Stop me if you've heard this one before - interesting lore behind this album. You can nearly hear the winced pain of Young's ailing back through the recordings, but there's a bit of edge, a bit of bitterness and melancholy that elevates the end product. The downside of the more subdued approach is that there's nowhere for the oft-lackluster vocals to hide ("Are You Ready for the Country" is unbearable). The tracks with the London Symphony Orch bring a different, yet welcome, flavor from Neil's usual aural language. Not my favorite of his works. Listened to: at home. Favorite track: Heart of Gold

Flows smoothly, albeit nothing stood out in particular. Uptempo without a lot of the "lulls" that can throw me when typically listening to jazz.

Like most of Beck's catalogue, it's pleasant enough to listen to, but nothing I'd normally seek out. A bit more accessible than his later stuff. "Lost Cause" the highlight for me.

Middle section (Welcome to Paradise -> When I Come Around) is phenomenal despite utilizing fairly similar song structures, the beginning and end are even more lacking in variety though. Some phenomenal choruses and melodies really elevate the middle tracks.

Not bad by any means, but not really my cup of tea. Highlight track: \"Be My Wife\"

Prefer the more raw sound of their earlier albums, this has a lot of interesting ideas and use of negative aural space, but it just doesn't totally hit me in an emotional way. That being said, the last two songs are PHENOM. Favorite track: Red Rain, I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)

I believe this was my first time listening to Zappa, I actually quite enjoyed it even though some songs sounded like birds being strangled. Favorite track: Willie the Pimp

I can understand how this is a great album for those it's aimed at. There's a great variety of piano and guitar, but Springsteen's voice has never done it for me and I don't think the sound mix does him any favors on this album either, some of the lyrics are difficult to pick out. Favorite track: Thunder Road

There are a few moments that have nice harmonies but man this is really not for me. Not looking forward to 5 more of his albums in this project 🥲. Favorite track: Sulky Girl

Well that was....different. Interesting mix of haunting and uplifting. Favorite track: Penguin Cafe Single

Started off strong, but the back half has some odd tracks that didn't land for me. Can definitely see why Bowie was in Lou's corner. Sound is crisp and mixing is top-tier.

Eclectic but very accessible, so cool that all of the "looping" was manual. Definitely gives it a human feel, even if it's subconscious. Liked this a lot. Favorite track: Crosseyed & Painless

Delightful! Some really soulful tracks, the middle run from Mbube -> House of the Rising Sun is great. Easy to see why this is considered part of the "coming out" party of African/world music. Favorite track: The Naughty Little Flea

Unsurprisingly, great guitar work, but a lot of tracks felt quite same-y to me. Nothing I mind listening to but didn't blow me away by any means. Favorite Track: Sunshine of Your Love

A really cool concept (a soundtrack with no accompanying film!) that builds up some really rich and evocative soundscapes, but eventually wears out its welcome. Definitely a unique album.

Cool concept behind the album (uncommon jazz time signatures) that I'm nowhere near technically-adept enough to truly appreciate. Nothing offensive or unlikeable about this music, but it's a bore. I do enjoy the "cool" jazz tonality a lot more than traditional jazz. Favorite track: Take Five (the only one Brubeck didn't write lol!)

Killer! Glam arena is a great combo, this was way less intense than I was expecting. Favorite Track: Women

Just a blast, probably only the middle of the pack in terms of my RHCP album ranks but Kiedis' energy is off the walls, and that's saying a lot for him! Great mix of funk and guitar solos, every band member gets multiple opportunities to shine. Favorite Tracks: Breaking the Girl / Suck My Kiss

Definitely my favorite Beck project, I enjoyed this FAR more than I thought I would. The genre bending is done incredibly well, and there's such an energy behind the hiphop/rock/electronic mixes that borders on a pre-Daft Punk or Justice sound. Loved it. Favorite track: Novacane

This album reminds me of such a specific time in my life, and it's incredible just how pervasive the hit singles were during 2011-2012. I do tend to enjoy the lesser-celebrated tracks on this album, but the entire thing is such a force that almost sags under its own weight at times. Favorite track: Lovesong

Probably my favorite Pac album, arrived at such an interesting point in his life and career, love the more mature and introspective style. Favorite track: Death Around the Corner

Pretty typical Blegh Bruce until the last 1/3, which is actually pretty good Concept Bruce! We like Concept Bruce! Favorite track: Paradise

Pretty shocked I haven't meaningfully listened to this Philly queen before, supremely talented. Excellent use of skits/spoken word. Favorite track: Price Tags

Some absolutely classic bangers on here, but overall there are too many tracks with sparse soundscapes and lo-fi production to make it an easy, cohesive listen. Wild that Paint it Black wasn't on the UK release! Favorite track: Under My Thumb

My first intro to The Go-Go's, they have a special place in music history. Learning about their place in new wave speak volumes to their influence! Favorite track: Skidmarks On My Heart

Was ready to knock a star off regardless of the score knowing that these were all covers of folklore tracks...lesson learned. Joan elevates many of these classics. Beautiful, haunting, and pure. From the first measure, voice and guitar blend incredibly for close to an hour, invoking a wide range of emotions. The sound and mix is incredibly refined for 1960, just a masterpiece from every angle. Favorite track: Mary Hamilton (and it takes a LOT for House of the Rising Sun to not be my fave)

Lou's music really just does nothing to grab me. Sorry guy. Favorite track: Oh Jim

Quite the medley of sounds! Favorite track: Damaged

Pretty inoffensive but nothing that caught my fancy much either. Crazy they're still releasing new albums and have had over 20 members! Favorite track: Starship Trooper

Meh. Favorite track: Fireworks

I found this more diverse in sound, but as a result, much more disjointed than Moss Side Story. Enjoyable but not some evocative. Favorite track: It's Business as Usual

Can't believe I'm saying this about a Zep album but that was almost...tame? A lot more major keys and \"lightness\" vs their earlier, darker, heavier sound. Favorite track: Kashmir

An undeniably impactful on the history and development of hip hop, but not a particularly enjoyable listen. The spoken word style isn't my favorite and falls flat when combined with the often nonsensical lyricism. Also felt the game show framing device had a lot of unrealized potential. Favorite track: This is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime ERA

I think I'd get more out of this if I *really* knew The Who's music, as the vocals are a bit muddied, but the sound is great besides that. The riffs and medleys are tops and the energy is tight throughout, exactly what you want from a live album. Favorite track: Heaven and Hell

Absolute classic. ENERGYYYY. Favorite Track: War Pigs

Loved getting this b2b with Sabotage. Vol.4, though only 2 years later, shows a lot of evolution and refinement from the band, both in the technical recording and sound mixing, as well as the musical approach. There's a wider variety of compositions and experimentation with guitar solos. Less uneven than Sabotage. Excellent. Favorite track: Snowblind (those solos!!!)

I've checked out a few of Fiona's albums before and never been much moved, but this was fantastic right off the bat. Much more punchy than her other stuff. A very impressive debut. Favorite tracks: Sleep to Dream / Pale September

Very clean sound and lots of variety, without an overwhelming amount of 80s synths :D Favorite track: Strangelove

Fairly bland and repetitive overall. There are some decent cuts — Somebody Told Me, This City Never Sleeps — but quite forgettable. Outside of, of course… Favorite track: Sweet Dreams

Absolutely not for me, I was surprised to see this was from '69...could've understood this earlier in the decade but not really picking up why this was so innovative/influential.

Interesting to hear that the band viewed this as an R.E.M album "without any R.E.M." songs. I'll need to listen to another to compare, but I can see how this was so influential to the alt rock movement with ease. Favorite Track: Turn You Inside-Out

This was more atmospheric than I was expecting. Unfortunately, the lackluster vocals and repetitive nature drag this album down, although it's still infectious enough to make you want to turn off your brain and rock out. Favorite track: King of the Night Time World

A shotgun to the FACE, a cacophonic chorus of controlled chaos, but always unpinned by the sneakiest of harmonies. A hell of a debut. Favorite track: From the Ritz to the Rubble

Love the visual joke of the album cover. Pleasant brit rock, great audio mix and more mature than their earlier counterparts. Favorite track: All Mod Cons (jeez I really love openers..)

Such an odd album, such lovely sounds. Tough to pick a favorite here when some tracks are almost just trolling and others are exposing deep emotional wounds. Favorite tracks: North American Scum / New You, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down

Fun! Of course I'd heard Epic, but never knew who it was by. Lots of great tracks on here, but never takes itself too seriously. Great War Pigs cover. Favorite track: The Real Thing

This album fucking ROCKED. As an Electric Callboy fan, I can totally see how these guys blazed the path for them. Great production, full sound and blazing guitars. Favorite tracks: Age of Pamparius, Monkey on Your Back

Definitely enjoyed this more than typical Bowie, never heard the term "blue-eyed soul" before 😂 I'm not quite sure *why* it connected more, I guess the Soul/Motown sound? Some great guitar work and a few iconic tracks (Fame, Young Americans). Favorite track: Fascination

Much more layered, upbeat, and guitar-heavy than I expected from a Blues artist. Favorite track: Help the Poor

My first one-star review! There are glimmers of musical interest here, but they get overshadowed by the awful vocals and way-too-proud anti-pop attitude. Interesting band historical (over sixty members!) but the lead singer's crappy attitude clearly bleeds into the music in a pompous and unpleasant way. Ick

One interesting part of this journey so far has been discovering just how much folk revival there was in the second half of the 20th century, albeit blended with modern genre bending. An enjoyable, if kitschy, listen. Favorite track: I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day

Singing and instrumentation were both good, not great. Suffers from a lack of variety in subject matter, but overall an enjoyable listen. Favorite track: Beautiful Brown Eyes

There are some highlights here, but nothing that particularly grabs me besides the track I highlighted. Difficult not to romanticize the story of his rapid rise and fall. The live aspect has tradeoffs - his voice inflections and crowd interactions bring a new dimension of energy, but they lyrics and instrumentals are frustratingly muddled. Favorite track: Bring it On Home to Me

I mean this in the most admiring way possible, this music puts me to sleep. It's even-keeled, calming, maternal, comforting. ELH seems like a gem. Favorite track: My Baby Needs a Shepherd

Not usually one for teetotalers, but CCR is an exception. Loved the contrast of major-key, bright music with the darkness of the lyrics. Will definitely be revisiting this one. Favorite tracks: Wrote a Song for Everyone, Green River, Lodi

There's nothing to really dislike here and it's quite the refreshing lighter selection compared to some of the other 1001's, but that simultaneously puts a ceiling on how seriously this can be taken as "elevated" art....god that sounds pretentious. Surprised how much closer it is to orchestral rather than twangy folk. All said, a pleasant, coloring-book invoking listen! Favorite track: Hard Headed Woman

One of the finest albums ever created, and the accompanying film is essential to elevate the experience. The absolute pinnacle of concept albums as an art form. My favorite PF album among a legendary discography. Favorite Tracks: Comfortably Numb, Is There Anybody Out There, The Trial

What could rightfully be considered the bridge between both 90s & 80s hip-hop, as well as the very avante-garde hip-hop movement and the more jazz-, alternative- sound that would soon come to be so dominant in the 90s. This isn't my favorite Tribe project, but it's somehow both refined and boundary-pushing and really set the tone for a new era. Favorite track: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo

A modern classic, it's difficult to overstate just how pervasive this album was when it debuted. Epic, ambitious and sonically-diverse, AI's theme and anxieties were a prescient harbinger for the trajectory of the 21st century. A punk-pop rock opera for the ages. Favorite tracks: Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday, She's a Rebel

Being familiar with their popular records from the late 2000s, I was hoping to find something more compelling in their first album...this was not the case. There's a *little* bit more rawness and experimentation with the guitars, but overall the tracks are bland and the singer's voice is as grating and incomprehensible as I've come to know. Favorite track: Razz

Thought that'd be another Brit band slog after the first track but oh how the rest of the album changed my mind. Ripping guitar work, early synths and unique song structures make this a frenetic, in-your-face jam. Favorite tracks: Strictly Confidential, In Every Dream Home A Heartache, The Bogus Man

Simultaneously refined and wild, there are a plethora of bold choices (highlighted by the drum fadeout in Sex Machine) in this cut. STFS sits at a crucial crossroads of funk, rock, jazz, and psychedelia both tonally and culturally. Favorite track: Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey

The Good: Dude was a NASCAR driver! Music has a distinctive Western flair. Unapologetically narrative songwriting ... The Bad: ...almost to a fault. A cool anthology of short stories, but doesn't really land in the medium. Instrumentation wears out its welcome. I won't mind hearing these on their own once in a while, but together they're repetitive as hell. The Ugly: His political views 😬 Favorite track: In The Valley

I really enjoyed the blend of different sounds within tracks here, not just between them. There's a variety of instrumentation, and rhythms and melodies often change without tipping their hand. The rotating lead vocal approach also pairs nicely with the differences in track timbre, catering to the lead's strengths each time. Nearly every track has an intriguing tale behind it. Listened to: at home, on vinyl. Favorite tracks: Almost Cut My Hair, Teach Your Children

Holy WOW it is incredible how similar his sound from 1971 sounds to his Disney-Pixar soundtrack work. His voice is like a warm hug! Wholesome and even silly at times isn't really my bag, but how can you resist this guy! Favorite tracks: Sail Away, God's Song

Despite being on the tail-end of her career, this is still powerhouse Janis from a vocal standpoint. The backing band tracks are hit-or-miss for me, with the middle portion being the weakest, but this is still a strong posthumous (always a bit concerning) offering. The fanfare around this release must have been wild. Beyond the music, this album is so representative of the fragility of life and how the ripples of small-decisions can echo through history. If her studio sessions had been delayed even a week, this album, and Mercedes Benz especially, would've never existed. Wild to think of all the albums that we've lost and never known because the coin landing the other way a certain time.

I recall renting this album from the library sometime around middle school and just....not getting it. Looking back decades later that makes sense with my limited musical history at the time, but in the intervening years I've been changed -- exposed to so much. Play offers up two of my favorite musical elements -- sampling and electronic beats -- with unapologetic fervor, gripping you from start to finish, though there are some well-earned (and well-timed) respites along the way. Each cut moves along its journey in almost concurrent scientific and organic tracks. I'd admittedly let this one stew for a few weeks before listening to it, and it's been a good reminder to leave your past biases at the door because a few decades is an eternity in musical taste. Favorite tracks: Find My Baby, South Side, Natural Blues

Each track has a distinct personality, but at times this works negatively as there are a few times where thay become just a touch too repetitive. Overall, really enjoyed this album though, the mix and recording is incredibly clean, there's quite the array of different sounds, and all while seeming so suave and effortless. Will have to check out the film, even though I can nearly envision it off the soundtrack alone! Favorite tracks: Little Child Runnin' Wild, Freddie's Dead

For a gangsta rap album from 1990 this offers very polished production, if simplistic by modern standards. Cube also breaks from the basic subject matter that had already worn tired, and instead explores more complex storytelling and subversive material. Definitely my fave solo Cube album. Favorite tracks: The Nigga Ya Love to Hate, A Gangsta’s Fairytale, It’s A Man’s World

Like so much other 80s prog rock, this album suffers from a lack of tonal variety, especially on Side A. Geddy Lee's monotonous voice doesn't help. This get a bit more interesting in the last few tracks, but overall this wasn't anything special. Favorite tracks: Tom Sawyer, Vital Signs

Remarkable how different Bittersweet Symphony sounds compared to the rest of the album, which was my only touchpoint going in to this. Despite some repetitive song structures and shallow lyrics, there's enough strong guitar work and interesting musical flourishes to keep things from becoming monotonous. Favorite track: The Rolling People

Half of this album sounds the same and the other half is a grab bag of completely different, seemingly unrelated tracks -- and this is a case where that diversity is a drawback rather than a strong suit. Another case of terrible mixing where the vocals (which are difficult to discern by themselves) are drown out by the guitars and percussion. A few decent cuts but largely forgettable. Favorite track: Here Comes the Flood

The instrumentation is so pure and intoxicating, but I cannot get past how flat Cohen’s voice is. I guess you have to work with what you’ve got, and admittedly the few times he does go up or down on the register it makes an impact, but the overall lack of variety in the singing is too significant to ignore. I did enjoy the songwriting, some much cheekier moments than expected! Favorite track: Famous Blue Raincoat

Essentially an unofficial Wu Tang album, OB4CL brings everything you’d expect from that group, with RZA behind the decks, at the height of the power. This album isn’t going to surprise you often, though there are a few tracks where the production and the content are moving just slightly towards a more contemporary sound. Despite these efforts, there’s not quite enough going on to justify the 75 minute runtime. Gangsta rap fans will love it, the rest will probably leave it. Favorite track: Ice Cream

One of the first albums I distinctly remember listening to growing up in my parent’s house, the familiarity almost makes it more difficult to critically approach decades later. PSRT display the typified, beloved acoustic S&G sound while also daring to venture into new soundscapes and instruments. I do find some of the lyric meanings to be a hair too obtuse at times, but this also allows for the delivery of additional depth upon multiple listens. Favorite track: The Dangling Conversation

Zep a bit more refined, a bit more in control than their earlier works. More mysticism, less raw power. Whether better or worse boils down to personal preference, but the amount of hits from this album speak for themselves when it comes to mass appeal. I find IV to have a lower ceiling but a much higher floor than I-III. Favorite tracks: Stairway to Heaven, When the Levee Breaks

Up there for the worst vocals I've ever heard. Points for originality (I guess) but the lyrics are largely indiscernible and the music is dissonant in the worst way imaginable. Listened to: at home.

Ah geez, depressing tale behind this one. There are a few optimistic moments (guitar solo in War in Peace, interpolation of Sunshine of Your Love), but the generally somber aura matches the struggles Skip was experiencing. The vocals and the songwriting each range from great to terrible, with the lyrics getting a bit of a bump due to the frequent use of double meanings (ha see what I did there!). Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Weighted Down, War in Peace

Seemingly stuck between a played out 80s hair metal sound and an underdeveloped 90s punk vibe, a few strong tracks barely keep the rest of this subpar album afloat. Similarly, some strong guitar solos can't elevate the toneless vocals and the oft juvenile content. Favorite tracks: Mountain Song, Pigs in Zen

The blueprint (ha) for the modern singer/songwriter album, Blue demands — and deserves — your full, undivided attention. With sprawling compositions that go to unexpected places, Joni keeps you on your toes whilst giving one of the best vocal performances of all time. Top it off with some of the rawest, poetic songwriting and you’ve got a bonafide, even in those few instances where her melodies don’t go in my personally preferred direction. Favorite tracks: Carey, Blue, River

Unconventional guitar solos (Pictures of Home, Never Before, Lazy) put an emphatic underline on the smashmouth tone of this album. It’s clear this was a key forefather of power/arena rock. While the vocal performances aren’t anything special, they don’t detract from the musicality and are well-mixed for the era. Listened to: on a plane from Puerto Rico to New York. Favorite tracks: Highway Star, Pictures of Home, Space Truckin’

A wildly diverse album, there is something for everyone here — the flip side to that is that you’re going to have to have an insane breadth of musical appreciation to like everything that’s on offer. The virtual band concept is a brilliant, yet almost inevitable response to approaching the millennium. A struggle to appreciate the body of work without engaging the external content is the real downside here. Del’s tracks are all stand outs, he was made for this moment. Very strong 4. Favorite tracks: Clint Eastwood, Sound Check (Gravity), Rock the House

Stripped down, sultry disco. Immensely enjoyable listen with the talent of these vocalists. Favorite track: Thinking of You

Most striking thing about this album is the use of secondary (behind the guitar) instruments. Lots of flutes, strings, percussion, and some that I wasn't even able to ID. Paul's voice isn't the best but its simple nature lends itself well to this album's atmosphere of mirth and celebration -- don't be fooled though, there is depth here that is only heightened by how much the self-title seemingly doesn't seem to take itself. Favorite tracks: Celebration, Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard

Some fun heavy hitters on this one, great basslines and latter-track breakdowns. A tad too long and the vocals could be clearer at points. Favorite tracks: Let Me Down, Head Down, Spoonman

TIL the That 70s Show theme was a cover. Love the album art and on the nose title, and the album’s sound is just as smile-inducing. While the song structures are simple, they’re executed well with beautiful harmonies and a cozy sound mix. Plenty of tracks going in to the rotation from this one. Favorite tracks: Try Again, Thirteen, In the Street

In the upper mid-tier of Jay's discography for me. Some classics but not enough elevated consistency throughout to be his peak. Favorite tracks: IZZO, Heart of the City, U Don't Know

Nothing much grabbed me here, the music is dull and the vocals are to match without enough lyrical content to elevate the rest of the lacklusterness. Listened to: walking across the Golden Gate Bridge!!! Favorite tracks: Between the Bars, Cupids Trick

Never been much of an FF fan, their individual tracks are fine but albums get far too repetitive. Bland 2000s indie sound, which is made all the more frustrating by the few times where they break the formula and it hits so well! Favorite track: Your Protector

A largely well-executed concept album that is able to toe the line between the serious and the absurd with ease. While it isn’t something I’d want to listen to every day, this was a fun change up. Listened to: walking through prospect park to go to the doctor. Favorite tracks: The Seer’s Tower, Chicago

Beautiful acoustic guitar and some surprisingly strong electric riffs as well. Lots of funk and rock influence and subversive lyricism. Favorite tracks: Save Me, Tall in the Saddle

One of the most influential albums of the 20th century and it still holds up today. Favorite track: Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue

The best way I can describe this is “medieval electronica,” and WOW I liked it far more than expected. Wild how significant it ended up being (even ignoring all musical influence) because of 1.) being Virgin’s first album, and 2.) The Exorcist. A delight! Listened to: on the train to New Jersey. Favorite track: I’m not picking a favorite on an album with 2 20+ minute tracks.

I personally prefer Em's next few albums over MM, but this classic put him on the map. Some all-time great cuts but a bit too long as an entire body of work. Favorite tracks: Stan, I'm Back

Perfect rainy day music. Didn't realize they were so intricately tied to Sofia Coppola and her work. Favorite tracks: Ce Matin-la, All I Need

My first Krautrock experience and boy was that odd. Enjoyed the more ethereal, synth-driven tracks but everything else was a miss. Favorite track: Lauft...Heisst...

A landmark album that doesn’t hit quite as hard today — not because the societal issues being skewered have been solved — but because rap has been influenced so pervasively by Public Enemy’s brash style. Production also lacks the tonal variety to hold up for a full hour when pair with underwhelming vocal performances. Favorite tracks: Fight the Power, Fear of a Black Planet

An album that simply oozes SoCal, this was a lot stronger and more sonically diverse than I remembered. Favorite tracks: A Nigga Witta Gun, Lyrical Gangbang, Bitches Ain't Shit

The harder electric Beatles era is just night and day better from where they started out. Tracks develop in unexpected yet organic ways, and never overstay their welcome. There are a few head scratchers that keep this from being a 5, but really great record overall. Favorite tracks: Come Together, Because, Carry That Weight

Absolutely wild range from Stevie on this one. A genre bender with a diverse assortment of subject matter on the lyrical side. Favorite tracks: Too Shy To Say, They Won’t Go When I Go

With the exception of Save a Prayer, if you’ve heard one some you’ve basically heard them all. There’s some fun variation in the last 1/3 of some of the songs, but the structures are very similar and rely far too heavily on a repeated hook. Still, enjoyable enough. Favorite tracks: My Own Way, Save a Prayer

Liked this, but the thinness of Smith's voice can almost cause you to strain to listen at times. Still, strong instrumentals and even some surprisingly heavy electric guitar bits. Favorite tracks: Son of Sam, Somebody That I Used to Know

This album shines when Cobain doesn’t overstrain his voice and actually sings! He’s good! Favorite track: Breed

There are some good moments (second half of Night Prowler) but as a whole it's a repetitive album without much to say. Favorite track: Walk All Over You

While no doubt a vivid lyricist, I found most of the content difficult to connect with, or frankly, care about. Tonally there's not much variation from song to song, although there's certainly talent behind the musical performance and arrangements. Listened to: walking around Keyport at dusk. Favorite track: The Thin Man

This barely escapes being a 1 with vocals that are nearly indiscernible and a total lack of variety from track to track. Listened to: at home.

Dynamic string arrangements, certainly an album that delivers more with background context. Bjork is just a liiiiittle too out there for me though. Is it a great piece of avant garde art? Yes. Is it an enjoyable listen? Eh not so much. Too meandering. Listened to: walking through prospect park to a dentist appointment. Favorite track: Notget

Understandable why this album is on the list due to its important place in live album lore, but with how prevalent live content is these days the quality of the performance doesn't hold up too well. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: I Want You to Want Me, Need Your Love

Better audio quality than most of the live albums on this list, but still suffers from the same issues of datedness - it's simply impossible to compete with today's live experience. That being said, you can hear the modern roots of "remixes" in some of these tracks that elevate the live format. Listened to: at home. Favorite track: Got My Mojo Working

Jazz ain’t my bag but there’s a lot of objective talent on display here, especially when it comes to drum breakdowns. Listened to: on a bus to Quetzaltenango. Favorite track: Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are

One of the first albums that ever clicked with me and it had a huge influence on my early taste. Excellent blend of hip hop and metal. Scratching has never been so welcome! Listened to: in a shuttle to Antigua. Favorite tracks: Papercut, By Myself, Forgotten

I find jack antonoff’s production incredibly dull, although it’s admittedly fitting for or Lana’s style. Lana’s cadence, songwriting, and always-interesting inflections and vocal delivery are as good as ever, but the bland production makes this far from her best album. Breaking Up Slowly is a standout because its complex sound layering stands in contrast with the rest of the songs. Favorite tracks: Wild at Heart, Yosemite, Breaking Up Slowly

Astounding instrumentals and PERFECT sound mix. Title track is obviously legendary and every element on the rest of the album seamlessly, effortlessly fits together. Incredibly modern sound for its time. Listened to: hiking down Acatenango. Favorite tracks: Maggot Brain, Hit It and Quit It, Super Stupid

Not much memorable on this one. A few tracks try and break the mold but simply aren’t compelling enough the justify nearly entirely eschewing melody. Instrumentals are well produced but don’t arouse much emotion in me, although the bass guitar performance deserves to be singled out for praise. Vocals are flat and uninspired. But a Pittsburgh shoutout?? Love to see it! Listened to: walking along Joe’s Pond. Favorite track: Drugs

I can hear how this influenced an array of artists - gorillaz , U2, artic monkeys to name just a few — but I did not enjoy this at all. The vocals, when they’re even there, are tinny and thin. Listened to: hiking up Acatenango. Favorite track: The Forest (how fitting!)

Liked the educational bits and that he specifically called out the pitfalls of listening with a Western ear. As with India itself, there’s a healthy serving of controlled chaos. Listened to: hiking up Acatenango. Favorite track: Sindhi-Bhairavi

Not a whole lot of percussion, but this one undoubtedly goes to the beat of its own drum. A compelling combo of orchestral arrangements and acoustic ballads. There are some very pretty guitar passages infused with a Basque flair. Wild instrumentation to the point where it gets difficult to venture a guess at what’s making a certain sound. Great quality for a live recording from the 70s. Listened to: walking around holy cross cemetery. Favorite tracks: The Gnome, The Hut of Baba Yaga, The Curse of Baba Yaga

This album shines when it leans into harder electric guitar and drum segments, especially with the timbre of the singer’s voice. Second half is much stronger. And we love a good pirate-themed song! Listened to: walking in prospect park. Favorite tracks: Ants Invasion, Kings of the Wild Frontier, Jolly Roger

One of those albums that truly transports you to another time and place - one of the most Cuban pieces of art, ever. Listened to: at home. Favorite track: Chan Chan

While I have a lot of respect for early 90s hip hop, growing up in the modern era has primed me for more lush, complex beatmaking, making it difficult for earlier albums to be top-tier unless the lyrics are exceptional. I much prefer Tribe's later output, as the production and delivery here is quite samey and the subject matter is oftentimes too referential to specific individuals or places without additional context. Phife the standout as usual. Listened to: walking in Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Verses From the Abstract, Check the Rhyme

Despite some ….dated (and inconsistent) views on male/female relationships, this is a punchy debut album. Great variety in the backing tracks with a lot of disparate musical elements coming together in organic ways. Dusty’s not yet at the height of her vocal prowess, but her range and control are still impressive here and the vocal layering is ahead of its time. Listened to: shopping at Target. Favorite tracks: Nothing, You Don’t Own Me

There are moments where each individual and their instruments shine on certain tracks, but those come too inconsistently to make this something I’d return to. When the band is playing at their most energetic they’re great, but almost every song is bogged down by a structure that emphasizes repeated sections in a minimalist style, along with vocals that require a guide to decipher. Listened to: walking in Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Two Weeks, While You Wait For the Others

Connected with this much more than previous listens, really enjoy the vocal dichotomies and the instrumentals are subtle but complex and moving. Listened to: walking in Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Intro, Crystallized, Heart Skipped A Beat

Much more accessible than some of their later efforts, this album boasts some fantastic electric guitar bits and adds up to something greater than its parts. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: The Bends, Just

Whoa! No instruments! This all-vocal album is an infectious treat, especially if you enjoy harmonization (this practically brings it to its logical end). Listened to: walking in prospect park. Favorite track: Unomathemba

While not exactly pushing intellectual boundaries, sometimes it’s nice to simply sit back and enjoy a record where an artist is having a blast doing their thing, and Prima’s an irresistible bundle of energy. That’s not to say this record is devoid of artistic value — try wry humor is an element that’s unconventional, and guest appearances are appropriate and impactful. I mean, and song about making banana splits??? What more could you want! listened to: walking in prospect park. Favorite tracks: Body and Soul, Buona Sera, I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, Banana Split for My Baby

this album might have the purest “drinking a beer during a dusky summer evening” vibe I’ve ever heard. There’s nothing groundbreaking going on, but with the strength of the guitar performance there doesn’t really need to be. The guitar shines on every track but rarely references the exact same timbre or style from another track. Vocals were flawed but still work and song subject matter had more depth than I expected. Listened to: walking through prospect park. Favorite tracks: White Line, Days That Used to Be, Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)

A contralto masterpiece of love and pain. Exceptionally emotional songwriting and one of the best vocal performances of all time. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: You Know I'm No Good, Some Unholy War, Back to Black

No doubt an important piece of history but not much stands out in a modern context, even the vocals left me less than impressed. Listened to: at home. Favorite track: Blue Monday

Dark, brooding, futuristic. Lots of shades of sampling and soundscaping that belong to the realm of El-P, DJ Shadow, or Deltron. Tracks consistently evolve into something more interesting than their starting point, but in a way that feels completely natural. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Keeping Pigs Together, The Rough and The Quick

Monotone singing is always a tough sell for me, though the raw energy belting forth elevates this collection of tracks. Instrumentally, the drumming stood out to me most, but the ripping, repetitive chords on guitar are also above average. A few strong solos. More harmonic progressions than you'd typically expect from punk. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Bodies, Problems

Songs and content are notably simplistic and repetitive, yet the vocal performances manage to elevate them through harmonization and occasional subversion of expectations. Despite lacking intellectual depth, there are still concepts here that speak to shared human experiences, even if they’re only probed at a surface level. At the end of the day their sound is irresistible despite its shortcomings. Listened to: going to Coney Island. Favorite tracks: California Dreamin’, Somebody Groovy, You Baby

A true classic, all three members bounce off each other with an ease that elevates all of the performances. Lauryn's vocals are tops and the production is bold yet human and oh so soulful. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: How Many Mics, Ready or Not

Certainly share their politics, percussion and guitar work is solid, but good lord the vocal work is unbearable. Ever heard of varying your tone? The instrumentals have enough merit that I can’t fairly give this a 1, but I really fucking want to. Listened to: walking around the F1 track in Montreal. Favorite track: Love Like Anthrax

Fairly indifferent to this one, there are parts that shine but others that are a bore. Listened to: walking near Ocean Beach. Favorite tracks: The Boston Rag, Pearl of the Quarter

Every single element of this album is infused with creative flair, boasting some of the best, subversive vocals I've ever heard. The track-to-track storytelling is excellent and the vocal performances harmonize perfectly with the instrumentals. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Cloud Nine, Love is a Hurtin' Thing

While I certainly agree with his messages and politics, I could not get past the whiny gratingness of Billy’s voice. I found the almost whimsical tone of some backing tracks to be quite jarring. The best cuts are those that have plucky guitar riffs and more complex percussion. I don’t think this is bad, but it isn’t for me. Listened to: on a plane from Puerto Rico to New York. Favorite tracks: There is Power in a Union

First few tracks are rough but finds its footing when the acoustic guitar takes a back seat to piano, drums and electric. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama is a fascinating track with layered, diverse percussion and strong guitar riffs, but the subject matter is what is most daring here — the same line is repeated throughout the track, but the content paired with Lennon’s varied delivery makes it work by delivering a crescendo of emotional resonance. Overall, the songwriting is simplistic and often repetitive — working sometimes, not landing at others. And I’d classify the vocal performance as creative, and sufficient, but not above average by any means. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: IDWBASM, Oh My Love, Oh Yoko! (Kinda repetitive, John, lol)

Always fun to hear an album starts and you say, “Oh THAT song!” And this one has got HITS. A wildly diverse palette of sounds that somehow seem to all fit together naturally. His lack of vocal range is unpleasant at first but he settles in nicely and makes the best of what he’s got as the album rolls along, to the point where it’s endearing and enjoyable by the end. Songwriting is relatable and tongue-in-cheek. Not something id listen to often but a unique gem. Listened to: returning the power broker :( favorite tracks: Get on Up, Early in the Morning, Without You

I found it very difficult to emotionally connect with this album. I’m not sure if it was the flat vocals or the largely bland instrumentation. The sound mix also seemed quite muted, which I’d imagine was an intentional choice but it kind of just threw a wet blanket over everything for me. There are some nice sections of guitar riffs that come through cleaner but they’re about the only highlights. Good for rainy day background music that you largely want to ignore. Listened to: walking in Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: An Ocean in Between the Waves

Lively with strong storytelling, you really never know what’s coming next with this one. Even the vocal-less jazz, seemingly improv, track (13 min long!!) was a delight. Chalking that up to the afrobeat influence. Listened to: walking to the movies to see Furiosa. Favorite tracks: The Cisco Kid, City Country City

While undoubtedly technically impressive, the frequent tempo changes and constant jumps from riff to riff make it difficult to latch on to anything. The lack of melodic variety only heightens this quality. Listened to: driving to Cape Cod. Favorite tracks: One

The production on this is SO damn clear and foreword-looking. Lots of genre bending and beats are all distinctive with impressive scratching and complimentary vocals. The sampling, especially of Aerosmith is almost unbelievably prescient of how hip hop would evolve in the coming decades. The rapping itself also feels much more natural alongside each beat than how MCs would often perform in this era. Listened to: in Golden Gate Park. Favorite tracks: Peter Piper, Hit It Run, Raising Hell

Awful, toneless singing with the surface level lyrics to match. The brass work is one of the few reasons to give this a spin. Listened to: on a train in New England. Favorite tracks: it Goes On, All of This and Nothing

This effort deftly combines two of my biggest album pet peeves — nonsensical lyrics and a poor vocal mix! Given that I’m pretty sure atmosphere over enunciation was the goal here it’s a bit more forgivable, though difficult to fully ignore. The dreamy, optimistic timbre of the tracks is refreshing, but also fails to meaningfully evolve over the full runtime. Pleasant, but fairly one-note outside of the closing track. Listened to: walking through Brooklyn. Favorite tracks: fifty-fifty clown, Fotzepolitic, Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires

This is good background music. If it's all you're focusing on, it's a bore. Highlight was the minor key finale track that suited the slow tempos much better than the other cuts. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Along the Banks of Rivers

Great use of Spatial Audio. Vocals are sparsely deployed, but effective. Tracks like Samba Pa Ti are a showcase of just how much can be said through aural tone without words. Guitar work is obviously prime but the complexity of the percussion on most tracks was also impressive. Listened to: walking through Golden Gate Park. Favorite tracks: Black Magic Woman, Incident at Neshabur, Mother’s Daughter, Hope You’re Feeling Better

An album of mourning and melancholy, plenty of space is given for Clapton’s guitar to shine, but the Allman-led backing band is essential in creating a soundscape for the lead to thrive. While not an elite vocalist in the traditional sense, the combination of daring vocal choices (channeling Zeppelin in Anyday, for example) and his unfiltered pain works with the heartbreak subject matter. Listened to: in San Francisco Botanical Garden. Favorite tracks: Bell Bottom Blues, Layla

MJ ain’t really my cup of tea, but it’s hard to deny that this album is objectively great in its lane. HEE-HEE!! The strongest cuts are those where he branches out in to more developed verse structures rather than simply repeating hooks. Most of the backing tracks have some flair to them and develop in an interesting way. The electric guitar does some heavy lifting, and I mean that in a good way. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Liberian Girl, Another Part of Me, Dirty Diana, Smooth Criminal

I think this demands multiple listens to really dig into, as the lyrics come quickly and both the vocal layering and instrumentation are complex. That being said, the front half of the album seems to take a lot less risks than the back, which I preferred -- it has the aura of a dark fairy tale. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: And Dream of Sheep, Jig of Life

Well, this sure wasn't what I expected. The guts to barely have any accompanying music... Very pleasant but I do feel the impact has faded as the debut context and history have. Accessible though, I'd play this for just about anyone. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Unchained Melody, Moonlight in Vermont, Someone to Watch Over Me

While I liked the Bluesy style of the first few tracks, the electric guitar-led back half is much stronger. Listened to: walking through prospect park. Favorite tracks: Good Golly Miss Molly, Penthouse Pauper

Very peaceful, though I'm glad they hadn't gone into their full avant-garde lyrical gibberish yet...though I suppose as an English-speaking listener it's all the same. Good for a rainy day. Listened to: at home. Favorite track: svefn-g-englar

Not really my thing, too upbeat and joyous. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Miss Me Blind, Victims

Appreciate the percussion that’s low-key and thudding, but often inconspicuously in the background. Guitar sections were repetitive and uninspired. Vocals hit and miss. Fine for background music but didn’t particularly enjoy how the guitar tracks interacted with the rest of the musical elements. Listened to: on a train in New England. Favorite tracks: Kinky Afro, Step On

Some fun riffs and musical effects but this ultimately gets dragged down by the poor vocals. Can definitely see the influence on later punk and metal, my preference is just for something a bit more refined. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: The Wait, Change

Power ballads galore, there's an interesting tension between their hard rock roots and the more glam, polished sound they were moving towards. The black side/white side concept adds meaningful depth. Some lovely harmonies and creative drumming. There's a bit of this album that (tonally) doesn't seem quite sure what it wants to be, but the high points are good enough to paper over those inconsistencies. It's also clear that Freddie's still working toward his vocal peak, while May surprisingly holds his own when featured. Listened to: at home. Ultimately, it's brash, and seductive despite its minimal flaws, and the iconic cover push it to the upper echelon. Favorite tracks: Father to Son, The Loser in the End, The March of the Black Queen, Nevermore

Guitar work is bumpin and the piano riffs some flair, but the vocals are VERY uneven. Ooby Dooby is one of the dumbest songs I’ve ever heard, it fucking rocks lol. Back half is stacked with hits. Listened to: walking through prospect park. Favorite tracks: Travelin Band, Lookin Out My Back Door, I Heard it Through the Grapevine

This album comes out of the gate with grandeur and confidence and does not let up. The orchestral contributions are indispensable yet broadly ranging in mood. Walker doesn’t sing with a lot of range but his simultaneously powerful yet gentle voice makes it work. Crooner vibes. He also does a great job at conjuring up vivid imagery. Listened to: going to get fingerprinted. Favorite tracks: Jackie, Wait Until Dark, Come Next Spring

I was dreading this a bit as I hated the first EC album I got, but this pleasantly surprised me. The singing is more restrained and polished and the instrumentals are fuller, more mature arrangements. A great audio mix also helps this effort. I’m not crazy about the slice-of-life content, but that applies across all media to me so I won’t hold it against him. And points for doing something different. Listened to: walking to pick up a plant. Favorite tracks: I Want You, Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head

Would not have guessed he’s the highest selling UK solo artist of all time, but I can see why with how easy these pop-rock tunes go down. Most structures and chords are simple, but there are several quality guitar breakdowns that keep things fresh. His comical approach to casual drug use gets consistent chuckles (but is also slightly concerning). Listened to: walking in Brooklyn botanic garden. Favorite tracks: Angels, South of the Border

What a lovely album. Wouldn't say it's Blues, but who cares. Both the bass and acoustic (and brief electric) guitar performances are fantastic, and the vocals slide in with complementary ease. Some of the cleanest mastering I've ever heard *chef's kiss*. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Soubour, Irganda

So many fantastic musical works trace their roots back here. Sgt Pepper’s shines when eschewing traditional pop structures, and indeed the only subpar portions of the album are a few repetitive choruses that outstay their welcome. The breadth and creativity of instrumentation has rarely been matched since. I wouldn’t say this is my favorite Beatles record, but i’d wager it’s their most important. Listened to: on a bus to NYC. Favorite tracks: She’s Leaving Home, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Filled with iconic riffs, there's an unfortunate element of arrested development in this classic's lyricism -- misogyny remains rampant, and the pitfalls of excess (that had just taken the life of their previous lead singer) are still righteously celebrated. Vocally, Johnson steps in admirably for, and perhaps even surpasses, Bon Scott's previous turns. Despite its flaws, most of these heavy-hitting tracks are irresistible and have (sonically) aged quite well. My favorite work of AC/DC. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Back in Black, Hells Bells

While Dylan doesn’t have the most melodic voice, he does a lovely job (relatively) harmonizing on this album. I wouldn’t say every vocal performance lands, but he does demonstrate range and I appreciate the risk-taking. Content-wise, I sometimes struggle to connect with Dylan but most of the writing here is vivid and accessible. “Jack of Hearts” isn’t something I wouldn’t want to revisit every day but it’s an undeniably strong piece of art and storytelling. Backing tracks and instrumentation are creative and engaging, never felt like anything overstayed its welcome or should’ve been cut. Harmonica isn’t overused and is balanced well with the guitar and organ (?) elements. Listened to: walking to shuffleboard. Favorite tracks: You’re a Big Girl Now, Idiot Wind, Shelter from the Storm

This album could have been an email. Instrumentals are little varied, vocals are fine but forgettable, and oh my god the repetitive lyrical phrases - please stop. Listened to: on a bus to Montreal. Favorite track: Heaven

Typically I find full albums of G-Funk to be very samey regarding the diversity of production across the tracks, but Doggystyle bucks this trend by constantly offering up creative takes on classic beats and synths. Snoop's (obviously) iconic voice sounds different here, so hungry and youthful! I do struggle a bit with the level of vulgarity in the lyrics and the overall debate over the glorification/representation of violence and the gangsta lifestyle, but at the end of the day I always defer to the artist's commentary on these types of controversies, and for me, Snoop's said the right things over the years. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Gin and Juice, Lodi Dodi, Gz and Hustlas

Geez this one was all over the place. A few phenomenal cuts, paired with a few god awful ones and some fill in-between. Album immensely improves when the guitar riffs get heavier, the piano acts as more of an accent than a lead, and Bruce starts belting it. I really do not enjoy early career BS’s voice as a whole though, and the mediocre vocal mix muddles the lyrics far too often. Still, this started off terribly and really brought it back from the brink later on. Listened to: walking to Palms. Favorite tracks: Adam Raised a Cain, Streets of Fire

An album to die for (sorry)! Sultry and relaxing. The language barrier makes it difficult to elevate, but the consistent aura is enjoyable nonetheless. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: August Day Song, Samba E Amor

So. Many. Hits. More polished than their 90s work, this is RHCP at the peak of their powers. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Scar Tissue, Otherside, Around the World

Pretty much the definition of good vibes music. Tracks are brilliantly layered with an astounding variety of instruments. Very jammy (am I reviewing a wine?) There are a few rough spots on the vocal side in the beginning, but for the most part they also layer in very well, acting as another instrument. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Reasons, See the Light

Music that makes ya want to stand up and snap ya fingas!! If these tunes don’t bring a smile to your face you may be beyond hope. The singing is great and the slightly distorted, brash electric guitar acts as a great counterbalance to the heavy thrumming bass. Highways of My Life is a great closer. Listened to: on a bus to Montreal. Favorite tracks: That Lady Pts 1 & 2, Sunshine

One of the best electronic albums ever, and one of the funniest album covers of all time. Epic breaks that trickle down to phenomenal track deconstructions paired with confrontational vocal performances make these cuts impossible to ignore. Listened to: on a bus to providence. Favorite tracks: Smack My Bitch Up, Funky Shit, Firestarter

Terrible vocal mix, really difficult to discern the lyrics at times. The lack of pitch variety and where the lead’s voice registers against the backing tracks doesn’t help. As an intellectual exercise I guess this is…fine? Though at no point is it notably pleasant to listen to. Some of the instrumentals evolve in compelling directions, but just as often they become repetitive and drone on and on and on. DNF. Listened to: walking in prospect park. Favorite tracks: none

A very gentle record with short tracks that flow together with apparent ease. In fact I’d say the interlude tracks with less traditional structure and weird little samples are much stronger than their verse-chorus-verse counterparts (Disillusioned being the major exception). The lyrics border on being too sad boi but don’t fully go over the precipice. Listened to: walking around the woods. Favorite tracks: Body Rap, This Song, Pissing in the Wind

There’s beauty in the simplicity of the approach from this era. The downside of this style is that anything subpar in the writing or execution has nowhere to hide. The vocals may not be very “good” by traditional critical standards, but they work with this genre and the bros do a great job with melodic interplay. Listened to: walking on LVRT. Favorite tracks: Let Her Go God Bless Her, Knoxville Girl

Conceptually brilliant and a masterpiece of technical prowess. An album that consistently challenges you and subverts expectations, while also spitting out some damn danceable beats. Some would call this gimmicky but there’s a clear attempt at elevated artistry here that shouldn’t be ignored. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Building Steam with a Grain of Salt, Why Hip Hop Sucks in ‘96

Heartland rock is far from my favorite, and there was a little too much honky timbre for my liking. The vocals are uneven and the lyricism (outside of standout Luna) is straightforward and dull. Guitar work is the most engaging element in most tracks. This sounds more negative than I intend it to, it's music that I don't *mind* but wouldn't ever seek out. Well produced. I'm glad this is my first Petty album, really interested to contrast with later career efforts. Listened to: at Target. Favorite tracks: Breakdown, Luna

The experimental song construction and instrumentation is the highlight here. Lyrics and vocal performance are run of the mill 90s britpop, but the use of jarring tempos and various synths and sirens brings a unique flavor to this effort. That being said, the lack of cohesiveness does make it difficult to find a through line at times. Clear influence on Tame Impala at points. Listened to: on a train in New England. Favorite tracks: Leaves and Sand, Rodney King

Starts with a BANG and doesn’t let up. Electric guitar bits are crisp as fuck and hit hard, while (hardly shocking) there are many unconventional operatic elements. Weird yet witty lyrics are delivered with force from Freddie and there isn’t a single moment to point to in question of his vocal prowess. The thing that’s clear over everything is that these performers are having FUN. A lot of playing around with stereo and spatial audio. To top it all off - a near flawless mix and master. And, of course, one of the greatest songs ever. A masterpiece deserving of its rep. Listened to: grocery shopping. Favorite tracks: Love of My Life, Death on Two Legs, ‘39, obviously Bo Rhap

It’s clear this is a very personal album for Cale, but as an American living in the 21st century some of the historical references are hard to pin down, lessening the impact of the lyrics. The orchestral arrangements are pleasant but the whole thing’s a bit of a bore. Listened to: walking around holy cross cemetery. Favorite tracks: Half Past France, Antarctica Starts Here

A chilling, hateful album with the Sharon Tate-linked backstory to match. Experimental, sometimes to a fault, as distortions overstay their welcome and make lyrics (pretty important for a concept album) indiscernible. The timbre of Trent’s voice simply gets overpowered too often. There is a lot of thought-provoking artistic value here, but its rarely enjoyable to consume. My favorite aspect was the percussive synth lines that he’d heavily utilize in his film scores two decades later, with the heavily-instrumental final third of the album also hinting at that future direction. Listened to: on a bus to NYC. Favorite tracks: Heresy, Reptile, Hurt

A bit uneven across the board but finds its footing in the last third. Not the best voice, but she uses what she has well, creatively beatmatching percussion at the end of certain musical phrases. PJ’s vocal control and range comes across much stronger when she takes a softer approach rather than the fairly toneless yelling on some cuts. The specificity — and oddness — of her lyricism conjures up very specific, evocative scenes, and there’s no topic deemed too taboo. Listened to: walking near Joe’s Pond. Favorite tracks: Kamikaze, The Whores Hustle and The Hustles Whore, This is Love

Stop me if you've heard this one before - interesting lore behind this album. You can nearly hear the winced pain of Young's ailing back through the recordings, but there's a bit of edge, a bit of bitterness and melancholy that elevates the end product. The downside of the more subdued approach is that there's nowhere for the oft-lackluster vocals to hide ("Are You Ready for the Country" is unbearable). The tracks with the London Symphony Orch bring a different, yet welcome, flavor from Neil's usual aural language. Not my favorite of his works. Listened to: at home. Favorite track: Heart of Gold

After reading up on the history I was convinced this album was going to be eye-rolling avant-garde drivel, but it was surprisingly accessible. Don’t get me wrong — this album is fucking WEIRD and I’ve no doubt the subject matter is a massive turnoff for many listeners, but I found it wonderfully strange. Very, very daring. Sister Ray is self-indulgent, sure, but I get the vision, and compromise is not in TVU’s DNA. I’ve certainly never heard a track quite like The Gift before. That shit rocked. The instrumentals are primarily led by an erratic electric guitar, but it all somehow works. Listened to: walking on the LVRT. Favorite tracks: The Gift, I Heard Her Call My Name

Lots of sections of ambient noise that fail to act as an interesting counterpoint to the lyric-driven sections, which are also quite dull. Not much to write home about on this one. Listened to: walking on LVRT. Favorite track: Bubblegum

If I’d been shown this record without any context I certainly would’ve guessed it was Muse. There’re some moments with serious shredding (Paranoid Android, Electioneering, Climbing Up the Walls) and ethereal space-shippy vocals. Yet there’s also a gentleness that acts as a strong contradictory point to the more bombastic sections. The electronic production falls in seamlessly next to the more traditional rock elements. Definitely understand how this one earned its legendary status. Listened to: walking along Joes Pond. Favorite tracks: Paranoid Android, Karma Police, Climbing up the Walls

Not much stood out to me on this one, found it pretty difficult to discern as a concept album. Listened to: picking up Caribbean food.

This used to be a favorite but I haven’t listened in a while, and it seems my taste has changed. There’s a bit too much honky tonk influence and general cacophony for my liking, and the vocal performances are wildly uneven. Piano’s effectiveness is similarly inconsistent. There are flashes of greatness (Shine a Light, Soul Survivor) but they’re few and far between. Guess I’ll revisit this in another ten years and see what I think then. Listened to: walking on LVRT. Favorite tracks: Sweet Virginia, Ventilator Blues, Shine a Light

Perhaps surprising as a big Aretha fan but I’m not crazy about this record. The recording quality isn’t great, which deadens her vocal performance, and I don’t feel as if her range was well utilized. Second half is stronger than the first and there are def a few classics though. Listened to: on LVRT. Favorite tracks: People Get Ready, A Natural Woman, Good to Me as I am to You, Chain of Fools

I enjoy the experimental nature and genre bending that Twigs brings to the table, but the rasp-singing can get grating after a while. I prefer her work in smaller doses, individual songs tend to blend together in a way that lessens their impact. Listened to: on a bus to Montreal. Favorite tracks: Video Girl, Kicks

Prefer this to Nevermind. Cobain’s vocals are stronger and clearer and the songwriting is more focused. The harsh, industrial guitar riffs appropriately complement the vocals. Grohl’s drums provide a strong foundation and shine when pushed to the foreground. Listened to: walking around Providence. Favorite tracks: Scentless Apprentice, Milk It, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter

This one keeps you on your toes and the percussion is WILD. The cornucopia of instruments employed is astounding. Vocal style changes similarly from song to song without a dropped note and the storytelling is paint-a-picture vivid. There are also some clever allusions to some other rock classics (the Stones especially). While not the style that fits my daily listening this is a creative masterpiece...of weirdness. Listened to: in Brooklyn botanical garden. Favorite tracks: Housequake, Strange Relationship, Adore