top glammy blues-based hard rock with a sneering lead singer mainly singing about sex. This is okay although this sound has been done much better by other bands. There is a murkiness to the production on some of these songs that is turning me off, but I do like some of the later songs on the album like "Next" and "The Last of the Teenage Idols". I was going to give this 2-stars, but the more I listen the more its winning me over so I'll say 3-stars.
David Bowie
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of Bowie's albums that gets heavy praise but came in a dark, drug fueled time in his life. These albums usually have a few pop hits but also some artsy, avant-garde songs as well.
Review: Very good Bowie album although not his best (Hunky Dory is probably my favorite). I came in knowing only "Golden Years", which has long been a favorite of mine, but all 6 songs on this album are strong. Nice mix of sounds on this album from "Golden Years" disco to the more hard rock sounds of "Stay" and "TVC15". This is a 4-star album.
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
Thoughts before listening: 70s disco meets traditional Indian music....something like that? I don't really know.
Review: This is okay. Its not a disco album, more of a Bollywood soundtrack album I guess. Traditional Indian music with a bit of a spy movie flair I guess. Not really my thing but not horrible. I'm going to give it 2-stars though.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Thoughts before listening: My favorite album by Janes Addiction. Godfathers of the alternative rock scene who came out of the 80s LA punk scene, but fully indebted to classic rock as well...especially with Perry Farrell's over the top screech and Dave Navarro's lead guitar. I am glad to have a chance to listen again today.
Review: Yeah this is a classic for the music that meant the world to me growing up. It really is a mixture of the underground alternative scene and a classic rock, Led Zeppelin style sound. Especially with a song like "Mountain Song" which has become a staple of the genre. Glad to have revisited this today, and the album gets 4-stars.
The Black Crowes
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of my favorite bands of my youth although I didn't love them at first. I was into punk and alt rock so their southern rock jams weren't for me. As my tastes changed into my adult years I revisited the band and realized just how good they are. This is one of their quintessential albums so I am glad to see it on the list.
Review: 70s style rock n roll from Georgia that was likely a breath of fresh air in 1990 with hair metal and new wave still dominating the radio. The Black Crowes aren't the most original band in the world, but their songs are catchy and they have become anthems on par with many of the earlier bands they were emulating. 4-stars
Kid Rock
1/5
Thoughts before listening: Man what a bummer to get this album today. I was really looking forward to having something good to listen to. I was 17 when this came out so I was Kid Rock's target demographic, and I hated it back then. Something tells me my opinion won't have changed much over the past 27 years (!!!), but I guess we'll find out.
Review: Yeah I still hate it. The nu metal scene was embarrassing at the time and it's even worse looking back now. These lyrics are just so lame...who thought these were cool? I really hope that listening to this album doesn't screw up my Spotify algorithm.
Also it's hard to look past the fact he has now become the guy my father in law loves cause he shot guns at a case of Bad Light after they had the audacity to create an ad with a transexual in it. 1-star for the music and Kid Rock as a person.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't recognize this album cover, but it looks like a 70s Rod Stewart album. I assume this means poppy rock songs with strong vocals.
Review: Look....I know that Rod Stewart isn't cool, but he is pretty enjoyable to listen to. I love the Faces, and early Rod albums have a similar sound to his original band, with Rod's raspy vocals being a perfect match for the loose pub rock style music. Nothing groundbreaking here, but still glad to have heard it.
3-stars.
The xx
3/5
Thoughts before listening: These guys are okay. Moody indie pop that I believe reminded me a bit of the Cocteau Twins on their first album.
Review: So I believe I was thinking of Beach House in my Cocteau Twins comment. The xx is somewhat similar in vibe but there is definitely more of an electronic vibe to the instrumentation on this album. Overall it's not really my favorite sound...too minimalist for my tastes I think. There are a few good songs, but nothing is really standing out to me. It's always tough for me to rate albums so far out of my interests so I'll give this 3-stars...I'm sure that for fans of this style it's great, but I just can't get into it.
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I feel like XTC is one of those bands that I probably should be really into, but I know very little about. 80s power pop I think is their general sound. I'm excited to give them a listen.
Review: Well I had the pop part right, but this is not power pop at all. The sound of this album is mainly orchestral pop ditties similar in vibe to something the Beatles might have done late in their career. I'm trying to like this, but I'm pretty bored. 2-stars
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I like Sinatra in general all though I haven't loved the other albums by him on this project. Maybe Frank is just a greatest hits only type of artist for me.
Review: Okay so this is the sound I want out of Sinatra. Playful crooning over well arranged swing music with easily relatable (albeit slightly cheesy) lyrics. It's very enjoyable to listen to, and there are some absolute classics on this album. 4-stars
Depeche Mode
4/5
Thoughts before listening: People go crazy for Depeche Mode (and especially this album), but it has never really appealed to me. The synth pop sound just isn't one I gravitate to, but I admittedly probably haven't heard this outside of the singles.
Review: While this is still not necessarily a sound I would typically gravitate towards, I understand the appeal of this album. The hits on here including "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", and "Policy of Truth" rank amongst the best songs from the 80s. This is a dark album with hard hitting synth driven beats that really shouldn't be my cup of tea, but it all works really well. 4-stars
Deep Purple
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Deep Purple put out some of the greatest classic rock radio songs of all time, but I've never dug deeper than these massive hits. I know they are very influential on the hard rock and metal scenes, so I look forward to listening to this full album.
Review: "Smoke on the Water", "Highway Star", "Space Truckin'" are quintessential classic rock that set a blueprint for much of what would follow through the 70s. The rest of the album maintains this high level with "Pictures of Home" especially standing out as a new to me banger. I especially enjoy the extended instrumental sections throughout these songs, mostly led by Richie Blackmore's outstanding guitar work although Jon Lord's organ/keys (especially on "Lazy") is a nice addition not always found in 70s hard rock. 5-stars
Bee Gees
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I mainly know the Bee Gees from their disco era and especially from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Those songs are classics even if the sound doesn't necessarily resonate with me. My understanding is that the early Bee Gees were more of a pop rock band, but I have never actually listened before. They do seem to get more respect than I would assume based on the disco era so I am interested to see what this sounds like.
Review: This is some pretty sappy soft rock. Its definitely well performed with strong vocals, but I am just not into this sound. The Bee Gees disco era is certainly a more interesting time in their career. 2-stars
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know the song "Relax" is a one hit wonder. Surprised the album made this list.
Review: Okay, I knew a couple songs on here...and "Two Tribes" is the better of the hit songs. This album is very 80s sounding but with more of a rock edge than I was expecting. For some reason they cover "Born to Run" in the middle of this album and it's probably my favorite track. There are a few covers on this album, and in general the sound is all over the place. This is also too long of an album, and I got bored by the end. 3-stars
Pixies
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Pixies are one of my favorite bands, and they were extremely influential for most of the alt-rock I grew up listening to. I love this album.
Review: Pixies play with the ferocity of punk rock, but with riffs, melodies, and textures not typically found in the genre. This album's sound is also much cleaner and more dynamic than many of their peers like Husker Du and Dinosaur Jr. I love both of those bands, but their 80s albums are harder to listen to because of the poor sound quality.
It's amazing how iconic this sound is to me for a band that didn't have huge success during their initial run. This sounds like quintessential 90s alt-rock because it was the blueprint for those bands. Thankfully my generation, which came of age a decade after Pixies' initial run, discovered this band and made them stars. This album was their start and it deserves 5-stars.
The Killers
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I've grown to like these guys more than I originally did. At first I thought they were Strokes-lite or something, and while that might be true, their hits are really catchy. These songs have become the classic rock of 00s era music, and since this came out when I was 23, I have a ton of nostalgia built around them.
Review: This indie rock, dancey hybrid sound was definitely cliche in the mid-00s, but the Killers have the hooks to make the sound work. "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" are the most famous, but there are a number of solid tracks on this album. 4-stars
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Frank Zappa has always been more appealing in theory than in practice to me. He's a great guitar player and arranger with some absolutely killer songs, but he's also weird in a way that can be more grating than enjoyable. I don't really know his Mothers of Invention era songs as well as the later solo work.
Review: Okay, I think I've made the right choice in avoiding the Mothers of Invention era of Zappa's career. This album is full of his satirical, joke songs with none of the guitar heroics that would make it easier to ignore his tendency for eye roll inducing tracks on later albums. This album is all eye rolling. While I can certainly enjoy some social commentary and poking fun at hippies/hipsters, it could at least have been delivered in an enjoyable format. Outside of a few songs, this album isn't it. 2-stars
Aimee Mann
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember Aimee Mann being a big deal in music magazines in the 90s, but I do not know much about her. I believe she is a folky singer songwriter who was in the general Lilith Fair scene of Sarah McLachlan, Ani DiFranco, etc.
Review: So this is more alternative pop-rock with Aimee's sound more akin to Sheryl Crow than the more folky singers I assumed. I'm sure Aimee was still a hit on the Lilith Fair however. The songs on this album are well crafted and very catchy. In general this style is a little boring to me personally, but its a 3-star album.
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Dwight Yoakam's brand of country is awesome. I am very glad to see him on this list.
Review: Yeah...I enjoy this, but I'm not blown away. This is perfectly fine tex-mex flavored country music that was a nice throwback in the late 80s/early 90s when radio country was becoming more and more poop focused. I added a few songs to my playlist, and I will give this 4-stars, mainly to counteract all the "I hate country music" 1-star reviews.
David Bowie
4/5
Thoughts before listening: David Bowie's surprise release right before his death. The heaviness of the release of this album scared me away from listening at the time, despite the fact that I am a Bowie fan. I believe I have heard bits and pieces in the years since, but I believe this will be my first complete listen.
Review: I am not a huge fan of the sprawling title track on this album, but once that is over, the album gets very good. Nice use of saxophone throughout on some very enjoyable moody, jazz-inspired tracks. The highs on this album are very high, but this is a 4-star Bowie album.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s pop star with a couple iconic hits. I've never listened to to the full album, but I do enjoy Cyndi's unique voice.
Review: This starts off with a less new wave, more heartland pop rock style song that I surpisingly enjoyed. Then the hits started, and there are plenty on here. Its hard to deny that her hits are iconic even if they're not really for me. This is the sound of popular 80s music and Cyndi is one of the decade's true superstars. I am glad to listen to this album, but I can only give it 3-stars.
Os Mutantes
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Psychedelic Brazilian rock music from the 60s I believe. One of those bands I have read about but never listened to so I am excited to hear what they are all about.
Review: This certainly lives up to its psychedelic billing. Like with a lot of the 60s bands on this list, this album is a mixture of melodic pop rock ditties and weirder sounds that put it squarely in the psychedelic category. This album is enjoyable and presents a very interesting mix of styles although the language barrier is admittedly a bit of a hurdle for me. 3-stars
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the most important bands and albums of my generation. They took the political focus and angry, preachy rap style of Public Enemy and presented it through the lens of a hardcore/metal rock n roll band. I love it.
Review: Not much more to say here. Just an incredibly huge band for the 90s and early 00s, and one of the biggest influences on my own musical taste. I have owned all their albums, still rock them from time to time, and even got the chance to see them when I was 15 at lollapalooza 1996. That concert had a profound effect on me and really set off my love of live music and festivals. Plus their political stances still resonate to this day, despite what I am sure will be plenty of mocking in the reviews. This album is their debut, and it's just loaded with banger after banger. I could add the whole thing to my playlist. Easy 5-star for me.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I once told some British girls that I met at backpacker hostel in Peru that I was into Badly Drawn Boy to try and impress them. They didn't care. For some reason I thought this was like the epitome of cool British 90s music. I thought I had already listened to this album, but I was apparently thinking of Super Furry Animals.
Review: Well I don't recognize any of these songs so I guess I was full of it with those British girls (maybe I told them I was into Super Furry Animals instead...who can really remember?). There are some really nice moments on this album albeit with 18 tracks there is some unnecessary filler as well. The sound on this is mostly folky pop rock with some orchestral flourishes added from time to time. "Everybody's Stalking", "Camping Next to Water", "Once Around the Block", "Disillusion", and "Stone on the Water" are my favorite songs. 4-stars
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The title track is one of the most celebrated rock instrumentals of all time. I'd expect much of the same for the rest of this album.
Review: I like it. There is a cool vibe here with these instrumental takes on r&b/early rock n roll with the organ covering the vocal melodies that have been stripped from these songs. I especially enjoy the guitar work throughout this album which provides a nice counter balance to these organ led jams. 4-stars
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pretty surprised that G Love is on here. He has just always seemed like fun party music without a ton of substance. I like G Love well enough, having seen him live a few times, but I never thought of him as being someone that would make a list like this one.
Review: Bluesy backing music with white boy rapping that comes off as a frat band version of Beck. It's a pretty silly premise, but also one that was very popular at parties when I was in college. I don't hate this album, but it probably doesn't need to be on this list. "Baby's Got Sauce" and "Cold Beverage" are pure nostalgia. 3-stars
k.d. lang
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember KD Lang being a big deal, but it always seemed like very adult contemporary music to me. Soft rock ballads and VH1-only music videos is what this makes me think about.
Review: So not really soft rock I guess, more soft jazzy country crooning. k.d. has a really nice voice, but this is pretty boring. "Constant Craving" is a good song, but this is otherwise really dull. 2-stars
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Feels like this will be techno of some sort. I get really bored with the electronic albums on here, and I would assume the same for this one.
Review: This is okay. It's still repetitive and overly long like most of the electronic albums on here, but the songs are at least somewhat interesting. There's definitely a cool, laid back vibe that I'm digging although at 1 and a quarter hours this is a bit much. Would be perfect background music for a club or something, but I'm not sure I can take this much ambient soundscapes in one sitting. 3-stars
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The first Run DMC album I got on here was a lot of fun so I would expect more of the same from this one.
Review: This is okay, but not quite as fun as the first Run DMC album I heard on this project. This album's hits ("Walk This Way", "My Adidas", and "Its Tricky") are all classics that are getting added to my playlist, but the rest of the album isn't really standing out to me (the title track is the best of the bunch). While this is a bit of a dated sound these days, I do recognize that the mix of rap and rock found on this album was revolutionary for the time. Even just having a traditional 70s-era rock band in Aerosmith appear on the album was a huge deal. I was going to give this 3-stars but the deep cuts are starting to grow on me a bit, so I'll go with 4-stars.
Big Star
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 70's power pop that never became overly popular in the moment but has been a cult favorite ever since. It's been a major influence on much of the music I enjoy, and I do like this album quite a bit.
Review: This is definitely a sound I get drawn to. Catchy pop rock tunes performed and sung well by a band that set a blueprint for so many great bands like Wilco, the Replacements, and Ryan Adams. It's too bad that this band got missed in it's time. The first 4 songs are amazing, but since the album ends with some throwaway tracks I'll give it 4-stars
UB40
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s pop new wave white boy reggae band. I know "Red Red Wine" but I don't think that is on this album. Of course this list would have an early UB40 album on it.
Review: This actually sounds more like reggae than I was expecting. I guess I was assuming pop music with upstroke guitars and some cultural appropriation vocals. That's definitely here, but it's truthfully pretty well done with some cool instrumental jam sections in these songs. 3-stars
Small Faces
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't know much about the Small Faces. My understanding is that they are somehow related to the Faces, which is a band I really like, but I am not sure what the connection is. If they are Faces adjacent I'd assume this will be fun, raucous, bluesy rock music.
Review: This is not what I expected. This isn't bluesy pub rock, but instead reminds me more of the Kinks or maybe the Who. Whimsical pop rock ditties is how I would describe this...and very British sounding. It's interesting for sure and a few songs definitely stand out ("Afterglow", "Song of a Baker", and "Lazy Sunday"), but there is a lot of filler including some spoken word storytelling that is pretty annoying. 3-stars
Daft Punk
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I like Daft Punk as much as I like any dance music. They certainly have some catchy songs, but the genre in general doesn't connect with me. "Da Funk" and "Around the World" are bangers so I'm glad to see those on the track list.
Review: This is a very long album full of a music style I don't really love. At least not when sitting at my desk listening while I work...I'm sure this would be a blast to see live. There are a few pop hits on here that I enjoy and have quite a bit of nostalgia for, but overall, this just isn't for me. 3-stars because I get that its a very important album to people who enjoy this type of music.
Morrissey
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Dude has turned into a punchline, but at one point he made some pretty good music. I definitely enjoy the Smiths, and I know that this is a well respected album. Not sure if I've heard it or not?
Review: Well this definitely sounds like a Morrissey album, and a good one at that. I think of Morrissey albums mainly being about his crooning and lyrics, but I am really enjoying the music on this album as well. Really nice guitar work throughout. I'll be adding a few of these songs to my playlist. 4-stars
Talking Heads
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the best bands of all time...with one of their best albums.
Review: I like that this era of the Talking Heads has a punk vibe but is incorporating so many different sounds. There's a lot of funkiness going on here that makes this very unique. This album probably isn't as good as Remain in Light, but man there are some killer songs on here: "I Zimbra", "Cities", "Heaven", and of course "Life During Wartime" rank amongst the band's best. 5-stars
Pink Floyd
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Early Pink Floyd when Syd Barrett was still in the band. More psychedelic than the prog rock epics they'd go on to release.
Review: Well it's safe to say that I prefer the prog years. Like a lot of the 60s psychedelic bands these songs are more interesting than good. Little pop rock ditties with weird lyrics mixed in with a bunch of weird noises. "Astronomy Domine" and "Interstellar Overdrive" are the best of the bunch here which makes sense cause those are the only tracks I recognized coming in. Both are also spacey jams as opposed to the rest of the album's whimsical tracks. Floyd would go on to release much better music, but I'm glad to have listened to their roots...even if I don't particularly love that sound. 3-stars
Waylon Jennings
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm very excited for this. Waylon's great, and I'm pretty sure Billy Joel Shaver wrote this album. I'm sure this will get the normal "country music sucks" 1-star reviews so unless I'm WAY off on what this will sound like, I'll likely be giving it 5-stars to help right the ship a bit.
Review: This is 100% a 5-star album full of so many classics of the outlaw country movement. This is my favorite era of country music and Waylon is one of the all-time greats.
Steely Dan
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I think this is the first Steely Dan album I have got on this project. Sometimes I LOVE Steely Dan and other times I think they are the epitome of bland cheesy rock. I believe this album falls in the former category.
Review: So the hits on this are really good. "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", and "Reelin' in the Years" are deserving of their place in classic rock station playlists. I also like "Change of the Guard" as a pretty strong deep cut. That being said, the rest of the album is pretty boring to me. I guess Steely Dan is just always going to be a greatest hits band to me. 3-stars
Kraftwerk
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't really get the appeal of Kraftwerk. What I've heard is too robotic and inorganic for me. I'm sure this will be more of the same. Does this make 3 albums on this list?
Review: So I get that people love these guys, and I know they have been a huge influence on the dance and electronic scenes....but its just not for me. To be fair, I don't really love the later musicians that were influenced by Kraftwerk either. Even when I do find something I can latch onto with this album, its usually just isolated parts of a much longer song that loses me at some point (i.e. "Endless Europe" and the title track). I have to give this 2-stars for me personally even though I know it probably deserves much more.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember these guys. Kind of jazzy, funky take on hip hop I believe. This is not the type of album I would have thought would show up on this list. I'm sure I will recognize a few songs (did they do "Scooby Snacks"?), but this will be a first listen for me.
Review: Funky alt rock with rapping. This might be the most 90s album of all time. In general theres a cool, laid back vibe to this album, but its probably not one of the 1,001 best albums ever. I've added a few songs to my playlist though. 3-stars
Killing Joke
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Industrial metal I believe. I know that Killing Joke was often cited as an influence by many of the bands I liked in the 90s, but I don't think I've heard them.
Review: I'm enjoying this more than I expected to. There are some cool riffs on here, and i like their not quite metal, not quite punk sound. This is definitely a unique sound for 1980 and I can hear their influence in 100s of bands that came later. This is a little funkier and has a lot more personality than many of those bands. 4-stars
The Zombies
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 60s psychedelic pop rock that is often cited among the best of that era. I believe I have listened to this before, and that it has 2 or 3 absolute classics that are surrounded by a lot of meh. That seems to be the case with many of the 60s bands on here where the singles clearly standout from the rest (the Beatles are an exception).
Review: This sounds like Pet Sounds meets Sgt Peppers. It has the harmonies and orchestration of the former but the solid rock backing of the latter. There are some outstanding songs on here, and I'd say this is deserving of the praise it gets. 4-stars
Anthrax
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Metallica (and to a lesser extent Megadeth) are the only band in the big 4 of thrash metal that I have ever given much attention to. Maybe it was just that Anthrax's heyday was before my time while Metallica was VERY relevant in the early 90s when I started listening to music. I may recognize a song or two on this album, but I most of this will be new to my ears.
Review: This is okay. Lots of pounding drums and chunky guitar riffs going on here with a sound that is very reminiscent of hardcore punk, especially with heavy usage of group shout alongs. The vocals however are a bit of a weak spot to me. Feels like the dude is trying to hit the high notes of a band like Iron Maiden, but just can't quite pull it off. The best song on here is "Caught in a Mosh" which is considered a classic of the metal genre, and is the only song I knew before listening today. 3-stars
The Incredible String Band
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I think this is 60s psychedelic hippie folk from England...something like that.
Review: Well this is different. Celtic folk mixed with Middle Eastern instruments that create a psychedelic drone. It's not necessarily music that I'd typically listen to, but something is drawing me in here. It creates a calming, almost hypnotic listening experience. I'll give this 4-stars.
David Bowie
4/5
Thoughts before listening: There sure is a lot of Bowie on this list. That makes sense I guess since he appeals to both fans of classic rock and more avant garde alternative styles. This album is from his very strong late 70s period and the title track is a favorite.
Review: Perhaps Bowie was inspired by the punk rock movement going on at the same time, but there is more of a hard rock sound on this album than I was expecting. Thats a good thing for me. I love most of Bowie's music, but his late 70s Berlin trio of albums can be a bit much. This does have the weird mostly instrumental second half that seems unnecessary, but the rock songs on here are great. 4-stars
Eagles
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the first albums I ever owned (bought for me by my aunt when she took me to the mall) and it holds a special place in my heart. The songs range from the all-time classic title track to rockers to sappy soft rock cheese...so basically the full range of the Eagles sound. It's been a long time since I've heard this.
Review: This is a classic for a reason. These hits are ubiquitous with American pop culture, and the Eagles are truly one of the most important bands this country has produced. They can also be a complete bore at times. This album came out at the end of 1976 and is the antithesis of the punk rock movement that was happening in rock music at the same time...but that doesn't mean it's bad. Despite the sentiment pushed by the Big Lebowski, the Eagles are a perfectly fine band that put out some great songs (the title track, "Life in the Fast Lane"). The guitar work on this album is especially strong. 3-stars
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Shoegazey European alt rock from the 90s. I've seen this album getting praised for years but never really listened much. I'm pretty sure I'll recognize a few songs.
Review: So it's overly fuzzed out distorted guitars playing super poppy post-punk alt rock. It's okay. The music creates both a trance-like feeling and a wall of sound that can be a little too much for me sometimes. Allmusic says it's the Beach Boys meets the Velvet Underground which is basically spot on. 3-stars although I will be adding a few songs to the playlist.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm not really sure on this one too be honest. Industrial goth maybe? The cover doesn't look like that's what this would sound like, but for some reason that's what I'm associating with the band name.
Review: So my memory served me well here, but now my ears are mad. I definitely had the sound pegged on this one, but this is a tough listen. More of a sound collage than any sort of traditional asking structure. I imagine this has a pretty low average score on here, I'm leaning a 1 to add to the pile on.
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I mainly know the Cowboy Junkies because their cover of Sweet Jane was on the Natural Born Killers soundtrack. That song is on this album, and it seems there are a number of covers on here. I think of them as sparse, minimalistic country music.
Review: So this is more sparse, minimalistic, and slow country-inspired indie rock. There's an ethereal sound with the quiet, whispery vocals plus the pedal steel, fiddles, and other backing instruments. Also just the slowness with these songs crawling along at a snail's pace. I can dig this although it's not blowing me away. Best songs here are covers except for "Misguided Angel" which I enjoyed quite a bit. Very much a 3-star album.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Loretta Lynn gets a lot of praise as a 60s country female who wasn't afraid to get a little "racy"...which in the 60s country world meant songs about drinking, the pill, and divorce. The title track on this is a classic, but I don't recognize the other songs listed on the cover.
Review: This album starts out with the title track and its great. Fun little ditty about a woman shooting down her husband for coming home drunk, which in the 60s country world was probably pretty progressive. These are short songs (nothing over 3 minutes and its a sub-30 minute album) that are of a similar vein to the title track, and Loretta has a nice voice. I enjoy it but its not exactly revolutionary music. 4-stars
Neil Young
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is peak era Neil Young and contains some of his most enduring songs. Like all of Neil's albums in this era there is a mix of introspective, delicate acoustic songs and rockers.
Review: Yeah if you're a fan of Neil Young (I am) then this is quintessential listening. It largely stays in a folky lane with Neil's high pitched warble and lyrics being the main attraction, but Neil cranks it up to 10 with "Southern Man's" politically driven hard rock and guitar solos. I love this album and am giving it 5-stars.
R.E.M.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the classics from one of the most important bands of the 80s. REM was a college rock band that made it huge and ushered in a lot of the music that I would become obsessed with 10 years later. This album has some of their earliest hit songs and was important in the band's ascent from the indie ranks to being a huge band.
Review: This isn't my favorite REM album, but its still very good. All of the band's 80s and early 90s releases are quintessential listens, and this is no different. There is definitely a more polished, hard rock sound here that was a natural progression for the band, but lacks some of the charm of their earlier albums. 4-stars
The Flying Burrito Brothers
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Gram Parsons led group playing a combo of country and stoner rock...or something like that. The actual sound may be pure country that just happens to be played by hippies. Anyway, I feel like this band was important to a lot of the alt-country music I enjoy.
Review: Man I love this sound. This is right up my alley, and I'm surprised that I haven't actually listened before (I do recognize a few songs). The opener "Christine's Tune" is a perfect blueprint for their sound: it's a country song played at a rock n roll pace with distorted guitars leads sprinkled in throughout. They then follow this up with a full country ballad with little rock influence...and it's also great. Overall this is a strong album that influenced a ton of much more popular 70s albums, as well as countless bands sense. 5-stars
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Oooh does this have the song about being the last junkie on earth? That's a great song. I don't know all that much about the Dandy Warhols although I did watch that movie about their rivalry with Brian Jonestown Massacre. I'm sure this will be fine.
Review: This is okay. It's a 90s alt-rock sound that I enjoy and is familiar to me, but I do feel like there are other bands that did it better. Interesting that the Dandy Warhols are from Oregon because they've always given me the vibe of a Brit pop band. The best song here is "Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth" but I've added a few more to my playlist as well. 3-stars
Metallica
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This feels like it probably shouldn't be on this list. I mean any of Metallica's first 5 albums absolutely should be on here, but their live set with an orchestra? Nah. Not that this is bad or anything, but it just feels like I don't HAVE to listen to this.
Review: Look, I like Metallica quite a bit. Any of those first five albums gets a 4 or 5-star rating in my opinion, and I enjoy hearing those songs on here. However, this is over 2 hours of unnecessary orchestral flourishes and James Hatfield being a cheeseball (maniacal laughing, f-bombs that aren't in the original song, growls, over exaggerated yeahs, etc). Plus due to the era in which this was released, it also includes songs from the Load and Re-Load albums that are clearly not as strong as the classics (although these live versions may improve on the studio versions i.e. "The Memory Remains"). This is a lesser album than their original run so this gets 3-stars.
Hawkwind
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I think this is the 2nd Hawkwind album I have gotten from this list. They are pretty good, kind of a prog rock metal mix...and a major influence on both genres. Lemmy was in the band for a while but I'm not sure if he is on this album or not. Should be good.
Review: I could do without the weird spoken word tracks, but this album definitely rocks. Lots of long, jammed out songs that maintain a solid pace throughout means that this is certainly not a boring album. Maybe its just because this is a live recording, but this isn't really prog rock in my opinion. Prog bands are all about very orchestrated and technically proficient songs where as this is essentially "simple" rock songs with long jams. More akin to modern day psych rock bands than lets say King Crimson. I am enjoying this quite a bit. 4-stars
FKA twigs
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember when this was making all of the best albums of the year lists (11 years ago now!!!). I believe this is some experimental, avant garde pop music. Probably won't be my favorite thing ever, but maybe I'll enjoy it.
Review: Yeah this is minimalist blips and bloops that come together as pop/R&B. "Two Weeks" is a banger and the rest of the album is fine. Not something I'm ever going to gravitate toward, but I'm glad to hear it. 3-stars
Little Simz
2/5
Thoughts before listening: British hip hop I think. I remember Little Simz being a big deal on end of year lists a few years ago, but I thought it was for a different record.
Review: This is just okay to me. This is definitely in the vein of other British hip hop artists like the Streets and Dizzee Rascal...or maybe its just the accent thats making me think that. The best song on here is "Venom" which Spotify tells me is Little Simz's most listened to song. I'll add that to the playlist, but this album is 2-stars.
The Darkness
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Hard rock/hair metal throwbacks whose songs are catchy enough to keep them from being a complete novelty act. Still though its hard to understand why they deserve to be on this list.
Review: "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is great, and the album as a whole is certainly fun. However, I do feel like the vocals come off as strained and fake more than they work. Some of these songs are tough to listen to because of the non-natural sounding high pitched shriek, even if the actual music is pretty enjoyable. I'm giving this 3-stars.
Neu!
3/5
Thoughts before listening: There sure is a lot of krautrock on this list. Neu is one I've heard of but don't really know much about.
Review: Apparently this is some of the guys from Kraftwerk. I like this better than their main gig I think. The songs can get a little long and repetitive, but once you know to expect that there's some real gems to dig into here. 3-stars
Ray Price
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I believe this is very old style country music. I don't know all that much about Ray Price, but I do recognize his name.
Review: Great title song that I mainly know from Willie Nelson's cover. This is crooner country music with a cool jazzy vibe. I am digging this quite a bit, and I will give it 4-stars.
Burning Spear
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Reggae artist that often gets cited as one of the best of the genre. I admittedly don't know much about reggae outside of Bob Marley, but I do enjoy the genre. I am excited to have a reason to listen to this album.
Review: This is an undeniably great sound. Reggae tends to get a little same sounding and this is no different. Its a darker album than what I am used to hearing from reggae artists, and there aren't a lot of sunny vibes that you would expect. I found that nothing really overly stood out to me, but its certainly not a bad album. 3-stars
The Byrds
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I enjoy most of what I have heard from the Byrds. They were early to the game with the folk rock sound and were a huge influence on bands that I enjoy quite a bit. Looking at the tracklist, I only recognize "Eight Miles High" and what appears to be a cover of "Hey Joe", but I am sure this will be good.
Review: This is cool. The Byrds were really young when this album came out, and it has the vibes of a psychedelic garage band...which is because thats basically what they were. There's a sloppiness to these recordings that I really like. The best song on here is "Eight Miles High", but I have added quite a few tracks to my playlist. 4-stars
Girls Against Boys
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of those bands that I used to hear about in music magazines and probably on shows like 120 Minutes, but I can't tell you any songs they released. This is 90s British alt rock I think, but I may be way off.
Review: This is right up my alley. They're an American band so I was off there. I was expecting more of a Brit pop type of a sound here, but this is dense, heavily distorted, grungey alt rock. I can definitely dig this, and I'll add a few songs to my playlist. 4-stars
The Flaming Lips
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I love this album and own it on vinyl. Definitely my favorite from the Flaming Lips.
Review: Yeah it's really good. Lots of different sounds going on with this one: Electronic elements, cool slinky basslines, folk, alt-rock, Wayne Coyne's fragile voice that feels like it's about to collapse at any minute, etc. This came out when I was 21, and it has stayed in my rotation ever since. I also saw them live at Bonnaroo around this time and it was one of my favorite concerts ever. This album contains one of my favorite songs of all time in "Do You Realize" along with several other classics: "Fight Test", "One More Robot", "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell", "Are You a Hypnotist", "Yoshimi... Parts 1 & 2", etc. This is a 5-star album.
Mott The Hoople
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Glam rock band who is famous for a Bowie cover with "All the Young Dudes". I didn't know all that much about them otherwise.
Review: So this is the follow up to All the Young Dudes, and while nothing really rises to the heights of that song, this is still a very fun listen. In fact, this was one of those albums that grew on me more and more as I listened. There are some really cool songs on here, and I'm surprised that Mott the Hoople aren't more celebrated outside of their biggest hit. 4-stars
Thoughts before listening: While I get that U2 is extremely important to rock music history, it feels like this particular album probably could have been left off. I'm sure they have plenty of albums already on the list so maybe share the love with some other bands.
Review: This era of U2 is just so bland. I like their early stuff, especially the Joshua Tree, but man this album isn't doing anything for me. It starts off with 4 huge hits that were inescapable at the time....and I'm super bored hearing them today. This came out my freshman year of college and you'd think I'd have some sort of fun nostalgia around these songs...nope I'm just reminded of how much I thought this sucked back when it came out. I'll give it 2-stars.
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pretty sure this is some sort of 90s/00s techno, rave group. I wasn't into this type of music at the time, and I probably won't be into it now either.
Review: Yeah this isn't for me. This sounds like all the other dance music from the late 90s. It's extremely repetitive and while I understand the appeal for some people, it just doesn't do anything for me. 2-stars
Stereolab
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This album got a lot of press in the music magazines I grew up reading, but its not something I have ever listened to. I feel like this is indie rock with techno beats...maybe something like that? I don't really know.
Review: So I wasn't far off on my guess for this one, but its not really "techno". This is poppy indie rock with a lot of varying influences thrown into the mix and quite a bit of experimental krautrock-style sounds. Some songs are in French and give off a bit of a Serge Gainsbourg style vibe. I prefer the more straightforward alt/indie rock songs like "Metronomic Underground" and "The Noise of Carpet". This is a 3-star album.
Brian Eno
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I love David Byrne, but Brian Eno can be a bit hit or miss with me. Eno released a lot of ambient music which isn't my favorite sound, so if this album is in that vein, I doubt I'll be into it. The cover art leads me to believe that this will be the case, but David Byrne's presence on the album at least indicates there will be vocals. Brian Eno definitely produced a lot of albums I enjoy (including some by Talking Heads), so perhaps this will be okay.
Review: Oh ok...yeah this is more akin to the ambient soundscapes I think of with Eno, but with a bit a world music beat that is perhaps David Byrne's contribution. Apparently this album was recorded prior to Eno producing Remain in Light so it makes sense that they were playing around with rhythms and styles that would eventually end up on that album. This sounds like movie score music and while its certainly not bad, it doesn't do a ton for me either, ultimately just ending up as somewhat interesting background music. 3-stars
The Beach Boys
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Post Pet Sounds album from the Beach Boys. I've always thought of this as being hit or miss, but I've never actually heard it.
Review: Yeah this is definitely a little all over the place. The Beach Boys are in their late 20s/early 30s when this album was released so the lyrics and musical arrangements are more mature. That being said, you can still hear the harmonies and pop songcraft that made them stars in their heyday. There are some psychedelic aspects thrown in here that I am really enjoying, but again filtered through a decidedly Beach Boys vibe. 4-stars
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I have seen a lot of people complaining about the number of Elvis Costello albums on this list, but I personally love this early era of his career. Catchy power pop that came out in the era of punk rock, but was more focused on tunefulness and melody than vitriol.
Review: Yeah its great. There are some classic songs on this album, with "Lipstick Vogue" being one of my favorites from Elvis. If I have learned anything from doing this project, its that I love a good, well crafted pop rock song...and Elvis is one of the best at those. producing I also love that not only was Elvis doing power pop in the era of punk rock he was also sticking to a simple formula of guitars, bass, drums, and keys when his contemporaries were highlighting synthesizers over everything else. 4-stars
The Hives
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Swedish garage punk band from the 00s. I like these guys although I don't think this was their big hit album (at least not in the US) so I'm surprised this made the book.
Review: Nevermind..."Hate to Say I Told You So" is on here. Thats the hit and its a great song that instantly brings back nostalgic memories. It seems this album is actually a compilation pulling from multiple Hives records including the one I know Veni Vidi Vicious. The Hives were adjacent to the pop-punk I listened to around this same time although they brought a certain European vibe that set them apart from the Warped Tour crowd. In fact, they were closer in sound to the White Stripes and Strokes than Blink-182. Not groundbreaking by any stretch of the imagination, but certainly fun. 3-stars
Talk Talk
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I have enjoyed the Talk Talk albums I have heard before. I think of them as a more mature take on 80s style new wave pop rock. The album I always see getting praise has a tree on the cover so this must be a different one by them.
Review: In the world of pop music, "mature" can sometimes mean boring. A band known for putting out high energy pop hits deciding to take a more mature approach often means longer songs, jazzy instrumentation, and ballads. While there is certainly some of that going on here, there are enough solid songs to keep me interested. "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World" were hits at the time (though new for me today), and I enjoyed them both quite a bit. 3-stars
Heaven 17
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I have never heard of this before. I am going to guess its some sort of British new wave band that didn't really breakthrough in the US. Chances are I will recognize 1 or 2 songs, but this album cover is not ringing a bell.
Review: This is definitely interesting. The album starts out less new wave and more of like a disco/funk sound full of slap bass and horn lines with very repetitive singing on top, reminding me a bit of Talking Heads. I like this sound, and its certainly different than what I was expecting. The second half of the album is less appealing to me, coming off as rather generic sounding new wave music. The first half of the album is probably a 3-star rating from me, but overall this is 2-stars thanks to the second half.
Bad Brains
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Bad Brains get a TON of respect and praise within the punk and hardcore communities, but I always had a hard time getting into them. Its hard to understand their lyrics and the melodies get buried with the speed in which they play their songs. I understand thats a selling point for hardcore punk, but it kept me from latching onto Bad Brains the way I did more melodic punk bands like Bad Religion, the Ramones, and the Descendents.
Review: So I feel like the bulk of my exposure to Bad Brains has been to their first album Banned in DC which can be a tough listen due to the sloppiness of the songs and shoddy production (similar production issues plague a ton of 80s punk releases) This album however is a better experience. The songs are slowed down quite a bit and the melodies aren't getting buried. HR still uses his yelp that I don't always love, but he's also singing a lot more here. They are melding their different styles really well with punk, hard rock, and reggae influences sprinkled throughout the songs. This is a 4-star album to me.
Eric Clapton
2/5
Thoughts before listening: While I appreciate Eric Clapton's guitar playing talent, I have never had much interest in his solo music. Cream was great and Derek & the Dominoes is a good album, but I typically find his solo albums to be boring. That being said, I know this album is highly regarded so I look forward to listening.
Review: I mean this isn't necessarily "bad" but it is pretty bland. While I do like a couple of these songs like "Motherless Children" and "Let it Grow", this album is full of mostly boring, watered down blues rock. 2-stars
The Residents
2/5
Thoughts before listening: My knowledge of the Residents is pretty limited. In my mind they are like a punk era version of Captain Beefheart. Weirdo, avant garde music thats probably not going to be something I enjoy.
Review: Yeah this is tough to listen to. I have seen the Residents praised by musicians I love since I became obsessed with music...and I can hear their influence with these bands. I'm thinking of a group like Primus who certainly have their fair share of weird elements in their music (in fact it seems Les Claypool may have stolen his carnival barker persona from these guys), but who also produced some of the best 90s alt-rock songs. I think thats what is missing for me here..."normal" songs to dilute the weirdness. The Residents just go full bore into the weird elements, leaving very little for me to latch onto here. There are a few songs here that ALMOST draw me in, but I just can't get past the dedication to making everything as oddball as it possibly can be. 2-stars
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this more brit-pop? Or at least 90s alt-rock from Britain (are those the same thing)? I have definitely heard of these guys but I don't know much about them. The cover is....interesting? Hopefully the music is as well.
Review: So this is actually my second album from these guys on this project...and I had pretty similar thoughts before listening lol. I gave that album 3-stars and thats probably right for this one as well. These guys sound definitely fits in closer with the 90s American indie rock or pop punk sound than the brit-pop of their British contemporaries. There are some catchy tunes on here that I have added to my playlist although nothing is blowing me away. 3-stars
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I recently bought this on vinyl on a whim and find it to be....okay? There are some really good songs on this album, but also some that grate on a me a bit. Its definitely a darker album than I was expecting.
Review: I think this is a trend with a lot of Peter Gabriel albums where the hits really work for me, but the deep cuts don't...at least on first listen. On this album, the hits are "I Don't Remember" and"Games Without Frontiers" which are amazing 80s rock songs. However, I tend to get lost in the darkness that permeates the rest of these tracks, despite recognizing that its well performed and produced.
I will say that on today's listen, my overall enjoyment picks up in the middle of the album and its better overall than I had originally remembered. There are still some overly dense songs that are tough for me to get through (especially at the beginning and end of the album), but I really like the high points. This is a 4-star album.
Gillian Welch
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I used to own this CD and I feel like I really enjoy it. I am glad to have a chance to listen again today.
Review: I have always found a lot of power in Gillian Welch's music, despite it being mostly quiet acoustic folk music. There is something about her delivery and the music accompanying her that just draws me in. I especially love the guitarwork by David Rawlings on this album. Over the years they have started being double billed on live performances with each of their names listed because his guitar is as much a star as Gillian's vocals. 4-stars
Don McLean
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this album certainly includes one of the greatest songs of all time in the title track, and the song "Vincent" is pretty good as well. That being said, I have never seen the actual album to get praise like this. Pretty sure this will be my first listen to the whole thing.
Review: So yes, "American Pie" the song is an all-time great and I found myself singing along on the listen this morning. Its a song that has been ever present throughout my life and essentially part of my psyche at this point. I have distinct memories of hearing that song for the first time playing in the equipment room of a summer camp I was going to and immediately being intrigued.
The rest of the album however is mostly a slog to get through being largely made up of slow piano and acoustic guitar led ballads. Even with the other hit from the album "Vincent", its a nice melody but its just so slow. Maybe my problem there is I first knew of this song from the punk cover by NOFX. This is a 5-star song that is included on a 2-star album.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm surprised to see this on the list. I remember liking this album when it was released, but its just not the same caliber as the band's earlier releases.
Review: Yeah, probably not as good as the albums that came before it, but you know what...it's still pretty good. Dancey beat driven indie rock with plenty of catchy songs. LCD Soundsystem may be a bit derivative of many band that came before them (Talking Heads, Joy Division, etc) but that's fine. The 00s needed their own version of those bands, and they got a good one with these guys. Nice to see that they could go away for a while and come back with such a strong effort. 4-stars
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is one of Elvis' albums that I own, and I like it quite a bit. IMO his output fell off over the years, but the first 4 or 4 albums are great. This one is in that category.
Review: Yeah this is a nice little album full of upbeat, catchy pop rock songs with a touch of pink attitude, but really more of a power pop sensibility. This is certainly not overly cheesy new wave, and I appreciate that Elvis avoided overproducing all his songs with synthesizers like many of his contemporaries, instead opting for a more basic rock sound. I'll give this one 4-stars.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the best albums from Marley's classic era. This will be great.
Review: Yeah this whole album is amazing. It has an absolute classic in "Stir It Up" but also some of Marley's best deeper buts in "Concrete Jungle", "400 Years", and "Stop That Train". I love it. 5-stars
The Soft Boys
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s new wave of some sort I believe. I don't really know much about these guys.
Review: So I see this is Robyn Hitchcock's band. I've heard of him before but don't believe I have listened to his music. I always thought he was sort of in the Elvis Costello vein but this isn't Elvis' brand of poppy rock. It also doesn't sound new wave either, with this largely having a harder post-punk sound. I'd say it was probably a bit out of place in the early 80s, although there would be lots of alternative/indie/college bands that would take on this sound through the rest of the decade. I recognize the first song "I Wanna Destroy You" although I thought it was by a punk band. Overall this is a good discovery for the type of music I enjoy. 4-stars
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
Thoughts before listening: 60s rock from Brazil. Maybe its a little psychedelic but also inspired by traditional Brazilian music. I know Astrud Gilberto gets a lot of praise, but I don't know his music. In general the 60s and 70s Brazilian albums I have listened to on here have been fine, but nothing that blows me away.
Review: Oops...this is the Brazilian bossa nova singer that sang "Girl From Ipanema" and not part of the tropicalia movement i.e. Os Mutantes. Astrud has a nice voice, but this is fairly standard sounding lounge jazz. Nice background music for sitting by a pool but not something that I am going to naturally gravitate to. 2-stars
Blue Cheer
2/5
Thoughts before listening: A lot of people say these guys invented heavy metal. I'm expecting loud, distorted guitars playing psychedelic blues based rock. Should be awesome.
Review: Starts off with a cover of "Summertime Blues" which is a song with a lot of cover versions. This is a pretty good one. Lots of chugging guitars and cool little guitar fills. The recording quality sucks though. Thats true throughout this album where the music sounds like it could be great for what it is, heavy blues rock, but the recording quality is abysmal. That means you have to really crank up the speakers which while that may be the point, isn't something I necessarily want to have to do. I'd give this 3-stars based on the music and history as a big influence on hard rock/heavy metal, but the recording is so bad I'm giving this 2-stars.
Incubus
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Incubus was one of the better radio-friendly alt rock bands on their era...but does this really deserve to be on this list?
Review: "Pardon Me" and "Drive" are bangers, and "Stellar" is okay. The rest are pretty middle of the road rap rock/nu metal. The dj scratches are hilarious and date this album terribly (are these the 90s equivalent of 80s synths?). I didn't like Incubus enough to buy their albums when I was 18 and I still feel the same way. This is a 3-star album.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I've seen this album referenced for years, but I don't know much about it. Some sort of African or Caribbean psychedelic rock or folk music maybe? Not really sure.
Review: So yeah...Drum heavy instrumental covers of popular songs. It's okay to me and there is kind of a big band vibe that sounds good. Apparently this stuff was a big influence on the hip hop scene because of DJs paying this review. Thia is 3-stars.
Traffic
4/5
Thoughts before listening: An often overlooked jazz rock band that put out great material in the 70s. These guys were a huge influence to the jam bands I'd come to love, with many of them covering their songs.
Review: This album is full of lengthy songs that are basically instrumental jam sessions with the occasional vocal thrown in. It's a cool sound that is very jazzy, but it's not prog rock. While there are guitar and keyboard solos on this album, there are also non-traditional rock instruments like flute and horns. Very unique sound that I am enjoying quite a bit. 4-stars
Van Halen
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I used to think I hated Van Halen. I mean I knew EVH was an amazing guitarist, but their music is cheesy and David Lee Roth is more showman than incredible singer. However, I have explored their albums past the hits, and found there to be more depth than I originally thought. I'm glad to get a chance to listen to this today.
Review: This is better than I thought it was going to be, and the best songs are the album cuts. Sure the hits are iconic, but for my money, "Atomic Punk" and "I'm the One" are the best songs here. EVH"s guitar playing is on point throughout the album and DLR hasn't gone full blown cheeseball yet (although "Ice Cream Man" is a sign of things to come). I've always associated VH with the worst side of cheesy 80s metal, and while they certainly were a major influence on bands like Poison, this debut album proves that there was more to them than the party anthems that would soon follow. 4-stars
Cream
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I generally like Cream. Loud, dirty blues rock that I prefer to Clapton solo. This will be good.
Review: So this starts with two of Cream's best hits in "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love" and remains a strong album throughout. There is definitely more of a psychedelic element to the music here than I typically associate with Cream, and I am liking that element to their sound. I really like some of the deeper cuts here such as "SWALBR", "Dance the Night Away", and "Tales of Brave Ulysses". 4-stars
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Great album by a great artist. One of the best of all time to be exact.
Review: Yeah I love this album. It's just such a cool sound and sets a vibe both in Bowie's performance as well as the story of Ziggy Stardust that would soon come to personify Bowie himself. This is one of those classic albums where there are no "hits", but every song is memorable and iconic in its own way. Best of the best for me are "Five Years", "Moonage Daydream", "Ziggy Stardust", "Suffragette City", and "Rock n Roll Suicide". 5-stars
Mekons
3/5
Thoughts before listening: As someone who grew up a fan of alt-country and punk adjacent rockabilly, the Mekons have been on my radar for a long time. However, I don't really think I know their music all that well. I'm sure I have heard some of these songs, but this will mostly be new to me.
Review: Well, this is not what I was expecting. There are a few songs on here that could be considered alt-country as it would come to be known, but really this is a much more varied album. And thats not necessarily always for the best. There is a lot of sloppiness to these songs, especially in the production which can be pretty tinny (as is the case with many early 80s punk bands). The vocals are also a little rough, being more slurred than sung. I was ready to give this 2-stars, but then it improved for me in the second half. "Last Dance" especially is a great song. I'll give this 3-stars.
Janelle Monáe
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I remember when this album was winning all of the year end best album polls. I remember liking it at the time even if it isn't they type of music I'd normally listen to.
Review: This is a very cool album, with so many different music styles and ideas mashed together here. There's classical, soul, r&b, rock, showtunes, etc while being a concept album influenced by 70s prog rock bands. Most of the songs are upbeat with expert musicianship throughout. I think this is great. 5-stars
Meat Puppets
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Like many kids who came of age in the 90s, I first heard of the Meat Puppets when they sat in with Nirvana on Unplugged. I also owned their album that came out around that same time that included their alt rock radio hit "Backwater". I never really dove too deep into their back catalog however. I know they get a ton of praise as an influence on the alt-country scene as well as the 80s college rock scene in general.
Review: Man, so many of the classics from the 80s punk and alternative scenes are plagued by poor production. Maybe at the time this was less noticeable since you would have probably been listening to the album on a tape with headphones, and it was likely a pleasant experience to hear something that sounds quaint compared to the excesses of 70s arena rock. However, in an era where high quality audio can be recorded in a bedroom, these rough 80s recordings can be distracting.
That being said, I can hear the foundation of some great songs here. Under a different setting with better production and engineering, these could be classics. In fact, the 3 songs the Meat Puppets played on MTV with Nirvana DID become classics when recorded in a more professional manner. "Plateau", "Oh Me", and "Lake of Fire" are the best songs on this album, although the playing on the instrumental tracks is also very enjoyable. It was rare to see punk bands of the 80s show off their chops, so that is a refreshing addition to their sound. 3-stars
The Pretty Things
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Not really sure...60s psychedelic pop band maybe?
Review: I was on the right track with my guess although this is a little more hard edged than I was expecting. I like it quite a bit as well. Apparently these guys were contemporaries of the Rolling Stones and influenced both Bowie and the Who. The sound here reminds me somewhat of something that would have been labeled college rock or indie in the 80s or 90s. I'd consider this a hidden gem. 4-stars
Buzzcocks
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Nice! I like the Buzzcocks poppy British punk although I've only ever listened to Singles Going Steady. I'm excited to hear what else they were up to other than their classic tracks.
Review: This is pretty good although none of the songs have the immediate catchiness of the "hits" found on Singles Going Steady. Still though it shows a band that was involved in the early British punk scene, but really set themselves apart from that scene with their focus on pop melodies. These are catchy songs that are well played and were really influential to the later pop punk bands that would come to dominate the genre. 3-stars
Rod Stewart
4/5
Thoughts before listening: More Rod Stewart huh? I love the Faces and early Rod Stewart stays in a similar lane albeit with a bit more of a pop sheen on top. I know this is one of his bigger albums so I would assume there will be some hits on here as well.
Review: So about half of this album is really good. Like I said, it's a cleaned up version of the Faces' sloppy barroom blues rock swagger and I really like that sound. There are a couple tepid ballads on here, and I was ready to give this a 3. However, I've decided that as far as pop songs go, "Maggie May," "Mandolin Rain," and "Reason to Believe" are absolute bangers so they're dragging this up to a 4.
Brian Wilson
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The Beach Boys' lost masterpiece that was finally finished and released by Brian Wilson in the 2000s. I think that's the story here. I assume the music here will be similar to Pet Sounds or Surfs Up meaning orchestrated pop songs as opposed to surf rock.
Review: This is okay, but the best songs on here are the ones I already knew..."Heroes and Villains" and Good Vibrations". There are some moments that I enjoy throughout, but none of the other songs really do much for me as a whole. This feels like a bunch of different ideas that got strung together as a full album...which I guess is true. I feel like this album's history as Brian Wilson's lost masterpiece makes for a better story than it does a listening experience. 3-stars
Pulp
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this the album with "Common People" on it? Thats a banger. I don't know any other Pulp songs, but that is one of the best songs of the 90s. Otherwise I know that Pulp, Blur, and Oasis had a bit of a rivalry in the 90s as to who was the real king of britpop. Pulp definitely had less of an impact in the states than the other two did.
Review: Yes this has "Common People" and its still great with its driving beat that builds to a peak and funny/smart social commentary lyrics about a rich girl that hangs out with "commoners". I love it. In general this album is pretty good. Compared to their contemporaries, Pulp is less anthemic classic rock than Oasis but have more fully fledged out, mature sounding songs than Blur. Jarvis Cocker has a laid back talk/sing approach to his vocals that feels effortless and lends a cool feel to the songs. 4-stars
Metallica
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Yes! Absolutely killer album that was very influential in the metal scene.
Review: Definitely a classic that still holds up today. There are only 8 songs on this album and each is a staple of not only Metallica but also the heavy metal genre as a whole. To many people Metallica is heavy metal, and this album is why. My favorites on this album are the title track, "Battery", "Orion", and "Damage, Inc". This is an easy 5-star album.
Slayer
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I had Master of Puppets yesterday so it's pretty appropriate to get Reign in Blood today. I've never been able to get into Slayer. It's too heavy for me with extreme lyrics that are a huge turn off for me. That being said, I'm interested to give a new listen today.
Review: I can't do it. I mean the music isn't terrible (although I certainly prefer Metallica and Megadeth) but the lyrics are just too extreme for me. Maybe I'm old and a prude, but I don't need to sit around having lyrics about Auschwitz and anti-Christian screeds shrieked in my ears. I will add the song "Raining Blood" to my playlist, and I can at least recognize Slayer's importance to metal music enough to give them 3-stars.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Its always interesting to see the early 2000s albums that made this list. For most of this list the authors had the benefit of time to understand what albums are true classics and been influential on later generations. However for more modern selections they had to do a lot of guessing. I remember enjoying Jurassic 5 in 2002, but I have barely thought of them since. I highly doubt anyone would argue that this is one of the great hip hop albums of all time, and in fact, Allmusic ranks it 3rd out of J5's 4 albums. Yet here it is on a list of 1,001 essential albums.
Review: So maybe its not a classic, but that doesn't mean its not good. This is definitely an enjoyable album of positive hip hop with a laid back vibe played over jazzy beats and DJ scratching. Lots of interplay between the members of the group which is a cool sound borrowed from legends like the Beastie Boys and Wu Tang. This is the type of hip hop that killed at the music festivals I was going to back in the day i.e. Bonnaroo which they played 2x. I like this quite a bit actually. 4-stars
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I have heard of this band, but I have no idea what they sound like. Probably British new wave and maybe part of the new romantic era (whatever that was).
Review: I'm not actually sure what sub-genre this falls into, but I really like quite a bit of it. The first track "Faron Young" is one of the better discoveries I have made on this project. Just a great, catchy song with country influences but still very much an 80s new wave song...maybe a Violent Femmes vibe? The rest of the album doesn't quite live up to the promise of this song, with the sound often becoming a little too soft rock for my tastes, but it's overall an enjoyable listen. 3-stars
The Stooges
4/5
Thoughts before listening: so I see all of the Stooges albums made it on here. I guess that makes sense. Iggy Pop is one of the most interesting characters the rock world has ever produced, and their sound has certainly inspired bands for 50+ years now. Sometimes the recording quality on their albums gets a little hard to take, so I'd assume the same here as well.
Review: As the third album I've heard from the Stooges I get the benefit of being able to compare it against the others. I think this is probably my favorite of the bunch. The self titled album got a 3, Raw Power got a 4, and I think 4 is probably right for this one as well. The Stooges schtick is really cranked up, distorted guitars playing blues based rock music with a wildman singer leading the way. There's a bit of what the Doors were doing but with less sheen. The recording is still a bit sludgy which can be a turn off, but I don't think this was ever meant to be played through computer speakers and earbuds. The Stooges, similar to other early heavy bands like Blue Cheer, could get away with a lower quality sound because they were meant to be played on a record player with floor speakers turned all the way up. In that context this probably sounds amazing. 4-stars
The Kinks
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The Kinks specialized in seemingly simple pop rock songs that focused on melody and catchiness over technical prowess. I'm not sure that I actually know this album, but I'd expect more of the same.
Review: So I nailed the Kinks' sound on this album. There is very little of the over the top, psychedelic sound that is stereotypical of late 60s rock music. Instead you're left with fun little ear worm ditties. This album has "Waterloo Sunset" on it which is one of the best songs of this era, but I'm enjoying everything in hearing. 4-stars
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Huge album for me growing up. The hits are iconic, but this maybe could have used an editor. As a double album there are a few throwaway tracks here, especially the slower songs. Still though it's a classic that I'm glad to revisit.
Review: Yeah this is as good as I remember it. Starting off with a cool piano instrumental followed by one of the most inventive pop hits of the alternative era with "Tonight Tonight", you know you're in for a treat. This album is just full of songs that were absolutely monumental for me: "Zero", "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", "Muzzle", etc. This album has the 90s alt-rock big distorted guitar sound, but also is full of classic 70s rock band elements as well. All this being said, it does drag in some places as most 2-hour albums will, and some songs just don't feel necessary. Still, I love it, and I am giving it 5-stars.
The Mars Volta
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pretty sure I used to own this cd and its something that SHOULD be right up my alley. However, my immediate reaction to seeing this album is that its too weird for its own good. Maybe my opinion will have changed over the years?
Review: This is better than I remember it being, and I experienced more of a nostalgic feeling than I expected to. Maybe I listened to this more than I thought I did. I LOVED the leads in this band's previous group, At the Drive-In, so perhaps my disappointment at the time was due to this being less easily digestible than ATDI. However, on today's listen, this is pretty bad ass. It is definitely dense, veers off into some dissonant musical areas, and the scream singing takes some getting used to, but all together this is a great modern prog rock record. I was ready to give this 4-stars, but the more I listen the more I am thinking this is a post-2000s masterpiece. I'm going 5-stars.
Bert Jansch
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I think Bert is a 60s Greenwich Village folk scenester who would have been a contemporary of Dylan, Joan Baez, etc. I don't know his music.
Review: Well I had the folk part right, but Jansch was actually British. Seems London had their own folk scene similar to New York's in the 60s and Bert was a leader of this group. He was also known as a great acoustic guitar player which is evidenced on this album. Overall this album is full of well played and sung folk originals, although the sound is a bit more dark than I prefer. 3-stars
Kate Bush
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The artier side of 80s new wave. "Running Up that Hill" is awesome but I don't think I know the rest of her stuff.
Review: This is very dramatic, arty alternative new wave pop...something like that. I am enjoying this quite a bit although its not really the typical thing I would listen to. There are a couple songs that drag, but for the most part its a fun listen. Other than the recognizable hits, I also really like "Jig of Life". 4-stars
The Doors
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is a huge album for me. I thought the Doors were the coolest when I was first discovering music, and hearing "Break on Through" on the Forrest Gump soundtrack was an aha moment for me. I wanted to hear more songs with driving beats and shouted vocals...and that eventually led me to punk rock. Great album.
Review: Ray Manzarek's organ is what really makes the Doors standout. Its such a huge part of their sound and adds an extra layer of psychedelia. I feel like there has been a bit of an anti-Doors movement with music snobs who dismiss their importance to the history of rock. I think this is mainly a reaction to Jim Morrison who was a pretty troubling person in many ways. The music however is great. Bluesy hard rock that focused more on a powerful and intense sound than the technical showoffs of their peers i.e. Cream, Hendrix, and Zeppelin. They had more of a punk rock approach to their sound and were a big influence on that scene. Great band and a great album. 5-stars
Pentangle
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This is appropriate since I just got Bert Jansch last week and learned he's a part of this band. I'd expect British folk rock with an emphasis on the British and the folk.
Review: Okay so this is like Renaissance Fair minstrel music with psychedelic guitar. It's interesting I guess although I don't know that I love it. There is some really cool guitar work throughout these songs, but the vocals are a bit of an acquired taste. I can see where these guys were a big influence on a band like Fleet Foxes. 3-stars
Kings of Leon
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Ah yes, back when Kings of Leon were actually pretty good. The hype around them at this time is that they were the southern rock Strokes. Its been a while since I've listened to this album, but I've definitely told people before that "current KOL sucks, but I really liked their first couple albums". Guess we'll see if that's still true.
Review: So there's more of a bluesy swagger to KOL's sound than the Strokes (is that the southern influence?), but I can definitely hear the similarities in their sound. This is just okay. I thought I'd have more of a strong nostalgic reaction, but I barely recognize these songs. Maybe I was more into their first album 🤷. Nothing here is really grabbing me, and everything just feels so repetitive. The vocals are also pretty one note. Overall I'd say I was expecting to like this more, but I am not enjoying myself. 2-stars
George Michael
3/5
Thoughts before listening: George Michael gets two albums on this list? I know he was a big star (and even bigger in the UK than the US) but I never thought of him as someone that was a critical favorite.
Review: Fewer pop bangers and a more introspective approach makes for an enjoyable listen. I am enjoying a number of these songs: "Freedom 90", "Cowboys and Angels", and "Waiting for the Day" are all going on the playlist. I'll give this 3-stars.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Most of my knowledge about Velvet Underground is with the VU and Nico album that I owned and Loaded which Phish covered. I also know they have an album called White Light White Heat. While this album has a familiar cover, I am not associating it with any of their songs.
Review: So this is their 3rd of 4 albums and was seen at the time as a departure from their sound. Very quiet and subdued for a lot of the tracks and lacking the experimentation that had defined their first 2 releases, this is certainly a different version of the band from the one that was seen as a major inspiration for the punk scene. While I do enjoy some of the more rocking songs like "What Goes On" and "Beginning to See the Light", the best song on the album is "Pale Blue Eyes" which is a tender love song. Like a lot of the VU's output, there is a certain fragile nature to the sound here with both the music and Lou Reed's voice sounding like they could collapse at any time. However this is a very effective release. I was surprised by how much I didn't like parts of the ...and Nico album when I listened as part of this project, and I am equally as surprised by how much I am enjoying this one. 4-stars
King Crimson
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I have never done a King Crimson deep dive before. I listened to In the Court of the Crimson King as part of this project and was familiar with a handful of songs before that listen, but for the most part their catalog has seemed too dense for my interests. I feel that way about a lot of prog rock even though I do tend to enjoy the albums when I give them a chance. I hope I will feel the same about this one.
Review: Yeah so this is the side of prog rock I can't connect with. Where as Court of the Crimson King had some sections that lost me, that album still has some great rocking songs. This one is a tougher listen although I do really like "Easy Money". 2-stars
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Thoughts before listening: No idea on this one, but from the title I'm going to guess African blues.
Review: I dig this. The African desert blues is a genre that I have not paid a ton of attention to, but its very enjoyable. I especially like the inventive guitar work on this album with quickly picked licks throughout every song. 4-stars
Tom Waits
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Tom Waits' album with Primus. I owned this back in the day and it's probably my favorite Waits album. He can be a tough listen because of the gravelly voice, so you might as well pair him with another one of my favorites.
Review: Ok so I guess Les Claypool was a guest on this album and it's not fully with Primus. It's still an interesting album despite the hard to get accustomed to voice that's equal parts carnival barker and lounge jazz singer, and the reliance on harsh percussion instead of traditional instrumentation. It's definitely one of those albums that I can enjoy with headphones or in my car but would never play for others. My favorite song is "Goin' Out West" which I first heard from Widespread Panic's cover. I'll give this 4-stars.
Faith No More
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Faith No More is one of those bands that I should know really well, but I just never really tried. I know "Epic" which is a great song (that spawned a mostly cringey set of rap rock imitators) but I have never done a deep dive. Looking forward to hearing this album.
Review: This album is a pretty varied mix of styles and sounds. FNM are definitely a hard rock/metal band, but they mix in funk, rap, ballads, Middle Eastern music, and other styles you don't typically expect from the genre. I especially like that Mike Patton has a solid voice that you can understand. Its been an enjoyable day listening to this album and I'll give it 4-stars.
Van Halen
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I believe this is the album what Van Halen went full on synthy pop rock. "Jump" and "Panama" are the hits on this one, and both fall in the fun but WAY overplayed category. On earlier Van Halen albums the album cuts were my favorite so I'm interested to see if that will hold true here as well.
Review: "Jump" and "Panama" are just so iconic and ubiquitous within our culture it's hard to evaluate them in the context of their album. Of the 2, I prefer "Panama" as "Jump's" synths push it into cheesy territory. This album also includes a 3rd hit in "Hot for Teacher", and that's my pick for favorite song. VH is at their best playing high speed romps full of Eddie's guitar heroics, and this song has that in spades. For the deep cuts, "Top Jimmy" and "Drop Dead Legs" are the best of the bunch and are going on the playlist. Overall this is a fun listen that isn't hurt by the synths...which only really rear their ugly head on a couple songs. 4-stars
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Classic soul rock n roll band. I don't know Sly:s music all that well but I know he is often cited for his influence on many genres.
Review: This is definitely cool. Soul/R&B getting played by a powerhouse psychedelic rock band. What's not to love? There are some timeless hits on here with "Stand", "I Want to Take You Higher", and "Everyday People", along with a bonafide jam in "Sex Machine". I'm definitely glad to have heard this album. 4-stars
KISS
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I think Kiss is dumb. Based on their makeup and overall vibes you'd think they were some sort of hardcore metal band, but they're not. Its the dumbest, cheeseball rock music ever...but its also pretty fun. I know this is one of their most well known albums, so I am assuming a bunch of classic rock staples are on this album.
Review: This album isn't actually as filled with massive hits as I was expecting, although "Detroit Rock City", "Shout It Out Loud", and "Beth" are certainly big songs. I would say there's nothing here really changing my mind about Kiss, but there are worse ways to spend 30 minutes than listening to this album of perfectly enjoyable poppy hard rock. 3-stars
Crowded House
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know Crowded House gets a lot of praise, but I only know their hits. Said hits were mostly from the 80s I believe, so it is surprising to see one of their 90s albums on this list. Even the cover is not ringing a bell for me. I've seen this a few other times on this list where later albums from 80s hitmakers are included, which feels like editor bias toward their personal favorites as opposed to truly picking the 1,001 best recordings of all time.
Review: This is pretty dull if I am being honest. Its fine from a pop rock perspective, but there is not much really drawing me in. After reading the write ups on the album I do see where it gets very high praise outside of this project. Apparently considered a top 5 Australian album of all time..at least in one book. Interestingly enough my favorite songs aren't the hits or the ones highlighted on AllMusic...I like "Tall Trees" and "Fame Is" the best.
Anyway, I will give this 3-stars, but I am teetering on 2. I will say however that this album started to open up a little for me the more I listened. What was at first just background music started to draw me in a bit more. There are definitely some nice melodies on this album, even in the slower tracks that did not immediately grab my attention. Still though, 3-stars.
Weather Report
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I love any album with Jaco Pastorius on it. Weather Report is 70s jazz fusion with all players being the top of their game, but as a teenager trying to learn to play the bass, Jaco was considered one of the best. I owned at least one Weather Report cd back in the day which I believe was a best of compilation, so while I may not know this whole album I suspect I will recognize some songs.
Review: Oh ok...so this starts out with "Birdland" which is one of the band's best songs and definitely their most well known. Potentially its just being a victim of the times, but Weather Report in general can slide into easy listening/new age music territory at times. Their music is very polished and there is a certain synthesizer vibe at all times that can come off as cheesy at times. That being said, the band is all very accomplished musicians with Jaco being the best. His fluid style of bass playing with lines dancing around the melody is very distinctive within their sound and was a huge influence on countless musicians since his time. This is a 4-star album.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Nick Cave is an interesting artist for me. I've listened to his music before and I enjoy what I hear. However, whenever I read a writeup of one of his albums...especially more modern ones like this...it all just seems so heavy and deep to me. Nick has experienced massive loss in his personal life with the deaths of his children, and that's often the theme of his albums. It's enough for me to respect the music without wanting to dig in too deep to the newer albums. This will be a first listen for me.
Review: So this is a very lovely album of minimalist, ambient music backing Nick's deep baritone voice. The overall vibe of the album is dark and cathartic as this was written while coping with the death of his son...although there are still glimmers of hope with lyrics of love and the beauty of the world. I find myself immersed in listening to this album even if the music is not my typical style. Nick's voice especially is a pleasure to hear even if the emotions are exploring unpleasant territory, the backstory of this album especially resonating as I listen while in my daughter's room as she sleeps. This is a beautiful album I am glad to have experienced even if it is not one I will likely revisit any time soon. 4-stars
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The Everly Brothers were an extremely popular group from the earliest days of rock n roll. I am expecting very poppy/cheesy songs with nice melodies and harmonies.
Review: This is exactly what I expected. Pleasant little 2 minute ditties about love with a bit of a country feel and really nice harmonies. It's hard to hate on this. One thing that's always a little weird with the very early artists on this list is that they weren't necessarily known for their albums. They were mostly focused on releasing singles to radio so we mainly know them for their greatest hits style packages. It's weird listening to an album of 12 songs by the Everly Brothers and only recognizing a few songs. Those songs are all timers though ("Love Hurts" and "Cathy's Clown"). Those are 5-star songs on a 3-star album.
Le Tigre
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Kathleen Hannah's post-Bikini Kill group. This was in big in the cool kids indie rock club that I never really fit in with while I was firmly hanging with the pop punk and jamband dorks. I don't know much about this music although I feel like its Kathleen's riot grrl style punk vocals with distorted guitars and electronic beats. Something like that maybe?
Review: Why does Le Tigre have 5.7 million listens on Spotify while other 90s/00s indie rock groups are dropping quickly? Did one of their songs become a Tik Tok trend or something? Anyway, this is okay. Punk rock female vocals that are more shouted than sung with poppy style music, sometimes stealing from 60s girls groups but filtered through lo-fi indie rock/garage punk distortion. The sound on some of the songs is very reminiscent of the late 90s with samples and vibes similar to what someone like Beck or the Beastie Boys was doing around the same time. 3-stars
Scritti Politti
1/5
Thoughts before listening: English post-punk band I believe. I don't know much about them, but I do recognize the name which is hard to forget. I guess I have always assumed they were overly political with the second part of their name, but thats really just a guess.
Review: Wait what? This is not what I was expecting at all. According to the band's bio, they apparently started as a "punk adjacent" band but quickly morphed into top 40 pop hitmakers. This album is from after the sound change. This sucks. Its the cheesiest 80s sound possible. How did this make the list? I haven't given a 1-star rating in a while, but this deserves it.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this the 2nd Yeah Yeah Yeahs album on here? Not sure they deserve 2 albums but whatever. The first one I got was pretty good and I know this has "Maps" on it which is a banger. I'm glad to revisit this album.
Review: This is fine, with "Maps" and "Y Control's being the best songs. The rest of the album feels like a mixture of multiple 00s era indie rock sounds, albeit with a great yelpy vocalist in Karen O. Some of this reminds me of the White Stripes and garage punk, other songs have a Interpol kind of drive to the songs, while there is definitely a Strokes style sloppy aloofness in the mix as well. 3-stars
The Jam
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Pretty sure I own this record as a totally random used bin find a few years ago. The Jam is a 70s era punk scene band that leaned more towards the power pop side. There are some really fun songs on this album.
Review: This is good. There is definitely a through line of British power pop from the Kinks to the Jam to bands like the Libertines. Just simple, catchy rock n roll songs. The best track here is "That's Entertainment", but it's overall an enjoyable listen. 3-stars
Goldfrapp
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 00s era indie pop I believe. I remember Goldfrapp making a lot of critics lists at the time, but I never had any interest.
Review: This was a nice surprise. Well written pop songs that lean more on folk and rock sounds than dancey beats. Not typically the type of a sound that draws me in, but for some reason this is working for me. Favorite songs are "Little Bird", 'Houdini", and "Caravan Girl". 3-stars
The Pogues
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The Pogues are an interesting band to me. They get lumped in with the 80s punk scene, but they sound more like Irish folk to me. I guess their whole schtick is Irish folk being played by punk rockers. Anyway I do enjoy the Pogues so I'm glad to listen to them today.
Review: Yeah this is fun. I'm actually enjoying it even more than I thought I would. The punk attitude really comes through on this album, and there are some new to me songs as well as some of the band's most iconic (i.e. the title track and "Fairytale of New York"). That second song is one of my favorites of all time so it's awesome to have a reason to add it to yet another playlist. For all the drunken bluster in his persona, Shane MacGowan was an incredibly effective songwriter and vocalist who had the ability to turn pub sing alongs and sea shanties into anthems. Really good stuff. 4-stars
Billy Bragg
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Wilco is one of my favorites, but I never really paid all that much attention to this album outside of "California Stars" which has become a staple of the band's live shows. What's the theme here? 80s British folk revivalist teams up with 90s/00s alt-country indie rockers to record Woody Guthrie songs....something like that? Seems like it should be up my alley.
Review: So the songs on this album appear to be split between Wilco and Billy as to who takes the lead. In general, my preference is to the Wilco songs which makes sense....I'm a 20+ year Wilco fan while with Billy Bragg I have only listened through this project. He is fine, but his folky style doesn't immediately grab me like Wilco does. My favorite songs here are "California Stars", "One By One", and "Hesitating Beauty", all of which I recognize because of Wilco. This is 3-stars.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Electronica heavy 80s Europop I think? I feel like Pet Shop Boys are one of those bands I have heard a ton about but I don't really know much about them. Seems they were perhaps very influential to the types of music I don't really listen to.
Review: One thing that I have learned through this project is that I'm just not all that into dancey 80s synth pop. I mean I can take some pop music, and have given 4 and 5 star reviews to some pop albums on this list, but this just doesn't do anything for me. I'm giving this 2-stars.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I have been pleasantly surprised by how much I've enjoyed Alice Cooper on here. I mainly know him from the hits and the campy stage persona, but there is a bit more depth to his album work. I know the title song on this one but not much else.
Review: Actually, I missed "No More Mr Nice Guy" which is one of my favorites. There are a lot of cool musical ideas going on with Alice Cooper albums, at least the ones that have been on this list. He's really more of a glam rock artist than the hard rock/metal scene I've always lumped him in with. I just wish he didn't write cheesy horror shock songs. I don't need to sit around listening to songs about rape and "loving" the dead. This is 3-stars.
Lambchop
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I'm pretty sure I once owned this album. I'm also pretty sure I thought it was slow and boring. Perhaps age will have changed my mind.
Review: This is fine. There are certainly some moments that grab my attention, but for the most part this is a little dull. Definitely a slow burn for most of these songs and some get more interesting the longer they go on. My favorite parts are when the horns kick in on some of these songs. Ultimately, this is a perfectly fine alt-country album that has a few highlights but never really rises to the heights of their contemporaries i.e. Wilco or Son Volt. 3-stars
Elvis Presley
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Elvis is one of those artists where everybody knows him, including all the hit songs, but I for one never actually listen to him. I'm never sitting around thinking "you know what, I'd really like to listen to some Elvis." So in that sense, I'm excited to have to listen to an album.
Review: I mean its Elvis. Its going to be enjoyable. This is his debut album so its rockabilly/rock n roll Elvis and not Vegas headliner Elvis which is a good thing. His faster songs are the ones that work best for me with the ballads coming off as too old school sounding or something. In general, while his voice is certainly iconic, it also can grate on me at times, and this is especially true on the slow songs. Favorite songs: "Blue Suede Shoes", "I Got a Woman", "Just Because", and the one exception to my ballad opinion "Blue Moon". I'll give this 3-stars.
The Undertones
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Punk band I think? Isn't this the band that did "Teenage Kicks"? I don't recognize this cover and 1980 seems late for "Teenage Kicks" so maybe this is a later album. I'm not entirely sure.
Review: So this is pop punk which is certainly a sound I enjoy. I think to fully understand the appeal for this album its probably important to remember that not a ton of bands sounded like this in 1980. Still though, its just okay to me. Feels like if you're going to put an Undertones album on this list, it should probably be the one with the well known single...and if that album is also on here then I feel safe with my belief that the Undertones probably only need one album on the list. There are some catchy songs that I'm adding to my playlist, but this is a 3-star album.
Circle Jerks
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Despite being really into punk rock, especially the southern California scene the Circle Jerks come from, I never really got into this band. They just have never grabbed me the way their poppier contemporaries like the Descendents and Bad Religion did. That being said, Keith Morris is an iconic front man, and the band is definitely important to the history of the punk scene.
Review: The fact that this album is 15 minutes long has always been lost on me. Glad I never spent actual money on it 🤣. I'm all for short punk rock songs, but at least double the number of tracks or something to make it worth the purchase. Milo Goes to College at least passes the 20 minute mark and Damaged is over 30.
Anyway, I have really been missing out cause this is great. Its the sound I know and love from the other 80s punk bands, and the Circle Jerks sneak more melody into these songs than I have given them credit for. its actually impressive that they manage verse, chorus, verse structures in such short songs. "Wasted" has always been one of my favorite songs of that era (although I prefer the Black Flag version) while "World Up My Ass" and "Live Fast Die Young" are classics. 4-star album.
Carole King
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this is one of the best selling album from the 80s and that its full of hits. I am sure I will recognize a lot of these songs, but I don't believe I have heard the full album before. I'm expecting singer songwriter music that leans heavily on folk and soft rock sounds.
Review: Maybe this is my age showing, but you know what? This is pretty good. Its definitely soft rock, which typically isn't my favorite, but this has a very nice, jazziness to the music courtesy of the piano. Add in some sax solos and slow songs full of soulful emotion, and I'm enjoying myself quite a bit. 4-stars
Def Leppard
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 80s pop metal album that was huge. I know the hits will be fun to listen to, but I am not expecting much from this.
Review: So this isn't bad, its fun 80s hard rock and reminds me of what I knew of rock music at my earliest age, being all over radio, MTV, and just played in general life. That being said, I developed a strong dislike of this brand of poppy hard rock as I got older and developed my own tastes. Alternative and punk rock were essentially the antithesis of this overly polished sound, and I gravitated to that music through high school and college. So, I can clearly say that while this is solid, iconic music, its just not really my thing. 3-stars
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is one of my favorite albums and bands from the 90s that has seemingly disappeared. You just don't hear much about Rocket From The Crypt anymore. However, I loved these guys' punky rock n roll style back in the day. I am pleasantly surprised to see them make this list.
Review: Oh man...what a blast from the past this is. I really loved this album in the 90s, even though it was a little different from the melodic punk I was listening to at the time. In fact, listening again for the first time in years (20+ years maybe?) its interesting to me how songs I used to think were the best (i.e. the punky "On a Rope") are now less interesting to me than some others on here that incorporate more interesting song structures and instrumentation (i.e. "Young Livers" and "Used"). Overall this is a fun album, with lots of nostalgia for me, that seems to have been mostly lost to time (the band has ~40,000 monthly listens on Spotify). 4-stars
Roxy Music
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Roxy Music is one of those bands that I want to like more than I actually do. Their music often comes off as too pretentious or something in my opinion. That being said, there are some songs I enjoy, and I believe this album will mostly be a first time listen for me, so perhaps I'll find something I like here.
Review: So this album starts off with one of their better songs in "Re-make/Re-Model" which is a another in a long line of songs that is improved (at least to my ears) by saxophone. Saxophone in rock songs is just a great sound that has been a staple in music I love form Bruce Springsteen to Morphine to ska bands. Roxy Music employs this sound throughout this album, and its my favorite part of their sound. Another example of where the sax stands out to me is "If There is Something" which I am also really enjoying. Overall though, this album loses me in a lot of the songs...too arty for its own good or something I guess? I know its considered an important album, and its certainly not bad, just not for me maybe? Anyway, I'd give this 3-stars.
MGMT
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of my favorite albums from my mid-20s that produced 3 all-time bangers and overall is full of great indie psych-pop tunes. MGMT kinda fell off after this album for me (some people disagree), but I did really like their 2024 album.
Review: Few indie rock songs from the 00s have had the staying power that the big 3 from this album have. "Kids", "Electric Feel", and to a lesser extent "Time to Pretend" (my personal favorite) are all timer songs that have remained in the public conscience much longer than a couple college kids putting out whats essentially a psych-pop one hit wonder likely ever imagined. While those are the big songs, I actually like quite a bit of this album with "Weekend Wars" and "Of Moons, Birds, and Monsters" being solid deeper cuts. The album leans harder into the psych side of their sound in the second half of the album and loses some steam, but overall it still remains one of the best albums from the 00s indie rock world. 4-stars
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I mean its a classic for a reason, full of timeless songs that remain very much a part of popular culture. Its also a bit overly poppy for my tastes, but ultimately its hard to hate on Fleetwood Mac. I'll enjoy listening to this.
Review: Its hard to rate something like this where songs like "Don't Stop" and "Go Your Own Way" are just such an ever present part of our culture. Of course its a great album full of great songs, but is it something I would ever choose to listen to put on the record player? No, not really. Its just too poppy and vanilla for my personal tastes, even if I can clearly state that its great. My personal favorites on this album are "Dreams", "The Chain", and "Gold Dust Woman", and seeing as how the first two on my list are the most listened to Fleetwood Mac songs on Spotify, it seems many people share this opinion. 4-stars
The Avalanches
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I believe that the schtick for this album is that the songs are all made from samples. ..or at least heavily rely on sampling. This has definitely made a ton of indie rock/cool music site best of lists, but I have never tried to listen to it. Mainly because I am turned off by the idea of songs built fully from samples. I will feel pretty silly if I play this now and I was completely wrong about the album 🤣
Review: Yeah so I was right about the schtick here. Its definitely an electronic dance album made up entirely of samples. There is a certain joy that I can get from this type of an album, but it also tends to slip into background music very quickly. Especially without any vocals to latch on to. The approach here is similar to something like the Beastie Boys (especially on Paul's Boutique) that I love, but again its the lyrics that draw me in as opposed to the backing tracks. This is perfectly fine, but likely not destined to be a re-listen for me. 3-stars
Eels
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Interesting choice here. My thoughts on Eels is that I really liked their alt-rock radio hit and I always thought of them as being "smart" rock. Meaning it was somehow above the fray of the typical pop-punk or wannabe grunge bands that filled up radio and MTV playlists in the 90s. I don't believe I've listened to the whole album so I guess I'll see if I was right.
Review: "Novocaine For the Soul" is a banger, which I'm immediately reminded of since it's the first track on this album. The rest of this is in a similar vein of quirky 90s alternative rock mixed with some electronic/hip hop beats. This definitely feels like something that was heavily Beck inspired albeit with more of a rock sound. This has been an enjoyable enough listen full of interesting songs that I'll give 3-stars.
Dr. Octagon
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Underground hiphop from Kool Keith. This is one of those albums that cool kids that were into hip hop raved about but nobody else had ever heard of. I tried to be the cool kid for punk and indie rock, but I never really went too deep into cool hip hop. I'm actually pretty excited about listening to this.
Review: This is definitely a hip hop sound that I can get behind, despite some overly sexual lyrics and juvenile themes on this album (rap album skits are almost all embarrassing and this one's tales of a fake gynecologist are especially cringey...but can I really judge when my high school days were spent listening to bands like NOFX). The laid back production with a heavy focus on DJ scratching is a sound that was very prevalent in late 90s/early 00s underground rap, and its one that I both enjoy as well as having strong nostalgic connection to. I didn't actually listen to Dr. Octagon in real time, but this album certainly influenced a lot of the hip hop that I did enjoy. There are some good songs on this album that I'm adding to the playlist. This is 4-stars.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Great album from Willie. I could listen to Willie sing the phonebook and enjoy it, so I will always be happy to have an excuse to put on one of his records.
Review: This is a very sparse album with minimal backing on most tracks, just Willie's voice leading the way telling the story of this concept album. What's missing are the Willie barnburner style songs like "Bloody Mary Morning" or "Whiskey River", but if the concept of ballads sung around a campfire is appealing to you, then this is your album. This makes for a very relaxing listen, especially if you're a fan of Willie's voice...which I am. The best songs here are "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", "Red Headed Stranger", and "Hands on the Wheel". 4-star album
Minutemen
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of my favorites and an absolute classic. Its everything I love about the 80s Cali punk scene but with stronger musicianship than you would typically find with bands from this scene. Lots of short songs on this one with lots of different ideas and styles that are all done very well.
Review: This is just such a unique sound combining the attitude of 80s punk with the musicianship of a great, but loose jazz group. Mike Watt is one of my favorite personalities from the punk world and his bass playing on this out of this world. This is truly unlike anything else out there and is one of my favorite albums ever. The one complaint I have is that with 43 songs it's sometimes a little hard to really know when one song ends and another begins. That being said, it's a 5-star album.
Rush
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Rush is one of those bands that I avoided for years because it all just seemed too much. The represented the worst of prog rock excess for me. However, I have started to come around a bit in recent years. There are some awesome songs mixed in with the over the top 20 minute epics. I know this is one of their most popular albums, but I am not sure what's on it.
Review: Well this starts out with a 20-minute song so par for the course with Rush I guess. I must say that its a pretty solid 20-minute song, with lots of different changes so it feels more like a suite of songs totaling 20-minutes. The rest of the album is more of the same just in a shorter format with all other songs clocking in under 4 minutes. Best of the rest are "A Passage to Bangkok" and "The Twilight Zone". I guess I'll give this 4-stars although I'm still not fully bought in on Rush.
Steve Earle
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The title track on this album is an all time banger. I really enjoy Steve Earle as a personality and as a singe. However, I certainly prefer this era of his career when he was an up and coming wannabe star writing catchy Texas country rock songs. His later work is fine, but it can be a bit heavy handed at times...even I typically agree with his politics.
Review: Great sound by a great performer. It is interesting to me that this is on the list though. I mean it's a classic of the underground alt-country/Americana scene, but I don't necessarily get the impression it's had the reach I'd expect for this list. Guess I was wrong.
This is very solid country rock, but other than the title track, nothing really blows me away. That title track however is an all timer. I'll give this 3 stars although its influence and importance to the alt-country scene probably deserves more than that.
Kate Bush
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I enjoyed the other Kate Bush album I heard on hear, but that one had "Running Up the Hill". I am not as familiar with this album, but in general I enjoy Kate's weirdo arty pop music, so it seems like I'll probably like this as well.
Review: I liked this quite a bit actually. Kate Bush is a good singer with a nice voice and these art pop songs remain interesting throughout. There is a lot more substance to this album than the average 80s pop singer, and even without a recognizable massive hit like her previous album, this is still very enjoyable. This is a 4-star album to me.
Gary Numan
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I know this has "Cars" on it which is a good song. Otherwise, I believe this will be 80s electro-pop new wave in a very similar fashion to the big hit. Probably not my thing, but worth a shot.
Thoughts before listening: So one thing that is striking me with this album is that this still sounds like rock music, despite living up to its reputation of being fully synth-driven. Often when I think of "synth-pop" I think of lightweight, cheesy sounding music, but thats not really what I'm hearing here. This reminds me more of something like Devo which is a sound I like quite a bit. I'll be adding a few songs to the playlist, and I think this is 3-stars.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Thoughts before listening: One of those bands I've known of for most of my music listening life, I'm sure I've heard a song or two, but I know nothing about them. I feel like they were maybe a big influence on the hair metal scene i.e. Motley Crue and Poison...not sure if that necessarily justifies their addition to this list though.
Review: This is okay. It definitely leans more into a power pop sound than what I would typically associate with even the hair metal scene. There's definitely a glam rock influence here with horns and keyboards being added to the mix on some songs, and maybe their sound can be described as Kiss meets T Rex. Something like that. Ultimately its just okay to me although there are definitely some fun songs here. 3-stars
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Thoughts before listening: "Twee" indie pop, whatever that means. My recollection of Belle and Sebastian is light, poppy folk-inspired indie rock with some very catchy songs. I have liked what I have heard from them even if they never necessarily became one of my favorites. In fact I don't believe I ever owned or even downloaded one of their albums, despite them being covered on the same sites and playing the same festivals as the bands I did latch on to.
Review: The Allmusic review for this album calls it a mixture of Simon and Garfunkel with the Smiths and I think thats probably accurate. There is definitely a folky, acoustic underlying sound going on here, albeit run through a certain shimmery indie rock filter. I like this...in fact I'd say its hard to hate something that is so catchy and inoffensive (I'm sure people will find a way though). My favorite songs are the ones that pick up the pace a bit and lean on the indie rock side of their sound: "The Stars of Track and Field", "Me and the Major", "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying", and "Mayfly". 4-stars
Neil Young
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of Neil's darker albums from a tough period on his life. The title track is a classic, but I'm not sure what else is on here. I know this is a classic, but it's one I've never owned before.
Review: So this is dark lyrically, but that doesn't necessarily come out in the music. While Neil is singing about close friends who have recently died from drug use as well as his disinterest in his fame, the music for the most part maintains a loose, fun country rock style. This is the Neil I know and love, and quite frankly despite never actually listening to the album, I am extremely familiar with a lot of this. The title track, "Come on Baby Lets Go Downtown", "Albuquerque", etc are some of his more recognizable songs which have been staples of the live show and included on greatest hits style albums. I'm glad to have finally listened to this classic album, and I think its 5-stars.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I like pretty much everything by Simon and Garfunkel, so I feel confident that this will be no different. Should be some solid 60s folk with memorable melodies and vocal harmonies. I'm sure there will be some classics on this as well.
Review: The first real song on this album is "Save the Life of a Child" and it sets the stage for what seems like a bit more of an experimental sound for Simon and Garfunkel. Lots of bass in the mix on this one and I'm rather enjoying it. Next comes "America" which is one of my favorite songs of all time so it's inclusion as the 3rd song on this album is an immediate win in my book. They lose me a bit with some slow tunes and an entire track of old people talking, but then bring it back with "Fakin' It" and of course "Mrs. Robinson". I'll give this 4 stars with the high points being very high.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Nobody else sounds like Fela, and his sound is certainly one I enjoy. Horn driven funk jams mixing African styles with a psych rock and jazz mentality. Glad to listen to this today.
Review: Yeah it's great. I love how the drum beat and bass line tend to remain consistent throughout these songs, even as the vocals and horns weave in and out. That helps to keep this interesting, even with long 10+ minute tracks. In general though, these long songs can get a bit repetitive but that doesn't diminish from just how enjoyable this is. 4-stars
The Undertones
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Oooh....I just recently listened to their sophomore album on this project, and while I thought it was okay, I was shocked that an Undertones album without "Teenage Kicks" would make the list. Good news I guess, cause here is that album. So I know this is early punk rock that leans more toward the power pop side of things. "Teenage Kicks" is an absolute banger, so I look forward to hearing that.
Review: The roots of pop punk. "Teenage Kicks" is the true standout here, but the rest of the album stays in a similar lane of fast, catchy songs about girls and other obsessions of adolescence. This formula would be repeated by 1000s of bands, including many that spent countless hours in my cd player in my own teenage years. While the Undertones may have been beaten to the pop-punk punch by the Ramones and Buzzcocks potentially lessening their legacy, this is still a highly enjoyable listen. 4-stars
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is one of those hip hop artists from the 90s that I certainly heard of, but since they weren't making hit records that landed on MTV, I don't believe I've ever heard of them. If this is in the same vein of other 90s underground hip hop i.e. A Tribe Called Quest or De La Soul, I'll probably enjoy it. The album cover however makes me think this is a bit darker.
Review: So it seems this is underground rap from the NYC scene of Nas and Gang Starr, with DJ Premier being producer for all the albums from this scene. There's definitely an early-90s vibe to the sound here that I can appreciate with Wu Tang Clan being another in this same vein. This is true in the beats as well as Jeru's flow. When I think of hip hop that I like, this is what I am thinking of. I guess they call this boom bap rap...or something like that? I don't really know, but I do like it. 4-stars
The Style Council
2/5
Thoughts before listening: is this Paul Weller's band after the Jam? I like the Jam so chances are I'll like this.
Review: Well this is different. Definitely nothing like the Jam's punky power pop. This is a pretty eclectic mix of jazz instrumentals and soulful ballads. There's also a rap song. The jazz songs are my favorites on here, but ultimately this is just okay. I guess the appeal is ex-punk grows up and tackles other genres, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be good. 2-stars.
Talking Heads
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of Talking Heads best from their heyday. I love everything TH put out, and this album is no different. Lots of classics on this one.
Review: So, on this listen, I can say that this actually isn't necessarily my favorite album by TH. Its not bad, but it lacks the stone cold classics of an album like Remain in Light. I also feel like the songs on here exist in better versions on Name of the Band is Talking Heads and Stop Making Sense. That being said, there are definitely some bangers on here and this is overall a strong release, especially so early in their career. 4-stars
Missy Elliott
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I only know the hits, but they're fun and memorable. I still quote things that Missy Elliott said in these songs.
Review: So this is actually a later album for Missy Elliott. I was expecting to hear all of the hits that were on Supa Dupa Fly, but the only song I actually recognize is "Work It"...which is a great hit from that era. In general, this album is very indicative of early 00s hip-hop and R&B, probably because Missy was just so influential to the sound at that time. I wish there were a few more hits like "Work It" on here, but this was enjoyable enough. 3-stars
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Thoughts before listening: So I know Elvis Costello has had a prolific recording career for 40+ years, but I have only ever considered a handful of his albums as essential: My Aim is True, This Year's Model, armed forces maybe Imperial Bedroom. I am pretty surprised to see this album on here although I have definitely seen the reviews and comments in Reddit forums complaining about the amount of EC albums on this list.
Review: Yeah, not really my favorite from Elvis. Its less pop-oriented than the albums I think of as his classics and more angry as well. Maybe this is an attempt to get back to his punk roots or something? Ultimately this is a bit of a mixed bag, with some of the power pop songs like "I Hope You're Happy Now" being petty good, and I really like "I Want You" as well. Ultimately though I find that this album lacks the hits that draw me to EC's best. 3-stars
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I think this is bluesy vocal jazz of some sort. Sarah Vaughn is one of those artists I have heard of through most of my adult life, but I don't know anything about her. Assuming I'm right about this being blues/jazz then that makes sense because I just don't follow those scenes.
Review: Okay...so I was thinking this was more of a modern artist, but I am wrong as this is from the 1950s. I was correct about the sound though as this is smoky, bluesy jazz vocals reminiscent of Sarah's actual contemporaries such as Billie Holiday and Ela Fitzgerald. In general, I prefer the upbeat songs to the ballads, but thats just a personal preference as Sarah's vocal performance is certainly strong on the slower songs as well. This is a 4-star album.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of these musicians. Seems like some Latin jazz and appears to be a live recording. I don't have any other frame of reference here.
Review: So this is not something I would typically listen to, but its a really cool sound. Apparently Astor Piazzolla is considered the premiere tango composer and musician of his time, and while thats not something that would tend to catch my attention, I'm glad that this project gave me a reason to listen to his work. I don't really know what traditional tango music sounds like, but to me this set leans heavily on jazz and classical elements. Perhaps that is largely thanks to this being a live set from a jazz festival. My favorite songs on here are the up tempo, faster paced (and shorter duration) songs "Vibraphonissimo" and "La Muerta del Angel" both of which are going on my playlist. 3-stars
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I like Sleater-Kinney's general aesthetic, and they have been a mainstay in the music world I follow throughout my adult life. That being said, I have never really been able to get into them. I mean there are some good songs that I've heard from them, but I have never liked them enough to buy an album. Maybe this will be the listen that changes that for me.
Review: I see that there are a lot of complaints in the reviews about the vocals, and maybe thats what it is for me as well. I mean I certainly enjoy dirty, punk inspired indie rock so this should be right up my alley, but something has just never really clicked for me. I guess that maybe its the shrill warble in the vocals although it seems like I should be able to get over that....I certainly listen to male singers with questionable voices. The title track is iconic, and I like some of these other songs as well like "Words and Guitar", "Not What You Want", and "Dance Song '97". Sleater-Kinney has a talent for writing cool indie rock riffs that I can certainly appreciate. I'll give this 4-stars
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Folky, singer-songwriter music from the 80s I believe. I know that Suzanne Vega was a big deal, but I don't know her music. I think her popular song is "Tom's Diner" but that doesn't seem to be on here.
Review: So I guess this is Suzanne's debut album and the hits mostly came on her second one. There was one hit (which I did not recognize prior to listening) called "Marlene on the Wall", and thats probably the best song here. For the most part these are slow, moody songs with primarily just acoustic guitar and Suzanne's voice. There's certainly nothing offensive here, but I'm not really loving it either. I'd say this is a 3-star album.
Sparks
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Long running underground weirdo rock band that came out of the punk/new wave scene of the late 70s/early 80s. I think thats the general idea with these guys. They have gotten some recent press, maybe because of a new album or something, so thats the main reason I have a point of reference for them. I know people love this album, but I feel like I've tried it before and wasn't into it.
Review: You know what? This isn't as weird as I thought it was going to be. If anything, its a very poppy take on the glam rock bands of the mid-70s. I am hearing lots of Queen and David Bowie influence in these songs, with lots of theatricality in the performances and arrangements. I'm adding nearly the entire first half of this album to my playlist and this gets 4-stars
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Assuming this is Peter Gabriel's debut solo album, I am going to assume this will be a little too out there for its own good. After he left Genesis, Peter eventually became a massive hitmaker in his own right, but I believe it took him getting some experimental, arty records out of his system first.
Review: Well I was a bit off with the assumptions I made with this album. While there is some experimenting with the sound here, its not nearly as weird as I thought it was going to be. Mainly just diversions into jazzy/lounge territory. This album does have a fairly large hit in "Solsbury Hill" as well. I don't love this album, but its not at all what I was expecting it to sound like. I am especially pleasantly surprised by the guitarwork on this album which is strong throughout. Outside of the hit, I am also enjoying "Moribund the Burgermeister", "Modern Love", "Slowburn", and "Here Comes the Flood". I was leaning 3-stars on this one, but its really won me over...4-stars.
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I don't really know much about these guys, but I do remember when their albums were getting touted on music sites. With 49,000 monthly listeners on Spotify they don't seem to have had all that much staying power though. Probably going to be one of those 00s albums that seemed like a big deal at the time the book was produced, but probably wouldn't stay in on a revision.
Review: I think that if I have learned anything from this project its that I'm just a fan of pop music. Sure I may prefer when pop music is filtered through the lens of loud, distorted guitars, but ultimately its still pop music with familiar song structures, catchy melodies, etc. The albums that tend to annoy me the most on here are the techno, noise rock, krautrock, etc albums that mess with that formula. This album is full of those elements that turn me off. Its a very tough listen, from the music to the lyrics, and while I was certainly not bored with this album, I wasn't enjoying myself all that much either. 2-stars
The Smiths
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I really enjoy the Smiths although Morrissey's schtick can become a little tiresome. This album isn't one of the ones that I typically see listed as their best (The Smiths or The Queen is Dead usually gets that distinction), so its inclusion on this list is interesting.
Review: Yeah okay...this is really good. The Smiths were only around for a short time, but they did put out a lot of good music. This album contains "Girlfriend in Coma" which is one of my favorites by the band, and I am also enjoying "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish", "Dead of a Disco Dancer", and "Stop Me if You Think You've Heard This One Before". Overall its a catchy album although the second half does lag a bit. 4-stars
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Indie rock wierdo folkie. I once told my cousin that he should check out Devendra Banhart because I wanted to impress him with how cool I was...thing is I've still to this day never actually heard Devendra's music, I just knew he was getting a lot of praise from music sites. Guess I can now figure out if this was a solid recommendation or not.
Review: I stand by my rec. This is weird for sure, but I like it. There is lots of emotion in these songs which is resonating with me. I see where the sparse instrumentation and warbly vocals could be a turn off for some, but its working for me. Not too far off from stuff I enjoyed around this same time like Iron and Wine or Bright Eyes. A few songs are going on the playlist and I'll give this 3-stars because while I do like quite a bit of it, there are some songs that get a little too out there.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I've heard of this, but I've definitely never listened before. I feel that this would be a surprising pick for a hip hop best albums list, so it's even weirder that it's on this one. Is it British maybe? Is that why it's on here?
Review: Oh wait...this is Michael Franti from Spearhead? Definitely not British. I mainly know him as the hippy dippy lead singer playing day slots at jamband festivals singing about love and politics. I guess he got his start as a Public Enemy style political rapper?
This is just okay to me. There is a sound collage style to the beats similar to PE, but Franti just isn't as engaging as Chuck D...and this is definitely missing the charisma of Flavor Flav. There are some jazz elements here that I do like, but I can't really get over Franti's wooden, monotone rapping style. I'm also not hearing a lot of hooks on these songs, with this sound closer to spoken word than anything resembling a pop song. I guess the main selling point here is the social and political commentary, and while I probably agree with a lot of the words here, it's not really doing much for me. 2 stars
Bob Dylan
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is one of Bob's best. I guess it was probably a nice surprise for Dylan fans at the time since this came in the mid-70s after his heyday. Proof that Dylan could grow from the politically minded voice of the 60s into a 30-something tackling more auto biographical topics.
Review: Looking at Dylan's discography, it's always interesting to me that this was released 10 years after his original run. Songs on here like "Tangled Up in Blue", "Simple Twist of Fate", "Shelter From the Storm", and "Idiot Wind" are on par with anything from Highway 61 Revisited or Blonde on Blonde and rank among his best songs ever. I'm also a big fan of "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts". Overall this is a fantastic album fully deserving of its place on this list and among Dylan's best. 5-stars
The Birthday Party
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Nick Cave's first band I think. Dirty, punky rock n roll is what I believe this will sound like. Nothing I've ever felt like I needed to hear before.
Review: While I want to celebrate weirdo 80s post-punk like this, I just can't do it with this one. This is a little too out there for me to enjoy, with discordant dirges and psycho freakouts dominating the tracklist. Like many of its contemporaries, this album also suffers from crappy production and sloppy performance. I'm sure purists would complain, but all of these 80s albums would really benefit from a re-recording using modern technology. This doesn't quite fall to 1-star territory (it's interesting if nothing else), but I also don't really like it. 2-stars
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I really want to like Joni Mitchell...and sometimes I do like her. Her music is soothing, especially when it's jazz inspired, and the lyrics are typically interesting. I just don't love her voice. It's too warbly or something.
Review: So this opens with "Coyote" which is definitely one of Joni's best. An upbeat song with jazzy acoustic instrumentation, this is what I want all Joni Mitchell songs to sound like. Joni's vocal performances on this album are much better than I would typically expect. More husky voiced, bluesy talk singing than her typical folky warble, I am not as turned off by the vocals as I usually am. Real star of this album though is Jaco Pastorious on bass adding all sorts of interesting flourishes to the music. Maybe the best Joni album I've heard? 4-stars
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Pretty sure this is the second Emmylou album I've gotten on here. Not necessarily a bad thing, just kind of interesting. I do like Emmylou quite a bit, but it's surprising that she is getting more love than other country artists. I'm not sure I've actually heard this album before.
Review: This is mostly new to me although there are quite a few covers of well known song songs this album. Emmylou has a wonderful voice that works well whether she's covering Dolly on "Coat of Many Colors" or the Beatles on "For No One". There is a good mix of styles on here, with honky tonk barnburners mixing with jazzy ballads and pop covers. Very enjoyable album that I'll give 4-stars.
Miles Davis
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the few jazz records I've ever owned, and it seems thats pretty common. Also contains one of the most recognizable hooks in all of jazz with "So What". Its been a while since I have listened to this, but I am sure it holds up and will merit 5-stars.
Review: Yep, definitely holds up. This album is one of the most well known jazz albums for a reason. Strong playing throughout from some of the all-time greats of the genre, and songs that have stood the test of time. I used to have a poster of this album on my wall in college. Now I was a complete poser, but it speaks to this album's reach that I was even able to purchase a Kind of Blue poster at the University of Tennessee in 1999. Best songs are "So What", "Freddie Freeloader", and "All Blues". 5-stars
Scott Walker
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I see this guy get praised all the time, but I know nothing about him. Some sort of psychedelic folky rock maybe. I feel like it gets pretty weird.
Review: Ok so this isn't psychedelic, but it is definitely a bit out there. This is crooner style vocals over loungey, almost cinematic musical arrangements. I'd say that Scott was likely a big influence on someone like Father John Misty with his talk sing and heavily orchestrated songs. I like this quite a bit, and I think I'll give it 4-stars.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Neil live album. I both love it and also think it's a little rough around the edges. Of course that's pretty much par for the course with a Neil Young show so it's appropriate.
Review: You know what, I think I'm thinking of one of the later Neil live albums. This one is great. First half is acoustic and then he cranks it up for the second half with full on electric Crazy Horse. I was actually prefer the acoustic songs here although it's hard to argue with full on hard rock Neil. This is 5-stars.
John Prine
5/5
Thoughts before listening: John Prine's debut album, and one that features many of his most well known songs. I love this album, and I love John Prine.
Review: The review sections on this project are a strange place. Imagine hearing this album for the first time and then immediately writing a review about how much you hate country music. What does that have anything to do with John Prine? This is a special album by a special artist. Just one catchy, well written song after the next. John had an amazing way with words, making you laugh in one song, cry in the next, and often weaving in layers of social and political commentary throughout. Absolutely a 5-star album for me.
Red Snapper
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of it even though it came out in my college years. I'd guess either British alt rock or some sort of electronic dance music.
Review: So this is trip hop so I guess I was close. I definitely knew this scene existed but it was just never really my thing. This is okay. Cool atmospheric production on these songs that remind me of the background music in some post apocalyptic sci-fi movie from the early 2000s. I will say that this does a better job of keeping my interest than many similar groups. There is some nice instrumentation here, and I like the songs with vocals like "The Rake. Overall, I'd give this 3-stars.
Morrissey
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Maybe it's just the album title, but I feel like this album is Morrissey's attempt at a more hard edged, alternative rock sound instead of the Smiths' jangle pop. I like Morrissey so chances are I'll like this as well.
Review: So this sounds like the Smiths. Sure there are maybe some more varying sounds here with synthesizers and strings, but it's still Morrissey's voice singing pop rock songs. This definitely isn't the hard rock album I thought it was. I'd say this is slightly worse than The Smiths albums I have heard although "Suedehead" is a great song. I'll give this 3-stars.
Tim Buckley
4/5
Thoughts before listening: 70s folk by Jeff Buckley's dad. I don't really know much about Tim Buckley.
Review: This is a really cool album. Folky but also psychedelic. This is what I assumed many of the 60s psych albums would sound like, even though most have leaned more into a poppy rock sound with trippy lyrics and some different instrumentation being the only thing making it "psych". This album however feels smarter and more organic to me. 4-stars
The Verve
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Brit pop with one killer song ("Bittersweet Symphony") and at least one other that is very good ("The Drugs Don't Work").
Review: I like this just fine. The hits I mentioned are great, but the album did drag a bit over it's 75 minute run time. U2 is a major influence here, and the album stays in a similar late 90s mid-tempo groove throughout. I was into punk rock around this time, and mostly ignored these types of bands. I can appreciate them a bit more now, but it's still very much a 3-star album to me.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The title track is great, but I don't know much else about this album. Id assume some dirty, punk inspired rock though.
Review: I was pretty accurate with the sound and the great title track. "Passenger" is another really good song from this album, with the rest being perfectly fine. David Bowie produced this album and this does come off as a dirtier version of what he was producing around the same time...glammy punk inspired rock n roll. I'm not sure I need to listen to Iggy singing about showing his explosion to "sweet sixteen" though. 3 stars.
Chicago
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Outside of the hits, I've never felt the need to listen to Chicago. That being said, I know that their early stuff is generally considered to be better than the later pop rock radio songs. I'm excited to hear this.
Review: You know what? I really didn't like this at first. It just sounded like cheesy jazz fusion and was too poppy for me. However, this really won me over with the more rocking second half. "Poem 58", "I'm a Man", and "South California Purples" are the songs that hooked me in. Overall I'm going to give this 3-stars.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Thoughts before listening: This is certainly a classic although I have always preferred Sticky Fingers for my early 70s, dirty rock n roll Rolling Stones fix.
Review: The star of this album for me is the saxophone. It really compliments and adds a cool element to the barroom, sloppy blues band style that the Stones are working in here. This album does get a lot of praise, and sometimes the albums with the highest praise totally deserve it. This is the case here. Mixed in with the juke joint blues numbers on this album are some bonafied classics: "Tumbling Dice", "Sweet Virginia", "Torn and Frayed", "Loving Cup", "Happy", "Shine a Light", and "Soul Survivor". An album of just those songs would be an all-timer, and this album gives you 11 additional tracks. Definitely a 5-star album.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Thoughts before listening: The Beastie Boys are one of my favorite bands of all time, and this is the album that started it all for them.
Review: This is a 5-star album for both the amount of enjoyment I get when listening to it as well as its historical importance. There is a cool mix of rock backing tracks mixed with 80s style rap that was very influential to the future of both rap and alternative music. The Beastie's call and response style has always been fun, and its on full display here as well. I especially like how Mike D, Ad Rock, and MCA each have their own voice and personality. Just a fun album with very classic songs.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I imagine this will be a polarizing album for the list, especially since I bet most of these songs are already included in their studio versions. Looking at the setlist, I am going to assume this is either a mix of acoustic and electric or its all electric.
Review: Well this is a very solid Dylan live album. I was correct that this is a mix of acoustic and electric, and it turns out that the electric portion was a very famous Dylan bootleg that was traded for 30+ years prior to this official release. Also, the show wasn't actually from The Royal Albert Hall although the bootlegs were mislabeled as such.
As a bootleg afficionado and trader of live recordings that caught the very tail end of that phenomenon right before everything went digital, I love this story. I also am enjoying this recording quite a bit, so I can't fault its inclusion on this list. This represents a side musical history and fandom that strongly resonates with me. I'll give this 4-stars.
Foo Fighters
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The first Foo Fighters album and a very important album for me as a kid. The Foo Fighters had the aggression of the grunge and punk rock I loved at the time, but with a real focus on melody and catchiness. This is a pop record with loud guitars, and it contains some of my favorites from that era.
Review: This album really frontloads the hits. "This is a Call", "I'll Stick Around", and "Big Me" are 3 of the Foo fighters most well known and loved songs. The rest of the album stays in a similar lane of poppy rock with crunchy guitars although I can admit the songs for the most part just aren't as good as tracks 1-3.
There is definitely a strong nostalgia for me with this album that I can tell is missing from the negative reviews on this site. If I had not been obsessed with the Foo Fighters when I was 15 I would probably be more likely to point out that its a fairly generic 90s alt rock album, but the familiarity wins out for me. Still though, the weaker middle and end of this record only gets 3-stars.
The Streets
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This guy is always interesting. British rapper with a very cockney accent and lazy, slurred conversational delivery. I like it fine.
Review: Not much else to say here. I understand why this is getting a bunch of negative reviews, but I enjoy it. Despite his unconventional approach, there are hooks here in these songs. I haven't listened to this in a long time, so its been nice to refresh my memory. This is a 3-star album.
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The Kinks is one of those bands that I love almost every song I hear from them, but their catalog is so big I don't really know where to start. That means I mainly know greatest hits albums and Spotify playlists. It is always nice to have a reason to listen to one of their albums though because they tend to be very strong.
Review: I love that there is quite a bit of British silliness and satire to what the Kinks were doing, especially with their 60s output. While certainly they were putting out extremely catchy rock songs, they were also filling their songs with political and social commentary while not afraid to play around with unexpected music styles. This album starts with a very recognizable song with "Victoria" and then follows that up with 11 more fun, interesting songs. 4-stars
DJ Shadow
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This album has made best album ever lists since it was released in the 90s, but its just never been something I cared to check out. My understanding is that this is more of a hip hop soundscape with inventive beats than a cohesive, lyric driven rap album. I think this will be my first time listening to this album.
Review: As expected, this is a difficult album for me to review. I know that its important and ushered in a new way of looking at production and sampling....but a lot of it just sounds like background music to me. Its effective at setting a tone and these songs would likely be solid for a movie soundtrack, but its just not something I am going to spend a lot of time listening to. I would also say that there are some cool ideas and melodies on here that catch my ear, but they're often short lived and just one part of a longer meandering song. 3-stars
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I am not familiar with this Marvin Gaye album. In general, I know his early Motown hits and then of course Whats Goin On, but otherwise I have not listened to much of his work. I expect smooth 70s r&b with Marvin's strong vocals.
Review: So apparently this is a divorce album, and you can certainly see this in the song titles: "Anger", "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You", "You Can Leave, But Its Going to Cost You, etc. The sound here is slow burn, 70s funk and its fairly enjoyable, despite the heavy subject matter. This is essentially "Slow Jam the News" but the news is just Marvin Gaye's divorce. 3-stars for me.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I have always thought of the Chemical Brothers as a group that puts out songs I like in a genre I don't like. That being said, outside of the handful of hits, I am not sure I am going to be all that in to a full album.
Review: Well this starts off with one of the hits in "Block Rockin' Beats", and its still a banger. The rest of the album however gets very repetitive to me, which I know is part of the appeal. This music is meant to be listened to in a club or at a festival at 2am on a headful of drugs. I'm sure it hits in that scenario, but for me at my desk this morning I'm kind of getting annoyed. 2-stars
The The
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The The is one of my favorite band names of all time, but before this project, I had never actually listened to them before. This is my second album by them, and I liked the first one fine. My notes say its a darker side of 80s new wave and I would expect the same here.
Review: I gave The The's first album I heard 3-stars, and thats probably right for this one as well. This is a quirky 80s new wave pop album with catchy songs and a bit more of the darker sound I heard on the first one. Nothing is necessarily blowing me away here, but its also better than many of the other 80s albums I have listened to. I'll throw a few songs on the playlist and stick with the 3-stars.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I am pretty sure that Bill Evans is a pianist, and I do typically enjoy piano led jazz. In general with Jazz artists I know and recognize a lot of the big names, but I have not actually listened to their work. That is definitely the case with Bill Evans so I am glad to have a reason to listen. This also seems as if it will be a live show which hopefully means a looser, improv heavy set.
Review: This is very pleasant piano-led jazz with minimal instrumentation, just Bill on keys with a bass player and drummer. I quite enjoy this sound and especially love the interplay between bass and piano. This can easily slip into background music, but while I have made the comment a number of times on other albums on this list, the musicianship here really draws me in. My critique of albums as background music tends to be for more modern, electronic style albums, and I think its the organic instrumentation and free form live setting that keeps this interesting. I can picture myself in a New York jazz club sipping a cocktail and watching these world class musicians create these sounds onstage. 4-stars
Prince
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One of Prince's most loved albums with an absolute classic title track. Should be some good poppy 80s funk rock.
Review: Yep....this is definitely Prince. Lots of fun songs on this one, especially with the hits on the front end. I like that even on albums like this where Prince is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, he's still experimenting with odd sounds and long jammy tracks. There are some cringey overly sexual lyrics on here, but maybe thats just because I'm old. I now listen to records from the standpoint of "can I play this for my daughter" and the answer here is only a couple songs. Lots of fun funky songs here, a number of which are going on the playlist. I can handle the lyrics on my playlist, just not when playing a record through the whole house. 4-stars
T. Rex
3/5
Thoughts before listening: 70s glam rock band led by Marc Bolan. I always enjoy their music, and I am confident this album will be no different.
Review: My initial though on listening to this album was that something about this just isn't grabbing me the way the earlier T Rex album did. That being said, looking back at my previous review, I didn't love that one either. Some of the songs were great, but overall it was just okay. That's how I feel about this one as well. Marc Bolan can definitely write a good, catchy rock song, but I have not heard anything that immediately catches my attention outside of the couple of hits ("Metal Guru" and "Telegram Sam"). I gave the first T. Rex album 3-stars, and I think that's accurate for this one as well.
Without changing my initial assessment, I will say that this album has gotten better on subsequent listens. Maybe its one that takes time to grow on you...which is probably why I thought I had enjoyed their first album more than my rating indicates. I'm going to stick with 3-stars, but I am enjoying this.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the first albums I ever owned. This and Nevermind both came out when I was 10 and really defined my musical tastes ever since. While Nirvana was the band that most inspired my punk rock listening teen years, Pearl Jam's more classic rock, guitar solo friendly style has been the one that has had more of a lasting impact for me. This is a great album that I will be giving 5-stars.
Review: I just have so many memories tied to this band and in particular this album. It's truly iconic for people of a certain age, and I have been listening to this for 3/4 of my life. There are so many classic songs on here that I had to keep from adding the entire album to my playlist. Easy 5-stars
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Thoughts before listening: CCR is always a fun listen, with lots of all-time great classic rock songs. That being said, their albums often exceed even those expectations based off very strong deep cuts. I am always happy to listen to CCR.
Review: Probably not my favorite from CCR, but still a very good album that contains two of their all timers: "Born on the Bayou" and "Proud Mary". In general this album is full of fun, country boogie tinged rock songs, with "Keep On Chooglin'" being my favorite of the deep cuts. Of course CCR was from San Francisco, and not the Bayou, so while they are not necessarily coming from an authentic place, they certainly embody the sound of that area. 4-stars
Peter Frampton
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I could have sworn I had already listened to this as part of this project. One of the biggest albums of the 70s that became a punchline for much of the 90s and 00s. There are massive hits on here that everyone knows, and my impression on past listens were that its a solid guitar rock album with extended cuts for the live show.
Review: So this basically takes a little bit from all the big 70s rock bands, runs it through a pop sheen filter, and then produces an extremely palatable version of what those bands were doing. If this was a studio album, it would probably be pretty annoying, but the live looseness does help out here. Its a perfectly fine album, but not something that I'd ever return to often. 3-stars
Robbie Williams
1/5
Thoughts before listening: I know that Robbie Williams was a big deal over in England in the 90s, but he just never really meant that much in the US. It seems like this is one of those albums that made the list for its cultural impact in the UK more than for its actual musical merits. Sure the dude was a massive star and based on the cover, this album addresses that, but is the music worthy of this list?
Review: So I guess the general idea here is ex-boy band star releases overproduced songs that lean into the popular sounds of the day such as Blur-style brit-pop, Sugar Ray-level alternative, and boy band dance-pop. Its pretty annoying to be honest and even the big hit "Angel" didn't really draw me in. I haven't given out a 1-star rating in a while, but this probably deserves it...at least in the context of this list. There are some absolute classics on here, even in the pop genre, and this does not rise anywhere near that same level.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Thoughts before listening: These guys put out some good songs in the 80s with a sound that I believe would be considered dream pop style alt rock. I don't recognize this album cover though. I'm not positive this is what's happening here, but there are lots of examples on this list where some European 80s band gets their big hit album AND the more difficult/arty follow-up on the list.
Review: I was so close...this is the lesser known debut album not the arty follow-up. Echo and the Bunnymen's big song came out in 1984, 4 years after this debut. In fact, this is the 2nd E&tB album I have heard on this list, and still no "Killing Moon". You know, I like being able to get a history lesson and not ONLY listen to the hit albums, but this one is just okay to me. Its perfectly fine post-punk that leans toward a darker sound, and I am sure if I listened to it enough it would grow on me. However, on an initial play through, only the title track is really pulling me in. To make it worse, Spotify auto-played a random later career song by the band and it was MUCH better. I think this album is suffering a bit from low production values and the band hasn't quite yet come into their own as songwriters. This is a 3-star album.
Cheap Trick
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I was just reading up on Cheap Trick yesterday and was wondering if I had gotten them on this project yet. Really good live album from classic rock band that leans heavily into a power pop sound. Fun band.
Review: Part of my research into the band was to find out that, to my surprise, Cheap Trick's debut album came out in 1977. These guys feel like they should be contemporaries of the 70s hard rock bands like Zeppelin and Aerosmith, but they were putting out their early albums at the same time that punk and new wave were taking off. That makes sense with their sound which comes off more akin to pop punk with a rock sheen than any sort of arena rock. This is definitely a fun album that I'll give 4-stars.
Grateful Dead
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this is exciting. I thought Live Dead was the only album by the Dead on here. Guess I was wrong. I typically prefer Workingman's Dead, but this is still a classic.
Review: Pretty predictable top reviews on here although I'm glad to see a solid average score. I don't get why so many people hate the Dead on principle alone, but they do. To me they're the best American band of all time, and the songs on this album are a huge part of their lore. "Box of Rain", "Friend of the Devil", "Sugar Magnolia", "Brokedown Palace", and especially "Ripple" and "Truckin'" stand amongst the most iconic songs of all time. Hating on them is just dumb. 5-stars
Nanci Griffith
2/5
Thoughts before listening: I see Nancy Griffith's name listed a lot as an important folk singer-songwriter from the 80s and 90s. I don't really know all that much about her, but I feel like she was a big influence on the 90s Lilith Fair-type performers. A strong female voice in a heavily male-dominated world.
Review: This is okay. Definitely on the poppier side of folk music often leaning into more country music territory. There are a few songs that I enjoy but for the most part its pretty boring. Its an objectively decent album, but I'm going to give it 2-stars in the context of this list.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
Thoughts before listening: My impression of the Afghan Whigs has always been that they were an alt-rock/grunge band that leaned into an R&B sound. That being said, I know very little else about them, and they represent a pretty big hole in my musical listening history. It seems like I should be into them, but I just have never really given them much of a chance. Glad to have a reason to now.
Review: So the R&B aspects of this are maybe a bit overstated. There is definitely a certain vibe and groove to these songs that was missing from the Afghan Whigs' contemporaries, but its definitely still a 90s alt-rock sound. This is great, being very reminiscent of other music I was into at that time. I do see some negative reviews on here, which probably isn't surprising...I feel like these guys are the American equivalent of the Brit-pop bands that I've been annoyed by on this list. However, this sound totally resonates with me. As suspected, this was right up my alley, and I wish I hadn't slept on these guys for so long. 4-stars
The Pogues
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The Pogues are awesome. I only ever owned their greatest hits on CD, so it will be nice to listen to what's supposed to be their best album.
Review: Drunken Irish folk songs played with a punk rock attitude. I love it, and these guys went on to inspire a bunch of bands I discovered in my 90s punk days i.e. Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys. Its a fun listen. 4-stars
Neil Young
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of Neil's best. For the most part, this album fits more into his folk sound than the rock one, but it includes some of his most enduring hit songs as well.
Review: Yeah there's not much to say about this perfect album. Simple yet effective country folk rock from one of the best to ever do it. So many classics on this album including "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man", but I also love "Out on the Weekend", "Are You Ready for the Country", "Alabama", and "The Needle and the Damage Done". Easily a 5-star album for me.
Mike Oldfield
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Ambient early electronic recording from the 70s. I'm pretty sure that's the general idea here. Probably going to be better than that description would indicate.
Review: I would say that I mostly had the sound right. It's fully instrumental and brings in a lot of different sounds. There are long tracks with many different sections, some of which I really enjoy and others that are pretty boring. I was surprised that there were some strong guitar solo sections that caught my attention. However, for the most part this is new age-y, ambient music that doesn't really resonate with me. 2-stars
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Joni Mitchell is starting to grow on me a bit, at least partly because of this project. Her warbly voice can still grate, but she does write some good songs.
Review: So this definitely suffers from the warbly voice and also the overall light jazz meets folk sound of Joni. I'm sure this is a positive for many, but it just keeps me from fully connecting with her music. That being said, there are some very good songs on here. "Free Man in Paris" is one of Joni's best songs and I've never heard her rock as much as she does on "Raised on Robbery". Those songs are going on the playlist, but the best I can give this album is 3-stars.
Alice In Chains
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This is my favorite album from Alice in Chains, and it contains some of their best songs. Of the 4 main grunge bands, I probably go back and listen to AIC the least, but I tend to be happy when I do hear them. In general they're a little more dense in their sound than the other groups, but they definitely rock.
Review: So the way I remember AIC and this album is accurate. Sludgy, dark grunge music that does definitely have quite a bit of melody in the mix. Layne Staley is a very unique singer and his voice is part of the overall darkness of this album. Layne has more of a growl and snarl than the more accessible vocals of say Eddie Vedder or Chris Cornell. "Rooster" and "Would?" are some of the better songs of this era, and this album has a number of deep cuts that resonate with me as well. I'll give this 4-stars.
Genesis
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I have a love/hate relationship with Genesis and much of prog rock for that matter. On the one hand I do think they have some interesting songs, or at least parts of songs, and I believe I even own this album. On the other hand, everything is just so long and over the top. There are great rocking parts that then turn into silly or overly theatrical sections. That being said, I know this is one of their most loved albums, so I am excited to revisit it today.
Review: So my sentiments about Genesis are not changing. There are some awesome songs on here, with interesting arrangements and musicianship, but there are also some folky British elements that distract from the high points. For songs, I enjoy "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" and "Firth of Filth" quite a bit while the rest is just okay for me. In general, I prefer the guitar heavy songs over the other sounds being deployed here. I'll go with 3-stars.
Al Green
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Definitely a classic title track on this one. Otherwise, I know this will be soul music with strong vocals.
Review: Yeah, this is definitely good although its not necessarily the type of thing I would typically listen to. This album is full of poppy, catchy r&b songs with great instrumentation and Al Green's soulful vocals. I'll add a couple songs to the playlist and this is 3-star album to me.
Brian Eno
4/5
Thoughts before listening: One thing I have learned from this project is that not ALL of Brian Eno's music is weird ambient soundscapes. He does that quite a bit, but he has tackled other genres to great effect. I especially like his glam rock album for instance. That being said, the cover of this album is making me think we're in for some ambient soundscapes.
Review: So this is a pop rock record and not the ambient sound I was expecting. Its pretty good. Basically avant-garde pop music with a bunch of textures layered on top. This had to have been a big influence on the new wave bands that were starting to form around the time of this release in the late 70s. Mix something like "Kurt's Rejoinder" with some punk rock attitude and you basically have Devo. Then there is "Here He Comes" which has a bit of a country feel to it and reminds me of what would come to be called alt-country. It feels like Eno is basically laying out the blueprint for future alternative music on this album. Definitely a pleasant surprise with this one although the slow second half does kind of lose my interest. Still though, its 4-stars.
The Crusaders
2/5
Thoughts before listening: 70s funk and r&b I believe is what this will be. I don't typically see the Crusaders making lists like these, and this will likely be a first listen for me.
Review: So if this is a funk/r&b band its much more heavily indebted to the smooth jazz, pop rock sound than I would typically associate with the genre. Maybe it's because Donald Fagen's solo album was the last album I heard on this project, but I am hearing a lot of similarities in the overall sound here. There are some decent smooth jazz instrumentals on the back end of this album that catch my ear with some nice guitar solos, but otherwise this is a little too elevator music for my tastes. 2-stars
Donald Fagen
3/5
Thoughts before listening: The dude from Steely Dan's solo album. I know that fans of the Dan like this album, but I've never thought of it as something that would land on an album like this. I have to assume this will be 70s soft/yacht rock with strong instrumentation and probably some subversive lyrics.
Review: Yep...this album is full of Steely Dan's jazzy pop rock sound and sly social commentary lyrics. I like Steely Dan in doses and this album is no different. Outside of a couple songs ("I.G.Y." and "New Frontier") it all kind of comes off as background music, but from time to time something perks my ears up, usually a guitar solo. I'm sure this is one that would grow on me over time if I had the time to really dig in. That being said, this is 3-stars.
Goldie
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this an album cover or the menu on a PS1 first person shooter? This is going to be some sort of weird, 90s industrial techno or something isn't it? Not excited for this one.
Review: This sounds like the music playing in the bar scene of some 90s sci-fi thriller movie set in a dystopian future. Think Strange Days or eXistenZ. In the way that those movies haven't (((YET))) reflected our reality (description for eXistenZ: "The movie eXistenZ is set in the year 2030. In the film's world, bio-ports are surgically inserted into people's spines to connect them to "UmbiCords," which are part of organic video game pods that have replaced older electronic systems.") the music that was supposed to be in our future hasn't quite manifested itself either. Sure there are still people listening to drum n bass techno, but its cultural relevance is mostly contained to music festivals and late night raves. Just like in the 90s. This isn't for me, and this album is more annoying than anything. 2-stars
Oh man, I thought I was on like track 4 when I wrote the above...nope, still on track 1, all 20 minutes of it. This album is 2 hours long? I'm out. I'll still stick with the 2-star rating though cause even though I don't like this style of music, I'm sure its influential for those who do.
GZA
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I have only really ever scratched the surface of the Wu Tang Clan world. I once owned Enter the 36 Chambers on cd as well as one of Ghostface Killah's albums, and I'm pretty sure I've listened to some of the other solo projects. However, my knowledge is pretty shallow. I know that Liquid Swords is considered one of the great hip hop albums, but this will be my first time listening I'm pretty sure.
Review: This is basically what I expected, and pretty good. This album is defined by slow, jazzy beats and GZA's low key delivery (plus WuTang's typical usage of movie clips). This is the type of hip hop that resonates with me, so its a shame that I have waited 30 years to actually listen to this album. I'd say that this deserves the accolades its gotten over the years....4-stars from me.
Faust
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This one will be new to me. Being from 1973 I'm going to guess this is some sort of European prog rock. Based on the minimalist album cover I will also guess that it leans toward a krautrock or maybe early electronic style....but I really have no idea.
Review: Well, the first song is called "Krautrock" so it seems my guess was correct 😂. This is album is actually all over the place with some definite krautrock influences, but this is more eclectic than just being Kratwerk wannabes. They definitely feel more lighthearted and less mechanical than their krautrock contemporaries, almost reminding me of a jamband who just gets into the studio and throws a bunch of ideas out to see what sticks. "Giggy Smile" and its sax/keys jam is probably my favorite part of this album. Overall I'd give this 3-stars.
The Jam
4/5
Thoughts before listening: The Jam are pretty good. A punk era band that played more power pop style music without all the vitriol of their punk contemporaries. They have some absolute bangers, and I would assume at least some are on this album.
Review: Well I nailed the sound on this album. This is catchy power pop that has even less in common with punk rock than I was expecting. I guess I only really know their earlier albums which did lean into a heavier sound. This album sounds more like the Who or the Kinks than the Sex Pistols. I especially like the basslines on this album, and there are quite a few catchy songs that are going on the playlist: "David Watt", "In the Crowd", "Billy Hunt", "Its too Bad", "The Place I Love", "A Bomb in Wardour Street", and "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight". I am glad to have heard this album....4-stars.
Björk
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I should like Bjork. I really should. She has been putting out weirdo, avant garde pop music throughout my music obsessed life, and outside of a few of the bigger songs, I just haven't cared. Maybe this later career release from her will be the one that finally clicks for me?
Review: This is certainly an engaging album, despite not necessarily being my cup of tea. I think I had similar reactions to David Bowie's Blackstar and the final Leonard Cohen album as well. Both of those were dark albums written at the end of the artist's life, and this one is about the end of Bjork's marriage. This is slow, emotional, orchestral music with Bjork's lovely vocals floating on top, and while there aren't specific songs I would add to my playlist, I am glad to have had the chance to hear this. 3-stars
David Crosby
4/5
Thoughts before listening: This album gets a lot of praise, and I am pretty sure I picked this up in a record store used bin because of the hype. I don't remember loving it though. Basically what you would expect from a David Crosby solo album...mixture of folky acoustic rock and a few harder songs with guitar solos. Perfectly pleasant music, but no real hits that drew me in if I recall correctly.
Review: So maybe I should have revisited this album more instead of just adding it back into the record shelves. I like this quite a bit actually. The band here is amazing, basically being a whos who of California hippie rock stars from CSNY, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, etc. There is a lot going on with these songs, and even if the melodies don't instantly grab me, deep listening is definitely rewarded. I assume my original listens were while I was distracted playing this as background music, and I can see where I would have dismissed the album. I'll add a few songs to the playlist (my favorites are the longer jams with guitar solos) and will also be pulling the record back off the shelf. 4-stars
Genesis
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Man I just don't love Genesis. I want to love Genesis. I feel like I should love Genesis. But it just doesn't do it for me. I own this album and I've probably listened 2 or 3 times. The refrain of the title gets stuck in my head, but it's just too much for me as a whole.
Review: Look there are some cool songs on here, but there just so much unnecessary weirdness as well. I don't hate this, and I will be glad to add the better songs to my playlist. However, when trying to listen as a full album I just keep hitting parts that are more annoying than enjoyable. Maybe I'm just not a prog guy 🤷
Anyway, this gets 3-stars.
Elbow
3/5
Thoughts before listening: British 00s indie rock I believe. I don't know much about these guys, but I'll guess they're vaguely Radiohead influenced. Maybe like a slightly more interesting Coldplay or something.
Review: Nailed it...from Allmusic: "Exploring the fruitful middle ground between early Radiohead's mopey art rock and Coldplay's radio-friendly dumbing down of the same".
This is fine. It's definitely reminiscent of other 00s British alt-rock bands, but the strong vocals and emotional performance helps them stand out. 3-stars
Ravi Shankar
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Sitar music by someone who was in the Beatles' general universe and influenced George Harrison. Looks like this was released in 1957 a full decade before his Beatles connection.
Review: I understand why the Beatles and other 60s hippie musicians glommed onto this guy and his music. There is something entrancing about the sitar, and the way the music is constantly evolving and flowing means it aligns itself well to both psychedelic rock and an acid trip. I'm not going to add any of these songs to the playlist, but I am glad to have heard it. This is certainly interesting music. 3-stars
Gram Parsons
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know that at the time, it was probably very revolutionary for a long haired hippie from California to be making country music. However, this is pretty standard in today's music business...both with underground artists and with the mainstream. I say this because if you listen to this album through a modern lens, I don't know that it necessarily stands out. It's certainly good, but many Gram Parsons indebted musicians have released albums over the past 50 years, diluting the impact that he made.
Review: I think the most surprising thing about Gram Parsons is that the lore around him would make you think this is going to be some sort of cosmic country, LSD trip with banjos...and its not that at all. This is pretty straightforward country music reminiscent of the Bakersfield sound of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. I think its pretty good although some of the slower songs drag a bit for my taste. Emmylou Harris is a huge part of this album, and her voice floating below Gram's throughout is one of the biggest draws here. My favorite songs include: "Return of the Grievous Angel", "Love Hurts", "Ooh Las Vegas", and "In My Hour of Darkness". In general, I enjoy this quite a bit and I'll give it 4-stars.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this tropicalia, the Brazilian psych movement of the 60s? I think it might be. What I keep finding interesting about these musicians is that they aren't nearly as psychedelic as I was assuming. There's still a lot of traditional Brazil music in their sound. Maybe I just think this because of the Portuguese language, but that's been my observation. The cover of this album, however, makes me think this might be the exception.
Review: Ok so not only is this tropicalia but its credited with inventing the genre. The first track is called "Tropicalia" so I guess this sets the blueprint. It's good although I'm never going to seek this music out. I still agree with my earlier assessment that while there may be some 60s pop songwriting going on here, I mostly wouldn't classify it as "psychedelic". One exception is "Eles" which does have little flourishes of distorted organ and guitar. That's my favorite song on the album. Otherwise, most songs employ a very loungey/jazzy Brazilian sound here. 3-stars
The Icarus Line
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Gothy indie pop or something I think. I never really paid these guys much attention.
Review: Nope. Totally wrong on this one. This is punkish alt rock, pretty similar in vibe to stuff that I was listening to in the 00s like At the Drive-In or Queens of the Stone Age. This is okay although I'm not hearing any songs as good as those other bands, and I don't really see anything to justify their inclusion on this list. Feels like another swing and miss from the editors to choose a contemporary album that deserved inclusion. 2-stars
Tom Waits
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I have a lot of trouble listening to Tom Waits. On the one hand, his albums are all a cool and always interesting vibe with bluesy, vaudeville, carnival barker swagger, but on the other the growled vocals take A LOT of getting used to. Some times I'm here for it, but many times its just too much for me. I know this is one of his most celebrated albums, so hopefully it'll allow me to push through the parts I don't like.
Review: Ok so reading up on this album, it seems this was where he changed his sound to what we think of Tom Waits today. This album is full of jazzy, bluesy instrumentation that I enjoy quite a bit. Maybe its just because it keeps the growl to a minimum, but I personally prefer Tom Waits' ballads to the other songs he does. This album has a few of these ballads mixed in with more upbeat songs. While this kicked off an era for Tom that is decidedly less approachable than his earlier work, I find this to be more accessible than later albums like Mule Variations and Bone Machine. Looking at the reviews from others, maybe I've finally passed over the point of no return in liking Tom Waits' music enough that the voice doesn't really bother me. Regardless, this is pretty good, and I'll give it 4-stars.
George Jones
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Nice. I love this era of country music, and George Jones is one of the best to ever do it. That being said, I only really know his hits, and I have never actually done a deep dive on him. Looking forward to hearing this.
Review: George Jones has one of the best voices of all time, country or otherwise. This album is full of his trademark heartbroken ballads and while this is not necessarily the type of country I would typically gravitate toward, its hard to deny just how good this is. This album was released in 1974 in the height of the outlaw country movement, but George stuck to his guns with a more traditional, crooner style. I can dig it, although nothing on here outside of the title track really hits like George's greatest songs ("He Stopped Loving Her Today", "She Thinks I Still Care", etc...I see a lyrical theme here 😂). I also appreciate that he threw in a couple upbeat honky tonk numbers with "The Weatherman" and "Our Private Life" to break up the ballads a bit. This is a 4-star album to me.
Violent Femmes
5/5
Thoughts before listening: I love the Violent Femmes. I believe that I only ever owned their greatest hits album, but this is their record that gets all the praise. I also believe that most of these songs are on the greatest hits. I'm excited to see this show up today.
Review: This what I love about the 80s college/indie rock scene. This doesn't play by any rules of what should work for a rock band yet it's full of catchy and iconic songs. This has a punk rock vibe but played with acoustic and minimalist instrumentation where the most prominent sound is the bass. Yet it totally works. This being popular (largely thanks to "Blister in the Sun") is a big reason that many of my favorite weirdo bands from the 90s were able to exist and thrive. I'll give this 5-stars.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Nice. I've mostly avoided listening to Iron Maiden, but when I do, I'm usually impressed. They specialize in a very melodic brand of metal with flashy riffs and sing along choruses. Should be a fun listen.
Review: So this is Maiden's first album and while its certainly not as polished as their later discography, I am enjoying this. What is here already on many songs is the bands "gallop" tempo and multi-guitar attack, while the most noticeable difference is that Paul Di'Anno doesn't have the high flying vocals that Bruce Dickinson would eventually bring to the band. My favorite songs here are "Running Free", "Phantom of the Opera", "Transylvania", and "Charlotte the Harlot". This is better than I was expecting it to be, and I thought I would probably like this album. I especially appreciate the clean vocals since so much of heavy metal is unlistenable to me because of the singers. I also feel like this isn't as dark lyrically as I thought it would be. I'll give this 4-stars.
Buck Owens
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I know that Buck Owens is considered one of the greats of the country genre, especially what has been called the "Bakersfield sound", but I do not believe I have ever listened to him. I am expecting an enjoyable album of old style country.
Review: Okay yeah, this is quintessential honky tonk country. This is the sound that inspired many of the country musicians I enjoy: Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, etc, and Buck was a big influence on the country rock sound of the 70s as well. For a perfect example of Buck's reach to the rock world, the Beatles covered "Act Naturally" which is on this album. Overall, this is a very good example of the genre that I am glad to have heard. 4-stars
ABBA
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Abba were really good at crafting catchy as hell pop songs. Sometimes the production of the songs tips over into cheesiness that makes them unlistenable for me, but it's hard to deny that the songs are great. I don't recognize this album cover, but chances are I'll know some of the songs.
Review: So I notice this album was released in 1981 which feels late for Abba who I consider more of a 70s band. Turns out this was their final album for 40 years and was released as the group was breaking up both personally and professionally. This makes it a pretty questionable inclusion for this list, especially considering the fact that I'm not hearing any recognizable hits. That's not to say it's bad, these are still very catchy songs, it's just not an Abba album I'd expect to be celebrated. I was going to give this 3-stars, but at an hour long I'm growing tired of it quickly. I'll go with 2-stars...I just don't think I'm wired for Abba.
Minor Threat
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Minor Threat rules.
Review: This is about as iconic as punk rock gets. I feel like Minor Threat's music is often overshadowed by their straight edge politics, but the band itself was very strong. This album was well recorded with production that sounds better than many of their contemporaries, and there is a lot of tunefulness and strong instrumentation within these short songs. While I would typically listen one of their compilation albums since many of Minor Threat's most iconic songs came from the early singles (only "Out of Step" has been re-recorded for this release), these are still very strong songs: "Betray", "Think Again", "Look Back & Laugh", etc. Punk music has been very important to me through my life and this is one of the iconic bands from that scene. For that reason, I'm giving this 5-stars.
Ray Charles
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Ray is certainly a classic musician. I own his Sounds in Country and Western Music album, and enjoy it quite a bit, but I don't have this one. I feel like this will have a lot of very recognizable songs though.
Review: Yeah, I love this. Ray Charles has a great voice and he's singing wonderful songs on this album. The band is also top notch throughout. Something this project has helped me to identify is that I really enjoy swing-era jazz. I will say that the second half of the album abandons the full jazz band arrangements for a subdued piano driven sound which is less to my liking. In all I'd give this 4-stars.
Eminem
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I used to own this CD, and this album came out during my college years. It's good and I'm going to enjoy listening to it, but man Eminem's lyrics are hard to stomach now as a mid-40s guy.
Review: This is causing major flashbacks for me. Eminem is definitely good. Its hard to argue that he isn't one of the most innovative and interesting rappers of all time. Great beats and potentially the most recognizable delivery of any rapper ever. Nobody else sounds like Eminem. That being said, my original assessment that I can't take these lyrics still remains. I'll give this 3-stars.
Tom Waits
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I enjoy Tom Waits in general. He's definitely an acquired taste, but I like the jazzy, bluesy persona as well as his songwriting. I know that this is an earlier album before he had evolved his persona into more of a demented carnival barker. In these days he was more drunken beatnik poet. I think I'll like this.
Review: So this is a live album which I was not expecting. To be exact, its essentially a fake live album with a jazz club manufactured in a studio to try and capture Tom Waits' live persona. Its okay. I really dig the non-stop jazz music backing these songs although Tom Wait's coffee shop open mic style comedic spoken word is not necessarily what I was hoping to hear. This is almost more of a comedy album than a music one. While there are certainly some songs on here, its hard to really distinguish them as such since its essentially a continuous monologue from Tom. I'll give this 3-stars for the actual music and overall vibes, but this is not my favorite from Tom.
Suede
3/5
Thoughts before listening: Part of the 90s Britpop scene that was less successful in the US than their contemporaries i.e. Oasis, Pulp, and Blur. I do however recognize this album cover, so they must have made some sort of an impact over here. Maybe I'll recognize a song or two?
Review: So this feels like the Britpop band that is most indebted to glam rock and especially David Bowie while also having a bit of the Smiths in their sound. Not just the androgynous cover art of two people of mysterious gender kissing, but also in the sound and overall aesthetic of this album. There are some good songs here and even some of the songs that don't grab me at first evolved into dramatic soundscapes that eventually drew me in. I like "So Young", "Moving", and "Metal Mickey" the best. Overall, I have no nostalgic or emotional attachment to this album, but I am happy to have heard it. 3-stars
Liz Phair
3/5
Thoughts before listening: This album really has persisted as a critical favorite for a long time. I often see it making the top of best albums of the 90s lists and from time to time even sneaking into all-time album lists. I don't know that I really think it deserves all that praise although its not bad. "F and Run" is a good tune, and I think I know a few more like "Divorce Song", but otherwise I have never really been overly blown away by this album.
Review: Yeah this is a singer-songwriter album for the 90s alt and indie rock scene. Its sexually explicit and emotionally raw bedroom pop rock that is delivered from the female perspective. Some songs are really good and others are a little too lo-fi for my ears. In addition to the songs I called out previously I am also enjoying "Never Said". This is undeniably a "cool" album, especially for people like me who came of age in the 90s, but something just doesn't quite click for me. I'll add the good songs to my playlist and give this 3-stars.
Pixies
5/5
Thoughts before listening: One of the best albums from one of my favorite bands. This has a ton of iconic songs on it and is a prominent part of my record collection. The Pixies have been hugely influential on a lot of very good bands, and I am glad to have a reason to revisit this one.
Review: Man you really forget just how many classic songs are on an album like this. There's really not a single skip on this entire album which is pretty rare for something with 15 tracks. The Pixies essentially created the loud quiet loud alt rock sound and that aesthetic can be found throughout this record. Its a sound that has become so synonymous with the 90s alternative scene that its effect can be easily lost when listening to the Pixies original material. Nobody else really sounded like this in 1989 even though LOTS of bands would sound like this over the next 10 years. Its a shame that the Pixies were largely overlooked during their original run, but it has been nice to see their resurgence as a successful touring act. there are too many bangers on this album to list them all, but a lot will be going on the playlist. 5-stars
Björk
3/5
Thoughts before listening: I had a major crush on Bjork at this time in her career. Cute little pixie Icelandic girl with a good voice making cool music....whats not to love. I never actually really listened to her outside of what was on MTV or radio though. I have found her albums on this project to be a bit of a mixed bag although I think so far I have mostly gotten later career albums. I was pleasantly surprised by the Sugarcubes album. I am glad to have a reason to listen to this.
Review: "Human Behavior" is a such a cool, weirdo hit song for its era, and I am glad that its kicking off this album. It has a bit of an industrial vibe to the sound but with a lot more organic almost tribal percussion and of course Bjork's always interesting vocals as the star of the show. In general this mix of industrial/techno beats with more organic elements is a common theme throughout this album. My review for the Sugarcubes mentioned that I never generally connected with Bjork's music, and I would say that remains true. While there are certain songs and moments I enjoy, this just isn't the type of music that I gravitate to. Its also a lot more poppy than I was expecting, with the main draw being Bjork's vocals which are at different times playful, whimsical, and ethereal. I respect Bjork as a singular artist producing experimental pop music, but its just not really for me. 3-stars
Brian Eno
4/5
Thoughts before listening: I enjoyed one of the Eno albums on here and found an all great time song in "Third Uncle". I've also been underwhelmed by the ambient albums as that just isn't a sound I care for. I know this is pretty early in his solo career and is very highly regarded, but my opinion will likely be based on whether this album is avant-garde rock Eno or ambient soundscapes Eno.
Review: Yeah so this is avant-garde rock Eno, and a pretty good album as well. It starts off with "Needles in the Camels Eye" which is a recognizable song and has a cool little guitar riff in the middle that always grabs my attention. "Baby's on Fire" continues the strong guitar work with an extended, messy overly distorted solo that had to have been an influence on a band like Sonic Youth. In general, this album sounds like the bands in the late 70s/early 80s that were transitioning the punk rock sound into what would become new wave and alternative. Only this album was released in 1973. This definitely seems before its time and its overall an enjoyable listen. 4-stars
Johnny Cash
4/5
Thoughts before listening: Late career resurgence album produced by Rick Rubin. I haven't spent a ton of time listening to these albums although I'm a huge Johnny Cash fan. I know there are a lot of covers (is "Hurt" on this one?) and in general more of a dark, somber theme to the music. Should be a good listen.
Review: Man, I just love Johnny Cash's rich, deep baritone voice so much. I also love that these American albums matched the voice with cool production values and arrangements as opposed to the radio friendly sheen found on many of his original hits. Still though the star here is Johnny's voice which is front and center throughout the album. "Hurt" is the true standout here and 20 years later it is still often highlighted as one of the best songs of its era. Overall this was a fitting swan song to Cash's career and life as his health was in decline and he would die the next year. 4-stars
Goldfrapp
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this the second Goldfrapp album on here? Maybe I'm mistaking this for some other 2000s era indie pop/electronic artist. Regardless, I remember Goldfrapp making all the best album lists of that era, but I never really paid much attention. I'm sure this will be fine.
Review: Yeah confirmed second album from Goldfrapp. As always, I strongly question the 00s era albums included on this list, but to be fair I was mainly listening to punk, indie rock, and jamband artists in those years so I'm probably not necessarily the best source to ask. I get the appeal of Goldfrapp and other similar musicians, even if its not necessarily for me. There are some somewhat interesting songs on this album, but overall this slow, breathy singing just isn't for me. It sounds like soundtrack music for a Bond movie, and I was pretty bored. 2-stars
Machito
3/5
Thoughts before listening: From the album cover to the musician's name this is new to me even though it was released 70 years ago. I have been listening to more jazz than ever recently so perhaps this will be right up my alley.
Review: Its kind of hard to hate on this. Its solid jazz music played over a tribal style percussion beat. This sounds like the soundtrack music to 50s and 60s crime or spy movies, and at times it also comes off as too polished for its own good. A live recording of these songs would likely be more enjoyable than these 3-4 minute studio cuts. Still though I'll add a handful of songs to the playlist and give this 3-stars.
Wilco
5/5
Thoughts before listening: Wilco is one of my favorite bands, and I typically say this is my favorite album by them (although it might actually be Sky Blue Sky). It's a transitional record bridging the gap from their firmly alt-country beginning to the more experimental sounds found on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I haven't listened to this in a while so I'm glad to have a reason to revisit it.
Review: Yeah I'm having major flashbacks listening to this album and it really is just so good. I pretty much nailed the description on this one: there are still country sounding songs on this album (i.e. "Forget the Flowers" which is a favorite) but overall this fits more comfortably in the 90s/00s indie rock world. I remember people calling Wilco the American Radiohead, and that's probably a fair description although Wilco certainly has stuck to traditional song structures more than Radiohead. All in all this is a great album by one of my favorite bands. 5-stars
Culture Club
2/5
Thoughts before listening: Is this the album with "Karma Chameleon"? I would have to assume thats the case. Its a good song for the 80s New Wave scene. That being said, I have never felt the need to listen to these guys past that song. Boy George was an over the top personality, and I'm sure this will be fine.
Review: Well "Karma Chameleon" is the first song on here. Its definitely catchy and iconic, even if its not really my style. Just a nice feel good 80s pop song with a very memorable chorus. The rest of the album follows a similar path with most songs in the mid-tempo poppy realm. I liked "Church of the Poison Mind" which I added to my playlist. 2-stars
The Young Rascals
2/5
Thoughts before listening: 60s era pop rock group. Seems more like a label trying to capitalize on the hippie movement than an actual band with merit, but maybe I'm wrong on that.
Review: So it seems that the Young Rascals are actually in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. That tells me that they were at least critically respected in their time and were more than just a marketing ploy. That being said, I am not really hearing much here to grab my attention. I mean its perfectly fine pop rock, but there just isn't anything really interesting happening here outside of some catchy melodies. I'll give this 2-stars.