1001 Albums Summary

Really like Cosmic Dancer. Everyone knows Bang a Gong. The Motivator sounds like a Bang a Gong outtake. Rip Off feels like I’ve heard someone cover it, but not quite. I do like some of the guitar sounds and it has that classic 70s production. Not sure I’ll listen again but glad I did. Good start to this journey.

When I kissed the teacher is just.. weird. Dancing Queen.. let’s start the song with the chorus. Brilliant (really). Should be more bass in the mix though. Dum Dum Diddle is actually pretty catchy Money Money Money.. a bit too Broadway for me BUT is that an early sequencer I hear? Why Did It Have To Be Me… sounds nostalgic. And out of place. Tiger is disjointed. Arrival! The theme song! And... Celtic??? This was awful.

Brilliant start to finish.

This album is like the beginning of March. Those cold days. Still winter. But not quite.. Reminds me of middle school and FM rock radio

One of my favorite albums of all time. Brings back so many memories. Had a great night listening to this.

I’m reading the reviews.. one of the best albums of all time.. and I just don’t get it.. It’s not bad, it’s just.. there. I can’t see myself ever listening to this again.

Enjoyed this. Raw, electronic. Clear 808. Early synths.

18 year old me knew enough that I was supposed to like this. I’d play Sweet Jane on my college radio station. Or Walking After Midnight. But in all honesty.. as the song said (different tense).. I didn’t get it. 53 year old me gets it. This is really, really good and I’m glad I was reintroduced to it. It’s added to my library and will be listening to it much more.

Interesting! Made me think about a hot summer night in a city. I had NO idea what they were saying but I really liked it

It’s a sound collage. This was even better than I remember. It makes me want to sit down and write again. 5 stars

This is really good, especially the end.. Gates of Eden, It’s alright Ma I’m Only Bleeding, It’s All Over Now Baby Blue.. Classic Dylan

Pretty generic new wave pop punk. Kind of forgettable to be honest. Not bad but..

Pretty good. I'm not huge into rap/hip hop but I liked this. NOT sure I'd listen whole lot but may listen again

Pretty good. Middle school me would have LOVED this. 53 year old me likes it a lot.

Ok this is really, really good. I’ve heard of The War on Drugs obviously but never got around to sitting down and listening to them. Fuck I missed out. Added to my library. 5 stars

Didn’t expect to get an album over three hours long! Very good though.. her voice is perfect. Reminds me of Christmas shopping. Or winter in the city. Not SURE I’d listen again but I might. Leaning 4-5 stars

2 days in a row I’ve gotten a great singer singing other people’s songs. Overall it’s good. Like it, don’t love it. Production is SO 1989. Songs are decent but I wish she’d written them. Didn’t add. Not sure I’ll ever listen again

Brought me back to being 16

Disappointed. I thought this would be better. Outside of the hits it’s not my thing

Is this a joke? Sorry.. I just don’t get it. The lyrics are awful and the production makes it hard to listen to.. overcompressed, way too much treble. Awful.

Not bad. I like the overall sound of it but it’s also sort of.. forgettable?

Wow this was really good. Love the unfamiliar time signatures. Some of it I can hear some pieces of traditional blues.. chicken or egg? I added it to my library.

Didn’t love it and probably won’t listen again but rating it for the influence

Really really liked this. I’ve never heard of him before being “assigned” this album but so glad I was! Added.

Brilliant.

Eh?

Love this. Have for a long time.

“This sounds like a Saturday Night Live skit” Extra star for the lineup/historical content.

YES!!! How did I not know about this until it was 30 years old? This is AMAZING. I knew the name Paul Weller but don’t think I had ever heard his music. Time to go digging! Added, 5 stars

Perfect. One of my favorites

This was awful. I have no idea how this made the list

Not awful but doubt I’d listen again

It all makes sense. He’s a narcissist, we know that now. So of course he thinks he can rap. “I’m a rapper”. And people believe him. And for him that means vulgar rhymes over a constant boring simple rhythm. This is awful. The fish sticks joke fiasco makes total sense now

Really liked this. The antithesis of the day before’s Kanye fiasco

MOOG!! I liked it

This one is a classic, already in my library. A favorite

Brothers in Arms the song pushed it from 4 to 5 stars. Easy to forget how good this is, understand why it was so big when it came out.

Excellent. Already was in my library

Excellent! Another “why haven’t I listened to this before??? album. Added

Not my thing but I could tell that this was done well and is probably excellent if it’s what youre into.

Yeah this was like pulling teeth. I don’t get it.

Not too bad.. a bunch of good songs with one or two great ones

Great background music. Not bad but easily forgotten.

Pretty good. I’ll go to 4 stars given it’s importance

MUCH better than I expected. Really enjoyed this one, maybe even more than BSSM

I mean.. how do you follow up Rumours? Even still.. seems just “mailed in” except for Sara. Fine. Just.. fine.

This one was GREAT!!! Added.

Tight! Freak out! Not sure I’ll listen again but glad I did

Not as good as I hoped but not bad. Reminded me of college radio.

Started as just boring and then got worse. Ended up being too painful to listen to. Got through most of it but couldn’t finish. This is NOT the kind of band who can pull off a 6-7 minute song. Sorry, I just don’t get it.

Really good!

Not bad at all..

Boring. Just.. there. Good background music. Opening song was the best then became a huge disappointment.

Not bad. Not sure I’ll listen again though

Pretty good.. she’s obviously VERY talented

I feel like I SHOULD like this but I don’t. I just don’t get it. Some of it would be ok if someone else sung it or arrangements were different. The last song I couldn’t even sit through.

Amazing. One of my favorite albums of all time.

I like the experimental nature of this but can’t say anything really stuck with me. Debating 3 vs 4 stars, the ambition will push it to 4 for me

Constant Craving is amazing. The rest of this was painfully boring. I could barely through it. CC gives it a 2 otherwise it would have been 1

I liked. This. A lot more than I expected to.

Brings me back! I actually remember it being better than it is now

Disappointing. I thought this would be better. Really not great at all

Not bad. Artsy. Not really for me but I can appreciate it. Trying to decide 3 vs 4 stars..

Obviously a classic. Not their best but a harbinger of things to come

Better than I expected

Really good!

Not really my thing but I can tell it’s good if it’s your thing

First half was pretty great. Too much cabaret though

Really good especially the second half. Sultans is one of the best songs ever by anyone. 4+

It’s perfect. One of the best pieces of art ever made.

Not my thing but I recognize the talent. Making me wonder if this was the catalyst for the character “Ricky Ricardo”

Not too bad.

A few gems but otherwise I’m not sure what the hype is

Really not liking this at all. Pop and not the good kind

A classic. Brought back middle school memories

Very interesting.. I liked it

This was GREAT! I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. Added and will be listening again

Brilliant. And LOVED Sonny Rollins. Added.

Brings me back to freshman year of college!! A classic. I like it more the older I get.

Pretty good.. I’d listen again

I got bored with it.. not awful but can’t imagine listening to it a lot.

This was better than I expected..

I feel like I’m supposed to love this. But I don’t. It’s not awful but I can’t see myself listening to this again..

Really really good. Middle or even high school me would have hated this. So glad I matured.

Not awful but not his best. That early stuff is amazing

Yeah just can’t get into this at all. Not sure what the appeal is

A classic. Already in my library. Every song is amazing

Excellent! Inspiring. Really loved this.

It’s like.. on the verge of being amazing. But not quite. I liked it a lot though.

Not too bad. Can’t imagine I’ll listen again but it’s good for what it is

That voice is amazing. Love this one

Man this was painful to listen to. I can hear the hurt in him and it’s just.. not good. It’s sort of amazing this was green lighted back then. But all being said, glad I got to experience it.. one of the great things about this site.

This is excellent musicianship but it’s also very forgettable. I can’t imagine ever listening to it again. I guess if you love prog rock it’d be a different story but.. I’d rather listen to ABACAB. Or hear Peter Gabriel sing Sledgehammer. I can’t stop thinking about the Stonehenge scene in Spinal Tap.

It’s like twirky background music. Not a fan.

Yes!!!! I never heard of this person or this music and it’s AMAZING. I love everything about it!! It’s such a great blend of different styles, he production quality is great.. added. 5 stars.

This is really good.. better than I expected

It’s not my thing but they do it well.

Brings me back to being 21, college done but no job yet, hanging out in the summer with my college friends, hadn't yet met my wife nevermind thought about kids or life or what I’d be doing in my 50s.. I’ve listened to this a ton but it’s been a while. It’s even better than I remember.

Eh. Surprised how many songs I knew Sounds dated.

Not too bad, especially the middle of the album.. the beginning and end aren’t great

This is really good. Better than I expected.. I added it and am going to check out his other stuff too

Brings back SO MANY memories. Nostalgia aside.. it’s not their best but a preview of what they could be. My favorite band in the world for a while.

Ok background music but nothing that excites me.

Not too bad. I can see myself listening again.

I’m ready for the laughing gas. What a great album. This one brings back memories too and it’s been a while since I listened. Easy 5 stars for me

Eh. It all kinda sounds like one song.

It’s ok. Not as good as its reputation

Really liked this. Thought I’d LOVE IT after the first song but turns out that was my favorite. Good album though.

Didn’t understand a word but didn’t matter. Pretty good.

Really liked it. There were parts I wish they were a bit more experimental but all in all was pretty good

Excellent. Forgot how good this was.

Not bad. Not great.

I own this album in every form possible and can sing it cover to cover. It was one of the first pieces of music I ever bought and I taught myself guitar by listening to it. My tastes in music have changed since I was that 11 year old kid but this will forever be 5 stars

A little disappointing, I thought I’d line it more

Not sure what to say about this except that it’s amazing. Was a gift from my then gf now wife to me for my 23rd birthday back then so brings back a lot of great memories.. but that not why it’s amazing. SP album's after this can’t compare, this was their peak imo

This is SO 1985!

Better than expected!

Ok so the last SW album I was given (Talking Book) was a complete disappointment, this one is NOT! Really good throughout, everyone knows the hits but the rest of the album is just as good. Highly recommend.

Peter piper picked peppers and Run rocked rhymes I’m instantly 16 again

SO GOOD!! Better than I expected. Added.

Not much to say. If I’m going to a desert island and have to pick 3… This opened up a world of music to me when I was a teenager and ultimately lead me to what I love today. I don’t really have words. Greatest live album of all time. Has been in my library for almost 40 years.

Love this! That VW commercial introduced me to him and SO glad it did

Is this a joke?

Not exactly my thing but it’s a great representation of its era and the “set and setting” of 1960s San Francisco.

Forgot how much I liked them!

Like, all covers. Pretty disappointing.

Lives up to its hype. Great album.

I liked this.. more experimental than I expected

Good for its time I guess?

If Metallicas earlier albums were a solids 4 or 5, this one’s a solid 3.

Phenomenal album

It’s a party!!

Excellent! It’s a shame I’m just learning about this band now..

Not as good as the brown album but so good. The Weight is perfect.

Not awful but not great. Started strong then I got bored.

Background music

Not too bad but don’t live it.. 3.5? I’ll round up

Such great musicianship

SO much energy!!! I can imagine seeing him in the 50s, you’d have to dance. No wonder the parents were terrified!

Really good.. liked it a lot

Classic. These are “standards”. Easy 5 stars

Not as good as I’d hoped. Kind of boring.

Not bad! Better than some of the other electronic music I’ve been given so far..

Interesting. It feels like this would have been much more popular when it first came out.

I liked it.. interesting. Didn’t love it but I might listen again

Pretty good but sounded SO MUCH like the Cure to me in spots..

Pretty good. I wish there were more of my favorite songs on there but I liked it a lot.

When this came out I thought it was so lame. Now with age and wisdom I see how good it is.

Better than expected. I’d probably listen again.

Really good. I’d definitely listen to this again

Not really my thing but not too bad for what it is. Creative.

This is SO good. It’s a crime it took me so long to hear this. Added to my library

A classic. You know every song.

Really good! Lived Roykopps Night Out. Feel like the last couple of songs were filler

Not great to be honest. Pretty boring

It’s like one half good song and a lot of filler. I don’t get it.

Sounds like classic 70s rock. Not too bad. 3/4?

It’s stuff like this I was hoping to hear when I signed up for this.. something interesting I’d never have otherwise been exposed to. Supposedly this is the lowest rated album on the list? I get it. It’s not easily accessible or even listenable especially if you’ve never heard anything like it.. I can hear the roots of NIN and bands like Skinny Puppy in the sounds. There’s little melody. It’s noise.. but that’s purposeful. It made me think about the songwriting, the recording (1981 so reel to reel and multitracks), what a live show must look like. And beyond that, the question of where is the boundary between noise and music? The evolution of the musicians to get to this point. I’m REALLY glad I heard this even if I’m not sure I’d listen again.. though unlike many other albums I’ve heard so far, this one is sticking with me the day after. So fuck it.. giving it a 5 because of all of that.

Pretty good. It’s not Pink Moon but I’m a big Nick Drake fan anyway so I loved this.

Pretty bleh..

Haven’t listened to this in forever but it holds up pretty well.

Not perfect but really good.. added

Beautiful. Classic. Created a new genre

Was this a joke? This was horrible. Even the Bryan Wilson tracks, with the POSSIBLE exception of the last one.. or maybe that one was bad too and it just was so much better than the others I lost track. Disney Girls 1957? Really? A chorus with the lines “Take good care of your feet, Pete/You better watch what you eat, Pete”? “Student Demonstration Time” telling students to, basically, stand down in the turmoil of Vietnam?

I liked it even though I couldn’t understand a word

Loved this. Wish I had heard it years ago

Booorrrriinnggg Another review had it spot on.. it’s all music and no songs

Excellent. I didn’t appreciate this enough when I was a teenager.. wasn’t hard enough for my taste at the time. Glad I’ve evolved.

Just like my last album.. it’s really too bad I didn’t appreciate this more when it came out. I missed out on it and then.. really good album

So this was pretty disappointing to me to be honest. A few good songs but the rest of it not so much. Can’t see myself listening to this again.

Eh.. pretty boring tbh

It’s a classic, it’s probably been decades since I listed to the whole thing. Excellent

It felt like this album was full of random filler and unfinished ideas. I didn’t really like it at all.

Just about every song on here can be on their greatest hits album.

I’ve never heard of this person before and I REALLY LOVED THIS!! Added to my library. Great mix of acoustic and electronics in this.

Was hoping it would be better

Not my thing but not too bad for what it is

Great voice, awful songwriting. Back to Black was SO much better

So good. Not their best but pretty close.

Pretty good. Can see where he was going and ultimately ended up.

A few great songs and a whole lot of filler. Not sure why this is on the list.

Found it pretty boring actually

This is what country music should be

Really liked this BUT really wish it didn’t sound so much like a laid back Pavement album.

Good album. Not great, has some really good songs but not enough to push it to a 4 for me. Not sure I’d listen again.

Pretentious and boring

This period for Bob is SO good. I don’t know why but I’ve passed on listening to this in the past. Won’t make that mistake again!

I love this album. I love what Rick Rubin did to draw this out of him. I live the theme of end of life and imminent death for this giant of American music at the end of his life. Easy 5 stars

One of my favorite bands ever. I really “like” this album and a few songs are amazing BUT I feel like this is where the downhill trajectory started. Man on the Moon bores me. A few other do too. Good album, great, important band.

Really disappointed in this

Oh man… this was pretty bad. Like, someone playing with a synth.

It’s like background music. Like, no opinion either way. Forgettable.

After reading the reviews I wasn’t expecting much but I REALLY liked this. It reminded me of a summer afternoon. Maybe it’s the gen x in me but excellent album.

Really liked this. Can hear how it influenced so many other bands I love.. it’s almost like the original alt country at times.

I hear they’re really fun live but I didn’t like this. I was expecting something better, different

Really liked this. I hear the influences of it in Wilco, Talking Heads..

Some classics on a good but not tremendous album. I prefer 70s Stones but this is a good listen as to what got them there.

Phenomenal

Not bad. Very much sounds like early 80s!

Such an amazing voice! Very good album

Was hoping I’d like this better.. great sound but something is missing

It’s a classic, not his best but very good

This has been on my “you should listen to” list for a while now. Bumped my score up a little more than I would have given its influence. Not sure I’ll rush out to listen to it again but was very interesting.. ahead of its time.

I was hoping this would be better.. I really like some Cure but this one didn’t do anything for me really

One of my favorites!! Can’t believe this was 36 years ago!!

Pretty much unfinished. Glad I listened to it and can appreciate his genius but not sure I’ll listen to solo Syd again

Some of their best songs but others aren’t as stellar. I added it and 100% will listen again though!

Such good memories. It’s easy to forget how much everything changed in 91/92 when Seattle hit the mainstream, how different this was from what was being played on the radio. This was an easy 5 for me, it was in constant rotation back in 91/92

Eh.. not bad but just meh

I feel like this is a joke. Like, who said “Yes, chamber pop! Let’s make an album!” Awful

A couple of good songs, some ok. Not bad but not sure I’d listen again

I really enjoyed this and can see how they were such an influence on later bands. Sounds ahead of its time.

Better than I expected! I don’t know why I don’t listen to Steely Dan more often.. I really like all of their stuff.

Some GREAT songs and a bunch of good ones.. and an occasional “meh”. Overall really liked this though

A couple of sort of interesting things but mostly just boring and somewhat pretentious. I don’t get it. Not sure why this made the cut

I mean, it’s Nevermind. It’s hard now to remember how different this was and how it sparked the change that happened in music and the culture in 91/92. It’s an easy 5, I wish I could give it a 6.. one of the greatest albums of all time.

Some phenomenal songs and some ok ones. Very 80s sounding. I feel like if I listened to this a lot it would grow on me.

I don’t know why but I didn’t expect to like this.. I did though! I’d heard one of the songs but didn’t realize it.

Excellent album!

I did NOT expect this!!! Who knew Alice Cooper was so theatrical??? Much better album than I expected

Noisy in a good way

This would be better without the singer, I hate to say.

I liked this! Surprised I hadn’t heard of this before

It’s interesting .. and I like interesting,weird things.. but not sure I’d listen again. Can 100% appreciate it as artistic though and they’re talented.

Really good. Was surprised at how good it was the first time I heard it

He’s better than this

Surprised at how good this was

This is really good, I’ve heard LCD but never really sat down and listened to a whole album. I’ll check out more of their stuff

This brings back such good memories… one of my favorites

Interesting, grew on me the more I listened to it

Ok so when this came out I was a big Pumpkins fan. I didn’t like what I heard.. the few songs on the radio.. Bullet, 1979. It sounded weak. Not what I expected from this band after Gish and Siamese Dream, one of my favorite albums. So I dismissed this offhand and never listened to it. Boy did I miss out! This is SO GOOD. The playing, the songwriting, the wall of guitars. And then there’s more experimental stuff too. They could have whittled this down to a “Siamese Dream part 2” but it’s really great that they didnt and kept it all. Really bummed i missed out for so long but so happy I found it

I know almost every song on here. It’s a classic.

Better than I expected. Fun!

Classic. I knew every song.

This was.. not good. I really like early 90s PJ so this was so disappointing.

Amazing. One of those albums where you know every song

That tone…. This was so good. I need to listen to White Stripes more than I do

I SO BADLY wanted to like this. I love CSNY. I love his voice. I love the musicians who played on this record. But it sounds incomplete, like they were just screwing around in the studio and hit “record”

Not awful but just sorta there…

I’ve known about this album forever, glad I was “made” to listen to it!

Brings me back.. love the vibe of this

Pretty good!

Some good songs, one or two really good, and a lot of filler. This would have been better if it was a shorter album.

I was excited when I read the Wikipedia article… a bunch of great artists listing him as an influence! Maybe I was about to discover something great! Nope.

I didn’t think I liked Nick Cave.. but I really like this!

This is what I was hoping for when I signed up for this! I’ve never heard of this band before, never mind heard them. And they’re 100% right up my alley! Loving the early electronic stuff, the editing, the analog synths. I can hear the precursor of Stereolab in some songs, or Loose Fur, noise music. I can picture these guys in a university teaching my cohort how to program synths (that’s not a “dig”, it’s a good thing). Loved this one.

I see why people love them, but not really my thing.

The last great Metallica album imo.

This was.. not good. Noisy, cluttered in a bad way.

Phenomenal. Easy 5 stars

Classic early 80s soul. At least what I think it would have been!

Eh. I was really hoping this would have been better

Classic. It’s one of those “I know every song” album

This was a pretty good album, and I imagine it would be amazing if they had more money for the recording. The live bonus tracks on the streaming services are my favorites.

This reminds me of a soundtrack to a straight two DVD movie

So I really did NOT expect to like this.. But her voice is AMAZING and some of the songs are great. Beautiful is the favorite for me.. Solid album.

Not there best but so, so good. Call me old but this is what rap should sound like.

This was even worse than I expected it to be.

Very psychedelic.. interesting to see how they progressed in such a short time. Great album.

I had high hopes for this after track 1, most of the rest of the album was just ok

Pretty good album. They would have been really fun to see in 1979/1980

Yeah this really wasn’t good…

He uses the same melody multiple times. It was only interesting once.

Such a good album. As I expected it would be

Supreme.

I remember liking this when I came out but forgot how good it actually was. Yea if you can get over the 80s production it helps but it was the 80s! Hovered between a 4 and 5, went with a solid 4

This is what rap sounds like in my Gen X head

I thought this would be better than it was..

Fine. Not bad but just.. ok

Never heard of them!! But this was pretty good

Almost perfect in my opinion.

Started strong, then I got bored, then I really liked it again, then forgot about it. I think that makes it a solid “3”

Overall pretty good, but I actually expected it to be better. This was their more commercial album maybe I’d like their debut better

A couple of really good songs and a bunch of filler

Love this

This is how I learned that White Castle fries only come in one size It’s not Paul’s Boutique but strong debut and exactly what I wanted to listen to when I was 16/17. Holds up 40 years later.

I know some people love him. I don’t get it.

Hints of Pavement and Sunny Day Real Estate, except this was first. Right up my alley.

Really liked this one

Really held up over the years

Sometimes I get an album that’s so, so painfully bad that I have to share, and I make other people listen to it too. This is one of those albums.

This was kind of all over the place. Not a fan.

This was a good one. I feel like if I listened a bunch of times it would move up to a “5” for me

Groundbreaking

Some of these songs are some of my favorites by anyone. Others not so much.

Not bad but not good either.. too poppy. This is sort of forgettable.

Have heard of X but never listened to X. Not my thing but can tell it’s talented.

This is making me realize what a disaster the 80s were for this band and how disappointing the 80s version of Chicago must have been for their original fans. Solid effort.

I remembered it as a “5”. It’s held up to expectations.

I was hoping this would be better

A couple of duds but overall this is a really good album

I didn’t realize how good they were when I was in middle school

Sonic Youth can do no wrong

It’s not really an album, more a collection of singles. Some of which are historic.. Long Tall Sally and Tutti Frutti.

Someone wrote it’s like John Lennon and Paul McCartney were the same person.. yeah that fits.

This album brings up so many great memories for me, it’s hard to listen to it without a biased ear. For a long time if you asked me who my favorite band was, it was an easy answer.. REM. It’s not my favorite REM record but it’s close.

Bleh..

Wasn’t sure what to expect but this is beautiful.

There’s some pretty good stuff on here and also some filler where it sounds like they’re just playing around with the DAW.. which they were. Good start to their career though.

I honestly expected it to be better given it’s reputation

Great start to what would become a phenomenal band.

This was so much better than I expected it to be

Eh

In my mind as someone who is solid Gen X, this is what rap should sound like.

I haven’t listened to this since I was a teenager and I really think it holds up. A little too polished but that was the 80s.

Surprised how many of these songs i know

Kind of boring to be honest

Not their best but.. I mean, it’s the Beatles

This sounds like the mp3 that would have come with my sound card in 1999

The first time I got really high I was 18/19 on Cape Cod with my best friends in the world listening to this album. It’s hard for me to be unbiased but it’s a masterpiece

Mediocre

Pretty solid

Reading the description I was SO hopeful this was going to be a new discovery for me that I’d fall in love with. It was awful.

Gen Xer here. I bought this when it came out, pulled out the vinyl to give it a listen when it popped up on my list. I haven’t listened to this in.. 30/35 years? So didn’t expect much.. I was a kid in 1984 and my tastes have matured. This was SO much better than I remembered and expected. The musicianship, the humor, the songs. The SOUND of the recording. I was expecting a “3” and gave it a “5”.

This is what country should sound like