1001 Albums Summary

Reasonably low key Americana, not offensive but not spectacular either. 'Blues' seems to be a recurring theme in song naming and Ambulance Blues drags on for its 9m playtime. Walk On and For The Turnstiles were my standout tracks

Lots to like here if you like Elvis Costello's distinctive vibe. Pump it up is rightfully the best known track, but I also liked Little Triggers for being something different and the breathlessness of Lipstick Vogue

Today I learned that Supertramp are British and not American. Eight mostly chunky songs length wise, if not always in tone, which moves between rock opera to pop and prog rock. The overall vibe is theatrical and a touch campy no doubt offering inspiration to Spinal Tap * Dreamer was the track I knew best and sounds like prime ELO. * Hide in Your Shell is my standout track * Bloody Well Right probably hasn't aged well from 1974 when it was probably edgy, but seems a bit childish now

Bob Marley is a cultural icon, with an instantly recognisable sound synonymous with reggae. The trouble for my musical snobbery is that I associate the sound with university halls of residence and people who 'like a bit of reggae' and this album does nothing to surprise or change that perception. Before even pressing play you know what you're going to get. Compared to reggae and ska that I truly love - Desmond Dekker, Toots and the Maytals, Justin Hinds and the Dominos and so on - there's not much that excited me. * Natty Dread is a decent choice for the lead track * Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) is similarly enjoyable

Based on my late 80s perception of Aerosmith I was surprised by the variety of styles here. I don't like the song Big Ten Inch Record, but have to admit its not what I was expecting. Have also been educated by how old Walk This Way is. Standouts for me are Sweet Emotion and You See Me Crying

Contender for the first ever podcast rather than an album and whilst the voiceover is interesting the first time heard, for me it gets somewhat tedious on repeat listens. Obviously Walk the Line is a classic, but that's about the only high point for me

Having had limited exposure or love of metal as a genre I'm not well placed to say if this a great example or not. Obviously Metallica are outstanding musicians, the tunes are technically challenging and with no song less than 5 mins, no one is short changed here. Personally, a little too heavy for my tastes, but I respect the craft and the slower tracks like One I could see myself listening to again.

Whilst probably not Kate Bush's best album in my opinion, even on a slow day her work is many times more creative and listenable than 90% of all other music. A trademark voice paired with a big drums and assorted other percussion and haunting string melodies, this is unmistakeably Kate Bush, albeit a little less approachable than some other work. That said, it does contain This Woman's Work one of my all time favourite songs which I never tire of listening to. The Fog is another standout track too.

A varied but largely enjoyable album which I went into with no preconceptions having not knowingly sought out Brian Eno before in the past. It's definitely of a time, but pleasant enough for repeated listens despite no song really grabbing my attention and compelling me to add to my favourites

Ah the campish drama of a Nick Cave record. Lyrically descriptive storytelling like Country music paired with theatrical melodies and vibe. No doubt there is some deeper meaning with this record which is going to fly over my head as, to be honest, I don't care. It doesn't really move me musically or interest me intellectually though I didn't mind The Curse of Millhaven track, that I could listen to more than once. The rest, less so.

Classic and surprisingly varied Beatles album showing increased maturity in writing and themes which still stands up well today. Taxman is curiosity too no doubt a response to their own increased person wealth, but a complete about turn from their working class roots. Yellow Submarine still feels like a sea shanty though which doesn't really fit with anything else here, but it's hard to mark the rest of the record down because of this. Ranked personal standouts: * For No One * I'm Only Sleeping * Eleanor Rigby

A bit harder than my tastes usually go, but apart from the final track, it's all pretty listenable. Not sure I'd seek it out again in the future, but I totally hate it either

Dreamy, somehow futuristic and endlessly replayable, this piece of largely low-fi electronica is right up my street. I first became aware of this album by hearing the Kleptones take it and fuse with classic hiphop tracks, which is (almost) better than the original, especially if it's the thing you heard first! : https://kleptones.bandcamp.com/album/yoshimi-battles-the-hip-hop-robots

Talk Talk here deliver a distinctive style which is both classic 80s in the sense that it's synth heavy, metronomic beat and big on vocals, whilst at the same time being strikingly un-80s in its energyless delivery. Obviously 'Life's What You Make It' is the standout track, but for me there's little else memorable about it apart from an orchestra of recorders on 'Time It's Time'

Quintessential 80s album.

It would be easy to let what Coldplay have become to cloud one's opinion of this debut album. I almost skipped today's album on that basis, but that forgets what this felt like on release - melancholy, intimate, almost delicate indie rock that felt assured and perfectly at home in Cool Britannia. A relisten confirms that I do know most of lyrics, so despite my feelings for Coldplay now, this had a sizeable influence in my past

Probably my favourite U2 album, but it's not saying too much as I'm not a fan of any of them.

Another purely nostalgic listen for me which holds up pretty well even after putting aside all the associated feelings I have of the time when I first enjoyed this. The released singles Writing to Reach You, Turn and Driftwood remain the standout tunes with somewhat haunting melodies and strum along guitars. I always felt Why Does it Always Rain on me to be a little too twee and that feeling hasn't changed over the years, though I recognise this is the tune that hooked the masses and fuelled the album's overall popularity. Probably I just heard it too many times. The remainder of the album acts as support to these tracks and whilst solid enough, harbour no hidden gems either, apart from maybe the hidden track after Slideshow which is a more boisterous nod to Travis less ballady past.

First time listen to this mostly high energy Talking Heads record with a driving beat could be the best thing I've ever heard from them. Sure I'm still not a fan of David Byrne's nasally voice and it does grate by the end, but that aside, this was a bit of a revelation for me. Standout track : I'm Not In Love

Let's get drunk and freaky fly Mainstream electronic release with everything you expect. Pounding beats - check, rumbling bass - check, too many samples to count, tweaked beyond recognition - check It's like a harder faster stronger version of Daft Punk

Save the babies! Save babies! Obviously Marvin Gaye is a legend who I won't hear a word against, but this work is very much of a time, conjuring up smoky lounges, velvet, overly large collars, jive turkeys and Blaxploitation. What's there is pretty accomplished of course, but also kind of short by any standard. The inspirational, call to action lyrics seem to have fell on deaf ears. Have we saved the babies? No we have not.

American campus rock. One up from REM one down from Pearl Jam. Probably a 3.6 - not great, not terrible.

Extra medium right down to the meh picture on the cover. The songs you know are OK, and you missed nothing on the ones you didn't.

More of getting exactly what you expect from an Elvis Costello album. Oliver's Army despite the dated lyrics, and Accidents Will Happen are the best well known and standout tracks. Other less well known tracks like Green Shirt and Party Girl also hold their own. Overall solid.

Completely new album to me which received multiple playback during the day. Solid effort.

Technically excellent and a solid listen. For me though it wanders a little too close to jazz at times. Maybe it's a sign of ADHD or something but I'm not a fan of loooong tracks, so with two over 10 mins

This is a great example of why I wanted to do this project - to discover artists that I had never heard of before and end up really liking their albums. Over a decade old and I'm not sure how this passed me by but such a rich work with numerous styles and clear influences bleeding in. One caveat is that Apple music only let me listen to the 'Deluxe' version, so I'm not sure how much embellishment from the original work there is. Stand out tracks: Cold War, Oh Maker and Say You'll Go

Again, Apple are unable to give me the original album and I must listen to the Director's Cut whatever that is. Regardless, I do understand the cultural significance KLF have made and for sure they are more creative and less basic than 80% of the music industry. That said, I never really bought into their music as something to take seriously, because for me, frivolity has no place in music for some reason. So maybe I'm still reeling from the novelty abomination that is 'Doctorin' The Tardis' and probably have completely missed a point somewhere but even a relisten just now, has not further endeared their music to me

Hard for me to get excited by country music. I'm not offended but then nothing here enlightened or enthralled me

So it turns out that any preconception I had about the Cocteau Twins is completely false as now I have listened to them, I actually doubt I've ever really listened to anything by them before. Entirely fitting the shoegaze genre, this is ethereal, dreamy alternative pop. At times Kate Bush-esque and even Chapterhouse on account of the undecipherable vocals. All in all a bit of a musical education.

This holds up remarkably well for an album nearly 65 years old. A mix of big band tracks - a sound I'm nonplussed over - and string led easy listening reminiscent of roaring log fires whilst snow flutters down.

'Heavy metal' in a similar vein to Deep Purple in as much as it's more like rock music. Pretty solid album for something I wouldn't have naturally picked out. 'Changes' is an absolute banger of course.

Wrote something that wasn't saved, basically saying this was meh.

Classic rock. A Whole Lotta Love is of course the stand out track, but the rest of the album stacks up pretty well in support

Jangly pop from the 60s. Not offensive, but also not all that compelling to me. Contains no hits like Mr Tambourine Man or Turn! Turn! Turn!

So so

Not my thing, but can appreciate the high technical skill on display here

The actual album isn't available in the UK via Apple music, but what I did manage to listen to I really liked. A very Ramones type of vibe, high energy and LOUD

Liked the music, but less so the accompanying and dated banter in between.

Seminal electronica. Was ground breaking on release and still sounds fresh today

Under the radar Cure album that's worth a listen, but perhaps not repeatedly

Mainstream hiphop, although better than woodwind

The very essence of Britpop, cracking stuff both then and still

Walk this way might be the best well known track, but Tricky is by far the best

Really enjoyed being introduced to this as something to accompany my work day. I'm not sure I would just listen to this, but as a backdrop and an aid to concentration, it was perfect

An interesting album to be made aware of, but ultimately a lot too Avant Garde for my taste

Basically sounds like a covers album sang by that guy Steve down the pub who does a bit of karaoke on pay day

Back to front 5 stars f'real

Cheesy of course, but not as bad as I expected

Run of the mill, unspectacular American rock zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Enjoyable, but not as punk as people seem to think

Only listened to a preview as it's not available via Apple in the UK, but it seemed OK, although I wasn't motivated to spend actual money on it

Twee with a side of cheese.

By no means the best Blur album, the change in style to appeal to American audiences is not an improvement to my ear, though perhaps better than just releasing the same old stuff I suppose

Solid and surprisingly varied Roots album. A relisten points out how influential it has been judging by the number of samples it forms the basis of

Not the worst thing I ever heard

More of the Kinks distinctive sound which is another way of saying this is no different to all the other Kinks albums I've heard.

Mellow album that warrants multiple playthroughs from that guy I discovered from the closing track of Good Will Hunting. May he rest in peace.

New to me, although a couple of tracks were familiar and I listened to it on repeat, so it can't be that bad

Largely nonsense to my ears

Not to my taste and assume it's aimed at people that buy one album a year because they don't really know what they like.

I can't describe the hatred I feel for this basic drivel

It's OK not my favourite Trent Reznor work, and I doubt I'll listen to it again, but the craft is to be respected

Surprised to find this here, but enjoyed it. Less so as something to just listen to, but as an accompaniment to working, it was fine

Dull, basic, middle of the road and frankly boring American rock music. Wikipedia says they are a punk band which is utter nonsense.

Of course I was aware of Elbow, but had never actually listened to any albums right through. Have changed that now, and am a convert

Seminal obvs

Pretty nice nostalgia trip leading a rabbit hole of research about a group band I'd always written off as an 80s boy band

Extra medium

A somewhat maligned album but I enjoyed it, in it's entirety, with the pauses, as Lindsay Buckingham intended it to be heard.

I won't hear a word against the undisputed genius that is Dave Grohl.

Basic 60s pop. Extra medium.

Forgotten how much I liked this at the time, and surprised how fresh it still sounds

Everything Queen is classic

One of the first proper albums I ever listened to around the age of 5 or 6. Mostly I liked the helicopter on the front.

Don't get the hype, sounds bland to me.

Sounds fresher than most albums from 1970. My Sweet Lord is a classic and the rest pass by without irritation

Like it says, tragic songs

I'm usually Elliot Smith favourable, but I couldn't get into this one for some reason

A good heads up on a band I was aware of, but thought they were something else

OK if you like that sort of thing. I do not like that sort of thing.

The lyrics are unintelligible, the melodies are slow and dreamy, it's the very definition of the shoegaze genre, and I bloody love it

*raspberry*

Shoot me.

A big influence on my youth and holds up well I feel

Based on 'Can't stand Gravy' I thought I would hate this, but actually it grew on me, with the high point being 'Still Thrives This Love'. What a surprise.

Not up my neighbourhood, let alone street

Solid

Average American rock, although I now understand why that one Killers tune is so different in style

Po-op

Seminal and ground-breaking

An album I've loved forever and continue to love today

Middle of the road, basic, populist American 'rock' pop nonsense. Literally on a par with Jamiroquai or Oasis aimed at people who apparently don't really like music, but think it's cool if they do. Tellingly, the best track is a cover. Seriously if you think this is an album to hear before you die, then what's keeping you?

A very singular style runs through every song. 'Samey' some may say

Gosh no.

I know production values have improved over the years, but on relisten Sub-Culture feels a lot more karaoke than I thought at the time!

A couple of repeatable tracks, nothing more

Bit shouty.

Bit twiddly

Quite a revelation how much better Bryan Ferry is here. My previous exposure was from his solo work which I always felt was a bit meh

New one on me, and a pleasant surprise at that

New one on me, and a pleasant surprise at that

Short

I flat out don't get it

Wasn't a fan then, haven't grown on me

Give me strength to avoid such nonsense

Give me strength to avoid such nonsense

Urgh. Warble, warble, arrrghh and beee

Great recommendation that I would not have discovered on my own

Surprisingly awful, expected better tbh

Not sure what all the fuss is/was about

Deep Purple good, live album bad

Seminal. To me this IS triphop

Unremarkable and derivative American rock

Tosh. And I consider myself a fan of hiphop

About as mid as the other prison recording

About as mid as the other prison recording

Hadn't heard of them before, unlikely to remember what they're like in future.

Surprisingly didn't age well. Sadly sounds a bit naff now IMO

Complete turnaround for me. When this came out I thought the Beastie Boys were a puerile one hit wonder. Listening back now it's influence seems to be like a classic Motown album spawning countless samples and immediately recognisable loops. Who Sampled claims The New Style has been sampled by 359 other tracks! Such a large footprint, a cultural icon.

Really not my thing

Really not my thing

Better than I remembered, or maybe I'm less snobby than I used to be. Probably a bit of both

As weak as the other Lamar album I was recommended. Guess I'm not a fan

Not entirely sure how this passed me by at the time, but I'm all the better for hearing it now

Really hasn't aged well, and I count Coldcut as one of my all time favourite groups