Oct 06 2023
View Album
Elephant
The White Stripes
Overall, the album is perfectly fine. No huge standouts for me, but a few good tracks. Everything kind of sounded similar, aside from a couple softer acoustic tracks. They peaked with Seven Nation Army, and they sort of stayed in that same place musically. And I probably only like that song as much as I do because it’s so famous.
6/10
Top 3 tracks:
1. Seven Nation Army (obviously)
2. You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket
3. Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine
3
Oct 07 2023
View Album
The Specials
The Specials
Perfectly alright album, and a fun introduction to ska. Though evidently, not my favourite genre. Another middle of the road album for me, but there were a number of pretty good tracks.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Little Bitch
2. Concrete Jungle
3. Gangsters
3
Oct 08 2023
View Album
Cross
Justice
A very, very good album. All of the best songs were right at the beginning, and in my opinion it all kind of went down slightly as the album went on. There were no BAD songs, just less great ones. I wanted more from the ending but it was perfectly serviceable.
I went into this album kind of expecting a slightly heavier Daft Punk, since they’re both French electronic duos. But that’s not at all what this is. There are a song or two that sound kind of like something Daft Punk would make (D.A.N.C.E for example), but other than those, it’s totally different.
This album also has something that always makes an album 10x better for me: the tracks flow into each other. There’s almost never a pause between songs, it just keeps on going, it makes the album feel so much more cohesive. Loved this album, will probably listen again.
9/10
Top 5:
1. Let There Be Light
2. Genesis
3. D.A.N.C.E
4. Stress
5. The Party
5
Oct 09 2023
View Album
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
I’m extremely biased already. I’m looking forward to listening to this album again, it’s probably getting at least a 9/10.
Turn To Stone: very good opener. Introduces the Album perfectly.
I’ve heard this album a number of times. ELO were one of my favourite bands for quite a while. I still love them. So I’m kind of biased here.
This is a great album. And I think I enjoy it more than I realized upon my latest listen. It’s not perfect, it’s not even in my top 3 ELO albums. But it’s still very good. One of the great double albums.
Turn To Stone is a great opener, Wild West Hero is a great closer, and Mr Blue Sky is Mr Blue Sky. There are a couple not so great tracks (Jungle), but for the most part the album stays consistently good.
8/10. If you asked me like a year ago I’d probably say 9/10.
Top 5:
1. Mr Blue Sky (was there any other choice)
2. Turn To Stone
3. It’s Over
4. Steppin’ Out
5. Wild West Hero
4
Oct 10 2023
View Album
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Really nothing to say about this album. I don’t hate it, but I don’t really have any strong feelings about it at all. It’s good music, no doubt about that, but I just don’t care. Almost none of the tracks really stand out to me as being better or worse than the others.
The opening track was interesting for sure, but everything just started to blend together after that pretty quickly. I don’t see myself revisiting this album.
4/10
Top 3:
1. One Day Like This
2. Starlings
3. The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver
2
Oct 11 2023
View Album
Berlin
Lou Reed
I went into this album with high expectations. I always love concept albums, and I expected this one to be no different. But it was just so underwhelming. I didn’t care for most of it. There were always elements that ruined each song for me. For example, The Kids was an alright song for the most part. A bit too long, but it was going well enough until about 5 minutes in, where you can hear a crying baby for about a minute. This is the most uncomfortable I’ve been so far on this 1001 albums journey.
Just such an uninteresting album. Maybe if I go back and listen again with the lyrics, I’d have more of an appreciation for it, but my first impressions are that it’s just not a good album.
The opening track gave me hope, I did like it quite a bit. But after that, there were really only a couple highlights. The last track had some beautiful music, but I just wasn’t interested in the lyrics or how they were sung. Especially the repeating of “sad song”.
I don’t see myself ever returning to this album, and maybe not even returning to Lou Reed in general, unless another of his albums is in this list.
3/10, rounded down to 1 star.
Top 1:
1. Berlin
1
Oct 12 2023
View Album
Black Monk Time
The Monks
I have nothing good to say about this album. There was not a single track that I can say I liked. Not surprised this is the group’s only album. It’s awful. I can tell the band is having fun, which is nice, but I was not.
I suppose I have to acknowledge its importance in the development of punk rock, as the Wikipedia page points out. But it’s so bad. I couldn’t wait for it to be over. The opening track gave me no hope for the rest, and it lived up to my expectations.
1/10.
Don’t even like any songs enough to have a favourite. But if I have to choose, my top 1 is: Monk Time. I still don’t like it though.
1
Oct 13 2023
View Album
Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
Middle of the road album for me. This kind of music can be good, but it’s good live. When I’m at home listening on my headphones, it’s not something I want to listen to for over an hour. For what it is, it’s probably great, but it’s not something I want to listen to outside of a jazz bar or something.
Tom has a fun sense of humour, and he’s clearly talented, but I got so tired of his voice. It’s perfect for the genre, but it’s just so hard to listen to for this long. Especially his little chuckle he does all the time, that started to annoy me after a while.
Not exactly for me but for what it is it’s perfectly fine.
5/10
Top 3:
1. Warm Beer And Cold Women
2. Intro To Better Off Without A Wife
3. Opening Intro
3
Oct 14 2023
View Album
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
I really do not like hip-hop. I REALLY don’t like it. There is almost no hip-hop that I’ve heard that I’ve liked. And sadly, this album is no different. It was a struggle for me to get through. But at the same time, I can’t bring myself to hate it as much as some other albums I’ve heard so far.
I’m sure that in terms of hip-hop, this is really good, maybe even revolutionary. But I just don’t enjoy this kind of music. I don’t see myself ever revisiting this album.
3/10
Top 3:
1. Da Mystery of Chessboxin’
2. Protect Ya Neck
3. Shame on a N****
2
Oct 15 2023
View Album
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
I’ve always said I didn’t like country. And I thought I really didn’t. But this album was surprisingly good. Felt very nostalgic, too. Not too many songs that really amazed me, but I felt good the whole way through.
I can see myself checking out some more Dolly Parton in the future.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Traveling Man
2. Coat of Many Colors
3. My Blue Tears
4
Oct 16 2023
View Album
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
This one exceeded my expectations. Not very much I can say, other than it was very good. I’d listen again, and I’ll probably be checking out more of Pulp’s music.
8/10
Top 5:
1. Sylvia
2. Like A Friend
3. The Fear
4. Help The Aged
5. The Day After The Revolution
4
Oct 17 2023
View Album
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
It’s shocking to me how much I like this album. I should not like this, but against all odds, I enjoyed it the whole way through. The album is just so fun. From the beginning right until the end, it just has so much energy, even on songs that I didn’t quite like as much (Brass Monkey).
This is the kind of thing I was hoping for on this 1001 albums journey. An album that I would have almost never listened to, that surprises me with just how good it really is. Might have to check out some more Beastie Boys pretty soon.
And obviously, No Sleep Till Brooklyn is my favourite. That’s THE Beastie Boys song.
9/10
Top 5:
1. No Sleep Till Brooklyn
2. Fight For Your Right
3. Rhymin & Stealin
4. Slow Ride
5. The New Style
4
Oct 18 2023
View Album
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I liked it. Not much else to say. Pretty good album all the way through.
7/10
Top 3:
1. No Action
2. Pump It Up
3. The Beat
4
Oct 19 2023
View Album
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
Totally inoffensive album. Not great, not terrible. I don’t really love this artist, in fact my favourite song on the album is mostly sung by someone else.
4/10
Top 1:
1. This Mess We’re In
2
Oct 20 2023
View Album
Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
Totally uninteresting. Didn’t care for this one at all.
I liked the feel they were going for at the beginning, but that’s about it for the first few tracks. It picked itself up about half way through, but then fell back down for most of the remainder. Really came back strong on the second last track, but then the last one was still just kind of uninteresting.
I had high hopes for this album but I don’t ever feel like revisiting it.
4/10. Would be a 3/10 if not for one song being significantly better than the rest.
Top 3:
1. Caravan Girl
2. Eat Yourself
3. Some People
2
Oct 21 2023
View Album
Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Really fun album. This is the kind of jazz I like. Not much more to say, except I kind of wish the ending was better. It just sort of faded out, with not much fanfare. Guess that’s to be expected from this album, though, so can’t be too mad about that.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Strange Meadow Lark
2. Blue Rondo à la Turk
3. Take Five
4
Oct 22 2023
View Album
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
A pretty alright album. A very weird one too. Almost too weird at times. But overall, I liked it. I probably won’t go back to this album again in the near future, but I didn’t dislike it at all.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Zen Archer
2. International Feel
3. I’m So Proud / Ooh Baby Baby / La La Means I Love You / Cool Jerk
3
Oct 23 2023
View Album
Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
Didn’t really like this one. It started to improve on the last few tracks, though. Don’t think I’m a Kate Bush fan.
4/10
Top 3:
1. Jig Of Life
2. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)
3. Hello Earth
2
Oct 24 2023
View Album
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
A very nice album of covers. Lots of great song choices, too. That’s all I really have to say. Just a good album all around.
8/10
Top 5:
1. Hurt
2. We’ll Meet Again
3. In My Life
4. Bridge Over Troubled Water
5. The Man Comes Around
4
Oct 25 2023
View Album
Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
What a terrible album. Didn’t have high expectations, and it still didn’t manage to live up to those. I have no interest in ever revisiting this artist, especially if this is supposed to be their most revolutionary album.
So many songs are too long, and many of them are just not fun to listen to. Some were less terrible but they didn’t make up for the rest of it.
1/10
Top 1:
1. Memories
1
Oct 26 2023
View Album
Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Just some fun bongo music. It was far too long, but at least I didn’t hate it half way through. Probably won’t listen again, but wasn’t as bad as I expected.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Apache
2. Pipeline
3. Dueling Bongos
3
Oct 27 2023
View Album
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
Rikki is a Pretty standard 70s rock album. Just what I’m into in terms of older music. Nothing special, but it’s all pretty good. I’d consider listening to this album again sometime.
8/10
Top 5:
1. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
2. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
3. Pretzel Logic
4. With A Gun
5. Monkey In Your Soul
4
Oct 28 2023
View Album
1984
Van Halen
This album peaked with its first three songs (not counting 1984), then it just kinda dropped off. Jump is an awesome song, but everything else kind of paled in comparison.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Jump
2. Panama
3. Top Jimmy
3
Oct 29 2023
View Album
Private Dancer
Tina Turner
Much better than I expected. I wasn’t looking forward to listening to this album but it’s actually quite good. The biggest surprise, though, is that What’s Love Got To Do With It is one of my least favourite song on the album. Pretty overrated song.
8/10
Top 3:
1. Show Some Respect
2. Steel Claw
3. Let’s Stay Together
4
Oct 30 2023
View Album
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
A very personal album. Love all the emotion in the vocals on every track. Even on my least favourite songs on the album have amazing vocals which make up for it.
Probably John’s best solo work. Definitely my favourite of his solo albums, just slightly better than Imagine. Deserves its place on this list.
9/10
Top 5:
1. God
2. Mother
3. Isolation
4. Love
5. Working Class Hero
5
Oct 31 2023
View Album
In It For The Money
Supergrass
Very mediocre album. Songs were all fine, I just don’t really care.
4/10
Top 1:
1. Sun Hits The Sky
2
Nov 01 2023
View Album
Picture Book
Simply Red
Much better than I expected. Went in with very low expectations, but this album exceeded them. Not necessarily something I’ll go back to often, but a good album nonetheless.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Come To My Aid
2. Sad Old Red
3. Picture Book
4
Nov 02 2023
View Album
Dust
Screaming Trees
Didn’t care about this album. There wasn’t anything that I could point out as being bad at all, but none of it was very interesting. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. Completely indifferent.
5/10
Top 3:
1. Make My Mind
2. Sworn and Broken
3. Dying Days
2
Nov 03 2023
View Album
GI
Germs
This is the first time in this list that I’ve disliked an album so much that I can’t make myself go back and finish it. I got half way through so I could reach Lexicon Devil (their most streamed song on Spotify) hoping that there’s finally be a half decent song on this album. But no, if anything it was just marginally less terrible than the rest.
I hate the vocal delivery. The vocalist is just growling every single word. You can hardly make out what’s being said. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but this album doesn’t really have much else to make up for it.
I’m not surprised this group was short lived. I never want to revisit their music again.
1/10
Top 1:
1. Lexicon Devil
1
Nov 04 2023
View Album
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
This album started out very promising. The first couple songs are really good, and I was sure this was going to be one of the best albums on this list. But then it just kept going.
So many of the songs on this album are so samey. It gets hard to tell them apart. They’re all nice to listen to but most don’t really stand out. And the album is over an hour long, about half of it probably could’ve been cut and it’d be better for it.
But when it’s good, it’s very good. The songs are mostly very good, and they kind of make up for the samey-ness and length of the album. Definitely will have to check out more Sufjan Stevens in the future.
8/10
Top 3:
1. Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illinois
2. John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
3. Come On! Feel the Illinoise!
4
Nov 05 2023
View Album
Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
I can’t believe I actually liked this album. I didn’t know much about Alice Cooper before, but I had my ideas about what his music was like. I was very wrong. He’s much better than I expected.
7/10
Top 3:
1. No More Mr. Nice Guy
2. Hello Hooray
3. Elected
4
Nov 06 2023
View Album
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Fine album. Nothing special, just some fine music. Won’t listen again.
5/10
Top 3:
1. Seeing Things
2. Hard To Handle
3. She Talks To Angels
3
Nov 07 2023
View Album
I Should Coco
Supergrass
Surprisingly good. Much better than one of the other Supergrass albums on this list. Didn’t realize these guys made Alright.
I hate the album cover though. Creeps me out, those faces are uncanny.
7.5/10 (my first half point score)
Top 5:
1. Alright
2. I’d Like To Know
3. Caught By The Fuzz
4. Strange Ones
5. Sitting Up Straight
4
Nov 08 2023
View Album
Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
I really didn’t care for this one. I’m starting to tell that I don’t like this genre but it just keeps coming up on this list.
2/10
Top 1:
1. The Rose
1
Nov 09 2023
View Album
School's Out
Alice Cooper
Pretty good. Nothing amazed me, but there wasn’t really anything bad. Not my favourite Alice Cooper album (so far that goes to Billion Dollar Babies) but not too much worse.
Also, School’s Out (the song) is vastly overrated. I really don’t care for the lyrics at all.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Luney Tune
2. Blue Turk
3. Gutter Cat vs. The Jets
4
Nov 10 2023
View Album
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
This album really surprised me. I think the last combo I would ever come up with is Irish folk punk, but it works so well. Almost every song on this album is just so fun to listen to. Not many really stand out, but they’re all equally good, it’s very hard to choose a favourite. So far, I believe this is the only punk album I’ve enjoyed, though everything kind of started to feel samey eventually. It’s all just music I can imagine hearing in a bar.
8/10
Top 5:
1. Thousands Are Sailing
2. Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six
3. If I Should Fall from Grace with God
4. Fairytale of New York
5. The Irish Rover
4
Nov 11 2023
View Album
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
What can I even say about Ziggy Stardust? Among my favourite concept albums, easily my favourite Bowie album, and quite possibly one of the greatest albums ever made. There is not a single bad track here.
As many have pointed out, this album has one of the best opener/closer pairs ever, Five Years and Rock n Roll Suicide (perhaps an unpopular pick, but my all time favourite Bowie song). And in between are some of the best songs Bowie has ever recorded. Moonage Daydream, Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City, all fantastic songs. Side note, I unfortunately have some bad memories associated with Moonage Daydream, so I can’t quite enjoy it as much anymore, but that doesn’t change how great the song itself is.
Normally I’d probably give an album like this a 9/10. While there’s not a bad song, there are some that I’m just less into. They’re not all equally perfect. However, I don’t think there’s going to be many 10/10s for me. So if anything deserves that score, regardless of my thoughts on individual tracks, it’s Ziggy Stardust.
10/10
Top 5:
1. Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
2. Five Years
3. Starman
4. Ziggy Stardust
5. Suffragette City
5
Nov 12 2023
View Album
Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
Just another example of an album that is consistently good, but didn’t really amaze me. There were a couple moments that I loved, like when That’s All Right became Amazing Grace in the last 2 minutes, but it was mostly average.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Maggie May
2. Every Picture Tells A Story
3. Seems Like A Long Time
4
Nov 13 2023
View Album
Homework
Daft Punk
I love Daft Punk. However, this is their worst album in my opinion. It’s both far too long and very repetitive. So many of these songs could have been cut in half. I’m going to be very disappointed if this is their only album on here.
But even still, it’s not a bad album. Plenty of great tracks. It’s just hard to listen to 6-7 minutes of the same couple seconds practically on loop. It’s my least favourite Daft Punk album, but it’s still Daft Punk at the end of the day.
8/10
Top 3:
1. Teachers
2. Da Funk
3. Around the World
4
Nov 14 2023
View Album
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Just a pretty average funk album. I’m pretty indifferent on this genre, and there wasn’t much on this album to really wow me.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
2. The Highways of My Life
3. Sunshine (Go Away Today)
3
Nov 15 2023
View Album
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
Some perfectly fine jazz. I would’ve liked it considerably more, had it been shorter. The album is 1 hour and 15 minutes long, with each song ranging from 6-10 minutes. I don’t mind a long song here and there, but it gets really tiring when each song is that long.
The music itself was good, there was just way too much of it. Can’t even choose a top 3, just because most were somehow too long for me to care.
5/10
Top 1:
1. Minawa
3
Nov 16 2023
View Album
Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
A fine enough country album. Sometimes it was good, sometimes not. Bored me half way through.
5/10
Top 3:
1. One More Name
2. I Got You
3. Floyd County
3
Nov 17 2023
View Album
Pelican West
Haircut 100
Not bad by any means. Not particularly amazing, but I enjoyed my time with it. I’d go back to this one again.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Love Plus One
2. Lemon Firebrigade
3. Fantastic Day
3
Nov 18 2023
View Album
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
Better than I was expecting. Some really nice soul music, but I just wish the songs were shorter. Especially the last track, which is 18 minutes long. I don’t mind long songs usually, but these were too much. Still though, I enjoyed this one. Above average for sure.
7/10
Top 3:
1. One Woman
2. Walk On By
3. Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
4
Nov 19 2023
View Album
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Surprised to see such a recent album here. Sadly though, I didn’t really enjoy this one. All the songs sounded the same to me, a very boring listen. But even still, none were particularly bad.
5/10
Top 3:
1. Relay
2. Cosmonauts
3. Newspaper
3
Nov 20 2023
View Album
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
This is just another example of me really not enjoying hip hop. It’s so bad. Maybe in terms of hip hop music this is actually incredible, but I have heard very little hip hop that I’ve liked. Wanted to give up half way through but I kept going. Not many tracks I can say I enjoyed, and some (Earth People, how is that one of the most streamed on the album?!) were just straight up annoying to listen to. What a waste of time this was.
2/10
Top 1:
1. No Awareness
1
Nov 21 2023
View Album
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
I don’t know what to think about this album. Now, I don’t like rap. However, if I had to listen to one, it’d probably be Eminem. I can tell he’s good. His rhymes are amazing. But I’m really not into all the album’s themes. They’re all pretty terrible, and are so full of language that I had to look for the uncensored version, because I could barely understand the times he *wasn’t* swearing with all the censoring that had to be done. That’s not to say I can’t take some swearing, but I’m really not into the amount used in most rap.
There were quite a few tracks that I liked though. Typically in my reviews, I’ll choose a top three, a top one if it’s not very good, or a top five if it’s exceptionally good. Not in this case, though. I just don’t think I can quite narrow it down to a top three.
I’ve also just got to point out one of the stupidest lyrics in any song I’ve ever heard, just burst out laughing as soon as I heard it (As The World Turns): “Then I remembered this magic trick, duh-dah-duh-dah-duh-duh go-go gadget dick”. Poetry.
6.5/10
Top 5:
1. My Name Is
2. ‘97 Bonnie & Clyde
3. Still Don’t Give A Fuck
4. Role Model
5. Bad Meets Evil
3
Nov 22 2023
View Album
Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. Listened to it twice because I wasn’t quite paying attention the first time. I’d say it was worth a second listen.
I’d never heard of this band before but now I think I’ll need to check them out. Had a good time with this album.
7.5/10
Top 3:
1. About You
2. On the Wall
3. Happy When it Rains
4
Nov 23 2023
View Album
Wild Gift
X
The best punk album I’ve heard so far, still not amazing though. It was enjoyable enough, but really nothing special. Every track sounds the same to me.
6/10
Top 3:
1. The Once over Twice
2. In This House That I Call Come
3. It’s Who You Know
3
Nov 24 2023
View Album
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
I am shocked that I don’t hate this album. When I saw the cover, I didn’t have much hope. I already hate hip hop and rap for the most part, and I was sure this would be no different. And yeah, I still don’t like the genres. But this album was surprisingly not terrible.
In terms of hip hop, it’s quite good, but I just don’t like hip hop. The first three tracks were the best in my opinion, it stayed at about the same level afterwards but I think that’s where it peaked for me.
I don’t like 50 Cent any more than I did before. Don’t plan on listening to him again.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Many Men (Wish Death)
2. What Up Gangsta
3. Patiently Waiting
3
Nov 25 2023
View Album
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Surprisingly really good. Wouldn’t think I’d actually like a Leonard Cohen album. Not many songs I can pick out as being the best, they’re mostly equally good.
7.5/10
Top 3:
1. Master Song
2. Suzanne
3. Sisters of Mercy
4
Nov 26 2023
View Album
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
I’m already somewhat familiar with Bill Callahan, but only his newer music. Listening to this album, it doesn’t seem like he’s changed much over the years. Not a bad thing at all though.
Wish some of the songs were shorter, but that’s really the only complaint I can make. Really nice album all around. I should really listen to it again sometime.
7.5/10
1. Too Many Birds
2. Jim Cain
3. Eid Ma Clack Shaw
3
Nov 27 2023
View Album
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
Wasn’t a fan. Not of the album in particular, just Kings of Leon in general. The kind of music my dad would listen to a lot back when I was younger. Couple ok songs, but I’m just not into it.
5/10
Top 3:
1. Use Somebody
2. Sex on Fire
3. Closer
3
Nov 28 2023
View Album
Mothership Connection
Parliament
Unfortunately, it was kind of underwhelming. A very fun album for sure, just not really into it.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Unfunky UFO
2. P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
3. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
3
Nov 29 2023
View Album
Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
Not bad. First soundtrack album I’ve heard on this list so far. I’m just not very into funk music.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Pusherman
2. Superfly
3. No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song)
3
Nov 30 2023
View Album
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
I hate hip hop for the most part, but I find I have a soft spot for Beastie Boys. I loved Licensed to Ill, and was hoping that would continue with this album. But sadly, I just wasn’t really into Ill Communication.
One of the biggest surprises was that Sabotage is Beastie Boys’ most streamed song on Spotify by far. I’d have thought that would go to No Sleep Till Brooklyn or Fight For Your Right. But Sabotage is just kind of alright. Nothing amazing.
I really wish I’d liked this album more than I did but it was just kinda average. Better than most hip hop in my opinion but just average.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Sure Shot
2. Root Down
3. Sabotage
3
Dec 01 2023
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
I’m writing this review at least 2 weeks after I listened to it. I didn’t have any strong opinions on it the first time, so I wanted to listen again to really give it a chance. But since then, I just haven’t felt the desire to go back. I’ll just give it a perfectly average rating. I don’t even remember which songs I liked very much. Pretty forgettable.
5/10
Top 1:
1. Purple Haze
3
Dec 02 2023
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
Yeah, I’m gonna be biased here. I love the Beatles. They’re one of my all time favourite bands. And while I don’t think that this album is their best ever, it has a special place in my heart. It was the first album I ever bought on a vinyl record, and that started me on my vinyl collecting journey. And due to that, it’s one of my most heard Beatles albums. I can’t give it any less than 5 stars.
Not every song is a masterpiece. Lovely Rita, Good Morning Good Morning, Fixing a Hole, they’re far from the best Beatles songs. But as a whole, the album just works so well. And the great songs are amazing. Everyone knows that A Day in the Life is a masterpiece.
I really don’t know what to say about this album. It’s not perfect but I just love it so much. I can’t reasonably give it a 10/10, but I can’t bear to put it much lower. Can’t even narrow down to a top 5. Definitely gonna be one of my top albums on this list.
9.5/10
Top 6:
1. A Day in the Life
2. She’s Leaving Home
3. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
4. With a Little Help From My Friends
5. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (and Reprise)
6. When I’m Sixty Four
5
Dec 04 2023
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Moby Grape
Moby Grape
That was shockingly great. I can’t believe an album this good has 1/3 of its songs unavailable on Spotify. That’s usually a bad sign for me, that this is probably not going to be a good time. And the average rating didn’t seem super promising either. But I am so pleasantly surprised.
Typically with these things, I get a new album available around 12:45 in the morning. So I’ll usually listen to a song or two, and then start over and listen to the whole thing after I wake up. But after listening to Hey Grandma, I was instantly hooked. I just had to keep going, and I don’t regret it. So many great songs on this album. I’m not sure what it is, but something about the album just clicked with me. I loved almost every song here.
Looking into the band’s history, what they went through is tragic. Honestly, as others have said already, I think they could’ve been so much more. They could've been on the same level as the Beatles, the Stones, all the big rock bands of the time. If only everything hadn’t gone wrong. That probably has something to do with why so many of their songs are hard to find on Spotify, or just not there at all in the case of Someday and Sitting by the Window.
I’ve gone on for so long, and I’ve really just been rambling on about how much I love this album. So I’ll stop here. I hadn’t heard of this group before today, but they’re getting a surprisingly high score from me.
8.5/10
Top 5:
1. Someday
2. Hey Grandma
3. Fall On You
4. Indifference
5. 8:05
4
Dec 05 2023
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
So many of these songs would be good, if only they were shorter. I mean, technically, it all sounds great. But it’s all just needlessly drawn out. It’s painful to get through at times, especially the last song, which is an overwhelming 20 minutes long. I was actually quite enjoying that one at first, but then it lost me after the first 10 minutes.
Even when a song is doing something interesting, it just does too much of it. Like the drum solo in The Mule is really good, but I don’t want to hear 5-6 minutes of just a drum solo. What a painfully boring hour of live music. The fact that they’re actually really good makes it all even worse.
3/10
Top 3:
1. Highway Star
2. Smoke on the Water
3. Strange Kind of Woman
2
Dec 06 2023
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
A pretty average country album. Willie Nelson has a great voice, but I wasn’t too interested in this album. And although I liked Time of the Preacher, we don’t need 3 versions of it on one album.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Can I Sleep in Your Arms
2. Time of the Preacher
3. Just as I Am
3
Dec 07 2023
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Kid A
Radiohead
Love this album. Already heard it a number of times before, so I already knew how I felt about it. It wasn’t super easy to get into the first time, though. Surprisingly what finally made the album click for me was the Kid A Mnesia Exhibition game. Ever since I played that, I’ve been able to see Kid A and the follow up Amnesiac in a whole new way. I suggest everyone try this game if they haven’t. Just about an hour or two long, it’s free and it’s so worth it.
This is easily my favourite Radiohead album. Listening back through the album has reminded me of some incredible songs I’d forgotten about, specifically Motion Picture Soundtrack. Not quite good enough to get in my top 5 but worth a mention at least. I was about to give this one a 9/10, since a couple songs aren’t quite perfect in my opinion (specifically, Treefingers is a bit boring), but I just can’t take away the point for that. This album is close enough to being perfect that it deserves a perfect score.
10/10
Top 5:
1. How to Disappear Completely
2. Everything In Its Right Place
3. Idioteque
4. The National Anthem
5. Kid A
5
Dec 08 2023
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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Never listened to Iron Maiden before, and I’m pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this album. It’s not the best, but I had a good time throughout. I think I enjoy metal more than I realize.
8/10
Top 3:
1. Prowler
2. Phantom of the Opera
3. Transylvania
4
Dec 09 2023
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Very good album. Heard it a few times already, but on this listen, I think it’s not *quite* as good as I remembered. I still really like it though, and found some tracks I totally under appreciated before, like Punk and Sound Check.
Plenty of classic songs here, and a couple here and there that are harder to get through. And while it’s not my favourite version, I like the alternate mix of Clint Eastwood at the end. Overall just a really good album.
8/10
Top 5:
1. M1 A1
2. Clint Eastwood
3. Rock the House
4. New Genius (Brother)
5. Starshine
4
Dec 10 2023
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Ys
Joanna Newsom
Terrible. Had a bit of hope at first but man, Joanna Newsom has such an annoying voice. I did not enjoy this one bit. At least one song had a bit of Bill Callahan on it. That was nice.
2/10
Top 1:
1. Only Skin (thanks Bill)
1
Dec 11 2023
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Hypnotised
The Undertones
Another average album. Better than I expected but nothing too special.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Under the Boardwalk
2. There Goes Norman
3. Hypnotized
3
Dec 12 2023
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2112
Rush
Really enjoyed this one. After having just putting myself through Deep Purple’s ‘Made In Japan’ live album with their own 20 minute song, I was a bit worried about this album. But this is a 20 minute song done right. 2112 is amazing. I enjoyed it the whole way through. The rest of the album kind of paled in comparison, but it was all still quite good. I’ll have to check out more Rush in the future.
7.5/10
Top 3:
1. 2112
2. The Twilight Zone
3. Tears
4
Dec 13 2023
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Pretty average. Eric Clapton’s music is fine, not a great person though from what I hear. Bit forgettable of an album, but still technically good.
6.5/10
Top 3:
1. I Shot The Sheriff
2. Let It Grow
3. Please Be With Me
3
Dec 14 2023
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
This is one of the worst albums I’ve heard in a while. I like some psychedelic music, but this is just *too* psychedelic. There were some interesting ideas used here and there, and I kind of liked what they were going for in the closing track “The American Way Of Love”, especially at the end, but man, it’s just not a good song.
I get that this was a very influential album for psychedelic music, but it’s really not for me. Aside from a couple songs, I never plan on listening to this again. At least it wasn’t boring, though.
3/10
Top 3:
1. Stranded In Time
2. Where Is Yesterday
3. I Won’t Leave My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar
1
Dec 15 2023
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
This was just ok. Wasn’t super into it, but it wasn’t bad either. One of the most average albums I’ve heard so far.
6/10
Top 3:
1. A Woman Left Lonely
2. Get It While You Can
3. Mercedes Benz
3
Dec 16 2023
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From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
I’m pretty indifferent about this one. It’s all very good, Elvis is great, but it just kinda feels like music you’d put on in the background. All the songs kind of sound the same to me. I’m really struggling to say anything about this album, not because it’s bad, I just don’t have a very strong opinion on it. Even still, the songs were consistently good that it’s hard to narrow down what my favourites are.
7/10
Top 5:
1. Suspicious Minds
2. Don’t Cry Daddy
3. In the Ghetto
4. After Loving You
5. Only the Strong Survive
3
Dec 17 2023
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Snivilisation
Orbital
This was painful to put myself through. I like electronic music. But man, this one just went on and on and on, it was so repetitive with nothing interesting going on. Half the time the thing that was being repeated is just annoying to listen to anyway.
I was so relieved at one point when I noticed there were only two songs left to listen to. But you can imagine my disappointment when I realized that those two were 15 minutes and 11 minutes long respectively. Nearly 30 more minutes of uninteresting and sometimes unbearable music.
Awful. Absolutely awful. But at least it was *sometimes* good. Very rarely.
2/10
Top 2:
1. Forever
2. Quality Seconds
1
Dec 18 2023
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
I really had high hopes for this one, but it was really underwhelming. Obviously the title track is awesome, but everything else was just kind of meh. Nothing bad but nothing that tops the title track.
6.5/10
Top 3:
1. Master of Puppets
2. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
3. Damage, Inc.
3
Dec 19 2023
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Beautiful Freak
Eels
Considering how awful the cover is, surprisingly good so far. Novocaine is really good. Same with Rags to Rags and My Beloved Monster. And Flower. And Mental. And Your Lucky Day in Hell. Manchild is good too.
Considering how horrifying the cover is, I had a surprisingly great time with this one. Consistently good the whole way through. Don’t have a ton to say, though. Just a really good album.
8/10
Top 5:
1. Novocaine For The Soul
2. Manchild
3. My Beloved Monster
4. Rags to Rags
5. Your Lucky Day In Hell
4
Dec 20 2023
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Ramones
Ramones
Man, I just don’t care. I don’t like punk, and in terms of punk, it’s above average. But every song sounds the exact same. Usually if I can’t pick a top 3, it’s because almost every track was awful. But here, I just can’t tell the difference. None of them stand out in the slightest, except for Blitzkrieg Bop. But even that sounds like all the other ones, it’s just a slightly better song.
Totally mediocre album. Not impressed.
4/10
Top 1:
1. Blitzkrieg Bop
2
Dec 21 2023
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Tommy
The Who
I really enjoyed this one! I love any album that tries to tell a story, so I was very excited when I saw that this is one of the first ever rock operas. I wasn’t totally amazed by it, but most albums don't on first listen. It’ll probably take a couple more to really appreciate this album as much as I should.
And I have to mention the album cover, I don’t know if I’ve even seen it before but it’s beautiful. Love it. What a dark story though, in contrast to the album cover.
My top 5 may very well change in the future, too. They’re all quite good.
8/10
Top 5:
1. Pinball Wizard
2. 1921
3. Christmas
4. Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)
5. Go To The Mirror!
4
Dec 22 2023
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
I’d already heard this one for the first time recently, and it’s just as good the second time. Love this album. It’s exactly the kind of indie rock and roll (for me) that I love. While yes, the second half is not nearly as good as the first, the first half makes up for it easily.
And I somehow only realized on this listen, but apparently Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine is about a guy confessing to murdering his ex? How I missed that after listening to that song so much is beyond me.
Oh and by the way, go listen to the Tally Hall cover of Smile Like You Mean It. It’s so much better, and I’m not just saying that because I love Tally Hall.
8/10
Top 5:
1. Mr. Brightside
2. Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
3. Smile Like You Mean It
4. Somebody Told Me
5. Everything Will Be Alright
4
Dec 23 2023
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Not bad at all. Pretty good throughout, a few standouts but it was mostly just a good album. Not too much to say, really.
7/10
Top 5:
1. Son Of Sam
2. Stupidity Tries
3. Everything Means Nothing To Me
4. Can’t Make A Sound
5. Easy Way Out
3
Dec 24 2023
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
So boring. One of the most uninteresting albums I’ve listened to so far. It wasn’t particularly bad at all, just so very boring.
3/10
Top 1:
1. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
2
Dec 26 2023
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
Christmas music isn’t really my thing. As well, I’m listening to this two days after Christmas, so I guess it doesn’t really feel right anyway. Everything was technically good, I just wasn’t too into it. I would give it a 5/10, but I’m going to remove a point solely because it was made by a convicted murderer. Also because of that, the final track makes me uncomfortable!
4/10
Top 1:
1. The Bells of St. Mary
2
Dec 27 2023
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
I’m a bit mixed on this one. Some songs are actually very good, but they usually have certain elements that ruin them for me. Lots of highs and lows, pretty average album.
There’s one song I have to mention, although it’s not on my top 3, the closing track “The White Noise Revisited”. It’s got such an amazing ending, a perfect closer. But the first half is just so weird and off-putting that I can’t consider it one of my favourites. But it deserves a mention here anyway.
6/10
Top 3:
1. I’ve Lost the Reason
2. If You Want It, Take It
3. I Hang Suspended
3
Dec 28 2023
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Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
I find that half the time, an electronic album is amazing, one of the best I’ve ever heard, and the other half, you get the worst thing you’ve ever heard. This is one of the latter. So hard to put myself through. Didn’t even listen to the last song. Giving it a 2/10, just because there were some songs where I couldn’t help but tap along. I didn’t enjoy this at all.
2/10
Top 1:
1. Wilmot
1
Dec 29 2023
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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
Really good. Took me forever to actually finish listening but I enjoyed it the whole way through. Love the transition between Fly on a Windshield and Broadway Melody. Definitely have to check out more from Genesis. And since I spent so long listening to this, my top 5 is not really in any particular order.
8/10
Top 5:
1. In the Cage
2. The Lamia
3. The Colony of Slippermen
4. Counting Out Time
5. The Carpet Crawlers
4
Dec 30 2023
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Just kind of average. Psycho Killer is easily the peak, not much else to say.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Psycho Killer
2. Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town
3. Tentative Decisions
3
Jan 01 2024
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Viva Hate
Morrissey
Man, I do not like Morrissey. I hadn’t really listened to him before this, but his voice is just so annoying. There wasn’t really a single song I really liked. They’re often made worse by his vocals. Not a fan at all, but not really terrible. Can’t really justify anything lower than 2 stars.
5/10
Top 1:
1. Angel Angel Down We Go Together
2
Jan 02 2024
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Really good album. The first track is not the greatest I’ve ever heard, it’s far too long. But while that’s how I feel about that song, I Heard It Through The Grapevine is great, even though it’s significantly longer. I’ve never really listened to Creedence Clearwater Revival before, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.
8/10
Top 5:
1. Travellin’ Band
2. Who’ll Stop The Rain
3. Long As I Can See The Light
4. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
5. Up Around The Bend
4
Jan 04 2024
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Stankonia
OutKast
I don’t like rap. However, this was one of the better rap albums I’ve heard so far. The interludes were fun. The intro was good, but the moans kind of ruined it. The laughing in We Luv Deez Hoez is pretty funny. I wouldn’t listen again but I didn’t hate my time with this one.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Ms. Jackson
2. So Fresh, So Clean
3. B.O.B. - Bombs Over Baghdad
3
Jan 05 2024
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
Quite a good jazz album. Listened to the original version because I don’t really feel like listening to the complete 2+ hour version. Haven’t finished the last track as of writing this, but it’s good so far.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Jeep’s Blues
2. Festival Junction
3. Newport Up
3
Jan 06 2024
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Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
Very good, but a bit boring. Guy’s got a beautiful voice.
6.5/10
Top 3:
1. Cry to Me
2. You Can’t Love ‘Em All
3. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)
3
Jan 07 2024
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Destroyer
KISS
Surprised me. Didn’t expect to like this one that much. But it was quite good. Not great, but good. Just some above average hard rock.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Detroit Rock City
2. Shout It Out Loud
3. King Of The Night Time World
3
Jan 08 2024
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The Band
The Band
I really wanted to be more into it than I was. But it was just kind of average at best. Not very memorable, maybe I wasn’t really paying enough attention but I just wasn’t into it.
5/10
Top 2:
1. Look Out Cleveland
2. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
3
Jan 09 2024
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Young Americans
David Bowie
I love Bowie, but I really just don’t care for this album. Even the two tracks that are really popular, aren’t even that great to me. Especially Fame. What a letdown that was. I’m shocked that I’m giving a Bowie album 3 stars, but I have to.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Young Americans
2. Across the Universe
3. Fame
3
Jan 11 2024
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Machine Head
Deep Purple
Really good! So much better than the live album I had to listen to from them before. But my favourites mostly remain the same.
8/10
Top 3:
1. Highway Star
2. Smoke on the Water
3. Space Truckin’
4
Jan 16 2024
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
One of my favourite albums. So close to perfect…. If it wasn’t for the almost 30 minutes of instrumental jams at the end. At least they’re just there at the end, as sort of a bonus, so they’re easily skippable.
I so badly want to give this album a perfect score but I don’t think I can justify that. Ah well, it’ll get 5 stars from me either way. Easily one of the best Beatles solo albums. Can’t even narrow down a top 5, there’s way too many great songs here.
9/10
Top 5:
1. What Is Life
2. All Things Must Pass
3. Behind That Locked Door
4. Isn’t It A Pity
5. Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let it Roll)
6. My Sweet Lord
7. Run of the Mill
5
Jan 17 2024
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
Better than I was expecting. Too bad these guys didn’t make it very far.
7/10
Top 3:
1. I Wanna Destroy You
2. Queen of Eyes
3. Kingdom of Love
3
Jan 18 2024
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Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
Very well made, it all sounds good, but I wasn’t into it. Many of the songs were far too repetitive and long. Great background music, but not much more than that.
But on the plus side, it’s got one of the best album covers I’ve ever seen. That gives it an extra point.
6/10
Top 2:
1. Rise
2. Nights Introlude
3
Jan 19 2024
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Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Wow, wow, wow. I was not expecting this to be as good as it was, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it had my attention the whole way through. I’m also just so happy that it was only 35 minutes long. For a live album, that’s quite short.
Makes me want to both listen to more ELP (this is the first of their albums I’ve ever heard) and listen to the original by Modest Mussorgsky. I’d listen again. One of the best albums I’ve heard so far.
8/10
Top 4:
1. The Sage
2. The Great Gates of Kiev
3. Promenade (Pt. 2)
4. Promenade (Pt. 1)
4
Jan 21 2024
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
Obviously a classic. Although it took me a while to get into at first. Other Pink Floyd albums like The Wall, I loved instantly. But Dark Side took me a few listens to really appreciate. Now I understand how good it really is, but still I don’t think it’s quite a 10/10.
9/10
Top 5:
1. Time
2. Brain Damage
3. Breathe (In the Air)
4. Eclipse
5. Money
5
Jan 25 2024
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
It was fine. Nothing mind blowing.
6/10
Top 1:
1. Dime
3
Jan 26 2024
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Music
Madonna
Much better than I expected it to be, but not amazing either. I definitely underestimated Madonna.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Paradise (Not for Me)
2. Gone
3. Impressive Instant
3
Jan 27 2024
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
A perfectly fine rap album.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Butter
2. Verses from the Abstract
3. Jazz (We’ve Got)
3
Jan 28 2024
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Goo
Sonic Youth
Some songs were really good, others not so much. Not a Sonic Youth fan.
5/10
Top 3:
1. Tunic (Song For Karen)
2. Kool Thing
3. Dirty Boots
3
Jan 29 2024
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Close To The Edge
Yes
Pretty good! Only listened to the original tracks (the first 3) but I enjoyed all of them. Sometimes long tracks can be good.
8/10
Top 1:
1. Close to the Edge
4
Jan 30 2024
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Not bad at all. It didn’t quite reach my expectations, but I enjoyed it. Each song was equally good, so it’s hard to choose favourites.
8/10
Top 3:
1. Your Protector
2. Ragged Wood
3. Sun It Rises
4
Jan 31 2024
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
I really find Alanis’ voice to be very annoying. Didn’t enjoy this album very much.
4/10
Top 3:
1. Ironic
2. Your House - A Capella
3. Head over Feet
2
Feb 01 2024
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In Utero
Nirvana
Not really a fan. Maybe I’m just not into Nirvana.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Heart-Shaped Box
2. All Apologies
3. Rape Me
3
Feb 03 2024
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
Already loved this album before. Easily one of Queen’s best works (News of the World is a bit better imo). So many of these songs are their best they’ve ever made. Almost perfect.
9/10
Top 5:
1. The Prophet’s Song
2. Bohemian Rhapsody
3. Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To…)
4. ‘39
5. Love Of My Life
5
Feb 06 2024
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Sea Change
Beck
Underwhelming. Pretty good, but forgettable.
6.5/10
Top 3:
1. Guess I’m Doing Fine
2. The Golden Age
3. End Of The Day
3
Feb 11 2024
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NEU! 75
Neu!
Very fitting with the title, this album felt very “neu” to me. This one was a surprise in the beginning, I really enjoyed the first couple tracks, but then it lost me in the second half. I think it could have been better had the whole thing been like the first half. For that, it gets a high 3 stars.
7/10
Top 3:
1. ISI
2. Leb’wohl
3. Seeland
3
Feb 13 2024
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Guero
Beck
I wasn’t impressed. Just like the other Beck album I’ve heard, it’s all just pretty average. It’s good, but nothing special at all.
6/10
Top 3:
1. E-Pro
2. Missing
3. Farewell Ride
3
Feb 18 2024
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Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Just alright. I enjoyed the first track, but everything else was just slightly less good.
Funny, this is the second time a cover of Under the Boardwalk is in my top 3.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Wordy Rappinghood
2. Under the Boardwalk
3. On, On, On, On…
3
Feb 19 2024
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Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
Before starting this journey, I always said I hated certain genres. Country, Rap, Hip Hop, and the like. But I’m realizing now that I really don’t dislike them as much as I once thought.
This is a great country album. My biggest shock, though, is that the Beatles cover isn’t even in my top 3. I was once practically a Beatles superfan, so that says a lot about this album. Also nice to see a cover from my favourite country album so far, Coat of Many Colors.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Too Far Gone
2. Boulder to Birmingham
3. Coat of Many Colors
3
Feb 21 2024
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All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
Dad’s a big U2 fan, so I wanted to like this one. But it’s just so mediocre. Especially the latter half.
6.5/10
Top 3:
1. Walk On
2. Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
3. Beautiful Day
3
Feb 24 2024
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I feel about the same as I do about most other punk albums so far. It’s just ok. At least it was better than Germs. Not many standouts here either.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Rich
2. Maps
3. Black Tongue
3
Feb 28 2024
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
So far on this list, electronic albums have been a mixed bag. Either they’re really good (Cross, Homework) or they’re really bad (Snivilization, Haunted Dancehall). This one falls somewhere in the middle. Some of the most bland electronic music I’ve ever heard. Inoffensive but not near interesting enough.
5/10
Top 3:
1: Red Alert
2: Same Old Show
3: Don’t Give Up
3
Feb 29 2024
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The Grand Tour
George Jones
I just keep proving to myself that I don’t really hate country music. This is just another country album that I’ve enjoyed listening to. It’s a very particular kind of country that I like, I just don’t have the word for it. The songs were all a bit samey though.
7/10
Top 3:
1. The Grand Tour
2. Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)
3. Who Will I Be Loving Now
3
Mar 01 2024
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Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
Being totally honest, I didn’t pay too much attention to this one, so maybe I didn’t get as much out of it as I could have. But I wasn’t into this one at all.
5/10
Top 3:
1. The Whole Point Of No Return
2. Strength Of Your Nature
3. The Paris Match
3
Mar 02 2024
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
This is the first (or second?) full Rolling Stones album I’ve listened to. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I’ve realized I’m not really a huge Stones fan. They’re good, but there’s not many songs here I’d like to revisit.
Also, I don’t think I love Gimme Shelter as much as most others.
7.5/10
Top 3:
1. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
2. Love In Vain
3. Gimme Shelter
3
Mar 05 2024
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1999
Prince
Prince is very talented. And the first couple tracks here are very good. But a lot of them aren’t. Which would be fine if they weren’t each 5+ minutes long. Like, does All The Critics Love U in New York need to be 6 minutes long? Does Lady Cab Driver need to be 8?
High highs, and boring lows.
6/10
Top 3:
1. 1999
2. Little Red Corvette
3. International Lover
3
Mar 12 2024
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
A nice cover album. Ringo Starr’s cover of Stardust is still better though!
7/10
Top 3:
1. Stardust
2. Unchained Melody
3. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
3
Mar 14 2024
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
This was an interesting experience. Firstly, the opening track is quite good. And I loved how each song transitioned into the next. That’s always something that easily draws me into an album. But after that first song, the others are not really that great.
Way too many instrumentals here. I usually like those but this is too much.
6.5/10
Top 3:
1. Who Do You Love - Pt. 1
2. When You Love
3. Mona
3
Mar 15 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
As far as hip-hop albums go, this wasn’t too bad. I still don’t really love this genre, but this wasn’t an excruciating listening experience. I wasn’t wishing it to be over half way through.
Was surprised to hear some Beastie Boys samples on here too. Love those guys.
8/10
Top 4:
1. Fuck Tha Police
2. Straight Outta Compton
3. Gangsta Gangsta
4. 8 Ball - Remix
4
Mar 16 2024
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Pretty good. What else to say? I expected to enjoy Led Zeppelin a bit more, but it was just a pretty solid album.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)
2. Thank You
3. Moby Dick
3
Mar 20 2024
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
A good reggae album, but there’s such a thing as too much reggae. This was too much reggae for me.
6/10
Top 3:
1. Three Little Birds
2. Natural Mystic
3. Jamming
3
Mar 23 2024
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
How was this so good? I’ve never once (knowingly) heard a Meat Loaf song, so I had certain expectations of what he’d sound like. But this is not what I was expecting at all. It’s so much better!
In many of the top reviews, people seem to be saying that this album is overproduced. But that doesn’t bother me. In fact, I tend to enjoy overproduction!
I very well may listen to this album again.
8.5/10
Top 5:
1. Bat Out of Hell
2. For Crying Out Loud
3. You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth
4. Heaven Can Wait
5. Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad
4
Mar 24 2024
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
This one was kind of underwhelming. I’ve heard much better.
6/10
Top 3:
1. A Certain Romance
2. Riot Van
3. Perhaps Vampire Is A Bit Strong But…
3
Mar 27 2024
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
A very quality album. Not one that I’ll listen to again but one that just flew by while I listened to it. That did not feel as long as it was. Some really great songs here.
8/10
Top 3:
1. Sir Duke
2. Love’s In Need Of Love Today
3. Knocks Me Off My Feet
4
Mar 28 2024
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
This isn’t really my kind of music, but I enjoyed it enough.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Pyramids
2. Lost
3. Bad Religion
3
Mar 31 2024
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Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
The worst of the two Black Sabbath albums I’ve heard. But it’s not bad at all.
6.5/10
Top 3:
1. Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener
2. Snowblind
3. Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes
3
Apr 02 2024
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
Another damn Morrissey album. I don’t get it. Am I missing something? Am I just unable to comprehend his genius? Is he really so great that he deserves 5+ albums on here? No. No he doesn’t. I pray that I won’t have to hear his voice again, but I’m sure I will in time.
The album’s technically fine, it’s ok, I’m just sick of hearing this man’s voice. An imperfectly mid album.
5/10
Top 1:
1. The Queen Is Dead
2
Apr 03 2024
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Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
I thought I was finally going to get another good electronic album. But no. This wasn’t offensively awful like some others I’ve heard, but it was just so boring to listen to. Very atmospheric, which is nice I guess, but it’s too much. And not enough at the same time. No electronic album I’ve heard here has yet surpassed Cross. I wonder if any ever will.
5/10
Top 1:
1. Phaedra
2
Apr 04 2024
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
Not exactly what I was expecting, but a pleasant surprise. Not incredible by any means, but not bad either.
7/10
Top 3:
1. The Great Valerio
2. Down Where The Drunkards Roll
3. When I Get To The Border
3
Apr 05 2024
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Nixon
Lambchop
What a boring album. Thoroughly disappointed. The album cover looks so good, too, just adding to the disappointment I feel.
4/10
Top 1:
1. The Book I Haven’t Read
2
Apr 06 2024
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
I liked the last OutKast album I listened to on here (Stankonia), even though I found it to be a bit long. Turns out, it wasn’t that long. I wasn’t sure about how this album would go, since it is (I believe) the longest one I’ve heard so far.
But luckily, it didn’t feel like 2+ hours. I would have preferred if it had been two separate albums rather than two in one though.
7.5/10
Top 3:
1. Hey Ya!
2. Reset
3. Prototype
3
Apr 11 2024
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Some pretty average Elvis. But I’ve got to say, it put me in a great mood.
7.5/10
Top 3:
1. Blue Suede Shoes
2. Tutti Frutti
3. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’)
3
Apr 13 2024
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
I’d skipped the first ZZ Top album I got on here, so I didn’t know what to expect going into this. But I was quite pleased with it.
7/10
Top 3:
1: Gimme All Your Lovin’
2. I Got the Six
3. Sharp Dressed Man
3
Apr 14 2024
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Third
Portishead
What a weird album. Thought I’d prefer this over the other Portishead album I’ve heard, and I didn’t. Not for me. Good atmosphere though.
5/10
Top 3:
1. Deep Water
2. Machine Gun
3. Silence
3
Apr 15 2024
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BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
One of the albums I’ve been most disappointed to see come up so far. I do not like Beyoncé. So I went in with very low expectations. And for the most part, it met those expectations. It wasn’t anything special. I was going to give it a 3 or 4 out of 10. But then the last two tracks really brought it back for me. Heaven is actually a pretty good song, and I hate that I’m saying that. I still don’t like this album, or Beyoncé, but this wasn’t a terrible experience.
5/10
Top 3:
1. Heaven
2. Blue
3. Drunk in Love
2
Apr 18 2024
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Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
I’m so surprised by this. I expected to hate it, but I really enjoyed it. A lot of the reviews are right, that it sounds like James Bond music, or the soundtrack to a musical, but this is a musical I’d like to see. I don’t know what it was about this album, but I’m into it.
8/10
Top 3:
1. Die Dreigroschenoper: Tango Ballad
2. Little Water Song
3. Streets of Berlin
4
Apr 25 2024
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Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
Normally, if I like the most popular song on an album, I wonder if I only like it as much as I do because it’s popular. But this is one of the times where I loved a song before realizing it’s very popular at all.
Good album.
7/10
Top 3:
1. Lazy Sunday
2. Rene
3. The Journey
3
May 19 2024
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Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
Was expecting much better from this one after reading the reviews. But this may be one of the worst thus far.
3/10
Top 1:
1. Dreams
2